Hyperion Heights, Present Day

Weaver picked the locked door at the back of the bakery as Rogers held up a flashlight. When he managed to unlock it, Rogers handed him the extra flashlight.

Weaver then opened the door, and the two of them headed inside. Weaver waved his hand in front of his face before he covered his nose.

"Ugh, do you smell that?" Rogers complained before he moved his gloved hand in front of his face.

"That's gas," Weaver surmised before they moved toward the kitchen. He spotted the open oven and noticed the gas turned up all the way. He quickly turned the knobs back before he coughed.

He turned to continue searching when he spied something - he shined the flashlight and found Hilda lying on the floor. She had been handcuffed to a baking cart.

As he bent down next to her, Rogers entered. Weaver checked her wrist before he turned his attention to his partner.

"She's still alive."

Rogers scanned the room. "Well, there's nothing and no one here except baking equipment."

Weaver then noticed her hair and reached toward it. "A lock of her hair is missing."

"The cult," Rogers inferred before Weaver rose to his feet and faced him.

"Whoever killed our doctor tried to kill our baker, too." He looked back at Hilda. "And whatever they're up to, I suspect…"

He locked eyes with Rogers once more as he bemused, "They're far from finished."

Back at the bar, Kelly sighed. "So what do we do now?" She sat on one of the stools as Roni grabbed them a drink.

She let out a sigh. "I don't know. But I think we can both agree Samdi had no idea we pulled a switch on him." A smile then made its way on her face as she handed her sister a tumbler.

"So, Facilier's asleep," Kelly surmised, her expression equally elated. She and Roni then took a sip of their drink just as the door opened.

"Can I have one of those?" They turned to see Alena leaned against the door. She then made her way to the counter.

"Bad day?" Roni questioned as she poured the liquid in a tumbler. She then handed the drink to her.

With a shake of her head, she answered, "But the girls are at a sleepover, and I thought I'd take advantage."

She couldn't help but smile before she took a sip. Roni then surmised, "Henry said you were in here earlier – were you taking some time from work?"

"Something like that." She then rested her chin in her hand. "Given everything that's happened, I thought it was what's best."

Roni let out a sigh while Kelly remarked, "Given that you and Drizella are practically volatile, I think you're probably right."

Alena couldn't help but shake her head. She then took a breath. "And it gave me a chance to sort things out for my business."

"Your business?" Kelly questioned as she placed her glass back on the table, "You worked for Victoria Belfry and have your own business?"

At Alena's nod, the red-head quipped, "I don't know if that's bravery or stupidity. Although, considering who your father is, I can't say I'm surprised."

The blonde shook her head and rolled her eyes, only to receive a shrug. Roni then surmised, "She has a point – sometimes, I swear you have all of Hook's genes."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Alena replied in a perfect imitation of his accent. A grin spread across her face before she let out a giggle. Kelly and Roni rolled their eyes.

The brunette then asked, "So, how are things going with the business?"

"It's going great! The building's nearly finished, and the paperwork itself is finished – except for a final read through. I still haven't read all of it with Nick's…"

She bit her lip and trailed off. She quickly brought her drink to her lips.

"You saw Nick again?"

Alena glanced over the rim of her glass and spied Roni glaring at her, her hands pressed flat on the table.

She placed the glass on the counter, her blue eyes focused on her lap. She wrung her hands together.

She then took a deep breath and brought her eyes to Roni's. "He's a lawyer, and I needed one to check over all the paperwork. That's all that happened."

Roni crossed her arms. "What about the fact that he took that blood test? The one that proves he's the twins' father?"

"He didn't mention it, so it must have slipped his mind. I really don't think there's anything to worry about."

"You do realize that we're one bombshell away from bloody exploding? What's to stop him from bombarding you with questions the next time he sees the girls?" Kelly pointed out as she gestured with her glass.

Alena's eyes drifted downward as she ran her fingers through her hair. The red-head raised an eyebrow.

"Bloody hell – he's already seen them, hasn't he?"

She slowly nodded as she closed her eyes. Roni dropped her head and shook it.

"I thought Snow and David gave me problems during my curse." The brunette then downed the rest of her drink before she prepared another.

She then eyed Alena. "I thought you understood how dangerous this is for all of us. Why the hell are you still entertaining it?"

"Because I love him, Regina! I'm desperately in love with him! And it kills me to be away from him. You know how hard it is for you seeing Henry every day these last weeks? Try three bloody years – three years of raising his daughters on my own. Believe me, I lecture myself every damn time I see him – but then I see him again, and it all goes out the bloody window. I don't need you to lecture me, too."

She sobbed and buried her face in her hands. Roni and Kelly exchanged a look before they both took a breath and exhaled deeply.

"We're both sorry, Alena," the brunette began with a wave of her hands, "We do understand that this is hard for you – and we're not trying to make light of it. We just don't want you to get hurt, and you will if you keep going down this road."

Kelly sipped on her drink before she quipped, "I think I'm more concerned about this whole bloody curse blowing up in our faces if she keeps this up."

Roni eyed her sister, who only shrugged. The brunette then offered, "There's…just so much riding on this. We all want to break this curse…"

"And we have to do it without hurting Henry," Alena supplied. She received a nod in response. The blonde released a deep breath.

"There's really nothing to worry about – though it is a little weird between us, we do want to be friends. Just friends."

Alena then sipped on her drink. Kelly remarked, "I'm sure you are – the kind of friends that gave you Emma and Lily."

Alena choked on her drink, a deep blush spreading across her features.

Roni shook her head and rolled her eyes. With a deep breath, she then said, "Never mind that. I know you'll be careful."

At Alena's nod - and grateful smile - the brunette then continued, "What we need to do is focus on finding a way to break this curse. And making sure you are ready to do just that."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Training you in magic."

Alena hummed and tilted her head. "I could use all the help I can get."

"And maybe we can figure out how your magic even bloody works," Kelly commented as she reached for one of the pretzels. As she popped it in her mouth, Roni let out a deep breath.

"How about we start now? The bar's closed, and you said the girls were at a sleepover." She then gestured toward the back.

"We can practice in the back – so we can be away from prying eyes."

Alena bobbed her head before she sipped on her drink. She then hopped down from the stool as Kelly followed her movement.

The red-head crossed her arms. "I'm still not entirely sure how we're supposed to do this without magic ourselves."

"It won't be…easy – but we have more than enough experience to make it work, and Alena has enough skill to compensate."

Her arms still crossed, Kelly chided, "I do hope you're right." Alena rolled her eyes before the three of them walked into the back room.