"Robert again?" a dressmaker asked when Nancy took her phone out again.

Frustrated, it went back into her pocket. "Another text message apology.

She was more focused on the dress on the work table than Nancy. "How many does that make?"

"I'm not sure exactly, but I'm pretty sure it's not enough."

She tried to leave at that, but the dressmaker followed her, making her stop with an inaudible groan. "So, what are you saying? That you're never going to forgive him?"

"I'm sure I will. At some point." She adjusted the blazer on a mannequin in front of her. "I mean, it's not like I'm one of those women who sit around their entire lives waiting for some perfect prince in shining armor to come take me off to his castle in the Hamptons."

The other woman nodded along, smiling sympathetically.

"I got over that fantasy a long time ago."

"You know what I think?" she asked after a moment.

Nancy looked up from the blazer, her hair perfectly placed in front of her eyes, but not so that it was blinding her. "Is that a multiple choice question?"

"I think you're a hopeless romantic who's discovered that romance is hopeless."

She raised a brow, suddenly seething. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

-

BANG BANG BANG

"Hello?" Y/n called from the other side of the bathroom door. Robert was on the other side, desperately trying to keep his voice steady.

"You know what, you gotta go. I don't know what your deal is, if you're waiting for Prince Charming -"

"Prince Edward."

"Whatever! I'll get you to a bus, a train, a plane, wherever, and then that's it! I can't get involved after that."

She came out then in a blue and white dress and a pink rose in the front, small details making up the pattern of her dress.

Robert's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw the dress. It looked a little too familiar. "What is this?"

Instead of answering, Gislaine came out of Robert's room, where Y/n immediately took a jacket she had made and put it over the clothes he had found: an oversized dress-shirt and khakis that he had to loop the belt around twice.

"Wh...are those my clothes? Y/n, where did you get that fabric?" He stepped out to them, looking towards his windows.

"Oh, do you like them? I can make you one, too, but I would need more fabric."

He said nothing when he saw his curtains with designs cut out in the shape of the dress and jacket.

"You're unhappy."

Slowly, he looked back at her, his voice rising. "You made clothes out of my curtains?"

"Oh, Robert, if I knew you'd be so unhappy -" she said quickly, her voice rising in a panic, until Gislaine cut her off, immediately putting an arm in front of her.

"Robert, let's talk about this like men; you're upsetting the lady."

"Oh, she's upset? Well, I'm angry."

She and Gislaine looked at each other, confused. "Angry?" they asked together.

"It's an unpleasant emotion. Ever hear of it?"

Any fear was gone when Y/n recognized the feeling by name only. "Oh, yes, but you see, I've never felt it before."

"Oh, really? Well, maybe you know what guilt is," he said, voice barely controlled as he began to pace around them. "Because you have created a very unnecessary problem with Nancy that I now have to resolve. See, the fact is, I was just getting ready to take a very serious step forward: a proposal, actually."

"Oh!" she squealed excitedly, clapping her hands. Even Gislaine was bouncing slightly.

"Well, now she's got it in her mind that you and I..." He stopped, trailing off awkwardly.

"Kissed?" she asked worriedly.

That got Gislaine to stop bouncing and look seriously at Robert. "Robert. I know you didn't, because Y/n loves me and you're a good friend. But does she?"

"No! I tried to get you off the balcony singing to those stupid roaches -"

"Pigeons," he corrected.

"Not the point! But because you couldn't stop singing your heart out, she doesn't know that you exist! Where does that leave me, Gislaine?"

His head bent as he let the information sink in. "Oh, no..."

While he tried to think of a solution, his fianceé was quicker. "You should sing to her!"

"Sing?" Where was reality when you needed it?

"Oh, yes!" She ran over to him, grabbing his shoulders and twirled into him, her hand outstretched. "You would reassure her that we have not kissed! After a beautiful ballad, she would know for sure and you would have your happily ever after! Just tell her that you've been dreaming of a true love's kiss...but with me, it would sure be amiss...she's the only one who you love dearly..."

She stopped when she saw him look intently at her, almost confused, tilting his head a little. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I don't know. It's like you escaped out of a Disney movie or something."

She twiddled her fingers, looking up at him with big eyes. "Is that a bad thing?"

He looked over and saw Morgan in her uniform, her arms out as if to ask if she was still leaving.

"School. We're late. We've gotta run!" Still in his pajamas - which was just a t-shirt and sweatpants, Robert ran out the door, completely ignoring Morgan now. Gislaine took her hand and followed after him.

-

Back in Andalasia, M/n was watching everything happen through the well, a scowl on her face. "Oh, wouldn't be just love to come crawling back here and take my crown! Cast me aside like royal rubbish!"

Nathaniel was clipping the hedges by the well to look like M/n, delicately working on her face. "Perhaps Prince Edward won't find them."

"Perhaps he will!" she barked, startling him and causing him to cut the whole head off, which feel into the well. M/n watched, her eyes widening in a realization. She got rid of her wicked smile and put on her 'damsel' attitude, her head on her forehead. "Oh, I do wish there was someone who cared enough for me to go after him."

Hearing that, Nathaniel's ears perked up and he rushed down the ladder, adjusting the collar of his shirt.

"Oh, a man like that - strong and brave..." She stroked his head seductively, her body moving into his, causing him to literally pant, his hat in his hands. "I'd do anything for him...~"

He put his hat back on, his tongue back in his mouth, with a look of determination. "Never fear, my queen! I will STOP HI -!" He jumped into the well without a moment's hesitation.

-

"Alright, let's close it up."

"- IM!" A thunk in the sewer, which the workers immediately took the drain off of.

"What now?"

"Another one?"

"Let's go. Get him outta there."

"Where are these people comin' from?"

"Hey, pal."

They pulled Nathaniel out backwards, Arty flipping him around, his hat over his eyes. When he pulled it away, he cried out, jumping away from them.

Arty had his arms crossed, half-expecting another sword. "Lemme guess. You're, uh, lookin' for a beautiful girl, too."

He pulled his jacket up, stating boldly, "No. I'm looking for a prince."

His eyebrows raised, but he nodded along. "Right."

He looked away and towards a bus when he heard a familiar voice cry out, "You've met your match, you foul, bellowing beast!"

Edward, on top of a bus, raised his sword and swung it, puncturing the roof and an old lady's bag of popcorn, who looked down at it, horrified.

The bus driver pulled over and looked behind her. "Everybody, stay on the bus," she said and got off.

Edward looked through the windows, searching inside. "Y/n? My dear?" Nobody. "Drat!" But he lifted his head, declaring, "The steel beast is dead, peasants, I've set you all free."

He leaned on top of the bus as the bus driver marched out, pointed at him, and started yelling. "Are you crazy?! Nobody stabs my bus!" He gave her a confused look, but she kept screaming, not bothering to notice the change in his aura. "I'll tear you apart! Do you hear me?! You get down here!"

Nathaniel ran over to the bus, trying to calm the lady down. "If you'll allow me..."

"Nathaniel, old friend!" Edward called to him, Nathaniel looking ready to die on the spot.

"You? A friend of his? Crazy tight-wearing..."

Pip jumped from Edward onto the lady, right in the middle where her hair was parted into two buns.

"Come here and mess up my route?! I'll tear you both apart!"

He tried to look at her head where Pip was, the lady blatantly ignoring him.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me!"

He tried to ping instead, where her eyes now went. Seeing Pip, she threw her hands up, shaking her head and telling. "A rat! Get it away from me!"

She tried brushing it off while Edward only watched in amusement. "Well, strictly speaking, he's a chipmunk."

She fell back into the bus, Pip jumping off into Edward's hands. After the commotion, Nathaniel spoke up. "Sire, may I suggest we seek elsewhere for your step-sister?"

-

"Come, quickly. Quickly," Robert insisted, pulling Y/n and Gislaine along. Y/n wandered off, spinning around in the light, while Gislaine looked at the fish in the tank. "Sam?" He ran up to the reception desk where Sam was, glancing quickly from Y/n and Gislaine back to Robert. "Sam, please don't tell me Mrs. Banks is already here."

With a tight smile, she responded, "Mrs. Banks is here."

"Great."

"With Mr. Banks and his lawyer."

"Perfect. How long?"

"Do you wanna know?"

He answered immediately: "No, I don't. I need you to handle something for me, okay? See those two?" He pointed to them, Gislaine having ladled out a bit of the water and drank it.

"Who are they?"

"I have no idea. I'm pretty sure they're from out of town."

"What do you want me to do with them?" Sam asked while Gislaine leaned over the trash can and threw up from the water. Y/n smelled the water, trying to see if there was something wrong with it.

"Find out where they're from. And get them there. If Nancy calls me, I need to talk to her." He left Sam for Gislaine, who had finished puking, and Y/n, still intently smelling the fishtank. "Y/n, Gislaine? Okay, what did we learn?" he asked as he assisted Gislaine with his hand on his back and pulled Y/n's wrist with his other. "I have an important meeting. Sam is gonna get you home." He brought them over to the desk, where Sam was smiling at them, a little confused. "Sam? This is Y/n and Gislaine. Guys, this is Sam. Stay out of trouble."

When he left, Gislaine leaned over Sam's water cup and began to regurgitate, a fish, still perfectly fine, swimming around in it, much to Sam's disgust.

Y/n smiled sweetly at her, offering, "It's nice to meet you."

"...it's nice to meet you, too."

-

While Edward got lunch at a nearby chain café, Nathaniel had disguised himself to be in the kitchen, looking through the pots for the queen. "Your Majesty?"

"Nathaniel," someone whispered.

He lifted another lid, peering inside. "Your Majesty?"

"Nathaniel, here!"

He got closer, but again lifted the wrong lid.

"NATHANIEL!"

The lid now bounced off of the pot, Nathaniel rushing to it and opening it, finding M/n in it, fanning herself. "Finally. Finally, I'm boiling in here. Have you found them yet?"

"I'm afraid not, My Lady," he admitted, shaking his head.

She growled, but restrained herself, instead taking on a stern, deadly tone. "Time is of the essence. We can't risk my daughter coming back with that forest rat."

"She shan't, Your Majesty. I swear it."

"No, she shan't. I intend to make absolutely certain of that."

"But, Your Majesty. How exactly did you..." He caught glance of a chef giving him a confused, cautious look. "...ever end up tasting so, mmm..." He brought the spoon to his lips, chuckling. "...delicious?"

When the chef left, he turned his attention back to the queen in the pot. Apples bobbed to the top of the water, Nathaniel's eyes widening at them. "Poisoned apples, My Lady. You want me to...? The little princess..."

"Nathaniel, don't you see, my darling?" M/n began seductively. "If there's ever going to be a happily ever for us..."

That got him panting again, his eyes glazed over. "Happily...ever after...? Oh, My Lady...mmm...yes, it won't be difficult."

"It's just one bite. That's all it takes." He reached in for the apples while M/n continued to talk. "One small bite to drag her down into a deep and troubled sleep. And when the hands of the clock strike twelve, that precious little princess will be gone!"

"It shall be done, My Lady. I swear it."

"You'll find the girl and her little forest rat at Columbus Circle -" She was cut off by a ladle dipping into the soup and taking away her image, when as Nathaniel kept looking inside.

"Your Majesty?" In the soup, he caught the reflection of Pip, who had been watching the whole conversation. "You little..."

Pip tried to wave at first, then bolted out of the kitchen in search of Edward, who was carrying a tray of food to one of the tables. Pip jumped on the tray, delighting Edward at his presence. "Pip!"

"Sire!" Nathaniel called, running out of the kitchen desperately. "Sire, please. I beg of you! Don't listen to this little vermin. He's probably eaten some bad nuts. We should put him out for his own good." He had a butter knife at his throat, choking the poor chipmunk, which Edward did not notice.

"Nathaniel, please, let him speak."

"But, sire! No, he's delirious! He came to tell all sorts of..." He trailed off when Edward raised a hand and reluctantly let Pip go, choking and coughing.

"Go on, Pip. What is it you want to say?"

He tried to mime, rubbing his hands together. Edward did the same, leaning in with curiosity. Pip pointed at Nathaniel, Edward pointing along. "Nathaniel?"

Nathaniel tried to shake his head, but was ignored by the prince while Pip continued to gesture wildly a death.

"Nathaniel is glad to have me near?"

He shook his head, trying to think of something else. With an idea, he jumped on the rim of Edward's soda cup and took out an ice cube, polished it with his breath, and went down to become short and fat. The other caricature was of a taller, beautiful girl singing.

"Oh, oh! I know this one!" Edward snapped, looking up at the ceiling in concentration.

The fat man offered her the ice cube, which the beautiful girl rejected. He insisted, eventually leading her to accept and take a bite of the ice cube, falling in a choking, gagging heap of death. "Ta-da!"

After another moment of thinking, he tried, "You feel you'd die without me here."

Pip groaned, defeated for the time-being.

-

"Well, I have to say, I really think that went well. There's no reason not to be reasonable." Robert led the Banks' and the opposing lawyer out of the room.

"Great," the lawyer agreed. "We might be in the neighborhood of a settlement."

Seeing Sam gesturing for him, Robert excused himself and walked over, leaving the other three to stare at Y/n twirling around again near the fishtank.

"They have no driver's licenses," she informed him, bent over the desk to whisper. "No passports. Can't find the place they come from."

"What place?"

"Andalusia."

"Andalasia."

"Whatever. I've called every travel agency. I don't know if it's a country or a city..."

He looked down in contemplation. "It can't be a state."

"More like a state of mind. She told me it's just beyond the Meadows of Joy and the Valley of Contentment," she said, impersonating Y/n. "I mean, what is all that about?"

Y/n stopped spinning when she saw Phoebe and rushed over to her, cupping her cheek. "You're so pretty," she said, Phoebe trying to back away slowly. "Beautiful, in fact."

"Well, thank you." She managed to pull back from her hand, looking around for an escape.

"The man who holds your heart very lucky. I want you to know that."

That caught her attention, tone becoming bitter. "I know. But you try telling him that."

"He doesn't know?" she asked, genuinely confused.

This caused Ethan to look away from his lawyer and at Y/n. "Excuse me?"

"Are you him?" She took his hand and Phoebe's, bringing them together. "Don't her eyes just sparkle?"

Gislaine happened to look over as then and was sprinting over. "Are they in love?!"

"I GOT IT!" Robert ran over and grabbed Y/n and Gislaine, roughly pulling them away. "Excuse me, I'm sorry. Y/n? Gislaine?" He chuckled as he began to explain, wanting to smack them on the head in reality. "Please? It's not like that, alright? They're not together anymore."

"I don't understand," Gislaine questioned, looking back at the very upset couple.

"They're getting a divorce. Separating from each other."

"Separating?!" He put a hand on his mouth in shock, wanting to ask more, but suddenly finding himself unable to.

"For how long?" Y/n asked instead.

"Forever."

Her mouth fell open, looking between Robert and the couple. "Forever and EVER?!"

"Shhh, yes."

Gislaine looked back at them, lips trembling. "Oh, no..." A sob escaped from him, as much as he tried to hold it back in front of Y/n, who was already leaning over him with concern.

"What are you doing? Don't cry."

"Are you crying?" Ethan asked, astonished, anger creeping up on him.

"I'm sorry, I can't help it." He sulked to the couch, using his curtain-sleeve to wipe his eyes.

"Is he actually crying?"

"Gislaine..." Y/n sat next to him and he put his head in her lap, still sniffing.

"I'm sorry, my love, it's just so sad."

She bent over and kissed his head, letting him continue to cry in her lap.

"What kind of an operation are you running here?!" Phoebe demanded, restraining herself from getting into Robert's face. "This is so unprofessional!"

She marched to the door, where Robert's supervisor was, casually not noticing all the chaos. "Good morning, Phoebe. How are you? It's good to..." He stopped when she kept pushing by with angry tears standing in her eyes.

Ethan left after, followed by his lawyer, who had his eyes narrowed. "If you guys are trying to manipulate us, you can throw this whole deal out."

He left then, the supervisor's gaze turned to a glare now on Robert, glancing at Gislaine, who had dampened his sleeves too much and was instead using Robert's shirt. "What is going on here? Who are they?"

"Uh, some friends." Immediately after, "No, they're acquaintances, actually." He seized a few tissues from the box and shoved them at Gislaine before his shirt could get too wet.

"You begged me to put you on the case," he reminded him in a harsh whisper, pulling him away from the couch. "And this is what I get for it? I walk in here and find everybody upset?! And some guy is crying like we're on Oprah."

"I'll take care of it, Carl. Don't worry."