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Chapter Text

Henry was leaving his mother Regina's house for the last time. He was leaving setting out for a brand-new world. Regina followed him and asked, "Henry you sure about this". She then said "I, I was hoping after high school, you'd think about college".

Henry responded "I know but college isn't going anywhere. I just. I need to do this. Operation Cobra is over. We did it. We have our happy endings".

Regina asked, "So, then why leave".

Henry answered "because I'm still the author, I've been writing everybody else's stories. I need to figure out what my story is, and it's not here".

Regina asked, "and where do you think it is".

Henry answered "everybody here came from the Enchanted Forest; my own mother was even born there. That's where my family is from. I'm the only one that was born here, truly. The children are still children but both their parents are Phillip and Aurora, Cinderella and Thomas, Beauty and the Beast. They're growing up in a land of magic, but I didn't. I was told to believe fairytales are just that fairytales. I don't have that honest connection like they do, even living here in Storybrooke".

Regina responded sorrowfully "Henry I'm, I'm sorry. I didn't know you felt that way".

Henry responded "I don't blame you mom, but I need to do this I need to see it there. Live there, see my roots and develop an actual bond with it. I need to go to the Enchanted Forest, specifically the Wish Realm version that the Evil Queen created with her wish".

Regina asked "why, when we have our own Enchanted Forest".

Henry answered, "because mom I need the true experience, the one where".

Regina interrupted "the dark curse never hit and brought everyone here. Because of me".

Henry told her "I don't blame you mom. You've changed and everyone sees that. I just need to experience it".

Regina held Henry's hands and responded, "then you must do it my son".

They hugged and Henry told her "Thank you mom".

Regina responded, "anything Henry". She then said, "but if you ever need anything, or want to visit I'm always here".

Henry told her "This is not forever mom. I will come back one day".

Regina gave him a kiss on the forehead and Henry left to get on his motorbike. Henry held his bean and threw it. It opened and Henry could see the green swirl of the portal in front of him. Regina said "Henry, if that's the only bean you have, getting back her is".

Henry told her "I'll find a way". He then said, "I love you, mom".

Regina walked over to him and responded, "I love you too".

Henry smiled and then began to ride away. He rode through the portal and entered the Wish Realm Enchanted Forest.

Four Years Later:

Henry now 22 is riding on his motorbike through the Wish Realm. He's on his way for a portal back to Storybrooke because even though he had some adventures, he didn't belong here. He belonged in the Land without Magic. He's riding as fast as he can so he can make sure he can be there for when it opens. Henry doesn't notice the carriage coming towards him and swerves to avoid it. He is thrown off his bike and lands in a pile of Roses. This terrifies the people inside the carriage. Lady Clairemont is in the carriage with her youngest daughter Drizella. They both turn and see what happened. Lady Clairemont exclaims "I'm glad he fell off that thing for scaring us like that. Nobody should be going that fast down here".

Drizella responds "but mother he may be seriously hurt".

Lady Clairemont responds, "good then he can learn his lesson about going that speed and scaring two ladies". Drizella gets out and checks on Henry. Lady Clairemont questions "Drizella what are you doing we have a ball to attend".

Drizella responds "I need to make sure he's okay".

Lady Clairemont gets out and says "no Drizella you're a woman now and you need to get married. I didn't work as hard as did for you to fail me as we're at the palace. The prince is awaiting us and ready to meet you. So, get back in the carriage and don't be a failure".

Drizella responded "I'm not a failure mother".

Lady Clairemont said "get back in and prove it by getting the prince to see how beautiful you are. Not help this peasant".

Drizella said "I'm checking on him to see if he's all right, then we will attend the ball".

Lady Clairemont said "Drizella can't you be more like you sisters, your stepsister didn't disappoint me and helped you by already telling the prince about you".

Drizella said "Penelope can do what she wishes. I'm helping this poor man before we go meet the prince".

Lady Clairemont said, "even your sister Anastacia didn't do this to me".

Drizella responded "Anastacia run away with a thief to Wonderland".

Lady Clairemont yelled "don't talk about your sister like that. She is Queen in Wonderland. She at least did that for her mother so be like your sisters and don't disappoint me".

Drizella responded "I won't mother but I'm helping him first".

Drizella went over to Henry and said, "are you alright".

Henry awoke to see the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He responded, "yes my lady, sorry if my motorcycle scared you and your mother on the way to a ball I presume".

Drizella responded "yes me and my mother are. My stepsister is Queen Penelope and she's hoping to introduce me to the prince. Will you be attending".

Henry said "the one for Prince Matthew. I heard about it but will not be attending. I gotta go home. Time is kinda of the essence".

Drizella asked "what is that mechanical horse I've never seen anything like it".

Henry told her "It's a motorcycle and it's how I travel".

Lady Clairemont yelled "Drizella stop talking to that man and get back in, the prince will not wait for you".

Henry asked, "your name is Drizella".

Drizella answered "yeah Drizella Clairemont".

Henry responded, "well my name is Henry, Henry Mills". Henry then asked, "you said you have a stepsister who's a Queen".

Drizella said "yes and also another sister who's a Queen as well. Queen Anastacia of Wonderland".

Henry said "oh I know of her. She's married to Will Scarlet".

Drizella asked "how did you know that".

Henry answered "Will used to live where I lived. We all know each other there but if your sister is Anastacia and your name is Drizella, then the Cinderella story must have taken inspiration from you".

Drizella responded "I'm sorry what did you say".

Henry answered "oh nothing but I hope you enjoy the ball Drizella. I'm sure the prince will love you".

Drizella answered unsure "I hope so".

Henry told her "Well goodbye Drizella, Lady Clairemont. I hope you have a lovely evening".

Drizella said "thank you Henry".

Lady Clairemont said, "goodbye Mister Mills".

Drizella got back into the carriage, and they rode off towards the palace. Henry went back over and got on his motorcycle. He turned back to Drizella who was looking at him. He turned away and muttered "she cannot be a wicked stepsister they got that completely wrong with her". Henry turned back to Lady Clairemont and said, "her mother on the other hand is definitely a wicked stepmother". Henry begins to ride away and knows that he needs to continue on to get to the portal but as he takes one final look back, he knows that something is off and needs to go to the ball. Henry exclaims "damn" before turning around and deciding that he will attend the ball.

Flashback Ends:

Henry was driving his Swyft passengers around Seattle. Henry had enough for the day and ended his shift. He went home to his apartment to start his second book. He then heard a knock at the door and when he opened it. He saw an eight years old girl. Henry said to her "uh. Hello".

She said "hi. Are you Henry Mills".

Henry responded "yeah, yeah. Who are you".

She responded "my name is Samantha Rose. I'm your daughter".

Henry responded, "I don't have a daughter".

Flashback Begins:

Henry entered the palace and attended the ball. He grabbed a drink and looked around. He saw Lady Clairemont talking to who was obviously her stepdaughter Queen Penelope. They were both looking at something and Henry turned to see Drizella dancing with Prince Matthew. He saw that she looked uninterest in the prince and went over to help her out. She obviously didn't want to marry this guy, and he needed to do something about it. Henry walked over and said, "excuse me Prince Matthew but may I have the pleasure of having a dance with the lady".

Prince Matthew turned to Queen Penelope and saw that she was mad. He needed to speak about her so said to Henry "of course. I need to speak to the Queen anyway. Hope you two are enjoying yourselves".

Henry and Drizella began to dance and Drizella said "you shouldn't have done that. He was the prince, and you don't interrupt the prince's dance especially when my mother's involved".

Henry responded, "you obviously were uninterested in him, and I believe a woman should only marry for love, not to be Queen".

Drizella responded "if only my mother thought so. She's always pressured me to be like my sisters and marry into royalty. My sister Anastacia became royalty before marrying for love, but I know my stepsister Penelope married the King because it's what both her father and my mother wanted. My mother hated her until she got married to him. Then she became her favourite daughter".

Henry looked at Penelope who was talking to Prince Matthew and her husband looking at him with disgust. Henry said, "she really hated me doing this".

Drizella said "my sister only wants what's best for me. She believes that me marrying the prince is what I want and what will be best, despite her own unhappiness. She believes I will get it because Prince Matthew is a good man unlike her husband the King".

Henry said "where I'm from, we always choose for love. My family is known for having the truest loves in all the realms".

Drizella responded "that would be nice but unfortunately, it's not here and not my future so please end this dance so I can go back to the prince, and you can return home".

Henry told her "No. Everybody deserves a happy ending. You to, so I will stay and fight for you to have yours".

Queen Penelope interrupted them and said, "hello sister, I see your dancing with a handsome young man".

Henry introduced himself "Henry Mills".

Queen Penelope responded "Mister Mills will you kindly follow me. I don't remember inviting you to my ball and certainly to not ruin my sisters chance at a good marriage".

Henry said "I'm not. I'm just saying that she should be allowed to find the person she truly loves. I will always fight for that".

Queen Penelope said "that's lovely mister Mills but this is reality. People don't get happiness and love. They take it. Now I found a good man who will treat Drizella well and unlike my husband. I know she will love".

Henry interrupted "true love doesn't work like that".

Queen Penelope said "it will if you give it a chance. Now mister Mills I kindly ask you to leave".

Henry responded "no".

Queen Penelope shouted "guards". Guards came and she said "take mister Mills to the dungeon. He entered the ball uninvited".

Henry sighed and said, "really come on, I'll go, seriously".

The guards began to take Henry away and Drizella said "please sister don't do this, he's only doing what he thinks is right".

Queen Penelope responded "and you're my sister. I love you and want what's best for you. So, wait for the prince to return and talk to him. You'll see that he is a great guy. I promise". Drizella accepted and Henry was dragged away to the dungeon.

Flashback Ends:

Henry tried to close the door, but Samantha stopped him. She said "yeah you do. Now, come on. Your family needs you".

Henry and Samantha entered the apartment. She put her copy of Henry's book down and Henry asked, "is this some kind of a joke, kid. I don't have a daughter".

Samantha responded "That's just the curse, it changed all your memories

Henry said annoyed "a curse huh".

Samantha said "huh, kind of expected my favourite writer to have a little more success. This place is a dump".

Henry responded, "yeah well I didn't exactly write Harry Potter".

Sanantha said, "or anything since that one book". She then read his laptop that said, "poetic opening line goes here". She then said, "you got some work to do".

Henry told her "Not all stories come easy. Sophomore albums are hard and actually, this is none of your business. What are you some kind of stalkery super fan".

Samantha responded, "No I'm your daug".

Henry interrupted "daughter. Right. Wrong".

Samantha said "uh-uh it's like your book. You just don't remember because you're cursed". She then said "this is why you're not writing now. It's because you're not living your own story". She then sighed and told him "Come with me to my neighbourhood, Hyperion Heights".

Henry exclaimed "Hyperion Heights".

Samantha told him "It's like your Storybrooke".

Henry rejected this "no it's not. It's a real neighbourhood in Seattle. A real city with real people".

Samantha said, "and living with them, your family and the other cursed fairytale characters". She then begged "come with me, you can meet your true love and break the curse".

Henry remarked "my true love".

Samantha said, "my mom. Queen Penelope. You went off to meet her in the last chapter, remember. Right after you met my aunt and grandma".

Henry said "kid, none of that was real. Snow White isn't my grandma, my Shrink isn't Jiminy Cricket. I never flew with Peter Pan, and I never crashed my motorcycle and met Lady Clairemont and her daughter Drizella".

Samantha said, "it's true, you returned all the happy endings and now my mom and all the others need you to do it again. The curse put most people in Hyperion Heights, but".

Henry said "I hear that's an up-and-coming neighbourhood. Doesn't really sound like a curse to me". Henry tried to get her to leave "come on".

Samantha said, "it is, it's up and coming because my step grandma, Queen Penelope stepmom, is trying to bring people from this world in so all the fairytale characters move out. Move away, get separated. Just like you lost Queen Penelope, everyone will lose each other forever".

Henry said, "sad story, kid. But that's all it is. Now come on, I got stuff to do".

Samantha said, "but my mom, she needs".

Henry interrupted "look kid, I'm sorry about your mom but I'm not some kind of magic fairytale character who can swoop in and change her life. She's gotta do what we all do, she's got to save herself".

Penelope ran to her job at Mr Clucks. She entered and tried to start without being noticed. Louie noticed her and said, "you're late again".

Penelope said, "I ran here as fast as I could, but my roommate took too long in the bathroom and then the door got stuck".

Louie responded, "I don't give a crap. I'm paying you for thirty-nine". Carl dropped the chicken and Louie responded "really Carl. That's coming out of your paycheck".

Penelope told Louie "Hey Louie, lay off. It's just chicken. No need to be a jerk about it".

Louie told her "Apologise". Penelope didn't and he said, "now or get out".

Penelope said, "I can't because it's true, you're a jerk".

Louie said, "you think you know me so well huh". He then said "I know you. I've known a million yous. Single mom. Kid to take care of. No real skills, other than that temper. You need this job. It's the best you can do, and you know it. So yeah, you're gonna apologise. Right".

Penelope took off her apron and told him "Never".

Henry was looking for his laptop but couldn't find it. He did find a note and read it "if you ever wanna see your laptop again, meet me at Roni's. Take a left at the Troll under the Aurora bridge". Henry knew that Samantha must've taken it and wants him to do what she wants. He left and drove to the bridge finding the Troll. At the site of the Troll, he remarked
"really". He drove through Hyperion Heights stopping near the police station. He got out and began walking down the street. He saw two young women at the top of the building staring at him. They both jumped down and Henry said "uh, hello". They smiled at him and carried on. He found Roni's and entered. He said "uh, excuse me. Is this Roni's".

Roni said, "I sure hope so, unless I put the wrong sign, out front". She turned to him and said, "I'm Roni what could I get you". Henry sat down and Roni poured him a drink. Roni said "it's your lucky day kid. Whole bars half off until midnight".

Henry joked "midnight. Then what. This place turns into a pumpkin".

Roni responded, "more like a juice bar or whatever the bitch who bought us out drinks".

Henry said, "you're selling huh".

Roni said "well, neighbourhood's changing. And not by choice, by, Clairemont".

Henry asked "what-mont".

Roni answered "Victoria Clairemont". Henry had no idea who she was, and Roni told him "She's buying up everything, bringing folks in. This used to be, used to be a community here. Used to be nice but now everyone's scattering". Henry listened and Roni said "can't fight the power, right. Might as well take the money".

Henry remarked "funny thing I'm a writer and in my book a wrote a Clairemont".

Roni asked, "was she a bitch".

Henry answered, "yeah wicked stepmother".

Roni said, "well then you wrote Victoria because that's exactly what she is". Henry rubbed his head and Roni remarked "and you don't exactly look like you're have a banner day either".

Henry told her "Been interesting, that's for sure".

Roni asked, "what gives".

Henry said, "imagine if I walked through that door and told you that I was your son".

Roni remarked "that would be a kicker".

Penelope went back to her apartment and her roommate Sabine exclaimed "woah". She then asked, "what are you doing home so early".

Penelope told her "I quit".

Sabine exclaimed "what".

Penelope told her "You know, Louie he's".

Sabine interrupted "Yeah, I know what Louie is. He's what you grin and bear so that the singles in the rent jar, don't get lonely".

Penelope said, "I'll figure something out".

Sabine asked, "what's your stepmom gonna say. I know she wasn't thrilled to let you have custody of Samantha with a job. So now".

Penelope said, "she's not gonna say a thing because she is never gonna know". Penelope then handed her something to make food "here". Penelope then said, "speaking of that uptight crone, it's time for Samantha to go to her. Is she almost ready".

Sabine answered "don't know. Doors been closed all morning".

Penelope said, "if she's still asleep, her grandmother will kill me if she's late". Penelope went to Samantha's room and said "hey, Samantha". She entered and said, "hey Sammy". She uncovered the blankets revealing nothing. She said "uh no. I'm gonna kill her and my stepmother's gonna kill the both of us".

Victoria Clairemont entered Clairemont towers. Her daughter Ivy was watching this on the security cameras and said to her team "she's coming up. Come on people look alive, you clean that up, you take off that ridiculous tie. Everybody look busy and remember no eye contact". Ivy waited for her mother at the elevator with a cup of tea. She said, "good morning".

Victoria responded, "is it, so tell me, how is it that I have three assistants and none of them know where my granddaughter is. Why wasn't she at the house".

Ivy responded, "I don't know. I've been trying to get a hold of Penelope all day".

Victoria told her "Stop trying. Start succeeding or must I do everything myself".

Penelope found Samantha at a wishing well. She called out "Sammy. Hey. What are you doing".

Samantha answers "making a wish before grandma demolishes this whole place for condos

Penelope said, "demolishes what place baby. This is just a sad and abandoned lot".

Samantha said "no, this place used to be a garden. Things used to grow here. They can again. See I found this quarter right here. It's a sign. Things can change".

Penelope said "you know I don't believe in that stuff. Throwing that in there, is just a waste of a quarter".

Samantha told her "Not if the wish comes true".

Penelope relented "okay". Samantha dropped it in, and Penelope looked around and said, "still empty".

Samantha told her "Give it time".

Penelope said, "okay now, come on. Gotta get you ready for ballet class". She then said, "you already got me in enough trouble with my stepmom today".

Samantha responded "sorry".

Penelope responded, "yeah I know". She then asked, "where did you go anyway".

Samantha answered, "I found my dad".

Penelope looked at her quizzically before Samantha told her what happened, and she went to give Henry back his laptop. Penelope entered Roni's bar with Henry's laptop. Roni said, "oh hey, Penelope how's it going".

Henry turned to her and Penelope answered "great. Samantha's stealing computers now, so that's new".

Roni remarked "never a dull moment with that kid".

Penelope cleared her throat and said to Henry "speaking of my little felon, you must be Henry". She gave him the laptop and said "I'm so sorry about all this. I don't know what's gotten into her, but I promise you, it won't happen again".

Henry responded "thank you, this is quite important for me, for my work. And I gotta say that when Samantha came to me and told me that she was my daughter. I didn't guess, I didn't expect, I expected someone slightly different".

Penelope told him "Ah I get that a lot actually. It's actually a big misconception that people get. It really all depends on what you get from your parents".

Henry remarked "well she must have completely got that from her father".

Penelope answered, "she did but she's still my little girl who wants to end up in prison apparently".

Henry laughed and Roni said, "it seems that you two need a drink after all this, on the house of course". Henry and Penelope grabbed their drinks and clinked their glasses together before drinking.

The two woman that spotted Henry coming into town, Tilly and Margot went straight to a building to find Weaver. They got up to the door and after knocking, someone answered the door and Margot said, "we need to see Weaver".

They were let inside and the guard said, "someone to see you Weaver". Weaver who was torturing someone by holding their head underwater demanded "what".

Tilly told him "There's someone new in town. We thought you'd want to know". Weaver turned to them and did want to know about Henry.

Henry asked Penelope "so, I take it there's no father in the picture".

Penelope answered "well there was this guy, but it was just a fling. Not my proudest moment but, uh, it gave me Samantha and I wouldn't change that for the world. As for the rest of my life".

Henry said "hmm, not too happy about your story. What would you change".

Penelope answers "well, every day on my way to work, I see this island out in the bay and I always imagine, what if Samantha and I had a little home there. There's a lighthouse and gardens and it just looked like the kinda place where people live quiet, happy lives. I guess it's not much of a story".

Henry told her "I think it sounds perfect".

Victoria walked in and Roni told her "The bar's yours at midnight, Victoria. Take a hike till then".

Victoria responds "happy to. As soon as Penelope tells me what the hell is going on. Samantha is sneaking out of your house in the middle of the night to meet up with some strange man. This is".

Henry interrupted "I can explain that I".

Penelope said "it, it's okay, Henry. This isn't your fault. I'll fix it".

Victoria asked "how. By day drinking". She then said, "if I remember, that's how we ended up with Samantha in the first place".

Penelope said, "that's not fair".

Victoria told Penelope "Life isn't fair Penelope. Samantha needs some stability. She needs someone she can count on".

Penelope asked, "what are you saying".

Victoria answered "maybe giving Samantha to you was the wrong decision. I thought you could handle being her mother but obviously I was wrong you can't. So as of tomorrow, Samantha moves back in with me. Permanently".

Penelope walked out of the bar with tears in her eyes. Roni was glaring at Victoria and Henry remarked "I certainly can see why Samantha thinks your lady Clairemont".

Victoria told Henry "I don't know what you're doing here, but you're not helping anyone. Samantha is a lonely, little girl, Mr Mills. Whatever hole you're trying to fill, she's not your answer. So do her a favour and go back to your books, your Fairy lands. Whatever nonsense you write because in this world, the real world, people get hurt and if that happens, you'll be sorry you ever stepped foot on this street".

Henry left the bar and couldn't find his car. He went to the police station and said to the officer at the desk "hey, hello. I think my car was stolen".

The officer at the desk said, "really that sucks".

Henry responded "yeah so. Can you look for it".

The officer at the desk said "sure, no problem how about I look under my desk here. Nope. I'm stumped".

Rodgers came out and said to Heny "don't worry. I'll help you. Some of us still care about police work. Some of us still want to help people".

The officer at the desk said, "have at it, Eagle scout".

Rodgers asked Henry "so what happened, mate. Missing auto. All right. Here, fill this out".

Henry asked "well, how long is this going to take".

Rodgers answered "well, it's hard to tell. I'll call around the impound lots, but honestly most people find them stripped in a parking lot somewhere. So, our best bet is hitting the pavement".

Henry responded, "yeah, okay, fine. Whatever it takes. I got to get out of this place".

Henry left and found Samantha throwing Rose seeds down. Henry told her "Been looking for you".

Samantha said, "so tell me, I want to hear everything".

Henry answered, "my car was stolen".

Samantha exclaimed "what".

Henry asked, "you didn't help with that in any way did you".

Samantha responded, "of course not, my feet can't even reach the pedal".

Henry said "uh-huh, well, if you remember anything you let me know, okay".

Henry began to leave, and Samantha asked "wait, where are you going".

Henry answered, "to look for my car, and then I'm going home".

Samantha pleaded "but you are home".

Henry knelled down and said "Samantha, listen to me. Your mom is really nice, and I get the feeling that you don't have the easiest life and I'm sorry about that, but I am not the one who can save you".

Samantha said, "you still don't believe me, but you always believe".

Henry began to leave and said, "I can't go through this again".

Samantha pleaded chasing after him "wait. It didn't happen right away with Emma either".

Henry told her "Samantha it was just a book, you are not my daughter".

Samantha asked, "but how do you know that".

Henry said, "because I know". Samantha was about to respond but Henry spoke quickly "and another reason I know is because like my book. When Prince Charming saw Snow White even when he was with Katherine, he felt something for her. I felt nothing for your mother. If it was true love, I would have felt something, but I didn't. All I did feel was respect and admiration for a struggling single mom trying to do her best".

Samantha responded, "that's all because of the curse".

Henry yelled "stop it Samantha, it's not a curse". He then told her "I know because I had a family, okay. And I lost them".

Samantha exclaimed "what".

Henry told her "I had a family. I had a wife and a kid that I loved more than anything and". He then told her "Samantha, there was a fire, and they died".

Samantha told him "No, those are your cursed memories. I'm your daughter and my mom is your wife and your true love".

Henry told her "Samantha, listen to me. I would give anything for another chance at a family but".

Samantha said "you don't need another chance. We are your family. Please, you have to believe me. You have to. It's why you can't write. You're waiting for the perfect first sentence, but no story is perfect. It just needs to start".

Henry told her "I'm sorry, Samantha. I really am".

Henry left and Penelope arrived in her car. She beeped the horn and told Samantha
get in".

Samantha asked "why, where are we going".

Penelope told her "To live our story". They drove to go across to the island but just before they could the car broke down. Penelope grunted and said, "damn it, stupid car".

Samantha told her "It's not the car, it's the curse. It wants us to stay here".

Penelope saw the sign for the ferry and said "come on baby. We're walking".

Henry went back to the police station and spoke to Rodgers. Henry said "really. You checked every lot and chop shop and none of them have my car".

Rodgers answered "Yes. And seeing as I'm the only one here, willing to help you, you might want to curb your agitation a bit".

Henry calmed down and said "sorry".

Rodger told him "Look, I'm on your side just give me time".

Victoria entered and said, "office Rodgers, whatever you're working on can wait".

Rodgers asked "Ms Clairemont, what can I do for you".

Victoria answered, "find my granddaughter".

Henry interrupted "Samantha is missing".

Victoria responded, "Mr Mills, you're still here".

Henry said, "believe me, I'm trying not to be. I just need to find my car".

Victoria said "hm Penelope's also missing. I don't suppose you have any idea where they ran off to, do you".

Henry answered "uh, no".

Victoria told him "Mr Mills, I do know what you think of me, but I do care about my girls".

Henry remarked "sure have a funny way of showing it".

Victoria said "Penelope tends to make mistakes. If she wants to build a better life for herself and her daughter, she simply can't do it by running away from her problems". She then asked, "tell me what you know. You want your car back. Help me find my girls".

Penelope and Samantha made it to the ferry when Samantha sat on the bench and said, "I'm not going".

Penelope responded "Samantha, no". She then told her "Hey, we can't stay".

Samantha responded "no".

Penelope told her "Listen baby. There's something you don't know. Grandma wants you to live with her permanently".

Samantha exclaimed in shock "what, why".

Penelope told her "Doesn't matter. See that island over there. That's where our story begins Sammy. That's where we can have a fresh start, together".

Samantha said, "but what about Henry, and breaking the curse".

Penelope responded, "you have such a big and beautiful imagination, and I know why you want to believe in Fairytales because life is hard, and you gotta believe in something. But just this once, can you believe in me".

Samantha responded, "I believe, mom. I believe in you".

A police car came by with Ivy and Rodgers. Ivy got out and demanded "Samantha come here now". Samantha kissed Penelope on the cheek and Ivy said, "your grandmother is worried sick".

Penelope remarked "is not worried enough to show up". She then asked, "how did you find us".

Ivy answered, "Mr Mills, told us about your little island fantasy".

Rodgers said, "he was only trying to help".

Samantha said, "that's not true. He wouldn't do that".

Ivy told Samantha "The truth hurts more than fiction. Speaking of which". Ivy unzipped Samantha's bag and said "officer Rodgers, can you please put this into evidence or get rid of it, or destroy it, or I don't care. It has caused enough trouble for us all, despite how charming Mr Mills is". Penelope left and Rodgers flipped through the book. Ivy asked, "everything okay".

Rodgers responded, "yeah, everything's okay".

Flashback Begins:

Henry, who was inside the dungeon, was visited by Queen Penelope. She said to him "I know what you were trying to do. You think that I'm forcing marriage upon my sister for status instead of love".

Henry responded, "isn't that what you're doing".

Queen Penelope answered, "no. And I will show you". Queen Penelope let him out and led him back to the party. She said, "you see look right there at my sister". Henry saw Drizella talking to the prince and Penelope said "my sister likes him because she's getting to know him. She's getting true love unlike me mister Mills. I sacrificed a lot for my sister because I love her. I chose a perfect man for her, who so happens to be a prince. He's her true love and you can see that".

Henry responded, "she does look happy".

Queen Penelope said "that's because she is. Now I know you saw her rock up to a ball and never met him. I understand how you thought this was an arranged marriage of convenience or a merger of two kingdoms, but I assure you that this is true love".

Henry said, "Cinderella did go to a ball to meet a where she found true love".

Queen Penelope responded "I don't know what that means but yes. She came here to find true love and she found it. So, I'm letting you go mister Mills. You obviously thought this was something it wasn't because I went through it".

Henry told her "I'm sorry".

Queen Penelope responded "I understand and that's why I'm really letting you go because I can tell that you're a good person and want people to have true love. I want that to, that's why I did this for her but the only person that didn't is me".

Henry told her "I'm sorry my Queen".

Queen Penelope responded "that's quite alright. Now I hope you have a good evening mister Mills and find your true love because I can tell that you're looking for it".

Henry responded, "I am but haven't found it yet".

Queen Penelope remarked "neither have I".

Henry told her "You will. I know true love exist despite not experiencing it for myself. I know it comes when you least expect it and happens in the most bizarre and fantastic way. So never give up hope or true love".

Queen Penelope responded "thank you mister Mills. I can see why my sister thought you were such a nice person. I know that she and I both wish you to find your true love and happiness shortly". Henry responded, "thank you, your majesty". Henry left to go back to Storybrooke.

Flashback Ends:

Henry's car was being delivered back to him and Penelope came up to him and said, "they found it, hmm".

Henry responded "yeah. Cops found it abandoned on the side of the road. Nothing taken. No damage". This conversation was being watched by Margot and Tilly. Henry continued "doesn't make any sense".

Penelope said, "yeah well, life doesn't make any sense sometimes, but you got what you wanted so that's good for you. I hope it was worth it".

Henry retorted "look, I didn't ask to be dragged into your family drama".

Penelope responded, "goodbye Henry Mills and good luck on that second book".

At the police station Rodgers entered and the officer at the desk told him "Hey Eagle scout, I hear congrats are in order".

Rodgers asked, "what are you talking about".

The officer at the desk said, "you made detective". He then said "looks like somebody has a fairy godmother. Ms Clairemont must have taken a liking to you". Rodgers chuckled and the officer at the desk said, "come on I'll introduce you to your new partner".

Rodgers walked to the back where he heard an officer ask, "and did he".

Weaver answered, "no but I broke his finger anyway".

The officers all laughed and the officer at the desk said "hey detective. Special delivery for you. Meet your new partner".

Weaver held out his hand to greet Rodgers and said "pleasure". Rodgers accepted it and Weaver said "Detective. We'll do great work together".

Flashback Begins:

Henry arrives where the portal should be, and his alarm went off alerting him that it was midnight. Henry said "Storybrooke, I'm coming home".

The portal opened and Henry was about to step through when Prince Matthew yelled "stop". Henry turned and Prince Matthew said, "what are you doing".

Henry answered, "going home".

Prince Matthew told him "You can't. Drizella, she needs you".

Henry asked "why, she's found her true love, you. And is about to live happily ever after".

Prince Matthew told him "No, you got it wrong. She told me that she felt nothing for me and when she did, I was happy to accept because I felt nothing for her. Her mother lady Clairemont had her locked up. Queen Penelope tried to stop her but her husband the King overruled her and sided with lady Clairemont. I need your help to free her".

Henry turned to the portal and knowing that this was his only chance to go home through the portal because they are extremely rare and even more so difficult to find. Henry turned to Prince Matthew and exclaimed "screw let's go rescue her". The portal closed behind him and both Henry and Prince Matthew raced off to rescue Drizella.

Flashback Ends:

At Roni's bar, she was about to sign when she told Victoria "Nah. I don't think I'm gonna give you my bar today".

Victoria responded "what, we have a deal".

Roni told her "Yeah, well that was yesterday".

Victoria asked, "and what happened today".

Roni answered, "your stepdaughter, she inspired me".

Victoria responded, "by running away".

Roni said, "by not giving in to you. You're so used to pushing people around, I think it's time you felt what's it like, when someone pushes back".

Victoria told Roni "You can't win".

Roni responded "Maybe. Maybe not. Today, I watched you march into my bar acting like you owned the place. And you know what I didn't like it. Then I realised if I sign this piece of paper, you will own this place and that I really don't like. This is my bar. It's my home. It's my life. Sure, it's seen better days but that doesn't mean it won't have better days again and just because life isn't what you want right it to be right now, it doesn't mean you should tear it down. I started thinking about all the things I wanna do and have. That I'm not doing or having".

Penelope went back to Mr Clucks and spoke to Louie to get her job back. She accepted and began sweeping the floors. Henry went to deliver Roses, his wife favourite flower to her and their daughters graves. He goes to where it should be but sees an empty parking lot. Henry asked a woman "excuse me, this is Tenth and Oak, right".

The woman answered "uh-huh".

Henry said, "shouldn't there be a cemetery right here".

The woman responded, "not that I know of. Been like this as long as I can remember".

Roni continued telling Victoria "And how everyone in this neighbourhood, seems to have given up imagining what a better life might look like but if we can admit to ourselves what we want is out there somewhere. Well, then maybe we can fight for it and if we do that, then we're halfway to getting it. That's the thing about the people of this town. Things can seem hopeless when suddenly someone gives the rest of us inspiration. Because the first step to a new beginning is imagining that one is even possible, and I'll be damned if I stand by and let a bully like you take that away from us anymore. Now if you'll excuse me".

Victoria responded "you'll regret this Roni,

Roni responded "doubtful. Regret's not really my thing". Roni then had a drink while Victoria left.

Rogers looks at Henry's book and stares at the picture of the character Emma who looks like a person he remembers. Penelope finds a quarter while cleaning and remembers what she did with Samantha earlier. Henry goes homes and sets up his laptop and realises that his opening line needs to be 'once upon a time'. Penelope goes to the well and decides that she needs to make a wish. Ivy walks along the street, depressed after having to deal with her mother all day and see Penelope at the well. She watches her sister toss the coin into the well and makes a wish. Ivy smiles and continues in a better mood because of what she just saw. A rose then sprouted out the ground.

Chapter Text

Flashback Begins:

Hook and Henry are swordfighter on the Jolly Rodger when Henry gets the upper hand and holds his sword against Hook. Henry remarks "always watch the blade. I got it".

Emma remarked "wow. I'm impressed. You fight like your grandfather".

Henry told her "Mom, we're practicing".

Hook then used his sword to disarm Henry and said, "actually we just finished. Like I told you, always keep your eye on the blade".

Henry responded angrily "what's the point. I'm never gonna be good enough".

Henry walked away and Emma said to Hook "what's going on with him lately".

Hook responded, "I think you know, Emma. He's almost grown".

Emma said, "he's about to leave home, isn't he".

Hook responded "aye".

Emma said "I'm gonna go talk to him".

Hook asked "what, to stop him".

Emma said "I've missed so much already. I don't wanna".

Hook told her "This isn't an ending, Emma. There's more to come".

Emma quickly responded, "but we don't know for sure. What if I don't get a second chance".

Hook told her "It's gonna be okay. I have something to make things a little less terrifying".

Hook got out a bottle with clear liquid inside. Emma remarked "a little bottle of rum because I wouldn't say no".

Hook correct her "it's a little bottle of magic. You speak your message in here in here, add the name of your favourite pirate, drop it in the water and before you can say yo-ho-ho. It'll find the person you seek".

Emma said, "a message in a bottle". She then kissed Hook and told him "Thank you".

Hook told her "Look, he's grown into a fine young lad, and he is lucky to have a mother like you".

Emma said, "he's lucky to have a pirate like you".

They both looked at Henry and Hook told her "He's gonna be fine".

Flashback Ends:

Rodgers went to Henry's apartment. He knocked on the door and Henry answered "officer Rodgers. Uh, hey. Hi. Why are you here at six in the morning".

Rodgers answered, "I have some questions that can't wait". He then asked, "would you like some coffee".

Henry responded "look, if this is about Samantha and Penelope. I feel terrible about what I did".

Rodgers told him "No, no, no, no. This is about something else. I read your book and there's something in there that I can't get out my head. So um, can you tell me who this woman is".

Rodgers showed him the page of the picture of Emma. Henry answered, "uh yeah, she's a character, in a book of fiction".

Rodgers responded, "I understand that. Um I feel like, I've met her before. Now, did you base her on someone, somebody real".

Henry admitted "truth is. I made her up".

Rodgers closed the book and said "okay. Sorry to bother you".

Rodgers began to leave, and Henry asked "actually, um, while you're here, there's something maybe you can help me with. I've been trying to find where some family of mine are buried. I keep hitting dead ends".

Rodgers told him "It's not exactly my department, but I'll see what I can do".

Henry responded, "thank you". He then said, "oh and uh, you were the one who picked up Penelope and Samantha, huh".

Rodgers answered "yes".

Henry asked, "how are they".

Rodgers answered, "as of yesterday, not great".

Penelope went to Clairemont towers and went up to Ivy. She said to her "Samantha's ballet recital. Victoria was supposed to leave a ticket".

Ivy responded, "mother's decided that the performance is now a charity event for disadvantaged children. She's made the ticket's $550 each, and specifically said no exceptions".

Penelope responded, "Five hundred and fifty dollars".

Ivy responded, "yeah, and she's still making me go".

Victoria left her meeting and Penelope said aloud "hey, you know my paycheck is 500. You want this just out of reach".

Victoria told her "My assistant set the price".

Penelope responded "come on Victoria. I am trying here. I got my job back. I just want to see Samantha. People should be given a second chance".

Victoria told her "Second chances aren't given. They're earned".

Victoria walked back into her office and Penelope was about to leave disheartened trying to think of what to do. She began to leave, and Ivy called out "Penelope wait". Penelope walked back and Ivy said, "here take mine".

Ivy handed Penelope her ticket and Penelope smiled at the ticket before turning to Ivy and asked "why, why would you do this for me".

Ivy answered "because I have work to do Penelope and you're just gonna keep bothering me because you can't go. And I don't want to go to your kids thing anyway, I have better shit to do today, so there have it".

Penelope responded, "thank you, sis".

Ivy responded, "now get outta here and go to your kid's stupid thing before mother finds out because once you're there, there's nothing she can do about it". Penelope smiled and left the building.

Flashback Begins:

Henry and Prince Matthew approach the palace. Prince Matthew tells him "Lady Clairemont has gotten both Penelope and Drizella thrown into the dungeon".

Henry remarks "good thing I was just there. So, I know where to go".

They sneak inside and down below into the dungeon. They see Lady Clairemont in the room and hide against the wall. Lady Clairemont says to Drizella and Queen Penelope "I have to say that I'm disappointed in both of you. After everything I've done for you girls, this is how you repay me. You reject the prince and when I have her punished. You step in and stop me".

Queen Penelope said, "I would not let you throw her in here all because she didn't want to marry the prince".

Lady Clairemont said "I thought you'd understand Penelope that this was for Drizella's best interest. She needed this".

Drizella responded "no mother, you needed this".

Lady Clairemont answered "yes because I wanted my daughters to succeed. Now all three failed me. Anastacia's in another realm, Penelope your husband is upset with you, and Drizella obviously can't do a single thing for herself, let alone her mother. You girls no nothing about respect for me or what you've been given so I will have to teach it to you". Lady Clairemont raised her hands and both Penelope and Drizella were thrown against the wall in their cage".

Drizella said "you have magic, mother".

Lady Clairemont responded "Yes, my dear I do. I realised after Anastacia that I needed to be able to set you back on the right path when you inevitably failed me. So, you two will go learn respect before I send you out there and plead for forgiveness from me, your husband, and Prince Matthew. And Drizella I just hope he's willing to give you another chance after you embarrassed yourself like you did. So will you two behave and do what you're told".

Drizella answered "yes mother".

Queen Penelope answered, "yes mother".

Lady Clairemont responded "good, now I'll get your husband and find Prince Matthew and await your sincerest apology".

Lady Clairemont left the dungeon and walked past Prince Matthew and Henry without noticing them. Henry and Prince Matthew went down to the cells and Henry told them "Don't worry we're here to get you out".

Drizella said "really. How. My mother has magic".

Queen Penelope continued "and don't forget my husband's guards".

Henry told them "A distraction is what we need, and I know exactly what to do". Henry got his message in a bottle out. He poured out the liquid and spoke "I need a distraction to help me escape from a castle with their prisoners. Send Emma, Regina, and Captain Hook". Henry dropped the bottle into the water and the message was delivered.

They waited and Prince Matthew asked, "we've been waiting longer than I expected, how long should this take".

A portal opened in the roof and Henry said "now".

Hook and Regina dropped into the room. Queen Penelope and Drizella upon seeing Regina screamed "the Evil Queen".

Regina responded "right, here they still think I'm evil".

Henry told them, "It's okay, she's not who you think she is". He then said to Regina "she's my mom".

Regina said happily "oh Henry you, you grew up".

Henry responded, "I did".

Regina held her son's face and said, "you look good. I just".

Henry hugged her and said "I know, I know. I missed you, too".

They let go and Hook said to Henry while holding the message in the bottle, "I'm bloody glad that you sent this".

Henry responded, "that makes two of us".

Hook asked, "now Henry what do you need help with".

Henry answered "us four need to make an escape from here. Lady Clairemont has magic and is after us. We need a distraction but, where's my other mom".

Hook answered "Emma. Well, she's back in Storybrooke. She's fighting a swarm of tiny, irritating dragons. Nothing she can't handle".

Henry responded with a Smile "sounds like mom". He then said to Regina "now mom can we free these lovely young ladies".

Regina said "of course". Regina magically opened the cell and Queen Penelope asked, "did we just get saved by the Evil Queen".

Prince Matthew remarked "yeah, Henry when you said that you were sending for help, I didn't expect this".

Henry told them "This is my mom, Regina. I know what you might think but there is no longer an Evil Queen".

Drizella remarked "good because I just found out my mother was a witch; I didn't need to deal anymore".

Hook said, "come on everyone, if we wanna get outta here before they come back".

Henry, Drizella, Prince Matthew, and Queen Penelope leave the dungeons, and Hook is about to follow when he is stopped by Regina. Regina asks, "what in the hell was that. Why did you just lie to Henry".

Hook answered "because that's what Emma wanted. If he knew what really happened, he'd drop everything and come back. She wants to let him get on with his life".

Regina said, "well I think she's wrong".

Hook responded "well, that's not your decision. We have to respect Emma's wishes".

They follow Henry's lead and exit the dungeons. They immediately came face to face with the guards Regina said to the guards "stand aside vermin. The Queen has returned".

The guards dropped their weapons and ran. Prince Matthew remarked "you didn't need to do anything, they just ran".

Regina responded "sometimes being the Queen has its benefits. Now let's get out of here before we send this entire realm into panic". Then then left the palace.

Flashback Ends:

Rodgers saw Weaver outside the police station. Weaver said to him "first day as my partner and you're late".

Rodgers responded, "but my shift doesn't start for another hour".

Weaver asked, "do you why you were partnered with me".

Rodgers answered, "because I worked hard, and I paid my dues".

Weaver corrected him "because I chose you, some of the boys said he can't do the job, not with that fake hand of his. But I picked you anyway".

Rodgers said, "I don't even know you. Why would you pick me".

Weaver answered, "that's the real question isn't it. Maybe someday, when you learn how to become a real detective, you can answer it for yourself". He then told him "Now get in. Big day ahead of us. New guy drives".

Penelope and Sabine were drinking at Roni's and Sabine remarked "I can't believe Ivy just gave you it. Do you think it's a trap".

Penelope answered "no, this time she was being nice".

Sabine said, "Ivy's never nice, something has to be going on".

Penelope responded "not this time. Ivy did something nice for me and even tried to play it off that she wasn't. I've known Ivy longer than I can remember and she's never done anything like this before, she even went against Victoria".

Sabine remarked "well someone doing that is a miracle on its own but since it's Ivy. We need to make sure she's not been abducted and replaced because if she has, we need to become friends with her".

Penelope and Ivy laughed as Henry entered the bar and went up to them Henry said "hey".

Sabine realised it was Henry and said to Penelope "oh this is Henry. I gotta hop. You've got five".

Sabine left and Henry sighed before telling Penelope "Look, what I did yesterday was wrong. I should've just said I'm sorry". He then told her "So, this is me trying to apologise".

Penelope responded "well thanks but now I have to rely on my sister actually being nice to me to actually see my daughter. So, Henry Mills goodbye and so you don't bother me again. I accept your apology. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go sell chicken before my daughters performance".

Penelope went and Henry went over to Roni and said, "I need a drink".

Roni responded, "yeah you do but she forgave you, so you accomplished that".

Henry said, "as much as I hated being forced into their lives, I hated what I did".

Roni said, "well she's going to see her daughter anyway so, you didn't screw up that much". Henry accepted this and was happy that she was going to see her daughter.

Victoria was given a bouquet of roses from Samantha with a note that said 'These just started blooming yesterday. Now you can look at them all the time! Samantha'. Victoria put the note away and Weaver entered the room and told her "Well, that's quite a look. You want them just to wilt or burst into flames". Weaver then smelt the roses and said "you know roses were my wives favourite flower. I gave her a bouquet every week".

Victoria responded "yes and she died because of you didn't she. How you failed to save her and your son if I remember correctly".

Weaver shrugged the comment off and asked, "why did you call us here, Victoria".

Victoria responded "I called you, Detective, because I have a job for you. I need you both to make a little problem go away. A sad little man, named Henry Mills. Today, he was seen with Penelope at that bar again. He's a bad influence on my family. So, dig up something. Unless either of you have a problem with that".

Weaver and Rodgers left, and Rodgers asked "what in the hell was that. Why are we taking orders from Victoria Clairemont. We don't work for her".

Weaver responded "you're right we don't work for her. We work for me".

Flashback Begins:

They stopped in the nearby forest and Prince Matthew remarked "now that we're away from that palace, we need to get out of this kingdom".

Hook said "yeah, we'll go quickly down to the port, there's one nearby I can smell the salt water. And we'll get you all on a ship".

Queen Penelope said aloud "no, I am or was Queen of the kingdom. I will be recognised, and my former husband and my stepmother will find out".

Hook responded "right, since I'm the one that will be noticed the least. I'll go and arrange transport. You seek safety nearby as a arrange everything".

Regina said, "I think Henry would be fine maybe it'll be a good chance for you two to talk".

Hook responded, "no it's better if I go alone in case anyone did notice him but not to worry, I will be back soon". Hook then left for the port

Flashback Ends:

They both went to Roni's bar, and she asked Weaver "and why are you in my bar".

Weaver answered "well, you're the only one who know this town as well as I do". He then said, "I hear Henry Mills was in here today".

Roni responded "bartender's like a therapist. I don't share secrets".

Weaver asked, "is that so".

Roni answered "yep".

Weaver responded "well that's okay. I always get my answers". Weaver had his drink before telling Rodgers "Pay for the drink".

Rodgers paid and told Rodgers "Hey, even as a beat cop, I'm sure you heard to be careful around him, right".

Rodgers responded, "I can take care of myself".

Ronis told him "Yeah, listen Weaver brings a lot of new partners in here and not a lot of them come back. So, ask yourself. How badly do you want this job".

Flashback Begins:

Hook arrived at the port and was followed by the wish realm version of himself. Wish Hook said "yo-ho-ho. Captain Hook".

Hook responded, "who knows me in this world". Hook drew out his sword and said, "Give me your name".

Wish Hook responded, "why would I give you my name". Wish Hook revealed himself to Hook and said, "when you already have it".

Hook put away his sword and said "I heard of you. Of me, from here".

Wish Hook responded, "So, Emma did mention me. It's always nice to make an impression".

Hook said, "yeah, like a bad dream. Everything here is just a twisted version of the truth. Like a cracked mirror. You're just a different me and thankfully I'm not you".

Wish Hook responded, "well then what did that sweet lass say about me, huh".

Hook answered, "she told me she ran into a drunken-fool version of me".

Hook tried to leave but Wish Hook stopped him and asked, "what's the, what's the matter, Captain Youthful. Are you afraid of what you might become. You see, our stories were the same, up to a point. But here, Regina's curse was never cast, and that's when our tales parted ways, and that's when you found love and happiness, but I found misery and heartbreak.

Hook responded "And cheap rum apparently. Now what do you want from me".

Wish Hook said, "that's the 100- Doubloon question, isn't it. You see, I always thought Captain Hook could never find love, but then, in another realm, I realised. You had. With Emma Swan. So, I wondered this realm trying to find her once again. But where was she. I couldn't find her. Then today the answer literally jumped into my hand".

Wish Hook got out the message in the bottle and opened it. Henry's message played. Hook remarked "that's my bottle".

Wish Hook corrected him "and our bottle. It's magic sent Henry's message to both Captain Hook's". He then said "Now. I know Emma's here, and I aim to take her from you. So, tell me, where is she".

Wish Hook collapsed and Hook responded "Enough. I don't owe an answer to a man soaked in rum and self-pity".

Hook helped the Wish version of himself up and Wish Hook said "oh, I may be soaked in self-pity, but. No, the truth is. I haven't touched a drop of rum for years". Wish Hook knocked Hook out and put him onto a cart before covering him up.

Flashback Ends:

Rodgers left and Weaver remarked "there he is taking his sweet time. Now let's find this Henry Mills".

Rodgers responded, "I'm not doing that".

Weaver asked "why what's wrong, detective. Afraid we're going too far".

Rodgers said "I don't think we're going far enough. We've got a job. Let's do it. I have a way of getting it done now".

Weaver responded, "ooh does someone have a dark side".

Rodgers told him "I'm not the man you think I am".

Flashback Begins:

Wish Hook strolled down the port until he found Lady Clairemont. He called out "my Lady Clairemont, an honour it is to see you".

Lady Clairemont turned and said, "Captain Hook your reputation precedes you but looking at you now. I wonder what of that is actually true".

Wish Hook responds, "it's all true, all of it".

Lady Clairemont asked, "then what is it do you want Captain because if this is a waste of my time, I will give you a second Hook, Hook".

Wish Hook told her "I can help you with your daughters and also get rid of your Henry Mills problem".

Lady Clairemont said, "I knew the second he ran into my carriage that he was trouble, but I never expected this". She then asked, "So Hook, can you really get rid of Henry Mills and get me back my girls".

Wish Hook answered, "of course I can but it will come at a price, which I know you can pay".

Lady Clairemont sighed and asked, "what is it you want".

Wish Hook answered, "a woman".

Lady Clairemont sighed "Oh".

Wish Hook continued "named Emma Swan".

Lady Clairemont asked, "what makes you think this Emma Swan would possibly love you".

Wish Hook answered, "because she's already fallen in love with another Captain Hook from another realm. Now, that Captain Hook is dying of thirst, tied under a cart in a filthy alley down there". He then said "Now, I managed to get a little bit of fresh blood before I left him. And I want you to make me like him".

Lady Clairemont agreed "we have a deal". Wish Hook opened the vial and Lady Clairemont used magic on the blood to transform Wish Hook into his younger self. Looking now exactly like Hook. Lady Clairemont asks, "how did you know I wielded magic".

Wish Hook answered "like you said my reputation precedes me. I know someone with magic when I see them".

Hook arrived at the cottage where Regina, Henry, Penelope, Drizella, and Matthew were. Henry asked Regina "so tell me about home. How is it back there".

Regina answered "well Granny's added poke, Archie's seen business go down because of all the. Well, happy endings but, on the flip side, his wedding officiating has gone way up". Regina laughed at this.

Henry asked, "my family, grandma, grandpa".

Regina answered, "as you can imagine, sickeningly happy".

Henry said, "you left out one person, you. How are you, mom".

Regina answered "I'm, I'm fine".

Henry knowing that she was lying said "mom".

Regina admitted "I miss you".

Henry responded, "I know. I miss you too. I do". He then asked, "and Emma, everything's good with her".

Regina answered in confirmation that she is "hmm".

Henry knew something was wrong and asked "What. Is something going on with her".

Regina responded, "No. She's, she's fine". Regina said "enough about what we've been through. I want to hear about you and your friends, what's your story".

Henry answered "well, we only all met last night. I was on my way to a portal back to Storybrooke when I nearly hit Drizella's carriage who she was traveling with her mother Lady Clairemont". Drizella raised her hand. Henry continued "She was going to a ball to hopefully get married to Prince Matthew". Matthew raised his hand. Henry continued "I saw that she wasn't interested and danced with her myself. I told her that everybody deserved true love, and she didn't need to be with someone she didn't. That's when Queen Penelope". Penelope raised her hand. Henry continued saying "she threw me in the dungeon so they could. Penelope then freed me and showed me them talking which I took as her falling for him because unlike her marriage he was an actually good person that she could love, but it really was just them realising and telling each other that they didn't. I left the ball and Lady Clairemont finding out what happened went to punish Drizella and Penelope tried to stop her and protect her sister. They were both locked up and Matthew went to get me to help free them".

Regina responded "wow now that's an interesting day. I'm glad I could be a part of it".

Drizella said "I'm happy to know that you're on our side and no longer evil".

Matthew remarked "although the guards not knowing that certainly helped, especially when they ran away screaming in fear".

Everyone laughed at this, and Penelope said, "that was best thing that I've ever seen, those guards that are usually terrifying, running away".

Everyone laughed again and Wish Hook entered the cottage and told everyone "Good news, I've secured passage out of this land for the three of them".

Drizella asked "what about Henry".

Wish Hook responded, "I thought the young lad was coming home with us".

Henry admitted "well I'm unsure about that yet. I don't really know what I should do but how's Emma, are you sure everything all right at home".

Wish Hook responded "well, you know, a Saviour. Ticklish, tall".

Regina interrupted "Emma's fine Henry".

Henry responded, "well it's seems, something is off so tell me".

Emma entered and said, "last I checked, I'm fine".

Henry was overjoyed to see her and responded "mom" before going over to hug her.

Emma laughs and says "oh my God. Look at you. Oh".

Henry responded, "I know, I know, it's been a while".

Emma said, "I've missed you kid".

Henry responded, "me too. I thought something was wrong".

Emma told him "No it's. It's nothing like that at all. I'm, I'm fine. It's just, Killian told me to wanted me to rest, but I couldn't wait any longer. I had to make sure you were both okay and I just, I wanted to tell you myself".

Henry asked, "tell me what".

Emma answered, "I'm pregnant". Wish Hook hearing this realised that he screwed up.

Henry told her "You're gonna be great".

Emma said, "I hope so, kid. I mean, neither of us have done the diapers and the feedings thing. It's, it's what I missed with you".

Henry told her "Mom, you did okay with me".

Emma said, "I know, but, you know, it just, it took a long time to find each other and find ourselves, and Now, we both made mistakes, and we both can learn from them, and we both can do something good from the start".

Regina muttered to herself, "well it was a good thing I was there when you made those mistakes".

Matthew, Penelope, and Drizella heard the muttering but not what was said. Matthew remarked "we definitely found ourselves in family drama". Drizella and Penelope both nodded and agreed to this.

Wish Hook said, "I've always tried to do good".

Emma seeing his distress said "Killian".

Wish Hook told her "I've done something. I. I have to fix it".

Wish Hook left the cottage and Emma said "Killian".

Flashback Ends:

Weaver and Rodgers went to Henry's apartment and broke in. Rodgers asked, "how do you like my search warrant".

Weavers remarked "not a bad start. Let's see how you go on".

They search the apartment, and Rodgers can't find anything and says "nothing. Zero dirt on this guy".

Weaver told him "Use your eyes, not your hands and look at what you missed".

Weaver shows Rodgers a children's book and a doll. Rodgers said, "it's a girl".

Weaver said, "I'd say this man had a daughter, doesn't live here now, probably divorced".

Rodgers said, "either way, it's hardly dirt".

Weaver told him "Don't be so literal. We're here to find points of vulnerability. And a daughter, that's the grand prize. Unless that somehow bothers you, because uh seeing as how". Weaver plays with the lightbulb and says, "you've been here before. I need you to be either a good detective or extremely loyal to me and at this point, I'm pinning all my hopes on loyal". Weaver then said "now you can see why I would be concerned if you lied to me. Are you loyal".

Rodgers told him "Try me".

Weaver answered "oh, I will. I most certainly will".

Penelope turned up to Samantha's ballet recital and sat down next to Victoria. Victoria said "Penelope, it seems that you managed to get a seat, Ivy's seat".

Penelope responded "yes, she kindly gave it to me so I could see my little girl".

Victoria said, "well then I hope you enjoy the show".

Penelope responded, "I'm seeing my daughter of course I will enjoy it".

Victoria smiled and remarked "So my daughter disobeyed me, she is so getting punished for this".

Penelope asked, "Victoria why do you care so much, Ivy didn't want to come anyway".

Victoria answered, "because my daughters continuously disobey me and let me down, even though I've done literally everything for the both of you".

Penelope told her "We have our own lives, Victoria. We need to do what we want and not what you want".

Victoria glared at Penelope before turning away and facing the front.

The curtains opened and the girls begun their performance. Samantha immediately saw her mother and smiled at her happy to see her there. Penelope smiled back and Victoria saw this and became angry. The performance finished and Samantha ran up to Penelope and hugged her exclaiming "you're here, you came".

Penelope told her "Of course I came. I wouldn't miss this for the world. You were excellent".

Victoria said neutrally "well done Samantha. I'm very proud of you. You performed very well".

Samantha responded "thank you grandma. I'm happy you came as well".

Victoria told her "You are my granddaughter so of course I'm here". She then said, "now Samantha it's time to go home".

Samantha moaned and said, "can't I stay with mom a little while longer".

Victoria answered "no Samantha. It's time to go home".

Samantha hugged her mother and said, "I love you mom",

Penelope responded, "I love you too baby".

They stopped and Victoria put her arm around Samantha and said, "goodbye Penelope. I'm so glad you could make it".

Penelope responded, "goodbye Victoria. I'm so glad that I could see my daughter".

Samantha smiled at Penelope and Victoria began to lead Samantha away from her.

Flashback Begins:

Wish Hook went back to find Hook but when he reached the cart, he couldn't find him. Wish Hook looked around and said, "where are you, we have to talk".

Hook came up from behind and grabbed Wish Hook. Hook remarked "Talk. More like finish me off".

Wish Hook pleaded "no, wait".

Hook began to fight Wish Hook and Hook managed to get Wish Hook's knife and stab him with it. Hook said "tried to finish me off. Well, it looks like you finished yourself off".

Wish Hook told him "I didn't come here to kill you. I came here to set you free".

Hook responded not believing him "Aye and why would you do that. And when did you get so young".

Wish Hook admitted "I was gonna take your place".

Hook responded, "oh, you are a bastard".

Wish Hook said "but Emma. She's here".

Hook asked, "is she okay".

Wish Hook answered, "yeah, she's fine. And, and yes, I know you're to be a father. And I couldn't. I. I wouldn't get between a father and his child".

Hook asked, "and what kind of deception is this".

Wish Hook told him "Because a child. That's why I'm doing this in the first place. I left my daughter. I got scared of being a parent and ran from her".

Flashback Ends:

Weaver and Rodgers were still searching Henry's apartment when Henry entered and saw them. Henry asked, "what are you doing officer Rodgers".

Weaver went over and shook Henry's hand before introducing himself "I'm detective Weaver, Mr Mills. Me and my new partner heard of a disturbance here and entered to check it out but not to worry, we had a look around and there's nothing to worry about. We were just about to leave when you entered".

Henry asked, "and you had to break in, to my apartment to do it".

Weaver responded, "no Mr Mills but I can see why you would think that, wouldn't we Rodgers".

Rodgers said, "sorry to intrude like this mate, we need to keep you safe".

Henry asked, "well since you're done, can you leave now".

Weaver responded, "of course Mr Mills. Now you have a lovely day".

Weaver and Rodgers began to leave when Rodgers turned back and said "we were searching your apartment for something to use against you. Victoria Clairemont ordered us to".

Henry responded "Victoria Clairemont".

Rodgers answered "yes, she hates how you were with Penelope and Samantha".

Henry asked, "does Victoria Clairemont control the police".

Rodgers answered, "no but she wanted us to investigate you, but we found nothing".

Henry responded, "because there is nothing to find and why are you telling me".

Rodgers answered "because I'm a police officer, not her servant. And I'm sorry, for everything".

Rodgers left and Weaver closed the door behind them. Henry looked around in disbelief.

Flashback Begins:

Hook propped Wish Hook against a barrel and said "stay awake till Emma gets here. Tell me about your daughter".

Wish Hook said "I was drinking alone in a bar when a barmaid talked to me. I thought she came over to over me some services, but she saw how lonely I was. So, she decided to do the one thing I needed and just talk. We talked until morning. I never felt so loved and we, me and Mary continued to spend the rest of the day with her. She didn't like being there but had to look after herself and the night with me was the best she ever had. Then it continued into the bedroom aboard the Jolly Rodger that night. Soon we found out she was pregnant, so I decided to give up being a pirate for her. But after Alice was born".

Hook said, "you named her after mum".

Wish Hook answered "yeah. I thought it was perfect after seeing Mary with her, exactly like mum". He then said "but I got scared of my happiness going away so I left. It was the worst mistake I ever made, and I can't change it. So, I thought with Emma I could have another chance at happiness and this time not screw it up. I'm sorry I just wanted to have a second chance".

Emma came by and said "Killian. Who's that".

Hook told her "He's hurt. Please help him. It's me, from here, magically aged down. Please save him, he deserves his second chance".

Wish Hook chuckled and said "it's too late for me. Plus, I don't deserve one after what I did".

Hook told him "We all do, you can find Mary and Alice. Make it right".

Wish Hook said, "I tried but they're gone, and I have no idea where". Wish Hook was becoming weaker and laid his head against the barrel

Hook turned to Emma and said "Emma. Save him. He's me, so please save him and give him a chance at happiness".

Emma nodded and went over to Wish Hook. She told him "Hey Killian". Wish Hook looked at her as she continued "you don't know me, but I know you. The man I fell in love with, until we met, he was you. Which means there's hope for you and all you need to do is believe. Hey, hey, just look at me and believe". Hook looked at her and believed in both her and him. Emma's hand began to glow, and his wound was now healed.

Wish Hook looked at the wound before turning to Emma and telling her "Thank you".

Flashback Ends:

Rodgers and Weaver left the building and Weaver asked, "what was that".

Rodgers answered, "he's an innocent man who lost a daughter. I couldn't continue to do what we did to him". He then asked, "so am I just out of a partner, or am I out of a job too".

Weaver responded "you asked me why I chose you. Because you wanted it so damn much. I thought you'd do just about anything to keep it, cross any line. Then, right in there I caught a glimpse of something, something in you I thought was extinct. A moral core. And that believe it or not is exactly what I wanted. Now I need to go have a chat with Ms Clairemont, see ya around partner".

Rodgers immediately thought this had something to do with Weaver's wife and ask "Weaver, is the reason you're looking for someone with a moral core because of your wife".

Weaver answered "yes".

Rodgers asked, "what happened to her".

Weaver answered "I wasn't there for my wife Lacey or my son Gideon when they needed me. I wasn't the best husband. I lied to her constantly. Abused the love she had for me. And ruined the best thing I ever had. She was the love of my life, but I didn't treat her like the beautiful Queen she was. Then one day she called me begging to come home, she was scared because she thought someone was following her. I ignored her and even told her that she was crazy and deserved to be locked in an asylum for 28 years. I came home that night to find their bodies in the living room. They were shot dead, and I saw that my wife used her last moment to try and protect Gideon. She was the best mum and the best wife. So, I'd give anything to have a second chance to go back and be there for them. To tell my wife that I loved her and would always protect her. That I would be the husband she deserved and strive to achieve that every day. Rodgers listened to him and Weaver began to leave. Rodgers now understood why Weaver wanted someone with a moral core and knew what he had to do now.

Weaver went to Victoria, and she immediately asked, "so what have you found on Henry Mills".

Weaver told her "Ms Clairemont, you do not employ me, you do not own me, and you most certainly control me. Up until now, our goal have aligned. They may not always. Think about that when you ask stuff from me next time".

Weaver began to leave, and Victoria asked because she didn't get her answer "what about Henry Mills".

Weaver entered the elevator and answered, "I already told you Ms Clairemont that I only will work with you when our goals aligned and at the moment they don't align". The elevator closed and Victoria grunted in anger and threw her glass of wine at the wall.

Flashback Begins:

The next day Henry went over to Emma walking the motorcycle and said, "it took me a while, but I got my motorcycle back here". He then asked Emma "so you good. You and Hook".

Emma answered "Yeah. Great. We're a family, almost".

Henry told her "I had to go".

Emma responded, "I know. I didn't always like it, but I know".

Henry asked "So, you're not here to drag me back".

Emma asked, "do you wanna come back".

They both laughed and Henry said "I, I do, I do want to. But I still haven't found my story".

Emma told him "Maybe you already did".

Henry confused asked "what".

Emma said "look at them over there. You found them on your own and you wanna be with them I know it. I heard it when you asked about being dragged back home. Your thoughts were about them and helping them. And they need you, Henry. So, I think you found your story where everyone finds what they're looking for. When you stop looking". They both giggled and Emma told him "Now go live your story and if that story leads back to me, then that when I will see you again".

They hugged and Henry said, "I love you mom".

Emma said "I love you too Henry and I'm gonna have to admit that I'm not okay with us being apart and I'm gonna miss the hell out hell out of you. But I need to give you what you gave me when you were a kid. You brought me to my family and now I need to let you find yours".

Henry and Emma hugged again and both Hook and Wish Hook walked over. Hook sat down next to them and said, "we are gonna miss you m'boy".

Emma kissed Hook and Wish Hook said "thank you for what you've done for me. You've given me a second chance and I'm gonna use it to find Mary and Alice. I will find them and be there for them".

Hook responded, "I don't doubt it. We all deserve a second chance, so now that you have it, don't waste it".

Wish Hook said, "I won't but I just wish I knew the first step to take".

Henry said "yeah, me too".

Emma stood up and said, "team up".

Henry exclaimed "what".

Emma said to Wish Hook "you need Henry. You made the wrong choices and now want to make it right and Henry always knows the right thing to do. And I think I'd feel better knowing that some sort of Killian was looking out for him".

Henry agreed "I'm in if you are".

Wish Hook agreed "all right". They then both shook hands.

Hook said "someone better go get Regina. Storybrooke awaits".

Henry went over to Regina who was with Penelope, Drizella, and Matthew. Henry told them all "I'm staying, and we're gonna find our way out of the mess of your mother that I'm somewhat to blame for, and also Hook from here is coming with us".

Drizella responded "you're not to blame Henry, you gave us hope and that hope inspired all of us to stand our ground and do what was right".

Matthew agreed "yeah buddy, you coming over inspired Drizella and both of you inspired me".

Penelope said, "all three of you inspired me".

Regina said, "see Henry, this is what you do to people, what you did for me most of all, but I must ask, and especially as your mother are you sure you won't come with us".

Henry hugged her and said, "I'll be back".

Regina responded "I know. I just". Regina groaned and said, "I hate being apart".

Henry thought about it and asked, "why don't, why don't you come with us".

Regina asked, "with you, other Hook, and your friends".

Henry said "why not. Look, your story's not over. Maybe you need to be here to find it and none of us could have even got here without you". Matthew, Penelope, and Drizella all agreed. Henry continued "and maybe I need you here too".

Regina grabbed his hands and held them to her and asked "well, can this be one of your operations".

Henry said, "how about, Operation Next Chapter".

Regina was happy with this and said, "let's go say goodbye".

They all went over to Emma and Hook. Emma hugged Henry and cried, "I love you, kid".

Henry responded, "I love you too, mom".

Hook told Henry "Best of luck m'boy".

Henry responded, "thank you and take my motorcycle back with you. I no longer need it here anymore".

They accepted and Emma then kissed Henry on the forehead before they both got on the motorcycle. Hook threw a magic bean, and a portal opened in front of them. Emma turned back and saw the group of six watching them. Emma clutched her stomach protectively and tears began to roll down her cheek looking at them. She knew this was the future for Henry and needed to support it. Henry and Regina smiled at them as Emma turned and Hook started the motorcycle, and they rode through the portal back to Storybrooke.

Flashback Ends:

Henry was drinking at Roni's again and Rodgers walked in and sat down next to him. Henry saw him and asked, "here to tell me you broke into my apartment again officer".

Rodgers told him "No, I'm here to help you". Rodgers placed a file down and told him "Addresses. A list of all the cemeteries in Seattle. I couldn't find the names that you were looking for. So, I thought that might be a good place for you to start".

Henry responded "thank you, and thanks for telling me about what Victoria Clairemont wanted. I have no idea what that woman problems is".

Rodgers responded, "I wish I knew as well".

Henry asked "so officer Rodgers after today you owe me this. Why did you want to know if the illustration of my character Emma was based off of someone real".

Rodgers answered "My first year on the job. I was responding to a burglary. I searched down the alley and I got shot. I didn't see who it was. And this woman came from nowhere. She placed her hand on my wound, and she told me to look her in the eye and said if you believe in me, this will work. She kept me alive until the ambulance arrived. The woman from your book. Now I didn't see her again, but she gave me a second chance, and I vowed to use it, to be a good cop, a hero that actually helped people. Like her, the woman from your book. That's why I told you what me and my partner were doing today".

Henry remarked "well I did create Emma to be a hero that inspired everyone around her, so who knows, maybe there is a real-life Emma Swan out there".

Roni came over and said, "well detective heard what you did today, all of it".

Rodgers responded, "I realised that I couldn't let Victoria Clairemont control me anymore".

Roni smiled and said, "anyone who says that gets a free drink". Roni got him another drink and said, "now the thing is, are you going to continue it".

Rodgers answered "hell yes, that woman has ruled this place with an iron fist for too long. It's time she is brought down".

Henry said, "after today, I'm up for that".

Roni said, "I've been waiting for people to want to for ages". Roni held up her drink and said "So, united against Clairemont". All three clinked their glass and were now a team up against Victoria Clairemont.

Chapter Text

Penelope sat on the couch and read a note from Samantha. Sabine came in and said, "morning P". She saw how depressed Penelope was and asked, "what is it". Penelope showed her the note and Sabine asked, "is that from Samantha".

Penelope answered "yeah. I miss her so much my heart hurts".

Sabine exclaimed in sympathy "oh".

Penelope told her "Ever since Victoria took her away, we've been writing letters and leaving them in the well at the community garden. So, she won't know".

Sabine responded "oh, honey, I'm so sorry". She then got a text from Louie about work and said, "it's Louie I'm late for work. Uh, look, I uh, I gotta go but you, you hang in there. You you're going to get her back. I promise".

Penelope remarked "I don't know. Maybe she's right. Maybe I am cursed".

Sabine told her "No, no, come here, come here". Penelope then went in for a hug and Sabine held her.

Henry went to Roni's bar, and she let him in. She said, "come on in. Our one-handed detective is already here". Henry walked in and saw Rodgers. Roni then saw that he was carrying a box and Roni asked, "what's that".

Henry answered, "wasn't sure what was appropriate for a gathering like this, so I picked up some doughnuts".

Roni responded, "right because the key to bringing down Victoria Clairemont is a bear claw".

Rodgers told Henry "Much appreciated mate. And you'll excuse Roni, she's a bit ornery".

Roni told Henry "Yeah, well, you're new around here Henry, so soon you'll be ornery too. Just give it time".

Rodgers said, "you brought us together because you said something".

Roni answered "Yes. Last night, I had a customer who works for the building commission. Got pretty drunk. Started spouting off about how he was going to make some real money off Clairemont. She needed him to do her a favour. Heard him say that they were meeting this afternoon in Hyperion Plaza, across from Clairemont Towers".

Henry said "bribes, public officials, redeveloping the neighbourhood at the expense of the new guy. This is good. This is really good". He then realised that both Roni and Rodgers thought his comment was weird and Henry corrected "I, I mean, it's bad. It's, It's bad. It's good for us because we're going against her but it's a bad thing".

Rodgers responded, "well said".

Henry said, "thank you".

Rodgers told them "I'll go stake it out. If I can get to the guy, maybe I can get him to give us info on everything Clairemont has her dirty little hands on".

Henry remarked "stake out, that sounds pretty cool. Always kind of wondered what one of those was like. Mind if I, uh, tag along with you".

Rodgers told him "Sorry mate. I think I'll be less conspicuous alone. Why don't you stick to your expertise and try and do a little research. Figure out who our target is".

Henry said, "so I'm research guy. Fun".

Roni chuckled and told him, "Baby steps". She then said, "I'll keep pouring drinks and make sure to keep my ears open".

Rodgers told Henry "Hey don't look so glum. You, uh, picked a hell of a bear claw".

Penelope went to the well to deliver her letter to Samantha. Victoria came over and said "how sweet. I know about the letters, and I'm afraid Samantha's not going to get that, or anything else you leave in that well for that matter".

Penelope asked, "what in the hell are you doing here".

Victoria told her "I've moved up my plans to build my condos. Demolition start today".

Penelope told her "Victoria, you can't. If not for me, then for Samantha. Look at what she's done here. This garden means the world to her".

Victoria responded "it's already done. I have the permits right here. No unless you want to be buried beneath it, I suggest you vacate the area".

Penelope told her "I'm gonna stop you".

Victoria told the workers "Start digging". The workers began to dig, and Penelope glared at Victoria.

At the police station Rodgers got info on the man Roni talked to Micheal Griffiths. Weaver remarked "paperwork, hardest part of the job".

Rodgers responded "yeah, or the dullest".

Weaver told him "Here's something else that's dull. Tag this for evidence for me, will you".

Rodgers responded "I'm afraid I can't. I've got something I have to take care of

Weaver asked, "oh really, and what would that be".

Rodgers told him "It's a court date. Uh, a parking ticket I wrote up before my promotion. I'm actually running a bit late".

Weaver responded, "ah well, the wheels of justice must keep turning, I suppose".

Rodgers told him "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look I won't be long.

Weaver responded "Who am I to stand in their way".

Rodgers left and Weaver didn't let his eyes of him. Rodgers began his stakeout. He watched as Micheal met up with Victoria. Victoria handed him a small envelope and Rodgers got out his phone. Weaver was watching this from afar.

Penelope went to Roni's and Roni said "oh hey Penelope. What can I do for you".

Penelope told her "I need help. The community garden's in trouble".

Roni remarked "if I had a nickel for every customer who came in with that".

Penelope told her "I'm serious. I don't know how it's happening so fast, but Victoria's ripping it up right now, getting it ready for her stupid condos. Samantha loves that garden so much. I can't let this happen".

Roni remarked to Henry "I guess we now know what that payout to the building commissioner was for".

Penelope saw Henry and sighed because he was there. Penelope had bigger issues to worry about and asked, "what payout".

Roni said, "Victoria's paying people for permits and we're trying to take her down".

Penelope asked, "you and Henry".

Henry told her "Yeah, she had the police raid my apartment".

Penelope went up to him and said, "I'm so sorry".

Henry told her "It's okay, it's why I'm here. To fight back against her".

Penelope said, "good I'm thankful someone besides from me is finally going against her".

Roni said "if she's paying people for permits. I say we beat her at her own game".

Roni got out the book and Penelope read the title "Hyperion Heights building codes".

Roni told them "If you want a liquor license in this neighbourhood, you gotta know a lot. And I know a lot. Section eight, covering neighbourhood businesses. An injunction can be called on any demolition, so long as the community deems the property essential to public good".

Penelope asked, "so how do we do that".

Roni answered, "a petition. Get enough people to sign and Clairemont's done".

Henry remarked "well look who's a leader of the people".

Roni chuckled and said, "Yes. I'm a regular Queen".

Flashback Begins:

Henry, Regina, Wish Hook, Drizella, Penelope, and Matthew were walking down the path trying to get out of the kingdom and away from Lady Clairemont as quickly as possible. They then saw ahead Lady Clairemont with a group of thirty knights with her. She ordered her knights "take my daughters and kill the rest".

Her knights then charged, and Henry, Matthew, and Wish Hook all drew their swords. They began to fight while Regina used her magic to keep Drizella and Penelope safe. They fought and after knocking a knight out, Henry was grabbed by two of them and called out "mom, help".

Regina instantly created a fireball in her hand and yelled "don't you dare touch my son". She threw the fireball, and it hit one of the knights in the chest. Henry was able to free him and punch the other one out. Henry exclaimed "thanks mom".

Regina responded "anytime, it's why I'm here".

Henry picked up his sword again and quickly began fighting the next knight. Wish Hook remarked "I think we're outnumbered, there's just too many of them".

Matthew asked, "then what do we do Hook because we're pretty pinned down".

At that moment a woman ordered "attack". A group of sixty knights came up from across the bridge and Lady Clairemont's knights began to retreat.

Lady Clairemont exclaimed in anger "do I have to do everything myself. I will take you all on if I have to, especially you the Evil Queen".

Lady Clairemont created a fireball in her hand and Regina sighed before immediately used her magic to throw her away. She hit a tree and looked up at Regina in anger. Regina told her "Really, you thought you could go against me in a witch fight. I'm the Queen and I have fought villains far more powerful than you could ever hope to be".

Lady Clairemont responded "this isn't over. I will have my revenge upon all of you, if it's the last thing I do".

Regina remarked "yeah, yeah heard that before".

Lady Clairemont vanished in smoke and the woman that saved them came up to them and said "hello I'm Queen Tiana. I saw you at the palace party and I thought that after what happened, you needed help".

Penelope said "yes, we do. My stepmother has turned my husband against us, and now all of our lives are in danger".

Tiana said "of course all of you are welcome to stay in my kingdom. No one deserves to be treated like you all have and we will protect you from your husbands knights".

Drizella remarked "I think we need to be more concerned about my mother, she has magic and want's to kill us".

Regina told her "Do not worry about that. She may be good but I'm better. There is nothing she can even attempt to do that I can't counter and deliver back 100 times worse".

Drizella smiled and Tiana said, "now let me show you your new home". They all began to follow Tiana across the bridge and into her kingdom.

Flashback Ends:

Samantha entered Roni's and found Henry. She said, "there you are".

Henry responded, "and here you are, in a bar".

Samantha showed him the petition and asked, "have you seen this. It's part of a petition. She's gotten 100 signatures already and you're helping. I knew you'd be back for my mom".

Henry told her "Listen Samantha, I'm not here about her, okay". He then corrected himself "Well, yeah, I guess I am right now but just to help her stop your step-grandmother from destroying the garden".

Samantha responded, "I get it".

Henry told her "It's the truth".

Samantha said "yeah, I know".

Henry told her "You know, you seem awful chipper, considering what's happening. I figured after all the work you put into saving the place, you'd be a little more upset".

Samantha asked, "why would I be, when it's making my mom fight. Don't you get it. She's starting to wake up. It's happening". Henry acknowledged this and Samantha asked, "can I tell you a secret".

Henry answered "yeah".

Samantha told him "This isn't really about the condos".

Henry responded, "it's not".

Samantha told him "It's about what's below the surface".

Henry asked, "what, you think there's something buried down there".

Samantha responded, "there's only one way to find out". They went to the dig site, and she told him "It's just like when you led Archie into the Storybrooke mines. Remember. And the Evil Queen had to stop you before you discovered Snow White's coffin was hidden down there".

Henry remarked "you mean in the book I made up".

Samantha responded "whatever. The point is. I bet there's something magical under the garden, something my grandmother wants to get her hands on before we do".

Henry remarked "honestly, one storyteller to another, it just seems a little, uh".

The workers hit something, and a worker told them "Woah, woah, woah, stop digging. We hit something".

They went to look, and Henry exclaimed "what the hell".

The worker told his fellow workers "Grab the caution tape and cordon off the area". He then said "call Clairemont".

Samantha said to Henry "told ya".

Samantha went over there, and Henry gave chase calling out to her "hey". They both looked down the hole and Henry told her "Hey, this doesn't prove anything".

Samantha responded, "I know but if I get my hands on whatever's down there, it will".

Samantha went down and Henry called out "Hey, Samantha, Samantha". He then yelled "Samantha". Samantha continued and Henry followed her.

Rodgers went to meet Micheal Griffiths and approached him. He said "Micheal Griffiths".

Rodgers sat down and Micheal responded "yeah". Micheal asked him "how do you know who I am".

Rodgers told him "I've been trying to track you all day. Name's detective Rodgers". Rodgers then showed him his badge.

Micheal said, "oh okay, good for you".

Rodgers said to him "I would like you to answer some questions about Victoria Clairemont".

Micheal answered "Hm, I don't know anything about her".

Rodgers responded "yeah". Rodgers tried to get the envelope from Micheal's jacket, but Micheal threw his hand away. Rodgers continued and said, "the bulge in your jacket would suggest otherwise".

Rodgers saw the money inside and place the envelope on the table. Micheal told him "Hey, you don't wanna do this".

Rodgers responded, "I assure you, I do".

Micheal said "So, how about you keep half of that, and I finish my empanada".

Rodgers told him "You're coming with me".

Rodgers put handcuffs on him and took him to the station.

Henry caught up to Samantha and said "Samantha, hey. What in the hell are you thinking. This tunnel could collapse".

Samantha responded, "No. It seems to have held up this long. Now come on and help. Grandma's definitely got something hidden down here somewhere".

Samantha continued on and Henry followed telling her "Samantha, I know this all seems a little magical, but it's not. It, they just built part of the new city over the old city".

Samantha responded, "yeah I know about the Seattle underground, but that doesn't mean something magical can't be buried down here". She then told him "You know what. I don't get it. Why is it so hard for you to believe the truth. That me and my mom are your real family".

Henry answered, "because it's crazy".

Samantha asked, "is it. Then tell me what happened when you went to the cemetery, where you said your wife and daughter were buried. The cemetery you said you never went to. Well, I bet you did after we met. So, what did you find".

Henry answered "they weren't there. Neither was the cemetery. It was like".

Samantha interrupted "Like it never existed. Yeah, because it didn't. All the memories of your family are fake. It's just the curse. They didn't really die".

Henry responded "m, maybe they moved the cemetery, or I could've had the wrong address all along". Samantha was annoyed by Henry rationalisation of everything. Henry told her "There is definitely a ration explanation, and I am gonna find them".

Samantha told him "No you won't, because you're fooling yourself. Your family isn't buried anywhere because they're not dead. That's the curse. We're right here. You just have to be willing to believe".

Samantha continued and Henry chased after her and said "Samantha".

Penelope was getting people to sign her petition and said to them "thanks for all your support. The gardens and I thank you". Another woman came up to her and she said "oh yes. Thank you" handing her the petition. The woman signed it, and she told her "Thank you so much, thank you". Penelope then saw a lot more people approaching her wanting to sign.

Henry and Samantha ran into a dead end. Henry said "sorry, but it looks like this is it, kid".

Samantha responded, "no. there's no way she's digging up that garden just to put in condos. There has to be something down here".

Henry said to her "come on, Samantha. It's getting late, okay and if she finds you down here with me, you're going to boarding school and I'm going somewhere a whole lot worse. Come on".

Samantha told him "I don't care, we have to keep looking".

Henry responded "Samantha, please can we just. This is dangerous down here".

Samantha sighed and said, "we're just not seeing it. Maybe we have to look closer".

Henry asked, "look closer at what, there's nothing here".

Samantha looked closer but couldn't find anything. Samantha threw her phone down and screamed "there's nothing here, there's nothing here, there has to be something here".

Henry got down and held her still. He then said calmy "it's okay, it's okay".

Samantha responded "no it's not. There is nothing down here. I can't prove anything to you".

Henry told her "I love that you enjoyed my book so much, not a lot of people did. But I'm so happy that my story touched you and gave you hope. That's what my story was about, hope. It was to give kids like you hope that you can get a happy ending".

Samantha told him "But it's real".

Henry responded "yes of course it's real. It's real hope and that's what we all need. Because of the book and the hope, it gave you to give to her, she's fighting right now for this garden, so let's go back and make the magic of Storybrooke real and help your mom fight your step-grandmother".

Samantha cried "okay".

Henry led her out and told her "Good because if I don't get you back right away, God knows what story your grandmother would cook up about me". They left the tunnel and began walking down the street. Henry said, "I'm sorry we didn't find anything Samantha, I wish we did".

Samantha told Henry "You can go home now Henry, I gonna go find my mom and I don't need you to help me".

Henry told her "I do want to make sure you're safe though, so how about we walk together until we find your mom".

Samantha responded "no, I'm fine. I really am and I'm sorry for dragging you down there for nothing".

Henry told her "It wasn't for nothing. Now we know that nothing is done there, but it doesn't mean that the hope you inspired in your mom wasn't real. She's fighting for you right now and that will always be real".

Samantha responded "yeah, and I'm okay. You can go now Henry. I'm okay".

Henry asked, "you sure".

Samantha answered "positive".

Henry responded, "well then she ya around kid".

Samantha said, "bye Henry".

Henry left and Samantha went to find her mother. Penelope was getting more people to sign her petition and told them after they signed "thank you so much, thank you".

Victoria turned up in her car and got out. She went over to Penelope and said, "oh. A petition. How quaint".

Penelope told Victoria "Sneer all you want. It's working".

Victoria responded, "is it. Well, that doesn't matter, since you're about to stop".

Victoria got out her iPad and Penelope flipped through the brochure of Victoria Clairemont's condos. Penelope remarked "a brochure of your crappy condos. Why would I care about that".

Victoria responded, "what if these crappy condos were yours, and Samantha's of course".

Penelope responded, "you're just gonna give it to me".

Victoria answered, "why not. All this fighting isn't getting us anywhere. This way, everyone wins".

Penelope remarked "especially you".

Victoria said to Penelope "think of the life you can give her, Penelope. I'm tired of being the bad guy and this is a peace offering. All you have to do is one small thing". Victoria got a lighter out and told Penelope "Burn the petition. For Samantha".

Penelope took the lighter and went over to the bin. She then lit the petition on fire and put it in the bin. Samantha saw this and said "mom".

Penelope asked "Samantha, what are you doing here".

Samantha asked "mom, why would you do this".

Penelope told her "Samantha I know this is hard for you understand, but I did it for us".

Samantha responded, "No. No, a hero does the right thing".

Penelope responded, "I'm not a hero. I am just your mother. And this is the right thing for us, Samantha. We need to be together, and I don't care how".

Samantha told her "I do. If this is what it takes. I don't wanna be together". Samantha then ran away.

At the police station, Rodgers saw Weaver talking to Micheal, giving him his business card, shaking his hand, and letting him go. Micheal smirked past Rodgers as he left, and Rodgers asked Weaver "what in the hell are you doing".

Weaver responded, "well, I should ask you the same. What was this, extracurricular work, is it".

Rodgers answered, "I'm doing my job, that man's a criminal".

Weaver responded "yeah, and you're a liar. Court date. Parking ticket. You opened up a case, unofficially. Why are you so interested in him".

Rodgers responded "what does it matter. He's a bad guy".

Weaver told him "It matters because he works for Victoria Clairemont and dealing with her requires a bit of finesse".

Rodgers responded "finesse. So, we're just supposed to let some low life walk the streets".

Weaver responded "sometimes, yes. Because now, when she makes a call to that lowlife, he makes one to me". Weaver then told him "Enjoy the rest of your day off" and walked away.

Penelope went to Roni's for a drink and Roni seeing how upset Penelope is asked "you all right".

Penelope answered "no, not even close".

Roni said, "let me guess. Victoria showed up and made you an offer you couldn't refuse".

Penelope asked, "how did you know".

Roni answered, "I've seen her M.O.".

Penelope responded "yeah, well, so did Samantha. She saw the whole thing".

Roni said "ugh, I'm so sorry".

Penelope told Roni "She has this idea that I'm some hero that always does the right thing. But I'm not, you know. I'm just human and I just want my kid back. How can that be wrong".

Roni told her "It's not. But this isn't about Samantha. It's never has been, it's about you. And you have to ask yourself, Penelope. What are you honestly willing to give up because the Victoria Clairemonts of the world, they will take everything you have if you let them".

Samantha was walking down the street when Ivy pulled into a parking spot near Samantha and called out "Samantha". Samantha turned and Ivy got out of the car. Ivy walked up to Samantha saying, "do you know how long I've been looking for you".

Samantha responded, "sorry aunty Ivy".

Ivy told her "Your grandmother has forced me to look for you ever since you ran away from her. She made me do it because I gave your mother my ticket for your performance. I'm being punished for you".

Samantha said, "sorry aunty Ivy".

Ivy told her "Now let's get in the car and back to grandma before she worries more, and I get punished". They both hear loud chatter and Ivy questions "what the hell is going on over there".

Samantha responds, "I don't know, let's check it out". Samantha decides to look and goes over there.

Ivy follows her and calls out "Samantha, Samantha".

They both see Penelope on some wooden boards and telling the crowd "Thank you for coming". Roni whistles to get everybody's attention. Penelope says "I know that some of you have already signed this once today and are probably wondering what this is all about. Well, I need you to sign it again". Chatter begun amongst the crowd and Penelope told them "I, I'm sorry. I let you all down. I let myself down". Ivy and Samantha entered the crowd as Penelope continued "And I put this defenceless little garden at risk. When I should have protected it. You see, this garden isn't was what it was supposed to be. I couldn't see that, but my Samantha did. She never stopped believing in it for a second. We're gonna show Victoria Clairemont that when you truly believe in something, you can change things. So, if you're willing to fight with me, sign this. And when you're done, start planting. We're gonna show Victoria Clairemont that we're not just gonna stop her from destroying this garden. We're gonna make something wonderful here together". Everyone but Ivy cheered, and Penelope went over to Samantha and gave her a hug. Penelope asked Ivy "so sis, you gonna be the first one to sign".

Ivy responded, "this is gonna make mother pissed but after forcing me to look for your kid all afternoon". Ivy smiled to Samantha and said, "Why not". Everyone cheered and Ivy signed the petition.

Penelope said, "thanks Ivy".

Penelope then hugged Ivy and Ivy at first didn't like it but then relented and sighed before remarking "you are my sister, and she's my niece so I should do something nice for the both of you".

Samantha said, "thank you aunty Ivy".

Samantha hugged Ivy and Ivy accepted. Ivy told her "You know I don't hate you kid, but you do also know that we gotta go or grandma will use this place to bury us".

Samantha let go and went back to hug her mother. Samantha told her "Bye mom, thank you for being my hero".

Penelope responded, "you've always been mine, so I had to do this for you". Samantha smiled at her mother.

That night Henry was walking down the streets of Hyperion Height when he finds the Hyperion Heights cemetery. He decides to enter and look for his wife and daughter. He looks around and finds their graves. He goes up to them and sees Jacinta Mills has beloved mother written on her grave and Lucy Mills has beloved daughter on hers. He remembered what it was like to lose them and began to have tears in his eyes thinking of them. He remembers writing his book to give himself hope when he needed it and chose fairytales because of Jacinta and how her name sounded like Cinderella or as she told him what Cinderella's name would be in the real world, or it would be Ashley and that was why in his book Cinderella's name was Ashley. The more he remembered his wife and daughter, the more depressed he became and more he wished them back.

Chapter Text

Flashback Begins:

Outside Granny's Mr Gold and Belle are setting up Gideon's first birthday party. Mr Gold took a picture of Belle with Gideon and Belle turned to him and told him "Rumple. I said no pictures, I'm, I'm not even ready for the party yet. I'm a mess".

Mr Gold responded, "you look beautiful".

Belle sighed and told him "You are gonna make me regret giving you that camera". She then read the list of what people where bringing "Regina, Zelena got balloons. Uh, Emma and Hook, cake". She then told Mr Gold while he was making faces at Gideon "oh, Snow and David are bringing bubble wands. I don't know. I guess baby Neal is obsessed with them".

Mr Gold said "Belle".

Belle responded "yes".

Mr Gold told her "Relax. It's a children's birthday party. As long as everyone turns up and Gideon ends up with birthday cake all over his face, it's a success".

Belle responded, "oh I know, you're right. It's just after all these years, I guess I'm used to the chaos. Maybe I should get, uh, un-used to it".

Mr Gold remarked "well, Storybrooke's certainly been quiet this past year. I can't even remember the last time I used the dagger". He then told her "I've got something for you. It's for all of us. For a family thing".

Belle opened her present and saw a travel book. Belle told him "Rumple it's, it's beautiful. I love it".

Mr Gold told her "It's for our travels. Belle. You have been so patient with me. Too patient. You've seen the man behind the beast when no one else could".

Belle responded, "oh Rumple. That Beast is a distant memory now".

Mr Gold told her "So let me do this for you. You deserve to finally get what you've always wanted. To see the world". She kissed him and they decided to do it, to see the world.

Flashback Ends:

Weaver was walking down the street and found Margot and Tilly the two girls he was looking for. He saw them dressed up in costumes for Halloween and Tilly trying to solve a Rubik's cube with barely any colours. He said to them "there are my two favourite girls, how it's going".

Tilly and Margot responded "hi, Detective Weaver".

Weaver said to them "dressed up today are we".

Tilly answered, "yes for Halloween, can you guess who we are".

Weaver looked at them and answered "nope".

Margot told him "I'm Robin Hood and she's Marion".

Weaver remarked "I thought Robin Hood was a man".

Tilly told him "Robin Hood can be a woman detective, and her name can be spelt R-O-B-Y-N".

Margot said, "or I'm just dressing up as him, pick your choice".

Weaver told them "I choose female Robin Hood".

Margot responded, "right answer detective, now what do you need us for".

Weaver responded "spot on and right to the point as always. I would like to talk business".

Tilly asked, "this business, it have anything to do with Victoria Clairemont". She then remarked "God she's a wicked woman".

Margot said, "yeah I thought my mother was the Wicked Witch of the West until I met her".

Tilly said "she's not like you. Why do you work for her".

Margot asked "yeah detective. Why".

Weaver told them "I don't and by the way girls, I'm the detective here. I ask the questions". He then asked Margot "why is Tilly playing with a damn broken toy. What the point of an unsolvable puzzle".

Margot answered, "don't know but she says what's the point of a solvable one".

Tilly answered "it true and things are changing around here detective. I've started noticing things. Bet you didn't know you're wearing a costume too. But I'm not sure I like this one. Think I'd much rather see the man behind it".

Margot told him "She's been sprouting nonsense like that all day. It's starting to give me a headache".

Weaver responded "your girlfriend, your problem. I gotta get going since you two obviously have nothing of use to me".

Margot told him "We'll tell you if we find something detective. Oh, and by the way she won't be my girlfriend for much longer if she doesn't stop talking nonsense that causing my headache".

Tilly exclaimed "hey".

Margot told her "At the moment, you're giving me a headache so I'm telling you to shoosh".

Weaver responded, "thanks and good luck tonight at whatever it is you're doing".

Margot told him "We will detective, thank you".

Penelope went to Clairemont towers and approached Ivy. Ivy saw her and told her "No, no way, not after".

Penelope interrupted "I know, I'm not supposed to be anywhere near Samantha, Ivy. I know. But I just came by to drop off her costume".

Ivy told her "After that little occupy garden stunt you pulled; your lucky mother didn't exile you to Canada".

Penelope responded "we were both there, Ivy. You were even the first one to sign".

Ivy responded "yeah, I was and because of it. I now have to take the little monster trick-or-treating".

Penelope said "Ivy, if you don't want to take her, let me do it".

Ivy told her "Would love to give the monster to you but mother said this was my last chance to not be a disappointment to her, like you. So, I'm taking her trick-or-treating and not doing another thing for you because guess what three strikes and I'm out".

Ivy took Samantha's costume and bucket. Penelope told her "You know what. You are so much better when mother's not around. You actually make me feel like you're my sister".

Ivy responded, "well mother is around and controls all of our lives in this town".

Penelope responded "that's why I'm doing this, so she can no longer control any of us. Especially you, me, and Samantha".

Ivy told her "Everything you try to do just makes it worse, so what's the point in fighting".

Penelope answered, "my daughter and if you had one to, you'd understand".

Penelope walked away and Ivy remarked "hope not, I couldn't think of anything worse than being a mother".

Victoria got into her car and sighed. Tilly then popped out from behind the backseat and screamed "boo", scaring Victoria and Tilly began to laugh. She then said, "always wondered, is it better to be feared or loved".

Victoria exclaimed in shock "my God".

Tilly continued to laugh and said, "Feared it is, then". She then told Victoria "That was kind of fun".

Victoria asked, "how did you get into my car".

Tilly responded, "I'm much more interested in how I got to Hyperion Heights. Or rather, how we all got here".

Victoria asked, "who are you".

Tilly answered "doesn't matter. What does is, who were we. So, Victoria Clairmont, let's find out who you were under that costume".

Tilly got closer to Victoria and Victoria was about to use pepper spray on Tilly when Margot ripped open the back door and screamed "what are you doing Tilly". She then saw Victoria Clairemont and dragged Tilly out yelling to her "we gotta go now". Margot then turned to Victoria and told her "Sorry, I'm so sorry about this". Both Margot and Tilly ran down the street and Margot asked her "what the hell do you think you were doing".

Tilly answered, "seeing who she was under that costume".

Margot told her "She's not wearing a costume, we are, that's just Victoria Clairemont".

Tilly looked around and said, "oh no".

Margot asked, "oh no, what".

Tilly answered, "Victoria has my bag, I left it in her car".

Margot exclaimed "blast".

They turned to look at Victoria who looked at them and both of them ran. Victoria was thankful that it was over and then noticed in the backseat Tilly's backpack. Weaver went to Victoria's office, and she exclaimed "ah detective".

Weaver asked, "you wanted to see me".

Victoria answered "Yes. Can you tell me why I was accosted by one of your street rats today".

Weaver asked, "how do you know; it was one of mine".

Victoria answered, "because she left me a gift. Has your name all over it". She then said, "oh and". Victoria got Tilly's medication out and told him "Now I telephoned her doctor. These pills are the only thing keeping this Tilly sane. If she doesn't take them, she becomes confused and dangerous, and right now she's off them. Now, get her to take these pills and let's get her the help she needs before she hurts somebody. She needs to be locked up".

Weaver responded "you and I have always had a clear understanding. I help you when it suits me. Drugging and locking up one of my best informants does not suit me".

Victoria told him "Do you know what suits me, detective. Having someone I can trust. Now I thought you were that man, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe you're not the man I thought you were".

Weaver responded, "maybe I'm not".

Victoria responded "Shame. Well, I enjoyed our time together. So much so that I may visit you in prison. I imagine a corrupt detective like you will feel right at home there".

Weaver told her "Careful were you tread, Ms Clairemont".

Weaver began to leave, and Victoria informed him "Oh, I've been careful enough to tape where you've tread".

Weaver turned back and told her "That was not our arrangement".

Victoria told him "But it is now. So, who's it to be. You or the girl".

At Roni's bar Roni poured Henry a Halloween drink that she created and told him "I call it, the poisoned apple. Scotch, Schnapps, and dry ice".

Henry had a sip but didn't enjoy it that much and told her "Could use a dash of cinnamon".

Roni responded "Cinnamon. I never thought of that". She then saw that Henry was upset and asked "what's wrong with you. You've been a gloomy Gus ever since you walked in here". She then said, "last time I saw you, you were helping Samantha with the garden, what happened".

Henry told Roni "Samantha was looking for something to prove there was curse but of course we found nothing. She was upset and tried to calm her down, but she wanted me to go and for her to her mother. I left and, on my way, I took a detour through the cemetery where my wife and daughter are buried". Roni then understood why he was upset as Henry sighed before telling her "It's just seeing the graves. It just felt like losing them all over again".

Roni went over and sat next to Henry. She said, "hey I get it".

Henry responded "yeah".

Roni sighed before answering "yeah. Losing a love like that can make you afraid to move on".

Henry asked, "move on, who would I be moving on to".

Roni smirked at him and said "Penelope of course. You and her would make a good couple, so why don't you ask her if she wants to go to a Halloween party".

Henry responded "you're worse than Samantha. Just because an eight-year-old tells me that I'm her father doesn't mean I'm going to fall in love with the mother".

Roni asked, "aren't you".

Henry answered "No. I feel nothing for the woman whatsoever, and despite how many times I tell Samantha this, she doesn't get it. I do not like, her mother".

The door burst open, and three women entered. They were all dressed up for Halloween as Red Riding Hood, Mulan, and Dorothy Gale. Roni remarked "Lupa, Lan, and Ozaline. Dressed up to perform a raid on my bar like the last time you three were in here".

Lupa told her "Don't worry Roni, just here for some pre-drinks before the Halloween party tonight". She then asked, "who's this, haven't seen him in town".

Henry held out his hand "Henry Mills, I'm new and helping Roni here take down Victoria Clairemont".

Lupa responded "good, she's as vicious as a she-wolf". She then told him "I'm Lupa Red, and this is my good friend Lan Shang, and most importantly my wife "Ozaline Emiline".

Henry said to them "good to meet you, liking the costumes".

Lupa answered "yeah, from our favourite stories, I love red riding hood, while Lan loves Mulan, and my sweet Ozzie adores The Wizard of Oz".

Henry said "all great tales. In fact, they are all my book once upon a time".

Lupa told him "Shut up, you're the Henry Mills who wrote Once upon a time".

Henry answered "yeah".

Lupa told him "It's our favourite book. We all love it and are massive fans".

Henry responded "good, I'm glad you liked the book".

Lupa informed him "it also what cemented our costumes because we love how you incorporated them into the story. Although I was really shocked by the sudden reveal that Dorothy was Ruby's true love. I liked it but felt like it did come out of nowhere".

Henry admitted "that is a justifiable complaint, but I just really liked them together".

Lupa told him "As all proud B's in the LGBT community, we were so thrilled to see representation finally after Mulan was heartbroken when Aurora was truly in love with Phillip".

Ozaline said "I actually shipped Ruby and Mulan over Ruby and Dorothy".

Lupa said "I ship both actually".

Lan said "I just wished Mulan was in it more. After the curse she felt like she would be a main character but then she just dropped off. She should have been in Storybrooke since the two groups she was with, Phillip and Aurora, and the merry man were all there".

Roni asked, "are you fans or critics because you three seem to be doing a lot of complaining".

Henry responded, "that usually how fans are but I enjoy it because it shows how much they care".

Lee walked through the door dressed as Li Shang. He said "come on ladies, we need to go. We'll be charged for parking if we stay any longer".

Lupa remarked "Lan your husband is always so sweet and innocent".

Lan remarked "yeah he is". She went up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Lupa finished her drink and said "come on, let's not make Lee pay for parking. Thanks for the drink, Roni and thank you Henry for your fantastic book".

Henry responded "anytime".

Roni said, "all you need to do is not pass out in my bar the next time you're here". Lupa ignored that comment and all four left. Roni remarked to Henry "that girl must be a werewolf because every full moon she comes in here and gets blackout drunk".

Flashback Begins:

Tiana was leading Henry, Wish Hook, Regina, Drizella, Matthew, and Penelope into the castle and said to them "I would like you to meet my husband King Naveen".

Naveen told them "So happy to meet you all. I heard what has happened to you and am frankly disgusted by what your husband did Queen Penelope".

Penelope responded, "it's just Penelope now".

Naveen kissed her hand and told her "You will always be a Queen in my eyes".

Penelope giggled and said to Naveen "thank you my King for graciously opening up your home to us".

Naveen told them "Not only you, but we also open to all people's who seek protection against disgusting persecution because of who they are. I learned that especially well when a witch doctor named Dr Facilier turned me into a frog".

Regina responded, "Oh not him".

Henry asked, "you know him mom".

Regina answered, "we used to go out together but that was a long time ago and no longer my problem".

Tiana moved on from this and said to Naveen "but lucky you had me there to give you true loves kiss, which broke your curse".

Naveen responded, "and I'm ever more thankful everyday". They kissed and Naveen then said, "we also just welcomed another group, let me introduce you to them". Naveen led them to the gardens where they saw four people. Naveen said, "let me introduce to you Mrs Dorothy Gale, Mr Li Shang, Mrs Mulan Shang, and finally Mrs Ruby Lucas".

All four turned and Henry and Regina were surprised to see Ruby. Henry exclaimed "Ruby".

Ruby ran up to them and gave Wish Hook a hug saying "Killian". She then hugged Regina and said "Regina". She then looked at Henry and asked, "Henry is that you".

Henry answered, "yeah Ruby it's me".

Ruby remarked "you've gotten so big. You were just a boy the last time I saw you. Now you've all grown up".

Regina said "yeah, he has. It was a shock to me when I saw him".

Henry asked, "do I still get a hug".

Ruby answered "of course". She hugged him and said, "anything for my favourite customer". She then let go and said, "you know I actually miss being a waitress at the Diner".

Regina said "it's still going strong. Granny misses you all the time but knows you'll come back".

Ruby answered "we were on our way back to Storybrooke actually. We had to take a portal in the Enchanted Forest, but something went wrong with the portal, and we ended up here".

Henry asked, "don't you have the magic slippers that can transport you between realms".

Dorothy answered "we do but every time we try to use them, we just stay here in this realm. They've been useless to us besides footwear ever since the portal malfunctioned".

Penelope asked, "how does a portal malfunction".

Ruby answered "we don't know but it did, and we were sent here. Now every time we try to use them, they don't work, when they should here".

Regina suggested "maybe because it's a wish realm they don't".

Ruby answered "we thought that at first, but they still should work, but they don't. We have no idea way". She then asked, "how did you all get here".

Henry answered "I was exploring the realms when I came across Drizella and Lady Clairemont. We attended a ball at Queen Penelope's palace where she was supposed to dance and court Prince Matthew, but I told her that she could find true love and it didn't need to be forced onto her. Both Drizella and Prince Matthew agreed, and Queen Penelope helped. Lady Clairemont didn't like it so had both Drizella and Penelope locked up. Matthew came to find me at the portal back to Storybrooke to go and rescue them".

Ruby remarked "we were trying to get to that portal as well, but we were held up and had to escape to here".

Naveen said "yes, they were being hunted because they found out Ruby is a wolf. So, they fled here for protection until the next portal back to this Storybrooke came".

Regina said, "I'm so sorry Ruby, you still shouldn't be having to go through with that".

Ruby answered "it's okay. I'm passed it, but that's kind of why we were going back to Storybrooke. You know where everyone is accepted". She then asked, "how did you and Killian get here".

Regina answered "this isn't Hook actually. It's the Wish Realm version of Hook. Our one is in Storybrooke with Emma, but this one is helping us, and I'm here because Henry called for assistance rescuing those two and wanted me to stay. So, I stayed".

Ruby then said, "I would like you all to meet my wife Dorothy from Kansas".

Dorthy said "hello, Ruby's told me so much about you all and this Storybrooke. Is it really in my land of America but the future".

Regina answered "yep, in Maine".

Dorothy responded "remarkable".

Ruby then said, "I don't know if you met Mulan, but this is her and her husband Li Shang".

Mulan and Li both said "hey".

Henry told them "You know my other mom, Emma. And my grandmother Snow White".

Mulan asked, "are you the Henry, Aurora met in her dreams".

Henry answered "yep, the very one".

Mulan said, "I always wanted to meet you after hearing so much from everyone else".

Henry responded, "well now you have".

Naveen told them "Now that you've all met, let me show you to your rooms. They all began to follow Naveen as he showed them their rooms".

Flashback Ends:

Rodgers asks Weaver "So, she's really got it in for the girl, huh".

Weaver answered "no, that's not it. I've seen something in Clairemont's eyes today I've never seen before. Fear. This is about something much bigger".

Rodgers asked, "you think your informant has the answers".

Weaver answered "Tilly, her and her girlfriend Margot have the best eyes and ears in Hyperion Heights. Tilly told me she's been noticing things lately. Things that Clairemont doesn't want to get out. We need to find out what it is".

Rodgers responded, "so you can use it has leverage against her".

Weaver said, "well, that's how this game works, Detective".

Rodgers asked "is this all these girls are to you and Clairemont, pawns. Then why don't we split up since one of us actually wants to help her".

Weaver responded "and that's you huh, you think you're some kind of hero police officer here to save the world. Well, here's a little tip. Do not bring your idealism to my work. They're my informant, and I will deal with her my way".

Rodgers responded, "I thought you actually cared about that girl, ever since your wife and son".

Weaver answered "don't bring my family into this. I know what I did wrong and how there is no one left I care about. But I do know how stuff needs to be done. So, that's what I doing, what needs to be done".

Ivy was trick-or-treating with Samantha when Samantha complained about her costume "I can't believe you couldn't paint my face. Can we at least go to the South end of the street. They have an amazing, haunted house there, and this block is so boring".

Ivy responded "you think your miserable. I'm missing out on the annual masquerade ball because mother wanted to be sure her precious Samantha had a good time".

Samantha told her "Well, I'm not and you're not missing anything. You didn't get invited to the ball this year". Ivy was shocked and angry that Samantha knew. Samantha said, "I heard you complaining about it".

Ivy retorted "you know I think you should make that bag a year-round look".

Samantha annoyed at Ivy's comment went to the next house while Ivy continued to stare at her phone. At then next house Samantha begged "please be an Apollo bar, please be an Apollo bar".

Samantha knocked on the door and the woman opened the door. She handed Samantha candy as she said, "hi there". Samantha annoyed at not getting what she wanted because of this street that Ivy was forcing her down. She turned to see another kid dressed as Elsa. She said, "hey kid, you like milk duds".

The girl in the Elsa costume took Samantha's bag and went up to Ivy. Ivy not realising it wasn't Samantha sighed before remarking "that took you long enough. Are you done begging for candy. Can we go home now. I stepped in pumpkin vomit, and these shoes are worth more than your life".

The girl in the Elsa costume remarked "okay".

Ivy after hearing this realised it wasn't Samantha and turned to see a girl in a completely different costume. Ivy exclaimed "what" as she took off the bag and saw that it wasn't Samantha. She asked, "who the hell are you". The girl laughed before running away. Ivy called out panicked "Samantha, Samantha". Ivy looked around for Samantha but couldn't see her. Ivy annoyed said "damn it Samantha, where are you. Oh, mother's gonna kill me". Ivy then left to search for Samantha.

Weaver saw Margot and Tilly on the troll under the bridge. Weaver remarked "still playing with that puzzle, I see".

Margot had her hat covering her eyes and Tilly wanted him to wait a moment. He waited until she tossed him the cube and told him "Solved it".

Tilly giggled and as Weaver caught and looked at it, he remarked "you seem to be confused about how this works".

Tilly responded "No, I'm not confused. I finally understand. I just had to see the whole picture, the whole story. See we all have stories. I have a story, she has a story, this troll has a story, even you Mr Weaver, have a story. And it's a thing of beauty".

Weaver asked Margot "has she been like this all day".

Margot answered "Unfortunately. It's required me to have this because now I have a sick headache".

Tilly was very happy, and Weaver told her "Well it's detective Weaver, and the only story I'm interested in now is why you assaulted Victoria Clairemont". Tilly didn't answer and Weaver asked, "did you see something".

Margot said "I don't know why either. Every time I ask, I just get a riddle, which cause my headache to get worse".

Weaver listened and asked Tilly "and why did you stop taking your pills".

Margot said "you've stopped taking them. No wonder you're acting so strange today. You know you need them".

Tilly responded "I can't take them. Victoria wants me to forget, make me blind. And I don't want to be blind, not when I can finally see. Not when I'm so close, so close, to remembering".

Weaver asked, "Remembering what".

Tilly answered "how to make you see again too. Both of you".

Margot asked calmy "what do you want us to see, please tell us so we can help you".

Weaver asked "Tilly, what do you know about Victoria Clairemont".

Tilly said, "the answer is right here". She grabbed the Rubiks cube and told them "We're all pieces of the same puzzle but without each other, it's impossible to see the big picture. That's why Clairemont scattered us. She made us all wear costumes so we can't recognise each other but soon the costumes will come off, and soon you will both see who you really are. And detective you will see the good man behind the cop. Or wait is it behind the Beast".

Margot went over to Tilly and got her down from the troll. She then said "you know babe that I love you, every single part of you. But I'm doing this because I love you". Margot quickly moved behind Tilly and grabbed her. She then said, "now detective, get the pills".

Weaver went for the pills as Tilly begged "what are you doing".

Margot responded, "I'm sorry but this is for your own good".

Weaver got the pills out that she needed. Tilly pleaded "no, please. I don't them. I can't have them. Don't make me have them when I'm so close".

Weaver told her "Sorry Tilly but open up".

Tilly refused and Margot pleaded "please listen to me and open up. You need them. It's okay to have them, they won't hurt you. They'll make you feel better".

Tilly responded, "let me go".

Margot told her "I will once you have them and feel better".

Weaver said, "sorry Tilly but this needs to be done". Weaver forced Tilly's mouth and the pills down her throat. He then forced her to swallow. Once she did, he let go and said "there, you will feel much better now, and I need you to be thinking clearly".

Tilly yelled "you don't believe me, either of you".

Margot said to Tilly "now calm down Tilly. You know you need them; they help you".

Tilly rejected this "they don't, those pills don't make me clear. They make me foggy. They make the world go away, and that's what she wants". Tilly then said, "I thought you both believed me, believed in me".

Margot told her "We do but you need them Tilly, because we care about you".

Weaver told her "She does, she cares but I'm not who you think I am".

Tilly responded "no, that's not true".

Weaver told her "It is".

Tilly said "you're a good man, with a pure heart. And as soon as you remember that you'll realise you're not alone at all. That you have someone who loves you, who's waiting for you".

Weaver responded "I wish you were right Tilly, but no one is waiting for me. I wish I was that good man but I'm not".

Tilly told him "That's only because you don't remember but you still can. There's still time before those pills make everything foggy again but we have to go". She then yelled "Go now".

Tilly then began to run away, and Margot called out "Tilly wait, stop".

Weaver and Margot began to chase her. Weaver screamed after her "Tilly".

At Mr Clucks Penelope severed a family dressed as the Incredibles. She handed them their meal and said "Four, Eight-piece nuggets with a side of scary sauce and fright fries. She looked at the family happy together and wished that was her and Samantha. She then saw Ivy peeking through the window. She went out to her and asked "Ivy, what are you doing here. Where is Samantha".

Ivy told her "I assumed she'd come to find you".

Penelope responded, "you lost her".

Ivy told her "I didn't lose her. She ran away from me. Now, help me find her before mother finds out".

Penelope said, "my daughter's running around on her own, and all you care about is what your mother will think".

Ivy responded "please, I'm sure she's fine".

Penelope told her "This would have never happened if you had just let me take her trick-or-treating".

Ivy retorted "you know it wasn't me who wanted it. And if I let you take her, we would be worse off than we are now".

Penelope said "better off. I don't have my daughter Ivy, and you just lost her".

Ivy told her, "We don't have time for this, we need to find your spawn".

Penelope responded "I can't. If I leave now, Louie will fire me. You know that".

Ivy said "then I guess it's up to me then. Ivy to the rescue, again".

Ivy left and Penelope angry at the situation remarked to herself "I guess I have to look for another job tomorrow". She then began to walk down the street and realised that she really needed her job. She then exclaimed "fuck, Samantha why do you do this to me". She then said, "I need help". She then realised that Samantha could have gone to Henry and got out her phone. She called Roni and said, "hey Roni, is Henry there".

Roni answered "yeah, he's here".

Penelope said "good, now is Samantha there as well".

Roni answered "no, why".

Penelope told her "She ran away while trick-or-treating with Ivy, and I can't go looking for her because she's at work".

Roni then told Henry "Samantha's ran away and now no one knows where she is".

Henry got up and said, "I'll start looking around for her, just have Penelope text you, and you can text me all the places Samantha might have gone".

Roni said "got it" as Henry left. Roni then told Penelope "Don't worry I got Henry out looking for her right now, just text me where she might have gone, and I'll tell him".

Penelope said "don't bother I'll look for her myself. I'll just have to find another job".

Roni told her "Don't worry Penelope, I promise you Henry will find your daughter and she'll be okay".

Henry while looking for Samantha went up to a woman dressed as Snow White. He asked her "Hey, uh, excuse me. Have you seen a little girl about yea high wearing a skeleton costume". The woman dressed as Snow White shook her head and Henry responded, "No. Thanks". He then saw Ivy on a bench crying and said to her "you must be Ivy".

Ivy wiped her eyes and responded "Oh, Henry. Yeah, yeah, I am. You must be looking for Samantha as well".

Henry answered "yeah, Penelope texted me a list of her possible haunts".

Ivy remarked "Penelope's got you tracking down her kid, you must like her, desperately. Even for a self-published writer it's desperate".

Henry retorted "hey, I will have you know that I sold that book. And why does everyone believe I'm in love with Penelope. Just because Samantha thinks I'm her dad, doesn't mean I like her mother. How many times do I have to tell people".

Ivy questioned "You don't. Then what's all this for".

Henry answered, "just trying to help while I'm here".

Ivy asked, "then what are you here for if it's not my sister".

Henry sat down on the bench besides her and answered, "taking down your mother to be honest".

Ivy responded "good luck with that because no matter what you do my mother will win. She always wins and punishes anybody that goes against her. That's why I'm here in the first place. Mother is punishing me for helping Penelope with the garden. I signed to help her keep it and mother made me take Samantha trick-or-treating. It was punishment for the both of us because she knew Penelope wanted to go and I didn't. That's also the reason I wouldn't let her do it because mother would punish me more".

Henry asked, "what punishment could she possibly give you, that you a fully grown beautiful woman couldn't just say whatever mom and move on".

Ivy answered "I would be on my own. Cut me out of her life and without her I have no one. So that's why I need her approval because without her, I literally have nobody, nobody that cares for me. I'm completely alone".

Henry asked, "what about your sister".

Ivy answered, "Penelope and Samantha may be a part, but they will always have each other, and I'm all alone".

Henry responded "you want to talk being alone. Until I came here, the only human contact I had was with my Swyft riders. I spent all my time in a one-bedroom apartment with unfinished manuscripts". He then sighed and said, "and ghosts".

Ivy asked not believing him "ghosts".

Henry responded "Yeah. Yeah, you're not the only one on this bench with baggage

Ivy asked "okay then. So how do we get rid of it. The baggage".

Henry sighed before answering "I don't know but ever since I've come here and started helping people. I've felt better. That was until I saw my wife's and daughter's grave. Then it all came back. Then what makes it worse is having everyone trying to get me together with your sister, when I feel nothing her".

Ivy listened and asked, "you really think I'm beautiful".

Henry answered "Yeah, I do. It astonishes me how someone like you can be alone because beneath the façade of uncaring selfish bitch. There's a beautiful woman both inside and out".

Ivy remarked "no one's ever said that about me before".

Henry told her "You should have because it's the truth, all of it". Ivy was about to cry, and they both simultaneously went in for a kiss. They kissed each other and after a couple seconds of enjoying it, they broke apart and Henry remarked "we shouldn't have done that. We need to find Samantha".

Ivy responded "yeah, yeah, you're right. Give me the list". Henry gave her his phone and she looked at it and said "It's number three. Samantha was blabbering about that haunted house all day".

Henry said quickly "then we need to go then. We need to find her".

Ivy agreed "yeah, yeah we do". They both went to the haunted house to look for Samantha.

Flashback Begins:

That night at the palace Henry couldn't sleep and strolled the gardens. He saw Drizella on a bench and said "hey, you can't sleep either".

Henry sat down next to her as she answered "Nope. I'm terrified about my mother. She's always made me scared to disappoint her but now I feel like she's gonna kill me".

Henry comforted her "she will not kill you Drizella. I promise you, that will not happen".

Drizella asked "how. She has magic and wants to kill us".

Henry answered "because I will not allow it. Good will always win. No matter how impossible it sounds, Evil will never win".

Drizella smiled and said to him "you know what. I believe you Henry". She then said "you have a way about you that's just right. I don't know what it is but ever since we met, I felt like I could believe you, trust you, rely on you".

Henry responded "I feel the same way. When I first saw you, I knew that you were strong willed, brave, and true to yourself. I knew that something had to be wrong at the palace, so I went to check on you. I needed to see it for myself and when I saw you with the prince, I knew that you were being forced into a situation that you were desperate to get out of".

Drizella responded "I was and thank you for saving me".

Henry answered "of course. Everyone deserves to find their true love and not be forced to marry someone they don't for somebody else. We all deserve to be happy. Especially you, who went to help a complete stranger because he may have been injured. A woman that was truly beautiful inside and out".

Drizella asked "you think I'm beautiful",

Henry answered "yes, I do".

Drizella told him "I've been waiting for someone to feel that way about me. Not just saying it but truly feeling it. And I have to admit I feel the same way". She held his hand and told him "You are the person I think I've been waiting for my entire life. Someone I love and who loves me". They both stared into each other's eyes before kissing. After the kiss they both began to smile.

Flashback Ends:

Tilly was running down an alley, looking for where she needed to go. Weaver and Margot were behind here, and Weaver said "Tilly, enough with the games. What do you need to show us".

Tilly answered "I just need to find it. But I remember what it is now".

Margot said "Tilly, stop and tell us where we're going. I promise you that we will listen".

Weaver said "yeah, you help us, and we'll help you".

Tilly said "I don't know how to help you Margot, not yet anyways. But Weaver I am helping you, now quickly we haven't got much time I can feel the fog coming".

All three entered a storage container and Weaver said "Tilly".

Tilly responded "Tilly, who's Tilly". Both Weaver and Margot were taken aback by this. Tilly then said "Sorry. I'm afraid I'm not myself but you're so close to being yourself".

Weaver said "Okay, who the hell am I".

Tilly told him "That's the greatest puzzle, isn't it". She grabbed a chipped cup and told him "And this is the missing piece". Weaver stared at the chipped cup and Tilly continued "Look at it. Don't you remember. You gave it to me. You said it would help you get back to her. Remind you of what you need to do to get back to her".

Weaver pointed at the chipped cup and "this, is just a cup".

Tilly was upset and told him "You said it would work".

Margot said calmly "it's okay sweetheart. We know you were just trying to help. So, let's go home and have a nice long rest".

Tilly thought about it and then said "No, I remember now. We knew each other before, before in that other place, we all did, that's it. Weaver got out his handcuffs as Tilly continued "Though you had a different name then. What was it. Sheepshanks. Spindleshanks".

Weaver told her "You've gone mad" as he tried to move close to put the cuffs on her.

Tilly exclaimed "I'm not, it's just all so clear now".

Weaver moved closer to her and Tilly reached in and grabbed his gun. Margot exclaimed "Tilly what are you doing".

Weaver trying to deescalate said to Tilly "Tilly, put the gun down". He then ordered "Now".

Tilly rejected this and told him "No. Sorry. I don't have a choice".

Margot said, "we all have a choice and so do you so please put the gun down".

Tilly remarked "the teacup didn't work".

Weaver asked, "why are you doing this".

Tilly answered "Because you told me to. Rumpelstiltskin". She then fired a shot into Weaver, and he fell to the floor with blood pooling out. Margot screamed in horror. Tilly dropped and broke the chipped cup. Margot screamed "Tilly what did you do".

Tilly responded, "I'm sorry". Tilly then dropped the gun and Margot got out her phone and dialled 911. She said "Ambulance. I need an ambulance right away. Someone's been shot".

Weaver in his hospital bed saw everything in white and a woman's face that he recognised came into view. He knew her as his wife Belle, and she came over him about to kiss him when he suddenly awoke. He realised that he was in the Hyperion Heights hospital with Rodgers by his side. Rodgers remarked "Well, I'm glad to see you're awake".

Mr Gold coughed and looked at the bullet Rodgers was holding. Mr Gold asked, "what's this".

Rodgers answered, "This is a lucky bullet for a lucky bastard. Tore right through you. Should be dead by all accounts. You must be bloody immortal".

Mr Gold responded "Immortal".

Rodgers told him "That was a joke mate".

Mr Gold asked, "where's Tilly and Margot".

Rodgers answered "they're out in the waiting room. Tilly's taken her pills; she's calmed down now".

Mr Gold responded "Good. I want you to file the report. It was a masked robber, came out of nowhere. Fled on foot".

Rodger responded, "a masked robber".

Mr Gold told him "Go to the girls. Tell them that they're free to go".

Rodgers remarked "Well, perhaps you do care about them".

Mr Gold retorted "did I ask your opinion, Rodgers".

Rodgers left and went to Margot and Tilly. Tilly was lying underneath Margot arms. Rodgers said to them "So, you two are the informants who got underneath that tough bastard's skin".

Margot asked, "is he gonna be all right".

Rodgers answered, "yeah, he'll live, no thanks to her".

Tilly got up and said, "I can't believe I shot him". She then asked, "am I in trouble".

Rodgers answered "look, you weren't in your right frame of mind. He doesn't blame you. Just don't say anything, either of you and we'll sort it all out".

Tilly said "I'm so sorry, both of you. I never want to get so upside-down again. I promise. I'll keep taking my pills".

Rodgers responded, "that would be advisable, and can I ask you to assure she is".

Margot said "absolutely. I'll make sure she does".

Rodgers said "good. Now you two go home and rest. You're no longer needed here, and we think it's better if you did".

Margot helped Tilly up and told her "Come on. We're going home". Margot and Tilly left while Rodgers watched them with concern.

Samantha, Henry, and Ivy entered Mr Clucks and saw Penelope working. Samantha said "mom".

Penelope went of to her and said "Samantha" before hugging her. She then told her "Where did you go".

Samantha admitted "I just wanted to see the haunted house".

Penelope responded "baby, I know but you can't keep running off like this". She then gave her another hug and said to Henry "thank you".

Henry responded, "no problem but, uh, actually, it was Ivy who found her".

Penelope turned to Ivy and exclaimed "what".

Ivy responded "and now I'm returning her to you. I've had enough of the little ghoul for one night". Ivy then told Penelope and Samantha "there's an hour left of trick-or-treating; you should go, take her. I know she wants to go with you".

Samantha asked, "but what about grandma".

Penelope asked, "yeah I thought this was your last chance".

Ivy responded "Henry helped me that I'm worthy enough to not need her approval. So, I'll handle her".

Penelope said "Ivy, thank you".

Ivy responded "I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for me and because it makes me feel good. So go crazy".

Ivy put the paints down and Samantha asked Penelope "can Henry join us mom".

Penelope responded "So, what do you say. Too much candy. A crazy night on the town".

Samantha said "yeah, and you should help mom paint my face. Come on it's a family tradition".

Henry turned to Ivy before saying "I'm good, but thanks for the offer anyways. I need to get back to Roni's and tell her that Samantha's been found and continue what I need to do. Victoria Clairemont isn't gonna fall by herself. It needs all of us, working together. But you two have fun and a great Halloween".

Penelope accepted and said to Henry "same to you too". Henry then began to leave, and Ivy followed Henry as Penelope got out the paints to paint Samantha's face. Ivy called out "Henry, wait, wait up". Henry stopped and she said to him "thanks for what you did for me today. I haven't felt this good since, well, longer than I can remember".

Henry responded, "you're welcome".

Ivy said "you're going to Roni's. Can I buy you a drink".

Henry responded, "never turn down a drink". They both left and went to Roni's bar.

Victoria visited Mr Gold in the hospital. She says to him "I hear you had the troubled girl in your custody, and you let her go".

Mr Gold said "Well, you'll be happy to hear that Tilly is back on her pills. Didn't seem such a public menace anymore, so, yeah, I let her got".

Victoria responded, "you seem to be forgetting about those tapes".

Mr Gold responded, "oh no, I remember. Quite clearly but it appears that I've found something much bigger than what's on those tapes. Dearie".

Victoria asked, "and what might that be".

Mr Gold answered, "trust me, something you don't want anyone to find out and if I were you, I would choose my next steps wisely, Victoria because, try as you may, there's nothing you can do to hurt me anymore".

Henry and Ivy went up to the counter and Roni was shocked to see them together. Ivy ordered "now since this is my buy, you are getting the best and that's some good old MacCutcheon and leave the bottle".

Roni responded, "coming right up".

Ivy said, "you happy with my choice".

Henry told her "It is expensive, and I don't think I've ever tried it before".

Ivy told him "Well, this is about to change your life for the better".

Roni gave them the bottle and they both went to a table and sat down. Henry said to her "you did a nice thing earlier with Penelope and Samantha but what are you gonna say to your mom because that's not gonna be easy".

Ivy answered "Yep, Now, you are going to drink with me until I'm ready to face her". Ivy poured and they both had a sip. Ivy asked, "now is that good or what".

Henry answered, "It's quality but I just don't know how I will be able to afford this, when you aren't paying for me".

Ivy responded, "maybe you don't have to". Henry looked confused and Ivy said, "We need to talk about, and that's the real reason I'm here".

Henry told her "I don't know Ivy. It was the heat of the moment, and I don't, uh, I don't know what to feel".

Ivy said "you felt it right. It was natural and right. It wasn't just an ordinary kiss"

Henry answered "I did but I don't know how I should feel. I lost my wife and daughter. I don't know if this is right".

Ivy held his hand and said "I know, we've both got baggage but we both felt it. We can't deny that. We owe it to ourselves see if we truly feel right".

Henry responded "you're right. We need to see". They both lean in and kiss. They both feel the sparks like fireworks when they kiss. This isn't like any kiss either of them have experienced. This is true and real".

They both stop and look into each other's eyes. They smile at each other and know that they both feel the same way. This was watched intently by Roni as Henry and Ivy move in together for a more passionate kiss. After the kiss that felt like an internal paradise Ivy told him without thinking "I love you". Henry looks at her and knows that he should think this is unusual because they just met but he feels like this is natural, and meant to be, so is actually happy to hear her say it.

They both then hear something plastic drop and as they turn, they see Samantha and Penelope. Samantha exclaims "dad, aunty Ivy".

Henry says in shock "Samantha". Samantha turns and runs away out of the bar. Henry says, "Samantha wait".

He gets up to give chase when he is stopped by Penelope who tells him "She is my daughter, I'll get her. You stay here with my sister and do whatever it was you were doing". Penelope left after Samantha. Henry turned to see Roni looking at him disapprovingly. Penelope saw her daughter crying and told her "It's okay baby, there's no need to cry".

Samantha said "how can he do that to us. We're his family and he's there, kissing aunty Ivy".

Penelope told her "I know you thought he was the right man for me. I was willing to try and go on a date with him but obviously he isn't". Samantha was still crying and Penelope told her "Don't you worry Sammy; your mommy is right here. I'll never leave you and all we need is each other. We don't need anyone else". Samantha accepted and hugged her mother. Penelope told her "It's okay baby, I'm right here".

Chapter Text

At Clairemont towers Samantha was waiting for Victoria to take her to her ballet, glaring violently at Ivy. Ivy noticed this and tried to ignore her. Samantha knew ballet started in 10 minutes and if Victoria didn't take her soon, she'd be late but was more focused on Ivy and how she was trying to rip her family a part. Sabine exited the elevator, and Samantha ran up to her and gave her a hug. Samantha said, "aunt Sabine, what are you doing here".

Sabine answered, "I came to give my favourite taste tester this".

Samantha grabbed the bag and looked inside. Samantha exclaimed "your famous beignets".

Sabine remarked "And they're not nearly as fun to make without you, Sammy".

Victoria exited her office and remarked "finally finished all that hard work to resolve the issues that my daughters keep putting me into. I always rather liked the idea of raising a daughter, guiding her, and eventually there'd come a day when the roles would reverse, and she'd be there for me to lean on". Victoria sighed before continuing "So, it's embarrassing watching you flailing around Ivy especially after a writer of a children's book. You do not understand all the things you're capable of. All the ways you're going to fall short. Think about it and fix your makeup". She then turned to Sabine as Ivy went to fix her makeup. Victoria said to Sabine "Sabine, what a coincidence. I was just talking about you".

Sabine asked, "you were, why".

Victoria answered, "I was going over your rental agreement and I've decided to increase your rent eight percent, starting this month".

Sabine responded, "you know we can't afford that".

Victoria said "Given the booming neighbourhood, I could ask for double. Consider it a family discount".

Samantha said, "you can't do this, grandma. It isn't fair".

Sabine told Samantha "It's okay, Samantha. I can fight my own battles. It's who I am. We both know this isn't business, Victoria. You want to push us out. Well, we'll just push right back and never let you take what's rightfully ours".

Flashback Begins:

Tiana was walking in the garden when she saw her mother Eudora talking to one of her knights. Her mother looked unpleasant with the news she heard and after her conversation had finished Tiana went up to her and asked, "mother what's wrong".

Eudora answered "nothing you need to worry about my daughter. We just have a little trouble with one of our neighbouring kingdoms".

Tiana asked, "what sort of problem".

Eudora answered, "the armies of the Southern kingdom are massing to invade".

Tiana asked, "what are we going to do mother".

Eudora answered "we will do as your father would have done. We will fight for everything we have and let no one take what isn't theirs, it's who we are".

End Flashback:

Henry was working on his piece of Victoria Clairemont when he noticed that Roni was continuously staring at him. Henry said annoyed "what".

Roni responded "nothing". She then tried to go back to cleaning when Henry demanded "no you want to say something so say it".

Roni asked, "what was that the other night, with Ivy".

Henry answered, "we had a drink together, so what".

Roni said, "that wasn't the only thing that happened, was it".

Henry sighed in annoyance before responding "we kissed, and I don't know what's the big deal about".

Roni answered "The big deal. Well, she is Victoria Clairemont's daughter.

Henry responded "Yeah, and she's been hurt by Victoria more than you know, so don't judge someone when you don't know them".

Roni retorted "know her, and I guess you know her now".

Henry answered, "starting to, and I would love to know more about her".

Roni said "Now, did you ever think that Ivy might be playing you along, so she can find out what we're doing. That Victoria sent her".

Henry answered "no because she was being genuine. I felt it. All she wanted was people to actually give a shit about her".

Roni remarked "you're actually falling for her".

Henry responded "so what if am I. What's your problem with that".

Roni answered, "there is no problem, but there is a far better single mother option staring at you in the face".

Henry got up and yelled "what is it with you people. Why are you so desperate in trying to get me and Penelope together. I told you that I feel nothing for her and yet you keep peddling it. No wonder Samantha is so confused and not able to get over this fantasy that I'm her dad because you keep adding fuel to the fire. And no, I won't go out with someone just because a little girl rocks up to my apartment in the middle of the night and calls me daddy".

Roni responded, "I'm just trying to look out for you".

Henry responded "Well I don't need it. I'm a grown man who doesn't need a Mama bear in my life".

Roni said, "I care about Henry, that's all".

Henry responded "don't, just don't. You're not my mother. You're not. I never had one, and don't you dare pretend to be". Henry grabbed his stuff and left the bar.

Sabine went to see Penelope at Mr Clucks. Penelope asked "what are you doing here. I thought you were off today".

Sabine told her "Penelope, I have great news. Victoria raised our rent".

Penelope responded "Great. I think you mispronounced terrible, again".

Sabine said, "yes, the rent hike sucks, but what if I told you that there is a way that we could not only pay our rent, but we can make enough money to escape Victoria Clairemont for good".

Penelope looked at her sceptically and Sabine showed her the flour she bought. Penelope asked "So, your life saving idea is 50 pounds of flour".

Sabine said, "mixed with 100 eggs and 20 cups of sugar". Penelope was still confused and Sabine said, "I am talking about my beignets, P. I mean, you know they're amazing, Samantha knows they're amazing, and once everyone else finds out how amazing they are. We will be rich in no time".

Penelope responded, "but we are not rich now. How did you pay for all of this".

Sabine answered, "I may have dipped into the rent jar".

Penelope asked "Dipped, how much is a dip. A pinch or a dash".

Sabine answered Penelope "All of it".

Penelope asked "Wait, you want to run your guerilla pastry operation out of here. Uh-uh, now way. Louie".

Sabine interrupted "Louie is at a regional managers convention trying to get lucky with Cluck's on Sixth. He will never know".

Penelope responded, "I can't invest in anymore of your crazy schemes".

Sabine asked, "what crazy schemes". Penelope looked around and Sabine admitted "okay, that's fair. But this, this is not one of them".

Penelope told her "You're a dreamer, and I love you for it, but I need a job, Clairemont off my case, and a real plan to get Samantha back. This is too risky".

Sabine told her "Listen to me. Samantha is exactly the reason why you need to take this risk. It's time we changed the game and take a big swing for once. We owe it to ourselves. We owe it to Samantha. I love that girl like she is family and when you love someone, you fight like hell for them". Sabine then said, "come on, let's make her proud".

Penelope accepted "okay. I'm with you".

Sabine said in excitement "yeah" before hugging Penelope and laughed. She then told Penelope "Great and with a little bit of sugar and spice and everything nice, we are going to show that bitch who is boss".

Flashback Begins:

Tiana woke up to the sound of catapult strike, striking near the palace. She got up and looked out the window. She could see the battlefield where her soldiers were fighting. She ran to her mother who was planning with her military advisors their defensive strategies. Tiana said "Mother. I can hear them outside. They're getting closer".

Eudora responded "Tiana go back to bed. It's okay. We're safe here".

Eudora's General said "don't worry princess. These invaders will soon be push back. Our defences are beginning to hold, and their advance has slowed".

Tiana responded, "but they are still advancing, and the longer we wait, the more our people will die".

Eudora said "and what will you have me do, daughter. Surrender and bend the knee because I will not. Not to anyone, especially the King of the Southern kingdom".

Tiana said "No, mother. Not surrender but help. Ask for help from one of our neighbouring kingdoms. I'm sure they will help".

Eudora told her "I tried daughter, but they refused. They've left us here because after your father died, they didn't view me a strong leader worthy of rule. But with our defences holding and the enemy advance slowing. We will be able to hold out until we can muster a counterattack".

Tiana responded "but what if we can't mother and how many of our people will die until you realise that. Let me visit the neighbouring kingdoms and show them our worth, that our people are worth fighting for".

Eudora responded "go to your room daughter. I will save us and this kingdom".

Tiana responded, "but mother".

Eudora told her "Go to your room".

Tiana responded, "yes mother". Tiana began to leave but muttered to herself "sorry mother but I must do this, for our people".

Flashback Ends:

Ivy sees her mother leaving her office. Ivy remarks "mother I didn't know you had an appointment. I have nothing on my schedule for you".

Victoria answers "I don't. I'm going out".

Ivy asked, "where mother".

Victoria responded "where I'm going is none of your business. And enough complaining. Don't think for one second that I wouldn't trade in my own daughter for an actual assistant. It's time you shut up and earn your job title".

Victoria left in the elevator and Ivy was about to cry in depression over how her mother saw her. She then refused to let her mother treat her like this and exclaimed "no. I will not be treated like this". Ivy immediately checked the security cameras and saw her mother going up in the elevator. To a floor that requires special access. Ivy exclaims "got you now, mother". She then got out her phone and called Henry. She said "Henry, it's Ivy. I've got dirt on my mother. Come meet me in the lobby at Clairemont towers if you".

Henry responded, "I'm on my way". Ivy looked at the tape and smiled. Henry went back to Roni's and immediately said "Now I'm still mad but Ivy has dirt on Victoria, and I still plan on taking her down, so you with me or not".

Roni answered, "if this does get dirt on Victoria and proves what you claim that Ivy is on our side, then I'm all in". Henry and Roni left to meet Ivy at Clairemont towers.

Sabine happily made her beignets and when she finished, she put them in bags to serve to the customers at Mr Clucks. Penelope asked, "where is everyone coming from".

Sabine admitted "uh, I billed our venture as a one-time only pop-up on the GetGrub app. Mom always said nothin' attracts a crowd, like a crowd".

Samantha came in and said "Amazing, you're really doing it. I saw your pop-up ad on my ballet instructor's phone".

Penelope told Samantha "What I won't be seeing is you if your grandma realises that you are here".

Samantha told them "Don't worry. I told grandma ballet's going late so I could come be a part of your dream. In fact, I have a small addition to it". Samantha got out a stamp of a firefly and stamped the bag. Both Sabine and Penelope looked at it. Samantha said, "when we would make beignets, Sabine would tell me when she was my age, she was so poor she couldn't afford stars to wish on, so she wished on fireflies".

Penelope and Sabine both giggled and Sabine said, "I love it". She sighed in relief before saying "I love it. You know, I want you to stamp all of those bags as our new official logo".

Samantha went to do that, and Penelope remarked to Sabine "Sabine, this could really work".

Sabine responded "mm-hmm

Penelope said, "and we could set up a stand at the Sunday's farmers' market".

Sabine rejected this "Oh, nah. Farmers' markets are for Old McDonald. No. I'm thinking jazz, luring people into a popcorn-light-lit food truck. We park it at festivals and movie night and serve etouffee, boudin".

Penelope accepted this and contnued, "buckets of these guys".

Sabine laughed and said "Oh, it finally feels like we are headed in the right direction". Penelope accepted this and Sabine laughed.

Flashback Begins:

Tiana was walking down the road and up to the gates of a neighbouring kingdom's palace. She said to the guards "I'm princess Tiana. I need to speak to your King about protecting our home from the invaders of the Southern Kingdom".

The guard said "Sorry, Princess Tiana. Our King has already spoken to your mother, and we refused her any aid".

Tiana asked, "why not".

The guard answered, "our King thought it was a waste of good men's lives, trying to save a failing kingdom".

Tiana responded "failing, our kingdoms not failing".

The guard said, "Sorry Princess but that's the final word on the matter".

Tiana grunted in frustration as Prince Naveen walked behind her and asked, "what's the problem here".

Tiana said, "the problem is, these guards will not allow me to speak to the King and plead our case of protection".

Naveen asked the guards "is this true".

The guard said "Prince Naveen. This woman is Princess Tianna. Her kingdom is failing and your father thought it was best to not intervene and risk good men's lives".

Naveen said, "let me speak to my father about this".

The guard responded "of course, my prince".

They let Naveen in, and Naveen told Tiana "I'll see what I can do".

Tiana responded, "thank you".

Flashback Ends:

Victoria is trying one of Sabine's beignets and as she takes a bite she says "oh, Mm" enjoying it. She then places it down and cleans her mouth. She then picks up her phone and calls Ralph. She tells him "Ralph, I have a job for you. You know that place selling beignets. Wreck it".

Penelope and Tiana are serving beignets to many of the customers when Penelope says to Sabine "oh hey. Thank you so much for pushing me. I needed a nudge".

Sabine responded, "Yeah, well, that's what best friends do, and I think today we proved our business is on fire".

They both heard a fire being lit and smelt smoke. Penelope said, "please let that not be literal".

They both see smoke and Sabine exclaims "oh my God".

They check the back room and see the fire. Penelope exclaims "oh my God". Penelope tries to put it out with a cloth but it's already too big and they begin to cough from the smoke. Penelope tries to leave and says to Sabine "come on, Sabine. Sabine goes to get the money and Penelope shouts "Sabine". They both begin to flee, and Sabine pulls the fire alarm.

Flashback Begins:

Naveen approaches the gate and Tiana asks, "how did it go, did you convince your father to save my kingdom".

Naveen tells the guards "Open the gates, I can't tell her from behind them". They open and Naveen asks Tiana "will you walk with me".

Tiana answers "of course".

They walk away from the palace and Naveen tells her "My father has refused; he thinks it's a waste of good men's lives".

Tiana pleads "but you have to, my kingdom will fall without your help. My people will die".

Naveen says, "and that's why I'm ignoring my father".

Tiana exclaims in shock "what".

Naveen tells her "My men will follow me anywhere. I have their trust and loyalty. They will be more than enough to turn the tide of battle and purge the Southern kingdom from your land".

Tiana asked "why, why would you go against your father to support me and my people".

Naveen answered, "because even after my father's rejection, you still kept fighting which means that you, your land, and your people are worth fighting for".

Tiana said "thank you Prince Naveen. I feared my trip would be a failure and my kingdom would be lost".

Naveen responded, "but you still came anyway, so let's go save your kingdom".

Flashback Ends:

Sabine watched as both firefighters and the police were at the scene. Samantha went up to her and said, "Aunt Sabine".

Samantha ran up to her and gave her a hug. Samantha said, "I was worried".

Sabine responded "it's okay. I'm gonna be fine. I'm just, I'm so happy you weren't there".

Penelope said to Sabine "I need to talk to you".

Sabine responded, "I know what you're gonna say and I already have it figured out. This was just a setback".

Penelope exclaimed "a setback". She then said, "against my judgement, I let you convince me to take this huge risk and look what happened".

Samantha said "Mom, please don't fight".

Sabine said, "I just want what's best for you and Samantha".

Penelope responded "what is best is not giving people hope that life will get better when it never does. You don't live in the real-world, Sabine, but I do". There isn't any room for your crazy dreams anymore".

Samantha said, "she did this to try and help you, mom. To try and help us".

Penelope responded "yeah, well, if this is help, I don't need it".

Sabine responded "Okay. If that's how you feel, then you should take this. There's enough money in there for two months' rent. Should be enough time for you to find a new job and a new roommate".

Penelope took the money and Sabine began to leave. Samantha grabbed her hand and said "wait, please". Sabine left and Penelope held Samantha close.

Ivy was putting lipstick on waiting for Henry to turn up. They entered and Roni told Ivy "You can put away the war paint. This will just be the three of us looking for dirt on your mother, not you two having a make out session".

Ivy responded "Henry, do you always take your mother out on dates. If so, I don't think we can see each other anymore".

Roni despised her remark and Henry said "now ladies please. We're here to find dirt on the woman that has made all of our lives miserable. So, suck it up and be nice to each other because we are all on the same team".

Ivy responded, "follow me".

All three entered the elevator and as they rode up Ivy noticed Roni staring at her and she remarked "Henry, I don't think your mother like me".

Roni retorted "I'm not. I know he's a good kid and I will not let you mess up his life either to piss off your mother or you just want to take one more thing away from your sister, Penelope".

Henry remarked "Oh, this is exactly like being stuck in an elevator with my mom and girlfriend, who my mother disapproves of". Ivy smiled and Roni continued to stare at Ivy.

The elevator arrived at the floor which appeared to be just pipes, cooling vents, and electricity boxes. They looked around but couldn't find anything. Roni said "Ivy, there's nothing here".

Henry questioned "if there's nothing here, why did it need so much security clearance to even get up here".

Ivy responded "good question, Henry. Why does mother need so much security over nothing". Roni sighed in disgust to herself over Ivy's comment.

Roni then saw something sticking out of box and said to them "Hey, I think I found something". They both paid attention as Roni moved closer to the box and opened it.

She saw a photograph inside and when she turned it over, she saw the photo. Henry asked, "what is it".

Roni answered, "a photograph".

Ivy responded, "a photo, all of this security for a photo".

Roni stared at the photograph and realised in horror that she was in the photograph. Henry asked Roni "Roni, what's wrong".

Roni answered "this photo, there's something wrong with it. It can't be real".

Henry asked, "what is it".

Roni told him "Not here, at my bar later. The both of you".

Ivy sighed and said "really, just show us the picture".

Roni responded, "you don't have to come Ivy, but we'll talk about it at the bar".

Ivy relented and said, "fine, I'll come by later".

Sabine was packing up her stuff and Samantha asked, "where are you going to go".

Sabine answered "to my mom's. I'll crash on her couch".

Samantha said, "my mom didn't mean all that stuff she said. She was just upset".

Sabine told her "It's not just that. I can't make it here anymore. I'm trying and I'm failing".

Samantha responded "that's not true. That's just what my grandmother wants you to think but you can't give up on your dream".

Sabine responded "you know what. A lot of people have to give up on their dreams, and sometimes bad guys win. At some point, we have to accept that and grow up".

Samantha responded "grow up. This isn't growing up; It's running away". Sabine looked at Samantha disapprovingly and Samatha said, "I'm sorry". She then sighed before continuing "it's just, you're supposed to be with us. Like you always are. I need you, too".

Sabine told her "And you'll always have me okay, Sammy. I promise but there are some things in life that even I can't fight".

Flashback Begins:

Tiana and Naveen arrived at her palace and her mother approached her and Eudora asked "Tiana, baby where have you been. I've been worried sick".

Tiana answered, "I left to get help mother".

Eudora said, "Tiana, I told you".

Tiana interrupted "but mother I got help. This is Prince Naveen and he as an army ready to help us".

Eudora turned to Naveen and Naveen told her "That right madam. My men are at your service".

Eudora's General said, "my Queen we do need more men, desperately".

Eudora said to Naveen "thank you Prince Naveen. I will be forever grateful to you and your family for the assistance".

Naveen responded, "of course madam, anything for the mother of this brave woman".

Flashback Ends:

Sabine was walking away from her apartment when Penelope chased her down. Penelope said "Sabine, wait". Sabine continued to walk away, and Penelope said, "Samantha called and talked some sense into me". Penelope stopped Sabine and told her "I'm sorry for all that stupid stuff I said".

Sabine responded "Penelope, don't".

Penelope admitted "No, it's true. Every time this miserable world gets me down, you pick me up. You help me find a way to fight. I guess I didn't realise that you needed me to do that for you every once and in a while. So, I'm gonna start. With that".

Sabine saw the truck and asked, "what the hell is that".

Penelope told her "Come on". They both went over, and Penelope opened the back. She told her "It's your food truck or our food truck if you'll still have me".

Sabine asked, "you bought a food truck. How".

Penelope answered, "Detective Rodgers helped out and the impound lot has some really good deals".

Sabine said, "So, you used the money that I gave you. The rent money".

Penelope answered "yeah. I took a big swing, just like you taught me". Sabine chuckled and Penelope said "because you're right, Sabine. Because that is what best friends do. They nudge each other". Both Sabine and Penelope giggled and hugged.

Flashback Begins:

Naveen and Eudora General enter the palace and Eudora General said "your highnesses, we have great honour to announce the invaders of the Southern kingdom have been defeated and they have surrendered.

Eudora responded "Excellent. We have you General and Prince Naveen for saviour of our kingdom".

Naveen said "Your majesty. I humbly accept your praise, but the real hero of the day is your daughter. Without her coming to me, none of this would have been possible".

Eudora agreed "Correct. My daughter you were the hero we needed in our kingdoms most desperate hour. You showed the courage and bravery that I've only ever seen from one person, ever. Your father. You would have made him so proud".

Tiana hugged her mother and said, "thank you mother".

Eudora said, "Now a royal ball will be held here at the palace to celebrate our heroes, and the entire kingdom is invited to attend". The crowd cheered and Naveen and Tiana smiled at each other.

Flashback Ends:

Sabine enters the police station and approaches Rodges saying "hey there".

Rodgers responded "hi". He then saw the beignets and asked, "are those for me".

Sabine answered "Hmm". She then said "The last of the beignets for you and your buddies. Penelope told me that you helped get us the food truck".

Rodgers responded "No problem, it was part of this month's impound auction. It was confiscated in a drug string. You should probably clean it pretty thoroughly, bleach, really high heat".

Sabine told him "We will. Thank you".

Rodgers told her "I'm glad you came. The inspector's just finished. Whatever happened at Cluck's. It was deliberate".

Sabine exclaimed "what".

Rodgers told her "The cameras were destroyed, so there's no luck there, I'm afraid". Sabine sighed and Rodgers continued "but I think we both have a good idea who caused this".

Sabine knew he was referring to Victoria and said "she didn't do it by herself, anyway. Might get a nasty smudge on her tiny blazer".

Rodgers responded, "sounds like we're both talking about the same person".

Sabine responded "Mm-hmm".

Roni was staring at the picture when both Henry and Ivy entered. Ivy said, "you dragged me all the way here, this better be worth it".

They all sat down, and Roni said "I'm sorry for making you come here, both of you but this is something I felt too uncomfortable discussing there. Here". She showed them the picture of her and little boy that she didn't recognise. Roni told them "I have no idea where that is. And I have never owned clothes like those in my life. Plus, I have no idea who that kid is".

Henry was staring at it in shock and told them "I do". Roni and Ivy listened intently as Henry told them "That's me".

Chapter Text

Ivy, Roni, and Henry are all looking at the picture and Ivy asks, "how can my mother have a photograph of the both of you together, when you've only just met".

Henry answered "It must be photoshopped but not that's not what I'm more interest in, what I am is the fact that we are photoshopped as the characters in my book. This is a scene from my book. This is me as the kid who believes in fairytales, and you as my mom. The Evil Queen".

Roni responded unhappy, "The Evil Queen".

Ivy remarked jokingly "I can't possibly imagine mother would choose you as that character".

Roni loathed Ivy remark and hated Victoria even more. She got up and said "Right, so Victoria's screwing with us".

Roni got out her baseball bat and Henry responded "woah, woah, woah, woah. Hey, hey, slow down there, Babe Ruth. Geez, we don't know that Victoria made the photo.".

Ivy said, "if it wasn't my mother than why would it be on her secret floor of Clairemont towers".

Henry responded, "I don't know but can we at least look into it before it's clobbering time".

Penelope entered the bar and said "Roni. I am so glad you're still here".

Roni responded, "hey uh, what's up".

Penelope saw Ivy and Henry as well but ignored them as she went straight to telling Roni "It's, um, it's been a big night. Sabine and I, uh, we sort of bought a food truck".

Ivy said "a food truck, really. Well, mother's certainly not giving you back Samantha now".

Roni said to Penelope "that's great Penelope, it is, no matter what anyone else might say".

Penelope said "it needs a lot of work, and I sold my tool. Do you have any".

Roni responded "Well, lucky for you, this place is falling apart, so I've got all the tools you need".

Roni handed Penelope her toolbox and Penelope said, "you are a lifesaver".

Penelope began to leave, and Henry said "Well, hey, um, if you need some help, I'm pretty good around engines. You know, for a writer".

Penelope responded "no, I'm fine. You and my, um, sister have a good time".

Penelope left and Henry turned back to Roni and said "just trying to be nice. Don't like to leave things on bad terms".

Roni said "yeah, kissing her and having Samantha run out of here crying. Isn't a great way to leave things, especially with Samantha still believing".

Henry interrupted "that I'm her dad, yeah". Henry then said "I just wish she could see reality and that this is just a book. This is just a photoshopped picture".

Ivy picked up the picture and said "do you think that's what my mother was trying to do. Make Samantha believe that her belief is really real. And this is her proof".

Roni said, "that's honestly the best guess so far but why, how does your mother benefit from Samantha's belief in this".

Henry said "I don't know but that's a good place to start. We need to talk to Samantha".

Flashback Begins:

Henry and Drizella are kissing on a mountain looking at the stars. Drizella asks "Henry, we've been together for quite some time, but we haven't told anyone yet. I have to ask, are you afraid to be seen with me".

Henry answered "No, of course not. I'm just protecting you from my mother. She can be pretty intimidating, and I think the Queen will come out if she knows about us".

Drizella punched him in the arm and said "I'm serious. I want to tell people. I love you Henry Mills and I want the world to know it".

Henry admitted "all right. I'm afraid that if we tell people and let them know that we love each other, it will become real. And if it's real then it can be taken away. I can't lose you Drizella, I won't. I love you".

Drizella told him "You will never lose me. When you have true love, it can never fade. No matter what. And what is that thing your grandparents say".

Henry answered, "I will always find you".

Drizella said "see, even if we're apart. We will always be reunited because we are never truly a part".

Henry smiled and said "all right, you've convinced me. Let's go tell the world about our love". She kissed him and led him back running to the palace".

Flashback Ends:

Ivy went to Samantha's room and knocked on the door. Ivy said, "Samantha it's Ivy, come out I need to talk to you".

Samantha told her "Go away, I don't want to speak to you".

Ivy said, "come on Samantha, please".

Samantha told her "No, go away".

Ivy told her "It's about your book. Me, Henry and Roni found a picture and that grandma tried to hide in her secret floor at the top of the tower".

Samantha opened the door and said, "what picture".

Ivy answered "a picture of Henry when he was a little boy with Roni. Henry says it's from a scene in his book".

Samantha asked "so grandma tried to hide a picture which proves the curse is real. I knew it. I knew she had to be hiding something".

Ivy said, "We don't know what it is or why grandma has it, but we were hoping you could help us figure it out".

Samantha agreed "anything to prove that this is all real and to reunite my dad with his true love, my mom". Samantha left and Ivy knew that because of this fantasy she thought Ivy was getting in the way of her parents love and hated her for it. Ivy knew she had to ignore this to actually get Samantha to see that this is just a fantasy and that for some reason Victoria Clairemont wants her to believe it.

Ivy and Samantha entered the bar with Samantha rushing towards Roni and Henry. Samantha said, "I want to see the picture".

Roni gave her the picture and said "Now, Samantha can you help us figure this out".

Samantha looked at the picture and said "wait a minute. I remember reading this scene. Um, so Henry is Henry, obviously and Roni you're". Samantha gasped and then said "you're Regina. I mean, of course you are. Oh my gosh, you're his mom. Regina Mills adopted Henry Mills in the real world in Boston. And it was the best thing that ever happened to her, to you".

Roni took the picture away from her and said "Samantha, no. Give it up. This picture's obviously fake but what we want to know is why your grandmother would create a fake photo".

Samantha told them "Because it's not. Henry, you had something magical. You had a book that had real stories in it, and you never gave up and I won't give up, either". She then said to Roni "you are going to break this curse because you truly are Regina. And all I have to do is make you remember". She then snapped her fingers and said, "and I know exactly how to do it".

Samantha began to leave, and Ivy said, "Samantha stop, where are you going. I brought you here to find out why mother wants you to believe this".

Samantha answered "To my mom's. I know I will find it there in her closet. The story book will be there. And that will be all the proof you need".

Henry realised and said "you mean like how it magically appeared to Snow White in her closet when Henry needed it the most. She found it in her closet and gave it to him. The second he held it and saw Snow White he knew that his teacher Mary Margaret was in fact actually Snow White".

Samantha said "exactly".

Ivy said, "you're looking for prove, so you're hoping a book will magically appear in your mother's closet".

Henry said "yeah Samantha, remember we already looked in the garden, but nothing was there, no magical item when you were sure something was. Now what we need to find is a record, document, receipt of her having this photo created".

Ivy realised and told them "Documents, that it. We need to find documents". She then said to Samantha "you just said that Roni adopted Henry in Boston, the real world".

Samantha answered "yeah, Regina Mills adopted Henry Mills when he was a couple of weeks old".

Ivy said "then there would be an adoption record of that. If she adopted him Boston. Then they would have a record that a Regina Mills adopted a baby named Henry. It's something that we can prove. That no one not even my mother can fake".

Samantha said, "aunty Ivy, you're a genius".

Samantha gave Ivy a hug and Henry said "Ivy that's actually very smart. This will prove whether the picture is real as Samantha believes or a doctored image created by Victoria". He then turned to Roni who has been distant thinking about the time she actually tried to adopt a baby boy but at the last minute was rejected. Henry asked "Roni, you okay".

said "yeah, yeah. It's a good plan and I know exactly who to ask".

At the hospital Mr Gold remarks "this is where the real suffering begins".

Rodgers told him "Well, desk work isn't that bad".

Mr Gold said "I feel fine. I'm going back to work".

Rodgers told him "Well, captain wants you to stick it out for at least a week". A nurse brings in a wheelchair and Mr Gold is not happy to see it. Rodgers guesses "I take it you want to walk out of here".

Mr Gold answered "that's right. I'm going to walk straight back to the precinct, have a word with the captain. In the meantime, keep your eyes on your phone. I might have some errands for you to run". Mr Gold leaves kicking the wheelchair on his way. He is then followed out of the room by Rodgers, Tilly, and Margot.

Flashback Begins:

Henry leads Drizella to the bridge that crosses into the Southern kingdom and Drizella asks Henry "Darling, why are we here, that's the bridge that leads out of the kingdom into the Southern kingdom".

Henry answered "I know but I had to do this here because it's the perfect place. Over there is where we first met, this bridge is where we nearly died together, this bridge is where we escaped your mother for good, and a bridge very much this in another realm is where my grandparents realised, they fell in love, that they were meant for each other. So, I have to do this here". Henry got on one knee and got a ring out from his pouch. Ivy clasped her mouth in shock and Henry told her "Drizella, I have seen others find true love and feared that I would never have it. That was until the day I met you. I felt it for you, the second I awoke and saw your beautiful face. I knew we were connected and that our destinies were together. Then that night on the bench and I knew it was love, true love. And now I have to make the final step in that true love. Making it eternal. So, Drizella Clairemont will you marry me".

Drizella squealed "Yes, I will. Yes, I will marry you Henry Mills". Henry put the ring on her and they kissed.

Flashback Ends:

Roni, Henry, Ivy, and Samantha go to the station and place a bottle of MacCutcheon. Ivy tells him "It's a get-well gift".

Mr Gold asks "how can I help you Roni, especially with the team you assembled in front of me. Must be something quite important".

Henry said "really, this guy. He's the Detective that raided my apartment for Clairemont. How do you know he won't just go straight to Clairemont".

Roni said "he won't because he doesn't work for her. He works for himself, it's just that his goals and hers aligned at that moment".

Mr Gold responded "Correct, and lucky for you fine folks, our goals don't align at the moment, so how can I help".

Roni asked, "can you find out if a certain woman applied to adopt a baby in Boston. It would have been 2001".

Henry said "yeah, 2001".

Samantha said, "her name's Regina Mills".

Mr Gold responded, "that's brought you this conversation. Now, what would make me want to take this on".

Roni answered, "I'll owe you one".

Mr Gold smiled and said, "then we have a deal".

Ivy said "until detective Weaver gets us the information, we better drop Samantha back home. Don't want mother to know".

Roni agreed "yes, good plan".

Samantha begged "please I would like to stay and help".

Henry told her "Samantha, there is nothing more you can do. You've already helped out so much, now you need to the next part of the plan, which is making sure your grandmother doesn't get suspicious".

Samantha relented "okay".

They all left and after they dropped off Samantha. Henry said to Ivy "thank you for helping us, Ivy. This is your own mother so it can't be easy".

Ivy responded, "you can pay me back by taking me out on a date, and not the bar. I don't want your mother joining us".

Henry laughed and agreed "okay, we will go out tonight".

They arrived at the bar and Ivy stayed in the car while Roni and Henry got out. Ivy said "I gotta get ready, meet me at vue sur l'océan at 7. It's a French restaurant overlooking the ocean".

Henry responded, "I'll be there". Ivy left and Henry said to Roni "call me with any updates. I gotta get ready for my date".

Henry began to leave, and Roni answered, "I will, you go have fun". Henry then got further away, and Roni called out "Henry". Henry turned and she said "I think I was wrong about Ivy. She doesn't seem so bad after all". Henry smiled at her before leaving.

Roni was at the counter when Mr Gold walked in. Roni was shocked to see him so soon and remarked "Oh, I didn't expect to see you so soon. Nobody else is here. Samantha's at home and both Henry and Ivy are on a date". Shen then asked, "that for me".

Mr Gold answered, "it is".

He then directed her to pour a drink for him and she responded "right" and got one for him.

Mr Gold said, "So Ivy and Henry on a date huh, didn't see that match coming".

Roni responded, "it's just a date, nothing more than that".

Mr Gold said "can't control love dearie. I tried it once but ultimately failed because it's always has been the most powerful thing in the world".

Roni said, "can we get on with it, Weaver".

Mr Gold answered "all right. So, turns out, there was a Regina Mills. Adopted a baby boy in Boston, 2001".

Roni exclaimed "What. That's impossible".

Roni tried to grab the file, but Mr Gold pulled it away from her and said, "if you didn't think this was gonna work, why did you ask for help".

Roni responded "Weaver, I asked for a favour. Not an interrogation".

Mr Gold gave her the file telling her "Here".

Roni told him "Thank you".

Mr Gold responded, "Yeah, what are old friends for. Favours". Mr Gold had his drink and continued "favours, that will one day be returned. You owe me one".

Flashback Begins:

Henry was with Wish Hook, Matthew, Li, and Naveen in the tavern when a barmaid come up to them and asks, "hey any of you gentleman like to have a lady for the night".

Henry responded "no, we're fine".

Wish Hook says, "this man right here's getting married tomorrow, he can't be with lady like yourself".

Matthew said "yeah, that's for after the honeymoon".

All four laughed and Henry told her "Thanks for the offer but we're spoken for".

Wish Hook said "speak for yourself mate. I'm the only single guy here so I would be honoured to spend a night with you m'lady". Wish Hook left and told the group "See you at the wedding lads".

Henry said, "night mate, don't be late".

Naveen said, "see ya".

Li said "good night".

Matthew said, "see ya then".

Henry then asked "should we go back. I feel like we should be back at the palace".

Naveen told him "Nah we're fine. The women are having as much fun there as we are here. Talking, drinking, trying on their dresses, laying out our clothes so we can immediately put them on tomorrow and not embarrass them".

Matthew agreed "yeah that's what the doing".

Regina entered the tavern, and Henry saw her and said "mom, what are you doing here, is everything okay".

Regina said "everything's fine Henry. I just wanted to talk to you".

Henry responded "of course".

They both went outside and began to walk. Regina said "Henry, I came to this land to help you because I thought you needed it but you're not the kid who left Storybrooke anymore. You can fight your own battles, and you've found true love. You don't need me here".

Henry told her "You are so wrong. I do need you. You're the first person who loved me. The only person for many, many, years. So yeah, yeah, I can take care of bullies, or brigands, or whatever. But I will always need you".

Regina began to cry and told him "And I. I need you. Living in Storybrooke without you is". She began to chuckle and said, "I couldn't stand it". She then held his face and said "whatever else I'm supposed to do with my life. I'm your mother first because without that, I just don't know how to be".

Henry hugged her and said "mom I never told you this but for years I've felt it. I felt like I was too harsh on you as a kid. When Emma came, I wouldn't think of you as my mother and when I look back at it. I wish change that, tell my younger self that she is your mother and despite how hurt you are, you love her, and she loves you so show it".

Regina responded "it's okay Henry, I understand. I didn't always treat you the best because I was afraid, I would lose the only person that I had, that meant anything to me".

Henry told her "Yeah but there is something else that I have to get off my chest. Deep down I feel like. And I didn't even realise I felt this way until Emma told me she was pregnant but deep down I feel like you are my mom more than Emma is. You were the one that was there for me during horrible moment while Emma wasn't. I know and understand what she did, and I will always love her but she also chose to give me away while you chose to be there for me. She didn't even have like a curse or evil fairy to force her to give me up, she chose to. And with her new baby Hope, who I really want to meet one day and be a wonderful big brother to. I feel like she is giving her stuff that she could have given me but didn't and I resent a little for it. That's why when I ask you to come here, I wanted my mom and when I think of mom. I think of the person I need to go to, to make me feel safe, loved, protected, happy, and Emma makes me feel all of those things but not as much as you do".

Regina began to cry and said "Oh, Henry". She then gave him a hug and said, "I love you Henry".

Henry responded, "I love you to, mom". They let go and Henry said tearfully happy, "admit it, you feel slightly pleased that I need you more than I need Emma".

Regina answered tearfully happy, "just slightly, very, very slightly". She smiled at him and told him "Now you go back to the tavern and have fun. I need to have a chat with my future daughter in law".

Henry told her jokingly "be gentle on her please and remember that your standards of who's good enough for me is beyond anyone's reach, so let's just aim for closest, okay".

Regina agreed "okay". Henry went back to the tavern and Regina went to see Drizella.

Flashback Ends:

That night when the bar was closed. Roni opened the files Mr Gold gave her. She looked at them and saw Regina Mills signature. Questioning to herself whether this was truly real, she gave herself a test and signed her name as she would if her name was Regina Mills. She looked at the two signatures and saw that they were identical. Seeing this she decided that she needed to give Henry a call, but he didn't answer. Victoria entered the bar and said "Oh dear, this place is empty. Maybe you should have sold to me when you had the chance instead of being a complete failure".

Roni quickly put the documents away and said, "piss of Victoria, this is my bar and you're not welcome".

Victoria went behind the bar and Roni got up to fight her. Victoria said "easy Roni, not here to fight. Just want us to have a drink together and talk about how little feud. My treat of course".

Victoria got the MacCutcheon and Roni asked, "what do you want Victoria".

Victoria poured the drinks and said, "I know that you've been hanging around that writer Henry Mills, trying to bring me down".

Roni began to drink her drink and said, "and you're gonna pay us to stop". She said before continuing "get a new move Victoria, that one's getting old".

Victoria answered "you're right it is but that's not why I here. I'm here because I know the little adventure you went on with him, Ivy, and Samantha". Roni was shocked to hear this and Victoria continued "I wanted you all to go that mission. To find the photo and begin to question yourself over, what if all of Henry's fairytales were true". Regina continued to drink as Victoria continued "because once you start asking yourself those questions, your little brain is all warmed up and I can push it right over the edge".

Roni then felt her head was all foggy and she couldn't think clearly. Roni asked, "did you put something in my drink". The world began to shake, and her head began to rumble until suddenly she remembered who she was, her life, all of it. Right up till Victoria cast her curse and brought them to Hyperion Heights where she became Roni".

Roni gasped back after realising who she truly was, and Victoria said, "welcome back, Regina".

Regina responded, "still Victoria Clairemont in this land I see".

Victoria answered "no reason to change it. It works in this land, but I must ask, did you miss me".

Regina tried to blast Victoria back with magic, but nothing came out. Victoria said "oh, sorry. Land without Magic". She then said, "Well I had some but only just enough to wake you up".

Regina's phone began to vibrate of an incoming call from Henry. She looked at it and happily exclaimed "Henry" finally being able to talk and see her son again.

Victoria remarked "I wouldn't answer that if I were you. Henry can't know about this".

Regina asked, "then why the hell did you wake me up".

Victoria told her "Your mind might be a bit foggy from your nap. Just give it a minute".

Regina remembered exactly what happened when the curse was cast and Victoria said, "there it is. It's all coming back".

Regina began to think about what happened, and Victoria said "now, you told me that a hero always breaks the curse. So, I made mine hero-proof. Do you remember what I did right before the curse was cast, and why you can't ever allow it to be broken". Regina was thinking about what happened and began to cry. Victoria said, "you do remember. If the curse is broken, something very bad happens to the people you love".

Regina began to cry and asked "what do you want. Why did you awake me, besides to gloat".

Victoria answered "very smart Regina, very smart. I awoke you because I need your help. I am enjoying my victory, and the ever-lasting suffering of my enemies but to continue that, I need the curse to remain unbroken".

Regina realised "You mean Henry and Iv". She then corrected herself "Drizella".

Victoria said, "We both know you will do whatever it takes to stop true loves kiss from happening. That shouldn't be too hard for the Evil Queen, right. After all, breaking hearts is kind of what your best at".

Victoria began to leave, and Regina asked "weren't your backup plans good enough. I mean look at what you did to your own granddaughter".

Victoria answered "Oh, you mean Samantha. Yes, I have to admit that is one of the things I'm proudest of. Having her go around believing that she's the only one that knows the truth while being as much cursed as everyone else all along. And having her cursed like this, is such a perfect way to make sure the curse remains, while at the same time torturing her and keeping her from her parents".

Regina responded, "she's your own granddaughter, who did nothing to you".

Victoria responded "she did, she was born. My daughter was always a disappointment, but that child was her ultimate betrayal to me".

Regina said, "at least Samantha always had one grandmother in her life, that was there for her, that loved her".

Victoria retorted "is that what you call yourself, Grandma. Because I always thought Henry's mother was Emma Swan and that you were just the replacement until his real mother came back".

Regina responded "I'm not entertaining this, Victoria. He's my son and I'm his mother. That's why I was in the wish-realm because he needed his mother".

Victoria responded "really, I always thought it was because he found out his real mother was pregnant, going to have another child that she would raise and be there for, unlike him. So grabbed the next best thing to her because he needed a replacement mother. So, grabbed the one he always had, but the replacement is always the replacement and can never match up to the real thing. And that's what I am to Samantha, her real grandmother while you're just the replacement. Second best". She then smirked before saying to Regina "ta-ta Regina, good luck". Regina threw her glass against the wall and begun to cry.

Flashback Begins:

Regina visited Drizella in her room where the Bachelorette party was being held. Drizella was wearing and showing her wedding dress to Penelope, Ruby, Dorothy, Mulan, and Tiana. Penelope said, "that's a beautiful dress sister".

Ruby said "you're so lucky to be marrying Henry, ever since he was a kid. I knew he would make some woman very happy".

Drizella smiled and Regina asked "Drizella, can I speak to you outside".

Ruby remarked "Ohh, mother of the groom. Be careful Drizella because you're just about to get a warning that if you mistreat her son, you're going be eating a fireball for breakfast".

Regina said "No, it's nothing like that. I just want to talk to you, future mother-in-law to future daughter in law".

Drizella responded "okay". They both went out of the room and Drizella asked "what is it, Regina".

Regina told her "I was just speaking to Henry and wanted to tell you that I'm always here for you. I admit I was afraid when you first fell in love, then with the proposal that you would break his heart and yes if you did, a fireball will be thrown at you, but it won't. This is true love and I'm so happy that my son, who's my whole world. Found a wonderful woman to love. And one I'm happy to call my daughter. I know you don't have a good relationship with your mother but if you ever need me. I'm here for you".

Drizella hugged Regina and said, "thanks mom".

Regina smiled and said, "let's get back to the party because tomorrow is a big day for the both of us". They both went back in to enjoy the party.

Flashback Ends:

Regina was staring at the photo of her and Henry together when Herny and Ivy walked past and Henry said "hey, I tried to ring but you didn't answer".

Regina responded "yeah sorry about that. I just wanted to make sure your date was going well".

Ivy answered "it did. Henry is a real gentleman".

Regina responded, "I know".

Ivy asked, "did you hear anything back from Weaver".

Regina answered "yes, he's working with a contact in Boston and checking the records as we speak".

Henry responded "Good, then maybe when Samantha finds out there is nothing, it will break this little fantasy of hers".

Regina said, "You know, I was thinking, uh, maybe it would help if she knew a little more about you. You know like who your mother is".

Henry told them both "I, I haven't told her this because I didn't want to add fuel to the fire, but, uh, I was, I was born in prison, just like my character. Except I was never adopted. And I grew up in the system".

Regina remarked "like Emma did". Henry was confused to why she said that, and Regina told him "In you book".

Henry said, "you read my book".

Regina told him "I picked up a copy. It's really good".

Henry responded "Nah. It's, it's okay. I mean, you don't have to say that". He then said to Ivy "and you don't have to read it".

Ivy asked "why".

Henry answered, "We just went out on a date, and I would like a second one, so I'm not embarrassing myself".

Regina told him "Come on Henry, it's not embarrassing",

Henry responded "Well it is, but not because no one really like it. It wasn't a best seller and that did use to bother me but what's embarrassing about it is, I wrote it for myself. Growing up as an orphan, all I ever dreamt of was having a mom. I wanted it so badly that I found a way to give myself two".

Ivy sat down next to him forcing both Regina and Henry to move over. She told him "Henry, I'm going to admit that it is a little embarrassing but it's also adorable. You are true to yourself Henry and not a lot of guys are like that. Actually, none but you are like that. That's what makes you so different from all the other guys, and I think the reason I like you, and want to go further with you".

Ivy held his hand, and Regina told him "She's right Henry. It's one of the reasons I'm happy to have met you and getting to know you".

Henry responded, "I'm happy to be getting to know you to". He then turned to Ivy and said, "both of you". Ivy smiled at him and all three happily sat on the bench together.

Chapter Text

Penelope went up to said "hey, Roni". She then saw that Regina was upset and asked, "you okay".

Regina answered "yeah, it's just overworked and underpaid". Roni laughed a little at this and asked, "what can I get you".

Penelope answered, "a beer, and make it really good because I'm celebrating".

Regina asked "Celebrating".

Penelope told him "Me and Sabine, got the electrical system running on the food truck".

Regina chuckled and said "Ah, that is good news, where is Sabine".

Penelope answered "looking for a job because until it's up and running, we aint making any money. And until I get a steady paycheck again". She sighed before saying "I don't know when I'm going to be able to get Samantha back".

Regina eyes lit up in delight and she told her "Why don't you come work for me".

Penelope exclaimed "what".

Regina told her "I could really use the help, especially since this place picked up ever since I turned your stepmom down and if you want your daughter back, you need a steady job. With that and the fact that Victoria recently came into the bar and offered me money to surrender our case against her, which I refused of course. You stepmom is scared, so just having this job means you can fight for your daughter".

Penelope got up and ran around the bar exclaiming "thank you, thank you, thank you". She then said, "I can finally get my daughter back and this time for good, without it being on Victoria's allowance".

Regina told her "Calm down there momma, you also need one more thing to actually get your daughter back. You can't just have these and win, you'll have to deal with social workers and let me tell you, they are all about stability and they hate single mother's who work in bars".

Penelope asked, "then why are you offering me the job".

Regina answered, "because there's a way to avoid them and that's getting Victoria to sign Samantha over to you without a fight".

Penelope asked, "how do I do that".

Regina answered "A lawyer, if you had a lawyer, with this job. You can threaten her that you'll fight to take Samantha back. And in her current state of fear she'll just roll over and do whatever you want. So, do you know a good lawyer".

Penelope smiled and said "yes, yes, I do. I know exactly who to call".

Flashback Begins:

Matthew and Penelope are walking past a wait and Matthew said to Penelope "I'm sure you are wondering why I asked you to go on this constitution with me".

Penelope answered "Yes, I am actually".

Matthew told her "I enjoy our time together. You were a beautiful Queen and now even more so as just a lady".

Penelope blushed and said, "you sure do know how to charm a girl don't you".

Matthew responded "Well, there's a girl worth charming".

Penelope went up him and gave him a kiss. She then told him "I need to see if I liked it because I really like you as a person, but I needed to see if I liked you further".

Matthew asked, "did you".

Penelope began to kiss him passionately and when they both let go, she answered "yes I did, very much".

Matthew responded, "So did I". She then kissed him again which caused both of them to fall over.

Flashback Ends:

Victoria told Samantha "Did you really think I wouldn't find out that you've been sneaking out, running around town".

Samantha answered, "I didn't care whether you found out or not".

Victoria responded "You will care. Because you can go downstairs to your room. You're grounded".

Samantha told her "Punish me all you want now, it won't matter. After my mom and dad break the curse, we'll be together. And you, you'll be all alone".

Henry and Ivy entered the bar, and they were shocked to see Penelope there. Ivy said "Sis, I didn't expect to see you working here".

Penelope told them "I'm working here so I can have a stable job when I fight to get my daughter back".

Henry said "that's great. She's lucky to have a mom like you that fights for her no matter what".

Ivy said, "and once we bring down my mother, it will be easier".

Henry said "yeah it will. That reminds me". He then called out "hey Roni, you hear anything from Detective Weaver yet".

Regina answered, "yeah I did, turns out there was a Regina Mills that adopted a baby boy in Boston".

Ivy exclaimed "really".

Regina told her "Yeah".

Henry sighed and said "that's not gonna help us is it. Samantha's just gonna use this as proof that it is real" He sighed and remarked "I had to choose the name of a woman that actually did".

Penelope asked, "what are you talking about".

Regina told her "Just trying to dissuade your daughter from believing that Henry is her father".

Penelope told them "Don't worry about that. I have my lawyer coming and he will get me my daughter back and help Samantha see the truth".

Henry responded, "that seems a lot for one guy to be able to achieve".

Penelope said, "He can do it, He is Samantha's father after all".

Henry asked, "Samantha's real father, is your lawyer".

Ivy said, "didn't you dump him just after Samantha was born".

Penelope responded, "yeah but he's different now".

Ivy asked, "really because I recall you calling him a lazy, no-good slacker".

Penelope told everyone "He's a lawyer now, and made something of his life, and when I asked for his help, he immediately volunteered".

Regina said "Well, if he can help you get your daughter and pick up the fight against Victoria, then he's always welcome here".

Ivy says, "or maybe my sister wants to get back with her ex because she still has feelings for him".

Penelope responds "I do not. I need a lawyer and he's a lawyer who's willing to help. End of story".

Regina says, "And with Victoria on the ropes, a little push is all she needs".

Henry says, "love the optimism Roni, but Victoria Clairemont is not on the ropes, we have nothing; really on her".

Regina tells them "That's not what she said when she was in here trying to get us to stop. She's scared and I'll bet this bar that she will give up Samantha without a fight if we push her".

Ivy said "Well, I know my mother and I won't believe it until I see it".

Regina responded "Well, you'll see it in a bit. Now what did you come here for".

Henry said, "we are going out on another date".

Regina asked "really".

Ivy said "Yeah, Henry's taking me to see a band called Spicoli and we're just getting some drinks before we go".

Regina went to get drinks for them as Henry said, "they're great, they're my favourite 80's cover band".

Regina told them "Well you two have a good time".

Henry grabbed the drinks and said "Yeah, we will. Thanks for the drinks".

Henry and Ivy began to leave, and Regina said to herself disheartened "anytime".

Flashback Begins:

Penelope asked Matthew "are you sure we can do this, tell everyone, because I'm an ex-Queen that literally tried to marry you off to my sister".

Matthew told her "We were both forced into unhappy relationships. Thankfully Henry found me in time and gave us the courage to stand up for ourselves and find true happiness, and that's what we've found. True happiness. I love you Penelope and all anyone wants from us is to find true love. Like your sister and Henry. They found each other and so have we. So, let's not be afraid of it".

Penelope told him "Well I am. I never experienced it before. My marriage was forced upon me, I don't know how to deal with a love that I've chosen, one that's true".

Matthew told her "And we'll get through it together because that what you do when you have true love, your hearts become one".

Penelope smiled and told him "I can feel it your heart, right besides mine".

She put her hand to her heart and Matthew said, "and yours in next to mine". He then put his hand to his heart. They both smile having each other's hearts besides each other.

Flashback Ends:

Regina was scrolling through PictYoursThis app to see images of Henry and Ivy on their date. She saw some on her page and saw that they were getting closer together each time, they were together. Victoria entered saw her, she remarked "checking up on our favourite couple are we, making sure they are not getting too close".

Regina responded "not know, Victoria. I need to save my son".

Victoria said "Well, you better hurry up because a kiss shared with even the slightest bit of belief in their true love will cause, well, your worst nightmare".

Regina said, "we will find a way to stop you".

Victoria responded "love to see you try. Maybe you can call some of your friends from Storybrooke, have them come and defeat me. hmm I wonder why you haven't. Is it because you will have to admit defeat and let them know that Henry Mills will never have true love". Regina developed tears in her eyes because she knew Victoria was right and that Henry would never be able to be with Drizella and Samantha again without dying. She could not let Storybrooke know this because it would break their hearts. She was on her own. Victoria said "knew it. Enjoy stopping our children from ever being together and having true love because it's the only way you can save him, or don't and let your son die because no matter what. I win". Victoria smiled and left remarking "victory is sweeter when you can never lose". Regina watched Victoria leave and glared at her with pure anger.

The next day Henry and Rodgers weere working trying to get dirt on Victoria Clairemont when Henry threw his headphones down and said, "there's nothing, how can there be nothing on her".

Rodgers said, "you did find that photo".

Henry responded "a fake photo, used to convince Samantha that I'm her dad. Besides from just wanting to abuse us, there's nothing on her. Despite everything we know she's done, there's nothing we can use on her, this is all a complete disaster".

Regina told them "maybe we've been going about this the wrong way. Okay we can't expose Victoria but when she came in here. She was scared. I thought it was about going to prison, but I no longer think that anymore. I think it's because now, because of what we're doing. No one is obeying her anymore, she's losing the people that were closest to her, her daughter, stepdaughter, and now her granddaughter are all against her. The people are too, like with the garden. So, maybe to bring her down, we need to turn people against her. Tell them who she is and what she does, that we all have plenty of. Everyone out there is terrified of her but are too afraid to speak it. They are looking for someone to speak up against her and inspire others to do the same. Once we do that, she'll be nothing, powerless".

Rodgers and Henry looked at her and were both in agreement. Henry said "Roni, that's a great idea. I can create a podcast about it, the stories of people of this town, this place. That will show them who she truly is, but I don't solely want to do that. I also want to take about this place because ever since I've come here and met all of you. I've just be inspired by you all, how you live your lives and together here".

Rodgers said, "and I guess it will also contain how you came to the Heights and made yourself one of us".

Henry asked "is that what you think. Do you see me as a member of this town".

Regina answered "of course Henry, you've been one of us the second you walked into my bar. You care about this place and these people and want what's best for them. You are one of us".

Henry said, "thank you guys, I don't know really what to say".

Rodgers told him "You don't need to say anything mate because we know how you feel and also how you feel about a certain woman, if you catch what I'm saying".

Henry smiled and Regina asked, "how is it going between you and Ivy".

Henry answered "really well. I enjoy being with her and haven't been so happy in a long time".

Regina told him "That's great, we only want you to be happy".

Rodgers said, "yeah we do". He then looked at his watch and sighed before telling them "Gotta run, or I'll be late for my shift, see ya".

Henry turned to Roni and said, "better start working on my podcast, how do you like 'H Town' as a title".

Regina answered "I like it. It's catchy, get's to the point without being fully targeted at Victoria. It's perfect". Henry smiled and began to work on it and Regina told him "I need to get drinks from the storage area, shout out if you need help".

Regina began to leave, and Henry said, "will do".

Henry put his headphones on and began to work to listening to music. A man entered into the bar and saw on Henry's computer that he was listening to 'Bizarre Love Triangle' by New Order. Henry saw that the man was looking at this and the man touch his ear to indicate that he wanted Henry to take his headphones off. Henry did and the man said, "New Order, hmm".

Henry answered "yeah".

The man said, "Bizarre Love Triangle is like, my third favourite New Order song".

Henry responded "Yeah, totally. Their best is".

They both said at the same time "Temptation".

Henry agreed "Yes, most people say, 'Blue Monday".

The man said "Well, most people would be wrong".

Henry responded "ain't it the truth". He then introduced himself "Hey, I'm Henry".

The responded "Gabriel".

Penelope rushed over and said "Hey, Gabriel. I see you've met my friend Henry".

Gabriel turned to Henry and said "You're that Henry. Penny told me you wrote Samantha's favourite book".

Henry asked "Oh, so you know Penelope and Samantha".

Penelope told him "Gabriel's the lawyer I hired to help get Samantha back".

Henry responded "wait, so that means".

Gabriel interrupted "Yep, I'm Samantha's dad".

Penelope asked "Garbriel, what are you doing here. I said that I was gonna drop off all the custody paperwork after my shift".

Gabriel told her "Yeah, I thought I'd get a jump on it, that way I'd be all caught up and we'd go over it tonight. You have the papers here".

Penelope said "Uh, yeah, it's, uh, right, right here".

Penelope gave him the box and Gabriel told her "Well, thank you". He then turned to Henry and shook his hand before telling him "Henry, it was great to meet you".

Henry responded "Yeah, yeah, good to meet you".

Gabriel said "And I will see you tonight, Pen. So, we can get through all of this and plan our attack when we confront your stepmom tomorrow".

Gabriel left and Henry asked, "why did dump him, he's so cool. And what was with the slacker line, dude's successful as hell".

Penelope answered "that was a surprise to me, until this morning I hadn't seen him for ten years, but I knew after I dumped him; he went to law school. Then when Roni told me that I needed a lawyer. I thought of him".

Henry remarked "Well, if there was a lawyer that would help, it would be him".

Penelope said "Yeah, I'm actually quite thankful for that because I don't have the money for a lawyer, so having her dad be one is really nice".

Henry said, "finally a bit of luck against your stepmom around here".

Flashback Begins:

Henry, Matthew, Wish Hook, and Li were going to the tavern for Henry's bachelor party when Matthew says "you guys go in. I need to talk to Henry for a moment".

Wish Hook said "all right, we'll order you a pint. Li, you've got the first round".

Li responded, "I got the first-round last time, this time it's yours".

Wish Hook said, "I'm pretty sure your mistaken because I know it's not my round".

Li and Wish Hook entered the Tavern. Henry and Matthew "So, what did you need".

Matthew answered "I just wanted to say that I'm really happy for you. You're my best mate and I don't know where I'd be if you didn't come to the ball and save us all".

Henry responded "it's you who I need to thank because you were the one that came and got me at the portal. Without you, Me and Drizella would never have found each other".

Matthew remarked "and neither would me and Penelope".

Henry told him "I know that one day soon, we'll be attending your bachelor party, and I will be best man at your wedding".

Matthew joked "may as well just swap suits".

They both laughed and Henry said, "I'm happy I got to meet you man".

Matthew said "So am I, and we gotta get back to your land someday, this Storybrooke. I need to see this Star Wars thing you go on about".

Henry held Matthew over the shoulder and they both began to walk into the Tavern. Henry told him "We will, we we'll watch them all".

Matthew asked, "they're movies right".

Henry answered "yep".

Matthew asked, "what's a movie again".

Henry giggled and remarked "you are gonna be in for quite a surprise when you finally get to see my land".

Flashback Ends:

Penelope was getting ready to go out with Gabriel when Sabine entered and saw her getting dressed. Sabine wolf whistled before telling Penelope "I mean, I was coming to show you our new uniforms, but clearly wherever you are going is more silk than silk screen".

Penelope told her "Gabriel and I were supposed to meet in his office, but his friend dropped a last-minute invite, uh, to his new restaurant Walrus and company".

Sabine responded "are you kidding. I called for a res and was put on a two-year wait list. Gabriel is really pulling out all the stops and by the looks of this number, so are you".

Penelope told her "Gabriel got his life together. I need to at least present myself as a responsible adult who can take care of my child".

Sabine responded "That's ridiculous. P, what is really going on".

Penelope answered, "it's complicated".

Sabine responded "Oh my God. Are you, do you still have feeling for Gabriel, is that why you called him".

Penelope told her "I don't have feelings for Gabriel".

Sabine responds "she says, lying to herself and her best friend".

Penelope told her "Stop it. I'm gonna be late. Now, how about being that best friend and zipping me up".

Regina went to the police station and saw Rodgers working at a desk. She went up to him and said "Oh, hey, Rodgers. I'm looking for Weaver. Is he around".

Rodgers responded "Weaver "he's probably out being a shady bastard somewhere".

Regina sighed and responded "isn't that always the case. If you see him, tell him to find me".

Regina began to leave, and Rodgers responded, "will do".

At the restaurant Gabriel asked Penelope "not a fan of bivalves".

Penelope answered "I love oysters, It's just. It's just that I'm so nervous about this. I want Samantha back so much I afraid I'll screw it up and make it worse".

Gabriel told her "Well get her back Pen. Okay, I will do everything I can to make sure that happens quickly".

Penelope responded "thanks. To be honest I, I was surprised you agreed to help after I broke up with you".

Gabriel responded "Yeah, that was rough. But in the end, probably the best thing that could have happened to me. It forced me to take a long, hard look at my life. I mean, you remember how I was. I was living in my parents basement, making you suffer my crappy band by justifying it as the next Nirvana".

They both laughed and Penelope told him "Hey, you rocked that flannel".

Gabriel said "I promised myself if I ever had another kid, I would be a man they could be proud of. So, I put away that flannel, and I applied to law school".

Penelope said "Well, I'm not so sure Samantha's so proud of me, now that Victoria's forced us apart again".

Gabriel told her "Don't be ridiculous, you know that woman is pure evil, remember the first time I came over to your house while you were living with her".

Penelope answered "yeah, she made you pee yourself".

Gabriel said, "I was an adult, and she terrified the, well, piss out of me". Penelope giggled and he told her "Samantha knows she's pure evil as well, so she won't be mad. Plus, it's another reason I agreed, no kid of mine is gonna have to suffer that monster". Penelope giggled again and Gabriel told her "Another reason you should not blame yourself is, look at how hard you are fighting now. I see it, you love Samantha, and that's what's gonna bring you back together. I'm just here to act tough in front of the most terrifying woman in the world and trust me I've been mentally preparing myself for her, so we can get her back".

Penelope said, "thank you Gabriel. That actually means a lot".

Gabriel said, "also so I don't have another accident because we will lose all scare factor then and have no hope of either getting her back or cleaning these pants". They both laughed again, and Gabriel then said, "moving on from that, let's get back to the paperwork, there was one document missing from your files. It's the court order, signed by a judge granting custody to Clairemont".

Penelope said "it wasn't in there. Sorry, things have been so chaotic".

Gabriel held her hand and told her "It's okay. It shouldn't be needed if Victoria surrenders her to you but if we have to fight, we will need it, and no matter what happens tomorrow, we are not bluffing, we are fighting for her". Penelope smiled at Gabriel happy he said this.

Flashback Begins:

Matthew entered both his and Penelope's room. She asked him "how was the Tavern".

Matthew answered, "we laughed, we drunk, we had a good time, and Hook is spending the night with a barmaid".

Penelope responded, "that sounds like Hook".

Matthew asked, "how was the girls party or as Henry calls it the bachelorette party".

Penelope told him "Ruby actually calls it a Hen's night but same as you, we laughed, we drunk, we had a good time, but nobody spent the night with a barmaid. We although did try on our dresses and I gotta tell you, that I look sensational in mine".

Matthew responded, "I know".

Penelope responds, "but you haven't seen it yet".

Matthew responds, "I know but I will tomorrow, and I already know how good you look in everything".

Penelope smiles before giving him a kiss and tells him "I can't wait for tomorrow, where we'll be best man and maid of honour".

Matthew informs her "well soon you'll be a bride and not a bridesmaid".

Penelope asks, "does this mean what I think it means".

Matthew answered "well yes but not at the moment. Tomorrow is Henry and Drizella's day but after that it's all about you and me".

Penelope says, "I wish I met you years ago and didn't waste my time as wife to that grotesque King".

Matthew responds, "me to and I'm actually happier as we are here because now, we know that it's truly each other that we love, and not a forced arrangement that we both have to put up with".

Penelope kissed him and told him, "Darling, you took the words right out from my mouth. I love you and I cannot wait to be your wife".

Flashback Ends:

Mr Gold enters Roni's bar and approaches Regina. He asks her "you were looking for me".

Regina answered "That's right. Take a seat". Mr Gold sat down and asked, "what does the name Rumpelstiltskin mean to you".

Mr Gold responded "Rumpelstiltskin. Well, didn't he sleep for 100 years".

Regina corrected him "that was Rip Van Winkle". She then said "And we're not doing this. I'm awake and so are you. You're always awake. And I'm sure you think you have a good reason for pretending you're not, but it's time to drop it. We need to find a way to break this curse and save your grandson because he's not dying just to break a curse and get us back to the ones we love. I can't do it alone and I can't go to Storybrooke for help. I need a partner because it's us against Victoria, right here, just like it used to be".

Mr Gold looked up and smirked before telling her "You know, for what needs to be done. We can't have Regina running around, we need the Queen".

Regina grinned and told him "When it's my son's life on the line, there is no room for Regina anymore. Only the Queen".

Gabriel and Penelope enter Clairemont towers and approach Ivy. Ivy smiles as they approach and Gabriel sighs before saying "Ivy, we're here to see your mother, can you let her know we're here because we have legal matters to discuss".

Ivy responds "of course, should I also go get paper towels or a wet jug so you can pretend that I spilt water on you, you know for the wet situation that's about to happen".

Gabriel responds "still the same Ivy. Snivelling after something she'll never get, her mother's approval".

Penelope tells Gabriel "She's on our side now actually, helping us against my stepmother".

Gabriel asked in disbelief "really".

Ivy answered "Yes, and I'm helping to reunite dear sweet Samantha with her mother but it's nice to see that her father turned up for once in his life".

Gabriel asked Penelope, "you sure she's on our side".

Penelope answered "yeah, she is. She's even dating Henry".

Gabriel turned to Ivy and back to Penelope and said, "you have to be joking, he's way to cool of a guy to be dating her".

Ivy stated, "we are, and we're actually really hitting it off".

Gabriel said, "good for you".

Ivy went back to her desk and said, "I'll just let mother know you're here, so you can leave as quickly as possible". Ivy then called Victoria and told her "Mother, Penelope and Gabriel are here to speak to you about a legal matter". Ivy then listened and said, "I'll send them in". Ivy then told Penelope and Gabriel "you can go in now, mother awaits".

Gabriel tells her "Thank you". Gabriel and Penelope begin to walk in and Gabriel remarks "now I feel sorry the guy". Ivy heard this and grunted as they entered and angrily returned to her work.

Gabriel and Penelope enter Victoria's office and Victoria says "Gabriel, long time, no see. What brings you here".

Gabriel tells Victoria "Victoria, we want you to sign Samantha over to her mother. She's ready to raise her and be a full-time stable guardian. She has a steady job and can provide for her".

Victoria asks Gabriel "are you a lawyer now".

Gabriel answers "Yes, I went to law school".

Victoria interrupts "after Penelope here dumped you".

Gabriel answered "Yes". He then said "but that's not the point. I'm here as her lawyer and we don't want a fight, but we will. I will always fight for them and for them to be together".

Victoria smiles and says "all right. I agree fully. I will sign Samantha over to you".

Penelope exclaims in shock "really".

Victoria responds "of course, don't want a legal trial after everything that has happened to me and if you my daughter are finally willing to fight for her and did the smart thing by contacting her lawyer of a father, then I'm happy to sign".

Gabriel cautiously hands her the documents and says, "just your name and signature there". Victoria signed and Gabriel looked at it before handing it to Penelope and telling her "Name and signature, there". Penelope signed and Gabriel looked over it.

Victoria asked, "is everything in order".

Gabriel answered "Yes". He then turned to Penelope and said, "Samantha's yours".

Penelope squealed and hugged Gabriel. She said, "I owe you my future life, Sam, Samantha and me both". She hugged him and squealed "Oh my God". They then kissed and after the kiss Penelope told him "I've forgotten how much I missed that".

Gabriel said, "me to".

They were about to kiss again when Victoria interrupted and said, "let's get Samantha up here shall we, or should I give you ten minutes of privacy".

Penelope told her "Please, send her up. I need to see her".

Victoria called Ivy and told her "Get Samantha to come up here, I need to speak to her".

Samantha entered the room and asked "Yes, grandma. What is it".

Samantha then noticed her mother and was in shock. Victoria told her "Your mother is here to take you home".

Samantha exclaimed "really".

Victoria told her "Yes, Samantha dear, really. I just signed you over to her".

Samantha asked her mother "does this mean".

Penelope told her "That you're mine forever, yes, yes, yes".

Samantha happily rushed to Penelope and gave her mother a massive hug. She then told her mother "I love you, mom".

Penelope responded, "and I love you to, baby". She then said, "I always told you that I will fight for you, no matter what".

Samantha responded "yeah".

Penelope then said, "There's someone I want you to meet". She then turned to Gabriel and told Samantha "This is Gabriel". Samantha turned to him and Penelope told Samantha "He's your father, baby".

Gabriel said to Samantha "it's very nice to meet you, Samantha. I'm glad you are your mom are back together".

Samantha told him "Thank you".

Victoria said "I'll have her things shipped over to you but until then how about you three go out for some ice cream. I'm sure your dad really wants to get to know you".

Gabriel said "Yes, I do. What do you say Samantha. Mind if the three of us get ice cream together my treat".

Samantha turned to her mother and Penelope said, "We would love to Gabriel".

All three began to leave and Samantha turned back to Victoria who was smiling at her. Victoria followed them out and watched them as they got in the elevator and Samantha noticed that Victoria was still happy as the door closed. Ivy asked her mother "mother, what was that".

Victoria answered "one of my daughters finally doing something right. I know with the right push even the most disgraceful and hopeless people can become fine and worthy if they put the effort then, which Gabriel thankfully has. And even Penelope went to get him to fight for Samantha. She finally has made me proud of her, now I wish my other daughter would do the same but unfortunately, I can't hope for that. Now back to work Ivy, I need you to send Samantha's things over to her mother's". Victoria entered her office, and Ivy went back to her desk and angrily slammed the desk before beginning to cry.

Chapter Text

Flashback Begins:

Drizella begun to walk down the aisle with Naveen walking with her. She looked ahead to see Henry is a handsome suit with his best men of Matthew, Wish Hook, and Li standing beside him. She also saw her bridesmaids of Penelope, Ruby, Mulan, and Dorothy. She made it to the end and stood besides Henry. The Priest then began to speak and said "We are gathered here today to join Henry Mills and Drizella Clairemont in holy matrimony. Marriage is the ultimate confession and devotion of true love. A commitment between two people, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part. Now do you Henry Daniel Mills promise to take this woman to be your wife and love her for all eternity".

Henry answered, "I do".

The Priest then asked, "and do you Drizella Clairemont promise to take this man to be your husband and love him for all eternity".

Drizella answered "I do".

The Priest said "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride".

They both kissed and the crowd cheered. The door then burst open and Lady Clairemont exclaimed "Sorry I'm late. I wouldn't want to miss my little girl's happy, happy day".

Henry drew out his sword, and so did Matthew, Wish Hook, Li, Mulan, Naveen and the royal guards. Regina stepped forward and said, "Go away Victoria, I will not have you ruin my son's special day". She then turned to Henry and said, "you know it's actually really weird being on this end of a bursting through to ruin a wedding and threatening everyone's happiness". She then turned to Victoria and told her "It's been done before, so if you want us to feel threatened. Do something new and not copy exactly what I did".

Lady Clairemont responded "you're exactly right Regina. I wouldn't want to fail like you did. I'm here to wish my daughter and my new son in law a happy day and a happy marriage, until I return of course. Because the day I return is when you are to late to stop me. I will put my plan into the action and the curse will be inevitable. My curse, which will truly take everything, and mean everything from you all. And the only thing you will have is eternal suffering". The crowd was now terrified of Victoria and Henry held Drizella close to him. Victoria said, "so enjoy it dears because your days are limited". She then smoked out of there and left the wedding.

Drizella stormed into her room with Henry, and Regina following behind her. Drizella said "I can't believe this; I cannot believe she is doing this to me". She then turned to Henry and asked, "Why is she doing this, why does she want to destroy our happiness".

Regina said "she's not. She was delivering an empty threat. It takes a lot to do what she is claiming and she, just doesn't have it in her. Her threats are just that, to make you scared because that's all she can do".

Henry said "exactly, that's all she wants. To make us scared so we destroy our own happiness".

Regina said "it work on Snow and David. I got them so scared that he accidentally looked at Medusa and turned to stone, unfortunately for me, I had to gloat and because of that Snow found a way to save him".

Henry held Drizella's hands and said "see, even my grandparents fell for it. Let's not let her win and have our happy ending".

Drizella asked "you sure, it's empty".

Henry answered "positive, so to defeat her. You and I need to go on a beautiful honeymoon and enjoy some alone time, just you and me".

Drizella smiled and Regina told them "Now you two get some sleep. You have a honeymoon tomorrow. And we here need to hunt down Victoria and stop her for good".

Drizella said "what if that's what she wants though, for us to think it's an empty threat and it actually be a real one".

Regina responded "I have a plan for that. You'll have me there to protect you".

Henry said, "but don't they need you if you're going after Victoria".

Regina responded, "oh they'll have a witch with them all right, and Victoria won't know what hit her".

End Flashback:

Mr Gold and Regina went over to Tilly and Margot. Regina asked, "are you sure this is the best plan".

Mr Gold responded "you know it is. She's the only way we're gonna get in with".

Tilly interrupted "hello Detective".

Mr Gold said "Tilly how have you've been. We haven't talked since".

Tilly interrupted "I know and I'm really sorry about what I did".

Mr Gold told her "It's all right Tilly. I know it wasn't the real you".

Tilly told him "I've taken those pills ever since, haven't I Margot".

Margot told them "She has. Very persistent".

Mr Gold remarked "good".

Tilly asked "so, what brings you to us. Want us to dig up more stuff on Clairemont".

Mr Gold answered "No, I'm actually here to speak to Margot, alone".

Tilly accepted and left. Margot asked, "what do you need from me, Detective Weaver".

Mr Gold answered, "me and Roni, we need to".

Regina interrupted "we need to talk about the bar. So, we need to talk to your mother, and you know that".

Margot said "she hates your guts. I know".

Regina said, "it's really important Margot, so please get your mother to come speak to me".

Margot told them "It's not gonna be easy".

Regina said "Please, Margot. Just please get her to have one conversation with me. It's all I ask and you're the only one that can get her to".

Margot agreed "all right but prepare yourself to come face with a very irate Kelly West".

Regina responded, "I can deal with her, if you remember she was like a sister to me".

Margot agreed and said, "come on Tilly, we need to pay my mother a visit".

Tilly responded "good. I like going to see people".

Margot and Tilly left, and Regina said to Mr Gold "now that's done, there's only one more thing we need to do".

Flashback Begins:

Everyone was waiting outside the palace for Regina's help, but no one had arrived yet. Wish Hook asked "Regina, you sure they got the message".

Regina responded "I'm sure and she'll be here. I promise you that".

Wish Hook responded "Well, I'll believe it when I see it".

A portal then opened, and Regina said, "there see it".

Zelena and Robin came through. As soon as they landed Robin exclaimed "aunty Regina".

Robin gave Regina a hug and Regina responded, "hey Robin, you still like that bow and arrow of yours".

Robin answered, "yeah but mom doesn't like me playing with it".

Zelena told her "Because my little munchkin, it's a weapon and you could hurt yourself".

Robin said, "Snow has been giving me lessons".

Regina asked "really".

Zelena answered "yeah, she has. She's actually a natural".

Regina told Robin "Of course you are. You Robin Hood after all".

Robin said, "watch me hit tree dead centre". Robin got her bow and arrow out and aimed it at the tree.

Everyone tried to stop her screaming "no". The arrow was loosed and it hit the tree dead centre, and everyone was shocked.

Regina went over to Zelena and asked silently "why did you bring Robin; we are after a dangerous witch, and you bring a child".

Zelena responded "I had to, she wouldn't stop complaining about missing you and using that bow which I refused to let her use in either the house or town. Plus, with you and me around there is no need to worry".

Regina relented "all right, but just because I will be looking after her, while you hunt this witch".

Zelena said, "to easy, this puny excuse of a witch will learn what true magic is".

Henry said "it's nice to see you again aunt Zelena but mom told us she was bringing a witch. Didn't you lose your magic".

Zelena answered "I did but after you left, we found out Robin here had magic but hated it. So, I got Gold to give her my old amulet to contain her powers. And since Robin still didn't want them, even with the ability to take it on or off. I decided that I would use it until she wanted them back, but I don't think that's likely because the second she picked up Snow White's bow, it was like she found herself".

Robin said "I don't like magic. Magic feels weird. Archery feels right". She then asked "Did you see that mom. I hit that perfectly. I'm perfect".

Zelena responded "I did see, and that shot was excellent. But mommy has to go now, and Aunty Regina will look after you. With your cousin Henry and his new wife Drizella".

Robin asked Drizella "are you gonna have a baby".

Drizella answered "no, not yet anyways".

Robin said, "I thought you had to be having a baby to get married".

Drizella told her "Actually most of the time it's the other way round".

Robin asked, "are you gonna have a baby".

Drizella answered "not yet".

Zelena told Robin "Robin, those questions are too personal, you shouldn't ask those".

Robin said "sorry".

Drizella responded "it's okay".

Zelena then said, "congratulations Henry, I knew you would find someone someday".

Henry responded, "thank you aunt Zelena".

Regina then said, "we better get going if we're going to reach our vacation spot".

Wish Hook agreed "Yeah and we should get going on our quest".

They all hugged each other saying goodbye and Zelena hugged Robin and told her "Now you be a good girl for Aunty Regina and do whatever she tells you to do".

Robin responded, "Yes mom".

Zelena responded, "love you, green pea".

Robin responded, "love you mommy".

The groups split up with Regina, Robin, Henry, and Drizella going North while Wish Hook, Ruby, Matthew, Penelope, Li, Mulan, Tiana, Dorothy, and Naveen go in the complete opposite direction, towards the Southern Kingdom and where Lady Clairemont lived.

End Flashback:

Penelope went over to sit next to Samantha on the couch and asked "So, how do you like being back".

Samantha answered, "love it mom, we are finally together".

Samantha laid against and Penelope told her "I love it to". She then asked "So, how did you like your dad, you didn't say much to him at the ice cream parlour".

Samantha answered, "he's fine but he's not my dad".

Penelope sighed before saying "Samantha, this has gone on long enough. Henry is not your father".

Samantha responded "he is and your true love but because of the curse, you can't see it. It wants you to think Gabriel is and that Henry loves Ivy, when he doesn't. It's all done by grandma to keep us apart".

Penelope said, "how, when she just signed you over to me".

Samantha said, "only because she wants to keep us all apart and with Gabriel here, you can't believe Henry is your true love".

Penelope told her "Henry is a great guy and I'm happy he created a story you loved but that's all it is. A story. I do not love him'.

Samatha responded "yes, you do. You just can't remember".

Penelope told her "I do remember, everything. And Gabriel is your father. Why can't you accept that".

Samantha answered "because it's the truth. Henry is and once you two are together, you'll finally realise it".

Penelope told her "We are not getting back together because we do not and never have".

Samantha responded, "that's just the curse".

Penelope said "Samantha, there is no curse. This is real life. I am your mother. Gabriel is your father, and people like Henry, Roni, and Ivy are concerned for you".

Samantha responded "they are helping me look for proof. This world proof and will find that what I'm telling you is real. Maybe they already have. I need to go see Roni".

Samantha tried to leave but was stopped by Penelope who told her "No, Samantha you can't go".

Samantha asked "why".

Penelope answered, "because baby they already did, they said that". Penelope was interrupted by the doorbell ringing and Penelope told Samantha "We'll talk about this later". Penelope goes to answer the door and sees Regina and Mr Gold standing there. Penelope says "Roni, it's so good to see you, come on in". Regina and Mr Gold enter, and Penelope asks "Roni, what are you doing here, with".

Mr Gold introduces himself "Detective Weaver and we are here to talk to your daughter".

Samantha comes out and says, "is this about the adoption paperwork, what did you find".

Mr Gold answered "Yes, it is. Something unusual came up in my report and I was just wanting to know if you would like to come down to the station with me and Roni and see for yourself".

Samantha quickly responded "yes, yes I would".

Penelope voiced "I don't think this is a good idea".

Regina told her "Penelope trust me, I will be with Samantha every step of the way and will help her".

Penelope said, "then why don't I come with you. She's only a child after all and her mother should be there with her".

Samantha said "I can do this mom. I want to help, and this will show you that I am telling the truth. There is a curse, and Henry is your true love".

Mr Gold told Penelope "I want to help your daughter Ms, and for that she needs to come to the station with us, and it would be better off if you stayed here".

Penelope didn't like this, but Regina told her "Penelope, Samantha will be safe. I promise you that I'll be there with her every step of the way".

Penelope relented and said, "all right but you bring her back as quickly as possible".

Mr Gold answered "of course, don't want to keep her any longer than I need her. So, let's get this done quickly so you can come back to your mother quickly".

Penelope hugged Samantha and said, "love you, baby".

Samantha responded "and I love you, mom. And when I come back, you'll see that I'm telling you the truth".

Penelope accepted and didn't want to argue with her at the moment. Samantha left with Mr Gold and Regina. Penelope watched them leave and once they did, she remarked "Oh, I do hope she can see and accept the truth because I don't know what to do anymore".

Flashback Begins:

Wish Hook, Zelena, Penelope, Tiana, Naveen, Matthew, Li, Mulan, Ruby, and Dorothy all make their way to Lady Clairemont's estate and Penelope tells them "We're here. This is my stepmothers house, and she should be inside".

Zelena ignited a fireball in her hand and said, "all right, let's end this pitiful excuse of a witch right now".

Zelena led the way, and the door burst open from the inside. Lady Clairemont stood there with a little girl besides her and said "I'm so glad you could make. I was expecting you after my appearance at Drizella's wedding".

Penelope said "Stop this mother. Your attempts to force us into misery for your own benefit has failed. We found happiness and will not give it up".

Wish Hook told her "And let the kid go, only a coward hides behind children".

Lady Clairemont said "Oh Captain, I'm so glad you brought it up. She a darling child isn't she. Say hello to your father, Alice".

Wish Hook looked at the girl and knew that she was his daughter. She was the spitting image of her mother. Wish Hook yelled "let her go, Victoria. She's not involved in this".

Lady Clairemont got out a knife and held it to Alice's throat. She then told them "If you want your daughter to survive the next five seconds, you'll drop your weapons and let me go. Let me leave this land and prepare for my ultimate victory. Or watch a child die. Your choice".

Naveen ordered "you're weak Victoria, and if you were a real threat, you wouldn't beg us to let you leave. Not threaten a child, so let her go and we will show mercy to you".

Lady Clairemont demanded "put your weapons down. Now".

She then cut a little into Alice's throat and at the first sight of blood Wish Hook yelled "Stop". He then threw down his sword and told everyone "I let her down once in life, I can't do it again".

Lady Clairemont said, "wise Captain, very wise". Everyone put down their weapons and Zelena extinguished her fireball. Lady Clairemont said, "good luck stopping me now". She then pushed Alcie to the ground and vanished in smoke.

Wish Hook rushed over to Alice and asked, "are you okay".

Alice wiped away the blood and answered, "I'm fine". She then asked, "are you really my "papa".

Wish Hook answered "Yes, Alice. Now I'll get you back to your mother and apologise like I should have a long time ago".

Alice began to cry and told him "Mama's dead, she killed her".

Alice hugged him and he told her "It's all right, it's all right. That witch can no longer harm you". He then looked at her and told her "I'm taking you back with us, we'll look after you and I'll do what I should have done ten years ago". Wish Hook then turned to Naveen and Tiana and asked "can she come back with us. She's got nowhere else to go".

Tiana answered "of course, that's what our kingdom is for, for people with nowhere else to go".

Naveen said "agreed, your child is one of us as much as you are".

Zelena remarked "Nook has a kid".

Wish Hook turned to her and asked "Nook".

Zelena answered, "New Hook, Nook".

Wish Hook didn't like this but let it go. He turned back to Alice and asked, "come now Alice, we have a long journey ahead". Wish Hook helped Alice up and began to lead her back to the palace.

Flashback Ends:

Margot and Tilly reach Margot mother's spinning class and saw Kelly teaching. They sat down and waited for it to end. Kelly saw them and immediately thought that something had to be wrong. She got off the bike and told everyone "I'll be right back, keep at steady pace until I return". She went over to Margot and Tilly and asked, "what's wrong Margot".

Margot answered, "nothing mom but I came to tell you something".

Kelly said, "of course darling, what is it".

Margot told her "It's Roni, she wants to see you".

Kelly responded "Well, you can tell that woman that I'm not speaking to her. She's the epicentre of my unhappiness and I will not have her name brought up in my happy place".

Margot responded "I know mother, it's just that she begged me to talk to you, she's desperate, she even had Detective Weaver with her. I think she wants to make things right".

Kelly responded "I'm sorry Margot that she dragged you into this, but I will not see her. I can't after everything she's done to me".

Margot said "Mom. I think she wants to make an amends with you, you were like sisters once and she wants to be again".

Kelly responded "Really, she really wants that because that's all I've ever wanted".

Margot told her "Only one way to find out and that's by going and trying to make amends". Kelly was unsure and Margot seeing this told her "Just try and if it doesn't work out, I will never bother you again about this, but I would like you two to make amends because I miss Aunty Regina".

Kelly agreed "okay, I'll meet her at the bar tonight".

Margot hugged her mother and said, "thanks mom, I love you".

Kelly told her "I love you to, baby". Margot let go and Kelly told her "Apologize for be sweaty. It's been a long workout".

Margot said, "call me after you've seen Roni okay".

Kelly answered "of course, green pea". Margot and Tilly left, and Kelly went back to her class telling them "All right my cycling monkeys, I'm back so it's time to grab onto your bikes and fly. Whoa".

Flashback Begins:

Henry, Drizella, Regina, and Robin were returning from Henry and Drizella's honeymoon when they were approached by Zelena, Penelope, and Matthew. Zelena immediately gave Robin and hug and told her "I missed you so much baby".

She then gave her a kiss on the forehead and Robine exclaimed in embarrassment "mom"

Zelena asked, "did you behave for aunty Regina".

Robin answered "Yes, I did mom".

Regina told Zelena "She was a little angel, when she didn't want to fire arrows at vases that were 1000 years old. But luckily, she had a witch there that could repair the damages".

Penelope asked "So, Sis, Henry. How was the honeymoon".

Drizella answered "very good actually. I thought having my mother-in-law would make it horrible but luckily, I had a little archer diverting all her attention".

Henry said, "gave us some lovely quality time alone together, which was needed after the wedding". He then asked, "how did it go with my mother-in-law".

Matthew answered, "not good, she escaped".

Regina asked "how".

Penelope answered "she had a hostage, and we had to let her go to save her. A child no less, Hook's child".

Henry exclaimed "Alice, Lady Clairemont had Alice".

Penelope answered "Yeah, and mother killed her mother".

Drizella exclaimed "that's terrible".

Penelope said "So, Hook's been looking after her".

Matthew said, "he really feels guilty about it and feels like Mary's death was his fault, so he's feels like after everything he needs to step up and be Alice's dad".

Wish Hook came out with Alice and upon seeing them hugged Henry, Drizella, and Regina. He told them "It's so good to see you back and I have news for you. We found Alice, my Alice and after saving her from Victoria. I learnt that her mother had passed so I decided that I needed to step up and be her dad".

Henry told him "I'm glad you were there to save her and be in her life".

Alice was hiding behind Wish Hook and Wish Hook told them "She's been a little scared of meeting new people ever since she was taken". He told Alice "Say hi Alice, they're nice, I promise you".

Zelena told Robin "I think Alice needs a friend; can you help her".

Robin answered, "okay, mom". Robin went over to Alice and said, "I'm Robin, nice to meet you".

Robin held out her hand and Alice responded by grabbing it and telling her "Alice".

Robin told her "We're gonna be friends". Alice smiled at her, happy to have a friend.

Flashback Ends:

Regina, Mr Gold, and Samantha arrive at the police station and Rodgers asks Mr Gold "what are they doing here".

Mr Gold answers, "just trying to solve a case".

Rodgers asks Regina "is this what you needed him for".

Regina answered "Yes, Weaver's helping us with something we're investigating".

Rodger accepts this and says, "good luck".

Regina responded, "thank you, Rodgers".

Mr Gold leads them into the back. He tells them "In here".

They enter the evidence area and Samantha asks, "why's the adoption file in evidence".

Mr Gold answered "it isn't. We're not here for that. We're for something else. Something important". He then searches through a box and then says "here, I think this is yours". Mr Gold then handed her the storybook.

Samantha looked at it and exclaimed "The storybook. Henry's storybook. I knew I was right".

Mr Gold answered "yes, Samantha it is. Now when you touch it do you feel anything".

Samantha said, "like my past memories coming back, No".

Mr Gold told her "That's okay but now you know it's real. These stories are 100% true".

Samantha turned to Regina and said, "you believe as well, you know that you're Regina".

Regina answered, "Yes Samantha but I prefer Grandma, if you don't mind".

Samantha hugged Regina and told her "I'm happy to meet you Grandma".

Regina responded "I'm happy to finally see my granddaughter again. It's been so long, since we last saw each other".

Samantha asked, "you remember".

Regina answered "Yes, Samantha I do but we need your help to save your family".

Samantha agreed "of course, I've been trying to get my mom and dad together ever since I went to see Henry".

Regina told her "I'm sorry but I thought that you holding the storybook would work. I didn't want to have to tell you but, Samantha you're still cursed".

Samantha responds, "I know I can't remember my old self, but I know that we were, and we were brought here from a curse".

Regina tells her "Sweetie, now you have to listen to me. You know because that's how you were cursed. Victoria made it so you would know there was a curse and that we all were cursed with false memories but so were yours. You were cursed to believe that you remembered that everyone was cursed, and you need to reunite your parents".

Samantha asked, "why would grandma do that, why would she want my parents reunited".

Regina tells her "Because they're not. Henry is your dad, but your mom is not Penelope. That was both of your curses".

Samantha exclaims in devastation "No, no, no. It can't be real. It can't be".

Regina said calmly "Sweetie, it is. Your real mother is Ivy".

Samantha responded "no, aunt Ivy is not my mother. It has to be like Kathyrn Nolan situation, trying to make you think she is, to keep us apart".

Regina told her "No, Samantha it's not. She is your mother".

Samantha rejected this crying, "She can't be my mother".

Regina hugged Samantha and told her "I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry. I know it hard to understand and to believe but she is. She is your mother". She then let go and grabbed the storybook before telling her "So, I need you to hold this and believe. Not just in magic but in your parents. That Ivy is your mother, and she loves you".

Samantha took the book but couldn't accept it. She pushed the storybook back into Regina's arms and told her "I can't. She's not my mother".

Samantha then ran out of the room and Regina called out to her "Samantha, Samantha".

Chapter Text

Flashback Begins:

Henry and Drizella were in front of everyone and Drizella said "everyone I gathered you all here because Henry and I have something to announce. I'm pregnant".

Everyone was in shock and Henry said "we're gonna have a baby". They all gathered round them in delight and gave them congratulations. Henry could see Regina in delight and gave her a hug. He asked "So, how do you feel about being a grandmother".

Regina answered "couldn't be happier. You're gonna a great father".

Henry said "and you'll be a great, grandmother. Who I know is already planning to spoil that child rotten".

Regina answered "absolutely, right to the core". Henry and Regina both laughed at this. Regina went over to Drizella and gave her a hug. Regina told Drizella "I'm so happy for you".

Drizella responded "thank you, and thanks for everything you've done for me".

Regina responded "that's quite all right. You're a wonderful girl and I couldn't be happier that you are now part of our family and helping it grow". Drizella smiled and looked down at her stomach. She then felt it and was happy knowing that her and Henry's child was growing inside".

End Flashback:

Samantha ran out of the police station crying. She was being chased by Mr Gold and Regina. Regina called out "Samantha stop, Samantha".

Mr Gold called out "Samantha".

Samantha continued to run away trying to get away from them. She began to run across the road with Regina yelling "Samantha get back here, now".

Samantha didn't notice the car that was coming for her until it beeped it's horn. Samantha stopped in shock and as it came towards her slowing down but not fast enough, she was about to be hit.

Flashback Begins:

Mr Gold was packing his stuff in his shop he would need for his journey when Belle entered and said, "I heard the message Henry sent you".

Mr Gold responded "and you know that I have to go. I have to save him".

Belle told him "I know. I just hate that you have to leave us and use that". Belle directed to the dagger and said, "you haven't used in ten years, do you need to take it".

Mr Gold told Belle "And hopefully I won't have to, but this threat is serious, and I have to protect Henry".

Belle said "I know, so just come back to us okay. Me and Gideon. We cannot lose you Rumple".

Mr Gold told her "You won't and never will. Remember we always find our back to each other". Belle nodded and Mr Gold kissed her before telling her "Give Gideon my best and tell him I will be home soon".

Belle agreed "I will. I love you Rumple".

Mr Gold responded, "and I love you Belle".

Mr Gold was about to leave the pawnshop when Belle said "Rumple, stop". He stop and Belle said, "take this with you because I know if you have this, you'll always come back to me". Belle handed him their chipped cup and Mr Gold accepted it.

Mr Gold, "I'm so lucky to have your love Belle".

Belle responded, "and I'm so lucky I have yours".

Mr Gold kissed her again before saying "see you soon".

Belle responded, "Goodbye Rumple". Mr Gold began to make his way out on his way to the wish realm.

End Flashback:

Ivy grabbed her and forced both of them to the sidewalk. They fell onto the sidewalk and Ivy yelled "what the hell did you think you were doing in the middle of road Samantha. Did you want to get yourself killed".

Henry, Regina, and Mr Gold rushed over, and Henry asked "Samantha, you all right".

Samantha looked at both Henry and Ivy and told Ivy "You're not my mom, you're not my mom". She then got up and began to run away again while the rest of them were stood still in shock and Ivy turned to Henry and then to Regina and Mr Gold in shock about what Samantha just said.

Flashback Begins:

Henry and Drizella walked out into the garden where Regina, Wish Hook, Alice, Zelena, Robin, Matthew, Penelope, Tiana, Naveen, Ruby, Dorothy, Li, and Mulan were waiting for them. Drizella was holding their newborn daughter and Henry said, "everyone I would like you to meet".

Drizella told them "Samantha Rose Mills".

Everyone clapped and both Henry and Drizella moved toward everyone so they could see Samantha. Regina remarked "She's beautiful Henry".

Wish Hook said, "good work m'boy".

Penelope said, "I'm so happy for you sis, she's perfect".

They then all heard from behind them Lady Clairemont remark "I'm happy for them as well. It's not every day you have a child".

Drizella exclaimed in fear "mother".

Henry, Wish Hook, Matthew, Naveen, Li, and Mulan all drew their swords. Henry moved protectively in front of Drizella and Samantha. He told Lady Clairemont "Stay away from my daughter".

Lady Clairemont remarked "such a worried Papa". She then told him "No need to be, I won't hurt her. I'm only here to deliver on my promise. Today's the day I put my plan into action, and you are to late to stop me".

Henry said, "I wouldn't be so sure about that".

Mr Gold then appeared, and Lady Clairemont exclaimed in fear "Dark one".

Mr Gold told her "Yes dearie it's me. Now you better stop whatever villainous plot you have, or you'll have to face me, and let me tell you it won't end well for you".

Lady Clairemont responded "you're right. I can't defeat the dark one, but good thing we won't be fighting". She then slammed her cane onto the ground and from it outspread magic high into the sky. They saw it form a dome around them before fading away.

Wish Hook asked, "what was that".

Mr Gold tells them "That's an entrapment spell. Designed to keep whoever's inside trapped".

Regina asked "like Storybrooke used to have".

Mr Gold said "Exactly".

Lady Clairemont told them "This one also has time entrapment as well, but with a twist. So, while here is ticking normally, out there. Time's frozen solid. So, no chance of help from your friends in Storybrooke. And it will stay, like that until the spell breaks, which will only happen when my curse is cast. So, you see Regina, this is how you take away a happy ending, by nullify any chance of it being stopped. Now, enjoy your eternal suffering, all of you because when my curse hits, it'll be all you have". She then laughed maniacally before vanishing in smoke. Everyone was stunned at what happened and how they were now trapped in time with no hope of calling out for help.

Flashback Ends:

Samantha ran into her mother's apartment and when straight into her room. Penelope saw this and went to check on her. She knocked on the door and said "baby, what happened, tell me what's wrong".

Samantha answered "nothing. I'm fine".

Penelope told her "I'm your mother. I know when you're upset".

Samantha thought to herself, that maybe Regina was the one that was cursed and that everyone believing it was just another way to keep them apart. Samantha then thought that it had to be the case because her mother cares for her, and that can't be fake or forced. Samantha told her "Come in".

Penelope opened the door and saw Samantha on the bed. Penelope asked, "what happened, baby".

Samantha said "I thought his fairytales were real. Then I realised I was wrong. So, maybe I don't believe in fairytales anymore".

Penelope hugged her "Oh baby, I'm so sorry. I know it nice to believe in them. It's beautiful and sometimes we all want to. Especially when life get hard, and you dream of a happy ending. But the only way to achieve it is working hard, and I already have mine. I have you".

Samantha told her "I love you, mom".

Penelope responded, "love you to baby".

Flashback Begins:

Tiana clinked her glass and said, "thank you all for coming to celebrate the birthday of a special little girl. We've had to deal with a lot here but for the last eight years she has been a light of hope against the forces of darkness. A symbol of hope that good will always win".

Samantha responded "thank you, Aunt Tiana. I mean, Queen".

Tiana exclaimed "oh" in shock at her formality.

Samantha continued "Tiana". She then asked, "can I light the candles".

Regina told her "Oh, no, that's my job". Regina used magic to light the candles and said to Samantha "Now, make a wish".

Samantha blew out the candles and suddenly thunder came, and the clouds turned dark and blocked out the Sun. Henry, Wish Hook, Matthew, Naveen, Li, and Mulan all drew their swords, and Robin drew her bow and arrow. Wish Hook said, "what the bloody hell is that".

More thunder came and Lady Clairemont appeared in front of them. Drizella grabbed Samantha and held her protectively. Mr Gold moved towards her and followed behind him was Henry, Wish Hook, Robin, Matthew, Naveen, Li, and Mulan. Mr Gold asked, "what are you doing here Victoria, wanting to ruin another one of our days with empty threats because I promise you, you will not survive this one".

Lady Clairemont answered "none of the sort. I'm here to wish my granddaughter a happy birthday".

Drizella ordered "you stay my daughter, mother".

Lady Clairemont responded "Drizella, I'm disappointed in you. Don't you want me to know my grandchild".

Drizella answered "not after everything you've done".

Lady Clairemont responded "Well, good thing today is the last day you will have any choices in all your lives".

Regina asked, "what does that mean".

Lady Clairemont answered "Today is the day of my curse and once it's cast. Well, you know, all your happy endings will be taken from you".

Mr Gold told her "You won't succeed. We will stop you before you can cast it".

Lady Clairemont responded "I'm counting on it. I want one final desperate attempt to stop my victory. And when you come to my home where I'm casting the curse, I'll crush any chance you have and watch you see the curse coming towards you, knowing there is nothing you can do to stop it". Lady Clairemont created more thunder before vanishing. Henry went over to Drizella and Samantha, with Drizella and Wish Hook went over to Alice and Zelena went over to Robin.

Samantha was holding the storybook that Henry gave her when she was approached by her parents. Henry said, "Hey Sammy. We hope Victoria didn't scare you".

Samantha turned away because she was scared. Drizella said "Baby, don't be. We have a plan to make sure the curse can't hurt us".

Henry said "Yeah, and you're a part of it".

Samantha asked, "does that mean I get a sword".

Drizella and Henry giggled and Drizella responded "one thing at a time, sweetheart". She then said, "why don't you start packing, all right".

Samantha left and Drizella said to Henry "I don't like this, Henry. I don't like the thought of either of you being apart from me".

Henry said, "it's the only way to keep her safe if my mother, aunt, and grandfather cannot stop this. She has to come first, no matter what".

Drizella responded "I know. I just don't like it". Henry held her close embracing her for as long as he could.

Flashback Ends:

Regina was disappointed after today which failed to wake Samantha up and nearly got her killed. Regina poured herself a glass when Kelly entered the bar. Kelly said "Roni, what is it. Why did you get my daughter to make me see you".

Regina answered, "I wanted to have a drink with you".

Kelly responded "really, a drink with you. You think that's gonna override all the damage you've done to me".

Regina responds "I know you think that, but we were sisters, and I want us to be again. So, let's drink".

Kelly relented "fine but only because I promised my daughter that I'd try". Regina poured a glass of MacCutcheon and the rest of the memory potion she had. She handed it to Kelly who said, "And I definitely need it, if we're trying to work through our problems". Kelly took a drink and Regina waited for Zelena to come back. Kelly was disgusted by the taste and said "oh" before coughing. She then remarks "you couldn't have given me a better drink, this one's horrible. Oh".

Regina realising that Zelena is still cursed said "Okay, okay, I've never been great at subtle. We're cursed. You don't remember it, but we really are sisters. Evil Queen, Wicked Witch".

Kelly asked, "what are you talking ab". Kelly thought process was interrupted by her memories returning. She remembered that she was Zelena the Wicked Witch of the West. Zelena fully woke up and Regina asked "Zelena".

Zelena panted before asking "what's going on". She then said "Oh, Regina". She then chuckled before remarking "I teach pedalling".

Regina hugged Zelena and told her "Oh, Zelena. Thank God".

Zelena continued to pant and said "Oh, I was cursed. To be a hippie".

Regina told her "Listen to me. We need to break this curse. I got Gold on our side, and I tried to wake up Samantha put it didn't work".

Zelena responded "wait, Gold's awake".

Regina responded "of course he is, he's Rumple.

Zelena remarks "Right, the bastard always finds a way, while leaving the rest of us to be cursed".

Regina said, "Yeah but we need him awake if we're gonna break the curse, without the side effects because I will not let that happen".

Zelena grabbed Regina's hands and told her "I won't either. I will help you every step of the way so to make sure that never happens".

Flashback Begins:

Henry and Samantha walked through the forest until they came across a tree. Henry then said to Samantha "here we are, in one of the oldest parts of the realm. This tree has the same magic that took my moms and this realms Robin Hood to Storybrooke".

Samantha asked, "how did you find this one tree with so many regular trees around it".

Henry dropped his bag and told her "Grandpa told me. He also gave me this". Henry got out an axe and showed it to her. He then said, "A magical axe, capable of cutting a tree like this down". Samantha was shocked by this and Henry remarked "You know it's actually sometimes really nice having Rumpelstiltskin as your grandfather

Samantha asked, "why are you cutting it down".

Henry told her "Okay. Samantha, remember the wardrobe".

Samantha rejected what he was saying "No. No. We can't".

Henry said calmly "Samantha, it's okay. This is a last resort, and the only thing that can get us through the barrier. If the curse happens, you and I go to Storybrooke. We gather everyone to help us find our people. And with this book, we can help them believe again".

Samantha told him "Daddy, I'm scared".

Henry hugged his daughter and told her "Don't be. Remember good always wins".

Samantha asked, "what about mother".

Henry answered "We will find her Samantha. Remember what that book taught you. When you have true love, you will always find each other again". He then asked "So, are you big, brave girl".

Samantha answered "yes, daddy".

Henry said "Good. Now, let's cut down this tree". Samantha sat down and watch as Henry began to cut the tree down.

Night came and Henry was still cutting down the tree while Samantha was sleeping by a fire. Henry heard the wind pick up and send out both his torch and the fire. Samantha awoke and screamed in fear "daddy".

Henry rushed over to Samantha and told her "You're okay, you're okay, nothing can hurt you".

Lady Clairemont appeared and said, "I wouldn't count on that".

Henry drew his sword and stood in front of Samantha. He told Lady Clairemont "Back off. I will protect my daughter from you".

Lady Clairemont said "Good, because I didn't come for her. I came for you". She then magically tossed Henry's sword away before telling him "Nighty night" and putting him to sleep.

Samantha exclaimed "daddy".

Lady Clairemont told Samantha "Run home, Samanth. You wouldn't want to spend your last moments in this world alone". Samantha turned to her father and Lady Clairemont yelled "Run". Samantha grabbed the storybook before running away with tears in her eyes. She knew she had to make it back home and protect the storybook like her father would want but hated leaving him.

Mr Gold, Regina, Wish Hook, Zelena, Robin, Alice, Naveen, Drizella, Penelope, Matthew, Li, Mulan, Dorothy, and Ruby made their way to Lady Clairemont's estate to stop her once and for all. When they arrived, they saw Lady Clairemont with someone under a hood. They all drew their weapons and Mr Gold said "Deary, you've avoided me for far too long but now, you can't leave and I'm not gonna let you cast this curse".

Lady Clairemont responded "I agree. I won't cast the curse".

Regina exclaimed "what".

Lady Clairemont informed them "I will not be casting this curse, because I can't. It's impossible because I would have to crush the heart of the thing I love most, and I love nothing because I know how great big disappoints my daughters truly are".

Regina asked, "then what are you doing".

Lady Clairemont answered, "waiting for you Regina, to cast it for me".

Regina asked, "now why would I do that".

Lady Clairemont answered, "to save him". She then pulled the hood off the person besides her, revealing Henry".

Drizella exclaimed "Henry" and tried to rush for him. Lady Clairemont magically pushed her backwards falling over.

Lady Clairemont said, "now daughter, stay put".

Drizella demanded "what did you do to Samantha".

Lady Clairemont answered, "sent her running home, she's fine". She then told them "But your husband isn't. Have a look for yourself".

Lady Clairemont magically pushed Henry toward them and Regina and Drizella immediately went to free Henry from his bounds and Drizella said softly "Darling. I'm here".

Regina demanded "what did you do to him".

Lady Clairemont answered "what a witch does best. I poisoned him".

Regina tried to use magic to heal Henry, but it didn't work and Drizella cried "it's not working".

Lady Clairemont said "and my dear, it won't. The only thing that can save your husband is a trip to a land without magic".

Regina told her "I can't. I would have to crush the heart of the thing I love most, and I will not crush my son's heart".

Lady Clairemont told her "You won't need to, since you already did. Your blood contains the magic of crushing the heart you love most, so a drop of your blood is all that's needed to cast the curse".

Regina turned to Mr Gold and asked, "is that true".

Mr Gold answered "Yes. You can cast the curse".

Regina turned back to Henry who is coughing and about to die. She doesn't want to cast the curse but can't let her son die. Lady Clairemont asks Regina "So, Regina. What'll it be, my curse, or his life".

Regina began to have tears roll down her cheek. Henry said "Drizella".

Drizella responded "Henry".

Henry told her "I'm so, so sorry".

Drizella pleaded to Regina "we gotta do something".

Lady Clairemont said, "there's nothing you can do except cast the curse".

Regina relented and said "fine, I'll do it".

Henry pleaded "No, no, no".

Regina went over to the cauldron and Zelena went over to Regina; grabbing her arm and said "Regina".

Regina responded, "Zelena, move".

Zelena said, "This is not what he wants".

Wish Hook said, "you know you'd do it for Robin if she was where Henry". He then turned to Alice and said "I would for Alice. Let her do it Zelena".

Zelena turned to Robin and knew that she would absolutely cast the curse for Robin. Mr Gold said, "I did it for Bae, and I would do it again for Gideon".

Zelena let go of Regina's arm and Regina said "All right. Let's do this". She then outstretched her hand over the cauldron and said "But know one thing. It is not over". She then magically cut her hand and squeezed her hand to get the blood to drip in.

Drizella over Henry told him "It's okay, Henry".

Regina's blood dripped into the cauldron. Everyone was panicked knowing what was just about to happen. Red smoke began to billow from the cauldron, and everyone looked at it in terror. Mr Gold handed Alice his chipped cup and told her "I've locked myself within my mind. And this is the key. You give this to me, and it'll open. I'll remember. And if it doesn't. Say my name".

Alice accepted and Robin said, "in case we never see each other again".

Robin kissed Alice and when they let go Alice told her "No, no, not the last. We'll always know each other. Even if we don't. The thunder of the curse began to boom around them. Wish Hook went over to Alice and Zelena went over to Robin. They all moved close together for protection as they saw the curse begin to spread out.

Samantha made it back to the palace where she saw Tiana and called out to her "Tianna, Tianna". Tianna immediately grabbed her and asked, "what happened, Samantha, where's your father".

Samantha answered, "He's been taken".

Tiana was sorrow about this but knew it no longer mattered. She told Samantha, "I don't it matters now". She then looked at the sky and so did Samantha. They both saw the red clouds of smoke coming towards them. Tiana protectively held Samantha has it approached them.

Drizella asked Regina "In this land, what's going to happen to Samantha, she's just a kid. How will I find her if I don't even know she exists".

Regina answered "We will. Good will win".

The curse then began to spread out and engulfed the group at Lady Clairemont's estate before spreading out and engulfing Tiana and Samantha at the palace.

Flashback Ends:

Samantha was in her room going through her cupboard when she found her copy of Henry's book. She began ripping out pages in anger and threw it across the room. She sat down and began to cry. Samantha then noticed by her feet was a page but not from her book. She opened the page and began to read it. She read "After Lady Clairemont poisoned Henry. Regina had no choice but to cast the curse to save his life. As the curse began to spread across the land, Drizella feared that she would lose her daughter Samantha forever. Regina comforted her by saying that good would win. Drizella believed this and wished for the day that her family would be reunited again. But they all feared that the curse would break because if it did. Henry Mills would surely die". Samantha began to panic and didn't wish for Henry to die. She then turned to the illustration on the page and saw a poisoned Henry with Drizella by his side. Samantha looking at them saw the love they shared and the panic on Drizella's face that she would lose her family. Her brain began to feel foggy and rumbled before she remembered her birthday party at the palace, her last time together with her parents, going with Henry to the enchanted tree, fleeing back to the palace with the storybook, and the curse taking her and Tiana. Samantha's mind returned fully remembered her life in the Wish realm of the enchanted forest and her mother being Ivy, or her real name Drizella. Thinking about them and how she was cursed to believe aunty Penelope was her mother, she exclaimed "mom".

Chapter Text

Samantha waited for Penelope to go to bed, and she snuck out. She needed to go see Grandma Regina. She had the piece of the page with her that proved that Drizella was her mother before remembering everything. She made it to Roni's bar and when she entered, she saw Regina and Zelena. They turned towards her and Regina asked "Samantha, what are you doing here".

Samantha answered, "I needed to speak to you about by mom, Roni".

Regina told her "No need for that Samantha, Zelena's awake".

Samantha said "And so am I. I remember everything".

Regina responded, "your awake, you remember your mother".

Samantha answered "Drizella is my mom".

Regina asked, "what awoke you sweetheart".

Samantha got out the page and said, "This appeared to me".

Regina opened it and saw that it was a page from the storybook. Exactly like she had with Robin Hood. Regina told her "These come to us, when we are in our most desperate need".

Samantha said, "I'm sorry I didn't believe you grandma".

Regina hugged Samantha and told her "It's all right. It's all right. It was impossible to believe, that's how it was designed".

Samantha said "I was being tortured. I couldn't tell the curse from reality, even when I was told".

Regina responded, "Now you know how Henry feels when you tell him that you're his dad".

Samantha said, "I do but we can't let him die. He deserves a happy ending".

Zelena said "that's what we're here for. To break the curse without your father dying".

Samantha asked, "what do we do".

Regina answered "We're working with Rumpelstiltskin to find a way but there is something you can do. You can get your aunt Penelope and Matthew together. They already have the belief they did love each other so that should be easy".

Samantha said half-hearted, "and continue to make them believe that they are my parents".

Regina told her "I know this will be difficult, especially right now after leaning the truth but they deserve their happy ending as well and when we both break the curse and save Henry, they'll know".

Samantha asked, "what about my mother and father".

Regina answered "I'll handle them. And keep them a part until we can save them".

Samantha hugged Regina again and said, "love you grandma".

Regina returned the embrace and responded, "love you to, Sammy".

Samantha awoke and saw Penelope making breakfast for her. Penelope asked, "want some scrambled eggs on toast baby".

Samantha answered "yes, mom". That now sounded disgusting to her and an insult to her real mother but knew she had to pretend for the moment.

Penelope told her "Coming right up".

Samantha sat down and said, "sorry for last night, it was just difficult finding out the truth".

Penelope gave her a plate and told her "That's usually how it feels but it will get better".

Samantha asked "can we go out with Gabriel. I want to get to know my father".

Penelope answered, "of course but remember tonight's taste of the nights".

Samantha responded, "Sorry mom I forgot but maybe we could invite Gabriel".

Penelope said, "you really want to see him don't you".

Samantha answered "I spent to long believing a lie. I want to know the truth".

Penelope said, "He loved taste of the heights so I'm sure he'd be happy to go with us".

Flashback Begins:

Tiana and Naveen were sitting at their coronation ceremony when the priest announced
"and now we crown our new King and Queen of the now united Kingdoms".

The priest got the crowns about to place them on their heads when Facilier entered and said "Prince, Princess enchante. A tip of the hat from Dr Facilier".

Naveen demands "what are you doing disturbing this ceremony".

Facilier answers "just wishing my new King and Queen good fortune on this special day".

Naveen orders "guards get him out of here".

Facilier is approached by the guards and Facilier says "you don't want to do this". The guards continued to approach him, so Facilier raised his hand and twisted his wrist which magically snapped the guards necks.

The crowd began to panic so Naveen withdrew his sword and said, "I will not have you ruin this day, witch doctor". Naveen ran towards Facilier but as he approached, he magically turned him into a frog. The crowd screamed as they saw this and Tiana rose in shock.

Facilier picked up the frog Naveen and said to Tiana "if you want to see your prince again, you will provide me with what I seek".

Tiana asked, "and what is it you seek".

Facilier answered "the rarest object you have in your vault. The fairy crystal. Give it to me and you can be crowned with a prince and not a frog". Facilier vanished in what looked like swirling blood leaving a shocked crowd.

Flashback Ends:

Sabine was setting up the truck while listening to Henry's podcast when Penelope and Samantha entered the back. Penelope laughed and said "Wow. Gotta say, I'm impressed, Sabine".

Sabine didn't hear them, so Penelope banged the table which gave Sabine a freight and she exclaimed "oh".

Penelope said to get her attention "Sabine".

Sabine told Penelope "P. Sorry. I was just listening to Henry's podcast. He just dropped the first episode".

Samantha said "Oh, H-Town, how was it".

Sabine answered "pretty good, the way he's communicating the stories of not just Victoria's victims but how it affects the town. He also tells the fascinating stories of the people here which we see, yet just don't think of".

Samantha said, "I know right, it's cool".

Penelope said "And speaking of cool, tonight's the night. Taste of the Heights is happening".

Both Penelope and Sabine laughed. Samantha then said, "A food fair in an abandoned skate park. Ah, that's so cool".

Sabine said "Yeah, it's definitely different. I mean, I can't argue with the hipsters, though. They love their niche marketing. And also, beards, for some reason".

Penelope laughs and says "Well, you're gonna blow them away".

Sabine asks "So, you coming tonight. Watch our truck make some money".

Penelope answered "Yes, we're coming. We're even inviting Gabriel to join us".

Sabine remarked "Well, he always did love taste of the heights".

Samantha said, "and I want to get to know my father".

Sabine responded "that's great. He did step up when you needed it the most, but I'm worried about your mom".

Penelope asked, "what are you trying to say Sabine".

Sabine answered "I know you still have feelings for him P. So, let's just be sure he's here to spend time with his daughter and nothing else".

Penelope responded "this is not the proper time or place to be discussing this, Sabine. We'll see you later".

Penelope and Samantha left, and Samantha asked Penelope "what was that about".

Penelope answered "nothing baby. Just Sabine being a total control freak, like she is with everything and wants to control my life".

Samantha asked "mom, do you have feelings for Gabriel".

Penelope answered "I knew I always would in some way but after everything he's done since our breakup. He's turned his life around but still remained the same man I fell in love with".

Samantha told her "I think you should try. I kept trying to get you and Henry together but there was nothing there. I thought it was the curse but now I see that it was just nothing. But with you and Gabriel, there is something there".

Penelope listened and responded "that's some pretty good advice, Sammy. I'll give it a go and let's see what happens tonight because he doesn't only need to impress me, he needs to impress you". Samantha forced a smile, and Penelope was happy to see it.

Ivy and Henry entered Roni's bar and approached Regina. Regina said "hello Henry, Ivy. What can I get you".

Henry asked "We want to know what you were doing with Samantha at the police station. Why was she in the middle of the road, and".

Ivy interrupted "Why did my niece tell me, after I saved her life no less. That I'm not her mother".

Regina answered "me and Weaver were trying to show Samantha the prove that your stories are just that stories. She didn't take it too well and I imagine she was confused after nearly getting run over by a car". Henry and Ivy accepted this, and Regina told them "But don't worry. It's all fixed. I spoke to her later and she no longer believes that you are her father".

Henry responded "Good. I'm glad she has finally seen the truth and can accept her parents for who they truly are".

Regina responded disappointed "Yeah, yeah, she can. She'll feel a lot better when she accepts the truth about her parents".

The lights flickered before shutting off. Henry exclaimed "what the Hell".

Zelena said, "if there is an electrical shortage, I swear I'll scream", leaving to check the lights.

A man said in the shadows, "I doubt the Devil has anything to do with it". The lights turned back on, and the man continued "my guess is that she's right, an electrical short's to blame".

Henry asked "what. How. When did you come in".

The man said "Well, even a storm can sneak up on a man if he's not careful".

Regina said, "What are you doing here, Samdi".

Samdi answered "looking for you, Roni".

Regina responded, "don't care what it is, piss off".

Samdi said "Don't be that way Roni, you know how close we used to be".

Regina answered, "unfortunately I do, and I do not want to repeat it".

Samdi told her "I'm only looking to invest in your bar. Now that Victoria Clairemont has taken a step back from her mass development. I've come to fill the gap".

Regina tod him "Well, I'm not looking to invest so you can leave now, or I'll get my bat and make you".

Samdi responded "Oh, I know you would. It's always what I like about you the most. Now if you do want to talk. Here's my card I would like to hear from you".

Regina took the card and told him "You won't". Samdi smiled at her before leaving.

Henry asked, "who was that".

Ivy said "yeah, my mother knew all the investors in this town, and I've never heard of him".

Regina answered "Baron Samdi. A man that well. Well, let's just say we knew each other".

Zelena came out and said, "And so he wants to see you again".

Regina responded "maybe, I'm not sure. But I will find out".

Flashback Begins:

Tiana went to the vault to get what Facilier wanted when her mother Eudora approached her and asked, "what are you doing".

Tiana answered, "giving the witch doctor what he wants".

Eudora responded "but you can't. It's your vault".

Tiana told her "I can, and I will anyway because I'm not losing Naveen for a silly little crystal".

Eudora said "it's a fairy crystal. One of the purest and most powerful forms of light magic. You can't give it up".

Tiana said "And I can't let Naveen be a frog. After everything he's done for me, us, our entire kingdom; we owe it to him".

Eudora asked, "I can't change your mind can I".

Tiana answered "No, no you can't".

Eudora responded, "then I wish you the best of luck and never give up hope".

Tiana hugged Eudora and told her "I won't mother". Tiana then left to save Naveen.

Flashback Ends:

Sabine was setting up when Drew came over and said to her "A feast fit for a King". Sabine turned to him, and he said, "or a Queen".

Sabine exclaimed "Drew".

Drew said "Hey, Sabine".

Sabine asked, "what are you doing here. I didn't know you were back in the Heights".

Drew answered "came for the fair. I heard you were slinging your beignets. Had to come see for myself". He went over to the table with the food and asked, "would you mind". Sabine allowed him to and when he had one, he said in delight. "Oh. Delicious. Not that I'm surprised though. Next to me, you were the most talented in cooking school".

Sabine responded, "still cocky, I see. But thank you". They both laughed and Sabine said, "last, I remember, you left early to work at your parents fabulous restaurant. I was so jealous".

Drew responded "Yeah, but now that's in the past. There was only so much I could learn from them". He then remarked "You have built quite the kingdom for yourself here. You always were kind of a one woman show".

Sabine asked sceptically "what does that mean".

Drew answered "Oh, come on. You never even trust your own sous-chef enough to stir a soup".

Sabine stuttered "What, what, what the".

Drew said, "you know you're, a tiny bit controlling".

Sabine responded defensively "Well, I am not".

Drew said "Really" going to grab something.

Sabine asked "What. What are you doing".

Drew answered, "just a tiny experiment". He grabbed a beignet and told her "You obviously wouldn't mind if I dunked this sweet little guy into this savory, sumptuous bath of".

Sabine stopped him "Okay, okay, okay. Looke that's enough. If you are going to ruin your lunch, then you can pay for it first".

Drew responded "I would but I'm not here as a customer. I've got my own truck".

Sabine responded "Oh, wow. Uh, that's, that's great. What un, what kind of food you cooking up".

Drew answered, "I'm actually doing Cajun, too. That's my truck over there by the entrance".

Sabine turned to see it and said, "Flamin' Cajun".

Drew chuckled before telling her "I guess great minds think alike".

Sabine responded unconvincingly "yeah", before sighing.

Sabine watched Drew set up before going back to her truck and trying some of his food. She remarked "tastes like a soggy hat. I'm gonna kill him dead".

A police officer came by and asked, "kill who dead".

Sabine turned and when she saw it was the police she said "officer". She then chucked before telling him "Ah, that, that was just an expression. Um do you want a beignet".

The officer responded "don't tempt me. I'm on a diet". She then put the beignet away and he told her "I need to make sure that all your licenses and permits are in order with the truck. You know, for the cooking and killing him dead stuff". Sabine chuckled and the officer asked, "Do you have them".

Sabine answered "ah, yeah. I'll just uh, get them".

The officer looked at the paperwork and said, "I don't wanna do this, but I'm gonna have to shut this operation down. You're missing your food safety permit. At least one person working in this truck needs to be certified. You're the only one here".

Sabine responded "Okay, officer, officer. Please wait, please. Okay, I, I mailed in my paperwork. They just haven't sent it back to me yet and I need to be at this fair tonight, or Rollin' Bayou is out of the game and then I am out of the game and I".

The officer said "Sorry. I don't make the rules".

Sabine asked, "how'd you even know it was missing".

The officer answered, "got an anonymous tip. I had to follow it up".

Sabine responded "What. An anonymous tip. What it's a food truck. Who even does that". She stuttered "what" before looking at Drew's truck. She then remarks "and he says I'm controlling". She scoffed before saying "he hasn't seen anything yet".

Flashback Begins:

Tiana arrived at the Facilier's cabin and ordered "Dr Facilier, come out and face me. I have the crystal".

Facilier opened the door with a frog in a cage. He then said, "Good princess, I'm so glad to see you again, and for us to end this unpleasantness".

Tiana ordered "Free Naveen from his curse".

Facilier responded "not until I have the crystal".

Tiana agreed "all right". She handed him the crystal which he was happy to receive.

Facilier said, "now my love, I can bring you back to me". Facilier raised the crystal in the air to try and use the magic, but nothing happened. Facilier complained "why isn't it working".

Tiana answered "because there is no more magic left in it. It's all used".

Facilier demanded "how".

Tiana answered, "I had help from a good friend the Blue fairy".

The Blue fairy appeared and said, "good evening doctor, trying to bring her back I see".

Facilier answered "Yes, after what you did to her".

Blue responded, "We needed to, she was dangerous and a threat to us all".

Facilier said "Well, I'll find another way to free her but that doesn't mean you go unpunished princess". Facilier tried to use magic on her, but nothing worked. Facilier demanded "what did you do, why isn't my magic working". Tiana and Blue began to laugh and Facilier demanded "I demand to know what's going on".

Blue answered, "We used all the magic to protect herself from you".

Facilier turned to anger and told them "I will have my vengeance on you princess. If not in this life, then the next. I swear you will pay. So, until then enjoy your frog prince because that's all he'll ever be". Samdi excited in smoke and Tiana went over to Naveen and got him out of the cage.

Tiana said, "I've got you Naveen, don't worry I'll get you back to the way you were". She then asked Blue "can you save him".

Blue answered "No, there's nothing I can do but there is something you can do".

Tiana asked "what, what, what can I do to save him".

Blue told her "An act of true love".

Tiana said "true love's kiss"

Blue nodded her head, and Tiana asked, "how do I know if we do have true love".

Blue answered, "only one way to find out".

Tiana went down to get Naveen the frog and give him a kiss. She didn't want to because it was disgusting but had to save Naveen. She said "Oh, I'm so not going to enjoy this". She kissed the frog Naveen and magic sprung around him turning him from a frog and back into a man.

Naveen said "Tiana, you saved me".

Tiana responded "of course I would. I would never leave you, especially as a frog".

Naveen said, "it's good to know".

Blue told them "You better get back to the coronation, or you'll miss it".

Naveen responded, "I know but I got to tell Tiana something". Blue left and Naveen told Tiana "Thank you for saving me and not giving that monster the crystal".

Tiana responded "of course my love. It was my responsibility as Queen to save their King, while not giving up our most powerful object to him".

Naveen said, "you're not just the perfect woman to be my love but my Queen as well".

Tiana smiled and said, "and so are you the perfect man to love and the perfect King".

Naveen responded, "then let's not keep our people waiting and give them their King and Queen".

Flashback Ends:

Sabine went over to Drew's truck and seeing Sabine he asked "Ah, come to see what all the fuss is about. I've barely had a moment to breathe, it's so busy".

Sabine told him "Well, you wouldn't be if you hadn't called the cops about my safety permit, so they'd shut me down".

Drew exclaimed "What". He then looked at Sabine's truck and saw the police officer. He told her "That wasn't me".

Sabine said "I don't have a long list of enemies, Drew. Who else cares enough about my truck to do this and don't try to pin this on Victoria because I know for once she isn't after me and Penelope".

Drew thought about it and told her "Just give me a second". She scoffed before leaving. Drew chased after her and said "Hey, Sa, Sabine I think I might know".

Sabine responded "Oh, so it was you".

Drew answered "No, but. I have this silent partner. Mr Samdi. It was his idea for the truck and the money. He said he could guarantee my success".

Sabine said, "this is so like you. I work my ass off for something and, and it, it just falls in your lap and you, you never think twice about that".

Drew asked, "would you have".

Sabine answered, "I don't know, Drew. I didn't have that option. I used my last dollar to start this business. And if I fail, no one bails me out. You have no idea what that is like".

Drew said, "I'll make it up to you".

Sabine said "Well, unless you have a magical safety permit somewhere, you can't".

A customer went up to Sabine and she told him "Sorry, we're closed for the day". The customer left and she remarked "probably everyday".

Drew went up and told her "No, you're not. Not if I have anything to say about it".

Sabine told him "Really don't want to see you right now".

Drew responded "I know, but I have something for you. Just take it. Then you'll never have to see my face again".

Sabine took it and remarked "your safety permit".

Drew told her "And now it's yours".

Sabine asked "why".

Drew answered, "because you were right. I've had a whole lot of things handed to me in my life. And maybe I don't always do what I should with".

Sabine answered "No, you don't".

Drew told her "Look, I never told you this, but I didn't drop out of cooking school. I flunked out. And I convinced myself that it was because I didn't care. But the truth is. I wasn't very good at it".

Sabine told him "Well, that's not true".

Drew responded "Come on, you stole a basket of my beignets. Did you like them".

Sabine answered "Well yeah. I mean, they were very, ah, sugary".

Drew said "Exactly. But yours are amazing. So, please, don't shoot yourself in the foot here. Trust me. And let me help you".

Sabine and Drew in the truck and Sabine said "all right, folks. Rollin' Bayou is rollin' by you again. And we still have the best beignets in town".

Drew said, "or any town. Don't be so modest".

The police officer said "to hell with my diet. How about a bag of beignets and a bowl of gumbo".

Sabine said "Yeah, mm-hm, sure". She chuckled as she handed him the bag.

Drew said "And, you know, I hear that people like to dunk them inside the gumbo".

Sabine responds "I hear that too. Well, if the spirit moves you". She then began to laugh. Gabriel, Penelope, and Samantha go up to the truck and Sabine asks "what can I do for you lovely's.

Penelope answered, "Three bags of beignets please".

Gabriel said "and a bowl of gumbo. I love my gumbo".

Drew said, "Don't I know it brother".

Gabriel exclaimed "Drew, what are you doing here, you son of a bitch".

Penelope said "Gabrial language".

Gabriel realised and said "Sorry about that. So, Drew what you doing mate".

Drew answered, "Slinging beignets with the best cook in the heights".

Gabriel said, "I know, she once hit me because I went for the beignets to quickly".

Sabine said, "They just came out of fryer, and I wasn't finished with them yet".

Gabriel said "Well, it was your fault for making them to delicious in the first place".

Sabine responded, "I'll agree to that". Sabine laughed which was followed by Penelope, Gabriel, Drew, and Samantha. Sabine handed them their food and told them "Here you go. Enjoy".

Samantha said as they were leaving "We will, thanks". Sabine watched as they began to ate together and thought that she may have been wrong about Gabriel.

Flashback Begins:

At the coronation the priest said, "And now we finally crown our new King and Queen". They were crowned and the crowd cheered "Long Live the King, Long Live the Queen, Long Live the King, Long Live the Queen, Long Live the King, Long Live the Queen". They walked past their subjects and out into the gardens where they saw two frogs kissing. They were both happy that they found each other like they found each other. They watched as the frogs went into the river before turning towards each other and kissing.

Flashback Ends:

Sabine and Drew were closing and Sabine told Drew "That is the most beignets I've made in a day, or ever, really. I say we make a pretty good team".

Drew agreed "Yeah, we're a hit. And uh, I'm gonna celebrate by throwing out this trash".

Sabine responded in agreement "Yeah" before laughing.

Drew went to take the trash out when Samdi went up to him and said, "you're the Taste of the Heights. It's good to see you can take orders well. And not just from me".

Drew responded, "I don't like doing this".

Samdi told him "Doesn't matter what you like. The important thing is that you've gained her trust and from that, something more can form".

Drew asked, "But why do you care about her".

Samdi answered "I don't but having you two back together is going to help me get something that I've been after for quite a long while".

Samdi left and Sabine came over and said "Drew. Did I hear you talking to someone".

Drew answered, "I guess it's just me, congratulating myself".

Sabine laughed and said "Oh. Well, you forgot a bag". Drew but the rubbish in the bin and walked away with her.

Regina knocked on Samdi's door and he opened it. He remarked "What a surprise, it's good to see you Roni".

Regina said "Oh, drop the act. You think you can just waltz into my bar and pretend you're cursed".

Facilier said "Ah, you knew".

Regina responded, "I know all your tricks". Facilier laughed and Regina said "you didn't come to me to invest in my bar or anything else. So, what are you really here for".

Facilier looked into his apartment and asked, "would you like to come in".

Regina said "Oh" before chuckling and telling him "Definitely not".

Facilier responded "hmm, you do as you wish, Regina. You always have". Facilier went into his apartment and Regina sighed before entering herself.

Chapter Text

In Facilier's apartment, Facilier asked Regina "would you like a drink".

Regina answered "always". Facilier poured a glass of MacCutcheon for them both and handed her one. Regina asked "So, Facilier. What are you doing here".

Facilier answered "cursed here, same as you".

Regina rejected this "no, what were you doing in my bar".

Facilier answered "seeing you of course".

Regina rejected this "No, what did you want, because I know you and you always want something".

Facilier responded "Well, yes, I do want something, two things actually. I'll tell you one if we do the other right now because I know my beautiful Queen and what she wants".

Regina responded "Really, you think I'm going to agree to that, just to find out".

Facilier answered "No, but because you want to. You've desired it ever since you saw me in the bar, and before that. This is just you getting everything". Regina skulled her drink before slamming it on the table and passionately kissing Facilier. He kissed her back and they moved towards the bed.

Flashback Begins:

At the Evil Queen's palace, the Evil Queen was styling her hair when her father Henry walked in and said, "My Queen, there is a man here to see you".

Evil Queen responded, "thank you daddy, show him in". Henry left and Facilier entered the room. Evil Queen said, "Now what makes you think you have the right to burst in here and demand my presence".

Facilier answered "I have no right my Queen but a duty to see the woman that I'm told is the most powerful in all the realm, and beauty to match".

Evil Queen stood up and asked, "and what do you think".

Facilier answered "your beauty is far greater than even I could have imagined but I don't know if the power is to match".

Evil Queen said "why don't you just stand there and let me show you by ripping out your heart and showing you. Letting you know as I crush it".

Facilier giggled and said "Yes, the power within you does match the beauty".

Evil Queen demanded "So, what did you come for, besides from me".

Facilier answered "I need a little help with a certain task and only a powerful witch can help me acquire it".

Evil Queen asked, "and why should I help you".

Facilier got out his deck of tarot cards and showed her the first card which was the Empress and said "this is you currently. A Queen ruling with ultimate power. But there are people standing in your way and want to take you down". He got the next card out which was the Lovers.

Evil Queen said angrily "Snow White and her eww Prince Charming, their love is sickening".

Facilier then got out two more cards and said "there is a choice, you need to make, two paths you can go down. The first one is alone and continue what you're already doing but it will lead to". He showed her the Death card and said, "I don't think I need to tell you what that means".

Evil Queen tells him "I don't care what you say. I will have my revenge on Snow White".

Facilier tells her "And you'll die if you go it alone or have my help and". He showed her the Justice card and continued "You will have your revenge".

Evil Queen asks, "and what do you want me to do for you".

Facilier answers "You are very intelligent. Yes, I want something. The reason I came to you because there is also another person in our way. Who will stop us both from getting what we want if we don't stop them". He then showed her the Magician card.

Evil Queens says "Rumpelstiltskin. I should have known that scaled imp would betray me".

Facilier says "Yes, Rumpelstiltskin will be your greatest enemy if we do not work together, especially if he finds out about". He then showed her the Tower card.

Evil Queen said in disgust "His maid. Yes, if he did find out what I did to her, he would kill me. And it would be painful".

Facilier said "He will find out and will come for you".

Evil Queen asks, "Then what's your plan".

Facilier answers "Kill Rumpelstiltskin".

Flashback Ends:

Regina and Facilier are in bed together. Facilier asks "So, are you thoroughly pleased".

Regina turned over and answered, "Always have been, when we've been together".

Facilier tells her "My plan is the old one".

Regina asks, "what one".

Facilier answers "The one I had when we first met".

Regina says, "Killing Rumpelstiltskin".

Facilier says "Yes, because what I told you all those years ago will still come to pass if we don't kill him".

Regina said "I don't think you know this, but I don't care about that anymore. Rumple is my friend, and the Charming are even my familyw no".

Facilier responded "maybe your goal may have changed but what I showed you will still come to pass, and you will die without achieving your goal if we don't kill Rumpelstiltskin".

Regina begins to put her clothes on and tells him "I learnt a long time ago that my happiness can never come from that. If I try and take it, I will always fail. I will lose everything and I'm not the same person you knew all those years ago".

Facilier responds "maybe but I know my beautiful Queen is still in there".

Regina responds "actually she isn't. Not anymore".

Facilier responds "Yes, I heard that you split yourself in two but no matter what, the Queen will always be there because what created her in the first place, can never be destroyed. That damage that your mother caused will stay with you forever, so for my Queen to return, you just need a push in the right direction".

Regina tells him "I'm not that person anymore Facilier. I'm a hero. And I will never go back to who I was".

Regina began to leave and Facilier said "Not even for your son. To save his life".

Regina turned back and asked, "how do you know about that".

Facilier answers "Please Regina, you know that I always keep my eyes open".

Regina told him "I will save my son, but I will do it the right way. The way of a hero because that's what my son wants".

Regina began to leave again and Facilier said "I can save him you know". Regina stopped and turned around. Facilier told her "My magic can cure him".

Regina responded "how, we're in a land without magic".

Facilier answered "I don't but I know where to get some".

Regina asked "where".

Facilier answered "the magic that's already here".

Regina responded, "but I used everything that Victoria had to wake Zelena up".

Facilier said "Yes, Lady Clairemont doesn't have anymore, but there is magic in this town. Tiny, small, nearly impossible but there is some here. Powerful enough to save your son".

Regina asked, "do you know where it is".

Facilier answered "Yes and I'm astounded to be honest you haven't picked up on what it is yet".

Regina realised "the roses in the community garden. Samantha planted them".

Facilier continued "And they were formed from the believe that her sister inspired in her when she made a wish in the well, which was inspired by your granddaughter. The same belief that she got from her father's book".

Regina said, "Samantha didn't have belief, she had the memories of the curse".

Facilier corrected her "Yes, she was made to think that her Penelope was her mother but the belief in magic, was all her. You can never fake believe as you can never fake love. You can make a person think they believe or love, but it will never be real. All it is, is all a curse".

Regina asked, "So you will do it, you will save Henry".

Facilier answered "Yes, I can but only after we kill Rumpelstiltskin together".

Regina said "No, I will not kill to save my son".

Facilier asked "didn't you tell him that when your son's life is on the line, there is no more Regina".

Regina answered, "Not like that".

Facilier said "that's the only way to save him and think would he kill Henry to get back to his darling Belle and son".

Regina said "Rumple has never made any attempt to kill Henry. And I will not do it because I'm not your Queen. I am Regina.

Regina left and Facilier smiled. He got out his phone and made a call. He immediately said, "I did it".

Victoria asked, "did she believe you about Rumpelstiltskin".

Facilier answered "She listened. That's enough".

Victoria said "Good, now we can sit back and watch as they kill themselves".

Flashback Begins:

Evil Queen and Facilier were along the palace grounds when Evil Queen said "You know the dark one can't be killed right. You would have to".

Facilier interrupted "have his dagger. I know. But as I said we work as a team. You get in there and distract him while I stab him with it".

Evil Queen said, "but then, you'll become the dark one".

Facilier answered "it's what I want. It's the greatest source of magic and it can all be ours".

Evil Queen asked "ours, how can it be ours".

Facilier answered "I don't need to read the future to already tell that we're perfect for each other".

Evil Queen told him "I don't care about that. All I want is to end Snow White and destroy her charmed life".

Facilier said "Yes, but what if, you can have it all".

Evil Queen answered, "I like the sound of that".

Flashback Ends:

Regina was walking back to the bar when she was approached by Henry. Henry asks, "did you find out whatever Mr Samdi wanted".

Regina answered "Yeah and he's just a different Victoria. Nothing I can't handle". She then asked "So, how's you and Ivy".

Henry answered "It felt like we were making progress but after Samantha's near incident. She's backed off and hasn't answered my calls since. I think it scared her a little bit".

Regina said, "but Samantha no longer believes you are".

Henry responded "Yeah, but I think just because Samantha nearly died because of it, she's scared of us".

Regina said "How about this. I invite Ivy, Penelope, Samantha, Kelly, and Sabine to a girl's night and get to the bottom of everything. Make sure that she knows everything is all right".

Henry responded "So, you're gonna help with me with my girlfriend. Wow, you really are mom to everyone".

Regina answered "You're a good guy Henry. And after that incident near the police station. We all need it". She then said, "Oh and hey why don't you hang out with Gabriel and Rodgers for a sort of boy's night".

Henry said, "Boy's night".

Regina said "Yeah, it could be fun. And also get your mind off of worrying about Ivy".

Henry agreed "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea".

Regina told him "Every idea I have is great. Now you keep working on H-Town while I arrange tonight".

Henry told her "Thanks, you know. I'm not joking when I say that you're a good mom. You really are and I wish I had one like you".

Regina smiled and said, "thank you Henry, that actually means a lot to me".

Henry responded, "you're welcome".

Regina entered the police station and Rodgers came up to her and asked, "you after Weaver again".

Regina answered "No, I'm came to talk to you. I'm throwing a girl's night, and we need to get rid of the men. So how about you go with Henry, Gabriel, and Sabine's new boyfriend Drew to a boy's night at Flynn's Barcade".

Rodgers answered "Really, well that actually sounds quite nice. I'm in".

Regina sees Mr Gold and says, "talk to you later". She leaves and goes over to Mr Gold who's sitting at his desk repairing his chipped cup. She says, "I need to talk to you".

Mr Gold responds "sure, what do you want".

Regina answers quietly "Facilier's awake". Mr Gold turned towards her, and she continued "He's awake and can save Henry".

Mr Gold asked, "what's the price".

Regina answered, "He wants your dagger".

Mr Gold responded, "over his dead body".

Regina said "I know, and I don't want you to die. I just want to know what we can do about Henry because he comes first, for the both of us".

Mr Gold said, "and you're worried that I might plan to kill him so the curse breaks".

Regina responded, "he did say that you would, and I am scared that you'll decide you need to be with your wife and son over my son's life".

Mr Gold told her "If I wanted Henry dead, he would be already. Plus, I would never hurt the lad. I died once for him and it ending up costing my own son's life so I would never lay a hand on the boy. Even if it meant seeing my family again".

Regina responded "thank you, Gold. I know I shouldn't accuse you of stuff like that, but I fear it'll break because of Henry and Ivy. They're getting closer together and I might lose my son".

Mr Gold asked, "Well, Roni might I ask this. For your son will you still my dagger. Knowing what it can do to me".

Regina answered, "I considered it, but I can't get my happiness that way".

Mr Gold responded, "So did I". Regina accepted and began to leave. He then told her "Here's something to consider for the both of you, remember how well it worked out last time".

Flashback Begins:

Facilier and Evil Queen approach Rumpelstiltskin's castle and Regina says "if this is going to work, we need to be careful. He's not an idiot".

Facilier agreed "of course, I never underestimate my enemies, especially one as powerful as the dark one".

They enter the castle, and Rumpelstiltskin greets them "My Queen and who's this".

Facilier answers "Enchante dark one, my name is Dr Facilier".

Rumpelstiltskin responds "Witch doctor, don't see to many of them around here. Most that are close enough just call themselves healers. Although they learnt not to piss me off after what I did to the last one, I saw".

Facilier says "Dark one, your power is known far and wide".

Rumpelstiltskin interrupts "yes, yes, enough of the grovelling what do you want".

Facilier answers "I see you've got some powerful magical item behind you. Mind if I have one".

Rumpelstiltskin responds, "if you have something I want then yes".

Facilier answers "I do have one thing. Taken from the stomach of gator so big, it's bigger than your table". Facilier got out the vial and quickly splashed the squid ink on the dark one.

Rumpelstiltskin exclaims "Squid ink". He then said, "if you knew what it was, then you know it won't last forever".

Facilier answers "I know but I don't plan to be around that long to find out. Once I find what I'm looking for. We'll be on our way".

Facilier searched through the cabinet and Regina asked "was that all I was needed for. I thought I would distract him while you searched".

Facilier answered "you already did. You got us in here. And you did it perfectly".

Rumpelstiltskin asks Regina "what are you doing Regina".

Regina answers "I realised that to truly end Snow White, I also couldn't have any threats on the board that could stop me. Like you. You can and if you decide to ally with them and not me, well I'm gone".

Rumpelstiltskin answers "You bet and when I get the chance Regina, you will pay for this".

Facilier can't find it and demands of Rumpelstiltskin "where is it, where's the dagger".

Rumpelstiltskin laughs and says "is that what you're looking for dearie, well it isn't here, or anywhere else you can find it. You really think I would've put that where all my other magical object were". The squid ink wears off and Rumpelstiltskin immediately grabs Facilier by the throat and tells him "My dagger is safe from people like you. You will never get your hands on it, you will die. Now I would normally kill you, but I think it's better if you live, to always fail, to never be able to get it. To never be able to kill me with it. To know that you will be killed if you try again. Now goodbye and good long life". Rumpelstiltskin then sent them away from his castle.

Facilier and Evil Queen appeared outside Rumpelstiltskin's castle and Evil Queen said, "That went well".

Facilier told her "It was only a setback".

Evil Queen responded "setback, if that's a setback I want to know what you call a complete failure".

Facilier answered "it's only a failure when I stop trying and I will never stop trying to get my hands on that dagger".

Evil Queen said "you know that you still owe me right. Just because you're a failure doesn't mean you are off the hook from dealing with my problem. My Snow White problem and especially so now that you got the dark one against me".

Facilier responded "The dark one will always be against you. He will never be on your side while I will always be".

Evil Queen responded, "Well then, you need to prove your worth if you want me to keep you around".

Facilier answered "of course my Queen". He immediately kissed her, and she was shocked that this happened before passionately kissing him".

Flashback Ends:

Henry, Rodgers, Gabriel, Lee, and Drew at the arcade were playing Gallagher and they watched Drew playing Galaga and Henry began screaming "No, no, no".

Drew responded "Yes, yes, and yes. Boom. New high score".

Henry said, "that took me weeks to achieve that".

Drew said, "and took me one go to destroy it".

Gabriel said "dude, he thrashed you".

Rodgers said, "you did take a beating".

Lee said, "A defeat on military scale".

Henry responded "yeah, yeah".

All five sat down and Gabriel asked "So, why do you think the woman wanted us kicked out because all Penelope told me was that her and Samantha were going out to a girl's night and that I should come here".

Drew answered "that's because it's a girl's night. You really want to be there".

They all laughed, and Gabriel answered "no, of course not but it was just so strange".

Rodgers said "who knows the minds of women. But I was happy to receive the invite to a far greater place".

Henry agreed "Yeah it is, usually I would come here alone and try to beat that high score, which is now ruined".

Lee said, Yeah, I've been friends with them for years and married but nope have no clue whatsoever".

"Drew said, "they're probably now drinking and watching some rom-com and swooning over some British dude".

They were all in agreement over this and Henry asked "So, Gabriel. How is it with Penelope and Samantha".

Gabriel answers "me and Penelope are really clicking. Getting back to the way we used to be but Samantha I don't know. I know I haven't been in her life, but something just feels off. Like we're both trying but something's in the way".

Rodgers said "is it because you're trying. You don't feel right because you feel like you need to try and be her dad instead of being her dad".

Gabriel responded, "that's actually a pretty fair statement because I have no idea what it's like to be a dad".

Henry said, "which dad does though".

Drew said, "I know if mine were right here he would say that he had no clue what he was doing whatsoever".

They all laughed, and Rodgers asked Henry "how's it going with Ivy".

Henry answered, "that I'm unsure about and I think she is too".

Gabriel said "You know I've known Ivy a long time and she's never acted this way in front of anyone. I think what you're thinking is unsure; is actually her really falling for you".

Henry asked, "you think".

Drew said "hell yeah, my man, if Ivy or as I used to call her the wicked stepsister is acting how I am hearing, ever since she met you. Then you might have thawed her ice heart".

Lee said "she actually nice now and cool to be around. Something I never thought I would never say".

Henry said, "I hope so because I'm really starting to like her".

Rodgers said, "good for you man, I'm really happy for you".

Gabriel asked, "Now Drew, what's happening with you and Sabine".

Drew answers "just getting back to the way we were. I enjoy it and so does she".

Henry asked "Lee, since you're the only one married, what it's like after you put a ring on it".

Lee answers "doesn't change necessarily but it definitely feels different once you've taken the vow because everything you do feels permanent. Everything you say or do feels set in stone because you two are forever. Now whether that permanence feels good or bad in completely due to the situation, but I would never like to live another day without Lan".

Everybody listened and Drew asked, "Now finally Detective, what love is in your life".

Rodgers answered, "haven't had a special someone in a long time and she was so special that you know, just can't be replaced".

Gabriel responded, "Yeah man, I think we all feel that way about a certain someone".

At Roni's bar Regina, Zelena, Margot, Tilly, Ivy, Samantha, Penelope, Sabine, Lupa, Lan, and Ozaline were drinking with Samantha having soft drink. Regina said, "I officially declare this bar tonight, girls night". The group cheered and Regina said, "tonight we've gotten rid of the men, that frankly just hold us back". They cheered again and Regina continued "And we're gonna have a great night, woo".

They all cheered, and Regina got down. Ivy went over to her and asked, "what's all this Roni, why are you throwing a girls night".

Regina answered, "have fun and air out any problems we're having".

Ivy said, "this is about me and Henry isn't it".

Regina answered, "no but if there is one, that's what tonight is for".

Ivy said "Roni. I know you're trying to help Henry, but can you please stay out of this".

Regina answered "tell me what the problem is. Why have you gone from falling all over him to ignoring him".

Ivy answered "I don't know if this relationship is doing any good. I mean Samantha nearly got hit by a car because of it".

Regina told her "That was not on you. That's on me and how I didn't tell her properly".

Ivy said, "it still happened though".

Regina called out "Hey Samantha, over here". Samantha went over and Regina said "it appears you scared your aunt Ivy the other day and now she's unsure about her relationship with Henry. Can you tell her it's not your fault".

Samantha quickly said "of course not aunty Ivy. I was just believed in it so much that when I saw how good you two were together. I thought I had to stop it but now that I know that I was wrong. I think you should definitely continue your relationship with Henry. He's very nice and you two connected so well".

Ivy responded, "We do, don't we". She then asked "So, you sure you're okay with this and that it's not gonna cause any more incidents".

Samantha said "I'm sorry aunty Ivy for scaring you. I never meant to do that and would hate if I got in the way of your relationship with Henry. And thank you for saving me".

Ivy responded "I appreciate that, Samantha. And you're welcome for the rescue. I can't let my niece die can I". Ivy then tasselled Samantha's hair and went back to the drinking.

Samantha was really hurt by her mother not recognizing her and went outside. Regina followed her and said, "you were very brave in there". Samantha began to cry, and Regina hugged her. Regina said "trust me, you did the right thing. You kept them together so when the time comes, we can break the curse".

Samantha said, "I thought lying was gonna be the hardest part but my own mom seeing right through me was, was".

Regina held her tighter and told her "I know, I know. It's hard. I feel the exact same way when I look at Henry. But trust me, we need to forgive them the second the curse breaks they are gonna hate themselves for not seeing us".

Samantha asked "Grandma, when's the curse gonna break".

Regina answered, "soon dear, very, very soon".

Flashback Begins:

Facilier awoke the next morning to see the Evil Queen wasn't there and he found a note that said "Thanks for last night. Hadn't had it that good in a long time. Will call you again if I need you. Love The Queen".

Facilier smiled and laughed as he thought about the note. He loved the Evil Queen and wanted to see her again. He began to walk away and try to find a way to get the dagger

Flashback Ends:

The girls were leaving the bar and Lupa said "thanks Roni, it was great. Call us if you wanna hang or get drunk again, preferable at your bar and on you".

Regina answered "of course, see you soon".

Lupa exclaimed "yeah, next full moon it is woo".

Regina went back inside and Facilier was watching them. Facilier then noticed Mr Gold behind him and asked, "are you lying in wait, or just watching".

Mr Gold responded, "it's my understanding that it's you who's been out for me".

Facilier giggled before remarking "You're looking quite tired, Dark One. You feeling the weight of time, especially when yours is so long but theirs is so short".

Mr Gold said, "If you think you're getting my dagger, then you're gonna fail like everybody else before you, including yourself".

Facilier giggled before responding "Really. Because I know of your desire to return to your wife and son. And killing someone might just show her that no matter how hard she tries the Beast will always remain and mothers protect their children from Beasts".

Mr Gold told him "I will get back to them and I will greet them as the man they deserve but if you try to interfere with me getting back to them. Then you won't just have friends on the other side, you'll be one of them". Mr Gold walked away and Facilier stared at him as he did.

Chapter Text

Facilier returns to his apartment but as soon as he does, he hears a knock on his door. He opens it to see Regina who immediately says, "We have a deal okay, save Henry for the dagger but you must save Henry first".

Facilier tells her "You know a deal cannot be broken, once it's made. Your old teacher would have taught you that".

Regina answered "he did. And I know that it cannot be broken. A deal's a deal, so will you save Henry".

Facilier answered "of course my Queen".

Ivy arrived at Henry's apartment and knocked on the door. Henry opened and he said "Ivy, what are you doing here".

Ivy answered, "I was just with Roni at a girl's night which you probably already know about".

Henry answered "Roni did tell me. She's the ultimate every mom trying to do what's best for people. In her mind that is".

Ivy said "Yes, first she wanted me as far away from you as possible, now she's talking like we're soulmates".

Henry agreed and asked, "you want to come in".

Ivy answered "yeah, of course".

They both entered and sat on the couch. Henry asked, "you want some water".

Ivy answered "yes, please". Henry went to get some, and Ivy said "I'm sorry for not responding. It's just that after everything, I was unsure whether it was a good thing, us. Then Samantha came to speak to me about how she didn't want to get in our way and how she believed used to think that we were getting in the way of you and Penelope being together because of the book. You were her parents".

Henry responded "Yeah, but she's thankfully over that and finally see's it for what it truly is. A book of stories".

Ivy asked, "I was wondering, can you tell me about the book. I realised I knew nothing about it and wanted to know what caused her to do what she did but also, I want to know what the man I'm falling for created".

Henry answered "I wrote a story about myself and fairytales. I wrote about how I was adopted by the Evil Queen and lived in a town called Storybrooke. Everyone in that tale was a character and one my mother cursed. Then to break the curse I found my birth mother Emma and brought her to Storybrooke. She was sent to the real world as a baby just before the curse it. She was destined to be the Saviour. A hero who would break the curse and bring back the happy endings. Emma was the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming and although it took a while she believed. She broke the curse and after that they had adventures which went to Neverland, Wonderland, The Enchanted Forest, A Wish Realm, Oz, Camelot, The land of Untold Stories. I also created a vast and impossibly complicated family tree which all surrounds Henry. All because I wanted a family. So, I created the biggest family in the world which involved Rumpelstiltskin being my grandpa, him having Belle as a wife, the Queen of Hearts is my great grandmother and also the Miller's daughter, the Wicked Witch being my aunt, Rumpelstiltskin's parents are the Black Fairy and Peter Pan. And Captain Hook becomes my stepdad".

Ivy responded, "that's vast. All you did was want a family".

Henry answered "I did. And I had an epilogue of myself going to the Wish Realm and nearly crashing into the carriage of Lady Clairemont and her daughter Drizella".

Ivy asked "Clairemont. Like me".

Henry answered "yeah, and I guess that's what made her believe it. I met Drizella who was beautiful and going to a ball hosted by her stepsister Queen Penelope. She was going to get married, but I could tell that she didn't want to, and it was forced to by her mother, and as they rode off. I followed them. That's where I left the story".

Ivy asked "And that's why Samantha thought that you were her dad. She thought you went to the ball and fell in love with my sister".

Henry answered, "I guess".

Ivy said "Well, I can't blame her. My mother's exactly like Lady Clairemont but I believe that Henry went there to check on Drizella. To make sure that when she looked into her prince's eyes. She saw love and if she didn't. He would've stepped in because even though they just met, he wanted to make sure she got her true love".

Henry responded "That's exactly what Henry would do. Exactly what I would do". They both lean in for a kiss when they are interrupted by Henry's phone beeping after receiving a text message. Henry said "I'm not going to answer that. It is in fact going off". Henry turned it off and he continued "because that's what a man should do for a beautiful lady such as yourself".

Ivy said softly "Henry".

They leaned in for a passionate kiss and as their lips meets a burst of light magic spread out from them and across Hyperion Heights. Henry and Ivy immediately both stopped, and both flashed their lives with Ivy remembering meting Henry, Henry saving her, fighting her mother, their first kiss, her agreeing to marry Henry, their wedding, announcing their pregnancy, Samantha's birth, and the curse hitting. Henry remembered meeting his birth mother, eating the poisoned turnover, Regina using magic to create a cupcake, Emma awaking him with true loves kiss, meeting Drizella, proposing to Drizella, being attacked by Lady Clairemont while protecting Samantha.

Across Hyperion Heights Rodgers remembered being the Wish Realm version of Captain Hook. Zelena who was with Margot and Tilly watched as they remembered that they are Robin and Alice. Alice exclaimed "Robin".

Robin responded "Alice". They hugged each other and Zelena turned to them in delight at realising that her daughter was back. Robin turned and said "mom".

Zelena responded "Robin". They hugged and Zelena said "Oh, I'm so glad to have you back".

Robin said, "I love you mom".

Zelena said, "and I love you Green Pea".

Penelope and Gabriel stopped kissing and remembered that they were formerly Queen Penelope and Matthew. Penelope said "Matthew".

Matthew responded "Penelope. Is it really you".

Penelope answered "yeah". She then called out "Samantha, come in here".

Samantha entered and said "yes, mom".

Penelope said "you don't need to hide anymore. My sweet little niece".

Samantha exclaimed "you remember".

Matthew answered, "of course we do, we're your aunt and uncle after all".

Penelope said "now let's get you to your mom. I know she misses you".

Sabine and Drew awoke, and they both smiled at each other before kissing. Naveen said, "I missed you my Queen".

Tiana responded, "and so did I, my handsome King".

Lee, Lan, Lupa, and Ozaline all awoke and remembered that they were Li Shang, Mulan, Ruby, and Dorothy. Ruby turned to Dorothy and said "Kansas". Dorothy said "Wolfie". They both kissed and Li and Mulan turned to each other and Li asked, "you back".

Mulan answered "yes, I'm back". They then kissed and Mulan said, "now I know what a movie is huh. I liked mine".

Henry and Drizella stared into each other and Henry said "Drizella".

Drizella said "Henry, you're back".

Henry said "Yeah. The curse broke".

Drizella said "Now, let's go find our daughter".

Henry nodded before collapsing. Drizella dove on top of him and screamed "Henry, Henry, Henry".

Drizella immediately reached for her phone and called Regina. Regina answered and said "Ivy".

Drizella immediately screamed in panic "Regina".

Regina was in shock and Regina said "Drizella".

Drizella answered "Yeah, I was with Henry and the". She began to cry.

Regina said, "the curse broke didn't it".

Drizella answered "Yes, and now Henry's on the floor unresponsive".

Regina told her "Don't worry. I'm on my way. I have a way to save Henry". Regina hung up and said to Facilier "we need to work and fast".

Drizella immediately called Penelope. Penelope answered and said, "don't worry Drizella, she's right here and we're bringing her to you now".

Drizella said "I'm at Henry's and he's dying".

Penelope turned to Matthew and said "we need to get to Henry's and fast. Samantha, you which way".

Samantha asked, "is it my dad, is he dying".

Penelope said sternly "Samantha there is no time for this, show us the way".

Samantha answered, "take a left up here".

Regina and Facilier entered the garden and Regina said "you get the magic. I'm calling Rumple". Facilier took the roses and Regina called Mr Gold. He answered and she said "Gold, the curse broke. Henry's dying and I need you to deliver the dagger to Facilier. I promise you that he will not kill you with it. Now meet us at Henry's". Regina hung up and Mr Gold left to the evidence room to collect his dagger. Regina asked Facilier "are you ready".

Facilier answered "Yes, do you trust Rumpelstiltskin".

Regina answered "This is for Henry. He will or I'll make him". Regina got into Facilier's car and drove to Henry's.

At Henry's apartment Drizella was over Henry holding his hand and telling him "I'm here darling, I'm right here and I'm not leaving you".

Samantha, Penelope and Matthew entered the apartment and Samantha called out "mom". Drizella looked up and ran to her daughter using every bit of strength she had to lift Samantha up and give her a cuddle.

Drizella told her "I've got you baby, mommy's got you".

Samantha said "mom, you remember".

Drizella answered "of course I do sweetheart. You're my baby Sam" She then said, "I'm so sorry baby for not recognising you".

Samantha responded "it's okay mom, you were cursed. We both were". Drizella accepted and Samantha asked, "how's dad".

Drizella answered "not good. He needs magic to save his life".

Regina and Facilier entered and said, "and here it is right here".

Penelope exclaimed "Dr Facilier, can you trust him".

Regina answered "yes. He will save Henry".

They let Facilier pass and Facilier got out a rose, Samantha exclaimed "the roses from the garden. They have magic".

Facilier answered "yes, love and belief create the most powerful of magic". Facilier got out the seeds and sprinkled them over Henry. The red dust from them went all over Henry's body. They seeped into Henry and then while they all watched him. Henry gasped for air and sat up.

Drizella and Samantha went over to embrace Henry and Samantha said "daddy, you're awake".

Henry responded, "of course I am sweetheart. I've missed you so much". He then embraced her again.

Facilier said "there, your boy has been saved".

Regina told him "Be patient. Gold will be here any second now".

Facilier responded "you know I do not trust Rumpelstiltskin and I've gone far out of my way to save your boys life without the dagger".

Regina responded, "you'll get it".

Mr Gold entered and said, "unfortunately he will". He then walked over to Facilier and said, "a deal's a deal unfortunately".

Facilier took it and said "thank you dark one. I'll be seeing you around". Facilier then left.

Henry said, "thanks mom, thank grandpa for you know saving me".

Mr Gold responded, "any time m'boy".

Regina told him "I'm your mother. It's what I do".

Henry then got up and hugged her. He then turned to Mr Gold and asked, "was that really your dagger".

Mr Gold answered "Hell no. My dagger's back at the station where it's safe. He took a copy".

Regina said, "told you it would work".

Mr Gold responded, "never should have doubted you Regina".

Regina said, "I know how he works".

Mr Gold said, "now let's get out of here and back to Storybrooke".

Henry asked Samantha "So what do you say, want to go to Storybrooke".

Samantha excitedly answered, "yes please daddy".

They all turned to leave when they saw the fake dagger on the ground with a note that said, "should never have tried to trick me dark one".

Mr Gold exclaimed "he's going after the real dagger". They all fled the apartment and ran outside. When the got outside Mr Gold stopped and yelled "bastard".

Regina asked, "how did he know".

Mr Gold answered, "probably guessed that we would never give him the real dagger if he saved Henry".

Regina asked, "then where did you hide it".

Mr Gold answered "at the police station. We need to go now".

Mr Gold, Regina, Henry, Drizella, and Samantha got into Mr Gold's car and Penelope said, "we're going to find Tiana and Naveen, tell them what's happening".

Regina responded, "good because if this turns bad, there is going to be a fight, and we need to be prepared".

Mr Gold then sped off out of the parking spart and sped as quickly as he could down the street.

Wish Hook arrived at Zelena's apartment and as she saw him, she said "come on in Nook".

Wish Hook entered and as soon as he saw Alice. She called out "daddy".

Alice went over and hugged him. Wish Hook told her "We're finally back together".

Alice said "I knew we would. That we all would".

Wish Hook then received a call from Regina and as he answered she told him "Hook, Facilier healed Henry but is now after the dagger at the police station".

Wish Hook responded "the crocodile's dagger. It's at the station".

Regina answered "yeah, and Facilier's after it. So, if we don't get there in time".

Wish Hook interrupted "there will be a fight, and we need to prepare for one". Wish Hook hung up and told them "Facilier's after Rumpelstiltskin's dagger. And if he gets it".

Zelena said, "he'll become the dark one".

Wish Hook said, "there's might be a fight, and we need to prepare for one".

Zelena asked, "but we're still in a land without magic, what harm could he do".

Wish Hook answered, "I don't know but he'll have one".

Zelena said, "If there's going to be a fight, we all need to meet up at the bar". Wish Hook, Robin, and Alice agreed to this, and everyone went to the bar.

Mr Gold, Regina, Henry, Drizella, and Samantha arrived at the police station and ran inside. Mr Gold went up to a police officer and asked, "did anybody try to enter the evidence room".

The police officer answered "yeah, Victoria Clairemont. She said she needed to get something from you and left with a wavey knife".

Mr Gold slammed his fist into the table in anger and Drizella exclaimed "mother, she's involved".

Mr Gold told them "We need to get to Clairemont towers because if they're working together, then this is worse than we feared". All five ran out of the police station to go to Clairemont towers and stop Victoria and Facilier.

At the bar Tiana, Naveen, Penelope, Matthew, Wish Hook, Zelena, Alice, Robin, Li Shang, Mulan, Dorothy, and Ruby gathered and Tiana said "okay, I know everyone's just come back from being cursed but the fight is not over. Rumpelstiltskin is trying to get dagger back from Dr Facilier. He wants to become the dark one and we all know how dangerous that can be. So, we need to prepare for a fight. We don't know what tricks he will have up his sleeve, but he has a plan, and we need to stop him. So, I ask who's with them". They all cheered, and Tiana began to lead everyone to go against Facilier".

Mr Gold, Regina, Henry, Drizella, and Samantha all arrived at Clairemont towers and as they went up to and entered Victoria's office, they saw both Victoria and Facilier. Victoria said, "it's so nice for you all to join us on this special day".

Regina asked "Facilier you're working for Victoria".

Facilier answered "not for. Together".

Regina said, "so everything you said to me was a lie".

Facilier answered "not a lie Regina. You're still my Queen but I'm here for the dagger".

Regina asked, "and she's okay with you taking it".

Victoria answered "of course. Why wouldn't I be. I don't want to become the dark one. I want him to be on my side and Rumple you just became a thorn in my side. Trying to get back to your precious Belle. It made you so weak that I needed you replaced, so I woke up Facilier here to take your place".

Drizella asked "what about your curse mother. Why did you allow it to be broken and Henry to be saved".

Facilier answered "she didn't. I did because I needed you to believe that I fooled for the fake dagger, so wouldn't go after the real one, and who cares if your awake or even alive if you are going to fail because you can't stop me".

Facilier was stabbed from behind by Wish Rumpelstiltskin which shocked everyone and sent Victoria scrambling over to Drizella and Samantha. Wish Rumpelstiltskin said, "They can't but I can". Wish Rumpelstiltskin picked up the other dark one dagger and said to Mr Gold "Now you think when you arrived in the Wish Realm that I wouldn't notice another Rumpelstiltskin. And when I did, I had to come and see how you were compared to me. Now unfortunately your spell lady Clairemont stopped me from entering until your curse came but lucky for me, someone left a magical axe right next to an enchanted tree which could take me to this land. I used a bit of magic to find out where you were and come right through. I hated being in a land without magic but was disgusted even more when I saw what I have become. A weak, snivelling, coward who let love infect him so much he's a shadow of anything that used to be the dark one. And whose only goal in life is to return to his family and be the man they believe his is. It's sickening".

Mr Gold said, "And what are you here for because you never do anything without a purpose".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin answered "still cleaver dearie, very cleaver. I'm after this. Your dagger and the power it contains inside. You're going to give it to me because you're unworthy of it".

Mr Gold told him "It's not an honour. It's a curse and I'll be happy to be rid of it. But not to you because you are evil, and I do terrible things with it. I'm not going to allow you to do that".

Henry said "And neither are we. We stick together and fight evil like you together".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin giggled and asked, "you think you'll be able to defeat me".

Henry answered, "of course because good will always win".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin responds "Well, let's see how you feel after a small trip with me back to the Wish Realm".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin pulled out a magic bean and Victoria screamed "No, that's my only one".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin responds, "wrong dearie, it's mine". Wish Rumpelstiltskin throws the bean to the ground in the middle of the group and all of them fall inside the portal.

Chapter Text

Tiana led the group up Clairemont tower and said, "okay so Regina said that Facilier's working with Victoria".

Zelena remarked "should have known, never trust that witch isn't involved somehow".

They enter Victoria's office but see no one. Ruby remarks "where is everyone. They should be here".

Tiana responds "you're right. There should be everyone here but there isn't. Why".

Robin suggests "maybe we could check the security footage. Maybe it caught something".

They go to the desk and Margot accesses the computer. She looks at the footage and tells them "Here's the footage ever since Regina last contacted us".

Tiana says, "here's Victoria and Facilier".

They then see Mr Gold, Regina, Samantha, Drizella, and Henry enter. Zelena says, "okay so they arrived".

They then watch them talking before seeing Wish Rumpelstiltskin stab Facilier before using a magic bean to take them through a portal.

Zelena says "so it looks like we have a Rumpelstiltskin problem. Well at least one of them".

Hook said "our crocodile was bad enough, especially when you were against him. This one looks far worse".

Zelena answers "he sure is. He's the version from the Wish Realm. That means he would have taken them all back to the Wish Realm and who knows what evil he's cooking up there".

Tiana says, "okay we need to go back to the Wish Realm and save our friends".

Naveen responds says "but there is no way back. We have no beans or anything that could get us back".

Dorothy responds "I do. I have my silver slippers in my closet. We can easily use them to get to the Wish Realm".

Ruby said "I have a better idea. Instead of using them to go to the Wish Realm, we use to use those slippers to get help".

Tiana asks, "and where are you going to get it".

Ruby smiled answered "I know a place".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin, Victoria, Mr Gold, Regina, Henry, Samantha, and Drizella all arrived in Wish Realm at Rumpelstiltskin's castle. They all stood up and Regina said, "where at Rumple's castle or the Wish Realm version of it".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin answered, "that you are dearie".

Mr Gold said "Now this is far darker place then I ever had it. It's even worse than Belle's nightmare of it".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin asked, "Why do you try so hard to be with a woman that hates the darkness inside you".

Mr Gold asked "what happened to your Belle. Why are you like this".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin answered, "ask the woman besides you".

Regina answered "Because I never cast the curse. She starved to death in my tower".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin responded "and that my student was the best thing you could have ever done for your teacher. You got rid of what was standing in my way. Now nothing is. Let me show you".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin snapped his fingers, and a door flew open and inside the small dark room was Wish Peter Pan in stocks.

Mr Gold exclaimed "papa".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin interrupted "Yes, my father. See without him. I could finally do what I never could. No more distractions of love. No son I need to find, no girl that corrupted me. I was free to be the ultimate power of pure darkness".

Wish Peter Pan tells them "You should be careful. My son is far more powerful than any of you could believe".

Mr Gold said, "you imprisoned our father".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin answered "Yes, I did. I took all that pain from my childhood and inflict it on him. Whenever I feel like it".

Regina said "besides from your tragic past and daddy issues. Why did you bring us here".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin answered "I want his dagger. I want the power contained inside and show him that with his final breathe that love is a disease. It's poison and weakness. That's why I'm not going to kill him or any of you quite yet. We don't have a big enough audience".

Dorothy got out her silver slippers and said, "we're we going beautiful".

Ruby answered "Storybrooke".

Zelena said, "If you're going to Storybrooke then me and my daughter are coming".

Wish Hook said, "and so am I and my daughter". Alice smiled at him and Wish Hook said "I've always wanted to see it and I can see my other self again which would be nice. And for my daughter to be with the woman she loves, where she came from".

Alice hugged him and said, "thank you papa".

Ruby, Dorothy, Wish Hook, Zelena, Robin, and Alice all joined hands. Tiana told them "Good luck. We'll be here for when you get back". Dorothy clicked her heels three times, and they vanished in smoke arriving outside the sign that told them that they were entering Storybrooke.

Grumpy, Sleepy, and Doc were walking down the street with their axes and Grumpy tells them "I tell ya, there's nothing like morning in Storybrooke. Now get whistling, you two. Dwarfs got standards to maintain".

They whistled all the way to Granny's where she was with Dr Hopper and greeted them with food and said "here you go, Leroy. The usual. Times seven".

Grumpy grabbed it and remarked happily "the greatest sandwich in all the realms".

Ruby called out "Granny".

Granny turned and saw Ruby, Dororthy, Wish Hook, Zelena, Alice, and Robin. Granny exclaimed "Ruby". They ran into each other with a hug and Granny said, "it's been years since I've last seen you". Granny then stroked Ruby's hair.

Ruby responded "I know Granny but I'm back and we need your help. We need to gather everyone to fight Rumpelstiltskin".

Belle who was walking with Gideon asked, "what's this about my husband".

Ruby told her "Not your husband. The Wish Realm version of him has captured Gold, Regina, Henry, Drizella, Samantha, and Lady Clairemont".

Belle said, "I knew Rumple would be in trouble if he left. We need to save him".

Wish Hook said, "that's why we need to gather everyone we can Emma, the other version of me, Snow White, Prince Charming everyone".

Grumpy asked "wait, so you're not you".

Wish Hook answered "No, I'm from the Wish Realm as well. This is my daughter Alice".

Zelena said, "and everyone, this is Robin".

Dr Hopper asked "if that's Robin. How is she".

Robin interupted "an adult. Well, there was spell that Lady Clairemont put around us that stopped time outside so we couldn't go and try to get help before her curse came. She brought us to Seattle where we've been ever since the curse hit and it just broke".

Belle asked, "wait I thought you said Lady Clairemont was taken with my husband and the others".

Alice answered "she was. She and this other villain Dr Facilier were trying to steal the dark one dagger when Rumpelstiltskin showed up and killed Facilier. Took both daggers and used a bean to go to the Wish Realm and took everyone with him".

Grumpy said "I'll alert everyone".

In the main hall of Wish Rumpelstiltskin's palace Henry asks "So he puts us here and then vanishes. What is he up to".

Mr Gold answers, "don't know and I'm afraid to find out".

Victoria remarks "How don't you. He is you after all. You should know what he wants".

Mr Gold retorts "I wouldn't have to if someone didn't curse me and then try and take my dagger".

Victoria responds "oh, so this is my fault is it".

Drizella answers "Yes, it is mother. You were the one to curse us, you ripped me from family, made me believe my daughter wasn't mine, then you worked with Facilier to steal the dagger and do whatever villainous plan you had. Just because you believe I was unworthy. You know I only ever tried to be a good daughter. To make you proud but I was never enough. I was always a disappointed. So much that it caused all of this. So, why wasn't I good enough. You've never told me that. Why did you have to punish me so much".

Victoria answered "You refused to be a Queen. You rejected every good marriage I arranged for you and wanted to wallow in nothing with him".

Drizella responds "I love him mother. Love. It's why you marry. Not because your mother wants something. It was for me, not you but you wouldn't get that. All you ever thought about was you and what you wanted. Ever since Anastacia ran away to Wonderland, you've been like this and not my mother. That's the day my mother died in my eyes".

Victoria told her "I wanted what was best for you". Drizella scoffed and Victoria continued "I did. I wanted the best and I knew that power would only come if I took it. We were poor and had nothing. There was no way for us to have anything unless we took it. Our society keeps us from being as well of as those royals who only ever abuse and keep us enslaved to them. They keep us from achieving anything by hoarding power and wealth. All they did; was be born and do nothing but abuse and tax us. They tell us what we can sell and what we make for it and punish for not making enough or trying to go to other places. They built it to keep themselves at the top and everybody else at the bottom. We were born to be their slaves and die like them. I couldn't let them keep me enslaved. So, I knew that to break free I needed my daughter to marry royalty. I worked hard everyday for the lowest and of nobleman who all he had was his daughters love. He was so low that he realised the struggle and was nice to everybody. Not just people of his status because he knew being the lowest of them. He was so lonely that he would marry any woman who would look after his daughter. We went to the balls and worked hard to get a marriage for Penelope because that's the only way Anastacia or you would ever get anything. Then he died and I continued alone, and Penelope was finally noticed by the Prince of the Southern Kingdom. It was my way out and way to help Anastacia and later you. I tried to help Anastacia and wouldn't even have cared if the prince fell for her instead of Penelope, but she fell in love with that thief and ran away to Wonderland, where I knew that she would have nothing and struggle like I did. That's why I took magic because it's the only sure way to get anything in this world. It's the only thing we have that they can't fight against. It's our, the working class's sole way of getting power. The sole way I would never be a slave again. Then you, when I and your sister tried meet him. That was the final straw, and you had to be punished for throwing away everything I did for you, but the world needed to be punished as well. For making society the way it was. For not allowing me or anyone else the chance to have power without taking it. That's why I created the curse, to go to a place where I could have everything".

Drizella responded "but mother all I wanted was your love. I loved you and still do. I didn't care where we were or what we did as long as we had each other".

Victoria said, "You don't know how bad it is because you never suffered that and that was because of me".

Regina said "my mother did the same. She was a miller's daughter that realised she would always be nothing. That's why she learnt magic from Gold and ripped out her own heart. All for me to one day become royalty".

Victoria told Drizella "see all I ever did was what was best for you".

Drizella retorted "you took my memories. Forced me to not recognise my own daughter. Poisoned the man I loved".

Victoria sighed and said "I'm sorry Drizella. I went to far. I love you and do what I did because I hated that I forced you to run away from me. When all I wanted was for you to have everything and me to be there to support you, but I missed you falling in love, marriage, and the birth of my grandchild, or knowing her. I'm not going to ask you to forgive me, but can you at least love me".

Drizella began to cry and had tears strolling down her cheek. She then hugged her mother and said "of course I do mommy. No matter what I will always love you".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin appeared and said, "how sweet, nothing warms the heart more like the love between a mother and daughter".

Henry asked, "What do you want, why did you bring us here just to leave".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin answered, "for our final guests to arrive and they're finally here".

The door burst down, and Emma led Hook, Wish Hook, Snow White, Prince Charming, Belle, Zelena, Robin, Alice, Ruby, Dorothy inside the room. Emma asked, "is everyone okay".

Regina, Henry, Victoria, Drizella, Samantha, and Mr Gold screamed "No, it's a trap".

The door slammed behind them and Wish Rumpelstiltskin giggled before saying "Good. Now that you're all here let's finish this".

Emma raised her hands and said, "we will stop you Rumpelstiltskin".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin responded "No, you won't. You'll bear witness to me killing my lesser half love, showing him, that love is truly weakness, then killing him and taking his power before using it to kill every single one of you heroes". He then magically tossed her against the woman

Mr Gold said "you want to kill me all right do it. You'll have your power and that's all you truly care for so it's a good deal".

Belle responds "No Rumple don't. Gideon and I can't lose you".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin says "Ooh, then I'll kill your son".

Belle responds "don't you dare touch my son. I will protect him".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin remarks "always did love a fiery woman".

Belle asks "Rumple how did he become this way. You, even when we lived here was never like this".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin answered "In this world the curse was never cast. So, you did locked in Regina's tower. I found your skeleton".

Mr Gold said, "he's the me without you".

Belle understood and said "not just that. You were without me and didn't become this. This you never believed the good in him". She then turned to Mr Gold and said "it wasn't just me Rumple. It was you. You believed the good I saw in you. The good that you couldn't see in yourself until I showed it to you".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin said, "there is none and without you my life is far better off".

Belle walks up and responded to Wish Rumpelstiltskin "you're not evil Rumpelstiltskin. You try to make it out like you are but you're just heartbroken. With me gone, there was no one to give you the encouragement to be good".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin tells her "Your wrong dearie. Always have been, always will be".

Belle rejects this "I'm not since there is good in him, there is in you. I see it. Now you have to see it as well".

Belle who is now face to face with Wish Rumpelstiltskin is grabbed by the throat and everybody draws their weapons or creates fireball with their hands. Rumpelstiltskin tells her "You were nothing but a distraction. A pretty face that kept me from what I truly wanted. I never loved you and you didn't to me. Now you will die".

Belle tells him "Try. I know you can't".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin threatens "I will".

Belle said "if this shows you that you truly are good. For you to believe what I always saw then I'm happy to do it, since the wish me isn't here to help you".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin drops her, and Mr Gold tries to rush over and comfort her, but she stops him and says "He's you Rumple. You when you needed help the most". She then turned to Wish Rumpelstiltskin and said "you never got to know how much I wanted to come back. The second you let me go was the moment I realised that I loved you. I was coming back when the Queen grabbed me. I'm sorry that you never got to see me again. That the curse never hit, and we never found each other again but know that even now she believes in you. Don't let her down".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin takes a look at his dagger and then Mr Gold's. He then said "Belle. I'm sorry. I wish I was him. To have you to give me hope when I needed it the most. So, let me do something for you". He then raised Mr Gold's dagger and drew the darkness from it into the dagger. He then let it absorb him and dropped both to the ground. He then fell to the ground and Belle tried to rush over to him, but he yelled "stop". Belle stopped and He told her "I need to do this for you, and her". He then ripped into his chest and pulled out his own heart.

Belle demanded "what are you doing".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin answered "What's right. Something for you, him, and your son". He then began to crush and crumpled over in pain. He then said, "So I may see her again and tell her that she was right about me".

Belle pleaded "you don't have to do this, there's another way".

Regina said "Yeah Rumple. It isn't. It never".

Wish Rumpelstiltskin responded "unfortunately. For me it is. You found your path to redemption, and I did mine". He then all his strength into one final squeeze which shattered the heart and both Wish Rumpelstiltskin, and the dust remains of the heart crumpled to the ground".

Belle hugged Mr Gold for comfort, and he told her "It's all right. You gave him what he needed. Believe in himself".

Wish Hook asked "what did he do crocodile. What was that he took from you".

Hook said "that was the darkness right. Like what the apprentice tried to put into the hat before Emma became the dark one".

Mr Gold answered "Yes, he took all the power into himself before destroying it. Like what you did when you stabbed yourself with Excalibur".

Hook retorted "I think you mean attempt, because if I recall you transferred it into yourself".

Regina says "that's not important Captain one hand. What is, is the fact that after doing it, he sacrificed himself, does that mean".

Mr Gold interrupted "Yes, it does". He then picked up both daggers and showed that there was no name on either of them. He then said, "There is no more dark one".

Belle asked, "So it's gone, fully gone".

Mr Gold answered "all of it. I'm mortal again and I can't wait to spend a mortal life with you and Gideon".

They both kissed and Regina remarked "Great, wanting to puke already". She then turns to Victoria and asks "So now that's over. What do we do with her. She did curse us all and tried to steal the dagger".

Henry answered "What we always do. Give her a second chance. Even to people who don't deserve it because those are the ones that surprise you". He then turned and smiled at Regina. Regina accepted this and was happy to see her son showing his faith in others that he gave to her.

Dorothy asked "So, a trip back to Storybrooke".

Regina thought about it and Emma asked "Regina, what's wrong".

Regina answered "The curse was designed to divide us and make us miserable. But we were already miserable because being in different realms meant that we could never be with each other. So, what if I cast one more curse".

Emma responded "Regina, you can't be serious".

Regina said "I am. I want to cast one more curse. Not to divide us but bring us all together. All the realms together tucked away in a forgotten corner of Maine".

Charming asked "So, you want to bring all the realms to Storybrooke".

Regina answered "Yes. I want us to be all together. No more separation".

Snow said, "I think it's a wonderful idea".

Charming said, "so do I".

Emma said "we're with you Regina. All of us".

Everybody nodded and Hook asked, "I'm in but how are you going to achieve that".

Regina answered "instead of using the crushed heart of the person I love most. Get everyone together and use that love to power the curse".

Samantha said "So dad. What are we going to call it".

Henry answered, "Operation We are Both is a go".

Regina cast her curse and brought all the Realms to Storybrooke.

Some Time Later

In the now United Realms Maleficent in her dragon form was flying above while Zelena was driving Regina. Zelena asked, "was that Maleficent".

Regina answered "Yeah, she found Lily's father. You know it was Zorro".

Zelena asked "Really. Zorro's a dragon". She then remarked about Maleficent "she didn't RSVP".

Regina asked, "RSVP to what. Where are you taking me".

Zelena answered, "You'll see".

They pulled up to the bridge of Snow and Charming's palace. They entered where Henry waited for them and walked in with them together. Regina asked in laughter "All right Zelena. What is going on. And obviously, this isn't a meeting about state affairs".

Henry remarks "Oh, she catches on quick".

Zelena says "Shush, Henry. Remember Operation Keep Your Trap Closed".

They arrived at the doors and Regina asked, "All right somebody better tell me what is going on". Zelena smoked out of there and Henry held out his arm to walk Regina down. She accepted and Henry opened the door for her. They both entered to the applause of everyone and walked to the centre podium where Snow, Charming, and Neal stood. Henry went to his spot besides Drizella and Regina asked, "What is this".

Snow answered, "this is for you. All the realms have been united. And now, we need someone to lead us".

Charming said "the people have decided. Your majesty". He then said to Neal "Neal, time for you to go down". Neal left and stood besides Emma, Hook, and Hope.

Regina approached them and Charming presented her a crown. Snow said, "they want it to be you, Regina".

Regina turned and faced her whole family who smiled in delight and encouragement at her. Charming asked "are you ready".

Regina answered "Uh. Is everyone here".

Snow answered "Yeah. This is for you". She then asked, "Shall we begin". Snow got out the crown and said, "Do you, Regina Mills, accept the role of the first elected ruler of the newly United Realms".

Regina answered, "I do".

Charming responded "Excellent. So, if you please".

Snow said crowing Regina "I now crown you The Good Queen. Long may she reign". Everyone cheered and applauded. Snow and Charming then bowed to her and Charming led her down the steps.

Regina hugged Henry, Samantha, Drizella, and Emma who said "Madame Mayor".

Regina then hugged Hope and Hook said "Uh, I think you'll find it's your majesty".

Regina hugged Hook and Emma responded "Well, she'll always be Madame Mayor to me". Emma then said "this is it. It's your happy ending".

Regina responded "Um, no, Miss Swan, not even close. This isn't an ending. I hate ending because then your story is done. And everyone's here Well, their stories are far from over".

Emma said "Well, a happy beginning then".

Regina said, "I like to call it, a second chance". She then stood in front of everyone and said "I thought my story came to an end a long time ago and then new people came into my life. People, who gave me a second chance. I can't wait to see what's in store for me next. Or for everyone. I refuse to believe there won't be more adventures, more love, more family. And yes, there will be more loss. Because that's just a part of life. And in the end, we can get past it all with Hope". Emma and Hook hugged their daughter, and everyone cheered their new Queen.