Lost, Then Home: The Third Book in the A Tale of Two Sisters Series

Part Two: Quiet Minds

"If you want privacy, talk fast," Granny said as the Charmings, Emma, Hook, Reagan, and Regina gathered in her diner the next morning. "We open in twenty, and no one gets between Leroy and his bacon."

"Is there any sign of our quarry?" Hook asked.

"I went all over that farmhouse and the land around it—nothing," Emma answered.

"Well, now that the sun's up we should hit every place Gold might go—His house, shop, his cabin," David said.

" 'Cause dead men love vacation homes. Can someone explain to me how this is even possible? We all saw Gold he—"

"Disappeared into nothingness. I know," Mary Margaret said.

"Just like my dad. But can we bring him back to life? No," Reagan said pissed off. "Not fair."

"Jealous much, Your Royal Highness?" Hook asked, making the teen stare daggers at him. "Now, as I may recall, Neal spoke to you about the possibility of getting his father back."

"What? How?" David asked.

"He didn't know how. He just . . . He missed his family. And he was desperate to find a way to return to this world. He believed that bringing his father back was the key."

"Well, if that was his plan, then obviously something went wrong, because while Gold might be alive and kicking, Neal is—He's—We don't know that he is. We don't even know if he made it back to Storybrooke. No one's seen him since this new curse," Emma said.

"He's out there somewhere," her father assured her.

"With all due respect, we have bigger issue right now than who brought Gold back," Regina said. 

"The fact that he was in The Wicked Witch's basement, for one. I want to know what the hell she was cooking up with him."

"Well, the best way to find that out would be to ask Gold, right?" Mary Margaret asked.

"He could tell us who the witch is—maybe how to track her down," her husband said.

"I'm gonna head back to that farmhouse," Regina said. "It's possible this witch left behind some trace of potion or a special ingredient."

"Have at it. Just be careful," Emma said.

"Well, she's the one who needs to be careful. She invaded my space. When I return the favor, I'm not pulling any punches," Regina said before leaving.

" . . . As much as I would love to stay and help, I have to get to school early," Reagan stood, putting her messenger bag over her shoulder. "I need to reserve a parking spot at school."

"I thought I saw a blue friend out there for my bug," Emma said with a smile.

*  *  *  *  *

"How's choir?" Reagan asked Aaron as they walked to the library after finishing their lunch.

"It's good! You know when I first joined it I was a little suspicious about it—I kept on picturing those church choirs back in The Enchanted Forest," the blond replied making the ravenette laugh. "But no, it's fun. They're talking about doing a show choir thing next year."

"It's too bad you'll have graduated then."

"About that . . ." Aaron turned to her. "My counselor told me I can't graduate next month."

"What? Why?"

"Because I just arrived here and they said I don't have enough credits."

"Oh, I see. Well, I'm glad I'll still have you for another year, and then we can graduate together."Aaron smiled, "Exactly. Hey, so what's this prom thing I keep hearing people talk about?"