. . . . . ╰──╮✰ ✰ ✰ ╭──╯ . . . . .

‎‧₊˚✧ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ-ᴏɴᴇ✧˚₊‧

‎‧₊˚✧ᴀɴ ᴀᴘᴘʟᴇ ʀᴇᴅ ᴀꜱ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ✧˚₊‧

______

"It's Painful To Say Goodbye To Someone

You Don't Want To Let Go

But More Painful To Ask Someone To Stay

When You Know They Want To Leave."

______

Angie and Mary Margaret were making breakfast together when the door unlocked. Angie glanced up briefly to see Emma walking into the apartment before looking back down. Mary Margaret didn't look up at all, simply continuing to pour orange juice. "Oh. Thought you'd left."

"Mary Margaret," Emma tried.

"But I couldn't tell for sure, because you didn't bother to say goodbye. You remember when I left? When I ran, what did you say to me? You said, 'We have to stick together.' That we're like... family."

Emma lowered her head in shame. "Yeah. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left."

"You're right. You shouldn't have," Angie snapped. "Why the hell did you even run off in the first place?"

Emma sighed and placed her hands on the table. "I don't wanna be Sheriff. I don't want people relying on me. I don't want this, any of it."

Angie rolled her eyes and took a sip of orange juice. Mary Margaret finally stopped what she was doing and looked up at Emma. "What about Henry?"

"Took him with me."

Angie put her juice down on the table. "You abducted him like a little green alien."

"Maybe."

"So you don't want people to rely on you, but you took your son," Mary Margaret snapped at Emma, her tone incredulous. "Now that sounds like a stable home for him. What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I want what's best for him," Emma fired back.

"And running is what's best for him?" Angie questioned. "Or is that what's best for you?" Emma was silent as Angie got up from her chair and stood beside Mary Margaret, who started to yell as well.

"You're reverting, Emma. Into the person you were before you got here and I thought you'd changed. We both did."

"You thought wrong."

Mary Margaret lowered her voice, not wanting to waste any more energy arguing with Emma. "Well, regardless, you have to do what's right for Henry now."

Emma lowered her own voice. "What's that?"

Angie crossed her arms. "Oh, I don't know. You're his mother. Not me, not Mary Margaret. You. So figure it out."

–

Lilith was cleaning her crown when the door to the castle flew open. She sighed as the Evil Queen forced her way into the castle and slammed her hands on the table. She was wearing a strange white hat that had a ruffled ribbon.

She placed the crown on the table. "I'm sorry, I don't have your sheep."

The Evil Queen glanced at her hat before removing it quickly and chucking it across the room. "I need that potion you promised me in exchange for lifting the sleeping curse."

Lilith crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. "What's the magic word?"

The Evil Queen pouted before answering. "Please."

Lilith got out of her chair and headed over to the cabinet. "It was actually cantaloupe, but you get a pass cause I owe you a favor. What do you need this for anyway?" She began to search the bottles for the one she was looking for.

The Evil Queen rolled her eyes. "I told you. I'm gonna use it to get rid of Snow White."

Lilith retrieved her vial from the back of the cabinet. "Keep a good hold on Charming then. He's the only one that can break this."

"He won't escape me."

Lilith ran her finger across the bumpy glass vial. Then, she turned to the Evil Queen. "Catch it and you can keep it." She lightly tossed it to her. Likely not expecting it, the Evil Queen almost dropped the bottle. She let out a nervous laugh as she tightened her grip on the bottle.

"You little-"

Lilith cut the Evil Queen off with a laugh. "Want to use that to its full potential, put it in something else. Like an apple or a piece of cake. Or blow it in her face. Whatever your mood is."

"Do I have to use all of it, or just some?"

"There's just enough in there for one dose. But one bite or blow and she's out."

The Evil Queen nodded before sliding the vial into her pocket. "Pleasure doing business with you." Lilith nodded as the Evil Queen left. She headed over to the door in order to close it, but stopped with a groan.

"Not you again."

The redheaded woman was standing outside. "Me again."

–

Angie rapped on August's door. "One second!" She heard him call from inside. Angie tapped her foot as she waited for him to open the door. The door swung open a few seconds later and August appeared. He looked quite pale.

"Ange. What's going on?"

"Emma wants to leave. What happened?"

August opened the door wider so Angie could come inside. "She doesn't believe," he told her with a chuckle. "She's the most stubborn person I've ever met. You're a close second on certain things."

Angie rolled her eyes. "What did you do to try and get her to believe?"

August limped over to his bed and sat down. "I tried to show her this." He rolled up his right sleeve to show her his arm. Angie peered at the arm, which was beginning to turn into a golden brown material. Wood.

"You see it?" August asked.

"It's wood," Angie stated. She moved her hand out to touch August's arm but quickly pulled back, not wanting to hurt him any more.

August laughed. "Well, duh. She saw flesh. You and I know the truth. That's why we see wood. She's in denial. That's why she sees flesh."

Angie sat down on the bed next to him. "You're turning back into a marionette. Why?"

"I haven't been the best person. I wasn't here in Storybrooke when Emma arrived. Maybe I could have made her believe right off the bat if I was."

"You still can," Angie told him. "You aren't entirely wood yet, you can-"

"Ange." August stopped her and placed his good hand on her knee. "I could barely get up to let you in. In the next few hours, I might not be able to walk at all. If the curse doesn't break before wood covers me entirely, it's over."

Angie sank into the bed. "So...we're giving up?"

"I unfortunately have no choice. But you do. Henry needs someone like you on his side." August paused before looking her in the eyes. "You know, when I first arrived in Storybrooke, I thought you'd be different. Like Mr. Gold or Regina. Since you used to be Lilith. But you weren't. You are kind and true."

Angie smiled softly. "I guess I tried to do better. I did some bad things, but they don't define who I am now. I'm just scared that once everyone wakes up, they'll define me by the things I did before Storybrooke."

"Well," August said, laying on the bed. "If that does end up happening, you can always take my motorcycle and run off."

That got a laugh out of Angie. "Thank you August."

August smiled. "Glad I did something right here."

–

Lilith rolled her eyes as the red headed woman strolled into the castle. "I need another potion from you. My husband cheated on me. I need a potion to make me forget about him."

Lilith didn't blame him. "Need or want?" Lilith questioned. "All magic comes with a price, dear. By using more, you're making the price bigger."

"I don't care. I want magic."

Lilith sighed. "Fine. But you do something for me first."

"Whatever."

Lilith tapped her scepter into the ground, encasing the two in dark pink smoke. The wind picked up as Lilith took the two of them to a different castle. This castle was made of stone which was crying with cracks. A displeasing scent wafted from the palace. The woman was instantly disgusted. "What died in there?"

Lilith shrugged. She led the woman up the stairs into the palace. She stood at the door. The woman was reluctant to head inside, so Lilith pushed her in with a small shove. Suddenly, the woman started to choke. Lilith raised her eyebrows as the woman's eyes turned green. The woman managed to cough out a question. "What-what's happening?"

"I think your price is paying you a visit. This castle is cursed. Anyone with an impure soul will be purified...sometimes that happens in an extreme way."

Lilith turned around and started to walk away. The woman attempted to follow her, but began to cough up smoke. "You're just going to leave me here?"

"In a way, I'm doing you a favor. You'll never have to see that husband of yours again." Lilith laughed as she tapped her scepter into the ground. The doors slammed shut as the woman's screams turned into roars.

–

Angie walked into the house as Emma was about to talk to Henry. Her stuff was in some cardboard boxes. Angie was about to head upstairs, but Emma held her hand out, telling her to stop. "No Ange. I need you for emotional support." Angie obeyed and headed over as Emma started to talk to Henry. "Yesterday when I tried to take you away, you were right. Can't take you out of Storybrooke. But I can't stay, either."

Henry looked ready to cry. "What?" Angie knelt down and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"I have to go."

"Go? You mean...leave Storybrooke?"

Emma nodded sadly. "I spoke to Regina, we made a deal. I'm still gonna be able to see you, just not...every day."

Henry ripped himself out of Angie's grasp. "No! No! You can't trust her!"

Angie looked at Emma. "Gotta admit, kid's got a point."

"I have to. It's my only choice. It's best for you, Henry. Every time I fight her, someone else gets hurt."

Henry started to get angry. "No no no! You're just scared. This happens to all heroes, it's just—the low moment before you fight back."

Emma sighed and bent to his level. "Henry! This isn't a story! This is reality. Some things have to change. You can't skip school. You can't run away, and...you can't believe in curses."

"Emma, she wants you dead," Henry told her.

"Come on, Henry!" Emma said, exasperated. Angie wanted to help Henry, but Emma was being a butt.

"You're the only one that can stop her!" Henry insisted.

"Stop her from what? All she's ever done is fight for you. It just... got out of hand. I'm sorry."

Henry turned to Angie. "Tell her she can't do this!"

Angie placed a hand on Henry's shoulder. "I don't think she has a choice, kiddo. She doesn't want you getting hurt."

Henry, close to tears, turned to Emma and pulled her into a hug. He reached his hand out and pulled Angie in close as well. Angie could tell from his grip that he didn't want to let go. But he did. Eventually.

Angie's dessert spidey senses started tingling. She glanced over to the table, where a turnover was seated on a napkin. "Ooh. Where did you get that?"

"Regina gave it to me."

Angie lifted it to her nose and furrowed her brows. It smelled like...apple. But it also smelled like something Angie knew all too well. Magic. Her magic.

Henry smelled it too. "Apple!"

Emma shrugged. "So?"

"You can't eat that: it's poison. Don't you see? The deal. It was all a trick, to get you to eat that. To get rid of the savior."

Angie had to admit: it was an excellent move on Regina's part. How she had gotten a magic apple with Angie's curse in a land without magic was beyond her. But she had. And she was making a last ditch effort to get rid of Emma.

Emma was not having this situation. "Henry. You've got to stop thinking like this."

"But it's the truth. And you leaving isn't gonna change that."

Emma sighed and reached to take the turnover. "I'll prove it to you." Angie quickly drew her hand back, holding the turnover. Henry then snatched the turnover away from Angie and stepped back.

"Henry!" Angie called out, shocked. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry it had to come to this," he said, looking at Emma. "You may not believe in the curse. Or in me. But I believe in you."

"Henry!" Angie tried again. "You know what that thing'll do."

"I believe in you guys. You'll bring me back." Henry told her before taking a big bite of the turnover.

"No!" Angie yelled out, but it was too late. Henry swallowed. Angie held her breath, waiting for what she knew would happen, but nothing did.

Emma laughed lightly. "See? You wanna have some ice cream with that? Then we can go back to talking about–"

She was cut off as Henry suddenly dropped to the ground. Emma's jaw dropped as she ran over and tried to wake him up. "Henry. Henry? Henry?"

"Damnit, Henry," Angie muttered before dropping down next to Emma.