Chapter Eleven The Outsider

Ellie stared at her reflection in the mirror, running her sweaty palms down her dress a few times. Once her hands were dry enough she nodded at her reflection before walking over to her bed, where her sketchbook laid. She picked it up and opened to her latest sketch, the one that wouldn't allow her to sleep last night.

She and Hook, wrapped together in a dance. Though Hook wasn't dressed in his usual pirate garb, the brief vision she had of the two of them made it unmistakable.

"You know I love you Helena…"Hook's voice echoed in her mind, again replaying the vision. With a huff, she slammed the sketchbook and threw it on her bed.

"Hook is far, far away." She reminded herself and then grabbed her purse, closing the door to her room. As soon as the door was closed, a cloud of purple smoke appeared, revealing Hook. He walked over to Ellie's bed, picking up the sketchbook and sitting on her bed.

"What makes you so special lass?" he muttered and opened the book.

-OUAT-

Ellie and Emma stood side by side, holding each others hands as Mary Margaret gave a eulogy to the crowd.

"Some of us knew him as Archie. Other, as Jiminy. But we all knew him as a true friend. And though, he may now be gone, he will always live on inside of us. Reminding us to be our best selves, to do the right thing, to always fight for what we believe in. So, we shouldn't think of today as goodbye, just as a way of saying...Archie, we'll be listening." Once she was finished, she took a step back. Slowly, Ellie removed her hand from her sister's and walked up to Archie's gravestone. With a wave of her hand, a patch of tulips grew in front.

"I miss you Archie." She touched the grave before walking back to her sister. Marco now walked up, holding Archie's umbrella. He lays it across the top of the headstone.

-OUAT-

"Hey, kid. You hungry? I managed to wrangle up a pop tart." Emma offered, walking into Henry's room with a pop tart on a plate.

"No thanks." Ellie sighed, looking at Mary Margaret, who only shrugged.

"Well, that went well." Emma remarked as she walked back to the group.

"You're doing the best you can Em." Ellie assured her sister as Emma placed the plate on the counter.

"That's what makes me feel awful." Emma replied, getting in a chair and placing her chin in her hands, staring sadly at the wall.

"Ladies," Leroy says, coming up to the three of them, "The dwarves have been thinking. We have to ask-when do we go back?"

"Back?" Ellie asked with a frown on her face, "Where?"

"The Enchanted Forest. Our home." Leroy answered.

"You want to go back?" Mary Margaret asked with a frown on her face.

"We fought really hard to get here." Ellie remarked, looking at the dwarf. The other townspeople in Mary Margaret's home began to look over at the conversation happening between the women and the dwarf.

"But what with Regina did to Archie, Storybrooke ain't as safe as we thought." Leroy explained.

"We're going to find her." Ellie answered him and gave Emma a little hit, so she could put in her input.

"There's only so many places she can hide." Emma said, turning around herself.

"We've dealt with her before, we'll do it again." Mary Margaret assured Leroy.

"But it's not just her. The curse is broken. There's a whole world of people beyond the town line that don't know who or what we are. Ever think of what might happen if one of them were to come pay us a visit." Leory asked.

Unfortunately, it wasn't something Ellie thought about. As far as she knew, Storybrooke doesn't exist on any map. It didn't mean that someone could accidentally find their way into town.

"He's right," Ruby said, stepping up, "What if they see, you know, magic? Like a girl turning into a wolf for example? Folks weren't exactly understanding back in our world."
"You'd be surprised now. Girls sure do love Jacob Black." Ellie thought.

"Okay, let's not worry about 'what if's'. No one is here." Emma assured the group, stepping up as sheriff.

"Yes. Maybe they come, maybe they don't. But that doesn't change the fact that while we might enjoy things like penicillin, we're a bit homesick."

-OUAT-

"I really appreciate this Marco." Ellie said with a smile as Marco handed her Pongo's lesh, with Pongo attached to the end of it.

"He'll take better care of Pongo than I can." He replied with a smile. Ellie thanked him once again and then began walking back to Mary Margaret's apartment. Ellie knew bringing Pongo home to Henry and Emma would certainly brighten the place up.

Ellie wasn't sure if either Mary Margaret, David, or herself could take any more of the moping from Emma and Henry. Ellie tried everything she could think of, assuring her sister that she was doing everything she could for Henry.

Finally, last night, when Ellie suggested the three of them watch a movie together, both Emma and Henry retreated away. So, bright and early this morning, she snuck out of the apartment to get all the necessary things for Pongo before picking Pongo up.

"I think you'll like your new home. Henry will be happy to see you." Ellie remarked to Pongo as they now walked up the stairs to Mary Margaret's apartment. Ellie pulled out her key, unlocked the door, and released Pongo inside.

"Pongo!" Henry cried.

"How did he get in here?" Mary Margaret asked as Ellie came in.

"I brought him. Marco and I had a chat. Archie knew how much Henry loves Pongo. We decided he should have him," Ellie looked at Henry, "That is, if you're up for taking care of him, Henry."

"Yeah, I am!" Henry cried, scratching Pongo's head.

"Henry, why don't you take Pongo outside and clean him up?" Emma offered.

"Okay. Come on. Come on, boy! Come on! Let's go! Come on, boy." Henry called, rushing out of the room with Pongo chasing after him.

"I know that there's a lot to work out logistically, but-" Ellie began once Henry left.

"No, no, no. I think giving Pongo to Henry is a great idea. It's just, five people and a Dalmatian in this loft. Things might get a little-"Mary Margaret said.

"Cramped. I know, we'll get creative." Emma interrupted but gave her mother a reassuring nod.

"Or...we could get out own place." Mary Margaret suggested.

"You want to do what?" Emma asked.

"You want to move out?" David asked his wife.

"Whoa!" Mary Margaret held up her hands in defense, "I...It's just a suggestion."
"After twenty-eight years, isn't this what we've all been waiting for? To be together under the same roof?" Emma clarified.

"Yes! Mary Margaret insisted, "I just...imagined a bigger roof...with turrets. Being here in Storybrooke, we have a chance at a fresh start. Let's take it."
-OUAT-

Ellie and Emma entered the kitchen together where Henry sat drawing with Pongo at his feet.

"You plotting your escape from Shawshank, kid?" Emma sarcastically asked.

"No, they're blueprints. I had some ideas for what to do if David and Mary Margaret move out. Look." Henry said and showed his aunt and mother.

"You want to make Mary Margaret's room an armoury?" Ellie asked with a raised eyebrow after she looked over her nephew's blueprints.

"Yeah. You know, for weapons and stuff. To protect us-from Regina." Henry explained.

"She's not going to hurt you. We're not going to let her." Ellie assured her nephew.

"She hurt Archie. What if she wants to take me back?" Henry asked.

"That's not going to happen." Emma assured him. Someone at the door knocked, causing Pongo to become agitated.

"Pongo? What is it?" Ellie asked, walking over to the door. Pongo continues to be skittish. She sighs and opens the door, only to find a very alive Archie.

"Archie…"Ellie breathed, her eyes wide.

"Hi." he simply said.

"Wha...What happened?" Ellie finally sputtered out.

"It was Cora. She kidnapped me." Archie explained, making Cora feel dizzy. Cora? Here? If Cora was here, Hook certainly wouldn't be far behind. He wouldn't miss the chance to come to Storybrooke and finish Gold once and for all.

"Archie?" Henry asked, coming up behind his aunt.

"Henry. Oh!" Henry throws his arms around Archie, hugging him tight, "Oh, it's alright. I'm fine. I'm fine." Emma came and stood by her sister, who stared blankly off into space, still processing all the information that was just told to her.

"Henry," Ellie finally said, "We were wrong. Regina didn't do it."
"I knew it. Maybe we should let her know." Henry said, pulling away from Archie and looking at his mother and aunt.

"Yeah. But something tells me, either way, we're going to pay the price."