Author's Notes: I do not own Once Upon A Time, which is a show on ABC where I think I might get jossed by that soul mates versus True Love thing, okay? I also don't own another character whose creator basically gave permission to do what I want with him. Anyway, I am so sorry it's been two weeks, but I really wasn't feeling well and busy at work, then finally, I was ready to finish yesterday and my dog wasn't feeling well and... let's just say that took some clean up. So, I'm back and we should be back to the once a week form. Thank you so much for the reads and reviews and follows! I really appreciate it and I will get back to you all shortly! Please let me know what you think and happy reading!


Rumplestiltskin did not sleep much, but for months on end now he felt as if he had been cast into the worst kind of nightmare. His days at the Dark Castle felt like the worst kind of limbo.

For hundreds of years, he had regretted letting his son go and the only thing to get him through that time was by soothing himself with the plan of the Dark Curse. He would find his boy and then he could fix everything.

Eva's death had changed something. He had known she was important because of the daughter and granddaughter who would now never be born, but he hadn't thought that part of the plan was irreparable. There was other True Love to be found in the Enchanted Forest. The problem was this new Queen Cora. Her daughter was supposed to be the one to cast the Dark Curse and though Rumplestiltskin knew the little princess was well on her way- certainly further along than the King could have known about- something was amiss with the child. There was power, great power, but there was danger. There were whispers that Cora had some sort of advisor, transformed into living ice. It was with this woman that Rumplestiltskin sensed the problem. Every time he went to divine his future he never found his son and it was because of what had happened with Eva.

"Rumplestiltskin..."

He grimaced and turned from the wheel to see Maleficent.

She held up her hands.

"I haven't come to fight. I'm on my way out of town."

"And what do you want?"

"I've been invited by Merlin to the Far North Kingdom."

Rumplestilltskin scoffed. "You mean with the little murderous princess?"

"She didn't do kill anyone. That was Zelena's story, one that Queen Cora has been only to happy to run with."

"And who pray tell is Zelena?"

"The Queen's advisor. The one who's becoming a block of ice as we speak." Maleficent motioned at the table. "Aren't you going to offer me tea? This is really poor manners."

"I have no maid. How did she become ice?"

"I'm not going to stand here and tell you the whole story. My unicorns are waiting outside."

"Then why come at all?," he asked in irritation.

"Merlin wants to invite you come to the Far North Kingdom as well."

"And who is Merlin to be issuing such invitations?"

Maleficent ignored the question. "He told me to tell you one thing. One thing to convince you to come hear him out."

"Oh, I look forward to hearing this, dearie..."

"He says if you don't come, you will never find the boy." She shrugged. "Whatever that means."

He paused.

"I will visit," he said tersely.

Maleficent nodded and vanished.


This couldn't be real. Yet she knew it was.

Beatrice tried to get to her feet and Rumplestiltskin stilled her.

The bed was unfamiliar, but she recognized her blanket and her lamb. She grabbed the latter out of desperation for something familiar.

"Easy, sweetheart," her father cautioned. "You're always a bit out of sorts after these fits."

"Fits?," asked Beatrice.

Rumplestiltskin shrugged. "For lack of a better word. Your visions of the other side."

She was taken aback. "They aren't visions, they're real."

He nodded in sympathy. "I know, sweetheart. Your grandfather thinks that when Zelena sacrificed you, you went scattering through creation. What you experienced there has come back to you, lately more than before."

"Where's Mom?," asked Beatrice.

"Sweetheart-"

Beatrice rushed out of the bed, past her father.

"Mom!"

At which point she went sliding down the hall on her face. Stupid ice floors. Suddenly, she had servants rushing to her side.

"Beatrice?"

The servants parted and Beatrice looked up to see Belle in a sparkling blue dress.

"Here, sweetheart," said Belle, helping her up.

"Mom," said Beatrice, throwing her arms around her mother.

Belle looked to the servants. "You may go. I'll see to her."

A man in a fancy frock coat hurried forth. "Your Majesty, the court-"

"Can wait, Zazu."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The servants dispersed as Belle turned to Rumplestiltskin.

"You let her come running out here? You know how she gets."

"And you know what she's like when she worries about her mama," he reminded her.

Belle turned to Beatrice and pushed her hair aside from her face. "Oh, sweetheart, there's no need to worry," said Belle.

"I am worried about how these floors have no traction," said Beatrice staring down at her icy surroundings.

"Come," said Belle, walking with her arm around Beatrice's waist. "Back to bed with you."

"Back to bed? I've got questions."

"You need rest."

Beatrice sat on the bed. Rumplestiltskin arranged the covers around her as Belle sat on the edge.

"But we're in the Far North Kingdom," said Beatrice, eyeing the window again. It was then that Beatrice noticed the nature of the sparkly blue dress her mother had on, reminding her of an animated film she had recently seen. "Oh, come on."

"What?," asked Belle.

"You're the Snow Queen?"

"The Ice Princess," said Belle.

"You became Ice Princess..." said Beatrice.

"Why don't you begin by telling us where you left off?," asked Rumplestiltskin.

Beatrice shook her head. "Where did I leave off?"

Belle began. "You told us about the other realm and the land called Storybrooke. How we were there, along with Eva's daughter and granddaughter."

"Um, everything was going along weird as usual," said Beatrice. "Then we got cursed again."

"By Zelena?," asked Rumplestiltskin.

"Yes. I don't know how, but she brought everyone from the Enchanted Forest and then she wanted to travel back in time. I tried telling her it wouldn't work and seriously, I thought it wouldn't, but I am here..." She looked around.

"And no idea of her weakness?," asked Rumplestiltskin.

"I barely know who she is..." said Beatrice. "But she says she knows me. That we met in Oz."

Belle nodded and looked at Rumplestiltskin. "Then my father's gone to the right place."

"What?"

"We suspected that Zelena's powers had their origin in that land," said Belle.

"Suspected?"

"The Flying Monkeys," said Belle.

"Flying Monkeys? Seriously."

It was then that Zazu entered the room.

Rumplestiltskin waved a hand and the man froze.

"You dare enter my daughter's room unannounced?"

"Rumple..." said Belle.

He waved his hand again and the man returned to life.

"A thousand apologies, Dark One, but Sir Mycroft and Sherlock are arriving-"

"I'm sorry, who?," said Beatrice.

Zazu looked stunned at her.

"Sir Mycroft and Sherlock-"

"Holmes. Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes exist and they are coming here?"

"Yes, your higness-"

"You may leave. Thank you, Zazu," said Belle.

The man bowed and left.

Belle turned back to Beatrice. "Sweetheart, you should know that we haven't let anyone outside the family know about your visions of the other realm."

"No one?," asked Beatrice.

"Your mother thought it was best," said Rumplestiltskin. "And it wouldn't do for the Queen to think you were weak."

"So if you must, try and say as little as you can," said Belle.

"Sorry, are we talking about the same Sherlock?," asked Beatrice.

"No, of course he and Mycroft know," said Belle.

"Beatrice, you remember Sherlock?," asked Rumplestiltskin.

"Uh, yeah," said Beatrice. She got up. "Do I have a closet?"

"What are you doing?," asked Rumplestiltskin.

"I'm getting dressed so I can see Sherlock. One of these days a TARDIS is going to show up, people."

"The wardrobe is over there," said Belle.

She walked away.

Belle looked to Rumplestiltskin. "She remembers him. That's something."

"I suppose so."

Belle smiled. "You'll always be her papa. She just has other interests now."

He grimaced.

"If you're thinking of the woman, you ought to remember he saved her life," said Belle.

"He should never have put her in danger-"

"Guys!," Beatrice called from the closet. "Is there an index in here or something?!"


Reinette hated the Far North Kingdom.

It was cold. Her sole friend at present was a snowman. Her brothers and their families had just managed to escape from Padua in the first few months of their exile, but that was about the only highlight. Reinette had no magic, at least none that she could access. She was a disappointment as an Ice Princess and Merlin had enlisted a former fairy to help her mother regain her powers. Then he said he had invited her to stay on.

Her mother and father were amenable to it as always. They seemed to trust Merlin.

Reinette could not stand him.

Reinette came into the sitting room. She found Merlin sitting across from a blonde woman holding a staff. A small black unicorn stood at her side as Olaf teased the creature with his nose.

"I had no idea you had taken up breeding unicorns," said Merlin.

"I find animals to be soothing," said the blonde. "Comforting."

"Perhaps Zelena ought to take it up," said Merlin.

"I wouldn't subject any creature to her affection," said the woman. "It's alright, dear. You can come out from the shadows."

Reinette stepped out of the doorway.

"Meet Reinette, Heiress to the Far North Kingdom. Reinette, this is Maleficent."

"No need to stand there like a statue, dear," said Maleficent. "Sit. Talk."

Reinette sat across from the two sorcerers and made a cup of tea.

"Does King Leopold know of Zelena?," asked Merlin.

"Which one?"

"The elder."

"He does, though she is seen as more of an angel than you described. He even sent for the Blue Fairy to save her from the ice."

"How is the blue tart?"

"On the run." Maleficent turned to Reinette. "You took the blame for that as well."

"How?," asked Reinette.

"Well, your ice magic was so strong the Blue Fairy had to flee to save her life," Maleficent said in a fey voice. "Anyone who knows anything knows it was Zelena. She's powerful even as the ice kills her."

"The ice?," asked Reinette.

"Yes, it doesn't seem to have the same speedy effect in her as it does in others," said Merlin.

"Oh, speaking of speedy effects, did you know Princess Zelena was born three months early and miraculously the child bore no ill effects?," asked Maleficent.

Merlin smiled.

"The king cannot be so foolish," said Reinette.

"It is adorable that you think that," said Maleficent. "So young and fresh faced. You remind me of the girl I put under a sleeping curse."

Reinette sat quietly, taken aback as the sorceress continued on discussions of this and that. Olaf rode the unicorn out of the room.

"What of our mutual friend?," asked Merlin.

"I invited him to join us," said Maleficent.

Reinette stood to pour herself another cup of tea. Merlin brought by the strangest people and she was not terribly pleased by the prospect of another one.

"And did he give you any indication that he would be joining us?"

"Well, I'd hate to be predictable!," a shrill voice cried with a little laugh.

Startled Reinette turned to see from whom the voice had come. She saw a strange man clad in dragon hide, his own skin covered in scales like a reptile, in the oddest color and the strangest eyes she had ever seen.

She dropped her teacup.

"You really ought to be more careful," he said sharply.

Maleficent groaned audibly. "Your tricks grow tiresome."

"So does your face, dearie, but I haven't mentioned it."

Merlin, however, was pleased. He smiled his incomprehensible smile.

"Welcome to the Far North Kingdom, sunshine."

"I don't plan to stay long."

"Well, we're certainly going to see about that, won't we?" He stood. "Follow me, sunshine."

The men left. Reinette turned to Maleficent.

"Who is that?," she asked.

Maleficent mouth curved into a smile as Olaf returned with her unicorn and dismounted. She patted the animal's muzzle.

"Why, dear, that's the Dark One."

"Really?," asked Olaf. "I've heard he makes great pancakes."


Catherine stood outside the ice palace appraising her new expansion.

"I think it needs more turrets," said Alec.

"You're all too fond of turrets."

"You were quite insistent upon my mother having one."

"We were all insistent upon that," said Catherine.

"Still, good to have everyone safe here," said Alec.

Catherine smiled ruefully at her husband. She squeezed his hand. "I know it pained you to leave your land behind."

"As I know it once pained you to leave your land behind. Seems fair enough that it's my turn, but tell you what, we'll spend the next thirty years here and then go back to Padua."

Catherine smiled. "Assuming we can deal with Queen Cora. She's already taken over the dwarf mines, control over the fairies won't be far behind."

Olaf bounced outside into the courtyard.

"Ah, Olaf, what was all the commotion?," asked Alec.

The snowman came over. "Oh, nothing. Just the Dark One."

"The Dark One?," asked Catherine.

Alec looked at his wife. "Should we introduce ourselves?"

"Oh, and say what? So glad you're here to be the father of our great-granddaughter? We'll call you down when our granddaughter is born."

"I thought he was Beatrice's father," said Olaf.

Catherine sighed. "Olaf..."

"Beatrice hasn't been born yet. We absolutely cannot let him know that she will be," said Alec.

"It seems like he's going to find out," said Olaf.

"Well, eventually, yes," said Alec. "Just in the meantime, play it cool."

"You want me to play it cool? Guys, I'm a snowman."

"Of course."

"When do you think he's going to make breakfast?," asked Olaf.

"Olaf, you don't eat," said Catherine.

"Okay."


Rumplestiltskin followed Merlin into the deep recesses of the Ice Palace. He outlined the general idea of what he had been up to since Princess Eva's death.

Rumplestiltskin didn't care about that.

"I've managed to restore Catherine's powers," Merlin continued. "Reinette is not as talented as I may have hoped or even expected. It's difficult to catch on at her age."

"Maleficent said you have a proposition," said Rumplestiltskin, rolling his eyes.

"What is it?"

"You have been seeing the future for some time now. You must know it's changed."

"Cora's daughter is still powerful enough-"

"That's not the point. The point is if she's motivated enough to cast your Dark Curse." Merlin poured the tea and handed the cup to Rumplestiltskin. "Or if she can be trusted to do so, especially with her mother's new advisor. I think she's very likely to give you the cold shoulder, sunshine and not just because she's made of bloody ice."

"It doesn't exactly sound like your Reinette is a great sorceress."

"Of course not, but she will have a daughter who will be quite important to you."

"In what way?"

"For many generations, I have been cultivating a line of True Love."

Rumplestiltskin snorted. "When you're not harassing me?"

"You see, things have not worked out as they should. You know it. You can feel it. Until Cora's firstborn daughter is defeated, Baelfire and the Land Without Magic is closed off to you. The only hope is Reinette's granddaughter."

"Her granddaughter?"

Merlin nodded. "She is to be a powerful sorceress. However, that child and more immediately her mother will never be born if you can't find Reinette's True Love."

"Her True Love?" Rumplestiltskin contorted his face in disgust. "You brought me all the way here to play matchmaker?"

"Must we play this game?"

"What game?"

"I know you, Rumplestiltskin. I know who you are. I know what lies beneath the dark necrotic layers of your heart. I know what you're capable of and I know you want to see your son again. Is the Dark One so above playing matchmaker that he would throw away his only chance?"


Beatrice found that she had a huge closet. The space in it rivalled the studio apartment she and Belle had shared in Manhattan when she was a toddler. Her father gave her the tour, there were about a million dresses and he pointed her towards the selections suitable for court. She chose a lilac one with lacy sleeves and a satin skirt.

"Beatrice, I realize you may not remember much, but I just want to caution you that your affliction is not widely known."

"The parallel universe thing?"

"As you call it."

"Well, seriously, not like it's important to anyone, right? Just me."

He frowned at her. Beatrice then turned to see a line of people waiting.

"Your Highness!," began the clamor.

Beatrice turned to see a crowd of people bowing, clamoring, trying to thrust scrolls at her. She looked at Rumplestiltskin helplessly.

"Alright, dearies, that's enough!," Rumplestiltskin snapped in a high voice. He took Beatrice's hand again. "The Dark Princess isn't taking any requests today so your groveling is just going to have to wait!"

This seemed to quell the petitioners.

She walked into the next room which turned out to be a throne room.

Where her mom was sitting.

Belle smiled at them. "Beatrice, Rumple. You're just in time."

"Oh?," asked Rumplestiltskin.

"I need someone who knows about sheep," said Belle.

Rumplestiltskin let go of Beatrice's hand in front of a chair at a lower position on the dais. She didn't sit as he walked towards the petitioners.

"That's not one of the areas of expertise you call on often."

"Oh. Ought I call another expert in sheep?," Belle asked playfully.

Rumplestiltskin snorted with disapproval. "Alright, what seems to be the bother?"

Belle glanced over at Beatrice. "Sweetheart, sit."

"Oh, on the throne," said Beatrice. "Right..."

Beatrice slowly sat. The peasants began their tale. It seemed to have Rumplestiltskin's interest though there was something about counting sheep and a shared fence.

"What do you think, poppet?," he asked Belle.

"Whatever you advise."

Rumplestiltskin turned to the peasants. "If you can't separate your flocks, combine them. Split the proceeds accordingly and everyone prospers. Better than all this petty fighting."

The peasants thanked him with no hint of resentment- something that surprised Beatrice- and left. Zazu entered.

"Sir Mycroft Holmes and Sherlock Holmes."

Beatrice looked up to see a portly man walk in who she thought looked like an older version of Henry's friend, Mike Foley.

He was followed by Joseph.

Beatrice's face dropped. "What?"

"Sir Mycroft," said Belle. "Sherlock."

"Your Highnesses," said Mycroft, bowing his head once at Belle, once at Beatrice. Joseph did the same.

Beatrice waved her hand again. "I'm sorry, what?"

Belle and Rumplestiltskin glanced between each other.

"Zazu," said Belle, "would you clear the room?"

The majordomo led out the other visitors and shut the ice doors as he exited.

"You've had one of your visions, haven't you?," asked Joseph. "I thought I could tell by the way you're holding your hands."

"Hold up just a minute," said Beatrice. "You're Sherlock Holmes? You're Sherlock Holmes and you never bothered to mention it?"

"I believe I mentioned it when we first met. I was six, you were three-" he began.

"Beatrice," said Belle, "what are you talking about? Sherlock's never been in one of your visions before."

"No, he was and he was called Joseph." She turned back to Joseph/Sherlock. "And you were from London where you liked solving crimes for fun and you..."

"I what?"

Beatrice's face fell as she thought her way through the other details. "You played the violin and you had the hat and you just told me you had a brother named John who I am willing to lay money has the last name Watson." She shook her head. "Are you people kidding me? I mean..."

Belle and Rumplestiltskin exchanged looks of concern.

"So, in the Land Without Magic, I'm just another fairy tale character?," asked Sherlock.

"Oh my God, Sherlolly is not happening."

"Sherlolly?"

"I know she's not canon, but..." Beatrice paused. "Okay, I'm going to run some names by you guys. Lestrade?"

"No."

"Mrs. Hudson?"

Silence.

"Moriarty."

Again, silence.

"Great. We don't have to worry about that. Irene Adler."

Rumplestiltskin pointed in the affirmative at Sherlock.

"Oh, seriously?," asked Beatrice.

"As much as I would love to revisit one of my brother's less inspiring episodes," Mycroft began, "I wonder if your highness has discovered the way to defeat the Green Queen?"

"Green Queen? Seriously, is that what we're calling her?," asked Beatrice. She paused. "Oh, is she green here?"

"Rolls off the tongue, don't you think?," asked Rumplestiltskin.

"No, Mycroft Holmes, I did not have the answer to defeating the Wicked Witch of the West," she said, thinking it one of the more ludicrous sentences she had to utter. "It was more losing hence we're here... Wibbly wobbly timey wimey."

"We'll put that aside for now. What did you come to tell us, Sir Mycroft?," asked Belle.

Mycroft turned to Sherlock. "My brother has news of the Queen's plans."

The younger Holmes brother stepped forward.

"For some reason, Zelena is determined to hasten her plans. The Queen's army is gathering at the southern frontier, my sources inside her palace say she's hoping to stage an assault from there."

"Your Majesty, we need to strengthen our defenses in that area," said Mycroft.

"Then I should travel there," said Belle.

Rumplestiltskin snorted. "I don't think so."

Belle turned to her right to shoot him a look. "I do."

"Beatrice has never had a vision of Zelena before and now she has. This is the moment the Queen chooses to launch an assault?"

"I can't leave the people there defenseless." Belle turned back to Mycroft. "When should I leave?"

"The sooner the better, Your Highness, though I would like to point something out if you would permit it."

"Of course, Sir Mycroft."

"The Dark Princess' visions have made her unavailable to the people. She's soon to enter the age of her majority. The people want to see her and her absence gives rise to rumors and doubts."

"Sorry, people want to see me?," asked Beatrice. "Seriously?"

The others turned to stare at Beatrice.

"Yeah, I'm just going to shut up for now," said Beatrice.

Belle turned to her. "You should come with me."

"I don't think so!," Rumplestiltskin said.

"With our powers combined, we can make the frontier all that much stronger." She looked back at Mycroft. "The people can see her on our progress south."

Mycroft bowed his head. "As you wish, Your Highness."


Rumplestiltskin could not say that he hated the Far North Kingdom.

Indeed, it was a pleasant, if chilly land. Alec and Catherine made pleasant company, though he thought it curious he had encountered the former Duke once back at the Dark Castle. Maleficent and the snowman were even tolerable from time to time, though he still didn't know what a pancake was. Most days he sat in the ice turret that had been made for him in the castle and tried all of the spells and visions he could think of to find Reinette's True Love.

The girl spun and wove. It was an occupation for a noble lady, not meant to be done to exhaustion as Rumple once had. Still, the girl took the task seriously and he could always find something to talk about with a fellow tradesman.

"Who taught you to spin?," he asked, watching as she sat at the wheel again. "Your mother doesn't strike me as the spinning type."

"Indeed not," said Reinette, eyes never moving from the wheel. "I learned from a woman in the village in Padua."

"She taught you well."

"Who taught you?," asked Reinette, glancing up.

Rumplestiltskin pointed back down at the wheel. "Eyes. I learned from two spinsters who took me in when I was a boy."

She frowned. "Your parents sent you away?"

"They did far more than that."

"Was it because of your curse?"

He paused. "My curse came later."

"Could you spin straw into gold when you started?"

"No, that came later. Focus on the spinning."

"Then how do you do it?"

"Not for you to worry about, dearie." He sat down as Reinette resumed her task. "No other hobbies in Padua?"

"I've always been fond of music. I sing. I play the piano, the harp, the violin."

"No other interests?"

She scowled. "Are you going to interrogate me like Merlin?"

"Ought I?"

"I can answer you now. I have no magic. We've all seen my feeble attempts at ice. I should never have been here."

"All children born of True Love have some magic."

She sighed. "And what is that?"

"A monster wouldn't know."

"Are all children not born of love?"

"No and even if we lived in such a happy world, they would not all be born of True Love."

"You think me a fool, don't you?"

"No, dearie," Rumplestiltskin answered carefully. "I think you too fortunate to know what it is to not be loved."

"And you did?"

"I'm a beast, remember?"

"That's not an answer."

Merlin entered. He spotted the spinning wheel and immediately rolled his eyes.

Reinette glared back. "Do you wish to again tell me how I am wasting my time?"

"No, I'm sure as Ice Princess there will be a great need to spin wool."

"I never wanted to be Ice Princess anyway."

"Well, you are."

"Must we do this again?," Rumplestiltskin asked.

Merlin now turned his attention to the Dark One. "Remind me. Did I not ask you to do something?"

"These things take time."

"Oh, the Dark One needs time, does he? Well, time you have, sunshine. Time you have." He looked back at Reinette. "Come. There are other matters to attend to."

Merlin left without awaiting Reinette's answer.

"I hate that man," said Reinette.

Rumplestiltskin snorted. "Join the club, dearie."

Reinette left and Rumplestiltskin wondered how he was ever to find the girl's True Love.

Then he realized there might be a fairy amenable to making a deal.


Beatrice sat through the other visitors, trying to not look out of place. When the business of the day was done, she finally excused herself and spotted her great-grandparents.

"Catherine! Alec!"

Beatrice rushed over, slipping slightly so that Alec managed to catch her wrists and take her in a hug.

"One of those days, is it?," asked Catherine.

Beatrice stepped back.

Catherine sighed. "This is usually the bit where you try to hide how old you think we've gotten."

"I was trying not to say anything."

"That was over fifty years ago."

"So," said Beatrice, "maybe you can clue me in on some things."

"Such as?," asked Alec.

She leaned in. "Sherlock Holmes is my boyfriend?"

"He's a bit more than that," said Catherine.

"What do you mean?," asked Beatrice.

They eyed each other.

"What?," she repeated.

"Well, he's your True Love," said Alec.

"What?!"

"It was proven," said Catherine.

"What?"

"Is that all you say?," asked Catherine.

"Do you not know him as another fairy tale character?," asked Alec.

"No, just as the greatest detective in literature and a TV show- BBC definitely not CBS- and a bunch of movies and preferably played by Benedict Cumberbatch-"

"What's a Benedict Cumberbatch?"

Beatrice shook her head. "It's hard to explain."

"Beatrice..." said Catherine.

"I mean, where do you even start?"

"No, behind you," said Catherine.

Beatrice turned to see Joseph.

Or rather Sherlock.

"Your Highness, Your Grace," he said, nodding his head at Catherine and Alec.

"Sherlock," said Alec.

"I was wondering if Beatrice might like to join me in the courtyard."

Beatrice didn't answer. Catherine nudged her.

"Yeah, sure."

She started to follow him out.

"Beatrice..." said Catherine.

Beatrice stopped and turned. "What?"

"Change your frock."

"To go outside?"

Catherine didn't answer which Beatrice took as a yes.

"Okay, so we've got Downton Abbey mixed in or something. That's just great." She looked at Sherlock. "So, I guess I'll be back."


Tinker Bell had been resistant to the idea of the first, asking aloud why she would betray the Blue Fairy's trust like that, stealing from the now dwindling supplies of pixie dust. Cora had the mines at work for her now and the magic in them would be used to her ends.

Then the fairy arrived one day and took her full size as she handed Rumplestiltskin the little sack.

"What changed your mind, dearie?," he asked.

"The Blue Fairy and most of the others..." she said, biting back tears. "They're gone."

The news surprised Rumplestiltskin, but it didn't sadden him. He went to his work table and began examining the dust. "How?"

"Cora's ice woman. She made dark fairy dust. I managed to escape."

Rumplestiltskin thought on how much he would have liked to have been the one to put an end to his least favorite fairy, but certain things had to be in place.

"This girl, Reinette's granddaughter. She's the only hope to stop this?"

"Merlin certainly believes so," said Rumplestiltskin, pouring the dust in a vial.

"Then I want to help," said Tink. "I just hope there's something left of this realm to save by the time she's born."

Rumplestiltskin didn't answer. He had rather hoped the fairy would buzz off, but she remained.

"You're making a potion?," she asked.

"Yes."

"I've never seen Dark Magic before."

Ignoring her, Rumplestiltskin took a hair of Reinette's he had found on the floor and combined it with the potion. He went to the window and threw it out, watching as it coalesced and floated to a lower floor of the castle.

"Her True Love. He's here?," asked Tink.

Rumplestiltskin teleported himself and the fairy flew down to the room that now glowed with magic.

Rumplestiltskin found Merlin.

The wizard looked up at him.

"Do you not see I'm trying to read?," asked Merlin.

Tinker Bell arrived and stared slack-jawed.

"No..." she said. "Him?"

"I was thinking the same thing," said Rumplestiltskin.

Merlin snapped his book shut.

"I only had twenty pages left, but that's just fine. I suppose I didn't really need to know the ending. It doesn't matter if I have a payoff to the previous four hundred pages. What do you two want and why is the room glowing?"

Neither answered.

"Any day now, sunshine."

It mattered not to Rumplestiltskin because if Reinette had to fall for Merlin so they could have a daughter and that daughter could get him to his boy, that is what he would make happen.

He would have his son again.


Beatrice walked into the courtyard. She spotted Sherlock past the servants.

He didn't even look up from the bench.

"When you're yourself, you have your hands in your lap because that's what your grandmother taught you. Actually, to be fair, she was irritating on the subject. When you've had visions of the other life, your hands sit on the edge of your chair." He finally glanced up. "You were going to ask."

"Actually that is pretty far back in my questions at the moment."

"I would explain everything but it gets boring."

"Right, yeah and you're..." She shook her head. "How many times have we done this?"

"Twenty over the past year."

"Twenty?"

"You have always had an intuition about the other side. It's come out in stories and drawings, peculiar requests as a child. Since the sleeping curse the episodes have become more acute and focused. They have also been accompanied by this temporary memory loss."

"Crazy my whole life. That figures."

"And you met me in the latest vision?"

"Yeah, some stuff happened..." She walked closer. "I know it's boring, but how much has happened with us here?"

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Okay, if you don't know, then..." She paused. "So, Irene Adler?"

"We're not discussing that again." He turned. "You know the Queen has spies everywhere."

"I thought just my family knew."

"She has her methods as I have mine. They'll find out that you've had the final vision."

"That was my life," said Beatrice. "Okay? It's been screwed up."

"Yes, it must seem that way."

"Where's my time travel box thing?"

"Safe," he answered curtly.

"That's not an answer. I know where it went wrong, I can fix it-"

"You know what your father and grandfather have known since it happened," said Sherlock. "It's not merely going back, it's knowing how to defeat the Green Queen and as you still don't, well, there's not really much point in that, is there?"

Beatrice grew annoyed. "I'm not an idiot."

"Yet you're so attached to a former life where you were nothing but hounded and persecuted by morons," he snapped again.

"It was my life," she said simply.

Beatrice stood up and started walking back towards the doors.

"Where are you going?," asked Sherlock.

"Oh, just deduce it!"

Beatrice stomped inside to find her father.

"Shall I turn him into a toad until he learns to behave?," he asked.

"I screwed up."

Rumplestiltskin shook his head. "What do you mean, sweetheart? Come here."

She soon found herself in the imp's embrace.

"Now," he crooned, "what could my Beatrice have done?"

"I didn't figure out another way to fight Zelena. I got myself scattered in time. Eva died. Snow, Emma and Henry were never born. I- do I have a dog?"

"No, sweetheart."

She threw an arm up in exhaustion at the total loss of her former life. "My dog was never born."

"You're tired, sweetheart. Time for you to go back to bed. We've a long journey ahead of us tomorrow and when you remember more, you'll feel better."

Rumplestiltskin led her upstairs and Beatrice pondered the worst thing of all, the one she hadn't mentioned.

Because she hadn't done better, her father had never found his son.