26

I kept my head high as the three of us walked to the town hall. Why did it feel as if I was walking towards my death?

I shook off the feeling. Yes, I was guilty of a lot of things. I would pay for it, but I needed to clear my boyfriend's name once and for all.

I had studied a few spells earlier with the ones I knew by heart. If Rumple tried anything I would be ready for him.

I just hoped that everyone believed me.

We entered the town hall and butterflies began to form in my stomach.

Rumple was at the front of the courtroom and I swore the majority of Storybrooke was here.

Rumple's eyes met mine as we entered and he glared at me. Suddenly, he replaced it with a smile. I stared back, showing no emotion as I joined Ruby and Granny on one of the benches. This was it. He knew, and he was going to try something. Maybe... maybe I would lose everyone's trust today, but I had to try this. I looked around and saw mostly everyone I knew: Belle was sitting in the front, and Snow, Charming, Emma and Henry were not too far away. Regina was annoyed, and as mayor, she was also on the stage, although she kept her distance from Rumple. Finally, the noise of the audience died down for Regina to speak.

"I apologize for the sudden meeting," she said truthfully, "But Gold insisted on this, claiming it was important..."

"Thank you Regina, but I can speak for myself," Rumple said, joining her at the microphone and almost pushing her out of the way in the process.

Regina shook her head and went to sit next to Henry.

"I know you're all annoyed with me for making you come here so early," he said, "but you are all in danger because something dreadful has happened."

I held my breath as the crowd began to speak in unison.

"Pan has escaped... back in Neverland we had managed to capture him in this," he said, pulling out the box I had crafted to look exactly like the original. Rumple smiled coldly and threw it on the ground. It didn't break, but some green magic escaped from it. "But this... this is a fake."

"What do you mean a fake?" Regina asked, picking up the box and studying it.

"This isn't the box that captured Pan, that box was stolen... and I know who did it."

I felt myself shivering and it grew only worse when he glared right at me.

And the audience looked back as well, trying to see who he was looking at.

"Who?" Snow asked, looking at me with a worried expression, then back to Rumple.

"We all know who did it," he sneered, keeping his gaze on me, "I remember fondly of Tamina and Henry entering my shop... then nothing." He raised his voice then, "Why can't I remember, Tamina? Please enlighten us."

"That doesn't explain..." Ruby said, standing up, but Rumple continued.

"You did something," he accused.

"Enough!" Regina said then, and all eyes turned to her. She stood up and turned to Henry and me, "As I recall Henry and Mina went to Gold's to find out where Tamina's grimoire came from."

"And I remember that," Rumple said angrily, "but I don't remember where you went or anything after the grimoire... what did you do?"

I felt eyes on me again.

"You stole the box, but I don't understand why Henry would help you do such a thing... unless..." he turned to Henry, who looked pale.

I had to do something. I had to come clean. I knew he wouldn't harm Henry, but I didn't want to drag him into my mess.

"Henry had nothing to do with this... it was me."

The room was silent and I got up and went to the front of the court room. My back was to the audience – I didn't need to see their faces.

"Please let me explain what happened."

"You're guilty of helping him escape!" Rumple said.

"Just let me explain," I said again, "please".

"And why should we?"

"Tamina," Regina's voice echoed across the room, silencing everyone, even Rumple, "Say what you have to say."

I took a breath and faced the audience. They watched me with doubt and the butterflies in my stomach went crazy.

"For starters, Peter is not the villain here, it's him," I said, pointing to Rumple, "It's your fault he was out for a vengeance in the first place!"

"Take her away! She's mad!" Rumple said.

I shook my head, "There were reasons why he did what he did. Yes, he kidnapped me. I spent a while trying to protect Henry from him. I fought him with everything I had and I lost. I became his prisoner ... but after a while... the Peter that you all know... he became a different person with me. He told me what happened to him."

I looked back to Rumple, "You neglected to tell everyone that he was your brother."

Rumple glared at me.

"Your mother hated him, and she poisoned your mind to hate him too. You loved her and believed everything she told you. She made you think he was evil, but he was just... always misunderstood. Peter told me the truth about why he is as he is."

"Mina," Emma said then, "What did Henry's heart have to do with everything? Why did he want it? We know Henry is known as the 'Truest Believer'... but... why?"

I turned to Emma. She was looking at me with hope, as if she knew I was telling the truth. I got the same look from everyone I went to Neverland with. I continued. "Rumple cursed him long ago... he cursed him and took his original heart and kept it so he could suffer. Peter began to diminish very slowly and he needed Henry's heart in order to live on."

Everyone was looking around, debating who was right and wrong.

"Peter did come back when we were getting back to Storybrooke. I didn't know that he did what he did..."

"What?" Regina asked then, "what did he do?"

"He... um... switched bodies with Henry," I said, avoiding her gaze.

Gasp.

"it's true," Henry said, "but I'm back now... Mina got me out."

The murmur rose and I began to falter. I could see that some were disappointed with me, and I knew I was losing them.

Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and saw Henry beside me, giving me a reassuring smile.

I nodded when he urged me on.

"I didn't know that Peter did what he did until he told me... so In Henry's body, we went to get Henry, who was trapped in Peter's body in the box and Peter's real heart. Rumple was onto us, so I used a time spell on him. We escaped with the heart and box, freed Henry, and Peter switched them back. Peter didn't hurt him... he promised me that he would never do that again. All he wanted was his heart back and that's it."

I looked back to Henry who nodded. I felt a bit relieved.

"She's lying," Rumple sneered, "she's in love with the demon... so she's trying to cover for him."

"You know I'm telling the truth," I said, turning to him, "and yes, I am in love with him... but he's no demon. I also love Henry and everyone else here. That's why I tried to save them."

The crowd looked around, their murmurs hard to make out. I guessed they were debating who was right or wrong.

"I just wanted the truth to be known. Peter is innocent," I said as I went back to my seat. As I sat down, I could feel the tension... even Ruby and Granny's.

"I just wish you told me," Ruby said under her breath. I shivered at her tone. It was not like her at all.

I suddenly had the desire to run far away. I felt like I didn't belong anywhere. This was supposed to be my home... but after today, if I still had anyone's trust, what would happen?

Regina looked angry as she tried to calm the crowd, "So..." she said, turning to Rumple, "This is mainly your fault."

Rumple glared at her, "my fault?"

"If you didn't curse Pan to begin with, he wouldn't have gone after Henry."

"Are you sure you believe the girl?" he sneered, "she could have also put a spell on Henry..."

"I am not under a spell!" Henry said, standing up, "They saved me from that thing!"

"But she kept it from us," Emma said sadly, meeting my gaze.

I shook my head. I had enough. I didn't want to hear anymore of this. If they no longer trusted me, then fine. So be it then. I had tried.

I got up and glared at them as I began to leave the courtroom.

I heard my name being shouted, once from Regina, a few times from Snow, Ruby and Henry.

"Where are you going?" Snow called, the worried tone back in her voice.

I turned back to the people that I had once called family. "I'm going to find Peter, and I'm getting him out of here... and I'm leaving too."

"But you can't..."

"Can't I?" I asked. I could feel my powers sizzling in my palms, burning in my veins because of the anger. "It will be the best for everyone. Peter has his heart and he won't bother anyone ever again... he's only stayed this long because he's waiting for me."

There was a deathly silence. Ruby and Granny looked stricken. My heart broke at that moment and I turned away. I couldn't look at them anymore.

My tears started to fall then.

So I made my escape

I burst through the large doors of the city hall and took multiple deep breaths. That was definitely not how I pictured saying goodbye.

I let the tears fall as I let out all of my emotions. The power in my veins began to burn and that scared me.

Just then, Peter's strong arms engulfed me from behind, and I knew I had to be strong.

"I'm here," he said, "now and forever."

I turned to him and kissed him, I knew where I belonged... and I didn't care where I was, just as long as he was there with me, it was home.

"Peter," I breathed, "let's go... let's get out of here, now."

He nodded and we hugged.

"Well, well."

We stopped and turned to its source.

Rumple.

"Isn't this lovely," he murmured, staring at us, "You surprise me, brother."

"What do you want?" Peter asked coldly, shielding me from Rumple.

Rumple stared at me then back to him, "how sweet... protective now, are we?"

"We were just leaving," Peter said, avoiding his taunts.

"We won't bother you anymore," I said.

When he made no move to leave, Peter started to get angry, "I'll not ask again. What do you want?"

Suddenly, Rumple appeared next to him in a flash, and trapped him in a terrible embrace.

"W... what are you doing?" I asked in horror, making a move to stop him.

"Stay out of this, dearie," he said, freezing me in place.

On no.

"No... Mina!" Peter said between screams of pain. What the hell was Rumple doing to him? I hadn't expected the spell so it was taking much longer to get rid of.

I had to help him, but I couldn't remember the unfreezing spell. My body was panicking and I couldn't reshape it or anything, not like this.

My grimoire was in my bag, and that was on the floor not too far away. If only I could reach it...

"It was never her I was after," Rumple sneered, "It was always you brother."

Peter groaned and tried to get out of his grasp, but Rumple's grip on him was firm.

I focused on the bag. Using my telekinesis, I summoned it. The bag opened slowly and the grimoire began to emerge.

The doors to city hall opened then, and everyone came out.

They were just as shocked as I was.

"And to finally get rid of you, I also have to make a sacrifice," he continued, "but it's bloody well worth it... especially to see that you never get your happy ending."

I cried out as he said that. No... he wouldn't...

"Goodbye, brother," Rumple said as he took out his dagger and pressed it into Peter's back.

Just then, the spell that held me snapped and I screamed.

My grimoire flew in front of me and I began to open it, flipping through its pages quickly.

I watched as Peter tried to reach me. I couldn't get to him. His vision began to cloud.

No... he couldn't die.

'I love you' he mouthed.

"I'm not letting you die," I said, bending to my grimoire.

"We're villains," Rumple said triumphantly, "and we don't get happy endings."

I began to chant the spell I saw. It had to work. It had to.

Over and over I chanted the words until they were all I could see. I pictured that Peter was alright and safe and well and... alive.

I wouldn't let him die.

My chanting grew louder even as a purple smoke covered Rumple and Peter.

And then they were gone.

I stared at the spot where they stood, frozen.

Then I heard m self saying 'no' over and over again. I looked around for some flicker of hope.

But there was none.

"Peter!" I screamed, looking for him. He wasn't there. He was gone.

"No," I whispered again, letting my tears fall onto the grimoire.

I barely noticed when Snow and Ruby bent down to me and held me like a child. I didn't even know I was on the ground.

But I did remember the rain.