The news of Katie and Killian's engagement had made it out thanks to Mary Margaret telling Ruby and Ruby not able to help but to share it. Katie headed to Archie's office and knocked on his door.
After a few moments, Archie soon got the door and smiled. "Oh, hello, Miss Nolan," he then said to her. "Good to see you again."
"Hello, Dr. Hopper or should that be Mr. Cricket?" Katie smiled shyly.
"Whichever you'd like, but I wouldn't mind Dr. Hopper in the office," Archie lightly chuckled before looking bashful. "Um, erm, would you like to schedule a session?"
"Oh, no, you see Mom and Dad told me you are an official... So I was wondering... Would you officiate Killian's and my wedding?" Katie smiled shyly.
"Oh, so that's what Ruby was talking about when I was taking Pongo for his walk," Archie remarked with a light chuckle and smiled back warmly. "First of all, congratulations. I'm sure you two will be very happy together, even though sometimes Captain Jones scares me when he's not too careful, and second, I would be thrilled and honored to officiate your wedding."
Katie smiled sweetly and gave him a little hug. "Thank you." she told him as she pulled away.
"You're very welcome," Archie smiled back. "...Well, there's another thing before I officially go with it though."
"Yes?" Katie asked him.
"You save me a nice and great size of a slice of cake," Archie grinned bashfully. "I have a sweet tooth."
"Of course I will," Katie giggled with a nod. "And I'll personally make a small cake that Pongo can eat too, I've seen recipes," she told him. "So I'll be in contact soon when we know more details~" she then added.
"Aww..." Archie smiled at the first part before nodding. "Very good then, Miss Nolan... Soon to be Mrs. Jones. I think there's a song about that," he then chuckled after saying "Mrs. Jones". "I look forward to it and thank you for telling me."
Katie smiled, then left the office so she could do a few more tasks, though she felt the urge to take a more secluded route back, and shrugged. It would help her navigate a bit better if she took a backstreet. Cherry waved from the library window as Katie passed by as she helped Belle stock some books on the shelves. Victor soon looked around and he hid something away and out of sight before he soon whistled innocently and went to make himself "conveniently" run into Katie. Katie waved back only to almost fall as she was bumped into.
"Whoops... That's an unfortunate incident..." Victor grinned, not-so-innocently as he looked down at her.
Katie winced as she slowly got back up. "You did that on purpose," she glared a bit nervous though. "Just... Stay away from me... I thought you learned that after Regina punched you." she then told him and turned to leave.
"I know... I just thought I'd come see you... How are you after all of that?" Victor smirked as he followed her. "I heard some very special news from the grapevines that you were going to get married... Or something like that."
Katie stopped and turned. "That isn't really your business is it?" she glared.
"No... I guess it's not... I just wanted to give you a little parting gift... Especially with the image of you being a blushing bride for a very lucky groom." Victor said with a "friendly" smile, though those who knew him well knew that it was beyond friendly as it looked like he was scheming something dark and heinous... Much like his heart.
Katie looked at him. "What parting gift?" she asked warily.
Victor smirked before he soon shoved a rag on her mouth, covered in chloroform, and held her into a headlock to keep her from moving or struggling much further, gritting his teeth as he was as firm as possible without hurting her or breaking something. Katie struggled, trying not to breathe but soon had to as was unable to get away. Her struggles slowed as her vision blacked out as she became unconscious from the fumes.
"Act 1 is complete," Victor grinned as he held onto her after Katie was knocked out as he began to drag her away. "Now for the harder part... Act 2: Electric Boogaloo."
Luckily, no one was really out on the streets at this time as he escorted Katie away down the sidewalk and took her to a secret meeting place which was in the middle of a cold, dark alley that was filled with agony and despair and out of sight from the main features of Storybrooke. Issac was waiting in the alley for Victor along with the "associate".
Victor soon stepped into the alley as he carried Katie over. "Well, that was easier than I thought it would be." he then told Isaac with a proud smirk before setting Katie down on the ground.
Issac smirked. "I told you," he said. "Now this is my associate, Mr. Hyde..." he then introduced a tall pale man, with black hair and red in his eye. He looked at the unconscious Katie. 'If only you hadn't infected your pirate with light.' he thought to himself.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Hyde." Victor nodded his head at the "associate".
"Greetings..." Mr. Hyde greeted in a low voice that almost sounded like a bone-chilling snarl as he grinned darkly and fiendishly, looking like something out one's worst nightmare. "This must be the little lady, huh?"
"That would be her." Victor confirmed.
"I even managed to get you this~" Issac smirked as he offered out a very recognizable bean. "Just think of where you want to go as you throw it." he told him.
"I think I know exactly where to go." Victor nodded as he took the bean with a nod.
Eventually, after a few moments, the bean was tossed from Victor's hand and a portal opened up in the middle of the ground.
"I suppose this is where I bid you adieu?" Victor smirked at Isaac before he would go inside of the portal.
"Just for now, I don't need a bean to travel." Issac smirked a little and nodded.
"All right, then I shall see you around," Victor nodded back as he looked ready to jump. "Age before beauty."
Hyde soon bent down and picked up Katie, hoisting her over his shoulder as Victor jumped into the portal next and he soon jumped in next as they were sent away to yet another other world... A very different world from Storybrooke and even Neverland itself. Issac watched them go. He chuckled just a little, once Victor had done Katie would be corrupted enough to force her to help him with his plan. Eventually, the portal closed after them and once Victor came into the world, he told Hyde where to go and he began to make some new plans that he was able to come up with after he had met Isaac the other day in the woods after Katie's engagement was announced.
Back in Storybrooke Mary Margaret was pacing a little as she was waiting for Katie to come back. She called Regina as Katie had planned on inviting the woman and Henry to the wedding in person and to ask Regina to help plan since they were kind of family too. There was soon a knock at the door. Mary Margaret went to answer it.
"Hello, Mary Margaret," Regina greeted as she came to the door. "I hope I'm not late or anything, but I'm going to do my best to help out."
"Is Katie with you?" Mary Margaret asked her.
"No, I thought maybe she was with you?" Regina replied, though she began to voice concern all of a sudden.
"No, she said she was going to ask Archie to officiate and then invite you personally." Mary Margaret told Regina.
"Well, I haven't seen her... I just came over, she didn't answer my calls so I guess she was just too preoccupied with planning," Regina shrugged before she took out her phone. "That's not like her."
"She was meant to come see you, and then bring you back here so we could do some planning... I'll call Cherry." Mary Margaret said and then rang the said girl.
"How on Earth did I do that...?" Cherry muttered as she was looking at some golden thread that she was able to make before she quickly flinched before she saw that her phone was ringing and she soon answered it with one of her infamous quips in order to entertain herself, even in the most mundane of circumstances. "City Morgue? The hotline for your best cases of love, marriage, and Stockholm Syndrome."
"Have you seen Katie recently? It's just she was supposed to come back with Regina, but Regina hasn't seen Katie at all today." Mary Margaret asked and explained.
"N-No, I've been at the shop until it was time," Cherry said, sounding confused and curious "Katie was gonna shoot me a text when it was time to go so I could quickly get ready... If you haven't seen her... And I haven't seen her and Regina hasn't seen her..." she then said as her voice faltered a little, almost like she got splashed by a giant wave of anxiety. "I-I don't feel so good..." she then slurred out weakly.
"Cherry?!" Mary Margaret exclaimed in concern.
Cherry wobbled a bit before she suddenly fell to the floor, dropping her phone in the process as she blacked out, feeling too anxious and concerned which resulted in one of her infamous fainting spells.
"This isn't good." Regina remarked as she didn't like how this was looking so far.
"I think Cherry fainted." Mary Margaret said in concern.
"So, what should we do?" Regina then asked.
Mary Margaret hung up, hearing Gold and Belle were going to be dealing with Cherry. Plus she had to check in with Killian.
"Katie and Captain Guyliner are probably just having a grown-up sleepover right now." Regina quipped, though she was mostly trying to see the light of the situation so that a worst-case scenario wouldn't uprise.
Mary Margaret tried to smile, but it was tinged with worry as she called Killian and waited for him to answer. Regina smiled back for the same reason, though she pouted a little.
"Is this thing on?" Killian's voice asked. "Damn, I'll never get the hang of these things..."
"Hi Killian, it's Mary Margaret... Is Katie with you?" Mary Margaret asked the pirate.
"Oh... Snow White..." Killian suddenly said. "No, I haven't seen her in quite some time... Why?"
"This is getting us nowhere." Regina groaned miserably.
"Katie's missing, she was supposed to come back with Regina after seeing Archie, but Regina hasn't seen her at all today." Mary Margaret told him.
"Bloody Hell..." Killian sharply exhaled on the other line. "Can't we have one week where something doesn't go wrong in this town?"
"Apparently not." Regina mumbled sharply.
Mary Margaret frowned to that.
"Well, if this is the case, someone's taken her." Killian soon remarked.
"But who?" Regina wondered. "Who would wanna take Katie?"
"David mentioned Whale showed interest in her, but I'm sure he wouldn't take her." Mary Margaret said after a moment's thought.
"Hmm... I don't think Whale could've done this all on his own... But he's a suspect," Regina soon decided. "I don't know who else could have done it though."
Gold came to check, hearing Cherry falling. He blinked but hurried over to the girl while calling for Belle.
"Hello?~" Belle's voice sang a bit.
Cherry breathed heavily while she was blacked out for a while.
"Cherry's fainted!" Gold told Belle.
"What?!" Belle's voice gasped. "All right, just lie her down and I'll be right there."
Gold carefully laid Cherry so she was less likely to swallow her tongue while knocked out. Cherry lightly groaned as sweat beaded down her face and her heartbeat's rate increased quicker and quicker by the minute.
Belle seemed to take a while, but quickly rushed over with a cold water bottle and a washcloth. "Rumple? Cherry?" she then called out.
"We're in here, Belle!" Gold called out to his wife as he was carefully taking Cherry's pulse.
Something seemed to linger throughout the room as Belle came to see them with the water and washcloth as Cherry was slowly waking back up, but not fully yet as she began to mumble to herself.
"Cherry, dearie, wake up~" Gold cajoled as he gently patted her cheek.
"Ugh..." Cherry groaned as Belle tended to her with the washcloth, pressing it firmly against her head to help cool her down. "Belle... Goldibear... What happened?" she then mumbled.
"You seemed to have passed out." Belle said softly.
Cherry soon sat up as she took the glass of water as she began to slowly regain her natural skin color again after becoming nearly white as a ghost due to fainting.
"What made you faint, dearie?" Gold asked her.
"I-I was on the phone with Mary Margaret for a minute," Cherry said slowly, though a bit clearly. "Sh-She said that Regina hadn't seen Katie and I haven't seen her either and... I just... I guess I got too concerned about no one seeing Katie."
"You're a good friend..." Belle said softly as she gave Cherry the water to drink now.
Cherry then took the water and drank it down. "I don't normally faint about stuff like that," she then said softly. "I guess I was just paralyzed by fear."
"Have you been feeling well recently?" Gold asked Cherry as supported her in a sitting position.
Belle checked Cherry's forehead before sitting on the other side with Cherry sitting in between the two of them.
"I've felt fine," Cherry replied. "A-Aside from people accusing me of certain crimes I clearly haven't done."
"Just ignore them, dearie, they'll figure out it wasn't you." Gold told Cherry.
"You would never do such a thing," Belle added warmly. "Now try not to worry so much."
"Katie's gone... I'm a criminal in this town... I can't take it anymore..." Cherry sighed and shook her head. "This is a nightmare. I bet Katie just found a way to go back home and she just abandoned me here because she doesn't love me anymore."
"You know that that's not true." Belle countered.
"Anyway, why would she try to leave when she's marrying Hook?" Gold added. "She wouldn't just leave, and I agree with Belle, you know she loves you like a sister." he finished.
"Yeah, I know, but I just..." Cherry said before sighing. "I don't know... Unless..."
"Unless?" Belle asked.
"...That guy me and Katie saw before we woke up in Storybrooke," Cherry guessed. "I know you can't have an idea on who he is or was, but... Maybe he's up to something?"
"That one you told me about that I haven't yet managed to find?" Gold asked to clarify.
Belle frowned as she looked very concerned.
"Y-Yes," Cherry nodded. "He's my guess. I haven't seen him since then, but I have a hunch about him. Maybe he took Katie away... Somewhere... I don't know where, but it really wouldn't surprise me at this point."
Gold gently squeezed her shoulder.
"We'll think of something, Cherry," Belle said softly. "The best thing to do is not to panic."
"Right... Let's get Katie back then." Cherry said as she began to stand up from between them, stumbling only slightly since she had just gotten out of a fainting spell.
Gold carefully stood and put an arm around her shoulders as support.
Belle frowned as she stood up with them. "So, where are we going?" she then asked.
"...I have no idea," Cherry said before facing Gold. "Can't you cast a search spell or something?"
"Hmm..." Gold hummed as he gave a thought.
"Think, man, think!" Cherry urged suddenly, nearly having a fit. "Katie could be DEAD for all I know and you could-"
Belle lightly stroked Cherry's hair to calm the girl down a bit, making the younger woman purr slightly.
"If she was dead, Hook would know." Gold told Cherry.
"Is that right...?" Cherry asked softly between purrs as she sat down again.
"They share the same heart," Belle nodded. "Perhaps we should check... Um... A certain book." she then added, hinting to her husband as he would probably know what she meant, though Cherry just looked incredulous.
"...The hell is a book gonna do?" Cherry deadpanned as she got out of the older woman's hold. "That's great, Belle! What're we gonna do?" she then laughed sarcastically, standing in front of her. "Just literally throw the book at him and be like 'The power of literature compels you, bitch!'?"
"Well, we could try the globe first, if that doesn't work then we could do your book idea, dearie." Gold told his wife.
"You could try your globe, yes," Belle nodded. "You can find almost anyone with that."
"How is a book gonna help?! This isn't The Exorcist!" Cherry flipped out before she stopped a little. "...Globe?"
"We need Ms. Blanchard or David to come here and with a drop of their blood on the globe, it should show us where Katie is." Gold told Cherry.
"Uh..." Cherry blinked before taking out her phone to call Mary Margaret back.
"Well, at least that calmed her down." Belle said softly.
Gold nodded.
Mary Margaret was pacing worriedly. When her phone rung she answered it quickly. "Did you find her?" she asked as she had taken just a moment to glance at the Caller ID before answering.
"Uh, well, no," Cherry replied. "But, er, Mr. Gold's requested that you or David come by and give a blood sample."
Belle soon pouted as she looked out the window, looking sad at the idea of Katie being lost and alone out there... Wherever she was.
"Blood sample?" Mary Margaret asked confused.
"His words, not mine," Cherry shrugged. "Apparently he has a globe?"
David soon came home and talked with Regina for a few moments before he began to look grave and miserable.
"And this globe can find Katie with some of mine or David's blood?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Apparently!" Cherry shrugged bashfully.
"Is that Gold?" David asked Mary Margaret as he came by. "Does he know how to find Katie?"
"It's Cherry, but she says Gold has a possible idea to help us find her." Mary Margaret told David.
"Whatever it takes, we'll do it," David replied before sighing sharply as slight distrust came in his voice. "...As long as we don't have to surrender our firstborn to him."
"I can hear you.." Cherry narrowed her eyes as Belle rubbed her shoulders soothingly.
"So shall we come right over?" Mary Margaret asked.
Gold glanced over.
"Should they come right over?" Cherry asked, her tone slipping slightly from the comfort from Belle, though she was able to talk properly without drooling.
"Yes, the quicker they get here the faster we can find her." Gold told Cherry.
Cherry then nodded as she put the phone back up. "Come to the shop, ASAP." she then urged.
"That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Belle smiled sweetly as she wrapped her arms around Cherry's shoulders, resting her chin on the shoulder top.
"Not now~..." Cherry whispered nervously and a bit hormonal.
"We'll be there shortly." Mary Margaret told Cherry as she then went to put her jacket on.
"He better help." David said firmly.
"He will," Regina replied. "Belle and Cherry will make sure of it."
"We'll be there shortly." Mary Margaret told Cherry as she then went to put her jacket on.
Cherry nodded before hanging up and lightly moaning. "Belle... Stop... I'm stressed..." she then grunted out.
"I know and that's why I'm doing this..." Belle said softly as she massaged Cherry's shoulders, taking her straight to the couch to sit down a little. "You need to calm down and trust us to find Katie and bring her back home."
Gold smirked a little as Belle was helping Cherry relax as he went to get the globe ready.
"St-Stop~..." Cherry whimpered out.
"Shh~..." Belle shushed and soothed as she continued to treat Cherry while watching Gold get to work.
"If you want to come along, please do." Mary Margaret told her.
"He better help." David said firmly.
"He will," Regina replied. "Belle and Cherry will make sure of it."
Mary Margaret nodded.
"Do you want company?" Regina asked Mary Margaret.
"If you want to come along, please do." Mary Margaret told her.
"All right," Regina nodded. "Hopefully a little magic can help us out."
"Let's go then." David suggested.
Mary Margaret walked out with David and Regina. Killian sent some people to go looking for Katie as he looked around with his telescope, looking true to his pirate title and nature.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she's not dead." Regina told David and Mary Margaret.
"That just bursts our enthusiasm, Regina." David sighed sarcastically.
"If she was Killian would have told us." Mary Margaret nodded.
"Right." Regina then nodded.
David sighed. "I'm sorry, it's just... We already lost her once, we can't lose her again..." he then said, trying to calm down, but it was a little hard for him to do so.
Mary Margaret nodded and held his hand gently. David took Mary Margaret's hand back as he took a deep breath in and out as they walked off to the pawnshop together. Regina then followed after as she looked a bit concerned for Katie on the way.
Soon, they arrived and Gold looked at them as they entered.
"All right, let's just get this over with." David said as he opened the door, letting Mary Margaret and Regina walk inside first before he would come in and join them.
"No funny business," Regina added before hearing a squealing sound in the backroom with a giggle following it. "...What on Earth?"
"Don't mind that, dearies, now which one of you would like to try first?" Gold asked.
"I will." Mary Margaret said.
Regina nodded then. "This better work." she said, a bit sharply.
"It should do as long as she's in this world," Gold said. "Now, prick your finger on the sharp spike and then allow a drop to hit the globe." he told Mary Margaret.
Mary Margaret did so. David stood close beside Mary Margaret, comforting and protectively. Cherry poked her head out of the backroom curtain, though she was missing her glasses and her hair was messed up a little. Gold looked at the globe and while the blood was accepted nothing showed up.
"Oh." Regina frowned at that.
"Now, now, there's still another chance." David said to Mary Margaret and Regina as he went to take his turn.
Cherry looked over until Belle reached out, grabbing her from behind and swooped her right back inside behind the curtains. Mary Margaret waited patiently. David's blood soon dropped next onto the globe, only to have the same result.
"Damn!" Regina hissed at that.
Cherry was suddenly right next to Gold with a finger in her mouth as she looked thoughtful, her hair still messed up, though she had her glasses on this time and her clothes were only slightly ruffled. "...Why don't you use that to find your son?" she then asked from right behind him.
"That, dearie, isn't the concern right now." Gold said quietly to Cherry.
"I apologize..." Cherry gulped as she squeezed her eyes shut.
"Did it work?" Belle asked as she came out too.
"That's a negative... Now what?" Regina asked.
"Henry's book could give us the answer." Gold said.
"What is a stupid book going to do? I don't get it!" Cherry complained.
"Cherry! Calm!" Belle scolded, making the younger woman flinch. "Where is Henry right now?" she then asked Regina.
"Ruby's looking after him." Regina replied.
"Well, let's go." Mary Margaret said.
"I don't get what a dopey old storybook is gonna do..." Cherry mumbled thickly as she crossed her arms.
Regina began to go out the door for them to go out and go get Henry as a special possession of his would be needed.
"You'll see, dearie." Gold told her.
Mary Margaret followed her.
"Keep an open mind," Belle told Cherry. "We know that you miss Katie, but that's no excuse to be rude... Otherwise, we'll have to punish you." she then added with a smirk.
"Hmph." Cherry pouted as their guests left with Regina.
Regina soon drove them over to where Ruby was with Henry as she tried to stay strong for all of them.
Ruby sat with Henry and was reading with the boy.
Henry briefly glanced up before blinking. "Mom." he then said.
"Hello, Henry," Regina smiled. "We need a favor."
Ruby looked over.
"It's an emergency," Regina said to Ruby and Henry. "Katie is missing. We might need... The book."
"Mom, are you sure?" Henry asked softly.
"Yes," Regina nodded. "Katie's friend saw somebody, but she's not sure who... Maybe who she finds in the book might be responsible for her disappearance."
Mary Margaret nodded in agreement. Henry soon went off to his room to get an old book out that was given to him some time ago.
"I doubt that you'd be able to sense Katie," Regina advised to Ruby. "We already tried Gold's globe and that got us nowhere, but since she and Cherry aren't familiar with the people of Storybrooke as well as the rest of us, the book might be able to tell us something."
"I could maybe try and find where she disappeared if you want." Ruby told her.
"I guess you could do that," Regina then said before Henry came back with his book. "She could be anywhere."
"We already lost her again," David sighed as he held his head. "Sometimes I wish we ran away the moment Snow got pregnant."
"I'll be able to scent if anyone, in particular, took her too." Ruby added.
Mary Margaret took his hand warmly.
"All right, let's get back then," Regina suggested. "Hopefully this makes it clearer."
"I sure hope so," Henry said softly. "We have to help Aunt Katie."
David looked at Mary Margaret and lightly squeezed her hand back.
Mary Margaret gave a small smile to Henry. "With you helping by lending us the book I'm sure we'll find her." she told him.
"Operation: Swan Song will be put on hold," Henry nodded. "This'll be... Um... Operation: Auntie Dote."
David let out a small chuckle in amusement at the punny name. "Good idea, Henry." he then said.
Mary Margaret gave a small chuckle.
And so, they came back to the shop as Belle did her best to keep Cherry calm before the girls looked over.
"We're back," Regina said as she stepped inside with Henry beside her. "Cherry, you remember Henry."
"Yes, your son," Cherry nodded. "He makes me think of a son that Katie would have."
"And you have the book, good." Gold noticed.
"So what do we do?" Cherry asked.
"This book has stories of everybody from The Enchanted Forest before the curse was put on Storybrooke," Henry told Cherry, allowing her to take the book. "Look through the pages until you recognize someone."
Cherry rolled her eyes before shrugging as she took the book, cracking it open and flipped through the pages rapidly, though she looked surprised to see so many familiar faces like the book possessed some sort of magic of its own. Eventually, she stopped. "This is him," she then said, showing the page which showed a hauntingly familiar face talking with someone in the image whose face was not shown. "This was the guy."
Gold looked over it and frowned as he thought over who it could be. "Issac Heller..." he noted and his eyes narrowed.
"Y-You know this guy...?" Cherry asked him.
David and Regina flinched slightly while Henry stepped back a little.
"Yes, and I know where he'll be hiding out too," Gold added. "Belle, I want you to stay with Henry and Ruby." he told his wife, knowing Cherry wouldn't stay behind anyway.
"Of course, Rumple." Belle nodded calmly.
"This can't be real... This can't be real... This can't be real..." Cherry began to tell herself rapidly, going down another downward spiral as Henry took his book back.
"Cherry, calm down or you'll have to stay here." Gold told her firmly, but was being tough to be kind.
Cherry soon tried to quiet herself down after a little bit of whimpering before she soon stood up next to him.
"You're bringing her along?" Regina asked Gold, wondering if that was wise. "Even if she's done some bad things?"
"Shut up, that wasn't me!" Cherry suddenly snapped in anger.
"And even if she had, dearie, are we really able to speak up about it?" Gold asked a slight warning to his tone.
Regina frowned quietly then. Cherry huddled close beside Gold as she crossed her arms with a small smirk at Regina.
"Alright, so Cherry, myself, and... Regina will go and confront Issac," Gold spoke up. "Ms. Blanchard and David should go and fetch the pirate and prepare." he said.
"All right, we will do that," David said, listening to Gold this time. "Good luck in finding him though."
"So, uh, who is this guy?" Cherry asked.
"He's an author." Henry replied.
"Like me?" Cherry asked.
"No, Cherry, not like you." Regina said firmly and urgently.
"He is supposed to watch and write up the life stories as they unfold, dearie." Gold told Cherry.
"This just can't be real..." Cherry said as she sweated a little. "...Let's just get this over with."
"I'll be back soon, Henry." Regina told her adoptive son.
"Okay, Mom." Henry said softly as the groups began to split up.
Mary Margaret went off with David.
"I'll keep them safe, lad." Gold told Henry, showing a hint of his paternal side.
"I'm sure he's still home." David told Mary Margaret on the way.
Henry nodded. "Thanks, Mr. Gold." he then said.
"We're coming, Katie..." Cherry whispered to herself as they left the store.
Gold nodded to Henry then walked off with Regina and Cherry.
A little while later, Katie slowly woke up wincing as her head hurt. "Wh-Where am I?" she quietly whimpered as she was somewhere totally unrecognizable.
A woman rushed inside the room, looking a bit jittery and scared to death as she set down a tray with a cup and began to pour tea inside of it while trying not to look too scared, though she was very scared on the inside and a little bit outside too.
Katie looked to the woman. "Wh-Who are you?" she asked quietly.
"Ah! Y-You've woken up..." The maid yelped as she dropped the teacup and shrieked before sighing in relief as it didn't smash and crash upon impact as she put her hand to her heart. "Oh, thank the Heavens..." she then said before looking at Katie. "P-P-Pardon me, dear... I'm Mrs. Reilly..."
"K-Katie Nolan... Wh-Where am I?" Katie asked her.
"Y-You don't know where you are?" Mrs. Reilly asked, trying to calm down, though her tone was highlighted with fear. "You're in London, dear. London, England."
"But how can that be?" Katie asked quietly and got off the bed to look out of the window to see if it was true.
Mrs. Reilly stepped out of the way as it was simply true. "I suppose you and your fiancé had too much fun last night that you forgot where you were..." she then smiled wearily and sheepishly, attempting to make a joke."
Katie looked at the streets of London with wide eyes. "My... Fiancé?" she said quietly.
"Yes, don't you remember?" Mrs. Rielly asked before looking nervous. "Oh... A bit s-s-sorry, Miss... None of my business..." she then said, going to turn away. "Would you care for some tea?" she then offered.
"No, I need to find my way home..." Katie said quietly and ran to the door, wrenching it open to try and find her way out and some way back to Storybrooke.
"Ah! Y-Y-You-" Mrs. Reilly spoke up nervously. "Miss, it's natural to have pre-marital jitters, but you sh-sh-should calm down... You... You ARE home... You're going to get married very soon..." she then told Katie like she was the one who was mistaken.
Katie felt sorry for the woman, but had to carry on. She left the room to try and get out of the house.
"Miss! Please! Don't leave!" Mrs. Reilly cried out. "Oh, d-d-dear..."
"Is there a problem, blushing bride?" A voice called in a dark and scary tone of voice before Katie could wander too far.
Katie stiffened at the sound of the voice and turned to look for the owner of the voice.
"Going somewhere? I hope back to your room to get ready for more wedding planning." Mr. Hyde grinned fiendishly.
"Wh-Who are you?" Katie asked quietly, nervously, though she tensed ready to run if needed.
"Oh, you don't know me? I'm a good friend of your future husband's," Mr. Hyde grinned as he approached her to get her as far away from the door as possible. "They call me Edward Hyde."
"Y-You're a friend of Killian's?" Katie asked quietly, though she tried to still get to the door, though keeping a wary eye on him.
"Silly girl..." Hyde chuckled darkly as he soon lunged out and grabbed a hold of her and hoisted her over his shoulder. "I think we should go back to Mrs. Reilly now."
"Put me down!" Katie yelped as she was lifted though it was quite high off the ground for her. She tried hitting his back enough to distract him enough to loosen his hold.
Hyde smirked as he went to carry Katie back over to her room, ignoring her protests and the hitting as it barely hurt him. Mrs. Reilly soon shivered as she stepped out of the room.
"I think you should stay here for a while..." Hyde smirked as he forced Katie back into her room. "Don't try to run or hide away... Because I will find you."
"And what makes you think I'll be scared of you trying to find me?" Katie asked, trying to be brave.
"I don't think you want to find out if you value your soul," Hyde grinned darkly as his eyes flashed a bit redder for emphasis to scare her into submission. "That would be a grave mistake, Miss Katie."
Katie swallowed nervously as his eyes flashed. "I-I'm not scared of you..." she said, with only a slight stutter.
"Maybe you'd like to prove that theory," Hyde smirked as he got into her face a little, forcing them to look at each other in the eye before he would leave. "Now... You get dressed and ready... The other maids are expecting you and soon, you can do a little shopping or whatever else you desire before the big day. Understood?"
Katie swallowed thickly, but nodded, seeing the dangerous look in his eyes. "F-Fine..." she tried to glare clenching her fist at her side though.
"Good girl..." Hyde nodded firmly before looking at Mrs. Reilly. "Get her ready for the day." he then demanded before storming off.
"Y-Yes, of course..." Mrs. Reilly nodded as she trembled from where she sat, scattering across the floor a bit before she stood up.
"Well, if this is the case, someone's taken her." Killian soon remarked.
Katie came back into the room and frowned. "Are you okay?" she asked Mrs. Reilly softly though.
"I-I'll be fine, M-Miss, we should get you ready for the day," Mrs. Reilly smiled nervously as she stood up on her feet after Hyde had left. "We can't disappoint your future husband or his friends before the big day, now can we?"
"Killian has never mentioned Mr. Hyde before." Katie said quietly but followed Mrs. Reilly to get ready for the day.
"Who's Killian?" Mrs. Reilly asked as she served Katie a cup of tea.
"He's my fiancé." Katie told Mrs. Reilly, carefully taking the tea though.
"That's funny," Mrs. Reilly said softly. "I-I-I was told you were engaged to Dr. Victor Frankenstein. L-Lucky you... A doctor. Don't you remember what happened a month ago, dear?"
"N-No, I'm engaged to Captain Killian Jones, he asked me at a dinner with my parents, adoptive son, and best friend and sister," Katie told Mrs. Reilly. "And it was a few days ago if I was only asleep for a day." she said.
"Oh, dear, you must've bumped your head or something," Mrs. Reilly frowned in concern. "Maybe you should lie down before you go out with Katrina today?"
"Katrina?" Katie asked, taking a tiny sip of tea to clear her throat.
"Katrina van Tassel," Mrs. Reilly said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Your best friend who you love like a sister. She's going to take you shopping and I believe you trusted her as your chief bridesmaid."
Katie blinked. "No, my best friend and sister is Cherry." she murmured, hiding her grimace at the tea though, as she drunk it as it was the only thing on offer.
"Cherry...?" Mrs. Reilly asked before shaking her head. "I-I-I'm afraid you hit your head rather hard, dear... Why don't you lie down a little more? I-I'm sure the doctor will understand."
Katie frowned a little but shook her head. 'Fine, I'll play along for now, but I will find out what's happening.' she thought to herself. "No need, Mrs. Reilly... I'd rather bathe and get ready for the day." she decided softly, so the woman wouldn't think she was mad at her.
"W-W-Well, all right... Sh-Sh-Shall I fetch your clothes then?" Mrs. Reilly then offered.
"Please." Katie nodded, carefully placing her cup down. She then noticed that she would probably have to wash basin wash as it was morning, and baths were usually reserved for evenings. She went to the basin, washing her hands, face and the back of her neck.
"V-Very well, Miss... Also... Do you wish to share breakfast w-w-with your groom?" Mrs. Reilly then asked. "...If you think you are hungry, I mean."
Katie looked down just a moment, but then back to Mrs. Reilly. "Yes, I think I should... Once I am dressed." she agreed quietly. Maybe if it was just her and Whale, or Frankenstein as it appeared his real name was, she could find out his plan.
"Very good, Miss..." Mrs. Reilly nodded as she went to head out the door. "I'll run a bath. P-Please don't run off, we don't want a runaway bride." she then added with a nervous laugh and joke.
Katie blinked, oh so baths were allowed in the daytime in this house. She then let Mrs. Reilly go and then looked at the sheets. 'Maybe I'll make a rope of them if I do need to escape...' she mused.
Mrs. Reilly quickly got ready for Katie, trembling a bit.
Hyde began to sense something and soon walked off instantly to go and look for something, not too far below where Katie currently was in the estate. Katie made quick work of making a makeshift rope and then started to climb out of the window with it. She started to carefully lower herself only to yelp as her hands lost their grip, as she wasn't even at her full strength, so was weaker than normal.
"And just where do you think you're going?" Hyde's voice asked as he suddenly appeared.
Katie yelped in surprise as that made her hold weaken even more, causing her to start to fall.
Hyde smirked as he soon caught her before she could fall to a premature death or a deeply painful impact. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I startle you?" he then asked, though he sounded mocking in his question.
Katie looked up at him, her eyes wide. She then narrowed them though. "I just want to return to Storybrooke..." she said.
"This is your home now..." Hyde told Katie before he went to bring her back inside. "Once you become Mrs. Frankenstein, you won't have to worry about Storybrooke ever again."
"I refuse to marry him." Katie glared firmly.
"That's not a very wise choice to make, my dear." Hyde grinned darkly as his eyes flashed into her eyes.
Katie brought her hand up to turn his face away, not daring to actually punch or slap him though.
"What's wrong? Have you seen a ghost?" Hyde teased her fear.
"No." Katie said, and while she was pushing his face, she tried to get out of his hold.
"I don't want to have to hurt you, Miss Katie." Hyde warned firmly.
"Just let me go, I don't belong here." Katie told him.
"I don't belong here either, but that isn't going to stop me," Hyde smirked as he brought Katie back into her room. "If you keep escaping, I'll just keep finding you... You know how animals can smell fear? Well, so can Edward Hyde~"
"Oh, so you're an animal too?" Katie glared in frustration.
"I can be a beast when provoked enough, so I suggest you stop." Hyde warned as he bore his teeth at her in a menacing manner.
Katie gulped nervously, but did stop for now.
"Now... Relax... Enjoy yourself... Get comfortable..." Hyde told Katie before he went out the door and shut it. "And don't make me come out here again."
Mrs. Reilly hummed to herself as she tried to keep calm, though it was a little hard since she was a bit of a nervous woman. Katie sighed a little and glared at the door, but brought in the bedding for now so it would seem like she had jusr stripped the bed.
"How was your tea, Miss?" Mrs. Reilly asked, trying to be polite.
"It was fine." Katie said quietly.
"Oh, good... I hope you enjoy your bath..." Mrs. Reilly smiled. "I-I-If you need a little extra help... Just holler for me, okay?"
Katie nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Reilly." she said softly and then went to have her bath.
"Y-You're quite welcome, dear," Mrs. Reilly replied as she went to do her next task. "Miss van Tassel will probably be here any minute now."
Katie nodded and sighed softly once she disrobed and got into the bath. "Alright, Katie, just play along for now." she murmured to herself.
Mrs. Reilly laid out some towels for Katie as Victor chuckled to himself downstairs as he got ready for breakfast, though expected Katie to come by and join him before the "appointment" she would have with "her best friend". Katie bathed and dried herself off and then went to see what she would have to wear. She managed to get the chemise and the underwear on herself, but knew she couldn't do the corset alone. She wasn't rushing though, Victor could wait for how much she was peed off. Mrs. Reilly hummed and sang to herself as she cleaned up around where Katie currently was.
"Mrs. Reilly?" Katie called out softly.
"Oh?! Dear!" Mrs. Reilly gasped and soon dashed over to attend to Katie's aid, poking her head in. "M-Miss? You require my assistance?"
"Could you help with my corset, please?" Katie requested.
"Y-Yes, dear, of course..." Mrs. Reilly smiled and nodded as she went to help Katie get laced up. "So good to see you're in a better mood now, M-M-Miss."
Katie helped hold it in position for Mrs. Reilly to lace her corset.
"I'll try to make this as quick and painless as possible, Miss." Mrs. Reilly said as she began to lace up Katie with high diligence.
Once it was tight enough for her not to need to hold it, Katie had to hold the nearest steady thing so she wouldn't fall.
"I'm sorry, Miss, but the tighter, the better." Mrs. Reilly advised as she pulled on the strings tightly.
Katie inhaled a little to help more. "I know." she gasped as the strings were tightened.
"N-N-Now I hope you're hungry," Mrs. Reilly smiled. "You should eat up so you don't end up fainting or sick by the end of the day. After all, I'd be excited too if I were m-m-marrying a doctor."
Katie managed to get the petticoat and outer dress on too. "I guess I should..." she said quietly. "Lead the way, Mrs. Reilly." she said.
"R-Right away, Miss..." Mrs. Reilly nodded as she curtised to Katie and soon opened the bedroom doors and went to lead her down into the dining hall.
The corridors were filled with portraits of Victor and other men who seemed to be in his family as Katie was brought down a long staircase, led down into the foyer of the home, and eventually into the dining hall, where Victor was waiting, though Hyde stood at the doorframe as there was a large dining table shown with a large breakfast buffet of all sorts of food and a glittering chandelier hanging above Victor's head from the end of the table.
"Katie... Darling... So glad you could come down and join me to breakfast." Victor smiled once he saw the woman.
Katie walked in, straight-backed like a proper lady would, though her eyes darted nervously away from Hyde. "Victor," She said in greeting. "I had the strangest dream that you chloroformed me." she said, as she put emphasis on that word to show she was on to him.
"What an interesting dream," Victor smirked. "I can't imagine why you'd dream about such a thing when I love you with all my heart and soul. We have a promising future together, you and I~"
Katie sat at the place where there was a plate and cutlery set up for her. "Well, a little later I do believe we need to talk... Alone." she told him.
"Now you're cooperating... Very good..." Victor nodded in approval.
Eventually, breakfast was served and they began to eat together, him very excited and invested while she was squeamish and angered. Katie was silent as she ate, not wanting to starve herself as she needed to be top of her game.
"You're probably just having pre-marital jitters... Perfectly natural," Victor said as they tucked in. "We're going to have so much fun. Why, even Dr. Jekyll has offered to come to help me out while you're with Miss van Tassel."
"Why, I thought Mr. Hyde wouldn't like that," Katie replied focusing on her plate of food so not to look over at the mentioned man. "They're almost like two sides of the same coin~" she gave a forced laugh.
"We've worked something out." Victor smirked as he reached out to pat her hand.
Hyde watched Katie closely, just to make sure she wouldn't try to escape or run away because he would stalk after her like a bigger, stronger, faster, and smarter predator. Katie tried to subtly slide her hand away, reaching for the nearby glass of water. Victor smirked before he soon continued to eat his breakfast up. Katie sipped her water, then lowered her utensils after she had ate as much as her churning stomach would allow her. There was a knock at the door and Mrs. Reilly soon went to get it.
"Let the housemaid get that, dear." Victor smirked, preventing Katie from getting up and leaving the room.
Katie shot him a glare at that once Mrs. Reilly was out of the room.
"Now..." Victor smiled at Katie. "I hope you're a little more prepared and understanding this time. We've been planning this for a month after all." he added with a sly wink of the eye.
"My family will find a way to rescue me," Katie told him. "And you must be an idiot if you think I'm going to marry you." she added.
"Then I guess I'll just have to take your heart and build my own bride if you refuse." Victor smirked.
A woman with strawberry blonde hair was looking around as she was on her way into the room, being guided by Mrs. Reilly after the two women talked for a while.
"You can't do that, and anyway I already told you, I share Captain Jones' heart." Katie said quietly as she frowned and put a protective hand over her chest.
Victor just chuckled before looking up and over.
"Miss Katrina van Tassel," Mrs. Reilly announced, panting a bit as the other woman came beside her. "Daughter and only child of old Baron van Tassel."
Katrina nodded at the housemaid before smiling at Katie. "Good morning, Katie." she then greeted warmly.
Katie looked over, and took a moment to calm herself. "Good morning, Katrina." she said quietly in greeting, giving a tiny smile.
"I came as soon as I could," Katrina said to Katie. "Shall we go out then?"
Victor smirked towards Katie, keeping it hidden a little.
"Very well." Katie agreed softly as she stood up.
"Excuse us, Dr. Frankenstein." Katrina told Victor as she curtsied to him.
"Of course, my dear," Victor replied before he took Katie's hand briefly and kissed the back of it. "I shall eagerly await your return... You girls have some fun~"
Katie gave a smile that looked slightly more like a grimace. "Goodbye for now." she said and then went to leave with Katrina.
Victor grinned and nodded as he soon dismissed them.
"It's so exciting," Katrina smiled at Katie as they walked off together. "Getting married to a real doctor~"
"Oh, I don't know... A pirate would be more exciting~" Katie said in a 'playful' stage whisper as they were leaving the room.
"Still more interesting than a schoolteacher." Katrina giggled a bit as she walked with Katie out the door to do a little shopping.
Katie gave a quiet laugh.
"You're quiet today," Katrina said to Katie. "Is something bothering you, dear?"
"I'm fine, just a little... Overwhelmed." Katie admitted quietly to Katrina.
"Oh, my... You're not getting cold feet, are you?" Katrina frowned. "You're finally going to have a happy ending and live happily ever after... It's almost like a storybook."
"I-I guess it just suddenly hit me." Katie said softly.
"If you have children, I want to meet them," Katrina beamed at Katie, taking her into town. "This is just so exciting. I wish I was getting married~"
"Are you not married to Mr. Crane?" Katie asked, remembering that in that story Ichabod Crane liked Katrina.
"We're speaking, yes..." Katrina nodded. "He's a bit of a scaredy-cat though... I'm not sure about going through with it sometimes."
Katie gently patted her arm.
"Still, you're the envy of me in marrying a doctor~" Katrina giggled. "Dr. Frankenstein seems like a great man and I refuse to see otherwise."
"Enough talk of V-Victor... Let's enjoy a day just us girls." Katie said with a tiny giggle, playing along.
"Splendid!" Katrina beamed as she took Katie by the hand and went to take her out to spend some time together, such as mingling with other women who spoke fondly and highly of the wedding.
A timid looking man with glasses knocked at the door.
"Who's there?" Victor demanded, a bit sharply and firmly.
"D-Dr. Jekyll." Jekyll announced himself nervously.
"Ah, yes, come in." Victor then allowed.
"Y-You wanted to see me?" Jekyll asked Victor.
"Ah, yes, I wanted you to help me make a medicine for my bride-to-be, I'm afraid she's becoming a little sick." Victor nodded.
"O-Oh? Wh-What kind of m-medicine?" Jekyll asked nervous, but intrigued now.
"Just to help her calm down and be more agreeable in the upcoming ceremony of course," Victor grinned. "Forget about her troubles."
Jekyll was silent a moment then looked at him. "H-Have you tried wine?" he asked, just to check first.
"Not for breakfast, obviously." Victor smirked.
Jekyll gave a nervous but amused laugh to that. "I-I could make something... J-Just what exactly do you need it to do?" he asked. "F-For example erase her past in her mind so she'll be more focused on the present? O-Or something to keep her from negative emotion about this?" he said as some examples.
"You are a brilliant genius," Victor smirked at him. "Erase the past memories so she can worry about the present and maybe be a little more cooperative. Your special friend has had to catch her from leaving so many times." he then confirmed with a nod.
"W-When do you need it for?" Jekyll asked. He looked around nervously for Hyde though.
"Oh... Perhaps by dinnertime because then I'll know for sure my dear bride will be back home by then," Victor smirked. "You know how women can be and losing track of time when spending it together."
"I-I'll try to have it ready by then." Jekyll nodded. He then turned to leave.
"Jekyll... Don't try..." Victor called suddenly, biting at his last word then. "DO."
Jekyll nodded nervously and then went off to do so. Victor nodded firmly before smirking darkly as he rubbed his hands together.
Regina kept an eye on Cherry as they walked along.
"*sigh* It seemed so simple," Cherry sighed. "Why does it seem like every week we gotta risk our lives because someone got kidnapped, there's some kind of evil curse, or there's just something wrong? Whatever happened to waking up every morning, going to work, watching a little TV, eating some food, and then going to bed day after day after day?"
"We did have some time of that." Gold reminded.
"Ah, yes, I wanted you to help me make a medicine for my bride-to-be, I'm afraid she's becoming a little sick." Victor nodded.
"You're not chickening out, are you?" Regina asked Cherry.
"Please," Cherry rolled her eyes. "I'm not scared of anything."
Gold smirked just a little, but continued to lead them to the shack where Issac was most likely hiding. Regina kept a firm look out as she followed after as Cherry narrowed her eyes with a light growl before her eyes briefly flashed. Gold gestured for them to be quiet before he quickly opened the door. Cherry and Regina nodded as they stood close behind. Cherry held out tiny fists as she glared though, looking ready to beat up Isaac for when he would be seen, though she looked less threatening and more adorably trying to be tough as took a look Gold look around.