I promised myself to finish a chapter before the next episode and somehow I did. I would like to thank RedTailedHawkens for the song suggestion. I had couple of ideas for this but finally, inspired by recent development on the show, settled on this situation. It's shorter than usual but I hope you like it. I had couple of great suggestions from other people. I thank you all for them and hopefully I will use them soon.

Despite being somewhat confused, Henry was happy to see a message from Ivy. When she had told him goodbye, it sounded so final. Had he been less dumbfounded (the reaction he had yet to process) he would have ran after her. But then Rogers had shown up and he had got involved in helping him prove Tilly's innocence.

Now that the opportunity arose for him to speak to her again, he rushed to the Belfrey tower and into the office of late Victoria Belfrey.

"Ivy?" the office was sort of a mess, he noticed the moment he stepped inside. The boxes were everywhere still and with the new desk, it looked like she was renovating. He found her sitting at it, head in her hands.

"Henry." she looked up, "You came."

"Of course I came. When you said you'd be here..." as he was approaching, he was picking up the scattered papers from the ground, trying to decipher the meaning behind them along the way, "Why are you back here anyway?"

"I have to run the company for some reason. Apparently, the board is useless..." she laughed sardonically, "Honestly, I have no idea why I'm bothering."

"Well, people might lose their jobs if you don't, so I suppose it a noble thing that you're doing." he always tried to look on the bright side. Cynicism, as she pointed out, was not his style, "I don't know anything about business but I can try and help."

She took the pile of papers from him, "This isn't a problem, Henry. It's cold facts and numbers, it's easy."

"Oh." he pulled out the chair, "Is all this related to Operation Lanterns?"

She snickered, "I told you we're not using silly names."

He shrugged, "It fulfilled it's purpose."

Ivy's head tilted in confusion.

"It made you smile."

She rolled her eyes but smiled again nonetheless. It died quickly as her expression turned to somber, "I saw Anastasia last night."

"Woah, woah what? Where?"

She gestured around her, "Here, with Eloise Gardener."

"Tell me you called the police."

"I didn't because she doesn't want to have anything to do with me."

"Oh, Ivy. She's a teenager in the clutches of a deranged woman. Who knows what she was being told."

"The truth. My mother was the source of love for Anna and the things that I've done have lead to her death. And to Anna being exactly where she is."

"I don't understand why you-"

"And you can't really because- it's like, if you could take you back to where I'm coming from but then-" she covered her eyes with one hand. This whole situation was discouraging.

"Hey, look at me." he took her hands and caught her eye, "You don't have to tell me anything. All those scars that keep you chasing down the past... I get it."

If heart could explode from feeling strong affection, Ivy would have died at that exact moment. She wanted to cry, and bit her lip to prevent it.

"But you have a chance to change things. You shouldn't give up on that, on yourself."

"You really think I can do this? Become the best version of myself?"

"I know you can."

His confidence made her laugh. It sounded bitter, and maybe she was. How else was she to react to such ironic twists of fate, "I swear, you're the only reason I keep believing that all this might actually make a difference. I wish I could see the future, see if I'll slip away again after-" she leaned into him. Feeling so many different things at the same time was overwhelming, "If I give you all my trust Henry, will you keep me safe?"

His eyes showed gentle concern. He knew she was not telling him everything and hoped one day she would feel comfortable enough to share. He wanted to know her. But for now, this had to be enough, "I won't let you fade, Ivy. And whatever happens, don't say another goodbye to me, ok?"

Ivy managed a nod. Dealing with support and encouragement was a long forgotten sensation to her. Finally she felt worth it, despite not being perfect. Her earlier realization that he was everything she ever needed intensified.

She would make sure Henry was right to stand by her once everything's out in the open. So, she'd try another way to be everything she could be, she would give him the best of her. Because she was painfully aware that he would never love her the way she loved him. That was something she had to accept. But now she had to focus on the goal of destroying Gothel and getting her sister back. And she'd find a way undo the curse and keep Henry alive. Not to simply right her past wrongs, but to assure the better future.