Hyperion Heights

Present Day

Henry Mills wasn't having a very good day. It actually started the night before when shortly after coming back from working a Swyft shift, he came back to his apartment, took out his lap top and opened the file that was going to be his next book. His first book, Once Upon a Time, didn't do anything. All he had written was "Poetic opening line goes here."

He starred at the screen for a few moments. There was a knock on the door. He opened it and there was a girl there, Lucy, claiming to be his daughter. She told them that he was cursed. She wanted him to come to her neighborhood and meet her mom, who she claimed was really Cinderella, and break the curse.

Henry told her that he wasn't the Henry from the book. He had heard of Hyperion Heights. It was a up and coming neighborhood in Seattle, and didn't sound like a curse to him. Lucy told him that that was because, her step-grandma, Cinderella's step-mom, was trying to bring people from this world in, so all the fairy tale characters moved out.

Henry tried to get her to leave but Lucy told him that her mother needed him to save her. Henry told her that he wasn't a magic fairytale character that could swoop in and change her life. She need to save herself.

The next day, Henry went to "work" on his book. He opened the drawer where he kept his laptop and he found a note from Lucy. That read...

"If you want to see your laptop again, meet me at Roni's. Take a left at the Troll under the Aurora Bridge."

Henry got in his car and headed to Hyperion Heights. He parked just down the street from Roni's. As he headed toward the bar, he looked up and saw a young woman standing on the roof of a building looking down at him. She jumped down off the roof onto a dumpster and then to the sidewalk. She looked at Henry and walked away.

He walked into Roni's and saw a man behind the bar and a couple of young women cleaning tables, one blond the other brunette. There was also an older woman standing at the who had her back to the door, "Uh, excuse me? Is this Roni's?" asked Henry.

The woman sighed, "I sure hope so. Or else I put the wrong sign out front," The woman turned to Henry and smiled, "I'm Roni. What can I get ya?"

"Um, just a coffee," said Henry as he sat down.

The man behind the bar was Nicholas, but everyone called him Nick. He was Roni's younger brother. The young women were Nick's twin daughters. The blond was Kristen and the brunette was Elizabeth. Roni walked around the bar and poured herself a shot, while Henry sat down at the bar, "It's your lucky day, kid," said Nick, "Whole bar's half off till midnight."

"Midnight, huh?" asked Henry, "Then what? Place turns into a pumpkin?"

Roni laughed, "More like a juice bar, or… whatever the bitch who bought us out drinks."

"You're selling, huh?"

"Well, neighborhood's changing. And not by choice. By Belfrey."

"By what-frey?"

"Victoria Belfrey?" said Kristen as she walked up to the bar. Henry put his hands up, he wasn't familiar with the name. Kristen continued, "She's buying up everything. Bringing new people in…"

"This used to be used to be a community here," said Roni, "Used to be nice."

"It was a great place to grow up," said Elizabeth, as she walked up, "Now everyone's leaving"

"Can't fight the power, right?" said Roni, she picked up her shot, and laughed lightly, "Might as well take the money." Then she drank it.

Henry groaned, "You don't exactly look like you're having a banner day either," said Nick as he handed him a cup of coffee.

"Been interesting, that's for sure," said Henry.

"What gives?"

"Imagine if I walked through that door and told you that I was your nephew," Then Henry looked at Roni, "and that I was your son."

"That would be a kicker," said Roni.

Henry told Roni and Nick about what was going on, then the door opened and a woman walked in holding Henry's laptop, "Oh, hey, Jacinda," said Roni, "How's it going?"

Henry turned and looked at the newcomer and he stood up. He couldn't take his eyes off of her

"Great," said Jacinda as she walked up to the bar, "Lucy's stealing computers now so… that's new."

"Never a dull moment with that kid," said Nick.

Jacinda cleared her throat and turned and looked at Henry, "Speaking of my little felon… you must be Henry." She handed him the laptop, he took it "I'm so sorry about all this. I don't know what's gotten into her, but I promise you, it won't happen again." Henry didn't say anything he just kept looking at her, "What?"

Henry realized he hadn't said anything, "Oh… Oh, oh no uh, nothing. Nothing. I'm just, uh, relieved. And I was starting to wonder if I really did have a kid. But clearly, I don't, because meeting you I would definitely remember."

"Well, that's a…"

"Yeah."

Roni handed them a couple of glasses, "Looks like you two kids need an ice breaker. On the house."

They each took one and smiled, "Cheers," said Jacinda.

Meanwhile the woman that Henry saw on the street was making her way through the back alleys of Hyperion Heights. She reached a door and knocked on it. The man opened the door and she said, "I need to see Weaver and Hale." The man let her in.

When she walked in she saw a man with short sandy blond hair holding another man's head in a 55-gallon drum of water, while a woman with long blond hair, in a braid, watched with her arms crossed.

"Weaver… Hale… Someone to see you," said the doorman.

"What?" asked Weaver, the man holding the other man's head in the water.

"There's someone new in town," said the young woman, "Thought you'd want to know."

Back at Roni's, Henry and Jacinda were talking, "So I take it there's no father in the picture?" asked Henry.

"Well, there was this guy, but it was just a fling," said Jacinda, "Not my proudest moment, but, uh, it gave me Lucy. And I wouldn't change that for the world. As for the rest of my life…"

"Hm. Not too happy with your story? What would you change?"

Jacinda thought for a moment and said, "Well, every day on my way to work, I see this island out in the bay. And I always imagine… What if Lucy and I had a little home there? There's a lighthouse, and gardens, and it just looks like the kind of place where people live quiet, happy lives. I guess it's not much of a story."

"I think it sounds perfect."

Henry and Jacinda just kept sitting there looking at each other Then the door opened, and a woman in a nice business suit walked in, and walked right up to Henry and Jacinda, "The bar's yours at midnight, Victoria. Take a hike till then," said Roni.

"Happy to… as soon as Jacinda tells me what the hell is going on," said Victoria, "Lucy is sneaking out of your house in the middle of the night to meet up with some strange man?"

Henry stepped forward, "I can explain that."

Jacinda stopped him, "It's okay, Henry. This isn't your fault. I'll fix it."

"How?" asked Victoria, "By day-drinking? If I remember, that's how we ended up with Lucy in the first place."

"That's not fair."

"Life isn't fair, Jacinda. Lucy needs some stability. She needs someone she can count on."

"What are you saying?" asked Jacinda, as she took a step forward.

"As of tomorrow, Lucy moves back in with me, permanently."

Jacinda wanted to say something but she didn't she just walked out, "Well, I'm starting to understand the whole Cinderella thing," said Henry as he sat back down at the bar.

Victoria walked up to the bar and looked at Henry, "I don't know what you're doing here, but you're not helping anyone. Lucy is a lonely little girl, Mr. Mills. Whatever hole you're trying to fill… she's not your answer. So, do her a favor, and go back to your books. Your fairy lands. Whatever nonsense you write. Because in this world, the real world, people get hurt. And if that happens, you'll be sorry you ever stepped foot on this street." Then Victoria left.

A little while later, Nick was walking up the street, when he saw Henry, "Hey… I thought you were leaving," Nick asked him.

Henry sighed, "Yeah… I was but someone stole my car…"

"Oh man… that's sucks… Did you report it?"

"Yeah… I didn't get a lot of sympathy at first but Officer Rogers said he call around to the impound lots."

Nick nodded, "Rogers… He's a good guy… Anything I can do to help?"

"Not really, I'm just looking around,"

"Mind if I join you?" asked Nick, "Roni and the girls can handle the place for a little while."

"Sure," said Henry.

They walked for a little while and Nick told Henry a little about himself. Nick used to be a stockbroker. But, he lost his wife when a drunk driver hit her car. He gave up his job to take care of his girls. Roni let them move in with her and she gave him a job at the bar. Henry felt sorry for Nick, he told him that he lost his wife and daughter in a fire.

They went back to the police station to get an update, but is wasn't good, "Really?" said Henry, "You checked every lot and chop shop and none of them have my car?"

"Yes," said Officer Rogers, "And seeing as I'm the only one here willing to help you, you might want to curb your agitation a bit."

"Sorry."

"Look, I'm on your side. Just give me time."

Just then Victoria walked in, "Officer Rogers, whatever you're working on can wait."

"Ms. Belfrey, what can I do for you?"

"Find my granddaughter."

"Lucy's missing?" asked Henry.

"Mr. Mills, you're still here," said Victoria.

"Believe me, I'm trying not to be. Just need to find my car.

"Hm. Jacinda's also missing. I don't suppose you have any idea where they ran off to, do you?"

"Uh No," said Henry, with hesitation.

Victoria stepped closer to Henry, "Mr. Mills I do know what you think of me, but I do care about my girls."

"You sure have a funny way of showing it," said Nick.

Victoria glanced at Nick and then at Henry, "Jacinda tends to make mistakes. But if she wants to build a better life for herself and her daughter, she simply can't do it by running away from her problems. Tell me what you know. You want your car back? Help me find my girls."

Henry didn't want to but Victoria had a point… Jacinda couldn't make a better life for herself or Lucy by just running away so he told Victoria about Jacinda wanting to live on the island in the bay. Victoria sent her daughter/assistant Ivy to go with Officer Rogers to pick up Lucy.

Henry went with Nick back to the bar. Henry sat at the bar while Nick washed a glass, "You okay, kid?"

"Yeah," said Henry with a sigh, "Did I do the right thing, Nick?"

"That's hard to say… Maybe right now it seems like the wrong thing but who knows. This could be the turning point that sends Jacinda on the path she needs to get her life in order." Henry nodded. Just then the phone rang. Nick answered it, "Roni's? Yeah he's here…" He handed the phone to Henry. "It's the police…"

Henry took the phone, "Hello? Really? Great… Thanks…"

Henry handed the phone back to Nick, "Good news?" he asked.

"Yeah… They found my car… It was abandoned on the side of the road. Nothing taken. No damage. There bringing it back now…" Henry finished his drink and went to pay.

"Nah… forget it… On the house."

"Thanks, Nick," said Henry, as he held his hand out.

"No problem," said Nick, as he shook it. Then, Henry left.

That night, Officer Rogers returned to the station and the desk sergeant said, "Hey, Eagle Scout. I hear congrats are in order."

"What are you talking about?" asked Rogers.

"You made detective. Looks like somebody has a fairy godmother. Ms. Belfrey must have taken a liking to you. Come on, I'll introduce you to your new partners."

"Partners?" asked Rogers.

"Yeah, your joining a team…"

They walked down the hall. There was a bunch of officers standing at a door and they heard a woman say, "So, Weaver tells the punk "Go ahead. Give me the finger one more time, and you'll be picking it off the floor."

"And did he?" asked one of the officers.

"No," said a male voice, "But I broke his finger anyway."

The officers laughed then the desk sergeant said, "Hey, Detectives… Special delivery for ya. Meet your new partner."

Two people walked out of the office a man with short sandy blond hair, Detective Weaver, and a woman with long blond hair, in a braid, Detective Hale, "A pleasure…" said Weaver, as he shook Rogers' hand, "Detective."

"We are going to do great work together," said Detective Hale, as she shook Rogers' hand.

It was after midnight and Victoria was at Roni's waiting for her to sign the papers to sell the bar to her. Nick was stand next to his sister. Roni looked at the papers and tapped the pen on the bar. She took a deep breath and said, "Nah. I don't think I'm gonna give you my bar today." Then she looked at the shocked businesswoman.

"What? We had a deal," said Victoria.

"Yeah, well, that was yesterday."

"And what happened today?"

"Your step-daughter She inspired me."

"By running away?"

"By not giving in to you."

"You're so used to pushing people around, I think it's time you felt what it's like when someone pushes back."

"You can't win."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Today I watched you march into my bar acting like you own the place. And you know what? I didn't like it. And I realized if I sign this piece of paper you will own this place. And that I really don't like. This is my bar. It's my home. It's my life. Sure, it's seen better days, but that doesn't mean it won't have better days again. And just because life isn't what you want it to be right now, doesn't mean you should tear it down. I started thinking about all the things I want to do and have that I'm not doing or having. And how everyone in this neighborhood seems to have given up imagining what a better life might look like. But if we can admit to ourselves what we want is out there somewhere then maybe we can fight for it. And if we do that then we're halfway to getting it. That's the thing about the people of this town… Things can seem hopeless. When suddenly, someone gives the rest of us inspiration. Because the first step to a new beginning is imagining that one is even possible." Roni picked the papers up from the bar, And I'll be damned if I stand by and let a bully like you…" She ripped them up, "take that away from us anymore. Now if you'll excuse us…" Roni and Nick walked around the bar.

"You'll regret this, Roni," said Victoria as she left.

"Uh, doubtful," aid Roni as she poured a shot for herself and her brother, "Regret's not really my thing."

Roni and Nick each took a shot clinked glasses and drank. "Nice speech, Sis…" said Nick.

Just then Kristen and Elizabeth came out of the kitchen. They saw their father and aunt happy "What are you two so happy about," asked Elizabeth.

"We are celebrating," said Nick, "Aunt Roni stood up to Victoria… She's not selling!"

"She's not?" asked Kristen.

"Nope," said Roni, "It'll be a cold day in hell before that bitch gets her hands on this bar…"

AN: In case you hadn't figured it out Travis is Nick, Ingrid is Kristen, Annabelle is Elizabeth and Elsa is Detective Hale. If you like this story, Favorite and Follow. Also, give me a Review and let me know what you think of this. It gives me motivation to keep going.