MK didn't leave her hotel room for most of the next couple of days except for meals and a little bit more exploring. She had several notebooks and notepads out, all scribbled on with notes and ideas. In one notebook, she had everyone she remembered meeting and the names she remembered from the boxes at town hall. She put in the connections, or at least the ones she knew about. There were still people she hadn't met, and connections she knew nothing about, which were a lot. The Bennetts, Hawkins's, and the Bernards were the only ones she really knew for sure as she still couldn't learn from Jack who his wife was, and the only thing she knew about his son was the nickname JJ, which probably meant Jackson Junior. Though there was the possibility that the witch changed the boy's name so as to keep Jack from finding him. She paused, perhaps that's why he never told her the real names of his wife and child, perhaps he thought that the witch had changed both their names! No wonder why he was at a loss, most people searched with names, and he must have come up empty. He must have figured that letting her search from square one, that she would have a better chance of finding them than with all the information he already knew about them. She smiled as she placed a circle around his name and Jamie's, they were definite allies. Neither really liked Mavis, though Jamie was the only one who suspected her of anything. Jack might, but he had never said a word. She continued on and placed a question mark next to Sarah May's name. She knew Sarah May could be trusted as well as Richard, but she wasn't sure if either one would want to take on their illustrious mayor, though she was sure they would back her and Jamie up. She took a breath as she sat back after placing an X next to Esther's and Jason's names, Jack had mentioned that he and Jason had been on bad terms, apparently so bad that Jason changed his name so that Jack couldn't find him, even if he wanted to apologise. And then there was Esther, of the two other times she ran into Esther in the past couple of days, MK just had an instinctive feeling that she wouldn't betray her mayor. And the fact that she was married to Richard could prove to be a problem. She glanced at her watch, it wasn't quite time yet to go pick up Jamie, so she went back to putting in a few more things that she had found out before cleaning up and heading out to pick up her son.

"MK!" Jamie grinned from ear to ear as he climbed into the car.

"What's up, kid? Haven't seen you in a few days, and knowing our luck, a lot tends to happen."

Jamie chuckled, "No, I think that's only you. A lot of stuff happen to you?"

MK shrugged as she pulled out of the parking lot, "Not quite the same as what happened on Saturday, now that was some real excitement."

Jamie snickered, "Yeah, that was. I'm glad you and Miss Bernards found Mr. Hawkins before something bad happened to him, I'd hate to think what would have happened if you hadn't found him in time."

"Well, don't think about it. We got him back safe and sound, no need to worry about things that didn't happen."

"OK. So, did anything interesting happen, though it wasn't as exciting?"

MK chuckled, "I guess so, Erika has been kind enough to show me some of her previous work and the progress on my dress. I went to Mr. Overland's shop and got a few things, he showed me a few cool things he's got in his shop."

"Did he show you everything in the back?" Jamie looked at her with hope and excitement.

"Um, yeah, he did, there's a lot of neat stuff back there."

"So you saw Princess Merida's bow, her dress, and Chief Hiccup's sword?"

"Um . . ." winced MK, she was kinda hoping to avoid that.

"Those aren't the only things that came here from the stories," stated Jamie, not noticing MK's apparent unease. "Mr. Goodwin has all of the jewelry, even the ring that Hiccup proposed to Merida with, and several of Mr. North's toys showcase several of the images of the old ways. Plus there are lots of hints all around the town, dragons for the dragon riders, though they're fake, Scottish references for the clan chiefs, there's even an Olaf in front of the Party Hall. Oh right, you haven't read Snow White and Rose Red yet."

"Huh, that's interesting."

"You believe me?"

"No, I just think it's interesting, and that it has no real connection to the book. But, that reminds me. I went to the file room for your file to double-check if you are really my son, and I found some interesting things."

"What did you find? And you found out that I'm really your son, right?"

MK smiled, "I did, kid. That was definitely my signature on that birth certificate. As for everything else, it will have to wait, not sure if I should spill it to the world." She parked the car in the parking lot of the Goodie Tree Cafe and Diner.

"Oh, right, can't let the enemies know, right? Then you'll never solve it."

She glanced at him as she got out of the car, "You know what I do?"

He nodded as he followed her in, whispering, "Yeah, you're a detective." She glanced at him again, but didn't say anything until after Ellen had left with their order.

"So, how did you know?"

Jamie shrugged, "When I searched for you, I found your resume, 'Detective for hire'. That, and a few newspaper articles too."

"And you don't have a problem with it?"

"Nah, I think it's cool!"

"No, I meant . . . about me not looking for you," MK sighed.

Jamie blinked a few times before realizing what his mother was worrying about, "Oh, no, I mean, you had probably wanted to not find me because giving me up hurt too much, right? It's alright, you probably would have been happier if I hadn't come along and reminded you of that."

MK shook her head, "Actually, Jamie, I'm kinda glad you came along when you did, I was feeling lonely, and you brought me to a place where I feel like I could belong."

"So you'll stay?"

"I didn't say that, but it is a possibility, no guarantees."

"Yes! That's better than not wanting to stay at all!" laughed Jamie. "Oh, uh, MK, um, I've been wondering, Who was my dad? What was he like?" MK paused, she wasn't sure how to tell him. "W-was he a bad man?"

MK shook her head, "No, it's just, it still hurts."

"Oh, sorry."

MK waited a few minutes before replying, "Your dad was a pretty great guy, he was so excited when I told him I was pregnant with you. We had even gone and bought a house, we were so happy. But . . . one day, a freak fire started and . . . he never made it out." Jamie swallowed, the two glancing down when Ellen set their plates down. She didn't say a word and left as quickly as she could, she had heard a bit of what MK had said, and thought it best to give them some privacy. After she left, MK popped the news. "There's another reason why I didn't want to look for you."

Jamie glanced up quickly, a hint of worry in his voice, "Why?"

She glanced at him, "Something was off about that fire, Jamie, they all said that it was started by someone, probably your dad, to get out of some kind of debt or something, only he ended up getting caught in it. But there's a problem, there was no body found, they had put out the fire soon enough before anybody could be turned into ash. And your dad shared everything with me, he wasn't trying to get out of anything. Someone did intentionally start a fire, but I think your dad is still alive, somewhere. Why I can't find him, or why he hasn't contacted me, I don't know, maybe he knew who did start the fire and kept away to protect us. Anyway, the point is, I had wanted to find out more because I did want to find you, but not until I had a real answer for you about your dad."

"Oh, and I interrupted that, didn't I?"

"No, not really, actually, I've kept hitting dead ends. I think taking some time off your dad's case might help clear my brain enough to see the trail that's been right there all along. And to get away from everyone who keeps filling my head with, 'He's dead MK, get over it'."

"You love dad, don't you?" MK nodded. "Then you'll find him sooner or later, I hope sooner because I want to meet him."

MK smiled, "I'm sure he'll want to meet you too. Now let's eat and talk of happier subjects." Jamie grinned and obliged, the topic switching to school and the upcoming ball, until they left. Then MK asked the question that had been on her mind, about Jamie suspecting Mavis.

"So, kid, besides your mom being the witch in A Faraway Land, what else about her seems . . . off? When did you first start suspecting your mom of not being, well, the good person you thought she was?"

Jamie ran his fingers through his hair, "Well, I had found out by accident from Aunt Heather that I was adopted. I mean, I kinda knew all along, but she confirmed it. Then I asked mom to see my birth certificate. She took me to town hall and showed me. When she was busy looking through my box, I took a quick look around. I saw a lot of names I recognised. I asked her why that was, and she told me that it was information on everybody in the town in case of emergencies. I then asked her about the coma patient, I mean, Richard's box. She took a quick glance at it, but told me because no one knew who he was, he didn't have one. I then asked if there was a chance that he was known by anyone on the farms, because I noticed there was an Esther and a Valerie Hawkins, but I knew that Esther was an orphan, so, you know, I started to wonder if he was Valerie's son and suggested it to mom. She knew I was catching on quick, but told me that everyone was asked about it, but no one knew who he was. I pretended to shrug it off, and then I saw your signature. I was curious about what kind of a person you were, and started asking all kinds of questions. Mom seemed relieved that you were taking my mind off the boxes, but it wasn't completely gone from my mind. She told me she would look you up, but she came back with some story about how you had gone to jail for doing drugs or something, I don't remember what. Something didn't sit right with me about her story, so I would take up my free time on the internet at school looking for you. That's when I figured out the real reason why she was scared, you are a detective, a good one, she's afraid you'll get to the bottom of it all, though I beat you to it."

MK sat back, the car off in the hotel parking lot, "So why did Sarah May feel the need to give you A Faraway Land? And did you look in Richard's box?"

"No, mom never let me back in the file room, and as for why Miss Bernards gave me the book, well, I was feeling down. I knew that I would need quite a bit of money to get to Las Vegas, but I knew I couldn't go to mom about it because then she'd know I went behind her back to find out the truth. So, when Sarah May came around to talk to me because she noticed that a was dilemma written on my face, she gave me A Faraway Land, hoping to cheer up what she must have thought was a few problems at home. I devoured that book in a week, and I realized by the end what she didn't want us to find out, that the whole town was under a spell! I immediately noticed the similarities between mom and the witch of Myrsina, and Sarah May with Princess Merida. I took Labor Day weekend and compared everyone in the town with the book, mom had business to take care of that weekend, so I spent my time doing that. I even included my friends, and it had turned into a treasure hunt of sorts. Mr. Overland soon got caught up in the excitement after we found Jack Frost, him, and offered a few of his trinkets as prizes to help us with the treasure hunt. Speaking of Mr. Overland, I think he's starting to remember, if he doesn't remember all of it."

"In the book, does Jack Frost have a wife and a son?"

Jamie blinked, "Uh, yes, he did. Rapunzel was his wife, remember? And he did have a son, they named him Jack Junior. What is it?" MK's eyes had grown large, but she wasn't quite ready to believe everything in the book.

"Come with me, you'll understand when I show you." She brought Jamie up to her room and showed him everything she had found. Jamie just about leaped for joy, his mother was going to come to the same conclusion, but he quickly realized that it would have to be in her own way and in her own time.

"Wowee, so Jack Frost asked you to help him find his wife and child? He does remember! But he won't tell you anything else because he knows you don't believe."

"How would he know that?"

Jamie gave her a mysterious grin, "He's good at that, And you also found Justin?"

"Who?"

"Jason Knightly. Justin and Jack used to be good friends, but that all changed when they both thought they were in love with the same woman, but she ended up marrying a prince instead of either of them. Jack wanted to reconcile with Justin because he realized that she wasn't the one for either of them, and they, in a way helped each other out. But Justin wasn't quite ready to forgive him, and left to go off in search of an adventure around the time that Jack found Rapunzel. When Justin came back, Rapunzel and JJ disappeared, Jack blamed him until he found a clue that stated otherwise, the witch who had held Rapunzel in the tower came back for her, and took JJ with her. But the damage had been done, and Justin and Jack had parted ways on bad terms. You'll notice that he pops in and out of the rest of the fairy tales, he's still looking for his family and Justin. He still wants to apologise, but if Justin still hates winter, even as Jason, then he doesn't want an apology yet."

"Which is why if we're going to take Richard to see his mother, that Jack should stay behind."

Jamie shook his head, "No, it'll be fine. Jason doesn't know that Jackson Overland is Jack Frost. I'm sure Jack will be nice, like I said, he does want to reconcile with him, so he should be nice. Let me talk to him before we go, and everything will be alright. Besides, you'll have to worry about the meeting between Richard and his mom, I have no clue what she remembers about their parting, and if he remembers."

MK sighed, "Oh fine, as long as you promise not to talk to anyone about A Faraway Land, while we're at the stables and the farm, is that clear?"

"Can I talk to just Jack about it? If he remembers . . ."

"If he remembers, don't get your hopes up, but yes, you can talk to him about it."

"Yes, thanks mom! I mean, MK."

"Well, I guess you can start calling me mom now that we've established that you are in fact my son."

"Yes!"

"And now that we have established that fact, as your mother, I can tell you to do your homework."

"What?!"

"That's part of the deal, Jamie, don't break your end of the bargain."

Jamie groaned, "Oh fine. I guess I should be thankful it's not much. Though, can you help me with some of it?"

"Like what?" MK asked as she picked up the notebooks so Jamie could have room to work.

"The bigger projects that have to be submitted the day before Halloween. Miss Bernards wants us to choose our favorite fairy tales and to have our costumes ready. The costumes can be from the fairy tale, if they're not, we have to present a story about our choice of costumes. We do this every year, but mom's never let me done it. Something about not letting such nonsense go to my head. Mr. Overland has always let me hang out with him though and I like hanging out with him, it's just . . ."

"You'd like to do it, just once."

"Yeah, can you talk to mom about it?"

"Well, since that's one of my last nights here, might as well make it the last hurrah."

"Yes! Thanks mom!" Jamie gave her a quick hug.

"Alright, but before we get started on that, let's get the rest of your homework done."

Jamie grinned, "Alright." MK made sure he did his homework, helping him wherever needed before taking him home. Before he left the car, Jamie dropped one final piece of advice.

"Mom?"

"Mmm-hmm?"

"Have you gone to Harmony Gardens or Sandy's yet?"

MK shook her head, "Nope, not yet. Why?"

"I think you should, there's a Linda Green working at Harmony Gardens, I think she's James' sister. She might be the only one in town who knows Jason well. She might be more pleasant when answering your questions."

"OK, and Sandy's?"

"I'm wondering if the Scottish witch and the Sandman remember who they are."

"Wait, what?"

"Yeah, the witch who specializes in bear transformations is Sandy O'Donnell, and the Sandman is Sandy Stewart. They live on Sands Court next to Bear Lake, and they're the only people who have left Cedar Grove without being hurt in some way. Plus, they have her cauldron in the back."

"Uh, OK. And what sign would I have that they 'remember'?"

Jamie ignored the emphasis, "Tell them that Jack Frost is back and he could use their company. Their reactions will let you know. They were good friends of his, the Sandman was helping Jack look for Rapunzel whenever he went out to bring sleep and dreams."

"Alright, I'll humor you this time."

"Oh, and we should have a code name for this. Oh I know, Operation Ghosthunter! We're getting close to Halloween and we're digging up the ghosts of the past."

MK smiled as she parked her car, "OK, Operation Ghosthunter it is. Oh look, there's your mom, you'd better get in and head to bed. Saturday is only a couple of days away."

"I know, can't wait! Goodnight, mom!" Jamie hugged her.

"Goodnight Jamie, see you Saturday!"

"See ya!" He waved to her before walking into his house, Mavis closing the door behind him. MK pulled out, well, guess she had her plans for tomorrow, see Linda Green at Harmony Gardens and the two Sandy's at Sandy's.