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Astrid had went to Granny's with Emma and Henry to get breakfast; After they had ate, they had went shopping for the welcome/welcome back party that would be later tonight.

Astrid complained about the clothes that Emma would pick out and would only give Emma sarcastic and snide remarks, "But where can I place my daggers?" and "Why the hell will I ever have to wear that?"

And it took a lot to make Astrid remove her kransen; Emma gave up on trying, so she just decided that Astrid would take it off when whenever she's ready.

Upon arriving back at the apartment, Emma unlocked the door as Henry and Astrid entered first, followed by Emma. "Hey! Guess what!?" Henry excitedly started as he rushed passed the two blonde ladies and towards the kitchen area, "Taco shells were on sale."

Astrid dropped her shopping bags at the staircase and moved back over to them. "And, according to Emma, my clothes were good deals also, so it's a win-win." Astrid added.

"And apparently, tacos? Not a big item in the Enchanted-?" Emma also added as the three of them froze at the sight of Snow and David beneath the sheets of her bed, undressed.

Henry quickly broke the awkward tension and asked the couple in confusion, "What are you guys still doing in bed?"

Astrid also began before realizing, "Yeah, it's middle of the afternoon- ohhh..." Her face changed to a look of realization to a look of disgust as she looked at her parents. "Gross."

"What?" Henry innocently asked as he glanced over at his aunt.

Snow stopped him and began, "The trip back was tiring and... I needed to rest..."

"And I needed to... help her rest." David spoke up while pulling the sheet up and tucking it in closer to their bodies.

"But what's so gross about that-?" Henry asked Astrid who wrapped her arm around his shoulders and guided him into the kitchen while simply answering, "It's better left unsaid, trust me, buddy."

"Uh... let's go make the tacos. We have to make a lot because there's going to be a ton of people at Granny's welcome and welcome back party tonight." Emma spoke up, following after her sister and son.

Astrid listened to the conversation between her parents and twin as she helped Henry unload the ingredients from the grocery bags. "We thought you were going to be back later." Snow whispered to Emma.

"Yeah, well, we weren't. Next time you could put a tie on the door or send a text or-" Emma paused and said, "You know what? I'm- I'm gonna go make some tacos- while teach Astrid what's what in the kitchen again."

Astrid called out over to her, "Mm, pass." She moved over to them and smirked at her parents, deciding to embarrass her sister even more and make them a little more awkward. "I'd rather have our parents explain why-"

Emma quickly covered the teenager's mouth with her hand and shot her down, "No." Snow and David chuckled some as Emma removed her hand and looked at Astrid who bust out laughing then and made her way back over to the kitchen.

Emma looked at her sister and at their parents in disbelief before also going over to the kitchen to start making tacos.

"It's impressive that we can still provide them a few traumatic childhood memories at this stage of the game." David commented in amusement as Snow smiled also.

***

Astrid changed into a pair of dark skinny jeans, brown boots, and a red and blue plaid button-up shirt; She looked in the mirror and sighed while undoing her braid as her wavy blonde hair then flowed down.

She looked at the kransen around her head and hesitantly removed it and placed it on top of her dresser. It felt weird not wearing it because it was a Viking sign of her maidenhood.

Astrid picked up a gray beanie and placed it over her head, fixing her hair also; She was wearing her necklace with the red gemstone on it around her neck and her large silver ring with the dark orange gem in the center of the band on her left index finger.

"It's now or never, I suppose." Astrid murmured to herself as she stared at her reflection. She wanted so badly to wear her mask, but Snow and David both assured her that the people there can be trusted.

She still wasn't so sure but slowly agreed with them that she will not wear her mask. The teenager, however, went ahead and placed her thirteen daggers everywhere in her clothing, all hidden and easily obtainable to her.

You never know when danger might strike. Astrid simply thought and then moved out of her bedroom and down the hall and then down the stairs.

The five of them then left out of the apartment and headed towards the diner; Emma and David held the tacos while the rest of the family walked.

Astrid stopped at the gate of the diner as Snow, Emma, and Henry continued to enter the restaurant while David looked back at his teenage daughter and smiled in assurance. "They'll love you, Astrid." David reassured.

"I should've wore my mask. Maybe I should go back and get it-" Astrid started, fixing to turn around.

David chuckled and stopped her by wrapping an arm around her. "I'll be right here, your mother and sister and even nephew will be right by your side. You don't have to be alone anymore, Kid."

Astrid took a deep breath and smiled a little up at her father. "I know. I'm not afraid." David smiled and led her towards the door and stepped into the diner also.

There was a giant banner that read, "Welcome Home, Mary Margaret and Emma and Astrid." Everyone cheered when they saw them come in, David joined his wife as Astrid moved over to the counter where the food was at and sat down on one of the stools.

Henry immediately moved over to the teenager he had instantly grew fond of and sat beside her on the stool next to her.

Emma was speaking to Granny, "Tacos. I cannot tell you the relief of cooking something that I didn't have to kill first."

"Don't I know it." Granny commented, "Meatloaf back home? What a bitch." Before anymore could be said, they were interrupted by the clinking of a glass as someone was fixing to make the first toast.

Everyone diverted their attention to David who held his glass towards them and began, "I just wanted to, uh, thank you all for joining us tonight. Mary Margaret and I-- We have a saying... That we will always find each other. And, while I believe that with all my heart, I'd like you all to raise your glasses and join me when I say... Here's to not looking for a while."

Everyone laughed as David then added, "To Mary Margaret, Astrid, and Emma!" The whole room filled with the applause around them.

Astrid took a sip of a beer and cringed, setting her cup down. Geesh, the alcohol was better back in Berk. This tastes like piss. She found herself thinking and then grabbed a bottle of root beer and opened it, taking a sip of it.

Snow grabbed Emma quickly, pulling her into a loving hug, and then grabbed Astrid and hugged her also, making the teenager laugh some.

As everyone clinked glasses, a familiar woman, Regina, entered the diner with a lasagna dish just as the whole place fell silent. "Sorry I'm late." Regina said sheepishly but sweetly.

Suddenly, Leroy grabbed a knife as Astrid narrowed her eyes slightly at the man. "What is she doing here?" Leroy spoke up. Astrid walked over to him and grabbed the knife from the dwarf, throwing it back down onto the cutting board, making it stand straight up.

"Astrid and I invited her." Emma quickly defended the woman as Astrid nodded in agreement.

Snow and David dragged their two daughters aside, now standing in front of them. Emma started first, "We're celebrating today because of Regina. She helped us get home. No matter what she did in the past, we owe her our thanks now."

Snow looked over at Regina and back at her daughters. "Didn't you two think to tell us about it?" David questioned.

"Well, we was, but you two were a little busy this afternoon." Astrid remarked cheekily.

"She tried to kill us. Yesterday." Snow started.

"No, she didn't. She's trying to change for Henry." Emma commented. "He believes in her, and right now, that's enough for me. I couldn't have changed if I wasn't given a chance, so she gets one too."

Snow sighed as did David before they glanced over at Astrid. David asked her, "What about you? Why do you think she gets another chance?"

"Two reasons. One, everyone deserves a chance." Astrid began.

"And the second reason?" Snow curiously asked.

"Huh, I guess it was just that one reason." Astrid shrugged as they chuckled lightly before they nodded.

Astrid then turned around and headed over to Henry and Regina where Regina was cutting up the lasagna she had brought. "I'm really glad that you came, Regina." The teenager began with a smile.

Regina also smiled and nodded, "Thanks for inviting me." She liked the teenager and even sees a little of herself in Astrid, whether that's a good thing or not, she didn't know.

Then Leroy walked over to the counter to get some food as Regina held out a plate with some of the lasagna and said, "I made lasagna."

"What's the secret ingredient? Poison?" Leroy sarcastically remarked.

Astrid scoffed and grabbed the plate from Regina while taking a fork and then ate a big bite of it; Regina held back a smile as Astrid smirked at Leroy and replied, "Red pepper flakes. Gives it some kick."

Regina handed another plate over to Leroy as he sniffed it and then took it over to the table with all the other dwarves. "Thanks." She replied to the teenager who only nodded and grinned.

Snow and David had heard the whole conversation and couldn't help but chuckle in amusement at their teenager; She definitely knows how to be charming.

After an hour and a half passed, Astrid had talked to every single person who had attended the party-- and she was exhausted.

Astrid was currently beating her parents' records at throwing darts at the dartboard; She kept hitting the bullseye perfectly every single time.

Henry watched his aunt in amazement as did other people while Snow fed David and Emma talked to Archie. Henry spoke up towards the teenager, "Can you do something cooler?"

"Like what?" Astrid inquired curiously as she sat next to him in the booth he was sitting in.

Henry grinned. "How about... throwing two darts at the same time with both hands blindfolded?"

"Hmm, interesting, Kiddo. Let's try it." Astrid replied and stood up, grabbing a dishcloth from the counter as her parents and sister looked over at what she was doing.

The teenager tied the dishcloth over her eyes after facing the dartboard and picked up two darts, twirling them in her hands twice before throwing them at the board at the same time.

The two darts soared through the air and embedded themselves in the center of bullseye, stacked on top of the other; Astrid removed her makeshift blindfold as everyone in the restaurant clapped in awe.

"And that, Henry, is how it's done." Astrid remarked to her eleven year old nephew as he replied, "You're awesome."

Astrid fixed her beanie on her head and moved over to her parents and confidently but cheekily said, "I set the new record, beating you two. You should come over here and defend your titles."

David grinned, standing up from his seat, "You're on, Kid." Astrid also grinned and followed him over to the dartboard, Snow following them also as she sat in the booth with Henry.

David started first and still ended up losing badly to his teenage daughter. Astrid bounced on her feet and hopped on his back piggyback-style as he held her up. "I won, Grandpa." She cheekily remarked, kissing him on his cheek before jumping back down on the floor and did a little dance while David, Henry, and Snow laughed.

Astrid did a one-handed cartwheel, smirked, and walked out of the diner. David remarked in amusement towards his wife, "That's our girl."

***

The following morning, Emma, Henry, and Astrid went out to Granny's diner to grab a quick breakfast before Henry goes to school. "So, what was it like? Over there?" Henry questioned while eating some french fries.

Astrid shoveled scrambled eggs into her mouth as Emma answered her son while also eating a fry, "Well, let's see... There were ogres, the dead rising, people trying to kill us. And... more ogres."

Henry smiled widely, letting out, "Awesome."

"We have to work on your sense of awesome." Emma replied, wrapping an arm around his shoulders lightly.

"Ogres are ugly and very smelly, but you're right, Henry-- being over there was awesome, full of adventure." Astrid shrugged while now digging into her pancakes.

"Come on, it's time for school. I'll walk you to the bus. And your aunt will also join us." Emma spoke up.

"I will?" Astrid inquired with a mouthful of pancakes. Henry looked at Emma and replied, "It's okay. I can go on my own."

"I know that you can. That doesn't mean that you should." Emma said.

"David let me." Henry replied as Emma commented, "Well, I'm not David."

"You used to let me." Henry reminded her as Emma then replied, "Well, I am not me. I'm walking you because that's what mothers do. And I'm doing it."

Astrid downed the last bit of her orange juice before following the two out of the door as she spoke up to her sister, "What you said makes no sense."

Astrid noticed a Dalmatian she had learned that he was Archie's dog named Pongo run over to the three of them. Henry bent down and petted the dog, "Hey, Pongo!"

Pongo kept barking as Astrid also bent down to the dog and petted him, saying, "It's okay, boy. What's the matter?"

Emma noticed the dog but also noticed that his owner wasn't around him and asked, "Where's Archie?"

Ruby then ran out of the diner and immediately said, "Emma, something's wrong."

Emma faced Ruby in confusion and asked, "How do you know?" Pongo kept barking as Emma shook her head, "Never mind, wolf thing." She looked over at Henry and said, "You know what? Eleven is old enough to walk to the bus stop. I'll pick you up later."

"Okay." Henry said and headed down the street.

Pongo started running as Astrid, Ruby, and Emma followed the animal; They ran into the building and over to Archie's office where the door was cracked open. "Archie!?" Emma called out as she slowly opened the door.

The two of them entered the room as Emma knelt beside Archie who was laying on the floor completely knocked out... or dead. Emma checked his pulse as Ruby then entered the room and asked, "What is it?"

Emma looked up and over at her sister and Ruby, shaking her head slightly. "No..." Ruby murmured.

Pongo whimpered and ran over to the teenager and tackled her, knocking her off her feet as she hugged the dog, somehow reassuring him.

"Who would do this?" Emma questioned in shock.

Ruby spoke up, "I think I know."

***

Regina sat in the interrogation room while Snow and Astrid stood in the other room, watching her; David and Emma entered the room that Regina was inside and began to interrogate the woman.

Astrid was currently petting a depressed Pongo who, apparently, refused to leave the girl's side. She didn't even know the dog until she met Archie when she had arrived in Storybrooke.

"Glad to see the Sheriff's station is now a family business." Regina commented as Emma didn't reply to that while David shut the door and leaned against the wall. "Why am I here?"

"You know why you're here. Because of Archie." Emma replied as tears came to Snow's eyes while Astrid moved her free hand over her mother's hand in reassurance.

Regina looked confused as she asked, "Now it's against the law to get in an argument with someone?"

"It is if you go to their office later that night and kill them." David answered, folding his arms across his chest.

Regina looked even more confused and now shocked. "Archie's dead?"

Astrid knew that look. That was truly a confused and shock look. Regina really didn't know anything about Archie's murder. David then spoke up, "Stop it, Regina. Ruby saw you going into his office last night."

Regina immediately said, "Then she's lying. I was home all evening." Emma sat on the table as Regina looked up at her, "After everything I've done to change, to win Henry back, why would I toss it all away now? And if I did and I was going to kill Archie, you would never know it. The fact that he's dead and you caught me shows sloppiness."

"You've been caught before." David remarked.

Regina slightly glared at the man as David said, "Come on, Emma. Who do you think is lying? Ruby or her? She's incapable of change when she was at the peak of her bloodlust and was given a chance. Regina wasn't able to change when we gave her a chance. Why would this time be any different?"

Astrid watched as her father and twin left out of the room and joined her and Snow in the room behind the one way mirror. "So, what do we do with her now?" Snow asked as David sighed and folded his arms and answered his wife, "Lock her up."

"We can't lock her up because she didn't do it." Astrid pointed out.

"Astrid's right." Emma agreed with a nod.

"You two really believe her?" David asked.

Emma nodded again and said, "I watched her when we told her Archie was dead. She didn't know."

"Emma, I know that you want to believe that Regina can change for Henry-" Snow started.

"I saw it too." Astrid cut her mother off, nodding her head to the window, "I mean, look at her in there. The old Regina- from what I've heard in stories- would've probably blown this place to pieces or reduced it to ashes. If she killed someone, no one would know about it and she would make sure of it."

"She's a woman who wants to change. She just wants everyone to see it. I know that. I know her. I believe her." Emma reluctantly added.

David shared a look with Snow before looking back at his daughters and replied, "With all due respect, you two don't know her like we do-"

Astrid cut her father off and commented, "I do. The life of everyone blaming you, hating you, claiming that you can't change... You know how many times I got blamed for murder in my lifetime?"

Snow and David shared a look before looking back at Astrid who continued, "A lot. People didn't even know the full story and they automatically assumed that it was me. Because the evidence pointed to me, no one- no one- believed me. So yeah, I know how Regina feels."

"Astrid's right. I know in the Enchanted Forest she was the Evil Queen, but here, she's Regina." Emma added, "I'm still the Sheriff, and I say she's innocent until proven guilty."

"So... What do you suggest we do?" Snow asked.

Astrid glanced over at her sister who shrugged and answered, "Let her go."

David immediately started, "Emma-"

But Astrid cut him off and agreed with her sister, "We let her go and we find the truth." David and Snow both nodded.

***

Emma, David, Snow, and Astrid were searching through Archie's files in his office; Astrid was sitting in his chair beside the couch where Emma was sitting, Snow was sitting at the desk while David stood and looked through the file cabinet.

Pongo was laying down beside Astrid's feet, his head on his paws. David sighed and spoke up, "Huh... Regina's file-- it's empty."