A/N: Thank you for all your lovely reviews over the past couple of weeks as I've been updating again. A couple of things I wanted to warn you about. First of all, right now I'm planning for this story to have exactly forty-five chapters. So we're in the final stretch, but I'm definitely open to sequels. Second of all, all of the rest of the chapters (including this one) are going to be extremely long. Hope you enjoy.

It had been a long time since Mr. Gold had had occasion to visit town hall, and even he, who had lived alone in the Enchanted Forest for hundreds of years shaping his path to Baelfire, was disturbed by the silence in the building. Every time his cane hit the floor, it sent a shrill echo ringing through the hallway.

Mr. Gold glanced into the small office that was next to the mayor's office. The last time he'd been in here, Virginia had occupied that desk. Her replacement, an older man with dark skin, was typing on a computer. He shook with a start when he saw Mr. Gold in the doorway.

"I'm just here to see the mayor," said Mr. Gold. He squinted. The plaque on the desk in the room said 'Sidney Trapp.'

"She's not in right now," said Sidney. "Can I take a message?"

Before Mr. Gold could respond, the mayor's office door swung open.

"Come on in, Mr. Gold." She glanced at Sidney. "I was expecting him. Remember, I want the first thirty pages of the updated town charter on my desk by four o'clock."

Sidney nodded. "Yes, Mayor Mills."

Once she and Mr. Gold were in his office, the mayor closed the door and locked it behind them.

"I'm surprised to hear you're updating the town charter," remarked Mr. Gold.

"Now that the curse is weaker, rules will have to be more strictly enforced in order to get people to be good around here," Mayor Mills explained. "After our biggest threat is eliminated, that is. I assume you're here to report to me on how that's going."

"I am indeed," said Mr. Gold. "As I'm sure you are well aware, my client is in jail right where you want her."

"Your client?"

"I offered Ms. Stable my legal services." The mayor's eyes widened. "Don't fret, dearie. I only did it to put myself in a better position to uphold my end of our deal. It's quite tragic, isn't it, how often one neglects to realize that their worst enemy is the friendly face watching over their shoulder?"

The mayor responded to the sentiment with an approving smile and nod.

"I have another eighty pages of the town charter to amend by the end of the week," she said. "I leave our prisoner in your capable hands."

Mr. Gold smiled. "Have a good day, Madam Mayor." He left the woman to enjoy the victory she'd had in her mind for as long as it was to last.

Helena watched from her cell as Ruby deposited a small clear plastic bag on Graham's desk.

"This is it? This is all you could find?"

Ruby shrugged. "It's something. Judging by the amount of dirt on it, it's been there for a few days."

Graham handed the bag back to Ruby. "Take it down to the lab and have them check for fingerprints. Then bring it back. Do you have any idea who it belongs to or what it might open?"

Helena sat up, scraping her shoe against the bottom of the cell as she did so, making those outside aware of her presence. Graham shot her a glance.

"See if she knows what it is," he instructed Ruby, who walked over to Helena with the bag and held it up. Inside was a small gold-colored key, the head of which was shaped like a heart with a round hole in the center. Helena shook her head. Ruby shot her an apologetic smile and walked away. As she exited the building, Eleanor entered, the silk of her long green gown brushing the floor.

"What can I do for you, ma'am?" Graham greeted her cordially.

"I'm here to talk to her." Without granting the sheriff so much as a glance in his direction, she walked over to Helena's cell. Helena sat up straight and stiffened. "I need to talk to you alone."

"No," said Helena.

"I know you didn't kill Dr. Hopper."

"Really? How do you know that? Did you steal the shrink file of the person who did?"

"Of course not," said Eleanor. "I just know you didn't because whoever did must have been someone who doesn't want the curse broken." Helena rolled her eyes shamelessly. "And plus, from everything I've seen and been told about you, you don't seem like you're capable of committing murder. Just like you would rather keep your beliefs grounded in the familiarity of the world you grew up in than face up to the fact that your parents are cursed and your brother is the savior of an entire realm."

Graham shot Helena an appropriately stupefied glance over Eleanor's shoulder.

"Do you really want to help me, Eleanor?" said Helena. The other woman nodded eagerly. "Stay the hell away from me and my family."

Before the princess could respond, Helena folded her arms and turned around, facing the stone wall of her prison cell. She heard Eleanor's high heels take her to the door and then the door swing shut.

"What the hell was she talking about?" asked Graham.

"She and Henry share some of the same bizarre delusions," Helena explained. "They think we're all supposed to be living in a magical land full of princesses and dragons and crap like that."

Graham nodded. "I can't say I blame them. The real world is a cruel place sometimes."

Helena sat back on her bench and adjusted her pillow so she could lean against it. "Yes. Yes, it is."

That day, breakfast and lunch had come and gone very quietly in Henry and Daniel's corner of Storybrooke's hospital.

"Doesn't Helena usually come on Wednesdays?" Daniel remarked .

Henry, who had already been painfully aware of the fact that Helena hadn't shown up that day, nodded.

"I'm sure she's just busy," said Daniel. "And she'll probably make it up to you."

Henry shook his head. His sister had come to visit him every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday like clockwork. No matter how much she resented him, she wouldn't stop coming without an explanation unless she was otherwise detained or worse. "Something is wrong. First Dr. Hopper disappears, now Helena's disappeared…"

For the first time since they were reunited, Daniel looked at Henry in a way that suggested that maybe there was, in fact, a reason that he'd been locked down in a place meant for those who had lost control of their own minds. Henry sighed.

"There are a lot of things that you don't know, Daniel." Henry shifted his position. "And I think that it's time I started telling you a bit more about where we all came from. I wasn't going to because Dr. Hopper asked me not to, and it really did seem like it would be best if you figured it out for yourself, but now that the doctor's gone, I don't see how that's possible."

"I have a better idea," said Daniel. "Maybe I can still figure it out for myself."

"How so?"

"I can continue the hypnosis process," said Daniel. "You can hypnotize me. I'll explain to you exactly what Dr. Hopper said and did, and I'll take care of the rest."

Henry thought about it for a moment. He was worried that he might do something wrong that would actually harm Daniel, and he was also worried that if they did achieve the desired result, the mayor would somehow find out that Daniel was continuing to regain his memories. But really, what could possibly happen that would make their current situation worse than it already was?

"Okay," said Henry. "Let's do it."

Daniel felt the firm earth of the barn floor absorb his footsteps as he entered the tack and feed room, the handle of the open door just level with his elbow. He could hear an unfamiliar voice whimpering inaudibly from behind a stack of hay bales. He paused right next to the stack and let his large hands swing at his sides.

"Why doesn't she understand?" Daniel could barely make out the words. "Why doesn't she know how hard I try to be prim and proper all the time?"

Daniel chuckled. "That sounds boring if you ask me."

Predictably, a tiny shriek came out from behind the hay. Then some scuffling. Then a disheveled little girl with thick dark hay-filled curls appeared. Round brown red-rimmed eyes scanned him up and down, squinted and widened.

"You're a boy aren't you?" she finally said.

"Of course," said Daniel. "What did you expect me to be? A girl?"

The girl shrugged. "I've never seen a boy before. Mother says they'd be a bad influence on me."

"Well, my mother says that people like your mother only call people like me a bad influence because we like to do fun stuff like play tag and play catch and groom horses." The girl sniffled. "What are you doing out here in the barn anyway?"

"I'm Regina," the girl said, wiping a tear from one cheek. "I live in the big house. My mother said to come out here and think about all the things I do wrong." There was a pause. "What are you doing in the barn?"

"My daddy is the stable boy," said Daniel. "I work with him so that I can learn how to be a stable boy when I grow up, too."

Regina giggled. "I wish I could be a stable boy when I grow up."

"You can't. You can only be a stable girl."

"What's that?"

"Just the same thing as a stable boy only being a girl."

"Oh, okay."

Tthe rattle of a carriage interrupted the exchange. "Daddy's home!" Regina squealed, tearing out of the barn. From the window of the barn, Daniel watched Regina leap from the ground into her father's arms and then engage the man in a game of tag. The game ended with Regina winning by scurrying up the branches of a nearby apple tree, laughing so hard she was shrieking, streaks of mud coating her dress. Daniel smiled to himself. Maybe this girl wasn't quite as boring as he'd expected.

Daniel found himself sitting up on his concrete bed taking deep breaths as Henry discreetly attempted to calm him down, although Henry was actually slightly more rattled than Daniel was.

"What happened? Did I do something wrong?" Henry asked.

"No, no, it's not you," said Daniel. "I'm fine. The memory was just more vivid than it normally is." Dr. Hopper had never allowed Daniel to go that deep into hypnosis, but he didn't want to worry Henry by saying so.

"And? What was the memory?"

For the first time in years, a serene smile cracked Daniel's face.

"One of the most important days of my life."

Mr. Gold returned to the jail later that evening to take a look at the piece of evidence Graham and Ruby had collected from the orchard. Storybrooke's forensic's department, having little else to do with their time, had very quickly examined the key and hadn't found any fingerprints on it whatsoever.

"Any chance you know where the key comes from, Mr. Gold?" Graham asked hopefully.

Mr. Gold shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't help you there." Mr. Gold turned to face Helena. "The best thing we can do for you now, Ms. Stable, is make sure that the DA sees the sweetest side of you tomorrow morning. We play you up as the kind-hearted social worker that so many people in town already see you as."

"So, that's how you're planning on getting me out of this?" asked Helena, her voice cracking. "By using my reputation?"

Mr. Gold adjusted his grip on his cane. "Perception is everything, Ms. Stable. Not just in the courtroom, but in life. People are a lot more gullible than they'd care to admit. That's why so many good people end up with bad reputations, while others who have darkness deeply rooted within their souls are overlooked even when they're staring you in the face." He inched closer to Helena. "You just need to let people see you for who you are."

Helena nodded and looked away. Graham's telephone rang. He answered it. An apartment resident was calling with a noise complaint that needed his attention. Because of the time of day, he decided to lock up for the night.

"I'm afraid I have to leave," he said. "Mr. Gold, visiting hours are over."

Before the two men left the sheriff station, Graham paused to ask Helena if she needed anything. When she said no, he gave her a paper cup full of water just in case.

Alone in the building, Helena laid down on her side and counted the bars on each side of her cell and the window, and then she laid down on her back and started counting the tiles on the ceiling. Anything to avoid thinking about tomorrow.

At least now she had a better idea of what Henry was going through. This was what his life had been like for weeks now. No wonder he was in there telling his roommate about magic and fairytales. What else were two relatively lucid men whose world had been reduced to a concrete box supposed to discuss all day long? The taste of hospital food?

When Helena heard the door of the sheriff station unlock and then swing open, she sat up and was stunned when she saw her visitor.

"If you're looking for the sheriff, he's out doing his job right now," said Helena.

Mayor Mills smiled. "Actually, he isn't. I had my assistant call him with that noise complaint so that I could have a word with you alone."

"Okay?" replied Helena uncertainly.

"I'm here to offer you the chance to spare yourself and my town the messiness of a trial," said Mayor Mills. "The chance to confess."

"Thank you, Madam Mayor, but I didn't kill Dr. Hopper, and if I knew who did, I swear I would have told someone by now."

"Oh, please," said the mayor, coming so close to the outside of the cell that Helena instinctively scooted back. "Your fingerprints were found on the murder weapon and on the box. You admitted to being alone in the woods during the crime. You have no alibi whatsoever. Shall I go on?"

Helena pulled together what was left of her dignity and stood up. The mayor curled her bony fingers around one of the bars.

"Why not, for once, make it easier on all of us?" the mayor continued. "Because confession or not, I will see you leave my town if it is the last thing I do. Graham will be forced to escort you to the county prison, and I will never have to see you again."

Helena shook her head and stepped closer to the mayor.

"Listen to me, Mayor Mills. I know that you hate me for letting Virginia stay with me after she left you, and I can't say that I blame you for hating my brother for pulling a gun on you. But I promise you, I did not kill Dr. Hopper."

The mayor tilted her head to one side and smiled sweetly.

"Oh, I know."

Helena froze. "What?"

"I know you didn't kill him," said Mayor Mills. "But you did ruin my life. And for that, I will be glad to see you suffer."

Helena's jaw hit the floor as the older woman walked away, slamming the door to the sheriff station shut behind her.

When Helena woke in her cell the following morning, a cup of coffee and a bear claw were waiting for her on a tray beside her bed. Ruby, who was uncharacteristically dressed in a pant suit with her hair pulled back in a tight bun, sat at her desk busily typing away.

"Thanks for breakfast," said Helena.

"Don't thank me. Graham came in early just to bring pastries for us."

"That's nice of him," Helena remarked as she grabbed her coffee and took a big sip.

Ruby hesitated. "He really does hate doing this to you, you know. As the sheriff and deputy, we don't have a choice but to go where the evidence leads. But as Graham and Ruby, neither of us feels like you deserve this."

"Thanks, Ruby," said Helena. "I really appreciate that."

Ruby turned and smiled. "You'd better eat up. The interview starts in forty-five minutes." Ruby scooped up her files, packed them in a briefcase, and walked out the door, black heels clicking against the tile. Helena realized that Ruby had never worn heels into the sheriff station before. Somehow it was that detail-perhaps combined with the lack of sleep and coffee-that made Helena's head begin to spin. She quickly finished her coffee and breakfast in what felt like three minutes but was actually closer to fifteen.

Half an hour before the interview, Graham and Ruby hurried back in, and Graham immediately came over and took Helena's plate while Ruby began straightening up the files on her desk.

"How are you feeling, Helena?" asked Graham. "Ready for this?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," said Helena.

Graham turned around. "Ruby, as soon as you're done cleaning up your desk, I want you to sweep the floor, spray some flower-scented air freshener, and wipe down everything."

"Yes, sir."

"Whoa," said Helena as she ran her fingers through her messy hair. "Why are you so concerned about cleaning everything up for the DA all of a sudden?"

Graham hesitated. "It's not the DA. It's Mayor Mills. She's requested to be present at the interview."

Helena stood up. "And you're letting her? Explain to me why that is a good idea."

Graham inched closer to the jail cell. "To keep her from becoming suspicious. As long as she can see that I'm doing my job, I have the ability to continue to look for proof that you're innocent."

Helena lowered her voice. "Graham, there's something I have to tell you. After you left last night, the mayor stopped by."

Graham raised his eyebrows. "What? How could she even have gotten in? I locked the door."

"I don't know, but she said…"

Just then, the DA entered the building. He was an older man with a cold smile and a firm demeanor. Graham rushed to greet the DA and show him to the room where the interview was to take place. While that was happening, Virginia arrived with a hairbrush and a change of clothes.

"I didn't see anything that looked nice enough for an interview in your drawers, so I brought you something of mine."

Helena held the garment Virginia had handed her up to herself. It was an orange-red dress with thin straps that tied behind the neck.

"Thanks," said Helena. "It's lovely. And thank you for coming the other day and trying to convince Graham to let you bail me out."

Virginia smiled and squeezed Helena's hand through the bars. "You're welcome. It's the least I can do. I'm sure I don't need to remind you that if it wasn't for you, I'd still be living with my mother."

Helena let out a sigh. "Your mother came to see me last night," she whispered. "She told me that she knows I didn't kill Dr. Hopper."

Virginia's eyes widened. "How could she possibly know that?"

"Exactly."

Virginia looked down, her mouth slipping open and forming a perfect O.

"You'd better get out of here before she comes," said Helena. "Just try and stay away from her, okay? No matter what she does, don't let her suck you back in."

Virginia nodded, her breath shortening. Then she stepped back and tore out of the sheriff station. Ruby came back and let Helena into the bathroom to freshen up and put on her dress. When she emerged, Mr. Gold was there waiting to remind her of their gameplan. She insisted on having a word with him alone, so Graham and Ruby both stepped into the interview room to straighten up a bit while the DA made his own preparations in there. Helena told Mr. Gold what had happened the previous night after everyone had left.

"Basically, she reminded me of every scrap of evidence that points to my involvement in the murder and then told me in so many words that she knew I had nothing to do with it," said Helena. "Don't you see? She must have had something to do with it herself."

"And how exactly do you think we're going to prove that, Ms. Stable?" asked Mr. Gold. "Obviously, whoever did attack Dr. Hopper covered their tracks quite impeccably."

"That's just it. I'm in jail because my fingerprints were allegedly found on objects I've never even seen before. Who else has enough power in this town to infiltrate the forensics lab?"

"Look," said Mr. Gold. "We don't have the time to do anything with this information before the interview. Just stick to the original plan. Get ready to go in there and impress the DA with your virtuous ways. In the meantime, I'll see if I can work a little magic."

As if on cue, Mayor Mills arrived and made a beeline for Helena.

"Good morning, Ms. Stable. I'm sure you've met my friend, Spencer."

"You're friends with the DA?" Helena asked before she could stop herself.

"Yes. I've told him so much about you." Mayor Mills paused for effect. "Don't worry, dear. I can assure you this interview won't be a long one." She passed by Helena with a smile and a wink.

Helena wrapped her arms around her stomach. Graham came over and stood next to her.

"Ruby is almost finished getting the room ready. Do you need anything before we start?"

"Graham, will you do something for me?" Helena whispered. Graham glanced at her expectantly, his eyes full of guilt. "Watch over Henry, okay? I'm the only family he's ever had. I don't want him to be left alone and forgotten in a system where he's nothing but a statistic. Not again."

Graham leaned close to Helena, placed his hand on her shoulder, and opened his mouth to respond.

"Help! Somebody help!"

Graham and Helena repelled with a start. Graham got to his feet moments before the door to the sheriff station was frantically flung open by Leroy.

"Leroy, what's wrong?" asked Graham.

"We need some help out here! Quick!"

Ruby emerged from the interview room. "What's going on?"

"Ruby, you're in charge," said Graham hastily, grabbing his keys and shoving them in his pocket on his way out the door. He ran outside after Leroy, chasing the shorter man around a corner and down an obscure alleyway. A woman was kneeling on the asphalt next to a dumpster with her hand on the shoulder of someone who was lying face-down. As they drew closer, Graham recognized the woman as Leroy's girlfriend, Astrid, but he couldn't tell who the other person was.

"Is he conscious?" yelled Leroy.

"Um…I think so!" said Astrid. "But he seems very weak!"

"Who is it?" asked Graham, already pulling his walking talkie out to tell Ruby to send an ambulance.

The person grunted and pulled himself up into a sitting position. When Astrid inched back to catch him and help him, Graham froze.

It was Dr. Hopper. He was alive.