She was sure time had passed, but it was impossible to say how much. Outside, the world was deadly quiet. Suddenly, a hand closed around the lamp. Before she could grasp how it was she was able to feel it, the lamp was being rubbed, and she was being thrust into the world.

She stood, blinking at her surroundings. From behind her, her new master spoke, a cheerful tilt to his voice.

"What's your name?"

She spun around. "Genie?!"

He gave her that goofy grin. "Naw, I meant your real name."

She threw her arms around his neck. "How did you find me so fast?"

"According to every scroll I could find, this is the spot where my lamp first appeared. It just made the most sense, you being a new genie and all. Speaking of which, I have some wishes."

She pulled back, his words splashing over her like cold water. "Some... of course."

He gave a gentle smile. "It's okay. I wish for you to never be forced to harm anyone against your will. I wish for Rumpelstiltskin to find his son, and I wish you free of the lamp."

He smiled as the bonds vanished.

She couldn't do anything but stand there, feeling stunned.

"Go on, take it in. You're free! Feels good, doesn't it?"

"But, Genie... you used your wishes on me."

"Hey, it was only fair. You used yours on me, didn't you?"

"But..."

"Even that one mistake... you wanted what was best for me. And don't you dare start apologizing, because here we both are, safe and sound, and completely free. Let's go see the world."

She'd only just started to smile when she gasped. "Rmple! Dows second wish... Genie, this is going to crush him... could you take me home, please?"

He sobered immediately. The concern in his eyes mirrored her own. "Of course, Mel... and don't worry about your brother. We'll work something out. Speaking of which... I need to make a stop on the way there."

*.*.*.*

She couldn't seem to help worrying about her brother, but she was all for helping out the families of the houses he'd been forced to collapse. He couldn't use his magic, openly at least, but there were plenty of other ways to help out.

While he helped rebuild the houses, Melina helped with the wounded. Around five-ish, she wandered over to him. "Genie?"

"Having fun yet?"

She smiled as she nodded. "It's been so long since I've been able to help out like this."

"You're in your element out there. Whadaya need?"

"Well I thought I could make a meal for everyone, but they have so little, I don't want to use their food..."

"Say no more!" He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a bag of coins. "Get 'em lots of stuff they can store, too. Don't be thrifty!"

She took the bag, smile widening. "You're a pretty wonderful guy, did you know that?"

His cheeks reddened. "Well, you know... life of servitude and all... just sort of 'rubs' off on ya after a while."

Her giggle sent his pulse racing. He chided himself as she left to buy the food.

An elderly man had apparently been watching the exchange. "I want to thank you for all of your help. I don't know what we would have done if you and your girlfriend hadn't shown up."

He winced. "Oh we're not together... well, we came here together... but we're not dating or anything..."

The man elbowed him with a wink. "Ah, whatever you say my friend. I guess it must not have been love that I saw just now. And to think, I am never wrong about such things."

He rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortably. "We're just good friends, is all."

"Of course, of course. It is none of my business anyway. But, were you to be more than just friends, she is quite the catch."

"Believe me, pal, I know it." He turned back to his hammering before the astute peasant could read anything else from his face.

*.*.*.*.*.*

Mel came back quickly, several merchants in tow, carrying grain sacks, rice, figs, and enough food to feed the families for months.

He let himself smile as he watched her out of the corner of his eye. She not only helped organize all that food to where the women could get to it, and prepared the food, but she patiently showed, and re-showed how the meals were prepared as she boiled a stew to feed them all. She'd finished just as he got the second hut up.

He pounded the last nail in place, and sauntered over to her, feeling pretty great about the day's efforts. "Teach a man to fish, huh Mel?"

She nodded, smiling sheepishly. "I hope you didn't expect much of your money back... I got a little carried away..."

He waved his hand. "This is perfect. We'll give them some money before we leave, just in case."

She handed him a chipped clay pot that held his dinner, then sat down beside him with her own meal. The sun was setting, and the air was already starting to cool. Around them, everyone else talked happily in between gulps of the first real meal they'd had in years.

Two new, sturdy huts, secretly re-enforced with magic stood where there had been only rubble, and a third hut was already being started.

Mel gave a contented sigh, and he nodded in agreement. "Mmm, hmm."

"Where are you going to go first?"

"Huh?"

"When we're done here, I mean. Where will you go first?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "I don't know... funny, I spent all that time picturing it, and I never really made a plan."

She poked him, eyes more serious than she was trying to let on. "You never really had hope."

He poked her back. "Come with me?"

She hesitated, then poked him back. "I need to get back to my brother. And believe me, that's enough of a wish come true."

"For real?"

"Yes. And wherever Rumple is right now, he might actually need my help this time. Dows might have taken him down a peg, and maybe we can patch things up."

He studied her carefully. "You're not just saying that?"

"Genie, I didn't lie to you when you asked me if I would have abandoned you to Dows after you saved my life..."

"True."

"Yes, I would like to go with you. It sounds wonderful. But... restoring my relationship with my brother would be wonderful too, and I can't give up on him. That's the whole of it. Honest."

"Go see the world today, come home, tomorrow."

She laughed, wrinkling her nose at yet another movie reference she couldn't possibly understand.

"Alright. I'll stop. Sorry. It's just..." He frowned. If she didn't need him anymore... how was he supposed to check back in on her every now and again? On the other hand, maybe that was for the best.

"It's just what?"

"Nothing."

"You're frowning. Despite everything we've been through, I've only seen you frown a couple times. And only for a little while."

He forced a smile. "You watched me cry my heart out."

"Genie..."

He shrugged. "I was just thinking how weird it's going to be. It'll be fine, I mean, I can usually work with weird."

She smiled.

"I guess I just need to process all of this. I'm free. You're free. I'm free again. You're free again..."

Her smile became a grin.

"It's been kind of crazy."

She touched his arm. "Yeah, ever since I found your lamp. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through, but... I'll never be able to thank you enough for everything you've done for me."

"Same here, Mel."

"You promised to drop me a postcard every now and then."

"And you said I could visit."

She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Whenever you want to. So you see, you don't have to be sad. You can see the world without saying goodbye."

As he started to put his arm around her, the old timer chuckled behind them. "How could I have been mistaken?"