Chapter 1B

Storybrooke, Present Day

Regina sat at the counter at Granny's nursing her early morning coffee. She was dreading going into the Mayor's office today. She didn't know why, but she was. She was happy to be mayor, again, and actually elected, but it didn't hold the same…feeling for her anymore. The appeal wasn't there. She knew that she was good at leading and ruling, but now it was… different.

"More coffee, Mayor?" Red asked as she was checking on the customers at the counter.

"No, thanks, Ruby. I'm good for now," Regina replied and then said, "Actually; can you get me a cup to go?"

"Sure thing, Regina," Ruby told her as she turned around to make the to-go cup.

Emma had just come in the diner and was heading to the counter to order her customary bear claw and hot cocoa with cinnamon. She smiled at Regina as she took a seat at the other end of the counter. As soon as she sat down, Ruby handed her a cup of cocoa.

"Bear claw will be up in a minute, though. How are things at the station? Good?"

"Slow as usual, Rubes. I came in early because you said there was something that you had to tell me. So, what gives?"

"Give me a minute, will ya?" Ruby asked as she headed away from the counter.

"Sure," Emma stated as she fingered some of the whipped cream on her cocoa.

Ruby poured some coffee in a to-go cup and put a lid on it. She walked it down to Regina and set it on the counter before her. She then reached around, grabbed the coffee carafe and poured some more into Regina's cup. Regina looked up at her and cocked her eyebrow. Ruby made a slight gesture towards Emma and Regina picked up her cup and took a sip in a non-verbal understanding of what Ruby was trying to tell her.

"So, you want to tell me what has me out of bed before the sun this morning?"

"I don't think that is…well…really anything, but I figured I'd tell you."

"You want me to look into something?" Emma questioned.

Ruby shot a glance down at Regina, that only Regina caught. Emma was too busy tearing into her bear claw. Ruby handed her a napkin.

"Yeah, I do."

"Well, what is it?"

"You know Belle's little sister, right?"

"Yeah, Coraline? What about her? She make a pass at you or something?"

"No…NO…nothing like that."

"Then what is it, Rubes?"

"She doesn't smell right."

"She doesn't smell right?" Emma asked almost spitting bear claw at Ruby.

"She smells funny."

"Don't you think that you should be having this conversation with Belle?" Emma asked.

"I would, but it is the smell."

"The smell?"

"She smells like…well, Henry."

"She smells like Henry?" Emma deadpanned.

Regina perked up. She knew now why Ruby had refilled her coffee. She stared ahead and tried to listen harder to what Ruby and Emma were discussing. But, while she did, she wondered why Ruby just didn't flat out tell her about it herself.

"Yeah, she smells like Henry."

"How does Henry smell, Ruby? Bad? Good?"

"He smells like apples and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla. He is a perfect blend of you and Regina. He has his own scent, but he can't escape his upbringing. He has always smelled like cinnamon and vanilla, but if he has been with Regina he picks up the apple smell."

"I get the apples and even the cinnamon, I think, but where does the vanilla come from?"

"Have you never sniffed your mom?"

Regina giggled. She took another sip of coffee, when Ruby shot her a glance, to cover up her eavesdropping. Regina knew that Snow smelled like vanilla cookies. She had smelled it wafting off her before. She could guess that the cinnamon was from Charming though.

"Umm…no, because that would be weird. So, she smells like Henry does. Maybe it is her soap or perfume. There has to be a logical explanation for that. Come on, Ruby. You want me to go question Coraline on the simple fact that she smells weird," Emma told her.

That was what Ruby was waiting for. She knew that Emma probably wouldn't look into it. She didn't understand what everyone else from the Enchanted Forest did. She knew that Regina would investigate if Emma wouldn't, and if it did concern Henry they would both need to know.

Regina nodded at Ruby, placed some money on the counter, grabbed her to-go cup and headed out the diner. Ruby told her to have a good day as she left. Regina only gave her a knowing smile as she exited the building.

"So you going to talk to her or what?"

"Who?"

"Coraline."

"And say what? I'm sorry, but you smell like my son, care to tell me why? Come on, Ruby. I need more than that. It would embarrass us all if I did that."

"Okay, then, how about this? I don't remember her from the Enchanted Forest. I don't remember Belle having any sisters. Which may mean nothing, but if it does…."

"Fine, I'll go talk to her."

"Good," Ruby stated, very proud of herself, and walked away.

Meanwhile, at the Game of Thorns nursery, Belle and Coraline were talking about the day's business. Neither of them looked up as they heard the front door open. They didn't see Regina come in and start looking around, the entire time watching Coraline and her movements.

"Alright, Belle, I got it. Go on to the library. I got to take care of the mulch delivery. I'll bring all the paperwork over to Rumple's and we can work on it tonight, I promise."

"Don't work too late. Ruby wanted to go out tonight. I'll have dinner ready by eight."

"Sounds good," Coraline answered, as she passed through some doors to the back.

Regina came around some shelves and almost bumped into Belle. They both stopped short. Regina tried to smile, but Belle cut her off.

"Sorry, Regina, I didn't see you. Did you need something? I call Coraline over to help you."

"No, I am just looking at the moment, but thank you," Regina told her as genuinely as she could.

"Well, if you need anything, yell for Coraline. She'll hear you, but she's in the back. She'll get it for you. I have to go."

Regina watched her go. She knew that Coraline was alone in the back and she could talk to her without interruption. She knew that Emma wouldn't ask her anything, but she trusted the wolf's instincts. There was something amiss with Coraline and Regina would figure out what it is.

Coraline came back in from the back. It was the first time that Regina noticed what she was wearing because she was hanging up an old black leather blazer on a coat rack behind the counter. She grabbed an apron and put it on, covering a crisp white shirt and black tank top. She turned around in time to see Regina.

"Madam Mayor, nice to see you," she told her.

If there was something off in her greeting, Regina didn't hear it. She figured that there would be something off about Coraline that she would be able to see. When she couldn't find anything, she figured that she would have to make up some sort of story for being there.

"Hello, Miss French, how are you today?"

"I am good, Madam Mayor. Is there something that I can get for you? Or, if you were looking for Belle, you just missed her."

"As matter of fact, I believe there is something that you can help me with," Regina told her.

"Well, what is it?"

"It seems that my apple tree needs something. I am not sure that I took care of it properly a few years ago when Sherriff Swan attacked it. Do you have anything that could help?" Regina asked.

"I remember that. I don't know if I can help much. I don't know much about the problem except that she took a chainsaw to it. I would have to come look at the tree in person. I could come by later, if you'd like," Coraline told her.

"No, not today, I am busy. Plus, I know that you have an evening planned out with the girls. I wouldn't think of hindering your ability to unwind after a hard day's work," Regina told her, with a purely saccharine smile.

"Ruby's talking about going to the Hole tonight again, huh?"

"Something like that."

"Well, I am not much of drinker. I could come by in the morning before you had to go to work. I am sure that you would like to hear my diagnosis and plan as soon as possible. Would that be good for you?"

"That sounds like a good idea, dear. I'll expect you no later than nine o'clock. I have a meeting with the planning committee at ten. Is that okay with you?"

"Sounds fine, Madam Mayor. I'll see you then. If you need anything else, just let me know."

"Take care of this and I'll see what I can do about getting you a landscaping contract for the City. It seems that I might have neglected that aspect of our quaint hamlet during the curse. Would you be interested? In a landscaping contract?"

"It would get me out of the shop a few days a week and we could afford some more help. Yeah, I'm interested. I'll talk to Belle. She owns the place since Dad and our brothers left. It would ultimately be up to her and all. I can't just abandon the shop," Coraline answered.

"Of course. I'll see you in the morning. Have a good day," Regina told as she left.

Coraline watched her go. She breathed a sigh of relief that she didn't know she was holding. She raked a hand through her short, black, shoulder length hair. She wondered what Regina was up to because she knew that it had nothing to do with her apple tree. She could tell when people were lying but she didn't know why Regina would lie to her about that. She would go look at the apple tree. She would treat it, but she wondered why Regina would wait so long to help her beloved tree. She didn't have to wonder long because Emma came in the shop.

"Hey, Coraline."

"Hey, Emma, what brings you by?"

"Nothing much, just checking up on everyone. We haven't had any trouble lately and we are due. Haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary have you?"

"This is Storybrooke, Sheriff. Everything here is out of the ordinary. Can you be more specific?" Coraline asked her.

"Noticed anyone acting strange?"

"Just the mayor, but then again, that is normal, too," Coraline answered.

"Regina was here?" Emma questioned with a little more gusto than she wanted.

"Yeah, she just left. Had some questions about her beloved apple tree at the house. It seems that she might not have cared for it well enough after you got mad at it. Remind me again to not let you out back on tree trimming day. Anyway, I'm going to have a look at it in the morning. Do you have some landscaping issues, too? Or, is something else on your mind, Sherriff?"

"No, nothing like that, Coraline. Just trying to follow up on some stuff. How are you doing?"

"Emma, what's bothering you?" Coraline asked her, cutting off the questioning.

"Alright, here it is. Ruby told me you smelled funny. I figure it is just from the shop, but I told her I'm come check it out. It's stupid. Don't worry about it."

"She said I smelled funny?"

"Yeah, something about apples, cinnamon and vanilla. Look it was stupid. It's near wolfs' time and we know how she gets. You know all worked up and needing something to do. Don't worry about it. I'll just tell her it is from the shop and she'll drop it. I think we are all looking for something to be wrong. We don't know how to do peaceful and normal, here. Too much has happened over the last few years. I think everyone is just on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop, again," Emma told her trying to gauge her response.

Emma watched her face, but Coraline didn't betray the pain she was feeling. She realized that she was just making Coraline uncomfortable. She wasn't going to get anywhere anyway. She was mentally yelling at Ruby for convincing her that something was wrong.

Finally, Emma smiled at her and left. She gave a sigh of relief and let go of the counter that she had been gripping with white knuckles. Coraline looked at her phone. It wasn't even nine o'clock and already she knew that today wouldn't be a good day for her.

She needed to go see Blue. She needed to talk to Blue. Blue would know what to do. Things were progressing too fast and she didn't know how to slow them back down. She had forgotten about Ruby's ability to smell anything in a four block radius. She should have taken better care of covering her scent. She took off the apron and hung it back up. She grabbed her leather jacket and went back into the front of the shop.

"Holly, I have to go see Mother Superior for a while. Can you handle the shop while I am gone? It should be too long," Coraline stated to the girl coming in the store.

"No problem boss, we won't be getting any trucks today, so I'll be fine alone. I'll start working on the flowers for Spring Fest. Anything else you need me to do?"

"Not at the moment, Holly. Thanks for coming in today. I'll be back soon."

"Go on, Boss. Blue can be impatient. I've got the shop."

"I knew that it was a good thing I hired you," Coraline said, laughing as she left the shop.

She got the convent in her Town Car quickly. Blue was outside with some of the other fairies working on nurturing nature spells. She shot Coraline a look as she came up to her quickly.

"We need to talk," Coraline demanded ignoring the fact that Blue was busy with other fairies.

"Purple, you keep them working. I need to handle something," Blue told another fairy, and then looked at Coraline, "Follow me inside. It will be more private."

Once they were inside Blue's office, Coraline finally started to feel herself relax. She sat down in a chair across from the desk that she bore name plaque "Mother Superior." She looked up with blue eyes into confused dark eyes.

"What's wrong, Coraline?" Blue asked her.

"Ruby can smell me."

"Ruby smells everyone. It is part of her being a werewolf. She can't help it. Now, what is it about her smelling you that is such a big deal?"

"I smell like Henry."

"I know that, but your smell is different, softer, sweeter. To be honest, you smell like flowers and dirt. What does this have to do with anything? Has Ruby done something?"

"She evidently talked with Emma about it. Emma came and questioned me about it. I need to do something to mask the smell. I can't have them finding out who I am. I haven't figured out how to stop the Blackness yet. If they find out now, I could be changing everything."

"I know that this is hard for you."

"Do you? Do you have any idea? I doubt that," Coraline stated, staring her down.

"Listen. I found you and healed your wounds, Coraline. I helped you plant the false memories of being Belle's sister. I understand why you are here and I am trying to help."

"I'm sorry. I know," she replied, raking her hand through her short wavy hair. "It is just that it is hard enough being here and not telling everyone who I am. You are the only one who knows and I don't even know if you believe me."

"I do believe you, Coraline. I've read your body. The incantations and markings that Belle had inscribed and tattooed are ancient and not known to many here. That knowledge would only come from the Enchanted Forest and more than likely only from Rumple's castle. I know what tales your skin tells, and that is enough for me."

"What about Regina? Could she read them? Would she understand them? If she saw them?"

"If she saw them, yes, she might. She would be one of the few, besides myself, that would be able to read the extent of what was inked on you. I know that they are protection spells and a partial history, but Coraline, you will eventually have to tell them who you are. You cannot not tell them. While, I may not agree with situation that you are in or found yourself in, I do agree that it was necessary in order to protect the realm. I am sorry that I can't help you more."

"Can't you cast something?"

"Cast something?" Blue questioned, unsure of what she meant.

"Yeah, to cover my smell," Coraline stated.

"I'll make a potion for you. You'll have to take it daily until we know that Ruby can't smell you, but Coraline, this is a dangerous undertaking. If anyone were to see you take the potion, they would know that you are hiding something from them."

"I understand that, Blue. Do you think that I like lying to them? Do you think that I like looking at them when I know what is to come? I have to stop the Blackness."

"I still don't understand why you took the Queen's Elite Guard Arms as your own."

"Because they are my arms as well."

"You still haven't told me what that means, exactly," Blue pushed.

"Look, I can't. If I do, it could change the outcome of my birth. I will tell you this much."

"Yes, and that is?"

"Regina is my mother and I am a warrior princess."

"If Regina is your mother, why are you so afraid of her?"

"Because…the Blackness took her."

Blue just nodded. She didn't need to hear more. She knew that Regina had a black heart.

"The Regina that you knew is not the Regina that I knew," Coraline added.

"What do you mean?" Blue asked, now more intrigued.

"She was a loving mother, a gifted teacher, and good queen when I was a child. The Blackness swept over the land and consumed everything. It took her from me. When I was old enough to fight and I went looking for my family, I found not my mother or even the Evil Queen. No, the Blackness had created something far worse and more wicked. She wasn't green like my aunt, Zelena or anything like that. No, she was decidedly gray and old. Her powers were eating her body and destroying her mind."

"But, you told me that she sent you here?" Blue questioned.

"She did. In a moment of clarity, a sign of love shown through the blackened heart of hers and the Regina you know came through. She told me to cast the spell, to come to the past, to save us all. It was my destiny. It was the only way that the Blackness couldn't have me. I was what it wanted. It wanted my powers. If it got them, it would travel to another realm and destroy it as well. It was…devastating. I knew nothing of this place except stories...only stories and tales; to me they were only fables. I came here completely blind to everything."

"I remember."

Six months before

"Mother Superior, come quick, there is a woman in need of help."

Blue gathered her cloak and made her way out the convent to the gardens. She was surprised to see a young brunette woman no older than twenty-five lying there in the garden grass. She was battered, bruised and burned. Her clothes reminded her of a mixture of Snow's, Red's and Belle's from their times in the Enchanted Forest, what little as left of them.

"Help me get her inside, Sisters. I'll take care of her. Until I know more, don't speak of this to anyone from town. She may need our help," Blue told them.

Once they had her in a room, Blue shooed everyone out. She sent Nova to get some supplies. When Nova came back into the room, Blue asked her to stay.

"I am going to need your help," Blue told her.

"Yes, Blue."

They slowly washed her body. The more dirt they washed away the more wounds they found. Nova gasped as they saw the burns and scars upon her arms and back. There didn't seem to be a place on her body that hadn't been touched by whatever torture she had suffered.

"Those are…those are…"

"Magic burns, yes, I know. This poor woman has survived a lot. I don't know why she was in the garden, but judging by her wounds, she needs our help."

"I agree."

"Nova, when we are done cleaning her up, I'll need these items quickly," Blue told her handing her a list.

"Yes, Blue, I'll go get them now."

"Don't worry, young one. You're in safe hands now. I'll heal your body."

"Hmmpf…"

"Don't try to speak. Rest now. I'll make sure that no one knows you are here. When you can tell me what has happened to you, you will. Then, we will decide what to do."

Storybrooke, present

Blue watched her. There was something oddly familiar about her, but she just thought it was because she was from the Enchanted Forest and she bore the Elite Guards' tattoo. If what Coraline told her six months ago was the truth, then they only had few years before the "Blackness," as she referred to it, would come to destroy everything. She knew that Storybrooke was an extension of the Enchanted Forest and she knew that meant that it was possible that the "Blackness" came from there.

"Do you remember anything else?"

"I was too young. Belle was studying everything that they could. I was just too little. I couldn't help. I don't think that they understood my powers, yet. It took Belle years to figure out how to trigger my powers much less to harness them. Hell, I still don't know what I am capable of and scare myself when I do something I don't mean to do. I almost burned down the shop the other day because I got mad at the mulch."

"Your magic is tied to your emotions. Surely, you've realized that. Maybe we should spend some time together each day working on you powers. I could help you learn to deal with them."

"That would be a good idea. Then, I could take the potion here and no one would be the wiser. I'll have to talk to Belle though. I will have to rearrange the schedule for the shop. She lets me run it how I see fit, but it is technically hers, so…"

"I understand. And, you're right, it would make things easier for the both us concerning your concealment. I'll begin working on the potion. I'll bring it by the shop later."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. We still have to figure out what the Blackness is so we can stop it. Go on back to work. Don't let this bother you. I'll see you later. Maybe have some flowers ready for me or something, so it will look like I have reason to be there."

"Sure thing," Coraline stated, leaving.

Blue watched her go. She knew that she would have to intensify her research, but she didn't know how long she could go before Nova or one of the other fairies picked up on it. No one seemed to question her comings and goings back to the Enchanted Forest. Most of the fairies didn't care. And, none of them had noticed that a few beans had been missing from their private stash of magic beans. She was worried about Regina, though. She was smart, sometimes too smart for her own good. Regina would be the only one who could hinder this operation and if she did, she wondered how the Evil Queen would try to take it out on her this time.

Coraline entered Granny's diner two days later for lunch. She sat up at the counter much like she did every day. But, today was different. She could tell. She could sense it.

"Whatcha want, kiddo?" Ruby asked.

"How about a grilled chicken Caesar salad and an iced tea?"

"Coming right up," Ruby told her, walking away.

She could only hope that the potion that Blue made was masking her natural scent to the woman. She knew that Red above all the rest would be the reason she was found out. There was just something about her werewolf senses that still unnerved her. She didn't care that Red was a wolf. She came to cherish that side of her. It was just that she was so damn in tune with things.

"You okay, Coraline?" Ruby asked setting down the iced tea.

"Yeah, just thinking about what the Mayor offered me the other day."

"Belle told me about that. She said that you came up with a way to help Regina's apple tree. I didn't even know it was sick. I am sure that Regina would have said something about it. She loves that tree…a lot. That tree is her pride and joy, after Henry of course," Ruby stated.

"Of course."

"But, are you going to take the landscaping job for the town?"

"I don't know. It will be a lot of work. I wouldn't be able to work the shop as much."

"I thought that is why you hired Holly and Travis. They can handle the shop while you deal with the landscaping, right? I mean I know how much you love to be outside working in the dirt."

Coraline stared at her and cocked an eyebrow. Ruby just laughed. It was like there was some inside joke that Coraline hadn't been completely privy to about herself.

"Care to explain that one to me, Red?"

"Hey, calm down. I just know that you like being outside and dealing with the fertilizer and the mulch more than watering all the plants. You smell like it when you come home. It is nothing to be ashamed of, Kid," Ruby replied, and then told her, "Hold on. Your food is ready."

Coraline smiled. It was true. She did like being outdoors, especially in the forest. It reminded her of home. She sighed as she thought about home. She needed to start researching more. That was the whole point of her being there. She needed to find a way to stop the Blackness.

Ruby put the salad down in front of her. She grabbed a pitcher and refilled her tea. Then, she very unceremoniously plopped both elbows on the counter and stared at her.

"What?"

"Did you change your shampoo?"

"No, why?" Coraline asked around a mouthful of salad.

"You smell different," Ruby commented nonchalantly.

"I thought you said I smelled like dirt," Coraline replied, taking a bite of her salad.

"You do. You did. I mean, but there was something else before. Now, it's gone."

"Haven't changed anything, Rubes. Promise. Everything is the same," she lied.

"Huh? Oh, well, maybe it was just my imagination. Have a good lunch," she said walking off.

It was at that moment that Regina came in and sat down next to her. Regina noticed the slight stiffness that came over Coraline when she took her seat. She didn't mean to do it, but she knew that she would always have a problem considering what she went through with Regina.

"Good afternoon, Miss French. I see you are enjoying a nice healthy salad today. Is it good?"

"Yes, Madam Mayor, it is," Coraline replied, taking another healthy bite.

"Ruby, my usual please."

"Coming right up."

"You haven't gotten back to me about the apple tree, Miss French. Did you find something that will help it? Or, will I just have to continue to watch it as I have been?"

"Your tree seems to be healthy enough. You have taken excellent care of it, Madam Mayor. As for some fertilizer for it, yes, I can make you something up. I'll bring it by later in the week. I've just been really busy with the shop," Coraline told her.

"I understand, dear. Is there anything that I can do to help you? Anything at all?"

"No, ma'am, there isn't. I just need to get my fertilizers mixed and ready for sale. I've been talking with Belle about the landscaping contract, though."

"Oh, and what did she say?"

"She is leaving it up to me. Belle is so busy with the library. Holly and Travis help out a lot, but, I am not sure that I am ready to leave them on their own. That shop means everything to Belle and me. It is the only thing that we have left of Dad and our brothers. Plus, I have been running the shop for so long, I am not sure that I would be able to devote the time and effort that you are looking for into the landscaping, Madam Mayor," she replied.

"Well, think it over. I am sure that you will find some people willing to help you if you do decide to take it. I know that you would make me very happy if you did. I can get you the help at the shop or for the contract if you need it. I know some people looking for some work," Regina said, and took a sip of her coffee, right as Ruby sat it down in front of her.

"I will…think about it, that is. It is a very inviting offer. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the shop. I have to get that fertilizer finished and ready for sale by morning," Coraline told her, standing up and reaching for her wallet to pay for her meal.

"Don't worry about the salad, Miss French. I'll get it for you. But, think about taking the contract," Regina stated as Coraline nodded, leaving.

A/N: Please let me know what you think about this. I was going for an episodic feel, but some of the chapters that I have written are longer than my normal fare. Is this too long? Please let me know. Thanks ~JET