Chapter 14

In my mind, time in the Enchanted Forest and time in the 'real' world works in different ways – let's just say time in the Forest moves much slower… Anjyu – basically, Regina came up with a plan that will be explained in the next chapter. ;)

Thanks everyone for the follows, reading and reviews!

On a different note - Regina and Robin on 3x12... It just melts my heart!

Neal Cassidy was sick and tired of being alone. Quite frankly, he was sick of growing up too – as much as he despised Neverland, there was some semblance of company. As much as he despised Hook, he was someone to talk to – to connect with. New York City was majestic and beautiful, but alone… it was pure torture. He could only stare with jealousy at all the people who passed by him – people who were lucky enough to have normal lives, lives untouched by magic. He was quite amused by their interest in magic, however. He had devoured all the fairy tale books he could get his hands on and although some of the characters were people he actually knew, he could not help but laugh at the ridiculous plots they had come up with.

Peter Pan being a good guy? As if.

Robin Hood as a cute furry fox? The man would be beyond offended!

His father… the story of Rumpelstiltskin was by far his favourite – even though the darkness in it was not nearly as intense as the truth. The story told of an impish monster who wanted to steal a baby from a woman he had helped spin straw into gold. It said nothing about the millions of people he had killed, about the suffering he had caused… It said nothing about the son he had lost. It gave him a sense of comfort though, seeing the – inaccurately portrayed – pictures of his father. In truth, the land without magic had quite a warped idea about good and evil. He had learned from experience that no one was born evil, no one was pure evil – one was warped into it by circumstances, fear, the seduction of darkness and the desperate need for power. He closed his eyes and lied back on the park bench he had claimed for himself. Another fairy tale book rested on his stomach – Snow White and the seven dwarves. This was one he had never heard of – the story of a beautiful princess who was on the run from her evil stepmother simply because she had overtaken the other woman in beauty. Neal snorted. For some reason, the story did not make sense at all – growing up with a supposed evil father, he had quickly learnt that reasons for being or doing evil went far beyond petty jealousy. Perhaps there was more to the story. A glimmer of silver reflected by the son caught his eye and he turned his head.

Everything stopped.

The world around him was frozen as he sat up straight, the book falling to the ground – forgotten already. Even without the silver hook, he would have recognized the man anywhere. The young woman with him was a whole different story, however – he had never seen her before and he had no idea what she was doing with Hook. The longer he looked at her, the more familiar she seemed however. Hook's eyes caught his and Neal's breath hitched in his throat. He didn't want to, he hated the man and yet he could not stop his feet from moving in the direction of the other man slowly. The book Neal had dropped lay forgotten on the ground, the wind playing through its pages. Had he looked back, perhaps he would have recognized the resemblance between the young woman next to Hook and the Evil Queen, laughing manically on one of the pages.

"Baelfire…"

Regina frowned at the name escaping Hook's lips and then glanced at the man who was walking over to them slowly. She estimated him to be about twenty five, a handsome, tall man with familiar eyes.

"Captain Hook."

The man only spoke when he was close to them and his voice held a trace of hope, overshadowed by resentment.

"Bae. Long time, no see mate. You got older."

Baelfire grimaced and folded his arms.

"That is what happens when you leave Neverland, Hook. You grow up. Something you are clearly still afraid to do, since you look exactly the same as you did a century ago."

Instead of being insulted, Hook simply grinned.

"Well, dear Baelfire, you too look good for your age."

Baelfire looked away and his eyes fell on Regina, who was cowering behind Hook uncomfortably.

"Who is this?"

Hook grinned and flung his arm around Regina's shoulders. She shook it off with a huff and stepped away from him.

"She is the reason why we are here, Bae."

Both Baelfire and Regina now looked at Hook curiously, asking the same question at once.

"Why?"

Hook laughed at the resemblance he immediately noticed between them, and gestured to both his and Regina's clothes.

"I suggest we get dressed in something less conspicuous and find something to eat, then I will tell you the whole story."

Of course the pirate would not even be there for five minutes before starting to spend Neal's money. He nodded curtly, however and held his hand out to Regina.

"I'm Baelfire… in this world I go by Neal."

Her small hand disappeared in his as she shook it and she smiled nervously.

"I'm Regina."

"Pretty name," he observed casually. "It suits you."

He turned without giving her a chance to thank him and gestured for the pair to follow him. They did so wordlessly, unsure of where they were going. Hook pointedly ignored the suspicious glances Regina kept giving him and followed Baelfire silently, hoping that giving a brother and sister each other was enough redemption for at least some of his sins.

The second Rumpelstiltskin and Cora set foot into Neverland he knew. He knew beyond all doubt that his daughter was no longer there. They were outsmarted by a bloody pirate! Rumpelstiltskin swallowed and glanced at his wife. Cora was looking at the dark forest intently, her thoughts somewhere else. Although neither of them would admit it out loud, they were both frightened beyond comprehension. Just the idea of what that pirate could have done to their poor, innocent daughter… A tree exploded behind him and he swung round to see his wife with her hands in the air, fury blazing in her eyes.

"Cora…"

"She's not here, Rumple! Our daughter… is not here. That blasted pirate! I will find him and I will kill him with my bare hands! I will rip his heart out and…"

Rumpelstiltskin moved forward quickly, silencing her rant with his lips. Cora succumbed to the kiss and pushed him away after a few minutes, confusion etched on her face.

"Rumple, what are you doing?"

Rumpelstiltskin tucked a strand of hair in behind her face.

"I know you are angry, dearie. I know your entire being is consumed with vengeance and fury, but… I love you. And we'll find her."

In another time and place, she would have returned his sentiments. Here, where they were, she could not however. She simply stared at him with her beautiful, empty eyes and allowed him to hold her hands and listened to his desperate promises.

"We'll find her, Cora and when we do… when we do we'll be whole again. We'll be a family again, you will have your heart and we will have our daughter."

Cora nodded quietly as she looked into her husband's eyes, absorbing all the love he carried for her. She almost smiled.

Almost.