"Multiple times. Little six-inch-tall girl grown or hatched or something from a flower, got chased around by about half a dozen suitors, eventually met a little fairy prince who turned out to be Mr. Right, got a pair of wings and lived happily ever after." Tina shrugged. "Why?"

"The fairy tale is... not as accurate as people are led to believe," Gold said. "The point about the flower is true enough, as is the point about multiple suitors." He looked at her. "But in actuality, there was no fairy prince, nor was the girl only six inches tall."

"And how exactly do you know all this?" Tina asked carefully, watching him. She had an idea how he knew, but she wanted to be sure first before she made any wild accusations.

"The magic flower was mine in the first place, dear," Gold said. "I think I would know what happened to the girl inside it."

"Don't be afraid, dearie."

Tina blinked as the voice connected with the man, and she looked at him quietly for several moments. "So it was you. I thought, I mean, maybe, I wasn't sure, but... Well, I guess I'm not crazy, unless this is a dream or I got shoved through a looking glass when I wasn't paying attention."

"Oh no, dear, the looking glass was broken long before that," Gold said. "A pity, it was a very useful object, but I digress. You, my dear, were once known as Thumbelina."

"Thumbelina, huh?" Tina looked at him. "And Rachel was Rapunzel. But I don't seem to remember much of anyone else."

"Well, you wouldn't," Gold said. "The point about Rapunzel being in a tower was true. She had asked for a... companion to share her time with."

"Okay, so if Thumbelina--if I--oh hell this is confusing." Tina put her head down on one hand. "Do I refer to myself as me, past me, what?"

"Refer to yourself however you like, dearie," Gold replied. "I've noticed names seem to switch back and forth quite fluidly in this town."

"It's still confusing," Tina grumbled. "Okay, so if I as Thumbelina was supposed to be Rapunzel's company, how come I remember running around forests and things? And you said the multiple suitors part was true, so how did that work?" And now that Tina knew that those were real memories, the massive gaps and holes in her memory were driving her nuts.

"I never said that you were confined to the tower, now did I?" Gold pointed out. "You could come and go as you pleased, as long as you were able to find a way out."

"Okay. So I would go off galavanting." Tina started rubbing her temples. "And what about you? You said the flower was yours to start with, and you made me to be a companion for Rapunzel, and on a side note that just sounds so wrong. What other part did you play in all this?"

"Ah, I don't think you're quite ready for that part just yet, dearie," Gold said, looking at her.

"Fine, I won't argue that for now." Tina leaned back in her seat. "I do remember you calling everyone dearie. And I remember, very vaguely mind you, a big house." She was still having problems believing everything, but she didn't actively disbelieve Gold. For whatever reason, she trusted he wasn't lying to her.

"Both true," Gold admitted. Although, to be fair, he didn't tell her exactly how big of a 'house' it was.

"You don't like explaining things, do you?" Tina grumbled, rubbing her forehead. "You like playing with words."

"Words are power, dearie," Gold pointed out. "And everything comes at a price, even words."

"Right. Remind me never to get in a game of Scrabble against you." Tina watched him carefully, though, worried she might have hit a nerve.

Gold couldn't help but chuckle a bit at that.

"Alas, nobody would play such a game with me," he said, grinning just slightly.

"Gee I wonder why," Tina shot back with a grin. "You'd probably thrash the whole town combined if you wanted to."

"More than likely," Gold replied easily. It was surprisingly easy to just talk with Tina.

Tina laughed and shook her head, grinning at him.

"You need to get out more. I'm sure you're quite attached to your shop but there's a lovely woods around here."

"I'm afraid I'm not much of the outdoors type," Gold replied. "With my bad leg, it makes hiking... Difficult."

"I can find an easy path for you," Tina offered. "We don't even have to go very far. Just out of town." Because with the return of her memories, she was also starting to dislike towns and crowds and people again, moreso than before.