Second Love to the Right (Neal Cassidy/Baelfire Love Story)

Chapter 22: Hunting for the Witch

As soon as Henry fell asleep, we all went back inside to discuss plans about hunting down the Wicked Witch.
"So now that we know who we're dealing with, how do we find this Wicked Witch?" David asks.
"Might I suggest we start by asking if anyone has seen a woman with green skin running around" Hook says with a chuckle.
I roll my eyes. I'm pretty sure the Wicked Witch doesn't want to draw attention to herself that quick.
"We're cursed in Storybrooke, she'll look like anyone of us" Regina replies.
"Then we start somewhere we know she's been. Regina's office" Emma says.
"I went over it with a fine-toothed comb. She left no trace" Regina said.
"I don't think the Wicked Witch would allow herself to be caught that fast. I'm pretty sure she wants to give us a chase" I say.
"Maybe there was physical evidence you missed" Emma directed towards Regina.
"Good idea. We can track her" David says.
"If you want to waste your time playing Nancy Drew, be my guest, but we can't let Henry wander around alone with that witch and her flying monkeys out there" Regina says.
"Especially if one of those monkeys could turn out to be his father" Hook says.
As he says that, it felt like a ton of stones just hit the bottom of my stomach. Is it possible that could've happened?
"Still no sign of Neal?" Mary Margaret asks.
I sadly shake my head no.
"Point being, someone needs to protect Henry. He doesn't even know what's going on" Regina says.
"Why don't I?" I ask.
Regina and Emma look at me with shock. More than anything I'm shocked I said that.
"Just for a little while? I understand Regina that you want to be able to know Henry again, but you and everyone else has more of a lead on this than I do. I literally just discovered what's been going on. So if I watch Henry for just a bit, I'll be able to keep him distracted long enough for you guys to get down to this" I say.
A moment of silence passes before anyone says anything. It's Regina who's the first to say something.
"You know what, that's actually a really good idea."
I smile a bit.
"Remember though Molly, he thinks I'm here because of a case. Don't slip up please. That goes for everyone" Emma says.
"Don't worry, I got things handled here. There's something wicked in town, I suggest you go find it" I say.

After everyone left, Mary Margaret and David entrusted me with their apartment. They gave me the keys and everything. I had to stay here for a while, at least until Henry woke up. I looked around the place for a bit. It was a really nice and quaint place. It looked like the perfect place to start a family. As I busied myself with looking around, I hadn't realized that there had been a knock on the door. I walked over to the door, but before I answered, I wondered who it could be. Did someone forget something? I didn't know. I answered the door. It was none of the people who were previously here. In fact, I didn't even know who it was. It was a tall woman with red, curly hair.
"I'm sorry, am I at the wrong place?" she asked.
I noticed right away she was British.
"Um...whose place were you looking for?" I ask.
"Mary Margaret's" the woman replies.
"Oh!" I exclaim, "this is Mary Margaret's apartment actually." I say.
"Oh dear me, am I early?" she asks.
Honestly right now, this woman was making no sense.
"Early for what? Who are you exactly?" I ask.
"I'm Zelena. You see, I'm a midwife and today is the interview to see if Mary Margaret will hire me to take care of her baby" the woman says.
"Oh..." I say still kind of confused, "come in then."
I open the door wider and allow Zelena to come in. She takes a quick look around.
"So where is Mary Margaret exactly?" Zelena asks.
"You actually just missed her, she went out to...." I'm about to say but I bite my lip.
I can't tell her about everyone hunting down the Wicked Witch. She'll think I'm crazy.
"...do some things" I quickly say.
"Huh" Zelena says sounding confused, "do you know when she'll be back?"
"Soon hopefully. I'm just here for now watching the house" I say.
"You know what darling, you look like you can use a cup of tea" Zelena says totally changing the subject.
"No thank you, I'm fine" I say.
"Oh please, I insist. Plus, you look like you've been through a lot and you should always offer a beverage to someone who's upset" Zelena says.
I was a bit surprised that she could tell I've been nothing but upset and worried for the past couple of days.
"Then I guess I can't resist" I say.
Zelena smiles and quickly runs into the kitchen to start the tea. As she prepared the tea, I decided to have a conversation with her again.
"That's a really interesting name, Zelena. I've never heard anything like it" I say.
"It is isn't it?" Zelena says, "speaking of which, I never got your name."
"Molly" I say.
"Molly, that's a nice name. You know actually I had a friend who's girlfriend's name was Molly" Zelena says.
"That's nice. It's actually quite a common name" I say.
"Yes, and oh how my dear friend loved his Molly, and how she loved him back. Unfortunately, I think it was his love for her that drove him into his early grave" Zelena continues.
"Oh, that's not so nice" I say.
Zelena nods as she walks over with the tea.
"Oh, what a tragedy it was. Tea?" she says.
She hands over the cup of tea to me and I immediately start to drink from it. Zelena was right, I really did need it.
"Mmm, this is nice" I say.
"I'm glad you like it, it's my own special recipe" she says.
As I finish the drink, I just notice now that Zelena was a very exquisite, large, green necklace.
"I like your necklace" I say.
"Thanks" she says as she holds it, "I like yours too."
I immediately grab the heart-shaped necklace that Neal gave to me. Just thinking about him made me upset again.
"Thanks, it's from a very old friend. One whom I haven't seen in a long time" I say.
"Well, if Mary Margaret isn't going to be returning anytime soon, I best be off. Please remind her for me in case she forgot?" Zelena asks.
"Sure, no problem" I say.
Zelena smiles. She then grabs her things and leaves.
"Mom...? What's with all the ruckus?" I hear a voice ask.
I turn around and see Henry waking up.
"Oh hey Henry, you're awake" I say.
"Molly? What are you doing here? Where's my mom?" Henry asks.
"Your mom is out with her case, and everyone else decided to join her, so they left me in charge of taking care of you" I reply.
"I'm almost 13. I know what to do when I'm home alone" Henry says.
"Well, you can't get ice cream if you stay at home alone" I say.
As soon as I say that, Henry quickly grabs his coat and heads out the door. I laugh at how easy it was to persuade him, and I walk out following him.