I just recently read the first four of the Iron Fey series and loved them. I didn't want to follow the exact story line, so I've added time travel. I'll mostly be following Ash's POV but will put the occasional Puck, Grim and Meghan POV.

I will be writing this along with a few other stories, so will publish one or two chapters per book per month.

There will be spoilers so if you haven't read up to and including the Iron Knight, be warned. The time line will follow through, Iron King, Winter Passage, Iron Daughter and Iron Queen, so far. As I read the books, I will add more chapters and warnings.

Summary: What would happen if, after Meghan defeats Ferrum, they see the Clockmaker again, but he has a different route for them?

Keys:

Bold: author notes

Italics: memories or thoughts

I don't own anything.

Megan POV

I cry out Ash's name as I bolt upright, tossing the duvet to the side before I notice where I am.

The cream coloured walls surround me, a set of plain, wooden drawers leans against a wall, a few pieces of thin clothing lay scattered over the worn brown carpet. I pause as I take it all in, unsure about how and why I would be here, in my mortal home.

I try to remember how I could've gotten here, back to little old Louisiana when I'd told Ash to take me to Machina's Oak Tree. When I'd told Ash to leave and never return.

"Ash."

I whisper in his name into the dim room, my human voice sounding strange to my ears after a year of listening to the tinkle of my fey voice. It reassures me that it wasn't a dream, I didn't imagine everything that happened the last year or so, I didn't make up Ash and Puck.

As my mind wakes up, my memory starts to come back in tiny snippets as it becomes clear that I am in fact in my old bedroom in the mortal realm.

I became aware of Ash's hold tightening on my leg and waist as he carried me off the dragon. A strangely familiar presence filled me as I recognise Machina's Oak.

The quiet rumble of Ash's voice fills the dead air. "No matter where we are, I will come and find you again. I promise."

His promise to me reminded me of why I'd made him bring me to the tree, I was dying, and he would die with me if I didn't let him go.

I remember having to fight with him to send him away, having to end up using his True Name to send him out of the Iron Kingdom. I'd let one tear fall, releasing all my glamour and power into the tree and the kingdom, healing the iron sickness from both Summer and Winter alike.

I swing my legs over the side of my bed, noticing that I'm still wearing the dragon-scale armor and my iron sword is still at my side. This just cements the fact that it wasn't a dream, but I still don't know why I'm in the mortal realm.

I pad across my room, carefully opening my door and listening for something that could indicate what happened.

I only here the faint sound of a spoon clinking in a bowl and a mug being set down on a table.

I tread carefully down the stairs, purposefully stepping on the third step. I still wince as it creaks and when nothing happens, I continue down to the bottom where I see my stepfather, Luke sitting at the table with my brother, Ethan on his lap. Ethan is trying to feed Floppy his marshmallow cereal, but I thought I remembered Floppy being destroyed by the changeling.

I walk up to where Luke is sitting at the kitchen table and glance at the heading on the paper before taking a second look. 'Five-legged calf born on Patterson's farm'.

"No way."

I snatch the paper from Luke's hands, wanting to confirm what I'm clearing seeing. It's the same heading from the day before Ethan was kidnapped, over a year ago. I let out a sharp breath of shock as I look at the date in the corner of the page, which would put my age at exactly one day before 16 years old.

"Oh, hello, Meghan." He says, dazed. "Next time just ask before you just take something."

I scoff before I realise what I'm doing, it had taken 3 times and a loud noise to catch his attention last time.

Last time.

I look at Ethan as he innocently plays with Floppy, like he wasn't kidnapped and held by scary fey. Because maybe he wasn't. Floppy was destroyed by the changeling, so how else could it be here, other than maybe it hasn't been destroyed yet.

Luke doesn't look like I've told him about being a fey, in fact he looks right now as if I'm not even here, like he waiting for the paper in my hands. I hold out the paper slowly to him and he just takes it, not even looking at me, let alone thanking me for giving it back.

I don't give an excuse as I walk back up the stairs, reeling from what seems like time travel. It would explain Ash's use of words and the conversation I'd thought I'd heard before getting to the tree in the iron fey realm.

I see a note on my calendar, reminding me that I have tutoring today with Scott Waldron, the storm brewing outside reminds me of the sodden two trips from the bus. When I head back down the stairs again the start my walk to the bus stop, Ethan asks me to check his room for monsters, just like last time.

This time, though, I do see the redcap in his closet but I give it a stare and, making sure that Ethan doesn't hear me, I tell him to go back to Tir Na Nog, or I'll get Puck to send him back. His eyes widen at the fact that I can see him and that I know about the Faery realm but doesn't have time to reply as I race down the stair, being careful to grab an umbrella this time before running the bus stop.

I lean against the same tree, waiting for Puck, I mean Robbie, to reach around to try scare me by grabbing me. I don't jump this time, only saying calmly.

"Has anyone told you have the maturity level of a four year old?"

Robbie pops out and laughs, following the script, even though I deviated from it.

"Looks who's talking. I'm not the one who stayed up all night with the lights on after watching The Texas Massacre. I tried to warn you." He makes the same grotesque face and staggers towards me, arms outstretched. "Ooooh, look out, it's Leatherface."

I smirk and kick water at him, missing the earlier days before I had to deal with fighting and hunting. I use my umbrella to 'cheat' as Robbie puts it, blocking the water and mud he kicks back at me.

The bus arrives moments later and the driver scowls at Robbie, telling him to sit at the back of the bus.

I laugh as he sloughs to the back, plopping down right in the centre with a smirk on his face so I have to squeeze past him to sit.

I find myself staring out the window, trying to see Ash, even though I know it's a day and a half too early, just hoping to see his face. Puck tries to convince me to ditch Scott and go to town with him, but I stick to the schedule, trying not to show how disgusted I am by him. I can't believe I used to have a crush on Scott Waldron, I mean, he forgot my name, insulted me, then tried to grope me when I turn up suddenly hot.

I know I shouldn't be disappointed when I don't see Ash, I did send him away last time I saw him and seeing as this seems to be time travel, he isn't due till tomorrow if he doesn't change routine.

School speeds by. I try to look focused but, as usual, the teachers all but forget I exist as I contemplate what I remember from the conversation Ash had before getting to Machina's tree. The person had mentioned changing the past, then Ash had said 'whenever I may be', so until I find someone who could help me or someone who remembers, I should follow the routine as closely as possible. At least for the important things.

One thing that isn't important is Scott; I think I can change that up a bit.

I stride up to Scott, taking a seat next to him and ripping his headphones out of his ears.

"Hey!" He exclaims. He looks me up and down but I don't worry about how I look. "Are you suppose to be the tutor?"

I glower at him, wanting this to be over, "Yes, I'm Meghan. Mr Sanders asked me to help you with your programming project."

He smirks at me. "Aren't you that hick girl who lives out in the swamp? Do you even know what a computer is?"

I smirk back at him, he doesn't know a thing about me. I want to have a little bit of fun.

"And aren't you the boy that gropes people for fun." I smile sweetly at him before turning to the computer. "And I do know a lot about computers. Here, let me show you."

My smile widens as I reach out to the keyboard, waiting for it to flare to life. We watch the words appear on the screen and I ignore the bit about the iron fey looking for me, waiting with baited breath for the last bit.

As the words spread to all the screens in the library, I sit back and watch as the amusement drains from his face.

I'm sure my eyes would've been glinting madly if the fey part of me had been awake as he stands up, glaring at. He's blaming me for humiliating him, his face red with rage.

"You think this is funny, swamp girl?"

"Yes, yes, I do." I interrupt. "You're a pervert and I don't know why I'd ever fallen for that smarmy grin of yours."

He looks taken aback as I easily dodge his barbs and deal back my own. I'd dealt with Titania and Mab, this 'mere mortal', as they would put it, is nothing.

He storms off and I stand up, bowing deeply to my audience of geeks and students who all think similarly of Scott.

I ignored the iron creature as it scuttled away into a hole in the wall, walking out to find Robbie, who looks at the smile on my face and glowers more deeply. "You're out early. How'd the tutoring session go."

He doesn't want to answer, so I just breeze by him, saying a sweet goodbye before getting into Mom's car.

My happiness disappears though as I remember why Mom was here to pick me up in the first place, I'd forgotten about Beau. I'm a little confused though as she doesn't mention anything and just takes me to get my permit.

I can't help the flicker of hope that Ethan wouldn't have to go through all that, but if Ethan isn't kidnapped, I don't have a reason to go to the faery realms.

I do my best on the driving test, making sure to pass in case something changes and I don't go to the faery realm.

I shouldn't have been worried though, because as we walk in the front door, we see Beau tearing up the stairs, growling ferociously.

I follow quickly enough to get to Ethan's room just as Beau starts to drag Ethan away from his bed.

"Beau!" I exclaim, scared that if he's seen holding Ethan, they might send him away again. I grab Ethan from Beau, not at all concerned that Beau could turn on me. "Let him go. He's safe now." I order.

He lets go but growling at the bed to let me know that something under there, placing himself in front of us. Luke comes into the room, shocked by the usually calm dogs' behavior and Luke grabs his collar, standing over him to hold him place. My Mom, Melissa, whirls in a second later her face tight with worry, quickly sweeping Ethan out of my arms, giving me only enough time to whisper quickly in his ear.

"You can tell me what really happened later," As Ethan is sweep from my arms, I have to raise my voice to finish, "Okay little buddy?"

He nods at me before burying himself into the warmth of his mother's arms.

Mom looks at me from under her eyebrows, suspecting that I know something she doesn't.

I ignore the look and walk over to where Luke is still holding Beau, putting no regard into his warnings as I kneel down in front of him.

"What a good boy!" I notice Mom's head jerking up to look at me as I praise the dog for what seems like growling. "You were just protecting Ethan, weren't you? But no growling, they think you might hurt them, but I know you won't."

The growls have already softened but now he relaxes, sensing the danger has gone. I glare at Luke, telling him to get off Beau, and slowly, he releases his hold on Beau's collar, noticing the wagging tail and pricked eyes. I don't ask him to sit because I know he's still of the defensive and I don't want Mom and Luke to think something's still wrong.

I scratch behind his ears when he doesn't move, watching as Luke goes over to Mom and Ethan to make sure he's all right.

"Good dog." I say one last time before standing up and pointing to the door. "Now, down stairs, I'll give you a treat later."

Both the adults are miffed but let me send him down, still holding tight to Ethan. I address Mom next, knowing that she's more likely to listen.

"I think there's a rat or something under the bed, let me get rid of it while you take care of those scratches."

I make sure to bring the parents attention to something that would leave me alone with whatever fey might be under the bed. Luke frowns at me, but doesn't know me well enough to think something's wrong so he heads down stairs with Mom close behind, still confused about what happened. I know now that she knows it's not a rat, but as she doesn't know what it is, she doesn't say anything.

Once they're gone, I kneel back down, ready to get back up again if it tries to grab me.

But there's nothing there, I guess Beau scared it off.

I make a genuine amount of noise as I pretend to get rid of the rat, ending with a slam of the window before stomping down the stairs, "Well that was annoying."

I notice that Beau isn't on his bed and coupled with the fact that I can't hear or see Luke, a heavy feeling settles in my stomach.

"Where's Luke and Beau?" I ask slowly, hoping I don't know what the answer is.

Mom jumps at the sudden sound, quickly looking back down at the bandage that is already on.

"Luke took Beau to the vet's to stay overnight at the kennels. Relax, I convinced Luke to make this temporary, but he doesn't want potentially dangerous dog staying in our house. And frankly, neither do I." She looks up at me now, seeing that I'm not to angry at her, and getting her courage back. "What happened, anyway? You were there first."

I expect the change of subject but I still don't know exactly what I can say without raising suspicion.

"Well, I didn't see the very beginning, but I saw a dark shape scampering away from Beau as he tries to drag Ethan away from the bed. You saw the rest."

I hold my breath as she thinks over what I said, only letting it out slowly when she nods and relaxes into an armchair with Ethan still wrapped in her embrace.

I reach out a hand to rub Ethan hair as I pass by, "Make sure to come say goodnight to me before going to bed tonight, little monkey."

I trudge up the stairs, more tired than I want to admit after only one day in the human world compared to the faery realms.

I want to summarise what I've learnt but I only get as far to think that I've gone back in time and no one else so far has as well. My mind wants to shut down but I wait up for Mom and Ethan.

Thankfully, they don't take too long.

I stand up to take Ethan from Mom, promising to put him to bed before flopping back on my bed with Ethan.

"So, little buddy, what do you think happened?"

I look at his wide, wary eyes, this time understanding what he felt and saw.

He starts again with his concern of what happened to Beau, his voice full of misery, "They sent Beau away."

"No, they only put him in the kennels with the other dogs for the night. They didn't want Beau to hurt you again, but they know he's a good dog."

His face lights up, the shadows disappears as a weight lifts of those tiny shoulders of his. But this glimmer of happiness fade as he thinks of what to tell me, the challenge appearing in his eyes as he tells me that the parents can't see the man in the closet but I can.

I only smile softly before gesturing for him to continue.

"The man in the closet said the king wants to see me. I've seen them. And Floppy does as well. Floppy says you can see them."

"I think it's time for bed, now. Don't you think?"

I pick him up, carrying him to his room.

He looks scared so I place him by the door, walking into the room to show him that the monsters are gone.

He warily steps into the room and lets me tuck him in, but I have the feeling he'll be having nightmares tonight.

I on the other hand, barely notice shuffling back to my room and collapsing on my bed, glad that the day is over.

The last thing I see is Ash's face, a tear running down his face before the shadows take over.

Hey everyone! Please leave comments and I hope to see you soon.

The next chapter will be in Ash's POV, and probably the next one too.

Happy New Year (I know it's the 9th, but still)