Regina rode her horse though the forest, occasionally looking back at the small group of guards and servants she had left behind. While they set up camp, she needed time to explore and figure out a solution to her apple problem. The poisoned apple she needed to curse Snow White was in the clutches of the Blind Witch, a powerful witch who had an occasion with sweeties and pastries. Regina couldn't just want into a witches domain and demand something of her, that was much too dangerous.

Two small figures ran ahead of her giggling, and her horse reared slightly. Though she was an expert horsewoman, Regina had been caught off-guard and fell from the saddle. She cried out in pain, realizing instantly that she had sprained her ankle. The children ahead of her with stiff with fear, but the boy quickly grabbed the reins of her horses and the girls rushes over to help Regina up.

Regina waves her off angrily, "Look what you've done!"

"We're so sorry my lady," the girl looked incredibly penitent. "We were just playing, we didn't mean to scare your horse. Our father knows a little healing magic. He can help you."

"Fine," Regina glared at the children.

Awkwardly, they helped her stand. Her left ankle hurt so badly that she couldn't put any weight on it, so she leaned on the boy as she hopped to the crude cabin they called home. The girl led her horse. Regina felt ridiculous, and that only made her angrier. It didn't take long for them to reach the cabin. The children's father stood out front chopping wood. He was common-looking man, unremarkable save his tall height. His hands and clothes were stained, his brow was sweaty, and his skin was brown from the sun.

"Now what happened here?" the woodsman asked as he set down his ax and approached them.

"These children are yours, I presume," Regina sneered.

"Yes, my son Hansel and my daughter Gretel."

"They are responsible for my injury. They told me that you can heal it."

The woodsman looked down at his children, who offered another series of apologies. "I'm certain they didn't mean any harm. They're good kids." He kissed them both on the forehead. "Nonetheless, they'll make it up to you. Why don't we go inside so I can get to work?"

Regina let out a surprised squeal when the woodsman picked her up and carried her bridal-style into the cabin. It was a plain and rustic as one would expect, but the interior was surprisingly very neat and clean. At least she hadn't landed in a complete pig sty. The woodsman set her down on a study wooden table and set to work healing her ankle.

"Don't worry, my lady, our father is the best healer in this part of the forest," Ava said with glowing pride.

"Is there anything we can do to make up for hurting you?" Hansel asked.

Regina thought for a moment. She couldn't get into the Blind Witch's house, but she could use a poxy. "Well, there is something I need, something that was stolen for me."

The woodsman raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure that is something my children ought to be involved in."

"It's not anything dangerous," Regina lied, her voice dripping false sweetness. "A friend of mine took something from me, and I want it back. If she gets upset, she'll only be angry at me."

"And why can't you get it yourself," the woodsman asked, still skeptical.

"Your children said they wanted to help. I'm just giving them the opportunity." Regina replied, sounding as innocent as possible. "They just need to walk in, grab it, and leave."

"It's not a problem Father," Ava said, placing a hand of his shoulder. "In fact, it's the least we could do for her."

The woodsman shook his head, "Very well. It'll take only a few more minutes to heal her leg, then she can lead you here. Be sure to come home before sundown."

Once Regina's ankle was as good as new, she led the children deeper into the woods. "The Blind Witch live in a gingerbread house made entirely of sweets. Be careful not to eat anything inside, or else she will get you."

Both Hansel and Gretel nodded their heads. Hansel asked, "What is so important about this apple?"

"Nothing you need to be worried about," Regina replied, "But it is something that will help me get rid of an old enemy. She killed my son."

Gretel gasped, her eyes filling with sympathy. "I'm so sorry that happened to you. I can't imagine how our father would feel if something happened to us. The woman who killed your son must have been very evil to him from you like that."

Regina patted Gretel's head, "Yes, she is. But with your help I will finally be able to stop her for good."


Ava woke feeling content. She had made the cheerleading team and their first practice would be later that afternoon. Paige had made the team too, and they planned to go over to her house after practice. Ava got ready for school a little earlier than her brother because she wanted to pick out a nice outfit for practice. First impressions were important, and she wanted the older girls on the team to like her.

Sometimes her life felt so good, she wondered if it was a dream. Less than a year ago, she and Nicky had been on their own, liking in abandoned buildings and shoplifting for food. Now they had a home and two foster moms who loved them deeply. Emma was planning to adopt them. Things hadn't been easy, for instance her and Nicky's big fight, but it was more than worth the happiness they had now.

Things wouldn't stay the same, however. Mary was dating David and Emma was maybe getting into a relationship with Killian. She wondered if they would like her and Nicky. Would they think it was weird that their girlfriends were co-parenting kids together? Would they want to be father figures to them? She and Nicky hadn't known their biological father; he split while their mom was still pregnant with them and Emma had never found any record of him in Storybrooke. Sometimes Ava wondered what he would think if them if he met them now; other times she figured it didn't matter. She trusted Mary and Emma to date nice men, and if things didn't work out she was sure they would prioritize her and her brother.

It felt nice being able to trust adults. For too long, she and Nicky had just had to rely on each other. Now, they could just be kids and let the grown-ups worry about the grown-up stuff. Mary was already in the kitchen making breakfast when Ava came downstairs, just as Nicky was taking a shower.

"Morning," Mary smiled. "You got everything you need for cheerleading?"

"Yup," Ava took a bite out of a muffin.

"Ok, Emma had to leave early because of a work thing, but she'll pick you up from Paige's house tomorrow morning. Can you get me the eggs? They're in the fridge."

Ava got up to do as her foster mom asked, but as she got the eggs she noticed a small tupperware container containing a pastry. "Here you go. What's this?" Ava asked, holding up both the eggs and the pastry.

Mary took the eggs and glanced at the tupperware. "Oh, it's an apple turnover that the mayor gave that to Emma two days ago, when you were at Conner's. But she doesn't like apples, so you can have it if you want."

"Thanks. I'll save for after practice so I can share with Paige."

"That's so sweet of you." Mary rubbed Ava's head affectionately. "Oh, Nicky, you're finally ready. Hurry and eat up, or you'll be late."


Regina stood in front of the Blind Witch's sickeningly sweet house, waiting impatiently for the children to retrieve the apple. If they made it out alive, she was one step closer to her revenge. If they didn't...well, that wasn't her problem. The windows were sheets of sugar, hard to look through, so she had no idea what was happening inside. She had warned them not to eat anything inside, or else the witch would catch them and probably eat them.

She heard footsteps behind her, the heavy footsteps the woodsman.

"I thought you were going to wait for them," Regina said lightly as he came to stand beside her.

The woodsman shook his head, "I got worried. This is absurd. I never should have let them out of my sight, especially not with you."

"Me?"

"You're a stranger, and I sense darkness in you. I wanted to trust you with my children, because you seemed harmless at first, but I made a mistake. Where are Hansel and Gretel?"

"Don't worry about them, they'll only be a little longer. Why don't you run back to the cabin? I'm sure you have more to do."

The woodsman got in front of her, glaring at her with hard, fiery eyes like two coals. "I won't ask again. Where are my children? Are they in that house?"

"Yes, but honestly, does it look dangerous?" Only a few seconds later, a loud clangor came from the witch's house and the children both started screaming. In an instant, the woodsman dashed to the house. Regina held out her hand, using her magic hold him back. "Not another step! You'll ruin everything!"

"Let me go!" the woodsman screamed, "Hansel! Gretel!"

Regina flung him from the clearing, into a dense thicket of trees. His back slammed against the thick tree, before his body fell to the ground and was lost in the green. He went silent. Regina looked back at the house for a moment, then took a chance to check on the woodsman. He lay on the ground, eyes wide open but unseeing, his neck bent at an unnatural angle.

She sighed. "Well, that's what you get for interfering," Regina told the corpse. "You should have just waited."

Regina brushed off her clothes and went back to her stop for wait for Hansel and Gretel. The noise from inside the house continued. It was so loud, Regina wasn't sure that they had heard what had gone on outside. She heard another shriek, this time from a deeper voice that couldn't have come from either child. It must have been the Blind Witch. Perhaps those children weren't a lost cause after all.

A few moments later, Hansel and Gretel stepped out of the candy house. They were trembling, wide-eyed. Regina was sure the hem of Gretel's skirt was singed. Hansel angrily shoved the pristine red apple into Regina hand.

"Y...you...you didn't...warn us..." he stammered, clearly in shock.

"We could have died!" Gretel cried. Tears from her eyes. "We could have died. Did you have any idea how dangerous it was in there. She wanted to eat us!"

"Did you eat anything inside the house?" Regina raised an eyebrow.

Hansel stiffened, "Well..."

"Well then it's your own fault," Regina sneered.

Gretel's glared turned ice cold. "You've lost a child. You know better than any one else how our father would feel if we died. How could you put us in danger knowing how that feels?"

Regina wanted to slap her for that comment, but instead she just said. "I don't care how your father feels. But if it means that much to you, why don't you run home and let him know you're okay." She looked down at the apple, a malicious smile forming on her lips. "I have better things to do."