Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any unrecognizable characters and dialogue.
So, hope you enjoy this chapter, and did anyone see the new episode? Also, due to a comment made by a certain reviewer (you know who you are) the flashbacks in this chapter are ones of little Lily and Peter ;)
Enjoy!
Lillian sat on the bed, glaring out the window as sunlight streamed into the sterile room. Whale sighed inwardly, not wanting to go over this again with the teen, even though he knew he had to.
"Lillian, despite what you think, you're still not well enough to be discharged." He held back a wince when she turned furious eyes towards him. He readied himself for her displeasure, only for a high, childish voice to inadvertently save him.
"Lillian!" Henry swept into the room, nearly leaping onto the bed as he deposited a small bag beside her. "I got your clothes - I know you hate hospital gowns."
Whale wisely took that moment to make himself scarce and backed out of the room. He turn round, nearly running headlong into Regina. Stumbling back, he muttered apologies and went to leave, cursing when the mayor called him back.
"Dr. Whale? A word."
With a resigned smile, he turned. "What can I do for you, Madame Mayor?"
"Have you finally found what caused Lillian's trauma?" She asked bluntly, watching his expressions closely.
He nodded. "Yes. All the test results seem to point to her having an averse reaction to the medication Archie put her on."
Regina's patient smile faltered ever so slightly. That was what did it? She turned back to the room to see Henry, clearly reenacting something from a game or comic, and Lillian laughing on the bed. When she'd received the call from Gold, who had told her in clipped tones that Henry was with Lillian in the hospital, she'd been ready to gloat.
The Dark Lilith had been a thorn in her side from the beginning. Despite her absence, Rumpelstiltskin had insisted on comparing Regina's trembling first steps at magic to his missing assistant, who had taken to magic like a fish to water at the age of eight. Even now, her skin prickled unpleasantly while the Dark One's mocking voice trilled in her head about her inferiority to a child.
Shaking her head to remove those thoughts, she pinned Whale with a sweet smile. "I assume you've taken the appropriate measures to keep Ms. Gold from relapsing?"
"Of course," Whale sounded offended, making her mouth tighten. "Lillian is being monitored for the next few days - hopefully we can keep her here before she snaps and climbs out the window." At Regina's raised brow, he defended, "What? She's done it before!"
Regina glanced back at the duo in the room, taking in the tension lining Lillian's smiling mouth. It was rather obvious that the teen despised hospitals, something Regina assumed was from their previous lives back in the Enchanted Forest. I certainly didn't make her hate all things medical.
That aside, she halfheartedly thanked Whale before she turned and stalked back to the room. As she approached, she watched Henry's face come alive as he and Lillian laughed with each other, color returning to his pale cheeks. Sighing, she admitted to herself that the return of his birth mother had been good for him. However, her anger at the situation had put unneeded stress on him, as well as Lillian, who obviously felt conflicted over following her orders and keeping Henry far away from Emma, or listening to the little boy she loved like a brother.
While Gold obviously remembered their pasts, it was more than evident that Lillian still remained blissfully unaware. Good, she thought as she strolled into the room.
The last thing she wanted, or needed, was the Dark Lilith getting in her way.
Lily winced as the comb ran through her tangled, damp locks. Her face, rounded and soft, twisted into an impatient pout as Mirana continued to brush out the inky strands.
"My lady, please," the maid chuckled when Lily began to fidget. "I beg of you, stay still!"
Scowling petulantly, the little girl did as bade. Humming softly, the maid finished combing through the now dry strands before she began to gently twist them into a knot at the base of the girl's skull.
So lost in the task, she didn't see their visitor until Lily scrambled out of the chair and ran across the room.
"Mother!" Katerina laughed as the small bundle collided with her legs. However, the laughter soon dissolved into rasping coughs.
"My lady!" Mirana rushed forward, holding onto her mistress' shoulders as they waited for the fit to pass. "Oh, come here, sit down," as she was herded to the bed, Katerina forced herself to smile down at her terrified daughter.
"Mama?" Lily's lower lip trembled, tears making her aqua eyes overly bright. The now four year old stepped forward, halting when her mother trembled again. "Mama, are you all right?"
Katerina accepted the glass of water from Mirana, swallowing several mouthfuls before she addressed her obviously upset daughter. "Yes, dearest. Come here, darling." She patted the spot next to her and Lily clambered up onto it.
After she settled her daughter into the crook of her arm, Katerina began, "Now, you know what tonight is for?"
"For my birthday...?" Lily ventured to ask, little brow creased in confusion.
Katerina nodded once, voice suddenly hesitant as her stomach twisted. "It is indeed. It is also marking the arrival of your grandmother."
As Lily's confusion deepened, Katerina silently cursed her mother. All these years and now the old woman deigned to visit, only to see if Lily was worthy of course. Her parents, while delighted when she'd returned from her kidnapping unharmed, had practically disowned her once she'd married 'below' her station.
"But... I though grandmother and grandpapa were gone?" Lily's head titled to the side, several errant curls slipping free from the knot.
Katerina nodded, reaching to free the hair from it's confines as she did so. "Yes, but those are your grandparents from your father's side, dearest. The woman coming is my mother."
Nodding, Lily looked down as she grasped the implications of what her mother was saying. Even at her young age, she knew that her mother's family wasn't mentioned. Why that was, she had no idea and, at the moment, was quite content to remain as such.
Especially when Mirana emerged with the dress she was to wear the the celebrations.
As Mirana struggled to put her charge into her dress, Katerina retrieved a small crown that glittered in the light. With gentle, nimble fingers, she let Lily's hair fall down her back before she gently placed the crown on the top on her head.
"There," she whispered as she steered Lily to the full length looking glass. "Perfect, my darling."
"I'll say."
Blood freezing, Katerina spun around to see a boy reclining on the windowsill, eyes glittering with amusement. What made it worse, however, was the sight of her daughter smiling as she ran into the teen's arms.
"Peter!"
Lillian sat on the windowsill, silently seething. Whale had, despite her threats and protests, refused to discharge her until tomorrow. Henry had been herded off by Regina to do God knows what, so now she was alone in the room.
Gold hesitated by the door, unwilling to disrupt the girl before him. Lillian's anger from the other night had no doubt remained. He shivered at the thought, remembering all too well the look of absolute hatred in her eyes as he was ejected from the hospital room. However, despite his reluctance to speak with her, he knew she needed to be informed of the happenings of Ms. Blanchard's trial.
Clearing his throat pointedly, he waited for her head to whip around. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of him, though that was the only sign of her displeasure that she allowed. "Lillian," he greeted softly, remaining at the door.
"Gold." She returned stonily, eyes flashing furiously before her face became curiously blank. "What is it?"
"You wished to be appraised of Ms Blanchard's case," he paused as she turned towards him, eyes sharp. "I have arranged for a meeting with the prosecuting attorney -"
"With Spencer?" Lillian questioned flatly, bristling inwardly. She'd despised George in the Enchanted Forest and the feeling hadn't lessened. "Is that wise?"
"It's necessary." He replied after several moments of silence.
Lillian's eyes narrowed at his dodging of the question. However, she didn't call him out on it, especially when he shared another piece of news with her.
"Oh, and you're free to go." He watched her carefully as confusion briefly clouded her eyes. Gold held in the urge to smile as realization filled her eyes, aware that she was still very cross with him. "Whale and I had a, uh, discussion, pertaining to your stay here."
His heart lifted at the surprise and delight that flashed across her face. However, it was gone within moments and she nodded once at him before she turned her attention back to the outside world. Recognizing the dismissal for what it was, Gold wisely stepped out of the room and left the hospital, heart heavy.
Seconds after he'd left, Lillian sprang from the ledge and rushed around the room to collect her phone and shoes. Once she had her coat on, she nearly ran from the room and the hospital. As she made her way down main street, she caught sight of Emma stalking out of the diner.
"Emma!" She rushed forward, wrapping the scarf around her neck. The spring rain hadn't let up, making her shiver despite herself.
The blonde whirled around, eyes wide as she continued pulling her hair up. "Lillian," she waited for the brunette to catch up. "How did you escape?"
"Gold sprung me," Lillian shrugged, closing her mouth when David came over to them.
"Emma!" He looked between their unforgiving expressions and swallowed.
"David, I don't have time." Emma snapped out flatly, not even looking at the man.
"No, I-I understand." He managed as the two women walked across the street to Emma's bug. "It's Mary Margaret. How's she doing?"
"How do you think she's doing?" Lillian demanded as Emma pulled out her keys.
David winced at the teen's expression. Jogging to keep up with them, he sighed, "Well, I think the last time we spoke, she didn't quite get what I meant."
"Oh, you mean that you basically told her you thought she might be guilty?" Emma remarked flippantly.
"Look," he sighed again, "it's this situation." He placed his hand on top of the vehicle as Emma opened the door. Resigning herself, the blonde finally raised her gaze to him. "It's been confusing and horrible for everyone. But, Emma, I don't think she's guilty." Emma's gaze slanted towards Lillian, who glowered. "I need her to know that. Can I see her?"
"She doesn't want visitors." Emma said finally, expression resigned.
David eyed both of them, his eyes filling with realization. He looked down, bitterness creeping into his voice. "You mean me. She doesn't want to see me."
"Honestly, David. I'm sure your heart is in the right place, but the last thing she needs right now is words of encouragement from you."
"What does she need?" David asked eagerly as first Lillian, then Emma entered the car.
"A miracle." The blonde said before she shut the door, started the car and drove off.
Lillian slumped down in her seat, angrily glaring at the man. Emma glanced from the corner of her eye, smirking wryly at the sight of the other woman's frown.
"It's not his fault," Emma defended, though it sounded weak to both their ears.
With a deep sigh, Lillian straightened before she turned her attention to Emma.
"Alright so, what have you got?"
Katerina barely noticed when Mirana swooned, crumpling to the ground in a heap of skirts. All her attention was fixed on the sight of him cradling her daughter tenderly in his arms. Lily, oblivious to the sudden tension in the room, chattered happily about her birthday celebrations to Peter, who stood, balancing her on his hip.
As the child's excited ramblings slowed, Peter turned his attention to Lily's stunned mother. With a smirk, he turned his gaze back to the girl in his arms.
"She's the most beautiful birthday girl, isn't she, Katerina?" He lightly bounced Lily, who beamed in response. "Aren't you?" His smirk morphed into a tender smile as the girl bashfully shrugged. "Yes, you are."
"Lily..." Katerina felt light-headed, breath coming in gasping pants. "H-how -"
"Oh, he's my friend, mama!" Lily wrapped her little arms around Peter's neck. "I told him about the party - please let him stay!"
Breathing hard, the older woman gripped the wood of the bedpost tightly in her white-knuckled grip. This couldn't be happening. It shouldn't have been! That wizard had assured them that the protection spell would hold up.
"Mama?" Lily repeated, eyes wide with concern. Lady Katerina was swaying as her fingers tried to dig into the wood beneath them.
However, at the sound of her daughter's frightened whisper, dazed aqua eyes snapped to attention. Inhaling deeply as her chest throbbed, Katerina smoothed her skirts down with trembling hands. "Of course he can, dearest."
Peter smirked above Lily's head, resting his cheek on the soft curls. To his amusement, Katerina's face, if possible, went even whiter. Lips pressed into a thin line, she waited for the teen to lower Lily to the ground before he whispered something in her ear. To her renewed horror, Lily smiled, pressed a kiss to Peter's cheek, and then skipped out of the room.
"What did you tell her?" She managed to keep her voice from quivering.
"Oh, just told her to go and bring me that doll I gave her." He replied with a negligent wave of his hand.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Katerina finally hissed, not able to fully mask her fear with hate. "How have you been visiting her, you - you demon!"
He merely flashed her a lazy smile. "Oh, don't let Lily hear you say that." The smirk turned predatory, "She's already decided she's going to marry me when she grows."
Katerina's blood chilled within her veins. Without recalling when she moved, she was suddenly in front of Pan, snarling up at him, "You will not take her from me!" The rage quickly gave way to pain, and she was soon on her knees, hacking up splatters of dark, viscous liquid.
Without pity, Peter knelt down beside her, gripping her chin between his forefinger and thumb. "Oh, I'd like to see you keep me away from her. If that is your play, well," he chuckled, the sound low and vicious. "Let's just say, it won't bold well for you. Not at all."
Katerina's mouth moved several times, unable to form a coherent thought as Lily came barreling back into the room. Surprised she hadn't swooned like poor Mirana, she watched her daughter thrust a doll that looked eerily similar to herself upwards.
"See! I took good care of it, Peter!"
Chuckling, Peter knelt beside the girl, all smiles and warmth again. "That you did, Lily," as she jumped into his arms again, he locked gazes with Katerina over Lily's head. "That you did."
Mary Margaret came awake slowly, the last vestiges of sleep clinging to her mind. Snatches of cries for help and the sound of hooves lingered, though she snapped to attention when her eyes flickered open. Jerking upright with a gasp, she let out a relieved sigh and relaxed.
"They say only the guilty sleep in prison." Regina noted casually, an accusing undertone to her otherwise level voice. Seated before the bars, the mayor watched her silently with dark eyes.
Mary Margaret slowly looked around, trying not to fidget under the mayor's perusal. "What are you doing here? Where's Emma?" She asked quickly, swinging her legs over the small cot.
"She hasn't arrived yet." Regina countered calmly, eyes trained on the teacher before her. "I just wanted to stop by to offer you a chance." Mary Margaret stared at the other woman curiously. "A chance to spare yourself and this town the messiness of a trial. The chance to confess."
Frowning, the teacher stood and walked to stand before Regina. "But I didn't kill Kathryn. Why won't anyone believe me?"
"The murder weapon was found in your apartment," Regina began to list off, a faint smiling curling up the edges of her lips. "Your fingerprint was on the box containing Kathryn's heart… Shall I go on?" She asked dryly as Mary Margaret stared at her in mild puzzlement. "Why not," Regina stood, "for once, make it easier on everyone? Because confession or not, you're leaving Storybrooke."
Mary Margaret watched the smile as it unfurled on Regina's lips. "And you like that." She whispered as an almost fervent glint entered the mayor's eye. "Why? Why do you take such pleasure in this? What did I ever do to you to make you hate me so much?"
Regina opened her mouth, only for a breathless, soft gasp to escape before her painted lips shut once more.
When Emma and Lillian arrived at the station, Gold was waiting patiently beside Mary Margaret's cell. The teacher was pale faced and antsy from her meeting with Regina, still bewildered by the other woman's hatred.
"A pretrial interview with the prosecution?" Emma repeated after Gold's quick explanation of his plan. "Explain to me how that is a good idea." She all but ordered the pawnbroker, leaning against the cell behind her.
Gold conveniently ignored the tone the words were delivered in. He also ignored the way Lillian was currently glowering at him from beside Emma. "The D.A. merely wishes to ask Miss Blanchard a few questions." He gestured to Mary Margaret, who was seated on her cot with the blanket thrown over her legs.
"She's done answering questions. And why are we kissing up to the D.A.? Why aren't we going after Regina? She's the one who's setting up Mary Margaret."
"And what proof do we have of that, Sheriff?" Gold asked, holding back his annoyance. "Just because you found the Mayor's skeleton key in the cell," he said as Mary Margaret rolled her eyes heavenward. "Doesn't mean we can prove she put it there."
"So, what's your plan?"
"I believe our best chance of winning this case is to employ our most valuable asset."
Mary Margaret looked between them. "What's that?"
"Well, that's you, dear." Gold stepped closer to the puzzled woman. "A sweet, kind, elementary school teacher. Doesn't exactly fit the prototype of a killer, now, does it?"
"That's how you're going to get her acquitted?" Lillian broke in dryly, playing her part to perfection. "By using her personality?"
"Perception is everything, dearie – not just in the courtroom, but in life." He smiled. "As such, I'm sure you can imagine how the jury would perceive Miss Blanchard, if she agreed to cooperate with the District Attorney. These things engender trust. It shows the jury she's at least trying-"
"Emma?!" All eyes turned to see Sidney at the door, a vase of colorful flowers in hand. "Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt. I just, uh, came by to drop these off." Emma began to walk towards him as he stepped to her office. "I thought they might brighten the place up."
As Tweedledee and Tweedledum conversed in Emma's office, Lillian took the chance to glance at her phone. Ignoring Gold's gaze, which by now was searing a hole into the side of her hair, she ducked out of the room to respond to Henry's call.
Meanwhile, Gold quietly urged Mary Margaret to agree to speak to Spencer, as Emma turned and Sidney left the station.
"I'm going to do it." Mary Margaret announced once Emma was in earshot. "I'm going to talk to the D.A."
"Are you sure?" Emma asked, brow creased.
The teacher nodded. "Mr. Gold's right. I know I have nothing to hide, but no one else does. I need to let people see me for who I am."
"Excellent decision, Miss Blanchard." All eyes once again turned to the doorway. "My name is Spencer," the bald man beside Regina said. "I'm the District Attorney. Shall we begin?"
"Yeah."
Peter, hidden away in a far corner of the ballroom, watched as Lily was introduced to the guests. Several, he noticed, with young sons of their own, flocked to the little girl and her parents, dripping with sweetness.
Disgusted, though amused, he remained in the shadows as the dancing started. Lily twirled around with her brother, Damien's once fond blue gaze slowly growing colder as their mother's condition worsened. Despite knowing he shouldn't, Peter desperately wanted to put the little ponce in his place before something dire happened to Lily at her brother's hands.
He couldn't interfere anymore than he already had. The prophecy had to come true and then... then all his patience would pay off.
As he watched Lily dance with her father before being handed off to a group of girls her age, he started forward. The girls did a little group number, one easily taught to children, and he chuckled at the irritation on her round face. Lily was clever, as he knew very well, and she despised being babied.
Her face, however, lit up when she saw him in the crowd as the dance ended and she rushed into his arms. He bent at the waist, hugging her tightly before he lifted her onto his feet. Giggling, eyes bright with life and happiness, she held on as he spun them around.
"Can we go flying later?" She whispered into his ear as he knelt to her level. She clung to him, unwilling to release him despite the fact that he'd monopolized her attention for the better part of two hours.
"Anything, princess," he promised. As she kissed his cheek, warmth spreading to his chest, he caught Katerina and Beauregard's eye across the dance floor.
"I'm not a princess, silly." Lily scolded as she pulled back, still clasping hands with him. His fingers, long and thing, wrapped around her own tightly. She was ignorant to the expressions on her parent's faces, or the savage triumph on Peter's when she agreed with his next words.
"Oh, but you're mine, you know."
Lillian remained silent, arms crossed tightly, as she watched Spencer interrogate Mary Margaret. Regina practically oozed smugness at her side, though was struggling to hide her thoughts of victory.
"I can't believe she'd do such a thing," Lillian muttered, startling Regina from her inward glee. Turning to the teen, who hadn't looked away from the room before them, the mayor listened intently. "I mean, she's the one who taught me when I was Henry's age..." Lillian sighed in disappointment. "Goes to show - you can't trust anyone."
Regina's lips parted in a savage smile. "I couldn't agree more, Miss Gold."
Emma, who had been listening intently, bristled. How can Lillian honestly believe this?! Enraged, she forced her attention to the room as Spencer's questions began to increase in ferocity. However, something niggled at the back of her mind. How could Mary Margaret have taught Lillian... they're not even a decade apart in age.
While Mary Margaret dug herself into a deeper hole, Lillian inwardly rolled her eyes at this whole farce. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that Regina had set all of this up, though Gold's involvement wasn't even given a thought due to his 'charitable' efforts to get Mary Margaret acquitted.
Spencer, now there was a man after her own heart. Shrewd, cold and manipulative. I'll need to burn him when this damn Curse breaks, she thought darkly. The man was a leech and, like all vermin, needed to be crushed before they became a problem.
She had a higher rank than he did, though not many knew that little detail. Shaking her head, Lillian watched as the interview came to a spectacular end with Mary Margaret practically confessing that she'd done what everyone thought.
"Yes, of course I wanted her gone. She was the only thing keeping us apart. So, yeah, I wanted her gone. Is that what you want to hear?"
Emma, teeth clamped together so hard she was likely to crack a tooth, glared through the window as horror washed over Mary Margaret's face. Without looking at Regina, who was all too pleased with the way things had gone, the blonde turned when movement caught her eye. Lillian had turned and stalked away in a flurry of cotton, eyes dark and guarded.
Furious with her mentor for his role in this, and for his role in her mental state, Lillian stalked from the station. She wanted Peter, dammit! She wanted to be on Neverland, where the only thing she had to worry about was Luca setting himself on fire, or stopping Felix from murdering the other boy. Fists shaking, she nearly cried with relief when her phone rang and Henry's chipper voice greeted her ears.
Quickly agreeing to meet him at Granny's, she nearly ran to the diner, intent on getting as far away from the stupid trial as possible. Hours later, as she and Henry pretended to be asleep on his bed, Regina cracked open the door. Satisfied that both were asleep, the mayor turned and got into the shower. The moment the water began to run, both Lillian and Henry flung back the bed covers as the latter dove for his walkie-talkie.
"The eagle is in the nest, and the package is secure." Henry prattled into the plastic device.
Emma, with August in tow, carefully headed towards Regina's garage. "Henry. I left the code book at home."
Both Lillian and Henry rolled their eyes. "She's getting in the shower and the keys are under the mat." The teen offered flatly, holding back a scoff.
Emma reached for the mat of the garage, plucking the key from beneath it. Carefully sliding it into the lock, she opened the door to the garage and slid in, August at her heels.
"Don't touch a thing." She warned before silence descended.
Using flashlights, they searched the overcrowded garage. Emma soon came upon several shovels and her gaze fell upon one of them that was missing a piece in the corner. "Hey," she whispered, August coming to her side. She pulled the shard they'd found at the Toll Bridge from her pocket and held it up to the broken shovel. A small, pleased smirk flitted across her lips.
"We got her."
Lily laughed with delight as her papa tossed her into the air before spinning her around. Precocious and charming, the little birthday girl had managed to charm everyone she'd been introduced to. Katerina smiled at her daughter, hoping that Lily's natural cheerfulness would be enough.
"Ahem," she coughed quietly, hating to break the tender moment between father and daughter, but it had to be done. Her mother, wizened and little, stood in the entry of the gardens, awaiting an audience with her granddaughter and possible heir. "My love, may I present to you, Queen Tabitha."
Beauregard stiffened at the sight of his mother-in-law, the woman who had removed her daughter as her heir after she'd disappeared. But, he plastered a smile on his face and nodded to the woman. "Majesty," he refused to put his daughter down, to parade her like a prized sow.
"My Lord," Tabitha greeted with equal spite. Her beady eyes fixed on her granddaughter, who was watching her solemnly, no hint of joy in her eyes. "Is this her, then?"
At his wife's pleading glance, Beauregard nodded and set Lily on her dainty, slippered feet. The little girl immediately swept into a curtsey, not wobbling as other children her age might. "Madam." She greeted, only rising when the older woman touched her shoulder with a wizened hand.
"Come, my dear," she ignored her daughter's fierce glare. "Let's take a turn about the roses."
At the station, Mary Margaret is being handcuffed by the police. Emma and Mr. Gold watch.)
Lillian and Emma watched, stone-faced, as Mary Margaret was handcuffed in the station. Gold stood on Emma's other side, watching the proceedings with a blank stare.
Emma's mouth opened and she croaked, "Mary Margaret…" Stopping when the other woman sent her an unreadable look before she was led from the room.
The moment the teacher left the station, the blonde whirled on Gold. "You told me you could fix this, that's why I came to you." She accused angrily. "So that you could make sure Regina didn't win."
"She hasn't, yet." Gold replied much too calmly for Emma's liking.
"Well, she's going to. And now, my friend is going to pay for me trusting you."
Gold finally fixed Emma with a steely glare. "Look, Sheriff. I know this is emotional, but it's also not over. You must have faith. There's still time."
Lillian finally spoke, her voice low and flat. "Time for what?"
"For me to work a little magic."
With that, Gold strode from the room, leaving Emma and Lillian alone. The blonde stormed into her office and leaned heavily against the desk. Struck by a sudden fit of rage, she grabbed hold of the vase of flowers Sidney had brought and smashed them on the wall. Lillian watched the violence passively, a smile curling the side of her mouth when Emma caught sight of the wire tap resting innocently amongst the debris.
Minutes, later, as both were in Emma's bug heading to Granny's, Lillian deigned to speak.
"I still can't believe you though August had something to do with it." She still didn't know who he was and it irked her greatly.
"Yeah, well clearly my superpower's gotten a bit rusty."
Lillian snorted in response but didn't comment, aware Emma didn't need her snark right now. Once they'd pulled up to the diner, Lillian sprang from the bug and headed inside, smiling at August when she passed. The man blinked, immediately wary. Though, as he exited the diner, the teen's sudden amusement directed at him made sense when he saw Emma waiting for him.
"Hey. I'm sorry."
August stepped down the stairs. "For what?"
"For doubting you." She muttered as he approached her. "I made a mistake." She raised her hand and showed him the bug inside the bag she held.
"What's that?"
"Evidence. Evidence that proves that I've been trusting all the wrong people." She watched August's eyes widen slightly. "I should have listened to you. This bug was from Sidney."
"The newspaper guy?" He asked, brow creased.
"I should've seen it."
August eyed her, trying not to let his excitement show. If she was starting to realize she'd been trusting the wrong people, there was still hope that he could do what he'd come here for. "Well, don't beat yourself up about it, Emma. Sometimes, it's hard to see what's right in front of us, but I knew you would." He smiled.
Emma smiled sadly in return. "I'm trying."
A terrified scream suddenly shattered the still air. Both of them jerked in surprise, looking around before Emma headed down the path beside the diner. Lillian exited the diner, eyes wide as she raced to follow August and Emma. They came upon Ruby, who was sobbing almost hysterically, Lillian racing forward to embrace her shaking friend.
"Ruby! What's going on?" Emma asked.
"She… She… She's in the alley." Ruby gasped out, pointing towards the back of the diner.
"Who, Ruby? What happened?" Emma asked as the brunette shook her head, still gasping. Lillian led her to the wall, where she proceeded to lean as tremors continued to rack her body.
August touched her shoulder, eyes wide. "Hey, you alright?"
Emma raced around to the parking lot located in the back of the diner, stopping at the sight of the body on the ground. Carefully crossing over to tit, she leaned down and turned the body over as Ruby, August and Lillian raced around the corner.
All eyes widened when Emma revealed a very conscious and obviously alive Kathryn.
Thoughts? Comments? Questions?