"Thank you for coming today," Blue spoke to the group as she looked at the people who had turned up to protect the convent. Mal and Willow were there to complete the blood magic barrier and Regina and Emma were putting up a standard protection charm together.

"You're welcome, Blue," Emma smiled at the Fairy, "shall we get started?"

"If you please," replied Blue, "the main convent needs protecting, but also the grounds so we have access to the vegetable gardens. Is that possible?"

Mal spoke up, "we can put the protections around the perimeter, so that you will be safe walking around outside as long as you are within the barrier."

"Perfect. The other fairies have been so worried. We're all so terrified of what Snow might do to us," Blue told them, making herself sound nervous. She didn't notice Emma staring at her, with a puzzled look on her face. Analysing her as she spoke.

"Let's get started," Mal prompted, walking towards the boundary of the grounds ready to perform magic with Willow. Less than 15 minutes later, they had secured the convent, and activated an amulet for each of the fairies.

Regina, Willow and Mal transported themselves home, leaving Emma behind after Blue had asked her to stay and talk. Emma had agreed, even though she thought the request was strange.

"So, Emma, how are you? How are things at the Sheriff station?" Blue asked her, in what she was hoping was a casual tone.

"Great, actually. We have a couple of temporary deputies helping us out, but things are quiet for the most part," Emma replied, not giving too much away.

"Have you got any leads on Snow yet?" Blue pried, trying to get any information that she could out off the Sheriff.

"Not yet," Emma seemed frustrated admitting this, "we tried a locator spell, but it's as if Snow just disappeared."

"Maybe she left town?" suggested Blue, hoping Emma would believe this. It would make things easier for her and Snow, if everybody was under the belief that she had left.

'Ping' Emma's lie detector went off.

"Maybe, but it didn't seem like she would have been willing to go quietly. I don't think she would go anywhere without Neal," Emma told her.

"Is Neal safe?" Blue questioned, employing her best concerned tone, "who is looking after him at the moment?"

Emma paused, looking at Blue, what was with the questions all of a sudden?

"Everyone in the family is living at the mansion at the moment. Regina, the kids and I, Mal and Belle, as well as David, Kathryn and Neal. One big happy family," Emma couldn't help her smile as she said this, feeling immensely grateful to have such a loving family.

Blue saw her expression and scowled inwardly. How dare they be happy? How had Regina managed to find happiness against the odds? How had Emma landed the perfect life, when she had rejected her own mother? They all deserved to suffer.

Making sure her tone didn't reflect her feelings, Blue continued, "that sounds lovely for you all. Does Neal have his own room?"

Neal did have his own room, but Emma was uncomfortable with the questioning, so decided to lie, "he has a bed in David and Kathryn's room, he didn't want to be apart from them. I think he has picked up on the tension in the house since Snow escaped. Why?"

"Emma, I know you're not speaking to your mother right now, but when she was pregnant with you, she made me promise to always look out for you and to guide you if I can. I am just worried about you and your family. None of us are safe, and I know what a burden it must be for you, being the one trying to take care of everyone."

"It's not that I don't appreciate that, but I'm ok. My family are not a burden, they are my support," Emma told Blue forcefully, a little angry that she had made it seem like her family were taking advantage of her protective nature.

"I'm sorry, I've annoyed you, I can see that. I didn't mean to, Emma."

"Sorry, I guess we've all just been a little stressed lately," Emma apologised.

"I understand, it's the same for all of us here at the convent, we're all terrified."

'Ping' Emma's lie detector went off again as the Blue Fairy spoke.

Emma felt like something was off, but couldn't put her finger on what it was. She decided it would be better to leave, so she made her excuses and transported herself back to the mansion.

xxxxxxxxxx

Later that night when the kids were all in bed, Emma brought the subject up with the other adults in the house.

"How well do any of you know Blue?" she asked, looking around.

Regina snorted, "better than I ever wanted to."

"The Blue Fairy and I never saw eye to eye," Mal confessed, "she saw me as a villain and therefore not worthy."

David spoke up, sticking up for her, "she was a good friend to us in the Enchanted Forest, I like to think I know her very well. She stood by us through the good times and the bad."

"Why are you asking us that, Emma?" asked Kathryn.

"Today, at the convent, she started asking a lot of questions. Strange questions about Neal, and how safe he was. She made my lie detector go off a few times," Emma tried to explain, not knowing how to make them understand that sometimes she just got a gut feeling about things, and she was usually right.

"She cares about you, Emma," David told her, "she was probably just trying to make sure there was nothing she could do to help you."

"I don't trust her," Emma muttered, "there is something shady about her. She made me feel uncomfortable with her questions."

"Don't you think that maybe you're allowing the stress you're under to make you a little paranoid?" Kathryn tried to be diplomatic, but the glare Emma gave her told her she wasn't successful.

"I'm not paranoid," she grumbled, "just forget I said anything."

"Emma, if you think there is something questionable about Blue, then I trust you," Mal assured her.

"We can keep a close eye on her, and be prepared, just in case," Regina added, supporting her wife, without question.

"I think we need to be cautious," Emma agreed, "I mean, she has been known to lie before. She told Snow and Dad that there was only room for one in the wardrobe that brought me to this realm, because she had made an agreement with Marco, so that Pinnochio could use it to escape the curse too."

"That's very true," Belle agreed, "and people are not just one thing. Blue may have a dark side, behind her good image as a fairy. This idea of good and bad, heroes and villains, simply isn't accurate. Rumple was a terrible man in some ways, and as the Dark One he committed horrors I don't even want to think about, but he wasn't just those things. For a while I saw the man behind the beast, enough to fall in love with him."

"Your ability to see past some of people's past actions is one of your greatest traits," Mal told her warmly.

"Blue is not a villain," David defended his friend, "she would never do anything to hurt this family. She has always been so loyal to us."

"To who, David?" Regina asked him, "you said 'loyal to us', but have you forgotten, that although one half of that 'us' is you, the other half of it is Snow?"

David slumped back in his chair. He hadn't considered that, and the information was disturbing to him.

"You might be right," he begrudgingly agreed, "they certainly were, um, close, in the Enchanted Forest."

Mal raised an eyebrow at him, "what are you implying, David? What exactly do you mean by 'close'?"

"Snow told me they used to be intimate with one another, from the time Snow turned 16. However, Fairies are not allowed to have romantic partners, and then Snow met me, so it all ended between them. I always suspected that Snow still carried a flame for her, but she always denied it, and after so many years of being with me, I started to believe her."

"Snow and Blue? Really? That's gross! Snow was 16 and Blue is what? A thousand years old?" Emma said incredulously, "that's pretty disgusting!"

"Fairies age in a different way to us, Emma, but yes, I think the idea is disturbing, shall we say?" Regina agreed with her wife.

"If she had a relationship with Blue, then why did she have such a problem with me and Regina being in a relationship?" Emma asked, looking around.

David replied, "she always blamed it on the fact that she was young, and said she grew out of it."

"Some of the most homophobic people are the ones trying to hide who they truly are. Maybe Snow knew she was bisexual but didn't feel able to embrace that side of herself, and therefore turned her own self hatred around on others?" suggested Mal.

"You know, I always had my suspicions about our favourite wolf. She and Snow were very close for a time, back in the Enchanted Forest," Regina told them.

"So, maybe we treat her as an unknown. She might be loyal to us, but we have to accept that she may also be loyal to Snow," Belle told them, "we don't do anything that might let her know of our suspicions, but we don't tell her anything personal either. We give her as little information about us all and our hunt to find Snow as possible, just in case."

"You know, if Blue is helping her," Emma spoke aloud as an idea came to her, "then it might explain how she just disappeared and the locator spell didn't work."

"She's being protected by magic!" Mal exclaimed, "of course! Why didn't we think of this before?"

"It makes perfect sense," Regina added, "I don't believe for a minute that she has left town, so that's certainly the most logical explanation."

"So what we need to decide is, if it's just Blue we can't trust, or the rest of the fairies too," Kathryn pondered.

"Until we have more information, then I suggest we treat them all with caution," Belle suggested.

"I still have my doubts that she would work against us, but I won't blindly take her at face value, if it puts my family at risk. I agree, caution is necessary," David nodded.

Feeling much better than when she had first brought the subject up, Emma sank back into the cushions with relief, as Regina ran a soft hand through her hair, kissing her cheek affectionately.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Why am I here? What can I do for you both?" Sydney asked the two women who had summoned him. They were sat at the table in the kitchen, which had quickly become their favourite place to relax.

"We need you to do some surveillance for us, Sydney," Blue explained, "you have to be beyond careful and not let anyone see you."

"This will not be my first time tailing somebody," Sydney said with pride, "Regina had me tailing Emma for months, when she first arrived in Storybrooke."

"Perfect," Snow told him, "because that's who we need you to follow."

"Are you going to tell me the plan yet?" Sydney questioned.

"The plan has changed, and we're still working on it. Once we know exactly what needs to be done, then you will be the first to know," Blue advised, "you will be greatly rewarded for your help, Sydney."

"Thank you, Blue."

"You may leave now, but please report to us in two days. We need to know what shifts she is working, and the times she is on her own. It's really important," Blue emphasised.

"I will find out everything you need, and report back as requested. I'll see myself out."

Sydney left the room, and walked out the front door, closing it behind him. Once they heard the door close, Blue spoke up.

"What do you think he will do when he finds out that we are going back to the Enchanted Forest?"

"I'm not sure. He was trapped in a genie's lamp, and then in mirrors for the majority of his time living there. Maybe he won't like being back?" Snow wondered.

"Well, he can always stay here and die with the rest of them," Blue laughed, relishing in the plan they were working on.

"Is it really necessary to kill them all?" asked Snow, "we can just take Emma, Henry and Neal and leave, none of them will have a way of following us."

"Do you want to take that chance?" Blue questioned her, "I know you think you can turn Emma against the Evil Queen, but if you're not successful, then we need a way to make sure Regina and the rest of them are out of the picture."

"I won't fail. I have a plan for Emma. Her own fault really," Snow smugly remarked.

"What's your plan? How is it her own fault?"

"She made me watch the Hunger Games movies when we were roommates, and the last movie gave me an idea."

"Your plan, came from a sci-fi film?" Blue asked in disbelief, scoffing as she spoke.

"They turned the main character against the woman that he loved. They injected him with a venom that made him hallucinate, and then changed the memories he had of her. It's the perfect plan, because by the time I'm done with Emma, she will want to kill Regina, herself, and I won't stop her if she tries."

"That's devious," Blue smirked, slightly impressed with the younger woman's evil plan, "what perfect revenge on Regina, when Emma turns around and tells her she hates her and wants her dead. Oh yes, the Evil Queen will suffer. With a broken heart, who knows what will happen? If she reverts back to her old ways, then the people will turn against her again."

"I'm not just a pretty face, am I?" Snow said smugly, "I will bring them down, and get my revenge."

"You are much more than your face or your body Snow, and I have always known it, no matter how much I have enjoyed both," Blue let her eyes roam freely down and back up Snow.

"Maybe you should show me how much?" Snow flirted.

"Maybe I should," agreed Blue, getting up and walking around the table. She held out a hand for Snow to take, and led her into the bedroom. Some things never changed, she thought to herself, Snow had always been so easy to manipulate.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Hey, Belle, you ok?" Emma asked, as the woman walked out into the garden to join Emma and Regina.

"I'm fine, thank you," she said with a faint blush. Things with her and Mal had been heating up, and she was sure the whole mansion must have known they had slept together for the first time last night. Mal of course had protected the rest of the house with a soundproofing spell, but hadn't told Belle this. She was having too much fun watching her girlfriend squirm with embarrassment at the thought that people would have heard them.

"What can we do for you? Or are you just here to relax? It's a lovely day to spend in the garden," Regina said, gesturing to the sun and the blue sky above.

"I had a thought I wanted to discuss with you, actually," Belle told them, "about the children."

"Oh? What is it?" Regina asked, suddenly feeling concerned.

Seeing the flash of worry across her face, Belle was quick to reassure her, "don't worry, it's nothing bad, it's about them missing school."

"It's a shame, but neither of us feel safe letting them go to school while Snow is out there doing whatever she is doing. Especially if she has help from Blue," Emma explained defensively.

"I completely agree, it's not safe. They're very bright children, and I know they will find it easy to catch up, but I was wondering if you wanted me to spend some time tutoring them during the day?" Belle asked, "as a stand-in teacher."

"Really? Would you be willing to do that?" Regina asked.

"Of course! I love them both dearly. It would be good for them to have something structured to do with their day, but also it would be good for me too," Belle confessed, "I've been getting a little bored lately, so this would certainly help, and would benefit Willow and Henry, I'm sure."

"Belle, you absolute angel," declared Emma, "that would be amazing, thank you! We can pay you, of course."

"No payment necessary, it's as much for me as it is for them."

"Well, if you're sure, then that's great, Belle, thank you so much," Regina smiled at her warmly. This wonderful young woman had become a good friend, against all the odds, choosing to forgive and forget the things that Regina had done to her in the past.

"You're welcome," Belle smiled back.

xxxxxxxxxx

Hearing a knock at their bedroom door, Emma groaned. It was still dark, so whoever was disturbing their sleep, better have a damned good reason.

"Come in," she called quietly, hoping not to wake Regina, but the woman opened her eyes, as Henry walked in.

"Henry? Are you ok?" Regina asked, worry seeping into her voice.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry to wake you, but I didn't think this could wait until morning," Henry explained.

"Henry, it's ok, you can always wake us if you need us. What's wrong buddy?" Emma asked him, sitting up and gesturing for him to sit on the bed.

After he had gotten comfortable he started to talk, "I woke up and couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about what you said about being careful around Blue."

"You don't need to worry, Henry, you will be perfectly safe here," Regina tried to reassure him.

"That's the thing though," Henry told them, "none of us are now."

"What do you mean, Henry?" asked Regina, "we're fully protected here."

"We were, I know that, but that was before you started to have suspicions about Blue," Henry explained patiently, "you protected the convent in the same way that you protected the mansion. So I was wondering, what stops her from using the amulet you gave her for the convent to come here? Or maybe she could give it to Snow? I don't think we're safe."

Emma and Regina looked at each other in stunned silence. What an oversight! How could they have missed this?

"Buddy, you're a genius," Emma told him with a smile, "you may have just saved all of our lives!"

Regina turned to Emma, "this can't wait until the morning, we need Mal and we can discuss what to do."

"Henry, go wake Mal," Emma told him.

"Emma Swan-Mills, you can't send our son into the dragons den," she admonished her wife, "he has delicate eyes and I don't know what he will be walking-in on!"

"Oh, so you'll make me do it instead?" Emma laughed, "that's not fair! What about my eyes?"

"I was going to suggest you call her cell, then nobody's eyes are at risk, and we won't embarrass Belle any further than she already is," Regina laughed. Mal had told them about the soundproofing spell, knowing they would see the funny side, but had sworn them to secrecy.

"Oh, yeah! That's not a bad idea," Emma said reaching for her cell, and calling the dragon.

"Saviour," drawled the sleepy dragon, "did you want to end up as my next meal or do you actually have a good reason for waking me?"

"Sorry," Emma apologised, "I know it's the middle of the night, but we need you. Can you meet us in the kitchen in five minutes?"

"Yes, of course," Mal replied, "is something wrong?"

"Thanks to Henry, no it's not, but we need to do something, we'll explain in a minute."

"Ok," agreed Mal, hanging up.

"Henry, sweetheart, why don't you go back to bed. We will correct this issue and fill you in on the details in the morning," suggested Regina.

Henry yawned, "Ok, Mom, I'm pretty tired now," he said, as he stood up.

"You did good today. Well done, I am so proud of you for thinking about this. You really are a very clever young man," Emma told him sincerely.

"I got it from Mom," he laughed, pointing to Regina, and causing her to snort with amusement, as he walked out the door.

"Brat," grumbled Emma.

"Now that, my darling, is something he did get from you," Regina said, laughing at her wife's pout.