What matters most (OUAT fanfic)

Chapter eight: Or, you know, a rock.

I stare in the direction he left.

How stupid can he get?

He literally just left me in the middle of the woods with no supervision. None, I could run away if I want.

Instead, however, I decide to explore to woods some. For a place that inhabits evil creatures, it is truly beautiful.

The trees are the greenest green I've ever seen. Standing tall and strong, it's breathtaking really.

I fold the map and place it in my pocket and head off in a random direction, taking in the beauty around me.

I wonder if my family notice the beauty of this place.

They're probably to busy looking for Henry.

And me, they are looking for me too.

Are you sure about that?

They're my family, they have to be looking for me too. You can't just look for one twin and not the other

Not always

I'll prove it to you then. They do care.

With that note, I head off to search to find them.

====================

It wasn't that hard. You would think that being in a foreign land would cause them to be cautious and quiet, but no, elephants would be quieter than them.

They were walking down some trail. Emma and Mary Margaret in the lead. I was close enough to hear what Emma said when she leaned over towards my grandmother, "I kissed him."

My grandmother paused for a moment, but continued forward while asking, "What? Who?"

"Hook, I kissed Hook." My mom said, looking disgruntled at the fact.

What? Was Hook going to be my new father? At least I can say I called it from the start.

"Oh well... why?" My grandmother said, looking down towards the ground and seemed to hold her lantern higher in the air.

"I-I don't know. I-I was... Its been a while. I was feeling good. I don't know." She stuttered. She always did have trouble coming to terms with her feelings. I remember when Henry had to convince her to come to Storybrooke when he went to find her.

"Did it mean anything?" my grandmother questioned. She wasn't looking at Emma, seeming dead set to stare at the grass.

"It-It was just a kiss."

Mhm sure mom. Ten bucks that you'll be together by years end.

"I'm sure Neal will understand." Well either way he wouldn't have a choice, he's not coming back.

"If he's still alive."

What? He's dead. We all know that. He was shot and flung into that portal and he left us all alone. He's never coming back.

"Emma, I get what you are doing, you know. You don't want to open yourself up to the hope that he's alive, but you should." Why is my grandmother trying to push my mom into a relationship with a dead man? I didn't think she was into that. I mean, I get that David kissed her when she was imitating death but seriously.

"Why?" Emma stopped, and Mary followed suit.

"Because you deserve a happy ending, Emma. And happy endings always start with hope."

Or you know, a rock. But it seems Emma bought it so good for her, I guess. I didn't shake on the bet, did I?

"Huh, I would've thought they would be looking for Henry instead of Neal. It appears that they get easily distracted when it comes to those they love. " A voice that was becoming familiar said next to my ear. I jumped away from him, which caused him to laugh.

"What are you talking about? He's not even here." I said, turning to look back to my family.

"I'll let you in on something, it seems Neal escaped death and came to save his son. And look how quickly they stopped their search on Henry to go look for him." Pan's eyes danced as he said the last sentence, so much I had to ask.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Me? Oh nothing, just making an observation. You should try it. It's quite interesting. Seeing what people do in different situations" He gestured towards their disappearing shadows.

"Wait so you left me alone on purpose?" This whole thing was a game to him, a game of what I'll to next. Well, I'll show him.

"I knew you would try to find them." His face was smug, and I knew he was right. They might not try to find me but I will always try to find them.

I still couldn't believe he would let me go will all that I know.

"And before you say it, even if you did lead them to my camp, they'll never be able to infiltrate it." His eyes glanced this way, as if to access my reaction to compare it to the one he imagine I'd have. The smirk that grew after told me all I needed to know.

"Well, I wasn't going to ask-" the incredulous look he gave me made me change my sentence,"this, but can you point me towards a lake or stream of some sort? I wish for some water."

Whew, dodged that bullet, I hope.

He narrowed his eyes a bit, but nevertheless pointed in a direction. Without another word, I got up and went, hoping he wouldn't follow behind.