Golden rays of sunlight filtered in through the curtains of the manor, enveloping everything and everyone in a sweet, comforting warmth. While the days before when Teresa Holmes was dead, her cold body laying motionless in the morgue, it seemed the weather had changed with their moods and became just as grim as they all felt. Today, however, there wasn't an ugly cloud in sight, proving that it was going to be a beautiful day.

Zelena Mills smiled at her daughter, who was on the opposite counter and comfortably seated in her bouncer chair while the woman made French toast with the help of her sister. The pair were working on throwing together a nice breakfast as they waited for the rest of the house to wake up, placing a platter of French toast on the table and making freshly squeezed orange juice and sizzling bacon cooked to a perfect crisp. Everything smelled so good that the wafting aromas of syrup and bacon ventured toward the living room, piercing the nostrils of those still swept away in their dreams and lulling Teresa Holmes awake.

As her eyelids fluttered open, her brows furrowed as she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above her head. But as she recalled the events of yesterday, Teresa smiled, realizing that she must have had fallen asleep on Regina's couch. She glanced across the room, finding Alice curled up on the other couch, sound asleep and snoring softly. Teresa sat up and combed her fingers through her platinum hair, before reaching for the hair band wrapped around her wrist. She threw her hair into a ponytail with a yawn before moving to get off the couch, only to pause midway. A smile stretched across her face as she spotted Henry Mills spread out on the floor near her. The thought of him staying by her side all night on the uncomfortable floor warmed her heart. Not wanting to wake either of them up, she crawled to the other end of the couch and quietly escaped the living room. When she entered the kitchen, the two sisters greeted her with smiling faces.

"Good morning," they said in unison.

"Morning," Teresa yawned.

"After the days you've had, we thought you'd be asleep much longer," Zelena commented while Regina grabbed a plate from the cupboard and offered it to the sleepy teenager.

"What are you talking about? This is late for me." Teresa pulled out a chair and sat down, taking the plate Regina offered her and piling food onto it. "I'm pretty sure my brain is hard-wired to wake up at the crack of dawn every morning now. It's what I did back home. Early risers get the best hunts, after all."

Regina chuckled softly, but couldn't help but feel a little saddened by her words. She remembered Robin saying something like that once, and it made her heart ache for him. It must've been their motto back in the Enchanted Forest. "I take it you slept well, then?"

"Like a baby."

"Good," the former Evil Queen smiled. "You deserve the rest. Your body has been through a lot recently and it would be wise to take it easy for a little while."

Teresa frowned, her mouth full with a bite of bacon. "I'm okay, really. You guys don't have to coddle me."

"Regardless, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to be remain cautious," argued Regina.

The teenager bit down on her lip. She had a feeling everyone was going to secure her inside a bubble and never allow her to anything on her own ever again. "Yeah, I know," she mumbled through a mouthful of french toast, causing Regina to smile at how hungry she was. The food on her plate was nearly gone, but that was to be expected. After all, she had been dead. Regina can only imagine how hungry Alice must be.

"Besides," Teresa continued after a moment, "I doubt Henry or Snow will ever leave my side now. I'll be lucky to pee alone these days."

Regina nodded, raising her coffee to her lips. "Probably not wrong."

Zelena approached the table with a fresh set of french toast balanced on the spatula. She set them on the platter before leaning against the back of Teresa's chair. "They're only worried they'll lose you again. Is letting everyone coddle you for a little while really the worst thing in the world?"

"No," Teresa replied. She knew that if she were in their shoes, she would feel the same way. She reached for the pitcher of squeezed orange juice and poured herself a glass. "So, what is everyone doing today, anyway?" she asked, trying to divert the conversation elsewhere.

"Where to begin," Regina mumbled with a sigh. "The Charming Justice Squad arrived at the station early this morning."

"Why? Did something happen?" Teresa asked, voice that of concern as she remained completely unfazed by the nickname Regina had given both Emma and David. Day one of being back and there's already trouble? Some things never change.

"Emma received a frantic visit from Calista and Soren this morning," Regina explained, taking another sip of her coffee. "They were on a walk when they spotted the Evil Queen leaving the hospital, disguised in my clothing. We think she might be plotting with Hyde. After breakfast, I'm going down there to see what she is up to."

"Can we assume you'll be spending the day with Henry?" Zelena asked, a faint smirk on her face.

"Well, considering that he won't want to leave my side, yes, I will be." Teresa turned to face Regina. "What about Alice? I'm surprised you're even considering leaving the house without her."

"I don't want to, believe me," Regina muttered, her thumb brushing over the rim of her coffee mug where there was a smudge of red lipstick. "But we have more pressing matters than what my heart wants."

Teresa felt like she was leaving something out, but she decided not to prod. She knew that Regina was still grieving Robin, just like she was. Having Alice back in her life again had to make her feel guilty for wanting to move on and return to her former lover so quickly after just burying him.

Footsteps approached the room, and Regina's face brightened at the sight of the two people she loved most in the world. "Good morning," she greeted nervously, her gaze falling on Alice. "Hungry?"

"When aren't I hungry?" Alice smiled, plopping down near Regina.

Henry pulled out the chair next to Teresa and flashed her a smile. Teresa smiled back while chewing a mouthful of French toast and curled her fingers around his own as he took her hand beneath the table; a silent way of telling her he was glad she was here with him without expressing it vocally, for the teenage boy was still embarrassed to show affection for his girlfriend in front of people.

After turning off the griddle, Zelena approached the table with the last slices of French toast, her daughter now in her arms. She plopped down beside Teresa and placed Robin's bouncer chair on the table away from the food, lifting a bottle to her daughter's lips and smiling as the baby gulped it down.

"So, what do you have planned today?" asked Alice.

"I was just telling Teresa that I plan to visit Hyde today," Regina replied. "Apparently, he is plotting with the Evil Queen."

Henry's eyes widened and his head lifted from his plate. "What?"

"Do you need any help?" Alice offered. She didn't know much about Hyde ─ only things Teresa had told her while they were in the Underworld together and from what everyone said last night ─ but she knew the Evil Queen all too well. After all, she was the darker side of the woman that she still loves.

"No," Regina rejected almost immediately.

Alice frowned, a little hurt by how quick she was to reject her company. But she understands why. It was strange for her to be back as well and knew that it would take time for them to be what they used to be again. She knew that she couldn't just expect Regina to take her back with open arms, especially after just losing Robin. After all, he was the one who helped Regina recover from her death. Ironic it was now it was her turn to help Regina recover from his death.

A guilty smile pulled at Regina's lips as she reached over and covered Alice's hand with her own. "Why don't you rest? I won't be too long and then maybe we can take a walk?"

"Of course," Alice smiled.

　
✧ ✦ ✧
　

After sharing breakfast with the Mills' and Alice, Teresa decided it was time she went home. The girl was desperate for a nice hot shower and a change of clean clothes, for hers were still stained with blood and, as she suspected, she wasn't alone. Henry didn't want to leave her side and since she didn't want to start an argument she knew that she was bound to lose, Teresa kept her mouth shut and waited by the front door as Henry got dressed.

When he finished and had joined her in the parlor, Henry reached for his car keys with an offer to drive them there falling from his lips, but Teresa was quick to deny. She appreciated it, but the girl didn't want to take a drive. She'd much rather walk, for it was far more peaceful and calming. Henry, of course, gave in. The boy tossed his keys inside the bowl at the front door of the Mills Manor and guided her down the sidewalk toward his grandparents' home.

They arrived at the Charmings' residence shortly after nine-thirty. As soon as they walked through the door, Snow White didn't let go of Teresa for almost fifteen straight minutes, the raven-haired woman expressing how she feared that last night had all been a glorious dream cruelly pulling at her heartstrings until her husband had to convince her otherwise, that Teresa Holmes was really alive and had fallen asleep on Regina's couch.

After detaching herself from Snow White ─ which proved to be a harder task than she thought ─ Teresa ventured up the stairs. She grabbed what she needed and locked herself inside her bathroom, desperate for a moment alone where someone wasn't smothering her.

The bathroom filled with steam as scorching water poured from the shower head. Teresa stripped away her clothing and went to toss them in the trash, but paused midway to stare down at the dark stains that had ruined her ensemble. Her thumb stroked over the darkened areas of fabric and the girl sucked in a sharp breath as the memories came flooding back. She closed her eyes and saw everything. Inman and his cruel yet truthful words hissing low like a snake in her eardrums as he sauntered around her; the arrow which she had used to kill an innocent girl ironically being stabbed into her own flesh; a clear blue sky above her head as she lay bleeding out against wood of the Storybrooke docks; the feeling of her blood, warm and thick, an endless flow pouring out between her fingertips.

Her eyes snapped open, and she sucked in a sharp breath, her entire body trembling. As though her own clothes had burned her, Teresa threw them from her hands and moved away from them. She pulled back the shower curtain and stepped inside, positioning herself underneath the shower head with teary eyes and let the soothing sound and touch of the water drown her pain.

She wasn't sure how long she stood beneath the shower head, silent tears mixing with the droplets of water, or how long of a shower she actually got, but by the time Teresa shut off the water, her body had become a prune, skin crinkled and red from the heat of the water. She reached for a towel and dried herself off, moving blindly through the steam toward the locked door, careful not to fall on the slippery tiles. When she reached her bedroom, Teresa closed the door and was about to let her towel fall to the floor until she realized that Henry was sitting on her bed. He was staring at her with wide eyes, a blush creeping up his neck.

"What are you doing up here?!" she demanded, cheeks flushed with colour.

"I─I was waiting for you," Henry stuttered. He jumped up from her bed, trying his best not to stare at her figure that was dripping with droplets of water. "I─I thought you had brought your clothes into the bathroom with you. I should ─ I should leave." He hurried toward the door, nearly falling over his own two feet in the process.

Teresa's heart raced as he brushed by her, and that fleeting moment of their flesh touching was enough to set her skin aflame. She moved away, biting down on her lip to stop herself from smiling as she locked the door behind him. Shaking her head, she moved to get dressed.

When she found a change of clothes, she got dressed, combed the knots from her wet hair, and secured the wet strands out of her face with a hair band. Teresa grabbed her wet towels and placed them on the hook in the bathroom before making her way downstairs, where she heard commotion coming from the living room. As soon as she stepped off the last step, all eyes were on her, even little Neal's.

"What?" she asked, feeling awkward in her own skin.

"Nothing," Snow White smiled. "It's just... it's really good to have you back, Teresa."

The teenager smiled. "It's good to be back."

　
✧ ✦ ✧
　

For lunch, they went to Granny's Diner. Teresa's stomach was growling the entire walk. She was starving. Like, really starving. The last time she felt this way was just after her mother abandoned her in the Enchanted Forest and she was a lonely little six-year-old searching for scraps of food from villages and cupping her hands in creeks for a refreshing drink of water. Who would have thought dying could make you so ravenous? But unfortunately ─ at least for Teresa and her grumbling stomach ─ just as they reached the lively establishment and were about to walk up to the door, Henry reached out and seized her by the wrist.

"Henry, come on, I'm hungry," she complained, wondering why he was dragging her back down the steps and away from the diner.

"Look," he pointed across the way.

She followed his finger and saw a man and woman walking arm-in-arm along the sidewalk. "Yeah... people. Fascinating. Can we eat lunch now?"

"No," Henry shook his head, stopping her from walking away, "they're new faces. I don't remember meeting them yet, or putting their names on my list."

Teresa cocked an eyebrow. "Your list?"

"I've had everyone from the Land of Untold Stories write their names down so I could help them find their story, help them get back to where they came from," Henry replied. Before she could comment, he took her wrist and began pulling her along with him. "Come on, lets introduce ourselves."

She stared longingly over her should at the diner. "But─"

"We'll eat lunch, promise," Henry told her as they came upon the couple ─ or at least that is what they assumed they were given their obvious closeness and warm smiles cast toward one another.

Teresa grumbled a few things under her breath and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Hi," Henry greeted.

"Oh, hello," said the woman. She had auburn hair and eyes as blue as a clear summer sky. Her skin was slightly tanned and adorned in a purple tunic, brown pants and knee-high boots with laces tied all the way to the top. She was beautiful.

"My name's Henry Mills, this is Teresa Holmes," he introduced them. Teresa offered a small wave. "We've been compiling a list of everyone from the Land of Untold Stories. It's kind of our way of helping all of you get back to your home."

The woman smiled. "How very kind of you. My name is Katrina Van Tassel. This here is my friend, Ichabod Crane."

Henry was quick to open up the book hooked beneath his arm and write their names down on the list inside. "Thank you," he said. Then the boy looked up with furrowed eyebrows. "Wait... the Ichabod Crane? The Katrina Van Tassel?"

Teresa smiled at her boyfriend's reaction. Of course he knows who they were, she thought. Is there any movie he hasn't seen yet?

Ichabod Crane grinned. "Aye, that would be me," he nodded. "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Miss Holmes, Mr. Mills."

Teresa bowed her head in response. "You too."

"If you do not mind me asking," Katrina began, "how do you plan to help us? I'm afraid that I have not yet seen this moment in time."

Teresa's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"What do you mean 'seen'?" Henry questioned.

"You must excuse my friend," Ichabod offered somewhat of an apology. "Katrina is an Oracle. She can see events before they transpire."

Henry's brown eyes brightened. "Wait ─ really? You can actually see the future?"

Katrina smiled at his enthusiasm. Few people reacted this way, but when they did, it always warmed her heart. "I sure can, young man. Though, before you ask, I'm afraid that I do not know of how to defeat the Evil Queen. I have no control over what I see. Unlike most Oracles, my visions are rather sporadic."

"That's okay," Henry assured. "Thank you for letting me get your names written down. I'll try my best to find your story and help you both go back to Sleepy Hollow."

Ichabod titled his head to the side. "How do you know that we come from Sleepy Hollow?"

"I've seen the movie," Henry replied.

"Movie?" They repeated in unison, sounding as confused as they looked.

Teresa smirked. I've been there, she thought.

"It's a long story," Henry replied. "I just ─ I know your story well because I've heard of it."

"A movie is like a play," Teresa explained in a way that only someone from her realm would understand.

"I see," Katrina nodded.

"Do you hear that Kat, they've written a play about us," Ichabod whispered.

"Yes, I heard," Katrina rolled her blues eyes. "Thank you both for inflating this one's ego even more. Surely, he will want to see this play you speak of now," she chuckled.

They laughed with her.

"It was a pleasure meeting you both," Henry said after a moment. "I guess we'll see each other again when I find your story and a way for you both to return to Sleepy Hollow."

"We shall eagerly await your company, Mr. Mills," Ichabod responded with a smile.

They waved goodbye to Ichabod and Katrina, before Teresa began dragging her boyfriend toward the diner. Halfway down the sidewalk, however, Henry Mills came to an abrupt stop, causing her to drop his wrist and turn around. Once more, her boyfriend was staring toward another group of people with excitement gleaming like the brightest cluster of stars in his eyes. He turned his head to look at her and went to say something, but she shook her head.

"Uh-uh," Teresa crossed her arms over her chest, "I am not going over there with you."

"But─"

"No," she shook her head once more. "Henry, I don't think you understand just how hungry I am. I was dead for three days. I need proper nourishment. Whether or not you follow, I am going to Granny's."

With that said, Teresa Holmes turned on her heel and strutted down the sidewalk, not bothering to look over her shoulder and see if he was following her. She walked the path up to the door and opened it with a chime of the bell. Everyone turned to look at her and there were a few gasps which came from the few people who didn't know that she had returned from the dead. The platinum-blonde adverted her gaze and made her way further inside, plopping down at the booth occupied by Emma and Killian.

"Hey, Teresa," they both greeted.

"Where's Henry?" Emma asked, looking around for her son.

"He is bombarding the newbies outside," Teresa replied.

Emma's face light up in surprise. "He actually left your side? I'm shocked."

"As am I," Teresa replied as she reached for Killian's menu. "Gods, I am starving."

"I know the feeling," Killian smirked as he watched her eyes dot across the menu. "When I came back from the Underworld, I was ravenous. With how long Alice has been... well, you know, I can only imagine how hungry the lass must be."

"She'll probably clean out Regina's entire kitchen before the day is over," Emma chuckled.

The bell chimed, alerting Granny and her staff of another customer. Teresa lifted her head from the menu just as Henry plopped down across from her and beside his mother in their booth.

"Just finished signing in the last of the newcomers. I had everyone write down who they were traveling with," Henry informed as he opened up the book and displayed the rather extensive list to both his mother and Killian, "so we can add up who's still out there."

Emma stared down at the list, impressed that her son could compile such a thing for them to work with. It would make things easier. "Huh."

"Clever boy," said Killian.

"Emma! Hi!" came a cheerful voice, one unfamiliar to Teresa.

A blonde woman appeared at their table, carrying a toddler girl on her hip that Teresa noted was rather adorable with her plaid dress and large bow displayed in her pale brunette ringlets. The sight of them both caused Emma to grin. "Ashley, hi! Hey, Alexandra! How are you?" the Savior cooed to the tiny girl sucking on her thumb in her mother's arms. "You guys want to sit down and join us?"

Ashley and Alexandra, Teresa thought, trying to recall them both, but her memory remained blank. Why haven't I met them before?

"Oh, no, thank you," the woman ─ Ashley ─ politely denied. "Thomas is just getting us some food to go," she pointed toward the counter where a man with similar features to her daughter was standing with a menu in his hand and speaking with a server. Emma turned to wave at him and the man waved back. "And I don't want to take up your time. I know you're busy, but with all these new people, I just... I thought that I should help somehow. And since I'm running the daycare, I figured why not offer them free babysitting. Anyway, I was hoping to maybe get a look at that list just to see who brought kids."

"Well, if you can understand these scribbles, then be our guest," Killian said as he turned the book toward her.

"Great," Ashley smiled, bending down to get a closer look at the book. As she did, her daughter spout a few words in gibberish while reaching for a platinum strand of Teresa's hair and giving it a tug.

"Woah!" Teresa exclaimed, reaching up to reclaim her hair from the girl's tiny fist.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Ashley apologized. "Alexandra's going through a bit of a hair grabbing phase."

"It's fine," Teresa brushed it off with a wave of her hand. "I'm kind of used to it by now. I babysit Neal for Snow and David most of the time."

Realization crossed Ashley's face. "Oh, yes, you must be the Teresa that I have heard so much about! Mary Margaret speaks so fondly of you every time I see her. She says that you're so great with Neal that you will make a wonderful mother when you are grown. We should discuss a playdate soon," she suggested. "Alexandra really enjoys Neal's company."

"Yeah, sure," Teresa nodded, offering the woman a small smile.

Just then, Henry straightened up in his seat, his gaze locked on the unfamiliar brunette woman standing awkwardly near the jukebox. "Someone new. Mom, want to come help?"

"That's what I do, kid. I'll be right back," Emma excused herself. She grabbed her cup of cocoa, slid out of the booth with her son, and approached the newcomer as the brunette woman arrived at the counter.

When her daughter grabbed at the book, Ashley sighed. She readjusted Alexandra on her hip before glancing toward Teresa and Killian. "Would you mind distracting Alexandra while I take a look at this?" she asked. Before either of them could give a response, she was already handing the toddler over to Teresa and plopping down on the opposite side of the booth.

"Oh, uh, alright," Teresa mumbled. The archer readjusted the toddler in her arms so the girl was facing both her and Killian, and she offered the girl a small smile. She had only ever been around Roland and Neal, so to hold another toddler was rather strange for her. She met the small girl's gaze and cleared her throat. "Uh... hi there."

"'Hi there?'" Killian raised an eyebrow, an amused grin spreading on his face. "I thought you were a babysitter?"

Teresa threw him a glare. "Yeah, for Neal. I've never met this kid before," she whispered. "Why don't you entertain her?"

Killian shook his head. "I have no idea how to handle children."

"You are going to be hopeless when it comes to your own children, aren't you?" Teresa sighed. "Look, just... make her laugh. Neal likes it when I make him laugh."

The pirate hesitated before heaving a sigh and mumbling something under his breath about now or never, or something along those lines. Killian nudged the small girl to make her look at him and he said, "Hey, you have to tell me about your doggie."

Ashley smiled as her daughter began talking gibberish, as though she really were telling them about her doggie. "She certainly loves her puppy," the mother commented, before looking down to continue reading the list of newcomers.

"Is that so?" Teresa smiled. "What is your doggies name, huh?"

When the question remained unanswered, Killian was quick to change the subject by reaching for his cup of cocoa. He scooped some of the whipped cream onto his finger, spread it on the tip of his nose, and proceeded to make sounds and funny faces to make the toddler laugh. Teresa raised an eyebrow and tried her best not to burst into laughter, for she had never seen the pirate act like he was before. It was a rather comical sight.

As Killian went on trying to entertain the small girl, Alexandra burst into tiny fits of adorable giggles that warmed Teresa's heart and reminded her of all the time she has spent with Neal and Roland.

Roland.

Her smile faded, her heart clenching upon even thinking his name.

Gods, did she miss her little brother. She loathed the Merry Men for taking him away from her so soon after losing the man that had been her father all her life. The more she thought about little Roland Hood, the more blurry her vision became. Before Killian or Ashley could see the tears in her eyes, Teresa cleared her throat, slid out of the booth, and set Alexandra down beside Killian. "I'll, uh... I'll be right back," she excused herself, before making her way toward the restroom.

Teresa pulled open the door and rushed toward a sink. She turned on the faucet and washed her face. She didn't want anybody to know that she had been crying when she left the restroom.

The door opened up behind her and the concerned voice of Emma Swan flooded the small room. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. Just... got something in my eye and needed to wash it out."

Emma detected the lie straight away. "Right," she smirked, coming to lean against the wall near her. "So, what really happened?"

Silence.

"Look, I can't help you if I don't know what the problem is. Did Ashley or Killian say something? I'm sure they didn't mean whatever they said. I can talk to them if you'd like?" Emma offered.

"No, they did nothing wrong," Teresa replied, reaching for a paper towel to dry her face and hands. "I just... holding Alexandra reminded me of all the time I've spent with Neal and Roland." A sad smile curved onto Emma's face. "I miss my little brother. And I know Roland isn't my blood, but─"

"Blood doesn't always make a family, Teresa," Emma cut her off with soft words. "Robin took you in when you were six-years-old. He was the only father you ever had. In a way, Roland is entirely your brother, just like Robin is entirely your sister. Is that why you haven't been spending much time with Zelena and Robin these days?"

"She looks so much like him."

Emma stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the teenage girl. Reluctantly, Teresa hugged back with a sniffle. "I'm sorry that the Merry Men took him back to the Enchanted Forest. When all of this Evil Queen nonsense is dealt with, we can arrange a visit. I promise. I'm sure that he is itching to see both of his sisters, too."

"Thank you, Emma," Teresa replied, pulling back and wiping at her eyes.

"You're welcome. Now, you mentioned being starved. Let's get some lunch into you, yeah?"

"You won't catch me arguing," Teresa smirked as she followed the Savior out of the women's restroom and toward their booth, which was now occupied by Killian and Henry, Ashley and Alexander having left.

"You alright there, lass?" Killian asked as she plopped down beside him in the booth. Emma slid in beside her son, who glanced up at Teresa in concern.

"Wait ─ what happened?" Henry asked.

"Nothing happened, I'm fine," Teresa was quick to say before her boyfriend could freak out, but Henry didn't seem to believe her.

Emma gave Killian a look, so the pirate shifted the conversation elsewhere. "So, Henry, what do we know of this newcomer?" he asked, swooping in to save the archer from entering a conversation about something she didn't want to talk about.

　
✧ ✦ ✧
　

Teresa Holmes became a far happier person after she got some food into her belly. She practically licked her plate clean and even ordered a second cup of cocoa to bring with her to Emma and Killian's house. She sat on the steps of the front porch, watching as Henry and Killian sparred with a pair of large sticks, the latter teaching his future stepson to wield what they pretended were swords. Teresa didn't quite understand why Henry needed to learn to wield a sword when he wouldn't need the skill in the future, but she supposed there was no harm in it. He seemed eager to know how, and Killian was more than willing to spread some of his wisdom on the boy. Besides, it gave them something to do while they waited for Emma to return. Apparently, the Savior was off speaking with Thomas about how Ashley ─ whom Teresa learned was Cinderella ─ had disappeared with the shotgun from their hunting cabinet and was determined to kill one of her stepsisters. According to Thomas, that is why his wife was so eager to get her hands on Henry's list; Ashley needed to know if they were in Storybrooke.

The platinum-blond let out a small laugh when Henry failed to move his feet and was jabbed in the gut with the stick with by Killian ─ again. He grunted and took a few steps backward, looking at his girlfriend with a frown. "What're you laughing about?"

"Listen to Killian and move your feet, you look like a statue."

"I've never really done this before," Henry retorted.

"I thought you said that you've sparred with David when you were younger?"

"Well, yeah, but then my dad's girlfriend kidnapped me, Peter Pan switched bodies with me, and then─"

Teresa stared at him in confusion. "What are you going on about?"

"You haven't told the lass about your adventures in Neverland?" Killian asked, wide-eyed.

"I know something about a crossbow and an apple, that's about it," Teresa told the pirate.

"There hasn't been time," Henry defended.

"Alright, relax," Teresa chuckled. She set her cocoa down on the floor of the porch and moved down the steps until she was at his side. She adjusted his grip and turned his body so he was facing Killian the correct way. "Try that," she said, taking a few steps back so she wouldn't get hit by accident, "and don't forget to move your feet this time."

"Right," Henry nodded, his cheeks flushed.

The two of them went on sparring, and Teresa gave Henry two thumbs up when he blocked one of Killian's attacks.

"Oh," the pirate chuckled. He spotted Emma in the corner of his eye and turned to face her. "Swan, see that parry? Think he's finally getting the hang of it," he teased, reaching out to poke Henry with the stick once more.

"Uh, yeah," Emma replied, a bright smile on her face. "What are you doing here, Henry?"

"We were waiting for you," Teresa answered.

"Hook told us you two were going to find Ashley. I thought we could help," Henry shrugged.

Emma narrowed her eyes in Killian's direction, a faint smile on her face. "Was this your idea? Some sort of weird 'pirate teaches him how to be a man' thing?"

"No, this was all his idea. He said it was a... well, wh─what did you call it?" Killian stuttered, searching for the correct words that Henry had used.

"Mother-son bonding," Henry finished with a smile.

"Ah, yes."

"Alright," Emma nodded. "Operation Cobra: Part Two." She lifted a blue and white sneaker and they all stared at it with confused expressions. "Every shoe belongs to a foot. And this one will take us right to her." With a wave of her hand, magic had embraced the sneaker, and it levitated down the sidewalk, right toward one Cinderella. They were quick to chase after it.

They followed the sneaker across the street, down several sidewalks and around streets corners while passing residents whom looked upon them in utter confusion. When the sneaker turned the corner heading toward the docks, Teresa Holmes came to an abrupt stop, pants leaving her lips as she stared at the entrance of the docks with a fearful gaze. Her heart was racing against her chest.

Run away, her body was screaming at her. Run away now.

But just like that unfortunate day, she remained glued in her spot, her only movement being the trembles that shook her body and the rise and fall of her chest as spluttering breaths fell from her lips.

Emma and Killian didn't seem to notice that she had vanished from their side, but as soon as Henry had spotted the entrance of the docks, he came to a stop and turned on his heel, approaching her with caution, as his girlfriend seemed lost in her thoughts and he didn't want to frighten her.

"Teresa," he called softly, drawing her gaze toward him, "it's okay. He's gone, remember? There's nobody left to hurt you."

She hesitated.

Henry stepped forward and took her trembling hand in his, curling his fingers around her flesh. "We can wait here if you want," he offered.

Teresa swallowed down every scream and sob that was threatening to rip from her throat, and she shook her head. "No," she said quietly. With her heart hammering against her chest, she took a hesitant step forward. Then she took another step. And another and another and another. And with each step she took, Henry was right there by her side, his hand wrapped around her own and squeezing gently in reassurance that she wasn't alone and never would be.

They turned the corner of the boathouse and found Cinderella's sneaker laying still on the wooden dock as Ashley held a shotgun that was trained on Emma and Killian. Both of their eyes widened. Killian, spotting them, was quick to step in front of them both, acting as the teenagers' body shield.

"We're your friends. Why are you threatening us?" Emma asked, hands held up in surrender.

Ashley cocked the gun. "Look, I don't want to hurt you," she said. "There's just something I have to do just as soon as I figure out where my sister's hidden herself."

Emma approached her with caution. "We cannot let you hurt her."

"Hurt her?" Ashley sounded confused. She shook her head. "No, you've got it all wrong. I'm not trying to hurt Clorinda. I'm trying to help her."

Henry furrowed his eyebrows. "Why? She's your wicked stepsister?"

"You don't know the real story," Ashley replied, gun still trained on them, though slowly lowering as time passed by. "In the end, Clorinda wasn't the wicked sister." Then, much to everyone's surprise, she said, "I was."

Teresa's eyebrows furrowed. No, she thought, that can't be right. She has seen the movie Cinderella with Neal at least a dozen times and the helpless Cinderella always remained the heroine of the story whom found her true love in the end.

"So, you did something bad," Emma voiced after a moment of shock. "We've all done bad things."

Her words hit Teresa Holmes hard.

Yes, the archer thought sadly, we have.

"A long time ago," Emma went on, "I told you if people saw you a certain way, you had to punch back and show them who you are. If you see yourself a certain way, punch back and see yourself differently." Her words seemed to have some sort of effect Ashley, as the woman's eyes softened and the shotgun lowered. "You can change. You can fix this. Whatever it is, I will help you."

Ashley shook her head defiantly. "No, but that's the thing. You just said it. I have to throw the punch. That's why I came out here alone. You can't do it for me this time. Do you know how it feels when you know all your happiness is a lie?" she asked, voice cracking.

"Yeah. I do," Emma replied, her voice barely a whisper, though loud enough for Ashley to hear her.

With a warning shot that caused them all the gasp, jump and turn away, Ashley was quick to disappear down the docks while they remained distracted, leaving them to stand there and wonder where she had gone off to when the shock of it all melted away.

"Great," Killian muttered, "we've lost her. Think you can do that spell of yours on the shoe again, Swan?"

"Yeah," Emma nodded. She walked forward, bending down to pick up the shoe. Just before she could wave her hand, a voice called out, "Well, well, look at this. Teresa Holmes in the flesh."

With wide eyes, they turned to face the Evil Queen as she sauntered toward them.

"I heard that you had returned to the land of the living. Seems we have more than just murder in common," the Evil Queen went on, flashing her a wink.

Teresa narrowed her eyes. "You'd be so lucky."

"Just how is it possible that you're alive?" the Evil Queen asked, truly curious.

"What can I saw," Teresa gave a grin, "the Underworld just wasn't my thing."

"Leave her alone," Henry said in a threatening tone, stepping protectively in front of Teresa despite not having any way to actually protect her; no magic, no weapon, just his body. The action seemed to amuse the evil version of his adopted mother, as she gave him a wide grin.

"Henry. Now, is that any way to speak to your real mother?" the Evil Queen said with a tsk, choosing her words carefully just to get under Emma's skin, which it did.

Killian glanced toward Emma, whose jaw had locked and fists were clenched at her sides. He reached his hand out to run the pad of his thumb against her knuckles to soothe her rage.

"You're not my mother."

"Well, sure I am," the Evil Queen said. "I raised you. I helped you with your homework. I packed your lunches. Regina and I may have split, but I am as much your mother as she is." The woman grinned. Then she straightened her spine and shoulders. "Now stop slouching. Posture is self-respect, and if you don't have it, no one else will give it to you."

"Henry, hey," Emma said, stepping around Teresa and grabbing her son by the arm, pulling him back. "Don't listen to her."

"Says the woman who was never around."

"You're right," Emma said. "I was never around, and I owned that. You're just the worst part of Regina."

"Am I? Or am I the part that is honest about myself? You see, Regina never had her happy ending because she's never been strong enough to let her story run its course. I won't make that mistake, uh-uh," the Evil Queen shook her head, a grin slowly working its way onto her face. "For myself... or our new arrivals."

Emma glared. "What about those people? What do you want with them?"

The Evil Queen held up a finger, her grin never wavering. "Patience. You just wait until those untold stories play out. But here's a little spoiler. Cinderella's story won't end well."

"Why would you want to hurt Ashley?" Emma asked, though by the tone of her voice it sounded more like a demand, further amusing the Evil Queen.

"I don't," the Evil Queen replied simply. "I want to hurt you. I want you to see how pointless you are."

Emma got up in her face, voice low and threatening and defiant. "I saved her once. I'll save her again."

"Oh, that's the tragic thing about being a savior. You have to keep saving people. But once you're off the chessboard─" The Evil Queen held her palm flat in the air and used her other hand to flick away a non-existent chess piece. "─everything falls apart. All those happy endings turn to dust, and your entire life means... nothing. Let me show you what it feels like." With a laugh, she waved her hand and a cloud of purple smoke enveloped them.

When the smoke cleared, Teresa glanced around her. Henry, Emma and Killian were gone, sent away by the Evil Queen's magic. It was just the two of them now. For what reason, Teresa did not yet know, but she was going to find.

"Where did you send them?"

"Isn't it obvious?" The Evil Queen said with a sinister grin. "I took them off the chessboard. Now... we can talk."

Teresa scoffed. "Go to hell."

"Well, if it's so easy to walk on out, perhaps one day."

"So that's what you want." Teresa crossed her arms over her chest. "You want to know how I came back."

"It's rather curious, don't you think?" The Evil Queen circled her, reminding Teresa of Inman, which caused her hand to tremble as the memories of her interaction with him came flooding back. She tried to push them away and focus on the Evil Queen. "An average girl with no purpose in the world. What makes someone like you so special?"

"I don't know," Teresa replied with honesty.

Then her cell phone rang.

The Evil Queen was quick to snatch her cell phone from her jacket pocket. She smiled at the name flashing across the screen. "Awe, how sweet. My son truly cares for you, doesn't he? But I suppose that is the prophecy between you both. The bond makes him crave your presence. A strong desire to know where you are and if you're well. I wonder... what would happen if that bond just... went away." She began circling Teresa once more, her lips near the teenagers ear as she whispered her next words. "Would he even still care? Is it really only the magic between you both that keeps him around, that keeps him loving you?"

Teresa went to snatch her phone, but the Evil Queen threw it over her shoulder and into the water, feigning innocence. "Oops," the woman laughed.

It started snowing around them then, which seemed to amuse the Evil Queen.

"Well, it appears I've touched a nerve, haven't I?"

Teresa's rage was boiling over the edge. "Shut. Up."

"Oh, but we are having so much fun talking, us girls," the Evil Queen frowned playfully. "Come on, lets share secrets. Tell me about your adventure in the Underworld and how you got out."

"I would rather die all over again," Teresa replied with a sweet smile. She launched forward and sliced the ice dagger through the air. But that's all it did. The Evil Queen had seen her move from a mile away and teleported herself out of harm's way.

"Now, that wasn't very nice," the Evil Queen scolded from behind her, causing Teresa to whip around and face her. "I thought we were having a pleasant chat."

"Funny, it seemed like you were doing most of the talking." Teresa clenched her fists, turning the ground beneath their feet into a thick sheet of ice, which caused the Evil Queen to stumble and have to regain her bearings. As she stumbled, Teresa threw an ice dagger which embedded itself into the Evil Queen's shoulder and made her grunt in pain.

"What a temper you have. I pity the mother who had to raise you. Oh, wait ─" A grin spread on the Evil Queen's face. "That's right. Your mother left you. Your father never stuck around long enough for you to even have a memory of him. Not even Robin and the Merry Men could tolerate that temper. What a rotten child you must have been."

Teresa gave a cry as she launched herself at the Evil Queen, slicing through the air with two ice, long ice daggers in her hands. All she could see was red. Her skin felt like it was on fire, steaming against the cool daggers that were making her knuckles turn white. The Evil Queen dodged every angry swing, laughing as she did, fueling the platinum blond's anger like gasoline to an open flame.

"Enough!" the Evil Queen shouted when Teresa sliced a portion of her dress. She waved her hand and sent Teresa flying backwards and sliding painfully against the ground of the docks with a grunt.

The Evil Queen took a step forward, but Teresa faster.

With a wave of her own hand, she commanded Ashley's shoe into her hand and teleported from the docks in a blur of white flurries. She landed safely within the parlor of the Mills Manor, startling both Alice and Zelena, who had been speaking in the living room.

"Teresa, are you alright?" Alice asked, rising from the sofa with baby Robin in her arms.

"I'm fine," Teresa replied. "Can I borrow a phone?"

"Of course," Zelena replied. "There's one in the kitchen."

Teresa turned on her heel and entered the kitchen, searching for the phone which she found hanging on the wall. She picked it up and dialed Emma's number, knowing that before she returned Henry's call, she needed to deliver Ashley's shoe to Emma so that the Savior could resume her search for the blond woman.

"Regina, I'm a little busy right now─"

"Emma, it's me," Teresa cut her off.

"Teresa?"

In the background, she could hear Henry say her name followed by storm of questions.

"Henry, sh, I can't hear her," Emma hushed his endless questions. "Teresa, where are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Teresa replied. "Where are you?"

"Actually, I don't know." She could hear the Savior's frown.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Teresa asked.

"The Evil Queen teleported us in the middle of nowhere. Took us right off the chessboard."

"What should I do?"

"Do you have Ashley's shoe?" Emma asked.

"Yeah."

"Good. Okay, use it to track Ashley. When you find her, do your best to distract her until we can figure out where we are and how to get back."

"Alright," Teresa nodded.

"And Teresa?" Emma was quick to say before the girl could hang up. "Please be careful."

"I will, promise." Teresa hung up. She maneuvered around a confused Alice and Zelena on her way out the door, calling over her shoulder toward them, "Thanks for letting me use the phone!"

Standing in the front yard of the Mills Manor, Teresa lifted the shoe. Luckily, one of the few beginner spells Elsa had taught her in Arendelle was a locator spell. She concentrated and waved her hand over the shoe and just like before, it glowed a soft gold before levitating down the sidewalk. She smiled before chasing after it.

　
✧ ✦ ✧
　

Teresa Holmes followed Ashley's sneaker all the way to Peter's Pumpkin Patch settled on the eastern side of town where the farming lands were located. Along the way, she passed the stables and the cornfield she remembered Snow White telling her once was a massive harvest of magic beans. She ventured up the dirt path of the farm and glanced around in search of Ashley's golden head of hair, but couldn't see the woman anywhere. All she saw were pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins. She followed the shoe toward the barn and burst through the open door where she found a woman with dark brown hair pointing the shotgun toward Ashley as two people ─ a woman with dark hair and a man with dirty-blonde hair ─ sitting on the ground with terrified expressions on their faces. The only person she recognized was Ashley.

The woman holding the shotgun broke her stare with Ashley and looked toward Teresa with a look of confusion. "And who might you be?"

"Teresa Holmes," she replied, hoping to stall until Emma and the others arrived. "And you?"

"None of your concern, my dear," the woman replied, before shifting the weapon from Teresa and back to Ashley, who stood bravely in the path of the man and woman hugging each other on the ground to take the bullet herself. "Move out of the way, Cinderella."

Ashley shook her head. "No."

"You really think I won't shoot you?" The woman challenged.

Teresa bit her lip and was quick to jump into action before the woman could shoot Ashley or anyone else. "Alright look, Lady," she began as she approached them, her hands held out in front of her in caution. "Nobody has to get hurt here. Just lower the weapon and we can all pretend this never happened."

The woman snorted. "As if it'd be that easy."

"It is, actually," Teresa retorted. "All you have to do is drop the gun."

The woman remained silent for a moment, urging Ashley to say without looking at the archer, "Teresa, leave here. This is not your fight."

"Not a chance," Teresa told her. "Emma sent me to help you. I'm not just going to turn my back when there is a shotgun trained at your heart at this very moment."

"Enough," the woman seethed, nostrils flaring in aggravation. She was not pleased with how long this was taking, but that's just what Teresa hoped would happen. She needed to stall, so the others had time to get here.

"I suppose you're right, Miss... Holmes, was it? I can put this weapon down," she said, lowering to her side. "This is a coward's weapon, anyway. Not nearly personal enough." Then in the blink of an eye, she grabbed her cane and stabbed it through Ashley's side.

Teresa's eyes widened in horror. She threw her hand out and sent the woman flying backwards and away from Ashley as said blond dropped to the ground with a pained gasp. The archer stalked toward the woman with a glare and towered over her as she scrambled away on the ground. To ensure that the woman wouldn't run away, she took a page out of her mother's book. With a wave of her hand, ice cold chains made up of the strongest ice bound the woman's arms. Teresa fastened the chains to the nearest column in the barn just as Emma, Killian and Henry appeared.

"Teresa, thank God!" Emma sighed in relief upon seeing her. "Is Ashley─?"

"She's hurt pretty bad," Teresa cut her off. She motioned behind her to where Ashley lay gasping on the ground. By now, the man and woman ─ two people that seemed to know and care for Ashley very well ─ had scrambled to her side, placing their hands over her gushing wound to stop the flow of blood soaking through the fabric of her shirt.

Emma's eyes widened. "Ashley!" She ran over and fell to her knees beside the injured blond. "Oh! Thank God we found you."

Teresa looked away from Emma and her gaze fell on Henry, who was staring at her body from any sign of injury with soft and worrisome brown eyes that melted into her like warm cocoa. She smiled lightly before a spark of mischief glistened in her cerulean eyes.

"My eyes are up here," she teased, despite knowing that he wasn't checking her out and only looking to see if she was hurt.

Henry rolled his eyes at her words, his face warm with embarrassment. He cleared his throat and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, promise," Teresa replied.

Despite being in chains, the woman tried to reach for the shotgun at Teresa's feet. Killian, however, had saw the move from a mile away. He was quick to grab her wrist, hoist her up from the ground and pin her against the column the archer had bound her, his hook pressed against her throat in warning.

After giving the wound a once over, the Savior sighed from behind them. "This needs magic."

"Do it, Swan," Killian encouraged.

Emma nodded before lifting her hand and placing her palm over Ashley's gushing wound. She concentrated and after a moment, a soft gold emerged from her palm and the pure, light magic healed the wound, enveloping Ashley's body in a comforting warmth. A moment or two passed by before Emma pulled her hand away and Ashley's cries seized.

Henry smiled. "You did it, Mom."

"I never doubted you, Swan," said Killian, a fond expression upon his face. Emma glanced over her should at the man she loved and a smile curved onto her face, his words making her heart race. He always had complete faith in everything she did. He never failed to warm her heart.

Ashley let out a breath of relief when she realized all her pain had vanished. She glanced down at her stomach and lifted her shirt to find nothing was there, not even a scar. She stared up at Emma in shock before wrapping her arms around the Savior. "Thank you, Emma."

"Of course," Emma replied, hugging back.

After parting from Emma, they helped Ashley to her feet and Ashley thanked everyone for coming to help her before reclaiming her husband's shotgun to place back in their hunting cabinet at before and the barn with the man and woman at her side.

"What do we do with this one?" Killian asked, motioning to toward the woman still bound by the thick ice chains. It was only in that moment that Teresa realized she was Cinderella's Evil Stepmother, Lady Tremaine.

Emma crossed her arms over her chest as she approached Lady Tremaine. "Well, what happened here was attempted murder. I hope you like the view from a jail cell because that's all you'll be seeing for a while."

.･:✦ ────────────── ✦:･.

a/n: well there you have it!
This, as many of you know,
was based off of episode 6x03.
Can't believe how slow I am
moving with season 6 that I'm
only just now writing episode 3.
Guess that really shows how
much I've changed when it
comes to season 6. Anyway,
I hope everyone liked the
chapter! And please do enjoy
the next two, because this is a
triple update!!