Emma Swan decided that it was in her best interest to join Regina and help her interrogate Hyde. After discovering the secret she shared with Teresa ─ the secret they all deserved to know ─ she didn't want Regina to hide anything else from them again. After splitting from David and Killian, she made her way toward the hospital, arriving just as Regina was getting ready to interrogate Hyde. When Regina heard her hurried footsteps, she rolled her eyes and approached Emma.

"Emma, what are you doing here?"

Emma folded her arms. "I'm only here for Teresa, and to make sure you keep nothing important from us that Hyde may tell you again."

"Again, it wasn't just me. Teresa wanted to keep it a secret, and I agreed. It was better that no one knew."

"What if while Henry was staying with us he drank the potion? I wouldn't have known what to do. We deserved to know about Mary Poppins, Regina."

Regina sighed. "Do you want me to apologize? Fine. I'm sorry. Now can we go see what Hyde knows, or would you rather continue wasting what little time we have left?"

In silence, the both of them entered Hyde's cell, and found him lounged on his bed with a smirk on his face. "Regina Mills and Emma Swan ─ to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Emma got straight to the point, asking, "Who did you bring to Storybrooke?"

"I brought those who are only necessary to my work."

"Any of them happen to enjoy murdering children?" asked Regina.

Her question seemed to pique his interest, as Hyde's eyes opened and he sat up in bed, turning to lean his back against the wall. He eyed them carefully, trying to decipher the emotions on their face to find out what could have happened while he was locked in his cell. "They had been guests in my realm, this is true, but not everyone knows their guests extraordinary well. Whom is it we are speaking of?"

Regina and Emma exchanged a look, wondering if they should tell him about Teresa. After sharing a brief nod, Regina revealed what happened to the young archer which caused a look of surprise to appear on Hyde's face.

"Well, that is quite a predicament indeed. How unfortunate for you that I cannot help," he grinned.

"How do you not know if someone from your land was a murderer?" Emma asked, irritated that they weren't getting anything from him that could help solve their case.

"Many come and go," he shrugged, "it's hard to keep track of them these days. Some want to be forgotten, some do not. Perhaps this person was a stowaway."

Regina held out her hand, using her magic to strangle him. "Did you or did you not hire someone to kill Teresa?" Hyde gasped for breath as she continued to squeeze his throat.

Emma bit her lip, before pushing Regina's hand down, which earned her a glare. "If he can't talk, how are we supposed to get answers?"

Hyde rubbed at his throat, spluttering from breath while coughing. He cleared his throat before speaking. "I didn't hire anyone. If she were to be killed, I would have preformed the act myself. The only thing I conspired against Teresa Holmes was the use of my potion, which, as you know, failed."

They stared at him for a long moment, before deciding to leave. Emma and Regina knew that he was telling the truth, which meant talking to him any further would be a complete waste of their time. They had to remain focused and find out who did this to before someone got hurt. Neither of them could bear it if Henry ended up the next victim.

"This isn't right," Regina sighed as they made their way out of the hospital.

"I know," Emma frowned. "She's just a kid. I don't understand why someone would want to do this."

"I'm worried about Henry," Regina stressed. "Did you see the look on his face?"

"This is his first girlfriend, not to mention his soulmate," Emma reminded. "He's just worried about her."

"Exactly, she's his soulmate. This dammed prophecy is doing something to him, I know it."

"Regina..."

She cut the blonde off, "Don't tell me you haven't thought about it yourself. The Apprentice, Merlin ─ they both said they have a bond more powerful than anything. What if her injury is affecting him? David mentioned Henry had felt something this morning, and that he described it as a sharp, fleeting pain."

"Of course I've thought about it," Emma said. "But even if you're right, wouldn't Henry have showed signs of being in physical pain by now?"

"That's just it ─ he doesn't feel anything. His face has no emotion whatsoever."

Emma raised a brow. "What, so he's... soulless?"

Regina nodded. "We need to do something."

"We are doing something, Regina. If you haven't noticed, we're on a manhunt for a psychopath that's stabbing children."

"That's not what I meant."

Emma stopped, turning on Regina with a look of realization on her face. She couldn't believe it. Regina actually wanted to separate them; break their bond. Her mouth fell open, and her face twisted in disbelief. "I'm not severing their bond, Regina!"

"Emma, wake up. You heard Dr. Whale ─ it's push and go. Her heart keeps failing, and I'm not so sure she has the strength to survive anymore."

The Savior scoffed. "So you want to give up hope and instead sever the bond that our son has with his first love? Yeah, great plan."

"It's the only plan that makes sense!" Regina exclaimed. "If we don't sever the bond and she dies, we don't know what could happen to our son's soul. Their souls are connected, Emma. If one dies, ─ "

"The other will probably follow," Emma realized, her eyes wide. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "I don't like this."

"Neither do I, but it's the only option we have left. If we don't do this now, we might lose him, too. And I am not losing my son."

Before Emma could speak, her phone rang. Her heart leapt when she saw that it was her mother, praying for good news. She answered it, placing the phone against her ear. Regina watched in silence as Emma's face fell in devastation, which quickly morphed into concern.

"What?! Oh my god, is he okay?" Emma asked, a look of horror and concern on her face.

Regina perked up, unsure what was going on and desperate to know what happened to their son. "What happened? Is it Henry?" She stepped closer to Emma, leaning in to listen, but Emma shushed her and moved away.

After a moment, Emma hung up, stuffing her phone into her pocket. When she remained silent, Regina began pressing for information.

"Teresa's ─ " Emma swallowed the lump forming in her throat, flicking her red eyes from the ground to meet Regina's worried gaze. "Teresa's dead. My mom said that they tried everything they could, but her body sustained so much, it was too weak to keep holding on."

Silence fell over them as they both processed the shocking news that given to them. Teresa had been someone that they both cared about, that everyone cared about, and now she was just gone. Ripped from their lives without warning. Tears glistened in their eyes, and their throats tightened.

"There's something else, too," Emma whispered. Regina remained silent, urging her to continue. "Henry collapsed, just when she was pronounced dead."

Regina's eyes widened. "What?! Is he okay?"

"He'll be fine," Emma was quick to say. "Apparently, everything going on was just too overwhelming, so he passed out. Dr. Whale said he's okay, though. He just needs some rest and some time to process everything. This will not be easy for him."

"We need to go," Regina insisted, lifting her hand to teleport them to the hospital, but Emma reached out and grabbed it before she could.

"Regina, we still need to find out who did this to Teresa," Emma reminded her.

"Our son could die, and you want to run around searching for someone we may never find?"

"He isn't dying, he only passed out because his girlfriend just died and he had to be there to watch it happen."

Regina scoffed. "I'm sorry, but am I the only one who remembers our conversation from earlier? What if he didn't just pass out? What if this has something to do with their stupid prophecy?"

Emma hesitated. "It's possible."

Regina nodded, relieved to hear that they were in agreement. They didn't have the time to keep arguing when a killer was still on the loose. "We need to bring Henry to my vault. I can preform a spell there that will tell us if his soul is still intact."

"Alright," Emma agreed.

　
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"I can't take this anymore!" Teresa huffed, throwing a stack of paper into the air. Hades' files danced before falling to the cavern floor around her.

Alice, who was searching another area of Hades office, glanced toward her with a frown. "You have to be patient. We'll find the way out, eventually."

The teenager scoffed. "We've searched every inch of this room, Alice! If there was a way out, we would have found it by now." She ran her hands up her face, and into her hair, fisting the platinum locks in frustration. "Why couldn't Merlin have just told you where to find the stupid mystery exit?"

Alice climbed to her feet and dusted off the dirt from her pants. "I've been asking myself the same thing," she sighed, running a hand through her hair and tucking the rogue strands behind her ears. "It doesn't make any sense. If Merlin could tell me that he wanted me to help you leave this place, then why couldn't he have told me the way out?"

"Maybe he was lying."

"No, it don't think so," Alice denied. "I had never met him before, but I believe that he was telling me the truth."

"Well," Teresa kicked away some files Hades had stored, "we're clearly not going to find anything in here."

"I agree." Alice placed her hands on her hips. "Lets go clear our minds and take a walk, maybe get some food?"

"Better than staying here. This place gives me the creeps," Teresa shuddered, glancing around at the ominous dark cavern where Hades had placed his secret office.

"Yeah, can't help but agree with you on that one. A couple times, I could have sworn I heard voices whispering down my neck," Alice shivered.

Teresa's shoulders sagged in relief. "Good to know I'm not the only one who heard them," she laughed, causing Alice to smile. "Kind of creepy. But this is Hell, so I guess it makes sense for it to be... haunted? Is that even the right word? How can you be haunted in Hell?"

Alice snorted. "When it comes to this place, I try not to ask too many questions. You never know what to expect."

They walked for some time before coming upon a familiar diner. It was the same one Teresa can remember helping Ruby find Dorothy's aunt, and the same one Hades took Alice hostage for trying to help them. Teresa spared a glance toward her companion, wondering if being back here again would faze her, but Alice hung her head up high and walked through the door as if she had never felt pain here before. With Hades gone, she had nothing to fear.

The diner was crowded with more people than she was expecting. But what stunned Teresa most of all was the fact that there were children ─ so small and pure ─ smiling and laughing with joy as they colored on a children's menu. They sat with whom she could only assume was their mother. Maybe their aunt. Or maybe just a kind woman willing to take two children under her care until they found peace. Teresa smiled sadly, unable to believe that they could not find peace. And yet, despite being in the Underworld, these children still smiled, seeming to enjoy the afterlife they were given. Tearing her gaze away from the children, she turned and followed Alice toward the back of the diner, plopping down in one of the few empty booths left. They picked up the menu and glanced over their options.

After a moment, Alice cleared her throat. "I never asked," she began, "how is she?"

Teresa smiled and lowered her menu. "Regina's doing the best she can be, all things considered."

"What do you mean?" Alice's brows knitted together, peering at the teenager in confusion.

Teresa bit her lip, unsure how to break the news. She was hoping to avoid talking about Robin, but she also understood that Alice only cared about Regina's happiness and wanted to know if Robin was giving her the life she wished she could have. She licked her lips before opening them to speak. "Robin was killed saving her life. I wasn't there, but Zelena had watched it all happen. Hades was going to obliterate Regina's soul, but Robin ─ " Teresa swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat and blinked back her tears, trying her best to stay strong. "He jumped in the way."

"Oh my god," Alice gasped, tears filling her cerulean eyes, glistening like crystals. She felt a pain blossom in her chest where her still heart rests. First David had risked his life for loving Regina too much. Then, she later did the same, when Zelena was still so bitter and towards her sister and tried to murder Regina with her wicked magic. To this day, Alice can still see that flicker of green when she closes her eyes. That beam of energy and pure wickedness that ended her life. And now Robin, a thrid person, had died while loving Regina Mills. She shook her head, feeling an immense sadness wash over her for Regina, who has never been able to find the love she rightfully deserved.

"I take it that since you didn't know about his death that it's impossible he came here after it happened," Teresa muttered sadly, that sliver of hope she once had for finding him in death vanishing just like that.

Alice wiped her eyes. "If his soul was destroyed then yes, he will not be here. Teresa, when you back will you tell her something for me?"

"If we can find this mysterious exit, you're coming with me, Alice," she replied. "So no, I will not tell her anything for you... you can tell her yourself when you see her."

"I won't be allowed to go with you," Alice said. "Merlin only mentioned that I must help you get out here, he said nothing about accompanying you. Besides, even if I go back, how will that work? I've been dead for so long, I'm not sure my body will withstand the return."

"I don't care. You're coming with me, Alice. Otherwise I'm not going," she stubbornly replied.

Alice smiled, her heart full of warmth. "You're very kind, Teresa. Even if we never had the chance to know each other, you treat me as though we are family."

"I basically know everything about you," Teresa chuckled. "They talk about you a lot. Snow, Regina, Henry. This miss you." She watched a smile curve onto Alice's face. "I also know that you were engaged to Regina before it happened. And if I am Henry's soulmate, destined to be the love of his life, that makes us family. You're basically my future mother-in-law."

"Already thinking about marriage, I see," Alice teased.

Teresa shook her head, her cheeks pink. "No, but knowing Henry, he's probably already got a ring picked out that he intends to give me."

"You're probably right about that," Alice chuckled. "He was always a very sweet boy. I cared for him as though I had brought him into this world." She reached across the table, taking Teresa's hands in her own. "I'm happy that he has you now. He was always so alone, never having any friends. That's why I will not rest until my honorary son gets his soulmate back."

"Gets us back," Teresa corrected, giving the blonde's hands a light squeeze.

"Right," Alice grinned. "Us."

"Hello," greeted their waitress. "Is there anything that I can get you ─ Oh my god."

Teresa glanced up and time around her seemed to freeze. Everything around her went deaf to her ears, her body paralyzed in its place, and her eyes widening in shock. Before her, in a dress that touched her knees with her strawberry-blonde hair pinned out of her face, was the very girl whose blood still tainted the archer's soul. The girl whose father's had left Teresa to bleed out on the docks. Her name fell from Teresa's lips like a whisper.

"Lavender?"

Lavender did something that Teresa never would have expected, and she smiled at her. "Hello, Teresa Holmes."

"I... I'm ─ " Teresa stuttered, unable to form any words.

"I know that you are sorry for what you had to do to me, Teresa," Lavender said. "And I understand why you had to do it. You cared for Snow White like she was your own blood. For a long time, I held a hatred within my heart toward you, but after I realized why you had killed me, I forgave you. If it had been my family, I would have done the same thing. I would have done whatever it took to keep them safe, and that is all that you were doing. I forgive you, Teresa Holmes."

Teresa was speechless. Here she thought that Lavender was going to have a group of people come to her side and have them help her throw her body into the River of Lost souls or something. Yet, she was standing before her, smiling while forgiving her. Teresa wasn't sure how to feel, or what to say.

"Besides," Lavender continued after a moment. "If it had not been for what you did, I would never have found happiness." She glanced down at the golden band on her finger and smiled. "Prince Isiah is a kind and handsome and gentle man. He showed me that there is more to the Underworld than darkness and loneliness. Without him, I would not have survived in this place. My heart would have withered into a bitter despair of loneliness. In time, I would have thrown myself into the River of Lost Souls just to rid myself of this place. And if not for you, I would not have been reunited with my mother. Perhaps, in a strange way, I am to thank you, for in our village back home I never would have been this happy."

Teresa blinked, still unable to process what was happening. She killed Lavender so they wouldn't be found, and yet here she was, forgiving her for it all. Thanking her, even, for reuniting her with her mother and bringing her to meet a man she intended to spend eternity with in the Underworld.

"It seems I've placed you in shock with my words," Lavender laughed softly.

Finally, Teresa spoke. And as she talked, her voice cracked, and she realized that she was crying. "I-I'm sorry."

"Please don't be," Lavender told her. "I do not want this to eat you alive any longer than it already has. I have long since forgiven you."

"Lavender, dear, why have you not taken these ladies orders?" This woman, much like Lavender, had strawberry-blonde pinned out of her face and bright green eyes. She was beautiful, nobody could deny that, and looked actually like Lavender would if she ever got the chance to reach such an age. "Please forgive my daughter, she likes to talk to the new arrivals. Oh, but Alice, you're here! I did not see you sitting there. Will it be the usual for you, dear?" She asked with a kind smile.

"Yes," Alice replied, though she did not smile back at Rosemary like she normally would. She was in shock, unable to believe the reunion that had taken place before her eyes between Teresa and the girl she had murdered.

Lavender was quick to link her mother's arm and introduce her to Teresa. "Mother, this the girl I told you about. Teresa, I would like you to meet my mother. If not for you, I never would have seen her face again," she smiled, turning to kiss her mother's cheek.

"Teresa... Holmes?" Rosemary asked, and her daughter nodded in confirmation. "Well... it's..." She stumbled for words. "Despite the tragic circumstances that allowed us to meet, I am glad to meet you. Though I wish that my daughter could have had more time to live and have children of her own, I, like my daughter, have also long since forgiven you. You were only a child, scared to lose your family and willing to do anything to protect them. Snow White, I presume, is safe?"

Teresa nodded.

"I am pleased to hear," Rosemary smiled lightly. "She was always a very sweet girl. I knew her mother once upon a time, and though our interactions were brief, I was always fond of Snow White. So much kindness and light within such a small heart. I did not think it was possible for a baby to radiate with such happiness. Not long after, did I meet Inman and was blessed with my own beautiful daughter." She squeezed Lavender's hand gently, earning a grin.

"Snow White doesn't have a mean bone in her body," Alice was quick to say, earning a nod in agreement from Rosemary.

"She does," said Rosemary. "I had fallen ill around the time Snow White was exiled from her own home, and even in my fever, I knew that she was innocent of her crimes. She could never harm a fly." Rosemary then frowned as she turned to face the silent archer. "I must ask, however, how you're still so young. Should you not be an adult by now?"

"It's a long story," Teresa muttered. "Snow's daughter, Emma, saved me. She, uh, fell through a portal that brought her through time, to the day that Snow and I were still fugitives on the run from the Evil Queen. She shot me with an arrow, and if it had not been for Emma bringing me back to her time, I would have died from my wound."

"Snow White has a daughter now?"

Teresa nodded. "A son, too. His name is Neal, named in honor of her grandson's father."

"And a grandson as well?" Rosemary's eyes were practically bulging out of her head. "How wonderful!"

"Teresa," Lavender frowned. "As my mother said before, I like to greet the newcomers with a welcoming smile. So, if I may ask, how is it that you died? Do not feel obligated to say how if that makes you uncomfortable. It's just that... well, some people find it easier to accept they are down here if they talk about it."

Teresa swallowed, her hands trembling. Something that did not go unnoticed by those around her. "I-I was murdered." She paused, hesitating. "By your f-father, Lavender. He came to the place, Storybrooke, where I now live, and h-he ─ "

Rosemary gasped. "My Inman did this to you? T-To a child? Why on ─ "

"Mother," Lavender frowned, turning to face the hysterical Rosemary. "He was doing this for me. I believe he wanted to avenge my death... didn't he, Teresa?"

"Yes," Teresa nodded. "He used the arrow that I..."

"He kept the thing that killed me just so he could use it against you? Against a child far younger than his own daughter?" Lavender could understand why her father would want to avenge her, but to kill a child? It made her stomach lurch and vomit rise in her throat just thinking of her father ─ a man that she had known to always be benevolent and giving ─ committing such an act of violence. And with the same weapon, even.

"Lavender."

Teresa froze in her place, feeling as though someone had punched her in the stomach. Her breath hitched in her throat, and if her heart wasn't already still, it would be now. It was his voice. That haunting voice that made a shiver crawl down her spine whenever she thought back on her last moments. The voice that had taunted her and spat such hatred toward her. That voice that she would always remember. That voice that which followed her in death. Her eyes traveled toward the door where the man who took her life stood. Inman's eyes watered, and the love for his daughter glistened in his eyes before they landed on Teresa and filled with rage. So much rage, Teresa swore she saw a flicker of flame dance in his eyes.

Then he charged.

"Inman, no!" Rosemary's voice stopped the man dead in his tracks, and his features softened.

"Rose?" His voice was like a whisper. Inman lifted a hand to caress her cheek, and when he found that she was real and not a figment of his own imagination, a sob fell from his lips. By now, everyone in the diner was watching them.

Rosemary stared into his watery eyes as tears fell down her cheeks. While there was love and admiration in the brown eyes she had fallen in love with, there was also a darkness that she had never seen or ever wanted to see in the man she loved. His once benevolent heart became poisoned by his own grief, and he had turned vengeful against a child only trying to protect someone she considered family when, in reality, she knew he would do the same if he had been in Teresa's position. She lifted a hand and caressed his cheek, shaking her head in disbelief. "Oh, Inman... what have you done?"

His brows furrowed only for a moment, unsure of what she meant. But with one look toward Teresa Holmes, told him everything he need to know. She had told his family. His nerves flared with anger, but before he could say a word, Rosemary's voice captured his attention.

"You murdered a child, Inman. A child. She was only trying to protect her family that day, which is something you can understand. You almost killed two men that tried to take our daughter from us once before, of have you forgotten? I stopped you then, and you remained pure, but now?" Rosemary shook her head. "I am so sorry that I wasn't there to save you from yourself, my love."

"I avenged our daughter! I brought justice upon her murderer! A child, she is, but a cruel one at that."

"And you are no more cruel, father?" Lavender stepped forward, shocking her father greatly. Her eyes were red and dripping with sadness. "You used to be someone I looked up to. So kind and selfless. I wanted to be just like you. I never thought you could ever do something wrong, but, alas, you have proven me wrong." She glanced toward Teresa, who trembled in her seat. "She is only a child, father, and so much younger than myself. Yes, I died, and it was tragic, but is it any more tragic than having a child's blood on your hands? Or having t to live for decades with impure thoughts of how you would kill someone who was just a scared child?"

Silence enveloped the entire room. Nobody even dared to stand up and leave and give the family privacy, for this was probably the most entertained they have ever been in the Underworld. Teresa trembled, Alice's mouth hung open, and Rosemary and her daughter stared at the man they loved with disbelief.

After what seemed like an eternity, Inman's eyes lifted from his daughter and wife, traveling toward Teresa. There was a flicker of fear that he saw in Teresa's eyes, causing him to frown. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and a pain spread in his chest. He knew that they were right, that he had allowed his loneliness and grief and vengeance to blind him from seeing right from wrong. He had allowed it to poison his heart. And now, he had the blood of a child tainting his soul. Inman knew that the two people he loved most in the world were ashamed of what he had done, and that was enough to cause the man's soul to shatter completely.

"Inman," Rosemary spoke softly, turning his face so their eyes would meet.

"I'm sorry," is all Inman said before falling into her arms and breaking into sobs. He repeated the same words over and over, and the more he said them, they realized this was not only an apology to his wife and daughter, but to Teresa Holmes as well. To anyone that he had wronged or made ashamed of him.

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a/n: so that happened. Poor Teresa was hit with not one, but TWO reunions that made her want to run for the hills. I mean.......the days these characters are having. Any guesses on how Inman ended up in the Underworld? Also, did anyone else catch that title cameo? Simply couldn't help myself 😂 Anywho, any thoughts you'd care to share about what will come next? I always love to hear your predictions, whether they are wrong or not, they always fill my heart with warmth knowing how much you guys love this story!