"Who is Santa Claus?" Rapunzel asked curiously as she bit into her sandwich. She was still unfamiliar with many of this world's customs.

"Um…he's a myth…a fairy tale from this world," Neal replied.

Rapunzel scrunched up her face in confusion, "Like the cat in the hat?"

Neal nodded, "I guess."

"What does Santa Claus do in this story?"

"He wears a red suit, flies on a sleigh driven by reindeer, watches over children to see if they're naughty or nice, goes down chimneys and delivers presents to…"

"He breaks into people's houses? And spies on children?"

Neal shrugged, "It was pretty strange when I first heard it, but this world is strange, even as long as I've been in it."

Rapunzel paused for a moment before asking, "Do you have any Christmas wishes Baelfire?"

"My dream was to spend Christmas with my family," Neal admitted, "but I'm never going to see my father again." She looked at him with sympathy. "Spending Christmas with you is my new dream."

As Rapunzel leaned in to kiss him, the door to the shop opened and Emma walked in. The couple turned around to face her.

"Sorry to interrupt," Emma said, "but I need a favor."

"What do you need?" Neal asked quickly, "Is Henry alright?"

"He's fine," Emma responded, "It's about the Grinch." Neal and Rapunzel's eyes sparked with curiosity. Emma continued, "I believe your father made a deal with him."

Neal rolled his eyes, "That doesn't surprise me."

"I need to look through your dad's items to see if he has the creature's heart."

Gesturing over to a jar with a strangely shaped heart sitting on a nearby counter, Neal said, "I was wondering whom that heart belonged to."

Emma took the heart, grimacing as she held it in her hand. "Thanks. I'm sorry for interrupting your date." She left the shop, closing the door behind her.

Over at the library, Aurora and Belle were on their lunch break. "What are you getting Ruby for Christmas?" Aurora asked.

Belle smiled, "It's a surprise. What about you? What are you getting Mulan?"

"Well if you won't tell me, then I won't tell you," Aurora responded. She paused before saying, "I need to ask a favor."

"What is it?" Belle wondered what Aurora was thinking.

"I think I've figured out what's been bothering Mulan."

"How?"

Aurora looked away guiltily, "I may have read her diary."

"Mulan has a diary?" Belle asked.

"She's kept one since the war," Aurora replied.

"You know you shouldn't read other people's diaries," Belle told her, though she was curious what Mulan wrote about in her diary.

"I had no other choice," Aurora said defensively, "She doesn't talk to me about things that upset her. I think she doesn't want me to worry about her."

"Which does the opposite," Belle finished for her. "What did you find?"

That she loves being with me," Aurora replied, "But she misses her homeland. She hasn't been back since she left to track the Yaoguai."

Belle nodded, "That makes sense."

"I want to have a party for her tonight. Filled with things that will remind her of home. Surrounded by her friends, she has to feel better after that."

Belle smiled, "I'd be glad to help. I'm sure Ruby can convince Granny to make some changes to the Christmas party decorations tonight."

Aurora grinned and hugged Belle, "Thank you. I hope she loves it."

"I know she will," Belle said confidently. They finished their lunch and headed over to Granny's to talk to Ruby and Granny.

Emma walked up to Jefferson, who was walking with Whale along the street. Jefferson stopped mid sentence when he saw her. "Emma." He noticed the heart in her hand, "I see Regina has taught you how to take hearts."

"She didn't," Emma said defensively, "This was Gold's doing." She launched into the story that the Grinch had told her. Jefferson and Whale listened intently. Emma finished the story by asking, "Does your hat work again?"

Jefferson shook his head, "The magic we need is powerful. Similar to how you and Regina activated the hat when you were dealing with that pesky wraith. If you two use your magic on the hat, it will work."

"We'll get it to work," Emma said, "We need it to get to Monstropolis."

"I'll take him there," Jefferson promised. Whale scowled and Jefferson said, "I'll take you to see your brother right after that."

Emma nodded, "Thank you. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," Jefferson and Whale replied. Emma made her way back to the station.

When she entered, however, she was greeted with the sight of Mulan tied to a chair. The cell door was wide open and the Grinch was nowhere to be found.