"You can see the future."

Honestly after the type of day he'd had, he wasn't surprised the prince showed up. He was just getting over Regina's little tantrum. The Evil Queen had thrown her magic over everything in the store. She turned tables, shattered glasses. Nothing was left unharmed. Well, she didn't go anywhere near Belle. The timid girl went up towards the witch and ordered her to stop, and she obeyed. Shame actually colored her cheeks and she bowed her head at the plea.

She apologized for her actions and offered money in payment. Then she left without another word. Rumpelstilskin was so stunned he wasn't prepared for his true love's outburst.

"You taught her how to do this, didn't you?" She asked.

He merely nodded and wished he'd never even met Regina or her horrible mother. Their entire family was filled with too much power, power that could consume the world. He understood the look of disappointment on Belle's face. He even acknowledged the brief flash of lost hope. But she never looked at him with disgust. She just started cleaning everything up and he immediately begged her not to. He gave her money for clothes and told her not to return without something truly expensive on her person. Then he swore he wouldn't use any magic to fix everything up. He even obeyed it. Now the prince decided to have his hand on him.

"I do indeed," he agreed, "but what could the future possibly give to you?"

"Marian," the prince said, "She and Robin had two children before the curse was cast. You knew about Emma. I'm dead positive you know what happened to my niece and nephew, the ones I inherited when I married Snow."

"Yes," Rumpelstilskin laughed, "Snow Pea and Icky. I do know what happened to them but I have one very important question for you."

"What?" the prince asked.

"What's in it for me?" Gold shrugged, "I owe you nothing. To what favor might I benefit from this information?"

"You owe Marian," the prince scowled, "Or are you forgetting the day she saved your life?"

"Nice try," Gold huffed, "but I've already paid that debt. Please leave."

"But…"

"I said please," Gold sighed, "Don't make me say it twice."

The prince bowed his head and started towards the door in defeat. That was an unusual trick for him. Of course, it was definitely a trick. He twirled around with shining eyes before he even made it to the door. Apparently he just played to script. Rumpelstilskin hissed when he realized he was going to have to change his moves.

"Jefferson," David replied, "I bet you have absolutely no idea how on Earth he was able to get past all of your defenses. I'm sure you want to ask. If I give him to you, and you swear on Belle's honor that you won't kill him, will you give me what I want?"

Gold laughed. "You won't find him," he said, "the man is a portal jumper. They tend to be quite sneaky."

"He is a portal jumper," David agreed, "but he's currently without a portal. That means he's still in Storybrooke. If I find him for you, will you tell me everything you know?"

"Everything and more," Rumpelstilskin agreed, "and I give you my word no harm will come to the man."

"I hope you don't mind if I stay to make certain," the prince said.

Rumpelstilskin had to laugh at that. It was quite cocky of the prince to automatically assume he knew where the man could be. The Dark One had done a mighty fine job of trying to locate the sneaky man. But tracking magic wasn't the same in this world. Everything was slightly skewed.

"You sound like you already know where he is," he said.

"No," the prince shook his head, "but I'll find him. I have to. He's the only one who can help me find my wife and daughter, remember?"

"Two birds, one stone," Rumpelstilskin nodded, "Good luck."

The prince ignored his mocking tone. He just left the room without so much as a mutter of acknowledgement. Rumpelstilskin ignored him and waited until he was certain his footsteps had fully disappeared. He waved his hand and a crystal ball appeared. He glared daggers at the image he saw. The blonde thief and the black hacker were in a meeting with the others. Marian was nowhere to be found and the big muscled man seemed to have disappeared with her. Robin was sending orders the other two's way.

"Go to Gold and find out everything he knows," he said, "From what I heard of Wales and Nolan's conversation, he was the last one to talk with her. He knows what's going on. I feel it. Offer him whatever he wants. I want Sophie out of here as soon as possible."

Rumpelstilskin waved his hand in disgust. Robin thought leaving would fix everything. He knew so little about Storybrooke. A streak of lightning colored the sky and the rain fell harder.

"I understand," he said, "You're awake and heartbroken. Maybe you should take it out on the one who did it to you instead of the whole town. I've got my own plans to commence. Unless you're finally going to chip in on that favor you owe me."

He waited but the storm was only growing in volume. Clearly Marian had yet to recall her control of her powers. It was even possible that she didn't know magic existed in town now. The lack of control was almost unbearable. Soon she would discover the truth and harness that energy. It was what that energy would be stored towards that made him nervous.

%%%%%%%

A tiny cry erupted through the castle. Marian sighed in exasperation. All she did was close her son's door after telling him to clean it. They argued and she made him see the error of his ways. He was quickly picking up his clothes and sorting through them. There was absolutely no reason for her youngest child to be in despair. They kept their voices down so she could sleep.

The tired mother sighed and immediately made her way to her daughter's room. It made sense. She had only just been able to start doing chores around the castle again. She was still easily tired and had even made the mistake of thinking about a nap. Her daughter clearly had other plans. The little darling wanted her mother's attention at all hours of the night.

The mother took one step into her daughter's room and smiled. The tiny cherub was wriggling her fingers towards the heaven's and crying her little heart out. Her tiny wisps of hair were slowly poking out her hair. The straw-colored hair was a surprise to all of them. Robin even joked that she looked almost exactly like his poorly deceased mother. His father just laughed and nodded in agreement. The child had just recently learned how to laugh. She was already picking herself up and attempting to walk. Soon rest would be the furthest thing from her mother's mind.

"There, there little Snow Pea," she cooed. She picked up the girl and planted a big kiss on her cheek. The child stopped her hollering immediately. Now she was making the most precious baby noises possible. Clearly she was a happy camper now that her mother was in the room.

"I'm not going to be by your side all the time, little missy," her mother laughed, "Pretty soon you're going to have to learn how to cope without me. Your father isn't going to put up with this noise when he returns. Of course, you've got him wrapped around your little finger so I'm almost positive I'll be the bad guy in this relationship."

Snow Pea just giggled at the tone of her mother's voice. Marian was thoroughly impressed with her daughter. The child was just as bright as her big brother. She could pick up tones and knew how to communicate her frustrations within weeks of birth. The little girl was constantly giving her brother a run for her money every time she tried to speak. Even Icarus was slowly coming round to the idea of being firmly wrapped around his sister's heart. He even gave her the locket at her bedside.

"You're going to be a little terror," Marian laughed, "I can tell. You're too much like your mother. Why couldn't you be more like your brother and take after your father? He doesn't beg for attention as often as you."

"Da da da da da da da," the baby said.

Marian blinked. Her eight month old just spoke. It wasn't much, just a few syllables, but that was enough. Clearly the baby knew how to prove her mother right. Now she was playing with her stuffed bunny as if nothing happened. She even mastered her mother's innocent face.

"I'm onto you, Snow Pea," Marian laughed, "and I expect you to be able to do that for your brother and father tonight at dinner. Or I will tickle you senselessly."

She even gave the child a taste of what was to come. The baby just giggled and kicked in enjoyment. Then her big brother decided to show up. He loved torturing his little sister this way. So Marian decided to be fair and just with her children. They were both on the floor squealing at the tickle monster their mother pretended to be. Trumpets sounded specifically to break up the familial moment.

"Daddy's home!" Icky cheered.

"Dadadadada," Snow Pea giggled.

Icarus' young face broke out into the biggest grin ever seen. He was beaming from ear to ear as if he just won a prize. Then he was running towards their front door and shouting to anyone who would listen about his little sister's newest feat.

"Clearly, your big brother is quite impressed with you," Marian laughed, "I wish that was something we could keep."

%%%%%%%

Prince Charming walked into the local bar highly depressed. That depression soon increased when he noticed a familiar brunette was also there.

"You," he cursed, walking towards her with a wide variety of disgust, "What are you doing here?"

"Drinking," she hiccupped, chugging down a tumbler while demanding another.

David placed his hand on top of the new glass to stop her. He could feel the witch's eyebrows raise in interest.

"I think you've had enough," he said.

"I don't think so," she replied, taking the glass from his hands with nothing more than a shrug of her shoulders.

"Sophie, you're done," David growled.

He stole the glass away and made eye contact with the bartender. Then he finished off the tumbler because he knew it was the only way to stop her.

"It's not for you to decide," she said, hissing quite scornfully.

"You're drunk," he said.

Marian stared at him, disgust on her features. Her eyes glowed red for a minute and the prince braced himself. Sure enough, the tantrum came only seconds later. She shoved his glass and several others off the bar in a howl of anger. Then her black eyes fell towards him again, daring him to do something about it. The bartender turned to him with a questioning eye.

"She just got out of the hospital," he growled, glaring daggers into his old friend.

"You're cut off," the bartender replied, immediately cleaning up the mess she made.

"Fine," she said, "Then I'm not paying my tab."

Marian smiled at her wonderful idea. She spun in a circle and stumbled to the door. She ignored everyone in her way and just kept walking. David turned towards the bartender with an offer to pay but the man shook him off.

"The man over there told me he would be paying for her drinks tonight," he said, nodding to a table in the back.

David spun on his heels immediately, his hand automatically falling towards his holster. A sigh of relief fell from his lips moments later. Then dread began to fill his lungs. Eliot Spencer waved to him with an awkward salute and a raise of his beer. The prince moved towards him without hesitation.

"Keeping tabs on her?" David mused.

Eliot smiled quirking an eyebrow in reply.

"You were expecting Nate," he said.

"I wasn't expecting one of her friends to just sit there and watch while she's getting hammered," Charming yelled, his temper running away from him, "She just got out of the hospital."

"She also refuses to say or do anything to let us help her," Eliot nodded, his teeth baring immediately, "I tried to stop her but even Nate can't get through. I was hoping she would drink enough to lose the guard and let me through. It's not like she's taking her pills anyway."

"Wait," David said, "Did Nate send you after her?"

The look he received was enough of a confirmation. The hitter looked into his beer bottle and had the nerve to look completely sheepish. He started playing with his hair and jabbering on about his own plans being disturbed.

That bastard, David thought, he can't even take care of her himself. He has to send his lackey to do it for him. What the hell happened to Robin?

"It's not what you think," Eliot growled, looking for all the world as if he had read the man's mind. He probably had. "Sophie's afraid of him. I had to wrestle with him just to let me go instead."

"You volunteered," Charming nodded, following slowly.

"They feed off of each other's anger," Eliot explained, "If he saw her drinking, he would have blown a gasket. She would have commented on his drinking habits and the whole place would probably be on fire at the end of the night. Don't judge him before you know him."

The hitter let those words sink in before he added his next two cents.

"Then you can call him a bastard."

"How can you be so sure he cares?" David demanded feeling completely duped. Robin and Marian were always inseparable when he knew them. Even when they were apart it was as if they weren't. They could tell exactly what the other was doing without moving at all, really. What did Regina's curse do to them?

"I had to wrestle the guy into letting me follow Sophie," Eliot said, "He knows my profession and he's my boss. But the moment her safety comes into question he's the one who dives head first to protect her. Trust me, he cares."

"Then why isn't he here?" Charming growled, "What could be so important that you just let him…?"

The hitter was saved from the sheriff's ranting by his ringing phone. The long haired man just answered it with a curt hello. His eyes grew wide in surprise moments later.

"What do you mean she's taking a ride from a stranger?" He howled. The man was already grabbing his jacket and putting it on his shoulders. "How the…? You were supposed to be watching her, Hardison!"

David stood up with him. "What's happening?" He asked.

Eliot waved him off and raced through the door. He followed suit. He couldn't take the chance of being behind. He couldn't let them go. He needed to keep Marian well just as much as the others.

"Some guy decided to pick up on Sophie," Eliot replied in scorn, "I'm almost there Hardison. I know I'm not supposed to kill him! I've got the damn sheriff here to make sure of it! No, I'm not going to try to kill Sophie either. Jeeze, go back to doing your job and stop trying to tell me how to do mine!"

He hung up his phone roughly and stuffed it in his pocket. He was already running towards the car that was conveniently starting to speed away. He raced with the power of a horse clearly behind him. That man was fast when his friends were in danger. The prince had to bust out muscles that hadn't been used in years just to keep up. But they both caught up to the car in seconds flat. They worked together to stop it. Eliot went to the driver while the prince went for Sophie. Who they found in the driver's seat was a surprise to the both of them.

"Archie?" David gasped.

The psychiatrist looked at the prince in absolute shock. He wasn't even struggling against the hitter. His eyes were just glued to the prince and begging for answers. He actually looked scared too. It was almost as though he feared for his life. Well, he was at the mercy of Eliot Spencer.

"You know this goon?" Eliot growled.

"He's the local psychiatrist, Eliot," Sophie hissed, "Put him down before you hurt him!"

"The psychiatrist?" Eliot shouted, "What kind of psychiatrist drives around at night and just picks up random women at the bar?"

"Actually he does that for everyone," David replied.

Guilt crept up the side of his neck at what had just happened. It made sense. Archie was one of the few men in Storybrooke who traveled the late hours of the night. He always picked people up, whether it be that homeless man down the street or the Evil Queen herself. He would always travel to the bar to ensure nobody drove home drunk. Sophie must have remembered that small detail.

"She told me to take her to Granny's," Archie said.

Eliot rolled his eyes and glared at the grifter. His tight grip refused to unleash the psychiatrist, but the hitter was slowly bending their way.

"Eliot, let him go," Sophie growled, "He was just being nice."

"Nice men don't' invite drunk women into their cars!" Eliot replied.

David rolled his eyes at the play. He released Sophie from his grasp and stepped towards the hitter. He grabbed the psychiatrist's arm and pulled. The hitter seemed to get the message. He allowed the sheriff to pull Archie out of his grasp. His glare showed his distaste for it though.

"He sent you to follow me didn't he?" Sophie yelled.

"You just got out of the hospital and the first thing you did was go to a bar," Eliot said, "I'm thinkin' he was right to send someone after ya. You got into a car with a perfect stranger!"

"I'm from here, Eliot!" Sophie hissed.

"I don't care!" Eliot shouted, "We almost lost you! You can't just leave and expect us to not follow. We care!"

"Give me the com."

"What? No!"

"Give me the bloody com, Eliot!"

"Not happenin'."

David watched the dueling pair in absolute awe. He'd never expected thieves to be so childish. And Marian, she'd never been like this before. Even when the curse hadn't been lifted and everybody abided by those lives, Sophie wasn't this insane. The prince turned towards the cricket and hoped he would have the answers.

"Were you prodding her?" He whispered.

Archie gave him a look. It was one racked with guilt and anger. He looked very upset at the very idea of it.

"No," he said, "I was only going to take her to Granny's. I was going to leave her my card in case she wanted to talk but that was all. I would never violate somebody's trust like that."

"Nate!" Sophie growled. Apparently she'd gotten ahold of the com after all. "No, you have no right to yell at me! I told you exactly what I was doing. I was keeping to my word. If you don't… How dare you?"

"Can you get a read on her now?" David asked.

"Of course not," Archie replied, "If I could do that, Regina wouldn't be struggling with magic. I'd have the source of the problem already taken care of. But she needs to vent. Keeping whatever it is locked up is only going to be further damaging. From what Regina's told me about their mother, it's a miracle Marian waited until now to crack."

"That's it!" Eliot screamed, "We're leaving! Don't even think about going into that car again, Soph. You're coming with me. Doctor, sorry for the mistake. I didn't realize it was your job to help the mental-cases in town. Expect to be seeing this one sometime soon. Sheriff, your help was greatly appreciated. Sophie, get in the damn truck!"

David watched them go with wary eyes. Sophie had fought the hitter tooth and nail to get into the truck. She was practically thrown in by Eliot Spencer. Then Eliot hit the door to make his intentions very clear. He raced to the other side and successfully intercepted the grifter before she could even think about leaving. The truck drove off with Sophie saying several bad words, in several languages.

"She's changed, hasn't she?" Archie asked.

David sighed in absolute frustration. "Unfortunately," he said.