First of all, I would like to thank .x23, JohnnyStormsGirl, Evenlight, Neverland-Emerald-Wolf, Nymartian, Castiel Angel Heart, Aislinn101, and Jiroah17 for reviewing, favoriting, and following the story. You're the best! I would also like to thank everyone for their patience between chapters.
Secondly, I would love for everyone to check out my tumblr for this story. It's on my profile if you need a link, or you can message me for it. Whichever.
Thirdly, I am currently taking prompts for one shots. The only thing is they need to be related to this story. I'll be posting and updating a new collection of one shots/one off stories. They will be dedicated to whoever gives me a prompt. Just send me a message here (or on tumblr if you went to my page). It's actually kinda difficult to gain followers on Tumblr when your story is a crazy crackship such as Tinkerhook (or Captain Bell). Enough about that. Send me prompts and I'll fill them as soon as I can get to them!
Storybrooke – Present
Peter ran happily in front of Isabel with his arms stretched out, pretending to fly down the sidewalk of Storybrooke. Once they had discussed how things were going to be for them, Peter didn't seem all that unhappy. He wanted to still see Isabel as his mother, and Isabel couldn't really argue like that. There was no way Peter Pan could live in a modern world. They were rules that he would certainly buck against, but a Peter Pan with an authority figure would not. Peter couldn't fly. He couldn't truly be Peter Pan without flight. Isabel felt somewhat guilty because he couldn't figure out how to get his flight back. Peter didn't require fairy dust to fly. Isabel's magic was slowly coming back, but it would take some time before she could help him. He didn't know how to harness the magic he possessed so, until Isabel got her magic back fully, she couldn't help him at all.
The young boy ran up to the library door and stopped, waiting for his mother to catch up to him. He smiled up at her before opening the door. "M'lady."
Giggling, she curtseyed. "Sir." She stepped inside and he followed after her. Then he ran around her to start looking at all the books. "Peter, just one today."
He nodded and waved behind himself. She shook her head as she looked around the building. It smelled old, as if the books hadn't seen the light of day in a very long time. For as long as she could remember, the Storybrooke library had been closed. She guessed its opening had something to do with the girl behind the circulation desk. Isabel heard the girl's name was Belle, and Isabel immediately recognized the name from one of her favorite stories. The Belle sitting behind the desk was not what Isabel had imagined. Then again, everyone gawked at her as Tinkerbell because the entire world thought Tink was some blonde little pixie with a bad attitude. Of course, she always found it kind of funny how one bad deed seemed to follow her more than any of her other adventures with her son. She would have loved for people to remember the time she infuriated the mermaids by making them think Peter was near. Those stupid mermaids adored Peter but for all the wrong reasons. They didn't see an extraordinary boy who did amazing things. They saw someone they could trick and drown. They wanted to get their hands on him so badly, yet they never succeeded.
"Look, mama," Peter interrupted her thoughts by holding a book in her face.
She took the book in her hand, holding it away from her face so she could focus on it. Peter Pan. She rolled her eyes and ruffled Peter's hair. "We have this at home. In fact, we have several of these at home."
"A fan of Peter Pan, are you?" Belle asked as Peter leaned against one of the stacks.
"Oh. Yeah," Isabel nodded, smiling at Belle.
"That's because I am Peter Pan," Peter mumbled.
Belle giggled at him. "Are you?" She squinted her eyes at him for a second. "You know, I can kind of see it. If you were flying, there'd be no doubt."
Peter grumbled as he walked off. Belle looked up at Isabel as if to apologize, but Isabel shook her head. "No, no. He's a little sore about not being able to fly yet. I'm Isabel by the way."
"Belle," the brunette smiled, holding her hand out.
Isabel took the girl's hand before turning to look at the library. "I love what you've done with the place. I imagine it was a nightmare to clean up."
Belle nodded. "A little, yeah. It was really dusty, but nothing I couldn't handle. I was once a maid for someone, and trust me. When I got there, the place was covered in dust and grime. After a bit, I had it looking good as new."
"I don't remember Beauty ever being a maid," Isabel smiled.
"Ah. That's because almost every version of my story is wrong," Belle giggled.
"So you've read it?" Isabel asked.
"Of course. I've been reading many of the stories simply because of Henry," Belle smiled.
The sound of a book smacking flat against the floor could be heard. Isabel turned to see Peter scowling over at them. Ever since the curse had broken, Peter strove to reunite all of the lost boys. Of course, he couldn't quite do that with Henry hanging around so much. For some reason, Peter didn't quite like Henry. His only explanation was that Henry simply lacked leadership abilities and yet still tried to be a leader. Isabel guessed it was more like Henry cramped Peter's style. She could see the similarities in the two boys where Peter staunchly refused they had nothing in common. Peter didn't' like when someone tried to speak over him, and Henry did just that she assumed. She guessed he got that from her. Then again, his father had been the same way.
Isabel turned her attention back to Belle. The girl studied Isabel closely. "Where's Peter's father? Is he here in Storybrooke?" she asked.
"No. He's isn't here. At least, I haven't seen him," Isabel answered quietly.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Belle frowned. "Did something happen to him before the curse?"
Isabel didn't know how to answer that. Belle was the dark one's girlfriend. Whatever she told Belle could be repeated to him and that could be used against her. It wasn't that she didn't trust Belle. Isabel was vaguely aware of her husband's history with Rumplestiltskin. He'd moan and groan about it when he would drink in Neverland. "We parted ways not long before Peter was born and I guess he managed to escape the curse."
"You gave up your true love? May I ask why?" Belled looked as if that was the worst thing she'd ever heard.
"Magic," Isabel shrugged.
"Oh," Belle frowned.
Peter came up to Isabel. "I couldn't choose just one. Help me?"
His mother giggled. Almost everyone knew how much Peter loved stories. After all, it was part of his story from that world. It was why he would sneak off to other lands. He liked adventures, and he especially liked stories that incorporated him as the hero. Even though they were usually false, he still enjoyed them greatly. He liked the idea of people believing in him. That was why it somewhat baffled her that he disliked Henry so much. Henry believe in everyone. He knew the truth before anyone else did.
Peter placed the books on the counter for Isabel to look at. She could feel Belle watching her and she realized Peter had interrupted their conversation. She was partially thankful for her son's slight rudeness. He had saved her from delving too deeply into her past. She really wasn't ready for anyone outside her family to know the truth. They were still coping. Isabel was still coping with everything. Hell, the entire town was still reeling from the curse breaking. With Emma and Mary Margaret gone, no one really knew what the next move should be. All they knew was David was looking for a way to save them. Once Peter chose Gulliver's Travels, he went to return all the books. Now Isabel had no choice but to answer Belle.
"Sorry," she apologized. "He does have manners. He just forgets them from time to time. You were asking about my husband, right?"
"Yes, but I don't want to pry into your personal business. People like to do that with me so I try not to do it to anyone else really," Belle told her as she checked out the book for Peter.
"I imagine people aren't entirely polite when asking about yours," Isabel mused.
Belle nodded. "And they all have some story about something horrible he'd done to them. No one believes he can change."
"Everyone is capable of change. Be it good or bad. They just need a reason to change and that's all." She smiled at Belle. "I know change if possible. Difficult but possible."
"You're Tinkerbell, aren't you?" Belle asked.
"Absolutely," Peter interrupted. "Couldn't you tell?"
Belle shook her head. "Almost everything I've seen leaves out any physical description or she's blonde." The bell above the door rang. The three of them turned to see Rumplestiltskin standing in the doorway. Belle went over to greet him. Taking him by the arm, she led him over to meet Peter and Isabel. "Rumple, this is Isabel and her son Peter," she smiled.
"I thought the library was closed until you got everything sorted," Rumplestiltskin said quietly.
Isabel got the feeling he didn't want them there, and by the way Peter fidgeted beside her, she knew he sensed it too. She could only guess if Rumple could tell anything about her and her son. In all their travels, they never had the displeasure of meeting him. Isabel considered them lucky in that regard. Still, he probably could smell magic on them if it was shoddy at the present. Rumple was powerful. As the Dark One, there was no telling what he could tell just by looking at them. Fairies could see auras around people. They could feel magic on those with magic as well as on those that had been deeply affected by magic. Sometimes they could see it before it happened. Isabel certainly could once she gained her powers. It usually made her feel queasy when she was around evidence of dark magic. Her stomach would churn, and she would have to excuse herself until she could handle it. Belle didn't give off that vibe. It was as if she didn't let it bother her all that much. She dealt with it. Rumpled wreaked of the evil magic. That was to be excepted, wasn't it?
Isabel picked up the book and handed it to Peter. "We'll see you later, Belle," she smiled as she led Peter out of the library.
Isabel smiled at Ruby as the taller girl handed the bag of food to her. Peter was far too busy with his new book that he didn't feel like leaving the house. Once he got immersed into any story, it was hard to pull him from it. After leaving Granny's, she somehow managed to get lost in her thoughts and didn't see Rumple heading for her. She bumped into him, and her eyes widened. "Sorry, Mr. Gold. I was distracted."
"That's quite alright, though I would suggest paying more attention next time," he told her.
"Yes, I completely agree," she said quietly. She started to walk away from him, but he grabbed her gently by the wrist.
"Tell me, dearie. Do I detect a little magic on you?" he asked.
There was a point in her life where she would have been a little offended by the question. She didn't possess a little magic. She had enough magic to make Rumplestiltskin quake in hsi boots. It was why she went to Neverland in the first place. She was what you'd call all-powerful. People did bad things for just the slightest taste of her magic, which was why she left before her husband returned. The man in front of her was the cautionary tale of someone who sought her kind of magic. Even with the intention of doing good, they would end up corrupt and evil. "You know the answer to that," she told him. "You can see it all around me."
"The asking was just my politeness," he nodded.
She gave him a wary look. "And your bumping into me?"
"Planned," he openly admitted. "I need to ask about your husband."
"How do you know anything about that?" She shifted on her feet, suddenly very nervous about the encounter.
"Belle told me who you were and she mentioned who your son is. I read between the lines. Plus, they boy looks like the spitting image of his father. Without the hook of course." He leaned a little on his cane. "Tell me. Why did you leave him?"
"That is none of your business and I doubt you are interested in that story to begin with," she scoffed.
His jaw clenched, and Isabel could see his mind shifting gears. "I want to know if you've seen him at all since the curse has broken."
"Not at all. Perhaps he died. Or maybe he's coming for you," she smirked.
"Do not anger me, pixie. I can destroy you," he warned, though they both knew better. "Your husband took my wife from me."
"And you're trying to see if he left her in my care?" Isabel asked.
"No. She's dead. Long dead. I wanted to dispose of him. Figured you would be of some help since he caused you so much grief in Neverland," he answered.
"Despite all he did in Neverland, he is still my husband and I would never sell him out to anyone." She held her head somewhat high. She didn't care if he got angry at her. Isabel would not give him the chance to kill Killian. Of course, he couldn't anyways. Killian was not in Storybrooke.
"Even after he cheated on you? That's very noble of you, dearie." He took a step closer to her. "But also very foolish."
"I am sorry he took your wife, but he did not cheat on me," Isabel corrected.
"Then you have a very interesting relationship," Rumple joked.
She shook her head. "If you must know, he thought I was dead. Killian thought I was murdered by enemy pirates so I cannot count it as cheating. Nor could I ever hold that against him. I apologize for his actions because it was my own actions that possibly led to your heart ache, but you seem to be doing just fine without her." It was something she grappled with a lot. Her disappearance led Killian to become who Captain Hook essentially. If Rumple wanted to punish anyone for Killian's misdeeds, it needed to be her and no one else. She was the start of it all.
However, he didn't act out against her. He just shook his head. "You are not responsible for his actions. I cannot take a mother from her son. That is what he did, and I imagine you worked hard to keep your son safe. He made his own decisions. He will be the only one to answer for them." He gestured to the bag in her hand. "Your dinner is getting cold. You should hurry home to your son."