Author's Note: Sorry, I know its been a while since I updated last, but it had been and incredibly complicates couple of weeks, but cheers to that becuse thanks to my complictions I feel like is an achievement to publish one more chapter! Well a bit of a twist here, but mainly just preparing to drop the bomb on you guys with the chapters to come! thanks for keeping track of my fic, enjoy!


A couple of days had passed and Elsa needed time to separate from the rest of them and try to get her answers from the book. It had been a thrilling adventure, but now the lecture was having more and more sense and that frightened her. She had taken upon Belle's offer and walked to the library where she hid in a corner sited on a couch and devour pages and pages over several hours. Now it was about noon and she had promised she would go to the Dinner with them, mainly because Henry had asked her to, but it was for her own safety as the Sheriff had stated.

Belle walked quietly where Elsa had been reading "Henry and David are waiting at the entrance"

Elsa slowly drove her eyes from the end of the page towards Belle's "Is it already midday?" she asked absently looking for a clock to respond her question.

"I'm afraid so, you been here for about five hours"

"Time does fly by" she stood up resting the book on the bureau "Is the library going to be open after one on the afternoon?"

"I usually close at eight, so you have plenty of time"

"Deeply appreciate it"

"You been here quite a while, I'm pretty sure they miss seeing you" said Belle gazing to the exit

"I just needed to… have some space, I don't want them to be near if I found something that distresses me…"

"Have you?"

"Not yet…I mean, the plot is pretty concrete right now and I have a hint of how is going to turn out to be but…if it is really talking about me and…in a sort of a sense it does reflect what I have done and my isolation…then I don't want to come to them being the…" she gesture to the book "Snow Queen"

"They wouldn't mind even is that were true"

"But I would" she exhaled "I assume you have not read it?"

"Sorry, never thought of it, but I know more less how it goes…so far you haven't kidnap anyone"

"I guess that should be of consolation" she tried to smile "I should probably go, I don't want to delay them"

"Right" she moved aside to let her pass, but before she called her again "About Rumple…" she cut herself off unable to complete the sentence.

"He said no, didn't he?"

"He said not right now, for your safety"

Elsa nodded "Figures" she said in a monotone voice "Is alright, you tried and is more than I would had asked for"

"He means well"

Elsa didn't answer, she trusted more in the woman's word than in the Dark One's one, but maybe she trusted too blindly in him "If you believe so, then I will hold my breath" she said going to the exit making a gesture with her hand to say 'good-bye'.

At the entrance were David and Henry waiting, standing in similar positions, it was evident they were related.

"Hey!" greeted Henry first as always, using the same excited tone as he did every time he encountered the young woman.

"Hello" she said politely vowing her head to the prince.

"You enjoyed the library?" asked David.

"Very much" she answered as they walked over to the Dinner.

"Have you finished the book?" asked Henry gazing at her curiously.

"I am almost through with it but not quite there yet"

"I could look it up for you and tell you a summary"

"That is very considered of you, but I rather read it myself, better content, more time to process the information.

"Ok, then" said coolly Henry "You are about to get your answers anyways" he encouraged as they approaches the restaurant but before they could get to the entrance, a girl's voice ringed a well known plead.

"Do you want to build a snowman?"

Elsa shocked looked backwards, her eyes expectant, but she didn't found Anna, instead, two kids were playing in the street, enjoying her creation and unexpected winter.

David noticed how Elsa was frozen in her place, almost literally as the ice crust in the ground started to creep up her leg. "Everything ok?" he walked over to her and rested his hand on her shoulder bringing her back from her catatonic state.

"No…" she blinked out of it "I mean yes, no, I am fine, I just spaced out for a minute" she laid a reassure smile in her features trying to wash the concern out of her face.

Henry followed her eye's sight and saw the kids "Those are Hansel and Gretel" he answered the unspoken question "They go to my school"

"Yeah, they are good kids, no trouble makers anymore" mentioned David "So you are sure you are alright?" questioned once more to the young Queen.

"Yes, absolutely" she tried to hide the distress pitch in her voice.

"Very well" he said not completely convinced "Here we are" announces David.

Henry rushed opening the Dinner door for them. At the table were Snow, Emma and Neal waiting for them. Elsa was impressed they had actually brought the baby due to the coldness, but they seemed to be handling just fine.

Once the greetings were exchanged, Granny came in with some Lasagna "And who would be this young lady?"

Before Elsa could think of a convincing lie, Snow intervened "She came with the second curse, she is barely adjusting to the new environment"

"Specially with this storm that came out of nowhere" Granny said

"Yeah, but we are managing well, no big deal" cut in David trying to fix the situation.

"Well, I haven't sell this much hot cocoa in a while" smiled Granny "So what's your name, girl?"

"Qu - Elsa. The name is Elsa"

"Lovely but it doesn't sound like a common name back in the Enchanted Forest"

"Apparently my parents had an affinity toward uncommon things" she offered a smile.

"Well, welcome to Storybrook then" she left the tray and went back to the cashier.

"She is a kind woman" commented Elsa

"Is Ruby's grandmother" said Snow "Don't let the appearance deceive you, she is the deadliest person with a crossbow I had ever met"

"Um" hummed Elsa surprised.

After David cut the lasagna and served everyone a piece, they ate and talked, but it wasn't long after that Elsa inquired "Where is Regina?"

"Yeah, where is my mom?" he looked to Emma "My other mom"

"She…said she had to take care of some personal stuff"

"Did she told you what was it?" questioned Henry confused

"She…went to see Robin…" answered Emma uncomfortably. "You are under my watch until she sorts thing out"

"So until they speak to each other again?"

"No, just until tonight or tomorrow morning, promise"

"Ok, I guess" he said not fully happy about the turn out of events

"Hopefully things will turn out right" cheered Snow her daughter "And she is a grown up, she won't throw a tantrum"

"I will ask Ruby to watch out for her, in case Regina hits the Rabbit Hole to drown her sorrows"

"She wouldn't" defended Henry.

"I-I know kid, but still, having her track follow would help us be sure she doesn't get in trouble. Many of the misunderstanding we had is because we didn't know her whereabouts"

"Alright" he mumbled crossing his arms.

"And seems like little Neal is finally waking up" announced Snow "Here Emma, hold him"

She took the baby smiling tenderly "Hey little brother"

"He has been awake mostly every night, is a miracle he sleeps before 12" chuckled David "We need to catch our sleep"

"I could take care of him" said Emma "I mean if you guys are so tired I could watch him overnight one of these days"

"Would you? Because it would be nice to sleep more than four hours"

"Of course, I will love it, you just say when"

"We will take your word on that" warned David taking a mouthful of food to his mouth "The lasagna is delicious today"

"How is it supposed to taste different? Is frozen lasagna"

"Speaking about frozen" Leroy said at the other table overhearing their conversation then talking to the other dwarfs "I'm getting cold to my bones, either we stop this unwanted winter or…"

"Hey, Leroy, we are just trying to enjoy our lunch over here, could you leave that for later?" intervened David.

"Of course your majesty since you know who is causing this, but you refuse to help your own people, you rather help an estranger…"

"Enough already" cut determined.

"Why should I? Since you don't want to do anything about it maybe is time us the dwarfs get the job done"

"You wouldn't be a match" said Dr. Whale taking his order from the bar "that magic is stronger than the 7 of you together. You should had learned by now, since you have failed to stop Regina multiple times"

"At least we tried you coward!"

"And maybe we are no match, but with the support of the rest of the town, perhaps we could" suggested Walter.

"Well yeah" started the crowd to get aggravated

It was no time for Elsa to start to get nervous, she was almost sure she would end up freezing everything in front of them if she didn't kept her nerve. She breathed evenly trying to inhale and prevent her personal blizzard to purr at the Dinner. Henry noticed this as a tinny snowflake landed on the table.

He elbowed his grandfather discreetly and then whispered for him to stop. David gazed over to the girl and was positive she was fighting a battle of her own "No riots will be made, we don't turn against people just because we judge them, look what happened to Ruby"

"That's right, no one is going to hunt my granddaughter like an animal again" said Granny.

"Well, we trust that the person who did this is not evil, so you can take our word, that person will never harm you" he seated facing his family again and took a quick glance at Elsa, who was smiling kindly at him mouthing a 'thank you'.

David just smiled back and grabbed Neal in his arms rocking him. They ate in a more comfortable silence after that, trying to light up the mood starting a chat that wasn't at all compromising. Elsa found comforting that they would take so much trouble for her, she just remembered very few people that would had done that for her.

After half an hour or so, they left the Dinner paying the check "Thanks, the Lasagna was amazing" said Snow taking her coat.

"You're welcome"

"Hey, where is Red?"

"She was a bit anxious so I let her ran free, she liked the scenery, reminds her a lot of our little cottage, she will be back any minute, I can smell her scent already"

"Well, make sure to tell her we say hi, please"

"Will do"

As they left the entrance they all stopped looking for their respective cars. Elsa was gazing at the same kids still playing in the snow, they seemed to like it so much, and she wished she could go back to those days, but they were left behind now.

"Watch out, Hansel!" the girl had a powerful arm throwing snowballs.

"Ok, careful kids, I don't want you to hit anyone while you are playing" warned a man that was just on the other side of the sidewalk taking care of a car.

"Yes, dad, but I'm winning!" shouted the little girl taking cover behind a bench.

"Not true" attacked back Hansel.

"Elsa, are you going back to the library?" questioned David drawing back her attention.

"I was considering it, but possibly I will later today, when…things calm down a little"

"There is nothing to fear" he reassured "You will be fine, Elsa"

Just the sentence stroked her heart as she visualized her father saying the same words in the same calm tone. Her mouth went dry for a second and she just managed to nod.

"Henry!" the boy ran towards him "You want to play?"

"Maybe later, I have things to do, tomorrow?"

"Sure, but you have to be on my team"

"No fair!" said Gretel from the other side of the street.

"Kids, don't bother them, I'm sure they have things to do" said the father reproaching them on long distance.

"Is alright" calmed Snow "They are just playing"

"Come on guys as soon as the truck comes we can go home"

"Ok dad" they replied.

"Well, see you tomorrow then" both siblings continue to play with each other without a care in the world.

David watched briefly at them as they left and then back to the family "Alright then, since Regina is not at her house you could come to our apartment and…"

"Gretel!" yelled the boy on the top of his lungs forcing Elsa to look back finding the little girl lying on the middle of the road rubbing her head, she had probably slipped with the ice. Then the repetitive sound of a horn came as the driver of the truck just kept on yelling thru the window "I have no breaks, get out of the way!"

"He can't stop!" yelled the terrified father way too far to get the girl out of danger and no one else seemed to notice the situation. Out of impulse she got rid of the gloves and ran to the middle of the street covering the girl on the ground and with her free hand she blasted a wall of snow and ice that crashed against the truck forcing it to slow down but not before almost making it impossible for Elsa to force it stop as it now was just mere inches away from them. It had taken a lot of effort, and when she opened her eyes she found the enormous machine in front of her, but she had manage to build a shield for both of them, she had been able to protect her.

Her heart was accelerated as she let go of the girl who was shaken up, she had seen that expression in multiple occasions, but this time, it was not about Elsa's power, on the other hand she even looked grateful to her.

Gretel just manage a trembling smile as she was pulled to her feet and hugged by her father.

Elsa then stood up and realized just what she had done; everyone in town was looking at her now, How was that for low profile and not blowing her cover? But she just couldn't let that girl die.

The crowd started to gather closer and closer, murmurs started to become shouts and the little curiosity started to build up into a riot.

"She is the witch!"

"She had the ice powers!"

"Take her!"

"You are going to unfreeze our town!"

Elsa started to back away but she was surrounded and she knew there was no way of getting out of there without hurting someone.

"Stop!" yelled David as he stepped in front of her being followed by Emma and Henry. "She has done no wrong, she saved the girl"

"And she froze our town"

"It was an accident" said Elsa "I am trying to reverse it, I swear"

"Problem being, we don't trust witches around here"

"No one is going to touch her, she hasn't hurt anyone" warned Emma "I'm the Sheriff so you must obey, I don't want any trouble"

"Then hand her over, let the people decide"

"I don't think so" stepped Ruby beside the Charmings "I know how you solve things"

"This is different"

"You knew me for years and overnight you called for my head with a mob and brought the torches" she shook her head "She isn't going anywhere near you"

"What side are you guys?" asked Leroy.

"We never kill and we always defend the innocent, you have to trust us, she is not evil, she just haves little trouble with her magic" said Emma knowing how that felt.

While people started to get closer, the scene began to get more confusing and chaotic and suddenly her voice broke through, it hadn't been a yell, it merely had been a complaint a soft whimper, but it had hurt. The people didn't notice it until the spark of light had already exploded and now Elsa was on her knees holding her arm tightly against her chest. Henry kneeled next to her as the people that had been around defending her kept the others away.

"What's wrong, what happened?"

Elsa was fighting back the tears, but they ran freely down her cheeks, she couldn't give an answer the pain was too great. Henry grabbed her wrist and saw her forearm steaming; they had used fire on her.

"Mom!" he called urgently "She's burned"

"What?" she came to them "Ruby, help me, we have to take her out of here"

Red took Elsa's other arm putting it around her shoulders helping her up "Let's find a safe place" they walked thru the crowd that was now dispersing afraid of the new threat that had caused the sudden combustion.

Belle went to them after hearing the screaming "Ruby, what's going on?"

"Someone hurt Elsa…after she used her power in public" she explained "We need to take her somewhere safe"

"Let's go to the library"

"That won't be necessary, take her to my shop" came Rumple walking towards them taking Elsa's hand seeing the burn as she resisted "Calm down, Queen, you were attacked with magic, you need help"

"Not yours"

"I'm not asking for anything in return" he said then looking at Ruby "Take her there and watch the entrance but I doubt someone would put a foot on my shop"

"You better be doing this for the right reason" warned Red

"Ruby" remarked Belle a bit offended.

The werewolf just shrugged doing as she was asked taking Elsa to the shop while Emma and David calmed everyone down and Snow took Henry home.


Once in there Ruby secured the door after Gold had arrived and stayed there loyally as always.

It took a lot of effort for Elsa to suppress the pain. She was no kid and she couldn't just whimper and lose all composure even when it hurt badly. She knew better than that how to conceal, not to feel and not to let it show.

Rumple approached her with a mixture of potions and sat in front of her "Now, let's see that nasty burn, dearie" he held his hand out, but she stood still in her place "I won't hurt you, I swear" she gazed quickly at his eyes and found no darkness in them. She bit her lower lip softly and stretched her hand to him. "Thanks" he said taking her milk white hand carefully.

He evaluated the burn that had done some serious damage in her pale skin "They used very powerful magic, I could even dare to say it was black magic" he caressed the zone that was vivid red "I can't understand why would they hurt you with it"

"What is there not to understand?" she said with a shaky voice that she tried to correct "they see me as a monster, as a witch…"

"They don't really see you, they see the strength of your powers" he cut with scissors the useless fabric of the sleeve. "They fear the unknown, what they can't explain, what they can't control"

"Did you ever fear me?"

"Why would I be afraid of you?"

"You captured me in a vase for several years…"

"I didn't do that out of fear, I was concerned…about something else" he combined some other dusts and finally took a spoonful of it "this is going to be very unpleasant, so take a deep breath" he spread the liquid mixture in the burn causing it to erode with orange bubbles to remove the fried skin. Elsa shut her jaw tight, but her chin quivered as she tried not to cry.

"Is alright" said Rumple taking her hand pressing softly offering to her to do the same. She pressed her fist with might as the pain started to wear off. "That was the worst of it" he said soothing cleaning the potion with a cloth thoughtful not to harm her further. He took his handkerchief out of his suit and cleaned the falling tears in her cheek before she took it herself drying her eyes with a gratitude gesture before everything went silent.

"You…found him" she said quietly out of thin air, but he knew exactly what she meant.

"I did" he applied some type of cream in her forearm "I tried to be a better man for him"

"Yes. You kept your word"

"I didn't stop looking until I found him" he smiled faintly "I went after him"

"Indeed" she said a bit melancholic

"I know is hard to think about second chances, but believe me I used mine wisely"

"I wished I had been there to witness it"

"Bae would have loved seeing you" he assured.

"The feeling is mutual" she exhaled "He was a clever boy with a huge heart"

Rumple sighted "the only thing I truly regret about the past was not to follow him here in the first place"

"You can't bring him back, can you?" she asked in soft voice almost pleadingly.

"No, magic can do many things, but that I'm afraid is one of the few with the worst repercussions, assuming you could bring that person back in the first place"

"Yes, not even the trolls could do that"

"The trolls wouldn't even try that stunt in the first place" he said a bit teasingly, then he turned serious again "You ever asked them that favor?"

"Once" she admitted "but they said they couldn't do such thing, that no one could"

Rumple thought about refuting it, but he kept his peace "You asked for your parents?"

"Wasn't that obvious?" she said rhetorically "I would had loved to have them at my coronation, even for just a minute, just to see my father smile proudly at me and allow my mother to finally hug me" she said with remorse "when they departed to sea I was too afraid of touching them, so instead I wished them farewell like a princess should had. Anna had the privilege of holding them both for one last time…I didn't"

"I am sorry" he said truthfully, with such burden of guilt that it was overwhelming.

"Is not your fault, I decided not to touch them when I turned 13"

Rumple shook his head unable to say what he was really sorry for "Still, I'm sorry you didn't had the opportunity to say good bye properly"

"Thank you" she whispered "No one ever had offered a condolence to me before… I shut everyone out and when I let them in it had been 3 years too late to mourn their deaths correctly, so I guess I didn't, I quietly…watch them faint into the paintings"

He couldn't say more so he took a bandage and rolled it around her arm "You have to wear this for at least 3 days; the magic will work its effects soon. If it doesn't get any better, come back or visit Doctor Whale, at least he has an imaginary degree from Regina" he smiled removing one misplaced buckle of Elsa's hair to the back of her ear "I'm sure that your father would be proud of you, of what you have become…he always had been proud of you, of his 'fearless little girl'…I know that much" he said solemnly "I better tell the watchdog that you are good to go now" he stood up taking something from the corner "You left this at the library, Belle thought it would help you while you recover"

"You must think me a fool for reading it"

"On the contrary, I think you will get the right questions out of it"

"The right questions?" she inquired, he had told her that many years before.

"When you do, come talk to me, I'll be happy to corroborate" he helped her up walking her to the entrance where Ruby patiently awaited.