You realize_ said Evie eating her cereal, _that those were mine_
Emma looked across the kitchen to the smashed vase and the pile of dripping flowers in the corner. She went out and saw them and lost control. A little.
She couldn't bear the thought of Chad continuing to play the ideal boyfriend, especially now that she knew about Audrey. She had seen the flowers, she assumed they were his and had thrown them across the room. Sometimes she was intense.
Sometimes he was too. Last night, Emma had gone to Granny's Diner for a drink, only to find Mr. Glass there, thoroughly beaten and completely belligerent. Things had been very strange between them in the few days since she had caught him outside Audrey's house and, in a way, this was to be expected. She couldn't bear the thought of someone knowing her secrets, which was true of every man she'd tracked down.
Disgusting. That was what she had thought, at least, when Chad drunkenly threw one of her shoes in her direction and almost hit her. However, things got weirder after she left restaurant and he followed her out into the street.
She left the restaurant and he grabbed her jacket and followed her. Outside, the air was cool.
Let me talk to you_he said on the sidewalk.
She didn't stop, but she began to walk more slowly.
About?_She finally said.
Chad_ was quick to catch up. _Sorry_
Let me, let me explain, Emma. Everything_
Explain what? You sleep with the mayor, who I don't particularly like, who tries to keep me away from my son and who, by the way, is our boss. And all while you're in a relationship with one of my roommates. I don't want your apology. Go home_
But I don't feel anything with her. I don't... you don't understand_
Emma stopped walking and turned to him. _I've been in bad relationships_ she said. Get out of there and get over yourself. Not my problem_
\I'm trying to explain this to you_she said. _I don't feel anything, it's like I have... emptiness_
This caught Emma off guard.
She leaned forward and because of the amount of alcohol in her blood, she couldn't stand.
Then he grabbed hold of Emma's jacket, with a desperation that took her by surprise.
But what are you doing?_
There was a distant look in Chad's eyes.
Did you see that?_ He said quickly, looking around.
I saw how you can't stand the alcohol and you almost hit the floor with your face. Yes. I was here._
No. Did you see that mouse?_
You're drunk, and this is too much. Go home, get over this_
I'm sorry_ she said. I just want to feel something. Can not_
Fine_ Emma said. _Feel something. That's good. Maybe start by telling the truth_
It was last night. She hadn't stopped thinking.
•••
I'm sorry Evie_
While Emma was cleaning, Evie began to question her, about her attitude with the poor flowers.
There are many feelings Emma that you don't let out_
Sometimes not letting go of everything is a good thing.
Show good sense_ it was Mal who spoke. The girl just woke up and now she was part of the conversation.
Maybe_ said Evie. _I guess so. But you know what is also good?_
What._ the other two said.
Admitting that you have feelings for someone_ Evie said.
It was true, she felt a great rejection but at the same time a great pity and a desire to understand Chad.
Emma screwed up her face. _What are you talking about?_
It's obvious, Emma_said Mal, smiling mischievously. _Everyone can say. You don't have to break vases to make it obvious_
You are quite the same Mal_Evie
The girl just rolled her eyes to reply.
Something has happened that really bothered me, that's all_ Emma said, knowing she wasn't telling the truth.
"Emma," Eve said. _Go._
What?_
This wall you have around your heart." She shook her head, shrugged. You think it protects you. And it probably does. But that comes at a cost_
Emma was surprised at the sorrow that expanded in her chest at her friend's words. A wall. A shield. She didn't want to risk saying anything, for fear of sounding choked.
You know you can tell whatever you want_
• • •
When his father died, there was a haze. Ben couldn't have described it that way immediately after it happened. One day he was fine; the next, he was gone. The mist came, and he lived as best he could within it during the funeral. Pain. That's what the mist did. That was what created the mist that he rolled through his soul.
Ben couldn't see through it and he wasn't inside it. He was a lost child alone in the world.
The haze never fully cleared, of course. He had never felt a loss like this, and his whole being seemed to have come undone. He couldn't find clarity; peace seemed to have abandoned her, and peace no longer seemed possible. He never does after the death of a parent.
Healso felt guilty, as if she could have saved him, though she didn't know what she could have done. Once again, everything was very confusing.
It took a while. Where she dedicated herself to thinking about the good times they had shared, her golden childhood, which her parents took good care of, her adolescence. The support of his father when he was just a young inexperienced king. He would not have become the king that he was were it not for the upbringing he had. He had done amazing things in his reign, always thinking about the future and prosperity of Auradon, and although Beast didn't always agree with all of his ideas. She always encouraged him to be firm and faithful in his wishes.
He couldn't stay lamenting. There were things to do, chores to perform, people to help. Duty comes before anything else was one of the things his father had told him when he was young, Ben took those words to heart. Maybe too much.
A few days later, _Chad?_Cinderella's son was waiting for him in the gardens. He offered to accompany her on a walk in the woods.
Ben looked at him. met
Chad forever.He was a good friend. They had very different ways of seeing the world, yet he was great friends. He may sound crazy but it was the truth. The king felt restless and he couldn't place his voice.
He nodded at the man, and he nodded back. _What's up friend?_he said.
Please try to keep up. I don't want you to be left behind
He nodded again and they set off into the woods.
They walked in silence for a while. He had seen that the man felt uncomfortable.
The forest was calm. His thoughts went back to his father, this time to the man he had seen fall in love with Bella.
When they were away from the castle, Ben began to speak.
When we were children_he said, _this was our favorite place. The mountains around him were like a cradle. They always made me feel safe. You, Audrey and me_ he paused in his speech but kept pacing. _But now, we are not so close, are we?_
The prince said nothing. Ben was right, they weren't those kids anymore. She stopped walking and turned to him, studying him back.
You can drop it_
I thought you would like some fresh air_
He studied it.He Lied.
The Chad, that I know He would never have proposed a walk through the forest. Not the Chad I know would have suggested going to a pub or even the cinema or theater. Maybe your mother loved nature. But you are just another person... from the city_
It's about encouraging you. Ben_
She command you? What orders did she give you exactly? Take him away and get rid of him_
How do you know that?_
Before he could react, he curled up and exploded at him, both arms outstretched. Ben hit him in the stomach, hard enough to send him stumbling backward. Since he wasn't used to his center of gravity being so high, the stumble turned into a crash. The king had a good hundred yards lead before he was on his feet again.
You know I'm a good person, right, Mal?_Chad was in school. The class was over. He and Mal stood outside their classroom, the trickle of remaining students whispering down the halls. She was looking at him with tender concern in his eyes. Apparently, he had been a mess ever since this "incident" with Emma the night before. Mal didn't know what was going on, he wasn't his favorite person in town and many times he thought he was a jerk
that he only cared about getting his shoes shined and his hair gelled enough, but he wanted to help. Somehow.
Of course, Chad_ he said. _Of course. And you are well? You are covered in sweat and white as a sheet. Haven't you been sleeping? She felt her cheek. _You are burning. What have you been doing all night?_
I've had the feeling that you and I used to know each other," she said. _In some kind of—in some kind of another life. I do not know. It sounds crazy. He shook his head, looked down the hall. I'm sorry for coming here. I don't know what I'm trying to achieve_
Why do you think that?_
Last night when I was Emma, I saw this whole vision. Of... of something. You and another guy, it wasn't here it seemed like a magical world. I know that boy. I don't remember exactly where, I don't know his name either and he's not from here. It's not from STORYBROOKE _
You sound like Henry, actually_she said.
Henry?_
He thinks we're all characters from his storybook, _he said he_And we just can't remember_
What kind of storybook?_ he asked.
Fairy tales_Mal said with a shrug. _Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, that sort of thing_ She rolled her eyes.
That boy. That's crazy_
• • •
In Henry's room the little boy started asking questions of a confused and dazed Chad.
As he held the book and turned the pages.
When did you start having visions?_
Last night. When he is with Emma_
What did you do with my mother?_
ummm_
What did you see?_
What did you see?_
some mouse. And I saw myself with a knife and in another scene I see Mal together with that man _
You wanted to hurt the man?_
If he did. Why do you know that?_
because the man you saw is Ben, the son of Beauty and the Beast and wife of Evil
, daughter of Maleficent
kill but why?
She command You agreed because they were her friends and you didn't want to see her suffer. It was impossible for you. Ben is your friend and not that kind of person_
And the mice, what about the mice?_
mice have always helped your family. They helped your mother to run away from home and they helped your father to recover her true love. They are your friends want to help_
And why now? What does Emma have to do with this?
You saved her. You didn't kill her father. She owes you. You saved my mother_
And what happened next?_
You tried to trick the princess with a fake heart but she found out and she ripped her heart out of her and put it in her cellar _
Give me the book_ he took out the book and pointed to one of the drawings._What is this? The mice screeched and began to jump in front of this sign_
It's where your heart is_
Emma Swan was sitting with her feet up on the sheriff's desk when Audrey burst into the office. Emma looked at her and didn't move.
It's wonderful to see you, Audrey_she said.
Wonderful_ Audrey said disdainfully. _ Fulfilling her civic duty, then?
I am on a break, ma'am_Emma said, frowning at her. _What do you want?_
I want to make things clear_said Audrey. _For you. About Chad. Stay away from him_
He's just a friend_she finally said. _And he goes out with one of my other friends. Although that doesn it seems an impediment to you calling him to come to your bed_
You've been disruptive ever since he came to this town, Mrs. Thorn_" Audrey said.
It's okay, Emma thought.
Do me a favor, Audrey _Emma said flatly. He leaves my office. And don't ever talk to me that way again_
Audrey seemed pleased that she had struck a nerve. She smiled and left without another word.
Emma watched her go, closed the door, and ran some errands for a few minutes, letting her irritation subside. She was used to Audrey coming at her and saying inflammatory things to her, apparently that was part of her job, but this time it was a little different.
But it wasn't just that. She also felt something. Maybe Mal and Evie were right. Maybe she had some kind of wall up. One so perfect that she didn't even know she was there, much less see over it.
A few minutes later she was snapped out of her reverie by the sound of her son calling her name.
Ema! Emma! _Henry shouted, running towards the station, his backpack turning around behind him.
Wow, wow, wow_he said, standing up. _Take it easy. What happen?_
Panting, Henry slid his backpack off his back and tossed it to the ground. _It's Chad_ he said. _I think he's starting to remember!_
Do you remember what, boy?_she asked. _Sit down. Catching the breath._
She got him some water, and Henry finally sat down at her desk and collected himself. Chad had gone to see him, he told her.
And what did you tell him?_ asked Emma.
Henry looked down.
Henry?_
I told him what I thought had to be true_ said Henry. _I told him that he was the son of
Cinderella, and that those flashes she saw were flashes of him remembering that moment_
He didn't like the idea of Chad, who was obviously not himself, running around town having visions of anything, and he certainly didn't like that he believed what a kid had to say about the intersection. of fantasy and reality. Chad was potentially in the midst of a psychotic break, he realized. She had to find it.
Where did you send it?_she asked.
I didn't send him anywhere_ said Henry. _I told him how the Queen caught him to kill
to the king of Auradon _
Emma frowned. In Henry's universe, the Queen was Audrey and the King of Auradon was a certain Ben.
And why did she do that?_
Because the king was really devastated by the death of her father and she just wanted revenge. Chad was the only one who followed her and then she convinced him.
Okay._
Then what happened?_
He invited her friend Ben for a walk, said Henry, _almost killed him, but that one escaped. As he chased after her, he realized that he didn't want to do it_
How nice of her_Emma said, leaning back in her chair. She looked at her backpack. _You really know these stories well, boy, don't you? You don't even need the book_
I know them all,'' she said. She didn't like the way she said it.
So, where did he go when you finished?_she asked.
I don't know_said Henry. _He was very upset when I told him he stole her heart when she found out that he—
So you don't know where he is?_ She said.
All she said_replied Henry, _was that he had to find those mouse before it was too late_
Mouse. Of course.
It was faster than he expected it to be. He knew he wouldn't be able to outrun him forever, but he had enough time to do what he had to do. After a few minutes of walking through the woods, Ben found a tree to hide behind, crouched down and began to compose the letter to the princess. As long as he could say what he wanted to say, he could accept her death. As long as the message got through.
Within minutes he had found her. He had already completed the note.
He barely looked up when he rounded the corner.
Gasping, he looked at her, saw what he was doing, and shook his head.
You're running for your life and you stop to write a letter?_he asked.
I never understood you _. He raised the dagger.
You would have caught me eventually_ he said, setting aside his pen and beginning to fold; the man paused. _This was a better use of my time_ She looked up and held the letter up to him. _Please give this to Audrey after you've killed me and Chad and I really ask you to disx too_
What does it say?_
You can read it if you want_she said. _It's not a trick_he added, seeing the skepticism on her face. _Read it first, then you can kill me. I'm ready_
Gingerly, he reached out with his free hand and took the letter. As she read her words, the king watched as she slowly dropped the dagger to her side.
And then, a surprise: he saw a tear in her eye. He watched as she slid down her cheek.
Ben didn't say anything.
The man stuffed the letter into his tunic.
I'll try to talk to Audrey. Go back to the castle _
You are leaving me...?_
Ben we used to be best friends. We are not going back to those times. But I love you_
Thanks Chad. You're a good friend and he gave him a big hug.
•••
Chad was running away from Audrey's house when Emma saw him. She walked past him, back to her truck, and parked, waiting for him. Soon he trotted.
Hello_ she said. _You seem stressed. Can I have a second?_
He looked up to see her standing in front of her car, her arms crossed.
Not now, Emma_ he said, continuing. _I'm busy. You should be at the station_
I am trying to help._
You are not._
Hey, stop_she said, moving closer to him. She put a hand on her arm and told her that she needed to rest, that it was not good to listen to a ten year old.
But what she said makes so much sense. The rats. I don't feel anything. I don't have a heart, she said. _I can't say it any other way_
You do_ Emma said, shaking her head at him.
What had happened to him.
Please let's go_she said, approaching. She took her hand and placed it on her own chest, held it there. _Feel_
She closed her eyes, inhaled.
"That's just the curse," she said. _It's not real._
"No," she said Emma. _It's not. That's you. That is your heart. Are you okay._
She frowned at this, squirming and turning to look. She gasped.
Mouse on top of the car. she was there, standing. Looking right at them.
What the hell is going on? Emma thought.
Do you see them too? he said. _Go_
• • •
They continued into the forest. Chad recounted to Emma the story he had heard from Henry, that in the other world, the princess had taken his heart, and said that it had occurred to him that the mice were leading them back to her heart. _The mice always helped my family _he insisted. _I think they're trying to show me where to find it_
You got it, Chad_ Emma said.
She shook her head. _No. And I have to get my heart back, Emma, she said. _I have to._
Need I point out again how crazy you sound?_
It's not necessary_said Chad, distracted. _Look_
They were at the edge of the graveyard, the mice had trotted into a large crypt and he paused, peering in the doorway, watching them.
There_he said. _My heart is there_
He ran to the crypt. Emma followed him inside.
All things considered, the interior of the crypt was relatively clean, and Chad began feeling around the walls and floor of the small stone room, clearly intending to find a secret panel, something. Anything. Emma just watched, not knowing what to do. Could she find a way to bring him back to reality? Or was this something bigger, something that would require…a hospital?
The brief search for him revealed nothing.
He looked around again. Then let his eyes rest on the coffin itself.
No. You're not digging a grave, Chad_ Emma said. _Stop for a second. Think about this. Aside from the law, you're not okay. These_
What are you two doing here?_
Emma and Audrey turned, startled by a third voice.
Audrey, flowers in hand, stood outside the crypt a few feet away, a look of legitimate astonishment on her face.
Police work_ Emma said, stepping out onto the lawn. _What are you doing here?_
Putting flowers on the family grave_ she said, _as I do every week_
Shit, Emma thought, looking Audrey with great skepticism. Was it her family grave? It was nothing if not suspicious. That word didn't even do it justice.
We're looking for something that belongs to me _Chad told Audrey.
You don't look good at all, dear_ the mayor said, her face softened now that she had seen Audrey. _Let's take you home_
No._
Audrey looked tensely back and forth between them. Finally, she lifted her chin and nodded. _I see. You and her._
It has nothing to do with that_Chad said firmly. _It's about you. I don't love you and I don't want to be with you. No longer. It doesn't feel good. He shook his head and looked down, frustrated. He tried again: _ I don't feel anything when I'm with you. I want the chance to feel...something_
Audrey took this in, new anger forming in her eyes. Emma saw Chad bracing himself for some standard Audrey-style verbal abuse, but her eyes went to Emma.
This is your fault_she said. _You can't walk away from what I love, can you?_
They keep coming to me_Emma said. _Maybe you should ask yourself why people keep running away from you_
She felt good saying that.
Audrey isn't—Chad began to speak.
But he ignored Chad's words as he took a quick step towards Emma, dropped her flower and, to everyone's surprise, punched Emma in her mouth.
His head snapped back as a circle of pain opened around his mouth, but he didn't fall and stood his ground reaching for the coffin. She watched as Chad lunged to grab Audrey before she could attack again.
Emma looked at Audrey for another moment, rubbing her jaw.
Then, without another word, she walked away from her. She heard the last of her conversation as she headed back to town. She wasn't going to do this now.
Chad_ she tried. His voice had softened.
Don't talk to me. Don't talk to me anymore. we have always finished._
Emma smiled.
Later, Chad applied hydrogen peroxide near the small cut on Emma's jaw. She protested but left him. She liked being around him, she liked the care that she was taking. She liked what she had said in the crypt. For Emma, this was the beginning of a new story.
I don't understand any of that. Mouse, none of that_I think, I think a lot of that has been Audrey. You almost start to feel crazy when you're in the wrong relationship_
A message had arrived. Fired from her job.
It was more obvious that the mayor had done this out of contempt.
Tomorrow he would have to figure out what to do. Tomorrow.
The princess was in her vault. Everything was starting to fall apart and she didn't understand why but this new girl had something to do with it and would get her out the way.
I take out a wooden box with gold letters
Prince Charming
She thought of destroying it.