Just One word

Set me free

Later that morning

We were stood in my tent, Peter had wanted to do all my packing but I insisted I assisted and he couldn't use magic. "You can't be serious!" He'd only put two shirts in my bag before giving up "I'm dead serious, I have to do this every time I go somewhere. You wanted to see how 'ordinary girls' do this, well this how we do it!" He threw my own underpants at me pouting. I caught them and stepped in front of him confident that I was actually better than him at something...even if it was just packing.

His hands wrapped around my waist with his head on my shoulder as I shoved stuff in the bag "you give up too easily" his pressed kisses into my shoulder blade "I never gave up on you" I pointed towards the drawers asking him to pull out my stuff which he did reluctantly "that's because I was already trained" of course he started with my underwear drawer pulling out all the naughty ones first

"How come I've never seen these?" He held up a pair of jet black lace panties "because you see everything else!" I snatched them embarrassed "also, I never feel like it" he continued to toss my stuff on the bed when felix peeked his head in "what's going on? Why's the doe packing?"

I smiled "well, 'someone' finally lost his mind and kicked me off the island." Pan glared at me which only made me laugh harder "very funny. I didn't 'kick her off', she's going back for the 'holidays'"

I gave a guilty face to felix "sorry, I couldn't help myself" I kept packing as pan left to sort the boys out. It suddenly hit me that I hadn't spoken to ruby since I left storybrooke. I speedily sprawled a letter to granny asking her to meet me around the back of the diner the time I was meant to leave and that I needed a room for a night so I could surprise my family the next day.

As Felix came in, I requested he tossed it through a portal, it was Neverland, magic beans are in no short supply. Once I was done, I quickly braided my hair into two Dutch braids realising how long my hair actually was.

A few hours later

I gathered my stuff and leaned against a tent pole listening to conversations around camp "why do we even need her?! Pan's much better off without her!" I glanced over to Rufio shouting at felix again "she keeps Pan in check, she said she 'puts him in his place like the rest of us' whatever that means, don't speak ill of the queen. You know better"

Pan wandered over to me watching the conversation "I'll sort it out love" I put my hand out and stopped him gently "no, he intrigues me" we both stood there listening "Felix, I know she's a freak! She puts us all in danger! I mean, look at how she dress-"

He stopped himself when he saw pan and I staring right at him "he's got quite the tongue, the sort of fire I had when I first got here." I glanced away as pan did as he wished with the boy.

My eyes savoured my home and future husband's kingdom while I could, It would soon be gone from view and we would be separated once more. Pan was only gone for a little while but I was more than ready to kick off my plan. My fingers toyed with one of my braids "you look stunning" I bit my lip at my fiancé's comment

"Maybe I should stay then?" He handed me my bag and put the bean in my hand and pushed my fingers to a close "we both know you need to do this, it's not fair on Emma" I raised my eyebrow at his words "nice to know you care slightly about my family" he stepped aside

"Remember what we talked about"
I threw the bean down behind me grinning "How could I forget? You weren't exactly wearing a lot" he smirked as I let myself drop backwards through the portal.

In Storybrooke

It all felt so familiar but different at the same time. I knew I didn't need to look around but I did need to find Widow Lucas before my parents found me. I hurried through the back of the diner and found myself staring at her back, did she really think I'd waltz through the front? "Waiting for someone?"

She jumped and spun around "it's you. I thought it was a scammer or something" I smiled and embraced her "I wrote that letter back in Neverland and asked my most trusted lost boy to deliver it" she scowled "Pan?" I shook my head "not this time, he was too busy wanting to pack my bag"

She handed me a piece of paper "just sign this and the room is yours" as I leaned down, she noticed the golden tree branch with baby tree leaves coming off it around my wedding finger "so who's the lucky lost soul?" I grinned like a school girl with a crush "The first lost boy", I didn't miss her vacant smile, the one you had when you were about to walk your daughter down the aisle.

"Did you want me to grab ruby?" I shook my head slowly as I signed the papers "she'll figure it out eventually, maybe even catch my scent within the hour? Don't worry, I'll say 'hi'" she nodded "good luck with your plan, it'll be good for your mom" I agreed with her and went up to my room, I only got partly down the corridor when I saw ruby in her doorway talking to someone she obviously cared for a lot

"So who's in the room opposite the you?" I continued to walk down the hall "a friend of mine, Thea. She's out of town but granny always reserves a room for h-" she paused when she caught my scent "that littl-"

She turned to storm and search for me but when she left her door, I was stood right in front of her behind her friend "Hey Red" I was consumed in a tight hug "you didn't tell me you were back!" I laughed as I swayed into my room "I arranged it with granny, I see you found yourself a lover. I guess I'll leave you two be"

I dumped my bag down "Wait! Dorothy. This is Theadore" I bowed "Queen of Neverland but not that titles matter, you 'beat' Zelena right?" She smiled a little and shrugged "tried to" I was about to complement her try but ruby spotted my ring "You're engaged?!" I agreed enthusiastically "Pan proposed a little while ago"

Dorothy looked confused "are we talking about the same 'pan'? Peter Pan right? The one who tried to kidnap your brother?" I nodded "people like to say I 'changed' him. He's sweeter now" I wasn't going to mention that I'd died a couple times or the fact I did indeed temporarily remove her memories of me.

"So how did you two meet?" I gave her an embarrassed face "it's gonna sound super weird but Ruby is friends with my grandma" she glanced between us "Snow sorta helped me" she raised an eyebrow at me "so that makes you Emma's daughter, and snow's granddaughter?" I agreed with her

"So are you guys in town permanently or just visiting?" Ruby gestured to her lover "I was showing Dorothy our town, then it's back home" I smiled "well I'm back for the holidays then back to Neverland to get married"

They grinned at each other "go, get out of here and go touring, but don't tell my family I'm home! I'm surprising them tomorrow" they said they wouldn't and left me to unpack.

I did so then bathed and prepared what I was gonna say the next day, I also fished out some Christmas stuff since tomorrow was the first of December and once that day hits, it's like Christmas Eve everyday!