WAZZUP FRIENDS

I am so, so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry for not updating, I know it's been a month but I've just had exam week and it sucked. For those of you that are wondering if i'm going to finish this, don't worry, i have every intention of doing so :)

I'll think about making a spin off when I've come to my little gap in this, you'll see what I mean.

Anyway, review replies,

DREAMLESSLY17: The Prince Caspian reference was also unintentional, but thank you :)

Princess26966: Wow thanks man, it's good to know my writings appreciated :)

Midnight Alley: Yeah I'm working on it :) its currently in progress, I'll start it soon

Guest: Hint taken.

NellyChick123: udated ;)

Guest: ENJOY

Guest: ahahah xD sorry for not updating in so long, ill update more often now.

Ok, that wraps that up, ENJOY

I chase your love around a figure 8,
I need you more than I can take,
You promise forever and a day,
And then you take it all away

...

I shot a glance at Ari as the ship landed in the docks, the impact spraying water over the edge of the boat. The hood of her mortal clothes was up, her hands in the dark emerald pockets- the colour ironically similar to the cloak I had first seen her wear. We had been on the ship for over two days, the most of which she'd spent sat on the rigging, staring at the stars. I'd never gotten the chance to talk to her, what with the Evil Queen demanding that Henry needed his rest after she'd seen me out of bed.

I knew she felt me watching her, but from what I could see her gaze didn't stray from the crowd of villagers on the pier. I also knew she was being wary of me, ever since she saw me conversing with the Lost Boys. I doubted she would guess I had taken over Henry's body, but I couldn't let anything slip.

I watched in satisfaction as she shifted uncomfortably, raising an eyebrow as she caught sight of someone in the cheering crowd and shot her a grin. I looked over to the receiving end of her smile, seeing a tall girl with red streaks in her long brown hair. By their exchange, I guessed they knew each other from when Ari had been in the Enchanted Forest.

I held back a snarl of irritation at all of the people who embraced me as I walked off the ship, wanting nothing more then to shake Emma's arm off my back and sink a knife her through her stomach- but remembered to act as Henry would act. Having had Henry at the Lost Boys camp for over two weeks, it was easy to imitate him.

I embraced various people with a plastered-on smile, but my eyes kept flicking over to a certain white-haired girl, even if she was avoiding or ignoring my gaze. I kept track of her out of my peripheral vision, making sure not to let her out of my sight for too long. I was waiting to speak to her.

Emma embraced me again, her face lit up with excitement that I made sure to mirror. She cupped my face in her hands, looking at me with the adoration I knew she shared only for Henry. "How does it feel to finally be home?" She asked me, the relief evident in her voice.

Home. I resisted the urge to laugh. This wasn't home, but it would be soon. I glanced around at the infamous town, a small smirk in place I knew Emma would mistake for a smile. "Better then I ever imagined."

I sensed rather then saw the Lost Boys descend from the ship, turning to catch Felix's eyes on mine. Uncharacteristically, his hood was down, the feather braid in his hair blowing in the salty wind and the scar running down his cheek more prominent then ever. The Lost Boys surrounding him all motioned towards me, their grins slow and razor sharp.

I glanced around, catching sight of my son and his lover together once more. A shadow of a snarl clouded my face over that he had his happiness and I did not, but it disappeared as soon as it came. I couldn't have anyone seeing and contemplating why I despised Rumpelstiltskin so dearly.

"I have to admit there was a minute there," Emma started, the crowd of people hushing to listen to the saviours words, "I didn't think we were all going to make it out of that place."

She wouldn't have, if it hadn't been part of the game. I left them alive for a challenge- a game without competition wasn't a game at all. Winning against larger odds made it all the more satisfying when I did. When. Not if.

My eyes slid lazily over to Ari, my prize for the game- and she didn't even know it.

Yet.

She was leaning against the bars to the docks with Regina, her arms folded and her lips moving in a low tone as she spoke back to the Queen.

Emma's arm wrapped around my shoulder; a constant reminder I wasn't where I wanted to be. Charming spoke up from his place next to Snow-White, a wide smile of relief spread over his features. "Well, we did." Large shouts of agreement joined his reply, but his wife was looking at someone else.

Snow-White spoke up, her gaze focused on her step-mother and my lover. "And we owe a lot of it to them." She announced, much to the audience's surprise and displeasure. I resisted rolling my eyes - the woman obviously hadn't given up on making everyone friends. "Regina and Arilis helped save us all."

I inwardly smirked at Ari's reaction. She slowly looked up to the crowd, shooting a save me glance at Regina, who was doing the exact same thing to her. I had a feeling Snow-White announcing her presence did the exact opposite of the intended.

"Her?!" A villager spoke up from the crowd, incredulous. "She stole my dead mother's necklace!"

"She killed my uncle!"

"She stole my son's inheritance!"

Ari visibly winced at the accusations, raising a hand to quieten the onslaught of allegations. "Actually," She pointed to the first, "I stole the diamond out of your dead mothers necklace," She pointed to the second with a look of disbelief. "He was a child molester. Blame the clientele." She pointed at the third, "And, uh, I stole your daughter's inheritance, not your sons. That was Regina."

There was an outcry of rage from the crowd, and a man came charging towards her with his fists raised. She swiftly ducked, turning to watch him run straight into the railings, flip over the side and promptly fall in the water. A smirk slid onto my face as she turned back to the crowd, gesturing over the side. "I think we can all agree that wasn't my fault."

I kicked my feet up onto the polished round table, waiting for Snow to barge in and start shrieking at Charming, no doubt wanting vengeance on Regina for crashing her wedding. Thinking on it, I was grateful. If Charming and Snow had snogged for any longer they would've probably sucked each other's faces off.

I sighed in content at the feeling of sitting down after so long. I had a more unpleasant feeling I would be kicked out of the castle by the cook sooner or later, considering I had just stolen all of the pastries out of the oven.

I cocked my head as the telltale click of heels on stone approached the door at a rapid rate, and braced myself for the eventual storm that was Snow-White in extreme anger. "Snow, listen to me." I heard Charming plead as the doors swung open with a crash as they ricocheted off the wall, the force of the push having thrown them backwards.

Snow stormed into the room, barely sparing a glance for me. I had no doubt she had gotten used to my sudden appearances. "What can you say- what can you POSSIBLY say to make me feel better!" She snapped, the question rhetorical but as forceful as if she wanted a reply.

Charming obviously didn't get the memo. There was no reasoning with Snow when she got like this- something he had yet to find out. "We just got married?" He sighed, sounding weary. "That should be enough." He walked after her, his silver cloak billowing behind him as he walked towards her.

"Regina found a way to ruin it, she always does, we have to do something!" Her eyes focused on me, betraying the panic she wasn't verbally expressing. I made a non committal sound, shrugging, not sharing her alarm for Regina's bluff. "Like what?"

She made an exasperated sound, burying her hands in her intricately twisted hair, the strands tumbling over her shoulders and the flowers falling to the floor at her aggression. "I don't know! Storm her castle?! Steal her magic?! There must be some way we can fight back!" I shrugged off the anger I felt building at Snow's overreaction, knowing she was just worried for her kingdom- even if it was uncalled for.

"She can't hurt you." I reasoned, feeling strange for trying to calm things down. I was usually the one causing chaos. Nostalgia overtook me as I remembered my havoc-making days.

Ah, the golden age of Arilis.

"Get over it, Snow. She wants an audience, she wants to cause a scene. For her, it's all about spectator sport. You're playing right into her hands." I shook off the painful memories that came with that advice. "You do know she's dangling you on a puppet string, right?"

Snow just seemed to grow angrier at my disregard for Regina's threats. "I know that she is determined, Arilis. But so am I!" She paced around the room, completely ignoring Charming, who was standing stony faced with his hands on his sword.

I sighed in exasperation, twirling the dagger in my hands in agitation. Both of them were out for Regina's blood, and both of them were going to end up killing themselves. "She wants to take away your happiness, princess. You're not going to be able to win that fight on a battlefield, let alone storming her castle or stealing her magic."

Her gaze turned incredulous as she regarded my dismissal. "No?" She folded her arms. "Then how do you suggest we win it, Arilis?" I rolled my eyes at her dramatics.

"Go on your honeymoon." I had heard the stories of the Summer Palace, and I had no doubt she could convince Charming to take her there. If she managed to behead Medusa, it would be the perfect weapon against Regina. I knew openly storming Regina's castle would fail, so they needed a more covert plan- even if it put their lives on the line. But potaytoes, potahtoes, right?

Snow obviously had caught onto my plan yet, as her eyes widened. "What? How can you even think of leaving the kingdom now! She finds a way to ruin it, Arilis! She always finds a way!" Her face was twisted in anger, and I sent her a Snow, get with the program look, and my next words got her with the program.

My eyebrows rose. "What about the Summer Palace?"

I stood by Emma, Regina and the others, watching Henry walk over to the Lost Boys, a sinking feeling of suspicion washing over me.

He walked too… languidly. Lazily. With too much grace- grace that was considered impossible for a bumbling eleven year old. Henry was freaking me out, what with his unnatural mannerisms and his jealous and possessive teenager act.

I didn't know what was up with him; he was talking to the Lost Boys as if they were Long Lost Buddies, sending me these smirking glances that I knew he saw me receive. I had no idea what Pan had done to him, and I wasn't sure I wanted to find out.

I stiffened in confusion as Henry called to us, my eyes narrowing. "Hey, Mom! Dad! What about the other Lost Boys? They're still free!" He called, his face a mask of panic as he backed away from them, but not before I saw him mutter something back to Felix. I was trying to figure out what Henry was playing at, and thus far, I'd had no success.

I walked over to the gathering of immortal adolescents, ignoring the glare Felix was giving me as Regina nodded, agreeing with Henry. "Henry's right." She eyed the group with barely disguised disdain. "We can't just let the Lost Boys walk away freely." I had no doubt the Lost Boys would rather set fire to Hook's ship and dance on it's burning deck then walk away freely, but it's not like I knew them or anything.

One of said Lost Boys let out a holler, and to my distaste, it was aimed at me. "What about Ari?! She's one of us!" Well, this was awkward. I sent Regina a placating look as she turned to glare at me,

I dragged my eyes to the Lost Boy douche bag and gave him a tight smile. "Not anymore." Regina visibly relaxed at this, but I didn't miss Henry's glower. Jesus, just another thing to wonder about what was wrong with him.

One of them stepped forward, prodding me in the shoulder. "Nobody just stops being a Lost Girl. You stood with us once, and you will again." I ignored the twist in my gut as he spoke and kept my face expressionless, my fingers twitching as I fought the urge to do something violent like, oh, I don't know, accidentally cave his face in.

He raised his fist in the air, a vindictive grin curving his mouth. "Peter Pan never fails." This was backed up by various shouts of agreement, but I didn't flinch — not from the prod or the statement, but the glint that was in all of the Lost Boy's eyes was making me uneasy.

I shrugged, suppressing the irrational feelings that had sprung up at the Lost Boy's words. "And Team Good always wins." I held up my hands as if weighing my options on a scale. "Unstoppable force, immovable object… I'm playing Switzerland." My tight smile hardened, my gaze turning to Felix as he spoke up.

"I think you've stabbed one too many people and kissed Peter one to many times to ever be Switzerland."

Felix was then on the receiving end of my middle finger.

"Enough." Charming commanded, ending our little bonding session and leaving Felix standing there smirking at me, a trait he had no doubt picked up from the original demon boy himself. "Don't worry, Henry, we have plenty of cell space for all of these guys."

Now I was the one smirking.

Guess Who, POV

I couldn't drag my eyes away from Ari, sat in a small red booth at Granny's. My son had just locked my body underneath the floor of his shop, unbeknownst to him it was Henry in the box, not me. Ari hadn't said anything, just leant against the wall with her arms folded and her eyes glued to the floor, before leaving without a word. I was curious.

Before I could make my way over to her, Emma slid into the booth in front of me, a large book in her hands. She set it down in front of me, and my eyes scanned over the words 'Once Upon a Time' written in faded gold ink across the worn, bound leather. I stared at it blankly, not understanding the significance.

"Well, don't be too excited," Emma smiled, confused, looking from me to the book and then back again. "Neal still had it in his room, I thought you'd want it." She paused, grimacing. "Especially since you've just lived a fairytale of your own."

Ah, so this was Henry's famous fairytale book. I vaguely remembered Ari telling me about it. I gave Emma a tight smile, pulling open the cover. "Right. Thanks." I looked down at the page, my eyes gravitating towards to the colour on the left hand side. I gave a start as I realised it was Ari, standing on a large deck with pirates surrounding her. Her white hair was spilling down her back, and the hook-handed captain had her hood snagged in the curve of the metal as if he had just pulled it down. Reading a sentence or two from the page opposite, I gathered it was the first time Hook and Ari met.

I traced the accurate drawing of her hair with my fingers, the paper a stark contrast it's actual softness. I glanced over at Ari, seeing her shock of white hair falling down her back in messy strands. I was dying to run my fingers through it, to touch her jawline, her cheekbone, to feel her press her face into my neck. When she was fifteen, I had spent hours with her threading my fingers through her hair as she fell asleep, something, as Ari referred to them as, Team Good had no comprehension of.

My eyes rose to meet the unwelcome Saviour's as she spoke, not having realised she was still here. "You ok?" She asked me gently, and I resisted the urge to narrow my eyes at her, hoping she would leave already.

I nodded. "Yeah. Fine."

I slid a sidelong glance over at them as I heard Baelfire approach Hook at the bar, and I blocked out Emma's inane questions to listen in to the conversation. "I don't think they serve rum at Granny's." I heard Neil comment dryly, sliding onto the red leather bar stool next to Hook. I almost smirked. The two men hadn't given up fighting over the Saviour, even if they were being subtle about it.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to pursue the Lady Swan." I heard Hook replied bitterly, taking a swig of his cider. So much for being subtle.

My eyes finally looked up as Ari slid onto the stool on the other side of Hook, her eyes searching the upper cabinets of Granny's shop. "Well, I'm here to pursue the lady vodka, if anyone could point me in the right direction."

She wanted to get drunk.

A smirk curled the corner of my lips.

I had a feeling I knew why.

Baelfire looked over at her and Hook, raising his eyebrows disbelievingly. "What, you two are just here to throw back a few with the dwarves?"

Ari snorted, hopping up onto the bar counter with the easy grace of a natural fighter. My smirk grew. I taught her how to fight.

She walked along the counter, her converse treading light dustings of gravel onto the bar. "And if you're not here to bitch fight over Emma with Hook, I'll eat my shoes." Hook laughed appreciatively, shaking his head and taking another swig of his cider.

Baelfire laughed it off, but he was clearly irked, searching for a response. "And if you're not here to get drunk so you can forget Pan, I'll eat your shoes for you."

There it was. Ari smiled without humour, reaching over to the upper cupboards from her stance on the bar counter. "Touché." She pried open a cupboard door, satisfaction lighting in her gaze as she was met with an assortment of bottles, all different shapes, colours and sizes. Grabbing a tall, clear bottle with a blue label, she started rifling through them, obviously looking for more.

"Aristanae!" A sharp, shrill voice rang out from below her, revealing a large, bespectacled old woman with curled grey hair wielding a wooden spoon. "Get down from there at once! And put the Blueberry Smirnoff back!" My eyes darkened at the name and flicked up to Ari to see her reaction. To my irritation, she hadn't flinched at the name or the reprimand, just reached down with her free hand to pat the old woman's hair.

"Whatever you say, Granny, whatever you say." She shut the cupboard door, jumping lightly down from the counter and sitting back on the stool, already unscrewing the blue lid. Baelfire frowned at her, looking from her to Granny and back again.

Bealfire opened his mouth, pausing slightly in confusion. "Aristan-"

To my insatiable interest, she drank long and slow from the bottle before replying and interrupting him, her tone deadpan. "Long story. I don't feel like sharing."

Hook stopped drinking, putting his glass back on the table with an audible thunk as he ignored their exchange, going back to the topic he found more important then Ari's constant name predicament. "I made a decision when it comes to Emma." He rested his elbow on the table and made a motion with his hand, shrugging slightly, redrawing Baelfire and Ari's attention. "I'm gonna back off."

I had no doubt his version of 'back off' meant staring at her from afar rather then up close, but same difference to him. It was always the same with men- but I hadn't realised Baelfire and Hook were so aware they had it out for the same woman.

I almost rolled my eyes when Baelfire gave a visible start. "Back off?"

Ari snickered, taking a swig of the vodka bottle. She wasn't visibly drink, but the amount of liquid inside had already visibly decreased. I wanted to talk to her when she was like this; I had only ever seen her once when she was drunk, and she was a lot more open then usual.

Hook picked up his glass again. "For the sake of the boy, I'll let his parents have a fair shot, without a…" He searched for a word. "Devilishly handsome pirate getting in the way."

Ari almost choked, laughing. Baelfire ignored her, his eyes widening somewhat in confusion. "… You serious?"

"Yeah." Hook smiled, picking up his glass. "I am devilishly handsome."

Ari's laughter turned louder at this, the sound resonating through the restaurant, drawing the attention of many shocked onlookers. I hid my rapidly growing smirk, inwardly gloating my victory as I drank in her laughter with every fibre of my being.

Baelfire smiled, but frowned still, obviously appreciating but not understanding Hook's motive. "Thanks, man."

Hook shook his head, taking a drink out of the almost empty glass. "Don't thank me yet. You see, I'm in this for the long haul." He turned to look at Baelfire. "You've already walked out on Emma once, I'm not so sure she'll let you back in." He lifted his glass. "Are you?"

Baelfire left almost immediately, sparing only an unhappy glance at Hook before making his way to Emma. "Nice one, Hook." I heard Ari remark dryly, her laughter having quietened. "You've scared him off." She twirled the vodka easily in her fingers, the bottle half empty but she still looked sober.

Hook drank his cider, grinning. "That was the intention, love."

"Sorry kid. It's time for something you didn't have in Neverland." I glanced up from the story book, raising my eyebrows in question as I was met with Emma's teasing smile. "Bedtime."

I nodded, closing the book reluctantly on a page of Ari running through alleyways, guards behind her. I tucked it under my arm, sliding out of the booth as Emma put her hand on my shoulder, leading me slowly to the door.

My eyes clung to Ari, who was pretending, and poorly, to not notice my gaze.

"Oh, uh, lets say goodnight to Regina." Emma quickly said as Regina walked past, said woman pausing to speak to us, her eyes going to the clock on the wall.

"Goodnight?" Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh, I didn't realised it was getting so late." She smiled sadly, touching my chin in a loving gesture. "It's going to be hard to let you out of my sight."

Emma tensed at this, the action too subtle for anyone who wasn't directly next to her to notice. I had no doubt she was jealous of the Queen's attachment to the boy.

A slow smile spread over my features at the opportunity, uncaring Emma would question my behaviour. everyone she asked would put it down to her paranoia over Henry and Regina's relationship. "Maybe you don't have to." I began. "Maybe I can stay with you tonight." I asked, letting my question hang in the air. Ari's gaze turned to mine, her eyes narrowing. I resisted a smirk.

Regina gave a visible start, looking between me and Emma in confusion but delight. She was the easiest to manipulate; she loved the boy too much. "Oh, uh, of course!" She smiled warmly, her eyes betraying the inward joy of Henry choosing her over Emma. Ah, this was too easy.

I shot a glance over at Ari, not wanting to let her out of my sight. "Can Ari come too?"

A loud choking noise came from her direction, and she slammed the bottle down on the counter. "No."

Regina glared. "You live on the other side of town. In a house that used to belong to some lunatic called the Knave of Hearts. It's dangerous at this time of night."

Ari turned to stare at her. "I can handle myself, and I would rather take my chances walking to my perfectly good house in the dead of night then be under your roof, asleep. A dagger would be in my throat before I could say, 'It was Regina.'" Why was she so stubborn. As if I would let the Queen get within three inches of her with anything remotely sharp.

Regina sighed in exasperation. "I won't harm you, Arilis. I swear it."

Oath magic settled heavily in the air at the promise, but Ari wasn't impressed, raising her eyes to the ceiling as if praying for someone to get her away. "Magic doesn't effect me, Regina." She sighed, with the manner of someone who had explained this many times before.

Regina frowned, waving a hand airily in the air, obviously not appreciating Ari's sentiment. "Pan could use magic on you easily enough."

I slow smirk curled my lips as Ari turned deadpan, looking at the Queen with obvious distaste. "That's irrelevant."

Emma cleared her throw loudly, the only sound in the growing tension. "Well, Henry, let me know when you want picking up in the morning, and Ari… I trust you can find your own way home from Regina's house," She said quickly. I had no intention of letting her leave Regina's house, not if I had any say in it. Regina was wrapped around Henry's thumb; I could make her do anything for me, and that was including making Ari stay.

Ari's protests were cut of by the Queen. "Arilis." Regina warned threateningly. "If Henry wants you to come with us, you come with us." A moment passed.

Ari's eyes flicked between me and Regina, her jaw finally setting. "Fine." She said slowly. Good. "But if I mysteriously disappear tomorrow, it was Regina."

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