Earning Happy Endings

by BrainWithAMouth

All it took was one choice. Cora decided to allow Regina's curse to take her as well, though not without securing some protection of course. Now, more people from the Enchanted Forest lived a lie in Storybrooke for 28 years, and Emma will find herself in the midst of it all. With the help of her son, they'll find out who can be trusted, and who may want them gone. Canon divergence.

32. On the Mend

Welp, here we are. Another chapter.

In this chapter, panic ensues, a return happens, and Killian reveals a secret that in-universe people didn't know.

Another shout-out to Cant-Stop-My-Fandoms for helping me with this chapter, and thanks to everyone who left a review. Thanks to DivinelyAdira, Marcus Emrys, Tammybbb for following this story.

Disclaimer: No, OUAT is not my creation. Oh boy the things I could've done…

WARNING Disclaimer: There is some implied talk about, and I'm just going to say it, rape by deception in Percy's section. This is a callback to back in his and LJ's origins chapter about how LJ was conceived. If you feel more comfortable, just skip the section. Or you can go from this line:

Snow couldn't take it anymore. "Percy, I don't mean to pry, but something happened between you and Lancelot didn't it? Something...unpleasant."

to this line:

Sensing his increasing discomfort, Snow realized now was not the time to push. "Okay, it's okay. You don't have to tell me now. Just know that if you ever need to talk, David and I are here."

In Graham's scene, because I absolutely count what Regina did to him as rape, and yes this is a hill I am willing to do on, you can go from this line:

Feeling like a jerk, David raised his hands in peace. "Right, I'm sorry."

to this line:

However, he could tell there was something more. "Graham, what is it?" David prompted. "You can tell me."

So if anyone wants to discuss it further or ask questions, or want clarification on the scene, let me know in the comments.

With that in mind, let's get on with it.

Enjoy!

---

On the Mend

---

March 1, 2012

Slowly, Tien uncurled from the ball she found herself in, opening her eyes and rubbing away the sleep.

Sunlight filtered into view, and her brain still felt fuzzy.

Mai. That name kept coming to her mind.

I'm not her, Tien thought confusedly. She's not me...is she?

No no no. She was Tien, nobody else.

Her head hurt.

Looking over at Phoebe, whose eyes were still shut, Tien felt the urge to wake up. She needed Phoebe. Her big sister always made her feel better.

"Phoebe," Tien said softly. When that didn't work, she reached over to shake her shoulder.

"Tien."

The girl excitedly turned over at the sound of her daddy's voice. She found him in the kitchen, chopping some bananas, and Emma was next to him with her daddy.

Tien wanted to giggle. David wasn't old enough to be Emma's daddy, but she just knew that's who he was.

She didn't know how, she just did.

It was all silly to her.

"Let your sister rest," Daddy told her, his fake hand keeping the banana steady as he finished chopping it.

The door opened, and in came Snow White, Emma's mommy, holding the dog leashes. She announced both Lady and Copper had done their business.

Ew, Tien thought, her face scrunching at the thought of dog poop.

Snow undid the leashes, and the dogs started running around the loft. That's when she noticed Tien getting out of bed.

"Good morning, sweetie," Snow greeted Tien. She smiled at the girl who smiled back.

"Good morning, Snow White," Tien greeted back.

"How about your go wash up in the bathroom?" She suggested. "Breakfast is almost ready."

"These pancakes are going to be deliiiicious," David drew out the word as he flipped a pancake. Next to him, Emma was stirring some more batter.

Tien did as she was told, overhearing how some other people were coming over to eat.

Eager to get those pancakes in her mouth, Tien went to the bathroom, using it but forgetting to wash up, and raced out...only to run back when Daddy reminded her to wash her hands. Oh, and to not run in the loft, only walk.

Once that was done, Tien found that breakfast was still getting ready, and she sighed. She saw Phoebe was awake, and said good morning. She then became pouty when Phoebe didn't say good morning back. Well, Tien thought maybe she did, but it was more like a mumble, and her teacher said you have to speak up.

Anyways, Phoebe was super sleepy as she walked to the bathroom, Lady following her.

Soon, there was a knock on the door. Emma went to answer it.

In came a...wolf man? No, a man who liked wolves - Graham.

His name sounds like a cracker. Tien smiled as she stood next to Emma.

Along with Graham came Declan, who clutched his egg that, in Tien's mind, seemed warm and light. It looked like a regular silver egg, better than it did when the mean witch had that curse on everyone, but something about it seemed...alive to Tien.

Anyways, after them came Percy and LJ, and Tien imagined both of them in shining armor.

She wondered if Daddy could help them find some.

"Hey Henry," Declan greeted as he went forward and hugged his friend. He narrowly avoided stepping on Copper, who stayed by Henry's side.

"Hey, Dec," Henry replied as he hugged him back. He too noticed Declan's eggs and let out a whistle.

"What?" Declan asked defensively, holding his egg a little closer.

"Nothing," Henry said honestly. "Your egg looks a lot better. It looks less plastic."

"Well, yeah, it looks fu-"

Declan started to say a word that Tien couldn't hear - she was too busy with her pancakes - but all of the grownups started scolding him, and Graham even took a dollar from Declan.

Fu...did he mean fudge? Was fudge a bad word now?

Emma went back to the kitchen area, and so Tien walked up to Declan, though made sure to give Copper a 'good morning' scratch by the ears.

Tien then stared at Declan's silver egg, hardly noticing that Henry was talking to LJ.

The egg was so pretty, and she reached up to touch it.

Declan pulled back. "What are you doing?"

"I wanted to touch it," Tien said, not understanding why he was acting like this.

"You can't," Declan said. "You'll get it all smudged up."

"No I won't," Tien argued.

"Hey, my first best friend gave it to me," Declan told her firmly.

"Really?" Tien asked.

"Yep," Declan told her. "She was a golden goose, and this...this was the last egg she ever had."

Henry got this sad look on his face, and gave Declan a one-armed hug. LJ looked a little less confused than Tien.

Why would a golden goose be sad?

"Anyways," Declan continued, "I've got to keep it clean and take care of it."

Satisfied with the answer, Tien left the boys to talk. She saw the other adults were still busy, as Daddy was talking with Percy, and Graham was talking to David and Snow - about someone named Abigail - as the last two put dog food in the dogs bowls.

Lady and Copper wagged their tails, barely able to sit still as they waited for their food.

Emma was carrying plates and Tien got an idea.

"Can I help?" Tien asked Emma, eager to carry plates. She felt a little bad when she hugged Emma's leg, making her falter in her step.

"I've got it," Emma told her as she set the plates down at the table, having regained her balance. The kid sure did like hugging her leg.

Undeterred, Tien asked, "Please? I can help."

Emma looked down at Tien, thought for a moment, and then said, "Alright. How about...you grab some napkins for everyone?"

Tien set about doing that, and by the time Emma was done setting the plates, Tien had returned with an entire stack of napkins.

It made Emma chuckle - there were enough napkins with thirty people, not just twelve. That laugh brought out a giggle from Tien, who didn't understand the joke, but just liked the way Emma smiled.

She seemed lighter when she smiled.

As Emma helped Tien set the napkins down, because the little girl needed to be reminded that everyone just needed one napkin at the moment, she asked, "How are you doing?"

"Fine," Tien said before admitting, "My head kind of hurts."

"How come?" Emma asked concernedly.

I wish she was my mommy, Tien thought suddenly, and that thought brought a blurry face to the forefront of her mind.

She didn't know who it was that was looking back at her. She could hardly tell that it was a woman, but she knew what she felt.

Confused. Unsure. Scared.

Tien frowned and fell silent.

Emma placed the rest of the napkins down before she kneeled down in front of Tien. "What is it?"

She was making a face Tien recognized as the one grown ups made when they were a little scared. Not for themselves, for her. And maybe scared wasn't the right word. Maybe it was...what was it...worried?

Tien didn't want Emma to feel bad, and she was taught not to fib, so she said, "I keep remembor- remmemin…"

"Remembering?" Emma offered.

"Mhmm," Tien nodded. "I'm Tien, but I remember Mai. I know I'm Tien, but Mai makes my head hurt."

Emma frowned.

Worried Emma was mad at her, Tien hurriedly added, "My head doesn't hurt too much." Then, more quietly, more remorsefully, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what?" Emma asked, trying to keep her tone light. When Tien remained unconvinced, Emma continued, "We'll figure something out, okay?"

"Okay," Tien said, already feeling a little better. Emma wouldn't FIB.

She'd be a good mommy. She loves Daddy. I know it.

Without thinking, Tien then asked, "Are you and Daddy still together?"

Emma blinked, and then blushed. "Any changes would be news to me."

Tien smiled. Emma was funny.

Then the girl noticed Emma close up inside. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she could sense Emma feeling worried. Why?

"Daddy really likes you," Tien had to tell her.

Emma smiled softly. "Yeah? Well I really like him."

"I really like you too," Tien piped up. "You're cool and nice."

Emma gave a light chuckle before she ruffled Tien's hair. "Thanks kid."

"Breakfast is ready!" David announced. He caught sight of Tien and Emma, and once he locked eyes with the little girl, he made sure to tell Tien "Better hurry or they'll all be gone."

"Coming! I'm coming!" Tien announced as she hurried, not noticing the grownups smiling at her exuberance.

Everyone began filing to the table, trying to make as much room as possible at it despite there not being enough space.

Tien was about to take her seat when she saw Daddy was hanging back. There was a sad look on his face that Tien didn't like one bit. Her daddy was so nice. He should never be sad.

Promising herself that she'd get to those pancakes soon enough, she went over to him, as he was still standing in the kitchen.

"Daddy?" Tien asked as she stood in front of him. "Are you okay?"

Daddy smiled at her. "I'm fine, sweetheart."

Tien tilted her head. Something wasn't right. She could tell there was a feeling rolling up inside him, but she didn't know how she knew, or what that feeling was. Worse, he was fibbing that he was fine.

"Are you fibbing?" Tien questioned him, already knowing the answer.

"Tee," Phoebe said, suddenly appearing next to them. Her eyes were red and puffy.

Maybe she was still sleepy? And maybe she had a cold? That had to be why her nose was red too.

"Phoebe," Killian said, his eyes looking over her face. "How are you?"

Phoebe shrugged before she motioned for Tien to grab her hand.

Tien obediently did so, and let Phoebe move her away from the earshot of the others, who had taken notice as they ate their breakfast.

After they were sufficiently away, Phoebe kneeled down so that she was at eye-level with Tien.

"Tien," Phoebe told her little sister, "You can't just ask Kil- Dad…" Phoebe had to stop, her eyes looking sad.

Why did everyone look so sad?

Phoebe managed to regain her composure, and said, "You can't just ask people, including Dad, if they're fibbing. It's rude."

"But he is fibbing," Tien told her. "He's fibbing about feeling bad."

"Well that's not making things better," Phoebe snapped at her, looking guilty the next second.

Tien felt bad. She looked back at Daddy, who was keeping an eye on the girls, but only made a move to go to the table when the girls did.

People continued chatting, talking about things Tien didn't really know or care about. Right now, her focus was on two things: the fact that Phoebe and Daddy were on both sides of her, and that the pancakes were yummy.

So yummy, in fact, that she decided to scoop up pieces of pancake and try to place them on Daddy's plate.

"That's for you," Daddy told her with a smile, putting the pieces back.

"I don't want it," Tien fibbed, determined to make Daddy feel better with at least one piece.

Daddy must've noticed she was fibbing, and she feared that he would become angry with her.

Instead, he gave a light, "Well that won't do. I need my crew in tip-top shape."

"Crew?" Tien asked, absentmindedly putting pancake pieces in her mouth.

"You and your sister of course," Daddy said. "You're under my care, making you my crew. And as your captain, it's my responsibility to make sure you eat properly."

"Do you have a ship?" Phoebe asked, the first time she's spoken since they sat down.

Daddy nodded. "Somewhere. I'll try to find it soon. But first - eat."

Tien happily did so, renewed with the vigor of wanting to be a good crewmate.

---

Ruby observed Ella, and couldn't but admire the sudden take-charge attitude she had in directing people. Somehow having baby Alexandra strapped to her chest with a baby carrier made her look even better.

"Everyone who is looking for a child, file in Station A!" Ella told the assembly of people. "Everyone who is looking for a parent, file in Station B! Station C - siblings! Station D - Friends and associates!"

Alexander let out a high-pitched "Ah!", which almost sounded like an agreement to what her mother was saying.

"You heard them!" Ruby called out. "Move it!"

The Blue Fairy instructed her fairies on which station they should handle, while instructing others on what to do with the supplies.

Speaking of, Blue came over to talk to Ruby and Ella.

"Thank you for bringing these supplies," Blue said to Ruby. "I hope you'll pass your thanks onto your grandmother."

"I will," Ruby promised before noticing apprehension in Blue's face. "What's up?"

Blue hesitated before saying, "We do appreciate your generosity, we do. However, the supplies you brought won't last long."

"Is there a lack of resources?" Ella questioned.

"Everyone's grabbing what they can, and sometimes more than they need," Blue said. "They panic, and they hold onto anything they can get their hands on. It's likely just a way for them to fill a void caused by losing their loved ones."

"Everything will be under control," Ruby promised. "And more quickly if we can find their loved ones."

"For now," Ella said, gently touching Alexandra's head, "we'll do what we can here. Blue, is there anywhere you need me to be."

"As a matter of fact…" Blue started before she led Ella away.

Try as she might to ignore it, Ruby overheard the conversations around her. Super hearing had its disadvantages.

"Have you seen my son?"

"Please, do you know where he is?" He's 5'10", he has black hair…"

"Are you sure you haven't heard about her? My wife, Abigail, she's been missing for weeks…"

A litany of voices asking varieties of the same question: where is this person I love?

Before Ruby could join Ella and Blue to help them out, she smelled blood.

Ruby sniffed the air. It wasn't all fresh blood, thankfully, just a whiff of it. When she started following the source, her mind registered that it was the kind of congealed blood you'd get from a healing wound.

Through the crowd of people, she eventually found the source limping on the outskirts.

"Jefferson?" Ruby questioned as she approached the man. He was clutching his side, and there she smelt the blood. "What happened to you?"

"Oh, you know," Jefferson let out, clearly biting back the urge to groan in pain, "just out for a neighborly stroll."

"With blood coming out of you," Ruby pointed out, wondering if he even noticed.

"That's what happens when you get stabbed," Jefferson said.

"What?!"

"My fault," Jefferson responded to Ruby's outburst. "It was my fault. I was stupid."

...What...in the hell- Okay, back up, think.

"Jefferson," Ruby said as calmly as she could, "we need to get you to the hospital."

"I was just there," Jefferson told her with a pained smile. "I broke out. Figured I'd be more useful out here."

"You won't be that useful if you drop- if you pass out," Ruby quickly amended.

"I'm fine," Jefferson bit out as he started looking around.

Oh, wait...is he…?

"Are you looking for someone?" Ruby asked him.

She must've hit her mark, because his attention immediately snapped back to her. "I'm...I'm looking for my…"

"Jefferson, who are you looking for?" Ruby questioned, this time more softly.

The man's eyes grew sad. "Someone very important. Someone I'm not sure wants to see me."

"Dada?" Ruby guessed, wondering why he would feel such guilt.

Then it hit both of them.

"Have you seen her around?" Jefferson asked. In his mind, he realized that he'd been so focused wondering where Grace was, wondering how she would curse him if she ever saw him again, that he completely forgot about Dada.

Rapunzel, his mind corrected.

To be fair, Ruby had come to the same realization, albeit in her own way. She'd been so focused trying to help keep the peace that she'd forgot about her friend. Ruby didn't even know Dada's real name.

Ruby opened her mouth to answer...but no answer came. She searched her memories for clues, but the last time she had seen Dada was...when was it? Jeez, so much had happened that her mind was blanking on her.

"I haven't seen in since yesterday, I think," Ruby said. "Wait here."

She turned and lightly jogged to find Ashley, and her returned sense of enhanced hearing let her know that Jefferson didn't listen to her. She also knew that he only stopped to take something off the bulletin board as they passed it.

Ruby found Ella talking with one of the fairies. "Ella! Hey, Ella!"

"Something wrong, Ruby?" Ella wondered.

"Have you seen Dada?" Ruby asked, feeling something wrong in her gut.

Ella shook her head. "No, I haven't seen her since before the curse broke." Her expression then became one of worried comprehension. "Did something happen?"

"Probably not," Ruby said, though she didn't believe it. "Just in case, I'm going to swing by her place to check on her. You mind holding the fort."

"No problem. Go find her," Ella said before they parted.

"I'm coming with," Jefferson said, clutching what looked to be a kid's drawing in one hand while the other pressed his side.

"You need to rest," Ruby told him.

"I've got to find her," Jefferson insisted.

"Okay, fine, follow if you want," Ruby said impatiently. "Be warned - I smell more blood out of you than there should be, I'm dragging your ass to the hospital myself."

"Message received," Jefferson said as he tried to keep up with her.

They both needed to find Dada - fast.

---

David couldn't help but feel a swell of pride as he watched Emma, in full deputy mode, work alongside Graham, organizing everyone with confidence.

Or at least the portrayal of it. David knew that his daughter had, deep down, a tendency to downplay her own achievements despite how remarkable she truly was.

After all, she was his and Snow's daughter. She was born for this.

In more ways than one, he thought, suddenly morose. He tried to stay focused on the positives, especially after Emma's near brush with oblivion the night before.

However, he couldn't shake the reality that he missed everything. He would spend the rest of his life knowing that although he and Snow had to send Emma through the wardrobe to save everyone, he would always regret doing so for his own selfish reasons.

"David," Percy said as he tried to lift a box. "A little help?"

"Oh, right, sorry," David answered, embarrassed that he'd let himself become idle. Worry about the past and future later, focus on the present.

"One, two, three!" Percy counted, lifting the box on three and moving it over to one of the tables. The fairies soon came over and dealt with it.

"Onto the next one," Percy said as he and David moved to help unload some items from trucks. He made sure to keep an eye on LJ, who was with Declan and Henry distracting little kids that had been placed with the wrong parents during the curse.

David smiled at the proud look on Percy's face.

"What?" Percy asked when he saw David looking at him.

"You raised a good kid," David told him.

Percy's smile was soft. "Yeah, I did." His eyes then became sad, a hint of the grief that laid beneath, threatening to spill over.

The mood whiplash immediately worried David. "Percy, what is it?"

Percy then pulled him to the side so they could face each other. "Before I forget, I need to set the record straight. My cousin didn't abandon LJ." His eyes, retaining their sadness, took on a layer of anger. "What the curse made me believe was a lie. Lainey - LJ's mother - loved her son. She never would've abandoned him if she had a choice."

"I believe you," David said, feeling his own sadness well up when Percy covered his eyes with his hand.

The man's head was lowered, and David saw enough of his face to know he was crumpling.

David's hands hovered uselessly around his friend. "Oh, Percy, what happened?"

Percy straightened up, lowering his hand and looking up at the sky as he tried to regain his composure.

"I'm sorry," Percy said in a choked voice. He tried to talk, but a sudden wave of grief threatened to drown him in it. Percy shook his head. "It's just...ever since we woke up, I've tried to not think about it, but it feels like it just happened, all over again…"

David's friend covered his mouth with his hand. There was a silence before Percy lowered his hand, as well as his eyes, and then said, "LJ's mother is dead."

Given Percy's reaction, David had a feeling this was coming. All he knew about LJ's mother was that her cursed persona abandoned him. However, the moment Percy said that LJ's mother didn't abandon him, the way Percy spoke...he knew the most likely outcome.

"I'm so sorry," David couldn't help but say. What else could he say?

Percy crossed his arms over his chest, and suddenly a man in his 30s seemed to age by ten years in a single moment. He still wasn't looking at David.

"She died from childbirth." Percy's tone was flat, one of deceptive calm. "We fell into a portal, and there were complications-"

"I'm sorry, a portal?" David questioned before internally berating himself for interrupting. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine," Percy said. "I'll try to keep this short."

Percy stayed true to his word, keeping his extremely concise explanation to roughly six minutes max. David knew he'd had to hold back some information, but...wow...that's…

"Earth to David," Percy said, snapping David back into it.

"Right, sorry," David apologized once more. He was still absorbing the information. "Just..let me recap. You're from another world, one where all of the legends about King Arthur are true? And you're here because a witch named Morgana sent you to our world before the curse?"

Percy's face darkened. "She was Queen Morgana Oer of Rheged. Arthur tried to quell rumors that his sister was a witch, one that took on the name of Morgan le Fay."

Morgan le Fay...Morgan le Fay is real…

"You think she's here?" David questioned.

"I wouldn't doubt it," Percy said, his expression stony. "Before she died, Lainey said she hadn't seen the witch when she woke up, so I don't think she's dead. Wherever she is, she'll be lucky if someone finds her before I do."

"You hate her," David stated.

"Hate? I can't say for sure," Percy said, though it didn't sound convincing. "She's the reason Lainey's dead, why LJ doesn't have a mother."

"I know that feeling," David admitted, wording this as carefully as he could. "Snow is alive, and Emma is too, but I had to spare my own evil witch last night." He stepped closer to Percy, getting his friend to look him in the eye. "I understand what it's like to lose someone because of a villain, both to death and other circumstances. I know how you feel, but I'm asking you to not do anything out of anger that you can't take back."

Percy hesitated.

"Please, for me?" David asked.

Something in that struck a chord with Percy, who nodded. "Alright, we'll do it your way."

"Good," David said, impulsively hugging the other man, who returned the hug firmly. Before they separated, David whispered, "Whatever you and LJ need, all you have to do is ask."

Percy nodded again as they released each other.

"I did have one more question," David started. "Who is LJ's father? You didn't mention that before."

He couldn't recall who the legends said Galahad's father was. He barely remembered if they said anything about the mother.

"Oh, right," Percy said, looking surprised that he'd forgotten. "His...was a more complicated story. He didn't want to abandon him- or I guess he didn't mean it…" Percy sighed.

David guessed this was one of those details Percy left out, either for the sake of time or because it was painful to talk about. Maybe both.

"He was my best friend," Percy finally said. "We'd been friends since we were children, and did everything together. Train, travel, even joined the Knights of the Round Table at the same time. Lancelot always pushed me to do my best, and vice versa."

David back in surprise. "Lancelot? Lancelot is LJ's father?"

"Yes," Percy said slowly.

"I know Lancelot," David told him before adding, "Not just from the legends, him personally."

Percy stood straighter. "Really? How?"

"He saved my life and Snow's," David said. "He was at our wedding."

"He's alive?" Percy whispered. A glimmer of hope was there. He then gave a wide smile, and shouted with exuberance. "He's alive!"

"Yes, I assume so," David said, feeling bad about what he was about to say. "We lost touch a while ago, and I haven't seen him since."

"But still, that's something," Percy replied, unable or unwilling to let this good feeling go. "I don't know how or why he came to the Enchanted Forest, but if he's alive...We've got to find him. As soon as we can."

"We'll give it our best shot," David assured him before looking around as people were still trying to sort everything out. "We should-"

"Oh, right, right!" Percy understood, still with a smile on his face. "Let's go."

David and Percy got back to work, hauling boxes from the cars and trucks of volunteers to the stations manned by fairies.

On one of these trips, David spotted Killian with the girls.

One moment in particular.

"Friend!" Little Roland screamed, running away from his mother to tackle Tien to the ground in a hug.

Rather than start crying or becoming angry, Tien just rolled with it.

Literally. The two small children started rolling on the ground, determined to keep hugging each other even as Killian and Marian tried to separate them in front of a laughing audience.

"Oh shit!" Declan suddenly shouted. "Hobbit!"

Roland, completely missing the admonishing looks being given to both him and Declan, looked up at the boy.

Declan seemed nervous, wavering between excitement and worry.

The little boy looked confused, until he suddenly shouted, "Wizard!"

He scrambled off Tien, and ran straight into Declan's arms, the older boy looking relieved that Roland still recognized him.

David remained on the move, but couldn't help but smile at the reunion. At least they managed to find each other, though neither was truly lost.

Not like Abigail, he thought sourly. He'd run into Frederick not too long ago. The poor man was distraught, asking David over and over if Abigail had truly been killed when she was still Kathryn.

David had to take time to comfort the man when he said the hospital confirmed the DNA was Abigail's, though for some strange reason, the assertion felt hollow. Maybe he was just grieving the death of a good woman.

If Regina had anything do with this…

Shaking his mind of increasingly angry though, and determined to keep helping, David reviewed the happy scene. Now, he saw the way Killian gently helped Tien up from the ground. The way he gingerly brushed the grass off her clothes. He also saw just how much he adored the little girl, keeping an equally adoring eye on her older sister who just rolled her eyes affectionately at the display.

"You still hung up on the Captain Hook thing?" Percy asked as they kept moving. At David's surprised look, Percy said, "Killian told me after breakfast. Pretty sure he told Graham. He said he didn't want us to hear about it from anyone but him."

"How do you feel about this?" David asked, genuinely interested.

Percy let out a sigh. "I'm not going to lie, it was a shock. I had been in the Enchanted Forest for over a decade, so I heard about the legends of Captain Hook. Given that the legends span centuries, I figured he was made up. My mistake."

"And the part where Killian is supposed to be this man?" David prompted.

The other man paused before saying, "If I'm honest, I don't know. I can't see it. To me, he's just my friend Killian." Percy looked over at him. "I'm guessing it's harder for you."

"I-" David started before his words briefly failed him. Guilt began to well up. "I don't know either."

"Mmm," Percy concurred. As they grabbed another heavy box, and heaved it up, Percy added, "It's an adjustment period. I wouldn't worry."

I hope you're right, David said as they placed the box in its designated area.

He spotted Phoebe grabbing a box, one light enough for her to carry on her own, and carried it over to Emma. The young teen looked up at Emma, saying something to her while gesturing to the box.

Emma said something back, trying to grab the box but Phoebe resisted. It seemed that Phoebe wanted to handle it herself.

David couldn't help but smile, his mind comparing the two blondes, the way the woman and the girl both tried to take charge, wanting to be helpful in the middle of this chaos.

"Terrible news!" David heard Grumpy's voice.

Everyone's head whipped toward the incoming dwarves, and David and Percy began to move in their direction, along with Emma, Killian, Snow, Graham, and others to see what the problem was.

"Terrible news!" Grumpy shouted again as the dwarves were dragging a confused Sneezy toward the crowd. "We were out at the town limits. Tell 'em who you think you are, Sneezy."

Sneezy looked annoyed. "Will you stop calling me that? You know who I am. I'm Tom Clark. I own the Dark Star Pharmacy. What's going on here?"

Grumpy addressed the restless crowd. "If you cross the border, you lose your memory all over again."

"What?" Graham asked, taken aback. He looked over at Marian, who was looking back at him with Roland in his arms.

"And coming back doesn't fix it?" Dr. Hopper asked.

"If it did, would I have come running in yelling 'terrible news'?!" Grumpy shot back.

"Grumpy," Snow interjected, "are you sure?"

Grumpy didn't snap at her. He just looked grim. "If we leave, our cursed selves become our only selves."

"Has anyone else left?" Snow asked, though she was barely heard over the rising commotion that Emma and Graham immediately tried to quell.

After several seconds, Killian let out a bellowing, "Oy!"

Silence followed.

Killian looked at Emma, who thanked him. "Listen! Everybody, go back to what you were doing, and we'll sort this out."

"How long are we supposed to wait for that?" Dr. Whale demanded.

David could've punched him. Instead he just said, "Two hours. Just give us two hours to tell you our plan."

The crowd was placated...for now.

Once they dispersed, Emma said to David, "You mind letting us in on the plan."

"That's just it...I don't have one," David admitted, much to Emma's disappointment. "We've got two hours to figure one out."

Hell of an adjustment period.

---

Jefferson's sides were burning, but he took it as an encouraging sign.

Pain...just means I'm still alive.

...That was about as encouraging as his thoughts got, because by the time he caught up to Ruby, she was already up two flights of stairs in Dada's apartment.

"Just stay there," Ruby told him as he labored after him. "I'll come get you."

Jefferson shook his head, reserving the rest of his energy in getting up the stairs, even as his vision briefly blurred.

He had to make sure Dada was alright. He didn't know why, but something in Jefferson was tugging him upstairs, and deep down he knew she was there. Not only that, but that something was waiting for them.

When he caught up to Ruby, he saw why...and saw why Rapunzel lived up to her name.

The top two levels of the apartment building were cut off from the rest of the building, because something had practically reduced the staircase leading up to it into rubble. At first, Jefferson thought that there was a thick, black rope hanging down. However, he soon found that it was hair - long, thick, and curly, and the same shade as Dada's hair.

Jefferson and Ruby also found a familiar woman trying to climb up it. What was her name...Fran, Francine…

"Frances?" Jefferson questioned.

The older woman turned around and looked at them, looking relieved someone had come. However, apprehension filled her, and she raised her hand up, the one with the star-shaped scar.

"Stay back!" she ordered.

Ruby raised her hands in peace. "Easy there, we just want to help."

"You'd be the first," Frances snapped back, her blue eyes alight with suspicion. "Everyone else was too busy trying to save their own skins, and Ra- and my ward has been trapped there."

"Rapunzel?" Jefferson inquired, taking a brief note of Ruby's confused look.

If anything, his guess only made the woman more suspicious. "How do you know...who sent you?"

She looked ready to pitch him out of a window.

"We sent ourselves," Ruby told her. "We're looking for Dada. Is she here?"

A scream from upstairs, and soon some whimpering.

"Come on, darling," Frances called out to the upstairs, her tone and body language shifting from defensive to caring in a millisecond. "It's alright now, it's Morgana."

Ruby stepped forward, once again raising her hands in peace when Morgana held her hand up. "If Rapunzel is in trouble, then I want to help, especially if my friend is in danger."

Morgana stalled for a moment before lowering her hand. "Only in her own mind." At Ruby and Jefferson's quizzical looks, the older woman said, "The short version is that when she was a child, Rapunzel ingested a root that was meant to quell all of her fears. It backfired, and preyed on her deepest insecurities, worsening her anxiety and paralyzing her with fear."

"So she's cursed?" Ruby asked.

Morgana shook her head. "Only in her own mind. I have to get to her. I'm the only one able to calm her down, but I'm not as strong as I once was."

Ruby's face became determined as she clenched her fists. "Then maybe I can make up for it."

She then moved forward, gripping Rapunzel's hair. "Is climbing up this going to hurt her?"

"It shouldn't," Morgana said. "She knows how to let it loose for me to climb without it affecting the roots."

"...Okay," Ruby replied before she began climbing up. She did so with little difficulty, and quite quickly too. Once she was up on the top floor, she shook the line of hair. "Whoever wants up, grab on now."

Both Jefferson and Morgana grabbed it at the same time. Before either of them could begin to tell the other to let go, to allow one of them to go first, they were being lifted up. They tightened their grips on the line of rope as they heard Ruby grunting with effort. While neither of them had the strength to climb themselves, they did have the ability to hold on long enough for Ruby to drag them both to the top floor. Once they were within reach, Ruby grabbed them both and helped them over the edge and onto the (mostly) stable floor.

"See?" Ruby smiled as she caught her breath. "Told you I'd make up for it."

"Rapunzel," Morgana called out, ignoring Ruby as she followed the line of hair.

Ruby rolled her eyes as she and Jefferson followed, eventually finding themselves at Dada's apartment, where the door was locked. They knew it was the right door, not only because both of them had been there a number of times during the curse, but also because the line of hair was wedged underneath the door frame.

"Rapunzel," Morgana said again, knocking on the door as she spoke softly. "It's me, remember? I know everything is terribly confusing, but I promise, I'm here."

"Go away!" Dada - no,Rapunzel - shouted back, her voice shaking. "Go, before it gets you!"

"Darling, I promise you it can't hurt me," Morgana said, her own voice firm but her expression wavering.

It reminded Jefferson of the times when Grace's stomach growled from not having enough food, and he promised her things would be alright.

"Um, Rapunzel," Ruby called out, moving next to Morgana to be better heard. "It's Ruby. Jefferson's here too. We came to check on you."

A silence followed, and all three of them looked at each other wondering what happened.

Then, after a long pause, Rapunzel's voice came, and it was much closer now. She was right in front of the door.

"Jefferson?" Rapunzel asked.

Needing no prompting, Jefferson stepped in front of the doors, placing his hands against the wood. "Yeah, I'm here." He said softly, letting the sound of her voice waft through his ears. The pain of his wound, while still present, suddenly didn't seem as bad now that he could sense her again.

"Jefferson…" Rapunzel said softly, her voice threatening to break. "You need to go. It's not safe."

"Definitely not," Jefferson replied. "The top floors are structurally unsound. We need to get you out of here."

"He's right, Rapunzel," Morgana added, and Jefferson wondered if he'd ever heard her speak so affectionately to the woman behind the door before. "Everyone else on this floor and the one below has evacuated. We need to get you to safety."

"But the Duke-"

"Will have to go through me," Morgana promised Rapunzel with her gentle interruption.

"I...I-I can't," Rapunzel argued. "The demon is here, and she won't…" Rapunzel started crying. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about," Ruby tried telling her.

"Yes I do," Rapunzel choked out. "Everything I do, or try to do, always makes things worse. I mess up, make stupid decisions, and...and it's just better for everyone if I stay here."

Morgana was about to say something, but Jefferson unintentionally interrupted her.

"I make stupid decisions too," Jefferson told Rapunzel. "I mean...I got stabbed because I trusted the Evil Queen?"

"What?" Ruby asked.

"You were stabbed?" Rapunzel questioned worriedly. "Oh gods, are you okay?"

"I'll be better once we're out of here," Jefferson answered, and when Rapunzel fell silent, he decided to take a chance. "Rapunzel...I have made a lot of bad decisions in my life before this. Some out of good intentions, but mostly for my own self-interest. I know what it's like to hurt people because of the things I did."

For Jefferson, Morgana and Ruby weren't there. No, at that moment, the only people there were himself and Rapunzel.

"I was scared to leave my home, even when I could," Jefferson confessed. "Not because I was scared of any physical threat. No...I was worried that I'd keep screwing up. That I'd keep making bad decisions."

How he could keep hurting Grace, how despite knowing she was looking at him, his child's drawing felt like it threatened to burn into his leg, red hot with shame.

However, this moment wasn't about him. It was about Rapunzel.

"I haven't completely avoided that," Jefferson continued, "but do you know what one of the great things about me taking that leap of faith was?"

"What?" Rapunzel asked quietly.

"I met you," Jefferson smiled, what was left of his soul feeling lighter. "If I had stayed inside, shut myself away, I never would've gotten the chance to meet you." Jefferson let out a shaky sigh. "I don't know what happened to you, and I don't know exactly what you're scared of, but if you're willing to take the chance, I promise I'll be there for you. Whatever you're worried about facing, whatever bad decisions you think you'll make, we can deal with it - together. Just...you just need to take a chance."

There was more silence that followed, and then more, and more…

Feeling disheartened, Jefferson wondered how else they might be able to get her out, when they heard a click.

A slide of chain, a rattle.

Then a turn…

The door opened, and Rapunzel was there, hair longer than Jefferson had ever seen it. Rapunzel's eyes were puffy and red, tears on her face, and she looked skittish and ready to shut the door once more.

She didn't.

Without thinking, Jefferson stepped forward, and soon he and Rapunzel embraced each other.

"I don't know what to do," Rapunzel sobbed into his chest.

Jefferson held her and kissed the top of her hair. "Neither do I. Good thing we have each other. Maybe we'll figure something else."

---

Okay, so Emma and co. had about two hours (more accurately, one hour and about fifty-eight minutes) to figure out a way to prevent anyone else from losing their memories (again). Or, alternatively, prevent another mass panic.

The only question was how.

During a quick huddle, it was decided that, loathe as they all were to admit it, they knew there was one man who might have some idea on what was going on.

"The crocodile," she heard Killian say under his breath.

"What?" Emma asked, but he just shook his head before mouthing "Later".

"Emma and I should go," Graham suggested. He kept an eye on Marian, who was watching over Declan and Roland. Emma didn't think Declan had let go of Roland since their reunion.

Deep down, Emma knew that Graham was reluctant to be away from them.

"I can go, you stay," Emma firmly offered. "Someone needs to be here to keep things organized, and everyone trusts you more than they trust me."

"I could go with you," Snow offered, not wanting to let Emma out of her sight.

Emma, on the other hand, had other ideas. "You and David have to stay for the same reason Graham does. You're, you know, royalty, and ones that most of the people here are familiar with. Besides, I can handle Gold."

"You can't seriously be thinking of going without backup," David said. "Magic may work differently here, but Rumplestiltskin is still dangerously smart."

"We can't spare too many people," Emma told him.

"I'll go with you," Killian said to her.

Emma, remembering Killian's returned hatred for the man, tentatively asked, "You sure?"

Killian nodded grimly. "Gold and I are long overdue for a chat."

With some reluctance, Emma agreed, if only because she worried she wouldn't be around if Killian decided to sneak off to see Gold along.

Soon enough they dispersed, though not before Snow and David hugged her, with Emma's mother whispering, "Be safe." Both were reluctant to let go.

Killian went to let Sister Astrid - who was a fairy named Nova - know that Tien, who'd been with her for a bit, that he'd be gone a little longer.

As Emma waited for him to come back, Phoebe approached her.

"Hey Phoebe," Emma greeted, wondering why she looked like that. "What's up?"

"I heard that you were going to see the Dark One," Phoebe said casually...and then when Emma raised an eyebrow, she admitted, "Okay, I eavesdropped, but not on purpose." Then, more anxiously, Phoebe added, "You need to be careful around him. He's dangerous."

"I got that vibe from the others," Emma said calmly.

"No, listen, he-" Phoebe started to get worked up before forcing herself to remain calm. She looked Emma in the eyes, hoping she'd see how serious she was. "He hurts people, and he's smart about how to get away with it."

Phoebe swallowed a lump in her throat, and the words started tumbling out. "Tien was a toddler when we first met, and Blue tried to leave Tien with human parents, but when we got there, the Dark One was there instead. He tried to kidnap Tien. It was too dangerous to let her out into the human world so we had to keep her with the rest of the fairies. And during the curse, when he was Mr. Gold, he threatened to send her away. If he can hurt a little girl, what do you think he can do to you?"

Emma was taken aback by this information. She knew Gold wasn't above trying to use children - she remembered his attempt to get Alexandra - but to straight up try to kidnap a child?

Tien was a sweet little girl, and the thought of something, especially Gold, trying to touch her filled Emma with anger.

Also, there was a word that Phoebe used, something that also stunned Emma.

"Human parents," Emma said. "Rest of the fairies? Tien is a fairy?"

"Well, yeah, kind of. Blue calls her a changeling, but she's basically a fairy...I think," Phoebe told her before comprehension kicked in. "Oh...you thought we were human?"

Obviously, Emma thought. "So, you two are fairies? And what do you mean kind of?"

Emma then saw Killian and Nova from far away, and could tell they were finishing their conversation. Tien seemed reluctant to relinquish her hold on Killian and be passed to Nova.

"Just promise me you'll be careful," Phoebe pleaded.

"I can handle myself," Emma told her.

Phoebe turned around and saw Killian trying to gently remove Tien from his arms. From what Emma could see of her expression, she was worried about him too.

"I'll keep an eye on Killian too," Emma told her, and Phoebe turned around with a grateful look. "No need to worry."

"You should be worried," Phoebe told her. She then briefly averted her eyes with a shy, "I don't want you to get hurt."

Emma thought about patting her shoulder, or giving her arm a light squeeze, but decided against it, thinking it was too much too soon. So she told the teen in a reassuring tone, "We'll be fine."

Phoebe nodded solemnly.

She's scared, Emma thought. She's scared something's going to happen to us.

This brought her back to what she learned the night before.

"Phoebe," Emma said, "do you remember what I said last night? About letting us take the risks?"

Phoebe blushed and nodded, though there was a shine to her eyes that hinted at welling tears.

I know you wanted to help, but that was a huge risk, Emma had told Phoebe and Tien. Regina...she killed Phoebe's mom, and I'm so sorry for that, but we're the adults here. Can you imagine how awful we'd feel if something happened to you?

"I want you to stick close to my parents," Emma told her. "You and Tien, and if not them then the fairies, or Graham or Percy. Don't go off on your own again. And, if you can, keep an eye on Henry."

"I will," Phoebe promised, perhaps emboldened by the idea that she now had a task to protect someone. She may not have cared for her own safety, but she could at least focus her energy on Tien and Henry. "I won't be a bother."

"You never are," Emma said firmly. "You're one of the most helpful kids I know."

Killian had succeeded in handing Tien off, and was heading their way.

At last, Emma awkwardly patted Phoebe on the shoulder. "I'll get us back here as soon as I can."

Phoebe smiled. "Thanks, Emma."

After Killian hugged and told Phoebe he'd be back soon, he and Emma got in her Bug and set off to Gold's pawn shop. As she drove, Emma relayed the information she learned.

"Did you know?" Emma asked him. "That Phoebe and Tien were fairies."

Killian shook his head. "It doesn't surprise me. They lived with fairies, so I suppose a part of me assumed that maybe they were ones as well. Besides, that might explain why Regina's magic sputtered out after Tien bit her."

Was that something fairies could do?, Emma wondered. Or a changeling? What's really the difference?

Then, Killian's expression darkened. "The crocodile will not touch either of them."

"Speaking of," Emma responded, "why do you call him that?"

"Because he looks like one," Killian answered. "Or he did look like one. Back in the Enchanted Forest, the Dark One looked like a human man, except instead of skin he had scales, sharpened teeth, and reptilian eyes."

"...Good to know," Emma said. Before she forgot, she then asked, "Also, is there anyone else from your past we should keep an eye out for?"

Emma kept her eyes on the road, but she knew Killian was hesitating.

"Killian," Emma started.

"I've made quite a few enemies over the years," Killian confessed. "I've yet to see either them or a member of my crew though, so I'm not sure if they're in hiding or dead."

"Anyone else?" Emma further inquired.

They arrived at Gold's shop before he could answer.

Emma wouldn't forget to ask again.

As they got out, Emma warned him one last time to not attack Gold, and Killian gave a non committal answer.

The door swung open as they entered the shop, and Emma saw a pleased look on Killian's face when he saw the havoc he wrought there still had some effect. At least, that's what she took the empty display cases to mean.

To be honest, Emma kind of enjoyed it too.

"It appears when I bought that 'closed' sign," Gold said as he turned around to face them, a smirk on his face but his eyes cold, "I was just throwing my money away." He then pointed a finger at Killian, "Oh, and I still expect you to pay damages."

"Consider it your compensation for terrorizing two little girls," Killian replied sharply.

Gold lowered his hand, tilted his head, and then said, "Ah. You mean the little blond pest and the halfling?"

Emma grabbed Killian's arm before he could start forward.

"Congratulations on defeating the Wraith," Gold told Emma, and only Emma. "And for defeating Maleficent. I see your life growing up in this world hasn't dulled your survival skills."

"Well those two curveballs were all thanks to you," Emma said as she and Killian approached, and though she let go of his arm, she made sure to stay close just in case she needed to intervene again. Or maybe so he could intervene on her behalf. After all, all of the shit Gold put them through came to the forefront of her mind. "Henry almost died because of you."

"But he didn't," Gold said, and Emma could've killed him. He didn't even seem phased that both Killian and Emma felt this way. "If I had allowed you to heal Henry with that potion, you never would've been able to use the Kiss of True Love to break this curse."

"Speaking of," Emma interrupted, trying to stay on track because every deviation threatened her self-control, "what did you do with it? Why is magic only technically back? Why is the border making everyone forget again?"

If she had blinked, Emma would've missed the minute, almost imperceptible way Gold stiffened. His expression never changed, but she had piqued his curiosity.

"Is that what all the commotion outside is about?" Gold asked airily. "Do tell."

Emma and Killian looked at each other before looking back at Gold.

"The dwarves tested it out earlier," Killian told the hateful 'man' before him. "One of them crossed the border with his true memories intact, but once he did so, he lost them. It was if the curse never broke. And so far, nothing has allowed said dwarf to regain his memories. Now, what in the bloody hell did you do, and how are you going to fix it?"

Emma fully expected a comeback, some quip or sharply worded reply. Instead, Gold looked at them both for a long moment without saying anything.

A pit grew in her stomach.

He doesn't know either. Worst still, he almost seems...nervous. It's hardly noticeable, but it's there.

Even if this had been regular, sleazy Gold and not this immortal trickster standing in front of her, the idea that something would make him even remotely unbalanced spelled trouble for her.

"Well...that is a conundrum," Gold said. "One I don't have any answers for you."

Killian scoffed as he began to walk away. "This was a waste of time."

"Do try to avoid ruining anything on your way out," Gold said as Killian and Emma left.

Killian slammed the door for good measure.

Emma couldn't blame him. If Gold didn't know what caused this, then how were they going to figure it out?

---

Percy meant to keep busy, meant to keep focused, he really did, but he couldn't get over the news.

Lancelot had made it to the Enchanted Forest, and last David saw him, he was alive.

Where is he?, Percy wondered, looking around and hoping he'd catch a glimpse of him, then feeling disappointed when there was no sign of the man.

Percy's thought then became gloomy.

I only had a glimpse of him before we went down that portal, Percy thought, remembering the way Lancelot had tried to reach out and grab him. Before that, we hardly spoke in months over Lainey's...condition.

Guilt gnawed at him. He knew LJ's conception was no more Lancelot's fault than Lainey's, and he knew why Lancelot didn't want to even talk about the baby, much less be around Lainey.

He also knew that, during that time, he devoted his energy into taking care of Lainey and the baby rather than checking on Lancelot to see how he was doing.

Percy's stomach still rolled at the memory of what Lainey's father did, his fruitless anger knowing he could never do anything against a king, that his uncle's accomplice had slipped away before Percy could get her.

Dame Brusen. Whether she was alive or not he didn't know. Whether she was human or not...he didn't know that either.

Percy had received Arthur's permission to bring Lainey to court, and while her father wanted her to stay in the kingdom, he didn't expressly forbid it. Or rather, he didn't raise any objections when Percy smuggled Lainey on the next ship out of the kingdom, as she had wanted to get away from her father as quickly as possible.

Lancelot had returned to Camelot soon after.

What has happened between you three?, Queen Guinevere - Guin - had asked him, particularly when her once close friendship with Lancelot faltered. Did...Does it have something to do with me?

Yes. No. Both.

He had opted to say that there was tension between the three, but they bore no ill will toward each other.

That didn't stop the rumors once word of Lainey's condition spread out. Arthur had been kind enough to offer to quell the rumors, being more sympathetic to Lainey's plight than most kings would, but Lainey herself had told the king that all she required was some peace, quiet, and solitude.

Lainey chose to keep herself hidden away, and yet gossipy courtiers set their wagging tongues to good use, whispering about how her sudden distance from Lancelot, his changed demeanor, the lack of communication between Lancelot and Percy, could only be because she was about to bear his bastard. That Lancelot could hardly bear the shame.

"Percy?" Snow's voice interrupted his thoughts.

He turned to her, and saw she was looking at him, her dog Copper faithfully by her side. It seemed the curse did nothing to tamper the animal's affection for his master.

"I'm sorry," Percy apologized, regaining his bearings as he absentmindedly unpacked some items from a box. "I'm idling again."

"Is it because of Lancelot?" Snow asked him. "David told me."

Not having the heart to lie or pretend otherwise, Percy nodded his head.

Snow thought on it for a moment before suggesting they move to the side. Percy tried to object, but she was quite firm about it. Besides, she argued, for the moment everyone was occupied, and they could just get out of the way.

Eventually, Percy did as she asked, and they moved to the side.

"So, uh…" Snow trailed off, suddenly at a loss for words. "What's your relationship with Lancelot?"

"We...were friends," Percy said, hesitating at the past tense, wondering if Lancelot would consider him a friend anymore. "I met him when I was a boy. We did everything together."

Snow nodded. "David mentioned that Lancelot is LJ's father."

Percy confirmed it.

"Well that's good, right?" Snow asked optimistically. "Wherever he is, he probably misses him."

Snow knew she'd made a mistake when she saw Percy's mood become more somber. Even Copper, who sat by her feet, gave a whine.

He never mentioned having a baby, Snow thought. Then again, he took off not long after the wedding. He wanted to figure himself out first…

"How was he?" Percy asked her. "The last time you saw him, I mean."

Snow knew what he really meant was, What was he doing? Why was he here? Is there a chance I could see him again?

So, she answered honestly, "When we first met, Lancelot and I were on opposite sides. He worked as a knight, well more of a mercenary, for an evil man - King George." Snow grimaced at the mention of that cruel old man, even moreso when she saw Percy's dismayed look. She added, "But when he realized the depths George sank to in order to hurt people he hated, he turned against him, and helped David and I. He was even at our wedding. He left soon after, and we weren't able to keep track of where he went. Sadly, I know for sure that George is here. His name was Albert Spencer, Kathryn's lawyer - oh gods, Abigail." Snow practically growled. "Regina is going to answer for that. I know she had something to do with it, I know it."

Percy nodded silently.

He should've reacted more. Should've said more than that. And yet he just couldn't.

Snow couldn't take it anymore. "Percy, I don't mean to pry, but something happened between you and Lancelot didn't it? Something...unpleasant."

Percy looked eyes with her, wanting to let the terrible secrets tumble out, but he couldn't. They weren't his to share. Besides, an irrational part of him didn't want her to look at LJ differently, even though none of what transpired was his fault. It was his excuse of a grandfather's deceptions that crossed the border from repugnant to unspeakable, violating two of the people Percy loved most in the word for his own twisted, incoherent end.

No wonder Lancelot didn't want to talk about the baby, Percy thought bitterly, though not at his friend. Would I be able to do the same for a child created in such a way?

Percy struggled with saying his next words. "The...the pregnancy...was unplanned, and entirely unintentional on both Lancelot's and my cousin, Lainey's, parts."

Saying it like that made it seem like the equivalent of two teenagers fumbling in the dark, not...not that…

That's how Snow at first took it. "I mean, shock is obvious, right? But I'm sure if he saw LJ again-"

"More than that happened," Percy interrupted, feeling wretched that he gave so inadequate a description, but how could he possibly...how could he tell her what happened, how his loved ones were hurt, how he failed Lainey and Lancelot? "I- It just- I mean-"

Sensing his increasing discomfort, Snow realized now was not the time to push. "Okay, it's okay. You don't have to tell me now. Just know that if you ever need to talk, David and I are here."

Percy nodded once more, this time more hurriedly.

Then, Snow empathetically said, "I'm sorry about whatever happened, and I'm sorry about LJ's mom."

"Thank you," Percy said hollowly.

"What was she like?" Snow asked encouragingly.

Percy gave a smile. Not an uplighting one, but one still full of warmth. "Funny. Oh, she used to make me laugh. Beautiful, and so kind and thoughtful." Percy looked over and watched as LJ playfully tussling with Henry under David's watchful eye, the two boys falling to the ground before LJ helped Henry up. "I see her in LJ."

"You too," Snow said, recapturing Percy's attention. "You raised a good boy."

"Thank you," Percy said sincerely.

Then, because the urge struck her and because she thought maybe he needed it, Snow offered, "Do you want a hug? Would that be okay?"

The man allowed it, and soon Snow wrapped her arms around him.

Lainey's hair flew in the wind as, despite the warnings of her governess, she raced toward her cousin to embrace him. They had been so young, mere children, and had been without seeing each other for so long that she no longer cared for propriety.

Percy wrapped his arms around her.

That day, so many years ago, Percy had arrived with his mother at his uncle's castle. It took a moment for little Lainey to notice a boy in ragged clothes behind him.

Are you a servant?, Lainey asked the boy, who glared mistrustfully at her.

This is Lancelot, Percy said, proudly putting his arm around the boy's shoulders, and the boy leaned into the touch, the scowl on his face dissipating.

Percy had found him, he told his cousin. And furthermore, he was sure he and Lancelot were meant to be together forever.

---

Killian stood in front of the town line with Emma, both looking at the graffiti line the dwarves were kind enough to make to let them know where it was. They'd inspected it for some time, after their talk with the crocodile proved to be less than helpful. From what they could tell without crossing it themselves - using rocks, sticks, and even watching a squirrel pass through - the invisible barrier around the town didn't cause any physical damage.

Emma pondered, "I was never cursed, so I shouldn't be affected by going over the town line, right?"

"Possibly," Killian replied. "Then again, best to avoid it unless necessary, right? Just in case there's some other effect it could have on you?"

Emma sighed as she looked at her phone. "We've still got an hour left." There was a ding! from her phone. "That was Graham. So far everything is mostly calm, but there is, and I quote, 'a lot of tense people crowded in one place'."

I wish I had an answer for them, Killian thought.

He then said aloud, "Unless they feel the urge to venture into the world outside, we should be safe for now."

"But what about the dangers inside?" Emma emphasized as she faced him. "Regina's locked up for now and thanks to...whatever it was Tien did. But there's still Gold, this King George Snow and David warned me about, and who knows who else?"

Cora, his mind supplied.

Tell Emma. Just say it. Admit what you did and get it over with.

"Killian," Emma said, bringing him out of his reverie. He must've made a face, because now she was looking at him intently. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Now's as good a time as any.

Plucking up the courage, Killian took in a breath. "I...worked for Regina once. Let me finish." He added that last part when Emma opened her mouth to speak.

Seeing that Emma was willing to be patient, Killian pushed himself to continue. "She hired me to go to another world and kill someone who called herself the Queen of Hearts. She was, by all accounts, a brutal dictator to the people unfortunate enough to be called her subjects. I brought Regina back a body...but I lied about her being dead. The Queen of Hearts thwarted my attempt to kill her, but, realizing that I had a way back into the Enchanted Forest, she offered me a deal."

Killian swallowed a lump in his throat.

"If I pretend I had killed her, and bring her corpse back to the Enchanted Forest, to give her a chance to kill Regina…" Killian tried to make himself look Emma in the eyes, but he couldn't anymore. He even tried looking at her shoulder, but instead his gaze fell to the ground. He tried for a cooler tone, but even then it sounded forced. "The plan changed. The Queen of Hearts believed that the curse would break, and in the event that it did, she wanted to wait for Regina to be at her weakest. And to protect herself from being identified, she did something that changed her face. I only saw her for a bit before the curse took hold of us all, and I haven't seen her since."

So there it was. The terrible tale. It wasn't particularly odious on its own, but coming after a long string of missteps and outright black marks in Killian's past, particularly in how his confession in protecting such a monster was made to the woman he...it hurt more than he realized it would.

A silence followed, one that felt longer than it should to Killian.

When Emma spoke, perhaps he shouldn't have been completely surprised by her clinical tone. What did he expect? Affection for his deceit?

"There's something I want to know," she said. "Why did Regina want her dead?"

Killian managed to bring his gaze up to Emma's chin. "Her name is Cora, and she's Regina's mother."

He didn't need to see the rest of her face to know she was taken aback. Her now shocked tone did that for her.

"Regina's mo- her mother?" Emma stuttered. "She- does she have magic like Regina?" Emma scoffed angrily. "Why didn't you tell us before? I mean, seriously? After saying you wanted Gold gone, you didn't think this was important to mention?"

"I didn't-"

Didn't what?, he thought as he fell silent. Didn't want to admit your misdeeds? Didn't want to go against your selfish nature?

Emma stepped even closer to him. "Killian, look at me." Her voice was soft but contained her ever present firmness.

It took him longer than he hoped, but he eventually made eye contact. There was relief when he didn't see disgust, or even anger. There was, however, disappointment. That burned worse than the former two ever could.

She only asked one thing: "Why?"

Killian told himself to maintain eye contact, to not waver from her gaze. Back when he was cursed, he encouraged her honesty, wanted openness. He could be many things, but he could never reconcile being a hypocrite.

"I struggled- I still struggle with how I'm meant to act, what's I'm supposed to do," Killian's voice was ashamed and slightly raspy. "There's Killian Jones, the honest librarian, and Hook, the pirate who lied and did...terrible things. And I didn't want you to look at me differently. I don't deserve you or the girls or Henry, or even your parents and Lady, but I didn't want to lose what I gained through the curse. Still-" he cleared his throat. "Still, I couldn't bring myself to remain silent forever, to keep Cora's secret, because if anything happened to any of you, I couldn't live with myself-"

Killian could no longer speak.

Emma was evaluating him, looking over every clue his expression and body language could give away. He hoped it spoke clearly of his regret, his love, his wish for her to understand. He even dared hope it gave away his need for her to forgive him.

Instead, Emma said, clearly displeased, "We need to find my parents and the other quickly. We have to warn them."

The clipped tone preceded Emma turning and walking toward her car, forcing Killian to follow.

She hadn't expressed her hatred, but he knew she was closing herself off to him. Killian would take that as a sign of hope that she wasn't done with him. She had said they two had to warn the others. Together, right?

Emma's disappointment, which could be compounded by David and Snow's existing disapproval, cut deep. However, Killian's more pressing issue was of Cora being anywhere near the people he cared about. Whether that be the kids, or Emma, or any of his friends,

He may not be worth a damn, but they certainly were. If there was one use of his dark actions, it was that he knew he was capable of quite a lot. And he'd do whatever it took to protect them all.

Maybe, just maybe, he could make things right.

---

Freddie sighed as, once again, another person yelped at the sight of Art. Come on people, it was just a lioness.

He complained to Belle as much as they threw out some garbage from a local food stall, as fear apparently made people very hungry.

"Not everyone is as comfortable around free roaming big cats as you are," she told him as they tossed the garbage into the dumpster. At Art's indignant growl, Belle cooed, "I love you, of course."

Art purred triumphantly.

Soon enough, Freddie met the first person not intimidated by the sight of Art. Unfortunately, her friend wasn't as welcoming.

"It's okay, it's okay," Freddie said to the woman he once knew as Dada, but with much longer hair bundled up in her arms. She ducked behind Jefferson, who looked marginally better than the last time Freddie saw him, though no less worried about Art. Also protectively covering Dada was an older woman he didn't recognize.

Ruby, meanwhile, stepped forward and subtly sniffed the air between her and Art.

Art growled with a defensive expression, and Ruby stared the cat down with the same expression.

"She got fleas?" Ruby asked Freddie, never taking her eyes off Art.

Feeling like he was missing something, all he could say was, "Um, no?"

Ruby nodded, giving Art one last hard stare. "Good enough."

At last, she looked up at Freddie, and carefully walked around Art (who stood protectively in front of Freddie and Belle) to shake his hand. Freddie used one hand to return the favor while the other scratched behind Art's ear as a distraction.

"You can still call me Ruby," she said, relieving Freddie so he wouldn't have to relearn someone else's name.

"And you can still call me Freddie," he told her. He then pointedly nodded at Belle, who was petting Art's back to keep her calm. "And this is Belle."

"Pleased to meet you," his friend said with a smile, shaking Ruby's hand once she and Freddie were done.

"Oh yeah," Ruby said. "Granny mentioned Freddie moved into the inn with someone last night." Ruby looked around and remembered that she had company. "Oh, sorry. This is Jefferson, Rapunzel, and Morgana."

"It's alright," Freddie told them. "As long as you don't attack her or us, she'll leave you alone."

They only looked slightly reassured by that statement. What really seemed to help was Ruby's lack of fear concerning the lioness. However, there was something about her scent that threw Freddie off…

"You sure about that?" Ruby asked him seriously.

Freddie nodded solemnly. "She lived in a pit for most of her life. She was trained to not attack unless provoked, but I'm afraid of what could happen if she tried to rejoin the wild." Freddie's mood darkened as he remembered how he first met her. A young lioness, cut off from anyone that would see her as more than mere entertainment, a means to an end, or an executioner for when her former 'owner' wanted someone dead. "I know what that's like."

Belle stood upright, and squeezed his shoulder, a gesture he showed appreciation for by reaching up to squeeze her hand.

Ruby looked like she wanted to comment, but decided to keep it to herself. He hoped he was correctly reading understanding, maybe even compassion, on her face.

Rapunzel was the first of the group behind Ruby to approach, albeit by hesitatingly coming out from behind Jefferson's protective arm, clutching her bundled up long hair. "It's, uh, nice to see you again Freddie. How have you been?"

"Alright, all things considered," he replied. That's when he took true stock of Jefferson's form, and once again his smell picked up something faint. Something metallic and tangy. "You sure you should be out of the hospital so soon."

Ruby groaned with an eyeroll.

"I'm not dead yet," Jefferson replied drolly, though placed a comforting hand on Rapunzel's arm when she looked at him alarmed.

"Hate to interrupt," Morgana said as she stepped forward, keeping to Rapunzel's right while Jefferson remained on her left. She addressed Ruby. "You said you had a safe place for us to stay?"

Rapunzel said to Morgana, "You don't have to live next to me if you don't want to."

"I do want to," Morgana told her. "Who knows if that dreaded Duke-"

Art growled and pounced forward, causing Rapunzel to scream and jump back, Morgana and Jefferson covering her. Ruby actually snarled, but she didn't have to. Art bypassed all of them to race to a nearby alley.

"Art!" Freddie shouted as he immediately gave chase, ignoring the frightened screams of pedestrians diving out of the way. Not that they needed to. Art ignored every single one of them.

He heard Belle's breathing pick up as she followed him, and he smelled Ruby's scent behind him as well.

Art hesitated at the entrance of the alley, nestled between two buildings with the forest in the background, and she then stalked forward before disappearing from view.

This was immediately followed by a hoarse scream of, "Stay away from me!"

Freddie, Ruby, and Belle made it to the alley entrance, and both Freddie and Ruby were taken aback.

"No way," Ruby breathed out.

Before them was Art, nuzzling the face of Kathryn as she lay prone on the ground. The lioness ignored Kathryn's weak attempts to bat her away, taking no offense to how the dirty-faced woman gave pained moans as she tried to get away from the animal. Freddie saw that Kathryn's hands were bloodied, particularly her fingernails and the sides of her hands.

Banging on the door, pleading to be let out, even scratching at the entrance hoping it would make a difference.

The vivid memory caused Freddie to flinch, and Belle asked after him, asked about the woman too, as Ruby raced forward.

"Back, back," Ruby ordered Art, who with a huff reluctantly did so. She knelt down before the woman and brushed her hair back. "Kathryn-"

"Abigail," the woman hoarsely replied, her voice weaker now. "I'm...Abigail."

Ruby looked at Freddie and Belle. "Call an ambulance." At their hesitation, she shouted, "Now!"

"We'll go get help," Belle said, as neither of them had cell phones. Art followed them as they ran for aid.

Who did this to you, Abigail? Why?

Freddie's questions would have to wait. He just hoped they could get help soon.

---

"Cora's still alive?" Snow gasped, a tight feeling in her chest becoming worse as Emma nodded.

Sensing David still beside her as the four of them stood out of sight of the crowd assembled at main street, the kids with Percy.

Snow felt her muscles tense up all over as she shook her head. "No, no, this is not good. As bad as Regina is, Cora is a thousand times worse."

The stories she'd heard not just from Regina's claims, but also the claims of people like servants who worked in Cora's marital home...they were chilling.

Killian couldn't quite look her in the eyes, which incurring a flare of anger.

"I can't believe you didn't tell us sooner," Snow shook her head. "Not only is she here, but we don't even know what she looks like, unless you suddenly have a better recollection on that front."

"Sadly, no," Killian said in a steady voice, or rather that was the attempt.

"Sadly no," Snow parroted back in a hard voice. She briefly wondered if she was being too harsh, but at the moment she didn't care. "Well, that's just great. Now she's even deadlier because no matter what, she'll have the element of surprise. On top of that, we still have to figure out how to prevent a riot when the time limit ends and people inevitably panic, since we're all stuck here."

"Hey!" Phoebe raised her voice as she quickly walked towards the four of them. Her cheeks flushed with anger as she glared at anyone who wasn't Killian. "Leave him alone."

"Phoebe, go back with the others," Emma told her.

"No," Phoebe shot back.

"Phoebe," Killian said warningly.

"But they're acting like you did this on purpose," Phoebe said. "I heard everything."

Killian rubbed his eyes and muttered something about curbing her eavesdropping.

"I don't care that you're Captain Hook," Phoebe declared, causing Killian to look at her stunned. "Yeah, I heard that too. And I don't care." Her eyes were full of nothing but love and devotion now, even as there was a hint of steel as she looked between Emma, Snow, and David. "And you shouldn't either. He's not bad. We all make mistakes. I mean look at this mess! It's been nothing but mistakes. We don't just hate people for it."

Killian stepped closer to the girl to place a hand on her shoulder, calming her down slightly given how worked up she got. "We need to talk. Come on."

She didn't resist as he led her away from the others, but the two stayed in sight.

Snow thought Phoebe's eavesdropping and outburst were a bit out of line, but after the surprise and touch of embarrassment faded, she had to admit she didn't blame the girl. If she had caught someone speaking to her father like that, however justifiably, she would've felt compelled to defend him.

Similarly, Phoebe's straightforwardness (which could be mistaken, or perhaps correctly identified, as a lack of tact) reminded Snow of Emma.

"Uh, David!" Graham called as he suddenly peaked from around a corner. "I need you to come with me for a bit. It's important."

David, sensing this would take longer than 'a bit', hesitated before agreeing. He only left with Graham after telling his wife and daughter he'd be back soon.

This left Snow and Emma alone.

After a silent pause, Snow made the first move. "How are you doing-"

"I'm fine," Emma said tersely before an apologetic look came over her face. She said more softly, "I'm fine." She glanced at Killian. "Or as fine as everyone else is doing."

"You're doing a good job at keeping things together," Snow assured her. "If ever does ever get too much, you can always ask for help."

"Thanks," Emma said awkwardly, crossing her arms.

Before Emma could move on, Snow said, "Maybe, after this is over, we can talk about what to do next." She knew she was pushing, knew that maybe it was too soon, but the words tumbled out of her mouth faster than she could stop them. "We can go over everything we've missed, or about how Henry, or...maybe...your relationship with Kill-"

"We have bigger things to worry about," Emma interrupted her, and her expression screamed that Snow's last suggestion stung.

"Okay," Snow said reluctantly, knowing she was already brushing up against Emma's boundaries. No need to make her shut down if she tried to cross them.

She thought things were looking up for Emma and Killian, and she'd be lying if she claimed some part of her hadn't been happy about it. Sure, Killian as Captain Hook was still being processed, but she saw how sincerely he cared for Emma, Henry, and the girls. With this, though, it made her once again question how much Killian was hiding from them.

"What can you tell me about Cora?" Emma asked, her mind focused on this new task.

"Um…" Snow thought over her answer. "I don't know much about her family from before she married Regina's father, a prince of a minor kingdom that was absorbed by my father's kingdom years ago. There were rumors that she was a miller's daughter, but anyone who could confirm them was either dead or wasn't talking. It was said that she appeared at a ball held by then-Prince Henry's father, King Xavier. The day after the ball, she spun gold for the king, and he let her marry his son. They had Regina, and Regina eventually married my father."

Snow couldn't stop a small shake of her head, trying to banish the fury she felt over how joyous she'd once felt over having a stepmother. The movement was also due to her memories of what the people told her. "She had magic, and she would use it on anyone who displeased her. One servant said Cora held the poor woman's head in a bubble of water when she found out the servant drank on the job. A butler was almost choked with his own suit - as in it kept squeezing in on him until he couldn't breathe - because Cora suspected him of informing on her to another family. The person who got it the worst though was Regina."

"Seriously?" Emma asked with a raised eyebrow.

Snow nodded. "She would regularly use magic as punishments for the slightest infraction. Anything Regina did that wasn't to Cora's liking was swiftly and harshly...corrected. The worst though...that's what she did to Daniel."

Even years later, even knowing that she was just a girl and didn't know she was being manipulated, Snow couldn't help but feel a swell of guilt.

"Do you...do you know exactly why Regina hates me?" Snow asked her daughter, who shook her head. "Daniel...was a stableboy who worked for Regina's family. Later, I learned that he and Regina had been in love for years. Cora never would've allowed it, because she had bigger ambitions for who Regina's future husband would be. Specifically, my father, your grandfather. She hoped her daughter would become a queen."

Snow cleared her throat. "One day, I caught them kissing, and learned they were going to elope, and Regina swore me to secrecy." Snow grimaced. "I didn't keep that promise. Cora told me she just wanted Regina to be happy, and stupidly I told her about their plan." Snow looked into Emma's eyes, sadly noting that Emma was piecing together what was about to happen next.

"I didn't learn until years later that Cora killed Daniel," Snow said. "That she ripped out his heart and crushed it in front of Regina, and forced her to marry my father. That's why she hates me, why she'll stop at nothing to take away everything and everyone I love. And that's why Cora is so dangerous. If she's willing to do that to her own daughter, I don't even want to imagine what she'll do to you." Then, as another dark thought came to mind, she added, "Or Henry."

"What?" Emma asked, stunned. "What would she want with Henry? He's just a kid."

"Exactly," Snow insisted. "He's a young boy, and he's also the heir to at least three kingdoms. There's mine through my father, Regina's because she adopted him, as well as King George's." Emma started to say something, but Snow raised her hand to stop her. "I'll go over the gritty details with you later, but King George is David's legal father, meaning David and any of his children are his rightful heirs. Even if Henry was born out-of-wedlock, unless there's a husband you're not telling me about, I wouldn't put it past Cora to try to wipe us all our and take the sole heir for herself."

Emma's face hardened, but her eyes gave away the anger and terror that Snow recognized as a mother's need to protect her child from a threat. It was an expression she knew every time something even remotely threatened Emma.

When Emma spoke next, it was with determination. "Are there any clues you think might give away who Cora is?"

"Well, obviously it'll be a woman from Killian's description," Snow said. "And unless she'd dyed her hair, we should be looking for brunettes. It'll be someone who is likely apart from the crowd, someone who presents themselves regally."

"You don't think she'll change to hide that?" Emma questioned.

"No," Snow immediately shook her head. "Cora has too much pride to be mistaken for another less than nobility."

Emma nodded. "It's a start. With any luck, her magic is messed up, and she'll avoid making contact with Regina for now. Crap. Do you think Regina knows she's still alive?"

"Let's hope not," Snow answered. "Otherwise, it might be hard deciding who we'll have to save."

---

Abigail's alive, David thought happily, even as he grimaced at the half-awake woman's scratched up face and her bandaged hands. Still, a win is a win. I won't complain.

"Hello, Ka- Abigail- I mean, Your Highness-"

"Just Abigail, please," the woman said to a grateful Graham, who stood beside David on the right side of her hospital bed while Dr. Whale stood on the left side. Guess he was still a doctor. The hospital room only had Abigail as an occupant, and a window that allowed them to see into the hallway, although the open door helped them see more.

"I think formalities can be waived right now," Abigail continued before she gasped. "Wait, Frederick, my father-"

"I already called them," Graham said. "They're on their way."

Abigail let out a sigh of relief.

Graham gave her a moment before he said, "We don't want to take up your time too much. Do you remember what happened?"

Abigail's eyes trailed up to the ceiling, her expression lost in recollection. She shook her head a bit. "I don't know much. I was in a car accident and...I remember the airbag going off. The next thing I knew, I was in the dark...in some basement." Kathryn raised her bandaged hands as she looked at them. "I...I screamed. I don't know for how long. I tried…" she mimicked hitting her hands against something, but the effort was weaker and she wasn't able to fully curl her fingers, wincing at the slightest movement. "I didn't see anyone. But, I was able to…" she mimicked scratching at something. "I don't know. I just remember hitting something...crawling...and then stumbling out onto that alley. My face...scratching against the ground and...something and…" she looked at the men confusedly as she let her hands rest on the bed. "Was there a lion? Was I drugged?"

"Yes, there was a lion," Dr. Whale answered. "And yes, you were drugged. Our initial testing found drugs in your system, and we're still trying to flush it out."

"Do you have any idea what direction you came from before you ended up in the alley?" Graham asked her. "Hear any voices, or smell anything?"

Abigail shook her head. "Nothing, no. I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Abigail," David told her. "The important thing is that you're safe now."

I can't disagree," Abigail said with a small smile that soon dimmed. "You all thought I was dead? That Snow killed me?"

"Yeah," David breathed out. "Your DNA matched a heart we found, and the evidence implicated Snow."

"No doubt Regina's influence," Dr. Whale said. "We're grilling everyone done at the lab to see who did this for her."

"Regina," Abigail started, trying to sit up but wincing at the movement as Dr. Whale gently got her to lie down again. Abigail gritted out, "Regina, where is she? Is she here?"

"No, she's in jail," David assured her. "And here's the best part - her magic doesn't work."

Abigail let out another sigh of relief. "Small mercies, then?"

David let out a chuckle. "You bet."

"But she's okay now? Snow, I mean," Abigail asked worriedly, only relaxing when David confirmed she was. She then let out a small groan.

"Unless you have anymore questions, I think you two should let her rest," Dr. Whale set.

"Actually," Abigail protested, "do you all mind if David and I speak in private? Just for a minute."

Dr. Whale hesitated, but allowed it under the condition that it be quick since Abigail really did need her rest.

The moment Graham and Dr. Whale left the room and closed the door behind them, Abigail motioned for David to come closer. When he bent forward, she fiercely whispered, "You need to listen. Your friend, Freddie? His name is Androcles-"

"He prefers Freddie," David accidentally interrupted, not seeing where this was going.

"Listen," Abigail insisted. "Whatever you do, you need to keep my father from knowing that Androcles or Freddie or whatever he wants to call himself is here."

"Why?" David asked.

Abigail looked ashamed. "You remember that anything my father touches turns to gold, whether he wants to or not? That included things like food or water. It was a nightmare for so long, and then one day he brushed up against a castle servant and...he didn't turn to gold. That was Freddie. No matter how many my father touched him, he never so much as shined, and that wasn't all. Anything Freddie touched beforehand was immune to. Freddie was willing to help my father...but over time, my father got greedy. He demanded Freddie be around him constantly. Then one day, Freddie got the news his mother was sick, and he wanted to see her. My father refused, and when Freddie tried to sneak off, my father had him imprisoned." Abigail briefly closed her eyes. "She passed. He never got to see her."

David's own mother's face flashed before his eyes. Despite how the grief still clung to him, especially because George's violence is what killed her, he couldn't imagine not being there when she passed.

Abigail did her best to grip his arm with her wounded hand. "Freddie got away once, but if my father finds out about him, he won't stop until he gets him back." Upon hearing approaching footsteps, her voice then became much firmer. "Do you understand?"

"Yes," David swore. "He won't get Freddie."

The two separated just before the door to the room exploded open, and at the entrance stood Frederick.

"Abigail," Frederick breathed out with a happy smile and misty eyes, Abigail calling out to her love as he soon took David's place. He probably didn't even know David was there, as soon the only things that mattered to them were each other.

He then heard more footsteps, and saw Midas looking through the window at Abigail, clear relief in his face.

After learning what he just did, David summoned his willpower to just walk out the door and carefully avoid Midas (who paid him no mind) to join Graham at the end of the hall. He was finishing up a chat with Dr. Whale, who was heading to Abigail's room.

David immediately told Graham what he had learned as the two of them began to head toward the elevators.

"Shite," Graham swore. "We need to find Freddie and get him into protective custody. Or whatever we have that's close enough."

"Agreed," David said. "Right now, he's staying at Granny's with Belle, and she's no one to take on lightly."

"Gods bless that woman," Graham smiled in appreciation as they arrived at the elevators. He pressed the button to call it to their floor, and as he waited he looked at his phone. "We're approaching the deadline. Has Emma come up with a solution yet?"

David shook his head.

Graham sighed as the lights above the elevator door signaled that it was three floors away. He looked around and waited until a brunette woman passed them by, turned a corner, and disappeared from view. He shuddered. "Now that you told me about Cora," he whispered, "I can't help but wonder who she is, and what she knows."

"It would've been great if Killian told us sooner," David grumbled, though he felt more hurt than angry. Oh, he was still a little angry, but the fact that Killian didn't trust them stung a little.

"I agree, but in his defense, that's not exactly an easy thing to unload," Graham said as the elevator was one floor away.

"But still…" David trailed off as the elevator arrived on their floor and opened up. As they stepped inside, he remembered something. "Given what I've heard about the woman, I'm not totally surprised at how Regina turned out."

"That woman has no excuse," Graham growled as they turned around to face the elevator doors.

Taken aback, David said, "Of course not. I just mean that I can see where her terrible behavior came from."

"Heartless, the whole lo-" Graham gasped.

"What is it?" David asked concernedly, especially when Graham placed a hand on the left side of his chest. "Graham?"

"Regina took my heart," Graham said. "She took it and I don't know where it is."

"You don't have a-" David reeled, wondering how many more revelations he was going to have to learn today. "And you said nothing why?"

"Because I'd been without it for so many years, I got used to it, that's why," Graham snapped at him.

Feeling like a jerk, David raised his hands in peace. "Right, I'm sorry."

Graham's shoulders slumped. His tone spoke of barely withheld desperation. "The night we took care of the wraith, whenever we were alone, I asked her what she did with it. She wouldn't say anything about it." His face twisted into an angry look, but something about the eyes...something hurt was there. "She just...tried talking about...things," his voice cracked. "Things she made me do, things I did to-" Graham cut himself off.

David didn't know what to say, mainly because he didn't know what Graham was trying to tell him. Was he talking about her making him hurt or kill people? If so, that would be understandable. He would've had no choice if she took his heart.

However, he could tell there was something more. "Graham, what is it?" David prompted. "You can tell me."

Graham looked ashamedly to the ground before suddenly inhaling a sharp breath, releasing it shakily. "Another time, maybe."

"Graham-"

"David, just, not now," Graham said before he finally looked at him, his eyes pained and heartbreaking. "Please?"

The plea - the quiet, small-voiced plea - broke David's resolve, and he nodded, letting it go.

For now.

Right now, they needed to regroup. They had a ticking clock to race after all.

---

"A wooden man? Really?"

"Why not at this point? I half expect a dragon to crawl out of the courthouse."

"But why would a wooden man run from a hospital?"

Phoebe tried to maintain interest in this gossip, but returned her attention to Tien, who was playing with Roland with Roland's mom also watching.

There wasn't anything for her to do really. Any and all heavy lifting was done, though few would allow her to do so given her young age and petite frame. She could only imagine how they'd react if she was her original size.

She also took into account the way Killian kept her close to his side. She knew it was for her protection, but she also knew it was because he wasn't about to let her roam after her last outburst.

Her cheeks flushed. She didn't mean to blow her lid at Snow. She hadn't even intended to let them know she was listening in. Her curiosity got the best of her, and everyone knows that adults speak away from other adults, it's got to be important.

Phoebe had seen the way they looked at Killian, like he'd done something bad. For all they know, he just forgot about it. And there was no way he did it maliciously. This was Killian, so when she heard Snow talk to him like that, her curiosity fell and her temper rose, and she walked out and raised her voice before she knew it.

She did feel a little embarrassed by how strongly she had reacted, partly worried that it made her look immature. A nuisance. A burden.

Phoebe quickly looked around for something to occupy her mind. Sure enough, she saw David and Graham rejoin the group, though they soon split so that David could rejoin Snow. The two kissed and talked briefly before Tien, who had left a now pouty Roland, walked up to them and waved excitedly. The couple happily greeted the little girl, and were soon entranced by her.

Tien probably doesn't even realize how much she's charmed them, Phoebe thought with a quirked smile. Frankly, Tien could charm just about anyone good that met her. Except Blue, but she let that go.

Speaking of kids, Phoebe looked around for Henry, worrying for his safety. That feeling only abated when she saw Henry with his friends, including Declan who stood closely to Graham. Phoebe recognized the startled but relieved look when Graham arrived, especially when Graham almost thoughtlessly placed an arm around Declan's shoulders. She knew why his shoulders relaxed at Graham's touch, because it's the same way she felt whenever Killian was around, whenever he would hug her.

Phoebe spotted something out of the corner of her eye, and she saw it was Emma. At first she felt relieved at the sight of her, but that transformed into worry when she remembered how Emma also seemed angry at Killian. Well, 'angry' might not be the right word, but it was the first one that came to mind.

"Hey, Phoebe," Emma greeted, though she and Killian pointedly not looking at each other. "You okay?"

"I'm good," Phoebe replied, though it was a little lie considering how awkward it was to literally stand between Emma and Killian.

That's when her dad decided to extricate himself. "I'll give you space to talk." He looked at Phoebe when he said this, but she knew his words were also for Emma. He walked a bit away, keeping them in his sights but far enough to not be within earshot.

Phoebe couldn't stop herself. "You know he's not a bad person, right?"

"Phoebe-"

"You know that, right?" Phoebe asked insistently, turning to fully face Emma now.

Emma hesitated before saying, "I know that."

"Then why-"

"It's complicated," Emma told her.

"Why do adults always say that?" Phoebe retorted. "Why do they always use the 'it's complicated' phrase whenever they just don't want to actually talk about things? I know I didn't act all mature and everything earlier, but I'm not Tien and Roland's age. I've seen things, I...I can handle-"

Her mother's dead eyes, seeing nothing.

Phoebe's bottom lip quivered.

Emma placed a hand on her shoulder hesitantly. "I know. You've seen things no kid should, but it's like I said before, and I'll keep saying it to remind you: you are still a kid. That means when adults like me say something is complicated, we're not doing it to annoy you. We're trying to keep you out of things you shouldn't have to handle at your age." Emma sighed as she took her hand back. "And that includes when adults keep important information secret, and trust is hurt."

"You all gave me a chance when I lied," Phoebe told her. Upon seeing this strike a chord with Emma, she hastily added, "I worked for a bad guy, and you all still forgave me."

"That was different-"

"Killian forgave me," Phoebe interrupted. "He hates Gold, and he still gave me another chance. We all did bad things before, so why can't we give him another chance?"

Emma didn't answer, and as frustrated as she felt, Phoebe hoped that maybe her words were taking effect.

If they were, Emma wasn't about to tell her. Instead, she focused on one of Phoebe's problems.

"There is something else I wanted to talk to you about," Emma told her. "About your mom, and what you said Regina did to her-"

"No," Phoebe shook her head.

"Stop interrupting me," Emma said firmly. This time, Phoebe obeyed. Then, in a gentler tone, Emma continued with, "How about we sit there?"

She pointed to a nearby bench. The two of them did so quickly.

Emma half-turned to look at the teenager. "Can you tell me what happened?"

Why not just tell her?, Phoebe wondered. It's not some deep, dark secret. It wouldn't hurt anyone. Besides, what if she gets mad I didn't say? No she wouldn't get mad...right?

Phoebe looked up at Emma, looking into her eyes, and spoke of her tale. She tried to keep it brief as she spoke of her mother, how Blue had given her mother the child she always craved, albeit much smaller than she'd anticipated. Phoebe told Emma about the small shack they lived in, of how Phoebe, then Thumbelina, wondered about her future as a fairy with no wings…

With a shaky voice, she spoke of how her mother told her to hide one day, when the Evil Queen came with knights. How she asked for Thumbelina, how her mother fought her, how-

Phoebe frantically wiped at her eyes, and Emma told her, "It's okay, you don't have to say more."

"I miss my mom," Phoebe sobbed out before trying to steady her breath with a shaky inhale. It only served to bring air down the wrong pipe, and she began to cough.

There was a hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles there as Emma's voice gently said, "Deep breaths. In...out. In….hold...out."

After a minute or two, Phoebe's breathing began to return to normal.

"Sorry," she mumbled out as she wiped at her wet cheeks.

"Don't be," Emma told her immediately, letting her hand rub one more circle on Phoebe's back before taking it away.

Phoebe missed its warmth.

"It helps if I do something," Phoebe told her, her voice a little steadier now. "Ever since the curse broke, I keep thinking…" she raised a hand to her head before lowering it. "Keeping busy helps, and if I'm not busy my mind wanders...and I don't like where it ends up."

"You should go to Archie," Emma said before adding in a deliberately lighter tone. "I hear he's Jiminy Cricket."

"The conscience bug?" Phoebe asked with a sniffle.

Emma couldn't help but laugh a little at the description. "Yeah, the conscience bug."

Phoebe allowed herself a little smile. "Shouldn't I ask Killian if I can?"

"Sure, but I have a feeling he'll agree," Emma told her. "Even with all of this, I don't doubt that he cares about you and Tien. He'll want what's best for you, and that includes talking about this."

"I don't know how I can talk about this without crying," Phoebe admitted.

"Maybe there's just no way to do it," Emma said. "Might as well let it out to someone who can help. And if you ever need to, you can talk to Killian or me."

"You mean it?" Phoebe asked her.

"Definitely," Emma promised.

"Phee!" Tien shouted, waving at her sister to come over.

Phoebe stood up. "I better get going." She began to walk before she saw people's worried faces, the way everyone glanced at their phones or watches.

She turned to address Emma once more. "Emma, is everything going to be alright?"

The teen knew that look. The one where adults, like Emma, wanted to say one thing but decided on another, because admitting to what they were thinking would be too awkward or too painful.

After all, as silly as Phoebe now thought the question was, they were both thinking the same thing: how can we be certain of anything anymore?

So, Phoebe amended the question, albeit not as honestly as before. "Regina's going to stay in jail, right? Does that mean she's not going to get Henry back."

The concern was real enough, though Phoebe knew there was no way the adults were going to let Henry go back to that witch.

Emma's reaction only confirmed it with a resolute "No."

Phoebe told her seriously, as she stepped closer to Emma, "I don't want Regina to get Henry back, but I know that Regina will kill people to get what she wants."

Like with Mom.

Emma stood up, looking down at Phoebe, but she didn't feel intimidated by the stance. If anything, it felt oddly reassuring.

"I promise," Emma said, "nothing will happen to Henry, Tien, or you."

Phoebe allowed herself to smile. "Thank you."

"Phoooeeeebe!" Tien's shout was now drawn out, and upon turning, she saw Tien was now standing next to Killian, holding tightly onto his flesh hand.

"You better get going," Emma said with a wiry smile. "She might storm on over here if you don't hurry."

Phoebe chuckled. "Probably." With one last wave and a "See you later," to Emma, Phoebe rejoined her family.

I wonder if Emma should count as that too.

---

Not much time left, Emma thought as she glanced at the time on her phone. What was it? The fifth or sixth time she checked in the last minute?

She was still on that bench where she talked to Phoebe, and for the most part, people left her alone. There was the occasional, "Have you learned anything?" or "Why are you just sitting there?". Emma told the former it was in progress, and the latter that she was working on it. The former was said more nicely than the latter.

Emma sighed as she reevaluated what she learned.

Crossing that line was a no-go. Gold was zero help. Cora was dangerous, potentially to Henry as well.

The thought made her glance at her son, who looked carefree as he sat on a patch of grass next to Declan, both inspecting the other boy's precious egg.

"Emma," Killian's voice automatically caused her muscles to relax. She looked up and saw him standing nervously in front of her, before he gestured to the open spot on the bench. "May I sit there?'

Emma nodded, wanting to move closer to him as he took the space beside her, but leaving enough room between them to try to make her feel comfortable.

All she wanted was for him to come closer. Why was that so hard for her to say?

Both of them sat quietly together, watching people pass by, trying to continue the hard work of putting their lives back together. One of the happier sights was of Tien being tossed into the air by David, laughing happily the entire time. Phoebe stood apart from Snow, though both of them seemed content with watching the display.

Emma felt a prick of envy, but knew it was hardly Tien's fault she never got to have that. She laid the blame solely on Regina.

"I'm sorry," Killian said. Neither of them were ready to look at each other, but she heard him loud and clear. "It was selfish of me to hide this. I said why I didn't, but it was still wrong."

At last, Emma noticed Killian looking at her from the corner of her eye, and she turned her face to look at him. His expression was earnest, silently pleading with her to believe him, to trust in him.

That wasn't a lie. She would know.

"I know my word may be worthless," Killian said, his eyes sad, "but I want you to know I never meant any harm. I know I was wrong to not say anything. Worse, that I...I broke the promise I made to not lie. I omitted the truth, and it was a lie. I'm so sorry."

"I get it," Emma told him immediately, feeling all of the walls she started rebuilding, whether she meant to or not, crumble like paper.

Over the years, her walls withstood a lot. Insults, manipulation, even platitudes of false care.

Killian's earnestness was one method that always reduced those walls to nothing.

"Don't get me wrong, knowing this sooner would've been great," Emma added firmly. Upon seeing the slightest bodily flinch from Killian, Emma decided to get to the point. "You were in a tight spot. It's not easy to talk about your past screw-ups."

If anyone could sympathize, it would be Emma.

Killian nodded.

"And I know you'd never intentionally do anything to hurt me and the kids," she added.

He nodded more fervently this time.

Emma's hand was moving before she could stop it. Then again, even if she consciously realized it, she still wouldn't have stopped herself from placing her hand over his.

She then said three words that she didn't often say to anyone.

"I forgive you."

The words brought visible relief to his face, his body, every inch of him. The warmth of his hand as he tentatively and yet still bravely threaded his fingers through hers brought similar relief to Emma.

In unison, the two of them looked at the kids. Henry had now joined Tien and Phoebe. Tien ran around Henry, who playfully yet gently tapped her on the head with every pass, something Tien gleefully tried avoiding. Then, to add onto it, every time Henry missed, Phoebe would ruffle his hair.

Emma smiled at the sight.

"I don't know what I'm doing," Emma admitted before she could stop the word. Her throat became tight as the reality seeped in, knowing how true that statement was.

Killian paused a moment before he spoke again. "When I sailed, I learned something important. I had to look out at the sea for imminent, foreseeable dangers. However, I also had to mind for the dangers that laid beyond the horizon. Preparation was all I could do, as endless worry only made things worse."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked quietly, and at last they looked at each other.

"I get that you're trying to take this one step at a time," Killian told her, "but given all of the factors in play since the curse broke, we're going to need to try to plan counters for all possible problems in the future. If not for our sake, then for the kids. That being said, you're doing an admirable job at helping everyone you can. So don't beat yourself up because you don't think you know what you're doing. Tell you the truth - no one does. Yet here you are, doing it all."

Emma's smile was tired but no less genuine. It remained tired as she saw people begin to assemble around an improvised stage - really, a small but elevated platform - the dwarves had set up. Looking at the time on her phone, she saw that there were two minutes left before time ran out.

"Time to appear before my adoring public," Emma grumbled. She felt better as Killian continued holding her hand as they stood up, and their fingers brushed as they let go. She then added seriously, "I talked with my parents, Graham, and Percy. We can't let anyone know about...you know who."

"Right," Killian nodded. "Knowing this lot, adding another surprise would only stir panic."

"Not to mention it would give away what we know to her," Emma replied. Even if Cora rightly surmised that Killian told them about her, she had no way of knowing that they didn't know what she looked like. If she had already guessed it, it would still be safer to keep as much as they could on a need-to-know basis.

"Just remember one thing," Killian told her. "I've got your back."

"Right back at you," Emma said as she began to walk forward.

She stopped.

"Emma?" Killian asked, confused as she turned around on a whim- no, a great need to approach him. "What is-"

Emma cupped his face, bringing it forward to plant her lips on his.

He gasped, allowing the kiss to become deeper, and he drew closer with his arms around her body.

Emma pulled back, and she took enjoyment in placing a hand on his lips, stopping his attempt to kiss her again.

"More of that later," Emma told him with a smirk.

"You're a cruel woman," Killian smiled lasciviously.

"You love it," Emma retorted saucily before turning around, already feeling a kick in her step.

By the time she got there, the two hours were officially up. Seemingly the entire town was gathered around the platform, though thankfully with several feet of distance between the crowd and the platform. The only ones allowed close were her parents, Graham, Percy, and the kids. Now Killian and Emma joined that exclusive group.

Emma was nervous. Oh, she was really nervous, and the tension in the air was palpable. Even looking at her parents, who so far had displayed nothing less than cautious optimism, didn't help.

Looking back at Killian, she felt a bit more emboldened.

She walked up the stairs of the platform - seriously, those dwarves worked fast - and stood on the platform to address the crowd.

Now or never.

"Everyone, may I have your attention!" Emma called out to the crowd of people, many of whom were talking amongst themselves rather than paying attention. When she was certain that everyone was focused on her, Emma spoke again. "So, we can't leave this town. Crossing the town line will result in becoming your cursed self forever." Emma paused to let her words sink in, but continued before questions could be asked. "There's no solution that we can find to cure someone from their curse state. We hope to work on one, but that will likely take time."

"So we're stuck here forever?!" A man in the crowd shouted, followed by murmurs of fear.

"What are we supposed to do?!" A woman asked. Several people around her nodded their heads or made noises of agreements.

"What are you doing to punish Regina?" A new voice shouted, and it wasn't murmurs that followed this time. Oh no. This time, there were mumbles of anger and scattered shouts of agreement.

Emma was starting to feel overwhelmed as the tide of the crowd was turning to irrationality, though not entirely without basis. However, this was a do-or-die moment, and she couldn't afford to mess it up.

This was a danger in her line of sight, and she couldn't stop sailing.

"I understand how you all feel," Emma told the crowd in a raised voice. At a few scoffs, she reiterated more firmly, "I do. I know how tempting it is to give into wanting to run away, to leave because the problem seems too incredible to overcome. But, if there's anything I've learned in the time that I've been here, it's that in times like this, it's important to take it one step at a time. To not make rash decisions," she glanced at Percy, "to reconnect with family," her next glance was to her proud parents.

Imbued with greater confidence as she saw the assembly begin nodding their heads, Emma said, "If we work together, we don't need to run away. Stick together, and the people who threaten us will be the ones who'll need a head start."

The crowd let out a ripple of hearty laughter, followed by some applause.

Emma's relieved smile was genuine, and she waited for the applause to die down before she spoke again, pointing at Blue. "I'll take this moment to thank the fairies and all volunteers for helping everyone," more applause she needed to wait for. "They'll have the resources you'll need to continue reconnecting with people, as well as counseling for anyone who needs it. If you have any other inquiries, direct it to the volunteers at that booth over there. Alright people, let's move it!"

There was more applause from the crowd, even as they dispersed, and people were coming up to her. Some thanked her, others had questions, and even more simply opened up about their wishes that things would get better.

It took some time to get through the throng of people, but eventually Emma was successfully in extricating herself, and returning to her group.

At her arrival, the kids immediately clapped, with Declan attempting a whistle as Graham looked at the boy affectionately.

Snow went forward and hugged her tightly, and Emma hugged her back.

"You did so good," Snow beamed with pride as she pulled back to look at her. Emma's face threatened to flush as David concurred.

She was soon wrapped up, quite literally, by Henry's arms around her waist and Tien's arms around her leg.

"Mom, that was so cool!" Henry nearly shouted as he looked up at her adoringly.

"Cool! Cool! Cool!" Tien repeated.

Phoebe stepped forward with an impressed look. "Real impressive speech there."

"Brought a tear to my eye," Percy joked as he mimicked a tear running down his face. LJ looked embarrassed.

Killian soon appeared by her side. "Well done, Emma."

Emma blushed.

"Why's your face red?" Tien asked her.

Emma, embarrassed, cleared her throat as Killian bent down and got the little girl to let go of Emma's leg, if only because she soon wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her as he straightened up, and Henry wouldn't let go of her so soon.

Not that Emma minded. Besides, she could multitask.

"Come on everyone," Emma said to the group. "We've got work to do, so we better get to it."

---

Henry practically sunk into his bed, even though he remained on top of the sheets in full clothing save for his shoes and jacket, which were somewhere on the floor.

Letting out a sigh, Henry still marveled at the awesomeness that was his mom. She stood in front of that crowd like the Savior he always knew she was.

Everyone had calmed down after her speech, and they managed to get a lot done today. So by the time they got back to the loft, Henry felt tired. However, now that he was actually in bed, he felt energized. He knew it wouldn't last, but he figured he'd use this newfound invigoration to catch up with some friends, if they were still awake that is.

Henry reached over to his bookstand to grab his walkie talkie, pressing the button to speak. "Bookhead here. Anyone awake?"

"Sweet Tooth is awake," Nick replied.

"Are we still doing code names?" Ava asked sleepily. "We can just say our names."

Henry felt indignant, but it was Nick who said something.

"Where's your sense of adventure?" Nick questioned his sister.

"I've got plenty of it," Ava yawned. "It's a fantastic journey from here to my bed. Goodnight."

"Night," Henry and Nick said, though Henry could hear the eyeroll Nick was giving.

"What's up?" Nick asked him, and it sounded like he was moving somewhere. Probably a room away from his sister, maybe even his dad.

"Just wanted to see how you were doing," Henry told him.

"Fine," Nick said. There was a pause before he hesitantly asked, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Henry replied.

"Um...is it weird that we keep checking on our dad?" Nick asked in a stumbling manner. "It's just that he was gone so long, and it's nice to know he's in the same house, and sometimes...I don't know. I just wanted to know if it was weird or not."

"It's not weird," Henry replied, feeling solemn for his friend. "You shouldn't feel bad about wanting to be around your dad."

"I can relate," Grace said, suddenly coming onto the line.

"Hi Grace," Henry and Nick said, accidentally, in unison.

"Hey guys," Grace replied, sounding more downtrodden.

Nick quickly surmised why. "Any luck with your dad?"

Silence before Grace let out a teary, "No."

"It's okay, Grace," Henry quickly said as he sat up. "I'm sure he'll turn up soon."

"But what if he doesn't?" Grace asked insecurely. "I drew that picture, but what if it wasn't good enough? My cursed parents said there wasn't time to check the hospitals. I should've just gone there."

"Then your parents would've freaked out," Declan's voice came onto the wavelength.

"Yeah," LJ concurred as he joined, sounding pretty sleepy. "Everything was so crazy, and if you just took off, your cursed parents would've been seriously mad."

"But-"

"Your dad will turn up," LJ reassured her. "And if he doesn't do it on his own, then we'll find him. Right guys?"

Everyone quickly agreed.

"Thanks," Grace said with a sniffle. There was a shuffling, the sounds of muffled voices on the other end. Eventually, Grace came back on to say, "I have to go. It's my bedtime."

"Same here," Nick said. "See you guys tomorrow?"

After getting promises that they would, and even if they couldn't see each other they would still talk, Grace and Nick left the chat.

"How are you doing, Henry?" Declan asked sincerely.

Henry was about to say "Fine, how are you?".

He didn't though, because a feeling deep down bubbled to the service to remind him that, no, he wasn't actually fine. He wasn't suffering all the time, but fine? That would be a stretch.

The boy laid back down against the bed, and raised the walkie talkie to his lips once more. "I'm...okay but not, you know? I'm glad I'm with my good mom, but my other mom is locked up. Still, she tried to kill my good mom, my grandparents, Killian, and your parents."

Henry let go of the button, but neither of his friends spoke. They were waiting for him to continue.

He blinked as he felt something stinging behind his eyes. "Can I ask you a question, and can you answer honestly?"

"Of course," LJ said immediately, simultaneous with Declan's "Uh yeah."

Henry inhaled a quiet, deep breath through his nose, and released it the same way. "Is there...a point of no return? I know Regina has to pay for her crimes, but does that mean she has to die?" Guilt started to eat at him. "I know she hurt a lot of people, she hurt you, my friends-"

The boy had to stop for a moment as his throat swelled, as if the words themselves were lodged there. He managed to steady himself a bit as he spoke again. "Sometimes I...I remember that she loved me, in her way, and cared for me my whole life. At the same time, I remember that she lied to me, made me feel crazy, and tried to take me away from you. I want to know if maybe it's not too late. Maybe it was just the dark magic that made her this way, and once she stops using it, she'll get better."

Do I want her to get better?, Henry thought, and now something was definitely stinging in his eyes. He turned onto his side, drawing his knees up to his chest.

Of course he should want her to get better, because that means she wouldn't hurt anyone else.

And yet, that was it, wasn't it? She already hurt people. An entire town full of people, all wanting her to pay for what she did to them and the people they loved.

She hadn't just hurt him. She'd hurt Graham, who only ever tried to do the right thing. She hurt his grandparents. Tried to hurt his mom and Killian. Hurt Declan.

Regina said she loved him, and in her own way maybe she did, but should that count for anything.

There were people in the ground because of her while she sat in a jail cell alive.

How messed up was he that he wanted to show her mercy?

He didn't necessarily want to see her hurt as well, but he wasn't sure how much he could forgive her for what she'd done to others.

In all honesty, Henry expected LJ to speak first. Instead, it was Declan.

"I didn't hate my parents at first," Declan confessed. "Not until they killed Sunshine. Before that, we didn't love each other, or hate each other. We were just kind of living together. Even when they hurt me, even my brothers died, we still did that. When Sunshine…" Declan sighed. "Henry, you're one of my best friends, so I'm going to say this honestly: don't waste your time. It sucks, I get it, but Regina is a bad, bad person. The sooner you keep her away from you, even in your head, the better off you'll be. You're not stupid for wanting her to get better. You're just a good person."

Henry wiped at a tear that fell out of the corner of his eye and dripped down his nose.

"LJ, what do you think?" Declan asked him.

"I agree," LJ said. "You're a good person, Henry, and you want people to be good. Some people just aren't. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Henry croaked out, listening to the immediate consoling his friends gave him.

"Hey, you've still got us," LJ told him. "And we'll never leave you."

"Hell no," Declan swore, both literally and figuratively. "We're in this til the end, you got that?"

His gruff yet warm tone caused Henry to laugh. It was a breathy little thing, but it lightened his mood a bit. "Yeah, I got it." He then let out a big yawn.

"Look at you, Simba," LJ joked. "Trying to give a mighty roar."

"Ha ha," Henry snarked as LJ and Declan laughed. "See or talk to you tomorrow?"

"Most definitely," LJ replied, followed by Declan's drawn out half-yawn of "Uh huuuuuuh."

Henry would take that as an encouraging sight. "Alright, see you guys tomorrow. Goodnight."

The two boys said their goodnight, and their departure was all that stopped Henry's sudden urge to say, I love you.

Some other time then. For now, Henry decided to sleep.

---

Poor Henry. Poor Graham. Jeez, just poor everyone.

Yep. Killian's past transgressions have come to the forefront, and something tells me it won't be the last time.

So something I want to get into before we go: I do consider what Regina did to Graham as rape because he clearly had no choice in the matter (his heart was ripped out), and she still used him sexually during the curse when he was still completely under her control. I know there's some debate about this, but to me it's clear what she did to him constitutes as rape.

As for Lainey and Lancelot, when I first researched the legend, I found that the way Galahad was conceived was pretty much a Bed Trick/drugged rape scenario, and so Lainey's father drugging both her and Lancelot to conceived LJ there is also, unfortunately, rape.

In both cases, it felt wrong to just try to sweep this under the rug, so I went with my interpretation of it, and I tried to mitigate triggering anyone by posting the warnings above.

If you like, leave a comment down below.

See you next week!