Present Day, Storybrooke

Operation Rabbit Hole had ground to a halt. There was simply nothing to do at the moment. Blue had been able to get the wand to work. She hadn't actually made a portal with it yet but felt confident that when the time came she could do it. She just couldn't create a portal for no reason though; it would remain open until someone went through it.

Operation Bells was underway though. The other day when they had communicated through the mirror, Emma told Henry to start scouting out locations for her and Killian to marry when they returned. Emma mostly gave Henry this task to keep him busy and out of trouble, but she was also glad as she didn't think wedding planning would be the most enjoyable task. Certainly marrying Killian and the marriage she was all about, just not the wedding particularly knowing how much the town of Storybrooke would insist on being involved.

Henry was certainly doing his duty in scouting out locations but knew it had to be one with a view of the sea as it was when Henry was sailing away and decided to return to Storybrooke to help them travel to Neverland to save Henry that Killian realized he loved Emma. It was also when Emma saw the Jolly Roger returning to help them that she knew there was something more than simple friendship she felt for the man even though it took much much longer for her to admit it. The sea was important to both of them.

Henry was walking Roland home from school as he did every day now, holding hands as they crossed the street. They met up with Robin at the station at 3:15pm who would come in to complete paperwork after finishing patrols.

As they walked up, Henry noticed that the sheriff's car wasn't there yet. Occasionally Robin would be about 5 minutes late.

Henry looked down at Roland. "Okay your dad's not here yet. Do you remember what we're supposed to do?"

"Um…yes! We wait just inside on the bench." Roland smiled.

They went just inside and sat on the bench where they could look out and see when Robin would arrive. If Rumple hadn't been locked up in there, Robin wouldn't have cared where they waited inside for him. Magic or no magic, he couldn't trust Rumple with the life of a fly.

"What did you learn today?" Henry enjoyed taking on the role of older brother. He hoped soon they would be. Certainly Robin would propose to Regina soon he thought.

"We learned about the history of Storybrooke and the state of Maine."

"Was it fun?"

"I guess." Roland shrugged. "I prefer the days when we learn about science. It's like magic!"

Henry considered that statement. "I guess you're right. I hadn't thought about it that way. Maybe I'll enjoy working on my chemistry homework tonight."

"OH! Can I help?" Roland stood up, jumping!

"Do you have any homework?"

Roland promptly stopped jumping and looked down at the floor. "Yes."

Henry smiled. "Once you finish your homework which I'll help you with, you can help me."

A huge goofy smile spread across Roland's face displaying the two teeth Roland had recently lost.

A few moments later Robin pulled up.

"Sorry lads. Bit of an interesting day. Dr. Whale and Ruby got into an altercation over something called a hashtag. I didn't get it, but they kept pointing at their mobile phone."

The boys got up and began to follow Robin into the office.

Henry smirked. "I'll explain it to you once you join facebook."

Robin raised one eyebrow at him. "What's facebook?"

Henry sighed and rolled his eyes.

Robin picked up Roland and turned the corner to the office when he abruptly halted. Henry almost ran into him.

Henry looked around and saw that Mr. Gold's cell was empty.

Robin was halfway through a curse word before he stopped himself as he was in the presence of children.

Present Day, Wonderland

The heroes had come across a small village. It was the same that Lily and her mother first came to although they were unaware of this fact. It was best determined that they lay low and set up camp outside of town.

Regina conjured a few luxurious tents and enacted a few protection spells to keep any of the Wonderland residents from finding them.

Emma suppressed a laugh. "A bit like Harry Potter don't you think?"

Everyone but Lily turned to look at her very confused. "Never mind," Emma mumbled.

Lily came over. "It is a bit like the Deathly Hallows. Kinda always wanted to be a part of that story. Do you think that realm exists too?"

Emma pulled back and thought about it. "Well…I dunno. I suppose it's a possibility."

Lily took a deep breath and walked away. They both hoped that their friendship could be repaired. They both wanted it, but neither knew how to go about it.

"When we return, you and Henry will have to explain who this Harry Potter you both speak of frequently is." Killian said bringing Emma out of a deep thought.

"Yea. We'll have a weekend where we marathon the movies."

Killian raised his eyebrows. "How many are there love?'

Emma ran her hand through her hair. "uh, eight."

"Eight?!"

"I promise they are really good though!"

Killian rolled his eyes and Emma gave him a small kiss.

"You know love, I can't wait until we get home and are finally wed and we can have some…um…quality alone time."

A little while later after they had eaten dinner Snow knew this was a good time to talk to Lily. Lily seemed agitated.

Snow followed her outside while everyone else remained in the main tent.

"Lily? What's wrong?"

Lily turned around and shot her a glare that could have turned her to stone without Medusa's power.

Snow immediately realized she needed to change her tactic. Despite significant differences, Snow knew Emma and Lily were a lot alike. For one, they both had built incredible big walls in the time they had been separated from their families.

Snow went to sit on a tree stump not far off. "I know us helping you won't make up for what David and I did to you so long ago. You know how deeply we regretted that decision as soon as it happened. Fortunately we dealt with the author who tricked us. Anyways, I'd hope you'd come out here upset about something so I didn't feel like I was being ridiculous about being upset."

"What are you upset about?" Lily crossed her arms staring down at Snow.

Snow thought very carefully about how to word this. Finally folder her hands in her lap and looked Lily directly in the eye. "Well no one really lets me help. Emma and Regina think their magic can basically fix everything and David and Killian would prefer that I stay on the sidelines while they fight." This was true. It did bother her. She just omitted the part where she had sat everyone down and basically told them in no uncertain terms that Snow White was back and would be taking part in the adventures. Mary Margaret was a part of her, but it was time to reclaim herself as Snow. "I'm just sick of being looked at as a damsel in distress when I'm not even in distress! Yes I have a young son and David in particular thinks protecting me protects him, but I'm not incapable…sorry that was a lot of information all at once."

Lily relaxed and sat down next to Snow. "No, it's fine. I kinda feel the same. No one seems to ever ask my opinion. They just treat me like I can't be trusted and can't help as my memories were erased somehow. It's my freaking mother we are here to save! And my father we hope to find!"

"You're right. I'll make sure we ask your opinion next time we discuss anything."

"You think they'll actually listen?" Lilly was unsure.

Snow sighed. "Yes. Especially if David doesn't want to sleep on the couch for the rest of his life."

The next morning Belle decided it might be in their best interests to befriend the Cheshire Cat. He remained invisible expect when he wished to be seen so he knew many of the secrets of Wonderland. Everyone agreed.

Snow looked over at Lily who rolled her eyes and breathed heavily. "What do you think Lily? I know you don't remember, but do you have a good or bad feeling about this? You have been here more recently than anyone even if you don't remember."

Everyone, even Lily looked at Snow in surprise. "Uh…I think…I think it's a good idea actually. We should just be careful about how much information we share with him. From what I know he's never been one to align himself with anyone but himself."

Killian looked around at everyone as he said, "Aye, that is true. When I came to take Cora's heart for Regina the cat did tell me how to find her, but sold me out to her guards who captured me and brought me before in in exchange for some measly catnip."

Emma squeezed Killian's hand.

Lily looked at Snow and gave a tiny smile. Snow felt her heart swell. With each little moment she and David had with Lily that brought Lily towards the light and away from the dark and showed Lily that she could trust the heroes and they were beginning to trust her, Snow felt a tiny, just a tiny bit of guilt fade away. This moment was different though. She finally saw Lily trust more than she had ever before.

A few months ago, Wonderland

Lily and Maleficent had managed to sneak into Time's palace. The plan was to find Time, knock him out, and extract the memory he had of watching Maleficent in dragon form when she conceived Lily.

Lily had no idea how Maleficent was going to manage all of this but she assured her that she would teach Lily how to wield magic beyond transforming into a dragon once things had settled down.

They wandered through the servants' quarters until they had worked their way up to the great hall where Time looked out the large window into the landscape of Wonderland. Without turning around he spoke much to Lily and Maleficent's surprise. "Hello my dears." He waved his hand and the women were frozen.

Time turned. And slowly began walking towards them.

"Chronos please. We just need to know what happened. I really never meant to hurt you and I don't remember anything! I love you. Still."

Time thought for a moment. "Hmmm. Don't care. You will remain here. Imprisoned with me. Her…well that thing you spawned. Well I'll send her home with no memory of what's happened here." He opened his palm and blew a sparkly dust into Lily's face and she disappeared back to Storybrooke.

"What did you do to her?" Mal demanded.

Time walked up to her and mere inches from her face and snarled. "She's fine. No idea what happened though. You should be more worried about yourself though."

~~Let me know what you think! Action will really start to pick up now that the groundwork has all been laid. Hopefully I'll be able to write another chapter soon but I do work in the theatre and am finishing up graduate school and have 3 shows this month!

Up Next: Henry and Robin find out what happened to Rumple, the heroes find the Cheshire cat, and Mal meets another prisoner in Time's dungeon.