Smoke

Chapter 4 Time

In that moment, Killian became overly suspicious on who this girl was. No one except fellow enchanted forest members could see the sign on the edge of town. It was invisible to anyone else. 

But, Tilly, could see it. 

Killian's irritation that the girl stowed in his car quickly turned into curiosity and interest once she revealed her seeing the entrance sign. "You know it's a bit creepy not moving when it's this dark, though it is kind of exciting," Tilly mused.

"Right," Killian nodded, "Aren't you going to be missed where you're from?" He asks. "What? I have no one, don't you think you figured that out when I said I knew about foster kids? That's because I was one," she revealed.

His eyebrow dances upward, as he looks at her, and puts the car back into drive. "You seem perceptive," Tilly comments. 

"I usually am," he states and drives across the town line. 

"Ooo that felt weird," Tilly announced. "What did?" he asks. "Just that moment, it was curious is all," she shrugs. 

Killian takes a deep breath, and drives towards the darkened main street of Storybrooke. "It's nice, small," Tilly observes. "Well it's not Boston," He adds. 

"Umm, that place there, Granny's has rooms you can stay," he said. "Umm, I don't really have any.. money.." Tilly mentions. "Well I'm the Mayor, I'll make an arrangement," he states.

Tilly gives him a side smile as he pulls the car to a stop. 

"Come on then, you've followed me this far," he snarks and gets out of the car. Tilly follows him, as expected and he enters the dim lobby area of Granny's around the back.

"Mayor Jones," Granny greets him, rather surprised to see him at this hour. "Uhh, Granny, this is Tilly, she needs a room, on me," He says. 

"Okay," Granny answers him and looks to the curious blonde girl, who gives her a shy wave. "Thanks, umm Tilly you'll be safe here," He nods.

"So I'll see you around then?" Tilly asks. "Uhh, I'm sure you'll know how to find me," He leaves. 

Tilly winces a smile at Granny and Ruby comes along her side. "Hi, can you show Tilly to a room?" Granny hands Ruby a key. "Sure," Ruby agrees. 

The next day, Regina sits at a desk in the station, and hears someone enter around the corner. Looking up, she sees Killian leaning against the wall in front of her. 

"Mayor Jones, welcome back," She forces a smile at him. "Miss me?" he smirks. 

She rolls her eyes at him, and he steps forward. "I need you to look up some information on a young girl who stowed away in my car as I headed back here," he said. "Me? Aren't you the one who likes to know everything about everyone?" she replies. 

"I do, but I figure you need a project, and perhaps you can talk to the girl and figure out where she's from," he looks out the window. 

"Okay?" Regina quirks, and stares at him. He's not moving, and stands staring out the window, his brows furrow and he squints. "What?" She asks.

"When.... did that clock start moving?" He asks. 

"Uhh, I don't know, it was what stuck at 8:15 forever? Says 2:15 now, meaning it's been moving about six hours," she thinks. 

Killian sighs heavily, "when I re-entered the town," he mumbles. "What?" Regina scoffs. "Nothing, just find out what you can about the girl, her name is Tilly," He leaves. 

"Uhh, okay," Regina shakes her head staring at him leave in a huff. 

Meanwhile, at Granny's. 

"Here, you can put syrup on everything, that's what I like to do," Ruby smiled at Tilly. "Uhh, I don't know how I'm paying for this," Tilly shrugged. "I'm pretty sure the Mayor has it under control, how did you meet him?" Ruby asks.

"Oh he came to Boston, I stowed in his car," Tilly shrugged. "Oh, why? He's a little old for you isn't he?" Ruby quirked. "Oh GOD no!" Tilly scoffs. 

"He's just, curious is all, he seems like he lost something or someone, I just wanted to help," Tilly shrugs. 

"Okay, the entire town thinks he's having a secret fling with the Sheriff anyway," Ruby winked. "Oh? Who's that?" Tilly asks.

"Sorry I'm late again!" Regina bursts through the ringing front door. "Her," Ruby hints. 

Tilly turns to see the pretty brunette woman get handed her morning breakfast, "Uhh, you're the Sheriff?" Tilly asks. "Uhh, yes I am, wait are you Tilly?" Regina asks. "Wow, I'm here one night and famous," Tilly mused.

"Well, it's a small town," Regina says. "Yeah, I'm Tilly," she answers. Regina stares at her curiously, thinning her smile as she watches the girl push pancakes in her mouth. "Mmm, okay," Regina nods and leaves without another word.

"So you have no family in Boston, and came here following our stiff Mayor, and what do you do?" Ruby asks. "Uhh, nothing really," Tilly shrugs.

"Granny!" Sabine rushes through the door, "I need sugar, I have a batch of beignets coming out, and I just ran out," she says anxiously. 

"Here, I expect a free one later," Granny winks. "Thanks," Sabine smiled widely. 

"Uhh Sabine, here, this is Tilly," Ruby introduces. "You know, you could probably be some help to Sabine," Ruby suggests. 

Meanwhile

"It's MOVING!" Killian shouts angrily pacing back and forth. "I don't know why you think I know anything," Gold scoffs leaning back in his padded room. 

Killian grits his teeth, and shakes his head, "You gave me this curse, that girl is something to do with it!" He yells. 

"I don't know what you're talking about!" He scoffs. "What's YOUR NAME?!" Killian glares harshly. 

Silence 

Killian impatiently moves around his day, frustrated and bothered by how the clock in the town is moving. 

Tilly makes friends quickly, Killian walks by as she's holding a tray of beignets for Sabine's business. 

"Uhh Hi," She approaches a dirty blonde girl with some glasses on a bench. "Hi, I've never seen you before, I'm Margot," She smiled.

"I'm.. Tilly, would you like one? I helped," Tilly smiled awkwardly. "Thanks, that's really cool it looks like a heart," Margot smiled.

"So what do you do?" Tilly asks. "Oh I work at the White Rabbit, come by tonight," Margot invited. "Okay, I will," Tilly nodded shyly as Margot left. 

Killian's face is unamused, but Tilly approaches him anyway, "Mayor?" She offers him a beignet. "Well, look at you settling in," He mused. "Yeah, it's nice here, I don't feel invisible," She shrugged.

He nods, and smiles softly at her, his mood lifting with her. "Good," he agrees.

That evening, Tilly shyly enters the White Rabbit pub, and Margot waves from near the bar. "Hey," She smiled.

"Why you look so glum? Something happen since I saw you?" Margot asked.

"Nothing, just, do you ever worry that you remember someone, and they just don't remember you?" Tilly asks. "I'm sure that can happen, who is it?" Margot asks.

"Someone.... really special to me," Tilly says. 

"I'll get you a  drink, let's talk about it," Margot offers. Tilly forces a smile and Margot heads to get her a drink. 

Tilly reaches into her green jacket pocket, and takes out her most prized possession, holding it gently between her fingers. 

A white knight chess piece.