Wendy walked along the side of the road for what felt like hours. It was a dark night out, and the forest seemed to be growing larger and larger with every step she took. She was beyond panicked now. She had tried to control her breathing for the last half hour murmuring to herself as she went.
"The trees aren't getting any bigger, calm down."
"You're just being delirious, this is the human realm. Nothing's going to hurt you anymore."
"This isn't Neverland."
"You're just trying to find a cursed town, no big deal."
With each pep talk she gave herself, Wendy felt more and more crazy. Maybe her mind was back in Neverland. Maybe Rumple didn't do the spell right in transporting her here.
But if her mind was really back on that island, her thoughts would have been stuck on the love of her life.
In the back of her mind, Wendy was trying to figure out why she hardly cared about the people she had left behind. Every time her thoughts would send her to Pan's unconscious, bloody form in the snow, she would get a migraine so agonizing she couldn't remember how it occurred. One minute she was thinking about a magical world, and the next moment all she can think about is if she'll ever get to Storybrooke before daylight cracks over the massive trees around her.
Storybrooke was all she was physically aloud to think about without any pounding in her skull. What was it like there? What would she do when she got there? Why did she have to stay?
In the past when Wendy would daydream about being back in a normal realm, she saw herself in Amsterdam. She would find her family. Her mom, John, Michael. Everything would go back to normal. She would start dancing lessons again. Meet someone better than rotten Daniel. Finish school. Settle down. Have a family....
But just like the migraine had stopped her from thinking about Pan, the thought of leaving Storybrooke made her want to be sick.
All these unfamiliar emotions were starting to take it's toll on the small, fragile girl that walked down the dark winding road. She would stumble, message her temples when her headaches came back, and take deep breaths when the nausea returned.
One moment she was in complete darkness....and then two piercing lights were shining directly at her. Wendy gawked as the vehicle came to a stop next to her, the driver staring at her.
"Hey, kid! Why the hell are you out here this late?" A man stepped out of what Wendy realized was a police car.
She couldn't believe something so normal in the human world, a car, could frighten her so much. Its loud rumble of the engine startled the quiet cricket-chirping night she had took for granted.
"Um.." The panic was back. Her gut told her to lie, but nothing came out.
"Curfew was an hour ago. What were you off doing by yourself this far away from town?" The officer took a softer tone noticing Wendy's scared expression.
"Sorry, officer. I was just taking a walk, I got a little lost when the sun came down." The policeman looked at her as if he knew she was feeding him a lie. Wendy stared back willing him to believe it.
Finally the man sighed, "What's your name, kid?"
"Angela Edwards." No hesitation. Wendy almost gasped aloud. Angela was one of her middle names. Wendy Moira Angela Darling. Edwards was her mother's maiden name. She didn't have the time to marvel how the name escaped her lips.
"Get in, Angela. I'll take you back into town."
The man drove them a couple miles alongside the continuous hiking trails keeping completely silent through the journey. Normal human interaction was something Wendy wasn't very good at, even when living in London. It was especially hard considering all she's spoken to in...well Wendy wasn't sure how long she had been in Neverland, were fairies, pirates, and Lost Boys.
It occurred to her then that this man was apart of the cursed town. Everyone in this town Storybrooke was once a character you read in books. Wendy tried to be stealthy in sneaking a peak at the police officer. The first thing she noticed about him was how in the dark, his eyes looked brown. Occasionally when a lamppost would brighten the car as they drove past it, Wendy could see that his eyes were actually a very dark blue. He had brown hair, a sort of dull chestnut color. Not a trace of the bronze-brown hair she liked to run her fingers through....he had a bit of stubble on his chin. Maybe he forgot to shave? But there was something in his eyes. A worrying. Like something was seriously bothering him.
Who was he? What was he? He didn't look familiar. She couldn't put a guess as to if he was a famous prince or a simple villager in the old realm that had been swept away from.
"I take it you're new to Storybrooke? I don't recognize you." Again the panic seemed to squeeze her middle. It was like she could hear Rumple screaming at her to lie her head off. She got the feeling if someone found out her real name, her chance to start over would be shattered completely. She would never get such an opportunity again in her life.
"Yes, I'm new here." She couldn't think of the right situation to put herself in. What if the man asked where her parents were? Who they were? If she said she was visiting family, whose names would she give out if he asked?
"Well, I'm Officer Graham."
"Nice to meet you, Officer Graham." Did the people here have different names too? She had never heard this name in any fairytales. For some reason, Wendy was interested in knowing his true identity. It was something new to distract herself from the unknown place she would hopefully soon call home. She expected him to start asking her questions she had no answer to, but he was silent the rest of the way.
When they came upon the first few sets of houses by the forest, Wendy couldn't help but gawk. Her brown eyes widened as she looked out the window. These houses weren't like the ones in London. They didn't have thousands of people passing by day and night. Wasn't surrounded by honking car horns or different winding paths of sidewalks and streetlights. These houses had huge front yards with luscious green grass, different kinds of flowers, and some even had garden gnomes.
She noticed immediately when the car began to slow. "You don't mind, do you? I have to take care of something here."
The house they had stopped in front of was the most dazzling of them all. It was pure white all over with a small balcony overlooking the pretty neighborhood. There were perfectly cut hedges leading up to the massive front door and a great, big apple tree off to one corner of the yard.
"You can come in, of course. I won't leave you in here all by yourself," Graham replied looking down at her worriedly.
Wendy smiled thankfully, "If that's ok," she agreed.
Graham looked as nervous as her as they approached the big white door. Wendy wondered from his reaction who lived here. Someone with money, obviously. All the houses in suburban Storybrooke were beautiful, but you could just tell someone important lived here.
The officer knocked, and woman answered the door. Wendy didn't know why she always noticed a person's eyes before facial structure, but this woman had dark brown eyes; the same color as black coffee. Her skin took on an olive tone and short brown-black hair that just barley made contact with the top of her shoulders. The woman, that had such a relieved look on her face when she first answered the door, looked very disappointed with Officer Graham's appearance.
"Graham? Have you found him?" She gazed around his shoulder and locked eyes on Wendy. Her gaze looked....dare she say....envious. Whatever the case, the woman's expression looked just as worried as Graham's, yet angrier.
"No, Madam Mayor. I...er found this one wondering around after curfew and-"
"So you decided to bring her here in place of my son?" She spat quietly trying to calm herself for Wendy's benefit, who couldn't help but shrink back behind the officer.
"I looked all over town, Regina. Maybe there's a clue here of where he could have gone." Regina narrowed her eyes dangerously, but moved aside to let them both into her home.
Wendy was again caught up in the beauty. She stared at the white crown molding, the white staircase that seemed to wrap around the foyer. The ceilings were tall enough to make Wendy feel like she had simply walked into another wide open space.
"Would you like an apple?" The woman, Regina, was suddenly in front of her with a basket of identical red apples.
"Thank you," Wendy replied as she hesitantly took one from the basket. She didn't know how Regina could look so irritated towards Officer Graham one moment, and kind to Wendy the next.
"Why don't you make yourself at home, er..."
"Angela."
"Angela....just, could you give Officer Graham a chance to talk about an important matter for a moment in my office? Then I'll let him escort you home."
"Okay, sure." Regina smiled and then followed Graham through the office's double doors.
Wendy looked around the house thinking all the while. The words she had used 'I'll let him escort you'. Graham had called her 'Madam Mayor'. It sounded like she was in charge of this town.
She heard the rather loud yelling through the door and quickly figured out the stressful situation. Regina, aka Madam Mayor, had lost her son Henry. He had run away this afternoon. Graham was out looking for him when he found Wendy.
Wendy felt a pang of guilt. Talk about a bad time to travel to a different realm. The officer found her instead of the missing child. Soon, she was able to tune out the yelling. Actually, the room started to blur.
Angela Edwards drifted to sleep thinking about the mysterious, literally lost, boy Henry.
~~~~~~~~
There was a few blissful minutes Pan didn't know what had happened. It was just like waking up and not remembering the nightmare that awoke you. As he sat up, he discovered the burning pain that might of had something to do with it. His breathing was coming out in large gasps trying to breathe around the layers of tight bandages wrapped around his abdomen. He looked down at his bloody hands in confusion.
"You're up!" Pan jerked his head towards Tinkerbell who had come in with a large wooden bucket of water and some cloth hanging from her shoulder.
Her smile directed at him wasn't something he was ever going to be used to, nor was the relief in his chest that she was alright. Tink walked over to him and grabbed his bloody hand. She ignored his surprised stare and began rinsing his hand clean of all the dried blood.
"We've all been waiting for you to wake up, you know," Tink stated matter-of-factly as she busied herself in scrubbing his hands till it began to slightly burn. "Felix and Rumple have been really worried, although they don't show it. They're the ones the ones who saved you. And even Hook doesn't know what to do. I expected him to get on his ship and sail away, but no, he stayed to wait for you. Weird, huh?"
"Why..?" His voice died out from thirst.
"Hmm?" Tink handed him a cup of water to which he gulped down pretty quickly.
"Why," he started again, "are you acting so weird."
Tink flashed a nervous look at him before scrubbing his hands harder, "You almost dying may have changed my opinion about you."
"That's not it."
Something was wrong. Tinkerbell, in all her fidgety and stiff movements, was lying to him. Before he had the chance to ask, the others walked through the hut.
"That goodness you're alright!" Felix launched him into a very painful hug, thanks to his stab wound.
"Yep, I'm alive. Is it a bad time to remind you all? Peter Pan never fails." His cocky attitude didn't sound as convincing with the sick-like rasp in his voice.
"Maybe we should have let him die," mumbled Hook sarcastically.
"What's the last thing you can remember?" Rumple got right to the point.
Pan thought for a moment, "I had caught up to Ursula in the clearing....I tricked her with a kiss, but somehow she figured it out....and then it felt like my chest was on fire....lots of crying."
Rumple nodded, "When we found you, you were lying on the ground with Ursula standing over you with the bloody dagger. I did what I had to do..."
"So the witch is dead? Good to know."
"One hell of a fight, I think a thank you is in order, mate." Killian grumbled while looking at his boots.
Where is she?
His mind formed the question before he could realize what it meant. This reunion felt so wrong. The uncomfortable way Hook and Tink were acting. Felix's enthusiasm and Rumole getting right to the point with no annoying riddle. There was a physical contact he was missing. Someone was supposed to be wrapping her arms around him. Someone to kiss his sore lips. Someone he wouldn't flinch away from, but lean into.
He needed to smell the fragrance coming off her golden curls. To look into her endless soft brown eyes, her rosy complexion, and strong fingers. Her small, yet beautiful frame. To hear her voice, or even her tearless sob. Or to hear her calling him an idiot or telling him she hated him. Or saying she loved him. He was supposed to be saying 'I love you' right about now.
"Where's Wendy?"
"I can't do this." Tink whispered to Felix as she fled from the tent. Felix soon followed.
"I'm afraid you might have forgotten what we already told you. It's understandable after all you experienced and the coma," Rumple said.
"What have I forgotten that has anything to do with Wendy?"
"When we came to rescue her in the cave by Mermaid Lagoon..." Hook met his gaze for a moment. His blue eyes full of regret and heartbreak, "The Dreamshade had already got to her heart. We were too late." Pan searched in his eyes for the lie he was sure was in place.
But the pirate wasn't lying.
"But I saw her..." Again he voice spoke before is mind could follow up.
He did see her. It was right when the burning in his chest dulled. In that moment he couldn't hear anything, didn't feel anything. It was like he was floating in nothingness.
He remembered a golden light piercing the thick blackness around him. It shined so bright, Pan wasn't sure of the color could ever truly exist on Earth. Remembered her face coming into focus in the meadow. He had to control the sob that almost arose knowing what they had been talking about.
Wendy was the only one he would have started another family with. The only person he would have willingly put his heart on the line for.
But Pan wasn't sure if his heart was even beating anymore.
Of course it was, because he was alive.
But he didn't want to be.
~~~~~~~~
Angela woke to Regina shaking her.
"Angela? I'm sorry that was a long time. Officer Graham will take you home now." Although her voice sounded like a soothing mother's tone, the irritation with Graham was still very clear in her eyes.
"Okay, I'm sorry I fell asleep."
"No problem, dear."
When she slid into the police car, Graham jumped slightly. His eyes were wide with anxiety. He looked so much worse than he did before coming to Madam Major's house.
"Are you alright, officer?" She asked Graham, who started the car.
"Fine."
Madam Major's house wasn't too far away from the center of town. Angela found herself pressing her cheek against the passenger side window once again.
She had to figure out where she wanted Graham to drop her off at. Maybe a park bench....but if someone found her there in the morning, no doubt she would be sitting in the police station explaining herself.
"So where should I drop you off?" The officer tilted his head in her direction not taking his eyes off the road.
Angela couldn't believe the words that came out of her mouth, "The Inn? Um...I'm not sure about the name..." They weren't her words. She was sure then that this was magic. Just like the nausea and migraines that kept her here, something was twisting her words so she wouldn't become a suspicious character to anyone.
"Granny's Bed and Breakfast?"
"Yeah! That's it." She sighed not hardly able to believe that she had gotten away with it.
Granny's Bed and Breakfast was spectacular from the outside. It was a great big cream colored house with gray crown molding and windowsills that appeared to make it look patterned. Enormous trees around the yard that contrasted greatly with the town shops around it. Angela was surprised the Granny sign still glowed. How late was it getting to be?
Officer Graham walked her to the door, bid her goodnight, and much to Angela's dismay, drove back in the direction 0f Madam Major's mansion.
Inside the inn was warm and you could hear the distinct crackle of burning wood from a lit fireplace. The walls were a floral pattern that did indeed made Angela think of her long time past grandparents and their house in London.
"You're out all night, and now you're going out again?" An older woman's voice thundered from upstairs.
"I should have moved to Boston!" Shouted a younger girl.
"I'm sorry if my heart attack interfered with your plans to sleep your way down the eastern seaboard. Oh!" The lady exclaimed as she saw Angela waiting hesitantly at the bottom of the stairs. The lady was big, wore round glasses, and had short, tall white curly hair.
"Granny?" The young girl she was arguing with came into view behind her and Angela almost cracked a smile. This girl had to be in her late teens to early twenties. She had dark brown hair and hazel-green eyes, was tall about 5'7" but wore heels that made her taller. In her hair was dyed pieces of red and feathery hair extensions. Her outfit was black, black, and more black. She was the complete opposite of Granny.
"Um, I'd like a room please."
"Really?" The girl asked the same time Granny said, "How old are you?"
"Fourteen." They both looked at each other.
"Are you in some kind of trouble? Where are your parents?" Granny asked, pushing her glasses up higher up on the bridge of her nose.
"Granny, come on! This is the first time in a long time someone has come in here asking for a room!" The girl argued and flashed Angela a smile.
"But-"
"What about when Mr. Gold comes to collect taxes?"
There was a long pause and Angela could see the visible sign of defeat on the old woman's face.
"Would you like a room overlooking the forest or the square?"
"Forest would be fine, thank you."
Despite her obvious objection to her staying there, Granny smiled, "Welcome to Storybrooke, enjoy your stay."
She was handed a large silver key with a large decorative chain attached. As Angela walked up the stairs trying to find room 411, the girl followed her.
"Hey, my name's Ruby." Ruby smiled a perfect white smile. If not for the dark red lipstick and wardrobe choices, Angela was sure she could be a model.
"Angela, and thanks for getting me the room."
"No problem, I love a little mystery," Ruby was referring to her, "Granny usually gets up at the crack of dawn, but Thursdays are her sleep in days. How about we make it a girls day for me and you? Head into New York, shop around, tell me where your from?"
Angela narrowed her eyes at the last bit but knowing how desperate she was for clothes...."Sure, it'd be nice knowing at least one person here."
"Oh, of course," Ruby grinned sincerely, "I just know we're going to be good friends." A flash of memory hit Angela so suddenly, she was suddenly gripping Ruby's shoulder to keep from losing her balance.
Tink. Her best friend......Ruby reminded her so much of her Tinkerbell. The sadness faded as soon as it became recognizable, and soon Angela was left wondering who the name Tinkerbell belonged to.
"Are you alright?" Ruby asked her worriedly.
"Fine, sorry. I'm a bit tired, and I haven't eaten all-"
"Here," Ruby reached into her black leather shoulder-bag and handed her a packet of M&Ms, "They're my favorite, especially the red ones."
Angela gratefully popped a green one into her mouth.
"So my room is 317, meet me there at seven o'clock?"
"Sure."
The room she got had a beautiful view of the forest, as promised. There was a small balcony that, no doubt, was meant to let you drink coffee and look at the endless trees. The bed was a queen size with a cream and mint green quilt pattern. A white writing desk in one corner with a stack of stationary set aside. An empty self on one wall, and a large oak dresser.
Continuing to snack on the M&Ms, she walked into the bathroom attached to her room. It was rather large. This was probably one of the best rooms in the inn. A full bath with a shower and bathtub. Angela appreciated the modern feel to the rooms and the vintage furniture making it feel as if she was part of the forest herself.
And then she looked at herself in the full length mirror. Her skin was pale, not a hint of a blush on her cheeks. Her eyes were a dull gray-green, hair the same dark brown color as Ruby and looked to be about an inch shorter than her.
Something about her reflection was off-putting. Shrugging her shoulders, she climbed into bed setting her candy on the knight stand.
Little did she know, as she drifted into a deep sleep, all traces of Wendy Darling had vanished along with all her memories and the people she had come to love.
*(some of the argument with Granny and Ruby was originally form OUAT's pilot episode)
So I edited the countdown again :) I'm as impatient as you all are to finish this! I will try to finish the last chapter as quickly as I can. Definitely before January so no need to worry I won't take THAT long. I also found out some interesting things about you guys. Under the STATS option there is a world map that shows me what percentage of my readers are around the world.
Comment where you are:
USA - 40% (I do live here so it makes sense I have that much)
Italy - 28% (All thanks to my new friend and translator Isabella <3)
UK - 7%
Netherlands - 2%
Brazil - 2%
Greece - 2%
Albania - 2%
Australia - 4%
Malaysia - 2%
Philippines - 2%
A big thank you for everything and all of you for continuing to read for almost 2 years now!
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