Archie sat in his office and was going over notes from his most recent session with Ashley...Cinderella and her father in law. He felt horrible about how he had treated her during the curse and wanted to make amends with her and Sean...Thomas. He was just getting ready to sneak out for a quick break when there was knock on his door. Archie fought back a sigh and went to the door. He was surprised to see Regina there looking worried and stressed out.
"Regina. Are you here to see me?" asked Archie. Maybe she was looking for Natalie since she seemed to be the go between her and David about Henry.
"I've been trying to keep my promise to Henry," said Regina.
"To not use magic," said Archie. Natalie had filled him about what had happened at Regina's place between Regina, David and Henry. She didn't say what she and Regina had talked about though and he didn't ask. As he understood it one of her duties had been to keep the secrets of the Regina and Snow quiet, Odette had clearly been the psychiatrist to both of them before the practice was even invented.
"It's been two days," said Regina.
"That's an excellent start," said Archie. Regina sort of shrugged, she had gone without magic for twenty eight years because there was no magic. Now that it was back she could feel it tugging at her. Archie stepped out of the way and held the door open for her.
"Would you like to come in?" asked Archie. Regina paused for second and taking a deep breath walked into his office and sat down on his sofa. Archie placed the in session sign on his door and shut it. He poured Regina a glass of water and grabbed a notebook and sat across from her.
"Let's start with something simple. Why is magic so important to you?" asked Archie.
"Magic has been just the way I've gotten everything," said Regina.
"It also sounds like it's the way you've lost everything," said Archie. She glared at him and Archie went on. "Regina this is your chance to start over. To earn Henry." Had it not been for the curse she would never of had Henry and it was because of magic that she had lost him too. Regina went to say something when the door to his office opened with no warning. Dr. Whale was standing there looking furious.
"Dr. Whale this is highly inappropriate," said Archie. How dare he just walk into my office while I'm having a session.
"Send me back," said Whale.
"Excuse me," said Regina looking confused.
"Send me back to my land and back to my brother," snapped Whale. Archie looked at Whale and was in the same boat that Natalie and David had found themselves in with Whale. Their cursed selves remembered Whale, but their past selves couldn't. Where did you come from, thought Archie.
"Why don't you go check the missing board or speak to Natalie since she's handling check in's," said Regina.
"Because your curse only brought the living," said Whale.
"Than I'm sorry for your loss," said Regina not sounding a bit sorry. "I'm afraid that I can't send anyone anywhere."
"Can't or won't!" snapped Whale. Archie stood up, he had enough of this and he had a feeling that if pushed anymore Regina might send him to join in his brother in the afterlife.
"Dr. Whale...I have to insist," Whale gave him a look that clearly said he wasn't finished. "Go!" snapped Archie. Whale rolled his eyes and left. Archie went and shut the door.
"I'm sorry," said Archie. He took his seat again and thought about what had just been said. If the curse only brought the living, why did she have her family grave here? "What you said isn't entirely true is it?"
"I'm sorry?" asked Regina seeming confused.
"About the curse only taking the living. Your father's grave is here in Storybrooke," said Archie.
"I don't care about Whale or his brother! I bought who I wanted to bring," snapped Regina and Archie could feel himself losing ground already and he didn't have any to start with.
"Anyone else?" asked Archie. He had seen the puppets in Mr. Gold's shop and now he had to deal with the fact that he was the reason they were dead. Did she have anyone else she loved brought over. "If you want help you have to try and trust me. Stopping magic is a lot harder than starting it," said Archie. He was going to have to treat this like any other addiction, only this was a deep part of who she was and would be much harder than 12 steps. Regina sat back on sofa and gathered her thoughts.
"I thought magic would bring back the thing that made me the happiest. His name was Daniel and...and I loved him. He was killed...my mother took his heart and crushed it. I thought magic would bring him back and it didn't. I have his body though. I used a preservation spell and I've kept him in my family mausoleum," said Regina.
"Because you couldn't let go of him," said Archie. He could only imagine the heartache he would feel if he lost Natalie the same way. However he knew that she wouldn't want him to hang on to her if it stopped him from living his life. He had a feeling that if this man truly loved Regina he wouldn't have wanted her to become this person. He would have wanted her to move on and let go.
"If you can't let go of the past Regina, it's doomed to haunt you," said Archie. He had woken up last night in a sweat recalling the look on young Geppetto's face when he saw his parents and it had taken Natalie over an hour to get him to calm down to come back to bed. He didn't tell her what he had dreamed about. He had that dream before when he was cursed, but he was always able to dismiss it as just a nightmare. Now he remembered the truth and it weighed on him from time to time. Regina let out a huge sigh and just looked annoyed.
"You know I think this has been quite enough," she stood up and started heading for the door and Archie followed her.
"Regina. Wait...I can help you," said Archie. She turned and glared at him.
"I doubt it," she snapped. She left his office and slammed the door. Archie sighed and went to add notes to this file. He knew how hard change was, it had taken him well over thirty years and being turned into a cricket before he was able to change.
Patient is an addict, only her addiction is magic. She turned to magic in hopes of being able to be reunited with her true love. Once that failed she only had the magic to fall back on.
…...
Archie walked into the sheriff's station and found Natalie was helping a young girl fill out paperwork. She had long brown hair and a plaid dress.
"Do you remember what you were called during the curse?" asked Natalie. The girl looked thoughtful.
"I think it might have been Lacey," she said. "I was sort of locked up in the hospital and don't really remember much." Natalie nodded and filled out the rest of the form.
"So you're staying at the library right now," said Natalie.
"There's an apartment there for the caretaker. I would really like to clean the library up and reopen it," she said.
"Well I don't see why we can't do that," said Natalie. She gave her some forms. "Take this over to the DMV it's right across the street and they'll give you a state ID under any name you want. It's nice to meet you Belle." She shook her hand and the young girl smiled.
"So I heard there was a book club in town. I would really like to be apart of it if possible," said Belle.
"It's been sort of crazy lately, but I'll talk to Archie to see when the next meeting is," said Natalie. Archie knocked on the wall to make his presence known, Natalie looked up to see him and she smiled at him. "Speaking of...Archie this is Belle. Belle this is Archie. He's in charge of the book club." Belle shook his hand.
"It's nice to meet you," said Archie. "It might take awhile us to get the club back together, but once we do I'll get in touch with you."
"Thank you. Well thank you for all the help Natalie and I look forward to seeing you again," said Belle. She took her forms and walked out of the station. Natalie looked at clock and let out a deep sigh.
"Oh thank god," she said. She got up and hugged him. "How was your day?"
"Very long," said Archie. Natalie took her files and placed them in the desk. Archie looked and saw Natalie had a large brown bag next to her desk and that it three things of fabric sticking out. Archie gave a small smile, it was nice see her getting back into something she loved. She picked up the bag and took Archie's hand. He squeezed her hand tighter than normal and Natalie gave him a look.
"You ok?" asked Natalie. Archie handed her keys to the car and she got into the driver's seat.
"Just tired is all," said Archie. She was a little better this time, she keep at a constant speed over twenty five. However she did slam on the brakes to not hit a chipmunk on their street. They got inside and the dogs about ran each over to get to them.
"Here go sit down and I'll make us dinner," said Natalie giving him a kiss on the cheek. She took her bag upstairs and changed. Archie poured himself a drink and went outside with Pongo and Bear. Natalie came back downstairs and started making baked potato soup. She got them both bowls and headed outside to sit with Archie.
"Thank you," said Archie. He started eating and Natalie noticed he had this far away look in his eyes.
"You want to talk?" asked Natalie. Archie sat his spoon down and looked at her.
"Last night I dreamed about what happened to Geppetto's parents...what I did to them." Natalie pushed her dinner away and took his hand.
"You've changed and you are a much better person now. You've helped so many people since than. You told me that Marco has forgiven you since the curse broke. Why don't you want to forgive yourself?" Archie took a sip of his drink and collected his thoughts.
"If people were to know the whole truth about me do you think they would think so highly of me?" asked Archie. She looked at him and recalled the first time she had looked into his eyes and saw how he looked at her with worry and care. No one had ever looked at that way before and no one else ever had.
"What they think doesn't matter. What I know does and I know that you are a truly good person. I love you Jiminy," said Natalie.
"It's just...between us...Regina came to see me today," said Archie and Natalie looked stunned. "She wants to change and I understand that better than anyone. I just don't know how to get through to her."
"You have to give her time and know that you can help her because you have changed," said Natalie. Archie kissed her and twirled her hair in his fingers. She had always seen the good in him, even when he couldn't see it himself. That night Natalie curled up next to him while they were sleeping, one arm was wrapped around him and her hand was resting on his chest over his heart. For the first time in a long time he didn't have that dream.
…...
Archie sat in his office the next afternoon setting up appointments for people when the knock came. He opened the door and Regina was standing there crying.
"I used magic," she admitted sadly.
"Please come in," said Archie and he shut the door. Regina took a seat and wiped her eyes.
"This is all Whale's fault!" spat Regina.
"Tell me what happened?" said Archie. He was hoping she hadn't done anything to Whale, even if he was a jerk he didn't deserve to have anything bad happen to him.
"Whale broke in my vault and he took one of my hearts and Daniel's body and he brought him back," said Regina.
"What do you mean he brought him back?" asked Archie. She has hearts here...oh god what else does she have here?
"He brought him back to life," said Regina and Archie was stunned as things started to fall into place. Whale hadn't been from their land and he wanted to go back to his dead brother.
"Whale is Frankenstein," muttered Archie to himself and than he forced himself to get back on track. "Only what he brought back wasn't Daniel?"
"He was and he wasn't. He attacked Whale and than he went to the last place he remembered before he died, the stables. Only...Henry was there," said Regina.
"Is he alright?" asked Archie quickly.
"He got away. David helped me get him away. Than David just wanted to shoot him, to put him down like a dog. I couldn't let him do that to him. I wanted to help him," said Regina her hands balled up in her lap.
"What happened?" asked Archie. Regina's hands were shaking and Archie actually felt sorry for her.
"I sent David away so I could talk to Daniel. He looked right through me and than...he had his hands on my throat. I told him that I loved him and...he remembered me. He looked at me and he looked so happy to see me and than he...he begged me to kill him...to let him go. I told him I couldn't...but he begged me..." Regina was fighting back tears and Archie wasn't sure what to. Before he could say anything his office door open.
"Hey do you want to...oh god I'm sorry," said Natalie. He hadn't put the 'In session' sign on the door. Regina turned and looked at Natalie and she started crying.
"Odette..."whispered Regina. Archie watched as Natalie seemed torn. He knew the part of her that was Natalie didn't care at all for Regina., considering Regina had framed her and cursed her to a wheelchair for twenty eight years. The only reason she played the go between David and Regina was for Henry and to play peacekeeper. The part of her that was Odette did care and Archie could see that she did feel a little bad about Regina crying. Natalie came into the office, shut the door and went over to Regina.
"It's ok," said Natalie softly and she wrapped an arm around Regina. Regina put her head on Natalie's shoulder and kept crying.
"I had to kill him...I didn't have a choice...he was going to hurt Henry," sobbed Regina. Archie had seen patients cry before, but seeing Regina cry threw him for a loop. Natalie on the other hand seemed to know how to deal with this.
"Who was going to hurt Henry?" asked Natalie softly. It was a tone Archie had heard her use with animals that were hurt and scared.
"Daniel...he begged me to kill him...I didn't want to...I loved him," cried Regina.
"I know you did," said Natalie.
"He told me to love again...I don't know how," said Regina.
"Yes you do. You love Henry," said Archie.
"He's a good boy Regina. You couldn't have raised him if you didn't love him," said Natalie.
"Some would say that's from his grandparents," muttered Regina wiping her eyes.
"Regina you gave up the person you loved the most to save Henry's life. If you couldn't love him than how could you do that?" asked Archie. Regina didn't say anything and Natalie hugged her.
"I've seen you love before and I know that person is still there," said Natalie. Regina pushed away from Natalie and looked at her puzzled.
"I told you once that we weren't friends, but the truth of the matter is other than my father no one else has ever shown me kindness. You honestly felt sorry for me?" asked Regina.
"I felt sorry for the girl who was made to leave her home to become a wife and mother to people she barely knew. I thought she was brave...and all she wanted was a tree in the royal garden," said Natalie. Regina's face soften and Archie could only imagine what Regina had confided to Odette...what had there relationship been like when they were younger, before Regina gave into evil?
…...
Enchanted Forest
Odette was tiding up Regina's room while she went on her morning ride. The soon to be queen was fond of her horses and riding. Some days she would leave right after breakfast and ride until tea time and than she would take jumping lessons until dinner and than walk through the gardens afterward. She didn't seem to want any part of the court life and honestly Odette couldn't blame her. She could remember Queen Eva looking exhausted at times after a long day of dealing with the Lords and Ladies, the bowing and the games played among the social climbers. Eva had been in royal courts all her life so she was used to it. Regina seemed like a nice person and Odette didn't know how the new queen would handle the court's backstabbers. Odette was finishing up the bed when Regina and Cora came into the room. Odette bowed and went to finish the bed when Cora spoke up.
"Odette dear, Regina fell off her horse and tore her riding outfit. Could you have it washed and mended?" asked Cora.
"Of course my lady," said Odette bowing her head. Cora left the room and Odette turned to Regina and saw that the riding dress was covered in mud and had a tear in the skirt. Regina looked horribly upset and she had a feeling it was more than the outfit. "Did you hurt yourself when you fell? Should I send for a doctor?" Regina shook her head no quickly and her eyes filled with tears and she started crying.
"Oh my...here take a seat," said Odette and she made Regina sit down and she poured her a goblet of water. Regina took it and gulped it down quickly. "Are you sure you don't want the doctor?"
"No I'm fine. Just...so stupid falling off my horse. He took off and now I don't know if he'll come back," admitted Regina. "I've had him since I was little girl and now he's gone." She got this far away look in her eyes and Odette poured her another goblet of water. Regina wiped her eyes. "You must think I'm silly. Carrying on this way about a horse."
"No I don't," said Odette. She headed into the closet and pulled out a white dress for Regina to change into.
"You're just saying that," muttered Regina. Odette laid the dress down and showed Regina her necklace.
"The chain on this broke one day and it was all I could do to not break down in tears. This was my mother's. She gave it to me a few months before she passed. Some would have considered my tears over this silly, but this means a great deal to me," said Odette. She helped Regina changed and she brushed her hair out and redid the braid. She picked the riding dress up. "Do you need anything else?" asked Odette.
"No...thank you," said Regina. Odette bowed and left the room. She took the dress down the wash and than headed to the stables to see if one of the stable boys would look for the horse.
"We can't spare anyone right now. We have to everything cleaned in here by tomorrow before everyone starts coming in for the wedding," said one of the boys. Odette glared at him and went back to castle to clean and mend Regina's clothing. She would have to wait until Regina and Snow had gone to bed before she could go looking for the horse.
It was past midnight before Odette could sneak out into the woods and started looking for Regina's horse.
"What are you doing?" called a voice. Odette pulled her hood back so they could see her.
"You shouldn't be out this late by yourself," said the guard coming out of the shadows. It was Rothbath and Odette let out a sigh of relief.
"Well since no one else can be spared to locate our Queen's horse I'm doing it," said Odette picking up a lantern and heading towards the woods.
"No lady should be out alone without a chaperone on a quest. Shall we," said Rothbath giving her a small bow.
"On we go," said Odette. It took them over an hour to find the horse. He had gotten his reins stuck on a branch and Odette reached up to grab his reins only to have the frightened horse bite her arm. "Ouch!" Rothbath grabbed the reins and took control of the horse.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"My pride hurts more," said Odette rubbing her arm. The two walked back to the castle and Odette noticed that Rothbath kept giving her an odd look and despite the warm weather she felt a small chill. Odette took the horse back to the stable and woke up one of the stable boys to clean and feed the horse.
"Well thank you for your help sir knight," said Odette bowing her head and heading back to the castle. Rothbath went back to his post and wished he had been just a bit bolder and told Odette that he liked her.
The next morning Odette's arm hurt a great deal and she noticed a huge bruise forming on her arm. She took the breakfast tray up to Snow's chambers first and got her dressed for the day before taking Regina's tray up for the morning. She was pouring Regina's tea when she nearly dropped the cup from the pain in her arm.
"Are you alright?" asked Regina.
"I'll see the doctor in a little bit after I'm done cleaning the chambers. I brought your riding outfit up," said Odette.
"I don't think I'll be riding today," said Regina sadly. She sat down and Odette started brushing her hair.
"I think if your ladyship goes down to stables she might be surprised," said Odette with a smile. Regina gave her a look and Odette finished getting her dressed for the day. Regina left the room and Odette started cleaning. Regina was gone for an hour before coming back up when Odette was cleaning up Snow's room.
"How did you find him?" asked Regina with a smile.
"It took some effort," said Odette picking up a dress and draping over her good arm. Regina just shook her head and hugged her tightly. Odette was stunned. Snow hugged her, but than again she was still a child and they had known each other for years. Regina stepped back with a huge smile.
"You are wonderful. Thank you so much," said Regina. Odette bowed to her and went to pick up a tray when her arm started to ache again. Regina's smile turned to a frown and she grabbed Odette's arm and pulled up her sleeve and her eyes got wide at the sight of Odette's arm.
"Oh dear. He bit you," Regina stood up straight and looked very serious. "I'm ordering you to go see the doctor and have that looked at. Send one of the other maids up to finish the cleaning." Odette could see a small smirk grace her face and Odette couldn't help but smile back at her.
"Yes your ladyship," Odette left the room and sent Johanna up to Snow's room so the cleaning could be finished. The doctor applied some herbs to her arm and wrapped it carefully She returned to delivery afternoon tea and Regina was just coming back from her morning ride and she gave Odette a little nod of her own head as she and her mother took their tea.
"Is your arm ok?" asked Regina.
"It's just fine. Thank you for asking," said Odette.
"You hurt your arm dear?" asked Cora.
"She was able to bring Rocinante back," said Regina. Cora gave her a small smile.
"Well that was very nice of you," said Cora and something about her tone made Odette nervous and she was relieved when Regina dismissed her. Regina sipped her tea and looked at her mother, she would have to steal the book tonight. She would wait until her mother was asleep and than take the book. She only hoped that the book had the answer to help free her.
…...
Storybrooke
Natalie and Regina looked at each other and Archie had a feeling they had forgotten he was even there.
"You did the right thing. You saved Henry's life," said Natalie.
"I lost him twice though and now I don't have Henry," said Regina.
"You have to give him time. He's a child and he does love you," said Natalie. Regina wiped her eyes again.
"I want to be a better mother to Henry. Do you think you can help me to stop using magic?" asked Regina looking at Archie.
"We can try," said Archie. "If you like and if Natalie agrees too it I would like to have her sit in on the sessions with us." Natalie gave him a look and Regina looked stunned.
"Why?" asked Natalie.
"I think Regina would feel more comfortable talking with you here," said Archie.
"Can I think about it," said Regina.
"Of course," said Archie. Regina looked over at Natalie.
"Thank you," said Regina and she got up and left. Natalie gave Archie a look.
"Are you serious?" asked Natalie.
"Yes I am. I don't think she's ready to open up to me all the way, but she knows you and clearly feels ok talking in front of you."
"I don't know if I feel ok about this," said Natalie. Archie took her hand and squeezed it.
"I know she hurt you. This might be good for both of you...if she can see that she how her actions have hurt people she might be able to learn from her mistakes and it could help you move on too," said Archie. Natalie looked at him worried and he hugged her. "You don't have to do this if you really don't want too."
"She was a good person once...do you think she could come back?" asked Natalie. Archie gave her a kiss.
"I became a good person here," he said. Natalie sighed deeply and Archie kissed her again he knew that she would come to the sessions now. "Thank you," said Archie. He didn't have any other patients for today and decided to head home with her.
"Do you think that she'll come back?" asked Natalie.
"I do," said Archie. Natalie's grip got tight in his hand and she looked worried for some reason.
"Can you promise me something?" asked Natalie.
"Anything," said Archie.
"I...nothing...it's nothing," said Natalie. They reached the house and the dogs pounced on Natalie the second she walked in. Archie had a feeling that when she was ready to talk to him she would. He went to make them some dinner while Natalie took care of Pongo and Bear. Natalie sat outside and watched the two dogs try to catch a squirrel and twisted her necklace. While Archie's nightmares caused him to wake up and thrash about. Her nightmares caused her to be paralyzed with fear.
She couldn't move...he had twisted her arm so hard behind her back she was shocked he hadn't broken it yet.
"Why don't you love me?" he hissed in her ear. She couldn't form words, everything in her mind was a jumble of fear. She wouldn't cry though, she wouldn't give him that.
"Natalie...dinner's ready," said Archie placing his hand on her shoulder and he noticed that she jumped a little bit when he did that. "You ok?"
"I'm fine. Let's eat," said Natalie heading inside. I can't tell him...I won't tell him that. I promised myself that no one would ever find out about that.