XXX. Rum is Mankind's Greatest Gift

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Storybrooke. Present-day.

BOWING HER HEAD, out of respect, Erica Swan could feel tears prick in her eyes as she stood at the Storybrooke Cemetery between her eleven-year-old nephew and twin sister and somewhere behind her was the lovable redhead that was already going through tissue after tissue as she found herself already sobbing for the conscious of the town

"Some of us knew him as Archie" Mary Margret stated softly and Erica found her head turning to face her mother at her words "Others as Jiminy but we all knew him as a true friend and though he may be gone, he will always live on reminding us to be our best selves and to believe in one another and to fight for what we will always for what is right. So let's not think of today as a way of saying goodbye and instead of as a way of saying 'We'll be listening Archie'"

Mary Margret was unable to say anything else because of the tears that were streaming down her cheeks and instead turned in towards her husband who immediately wrapped his arms around her small frame as she buried her face into his chest and with a glance at each other the twins ushered the little boy who should never have to know this much sadness out of the cemetery and as they walked down Main Street, Erica squeezes Henry's hand to let him know that he was going to be okay, but judging by the look on his face, the blonde knew it was going to take some time

"We just have to get through the next few hours" Erica whispers in his ear and Henry looks up at her, unshed tears shining in his big, round innocent eyes and it breaks Erica's heart that this small boy who brings so much life to everything he touches has to go through something so cruel at such a tender age

"He's really gone..."

"I know Hen, but he'll be here when we need him" Erica speaks softly, slowly and quietly kneeling down to the boy's height "See people may be gone and dead and we'll never see them again but that doesn't mean they won't be here for us when we need them to be. It just means that we need to listen extra hard to hear what they want us to know"

"Really?"

"Yeah"

"I just wish he was here"

"I know" Erica nods her head, so much had changed in such a short space of time and Erica knew Henry was taking the brunt of it and just wanted to protect the boy "And then we'll sneak off and I'll get you some Rocky Road ice cream but shush don't tell your mothers"

Erica watched as the corners of the eleven-year-old lips flip up into a small grin but as she looked closer she could see the sadness swirling in his eyes and she found herself sighing to herself

* * * * *

Enchanted Forest. Then.

Staggering into the tavern, the closest one she could find after coming in from one of the ports of the Enchanted Forest. Jaclyn was back in the Enchanted Forest after spending a few years back in the world she grew up in with one of her closest friends and the boy she had practically helped raise and she was intending to celebrate properly with as much alcohol as she could stomach before she passed out

"Hiya sweetheart can I get a jug of rum please,"  She winks

The serving  wench regards her with  hooded eyes as she took in Jaclyn's appearance and flirty stance and Jaclyn wracked her brain with how much persuasion it would take the serving wench to go with her for the night

"You're already drunk" 

Jaclyn turns to him resting her left arm on the counter in front of her as she propped her hand under her chin before raising her eyebrows at the man's scruffy appearance and cocked an eyebrow upwards. He looked rough, rougher than Jaclyn had seen someone in a long time

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