"I sought revenge and I did terrible things to get it. I cast a Dark Curse." Regina told her all about it. Drizella never thought it would become her escape. But when she found out her mother planned to kill her in cold blood, she did the most effective thing possible. Her magical heart was no longer pure, but filled with darkness and dreams of revenge. Regina begged her, told her that even if she did succeed, the satisfaction would not be enough. Anger cannot satiate her being. What mattered and what saved Regina was what she always wanted, love. But Drizella didn't need nor want love. She persuaded herself she would not feel half empty, ripped and torn just because she didn't have a hand to hold.

There would come a time when she wished she'd listened to Regina, and that someone had told her and showed long ago what love felt like.

A glimmer of the idea forms on Halloween night. They share their little sad stories, modified by the curse, and she thinks that maybe she should keep a close eye on him. But no rush. This is the world of exhibitionism and she posts pictures on Instagram.

It isn't as effective as she hoped, so she wakes Regina. It's a hasty move, but anything to keep the lovebirds from breaking the curse. She is still there for Henry of course, they confide in each other, and she pretends they are friends.

When her plan moves step ahead, with her mother behind bars, she thinks she should celebrate. She doesn't feel like it, though. Come to think of it, she feels nothing at all. She's contemplating this newfound sensation, or lack of it, when she runs into drunk Henry on the street, moping about. They end up in her apartment, she's catching up with him and after a third drink, she presses her lips on his. It brings some strange feeling inside her, she doesn't dwell on it much. Whatever it is, at least it's not nothing.

"Ivy, I-" she silences him with another kiss.

"Let's just both pretend." her voice sounds like she's pleading. She tells herself it's just how she wanted to sound, "For tonight."

As if hearing the right words, he pulls her in. His touch is tender, kisses desperate and she surrenders quickly. 'For tonight' extends to 'almost every night'. At times, as they talk and find every trivial thing funny, she catches herself almost forgetting about her mother, Anastasia and the whole curse. Eloise is itching to move the plan along and doesn't understand what is keeping her.

He shows up unannounced on her doorstep one late night. It's the anniversary of his family's death and he can't keep the tears at bay. She lets him in and dries his tears with kisses.

"I'm sorry." she keeps saying, but he doesn't understand what for.

It's nearly morning, "Thank you." he mumbles as he is drifting off to sleep.

At that very moment, everything changes for Drizella. She locks herself in the bathroom, lets the water wash over her as she weeps for the first time in years. Regina's words seep back into her mind. She wishes she could be the one to help him heal. She knows she can never be. None of it is real.

Henry reacts to her change, or maybe he changes himself. He doesn't call as much, and when they are together he grows quiet. It's torture for her, days without him. She contemplates if he means everything to her. She has become incredibly dependent on him. Him, just being there, fingers intertwined together, tranquility. With him, she feels safe. 'All that Lucy says real' she wants to confess, 'Your family is here'.

But if she tells him the truth it will break him, and she will have no one. Could they mend after that? She thinks it is better to pretend that they are not falling into the deep end. Maybe, she's wondering, maybe she can give him what he needs. Maybe it will work out in the end.

"I'm scared I'll lose it all." she tells him as they are lying together, tangled in the bed sheets.

"Even if you do, I'll be here." he comforts her.

She holds him tighter, wanting to never let go, "No, you won't."

He thinks she's talking about him and Jacinda only. Still, he doesn't correct her this time.

"Can we just pretend?" she whispers. This time she admits it's a plea, "Maybe we'll not drown here in the deep end."