"...Hades is your dad?" Evie asked Mal in shock.

Mal nodded with a weary look on her face. "I know him anywhere, Evie," she then said. "I'm very sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm having a hard time forgiving him for what he did to me."

"I understand," Evie said softly before she looked over. "Hmm... What can we do in this situation? He obviously means a lot to Aunt Zelena, but you're having daddy issues."

"Some people would say I'm stronger with those daddy issues." Mal rolled her eyes.

"...I doubt Dr. Hopper told you that when you went to see him for special sessions." Evie retorted strongly.

Mal just sighed sharply as she crossed her arms.

"Listen, you can't avoid him forever, Mal," Evie said softly. "Maybe you can talk to him when we get settled? I really want my aunt to be happy."

"So your family's happiness comes before my own?" Mal firmly pouted.

"That's not what I'm saying, Mal," Evie shook her head. "Why don't you just sit down to dinner and try to get to know him as a person? You haven't seen him in a long time and if my dad did the same thing, I'd probably feel what you feel... But... At least your dad is still around even if he wasn't there since what happened to your sister, Lily."

"Man... This whole summer vacation is turning my life upside down," Mal groaned slightly. "First Audrey's return with that pain in the neck from The James Barrie School and now my dad is dating your aunt. What're the odds of that?"

"It's a very crazy coincidence, I know, but please," Evie said softly. "Come down and have dinner with us. You don't have to pretend that you like him, but at least be on your best behavior for Aunt Zelena?"

Mal sighed sharply as she looked back up at her best friend who was now her new sister. She had to think about this before she soon slowly nodded. "All right," she then said as calmly as her mental capacity would let her. "I'll do it... Not for him though, I'll do it for you."

"That's all I ask," Evie said with a small smile as she offered her hand to Mal. "That's probably the best we can hope for right now."

Mal smiled back a little, then took Evie's hand and stood up with her and the two girls soon went to go back downstairs.

"Oh, Hades, dear, I'm so sorry about that," Zelena said to the man in her home as she cradled her baby girl in her arms. "I'm not sure what got into the girls, but I'm sure that Evie will see things through. She's a real sweetheart."

"I understand, Zelena baby~" Hades replied smoothly. "Besides, it's been a while since you last saw your family anyway. Maybe we could try to reconnect... Especially me with that girl, Mal."

"Yes, well, she is new to the family based on some phone calls I've had with both Evie and Regina." Zelena nodded.

"There's a bit more to it than that," Hades then said. "I know why Mal had a freak out about seeing me."

"Oh?" Zelena asked curiously.

"Precisely," Hades nodded before facing her. "She's my daughter."

"...What?" Zelena asked with wide eyes.

"It's a very long story, all right?" Hades sighed sharply. "I ain't exactly happy about it myself."

Zelena firmly pouted, but she did nod, especially since they both heard the girls coming back from upstairs together.

"Hey, Aunt Zelena," Evie said with a small smile. "Sorry about that little outburst. Mal needed some alone time."

"So I see," Zelena nodded. "Why don't we put on some music and sit down with some pizza?"

"I think that's a great idea. Mal?" Evie smiled before prompting.

"Sure. I like music." Mal shrugged a bit.

"I like music too." Hades agreed.

Zelena beamed as she came over to Evie with the bundle in her arms. "Evie, would you like to hold your cousin?" she then offered warmly.

"Yes, please," Evie smiled as she carefully held out her arms and soon took a hold of the baby in her arms, securely as she began to coo. "Oh... She's very beautiful~"

"I always thought so." Zelena smiled back as she walked off to go and put some music on for everybody.

"...What's its name?" Mal asked as she looked over to see the baby girl who had red hair just like her mother, cooing and wiggling a little bit.

"Her name is Emerald," Hades replied. "Because she was born in this town. Emerald Flare."

"What a lovely name." Evie approved.

"Yeah... Lovely name." Mal added, trying very hard not to sound sour, but she couldn't help it.

"So I have a cousin now," Evie said to Zelena. "Can I tell Mom and Henry?"

"Maybe not just yet, Sweet Pea," Zelena replied softly. "I know it's a lot to take in, especially since I've been gone for so long, but it might be too much right now. Also, you girls have The Summer School Games going on pretty soon."

"Yeah, that's true," Evie had to admit. "So we just enjoy the moment while we still can here?"

"Yes," Zelena nodded. "At least, that's what I suggest."

"Okay, Aunt Zelena. We won't tell Mom or Henry yet." Evie promised.

"Thank you, dear." Zelena smiled.

"You're welcome." Evie smiled back.

"Would you like to hold her?" Hades asked Mal as Emerald cooed and looked all around the room.

"...Maybe in a minute," Mal replied. "I need to talk to you."

"Right now?" Hades asked. "We're about to share a nice family moment."

"Yes, Mal," Zelena agreed. "Why don't we settle down and you can talk with Hades later on?"

"...Fine," Mal spat out as she heaved a sharp sigh. "I won't ruin this family time..." she then muttered firmly to herself, mostly toward Hades even if he wouldn't hear it. "Like you did after Lily died."

Evie gave Mal a brief look and Mal just smiled innocently so that she wouldn't get in trouble.

"She's so cute, Aunt Zelena." Evie beamed warmly at her maternal aunt.

"Thank you, dear," Zelena smiled warmly. "Now, how about we sit down and get more comfortable, huh?" she then suggested.

"That sounds like a good idea," Evie replied. "Can I help Emerald into her highchair?"

"That would be very helpful, thank you." Zelena nodded at her niece.

"Sweet," Evie smiled before she reached out and took a hold of her new cousin. "Come here, Emerald. Your big cousin Evie will help you out."

"Just remember to be careful, Evie." Zelena lightly reminded her niece.

"I will, Auntie," Evie reassured. "I used to carry Henry all the time after all."

Emerald cooed and babbled a bit with a small smile to Evie. Mal just still had a sour look on her face as today wasn't anything like she imagined and that was probably meant in the worst possible way. Soon, Mal sat down, along with everyone else at the table, sharing a look with Hades as they got ready to eat their dinner while Emerald cooed and giggled, obliviously as Evie set her in her highchair before she leaned in and pressed a kiss onto the baby's cheek and beamed warmly, seeming to love having a baby cousin a lot so far.

Soon, the family all shared some pizza together for their dinner as suggested by Zelena while Emerald appeared to be eating a bowl of mush. Or at least, that was what Mal was telling herself as the pizza was luckily pretty tasty.

"...Can I be alone for a minute?" Mal soon piped up once she found the strength to as Evie and Zelena shared stories about what was going on back in Auradon Heights.

Zelena looked both curious and concerned.

"Sure, Mal," Evie said lightly. "You take all the time you need."

"I think Emmy needs a new diaper anyway." Zelena added lightly with a small smile as she came to pick up her daughter.

"I'll help you." Hades added, volunteering as tribute.

"No." Mal suddenly said.

This made everybody look at her before Evie and Zelena seemed to understand as they decided to leave the room together with Emerald.

"No?" Hades asked.

"I think you two need to talk about something anyway." Zelena lightly told Hades as a suggestion.

"Oh... Well... Okay," Hades said with a small shrug. "I guess I'll catch up with you later, Zee."

"Yes," Zelena nodded before smiling softly to her baby daughter. "Come on, Sweet Pea. Let's get you settled and ready for bed and get you a fresh diaper~" she then cooed a bit.

"I'll help." Evie then added as she followed her aunt out of the room to give Mal and Hades some privacy.

Soon, it was just Mal and Hades in the room, sitting across from each other after the pizza dinner that Zelena ordered from a place called "Aunt Em's Diner" owned by the Gale family and home of the Over the Rainbow Milkshake which came with seven different flavors in one.

"Hi, Dad." Mal said wearily once she was alone with the man in the room.

Hades smirked as he removed his sunglasses to wave at his estranged daughter. "So... You're here and you've made some new friends," he then remarked. "That's pretty interesting to see considering it seemed like your only friend was Lily back in the day."

"It's a long, complicated story," Mal said before crossing her arms. "Though I'm sure you know all about long and complicated stories... Such as leaving us after Lily died."

"Ah, right... The big move," Hades nodded as he knew about his ex-wife and living daughter moving away from back home, especially after his elder daughter's passing. "I was just about to come and visit you."

"You abandoned me with her!" Mal retorted sternly.

"No. No, I left your mother," Hades gently retorted to Mal. "She's not the easiest person to get along with."

"Ya think?" Mal scoffed.

"Huh. You see? We have something in common already," Hades remarked as he wrapped a scarf around his neck. "We both hate your mother."

"I don't hate my mother," Mal glowered. "She may be an evil lunatic, but at least she stuck around."

The estranged father and daughter soon seemed to get heated with each other. It was probably a good idea that Evie and Zelena left the room, especially with Emerald.

"Yes, I know it's hard, especially with you being with your difficult mother and losing your big sister who was practically your best friend and made you who you are today," Hades replied. "And... I'm sorry."

Mal glared firmly before raising an eyebrow. "You're sorry?" she then asked, not buying it for a second.

"Well... Yes, Mally," Hades said lightly, trying to remain calm. "I abandoned you and the family and that wasn't fair. I just hope that you forgive me because-"

"Really?!" Mal snapped as her hands slammed onto the table. "For 16 years, I've had nothing, and I'm even starting to have a better new life without Mom meddling and ruining my life! I know Lily's death wasn't easy on anybody, but you didn't have to leave just because of that!" she then turned to the side with a low mutter. "Even if it was mostly Mom's fault that she died."

"Mal..." Hades sighed sharply. "I don't expect you to understand this... Especially since you're still young, though you have to learn how to grow up and not just act like some kid all the time."

"Oh... Wow... Thanks, Dad... Yeah, I totally forgive you for that now." Mal rolled her emerald eyes a bit.

"But you should know... I didn't leave because Lily died, that was just more stress and pressure than I needed then." Hades then said.

Mal looked over curiously. "...What do you mean?" she then asked, not exactly calm, but not as angry now. "You trying to make up for being a lousy dad now?"

"Mally..." Hades said with a small sigh.

"It's Mal," Mal firmly insisted. "Mally is a baby name."

"Fine... Mal..." Hades then said before he continued his thought out loud. "Yes, I left after Lily's funeral, but that was the last straw for me. Your mother and I have been arguing and being at odd ends with each other before Lily even died. We tried to keep it hidden, but sometimes it would get too loud and she would walk in and hear us and we would try to act like nothing was wrong if you happened to walk into the room."

Mal blinked as she stopped to think about that a little.

"We tried to seek help, especially from some friends of mine," Hades then continued to explain. "One of them claimed to see a future of us not being together. I didn't wanna believe her, I did everything I could to stay with her mother, but... The old flame I had burning for her since the moment we first met each other was no longer alight. We had a lot of disagreements... We've had issues... And above all, it's not your or Lily's fault."

"Obviously." Mal muttered as she knew parents tend to say that around their children whenever the grown-ups decide to split up.

"I was just stressed out and frustrated as we were starting to fall out of love with each other," Hades continued softly. "It had nothing to do with you or Lily, so... I could never find a good time to divorce your mother, so... I just got fed up and decided to leave. I was trying to find myself, so I kept driving until I ran out of gas and... Well... I ended up here and saw a beautiful woman out on a bike ride. She seemed upset about something herself so I decided to see her and talk with her."

Mal began to look more curious before they both suddenly looked up and over as they heard cooing and gurgling.

"Sorry... I guess she wanted to see her daddy before she would go to bed," Evie smiled as she came over with Emerald who was reaching out for Hades. "You don't mind, do you, uh... Uncle Hades?"

"Not at all," Hades said with a small smile back at Evie as he stood up and reached out. "There she is~"

Emerald beamed and squealed as she reached out for her daddy before Hades soon took a hold of her.

"Oh... I'm sorry... We're not interrupting anything, are we?" Evie then asked, referring to herself and the baby.

"Oh, uh... N-No... You're fine..." Mal said lightly, slowly calming down as she looked as Hades and Emerald bonded a bit together. "I think I wanna get ready for bed anyway."

"Right now?" Evie asked. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah... We were catching up." Hades added.

"It's okay..." Mal said softly. "Besides, we have a big day starting tomorrow, Evie." she then reminded.

"Right... The Games..." Evie nodded then with a small smile. "Well, all right. I guess this is good night then, Uncle Hades."

"Good night, Evie. Good night, Mal," Hades said lightly as he took Emerald in his arms and took out her tiny hand to wave goodbye to the teenage girls. "Wave bye-bye to Evie and Mal." he then told Emerald.

"Buh-Buh." Emerald babbled out.

"Aww~..." Evie cooed warmly with a small smile. "I wanna have a baby someday~"

"I think you should run that by Doug first." Mal chuckled with a small smile back as she tried to make a joke.

"Good night, girls," Hades told them. "I'll see ya when I see ya."

Evie nodded as she walked off with Mal who watched closely as Hades was being a good father to Emerald before she sighed sharply to herself with a lot on her mind. "Well, that was cool, right? Did you guys find something interesting to talk about?" she then asked her friend before looking over before frowning instantly. "...Mal, is there something wrong?"

"...It's nothing," Mal said. "Well... Something... I'll tell you later, okay?" she then admitted.

"Okay, Mal," Evie said softly before nodding. "Take your time and remember what I said. We can meet in the space between."

"Of course, Evie," Mal nodded. "Let's get ready for bed."

"Okay, Mal," Evie smiled. "We both had a long day today anyway."

"Yeah." Mal smiled back as they soon went to get ready for bed, though it was still rather early for kids their age to go to sleep.

MEANWHILE IN AURADON HEIGHTS...

Dee Dee and Henry were shown to be visiting the library while Belle was on the phone with Ben, asking him various questions such as if he remembered to pack clean underwear, was behaving himself, if Emerald Acres was going okay so far. The usual Mother Hen questions to her special baby boy. Ben loved his mother dearly and he never felt too embarrassed by her, though he often tried not to let it get to him if Jay, Chad, or Aziz would tease him a bit because that was just how teenage boys behaved.

"So, what do you mean that there's more to this town and everybody's stories than they realize?" Dee Dee asked Henry.

"I don't know how to fully explain it, but I feel like there's more to this world than being just another town," Henry replied. "Like... There's some kind of magic to it and I should find it. I know that magic isn't real, but that doesn't mean we can't go to look for it."

"So what are we doing in the library then?" Dee Dee asked. "Do you think that will have answers?"

"I don't know which book we can look for, but I feel like if we look around, we can find something more to this town than it appears to be," Henry explained. "And I want you to help me because you're my best friend and I trust you more than anyone else around here, besides maybe Evie and Mal."

"Oh... Thanks, Henry..." Dee Dee said before blushing.

"No problem," Henry smiled. "We'll need an operation and some tools for our mission. And above all else, don't tell anyone, especially our parents."

"Hmm... I feel funny about keeping stuff from Papa, but... All right, Henry," Dee Dee said before smiling back. "I trust you more than anyone else in this town too, so I'll help you out."

"Great," Henry replied before shaking hands with Dee Dee. "Welcome to the team."

Dee Dee nodded at him before flinching slightly as a new voice suddenly roamed in right behind them.

"You know, I agree with you..." The voice said before they turned around to see a girl with mousy brown hair and a red hoodie. "There is a whole lot more to this town than there appears to be... And I'd like to help you out."

"Sophie?" Dee Dee and Henry asked.

"That's my name, don't wear it out," Sophie replied. "I might be seen as a mere teacher's pet, especially in the school library that you two might see and know, but I do sense some magic in this town. Perchance we could meet up tomorrow and discuss some plans considering the library will be closing soon?" she then suggested.

Dee Dee and Henry looked at each other before looking back.

"All right. As long as you don't tell anyone," Henry replied. "This is very important."

"I won't tell anyone," Sophie promised. "Besides, who would I tell? I don't have very many friends around here."

"Not even your own age?" Dee Dee asked.

"Not so much," Sophie shook her head. "But we should meet up tomorrow at the diner around lunchtime and probably discuss some plans."

"Well... Okay," Henry replied. "You've got yourself a deal, Sophie."

"Great..." Sophie nodded. "This should be interesting."

"Yes, very interesting." Dee Dee added before blinking as Sophie seemed to disappear from right in front of them.

"...She's really mysterious." Henry commented.

"Yeah... Kinda makes me think of Claudine Frollo from the upper hallway in school," Dee Dee said before shivering. "She makes me nervous~... Does she even talk to anybody?"

"I heard that she likes some kid named Zephyr." Henry shrugged.

"Excuse me?" Belle spoke up as she came to see the two. "I'm sorry, dears... As much as I love to see children learning and reading books nowadays, I'm afraid the library will be closing pretty soon. Have you found the books you're looking for?" she then asked softly.

"No, Mrs. French, I'm afraid not." Dee Dee said softly.

"But we'll be back tomorrow," Henry quickly added. "We'd like to explore some more and not waste our summer vacation playing around too much like a couple of dopey little kids."

"Oh... All right... Nothing wrong with a little playing every now and then though so you don't grow up too fast. After all, 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'." Belle chuckled lightly.

Henry and Dee Dee blinked as that reference seemed to fly over their heads.

"I'll see you tomorrow then," Belle told them. "Get home safely."

"Yes, ma'am." Henry and Dee Dee reassured before they decided to leave the library then.

"...Do you know who Jack is?" Dee Dee whispered to Henry as they walked off together.

"I think she's that lady who travels to a lot of different places and worlds." Henry guessed as they left the library together.

The two continued to walk along, seeing Archie and Anita together as they walked their dogs, Pongo and Perdita. They looked curious and smiled at the two and hoped the best for them in their future together, on whatever it might be and wondered if they could do anything to help someday. Mostly for Evie's sake since Anita getting together with Archie was mostly Henry's sister's idea, but more on that little story later.

BACK IN EMERALD ACRES...

Mal sighed sharply as she had a hard time getting to sleep. She tossed and turned a bit in her bed while Evie seemed to be sound asleep already. She then groaned as she couldn't get to sleep before she felt her phone vibrating, having turned the sound off so that she and Evie's sleep wouldn't be disturbed. She saw that Harry was calling and soon took her phone and decided to step out of the house and climb up onto the roof to take the call. "Hello? ...I mean, Ahoy?" she then answered lightly once she realized who she was talking to on the other line.

"Ahoy... Mal," Harry's voice greeted on the other end. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

"Hi, Harry," Mal then said before sighing sharply. "No, you didn't wake me. I'm having a hard time getting to sleep actually."

"Ahh..." Harry said before nodding. "I was a bit worried about you, especially considering we all had to see Audrey Thornley with that blasted Peter Banning earlier tonight. I guess I was feeling your struggle because I couldn't sleep either."

"Yeah... The Queen of Mean and her little Shitweasel." Mal groaned and rolled her eyes.

"Aye... But I can tell that something else is bothering you," Harry said, lightly chuckling at the way Mal described Peter. "Care to share?"

"It's a little complicated..." Mal sighed. "I'm not sure if I feel like talking much right now actually."

"Oh... Uh... Okay," Harry said softly. "...Well, I can go hang up if you want me to."

"No... No, Harry, please don't go," Mal said, suddenly sounding desperate, but tried not to show it. "Erm... I'm sorry... I just don't know what to say, but... I don't want you to go either."

"Oh... Okay..." Harry replied as calmly as he could. "...Should I do the talking then?"

"Actually, Harry... Could you stay on the line until I fall asleep?" Mal asked calmly. "You can talk about anything you want, but... Please don't hang up until I'm asleep."

"Gosh... That's a lot to ask..." Harry started to say before sighing. "...Okay, Mal. I'll stay on the line with you for as long as I can."

"Thank you, Harry," Mal said softly. "Thank you ever so much."

Harry smiled a little bit as he started to tell Mal some stories about his father's travels before the old man met his mother and how much he admired his father. Mal winced slightly at the topic of fathers, though since she really enjoyed Killian's company, she didn't seem to mind too terribly. She began to feel a bit calmer and more relaxed as Harry comforted and soothed her the best that he could until she would fall asleep.

ELSEWHERE...

Peter smirked as he sat with Chad, both keeping each other company until Audrey would come back from a certain appointment of hers.

"...Aren't your parents worried about you or something?" Chad asked Peter, feeling nervous of his smirk right up in his face.

"Nobody needs to worry about me unless I want them to," Peter smirked. "Especially parents. By the way... I think Audrey will want this floor mopped."

"And you think that I'm going to do it?" Chad scoffed a bit before he looked at his hands. "I can't risk it. I just had my nails done."

"Wow... Seriously?" Peter scoffed as he grabbed Chad's hands suddenly without the other boy's consent.

"Hey!" Chad cried out.

Peter chuckled and tutted before shaking his head. "Soft... Just as I suspected. You're not that strong."

"I'm plenty strong!" Chad retorted strongly with a glare as he took his hands back. "I'm on the football team after all."

"That's probably just a popularity contest," Peter smirked. "Come here, this floor is filthy."

"We don't even have a mop around here," Chad reminded him. "What would we use?"

"That's why I said 'come here'," Peter grinned. "We could use your head."

"Ugh!" Chad huffed and backed away. "You're awful."

"I guess sometimes the truth hurts," Peter smirked. "You think you can fight me? You make me sick... Especially with those soft hands of yours."

"All right... Let's go... Right here, right now," Chad glared as he held out one of his hands and raised his thumb. "Thumb War. You and me."

"Think you got the guts for it, Mophead?" Peter smirked as he jumped up to his feet to the slightly taller boy.

"I don't think-" Chad began to say.

"You said that, not me." Peter quickly retorted with a weasely smirk.

"Let me finish!" Chad whined a bit childishly. "I don't think, I know."

"Alright. Alright. My mistake." Peter chuckled before he grabbed Chad's hand, linking it with his own as he stretched out his thumb a bit.

"Okay... Let's go..." Chad nodded before they moved their thumbs around. "1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a Thumb War-" he then said before moving his thumb only for his thumb to be instantly pinned down by Peter's even with a cracking sound heard. "OWW!"

"Ah, don't take it personally, Mophead~" Peter cooed as Chad groaned and whimpered in instant pain before the dark and maniacal boy smirked at his misfortune. "I bet you have your mummy's hands instead of your daddy's hands~"

"...You think I have girl thumbs?" Chad asked in concern as he sucked his sore thumb a little.

"Either that or you just plain suck," Peter smirked as he crossed his arms. "I can tell you're going to be an interesting sidekick. At least Felix had balls and a spine when it came to working with me before you Walter Elias punks took him from me."

Chad firmly pouted and stormed off, grumbling to himself.

Peter scoffed and rolled his eyes before chuckling before he decided to go wait for Audrey in one of his favorite places to hang out: at the very top of a tree. "What a pathetic plonker... Seems to be worse than Devin." he then muttered to himself before he took out his favorite musical instrument and began to play it while he waited as Chad soaked his sore thumb, acting like it had been terribly wounded.

A/N: Many thanks to a dear friend of mine who helped me out a little with this chapter in more ways than she realizes.