Chapter 37: Manhattan
November 20, 1988
Lehane Home, Boston
Faith sat looking at her adopted parents. "Please where is my mom and my sisters?" she asked. "I want my mom and my sisters; I want to go home."
Mrs. Lehane glared at Faith, having had enough of Faith's whining she slapped her followed by a swift kick knocking the girl unconscious.
When Faith woke up, she no longer remembered Joyce, Buffy or Dawn.
January 19, 1990
Faith looked at her adopted parents. She knew today was her birthday. But she also knew the stance her parents had when it came to her birthday. Should she dare to remind them?
"Mama," Faith said. "It's my birthday today."
"I told you," Mrs. Lehane snapped at her adopted daughter. "Birthdays are for those who matter, and you don't matter. Now go in the corner and put your hands in the slots and keep them there until I tell you to remove them."
Faith looked at the floor as she turned and walked over to the corner. She did as she was instructed. Mrs. Lehane walked up to her daughter and shoved a pacifier in Faith's mouth humiliating the eight-year-old girl. "Don't spit that out or there will be more trouble for you, young lady." She looked around searching for something. "Now where did I leave my whip." She found what she was looking for and picked up the whip and a knife. She walked behind her adopted daughter and cut Faith's shirt revealing Faith's back. She then proceeded to whip her adopted daughter.
January 2, 2012
ISC Storybrooke Facility
"I feel so sorry for Faith after seeing that video," Buffy said. She, Dawn, Joyce and Mary Margaret had watched the DVDs Dawn had found as well as a third DVD that had shown the abuse Faith had received at the hands of the Lehanes. "I wish there was a way to help her like a photo album but that's impossible."
"Maybe not," Joyce countered. "My powers are back to full strength. If I were to enchant a necklace for you girls that could control the flow of time then it could turn all four of you younger."
"All four of us?" Dawn asked.
"I think Snow should be part of any pictures done," Joyce answered. "Anyways with the necklaces you four would be in control of the age. Then we could do a photo shoot with Faith, so Faith would have pictures of growing up with the three of you."
"That means in some pictures I would be a baby," Dawn said. "Which means becoming a baby again. I guess that is a small price to pay to make sure Faith is happy again." She looked at her sisters. "What do you two think?"
"I think it's a good idea," Buffy said. "Snow, what about you?"
Mary Margaret sighed. "This is all my fault; it is obvious that I pushed her into talking about her life before she was ready. I would do anything to make sure she was happy again." It was then that Mary Margaret's cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID which read: Emma. "It's Emma," she said as she answered the call. "Hey, Emma."
"Ask her how everything is going with Rumpelstiltskin," Buffy said.
Mary Margaret frowned. "Emma? Are you there?"
"Maybe she butt dialed you?" Dawn suggested. "Hang up and try calling her back."
Mary Margaret nodded as she went to end the call but for some reason found she couldn't. "Something is wrong. It's like my hand won't move to end the call. Like something is keeping me from it." Her hand suddenly went from trying to end the call to hitting the speakerphone button instead.
"We're arriving at our destination, Kennedy," they heard Faith say from the other end of the line. "Thanks for letting me know."
"Kennedy?" came a voice from the doorway to Faith's room. They all turned to see Willow standing there.
"Yeah apparently Emma butt dialed Snow," Buffy said. "But for some reason Snow can't hang up and try calling back to confirm. I never did ask, and this is out of curiosity. Why did you and Kennedy break up?"
"We just realized we didn't love each other," Willow said. "I think even back then I was already falling for someone else."
"Dawn," Buffy said as Willow nodded.
"But I wasn't sure how you would take it, that's why I never did anything back then," Willow admitted.
"I think I would have been happy for you and Dawn, Will," Buffy said as she smiled at her friend.
"And I have to admit I definitely wouldn't mind going on a date with you, Willow, and seeing where things go," Dawn said as she smiled at the redheaded witch.
New York City
Emma, Faith, Henry and Gold were approaching where Gold believed his son to be. Emma noticed that Faith seemed to be struggling. "Aunt Faith, are you ok?" she said as they came to a stop next to Faith.
"I—I can't catch my breath," Faith replied. "Something's wrong with me…I—I think I need to see…" And then suddenly she collapsed into unconsciousness.
"Aunt Faith!" Emma screamed. "Somebody help."
"Mom, should we call Aunt Joyce, Aunt Lizzie, Aunt Dawn or Grandma?" Henry asked.
"Not until we know anything, Henry," Emma answered.
ISC Storybrooke Facility
"Will," Buffy said. "Would you try and see…"
"Already on it, Buffy," Willow said pulling out her cell phone. She went to dial Faith's cell phone, but for some odd reason she found she couldn't. "Mrs. Summers."
"White," Joyce corrected her daughter's best friend. "And please we're both adults, you can call me Joyce."
Willow nodded. "Joyce, I think there could be some magic in play here. I can't dial out."
Joyce opened her magical senses and frowned. "There is magic in play here," she said. She looked around until her eyes fell on the DVDs and frowned. "There is some form of magic on the DVDs that won't allow us to call Faith. Give me time, I can break it. But until I do, keep listening, hopefully they will notice that they accidentally dialed us."
Gracie Square Hospital, New York City
Gold didn't like leaving meeting his son till later, but he understood in this instance that Faith's life was more important, especially if she were to fulfill Buffy's favor.
Slowly Faith regained consciousness as she looked around. "Emma why are we in a hospital?" she asked.
"You collapsed," Emma explained as she looked her aunt over. "How do u feel?"
"Like I want 10 rounds with an Ubervamp," Faith said as a doctor walked through the door.
"I'm Doctor Lee," the doctor said. "We've done every test we can on you and the tests say you're as healthy as a horse, Miss Lehane."
"Mills-White," Faith corrected.
"According to council records its Lehane," Doctor Lee said looking at the information he had received from Rupert Giles.
"Your Council? Watcher or Slayer?"
"I was part of the Watcher's Council," he replied. "My family was one of the lucky ones to survive the battle with The First. Now we work for the Slayer's Council, with your co-founder Rupert Giles. Personally, Miss Mills-White," he said decided to use her preferred surname, "I hated Travers for his stupid rules over the Slayer. Anyways since I can't find anything wrong with you, I will release you. But before I do that, I want you to rest."
"Okay," Faith replied.
ISC Storybrooke Facility
"I wonder what's wrong with Faith?" Dawn asked as she looked at her sisters and Willow. She noticed that Joyce was sitting off by herself still trying an hour later to break the magic on the DVDs.
Gracie Square Hospital, New York City
"Emma, I'm fine," Faith said looking at her niece who looked very concerned.
"You are not fine," Gold interjected. "I know what's wrong with you, Your Highness."
"What's wrong with her?" Emma asked looking at the older man.
"Refresh my memory your aunt's heart was purified what three or four days ago?" he asked looking at Emma.
"Yes," Emma answered.
Gold nodded. "When a heart is purified a person can't work a stressful job like being the Mayor's aide…"
"Technically speaking, I'm acting Mayor," Faith said. "At least till an election is held. With how everyone hated mom; Buffy, Dawn, Snow and I all agreed that I should take over."
Gold nodded as he looked at the brunette Slayer. "Then Mayor…" he corrected himself. "But also, as a Slayer…Anyways the magic involved requires rest for at least a week to ensure the heart has healed."
"The Slayer portion isn't as stressful," Faith admitted. "Because there are no vampires in Storybrooke. Though now that the cloak is gone, that could change. Anyways being the acting Mayor has indeed been stressful. Trying to manage a whole town."
ISC Storybrooke Facility
"I should have made sure Faith took the time off after I healed her heart," Joyce admitted.
"You know that Faith is stubborn, mom," Buffy reminded her mother.
Gracie Square Hospital, New York City
"As acting Mayor, it's my job to make sure the town runs smoothly," Faith admitted. "To tell the truth, it's not like I don't have previous experience. I was a Mayor's aide once before."
"In Sunnydale," Emma said as Faith nodded.
"Yes, I know," Gold told Faith. "Or have you forgotten I did research into you and your sisters when you arrived in Storybrooke. So, I know that Mayor Wilkins was grooming you to take over after his Ascension. In fact, I believe I know something you don't. There was a spell on the town, cast by the Mayor when he founded it. The spell made the residents do his will."
"You're right, I didn't," Faith said. "Which would explain why the Xan's parents were such dicks to him and why Red Jr's parents were never around because they had no will of their own…and why I am working so much, because I have to prove that I can do this."
"Prove to who?" Emma asked.
"Myself," Faith answered. "That I'm not an uneducated idiot like the Lehanes always said I was."
As Gold looked at Faith, he noticed a black swirl around her as he began to understand what was going on with Faith. "Very clever…" he said as Emma, Henry and Faith looked at him. "When your so-called parents died their spirits latched onto you like a parasite feeding off of you. I assume you can see them."
Faith nodded. "I thought it was just my guilt over their deaths but yes I still see them."
ISC Storybrooke Facility
Joyce shook her head. "Those people and I use the term loosely have been tormenting her even beyond the grave and none of us could see it."
"I wonder if it's a result of the wish she made to the Vengeance demon?" Dawn asked.
"It is possible," Joyce said with a sigh.
Gracie Square Hospital, New York City
"How do I get rid of them?" Faith asked looking at Gold.
"You like your sisters and your niece here, have magic within you," Gold said. "By reciting a few words and concentrating on the desire for them to be gone. A portal will open taking them to their afterlife."
"To hell, I hope," Faith said. "What are the words?"
"I cast thee to the darkest pits of hell," Gold said.
"Help me out of bed, Emma," Faith said as Emma helped her out of bed and into the bathroom. She looked into the mirror. "I will finally be free of you after this," she said. "I won't have to listen to you whispering in my ear telling me I'm worthless." She took a deep breath. "I cast thee to the darkest pits of hell." She watched as a portal opened and she saw the spirits of her deceased parents look at it with fear as it sucked them before closing.
"How do you feel, Aunt Faith?" Henry asked from where he stood by the door to the bathroom.
Faith smiled first at her niece and then at her great nephew. "Free," she said. "Finally, free." She looked at Emma. "You know, its times like this I wish I had pictures of me and my sisters."
"Why don't you?" Emma asked.
"The spell Hank cast, erased me not only from the minds of my sisters, but from every single picture that had been taken. After I wound up with the Lehanes, all I had was the picture for the school ID.
Emma looked at Faith with wide eyes. "The Lehanes never let you have any…"
"Emma," Faith said looking at her niece. "You have to remember, to them I was worthless. And I am not sure if Lady Di might have had some, I will have to check the mansion the next time I'm in Boston to know for sure."
ISC Storybrooke Facility
Buffy, Dawn, Joyce, Willow and Mary Margaret looked at each other in shock.
"THOSE BASTARDS," Joyce yelled. "HOW DARE THEY TREAT A CHILD THAT WAY!" She let out a sigh. "I knew it was bad but I at least thought she would have a few photos why didn't I try harder to find her."
"Aunt Joyce," Mary Margaret said as she looked at her aunt. "You did what you could."
"No, I didn't, Snow," Joyce replied. "With my dwindling magic from the Enchanted Forest I cast a locator spell with the dress Faith arrived here in to try and locate her. Every time I tried, I got the same results, nothing. At the time I didn't understand why. Now I know it was my ex-husband. He was preventing me from finding her."
Buffy looked at her mother with wide eyes of realization. "The dresses we wore for our seventh birthday party, were the ones we arrived in."
Joyce nodded as she looked at her daughters. "Yes, Buffy. You and Faith hadn't had any major growth spurts between when you arrived and your seventh birthday. So, I had no need to even alter them. Now, Dawn—my little pum'kin belly, you on the other hand had a bit of baby fat, I had to adjust your outfit."
"Mom," Dawn cried in embarrassment.
"Mom, you remember Chrissy Palmer," Buffy said as she was remembering something.
"Of course, dear," Joyce replied.
"She had a photo of us from that party," Buffy said. "Remember we invited her. After you died, she came to the funeral. She tried to cheer me and Dawn up by showing us some photos from our childhood. She had a photo with Faith in it. At the time neither Dawn or I remembered Faith, so we assumed it was fake."
"The spell was done inside the house," Dawn added. "And me being a baby at the time wouldn't remember Faith anyways. But Buffy would have had her memories altered. So, we didn't know any better."
Buffy sighed and nodded. "And of course, when Faith finally found her way back to us. I treated my sister like dirt. How could I do that to my twin?"
Gracie Square Hospital, New York City
"Aunt Faith," Emma said as she helped Faith back into bed. "What was that phone call you got earlier?
Faith sighed as tears fell from her cheeks. "On of my girls, a fellow Slayer from Red Jr.'s a[e;;/ She called to tell me that Angel and Spike are dead. Angel was like a brother to me while I was in prison and after I got out. How do I do this whole redemption thing without him? What if I fall again?"
Henry and Emma wrapped their arms around Faith. "We are here for u we will not let you fall," she said before looking at her son. "Right, Henry?"
"Mom's right, Aunt Faith," Henry agreed.
"Might I suggest you call this Kennedy to confirm that this Angel and Spike are really dead, dearie."
Faith glared at Gold. "First, stop with all the dearies."
"Very well, Your Highness," Gold said with a role of his eyes.
Faith groaned. "That one is not much better."
"That one would be harder to get anyone to quit. Because you are after all King Leopold's daughter," Gold reminded her. "Not first born but you are still nobility. Which means by title you are a princess."
"Okay," Faith said reluctantly. "And second your right. People, vampires, demons, etc. have manipulated us before."
"When?" Emma asked.
"On mine and Buffy's twenty-fifth birthday," Faith answered. "I was with a person who pretended to be Buffy, who persuaded me to send my third in command Andrea to get a Slayer that we had just discovered. Angel said he believed that G-man had sent Andrea. Then Angel relayed a message that Andrea didn't trust him. He called G-man for help with a friend. Her name was Fred, though she was actually the host of an Old One, I think she was an Old One, named Illyria. Anyways G-Man said that Angel never called. I should call."
Emma handed Faith her cell phone and watched as her aunt scrolled down the contact list.
"Kennedy, here."
"Ken, it's Faith," Faith said.
"Faith, thank god I've been trying to reach you all morning," Kennedy said. "We found Angel and Spike, they're okay."
"Ken, what happened?" Faith asked.
"Apparently Angel and Spike are both mortal," Kennedy replied. "I was able to find out from our new seer that the Powers that Be did something to them. Gave them both the ability to walk in the sunlight."
"New seer?" Faith said confused. "Who is it?"
"Before I tell you that," Kennedy said. "Do you remember who joined in the fight against the Wolfram & Hart Senior Partners?"
"Sure," Faith said. "Lorne, some lady named Gwen, Kate angel's cop pal, a werewolf named Nina and a kid named Conner along with a shitload of slayers I sent. Why, who helped out?"
"Dru for starters," Kennedy said. "Apparently she was given a soul by Cordelia Chase. Darla, who can now use magic. A witch named Jessica Rayne and another witch named Amy Madison."
"Dru…" Faith said trying to remember the name. "As in Drusilla the mad? As in Spike's sire?
"That would be the one," Kennedy replied.
Faith nodded as she tried to remember where she heard the names of the others. "Darla as in Angel's sire…Jessica Rayne…Ooh I know this one. Her brother is the one that tormented Buffy multiple times. I think she told me she faced him three or four different times. One of the last he enchanted some candy and G-Man and mom…"
ISC Storybrooke Facility
Joyce groaned. "He was the one who put that spell on the band candy," she said.
"Yeah," Buffy said. "The one that caused you and Giles to…"
"Yeah," Joyce said with a sigh. She saw Mary Margaret look at her with a raised eyebrow. "Let me just say you and Dr. Whale weren't the ones to have…"
"Oh," Mary Margaret said. "So, you and Lizzie's Watcher?"
"Uh-huh," Joyce said. "On the hood of a police car."
"Wow," Mary Margaret chuckled.
Gracie Square Hospital, New York City
"And last I heard from Red Jr., her and Amy Madison were sworn enemies," Faith said.
"Yep, to all of those," Kennedy said. "But what do you mean about your mom. I thought the Lehanes were dead."
"Come to find out, the Lehanes weren't my birth parents. Buffy, Dawn and I are sisters, in fact Buffy and I are twins," Faith explained. "Mrs. Summers, Buffy and Dawn's mom. Actually, adopted me, Buffy and Dawn. I was then kidnapped by the old Council and was raised in an extremely abusive home. So, who are we dealing with?"
Kennedy sighed. "We thought they were out allies."
"Ken, who?" Faith said impatiently.
"They called themselves the New Initiative…" Kennedy said. "They are led by Robin Wood, Riley and Samantha Finn, Ethan Rayne and a new witch named Agatha Harkness and they kidnapped Angel and Spike five years ago and were the ones to make sure Illyria was dead…"
"I thought that was impossible," Faith interjected. "Illyria was supposed to be an old one, right?"
"She also was in the body of a mortal," Kennedy reminded her fellow Slayer. "Anyways by the time we got there to help…and Faith I'm so, so, sorry we lost seven Slayers."
"What!" Faith cried as tears sprung to her eyes. "Who, Ken?"
"Faith," Kennedy said. "I don't think."
"WHO!" Faith yelled.
Kennedy sighed. "The Sanderson triplets, Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Donna Nobel and Amy Pond." (A/N)
As Emma stood listening to the conversation she saw the tears falling from Faith's eyes. She sat on the bed and wrapped an arm around her aunt.
"The Sandersons were twelve-years-old and the others I found and recruited them personally," Faith told both Kennedy and Emma, Gold and Henry at the same time. "What happened, Ken?"
"The New Initiative, used the serum Dr. Walsh made and combined it with Ethan and Agatha's magic and tested it on the Sandersons," Kennedy explained. "The serum failed and they faded away to nothing. Amy and Jess took out Ethan and Agatha and Vi took out Riley and Samantha."
"What about Robin?" Faith asked.
"Do you remember that undercover operation I went on," Kennedy replied.
"Yep," Faith answered. "You posed as a high school student because someone was selling the mystical drug Orpheus. Which if memory serves me right was really potent."
"It turns out a vamp wasn't the mastermind behind it," Kennedy said. "Robin was."
"Are you telling me?"
"I took him out," Kennedy replied.
"We almost lost you years ago," Faith said angrily. "I should have let Robin die on that bus. But no, I foolishly thought I was in love. I guess this is what happens when you let your heart lead." She sighed. "I guess I'm not cut out for love."
ISC Storybrooke Facility
"We trusted them," Buffy, Willow and Dawn said in simultaneous anger.
"Is Faith saying she doesn't believe in love after she got hurt by it?" Mary Margaret asked.
Joyce sighed. "My poor girl," she said. She then looked at Mary Margaret. "I believe I finally got the spell broken. Try it, Snow."
Mary Margaret hit the button and nodded as she ended the call. "Emma will find out when she sees her cell phone bill. But I think we shouldn't mention to Faith we heard any of that."
"I think Snow is right," Buffy agreed. "I think we should start with the photo album and move on to other things to show Faith that she is loved."
Gracie Square Hospital, New York City
Faith had finally been discharged and she was leading Emma, Gold and Henry toward the exit. Not watching where she was going, she accidentally bumped into someone. "I'm so sorry," Faith apologized. "I wasn't watching where I was going are you ok."
The woman that Faith had bumped into nodded. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied as she turned and looked at Faith, her eyes going wide. "Faith?" she said in clear surprise.
"Chrissy?" Faith in surprise.
"You remember me?" Christine Palmer.
Faith smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I remember everything. And I'm so sorry for how I talked to you when I didn't remember you."
"It's okay," Christine said looking at her childhood friend.
"So what are u doing here?" Faith wondered.
Christine smiled. "Just picking up my paycheck.
"Paycheck?" Faith said and then noticed that her friend had a name badge on her coat. "You're a doctor here?"
"Yep," Christine replied. "Though I just finished my shift and as soon as I grab my paycheck, I'm on vacation for the next week. So, what brought you in?"
"I had an accident," Faith replied with a sigh. "I collapsed on the street. Good thing it wasn't far from the hospital, Dr. Lee took care of me."
"Dr. Lee is a good doctor and friend," Christine said. "Of course, for someone who knows about magic, he isn't the most versed in the mystical arts like I am." Faith raised an eyebrow in question. "I learned from my parents how to use magic and heal people like I did for you when you were catatonic…"
"You were in SunnyHell?" Faith asked.
Christine chuckled. "Apt nickname for the town. I was briefly, did my internship there," she replied. She gazed at Faith for a long moment. "Faith, I know that you, like your sister, are a Slayer."
Gold sent a glare Faith's direction. "We need to be going," he reminded the brunette Slayer.
"You can wait a few more minutes," Faith said shoot her own glare back at the man. "I haven't seen Chrissy in a long time."
"Aunt Faith," Emma said confused. "When did you go catatonic?"
"It was in SunnyHell, Emma," Faith replied looking at her niece. "Just after I went bad. I thought you knew about that."
Emma shook her head. "You, Aunt Lizzie and Aunt Dawn haven't told me everything about your lives," she reminded her aunt. "Some of it you said was better left buried."
"Faith," Chrissy said looking between Emma and Faith. "Why did she call you Aunt Faith?" she asked clearly confused. "And she referred to Dawn as an aunt as well. And she can't be Buffy's daughter she's too close to you in age. And who is Lizzie?"
"Chrissy," Faith said looking at her friend. "It's a complicated discussion. First Lizzie is Buffy's nickname given to her by our elder sister, Snow. Second Emma is Snow's daughter." She saw her friend getting more and more confused by the second. "As I said it's a complicated discussion. You see Buffy, Dawn and I were kidnapped as kids and taken from our big sister and birth mother. Joyce, who is actually our aunt on our father's side, adopted us. Then not long after mine and Buffy's seventh birthday party. I was taken again and given to monsters." She paused as she looked Christine for a long moment. "How did you know Buffy and I had been called as Slayers?"
Chrissy smiled. "I grew up with Buffy and Dawn," she said. "We went to school together till she was expelled from Hemery and Mrs. Summers moved her and Dawn to Sunnydale. Buffy never could keep things a secret. Shoot I wasn't the only one to figure it out."
"Yeah, I heard about Pike," Faith said.
Christine smiled. "You know, I remember that party just before you disappeared," she said. You, Dawn and Buffy were wearing princess dresses. Buffy's was pink, Dawn's was green and yours was purple. We were all there at your house having fun and then Dawn crawled into the living room and she went right to you and Buffy. She was just learning to walk and you two always obliged her in anything she wanted. So, you stood her up and went to stand beside Buffy. Dawn took a few careful steps and then walked over to you both. The next you disappeared and Dawn went back to crawling."
Faith let out a sigh. "Great, just great. I hurt my baby sister by being taken."
"We do have to be going," Gold said a little more forceful.
"Okay, okay," Faith said glaring at the man. She looked back at Christine. "We're looking for his son. Supposed to be…" She looked at Gold who motioned in the direction the globe was telling him to go. "That way somewhere," she said waving her hand in the direction Gold had indicated.
"Hmm," Christine said. "I live in that direction. If you want, I can give you all a ride."
"That would be appreciated," Faith admitted.
Streets of New York City
Christine pulled her car to a stop outside her apartment building. "Are you sure this is the place your going?" she asked.
"Yes, it is," Gold replied. "Why do you ask?"
"I live in this building," Christine replied.
Sometime in the Past
Somewhere North of the Enchanted Forest
Buffy stood watching as Mulan sat on a stool, trying not to move as a woman gathered her long black hair and tugged and pulled the strands into submission. Buffy looked into a mirror and saw that her own hair had been put through the same treatment as Mulan's, that her makeup had been done and she had been dressed in a very oriental looking dress. As a result, she looked like a porcelain doll.
"Look," the woman said when she had finished with Mulan.
Buffy looked at Mulan who was looking in the mirror. If she hadn't stood there watching the younger woman's transformation, she would have thought Mulan was a stranger. As she looked at Mulan, she couldn't help but admire Mulan's curves that were now visible because of the dress Mulan wore.
January 2, 2012
Sheriff's Station
Buffy's eyes snapped open as she woke from her nap. She looked around her office. It had been a boring day, mostly paperwork. There had been no sightings of Regina or Cora. She had wound up sending Dawn home early as a result. "That was an interesting dream," she admitted.
Mills Mansion
Cora and Regina sat on the couch in the middle of Regina's living room. "What is it, sweetie?" Cora asked her daughter.
"It's Henry and Faith. Emma left town with Gold, and she took them with her," Regina replied with a sigh.
"And you didn't stop them?" Cora asked in surprise.
Regina shook her head. "Elizabeth and Dawn weren't home at the time, doing likely Sheriff's business. And I didn't know until after they had gone," she admitted.
"I'm sure they're safe," Cora said trying to comfort her daughter. "And, as soon as Gold's done, Henry and Faith will be back."
"But not with me," Regina objected. "They, Elizabeth and Dawn won't be with me."
"Back?" Hook asked. "From where? Where's Rumpelstiltskin gone?"
Regina shrugged as she looked at the pirate. "I don't know."
"Well, if he's left town, then he's powerless. He can be killed," Hook said.
Cora shook her head. "The moment either of us leave, we lose our magic… And our advantage."
"And your memories?" Hook added.
Regina shook her head. "None of us were victims of the curse," she told him. "It's not about memories – it's about magic. While yes, this world has magic, none of us know how to wield it."
"Well, I don't need magic," Hook told them. "I'll go after him alone."
"Even if you could find him, do you really think you can just walk up to him and stab him in the heart with your sword?" Regina asked.
Hook sighed. "Well, I prefer my hook, but I can't find that now."
"You're not going anywhere," Cora told the pirate.
"I deserve my vengeance!" Hook countered.
"You're right. You're right, you do," Cora agreed. "And, with The Dark One gone, we can search for the one magical item that can actually kill him here… His dagger."
At that exact moment a knock came at the door and they all turned to look at it.
Regina sighed as she walked over and opened it to find Dawn standing there. "Dawn," she said surprised to see her youngest daughter.
"I need to talk…" Dawn started then she saw Hook and Cora behind her mother. "I was here to reveal a little information that I found. That Faith hadn't had a birthday party in years. Literally, not since her seventh. But now I see you working with her and him."
"Dawn," Cora said as she stepped beside her daughter. "You have to understand all I want is my family back. The same thing your mother wants. That's all we want. I want Regina back, just as she wants you, Elizabeth, Faith and Henry."
"Yeah, I don't believe you, Cora," Dawn spat. She looked back at her mother. "There is something else I found out Regina. Faith was abused. Treated like dirt by the Lehanes. Whipped, humiliated, treated like she wasn't worthy of their attention. You think about that, when you deal with Cora, because believe me, Faith will never love a woman like Cora, ever. And as long as side with Cora, she will never love you. Pinocchio said I was supposed to bring our family back together. I can't do that when you are still the Evil Queen." She spun on her heels and walked down the sidewalk away from her mother's house.
Christine's Apartment Building, New York City
Christine let the quartet into the building. "So, your son's name is Baelfire," she said. "Interesting name for a kid. There is no one in the building by that name."
"Yeah, that probably wouldn't fly as an alias," Emma said. She looked at Gold. "You don't have an apartment number?
"It doesn't work that way," Gold sighed.
"Let's try narrowing it down a little then," Faith said. "Do any of these names mean anything to you?"
"Well, names are what I traffic in, but sadly, no," Gold kept looking at the names hoping something would jump out but it was hopeless.
Emma stared at the numbers once more before pointing to a blank one. "Here's your boy."
"How do you know?" Christine asked.
"He might traffic in names and magic, but I traffic in finding people who don't want to be found," Emma admitted. "And those sorts of folks don't like to advertise their whereabouts."
Christine looked at the blank spot. "That's right next to my apartment." She put her key in the inner door and unlocked it. She held it open so they could all enter. She led them up to the apartment and knocked. No one came to the door and a second later they could hear the sound of a window opening.
"He's running," Emma exclaimed said as they ran back downstairs and outside. As they exited the building, they saw a man bolt down the street.
"That… That favor you two owe me," Gold said looking at Emma and Faith. "This is it. Get him to talk to me. I… I can't run," he told them pointing at his busted leg.
Emma and Faith thought for a moment before giving in. "Watch Henry," the man nodded in agreement as Emma, Faith and Christine took off chasing the man.
The man was quick but Emma knew the city better. She led Faith and Christine down a back alley to cut off the runner. Knowing they were cutting it close Faith leapt forward sending herself and the man down to the ground. As they both recovered the man finally showed his face that made Emma's heart stop in her chest. 'No… Neal?' She couldn't believe her own eyes as the ghost smiled at her.
"N?" Faith added in surprise.
"Neal," Christine said in clear surprise. "You're the one they needed to find?"
"Emma, Faith a long time," Neal said looking at the two women. "How you been?" He looked at his neighbor and smiled. "Hey Chris your delivery comes in tomorrow."
"You know him," Emma, Faith and Christine all said in unison looking at each other.
Faith looked at Emma and nodded. "When I was running from Kakistos, Neal helped me take out some vamps and let me crash on his couch. I left the next day because I didn't want him involved. Never saw him again after that. How do u know him, Emma?"
Emma sighed. "He and I stole my bug together. Then we fell in love and he left me."
"He's my neighbor," Christine reminded them.
Faith looked at Emma for a long moment and then remembered the story Emma had told Buffy about Henry's father. She looked closely at Neal and realized that Henry looked like him and Emma. She then slapped him.
"Ouch, Faith," Neal said as he rubbed his stinging face. "What was that for?"
"Even though Emma can fight her own battles," Faith replied with a glare at Neal. "I was protecting my family and you hurt her. You know what, you figure it out." She looked at Christine. "Is there a good place to get a drink?"
"Yeah, there's a bar just around the corner I go to," Christine said.
Christine and Neal's Apartment Building, New York City
Gold had decided to buy Henry a hot dog hoping it would keep the boy occupied instead of bothering him…no such luck. "Don't worry. Emma's really good at catching people," Henry smiled hoping to reassure the man.
"Well, my son's been running away for a long time now. Now I have a feeling he's equally adept at it," Gold sighed.
"Well, at least we found him, right?" Henry tried again to look on the bright side.
"Indeed," the man was hoping the one-word answer would change the subject.
"Oh, and, uh, thanks, for the hot dog. I forgot," Henry smiled causing Gold to soften slightly.
"You are quite welcome. And thank you," Gold gave a genuine smile.
"For what?" Henry looked up at the man in confusion.
"Well, if it wasn't for you bringing Emma to Storybrooke, none of this would have come to pass," Gold explained.
"Wouldn't Aunt Lizzie, Aunt Faith and Aunt Dawn have done it though?" Henry questioned.
"It had to be both Elizabeth and Emma," he answered. "You know…you are a remarkable young man.'
"You know…I forgave her. Emma–for giving me up," Henry said looking at the older man after a moment of silence. "She thought it was the best for me then. That's why she did it. I'm sure your son will get it, too."
"Alas, the circumstances surrounding our separation weren't quite so noble," Gold frowned as he thought back to how him and his son were separated.
"But…you're here now," Henry interjected. "And, you want him back, right?"
Gold nodded. "More than anything."
"Then, that's all that matters," Henry said.
The Dead Rabbit
"I don't understand," Neal said looking at Faith, Christine and Emma. "Faith, Emma what are you two doing here?"
"What are we doing here?" Emma asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," Neal breathed not getting her point.
"We're not answering anything until you tell us the truth," Faith snapped. "Are you Rumpelstiltskin's son?"
Neal looked at Faith in mock confusion. How did Faith know about his father? "What are you talking about? Other than being a fairy tale character, who's Rumpelstiltskin?"
"You played me. You're from there. You played me, and he played both me and Aunt Faith,' Emma rambled more to herself not believing what was happening.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay," Neal took a step forward but Emma retreated.
"I think you might want to answer them, Neal," Christine advised.
"Yeah," Faith agreed. "You are Rumpelstiltskin's son, correct?"
"He's here?" Neal looked around for any sign of his father.
"Why else would we be in New York?" Emma snapped.
'You brought him to me? Why would you do that?!' Now it was Neal's turn to yell.
"Hey! Aunt Faith and I are the only ones allowed to be angry here! Did you know who I was, where I was from, the whole time? Was this just some sort of sick, twisted plan? Did… did you even care about me at all?' Emma quickly asked needing answers.
"You should just tell her the truth," Faith interjected. "It will be easier in the long run."
"Fine!" Neal said in defeat. "Well, what do you want to know, Emma? You want the truth? Ask away."
"Did you know who I was when we met?" Emma held her breath waiting for the answer.
"If I had, I wouldn't have gone near you," Neal sighed. He then looked at Faith.
"Wow," Faith said shaking her head.
"Why?" Christine asked. So far, she was confused by the direction of the conversation.
"Does Chris know?" Neal asked looking at Emma.
"No," Faith answered. "She's a childhood friend from this world." She sighed as she looked at Christine. "Emma, Neal, Buffy, Dawn and I are all from another world. Where fairytales were real. My elder sister is Snow White."
"You have quite an imagination, Faith," Christine said.
"She's telling the truth, Chris," Neal said. "We're from a land called the Enchanted Forest." He sighed as he looked back at Emma. "I was in hiding," he said deciding to answer Christine's question. "I came here to get…away from…all that crap."
"So, if you didn't know, then you were just using me. You just needed someone to take the fall for all the watches that you stole," Emma couldn't hide the hurt from her voice. She had loved this man and he had betrayed her.
"I wasn't using you," Neal said. "When we met, I didn't know. I found out."
"How?" Faith wondered.
"When I went to sell the watches Emma and I stole…I ran into a friend of hers. August," Neal explained how August had told him the truth and how he had to leave Emma so she could find her parents and aunts and so together she and her aunts could break the curse.
"Why does it not surprise that Pinocchio was involved," Faith said as Emma, Christine and Neal looked at her. "Pinocchio cast a spell on me and my sisters. The spell he cast reawakened our memories and even showed us things during the time we were gone."
"Sounds like he kind of screwed you over," Neal said.
"Not at all," Faith said as she smiled. "It reunited me with Buffy and Dawn and in turn with Snow. In a way the curse was kind of a blessing."
"So, you left me…and let me go to prison, because Pinocchio told you to?" Emma's voice was tearful as she looked at the man in disbelief.
"Emma…" Neal didn't know what to say.
"I loved you," Emma said which got the man's attention.
"I…I was, um…I was…I was trying to help you," Neal stammered not knowing how to respond to that.
"By letting her go to jail?" Faith asked in obvious disbelief.
"By getting Emma home," the man corrected.
"Are you telling me, that us meeting was a coincidence? Because how the hell did that happen? If it wasn't in your plan, or your father's?"
"Yeah, that is a big coincidence given your father is beyond a lot of shit," Faith agreed.
"How so?" Christine said looking at her friend.
"His father is the one that had me, Buffy and Dawn kidnapped and sent into this world," Faith explained. "Buffy, Dawn and I hate his father with a passion as a result. I am only here helping Rumpelstiltskin because Buffy owed him a favor and I'm repaying the debt for her."
"Think about it, Emma. He wanted you and your aunts to break the curse. Us meeting–that could have stopped it," Neal knew his father was capable of many things but this didn't fit his plan. "Maybe it was fate."
"You believe in that?" Emma scoffed.
"You know, there's not a ton about my father that I remember that doesn't suck," Neal admitted. He looked at Faith. "What happened to you and your sisters is a prime example of that." He looked back at Emma. "But he used to tell me that there are no coincidences. Everything that happens, happens by design, and there's nothing we can do about it."
Christine listened silently as she tried to wrap her head around everything Neal, Faith and Emma were saying. Fairytales were real. Faith's older sister is Snow White. Neal's father was Rumpelstiltskin. If all three of them hadn't been talking about it as if it was all real, she might have thought they were crazy or something.
"Forces greater than us conspire to make it happen," Neal continued. "Fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it. The point is…maybe we met for a reason. Maybe something good came from us being together," as he spoke Emma thought of her son a few streets away. If she had never met Neal, she would have never got pregnant with Henry. As she stared at the man, she couldn't tell him that she didn't want to give him the satisfaction and she definitely didn't want him near her son, especially seen as Henry thought the man was dead.
"No. Not that I can think of. I just went to jail. That's it. Doesn't matter now. I'm over it. And you," Emma stood up determined to be the one to walk away this time.
"Why do you wear the, uh, key chain I got you?" Emma forgot about the necklace around her neck. She quickly pulled it off handing it to the man.
"To remind myself never to trust someone again. Come on. Faith and I made a deal with your father we'd bring you to him." Emma gestured towards the door.
"You both made a deal with him?" Now Neal was worried.
"Actually, it was Emma and Buffy," Faith said. "Buffy's my twin. I'm repaying her debt as personal favor to my sister."
"And we're upholding our end," Emma looked at the man with cold eyes almost as if he was a stranger.
"No, Emma…Faith, you two don't have to. You know that," he said.
"We know," Emma responded simply.
"Okay, so this should be really easy for you two," Neal said looking at Faith and Emma. "Tell him that you lost me. Tell him you can't find me. You do that, you'll never have to see me again."
Sometime in the Past
Somewhere North of the Enchanted Forest
Buffy walked beside Mulan their arms level with their shoulders. They both carried two buckets as they climbed a set of stairs. The first few steps had been manageable for Mulan, Buffy on the other hand had no problems thanks to her Slayer strength. But as they continued upward, Mulan's arms started to shake.
"I wish I had your strength," Mulan whispered to Buffy who remained beside her.
Buffy glanced at Mulan. Like with Dawn, she never wanted Mulan to know what it was like to be her. To have her strength, to have a destiny that said she would die before she turned eighteen. Sadly, she hadn't even made it to seventeen let alone eighteen. She watched as water sloshed over the edge of Mulan's bucket and she saw that Mulan seemed to be growing weaker and weaker until, at last, she sank to the ground, defeated.
"Go on," Mulan said looking up at Buffy.
"No," Buffy said as she sat the buckets down and knelt next to Mulan. "We're in this together. We go to the top together or we don't go at all."
January 2, 2012
Sheriff's Station
Buffy blinked and frowned. "I thought the dreams of the Enchanted Forest were over. And why am I inserting myself into them?" she wondered. She picked up the phone on her desk and dialed.
"Hello? Joyce White speaking," came Joyce's voice.
"Mom," Buffy said. "Can you swing by the station. I need to know if someone's cast a spell on me."
"Why, what happened?"
"I'm having dreams or seeing memories or something, like when Pinocchio cast his spell to reawaken mine, Faith and Dawn's memories," Buffy answered. "But their all of Mulan. And from what I am seeing their all from before Regina cast the curse. But here is the strange thing. I'm seeing myself in them."
"I'll be right there," Joyce answered.
Outside The Dead Rabbit
"I think you already figured out who Henry's father is," Emma said as she and Faith sat on a bench outside the bar. They had left Christine with Neal in part to try and make sure he stayed put.
"Yes," Faith said.
Emma sighed. "I don't know what to do, Aunt Faith." She felt panic inside her at the thought of her son finding out the truth.
"Are you asking if you should keep the truth from Henry and Neal?" Faith asked.
"Henry thinks his father is dead. I told them that for a reason. I want to protect him," Emma was trying her best not to break down.
"Henry deserves to know who his father is," Faith said. "Just as Pinocchio did the right thing in casting that spell and reversing Hank's spell. Giving me my memories back so that I remembered your mother."
"With those memories came memories of your mother though and knowing what she did," Emma reminded her aunt. "Are you telling me you are happy knowing Regina is your mother after what she did to my mom, to your sister?"
"Am I happy she has a target painted on Snow's back, no," Faith admitted. "Am I happy to know that she is my mother, yes. I wouldn't change that knowledge for anything."
"Aunt Faith, I don't want Henry to get hurt. I just want to protect him," Emma repeated.
"Are you sure this is about protecting Henry, and not yourself?" Faith asked.
Sheriff Station
Joyce shook her head. "I can detect no spells on you, Buffy," she said though she did detect magic on her daughter. "You are sure they're not just day dreams because of your attraction to Mulan?"
"Maybe," Buffy said with a shrug. "I don't know."
"Try and see if you can't see what you can from the dreams, maybe that will give you a clue on why your seeing them?" Joyce suggested.
Neal and Christine's Apartment Building, New York City
"Why are you so nervous? When I found my mom, I was excited," Henry asked as Gold fidgeted on the spot.
"Because I have the benefit of a little more…life experience. I know that things don't always happen the way we want them to," Gold answered.
"Sure, but in my book, it says that you can see the future. Why can't you just look and see what's going to happen?" Henry continued his questioning.
Gold was saved from answering when Emma, Faith and Christine returned. After Emma and Faith's conversation, Emma had agreed to let Neal go. So, they returned empty handed.
"Did you find him?" Gold asked forgetting the teens earlier comment.
"Sorry. Your son…got away," Emma lied Gold's hope fading. Turning in rage Gold stormed back to the building hitting all the buzzers with his cane.
Storybrooke Hospital
Belle lay in bed in her room at the hospital as Regina walked through the door. "Who are you?" she questioned.
Regina smiled. "So, it is true. You really don't remember anything."
"Are we friends?" Belle asked.
Regina shook her head. "We spent some time together. But I'm here because I believe you can help me find something that belongs to Rumpelstiltskin."
"W-who?" Belle asked confused.
"Mr. Gold," Regina replied with a smirk.
"I, uh… I-I don't know him," Belle admitted.
Regina smiled as she magically knocked Belle unconscious. "Not anymore. But you did." She magically opened Belle's purse, causing all of its contents to float through the air. She spotted the object of interest, a piece of paper, which Regina levitated towards her. She took it and examined it. On it was written the number 915.63.
Sometime in the Past
Somewhere North of the Enchanted Forest
Standing in the middle of a parade ground, Buffy held a spear out in front of her, fighting Mulan, who had her own spear.
Attack. Block. Attack. Block. Each move Buffy made, Mulan anticipated, lifting her own spear in a steady, smooth rhythm that Buffy met. The tempo built as they moved faster and faster. Mulan spun out of reach as Buffy kicked. Buffy blocked as Mulan came at her with her own attack. Back and forth it went, their movements oddly beautiful. They met each other with equal intensity, their eyes locked.
Mulan swung, catching Buffy off guard. The Slayer stumbled back and for a moment, it seemed Mulan had the advantage. But in one smooth move, Buffy swung back around and knocked her spear to the ground.
Buffy took a step back and smiled. "Pick it up," she said.
Mulan reached down and grab the spear again. With a shout, she went after Buffy. The Slayer and Mulan were an even match for one another. Then Buffy made a slight motion with her hand and Mulan nodded in understanding.
Letting out a shout, Mulan ran at Buffy and jumped. She then brought her spear whipping down. There was a loud crack as spear met spear, and then Buffy's weapon was sent flying from her hand. It twirled across the parade ground, end over end.
Buffy leapt and spun into a roundhouse, her foot meeting Mulan's spear. She kicked the blunt end of the spear, breaking the spear in two and sending the blunt end hurtling through the air with speed and power. It slammed into the side of a pole with a ping and stayed there, embedded deep in the wood.
Buffy landed and then she and Mulan went at each other in hand to hand combat.
January 2, 2012
Sheriff's Station
Buffy blinked with a sigh. "Come on, will something tell me why I am dreaming all this."
Storybrooke Town Library
Regina scanned the shelves of books for the number on the paper. "Shouldn't we be pillaging his shop or ransacking his home?" Hook asked.
Cora smiled. "That would be the obvious choice, yes. But Gold wouldn't risk crossing the town line and losing his memory without entrusting the dagger's location to someone."
"Belle," Hook said in understanding.
Regina nodded. "My guess, is she hid it in one of her beloved books."
"Impressive, Regina," Cora agreed.
"Thank you, mother," Regina smiled at Cora.
Hook sighed. "I'll be impressed when I'm holding the dagger in my hand."
"No. It should be here," Regina said as she found the correct spot, but there was no book, just an empty space.
"Well, it's not, is it?" Hook said. "May we go now?"
"Hold on," Cora stuck her hand in the space between the books and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "What's this?" She unfolded the paper.
"Oh, yes. Crude," Hook said with a roll of his eyes. "To the untrained eye, a child's scribbles, but to a pirate… It's a map. Gold may not have hidden the dagger here, but I believe he's left us the next best thing – its location."
"Can you read it?" Cora asked.
Hook nodded. "Well, lucky for you ladies, I'm quite adept at finding buried treasure."
Neal and Christine's Apartment Building, New York City
Gold frantically hit all of the buttons on the intercom. "Gold, wait. What are you doing?" Emma asked.
Christine rolled her eyes as she unlocked the door again. "You could have just asked."
"I'm finding my son," the man growled at Emma as he walked past Christine and up the stairs.
"He's gone," Christine said. She was pretty sure that Neal hadn't come back.
"But he lives here. He'll be back, and I'll be waiting." When Gold reached his son's door he quickly began picking the lock.
'When people run away from you it normally means please leave not break into my home and stalk me' the teen knew a trip with Gold was a bad idea.
"Stop. You can't just break in," Emma added as Faith rolled her eyes.
"Okay. Finding people is what you do, Miss Swan. I'm simply going to assist you. There may be information in here. Who he is, what he does, who he loves." The man kept his eyes on the lock.
"You are aware that's illegal, right," Christine said as she took a stab at trying to stop the man.
"I'll be lookout," Henry finally chimed in.
"No, you could get arrested," Faith objected.
"Then my son will have to testify against me, and we will be reunited," Gold said as he successfully picked the lock and opened the door.
Sometime in the Past
Somewhere North of the Enchanted Forest
Urging their horses on, Mulan and Buffy saw the faces of soldiers grow clearer as they made their way farther down a mountainside. They watched as a runaway trebuchet tumbled down, end over end, before landing with a crash—right on top of one of the soldiers.
Another soldier raced over and pushed the trebuchet off his friend. Shoving the soldier to safety, he got to his feet only to be hit with a wave of snow that sucked him down.
Buffy didn't hesitate. Slamming her legs against her horse's sides and yanking on the reins, she turned the protesting horse in the direction of the snow. Suddenly, she spotted an arm reaching up through the snow. She leaned over in the saddle and extended her arm. She grasped his and with Slayer strength she swung him into the saddle behind her.
January 2, 2012
Sheriff Station
Buffy was slowly getting tired of the dreams or memories or whatever they were. They weren't telling her anything.
Christine and Neal's Apartment Building, New York City
"Gold. Come on, please. We really shouldn't be here," Emma pleaded from the doorway.
"I don't think he's listening," Christine sighed standing next to Faith and Emma. Henry walked further into the apartment searching like Gold for a clue about who this mystery man could be. That's when Emma noticed it. The dreamcatcher hanging on the window. She slowly moved over picking it up in her hand's memories flooding back to her.
"Emma?" Faith said noticing her niece's interest.
'You find something, dearie?' Gold added.
"Nothing. Uh, it just looks like a dream catcher," Emma quickly tried to brush it off.
"Yeah, well, if it's nothing, why are you still holding it?" Gold growled. "You're lying to me."
"Hey," Faith glared at the man. "Back off."
"Just get back to looking, okay?" Emma spoke softly trying to calm down the situation.
"No, no, no. You saw something. Tell me," Gold refused to let it go.
"What's going on?" Christine whispered to Faith watching Gold and Emma.
"Dreamcatcher's can be magically used," Faith replied.
"Tell me!" Gold yelled.
"Henry, go wait in the bathroom," Emma demanded.
"But I can help—" Henry began to argue.
"Henry, just go," Faith said. Henry looked at Faith and then nodded as he left the room.
"There's nothing here. The guy's a ghost," Emma turned back to Gold.
"Well, you think me a fool? You're holding back. I want to know what, and why," Gold's voice was slightly less angry but still threatening.
"Drop it Rumpelstiltskin," Faith snapped coming to Emma's defense.
"Did he tell you something?" Gold took a step forward.
"Nothing. He didn't say anything," Emma lied.
"But you talked to—" Gold continued.
Christine pulled Faith out into the hall. "What's going on?" she asked with a wave of her hand to indicate Emma and Gold.
Faith let out a sigh in resignation. "Henry's father is Neal. Which means…"
"Your friend Rumpelstiltskin or Mr. Gold, whatever his name is," Christine said in complete understanding. "Is her son's grandfather."
"Yes," Faith replied. "Emma told Henry his father is dead. She doesn't want Henry to know."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Don't put words in my mouth—" Emma snapped.
"Tell me! You tell me, or I'm going to make you tell me," Gold snarled.
"You don't know how to use this world's magic," Emma reminded him.
"Oh, I don't need magic," Gold let out an evil smile.
"You touch her and it will be the last thing you do," Faith said as she stepped back into the apartment with Christine.
"Do not push me," Gold growled at the Slayer.
"Then don't push me," Faith snapped.
"We had a deal! A deal! No one! No one breaks deals with me!" Gold screamed.
With that the door burst open revealing Neal on the other side of it. "Hey! Leave them alone."
All eyes went to the intruder.
Sometime in the Past
Somewhere North of the Enchanted Forest
Mulan and Buffy looked at the man before them. His face was unmoving, his expression impossible to read. For a long moment, they stood face to face, neither speaking, neither blinking.
"Bring me my sword," he said. As a soldier moved to do so, the gathered soldiers exchanged nervous glances. "Hua Mulan and Hua Buffy," he began. "Your actions have brought disgrace and dishonor to this regiment, to this kingdom, and to your own family." He stopped. When he spoke again, his voice was full of respect. "But your loyalty and your bravery are without question. You both will lead us as we ride to the Imperial City." Turning, he addressed the other soldiers. "Ready the horses!"
Buffy and Mulan looked at each other and smiled. "You take the lead, Mulan, for your people," Buffy said. "I will be your second."
January 2, 2012
Sheriff Station
Buffy blinked. "Maybe, just maybe. I'm inserting myself into someone Mulan might know. After all its not just dreams. Since several of them happened while I was wide awake."
Neal and Christine's Apartment Building
"Bae… you came back for me," Gold chocked out.
"No. I came to make sure you didn't hurt them. I've seen what you do to people who break deals," Neal spat.
"Please, Bae, just let me talk," the older man begged.
"I have no interest in talking to you. You can go," Neal demanded.
"I'm not going anywhere," Gold stood his ground.
"Get out of my apartment!" Neal yelled.
"Okay everyone needs to take a deep breath," Christine interrupted.
"Neal calm down," Emma added her voice was soft.
"You two know each other… you two know each other. How?" Gold looked between the pair demanding answers.
"Everyone here knows, Neal," Christine said with a reluctant sigh as Gold looked at her. "I'm his neighbor. Remember?"
"I was running from a master vampire known as Kakistos," Faith said. "Neal helped me take some vamps out and let me crash on his couch."
"You sent me and Aunt Faith chasing after him," Emma lied.
"No, no, no. Stop it! You're lying. How do you two know each other?!" Gold raised his voice once more looking at Emma and Neal.
"Mom? W-what's going on?" Everyone turned to look at Henry who had joined them.
"Hey…" Emma whispered walking over to the young boy.
"Who's this?" Neal looked at the kid.
"My son," Emma explained simply.
"What?" Neal furrowed his brow piecing things together.
"Is that Baelfire?" Henry asked looking at Neal.
"I need you to stay in the other room for a little while longer, okay? Come on." Emma began to lead Henry out of the room.
"Wait. H-how old are you?" Neal called after them.
"Don't answer him," Emma whispered.
"How old are you, kid?!" Neal yelled.
"Eleven!" Henry yelled back spinning on his feet to look at the man. "Now, why is everyone yelling?"
"Not everyone, Henry," Faith admitted as she looked at Christine. "I'm feeling for another drink."
"I've got some beer in my room," Christine admitted as she led Faith out the door. She looked at Emma. "We'll be next door. Apartment 203."
"He's eleven?" Neal stared at Emma with a broken gaze.
"Mom," Henry said
"Is this my son?" Neal felt his heart beat harder suddenly struggling to breath.
"No. My dad was a fireman. He… he died," Henry explained. "That's what you told me. You said…" He turned to his mom suddenly doubting his own words.
"Is this… my son?" Neal asked once more.
Emma looked at her daughter Henry knowing Faith had been right she had to be honest. She walked forward taking Henry's head in her hands searching his eyes hoping he would be able to forgive her. "Yes," Emma breathed, hurt washing over Henry's face. Henry slowly backed away shaking his head before he climbed out the window running up the fire escape. "Henry. Henry?" she called after him quickly following her son.
"Baelfire…" Gold said as he reached out and placed his hand on his son's shoulder. Neal shrugged the hand off of his shoulder. "Please, please. All I want is a chance to be heard."
"Get out." Neal ordered.
"Look, you came back to protect Emma and Faith," Gold said. "To show that they had lived up to their end of the bargain with me."
"And now they have," Neal said. "You can go."
Gold shook his head. "No. Our deal was for them to get you to talk to me. If you truly want their deal to be fulfilled, you have but one choice. You have to talk to me."
"You got three minutes," Neal reluctantly conceded.
Storybrooke Town Library
"I give you the location of the dagger," Hook said as he finished translating the map.
"Well done, Hook. We'll take it from here," Cora said as she snatched the map off of the table and she and Regina began to leave.
"No. You promised me!" Hook said as he moved to confront the sorceress.
Cora magically blasted Hook back into a bookshelf, knocking him unconscious. "The dagger's much too powerful to be wasted on you," she told him.
"So… Is… This what it was all about?" Regina asked. "Getting Rumpel's dagger so you could obtain his dark powers?"
"If we possess the dagger, we control the Dark One," Cora answered. "And when he returns to Storybrooke, we can command him to kill Snow White, Prince Charming, and Emma. Our enemies will be vanquished, and you, will be blameless in the eyes of the only people who matter.
"Henry, Elizabeth, Faith and Dawn," Regina said in understanding.
Sometime in the Past
Somewhere North of the Enchanted Forest
Buffy smiled as she wrapped an arm around Mulan. "I think speak for Mulan, that is all she ever wanted to hear."
The man before them looked back at Buffy and Mulan with pride. "The Emperor urges you both to reconsider his invitation to join our greatest decorated warriors as officers in the Imperial Guard." The villagers began to mutter in shock at Buffy and Mulan were being offered. "He eagerly awaits your decision."
All eyes turned to Buffy and Mulan, everyone curious to hear what they would say.
Mulan looked at Buffy for a long moment. "What is it you wish, my wife?" she asked.
"When I sacrificed myself for my sister, I had thought I would be done. But now, I can't think of anything I want more than to be at your side. Either as an officer of the Imperial Guard or here in this village with our family being your loving wife," Buffy answered.
January 2, 2012
Sheriff Station
Buffy blinked as memories began pouring into her mind. Memories that had been long forgotten when she had been ripped out of Mulan's life by Willow. "I am Hua Buffy," she said as she smiled. "And I am the wife of Hua Mulan and we were married by the Emperor himself. And I am an officer of the Imperial Guard." She finally remembered her life during the five months she had supposedly been dead a decade ago. She stood and darted out of her office to find Mulan, her wife.
Neal and Christine's Apartment, New York City
Emma had found Henry at the top of the fire escape. "So, that's him," Henry said as Emma nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I never thought I would see him again," Emma reluctantly admitted. "I never wanted to."
"Why not?" her son questioned.
Emma sighed. "He was a thief, Henry. A liar, a bad guy, and he…He broke my heart."
"I could have taken it, you know. The truth," Henry told her.
"I know," Emma said with a sigh. "He was just a part of my life I wanted to forget. That's why I didn't tell you. I was thinking of me, not you."
"I thought you were different, but you're just like her. Regina. She always lied to me, too," Henry told his mother.
Emma sighed. "I'm sorry…"
"I want to meet my dad," Henry said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Clock's ticking," Neal reminded his father.
"I know I've made mistakes, but you must believe me," Gold tried to explained. "I want to make up for it. There's no greater pain than regret."
"Try abandonment," Neal countered.
Gold sighed. "Please. Let me make it up to you."
"How are you going to do that?" Neal questioned. "I grew up alone. I grew up without a father. Can you make up for that?"
Gold nodded. "Yeah. Yes, I can."
"Two minutes," Neal said with a glance at the clock.
"Come with me to Storybrooke," Gold offered. "There's magic there."
"There is magic here," Neal countered again.
"Not the magic I need," Gold replied with a sigh. "There I can turn the clock back. Make you fourteen again. We can start over."
"Fourteen?" Neal scoffed. "I don't want to be fourteen, again. Are you…Are you insane?"
"I can't make up for the lost time, but I can take away the memories. Bae…" Gold pleaded.
"Take away who I am?" Neal asked. "No, thanks." He looked at the clock. "One minute."
"Bae…Please…" Gold begged knowing it may be futile but having to try anyways. "Give me a chance. You once loved me."
"You were once a good man," Neal reminded his father.
"And I can be that man again," Gold said. "I've changed."
"Like you did when you sent Faith and her sisters away from their family?" Neal retorted.
"Look. I came here, to this city, unable to use this world's magic and without magic from the Enchanted Forest," Gold told his son.
"Yeah, yeah, and you're still trying to use it to make up for your mistakes," Neal said shaking his head. "Still think that that can make it all better. It won't. You can't. You have no idea what I've lived with. You're so worried about you. You know what I've dealt with? Every night, for more years than you could know, the last thing I see before sleep, is the image of you… You and me, over that pit. Your hand… Wrapped around mine. And then, you open your grip. And as I fall away, all I can see is your face. Choosing all…this…crap over me. Letting me go. Now, it's my turn. Now I'm letting you go."
"I'm sorry-" Gold apologized.
"I don't care," Neal retorted. "I didn't get closure, so you don't, either. Got to go."
"Oh, Bae…" Gold sobbed.
"No," Neal said motioning toward the door. "Time's up." He turned and walked out of the room.
Emma climbed back through the window to face her demons. "He wants to meet you," she said to Neal who nodded.
"You weren't going to tell me about him," Neal stated rather than asked.
"No, I wasn't," Emma confirmed like it was obvious.
"Yeah, well, he's my kid, too, so you don't get to make that decision by yourself anymore." Neal looked out the window to see Henry leaning against the fire escape.
"Great. Go talk to him, then. But…don't break his heart," Emma's voice was stern showing she meant business.
"Trust me – I'm not going do to him what he did to me," Neal flashed a look at Gold.
"Or what you did to me," Emma added.
"Okay. I get it. We're all messed up. What do you say we try to avoid that with him? Alright?" Neal didn't want to fight anymore.
"Alright," Emma agreed. Just as Neal was about to head out to Henry Emma noticed for the first time that Faith was missing. "Where's Aunt Faith?"
"Next door in Chris's apartment," Neal said. "I think they decided to have another beer."
Emma nodded. "Maybe that's a good idea," she admitted. "I think I will go join them." She walked out of the apartment heading over to Christine's.
"So… You're my dad," Henry said as Neal joined him.
Neal nodded. "Yeah."
"I'm Henry," Henry introduced himself.
Neal smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Henry. Sorry I took so long."
"It's okay," Henry admitted. "You didn't know."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Aunt Faith," Emma said thinking about Neal and Henry. "Were you ever tempted to become a kid again? Do it all over?"
"I was tempted to do the reset, remember," Faith said.
"Reset?" Christine asked.
"Become a kid again," Faith said with a sigh. "But the main reason for not being a kid again were the memories if it was just the happy memories alone I might have done it but the thing is I have more unhappy memories than happy ones I never want to subject my family to all the nightmares I had growing up it wouldn't be right to have them suffer just for my happiness."
"So, you would rather have yourself suffer than anyone else," Christine asked.
Faith nodded. "Yes, I would rather be the one who suffers than my family. You know for the past few days I've been having strange dreams."
"Like what you told Gold about?" Emma asked.
"Yeah. In one I wasn't taken when I was seven and I got to grow up with Buffy and Dawn. Another is if Rumpelstiltskin had never taken us and we got to grow up with Snow. A few where the three of us aren't sisters. Some of those have me in romantic relationships with them. One though has Buffy beating me to death and feeding me to Angel, so that he can live."
"In another after I attack Angel and the Council takes me away to England and they say they want to help me by rehabilitating me by letting me start over so they turn me into four-year-old," Faith continued. "I still have my slayer abilities and Buffy will have to teach me how to use them also in that world Dawn is not there so I am made the vessel for the Key. In another Buffy didn't get over being ripped out of heaven. G-Men springs me from jail to help Buffy. We're fighting a demon that sprays me and turns me into a baby. Having to raise me gives her something to live for, helping her to get over her depression."
Faith sighed as she looked at the window. "I know why your asking, Emma. You want to know if it were possible, and if I were in your shoes. Would I do things differently. Maybe tell Henry the truth?"
"Something like that," Emma admitted.
"I don't know," Faith admitted.
"I don't think that is a question anyone can truly answer," Christine admitted.
Granny's Diner
Buffy burst into the diner and smiled. "Hua Mulan!" she called out.
Mulan looked up and, in that moment, memories began to flow into her mind and she returned Buffy's smile. "Hua Buffy!" she cried as she stood up and she ran into her loving wife's arms. "Oh, Buffy, I found you."
"You told me you would, Mulan, and you have," Buffy agreed. She spun her wife around. "Oh, Mulan. We have much to talk about."
"That we do," Mulan said as she led Buffy over to the table she had been sitting at when Buffy entered.
"Let's start with, what happened when I disappeared," Buffy said.
"The curse was enacted almost immediately after you left," Mulan said. "And as a result, my memories of you dimmed till they were forgotten entirely."
"What about Xiu and your parents?" Buffy wondered.
"Gone," Mulan said with a sigh. "Not long after time unfroze the ogres invaded. I rushed home. They swarmed the village, everyone was gone. Xiu, father, mother all dead."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mulan," Buffy said with a sigh as she squeezed her wife's hand.
"What about you?" Mulan asked.
"I was pulled back into this world and my memories, like yours, faded. Before I learned of the Enchanted Forest, I had thought I had been in heaven. All I remembered were feelings, nothing more. After arriving in Storybrooke, learning about the curse, that Faith, Dawn and I are the biological daughters of Regina and that we had been kidnapped by Rumpelstiltskin, I began to surmise that I might have been someplace else."
"I wonder what triggered our memories to return," Mulan said.
"I think I can answer that," Joyce said as she stepped up beside Buffy and Mulan. She pulled out a chair and sat down. "No, I didn't lie, Buffy. There wasn't a spell. But there was magic, the magic of True Love's Kiss."
Buffy's eyes went wide in realization as she looked back at Mulan. "The picnic," she said. "When I kissed you."
Mulan smiled. "And that awoke our memories," she said.
Buffy nodded as she looked back at her mother. "Mom, I would like you to meet my wife, Hua Mulan. Apparently, I was like you. When I died for Dawn I was sent back into our world. But not to the Enchanted Forest." She looked back at Mulan for a long moment. She had already changed her name once, but she was also married. "As you know, Mulan, I no longer go by the Summers name. I have taken up my birth name. But now that our memories are awakened. I am thinking I will change it again. To Hua-White. To honor not only our marriage and your family but mine as well."
"Hua-White Buffy," Mulan said testing the name to see how it sounded to her ears. ""I think, my lovely wife, that is prefect."
"Or Buffy Hua-White," Buffy suggested a little teasingly. She intended to leave her name in the order that Mulan's people had theirs. But she wanted to see Mulan's reaction.
"Hmm," Mulan said pretending to mull over the suggestion. And then she laughed. "Nah. We will go with …"
"Our family's naming convention," Buffy agreed. "I am Hua-White Buffy, the wife of Hua Mulan, and we are both officers of the Imperial Guard."
Author's Note: Can you all guess what movie and TV shows were referenced for the names of Faith's Slayer team…The Sanderson triplets, Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Donna Nobel and Amy Pond. Sandersons are from a movie and Martha, Donna and Amy are from the same TV show.
Buffy and Mulan's story takes place in the spin-off Once Upon A Slayer: The Gift. It is set between seasons 5 and 6 of BTVS about a decade before the start of this story. There is somewhat a bit of time travel involved because Buffy does appear in Mulan's village before Regina casts the curse. And if you read that story you will see that there is mention that they get married. I said mention because I wanted to leave any wedding scenes for this one, and I do believe Buffy and Mulan might like to renew their vows so there could be a wedding in this story.