Storybrooke. Cafe "Granny's".
Ruby stared blankly out the window, her head propped on her hand. Dorothy returned to Oz. One. She sighed, remembering their quarrel: Dorothy returned from a walk and they had another fight.
— Hello... Little Red Riding Hood?
Ruby shifted her gaze to the person who had approached her table.
— Hello, Alex. — Ruby nodded at the book in Alex's hands. — Are you studying the family tree?
— You could say that. I've already read something, I decided to take a break,— Alex sat down opposite and put a book next to her. — And you don't look happy. What happened?
— Yeah,— Ruby breathed,— we had a fight with Dorothy. We've been fighting a lot lately. I don't know what to do.
— Oh, I'm sorry, — Alex said, and squeezed Ruby's hand in sympathy.
Suddenly, a blanket appeared from somewhere, right on Ruby's shoulders and gently wrapped her up.
— Oh,— Ruby said, — what is it?
— I'm sorry! — Alex jerked her hand away. — It seems... I did. I don't know how to use it yet. And...
— It's okay, — Ruby smiled, and then looked at Alex with interest. — So you have magic? You're definitely one of us.
— I have magic, — Alex somehow drooped, — but I'm afraid of it or something. My father... He's a Dark One. Well, there was once. Did all sorts of things...
— And what? — Ruby wrapped herself more comfortably in a blanket. — Right now you didn't hurt me, but rather the opposite. Magic is no more dangerous than a knife. The main thing is how you use it. And for what purposes.
— Hmm,— Alex said, — I hadn't thought of that. But me still need to be able to manage it. I can accidentally do something nasty. And a big one.
— You'd better talk to your father about that. He's definitely an expert in magic.
— He'll be back soon... back to the Underworld. And I understand that learning is not for one day.
— Oh, — Ruby was surprised, and then suddenly smiled slyly, — then there is another candidate for your magic teacher. And I think this will be the best option.
Storybrooke. Hospital.
Regina changed her clothes with a wave of her hand. A dress, a raincoat, a blue scarf.
"It's a blue scarf, he'll definitely remember," the woman thought.
She came over and sat down on his bed. She ran her hand over his face, starting from his forehead and ending at his chin. As if sensing that it was her, the man opened his eyes, looked at her and smiled.
— Regina,— he said, — I'm so glad to see you.
— Robin! How are you doing?
— It's fine. Even my head doesn't hurt anymore,— the man sat up on the bed. — The weakness is only small.
— Oh,— Regina couldn't resist hugging him.
He hugged her back and it was something extraordinarily beautiful. So new and so familiar. Like what he felt in the forest. He enjoyed the feeling.
Regina pulled back and looked at him. She looked and did not believe. Here HE Next to him, he looks affectionately, even feels something, otherwise he would not have tried to kiss then, but he does not remember anything at all.
"How can I help you remember?" - Looking at him, Regina thought
— What are you looking at like that? — Loxley asked.
— I'm sorry if I embarrassed you,— Regina looked away and turned away.
— Not at all,— Robin replied.
He took her chin in his hand, turned her to him and kissed her. Regina was surprised at first, but then she responded to the kiss with tenderness, even put her arm around his shoulders. How she missed his kisses, and not only. She wanted to continue, but Robin was limited to one kiss.
— Regina, — said Robin and stroked her cheek, — I would like to...
— Yeah... — Regina's looked slightly bleary-eyed. — Yes, me too.
— ...To meet you,— Robin finished. — Can I pick you up after work?
— After what job? — Regina pursed her lips. — Are you... asking me out on a date? When?
— If they let me go tonight, I'll be near the city hall.
— It's unlikely today, I think the doctor will hold it until tomorrow. To make sure that your health is not in danger.
— Tomorrow, then. At seven? — Loxley asked.
— At seven,— Regina smiled.
She couldn't resist and kissed him on the lips. At the door, Mills paused a little and turned around.
— Robin, don't run away anymore, okay?
He smiled at her goodbye.
Storybrooke. Near the hotel.
Mr. Gold and Belle were returning from the antique shop. Belle came there from the library with a list of necessary ingredients, and Mr. Gold was checking his stocks on it. It was good that they had found the portal, but it still needed to be opened. However, they did not reach the hotel because Alex crashed into them. She was scared of something.
— Father! — The young girl said. — How good that I met you...
— Alex, — Mr. Gold was surprised, — what happened to you?
— I am this... I think I killed someone... magic.
— Oh. Your magic... I completely forgot about it,— Mr. Gold said. — Come on, show me where it happened.
Mr. Gold went after Alex. Although he limped, leaning on a cane, he tried to keep up with his daughter, Belle followed them. Soon they came to the hotel: a man was lying about two hundred meters from the entrance. Mr. Gold came over and sat down next to him, checking his pulse. A faint smile touched his lips.
— Well, am I going to jail now? — Alex asked anxiously. — Or how do they punish crimes with the use of magic here?
Mr. Gold got up and walked over to his daughter, hugged her, kissed her on the temple.
— Calm down, honey, he's alive,—Mr. Gold said. — You just stunned him. Tell me, have you read the book?
— Not all of it. About a third,— the young girl replied.
Alex also hugged the man, she felt calm in his arms. And Belle was smiling at her husband. She liked how caring he was at that moment. So human and unlike the Dark One she met for the first time.
— And you didn't recognize him? — Mr. Gold asked.
— Nah,— the young girl shook her head. — And who is it?
— Captain Hook. He has my heart,— Mr. Gold replied.
— It can't be! — Alex said. — He's got two hands!
— Not really, — Mr. Gold walked over to Killian and pulled one of his palms out. — It's a prosthetic.
— Isn't that the other Captain Hook? — Belle asked.
— Yes, this one is from the Desire World,— Mr. Gold nodded. — Belle, can you move him to the hospital? He definitely could use a doctor.
— From the World of Desires? — Alex asked.
— You'll understand later,— Mr. Gold said, — when you've read the book to the end.
Storybrooke. Hospital.
Regina left the room and sank into a chair exhausted. She looked at herself from the outside: it didn't look very good. She knows who he is, but he doesn't. And how does she look in his eyes now? The mayor, always busy with work, decided to have fun? Regina covered her face with her hands.
— Regina, are you all right? — The doctor stopped next to her.
— Actually, Your Majesty, — Regina's sarcasm woke up again in a moment of despair.
She looked at Dr. Whale. And he, standing next to her, had the persistent impression that she was looking down from above, even when she was sitting. Dr. Whale shrugged slightly, and then handed her the package.
— Then take it, I was going to give it to him then, but he ran away.
— What is it? — Mills asked.
— The clothes he was found in,— Dr. Whale replied, and hurried about his business.
Regina opened the bag and saw the toga and what was lying at the bottom of the paper bag.
— Aunt Regina! Hello, — a joyful voice rang out.
Regina looked up and set the paper bag aside. She frowned slightly and stood up abruptly.
— Alex? What are you doing here, are you injured?
— No, deary,— Mr. Gold said as he approached, — but she hurt someone. Slightly.
— I didn't do it on purpose! Why do you say that? — Alex asked.
— Judging by your grin, it's Jones,— Regina guessed, turning to Mr. Gold.
— You've always been very perceptive, deary,— Mr. Gold smiled. — However, it's good that I met you.
They took a couple of steps away so that Alex couldn't hear them.
— I know I'm asking a lot, but, — the man's voice changed, — look after Alex. Teach her how to use magic. I can't ask her mother to do that.
— Why is that? — The sarcasm was back in Regina's voice. — She knows what I know.
— I'm afraid she'll teach her... bad, — Mr. Gold sighed.
— If you help me with Robin while you're still here.
— A deal? — Mr. Gold's eyes twinkled with interest.
— Rumpel, — sighed Belle, who came up, — it's impossible to change you.
Somewhere in the Enchanted Forest.
Roland pulled the bowstring and shot an arrow. The arrow went to the side, falling next to the target.
— You're straining your hand too much. The arrow must be held gently.
Roland turned around. His sister Robin was standing next to him, leaning her shoulder against a tree.
— You decided to give me a couple of shooting lessons? Or do you want to talk? — Roland asked.
— Tell me about our father,— Robin said.
— I don't remember much, — Roland shrugged. — He was always kind to me. He protected me, and if he was away for a long time, he left me with friends. Little John mostly looked after me during his absence. I really don't know what to tell you.
— Do you think he'll remember us? — Robin asked.
— I hope so. Is that the only thing bothering you?
— Not really. I just don't know what to talk to him about, even if he remembers. You have something to remember. And I wasn't even a year old when he died.
— Tell me honestly: you're just afraid of meeting him.
— I'm not afraid, — the young girl replied, — I just don't know him. I didn't have time to get to know him. To love like a father. He's a stranger to me, you know?
— Yes, but you can recognize him now. If you want, of course. Do you want?
— I don't know, Roland. I really don't know. It's hard to explain. And you?
— And I want to. I want and ... I'm afraid. We haven't seen each other for twenty years. For him, it's like falling asleep and waking up, and here a whole life has passed. Regina is having a hard time right now. He is near and not near her at the same time. I'd probably go crazy. Imagine that Alice doesn't remember who you are. And how much she means to you.
— Yes, we had it like that, curse Hyperion Heights. Haven't you read it? Henry Jr. wrote everything as it was.
— Well, you compared. There you were both under a spell, but here everything is different. It's more like a sleep spell that the Evil Queen put on David and Snow White. When one slept, the other woke up. Wait, what did you call him? Henry Jr.?
— Yes. What else should I call him? Henry Two?
— That's what everyone calls him,— Roland smiled.
— Stop talking, let me teach you how to shoot normally. Otherwise, the father will wake up, it will be inconvenient: Robin Hood's son does not hit the target. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
— Oh, you, — Roland playfully swung, and Robin laughed.
Storybrooke. Hospital.
Alex sat down on the chairs where Regina was sitting and noticed the paper bag. She looked in there out of curiosity and found a flower there. She pulled it out, and when she examined it more closely, she let out a joyful cry.
— "This is amazing"! — She exclaimed.
Regina turned to her and came over, puzzled by her antics.
— Alex, what's with you? Have you never seen flowers? — Regina asked.
— You don't understand! — The young girl's face was glowing with happiness, she handed the flower to Regina. — "This is amazing"!
— An ordinary flower, — Regina twirled the flower in her hand. — What's amazing about it?
— "It's amazing" is its name. I had the same one in Boston, growing in a pot on the windowsill. I didn't think they grew here.
— It's a Dignus miraculo,— Belle said, coming up to them. It grows only in one place — on Olympus, in a beautiful garden. When I was leafing through the books today, I found his description there. Maybe it just looks like yours?
— Maybe,— Alex replied, — but very similar, if so.
— I'm sorry, but we have to go,— Mr. Gold said. — Alex, are you coming?
— Can I stay here with Regina? — Alex suddenly asked.
— As you wish,— Mr. Gold replied, and they left with Belle.
After the Gold's couple left, Regina stared at Alex.
— So what did you do with the poor pirate? — She asked the young girl with a slight grin.
— Oh! — Alex grimaced. — I didn't do anything! I left the hotel, I wanted to take a walk, and here he is, in my opinion, drunk. He was talking some kind of heresy, I didn't really listen. All I heard from his confused speech was "I haven't seen you before", "so you probably are the daughter of a "Crocodile"... I wanted him to back off, got angry and pushed him away, and he ... flew a hundred meters away.
Regina laughed, and Alex looked at her in disbelief.
— Did I say something funny? — she asked.
— No, — Regina smiled, — just a pirate and your father, they... how to put it mildly... sworn friends. Have you read the book?
— Not all of it, — Alex bowed her head slightly. — My father asked me about it too. Why?
— You'll understand when you read her,— Regina replied, still smiling.
— And why are you here? In the hospital? — Alex asked.
— Because of a loved one, — Regina's smile seemed to have been erased. — He's lying here, and I can't help anything.
— Tell me,— Alex said. — It seems to me that it's easier to figure out what to do together.
— I could tell you, but you're still getting used to our world. It will be hard for you to understand. If medicine is powerless, then most likely it's magic.
Regina sighed and twirled the flower in her hand again. She stared first at him and then at the young girl.
— Where did you get it? — Regina asked, lifting the flower.
— Here, — Alex handed the paper bag to Regina,— right here.
— Okay, come with me.
Regina put the flower back in the paper bag, took Alex by the hand and was transported with her to the castle.