Author's Notes: I do not own Once Upon A Time which promotes people to series regulars that you really don't want, even if they're good actors and are genuinely adorable in real life. So, thanks for the reads and reviews. I really appreciate them and need to get back to you guys. I've been so busy. The flashback this chapter is from Jenna's perspective so that's why the timeline is like that. Please let me know what you think and happy reading!
Present
Jenna and Louise sat quietly in the backseat on the way to Storybrooke packed in among Joseph's things. The flight from London had been a long one, followed immediately by the drive from Boston to Storybrooke.
"No, you can't just keep a hire car," said John. "Why do you not get that?"
"I kept one last time."
"Yes, Uncle Hector paid the bill."
"I'm sure it came from whatever funds the British government owed me."
"Owed you for what?"
"Being myself."
"Oh, God," said John. "You know, you really are the last person in the world who needed an ego boost. Now you think you belong on the public list?"
"I'm certainly more clever than most of the people on it. Less inbred, definitely."
"Why wouldn't you return your hire car?"
"Because I would have been turned into a flying monkey!"
John sighed as the "Welcome to Storybrooke" sign appeared.
Twenty minutes later, they walked into Granny's.
"Well, look who it is," said Ruby.
"Joseph, welcome back," added Archie.
"Thank you." He motioned at the girls. "These are some... friends. Jenna and Louise."
"I'm Ruby. This is Archie."
"Uh-huh," said Jenna.
Louise nodded. "Hi."
"I need a room," said Joseph. "My usual will be fine. Tea by ten. I do hope you've taken the time to get some loose blends in my absence."
"Yeah, Gold thought you might."
"Did he?"
Ruby reached under the counter and pulled out an envelope. She handed it to Joseph.
"The address is inside."
"Well then..." said Joseph.
"I'm hungry," said Louise.
He shook his head at her.
"We just drove four hours, Joseph after we were on a plane? Some people do actually eat."
"I'll get you some menus," Ruby smiled.
They took a booth.
"Just don't order the lasagna," muttered Jenna.
"What's wrong with the lasagna?," asked John.
"It's from last week or frozen."
"Veritable Kitchen Nightmare," Joseph muttered.
"Wait, how did you know about the lasagna? You've never been here before."
Jenna looked at Joseph.
"I might have mentioned it."
John frowned. "Since when do you talk about food? You barely remember food."
"The odor permeates the walls."
Twenty Years Ago
"No, I didn't."
The eight-year-old sat plaintively on the stool next to the work table. She crossed her arms. Gold crossed his back.
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't."
Gold looked to Belle. He motioned at the girl. Belle sighed and stepped forward.
"Oswin," Belle began, "it's snowing."
"I didn't do it."
"It's July."
"Climate change."
"Oswin, it's summer. That means it's time for the Summer Princess to rule."
"That's right!," the other eight-year-old shouted from the front of the shop.
"Shut up, Reinette!," Oswin shouted back.
Reinette popped her head in behind her grandmother. "Make me!"
Oswin raised her hand causing her grandfather to quickly grab it.
"That's enough."
"I have powers, too!," Reinette snapped.
"If you're so great, why don't you use your stupid powers?!"
"Enough!"
They looked up to see Joseph had just entered. He glanced at Oswin.
"Still in time out, are we?"
Gold looked back at his granddaughter. "Someone has not agreed to bring back summer."
"What's going on?," asked Belle. "Has Beatrice managed to calm everyone?"
"They all still seem rather upset about the lack of a beach party. Not that I can go anyway. Oswin, Reinette, get your things."
"What do you mean?," asked Gold.
"I have to go to Boston. There's been another bank heist. This time a security guard's been shot."
"How awful," said Belle.
"No, no, he saw who did it. He'll be an excellent witness."
Belle frowned.
Gold shook his head. "And what does that have to do with my grandchildren leaving?"
"Well, see my wife and I thought the quickest way to resolve the situation with our children was that I would take them to Boston. No magic, no winter."
"To investigate an armed robbery?"
"The robbery's finished."
"Surely they'll be much safer here. Belle and I are more than capable of watching them if Beatrice needs more time to quell the peasants."
"No, it's fine," said Joseph. "Pamela's packed the overnight bags. Now we really must hurry."
Present
"So..." Belle began, failing to be subtle, "Joseph is back today."
Jogging alongside, Beatrice looked to her mother.
"Yes, I did remember that."
In her armband, her iPhone buzzed. She slowed and took it out.
"Is that him?"
"Personal."
Belle nodded as Beatrice quickly tapped out something. "Of course."
She finished and put her phone back just as they arrived back at the pink house, coming in through the side door by the kitchen.
"Did you enjoy yourselves?," Gold asked.
"That's one way of putting it."
"You need fresh air," Belle said, patting her on the back as she sat at the counter.
Beatrice grunted as she opened the fridge.
"Your mother is right. I commend your dedication to your studies, but you could do something else from time to time."
She eyed her father. "Because nobody in this family has ever been obsessed with anything."
He nodded, but chose not to verbally acknowledge her quip. "Sit."
Beatrice took her place at the counter as her father gave her a plate.
"How are your studies going?," asked Belle.
"She's doing very well."
"Yes, I have been at it two weeks and can do highlights."
"It's a process," her father reassured. "Even Regina struggled with the transformation spell, but she was always fond of shortcuts. You are learning properly."
Beatrice rolled her eyes.
"You did tell Joseph about dinner?," he asked.
"Yes."
"And I trust he's bringing his brother?"
"Yes and those two girls."
Gold looked up. "Really? They've come to Storybrooke?"
Belle nodded. "Joseph said they needed help getting home."
"Do they?"
Belle shot him a look and turned back to Beatrice. "Of course Father's coming. Grandmother and Grandfather. Baelfire."
"And the Charmings?," Gold inquired.
Belle shook her head. "No. Mary Margaret still thinks we're being too hard on Regina."
"Does she?," asked Beatrice. "Because that's not how I remember it."
Twenty Years Ago
Oswin stared out the window.
"Daddy!," Reinette shouted. "Daddy!"
Joseph sighed. "You do know it's approximately eighteen inches from your mouth to my ear?"
"You didn't play our music."
"Well, I thought we might listen to the radio... or nothing. Why don't you listen on your iPod?"
"Mommy plays our music."
"Yes, that is one of the key differences between us."
"Daddy..."
Joseph glanced in the rearview mirror at Reinette and sighed. A few buttons later and the cast recording of Wicked began.
"The Witch of the West is dead, the wickedest witch there ever was, the enemy of all of us here in Oz is dead..."
"Is dead!," Reinette finished. She looked to Oswin. "You're not singing! Daddy, Oswin's not singing!"
"I can't force Oswin to sing."
"Why not?"
He failed to notice the trail of ice on the road behind the car.
Present
"What is it with you?," Regina sneered.
Beatrice looked up at Regina.
"Why do you have to come to Starbucks?"
"It's the only place I can find you. This place is practically your office."
"You mean it's the only place you can come without my dad being there..."
"What's this about the asylum?"
"Um, are you still mayor?"
"I am concerned that you might be letting out some very dangerous individuals."
"You mean dangerous to you." Beatrice sipped her coffee. "Because you put them there. It was your curse. I just thought we might look into seeing if the people in the asylum are actually you know crazy."
"I was a different person then."
"You almost killed Joseph a month ago."
She rolled her eyes. "I didn't know that's what I was doing."
"Oh, well, then I guess that makes everything alright and makes me totally excuse all the other stuff that's happened."
Twenty Years Ago
Joseph stepped out of the car in front of the bank when he noticed something strange that had nothing to do with the heist.
There was a chill in the air.
"Mr. Gillette," a woman called before he had time to think on it. "Detective Banks. We spoke on the phone?"
"Yes," said Joseph, opening the car door and helping Reinette down. The detective stared at him as he guided her to the other side to let out Oswin. "I'll just need a look at the crime scene, access to the security footage, that sort of thing..."
The wind blew brisk air at them.
Detective Banks crossed her arms. "It's getting cold out here. It was supposed to get up to ninety today."
"Was it?," asked Joseph taking his daughters in hand and following the woman up the steps. "Perhaps a storm's coming."
"You know what it reminds me of? There was this big tornado that started on a summer day like this, came out of nowhere, the weather just snapped."
Joseph immediately recalled where he had heard of such a thing.
"This wouldn't be the one that destroyed a dormitory at MIT?"
"Yeah, as a matter of fact. Why do you ask?"
"My wife was staying in that dormitory then..." His eyes trailed to Oswin who did her best to look innocent.
"We've kept the scene closed to the public..." the detective continued. Joseph strained to listen as he was very distracted.
Present
"This is weird," Louise whispered to Jenna.
Jenna looked up at her sister from petting Martha. "We got transported to the Dark Forest. My boyfriend turned out to be Moriarty. We're here with the younger versions of our entire family-"
"Not our entire family-" Louise corrected.
"What? As if that's just now making it weird?"
She nodded at Lady across the room who looked down upon them from the throne of her dog bed.
"I swear she's onto us."
"How could the dog be onto us?"
"She's an Enchanted Forest dog, not a regular dog."
Jenna stared at her sister in disbelief. "I can't do this if you're going to lose your mind."
Alec and Catherine approached. The women smiled brightly at them.
"Ladies, may I introduce my wife, Catherine?"
They exchanged hellos.
"So, how long are you two in Storybrooke for?"
Jenna shook her head. "Uh, just until we can find a portal home."
Alec looked to Catherine. "Perhaps we ought to put a sign up somewhere in town. 'Portals available here.'"
"It could be a lucrative enterprise," she remarked.
On the other side of the room, Joseph continued the conversation with Neal, thought John was carrying the load of the talking.
"Really? Doctor Frankenstein is the most preeminent medical professional in town? Why does that seem like a good idea to anyone?," John mused.
"He slept with Snow White," said Neal.
"Bloody hell, come here and your childhood is ruined..."
"And Gormlaith is still here?," asked Joseph.
"Yeah," said Neal. "She's still in her cell at the sheriff's station, but she's pretty powerless."
"And so she shall remain," Gold chimed in. He looked at Joseph in confusion. "Where is Beatrice?"
"I assumed you would know."
Gold looked around. "Beatrice!"
"Rumple, I need help in the kitchen!," Belle called.
He scowled and walked back in. Belle had everything well in hand and her father leaned against the counter, rolling his eyes.
"You push too hard," he accused.
Gold looked to Belle for help, but she shook her head.
"She needs time, Rumple."
"And if you push too hard, you may well push them apart. Look how well your mission to reunite your son and the Savior has been going. Nearly four years and I saw her at dinner with the Hatter the other night."
"Jefferson? Why didn't anyone tell me?" Gold again looked to Belle.
She gave him a contemptuous look. "It is not my job to inform you about Emma's love life."
Beatrice descended the stairs to walk almost straight into Joseph.
"Oh." She looked at John talking to Neal and Jenna and Louise with her great-grandparents. "You guys are here. Is there food?"
"Not yet." He looked at her phone as she sent off a text. "Busy?"
"Just council stuff. I've got some issues I want to address."
"Anything I can help with?"
"Not really unless you know anything about shutting down asylums."
"No, but I have been known to make psychiatrists give up."
"Well, that's something." She looked over at Jenna and Louise. "So are they just hanging out?"
"Oh, they're really just looking for a way... home."
"Where are they from?"
"Another realm. They say it's a great deal like this one."
"Well, just so you know Tiny still has serious problems with the magic bean situation."
"No, I don't think magic beans are necessary."
Gold stuck his head out of the kitchen. "Dinner."
Twenty Years Ago
Oswin awoke in the hotel room. She had fallen asleep in her own bed. She looked across to see Reinette snoring contentedly, holding her stuffed TARDIS.
She got up and tiptoed out into the sitting room. As soon as the door creaked open, she saw a gun pointed at her face.
"Don't. That's not necessary."
Joseph stood, looking at another armed assailant.
"This really isn't necessary."
"She's seen us," said the woman with them.
"No one's seen anything. Have we, Oswin?"
She was too afraid to move, to do anything.
The leader looked back at Joseph. "And why would we believe that? The great detective Joseph Gillette. Some liken you to Sherlock Holmes."
"Do they?" He was trying to sound as nonplussed as possible.
"Mister law and order. Apprehending criminals."
"Well, that's where you're wrong."
"Excuse me?," their leader snarled.
"Sherlock Holmes and I only like puzzles. Whether or not you see justice has no importance to me. I can tell you your mistakes and you can carry on being a much more efficient criminal. How does that sound?"
"Or we could just shoot you both," the woman offered.
"Do you know how many mistakes the average murderer makes?" Joseph still spoke to the ringleader. "Seventeen. How many do you think you've made tonight? Kill us and I can well guarantee it will be the last mistake you make."
"Oh, yeah? Why's that?"
He spoke calmly. "Because there are people who will dedicate the
rest of their lives to finding you and ripping the hearts from your chests."
"Do you think you can scare me?"
"I think I ought to."
It was one clever remark too many and the leader smacked him with the handle of the gun and he fell to the floor.
"Daddy!"
"I'm fine, Oswin."
He was bleeding from the temple.
Oswin stepped forward and threw her hand up.
A bolt of ice landed in the ringleader's chest. He stumbled back and the woman rushed to his side as Joseph stared dumbfounded at his daughter.
"What the hell was that?," the third man demanded. He grabbed Oswin and she shrieked.
Joseph leapt to his feet, grabbing the man by his hair and slamming his face into the wall. He grabbed the gun and pointed it at the woman.
He shoved Oswin behind him.
"Go."
"What did she do?," the ringleader gasped.
"Go."
The woman helped them up and with great strain as Joseph pointed the gun at them, they slouched out. Joseph turned to Oswin, embracing her as she began to sob.
"Hey, hey, I'm sorry." He kissed her. "I am so sorry."
"Did I hurt him?"
She stared up with earnest eyes.
"No, of course not. Let's get Reinette and your things. We're going home."
Present
The dinner continued quietly with Beatrice constantly checking her phone. Joseph glanced across the table.
"So, Jenna, Louise," Belle began, starting the conversation, "Joseph told us you're from another realm?"
"Yeah," said Louise.
There was another lull in the conversation.
Gold spoke. "Any chance of telling us which one, dearie?"
Jenna and Louise looked at each other.
"Well, I believe you might know it as the Forest of the Night," said Jenna.
Gold took a bite of his lamb. "Is that so?"
"Never heard of it," said Merlin.
"Father..." Belle chided.
"I didn't say I didn't believe them, but it's a big reality. Everything happens somewhere."
"And what distinguishes the Forest of the Night from other lands?," ventured Alec.
"There's the night part," said Jenna. "That's a pretty big feature."
"Your family must be so worried about you," mused Belle.
"I think they're probably handling it fine," said Louise.
Jenna kicked Louise under the table.
Louise turned to her sister. "Ow."
"Oh, don't be such a baby."
Beatrice put her phone face down on the table as Joseph observed.
"Quite finished?," asked Gold.
"I have some things to set up for the meeting tomorrow," said Beatrice. "Hey, here's a question, why have we left Maleficent under the library?"
"Maleficent?," Merlin questioned. "Who mentioned her?"
"I did. Just now." Beatrice turned to Jenna and Louise. "She's like from Sleeping Beauty. Ex-fairy turns into a dragon. Met her once."
"You met Maleficent?," asked John.
Joseph turned to his brother. "John, I do think at this stage of the game, you would be advised to just assume that every character in any story is in fact, real."
"Why the talk of Maleficent?," Merlin questioned again.
"Because Regina's kept her under the library for twenty-eight years until Emma killed her."
"That seems fairly compelling," Catherine mused. Alec smiled.
"Emma didn't kill her," said Gold.
"There was a lot of dragon ash. You might recall it was in my hair."
"No, see with the ward Regina placed her under, Maleficent can't die."
"Well, that's horrifying," said Beatrice.
"That seems harsh," Belle added.
Beatrice looked at her father. "Nobody can get her out?"
"To do that, you would need the blood of the one who wronged her the most," said Gold. "Regina keeps hers very safe.'
"Besides, who would want that?," asked Merlin. "Don't we have enough problems around here without adding temperamental dragon witch to the mix?"
Neal nodded. "The man's got a point."
"She never seemed temperamental," Belle commented.
"It's not like you're going to win any public opinion polls bringing her back," said Merlin. "Concentrate on your current issues."
Twenty Years Ago
Joseph watched as Gold mixed the potion.
"You're certain?"
Gold shook the vial once and it glowed.
"You've been back days. Storybrooke's colder than ever. She clearly doesn't believe you. She has her mother's heart who has her mother's heart and sometimes we must protect the ones we love from their own hearts." Gold looked up at Joseph. "We do what we must."
He continued speaking as he walked to the door, adding a bit of frost from the outside window to the vial.
"I've always appreciated that about you. That's why I never objected to you and Beatrice. Don't misunderstand me. No father wants to lose his daughter, but I've always known you would not be stopped when it came to protecting her."
He gave the vial another shake and handed it to Joseph.
"You'll want to give this within the hour. The memory potion loses its kick if it sits."
Present
Joseph stared out the window of his new loft. It was entirely updated and furnished, his belongings already forming quite a mess.
Jenna came down from upstairs.
"You don't normally stare out the window when you're working."
"I don't normally have a view of a drunken Captain Hook who appears to be singing to his ship."
Jenna looked out the window. "Oh, my God, he is."
"Your grandfather probably had an ulterior motive when he placed me within sight of his oldest enemy."
"No doubt. You ought to be taking video."
Joseph's phone rang. "So, here he is now." He answered. "Mr. Gold."
"Mr. Gillette, I do understand that my daughter is not a child and I can't tell her how to spend her time..."
"Of course not."
"Still, I would very much appreciate it if she weren't skulking out in the middle of the night without so much as a word. I believe we're above this."
Joseph frowned. "And why aren't you telling her this?"
"She won't answer her phone. Isn't she with you?"
"Yes. She's in the bathroom."
"You'll relay my message?"
"My pleasure."
Joseph hung up.
"Your mother's run off."
"Oh."
"Oh? What was that?"
"That was nothing."
"Was it?"
He eyed her.
"You know, you do have rather a vested interest in my discovering just what Beatrice is up to."
"I also have 'rather a vested interest' in not screwing up the future," Jenna parroted back.
Joseph shrugged. They stared in a mild stand-off.
"Okay, if this is when I think it is, you might try the town line."
"The town line?"
"Yeah." Jenna went back up the steps. "You might find something."
"Thank you."
"You'd have found her there anyway."
EIGHT YEARS AGO
Oswin screeched her tires as she parked the car.
"Someone's in a hurry..." remarked a blonde pushing a stroller.
"Shut up, Alex!"
She walked into the station.
"Is he up there?," she shouted barely looking at the sheriff.
She continued on up the stairs to the Great Detective's office, a clutter that had been acquired over the years.
She didn't say anything at first, just stood and silently fumed.
Joseph eventually un-steepled his hands and turned to face her.
"Is it Thanksgiving?"
"You lied to me."
"It certainly sounds like Thanksgiving."
"You lied to me. You lied to me..."
"Which time?"
She shook her head at him. "I say you've been lying to me and all you can say is 'which time?'"
"I'm your father. It's a safe assumption that I've lied to you at some point, multiple points."
"The bank robber!," she spat. "You and Grandpa conspired, didn't you? You gave me a potion, you took my memories. Him? I can believe it, I never expected it from you."
Joseph sat passively. "Are you done?"
"I am nowhere near done!"
She slammed her hand down on the desk and the room shook.
"You had inadvertently killed a man. Of course I lied."
"You lied to me about the time I committed murder?"
"It was involuntary manslaughter at best and it was under extenuating circumstances. Also, you were eight."
"How? How can you sit there and be so glib?"
"What would you like, Oswin? Would it help you if I showed some guilt, told you that I wracked my conscience for a decision?"
"It might."
"Well, it would be a lie. You were clearly incapable of processing the events in a way that wouldn't leave you emotionally traumatized. I was responsible for your well-being. The decision was agreed upon by your mother and I and your grandparents and your great-grandfather. I don't regret my decision and if I found myself in the same position, I would do it again."
"I could never..."
"It wasn't up to you, was it? How did you find out?"
Oswin turned on her heel and left.
Present
Beatrice came out of her car and into the rain.
Cruella and Ursula stepped out of their car. There was no one in sight.
"So, this is the Dark Princess," Ursula mused. "She doesn't look all that powerful."
"I get by."
Ursula crossed her arms. "I'm not getting into this for charity you know. I want to know you can do what you claim."
Beatrice smiled and raised a hand, pointing one finger as a lightning bolt landed a few feet behind Cruella's car.
"Is that good enough or should I do it again?"
The sea witch groaned. "I should have known better coming from Rumplestiltskin's daughter. He was always so dramatic."
"Speaking of whom, he doesn't know you're in town. In fact, no one should know you're in town."
"And what about Snow White and Prince Charming?," asked Cruella. "What are we going to do about them?"
"We aren't doing anything yet." Beatrice brought an envelope out of her coat. "This is just outside town. I've printed directions. The fridge is stocked. Lay low and don't harm any animals."
Ursula looked at Cruella. "That one's for you."
"And just to be safe, you don't know a mermaid named Ariel, do you?"
"No. Why?"
"Reasons. Anyway, don't hurt anyone."
"What are we here for then?," Cruella demanded.
Beatrice eyed her. "I told you before. You need me. I'm the only one who can defeat the Author. If you don't like my terms, you're welcome to leave Storybrooke."
Cruella and Ursula exchanged glances.
"Alright, darling, but don't forget who you're dealing with."
"Don't forget who you're dealing with."
Beatrice watched as the women got in the car and drove off.
"I didn't want to interrupt," said Joseph.
Beatrice jumped as she turned to Joseph.
"How did you know I was here?"
"Deduction. What are you doing meeting Cruella and..."
"Ursula."
"Ursula? Really? Anyway, why are you meeting them in the wood in the dead of night while your father thinks you're with me?"
Beatrice didn't answer.
"Not that I mind, you see. I'm only saying if you wish to use me, use me. Whatever it is, I could help."
"Whatever it is?," she questioned.
"I am your knight. If there's a dragon to be slain, I will do it gladly."
A moment passed. Beatrice considered his oath.
"I don't need you to slay a dragon."
"Then what do you need?"
"I need you to help me resurrect one."
"Fine. Where do we start?"
