────── ★★★ ──────

────── ★★★ ──────

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟐
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋

────── ★★★ ──────

After experiencing one of the longest days of their lives, everyone gathered at Granny's to unwind. Everly sat in a booth with Sam and Katherine while Emma and Killian went into the back hallway to put his heart back. Silence surrounded the three teens as they thought back to everything that had happened that day, only to discover that most of the events were definitely not to their liking.

"It's odd not having Jackson and Jacob around anymore," Sam stated, breaking the silence surrounding them before a sad smile appeared on his face, "it's too quiet."

"I honestly thought you and Jackson would hit it off," Katherine said, only for Everly to let out a scoff in response.

"You do realize that he's like thirty, right?" the Jones girl questioned, earning confused looks from both Sam and Katherine before Everly continued speaking, "Jackson and Jacob had to look and act younger in order to complete their task on Neverland."

"Woah," Sam muttered under his breath before a small smile appeared on his face, "it's kinda cool that they tricked Pan into taking them to Neverland."

Everly couldn't help but laugh before she caught Emma coming out from the back hall. The Jones girl's eyes stayed glued to her sister as she walked across the diner to sit next to Regina. While they begin to have an inaudible conversation, Everly started to play with Roland's arrowhead in her hands. It wasn't long after that when Killian appeared out of nowhere and sat down next to his daughter.

"Thank you," the pirate captain said, earing blank stares from all three teens before he let out a laugh and continued speaking, "thank you for telling Emma about what was happening. Any later and I'd be a dead man."

After sharing a smile with the Jones man, a large plate of fries was delivered to their table and they began to eat. Just as they thought they could finally have some time to relax, Henry rushed out of Granny's with Emma and Regina right behind him.

"That boy is always finding something exciting," Sam sighed before tossing a few fries into his mouth.

"That's what makes this town fun," Katherine declared, earning an eye roll from the blonde boy while Everly and Killian laughed.

────── ★★★ ──────

𝐒𝐈𝐗 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑

Smiles were plastered on Everly, Sam, and Katherine's faces as they walked through Storybrooke, enjoying the peace for the first time in a long time. They had just finished their daily visit to the cemetery and were now heading to have lunch at Granny's before going to the beach. Everything was perfect and all three of them were hoping to keep it that way.

Over the last few weeks, Sam and Katherine had been acting more like a couple, which made Everly feel a mixture of emotions. She was happy for them for finding each other. They both deserved to find someone to bring them joy on a daily basis. But on the other hand, it made the Jones girl long for the life she once had, even though it brought her just as much sadness and it did happiness. Every time she witnessed Sam and Katherine share an intimate moment, it made her think of Felix and reminded her that no one would make her feel as happy as he did.

It wasn't long after they made it to the street that led to Granny's when Everly spotted something strange. Her eyebrows instantly scrunched together as she stared at something across the street. Only a few seconds passed when Sam and Katherine noticed her discomfort. However, before either of them could question the look on her face, Everly opened her mouth to speak. "Do you see that boy in the black hat?"

Sam instantly glanced in the direction Everly was looking to find the person she was referring to. He was looking at a piece of paper before turning his attention to the buildings around him. "Who is he?"

"I've never seen him before," Katherine reported while keeping her eyes glued to the stranger.

"He's been following us since the cemetery," Everly told them before they decided to walk across the street and confront the confused-looking new boy, "you look lost. Need any help?"

The stranger instantly turned around before a small smirk appeared on his lips. "Yeah. I'm looking for a place to stay."

"We're heading to Granny's," the Scott girl announced while using her thumb to point down the street, "it's a diner with a motel."

"Sounds great, thanks."

The four of them walked down the street in silence for a moment before Sam asked the question that was bouncing around in his, Everly, and Katherine's heads. "So, where are you from?"

"Around," was all the boy said in response, earning an eye roll from Everly before she turned her full attention toward the mysterious boy.

"I'm Everly. And that's Sam and Katherine."

"Pierce. Pierce Kai."

────── ★★★ ──────

────── ★★★ ──────