I had walked several miles when I came upon a huge crowd of people led by Robin. Roland was walking beside him, holding his father's hand. He tore away from his father when he saw me and came running into my arms.
"You never came home!" He hollered into my neck, refusing to let go of me.
"I know, friend. I'm sorry. I'm back now though!" I tore him off of me and ruffled his hair. Robin jogged up to us, leaving the group a ways down the road.
"How did you get back? Louis said he only had the one bean." I stood up, bringing Roland with me, to hug Robin. He squeezed me hard.
"He did, but I met some people on Neverland who had some more, and I got back." I let go of him and saw that the group had caught up to us. The Merry Men mingled amongst the new comers. "Who are all these people?"
"Um, well it would appear that the Enchanted Forest has returned. Please excuse me and my friend for a moment." He turned and gestured towards the crowd before grabbing my arm and pulling me away, off the road. "Mara, you should go back to the castle. The boys are there, they'll want to see you."
I let out a long breath. Being back meant facing Louis and Isaac and that wasn't going to be pleasant.
"Yea, I owe them an apology." I looked up at the waiting crowd; there were three in particular who stood out amongst them. The stood close together, talking amongst them while eyeing me. "Who're they?"
"The Charming's and the Evil Queen." Robin chuckled at my shocked look. "I know. A somewhat strange arrangement given the origins of the curse, but I supposed things have changed in the past thirty or so years since they've been gone."
He paused for a moment, as I examined the people watching us curiously.
"I should get going if I'm going to make it back to the castle before sun down. Will the Merry Men be going back?" I shifted Roland in my arms as I talked.
"I think we'll stay with this group. They're going to need help dealing with the Wicked Witch." He pulled his fingers through his annoyingly perfect hair nervously.
I looked up to see Will pushing through to the front of the crowd; following closely behind him was a tall woman with long dark hair. She stopped when she reached the Charming's and started talking with Mrs. Charming. Will wandered over to Robin and I, looking relieved. He pulled me into a rib-crushing hug.
"Don't you ever run away without telling anyone ever again." He held my face between his hands, forcing me to look in his eyes. "Those boys haven't eaten or slept since you left."
"I know, I'm sorry. But I couldn't wait. I had to go find my daddy, Will." I pulled his hands off of my face, but held them in mine. Robin picked his son out of my arms and returned to the waiting crowd, talking with the three at the head. "Are you going to stay with Robin or come back to the Dark One's castle with me?"
Will looked down at our entwined hands, and then slowly let go. He let out a long breath before finally meeting my gaze.
"I think I'll stay with Robin. I talked with Louis while you were gone. You need to talk to him when you get back there." I gulped when Will mentioned Louis. I could tell by the way Will was looking at me what he and Louis must have talked about.
"He's the first person I need to apologize to." Will nodded his head in agreement. "Is my daddy in this group? Wasn't he wherever they were?"
Will made a face and shook his head.
"I guess he left as soon as they arrived. I couldn't hear where they said he was going though. It's all just whispers."
I sighed, discouraged that I may have missed him again.
"I guess I'll just head back to the castle then. It'll be dark soon so I should probably get going." Will and I stood together awkwardly for a moment. Neither of us really wanted to say goodbye because we didn't know when we would see each other again.
I let out another long breath and started to turn towards the impatiently waiting crowd. Will caught my arm and pulled me into another tight hug, brushing his lips across mine as he went to kiss me cheek.
"It's been a good few years, Mar." He whispered in my ear as we hugged. We let each other go but he held me by the shoulders. "Now, before you go. What the hell did you do with me bloody heart?"
I laughed out loud, turning to walk over to Robin. It had been several years since I had hidden it from him. I knew he wouldn't be happy when I told him where it was.
"Under the rose bushes in the garden." I turned to see Will's face. His whole face dropped, clearly annoyed with me. He shook his head as he sighed and pulled his fingers through his hair. "What? I knew you wouldn't look there."
I laughed again as I walked to Robin and Roland. Robin was talking with the three at the head of the group, trying to explain the hold up.
"I'm going back to the castle. I need to apologize to the boys, and then I guess I'll have to try to find out where-"
"To move on from there. I understand. I'm sure we'll see each other again soon." Robin hugged me as he finished speaking. He put his mouth to my ear and whispered: "Your father was a villain to them, try not to reveal yourself. He's gone to Camelot to search for you."
He let me go and smiled at me. I smiled back before squatting down to give Roland a hug.
"You make sure your daddy reads to you okay? Or maybe you should read to him." I ruffled his hair as he giggled at me. "I'll see you again okay?"
I hugged him again before standing up.
"Where are you all headed?" I asked, trying to cut the awkwardness.
"My old castle, which apparently has been taken over by some green woman." The woman standing nearest Robin spoke. She must have been the Evil Queen.
"Good luck with that. Will can get in there. But her magic is stronger and wickeder than anything I've ever seen." I shook my head, knowing well how scary the woman was. I let out a soft sigh, knowing I needed to get going soon if I was going to make it back to the castle before dark. I was about three quarter's of the way there and there were only so many hours in a day. "I should get going. I'll see you guys around I guess."
I gave Robin, Roland and Will one last hug before continuing on my way back to the castle. It took me another few hours to finally get there. I stood outside for a minute, working up the courage to actually go in.
I let out a groan and pushed the heavy wooden doors open. The front hallway was incredibly empty with all of the Merry Men gone. I meandered my way up the grand staircase and down the hall towards the bedrooms.
As I passed mine I noticed a woman standing in front of the bookcase, examining my books. I stopped dead in my tracks then stepped back behind the wall, sneaking a peak at her. She turned towards the door, with her nose in the book she had chosen, totally oblivious to my existence. She turned her back to me again and I snuck in.
I tiptoed over to her, wishing I had something smaller than a sword to pull on her as I unsheathed one of the swords on my back. I paused for a moment, and then grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her against me and putting my sward against her throat. She gasped and closed the book with a snap, pulling it to her chest.
"Who are you and what are you doing in my room?" I hissed into her ear.
"I feel the need to inform you that this is my room." She breathed before she head butted me. I dropped my sword and staggered back.
She was on me like a flash, as she shoved me onto the bed. We struggled for a few minutes before I finally overpowered her. I sat on top of her, holding her wrists together so she couldn't fight anymore. She struggled for a few seconds longer before giving up.
"Now, was that necessary?" I asked, out of breath.
"Was holding a sword to my throat necessary? NEAL!" She retorted, struggling again as she shouted for someone. She had dark brown hair, and matching brown eyes. She wiggled around under, trying to shake me off. I rolled my eyes and climbed off of her. "Well that was easy."
"Well, it just felt wrong to be sitting on top of a squirming woman. Although I suppose it would depend on why she was squirming." I tilted my head to the side, giving her a once over. She looked uncomfortable, but stuck her hand out to me anyways.
"I'm Belle." I reached out and shook her hand.
"Mara, I-" I was cut off as Isaac rushed into the room.
"What the hell's- Oh my god. Mar, you're back." He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me. He was next to me in an instant pulling me into his arms. I was about return his hug but froze when he grabbed my cheeks and pulled me into a kiss instead.
I wasn't sure what I should do. I was in utter shock. I guess I kissed him back for a second before realizing what was happening and pushing him away.
"What the hell, Zac?" We stood breathless, staring at each other for a moment. My eyes drifted up behind him to meet Louis'. I hadn't even heard him come in. He was standing next to another man, looking devastated.
"I'm sorry, I just- I thought you were gone, and we didn't know when or if you were coming home." He stuttered through his words, struggling to come up with an explanation.
"So what, you decided kissing me was a good way to make sure I was really back?" I raised my voice higher than was necessary, triggering something in Isaac.
"I guess I just thought, I'd lost you once it was about time I showed you how I felt about you so I wouldn't loose you again!" He screamed at me before turning and storming out of the room. The four of us left in the room stood in stunned silence for a moment, before Louis sighed and walked over to me.
"Don't you dare run away like that again." He pulled me into a hug, sighing again. "We were so scared we'd never see you again." He let me go and took a step back. I felt like my heart had stopped beating. I was overwhelmed by Isaac's feelings and now I had to apologize to Louis for running away. I wanted to cry.
"I'm so sorry. I just couldn't wait. I had to find my daddy." I paused, not wanting to have to admit that I hadn't even found him. "It wasn't even worth it. He'd already left by the time I got there."
"I'm so sorry, Mar." He said with another sigh. "I wish we could have gotten there in time."
"How long did you miss us by?" The man standing in the door took a step forward. He looked gruff, with short dark hair and goatee. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him.
"Us? You were with my daddy?" I stepped towards the man, needing to know everything I could. He chuckled to himself.
"Mar, I know it's been a while but come on." He stared me down. I knew I was missing something. I turned back to Belle, remembering that she had called him Neal.
I spun back towards him, realizing who he was. We both laughed as I launched myself into his arms.
"Oh my god, Bae. I've missed you so much." I let him go and grabbed his cheeks. He looked much older than me. The hair on his head and his face was still dark, but speckled with grey hairs. "You got so old."
We both laughed again. He pulled me into another hug; I had lost count of how many I'd received that day.
"Yea, well, there wasn't any curse that kept me from aging where I went." He chuckled to himself.
"Maybe not any curses, but I've heard there was a girl." I gave him a cheeky smile, but his expression changed. He suddenly looked very sad.
"Yea, there was. But I messed up. And I was too scared, and I guess selfish, to make things right with her." He almost looked angry as he talked. I wondered what he could have done, but given his expression I didn't want to ask.
"But she gave you a son didn't she?" I hoped bringing up his son would change cheer him up. He did smile, but his eyes were still sad.
"Yea, she did. But I didn't know about him until about two weeks ago." My heart ached for him. He had gone to the land with no magic to try and find peace and happiness, but it sounded like he hadn't gotten any. He jolted suddenly, grabbing my by the arms. "Oh my god, Mar, your dad is here. You're finally going to find your dad! Oh my god, I'll try to find out where he's gone."
"Robin told me he's headed to Camelot to look for me. I guess that's where I need to go from here." We all stood awkward silence, not sure of what to do next.
"Zac and I will come with you." Louis was leaning in my doorframe. I turned away from Bae, shaking my head at Louis.
"You two have uprooted your lives enough for me. You should stay here." I stepped out of Bae's arms and walked over to Louis. He stood up straighter as I approached him.
"Mar, our father is the reason you haven't see yours in so long. And besides that, you're our family. We're going to help you out with whatever you need." We smiled at each other. I knew how guilty he felt about his father being the one who took me away from my daddy. He had nothing to feel guilty about. He hadn't had anything to do with it. We had been six; Zac hadn't even been born yet. Thinking about Zac brought me back to reality.
"Do you really think Zac is gonna want to come?" After I had yelled at him, I doubted he was going to want to go anywhere with me.
"Why do I have a feeling he's never going to let you out of his sight." He laughed as he turned out of the room.
"That's kind of creepy." Bae spoke behind me. Louis chuckled as he stepped out the door. His head popped back in a second later.
"Can you please make sure she doesn't run away again? It'll be much easier to help her find her dad if we aren't trying to find her." I rolled my eyes at him, as he winked at me.
"Why do I feel like that's a difficult job?" Bae laughed. I gave him a shove. Belle was sitting on her bed with her nose back in her book.
"I guess I should start packing my things." It was then that I realized I had no idea what I'd done with the bag I had taken to Neverland. I didn't have much to take anyways. A few clothes, my swords. I didn't have much other than that.
I meandered through the room, collecting my few belongs. Belle got up and left, leaving Bae and I alone. He was standing by the bookcase, examining some of mine and Belle's books.
"So both of the huh?" Bae spoke with a chuckle.
"What are you talking about?" I froze. I hated talking about this. That's why I didn't. But apparently everyone else felt the need to.
"Oh come on Mar. It was obvious that Louis had a crush on you when he came to rescue you on Neverland, but I guess being with you for so long, the other one followed along." I kept my back to Bae while he talked, but I heard him walk over to me.
"I don't know what to do, what to tell them." I paused. I had always tried to change the topic when someone brought up the boys and their feelings. I never wanted to talk about it. Bae was different. I had always been able to tell Bae everything. "I don't want to hurt either of them. But I can't even think about either of them like that until I know where my daddy is, and I get to see him again."
I turned to Bae. He was leaning against one of the bed's canopy poles, looking at his hands. He really had gotten old. The young boy I'd known was gone, there was no hope left in his eyes, just sorrow.
"Believe me Mar. You can't let finding your dad get in the way. That girl, the one who had my son? I ran away. I don't know what I was thinking. If I had known she was pregnant I never would have gone. I would have forgotten everything I was afraid of. But I didn't. I let her take the fall for my mistakes." He paused; collecting himself. "I've regretted leaving every day since. And now I won't ever get to see her again."
I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. He hugged me back, squeezing me tight.
"What do I do?" I rested my cheek on his chest. I felt a tear stream down my nose. Bae cleared his throat and released me.
"Well, I think Louis would go to the end of the earth to make sure you were happy and okay. Clearly Isaac is affectionate." He chuckled. "I don't know Mar. It's your life. It's your choice."
"Sometimes I wish it wasn't." I walked around him and flopped over onto the bed. He turned but stayed leaning against the pole.
"Believe me Mar, you really don't." His eyes were sad and knowing. I sat back up, still unsure of what I was going to do, but ready to go to Camelot to finally reunite with my daddy.
Isaac stepped into the room as I bent to pick up my bag. He was looking at his feet. Louis came in behind him, leaning against the doorframe.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you Mar. I was just so worried that I was never going to see you again. I'm not going to apologize for kissing you though. That's something I've been meaning to do for years."
I couldn't find any words. I gave Bae a look, searching for help. He just shook his head, refusing to help me. With a sigh I walked over to Zac and wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight.
"It's okay. I'm sorry I ran away." I pulled away and smiled at him and his brother. "I just really need to find my daddy."
"I know. And that's why Louis and I are coming with you to Camelot." He held my arms, not letting me get too far away from him. He smiled at me sweetly. I could feel how badly he wanted to help me. I looked up at Louis, whose eyes were shining at me again. I felt my stomach drop; from both butterflies and remembering the decision I was going to have to eventually make.
"Um, do we have any idea how we're going to get there?" I asked, looking back and forth between the two boys.
"Well a boat would probably be fastest route." Louis stood up straight and stepped into the room. "And staying close to the sea will probably be the best way to find your dad."
I nodded in agreement, and then turned back to Bae. I didn't really want to leave just after seeing him again. I didn't know how soon I would be back, if I did come back.
"Don't worry, Mar. I'm here to try and get my dad back too. You go find yours, we'll have plenty of time to really catch up later." He smiled at me. I finally felt like things were going to work out. That I was finally going to be okay.