'I never could relate to people who said Christmas is their favorite holiday. Though, I feel you love Christmas, since it is generally considered a family holiday. That's the main reason I dislike it. My family Christmases involve sitting stiffly on uncomfortable chairs, comparing yearly accomplishments and failures (we call it a 'high and low' game, and it is everything but) and kids have their recitals or ballet shows. I suppose this might be breaking our 'no specifics' rule, but this night, I can't help it. In the game tomorrow, my highs and lows will be about business. But the truth is, the high of this year was getting on that site and finding you… I find myself missing you more and more. You are the only person I do miss, which is strange because I have never met you. And I wish|'

Ivy stopped and stared at the blinking dash. The memory of their 'meeting' coursed through her mind.

It was the beginning of spring, and Tamara's bachelorette party. The night before she was to marry the most boring, sleazy looking man Ivy has ever met.

Since most of them refused to let go of their sorority days – the highlight of their lives – they insisted on playing 'truth or dare'. If they weren't in a bar they would probably be playing spin the bottle. Though you never know, the night's still young.

"So, bride to be… What will it be? Truth or dare."

"Hmm…" she pursed her lips, "Let's go with the truth this time."

"Yes! Have you ever, have you ever…." Jacqueline was dragging the question, "Cheated on Greg?"

Flabbergasted, Tamara exclaimed, "How can you ask me that?!"

"History's not your ally." Anastasia teased, "Spill."

"I've cheated on someone else with Greg." Tamara confessed, "Does that count?"

"Not if he knew about it."

"Then I guess my answer is no."

"Here's to the fairytale couple!" Ivy raised her glass and emptied it in one gulp.

"Go ivy!" the girls cheered, disregarding her cynicism, "It's time you loosened up."

"Ok, ok. My turn. Ivy?"

"Will you be nice to me, Tamara?"

"Always am."

"Fine." God, she hated these gatherings, "Dare."

"I dare you to go to the bar and get a guy's number."

"Seriously?"

"Oh, I saw a cute one – maroon jacket, dark hair, kind of skinny for my taste." Jacqueline suggested, "And you seriously need a date."

Was the night turning into an intervention for her? She knew she didn't have the most exciting love life but it's not like that's her priority at the moment.

Tamara and Anastasia shared a look, "I had something else in mind, actually. Tinder."

"Do I look that desperate to you? I'm not putting my face or anything else on Tinder."

"Come on, social media queen. You're the one who's on the phone all the time."

"Don't pester my sister. She's not gonna go on Tinder when there's a perfectly fine blind dating site." she snatched Ivy's phone.

"Come on! Give it back."

"Lighten up, sis. We'll find you a prince."

'Because you did so well for yourself.' she wanted to say but bit her tongue.

Once her sister started typing her favorites and interests, Ivy realized she and Anastasia weren't as close as she thought. So, Ivy took over and wrote about the coziness of Seattle, the public library, summer days in Volunteer park and how KEXP was still the greatest radio station in the country. She wasn't sure why she was sharing the real information, maybe deep down she wanted some digital fairytale.

They went into the 'turning thirty' tag because that was where the most desperate were and her so-called friends enjoy torturing her. She selects three random profiles as possible match. TheReal_Whizz responded first and they set a date (He turned out to be a failing life coach with a voice of a mice from Cinderella).

Only when a day later TruestBeliever responded to her message did she pay attention to the name. She figured he could be some religious fanatic or something. But his message was original and interesting. He wasn't looking for a hook up just a chat, so she agreed and had only one rule – no personal specifics.

Ivy looked at the keyboard and pressed backspace. She deleted the draft and went to bed.

"Ok, I hung the stockings, Grandpa and Neal are in charge of the lights and Ma and Killian are bringing drinks."

"Good. Mary Margaret's off caroling and the food's going to be ready in an hour." Regina looked around, "I suppose that's it."

"Another successful operation, mom." Henry grinned and put the last present under the tree.

She patted the spot next to her, "Sit with me."

"Are you ok?" she was getting tired quicker now but she never slowed down. Henry helped as much as he could, or as much she would let him.

"Hey. I'm the one who should be worrying about you."

"Why?"

"Because your mothers had to find out from Belle that the store's in trouble."

"It's nothing. I got it covered." his mother looked at him pointedly, "I don't need you and ma to save me anymore. I can handle Ivy Belfrey."

"Who's Ivy Belfrey?"

"She's my competitor, her family's opening this huge bookstore. It's like she stepped out of 'Mean girls'. She's rude and dismissive and she drives me insane. I guess there are moments when she's not the worst, but they are rare."

"Honey, I've seen this story before. Trust me, it doesn't end well."

"What do you mean?"

"A mean girl and a genuine boy. Life's not a book, Henry."

"God, mom. It's not that. Why would you think that? And Violet, my girlfriend. Remember her?"

"I just want what's best for you."

"I know." he clasped his hands around hers, "And it's going to be. My operations always succeed and Operation Shepherd won't be an exception."

Operation Shepherd was not going well. His TV appearance didn't do much good and the holiday season did not boost up their sales as he had hoped for. Alice and Bo tried to soften the blow, but to no avail. So, Henry decided to seek help from a friend.

From: TruestBeliever
To: SeattleGirl67
Subject: Advice

'I need help. Do you still want to meet me?'

A few long, torturous hours later, the reply arrived.

From: SeattleGirl67
To: TruestBeliever
Subject: RE: Advice

'I would love to. When and where?'