Tinker Bell hadn't had a home in a long time. Not since she'd been a fairy, and called Green, and had hopes of helping people just because it was the right thing to do. She'd never thought she'd be back to that feeling again, but there she was. Sure, Storybrooke wasn't exactly the Enchanted Forest, and she still technically didn't have visible wings, but the world was starting to look like a much brighter place now that she was back in the fold with Blue and the rest of the fairies. Also, she wasn't quite sure what a convent was, but she liked it. It was simple, and she had her own room. She could finally start proving herself once again to be the fairy she knew she could be. She wasn't about to let Blue down now.

She was enjoying her time to settle into her room. She'd not brought a lot with her from Neverland, because quite frankly she'd not had a lot to begin with. Just a little satchel with a blanket or two and some of the trinkets she'd acquired was all she'd had to her name. She wasn't much for possessions, but she hadn't been able to bring herself to leave them behind and so she decided to decorate with them as a reminder of how far she'd come.

Nestled in the blankets and cloth she'd brought with her was a bottle. It had seen better days, she thought as she turned it in her hands. She had taken it from Pan a long time ago and he'd never seemed to have noticed. Or, rather, he'd decided that the bottle was exactly where it should be. It was a blue colour, with golden decoration and a matching topper which was missing a chunk out of it. She wasn't even sure why she'd grabbed it, or why Pan had kept it, but she'd never been quite able to part with it. She guessed it was because it felt like it had been discarded, which was how she had felt for a long time.

She shrugged to herself. Well, now she was about to start a new life amongst the fairies as she should have all along. She was no longer discarded, and neither was the bottle. And she had the perfect place for it on a little shelf above the head of her bed. Both of them had new homes.

She was surprised as she tripped. She wasn't actually clumsy, but she'd managed to catch her foot on the leg of a wooden chair that she'd moved to place some flower decorations on the wall. She caught herself very quickly, but the bottle wasn't so lucky and crashed to the floor.

"Oh no, no, no," she said, almost frantic, rather upset that the bottle would end up in a thousand pieces as it hit the wooden floorboards. She sighed in relief when the only thing that happened was that the top of the bottle popped off. She stepped closer to pick it up, reminding herself to be careful with it.

She froze on the spot as faint blue smoke began to billow out of it, swirling around and around as a shadow began to form inside. She was absolutely stunned when the shadow solidified into a figure of a woman. Her arms were out by her side, her knees bent as if she was trying to catch her balance. Her head looked from side to side before she spun around to face Tink. She raised her fists, looking ready to attack. Not that she looked like she could hold herself in a fight, but Tink knew better than to judge on size alone.

Then she frowned, straightening up slightly. "Tink?" she asked, which confused the fairy all the more.

"Yeah," she replied. "Who are you? Why were you in my bottle?"

It was a weird thing to say, and a little childish when Tink thought back on it, but it was the first thing she thought of. The woman looked like she came from the Enchanted Forest rather than this strange world without magic. She had bright blonde hair, with a blue dress and wristbands to match, all very much of a style Tink was used to seeing.

The woman also didn't seem too surprised that she didn't know who she was. She just looked rather disappointed. "I was trapped in there," she explained vaguely before looking around. "Where are we? This doesn't look like Neverland."

"Oh, no, we're not on Neverland anymore," Tink explained, always a little happy to say the fact out loud. "Actually, we're in a new land."

"A new land?" the woman asked. "So not even the Enchanted Forest?"

Tink wasn't sure if she was the best person to explain everything for her, and part of her felt rather sad that she had absolutely no idea who she was even though it was clear that the woman felt comfortable around her. However, during her rather hectic time in Storybrooke, she knew the best course of action to take when something strange had happened, especially involving a woman in a bottle.

"How about I take you to the sheriff?" she offered as she scooped up the bottle from the floor, placing the lid back on it. "I'm sure she can explain it to you better than I can."

The woman nodded, again proving that she seemed to trust Tinker Bell. "A sheriff does sound like a good idea right now," she agreed as she followed Tink out of the room. "Does this new land have a name?"

"Storybrooke."

~0~0~0~

Tink ushered the woman into the Sheriff's Office gently, glad to see Emma sat behind her desk, eating a donut with her father, mother and little brother in the other room. There were only a few places she knew the family would be, but she was glad she didn't have to go searching. Emma was the first to spot them and quickly swallowed down her mouthful.

"Tink!" she exclaimed, alerting everyone else to her presence. She immediately looked a little suspicious at the other woman. "And- And a friend?"

Tink nodded before she really thought about it. "This is…" She paused, realising she hadn't actually asked the woman her name.

The woman offered a little wave. "Tilla," she said softly.

"Tilla," Tink repeated with a nod. "She came out of my bottle." She held out the bottle, as if that would clear up anything she said. "I-I dropped it, and she came out in smoke. You seemed the best people to help."

Emma stood up and walked over to take the bottle off her, while David- or Prince Charming, depending and when and who you asked – walked over to join them. "Well, you definitely came to the right place," Emma muttered as she turned it over in her hands.

"As a family we have a history of people in bottles," David explained to Tilla.

"Which I'm not sure is a good thing," Snow White – or Mary Margret, again depending on the when and who was talking – called over as she bounced her son.

"You've dealt with people in bottles before?" Tilla asked them, curious.

"Up until recently, no. But we're becoming quite skilled in it," Emma replied before looking up at her. "Let's start with the basics. Where are you from?"

Tilla didn't seem too bothered about being questioned. "The Enchanted Forest, originally. But I was trapped in that," she motioned to the bottle, "on Neverland. It's an island…"

"Actually, we're quite familiar with Neverland," Emma cut in, as she was very happy to not be reminded of that place. "Pan trapped you in a bottle? Why would he do that?"

She shook her head. "He didn't. I was trapped in by a rather powerful, evil sorcerer of a man."

"Let me guess; about this tall," Charming started, holding his hand up, "likes to make deals. A bit scaley?"

She nodded. "You know him?"

"Oh, we know Rumplestiltskin very well," Emma drawled. "Question is; why did he want you trapped in a bottle?"

"Emma!" a voice called. "There were none of those little ones you like, so I stuck with the coffee."

Captain Hook, or Killian Jones, walked into the room with a couple of disposable coffee cups in hand. He looked at the group with slight surprise. "Oh, sorry, I wasn't expecting guests. I would have brought more. What's going on?"

Emma nodded towards Tilla. "Apparently Tink had a bottle that contained a woman. This is Tilla."

He nodded his head at her. "Charmed, I'm sure," he greeted in his own typical way.

Tilla swallowed hard at the complete lack of recognition on his face. Her mouth felt dry, but she could feel the need to cry spike. "Always," she replied, again softly, unsurely.

~0~0~0~

It had been a while since Killian had made it this far inland. Pan was incredibly good at keeping the Captain and his crew off the island, and it wasn't exactly a pastime that he wanted to partake in often. They may have looked like children, but they all knew better than to encounter the Lost Boys and their leader. Unless, of course, it was for something rather valuable. And there had been whispers on the wind that Pan had something very valuable indeed on him.

Captain Hook wasn't bothered at all what it was. It was valuable, and a pirate made it his duty to make sure anything of any worth became his property.

Killian just really hoped it was a way out of Neverland. He had wasted too many years being stuck in the land where no one ever aged. He needed to get out, and get back to getting his revenge. Each passing day felt more and more of a waste and he was tired of playing Pan's games.

But, as he had told Smee when they had made their way off the Jolly Roger and onto the island, play his games they must. So, they had tracked, and they had hunted, and he and his first mate had finally begun to get back onto the trail of the Lost Boys who had been circling the island with, hopefully, the very valuable thing in tow.

They were very careful as they came upon the clearing. The fire had died, but it didn't appear that it had been out long. They were almost gaining on them. They just had to hope that, whatever Pan was having them hide, it would be easy to find.

"You know, if you're trying to sneak up on people, you really shouldn't do it in the daylight," a voice called to them. "And, really, you shouldn't do it in all leather."

The voice caused them to both jump and pull out their swords. It took a second longer for Killian to realise that the voice was female, not male nor a teenager. He held his hand out to Smee then stepped out the overgrowth into the clearing.

"I think you'll find that my outfit it fit for a multitude of occasions, including hunting down vicious children," he replied. "Which you, I can tell, are not."

"Well done, Captain," the voice praised. "Clever, I see."

"Well, I'm not just a pretty face," he drawled, turning around on the spot slowly, trying to spot where the voice was coming from.

"Although, having both is definitely an advantage you possess."

He smiled to himself slightly, smug and loving the slight ego boost. "I wish I could offer you the same compliment," he stated.

"To your left," she replied. He turned to his left. "Little more, Captain. Next to the rather large tree."

He felt a little foolish, he had to admit, when he saw the cage that was only partially hidden by the leaves surrounding it, or the bush it was hidden in. He walked over and used his sword to swipe some of the leaves away.

Inside the cage sat a young woman, legs crossed and looking up at him with one eyebrow cocked. "Ah, there's that pretty face," she said. "Not very observant, are you, love?"

"I'm sorry if I'm not expecting a damsel in distress in the middle of a jungle," he replied a little sharply.

"Well, that's what you've come across," she replied. "What can I do for you?"

He didn't put his sword away, but he did lower it so it hung by his side. "Actually, I was just playing a game of hide and seek with the young gentlemen," he explained.

"Oh?" she replied. "And your friend, over there? Is he the one looking for the Lost Boys and Pan's valuable treasure?"

Killian motioned to Mr Smee, who quickly scuttled to his captain's side. "And what do you know about that?"

"I'm trapped in a cage in the middle of Neverland. I think you can work that out for yourself."

"You're the treasure," he realised, saying it slowly and she nodded.

"That I am, love," she confirmed. "I'm also very much trapped. So, how about you be a sport, and let me out?"

"Ah, now why would I do that?" he asked, tutting slightly. "Pan obviously locked you up for a reason, perhaps it's best if we leave you here to rot. Smee, let's move on. We're losing ground."

"No, no, wait!" she cried as he turned away. "I promise I'm not a threat to you. We both want the same thing."

"Oh? And what is that?"

"A way out of Neverland." He paused and turned back to face her. She was looking at him with big, pleading eyes. He had to admit, she was rather attractive. Her blonde hair was wavy, and a little matted from being out in the dirt, but she seemed to radiate a feisty demeanour which he always liked in his women. She looked nothing like his Mila, but then again apart from her he'd always had a bit of a thing for blonde women.

"Everyone is looking for a way out. Doesn't mean they'll ever find one."

"No, but I'm sure I can be of help once you do. Plus, we both hate Pan. Enemy of your enemy and all that nonsense." She moved closer to the front of the cage. "Look, please, just don't leave me here."

"How can you help?" he pressed. She sighed, looking a little uncomfortable, before nodding to the bars.

"See the goo?" she asked him. He moved a little closer, not too close, to see what she was indicating to. It was black, and thick, and he recognised it almost instantly.

"Squid ink," he declared, swiping a little on his finger. She nodded. "You're magical."

"Light magic," she quickly interjected. "A worthy weapon against Pan, right?"

"And yet, you're the one in a cage and he's the one with an entire land under his command."

"Do you want to take the land from him, or just leave it behind?" she countered. "I can't do much in here, but out there I might be able to help."

"I don't know if I want to incur Pan's ire for stealing his pet," he said.

"Please." She reached out to take the bars, but stopped herself just before it. She grimaced and pulled them back. "I won't hurt you; I can't hurt you. I need to get off this island, and so do you. We can help each other. Please."

It was a hard decision, he had to admit. He didn't want to take away Pan's toy because the war between them was hard and had gone on far too long. But, as she looked up at him, pleading for his help, he couldn't just leave her behind. With a heavy sigh, he swiped his sword and cut the bindings off the bars. The front of the cage fell open and the relief on her face was immediate. He reached in and pulled her out.

"There, now you're free, and now you owe me a favour," he declared happily. He looked at Smee. "We could always do with a little bit of magic in this godforsaken place."

"Thank you," she told him honestly. "You won't regret it."

"I better not," he warned.

"Where to now, Captain?" Smee asked.

"Back to the ship," he instructed.

The woman kept close to him, although Killian wasn't about to let her out of his sight. He was wary of magic at the best of times, and he didn't want to give her any opportunity to get the better of him. However, he needn't have worried. She stuck close to him, following dutifully.

"Can't," he said lowly as they reached the beach. She looked up at him. "You said can't."

"I did," she agreed.

"It's a strange turn of phrase," he pointed. She nodded.

"That it is," she again agreed. He stopped and stood in front of her, looking at her pointedly.

"You're testing my patience," he told her.

She shrugged. "Well, it's not exactly like I can hurt you," she stated. "If news got back to Pan, he'd know it was me. Then he'd know where I was, and what you'd done, and we'd both be up a creek without that proverbial paddle, wouldn't we?"

He didn't trust her answer. Then again, he was a master at spinning an answer to a question he didn't want to answer so he assumed everyone else was lying. "What's your name?"

"Tilla."

Smee ducked his head into the conversation. "Captain Hook," he introduced for Killian.

"I know," Tilla replied. "Pan's talked about you. You really annoy him."

Killian smirked. "It's part of my charm." He started to walk for where they had hidden their much smaller boat. "I hope you're good at cleaning, Tilla. The Jolly Roger could do with a good tidying."

"Really?" she replied. "Are you going to be that cliché?" Still, she followed, not protesting as they moved the boat into the water. She also didn't protest as she climbed into the boat and sat down at the back.

"I hope you don't get seasick," Killian said. "Mr Smee is not very good with the sound, or smell, of vomiting."

She wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm just glad to be out of the trees," she snapped. "I'm just fine on the water with a captain who can control a ship."

"There's no finer captain than our Captain," Smee spoke up, almost defensive for his captain. Killian greatly appreciated it.

"Now, now, Mr Smee. Let the lady decide for herself," he said. "I'm sure she'll be singing my praises no time, once I show her what I can do." He winked at her and she rolled her eyes.

"Oh, Lord."