Henry stood at the door of the town library, fishing around on the large keyring he'd gotten from his grandfather's drawer in the pawn shop.
"Just a minute," he said. "I only have a few more to try."
"Look," said Belle. "I don't know how you think this will help."
"I know you don't remember," Henry answered, "But you were the town librarian once. I was hoping this would help bring things back to you."
Belle shrugged. "If you say so."
Henry finally managed to find the right key, and the door swung open. He motioned for Belle to come inside and she stepped in uncertainly, not really sure of herself at all. He started to close the door behind them and she continued to stand in the center of the room, looking around nervously.
"I don't really think -"
"I can leave the door open, if you want," Henry offered. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you might be nervous in a closed-off place."
"Thank you," she answered. "I'd appreciate that."
"Belle, this was one of the places where you spent the most time. You love books," Henry said. "Maybe if you just...I don't know...touch them or something."
She raised her brows. "Touch them?"
"Okay, maybe it was a stupid idea."
Belle stepped closer. "Did you need to put your book back?" she asked, pointed at the story book under his arm. "Is that also why you came here?"
"What? This?" Henry pulled the book out. "No, it just has stories in it that I like." He laid it down on the counter, and Belle leaned in, looking at it.
Henry narrowed his eyes, staring at her. "Let me show you one of my favorites," he said. "It's called 'Beauty and the Beast'." He flipped through the pages, until he located Belle's story, then he pushed the book in front of her.
She gave him a tentative smile, scanning the page. "It's an interesting story," she said, but her brow knit in confusion. "Is this a true story? Are these people you know?"
"Yes."
She glanced at him curiously, but he didn't elaborate. She returned her attention to the book, flipping through to the next page. Henry's eyes shifted away at the sight of someone passing by the door. He walked over, peeking his head out and looking left, then right.
"What is she doing down at the shop?" he asked aloud.
###
"How's our hostess?" Emma asked, biting her lip to keep from laughing.
"Sound asleep in her bedroom cabin," Killian said with relief, sitting down in the airplane seat next to her. "For a while there I was sure the old girl was going to drink me under the table."
"Smart thinking to bring a bottle of rum with you."
"Well, I should have brought two," he complained. "Particularly after she took her clothes off."
"She took her -" Emma clapped her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. "Killian, she's got to be seventy-five years old."
"Seventy-eight," he grumbled. "And she has thing for men with hairy chests." He reached across her to the glass of wine she had in her hand and took it from her. "I don't suppose there's anything stronger out here."
"Nope."
"It'll have to do," he glowered, tipping the glass to his lips and draining it.
"Did you have to...you know..."
He gave her a look that said she was crazy. "Certainly not. I suggested a nightcap first. Or two. Or ten."
"Good strategy. So she's going to wake up disappointed."
He shrugged. "She did take a...what did she call it? A 'selfie' while she pressed her withered breasts against my naked chest, so she'll have that to cherish. Meanwhile, I'll need another bottle of rum to erase that memory."
"Way to take one for the team." Emma bit her lip once more, trying to hold the laughter back.
"Oh, go ahead, Swan, laugh all you'd like. You should have heard her explaining the seductive virtues of being able to remove your teeth."
She buried her head on his shoulder, shaking with the force of her laughter. He put an arm around her, pulling her in. "You know, we're quite alone in here. The captain's up front behind that door, the old girl's snoring behind the other, and we have two more hours to ourselves."
Emma tilted her head up, still giggling as his lips met hers. It didn't take long before her laughter melted away and a slow burn began to build. She shifted out of her seat, pulling up the armrests on Killians seat before she slipped off her underwear and pulled up her skirt, settling herself on his lap. She twined her arms around his neck.
"Time to join the club," she said with a smile.
###
"I'm telling you, this is highly irregular," Dr. Whale protested. "We need to run some more tests!"
"I'm getting out of here," Snow asserted firmly.
"Mary Margaret, I realize you've been through an ordeal, here -"
"Stop calling me that," she gritted out. "David? Do you have Neal?"
"He's ready to go."
"Wait," Whale said, grabbing Snow's arm. "So...he's the baby's father? You're sure about that?"
Snow looked at him incredulously. "Of course I'm sure. What kind of a question is that?"
He lowered his voice, leaning in. "I mean...after you and I..."
"That was forever ago," she reminded him. "And...we were responsible."
"Maybe it doesn't feel like forever ago to him," David gritted out.
Snow put a hand on his arm. "David, now is not the time."
David let out a sigh, rolling his eyes. "Dr. Whale, didn't you tell me that all your patients die?"
Whale looked decidedly uncomfortable, his hand moving unconsciously to the flask in his breast pocket. "Yeah," he said. "That's how it usually ends up."
"Well, this is one time that it didn't happen." David clapped him on the shoulder, moving him out of the way as he and Snow stepped around him.
Dr. Whale stared at them, a slow smile breaking over his face. "You're right," he said. "Hey! You're right!" He glanced around slowly, taking a moment to gather his thoughts because they felt like they were swirling around him in a whirlwind.
"What the hell is going on here?" he asked, heading for his office.
Snow and David continued on until they reached the truck, and after fastening Neal into the carseat, they climbed inside and shut the door.
"David, what's going on?"
"I'm not sure. We were under the curse again."
Snow shook her head. "No...you were under the curse. If I had been under the curse, I would have been awake. I was under a sleeping curse."
"Everyone else seems to be under the original curse," David pointed out. "Why were you different?"
"What about Emma?" she asked.
David shook his head slowly. "No...Emma's not here. I haven't seen Emma. Or Regina. Or Hook."
"Henry?" she asked fearfully.
"He's here. He would come and play checkers with me sometimes. He called me Grandpa." David's eyes widened. "He called me Grandpa! He's not under the curse!"
"He never was before," Snow pointed out. "Call him, David. If he wasn't under the curse, he may have a better idea of what's going on."
David nodded, pulling out his phone. "I've got his number," he said, dialing. He paused a moment, waiting for the call to go through.
"Henry? It's Grandpa. We're back!"
Snow smiled as she heard Henry's exclamation through the phone line.
"Yeah, it's us. It's really us," he said. "Do you have any idea what's been going on?"
David listened intently, his face growing concerned. "She's on her way here? And Hook is with her?" He nodded. "Of course. We'll meet you there."
He ended the call, stuffed the phone back in his pocket, and put the keys in the ignition.
"Where are we going?" Snow asked.
"He wants us to meet him at Gold's shop. Dora's there." At Snow's confused look, he continued. "I'll explain on the way."
###
"Are you looking for something?"
Dora started badly. She hadn't heard Henry coming up behind her. She turned and forced a smile.
"Henry. You startled me."
"Sorry. I noticed you looking in the window and thought I'd stop and say hello. This is my friend, Belle," he added, gesturing to Belle.
"It's nice to meet you," Belle said.
"And you, as well." Dora's eyes darted away nervously. "Well, I should be going."
"If you want to come inside, I can let you in," Henry said. "I have a key."
Dora looked at him suspiciously. "You have a key here, as well?"
"It's my grandfather's shop. And he pretty much owned the town at one time." He pulled out the keyring, and opened the door. "I used to work here." He turned back to Belle. "And so did you, Belle."
Dora looked over at Belle. "You did?"
Belle shook her head. "I don't remember it. I-I've recently lost my memory, you see."
"Maybe looking around the shop will help you," Henry suggested. "It's worth a try."
"May I look around as well?" Dora asked. "I love to look at old things. That's why I was staring in the window."
"Sure" Henry encouraged. He had a feeling she was here for more than looking, and now was a good time to find out what she was up to. Belle was staring at the curio cabinet behind the counter, her eyes squinting.
"Wait a moment," she said softly, walking over to it. "I might be remembering something..." She opened the cabinet door, reaching in to take out the cup and saucer. She held it up, looking at it, turning it from side to side.
"Anything?" Henry asked.
"I feel as though I know it," she said, setting the cup down on the counter on top of Henry's book. "But I'm not entirely -" she stopped suddenly, mouth open, her hand frozen in the act of placing the cup.
"Belle?" Henry moved closer.
"H-Henry..." she stammered, realization coming into her eyes. "What's going on?"
"Do you remember now?"
"Yes. Yes, I -" she stepped back, turning around in a slow circle. "I remember all of it. What happened?"
"We don't know," Henry said. His eyes shifted over to Dora, who was inching toward the doorway. "Dora? Are you leaving?"
"I -" she wet her lips nervously. "I need to be going." She gave Belle a smile, and Henry looked at her closely, realizing the smile was genuine.
"I'm glad you got your memories back," she said. "If you'll excuse me, I really do have to go."
"Not so fast," David said, coming in through the doorway with Snow, who was holding Neal.
"You're awake!" Dora's face lit up. "Oh, I'm so glad. Are you well?"
Snow was completely taken aback. This was the woman who stole her son. "I'm fine," she replied. "But I'd really like to know who you are and why you took my baby."
"I didn't take him - he was all alone," Dora defended, her eyes shifting to the door again.
David turned to his wife. "She did take care of him. And she turned him over to me when I asked her."
Snow didn't know what to say to that. She was grateful her son was cared for, but still...this stranger was a threat.
"I'd like to know who you are and where you came from," she said. "And why everything changed when you came to town."
"Please..." Dora's eyes grew wide. "Don't do this."
David stepped closer. "No one's going to hurt you, Dora. We just want some answers."
"I'd like some answers, as well," Belle said.
Dora shook her head wildly. "I can't...don't do this..." her voice was a panicked whisper, and then suddenly, she bolted for the door.
David turned to follow and suddenly, an entire shelf full of items crashed down on him, breaking glass over his head and sending shards and items flying across the room. Snow turned, shielding Neal with her body, only to have her shoe stick in a floorboard, wrenching her ankle and sending her down. Henry ran to help her, tripping over a basket that had fallen and slamming his head into the corner of a table. He went down like a stone. Belle simply looked down in dismay at the remnants of the shattered cup in her hand, which was bleeding badly after having a marble statue slam into the cup and her hand.
David staggered to his feet, wiping blood out of his eyes. He reached down, helping Snow sit up.
"We're okay," she said, pulling Neal closer. "Check on Henry."
David moved over to Henry's prone body, rolling him over carefully as he heard Henry groan.
"Henry?" He put his hand to his grandson's face and Henry opened his eyes, throwing an arm across them to block out the light.
"I'm okay," he groaned again. "Just let me lay here for a minute."
"Belle?" David asked.
She was reaching for a rag under the counter. "I'm all right. Just shaken."
"I hear that," David affirmed. He looked around the room, which looked like a bomb had gone off in it. His eyes met Snow's.
"What the hell just happened?"
