Disclaimer: Property of A&E and ABC. Not Mine.

Henry is peering intently at him. For the past half hour, Hades has been re-shelving books from the table, and the boy, until now, has been quietly absorbed in his storybook. To be honest, Hades had actually forgotten he was there.

Not any longer. That stare of his is intimidating. "What?"

"You… you live in the Sorcerer's mansion, right?"

"Yeah. So?"

"I have an idea."

Uh oh. "Whatever it is, you'd better run it by your parents first."

The teen grins, rather devilishly. "If I did that every time I had an idea, this town would still be under my mom's curse."

Hades plays dumb. "Huh?"

"Oh yeah, before your time. I'll explain it on the way."

There's that glint in his eye again. Hades is having none of it. "The way to where, kid?"

Henry is the poster child for adolescent exasperation. "The Sorcerer's mansion!"

"Look, unlike you, I have a job. Remember? You're the one that dropped it in my lap. And per your mom, I'm here until six."

The boy's face falls for a moment, but quickly recovers. "You can leave early." He gestures towards to the front room. "It's not like there's a lot for you to do."

Hades waves the narrow paperback in his hand. "I'm cleaning up this library."

"You can do that tomorrow. You can do that any day. C'mon, don't you want to hear about my idea?"

"Nope."

"It's a great idea – and I can't do it without your help."

It's something in his tone. The sincerity of it all, as if Henry really couldn't accomplish whatever is on his tiny hero mind without Hades' help.

"Your mom is supposed to stop by today. Can't your idea wait until after six?"

"No." The word is loaded with resentment and frustration.

Hades chuckles. "Got a curfew, huh?"

"Sort of."

Their conversation is interrupted by a faint ping and a buzz. Henry pulls out his smart phone from his pocket and starts tapping away at it.

Hades lifts his head, attempting to see the screen. The teen frowns and turns away, shielding his conversation. Affronted, Hades snorts softly to himself and goes back to shelving. It's no skin off his back if the brat wants to keep his technical chats to himself.

He's hard at work when Regina finally arrives as promised. A brief glance at the clock on the far wall says 5:15 p.m. She must have just finished her quaint little day job as mayor. Hades can picture her parading around that art deco office, taking calls and bossing people around.

And then it hits him. The lack of a phone number. Her odd behavior. She doesn't go to her office. She can't go – because of him. He sees it clearly now; it's been written all over her face. The grief. The anxiety. The struggle just to get through the day. He recognizes it all - because he's lived it. It's exactly how he felt after Zeus stopped his heart and locked him away in the Underworld.

Guilt hammers through his gut but he swallows it down. Too bad for her. If she and her precious Robin Hood had minded their own business and left him alone, it wouldn't have happened. They should have stayed in the Underworld in the first place. It wasn't so bad down there. He'd bet she'd trade a life in the Underworld with her boy toy over a life without him up here. The fault is hers, not his.

"So," she purrs politely as she walks down the aisle between the bookshelves, "how was your first day?"

His tone is overly curt when he replies, "It was fine." Of course she reacts to it, and Hades silently berates himself over his inability to curtail his emotions.

"Oh. Well. I just stopped by to give you my contact information." She hands him a small piece of paper. There are two phone numbers on it – one labeled 'cell' and the other 'emergency'. The latter must be her home number, or some magical way to find her in case of emergencies. That'd be an excellent spell. Hades starts to construct it in his mind – a type of call-forwarding via magic. Regina coughs, and he immediately gets his head out of the clouds and back into Storybrooke where it belongs. Seriously, what is wrong with him lately? First it's a fit of conscience and now he's daydreaming. If this is some side effect of being mortal, he's not having any of it.

"Thank you, Lady Regina. This will do nicely. I will make sure to keep these numbers in a safe location after I've memorized them."

She nods. "Excellent. Good day to you then, Mr. Rhye."

He's lost all interest in tweaking her; he just wants her to go away. He's had enough of her and her heartbreak. "Good day, Lady Regina."

He presumes that she'll visit with her son next, but oddly he hasn't appeared. That's unusual – it's not like he didn't hear her. As Regina is walking out the door, Hades heads to the back room.

To his surprise, it's empty.

"Henry?"

There's a voice from behind one of the bookshelves. "Shh!"

Hades laughs – but quietly. He listens for the soft click of the front door closing, and hears it two seconds later. "Relax," he calls out. "She's gone."

"Good. I was afraid you were going to tell her I was here." There's a scuffling noise and Henry slides out from between a bookshelf and the far wall. How he squeezed himself in there is a mystery.

"What's the deal? This part of that curfew of yours?"

The teen shrugs.

Lovely. "I see."

The kid changes the topic faster than a politician in a courtroom. "Well, now you can close up right? She's gone and it's almost dinnertime. Everyone will be heading home or to Granny's. No one is going to want to come in here."

He has a point. The cat was away… which meant the mice could play. And why shouldn't they? Hades is tired of the psychological whatever-the-hells going on inside his head. If Henry wanted to break his curfew, well… that was his problem. In fact, the idea of mischief has become rather appealing.

"You have a point. So, you want into the Sorcerer's mansion, huh? Care to share why?"

The teen blinks in happy surprise. "You've changed your mind?"

"I never said I wouldn't take you," Hades says wryly. "I just said you needed to clear it with your parents."

Henry echoes Hades' tone. "How do you know I didn't?"

"Well played, kid. If you say it's okay with them, it's okay with me." Hades heads towards the smaller room and retrieves his tweed jacket. He pulls the keys from the pocket and starts to close down the library for the night. As he expected, Henry is impatiently hovering nearby, half-following him from room to room as he shuts off the lights.

Finally, he flicks off the switches near the double doors, bathing the main area in muted greys and silvers. The sun is low in the sky, and if they're lucky, they'll make it to the mansion right before sundown. This spawns a new thought, and Hades asks, "Once we're there, how do you intend to get home?"

"Um…"

"That's what I thought. You know I can't have you wandering around Storybrooke in the dark. Your family would try to hunt me down and kill me." Heh. Wouldn't be the first time.

"I'll call a cab or something," Henry stammers, eager to dismiss the conversation.

"Why don't you just do the honorable thing and tell them what you're doing before they ground you worse than you are now?"

The boy shoots him a withering glare. "I'm not telling them. Not yet."

"Okay, kid. It's your funeral."

oooooooooooooooo

Their walk to the mansion is actually a rather pleasant one. Henry is a fairly knowledgeable tour guide, and makes a point of explaining to Hades who lives where, and what happened here, and who did this over there. It's a summary of Storybrooke's history, all in twenty minutes.

When they reach the wrought iron fencing, Hades stops them. "Okay. Time to let me in on your nefarious plan. What's this grand idea?"

"It's easier if I show you."

"Nice try, kiddo. Now spill it."

Henry crinkles his nose in disgust.

"I can always go inside and call your mom. She gave me her cell phone number today."

"Okay, fine." Henry leans against the black metal gate, attempting to play it cool. But the gate swings backwards against his weight and the boy sputters and stumbles to keep his balance.

"Ha! Very smooth, my young friend. Why don't you knock off the theatrics and just tell me?"

"It would have been a lot cooler if I showed you," Henry grumbles. "There's a library in there. The Author's library. It's hidden. In it are tons of blank storybooks." The boy shakes his head. "I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier. I don't need the original storybook, I can use one of those and start a whole new set of stories."

Now that's interesting. Henry is just full of surprises. "Well then," Hades says, gesturing through the now opened gate, "lead the way."

Henry strides up the stairs to the door, but pauses before it, rather than barging in. "Maybe you should go in first."

Hmm. Walking into the main hall with one of the locals might raise a few knightly eyebrows. Godric's, for one. "I have a better idea." Hades leads Henry around the wrap-around porch to the side door. "If we're lucky, this is still unlocked." He presses down on the latch… and success. "Perfect."

He repeats his gesture from before. "Head on in. Let's see your hidden library."

"It's there," Henry snarls.

"I never said it wasn't."

"Oh. Well, okay then. Follow me."

They tiptoe through a narrow corridor out to the area behind the main hall. Sir Alphonse and Sir Nathaniel are bickering rather loudly over heaven-knows-what. Probably a woman. Or food. He pauses to listen, and smiles. It's both. They're arguing over one of the waitresses at Granny's diner.

Henry points to the ceiling. Hades follows him up the small flight of stairs to the area housing the servants. The teen strides confidently down the hallway to the blank wall at the far end.

"You ready?" he asks, looking around.

Hades does the same. It's not that this library of Henry's is sacrosanct, but if what the boy says is true, those books don't need to become public knowledge. Or property.

"Coast is clear. Whatever you're going to do, you'd better do it soon. Before we have company."

Henry reaches up to the wall sconce and yanks it. It bends and then… nothing.

"Wow. Impressive."

"No, this is where it is. I know it. Oh! I wasn't the Author then. Maybe it works differently now." He takes out his fountain pen and touches it to the wall sconce. No dice. He swipes at the wall, repeatedly, but his efforts are in vain.

"I think your hidden library decided to hide somewhere else, kid."

There's raw emotion behind the boy's words. "No, it is here. I found it before. Those books technically belong to me now. I am the Author!"

And with that, there is a dull clunk combined with the grinding of gears as the wall pivots counterclockwise. Henry pushes against it and parades into the darkened room like he owns it. Hades trails behind, marveling as the room come to life. With each step the boy takes, the sconces along the wall illuminate to light his path. If Hades ever doubted Henry's claim as Author, he doesn't any longer.

He wasn't lying about the blasted storybooks either. There must be hundreds of them.

"They're all the same," the teen tells him, lightly running his fingers across the duplicate spines before stopping. He looks up, and on the top shelf of one bookcase is a storybook that is shimmering with a dim, pulsing glow. "Except maybe that one. I think that's the one I need. Can you help me get it?"

Sir Rhye isn't the tallest bean on the beanstalk, but Hades does try to reach it. No go.

"Here, stand on this," Henry says, offering one of the ornate wooden chairs from the multitude of tables within the room.

"Hold it steady, okay kid? Hospital visits are not something I want in my near future."

Henry grasps each side of the chair tightly from behind while Hades steps up. He reaches for the book, and when he touches it, a jolt of icy cool energy courses through him. For a split second, it feels like he has his power again.

"Whoa… what was that?" Henry is gaping up at him in astonishment.

"I dunno, kid. Probably nothing."

"Let me see the book."

Hades hands it down and dismounts from the chair, bracing for the worst. If somehow his story transferred into that book, his cover is blown. He'll have to knock the kid out and lock him in here, and then make his escape. Henry places the still-glowing book on the nearest table and opens it. The faint golden light flashes once, twice and then peters out completely. The boy flips through page after page, but they are all blank.

"Huh."

Hades squelches his relief. Thank the gods. "See kid, I told you. Nothing"

"Let me see your hand."

Hades holds them both out, palms forward and Henry's brows furrow. "Maybe I unlocked it or something."

The furrows remain. "Maybe."

"So, are we done? Can I go and eat my dinner now?"

"Yeah, I guess." He pulls out his phone, which did buzz and ping a few times during their little adventure. "Uh oh."

"You should have told them what you were up to."

"Well, it seems they found out. Leroy saw you and me walking towards the mansion, and he told David. And my grandfather told both my moms." There's a look of dismay on the teen's face. "I think I might have gotten you in trouble, too."

Great. His perfect ally has undoubtedly gotten him fired from his perfectly cushy job. He hasn't even had the damn thing a week yet.

"Tell your family that I'm bringing you home, right now."

The boy taps on his smart phone, and there's a ping. "They're all at Granny's."

"Fine. Tell them I'll have you there in ten minutes."

Henry's face is downtrodden. "I'm sorry."

"Kid, the night isn't over yet. Let's go get a ride into town. And don't forget your book. We're going to need it to save our asses from your family's wrath. "

oooooooooooooooo

Renault is kind enough to delay his meal and drive the two of them into town. Hades has the manservant stop a few yards away from Granny's to avoid the heroes learning that the knights commandeered the Dark One's car. Somehow he thinks that won't sit too well with them. Besides, he needs to prep his young charge for the upcoming battle. He can't lose his newfound ally to protective parental oversight. The boy needs to be readily available, and on the ride over, Hades thought of a wonderful way to make that happen.

They head towards Granny's. "Okay, Henry. Here's the deal. Be honest with them. Tell them exactly what you did, and why."

"But, they're going to say it won't work. They're going to say I shouldn't do it." Henry kicks a rock on the pavement, and it pings loudly against the latticework surrounding the diner's outdoor patio. "But I know it's something I have to do! I just know it!"

"First, relax. Getting all fired up isn't going to help. Go in there, tell them your idea, and show them the book. Then… leave the rest to me."

"Really?"

"Trust me." Hades holds the door open. "I'll be right behind you."

Henry pauses, gazing into the diner. The flames of parental frustration are flickering in the narrowed eyes of Emma Swan. Hook is beside her, a cynical smirk plastered across his smug face. The Charmings are sitting across from them, both twisted around to face the door, and both sharing twin expressions of concern and dismay over their grandchild.

"Better get it over with," Hades mutters into the boy's ear.

Henry peers back at him, and there's genuine fear in those hazel eyes. The boy may think he isn't a child any longer, but those eyes give it away. The teen swallows hard, and then walks head high into the lion's den.

Emma starts, of course. "What exactly were you doing at the Sorcerer's mansion? You know you're not allowed to go anywhere without telling me or your mom first."

"I had to get this," the teen says, holding up the book. "It's one of the blank storybooks from the hidden library. My library. I'm the Author, remember?"

Hades sighs, as the Savior's complexion downgrades from a moderate peach to inferno red. The kid isn't doing himself any favors.

"I'm very aware of what you are, kid, but that doesn't mean you have the right to break the rules. Your mom and I agree on this – it's too dangerous for you to be the Author right now. There's a lot going on that you don't understand."

"I'd understand if you told me!"

"Henry, we're not getting into this right now. Regina is on her way – you're going to stay with her tonight."

"So she can barricade me in my room?"

"If that's what it takes to get it through your think skull that you're in danger, then yes!" Emma turns and focuses her attention on Hades. There's motherly rage brewing in those green eyes. But that's okay – he's ready for it. Bring it, Savior.

"I know you're new here, but it's customary for adults to ensure a child has a parent's permission before taking them somewhere. Not doing so could be considered as… well, hostile."

"Kidnapping," Charming quips. "Against the law. Now, we're not going to lock you up or anything this time, but…"

Hades holds up his hand. "Please. Let me explain. I'm aware of your laws and customs. I discussed this with Henry. But he was adamant, and I, for one, am behind his plan one hundred percent."

Five faces study him, Henry's included. He gives the kid a quick wink before continuing.

"Sheriff, you've seen my companions. I'm sure you're aware of what we are, who we work for, and why we are here. What you may not know is that there are others out there, also recruited for service on an as-needed basis. Many of the people from my realm are not, shall we say, secondary characters. Wouldn't it be in the town's best interest to help those individuals find and finish their true stories?"

Hades turns and faces Emma. "Your son came by the library today, looking for a special book he claims defines your past. I know little of it, but he explained its magic to me, as well as the power he wields with his pen. He also told me how he helped people in… the Underground, I believe he called it?"

"Underworld," Hook spits. "Bloody awful place."

Some dark night, Hades is going to get that pirate alone and figure out how the hell he got out of the Underworld. And then he'll return him there – in pieces. But for now, he has to pitch his brilliant idea to keep Henry nearby.

"Ah yes, Underworld. Well, his tale was intriguing to me. He recommended we visit the Author's Library in order to procure a clean copy of the special, magic books." Hades points to the one in Henry's hand. "I saw him open the hidden door, and I saw the room come alive as he entered. You may not like it, but he is the Author, and it is his destiny to write the stories of others."

He turns to Charming and Snow. "Wouldn't it make things easier if some of us newcomers just, went away? Found our Happy Endings?"

The pair face each other, and Hades can see their unspoken conversation. They know where he's going with this, and from the glint in their eyes, they're buying into it. Just like he knew they would.

"Henry can set up an area in the library where he can work with the newcomers. Those of us that wish to have our stories written can meet with him. Those of us that don't, well, that's fine too." Hades straightens himself. "As the temporary librarian, and a known newcomer, I can help manage and coordinate the process."

"Emma," Snow murmurs avidly, "I like this."

The door behind him bangs closed. "Henry! Thank God." It's Regina, and the whimpering of an infant means she's not alone.

Hades freezes. He stands ramrod straight as both Regina and Zelena walk towards him. Regina has her son in her arms seconds later, and begins a staccato soliloquy on Stranger Danger. But Zelena's still on the move, and the faint, familiar scent of her perfume reaches his senses as she brushes past him, the near-contact sending a sharp, hot spike right down his spine. His vision clouds as he watches her settle into an empty booth in the rear of the diner. Her attention is on her baby, but there's a moment when she looks up and her eyes latch onto his.

Time stops. Or maybe it's just his heart. Were her eyes really that blue? He doesn't remember them being so blue. He tries to breathe, but fails at it. Instead he continuously swallows against the stubborn lump that magically wedged itself deep into his throat and won't go away. The chemistry he felt with her that day in Oz is nothing compared to the raw energy coursing through his veins now. It's burning through him, pooling in the one place that definitely should not be heating up right now. He tries to look away, but it's she that breaks the contact first. The flush on her cheeks means she wasn't immune to it either. She felt it too. Does she know it's him? How could she?

The world around him whirs into life, as if nothing of significance had happened. In linear time, their whole interaction lasted two or three seconds. But for Hades, it was a lifetime.

He glances over at the heroes, who are rapidly bringing Regina up to speed with his plan. All are engrossed in their rather animated conversation, except for the damned pirate, who is grinning toothily at him. He tilts his head towards Zelena, and then gives Hades a sly wink.

Fantastic. It figures the damned rutting pirate would hone in on anything sexual within a five mile radius. Hades decides right then that Hook's toast. He's moved up the To-Be-Annihilated list to second place, right under Zelena. He's going to make that pirate suffer long and slow this time around. Make better use of that hook of his.

Suppressing his malicious creativity for later, Hades tunes back into the conversation.

"… can't have everyone flooding the library at the same time," David argues. "It'll be madness."

"He's right," his wife chirps. "Henry and Rhye will be swamped, and that's not what we want either."

"So how do we manage crowd control?" This is from the Savior, who is mirroring Regina's expression of mild horror at the thought of their baby boy being overrun by newcomers. Or at least that's what Hades assumes they're horrified about.

This isn't good. His plan is falling apart, so he steps in to steer things back on track.

"No one says you need to force the newcomers, and Henry, to do this all in one day. It should happen over time. But you will need to get the word out. Does your town have… I don't know your name for it… assemblies?"

"Meetings," Regina corrects, albeit gently. "And we haven't had one for a while. They don't tend to go well." She and Emma share a look, and both the Charmings scowl.

"Everyone yells," Henry whispers loudly to him. "A lot."

"Well, is there a way to gather the people in assembly in a positive way?"

Snow White's face lights up like a Christmas tree, and Hades immediately regrets opening his big mouth.

"We," she says eagerly, "can hold another ball."

"No. Mom…"

Emma looks terrified, and Hades agrees with her. He didn't sign up for any big parties. He was thinking more along the lines of a Town Hall meeting. He can see it now, the crowds, the lights, and Godric will definitely demand that all his knights dress in armor. Just what he wanted to do on a midsummer's night – sweat to death inside a tin can.

"I rather like the idea of a ball," Hook leers, slinging his arm around the Savior.

Charming is amiable towards the idea as well. "The last one did a lot to boost morale of the people from Camelot. I see no reason why it wouldn't do the same for the people from the Land of No Magic. They can set up their stalls along Main Street," he says to Snow, "like we saw when we were there."

Snow is positively beaming. "It'll make things a bit more normal for them."

"And this time, there's no Dark One to interfere." Regina raises her eyebrow at Emma, who cowers slightly under the mayor's scrutiny and looks away.

Henry finally pipes up. "So, are we doing this? And how will it help solve the crowd control problem?"

Hades sighs. He already knows how this is going to play out. "Well kid, odds are we'll be spending the day at the Storybrooke Library's booth talking to people about what you might be able to do for them. If they're interested, they'll select a date and time to meet with you at the library. We'll probably have a few sign up sheets and forms for them to fill out. After that, it's just a matter of managing the schedule at the library and you writing their Happily Ever After's into that book of yours."

Seven sets of eyes lock onto him, all echoing amazement. Even Zelena has tuned in to their conversation.

"That's… that's a very good idea," the Savoir states.

He knows why they're surprised, but pops their astonishment bubble quickly.

"It's nothing new. It's how tourneys are run." He waves a hand idly. "You are familiar with the sport of jousting in this land, are you not?"

Henry's face lights up just like his grandmother's. "Hey! Let's host a jousting tournament!"

All the adults speak as one, including Hades and Zelena. "No!"

Everyone smiles afterward, amused by their shared response. The moment links Hades with the heroes in an odd, indescribable way. Henry, who is less pleased, pouts, "It would have been awesome."

"Well," Regina states, "sounds like we have a plan. Mr. Rhye, since you're familiar with the newcomers and it seems like you have some experience with this, perhaps you'd be willing to help us out?"

"Ooh…you can work with me. It'll be fun." Snow is beaming at him. "I'll come by the library tomorrow and we can get started right away."

David raises an eyebrow at her and she swats him on his shoulder. "What? I love planning parties."

The sheriff's eyes meet Hades' with something akin to sympathy, as he softly tells his wife, "It's not you I'm concerned about."

The heroes are now observing him kindly, and it is awkward. Hades shifts his gaze to Zelena for an instant, and finds nothing but a sneer of contempt. She doesn't think he can do it.

Hades straightens himself into his formal, knightly stance. "My Lady Snow White, it would be my honor and pleasure to work with you. I am certain that we can organize an entertaining yet safe social gathering that will delight even the coldest of hearts."

He bows slightly towards her, and she giggles softly. He looks up, but it isn't Snow's eyes he searches for. It's Zelena's, and they're filled with scorn and dismissal. He's been on the wrong side of that look many times before, and the hatred and rage he's suppressed so well sparks to life deep within him. He holds her gaze, forcing her to sever it again by turning her head downwards, shielding her eyes from his behind the curtain of her long red hair.

She can hide all she wants. He's coming for her, and with Henry and that book in his corner, it's only a matter of time before he'll finally get his revenge.