Cora had assumed that Aurora had her heart set on a new life in Storybrooke, with or without Philip, and she had been right. But now that she finds herself there the fresh start she envisioned seems distant. She had been brought up in a life of wealth and comfort — though she was no stranger to hardship — and used to the ready availability of just about anything she desired. Here it was different.

She would have to start earning a living, if she was to stay in Storybrooke. But as what? These thoughts plague as she makes her way back to Granny's Bed and Breakfast, trying to ignore the tugs in her chest that want her to turn around and walk back to the pirate. A squeak cuts through the silent morning air and she looked up to see Emma Swan poking her head out of a window.

"Hey, you're out early."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Wanna come up?" Emma smiled, her long hair fluttering in the wind and Aurora felt some of her misgivings fade. She did have a reason to be here, she had friends.

Emma's apartment was spacious, especially now that her parents had moved into a home of their own. Henry, Emma informed her, was staying with his father for the week. Sitting at a table and nursing a coffee she told Emma of her unwelcome encounter but when it came to the part of his claim over her heart she could not tell Emma the truth.

"I can arrest him if you want?" Emma offered, her eyes gleaming.

"As tempting as that sounds I don't think being a scoundrel is enough to warrant arrest."

"I dunno…" she smirked but soon grew serious. "It must be so strange for you, being here. Everyone else has had years to acclimatise, except you."

And Hook, Aurora thought but kept it to herself. The world she finds herself in was beyond anything she could imagine, this world of children's stories, imagination and science. The technology fascinates her but also daunts. Flying metal cages and whole worlds trapped in boxes, to name but a few marvels. To see such things that run without magic was almost perverse but it was something she had to become accustomed to. Again her thoughts return to her place in the world and she notes Emma's searching look.

"Sorry, just thinking…I was in line to rule over my realm but now I find myself like a vagabond. I'm not complaining," she added quickly, "it's just that I was raised with that single outcome in mind. I feel…adrift."

"Do you want to go back?"

"Even if I could how would that be possible?" The well that she had come through had been destroyed. The only magic left in Storybrooke resided in Emma.

Emma's eyes brightened as a thought clearly came to her but she quickly rejected it. "No, it's crazy."

"What is?" Aurora asked as Emma got to her feet and disappeared up to her bedroom. After the sound of her cursing and clothes being thrown around she came back down carrying a hat. Aurora frowned and tilted her head.

"A top hat…?" she said slowly and then a memory came to her, a long forgotten one and she laughed.

"What is it?" Emma asked as she placed the hat on the table.

"It's just reminded me of something. My brother fell in with bad company. This was before I was placed under the sleeping curse."

"I didn't know you had a brother."

Aurora nodded, "my twin. He became friends with this complete lunatic. He used to wear this ridiculous top hat and he and my brother would disappear off to goodness knows where and get into trouble. One day he didn't come back. He's not here," she said, "at least no one has heard of him…"

"Ah…" Emma said, very still and Aurora narrowed her eyes.

"What?"

"Well that lunatic just so happens to be here and he's our only hope to get you — and anyone else — back home. He might know where your brother is."

The Mad Hatter's house stood atop of a wooded hill and from that vantage point the viewer had an outlook of all Storybrooke and the Atlantic rolling away into the distance. Hook wondered how he had managed to secure the best property in the town — even over the queen — but knew that Jefferson had wiles that stretched on for miles. If he wanted something he found ways of getting it. That was why they had been such good comrades.

"…Honey pie, you are making me crazy. I'm in love but I'm lazy so won't you please come home…"

Music drifted from the garden and Hook was greeted to the sight of a young girl dancing with a cat, one quite content to be dancing. He tilted his head and saw through a set of open French doors Jefferson cooking in the kitchen. He cleared his throat and the girl stopped dancing.

"Papa, there's a pirate in our garden."

Hook looked down at the jeans and long coat he had been forced to wear in a bid to remain inconspicuous. Even his hook was hidden by his coat sleeve. He pushed aside the mystery of how she had guessed and looked at her father. All adults are pirates to children, he learned that well.

"Grace come in," Jefferson said and his tone brooked no arguments. Hugging the cat to her chest she ran into the kitchen as Jefferson stood on the threshold. Once she was out of ear shot he glared suspiciously at Hook.

"What are you doing here?"

"Is that anyway to greet old friends?"

"That's not really the way I remember it."

"Come now, you might be living the life of a respectable father but you are just as much a pirate as I am. Remember Agrabah?" That lamp had been hell to get and they ended up losing it in the end but it had been worth it.

Hook laughed and Jefferson's lips twitched but he pulled a smooth face and stepped closer to him. "I don't do that any more, I'm not a thief."

"Well that's fine and dandy because I'm not asking you to loot but to get me somewhere." He stared at him fiercely, his previous friendlessness gone. The mad man was his only chance. Not only was he desperate to get away from the godforsaken town but also a certain princess. Though he did not show it he was just as shaken by the events as she was. If he stayed it would only get worse. And then there was the thing he whispered into her heart…

"Neverland? I can't —"

"One miserly journey, that's all I'm asking for," he ground out as Jefferson shook his head.

"You don't get it, I don't have a hat and thus I can't make any portals."

"Then make a hat," he demanded and caught sight of the Hatter's daughter peeking through a door, eavesdropping. Jefferson laughed tiredly and there was a tinge of madness in that laugh.

"Only a hat made by magic can work."

"Like this one?"

They both turned to see Grace leading Emma Swan and Aurora into the kitchen. Clutched in Emma's hand was a top hat. At the sight of the princess Hook stiffened but he hastily smiled at the approaching ladies roguishly.

"Now where did you get that Swan?"

"None of your business," she barked and stopped before Jefferson. Aurora glared at Hook suspiciously.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he smiled suggestively and her mouth pursed in distaste. From that point on she ignored him which was fine by him. He turned to Emma who was trying to push the hat into Jefferson's hands.

"Come on, you were so eager for me to accept what I was and get it to work, you have to help us."

"That was before I got Grace back."

"So nothing else matters? You know I could throw you in jail for a dozen or so violations but look where you are." She smiled dangerously at him and the Hatter's jaw worked in frustration. His daughter was listening from the hall, wide eyed and attentive.

"You're blackmailing me?"

"Yup. There are people, Aurora being one of them, that need your help. You're the only one who can really control the hat."

For the first time Jefferson looked at Aurora who smiled at him hopefully. His eyes narrowed and he tilted his head. "You look familiar."

"You absconded with my twin. Sol," she added when he looked nonplussed. His eyes lit up and he grinned.

"Sol! How is he?"

"Well seeing as you were the last person to see him I'd hope you'd be the one to tell me," her pleasant tone grew frosty.

Again Jefferson looked confused and his eyes slid from hers to Hook's. He looked at the pirate in query who shrugged and grinned. They had both met Aurora's brother who was as different from his twin as night was to day.

"You were the last person to see him!" Jefferson said, pointing at Hook. "If you want to find him then he'll have to take you."

"Preposterous!"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves!"

Hook and Aurora shouted in unison and stared at each other in appalled silence before looking away. Jefferson was smiling now, looking between them.

"If you want to use my services Killian you'll have to help the lovely princess here. Then I'll take you where you want to go."

"You're enjoying this," Hook hissed to Jefferson. The Hatter was practically bouncing on his feet. He had always been a little odd but now his moods seem to flash and change like lightening.

"As much as I want to find Sol I have to refuse. I have no desire to be accompanied by him!" Aurora said and turned on her heel. Emma followed behind, casting dark looks at Jefferson and Hook.

"Why are you doing this!?" Hook strangled out, rounding on Jefferson.

"Because you stranded him somewhere, didn't you?" The giddiness was gone from the man once again.

"It was years ago. I can't even remember what he looks like." That was a lie; he looked like Aurora, wide blue set eyes and all.

"Well you better start remembering because I have no idea where he is. I showed you the way but you both went through the door. You must have come back with someone else." He moved past Hook and walked over to Emma and Aurora where they talked quietly, occasionally throwing the odd glare at him.

Hook sighed and walked back out into the garden. Being saddled with Sleeping Beauty was the last thing he needed but if it meant he could go home, really go home than he would do it. One last adventure.

an:

The time line is a bit wacky because the hat can travel in time too. I love Jefferson's hat, so many possibilities lol

I'm going with the stories that mention Aurora had a twin brother. Hook/Aurora adventures next :)