Thanks for all the reviews! I love that you all love Cruella as much as me! I want her back on the show!
At the urging of both is moms Henry decided to clean his room. He carried a stack of comic books across the room and the top three slid from the pile. One of them landed near the side of his bed. He dropped to all fours in order to retrieve Wolverine's latest adventure when his eyes noticed something under the bed.
Before reaching under Henry set the comic books on his night stand. Those books were, after all, more important than the lost recesses of his room. He bent back down and extended his arm as far as he could. His fingers touched the paper. A surge of excitement shot down his spine. The paper felt like a page from the most important book he owed. The Storybook.
He stood up, all the time looking down at the folded page in his hand. With a deep inhale he unfolded the creases. He looked down at the picture.
"No way!"
Regina slammed the phone in her office back into place and cursed. Why was it whenever Storybrooke got some relief from spells, curses and monsters, upset tax payers still found reasons to call the mayor and complain? This time it happened to be that the fence along the scenic lake Warf needed some repairs. The city council wanted Regina to find a way to pay for it.
"Mom!" Henry yelled as he burst through the doors. Regina clenched her teeth. Normally she welcomed her son's interruptions, but today was a bad day.
"I found something."
Regina put her hand to her forehead and thumbed through the mountain of paperwork on her desk.
"Not now, Henry. I have all this mayor stuff. I swear I'm going to start making the Un-Charmings deal with all the domestic drivel. This is their Kingdom too."
"Mom, you really need to see this."
Henry tossed a folded page on top of her paperwork. She tilted her head to the side and looked up at her son.
"Henry? You found another page?"
Henry blinked.
"I… I think August found it. Remember a year ago when you gave me his things? I think this slipped under my bed."
Regina smirked at her son.
"It's been a year since you cleaned under your bed?" She gave him a knowing look.
He rolled his eyes.
"Mom!" He impatiently gestured toward the page.
Regina unfolded the thick paper. She looked down at the family in the picture. The sight put her at a loss for words.
Henry stepped forward and used his index finger to point at the page.
"That's August." He moved his finger across the picture. "And that's…"
Regina stood up at the same time the page fluttered to her desk.
"Cruella De Vil?" She finished for her son.
"I thought her happy ending was to kill people?" Henry's wide eyes blinked at her.
Regina reached for the page and examined it more closely. She felt the same good magic entwined with the ink that she felt in her own page. She pressed her lips together and her brow wrinkled.
"Maybe," she set the page on the desk and stepped back. "Maybe that's what Cruella wants… but maybe, Henry, it's not-"
Henry grinned.
"…what would make her happy?"
She loved that her son could finish her sentences. They stood there, smiling across the desk at each other. Regina managed to steal a moment of contentment in the presence of her son.
"There was a time my happy ending was to see your grandparents dead." Regina appreciated that the rather gruesome truth did not give Henry a moment of distress. "A person's happy ending can change, I suppose…" She put her arm around her waist.
"What are you going to do, mom? Will you show this to August?"
Regina scoffed. She came out from around the desk with her hands clasped and index fingers touching her chin.
"I don't think he's ready for that. He's still in love with Em…" Regina stopped and turned to see Henry's reaction. He shrugged.
"I've always known August likes mom. I really like August. But… Pinocchio and Cruella?" Henry's face twisted into bewilderment.
Regina's eyebrows lifted.
"I suppose anything is possible. I fell for a thief." Regina leaned against the desk.
"But, she's Cruella."
Regina nodded. She reached across the desk and picked up the page. August and Cruella both looked happy with what were undeniably their offspring. Henry leaned over and glanced down at the page.
"How black do you think her heart is?"
Regina looked up at him.
"I don't know, Henry," Regina squared her shoulders and her eyes focused. "But I'm going to find out."
After all, Regina resolved inwardly, hearts were her specialty.
"Do you mind if I hold onto this?"
Henry looked up at her and a familiar grin pulled at his lips.
"I wouldn't trust it with anyone else."
His faith in her never ceased to bring light into her heart. She returned his grin and pulled him into a hug.
Cruella slammed the door of the cab. The driver, some former Enchanted Forrest peasant, sped away in a hurry.
"Same to you, darling!" She yelled after the car. With her shoulders hoisted she grabbed at her fur and waltzed into the woodworker's shop as if she owned it.
Her car was parked near the window in the small space. Across from it an old man worked over a bench. All kinds of crafts lined the shelves and counter space.
"Playing with wood always seemed to me a rather boring hobby." Her deep voice made the old man jump. He nearly tumbled off the stool. When he looked up and saw her a frown wrinkled the sides of his mouth. The reaction did not bother Cruella. Better to get a passionate response than inspire no feeling at all.
"Although," she ran her hand along the top of her car, 'It is quite fun to toy with your son."
Geppetto's hand clenched into a fist. Cruella found the attempt to control is anger quaint and rather dull. She would have liked to see him try to throw her out.
"Where is old bark-for-brains anyway? He called and said to come get my baby." She patted the top of her car.
The frown on Geppetto's face gave way only enough for his lips to move.
"My boy forgot to replace the spark plugs and doesn't want you driving on the ones you have."
Cruella lifted an eyebrow. The old man did not say as much, but she clearly heard in his tone that he didn't care if she drove straight off a cliff with bad spark plugs.
"He had them on order and he went to town to pick them up."
Geppetto took his eyes from her and returned to his workbench.
"He should be back in a minute or two."
Cruella put her hand on her hip.
"Then I guess it's just me and you, pops."
The term of endearment did not get a raise out of Geppetto like she hoped. He ignored her and continued to work on his latest project. She strolled over and watched him work for a few seconds. He showed her nothing but a cold shoulder.
Deciding that jabs at an unresponsive victim were not worth the effort, she walked over to a cabinet full of knick-knacks. She picked up a toy horse and saw Geppetto sneak a glance at her from the corner of his eye. With lips pursed she put the item back.
Cruella scanned the shelves. She found what she searched for. A handcrafted jewelry box, decorated with a wood carving that even impressed Cruella. She grinned wickedly and pulled it from the shelf. Geppetto jumped up from the bench.
"Put that down!"
She ignored him and opened the lid. The box was empty. He closed the lid and snatched it out of her hands.
"You better watch that blood pressure, darling. It's not healthy for a man of your age."
He glared at her.
"I don't fall for your made up face and fancy clothes." He tucked the box under his arm. Cruella leaned against the shelf. Now things were starting to get fun.
"You don't, darling? And here I wore my best fur." She fluffed the material and pouted her bottom lip. She found toying with the papa was almost as much fun as toying with the puppet.
"I made this for my wife." He gently placed the box back on its high pedestal. "I made it with love. My boy, he makes things with love too."
Cruella waved her hand through the air.
"And I make things with puppies, darling, which, I think, takes a tad more talent."
She held up her thumb and index finger to provide him a visual aid. Geppetto straightened, and Cruella took a step back. When he wanted too she found Papa Puppet had a scary side.
"Look around you. This whole place, it's my life." He held out his arms. "Everything in here is a memory. Every object was made with love. Gifts for others who have passed on." He left the jewelry box and went back to the pieces of wood on the table. "Gifts yet to be given."
Cruella licked her lips and put her hand on her hip.
"You know, you remind me of my mother's second husband. Oh! He rambled something awful."
Geppetto looked over his shoulder at her.
"You think I'm rambling?" His eyes focused in on her with piercing clarity. "I'm watching you. I look into your soul." He held up a fisted hand. "I see nothing." His hand opened and Cruella watched it as if butterflies emerged from his fingertips.
She blinked. She did not expect that, and didn't quite know how to take it.
"No matter. Souls are more trouble than they're worth these days."
"You take your car, and don't bother us again. My boy, he was nice to you because he's a hero. Now, you don't pay us money. You pay by leaving him alone."
That did it. No one ever ruined Cruella De Vil's fun and lived to tell. No one.
Cruella picked up a piece of wood shaped like the leg of a chair. She whacked Geppetto over the head and he tumbled to the ground. She knelt next to his limp body.
"You have a deal, darling." She opened her purse and pulled out a small book of matches. "But not before I play with the puppet a little more. It's so fun to pull his strings."
She smiled and a strand of white hair fell across her face. With a flick of her wrist she ignited the match. The tiny flame dropped from her hand and into a pile of sawdust that quickly erupted into flames.
"Let's find out if your right, old man. Is Pinocchio a hero?"
Cruella waited for what seemed like an eternity for the puppet to arrive. The flames from the Booth's shed touched the blue sky above. Bored that August still failed to make an appearance, Cruella pulled her compact from her purse and began to touch up her lip stick. She leaned against the railing of the old fence in front of the house. The crackle of the shed drew the attention of a few neighbors.
Cruella snapped the compact closed when she the familiar rumble of August's ride. He jumped from the motorcycle and let the bike skid to the ground. He tore the helmet from his head and flung it to the pavement.
"What happened?" He put his hands on his head as he watched the flames.
"Don't tell me you forgot the marshmallows, darling."
Cruella grinned at her joke, and felt a little discouraged that August completely ignored her. He glanced at the house.
"Where's papa?"
Cruella hunched over the fence.
"I really couldn't say."
The puppet finally gave her his full attention. He was attractive for a piece of timber.
"He's not inside?"
The windows of the shed blew out with the roar of the fire. Flames completely engulfed the building. Neighbors in the street pulled out cell phones. A few took pictures. Other's made calls.
August tore off his leather jacket.
"I'm going in."
Cruella lifted her chin. There it was. The answer. Hero.
"It's too late, darling."
He glared at her and started for the shed. Cruella summoned two stray dogs. The Doberman and Irish Settler snarled in front of August. He stopped. Unable to make traction with the dogs, August turned to Cruella.
"You did this on purpose? What kind of sick monster are you?"
Cruella relished the look of disgust on his face.
"I just love watching a hero go dark."
He lifted his hand and came at her throat.
"Ah-ah," she held up her index finger and her dogs scurried around to block his path. She looked him up and down. "I wouldn't mind your hands on me darling, but not like that."
August bent over and struggled for air.
"I thought you couldn't kill anyone?"
With his head toward the ground, Cruella heard rather than saw tears in his eyes.
"My, my. Gossip certainly spreads like…" She glanced up at the flames.
"Why?" August seemed to draw his strength. He looked up at her. "Why murder a helpless old man?"
Cruella flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"I was bored, darling, and he was such an easy target."
The sound off screaming fire engines interrupted them. Two trucks pulled up the driveway in front of the house. Men and dwarfs jumped out and began to untangle hoses.
"Killjoy," Cruella muttered at the sight.
As the men worked, August put distance between himself and Cruella.
It wasn't long before the mayor and her posse of goodie-goodies showed up. Cruella braced herself for a showdown, though, part of her felt a surge of excitement. Regina as a shadow of her former self proved to be a great deal of fun.
The mayor marched over to Cruella, flanked on one side by Snow White and on the other by Prince Charming. It was a sight worthy of a snide comment but Regina spoke before Cruella could.
"What have you done?"
"Regina, I recall a time you thought a little arson wouldn't hurt anyone."
"You murdered, Marco!" Snow accused.
Cruella wrinkled her brow.
"It really is easy to understand why Regina wanted to kill you."
Cruella lifted her hand and the fur of her coat slid down her arm. She snapped her fingers. All eyes turned to movement inside the shed. The firemen managed to contain the flames and save the house. Out of the rubble of Geppetto's workshop emerged Cruella's car. The outside looked as shiny as if the car came out of the wash and not a burning building. The flames danced off the car in a hurry to escape the enchanted vehicle.
The car purred up to Cruella and stopped. August stood next to Emma. The Charmings still flanked Regina.
"You heroes really need to loosen up. How sad it is that you can't take a joke?" The car door opened by itself.
Geppetto fell out of the backseat. He landed on his chest since his hands were tied behind his back. The gag in his mouth prevented him from speaking. August immediately went to his father's side and began to untie him.
Regina pursed her lips and gave Cruella a rather alarming glare.
"I don't like your sense of humor," Snow told Cruella.
Emma and August helped Geppetto to his feet. The old man looked over the ashes of his workshop with tears brimming.
"How could you do this? After I help you with your car?" August asked.
Cruella felt no remorse. His questions annoyed her.
"That's the beauty of being a villain." She walked a wide half circle around all of the heroes. "I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, and there isn't a thing any of you can do about it… Well, short of killing me. And let's face it, darlings," she turned and looked at them over her shoulder. "You won't."
The car door opened for her and she slipped into the seat. Charming put his hand on the door and kept her from closing it.
"We can place you under arrest."
"I'd get a lawyer and be out in ten minutes." She held up her wrists together. "But if you really want to go to all that trouble…" She batted her eyes at him. "Please handcuff me, Sheriff."
The Prince blushed.
"Let her go," Regina growled. She shoved her hands in her pockets. Hero Regina was fun, but Cruella reminded herself that Regina was still dangerous, and far too clever to be trusted.
"Regina?" Emma questioned.
"I've got this, Swan." Regina's eyes didn't move from Cruella for an instant.
The Prince took the orders from the Evil Queen and backed away from the car. Cruella smiled and drove away victorious. She might enjoy her stay in Storybrooke after all.