vii. table for two

━ ❝ a surpise isn't a surprise if one tells it too soon. ❞

━━━━━ ✦ ✧ ━━━━━

TERESA STOOD NERVOUSLY in front of her body length mirror, staring at her reflection in pure shock. She didn't even look like herself. This unknown person with her face was wearing subtle makeup, heels, a dress and had her hair done in beautiful curls. It was as if she was staring at a stranger. So long ago, in the Enchanted Forest, she would shake her head when she would spot a princess or some wealthy lady that was dressed like she is now, practically spatting on their wealth and how they presented it. Yet here she was, clad just as they were.

There was a knock at the door and before she could even ask who it is, the knob twisted and in stepped Snow. The raven-haired woman smiled brightly and her eyes became glossy when her eyes fell upon Teresa. She looked to her best friend in shock and adoration, staring at her as if she were staring at her daughter, picturing this to be Emma instead of her best friend.

"You look beautiful, Teresa," Snow spoke tearfully. Her hand lifted and settled against her lips.

Teresa's cheeks burned and her gaze dropped to the ground. She really never was good at receiving compliments. Especially when it came to her appearance. She always thought she looked dull and boring, with her plain blond hair and natural, icey-blue eyes. But, still, she thanked her best friend.

"My grandson is one lucky young man," Snow continued, only further embarrassing the teenage girl. Then suddenly, there was a knock at the door, which caused Snow's face to light up brightly. "Oh! That must Henry now!"

Teresa chuckled when Snow grabbed ahold of her wrist and began pulling her from her bedroom. They turned the corner and descended the stairs, coming to the front door, where Henry stood with his grandfather, clad in a suit and holding a bouquet of flowers and looking like a perfect gentleman. Even though she wouldn't admit it out loud, Teresa never thought her boyfriend looked more handsome than he did now. Despite the gray suit he wore, Henry hadn't even bothered to style his hair to match his attire. He knew she loved his natural look, as she would sometimes run her hands through it when they would sit in the park with Neal on a blanket. So when she noticed his natural hairstyle, her heart fluttered.

When they stepped down from the last step, Teresa met his cocoa eyes and her stomach began twisting and turning in every which way; butterflies, fireworks╶ the whole works.

"You look ... " Henry was lost for words as he stared her up and down, taking in her unusual attire. He never thought he would see her in a dress. She quite literally took his breath away and was making him stumble for words.

He handed her the bouquet of flowers in his left hand. "Beautiful," he eventually finished, causing her to blush and Snow White to wrap an arm around her husband nearby. At this point, the raven-haired woman was leaking a river of tears.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Mills," Teresa replied with her usual smirk playing on her lips.

A silent moment passed by where not a single word was uttered. It was David who broke it. He clapped his hand down onto his grandson's shoulder with a large smile plastered on his face. "You two have fun. But not too fun, yea?"

The pair blushed furiously and awkwardly laughed. After a quick good-bye╶ that included Teresa handing her flowers over to Snow, so that she could place them in some water╶ the teenagers left to begin their first date.

Even though Henry was old enough to drive, he still didn't own a car, which meant the pair would be walking to ... whatever Henry had planned for them.

Silence filled the air as they walked side by side on the sidewalk, the only sound being the humming of the post lambs and the clicking of her heels. But it wasn't uncomfortable like one would think, Teresa actually found the silence of the night to be soothing. It was calming her nerves and making her less anxious.

"So, what is on the agenda this evening?" She eventually did ask.

"First, we have dinner," Henry replied with a smile.

"Dinner? Oh how fancy," she said in a prim and proper tone, as if she were a stuck-up princess. Her playful tone caused him to chuckle, and, as per usual, his musical laughter caused her stomach to churn. In a good way, of course.

"And after we dine?"

"A surpise wouldn't remain a surprise if I told you now," he stated.

"You suck." She playfully nudged him with her elbow and faked a pout. "Oh come on, just spill. You know I hate surprises!"

"My lips are sealed," he said, causing her to groan.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the restaurant. Teresa was shocked to learn that he was able to get reservations at the most classy place in Storybrooke. Suddenly she understood why he had told her to wear a dress. While Henry began walking towards the door, she stayed put.

Henry turned when he realized she had paused, and his brows furrowed in concern. "Is everything okay?"

"How did you manage to get us a seat here?"

The astonished look on his face caused him to smirk. "Being the mayor's son has its perks. Well, former mayor, but still ... "

Teresa chuckled and followed him inside. The restaurant was beautiful. The floor was hardwood and shined brightly, as if it had been waxed recently, and numerous tables were scattered across the area. The tops were decorated with fine, silky white tablecloths and lit candles, even centerpieces of an elegant-looking flower arrangement. There were baskets of bread and champagne in buckets. The people were dressed so fancy that Teresa felt out of place. She was always used to Granny's or some rundown tavern in the Enchanted Forest.

She swallowed nervously, glancing around at the fancy decor, waiting as Henry approached the hostess and said "Mills, table for two."

"Right this way," the hostess╶ whom was clad in a white buttoned shirt and black slacks╶ said with a smile. She lead them toward a table near the center of the room and placed two menus over their fancy place settings.

Before Teresa could sit down, Henry dashed around her body to pull out her chair for her. She met his gaze and smiled. "Why thank you, sir."

"You're welcome, m'lady," he replied in a posh accent while gently pushing her chair closer to the table. He then sat down across from her. They ordered their drinks and the hostess left, leaving them to take a peak at what the restaurant had in store.

Not long into looking at the menu, did their drinks arrive. The soda was placed near the basket of slightly-steaming bread╶ and the hostess announced that their waiter would arrive soon to take their order. They thanked her before she left, receiving a polite smile in response.

"What will you be getting?" Henry asked. His gaze flicked up from his menu and towards her.

She could feel his stare and looked up to meet his cocoa coloured eyes. "Most likely the steak. What about you? I'm actually surprised that you didn't order yourself a hot chocolate," she smirked.

Henry rolled his eyes. "I don't drink it all the time." She gave him a look, which caused him to crack a smile. "Okay so I might. The pasta, that's what I'll be ordering." He reached forward to take a sip of his drink, just as Teresa did the same with her own fizzy soda.

The moment the soda touched their tastebuds, a sudden rush of magical energy spread throughout their bodies. The lights in the restaurant began to flicker and the tables shook, as if an earthquake was happening, and the people began to look around in confusion and panic. What was happening now?

And then came the pain.

Teresa and Henry grasped at their chests. It felt as though someone had grabbed ahold of their heart and was holding it in their hand, squeezing tight. When the pain intensified, it felt as thought their souls were being ripped into pieces. Their hands clutched at the fabric of their clothing as they gasped in pain and breathed loudly. Shakily. Their eyes soon met and all they seen was pain and fear, blue and brown. Neither of them knew what was happening until they heard it. The sound of his laughter.

They looked up as their breaths became shorter and shorter, only to find Hyde himself standing before them. His lips were moving but neither of them could understand the words he was saying. It was some sort of strange incantation.

And then suddenly it all clicked in her mind.

Teresa looked away from his blurring figure and towards her drink. It all made sense now. They had drank the potion, severing their bond. A whimper emitted from her lips and then, as she stared across at Henry Mills for what she knew was going to be the very last time, her eyes slowly began to shut.