Disney's Tinker Bell in Storybrooke
A Disney Fairies / Once Upon a Time Crossover
Season 1, Episode 10, Chapter 2

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

Claire went bounding up the stairs. Tina was close behind holding the telephone receiver. Valerie was so terrified of something she was screaming at the top of her lungs. "Make it stop!" she yelled. "Please just make it stop!"

When Claire threw open the shower curtain what she saw was just like the first scene in Carrie. Valerie curled up on the shower floor completely naked, blood pouring from her body in a steady stream. Spray from the showerhead washed the crimson liquid down the drain. Valerie, frightened, sobbed as she stared at her mother. Those big eyes pleading for help.

"I've got the paramedics on the phone," Tina announced.

"Never mind," Claire answered. "It's okay."

"NO! It's not okay," Vidia shrieked in a panic. "I need to go to the hospital. It won't stop."

Claire, realizing that Valerie truly had no idea what was happening to her reassured the girl that everything would be just fine.

~O~

An hour later Vidia came downstairs, distressed and exhausted from her ordeal. She sat at the dining room table and plopped her head on her crossed arms. She almost broke into more sobs.

"Awww…, what's wrong?" Tina asked in tones that were half sincere, half mocking. "Don't they have PMS in Pixie Hollow?"

"No, we don't!" Vidia shot back. "We don't wax our legs, or shave our arm pits or our naughty places, we don't shove things where they do not belong and we most certainly do not get MPS!"

"PMS," Tina corrected.

"Whatever!"

"Really? Must be nice." Tina, even on the first floor, could still hear her sister's shocked reaction from the second floor when she learned that to deal with this problem she had to apply a tampon. I have to put that where? That's disgusting!

Moments later Vidia raised her head and stared at Tina. Her eyes were bloodshot. "When is it going to stop?"

"In four days," Tina answered.

"Four days?! I don't know if I can hold out that long!"

"Oh you'll be fine. You always have before."

"BEFORE?! This has happened before?!"

"Yup. We get it once every month," Tina informed her. "Didn't Mom tell you this?"

Vidia just whimpered, a rare sight to behold. "I can't do this every month," she cried. "The queen doesn't have to endure this, does she?"

"We all do," Tina answered.

"You? Queen Clarion? Even Lord Milori?"

"No, just us women," Tina said.

"Gee, lucky us. Now how do I make it stop?"

"You can't," the little blonde unhelpfully informed her. "We just put up with it until it goes away. But if the symptoms are more than you can handle there are pills you can take."

Suddenly Vidia sensed a ray of hope. "Really?"

"Yeah. Do you have cramps and feel bloated?"

"Yes," Vidia admitted, embarrassed. Tina explained that over the counter pills to relieve this symptoms were in the bathroom. "Ask Mom, she'll show you where they are and how to take them."

"And they'll make all of this go away?"

"Just the bloating and the cramping," she said. "Everything else you'll have to put up with on your own."

Vidia just groaned and plopped her head down on the table again. Tina pulled over a bowl of Hershey's Kisses and offered her a few.

"Here, want some chocolate?"

Vidia raised her head, stared at the tiny chocolate pieces wrapped in silver foil and said, "Okay." She took the entire bowl and retreating to her room.

"Hey, that was for all of us!" Tina protested. Vidia didn't listen. "Thank goodness it only lasts four days. I don't think I can put up with her period for a second longer."

~O~

Vidia endured the trial of her period. Despite all the advice she received from Claire and Tina she still hurled every fairy curse, and a few human ones, at her predicament. During the four days her personality changed from acerbic and snarky to likeable and even downright meek. When it ended, she felt nothing but relief. Tina, who enjoyed pushing around her older sister during Valerie's period, lamented losing her gravy train. During those four days she had managed to easily coerce Vidia into doing all of her household chores, including cleaning their shared bathroom, vacuuming, doing the dishes, washing clothes and taking out the trash. She caught hell from her mother when she found out and again from Vidia when she snapped out of her PMS induced personality change.

"It was worth it," Tina ultimately concluded.

~O~

The New Year arrived with its usual fireworks and the raising of a ceremonial ball directly in front of Town Hall. The scars of the fire were no longer visible outside, though the reconstruction on the inside was still ongoing. Unlike celebrations in New York and other cities, Storybrooke raised a lighted globe during the final minute of the year. When it reached the top of the tower it lit up in glittery LED lighting with the year, in this case 2012, the brightest.

A fireworks display illuminated the night sky for a full twenty minutes as music played to the spectacularly choreographed light show. At its conclusion the revelers retired to Granny's Diner for a night cap consisting of drinks for the adults and plenty of egg nog for everyone.

Claire and Hartley were together for the moment the New Year greeted them, all bundled up against the cold. They kissed at exactly 12:00 midnight and did not stop until 12:01 a.m. Cold as it was, neither seemed to care. At Granny's the two sat at the counter, drank a couple of glasses of brandy and conversed throughout the night recalling all the good and bad of the previous year. They also confided their hopes for the new one.

Tina and Vidia joined Clarence and Penny at Town Hall to watch the festivities. When the ball rose to signal the coming of the next year Tina, Clarence and Penny sang Auld Lang Syne along with the rest of the crowd. Vidia, who didn't know the words, just hummed along as best she could.

Tina and Clarence shared an affectionate kiss on the cheek. Penny hugged her best friend while Vidia seemed at a loss of what to do next. Tina then provided her own remedy, giving her big sister a huge hug and saying, "Happy New Year!"

Vidia enjoyed the fireworks display, but felt out of place at Granny's. She knew no one there other than her family and their friends. They were all busy with each other, Claire with Hartley and Tina with Clarence and Penny. She sat in the corner and watched the others have their fun. Mary Margaret came by to see how she was doing. "Feeling better?"

"Yes, I'm over that cold," she answered. "Thanks again for letting me stay with you."

"Oh don't make a fuss, I was glad to help. All that matters is that you and your mother have reconciled."

Henry walked up to the two women. "Happy new year," he greeted. He then turned to Vidia and asked, "Have any more memories returned?"

"No, just that one," Vidia answered. "I can't get over how warm and mushy it makes me feel. I hate it."

"Oh, don't be like that," Mary Margaret told her. "Having a family that loves and embraces you is a wonderful feeling."

Vidia replied in her usual haughty tones. "I am a fast flying fairy. We don't have mothers and fathers, we don't have families. We are born as adults. That memory is not mine."

"That's proof that the curse is real," Henry said enthusiastically.

"Oh, Henry, that's an actual memory coming back," Mary Margaret tried to explain.

"What's this I hear?" Mayor Mills said as she approached. She spied Henry at the table with Mary Margaret and Valerie. "Go to the car, Henry, its past your bedtime."

He said his goodbyes and went to the door waiting for Regina. He didn't go the car because it was too cold.

"Look, the mayor's here... just in case someone needs advice for bad ideas," Vidia snipped.

Regina smiled but in a way that made Vidia feel uncomfortable. "Am I to understand that your memory has returned?"

"It's just one memory," Mary Margaret said. "From her childhood."

"How convenient," Regina answered. She moved in close to Vidia and spoke in a low, threatening tone of voice. "I knew you were a fraud. As soon as I have proof I'll put you back behind bars."

"The only fraud here is you posing as a mayor," Vidia rebuked. "I know exactly what you are, a spineless bully who is too much of a coward to face her opponents on her own."

"Why you little…, I'll teach you to talk back to me," Regina hissed.

"You don't need to teach me, I already know how," Vidia volleyed back.

Regina smiled again. "Enjoy your freedom. It won't last." She walked away in a huff and took Henry with her out the door.

"I feel sorry that kid," Vidia mumbled.

"Yeah, so do I."

"How did that woman get to be mayor, anyway," Vidia asked Mary Margaret.

"She is very powerful and very intimidating," Ms. Blanchard answered. "No one has ever been willing to run against her."

"Figures." Vidia noticed that although Mary Margaret was talking to her, Ms. Blanchard's eyes were fixated on someone else. The handsome man named David Nolan. "You like him?"

"Who me? No, he's married. Oh look, now he's talking to Mr. Winter," she said. "I wonder what they're talking about."

~O~

Hartley Winter excused himself momentarily to speak with David Nolan. David was asking if Mr. Winter could come to the house and adjust the airflow of his central air and heating unit. "The upstairs bedrooms are just right while the downstairs is cooler than it should be."

"Is Friday morning acceptable?" Hartley asked.

"Friday morning is fine," David answered. David's eyes kept darting away from Hartley and would descend on Mary Margaret for a few fleeting seconds before returning to Hartley again. Mr. Winter turned his head and noticed who it was David was looking at.

"Aren't you a married man?" he asked David.

"I'm sorry, there is just something about her that I can't get out of my mind," David confided in Hartley. "But please don't tell that to Kathryn."

"My lips are sealed," Hartley replied. "But it's understandable. You find a woman who has perfect hair; porcelain skin; pouty lips; limpid eyes and the voluptuous curves of a goddess, no matter how hard you try you just can't take your eyes off of…"

His voice just trailed off. Now it was David's turn to notice that Hartley was fixated on someone else, Claire Kensington. David just smiled knowingly.

"My apologies, David, I was somewhere else," Hartley said, snapping out of his reverie. "Somewhere nice… and warm… and quite wonderful."

"Why don't you go back to Claire," David told him, "I have to find Kathryn and let her know to expect you on Friday."

~O~

While Hartley was speaking with David, Claire started a brief conversation with Ruby. As usual, Ruby wore a slinky outfit consisting of hot pants, sheer leggings, and high heels in bright red and her top was tied off exposing her midriff. "How is it going?" Ruby asked Claire. Ruby was present at the collapsed mine several weeks ago when Claire revealed her interest in Hartley Winter. She had offered to help Claire then and was still amiable to helping now.

"It's great," Claire answered. "I haven't felt this good since Charlie passed."

"So have you two…, y'know?"

"Of course not," Claire answered, scandalized. "We've only been dating two months."

"Oh honey, sometimes I don't wait two minutes," Ruby said with a sly grin. "What's holding you back?"

"I want a long term relationship," Claire reminded Ruby. "Not just a fling. The girls need a good man around the house again."

"They do? Or you do?" Ruby asked seeming to know exactly what was in Claire's heart. The look on the widowed mother's face was like an open book. "We're about the same size. Why don't you borrow some of my clothes? I've got an outfit that never fails."

Claire didn't want to, she preferred that Hartley not think of her as fast. Yet for so many years she had been without the companionship of a good man in her bed. It would be so nice to enjoy that feeling again. The sheer physical and emotional pleasure of a night of unbridled passion. "Okay, I'll do it."

"Great! Come to my place tonight and I'll let you pick out what you want," Ruby offered. "I'll have you looking like a sexy MILF in no time."

Claire blushed shamelessly. This was so unlike her, yet she was enjoying every second of it. Hartley returned to her side. "Are you well? Your cheeks look flushed," he said.

"Who me? Yes. Sorry, it must be the cold weather," Claire answered with a nervous jitter.

"We're inside."

"Are we? Maybe it's getting late. Oh look at the time, almost two in the morning," Claire said trying not to fumble over her words. Her nervous anticipation was getting to her. Having the object of her affection standing right next to her didn't help matters. She asked Tina to fetch her sister.

"The girls need to get some sleep tonight," Claire continued. "And I need to sex…, did I say sex? I meant vex, wax, WASH, wash some clothes tomorrow, today, something like that. Oh God I must look like a damned fool."

Hartley just chuckled. "Yes, and a most lovely one at that." He kissed her passionately. So passionately Claire almost invited him back to her place for the night. But what would she do about her two girls.

"Ready, Mom?" Tina asked with Vidia in tow.

"NO! Wait, ready for what?"

"To go home?"

"With whom? I mean yes. Yes. I better get going before I do something truly stupid."

"Wait," Hartley asked, "would you like to accompany me to the cinema this Friday evening?"

Claire smiled back. "I would love a good milf. FILM! Oh God." Claire turned several different shades of red. Horrified by her outburst, she grabbed her two girls and slid out of the diner, her head held low and buried in her scarf in pure embarrassment.

Hartley, confused, looked to Granny and asked, "What's a milf?"

"Ruby!" Granny bellowed. "Customer."

For those of you who are not familiar with the phrase, MILF is a profane acronym for Mother I'd Like to F***. Any wonder why Claire was so embarrassed?