Rumple's getting a lot closer to discovering the likely cause of recent events. However now, after having her pregnancy confirmed, it's Regina's turn to have an awful realisation.
The Nolan Farm – the following morning
Henry woke early. It hadn't even turned six o' clock yet. He hadn't been sleeping too well over the last two weeks, and the bright sunshine poking out from the curtains didn't help. But even in pitch darkness he wouldn't have been any he could have slept, there was just too much on his mind. Nearly all of it worries about his family. His mothers in particular.
Getting out of bed and opening the curtains, he spotted his grandfather working in the lower fields, letting the sheep and lambs out onto some of the fresh meadow. A little nearer he spotted Dorothy also working, attaching something to the back of the tractor. She'd also been staying at th e farm all the time he had, since her break-up with Ruby. He smiled down at the peaceful bucolic scene laid before him, which belied all the trauma currently going on in the lives of the pair of them.
Hopefully a trauma he might play a small part in healing?
~oOo~
Half an hour later he'd showered, dressed, and was now walking down the field towards his grandfather, carrying with a tray of hot drinks. By which time, David had been joined by two other men, who he vaguely recognised as two of Robin's Sherwood men.
"Morning Grandpa, Dot!" he shouted, as he drew closer. "I brought coffees as you all looked busy?" He turned to the new arrivals. "Sorry guys, have we met before?"
"Aye lad, once," said the taller, wiry man, taking a mug. "And thanks for the coffee. I'm Gilbert. Gilbert Whitehand, one of the old merry men. We came back with Roland, when Marian rescued him? This here's Dougie, one of our youngsters." The other man nodded slightly but didn't speak, clearly shy.
"Gilbert and Dougie are former farmers, like me, Henry." David explained. "But arable, not livestock and dairy. They're going to be helping me with turning some of the bottom fields into something more productive? Thanks for the coffee, by the way. I'm surprised to see you up?" Even though he's already been awake two hours, he gave the younger man a sympathetic smile. "What time did you get back last night? I never heard you come in?"
"One in the morning. I hope I didn't wake either of you?"
"No..." Dorothy took her mug. "Thanks Henry. I didn't sleep the first week I was here, but I'm finding all this physical work's helping me to settle? So, did you find out anything from your other grandfather yesterday? Did he find this cottage he was looking for?"
"Yeah, erm," He looked at the new arrivals, not wanting to discuss it in front of them. "Perhaps we could have a chat? Just the three of us?"
Ten minutes later, in the farmhouse…
"So he found out everything that Regina and Emma had done together, just by using locks of their hair?" Dorothy was astonished.
"Yeah, and some sort of weird serum. It looks horrible and smells a bit, but everything gets played out in front of you on the dreamcatcher, just like it happened. So he tied a lock of Regina's to a lock of Emma's, and it just plays all the times they were together for the last two weeks. Obviously, Robin and I didn't want to watch…certain stuff…so we looked away for those bits, while he fast forwarded, or back. But he thinks everything weird started happening after they both went into a little cottage in the middle of the forest. You remember that day you all thought that Fiona, the Black Fairy, had come back? Well everything changed from then. There was definitely some bad magic in there and he took some weird used potions away, to test."
"So what happens next?"
"He said he's going to start working on Snow and Ruby's hair later tonight, to do the same thing. Basically to see whether they also visited that cottage, or somewhere else, and what affected them. If it's similar to my mums, then he'll know, and start working on the potions he brought back to find a cure."
Dorothy pondered. "I want to be there when he does it!"
"What, show the dreamcatcher? I wouldn't advise it, Dot!"
"Henry's right Dorothy," David rested a hand on her arm. "It could be seriously upsetting for you. Although I want to know what happened to Snow, I definitely don't want to see her actually having sex with someone else."
"I agree, but I still want to see. Women are more likely to talk through their thoughts, so I want to know what the hell Ruby was thinking, up to when things are all went wrong between us. Besides, we both know what they did. Hell, they even virtually boasted about it! At least it might might help me get some sort of closure? And I need to speak to Gold myself. I want to find out if this has happened before."
The Gold Mansion
Rumpelstiltskin was in his element. He loved nothing more than discovering new spells, and new potions. The centuries hadn't dulled his inquisitive mind. So the moment he got home from the little hidden cottage, he set about preparing his desk so he could test the contents currently sitting in the wooden box on the floor. But first, he needed to look at that book he'd also brought back.
It was shortly after he started that Belle walked in. "Back in here again, I see? Rumple, you've hardly been in the shop all week! Couldn't you at least stop for a little while? Besides, Gideon's asking to spend more time with you."
"I'm sorry, dearie, you're right. Give me a few minutes to set up a few things in here and I'll spend the morning with him. How's that?"
"Better. How did you get on at that cottage you mentioned? Did you find what you were looking for?"
"I'll know shortly. Frankly, you could help? I picked up a book I believe to be Ingrid's. It's written in old Norse, a language you're familiar with."
"Ingrid? You mean the Ice Queen?"
"The very same. She's been dead over five years, but I sensed her magic the moment I entered, albeit weakened, all over the cottage. I believe this may be the book she used to concoct a potion that sits in that box over there. Think you can translate it?"
"I'll have a go. But I warn you, it'll be slow." Although she said it, Belle knew, as he did, that she always loved a challenge like this. "You said a potion, not a spell? You sure it hasn't been booby-trapped? I remember that bitch all too well. I'd never trust her not to do something like that."
"I've already checked it for spells, and it's safe. Hopefully we'll find out whether the ingredients in the box are related to the strange actions of our former mayor and sheriff. If they are, and they're under an outside influence, I may be able to develop some sort of remedy? Meanwhile, I'll start looking at the same issue for Snow White and the she-wolf."
"Yes, I wanted to ask you about that. When Henry was here and I asked you how you got fresh locks of their hair, you obfuscated! They were fresh, weren't they? Not something you got off those hairbrushes Henry brought over? Answer me honestly, Rumple, yes or no! And then tell me how you got hold of Snow and Ruby's hair, too?"
"They were fresh, Belle. From before they left the town."
"So you took it from them without their permission? How? Did you break into their homes?"
"Belle, you seem to forget, I'm able to temporarily freeze time? I can suspend it for only a few minutes. More than enough time to take a lock of hair, don't you think? And before you get angry with me, just remember that I'm doing this at Henry's request, not for my own benefit. It's only hair, Belle. No one is harmed." He'd phrased it carefully, so technically, everything he'd said was true. He just didn't confirm the break-in. Or the blood.
"But you're still invading their privacy, Rumple! And now you're going to do the same with Ruby and Snow's samples, too? I saw the dreamcatcher just like you did, and it showed all their intimate times! Surely you can see that isn't right?"
"And as you're also aware, I forwarded quickly over those parts. I only slowed the images down when they were talking? That's how I discovered what happened in that cottage, or what we think is a cottage? Surely you can see the logic, even if you don't approve?"
She rolled her eyes in resignation. "Well promise me, that when it comes to Snow and Ruby, you'll only look at their times together? Nothing else?"
It seemed an odd request? "When the two sets of locks are entwined and the serum used, that's all I can see, Belle, nothing else! You saw how the first batch worked? I have no wish to see other people having sex whatsoever. But if it allows me to get to the point where they were both acting out of character, so I can uncover whether it's linked to the other women's issues, which have caused so much damage to their families, I'd say it's worth it, wouldn't you?"
Miami, Florida
"So that confirms it, Miss Mills." The young doctor turned the results print out to Regina to see. "Your definitely pregnant. We estimate between five and six weeks. It's quite early but, if we take an internal scan, what we call a 'trans-vaginal', we may be able to see a gestation sac. Personally, I would suggest you wait a couple of weeks, when a standard external, or 'trans-abdominal', will show things up more clearly."
"Thank you, doctor." Regina somehow knew the Dragon was probably right, and she was pregnant, before she went into the little private clinic. But having the evidence confirmed so clearly before her, felt a little daunting. "I guess I have some thinking to do."
"If you don't mind me saying, Miss Mills, you look to have gone a little pale? Can I fetch you a glass of water?"
"Please. It's come as a bit of a shock."
"I understand..." The tall blonde stood, walking over to the sink. "Shall I book you in for another visit in two weeks' time?"
"I'm not sure, just yet. We're only on vacation here, so I need to speak to my partner first, and see what she thinks."
She? If she's gay, and it's come as a shock, it clearly wasn't planned? "Do I take it you're likely to want to keep this pregnancy? Or are you considering some sort of termination?"
"No! I'm sorry, I don't mean to snap. I'm just a little surprised. I long believed myself to be infertile. But I do think I would like to keep it."
"Well in the meantime, let me prescribe you some multivitamins and other things that'll help? Plus a list of dos and don'ts, as far as food's concerned. Just call me when you're ready?"
~oOo~
And now, as she sat outside the clinic, waiting for the car to take her back to the hotel, Regina sat on the bench overlooking the shore, in the warm Floridian summer sunshine, the piece of paper the younger woman had given her, confirming her pregnancy, on her lap. Confirming the potential child she long believed she could never carry.
Yesterday the plan had been for Emma to come with her. But her sudden migraine, which seemed to have come on straight after she'd had some sort of nightmare, had put her out of action. It was a shame, as it was the first morning, and night, they hadn't made love since they first got together.
But looking at the sheet of paper, and remembering Hank Morgan's terse email yesterday, she decided then and there that once Emma was feeling better, they'd start searching for somewhere to live. Somewhere they could settle down here, leaving all their troubles sixteen hundred miles away. Somewhere where they could start again, raising her baby. Together.
Back at the hotel…
Emma didn't have a migraine. She'd lied when Regina had tried to touch her, insisting she stay in bed Instead she was suffering from something far worse. Guilt.
After waking from that awful dream, everything that had happened over the last two weeks became clear. Everything. From cheating on her marriage repeatedly, to destroying her relationship with her son. From striking an innocent young boy, as hard as any adult, to using her magic to hurl Robin Hood into the wall. And the looks from everyone after. The contempt.
The look Henry had given her that last time she saw him said it all:
"You disgust me!"
Why had she done it? What on earth had possessed her to climb into bed with another woman? Why had she so wilfully betrayed the husband she loved? For what, sex? She liked Regina, before. Hell, she'd even admit she was secretly attracted to her. But enough to do something like that? To destroy her reputation, and everything she'd built over the last ten years?
And then there was her little girl. Hope. Named after her own mother's outstanding virtue. Hope for the future. Hope for a better life. Her precious little girl. The last time she'd seen her she looked terrified, staring up at the sight of her own father being choked senseless by her mother.
No matter what she did now. No matter if she grovelled to him on all fours. There was no way Killian could ever forgive her after what she'd done. The ultimate betrayal.
Emma wanted to curl up into a ball. And die. She deserved nothing less.
And that's why she was hiding under the bedsheets. To figure out how the hell she got into this mess.
Storybrooke - The Gold Mansion
After settling his son in bed and reading him a story, Rumple had joined Belle for their first evening meal together in days. In truth, he was excited to get started on his latest research. Though seeing how she'd taken the time to cook them a decent meal, he decided enough was enough and to make time for her. After all, he'd learnt the hard way that family was more important than work.
"That was delicious, Belle. I haven't enjoyed decent salmon like that for ages." He kissed the back of her hand as he topped up her glass. "And the pastry was light as a feather."
"Thanks. I got the idea from one of our own cookbooks. I thought you do it often enough for me, so maybe I should have a go It was easier than I thought. Though sorry it all came a bit late. I was distracted."
"By Ingrid's potion book? I saw you reading it a little earlier. Learn anything new?"
"Yes, although it's really a cross between a recipe book and a health guide. I had to check my old Norse notebooks for some of the words. I've written some of the translation. But there was one page that it kept opening to when I put it on its edge. That usually tells me which were the last pages read, regardless of whether it was by Ingrid, or someone else."
"Don't tell me, a potion for making someone fall in love with you?"
"Not quite. This one was more of a bonding potion. To make someone trust you, and look up to you, rather than be attracted to you. There were a couple of pencil marks there, too. Notes, perhaps."
Rumple thought back to one of his last meetings he ever had with the Ice Queen. In that very cottage. "The Dark One struck a deal with her for some white ribbons. Ribbons previously worn by her own sisters, who subsequently perished as a result of her folly. I recall she used the same ribbons on the then Emma Swan and Queen Elsa to ensnare them. She was convinced they could all be sisters, a substitute for the ones she lost. It was all rather tragic, in the end. She died shortly after."
"Well there's quite a specific set of ingredients listed, to make the potion."
"Henbane? Bainberry? Mandrake Truffle, by any chance?"
"Yes, how did you guess?"
"Those appear to be the long-decayed contents in the box that I collected. Thank you, Belle, you've given me something to think on. Did you see details of any antidotes?"
"None so far, though I'm only a short way through the book. But it did say the effects of that particular potion are only temporary. Perhaps just enough time for Ingrid to win Emma and Elsa over?"
"Perhaps. But you've done very well indeed, my dear, much better than I hoped, quite frankly." He looked into her eyes, then what she was wearing. Even now, she was still exceptionally beautiful, and seeing her in that lower cut top brought ideas into his head. "You know Belle, you're absolutely right. I have been spending too much time in the study. How about an early night?" He grinned. "We could take the rest of the bottle upstairs and…relax? It's been a while."
"Oh…" Belle picked up on what he was suggesting. "Would you mind if we didn't? I'm feeling quite tired. I think I'd just like to sleep tonight?"
He sighed. Well that was a let down! In earlier years she would have instantly agreed. "Very well. Is there something wrong, Belle? Only you've seemed rather…low…these last few weeks."
"I'm fine, Rumple." She tried to shrug it off. "I guess I'm just feeling little under the weather. Just ignore me, it'll pass. But it'd be nice if you came up to bed with me for a change, for a hug? Only a hug mind, nothing else! I know what your hugs lead to."
"I'll behave, I swear." He gave her a sad smile.
The Nolan Farm
Henry had just been talking to his young uncle upstairs, before walking back down to join the others. He found his grandfather sitting at the dining table, serious-faced and deep in thought, looking at several papers laid out in front of him.
"You okay, grandpa?"
"Eh?" David looked up. "Oh, sorry Henry, I was miles away. Is Neal okay?"
"Yeah. He was asking about what was happening with my mums, and whether it's connected to what's going on with his own mum. I kinda gave him an abridged version of what we found out."
"He's a bright boy that one. Takes after his sister."
"You looked a grim just now? More problems?"
"Snow's lawyer, Johnny Blackwell, just dropped this off. They're divorce papers."
"Oh!" He could only imagine what his grandfather must be going through. "I'm sorry."
"She seems to want half of everything, which is fair, but she wants her share in cash. Which means I'd need to sell the farm. My livelihood."
"After all the hard work you put into this place? That's just crazy! Is she short of money, or something?"
"Not as far as I can tell. Even without her teaching job, if they sack her, the original curse provided Snow more than enough reserves from her father's vaults. I agree, it doesn't make sense."
"Have you actually spoken to her since…well, you know?"
"No." David firmly shook his head. "And frankly Henry, after everything that's happened, I prefer it that way." He looked up at him, and for the first time in eleven days, after everything his grandfather had gone through, Henry saw tears in his eyes. "Even after everything you've told me about potions and spells, while I hope it's all true and she's being controlled, after what I saw two weeks ago, and what she said to our son, I'm not sure I can ever forgive her."
"But you have too! I-" But he stopped, knowing now wasn't the time.
"Come with me tomorrow?" Said a new voice from behind him.
"Dorothy? Sorry, I didn't see you there."
"Come with me to Gold's tomorrow, David? I phoned him earlier. I told him I'd already spoken to Henry and he'd mentioned this weird cottage in the forest? I asked if it affected Ruby and your grandmother the same way. Surprisingly, he said I'd come at an opportune moment, and I should come over. So come with me, so at least we can get to the bottom of this?"
Miami – The following morning
Emma finally climbed out of the bed around six o'clock in the morning. Yet again, she'd had little sleep, but feigning a severe migraine attack was so much easier than having to discuss anything with Regina right now. At least until she figured out her own head. Until just thirty-six hours ago, they'd been totally inseparable, sharing everything, including each other. But now, she even felt awkward sharing the same bed, knowing everything they'd done these last two weeks and the way she'd willingly destroyed everything she had, and her reputation, in Storybrooke.
But she finally got up because she was now painfully hungry and thirsty.
Having finally found sleep only four hours earlier, Emma was more than surprised on waking, to discover that Regina wasn't in the bed? Tiptoeing towards the bathroom in the early morning light, she could see she wasn't there either.
"Regina?" she called out softly, in the early light. No reply. "Regina?"
She was about to switch her phone on, to see whether any message had been left, when she noticed the French windows leading to the small sun balcony, wide open. Stepping closer, she finally spotted the brunette, who was sitting on the little wicker chair on their twelfth-floor balcony, her knees to her chest, looking out over the ocean, towards the horizon.
"Regina? What are you doing out here, so early?"
The brunette, wearing only her hotel dressing gown, slowly lifted her head, turning it to face her.
And in that moment, Emma saw a face so completely different from the one she saw when she went to bed. Then, the brunette had seemed excited to tell her all about what she'd found out about her pregnancy. But faking her migraine, Emma had closed down any chance of conversation at the time, so Regina had slumped off downstairs to find herself something to eat, staying out of the blonde's way till she hopefully felt better.
However, the woman now sitting on the balcony now, looked like she'd aged a decade, completely distraught; haggard even. She'd clearly been crying a great deal, judging by the red around the eyes. She looked dreadful; the first time Emma had ever seen her less than immaculate.
"What's happened? Is it about the pregnancy? Sorry, I know you wanted to tell me everything last night, but I wasn't really in a fit state to listen when you got back. Is everything okay with it?"
"The baby's fine. I'm no more than six weeks." She was curt, avoiding her eyes, turning back to gazing at the horizon.
"Well, that's a good thing, right?" But she wouldn't look back at her. "Isn't it? Regina?"
Regina exhaled loudly, closing her eyes. "Not when you've just destroyed your relationship with its father." She almost whispered the words, so Emma couldn't quite hear her properly.
"Sorry?"
"Nothing. I'm just…leave me be, Emma."
"No, talk to me?" She stopped closer, but Regina still didn't respond. "You're not yourself! Tell me what's happened?"
The older woman slowly shook her head. "Don't you think it's odd, that less than two weeks ago, we were just two friends, in happy marriages, with our children, living perfectly happy lives?"
Hearing that, it was now obvious to Emma that, whatever revelation had come to Regina, would likely to be similar to her own. "Yeah, weird right?"
"So, you've seen something, too?" She finally looked up at her. "Tell me the truth, Emma."
"When I woke up yesterday from that nightmare? Well, I'd just dreamt Henry, Killian and Hope were here. In our room. They were accusing me, and…saying goodbye, for ever. Killian then crushed my heart. I didn't want to face you, after that."
"So, you woke up realising you've destroyed everything you hold dear to you? And for what reason? You believed you were in love with me, and nothing else mattered?" Emma couldn't answer. "I woke up this morning after I dreamed I'd been arrested, after we went back to Storybrooke. I was then dragged out of the Sheriff's Office and killed in front of the entire town. By the very same man who saved me from Hades, in view of my own son!" Her voice started breaking. "The man I happen to love." She looked away again. Emma thought she'd finished, but she carried on:
"I'm very sorry Emma, but I'm not in love with you.! I can't explain how it's happened, but…" she still couldn't bear to look at her. "I loved you as a friend, yes. And I confess I did on occasion imagine what it might be like if we ever took it further. Dammit, even Robin noticed, and used to occasionally joke about you and I being so close. But until two weeks ago, I never imagined-"
"STOP!" The blonde yelled, making her finally look at her. "Just stop talking for a minute, okay?"
Emma moved in front of her, taking the second little guest chair. "I know how you're feeling because I feel the same! The day before yesterday, before I took that swim, I felt you were my everything! Like I didn't want to do anything without you? Then I started seeing things. Killian, Hope, Henry. Then I had the nightmare, and since then I realised that I wasn't in love with you either, Regina! And worse, that I've screwed up so much back home."
"You too?" Emma's words slowly sank in. "So why did we-"
"I don't know! I've been asking myself that since I woke up yesterday! Why did I fuck up my marriage and nearly kill my own husband? Why did I hit Henry? And Roland? I don't know! But one thing I do know, is that the woman who did that wasn't me, even if I do remember everything I did!" It was painful to admit everything, but she felt slightly relieved she was unburdening herself. "I exaggerated my migraine yesterday, so we wouldn't get…intimate again. I thought if I told you what was going on, it would break your heart."
"My heart's already broken after what I did to Robin. I feel like I want to curl up and die."
Storybrooke – The Gold mansion
The previous evening, after Belle had declined his offer of a little early evening romance, Rumple had headed to bed early to join her, Gideon already sound asleep. They'd cuddled, which was nice enough, though as she clearly wasn't in the mood, once she fell asleep herself, he again crept downstairs, his mind far too active to settle.
As he now sat behind his desk in the study, he started preparing everything to start. But something seemed didn't seem quite right?
Looking over the jars, vials and trays, Rumple noticed something seemed to be missing. It didn't take him long to realise that it was one of the little glass vials he'd acquired. Namely, the one with a little blue sticker he'd placed on the top. The one marked 'RL'.
The vial containing Ruby Lucas's brown hair lock was missing?
He was always so careful with his spells and potions that it was highly unusual for him to mislay anything. So now it had him wondering. Had he just mislaid it? Or had it been taken somehow? Fortunately, everybody in town probably knew what the consequences would be for stealing from the Dark One, so the latter seemed unlikely. Thankfully, he had an alternative option. Getting up again, he stepped over to a taller cupboard by the opposite wall, waving his fingers as the upper doors opened for him. Another spell, and the seemingly empty shelves now changed to reveal previously concealed ingredients. Several of them vials containing human blood. And one of them, the blood of a she-wolf!
Belle had already been highly critical of him when she realised, he'd obtained all the recent hair locks. He could only imagine what she would have said, or done, had she realised he'd also broken into houses and obtained his subjects' blood by using syringes and needles while they slept? No that would have been a step too far for her. So he carefully hid and magically sealed those particular vials from sight.
But he couldn't waste any more time. So, collecting Ruby's blood vial, he set about mixing some of it with the black hair in the tray, and some of the serum he'd prepared over the last four days.
The following morning…
As Dorothy sat down next to David, Henry standing behind them, Rumple explained what he'd discovered during the long night at his desk.
"Now dearies, Henry is already familiar with this procedure, having watched recent events involving his mothers on that dreamcatcher." He pointed to the device. "I've made a minor modification since he was here last. Namely that little silver tray in front of you. Sliding your finger, previously dipped in the serum, across it will allow you to fast-rewind and fast-forward what you're about to see. As you would, a DVD. I tell you this because you're undoubtedly going to see your respective wives being rather too intimate with each other. And no doubt you may wish to skip over those parts?"
"You're right there!" David agreed.
But Dorothy had a different view. "I want to hear what they're saying to each other! Before, and after. I want to hear their motives if that makes sense?"
"Well I believe I can save you the time there, Mrs. Lucas. As I had to watch something similar, earlier in the week, I can quickly rewind from the last images, some three days ago, to a particular event eleven days ago, when they visited a particular cottage in the centre of the forest."
"Cottage?" Henry picked up on it immediately. "Not the one Regina and Emma visited, surely?"
"The very same, my boy. Roughly four hours before. I believe we're much closer to discovering what actually happened. Now, shall we proceed?"
~oOo~