It Starts With a Family

by RedTailedHawkens

That night in the forest, Rumplestilskin was brave. He went with his son to the land without magic and they landed in the 1990s. With no dark one in the Enchanted Forest, the course of events were drastically different. However, the curse was still cast, and Emma still has to break it when she turns 28. SwanThief, Rumpelle, Snowing, etc.

16. Chapter 15: Second Impressions

Chapter Fifteen: Second Impressions

Anastasia was still furious at the Merry Men. To think that she had almost given herself to a common thief! She told herself it didn't matter. After all, she was heading for the royal ball, and word was, the prince was looking for a wife. That was better than a marquis, even if he truly had been what he claimed.

She was running late, and she knew Mother would be furious, but perhaps she could make an entrance. She went home, changed into her best dress, and rode to the palace, expecting fireworks and grandeur. What she found instead was … surprising. The castle was in ruins, and there were dead bodies in bloodied formal dress on the steps. Something terrible had happened.

"Mother?" she called desperately. "Drizella?"

She ran in her heels—which was quite a feat—and discovered a familiar-looking girl in an unfamiliar blue dress, clutching a glass slipper, of all things.

"Ella?" she asked. "Where is my sister? My mother?"

Ella turned to her, her face tear-streaked. "Ogres," Ella said. "Ogres took them, and the prince, the king, and countless others."

Ogres, Ana thought, seething. They were a blight that destroyed everything in their path. Yet, somehow, Ella was unharmed, save for a few tears and a bit of dust.

"How did you escape, then?"

"My … my fairy godmother. She saved me."

Ana scoffed. So, Ella had a fairy godmother now. Would wonders never cease?

"Well, what do we do, then? How do we rescue them?"

Ella looked at her, surprised. "You want to go after them?"

"Well, I'm not just going to sit here, am I? What do you take me for?"

"I didn't … I didn't think you cared for anyone but yourself," Ella said.

"Well, then you don't know me very well. And I obviously don't know you; hiding a fairy godmother all this time. You realize what sorts of things magic could have done for our family?"

"I just met her," Ella said, incredulous. "And anyway, it's your family, not mine. You've all been fine, as far as I can tell."

"Then you haven't been paying attention. Just because we aren't servants cleaning up ash doesn't mean we haven't suffered. You thankless girl, mother could have put you on the street when your father died."

"And who would clean the chimneys then?" Ella asked, defiantly.

"We're wasting time," Ana said. "Call your fairy godmother back. Tell her we need her magic to rescue mother and Drizella."

"She's already been here," Ella said.

"And what, she saved you, but let the rest be captured and killed? Some fairy godmother. Mother always did say those with magic picked and chose who they helped."

"I have this," Ella said, holding out the glass slipper she had been clutching. "It's one of a set, and the prince has the other one. My fairy godmother enchanted it. She said it would lead me to its mate."

"Well, that's fantastic, we have a way to find them," Ana said, "But we still need a way to defeat the ogres, assuming they've even kept mother and Drizella alive."

"She gave me this dust, too," Ella said. "She said it could transform someone into a form easily squashed. If we use it on the ogres –"

"You and I are going alone to ogre country with a bit of dust and glass?" Ana said incredulously. "That's the most moronic thing … What we need is an army. Ogres can be killed if they're shot in the eyes with arrows," a smile lit her face, "and luckily for you, I know just where to find an army of skilled archers."

---

Ashley was running late. For some reason, she had slept through her alarm, and now she didn't have time for a shower or a proper breakfast. She put her hair in a bun, threw on a pair of clothes that looked remotely clean, and headed for the door.

"Ashley," said Joseph Langland, her former employer (not to mention the father of her baby).

"Joseph," she said, trying to push the stray hairs out of her face. "What are you doing here?"

Of course, he would show up when she looked like a mess. She knew she shouldn't care, but she couldn't help it.

"I was looking for you," he said, offering her that appealing smile that had won her over, "We haven't talked in quite a bit and … I missed you."

"Are you saying you want me to come back to work?" she asked, trying to slow down her heartbeat. Would she go back, if he offered her her job back? She knew she shouldn't. She absolutely shouldn't. And yet …

"I hear you have a new job," he said. "And you seem to have found a good living situation for yourself. Not as nice as my manor, but … I respect you too much to question your choices."

"Thank-thank you," she stammered.

"I do miss you, though," he said. "As a friend to talk to."

"I seem to recall more than just friendship," Ashley said, letting a bit of bitterness creep into her voice.

"Yes, you were more like … family. I know Roland thought of you as a mother."

Ashley softened. "How is he?"

"He misses you. He's quite lonely. As am I."

"Well, you could always hire a new nanny," Ashley said.

"She'd have some big shoes to fill," he said, looking at her meaningfully. "Oh, I can't make you come back, but I wish –"

"You fired me. I didn't choose to leave."

"I don't remember firing you," he said. "I remember simply offering you a choice. That choice … it's still an option."

"Why does it matter? You're a widower; it's not as though you were cheating on your wife. We could be … You said we were like family, and we could be. Why not just be that with me?"

"People would talk," he said, "You're very mature for your age, Ashley, but all people will see is a slightly older man and his younger employee."

"I make my own choices. You didn't force me."

"You and I know that, but this town won't believe it. That new woman, Emma, is already spreading stories about us."

"She's not … she wouldn't."

"Well, she's probably just trying to take attention off her own husband. I suppose I can't blame her. If my spouse were going around beating others up –"

"She's a good person."

"So, you vouch for her and her husband?"

Ashley hesitated, "I – I vouch for her."

"But not her husband."

"I'm not feeling very generously inclined toward the opposite sex right now."

"I'm sorry for that," he said. "Truly. And if you would consider-"

"Ashley?" Sean said, coming up behind them. "I thought you would have left for work already." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and then seemed to notice Joseph. "Sorry, I'm blanking on your name. Who are you again?"

"Nobody important," Ashley said quickly. "And you're right, Sean. I am running late. Would you mind giving me a lift?"

Sean looked at her with his eyebrow raised. "You have your own car."

"Right. Yes. I do. But I thought … maybe you had to go into town?"

"I only got in a couple of hours ago," Sean said. "Late night."

Ashley winced. If he closed the door and left her alone with Joseph…

"I guess I could ride with you, if you want," Sean said.

"Thanks. Let's go."

She walked with Sean to the car, trying not to look back at Joseph.

"So, what was that about?" Sean asked, once they were on the road.

"What do you mean?"

"Something was going on there, right? I mean, you didn't need me here, but you asked me to come, and that guy … you were acting kind of squirrely. Is everything okay?"

Ashley shook her head and pasted on a fake smile. "It's fine."

"Because if he's bothering you –"

"I'm fine, Sean. Relax. I don't need a Prince Charming to swoop in and save me. I can handle myself."

"I know. I just … I want to make sure you're okay."

Ashley wanted to believe him. She really did. Sean seemed like a nice guy, and he'd been good to her. But other guys had been good to her. Other guys had seemed like nice guys. Other guys had wanted to make sure she was okay. Joseph Langland been one of the guys who was all those things, and now she was pregnant and alone. It was time to save herself.

---

"You may need to save yourself, son," Rumple said to his son, taking no pleasure in the statement.

"I don't understand," Neal said. "You're saying that Maleficent –"

"She's offered you a way out," he said, puttin his hand on his son's knee. "I know it is not in your nature to run, son, but sometimes … sometimes it is necessary. This town won't treat you fairly; the mayor's magic will see to that. She's set you in her sights, and no due process will protect you."

"So, I should just run and hide like a coward?" Neal asked. Rumple winced, and Neal shot him an apologetic glance. "I didn't mean –"

"I know you're not a coward, son," he said. "I know you aren't me."

"Would you do it the same now if you had it to do over?" Neal asked. "I'm older now. I know when I first heard Hordor say … but I was a kid, and I didn't get it. Now I have a son of my own and …"

"And you would cross any line to protect him?" Rumple asked.

"I mean … I don't know about any line. I … want to, but I also want to set a good example for him. It's complicated."

"Believe me, I understand. And again, were we in another town, where the laws of this land made a difference, I would give you different advice. Here, however, your choices will likely be hiding or jail, and that's if this mayor is being generous."

"I'll have to … I mean, if it comes to it, if Emma doesn't break the curse first, I'll have to tell her something. She won't stand by me if I just hide when I'm innocent."

"Emma is a good woman, Bae. She's not like your mother, and I'd wager she would stand by you through quite a bit. She already has."

"Yeah, but this … it's asking too much, isn't it?"

"You won't know until you ask. It's just a question of finding the words."

"In that case, I'll probably need your help; words were always your specialty."

---

"Let me do the talking," Ana said, as they rode up to the Merry Men's camp. Now that she had met them, she knew she could track them down again, and she was happy to be proven right.

"They seem to be having some sort of revel," Ella said.

It was true. The lot of them were dancing and cheering around a bonfire. "Celebrating a successful thieving expedition, no doubt," she murmured, before dismounting her horse and approaching closer.

"Well, isn't this lovely," she said, making her presence known. "Not quite a ball, but I suppose thieves in the woods must entertain themselves somehow."

"Ana," the wretch who had tricked her said, his eyes wide. He looked so rattled. How could someone so easily rattled have tricked her?

"What business do you have here?" the leader, Robin Hood, asked. "Last we saw you, you said you simply wanted to be left alone."

"Well, circumstances have changed. I hardly want to deal with thieves, mind, but I need a small army. You lot will do."

"An army?" Marian asked.

"We're hardly that," another said.

"But what do ya need and army for?" asked the fake marquis.

"This is my stepsister, Ella," Ana said, bringing a shy Ella forward. "She and many others were attacked at the ball by ogres. We're going to rescue them."

"Ogres?" the girl—Kitty if Ana recalled—asked. Her eyes were had gone wide at the word. "Fighting ogres is suicide. They destroyed my whole duchy with barely a thought."

"Yet you made it out alive?" Ana asked. "Sounds like you know a thing or two about stopping them. This isn't about destroying all ogre kind; it's a rescue mission."

"That's rather heroic of you," Robin Hood said. "I'm impressed."

Ana rolled her eyes. "Don't mistake me. I'm not some trumped-up hero type. I just want to save my mother and sister. And perhaps the prince, should he be amendable to my charms. I don't care for the rest."

"We're hardly going to leave innocent people behind," Kitty said.

"You're welcome to save whoever you like, if you can manage it," Ana said. "I'm simply concerned with myself and my own."

"Rather self-serving, aren'tcha?" the fake marquis asked.

"I've never pretended to be anything else," Ana said.

"Funny, that's not how I remember it."

"Please," Ella said, all big eyes and desperation. Gods, she was insufferable. What was worse, everyone turned to her, seemingly moved by her plea. "I don't know what transpired here, but we don't have a lot of time. The prince, the people … so many innocent people were taken, and who knows who much time they have left? We have to leave now."

"You want our help tracking?" Marian asked.

"We have a way to track them," Ella said.

"What we need from you lot," Ana said, is arrows and good aim. Get a giant in the eyes with an arrow and he goes down, so they say."

"I've read that," Kitty offered unhelpfully.

"Very well, let's get on the road," Robin Hood said. He turned to Kitty. "Belle, stay with Marian. Look after her."

"You're not leaving me behind," Marian said indignantly.

"Marian, I know you're always by my side at times such as this, but … but now that you're …" Robin Hood looked meaningfully at her stomach. Ah, thought Ana, perhaps that was what they had been celebrating, then.

"We are a team. We always have been. I won't sit back while you go off to perform feats of derring-do."

"You are the most stubborn –"

"And you wouldn't love me if I wasn't," she kissed his cheek. "I'll prepare the horses. Come, Belle." The two women walked off.

"I thought her name was Kitty," Ana said to herself.

"She just uses that for the marquis con," the fake marquis said. "My name's actually Will, in case you were wondering."

Ana rolled her eyes and started back towards Ella, calling, "I wasn't," over her shoulder.

---

"There's something I've been wondering," Rosie said.

"Yeah. What's that then?"

"Why do you keep visiting me?"

"You've asked me that before," Jack said, shifting uncomfortably. He knew his answers had never been clear, because he wasn't clear on the subject himself. There was just a feeling of kinship toward her, and a feeling of guilt.

"You've said you like my company, which I can understand. I'm quite good company."

"Modest too," Jack said, giving her a cheeky grin.

"I suppose I was just wondering in what way you like it?"

"Come again?"

"I wanted to know if you were visiting me because you saw me as a friend, or if you were interested in being something else." Rosie didn't look at him.

Jack felt his face flush and his pulse pick up, even though he knew it shouldn't. "What do you want me to see you as?" he asked.

Rosie tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, you're not much to look at. I've certainly seen more handsome men."

"Oi!"

"And you're taste in literature leaves something to be desired."

"I've made you laugh plenty with that taste in literature," Jack said.

"Yes," she said with a smile. "You have. You know, Sean visits me at times, which is very kind. I've always liked him, and he's noticing me for the first time. Of course, he notices Ella more. He always noticed her more. And you … well, you are far off sometimes, but when you're here, you're here. You don't seem to notice anyone more than me when you're with me, and I think I like that."

"Okay?" Jack said, not sure exactly what she was saying.

"It's nice to be well thought of, to know someone cares. It's not something I've always had, you see. You wouldn't have known it to look at me, before I was beaten of course, because I've always been pretty, but the people who matter … they've never cared. And I wouldn't admit that to anyone else, but you've listened. You like to make me laugh, and nobody has made such an effort in I don't know how long." She paused, as if waiting for Jack to say something, but when he didn't, she went on. "Sean offered to help me home, now I'm getting out of the hospital. I'll be going back to Mother's, not that mother has been bothered to visit, but I assume I'm welcome there. He apologized for not having space for me 'imself, but he has a small flat, and it sounds as though it's rather crowded. I can make do back with my mother and sister, because I am getting better. They wouldn't let me out if I wasn't."

"I'm glad you're healing up. It made me ill to see you like that."

"That's sweet," Rosie said. "What I'm saying is, I won't be here anymore. I wouldn't mind if you decided to call on me at home; I might like it, even. We could go to a show or maybe, to dinner."

Jack knew this was the part where he was supposed to say he had a wife at home, or even that he was in love with someone else (not mentioning the someone else wasn't his wife, of course), but what came out was, "Well, we should celebrate you bustin' out of this place."

"Is that you asking me out, then?" Rosie asked.

"Yeah,' he said. "I suppose it is."

---

"Inconclusive? I don't understand," Zelena said, when Graham handed her the report.

"There was blood on the hoodie, but whatever solution Stiltskin used to clean the thing made it impossible to get any DNA from it … at least with the resources we have in Storybrooke."

"But there was blood. Isn't that enough?"

Graham shook his head. "It's just circumstantial evidence. Unless someone can finger him, or come up with more conclusive proof, there's nothing I can do."

"Useless!" Zelena said, steaming. "You're useless. I will handle this myself." With that, she stormed out of the sheriff's station. It shouldn't be so hard to frame a man in her town; she just needed to get creative.

---

"What do you mean, it doesn't exist?" Emma asked into the phone that she held to her ear. With her other arm, she was shrugging out of her coat and placing her morning coffee on the counter.

She was on the phone with Lily, who had texted that she had some news with regard to the search for a lawyer in Maine.

"I mean there's no record of a Storybrooke anywhere in Maine. I've talked to some people who practice there, and not only have they never heard of the place, but it's not on any map or internet search. I tried looking myself, tracking your phone so I could get a location, but the place where your calls are coming from is just trees according to even the most recent maps."

"But that doesn't make any sense. I've been here for a while now, and there's more than trees. There're roads, and stores and houses and … people."

"I don't know what to tell you. Someone can't go there to represent you if they have no way of finding it, and as it is people are looking at me like I'm crazy claiming that it even exists."

"But I don't –"

"I'll keep talking to people; see if anyone can drive out there and take a look, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. Are you sure there's nobody in that town who can represent Neal?"

Emma sighed, "I don't … somehow this town seems to only have one lawyer."

"Well, I'd talk to him again if I were you. It may be your only option."

---

"Oh, you're back," her mother said, as though commenting on the weather.

Sean had helped Rosie settle in earlier in the day. She was still sore, still on meds, but she didn't want to rely on him too much.

It was funny, because there had once been a time when she would have given anything to have Sean make her a priority, even if he was just the bartender at her mother's establishment. Now though, now there was Jack, and he looked at her as Sean never had.

Sean was being a good friend, though, especially considering her mother and sister had not seen fit to collect her from the hospital.

Now, after she'd spent a bit over an hour settling back in, her mother came home, and 'Oh, you're back' was all her mother could say to her?

"Back? Yes, I'm back from the hospital. You knew I was there, didn't you? You knew I was attacked?" There was bitterness in her voice, but Rosie couldn't help the tiny bit of desperation and hope, because perhaps her mother hadn't known. Perhaps that was why she hadn't seemed to care.

"Yes, of course. I heard about that unpleasant business weeks ago." Her mother didn't even glance in her direction as she continued shifting through the mail.

"And yet you never once visited me?" Rosie asked, trying to keep her voice even.

This time, her mother granted her a cold smile. "I had a business to run, dear. We were understaffed with you gone, and even the Herman boy kept going off somewhere. Lord knows where he was today."

"If by 'the Herman boy,' you mean Sean, I can tell you where he was; he was helping me home. I got out of the hospital. I'm recovering from a beating, and he's been kind to me. He's visited me more than my own mother has." Rosie folded her arms over her chest petulantly.

"Finally got your hooks into him, have you?" her mother asked, a knowing gleam in her eye. "Well, I suppose pity is one way to land a man, though I wish you would have set your sights on someone who had more to his name than a high school diploma."

"It's not pity, it's compassion."

"Whatever you need to tell yourself, dear." Her mother put the mail down and headed in the general direction of her room.

Rosie blocked her way. "I was attacked! Brutalized! Don't you care at all?"

Her mother rolled her eyes. "Don't be so dramatic. You look well enough."

"After weeks in the hospital," Rosie said. "I was attacked in the alley outside your place of business, and all you care about is that I missed work?"

"The business is what keeps a roof over your head. You get nothing in this life for free, girl. I thought I'd taught you that. And while we're on the subject of things I'd taught you, how could you be so stupid as to hang out by yourself in the back alley? What were you doing, anyway? Smoking, no doubt, that horrible habit of yours, and probably in your costume so you looked like some sort of street walker. It's no wonder you were attacked."

Rosie shook her head. "I'm sorry if your business suffered, but aren't you at least happy to have me home? Aren't you at least relieved that I'm all right?"

"Certainly, dear," her mother said, patting her shoulder. "Let me know when you're coming back to work. Some of our regulars have surely missed watching you perform."

Her mother stalked off to bed, and Rosie swiped at her cheeks. She told herself it didn't matter. Maybe her mother didn't give two wits about her, but now she had someone who did.

---

"What do you think they're going to do with us?" the king asked.

"Oh, I'm sure they're just lonely," Drizella said. "They probably attacked the ball and brought us here to keep them company … in their stomachs."

"Don't be crass, Drizella," Lady Tremaine said.

It was just like one of her thankless daughters to make a crude joke.

True, the situation looked bleak. Many of them had been taken, and for all they knew, they would never see daylight again. They could die in this cave, if they weren't eaten first.

That being said, there were worse things. Lady Tremaine and her daughter had somehow ended up huddled with the king and Crown Prince Thomas. If they survived, which Lady Tremaine chose to believe they would, then what they said or did now was crucial to their future. That being the case, the last thing she needed was for her daughter to come off as sarcastic and cynical.

"She has a point," the prince said. "Right now, it's hard not to give up hope. Still, I … I met someone tonight that I want to see again. I need to believe I'll see her again."

"Son," the king clapped his son on the shoulder. "You've found a Queen?"

"I've found love," Prince Thomas said, a dreamy look on his face. Lady Tremaine resisted the urge to roll her eyes. This naïve prince, she thought. It was so easy for royalty to entertain notions of romance. They had nothing to lose if the spark fizzled.

"What was her name?" the king asked, "What kingdom does she hail from?"

"I don't know," Prince Thomas said. "She wouldn't tell me her name. But she left behind this, and I thought – "

Lady Tremaine gasped as he held out a glass slipper.

"Do you recognize it?" the king asked, turning to her.

Of course she did. She had run into Ella at the ball and recognized her at once, despite the wench thinking she could get away with passing for a princess. And now the Prince had fallen for her after a simple dance.

Yet, all was not lost. Ella hadn't shared her name. If Lady Tremaine was careful, she just might be able to get everything she wanted, both for her daughters, and herself.

"Yes, that's my daughter Anastasia's slipper," she said, turning to the prince, "Was she wearing a grand ball gown of blue, with her blonde hair done up in an intricate design?"

The prince nodded. "Yes, that's her!"

"Splendid," Lady Tremaine said. "That means she's safe. And once we're out of here, the two of you shall be married."

"Hold on now," the king said. "Who are you? What lands do you have?"

"Father!" the Prince said.

"Now, Thomas, I promised that you could pick a girl and pick her you may, but we must know who you're getting into bed with … so to speak." The king had gone rather red as he realized what he had said.

"My first husband, Anastasia and Drizella's father, was a noble in a foreign kingdom. His death was tragic, so we began again here, and I married Lord Tremaine. He, too, is sadly no longer with us, but he left a sizable amount of land in dowry for my daughters, bless his soul," Lady Tremaine said.

"We'd need to work out the particulars in a legal betrothal contract," the king said.

"To what end?" Drizella asked. "We're all going to die here anyway."

"Hush girl," Lady Tremaine said.

"She may be right," Prince Thomas said. "But I … I must have this Anastasia for my wife, my Queen. I … I've never felt for anyone what I felt for her."

"Well," Lady Tremaine said, "far be it for me to overstep, but I know a thing or two about court procedure. If you want to be sure that you do not die without marrying my daughter, there is a way."

"What are you suggesting?" the king asked.

"Wedding by proxy," Lady Tremaine said. "Drizella can stand in for her sister, and the king can perform the ceremony. Surely one of the hundreds of nobles the ogres abducted with us can draw up a proper marriage contract."

"That seems a bit … I mean, the girl won't even be here," the king said.

"Well, it's the prince's choice, of course. But he did say he didn't want to die without having married her. This way, he will be married to her, even if the ogres kill us as my daughter continuously reminds us is a possibility.

Should the gods intervene, and we survive, I'm sure my daughter will be thrilled to know that Prince Thomas loves her, and that she is his bride. Not to mention all the gold that the kingdom will save on the wedding, which could go toward rebuilding the palace that the ogres have destroyed."

"Thomas," The King asked, turning to his son, "is this what you desire?"

"I … I want to marry the girl I met at the ball. The girl with the glass slipper."

---

Emma had come to the theater to find Mary Margaret, but before she could do so, she stumbled on Ashley, who was holding up what appeared to be a glass slipper.

"We're still finding old costumes here. I don't know what we'll do with them all when we open," she said, putting the slipper down and turned to Emma smiling, though Emma noted that the smile was a little too tight. "What can I do for you, Emma?"

"I was looking for Mary Margaret. Is she around?" Emma asked.

Ashley shook her head. "She's on a lunch run. You can wait here, if you like, or I can have her call you when she gets back."

"I'll wait," Emma said. "Hey, is everything okay?"

Ashley shrugged. "I … spoke to Joseph this morning."

"Joseph?" Emma asked, trying to place the name.

"My old boss; the one who I …"

"Ah," Emma said, saving the girl from having to elaborate.

"Yeah. He tried to get in my head; even said that you had been spreading stories about me and my … situation," Ashley said, shooting her a curious look.

"I would never do that," Emma said. "I'm on your side, Ashley."

"He said your husband was having some trouble, and that you were trying to distract people with the scandal."

Emma shook her head. "Bastard."

"He was nice to me, back when … you know."

Emma nodded. "I'm sure he was charming, but Ashley, charming isn't the same as nice."

Ashley nodded. "I know."

"Look, I met your Joseph and, if you can believe it, he tried to bully me into talking you out of keeping … well, you know."

"Why were you even talking with him?"

Emma sighed. "My husband needs a lawyer, and apparently, this town only has the one … somehow."

"Yeah. So, he's going to represent you?"

Emma shook her head., "He said he would only do it if I convinced you to … it wasn't a price I was willing to pay."

"But doesn't your husband still need a lawyer?"

"We'll figure something out," Emma said.

She wasn't sure she still believed that, but Ashley didn't need to be burdened with her problems; the poor girl had enough of her own.

---

Aria had gone out for breakfast. Now that Jack was letting her use his money—and true to his word, he'd left a credit card out for her—she could get a proper breakfast at Granny's.

People were still whispering about her due to her attack, but given there had been a few more since, she knew it was mostly old news.

Aria was concerned about the attacks. Emma seemed convinced that Jack was behind them, and Aria didn't want to believe that. He was working on changing. He'd stopped hitting her, gotten her a book, let her use money for purchases. Things were good. She wanted them to stay good.

When she returned from breakfast, however, she was surprised to find him there. "I thought you'd be at work," she said, before she could stop herself.

"It's my day off," Jack said.

"Oh."

She should leave. She really should leave. Things had been going well. If she stayed, if he got angry, then …

"I never thanked you for the book."

Jack nodded, not looking at her. "Well, I was in this bookstore and I remembered you like to read, so …"

"Well, I liked it."

Jack nodded.

"You know … Emma Stiltskin was here the other day."

"What? What for?"

"She um, I suppose her husband is a suspect in the attacks and … and she seemed to think it was more likely that you," his head turned to her, and her heartbeat picked up. She thought she saw a hint of the old anger flashing in his eyes. What had she been thinking, bringing this up? "I told her she was wrong, of course. That you weren't … that it wasn't you. Couldn't be."

"Good," he said, looking away from her. "That's good then."

"And … it isn't, right?"

"I told you it wasn't," he said. "Do you not believe me?"

"I … "

Jack's phone rang before she could answer the question. He picked up the phone, a smile coming over his face. Must be the mayor, Aria thought.

"Yeah, no, I got your message. I meant to call back. … Sure, I can stop by. Why wouldn't I?"

Aria back out of the room while he was distracted. It had been stupid, utterly stupid, to question him and risk riling him up. And yet … he hadn't hit her. He might have wanted to, but he hadn't. Maybe … maybe things really were changing.

---

Robin's arrow shot true through the mark, which was no surprise to anyone. He was known for his prowess with a bow.

While he retrieved the arrow, Anastasia spoke. "Well, you certainly have the quality, but what about quantity? Can the rest of you shoot with as much skill?"

It was a laugh of a question, thought Will. Of course they were all expert archers, even if not quite as good as Robin.

They all had their weapons of choice, of course. Little John was good with a longstaff, and Will himself was skilled with a sword, as was Marian, but they could all shoot.

Any peasant boy in Sherwood was required by law to be trained as a bowman in case of war. Besides which, Robin wouldn't take up with a bunch of sods who didn't know which end of an arrow was which.

Miss Prim-and-Proper, on the other hand, probably couldn't. She was clearly some spoiled princess type, yet she fancied herself in charge of them.

"Can you?" Will asked.

Instead of answering, Anastasia grabbed one of the bows from those that were strewn about the campsite, as well as an arrow. She strung the bow and shot at one of the targets Robin had been shooting at. Will's eyes widened as the arrow hit its mark.

"Where did a lady like you learn to do that?" Will asked.

"A 'lady like me,' is taught much in her education," Anastasia said, before she turned to Belle. "Speaking of ladies, you said you used to be one, before your duchy was attacked by ogres?"

Belle nodded. "My father was a duke."

"Well, books can only tell us so much. You've seen ogres in action, and you live to tell the tale."

Belle looked away. "I was lucky."

Anastasia rolled her eyes. "I so loathe women who pretend to be less than they are."

Will had to smirk at that, because wasn't that what she had done? She clearly wasn't the innocent doe in the woods that she had led him to believe she was when they'd last met.

"But this isn't about luck, it's about strategy," she continued. "Why don't you recount for us all you can remember?"

"All right," Belle said, straightening her shoulders. "Well, when they first attacked, my mother and I were in the library. She was hurrying me to leave, but there was this book … I don't really remember much of it; I passed out. She was dead when I woke up."

"But you weren't?"

"No, I survived. I was told that she saved my life."

"How?"

"I don't know."

"But you must!"

"Oi, she said she doesn't know," Will said, stepping up protectively.

"Well, what about after? After the ogres retreated, for a whatever reason, they came back, didn't they?"

Belle nodded, and Will saw her struggle to swallow.

"How did you get away then?" Anastasia asked.

"I ran," Belle said. "My father ordered me to. I wanted to stay and fight, but when they came, when I saw them … he told me to run and hide, so, I ran, and I hid like a coward. I let them all die. I heard bones crunching and people screaming, but I didn't turn around. I ran far away, and when I returned, they were all gone." Belle swiped at her cheeks. "I'm sorry that I can't be of more help. Now, if you'll excuse me." She stood up and headed off to her tent.

"Well, that was bloody useless," Anastasia said.

"Couldn'tcha see how hard that were for her?" Will demanded. "She don't like to talk about the ogres."

"Well, we all have things we don't want to talk about and we all have things we don't want to do. Sometimes we have to anyway."

"Oh yeah, and what have you had to do? What pain has someone made you relive?"

"Don't presume to know me. I've suffered. I've lost family. Now, my mother and sister are all I have left, and I will do what I have to do to save them. If that hurts your girlfriend's feelings, that's too bad."

"She's not me girlfriend," Will said, though in the moment that he spoke he wasn't positive he was being truthful.

He didn't stick around to hear Anastasia's response, as he followed Belle into the tent. She was sitting on her makeshift bed, flipping through the pages of some book. Belle always had a book with her.

He wanted to ask if she was all right, but that seemed like a daft question, so instead he asked, "What'cha got there?"

"A book," she said.

"Good one, yeah?"

She showed it to him. "This is the book that I was trying to save when my mother … I know it seems silly, but this book is magic."

"Ain't ever been the reading sort, but I know books mean a lot to ya. Take you places, like."

Belle shook her head. "I mean it's really magic. It writes itself, and it gave me dreams of a powerful sorcerer who defeated the ogres centuries ago."

"Is that right?" Will asked. "Well, then where is this sorcerer? We could use their help now, yeah?"

Belle shook her head. "The connection was severed years ago. I did research, sought out books on the Dark One—that's what he called himself—and I eventually found old records about his powers and his place in history. But … but he disappeared centuries ago. I think … I think he went to another and, with his son. When the ogres attacked, I tried to use this to contact him, but … obviously, it didn't work."

"That's right terrible of him, going off and leaving ogres here to crush the likes of us."

"It wasn't like that. He was … a good man. He wanted to save his son. That was all he wanted. And in my dreams, he was … he was kind to me. I think I … I think I cared for him. Oh, he would have been so disappointed in me, running off from the ogres as my father told me to. Rumple, he … he thought I was brave, believed I could be a hero, and when it mattered, I was just a coward who ran. Who could ever care for me after that?"

"I care for ya," Will said. "Not like that o'course, but I care for ya. And if this Dark One was smart, he would care for ya. You're alive, Belle. You ran, and you're alive because of it. Nobody who loved you could be anything but happy that you're alive. Your parents, this dark sorcerer of yours, they'd all just be glad that you're okay."

"I'm not okay," Belle said, wiping at her face. "I lost everything. I'll never see my parents again, and Rumple … I used to wish … but he's gone. He's gone to some other land, and I'll never see him again, not that I ever technically saw him to begin with."

"I've heard of portals and the like. Maybe you could find one. Once we defeat these ogres and save all them people, you could hop through a portal to another world."

"Start over in a whole new world? I couldn't even protect my family. I don't have courage like that. I'm no hero."

"Don't say that. You are brave; you're one of the bravest people I ever knew. You're a Merry Man … woman, person. And I know you have it in you to have any kind of life, any kind of love. Ya just need a chance."

"You think I can be a hero?"

Will shrugged. "Why not? It's just like anything else, ain't it? You can't know if you can do it until you do."

Belle smiled. "Thank you, Will."

"So, yeah. We'll defeat some ogres, be heroes, and then hop through a portal to some new land, and find you your Dark One. You'll all live happily ever after."

"Would you come with me?"

Will nodded. "Why not?"

"You wouldn't be scared?" Belle asked.

"Not with you there to protect me," he said, hugging her to him.

---

"So, tell me about Belle," Henry said, an innocent smile on his face.

"From your book?" Rumple asked casually, "Surely the text can tell you more than I can."

"Right, but it's vague in some bits. The pictures aren't exactly as clear as a photograph. If we're going to find her, I need to know what she looks like."

"That sounds like something Dorothy or Paige could help you with," Rumple said.

"Come on, Grandpa! Don't you want to find her?"

Rumple hesitated. He and his grandson were playing a bit of a game these days. Both knew what the other knew, but Rumple wasn't going to admit it aloud. It would be unfair to Henry to confirm everything. It also might lead to discussions he didn't want to have.

"The goal is to find everyone, as I understand it," Rumple said. "To find them, and to help them remember who they are."

"Yeah, but Belle's different. She's your true love, and … "

"I don't know about all that, Henry."

"Fine. Belle and The Dark One are true loves, then."

"I read that story in your book, Henry," Rumple said. "I don't recall the two sharing so much as a kiss."

"Yeah, because it was a dreamscape, and she couldn't see him. That doesn't mean they weren't true loves," Henry said.

"It doesn't confirm that they were, either. From what I can tell, she was a kind woman who gave him courage when he needed it."

"So, you don't think he loved her?"

Rumple hesitated. "I would doubt her ability to love him back."

Henry took Rumple's hand. "I love you, Grandpa, and so do Dad and Mom. You're one of the most lovable people I know."

Rumple smiled. Henry was sweet, and he had grown up in a simple world where family loved each other and there was no darkness and no curses. For him, it was simple. Rumple didn't want him to lose that, so he said, "Thank you, Henry," and left it there.

---

When Mary Margaret got back from her lunch run, she found Emma there waiting for her.

"Funny how I'm the one bringing food now," she said jokingly. "If I'd known you were coming, I would have picked up something for you."

Emma smiled. "I'm good, but thanks. I did want to talk to you, though."

"Of course. Is everything okay?"

"That's … a complicated question."

Mary Margaret smiled sympathetically at Emma. "So I heard. I'm sorry about this business with your husband."

"What do you know of it?" Emma asked.

"Oh, just gossip really. You know small towns. But if you say he's innocent –"

"He is."

"Then I'll believe you. I owe you that much."

"Thanks," Emma said, smiling. "That means a lot. So, um, what I wanted to talk to you about, I was talking to a friend outside town. She's a lawyer, and she was going to help me find someone to represent Neal. But … she says that by all accounts, the town doesn't exist."

"Doesn't exist?" Mary Margaret asked.

"There's no record of it, not on any maps or internet searches."

"Well, the maps must be old, and as for the internet, we're a bit behind the times here. And we like to keep to ourselves."

"But isn't it strange that nobody outside of this town seems to know it exists?"

"Emma, what are you getting at?"

Emma shrugged. "I just … thought it was weird. And since you've lived here forever, I thought you might know something about it."

Mary Margaret shook her head. "I'm sorry I can't be more helpful."

"Well, not with that, maybe, but you believed me about Neal, and that means … I can count on one hand the people in this world who have my back. Neal, Henry, my father-in-law, my friend Lily … but that's it. I've been trying to help people here, but I wasn't sure …"

"If we would help you?" Mary Margaret asked. "A few months ago, I wouldn't have. I didn't think anyone cared enough to help anyone else. But you inspired me. You showed me that sometimes people do care, and they do help each other. And I want to be like that. And … and I owe you. So, if you need a friend in this town, someone to rely on, you have that in me. I promise. I won't leave you alone in this."

---

Ashley had been watching her phone sporadically since Emma had gone off to talk to Mary Margaret.

Joseph wanted to talk to her. She knew that. Despite everything, she still had some pull where he was concerned, though she wasn't sure how far it went.

He had always had the power in their relationship, which he had proved when he'd ended it. He might want to rewrite history now, but she knew the truth. She knew what had really happened.

Joseph had put her in a hole, and Emma had helped her get out. Sean had helped, and Mary Margaret, and even David, but Emma had started it. Emma had seen her drowning and dove in after her.

Now, Emma needed something from Joseph and, because of Ashley, Joseph wasn't willing to give it to her. She knew she could do something. She also that it would mean giving Joseph back some of his power over her, which was why she knew Emma would never ask her to. The very fact that Emma wouldn't ask was exactly why she had to do it.

"Langland here," Joseph said when he picked up the phone.

"Joseph, hi. It's Ashley." She plowed forward before he could say anything. "I know you wanted to talk this morning, and I didn't want to, but I'm willing to talk now, if you do something for me. Promise me that you'll help Emma Stiltskin's husband; promise you'll represent him, and I'll have dinner with you. You can even pick the place. Just … just not your place. I can't go back there."

Joseph was quiet for a moment. "All right. Why don't you come by the office around six p.m.? I'll order us some - "

"I need you to promise, first. Actually, I know you're not always as good as your word, so I'll need to hear it from Emma. When I hear from her that you've had a change of heart, I'll meet you. Not before." She hung up before he could respond.

Her phone buzzed, and she saw that Joseph had texted her one word: OK.

---

They had been traveling for a few days now, following Ella's magic glass slipper. Anastasia kept them running drills, and Robin made sure that they ate and rested.

Everyone else was sleeping now, but Ella couldn't sleep. Instead, she sat by the campfire and took out the bag of powder her fairy godmother had given her. With it, there would be no need for fighting. Ella didn't like fighting. It turned her stomach. Her mother had told her to always have courage and be kind. It was so long ago, she barely remembered anything else, but she had always remembered that.

It had been hard. Her father had drifted away from her in his later years, under the thumb of his new wife. After he had died, Ella had been at the mercy of people who were not kind. It had taken everything she had to remember what her mother had told her then. She knew she had faltered at times, wished terrible things on her stepmother and stepsister. Now, two of the three were in grave danger, and she was traveling with a third to save them.

Why was she doing this? Yes, there was Prince Thomas. He was handsome, and charming, and he had made her feel special. But it wasn't as though she knew him well, and he didn't know her. Would he still want her, if he knew she was just a servant girl who had played dress-up for a night? Would she still want him if he didn't?

Heartbreak was surely around the corner, and yet she was leading people to rescue them from ogres, as though she had any right to think of herself as some sort of hero.

Sometimes, she felt so incredibly small, as small as using this powder would make her. And did they even need her? Anastasia seemed to have it all well in hand. Except …

Except she had the slipper they were using to find their way, and she had that powder which might be the difference between a rescue and a bloody battle.

"I thought everyone was asleep," Robin Hood said behind her.

"So did I," she said, standing. "I can go."

He shook his head. "You needn't flee on my account. I've found that being alone with one's thoughts can be quite the burden."

"I suppose it depends on the thoughts," said Ella. "I've been alone with mine for a long time. And it can be hard."

"It can help to talk about them."

Ella nodded. "I suppose I'm just wondering what I'm doing here. I mean, I've done nothing but dust and sweep for years, and the one time I try to do something for myself, it ends with an ogre attack, and I suddenly believe I can rescue a prince and we'll live happily ever after."

"Well, I don't know about happily ever after, but hard work isn't nothing. It sounds like you've had challenges and you've met them. Now here's one more, and you're meeting that as well."

"I'm scared," Ella said, surprised to be admitting it out loud. "My mother always said to be brave, but I don't know if I can do this. I'm not a warrior. I'm not a princess. I'm just a girl."

Robin smiled. "For starters, I don't know any girl who is just anything, but putting that aside, bravery isn't an absence of fear. Bravery is being afraid, and doing what must be done anyway."

"I wouldn't be doing anything without my fairy godmother's help. It's her magic that brought me to the ball. It's her magic that we're following."

"And it's my arrow that hits the mark. But I'm the one who aims it. Magic is a tool, like anything else. It's all about how you use it."

"And if I use it wrong?"

"I believe I was given an archer's skill because someone up there knew that I would do good with it. From what I've heard, not everyone has a fairy godmother. Perhaps there's a reason she chose you."

Ella smiled. "I hope you're right."

"Oh, I am. It's an annoying habit of mine."

"So, why can't you sleep? Fear as well?"

Robin nodded. "But not of the ogres … I fear what comes afterwards, some months down the line."

"I don't understand."

"My Marian … we just learned we're expecting. And I'm terrified. I have no idea how to be a father."

"Well," said Ella, "My father was far from perfect, and I don't remember either of my parents as well as I'd like, but what they did right, when they did right, was when they would talk to me, help me work things out, and make me feel better without lying to me or making me feel stupid. And based on what you've just done with me, I think you'll make a fine father … especially if it's a girl."

"That's kind of you to say."

"Well, when the world is difficult and scary, and we want to run away, all we can do is have courage and be kind."

---

"You weren't kind to me," Ashley said.

She was in Joseph's office. He had kept his word, and she had gotten a text from Emma thanking her for interceding on her behalf, and asking if she was all right. It was nice of Emma to worry, but Ashley knew what she was doing. Well, that was what she needed to tell herself, anyway.

She was ashamed of how much time she had spent picking an outfit for their rendezvous. It wasn't a date; it was a working dinner. Joseph was pretending that he was meeting with a potential client. He was going to write off the meal. That was what he would say if anyone asked why he was working late, sharing a meal in his office with his nineteen-year-old former nanny.

"Wasn't I? You seemed to think otherwise at the time."

"Charming and nice are not the same thing. You were charming. You made me feel special and pretty and mature and valued … except when it mattered. When it mattered, you proved that you never cared for me, at least not as much as you did for your reputation."

"It's your reputation as well," Joseph said. "What do you suppose people will think of you?"

"I think that people have thought that about me since my father died, and they haven't been wrong. But they think better of you, and what you did … was so much worse."

"I gave you a home. I gave you a job. I cared for you, and I made that plain. What about that is wrong?"

"Because you didn't care for me, or you wouldn't have asked me to … you wouldn't have gotten rid of me like that. You wouldn't have tried to make me get rid of my child."

"Do you really want to be a single mother before you're even old enough to drink?"

"I wanted the freedom to make that choice. I wanted your support. I didn't have to be a single mother; you're not married, Joseph. And you are such a good father to Roland, whatever else you are. Why don't you want to be a father again?"

"It just wouldn't be … It wouldn't look right."

"If you ever cared for me, then you're a coward for caring too much what people would think. And if you didn't, then you're something far worse. And I don't want someone like that to be the father of my child. So, don't worry; your reputation is safe. I'll never tell my child who their father is. As far as I'm concerned, they don't have one."

---

Zelena was feeling a bit better about everything. Yes, her curse was at risk, but she had a plan. Beyond that, Mary Margaret, aka Snow White could no longer have children, whereas she was carrying the child of the princess's true love.

A part of her almost wanted the curse to break, just to see the look on their faces when they realized what she had done, what David would have with her, what they could never have with each other.

That wasn't pragmatic, though. Even with a child in her belly, they would come after her. They had no access to magic here, and she had the bits she'd squirreled away to bring over, so she had more power than they did. On the other hand, who could say what sort of gifts this savior child of theirs had? She'd dealt with girls prophesied to be her undoing before, and it had not gone well for her.

She was planning for the worst, but for now, she was going to enjoy her curse a bit.

She had invited Mary Margaret over after work, saying she wanted to check in on her sister's health. Mary Margaret, ever the loyal sister, had complied.

"Are you sure you're well enough to have gone back to work so soon?" Zelena asked with feigned concern.

"The doctor said it was safe," Mary Margaret said. "And I like to keep busy."

"Even if it means spending time with my husband," Zelena said, trying to bait her.

"We've been getting along better lately," Mary Margaret said.

"I see," Zelena said, trying to hide her disappointment.

Mary Margaret gave her a smile. "We've finally decided to be civil to each other, for your sake."

"Well, I'm pleased to hear it, so long as that's all it is."

"Selena, of course it is," Mary Margaret said, and Zelena wondered if the idiot actually believed her own words. "Since we're catching up, I did want to ask you about something."

"Oh?" Zelena asked, making a mental note of Mary Margaret's rapid change of subject.

"I talked to Emma, and she said something strange."

"The stranger said something strange?" Zelena asked, her tone slightly mocking. "How novel. I didn't realize you were still spending time with your new sister."

"You're my sister. You will always be my sister. Emma's just a good friend."

"But not family?"

"You will always be my family," Mary Margaret said, and Zelena noticed that Mary Margaret hadn't denied that Emma was family too. Was she starting to realize the connection she had to her daughter? Did she feel it somehow?

Blind to her musings, Mary Margaret said, "It's just that she said a friend of hers told her Storybrooke isn't on any maps or internet searches. That's strange, isn't it?"

"Well, that's silly," Zelena said. "We have maps and we have the internet, and it shows what we all know to be true."

"Of course. But this friend of hers says nobody outside of Storybrooke knows about the town."

"Perhaps that's why tourist season isn't very lucrative," Zelena said, her mocking tone masking her panic. Of course, Storybrooke wouldn't be on any map. The question was, why was Emma asking, and what was more, why did the cursed Snow White care? "Who was Emma talking to about this?"

"Some lawyer friend of hers," Mary Margaret said. "Lily, I think she said her name was. She needs someone to represent her husband with … everything."

Zelena smiled, "I see." And she did. Emma had clearly not gotten on with the town's only lawyer, but if she thought someone from the outside world could help her, she was in for a rude awakening. This was Zelena's town, her rules, and so long as Emma Stiltskin was in it, she was at Zelena's mercy. "Well, I wouldn't worry about it. Our town works well enough."

"All right," Mary Margaret said. "I won't worry about it."

There was a hesitancy in her voice that Zelena didn't like. She couldn't risk Snow White waking up. She couldn't risk her asking questions. Perhaps it was time to take extreme measures.

---

It was a tricky thing, taking Rosie out. Jack knew that he couldn't let them be seen together anywhere someone knew him. Oh, he didn't think Aria would really mind, but people would talk, and that wouldn't be good for him.

Plus, the mayor … he didn't like to think about what she would think. It was funny, because at one point, that would have stopped him from doing this. Her opinion would have been all that mattered. Somehow, it wasn't anymore, and he wondered when and how that had happened.

In the end, he had decided to meet up with her at the Glass Slipper. It was where she worked, after all, and while his coming to watch her dance would have been bad for his reputation, it was better than people knowing he had come for other reasons. Besides which, he had come there once before, and nobody had said boo.

Twice, a voice in his head said. You came twice, didn't you?

But no, that other time was a barely remembered dream. He shivered at the unsettling feeling the thought brought, and tried to push it from his mind.

Jack arrived at what he assumed was Rosie's home, as it was the address she had given him, and knocked on the door.

She answered, and he felt his breath catch. She was wearing a pale pink dress, her hair was down, and her cheeks were pink. He felt he had never seen anything or anyone more beautiful.

"Ya look very nice,," he said, handing her the roses he had gotten for her.

"Thank you," she said before heading back inside. When she returned, one of the flowers was adorning her hair. "I put them in water," she said. "They're lovely."

"I'm glad you like 'em."

"So, are we driving, or …?"

"Um, it's a nice night," Jack said. "How about we walk? The place ain't far, is it?"

"No," she said, shaking her head, making the petals bounce. "Though I must say, I.m surprised you've chosen to take me to my workplace for a bite to eat."

"Well, it's a lovely joint. Did I ever tell you about the time someone threw an axe at my head, there?"

Rosie laughed, which he counted as a win, but then she sobered. "I haven't been back since … the attack."

"All the more reason. Show the tosser who did it that he ain't got any power over you no more."

"He may not, but my mother still does. She'll want me to work once I get there," Rosie said bitterly.

"Well, tell her you're still recovering."

"She won't care."

"Well then, tell her you're with me, and I'm a well-off customer patronizing her establishment." Taking a chance, he put his arm around her, and he was pleasantly surprised when she leaned into it.

"I might just do that."

---

"Oi!" Will Scarlet said, as he came into Anatasia's tent. "What was that all about?"

She was dressed in her nightclothes, ready to go to bed, and her cheeks were flushed as she pulled the covers up over herself. "You can't just go barging into a lady's tent," she said.

Will only chuckled. "Don't give me none of that. You were willing to throw your knickers at me not that long ago."

"I was willing to secure an advantageous marriage. Don't take it for more than it is."

"Fine," Will said. "That's not why I'm here, though. Why'd ya have to go at Belle like that? She never done anything to ya."

"I'm not going to apologize for doing what needs to be done," Anastasia said. "We need a way to defeat the ogres, and she's survived them. I needed to know how."

"Well, ya didn't have to be so cruel about it. 'Sides, we have a plan, don't we? We don't need extra information."

"Plans fall through, and you have to be prepared for that. Life doesn't always go how we want to it, and we need to fight to will what we want into existence. It won't just happen because of a wish and a dream."

"Well, I didn't say that. I ain't always gotten what I wanted either. Lost me sister and me mum, not to mention me dad. Orphan, I am."

"Well, bully for you. Everyone has a sob story."

"Yeah, what's yours, then? 'Sit hard being brought up spoiled?"

"My family didn't always have money. Time was, we were poor as dirt, outcast and alone, begging … We didn't want to stay like that. That's why mother married Ella's father."

"So, it wasn't a love match, then?"

"No. Mother said she'd never love again, because it's all make-believe, and you can't live on it."

Will shook his head. "Sounds like a bitter old crone to me."

"She's not," Anastasia said, "You don't know what she's been through or what she's done for her family or what she's lost."

"Yeah? What's that, then?"

Anastasia sighed. She didn't like going over family history, but she needed to get the boy out of her tent so she could go to sleep. "I'm not sure why you want to know, but if I tell you, will you swear to leave me alone?"

"I suppose." She shot him a glare, and he sighed. "I mean, all right, fine then. On my honor, I'll leave you be."

"When my mother was younger, she was a lady in waiting in the castle of King George. She caught his eye and they … carried on. Then, she fell pregnant.

"He was charitable with her, or so she thought at the time. He set her up with a nice nobleman to avoid scandal, letting her claim the baby was his, and they lived a comfortable life for a bit. They raised the baby, my brother Edward, and had two more children, my sister Drizella and I.

"It was a nice life, we were well off, we were welcomed at court, and we were happy. Then, when I was a child, King George's wife died. She'd never been able to give him an heir, so he tracked down Mother and offered to marry her now and legitimize Edward.

"The problem was, Mother had actually fallen in love with father. It wasn't a love built on passion, like she and the king had had; it was built on friendship, mutual respect. She thought such things mattered back then. She was wrong.

"Kings don't like to be rejected, so he didn't give her a choice. He had my father hanged for treason and took Edward to raise in his palace.

"As for Mother, she needed to be punished. She had fallen out of favor, and now we were exiled, our lands, money, and titles taken from us. We had nothing, and we wandered through the woods, from kingdom to kingdom, trying to keep up appearances in public, because mother knew that the only way to have anything was to have a man bestow it upon us.

"Eventually, she met Ella's father, and she seduced him. They were married, and she used her wiles to convince him to leave his lands to Drizella and me as dowry for any husband we should marry. It made us respectable.

"And she warned us as she brought us up, not to be blinded by love, because love can fall out with you, but if you can ensnare a man with of good status and money, a man who could build you up with his position, then you'll never want for anything.

"It's all she wants for us, really: a secure situation that we can all live off comfortably.

"But she has lost, you see. She fell in love twice, and lost both men, and her son sits on a crown and has never shown any sign that he remembers her. He certainly hasn't lifted a finger to help us.

"So, that's my mother's tragic tale. Will you now let me go to sleep?"

"Yeah, that's a hell of a tale, your mother's," Will said, "and it makes a bit of sense but, what about your tale?"

"What?"

"Well, we know how your mother became so bitter and cruel, but what about you?"

"I'm not bitter and cruel. In fact, neither of us is. We just understand that anything you want in this life, you have to take. You can't trust anyone."

"If you don't trust anyone, won't'cha always be alone?"

"It's better to never love, then to lose love."

"I don't think that's how it goes."

"I answered your questions, Will, so please let me sleep in peace. We need to leave at first light, and I'd rather be well rested. For all we know, that slipper may lead us to the ogres tomorrow, and fighting for your life is hard enough when you aren't dead on your feet."

"Okay. I'll go … it's just – "

"What now?"

"Tellin' me all that couldn'ta been easy. So, maybe you do trust me a little, at least?"

Anastasia rolled her eyes. "I was trying to get you to leave, and given that you gave your word that you would go, and you haven't, I'm not sure that small trust hasn't been misplaced."

"I'll let you get your rest," Will said. "And thanks for letting me in a bit."

She turned to grab something to throw at him, but he ducked out of the tent before she could find anything appropriate.

He had made a decent point. She'd never told anyone about her father and Edward and King George. It wasn't as though she had many friends to confide in, or any friends, really. None that she trusted, at least. They were all a means to an end, and she had to come off a certain way. Drizella wouldn't talk to her about Edward, and she certainly wouldn't share anything with Ella.

So, why had she told Will?

Perhaps, it was because she didn't have to pretend with him. He wasn't a member of the court. What he thought of her wouldn't affect her standing. He was just a thief, so he could hardly use what she had told him against her.

She'd never spoken of it with anyone, but maybe she'd wanted to. Maybe she needed to speak of what she had lost, and what it had taught her. Because he was wrong, it wasn't just her mother's story. Ana was who she was because of who her mother was, and that story had shaped them both.

He said it made sense, so he must have seen how it had shaped her, at least somewhat. But he hadn't run away. In fact, he had wanted to spend more time with her after he'd heard. He was a strange man, she decided. She still wasn't quite sure why she had chosen him, of all people, to confide in. It was too late to take it back now, though, and she found that she wasn't sorry. She was glad he knew. She was glad that, for the first time in a long time, someone might see her, just as she was. The only thing better than that, was for someone to see her as she was and love her all the same, but she knew that was far too much to hope for.

---

Amazingly, Jack's plan had worked. Once he had announced that she was there with him and flashed a bit of coin her way, Rosie's mother had kept her distance.

They sat off in the corner, talking and laughing while they ate. Rosie told him about working here, how she had ended up donning that red crown.

"It was my idea, if you can believe that," she said. "Mother wanted me as wait-staff, but I tired of that, and the girls on stage were … something to behold. The men looked at them with such awe. My mother would never let me strip, of course; too undignified. She did, however, let me come up with a character to play, and said I could do like the girl in Gypsy, make men want me without actually showing them anything.

And it's nice to pretend to be someone else for a bit. Maybe it's silly, almost like playing dress-up, but it's freeing. I feel powerful when I go on stage as the red queen. Nobody can touch me …" Her mind wandered back to that alley, and her breathing sped up. Nobody could touch her, until somebody did.

Jack reached across the table and grabbed her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You don't need to pretend with me. I like you for being exactly who you are."

"Oh? And who is that?"

He looked like he was about to answer, but then his face went blank, like it had that time he visited her in the hospital.

He stood. "I have to go," he said in and almost robotic voice.

"Jack, what -?"

He didn't give her a chance to finish; he just bolted out the door. Rosie's mother shot her a knowing look, as if to say 'I told you so'.

Dejected, Rosie packed up her food and headed home.

---

It was a day like any other when David got the call. He had just given the kids their dinner and was wondering idly where his wife was, when his phone rang. The last thing he had expected was a call from the hospital.

After arranging a babysitter for the twins (a local high school student they had used many times before), he drove as fast as was safe to the hospital and asked them which room his wife was in.

Selena was unconscious and hooked up to an IV with bandages on her face. Mary Margaret was seated at her bedside, holding her hand.

"How could this happen?" he asked

Mary Margaret shot him a sad smile and held out her other hand for his. He took it. "I don't know. These attacks have been horrible, and maybe it was foolish of me, but I somehow thought she would be safe. I don't even remember her ever being sick."

"They have to find who did this," David said. "I'm sick of waiting."

"They will. We'll burn this town to the ground if we have to; we'll find the sick bastard."

"Do they know if … if the baby …?" David couldn't bear to finish the question.

"They're still doing tests."

---

"That was some stunt you pulled," Rosie's mother said. She had stormed into Rosie's room and turned on the lights, waking her daughter up. "Coming to my place of work on a date instead of working."

"I think I deserve a little time, don't I? I was attacked, after all," Rosie said.

"Yes, and you had time in the hospital. Now that you're out, it is time to start pulling your weight in this family again." Her mother looked around. "And where is your gentleman? He didn't come home with you?"

Rosie shook her head. "No. he didn't."

She didn't offer any more information, but her mother seemed to read between the lines. "Tired of you already, has he?"

"It's not like that."

"No? Then what is it like?"

"He just … he had to leave. Something important came up."

Her mother sat down on the bed and patted Rosie's shoulder. "Perhaps you can learn from whatever you did to drive him away and do better next time."

"I didn't do anything," Rosie said, flinching back from her mother's touch.

Her mother rose and offered her a cold smile. "If that were true, dear, he would be in that bed with you." She left before Rosie could reply, not bothering to turn off the light.

---

"You're different," Will said as Anastasia stoked the fire of their campsite. He was watching her in a way that was slightly unnerving.

"Different?" she asked, pretending she wasn't curious what he was on about.

"Different than you were last time. Less … innocent, I guess. Less eager to please. More able to take care of yourself."

Ana shrugged. "Well, I was trying to seduce you."

"Oh?" he asked, smiling.

Ana rolled her eyes. "You're no prize," she said. "But I need to marry well to access my inheritance, and finding a simple man with money and land who I could manipulate … It was prudent to get you to fall for me. So I was demure and… willing."

"You were forward."

"Well, yes, obviously. You were as innocent as a babe in the woods, clearly never known the touch of a woman. A man that desperate will do anything for a girl who bats her eyes at him. I should have known you didn't have a penny to your name; you'd have more experience with girls if you actually had something to offer them."

"Well, for what it's worth, I like you better this way," Will said, surprising her.

"And why's that?"

"You're just … I don't know, confident. You take charge, you command the room. And maybe you ain't always got the best of intentions, the most selfless, but you ain't ashamed of that either. Up front, you are. Proud, arrogant even, but you don't fancy yourself some ideal who always does the right thing."

"As opposed to your band of merry men who claim that you steal for a good cause to ease your conscience at being thieves?"

"You're mistaking me with Robin, lass. It's his band, his code. I try to live by it best I can but … I've stolen for me own good. I've been selfish. Sometimes, I don't know why he keeps giving me chances. That's him though: always seeing the best in people."

"Seeing the best in people just gives them a chance to step over you," Ana said.

"That's a bit harsh," Will said. "I ain't saying that everyone is all good. They aint'. But they ain't all bad either. I ain't all bad. You ain't all bad."

With a roll of her eyes, Ana said, "Thanks ever so much."

"Ya know what I mean. You may not care a lick for those innocents Ella's all in a tizzy about, but ya care about your mum and your sister, even though it don't sound like they always done right by you."

"Doesn't it?" Ana asked. "You don't know me, Will Scarlet. You don't know me at all. My family … my mother does what she has to, and if she's harsh, it's because she wants the best for her daughters. Maybe she doesn't think I could catch the eye of a prince, being what I am, but I'll prove her wrong, and then she'll …" Ana stopped. She'd said too much, revealed too much. He would see how weak she was and –

"Ya shouldn't have to prove anything," Will said. "She is wrong. A girl like you could catch the eye of any prince."

"Why? Because I was able to get you when I was playing a role?"

"I liked the idea of a girl who liked me, and a pretty one at that, but when you're yourself, you're more than that. This you, this person I'm getting to know on this epic rescue mission … that's more than an idea of a girl to fall for, that's just a girl to fall for."

Ana stood staring at him, unsure what to say.

"I'm goin' to kip off ta' bed. See you at first light."

---

Jack hadn't come home the previous night, and in spite of herself, Aria was worried. It was strange; she almost felt like a proper wife, instead of what she deep down knew herself to be. A proper wife worried when her husband didn't come home, but Aria often only felt relief.

She was considering giving him a call when the phone rang, causing her to jump. Sure enough, it was Jack. "Sorry I didn't come home," her husband said, as if he expected her to be worried.

"That's all right," she said slowly. "Is, um, did something happen?"

There was a long pause. Then, "There was another attack. The mayor … she ain't in great shape. I found her and … well, I ain't family, so I've just been in the waiting room."

He sounded so distraught, and Aria's heart went out to him. How dared someone attack the mayor? But a small part of her was relieved, because if there was any bit of her that had doubted Jack's innocence, she couldn't anymore. He would never hurt the mayor.

"Do you want me to come down there?" she asked.

"Um … yeah, maybe. I mean, that would look right, wouldn't it?" he said. He sounded so lost.

"Then I'll come," she said, and she went to grab her coat.

---

It had been hours and the doctors had barely told them anything. David's pacing was giving Mary Margaret a headache, but she was hardly going to snap at him over that. Even before they had started getting along, her sister's health had been something they'd always cared about.

Dr. Drake, who had been taking point on Selena's case due to her close, personal friendship with the mayor, came in to speak with them.

"Well?" David asked, and Mary Margaret could hear the tension in his voice.

Dr. Drake smiled. "It was touch and go, but she's going to pull through.

Mary Margaret felt herself relax. "That's wonderful! Isn't it David?"

She expected him to be smiling, but he still looked rather pale and slightly constipated. "What about … is the baby …?"

Oh, that made sense. She'd forgotten about Selena's pregnancy, but of course David hadn't.

"The baby is fine," Dr. Drake said.

When David didn't say anything, Dr. Drake excused herself.

"Did you hear her, David?" Mary Margaret asked. "The baby's okay. They're both going to be okay." She reached for his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He squeezed back, so hard she could barely feel her fingers.

"David!" she said, alarmed.

"I thought … I thought…" He collapsed to his knees, pulling her down with him, leaning against her as if his life depended on it. His whole body shook as he sobbed and wheezed. Not sure what to do, Mary Margaret patted him gently and made soothing sounds. It occurred to her that this was a bit of a role reversal; he had comforted her just like this after her procedure.

"It's okay. It's okay."

"If I lost my child, I don't know … I wouldn't be able to go on."

Mary Margaret nodded. "I know, but you didn't." She touched his cheek and turned him to face her. "You didn't. You're going to be a father, David. You're going to raise a beautiful child with my sister. I promise it will all be all right. You'll all be happy together."

He laid his head on her shoulder and continued to shake while she rubbed his back. It was only much later that it would occur to her that he had said he wouldn't be able to go on if he lost his child, but he had said nothing about his wife.

---

"Ashley?" Sean asked tentatively, as he knocked on the bathroom door. He was surprised when he saw her car was still in the driveway. This was the second day that she was late to work.

It wasn't his business; he knew that. Still, he felt responsible for her, and if he was honest, he was a little worried. She had been in the bathroom for a while.

When she didn't respond, he tried the handle and found it unlocked. "Um, I'm coming in!" he called, before gently opening the door. Ashley was dressed, and she was staring down at the toilet. Her face was ash white. Sean looked down at the bowl and saw a bit of blood.

Gross, he thought, but pretty normal for women; he remembered that much from health class.

"Ash?" he asked, gently nudging her.

"I … I think I need to go to the hospital," she said slowly, not taking her eyes off the toilet bowl.

"What? Why?"

"I think … I think there might be something wrong with the baby."

---

Ella had a plan. She had tried to tell Anastasia, but Ana was determined to mount a full-front attack. Her stepsister wanted to be smart about everything, but she didn't mind a spot of violence either. It was almost ironic, Ella thought, that despite all her stepmother's emphasis on her daughters being lady-like, Ana didn't flinch from a fight.

Ella did flinch. It wasn't because the ogres were terrifying, or even that she found the copious amount of blood gruesome, though both of those things were true. It was simply that there was always a better way, and she had one in the palm of her hand.

There were fewer ogres than they had anticipated, and Belle had determined that these ogres were sitting watch. The others seemed to have gone off somewhere, which gave the rescuers very limited time.

"What are you doing?" Belle asked in a whisper. Like the others, she was stringing her bow and biding her time, but unlike the others, she noticed Ella surveying the area.

"If I could just get above them," Ella said, thinking aloud.

"Whatever for?"

"I have a plan. One that would save our lives … and spare the ogres as well."

She expected Belle to dismiss the idea of sparing ogres as Ana had, especially considering what had happened to Belle's loved ones, but instead she looked at Ella thoughtfully, "I tried to show an ogre mercy once," Belle said. "He was just a child, and he was harmless. If it hadn't been for Gaston … Ogres may be our enemies, but that doesn't mean we need to be monsters ourselves. What is your plan?"

Ella quickly explained about the dust.

"I saw an area, just there," Belle pointed. "You could climb up, and it would give you a good vantage point. Once you start though … you'll need a distraction. Perhaps …" she trailed off. A determined look came over her face. "I'll give you a leg up," she said, elevating Ella.

Ella had always been a good climber, and she was just getting into position on the roof of the cave, when Belle ran out in front of the ogres, shouting to draw their attention.

Ella heard a terrified Will call after her, "Oi, Belle! What are you doing?"

She couldn't waste time with explanations. She had a job to do. As quickly as she could, she began dropping bits of black fairy dust on the ogres from above, and watched each one shrink down and transform into a mouse before her eyes.

Belle and Will, who had no doubt run out after her, were doing their best to avoid the ogres who had not yet been turned to mice, and Anastasia seemed to have joined the fray as well.

Finally, all the ogres were transformed. Ella breathed a sigh of relief as she made her way down from the cave roof. She was being helped to the ground by Robin Hood when she saw Ana going after one of the mice with a weapon.

"No!" Ella cried, throwing herself between Ana and the rodent.

"Move, Ella. That … thing attacked us, nearly flattened Will."

"It was an ogre then," Ella said. "Now it's a mouse. It's too small to hurt us…"

"Which means we can kill it easy," Ana said. "Serves it right."

"It's harmless now. Helpless. There's nothing to gain from hurting it. It can't hurt us ever again. We're safe. Doesn't it at least deserve to live?"

"She of the bleeding heart," Anastasia said derisively. "What would you have us do; keep them as pets?"

"I don't …"

"We can find somewhere for them," Belle said. "Some nice outdoor space for them to roam free."

Ella nodded, and she and Belle set about scooping up the mice and depositing them in sacks so that they could bring them out of the cave with them when they left.

"This is all very interesting," Marian said,"But shouldn't we be finding the prisoners?"

"My slipper is pulling this way," Ella said, motioning.

"Lead on then," Robin said. "It's them we're here for at any rate. The ogres … er, mice … What happens to them doesn't matter as much."

Belle took Ella's hand and gave it a small squeeze. "That was very kind of you, Ella. Very brave and very kind."

---

It was just spotting, the doctor had said. It was totally normal, apparently. Ashley had tuned out a bit after that, probably from the shock and the relief. The details didn't matter, really. She was fine. The baby was fine.

Sean sat with her after the doctor finished up. "So," he said, "you're pregnant?" He asked it matter-of-factly, no judgement in his voice. It made Ashley want to cry.

"I feel so silly," she said instead. "Of course everything is fine. What else did I think?"

"I'm glad you're okay," Sean said, giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"You're not mad at me? For hiding it, I mean."

Sean shook his head. "It's your business."

"Right," Ashley said. "My business. My problem."

"That's not what I meant," Sean said hastily. "I want to help, if you'll let me."

"How could you possibly help?" Ashley asked.

"Well," Sean said, "it seems like the father hasn't stepped up. And you don't have to tell me anything about that if you don't want to, but, I mean, if you don't want to be in this alone …" And then Sean was down on one knee.

Ashley's hand went to her mouth. "What are you doing, Sean?"

"I'm offering to take care of you and the baby," Sean said. "I know I don't have a lot, but I have a good job and … and I think I'd be a good father. I'm asking you to marry me."

Ashley's vision blurred. Sweet, sweet Sean, trying to be her Prince Charming when she needed one. "Get up, Sean," she said. "Please."

"Is that … is that a maybe?"

Ashley shook her head. "I can't marry you, Sean. We barely know each other."

"We've known each other all our lives. And maybe you never noticed me before but … I've always noticed you. I care about you, Ash. This isn't me doing some self-sacrificing favor. I want to be there for you and this kid."

"It's not your kid," she said.

"That doesn't have to matter."

"It will matter. Stepparents are never there for the long-haul. I should know better than anyone."

"I'm not like that. I'm asking you to trust me, okay? Can you trust that I mean this?"

"I believe you do, right now. You've always liked me, and now you can be my hero. But what happens after happily ever after, when it's not all romance and fantasy? What about when it's a screaming newborn? Or a rowdy teenager? I won't always be this perky young princess, Sean, and I won't have the time to screw you and feed your male ego when I'm working hard to be a mom and support a family. You'll regret signing up for it, and I can't have someone else bail on me. And I won't let someone bail on this kid. They're going to have a parent who cares."

"And you don't think I could be – "

"You're not the father! You have no responsibility here. You're my roommate and my friend, but I'm not going to ask any more of you."

"Ashley -"

"Just go Sean. Please. I'll … I'll find another way home."

Dejected, Sean left. Once he was out of sight, Ashley took out her phone and dialed a familiar number. "Hey, it's Ashley. Um, could you come get me?"

---

Zelena smiled as she opened her eyes. She wasn't in any pain, of course. She'd never really been hurt. Some well-placed stage makeup on her face and arms had been convincing enough, and then she'd arranged for Mal to sedate her and bring her to the hospital. As Dr. Drake, Mal still had enough pull to oversee everything, and falsify what needed to be falsified. She'd enlisted Jack to 'find,' her in her office and help Mal bring her in.

Now that her eyes were open, the real performance would begin. David and Mary Margaret were there, of course, as well as Jack and his little wife. The sheriff was also there, to pepper her with all the right questions. She told her story, how she had been attacked, and how she had seen exactly who had done it. Neal Stiltskin was a monster. He attacked women, and he had endangered her baby. It was time for the town to make him pay.

---

As they made their way to the prisoners, Ana noticed that Will Scarlet had fallen into step beside her. "Thank you, for before," he said.

"What're you on about?"

"When you stepped into the fight and tried to defend me from that ogre. Ya didn't have to do that."

Anastasia shrugged. "I'm not afraid of a fight like my stepsister."

"I noticed. But it's not the fighting, it's that it was me you protected. Why'd ya do that?" Anastasia didn't answer; she just stared straight ahead until Will continued, "I thought maybe it was because … maybe ya cared about me a bit?"

He sounded so hopeful. Her heartbeat sped up a bit, traitorous thing. "I suppose you want congratulations on pulling off another con, then?" she asked.

"Nah., I wanted to know if I could maybe court ya proper, when all this was over with?"

Anastasia stopped walking. "You can't be serious."

"So, what if I am?"

"My mother would never want me to marry some … some Merry Man. And besides, you tricked me once before. Why should I believe you're sincere now?"

"Let me show you," he said, pulling her to him. Then he kissed her. It was different than before, when they'd both been playing a role. This kiss warmed her to her toes.

He stepped back, smirking. "So, that's how I feel. What about you? Do ya think ya could feel for me?"

Before she could answer, she heard Ella call out, "There he is! Prince Thomas."

Ella ran to the prince, and he swept her up in his arms before saying one word, one name, which caused both Will and Ana's heads to whip in his direction. "Anastasia."

---

"Jack?" Rosie asked, surprised to see him roaming the halls of the hospital, a tortured look on his face, "What are you doing here? Is everything all right?"

He seemed to shake himself. "I … what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to pick up my stepsister, if you can believe it. For some reason, I'm the person she thought to call in an emergency." She shot him a smile. "But what about you?"

"I, uh, my boss was attacked," he said, not meeting her gaze.

"Oh, that's terrible. Is that why you ran off?"

Before he could answer, a petite brunette came up to him. "I got you coffee," she said in an Australian accent. "You must be exhausted, waiting here all night." Then, seeming to notice Rosie, she turned. "Oh, hello. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"That's all right," Rosie said. "Um, I'm Rosie." She reached out her hand to shake the other woman's.

"I'm Jack's wife, Aria," she said.

Rosie's smile fell, her blood turning to ice. She took her hand back and turned to Jack. "Wife, is it? Funny, you never mentioned you had one."

She stormed off to find Ashley, not giving Jack or Aria a chance to respond. A voice in her head told her that her mother had been right; she really was stupid.

---

Rumple would have liked to say that he was surprised to see the sheriff at the door, demanding that Neal "come quietly," but events had been leading in this direction for a while.

"I'm afraid he isn't here, Sheriff."

"I see," the sheriff said through clenched teeth. "And where might I find him?"

"I imagine he's at work," Rumple said calmly.

When Rumple didn't offer any more information, the sheriff asked, "Where does he work?"

"A woman in town employs him to look after an ailing relative. I don't know the details," Rumple offered in innocent shrug.

"Surely you have an address, or a name," the sheriff said.

"I can't say that I do."

"This wouldn't be an obstruction of justice, would it?"

Rumple shook his head. "I can't tell you what I don't know, but I'll certainly let him know you were asking after him when he gets home."

"What's going on?" Emma asked, coming into the living room.

"This gentleman is looking for Neal."

"Again?" Emma asked. "Hasn't he already told you everything?"

"Apparently not," Graham said. "Because today he attacked the mayor, and when she woke up, she fingered him."

"That's not possible," Emma said.

"Are you calling our mayor a liar?"

"Maybe," Emma said mulishly, and Rumple was pleased with her loyalty.

"The woman was brutalized. She nearly lost the child she's carrying. What sort of man attacks a pregnant woman?"

"I wasn't aware the mayor was expecting," Rumple said.

"That hardly makes it all right," the sheriff said.

"I'm not claiming it does. I'm simply surprised that such information stayed out of town gossip."

"We're getting off topic," the sheriff turned to Emma. "Call him. Now."

Emma hesitated, then took out her phone. Rumple's heartbeat sped up, but he breathed a sigh of relief when it went to voicemail.

"I expect him to turn himself over by this time tomorrow, or else drastic measures will be taken."

The sheriff left after delivering his vague threat.

"We have to find him," Emma said, the second he was gone.

"I think it's best that we don't," Rumple said.

"What? Why?"

"Because if we know where he is, that information can be used against him. I'm sure Neal has been informed of the allegations being laid against him and has taken refuge somewhere safe. Drawing attention to that location would be unwise."

"So you do know where – "

"I know he's not in jail. I intend to insure he remains out of jail."

"The lawyer in this town called earlier. He said he'd represent Neal. Maybe we can –"

"By all means, call him. Just don't promise him Neal's presence."

"You know as well as I do that it looks worse if he runs."

Rumple shook his head. "Emma, I love you as my daughter, but there are things in this world that you do not understand. Don't look for him. When the time comes, he'll find us. In the meantime, have faith."

"Faith in what?"

"Your family."

---

Neal hated sending Emma to voicemail, but Maleficent had been clear when she'd arrived home that he couldn't be in contact with anyone. If he answered Emma's call, it would just wind up worse for the both of them.

"I don't like keeping my wife in the dark," he said.

"Perhaps, but we both know that has never stopped you from doing exactly that."

"She needs to know that I'm okay," Neal said. "She needs to know that I didn't just run off and leave her behind."

"Do you not trust her to have faith in you?" When Neal didn't answer, Maleficent responded with a simple, "I see."

"I don't think you do."

"I will do my best to get word to your nearest and dearest, but you can't leave here."

"Remind me again how that's any different from being in prison."

"Because once you are in custody, you'll be at Zelena's mercy, and that woman will not settle for your imprisonment. She will want your head."

---

"I'm still not sure why you called me, of all people," Rosie was saying as she drove Ashley back to Sean's.

Her stepsister had seemed willing enough to help her out when she had called, but she had been much colder since arriving at the hospital. Had they been closer, Ashley would ask her what was wrong. As it was, she was just grateful for the ride.

"You appear to have a gentleman caller," Rosie said as they pulled into the drive. "That's the man you used to work for, isn't it?"

Startled, Ashley looked out the car window. Rosie was right; Joseph was standing on her porch. "Why on earth …?"

He turned toward them, likely having heard the car pulling in, and headed down the steps, meeting Ashley outside the car. "Is everything all right?" he asked, and was that genuine concern she detected in his voice?

"What?" Ashley asked, confused.

"I got your voicemail," he said.

Ashley flushed. She'd forgotten that before Sean had found her, she'd left Joseph a panicked message that something was wrong with the baby.

"Everything's fine," she said. "It was a false alarm."

"If that's all," Rosie called out her rolled-down window, "I'm going to drive off. It's been a long day, and mother is expecting me."

Once she was gone, Ashley turned to Joseph. "You didn't have to come."

"You said something was wrong with the baby," he said.

"I'm surprised you care," she said bitterly. "Wouldn't it have made things easier for you if something were wrong?"

Joseph shook his head. "I'm sorry, Ashley. Truly. I don't know when I became this person. When I got that voicemail, I … I was genuinely worried about the baby. Because I am a father and … and I could be again."

Ashley tried to tamp down the hope that bloomed in her chest. "What are you saying?"

"I know you want to do this on your own. But perhaps, I could still be a part of it? I'd like to step up, if you'll let me."

What would Emma tell her to do? She could say no, and maybe she should, but he was the father of her child, and maybe it wouldn't be so terrible to, once again, let him take care of her. Unable to find her voice, she nodded her head. He smiled, reaching out, and she let him hold her.

---

"What did you call me?" Ella asked, stepping back from Prince Thomas.

"Anastasia. That is your name, isn't it?" He turned and gestured to Lady Tremaine and Drizella whom, Anastasia was glad to see, were all right, "You mother said – "

"That's not my mother," Ella said.

A look of anger crossed Prince Thomas's face. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked, turning to Lady Tremaine.

"Mother?" Anastasia asked, stepping forward.

"It seems I was mistaken," Lady Tremaine said. "Though one can hardly blame me. How was I to know that my maid had attended your ball in borrowed clothes?"

"Maid?" the king asked.

"Yes. This is Ella, and she's been a maid in our home since she was small. That one," she pointed to Anastasia, "is my other daughter. Ella has been known to borrow my daughter's clothing from time to time, as she has nothing nice of her own."

"Is this true?" Prince Thomas asked.

"Yes," Ella said. "It is. I'm sorry. I had a chance to go to the ball, and I took it, but I never lied about who I was … or what I felt when I danced with you. That was real."

A pained look crossed the prince's face. "Father," he said, "this is the girl I wanted to marry."

His father shook his head. "You want a maid to be queen of this kingdom?" his father asked.

"I love her," the prince said.

"Son, you didn't even know her name. You danced with her once. She is a maid and a thief."

"May I remind you," Lady Tremaine said, "that Prince Thomas has already made a promise to my daughter, who has both good breeding and lands in her dowry."

"Father, surely you won't require me to be married to one girl when I love another?" Prince Thomas said.

"The two of you are already married," his father said.

"What?" Anastasia and Ella both asked.

"I wanted to marry you," Prince Thomas said, taking Ella's hand. "And your … that is, Lady Tremaine suggested a wedding by proxy. Drizella stood in."

"But the name on the marriage contract is Anastasia's," Lady Tremaine said. "It is legally binding, and was made in good faith. If it pleases you, you may take Ella as well to be a maid in your castle. I have no more use for her, so you may use her as your see fit."

"How dare you?" Prince Thomas said. "Use her? I wouldn't –"

"A king does not marry for love or lovemaking; he marries a reasonable match for the kingdom who has something to offer other than looking pretty in a borrowed ball gown. I believe your father understands that, just as he understands that his son may have needs. This is an arrangement that pleases everyone."

"What about Anastasia?" Will asked. All heads snapped in his direction. Anastasia had nearly forgotten he was there.

"What about Anastasia?" her mother asked in a tone that would frighten off lesser men … and what did it say about him that Will didn't flinch?

"Well, everyone is talking about what the prince wants, what Ella wants, what the king wants, what the kingdom wants … and that's all important o'course, but what about what Anastasia wants? What if she don't want to be married to the prince?"

"Don't be stupid, of course she does," her mother said.

"Well then, if you're so sure, why don'tcha ask 'er?" Will asked, staring her mother down before turning his eyes on her. Lady Tremaine's eyes also turned to her daughter, as did everyone else's.

Anastasia looked from Will Scarlet to her mother (sparing a glance for the prince as well). Nobody had ever given her a choice before, and now two roads lay before her. One promised comfort, wealth, power, and her mother's approval. She had always craved those things, her mother's approval most of all. The other road was less clear, but the memory of her kiss with Will lingered in her mind, and while she couldn't name what it promised, she longed to find out.

"Go on, Ana," her mother said. "Tell them."

---

Rosie stared at the glass in her hand. She was supposed to go on as the Red Queen tonight; her mother had insisted. There was no point in resisting; mother always knew best, didn't she? Mother had known that no man could want her, after all, and no man did.

Ashley was getting a fairy tale ending with the employer that had sacked her even though they were shagging (Ashley hadn't told her the whole story, but Rosie was smart, and she had been able to put the pieces together), and Jack was happily married. Well, maybe not happily if he was taking other girls out, but she hardly thought being a mistress would make her happy. She had thought …

"Okay, who served you?" Sean asked, as he came over to her, wearing a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"What?"

"You have a cocktail in your hand, but I happen to know you're still on pain meds."

Rosie snorted. "It's virgin. Believe me, I wish it were real tonight."

Sean nodded. "I can understand that."

She noted the dejected look on his face. "Saw them together, did you?"

"Saw who?"

"Ashley and her ex. Or former ex, I suppose." She threw back a drink and tried to pretend it had alcohol in it. "Definitely virgin," she said, grimacing.

"Doesn't quite dull the ache, huh?"

Rosie shook her head. "No, it doesn't," she said, looking him up and down. "But I can think of other things that will."

Sean chuckled awkwardly. "Rosie –"

"It won't mean anything, and nobody ever has to know. But we're both heartbroken tonight, and I can't get drunk like this. I've had a rough go of it, and so have you. So, why not have some fun?"

Sean nodded. "Meet me in the storage room on my break."

And so, she did, and the two of them tried to help each other forget.

---

Emma wasn't going to sit around twiddling her thumbs and waiting for a miracle, no matter what her father-in-law said. She needed to do something to fix this. She needed to find Neal and come up with a plan. They were a team. They were in this together, damn it!

How come she didn't know where Neal worked, or who he worked for? How could she even begin to look for him? Or was her father-in-law, right? He'd said it was better if she didn't know where Neal was; how could that be better?

She tried looking through her texts for the address Neal had sent her to pick him up at that one time, but it appeared to have been deleted. She thought maybe she could track his phone, but that just led her to a dumpster outside Granny's; it appeared Neal had chucked his phone.

As Emma headed back to her car, she saw Mary Margaret leaving Granny's and was relieved to see a familiar face.

"Mary Margaret," she called. Mary Margaret kept walking, so Emma rushed to catch up. "Hey, Mary Margaret."

"I don't have time to talk," Mary Margaret said when Emma finally caught up to her, avoiding Emma's gaze as she did so.

"I, um, I heard about your sister," Emma said, guessing that her friend was being affected by recent events, "How are you?"

"How do you think I am? After what your husband did?"

"This wasn't Neal," Emma said.

"How can you say that? Selena saw him!"

"I don't know how to explain that," Emma said. She had her theories, of course. No woman deserved to be brutalized, but she didn't trust the mayor, and maybe … but no, she was being paranoid. Then again, if she wasn't going to be paranoid now, when was she going to be paranoid? "Maybe she was confused," Emma said, trying to be diplomatic. "If she was hit in the head, then –"

"Are you calling my sister a liar?"

"What? No. I'm just saying –"

"You're saying that you're going to stand by your husband?"

"I know he didn't do this," Emma said.

"Well, I don't. In fact, I'm certain he did, and if you are going to defend him, then you're just as bad. He beat Selena up so badly, she could have died. She could have lost the baby. David is beside himself."

"And I'm sorry about that. I would never want that. But just because terrible things are happening doesn't mean my husband should take the blame. I thought you would understand –"

"Emma, look at what's happened, and ask yourself if you would believe some strangers, you didn't know a few months ago. Somebody is going around attacking women, including my sister, who is pregnant… Do you really think we're just going to stand by and let your family get away with this? The town is up in arms. Selena was right, and so was Graham. What you've brought to this town …"

"What I've brought … I helped you. I helped you find a job and a place to live and the confidence to stand up for yourself. Your sister had years to help you, and she never –"

"Don't you dare talk about her! She is my family, and you are just some woman off the street who has brought nothing but pain and horror …"

"Just the other day you were saying that I brought you hope," Emma said, her voice sounding small to her own ears.

"I was wrong."

"You said I could rely on you as a friend," Emma said, not sure why she was getting so upset. "I thought … I thought we were friends. I've been a good friend to you, and I need a friend now more than anything. My husband is missing, Lily is off in another state with her own life, Henry is a child, and I don't know what is going on with my father-in-law. I need to have one friend in this town."

"Well, it won't be me."

"Mary Margaret, please," Emma said.

"I'm sorry Emma, but I have to choose my family, and that's Selena and David. That's not you. You're not my family, you're not my friend, and I wish you'd never come to Storybrooke."

Emma watched Mary Margaret walk off with her groceries and felt a sob welling up in her chest. Then she felt something else welling up, and before she knew it, she had blown chunks all over the sidewalk. Her legs shook, her throat burned and her eyes stung.

Somehow, she made her way back to her car, but she didn't feel like going home, so she drove around, trying to keep the tears from her fogging up her vision. As she drove through this town where she had chosen to stay in order to help women who were now turning against her, she thought that she couldn't remember the last time she had felt so alone.