16. Solution

She anticipated a huge reaction when she told Snow and Ella about her engagement. Both her friends gushed over the ring and immediately demanded the story of the proposal. They couldn't stop hugging her and Ruby felt a few tears. She wanted her friends to be happy for her, of course, but a part of her hadn't expected such acceptance. She couldn't help wondering if Victor was receiving an equally excited response from David.

Any discussion about plans for the wedding would have to wait, though. Not for Ruby's leg to heal- neither she nor Victor cared if she limped down the aisle in a cast- but because the matter of Cora needed to be settled.

So they all gathered together to discuss the matter in town hall. This location was chosen instead of Granny's because so many more people were involved. Ruby remembered when the royal couple and their advisers could all fit around a single table. How much things had changed since then. David and Snow were still the understood leaders, but Emma had proved herself a leader as well and while she and Neal weren't together, they still gave a united front. All the dwarfs were in attendance, now with Anton added to their ranks. Geppetto, Jiminy and Pinocchio were there as well, though of course now Pinocchio was an adult and going by August and Jiminy was back to being human. It wasn't just Blue but all of the fairies that arrived. Belle was included as well and even Sidney Glass was there, though he was happy to sit quietly in the back taking notes.

Then the newest members of the group: Regina Mills and Victor Frankenstein. Since this meeting was about the fate of her mother, having Regina weigh in was expected. No one expected to see Doctor Frankenstein come through the door but no one objected. Especially after both David and Ruby insisted he be there.

"Since no one else is willing to say it," Regina began, "I will. As long as my mother is in this land, she'll be an influence on me. The only solution seems to be moving her to another land, but even if we had the means, where could she go? I sent her to Wonderland and she became the Queen of Hearts; in the Enchanted Forest she posed as Sir Lancelot and controlled the people there. No matter what we do, she would gain power and control."

"Aye, but that's where my solution comes in." Hook rose to his feet so all could focus on him.

"Right," Neal scoffed. "The idea where everyone goes away happy. I can't wait to hear this."

"There is a land where she could live in exile, and I promise it is one she would not come to rule." Hook glanced over to Neal. "I believe you may know the one I speak of, Baelfire." There was a moment of silence, then Neal groaned and ran his hand over his face.

"You can't seriously be suggesting we send her to Neverland."

"It's the perfect solution. The Lost Boys will have need of a villain with me gone. Peter Pan is not one to give up power; there is no chance of Cora gaining control. And I speak from experience when I say that Neverland is not so easily escaped. You have an ally there," Hook continued, nodding to the fairies. "Tinkerbell. She has an alliance of sorts with Pan and will help them keep Cora in check."

"Okay," David sighed, "but there's still the problem of us sending her there. With the beans and Jefferson's hat destroyed, there's no way to cross realms."

"I know of a way." This time all eyes turned to Victor. "It may just need a bit of magical adjustment to focus on the land you want."

"We'll bite," Emma said slowly. "What are you talking about?"

"A tornado." Ruby had to bite back the smile at the stunned looks on everyone's faces. "I've only seen them work when transporting people to Oz, but I'm sure you magical types can figure out how to make it go to other lands."

Ruby could hear the others ask Victor questions but it was getting difficult for her to focus on them. She was tired and the seats in the town hall weren't very comfortable. And it was warm in the hall with so many bodies. Ruby closed her eyes and tried to shift into a better position with her cumbersome cast.

"Liza?" Her eyes flickered open again to see Victor's concerned face. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, just a little tired."

"How about I drive you home? I think they can sort this without us."

Ruby conceded to that and hobbled out with Victor beside her. She didn't know what was wrong with her lately. It was like her body was still recovering from that fight with Cora. She couldn't wait to be rid of the cast and run again.

"Good news is that once Cora is gone, we can get married," Ruby pointed out. "I'll be the bride of Frankenstein." Saying it out loud gave her a giddy feeling.

"That's a good movie, but please don't wear your hair like that." She chuckled, leaning into him and giving him a kiss.

She rested her head on the window as he drove her back to the condo. They were still trading off between his condo and her apartment, but at the condo they had a slightly greater chance of not being bothered. In his spare time, Victor was hunting down houses for when they were married. When they were married. It was still such an incredible thought. It certainly wasn't the familiar ending for either of their stories.

Hoping that all she needed was a power nap, Ruby hobbled her way to the bed. Victor surprisingly climbed in with her. "You don't have to stay with me," she told him.

He shrugged, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It was becoming one of her favorite little gestures of affection from him. "I don't want to be anywhere else."