Summary: Henry brings his nervous girlfriend back to Storybrooke to meet his complicated family, while a refreshed Snow gets a couple of home truths from Dorothy.

Mifflin Street

It was just after eleven on Saturday morning, when an increasingly nervous, though rested, Ella cautiously stepped out of the car, after it pulled up in front of the mansion. Henry took her hand as she looked up at the Colonial Revival style façade.

"Hell, are all your folks' houses' mansions? First your grandfather's, then this place?" As she spoke, she swore she saw someone at an upstairs window step back and yell something; presumably letting the rest of the household know they'd arrived. So no time to duck out now then!

"Nope. My other grandparents' place is a farmhouse. Pretty big, mind. But Emma and Killian's is smaller than this." He felt her squeeze his hand a little tighter than normal. Stepping in front of her, he put his large hands on her shoulders. "Hey you- It's gonna be fine, I promise! Just relax." He followed it with a peck on the lips.

"Easy for you to say! You're not the one getting face to face with Robin Hood, Captain Hook and the-"

"HENYYYY!" Squealed a young voice, interrupting her as a small, chubby face girl wearing a party dress came racing out of the front door, charging down the steps. "Is dis your girlfwend, Cinder-wella?"

"CHARLIE – SLOWLY ON THOSE STEPS!" yelled a man running behind her, as she risked tumbling down, but rolling his eyes in relief when she cleared them. Oblivious, Charlotte charged up to her oldest brother, arms wide, expecting to be picked up immediately. Which he did.

"Hello, trouble!" chuckled Henry, as he gathered her, pecking her cheek. "I've only been gone three days! And yes, this is my girlfriend, Cinderella," he deliberately enunciated. "Though she much prefers to be called 'Ella', or even 'Jaci'! Ella, this is my very naughty little sister, Charlotte, or Charlie!"

"Hello young Charlie…" Ella grinned back at the excited youngster, taking the four-year-old's hand in a polite shake, as she pecked her cheek. "You can call me whatever you like! Your big brother's told me so much about you!"

"I see you've already been introduced to our family terrier, milady?" said Robin, reaching them as they turned to face him. "Hello Ella, I'm Robin…" he cautiously gathered her right hand, lifting it while giving a slight bow to almost, but not quite, touch the back of it with his nose. "Robin of Locksley, at your service. It's lovely to meet you at last."

Ella looked up into sapphire blue eyes. She'd originally come from another realm; but even she had heard the stories of Robin Hood and the Merry Men, the prince of thieves, who stole from the rich to give to the poor. He was just one of the characters Henry had told about, especially the unusual marriage to both his mother and Marian. Yet here he was, in the flesh! She felt like a schoolgirl meeting a legend. "Hi, er…it's…nice to meet you?" she stared back, awkwardly.

"The pleasure's all mine, I assure you," he grinned, sensing her obvious nervousness. "Come on in and meet the family. We don't bite, honestly!"

Granny's Diner

Snow cautiously crept into the café, trying not to arouse attention, but hoping to see her best friend.

Yesterday, after she'd broken down in the salon, Marian had insisted on getting Clara to give her an entire makeover, on the house! She had no idea what sort of favour it was that Clara owed her, but she'd agreed without argument. And after an additional two hours, Snow had left having had her hair restyled (she definitely decided to grow it longer now), her skin scrubbed, massaged, and moisturised before applying foundation, mascara, and lipstick. Her nails manicured and her feet pedicured. She'd even thrown in a bag of expensive samplers to take away. All she knew was, when she finally left that place, she felt like a million dollars! Marian even insisted on taking her over to Kathryn's dress shop. Kathryn had gasped when she first walked in, saying she looked fantastic, and asking her what she was on to make her look so good! With compliments like that, she started feeling even better. Before long, Marian had insisted she try on some new outfits different to her usual style, coercing her to be a little more 'adventurous', as she had a super figure and should show it off. Like Clara before, Marian Locksley seemed to have Kathryn eating out of her hand! What was it about that woman?

"Snow?" said a gentle voice from the side. She turned to it, to see a smiling Archie Hopper grinning back. "You're looking well! Do you have time to join me for a coffee?"

"Thanks Archie, I'd love to, but, maybe just a few minutes? I only came in because I needed to have a quick word with-"

"Snow? Bloody hell, you look good, girl!" said Ruby, having come up from the kitchen. "And a dress I definitely haven't seen before?" She looked her up and down, admiring the princess's shapely legs beneath the knee-length red dress. "Gorgeous. Show's your pins off perfectly. Where are you off to today, all glammed-up?"

"Oh, I'm going to the Lockleys. Emma told me Henry's new girlfriend has come to town, and she and Regina had put on a lunch for them. I just popped in to have a quick word before I head over there. Archie, perhaps we could put off the coffee for another day?"

"Of course. It's just nice to see you out and about. Give Henry and his young lady my regards?"

A minute later, Ruby ushered Snow into her private sitting room at the back. As she closed the door behind her, "Seriously, you look bloody stunning, and I love the new cut! Did you see Leroy's face when you walked past? His eyes were on stalks! So what's really going on? Has David come to his senses? Because hell girl, when he sees you looking like that…"

Her friend's smile dimmed. "We've separated. He insisted."

"HE'S WHAT?" Ruby couldn't believe her ears. "Is he completely fucking mad?"

"Not mad, just hurt. I'm still living in the flat."

"But you're Snow White and Prince Charming, for god's sake! You've, you've…"

"Had sex with someone else, when I was married to him. Several times. You should know."

"We've been through this - that was years ago! Before we even came to Storybrooke. You've got to be fucking kidding me? He can't surely keep holding that against you?"

"Well he is. That truth stone was the last straw. He said he'd long suspected something was…" She couldn't continue. "Well, you know the rest."

"So you're saying that's it? You're going to split? Divorce?" Tears starting welling in Snow's eyes once again. "Oh, come here…" Ruby pulled her into her arms, wrapping them around her, and letting her weep into her shoulder. As if she hadn't done that enough these past few weeks! "Oh, Snow. I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry."

Just as they shared a hug, Dorothy chose that moment to walk into the room. "You're wanted up front. Mike says-" she stopped the moment she saw the two women in a tight embrace. "What's going on? Why are you…Snow, what's happened?" The other two separated immediately.

"He's left her, Kansas!" Ruby kept holding Snow's hand. "The stupid sod's only gone and left her! They've split up!"

Rather than seem surprised, Dorothy merely frowned. "Is that what's happened, Snow? Is it? Really?" Her voice sounding doubtful.

"He…he said he wanted us to take a break," she wiped at her eyes.

"For three months?"

"Yes, he…wait, he told you?"

"We talk. We also work together, remember?"

That surprised her wife. "He talked to you? About him and Snow?"

"Of course. We talk about you two all the time; and that truth stone. We would, wouldn't we? After all, it's not every day we find out our wives are in love with each other, is it? And Ruby, please don't demean yourself, or insult me, by trying to deny it. He told me he needed space from her; so he was going to insist on a break for a while, until things settle, and he has time to consider what he should do. I don't know why you're both so surprised? After all, if I found out you'd cheated on me Ruby, I'd probably just finish it there and then!"

Her acerbic tone had been all too familiar to Ruby this past week, and things hadn't been quite right between them, since that bloody so-called truth stone. "Dot, please don't. Not in front of Snow."

"Why not? It's not like you don't tell her everything, is it? So yes, David and I do talk. We even had lunch together at the farm yesterday, as neither of us was working. We've become rather close, of late. He's the father of our son, remember?"

"But…you never said you talked about..."

"Why ever not? He's someone I trust, and, if I'm honest, I'm probably a little bit in love with him myself." She now had Snow's full attention. "Besides, a little bit of afternoon revenge sex is rather nice, I've discovered!"

"WHAT?" Snow glared angrily back, in disbelief.

"You actually slept with him? Without me there?" Ruby was stunned. "How could you? You may be angry with me, but I've never cheated on you!"

"True. But, according to you, what you had with Snow, even if it was in the past, was 'nothing serious'. So why can't it be the same for me?"

"You actually slept with my husband? In my own house?" Snow had finally found her voice again. "In my bed? How could you even do that?"

Dorothy merely shrugged. "Good question! How could I?" Then she gave her wife an icy stare. "I'm about to leave for my shift. Mike's also about to leave and needs you to take over downstairs? Don't keep him waiting. And don't forget, Natty needs picking up from the playgroup at four, and I won't be off duty till seven. See you around, Snow!"

With that, she turned her back to the two astonished women and opened the door to leave. However, just before closing it behind her, she stepped back inside.

"Oh, just for the record, I lied!" The two bewildered women looked back. "David and I may have shared a kiss last week, we may have also become much closer, but we've never slept together! Why would we? We're married to other people. So, we never had sex."

"Then why?" Snow was even more confused "Why would you say you did?"

"I guess I just wanted you to know what it feels like for him, Snow!" Dorothy shrugged her shoulders. "Bitchy maybe, but, David's the real victim here, not you!"

As she turned once again to leave, Ruby called her back. "So you said all that, just to make me angry? Jealous?"

"Pretty much. My wife is in love with someone else and I don't know what to do about it. If there's even anything I can do! Still, I have to go. By the way, new dress Snow? Very nice. New hairstyle? Makeup too, by the look of it! Clearly someone's feeling a lot better? Anyway, must dash. Bye…"

Mifflin Street

Unbeknown to Ella, Henry's mothers were just as nervous as she was! At least, two of them were. Henry had once told her about how one of his previous girlfriends felt intimidated by his older mother, Regina. Partly because of her reputation as the former Evil Queen, but also because he said she could initially come across as controlling. But the beautiful brunette woman, younger than she'd expected, who shook her hand seemed anxious to please.

"I believe I knew your father, Marcus, when I was very young" She didn't mention the fact it was a year before she first met Daniel. Nor that he was her first intimate relationship. "We were very good friends, although my mother didn't approve of me dating so young." Nor the fact he wasn't royal! "He was very handsome. You have a look of him, I think."

"That's kind of you to say," She thought it best not to mention he was actually only her stepfather, and not blood related. Nonetheless they were very close and he was her only loving parent after her real mother, Cecilia, died. "He died rather a long time ago, I'm afraid. I still miss him…"

The same nervousness could also be said for the slim blonde woman, who was standing close to Regina. "I'm Emma, Henry's other mum. Nice to finally meet you, Ella. It's not very often we get people outside the town coming in to visit. How long are you here for?"

"Oh, um…" she looked to Henry, not knowing what he'd already told them. Fortunately her boyfriend was ready to answer. "We're looking for a place of our own here, ma. We're staying at Grandpa Gold's till we find something."

"You're coming back to live here?" said a young male voice from beside her. "Really?"

Ella looked across at someone who'd just joined them. Someone she recognised from Henry video calls. "Rolly! It's lovely to meet you in the flesh, at last! Yeah, we'll be staying here, for a while." Although only a teenager, Roland, always more confident around women than Henry was, stepped in front of her to give her a hug.

"Brilliant! It means I get my room to myself, at last!" he winked mischievously at Henry as he released her.

"You're staying? Regina's smile turned into a more natural, delighted. "That's wonderful. What prompted this, Henry?"

Robin, the only one apart from the young couple, who knew Ella was expecting, gave him a knowing smirk as he gave his clearly rehearsed explanation. Rehearsed, because Emma could always spot a lie. "Well my place near Harvard's being rented out to students for the rest of the year. I'm done with my UK rooms, and so's Ella, so I was going to spend the next year or two writing..." And possibly looking after a baby, though they don't need to know that! "And it's probably more conducive to writing up here, than in the city, so I'll probably travel back and forwards a bit."

Emma was as pleased as Regina, though she could tell he was holding something back. "That's great. What sort of books are you writing, Hen?"

"Fiction, mainly. Fairy tales, stories for children, that sort of thing, ma. Ella's doing the same thing with cookery books…"

"International cuisine, Henry! As well you know…" she rolled her eyes as she dug him in the ribs. "Cookery books, indeed! He keeps saying that to wind me up." The smile she gave him showed she wasn't the least bit affronted.

"International cuisine?" Regina's interest was piqued. "Sounds fascinating. Food is one of my favourite topics. Which countries?"

"The Caribbean initially. I was working over there, on several islands, for the best part of a year, before I met Henry. I was born in what's now the Dominican Republic. I also studied photography, so I take my own pictures, write about the history about the cultural origins of each region's foods, then…yes, Henry's not completely wrong…I put some of the recipes together. I've got my first book with the publishers which should be out just before Henry's. I'm also planning for a trip to the Asia-Pacific region to do the same thing in a year or so, subject to my…um…well, we'll wait and see."

"Sounds fascinating. I think you and I are going to get on well indeed, young Ella…"

"Gina, stop hogging the girl! Aren't you going to introduce us?"

"Sorry. Ella, this is my wife, Marian. You've met Robin already, I see…"

"Maid Marian and Robin Hood…" she looked up at the slightly taller brunette. "When Henry first told me about you, I could hardly believe it! It's lovely to meet you." She stared at her a little longer than was polite. "Henry's right, you do look like Gal Gadot!" As she blurted her thoughts out, she heard the sniggers. "Erm, sorry, I didn't mean-"

"That's quite all right, my dear! You're not the first to say that, and after Robin and the boys made me watch her films, I take that as a compliment! Though as you can see from Roland, I haven't been a maid for quite a few years. I've been here over seven years now, and when I married Regina we both took Robin's family name."

"Henry told me," she looked at her boyfriend, deciding to embarrass him for the 'cookery books' dig. "He said you were his 'calm' mother." Henry could feel the glare coming from both Regina and Emma.

"Did he indeed?" said the blonde, with a wry smirk. "Well he's given Regina and I plenty of things to not be calm about, over the years! Haven't you, Hen?"

"Erm…and this is Killian." He said, to deflect attention, "Emma's husband."

Ella looked up into the deepest, most soulful blue eyes she'd ever seen on a man. While she thought Robin was very handsome and fatherly, with an air of quiet authority about him, this man in front of her seemed to just exude an obvious masculinity, an innate sexiness, as he took her hand into his own. A sudden shyness overcame her from nowhere.

"Killian Jones. It's a real pleasure to meet you, love…" as she felt her own hand become clammy as he took it, she couldn't help glancing across at his left. Something he spotted straight away, guessing what she was trying to find. "My infamous hook became redundant, once my left hand was restored by Merlin the Sorcerer, who I believe you know? It now hangs in a cabinet at home. I'm assuming that's what you were looking for?"

"Er…yeah. Sorry. I…I…" She mumbled, feeling like she was ten!

"Nothing to be sorry for, lass. You're just curious, like most people. Yes, I was known as Captain Hook once upon a time, but I'd prefer you just call me Killian?"

"Of course," she blushed. "Sorry again." Then she saw three girls standing near to him, waiting patiently to meet her. "And who are these little beauties?"

"They're all Henry's sisters…" Emma took over, pulling one of them closer. "This tallest one here, is Hope, our eldest." The blonde grinned back, albeit a little shy, but it was obvious from the shape of her hair colour, eyes and face she was Emma and Killian's. "Those two holding hands are my Lizzy here; and her very best friend and their daughter Honour, or Honny…"

"And you've already met my sometimes-feral youngest sister, Charlie!" Henry added, having hoisted and dropped the four-year-old onto his shoulders. "Girls – say hello to Cinderella?"

As three of them stepped closer to say hello to her, Charlie suddenly blurted out: "We got a Cinder-wella in Stoweebwooke too! And she's a white one! Why you darker den her?"

Her three parents winced with the sheer embarrassment of the moment. Fortunately, Ella saw the funny side, knowing she was way too young to be racist. Instead, she just started laughing. "Henry told me about your Cinderella here, Charlie! I'm from another realm, but I hope I have a chance to meet her. My dad was white, just like your mums, but my mum was from somewhere much warmer, and had much darker skin than him. That's why I'm-"

"Beautiful, Charlie…" Marian added, winking at the woman. "Ella is what some people would call 'mixed-race', that's why she has that beautiful light coffee-colour skin, which I'm very jealous of!"

"Yes, you are vewwy pwetty!" agreed the youngster, undeterred. "Are you goin' to mawwy Henwy, den?"

"Charlie?" Regina gasped, as other adults, including Ella and Henry, started laughing. "Give the poor girl a chance to get to know him first, for goodness sake!"

"I don't mind, Regina, honestly…" she rose on her toes to give him a soft kiss on the lips, undeterred by their audience. "I think I've got to know your big brother pretty well over the last year, Charlie." Another kiss. "I should. I've been living with him for most of it. Let's just see, shall we?"

Both of his mothers recognised the looks between their son and his girlfriend, exchanging their own, more concerned one.

"Let's go through to the dining room, everybody. The food's all laid out, and I'm quite sure Henry doesn't want Ella to go through an interrogation!" She glanced at her son, remembering how angry he'd become when they'd questioned a previous girlfriend too much.

About half an hour later, Snow arrived, at Marian's suggestion, so she would also have a chance to meet Henry's girlfriend over lunch. Although nobody said anything when Regina first showed her in, all the adults, apart from Ella and Marian herself, were astonished by the transformation. Instead of the browbeaten, tired, middle-aged woman, they were faced with a fresh-faced, coiffed and elegantly dressed beauty, who seemed to look ten years younger. Regina thought she looked far more like the old Snow White she knew.

"You look great, mum! Love the new hairstyle!" said Emma, genuinely impressed. Several of the others nodded. "Been shopping too, I see?"

"She's right, gran, you look brilliant!" agreed Henry. "Come over here and meet my girlfriend. Ella, this is my grandma. Emma's mum, Snow White."

Ella stood, walking over to her, with a beaming smile. She was about to curtsy, but just managed to stop herself. "I can't believe I'm meeting yet another living legend! The real Snow White? There's no way you could possibly be Henry's grandmother! You're way too young!"

A previously nervous Snow's mood lifted immediately. "Why thank you, Ella, what a lovely thing to say! But yes, Henry is my grandson. The curse did some strange things to our ages. I'm actually in my sixties. As for the hairdo and clothes, I've got Marian over there to thank for that!"

As Regina and Robin looked across at Marian, wondering what on earth their wife had been up to this time, the starstruck young woman carried on. "Well if that's true, if I look halfway as good as you do when I'm in my thirties, I'll be blessed! So…where's your other half? Where's Prince Charming?"

"Oh…erm…he's probably on the farm right now. Either that, or he'll be with our son. Emma has a ten-year-old brother, Neal."

"I did invite him to join us," said Emma, although now realizing perhaps that was a mistake as her mother's smile dimmed. "Sorry, should I not have?"

"It's fine, Emma. I really just called in to say hello. I can't stop…" she lied. "Perhaps Henry would like to bring Ella over to the flat sometime?"

Before Henry could ask why on earth she was back at the cramped flat, Robin rose. "Nonsense. Snow, come sit." He pulled out a vacant chair. "We haven't had pudding yet. At least join us for a piece of Locksley Pie? Apple and cinnamon? Marian's made it especially; not me. So it should certainly be edible!" he joked.

She was keen not to bump into David anytime soon, so she hesitated; but seeing all the eyes on her: "Well…okay. It certainly smells good. Perhaps I can stay for a while."

Half an hour later, with the delicious pudding and custard sitting well inside her (she was actually starving when she'd arrived, having left Ruby not having had breakfast), she started to relax, for the first time in over two weeks. As she listened in to all the recent comings and goings in the magical town, she realised just how much she'd missed her family, and gossip, even though Marian and Clara had helped bring her up to date yesterday. Lizzy, then Hope, then even Honour, had climbed onto her lap to tell her things and get a cuddle. As Emma and Regina started to talk about the forthcoming summer trip to Scotland, the conversation turned to the new arrivals in town. Especially Morgan le Fey.

"Technically, she's a fairy." said Emma. "All those old tales about her being Merlin's mortal enemy were crap, apparently! It was all Nimue's doing. She's actually the real Lady-of-the-Lake. Merlin said he got her out of Camelot for her own safety!"

"Mmm." Regina wasn't impressed. "I don't know about that. What I do know is that she took great pleasure in flirting outrageously with my wife and husband! Her interest was almost obscene!"

"Oh, don't exaggerate Gina," Robin rebuked her. "She was just being friendly. She probably didn't flirt with you because you gave her the old scowl. She was flirting no more than Marian on a night out, with a few drinks inside her!"

"Hey!" As the other adults laughed, Marian launched a crumpled up napkin at his head, Robin merely smirking as he headed it away. "You take that back, thief! I do not flirt, I merely show interest in people, unlike some I could mention! Anyway, I think Morgana will be an excellent teacher for our girls..."

"Well, we shall see…" Regina snorted. "As for local news, I believe that, for once, I have some noteworthy gossip you may not know about, concerning the said magic teacher and our own Maleficent."

"Go on – don't tell me. She bedded her?" Emma smirked, lowering her voice so the children couldn't hear. "Until Guido appeared on the scene, she seems to have been working her way through all the women in Storybrooke!" Then, realising from Killian and Robin's shared look, her words could be misinterpreted. "Every woman in this room excluded, of course!"

"I spoke to Mal. Apparently, she may have located Lily's father, who isn't dead, as she once thought. He's a dragon, like her, living in Morgana's realm."

"Lily's dad?" Emma was astonished. "That's incredible! Has anyone told her?"

"Not yet. Mal's asked her to come back as soon as possible, but hasn't told her why."

"Thanks for reminding me…" said Henry. "I need to write up that dragon-mating ritual we saw! Should fit nicely into the next book."

"Book? You're writing about us? I thought being The Author, everything gets updated automatically when you're here? You showed me… " then Emma remembered what she'd seen last time. About her parents, Ruby and Dorothy. But her mother was here. "Well…I just thought.."

"The storybooks do, yeah. But I couldn't just take those to a publisher. They'd think I was mental! And if ever the real stories got out, I'd just be seen as a plagiarist. So no, I chop and change things, add my own ideas, and take some from here. Fantasies, mainly. Hopefully, my first fiction should be out by the end of the year."

"I'm impressed!" said Snow. "You should certainly have a lot of inspiration from this place. Everything that's happened in Storybrooke would fill a library!"

As she spoke, the knocker on the front door banged. "That'll be Dad, and Neal," said Emma, looking across at a suddenly fearful-looking Snow. And realizing she'd put her in a seriously awkward position! And judging from Marian and Regina's faces, they knew it too. "I'll go talk to him first! Mum, you okay?"

"No, Emma…" Now she looked almost frightened. Having to face her estranged husband was going to be awkward enough. Now she was also going to have to face her son, who knew everything! "I don't think I ever will be again. You best go let them in. I needed to face him sooner or later."

As his blonde mother headed out of the room to the door, Henry leaned over to whisper in Regina's ear.

"Mum, what's going on? What did I miss?"