I got up the next morning, got dressed, and checked the cameras that I have hidden within the birdhouses that Henry looks after. I figured they would come in handy because, with Regina, you never know what to expect. Of course, when I tuned in, Regina was walking up to Henry.
"Good morning, Henry." Regina said.
"Um, what are you doing here?" Henry asked.
This poor kid is so confused and Regina couldn't care less. She needs to learn that she needs to earn Henry's trust back.
"I've missed you. And I wanted to show you something. (Regina took something out of her pocket, but I couldn't see exactly what because she was keeping pretty concealed from the cameras) Emma, Hazelle, Mary Margaret, and David have been keeping this from you, darling. They've been growing magic beans in secret. They want to take you to the Enchanted Forest, without me." Regina replied.
Why in the hell is so worried about what we're doing? She must be so desperate for Henry's love that she's willing to destroy any faith or trust he has in her.
"Maybe we're all going and they haven't told you yet?" Henry questioned.
"No, they won't let me help. They don't see the good in me. The good you've seen. All they see is the Evil Queen, which they made me. And I don't want to be that anymore. This is my chance to go back and start over, for me to be the hero. And you'd like that, right?" Regina replied.
"I–I'd love it." Henry replied.
"Here's how it will work- there's a fail-safe built into the curse, a trigger." Regina said.
"Like a self-destruct button. Like you never did it?" Henry said.
"Yes. It's the next best thing to turning back time." Regina said.
"That's amazing. What happens to Storybrooke?" Henry asked.
"It disappears. Forever. But no need to worry, dear. We can get away first, back to the Enchanted Forest, using this." Regina replied.
"But, what about everyone else?" Henry asked.
"They die." Regina replied.
"What?!" Henry exclaimed.
"I don't have any other choice. As long as there are other people in our lives, you can never fully be mine. You loved me once. With them gone, you'll love me again. And you can see me for what I truly am- a hero." Regina replied.
Gotcha, bitch. Regina should know by now that I'll do whatever I have to, to protect my family and she just gave me the ammo I need to take her down. She's so obsessed with Henry loving only her that she's willing to destroy their relationship to make it that way. I guess she's gonna have to learn the hard way.
"Not if you kill everyone. You're a villain!" Henry exclaimed.
"Me? They're the ones that have been keeping us apart, they're the villains!" Regina argued.
Is she serious right now? We're the villains for actually caring about people and not just ourselves.
"How can I ever love anyone who would do such horrible things? Why would you even tell me this?" Henry asked.
"Because I don't have anyone else to talk to." Regina replied.
"Well, I'm gonna stop you." Henry said.
"Everything I just said will come to pass." Regina said.
She then pulled out a spell book from her bag.
"Never! Why would I let you do any of this?" Henry asked.
"Because you won't remember a thing." Regina replied before casting a spell on Henry.
"Mom. What are you doing here?" Henry asked.
This bitch is a piece of work. I can't wait to personally take her down.
"Just came to say hello. I've missed you. Why don't you show me that bird feeder? I'm sure it will make the birds very happy." Regina replied.
I shut down my computer, after saving the video, and walked to Granny's because Emma wanted me to meet her there. I had gotten there just in time because Emma and Tamara had just run into each other.
"Ohh! I'm so sorry. I'm- He still hates mayo, huh?" Emma asked as she helped Tamara pick everything up.
Emma and I noticed a list with everyone on it and their counterparts. Why in the hell does she need a list?
"Avoids it like the plague." Tamara replied.
Tamara then grabbed the list and stuck it in her purse.
"How are you doing here in Storybrooke? I mean, it's a lot to take in." I asked.
"Understatement. (All three of us laughed) But, uh, I guess both of you know that better than anyone." Tamara replied.
"Yeah, I guess it's true. But we had Henry. He got us through it." Emma said.
"Yeah. Right. Neal's doing the same for me." Tamara said.
Something is off with her. I can't place my finger on it, but she's lying about something.
"Even so, it's pretty crazy here. If the world found out about this place, do you know what that would mean for Henry or Neal?" I asked.
"Look, Emma, Hazelle, you don't have to worry. You can trust me." Tamara replied.
Gotcha! She just lied right there, and I know Emma knew it too.
"That's good to know." Emma said.
"I'll be seeing both of you later." Tamara said.
"Yeah, we'll be seeing you." I said.
Once Tamara left, Emma and I exchanged looks because both of us knew that she was lying. We headed to the apartment and I let Emma explain everything.
"I'm telling you, Tamara is the "she" August was trying to warn us about." Emma said.
"Emma! Shh!" Mary Margaret said.
"What? Don't "Emma" me!" Emma gasped.
"Henry is upstairs. Look, I know this has been hard for you." Mary Margaret said in a hushed voice.
"No. This isn't about me. This is about August. He died trying to warn us about someone. A woman. "She". Tamara has a list of people who live here, and what their fairytale names are. Doesn't that worry you?" Emma asked.
"There could be a million different explanations for what you saw." Mary Margaret replied.
"We don't know anything about her. And she lied to us. When she said we could trust her, she lied." Emma said.
"Your "superpower" has been known to be unreliable, Emma, Alycia. Especially when either one of you is emotional." Mary Margaret said.
"For the last time, I do not have feelings for Neal! That was over a decade ago! I'm over it!" Emma huffed.
"Well, that may be. But if you tell Henry that you think his dad's fiancé may be up to something, then Henry's gonna think that there's a chance his parents could get back together. So keep it to yourself. Please. Til you know something more." Mary Margaret said before leaving the apartment.
Emma and I then turned and saw Henry standing there.
"So… we're back in business? I heard everything." Henry asked.
"I thought you were in the shower." Emma said shocked.
"Exactly. Operation Cobra's back on. We're investigating Tamara, right?" Henry asked.
"Get your coat…" Emma said.
I of course joined them and we went to stake out Granny's for Neal and Tamara.
"Operation Cobra was about breaking the curse. This is about keeping Storybrooke secret. We need a new name." Henry said.
"What about Operation Tiger?" I asked.
"Why?" Henry asked.
"We need a why? You never need a why." Emma said.
"I want something like the town, something that hides in plain sight. Something like a praying mantis." Henry said.
"Oh! Duck." I said when I heard the bell jingle from Granny's.
"Oh. No, it's not them." I said.
"Stakeouts are fun." Henry said.
"Not usually." Emma said.
"But this one? Yeah, kinda." I said.
"I thought by now we'd be having adventures. Over there, you know? Riding horses, shooting bow and arrows. This is cool, too." Henry said.
"Is that something you want? I mean, if there was a way to… go back to the Enchanted Forest?" I asked.
"Is there?" Henry asked.
"No, don't be crazy." Emma replied.
"There is. A way back. The… a bean or something. The giant brought it, didn't it?" Henry questioned.
"You are a smart kid." I said.
"That's awesome! We could get, like, a castle… you, Hazelle, me, and Neal." Henry said.
"Oh, hey, whoa. No way. That… we're not… that's not… Duck!" Emma said.
"Operation Praying Mantis is on." Henry said as we saw Neal and Tamara leave Granny's.
We went to where they were staying and I waited in the car. Henry went with Emma so he could be her lookout. I was doing good before I was scared to death by Neal knocking on the window.
"Why does everyone like scaring the hell out of me?" I asked as I got out of the car.
"What is going on?" Neal asked.
"How am I supposed to know? I was busy doing something else." I replied.
Neal seemed to buy my answer and he motioned for me to follow him. I did and had to stifle a laugh from Henry getting too nervous.
"Oh, hell no. I taught her that. Emma!" Neal exclaimed before getting the door open.
"So you weren't here, and the door was open, and we just…" Emma trailed off.
"Emma, what's… what's this about?" Neal asked.
"Tamara. I think she's playing you." Emma replied.
"She's playing me? How?" Neal asked.
"I think she's the "she" August was trying to warn us about. I didn't wanna tell you until I had proof." Emma replied.
"Oh. Okay, yeah. Well, as long as you broke into our room to spare my feelings… Are you out of your mind?" Neal said.
"He warned us about a woman." Emma said.
"Yeah, which covers half the world. You roped the kid into this? I can understand Hazelle helping you." Neal said.
"She lied to me. Remember I had that thing with lies?" Emma questioned.
"You thought you had a thing with lies. I never bought it." Neal said.
"Yeah, you did. And Hazelle was there." Emma said.
"She was lying about something, Neal." I said.
I could tell that Neal believed me because I wouldn't lie to him about something stupid.
"Listen to me, Neal. She's got a list of fairytale characters and who they are… whoever she's gonna give that to could blow this whole town right open." Emma said.
"Emma, Hazelle, I helped her make that list. It was to help her come to grips with this place. It's not easy, you know? I mean, she's trying to deal with it for me." Neal said.
"Okay, I know what this looks like, but it isn't that. Do I look like a jealous ex? Okay, maybe I'm crazy. But let's find out. There's a floorboard loose. It shouldn't be. So let's look under it. If there's nothing there, fine. I back off." Emma said.
"Okay. Yeah, sure. What the hell?" Neal sighed.
"A little help?" Emma asked when Neal didn't help her.
"Oh. Right." Neal said.
They lifted the floorboard and Emma reached her hand through and searched. I could tell by her facial expression that something was wrong.
"Oh." Emma said as she pulled her hand out.
"Listen. I know Tamara being here is a little awkward…" Neal went to say.
"Don't. Henry, Hazelle, let's go." Emma said.
We left but I knew that something wasn't right because Emma has a tell-tell sign that tells me when she's hiding something. I believe Emma found something but isn't gonna disclose it just yet.
We got back to the apartment and all three of us were sharing a bowl of ice cream.
"You know, I believe you about Tamara." Henry said.
"You should, 'cause we're right." Emma said.
"And when we prove it, we can all go back to the Enchanted Forest." Henry said.
Hazelle's Outfit: pin/553731716706657410/