Russia, 1917. The Land Without Magic.

The night was silent as I scrubbed violently. No matter how much soap I used, the smell of Smirnoff never took it's leave from this fateful dungeon. I didn't look up as I heard footsteps approaching me, I knew it was her. I saw the shine of her boot in front of my face, making me pause. Instead of giving her a response I simply dunked my brush into the bucket next to me and continued towards another giant puddle that had dried and begun to stick to the floor.

"There's a couple that just I arrived. I would say to line up, but we both know that no one would ever want you little miss Anya." Her underbite and accent made her hard to understand, but I knew an insult when I heard one.

I held in a retort, settling for a little scoff. Suddenly I felt pain as I was lifted off the ground, a soft cry of pain falling from my lips. I reached up at my hair that she was now holding onto tightly. "What was that, my dear?"

"I didn't say anything, Miss Phlegmenkoff." I rasped out as she began to tug so hard that I almost couldn't touch the ground anymore.

She coughed out a sadistic chuckle as I struggled to get out of her grasp. "Pathetic!" She dropped my in an instant, I stumbled and ended up dumping my bucket from earlier all over the floor. "Clean up this mess and then make yourself scarce. Can't have them questioning why I'd have such a disgusting child in my care."

I said nothing as she walked away, kicking the brush further away from me.

Although I didn't feel like crying, I did feel like giving up. What would she really do if I didn't clean it up. She wouldn't likely kill me, just torture me more. I was already unloved, an orphan as it happened.

I shook my head, standing up slowly. I glancing towards the staircase that lead to my room otherwise known as the small and cramps attic with a hay bail for me to sleep on. The door to the real world felt five times more appealing. It had a nice little window that lead to the cold woods. The light of the house reflected off the snow and I was instantly reminded why I never left.

I'd die if I went out there, sure to be a icicle ready to snap if they ever found my body.

As I leaned over to pick up the spilt bucket and forget my brief and fleeting thoughts of running away, I began to hear something. It was music, eerie and calming at the same time. It washed over me like a tidal wave and forced me to look up through the window. I saw a new light out there, a torch and a boy holding it.

I only saw him for a few seconds, but then he disappeared into the night. The music became louder and filled my senses.

I stepped forward, kicking the bucket away and without anymore hesitation I went to open the door. I frowned when it didn't open for me, the music was now making me frantic to get out and. . . follow it? I couldn't be sure as I looked around. There were two other options, my attic room or where Phlegmenkoff is bound to be waiting with the lovely couple. I chose my attic, running up the steps two at a time.

I knew this room like the back of my hand and went straight to the window. I opened it and looked down, there was some roof to walk on and a few feet away was the roof of the shed. I carefully stepped onto the shingles, careful to avoid the ice.

Then I jumped towards the shed without any hesitance and rolled off onto the ground. Somehow I wasn't hurt. I looked up and began to trudge through the thick layer of snow towards the music. I broke into a run, holding up my rags after I tripped a few times. Finally I came across a small fire, shadows passing over it. It took my a moment to realize that it was boys. They were dancing around the fire.

I was temporarily distracted from the entrancing music by this, suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder. I jumped, turning around to see another boy, except this one was not dancing around like a wild boy.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself, Girl?"

I blinked a few times, it took me a moment to realize he had spoken in English. My English wasn't very good, but I knew enough to understand him and come up with a response. "I heard the music." My accent was thick and it seemed as if I was having trouble even speaking the language.

The boy smirked. "Well you see, that's impossible because only special boys can hear these pipes. And you most certainly are not a boy."

I let my own devilish smirk seep through as I glanced from him to the boys dancing. I was trying to come up with a clever response when he suddenly grabbed my hand roughly and began to drag me away. "What are you doing?" I demanded, trying to break free of his grasp.

"Taking you back to where you came from-"

"No!" He looked back at me with a smirk as I bashed on his hand until he let me go and I stumbled back a few steps. "I will not go back to her. Miss Phlegmenkoff can go rot in hell, I'd rather freeze to death in the middle of the Siberian Woods." Venom coated my words and in return I received a raised eyebrow from the boy.

"Oh, is it really that bad for you. I had no idea." Was this kid British? He sounded like it. "Maybe you can call Mommy and Daddy so they can pick you up-"

I narrowed my eyes into a glare. "Do not mock me."

"I didn't mean to offend you, Darling. I'm simply saying if you go back home, I'm sure your family will be happy-"

"I don't have a family!" He stopped and stared at me. We both froze for a few seconds, I hadn't spoken to many people outside the Orphanage and this was not a first good impression. Then again, it felt like the world was just cruel like the people in it.

When I had been wandering around the train station, no one would help me until I found a police officer. And he had not been very nice either, I could still feel the rough hold he had on my arm even eight years later. The way he shoved me at Phlegmenkoff, she hadn't liked my first impression either. I was tempted to just walk away on my own and let myself freeze in the cold winter forest.

But then the boy grinned, the evil smirk sent a shiver down my spine. "An Orphanage then, my apologies. You might not be a boy, but you are special indeed."

He bowed and reached for my hand, I stepped back in response since I was still weary of him. "My name's Peter. Peter Pan. What's your name, Princess?"

His question had me hesitating. My name was never something I could be sure of, Miss Phlegmenkoff never called me by it anyway so it had never really mattered to me before. I never expected to meet anyone like this. I had no idea what waited for me when she tried to kick me out of the Orphanage.

"Anya, at least I think."

"Well, can you think of a last name?"

I shook my head slightly. "This is going to sound crazy, but I can't remember my last name. . . I was found walking around when I was eight with no memory of who I am. I'm pretty sure my name is Anya." I suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed that I didn't know my own name. It had never really mattered at the Orphanage because no one asked. But now I had to present myself, and I had no information to go on.

"Alright, Anya." He looked down and pulled out a set of pipes that was attached to his neck by a thick cord. "You see, these pipes can only be heard by boys who feel unloved and abandoned. Obviously you are not a boy, but you are obviously special."

I frowned at his words. I knew he was right, but the fact that he already knew so much about had me even more wary than before. He held his hand out to me with that smirk still plastered on his face. "The Lost Boys are coming with me to Neverland, why don't you join us, Princess?"

"Neverland?" I asked.

"It's a place where you will be young forever. The Lost Boys and I, we can become your family. It's a place of magic, Anya."

I let my eyes widen as they darted from Pan's eyes to his outstretched hand. "How do I know you're not lying? That this land isn't just a place of false hopes and lies?"

He shrugged. "I guess you will just have to take a leap of faith and believe."

Years Later, Storybrooke

When Emma Swan broke the curse, I don't know if I was ecstatic or sad. Sad that even without a curse in my way I was still alone, or happy that I could remember my family and begin my search for him. I could never trust Regina again, but when Swan and Snow White fell into a portal I did believe that they were as good as dead.

They had to be, and that meant Hook would be dead too. Everyone was reuniting with those around them and I had been close to stealing all of Granny's liquor. I actually did steal a lot. Henry had found me almost passed out near his mother's house. He helped me to David's house where he gave me some water to sober me up.

"I know what you're feeling is something you don't want to burden Henry with, but you can tell me." His words were to coax me to tell him what was going on. If I hadn't been drunk I wound never have answered for fear of the Prince just trying to figure out why his subjects would be unhappy, but I wasn't in the right state of mind. So I had answered.

My thoughts just seemed to fall out, my filter obviously gone. I had told him the entire truth. "The curse is broken. Everyone else is getting their happy ending, aside from you since you're still searching for your wife and daughter. But my family. They aren't here. He must've been left behind from the curse, meaning he is in the same hell your family is. He's stuck in oblivion."

Then Henry had come out. David had thought he put him to bed, but in my drunken state I hadn't even noticed him come down until he was right in front of my face. "My mom, the Evil Queen, she said they were gone. But you can't lose hope. We know they're still out there and we're trying to find them. Maybe you could help us."

At the time, I thought he was just a naive little kid. I had shaken my head with a laugh, my head felt so light and I had become dizzy. I looked down at my cup of water David had gotten for me and leaned against the table. "You don't get it kid. The curse wasn't as terrible as you seem to think, at least I couldn't remember that my only family had been obliterated. I just thought I was alone and abandoned. And no one else was alone."

I turned to the boy, tears falling down my cheeks. "David had Kathryn. Regina had you and Emma had you even though she was fighting with Regina for you. Snow had Emma. Red had Granny. Ella had her baby. I have no one. I have lived on the streets alone for twenty-eight years. And then I woke up to realize I did have a family. Before I wasn't even sure I had one. Breaking the curse just put me into a new kind of hell."

I would never know if my words ever affected Henry, but they did affect me. David had ushered Henry out of the room to actually go to bed while I stared at my glass and continued crying. It had probably been the first time I could ever remember actually crying since I'd found Hook.

It was in that moment that I had decided to help Henry, he had given me hope when I had nothing to fight for except for Hook. I would help David and Henry and that's exactly what I did until they came back. I was wrong at the time for placing any trust in what Regina said, but when she decided to give her life for the entire town of Storybrooke? I'm skeptical but I do believe in her love for Henry.

I understood because Hook would do the same thing for me. I glanced over at him when I saw him come back with David. "We got it." David told us, Emma rushed over to him.

"Are you okay?" She looked to his side where there was a rip in his shirt. I frowned myself and looked over to Hook. I walked over to him and carefully examined hi leather jacket.

He smirked. "I'm alright, Luv. Don't need to worry about this old pirate."

"Apparently I do." My reply was followed by a scoff as I pulled him into another hug. Although he had been on the wrong side for a little while, when he finally came back with Emma and Snow he realized what side he should've been on all along.

No matter how much I tried to get used to the idea of no longer being alone, I couldn't believe he was actually here.

"Alright, let's get out of here. Henry?"

I looked over as Henry went over to his mother. "Where's my mom?" He asked, obviously referring to the Evil Queen.

Emma didn't even hesitate to hold the truth from her son. "Regina can hold off the self-destruct device long enough for us to escape, but. . ." She trailed off, this part was going to hurt. I already knew what she was going to say. Regina didn't want her son to grow up alone and trusted Emma to raise him.

"But what?" Henry asked innocently, Emma hesitated this time. Though she did raise her head to tell him the truth.

"She won't survive."

Henry shook his head in denial. "Henry, I'm sorry. I promised her I'd get you to safety."

"But we can't do this. She's family. We don't leave family behind."

I held in my scoff and suppressed an eye roll. Regina Mills has never been any family of mine or the Charmings. The Evil Queen didn't have any family at all. The person that twisted woman was family to was Henry.

"I'm know, but this is what she wants." Emma was no longer just telling Henry the truth, but what he needed to hear. "We have a way out. We have to take it."

"We saved her from being killed by the wraith, how is this any different?"

I stepped forward and away from Hook. Once I was past Emma, I placed my hand on her shoulder. "This is different because she was the only person in any danger. There is an entire kingdom here, and she is making sure we can live on."

"We'll be building an entire Kingdom on Regina's blood." Snow interjected. "The wraith, we sent it through a portal. Why can't we do the same thing with the self-destruct?"

"Because we don't know if it's going to work." Emma's response was instant.

"It could."

I let out a laugh, despite the situation. "That's too risky, no one will go alone with that." Emma stated, oddly enough I did agree with her. I always liked her more than the others during the curse because she knew what this world was like. Cruel. If there had been someone like her in the Enchanted Forest after I lost Hook maybe I wouldn't have been alone for thirty years.

Archie moved out from behind Snow. "Yes, we will. Because it's the right thing to do." I raised an eyebrow at him and Emma looked ready to protest so he was quick to further explain. "Look, Snow White and the Prince have always led us before, and we've always won. So. . . who's willing to let them lead us again?"

Everyone raised their hands in agreement, and it seemed to be settled. "I know we haven't had many chances to be parents, but give us this one. Let us do the right thing. It's not too late."

"I just don't want him to be alone." Another thing I agreed with Emma on. Henry should not be alone, he's the one who least deserves this. "I don't want him to grow up the way I did."

Everything shook again, I stumbled back towards Hook who took my arm to steady me. "You alright?"

I nodded, looking back at them. "This plan will fail."

"I know, Lass." He stepped forward as Snow tried once more to convince Emma. When she finally caved and David threw her the bean, Hook reached forward and snatched it. "You're all mad. I can live with myself."

"Give it back." Emma snapped, I was now stuck behind Hook as they came for him.

He shrugged. "If she wants to die for us, I say let her."

"You and I, we understand each other-"

"You're right, you have your son and I have Anya. And for the longest time I thought she was dead, I'm not about to let her actually die because you lot want to play 'Hero' every chance you get." Hook snapped, his eyes narrowing as he held his arm out in front of me.

Emma then looked at me. "Stacy, com'on. Tell him that this is the right thing to do-"

"Emma, Regina has ruined my life. Lots of lives and taken precious time from all of us. We all want revenge, but if she's wants to redeem herself she should be allowed to. To make up for all she's done, let her be the hero for once. God knows she won't be this kind next time one of us gets in her way. Who knows, maybe she'll take Henry far away from you."

She frowned, looking back up to Hook. "See the example you're setting. Take care of yourself and you'll never get hurt, right?"

"Worked quite well for me and Anya-"

"Until the day that it doesn't. Then one of you will be dead and the other alone. We're doing this! It might be stupid, it might be crazy, but we're doing it. So. . . you can join us and be a part of something, or you can do what you do best and be alone."

Emma held her hand out, waiting for the bean as if he would actually do it. I tensed when I saw him begin to hand it over. "Quite passionate, Swan." He stated as he set the pouch in her hand. Everyone began to filed out, I was ready to raise hell until Hook leaned forward. "Why are you really doing this?"

"The kid just lost his father today. I'm not letting him lose a mother, too."

"His father? Who's Henry's father?"

Emma hesitated, her voice growing softer. "Neal."

"Baelfire?"

"Yeah." She left and Hook hesitated in following.

I took the opportunity to step in front of him. "What the hell was that? What happened to looking out only for each other, just you and me, remember?" He let out a sigh, meeting my own eyes.

"Anya, I saw the way you looked at that boy. They helped you when I couldn't-"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, you didn't give them the bean."

He smirked, I did the same when he held out his hand with the clear bean in his hand. "You may be right, but don't tell me that you don't care about these people. You might not care for Regina, I can tell that much, but the boy? Henry gave you something. Hope." I pressed my lips into a thin line at his assumption, though he wasn't wrong.

"Let's just say, I can now understand your love for Rum. I thought you were dead, Hook. I had been alone for over twenty-eight years and at least in the Enchanted Forest I had hope I would see you again." I paused to shake my head at how pathetic I had been. "He might have given me hope, but you found a way here all on your own. That's what matters."

We headed out, avoiding everyone as vines began to over take the town. The Jolly Roger looked beautiful on the sea, right where it belonged. I was quick to hop on and begin getting ready to set sail. "It feels nice to be sailing again." I shouted as was set off. I continued to grin as I ran up to the top deck and settled next to Hook.

Hook looked down at the bean in his hand with a frown, causing me to frown as well since his always mean something bad. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

"Of course." I let out a very unattractive snort as I backed away. "What more could I ask for? I've got you, the Jolly Roger and a Magic Bean that'll take us anywhere we want to go. Do you think there's something more here?"

"Henry. He's most likely going to die with the rest of them now. I know you care for the boy, whether you admit it or not."

I sighed, looking back towards the shore. He might've had me there. "That boy is going to be the death of me."

Hook smirked down at me before starting to turn the ship around. The others were waiting for us at the docks, I tried to keep myself busy with the sails so I didn't have to look at them. "What are you doing here?" Emma asked as Hook finally began to climb off.

"Helping."

"I thought you didn't care about anyone but yourself."

He looked back at me. "Wasn't me, the Lass here reminded me that I could. She also has a much bigger heart than I do." He held the pouch out to her.

I looked over the group and noticed Regina, but no Henry by her side. "Where's Henry?" I asked.

Emma looked away. "Greg and Tamara took him through a portal. We need to save him."

"Well then, I offer my ships and services to help follow them."

I cut in after Hook, hoping to of some use. "You got any idea where they ended up?"

"Nope, so how do we track them?" Regina asked.

My gaze was drawn over to Mr. Gold as he approached. "Leave that to me. I can get us where we need to go." I glanced over at Hook to see his jaw set, ticking ever so slightly at the new arrival. He said nothing as the group began to pile onto the ship, he even past me as he headed for the helm. I raised the anchor and set us on a course once Gold had boarded the ship as well.

He went towards the center of the ship. "So are you done trying to kill me?" He asked Hook who was approaching him as well.

"I believe so."

"Excellent. Then you can live." He waved his hand and through a purple haze a white globe appeared on one of Hook's rum barrels. He went over and pricked his finger on the edge, a small drop of blood landing on the white surface. It spread like a virus before forming a shape of some sort, a map.

"Where is that?" Regina asked, we had all gathered around now. "Where did they take Henry?"

"Neverland." Hook stated, looking from Gold to me. "I'm sorry, Lass. But I can't let you come with us."

I frowned. "Why not?"

"It's dangerous-"

The scoff that escaped my lips made him flinch. "No, that's not it. Try again, better luck next time." He opened his mouth to reply, but I refused to give him a chance. "No, I'm going to help save Henry. I don't care what you have to say about it, I know more nooks to hide here than you do so I can definitely stowaway if need be. Besides, you really going to have them manage the sails."

Neither of us said anything about the on coming threat and what He would say about my return. That was what this was really about, but I'd rather not tell the rest of the

The small smirk I gave him did not lighten the mood at all, but he did back down as he went to throw the bean into the water. He went to the helm once more while I went straight for the main mass. "Who are we up against? Who are Greg and Tamara?" David asked, holding onto a rope that did nothing for moving us forward.

"They are merely pawns. Manipulated by forces far greater than they can conceive with no idea who they're really working for."

"And who's that?" Emma asked.

"Someone we should all fear." I didn't say anything to that and neither did they. I didn't fear anything, not even losing Hook. The only real reason for that though is because Hook can take care of himself. And I would most certainly not fear Neverland, no matter what Hook had to say about it I knew the island like the back of my hand.

This place that were transported to, it felt like home. The island had always been beautiful in it's own way and even through the storm I felt a longing build up in my chest. I climbed up halfway to the crows nest to get a better look through the waves. I could've sworn I saw a figure standing on the shore, sending a shiver down my spine. This place was no longer my home.

Neverland, 1917

"I've been here before." I mumbled as I walked through the portal with Peter. He held my hand the entire time, though I don't think I needed it. "In my dreams, I didn't know it was real."

Peter let out a laugh. "Of course it's real. Anything you want can be yours here."

I blinked a few times as I looked from his dark green eyes to the real jungle behind him. "Anything? How?"

"All you have to do is believe. Are you hungry, Princess? Just imagine one of your favorite foods and believe that it can be real. In your own hands." He grinned wickedly as he stepped forward and took both of my hands into his own. "Just close your eyes and imagine what it looks like, smells like."

I didn't close my eyes until I knew what I wanted. Phlegmenkoff never gave me very good food and I couldn't remember what I'd eaten before then, but there was this one couple. They had brought a feast for all the kids before they picked. I could remember how my plate looked like, the roast was the biggest portion and set on top of a delicious pasta.

The smell seemed to fill my nose in an instant, a weight on top of my hands. I could imagine the white plate, the crossing patterns around the edges.

"Open your eyes." I opened them, I found Peter's face to be a little bit too close for comfort. His green eyes were alluring and he was smirking as if thinking I would look away and blush like I had seen other girls so when boys show up at the Orphanage. I did not though, until his eyes left mine and looked down.

I followed his gaze to see the plate I had been imagining earlier. I grinned, quickly imagining a fork to dig in with.

I stepped back as I began to eat, my stomach rumbled as if the presence of food woke it up from a deep slumber. I got halfway through it before I felt full, I'd already eaten far too much and my stomach wasn't used to the weight. I glanced over at Peter to see he wasn't even looking at me anymore, but towards the trees.

I glanced down at the plate, if I made it appear could I make it disappear? I closed my eyes to give it a shot real quick, opening them when I felt the weight lifting. Once it was gone, I glanced back at Peter who still had his eyes set on the jungle before us. "Is there something out there?" Peter chuckled, turning to me. "Cause I doubt a place with magic like this would be rid of dangers."

"Yes, magic does come with a price. But if you're with me this island won't do you any harm."

"Why are you doing this for me?"

He seemed to freeze, his overly dramatic eyebrows raising ever so slightly in surprise. "Well, you see, I come to different worlds looking for Lost Boys. Boys who feel unloved and I bring them here, bring them in as my family. As long as I've been doing that, there has never been a girl who could hear my pipes."

"So have you never brought a girl to your island?" I smirked, I was beyond curious by now as to why he would bring a girl back at all.

He reflected my smirk as he stepped forward, I crossed my arms over my chest when I felt he got too close. "I have, but they've been extremely annoying. They weren't unloved, they just had to grow up quickly and didn't want to. They had families, but you. You said it yourself, you don't have one. You're an orphan like most of my boys."

I knew my face fell at his words, I hated that word. An orphan was unloved and it disgusted me that I was one of those kids. That my family had abandoned me. My hand flew to the necklace that I often played with. It was my only real possession from my past. "And what if I become annoying? I assume you don't just toss your boys away when they become intolerable."

"No, I don't think I could ever truly be annoyed by you, Princess. I have a feeling we're going to get along well, so. . . Welcome to Neverland."