Hey,

Here is a new chapter of The return home and my take on the finale with Annabeth. I hope you enjoy. Thanks so much for all the reviews.

Enjoy,

TempeGeller

Chapter 10: A plan worth to think about…

Annabeth sat on the counter of the library, there was no one there. Sometimes she liked that the best, listening to the books around her whisper. She stared down to the letter she had received in her mailbox, it was from Ian. His handwriting was strong and sure, something she had seen of him, more than a lot.

'Dear Annabeth,

I arrived to Camp Half Blood in New York about a week ago. I haven't been claimed yet, so I'm staying in the Hermis Cabin until I get claimed, which I hope happens soon.

I guess you found your family before I did. I hope you are doing well.

Love,

Your friend Ian. '

Annabeth put the letter next to her. She couldn't believe that three weeks had passed by, she didn't feel the time move. She had talked to her parents and received one lesson from her father. Yet she hadn't chosen to make contact with them after the moment on the docks. It had been a week since she found out about the plan and in that week it felt that she was hiding herself. Either way she would be in the library or she would be in her apartment, hidden between the covers. She picked up the book, a book titled 'The wizard of Oz'. Why was she even rereading a book that was known as a children's book? A copy of 'Wicked', 'Son of a witch', 'A lion among men' and 'Out of Oz' were placed on a pile next to her. As she turned around the last page of the book, she picked up 'Wicked' by Gregory Maguire. Was Oz real? And if Oz was real, was there any chance she could get there?

"I have not ever read that one." Emma said. "I thought you would like to hear about the plan."
"Off course, I assume I'm part of it." Annabeth didn't jump of the counter, she stayed there with her eyes pointed to the book.
"Why don't you put down the book and look at me?"

"So what's the plan?" Annabeth put the book on top of the pile of books next to her. Her eyes were on Emma's.
"We think we will wait for Hook, Regina and our evil guys." Emma explained. "We can trap them and stop their plan, before it ever begins."
"What about asking Regina what's down there?" Annabeth raised her voice. "If we know what's down there, we can actually take it out before they ever can."
"But Tamara and Greg will know that." Emma explained. "Which means we will lose our advantage."

"What if they do get away with whatever they are hiding?" Annabeth spoke " Ian said that we should work with certainty, we have the power, we get behind Regina. If she never puts that thing on, she never loses her powers. We put the attack right now."
"That might work when you're hunting vampires or whatever you were hunting." Emma turned away. "It doesn't work with them, we need to think that their plan works. If we go in attack mode, Neal will pretty much rad us out. We…"

"They have no power, if we team Rumpelstiltskin and the queen against them." Annabeth replied. "We are more powerful, they are just human, we have magic."

"Magic is not the solution this time." Emma spoke "We all agreed that this plan would work. Well, your mom did not agree. She actually pretty much agrees with you. And Gold agrees with the killing way, but it's 3 against all. We're going with this plan."

As Emma stepped from the library, Annabeth stayed behind once more again. Silence took presents of the room once again. She took the book in her hands. What would Elphaba do? She wondered, Elphaba would most likely do what she would do. Find out whatever was down there and what it did. It was clear that Tamara and Greg had hardly no idea what they were doing. They knew that the bracelet could take away magic, they knew that it. The old Annabeth would take her sward and fight them, they were not monsters, but they still were after her parents. She rolled her eyes as she returned the book to the pile, she couldn't put her attention to a book. She took an empty piece of paper and pulled out her pen.

Dear Ian,

You're there? Camp Half Blood? Are you going on a Quest? Finding the fleece? Say yes! Say you're going to find it! I want to go to the sea of Monster so badly! I would suggest you come get me. Sea of monsters!

I don't know how to explain my relationship to my parents. I'm afraid to trust father, or papa, or anything. After everything grandfather said, I know they call him a jackass, but he's right. My father has done some bad things. So…

For my mother it's different. I love her! She is like me, we share our love for books! Our love for the world, we are the same. I just can't see the pain she has in her eyes, every time. She blames herself. I feel guilty for coming in her life, without me she would never have to face that pain. Does it make me a bad person?

Am I guilty of my moms pain?

Should I trust my father?

Ian, HELP!

Why couldn't I just be Athena's kid?

I miss you Ian,

Your Beth

Annabeth turned around as she folded the letter. She had to look for the owl that brought the letter her, but right this moment she couldn't reach for it. Annabeth shook her head. She could only imagine the evil he had done. Than why did her mother love him? She said she saw the good in him, yet her grandfather said he was bad and she was just as evil as he was. Was she like him? She shook it away from her. Why was she scared? She jumped of the counter and moved between the books.

After a few minutes, she decided to return to her apartment. And as she crawled between the covers with a good book, she decided to let go her parents for just a moment and disappear in the world.

"Have you seen Annabeth?" Belle stepped next to Rumpelstiltskin. "I have not seen her since she moved in with Emma. Do you think she's ignoring us? Did I do anything wrong? Rumple, what's going on with her? Have you seen her for your magic lessons?"
"Belle, I have not seen her either." He moved his hand to his head. "I don't know what I've done wrong. I mean I..."

"She's having…" She turned around. "Rumple, she has a very difficult life, it's all my fault. What mother let's her child being taken? I should have fought harder, I should have gotten out. I should have found you…"

"Belle, it was not your fault." He reached for her hand. "It was Regina who took Annabeth away. You were scared, there was nothing you could do. She understands that.."
"How could she?" Belle started to walk away from him and she returned to him. "She's a shy girl, she had to fight and that's all my fault."
"She can handle it, Belle."

"She shouldn't have, she's a child, Rumple." Belle turned away. "You can't watch her as an adult, she is a teenager. A teenager, you shouldn't treat her as a child."

"Belle, you do remember she would have been the same age as Emma. Even four months older. She's not a child anymore. She's an adult."
"Rumple, you've got that wrong." Belle turned away. "You didn't have parents growing up. We need to see we're there for her. I need to have my baby."

Belle sat down and pulled a book closer. She stared at the letters as she heard Rumple move around in the shop. What was he doing? Was he worrying about Annabeth too? And why was he saying that she was an adult. Slowly she stared up from the book, she saw that he was moving her hands to his head. Worry came from his face.
"Rumple, it's not wrong you worry about our baby." She stepped to him and pulled her hand in his.

"She is…" He paused. "I feel like she's shutting me out. Like she's hating me, just like Bae. Belle, what if she hates me? Or worse, what if she's scared of me?"

"She's not scared of you."
"I would be, if I knew what I have done." He had tears in her eyes. "I have done terrible things in my life. I don't understand why you like me."
"I see the true person you are." She smiled "The dark one would not be worrying about his daughter fearing him. You need to talk to her or go to her."
"She didn't want to live with us…"

"I know."

"A daughter has to live with her family. Even Swan did."

Dear Beth,

The past is a thing that's always there, everyone has their life. And it's normal for you to fear the future. Only you have to see the man your father is now. He's a good man and you have no reason to fear the man he's today. Annabeth, please, don't let prejudice get to you. You have always wanted a family, don't let your fear take your family away.

As for your mother, you are not guilty of her pain. Annabeth, sometimes you have to face pain. You have to understand that your mom is happy you are back in her life. After a while no pain will be left. I promise to you.

Annabeth, you deserve this family.

Truly.

Yours truly,

Ian

P.S. My father or mother did not claim me yet. Greek gods right?

Annabeth put the letter next to her. He was right, Ian always talked to her about family. He always wanted to have a family and now she got the chance. She needed to give her family a chance. She had returned to the library and sat down at the counter once more again. She hang to the wall and pulled a book in her lap. She thought about the plan. Emma had mentioned in the morning that they were going to do it. They would be in the library in a short time and Emma had warned her to stay out of the way, that it was too dangerous for her. She was too young for this. She pulled a few books of the bookcase and went to the apartment.

Belle lived there, most of the times that was. She sometimes stayed at her father's place and this seemed one of the times. The apartment was filled with Belle's personal books collection. The most of the walls were covered by bookcases, there was a small kitchen and a table to eat was pushed to the wall. There were windows, but it seemed they were covered by something. There was a small sofa, on the only place there was no bookcase. There was a small table in front of it.

She sat down and returned her attention to the book.

"You know, I have way better books on Oz." Rumpelstiltskin stepped in the room. He took a book from behind his back. It seemed older than the books she had in her hands.
"Thanks." She smiled for a moment. "I love Oz."
"You seem to have caught the same bug as your mother." He smiled "Always reading everything she gets in hands."

"Yeah." Annabeth smiled. "Sorry."
"What are you sorry about?"

"Being scared of you." She stared down. "No, not of you. Of the idea of your history, I mean what grandfather said was so scary. Yet I figured that that's in the past and I can't use that against you. So, I…"
"You are just like your mother."
"Am I?"

"I've always wanted a daughter." Rumpelstiltskin spoke as he watched. "And I missed the biggest part of your life. I missed your first words, your first steps. And I am missing so much things. You look so much like your mother."
"I…" She stared at him. "I'm only causing my mom and you pain. I shouldn't have come here, if I didn't you wouldn't be feeling this regret and this pain. I…"
"Annabeth, somehow you were going to return to your mom's mind." He stared at her. "And about me, you are my daughter, it's my job to protect you."

"Well, you have my talent for sward fighting." He smiled "If I may admit that."
"You may." Annabeth smiled. "So how about that magic lesson?"

Regina stepped next to Hook. Hook had admit that everything that she said were things she didn't know about. It turned out that they had been growing magical beans to return to the enchanted forest and right now, Regina was going to find some magical item. As they went down in the elevator, Hook wondered what was down there. He didn't know anything and as the door opened up, he stared around. He heard her say that he would take care of 'her'. What did she mean by the word 'her'?

He was pushed down, it went fast. Everything went fast and as he was attacked by a monster, he tried to defend himself. He was lucky that he knew how to fight. In fact, Annabeth was the only one that ever beat him without magic. She was fierce, courageous and everything he never would be. And he was in love with her, was he in love with her as a hero? As a perfect image? Or did he actually know her? He beat back, it took him a couple of minutes to pull him up there with the animal not following.
"I see you can take care of yourself." Regina reached in a tower like object and pulled out a black diamond.

"What's that?" He stared at it.

"Oh, Casanova." Regina smiled. "That' not any of your business. And has your little princess gone for you? Annabeth, that's her name."
"You know her name, you stole her from Belle."

"Says the man who tried to kill Belle." Regina smiled as he stepped on.

"You really do think you are all that?'" She stared at his arm, she noticed the bracelet, almost like a charm. "What's that you're wearing? Does your little girlfriend like it?"
"I got it from your mother."
"Than it should belong to me." She pulled it of his arm and placed it on her arm. Someway he felt bad. Yet he knew that there was a plan, everything would go well.

"So you just think." Rumpelstiltskin pointed to the book. "Think that it levitates above the room. Just like that."
"Just like that…." As Annabeth pointed to the book, it started to levitate. She smiled as she concentrated. A few seconds later she was moving above the ground.

"You are a natural." He smiled at her. He couldn't be any more proud of his daughter. As she hit the ground once again. He started to think what he could teach her more. He couldn't teach her the same things he thought Regina, he didn't want to learn her to remove hearts. She was his daughter and she didn't learn that.

"What about…" Rumpelstiltskin appeared on her other side. "This?"
"Do you think I can do that?"
"There's nothing you can not do." He appeared on her other side. "You already did it, you just have to do it without panicking. Okay?"

She nodded as she placed her feet on the ground. She concentrated and stared around in the room. She had done it before, but right now she was not trying to show off. After a few seconds she appeared on the other side of the room, releasing a loud laugh. She had done it, Rumpelstiltskin didn't show any surprise. Off course she would be able to nail the magic right away, she was his and Belle's daughter. She couldn't be anything but a natural.
"Good job." Rumpelstiltskin smiled. "How about a plasma ball?"
"How about we go to some other place?" Annabeth smiled "The last thing I want to do is destroy these books."

"You're just like your mother."

"I can't believe it!" Emma cursed. "Wasn't Hook supposed to bring Regina up here, so we could save the day. I mean that's how Annabeth explained it too us."
"She said that Regina had something down here…" Snow replied "I mean if Hook deceived her, she can't help that. You know how untrustworthy that pirate is."
"I agree with that." Belle replied "He tried to kill me and now he's all in love with my daughter."

"By the way, wasn't Rumpelstiltskin supposed to be here?"
"He's with Annabeth." Belle reacted. "He had to spent some time with her. Plus, he needs to get away from the idea that Annabeth fears him."

As Belle released that sentence, Emma stared to the floor. She knew that Annabeth felt some fear for her father, that was the same thing that her face said.
"She fears him, doesn't she?"
"Belle, fear is a big word." Emma turned away. "She doesn't fully trust him."
"Belle, she's going to get over that." Snow smiled "She is getting used to this 'parents in her life thing' and she just heard about all the things her father did. About a monster he is, I would have some doubt inside me too."
"He is a good person."

"A good person doesn't kill people." Emma raised an eyebrow. "Just saying."

"Emma!" Snow reacted as she pulled Emma's arm. In Belle's eyes there was some kind understanding, she was not going to react. "So Charming?"
"What is it Snow?" He stared at her. "It's been a half hour since…"
"We know…" Belle said with an annoyed voice.

"But?"

"We know."

"Plasma balls, fire balls an any other of these things you can throw are the best way to fight an opponent. Hit them with it, do as much damage." He stepped closer. "In a face down it's either way you or the opponent. So the first base is a plasma ball, they are the first ones and the easy ones, when you get that, we go on to fire ball."
"And fire ball allows more damage?"

"It depends from your opponent; some people are weak to plasma and others to fire."
"okay." Annabeth stared at him.

He took a small step away from her. He didn't bother explaining, he didn't know how to explain. He thought she would understand what she needed to do. He moved his hand in front of him, right next to each other. He allowed his hands to almost touch and as he thought moved them apart a plasma ball appeared between them, the farther he moved them. The bigger it became.
"It's all about concentration." He stared at her as she did the same with her hands. "It's all about visualisation. Think about the ball. And then move your hands apart, don't allow any other thing in your mind. Only think about your hands. And when it's big enough, think about what you want to hit."

Rumplestiltskin levitated his hands in front of his head and pointed to the tree in front of him. He moved his hand a bit farther and after a few seconds the ball left his hands and moved to the tree, damaging it. Annabeth raised an eyebrow and tried to move her hands apart. But in the first try, the ball stayed rather small.
"You're thinking about failing." He smiled at her. "Get that out of your head. You can only think about the power you are creating."

She nodded as she closed her eyes for a short moment, she placed her hands together in front of her head. She kicked out any idea of doubt and fear. She only thought about what she was trying to created. She moved her hands slowly at first and then she moved them faster. He stared at her and as the ball grew bigger, he wanted to clap. Yet he didn't. He knew that could pull Annabeth from her concentration.

Time moved around her as she thought about needing to hit something. It hit the same tree as her fathers had.

She moved to it and touched it. It almost directly healed under her touch.

"Can't harm nature." She said showing her the exact thing Belle would have done.

"How about a fire ball?" He stared at her.

"How about finding a better place to do that." Annabeth smiled "We wouldn't want to set fire to the forest."

Another quarter of an hour had passed by. Belle had taken herself a book and was reading as Emma was tapping her fingers. Snow moved her hand to Emma's, trying to stop her.
"That is super annoying you know." Belle reacted "I can't concentrate on my book when you do that."

"I think I can do…" Emma reacted, but she was unable to finish that sentence as Hook was thrown in the room from the elevator. The doors closed back up. He seemed aware of something. As he stared to Emma he realized the plan had backfired.

"They knew I would tell Annabeth." He stared to the floor. "They have Regina and whatever this black diamond does."
"I think…" Emma paused "Annabeth was right."

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