Author's Notes: I do not own Once Upon A Time which is a show on ABC where pirates do dumb things. I also do not own Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia or anything else I've borrowed lately. Thanks for the reads and reviews. I'll get back to you soon. Please let me know what you think and happy reading!


Now

School.

School...

It had to be said that the people of the Enchanted Forest didn't exactly take education that seriously. Beatrice could only assume that this was because when they had a problem they just went to a sorcerer, asked for a magical solution and didn't bother to read the contract.

The Wicked Witch's machinations had led to quite a bit of disruption in the school schedule, Beatrice's more than most.

"Okay, class," said Mrs. Edwards, "it's time to revisit 'The Great Gatsby.'"

Beatrice stopped short of banging her head on the desk. She could swear they had been reading this book since January.

"What are the themes?"

The class began shooting answers out, half of them right. Not that Mrs. Edwards would ever stop them from spouting out stupid ideas.

She put her iPad on its case to hold it up so she could safely open Tumblr and instead was confronted by iMessage.

Where are you? - JG

School.

What are you there for?

Education supposedly.

Cut out.

No chance.

Emma called me for a thing.

Go do the thing then.


Then

Mayor Regina Mills stared at the Storybrooke Library as the banner went up.

STORYBROOKE PUBLIC LIBRARY. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. OPEN SOON.

Regina had never given the library much thought. She had never been one for books and stories. Cora's brand of child rearing did not involve false hope and so Regina had never acquired a taste for tales of knights and fair maidens. Storybrooke's Library was a perfect statement on hope. Dusty, decaying, locked with a dragon at the bottom.

Then someone had tossed a brick through the window. Graham had been too preoccupied to catch the culprit. Regina tried to placate the peasants' rabble at the town meeting, but Isabelle Gold had stood and suggested that perhaps no one would feel the need to throw a brick through the library window if it were actually open.

Damn that bookworm.

Regina had hoped to dissuade the townspeople with talk of budget and no one to run it. She had thought Isabelle would do what all people did in this town when they had a spark of an idea: give up, never start or get into a car accident on the way out of town. That was not to be. Isabelle Gold had shown up at the next town meeting with a plan of action, a budget based on donations and proceeds from renting some of the space out and she herself would work for a pittance. No one wanted to risk offending Mr. Gold by rejecting his wife's plan. Regina looked cruel and petty if she didn't agree. Not even one of Sidney's hatchet jobs against Mrs. Gold could change public opinion.

Then there was the girl.

She was growing. When she first noticed, Regina had assumed it was a fluke or something Rumplestiltskin snuck into the Curse under her nose. No matter. She had all the time in the world to find out.

Then the library.

She was awake. If she was awake, Gold was awake and that could not mean anything good.

And the girl. Regina had to watch as Rumplestiltskin and his harlot raised their girl.

This morning the girl was at the library with her mother. Regina walked in upon the scene. Belle was standing behind a new counter as her daughter sat on the floor with a pile of story books.

"Beatrice," said Belle, "I was hoping you'd take those books into the other room for me."

"So careless with town property?," Regina asked, cutting through the sweet mother-daughter atmosphere.

"Madame Mayor," said Belle. "I wasn't expecting you, but I wouldn't say she's careless. She's still training, but she's the best employee I can get with the library's budget."

"You wanted the job, dear."

"Yes, I did," said Belle. She picked up the day's paper off the circulation desk. "Another nice article on me by Sidney."

"You're in the public eye. It comes with the territory."

"My hospital records?"

"Do you have something to say, dear?"

"Yes. The opening party is on Saturday." Belle turned to Beatrice with outstretched arms. "Come on. We're meeting Daddy for lunch at Granny's."

Regina left and watched as mother and daughter met Gold outside Granny's.

If Gold was awake, he hadn't tried anything. What was that imp playing at? He must have a plan.

Then the impossible occurred to Regina.

Maybe he was happy. Maybe he hadn't done anything because he didn't need to. Maybe his love and their little brat actually made him happy. It certainly seemed that way as he greeted them. Hugs and kisses. If only the little brat knew what her father for the imp he really was.

Maybe she could be happy.

She watched as Beatrice took Gold's free hand, all love and admiration in her face.

She would be happy.


Now

The thing was at the hospital and the thing was actually a woman nobody knew. The dwarfs had phone her in the forest on their morning patrol and brought her in. Emma and David had called Joseph.

He wasn't getting anything from his examination of her hands or red hair. He looked up at Whale. "Where are her belongings?"

"In that bag."

Joseph picked up the plastic bag and dumped it out on the empty bed. He looked through the curious clothing and found nothing else. No money. No jewelry. Nothing to say who this woman was or what her plans were. He fished through them, picking them up to even smell them.

David and Emma exchanged wary looks, then looked back at Joseph.

"Are you getting something from smelling that woman's clothes?," asked Emma. "Because if you're not, it's weird."

"She's not from here."

"Yeah, nobody recognizes her," said David. "She must be from out of town."

"Very out of town, I should think."

They looked at him inquisitively.

"Did you suppose this was a costume? That she got lost running home from the Renaissance Fair?" He held up the dress. "Pre-industrial fabrics. Natural dyes. Hand stitched, but good stitching, meaning it was done by a professional. She paid someone, which means she must have money wherever she's from."

Emma crossed her arms. "How do you know she didn't sew them?"

Joseph smiled. "Her hands. No calluses, manicured nails, hands that aren't used. The smell is from a natural remedy. A mixture of lavender water, beeswax and hog's lard."

Emma scrunched up her nose. "Ew."

"No burns on her arms or wrists which suggests she wasn't the one to make the lotion, suggesting again she paid someone. Wherever she's from, she is a woman of significance. Her shoes. Her hair. Should I keep going?"

"No. Thanks, Joseph." Emma began to turn away.

"You couldn't possibly be done with me."

Emma and David turned back.

"Well, we know she wandered into town and passed out... Maybe someone saw something."

"Sadly I don't have much faith in your potential witness list, all of whom failed to notify anyone when they saw a pillar of fire or a witch flying away on a broom."

"I get that you want to help, but David and I have this thing covered."

"Yes, with a one-handed pirate as backup. Not impressed. Besides, isn't most of your investigative technique going to Gold or Regina and accusing them?"

"Joseph, we've got this."

"Emma, can I talk to you?"

Emma looked at David in shock.

"I'll wait," said Joseph.

David took Emma in the hall.

"Dad, we've got this."

"Look, I hate to admit it, but he's right. He's better at this than us. Mary Margaret says he picked out Zelena the minute he saw her."

"You cannot be serious! I'm Sheriff."

"And you can still be sheriff, but Emma, even David Nolan knew who Sherlock Holmes was. It seems stupid to not have him help us."

Emma nodded. She and David walked back in the room.

"I'll take the case. Afternoon."

Joseph walked out leaving Emma in a state of confusion.

"What the hell just happened?"


Then

Regina entered the library carrying the cupcakes. She took a quick look around the room. It was a small crowd, but about as good as could be expected. Gold wasn't there. Belle was talking to Mary Margaret and Archie. Colin Avalon was in the corner desperately trying to ward off Mother Superior. Regina couldn't exactly blame him for that. Another glance revealed the nanny was in a corner talking to her boyfriend.

Beatrice was sitting alone behind the circulation desk, spinning in a chair.

"Hello, Miss Gold."

Beatrice stopped spinning and looked up at Regina.

"Hi..."

Regina put her dessert down on the desk next to the rest of the offerings.

"Do you like cupcakes?"

A quick glance confirmed Regina definitely had Beatrice's attention. She pulled the special one from the frosted confections and held it in front of Beatrice.

"Caramel apple..." Regina teased.

Beatrice held her hands out. "Please?"

"Why of course, Miss Gold," said Regina placing it in her outstretched palms.

"Thank you." Beatrice waited only a second before putting her mouth on the frosting.

Regina turned away. Children could be rather disgusting. She would have to teach hers better manners.


Now

The consultant would be arriving any moment. Beatrice rushed to get in a quick call to Joseph as she stood in the living room.

"You have a case?," asked Beatrice. "How did you get a case? Did a serial killer come to Storybrooke?"

"What a cheery thought, but no. I'm doing a bit of work for the sheriff."

"You're working for Emma? Doing what?"

"Consulting Detective."

"Right, did Emma say that or did you make that up because you've never bothered reading your own book?"

Beatrice turned around. Her parents appeared to be over thinking the living room. Belle was rearranging throw pillows and Gold was placing the tea service.

"How's your consulting admissions woman?"

"Hasn't shown up yet..." She watched her parents fuss another minute. "I'm going to call you back."

Beatrice hung up the phone. "Guys, what are we doing here?"

"We just want to make a good impression, sweetheart," said Belle.

"She's an admissions consultant. I don't think she cares about tea."

Belle looked at Gold. "What if she wants coffee?"

"I'll start a pot," said Gold.

The doorbell rang.

"Okay, well, last call to be normal, guys," said Beatrice.


Then

"Well," said Belle, "I'd say that was a success."

Gold smiled as she took off her robe and crawled under the covers to rest against him. Getting anything done in Storybrooke was never easy, Regina's Curse made it to crush dreams, but Belle had succeeded.

"I don't think Regina looked pleased," Belle admitted.

"That's due to me, sweetheart. She wanted something, I wouldn't get it for her."

Belle frowned. "What?"

"A child."

"What?"

"Yes, my response was much the same."

Belle eyed him. "She wanted you to..."

"Arrange an adoption. Don't worry, sweetheart. That's the one complex Regina has never had."

"And you wouldn't do it?"

"I insinuated there was nothing I could do. It wouldn't look very good for Mr. Gold to be uninterested in a deal." He looked at her and began to run his on her shoulder to under the strap of her nightgown. "I wonder if I might make a deal with you, Mrs. Gold."

"Oh, what sort of deal did you have in mind, Mr. Gold?"

The door creaked open. Gold sighed as they turned towards the door.

"Beatrice," said Belle. "What's is it?"

The girl walked in, her dark hair a mess from restless sleep. "My head hurts."

"It does?," asked Belle. Beatrice nodded. "Well, come get in bed with Mommy and Daddy."

Beatrice climbed up. Gold fleetingly thought she looked a little unsteady on her feet. She crawled between them.

"You're not hot," said Belle. "Does anything else feel bad?"

"No."

"No?" Belle cuddled Beatrice and looked up at Gold. "I think we have some children's Tylenol in the medicine cabinet."

"Of course."

Gold quickly got the medicine, gave it to Beatrice and laid back down with his family.


Now

Beatrice had at least enough knowledge of the outside world to know that she and her family didn't look right from the outside. She had confirmed this in Boston where showing a random shot on her phone of her family had people going, "Your sister's so pretty." Years of the Curse had meant Belle hadn't aged, but Beatrice had and it was impossible to believe she was her mother. Beatrice saw it on Ms. Stein's face the minute she came in the pink Victorian, but she didn't say anything which Beatrice guessed had something to do with her fee.

It had started out simply enough. Ms. Stein asked her parents some background questions and they told their cursed stories. Then it had turned to Beatrice and she had talked for a while about school and her eventual college interest, theoretical physics. Gold made some offhand comment about how his Beatrice understood things he didn't have a hope of comprehending and led Belle into a discussion of the summer nights when the three of them would go up to the cabin because Beatrice loved stargazing.

Then Belle didn't stop. As convinced as her father was that Beatrice was the greatest- on equal ground with Bae, really, though the reasons were entirely different- Belle was more convinced. Ms. Stein was forced to sit politely as Belle went on about Beatrice and her accomplishments and how proud they were of her.

"Mom," said Beatrice. "No one cares if I could read when I was three."

Belle looked across the coffee table apologetically at the woman.

"I'm sorry. We're just a bit anxious about this whole process." Belle squeezed Beatrice's hand. "We just want to make sure we're doing everything right."

"Well, this is a very ambitious list of schools," Stein mused. "Did you have in mind any safety schools?"

"Safety schools?," asked Gold.

"Just in case. It never fails to have a backup plan. Some of these schools value pedigree and I can't seem to find anything about Storybrooke High School. There wasn't even a website."

"Yeah, their IT guys are practically from the middle ages," said Beatrice.

"I'm sure this can all be dealt with if you could just tell me what your special talent is."

Many things went through Beatrice's mind. Ice palaces. Broom flying. Time travel. Doctor Who references. Musical references. Kissing Sherlock Holmes. Of course they all died on her tongue as she realized in no way would these be acceptable.

"What do you mean special talent?" Gold finished the question with a mocking hand wave, signalling to Belle and Beatrice that he was about finished with this whole process.

"Well, I have some students I've worked with that have written novels, built schools, won the Intel science prize, a couple of probably Olympians. It doesn't have to be so grand, but showing a long-term interest in a hobby or community project would be a start. Do you have anything like that, Beatrice?"

"Not so much..."

"I'm sure you'll think of something," said Ms. Stein. "In the meantime, work on those essays and buy those SAT II study guides."

She stood. Belle led her to the door, thanking her for her time as Beatrice leaned back on the couch.


Then

When Gold awoke the next morning, Beatrice was still snuggled between he and Belle. As he stirred, there was a knock on the door.

"Mr. and Mrs. Gold?"

Belle stirred. "It's alright, Pamela. Beatrice is with us."

The nanny tentatively opened the door. "I'm so sorry she disturbed you."

"We were hardly disturbed," said Gold. Years later and the nanny still seemed to fear her employer's wrath.

Belle smiled. "Beatrice had a bit of a headache."

Just then, the topic in question stirred with a groan.

"Oh, what's wrong, baby? Does your head still hurt?," asked Belle.

Beatrice nodded.

"Would you like Miss Lyndon to make you some breakfast?," asked Gold. "I think it might help."

Beatrice shook her head as Belle felt her forehead again. "My eyes are fuzzy..." she moaned.

"Fuzzy?," asked Belle.

"You're all blurry," said Beatrice.

Belle looked at Gold in alarm.

"We'll take her to the doctor," said Gold.


Now

Belle gathered up the tea things. Gold waited until Ms. Stein was securely in her car and driving away.

"Who the hell hired her?," asked Gold, looking at Pamela.

"She came highly recommended," said Pamela.

"Yes, well, perhaps we should employ someone who will actually do what we want."

"She's paid to help, Rumple," said Belle.

"She said our daughter wasn't special enough," he seethed.

Beatrice laid her head back on the couch. "Sort of right."

"Rumple, she didn't say it was impossible. Beatrice just needs something to distinguish herself if she really wants to go to that school," said Belle. "Seven point eight percent acceptance rate."

"And I can't put time-traveling sorceress on the application."

Belle spoke again. "This is what everyone in this world goes through. We're just going to have to deal with it." She looked back at Beatrice. "And in no way are you not special enough. Any school would be lucky to have you."

Beatrice grumbled. Belle ignored her and looked at Gold.

"Dinner?"

"Too late to start the lamb I think," he remarked. "Mushu's?"

Beatrice nodded. Gold leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.


Then

Gold and Belle watched anxiously as Doctor Whale looked at Beatrice. Pamela stood a respectful distance on the other side of the exam room.

On the one hand, Gold missed magic at times like this. With a wave of his hand, the Dark One could have taken care of anything that befell his princess. On the other hand, he could still remember being the spinner all those years ago and when Bae would get a cough in the winters, he would nurse him for nights on end and pray to any god who would hear him that this wasn't the end of his son. Beatrice's coughs merely involved a trip to the Dark Star Pharmacy and at worst a trip to the pediatrician. The Land Without Magic had the Enchanted Forest beat on that count. Still, it pained him to see his daughter ill, that would never change.

"Ow..." Beatrice cried as Doctor Whale shone a light in her eye again.

"Is that enough?," asked Belle.

Whale put the light down. "I'd like to admit her and run a series of tests."

Gold gripped his cane. "What sort of tests?"

"A series of vision tests, an MRI to rule out any tumors-"

"What do you mean tumors?"

Beatrice looked up at Belle pitifully. "I want to go home..."

"I know, baby," said Belle, taking her up in her arms.

"It could just be an optic neuritis," Whale offered. "We need to rule out other more serious conditions."

Gold was scared. Seriously scared. Whale was tossing out words like "tumor" and "condition."

"How long will she have to stay?," asked Belle.

"At least overnight, Mrs. Gold. Better safe than sorry. I'll send a nurse to begin admitting Beatrice to the ward."

Whale walking out, a deep-seated uncertainty in his wake.

Belle cut through the tension first. "Pamela, would you mind making a quick run home to get Beatrice's jammies and maybe some books? You know what she likes."

"Yes, Mrs. Gold."

"I want to go home!," Beatrice cried. Gold knew Beatrice wasn't much of a tantrum thrower, but she was anxious and she was clever. A night in a strange place was the last thing she wanted.

"Mommy will stay with you, okay?"


Now

"Spare a buck?"

Beatrice looked down. There was a homeless man with a ragged beard sitting on the sidewalk.

"Uh..."

"It's me," he whispered.

She leaned in. "Joseph? What are you doing?"

"Testing out disguises."

Beatrice frowned. "Is this what Emma asked you to do?"

"Not exactly. I needed it to follow Regina."

"Why did you need to follow Regina?"

"Isn't it obvious? She's the only one in town who's both this angry and this powerful, perhaps she was responsible for the Milah incident."

"You don't think she brought over the woman in the hospital, do you?"

"If she did, it was collateral damage. I have learned two things. First, when Regina's depressed, her dress sense goes out the window."

"Says the guy dressed like a homeless person."

"This is a disguise. Second, she and Henry are plotting something called Operation Mongoose. Third-"

"Operation Mongoose?," asked Beatrice.

"Yes, is that of some significance?"

"Henry's plan to break the Curse was called Operation Cobra."

"Well, yes, that is interesting."

"What was the third thing?"

"She is spending a great deal of time in her vault. I take it that's not good."

"No, it's usually not. Seriously, though, this isn't what Emma asked you to do."

"I'm getting quite a portrait of the town. Robin and Marian's relationship is rather strained at present. Doctor Whale has three sexual partners that I've seen and I think Granny is freezing lasagna and calling it a special days later."

"Okay, well, you keep doing your thing and I'll see you at Starbucks later?"

"No kiss?"

She wrinkled her nose at his disheveled appearance. "Not like that."

"Your mother kissed a beast."

"He started out as a beast. He didn't dress up as one." She waved her hand. "Bye."


Beatrice walked into the pawn shop where Henry was sweeping.

"Henry?," asked Beatrice.

"Oh, sweetheart, there you are," said Gold, closing the ledger he had been working on. "Henry is going to help out around the shop. Afterschool and weekends."

Beatrice walked over to the counter. "What am I doing them?"

"Well, you can still assist Tiny. Besides, you have your studies and your magic to hone."

"Okay..." said Beatrice.

"In fact," said Gold, holding his hand out to have a spell book materialize in his hand, "you can start with this."

Beatrice took it. "Merlin said spell books were cheating."

"For a beginner, perhaps. You've become an accomplished young sorceress now. Learning some new spells wouldn't hinder your growth, just to expand the range of your powers. This is mostly agricultural."

"Because farming will come in handy."

Gold smiled. "Always helpful when meeting with peasants."

"I can do weather."

"Ah, but making soil fertile, making crops grow, making animals mate-"

"I don't want to make animals mate."

"Read it over."

Beatrice sat in the backroom and read for a while. Henry and his lackluster sweeping eventually made it in there.

"Anything good in there?," he asked.

There was something.

"Actually, there's a section about getting rid of snakes," said Beatrice. "Not sure why I can't conjure a mongoose or something."

Henry nodded.

Beatrice had known Henry forever. Sneaky was not his specialty. She had to watch as Operation Cobra went down. There had been nothing secret about that. Regina knew Emma was her doom. Emma kept butting heads with Regina. Her dad did... whatever.

The point was she was not going to go through this crap again.


Then

Gold entered Beatrice's room. Beatrice had been in the hospital a week and in that time, he had to tear himself away. There was rent to be collected and things to do at the shop. He had to sleep alone, once Belle insisted he couldn't possibly spend all night in a hospital chair with his leg after three nights of agony. So he left after Beatrice fell asleep and tried to be back before she awoke.

Instead of Belle, he found Beatrice curled up with Merlin, reading a book.

"'Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grip of a situation and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable success that the very possibility of his failing has ceased to enter my head.'"

Gold frowned. This world's stories for children were about anthropomorphic animals or princesses who got happy endings for no apparent reason. He thought it rather coddled children, but was happy to trade an extended innocence for electricity and running water.

Still, what was this? "What is that?"

"Oh, this is called 'A Scandal in Bohemia.'"

Beatrice was only too happy to give a plot summary. It was in fact, her favorite thing to do. "There's a king and he's going to get married to a princess but this mean woman has a photograph of her with the king."

Gold thought this seemed a plausible predicament for a king. Royals in the Enchanted Forest had done far stupider things. Beatrice was waiting for him to acknowledge this. "Alright."

"So, he goes to the detective with the funny hat and his friend."

"The detective with the funny hat?"

Beatrice looked up at Merlin. "What was his name again?"

"Sherlock Holmes and I really think it's a name you ought to memorize."

Gold glared at the elder wizard. "Really?"

"She likes them," Merlin protested. "Tell Daddy what happened in The Hound of the Baskervilles."

"It was a dog," said Beatrice.

"Well, now you've ruined the whole thing..."

Whale entered. "Mr. Gold, I didn't realize you were back. Is Mrs. Gold here?"

Merlin spoke up. "Belle went home for a change of clothes."

"I was hoping to talk to you both."

"You can speak with me," said Gold, leading Whale back into the hallway.

"It's not bad news," Whale began. "It's just not good news, either. We still don't know what caused this sudden vision loss. It might be simple inflammation."

"And otherwise?"

"Storybrooke General has its limits," said Whale. "I think you and Mrs. Gold might consider taking her to Boston."

"Excuse me?"

"Boston Children's would be the best place. They have specialists I've already spoken to one."

Leaving Storybrooke was not the best place, of course, Whale didn't know that. None of them knew that.

"I'll consider it," Gold said tightly.

He finished with Whale and walked back in the room.

"Daddy?," asked Beatrice.

"Sweetheart." Gold kissed her on the forehead. "Is there anything I can get you? Anything in the world?"

"A cupcake?"

"A cupcake? I think I can manage that. What kind?"

"I like the kind the mayor made."

Gold's heart stopped.

"The kind the mayor made?," asked Gold. "You ate a cupcake that the mayor gave you?"

"Yes."

Gold exchanged glances with Merlin.

"Beatrice, you are never to eat anything that the mayor gives you again," said Gold.

"Why?"

"Never mind why." He kissed her again. "I'll be back. I have something I must do."


Now

Beatrice's phone rang as she entered the cemetery.

"Hello."

"Quick question. Are you the only one in town with ice powers?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I was just at this place, Any Given Sundae-"

"Never heard of it."

"It's an ice cream shop. How have you never heard of it? There's not that many places to go in this town."

"I don't know. Curse thing?"

"I have to go see where they found the woman. I'm missing something."

"Yeah, I've got a thing to do."

Beatrice slid her phone in her pocket and looked at the Mills mausoleum. Raising her hands, she cast a wall of ice around it.

Regina was just going to have to deal with her.


Then

The bell to the shop rang. Regina strode in.

"Mr. Gold, I was surprised to hear from you."

"Yes, I recalled our earlier conversation and made some inquiries."

"You did."

"Yes. Fate has smiled upon you. I spoke with an agency that placed a baby boy from Phoenix with a family nearby."

"How does that help?"

"Because at the last-minute, the adoption fell through."

"So, he still needs a home?"

Gold held up an envelope. "The information is in here."

Regina stepped forward.

"Not so fast, dearie."

"What?"

"I want the antidote."

"Antidote?" She shook her head. "I don't know what you mean."

"Did you think I wouldn't find out, Regina? Do you really think I'm that stupid, dearie? A cupcake."

"So, that answers that question," said Regina.

"Yes, now as for this, you can only get what you want when I get what I want."

"It's a simple blinding potion. I'm sure you've hidden the ingredients for the antidote somewhere and you would rather make it yourself," said Regina. "Dragon's blood, moondew, rose thorn. Just like you taught me."

Gold handed her the envelope. Regina put her hand on it and he kept it in his grip.

"If anything like this happens again, I will not be nearly so magnanimous."

Regina scoffed. "Magnanimous? You're making a deal."

"No. A fair bargain would be that you die for what you've done, but alas, this is an unfair world."

Regina took the envelope and walked out.


Now

Joseph found the trail of footprints from the woman where the dwarves had found her. It was only a little damp so he didn't have very much to go on.

Then he found something curious. Other footprints. Tall, with a long gait. All the steps were the same. He, definitely he, was used to walking with precision. He followed those steps back into town and then again to the forest.

The trail led him to August's trailer where he Martha had led him to Beatrice months ago, assuming that still happened.

The place had been rifled through, the last remnants of food and coffee having been used.

"Don't move a muscle," a voice said.

Joseph turned slowly. It was the tall man. He was slightly tanned, intense little eyes and his clothes weren't quite right. A quick glance around had Joseph spotting the same sort of garments that the woman had so he must have been wearing items August had left behind. He also appeared to be pointing some sort of bejeweled dagger at him.

"You don't want to hurt me."

"No?"

"If you wanted to hurt me, you would have done so when you first came in. Also, you would have gone into town. You're after a woman? The redhead."

"How the hell did you know that?"

"Simple matter of tracking your footsteps. Would you care to lower the knife?"

He did. "And who are you?"

"My name's Joseph Gillette. I'm with the Storybrooke Sheriff's Department."

The man shook his head. "I don't think so. I know coppers and you're no copper."

"Indeed not. Thank you for the compliment."

"I'm a copper."

"I'm so sorry." He paused. "So you're here after the woman? What's she done?"

"I can't say."

"I'm afraid I'll have to take you in. That is, unless you enjoy staying out here in Maine in March during an unprecedented artic vortex. Also, you appear to have eaten all of the food here."

"I suppose you've got it all figured out then."

"Yes."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"Come with me."

The man followed Joseph out and back to the road.

"I'm Lestrade by the way," he said.

Joseph stopped and turned. "You're Lestrade?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"I'll let you know," Joseph said cautiously.


Now

Beatrice sat at Starbucks. The door swung open and Regina stormed in.

"What did you do to my vault?"

Beatrice looked up. "Do you not know a big ice wall when you see it?"

Regina edged closer. "Bring it down."

"I'll make a deal."

"No! No deals. I want my vault back."

"You can call off your spy and I will give you back your vault."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Oh, yes, you do. By the way, new low for you."

"You have ruined my plans for too long."

"Yeah, you've told me that."

"Just because Merlin thinks you're important does not make you ready to face me."

"Is that how you want to do this? Because so far I've got a pretty good record."

"I will get my happy ending and and no one will stop me."

Beatrice sighed. "I'm not trying to stop you. I just couldn't leave Marian there to die and I'm not going to let you screw around with my dad and Henry." She shrugged and picked up her mocha as she grabbed her messenger bag. "Spy goes out, wall goes down. Excuse me, I have to find a way to work this into a college essay."


Then

Belle was glad to be back in the library after the unplanned time off. It was a blow to her plans to be gone for weeks, but now she could get back to work. She was even more glad to have Beatrice back with her and on the mend. She was now sitting on the floor, reading another book.

"What's a fusil- fusili-"

Belle walked over to the book and the word Beatrice pointed at.

"Fusilier," said Belle. "I think it's a kind of soldier."

She checked the cover. "A Study in Scarlet." She sighed and looked at Beatrice. "Grandpa gave you this, didn't he?"

"Yes."

Belle nodded and took the book. "You have plenty of time for this and you're still healing. Your eyes still need rest."

Beatrice whined.

"Come on. None of that," said Belle. She patted the couch and Beatrice crawled next to her. She picked up one of the books off the corner table. "You'll close your eyes and Mommy will read."

Beatrice did as she was told and Belle started. Her eyes fleetingly strayed from the page and out the window as she read. That's when she saw Regina stalking down the street with a baby carrier.

And she was furious.

Belle walked into the pawnshop. She had stormed over from the library, dragging Beatrice along. The girl was confused at first, but elated when they turned the corner to go go to the pawn shop.

"Daddy!," said Beatrice, running over.

"Hello, sweetheart." Gold squeezed her as she hugged his legs. He then looked up at Belle. "Belle?"

"Beatrice, why don't you play in the back?," said Belle.

She looked up inquisitively.

"Go on. Listen to your mother," said Gold.

Beatrice hurried off. Belle shot daggers at Gold.

"Tell me you didn't."

"I won't insult your intelligence."

"You helped her get a baby. You've never helped anyone like her get a baby before. Why would you-"

"She poisoned Beatrice. That's the reason she was ill."

"What?"

"The child was the price I paid for the antidote and Beatrice's future safety, which I think is more than a fair bargain. Regina won't make a move like that again because now she has something to lose."

"I thought there was no magic here."

"Yes, well, potions seem to work just fine."

"This poor boy. You're just going to use him as a chess piece?"

"Regina won't hurt him. In fact, I'm fairly certain she's already chosen to forget who he is. She had quite the fit, saying she was going to take him back, but she hasn't. Your father found the ingredients for a forgetting potion used in her vault."

Belle shook her head. "Who is he?"

"The child of the Savior."

"Snow White's grandson?"

"That boy is the key to breaking the Curse," said Gold. "Belle, I can't protect her here as I would in our land. I won't let anything happen to her."

Belle pondered this new information. She didn't like using people, especially the poor boy who would be saddled with Regina as a mother. She didn't like how things already hadn't gone according to plan, but she disliked the idea that Beatrice was in danger even more. Rumple was right. They needed to protect their daughter and their options were limited.

"We'll keep an eye on him," Belle said, not waiting for an alternative.

"Of course," said Gold.


Now

Regina walked into Any Given Sundae.

"Ms. Fisher."

"Mayor Mills, what can I do for you?"

She walked over to the case. "I believe you once wanted to acquire something."

The blonde put down her scoop. "I believe you were unable to follow through on that. You made another deal."

"What's to stop you from taking her now?"

Sara narrowed her eyes. "No objections?"

"You would be doing me a favor, taking a thorn out of my side."