Chapter 54; Playing The Part

"Life's under no obligation to give up what we expect."

~ Margaret Mitchell

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Peter's P.O.V

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    The sound of people cheering is the first thing I hear when we arrive in Storybrooke. I'm embraced by many strangers whom I'm assuming are friends or relatives of Henry. I catch a glimpse of a couple of my younger Lost Boys standing aboard the ship staring at the huge crowd with uncertainty. But there's one person I don't see.   Where's Felix?

    I feel someone tug at my arm, pulling me aside. The action brings back to reality like an anchor. I peel my eyes away from the Jolly Rodger and see Emma.    She smiles at me. "How does it feel to finally be home?"    "Better than I ever imagined," I say.    Emma places her hands on my cheeks fondly and only then do I catch a glimpse of Felix.

    He looks at the crowd in indifference before making his way off the ship and onto the platform. The other Lost Boys follow Felix's lead as he makes his way down. My eyes dart to Alice who carries Cassie in her arms. She whispers something in the toddler's ear as she sets him on the platform. Cassie nods in response, running off to find the twins, probably.

    Alice notices that I'm staring and smiles at me. I feign a smile back, wishing that I could close the distance in between us but I can't, not without drawing attention to myself. Things will just have to wait until I've come up with a plan to take things forward. I wasn't planning on switching bodies with Henry when I entered his room, it wasn't ideal. I just didn't want to leave Alice again. The first time was hard enough.

    I slowly make my way towards Felix, cared not to draw any unwanted attention to myself as I do so.    "What about Malcolm?" Baelfire asks our father as I past them.    I slow down my pace at the sound of my grandfather's name.    "Don't worry," Rumple assures my half brother. "My father's trapped, just like he was in the candle."

    "Thankfully, the only person who can free your him is safely in here." Rumple says, looking down at Pandora's Box where "I" am trapped in.    I glance at them over my shoulder.    That's what you think.

    "What do you have in mind, Peter?" Felix asks as I approach him.    We both look over at Henry's family. "What if someone decides to open that box, let the real boy out?"

    "That's not the problem, trust me," I say, cranning my neck to look up at him. Felix was already half a head taller than me was when I in my old body, but he towers over me now that I'm in Henry's body.    Felix lowers his voice due. "What's the next step?"

    "You need to be punished," I say, taking a step back.

    He looks at me, confused.    "Hey, Mom, Dad," I cry out, causing the adults to look over at the two of us. "What about Felix? He's still free."    "What are you doing?" he whispers.

   I lower my voice, turning back to face him. "They need to trust me."    Henry's family walks over to us, their conversation long forgotten.    "Henry's right," Regina says as she stops in front of Felix. "We can't just let Felix walk away free."

    "Don't worry, we've got plenty of cell space for this guy," David says, making his way towards their jail will Felix in tow.

    "You're safe now, Henry," Emma says, placing her hand on my shoulder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9eVkH_EPQ0

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    "Once I seal the box in here, no one can break the spell but me," Rumpelstiltskin says, placing Pandora's Box inside a secret compartment in the floor of his shop. My father waves his hand over the area, casting a protection spell over it.    "You're not going to do that, right?" I ask.    "What do you mean?" he asks, not turning around to face me. "I want Pan trapped as much as you."

    "Don't worry, Henry," Emma says."He's not getting out of there," Neal continues.    "We won't let anything happen to you again," Regina adds. "I promise."    "She's right," my father says, standing up. "You needn't worry. As long as I'm alive, that boy will never see the light of day."    I look down at the box where my nephew is trapped in.

    Phase one, gaining their trust is complete, now I just have to figure out a plan.

****

    I sit at the corner in one of the empty booths in Granny's Diner. My eyes dart around the diner, looking for any sign of Alice. I ignore the celebration is going on around me and block out the sound of the townsfolk chattering excitedly with each other. I'm jarred from my thoughts when someone sets a thick, leather-bound book down on a diner table in front of me.

    I look up at Emma then look back down at the book blankly. The title of the books catches my attention. The words "Once Upon A Time" is etched on the cover in golden letters.    Am I supposed to know what this is?    "Well, don't get too excited," Emma says, seeing my unenthusiastic response. "Neal still had it in his room. We thought you'd want it. Especially since you just lived a fairytale of your own."

    I look at her, unsure of what to say. I flash her a taut smile. "Right. Thanks."    I flip the cover open, glancing at the stories inside. Emma seems confused at my reaction. "You okay?"    "Yeah," I say. "Why?"

    If she noticed anything strange about my behavior she doesn't let on as she immediately drops the subject, walking over to Baelfire.

****

    "Hey."    I look up seeing Alice and her friends. They've all changed out of the clothes they got from Killian and into more morden day clothes. Lewis and Will are dressed in matching black clothes with the parabatai rune on their shirts. Ray is dressed in grey clothes with a drawing of outstretched hands and the word "Abnegation" below the hands.

    Alice's hair is up in a messy french braid and she's wearing a black top with blue jeens. I squint at the strange design of the shield on her shirt. It's the image of red, white and blue rings surrounding a white star. I suppress a frown seeing that Alice had hidden the love bites I gave her by wrapping a scarf around her neck.    "Hey, Henry," Lewis greats, waving at me.

    Will and his brother just smile and nod in greeting. I shake my head, realizing that I've been staring at Alice. Shit. "Oh- hi."    Alice I can handle. But Lewis, Ray and Will?    "Alice told us what happened with Pan. How are you?" Ray asks.    "I'm good," I reply, my eyes darting back to Alice.

    An awkward silence washes over us after the mention of my name. It probably would've continued if it weren't for Will.    "What's that?" he asks, peering over Alice's shoulder.    I look down at the book. "This? Oh, it's just my storybook."    "The one with your family's history, the one you were told me about?" Alice asks, looking at the pages.

    I nod.    "Scoot over," she tells me, sitting beside me for a closer look.    Lewis and Ray sit opposite us, leaving Will standing. It doesn't seem to bother him as Will places his elbows on the table, his eyes darting at the words in the book. I flip the pages, stopping when I recognize two familiar faces.

    The illustration on the left page depicts a scene of A boy being pinned against a tree by a girl as she holds a knife to his neck. The boy smirks at the shorter girl who's holding the knife dangerously close to his adam's apple.

    It's a drawing of the day I told Alice that she was in Neverland.

    How'd it get here? I want to ask, but think better of it and keep my mouth shut. If this is the book that people have been talking about, it has magic and it might be able to help me.

    Alice runs her thumb against the edge of the page, smiling sadly.    "Are you alright?" Ray says, reaching across the table to take her hand in his.    "I'm fine," Alice says, her voice breaking. She rubs her eyes, clearing her throat. "He made his decision. I just wish he didn't choose power over me."

    "The dude's an idiot for giving you up," Lewis states.    The two brothers hum in agreement, offering Alice sympathetic smiles. I suppress a growl.    If it weren't for Alice I'd have killed Lewis and Ray long, long time ago.    Alice flashes them a small smile. "Thanks, guys. But you're wrong."    See? She's standing up for me.

    "I'm the idiot for believing that he loved me enough to change."    Oh. Well-    I'm cut off by Emma approaching us. "Sorry, kid. It's time for something you didn't have in Neverland- Bedtime."    I close the book, standing up from my seat. Alice moves aside so I can get out. They bid me goodnight as I do so.

    "Oh, let's say goodnight to Regina," Emma says, walking over to the said woman.    Regina turns around. "Goodnight? I didn't realize it was getting so late." She places her hand under my chin. "It's going to be hard to let you out of my sight."    "Maybe you don't have to," I say. "Maybe I could stay with you tonight."    "Oh. Of course," she says, happily.

    "Yeah, uh, just call me tomorrow and let me know what time you want me to pick you up," Emma tells me.    "Come on, Henry," Regina says, placing her arm around my shoulder. "Let's go home."    I wave goodbye to Alice and the others, holding the book under my other arm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zViFvWxP7Zs

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Alice's P.O.V

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    We watch in silence as Henry leaves the Diner with Regina.    "Is it just me or is Henry acting a bit..." Ray trials off, looking for the right word.    "Odd?" Will offers.    Ray nods at his brother. "Yeah, odd. Tell me I'm not crazy."    "You're not crazy," I say, shaking my head.    "Good to know."

    "I don't think we should worry about it that much." Lewis pauses, gesturing towards Emma and Mary Margaret. "I mean, if they aren't worried why should we have any reason to be?"    "Yeah, I guess your right," I say, yawning as I turn back to face them.    "Tired?" Ray asks, noticing my sleepy state.

    I nod. "Yeah. I didn't get much sleep on the Jolly Rodger."    "Pan visited her before visiting Henry," Lewis states, annoyed.    "Huh, well that explains the love bites running down your neck," Ray says, eyeing my neck.    I tug at my scarf nervously, feeling my cheeks heat up. Thankfully, Will comes to my rescue.

    "You look tired, Alice. I think it's time for you to turn in for the night," Will says.    "Yeah- Yeah, I'm exhausted." I pause, forcing a yawn. "Goodnight, guys, I'm going to look for Emma."    "I think I'll join you," Ray says, getting up to leave.    My breath hitches as he brushes my hand with his. I swallow, hoping that he didn't notice.

****

    "You guys don't mind sharing a room, right?" Emma asks, opening the door to the spare room down the hallway. "I'd give you guys your own rooms but the other Lost Boys are occupying them-"    "Um, it's fine, Emma," I reply, stuffing my hands into my pockets. "Thanks for the room."    She smiles at me. "No problem. I'll be down the hall if you need me."

    I turn around, bumping into Ray. He catches me by my shoulders, keeping the both of us from falling. "S-Sorry."    "It's alright," I say, flashing him a small smile.    He swallows nervously, looking at the single twin bed in the middle of the room. "Um, do you wanna take the bed?"    "No, it's fine," I tell him, taking my scarf off. "We can share it."

    "A-Are you okay with that?" he asks.    I nod. "Yeah, why?"    "No reason," he replies, biting his bottom lip.    I inwardly sigh. Things were going so well with the two of us until The Game. I sit on the couch, watching as Ray enters the bathroom to get ready for bed. I rake my hand through my hair, sighing.

    Would I have ended up with Ray if I hadn't accepted Peter's deal? Would I still have fallen in love with him if I didn't take the deal?    I'm jarred from my thoughts when I hear the sound of Ray opening the bathroom door. I walk past him, holding a bundle of nightclothes and a tooth brush in my hand.    "Alice."

    I turn around at the sound of Ray's voice. "Yes, Ray?"    "I- I know you lied."    I furrow my eyebrows. "I beg your pardon?"    "At Granny's Diner," he explains, nodding towards the door. "When I asked you if you were alright."    "I'm fine, Ray, really. Don't worry about it," I assure him.    "Alice, I-"

    We jerk our heads towrads the door as it slams open. Emma emerges from behind it, followed by Lewis and Will.    Ray looks at his brother, confused by the expressions on their faces. "What-"    "Oh, thank God you two are alright," Will says, engulfing his brother is a hug.    "What happened?" I ask Lewis as he hugs me.

    "We found a dead body," Emma says.

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Wow, this chapter was actually meant to be a filter but my brain just went "nvm" and gave me inspiration to write 2K words. Oh well. I hope you guys weren't annoyed by the amount of references I added in this chapter, I just couldn't help myself.

I'm so happy my MYEs are finally over! I can have more time to update this fanfic, speaking of Pan's Game, there's only a couple more chapters until the end of this book then I'll take a break before writing the sequel. That's all for this A/N, bye, guys

~ Alice xx

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