CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX- In the Hallway

"Hello? Kendra? Can you hear me? I asked you to explain what's going on." Neal waved his hand in front of Kendra.

"What? Sorry mate." Kendra was fairly certain of why Leif wanted to talk to her parents, she just couldn't believe it. Why would Leif, a seemingly normal prince, be interested in a princess like her? She was as far from a normal princess as anyone can get. She honestly wasn't sure what she would say if he asked her. She would have to give up time on her ship, on the free, open sea, to court him. She liked him, a lot, but would she really be willing to give up a part of her?

"Explain. Why are there younger versions of my mother and brother-in-law, Belle, and Regina?"

"Aye. Well I recently found out that I can open time portals. It happened yesterday, while Colette and I were out on the open sea, on accident. We are trying to get them all back to their own time so the timeline doesn't get destroyed." Kendra was getting tired of explaining the story to every new person that showed up.

"Well dearie, you are trying to get them back. You are the only one, as far as I am aware, that has magic powerful enough to open a portal back." Rumple looked at Kendra. There was so much potential. He thought of all he could do with that sort of power. No-he couldn't afford to think like that. He had everything that he wanted now. Rumple pushed the ideas of power flittering in his mind out. He had to for Belle and Collette.

"WHAT IF I CAN'T OPEN A BLOODY PORTAL TO THE FUTURE?"

"All magic comes with a price, dearie. When you opened that portal, you just might have paid the ultimate fee." There was sadness in his tone. He wanted, no, needed Kendra to send them back. If she didn't Colette would also fade from existence and he may never see Belle again.

"What about the Black Fairy's Wand? You used it to send Killian and I back to the future after we fell through Zelena's time portal."

"Sorry Miss Swan. That may have worked back then, but alas the wand is now powerless. Kendra truly is the only way to get you back."

Neal put his hand on Kendra's shoulder and leaned into her ear. "Kendra, I know you can do this. I have never known you to fail at something, just like your mother."

"Except at being a perfect princess," Kendra grinned. Aside from being her uncle, Neal was also one of her dearest friends and always knew how to bring a smile to her face. He was more like one of her brothers really.

"Except being a perfect princess," Neal chuckled. "My point is: you know that it is in you, you just have to find the way to activate it." Neal released his grip on her and pulled back.

"If only I had an idea of what that is," Kendra mumbled to herself.

"I still vote on threatening her until she opens it up." Past Regina shot a look at Kendra. "What was it that you were afraid of Miss Jones? Oh, that's right. Magic lessons."

"Regina! Stop threatening my daughter!" Light magic began to emanate from Emma's palms.

"Your daughter? Getting rather attached are we Miss Swan?"

"You know what I meant."

While the adults continued to fight, Liam, Colette, Kendra, Oliver and Neal inched away from the group.

"So, what does the Prince of Arendelle want with my sister?" Liam smirked.

"Oi! Why do you assume that they are talking about me, codbrain?" Kendra tried to act like she didn't know what Leif was doing.

Neal looked away, hiding his grin from the others.

"The look on his face said it all."

"What look? What are you talking about?" Oliver couldn't grasp the situation.

"The mixture of nerves, yearning, and pure terror."

Oliver glanced at Kendra, who was no longer able to keep herself from blushing. Colette's face was bright.

"Shut up you idiot!" Kendra could feel magic building up in her fingertips.

"Ah! What are you going to say when he asks you? Yes, I presume! You have liked him for quite some time!" Colette had grabbed Kendra's arm and was shaking it.

"I DON'T BLOODY KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY! DROP THE SUBJECT, NOW!"

The entire hallway turned and looked at Kendra with mixed expressions. At that moment, the library door slowly opened. Killian's face peered from inside.