At Intrinsic Things, Eve and Henry were sitting in the back room, the story book in front of them as they talked.
"Ok, for the next stage of Operation Cobra, I think we need to focus on finding Prince James.
"Prince James…" Eve tried to recall. "Oh, you mean Prince Charming. He's been going by that nickname for so long I've forgotten he has a real one. But why him?"
"Simple," Henry began. "We need to bring back the happy endings, and the best way to do that is to start with the first Happy Ending the Evil Queen took: my grandma's."
"It is the reason we're all here in the first place… However, getting Snow and Charming together has never been easy. I mean, I've only ever heard the story second hand, but apparently when they first met, Snow stole the engagement ring Charming was planning to give to King Midas' daughter, hit him with a rock, and fled."
"But then they realized their true feelings for each other. We just have to get them to meet, and things will work out. If there's one thing I've learned from this book, it's that true love always finds a way."
"Maybe back in the Enchanted Forest, but here Henry, it's a lot more complicated."
…
That night, Mary Margaret was sitting at a table at Granny's. Across from her was Dr. Whale, the lead physician at the Storybrooke General Hospital.
"Um, where were we?" he said aloud. "You said something about wanting fifteen kids?"
Mary Margaret blinked, shaking her head.
"No! No. I was talking about my class that I teach. They're actually coming to the hospital tomorrow as part of the Volunteer Outreach Program."
Dr. Whale nodded in understanding, but his gaze kept drifting to the person behind her: Ruby. The teen was clearing tables in the background, and was, as usual, scantily clad in a white shirt showing her midriff with a red mini-skirt and high heels. He ogled her with a somewhat predatory gleam as Mary Margaret continued talking.
" I mean, obviously I don't want fifteen kids of my own. I-I mean, not that I don't want kids. I do. I want kids, marriage, true love—I want it all. But that of course is..."
She trailed off, finally noticing that Whale was not paying her any attention. Her gaze drifted to where he was staring and her heart plummeted when she realized who and what he was staring at.
"Highly inappropriate for a first date."
"Hmm?" Whale let out, finally turning back to her.
Realizing that this date was nothing short of a disaster, Mary Margaret let out a sigh of defeat.
"Ruby?" she called out, gaining the girl's attention. "Check please..."
…
Soon after, Mary Margaret found herself walking down the street alone,still upset about the date. As she headed home, she spotted a familiar yellow bug parked on the side of the road, and the light of a flashlight coming from inside. Mary Margaret approached the car, seeing Emma inside, looking at the classified section of the Daily Mirror.
"Emma?" Mary Margaret let out.
Emma looked up, surprised to see she had company.
"Oh, hey," she greeted, climbing out of her car and turning off the flashlight.
"Are you alright?" Mary Margaret questioned.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Not the first time I've crashed in my car, and I doubt it'll be my last."
"You're… sleeping here?"
"Until I can find a place."
"So you decided to stay," she noted with a smile. "For Henry."
"I guess. Though this town doesn't seem to have many vacancies. No vacancies, actually."
"Strange," Mary Margaret remarked before giving a small shrug. "Maybe it's the curse."
Emma gave a small chuckle.
"So, why are you out so late?" she wondered.
"Well, I'm a teacher, not a nun. I had a date."
Emma took one look at the way Mary Margaret was carrying herself and her stance became sympathetic.
"Let me guess, it didn't go well?"
"Complete disaster," Mary Margaret confessed.
"At least tell me he paid."
Mary Margaret hissed through her teeth and shook her head.
"Ouch," Emma let out.
"Well, if true love were easy, we'd all have it." Mary Margaret looked down at the bug once more, seemingly coming to a decision. "You know, if things get too cramped… I have a spare room."
Emma was honestly shocked by the offer.
"Thanks, but… I'm not really the roommate type. It's never really been my thing, I… I do better on my own."
"Ah," Mary Margaret responded. "Well… good night. Good luck with Henry."
"Thanks," Emma replied, watching Mary Margarey walk off.
…
The next day, students from the school were at the hospital, hanging up decorations for the patients. As Mary Margaret watched them work, Eve, who was another volunteer on duty, took notice of Henry in the ICU unit, looking over the John Doe. Eve opened the door, slipping inside.
"Henry? What are you doing in here?"
"Checking on Mr. Doe."
"Oh, that's not his name. That's just what they call someone when they don't know who they really are."
"Well, I know who he is."
Eve raised an eyebrow.
"Do you now?"
He looked around for a moment then motioned her to come in close, allowing him to whisper in her ear.
"Prince Charming."
Eve gave a nod, smiling.
"How did you figure it out?"
"I remembered part of the story. Where you and he fended off some soldiers to get my mom into the wardrobe. He was injured, and you put a spell on him."
"A preservation spell, yes, to ensure he would survive the trip to this land."
"That's why he's in a coma. We should tell Miss Blanchard."
He went to rush to his teacher, but Eve quickly caught her.
"Now hold on," she insisted. "We need to handle this delicately. To Miss Blanchard, he's just a John Doe. Remember what I said about belief?"
"Right… well, what if I talk to my mom about it? Maybe she can come up with something."
Eve pondered the idea for a moment.
"That could work. How about we go and meet her after this field trip is over. As I recall, she's not yet aware you've included me in Operation Cobra."
"Not yet."
"Well then, this might be the time to clue her in."
…
Later that day, Henry and Emma met at his play castle, Eve sitting off to the side as they talked.
"We found your dad," Henry reported, flipping open his book. "Prince Charming."
"We?" Emma questioned, glancing over at Eve. "Don't tell me he roped you into this too."
"Yep, I'm part of Operation Cobra," Eve confirmed.
"Huh."
"We found him in a hospital in a coma," Henry continued, pointing to a picture of him. "See the scar? He has one too."
"So?" Emma replied. "Lots of people have scars."
"In the same place?"
"He's makes a good argument," Eve replied. "And, if the book is to be believed, he was under a spell and heavily injured when the curse hit, which could explain his coma."
"Right…" Emma replied hesidentally. "But even if that's true, what can we do?"
"Nothing," Henry replied. "But maybe there's something Miss Blanchard can do."
"If she truly is Snow White, and he is Prince Charming, then their love should be powerful enough to transcend the curse," Eve explained. "We believe that if she reads their story to him, it can help him remember who he is and get him to wake up."
"Hold on a second," Emma let out. "Telling someone their... soulmate is in a coma is probably not helpful. Not having a happy ending is painful enough, but giving someone unrealistic hope is far worse."
"That's very true," Eve allowed. "However, this is something that all of us need."
She gestured to Henry, giving Emma a small nod.
"Right…" Emma replied, quickly catching on. "Alright, let's do it. Just, let me talk to her, alright?"
"Mind if I come along?" Eve asked. "Mary Margaret is a friend of mine after all."
"Sounds good."
…
"You want me to read to a coma patient?" Mary Margaret questioned as Eve and Emma met at her apartment.
"Auditory functions are the last sensory faculties to degenerate," Eve remarked, getting looks from the pair. "What? I was a science enthusiast before I was a Hobby Shop owner, but that's beside the point. Basically, we think that reading to him will provide the proper stimulus to rouse him."
"Plus, Henry thinks it will help him remember who he was," Emma added.
"And who does he think he was?" Mary Margaret inquired.
"... Prince Charming."
There was a moment of silence as Mary Margaret let that sink in.
"And if I'm Snow White… then he thinks… and him…"
"He has an active imagination," Emma told her. "Which is the point. I can't talk him out of his beliefs, so we just need to show him."
"It's pretty simple honestly," Eve added. "We play along, you read the story as he requested, and report to us whether you succeed or fail at Granny's tomorrow."
"Where he can see that fairy tales are just that," Mary Margaret pieced together. "That there's no such thing as love at first sight or first kiss. He'll see reality."
"Something like that," Emma replied. "It's the only way to get him to see the truth without hurting him."
"But, the decision is yours, Mary Margaret," Eve assured her. "It's your evening you're giving up."
"Wasn't going to be much of an evening anyway," Mary Margaret replied. "Besides, if this helps Henry, it'll be worth it."
Emma and Eve smiled in response.
…
That night, Mary Margaret arrived at the hospital, storybook in hand as she approached the John Doe.
"Look, I know this is odd," she said to him. "but I'm doing it for... a friend. So please, just bear with me."
She took a seat next to him, opening up the book and beginning to read.
"As the Prince chased the thief on horseback, through the treacherous forest, his betrothed crossed her arms and pouted, wondering how many dreadful, boring minutes it would take until they could resume their journey again. The thief vaulted over a fallen…"
…
"'I told you I'd find you,' the Prince taunted, stepping out from behind the tree and looking upon the ensnared thief. 'No matter what you do, I will always find you.'
"'Is this the only way you can catch a woman?' the thief sneered, clutching the coarse ropes of the net and glaring at her captor. 'By entrapping her?'
"'It's the only way to catch a thieving scum,' the Prince replied, unphased by her words.
"'Aren't you a real "Prince Charming,"' she replied with mocking disdain.
"'I have a name, you know,' the prince insisted, to which the thief just shook her head.
"'Don't care. Charming suits you.'"
…
"The black soldier raised the dagger above Snow White's chest, but before the blow could be struck, he was hit by a knife from behind and collapsed dead in the dirt. There he emerged, Prince Charming, coming to the rescue of the former Princess. As he fought with the other guard, Snow White ran towards the fallen guard's horse, aiming to gain a weapon of her own. However, instead she was grabbed by another guard on horseback, yanked across the saddle to be dragged back to the Evil Queen.
"Prince Charming defeated the guard he was fighting, then noticed the retreating guard and Snow White. He took up a bow and an arrow, took careful aim, and shot the guard off the horse, saving her.
"'Are you alright?' the Prince asked as Snow dismounted the rogue steed.
"'You saved me,' Snow let out in disbelief.
"'Seemed like the honorable thing to do.'"
…
"'Go' Prince Charming called out. 'I'm right behind you!'
"Snow White ran, making sure to grab the bottle of dark fairy dust as she did. Behind the the cacophanus sounds of the battle on the Troll Bridge rang through the forest. The Prince clashed with them mercilessly, managing to kick one over the edge, until a troll tripped him and dragged him back. Snow White didn't notice at first, continuing to flee towards the safety of the woods.
"'Follow me!' she insisted, unaware she was alone. 'They don't know the forest like I do.'
"She turned to look around, quickly realizing that the trolls still had the prince. She was torn for a long moment, freedom so close at hand, while death loomed over the Prince.
"'Royal blood is the sweetest of all,' a troll sneered, raising his blade.
"Before the blow could fall, the Troll was mysteriously transformed into a cockroach. The other two stared at their transformed brethren, then turned to see Snow White standing on the other side of the bridge, dust in hand. When they charged at her, she used the last of the precious fairy dust to transform the trolls into bugs. Discarding the now empty bottle, she went to check on the Prince, who was staring at her in disbelief.
"'You... You saved me.'
"'It's the honorable thing to do.' she replied, mirroring his own words from before."
…
"...They didn't need words to express what they felt in their hearts, for it was here, in the shadow of the troll bridge, that their love was born, where they knew, no matter how they were separated, they would always-"
All of a sudden, John Doe's hand reached out and grabbed Mary Margaret's, much to her shock.
…
"No, I'm sure he's waking up," Mary Margaret insisted as she and Dr. Whale walked back to John Doe's room. "He grabbed my hand."
The two enter the room, with Dr. Whale checking the equipment for any brainwave activity.
"Everything appears to be steady," he noted. "The same as it's always been. What were you doing here, anyway?"
"Oh, I was just reading h-him a story."
"Oh. Well perhaps you, um, dozed off. Perhaps you imagined it."
"No, I didn't imagine anything."
"Miss Blanchard, I can only tell you what I see, which is nothing. Sometimes there are minor fluctuations in readings. Perhaps you heard the machine register something and misunderstood? Look, why don't you go home, get some rest. If anything changes, I'll call you, okay?"
Realizing that she couldn't convince him, Mary Margaret just nodded and left. As soon as she did, Dr. Whale pulled out his phone and called a certain number.
"Yes?"
"It's Dr. Whale. You told me to call you if there was ever a change in a John Doe. Something's happened."
"What?"
"One of our volunteers said he grabbed her. And there was a slight fluctuation in brain activity."
"And who was this volunteer?"
"Mary Margaret Blanchard."
…
The next day, Eve entered Granny's to see Henry waiting in a booth. He waved her over and she joined him, sitting across from him with a smile.
"Hello Henry, where's Emma?"
"Getting changed," Henry answered. "I brought her one of my mom's shirts so she'd have something clean to wear."
"Very considerate. Any word from Mary Margaret?"
"Not yet. She should be here soon, though."
"Good," Eve replied as Emma finally emerged from the bathroom.
"Thanks for the shirt," Emma told Henry as she walked up, wearing a shimmering grey shirt that certainly looked like one of Regina's. "Is this your mother's?"
"She'll never notice," Henry reassured.
"Where does she think you are anyway?" Emma asked before noticing Eve. "Hey Eve."
"Hey," Eve greeted.
"She thinks I'm at the arcade playing whack-a-mole," Henry answered.
"And she bought it?" Emma questioned.
"She wants to believe it, so she does."
"Oh, imagine that," Emma remarked, giving Eve a knowing look.
Eve shot her a wink as Mary Margaret entered the diner.
"Here she comes," Eve reported.
"Now remember," Emma told Henry. "Don't get your hopes up. We're just getting started."
Henry nodded as Mary Margaret sat down.
"So, how'd it go?" Eve asked.
"He woke up," Mary Margaret answered, much to everyone's surprise.
"He what?!" Eve exclaimed, barely believing what she'd heard.
"I knew it!" Henry let out.
"Well he didn't 'wake up' exactly," Mary Margaret elaborated. "But he grabbed my hand."
"That's impossible," Emma responded.
"No, it's not," Henry replied. "He's remembering."
"If that's the case, then this could work," Eve insisted, her voice filled with hope. "You need to read to him again."
"Then let's go!" Mary Margaret agreed as everyone except Emma got out of their seats.
"Wait, what?!" she let out, starting to go after them. "Hold on a second."
"Emma, I got through to him," Mary Margaret insisted. "If we made a connection…"
"You don't honestly think-"
"That he's Prince Charming? Of course not. But somehow, someway… I touched him."
With that, they all took off towards the hospital, with Emma quickly catching up.
…
At the hospital, the four of them made their way to John Doe's room, surprised to see Sheriff Graham speaking to Dr. Whale.
"What's going on?" Henry asked.
"Not sure," Eve replied. "Hold back for a sec."
She left the trio behind as she approached, looking concerned.
"Sheriff Graham, Dr. Whale, what's going on?"
"It's the John Doe," Graham replied. "He's missing."
Eve felt her heart skip a beat at that. Emma and Mary Margaret both looked shocked, and Henry clutched his story book to his chest. The situation became even more perilous as they looked on and saw Regina in the ICU ward, her eyes locking on the quartet and her face becoming one of barely concealed malice.
"What are you doing here?" she questioned, walking up to them before turning to Henry. "And you. I thought you were at the arcade. You're lying to me now?"
"What happened to John Doe?" Mary Margaret inquired. "Did someone take him?"
"We don't know," Graham relayed.
"He was comatose," Eve pointed out. "He couldn't just have left. Someone must have taken him."
It took every ounce of willpower she could muster not to glare accusingly at Regina.
"Well, there's no sign of forced entry," Graham replied. "His IVs were ripped out, but aside from that, there were no signs of a struggle."
In a shocking display of brazen hatred, Henry turned and glowered at his adoptive mother.
"What did you do?" he accused.
"You think I did this?" Regina questioned.
"It is curious why the Mayor is here," Emma admitted.
"I'm here because I'm his emergency contact."
"You know him?" Mary Margaret inquired.
"She's the one who brought him here," Dr. Whale explained. "Badly injured, no ID. She saved his life."
"Of course she did..." Eve muttered under her breath.
"Will he be okay?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Okay?" Whale repeated. "The man's been on feeding tubes for years on constant supervision. He needs to get back here right away or, quite honestly, 'okay' might be a pipe dream."
"Then we need to stop yapping and start looking," Emma insisted, already slipping into 'Bail Bondsperson' mode.
"That's what we're doing," Regina interjected. "Just stay out of this, dear. And since I clearly can't keep you away from my son, I guess I'm just going to have to keep my son away from you."
She grabbed Henry by the arm and started walking off. Just as they made it to the door, she looked Emma up and down with a sneer.
"Enjoy my shirt, cause that's all you're getting." She then turned towards Graham. "Sheriff, find John Doe. You heard Dr. Whale. Time is precious."
As Regina and Henry walked off, Graham focused back on the task at hand.
"Doctor, how long between your rounds since you last saw him?"
"About… twelve hours or so."
"Then that's what we need to account for."
…
The group made their way to the security room, where Walter, the Storybrooke counterpart of Sleepy, and Leroy were milling about. Upon seeing the Sheriff, Leroy kicked a dozing Walter, who snorted and sat up.
"What, what?" Walter let out.
"Sheriff's here," Leroy told him. "Something we can help you with?"
"We need to look at the security tapes from last night," Graham told them.
Walter nodded, quickly pulling up the appropriate files. As he did, Emma looked at the pair.
"Who was on duty last night?" she asked.
"I'm a janitor, sister," Leroy retorted. "Walter's the security guard, and he's the only one on duty."
"Seriously?" Eve questioned, shaking her head. "Walter is by far the worst person to have on guard duty. Honestly..."
"Wasn't my idea," Leroy insisted.
"Hey, I do my job!" Walter insisted.
"When you're awake," Leroy jeered.
"Is that so?" Eve questioned. "Then answer me this, if this is the footage from last night, where are the decorations set up by Mary Margaret's class?"
"She's right," Emma realized. "We're looking at the wrong tape."
"See?" Leroy remarked. "Asleep on the job."
"Hey, at least I don't drink on the job!" Walter argued.
"Gentlemen, enough!" Graham yelled. "Where's the real tape?"
Walter quickly brought up the correct tape, showing John Doe walking through the hospital and out the door.
"He walked out alone," Mary Margaret realized. "He's ok…"
"Four hours ago," Emma added.
"Unfortunately, I fear that may not be the case for long," Eve remarked, looking nervous. "That door leads out into the woods."
…
Out in the woods, Eve, Emma, Mary Margaret, and Graham began their search for John Doe. As they searched, Graham knelt down in the middle of a path.
"What is it?" Eve asked.
"Trail runs out here," Graham replied.
"You sure?" Emma asked. "Thought tracking was one of your skills."
"Just give me a second," Graham replied, walking ahead. "This is my world. I got it."
"Do what you can, Sheriff," Eve urged, rubbing her amulet nervously.
"What does he mean, his world?" Mary Margaret asked before turning to Emma. "isn't finding people your job, too?"
"Sure," Emma replied. "It's just most people I find usually run to… Vegas. Not a lot hit the woods.
"We'll find him," Eve insisted. "Sheriff Graham was made for the woods. He'll find John Doe in one piece, I promise."
"I hope so…" Mary Margeret replied, turning to Emma in hopes of changing the uncertain subject. "It's a… interesting job. Finding people. How'd you fall into it?"
Emma paused for a moment before responding.
"Looking for people is just what I've done. For as long as I can remember."
"Because of your parents?" Mary Margaret asked, getting a surprised look from Emma that immediately had the teacher backpedaling. "Henry told me that your... Th-that you were from a similar situation to his own. Did you ever find them?"
"Depends who you ask," Emma lamented.
Eve glanced back at the pair, her heart aching and so many words desperately wanting to be said. Still, she turned away, knowing now was neither the time nor place for them. Suddenly, there was a rustling from the bushes, causing the three of them to turn with a start. Eve instinctively cupped her hand, splaying her fingers in an attempt to summon magic. She just had time to remind herself of her lack of magic when Henry came stumbling in.
"Henry?!" Emma let out.
"Did you find him yet?" Henry asked, almost nonchalantly.
"Not yet. You shouldn't be here."
"But I can help. I know where he's going."
"Henry," Eve spoke up. "We appreciate what you're trying to do, but it is dangerous out here, and your mother will have all our heads for this."
"Please. I can help find him."
"Where do you think he's going?" Mary Margaret asked.
"He's looking for you."
Mary Margaret paused for a moment, looking at Eve and Emma in surprise.
"Me?"
"You're the one who woke him," Henry reasoned. "You're the last one he saw. He wants to find you!"
"Henry, it's not about me," Mary Margaret insisted. "I just... I think he's lost and confused. He's been in a coma a long time."
"But he loves you! You need to stop chasing him, and let him find you."
"Hold on," Eve insisted. "Perhaps there's some logic to what Henry's saying. Mary Margaret, where were you in the story when John Doe took your hand?"
"Uh… near the end."
"Where Snow White and Prince Charming's love was born," Henry realized.
"The Troll Bridge," Eve recalled. "There's an old toll bridge not far from here. After it was decommissioned, the local children began to call it the Troll Bridge."
"It's worth a look," Emma admitted. "But Henry, you need to go home. Your mom finds out you're here, she's gonna kill me. Then you. Then me again."
"That will take too long," Henry countered. "He may not have much time."
"He has a point," Eve admitted. "John Doe is still weak from his time in the coma, and the Troll Bridge isn't exactly the safest place to be."
"Guys!" Graham called out.
The others quickly ran over to him, seeing him kneeled over a plant that had a wrist tag on it.
"Is that…" Mary Margaret let out.
"Blood," Emma confirmed.
"We need to hurry," Eve insisted.
…
Not much later, the five of them came up to the old Toll Bridge.
"Where is he?" Mary Margaret let out. "Can you see him?!"
"No," Graham replied. "Trail dies at the waterline."
"He has to be close by," Eve insisted. "We have to- wait! I see him!"
Mary Margaret turned to see John Doe lying in the middle of the water, not moving.
"Oh god!" she cried out, dropping her flashlight and running over to him.
"I need an ambulance!" Graham radioed in. "get to the old toll bridge as soon as possible!"
As Henry stood back, the four adults made their way over to John Doe and carefully carried him to the shore, gently placing him on the ground. Mary Margaret quickly began performing CPR, desperate to try and bring him back.
"Come on…" she pleaded. "Come on, I found you!"
"Is he gonna be ok?" Henry asked.
"Henry don't look," Emma told him, coming over and turning him away. "Don't look, ok?"
"Come back to us!" Mary Margaret insisted. "Come back to me…"
She then resumed chest compressions, before giving mouth to mouth in a desperate attempt to save him. Finally, he gasped and began coughing, expelling water from his lungs. After coughing and gasping for air, he looked up at the woman who saved his life.
"You saved me…" he let out.
Mary Margaret nodded happily, with everyone else watching happily.
"She did it," Henry let out. "She woke him up."
"Yeah kid," Emma replied in astonishment. "She did."
"Knew she could…" Eve whispered.
"Thank you," John Doe replied.
"Who are you?" Mary Margaret asked.
"... I don't know."
"It's ok. You're gonna be ok."
…
Within minutes, John Doe was brought back to the hospital, where the doctors got right to work treating him. Outside his room, the five watched on, each silently wishing him a quick recovery. This train of thought was disrupted though when a woman came rushing past them into the room.
"David?!" she let out. "David, is that you?"
Everyone's eyes went wide, especially Mary Margaret and Henry.
"Ma'am, you can't be in here," Dr. Whale insisted, going over to her and pulling her away. "Can you please wait over here."
He managed to pull her off to the side as the doctors continued to do their work, leaving the other five still perplexed.
"Who is she?" Henry asked, turning to Eve.
"If I had to guess," Eve replied. "She's-"
"His wife," Regina answered, causing everyone to turn and see the Mayor standing before them.
"He…" Mary Margaret could barely muster. "He's married?"
"Is it really that much of a surprise?" Regina questioned, giving Mary Margeret a just barely subtle look.
"So… guess he's not a John Doe anymore?" Eve surmised.
"His name is David Nolan," Regina confirmed. "That's his wife, Kathryn. And that look of joy on her face… Well, let's just say it's put me in a forgiving mood." She then turned towards Henry, who looked more than a little defeated. "We'll talk about insubordination later. Do you know what insubordination means?"
Henry shook his head in response.
"It means you're grounded," Regina answered as Kathryn exited the room.
"Thank you," she said to Mary Margaret. "Thank you for finding my David."
"I… I don't understand," Mary Margaret replied. "How didn't you know he was here in a coma?"
"A few years ago, David and I were not getting along. It was my fault, I know that now. I was difficult and unsupportive. I told him if he didn't like things, he could leave... And he did. And I didn't stop him. It was the worst mistake I ever made."
"You didn't ever go after him?" Emma questioned.
"I assumed he'd left town all this time. And now I know why I never heard from him. Now I get to do what I've wanted to do forever... say I'm sorry. Now we get a second chance."
"That's… wonderful," Mary Margaret told her.
Eve's fists were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palm. She was seething, and doing a very poor job of hiding it. At that moment though, Dr. Whale emerged from the room.
"Well, it's something of a miracle."
"He's okay?" Kathryn asked.
"Physically, he's on the mend. His memory is another issue. It may take time, if at all."
Eve perked, a spark of hope returning to her eyes.
"He doesn't remember anything?" she asked.
"It doesn't appear so."
"So, what brought him back?" Mary Margaret inquired.
"That's the thing, there's no explanation. Something just clicked in him."
"He just got up and decided to go for a stroll?" Emma questioned.
"He woke up and he was delirious and his first instinct was to go find something, I guess."
"Someone," Henry corrected.
"Can I see him?" Kathryn requested.
"Yeah, of course," Whale allowed, prompting Kathryn to go back inside.
"Henry, let's go," Regina insisted.
Henry got up and started to go with her.
"Wait, my backpack," he called out, running back to grab it before stopping near Mary Margaret. "Don't believe them. You're the one he was looking for."
"Henry…" Mary Margaret let out quietly.
"He was going to the Troll Bridge. It's like the end of the story."
"Henry, he was going there because it's the last thing I read to him."
"No, it's because you belong together.."
"Henry," Regina pressed, prompting Henry to catch up to her.
As the two left, Mary Margaret just stood there, just numb and at a loss for words. Emma stayed by her side, something in her not wanting to leave the clearly distraught woman alone. Eve meanwhile, decided to have a few words with the Mayor.
…
"Madame Mayor!" Eve called out, catching up to them.
"Henry, wait by the car," Regina instructed as she stayed behind. "What can I do for you, Miss Flemming?"
"I wanted to ask you about Mrs. Nolan. I find it very hard to believe that you just happened to find her after so many years of him being a nameless coma patient. However, not even a day after he wakes up, his 'wife' comes in out of nowhere? Just where and how did you find her, and why did it take you this long to do it?"
"Miss Flemming… are you insinuating something?"
Eve caught herself, forcing herself to calm down and talk like the hobby shop owner she was supposed to be.
"Just… I find it convenient is all, especially given how much… sway you have in this town."
"Well, this town is a lot bigger than most people assume. It can be easy for someone to get… lost. But to answer your question, it was yours and Miss Swan's tape idea that helped us. We started looking at previous tapes and found that he had been talking in his sleep. He's been calling out for a Kathryn. After that, it wasn't hard to put the pieces together."
"I see…"
Eve began rubbing her amulet again, grimacing at how things were falling apart.
"To be honest, I thought you'd be pleased," Regina continued, taking slight note of the amulet. "True love won out. So bask in the moment. Were it not for you three, they would have lived their lives completely alone. That's why I'm willing to forgive the incessant rudeness I had to endure from Miss Swan, and apparently from you. Because all this has reminded me of something oh-so very important. How grateful I am to have Henry. Because not having someone? Well, that's the worst curse imaginable."
…
Meanwhile, Mary Margaret and Emma were walking down the street, the former fiddling with a ring on her finger, images of Kathryn and David still flitting through her head. Emma glanced down at it, curiously.
"Where'd you get that?" She asked.
Mary Margaret glanced down at her finger.
"This? I'm not sure… All I know is that I've never taken it off. I just… can't."
"Right… are you gonna be okay?"
Mary Margaret took a breath, trying to straighten herself out.
"Yes. I will be… eventually."
"Cause… I still don't have a place to stay, and… I was wondering if that spare room is still available."
Mary Margaret just turned towards her, smiling.
"Of course. Come on."
The two then continued walking towards home, hoping tomorrow would be better.