Avia is in her room, sitting in the middle of her bed, looking down at the 'missing' page from the back of her book. It's an illustration of Snow White and Prince Charming together inside of their bedroom. Snow White is holding a newborn baby with a little girl perched right in between herself and Prince Charming. They're all staring down at the baby with happy, tearful smiles upon their faces. Any other person wouldn't find this so unusual. They would just see it as fairy tale characters from a book gathered together as a family. Avia would have, too, if it wasn't for the names of Snow White and Prince Charming's children. She wondered if this was some sort of joke being pulled on her.
As Avia continues to ponder, but her thoughts are soon interrupted by Mary Margaret. "Avia, you're going to be late for school!" She shouts from downstairs.
Avia continues to scowl at the page in front of her. She was definitely going to have to find August and get to the bottom of this. Avia folds the page up and stuffs it into her backpack.
It's only been a couple of days since Mary Margaret was released from jail, but everyone was adjusting back to how things were before. Although Emma and Mary Margaret noticed how attached Avia would be to both of them whenever either of them was around. As hard as Mary Margaret had tried to lower Avia's walls, these past couple of weeks was enough to draw them higher than ever before. Emma understood Avia's reluctance to leave them. This only proved no matter how good things may seem, Avia could still be taken away in an instant. It scared her; and quite honestly it scared Emma, too.
Avia runs downstairs, dropping her backpack onto the floor before hopping into the stool at the counter. Mary Margaret looks curiously at her foster daughter as she sets a plate of food down in front of her. "Hey. What was taking you so long?"
"Oh, sorry." Avia says as she digs into her food. "I just couldn't find anything to wear."
Mary Margaret narrows her eyes, knowing that's not true. But she decided not to question Avia on it. "Well, eat up, or we're both going to be late."
Avia looks around. "Wait. Where's Emma? She usually takes me to school on her way into work."
"She went to the hospital to speak to Kathryn. Even though I was found innocent, we still need to know what happened to Kathryn and where's she been these last couple of weeks."
Avia nods, understanding. "Hey. You know, we could always ditch school." She grins, mischievously. "You've only been back in the real world for two days."
Mary Margaret grins. "I'll manage. We're going."
Avia sighs, rolling her eyes. "Fine. But don't come crying to me when you struggle to interact with the outside world."
Mary Margaret just smiles, shaking her head, amused. She knew Avia was just trying to get them both out of going to school so they will stay together. But to get back to normalcy they needed to continue with their lives just as they did before Mary Margaret got locked up.
At the hospital, Emma walks into Kathryn's room where Kathryn is being examined by Dr. Whale.
"Emma." The doctor greets the sheriff. "Come on in. Look who's awake."
Emma walks closer to the bed. "Kathryn, hi. Listen, I don't want to take a lot of your time. But do you remember what happened?"
"I don't know much." Kathryn says, her memory still a little fogged. "I was in a car accident, and I remember the air bag going off. And the next thing I knew, I was in the dark, in some basement. I didn't see anyone, but there was food and water. And then I guess I was drugged." She assumes, looking up at Dr. Whale.
"Yeah." Dr. Whale confirms. "We're still trying to flush that out of your system."
"And then I woke up in a field at the edge of the town, and I started walking and that's when that man found me."
"August." Emma says.
"Yeah."
"Well, besides August, did you see anyone else? Did you hear any voices? Or smell perfume? Cologne? Anything?"
Kathryn shakes her head. "Nothing. No. I'm sorry. I wish I could help. Especially since, while I was gone, you thought I was dead?" She asks, baffled.
"Your D.N.A. matched the heart we found." Emma clarifies.
"They're grilling everybody down at the hospital lab to see who doctored the D.N.A. results." Dr. Whales informs them.
"Why would anyone do this?" Kathryn asks.
"I think someone was trying to frame Mary Margaret." Emma tells her.
"But why? I mean, who would do something like that?" Emma and Dr. Whale share a look. Emma only had one person in mind.
"You broke our deal." Regina accuses Mr. Gold as they stand in his shop.
"I broke one deal in my life, dear, and it certainly wasn't this one." Mr. Gold says with a wink.
"Kathryn was supposed to die, and Mary Margaret was to get the blame." Regina argues.
"Yeah, murder seems so much worse here, though, doesn't it? You can't just turn someone into a snail and then step on them, can you? You didn't say 'kill her.' We agreed that something tragic should happen to her. Now abduction is tragic."
"The intent was perfectly clear."
"Oh, let's not talk about intent. Intent is meaningless."
"Intent is everything."
"Please." Mr. Gold sneers, shutting Regina up.
Regina exhales. "This is going to raise all kinds of questions about where she was and how the test results were fake." She says, calmly, yet inside she was panicking.
"Oh, yes. And who put the key in her cell." Mr. Gold reminds the mayor.
"It's all going to lead to me, isn't it? You bastard." Regina glares. "This doesn't make any sense. You and I – we've been in this, together, from the start."
Mr. Gold chuckles. "Oh, have we?"
"You created the curse for me – the curse that brought us here and built all this."
"Yeah, it's about time you said, 'thank you.'" Mr. Gold teases.
"Why did you do it?"
"Well, you're a smart woman, your majesty." Mr. Gold steps closer into Regina's face. "Figure it out."
While on their way to school, Mary Margaret keeps glancing at Avia whose eyes are focused to what's outside her window as if she is deep in thought. According to Emma, Avia is usually all talks on their way to school. So, Mary Margaret couldn't help but wonder if Avia was maybe nervous about being separating from them for a few hours, or if there was something else lingering inside the girl's head.
"Hey. Are you going to be okay?" Mary Margaret asks.
Avia quickly turns, looking at her foster mother. She plasters on a fake smile that Mary Margaret could see right through. "Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm going to be fine. Are you going to be okay?" She grins.
Mary Margaret rolls her eyes playfully. "Yes. I'll be fine. I'm just worried about you, though. You seem like you have something on your mind. Or is your head bothering you? I noticed a lot of your pills weren't missing which means you weren't taking them while I was away."
Avia looks down. "Uh. My head's fine."
"Avia…"
"Really." Avia interrupts. "I barely had any headaches while you were away. Honest."
"Barely means you had some." Mary Margaret says, worried. "Which means you didn't take your medicine."
"Mary Margaret, I promise, I'm fine."
Mary Margaret lets out a heavy sigh. "Fine." She gives in. "But promise me next time your head begins to hurt, even if it's just a little bit, you tell me. Okay?" Avia nods. "Avia."
"Yeah. Okay." Avia smiles. She grabs her backpack wanting to get away from this conversation before Mary Margaret forced her to say something she'll regret. "See you later."
"Have a great day, sweetie." Mary Margaret smiles softly as she watches Avia jump out of the vehicle and run into the school. Before she could drive down the road to her own school, she notices David walking down the street. Her heart skips a beat seeing the man again – the man she fell in love with and, yet, she couldn't help but remember him accusing her of killing Kathryn. Mary Margaret wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to forgive him.
Kathryn is laying, asleep, when David walks into her room. He goes walks closer to her bed, staring helplessly down at the woman he calls his wife. Memories of their last encounter swimming around in his head. He couldn't help but feel remorseful for how they left things with one another.
He bends down to kiss her on her temple, but before he can connect, Kathryn wakes up with a frighten gasp. "I'm sorry." David quickly apologizes.
"What are you doing?" She asks.
"I was trying to kiss you on your forehead." He says, feeling dumb for even attempting. "It was meant to be sweet."
Kathryn chuckles, finally relaxing. "Well, thank you. It's good to see you."
"Kathryn, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm sorry I cheated on you. I'm just so sorry for all of this."
"David, it's okay. You know, what we had, it wasn't it for you." Kathryn says, understanding. "Maybe for both of us. I can't blame you for just being the first one to see it."
David scoffs, amused. "You are kind of amazing."
"Yeah, I am." Kathryn laughs. "Now go on. Get out of here so I can get some rest."
"I'm gonna give you that kiss on the forehead now."
"Knock yourself out." David leans in and kisses Kathryn gently on her forehead. He pulls away and they smile at one another before David walks out.
Later that night, the town decided to throw Mary Margaret a welcome back party much to Avia's dismay. The fact that now that these people know Mary Margaret's innocent, they want to party for her when not long ago they were all pointing fingers at her, blaming her for Kathryn's murder. Avia couldn't help but be bothered that Emma and Mary Margaret weren't bothered by this as well.
"There's a lot of people here." Avia says as she stands at the counter with Emma and Mary Margaret as they look around the crowded apartment.
"Well, they're here to welcome Mary Margaret back." Emma tells her. "She has a lot of friends."
Avia frowns. "Where were they these last couple of weeks then?" Mary Margaret wraps her arm around Avia, squeezing her gently as she shares a look with Emma. Avia sees August walk through the front door. "I'll be right back." Emma and Mary Margaret frown slightly, confused, as they watch Avia run upstairs.
"I'm worried about her." Mary Margaret says.
Emma nods. "Yeah. Me, too. This whole almost leaving thing really freaked her out." Emma sighs. "She hasn't even unpacked her bag yet."
Mary Margaret furrows her brows. "What? She hasn't?"
Emma shakes her head. "When I was in the system, I never unpacked my bag, and neither did Avia. This has been the first place, ever, that Avia has felt safe enough to unpack. But then, Lucy shows up and that's when she realized her safe place wasn't as safe as she believed it was. Avia may seem like she's okay on the outside, but on the inside she's angry at herself. She's angry for getting attached to you and, yet, she doesn't want to be too far from you, or me, because she's afraid she'll lose us completely. But if something doesn't change, then that bag up there will never be unpacked ever again."
Mary Margaret knows Emma's right. If she didn't do something soon, then she may lose Avia forever. Emma watches as Mary Margaret opens up one of the drawers in the kitchen and pulls out a small stack of papers. Mary Margaret places it down in front of Emma. "I just wanted to talk to you first." She says quietly. Emma's eyes widen when she sees that it's adoption papers. "Lucy gave them to me before she left. She told me that she's never seen Avia so attached to anyone but you before. She said that she believes Avia has finally found the home she's been hoping for even if she won't admit it. But, this, - " Mary Margaret taps the papers. " – this will hopefully fix all her doubts."
Emma takes a deep breath, holding back her tears. "Why would you need to talk to me, though?"
Mary Margaret smiles softly, placing a hand onto Emma's arm. "Because you're her big sister and we both know she isn't going to do anything that you aren't comfortable with. I'll be honest. I almost wish I met you both years before because then I could be doing this for the both of you – giving you both a family. But papers or not, Emma, you're my family. You said it yourself." Emma laughs lightly, obviously a bit uncomfortable by the love she was receiving from this woman. "But we can't turn back time." Mary Margaret continues. "But at least I'll know if Avia agrees to this, you won't be going anywhere either."
Before Emma could respond, a knock at the door grabs her attention away from the adoption papers. She wanted to tell Mary Margaret, 'Yes! Yes! Adopt my sister. Give her a family – a mom.' But something was holding her back. So, she was grateful for the distraction. "I'll get that." Emma smiles awkwardly. Mary Margaret watches the oldest Swan sadly as she sets the adoption papers back into the drawer.
Avia runs downstairs and decides to open the door just as Emma walks up behind her. Both girls scowl when they see David.
"Hey." David smiles at the girls. "Hey, Avia."
"Hi." Avia says slowly. "What are you doing here?"
"Uh. Well, I – "
Emma turns and looks at Mary Margaret who quickly shakes her head. Emma closes the door enough to hide Mary Margaret from David's view. "She's kinda tired." Emma tells him. "I think if you just give it some time."
"I just wanted to – "
"She doesn't want to see you." Avia blurts out. Emma glares down at her sister. "What?" Avia shrugs. "I'm tired of no one speaking the truth anymore. You screwed up. She doesn't want to see you." Avia turns and walks away.
David sighs. "I'm sorry." Emma apologizes. "She's had a rough few days."
David nods. "I understand." Emma closes the door.
Avia walks across the room where August is. "We need to talk."
August grins. "And what do we possibly need to talk about?"
Avia grabs the page from her back pocket. "This."
August stares at the page in Avia's hand and smiles. "Meet me tomorrow after school outside of Granny's. We'll talk then." August stands up and walks out of the apartment leaving Avia staring down at the empty seat.
Mary Margaret walks up, trailing her hand down Avia's hair. "Hey. Are you okay?"
Avia looks up and forces a smile at her foster mother. "Yeah. I'm fine."
"What's that you have there?" Mary Margaret asks, seeing the page in Avia's hand.
"Oh." Avia stuffs it back into her pocket. "Nothing." She looks around and notices that the place was slowly starting to clear out. "My head is actually starting to hurt a little. Do you mind if I go upstairs?"
Mary Margaret frowns, concerned. "Sure, babe. I'll be up in a little bit to give you your pill." Avia simply nods, avoiding the worried stare Mary Margaret is giving her and runs upstairs.
The next morning, Emma walks into the diner and to the booth where Sidney is residing.
"Hey, Sidney." She says, sitting across from him.
"Emma, hey." He says, taken aback. "So things certainly did work out, didn't they, for your friend?"
"You told me you could help me with Mary Margaret, and I wanted to believe you. But, eventually, there are things that even a blind sheriff – " Emma takes out a 'bug' she found hidden in her office. She could only think of the one person she showed that trick to. " – cannot ignore."
"Is that a bug?" He asks, dumbly.
"Oh, for goodness sakes, Sidney, drop it. You fooled me, you spied on me, and you reported it all back to that sick, crazy woman." She accuses. "I can't even imagine what she has on you, but it must be something huge."
"She's a good mayor."
"She tried to get Mary Margaret convicted of a murder that didn't even happen. You're in a lot of trouble. There is a D.N.A trail in a basement of some house out there, and I'm gonna find it, and she's gonna go away."
"Maybe. But I wouldn't bet against her. She's an amazing woman."
"Do you – " Emma stops when she realizes what is really happening – the reason Sidney is taking Regina's side in all of this. "Are you in love with her?" Emma asks, but Sidney looks down refusing to answer. "Fine. Whatever. Here's the thing – before you know it, I will have that evidence, and you need to think long and hard. You can either help and help yourself, or you're gonna go down with her, too." Emma walks away leaving Sidney to decide his fate.
Nick and Avia walk out of school. "Hey. Do you want to hang out? My mom's been a little preoccupied since Mrs. Nolan's reappearance. So, I don't think she'll care."
"Uh. I can't. I have something I have to do." Avia tells him, as she throws her backpack over her shoulder.
"Well, I'll go with you." Nick says, starting to follow.
Avia turns around, stopping him. "You can't."
Nick furrows her brows. "Why not? Where are you going?"
"I just have to meet someone. I'll talk to you later." Avia runs off, but Nick was not just going to stand by and let her go off on her own just to have her hurt again.
Avia is pacing back and forth in back of Granny's Bed and Breakfast. August was supposed to meet her, but it's been over twenty minutes and if she's not back home soon she was sure Mary Margaret was going to have Emma out searching for her.
"Ugh!" Avia groans. She couldn't wait anymore. Avia walks into the bed and breakfast and slips by Granny who is at the desk, running upstairs to August's room. She knocks loudly on the door. "August! August, are you in there? You were supposed to be meet downstairs, remember? August?" Avia shakes her head. Of course, August would tell her to find it the missing page and the not want to give her an explanation for it. Why would anyone want to tell her the truth anymore? Avia decides to give up and begins to walk away until a loud bang comes from inside of August's room. "August?" She shouts, concerned. Avia slowly grabs the doorknob and twists, seeing it open slightly. "August, the door's unlocked. I'm coming in." She warns him. Avia walks in and finds August on the floor on his hands and knees. "August!" She runs over, grabbing him by the arm. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"I'm fine." August says, clenching his teeth from the pain he was obviously in. August stands up, but he falls right back down, thankfully right on the bed this time.
"What's wrong with your leg?" Avia asks.
"Nothing." August exhales. "Just a little muscle spasm."
"That's doesn't look like a muscle spasm to me. Maybe you should have Dr. Whale check it out."
"That's okay." He finally catches his breath and looks at Avia. "So, did you bring something for me?"
Avia forces her eyes away from August's leg, remembering why she was there in the first place. "Uh, yeah." She pulls the page from out of her bookbag and unfolds it. "Why is mine and Emma's names on this page?"
August smiles. "So, you found it."
Avia sighs. "Well, no, not really. My case worker found it when she was staying in my room."
"Did she read it?"
"I don't know. She just said it looked like something that belonged in my book. So, again, why are our names on this? Did you do it?"
"Why do you think your names are on there, Avia?"
Avia groans in frustration. "Can you not be cryptic today, August? I just want the truth." She says, her voice becoming quieter. "Please."
August exhales. "I'm not sure you can handle the truth, Avia."
"Try me." Avia challenges.
August lets out a long breath. He pats the spot next to him on the bed which Avia immediately takes. "A long time ago I promised my father that I would protect you and Emma, but – " He looks down, ashamed. " – I failed. I failed Emma. I failed you. I failed everyone."
"Your father?" Avia asks, quizzically. "Who's your father?"
"Here in Storybrooke you all know him as Marco. But in my world, your world, we know him as Geppetto."
Avia furrows her brows in confusion. Why did she know that name? Then her eyes widen when she remembers where she's heard that name before. "Wait. Are you talking about Pinocchio? The fairytale characters, Pinocchio and Geppetto? The one where the wooden boy turns into a real boy?"
August nods. "The one and only. In your book there's a wardrobe that your parents sent you and your sister through to protect you from the evil queen's curse. My father built the wardrobe and we lied to your parents saying only two could go through so that my father could save me. But I failed him. I ran away not long after we were all placed into a group home." He explains with tears. "I was selfish and left you and Emma to care for yourselves. I'm sorry, Avia." Avia, who was staring across the room, was dumbfounded by what she was hearing coming from August. "Avia." August nudges the girl.
Avia looks at August. "You're insane."
"Avia, I – "
"You realize what you're saying to me is that you believe that everything in that book is real – that everyone in Storybrooke are fairytale characters."
"They just don't remember who they are because of the evil queen's curse." August finishes.
Avia jumps from her spot on the bed and begins pacing the floor. She rubs her hands across her face. "Oh, my gosh. You really need to go see Dr. Whale and have him check your head! You must have hit it when you fell!"
"Avia, I'm not lying to you." He walks over to the girl, grabbing her by her shoulders to stop her from pacing. He grabs the page from her hands and shows her the illustration. "These people are your parents. Snow White and Prince Charming are your parents. This little girl right here is Emma and you are the newborn baby laying in your mother's arms."
Avia snatches the page out of August's hand. "My parents left me and Emma on the side of the road!" She shouts furiously. "Our parents didn't want us. This – " Avia waves the page in the air. " – is not real! None of this is real. It's just a book, August. It's just a stupid book Mary Margaret found in the back of her closet."
"I'm not crazy, Avia." August says softly. "Why do you think Regina hates you, Emma, and Mary Margaret so much?"
"Because she's a miserable bitch."
"The evil queen in the book is named Regina and she hates Snow White." August clarifies.
Avia furrows her brows. "Are you saying that Mary Margaret is Snow White?" August just gives her a look saying 'yes.' Avia laughs in disbelief. "Fine. If you're Pinocchio, then prove it."
"Fine." August sits back down on the bed and pulls his leg pants up. Avia just stares at it and shrugs. "You don't see it?"
"All I see is another person who can't tell me the truth. Nice try, August. Next time you want to write Emma's and my name in a book, come up with a better story." Avia grabs her bookbag and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
August sighs, looking down at his wooden leg.
David is waiting outside the school just as Mary Margaret walks out. She continues walking, passing David, purposely, as she holds a scowl, obviously unhappy to see him.
"Mary Margaret. Please wait." He pleads. But Mary Margaret has no intention of stopping, so he starts to follow her. "Look, I'll leave if you want. I just think we need to talk."
"So talk." She says bitterly.
"I need to apologize."
"Yes, you do." She agrees as she continues to cross the street to her car. "Keep going."
"I didn't believe you. I didn't stand with you." He adds.
Mary Margaret stops walking, taking a deep breath before turning to David. "You know, I will never forget that moment – the moment the world sort of blows you backwards, and the one person you thought would always be there to catch you… he isn't there."
"Look at what was going on. It was your jewelry box, your fingerprints, knife in your apartment."
"It was a setup!" Mary Margaret exclaims.
"And a really good one." David stresses. "I'm human. I fell for it. I'm sorry, but we have to move forward."
"But we can't. It's like something in this world doesn't want us together."
David scoffs, amused. "Like what? Dark forces?"
"Maybe. I don't know, but it's like something just keeps pouring poison between us. And what I don't want is to have all of those good memories replaced by moments like that – when I looked at you and I saw that you didn't believe me."
"No. I know." David says, shamefully. "I am so sorry."
"I know." Mary Margaret sighs. "I know."
"But I love you." David whispers helplessly.
"And that is what makes it all so sad. Now, I have to go." Mary Margaret gets into her car and drives off as David watches feebly wishing she'd stop and turn back around and back into his arms – all forgotten.
As Avia is walking out of the bed and breakfast and back onto the sidewalk, she is fuming. She couldn't believe August would make up an absurd lie just to explain an illustration in a book.
"Avia!" Nick shouts as he runs after Avia. Avia rolls her eyes and turns around. "Avia."
"What? Did you follow me?" Avia asks furiously.
"Why were you seeing August?"
Avia narrows her eyes at her friend. "It's none of your business, Nick. I have to go."
Nick grabs her arm. "No! Who is he? What did he do to you?"
Avia grimaces. "Oh, my gosh! Nick! He didn't do anything to me!" She shouts. "He's insane, not perverted!"
"Well, he obviously did something if he has you running out of there upset. He obviously did something to make you so mad. So, what is it?"
"Nothing!" Avia shouts.
"Avia!"
"Fine!" Avia shoves the page into Nick's chest. "He wrote some stupid story about the people in this town, including me and Emma, and he's trying to make me believe his delusional ways. He's insane!"
Nick furrows his brows at the page. "Avia, is this – "
"It's not me!" Avia interrupts rudely.
"Nicholas!" They hear Regina shout from across the street. Avia groans. The last person she wanted to deal with right now was Regina. She snatches the page back from Nick and stuffs it back into her bag. "What did I tell you about hanging out with this girl?" She asks as she walks over to the two. Avia turns around, ready to walk away, until Regina grabs her by the arm, pulling her back. "Just because I'm letting you stay doesn't mean I've granted you permission to hang out with my son."
"Mom!" Nick exclaims.
Regina shoots her son a glare. "I'll deal with you later."
Avia pulls her arm away from Regina. "I was just leaving."
"I guess I'll have to have another talk with your foster mother about leaving you without supervision."
Avia snaps her head up, looking coldly at the mayor. "Or, what? You're going to find another way to accuse her of murder? Sorry, Madame Mayor, - " Avia says, smugly. " – but your plans to get rid of Mary Margaret failed and will continue to fail. Just like your plans to keep me and Nick apart have failed because little do you know, we've been hanging out behind your back since the day you banned him from me. So, it looks like you're out of the running for mother-of-the year."
If looks could kill, Avia would be flat on the ground by now. Venom was draining from the cold, dark stare Regina was giving Avia at that moment. She grabs Avia by her arm again, drawing her closer, as she bends down, looking deeply into the girl's green eyes that were so unpleasantly familiar. "I may not always know where my son is, but at least he knows he has a mother. That's more than what I can say for you, little girl. Your time with Mary Margaret is temporary just like the rest of your foster homes, and you need to remember that. No one wants you. You are a mistake. Mary Margaret will soon realize that and before you know it you'll be driving over the town line already forgotten. No one will remember you. No one will care about you because you were never meant to exist in the first place. You were nothing the moment you were brought into this world. You have been nothing the last thirteen years of your life, and you will continue to be nothing, Avia Swan." As tears begin to develop into Avia's eyes, Regina stands back up, smiling proudly at herself. She wraps her arm around Nick and pushes him forward. "Come on, Nicholas."
Avia started to run as fast as her little legs would let her. She throws open the apartment building door and runs up the stairs, tears streaming down her face. She opens the door of the apartment, dropping her things at the door before attempting to run up the stairs. But before she could even make it halfway she feels a hand grab her by the arm, turning her back around. Avia wasn't sure who it was at first until she dropped her head onto that person's chest and wrapped her arms around their waist, sobbing.
"What is going on, kid?" Emma strains, her voice laced with worry. Her sister has been full of crazy emotions these last couple of weeks, but this – this was something different. Avia just shakes her head into her sister, crying into her chest. Emma just holds her closer, knowing she would never get anything out of Avia when she was in this sort of state. She had to be patient and wait until Avia was ready.
It had been an hour since Avia broke down in Emma's arms, but Emma still couldn't get anything out of her. So, they sat together on the couch, Emma's arm protectively around her little sister who is resting her head on Emma's chest. And that's how Mary Margaret found them when she walked into the apartment.
"Sorry, I'm late." She apologizes to the girls as she drops the bag of groceries down on the table. And that's when she notices the tear tracks running down her foster daughter's face. She quickly walks over to the two, sitting on the other side of Avia. "What happened?" Mary Margaret asks in a slight panic.
Emma shrugs, sighing heavily. "I'm not sure. I can't get her to talk. She ran in here and just started crying hysterically into my arms." Mary Margaret places her hand gently onto Avia's cheek just as another tear escapes. She quickly wipes it away with her thumb. Emma's cell phone begins to go off. "Uh. The station is calling me." Emma says, confused.
"But you're here." Mary Margaret furrows her brows.
"Exactly." Emma silences her phone and then places a kiss on top of her sister's head. "I'll be back later." She whispers as she gently pushes Avia up. Avia sighs as she leans back onto the couch. "Maybe you can get her to talk." Emma says, hopeful. "I'll be back." She grabs her jacket and walks out of the apartment.
At the station, Emma walks in and is surprised to see Regina leaning against one of the desks looking right at her.
"Congratulations, Sheriff Swan. There's about to be a big break in your case." Emma furrows her brows, intrigued. "You just got yourself a confession. But I want you to listen to the whole explanation, so you understand why this happened." She says, calmly.
"Oh, I'll hang on every word you say." Emma assures her.
"Sidney, you can come in now." Regina calls out to the journalist. Sidney slowly walks out from the other room. "Tell her what you told me."
"It was me." Sidney confesses, avoiding all eye contact with the sheriff. "I confess." Emma looks at Regina. "I abducted Kathryn and I held her in the basement of an abandoned summer home by the lake." Sidney explains, but Emma wasn't buying it. This all just seemed forced. "I bribed a lab tech to get me the heart from the hospital, and I used that same person to doctor the lab results."
"And the other thing." Regina urges.
"I borrowed some skeleton keys from Regina and planted the knife in your apartment." He finishes.
Emma shakes her head in disbelief. "My keys." Regina repeats. "Can't help but feel personally violated about that part." She tells Emma.
"I am supposed to believe you did this for why now?" Emma asks irately.
"I was gonna find her after the conviction, be a hero, then get the inside track on the biggest story to ever hit this town." Sidney informs her. "I'd get my job back. Plus a novel and a movie, and I don't know. It sounds crazy now."
Emma crosses her arms and walks over to the journalist. "I don't know about crazy, but false, yes, false as hell."
"I have maps to where the house is. You'll find chains in the basement, lots of fingerprints, I'm sure – hers and mine. But I didn't hurt her."
Regina walks closer, standing by Emma, looking sadly at Sidney. "The man has obviously suffered some kind of mental break. He clearly hasn't been himself for a while."
"Yeah." Emma agrees. "It's like his words aren't his at all." She says, looking at Regina suspiciously.
"Wow. You are sold on your own rush to judgment that you can't even see the truth anymore."
"A word in the hallway, please." Emma shouts at Regina. Regina follows Emma out into the hallway. "Well, that's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard."
Regina scowls. "I'm pretty sure that's not true."
"That poor man. I know you are behind all this. I understand that you own the game – " Regina scoffs. " – and that you've set the board so that no one else can win, but I am about to start playing an entirely different game. I don't care about what happens to you. I don't care about what happens to me. All I care about is what happens to my sister. And you are going to leave her alone."
"Oh, am I?"
"Uh-uh. I'm talking. You're a sociopath, lady. And I'm going to let this whole town know it." Emma threatens.
Later that evening, Emma walks into the apartment still fuming from her encounter with Regina. She meant what she said – she's going to take down Regina no matter what it takes. This was the last time she threatened her friends and family.
"Hey." Emma jumps slightly, not seeing Mary Margaret in the living room. "What was that all about?"
Emma huffs. "Regina.
Mary Margaret rolls her eyes. "What did she do now?"
Emma falls onto the couch next to Mary Margaret. "Well, somehow she talked Sidney into confessing into kidnapping Kathryn and framing you."
"How do you know it's not the truth?"
Emma narrows her eyes at her roommate. "Because it sounded rehearsed. Plus, he could barely look me in the eyes. No. I know she did this. And I am going to make sure she goes down for it."
"Emma… we both know what Regina is capable of. Maybe you should just forget about it. Kathryn is safe. I'm out of jail. It's over."
Emma shakes her head, refusing to believe that. "No. It's never over when it concerns Regina. She almost sent you and my sister away. When you mess with my family, you mess with me. I'm not letting her get away with it." Emma then looks around for Avia. "Speaking of, where is Avia? Did she talk to you?"
Mary Margaret shakes her head. "No." She frowns. "Not long after you left, she went upstairs. I was going to go after her, but I figured she just needed some time alone. I'm really worried, Emma. I've seen Avia upset before, but nothing like this."
Emma sighs. "Yeah. I know. I'll try to talk to her when I go up." Emma could see that Mary Margaret was still worried, though. "Hey. She'll be fine."
"I know." Mary Margaret forces a smile.
"And I know we haven't talked about it since the party, but I'm okay if you want to make things official with Avia."
Mary Margaret looks surprised. "Really? Are you sure?"
Emma looks away for a moment before nodding, looking back at Mary Margaret. "I am. At least with you I'll know I'll still see her."
"Emma, you two are sisters. Nothing can ever change that."
Emma smiles softly. "No, I know. And, honestly, if I could choose any family for Avia to be adopted in, it would be with you." Mary Margaret stares in awe. "That kid deserves stability. I may not have been lucky enough to have it but knowing it can be different for Avia makes all that irrelevant. I want Avia to be happy. I'm just her sister. She needs a mom. And I want you to be that for her." Mary Margaret gathers Emma into her arms. "Oh." Emma laughs into Mary Margaret's shoulder as she hugs her back.
"Thank you, Emma." Mary Margaret says as tears begin to gather into her green eyes. "She will always feel loved."
"I know." Emma smiles as a tear escapes her own eye.
A couple of days later, Avia still hadn't said a word about what made her so distraught. Mary Margaret and Emma tried their hardest to get it out of her, but Avia wasn't budging. Usually, Avia wouldn't let words get to her, but something about how the mayor said them really struck something inside of Avia. She knew if she told Emma, then Emma would go straight over to Regina's and confront her about it, and who knows what else but, Avia, for some reason, just didn't want Emma to do that. Maybe apart of her knows that everything the mayor said is true, and so it wasn't worth the fight. You can't argue something that's true, especially if those around her secretly believe it as well. And that was something Avia didn't want to find out.
She walks downstairs just in time to find August putting the last touches on the new heavy duty lock he installed on the front door. Since finding out that Sidney broke into the apartment, both Emma and Mary Margaret wanted to make sure no one would be able to get in from the outside unless with a key, or let in, especially if Avia was home alone.
"Hey, Avia." August smiles at the girl.
Avia just rolls her eyes, not saying a word, as she goes into the kitchen. On top of what Regina said to her, Avia was still not happy about what August did to her. Trying to make her believe in fairytales – who does that? "Avia." Mary Margaret lightly scolds.
August grins. "It's fine." August locks the door. "No one is getting through that." He assures the two adults.
"Wow." Emma chuckles. "When are you installing the torture chamber?" She jokes.
"You don't like it? I call it medieval chic." He says, earning a sarcastic laugh from Avia.
"I don't care what it looks like as long as it keeps Regina and her skeleton keys out." Mary Margaret tells them.
"This is pretty handy for a writer." Emma says, curious. "Where'd you learn how to do all this?"
August shares a look at Avia who is leaning over the counter, watching them. "Wood shop." He says cautiously. "Eight Grade."
"Oh, speaking of school, we have to get going." Mary Margaret walks into the kitchen, gathering her things.
"And I have to get to the station." Emma grabs her jacket and walks out with August following.
"You ready, kiddo?" Mary Margaret smiles at her foster daughter.
Avia throws her bag over her shoulder. "Yep."
"Emma, wait up." August says catching up with her. "I don't know how you plan on getting back at Regina, but I suggest you look at the big picture. That's the only way you're gonna understand what you're up against. That's the only way you'll know how to beat Regina."
Emma gives him a crazy look. "Okay, new guy, how's that?"
"Take the day off. Come with me, and I'll show you." August figured he could try to get through to Emma better than he could with Avia considering Emma lived the same life he did for eight years. She may have a better chance at remembering.
"And where exactly would we be going on this magical mystery tour?"
"If I told you, you would never come." Emma shrugs and continues to walk. "Oh, come on." August pleads. "Take a leap of faith. You come with me, and I promise you, you'll find exactly what you're looking for."
"I don't have time for faith." Emma shrugs, apologetically, as she continues walking towards the station.
Mary Margaret pulls up to Avia's school. But Avia makes no indication of moving as she stares out the window. Mary Margaret reaches over, rubbing the girl's arm. "Avia." Avia jumps slightly from her touch. "Sorry."
Avia shakes her head, looking at Mary Margaret. "No. I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention." Avia unbuckles her seatbelt and grabs her bag.
Mary Margaret could see that Avia was still upset about whatever happened two days prior. "Sweetheart, how's everything at school?"
Avia shrugs. "It's fine."
"Everything with Nick and Karley is going okay? I haven't seen them around lately."
"I promise everything is fine, Mary Margaret. They've just been busy."
"You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"
"Mhm." Avia forces a smile. "I'll see you later." She jumps out the car and Mary Margaret watches helplessly at she runs into the building. She could only hope that once she made everything official then Avia will finally feel comfortable enough to trust her and open up. Mary Margaret was desperate to know everything about her soon-to-be daughter – without judgment. She wanted to be the one to knock those walls down – willing to do whatever it takes.
While she was still deep in thought about her foster daughter, a knock on her window startles her. She turns and finds Regina smiling back at her. Mary Margaret rolls down her window, giving Regina a curious look.
"Well, it seems everything has gone back to normal for you two."
"Yes." Mary Margaret smiles. "Isn't it wonderful? Everything worked out. It seems Avia can't be taken away from me so easily after all."
"Miss. Blanchard, is there a problem?" Regina asks.
"Not anymore. Though someone did go to a lot of trouble to make it look like I had done something horrible to rid me of my foster daughter, but they failed."
"Yes. Sidney Glass, who's safely incarcerated."
"If it was Sidney."
"Well, ask your roommate. He confessed."
"Of course he did."
"Are you insinuating something?"
"Yes, I am." Mary Margaret confirms. "But I forgive you. Even if you can't admit what you did, I forgive you anyway. Your life must be filled with such incredible loneliness if your only joy comes from destroying everyone else's happiness. It's so sad, Mayor Mills, because despite what you think, it won't make you happy. It's only going to leave a giant hole in your heart. Now, excuse me." Mary Margaret drives off leaving Regina lost for words.
Nick walks up. "What are you doing here?"
Regina clears her throat, looking down at her son. "Um. You left the house without your lunch money." She says, handing him the five dollar bill. "And, I think it's time for a change. I don't believe this school is teaching you properly. I can find the best tutors for you. Remember how you used to beg for me to take you out of school?"
Nick scowls furiously up at his mother. "Yeah. When I was in kindergarten. Why are you so against me being friends with Avia? Why do you want to change my whole life just so I'll stop being friends with her? Is it because you framed her foster mom and because you failed Avia gets to stay now?"
"Nicholas!" Regina exclaims. "Do you really think I'm capable of doing something so horrible?"
"Of course. You've been doing it my whole life. I finally found a friend and you want to take her away from me. I finally enjoy going to school now and you want to take that away from me, too. You might as well just lock me up and throw away the key. You seem pretty good at that." Nick glares as he walks away and into the school, leaving Regina, once again, lost for words.
Avia is at her locker when Nick walks up. "Hey."
Avia rolls her eyes, throwing her books inside of her locker, obviously still upset. "What do you want?"
Nick was taken aback by Avia's attitude towards him. "Um. Well, I haven't talked to you in a couple of days."
"That's because Mommy Dearest doesn't want us hanging out." Avia slams her locker shut. "I think maybe this time you should listen to her."
Avia starts to walk away, but Nick follows. "Look, I know she said some pretty terrible things, but they aren't true." He grabs Avia's arm to stop her from walking any further.
Avia pulls her arm away. "If what she said wasn't true then why didn't you stand up for me? Why didn't you tell her she was wrong?"
"I – Avia – "
"Save it!" Avia yells. "It doesn't matter. I should have trusted my gut and never became friends with you. I know better than to get attached to people."
"Avia, you don't mean that."
"I do. A little advice, Nick, you can't be friends with the damaged." Avia starts to walk away again, but Nick grabs her arm again.
"You're not damaged, Avia!"
Avia pushes Nick away causing him to fall against the lockers. "I said get off of me!" She shouts at him.
"Avia Swan." Avia groans, exhaling heavily when she turns around and finds Coach Phillip standing with his arms crossed in front of her. He had seen the whole thing. "Come with me."
As Avia sits in the main office, she has her head resting against the wall when she hears footsteps that could only belong to one person. And since Mary Margaret couldn't just leave her class, Avia was sure who that one person was.
Emma steps into the office, arms folded. "What did you do now?"
Avia looks up at Emma. "Nothing." She mutters. "Can we just go?" She grabs her bag and starts to walk out, but Emma grabs her arm. Avia was really tired of people doing that to her today. She jerks her arm out of Emma's grip, scowling up at her sister. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I just want to go home."
"Well, you're not going home. I have to work, and we don't want you to stay at the apartment by yourself."
Avia scoffs. "Why? Sidney is in jail, and you installed that stupid lock."
"It doesn't matter. You're going to sit in with Mary Margaret." Emma tells her as they begin to walk down the hall.
"Seriously? I have to sit with fourth graders for the rest of the day? That sucks!"
"Okay, maybe you should have thought about that before you decided to shove people into lockers."
"It wasn't people. It was Nick." Avia rolls her eyes.
"Why would you push Nick into the lockers?" Emma asks, confused. "I thought you two were friends."
"Madame Mayor doesn't want us to be friends, remember? I'm just following her orders." Avia glares at Nick who is standing at the exit.
"Avia, - " He tries to stop her, but Avia walks right passed him.
Emma didn't know what was going on with her sister lately, but it had to be more than just being almost sent back to Boston. So, as Avia walks to the car, Emma looks at Nick wanting some sort of explanation. After all, he's the one she pushed into the lockers. "Okay, kid, spill it. What is going on with my sister?" Nick exhales, remembering the other day with his mom. Emma could see he was contemplating telling her. "Look, if it's not too terrible, I won't say anything. I'll just pass it off as dumb teenage hormones. But, if something happened and I can help her with it, then I need to know."
"Fine." Nick looks outside at Avia who is leaning against the cruiser. "The other day my mom caught us talking and she said pretty bad things to Avia, and I didn't stand up for her like I should have." He couldn't blame Avia for being mad at him for not doing so. She's his friend. He should have taken up for her.
Emma furrows her brows. "What kind of things?" She asks carefully, already feeling herself about to blow up. Regina was messing with her sister yet again and she was not going to have it. No, not this time.
"Well – "
Emma figured Avia wouldn't want to talk about what happened with Regina. And she could see that her sister was pissed that Nick even told her. So, she brought Avia to Mary Margaret's classroom, explained the little that she could, and then walked out, heading to the one person who claims to be able to help her take down Regina.
Emma begins to bang loudly on the closed door. She was fuming. It was bad enough, because of the last thirteen years, Avia was already coming in and out of foster homes feeling like she wasn't good enough. And then she ends up at a place that could possibly change all that for her and the mayor decides to fill her sister's head yet again with those insecurities just as they were slowly dissipating from her mind just because her plans failed to send her away. Emma was not going to let that happen. She had to make Avia believe that good things could happen for her even if they didn't happen for herself. She couldn't let her regrets be Avia's.
August pokes his head out from the door. "Emma." He says, surprised to see the blonde at his door.
Emma walks right into his room without an invite. "Hey."
"Take it easy. Is everything okay?"
"No. I am just about out of options."
"'Just about?'" He questions.
"You told me to beat Regina, I need to see the big picture. Show it to me." She says, desperately.
Emma is riding through town on the back of August's motorcycle. "August, you gonna tell me where we're going and how it's gonna help me beat Regina?" She asks just as he stops at the town line
"We're going on a trip, Emma. So, I can tell you somebody's story."
"Whose story?"
"Mine."
Emma rolls her eyes as he revs his engine and drives over the town line, leaving Storybrooke.
Mary Margaret and Avia walk into the apartment. Avia hasn't said a word since Emma left her in the teacher's classroom and, quite honestly, she wasn't planning to. She didn't want to talk. She didn't want to be comforted. She just wanted to go upstairs into her room. But, of course, Mary Margaret had other plans.
"Hold it." Mary Margaret stops Avia from walking further up the stairs. Avia groans, silently, turning around to face her foster mother. "I haven't said anything since Emma dropped you off, figuring I'd give you some time to think about things. But now we're home. So, I think we should talk, Avia."
Avia looks at Mary Margaret, pleading. "Why? Emma already told you what happened. There's nothing more that needs to be discussed."
"That's not true, and you know it. Now, come sit down on the couch with me." Mary Margaret sits down, patting the empty spot next to her.
"If you want me to apologize to Nick, I will." Avia says, trying her best to get out of this talk. Mary Margaret gives her a stern look, pointing to the couch. Avia rolls her eyes and drags herself back downstairs, sitting on the couch.
"Yes, I think you should apologize to Nick. From what I could decipher from just the little Emma told me, he was just worried about you."
"He wasn't too worried about me when his mother was in my face." Avia scowls, dramatically falling back onto to couch.
Mary Margaret looks at Avia carefully. She reaches over and takes Avia's chin, moving her gently to that Avia looks at her. "Now, you know what Regina said to you wasn't true, right? You aren't nothing. You could never be nothing." Avia looks down. Mary Margaret brushes her fingers down Avia's cheek. "You are everything. I hope that one day I can really make you believe that." Avia just nods, not knowing what she could possibly say to make Mary Margaret believe that she was okay...even if she had to lie to herself to do it. "Can I show you something?"
"Sure." Avia answers barely above a whisper.
Mary Margaret squeezes her hand before she walks away and into the kitchen. Avia watches her curiously out of the corner of her eyes as Mary Margaret opens a drawer and pulls out a small stack of papers. She quickly looks away when Mary Margaret turns back around and heads back into the living room. "I've been waiting for the right time to show you this. After everything that had happened, and you almost leaving, I knew I couldn't let you go through that again." Avia furrows her brows, intrigued by what Mary Margaret is getting at. She sits up, readying herself for whatever Mary Margaret is about to show her. Mary Margaret places the stack of papers in front of Avia. "I just want you to want it, too." Avia felt like she couldn't breathe as she stared at the adoption papers in front of her. A tear makes its way down her cheek, but it is quickly wiped away by Mary Margaret's thumb. Avia looks up with tearful eyes as Mary Margaret smiles softly at her as her own tears glisten. "You are not damaged, Avia Swan. You're an amazing girl who has just been through some unfortunate situations. But you are far from damaged. You are loved, and you are wanted."
"You want to adopt me?" Avia asks in a whisper that was breaking Mary Margaret's heart.
"Only if you want me to. I won't do anything you're not ready for, or you're not comfortable with." Mary Margaret promises. "But I want you, Avia. You deserve a home. You deserve a mom, and I want to be that for you."
Avia smiles softly, chuckling lightly in disbelief. She looks back down at the papers, running her hand over it. It almost didn't seem real. She looks back at Mary Margaret's hopeful eyes. "Can I just think about it?"
Mary Margaret was slightly taken aback. She wasn't expecting Avia to jump up and down, or even answer her right away, but she was expecting something other than what she was getting right now from the girl. "Sure, sweetie. Of course. Take all the time you need. This is a big decision."
"Thanks." Avia starts to get up, but then she turns and wraps her arms around Mary Margaret, surprising the woman.
Mary Margaret smiles, kissing Avia gently on the side of her head as she wraps her arms tightly around Avia's small frame. Avia pulls back, smiling once again at her foster mother, before she runs upstairs.
Mary Margaret lets out a long breath as she sits back on the couch. This wasn't how she was expecting this to go. This wasn't even how she planned it. But not once did she regret doing it.
August pulls up to a diner and Emma jumps off the bike obviously frustrated by not only the long drive, but she figured August was, once again, playing games with her.
"What the hell is this?" She asks angrily.
"Last time I checked it was a diner." August says, simply, as he gets off the bike.
"No more screwing around. What the hell are we doing here?
August looks curiously at Emma. "I think you know." He pulls out a newspaper clipping. "You've been here before." Emma continues to glare at the man, obviously not happy to be brought to the place that lived in some of her nightmares. "This is the diner you and Avia were brought to when you were found."
"So you found an article about us. So what? I thought this trip was supposed to be about you."
"It is. This is my story, and it's your story – and Avia's. She just doesn't remember it because she was too young."
"And how is that?"
"I was found in those woods, too, Emma - just a couple of hours before you and your sister. They brought you both into the diner just before the police came." Emma looks confused. She wasn't sure why, but she couldn't remember another kid – let alone August. She barely remembered anything from that day. "Come on." Emma furrows her brows, unsure if she should follow August or not. August turns around, gesturing for her to follow him. Emma sighs and decides to follow him anyway, despite her reluctance.
"Why are we in the woods?" She asks.
"All the answers you've been searching for are right where we were found."
"Okay, see, that's where you're wrong. We weren't found in the woods. We were found on the side of the highway where I carried Avia. So, you obviously don't know what you're talking about. And this is just another one of your games which I am done playing." Emma starts to walk away.
"When you were found, you were wrapped in a blanket, and so was Avia. One blanket with purple trimming – yours with your name embroidered into it. The other blanket with green trimming with 'Avia' embroidered into it." Emma turns back around, slowly walking back towards August. "That wasn't in the article. So, how would I know that unless I was there?"
"Okay." Emma decides to play along. "Let's say you were there. Why lie to us about who you are?"
"I lied to protect you."
"From what?"
August points behind him. "That."
"A tree?"
"You've read Avia's book, right?" Emma scoffs. "You know about the curse, don't you? Your role in it?"
"My role?" Emma questions.
"I guess Avia hasn't showed you the missing page."
"She found it?" Emma asks.
August nods. "She did. And everything in that book is real."
"What are you talking about? How can a book of fairytales be real?"
"You and Avia were born the daughters of Snow White and Prince Charming." Emma scoffs, chuckling at how insane this was all sounding. "The Evil Queen casts a curse over the entire land. And when your sister was born, your parents sent you both to this world for protection. My father and I built the wardrobe that you and Avia were sent through – that I was sent through just a couple of hours before you both arrived." August walks over to the tree behind him. "Through this tree."
Emma walks closer. "You're asking me to believe that you are a fairy tale character?" She asks carefully, and slightly frightened.
"Pinocchio."
"Right." Emma chuckles. "Of course Pinocchio. Explains all the lying." August looks down shamefully. "You're the one who added the story to Avia's book." Emma realizes.
"I needed Avia to know the truth. But when she didn't believe me, I knew you were my best chance at believing more than anyone."
"Well, you're wrong. I am not your best chance. You are out of your mind, and you're not even a very good liar. Why not write the end of that story?"
"Because this is the ending, and we're writing it right now."
"And how does this story end?"
"With you believing."
"Not gonna happen." Emma turns and walks away.
August's eyes widen. "Emma?" He runs after her. "Emma, wait." But August doesn't get close enough to her before he falls to the ground, holding his leg.
Emma turns around. "What is wrong with your leg?" She asks, annoyed.
August laughs. "I failed."
"What are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter. Avia doesn't believe. You don't believe." He says as he stands back up.
"If you think that making me feel sorry for you, that something's gonna change, you are wrong."
"I am not screwing around here!" August says, frustrated. "Whatever you believe or don't, this is real, Emma. I am sick."
"That's an understatement."
"You ever been to Phuket? It's beautiful. Amazing island. Full of pleasures. The perfect place to lose oneself. That's where I was the moment Avia was dropped off in Storybrooke."
"How do you know when Avia was dropped off in Storybrooke?" Emma asks, suspicious.
"Because at 8:15 in the morning, I woke up with a shooting pain in my leg. That's 8:15 at night in Storybrooke. Sound familiar? That's when you showed up in Storybrooke, following Avia, and time started to move forward again. I was supposed to be there for you, but I wasn't." Emma stood there, lost for words, wondering how this man could possibly know about her and Avia's whereabouts if they weren't even in the same time zone. None of this was making any sense. "Because I was halfway around the world, I got a painful reminder of just how far I'd strayed. If that tree won't make you believe, maybe this will." August pulls up his pants leg, revealing his wooden leg.
"How does that prove anything?" She grimaces.
August looks down, clearly seeing wood. "Look."
"August, I'm looking."
"You don't see it, do you?"
"See what?"
"Your denial is more powerful than I thought. It's preventing you from seeing the truth. Emma, you lived in our world for eight years. You have to remember." He pleads.
"Okay, one of us is losing it here, and it's not me." Emma says prudently.
"You don't want to believe. After everything you've seen, why can't you just do it?"
"Why is it so important to you that I do?"
"Because I, the town – everyone needs you."
"I don't want them to need me!"
"Well, that's too bad, because we all do."
"You're saying that I am responsible for everyone's happiness? That is crap! The only happiness I care about is my sister's! Avia's happiness is the only one who matters! Are you telling me to ignore that?!"
"Of course not!" August yells. "That's who we are fighting for here! She needs her sister. She needs you, Emma, but you are going to be no good to her if you don't save the town first!"
"I don't want to!" Emma shouts furiously.
"Well, that's too bad, Emma. Because that doesn't change the truth. You are our only hope."
"Then you're all screwed." As tears fall from her eyes, Emma turns and walks away.
Back in town, Emma makes her way tiredly up the stairs and into the bedroom. She is surprised to find Avia still awake. She is sitting in her bed, looking down at something.
"Hey." Avia greets her sister.
"Hey, kid. What are you still doing up?"
Avia shrugs. "I couldn't sleep."
"How come?" Emma quickly changes before she sits down on the bed next to her sister. She sees the adoption papers that Mary Margaret showed her a couple of days ago. "So, she told you."
Avia furrows her brows up at Emma. "You knew?"
"Yeah." Emma nods. "Mary Margaret showed me the other day at the party. She wanted to make sure I was okay with it before she asked you."
"Are you?"
"I think the better question is, are you?"
Avia sighs. "If I tell Mary Margaret 'yes' then that means that we'll never be together."
Emma wraps her arm around her sister, pulling her close. "Hey. We'll always be together. I'm not going anywhere, kid. This – " She taps the adoption papers. " – just means that you finally have a permanent home – a home you've always wanted. A home filled with love – a home with a mom. Don't worry, though, you can't get rid of me that easily. I'm still going to be your roommate for as long as Mary Margaret allows me to be."
Avia smiles as a tear falls. "I don't want to lose you, Emma."
Emma bends down, resting her forehead against Avia's. "You could never lose me. Now, come on." Emma grabs the papers and sets them on the nightstand. "You need to get some sleep."
"Emma, can you just stay with me until I fall asleep. Please?"
"Of course." Avia slides down, resting her head against Emma's side as Emma runs her finger through Avia's brown locks.
A half hour passed by, Emma was still lying awake with Avia gathered in her arms. She kept thinking about her night with August and everything that he was trying to force her to believe. The only thing she ever really needs to believe is this little girl in her arms. Nothing, no one, and no crazy fairy tale was going to take her away from what was right here in her arms.
After his failing of making Emma believe, August decided to take a walk to see his father – even if he doesn't remember who he really is. August finds his father working in his shop, trying to fix a clock that he was clearly growing frustrated with.
"Align the gear on the spindle, then press the spring." August tells him.
Marco looks up, surprised by the man's knowledge, but he does what he is told and follows August's instructions. The clock immediately begins to work. "Who taught you that?" Marco asks, impressed.
"My father."
"He taught you well. He must be very proud."
"I don't know about that. I don't think I became the man he wanted me to be."
"Well, have you tried to make it up to him?" Marco asks.
"I made him a promise a long time ago. By the time I got around to making good on it, I think it was too late."
"But you kept your promise. You realized your mistake, and you tried to fix it. That's important. If I had a son, that would be enough for me."
And that's when August realized he tried his best – he did all he could do to make Emma and Avia believe the truth. Now, he needed to let time run its course. It'll happen when it's right. "You look like you might be shorthanded." August tells him.
Marco chuckles. "I get by."
"How would you feel about taking on an assistant?"
"I can't pay you."
"That's okay. I just feel like fixing things."
Marco takes a moment to think about it. "Come in." He waves. August sighs, relieved, as he walks further into the shop.