Chapter Thirteen - In The Name of The Brother
Season 2 - Episode 12
There was an Enchanted forest filled with all the classic characters we know.
Or think we know.
One day, they found themselves trapped in a place where all their happy endings were stolen.
Our World.
This is how it happened…
At the town border, everything is chaotic. Mr Gold holds an injured and confused Belle, Killian is unconscious at the side of the road, and the stranger is still in the crashed car. In the distance, the sound of sirens approaching. "Who are you? What's going on?" Belle asks Gold, her memories of him gone.
"Shh… Let me… Let me. Let me," Mr Gold tells her, magically healing her injuries. "All better. Good."
"How did you do that?" She wonders, looking at him in shock.
"It's nothing to be afraid of," He assures her.
"Get away," The bookworm exclaims, growing frightened of him.
"Shh. Belle, please," The Dark One says, trying to soothe her as she begins panicking.
"What are you?!" Belle shouts, and Emma, David, and Mary Margaret arrive on the scene via squad car. David gets out and runs towards Belle and Mr Gold, with Mary Margaret trailing behind. Meanwhile, Emma radios for more assistance.
"Are you okay?" David asks Belle and Gold.
"I'm at the town line," Emma announces over the radio. "Two people down, maybe three. There's a car – pretty banged up with Pennsylvania plates."
"What's going on?" He asks, looking at his Mr Gold, holding Belle.
"She crossed over the line. She doesn't remember," Mr Gold replies, panicking, and Emma finds a now alert Hook at the side of the road.
"We need help now!" Emma shouts, but the sirens are still a fair distance away.
"Some one call?" Octavia asks, making everyone look at her, but she goes into Doctor mode, checking on Killian, who lightens up seeing her.
"Hey, beautiful. Here, I didn't think you'd notice," Hook muses, looking at her as she leans down, checking on him and pushes on his ribs, making him yell out in pain.
"Your ribs are broken," She informs him.
"Oh, that must be why it hurts when I laugh," He retorts, chuckling then cringing. "Did you see his face? His one true love, gone in an instant! Just like Milah, Crocodile! When you took her from me…" He shouts, and the younger Mills sister waves her hand, tying him up and gagging him.
"Shut up before he kills you," The Surgeon hisses, glaring and moving towards the car with David and Emma.
"But you took her first," Mr Gold snaps, lunging at the tied-up Hook, digging his cane into his neck.
"Gold, are you insane?!" Emma snaps at him, looking back at him.
"Yes, I am!" He retorts angrily as he glares down at Hook as he struggles to breathe.
"You can't do that!" David warns him.
"I can if you let me go," Mr Gold argues.
"You don't want her to see that," Emma warns him, knowing he cares about Belle.
"I'm a stranger to her," He replies sorrowfully.
"Murder is a bad first impression," Octavia mutters loud enough for them to hear as she looks through the broken window of the crashed car.
"What would Belle want you to do?" David argues, and finally, an ambulance arrives, distracting Mr Gold long enough for David to pull him off of Killian. "Over here!" He waves the paramedics towards him and Hook.
"Not him!" Octavia snaps at them, making the paramedics look at her in surprise at her appearance, but glad she's back. "He's fine. It's the driver I'm more worried about." The paramedics head towards the crashed car. Mary Margaret, who is still tending to Belle, overhears Octavia.
"What?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at them across the road.
"There's someone in there," Emma informs her.
"Stay. I'll be right back," she tells the terrified and confused Belle. Emma and Mary Margaret watch the paramedics examine the unconscious car driver while Octavia uses her magic to steady the car as they work.
"Do you know this guy?" Emma asks her mother.
"I've never seen him before," Mary Margaret replies, looking at her.
"That's because he drove into town," David argues, looking at the car.
"From the outside?" She questions in shock.
"Looks like the world just came to Storybrooke," Emma mutters, wondering what this will mean to the residents of Storybrooke.
At Storybrooke General Hospital, the intercom announces the arrival of the accident victims throughout the building. Alone in another room, Dr Whale listens to the announcements as he drinks his sorrows away. Several other hospital workers can be heard calling for help outside the door. "Anybody seen the doctor?" a man asks, looking around.
"Dr Whale, we need you in the ER!" A nurse shouts, but he doesn't listen as he takes another sip.
Killian and the crashed car driver are wheeled into the hospital on stretchers by the paramedics while the rest of the group from the accident site follow behind them. "I don't know what's going on," Belle mutters, scared as she looks around at the unfamiliar place.
"Car versus pedestrian. Chest trauma from the wheel. Pedestrian's got contusions, broken ribs. Dr Mills already set two of them," The paramedic informs them as they wheel Killian through the doors of the ER.
"Go to X-ray. Pedestrian first," The nurse informs them, letting more nurses take Killian's stretcher.
"Hide him," Emma orders them.
"What?" She asks, looking at the Sheriff.
"Find a room and hide him," The blond woman repeats.
"Do as she says," Octavia tells them, walking past with the driver's stretcher when Mr Gold enters.
"Belle. What's going on?" Mr Gold asks frantically.
"Get him out of here!" David snaps, seeing how panicked Belle becomes.
"Well, what's happening? Belle!" He shouts, looking at her as she cowers away.
"I'd like to know that myself," Leroy asks, coming over as Mr Gold shouts for Belle as a nurse takes her away. Dr Whale finally joins everyone.
"Everybody, calm down! Mr Gold. Everything will be fine. She's in good hands here. I promise," Dr Whale assures him before walking off.
Mr Gold watches Belle as she sleeps in her hospital bed before leaning over and kissing her. There's a brief pause where it seems like Belle may recognise him, but she doesn't as she screams in terror. "No, no, no, no, no," Mr Gold stutters as he looks at her in fear of losing her entirely as she screams for help. "No, no, no, no, no. I… I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Several nurses quickly rush into the room to check on the poor woman. Mr Gold begins backing out of the room in heartache as he watches the woman he loves scream in fear of him as she doesn't know who he is anymore. "I'm sorry."
"You okay?" A man asks him, seeing the distraught look.
"I'm sorry…" He mutters, quickly leaving.
In another room in the hospital, Emma walks in to see Killian handcuffed to the bed when Octavia steps towards her. "He's on morphine for the pain to his ribs," Octavia informs her, checking his chart. "If you're going to interrogate my patient, do it quickly. He's going to be in a lot of pain when we fix his ribs later."
"Thank you, Tava," Emma mutters, stepping toward the bed as Octavia leaves for John Doe's surgery. "Where's Cora?"
"What?" Killian asks groggily, trying to move his arm but realises he's stuck. "Again? She's really into this, isn't she?" He laughs, cringing in pain from the cracked ribs. "Damn, that hurts."
"She told you – cracked a few ribs. Where's Cora?" She asks again, looking at him sternly.
"You look good, I must say. All 'where's Cora?' in a commanding voice. Chills. I bet the lovely Octavia would do it better. Though she knows where she is, but my guess is that she's busy." He retorts, smirking at the stern look he gains from the Sheriff.
"You have all sorts of sore places. I can make you hurt," The blond woman threatens him, pushing her hand into his ribs, causing him to wince in pain, though the morphine is helping a little.
"I have no idea where Cora is. She has her own agenda. Let's talk about something I am interested in – my hook. May I have it back? Or is there another attachment the Doctor prefers?" Hook jokes, making the Sheriff scowl.
"You're awfully chipper for a guy who just failed to kill his enemy, then got hit by a car." Emma argues, looking at him.
"Well, my ribs may be broken, but… Everything else is still intact. Which is more than can be said for other bad days I've had. Plus, I did some quality damage to my foe," Killian retorts, satisfied with his little revenge.
"You hurt Belle," She snaps, liking the sweet librarian.
"I hurt his heart. Belle's just where he keeps it. He killed my love. I know the feeling," He argues, smiling at the thought of Gold being miserable for the rest of his life.
"Keep smiling, buddy. You're chained down; he's on his feet, immortal, has magic, and you hurt his girl. If I were to pick 'dead guy of the year'? I'd pick you," The Sheriff retorts, making him think about what she said and know she's right and he needs to get out of the hospital soon.
Mary Margaret and company gather with the driver's cell phone in the hospital lobby after getting the driver's personal belongings. "We've got to get into his phone," Leroy suggests, panicking.
"Let me guess another pass code," David sighs, looking at it and trying to take it from his wife.
"You can't guess. There are a million possible combinations," Mary Margaret argues, moving it out of his reach.
"Ten-thousand," Ruby corrects her.
"Ten-thousand," She repeats.
"Leroy, can you get it open or something? Hack it?" David asks the Dwarf.
"Well, you do understand that computer hacking and pickaxe hacking are different." Leroy retorts snappily when Emma walks over to them after her interrogation with Killian.
"Here, let me try. I have a thing," Emma tells them, taking the phone. "And we do know something. There was stuff in his car – rental agreement, maps, receipts. His name is Greg Mendell. Now, let's see…" She breaks into the phone, using her little gadget, and begins rooting through it. She finds several phone numbers and pictures of Greg, but nothing too personal. "Pictures of him alone at a bunch of Eastern Seaboard tourist locations, a LinkedIn account, and he tweets pictures of his food." She announces to the others. "I'll keep looking, but I think what we have here is a well-documented, real-life, ordinary Joe. Or Greg."
"So, whatever's kept random people from stumbling into Storybrooke for the last twenty-eight years-," Ruby realises in fear of more people stumbling into their quiet town.
"Is gone," Mary Margaret agrees, looking around.
"Anyone could drive in. Why are my instincts telling me that's a bad thing?" David questions, looking around.
"Cause you've seen E.T., or Splash, or any other movie where they find something magical and study it to death. Think what'd they do to a Werewolf," Leroy argues, looking around at the group, which is all thinking the same thing.
"Oh, and his friends and family? They're going to come looking for him soon." Mary Margaret snaps, looking at them.
"Let's try not to overreact," Emma says, trying to calm them down from full-blown panic.
"Leroy's right. We don't need outsiders here," David agrees with Grumpy.
"Hook says he doesn't know where Cora is, and God knows what she's going to do. With other people coming here, that's not going to be good for anyone." She argues, looking at them.
"We need to find Regina – tell her we know she was framed," Mary Margaret announces, feeling guilty for questioning the woman.
"I've been tracking her. No luck. She's gone underground," Ruby informs them. "Though, Octavia might know where she's hiding."
"But what if Cora finds her first?" She argues, looking fearful. "I don't want to think about the damage those two would do together. This could not have come at a worse time."
"It's okay. The guy's being patched up right now," Emma says. "He'll probably be on his way home by morning." Dr Whale enters, looking morbid.
"Not quite. He's bleeding into his chest cavity. It's not a full flood, you know. But, pretty soon, he'll be drowning in his own blood," Dr Whale informs them.
"So make it stop. Aren't you a doctor?" She asks. "What about Octavia? She's some powerful healer?" Dr Whale spots Mr Gold walking downstairs from his bad visit with Belle, and the Doctor approaches him. "Gold. You fixed me. Now fix him. It will take you seconds and cost you nothing."
"No," Mr Gold answers shortly.
"No? Just… No?" He questions, looking at him.
"I owe you nothing, Whale," Rumpelstiltskin argues. "I owe none of you anything. And some of you, owe me. So, yeah, just… No. Oh, and point of interest – the driver? He saw me throwing some magic. So, instead of trying to get him out of here, you better be hoping he dies. Because if he doesn't, he's going to be driving tour buses up and down main street. So glad I don't give a damn." He exits, leaving the group in stunned silence.
"Look… Letting him die is easy. I can do that, if that's what you decide," Dr Whale tells them, looking around the group of heroes. "But Octavia is trying her best to keep him alive."
"Let's take this somewhere private," Emma suggests, moving the group into a small examination room to continue talking.
"It's not really murder if we let him succumb to his injuries," He argues, looking at the Sheriff.
"I'm pretty sure it is," She retorts, glaring at the doctor.
"Of course we save him," Mary Margaret tells them.
"Obviously," David mutters.
"Well…" Leroy grumbles.
"Leroy!" Mary Margaret snaps at him.
"We got to think it through. If we save him and kill the whole town, is that really better?" He argues, thinking of the bigger picture.
"So we have to choose between our lives and his," Ruby groans, not wanting this in their hands.
"We can worry about the town later," David tells them.
"Which doesn't mean we should abandon him," Mary Margaret argues, looking at her husband.
"I know, but let's worry about Storybrooke after we save a life. Dr Whale, prep for surgery," He orders the Doctor, who nods before exiting the room.
"Anyone else notice he's drunk off his ass?" She questions, looking at the doctor, who is swaying on his feet. Suddenly, Greg's phone begins ringing, surprising them.
"Someone's looking for Greg. How long before they come here?" Emma wonders aloud, looking around at the others.
In his shop, Mr Gold reminisces over the chipped cup, thinking about Belle, only having her back for a few days before losing her all over again. Suddenly, the bell on the front door rings. He goes over to investigate but finds there's no one outside. When he turns around, he sees a box left on the counter. Cora then appears near the door. "Hello, Rumpel," Cora greets her old mentor.
"Well, I expected this was just a matter of time," Mr Gold remarks, looking at the woman. "Had hoped you were dead, but hey – disappointment's just part of life. I'm sure we can agree on that."
"Aw, the Crocodile snaps at the little bird. And after I brought you a gift," She replies, smiling cooly at him.
"Yeah, did you bring the antidote, too?" He asks.
"Oh, Rumpel. It's a peace offering," Mrs Mills sighs, shaking her head.
"And what do you want for this, uh… This peace offering?" Rumpelstiltskin questions, looking at the box.
"My oldest daughter. You were so clever to get her to lay the curse so you could come here. You don't need her anymore. Let me try to get my family back and let us live," Cora pleads.
"And what do I get for my troubles?" Mr Gold wonders, looking at his former lover.
"Your son," She answers, nodding towards the box. Mr Gold pulls off the lid, revealing a white 'globe' inside. "You know what that is, of course."
"It'll find him… If this one truly is it," He counters, looking at her, not wanting to be a pawn in her games again.
"Oh, darling, I have no reason to cheat you," The redheaded woman assures him.
"Anymore," The Dark One argues.
"I want you to find the one person in this universe who might still love you. After all, I'm doing the same thing," Cora tells him honestly, though not honestly enough, as she wants him out of Storybrooke.
"Do you have any spells to return memories?" Mr Gold asks her, hoping to get Belle back.
"I only know what you taught me… Master," She retorts. "So, will you accept my offer of a truce?"
"Truce," He agrees, extending his hand, which Cora takes, and the two shake on the deal.
"Let's seal it like we used to," Mrs Mills suggests, leaning in and kissing Mr Gold.
At the hospital, David finds Dr Whale staring at Greg's watch. "What's that?" David asks, seeing the item in the doctor's hand.
"Oh. It's just the guy's personal effects. I get the best watches this way," Dr Whale replies, seeing the horror of Prince Charming's face. "Joking. As far as you know. It's too bad it's cracked."
"I thought you'd be scrubbing in by now," He questions, looking at him.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm going to do that," the doctor agrees absent-mindedly.
"Arm okay?" Prince Charming asks, looking at him.
"I'm not drunk," Dr Whale tells him firmly.
"Okay, just… Let's save this guy, alright? I don't care what he saw. We don't let go of people," David demands.
"Right. Of course not," He muses, walking off.
Emma and company wait in the hospital lobby. Greg's phone, now on silent, begins to vibrate. The incoming caller is listed only as 'Her' on the screen. "Same person again," Leroy comments, looking at the screen.
"'Her'. Cute," Emma remarks, looking at it, too.
"Probably a girlfriend," David states.
"We could answer it – just let her know he's okay," Mary Margaret suggests nervously.
"He's not okay," Emma argues, looking at her mother.
"He's alive. We could let her know he's alive," Ruby retorts, looking at them.
"Nah. The police could trace it here instantly," David adds, looking at the others.
"She can activate the find your phone thing without us picking it up at all," Emma warns them, and the phone stops vibrating.
"That settles that," Leroy mutters, the weight of silence hanging over them.
"Oh, my nerves can't take this. Is the surgery almost over?" Mary Margaret wonders nervously.
"I… I think it takes…" Emma replies, but a man enters and scans the lobby before turning to leave when David stops him.
"Whoa. Whoa. Wait. Wait. Any news?" David asks, looking at the man.
"No. I was just looking for Dr Whale, Dr Mills has been calling for him for a while now," the man answers nervously, needing to get back.
"He's not in the OR?" Ruby asks, growing worried about Octavia and the stranger.
"He never came in," He replies.
"Then page him," Emma snaps at him. "Octavia needs his help."
"He was not looking so good earlier," David argues. The man calls, and there's a beeping sound nearby.
"He's here," Mary Margaret announces, and the beeping sounds come from the laundry basket of dirty scrubs. Emma looks through it and finds the pager and Dr Whale's lab coat.
"No, but his pager is. He's gone," Emma confirms with dread, wondering if Octavia can save the driver alone for a little longer while they try to find Dr Whale.
Ruby sniffs Dr Whale's lab coat to pick up the scent, needing to find the doctor before it's too late. "Got the scent?" David asks the Werewolf.
"Boozy," Ruby retorts, cringing at the heavy alcohol smell coming from the lab coat.
"Just find him and bring him back," Emma tells her. "We'll watch Hook and figure out options if Whale doesn't come back."
"Maybe Doc can do it," Mary Margaret suggests, looking at Grumpy.
"Surgery? No," Leroy denies, knowing Doc can't do complicated surgery. "Our best bet is Octavia."
"Maybe he didn't even run. Maybe Cora grabbed him for some reason," She argues, thinking of her stepmother's mother running around Storybrooke.
"I don't think so. He's been in a rough place since he had brought Regina's fiancé back to life." David argues, making Emma and Mary Margaret look at him in shock, having missed that while they were in the Enchanted Forest.
"Daniel?" Snow asks, almost yelping in shock.
"Back to life?!" Emma asks, looking around the room at the others.
"And had his arm ripped off and put back on," David informs them.
"Cool," Leroy muses, smiling, wishing he'd been there.
"Wait. Daniel came back?" Mary Margaret questions, still in shock at the thought of the man she helped kill coming back.
"Like some kind of Frankenstein?" Emma questions, still trying to wrap her head around everything.
"That's Whale. The doctor. And Daniel was his-," David confirms, trying to explain.
"What went on here while we were gone?" Mary Margaret wonders, looking around.
"Ruby, get going. Bring back… Dr Frankenstein," Emma tells her, and Ruby quickly exits. "We're going to send this guy back home with bolts in his neck."
"She'll find him," She assures her daughter.
"Yeah, but what kind of state is he going to be in?" The Sheriff wonders.
Dr Whale runs down the main street of Storybrooke, trying to outrun his problems in his drunken state.
Cora secretly enters Regina's house and begins looking around, trying to understand her oldest daughter. She scans the glassware in the kitchen and even smells the clothes hanging in Regina's closet. Cora comes across Octavia's room and smiles. Seeing the large number of books by the window, she remembers her daughter wanting them since she was a little girl back in the Enchanted Forest. Cora stumbles across Henry's room, where she finds an old picture of Henry, Regina and Octavia. She looks over the dresser and finds an old craft done by Henry. It's a mould of Henry's handprint with the words 'To Mommy' written below it. She smirks and takes it with her, knowing she can use this against Regina to come to her side.
In the middle of the night, Henry walks across the graveyard to Regina's family mausoleum. He slides the sarcophagus over and heads down the stairs, calling for his mother. "Mum? Hello? Hello? Hello? Mum?" Behind one of the walls, Regina has a hidden room. She hears her son and walks over to one of the mirrors on the wall. She waves her hand and magically transforms the mirror, allowing her to see out and see Henry searching the crypt. "You in there? Can I come in? Mum?" Regina opens the door to the hidden room, not finding it strange that he would know about it. "Mum? Mum?" Henry enters and hugs Regain, who quickly returns the embrace.
"Henry, I'm so glad you're here. I missed you so much when… I have to let you know, I had nothing to do with Archie." Regina tells him, trying to tell him the truth.
"I know. I always knew," Henry replies, but she doesn't hear him immediately.
"I was framed. I don't know how. I… It just seems like everything…" She replies, but stops. "You knew? How did you know?"
"Simple," He says, and Henry magically transforms into Cora in a puff of blue smoke.
"Because I did it." Cora answers.
"Mother…" Regina mutters, looking at the woman she hoped to never see again. "You… I thought we stopped you. How did you get through? Does that mean Octavia is back?"
"Determination. I had to see you. I needed to tell you that I know why you sent me through the looking glass. And I know why you tried to have me killed. And it's… It's alright," She replies. "And Octavia escaped earlier today."
"Good… Good. I think it's not alright," The Mayor retorts, looking at her mother.
"I love you. And your sister. I just… I've always shown it in all the wrong ways. And I never should have made you marry the King. I'm so sorry. When you cried over my coffin, it… It all changed," Mrs Mills tells her; though not completely a lie, it's still a little white lie.
"You framed me – for the cricket," Regina snaps, glaring at her mother. "You took away Octavia's childhood."
"Temporarily. So you could see what these people really think of you," Cora explains. "And Octavia was a danger to us all if she wasn't controlled the way I had to."
"You made an airtight case. Anyone would believe it," She argues. "And Octavia isn't as powerful as you make her out to be. Don't be deluded."
"I didn't want you to reject me. Not again," The redheaded woman tells her. "And there is more to Octavia than you realise."
"You wanted me broken," The dark-haired woman retorts. "I know my sister better than you ever will."
"Receptive," Cora replies calmly.
"You are the most manipulative… No. I won't even argue," Regina snaps, trying to calm down. "Come with me. We're going to town."
"It's the middle of the night," She argues, looking at her daughter in confusion and annoyance.
"I don't care. We'll wake them up – Emma and Henry and the two idiots – and you can tell them how you lied. You owe me that. I will find Octavia once my name is cleared," The Mayor snaps, wanting to see her sister.
"And then you'll let us start over?" Mrs Mills asks with hope.
"I don't see that happening, mother. But I am… I was trying so hard to be worthy of Henry. And I deserve the same thing from you," Regina replies, looking at her.
"You're right. For you, sweetheart. Anything," Cora assures her, wanting to keep Regina on her side.
Dr Whale stands at the edge of the dock, staring at Greg's watch as he looks into the water below, with thoughts racing through his mind when Ruby finds him. "Dr Whale?" Ruby asks, looking at him.
"Don't come near me!" Dr Whale shouts, tossing the watch into the water, then jumps off the dock. Using her wolf agility, Ruby quickly grabs him by the neck of his coat before he falls in. Ruby moves him over to sit on the dock so they can talk. "I wanted my name to stand for life," He tells her. "But everybody just thinks it's the name of a monster. I guess they're right about that. Rumpelstiltskin says that magic has a price. But, from where I'm sitting, seems that science does, too. Every time I try to save a life, someone else dies."
"Hey. Yeah. Look, you're Frankenstein. And I'm the Werewolf. I ate my boyfriend," She replies, looking at him. "Regina thought she was punishing us by erasing who we were, but I think she underestimated how much crap we wanted to forget."
"Yeah," The Doctor mutters, looking ahead.
"But… We can't let it stop us. She gave us a chance to start over, and I want to take it. I think you should, too," The Werewolf tells him, genuinely feeling that way.
"I wasn't such a bad guy, you know. I wanted to bring life back," Dr Whale argues lightly. "But he never got over our mother. If I could've just brought her back-."
"That guy in the hospital – someone keeps calling for him. Maybe a wife, a mother. Maybe, there's still some stuff you can fix," Ruby replies, trying to help him through his problems.
Regina and Cora are in the daughter's car as she drives, and Cora is in the passenger seat as they head into town. "Nervous?" Regina asks her mother.
"Not about owning up to what I've done. It's just… These carriages are strange. And something's irritating me…" Cora replies, pulling out Henry's handprint craft she took from Regina's house. "Oh. For Mommy. Oh, that used to be you."
"When were you in my house?" She snaps, glaring at her mother for trespassing in her house.
"I haven't had the pleasure," The redheaded woman lies.
"That was in my house," The Mayor argues. "Think I don't know where that was? It's one of my most treasured possessions."
"Well, let's be honest. Taking me to be pilloried by the town might gain you some points, but, as long as Emma and her parents are here, he's not really yours. Not like he was when he made things for his one and only mommy," Cora tells her, spinning a tale. "You've been too bad for too long, and now they see you as a… A snake. You don't want their love at all. What do you want?"
"My son back," Regina answers ferociously, pulling the car over in a deserted parking lot.
"And I want my daughters back," She replies. "I meant everything I said earlier. I am so sorry. I can do better. I won't push you away again. Let me into your heart. Together, we can get him back again." Regina leans across the seat and puts her head on Cora's shoulder, who embraces her.
"How?" The dark-haired woman wonders.
"Oh, I have a few thoughts," Mrs Mills replies, smiling, glad her plan has worked for one of her daughters.
After the Werewolf finds him, Dr Whale and Ruby arrive back at the hospital, where Emma and company are still waiting in the lobby. "You're back," Mary Margaret sighs, glad he's returned.
"Finally," Emma mutters, looking at him.
"I don't know why everyone's so worried. I was just stretching my legs. Now I'm going to go do this thing," Dr Whale assures them.
Dr Whale enters the OR to find Octavia alone with the patient; he watches in shock as she levitates the instruments as she operates. "It's good to see you, Dr Whale. Are you joining me?" Octavia asks, not looking up from the body on the table.
"Always, Dr Mills," Dr Whale replies, moving towards the table. "I've never seen something like this before." He watches her operate, using her magic in a new way he's never seen before.
"Probably not. But I've done this enough times back in the Enchanted Forest," She tells him. "Would you mind helping?"
A little later, at the hospital, Dr Whale and Octavia meet Ruby in the hallway after the surgery. "Where are they?" Dr Whale asks, looking around for the others.
"Getting coffee from the machine," Ruby tells them. "What's the verdict?"
"He'll live," Octavia assures her.
"You did it?" She asks, looking at the doctor and surgeon.
"Thank you. Monster to monster," Dr Whale says, looking at Ruby sincerely.
"You did it!" The Werewolf exclaims, and they enter the lobby, where the others have returned from getting their coffee.
"He's going to make it?" David asks the doctors.
"He's got some recuperating ahead of him – a few weeks, maybe – but yes. He's going to live," Octavia informs them.
"Thank goodness," Mary Margaret sighs with relief.
"Or us," Dr Whale jokes, earning a hit from his colleague.
"Telling you right now, this will come to no good," Leroy warns the others, not realising how right he is.
"Quiet, Leroy," David snaps at the Dwarf.
"I want to talk to him," Emma tells the doctors.
"He's waking up now," Dr Whale informs them.
"Already?" Ruby questions in shock.
"We waited a couple of hours to tell you in case he, you know, keeled over. But so far, so good," He tells them.
"Alright, then," Mary Margaret mutters, glad to hear the news.
"Well, let's talk to him," David agrees, moving to talk to the man.
"We're not talking to him as a group. We're not a group Sheriff," Emma reminds them, not wanting to overwhelm or raise suspicion with the stranger.
"But, we've been doing this together," Mary Margaret argues, looking at her daughter.
"We're trying to convince this guy this place is normal," She tells them. "In a normal town, the Sheriff goes in and asks a few questions. She doesn't bring her parents in with her."
"That's probably true," David replies, looking at her.
"We'll be right here, then," Mary Margaret assures her, and Emma leaves, needing to talk with Greg Mendell.
In Belle's hospital room, Mr Gold hands the girl, who is still bedridden from the gunshot wound, the chipped cup from their past. "I know you don't remember, but just… Indulge me. Please. Be careful with it," Mr Gold tells her, and she takes the proffered cup.
"It's a… It's a cup," Belle mutters, looking at it.
"Yeah," He agrees, looking at her in hopes of the slightest recognition, but there's nothing.
"It's… It's damaged," She replies, looking up at him.
"Just…look at it. Focus. It's your talisman," Rumpelstiltskin tells her.
"It's a cup," The bookworm repeats.
"You dropped it… In my castle. You were afraid that you had angered me," Mr Gold informs her.
"Okay, here. You… You need to go and take your cup, okay?" Belle tells him, trying to hand him back the cup, but he refuses to take it, not wanting to give up on her.
"No, no, no, no. I… I charmed it," He explains, gesturing to the cup. "If you focus, it will work. It's magic."
"Okay, just go away. S-Stop talking about magic, and take your cup," She demands, trying again to push the cup back to Mr Gold.
"Just look at it," Rumpelstiltskin begs her, but she becomes frustrated and takes the cup, throwing it against the wall. It shatters onto the floor.
"Just go. Just go away," The confused woman shouts, growing angry and bewildered at the man.
"I'm sorry…" Mr Gold mutters, leaving the room and glancing at the broken cup on the way out.
Meanwhile, Emma enters Greg's room, needing to talk to him. "Nurse?" Greg asks, looking at her.
"Sheriff Swan, actually," Emma corrects him.
"I'm thirsty," He informs her, and she kindly hands him a glass of water with a straw. She also sets a bag of his belongings next to the bed.
"Here. I have your personal effects," She replies. "I'm just going to put them here, okay? So, Mr Mendell, I wanted to talk to you about the accident." Octavia comes into the room with his chart as she checks over the vitals on the machines.
"Did I hit somebody? Oh, my God, I hit someone. Is he okay?" Mendell replies, panicking.
"Don't worry about him. I mean, the… The damage was pretty minor," Octavia assures him. "I've already fixed his bones. He'll be out of here before you are."
"Oh, thank God," Greg sighs in relief.
"But, I do need you to state what happened in your own words – what you did, what you saw." Emma tells him, getting out her notepad.
"Well, I… I didn't see anything. I-," He lies.
"Well, you were driving," She argues.
"Yeah, I mean… I saw the road, of course," Mendell retorts.
"I just think I might be able to put your mind at ease. There might be…an explanation if you saw-," The Sheriff replies.
"I was texting," Greg confesses, lying through his teeth.
"Oh," Emma mutters, feeling relief, and Octavia sighs, glad their secret is safe for now.
"I looked down, just for a second. And when I looked back up, he was… He was right there. And he was too close to avoid, but I… I know that it's not legal in Maine," He replies, looking guilty.
"It's okay. I'm just glad that you… Were honest with me," She says.
"So, no charges?" Mendell questions, looking at her in surprise.
"No. No charges. I will let you go with a warning this time," the blond woman tells him.
"Thank you. So when… When can I head home?" Greg asks them, looking at Octavia.
"As soon as we clear you. We don't want to keep you here any longer than necessary. The nurses will check on you periodically overnight. I'll come check on you sometime later tomorrow, and we will assess from there," Octavia explains. The two women quickly exit the room and head to the lobby, where everyone nervously waits for news.
"He didn't see nothing?" Leroy asks, looking at them.
"Free and clear," Emma assures them.
"Oh, good," Mary Margaret sighs with relief.
"Now maybe, things can calm down for ten minutes and we can catch our breath," David retorts, looking at everyone.
At Gold's shop, he takes out the white globe that Cora gifted him earlier that day and picks his finger on the point at the top, letting a drop of his blood onto the magical item that begins glowing and rotating as it tries to find his son. A red world map starts appearing, with one point in particular standing out from the map. "Bae," Mr Gold mutters, looking at it, hoping to finally reunite with his son.
Emma, Mary Margaret, and David arrive home to their apartment. Henry runs downstairs to greet them in the kitchen, and they all soon sit down and eat breakfast. "You were out all night. Where were you? Granny wouldn't tell me anything. Did I miss it all?" Henry asks, looking at them.
"Cereal okay?" David asks, looking at the others.
"Yeah," Emma agrees.
"Rumpelstiltskin and Captain Hook had a fight and someone got hurt," Mary Margaret informs Henry. "And guess who came back?" She moves to the door, and Henry looks around to see Octavia standing there.
"Hey, Little Mills," Octavia greets him.
"Aunt Octavia!" Henry exclaims, racing towards him and wrapping his arms around her, which she quickly returns.
"I missed you so much," She mutters, kissing him on the forehead.
"When did you get back?" He asks, both walking into the apartment.
"Earlier, I escaped my mother and Hook," The younger Mills daughter explains. "I had to save someone first."
"That's awesome," The Mills boy beams.
"Hope you don't mind, but I'm famished. Hotel Pirate Ship didn't have a lot of food," Octavia remarks, waving her hand over the table, showing a gorgeous array of breakfast foods.
"This looks amazing, thanks," David says, digging in as they sit around.
"We weren't sure if Dr Frankenstein could fix him, but he did," Emma remarks, looking at Octavia, who hums in agreement, all of them enjoying their food.
"Doctor? Oh… That's who Whale is," Henry muses, thinking about it.
"Yeah, but without the neck bolts," She jokes.
"The monster had the bolts, not the doctor," He replies, stuffing his face.
"Right, but either way, some of us having known him… It's weird," The blond woman remarks, looking at the others.
"It's not weird. We're past it. We were cursed," Mary Margaret grumbles.
"What are you talking about?" Henry asks, looking at the adults.
"Nothing," David replies.
"Wait," He mutters, thinking about it.
"Really, it's nothing," Mary Margaret agrees with her husband, but Henry leaves the table and returns with his book.
"Frankenstein isn't in here," The Mills boy explains, showing the pages. "It's not even a fairy tale. That means it comes from another land with different stories." Octavia looks at her nephew.
" Eat. I really want to go to bed," Emma tells him.
"If the curse went to places with other stories, then who knows who else is in this town?" Octavia muses, making Henry look at her. "Enough about that. I actually wanted to talk to you all about something."
"What is it, Octavia?" David asks, seeing how uneasy she looks.
"With everything that's happened," She sighs, looking at the others. "Getting my memories back and well the fact that I am way too old to be living with my older sister. I thought about moving out and finding my own place along with if you'd allow it, for Henry to stay whenever is okay with you." She looks at Emma, who smiles.
"That's a good idea. What do you think, Henry?" Emma asks her son, who beams.
"Can I? Will I get my own room?" Henry asks excitedly about spending time with his favourite aunt.
"Of course. We can decorate it any way you like," Octavia assures him, pulling him into a hug when there's a knock on the door. Emma goes to answer it, but Mr Gold lets himself in first.
"Gold. We've all had a long night," Emma sighs, looking at him.
"You remember that favour you owe me, Miss Swan?" Mr Gold questions, needing to find his son as soon as possible, not wanting to wait any longer.
"Yeah," She replies, and the others all watch them.
"I'm cashing it in," He informs her sternly.
"It's not… A good…" The Sheriff stutters, wanting to go to bed and forget about tonight.
"You do honour your agreements, don't you?" The Dark One wonders. "I need to find someone, so we're leaving today. Pack your bag."
"Leaving?" Mary Margaret asks, looking between her daughter and Rumpelstiltskin.
"W-Where?" Henry asks nervously.
"Wait. Find someone? Who?" Emma questions, looking at Mr Gold.
"My son. It has to be today, because every minute I'm here, is a minute closer to me killing Hook." Mr Gold explains. "So it's really best for all concerned if I leave, and you're going to come with me. Oh, and, um, we have a long history. So know this, and know it to be true. If any harm comes to Belle while I'm gone, I'm killing all of you. I'll see you at noon."
Grey lies in his hospital room alone after talking with the surgeon who did the operation, and he can't help but remember her from a long time ago. He grabs his bag of belongings off of the table that the new Sheriff gave him and takes out his cell phone. Checking that the coast is clear, he quickly dials a number he knows by heart. "Honey?" Greg says quietly so that none of the nurses hear him. "I… I… I know. Just wait. Wait. Just listen. Just listen. Okay? Yes, I'm okay. I… I was in an accident. And, honey… You're not going to believe what I saw."
Chapter Thirteen - Tiny
Season 2 - Episode 13
There was an Enchanted forest filled with all the classic characters we know.
Or think we know.
One day, they found themselves trapped in a place where all their happy endings were stolen.
Our World.
This is how it happened…
As he promised, Mr Gold knocks on the door to Mary Margaret's apartment later that day, and Emma answers. "Ready to go, Miss Swan?" Mr Gold asks her, looking at the blond woman.
"Almost," Emma replies, letting him into the apartment, and Henry and Octavia enter the room with a suitcase and his coat.
"Do you think we'll be cold where we're going, or warm?" Henry asks his mother.
"I think layers are always a good idea," She tells him.
"I told you," Octavia mutters, smiling at her nephew as she helps him with his suitcase.
"I thought the terms of our agreement were quite clear. You owe me a favour – you alone," Mr Gold snaps lightly, glaring at the woman.
"I'm not leaving Henry here with Cora lurking about, so either we both go, or we both stay." Emma argues.
"And I am house hunting and working. I don't have time to protect Henry from my lunatic of a mother as much as I would like to," Octavia remarks sarcastically and looks at her nephew, who grins back at her.
"Then, we'll have to purchase another plane ticket, won't we?" Mr Gold sneers unhappily. Mary Margaret enters, helping Henry put on his jacket.
"Wait. We're flying?" Emma questions, looking at him.
"Don't worry, I'm covering expenses. Even the new ones," He assures her, and David overhears the conversation as he comes down the stairs.
"You're a real gentleman, aren't you?" David snaps. "Alright, Gold, you're going out there with my family. Just know, if anything happens to them…"
"Then you'll what? Cross the town line? And David Nolan will hunt me down in his animal rescue van?" Mr Gold teases the man.
"I'll be devastated," He corrects him. "This isn't a threat. It's a request. Take care of them."
"I promise no harm will come to your family. After all, we have a deal," Rumpelstiltskin assures him.
Mr Gold, wearing his shawl around his neck, drives with Emma in the passenger seat and Henry in the back seat, heading down a deserted road in Mr Gold's car as they begin their journey to find Rumpelstiltskin's son. "So… Where are we going?" Henry asks the adults.
"Logan International Airport," Mr Gold answers.
"I think he meant after that," Emma retorts, looking at her.
"Let's just take things one step at a time, shall we?" He tells her.
"You really think that shawl's going to work?" She asks, looking at the old piece of clothing.
"Well, if it doesn't, and I revert to my cursed self, we're all going to have some problems. It'll work," The Dark One assures her, and they pass the 'leaving Storybrooke' sign. A wave of magic passes over Mr Gold, and there's a brief pause between them.
"So?" The blond woman asks, looking at him with a bit of fear.
"My name is Rumpelstiltskin. And we're going find my son," Mr Gold answers quickly, smiling and continuing to drive.
Octavia goes to the Mills Manor, packing her things, mainly her books and other items, into boxes while Regina still hides. She's on the phone with Emma and Henry on speakerphone while they drive to Boston. "Well, she's not here. I've found an apartment already," Octavia informs them.
"Where is it?" Emma asks, needing to find her own place.
"It's by Granny's B&B. A lot of new places are on the market after everyone got their memories back. You might wanna have a look once you get back," She suggests. "Must be a pain having to live with Snow and Charming."
"That's not nice, Aunt October," Henry comments, holding the phone. "I like living there."
"You don't even have your own room, Henry," The Cruel Princess argues. "Look, think about it Emma. I've gotta go, I have a consult later and I need to get my stuff. Speak to you later."
"Yeah, we'll call you before we get on the plane," Emma assures her. "Speak to you soon." She hangs up the phone.
Mary Margaret is in her kitchen at the Blanchard apartment when David enters, wearing two gun holsters. "You like the holsters, huh?" Mary Margaret remarks, looking at her husband.
"I miss carrying a sword," David replies, admiring the holsters.
"Well, it looks good on you," She compliments him.
"Come on. Leroy has the Dwarves on Cora watch. They've got eyes everywhere, but they could use our help," He tells her.
"Really? How hard can it be to find a powerful sorceress in a small town?" Snow questions, and they go to leave. When they open the door, they find Regina just preparing to knock.
"Apparently, not very hard," Charming remarks, looking at Regina.
"Regina. You're back," Mary Margaret says, looking at her stepmother.
"I know you think I'm responsible for poor Dr Hopper's death," Regina starts explaining, needing to clear the air.
"He's… Alive," David informs her.
"What?" She questions, looking at them in shock.
"You were framed," Mary Margaret confesses, making Regina look at her.
"Who would do that?" The Mayor asks, though she already knows who it is.
"Your mother. She's here," She informs, making the older woman cringe inside.
"But… But that's… That's… Not possible," Regina argues, though she already knows. "What about Octavia? Is she okay?"
"When we found a way back, so did she and she brought Octavia with her. We were wrong… And we're so sorry. Octavia escaped last night," Snow tells her.
"I know. But, if Cora's here, then we're all in danger," She argues. "Please, you have to let me see my son. I can protect him."
"He's not here," Mary Margaret informs her.
"What?" The Evil Queen questions, looking at them in shock and confusion.
"Mr Gold asked Emma to help him find his son. They left town about an hour ago with Henry. And Octavia can't look after him with everything going on," David explains, leaving out that Octavia has moved out, knowing she wants to tell her sister herself.
"And no one told me?" Regina snaps.
"We didn't know where you were. And, to be honest, Regina, I don't think Emma has to run anything by you," Mary Margaret argues a little too harshly to the fellow mother.
"No, I suppose she doesn't," She mutters before leaving, unsure what to do anymore.
"That went well," Snow remarks, looking at her husband.
"With her, it doesn't get much better. Come on. Let's go find Cora," David tells her, wanting to stop Cora before she does anything else.
"Where?" Mary Margaret wonders.
"No idea. But I know who to ask," he replies, handing a quiver of arrows and a bow to his wife, and the two of them leave, beginning their hunt for Cora.
David, Mary Margaret, Leroy, and Hook are at the docks while the Captain walks with a noticeable limp from his injuries. "You didn't even ask me about my recovery," Hook questions, looking at Snow. "Dr Mills says I'm doing remarkably well. She's a godsend."
"How are you feeling, Hook?" Mary Margaret asks, not really caring.
"Come closer and feel for yourself," He jokes, trying to tease David, which works as David hits the Captain.
"You want to lose the other hand?" David snaps. "Where's the ship? Come on. Archie and Octavia told us. It's shielded somehow, isn't it, mate?"
"Aye… That it is. Follow me," The Captain tells them. "I don't know what you expect to find. Cora won't be there."
"Well, maybe she left something behind that will tell us where she went. Let's go," he argues.
"No funny business. I'm watching you, pirate," Leroy warns him.
"Yes, Dwarf. That should deter me from any maleficence," Killian retorts sarcastically.
"Oh, don't worry, Leroy. He'll help us," Mary Margaret assures her friend.
"What makes you so sure?" He questions, looking at him.
"Because you're a pirate," She retorts. "You know which way the wind blows, and, right now, it is gusting towards us."
"Oh. I see where your daughter got her gumption. Follow me," Hook replies, and they arrive at the pier where the ship is anchored. Killian walks up the invisible stairs and disappears behind the shield, followed by the others.
"You sailed this ship from our land. Can you sail it back?" Leroy asks the pirate.
"My ship? She's a marvel. Made from enchanted wood," Killian informs them. "We weathered many a storm together, seen many strange, glittering shores. But, to travel between lands, she must go through a portal."
"Yeah. What do you know about Cora's plans?" David asks him.
"Cora's not the most communicative of lasses. I will tell you this – whatever malice she has in mind, her weapon of choice is in here," He replies, gesturing to a tarp-covered box. Leroy and David pull back the cloth, revealing a cage. Inside is the shrunken Giant from the beanstalk, either unconscious or asleep.
"Who's that?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at Tiny, and they begin to gather around the cage.
"So, Cora used magic to make him travel-sized," Leroy guesses after Hook explains what he knows.
"Whatever she intends to do with him, it's important," Killian replies, not knowing much of Cora's plan.
"Oh, I think you know exactly what she intends. You're holding out," David argues, glaring at the pirate.
"Well, either have your lovely wife torture it out of me, which I promise will be fun for both-," He jokes, trying to wind up the Prince, who takes the bait, grabbing the pirate by the throat and shoving him against the mast.
"Why don't you and I have some fun?" Prince Charming sneers, pressing his hand hard around his throat.
"I don't know what she's planning. Why don't you wake the bloody Giant and ask him yourself?" Hook argues, extending the key to the cage. Mary Margaret takes it and unlocks the door. She crouches down and touches Anton's shoulder, startling him awake.
"Hey… It's alright. You're safe now," Mary Margaret assures him, and Anton crawls out of the cage. "What's your name?"
"Anton. Where's that Witch?" Anton snaps angrily, looking around for Cora.
"She's gone," She tells him.
"What did she do? She made me small," He snaps, looking at himself.
"Come on. Let's get you out of here," David says kindly, making the Giant look at him and glare as he recognises the face.
"You," The Giant sneers.
"Me?" He questions, looking at him.
"You!" Anton shouts, punching the Prince in the face, causing him to fly backwards across the deck.
"David!" Mary Margaret shouts in fear for her husband.
"Hey! Hey, over here, you big-," Leroy shouts, attempting to distract Anton, but gets thrown down the ship's stairs. Anton lunges at David, who draws his gun. He quickly hits it out of his hand. Suddenly, Mary Margaret shoots an arrow past Anton's head.
"Step away from my husband," She demands.
"You may have me outnumbered, but this isn't over," Anton snaps. "You think I forgot what you did? I didn't. You'll pay for your evil. I promise! You'll pay!" Anton flees the ship.
Belle watches the television in the hospital common room when Ruby enters with a basket of items. "Hey. You don't remember, do you?" Ruby asks the poor woman.
"Sorry, no, I… I don't," Belle replies nervously.
"I'm Ruby. You used to come into my Granny's diner a lot," She tells her. "Before. I thought you could use some comforts from home. You were always telling me about Jules Verne, so I brought you my favourite – The Mysterious Island."
"Thank you. Were… Were we really friends?" The bookworm asks her.
"Yeah, we were," Red assures her.
"Then tell me the truth. Before I was brought here, I was hurt. I was bleeding, and then this man came. And he… He healed me. Then, I saw him hold a ball of fire in his hands. How… How is that possible?!" Belle asks her, still trying to process what she saw.
"The nurse said that the tranquillisers can give you wicked nightmares," Ruby lies, trying to keep magic a secret.
"No, I know what I saw. And I don't need any more tranquillisers or-," She argues.
"Belle…" Red mutters, looking at her.
"Don't call me that. Why does everyone keep calling me that?" The bookworm snaps and a nurse enters to restrain Belle. "I don't… I'm telling you, I don't…"
"Take it easy. Take it easy," The nurse tells her, sitting in a chair and injecting a sedative into Belle's arm to help calm the poor woman down.
"Has she been like this the whole time?" Ruby asks the nurse about the poor, confused woman.
"More or less. We've had to keep her heavily sedated. Okay, let's get you back to bed," She replies calmly.
"No…" Belle mutters as the sedative takes effect.
"Here we go. There," The nurse says, escorting Belle out of the room. Meanwhile, Grey enters and sees the outburst.
"Everything okay in here?" Greg asks, looking around.
"Everything's fine, Mr Mendell. She's alright. How are you?" Ruby counters, wanting him out of town quickly.
"Much improved," He replies.
"Well, then, rest up. The sooner you're better, the sooner you can be out of our quiet little town," She replies before leaving.
David, Mary Margaret, and Leroy sit in a booth at Granny's Diner, needing to get a game plan for finding the Giant and understanding what he meant from earlier. "David…. Did that Giant just say he'll make you pay? For what?" Mary Margaret asks her husband.
"I have no idea. I've never seen that guy before," David replies, thinking back.
"Well, he sure knows you," Leroy argues, looking at the Prince.
"No. It's not about me. He just thinks it is," he tells them, thinking of his dead twin brother.
"Your brother. That's who he thinks you are," Mary Margaret concludes, looking at her husband.
"It's the only thing that makes sense," Prince Charming retorts. "Come on."
"Where are we going?" She asks, looking at him as he gets up.
"To find out just what kind of trouble my brother got himself into," David tells her. "Leroy, get your head looked at and gather the Dwarves. We need to keep an eye out for this Giant."
Emma, Henry and Mr Gold arrive in Boston and go to the airport. They pick up their boarding passes from the desk and then enter the line for security. "Have you ever been outside of Storybrooke before, Mr Gold?" Henry asks him, trying to make conversation.
"No," Mr Gold replies shortly.
"Are you nervous?" The Mills boy asks another question.
"No," The Dark One replies again shortly, lying.
"Are you worried about meeting your son?" Henry asks again.
"No, Henry, I'm fine," Mr Gold assures him.
"How about we talk about all this later, kid? We're next," Emma tells him, interrupting the boy's interrogation, seeing how uncomfortable Mr Gold is getting. Henry and Emma begin taking off their shoes to put in the boxes.
"It must be really hard not to use magic – being like everyone else," Henry remarks, looking around.
"You've got to put your shoes in," She tells Mr Gold.
"How terribly uncivilised," Mr Gold remarks, taking off his shoes, and Henry goes through the metal detector.
"Uh, scarf and the cane go in the basket," TSA Agent informs Mr Gold.
"What?" He questions, looking at the man in shock.
"Scarf and cane go in the basket," The Agent repeats respectfully.
"I can't," The Dark One replies.
"You have to," Emma tells him, and the man behind them rudely interrupts them.
"It ain't rocket science, buddy. You ever been on a plane before?" The man snaps at the older man.
"Have you ever been impaled upon a cane before?" Mr Gold sneers.
"My… Father's a little nervous. We're headed to a family reunion. Sorry," Emma lies, trying to calm the situation.
"Father?" He questions, looking at her.
"Just put your shawl in the bin. I'll help you get through," She assures him.
"If I let this go, I could forget who I am," Rumpelstiltskin argues firmly.
"I'm not going to let that happen," The blond woman promises him.
"Okay," Mr Gold agrees, removing the shawl and putting it in the box with his cane. When he does, his hearing becomes distorted, and he begins stumbling. He goes through the metal detector in almost a trance-like state until Emma can grab his shawl out of the box on the other side of security. She puts it around his neck, and his hearing and mind return to normal. Mr Gold gives a slight nod, and the two of them begin to put their shoes back on. Henry is there waiting for them.
"Guys, there's a Cinnabons here!" Henry informs them happily, taking their minds off what happened.
Hook enters a deserted alleyway near the docks after escaping the Heroes. He places a card - the Queen of Hearts - onto the ground and turns around, finding Regina behind him. "Hello. Hook," Regina greets him.
"Regina," Killian greets her back.
"Expecting my mother? The one you were supposed to kill?" She questions, making him squirm.
"Oh, that. Well, I didn't want to deprive you of a happy reunion," He jokes, looking at her, a little uncomfortable.
"Well, it's your lucky day. She and I have made amends," The Evil Queen informs him.
"And you're here to thank me? How sweet," Hook smirks back at her, acting cocky.
"She wants to know if they've found the ship," Regina replies, looking at him.
"Well, you can tell her, she can ask me herself," Killian retorts, not wanting to be a pawn in her games.
"She decided it wouldn't be prudent for her to be out and about," She explains.
"Well, then it is my lucky day. And you can tell her they found the ship," He replies, shrugging.
"Well, did you get her things off it?" The Mayor asks him.
"I've been tied up in bed – not in the good way," The pirate teases her.
"She needs her things," Regina tells him.
"Oh, I'll bet she does. Well, there's good news, then. A Giant got loose from the hold," Killian tells her.
"You lost a Giant?" She snaps at him.
"Well, a shrunken Giant," he argues.
"How is that good news?" The Evil Queen questions, looking at him, not understanding why her mother is working with him.
"Because, when he got free, he took one look at the Prince, and became extremely murderous," Hook informs her happily.
"Hm. A Giant in town who wants to kill the Prince. This is just the distraction we need," Regina muses, thinking about it.
"That it is, dear," Killian replies, smiling at her.
Octavia steps into her new apartment, looking around at the white walls and thinking how to decorate it once she gets everything sorted. She drops one of the boxes in her new living space, most of her boxes filled with books. She hears her phone and grabs it from the kitchen island; seeing it's the hospital, she quickly grabs her coat and heads out. "Crap," Octavia mutters, answering the phone. "Hey, Jules, yeah, I'm on my way. Two seconds," She disappears in a teal puff of smoke as she locks the apartment door.
Elsewhere, Anton attempts to navigate the streets of Storybrooke but doesn't do so well. He dodges cars, and they honk at him as they go about their day. The noises smells, and sights confuse and disorientate him as he tries to find a quiet place away from everything that's so new.
When Regina approaches him, Anton finds himself in the woods, away from the town and sits on a log, looking forlornly at the river. "Get away from me!" Anton shouts, getting up and backing away.
"I'm here to help you," Regina assures him.
"No. You're human. I hate humans." He argues as she continues walking towards him. "Don't come any closer! Or I'll kill you."
"Look, I hear you're in town cause you want to kill someone. I can help. I have no love for this Prince, either, and if you want to destroy this town to get to him… Well, I'm happy to do my part. This will make you bigger. It will return you to your former glory," She informs him, and he takes the proffered mushroom and quickly takes a bite. He returns to his former Giant size in a puff of blue smoke. "Now, get to work! As I'm sure you're aware, that mushroom won't last forever."
Emma, Mr Gold, and Henry wait by their gate, and the older gentlemen pace back and forth, growing nervous. "Do you want something to eat?" Emma asks him.
"No," Mr Gold answers.
"Is something wrong?" She asks him.
"Stop asking me that!" He snaps but calms himself down. "I'll be right back." He leaves and enters the public toilet, going into one of the stalls and locking the door. Still anxious, he starts packing back and forth until he suddenly drops his cane and violently punches the toilet seat cover dispenser on the back wall. Afterwards, Mr Gold leans against the wall and looks down at his bloodied hand. He tries using his magic as he waves his hand over the wounds, but nothing happens. He tries again, but still nothing happens. Henry soon enters the washroom and calls out for Mr Gold.
"Mr Gold? Mr Gold? We're boarding soon. Are you coming?" Henry calls out for him, but the man ignores the boy.
Mary Margaret and David watch safely as Anton territories the town. "That's right! Run! Run!" Anton shouts, picking up a car and throwing it in the Royal couple's direction before continuing on his path of destruction. The citizens of Storybrooke scramble for safety as Mary Margaret and David follow Anton.
"Head to the town hall! Bring anyone you find on the way! Somebody get Leroy!" David shouts.
"Guess we found our Giant. I just didn't think he would be so…" Mary Margaret remarks, looking after Tiny.
"Giant?" He counters, running.
"My mistake," She replies.
"Ever stop one before?" Prince Charming asks his wife.
"Nope," Snow replies, trying to catch up.
"Well… Here's to new firsts," David jokes. "Wait! You don't have to do this!" He yells to Anton, trying to get his attention.
"Yeah, I do," Anton replies, glaring at the tiny human Prince. "You destroyed everything in my life. Now you're going to know what that feels like."
"The man who hurt you? That wasn't me. That was my twin brother James," he tells him. "We were separated at birth. He was raised by a… A ruthless King."
"You're not James?" The Giant questions, looking at the man with the same face as the man who killed his family.
"No!" Charming confirms strongly.
"Then where is he?" Tiny asks.
"He paid the ultimate price for his arrogance. He's dead! There is nothing more you can do to him," David informs him.
"We're on your side, Anton!" Mary Margaret tells him. "We're good! We're here because of you. You know our friend Octavia. You gave her the magic compass."
"Octavia? Let me talk to her. She says you're okay, then I'll stop," Anton promises them, and Leroy soon arrives and joins Mary Margaret.
"She's kind of busy at work," She informs him.
"Really?" He questions, not believing her.
"But when she's free, I know she'll really want to talk to you," Snow assures him.
"How convenient. Everyone I'm looking for isn't around! All you humans do is lie, and cheat, and kill, and I'm sick of it!" The Giant snaps angrily and charges after them. Mary Margaret, David, and Leroy run down the streets of Storybrooke as Anton chases after them.
"So let me get this straight – you got a twin brother?" Leroy asks the Prince as they try outrunning the Giant, trying to crush them.
"Yeah," David replies.
"His name is James?" He questions.
"Right," The Prince nods.
"Well, your name is James," Grumpy argues.
"No, actually, it's not." David corrects him.
"It's Charming, then?" Leroy retorts.
"No, that's the nickname I gave him," Mary Margaret reminds her friend.
"Hey, hold on. What the hell is your name?" He asks, looking at the married couple.
"David," David replies.
"Your curse name?" Grumpy questions.
"My real name!" He shouts over his beating heart as they run.
"What, you're David, James, and Charming? Is David like a middle name?" Leroy asks, still not getting it.
"No! It's my name-name," Charming explains.
"You know what? I'm going to call you whatever I damn well please! Is that okay?!" He snaps, wanting to run instead of processing this news.
"Sure, Leroy," David replies, not caring either way.
"So what's the plan?" The Dwarf asks, looking at the leading Heroes.
"Lead the Giant away from here, so he can't hurt anyone," He tells him simply.
"Wait. If we keep heading in this direction, we're going to hit the town line," Mary Margaret argues, looking at her husband.
"Okay, new plan," The Prince agrees, and they stop near the docks. David approaches the Giant.
"What are you doing?" She asks her husband, growing worried about him as he slowly approaches the Giant.
"Giving him what he wants," David argues and turns to the Giant. "Anton! How about we make a deal?"
"I don't make deals with humans," Anton sneers angrily at the Prince.
"Just hear me out. I'll surrender myself to you, if you spare the lives of everyone in Storybrooke," He tells him, trying to plead with him.
"David, you can't do this," Mary Margaret argues, not wanting her husband to get injured or, worse, killed.
"If I don't, the whole town will suffer. I can't allow that. Well, what do you say?" Charming asks his wife, wanting to keep the town safe.
"Deal," Anton replies, lunging towards David and trying to jump on him. However, Mary Margaret pulls her husband out of the way at the last second, and Anton ends up jumping straight through the ground. Stuck, the mushroom's effect begins wearing off, and Anton seems to disappear in a puff of blue smoke. All that's left is a large hole in the ground.
"Where did he go?" Mary Margaret wonders, looking around.
"I'm not sure," David replies, and they head over to the hole, investigating, where they find Anton hanging on to an underground pipe. "I think you should try to ring Octavia." The Dwarves, Granny, and Ruby soon arrive on the scene with a truck and some rope to help rescue Anton as he hangs onto the pipe below. "That better hold."
"It'll hold," Leroy assures the Prince.
"I got this," Granny tells them, tying the rope to the back of the truck, and Leroy throws the rope down the side of the hole. Mary Margaret then kisses David, glad he's not dead and seeing how kind he is.
"Most people would let that Giant die after what he's done," Mary Margaret remarks, looking at him.
"You wouldn't," David argues, wrapping the rope around his waist and beginning to shimmy down the hole. "Alright, Anton! I'm coming down!" He calls down, getting down to Anton and extending his hand. "Take my hand."
"No!" Anton shouts.
"No?" Charming questions, looking at the small Giant.
"I don't want to go back up there. I should just let go!" He argues, glaring at the human.
"You'll die," David reminds him.
"Maybe death hurts less than life," Anton replies, thinking about his family.
"If you really wanted to die, you would have let go already. Now take my hand!" He yells, wanting to help him. Anton weighs it in his head and finally grabs David's hand, and the people above pull them out of the hole.
"Come on," Leroy shouts to the others as they begin pulling.
"Almost! A little more!" Mary Margaret shouts back as they successfully pull David and Anton from the hole. Mary Margaret races over to her husband, hugging him closely.
"You saved my life," Anton remarks, looking at the Prince.
"That's what we do," David replies off-handedly.
"Thank you," He says, looking at him.
"You're welcome," Leroy says, making them look at him.
"We're not all the same, Anton. I don't know what my brother did to you, but… That's not us," David assures him.
"You have no idea," Anton replies, and Octavia arrives after getting a frantic call from Ruby while she is talking with a patient, a critical patient.
"What the hell is going on?" Octavia questions, looking around and seeing the hole in the road.
"Octavia?" He questions, seeing the Cruel Princess.
"Hey!" She smiles, spotting the Giant. "You're small. It suits you." She beams, moving towards him. "I take it, Hook has something to do with this?" She looks at the others.
"Yep, and your mother," David replies.
"Of course. Dear old evil mother," Dr Mills remarks, smiling stiffly. "So what can I do to help?"
Anton, the rescue group and Octavia enter Granny's Diner after mainly settling everything. "This is Granny's. She makes a mean lasagna and runs an inn, so I'm sure we can set you up with a room till you find a place." Leroy tells him, helping the man out.
"Thanks, but I think I'll set up camp in the woods," Anton tells them, feeling uncomfortable still.
"The woods?" Octavia questions, looking at him. "You don't have to do that, Anton."
"Yeah, I'm better off alone. I'm not too good at fitting in," He replies, looking at his only friend.
"You're in the right place. Storybrooke's got all kinds – Dwarves, Fairies, Werewolves, Witches, you name it." Leroy assures him and turns to the Werewolf waitress. "Ruby, beers all around!"
"We all miss our land, Anton. But this is our home now," Mary Margaret tells him, trying to help him feel better.
"You never think about going back?" Anton asks them, looking around.
"Of course we do. It's just not possible," She argues, looking at the Magic user.
"We have no way to get there," David adds.
"How's the farmland here?" Anton asks them.
"Pretty good. Why?" Octavia questions, and Anton takes out the vial with the piece of the beanstalk. "No way."
"The stem is from a beanstalk. If I plant it, it should be able to grow some magic beans. And then, you just may have a way," Tiny explains, giving the small group some hope.
Mary Margaret, David, Anton, Octavia, and the Dwarves gather in a field as the Giant checks the soil. "Well, what's the verdict?" David asks, looking at Anton.
"Soil's got a nice loamy feel. Lot of minerals. The beans should grow well here. Only one problem," Anton tells them, looking back at them.
"What's that?" Mary Margaret asks him.
"Cora. This is why she brought me. She wanted me to grow beans," he replies. "So whatever she plans to do with them… Can't be good."
"Then we won't let her get to them," Octavia assures him.
"No one touches our crop," Leroy agrees.
"Your crop? I thought you guys were miners?" Anton questions, looking at the Dwarves.
"Work is work. It's what we do. So what do you say? You up for some help?" He tells him.
"Okay," The Giant agrees, happy for the help.
"Happy!" Grumpy calls his brother, who hands a pick axe to Anton. "Here. To help break up the earth." Anton looks down, and the name 'Tiny' appears on the handle.
"'Tiny'. My brothers used to call me that," Anton remarks, thinking of his lost brother.
"Axe never lies," Leroy replies, smiling at the Giant.
"Wait a second. I did my time in the mines. How come I didn't get one of those?" David asks, looking at the Dwarves.
"Cause you ain't a Dwarf," he retorts. "Welcome aboard, brother." He looks at Anton before they begin hacking away at the earth, whistling as they work. Octavia steps forward and waves her hands as a shield forms around the grassy field. Everyone watches as it settles on the ground, and Octavia turns to them.
"If they try to get in or even close, I'll know," Octavia assures them.
Belle reads in her hospital room as she recovers, and Greg comes into the room. "Hey," He greets, startling the confused woman. "It's okay."
"Who, uh… Who are you?" Belle asks, looking at the newcomer.
"My name's Greg, okay?" He tells her. "I… I'm a patient here, just like you. I… I'm really sorry to bother you, but… I'm the one that was driving the car in… In the accident."
"Oh. Are you okay?" She asks, looking at him from her chair.
"Yeah. Yeah, they, um… They patched me up pretty good," He replies, smiling softly. "Look, I… I overheard you talking. About how you saw a guy with a ball of fire."
"And you think I'm crazy, too. Well, I did see it. I-," The bookworm tells him, trying to convince herself and him.
"Hey, I know that you're not crazy," The man assures her.
"You do?" Belle asks, looking at him surprised.
"Cause I saw it, too," Greg confesses.
David leaves Granny's Diner with two coffees, handing one to Mary Margaret, who waits outside. "Here's to not getting squashed by a Giant," David cheers, smiling at his wife, who takes the other coffee.
"I'll drink to that," Mary Margaret agrees, taking a quick sip.
"Sometimes I wonder how things would've turned out if I had been the one raised by King George instead of my brother. You know, would I have been…corrupt like him?" He wonders, thinking about what's happened today with the Giant.
"Never," She assures him.
"Same blood ran through our veins," Prince Charming argues, looking at her as they walk down the street.
"Mm, but your hearts are different," Snow retorts. "You may not believe it, but trust me – I know you, Charming. I had a lot of fun today."
"Fun?" David asks her, shocked that she would say something.
"Uh-huh," Mary Margaret replies.
"Almost getting killed is fun?" He questions, looking at his wife, still in shock.
"Yeah. I missed our adventures," She tells him, remembering their time in the Enchanted Forest.
"Me, too. It was kind of fun. You know, we could do this all the time. When the beans grow, we could go back. Everyone could go home," The Prince suggests.
"I don't know," The Princess replies, shrugging.
"What don't you know?" David asks her, looking at his wife as they walk down the street.
"Home is where our family is. And that's here. I don't know if Emma would come with us, and I am not going to be separated from her again," Mary Margaret tells him, looking back at him.
"You're worried about her," He concludes the obvious.
"Aren't you?" She questions.
"Of course, but… Emma… Emma can take care of herself, and I'm sure wherever she and Henry are, they're safe." Prince Charming assures her.
Emma, Henry, and Mr Gold board the plane in Boston and wait for takeoff. Henry has a box of cinnamon buns on his lap, seeming to be enjoying himself as they venture further away from Storybrooke and its drama. "You good, kid?" Emma asks her son, glad to have him with her.
"You kidding?" Henry asks, looking at her. "A trip with you, first plane ride, and we're going on a quest like in the book. The only thing that could make this day better? Is more frosting." Emma looks down and notices Mr Gold's bandaged hand.
"It's going to be alright," Emma assures him. "We're going to find your son."
"I know," Mr Gold replies, and the takeoff announcement begins for their boarding.
"Welcome, folks, to Ajira Airlines regional flight fifty-three, with nonstop service to New York City," The voice says through the aeroplane. "Our flight time tonight is forty-two minutes. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride." The plane engines start shortly after, and Mr Gold stares ahead blankly, not sure what will happen when he sees his son again after so many years.
Octavia finally makes it to her new home, unaware that Regina has returned to her house. She goes to her sister's room but finds it completely empty with a note on the back of her door. Regina plucks the note off, recognising her sister's doctor-like handwriting.
'Dear Evil Queen,
I'm utterly disappointed to learn that our mother has twisted you back around her bony fingers again after I thought you had seen how evil she makes everything she touches. I've moved out. I'm not taking it anymore. I tried for years, hoping you would see the error of your ways, but I've almost given up. I know there is still good in you Regina, I know there is, but I feel it's too deep down. Henry should be the most crucial thing in your life. Being good should be your second priority to win him back, and not playing into Cora's games.
Please think about this carefully, Rainy; this may be something you may never be able to take back as much as you wish you could.
Love Tavia.'