On a dirt road, somewhere in The Enchanted Forest, King Magnus and his daughter, Princess Ida, traveled in their carriage to to their relatives' kingdom. Neither had really spoken the entire trip, each lost in their thoughts. The carriage hit a bump in the road, and the flower that was in Ida's lap fell to the floor. King Magnus leaned over and picked it up, handing it back to his daughter.
"Thank you, Papa." Ida placed the flower back in her lap and sighed.
"Blue Aster. Your uncle's favorite." King Magnus said.
"Yes, I know. I had thought that perhaps he would like to be buried with one."
King Magnus gave an approving nod and cleared his throat. "It would've pleased him."
Ida laid back against the seat and turned her head towards the window again. "Oh, Papa. I just can't believe that Uncle Leopold is gone."
"Gone, but not forgotten. I assure you, Ida, if ever I found who killed my brother. I would..."
Ida turned to her father as his voice trailed off, and she couldn't help but notice both of his fists clenched tight. She quickly placed her hands over his.
"Papa, this is no time to think on such things. What is important is that we be there for Snow. If our grief is this painful, then I can't fathom what she must be feeling now."
"Her and your Aunt Regina, you mean?"
Ida pulled her hands back. "Of course." She squared her shoulders and looked at her lap. "Of course."
"My dear, Regina is grieving just as much as Snow. Losing your true love is different sort of grief and one that I know all too well, but it is no less painful."
Ida nodded, but didn't look up. Magnus placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head up, so that their eyes met.
"What troubles you?"
"I-I don't know if I should say. It could only be my imagination, and surely this isn't the time to speak of it."
"Speak of what?" Magnus asked, but he could still the hesitation on his daughter's face. "Ida, whatever it is, I can tell it's weight is heavy."
Ida sighed. "It's Aunt Regina. Over this past year, her behavior seems different. Her smiles seem forced and painful, and what affection she does show seems almost insincere. Believe me, Papa, it hurts me to even say this, but there has been part of me that has wondered if she even loved Uncle Leopold."
"My love, you have heard the way she speaks of him and you'd see how they were with one another."
"Yes, of course." Ida pinched the bridge of her nose. "Oh, I don't know why I keep thinking like this."
Magnus smiled. "You've always had an active imagination, it's one of your best qualities." Magnus brushed his hand against Ida's cheek. "Just be careful how you use it, hm?"
Ida nodded and smiled. "Yes, Papa."
A few hours later, the carriage arrived at the gates of the palace. Waiting to greet Magnus and Ida, was Regina and Snow White. Magnus stepped out of the carriage and then helped Ida out.
"Snow?"
Snow looked up at the sound of her cousin's voice and ran over to her, throwing her arms around her. Ida shushed her and ran a soothing hand through Snow's hair.
"It's all right. We're here now." Ida released Snow and wiped away her tears. "Listen, we're going to stay for as long as you need us."
Snow nodded and managed a small smile. She looked over Ida's shoulder and saw her uncle waiting with open arms. She walked over to him to hug him, as Ida approached Regina.
"Aunt Regina, we're here to help both of you. Whatever you need, we'll be happy to be sure you receive it."
"Thank you, dear." Regina put her arms around Ida and pulled her into a hug.
As Ida hugged Regina, her eyes wander up to the balcony of her Uncle and Aunt's bedchamber. Standing and watching them was a man that she had never met, dressed in clothes that she knew came from Agrabah, the realm where one of her friend's, Princess Jasmine, resided.
Ida released Regina and walked through the gates to try to get a closer look. She turned to Regina and pointed. "Aunt Regina, who is that?"
"Who, dear?"
"There, on your balcony. He's-"Ida looked towards the balcony again, but saw no one.
"Ida, are you feeling well?" Regina asked.
Ida's brows furrowed in confusion. "Yes, I'm fine. It just must've been my imagination. Yes, that's it. That's all it was."
Mary-Margaret Blanchard sat on the staircase outside of the door to her loft. In her hands, she held her cellphone.
"I guess this party wasn't such a good idea."
Mary Margaret looked up at her best friend, Heather Beck, who stood at the door, leaning against the frame. She held a glass of wine in one hand and a rectangular box in the other.
"Oh, no. No, no. What you and Emma have done today; it's made me feel so happy, and I'm glad to know that I still have friends that are willing to show me their support."
"I've been to enough parties to know that when the guest of honor disappears, that something is up." Heather sat on the step beside Mary Margaret. "You wanna talk about it?"
Mary Margaret sighed. "It still hurts. Having to let David go."
"Who said you had to let him go? I mean, in the romantic sense, it would be wise; but writing him off completely? That's not like you."
"Heather, he didn't believe that I was innocent. He seriously believed that I killed his wife."
"I'm not saying that what he did was right, but people make mistakes all the time. No one is perfect."
Mary Margaret scoffed. "This was a pretty bad mistake. He didn't trust me, or believe me. How can you have any sort of relationship with someone that doesn't trust you?"
Heather sighed and touched her friend's shoulder. "Whatever you decide. I've got your back."
Mary Margaret smiled and deleted David's contact information from her phone and then blocked his number.
Mary Margaret put her phone in her pocket, and then faced Heather with a smile; although there was still tears behind her eyes.
"So, I take it that box is for me?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Actually, these are both for you. A glass of wine from me, because no one needs this as badly as you do." Heather handed the glass over to Mary Margaret. "Also, this is from Moe. He's sorry he couldn't make it, but the doctor wanted him to stay home and rest."
Heather handed the box over to Mary Margaret, who opened it. She gasped upon seeing a small bouquet of flowers.
"The blue salvias are from Moe to let you know he's thinking about you, and the gladiolus were my idea so you would have a reminder to stay strong through this."
Mary Margaret hugged Heather. "Thank you so much."
Heather smiled. "Now, let's get back to that party."