Chapter 4

She couldn't find her keys. They were in her purse somewhere, she knew. But her purse was like a black hole. Things disappeared in there. Then Wendy heard the metallic jingle and knew she was almost there.

Getting the key into the keyhole proved to be more difficult than actually finding her keys. Killian was getting restless. He tore the keys from her hand and unlocked and opened the door in one swift movement. Through the process of elimination he found her bedroom and sat her down on the bed. Instantly she fell back onto the mattress, her head cushioned by the pillow.

"They're all gone…" she slurred sleepily. "I'm all alone."

Killian didn't know what Wendy was talking about. Perhaps she was dreaming nonsense. But when he stood to leave she reached out for his hand.

"Don't leave," she said, her eyes closed in exhaustion. The grip on his hand was weak, and when he crouched back down to her level he knew she was already long gone.

Killian walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. He wanted to leave. Walk out of the house. Leave her behind, just like he had done back in the Enchanted Forest, but he didn't.

Instead he laid down on the couch and fell asleep.

When Wendy woke, the sun was pouring in through the windows and her head was throbbing. She slid off her bed, and nearly crawled to her bathroom where she tossed up the nights festivities. It was most unpleasant. She washed her face and brushed her teeth, hoping that'd make her feel better but it did little to make any difference. Only the taste in her mouth changed.

"Killian? I thought you'd left." Wendy was shocked to see him still there. Especially since she didn't really remember what had happened that night.

"You asked me not to." Killian rose from the couch.

"Oh, and you were just being a gentleman, I suppose?" She said in a mocking tone.

"Easy, love. I know you may not remember everything, but if it wasn't for me you would've slept on your porch last night."

Killian was always so quick to answer.

Wendy smirked at him. She knew he was right. And she was trying not to show it, but she failed.

"I'm sorry for anything else I might've said. I don't really remember anything." She grabbed a box of cereal from the cabinet and began munching on it dry.

"Don't worry about it, love. What is that you're eating?" Killian sat upon one of the breakfast bar stools.

"Cereal…umm…I don't really know how to explain what it is. But it's good." She assured him.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. The sound of Wendy's chewing filling the space.

"Did you ever find your brothers, Wendy?" She didn't want to answer. She didn't want to think about that at all.

"No. Since the curse broke, I've been looking all over town but I haven't found them. Or Peter. I fear they may be dead." She didn't look at him.

"Maybe they went home to London."

"Well, if that were true, then I know they are dead."

Killian was puzzled. Wouldn't that mean she could see them again?

"This is your world, is it not? Can't you go home?"

Wendy had had a lot of time to think this over.

"It was. But time works differently, especially when going through portals to other worlds. What was thirty some years in the Enchanted Forest, and being cursed here, was nearly a hundred years in London. If they did return home, they'd be gone by now. I'm the only one left. My family is gone."

Killian remembered what she uttered that night. But Wendy wanted to change the subject.

"So…how did you get involved with Cora? Last I remember, you were trying to find the weapon to kill Rumpelstiltskin." The memory of Killian leaving, and forcing her to stay behind flashed through her mind.

"It's a long story. I'll spare you the boring details. I found Belle. But she proved to be of no help."

"What? I was sure she would know…" Wendy questioned herself.

"You were wrong, lass," his blue eyes burned a hole through her.

Wendy had a hard time accepting that she was wrong. It meant that none of it was worth it. Killian may have switched his alliances, but Wendy was still on his side. She wanted to see The Dark One defeated, just as badly as he did.

"Oh bloody hell! I have to pick up Percy!" Wendy checked the time. She ran toward the bathroom, and was about to strip, when she remembered that she wasn't alone.

"Don't stop on my account," he smirked, a certain sparkle in his eyes.

"Gross," she tossed her sweatshirt at him and it hit him square in the face. "I'll be ten minutes."

She eyed him, making sure he knew not to leave and he put his hands up in defeat.

"Forgive me, but what is a Percy?" He asked while they walked to the Animal Shelter.

"Percy is not a what, he's a who, and he's my dog."

Rumpelstiltskin watched them as they made their way down the main street. Wendy didn't seem to care if anyone noticed her conversing with the vengeful pirate. But to Rumpel, it was just enough. That pirate didn't deserve to casually walk down a street, acting like he didn't have a care in the world, he thought. He only deserved to die, for stealing Milah away from him.

But, Rumpelstiltskin needed to tread carefully.

"Sheriff, may I speak with you?" He slowly made his way into Emma's office.

"If this is another complaint about Hook, I don't want to hear it. He hasn't done anything…yet." Emma rolled her eyes.

"No, it's not what you think. I want you to look into someone for me. A girl. Her name is Wendy."

Emma made the connection almost instantly.

"You've got to be kidding me." She sat back in her chair, exasperated.

"I assure you, I'm not. I saw him with her."

"Last I checked that's not illegal." Emma shrugged.

"Well, if you haven't noticed, Miss Swan, the Captain doesn't have many friends. I'd like to know what she is to him."

Gold stared her down and Emma knew he wouldn't budge, the stubborn man that he was.

"Fine, I'll talk to her. But whether or not I tell you anything, will be up to me."

"That's all I ask." He said through his teeth.

Wendy and Killian parted ways for the day, and she took Percy to the beach. The small pug ran around, dodging the cold waves crashing on shore, while Wendy watched from her place in the sand.

"Is that your dog?" A little boy asked from behind.

Wendy turned to see Henry. The Mayor's son…the sheriff's son too, she thought.

"Yes, his name is Percy." She smiled.

"Can I go play with him?" The boy grinned from ear to ear.

"Of course." Henry bolted toward the playful pug. She knew it wouldn't be long until Percy's burst of energy would end, and she'd have to carry him home.

"Seems like a handful…"

It was Emma.

"He'll run around for another five minutes before he passes out. He's like a kid."

Emma sat down beside her and laughed. She knew how to get information out of people. It helped when she knew they were lying.

"I'm just gonna cut to the chase. You were seen in town with Hook. How do you know him?"

"Are you really asking that question?" Henry chimed in, surprising them both.

"Henry, go play with the dog."

"He laid down." Wendy couldn't help but laugh. "Mom, don't you remember the story of Peter Pan?"

"Well, yea, I do. But considering all the stories I know are nothing like the real thing, I have to ask."

"It's not too different from the stories you may know. But it certainly doesn't end the same way."

"What happened?" Henry asked as he pet Percy's head.

Wendy told them her story. Henry was shocked that Peter could abandon her, and Emma asked her about her time in the Enchanted Forest.

"After the first year I realized, it was too late to go back, even if I could. That didn't stop me from trying though." A pained smiled crept across her face.

Wendy watched the calm of the ocean in the distance.

"Why can't you go home now?" Henry asked.

"The time that I lived in, is long over. Time works in strange ways when travelling to different worlds. It's too late."

"So how does Hook fit into all of this?" Emma looked at Wendy, curiosity in her eyes.

"After he helped me that night in the alley, I told him of the things I had heard of the Dark One. Secrets only I knew. And I told him of the woman, that Rumpelstiltskin had fallen in love with. I thought, if anyone knew how to kill him, it would be her. But I was wrong. And that's how he fell in with Cora."

Emma was dazed. Wendy could see it all over her face and Henry was quiet. Emma didn't know what to think of this man. She couldn't help but feel drawn to him, but he was a bad man. He did bad things.

But…everybody in this town had done bad things…right?

"He wouldn't let me help him. He made Smee lock me in his cabin when he left so I couldn't follow. Killian knew I could fight, but…he wouldn't let me."

"You wanted to help him? But he's evil…" Henry chirped up.

"Not as evil as one may think, Henry. He's just a man, fighting for what he wants…what he needs. I couldn't ask him not to do that, not that he'd listen to me, or anyone else."

"Mr. Gold saw you together. That's why I came to talk to you." Emma fessed up.

"I could have guessed." Wendy shrugged. "I know this isn't the Enchanted Forest anymore. Things are different here. But if I can help take down an evil man, no matter the consequences, I will."

"I believe you."

There was something in Emma's eyes that Wendy could clearly see. Curiosity was obvious, but there was a hint of something else. Regret? Guilt? She couldn't tell. But something was there…

"Well, isn't he a little runt."

Wendy spun around to face Killian.

"He's not a runt." He knelt down, and instead of being afraid, Percy ran toward Killian and began gnawing on his hook. Wendy held back a laugh.

"Emma was questioning me today…about you."

"What did she ask?" His interest peaked at the mention of Emma's name.

"She asked about how I knew you, and why I was talking to you. Rumpelstiltskin knows as well."

"Well, it was only a matter of time." He wiped his hook clean and stood.

"I don't care if he knows. I'm still going to help you. His magic doesn't work the same here; he's not as strong as he was back in the Enchanted Forest."

"I'm not discussing this any further, Wendy. You cannot be involved."

"I already am." She crossed her arms, refusing to budge.

"Did Emma say anything else?" He changed the subject.

"About you?" She smirked. "I could tell she wanted to know more. But I only told her what I had to. If you want to know more about her, you'll have to do it the old fashioned way."

Wendy rolled her eyes at Killian's confused expression.

"You care for her don't you? No, do not deny what is clear to my eyes." She shook her head, while picking up her lard of a dog.

"All of that was good and done when she abandoned me on the giant's beanstalk." He grew rigid.

"Get over it. She was fighting to get back for her son. You can't blame her for that. You'd be lying if you said you wouldn't have done the same, Killian."

Killian knew she was right. But it would take more than that for him to admit it.

"What does it matter? I came here for one reason and one reason only. Nothing will deter me from that."

"I know why you have to do this, I understand. But it matters because, if you do it, you may lose more than you gain. And I don't want to see you wallowing in regret for the rest of your life."

"If I don't do this…I will."

"Fine. Then let's get it done." Wendy turned on her heel, Percy in her arms and hoped that Killian would follow behind her.