Standing across from Daniel at the makeshift altar at the small village inn courtyard, Regina was wearing a simple white dress borrowed from another guest. She'd put flowers in her hair, and some children had made her a bouquet to hold.

"Do you, Daniel, take Regina to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do."

"Do you, Regina, take Daniel to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do."

"You may exchange rings."

Regina, who was wearing a simple gold band already, slipped an identical gold band onto Daniel's finger.

"By the power vested in me by His Royal Highness King George, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Cheers came from all sides of the courtyard as Daniel pulled Regina close, and…

…he suddenly felt something cold and hard smack him in the arms and shins.

"Daniel? Hey, Daniel!"

Daniel opened his eyes. Somehow, he had fallen off of his cot. He spent thirty seconds looking around the cell to reorient himself, then let Henry help him stand back up.

"You hypnotized yourself, didn't you?" Daniel didn't say anything. "Maybe you should hold off on doing that again until our next visit with Dr. Hopper, huh?" Daniel exhaled and sat back down on the cot. "You okay?"

"No!" Daniel finally snapped. "I'm not. I don't want to be in here. I want to be outside in open fields riding horses and being with the woman I love."

Daniel looked away from his friend's startled expression as Henry placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"I'm falling in love with her, Henry. I don't know how it's happening, but I'm falling in love with a person who doesn't exist in my world."

"She does exist, Daniel," said Henry. "I saw her just a few weeks ago. And you will see her again. I swear."

"Really? When? If we were so happy together like you keep saying, why hasn't she come to see me?"

"Because she doesn't remember you!"

"What?"

"You're not the only one who lost your memories to the curse!" Henry finally said. "That memory you recovered with purple smog taking up all the airspace around your house and a witch grabbing your heart? The witch was Regina's mother, and the purple smog was a curse. She wiped thousands of people's memories and brought them all to Storybrooke just to keep you and Regina apart."

Henry braced himself for any number of reactions. The ridicule he'd gotten from his first two sets of foster parents. The incredulous laughter he'd gotten from the few peers he'd discussed this with as a kid before he learned better. The bewildered sympathy from more than one too many shrinks. The tears that had filled Helena's eyes when he'd showed her the book.

"So I'm not crazy?" Daniel finally said. "That memory really happened?"

"Yes. It did. I was there too, but I…I escaped."

To Henry's relief, Daniel's face lit up with an awestruck smile.

"I knew that memory had to mean something. That was Mayor Mills, wasn't it? The witch?" Henry nodded. "Of course. It all makes sense now."

"The only difference between you and everyone else in Storybrooke is that you weren't given false memories to replace your real ones," Henry explained. "I think that's the reason you've been able to recover memories of your life with Regina. Everything you've remembered during hypnosis is what your world really is, Daniel. Not this cell."

"What does this mean?" asked Daniel. "Is there any chance of us ever getting out of here?"

"I don't know," Henry finally said. "But the fact that the mayor tried to frame my sister for murder and failed can only be a good sign. Storybrooke was designed to be a place that the evil witch could control every aspect of. There shouldn't be anything, ever, that she doesn't know about this town."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that the fact that her plan failed her could only mean one of two things. Either she wanted Dr. Hopper to turn out to be alive and Helena to turn out to be innocent all along, or more likely, there is something in this town that's more powerful than she is."

And somehow, despite Henry's destiny to become Storybrooke's savior, he knew that that something wasn't him.

When Helena arrived at the Golds' later that afternoon, she wasn't too surprised when Kayla opened the door. She was, however, fairly surprised when the eleven-year-old came outside, slammed the door shut behind her, and physically yanked Helena off to the side.

"Have you talked to him yet?"

"What? Oh, you mean Graham. No, I haven't."

"Good. Because I've been thinking…we don't know why Mayor Mills is hiding, but unless there's something in this town that she's afraid of, something that's even more powerful than her, she's probably waiting for the right moment to make a comeback. We need the curse broken now more than ever." Helena bit her lip in an attempt to remain poker faced. "Sheriff Graham will never be nearly as powerful as Mayor Mills is, because he's not the one who created the curse, but as long as people in this town think he has power, they will keep looking to him for leadership until someone else steps in. So right now, you have the ultimate advantage."

"What are you talking about?"

"The fact the person in town who everyone thinks has the most power thinks you're totally awesome and wants to buy you flowers and hold your hand and kiss you. Duh."

"Kayla, how did you…wait hold on…what are you saying?"

"You could totally convince the sheriff to help you sneak Henry out of the hospital for a few hours. Pretend you just want to go for a walk and catch up with him or something. That should give us enough time to figure out how to break the curse. Especially if you agree to let Princess Aurora help us. I know you don't like her, but she's nice, and she could be very useful."

When Helena didn't respond, Kayla starred at Helena for a moment, then looked down and bit her lip.

"Kayla, why don't we sit down for a second?" Helena finally suggested as she gestured to the porch steps. They sat down next to each other. "The reason I needed to stop by is because I have to tell your parents the same thing that I'm about to tell you."

"Okay?"

"I talked to Dr. Hopper this afternoon. He says that Henry still has a long way to go before he'll be ready to be released from the hospital."

"Dr. Hopper only thinks that because he doesn't remember who he really is. Henry's not really crazy. He never should have been in there in the first place!"

Helena took a deep breath. "Kayla, I really need you to listen to me." She slipped her hand around the child's shoulders. "This stuff that's happened with Henry, and with the mayor, and with me…it isn't a story. This is reality. You can't keep treating everything like it's got some wonderful magical solution to it. That's not how life works. Sometimes you have to make compromises."

Kayla's green eyes narrowed with concern. "What are you saying?"

Helena hesitated. "I'm leaving town."

"What? Why?"

"I'm a social worker, remember? The children I work with need me to come back."

"No! The world has plenty of social workers! We only have one savior!"

"I'm not leaving Storybrooke forever!" said Helena. "In fact, I'm probably coming back next weekend to visit Henry in the hospital and talk to Dr. Hopper about his progress."

"You really don't believe, do you?"

Helena looked away and brushed a stray leaf off the left knee of her jeans. Moments later, they heard the front door open behind them. Mr. Gold stepped out.

"Mr. Gold, good afternoon," Helena said as she stood up. "I was hoping I could talk to you and your wife for a…"

"Papa, she wants to leave Storybrooke!"

Helena sighed as the pawnbroker quirked an eyebrow. "Is Mrs. Gold here?" asked Helena.

"No, she's working late." Mr. Gold turned to his daughter. "Run along, Kayla Belle. I need to have a word with Ms. Stable alone."

Once Helena and Mr. Gold were on the porch alone, Mr. Gold went straight to asking Helena what was going on.

"I just wanted to thank you again for everything you did for me while Dr. Hopper was missing. And I wanted to assure you that I'll definitely be coming back to Storybrooke sometime soon, so whenever you decide to cash in on that favor I owe you, I won't be far away."

Mr. Gold smiled. "Oh, I don't doubt that, dearie."

"But for now, I need to go back to Boston. My life is there, my friends are there, my job is there, and besides, I'm sure you can understand my need to get away from all this madness for a little while."

For a moment, Helena almost thought that she caught a hint of a smirk in his eyes.

"I understand," said Mr. Gold. "I wish you all the best of luck with whatever comes next, Ms. Stable." He held out his right hand and gave hers a firm shake, let the eye contact between himself and Helena linger for just a moment longer than necessary, and then turned to go back inside. Helena began making her way down the front walk.

"One more thing, Ms. Stable." Helena stopped and turned back. "A friendly piece of advice. As I'm sure you're well aware, some folks have grown to consider you quite an integral part of our fair town. If I were you, I'd take care not to neglect anything-or anyone-that should be prepared for your departure." And with that, he stepped inside and shut the door.

Helena stopped in her tracks. "What am I doing here?" she thought to herself.

She had walked away from Mr. Gold's house with every intention of going home to have one last dinner with Virginia, then she remembered that she'd promised to pick up dinner for them from Granny's. Then she'd begun thinking about all the things she'd been missing about Boston, all the things she was going to miss about Storybrooke, how nice it would be to finally have a car again, and everything she was going to do when she came back to town the following weekend…and somehow, while she was letting her mind wander, her legs had brought her to the front of the sheriff station, which was two blocks away from where she'd intended to go.

Before she had a chance to even consider the possibility of turning and walking away, the door opened.

"Good evening," said Graham. "I'm sorry about that. I saw you through the window. Ruby must have locked the door on her way out."

"Oh," Helena said stupidly. She hadn't even tried to open the door. Nevertheless, when Graham stepped aside and held the door open so she could walk in, she obliged.

"What's going on?" asked the sheriff.

"Nothing, it's just…" Helena sighed and shoved her hands in her pockets. "Well, I guess I'm here to say goodbye."

Graham's eyes widened. "You're leaving Storybrooke? Right now?"

"No, not tonight. Tomorrow morning after I visit Henry."

"Oh," the sheriff's gaze softened. "I'm sorry to hear that." Helena raised her eyebrows. "What I meant, was, I wish that...it's just that…so many people in town have grown fond of you over the past month. We'll all be sad to see you go."

"That's nice to hear," said Helena. "I'll be sad to see you go…I mean, I'll be sad to leave, too." She cleared her throat. "Leave town, I mean."

Graham smiled. "Right."

Helena averted her eyes and let out a shaky breath when Graham's gaze stayed fixated on her.

"I'll be back soon, you know," she finally whispered.

"I would assume so."

"And not just to visit Henry. For long weekends. At least once or twice every month."

Helena glanced up again for just long enough to see Graham inch closer to her, then looked back down at her own tarnished paddock boots and suddenly realized that Graham had amber specks in the center of his eyes. She'd never been standing close enough to him to notice that before.

"So I guess in some ways…" Graham hesitated, "It's like you're not really leaving at all?"

Helena felt a small, unintended smile form on her lips. "I guess not."

She looked back up and found the sheriff standing so close to her that she could feel his breath on her forehead. And then she looked up and met his eyes for just a moment before she leaned forward and kissed him. She closed her eyes and felt the sweet taste of Graham's lips on hers and the shock like fire that it sent through her veins-blissfully unaware of the wall she'd just broken down in the sheriff's mind.

Twenty-Eight Years and a Few Weeks Ago, The Enchanted Forest

The doors to Princess Snow White's palace swung open as she sauntered in, her dainty white heels tapping the stone floors. When she saw the king emerging from the parlor, she slowed down and curtseyed. He stopped in his tracks.

"Good afternoon, Father."

"Where in heaven's name have you been for the past few days, child?"

"I took the carriage to King George's Kingdom," Snow answered truthfully.

"No doubt to entertain your grand delusion that your animal friends in the forest have been trying to warn us about some impending dark curse," said King Leopold coldly.

"But Prince James and Princess Abigail said…"

"I don't care what they said!" said King Leopold. "You are never to leave this palace without my permission again, Snow." The king's tone was gentle, but condescending.

"Yes, Father," Snow reluctantly agreed. The curse was mere days away anyhow and, according to Prince James, the evil witch was unstoppable. The only thing Snow could do was try to enjoy her remaining time in the enchanted forest with her closest friend-her young stepmother, who was only two years her senior.

"Is Marion home?" When King Leopold didn't answer, Snow asked, "Father, Where is she?"

"She left." The king faced his daughter and gave her his full attention as her mouth slowly fell open. "She ran away with him. Her precious Robin Hood." Snow felt the color drain from her face. "Where she is right now, I don't know. But I'm sure that they'll be found soon enough."

"What's going to happen to them when you find them?"

"I think you know," the king replied curtly before turning away.

"Father, no!" Snow screamed to the king's bewilderment. "You don't have to do this!"

King Leopold blinked. "Yes. I do."

"No," said Snow, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No, you don't. I know Marion hasn't been the wife or the queen that you wanted her to be, and I know that she has now undoubtedly broken her marriage vows to you in every way possible, but please, please consider for just a moment that those vows were never truly her own." When King Leopold didn't respond, Snow continued. "She was so young when you brought her here. Her father, the baron, was never going to say no to you. She didn't have a choice. Please, please don't have your soldiers execute her. She just wants to be with the person she loves. Nothing more than what you or I or anyone else wants."

King Leopold sighed and cupped his daughter's trembling jaw in his hand.

"If you truly want Marion to be happy, Snow, then I won't allow a single one of my soldiers to lay a finger on her."

"Really?" The king nodded. "Can you promise me?"

King Leopold's gaze softened. "I promise."

Snow White let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

"Thank you, Father." She leaned into his arms and hugged him tightly.

"Anything for you, beautiful Snow." King Leopold kissed the top of his daughter's forehead before releasing her. "Why don't you go find Johanna and put in a special request for our dinner tonight? Anything you like."

The princess thanked her father again before running off. King Leopold immediately walked down the palace's darkest hallway and entered the chamber where his most trusted captain had been waiting.

"There's been a slight change of plans, Claude," said the king.

"Of what nature, Your Grace?"

"My beautiful daughter just coerced me into promising her that I wouldn't have the queen killed by any of my men."

Claude nodded. "So this means the search is off?"

"No. This means I need a huntsman."

"Do you have a name?" King Leopold asked of the scruffily-clad muscular man lurking in the servants' entrance to his own private chamber. "Or shall I just call you The Huntsman?" The man shrugged in response, which the king took as an indication that he could call him whatever he wanted. "I understand that you have no compassion for human life, Huntsman. That's why I have personally chosen you for a special task. If you complete it, I promise you I will outlaw the hunting of wolves in all the White Kingdom. Any questions?"

"Why me?" the huntsman finally spoke. "You have so many soldiers…"

"Why none of them are up for this particular task is none of your concern," said the king. "Do we have a deal?"

The Huntsman nodded. "What exactly do I have to do?"

"Track down and dispose of my adulterous queen."

The king had taken care of everything. Or so he had thought.

He had provided The Huntsman with access to an armory full of weapons. He had given him a knapsack packed with basic survival essentials along with a detailed map of the kingdom and a sketch of the king's soon-to-be late wife that had been done a few weeks after their wedding.

After the deed was done, the king had said, The Huntsman was to show up at the palace on a day that Snow was at home, and under a false identity relate to her a story about how the queen had been mauled to death by a bear, and there had been absolutely nothing he had been able to do about it. He was to bring a token back with him as evidence; jewelry, if Marion was wearing any, if not, a lock of her fine black hair.

If only King Leopold hadn't turned a blind eye to what his daughter had tried to tell him about an evil witch planning to cast a dark curse that would change everything, he might have sent The Huntsman out with a little more urgency. Or at least with a warning.

The Huntsman had not returned to the king's palace by the time the lilac clouds arrived to consume it, along with everything and everyone else King Leopold had ever known.

Helena flinched with shock when Graham jumped back as if he'd just been burned.

"What?"

Graham's face lit up. "How...how did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"I remember now!" He began trembling as he pulled Helena into his arms and hugged her tightly. "Thank you! Thank you so much."

"Graham, what the hell are you talking about?" When he didn't answer, Helena asked, "Does this have something to do with Mayor Mills's case?"

"No, not at all," Graham released Helena and stepped back. "This is about what happened before she cast the curse! The one that brought us to Storybrooke! I was living in the woods with my wolf family until King Leopold called upon me to complete a…a quest of sorts. I had just made it to the outskirts of Sherwood Forest when the clouds came and everything-"

"Graham, stop!" yelled Helena. Visibly startled by the woman's reaction, Graham froze. "What the hell is this? What are you trying to do me?"

"There's no trick here, Helena," said Graham softly. "When you kissed me, you brought my memories back."

"No, no, no! Who the hell put you up to this? Kayla? Eleanor? Or is this something you and Henry discussed before he was locked up?"

"Henry remembers too? He never said a thing to me about this, Helena. I swear. No one has."

Helena shook her head and realized she was beginning to cry. "It's that damn book, isn't it? It must be. Henry showed you the book."

"I don't know anything about any book, Helena. I'm telling you. The memories I've recovered are real."

Helena stayed perfectly still, her chest heaving, as she searched the face of the man standing in front of her for any sign that he could be lying. She found none. She had never discussed the particulars of Henry's world with Graham, and, apparently, neither had anyone else. There was no explanation for this that could be founded in anything but magic. There was no other way to rationalize it.

Not like the fact that the children on the last pages of the storybook looked exactly like Helena and Henry had when the police had found them...

Or the fact that Virginia looked just like Regina did in the pictures and was the daughter of woman who had ruled and terrorized Storybrooke...

Or the fact that the mayor had actually slipped once and called Virginia Regina in front of Helena...

Or the fact that every single person in town who Henry had identified using his book actually did resemble their counterpart not only physically, but in their personality...

Or the fact that the horses at the stable here had the same names as the horses Henry had told Helena stories about as a child-stories that weren't even alluded to in Once Upon A Time...

Or the fact that Helena had actually found the girl who physically resembled the drawing of Cinderella in the book living with a wicked stepmother and stepsisters...

Or the fact that there had always been something suspicious about the previously unshakable hold that the mayor had on everyone in town...

"Helena? Are you alright?"

"Just...just stay here!" Helena shouted before turning and running out the door.

By the time Helena reached her destination, she was still too shocked and confused to bother questioning why the light inside was on right now even though it was supposed to be closed and its owner at home having dinner with his family. Nor did she question why as soon as she threw open the door, he emerged from the back room of the shop with a nonchalant smile on his face.

"It's true, isn't it?"

And the pawnbroker stepped out from behind his counter, bowed down to her, and simply introduced himself.

"Rumpelstiltskin."