OUaT - 'Snowfall' - Chapter 15

Author Notes:
1: I DO NOT own Once Upon a Time, it's characters, or storyline. Once Upon a Time, story and characters, is owned by both Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. I DO own Eiry Meagher, her story, and the art for this story - be it commissioned or my own.
2: Bold-italic phrases will indicate Eiry's thoughts or the thoughts of others while in their point of view. Italic-underlined phrases will indicate when the Spirits of Neverland are making contact with someone. Anytime you see "()" it will indicate when Eiry is reliving a memory. When you see "..." it means the point-of-view has shifted to another character.
3: The song for this chapter is "Whataya Want From Me" from P!NK
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It's been nearly a day since I came back to the place I called home. Evening was upon us, as the sun was beginning to set. I learned that the woman from the diner was named Zelena and she was a midwife. She had the intent to help Snow with her pregnancy, as she is the only pregnant woman in Storybrooke this time around, whereas Ella, Cinderella, was pregnant before. I don't know why, but I don't trust her. Normally I make it an effort to get to know someone, but not with this woman. I had an eerie feeling that she is after the destruction of somebody's happiness. Just like Pan. I scowled at the thought. As much as I didn't trust her, I respect my adopted mother, Snow, too much to disrespect her soon-to-be employed midwife. I was now walking around town, greeting the people I had gotten to know in both the Enchanted Forest and the town.

"Good evening Princess Eiry." Came Jiminy's welcoming voice. I turned and smiled at the man who was in a cricket body last we met. He seemed to be out and about walking Pongo.

"And to you, Jiminy." I squatted down and began to give some attention to Jiminy's furry companion. "What all have I missed since you all came back to Storybrooke?" I wondered bringing my gaze up to the red-headed man.

"What do you mean?" He seemed confused about my question. The proof was in the tilting of his head in wonderment. I giggled at this.

"I already know that everyone has no memory of the last year, mom filled me in on that. I was just hoping someone knew something about what brought you got." He nodded his head, thankful for the clarification.

"Regina called a town meeting, which proved to be a disaster." I averted my gaze as I thought about the raven-haired mayor I had come to care deeply for. Regina... "During the town meeting, everyone accused her of enacting a new curse... Including me. " He admitted solemnly. I looked back to the town's psychologist questionably. Jiminy has never been the type to jump to conclusions without any solid facts. "She used her magic to shake the building and left in a rage. Emma went chasing after her."

"I know that she was the one who cast the Dark Curse in the past, everyone knows that, but the past is in the past, Jiminy. Everyone needs to give her a chance, she is trying to become a better person. Besides, last time she and Rumpelstiltskin were the only ones from back home who knew the truth..." I locked eyes with the older gentleman. "Did she give any indication that she remembers what you guys don't?" Jiminy broke the gaze and looked to the ground. That was his unspoken answer. "I see." I folded my arms across my chest and bit my bottom lip.

"Now, there is news that Regina made a potion to track down the one who did cast the curse this time around." I felt a breath of relief leave my lungs. At least he no longer suspects her. I hope everyone else is off her back, too.

"Thanks, Jiminy." I hugged him and turned to leave. They will need some help with this new enemy... My walk turned into a run. I knew I had to do something. I'm coming. I ran straight to Mary Margaret's apartment building, which now housed my adopted parents. I was a few steps from being at the top of the stairs and, to my surprise, I saw several people. Just outside the door stood Emma, Killian, Regina, Snow, and David. As soon as I saw the form my adopted father, whatever intent I had previously had been silenced by the building pressure in my chest. Dad... I ran as fast as my feet could carry me and hugged the tall man from behind. I felt his body stiffen up and shift ever-so-slightly.

"Eiry...?" I lifted my head and met the side-glance of my adopted father. As hard as I tried, the tears gathered and fell. He twisted in my embrace to return the gesture, only his was much more tighter. As soon as his arms left me, I walked over to Regina and hugged her as well. Her body gave the same response - stiffness and the return of my gesture.

"I missed you guys so dearly, but I guess you guys didn't miss me as much, eh?" I smiled up to the woman with ebony colored hair who sent me a questioning look. "The separation spell, so half of me was with you..." Shouldn't they remember that?

"Eiry, even though I cast that spell, it didn't seem to work." Now I was the one trapped in curiosity.

"How is that even possible?" I felt really stupid asking, considering she seemed to be just as curious as I was.

"What matters is you're here now and we are all together." Came Snow's voice, causing me to smile.

"Very true." Emma patted my shoulder, causing me to turn my smile to her. "So, what's with this new enemy, and when do we get to kick their ass?" I grinned pulling away from the bunch enough to catch them all in my gaze.

"The Wicked Witch of the West." Answered Regina. My stare turned from enthusiastic to annoyed rather quickly.

"She's real too?!" Emma once more patted my shoulder, only this time in an understanding gesture.

"The missing townspeople are being turned into flying monkeys, so needless to say, the proof is in the pudding." My adopted father stated.

"That's fantastic." I stated with a dry sarcasm. First Pan and now OZ's living Wicked Witch. "Well, as much as I love our reunion, I'm going to go back to the inn and get some sleep." I turned, ready to leave.

"Why not stay at my manor?" Regina's voice wondered. I turned and faced her. No doubt she is rather lonely without Henry there... I looked to my adopted parents, all three of them. They all just smiled, thinking something similar to what I had. I looked back to Regina and nodded.

"Let's go." My lips curved into a smile. I gave the remainder of the lot another embrace. "See you all tomorrow." With that said, Regina and I left to her place.

Once we arrived, I was delighted to see nothing was different. Then again, why would something so simple as a house change? "Eiry..." I turned at looked at the once Evil Queen. "Thanks for coming." Her lips held a bittersweet smile. I walked over to her and embraced her.

"I'm so sorry that Henry doesn't remember you, Regina. If there was any way I could help jog his memory, you know I would, but unfortunately my magic is limited." Regina pulled away enough to lock eyes with me.

"It may be limited but I believe it's stronger than mine, and I have been doing magic far longer than you have." She added a chuckle at the end. "The Wicked Witch better be careful. She not only has to deal with the Evil Queen - "

"Not-so-evil Queen." I corrected with a enlightening grin. She simply rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. She also has to deal with the Snow Queen." The Snow Queen... A woman who is unpredictable and completely evil. So villainous that she taints a child's mind, kidnaps him, and corrupts his heart. I averted her gaze as this thought rang through my head. It almost seems like the Snow Queen and Peter Pan would get along superbly... "Get some sleep, Eiry." I brought my gaze back to the older woman and nodded. I walked up the stairs to Henry's old room. Everything was intact. I smiled at this. Countless pleasant memories have occurred in this room. I climbed into his small-ish bed and fell into slumber.

"You need to come back, Rie." Pan stated sternly. I simply turned my head away from his form and snorted.

"Why the Hell should I? All you've ever done is ruin lives." I responded coldly. "Besides, you only want me there because you're isolated. No Lost Boys. No pirates. No Fairies. You're all alone." I stated with a sigh. Serves you right. If you weren't the heartless bastard you are, and hadn't done all the wrongs you have, you wouldn't be in this mess. "It's called karma, Pan. What goes around comes around." I drew a breath. "Seems like deja vu, doesn't it?" With that uttered question, which he took as a taunt, he grabbed my wrists and violently pulled my body towards his. A fierce look overcame his gaze. "Let go." I warned through gritted teeth. His glare was far more fierce than I had ever seen it.

"One way or another, you will return, Rie." His grip on my wrists got tighter as his made himself seem taller in an attempt to intimidate me. "And when you do, I will NEVER let you leave."

I woke up cloaked in cold sweat and realized that Regina had left. I calmed myself and stretched. "He's not worth it, Rie. He's just a god-forsaken phantom from the past." I decided to take a quick shower and go for a jog. As my thoughts about the dream ran rampant, I lost my focus on my surroundings.

After wandering aimlessly, I found myself in an area I wasn't familiar with, the northeastern part of town. Talk about eerie... Mist was gathered in the open area, a farm house not too far in the distance. "Eiry..." I shut my eyes and shivered. The familiar voice I heard back in New York made my breath get caught in my chest. Rumple... I tried desperately to breath, only I couldn't get a mobile response. No... He... He died when he 'killed' Pan. My head began to spin.

"Eiry!" A familiar masculine voice called and before my body fell to the ground, I was caught. "Stay with me." My body was turned around. Before falling into darkness, I saw the concerned eyes of my adopted father.