17. Storm

Victor was known as a mad scientist, and never had he felt more in tune with that moniker than now as he worked on the device that would create their world-crossing tornado. For himself and Dorothy, being swept away happened by chance. None of the people in Storybrooke wanted to wait around for that. Besides, Victor already proved that science and magic combined could bend the rules of both, and that was what they needed to take Cora to Neverland.

"The problem," he explained as he worked, "isn't the storm, but the transportation. I was in a hot air balloon and Dorothy was in her house. We need some kind of vessel that can transport Cora through the tornado. I'm honestly not sure what will happen without one."

"So it can be any kind of vessel?" Emma wondered. "Like a car?"

"Or a ship," Hook spoke up. "Use the Jolly Roger. It has sailed Neverland's seas for a long time. That can only help your storm reach that land."

"Seriously?" Emma gave him an incredulous look. "You'd give up your ship? You do realize that means you're basically marooning yourself in this land, right?"

"Aye, Swan, I do. But any good sailor can tell which way the winds are blowing, and these are quite literally against Cora. Besides," he added with a touch of a smile, "my first mate Smee is in this land, and you lot may have need of a pirate yet."

"We're a regular land of misfit characters," Victor agreed with an amused snort.

While objectively using the Jolly Roger was a good idea, Victor hated that this meant they were using the docks as the place to set up the tornado. He would try to make the storm as isolated as possible but there would still be some damage. All the other boat owners were moving their vessels as far away as possible and businesses that were close were boarding up their windows in case of flying debris.

Magic and science always came at a price. Victor would have to destroy his and Liza's spot to get Cora out of Storybrooke.

Liza was quiet when he told her of this latest development. After a long moment, she reached over and grabbed her crutches. "Then we'd better go enjoy it while it's here."

The two made it there and sat on the edge just as they did that first night. It was only a few months ago, yet so much had changed. He was engaged to a beautiful, fierce and brave woman; the people of the town accepted him and were even welcoming his scientific knowledge and defiance of limitations.

Victor felt Liza's head on his shoulder and slid his arm around her waist to pull her closer. He knew that her intervening in his suicide attempt was a matter of circumstance: she was the only one in town able to track him, and the only one with speed enough to reach him in time. But even if there had been someone else to stop him that night, he doubted anyone else could have understood him enough to give him hope. And he knew that he did the same for Liza.

"I wish we could go in the water," he sighed. They did that during one of their dates. It'd been his idea, turning something that he intended for death into life. Making love under the docks would be a perfect way to use them one last time. The look in Liza's eyes told him she was thinking the same thing.

"It could be the way we christen the new dock," she suggested, her eyes sparkling.

"Just when I thought I couldn't love you more." Victor pressed a soft kiss on her mouth. "You go and say something like that." Her lips moved in a smile against his, returning the pressure of his kiss as her fingers brushed through his hair.

They sat together exchanging kisses for a few more minutes before getting up and heading back. With Victor working on his storm machine, they'd been staying at the lab more often. August offered them the old trailer he'd stayed in when the curse first broke so they wouldn't have to sleep on the lab floor. Gradually their stuff started making its way over and Victor often looked at all the open space and imagined possibilities.

The day Victor finished his storm machine, the entire town showed up to watch Cora get blown out of town. Cora was already secured on the Jolly Roger with a note from Hook. In so many words, it explained to Pan that the cuffs kept Cora's magic at bay. It would then be up to him and the Lost Boys whether they wanted the extra challenge in their games. The fairies, Emma and Regina all assured Victor they pooled their magic to be sure the tornado would take Cora to the correct land. They even did it at night so the Neverland star would be present.

Victor made sure he cold remotely activate the storm, but he still had to be closer than was comfortable. He sensed Liza shifting restlessly on her crutches. He glanced back at her, gave a nod, then activated the device. Victor spared a moment to make sure the winds were twisting themselves into a funnel before he ran. He could hear it howling behind him, tearing into the planks of the dock. He and Liza didn't stop until they made it to where the others were waiting. Shaken, he leaned against the nearest building to collect himself.

He thought his ears were confused from the storm, but then he saw it: the townspeople were applauding him. "You did it, Victor," David praised him, clapping his hand on the doctor's shoulder. "Your tornado pulled the Jolly Roger up, and then they both disappeared. Thank you for saving our town."

Victor didn't know what to say. The people had seen him differently since he was injured in defending the hospital, but this was more. This was him doing what he did best- bending the natural law to his will- and people celebrating it.

"I am pretty wonderful," he agreed.