Hey,

This is a longer chapter. Simple because I had the perfect ending and I wanted something special in the chapter. I hope you're going to like it.

Enjoy,

TempeGeller

Chapter 6: Going back to the two of us?

"You know…" Annabeth ran. "I'm going to miss this place. I mean there's someone who's actually Red Riding Hood. Ian…"
"It's for the better, you'll grow up loathing them." Ian turned around. "That's what parents do, they disappoint you. You've been…"
"I just thought she was it…" Annabeth turned to her. "Maybe I should go back, try again."
"She doesn't deserve that." Ian stepped faster. "The faster we leave town, the better."
Annabeth stopped. She was making a mistake, she could feel a call in the deepest of her soul. A call from her mother, or even from her father. Why would she still be feeling this way? Slowly she stepped on, the red line on the ground was a barrier. She had to make a choice, either way she could go with Ian. Go live adventures, fight monsters. Be without her family forever. Or she could stay here, have the chance that she could be hurt again. Yet Annabeth moved her foot over the town line once more again.

"I've been a lot of things…" Annabeth turned to Ian. "I've never been a coward."
"You're a hero for leaving." He stepped towards her, pulling her hand. "You're a hero."
"No, I'm a coward." She took another step over the town line turning her face to Ian. He had tears in her eyes, almost like he couldn't leave her behind. She didn't want to see him leave, yet a part of her felt that she was being a coward. "I gave her one chance. She wasn't even herself. I can feel in the deepest part of my soul that she's my mother. And it's not just a feeling, it's like I've seen her before. It's like I slept in her arms for years. She protected me, a woman like that disserves more than one chance."

"Annabeth."
"You call met that." She turned around. "Ian, this is your destiny. Finding any Greek thing, you're the son of the gods. I'm the daughter of a woman who truly loves me."
"She didn't!" Ian pulled her hand. "How can I go on without you? Without my sister?"
"I don't know…" Annabeth took a step back. "We'll both have to figure that out."

Annabeth stepped back over the town line. Her eyes were tearing up as he let her hand go. Ian said something, but she didn't understand. Images of a woman who put her over the same line came to her. They didn't look so clear. She couldn't even recognize the woman. Annabeth turned to him and Ian was still standing there, tears in his eyes.
"Annabeth." He put his hand up. "It's almost like that day we met. I know you're supposed to be here, that's why I'm scared. I thought you could be my real sister. Maybe you were a child of the gods too. I kept hoping for that, but deep down I always knew. I always knew you were more special than me. Annabeth…"
"I'm not that special." Annabeth smiled "You're the child of the gods, it's not like some dark sorcerer is my father."

"So this is it?" He stared at her from across the town line. "I never thought we would be saying goodbye. I thought it would be us against the world…"
"It's not goodbye.." Annabeth smiled "Maybe this is a see you later…"
"Annabeth…" He reached for her cheek. "I still believe you're going to meet the love of your life, just because you think it will never happen, I can tell you it will. That guy is one lucky guy…"
"I believe you're going to save the world…" Annabeth smiled "Hero…"

"How will I without your wisdom?"
"Well, you can easily replace a wise girl." Annabeth took a step back. "The question is if you'll find a person that can be your friend as well…"
"No one can ever replace you…"

"Look, I don't agree.." Rumpelstiltskin walked behind Regina. "You must be completely wrong about what you saw, how could a child that came from out of town possess the power we have."
"I don't know either…" Regina stepped faster. "I just know that we'll have to find them. I think they'll be around the edge of town, they said they were taking a walk."
"Taking a walk?" He smiled "You still didn't explain why she seems to be my problem. So dearie, why is she my problem? "

"Well, who knows who she's getting?" They got closer to the town line, as they saw Annabeth's long brown hair. "She's the biggest problem we got, maybe she's go more of those powerful friend. If that happens, the town is lost. I mean we'll lose power. Your poor Belle might just get hurt, I thought you were all about protecting your servant turned lover. "
"Look, dearie…" Rumpelstiltskin stepped in front of her. "Give me one great reason why I would want to kill that crazy girl?"
"She's obsessed with finding a mother figure." Regina opened her eyes wider. "She has set her eyes on Belle. Sadly Belle turned her down, which drives this girl insane. Translation, she wants to kill Belle. With those powers, poor little Belle stands no chance, it's either way her life or Belle's. Beside in the end we kill her anyway, why would we not do it now?"
"You just gave a great reason, dearie." He smiled as he stepped on.

As they came to a high point overlooking the town line, Rumpelstiltskin stopped. He saw the girl standing in the town. She had just come back in town and it seemed like the two of them were having an emotional goodbye. Her back was turned to her, her dark hair was the only thing he could see. Slowly he started to create a fire ball in his hand. An evil smile appeared on Regina's face as she wished he would release it hastily. Part of her was actually cheering him on, he was going to kill his own daughter with that fire ball. Two seconds. The fireball was bigger and deathly to anyone, if you didn't see it coming. Maybe even to the boy, yet Regina didn't care about the guy. It was Annabeth she wanted dead.

3 seconds. She started to get inpatient. Let it go her mind screamed. And as the 4th second passed by them, he let go of the fire. It headed towards her in a blink of an eye. The evil smile on Regina's face seemed like it would never be killed. And as the fire came close to Annabeth, she turned away. Just in that second Annabeth turned around, seeing the fire that was heading towards her. A big white force field appeared around her and the fire. As every danger around her died.
Right that moment, Annabeth's face was turned to Rumpelstiltskin. He saw everything he needed to see, the eyes and the powers. A perfect copy of Belle with powers that she seemed to have gotten from him. His daughter. There was no doubt about that.

"What did you make me do?" He turned to Regina. "Where did she come from?"
"What did I make you do?" Regina kept a straight face.
"You made me kill my own daughter." Rumpelstiltskin turned to Regina. "Me and Belle's daughter. How could you do that?"

"Well, one thing is clear, dearie." Regina stepped closer to him. "How could I know she's your daughter?"

Rumpelstiltskin didn't care about what she said. Right now his mind got ahead of him. He had no doubt that this child was the product of him and Belle. He wouldn't even been thinking about the fact that another man had fathered Belle's child. Something in her eyes made him see that. What did he need to do? Step towards her, introduce him. What could he possible say? He ran off and as he ran towards the shop, he thought about her. What would have she been like as a baby? Was she quiet? Loud? Was she a sweet baby? Could she read easily? Was she like him or Belle? Or was the positive version of him? The side Belle only saw. As he stepped in the store, his mind was still with her.

She was beautiful, she had her mother's looks, with a few exceptions. She had his nose and it seemed like she his chin. Yet he didn't know that for sure. He sat down and stared at a picture of him and Belle. Where was Belle? Was she aware that she was their child? And if she was, would she be battling with the same surprise as he? How did this child came to be? Was there magic? If she was created from magic how was she able to leave the town? And right than, he remembered a baby. A child named Annabeth, Regina was carrying her.
"Regina…" His head became red in anger. It was Regina that had put Annabeth over the town line, she was worried because of her return. She wanted her dead, because the truth was closer than he expected. The question still existed: Why wasn't she Emma's age or even older? And if she was in her teens, why did Regina wait to drop her over the town line?

The question's rose up. He needed to know the truth.

"Wow, where did you get those from?" Ian stepped to her. "Beth?"
"I would say my parents…" Annabeth turned around staring at the tree. The person that had attacked her was gone. "It was that stupid mayor woman. She tried to kill me once before.."
"Annabeth!" Ian turned to her. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"The' I didn't want to worry you' cliché will most likely not work…" Annabeth turned around. "I just didn't want to tell, it's not a thing that comes up in conversations."
"Because it's not a monster…" Ian stared at her. "An actual mortal person tried to kill you.."
"I wouldn't say mortal." Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "Or maybe semi mortal. I don't know what she is…"
"Annabeth, how am I supposed to leave you knowing you're in mortal danger."
"I'm not actually in mortal danger." Annabeth smiled "Plus, you know that I can handle any person. I will be fine. I promise…"

"Promise me." Ian stared in her eyes. "Promise me, you will take care of yourself."
"Cross my heart." Annabeth stared at him. "Hope to die."
"Beth.." He pulled her in his arms.

"Ian." Annabeth turned away.
"Tell me this is not the end." Ian turned to her.
"This is only the beginning."

Belle was stepping in the library. Why did she even have to head here? It was the only place where she could find peace. Where she could find a plan to find her daughter. The worst possible plan would be to cross the town line, right than she would become Lacey. Maybe a message on a picture would make Lacey find Annabeth. Belle shook her head, there wasn't a good reason for Lacey to come out and help her. Lacey was everything she would never be. And so she wouldn't be part of helping. She couldn't count on anyone but herself. Her mind went on and she started to look between the books.

How did people find their kids? She needed someone else. Someone who could easily cross the town line. Someone who would help her and look at it as a nice mission. Someone like Henry. That was right, she needed Henry. Belle stood up, as she tried to figure out where Henry and Emma would be. Right now, Henry would be at school. Maybe she could find him there. She pulled herself on her legs and started to move. The only thought on her mind was finding her child. How would she convince him? Asking him for help, would make him proud. She was sure that Henry would bring a mother and child together once more again. And as she counted the stones to the school, she thought about her daughter walking out of her life, before she could even get to know her. When she arrived at the school, she could see a tall man next to Henry. The last thing she thought about was looking at him, her mind was too busy to see anything but Henry. As she stepped next to the man, Henry noticed her.
"Belle…" He smiled "This is my dad, dad this is Belle."

"Neal." He shook her hand.
"Henry, I need your help for just a moment." Belle stepped closer. "It's some kind of secret mission, I need your help with. What do you say?"
"Cool!" Henry smiled "Can my dad help too?"
"Sure, more brains." Belle smiled. "Henry, have you seen this girl named Annabeth."
"Yeah." Henry smiled "Is she no good? Should I spy on her? Mom thought me you know, spying and stuff. It's kind of our thing…"
"Sounds like Emma too me…" Neal laughed

"Look." Belle looked down. "You need to find her. I think she might have left town and…"
"Well, than there's nothing we can do." Neal smiled "Henry can't go outside of town."
"Yeah." Belle sat down. "I was stupid to even think so. I'm desperate. I can't tell anyone. It's important that I find her. It's important that I…"
"Why is this girl so important to you?" Neal laughed "Did she borrow some books and didn't give them back?"

"She's my daughter." Belle turned to Neal. "She's Rumple's daughter."
"Then she's my sister." Neal paused.
"Your Rumple's son?" Belle stared at him.

Henry stared at his father, than his eyes returned to Belle. Everything that was happening didn't come straight from his book, he didn't know about the baby that came from Rumpelstiltskin and Belle. His books said there was no baby. And yet right now, that child existed. The very child Emma had worried about, was part of their land. She wasn't a stranger in their town, she was part of it. The strangest part was that he had seen her many times. She was his father's sister, his aunt. In just a year he had gotten another mother, 3 (or maybe even 4 if you counted Belle as his grandmother) and an aunt. He had more than just one family member. It wasn't just him and his mother anymore. The family grew.
And as the silence became bigger, Tamara stepped to them. Henry didn't have much reasons to like her. Emma didn't seem to trust her and he was with that. There was something about her.

"Tamara." Neal smiled. "This is Belle."
"We already met." Belle stepped away. "Haven't we?"
"Yes." Tamara looked away.

Annabeth slowly stepped towards the ship. She made her way on the invisible ship, as she saw Hook standing behind the wheel. A smile appeared as she saw her.
"Annabeth." He smiled "What a pleasure."
"Killian." Annabeth laughed "I just can't believe your name is Killian. I can't call you Killian and Hook sounds so cold and indifferent. What do I call you then?"
"I have no idea." He raised an eyebrow. "Honey."
"You're funny." Annabeth shook her head. "No, 'honey' is not something they would be calling you. How about Joe? Joey?"
"I would rather not be called that…" Hook turned around. "I still have some honor left."

"Captain." Annabeth stepped closer.
"Still sounds so cold and unfriendly." Hook had a crooked smile. "Annie?"
"Killie." She laughed as she raised an eyebrow.
"Don't you dare."
"Lian."
"I'm okay with that."

Annabeth took a step towards her and stepped behind the wheel. She placed her hands on the wheel, almost like she was ready to leave the docks. Slowly Hook moved closer to her. He stared at her as she looked at the sky. The sun was shining down on them. Annabeth felt the rays on her pale skin. As she felt the wood under her fingers.
"Is that why you're a pirate?" Annabeth stared at him. "Feeling the water, freedom. Feeling like no one can harm you?"

"I don't know." He shook his head. "I guess I've never asked why I'm a pirate."
"Why not?" Annabeth raised her eyebrow. "Why do you keep going, if you have nowhere to go to."
"I do…" Hook turned to her. "Like I said, kill the crocodile."
"I assume we're talking about the guy that killed Milah." Annabeth turned to him. "You remember my words, a ship that runs on hate is not going to make you happy. In the end the hate will consume you. What will you do when he's dead? You will have nothing left. A dead body and an empty heart?"

"I will find something else…"
"Yet, you just run on fear and revenge." She stepped away from him. "I know what it's like to go through life without anyone who cares about you. I want you to think about this, what will you have left when he's dead. It won't bring Milah back. Find new love…"
"Maybe I'm doing that."

"Lian." Annabeth touched his hand. "Let go."

"Well, I don't think we'll have a choice." Neal spoke. "The only way to know her exact whereabouts is, to ask father. Believe me, I don't like it either."
"Well, that kind of frightens me." Belle turned away. "I don't exactly know how she came to be. I had a dream about you know and 9 months later there was a baby."
"Well, we'll find the how later." Neal spoke "We'll convince him in another way he'll be convince."

Belle and Neal stepped next to each other, towards the shop. Going there took longer than Belle had ever imagined. Belle didn't know what to say to him. Their relationship was strange and talking to him about his father, was something she did not want to do. It was something Rumpelstiltskin had to do for himself. So she stepped next to him.
"So you're kind of like me stepmother…"

"I don't think I want…" Belle smiled "It kind of has a negative tone after…"
"I'm sure you're a nice person." Neal turned to her. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself in too with dad. He's…"
"I know."

Belle returned to staring in front of her, hoping to get to the store in a few seconds. Yet she was thinking about how she could explain Annabeth's existence. She could say that she just happened. What if he got mad? What if he… As they stepped through the doors, Rumpelstiltskin was standing in front of him. He looked like he was looking for the same thing as she was. He was worried and he seemed like he needed to tell her something.
"Dad…" Neal paused "We need your help…"
"We need to find our child." Rumpelstiltskin stared at her. "Yes, Belle. It might sound like a surprise, but I saw her and she's our child. I just knew it."
"Rumple, I know." Belle paused "Regina kidnapped her from me. She left town.
"No, she didn't." Rumpelstiltskin said. "She turned around at the border. Annabeth, she's…"

"Right here…" A voice appeared from behind them as Annabeth stepped between them. Her hair was pulled together in a ponytail. Her hair curled softly in the ponytail. Her cheeks were pale. Slowly she stepped closer.
"Baby." Belle ran towards her and pulled her in a tight hug. Her eyes were tearing up as she tried to pull her as close as possible. "I missed this, you and I used to sleep like this all the time. When you were just a baby…"
"Sweetie…" Rumpelstiltskin had tears in his eyes. He slowly stepped to her as he put his hand on Belle's shoulder. "I'm your dad."
"Dad?" Annabeth stared at him. "You're my dad?"

"He is, Annabeth." Belle smiled "You know my grandmother was named Annabeth."
"That there…" Rumpelstiltskin pointed to Neal. "Is your brother."
"I have a brother." Annabeth stepped to Neal. "Your my brother?"
"I guess so.." Neal stared at her. He put his arms around her. "You know, I always wanted a little sister. So I can beat up any guy that isn't good enough for."

"No one is good enough for my little princess…" Rumpelstiltskin said. "And if the dare…"
"Rumple…" Belle turned to him and gave him a look. Slowly she moved to Annabeth once more again and placed her arms around her once more. She put her other arm around Neal and pulled him in a hug too. For only a few moments, slowly Rumpelstiltskin moved to them and placed his arms around all three of them. Maybe his family was going to be together. But Neal refused to stay there. He left.
He stared at Belle and Annabeth. Belle had no intention of letting her child go. Her arms were tangled around Annabeth, it was almost that she was a child again.
"So why don't we get dinner as a family?" Rumpelstiltskin said. "We have to get to know you. What have you been up too? How did you meet that friend of yours?"

"Fighting monsters and stuff…" Annabeth said. "I've been fighting monsters…"
"Sweetie, do you think that's safe?" Belle turned to her. "You could have been hurt or worse."
"She's going to be fine Belle." Rumpelstiltskin smiled "She's my daughter. What do you say, feel like learning some magic."

"Magic?" Annabeth smiled "you're teaching me? Yeah."
"Rumple." Belle turned to him. "You think it's smart?"

His head hurt, why had he been caught on the peer? Had he not been careful? Or had he believed it was Annabeth? Yet right now he was sitting on a chair, bound to it. He couldn't mover. And then a voice appeared.
"You stabbed the dark one…" Tamara said. "Yet you didn't do it right, he's still alive."
"I know.." Hook turned to her. "I didn't do a good job, I'm still looking for a plan. He's not doing anything, right."

"So the fact that he's going after your girlfriend doesn't make you scared?" Tamara came closer to him and he saw her face. The man who was with them didn't move at all. "He's going to turn her against you and the only person you love is going to hate you. But…"
"You could stop her…" Greg stepped towards him. "Do you want her to be lied too?"
"What do you say?" Hooke spoke "He's too powerful here. I don't have the right way to get rid of him. I can't do anything."

"Look.." Tamara gave him binocular. He could see her better right now, he saw how Rumpelstiltskin was talking to Annabeth. Belle was walking right next to him.
"If you don't kill him…" Tamara spoke "You lose the only person that actually sees past the monster. I don't know what she sees, you lose her. And what will you have left nothing."

"Or you could help us." Greg spoke "You help us and you will get her. She will not be turned and you can sail of in the sunset. Be a better person and have your revenge. Your life will be better…"
"Or you will watch how Rumpelstiltskin steals away the only person you have left…" Tamara smiled "How would you like to be all alone again, Hook?"
"Revenge darkens the heart…"
"Does she say that?" Greg smiled "Maybe you're not just taking revenge. God knows what Rumpelstiltskin wants with her? You're saving her life…"
"What do I need to do?"

Okay, I will thank you again for all the reviews. It's nice to hear your thoughts on the possible love interest of Annabeth. So keep those opinions coming : Hook, Ian or maybe anyone else? Don' t hold back.

Plus, what do you think about Rumple teaching Annabeth magic: Is it a good thing or a bad thing? What would he teach her first? What will happen to Hook? And should he tell Annabeth about the evil plans of Tamara/Greg?

Tell me in a review! Keep them coming! I love it!