25
I awoke to Peter shaking me gently.
"Good morning, love," he said when I woke up.
I smiled and sighed as my vision cleared and took him in, "good morning."
He kissed me gently on the side of my lips. "I just wanted to wake you... just in case your sister or grandmother came in..."
He trailed off and I frowned. I wanted to go back to sleep, but I wondered what he meant.
Then he looked amused.
I looked at the time and saw that it was almost seven. "Oh my gosh," I said, and quickly got up. If Mina or Granny came in, they'd see him. Maybe he would have known they were coming and hid himself, but I didn't want to take any chances.
"Relax, they're still asleep," he said, "although they should be waking up soon."
"Shoot," I said, going to my closet and picking out an outfit. I tried to ignore his gaze on myself. I was wearing a long t shirt and shorts, but I still found myself feeling warm with his gaze on me. I chose a black spring dress and held it up for him to see.
"Either way, you look beautiful, love," he said with a smile.
I blushed furiously then disappeared to get changed. Once I disappeared into the bathroom I smiled.
I took a quick shower then changed into the dress. I looked in the mirror as I rearranged my hair, then added a headband.
After getting ready for the day, I opened the door just in time to see Ruby exit her room.
"Up so early!" she said, "is everything alright?"
"Perfect. Good morning!" I said as I gave her a quick hug then went back into my room. Peter was sitting on my bed and he smiled when he saw me. I put my finger to my mouth and he nodded, then I went over to my grimoire.
"There's so many spells to learn," I said, flipping the pages.
"I don't need spells," he boasted in a teasing way.
"Of course you don't, you're Peter Pan!" I said dramatically.
"And I'm just amazing that way," he said as I shook my head and turned back to my book.
"There's a levitation spell, a spell on how to turn people into animals, and... oh my gosh...there's a resurrection spell."
"Really?" he asked, looking over my shoulder at the yellowed pages.
I nodded, "It's a saving spell... It says it can save a person and keep them from harm." I looked at him and before I could say anything more, Ruby's voice came from the other side of the door.
"Mina? Granny says breakfast will be ready in a few minutes!" she said.
I forgot what I wanted to say to him then. Closing the book, I stayed with him until I was called
down.
As we ate breakfast, Ruby asked me more questions.
"So, how are you going to get to Oz?" she asked between chewing.
"Well... I would need a spell... I guess I could visit Regina or Rumple before I do it." I said, even though I didn't really want to. I never really thought about it because I always thought that Peter and I could fly there, as he would have gotten his magic back... but Granny and Ruby thought I was doing this alone.
Ruby didn't look amused, "I'm starting to have doubts again..."
Granny shot her a stern look and she rolled her eyes.
"It's okay," I said, "I do have a plan. I'll be taking the train out of Storybrooke and from there I'll use a spell or charm to get to Oz... My grimoire should have a spell... I'm sure of it."
"Why not just do it here?" Granny asked.
I was getting nervous. "I... I wanted to travel a bit too... you know, visit new places? It's been my dream to do that."
Granny considered it," You have always been speaking about that."
I smiled sadly. It had been my dream to explore, and I was finally making that happen
Suddenly the phone rang.
Ruby got to it first.
"Hello?" she asked. We watched her as her face grew concerned, "Really? Alright, well... we'll be there."
Then she hung up.
"Who was it?" Granny asked.
"It was Gold," she said, turning to us, "and he's having a meeting. He says everyone must attend because it's very important."
I grew pale, "W...did he say what it was about?"
"He didn't say," Ruby shrugged.
I excused myself from the table and went to my room after I had finished eating.
"Peter," I said, leaning against the door, "Rumple has called a town meeting."
He frowned.
"I think he may have found out that the objects we replaced are fakes...we're done," I said, sinking to the floor.
He watched me for a few minutes, then shook his head as he bent down to me, "Then... there's only one thing we can do."
"What's that?"
"We have to leave today."
"There has to be something else." I said, rubbing my temples.
"What else can we do?" Peter asked, taking my hand, "Mina, if that's what the meeting is about, then you will be imprisoned for helping me. They won't believe you unless perhaps Henry speaks for you... but even then, they might not... adults are difficult."
"But I can't just leave... they will know." I said, "I'm so torn. This isn't the way I pictured leaving."
"You have to make a choice."
I nodded, "Then I'll go to the meeting and I will speak for you. Everyone has to know that Rumple was the cause of this whole mess in the first place."
"Mina..."
"Don't worry about me," I said, "He can't hurt me and I'll be ready if he tries anything."
He stared at me, his gaze a mix of yearning and sadness, then locked me in his embrace and a passionate kiss.
"You still love me... even after everything I've done." He said.
"Of course I do," I said softly, "I love you so much..."
"I know that. I won't leave you ever again. When you go to the meeting, I'll be there even though they won't see me. If you need me, just call." He said.
"You'll hide," I said, "we are getting out of this mess today once and for all, and then...t hen we can finally have our happily ever after."
He chuckled darkly, "villains don't get happy endings, Mina."
"You're not a villain," I cried, "you're just different. You look at things differently than they do."
He looked at me and smiled.