Back in Storybrooke, Regina was shown to be home in her office, packing her things up before she was soon suddenly given a phone call. She then answered her cell phone, then smiled once she heard who was on the other line. "Henry! I'm just packing up the office. I've been asked to leave. Once your sister comes back home, I'll let her decide if she wants to come or not."
There was then an answer on the other line.
"No, of course it can wait," Regina then said as she sounded a bit brighter now. "I'd love to have lunch with you."
There was then another answer heard.
"Granny's. 10 minutes." Regina then nodded before she hung up before grabbing her purse and leaving so that she could go and have lunch with Henry with possibly the very last time.
Once the coast was clear, however, Dee Dee appeared from behind one of the side doors. She looked around, then gave a thumb's up behind her, prompting Henry to come out after her once Regina was out of sight. "What're we looking for?" she then asked her friend once they snuck inside.
"We need a key. A very special key." Henry replied as he walked into the room.
"Oh. Okay." Dee Dee then said before she began to look around with Henry.
Henry then looked inside one of the drawers of a filing cabinet, then found a ring of keys.
"Which one is the right key?" Dee Dee asked.
"They'll probably do just fine," Henry replied. "They're skeleton keys."
Dee Dee then gasped, suddenly looking spooked out by that name. "Does that mean they belong to The Grim Reaper?" she then asked fearfully.
"No, Dee Dee," Henry said with a laugh, though not laughing at his friend before he explained more to her. "That just means they can open just about any door."
"Ohh..." Dee Dee said, now understanding.
"Now come on. Let's go see Mom's vault while there's still time." Henry then told Dee Dee.
"Right." Dee Dee said, nodding in agreement before following after her best friend.
Soon, they left the mansion and began to travel around deep in the bowels of Storybrooke. Henry then gave the keys to Dee Dee before taking out his book to use as a guide.
"Is The Evil Queen's vault in your book?" Dee Dee asked.
"Of course it is," Henry nodded. "This book has just about everything, but I'm still trying to find your story, Dee Dee. Don't worry though, I'll find it one of these days for you."
"I just hope it's a story with a happily ever after." Dee Dee said softly.
"Don't worry, you're going to live happily ever after," Henry smiled. "Especially since the curse is broken."
Dee Dee smiled back before pouting to herself a little bit. "I sure hope so... Especially since Mama Nova and Papa Leroy are having their issues with being together." she then said quietly to herself as thinking about that made her feel sad.
Henry gently patted Dee Dee's back as he cracked open his book to look for an answer so that they would know where to go from there. Using the skeleton keys to get inside, Henry then spied scrape marks along the floor, figuring out that the sarcophagus could be moved. He handed Dee Dee his book then before he pushed the sarcophagus aside and headed down to Regina's vault. Dee Dee came tumbling after as she looked around, feeling a little spooked out down here, but she felt a lot more comfortable with Henry's company at least before they approached The Wall of Hearts and they could be heard beating inside of the boxes.
"Don't be scared," Henry told Dee Dee. "It's going to be okay."
"I sure hope so." Dee Dee whispered softly.
The two kids soon went further into the vault to where several vases and chests were held before one stood out among the rest.
"This must be what we need." Henry told Dee Dee.
Dee Dee nodded hopefully in response. Henry then took out one of the keys and slowly opened up the chest to find out what was inside. However, just as the chest was opened, two snakes sprung out of the box, prompting Dee Dee to suddenly scream out loud in a bit of fright, but then a certain someone arrived just in time to shut the lid.
"Maybe we should've gone with Operation Viper," David soon said to Henry before looking at the two kids. "You guys alright?" he then asked.
"Yeah. How'd you know we were down here?" Henry replied.
"Your mom said you asked her to lunch and, when you stood her up, she checked her office, saw her keys missing, figured out the rest," David explained. "She would've come herself, but she didn't think you'd go with her. Henry, Dee Dee, what were you thinking?" he then asked.
"I just wanted to help Henry." Dee Dee pouted softly in response.
"And I just want them back, 'specially Evie," Henry added. "It wasn't supposed to be this way. I should be over there with them. Riding horses, learning how to sword fight."
"I know. I know. It's okay," David said as soothingly as he could. "Because we're gonna do this together."
"Me too?" Dee Dee soon asked.
"Of course you too," David smiled and nodded at her as he looked soft at the two kids. "Come on, now. You gotta get to school, and I gotta make sure no one else finds this place." he then said before they then left the crypt before they would be seen by anybody else.
They soon made it out and it was time for the kids to go to school.
"It was nice that you wanted to help your friend, Dee Dee, but you shouldn't just blindly follow him like that," David advised. "You could get into trouble with Mother Superior."
"I'm sorry... I just wanted to help Henry because he's my best friend," Dee Dee said softly. "Are you gonna tell Mama Nova?"
"I won't tell anyone what happened, but I'll just give you a warning," David told the kids. "Besides, Mr. Crane's a decent substitute teacher, isn't he?"
Henry and Dee Dee looked a bit annoyed in response.
"What's wrong?" David asked.
"He's okay, but he's no Ms. Blanchard," Dee Dee pouted. "He gives out homework. A lot of homework."
"Ohh... I see..." David said before smirking a little. "Look, we'll get Ms. Blanchard, Emma, and Evie back before you know it. You just gotta be patient first."
"Okay. Okay." Henry then said.
"But it won't be easy." Dee Dee added.
"Besides, Dee Dee, don't you start Dance Class today?" David then asked the girl. "Wouldn't you like to be able to start that on your first day and have fun with the other dancers?"
"...I guess," Dee Dee said softly with a sigh. "And I'll be in a big show."
"And I'm sure Sister Astrid-Erm... Nova would love to watch it up close and for herself," David said with a smile. "Wouldn't you want her to see you dance? I hear you're a great dancer from what everybody else says about you."
"Other people say that I'm a good dancer?" Dee Dee asked.
"Well, yeah, of course they do," David nodded. "You're a very talented young lady and you should be proud of yourself."
"I am..." Dee Dee admitted with a small smile. "I try my best anyway."
"And I hear you're excellent." David replied.
"She really is," Henry nodded. "I've seen her."
Dee Dee smiled as even her best friend thought that she was super talented.
"Go to school and have fun," David then told the kids. "Something better will come up before you know it."
Dee Dee and Henry then both looked hopeful as they were soon going back to school. However, as they went to school, Jefferson was shown to be looking at the school, then walked off with a sigh since he would definitely not get his daughter back right away this way since school was going on right now, but he made his way over to The Little Teashop.
"Why, hello there, Jefferson," Mrs. Potts, the owner, greeted with a warm smile. "It's always nice to see you popping over."
"Hello, Mrs. Potts," Jefferson nodded at the kindly older woman. "Glad to see you're still open. I just hope you didn't lose anything valuable during The Wraith attacks."
"Oh, yes, quite a bit I'm afraid, though no worries," Mrs. Potts said as she picked up a couple of plates. "There's still plenty of good China to go around and to be delivered, such as when Granny's diner or the school cafeterias get a visit from Drury Lane."
"Ahh... Right... The Muffin Man..." Jefferson nodded. "Seriously, who doesn't this town have?"
"Nothing to worry about though, luv," Mrs. Potts smiled sweetly at The Mad Hatter. "Though I'm sure your little tea shop will do nicely too... What with my daughter's independent party planning business on the side... Especially since I'm not getting any younger..." she then added with a weary sigh.
Jefferson looked soft before he smiled and gently hit her arm to help comfort her. "Oh... You'll probably outlive us all and be up there with Widow Lucas," he then said softly. "I wouldn't think about it too much as long as you help pitch in for my own teashop and maybe my daughter can take over for me since we're all teaching our descendants more about our lives in The Enchanted Forest now that the curse is broken."
"I'm glad to pitch in, Jefferson," Mrs. Potts smiled as she was about to put the plates away before suddenly dropping one and it suddenly hit and shattered into several tiny pieces in the middle of the floor. "Oops!"
"I'll help clean it up." Jefferson offered once he saw that.
"Very well," Mrs. Potts nodded before she turned her head. "Carina, dear? Please get the broom and dustpan!"
"Yes, Mama." A sweet looking teenage girl nodded once her name was called before she walked off to go and do just that.
Soon, after the broom and dustpan were grabbed, Carina and Jefferson began to help clean up the mess as Mrs. Potts smiled and watched them at work. Jefferson smiled as he collected the shattered pieces as Carina swept up the pieces and he then began to go to the trashcan, about to throw away the broken pieces.
"Ah, ah, ah... Not in the trash~" Mrs. Potts tutted and stopped him suddenly as she had something else in mind, bringing out a specially decorated tray. "Put it in here instead."
"You keep broken plates?" Jefferson asked Mrs. Potts as he then dumped the dustpan inside of the tray, seeing other shattered pieces of plates inside.
"And broken cups and broken saucers." Mrs. Potts nodded.
"You could say it's kinda her hobby." Carina added.
"Oh. What do you do with it all?" Jefferson then asked the older woman.
"Come on out back. I'll show you." Mrs. Potts smiled as she carried the tray, about to go to the back to show Jefferson what she meant while Carina also smiled.
Soon, they came into a very wonderful looking backyard with a colorful path outside among a birdbath that looked like a fountain with other pieces from broken China.
"Wow... Every piece is apart of something broken..." Jefferson said in amazement.
"And over there's the path I'm working on." Mrs. Potts pointed out to Jefferson.
"Wow... Look at all the broken pieces and all of those colors..." Jefferson said in surprise. "This is really impressive, Mrs. Potts."
"Thank you and let this be a lesson to you, Jefferson, that everything can be turned into something good," Mrs. Potts smiled and nodded at the younger man. "Even broken cups and plates. Mr. Gold has a very lovely teacup in his shop that has a chip in it, but he insists on keeping it." she then added as an example.
Jefferson looked soft then. "My daughter had a very nice tea set that I got her for her birthday that nearly cost me my soul," he then nodded. "I had to work very hard and not be able to come back home before she would go to bed and usually had to stay with our neighbors, but... It was worth it just to see her happy on her special day."
Mrs. Potts then chuckled warmly. "You're a very kind soul, Jefferson... Your daughter is very lucky to have you." she then nodded.
Jefferson smiled sadly in response to that. "You must break a lot of cups and plates by the way." he then added as he continued to look around her backyard.
"I suppose I've broken my fair share over the years," Mrs. Potts laughed a little at that. "But some of them have been given to me by friends and neighbors. Every time someone around here breaks a fine piece of china, mine and Carina's backyard gets a little more interesting."
"Good to know... I just hope my future café is just as vibrant and interesting as yours someday." Jefferson nodded.
"I'm sure that it will be," Mrs. Potts replied. "I just hope that it keeps you busy and happy."
"Yeah, me too. We might be trying to live our normal fairy tale lives with our descendants around here, but I need a job still," Jefferson replied. "Especially if I ever hope to provide for my daughter around here."
"Bless you then, Jefferson," Mrs. Potts replied. "I'll give you your donation the next time you come around."
"Thank you, Mrs. Potts," Jefferson nodded before he then decided to leave the shop then. "Good day to you, Mrs. Potts. Good day to you too, Carina."
"Good day, Jefferson!" Carina and Mrs. Potts told the eccentric man.
Jefferson nodded as he left the tea shop and was about to head back home until he suddenly ran into someone, knocking them both down on the floor suddenly. He fell on the ground and groaned before he looked over as the person he ran into was a rather mousy woman who had squeaked from the impact. Jefferson groaned in frustration as he looked at the woman he had collided with. She had platinum blonde hair that almost looked white as snow unless the light hit her head in a certain way and had dark chocolate brown eyes as her eyes were squinted and she had her hand patting the ground, trying to get something that she was struggling with.
Jefferson saw a pair of glasses in front of him before he picked them up and then held them out to the troubled woman. "Excuse me, Miss... Do these belong to you?" he then asked.
"Huh? Oh... Oh, thank you... Thank you so much..." The woman trembled and beamed, speaking in a high-pitched and soft voice before she took the glasses and began to wear them before looking at him. "Sorry about that..." she then gasped and squeaked.
"Oh, it's no trouble," Jefferson reassured her before helping her up to her feet. "Here, let me help you."
The woman soon stood up with him as she shook, looking rather nervous and bashful. "I... I think I know you..." she then said, having rather pronounced buck teeth.
"You do?" Jefferson asked, tilting his head a bit.
"I think so... What's your name?" The woman asked as she tried to keep calm around him, shivering nervously.
Jefferson then told the woman his name.
"Jefferson... I-I knew it... You've been to Wonderland." The woman soon said to him.
"Yes... I have... I hate it a lot though, it kept me away from my daughter," Jefferson nodded before looking at her. "...Do I know you though?"
"Oh... I-I'm Dorene... Um... Dorene Maus." The woman then said, sounding a lot like a certain timid rodent animal.
"Dorene Maus..." Jefferson soon repeated before he looked curious. "...You didn't happen to be a dormouse, did you?"
Dorene squeaked in response before nodding. "Uh... Y-Yes, I was... But don't tell the non-Wonderlandians that." she then requested.
"Uh... Sure... But why?" Jefferson then asked.
"If you go around The Rabbit Hole bar, if anyone a-a-asks... M-M-My name is D-D-Daffodil," Dorene said while trembling nervously. "I-I-I have a rather different life there."
"Rabbit Hole, huh? I'm trying to make up my own place based on that for the younger townspeople, like the kids and teenagers," Jefferson then said. "I was thinking of calling it The Mad for Tea Café."
"Oh... T-That sounds nice..." Dorene shivered and nodded before smiling a bit. "I-I-I should run along... S-S-Sorry... I gotta go..." she then suddenly darted away.
Jefferson blinked, about to call out and stop Dorene, feeling concerned for her, but then decided not to. He had a bad feeling about Dorene being at The Rabbit Hole bar, but decided not to interfere until he would probably see her again, especially as she seemed to be very scared of her own shadow for some reason. He felt concerned, though began to feel courageous enough to do a certain thing.
After a while, it was soon after school. Jefferson was there as he looked at the school bus as a few kids came off, including one certain one as he tried to work up the courage to do something. He hesitated a few times as he saw a certain girl before he finally did something he really should've done a long time ago.
"Grace!"
The girl known as Paige soon answered to that name as it was her true name after all and she soon saw who had called out for her. "Papa! You found me! I knew you would!" she then beamed as she ran over to the man.
Jefferson smiled as he soon hugged Grace, embracing her as they finally and happily reunited before they soon walked off together to talk about plans for the future together.
"Aww... Henry... Isn't it nice to see families reuniting together?" Dee Dee cooed as she looked out from Emma's yellow Bug as she sat there with her friend who was waiting for thinking of what to do until Emma, Evie, and Mary Margaret would be able to come back home.
"Yeah... I suppose..." Henry said softly.
"Hey... It's gonna be okay," Dee Dee said as she looked at her best friend. "We'll get your family back. Just like you said we would find my family."
"We will... Eventually..." Henry replied.
"Just like we'll eventually get your family back," Dee Dee said. "Look on the bright side though, you felt alone in Storybrooke until you and Evie found Emma. Now you're just finding family all over the place."
"That's a very good way to put it, Dee Dee," Henry smiled as he looked back at his best friend. "And even though Leroy and Sister Astrid won't stay together as a couple since he's a dwarf and she's a fairy, they're like your family too."
"Even before you went on your journey to find Emma, we've always been alone, but were always together," Dee Dee said before taking his hand. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Neither would I." Henry smiled and nodded as he took her hand back.
The two best friends then looked hopeful together before they were soon met with company. David soon knocked on the window with a bag in hand until the kids then looked over and rolled down the window to see the older man.
"Hello, Mr. Nolan-Charming, sir." Dee Dee greeted.
"Hello, Dee Dee. Hi, Henry." David smiled once he saw the two kids.
"What brings you here?" Dee Dee asked.
"I've been thinking... If Henry's gonna start helping me and maybe you too, Dee Dee, we've got to make sure we do this right," David soon said before he then showed the bag. "So, I picked these up on my way home."
Henry looked into the bag and saw that there were two wooden swords inside. "Seriously?" he then asked his grandfather.
"Yeah, you're the grandson of a prince. I think it's about time you learned how to use a sword." David nodded.
"Henry, you could be just like The Nutcracker Prince," Dee Dee gasped hopefully. "He sword fought against The Mouse King after all. You could be a nutcracker soldier too and fight for your mother, grandmother, and sister."
Henry cracked a small smile at what Dee Dee said, though he still looked a little unsure about what David said to him.
David sighed sharply at the boy. "Henry, I can't get 'em back without you. So, what do you say?" he then asked while trying to appease him. "You with me?"
Henry looked thoughtful again before he then thought of a possibility. "Can you teach me how to fight a dragon?" he then asked hopefully.
Dee Dee giggled at that.
"We'll work our way up to it." David said then.
Soon, Henry got out of the car before Dee Dee followed behind and stepped out of the way as the two soon began to prepare to duel.
"My liege." David said before bowing to Henry.
Henry bowed in return before he took out his sword, about to sway it about.
"En garde!" David challenged before he began to sway his own sword to fight against Henry in a playful sort of way like how children used to do back in The Enchanted Forest.
"Hey, there you are," Nova said as she soon found Dee Dee, prompting the girl to turn around and look at the adult woman. "I've been looking for you."
"Oh, no. Did I miss Dance Class today?" Dee Dee asked with a gasp and frown.
"No, it's all right, dear," Nova reassured. "I was just wondering if you'd like to join me at Granny's Diner for a bite to eat."
"Oh... Okay..." Dee Dee nodded. "Just let me say goodbye to Henry first."
"Sure, dear." Nova smiled as she would allow it.
Dee Dee smiled back before she then walked over to Henry and once David saw her, he then stopped fighting with the boy. "Henry?" she then spoke up.
"You gotta go?" Henry guessed.
"Yes, but it's not Dance Class. Mama Nova invited me to have dinner with her." Dee Dee explained.
"Oh... Have fun, okay?" Henry said with a smile. "That sounds very good for you."
"Thanks, Henry. You have fun too," Dee Dee said before curtsying in front of the boy. "Good day... Prince Henry."
"And you too, Lady Dee Dee." Henry replied before he bowed to her with his sword.
The two then laughed together before sharing a best friend hug with each other and soon, they separated. Once Dee Dee took Nova's hand and they walked down the street together, David and Henry continued to play fight together on the sidewalk as Dee Dee and Nova walked off together. As they did that, a certain man was watching David and Henry in particular from his car, looking rather grim and foreboding.
"There's a special surprise in the diner, I hope that you like it." Nova soon whispered to Dee Dee.
"What is it?" Dee Dee then asked.
"If I tell you, it won't be much of a surprise, now will it?" Nova giggled and teased the girl since she asked that question.
"If you tell me, I'll still act surprised." Dee Dee grinned innocently.
"Oh... You are such a naughty little ballerina~" Nova cooed and chuckled as she patted the girl on the head. "Go on... Why don't you go inside first?"
"Uh... Okay..." Dee Dee said before nodding. She then opened the door to the diner and stepped inside, looking around. She didn't seem to see anything surprise worthy, seeing the same old people there as Granny, Ruby, and Kiara tended to them and was about to shrug, give up, and go back outside.
"Pigtails..." A familiar voice soon said, stopping her instantly.
Dee Dee then stopped before turning around and gasped happily at the sight of the former dwarf.
"I can't stay long now, but-" Leroy began to say with a small smile.
"You're here!" Dee Dee beamed before she ran over and suddenly hugged Leroy before he could even react.
"Ah!" Leroy grunted and cried out before looking down, though he tolerated the hug. "Aw... Come here now..."
Nova giggled at that as she stepped inside of the diner. "Shall we have a booth then?" she suggested.
"Sure!" Leroy nodded as he waddled a bit while Dee Dee continued to hug him, so he walked a little awkwardly. "Hopefully she lets go soon."
"I'm sure she will eventually." Nova replied.
"So... Does this mean... You guys are-" Dee Dee began to ask hopefully.
"Dee Dee, I'm sorry, but we're not getting together," Nova sighed and frowned. "Besides, I'm a nun even if I'm not a fairy anymore and Leroy's not a dwarf anymore."
"Hmph..." Dee Dee firmly pouted, letting go of Leroy to cross her arms.
Nova giggled a little. "You know, she actually kinda looks like you when she does that." she then told Leroy.
Leroy smiled tenderly before doing a double-take, glancing at Nova strangely since Dee Dee had her own grumpy pout. Though, that was enough to make Dee Dee stop pouting temporarily before giggling a little.
"Well, at least it got a smile outta her," Leroy then said before looking down. "Look, kid, we might not be getting together, but... Lemme make it up to ya by getting you dinner and... Well... I was gonna wait until tomorrow, but maybe you'd like to come to work with me?" he then offered.
"I can do that?" Dee Dee then asked.
"Well... Sure, if you'd like," Leroy replied. "You could learn more with Dougie about what dwarves used to do in The Enchanted Forest."
"Which actually helps us fairies out," Nova then added. "They harvest fairy dust in the mines which helps give us our magic. So Dee Dee, in a way, you could think about it as us working together even if we can't be together-together. Will that help cheer you up?" she then asked hopefully.
"Well..." Dee Dee paused thoughtfully. "...Can I get a sugarplum ice cream sundae for dessert after dinner?" she then asked, batting her eyelashes at Nova and Leroy.
The two then looked at each other before sighing a little.
"...Oh, all right..." Leroy sighed and shook his head. "If that'll make ya happy."
"It would really..." Dee Dee smirked innocently.
"You just better not give her ice cream just to make her happy all the time or else she'll just walk all over you." Nova advised Leroy.
"Hey... I'm workin' on it, okay?" Leroy shrugged. "I ain't really father material, but just this once. Surely Ms. Fisher and that Elwin kid have something she likes after we're done here."
"All right... Just be careful," Nova replied. "I don't want her to grow up spoiled rotten."
"She can't be worse than those Zimmer kids, right? I hear they're real candyholics." Leroy defended.
"They used to be Hansel and Gretel." Nova retorted.
"So that just proves my point." Leroy smirked.
"Ugh..." Nova groaned and rolled her eyes slightly.
Dee Dee looked between her two new parental figures before cupping her face and giggling quietly to herself. While Henry was going to concentrate on trying to get his family back, she was going to try to figure out ways to get Leroy and Nova together and to be more like her parental figures because she knew deep down that it would work out one way or another.
A/N: Would you guys like to see more of Dorene Maus in the future or would you prefer MadSwan? Let me know in the comments.