. . . . . ╰──╮✰ ✰ ✰ ╭──╯ . . . . .

‎‧₊˚✧ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɴɪɴᴇ✧˚₊‧

‎‧₊˚✧ᴛʀᴜᴇ ɴᴏʀᴛʜ✧˚₊‧

______

"The Great Secret Of Getting

What You Want From Life

Is To Know What You Want

And Believe You Can Have It."

______

Angie came downstairs to find two kids in the dining room. They were eating some food that had likely been provided by Mary Margaret. As far as Angie knew, Henry was Emma's only kid and she would have known if Mary Margaret had a kid. She spotted Mary Margaret and Emma talking in hushed whispers over in the kitchen. Angie grabbed a cup of coffee before joining them.

"Do you know them?" Emma was asking Mary Margaret. "Do they go to your school?"

"I've seen them, but I had no idea. None of us did."

"No idea about what?" Angie asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

"They're homeless," Emma explained. "Kids tried to frame Henry for stealing to provide for themselves." She removed a file from her bag and started to read from it. "Ava and Nicholas Zimmer. Their mother was a woman named Dory Zimmer. She died a few years ago. No one seems to know her or remember her."

Mary Margaret and Angie both shook their heads, not remembering the woman either. "Is this going to turn into the sequel for Finding Dory?" Angie jokingly asked. Emma gave her a very dirty look.

"I just told you that she's dead," Emma reminded Angie bluntly.

"Sorry," Angie remarked, taking a shame sip from her mug. "And the father?"

"There isn't one, at least not one that they know," Emma admitted.

Mary Margaret lowered her voice before asking the next question, just in case it was a sensitive topic for the kids. "What does, uh, what does social services say?"

Emma was silent. Angie nodded in realization. "You didn't tell social services, did you?"

Mary Margaret was surprised. "You didn't report them?"

"I report them, I can't help them," Emma muttered. "They go into the system."

"The system that's supposed to help," Mary Margaret argued.

"Yeah, says the woman who wasn't in it for sixteen years. Do you know what happens? They get thrown into homes where they earn meal tickets, nothing more. These families get paid for these kids and as soon as they're too much work, they get tossed out and it all starts over again."

Mary Margaret started to argue. "But they're not all are like th-"

"May, don't push it," Angie said, placing a hand on Mary Margaret's shoulder. Like it or not, neither of them knew or understood what Emma had gone through. Emma saw herself in these kids, and wasn't going to stop until she helped them.

Mary Margaret sighed and fingered her pearl necklace. "So what, we're just gonna adopt them?"

"I want to look for their father. They don't know him. He may not know they exist."

"And you think if he knows, he'll want them," Mary Margaret realized.

"I don't know," Emma admitted. "But what I do know is that it's hard enough finding foster families to take one kid that isn't theirs, let alone two. It's the best shot, or..."

One of the kids, Ava, interrupted the conversation. "We're gonna be separated?" she questioned, her bottom lip starting to quiver.

"No, that's not gonna happen," Emma promised.

"Please, please don't let it," Ava pleaded.

Emma shook her head. "I won't."

She turned to Angie. "Mary Margaret has to go to work. We're gonna pull the kids and Henry out today, just so we can keep an eye on them until I find their dad. If I give you the day off, can you watch them until I come back?"

"Of course," Angie replied immediately, gently steering Ava back into the dinning room. Emma then headed into the living room and retrieved a box. She placed it on the table and removed a white blanket with violet trim. She began to unfold it to show to the kids.

"What's that?" Nicholas asked.

"It's my baby blanket, something I've held onto my whole life. It's the only thing that I have from my parents. I've spent a lot of time with a lot of kids in your situation. And all of them, all of us, we hold onto stuff. I want to find your father, but I need your help. Is there anything of his you've held onto?"

Ava perked up a little. "I might have something. But if I give it to you, you'll make sure we stay together, right?"

"Right."

Ava removed a compass from her pocket and handed it to Emma. "A compass?" Emma questioned.

"Our mom kept it. She said it was our dad's."

"Thank you," Emma said with a smile. "Angie's gonna stay with you for now while I head out."

"Did you find them?" Ava asked. "Your parents."

Emma smiled sadly. "Not yet. But I'm gonna find yours."

–

Rumplestiltskin watched as Lilith poured some mandrake root into her newest brew. Lilith double checked the directions before stirring the concoction six times counterclockwise. Like the book said, the broth turned a shade of maroon.

"Impressive," Rumplestiltskin admitted. "Most chicken out once they get to the death potions."

"Well," Lilith said as she began to pour the potion into a small vial. "I'm not afraid of death."

"Good. Now, what does this potion do?"

Lilith recited from Rumplestiltskin's teachings as she finished filling the bottle to the brim. "This potion isn't a death one, per se. However, it can cause feelings inside a body that make you want to die. It differs for every person, but it usually starts with sickness symptoms. Then, it transitions into emotional and mental symptoms, feeding off of negativity and deep regrets."

"Exactly," Rumplestiltskin smirked. "This potion has driven thousands to suicide. It is part of a quintuplet set of potions. Each is a different color and function. White removes love, blue removes sadness, maroon does what you just described, gold removes life, and the fifth is true love. I have never been able to bottle it, as it is almost impossible. But I will someday."

Lilith placed the bottle on a silver chain around her neck. "Well, I believe that this deserves a toast." She removed a bottle of red wine from Rumplestitskin's collection and poured two glasses. "To darkness."

Rumplestiltskin clinked his glass against hers. "To darkness." Together, the two drank the wine, with Lilith giving Rumplestiltskin a small smirk.

–

Angie tossed Ava a bottle of green sprinkles. "That tree is looking pretty good."

Ava giggled. "Thank you."

Henry was decorating a house cookie, while Nicholas was decorating a sneaker. Angie herself was decorating a small bird. After Henry crushed them all in Mario Kart, Angie figured that a calming activity was needed for him to get over his sore winner attitude.

Angie's long hair kept falling in her face, so she retrieved a rubber band from the kitchen drawer and put it in her mouth while she gathered her hair into a ponytail. She kept meaning to get it cut, but it just never happened.

Angie tied off her ponytail with the rubber band as Nicholas called out, "Done!"

"Me too," Henry and Ava chorused.

"Well," Angie said, picking up her own cookie. "Now comes the best part. Cheers." She clinked cookies with the three kids before they all took a bite from their respective cookies. The cookies were delicious, nice and chocolatey.

The four worked together to put the icings and sprinkles away, as Mary Margaret would kill them if they left it out. Mary Margaret was a nice person, but she had always been a bit of a neat freak. Before Angie could try and think of something else for them to do, Henry suddenly turned on the radio and called her name.

"Angie! It's our song!"

Angie perked up with realization. It was! Regina had made Angie babysit Henry for years now. Angie never minded, of course. Henry was like a son to her. One of the times that she was babysitting, Henry had turned on the radio. Honey I'm Good by Andy Grammer had been on, and ever since, it had been their song.

Henry grabbed a spatula from the utensil jar and started to sing. "It's been a long night here and a long night there. And these long, long legs are damn near everywhere."

Angie grabbed a soup spoon and sang back. "Hold up now. You look good, I will not lie. But if you ask where I'm staying tonight, I gotta be like."

"Oh baby, nah, baby," The two sang together. "You got me all wrong, baby. My baby's already got all of my love"

Ava and Nicholas grabbed some utensils to use as instruments as Henry and Angie started the chorus. "So nah, nah, honey, I'm good. I could have another but I probably should not. I got somebody at home and if I stay I might not leave alone. Nah, honey, I'm good. I could have another but I probably should not. I gotta bid you adieu, to another I will stay true."

Ava started to play a drum beat and Nicholas began to ding a little bell as Angie and Henry did the cha-cha towards each other. Henry picked up the song again. "Now, better men than me have failed, drinking from that unholy grail. Now check it out. I got her and she got me and you got that-"

"You can't sing that word cause you're ten," Angie sang loudly. Henry silently bobbed his head to the beat for a second before singing again.

"But I kindly gotta be like."

"Oh baby, nah, baby," The two sang together again, with Ava and Nicholas joining in. "You got me all wrong, baby. My baby's already got all of my love. So nah, nah, honey, I'm good. I could have another but I probably should not. I got somebody at home and if I stay I might not leave alone. Nah, honey, I'm good. I could have another but I probably should not. I gotta bid you adieu, to another I will stay true."

"Oh, I'm sure you, sure you will make somebody's night. But oh, I assure you, assure you it sure as hell's not mine," Angie sang just as her phone rang. The kids continued the singing as Angie retrieved her phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's me," Emma replied from the other end. "I need you to come outside right away."

Angie began to get concerned. "Is everything okay?"

"Don't say anything to the kids, but no, it's not."

–

"He doesn't want the kids," Emma told her the second Angie came outside. She had left Henry in charge for a few minutes, so she wanted to make this little meeting as quick as possible.

"And you don't want to tell them," Angie deduced from Emma's tone.

"I can't. Because all I'll be telling them is that false hope I gave them is exactly that. Maybe we can hide the kids, just until we can find a family for them, someone to take care of them."

"Yes, hiding two twelve year olds. Great plan."

"Do you have a better idea?" Emma fired back.

"Emma, maybe there isn't an idea, maybe you just have to-"

Regina, as per usual, appeared from behind and addressed Emma. "Sheriff, shouldn't you be on the interstate?"

"What are you doing here?" Emma said with an angry sigh.

"Seeing to it that you do your job."

"You know that you don't need to check up on me. I know what I have to do."

"Really? Because those kids are supposed to be in Boston tonight."

–

Lilith was up before Rumplestiltskin, which was an odd occurrence. Rumplestiltskin was an early riser and Lilith wasn't one to function early in the morning. With nothing else to do, she headed downstairs and made herself a pot of tea. She noticed that one of the teacups was chipped, so she ensured not to take that one. Just as she was pouring herself some of the tea, Rumplestiltskin came down the stairs.

He did not look well at all. Well, he usually didn't look well, but he looked worse than usual. His eyes had taken on a red tinge and he just looked tired. Lilith offered him a teacup, but he leaned away instinctively.

Lilith raised her eyebrows. "Rumpy, you don't seem well."

Rumplestiltskin started to cough. "Never call me that again."

Lilith ignored him. "Would you like me to give you some kind of medicine? Perhaps a cold compress?"

"I'm fine," Rumplestiltskin insisted. "It's just a head cold. It'll pass."

There was a knock at the door. Rumplestiltskin moved to get the door, but Lilith forced him into a chair. She pushed a teacup towards him and headed to the door. There was a woman with red hair standing there.

"Can I help you?" Lilith asked.

"Oh," the woman said. "I thought this was Rumplestiltskin's residence."

"Don't worry, dear. It is. He's not feeling well. But if you have something you need, I would be more than willing to negotiate."

The woman smiled with relief. "Thank you. My son died recently and I have been feeling very sad. Is there any way you could take that away?"

Lilith nodded. "Of course dear." She reached around her neck and retrieved a vial of blue potion. "This potion can take away your sadness."

The woman reached out to take the potion but Lilith drew her hand back. "It's not free, my dear."

The woman lowered her head. "I do not have any money to pay you with."

"I don't want money. But.." Lilith tapped the necklace of glass beads that was hanging around the woman's neck. "That seems valuable. I'll make you a deal. You give me this necklace, and the vial is yours."

"Deal," the woman said instantly, removing the necklace and handing it to Lilith. Lilith handed the woman the vial. Lilith attached the necklace onto a small chain on her waist. Lilith shut the door as the woman walked down the path.

A small series of claps erupted from the back of the room. Lilith turned to see Rumplestiltskin weakly giving her a round of applause. "Not bad."

Lilith smiled. "Well, I'll never be you, Rumpy."

"Well, maybe you can until this cold thing blows over."

Lilith's smile brightened. "I would be honored."

Rumplestiltskin placed his hands on the table and began to stand. He suddenly lost his balance and tumbled to the ground, knocking his teacup off the table. Lilith rushed towards him and wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders.

"Perhaps...you were right.." Rumplestiltskin admitted. "Maybe...I should rest."

"C'mon, Rumpy. I'll bring you to bed."

As Lilith lifted Rumplestiltskin up and began to support him towards the stairs, the vial of maroon liquid swung briefly out from underneath her dress, half empty.

–

Angie and Mary Margaret waited together as Emma took the kids to a foster home in Boston. Regina had reported the kids and they each would be going to a different home. None of them wanted this to happen, but it seemed to be the only option. The two were surprised when Emma came in a mere half hour after she left.

"Hey, what happened?" Mary Margaret asked.

"Their dad, he showed up, changed his mind," Emma said as she plopped herself on the bed.

"Changed his mind? Just like that?" Angie questioned. It was difficult to believe that after the case the father had made a while ago, he changed his mind that quick.

"He might have had a little nudge," Emma admitted.

"They found their father. That's great," Mary Margaret said with a smile.

"I wonder what that would be like," Emma said sadly.

Angie sensed a serious conversation incoming, which she wasn't good at, so she decided to take a walk outside. She leaned against her car listening to the sound of the newly arrived crickets. She hadn't told her roommates this, but she had never met her parents. Perhaps they knew her as a baby, but Angie had already forgotten if that was true. She had been adopted by a family in Storybrooke who had passed away a few years before. She was one of the lucky kids.

Angie had noticed that her memory had gotten worse over the years. There was a tattoo on her breast line on her upper right side that she didn't remember getting at all. It was a word surrounded by roses and snapdragons. She suspected it was supposed to be the word Luck, but the artist hadn't finished, so the word Luc was there instead.

Just as she was wondering what else she might have forgotten, Henry strolled up to the car holding a small box. He smiled as he leaned next to her.

"What's that?" Angie wondered.

"Pumpkin pie. I thought you'd like some. I was going to bring some for Emma too, but I may have eaten some of it," he admitted sheepishly.

Angie smiled. "More for me I guess." Henry handed her the box and a small black plastic fork. Just as she was taking a bite, sounds of a motorbike graced her ears. The duo watched as a guy on a bike stopped across the street from Angie and Henry. He pulled off his helmet and approached them.

"Hey," he called out.

"Hey," Angie replied, taking another bite of pie.

"Is this Storybrooke?" the stranger asked.

Angie swallowed her pie before answering. "Yep."

"Any place to get a room around here?" the stranger questioned.

Henry was skeptical about the situation. Angie couldn't blame him. "Uh, you're staying?"

"That's the plan. I'm just looking for a bed."

"Granny's Bed and Breakfast is just off the road, another two blocks," Angie told him, gesturing down the street.

"Thank you," the guy said as he started to head back to his bike.

"We didn't catch your name!" Angie yelled after him.

"That's 'cause I didn't give it." The guy got back on his bike and headed down the road to Granny's.

Angie took another bite of pie before turning to Henry. "Strangers don't come to Storybrooke."

"They don't," Henry agreed.

Together, the two of them peered down the street at the first ever stranger in Storybrooke.