Hello fans! Firstly, I own nothing.

Secondly, sorry for the slow updates. Its the beginning of not only the Christmas season, but final season as well.. the later is a whole lot less yay.

Also, Santa brought me an early Christmas present, a Surface! Although I love it and am totally excited... it comes with learning how to use it..

At any rate enjoy your chapter!

Avery was sitting in camp, absent mindedly listening to the group talking about a plan to go home, Snow was still ignoring Charming though. Avery loved Snow so much, but she did have a tendency to get off track, and right now ignoring her husband was putting them off track. There was a rustling outside camp, and everyone drew their weapons. Emerging from the foliage was red hair and a purple top over pale skin.

"Whoa… H-hey I am here to give information to Avery." Ariel had returned.

"Ariel?" Snow obviously recognized her friend.

"Snow! My friend it's been to long." They embraced, after a few minutes of catching up and the camp exchanging looks, one obviously a suspicious look to Avery from Neal. Avery cleared her throat.

"How was your trip? I confess you are back quicker than I imagined."

"I only had 24 hours. But I got what they were after." Ariel said to her.

"And that was?" Avery asked, bracing herself for what her father could have wanted.

"It was a box.. small… umm ancient looking. Its hard to explain, but it felt alive in my hand. Your step mother, Belle, she said something about it containing Evil." Avery could tell that Ariel was having a hard time explaining, but she knew exactly what it was.

"Well.. I hate to inform you my little mermaid, but you've actually stolen from me." Avery said, fear crossed the mermaid's eyes "Worry not… you're fine from me. How was Storybrooke? She asked.

"You went to Storybrooke?" Emma asked.

"Yes. Everyone is alright, the town is cloaked, so no one can get in, everyone is 100% safe." Ariel smiled to Emma, who still looked confused.

"Mermaids can travel realms." Neal said.

"Yes and obviously Regina held her end of the bargain her and my father struck with you. You got your voice back and the ability to be human when you please."

"yes, I had to give it them though." Ariel looked at Avery. "I've given you the information, now hold up your end." She was obviously sizing up Avery, Avery laughed in response.

"Calm yourself, I was going to give you the information anyway." Avery smiled.

"Oh… well alright then." the mermaid said awkwardly. Avery waked her hand over the fire and a leaflet of paper appeared in them, Avery caught it.

"Go to the address on this paper, I am sure Belle will assist you. "Avery said, as she handed Ariel the Piece of paper, the Pulled her close, "And I suggest honesty. Trust me, love deserves that."

"Why would you give this to me, not wanting information from me? "Ariel asked.

"Because, anyone who Stabbed Regina in the neck with a Salad fork is a friend of mine" Avery smiled "and just so you know, Ursula made her keep the scars"

"How do you know that?" Ariel asked.

"Because I told the sea goddess" Avery giggled. "Now off with you, you have a truelove waiting, and he's been waiting far to long." She smiled.

"Thank you…" Ariel said, tearing up looking at the address.

"No one should have been torn apart like you two were."

"The man, Dr. Archie Hopper, he loves you. I saw it in his eyes." Ariel said.

"Hold your match making horses flipper, we're already engaged. Now go, there's nothing idle prattle is for." But instead of immediately going Ariel whispered to her.

"One more thing, there is a girl on this island, her brothers are in Storybrooke.. her name is Wendy, Wendy Darling. Your father said he would help her, but I don't trust him as far as I could throw him."

"You've got good instincts. I will try my best to bring the girl home." Avery said, the mermaid was satisfied and after a hug to Snow, she was off. The group separated into teams, where she was confronted by Neal.

"You conned a mermaid to travel realms.."

"Don't be judgy.. I wanted to know what Dad was getting us into." Avery shrugged. This was one of the moments where she could tell the two were related, he had the same unsatisfied face.

"Well?"

"Pandora's box-"

"How did he get Pandora's box?" Neal asked, trying not to be too loud.

"From my collection."

"Where did you get Pandora's box."

"It was a gift, from a potential suitor." Avery shrugged.

"Really" he asked.

"What? I said no to him…" Avery said. "Now go have fun in dark hollow…and don't do anything I wouldn't do." She shooed him off, and Snow and Charming went a different direction. Avery went on her own, she was going to go find Wendy, and wouldn't mind meeting some lost boys on the way.

As she walked she thought where Pan would keep Wendy, he was obviously using her for leverage that much was clear. It wasn't in the echo caves, no one in their rag tag team would know her. The girl was from the real word, so without being in Neverland, she would have been like a hundred years old. Avery thought and thought, then she felt a presence. She turned to find Pan sitting on a log, watching her.

"Hello Avery, so lost in thought you looked. Am I sensing some sibling turmoil?" he said.
"What do you want Peter?" she asked.

"I came to make you come to your senses." Her said, jumping off the log and walking towards her.

"My senses?" Avery asked confused, she was also trying to close off the part of her mind that was thinking about Wendy. She didn't want Pan to get suspicious.

"You don't need to die here…" he said, "I meant it when I told you all those years ago, that I cared for you, that we were connected… I don't want you to get hurt."

"Connected? No… I think not." Avery said rolling her eyes.

"Oh the little you know…" he laughed. " At any rate, you should be back in Storybrooke, with Jiminy… having little baby magical crickets."

"I'm not longer amused by you… go away." She said to him.

"You shocked me." He continued. "The curse was yours, I didn't even expect that. Do I love a good twist in the game." He laughed. "How is Bae taking it? Not well I presume. The Dark Curse was so much dark magic, how can he be alright with it?"

"He's actually just fine, he understands I was young and I came to my senses. Thank you for your concern" she said blankly.

"And what about Jiminy… what would he say about it?" Avery's rage boiled and she smacked Peter.

"You're lucky that was the first thing I did. Now get going before I decide to do something worse." Pan was holding his cheek, and Avery's engagement ring has cut him. There was fire on his eyes, Pan was pissed.

"You are not going to succeed, you should leave while I still permit it… no one leaves this island without my permission." He spat.

"You don't know me as well as you think. I have a tendency to always get my way." Avery glared, Pan left. Avery closed her eyes and took deep breaths, calming herself. Then she remembered the hanging cages, he had a lost boy in there when she was here last, Avery thought that it was probably her brother that was in the cages last time. Avery ran through the jungle, watching for lost boys, specifically for Felix. She knew she would have to be careful not to get caught. Finally she got to the cages, and there was one hanging. She decided against magic, and grabbed the rope, untying it from the tree and lowering the cage slowly to the ground.

"H-hello? Who's there?" came a little girl's voice.

"Hush, love. I'm here to help." Avery said to the girl who was in the closed cage. Once the cave was on the ground, Avery tore it open. She came face to face with the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen, donning a fragile face and golden curls.

"Y-you're an adult." She said, blue eyes widening, Avery's heart melted.

"Yeah, I am. And I am here to help you. Are you Wendy?" she asked.

"Yes.." Wendy was still visibly unsure.

"Hello Wendy, I am Avery." There was a crack of a twig. "We must go." She said, grabbing the little girl's hand and turning to run.

"Wait… he'll know I am gone." Wendy said frightened.

"I got it covered," Avery said pushing the girl in front waving her hand and restoring the cage behind them. "My friends and I are going to get you off the island."

"How can you do that? Pan won't allow that."

"Little one… trust me, I don't need a smug teenager's permission to do anything." Avery smiled.

"You don't know Pan very well." Wendy said, understandably.

"Pan and I know each other very well… and for a very long time." Avery said.

"You were a lost boy… uh, well girl." Wendy said, "I didn't know there were lost girls."

"First time for everything." Aver said, dragging the girl along with her through the jungle. To Avery's surprise, the girl kept up rather well. They came to a clearing and stopped to see weapons drawn on them.

"Oh Avery it's you."

"Averianna." It was her father.

"Well good, the gang is all here." Regina said sourly.

"Yes, and I bring guests." Avery said, pushing Wendy in front to face the group. "She's-" but she was cut off by Neal.

"Wendy?" he said both worried and excited.

"Do I know you?" Wendy asked. Avery was wondering that as well.

"It's me." He said, kneeling down and looking her in the eyes, she stared into his eyes.

"Bae? Bae!" she jumped into his arms, "I… I came here to rescue you, when you didn't come back. I waited up every night for you, I never gave up on you. But he captured me, saying you had gone back to your world." She cried to him.

"You… you came back for me?" Neal asked.

"Yes… I didn't want you to be all alone again… with your parents being dead." Gold took offenses to that.

"You said I was dead?" he asked upset.

"Yes." Neal said defiantly. "And back on subject. You aren't getting near Henry!"

"Neal, why not?" Avery asked calmly.

"He doesn't want to save Henry, he wants to kill him." Neal said.

Dun dun duuuunnnn! Semi cliff hanger!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday; whichever one you may celebrate!