Somewhere in the Desire World.
Alex pressed her ear to Killian's chest and held onto his back with one hand. Hook stood, afraid to move, he understood her feelings, but he was tired of standing. They had been standing like this for about five minutes, and he gently stroked the girl's hair. Suddenly, lilac smoke swirled, revealing the Evil Queen with a fireball in her hand.
— Did I tell you not to molest my daughter? — She said angrily and swung for a throw.
— Mom, no! — Alex finally broke away from the guy and put her hands forward: an energy dome formed around the two of them.
— Alex, — the Evil Queen put out the fireball and came closer, — how did you do it, honey?
— I don't know... — Alex lowered her hands, but the dome did not disappear. — Oh, but how will we get out?
— Don't be afraid, — said Gina, — I'll put it away now.
She came close and put her palm to the edge of the dome — it burst like a soap bubble. Gina grabbed the young girl and hugged her.
— It's okay, honey, it's okay,— she said,— I'm with you.
Killian hurried away while the Evil Queen was completely absorbed in her daughter and forgot about him for a while. Gina took her daughter's face in her hands and looked into her eyes.
— Are you not hurt? Is everything okay? — she asked.
Alex nodded affirmatively, tears rolling down her face.
— What, honey,— Gina was worried.— Scared?
— No, — the young girl answered, — to me... I'm sorry, I probably overreacted... in the morning.
— Oh ... — Gina hugged her daughter to her again. — I... I'm not angry. Let's go to home?
— Yes, — Alex replied, — but can I go to Storybrooke? I want to talk to Regina.
— Come on tomorrow, — Gina smiled, — I want to spend the whole day with you. Tell me about yourself. What kind of sports do you do?
The Evil Queen took her daughter by the arm, and together they went to the castle. She didn't think about the pirate at all.
The World of Desires. Robin and Alice's house.
Killian Jones knocked sharply on the door with an iron hook. Robin opened the door - she was obviously nervous.
— Hi, — said Hook, — is your offer still valid? Can I come in?
— Yes, of course, — her gaze became softer, — come in.
Alice came into the hallway with a quick step, frowning. She waved her hand, about to say something, but noticed her father and stopped.
— Dad? — Her face took on a surprised expression. — What are you doing here?
— Hi, "starfish", I need to talk to your wife, — Hook replied. — If you don't mind.
— Oh, do whatever you want! — Alice replied and left.
— Are you arguing again? — Hook smiled.
— Yes! I told her everything and now she's forcing me to go back to Storybrooke. She wants me to talk to my father, but I don't want to,— Robin sighed.
— Do you not want to talk to your father? — Hook was surprised. — Or don't you want to go?
— That's not what you came for, — Robin said. — Do you like lemon tea?
While talking, they went into the kitchen, where the young girl put the kettle on, arranged the cups.
— I wanted to ask you something,— Hook scratched his cheek. — Tell me, how did you know that you care about Alice?
— Wow! — Robin was surprised. — Why such questions? Is it because we fight sometimes? Or have you already had a drink?
— Listen! — The pirate clenched his good hand tightly into a fist. — I'm just... I want to sort myself out. I almost went into the world of people today.
— To the real world? — Robin thought she'd misheard. — A world without magic?
— You say that like it's terrible there. We were there. In the real world. — Said the pirate.
— If you're talking about Hyperion Heights,— Robin replied, — then don't even start. But why are you so eager to go there?
— Because there's nothing for me to do here. Except for my daughter, no one needs me here, but my daughter has grown up, she has her own life,— and then he quietly added, — well, or was not needed.
— But has something changed? — Robin smiled slyly and turned off the whistling kettle. — Have you fallen in love?
— No, — Hook smiled tightly, — what makes you think?
— Then why did you ask about feelings? — Robin's smile widened. — There is a person who you care about, and you want to understand ...
— What to understand? — Alice came into the kitchen.
— Your father's in love,— Robin said.
— I'm not... — Hook looked at Robin. — Robin. Why don't you want to talk to your father?
Robin frowned and pursed her lips, and Alice suddenly smiled and looked at her wife, waiting for an answer.
The World of Desires. The Evil Queen's Castle.
The Evil Queen watched her daughter devour the food and was touched. She even thought that it would have been more interesting to look at this picture fifteen years ago, and barely audibly sighed. However, Alex heard her and, stopping eating, looked at her mother.
— Is something wrong? — she asked. — Did I upset you with something? Is it because of the Hook?
— Speaking of the pirate!— The Evil Queen looked directly at her daughter. — What did he want from you? Is he bothering you?
— No! — Alex's mother assured her fervently and started eating again. — I was just afraid that he would leave, disappear, and I wouldn't see him again.
— A pirate? — The Evil Queen grimaced. — Did you fall in love with him?!
— He's nothing, of course, — Alex said, chewing another portion. — But I was talking about my father.
— And what does your father have to do with it? — Gina didn't understand.
— Didn't you know that father gave his heart to Hook?— Alex was surprised in her turn.— The pirate was about to leave... The United Kingdom. And while he's here, part of Dad is here. Do you understand?
— Aah,— Gina drawled. — So let me rip out the pirate's heart and give it to you. You will carry it everywhere with you.
Alex stopped eating, put down the cutlery and looked at her mother in utter amazement.
— You were joking, weren't you? — the girl asked. — Is this a joke?
— Of course it's a joke, — the Evil Queen smiled tightly. — Do you want to practice magic?
She first created a fireball, then, instead of it, suddenly she had an apple, which the woman handed to her daughter.
— "Honeycrisp",— said the Evil Queen,— my favorites.
Alex nodded slowly, taking the apple. She distinctly remembered how she also handed an apple to Sidney, and he quietly said, "Honeycrisp". Many things became clear and fell into place.
— Mom, — Alex twirled the apple, — did you love Sidney?
— A mirror? — The Evil Queen shrugged her shoulders. — Well, to some extent. So, what have you decided about magic? Where would you like to start?
The Castle of the Queen of the United Worlds.
Regina woke up to a soft kiss. She opened her eyes and smiled happily. Robin was standing next to the bed, fully dressed.
— Is it morning already? — Regina asked.
— It's time to get up,— Robin replied and patted the woman on the shoulder. — I brought you coffee.
— You've settled into the kitchen, I see, — Regina couldn't resist joking.
Robin pulled a cart closer, on which stood a coffee pot, a cup and breakfast. Regina bowed her head and smiled sweetly. While Robin turned away and poured coffee, she wrapped a sheet around herself. Regina sat up on the bed, resting her back against the headboard, and when the man held out the cup, she took it with one hand, touched his face with the other. He sat down next to her and kissed Regina.
— Robin. I love you,— she whispered, still holding her palm on his cheek.
— And I love you,— Robin replied, looking into his beloved brown eyes.
After breakfast, Regina sat in a dressing gown near the mirror and combed her hair. Through the mirror, she looked at the bed where Robin was sitting and reading Henry's book.
— What are you doing today? — Regina asked without turning her head.
— I don't know, — Robin put down the book and walked over to her.
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into the mirror, admiring her. Then he bent down and, pulling her hair to one side, began to kiss her neck, gently stroking her shoulders. Regina closed her eyes, stroking his fingers.
— Honey... — She said and put her hand on the back of his head.
— Ahem-ahem — Henry came into the room.
Robin stopped and straightened up, looking at the newcomer, Regina also looked at her son.
— Henry? Good morning, — Regina said, and Robin just nodded.
— Morning,— Henry smiled. — Sorry to interrupt.
— Is something wrong? — Regina got up and walked over to her son.
— I wanted to talk to Robin, and Alex came, she's downstairs.
— Alex? — Regina exchanged glances with Robin.— Why didn't she come in?
Henry shrugged.
— Okay, I'm now to change and come down,— Regina went to the closet, — and in the meantime, both of you go out.
Somewhere in the Desire World.
Hook walked thoughtfully through the city and out of habit came to the place where he liked to visit most often. To the port. Passing in a narrow fork, between the houses, he bumped some drunk with his shoulder, and he turned around.
— Hey, watch where you're going! — He shouted.
But the pirate did not turn around, thinking about his own. Then the drunkard caught up with him and pressed him with one hand against the wall of the house, with the other he took a knife out of his boot and put it to the pirate's throat.
— Smart enough? — Said the drunk. — Apologize to me.
— Don't you need anything else, trash? — The pirate asked, not at all afraid.
— Well, since you're so arrogant, then give me more money, — the drunk smiled.
— Get away from him! — Alex appeared next to pirate.
She waved her hand and a fireball lit up in her hand. The drunk was distracted by her and loosened his grip, and the pirate, taking advantage of this, pushed him away from himself. The knife fell, clinking loudly, and the drunk turned at the young girl. Alex, whose fireball had already gone out, waved her hand again — this time a ping pong ball appeared. She threw it away with annoyance, and the drunk, smiling, moved towards her. And when he got close enough, she applied her signature punch to the jaw. The hapless robber fell unconscious.
— Clever, Your Highness,— said the pirate. — What are you doing here? Are you following me?
— You could say that,— Alex said. — Can we talk somewhere?
— Yes, of course, — Hook nodded.
He took her by the hand and led her along. He led Alex to an inconspicuous house and, pushing the door, invited her inside. The young girl entered first, followed by the pirate, closing the door behind her.
— What is this place? — Alex looked around.
— This is my house, — the pirate gave his trademark smile, — I live here.
— Yes? — Alex was surprised. — I thought you lived on a ship. "Jolly Roger," it seems.
— You wanted to talk about something, Your Highness, — the pirate reminded.
— Yes, I wanted to, — Alex suddenly stared at the pirate. — Why do you call me that?
— Because you're the daughter of a Queen, which means you're a princess, — the pirate shrugged.
— Who am I? The princess? — Alex laughed loudly, and then suddenly stopped. — Damn, but you're right. Listen, just call me by my first name. My name is Alex.
— Nice to meet you, Alex, — said the pirate and made a slight bow. — And I'm Killian Jones.
— I know, — the girl chuckled, — I read about you.
— You still haven't told me why you need me, — Hook said.
— Exactly! — Alex caught herself. — Listen, here's what I wanted to talk about.
Near the castle of the Queen of the United Worlds.
Robin Hood and Henry went down and immediately noticed a small company — not far from the castle there was a trio: Alex, Jones and Robin. Hood stopped and turned to Henry.
— Is this my daughter? — The man asked half - affirmatively.
— Yes, that's her, — Henry replied.
— Did you lie to me, Henry? — Robin asked.
— No,— he smiled. — I just didn't tell the whole truth. You need to talk.
— I'm not... I don't know what it's about,— Man breathed. — She's grown so much... The last time I saw her, she was so tiny... God, she's beautiful.
While he was thinking what phrase to start a conversation with, a young girl separated from the company and approached them herself. She was the first to speak, although there was a slight tension between father and daughter. Alex and Jones were watching the action, standing nearby.
— Hi, Dad,— Robin said. — So that's what you are, the famous Robin Hood. Shall we talk?
— Hi,— man nodded. — Yes, good. Do you want to go somewhere?
— At cafe "Granny's", — Robin replied, — where Roland should be waiting for us. He wanted to talk to you, too.
— Good, — the man smiled, and his palms were sweating.
The tension eased a little, and Robin took his daughter by the elbow. Henry watched them go and felt that someone was standing next to him. He turned his head—Regina was standing next to him.
— Is this his daughter? — Regina was also looking at the couple and saw how tense Hood was.
— Yes,— Henry's voice sounded a little guilty. — She asked me... Mom...
— Henry, — Regina hugged him, — you did everything right. They need to talk.
— Regina, — Alex and the pirate quietly approached them, — we would like to talk too.
— Alex,— Regina said with a slight coolness.
— Mom, I'll probably go too,— Henry said and smiled. — Ella is moping again.
— Go, of course. And Henry... — Regina called out, and when he turned around, she added, — Thank you.
— You're welcome,— Henry replied with a smile.
He also walked towards the city, and Regina turned to the young girl.
— Well? Why did you come? — She asked Alex.
— Regina, I'm sorry about yesterday morning, — Alex frowned slightly.
— Did you want to leave? Without saying goodbye? — Regina pretended to be upset. — Maybe I offended you with what?
— Regina, why are you doing this? — Alex bit her lip. — I said I was sorry...
— Alex,— Killian said, looking straight at Regina, — she's not serious about it.
— Yes? — Alex asked in a very childish way. — Regina, aren't you mad?
— Of course I'm not mad! — Regina laughed and wrapped the young girl in her arms. — I was so scared when your mother said that you crashed into a sign. God, what a child you are. Well, tell me, how can I help?
— Rip out his heart,— Alex nodded at the pirate.
— What?! — Regina asked in bewilderment and, lifting the girl's face by the chin, looked into her eyes. — Why would you do that?
— I want to save him, — tears flowed from the young girl's eyes. — From my mother.