All the magic (OUAT Peter Pan)

Chapter 51: Truth to be told

Hope gasped as the memory ended with tears streaming down her face. I knew him before Neverland. Someone did care about me in that nightmare house after all. Peter was scared of feeling close to me so he made me stay longer with William. The first time we admitted we liked each other, it took a matter of weeks. The next time took a few decades. She looked back at the box from him. Hope picked up his shirt, surprised it smelt like him, like campfires and jungle rain.

That just made her cry more. She threw it on her bed and walked over to the middle of the floor and faced the balcony looking at the stars. Between the memory and the letter, she realized the decision she made the day of the curse affected others so much more than she thought initially. Peter liked me for decades and when we were finally more, I left him alone. I left him to explain to the boys that their mom wouldn't be home for a really long time. He would blame himself for so long that I left, protecting him. The crew and the Lost Boys would fight now more than ever, they probably would both blame each other for me leaving. I didn't even remember any of them till today and they had to live with the fact that I didn't know them for twenty-eight years.

"Come on, Hope. Get yourself together." She told herself as she walked to her balcony and took a few deep breaths. "Think back to everything the characters in books you love have gone through. If they can get through everything, so can you." The sound of her phone chiming made Hope stop her pep talk to herself as she read her text from Jacob. 'Lia, I'm so sorry I ran out so fast this morning. When can we meet up? We need to talk.'

With a sigh knowing that moment was coming she texted back. 'I know. Whenever works with me. I know it's past your curfew but if you're fine with talking tonight that works for me. If not, we can meet in the morning.' She sent the text knowing he wouldn't be able to sneak out so she would have till the morning to figure out what to say to him.

He texted back, 'I was hoping we could talk tonight. Meet you in the park in five min.' Hope hung her head as she switched her shorts and tank top for one of her hoodies and a pair of leggings. She put everything from Peter back in the box and hid it in the corner of her room in case anyone went looking for her. She locked her bedroom door as she snuck downstairs. Halfway down the stairs she realized her mistake and used magic to appear at the park.

It was completely silent on the clear night. The water lapped against the dock in the distance, and the moon and stars reflected in the water creating a very peaceful view. Hope walked over to a bench and sat down waiting for Jacob trying to figure out how to explain everything.

She didn't have to wait long before she heard his truck pull up. Jacob ran over to her. "There you are!" He called as he hugged her. "Sorry I ran out so fast I just-"

"No, I get it." Hope interrupted him. "You had to find your family. I know before the curse broke, that's all I wanted to do."

They sat down on the park bench and Jacob looked at his girlfriend hoping she wouldn't be mad at what he had to tell her. "I have some crazy stuff to tell you. I was pretty different back home."

Hope gave him a half smile as she said, "Your past can't be crazier than mine. I'm so sure of it, I would bet all my books on it."

Jacob took a deep breath before admitting, "I am a cat."

She knit her brows at what he told her. He talked so fast she was sure she misheard him. "What did you say?"

He put his head in his hands as he said slowly, "I'm a cat. Well, I was a cat. Me and my family were a family of cats living with the nicest lady ever. My name is Berlioz, but please call me Jacob, I always hated that name. That's why I ran so quickly, after Madam had taken care of us for so long I had to find her and Edger. I ran home to the family I had during the curse as I didn't know where to go. Mom and Dad were there and I asked who they used to be. Once mom said her name was Duchess I was relieved. She was my mom before the curse too. We realized that the curse didn't break up our family. Somehow we stayed together. I had to get that out there Lia. Please don't think I'm weird. "