Regina could tell, simply by the presence of the multiple children before her, she was in the wrong place. The spark of magic that often symbolized Marian was gone. Clearly, she was not going to find the child here.
"But the globe said she was here," she cursed.
"Well it's not wrong, dearie," Rumpelstilskin replied.
Regina rolled her eyes. Of course that man would show up when she admitted to using magic again. It wasn't even difficult magic either. It was just a simple spell. She hadn't used anything complicated in quite a while. She didn't even use magic to get to the playground. She walked.
"You should probably start practicing," Rumpelstilskin said, "Your sister remembers who she is. I suggest you get the upper-hand while you still can. We both know why she's after you."
"Why do you care?" Regina huffed, "It's exactly what you want isn't it? You're here now. You can go after your son whenever you wish. Marian will keep her end of the bargain. You have nothing to fear."
"Oh, but there is one thing left of interest to me," he said, "Revenge."
She turned towards him curiously.
"You see," he said, "You stole Belle away from me. You kept her locked up for twenty-eight years. She couldn't remember who she was and you made certain she had no life at all. Watching you die will be the proudest moment of my life."
"And what do you think she'll do when I'm out of the way?" Regina huffed, "In case you've forgotten. You're the one who taught me how to use magic in the first place. Eventually, she'll blame you for everything that's happened too."
"Why…!"
"None of this would have happened if you weren't interested in getting your son!" Regina smiled at the angry scowl on her old master's lips. She was in the right and they both knew it. Their current situation would have never happened if he had never entered her life. He was just as guilty and she was.
"How do you think she'll react when she puts two and two together?" She asked, "Marian may be mad at me but she has always hated and despised you. She's not as stable as I am either. Once she kills, she'll be destroyed forever. Not even waking Robin will save you."
Rumpelstilskin absorbed the news the way he always did, silently. He didn't even bother to pretend her words weren't true. He just took a deep breath and spoke slowly, carefully.
"What do you suggest we do… your majesty?"
"Help me find the child and we will try to make peace," Regina said, "weren't you paying attention? We've got a limited timeframe before Marian goes off like a canon! Eventually something will set her off. We have to be one step ahead of her."
"That may become a bigger problem than you think," Rumpelstilskin replied.
Regina hated when he did that. He always had to be mysterious. He couldn't once just be straightforward. Often she wondered how he could have ever been a man let alone a coward. Her mother often told her stories about the horrendous deeds the Dark One performed. She never mentioned his name, only his deeds. Marian had been enthralled with the tales. Regina had always feared it would be her younger sister's undoing. Now she knew the truth.
And it was her undoing.
"I have found the child," Rumpelstilskin said, "And it's only a matter of time until your sister discovers the truth as well."
"Where?" Regina huffed. He was making this way too long. They didn't have time. He knew that. Why was he toying with her so?
"Right under your sister's nose."
Regina was pretty certain she was livid. She couldn't quite be sure though. The knowledge alone made her blood run cold. Time was no longer on their side. Marian was about to figure it out.
%%%%%%%%%%%%
"Okay." David Nolan was a strange man. He smiled at his grandson as if he did something correct. Parker wasn't stupid. She knew the boy did something wrong. She could see it in Nolan's eyes. She just couldn't quite understand the purpose of the smile. He even laughed a little bit at the boy's statement.
"She knows Emma," Nolan said, "but that doesn't exactly mean she's from our world too, Henry."
"No," Henry agreed, "but she can pick any lock you put in front of her as if it's nothing. She can sneak around really quietly. She likes cinnamon and hot chocolate."
"Cinnamon and chocolate aren't exactly a great sign of parentage," Nolan replied.
HE stepped forward then. He even raised his hand for some reason Parker couldn't understand. She didn't really care why. She didn't even understand it. It was instinct that forced her in front of the boy. She had to protect him. He was just trying to help her. He was her responsibility. Nobody was allowed to hurt him.
"We were discovered near each other," she said. She surprised herself as she spoke.
It didn't really make sense. Nolan was a stranger. He wasn't someone she could trust. He wasn't like the others. He wouldn't just laugh at what she says and demand to know what that meant. He wouldn't take her at her word and trust her to tell him when she was ready. He wouldn't believe her. He was one of the others. He would take her words and find a way to use them against her later. She shouldn't have said anything at all.
But Nolan didn't react that way. His eyes grew wide in surprise. He stepped backward and raised his hands. His eyes shot to Henry, searching for an answer. His lips pressed together firmly. There was curiosity as he spoke next.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Emma," Parker gulped, "The orphanage thought we were sisters. They kept us together for a while. They waited until we were old enough for a DNA test. We weren't sisters. We never were."
"Where?" Nolan stepped towards her suddenly. He looked frightened and desperate. He even grabbed onto her shoulders to keep her near. Parker had to stop herself from fighting her way out. She still had to protect Henry.
"In the middle of the street," Parker shrugged, "Well, she was left in the middle of the street. I was discovered a day later. They left me in the bushes a mile away. Nobody knows how I was able to survive."
"How old are you?"
Parker frowned. How could that possibly be important? She wasn't their child. She was blonde. Her eyes weren't quite the right color. Nate said brown eyes appeared more because they were dominant. Blue eyes didn't happen as often. She couldn't be theirs. She would have to have brown eyes. She couldn't be theirs. It was impossible.
"Twenty-nine," she stuttered.
Nolan's face paled. He pulled the boy to him and started shaking his head. Parker wanted to stop him from hurting Henry but that seemed moot. The boy was fine in his grandfather's arms. His eyes were wide with worry but there was nothing else wrong. His grandfather just pulled him tight against him and stepped backwards slowly.
"Impossible," the sheriff said, "You're impossible."
"David?" Henry asked.
Nolan snapped out of his weirdness the moment the boy spoke. He pulled the kid to him and turned away. He picked the boy up onto his shoulders and raced out of the building. His parting words were the only thing the thief could make sense of.
"Go home, Parker!" He shouted, "Make certain you take them with you!"
Parker didn't need to be told twice. She shrugged her shoulders and ran out of the building as well. Her first instinct was to head straight for Granny's and do as the sheriff said. But her stomach told her to follow the boy and his grandfather. She was quiet as she followed them. It wasn't very difficult. They were walking. All she had to do was duck between buildings and people whenever Nolan looked back. She was curious. They were heading for the nunnery.
She perched herself behind a bush as she examined the pair. The sheriff banged on the door in a fashion that would have Sophie sending a scathing look his way. Eliot would think it was normal. The hitter's opinion would have turned grouchy when he realized it was a woman standing behind the door. That must have been the Mother Superior Henry had mentioned.
The pair talked for a few minutes. Honestly it felt like hours but Parker decided it was time worth waiting. She knew, instinctively that the pair were discussing the boy. Mother Superior was nodding her head fervently. She gasped a little at something Nolan said. Then she pulled Henry into the building and rushed away. David watched the door for a few minutes before he started leaving. He was almost level with the bush when he finally spoke.
"Go back to Granny's, Parker," David said.
The thief closed her eyes and nearly unleashed a string of curse words. She should have known. The sheriff was a naturally suspicious person. He would know she wouldn't listen to him. It almost reminded her of Nate the way his mind worked. But she knew his special powers came from something else. The mastermind's mind was altogether quite different. She just couldn't quite figure it out yet.
She jumped from her spot behind the bush. She raised her arms as he had before. She knew it was supposed to be a sign of coming in peace. Hardison described it that way once before. She just knew she was lethal without any weapons. She had a feeling she was more lethal than the man before her. They were the same age, but her life hardened her to be better.
"What did you do with Henry?" She asked.
David laughed. "Mother Superior is just baby-sitting for me," he said, "I have somewhere I need to be and so do you."
"Why?" Parker asked, "Why should I trust you?"
"Because deep down you know I love Henry," Nolan replied, "and I'm probably the only one in town who can save Sophie."
"How?"
"By going to the one person who knows the truth."
Parker nodded her head. She could accept that. She could even believe that. But that wasn't what he wanted from her. He wanted her trust. He wanted her to trust him to bring Sophie back. He was using something she wanted more than anything. This could all very easily be some sort of con. She just couldn't quite figure out what he was getting from this deal.
"I need you to go back before they get worried," Nolan said, "I'm going to tell Eliot to go back. I promise you, this time tomorrow everything will be over."
"Henry mentioned something about True Love's Kiss," Parker said, "Does that really work?"
"Yes, Parker," he said, "It does."
"Then if he says is true Nate and Sophie should remember who they are now, right?"
David's face fell. He shook his head and heaved a sigh. He shrugged and kicked at a rock. His hands found their way to his pockets before he actually answered his question. She couldn't understand why so many actions were necessary to answer a simple question.
"You have to believe, Parker," David said, "They don't believe."
"And if they did?"
"Then they would be here, wouldn't they?"
David started walking away. Parker could tell he was finished talking. She couldn't quite believe it. She had millions more questions to ask. She wanted to know about Emma. How could he be her father when they were the same age? There was too much she couldn't understand about these people. Why would Henry concoct a whole other world just to accept the fact that his birth mother didn't want him? Of course, he couldn't be Emma's. They swore a pact that their kids would never go through what they did. Why would she set him up for adoption when she knew what happened?
"Go home, Parker," David sighed, "Everything will be fine. I'll make sure everybody knows. You can leave tomorrow. Nobody will stop you."
Somehow Parker didn't believe that was within his power. She still had her doubts when Eliot came rushing towards her. He looked concerned but she shrugged off his questions. Nate wanted to talk to them. He was going to want answers. Besides she had a lot to think about. Eliot didn't press and she didn't indulge. They just walked back to Granny's in absolute silence. If the hitter was concerned, he didn't voice it. That was nice of him.
"Parker, why are you so late?" Sophie asked. She was acting normal. Parker liked that.
"Henry kept telling me a funny story," she replied.
The grifter frowned at her. It was a silent go on. Another good sign. Soon Sophie would return to them and they would leave Storybrooke and go home. Hardison was wrong. Everything was going to be okay sooner than they thought.
"What story, Parker?" Nate said.
Parker beamed at him. He always knew how to get her to say anything. It was awesome. Archie used to do something similar. He didn't quite treat her the same way as Nate, but it was still nice. Nate recognized her as more than just a thief. Archie did too, but in a different way. Sometimes she was a little confused by the difference. She guessed it was similar to the difference between a dad and an uncle. She just couldn't tell which was which.
"Apparently I'm the daughter of Robin Hood and Maid Marian!" She replied.
Eliot spit his drink out across the table. He muttered a few colorful words at his deeds and sullenly cleaned them up. Parker wasn't exactly sure why he was so clumsy. He looked angrier than usual too. She could almost imagine his ears perking up slightly. She could just tell he was listening.
"They're not real, Parker," he growled. He didn't exactly sound as though he believed that. That was kind of weird.
"That's what I said," Parker shrugged, "but he kept telling me that I was and that my hair is blonde because I'm Goldilocks' granddaughter. But that's not the best part."
"What's the best part, Parker?" Hardison asked.
"He said Nate and Sophie are Robin and Marian!" Parker cheered, "So basically, Nate and Sophie are my parents!"
Hardison and Nate burst into laughter at that. Even Eliot managed to come up with a light chuckle. Sophie grinned but that wasn't unexpected. Her eyes however, they glowed red again. Parker didn't like that. That meant bad things were on their way. Sophie was going to disappear again. The thief giggled a little bit and stood to get away. Her hand went to the locket around her neck automatically. That was odd. She couldn't even remember it getting there.
"Parker," the grifter called.
The thief jumped. She hadn't expected Sophie to get so close so fast. It was one of her new powers. She still couldn't quite get used to it. Ever since her trip to the hospital, the grifter was able to get everywhere without anybody hearing her. Eliot said she hung out with Parker too much, but she didn't teach her how to do that. Besides, Sophie was better at it than she was. Sophie could do it and startle Eliot every time.
"Yeah?" Parker asked.
The grifter opened her mouth to say something. Parker assumed it was supposed to be important. But Sophie's lips stopped before they could say whatever it was she wanted to. Her hand shot out, towards the locket around her neck. That red sparkled in her black eyes again. Her thumb traced the necklace and a small, sad smile appeared on her features.
We're home.
Parker frowned in confusion. She smacked the grifter's hand away, something she'd never done before. She pulled back, looking for something. She could see the hurt in the grifter's eyes. She could tell there was something off about her. Her eyes were getting blacker. Ever since Sophie returned from the hospital, her eyes changed. They were the solid black of anger and sadness. The brown from them disappeared completely. The joy, the happiness, the grifter wasn't the same. And Parker was afraid.
"Where did you get that, Parker?" Sophie asked.
The thief shrugged. She didn't want to tell her the truth. She didn't even understand the impulse. She could trust Sophie with her life. After the betrayal, the grifter did everything to prove to them she could be trusted again. She saved all of their lives countless times. She was the one who yelled at Nate when he did dangerous stuff. She even threatened to leave him to protect all of their lives. Nate would shape up immediately and their jobs would get less dangerous until a kid got involved, but the mastermind couldn't help that. Eliot was just as much a mess when kids got involved. They all were.
So why was she so afraid of Sophie now? It didn't make sense. She knew enough about human emotion to know that. Sophie hadn't done anything recently to deserve this fear. All she did was nearly die and that wasn't even her fault. It was Rumpelstilskin's fault. He was the one who said something that upset her.
The thief blinked. She couldn't remember ever knowing that before. She didn't even know who Rumpelstilskin was. How did she learn the name? It must have been Henry, she thought, he's been reading those stories all the time. He must have learned how to slip it into her mind. Yeah, that had to be it.
"Parker," Sophie huffed, "Where did you get that locket?"
"Gold gave it to her," Hardison replied. He stood at the refrigerator, removing a bottle of orange soda as usual. He seemed perfectly immune to the sudden tension developing. He even threw Parker a bottle of his treasured drink before he left. "It was to thank her for helping with the Jefferson incident."
"Speaking of Jefferson," Eliot called, "Nolan's looking for him too. I don't know why but I have a hunch that he's not interested in having a friendly interview."
"No," Nate agreed, "No, Gold probably has some leverage over him. He'll want to know everything he can about the man. He wanted to barge into his shop and Gold doesn't seem like the man to allow such things to continue."
"Makes you almost feel sorry for him," Hardison sighed, "The poor guy has the sheriff looking for him, a pawnbroker, and us. If I were him I wouldn't want to be found either."
The hacker returned to his seat and the men went on a wild tangent of a discussion. They were engrossed in their thirst for knowledge. So engrossed, in fact, were they that they ignored the greatest source at their disposal. The grifter had inched closer while she was distracted. Parker could see the streaks of red as the danced in her pupils. The very air in the room was stifling. She could barely breathe from the fear in her heart.
"Gold gave this to you?" Sophie muttered, "Why? He knows that belongs to…"
The red left her eyes immediately. Instead they grew wide with fright. The color drained away from Sophie's face. Her hand stretched out, suddenly hesitant. Parker stepped back in fear of what would happen. There was an evil creep crawling up her spine. She didn't like how horrified the grifter suddenly seemed.
"He… he just… gave it to me," Parker sputtered, "You said not to… turn gifts down when we help people."
The sadness snapped out of the grifter instantly. Her entire demeanor changed in fact. Her spine straightened. Her chin rose. Her shoulders squared off, giving the illusion of a soldier preparing for battle. A smile plastered itself on her lips.
"That's right," she said. Her voice was completely devoid of any human emotion. "Good job, Parker."
She walked away, leaving the thief to ponder the unusual behavior. Her heart thundered against her chest. Parker had never felt so out of breath in her life. Her hands, clammy, sweated profusely. She could feel the absence of warmth in her cheeks. Her eyes ventured towards the grifter, cautiously. Sophie met her gaze for gaze, red burning them entirely.
She knows, the locket moaned.
%%%%%%%%%%%
Jefferson sat down in relief. He took off his hat and slowly began to make himself comfortable. He had managed to buy himself a few more hours before Charming suspected he doubled back to his old domain. He had time to breathe for a while at least.
"Hello Jefferson."
The mad hatter jumped in fright of the sudden voice in the air. He swirled around and stared at the intruder framed in yellow light. He stepped forward one step and then another. The look on his face was one of pure puzzlement and confusion.
"Marian?" He asked.
Sophie Devereaux smiled back at the man with a dazzling smile. To anybody else it would be considered her normal, happy smile but to anyone who knew her that was not the case. Her eyes were blacker than the night and filled with something cold, something evil. Her smile, her stature everything about her was evil.
"Hello Jefferson," she greeted, "How have you been?"
"What are you doing here?" He demanded immediately. He was preparing himself for any kind of war this woman could cause him. He knew the good witch was just as powerful as her sister and the look in her eyes matched Regina's perfectly. It was a startling revelation to say the least.
"I've come to offer you a job," she cried. She was looking around the mansion with scorn and disappointment. She even looked a little confused. "Don't you want vengeance for everything Regina did to you and your daughter?"
Jefferson narrowed his eyes at the good witch in confusion.
"Is this a trick?" He asked.
"No," Sophie shook her head, "Not a trick. I need you to be the distraction while I destroy Regina once and for all."
"Destroy Regina," Jefferson repeated in confusion, "You want me to help you destroy your sister?"
"Was I not clear?" Sophie asked coyly.
That evil smile was still on her face. Jefferson was now quaking at the coldness in her voice. This was not the same person he had met so long ago. This was someone far more evil than even the woman he met three days ago. This woman could even be worse than the Evil Queen herself.
"What's in it for me?" Jefferson asked cautiously. Sure he was afraid of the woman but he had nothing to lose.
"Your daughter," Sophie shrugged. She was playing with a tea set now, examining it with careful eyes.
"You're going to have to do better than that," Jefferson said. He was surprised by his own boldness in the face of danger. Then again, he did have everything to gain. Desperation had a tendency to do that to people.
"Ooh," Sophie smiled wider at his suggestion, "You're actually negotiating. My! How you've changed, my darling Mad Hatter."
"I could say the same to you, Madame Cheshire."
"Very well," Sophie said, "I will return you to your daughter and your home. I know you, Jefferson. The very moment I arrived into town you shipped her out of here. But Rumpelstilskin didn't have enough hair for the both of you let alone multiple trips to where you belong."
"If you could do that you would have saved yourself," Jefferson snarled, rolling his eyes at the suggestion.
"Yes but my plans have changed. Once Regina is gone my powers will be restored and more. I will gain the ability to overpower the curse in ways even the precious Savior couldn't dream of doing. Your daughter and yourself will be the firsts to benefit from my new power."
"And what guarantee do I have that you will actually fulfill this promise?" Jefferson said slowly moving closer to the woman with the plan. "Your sister didn't exactly bank out on her end of the deal so forgive me if I'm a little… cautious."
"If I don't pay out?" Sophie asked, thinking visibly, "Then you can have a go at the man I love."
"Robin Hood," Jefferson smiled, "You're going to let me destroy your precious Robin Hood."
"My husband doesn't remember who he is but he still loves me," Sophie shrugged, "And my other version loves him to the point of insanity. You may do whatever you want to him and the rest of our team if I do not deliver on my promise."
"So I can remind your husband of his life before and destroy the rest of your little friends without even breaking a sweat?" Jefferson asked for clarification.
"Yes."
Jefferson smiled at that. He took his time in weighing the pros and the cons of his decision. Then his smile grew wider and darker in exhilaration. He stuck out his hand and waited.
"You've got a deal." And they shook on it.
