Dr. Rosie West popping into Belle Gold's room as she always did at 6 p.m. to check up on the young woman. She lay on the hospital bed, same as always; no improvement and no change. Such a shame what happened to her; Rosie couldn't remember how Mrs. Gold had ended up in such a state, but she was sure it would come to her eventually. Poor thing. She deserved a good life, to be able to go for a walk with her husband, maybe with a child or two running ahead of them. Rosie's thoughts turned to Belle's husband, wondering how he could possible cope with such a horrible situation.

Mr. Gold ate up her daily reports like a man ate a buffet every night and was never full. Satisfied, Rosie went to turn off the light, but a strangle, gurgling noise bubbled out of Belle's throat. He voracious appetite for good news had begun to wear on her, but Rosie didn't have in her to stop checking on Belle for him. If she were in his position, with a loved one in the hospital for weeks, wouldn't she behave the same way?

Instinctively, Rosie turned to the monitors of the various machines keeping her alive. Her numbers had taken a dramatic turn for the worse.


Red knew it was foolish to walk outside the village alone at night, especially knowing she had been almost been killed by that lion a few days ago, but she couldn't stop herself from looking for any sign of her sister. She desperately missed Snow. Granny gave her stern looked each time she went out, but never tried to stop her; she knew it would have been futile. The neighbors never said anything either, because they never wanted much to do with her anyway. Each night for four nights straight, Redtook a small lamp and circled the village twice, hoping for a trace her big sister.

On the fifth night, as she walked down the dirt path that cut through the wheat fields, careful not to accidentally set the whole crop ablaze, she found more than she was looking for. Snow appeared from the between the tall stalks of wheat. The sisters didn't say a word as they run to each and hugged, holding on each tightly as if they expected the ripped apart again at a moment's notice. Red relished the warmth of her older sister's skin against her cheek, the sensation of Snow's fine, black fair tickling her nose.

Snow found her voice first, "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Red replied. "I was so scared I would never see you again."

"You don't blame me for what happened to Father?" Snow asked, fear trickling into her voice with each word like honey poured into a cup of tea.

Red pulled away a little so she could look Snow in the face. "I know you didn't kill him," she stated. "I never doubted your innocence for a moment."

"That makes one person," Snow smiled sadly.

"I think Mother tried to kill me too," Red confessed.

Snow's smile fell of her face, "I heard rumors that you had been killed by an animal."

"A werewolf attacked me while Mother and I were returning to the Summer Palace," Red explained. "I've become one now, but I think it did mean to kill me. Granny thought I was dead when she found me."

"Granny?"

"Widow Lucas. I asked her not to reveal my true to identity to her neighbors; I didn't want to return to Mother. So, she told them that I was her granddaughter, Eva, and I soft of just became her granddaughter."

"I'm glad you found a place where you can be safe and happy," Snow stated with a soft look on her face.

"How have things been for you?" Red knew that answer couldn't be good, but she still felt compelled to ask.

Snow's expression turned grave. "Not well. When the guards chased me out of the palace, I ran into the forest and lived off the land for a few months. Afterwards I tried my hand at living as a peasant, but Mother set up wanted signs and whenever someone recognized me, I had to flee again. I tried begging. That didn't pan out well. Eventually I became a bandit, but I only targeted nobles. Especially those who aligned themselves with Mother."

Red winced at the description of his sister's misery. Even at her worse, Red at least had a roof over her head and food to eat. She reached out and touched Snow's arms, noting how thin and muscular they were, hardened by a hard life. "I'm sorry."

"Mother is the one who ought to be sorry," Snow replied darkly. "Some days I wish I could make her pay."

"Let's do it then," Red suggested. "We can get our revenge on her and take back the kingdom from her."

"What are you thinking?" Snow looked aghast. "We have no army, no allies, nothing. We could never go up against her."

Red replied, "We can try! We can look for some proof of your innocence and-"

"No!" Snow stated firmly. "It'll never happen and its no worth the risk. You have a good life, and I don't want you to ruin it seeking revenge."

"But Snow-"

"Please don't do that me. Don't make me watch you suffer and starve and risk your life for me," Snow hissed. "I have spent the last few years dreading what Mother have done to you while she had you all alone. Then I spent the last few months thinking you had died in an animal attack, only to finding being chased by a lion. Please, all I want is for you to be safe, and now you are. Don't throw that away for nothing."

"It wouldn't be nothing!" Red cried, "It would be for Father, for the kingdom, for us. You can't seriously tell me you want to just let Mother get away with all her crimes."

"Of course I do! I hate her, she took our Father from us and ruined our lives," Snow cried, putting her hands on Red's shoulders. "But I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you. Promise me you won't do something stupid and get yourself hurt."


Ruby woke up to the sound of Ella crying in her bassinet. She was lying half-on Ashley, on Ashley'd bed in her apartment, both of them still in their work clothes and with their shoes on. She whipped out her phone and checked the time - 1:54 A.M. She didn't even remember falling asleep. Last she knew they were having chatting after work (mostly to complain about customers).

"Hey, sweet pea," Ruby cooed as she picked up the baby. Ella whimpered as Ruby rocked her back to sleep.

The next morning Ruby and Ashley left Ella with Granny and got back to work. In the space of an hour, Ruby had gotten three orders incorrect, spilled her trey twice, and received a vicious tongue-lashing from an irate vegan she'd accidentally placed a burger in front of. At noon, when she was on her third cup of coffee, Teddy walked in and ordered lunch for his crew.

"You okay, Ruby?" Teddy asked as Ruby handed him the to-go bags.

Ruby faked a smile, "Never better! Have a nice day."

Teddy did not leave. "I'm serious, you and have been like the walking dead for the last couple of weeks."

"Well," Ruby admitted sheepishly, "Keeping a busy work schedule while taking care of a newborn hasn't exactly been easy."

Teddy nodded, "I get it, you feel overwhelmed."

"I just don't know how much longer we can keep this us," Ruby sighed. "I'm exhausted all the time and I can't focus; plus I know Ashley's not dong much better. Granny does so much to help us out already, but she still has a business to run herself."

"You know, you could always ask for help," Teddy suggested. "I takes a village to raise a child, and all."

"I couldn't. Ella is our responsibility." Ruby answered.

"Technically, she's Ashley's," Teddy pointed out. Ruby asked him to clarify what he meant. "You're not Ella's legal parent. I'm not saying you aren't an important person in her life, you are obviously, but legally speaking, she's not your responsibility. You're already Ashley raise her, so why is it such a big deal if anyone else helps raise her? You know, I just got transferred to the night crew. I could watch her during the day, and you guys could take her home at night."

Ruby bit her lip angrily. Teddy was only trying to help, but he'd stung her pride. "Excuse me, I have costumers to get to."


"You are not pulling the plug on my wife!" Rumpelstiltskin barked. "I'll be dead before I let you give up on her!"


Belle threw open the curtains of her bedchamber, holding a cup of tea that had appeared on her table, like it always did. After several months of living in the Beast's castle, it was almost as if she had been living there all along, but the ache of missing her family never quite went away. Outside the hills were as green as ever and still covered with wildflowers, as if autumn had decided to take a break this year. It should have been winter by now.

After she finished eating, showing, and dressing, Belle went to the library as she usually did, but today she had the hope that she could speak to the Beast about something personal. In her time at the Beast's castle, he had become warmer and more receptive to her. They talked about the books they both loved, about politics and culture, and about her childhood, but he never seemed to want to talk about himself. She still didn't know his name! What did he have to hide? Was she ready to sort through the skeletons in his closet?

She smoothly opened the large double doors of the library, sighing deeply to inhale the smell of old books. Her satin slippers slid across the polished floors, silent against the cool marble as she canvassed the bookshelves for something new to read while she waiting for the Beast to make himself know. She felt at home here. In the corner of her eye, she noticed an auburn-brown trail of hair on one of the carpets. That was new; she hadn't noticed any animals in the castle or the grounds. She followed it to one of the reading nooks.

A...creature sat in one of the large, wing-backed chair with an open book in its lap, snoring softly with its chin resting against its head. Its massive form hardly fit the chair, which stained to contain its weight, and its long, oddly-shaped legs stretched out in front. The coarse, thick auburn-brown hair covered every inch of its body, even its face and hands. Paws? They were enormous and vaguely human-shaped, with muscular fingers ending in inch-long, razor-sharp nails as yellow as the saber-like fangs sprouting from its thick lips. A pair of twisted, pitch-black horns emerged from its cranium.

Belle's feet told her flee, to take her house back from the stables, force open the front gate, and take off any any direction, anywhere away from this bizarre castle; but her brain told her to take note of her situation. It wore clothes, she noted. No shoes, but it wore clothes and read books. This wasn't some wild, uncontrollable animal; it could be reasoned with.

"Hello," she said softly. The creature didn't stir. "Hello!" Belle repeated more loudly.

The creature startled awake, looking a bit disorientated as it opened its eyes and looked around. The large, yellow orbs with crimson red iris settled on Belle. "Dear God!" the creature cried out in shock. It looked at its hands, then felt around its body and even clutched his horns. After a self moments of self-inspection, the install surprise seemed to wear off, but the creature regarded Belle with apprehension, timidity, embarrassment, and...fear?

"I'm sorry to wake you," Belle stated. "Um, have you been here the whole time?"

"I have," came the stiff reply. She knew that voice at once.

"You're the owner of the castle!" Belle realized. "Is this why you never wanted to me see your face? I don't mind, you know, the horns and all. They make you look...distinguished."

The Beast growled, "I don't appreciate lies, even those kindly meant."

"I wasn't lying," Belle insisted. "I've been wait gone-know-how-long to put a face to the voice I've been hearing."

"It's not my face."

Belle narrowed her eyes, "How is that not your face? Do you mean it's not your true face? Were you cursed to look like this?"

"My, don't you ask a lot of questions, dearie?" the Beast sneered.

"Come on, you've known me for months. You know everything about me," Belle approached the Beast, now ironically unused to speaking with another person face-to-face rather than speak to the open air, "but I know nothing about you."

"What could you possibly want to know about me?"

"Your name, for one thing."

A moment's hesitation. "My mother named me Adam, but my fairy godmother called me Rumplestiltskin."

"Can I call you 'Rumple', then?" Belle smiled.

He shrugged, "Call me whatever you want. I don't care."

Belle's smile fell. She felt him slipping away from her, back to being that reclusive shadow who had evaded her during her first weeks at the castle. "It does matter. You're my friend. No matter what you look like."

Rumple stood up abruptly, startling Belle as he rose to his full height. "Really, dearie?" he mocked. "This is dangerous. I never should have let you see me, I shouldn't have gotten sloppy."

"What do you mean by dangerous?" Belle steeled herself against his cynicism.

"I shouldn't even be talking to you."

"If your or I are in danger, you need to tell me," Belle insisted.

Rumple glared at her with hideous yellow-and-red eyes, but he couldn't keep up the facade. His face softened, fear and concern replacing the mask of anger. "It's not a happy story."

"That doesn't surprise me," Belle replied, her lips curled into a sad, understanding smile.


Ruby woke up a hour earlier than she normally did to follow through with her normal morning routine; showing, dressing, brushing her teeth, combing her hair. Most morning she did these things as if she were autopilot, like her body didn't need her brain to function, but today she carried a nervous energy. She knocked on Ashley's door. Ashley answered still wearing her pajamas and a dressing gown, clutching a cup of black coffee in one hand. Ashley's hair stuck out in all directions and purple-ish circle decorated her eyes.

"Hey," Ruby greeted. "You ready?"

Ashley shrugged, "Ella is, but I don't know if I am."

Inside, Ella dozed peacefully in her car-seat. Ashley had dressed her in a new green onesie and striped yellow-and-white socks. Beside the car-seat a full-stocked diaper-bag sat on the table. Ruby gave Ashley an impressed look.

Ashley kissed her daughter on the forehead and whispered, "Promise Mommy you'll be good for Teddy and his auntie? Okay baby girl, I love you so much."

Ten minutes later Ruby had Ella in her car as she searched for the Mishra family home. It took a while, and more than a few glances at the map of Storybrooke, for Ruby to finally find the narrow, twisted road that led up to the modest farmhouse. It looked small, but cozy; somewhere she would mind Ella growing up in.

What was she thinking? Ella was Ashley's daughter, no hers.

A curtain moved, and not ten seconds later Teddy stepped out of the door. Like Ashley he had his pajamas on, but he looked much more well-rested. Ruby apprehension about the plan melted away and she felt only gratitude and relief that they had Teddy to lean on. He greeted them with a big smile and a one-armed hug for Ruby.

"Thanks so much for doing this," Ruby told him. "If it doesn't work out-"

He answered, "Don't worry, I'm happy to. And I'm sure things'll be just fine. My aunt loves kids; she'll be happy to have a little one around the house every once in a while." Teddy slung the diaper bag over his shoulder and took hold of the car-seat with Ella still in it. His smile as he looked down on the baby did strange things to Ruby; it made her feel as thought her heart were too big for her chest. "Mommy and Aunt Ruby don't have anything to worry, do they pari?" Teddy said to Ella in a high-pitched baby voice.

Aunt Ruby? That didn't sound quite right.

Ella giggled and tried to grab onto Teddy's nose. He wrapped his fingers around her tiny, delicate hand, before looking up at Ruby. "Really, I've got it covered. You should probably head back so you're not late for work."

"Of course," Ruby said, sounding happier than she felt. "Just don't forget to-"

"Set her down for her nap at 3 PM, check her diaper every four hours, and make sure she has her nightlight on tonight." Teddy finished with an infuriatingly charming smile.

Ruby chuckled, though she sounded strangely nervous, "I guess you were paying attention."

"We'll see you tomorrow, Ruby."


Long after the rest of the war council had disassembled for the night, Red went over the army's planned movements for the following month, wondering if there wasn't a faster, more efficient way to reach King George's castle. As her candle burned shorter and her eyes began to grew heavy, a sharp knock on the door snapped her awake.

"Enter," she commanded.

A guard came in with two individuals, a young man and young woman. They looked about the same age as Snow, but otherwise they had few physical similarities. The man was tall and sinewy, with a bronze skin, strong features, and lush, thick black hair. His companion's hair was black too, but it seemed more a long waterfall of silk. Her face was pale, her features delicate. She stood much shorter than the man, but seemed just as muscular.

"Who are you?" Red asked.

The man spoke, "My name is Prince Nagaraj, I was a close friend of the late Prince James, son of King George. This is my fiancee, Ye Xian."

Red's eyes narrowed. "You're an ally of King George? In that case, you either very brave or very foolish to come here," she replied coldly.

"As much as I loved James, I cannot tolerate what his father has become. I knew David of Misthaven, the shepherd boy who impersonated James before King George had him turned into a bear. I know he was forced into it, and punished when he failed to complete King George's impossible task."

The mention of her brother-in-law surprised Red. Not many people knew of the twin-switch or David's curse, so it was likely that this man told the truth, but she decided to play it safe. "Let's assume, for argument's sake, I believed any of what you just told me. Why should I believe you are anything but spies that George sent to sniff out any weakness in my sister's army?"

"You can have us drink a truth serum, if that'll ease your suspicions," the woman, Ye Xian, answered. "We want no part in the kind of George has been dabbling with. If you find it in yourself to trust us, we'll be more than happy to help Queen Snow White win back her throne from the Usurper."

"Why do you care about my sister's throne?" Red raised an eyebrow.

"David is my friend," Nagaraj told her, "As close as friend as James was. He was...he was with me when James passed away, he protected me from the men who claimed I killed their beloved prince. I will be loyal to him until the day I die, and if he says Snow White is the rightful Queen of Misthaven, that's all the proof I need too swear my loyalty to her as well."


AN: Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe I've been working on this for an entire year. My New Year's resolution is the same as last year, to finish this story; my first complete novel-length story. I've been a pretty job so far, so we'll just have to see where 2019 takes us.