A/N: Italics=Flashback

Chapter 1

Her eyes fluttered open and she tried to raise her head, before groaning and slumping back into the pillow. "Why in heavens is the world spinning?"

Killian chuckled. "I'd say it's your head that's spinning."

She perked up, raising her head and blinking. "If it isn't Killian Jones… should have expected you."

"Wait, you two know each other?" Emma interrupted.

Killian scrutinized her, trying to figure out where he'd seen her, while she just shook her head and replied smugly, "I know everyone, Savior." She cast a knowing look at everyone present, Snow, David, Emma, Hook and, the farthest from her, Rumplestiltskin, lingering longer on the latter two. Emma shifted uncomfortably and glanced at Killian, who was still staring at the woman with a frown, trying to place her in his long memory.

"What? But how?" Emma asked. As far as she could remember, she had never seen this woman, and considering that the scene she created today didn't come from nowhere, she wasn't likely to be a quiet and observant town dweller.

She waved her hand. "Lots of free time when you're trapped. Little trick of mine kept me entertained." She said evasively, "Anyway, what the bloody hell am I doing back here?" She certainly didn't like the idea of being in Gold's shop.

"You were poisoned, the blade was laced with it and you got cut. Gold said could make the antidote, so we took you here." Emma explained, "Wait… back here?"

"Ask him, he'll be able to tell better." She pointed towards Rumplestiltskin, a hint of venom in her voice. She then smirked, "Hello, Dark One. How's dear Belle? Didn't had a chance to check up on her after I knocked her out."

Gold's lips thinned. "Stay away from her."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, I'm not like you."

"Okay," Emma interrupted, "I'm not making out head or tail of this conversation, or whatever it is that's going on between you two, but that is a later concern. Who are you?"

"And why did you kill that man?" David added.

The woman sighed. "I'm… Beth. As you can see, I'm not exactly from here, but I was carried back and forth from the Enchanted Forest and this realm because I was among Rumplestiltskin's belongings." She gestured toward him. "Rumplestiltskin here thought it was a good idea to get a woman kidnapped and trap her in a box. The man I killed… he was someone I trusted, but he betrayed me to him. So it's all down to him really."

"Doesn't excuse you for killing someone." David said.

Emma turned to Gold, "You trapped her? Why"

Gold was still glaring daggers at the woman, and she responded in kind. "Come on, Rumpy," she mocked, "what's the use of lying when she can see through it anyway?"

"She's dangerous." Was all Rumple said.

Beth snorted, while Emma raised her eyebrows.

"So the Dark One is scared of someone?" Killian asked, smirking. Rumple scowled.

"Don't you get it?" Beth said, incredulous. "I'm no super-Dark One. Heck, I'm not even powerful. He's afraid because I'm unknown to him. He doesn't – and can't – know what I'm capable of."

"You overestimate yourself, dearie." Rumple finally broke his silence.

Beth smirked. "Oh, I don't think so."

"Elizabeth!" the queen shouted after her.

The fifteen-year-old princess, already halfway through the great hall, turned around. "What is it, mother?"

Queen Ariana walked up to her daughter and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Are you sure you want to go on this trip?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Yes, mother, I'm completely sure, and I'm telling you this for what has to be the ten thousandth time." Elizabeth insisted, "I want to go."

"But… well, it's a two-month voyage. You'll-you'll miss your birthday." Ariana said, trying not to sound pleading. "I was thinking about a grand celebration, maybe a feast for all our people and those invited from other kingdoms…"

"Mama…" Elizabeth hugged her mother. "it's great, it's a really really great plan, but… you know me… I'd rather go on a sea voyage and teach the captain how to sail his ship, than sit in a palace hall in a puffy dress…"

Her mother chuckled. "I know. I forget sometimes, but the sea is in your blood, after all." She sighed, blinking away tears and pulling away from the hug, "Let's keep that feast for when you return?"

"I love you, mama." Elizabeth said with a dazzling smile.

"I love you too, sweetheart." Ariana said, kissing her forehead and wishing her a safe journey.

Emma returned to find Killian in the kitchen, transferring lasagna from take-out boxes onto plates.

"Take-out?" she asked.

He threw her a smile and shrugged. "I figured you will be tired. Is everything alright?"

Emma nodded, slipping into one of the chairs. "That Beth girl's in lock-up, we've put the cuff on her in case she tries to use magic. It's… surprising, to say the least, how she knows about all of us."

"Aye… it was unexpected, knowing me – rather, us all by our names while we had never even seen her." Emma sensed Killian tensing at that last thought and frowned.

"Killian?" she asked, and he turned to face her. "What is it? Have you met her before?"

"I don't know, love." Killian sighed, "I've had too long a life and met too many people to remember, and it seems my memory is failing me. She looks… familiar. Maybe at some point of time our paths crossed, but I can't rightly place her in my memory."

Emma pondered over it for a moment. "Maybe we can ask her about it? See if she remembers?"

"We can, but she will likely lie." Killian reasoned. "I'm not even sure Beth's her real name."

"I'll know if she does." Emma said. Before they could say anything more, Emma's phone rang. "Hold on, it's dad."

"What?" she exclaimed after a moment, "But how, we locked her magic… okay, I'll be there…" she sighed, "Looks like we won't get a peaceful dinner after all. Our mystery girl broke out of prison."