The residents of Storybrooke notices the clock tower's hand starting to move early Monday morning. Regina looks through the book of fairy tales and discovers that the last few pages were torn out. Henry looked out the window and smiled when the clock's hand is moving. The curse is slowing breaking when Magnus decided to stay in Storybrooke, hopefully to become a better person. Regina walked upstairs to ask Henry about the book, "what is this, Henry?"
Henry thought about lying to her but since he has gotten the fairy tales books, she hasn't lied to him and didn't hide any information from him, but he's scared of Cora. Regina asked again the reason why those last pages were torn out. Henry replied, "I can't tell you, mom."
Regina realizes he's protecting a secret from Cora and reassured the boy that she will keep it safe, "I promise Henry, it'll be only between us." Henry grabbed the torn pages inside his backpack and handed it to her, "it's about Emma." Regina silently gasps that it's the picture of Emma as a baby and tells story of her family then the last pages were the picture of Emmett, a tall handsome prince.
I kept composure when I wanted to cry and hold this close to my heart. I look into Henry's eyes who seems to be little upset with me, so I sat on the bed with him. "You cannot tell Magnus about this, Henry." I looked up when I heard the clock chimed, and Henry ran out of the room, "Henry!"
Regina looked outside and saw the clock's hand is moving just as Cora is standing by the diner and spotted the yellow beetle then realizes the reason why her curse is slowly breaking. Archie was walking his dog and waved at Cora, "how about that?" He looked up at the old clock, "looks like the old clock fixed itself."
Cora held herself back and smiled back with disgust, "yes, how about that?"
What did Magnus do differently today? Why is that clock is moving? Regina knew Magnus is in danger, what did you do, Emmett? Regina's heart clenches the sight of her mother about to approach the building with apples in the baskets in her hand. Regina whispered to herself, do not do anything stupid, Emmett while redirecting to the Town Hall.
Cora knocked on David's door above the diner and pulled up a fake big smile. Magnus opened the door all naked except for underwear, "oh fuck," didn't realize it's President Cora herself. "I apologize," he hurried to pull up his pants upstairs and Jurassic Park t-shirt.
"Did you know the Honey Crisp tree is the most vigorous and hardy of all apple trees? It can survive the temperatures below 40 and keep growing. This is my daughter's specialty, and she grows it in her yard. You haven't yet to taste anything more delicious than the fruit has to offer." Cora handed the apple to Magnus and Magnus hesitated, then she continued, "I am sure you will enjoy them on your drive back to Boston."
"Actually, I am going to stay for a while. Is there a reason you are at my doorstep?"
"I am not sure that is good idea, Magnus. I want to personally apologize you for banning you from the university and you are welcome to come back to university as well; however, I will give you full scholarship to any university as you wish."
"All due respect, President Cora, but the fact you are in my doorstep, and you have now threatened me twice in the last four days makes me want to stay more."
"Since when the apples are a threat?"
"I can read between the lines, fucking bitch. I am here to make sure they are okay."
"Little Henry has already been taken care of."
"What does that fucking mean?"
"It means her mother had him in therapy. I have it under control. Take my advice, young man, I have her under my control and I only know what's best for her."
"I am starting to think you're right about that."
"It's time for you to go."
"or what, fucking bitch?"
Cora leans closer, "don't underestimate me, Mr. Magnus. You have no idea what I am capable of."
After discussing with Archie about Henry and he willingly gave her the file. Cora believes that Magnus will take Regina away from her and her desire for her to remain in power. She had Regina in her grasp, and she had her in her control. She craves to be in control and seeing Regina to be most successful Mayor and Queen of Storybrooke. She was happy for several years and Regina and I had formed a good relationship. I will not let this whoever this young man destroy her good thing that she created out of the curse. I will not have it.
Archie called Cora, "how did you know Magnus would come for Henry's file?"
"I told her, of course."
Archie hanged up and reported Graham that the files have been stolen from Magnus.
"Fuck you," Magnus hit the prison at Graham.
"It's part of my job and he said you stole his files and force his hand."
I don't know who did this, Regina or Cora, but it feels like it's Cora. Would Regina do this to me? She has been nothing but kind to me. I sat on the bed and looked around the office, it's empty. It looks like Graham has to attend some duty, but who cares. Ever since I arrived here, it's been shit, one or other, something always happens against him.
"Dad!" Henry ran into the Sheriff's station with Regina. Magnus' eyes throw up when he heard Henry's voice, then grumbled, "what did the fuck did I say Henry?"
Regina immediately snapped at him, "excuse me?"
Magnus's got out of the bed and gave her a small smile, "I am sorry, Madam Mayor."
Regina held the boy close then shot him a look, "what do you say, young man?"
Magnus silently groans then redirected to Henry, "I'm sorry, Henry, but it's Charlie or Magnus, all right?"
Henry ignored him and pointed at mom, "she's getting you out of jail!"
"Oh good, because I have places to be," I'm going to destroy Cora since now I know it wasn't Regina. However, Regina knew what he's planning and grabbed him by the arms when Graham let him out, "you will do no of a kind. Leave her alone, Magnus."
"Fuck off!" Magnus wants to destroy Cora if it's the last thing, "I'm gonna kill her."
"And you will, but I am assuming you are hungry?" Regina hopes to calm him down first before he goes on rampage against Cora.
"Please," Henry wanted him to come over as well.
We can't do head-on with Cora, it works differently for her because she has nothing to lose and everything to gain and that makes her dangerous. Ever since she arrives, I've been keeping her at short distance from him. Keeping eye on Graham to make sure he only tells her what's necessary and whatever Magnus does around town. I think I know where Graham's heart is, but I can't decide if I should crush or return his heart. Emma will never forgive me if I kill Graham, but I do this to protect her.
Cora can easily draw Graham back in within a mile. She would easily still have control over him, and I cannot have that. I cannot put my Emma at risk, whatever she is inside Magnus, or I don't know where. Just please don't be dead, Emma. I need you.
Preparing my famous casserole while Magnus and Henry playing video games upstairs in the media room. I miss the sound of my Emma's voice, I tried so hard to remember, but what does it sound like? She was feisty and talkative as well. My heart warms at the memory of spending time with Emma and her silliness and her ideals of romantic, it sounded like it's so unrealistic.
"Hey, are you okay? You look like you got into your own world for a moment there," Magnus leans closer for my attention. Regina didn't expect to see Magnus in the kitchen, "Henry?"
"Oh, he's having a blast, but can I ask you something?"
"You would have asked anyways but yes, always if I can answer it."
"Why are you helping me? I don't buy the Mayor bullshit."
"It's not … it's part of my job, Magnus and Henry wishes it," it was the best honest answer I could give him without telling him about the fairy tale stories.
"What about your mother? Why did you let her, I mean, you see what she's doing to people, and you are what letting this fucking slide?!"
Regina can't believe or maybe I believe it, but I was really hoping this is not going to happen. I don't want him to think I am the enemy or taking my mother's side. It's not who I am, and I am on my partner's side. My Emma! "I am not the enemy here, Magnus."
"Are you, Madam Mayor? You say you're doing this for Henry, and you helped me out of the jam, but what's in it for you, really?"
There she is, I smirked with all his questions, his untrusting and challenges me in every wham. "Let me put in this way," I pulled his shirt closer and about to smack him, "Cora has nothing to lose and that makes her dangerous. Don't you ever question my loyalty, is that understood?"
Magnus swallowed his throat and push her hands away then nodded, "fine, I apologize, Madam Mayor." Magnus put his hands up when I was about to smack him for real, "I won't do it, I promise. I'll stay away from her."
"Regina."
Regina was busy setting up the plates and didn't hear him until he grabs her hands, "Regina."
Regina inhaled for another set of questions then stood up straight to look into his eyes. She realizes it's the same hazel eyes as their son, Henry.
"Can I ask you something else?" He waited until she gave him a nod then continues, "How long you been the Mayor?"
"Ten years."
"You just decided to run for the Mayor? Just like that?"
"No, I have bachelor's degree in political science and public administration and master's in law degree that would make me equality qualified to be the Mayor. And add to that I have Business Doctorate," what am I supposed to say that my mother wrote me into the curse and made me the Mayor of Storybrooke, but I do have degrees through.
"Has anybody else tried to run for Mayor?"
"No, I will remain a Mayor until a successor has been elected and qualified. There's also the council whom I work with to help run the city."
"And you allow President Bitch to be the President of the University? I mean you have the power to kick her out, so why don't you?"
I see where he's going with this, it's all about power to him and his egos. "Cora Mills is not the Chancellor of Storybrooke University. The chancellor is ultimately responsible to the president for all academic, fiscal, and administrative matters at the campus including overseeing all aspects of the institution."
"Like CEO of the University."
"Yes, so in order to impeach the president of Storybrooke University, you'll have to through the chancellor."
"There you go, go through the chancellor to take care of the president bitch."
"It won't work that way, Magnus. Legally she hasn't done anything wrong because she hasn't yet broken any laws. Legally, you did break the university violations. You're not going to make this easy for me, are you?"
"No," he leans closer that I could hear his heartbeat so clearly, "I didn't break any fucking violations. We are consulting adults and they were participating adults."
I was about to answer but got interrupted by Henry when he heard the knock, "Mom, I think it's Cora at the door." I wasn't expecting her visit this soon, and that is until his face changed, "did you fucking invite her?!"
"No, I did not, Magnus."
"Then what is this? This is all about her and you teaming up against me?!"
"Of course not," Regina didn't have time for this and needed to keep Magnus safe from Cora. Magnus thought of the worse, mother and daughter about to kill him, team up against him or what, he doesn't know. He felt like he's back to square one before he thought he could trust Regina because of Henry.
You know what, I do not fucking care. The queen bitch kicked me out the moment her mother knocked on the door. I had to sneak into the back, fuck her. I'm at the Rabbit Hole, nursing myself fourth drink, not too drunk yet but not anywhere near sober enough. I looked around for a young female, someone desperate to be with anyone. I spotted a cute auburn hair talking to her friends, I flicked her a smile then winked then she giggled with her friends. The mark is set and now I have to wait to make my move. I whispered to the bartender to give them free drinks, two rounds because it will be perfect, not too drunk but drunk enough for her not to think straight.
I woke up disorientated with the same young female besides me on the bed. Oh fuck, did I hear a knock, I ignored it due to my imagination then went back to sleep. I don't know her name, what was her name? Lilly, Mikelle, or something that has two ll's in it, was tapping on my body an hour later, "get the door."
Oh, there is a knock but was it an hour, it can't be that long. I pulled up my underwear then walked downstairs. Why didn't the fuck David answer the door instead? Where is he?
"David!"
No answer yet, mmmm, where's the fuck is David?
"All right, alright," using my loud voice when someone kept knocking and I opened the door. I slammed the door when I saw it's the queen bitch.
"Great," slammed in my face.
I didn't mean to kick him out, Cora was at the door, and I had to, Cora can't know that Magnus was there. I come up a lie that the third plate was for her and that I knew she was coming. She was pleased with me. She wanted to discuss what to do with Magnus and I reassure her that Magnus isn't Emmett, but it took much more convincing as well as that he wasn't familiar to me at all. Magnus was another citizen of Storybrooke, according to Cora, hoping she'll believe for now, that is until I find a way.
I went upstairs to tell her to get out, "get out!"
"Okay, okay," the tired young woman pulled off the covers and admired Magnus superhero underwear, "cute underwear."
Magnus didn't want to be asshole anymore, so he kisses her on the lips, "I'll call you."
"You better call me," she returns the kiss near the door.
"Yeah, yeah," then groans when Regina was still at the door, waiting. The young girl respectfully bowed before Regina, "Ma'am, I hope you have a good day."
"Likewise."
Magnus completely ignored Regina because he knew there's nothing to stop the mayor, so he went over to the refrigerator to grab a beer. Regina didn't like what she's seeing but thought the superhero underwear was little too nerdy for Emmett, but again it does make sense, "don't you have clothes?"
Magnus shrugged without a care while chugging down the beer then threw it away, "let yourself out," while walking upstairs.
"Magnus, can we please talk?" Regina wanted to talk to him and clear things up, but it looks like she's back to square one where he hates her and probably wants to kill her. Regina became determined to force him to listen while pacing on the floor then decided to go upstairs to see him searching for pants. Clothes, dirty clothes piling up in the corner and no clean outfit in the wardrobe. All he has is clean sheets, but no covers except he uses sheets as cover.
"Have you heard of washing machine?"
"Yeah, hate them," then spotted the very last clean white shirt, "ah, there it is." Magnus needed pants and knew his friends have his pants, while grabbing another beer in the kitchen. He gave Regina cheers, "gotta go, bitch. Make yourself at home," have no interest to have any conversation with Regina.
"Magnus!"
David is on his first date with Sarah in the diner, nervous and sweating palms, talking about marriage at the first date which scares Sarah away, "no, that's not what I meant!"
"I meant at the hospital; I volunteer …" He lost his voice as just when Sarah ran out of the door. David tries to chase after her, "wait! I am sorry!"
"It's not good idea to chase after her, David," Magnus laughs with his friends with beer in his hand. "What are you doing here, man?"
"What happened to you at work yesterday?"
"That's no job, David. I need paid job, not volunteer," Magnus kept laughing with his guys then walked away then David shook his head, disappointed with Magnus. He loved his job; he is sort of jack of all trades plus working at the pet shelter. He went late into the hospital to do his routine, check up on the patients in the back. He didn't think he would see Henry this late with Ms. Doe. "Henry, where's your mother?"
"She's late working, so I was checking in."
"No one was supposed to be here, come on."
"Do you think she's going to be okay?"
"Come on, Henry," he waited near the glass for him to join him but he asked another question, "do you know who she is?"
David walked into the glass room and shook his head kindly, "no, should I?"
"Do you think she'll wake up?"
"I don't know. She's been like that since long as I could remember."
"Does she have family or friends?"
"No one has claims her."
"So, she's all alone?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Are you sure you don't know her?" He smiles with hopes he'll remember her. She is his true love and David has been missing since he disappeared in Enchanted Forest. Snow has been dead, waiting for David and now she's in the hospital. Henry has a new mission today, is to wake Snow up by finding a way for David to remember or at least to read her a book.
"Of course, I am sure, Henry," David ended the conversation knowing his rounds has been up, "come on, you shouldn't be here."
Henry opened his book to show Magnus his mother, "I found your mother, Snow White" at the park.
Magnus was gentle to help his discourage his belief in fairy tales, "Henry …"
"She's in the hospital in a coma."
"Don't you see, they are the same person."
"So, a lot of people has black hair, and their face are fair."
"Don't you see what it means?
Magnus embraced for his upcoming mission to break the curse, "It's Cora, the curse is keeping them apart with the coma. Mom brought David back, so now we must tell David, we found his True Love."
"Okay, kid. Telling someone their soulmate is in a coma is probably not helpful. Top of that, not having a happy ending is painful enough, but giving someone unrealistic hope is far worse," Magnus figuring out ways to show that their stories in a book is not true.
"But what if I am right? We know who they are, now they must know!"
"How are we gonna do that?"
"By reminding her."
"We have to get him to read their story to Snow White, then maybe she'll remember who she is."
"Okay, kid," thought of an idea to convince Henry that it isn't true.
"Okay?" Henry was completely surprised by that. He wasn't expecting Magnus to help him or go along with him.
"We will do it, but we will do it my way," Magnus shot him a look that he'll do it, "I'll ask him."
David opened another bottle of beer for both of them, "you want me to read to a coma patient?"
"Henry thinks it will help her remember who she was."
"And who does she think she was?"
"Snow White."
David's eyes widen and didn't know what to do with this information, "If I'm Prince Charming …"
Magnus shook his head while he drunk his beer.
"He thinks me and her …"
"He has a very active imagination, which is the point. I can't talk him out of his beliefs, so instead we need to show him. Play along and then maybe, just maybe …"
"He'll see it's just stories and he'll see the reality."
David wanted or maybe hopes that Snow White could be his wife and his True Love, he sighed, "sadly, this plan is rather genius by showing him the truth without hurting him."
Magnus picked up the big green leather book to give to him, "I told him that we will meet tomorrow for breakfast at Granny's for you to give us a full report."
David sat on the bed next to the coma patient, Snow White, "this is odd, I know but I'm doing this for a friend," then he began reading out loud. He read the story where he met Snow White at the Troll Bridge that their love for each other was born because at that point, at that exact moment, they knew, no matter how they were separated, they would always … David stopped reading immediately in shock when Snow White lifted her hand and touched him. David looked down at his hands and saw her hands on top of his. He ran down to get the doctor to tell him that she grabbed his hands. The machine was beeping and shows some spark in his brain activity, but the doctor lied and pretended that he was just seeing things, "I am sorry, but everything is steady. What are you doing here?"
"I was just reading her a story."
"Oh."
"Perhaps you imagined it?"
"No, I didn't imagine anything."
"Mr. Nolan, I can only tell you what I see," pointing at the monitor, "which is nothing." He explained that there are minor fluctuations in readings, and he hopes he'll believe him when he actually heard the machine beeping.
"Look, why don't you go home?" He waited until David disappeared from the room then dialed Regina's phone per order that the doctor to call her instead of Cora. He clears his throat when the phone was ringing then Regina answered the phone, "yes?"
"It's Dr. Whale."
"You told me to call you if there was ever a change in our coma patient. Something has happened, should I inform Ms. Cora?"
Regina gets up from her desk in her office, "what?"
"One of our volunteers said she grabbed him."
Regina knew who that was, David and then he continued, "there was a slight fluctuation in brain activity." Regina hanged up and calculated what to do with Snow White and Cora. How can she protect Snow White, the mother of Emma?
There was no other choice but to call Cora, she cannot hide or avoid the truth, but she can be few steps ahead. Cora answered before the first ring, "Hello, mother."
"Yes?"
"It's Snow White."
