Wonderland

Storybrooke was... it was home for Ariana, more than the Enchanted Forest ever had been. Even with everyone else's identities now revealed, hers was still a mystery and that gave her a freedom that she'd never experienced before. Sat in Granny's diner, Ariana focused on the sketch she had started and smiled as Red set a steaming cup of coffee in front of her.

"That's really good," Red commented, motioning to the picture, "You should sell them."

If she was honest, Ariana rarely came into town and not many people bothered her when she did. The woods felt safe, they always had and being around people made her anxious.

***

There were a lot of things that Killian needed in the world, but, for now, he would settle for a cup of coffee and some of Granny's famous pancakes. Most of his morning were spent in the diner, watching people come and go. Storybrooke was a totally different place now that the curse had been lifted and there was a new sense of freedom for everyone, including those who wanted to do better.

Standing inside of the shop his father owned, Neal took and listened to his father ramble on about a piece he was looking for. Not really paying attention he kept his nose buried in the article he was reading, and let a sigh escape his lips. He had moved here, to be near his son and help Emma raise him. Running a hand over his face, he looked at his father, "The piece is in the back. It just arrived yesterday while you and Belle were out, dad." Neal stated before looking back at the article on his phone.

***

Ariel took and bit on her lip as she glanced around the port she was standing at. Taking a deep breath, she hadn't been in Story Brooke, never. Until a few days ago when she ended up waking up there. Frowning she was unclear of how she'd gotten there, or who she truly was. Sighing she rubbed the back of her neck closing her eyes frowning. Running a hand through her auburn waves, she looked out at the water unsure of everything.

Once she had drained yet another cup of coffee, Ariana headed out and made her way home. She hummed a tune as she walked, passing the antique shop that Mr. Gold owned and feeling the familiar bad vibes she often did from him. In a bottle that hung from a chain around her neck, two strands of hair glowed and she smiled.

Her powers didn't work as well here, but she still had the ability to heal people if needed and it was always useful having that ability in a town that was filled with unknown evil.

***

The ship was quiet as Killian stepped aboard, distracted by a girl that stood on the dock and not realizing he had company until he'd practical walked into Emma.

"What can I do for you today, Swan?" he asked as he cleared his throat.

"There were a few robberies last night, people are saying that they saw you near the scene and I need to follow up on it," Emma stated, "So, where were you last night?"

"Usually I wouldn't have an alibi, since I'm a loner and all, but last night I was with Ariana," Killian explained with a smirk, "I've been helping her look for her dad."

Leaving his father, to go get some food. Neal walked out of the shop he smacked into someone not paying attention. Looking up he stared at the girl, "I am so sorry." Neal apologized to her. "Are you hurt?" He questioned.

***

Over hearing the talking, Ariel glanced to the man and woman speaking. Listing about the robberies, she shook her head and walked away from the port and dock, as she headed for the town. She was starving and needed to find the mayor woman to see where she could stay.

"N.. No, I'm fine," Ariana replied as she looked up at the man that was holding her arms gently, "I should have been watching where I was walking."

***

"Wait, you were with Ariana Henderson?" Emma inquired, a look of surprise on her face, "Will she tell me the same story?"

"Yes, she will because not everybody in this town thinks that I am bad to the bone," Killian argued with a glare, "Now, if you will excuse me, I have things to do... oh and by the way Swan, don't push Ariana too hard."

Neal shook his head with a smile, "No it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention, I am truly sorry." Neal told her. "Can I buy you a drink or something to eat? To show how sorry I am." Neal told her.

***

Ariel took and managed to find the diner. Walking inside she took and ordered a coffee and something to eat. Seeing Regina coming, she turned around a little seeing her. "Miss. Mayor." Ariel spoke.

"Regina, honey." Regina said as he sat and looked at her. "Remembering anything?" Regina questioned.

"No...Not really." Ariel told her sitting there sighing.

"I was..." Ariana began, but something about the man was different and she found herself drawn to him, "Pancakes sounds good right about now."

***

Killian hadn't had the best start with Emma and the charming family as a whole, but he hoped that they'd come around eventually. He was a villain in their eyes, but so was the evil queen and she was practically family to them now.

Just like Ariana was practically family to him, after finding her back in the enchanted forest and giving her a home among his men. She'd seen the good in him, she'd given him a reason to prove that he really did want to change and he would be forever grateful for that.

Neal smiled, "Good." Neal told her as he walked to the diner with her. Sitting down he smiled at her letting her order for herself, and ordering herself some food. "I am Neal by the way." Neal introduced himself.

***

Ariel talked with Regina before seeing her leave. Sighing she took and ate the food and drank her coffee. She took and bit her lip as she paid for her food. Once she had went back toward the port where Regina told her a small cottage was waiting for her. She saw it and smiled. Going inside of it she took and smiled to herself removing her bag and putting it down.

"Ariana, it's nice to meet you."

It wasn't often that Ariana let people close, she tried to stay on the outside and it got harder as she got to know people in town. Killian was like a father to her and she trust Charming, but women made her uneasy. After everything in the enchanted forest, she was scared that the same would happen in Storybrooke and she couldn't go through that again.

***

The cottage had been empty for a long time, which was why Killian went to check it out when he saw someone head inside and was not the fact that the person was beautiful. As he approached the door, he took a deep breath and knocked lightly as to not scare the occupant.

Neal smiled at her, "It is nice to meet you as well, Ariana." Neal smiled at her as he took and watched her closely.

Seeing Red sit the food down in front of them he smiled taking a sip of his coffee. "What brought you here?" Neal questioned making small talk with her, and wanting to get to know her better as well.

***

Hearing someone knock, Ariel felt her nerves hit as she slowly walked towards the door. Slowly putting her hand on it, she pulled the door open seeing a man standing there. Staring at him she took in his features, of how gorgeous he truly was in person. She'd seen him on a ship, but just a glance. "Can I help you?" Ariel questioned.

"I was one of the original people brought here by the curse," Ariana told him honestly, not adding in the fact that no one knew that she actually existed until recently, "What about you?"

***

"Hi," Killian stated with what he hoped was a kind smile, "Just thought I'd pop by and say hi to the neighbours, I'm Killian."

Neal looked at her and sighed softly. "My father is Mr. Gold." Neal told her. "My mother was killed, long ago." Neal sighed as he looked at her. "I came here, because Swan came to me and told me I had a son. I wanted to be in his life, and this was the only place I could be." Neal admitted to her.

***

Ariel glanced at him a second, and gave him a little nod, before a small smile. "Nice to meet, you." Ariel said. "I'm Ariel." She told him extending her hand to him.

"Your Henry's father?" Ariana said with a small smile, deciding to ignore the fact that he was related to Mr. Gold, "He's a really great kid... you must be proud."

***

"Well, I won't keep you any long, please, feel free to come by if you need anything," Killian told the woman, hoping that he'd done better at being friendly.

"I am very proud." Neal smiled. "He's something I tell you." He grinned thinking about his son. "Hey, he talks about you some. He has taking a liking to you." Neal smiled.

***

Ariel smiled, "Thank you." Ariel told him. "I will hold you to that." She told him with a smile.

@ AngelicWasteland;

"I used to help out at his school, we'd read his fairytale book and I'd sneak him brownies," Ariana told him with a fond smile, "Plus Charming is the sheriff, so he and Killian have been helping me to locate my dad."

***

Killian nodded, before turning away and making his way back to his ship. That short interaction had been... successful, she didn't look at him like he was evil anyway and that was a win in his book.

"That is awesome." Neal smiled. "I really hope you find your dad, Ariana." Neal told her with a bright smile.

***

Ariel watched him disappear and smiled. She bit her lip as she took and turned around bits of her memory hitting her.

"Yeah," Ariana mumbled, the smile fading from her face and her focus going to the food that had been placed in front of her.

The truth was that Ariana wasn't confident that she would ever find him, not in Storybrooke anyway and that only left returning to the Enchanted Forest. That's never going to happen Ariana thought to herself.

Neal took and caught on her sadness, per say and looked at her. "Are you alright?" Neal questioned.