Gossip is just a way of life in small town and Storybrooke was no exception to the rule and they finally had some very good gossip going around. Since Emma Swan had come to town the rumor mill had been on fire about her spats with Regina. Her other actions: helping Ashley keep her baby from Mr. Gold, helping Sheriff Graham find a missing John Doe, moving in with Mary Margaret and taking a job with Graham were fuel to the fire. However, there was other gossip going on in Storybrooke that were just little embers to the flame.

One of those embers was how the temperature in the room seemed to go down about ten degrees whenever Dr. Hopper and Dr. White were in the same room for more than five minutes and how they couldn't seem to look at each other. They couldn't help but notice that when they did catch Dr. Hopper looking at her it was one of longing. Like there was something he really wanted to say and just couldn't get out. When they caught Dr. White looking at Dr. Hopper it was a mix of disappointment and hurt. Add to the fact that they were seen fighting last week outside of the shelter just added a little glow to the embers to get some people talking.

It had been almost a week since he had spoken to Natalie and Archie found his mind drifting more than once during his sessions with patients about how much he missed talking to her and wished she could understand how sorry he was.

"You weren't always a cricket," said Henry.

"I wasn't always a what...oh right. Because you think I'm Jiminy Cricket. Why do you think that Henry?" asked Archie.

"Because of who you are," said Henry.

"And what am I?"

"You're a conscience. You help people tell right from wrong," said Henry. I wish I had someone to tell me what is right from wrong.

"So all the crickets in Storybrooke were people once?" asked Archie trying to Henry back on himself.

"They're aren't any crickets here. Listen," said Henry going to the window. It was late spring and the only sound Archie heard outside was an owl.

"Well maybe it isn't light enough," said Archie and Henry shook his head.

"There's never been crickets here, you just haven't notice." The boy was right, Archie could never recall a night when he had heard a cricket chirp.

"So you think that's proof that there is a curse?"

"Not enough, I'm still looking," admitted Henry.

"Look I know I asked this before, but why is the idea of a curse so important?" asked Archie.

"It...it just is," said Henry and Archie sighed.

"Well I really want you to think about it Henry because I think there is something buried there," said Archie.

"Tune in next time," joked Henry picking up his backpack.

"I'll walk you to your mother's," said Archie.

"So I think I want to ask Natalie to be part of Operation Cobra," said Henry.

"How come?" asked Archie trying to ignore the little twist he felt at the mention of her name.

"Well I'm not sure who she is yet, but I'm pretty sure she's on our team," said Henry. They had just gotten down the stairs when suddenly the Earth seemed to lurch forward and Archie heard several of his books fall off the cases upstairs and several car alarms go off. An earthquake...in Maine, thought Archie.

…...

"I have to agree with Emma. Brown is not her color," said Natalie. Graham gave Natalie a look and Emma smiled at her.

"Thank you Natalie for your support." Emma was holding up the uniform shirt Graham had ordered for her and it did remind Natalie of something she had seen on a bad cop show once.

"So you think you can get people to do what you want in that red jacket?" he asked.

"I'm getting you to do what I want right now," said Emma and Natalie laughed.

"You aren't helping anything," said Graham.

"You're under the impression that I'm here to help you," said Natalie sipping her tea.

"I need to get a you man," muttered Graham and Emma smirked at her. "At least wear the badge." He held out the badge and Emma gave it a look like it had just insulted her. "Look if you really want to be a part of this community than you have show that you belong here. Just wear the badge." Emma took it from him with a grimace and placed on her belt. Not a second later the whole room shook and Natalie was force to lock her brakes and hold on to a desk so her chair didn't tip over. It only lasted a few seconds, but the phone started ringing off the hook.

"Duty calls. Could you handle the phones?" asked Graham looking at Natalie.

"Sure thing." She went over the desk and started taking messages as they left. It turned out that the mines just a little outside of town had collapsed in after how many years, causing the quake. It wasn't until a little after ten that Graham and Emma came back looking exhausted.

"Damn look loos don't understand the meaning of police tape and safety hazard," muttered Graham sitting down.

"You know if this town more than one bar it might not be so bad," said Emma.

"I settle for a good movie theater," said Natalie.

"Well next time a mine collapses I'll bring you out with some popcorn," said Graham.

"Oh boy a real date. I feel special," said Natalie.

"Ok, you two have never dated?" asked Emma looking confused.

"Natalie is like the sister I never had or wanted," said Graham getting up to file a mountain of paper work.

"It would just be too weird after all this time. I've just never felt that way for him. You've never had guy friends?" asked Natalie.

"Until I got here I didn't have friends of either sex," said Emma. "How long have you two been friends?" Natalie thought about it for a second and just shrugged.

"I don't know, we've just always been friends," said Natalie.

"Henry would chalk that up to the curse too," said Emma.

"So what else has Operation Cobra been up too?" asked Natalie.

"That is top secret and I will never tell," said Emma.

"This paperwork isn't going to do it's self," called Graham.

"Have fun with Sheriff Serious. Night," said Natalie leaving the office. As she headed home she thought she saw Archie heading into his office looking depressed and Natalie fought the urge to call over to him. A part of her was still upset with him, another part of her was upset with herself for being so mad at him. It was clear that Regina was bossing him around and he had no idea what he should do and really didn't have anyone on his side to help him. She really didn't know what to say to him to let him know that if he really wanted someone on his side he needed to ask. I would have been on your side if you had just told the truth.

…...

Archie went into his office to collect his notes so he could work at home. He shoved everything into a bag and fought the urge to slam his door on the way out. Damn it, why can't she leave me alone to do my work the way I want to do it. I'm trying to help him and it's like she's undermining at every turn. Regina's threat was ringing in his ears has he made his way home.

After the earthquake Archie and Henry had made their way to Regina's office only to find out that she had left and gone to the site of the quake where a bunch of old mines used to be.

"Let's go see," said Henry running away and even Archie had to admit he was a bit curious to see what had happened and he followed Henry. When they got there things had gone bad quickly. Henry was convinced that this was proof that the curse was weakening and thought that Regina was trying to hid something by planning to cover up the old mines and that they had to go down there and investigate.

"It's just some old mines," said Emma trying to talk him out of it.

"That just happen to cave in after you got here. You must have done something new today," countered Henry and Archie watched Emma's hand touch her new badge and look at him stunned.

"Henry! What did I tell you? Deputy Swan do your job!" snapped Regina and Archie started to walk away hoping to avoid her when she called out to him.

"Ok we're done with this!"

"Done with what?" asked Archie.

"My son. We need a new treatment plan. Everything I do he thinks is part of some evil scheme." I'm starting to see why, thought Archie. "I can't even cover up a safety hazard without him thinking I'm up to no good and hiding something! How does any of that make sense?"

"Well he has an amazing imagination..."started Archie and Regina cut him off.

"That you let run wild!"

"Well I think it would be unfair to rip away the world he's created when I can use it to reach him," said Archie and Regina glared at him.

"Sometimes I think you forget who you work for and you work for me! I can fire you...this is my town! You will lose your office, lose your house, I can cut you down to size until you are a tiny shrunken creature and this will be the only roof over your damn head," hissed Regina taking his umbrella from him.

"What would you have me do?" asked Archie defeated.

"You take that delusion out of my son's head and you crush it," she said and shoved his umbrella back at him and walked away like he was nothing. Because you are. Archie watched Henry get in Regina's car and drive home. Archie started his long and lonely walk back to his office with only Regina's voice hissing in his ear about how he was nothing and Natalie's voice telling him that she thought he was a better person than this. Too bad she was wrong.

By the time Saturday came around Archie found himself trying to figure out how to reach Henry about this fairy tale and make him stop it when Marco came in.

"Hey lunch time," said Marco.

"What? Oh lunch, I'm sorry I forgot I have another patient. Another time?" asked Archie. Marco looked at his friend and couldn't help but noticed how flustered and distracted he seem and it seemed to be his current mood all the time now and Marco could only chalk up his friend's distresses to a certain blond haired, blue eyed woman that hadn't spoken to him in over a week. Well I'm going to have to fix that.

"Sure," Henry dashed in and grinned at Marco. "Hey Henry. You have a good session." He patted the boy on the head and left to find the cause of Archie's problems. It's always a woman, thought Marco.

"Are you recruiting Geppetto for Operation Cobra?" asked Henry.

"You think Marco is Geppetto?" asked Archie trying not to get mad at the child.

"Well sure. He's Jiminy Cricket's best friend and Marco is yours," said Henry as if explaining why two plus two equals four.

"Look Henry we need to talk about this," said Archie trying to figure out how to do this.

"I know you're not convinced, but I know where we can get proof," Henry handed over his backpack and Archie started looking through it.

"Flashlight, candy bars...oh Henry no you can not go down into the mine," said Archie suddenly fearful. Maybe Regina was right and we need to stop this now.

"Emma is here and stuff is happening and I have to look into it!" countered Henry.

"Henry. Henry you need to stop now." Archie sat him down and than he sat down across from him. "There is no proof! All of this...all of this is a delusion! Do you know what a delusion is?" Henry looked at him confused and worried.

"I think so."

"It something that is not real and it's not healthy! I thought that you would out grow this, but now it's turned into a psychosis and do you know what that means? It means you can no longer tell what is real and what is not and if that continues...than they will have to lock you away. Henry, look this has to stop and you need to wake up. This nonsense must end!" Henry sat there for a few seconds and than his eyes clouded over and his face went red. He picked up his backpack and slammed out of his office. Oh god what did I do? Archie quickly wiped his own eyes, he had for all intents and purposes bullied his own patient, a child and it was a child that trusted him without thought with all his fears and hopes only have Archie turn around and use them to scare the boy. Pongo looked up at him confused and Archie just sat there. I thought you were a better a person...you thought wrong.

…...

Natalie adjusted the basket on her lap and wheeled herself down the aisle of the store. Tom must have redone the shelves and now her favorite cereal was on the top shelf. Sighing Natalie got out what Graham called her grabby stick and went to get the box down when Marco reached up and got it for her.

"This was the one right?" he asked placing it in her basket.

"Yeah. Thanks." Natalie started to head down the aisle and Marco was right next to her.

"In case you need anything else," he said. Normally, Natalie was against this sort of extra help. After all she was an adult who could take care of herself, however she just couldn't say no to the older man. He was a sweet guy who most likely was used to getting things off the top shelf for his wife out of kindness and habit. She had to admit when she was done it was nice to have company. They say chivalry is dead, I would argue against it right now.

"Thanks. You probably saved Tom a bunch of time and headache from me knocking stuff down by mistake," she said at checkout. Tom went to hand her the bag when Marco took it.

"I'll carry it home for you," he said and Natalie shrugged. She knew she couldn't say no without hurting his feelings.

"You know you're spoiling me right." They left the store and Natalie kept a slow pace next to him. Summer was finally starting to come in and it could be felt in the temperature. They made it back to her apartment and Natalie felt the least she could do is invite him for some water.

"Actually I was hoping to talk to you anyway. It's about Archie," said Marco and Natalie bit the inside of her cheek as he went on. "He hasn't been himself since you two had your fight."

"What fight?" asked Natalie and Marco frowned at her.

"You should know how this town works by now." Now it was Natalie's turn to frown.

"If I want to what I'm doing I should go sit at Granny's and someone will tell me what I'm doing. Listen we just had a disagreement and we just needed to go to our corners and chill until we have both cleared our heads."

"He's not clearing his head and neither are you. He likes you," said Marco.

"I like Archie too, he's a good friend...most of the time," said Natalie and Marco shook his head.

"He Likes you," said Marco and Natalie found herself at a lost for words as the realization started sinking in. Marco pulled his chair over to her and sat down across from her.

"Archie has to keep secrets, everyone's secrets, all the time and sometimes he forgets that he doesn't have to keep his own. It's why he's never been able to say it," said Marco.

"And you know this how?" asked Natalie trying to get her thoughts together.

"I was in love a very long time ago and how he is with you, is how it was with my wife. Just think about it, please," said Marco and Natalie nodded. "You're a nice girl and you'll figure out what to do when the time is right. Just for his sake, give him some hope."

"Ok." Marco bent down and gave her hug and Natalie couldn't help but hug him back.

"Take care," said Marco taking his leave of her and Natalie wished she had thought to buy herself something stronger than OJ to drink. He likes me...me...of all the people in all the world...me.

…...

Since it was Saturday and since he had no other patients Archie poured himself some Scotch and took a sip. After the past few days, he figured he deserved an irresponsible coping device. He couldn't believe how terrible he had been to Henry and he had a feeling it was going to be Natalie all over again. He had managed to hurt two of the people who saw good in him, now if he could just piss Marco and Pongo off the circle would be complete. Pongo jumped on the sofa next to him and nudged his hand. Archie started rubbing the dog behind his ears and took another sip of his drink.

"You know what the worst part of all this is boy. It's that I care about them." He cared about them more than he was willing to admit right now. Henry really didn't have friends his own age, he couldn't talk to Regina and Henry had never brought up wanting a father. It only took a few sessions for Archie to realize that he might be the closest thing to a male/father figure that Henry had in his life. He needed someone to understand him, it's why he brought Emma here to be with him.

Natalie was a different story. At first, he had tried to chalk up his feelings for her as purely physical in nature. She was pretty and had he been a different type of person he might have just tried for just a causal fling, but that wasn't him and he had a good feeling that wasn't her either. She had helped Henry open up to him and she didn't have to. She had shown patience with him that his own mother seemed to lack with all his questions about everything.

She was a far stronger person than he would ever be. One day Henry was playing around with Pongo and another dog in the main area of the shelter and somehow they managed to knock Natalie and her chair over. Henry was terribly upset and Archie was worried that somehow they had managed to hurt her even more. Natalie shook it off, had him pick up her chair and she pulled herself back up again. She had to keep assuring them that she was fine and that it was just one of those things, you just had to pick yourself sometimes. It was something he didn't know how to do.

"ARCHIE! Snapped Emma. Oh boy another woman who hates me. She slammed into his office looking more upset than anything. "What did you do? You told me to not take the fantasy away that it would destroy him!"

"If the course of therapy stops working you have to find another treatment," said Archie.

"Is it her! Is it Regina?" asked Emma hitting the nail on the head. "Did she threaten you? What could be so important to drown out your own conscience?"

"I do not need to defend my professional opinion to you," said Archie. Emma just rolled her eyes as her phone rang.

"Hello Madam Mayor. Nice work! Yeah I'm with Dr. Hopper and guess what you left your fingerprints all over him." Emma paused and her face fell. "I dropped Henry off at your office an hour ago. I don't know where he is." Archie didn't think it was possible to feel any more guilt ridden at that second.

"I know where he is." Emma hung up her phone and looked at him. "He wanted to go into the mines." Emma's face went stone cold and she turned on her heel and ran out of his office. I thought you were a better person. Archie grabbed Pongo and his umbrella and ran after Emma.

They ran to mines and started calling out for Henry and got no reply and Archie started fearing the worse. What if he fell and hit his head...this is all my fault.

"I don't think he's here," said Emma. Pongo was whining and digging at something near the opening.

"What is it boy?" Archie found one of Henry's candy bars. "He was here."

"Maybe he was and than he left," said Emma trying to be hopeful.

"Do we really want to take that shot?" asked Archie. The ground started to quake again and without really thinking what he was doing he went into the mine.

"Henry...Henry it's not safe!" He heard Emma scream at him and than he heard nothing. The opening was gone and was replaced with solid rock. Just find the boy. Archie reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a thing of matches he always kept for Marco in case he wanted to smoke and his umbrella.

"Henry," called out Archie fearful of starting another cave in. Suddenly he was blinded by a light and he dropped the match.

"Archie! You came to help me."The boy sounded so hopeful and it the situation wasn't so serious Archie would have been happy to know that the boy still trusted him a little.

"No we have to get out of here," said Archie and Henry pulled away from him.

"So you're still against me."

"Henry please there is no time for this we have to get out of here."

"No. You don't believe me. You'll see!" Henry took off down the tunnel and Archie seeing no other way followed the boy further into the mine. It took Archie more than ten minutes to find Henry trying to reach into a crack.

"There's something shiny down there."

"Henry it is seriously dangerous in here and we need to leave."

"But it might be something." Henry tried to reach his arm in and Archie grabbed him.

"Look at me! I'm frightened for you,"

"Because you think I'm crazy?" asked Henry.

"No! No! It is because we are trapped in an abandoned mine and there is no way out."

Natalie was reading a book when the second earthquake hit and she winced has she heard glass hit the floor. Thankfully it only lasted a few seconds and she felt safe to go and clean up what fell over. Thankfully it was only a vase and an ugly mug that she had gotten one Christmas. She cleaned up the glass and than she heard a pounding at her door.

"Hold on," she went to the door and saw it was Marco looking very grave.

"Just come with me right now," said Marco

"What...why?" asked Natalie feeling her stomach drop.

"The mine caved in and I was with Graham when he got the call. Henry was in the cave and Archie went in after him.

"Oh god." She followed Marco to his car and he helped her get in and placed her chair in the back. The drive only took a few minutes and it felt like forever to her. I was so mean to him...what if I don't get to say I'm sorry? Marco parked the car.

"I'm going to see what I can do to help. I'll get your chair out first," said Marco going to the back and getting it for her. Natalie pulled herself in the chair and Marco went to see what he could do. Ruby came over to her Pongo and the dog tried to jump on her while whining and barking.

"Hey boy. I know...I know. It's going to be ok," said Natalie petting him.

"I hope so," said Ruby. Emma and Regina were fighting again, but it stopped quickly and they worked on a plan of action. They were going to blow up the entrance. They took Pongo from her and placed him in a fire truck and made everyone get behind cars when they lit the fuse and the boom shook her chair. Emma went to see what had happened and came back up.

"It didn't open!" she cried.

"Than what did it do?" asked Graham. Regina turned her fury to the workers and the group tried to come up with a new plan. All the while Pongo was barking, Natalie was about send Ruby over to bring her the dog when Emma went over to the truck and let him out. She had always known Pongo was smarter than the rest and he proved it by finding an old shaft entrance.

…...

Archie's head was ringing and he could feel a goose egg rising on his forehead from when he hit the floor of the elevator. They had found the elevator by following Pongo's barks and were trying to get it to go up when an explosion rocked the mine and the elevator fell. Henry was looking up to see how far they had fallen and couldn't tell. He sat down slowly.

"I am really, really, really sorry," said Henry.

"It's alright," said Archie.

"I just really wanted to find proof."

"No it's really alright Henry and for what it's worth I'm sorry too. I don't think you're crazy. I just think you have a very strong mother who wants you on a certain path and when you get off that path she doesn't know what to do, but it's not fair to you. You should be free to be who you want to be and to think the things you want to think. So I didn't mean those things I said and I shouldn't have said them," said Archie.

"Than why did you?" asked Henry.

"I guess it's because I'm not a very good person. I'm not the man I wanted to be," admitted Archie. The elevator shook dangerously and Henry looked fearful for a second.

"I think you can be him. I think you can be a good person. I mean you're Jiminy Cricket," said Henry and Archie sighed.

"Jiminy Cricket...he was a cricket. He was a conscience and I hardly think that is me."

"But before that he was a guy who took a long time to figure out the right thing to do." Archie sat back and couldn't believe he was getting life advice from a ten year while they were stuck in a mine.

"I guess that sounds like me."

"But now it's harder for you because of the curse to hear the voice inside of you. To be who you want to be," said Henry. I want to be the person that Henry and Natalie thinking I can be. A good person. The elevator shook again and Archie made a promise to himself. If we get out of here I'm going to stand by Henry and I'm going to ask Natalie out for a date...We just have to get out of here.

"Hey can I ask you again?" asked Archie. Henry was digging in his bag for a snack.

"Ask me what?"

"Why is it so important that your fairy tale theory is true?" asked Archie and Henry shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Just give it a shot." Henry handed him some candy.

"Because this can't be all there is."

"I understand," said Archie. The need for there to be something more is natural and there would be no stopping that.

"I thought if I found proof, but I didn't find anything."

"That's not true. You found me."

"You remember?" asked Henry smiling.

"No I don't remember. But I do remember they type of person I want to be. I just have to listen hard," said Archie and he smiled at Henry. More rocks were starting to fall on them, but this time there was a light coming with them.

"What is that?" asked Henry.

"I think it's a rescue," said Archie. The light got closer and soon enough it was Emma Swan pulling Henry to safety with his help. The elevator started shaking violently and there was no way for Emma to get him before it fell.

"I'm sorry," said Emma.

"It's ok," he said. Sometimes you have to pull yourself up. He still had his lucky umbrella and Emma had a hook he could latch on too. The elevator fell and there he was dangling god knows how many feet in the air, still alive.

"Can we go now," teased Archie. The decent up was slow, they had to be careful so the sides wouldn't cave in. When he got to the top, Marco grabbed his hand and pulled him up. The old man hugged him tightly.

"If you want to give me a heart attack just give me some bacon in the future," said Marco.

"I'll keep that in in mind," said Archie unhooking himself. He looked over to see Emma trying to give Henry a hug only to have Regina push her away. Emma stood there stunned and Archie felt his own temper kick in. She saved our lives, not you. It was than Regina turned to him smiling.

"Thank you Dr. Hopper for keeping him safe."

"I would like a word with you," said Archie and they stepped away from the crowd. "I'm going to continue to treat Henry and I'm going to do it my own way." Regina frowned looking at him.

"My relief at his safety changes nothing. You will do as a I say or..."Archie cut her off.

"Or you'll do what? You'll ruin my life, you'll do your worst. Because I will always do my best."

"Don't test me!"

"Oh I don't need to, because you are going to let me do my work in peace."

"And why is that?" asked Regina and Archie couldn't help but smile.

"Because Madam Mayor you might find yourself in a custody battle and you know how they determine who the fit parent is? The consult an expert, particularly one who as treated the child. So I suggest you think about that and you allow me to do my work and let me do it the way my conscience tells me too." Archie walked away from her and she stood there stunned. Unknown to either of them Natalie had been near the truck and heard the whole exchange and couldn't help but feel proud of her friend for finding his courage.

It turned into a party around the sink hole, Rudy and Gus got food and drinks from Granny's and everyone just sat around watching the sun set. Natalie was out of her chair sitting on the grass near Graham and some of the others. Marco and Archie were in the sink hole talking.

"Hey listen," cried Henry and Natalie turned away from the party noise and was stunned to hear crickets. When was the last time I heard those?

"Crickets," said Archie.

"They're back. Things are changing," said Henry.

"Come on you," said Emma and the group walked over to them and Natalie sat there trying to find something to say to him and nothing was coming to her.

"Here have a drink," said Marco handing her a flask.

"I can't drink and wheel," joked Natalie.

"I would ticket you," said Graham. The party was starting to get rowdier as time went on and Emma took Henry home, Graham had to head back to the station house to file the paperwork.

"You want me to take you home?" asked Graham.

"I'll have Marco take me home," she said. He left and Natalie found herself sitting alone listening to the party. Archie noticed that she was sitting by herself and broke away from the crowd to talk with her.

"Hey," he said sitting down next to her.

"Hey," she said.

"Listen I just..."started Archie and Natalie shook her head.

"It's ok." She knew he was trying to apologize, but she didn't need him to anymore.

"No I just..."

"Let's just forget the whole thing ok," said Natalie and Archie smiled at her. "As anyone looked at that?" Archie had a huge scrape on his forehead.

"It's nothing," he said.

"Go get me a first aid kit now please," she said. Archie got up and found a first aid kit. He sat down again and watched Natalie pull out some alcohol, cotton balls and a band-aid. "You don't have any gravel in it." She soaked the cotton in the alcohol and started cleaning the scrape.

"Ouch," winced Archie.

"Oh stop being a baby," she teased. She placed the band-aid on his forehead. "Better?"

"Yeah." It grew silent again and Natalie took a deep breath.

"I'm really glad your ok," she said.

"So am I," said Archie.

"That's not what I meant." She reached over and hugged him and it stunned him for a second before he hugged her back.

"Hey. Let's head home," said Marco coming over with her chair.

"Can you help me?" asked Natalie. She put an arm around his neck and he placed an arm around her waist to help her back into the chair. They helped her back into the car and Marco drove back to town and they dropped Natalie off at her apartment first and Archie got out the car to help her back into her chair.

"I guess I'll see you later," said Natalie and she started to wheel herself inside when Archie called out to her.

"Are you free for dinner next week?" She turned around and was stunned, even Archie looked a little stunned at himself.

"You mean like a date?" asked Natalie. Archie stood there for a second and than he nodded.

"Yes. Like a date," said Archie.

"Yes," said Natalie.

"Ok than," said Archie. "I'll talk to you later...we'll set up a time. Good night Natalie."

"Good night." Natalie let herself into her apartment and Archie got back into Marco's car and couldn't stop smiling.

"So how was your day?" asked Marco.

"All in all...not too bad," said Archie with a smile and Marco just shook his head.

"It's about damn time."

Odette started tapping at the window near sun down. Geppetto and Pinocchio looked up from their work to see her tapping.

"You want out? Here you go," said Geppetto opening the window for her and placing her outside. Jiminy decided to follow her outside, he watched her walk away from the cabin and towards the woods. The sun was starting to set and she was watching it set intently.

"Please work," he heard her mutter. The moment the sun went down Jiminy watched as Odette started to glow blue and in the next second she turned into a woman with long blond hair and wearing a long gray dress. She stood there for a second before she started laughing.

"You said I had to stay at the lake, you didn't say it couldn't come with me," she called out into the night and Jiminy saw she was holding a necklace that looked like an glass locket filled with water. They hadn't noticed it before due to her wing.

"That was clever," said a voice and Jiminy saw the Blue Fairy come down and Odette looked at her stunned.

"I had help," said Odette.

"Some yes, but you did most of the work on your own. I wish I could reward you for that," said Blue Fairy.

"You can't undo the curse?" asked Odette sadly.

"It's dark magic beyond my power. I can't break your curse, but I can help you on your journey. The princess and her future prince will need guidance and it will be up to you and your traveling companion to provide them with that," said Blue Fairy.

"Traveling companion?" asked Odette. Blue Fairy smiled.

"Jiminy I know your there," said Blue Fairy and he flew over to Odette and landed on her shoulder.

"I believe we've met," said Jiminy and Odette gave him a small smile. The Blue Fairy looked at them.

"I know you two will give the best counsel to the princess and prince when they call upon you," said Blue Fairy.

"But he can't leave his family," said Odette.

"It's up to Jiminy, I promise that Geppetto and Pinocchio will be safe if he decides to accompany you. The fate of the relam is in the balance and it can be tipped by the smallest thing," said Blue Fairy. Jiminy knew she was telling him that he needed to go, even if he was worried about what would happen to his friend and his son.

"I'll go," said Jiminy. Odette gave him another smile.

"You should take this evening to rest and start your journey tomorrow night. We'll talk to Geppetto about keeping a better eye on his little wooden boy. Come on, let's go inside," said Blue Fairy flying ahead.

"Thank you for agreeing to come with me. It's very kind of you," said Odette.

"Sometimes we can all use some kindness," said Jiminy. Odette nodded and they went back towards the cabin.

Notes-Ep's used-That still small voice.