-Woodlands; Business Office (Evening)-

Bigby and Garry both entered the office, after a trip to the Cut Above and the Lucky Pawn. When they stepped in, they weren't surprised to see Bluebeard arguing with Snow White, while Maria stood by her side, but they were both shocked to see Mr. Toad in the Office as well.

"I don't care who killed the prostitutes!" They heard Bluebeard say to Snow, "If Crane was helping himself to the community coffers, it means his money was in my pocket! And you just let him go!"

"I don't know what you heard but it didn't happen like that." Snow said to him.

"Are you denying the facts?" Bluebeard said.

"She's denying me a chance to get a word in!" Mr. Toad said, "Now Miss White I-"

Mr. Toad was cut off by Bufkin when he saw who had entered the office. "Sheriff Bigby and Garry have returned." He said.

They turned and saw Bigby and Garry with their own eyes. "Garry! Mr. Wolf!" Maria said running over to them. "Ah, there's the old wrecking ball himself." Mr. Toad couldn't help but say.

Snow got up from where she sat and walked over to them, "Thank God you're both back." She said.

"We're not done here!" Bluebeard said.

"You're going to have to wait!" Snow said to Bigby with a stern look.

"Please, just give us a moment." Maria said.

Bigby got out the mirror shard from his pocket and showed it to Snow and Maria, "Look what we found."

Both Snow and her daughter were speechless at this, but at the same time, they were relieved to see the shard in the hands of Bigby. "Seems you're dog wants a biscuit." Bluebeard said breaking the silence.

"Ah come on, seriously dude?" Garry said to Bluebeard with a look, "You completely killed the moment!"

Snow turned to Bufkin, "Bufkin get this piece in the mirror immediately!"

"With pleasure Miss White!" Bufkin said, flying over to them. Bigby handed the mirror shard to him and he flew over to the Mirror.

"Oh thank goodness." Maria couldn't help but say, "Everything is going back in the right direction."

"Good work you two." Snow said, "You both were gone the whole day, what did you manage to uncover?"

"Well, we managed to get a lot of information, but… You're not gonna like it." Garry told her honestly.

"What do you mean?" Snow asked him.

Bigby had explained, "This whole thing… It reaches in a lot further than we previously thought. The Crooked Man's got something on everybody. It wasn't just Beauty with the loans and Beast working with him. His goon, the Jersey Devil is putting the squeeze on all kinds of Fables down at the Lucky Pawn. Not only that, he's got other Fables enslaved at the butcher's shop, making black market magic."

Maria's eyes widened in horror, while Snow's eyes widened in shock. "Oh my god…" Maria said.

"This is worse than we could have imagined…" Snow said.

"That's exactly what I said when I saw it." Garry said.

"Don't worry, it's over now." Bigby said, "Because now we've got the Mirror. And once that's fixed, we got him. That's how Crane did it. And that's how we're gonna do it."

"And when we find the Crooked Man, we'll find Shadow too!" Garry said with enthusiasm.

Bufkin soon came back. "Bigby! Garry!" Bufkin said, "I could use your assistance. Would you both join me at the Mirror?"

"I'll go with you both, to see if I could be of help." Maria said

Both Bigby, Garry, along with Maria went to the Mirror where Bufkin flew back. "Don't go far Sheriff!" Bluebeard said, "I'd like to have a few words of my own!"

"Unbelievable. Pompous ass." Mr. Toad couldn't help but say.

Bigby said to Bluebeard, "We'll talk soon. You can count on it." As Bluebeard, Snow, and Mr. Toad argued with them again, Bufkin examined the shard. "So what seems to be the problem?" Maria asked him.

"This piece just doesn't want to join the rest." Bufkin said to them, before turning to Bigby and Garry "Do you have any idea why?"

"You got me." Bigby said to him.

"Well, where did you find it?" Bufkin asked them, "What has it gone through since being separated the rest? Shattering can be a very traumatic experience you know. So this process can be a little touchy. It helps if we have a good working relationship with the mirror, and I don't mind speaking in rhyme."

"Well here are the basic details." Garry said before explaining, "The shard had a front row seat to brawl between Bigby and Jersey at the Lucky Pawn. When we found it, it was still in Cranes coat."

Bigby had added, "The last person that I know that was with Crane was that psycho Bloody Mary. Maybe she had-"

Bufkin cut him off, "Oh, right Mary. Miss White was asking about her before, that explains it. You-know-who and the Mirror have what you call, a very unhappy history with one another. I mean how would you like it if she used one of you as a doorway."

Both Maria and Garry both shuddered at the thought of that, while Bigby said, "I think I already know the feeling."

"Well I think I know how to proceed now." Bufkin said, "It'll just need some a little extra coaxing. Thank you for your help."

Maria said, "We'll help Bufkin out with the mirror. It might be awhile, so we'll let you know when it's ready."

"And besides, he might not want to come out with you watching." Bufkin said.

"Oh! So he doesn't like being spied on?" Bigby said jokingly.

Maria and Bufkin couldn't help but giggle at that. As they went ahead to fix the mirror, Bigby went back over to Snow. She managed to get herself out of the quarrel between Bluebeard and Mr. Toad. "Is the the mirror fixed yet?" Snow asked him, "Did you ask about the Crooked Man?"

"They're still working on it." Bigby replied, "Maria said it might be awhile before it's fixed."

Snow turned over to Bluebeard and Mr. Toad and couldn't help but groan as she saw them argue. "I can't take those two right now." Snow said, "We're trying to catch a killer, Shadow could very well be in danger and they're… They're over there bickering about their bureaucracy! We're at war! Don't they realize that?"

"Sounds like you could use some help." Bigby said.

"Yes, that would be very much appreciated, thank you." Snow said, "You need to go talk to Toad, but just so you know, we can't pay him. He really needs to go to the Farm you know. So just break the news to him and be done with it, okay?"

Bigby nodded his head, and went to lean on a table; a good distance from Bluebeard and Snow. "Hey Toad!" He called over, "Get over here!"

Toad rolled his eyes as he went to him. "I see how it is. Passed off to an underling, eh?" He said, "Why am I not surprised? Well you did cause what damage brings me in here, so maybe it's for the best. Just need a little bit of dosh to cover it. I tried talking to her and even her daughter about it, but it's like chatting up a brick wall it is! Now I'm sure you've got your own agenda, Sheriff. But I've taken a real wallop because of you, and you can't deny that."

"I'm starting to think that you don't take me seriously." Bigby said, "Just how many times did I tell you to get glamoured up? You know the rules, if you're out of glamour I gotta send you to the Farm."

"Well…" Toad had said, "Is your friend the pig going to the Farm too? You thought we didn't know about him. The worst kept secret in Fabletown."

Bigby had replied, "Wouldn't you know it? Colin is going to the Farm."

Toad was a bit taken back by this, but than again, it was a bit expected. "Well, I would say each deserve to be decided on its own, uh, merits, don't you think?" Toad said, "Listen if you give me one more chance and hear me out, I'll see for a way for me and me boy to stay. I'm not gonna as for any more than I need. I just want to stay. So whaddya say, you just give me enough to cover me glamours, and we'll call the rest a wash?"

Toad saw the look in Bigby's eyes. "Please, Sheriff!" Toad begged, "Don't take TJ away from the only home he knows. This whole glamour rule is… oppressive. I've done nothing wrong but look different. You know it's not right… Burdening the weakest of us like this. This world isn't kind to those of us who can't pass for a human."

"I'm sorry Toad." Bigby said to him, "You've been out of glamour from the word go, so I have no choice. You and TJ are gonna have to go to the Farm. There's going to be a truck leaving in two days. I think you better go break it to your boy."

"Bigby…"

"Look, the damages might be a valid complaint, but that's a separate deal. Weyland Smith can see to that. At the Farm."

"You're a real friend of the people, Sheriff."

Toad turned to walk out of the office, "What a crock of shite… A government 'by the Fables for the Fables' my arse."

Toad left the office without saying another word; Snow saw the look on his face and she couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. Bigby turned his attention to Bluebeard, "Hey Bluebeard! You wanna talk? Now's your chance!"

"I've just made my donation funding to the office!" Bluebeard said, "So direct your questions to Miss White!" And with that, Bluebeard left the Office, slamming to the door behind him.

Snow sighed with relief, "Well, at least he's not trying to get rid of me."

"He's not?" He asked.

"For now." She replied before asking, "Did you take care of Toad? I mean… I saw the way he left."

Bigby had replied, "Don't worry, I did it. He'll be ready to go to the Farm in two days. Him and TJ."

Snow sighed and said, "It may not have felt good, but it was the right thing to do, you know that."

Bigby saw a certain look in her eyes. "Is there something else on your mind?" He asked with concern.

Snow nodded and replied, "I know I should be asking how it got like this, but I just keep wondering why it happened to Faith and Lily. Why they took Shadow. You and Garry have already seen his world, do you have any idea why he would want them dead, why he needs Shadow? I mean with Faith and Lily I don't know if the Crooked Man killed them with his own hands or if his goons… But someone did. What would make a person do that?"

Bigby said to Snow, "If there is one thing I've figured out about the Crooked Man, this is all about control. It's what he does, the Lucky Pawn, the Butcher's shop, the girls with the ribbons, the magic he peddles, the Fables he's got chained up, and possibly Shadow too. Maybe Faith and Lilith weren't doing what they were told, or maybe they tried to leave."

They soon heard Maria call out to them, "Mr. Wolf! Mother! The mirror is all fixed up!"

Bigby and Snow joined them at the mirror and saw that familiar green head.

"I have to say I've been better…" The Mirror said, "But thanks for putting me back together."

"It's good to see you too buddy." Garry said with a smile.

"I'm sorry." Snow said to them, "But… I have to know."

She than said a simple rhyme, "Mirror, mirror, we're glad you're not slain, no please show us that sick creep Crane."

The Mirror understood the rhyme and tried to get an image. "Snow." Bigby said, "I know you've got your reasons, but… Crane is not our concern right now."

Snow didn't say anything to Bigby, her eyes just softened. Soon enough an image was brought up, and it was revealed that Mary was with Crane. They were both standing in front of cab.

"You will get on that plane to Paris, and you will wait until the day when the Crooked Man needs you again." Mary said in the Mirror, "Until then, not a peep. Otherwise, I get to deal with you my way. So please, please disobey."

Mary seemed to have sensed something, when she twitched.

"Wait a minute!" She said, "Someone's watching."

There eyes widened when she turned to them in the mirror. She smirked and lifted her hand towards them, and suddenly there was a red light and the mirror started to bleed. The familiar green head came back.

"Mirror, are you okay?" Maria asked wiping away the blood.

"What… What just happened?" The Mirror asked them.

Bufkin said as he helped Maria wipe away the blood, "I'm afraid we pointed you in the wrong direction, and looked at Bloody Mary's reflection."

"Oh her." The Mirror said, "That explains the sting. I'd rather not have to feel the pain she brings. So let's not do that again, okay?"

"Looks like we're gonna have to track him down later." Bigby said.

Snow nodded her head, "You're right. We need to focus on the immediate threat. And that's the Crooked Man."

Bigby sighed not wanting to have to do the rhyme, but he had to endure it, "Uh, mirror, mirror… No time to pout, so where does the Crooked Man hang out?"

"That's not a bad rhyme." Garry commented.

An image came up and showed a brown door with a familiar symbol on it. "I don't recognize the door, but that's definitely his symbol."

"Hold on…" The Mirror said.

The mark had suddenly vanished and as did the image; another image appeared, and was on another door.

"The door…" Snow said, "It moves…"

"Yeah, Jersey mentioned that." Bigby said.

"And it was in that poem that we found in Georgie's office." Garry said.

Maria then saw that the door looked familiar. "Wait a minute, that door… I've seen it before."

"Yeah." Garry said, "Yeah, that's the door in Central Park!"

"I don't know when it's going to move again, but I'm gonna get there before it does!" Bigby said.

"Count us in too Boss!" Garry said, "No way you're gonna go at this alone!"

"No, it's too dangerous." Bigby said to him.

Maria had said, "Mr. Wolf, with all due respect Shadow is our friend. He needs us."

"We're not gonna abandon him in his time of need." Garry said.

Bigby sighed in defeat and said, "Damn it. He's really rubbed off on you hasn't he?"

"What can we say? Monkey see monkey do." Maria couldn't help but say. Maria and Garry were first to leave the office. Bigby was about to go until Snow stopped him.

"Bigby wait!" She said, "When you get the Crooked Man, make sure you bring him in alive. He has to stand trial. You know as well as I do that we can't dispense street justice. I know emotions can run high, and you have your own reasons to handle things a certain way. But we have to make a commitment to working with the law."

"Don't worry Snow." Bigby reassured her, "I'll catch him and bring him back alive than we can clean him and cook him together."

"I know you will." Snow said, "In the meantime I'll make the necessary preparations for the case against him. Keep an eye out for Garry and my daughter, and please… Bring Shadow back safe and sound."

Bigby nodded and said, "I'll get him back home, no matter what it takes." With that he left the Office.

-Central Park; Gothic Bridge (Nighttime)-

The three of them ran with all of their might, to the bridge where the Crooked Man's door had appeared. They spotted the bridge and picked up the pace, stopping in their tracks when they were under it. They saw the Crooked Man's mark.

"It's still here!" Maria said.

"We're not too late!" Garry said with relief.

Bigby kicked down the door, and they were greeted by a sea of light. The three of them stood before the door. "Well, this is it." Garry said, "This will lead us to the Crooked Man."

"Shadow's just on the other side." Maria added, "I'm kind of scared."

Bigby said to the two of them, "It's not too late to turn back you know. You could just head back to the Business Office."

Both Maria and Garry shook their heads, "No way in hell." Garry said, "There's no way we're gonna back out now; not after all that's happened."

"Shadow's our friend too. So we have to endure whatever is on the other side." Maria said, "Just for his sake."

Bigby sighed and just shook his head. "He really has rubbed off on them." He couldn't help but think. He than said to the two, "Just stay close to me, we're not sure what could be on the other side."

The two teens nodded their heads. "LET'S DO THIS!" Garry exclaimed, and with that being said, the three of them ran through the door, letting the light engulf them; this had forced them to squeeze their eyes shut.

When they reopened them, they found themselves standing in a building that wasn't at all familiar to them. Hell they weren't even sure if it was even a building, or a house they were standing in. They looked around their surroundings.

"Where are we?" Maria couldn't help but ask. They turned around and saw that the Crooked Man's mark had disappeared.

"I could be wrong, but I think we're here." Garry said.

They soon heard what appeared to be creaking noises mixed with the sound of footsteps. Bigby quickly motioned the two teens to go against the wall to which they did. He told them to stay quiet as the sounds came closer and closer to them. Bigby was ready to attack, but soon enough the person came into view. None of them couldn't believe who it was.

"Tim?" Bigby said with a surprised look on his face.

"TIM!?" Maria and Garry couldn't help but exclaim.

Tim let out a friendly smile to them; happy to see the three of them.

"What are you doing here?" Bigby asked him.

"Good evening." Tim had greeted, holding his hand out to Bigby, "I'm here to take you to the boss. Thanks by the way for leaving out Tiny."

The three looked at each other, not knowing what to say to this exactly. Ultimately in the end, Bigby shook Tim's hand.

"I have to admit." Tim said, "When they asked me to watch the door, I didn't know what to expect, when you guys came through that portal. I know you guys aren't here on a social call. So thanks for not giving me a hard time."

"Wait, you mean to say you were expecting us?" Bigby asked him.

"You knew that we were coming?" Maria asked him.

"That's what they told me." Tim replied, "I dunno, they said that the Sheriff made it pretty clear. I'm supposed to bring you guys along in. So if you'll come this way…"

"Fine." Bigby said, "Lead the way."

They followed Tim down the hall, turning corners and such; They stayed silent not really knowing what to say to each other. Tim was the first to break the silence, "Thank you for understanding." Tim said to them, "This is all I'm here to do, and I don't want to mess it up. I know I would be the last person you'd expect to be a… guard. Or an escort for that matter. Trust me, I was a little surprised myself when they asked me to do it."

"Tim, you shouldn't be here." Bigby said to him, "This place is dangerous, especially for someone… Someone like you."

"It's not like that." Tim said to him, "Whatever you guys may think of him… He doesn't treat me like I'm some broken little kid. I think he gets what it's like."

Tim took a moment to pat his leg which had a cast.

"He gave me a job." He said to them, "And I'm lucky to have it. This is the only option I've got. Just… Keep that in mind, maybe? Because if you go up against each other, Fabletown is gonna get caught in the middle. And if you're here it can't be good. So I hope you can come to understanding."

"Tim…" Maria said, "Listen, you remember our friend Shadow right? We think that the Crooked Man has him here. Do you know anything about that, like where they're keeping him?"

Tim shook his head, "I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about that. I just stand guard, and escort."

"You really don't know?" Garry asked. Tim shook his head again in reply.

"I don't know what you guys think of him, but a lot of us depend on him." Tim explained, "Some of us never get to the front of the line at the Business Office, but he's there. We need you, but we need him too. What we don't need is a war."

Soon enough they got to double doors; they heard voices from inside of the room, one of them belonged to Georgie, and the other belonged to Jersey. He turned to Tim, "Go on. You got a job to do."

Tim nodded and went ahead to open the doors. "Sheriff Wolf sir." He said as he opened the doors. When they entered they saw who was in the room.

There was Tweedles Dee and Dum, the Jersey Devil, Georgie Porgie and Vivian. Maria and Garry were both shocked to see that, the teenage girl that had told them to run when they were at the Pudding 'N' Pie was there too; she was standing next to Georgie, and not looking at them in the eye.

Jersey was about to attack him, but another man who was in the room sitting down, held his hand out to stop him.

"Thank you Tim." He said, "I know that the Sheriff isn't the… Accommodating of sort."

Georgie sat back down, and the teenage girl sat at the seat next to his, and it was revealed who the voice belonged; They saw the Crooked Man, sitting there with his cane in hand. Garry and Maria couldn't help but back up slightly at the sight of him. They saw that there was something sleeping at his feet; from what they could tell, it was a dog of some kind.

"But you handled it." Crooked Man said to Tim, "You did well. You can go now."

"Thank you sir." Tim said before leaving; shutting the door behind him.

"You see?" The Crooked Man said, "Everyone in Fabletown has a role to fill. You just have to pay attention to what they need to help them find it."

They saw that the dog's ear twitched and started to come too. It stood up, and that's when they realized that it wasn't a dog; it was a wolf. Immediately, Bigby had recognized the unnatural fur color; the black and red fur with white at the belly from what he saw nine years ago. Maria and Garry both gasped when they realized who the wolf was.

"Why don't you have a seat?" The Crooked Man asked Bigby, "We have a great deal to discuss."

The wolf looked at them, with the familiar red eyes, coated with black. He let out a low growl towards them.

Bigby glared at him knowing very well what became of his son; the friend to Maria and Garry.

He got a cigarette and lighter, "Alright, you got me here. Let's talk."

Maria and Garry couldn't believe who they were looking at. The wolf that was standing beside the Crooked Man… Was their own best friend and the son of the Sheriff, Shadow Wolf.