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"Breakfast in bed? Seriously?" Emma questioned as she noticed David fixing a tray of breakfast foods to bring to Snow who was still laying in bed depressed.

Emma was a bit cranky and annoyed because, for a week now, her twin sister has barely said a word to her since their argument at Granny's.

Astrid hadn't even left out of her own bedroom, except to go to the bathroom or go do whatever in the woods or hang out with her nephew.

They knew and understood that Astrid was still hurting over losing Hiccup again and even losing Cora and not having Hook around; Emma also knew why her sister was upset with her.

"What happened has been really hard on Mary Margaret." David began, "The least we can do is make sure she's eating."

"I think it's time to give the hot cocoa and the foot massages a rest. It's time to haul her ass out of bed and get her to move past this." Emma said.

David placed the tray down on the counter with a small thud. "That's a little harsh, don't you think? She took Cora's life." David replied.

Henry descended down the stairs and stopped to see his mother and grandfather and asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, kid. Get your coat." Emma replied, "And Astrid?"

Henry shook his head and said, "I knocked on her door and she didn't answer... I guess she already left here earlier this morning."

Emma sighed inaudibly and nodded somewhat. "We're gonna be late."

"Bye, Gramps." Henry said while grabbing his jacket and then headed out of the door.

"I know you think that she needs our help. But at the end of the day, she's the only one who can help herself." Emma told David while sliding her own coat on.

David nodded and followed her to the door as she exited and closed the door behind her; He closed his eyes, one hand on the back of the door and sighed quietly.

"Good morning." Snow spoke up as David turned around and smiled a little at her and replied, "Hey. I made you some eggs, but if you're craving something else, we can go to Granny's. Unless you have other plans."

He watched his wife pack a few food items in a bag as Snow commented, "I thought I'd head out to the woods, actually. I need to think things through."

"Let me come with you." David said.

"David..." Snow began, "I need to do this alone. And you have things to do. I know you've been looking forward to working the bean field."

"Yeah." David lightly replied, "Yeah, Anton says we might have a crop soon. And once we do, we can go home. None of what happened will matter. It will all be in the past."

"I used Regina to kill her own mother. And I let Astrid down again, also, by killing someone who was considered family to her." Snow started, "I don't think going back will erase that."

"Astrid told me she's forgiven you-" David tried again, "Mary Margaret..."

"Please." Snow said and then whispered, "Give me time." David nodded a little just as they heard a loud thud upstairs. "I thought I heard you guys say that Astrid wasn't here right now...?"

David shrugged lightly and replied, "She didn't answer when Henry checked, so we just figured that she wasn't."

"I should go check on her." Snow slowly began, "After what I've done..." She stopped and shook her head some before finishing, "Will you go with me to check on our daughter?"

"Of course." David nodded as both of them headed up the stairs and then moved down the hall to their teenager's bedroom door.

Snow knocked on the door and started, "Astrid? You home?" The two of them heard a glass shattering sound from inside of the room and shared a look between one another.

They opened the door to see broken glass from a framed picture on the floor and Astrid finished packing a duffel bag of her belongings as the girl let out about the small cut on her finger from the glass, "Damn it..." They seen her heal the cut with her magic and finished packing her bag.

"What are you doing?" David lightly asked their daughter.

"Oh, um..." Astrid slightly began with a lost of words but then managed to speak again, "I decided that, in everyone's best interests, I move out. I failed this family and I'm not gonna make that mistake again."

"So, you're just going to leave? How does that make sense to you?" Snow wondered aloud.

"Because of you, Mom! Before I arrived here, you didn't have a darkened heart." Astrid answered with a sigh, "In case you forgot, I'm a warrior. I protect those I care about... I made a vow in a way. This is what's best. No one else will suffer because of me, especially not my family. I'm sorry that I failed you guys..."

"Astrid, where will you even go?" David inquired, moving his hands over his hips.

"Back to the Enchanted Forest." Astrid murmured, "I've been preparing for my trip while Stormfly rested to make this journey. I had called her back here from my homeland."

"You could've left this entire time and didn't? What made you decide to stay before? Because whatever made you decide to stay, we'll do it again." Snow started, not wanting her daughter to leave, especially being reunited with them for only about two months.

"It's the same reason that I have to bloody leave. Family." Astrid murmured while slinging the strap of her duffle bag over her shoulder.

"If this is because of what I did... killing Cora... I am truly sorry for that-- and for pushing you away when you were only trying to help." Snow tried desperately.

"It's okay. I forgave you for that. Now, it's time for you to forgive yourself, Mom, and then just keep moving forward." Astrid replied with a small sad smile, her eyes slightly watery as she add, "If, um, you guys want to tell me farewell, I'm leaving in the evening."

"Astrid-"

The said teenager picked up the picture off of the floor, stuck it inside her back pocket, and moved past her parents but then stopped in the hallway with her back still turned on them. "I love you guys- more than anything. You're still my family, and now, I have to go find my sister... you know, make up with her, forgive her, and all sappy stuff like that." She sadly laughed but it didn't last but a second.

Astrid moved downstairs and headed to the door, now leaving out of the apartment for the last time.

***

Emma noticed Astrid enter inside of Granny's and stopped as she scanned the diner before landing her eyes on Emma also. They both moved over to one another as Emma started first, "Hey."

"Hi." Astrid smiled a little.

"I'm sorry for what I said. I'm sure your life wasn't easy at all and I'm really proud to have a twin sister like you, A." Emma immediately said, "And, I miss your sarcastic remarks about everything I do or say and I just miss talking to my sister, surprisingly."

Astrid nodded slowly and murmured, "Yeah, me too."

"Forgive me?" Emma inquired as Astrid rolled her eyes somewhat and answered her, "Always." Emma pulled her into a hug quickly and then released her after a second.

Emma noticed their mother walk into the diner then and approached her daughters. "Hey. What's up? Why the urgent phone call?" Emma asked first.

"It's August. I found him." Snow answered as Marco spoke up, "My boy? He's alive?"

Snow nodded and replied, "Yes, but... he's completely wooden. He's been living in an abandoned trailer down near the toll bridge."

"What can we do? Can we help him?" Emma questioned as she shared a look with her sister and looked back at their mother.

Snow shook her head and answered, "No. But I know someone who might be able to-- Mother Superior."

Marco nodded in agreement and confirmed, "Yes, the Blue Fairy. She helped once, she can help again. She must."

Astrid slowly nodded and gave a small shrug, going on one more adventure with her family before she leaves them.

***

"I know about August. He came to me after the curse broke and asked if I would return him to what he was." Mother Superior commented after the group had told her about him.

Astrid had her hands over the handles of her swords that was strapped to both of her sides. "Why didn't you?" The teenager inquired.

"Because what he was is what he is." Mother Superior answered then turned to Marco and asked, "Do you remember what I told you when I found you two on the beach years ago? The day I turned your son into a real boy?"

"Yes. It was the happiest day of my life." Marco replied.

Mother Superior smiled and said, "I told Pinocchio as long as he remained brave, truthful, and unselfish he would stay a real boy. But I'm afraid he did not. That is why he changed back." She glanced over at Snow and added, "And that is why there is nothing I can do for him."

"It's true he's done some things he regrets-- we all have, but shouldn't he have another chance?" Snow inquired.

Mother Superior sighed some before replying, "If there is one path of redemption for August, it is only one that he must travel on his own. No one can force him or it will not be true."

Marco glanced down as Astrid lightly placed her hand over his arm in reassurance as Snow commented, "Don't despair, Marco. I know there's still hope for your son. There has to be."

***

"This is all my fault." Marco started as the four of them walked through the woods in search of his son.

Snow smiled a little at him and replied, "Our children make their own decisions, Marco. You can't blame yourself for anything that's happened."

"Yes, I can. And you should blame me too." Marco sighed, "The wardrobe that I built for you, the one that transport Emma to this world..." They stopped walking and faced him as he continued, "She did not go alone."

"Of course she did. The wardrobe only had enough magic to transport one person." Snow said.

"No, that was a lie I made the Blue Fairy tell you. It had enough magic to transport two." Marco tried explaining himself again, "And it did... your daughter and my son, Pinocchio."

"Astrid could've went with Emma? Or I could have went with her?" Snow quietly questioned.

Emma gave their mother a small sad look as Astrid wondered how that would have played out. She believes in fate and what happens, happens. She doesn't worry about what she can't control, like the past.

Astrid was so deep in thoughts about it that she missed part of the conversation just as she saw Snow slap the man. "Mom-" Astrid started as Emma also said, "Mary Margaret, what are you doing? He's apologizing!"

"No, it's okay. I deserve that-" Marco started.

"No, it's not okay." Snow cut him off, "Marco, I am so sorry. I am not myself. You just made a mistake. I would've done the same thing if I had a child. I forgive you. You were protecting your son."

"No, I burdened him with a weight no child should have to bare, and I called it love-" Marco replied and then stopped talking when he noticed Snow's look and glanced over at the trailer she was staring at.

Marco ran down the hill as the three ladies followed after him; Marco opened the door to the trailer as he and Snow entered inside.

Emma and Astrid remained right outside of the trailer and shared a curious look between one another. Snow stepped out first and shook her head slightly at her girls. Emma sighed some.

August wasn't inside.

The four of them were walking back through the woods now until Emma's phone rang as she answered it, "Emma Swan... August?"

Astrid's eyebrows raised at the mention of him as Emma suddenly said, "August? Warn me? Warn me about what?" She pulled the phone away from her ear and told the other three, "We need to go to the station. Now."

***

Henry walked by his aunt's side as they walked behind David, Snow, Marco, and Emma; The six of them were headed to the station as David spoke up, "If August is still back at the station, he's not picking up."

Just then they notice a wooden August stumble out of the station and started running to him as Emma exclaimed, "AUGUST!"

Marco reached his son first and held him in his arms now as he said, "No, my child. My boy!"

Henry looked at a dying August and then buried his face in Astrid's ribs as Astrid wrapped a reassuring arm around his shoulders but still watched the scene before her.

"My boy, what happened to you?" Marco murmured as August replied, "I'm so sorry, Papa."

Marco shook his head slightly and assured, "No, there is nothing to apologize for. Everything is going to be alright."

August glanced over at Emma and started, "Emma."

"August." The said woman quietly replied who knelt on his other side. He leaned up somewhat and began to whisper something in her ear, but he couldn't finish the sentence as he gave his last breath of life.

His blue eyes fogged up and was now back to laying in his father's arms as Marco cried out, "No, not again!"

Emma stood up just as Neal walked over and noticed Marco crying and softly spoke up, "August?"

"No. It can't end this way. He was supposed to get a second chance." Snow replied desperately.

"Mom..." Astrid slowly began but trailed off.

"What happened?" Neal asked.

"Someone killed him to stop him from telling us something. He used his last dying breath to warn us." Emma explained briefly with a shake of her head, "I will not let that be in vain."

Henry then looked back at them and mumbled, "Brave, truthful, and unselfish..." Henry glanced up and spoke clearer with hope, "Brave, truthful, and unselfish! Don't you see what this means? That's what Pinocchio was supposed to be. There's still hope. We need the Blue Fairy."

"I'm here, Henry." Mother Superior announced herself as she ran over to them.

"What's he talking about?" Astrid asked as Mother Superior explained, "I was able to turn Pinocchio into a real boy after he sacrificed his life for Marco's. If his actions were indeed brave, truthful, and unselfish, then you're right. There's a chance I can do it again."

Marco looked up at her and replied, "Please. I beg of you. Try."

Mother Superior nodded and waved her wand over August's body as the wooden man turned into a little boy again. Pinocchio opened his eyes and glanced at Marco. "Father?"

"Pinocchio." Marco smiled and held up his small hand, "Look."

"I'm a real boy," Pinocchio also smiled and glanced up at his father, "I'm a real boy!" Marco grinned and helped stand him up and hugged him tightly.

Mother Superior bent down and told the boy, "Do better this time, Pinocchio."

Emma then bent down to his height and added, "Pinocchio, I have to ask you a question. I need you to think real hard, okay? Before you turned into a little boy, you were trying to tell us something very important. Do you remember? You were trying to warn us about something."

Pinocchio paused some and then replied, "I- I don't remember. If I did, I would be truthful. I promise." Emma shared a look with her parents and sister at that set of news.

Once Marco and Pinocchio walked away, Emma and Astrid hugged their parents along with Henry and then parted from the hug.

Snow looked over at their teenager and moved her hand over her arm, making Astrid look at her curiously. "You are not leaving us. It is not your job to take care of all of us." Snow began.

"Wait. You're planning on leaving us?" Emma spoke up towards her twin, hurt in her tone.

Astrid nodded with a light sigh and replied, "You might not think it is my job, but it is. That's just how I was raised... You think I bloody want to leave my family? No, that's far from it. I'm not-- I'm not strong enough anymore. Back in our land, my home, I was the one of the strongest warriors and I actually was worthy to have a family like you guys..."

"Astrid-" They all started at once as the teenager looked down and turned around and walked away.

Snow stopped her husband and Emma and followed after Astrid by herself; She stopped in front of her and tried again, "I'm your mother, not the other way around, Astrid. You don't get to just check out of this family like this. That's not how families work."

Astrid didn't say anything and just watched her carefully as Snow continued, "I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you. I'm sorry that I pushed you away recently when you were hurting, too, when you needed me even if you deny that you're hurting... So, please talk to me. What's going on?"

"I-- I already told you..." Astrid murmured.

"Which was crap. What's your real reason to return to your land? Tell us- or me- the truth and we'll go from there. Alright?" Snow commented.

Tears came to her daughter's eyes as she flexed her jaw before saying, "I'm not strong enough like I was back home... I don't know who I am anymore. I just- I just need to go and find myself again... I lost my identity, Mom."

"Okay." Snow nodded slowly and pulled her into a tight hug. "It's okay. That doesn't mean you get to leave. We're here to help you, stand by you, support you, and with the occasional tough love... You're not alone. You have us now."

Astrid nodded some and stepped back to look at her mother with a small sad smile. "And you're not the only one in this family with a dark spot on their hearts." Snow looked at her in slight confusion as Astrid removed her own heart from her chest to show her mother a few black smudges on her glowing heart. "We're in this together... Our past doesn't define who we are now. That I know for sure."

Snow waited for Astrid to place her heart back inside of her chest and then wrapped an arm around her again. "I hope you know that you're amazing, Astrid."

The teenager smiled some and nodded. "So are you, Mom." The two of them rejoined their family.

"So, you deciding to stay?" Henry asked his aunt hopefully, not wanting her to leave him.

"They seem to think so." Astrid answered while nodding over to her parents, "And they're usually right about these things, so yes."

Henry smiled.

As they headed home, Astrid carried Henry on her back piggyback-style while Emma followed behind beside David and Snow.

Emma glanced over at her parents and asked, "Why was she planning on leaving?"

"She lost herself, so she wants to head back to her homeland and rediscover herself." Snow answered, "But there's something else different with her than when we reunited with her..."

"What's that?" Emma and David both inquired.

"She doesn't have hope anymore. Astrid always hoped in things and always saw the best in people, but now," Snow slowly answered, "I don't see any hope in her eyes anymore. She lost her hope."

They watched Astrid place her nephew back on the floor once they reached the stairs of the apartment and heard Henry challenge her, "Race you to the top."

"You're on, buddy." Astrid laughed and then both of them took off running up the stairs together and entering inside of the apartment.