Emma was finally settling in Storybrooke. She always liked the feeling of a new city, especially in the early days, when life itself seemed new again and the past had not yet found it. It never lasted. But the honeymoon period was stimulating, electric. It was his favorite feeling.
That Storybrooke was different, a place literally populated by his past in the form of his son, made Emma realize that he had now entered a new chapter of his life and that the next steps would not be the same as before. This scared her. She had just had to take care of herself.
But for now, he felt good. Something that had always been out of control seemed to have been corrected in his heart.
Lonnie showed him the ropes of simple police work, joking with her while informing him about all the corners and cracks of Storybrooke, telling him about long-standing disputes between several residents.
But I still didn't know what to think of Henry's belief in the curse. She talked about it non-stop, and she kept playing. Every time he began to discuss it, to tell him, for example, that the reason Carlos and Jay were close friends that Jay was Jafar's son and Carlos son of Cruella de Vill from the Island had always been friends, she nodded pleasantly and thought: What are you doing, Thorne?
Evie was another story, and a story a little more recognizable. He had fallen in love with Doug Nolan, a man he didn't even know. It's not good. It's not good for a lot of reasons. It wasn't good if you had a relationship with someone else. I talked too much about him and spent more time in the hospital than I should. He encouraged his visits and asked him to stay late on many occasions. I had even told her that she felt a special connection with her, that she felt that I knew her more than anyone else. He came home that night and told Emma and Mal abruptly
I resigned today. Yes, I have. I have something with Chad, something I've always wanted, AND I'm NOT going to lose it because of a false attraction with a patient_
Emma thought her friend was self-conscious enough to make the right decision. But Emma had seen and felt love, and she knew what she could do to a person.
Mal on the other hand thought Chad was an idiot, but if it was what Evie really wanted she was proud of how her friend had acted.
Henry. For him, as he told him again and again, it made a lot of sense that the two were attracted to each other. It was only a matter of time before natural order was restored. Tontin's son and The Evil Witch together, their daughter Emma already grown up and present, grandson Henry smiling at everyone, the whole family stable, solid and united.
When Emma thought so, in terms of the perfect family tree Henry had built for himself, his fantasy life went from looking innocent to seeming dangerous. Something that could end up hurting him much more than he had already been hurt.
Emma took Henry to Doug's "Welcome Home" party and, along the way, Henry, who had noticed when Evie murmured Emma:
I can't go, I shouldn't go_
When they arrived at the party, Doug approached them.
When she approached and smiled, Emma realized that she felt uncomfortable there, surrounded by her old "friends", whom she did not recognize. I knew Emma because she had been there in the hospital and had helped find her.
Henry already greeted her and took her coats.
"You look like a lost man," Emma said. _Come on. Hide here with us. Let's not bite_
Doug smiled, obviously relieved, and the three went to the corner of the room. _Thank you. It's a little overwhelming_
"I can't even imagine it," Emma said.
He seemed to get nervous then, and Emma tried to give him a "scup him" look.
And I'm sorry, I know, I know you're living with Evie. I was wondering if you knew when I would be here? _
Oh, Emma thought.
Emma crossed her arms and smiled with a sharp smile.
Yes. She can't come. I'm sorry. _
Doug continued to observe it, looking for a sign of what that could mean. Emma didn't feel the need to give more details.
She was busy, huh? _
No, she's not! Henry said, smiling. He is at home, hanging aviaries. You should go talk to her. For your love
It's your party, you can't go anywhere_
Yes. I should probably stay_
Evie was standing at the top of a scissor ladder when she heard someone say her name.
Surprised, she was about to fall off the stairs, but restrained herself by grabbing the trunk of the tree in front of her. She turned to see him.
"Oh, Doug," she said, feeling a sudden and inexplicable sadness, looking him in the eye. Seeing his face was like looking directly at an unsolvable problem. _You shouldn't have come_
"There was no one at the party I wanted to see," he said.
He went down the stairs and crossed the courtyard.
"I have a boyfriend," she said, once she had arrived at him. We can't do this. It's... it doesn't make any sense_She almost laughed with this last word, but he didn't seem to find her funny. But it was the truth. Most of all, she just didn't understand any of that. Including your own feelings
"That doesn't matter," he said, taking his hands. She resisted, but he held them. _Look, listen to me. I know, I understand. I was in a coma, I had this whole other life, but you... There is something, we are both sorry. I don't know what kind of person he used to be, but I know who I am now. I am a person who trusts his heart. And my heart tells me that my authentic life, that my real life, is somehow here_
Tears gushed from his eyes and he felt that he smiled with concern.
Then he put his hands away.
I think it's simpler. I think it's just that I saved you. That's all. The feeling will disappear_
He turned around and retired to the back door.
He got home badly and found Evie abusing the kitchen with a scourer and set her aside to calm down, talk and have a drink. She obeyed and told him about Doug's visit to the courtyard. She admitted that she had been tempted, that she also felt something.
"You are in a relationship," Mal warned. _He is just starting to take steps in his new life, it's a disaster. This is not the right time, Ev. You can't get involved_
I know_he said quietly. _So I told him to leave_
"That's good," he said Badly." He mayn't feel good now, but that's good. I think deep down you know that something is not right_
Evie did not sleep well and dreamed of the toll bridge, where they had found Doug, she dreamed of him face down in the water. Time and again, she saw him roll upright, she saw herself putting her lips on his. When he woke up, it was daylight and he heard the birds' chirping outside. She felt restless and considered calling to say she was sick. Instead, he got out of bed, got dressed and went to the restaurant.
He soon wished he hadn't done it.
Hello, Mrs. Blanchard
Evie looked up and was surprised to see Audrey standing at her table.
Can I join you for a moment? _ he asked. This won't really take long." He slipped in front of the girl. _This is my friend Doug_
Regina let this sink.
Evie, for his part, tried not to reveal anything. But he knew what was coming and prepared himself in silence.
"I didn't know they were friends," he said. The mayor was the emergency contact but to say that they had a friendship seemed like a lot to her.
"I don't know what you're trying to do, but it's never prudent to put 'Interested and opportunistic' on your resume," Audrey said. _Especially in a small town. Things can become very uncomfortable, very quickly_
With her eyes wide open, Evie couldn't think of anything to say.
"Don't play dumb with me," Miss Blanchard," said Audrey. _People in the hospital comment on their closeness to the new patient. Are you having a relationship with Mr. Glass? Right?. Don't play with two people. It's just advice_
I wouldn't_
Both you and I know that he is a confused man who still doesn't remember who he is. Mr. Chad does not deserve this either. Why don't you do everyone a favor, go back to your small existence and leave these two people alone? _
Without waiting for an answer, Audrey slipped out of the cabin, straightened her suit and left the restaurant, with the heels echoing all the way.
But there was no trace of him. Peace and quiet. Nothing happened. Evie began to believe that everything was finally fading and that life would move forward and return to normal.
Then, on a Wednesday morning, in the middle of the day. He was in his apartment. The doorbell rang
Doug was out.
What are you doing here? _Without bothering to hide his anger. _You can't just come here_
"I can't stop thinking about you," he said. _Leave Chad. I think we should be together. He spoke directly, deliberately. Evie was puzzled by her frankness. How had so much happened in such a short time?
"This is crazy," he said. _You have to go. _
Is it crazy? _ he asked. Don't you feel it too? Answer me that_
She could only look at him.
Listen_he said. _You don't have to decide anything now. Just meet me tonight. Near the bridge where you found me. If you think this can work, meet me there at nine. I'll be waiting. _David smiled.
I can't. _
"Just think about it," Doug said. _Just think. That's all I ask for.
Contrary to his good judgment, he thought about it. He thought about it all day, during class, and thought about it while walking from school to the police station. She asked Emma and Mal for advice. Emma surprised her by telling her that she should go meet Doug.
If you're thinking so much about him. Then you should do it. Follow your heart_
And Chad, what about him? _
Break up with him. I'm not a sympathizer of him but a break and that you tell him the truths head on, it's a right he has_ this time it was Evil who spoke.
Chad deserved truth. Because Chad had been sincere with her. Mercia the same.
So what? _
Can hearts see the truth? A little better than the eyes? _Said Emma.
"I'm surprised to hear you say that," Mal said.
"Who said there?" I wasn't a romantic in my," Emma said.
Evie was surprised by the advice of her friends, but in her heart she knew she wanted to go, she wanted to choose Doug. He didn't understand how they had gotten here as fast as they had, but he didn't care.
The mayor had a meeting that night and Henry took the opportunity to sneak away and come to Emma's shared department
At the door, Emma looked at him and said:
You can't keep doing this_
She is out," he said. _She won't be home until ten! _
Emma reluctantly let him in, knowing that she was almost defenseless against him when she was so excited about things. After all, it was only eight o'clock and Evie had entered, changed his clothes, spilled his guts and left in a hurry an hour ago.
Bad on the other hand he had gone to sleep really early.
"Then," Emma said, sitting in front of Henry at the table. _What should we do? _
I'll give you a little story. From your fathers! _
Interesting_
Your father gave your mother a ring. It had been his father. The BEAST!! He previously gave it to show him his true love. It was one of the many gifts and demonstrations he gave him_
Beautiful story. Can you tell me for any special reason? _Said Emma.
Henry said by the ring.
"Explain."
"After Mal defeated his mother and stayed in Auradon. Ben gave her the ring and she accepted it and with that change to be better_
Cute_said Emma. _
Exactly! Enrique exclaimed. _Then it turned out that love was always there_
"Something like that," Emma said. _I guess so. _He always liked that of fairy tales, the way the prophecies would end up coming true, but in a way that no one expected
It's a nice story," Emma said.
It's not a story_
It's a good story about something that's not a story_
"I think the next time you see Mal," Henry said, "you should look at what he is around his neck."
Emma realized that she knew what she was talking about: she had seen the ring on a chain around Mal's neck. She hadn't thought much about it and had never asked her what it was. I had always assumed that it was a family relic.
"So, just to clarify this," Emma said. _Your teacher, who is descendants of Maleficent, who is also my mother, who has fallen in love with a man descendants of Beauty and the Beast? _
. _Sip. Everything clarified. _
Evie went to the toll bridge knowing that she was going to get hurt. Despite the fact that he had believed Doug when he told him his feelings, the man was somehow scaly, he was... he didn't know who he was. Not literally, not metaphorically, in any way. Why was he dropping into this?
Because a part of you believes, an answer came from somewhere inside it.
He arrived early at the bridge, and went down next to the water to hear his drip, to wait. The moon was big and bright. His hand went to his necklace between two fingers while wondering what life would be like with him. Was this worth it? Doug couldn't give him his life
Luxury that he always wanted. Did it matter? She didn't know. However, love was worth a lot. She knew a lot.
She waited alone for what seemed like a long time. The pleasure of fantasy was now beginning to turn into anxiety. He was late, and this highlighted reality. Another side of her, the skeptic, began to point out all the problems of this situation, starting with what was evidently obvious: she did not know him. She didn't know this man and was acting as if she loved him. How much, he wondered, could loneliness make you believe in something you had invented, just to hurt a little less?
Eve.Evie_
She turned and smiled, she saw him.
You came_he said, moving towards her. He stopped when he hit her and held her by the arms while she tried to hug him.
Of course I did_she said, looking worried. _But you sound... disappointed_
It's not that," he said, still breathless. _It's just that I... remember it. _
Mary Margaret looked him in the eye, considering this, then stepped back.
Your old life, you mean_he said emphatically.
"Everything," he said. "I—I got lost on the road, and entered Mr. H and I saw this... this orchestra uniform is sold there. And I had all this avalanche of memories_
. I—it's there, Evie. There are many things there. And I'm remembering.
Used to meet Chad we were friends, roommates at university or high school. Everything is confusing, still and it doesn't really feel good to be with you. It's the right thing to do _
He stared at her.
She said nothing, she had no interest in leaving him guilt-free.
The right thing to do, Doug, was not to insist on this knowing that I was in a relationship_just because you are supposed to know my partner_he said in a trembling voice, _I was about to leave everything_
I know_he said. _I'm very sorry_
You have made your choice_
His eyes were dry. She felt more angry than hurt. Angry with herself for not knowing better. All this was just the result of her loneliness and the feeling she had always had that she deserved more, so strong that sometimes she felt as if she had had more, somewhere, at some point, and she was being tortured by the illusion of a life in which she had very little.
An arrow pierced his heart. Hearing him resolve his feelings so violently, so carelessly, so arrogantly...
She changed.
I guess it's just not meant to be after all. You should leave," she said, with her back to him.
Emma was patrolling the city, she felt a new tension in the air. Storybrooke didn't seem to be so sleepy anymore. Affairs!)! Intrigue! She liked this new Storybrooke. If I asked Henry, he would probably say that it was his presence that crumbled the status quo.
"Who is there? Show yourself _ Emma said aloud.
She stopped the car.
Case to point.
I was on the corner of Mifflin and Main and could swear, swear, that I had just seen someone jumping out the window on the second floor of Audrey's mansion.
He turned off the engine, grabbed his baton and slid into the hole in Audrey's hedge that he knew would be the place where someone would try to leave. He took a deep breath and listened to steps, lifted the stick and cut down when he saw the dark figure.
The stick was connected and the figure fell to the ground.
After a moan, he heard a familiar voice say:
Oh! Auch! _
CHAD? _She said, kneeling down and putting a hand on her back. _What the hell are you doing here? _
Realizing the answer to his own question, he helped him get up and shook him.
Ah. I understand. Well, I'm sorry. Are you okay? _She asked.
The mayor needed me to...
Sleep with her?! And why do you go out the window? _
We don't want to wake Henry up_
Emma, a little disgusted by him, didn't want to hear him.
Evie had made the right choice