The Cricket Game
San Francisco: 2 Years Ago
Chris wakes us and reaches across the bed for Buffy, only to find an empty side of the bed. "Sarah?" Chris calls as he sits up in the bed. As he looks around the room Buffy walks out of the bathroom holding her jeans "Hey." She says as she sits on the edge of the bed. Chris watches her intently as she slips on her shirt and pulls on her jeans "You leaving?"
Buffy nods "Yeah. I gotta get to work."
Chris raises an eyebrow "You work at a club. And it's 8.00 in the morning."
Buffy sighs "Inventory, plus we have to clean the place up before the band comes in to set up." Buffy stands from her seat but Chris grabs her hand "Why don't you stay, just for a little while."
When he waggles his eyebrows Buffy chuckles, before pulling away "No, can do. I have to work for a living. So I gotta book."
Chris nods before quickly jumping out of the bed and walking over to the dresser "Here." He says as he shows her a small box.
Buffy smiles "What's this for?"
"Our anniversary."
Buffy starts to cough startled "Anniversary?" She asks confused.
"3 month anniversary."
"Oh. Um...I...thanks."
Buffy smiles at him awkwardly she hadn't really thought about that, honestly she hadn't thought they were serious, they just hooked up from time to time.
"Look, I gotta go."
Chris leans in for a kiss but Buffy moves her face so he catches her cheek. She then bristly makes her way to the door and out of the apartment leaving the box behind.
Storybrooke, Maine: Present Day
As Buffy and Henry enter the loft, Henry calls out to Mary Margaret and David "Hey. Guess what. Taco shells were on sale."
Buffy freezes when she hears a bed creaking and pulls Henry back "Guys." Buffy calls to her parents "I suggest, you stop whatever your doing, please."
Henry looks at her confused and moves to look in Snow's room where her and David are in bed, Henry looks at the two of them confused "Why are you guys till in bed it's the middle of the afternoon."
Buffy looks down at Henry "Hey, why don't we start on those tacos for the party?"
Henry nods excited "Cool." He says before making his way into the the kitchen.
Buffy turns on the guilty couple "Seriously? Here's an idea, sock-door. And hello, some of us have super hearing." Buffy shakes herself disgusted before glaring at the two of them "If he starts asking questions, the two of you have to answer those. I did it for Dawn and it almost killed me, now as I am all grown up, you can do it for him. As if he starts, it's your fault." Buffy watches the two for a moment before remembering that they're actually her parents, her jaw drops and she turns away "Ewww. Ewww. Gross. This is a bad as walking in on my mom and Ted making out in the kitchen."
Buffy, David, Snow and Henry all enter Granny's and everyone cheers for them. As everyone hugs Granny walks over to Buffy, Buffy holds out the container of Tacos "Tacos? I can't guarantee that their good, but at least I didn't have to kill it."
Granny nods "Don't I know it. Meat Loaf back home? What a bitch."
Buffy chuckles before taking a beer and turning to David, who is drawing everyone's attention "I just wanted to, uh, thank you all for joining us tonight. Um, Mary Margaret and I—we have a saying—that we will always find each other, and while I believe that with all my heart, I'd like you all to raise your glasses and join me when I say, here's to not having to look for a while." Everyone laughs
"To Mary Margaret and Buffy." David says, everyone cheers and clinks their glasses. As they do the door opens and in steps Regina "Sorry I'm late."
Everyone turns in shock, "What is she doing here?" Leroy asks as he grabs a knife off the counter.
Buffy turns to him "Put the knife down cranky pants, I invited her."
As Regina moves to put the lasagna she brought down, Snow and David pull Buffy aside stunned.
Buffy explains "Look, we are alive right now, because of Regina. She deserves a chance. She deserves our thanks."
David looks at his daughter "Didn't you think to tell us about it?"
Buffy raises an eyebrow "Well, I was going to. But you guys were a bit busy, 'resting'."
Snow draws Buffy's attention "Buffy, she tried to kill us, yesterday."
Buffy shrugs "Yeh. It's not that bad. I once dealt with Spike trying to kill me one day to him helping me the next. Hell even Willow tried to kill me. And she was my best friend. So trust me when I tell you that I know why you have your issues. But in my years I have seen a vengeance demon who massacred thousands of men try to be good. Regina has Henry, that's more than enough reason for her to want to try to change. He believes in her, and I have seen enough to know that it is possible to come back from being the kind of person that she was."
Buffy sighs, when they still don't budge "Look I'm getting a chance right, and I have done some horrible things in the past that still haunt me. If I get a chance, so does she."
The husband and wife look at each other before nodding at Buffy.
A few hours later Buffy notices Regina heading out the door, Buffy sighs and forces herself to go after the mayor.
"Hey you bailing?" Buffy calls as she steps out of the cafe and walks over to Regina.
"Yes. I believe it's time to call it a night."
Buffy shrugs "You sure, I hear Archie made cake."
Regina smiles but shakes her head "I'm fine. Thank you."
Buffy nods "Okay." Buffy turns to head back inside but Regina stops her.
"Thank you." Regina says to the blonde.
Buffy turns to her "You do realise that you said that already right. Or our we in that weird loop thing. Oh God I hope not. That drove me insane last time."
Regina chuckles "No. No relapse of time. I'm thanking you f-for inviting me."
Buffy shrugs "No big, it was really Henry who wanted you there. I'm glad you guys got to do the whole spending time together."
Regina nods "Me, too. I'd like to see him more. Maybe you'd consider letting him stay over some time. I-I have his room just... just waiting for him."
Buffy sighs "I don't know...maybe not right now."
Regina glares at her angrily "Oh, because you know so much about parenting. Ask David at least he spent time with him in the time you were gone. Like I did for the last 10 years you were gone."
Buffy glares at her angrily "First of all you don't know the first thing about what happened ten years ago. Now, thanks for coming if you'll excuse me."
Buffy turns to leave but Regina stops her again "No. Wait. I'm sorry. Buffy, I—I'm sorry snapping at you—I shouldn't have done that. Will you accept my apology?"
Buffy turns to her "Sure. Listen Regina, the only reason I say right now is because I have seen the effect dark magic can have on people. It latches on and refuses to let go. It can take...time to manage. I just think while you still in the stage of getting use to not using magic like you used to, it's best you focus on that, it can be difficult to shake that urge."
Regina raises an eyebrow "How do you know that?"
"Past experience."
Regina looks at her stunned "You—?"
Buffy interjects "No. A friend of mine, started off good, like I'm sure you did. Got hooked on dark magic and did things she can never take back. She even tried to end the world. But once she accepted what she had done and realised that she wanted to change, it took time but she started using the power she had for good."
Regina smiles softly "You really think I can do that?"
Buffy nods "I believe that if you really want to, you can. Archie said you were trying to change, that's the first step."
Regina's eyes widen "Dr. Hopper said I was trying?" She asks.
Buffy nods "Yeah. Said you were doing the whole trying chibang. I was hesitant to invite you because I wasn't sure, but he told me that you are trying. He thought it would be a good idea."
Regina nods "Yes, it was. I should be going." Regina then turns away and walks away from the diner.
"So what was it like over there?"Henry asks Buffy as they eat breakfast at Granny's.
Buffy shrugs "Kinda like Sunnydale, but with more greenery. You know with the danger and the fighting for my life stuff. The whole dead rising thing really reminded me of home."
Henry smiles "Awesome. You know I really wish I could have at least gone to Sunnydale, what happened to it anyway?"
Buffy shrugs "I blew it up."
"Awesome."
Buffy chuckles "Your idea of awesome is so very much like Xander's, it's creepy. Come on. Time for school." Buffy starts to get up "I'll take you to the school bus."
Henry grabs his bag and glances over at Buffy "It's okay. I can go on my own."
Buffy smiles "Humor me?"
"David let me."
Buffy shrugs "Well, David did not live on a Hellmouth for seven years that made him paranoid."
"You used to let me." Henry points out.
Buffy nods "True, but thats before all the crazy mumbo jumbo that started happening in this 2.0 version of Sunnydale. Plus I heard that walking their kid to the the bus is what mothers do. Figured I try it out."
Henry smiles and Buffy and him make their way out of the diner.
As they step outside Archie's dog runs over to them "Hey, Pongo." Henry says as he bends down to pat the dog. The dog barks loudly at Henry "It's ok." He says trying to sooth the upset dog.
Buffy raises an eyebrow and looks around for Archie only to not see him anywhere in sight "Where's Archie?"
Suddenly Ruby comes running out the diner "Buffy, something's wrong."
Buffy turns to Ruby to see her bend by the dog "How-actually I think I already know the answer." Buffy turns to Henry "You know what your 11, plus you have a slayer for a mom I'm sure you'll be fine. Go on. I'll get you later."
"Ok." Henry says before walking off.
As he does Pongo runs off and Ruby and Buffy follow him.
"Archie?" Buffy says as she opens the door to his office, after Pongo had led her and Ruby there. "Archie?" She says again as she enters the room, she looks around the room only to spot Archie lying on the ground. "Oh, no." Buffy breaths before she jumps over the couch and over to Archie "What? What is it?" Ruby asks worried as she enters the room.
Buffy bends down next to Archie and tries to find a plus "Archie?" Buffy looks up at Ruby and shakes her head. Ruby's eyes fill with grief "No, no."
"Who would do this?"
"I think I know."
"Glad to see the Sheriff's station in now a family business." Regina says, as Buffy and David enter the interrogation room, where she is currently sitting. "Why am I here?" She asks confused.
Buffy sighs "Don't play dumb, I'm the queen of that." Buffy says "You are here because of Archie."
Regina shrugs "So now it's against the law to get into an argument with someone?"
David glares at the mayor "It is if you go to their office later that night and kill them."
Regina's eyes widen in shock and despair "Archie's dead?"
David just rolls his eyes "Stop it, Regina. Ruby saw you going into his office last night."
"Then she's lying. I was home all evening." Regina turns to Buffy "After everything I've done to change, to win Henry back, why would I toss it all away now? And if I did and I was going to kill Archie, you would never know it. The fact that he's dead and you 'caught' me shows sloppiness."
"You've been caught before." David tells her, he then turns to Buffy "Come on, Buffy. Who do you think's lying—Ruby or her? She's incapable of change, no matter how many times we've given her the chance. Why should this time be any different?"
Buffy sighs "David, give us a minute."
David turns to Buffy shocked "Buffy—"
"Now." Buffy gives him a pointed look causing him to sigh before he slowly exits the room.
Once the door closes behind David, Buffy reaches into her pocket and takes out the gem Angel had given her when she left town "Involere." Buffy says before turning to Regina.
"What was that?" Regina asks confused.
Buffy places the gem on the table "An old boyfriend gave me this, for six minutes anything that happens in this room will be concealed. It's a glammer kinda thing."
Regina raises an eyebrow "Why do we need a glammer?"
"Because I believe you."
"You do...?"
Buffy nods "Yes, but I also believe Ruby."
Regina shakes her head, even more confused than before "Then how..."
Buffy sighs "Look I saw the expression on your face when I told you about Archie, it was pure shock and despair. You didn't kill him. But I think you have a double out there somewhere."
"You think someone is setting me up? Then why don't you tell Mr and Mrs Self Righteous out there."
Buffy sighs "They won't believe me, to them you are the worst thing they have ever faced. But the people I have faced make you seem like a pre-school teacher." Buffy pauses "Look, I have seen shapeshifters before so I know it's possible. Hell I even had a robot version of me for a while. But I think someone is trying to frame you, to isolate you."
Regina watches Buffy intently before coming to a realisation "You want me to find out who."
Buffy nods "Which means..."
"We have to give them exactly what they want."
Buffy steps out the interrogation room and slips the gem back into her pocket. As she closes the door she turns to Snow who is glaring at Regina through the glass "So what do we do with her now?"
"Lock her up." David suggests.
Buffy shakes her head "Yeah, we are not doing that. She didn't do it. Hence the whole, no, on the locking up thing."
The two of them turn to the blonde astonished "You really believe her?" David asks in disbelief
Buffy nods "The expression on her face was pure shock and despair. It's not one you can fake. She didn't know."
Snow sighs "Buffy, we know you want to believe that Regina can change for Henry, but—"
Buffy cuts her off "I know that expression, I saw that despair everyday after I was brought back. I know that look." The two of them look at her sadly, causing Buffy to roll her eyes "Fine, you don't trust my judgement, whatever, but look at her. The old crazy bat ears Regina, would've turned this place into nothing but smoke and mirrors by now. She wants to change and she just wants everyone else to see it." Buffy sighs "I know that look. I know her. I believe her."
David shakes his head "With all due respect, you don't know her like we do."
Buffy scoffs "With all due respect, I have seen things that make her seem like a puppy dog. I watched a vampire with no soul try to be good, because he loved me. He changed and he fought. This is a man that helped massacre half off Europe along with Angelus. Trust me if I guy like Spike can change, then Regina is perfectly capable of it." Buffy sighs "Trust me, I know that in your world she is the Evil Queen. But guess what, your in my world now. And as Sheriff, my word is law. Which means until I see evidence, she's innocent."
Snow shakes her head "So, uh, what do you suggest we do?"
"We let her go."
"Buffy, she—" David tries but Buffy cuts him off.
"No. We are letting her go."
As Buffy, Snow and David search through Archie's files they sigh, unable to find anything. Buffy huffs and stands, walking over to the small safe below the desk, she bends down in front of it and rips the lid off the safe "Buffy!" Snow exclaims.
Buffy turns to her and shrugs "What? There may be answers in here."
David chuckles slightly earning him a glare from his wife. Buffy rolls her eyes and pulls out a small box, she walks back over to her seat and places the box on the table.
As she rumbles through the box she finds something unexpected "Whose Emma Swan?" Snow asks as she looks over Buffy's shoulder.
Buffy laughs uncomfortably "That would be me."
"What?" David asks confused.
Buffy sighs "Its the name I used after Sunnydale went Kaaboom. Well one of them anyone. Let's just say it was my favourite."
Buffy takes the large file out of the box and laughs "She had Archie did into my past, look, Anne Walker, Sarah Springs, Jessica Saunders. It's all the names I used."
Buffy chuckles as she stares at the file "Damn there's old notes from Principal Snyder in here. And even the anger management therapist I went too."
"Anger Management?" David asks
Buffy shrugs "As the slayer, I tended to get in a lot of fights, plus I did burn down a school building one time. But after I got back into Sunnydale one of the condition was that I had to see this therapist...about my 'violent tendences'. It's a shame I kinda liked the guy."
"What happened to him?" Snow asks.
"I found him dead in his office, eyes clawed out."
Buffy stares at the file a moment before her expression goes blank, she places the file down not notices a few photos fall to the ground, she stands "This is useless." She says before walking over to the file cabinet.
As Buffy searches Snow bends down to pick up the photos, she stares at the images of her daughter, barely 16 years old with a brunette boy's head resting on her lap while she leans her head on a redhead's shoulder. David walks over and takes the other photo's, seeing one of Buffy in a pink dress holding a golden umbrella. Snow smiles at the photo as does David. The two look at the last three photos one of which shows Buffy has barely five years old playing with a little stuffed pig. Snow feels tears fill her eyes as she stares at the photo of the young Buffy. The next photo show Buffy, Joyce, Hank and Dawn, in the image Buffy is wearing a small crown as she sits in front of a birthday cake, Joyce smiling at her.
Snow hold in the tears as she turns to the last photo, of Buffy at around 16 standing with a tall dark haired man, she looks closely at the man and spots the ring currently hanging around Buffy's neck "Oh, god." She breaths. She turns to David and points at the ring before gesturing to Buffy.
Before David could respond Buffy turns to them and spots them hovering over the file, she walks over and picks up the file before tossing it into the fire "Let's get back to work. That's useless."
The two parents stare at the burning box stunned and upset, but they went back to searching.
A little while later David pulls out a file "Regina's file—it's empty."
Snow sits up in her seat and turns to David "She did it. She killed the kindest soul in this town, a man who only cared about helping."
Buffy sighs "Look, one piece of evidence doesn't mean the case is closed. We will find whoever is really did this."
David turns to Buffy "Isn't it time you admit we already have? Regina had a fight with Archie, Ruby saw her outside last night, and now her file is empty. That's...that's a lot of evidence."
Buffy shrugs "Yeah, well you are both assuming. Look I have been in that position a number of times and if everyone around me had done what you two are doing right now, then the first time I would have killed Angel the moment I found out what he was. Plus I would also be in prison right now for murder."
Buffy sighs "Look things are different here than fairytale land. Evidence tends to be hard to find, trust me I near enough spent my entire teenage years playing mini investigator with demons."
"You think she was framed." Snow says as she sits on the arm of the couch by Buffy.
"Wouldn't be the first time it's happened to someone in this tiny little town."
"Who would want to frame her?" David says.
"That's a long list, present company included."
Buffy thinks for a moment before the answer comes to her "Well, there is one person who would go with the whole kill person tick box answer."
Buffy opens the doors at Gold's "See you got the door fixed. I preferred it the other way." Buffy says with a smirk.
Gold turns to Buffy "Sorry, to disappoint Ms. Summers."
Gold circulars the counter and goes to stand opposite Buffy "Nothing warms the heart more than a family reunited. You have your mother's chin, Ms. Summers. As well as your father's love of swords."
Buffy glares at him "Enough with this chit chat crap. We know you killed him."
"Apparently your father's tact as well, you know for a slayer, I would have expected better."
Buffy shrugs "Well, I'm retired."
"Someone's dead?" Belle asks confused.
Buffy glances at her "Dr. Hopper."
"Why on earth would you think I had anything to do with that?" Gold asks genuinely confused.
Buffy shrugs "Well, the whole thing looks like a shady frame job on Regina."
"And she's not possibly capable of doing something so vile?" Belle asks.
Buffy raises an eyebrow "Again with assumptions. What is it with you people, it's like you don't understand what a frame job is."
"It wouldn't be the first time you used someone to try and hurt her." Snow says.
Gold turns to Snow "Nice to see your memory's still intact, Dearie, but this time, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to disappoint you. It wasn't me."
David crosses his arms "Why should we believe you?"
"Because I can prove it. Ask the witness."
Buffy watches Gold intently before understanding what he means "You have got to be kidding me."
Gold smiles "Smart one you are Ms. Summers."
Gold bends down in front of Pongo and stocks his head, as he does Belle chuckles "I, uh, I didn't know you were such a dog person."
Gold smiles "Well, a long time ago, in another life, I got to know a sheepdog or two."
Buffy raises an eyebrow "Go figure. But as fascinating as that it. Can we get with the program here. You know the whole making the dog, talk or—do you speak dog? Or are we going to have to find a translator?"
Gold chuckles as the blonde "Oh, dearie, a translator could not do what needs to be done."
"So what needs to be done?"
"Magic, Ms. Summers. It won't allow us to communicate, but it will allow us to... extract his memories."
"Extract?" David asks confused and worried for Pongo.
"You don't have to worry." Gold assures him "He won't feel a thing."
Buffy turns to Gold "So what? We should all get on board with the whole trust Gold thing. If we're going to do that—well, I'm gonna need a reason as to why we're giving you all this trust." Buffy walks closer "I know magic Gold. Which means I know you could easily just try and use it to fool us."
"Well you won't have to worry about that dearie, as I won't be the one using magic. You will."
Buffy's eyes widen, before she burst out laughing "Me?—wow, really, your really losing your marbles aren't you?"
Gold chuckles "Need have it Ms. Summers but you have it within you. Told me so yourself." Gold turns to Snow "You witnessed it, didn't you?"
Buffy shakes her head "Okay, first of all I can't have magic. I'm not magic gal. That was Willow's gest. I just hit stuff."
"Deny it all you want but you know it's true. You have magic, and right now you just might need it dearie."
"Buffy, you don't have to do this." Snow tells her.
Buffy sighs and turns to her "I don't have a choice. I may not be the biggest fan of magic, 'cause if the door it opens but if it gets up what we need to know then...I'll take that risk."
Gold pulls out a small object and holds it out in front of Buffy "Now...do you know what this is?"
"A dream catcher."
Gold chuckles "Well...it's capable of catching so much more." Gold walks over to Pongo and hovers the dream catcher above the dog. As he does it begins to glow "What is that?" Belle asks confused.
"Memories." Gold informs her "Now Ms. Summers—you show us how."
Buffy raises an eyebrow as Gold holds out the dream catcher towards her "Could you vague that up for me?" She says sarcastically. She sighs "I can't sort through that creepy memory jumble."
"Will it. Will it, and we shall all see."
Buffy takes the dream catcher and tries to focus, after a moment nothing happens "Nothing happening here. Can't do it." She says.
"Yes, you can."
Buffy nods before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes after a moment she opens her eyes to see it working "Buffy...you're doing it." David says amazed.
The group of them watch as the image shows Regina entering the office and killing Archie. Buffy watches Regina intently and notices a flaw. Buffy knows that shapeshifting spells are never exact and if you look close enough there is always a small flaw. Buffy drops the dream catcher and leaves the room.
Buffy quickly makes her way outside and grabs her phone "Yes?" Regina answers.
Buffy sighs "Long story short, someone was using a shapeshifting spell to frame you, there is proof that you killed Archie, legitimate proof."
"What are we going to do?"
Buffy thinks for a moment "I say we play into their hands. Whoever is doing this is not going to reveal who they are until they think that I believe everyone else. Which means you and I are about to have a bit of a confrontation. And we got to make it look real."
"How are we supposed to do that?"
Buffy shrugs "Wing it. Gotta go." Buffy quickly hangs up the phone as she hears Snow and David rushing after her.
"Buffy. Wait." David tells her "Where are you going?"
Buffy shrugs "Well I was thinking a manicure, but first just gotta pick up a witch."
"Well, can we talk about this?" Snow asks as the two of them follow the blonde slayer.
Buffy shakes her head "Nope. Not much of a talker. More of a hit first talk later kind of person. But you want details? Fine. I'm gonna make the bitch pay."
"Buffy, how do you plan on doing that? She has her powers back."
Buffy scoffs "Yeah you seem to be forgetting that I have faced things then times as powerful as Regina. Hell the last witch I faced locked me in a fighting ring and that ending with a 'ding dong the witch is dead'. Plus you saw what happened I have mine too. Plus if they don't work I can always beat her to a pulp."
David grabs Buffy's arm "Yeah. You have strength and—something, but you didn't even know what the hell to do with it, and now you're gonna go take on the most powerful woman in town?"
Buffy shakes him off "You don't know me. So stop trying to pretend you know what I can handle. You don't. And that woman—only has basic parlour tricks from what I've seen. Now if you'll excuse me."
Buffy turns but Snow catches her hand "Buffy, it's not safe to go after her without a plan."
Buffy rolls her eyes "I have a plan. Attack."
"Buffy." David says "Even if the dwarf can build something to contain her. We need a way to contain her magic until then."
"Fairy dust." Snow realises "Leroy said they were processing a new batch of it."
Buffy sighs "Fine. You can try your way. Then I'll try mine. And trust me mine's not gonna be pretty."
David nods "Problem is she's gonna see us coming."
Buffy smirks "I guess I could distract her."
Buffy pounds on Regina's door, Regina smiles as she opens the door "Ms. Summers. I assume you're here to apologise."
Buffy shrugs "Not one for apologising to people I have seen murder an innocent."
"What?" Regina asks.
"I saw it." Buffy informs her "You choked the life out of Archie."
Regina shakes her head confused "What are you talking about? How is that even possible?"
"Magic." David interjects.
Regina raises an eyebrow and turns back to the blonde slayer "You—"
Buffy cuts her off "I saw what happened. And it was you. Seemed to be having a great old time."
"Gold. He helped you. You're going to trust him, of all people, when he's probably the one behind this?" Regina asks in disbelief.
"We didn't trust him." Snow tells the Mayor "That's why Buffy used magic instead."
Regina turns to Buffy shocked "You can use magic. The Savior. Of course. Well, I'm guessing from your history you know—"
Buffy cuts in "That magic always has a price. Yeah I know. But guess what missy, I'm not the only one who is going to be paying that price."
"How's that?"
"Henry. He believed in you. His heart's gonna break. That's both our prices."
Regina shakes her head "No. I will not let you poison Henry against me."
Buffy chuckles "Wow, your short term memory sucks, you do remember that you literally poisoned him right?" Buffy then turns away and starts to walk off.
Regina paces after her "I want to see him. He deserves to hear my side of the story! He's my son!"
Buffy turns back to Regina "He's not! He's mine!" She yells "And know one thing madam mayor after this you go anywhere near him and I will make you regret it. Do it."
Suddenly the blue fairy appears and throws a ball of magic hurdling towards Regina, however Regina quickly catches it and then glares at Snow and David "Did you really think that would work again?" Regina then throws the ball of magic on the ground by their feet."
Regina turns back to Buffy and glares at her "You...You will not keep my son from me."
Regina raises her arm to use her powers but Buffy catches her arm and then throws Regina, causing her to crash into the doorway of her own house. Regina growls and stand and throws up her arms causing Buffy to spin in the air, Buffy lands on her feet and pulls out the scythe. Regina glares at her "So you going to keep hitting me slayer, or are you going to try and use some of your new found magic to stop me know?"
Buffy smirks "As much as I would love to knock you off your pedestal... I've already won. You just proved that you will never change. Henry will never trust you now."
Regina looks at the ground before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Hey." Buffy says as she answers her phone "You know for a woman who grew up without TV, your a good actress." Buffy tells Regina.
Regina gets right to the point "What are you going to do now?"
Buffy sighs "If we wanna catch this guy, no one can know the truth. Not even Henry. We don't know who is framing you yet. And if anyone else knew it would put them at risk. Which means-"
"I know. You have to tell Henry, that I killed Archie."
Buffy rubs her forehead "I'm sorry Regina."
"It doesn't matter, the sooner we know the truth, the sooner we can tell him."
Buffy look around and notices Snow and David walking towards her "Look, I gotta go. But let me make one thing clear Regina. If you betray me, or I find out you tricked me. I will kill you, and I will make sure that you suffer. Do you understand me?"
"Yes." Regina says her voice void of any emotion.
Buffy nods "Good. I'll contact you soon." Buffy hangs up the phone and turns to David and Snow, before the three of them then head off the bus stop.
Buffy looks at the clock tower and begins to panic "Oh god, oh god. Not good. Henry's bus is gonna be here any minute."
Snow looks at her sadly but tries to reassure her "You can do this."
Buffy shakes her head "I'm not good with the whole bad news thing. Point in case what happened when I told Dawn about mom. I can't do it again, especially to Henry. Telling him that someone is cared about was killed by someone he loved, is something I can't tell him, I'm not on some crazy reality show where this stuff is normal." Buffy shakes her head again "This is like real parent stuff. I am 26 years old, I had Henry when I was still a kid. I was never a parent to him, and the closet I have ever been to that was with Dawn. And I sucked at that. How am I supposed to be a parent to my kid, when I never was one."
David nods in understanding "I know. I've been asking myself the same question."
Buffy's eyes widen "Shit." She mutters "Look, you guys this—I-you don't need to do this. It really isn't necessary."
"No, it is." Snow tells her "And yes, we have to. We can figure it out. So can you."
Buffy shakes her head "You don't know me. Before Storybrooke...The things I have seen, the things I have done. Let's just say I was not parent material. But then again any one in my line of work tends not to be."
David nods in encouragement "Yeah, but we know who you are since you've been here."
Buffy shakes her head "You only know one part. And trust me, if my kind of monsters were around here it would be so easy for me to revert."
"You're not going to. And the Buffy I know was great with Henry."
"I was his parent for less then 5 minutes before Lena took him." Buffy exclaims.
"And I was your for five minutes, too, but things are different now, for all of us. We don't have to go though any of it alone. We're family."
Buffy turns toward the school bus and Henry climbs off and walks over to her "Buffy. I told you I could walk myself."
Buffy nods "I know. Something happened...kid we gotta talk."
"What is it?"