↬Chapter Eighteen-The Stable Boy↬

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I only own Jade/Camilla and my ideas.

"Why am I here?" Camilla asked as she sat on the couch that was closer to Mary Margaret's cell.

Mary Margaret watched as Camilla awkwardly sat within the room as Mr Gold said, "you are the closest person to a family for Ms Blanchard so you'll be having some say in it."

Emma released a small sigh before asking, "A pretrial interview with the prosecution? Explain to me how that is a good idea."

"The D.A. merely wishes to ask Miss Blanchard a few questions." Mr Gold responded.

"She's done answering questions, and why are we kissing up to the D.A. anyway?" Camilla asked as her eyebrows shot together in slight confusion.

"Yeah. Why aren't we going after Regina, she's the one setting up Mary Margaret." Emma pointed out.

"And what proof do we have of that, Sheriff? Just because you found the mayor's skeleton key in the cell doesn't mean we can prove she put it there." Gold shot back.

"So what's your plan?" Camilla asked the man.

"I believe our best chance of winning this case is to employ our most valuable asset." Gold responded though it confused the three of them by what he had meant.

"What's that?" Mary Margaret asked as she came towards the bars of the cell.

"Well, that's you, dear. A sweet, kind elementary schoolteacher. Doesn't exactly fit the prototype of a killer, now does it?" Gold pointed out.

"That's how you're going to get her acquitted? By using her personality?" Emma asked.

"Perception is everything, Miss Swan-not just in the courtroom, but in life. As such, I'm sure you can imagine how the jury would perceive Miss Blanchard if she agreed to cooperate with the District Attorney. These things engender trust. It shows the jury she's at least trying--" Gold explained.

Sydney cut off Gold as he entered the station asking, "-Emma? The man entered as he held a vase full of flowers, "Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt, I just, uh, came by to drop these off. I thought they might brighten the place up."

Emma proceeded to the office to meet him while Mary Margaret, Mr Gold and Camilla share a look with each other. As Emma walked into the office, Camilla had gotten up from where she sat and had leaned against the cell.

"So, what are we going to do?" Mary Margaret asked in a hushed whisper towards Mr Gold.

"What you are going to do is that you're going to show that you are willing enough to cooperate, gain their trust, tell the truth." Gold clarified.

"Cam, what's your thoughts on it?" Mary Margaret asked as Camilla's head turned slightly to face the two.

She released a small sigh, "in all honesty, I think you should do what Gold said."

After Emma returned into the room after the threes discussion soon faded, Mary Margaret said "I'm gonna do it. I'm going to talk to the D.A."

"Are you sure?" Emma asked her.

"Mr. Gold's right. I know I have nothing to hide, but no one else does. I need to let people see me for who I am." Mary Margaret responded with a small nod.

As this was said, a man walked in with Regina behind him, "Excellent decision, Miss Blanchard." The people within the room looked towards the man of which entered before he continued, "My name is Spencer, I'm the District Attorney. Shall we begin?"

"Yeah." Mary Margaret nodded.

Within the Sheriff's Department, Mary Margaret was within the interrogation room as both Mary Margaret and Mr. Gold were sat at a table. Across from them was Albert Spencer while Emma, Regina and Camilla were watching from behind a pane of glass.

"After she learned about your affair, Mrs. Nolan, the deceased, came to your school to confront you, is that correct?" Spencer asked the teacher.

"She was hurt, and she felt betrayed." Mary Margaret responded.

"She struck you-In the face, was it?" Spencer asked to clarify the facts.

"Yes, but--" Mary Margaret started before getting cut off by Spencer saying, "That must've made you angry."

"You-you don't have to answer that." Gold inputted.

"No, it's okay. I was not angry. I was sorry for all the pain I had caused her." Mary Margaret responded.

Spencer snort as if it was a joke, "Miss Blanchard, this is not a courtroom. I'm not here to judge you. You can be honest with me."

"Should we end this?" Gold asked Mary Margaret.

"I am being honest with you." Mary Margaret responded, ignoring Gold's question.

"The wife of the man you loved humiliated you in a public forum; surely you must have felt some anger towards Kathryn." Spencer told. As this was said, Camilla just glared at the man, if she had to be honest, she just wanted to give him a slap, she didn't like him one bit.

"Yes, I was angry--" Mary Margaret responded.

Cutting Mary Margaret off, Spencer asked, "-And did you ever think about acting upon that anger?"

"Of course not." Mary Margaret responded.

"I have a hard time believing that." Spencer said, rather sarcastic.

Mary Margaret looked from Spencer to Mr. Gold, "Wh-why?"

"Because you wanted Kathryn Nolan gone." Spencer told.

"I never said that." Mary Margaret said.

"That's it. My client is answering no more questions for the day." Gold told, cutting into the conversation.

"Your client agreed to this interview because she claimed she had nothing to hide." Spencer pointed out.

"I don't have anything to hide!" Math Margaret called out.

"Then what is your answer. You wanted Kathryn gone, didn't you?" Spencer asked the female.

"No."

"Even after she tried to keep you and David apart? After she slapped you in public? After she made you a pariah in her own town?" Spencer asked, pushing Mary Margaret. Though Camilla wasn't in the room she just wanted to hit the man.

"Yes, I wanted her gone, she was the only thing keeping us apart so yeah, I wanted her gone-is that what you wanna hear?" Mary Margaret spat, she looked at Spencer, who seemed pleased. She then looked at Mr. Gold, who seemed disappointed. Mary Margaret, herself, began to look horrified as Regina smiled to herself. Camilla was shocked at her best friends comment, she backed away a little as she did she caught the attention of both women who stood either side of her.

"Cam..." Emma tried to say before Camilla went out of the room, the door slammed slightly and at that moment, Mary Margaret knew that she'd done wrong. The main thing that went through Camilla's mind was that she was going to loose one of the few friends that she had in Storybrooke.

Jade had walked into the camp with her hood up and head held low as her facial expression was a mix between anger and disappointment. Anger because she knew that she'd risked her life only for it to turn out terrible, disappointment because she couldn't get back to wherever Baelfire was. She wanted to know if he was safe.

"You're finally back. You tried to leave didn't you?" A voice asked, Jade turned on her heels towards the voice to find that it was Peter who had said it.

"What's it to you?" Jade spat. She'd been on the island for two weeks now and if she had to be honest, she was worried like hell for her little brother. Though she's been away for two weeks, it felt like forever.

"Because, dear, you can never leave this island without my permission." Peter responded in the same tone as Jade. She gave him a look.

"Well, Pan, I don't need your pathetic permission to leave this hell. I never wanted to be here. All I want is to go home, to my brother." Jade responded rather harsh.

The boy smirked, "looks like you're going to have to get use to staying here 'cause there's no way that you're going to get off this island." Without another word being spoken, Peter departed from the girl.

Her anger only built up. All she wanted was to go back to her brother even if it meant going back to her so-called father. She cared about Baelfire more than her own health, she wanted to make sure that he was okay especially with Rumplestiltskin as his father. She wanted to make sure that he had a better life than her, a life without threats, a life with nothing but happiness. If Jade had to be honest, the best thing that could have ever happened to the girl was finding out that she'd be having a brother.

Her anger was building up to the point that she couldn't contain it, one of her knives was held within her hand before she threw it at the tree. She pictured the knife as her stress as she threw it as if she was throwing it away, but it wasn't as successful as she thought. Instead of the knife hitting the tree, it had caught hold of one of the Lost Boys clocks before it stuck in place of the bark of the tree.

She covered her mouth before walking over to the boy, "I'm - sorry." Was all she said before pulling the knife from where struck.

"Don't worry." The boy responded. Though his facial expression was slightly worried. She didn't blame him, she could've killed the poor boy.

"No. No it's not alright. It's my fault, my anger got the best of me and I could've killed you." Jade told with a sigh.

"Honestly, it's fine. I'm alive aren't I? It looks like you've got a lot of stress on your mind, if you'd like we could train. You could benefit from it." The boy suggested.

Jade shrugged, "sounds good. What's you're name boy?"

"Devin. You're Jade, the one that arrived through the portal right?" The newly introduced boy asked. The Stiltskin simply nodded.

Camilla walked down the street of Storybrooke as she held her head low as her hands were shoved in her pockets of her jacket. She avoided any eye contact with anyone and everyone, her anger slowly built up, she didn't want one of the only few friends that she had to leave. She wouldn't know what to do with herself, it would feel as if a massive hole was ripped from her heart.

Camilla hadn't been one for having to say goodbye to someone, though she'd never had someone who'd killed someone before.

"Camilla!" Emma called out, catching the girl's attention.

"Yes?" Camilla asked though it was barely audible. By this time Emma had caught up with her.

"Fancy skipping work?" Emma offered.

A weak smile appeared on her lips, "that'd be great. I'd need the company."

*****

Walking through the forest, accompanied by Emma and August, they'd been in search of anything that may lead to Mary Margaret's innocence.

Though throughout the short span of ten minutes of August and Camilla being together, she wanted to punch him. Multiple times. Question after question was being asked and punching him was becoming more and more of an option.

"Ruby found the box to the heart right over here." Emma told as the three of them proceed to the edge of the river. "Just by the shore."

August let's out a grunt as he stiffens. Camilla smirked slightly before turning to the man asking, "What?"

"Nothing." August responded though Camilla could easily sense that he was bullshitting.

"Doesn't seem like nothing. Hey, let me look." Camilla told as she neared the man.

"No, it's okay. Just shin splints, let me-walk it off." August told as Camilla simply held up her hands on defence. They arrive at the river, where yellow crime scene tape marks off the area.

"Sorry. I know this must be hard on you both." August told.

"Heh, that's an understatement!" Emma said.

"Nah, it's totally easy, it isn't like everyday you're best friend is in prison." Camilla sarcastically stated with a roll of her eyes.

"Does everything always have to be sarcastic with you?" August asked.

"Let me think..yes it does. Sarcasm is amazing, you should learn how to use it." Camilla said with a smirk.

"Look, I don't know you that well, but... seems to me that aside from Henry being like a brother to you and Archie being you're dad, Mary Margaret's the closest thing to family you've got. It's okay to admit it." August told.

"Mary Margaret is one of the few people who accept me for me while everyone in this stupid town sees me as a no good child who needs to be sent away. So yeah, Mary Margaret is the closest thing to family. As for Archie, he sees me like everyone else, despite being my father." Camilla spat rather harsh.

"Are you two done because I've found something!" Emma called out.

"Yeah, finished." Camilla muttered before turning on her heels and heading towards Emma where she removed the tip of a shovel from a hole.

"What is it?" August asked the blonde.

"A shard. From a shovel. Must've broken off when it hit a rock." Emma told.

"If we can find this shovel that it broke off of, we can prove that Mary Margaret didn't bury the heart; we can prove she's innocent!" Camilla smiled, all she wanted was for Mary Margaret to be safe.

"And I'm guessing you know exactly whose shovel it is." August guessed as he looked towards the blonde.

****

Darkness covered the entire town as Emma, August and Camilla all stood outside Regina's house waiting for the message to say that it was safe.

"The eagle's in the nest, and the package is secure." Henry spoke through the handheld radio.

"Henry. I left the codebook at home." Emma told through the one radio in her hand.

"Camilla" Henry simply said.

Camilla let out a small sigh before saying, "She's getting in the shower and the keys are under the mat."

Emma gave her a look as Camilla said, "who do you think taught him about it?" The blonde shrugged before she reached under the doormat, grabbing a key and unlocking the door.

"Don't touch a thing. Regina knows when things are out of place." Camilla warned as they enter the garage as they look around.

August walked past a hammer before accidentally hitting it with his hand, it fell off. Camilla noticed before quickly grabbing it before it hit the floor.

"Careful!" Camilla said in a hushed whisper.

"Hey." Emma called out as both August and Camilla walked over to where Emma stood to find that the shard fitted into the broken tip of a shovel. "We got her." The three all share a look as Emma smiles.

Jade and Devin walked through the forest of the island as they soon came to a stop. In front of them was a tree with a target placed on it.

Jade gave the boy a look. "Are you serious? Me and bow and arrows don't work, don't you remember at that party? I couldn't even shoot the apple from Felix's head."

"The only way to get better at something is by practice. You're good with knives, I've still got the scare from where you got me when I started the fight with you." Devin explained as he pointed to the scare which was on his bicep, "So, let's make sure that you're better with a bow and arrow."

"Oh you're that kid, sorry about that." Jade told, "okay, just fair warning, I'm sorry about how I am with this."

The boy went behind a tree before coming back with a bow and a set of arrows. He passed them to the Stiltskin who just simply sighed before taken them.

*****

The two had spent hours trying to perfect the girl's shot. Devin had kept saying to use her anger when using the bow in order to get a perfect shot. At each of the shots, it grew closer and closer towards the target till she actually got a bullseye.

"I done it!" Jade exclaimed, "after how many hours though?"

"In all honesty, I actually thought that it would take you longer to do that." Devin told. He looked up at the sky to see that night had struck the island.

"We've gotta get back ain't we?" Jade asked. She didn't want to go back, for the past two weeks that she's been on the island she had to share the treehouse with Peter and in her opinion it was hell. It was as if this was the perfect place for her to go insane.

"Yeah, we do. Pan will have a fit if we aren't back. I mean look what happened to you when didn't return from wherever you ran off to." Devin pointed out.

"True." Jade sighed as the two of them made a slow walk back to the camp.

The two walked in silence as Jade was left with nothing but her thoughts. She feared about Bea being with Rumple, she fared on what he could be doing to Bea; but then again their father did prefer Bea over her. Sometimes she wished that she wasn't born, sometimes she wished that everything would come to a pause, sometimes she wished that maybe there's no happiness left in the world for her.

"Why do you keep trying to leave the island?" Devin asked, breaking the silence, "if you don't want to answer, then it's fine."

"It's because of my brother. Before I came here, my life was miserable, my father abused me both physically and emotionally. Sometimes even mentally. The only good thing about my life was my brother, he was the only person who liked me, who was always there for me. My brother was always there for me, he told me that no matter what happens him and I will always be together." Jade explained.

"And within the time you've got here, it's become a lot worse. Peters giving you a hard time, and it's hard to adjust to this." Devin said as his hands went out when he finished his sentence to indicate the island.

Camilla stood at the side of the road as she watched how Mary Margaret was stepping into the police car. She couldn't help but watch in complete and utter sadness.

She felt someone hold onto her hand, she looked down to see Henry standing there, he gave her a small and weak smile.

Camilla bent down so she was his hight, "Henry, go to school. I'm gonna tell the school that I'm not coming in due to 'sickness' I'll be at the Diner, clearing my head."

The small boy nodded, "I love you Cam."

The Hopper child smiled, "I love you too, kid." The two hugged before Henry got onto the school bus.

****

Camilla sat at the counter of Granny's Diner. Within the hour or so of her being there, she'd already had five cups of coffee and thirteen cups of hot chocolate.

Ruby handed her another Coffee saying, "Camilla I'm going to take out the trash and I'll come back and talk. I'm getting worried about you, you normally don't drink this much."

"Yeah okay." Camilla responded as Ruby walked outside of the Diner.

Moments later, she heard a scream which seemed to echo throughout the Diner. Camilla quickly ran out of the Diner to where she found Ruby, August and Emma.

There she saw a body facedown within the dumpster and Kathryn.

And might she add, a very much alive Kathryn. Her eyebrows shot up at the sight of her.

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And at that point Camilla knew, Mary Margaret was FREEE!

I'm sorry. Goodbye.

Jade on the inside when she was explaining life before Neverland be like:

I actually can't wait to finish season 1. I know that the updates take forever but in need of a lot of motivation to write and it's honestly hard to write in between school and homework and being social. But I will try my best in order to publish more chapters quickly.