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Avery was sitting on the back porch with Archie, they were under a blanket, drinking hot coco, looking at the forest, enjoying the looking at the tranquility of the forest. Avery took a long drink of her coco, and smiled at Archie.
"What?" he chuckled.
"Nothing. I just love you.. and everything has calmed down.. I can enjoy my man." she chuckled laying her head on his chest. "So.. You know how I had to do that cloaking for Snow and Charming."
"Yes." he said.
"Its magic beans.. to go home." Archie stiffened.
"Yes.. well. What were you thinking?" He asked sweetly.
"I.. Would you go back?" she asked awkwardly.
"I am going to be honest with you." he said. "No. I would not go back." Avery gave a huge sigh of relief.
"Thank god. I don't want to go back." Avery chuckled, the knots in her stomach has disappeared. Archie laughed, obviously not tense any longer.
"So we shouldn't postpone the wedding to have it in the enchanted forest?" he said.
"You know. We can get 2 beans and Honeymood there." Avery smiled up at him. She kissed him. He laughed against her lips. "There is one more thing.. I don't trust Neal's fiancee.. I kind of want you to meet her?"
"Oh? What do you think?"
"I saw darkness.. And.. I think.. I think she is the 'she' August was trying to warn us about." she looked at her nails.
"Alright. I will.. But don't bring that up to Emma."
"Why?" Avery asked, a little confused.
"Because.. she maybe a little bias.. I just want you to be sure before you go opening up those flood gates." he said thoughtfully. He was right.
"Okay. I promise. I should probably head to Snow and Charming. They are showing Emma the bean fields today. I am going to go strengthen the cloaking." She said getting up.
"Alright. And Henry?"
"Spending the afternoon with his dad." Avery looped her arm in Archie's.
"We can do a late lunch afterwards. With this Tamara." he said softly. Avery loved Archie, but sometimes he still had a bit of gypsy in him. That bit of gypsy was hard to read, and she wasn't sure if Archie was on her side or not. She shook her head, kissed her fiancee and magicked to the bean fields at the end of the town.
Avery stood there, as she watched a beat up pick up truck pull up. Emma, Charming and Snow all got out.
"Why are we meeting Avery in the middle of nowhere? Why can't you just tell me."
"Because you need to see it." Snow said.
"Now you're making it sound like she's going to be whacked." Avery giggled.
"Yeah.. This sounds like its going to end well for me." Emma huffed. "Plus, whatever it is, it can wait. August was trying to warn me about something.. someone dangerous."
"Its doesn't matter." Charming said.
"It doesn't?" Avery and Emma said at the same time. Snow grabbed Emma's hand and they all walked through the cloaking, revealing a hidden bean patch.
"Hey Emma. Are you here to help?" the former giant, Anton hugged Emma, "Its not quite harvest time yet."
"Beans.. Magic beans. Is that what you guys were doing while I was in New York? Why didn't you tell me?" Emma said.
"We are telling you. We hid it to protect the crop." Charming said. "Avery cloaked the area, letting Anton do what he does best."
"Well you haven't seen me play darts, but.. yeah I do this pretty good." Anton folded his arms.
"He's got a point, Tiny is a hustler." Avery laughed, giving his a kiss on the check, the man blushed furiously.
"No offense Anton.. but what happened? Why are you so.."
"Small? Cora.." He said.
"Yeah. Regina and her mother made the poor guy hman sized, but honestly.. I like it."Avery laughed, making him blush again. From behind them, Leroy came up.
"Hey Tiny.. Get back to work." Anton rolled his eyes and called a goodbye.
"Anton." Avery grabbed him quickly, while Emma and her parents were having a talk. "You guys spend lots of time at Granny's. My brother, I am sure you've seen him, I don't trust her. Can you keep an eye on her for me?" she asked smiled.
"Of course, anything for you Avery." he smiled, she patted his back and let him rejoin his dwarf brothers.
"Avery.. Did you know that they were planning this?" Emma said.
"Growing? Yes. Why?"
"No.. That they want to go back." Avery took a deep breath.
"I was aware that was an option. But I figured it would be a family by family basis. That would result from a lengthy conversation. James and I had the conversation and made out decision."
"See Emma, Avery and Archie are coming too-" Charming started.
"No.. No we're not." Avery confessed.
"Avery?" Snow asked.
"Why not?" Emma said.
"We like it here. We have a fresh start here, where we are together. In that world, he was a gypsy then a cricket.. and I wasn't much better. We are happy here." Avery shrugged. Emma looked happy that Avery was staying in this world, that told her that the blonde didn't want to go back to the Enchanted Forest. Avery felt her pocket buzz rapidly, her father was calling.
"Hi Daddy how-"
"That heartless shrew! I am going to kill her!" he screamed.
"Woah.. Dad. What's wrong." she asked, her father was yelling and screaming something about Belle, and the bar the Rabbit Hole. But Avery couldn't really understand what he was saying. "Dad. I can't understand you."
"The witch is dead!" and he hung up. Avery took a deep breath.
"Hey guys.. My dad is flipping his cookies over something.. I have to go." she turned to the boys. "Hey guys! I have a family thing, I'll strengthen the cloaking tomorrow. They are still well enough."
"Okay!"
"Bye Avery!" Avery waved to them, then turned to the Charmings. "Everything is alright. See you guys later." She stepped outside the cloak and magicked to her father, he was in his shop, pacing like a wild animal. "Daddy, what's wrong."
"She's gone.. Belle is gone.." Avery's mouth fell open. "Regina gave her a cursed identity.. and it's not Belle.. and we can never get her back." her father said rapidly.
"Wha- okay. Where is she now?"
"At the Rabbit Hole, drinking heavily and playing pool. Her name is Lacey." he leaned against a display case.
"Dad take a deep breath. James and I will go check her out." Avery magicked home, wordlessly snatched up Archie and appeared right outside of the Rabbit Hole.
"Alright what are we doing at a bar?" Archie's face was scrunched.
" Regina apparently implanted fake memories in Belle." Avery said as they entered. "Her new name is Lacey." They walked up to the bartender. "Looking for Lacey."
"Oh yeah. Your Dad was in here looking for her as well."
"And she's right here." came Belle's voice. Avery turned to see Belle in a see-through top and very very tight jeans. "You're The Social Worker and Therapist.. Here to see if I'm crazy?"
"Umm..." Avery hit Archie. "No." he added. "We just heard you checked yourself out of the hospital. We wanted to check on you. Amnesia is a very strenuous and difficult thing for body, mind and emotion."
"Would you care to check the wellness of all three of those Dr.?" Belle, no Lacey purred, unbuttoning another button on her blouse. Avery sucked her teeth, trying not to get upset. It wasn't Belle.. It wasn't the woman who she saw as a Mom. Avery grabbed Archie and marched out of the bar. As they walked Archie was trying to calm her down.
"Avery... Avery calm down." he said. As soon as they exited the bar, Avery let Archie go and magicked to Regina's office. Bursting into it, screaming.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
"Why Averianna I have no ide-" Avery punched Regina in the face and pushed her back against her window.
"Change. My. Mom. Back." Avery hissed, choking her.
"I. Can't. Only. Yo-. Dad." Regina choked out and Avery let her go. Avery hit her again, and again, and again. Her face was bleeding, and bones and other things were breaking and cracking. Avery didn't care, she had lost another parent to selfish darkness. Her birth mother, her father, and now Belle.
"Avery.. AVERY!" came a voice. Strong arms pulled her off Regina. Avery was being dragged out of the office, Avery was crying.. she was crying and she didn't know why. She felt lost.
Poor Avery.. Having to deal with Lacey.
She lost another Mom.. And she isn't sure if Archie believes her about Tamara or not.
And Yes.. she is kind of like her dad.