Hey everyone, sorry about the long wait for an update I had an ACT test to study for.

Chapter 8:

During the years Leadora spent in Neverland on the Jolly Roger, she and Killian became close friends. There came the day, however, when each found out who the other was. It happened on a day like any other. The two were talking, as they often did, and the topic of family came up.

"So," Killian asked, "Why would Pan want revenge on your father? He surely can't be that bad."

"Pan is not alone in his desire for revenge, there are many who have grown to hate my father."

"Why is that? I've met only one man who has warranted that kind of hatred."

"Pan?"

"No someone who may even be more powerful than him."

"Who is he?"

"You're from the Enchanted Forest; you must know the Dark One."

"Know him? I've met him!"

"How?"

"Well…"

"Wait, he isn't…"

"My father? Yes he is."

"But you're nothing like him!"

"Who do you think taught me magic, Killian?"

"I knew the Dark One had a son, but I never knew he had a daughter."

"How did you meet him?"

"How do you think I got this?" He said while holding up his hook.

"I did know, I thought maybe…wait…you're a pirate."

"Are you just realizing this?"

"No but a pirate killed my stepmother," Leadora said starting to back away from him.

"Milah was your stepmother then? What do you mean a pirate killed her?"

"That's what Papa told Baelfire and me…is it true? Did you kill her?"

"No, I didn't, Leadora…your father killed her."

"No he wouldn't have…he couldn't have she died before he became the Dark One."

"No Milah and I fell in love; she ran away with me. Your father found us after he became the Dark One. He thought I had killed her until he saw her. He got so mad that he ripped her heart out and crushed it. She died right in front of me. I would never have killed her, Leadora; I promise I'm telling you the truth."

"OK…where does this leave us then?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I know he hates you and you must hate him. How do I fit into this? How do we fit into this?"

"I have nothing against you. You didn't know the truth. Nothing has changed between us. The two of us can still be friends. Why do you believe me anyway?"

"It sounds like something my father might do in a fit of rage. Plus, no one I have ever met is that good of a liar."

"Your father lied to you."

"No, that's genuinely what he thought happened; he just didn't tell us afterward, he didn't have much time to tell me."

"I understand. Do you want to talk about something else?"

"Please"

"How's that book I gave you?"

"It's really good, Milah, if nothing else had a good taste in literature."

"She actually hated it," Killian laughed.

"Never mind then."

"Were you close with Milah?"

"No, she didn't like me very much. She never mentioned that she had a stepdaughter?"

"Not once. How could she not have liked you? You were only a child."

"All I know is that she told me when I was three years old not to call her my mother."

"Oh, so about that book?"

"What about it?"

"You like it?"

"Yes, I do. It is one of the best presents I have ever received."

"I'm glad you like it."

What Leadora realized now in Storybrooke as she looked back, is that this was the moment they began to fall in love, but neither of them knew it yet.

Leadora had given Mary Margaret her ring back a few days ago and she was relieved to say the least. So work became boring again; Leadora had nothing to do all day but read, not that having more time to read bothered her. Mr. Gold would often walk through the shop and ask, mockingly, "So, what book are you reading today?" assuming she had finished the one from the previous day. He was right most of the time.

Even when Leadora went home at night she didn't have much to do. She usually spent most of her free time with Graham. She spent a lot of her time now listening to music and choreographing dances for her dance classes that she teaches and herself. Certain songs reminded her of Killian and how she would catch him humming while walking around on deck. "What's that song?" she would ask.

"It's nothing, just a song."

"How does it go?"

"I don't exactly remember myself. I only know the tune."

This always made her laugh and roll her eyes. How could he like a song so much that he's humming it and not even know the words? She didn't believe him; he probably just didn't want to sing in front of her. Killian was always confident one minute, shy the next. It didn't bother Leadora though. The two could talk about anything. There was one time Leadora told Killian something she hadn't even told her father about.

"So," Killian asked, "What made you want to learn magic?"

"Well, I told Papa that it was for self-defense, just in case someone tried to hurt me or Baelfire."

"Was that the truth then?"

"No," Leadora sighed, "The truth is that the night of my seventeenth birthday, when the soldiers came for Bae and me, I shot magic out of my hands. I didn't mean to and to be honest I didn't even know I could do it. I needed to learn how to control it so I wouldn't hurt anyone."

"How is that going?"

"I barely had a year's worth of training. How do you think it's going?"

"Not well I'd assume."

"You'd be correct."

"You can practice here any time you want just try not to destroy my ship."

"Fair enough. Although I'm not sure I can guarantee that."

So Leadora began practicing on the Jolly Roger, and with time she improved greatly. There were times, however, when things got…complicated.

Killian ran below deck after he heard scream.

"WHAT'S WRONG?!" he shouted. He immediately saw what was wrong when he looked at Leadora's hands and there was fire surrounding them.

"THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"

"Ok, just stay calm. Wait what do you mean you don't know how to stop it?!"

"I've never had to know how to stop it! I've never shot FIRE out of my hands before!"

"Well, are your hands burning? Does it hurt?"

"No, but I can't stop it!"

"Ok, um…how do you normally stop doing something magic wise?"

"Papa always said to think of something happy, but I can't focus when I'm scared!"

"Alright, Leadora, try to calm down."

"I can't!"

"Close your eyes," Killian waited until she did, "Now take deep breaths, and think of something happy, like your father told you to."

"Ok," Leadora thought of the one thing she always did when her father told her to reign in her magic, Baelfire. When they were younger, their favorite day was the first snowfall of the season. That is the moment Leadora thought of, the happiest moment of the year.

"Leadora, open your eyes," Killian said, "You might want to see this."

The fire stopped, but it was…flurrying on the ship.

"How did you do that, Lea?"

"It doesn't matter, it worked, the fire is out and I can stop the snow."

With that the flurry stopped and the snow disappeared.

"Thank you, Killian."

"No problem; what did you think of anyway?"

"It's nothing, It won't ever happen again anyway seeing as there's no way for me to get home."

"I see. Well, if your hands catch on fire or something again just yell."

"I will, thanks again, Killian."

Back in Storybrooke, it was snowing for the first time and Leadora was in the Pawn Shop staring out the window, and Rumple, for once, didn't have to ask what was wrong because he was just as sad.