The Castle of the Queen of the United Worlds. Regina's bedchamber.
Regina went to the window. She recalled her brief conversation with Robin. It was so good to be there with him. She sighed involuntarily—Regina then wanted to kiss him. It's one thing to know that he won't come back, and it's quite another to stand next to him and see the warmth of his eyes. Alex distracted Regina from her memories, the girl came in and said hello.
— Hi, Alex,— Regina said and smiled. — How did you sleep?
— It's fine. Has someone offended you? — Alex asked.
The young girl noticed her mood, and her hands clenched into fists by themselves. And fireballs appeared around them, but the young girl did not notice it. But Regina noticed.
— Wow,— she nodded, pointing Alex at hands. — You need to learn to control it. Otherwise, you can hurt someone. Or even worse, yourself.
— Oh, — the young girl looked at her fists and stretched them a little forward. — I didn't do it on purpose, it's on its own. What should I do now?
— Calm down, take a deep breath. Exhale slowly and open your palms, — Regina said.
The young girl did as Regina told her, and the flames disappeared. Mills came closer.
— Let me see. Are you hurt? — she asked.
The woman took her hands in hers and examined them. She twisted the girl's palms.
— It's a pity you're not my mom,— Alex said suddenly.
— There are no burns - that's good, — Regina understood the meaning of the young girl's words, and she looked into her eyes. — What? Alex…
— I know: it's wrong to say that. But my mom... she's evil. No?
— Let's postpone this conversation,— Regina said decisively. — I'm sure your father would like to talk to you. Let's not keep him waiting.
— Will you do magic? — Alex sighed.
— First there is nothing wrong with magic, if you look into it, — Regina raised her finger. — Secondly why immediately conjure? Have you ever ridden in a real chariot?
Enchanted Forest.
Robin turned on his back and saw... a wolf. A huge wolf was standing right above him and... smiling.
The man opened his eyes and sat down. He pulled off the hood of his hoodie and looked around. He was sleeping right on the ground. A branch snapped nearby, and he immediately grabbed a bow, instantly put an arrow to it and, pulling the string, pointed it at the source of the sound. A young woman who stepped on a branch froze and raised her hands.
— Who are you?— Robin asked her. — You can lower your hands, just slowly.
— My name is Ruby — the young woman replied and lowered her hands. — Hi, Robin.
— Do you know me? — Robin lowered his bow and got to his feet.
Ruby nodded and smiled.
— I know a lot of people in town,— Ruby said. — And what were you doing in the forest?
— I was strolling, thinking,— Robin replied, and suddenly realized something. — And you know the mayor? Regina?
— Of course I do,— Ruby chuckled. — Maybe I should take you to her house?
— Do you know where she lives? — Robin was surprised and suddenly said, — Yes.
— Wherefore? — Ruby asked, puzzled.
— I'm need talking to her,— Robin explained. — Please.
— Okay,— Ruby conceded.
The young woman led him along the path leading to the castle. But suddenly she stopped, turned her head and went a little in the other direction. She smelled a familiar scent as they almost reached the road. Ruby could clearly hear the smell coming from the castle towards Storybrooke. It became obvious to her that Regina had just been on this road and she was moving from the castle, so she was not at home. Then Ruby decided that Mills most likely went to her son and headed for the mansion. All this was clear to her, but not to Robin.
— Why did we suddenly turn off? — he asked.
— Because you wanted to see Regina. We're going to her mansion. It's the biggest one in town,— Ruby replied.
— Yes, but at first we were going in the same direction, and then we turned sharply to the right. Why?
— Because I'm not a compass! Is that clear? I got a little confused,— Ruby replied.
Robin and Ruby were already approaching the mansion when Lucy came out of it. Robin smiled at her as if she were an old acquaintance, and Ruby waved a friendly hand.
— Hey, Lucy, — Ruby said,— is Regina with you?
— No. She's at the hotel with Alex,— Lucy replied.
— How do you know? — Ruby was surprised.
— So she called Dad, and he took the book and went to them,— Lucy said, —"to introduce Aunt Alex to the origins", as he put it.
— I see. Thank you, Lucy — Ruby nodded, and then suddenly put her hand on her shoulder. — Wait, what book is this?
— The same one, — the teenager smiled.
Storybrooke. Hotel "Granny's" .
Mr. Gold looked at the girl and was silent. He wanted to tell her so much, to teach her everything he knows. Because he knew Alex had magic. Even if it hadn't accidentally manifested yesterday, it was obvious when two evil wizards have a child, then he has magic. A priori.
— Well, why are you silent, Rumpel? — Regina couldn't stand it.
— I do not know where to start!— Mr. Gold shrugged his shoulders. — I have so little time, and there is so much to explain.
Henry came into the room.
— Here I am. Hello, everyone,— Henry said. — I brought a book.
— What kind of book? — Alex asked him.
— "Once upon a Time,"— Henry smiled. — In her described …
— Children's fairy tales? — Alex chuckled .— And how will that help me?
— Well, let's start with the fact that many fairy tale characters live in Storybrooke,— Henry replied and handed her a brown - covered book. — Read, the lives of many people living in this city are described here.
— Yeah? — the young girl opened the book and flipped through the pages with a characteristic sound.
— Alex, — Henry sat down next to the young girl, — you're reading wrong, now I'll show you.
He took the book from her, opened it to a page with a drawing. There was a picture of a boy in a striped scarf.
— That's me,— he pointed his finger directly at the drawing.
— Oh, come on, stop lying, — Alex flipped through a few pages and poked at another drawing. — And this is probably your second cousin.
— No,— Henry smiled. — This is my grandmother — Snow White.
— Are you serious? — Alex asked doubtfully. — Is Snow White your grandmother?
— Wait a minute,— Regina peered at the drawing. — A familiar amulet, Henry?!
— Aha, — Henry smiled broadly and looked at his mother.— You're going to have childrens, Mom.
— That is... childrens? Exactly like that? In the plural? — Stunned, Regina blinked her eyes. — Okay, I need to get out!
She went out the door and took several deep breaths. She's been dreaming about having a baby for so many years. And now, when everything pointed to the fact that she would become a mother after all, she could not believe it.
— What happened? — Alex wondered. — Henry, what's with your mom?
— It's a long story. Just read that,— Henry returned the book to her and stormed out the door.
— Alex, — Mr. Gold understood where to start the conversation. — Tell me about yourself. I don't know anything about you at all.
Storybrooke. Near the hotel.
Ruby went to the hotel with a twofold feeling: she wanted to, and she didn't want to. And she was also angry. She was angry at herself, at Mr. Gold, and at Alex, who had come to town for some damn reason. Just yesterday, when she was going to surprise Dorothy. And instead, she spent half the night running through the woods, because the full moon fell on the fourteenth. And Ruby, as luck would have it, left her raincoat at the hotel. And this Robin - he wanted to talk to Regina. Ruby didn't want to go to the hotel because she would have to explain to her wife. On the one hand she felt guilty, on the other she didn't want to upset Dorothy even more. Fortunately for her, they didn't have to go into the hotel - Regina and Henry were standing near the entrance and talking about something.
— How much? — Regina gasped.
— Two,— Henry was touched, looking at Regina. — I told Snow about what I saw. She firmly said two. A boy and a girl.
— It's some kind of sorcery, Henry,— Regina squinted suspiciously, — admit that you played me.
— No, Mom! — Henry exclaimed fervently. — I was glad myself.
— Suppose,— Regina replied with a nod. — And from whom?
— I don't kn... — Henry looked away and noticed a couple approaching.— At least from him.
— It's not him, it's not my Robin,— Regina whispered to her son.— Don't leave me with him.
Regina was absolutely sure that this was Robin from the World of Desires. She was wary of being alone with him. Regina felt good around him, and she was afraid that she would simply not be able to resist kissing him or going even further. The woman tried her best to suppress the feelings that suddenly surged, but all her attempts had the opposite effect. She did not want this for the Evil Queen, because she had experienced the bitterness of betrayal of a loved one. But Henry didn't seem to hear her.
— I have to run,— he said, hugging her and kissing her on the cheek. — I love you.
Robin suddenly began to look at his shoes, for some reason this scene became unpleasant to him. Ruby was thinking about her wife, about what she should do now, and noticed how the curtain on the window in the corner room moved. She decided, after all, that had to explain everything to Dorothy. At least try.
— Regina,— she said, — Robin wanted to talk to you about something. I would chat too, but I have to run. Bye.
Regina just opened her mouth to stop her, but Ruby had already disappeared into the building. Then Regina decided for herself that the best way to defend herself was to attack, reproaching herself a little for such a choice.
— That's how. — Regina looked at the man.— You wanted to talk to me? About what?
— Well ...— Robin shrugged his shoulder. — Just to say thank you for the clothes. She really turned out to be my size.
— Mmm,— she said coldly. — Is that what you came for? Weren't you with... my sister? And what kind of childishness is it to run away from the hospital?
— So she told? It turned out to be stupid ... — Robin sighed somehow quite childishly. — She kissed me for some reason. I had some stupid dreams afterwards.
— Oh. — Regina was bubbling inside, but she didn't show it,— I see.
— She came before you came,— Robin defended himself for some reason. — I really don't know why she did it!
— I'm sorry, Robin,— Regina said coldly. — If you have everything, then I need to go.
Regina hurried to the cafe, and Robin, confused, remained on the road. He noticed how Regina's attitude towards him had changed, but he didn't understand what he had done wrong. Really, because he ran away from the hospital?
Storybrooke. The hotel "Granny's". Mr. Gold and Belle's number.
Mr. Gold smiled, looking at his daughter and the delight with which she tells about her victories.
— That was my tenth cup. In Boston, — Alex finished.
— Can I hug you? — Mr. Gold asked his daughter. — I really want to.
Alex nodded uncertainly, and when her father hugged her, she responded to the hug, too, somehow awkwardly. However, after them, she felt a little easier in her soul, she was already beginning to get used to the idea that this strange lame man was her father.
— Listen, let's go to my place? — Alex suddenly suggested. — To Boston? I'll show you my apartment and introduce you to the coach.
Mr. Gold and Belle exchanged glances.
— Alex, I can't,— Mr. Gold felt Belle take his hand. — We can't.
— Come on, why?
— You see, the thing is that we... — Mr. Gold looked at his wife, and then back at his daughter. — We're dead. And we need to return to the Underworld.
— What? Alex exclaimed.
The young girl clenched her fists, and tears appeared in her eyes. Suddenly the mirror broke, and the window opened abruptly.
— Alex! — Mr. Gold tried to caress his daughter again, but she broke away.
— Don't come near me! I'm getting out of this madhouse tomorrow! — She shouted and rushed out of the room.
— Alex! — Mr. Gold wanted to go after her, but Belle held him back.
— Leave her alone,— Belle said. — Regina is right: there is too much information. The poor girl has a complete mess in her head right now.
— Belle, we have to go back soon, I almost didn't talk to her, — Mr. Gold said in frustration.
— I know, honey, — Belle stroking his wrist. — But you found her, as promised. Let's go have some tea. In a cafe.
Storybrooke. Cafe "Granny's" .
Regina was already drinking her second glass of apple cider. The mood couldn't have been worse. She did not immediately notice that she was not sitting alone.
— Aren't you starting a little early? — Mr. Gold said.
— Fuck off, Rumpel,— Regina rubbed the rim of her glass.
— What happened? — Belle's hand, sitting across from her, covered Regina's. — Tell us, as old friends.
— Aren't you tired of talking yet? — Such familiar sarcasm slipped into Regina's speech. — By the way, why are you both here? Shouldn't you be with your daughter?
— I had to tell her I wasn't here for long. And she ran away,— Mr. Gold sighed.
— Well, you give, Rumpel! — Regina was indignant. — Are you crazy? Couldn't you have waited a couple of days?
— Can't! — Mr. Gold replied sharply and unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt, exposing his wrist. — See this?
An hourglass was painted on his wrist. And the top bowl of sand was about two-thirds empty.
— What is it? — Regina was surprised.
— This is the time that I have left on earth. Zeus conjured me to know when to come back. We need to get back before the upper bowl is empty. And, according to my calculations, we have about a 24 hours. That is, tomorrow at noon we have to enter the portal.
— What do you happen? — Belle asked. — Don't tell me it's a new curse.
— No,— Regina smirked. — We found Robin in the Enchanted Forest. He was without memory and did not recognize anyone. Roland is sure that this is his father. Even I sometimes thought so, but it's not him, it's Robin from the World of Desires.
— You have a very doomed confidence,— Belle said doubtfully. — How do you know? We're dead too.
— Because I know. Gina visited him in the hospital and restored his memory with a Kiss of True Love.
— Hello, "Crocodile", — Captain Hook came up to their table with his invariable grin. — Is it true they say that you have a daughter?