Once Upon A Time: Goldilocks comes to Storybrooke

Chapter 16 (flashback)

Goldilocks was pretty sure she had only been in Neverland for a few weeks. At least that is what it felt like. She had woken up one morning, ready to go back to The Enchanted Forest, and the next thing she knew: weeks had passed and she was still in Neverland!

But she wanted to stay. She found Peter Pan and his life fascinating. And Peter was not then happy to let her stay in Neverland. He often told her stories (though most of them were made up) about fighting pirates, saving Neverland from dragons and even a few stories about his life in The Enchanted Forest, though not too many of them. And Goldilocks listened, hanging onto every word. She even told him stories, about her and Regina, and even a few about her mother.

They often play- fought with their magic (Peter also had magic, though was dark magic, but he didn't tell Goldilocks that. However she had figured it out within a few minutes of him showing her his magic). And at night time they would either sit together by the fire, or curl up next to each other on the beach.

They grew a special bond, that no one could ever take away from them.

They called it 'Friendship', but others would call it 'Love'.

"Race you!" Peter yelled, playfully shoving Goldilocks out of the way as he ran down the beach.

"Whoa! That's not fair, you cheater!" Goldilocks cried out, laughing as she followed him. Goldilocks waved her hand in a circle, and a long vine slipped around one of Peter's legs, and pulled him upwards, so he was hung upside down in midair.

"Argh, what?!" Peter cried.

Goldilocks ran passed him, and Peter grinned, and flicked his wrist and the vine released him. Peter landed safely on the sand, and held out both of his hands, to create a huge rock, blocking Goldilocks's way, so she had to stop running.

"Haha!"

Peter ran passed her, and she smiled, her eyebrows narrowing, and she tapped the rock and it dissolved into a huge pile of sand at her feet. Goldilocks then motioned for the huge pile of sand to turn into a huge ball, and she sent it flying at Peter.

Peter felt a dark shadow cast over him. He stopped running and looked up, but had barely any time to react before the massive ball of sand landed on top of him and swallowed him.

"Oops!" Goldilocks laughed sarcastically. "Sorry!" She ran over to him.

Peter struggled for a moment, before finally only his head popped up out of the sand pile.

"Are you okay?" Goldilocks asked.

"Phew, yes. I'm fine," he said whilst taking a huge breath.

Goldilocks grinned. "Do you want me to help you out of there?"

"If you wouldn't mind. My arms are kind of stuck," Peter nodded to the sand. Goldilocks laughed, waved her hand and Peter felt himself flying. His body slowly began to reappear from the mass of sand, before finally he landed on top of the sand pile.

"You okay now?" Goldilocks grinned.

Peter Pan smiled back. "Only just."

He purposely slipped onto his back, and took hold of Goldilocks's hand so she fell down too. They lay on the huge pile of sand, their fingers still entwined, as they looked up at the sky.

"There's the second star!" Goldilocks pointed with her free hand.

"Yeah it is," Peter said, but he wasn't looking at where Goldilocks was pointing. He was looking at her.

"Are you still sure you want to stay here?" He asked.

Goldilocks turned her head to face him. "What do you mean?" She asked.

Peter sighed, let go off her hand and flipped onto his side. "It's just that -"

"Don't you want me here?" Goldilocks also flipped onto her side, so they were facing each other. "I'll leave if you want me to."

"Oh no!" Peter said hurriedly. "No, I love you- staying," he added quickly. "I want you to stay. You fill each of my days with happiness, and I really enjoy your company. It's just -" he trailed off. "You had a life. You had a home. You had a best friend. I kind of feel like I've taken all that away from you."

"But Peter," Goldilocks said. "Yes, what you're saying is true. I did have a life, and a home. But I was missing one thing."

"And what was that?"

She smiled. "You Peter. I didn't have you in my life before, in The Enchanted Forest. But now I have you. And you are one of the most amazing people I have ever met. It is true, I will have to go back to The Enchanted Forest some day, and get back to Regina. But I wouldn't have you with me..." Suddenly she gasped, and her eyes shone with excitement. "Come with me!"

"What?"

"Come back to The Enchanted Forest with me! We would still be together, and we can rid you of that horrid hour glass that is keeping track of your life!" Goldilocks cried.

"But- the lost boys -"

"They could come too! We can reunite them with their families, and -"

"Goldilocks, some of these boys have been here for hundreds of years. Their family's will be dead -"

"Well we can find them new ones. People who will actually make them feel loved!" Goldilocks's smile suddenly faded. "Don't you like my idea?"

"It's a lovely idea. But- Neverland has been my home for as long as I can remember. I- don't really want to give it all up right now," Peter said whilst he looked around the beach. 

"Don't worry if you're not ready to leave yet," Goldilocks said. "We can wait. We practically have all the time in the world here! I've only been here a few weeks though. I don't mind staying a little longer." She slipped her hand back into his. "Just tell me when you're ready, okay?"

Just then there were footsteps next to them, and they turned around to find Felix.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said. "Peter, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Err, yeah sure." Peter Pan smiled at Goldilocks and dropped her hand. "Back in a moment."

She nodded, and Peter walked over to Felix, and they walked out of earshot of Goldilocks.

"Are we leaving Neverland?" Felix asked almost instantly.

"What?! No! Well, at least not yet anyway." Peter looked at Goldilocks, who was busy twirling the single ringlet laying on her right shoulder.

"You would actually give up everything - all of Neverland - for her?" Felix asked.

Peter thought for a moment. "She's an amazing person. And I want to be with her -"

"But couldn't you stay in Neverland together?"

"Felix, she thinks she's only been here a few weeks," Peter told him.

"But - she's been here nearly ten years!" Felix cried.

Peter bit his lip. "I know! And I fear The Enchanted Forest may be a lot different to how it was when she left it. Believe me, I'd rather stay here, then go to The Enchanted Forest."

"So what are you going to do?" Felix asked.

"I don't want to lie to her anymore, about how long she had been here. But once I tell her she'll want too go back. And I don't want to lose her -" Peter suddenly stopped talking.

"Wait, Pan," Felix asked. "Do you like her?"

Peter looked over at Goldilocks again. "No," he replied, turning to face Felix. "I don't like her.... I love her."