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────── ★★★ ──────

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑𝟒
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐒

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Everly could hardly believe that she was with her entire family at Roni's, laughing and sharing stories like they used to at Granny's. It felt as though no time had passed. The Thorne woman's fingers were intertwined with Felix's as she sat beside Sam and Katherine with Austin on their other side. The last time Everly could remember being this happy was the day the twins were born. Ever since then, it always felt like the world was against them. But today they were victorious and could finally relax.

All of the adults had large smiles on their faces as they watched their children spend time together for the first time in over a year. Cassie was holding Lucas' hand so tight it looked as though she'd never let go as she watched Will talk about how boring his cursed life was. Everly wasn't surprised to find Jasper staring up at the Jones boy with awe in her eyes. She always knew something was going on between them before the Curse hit. She was just happy to finally see the Tremaine boy happy.

It wasn't long before Henry walked toward them and offered his daughter and wife drinks. Everly couldn't help but let her smile grow as she watched their interaction, loving that her nephew was finally as happy as she was. The Mills man soon sat down to join them before their conversations and stories continued.

"How about a toast?" Regina suggested as she sat down in the last empty seat near where her family was sitting. Everyone instantly grabbed their drinks before holding him out in the middle of their large group. "To being together."

The smiles around the room instantly grew as they tapped their glasses together. It wasn't long after that when the door opened followed by a familiar voice. "We can drink to that too, and eat to it. We brought some of Sabine's beignets."

Roland's smile grew even larger, if that were even possible, as he got to his feet and raced toward Robin. Their laughter filled the air as the Hood boy took his sister into his arms and spun her around in the air. Their embrace lasted for another moment before the Hood girl begged her brother to put her down. It didn't take long for Roland to honor her request as he set her back on her feet.

"Hey, Alice," Everly called out, drawing everyone's attention toward her before she continued speaking, "how's your father?"

"He should be discharged from the hospital and back home today. So, things are starting to look right-side up."

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Later that night, Everly and her entire family were squished into her apartment, but they wouldn't have it any other way. While the boys were getting their things set up in Roland's room, the girls were doing the same in Cassie's. Everly and Felix were out in the family room catching Sam, Katherine, and Austin up on everything that happened in the last year. Their lives finally felt normal again despite still being stuck in the cursed town. But that didn't matter to them much in the moment, what did matter was that they were finally back together.

A large smile was plastered on Everly's lips as she listened to Sam talk about everything he learned as a police officer. What made listening to his stories even better was listening to the children's distant voices. It had been a long time since she heard her kids this happy and it made the moment even better. Everly was simply enjoying the moment, wanting it to never end. But, out of all people, the Thorne woman knew all good things must come to an end.

Sam was still telling his story when Everly realized she no longer heard the distant voices. Chills ran throughout her body and her blood ran cold, not liking the sudden silence. She didn't say a word as she got up and walked toward Cassie's room, ignoring her family calling out to her. The Thorne woman hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door. When she was greeted by nothing but silence, Everly pushed the door open, only to find an empty room. Fear began flowing through her veins as she turned around and opened Roland's door, only to find it just as empty as Cassie's.

Everly didn't remember when the rest of her family arrived in the room with her. All she was focused on was their missing children and where they could've gone. The Thorne woman looked around the empty room for a moment longer before finally turning around to face her family. However, her blood instantly ran cold at the sight of someone she didn't expect to see standing in the doorway. It wasn't long after that when everyone copied her actions and found the Dark One standing in the doorway. But it wasn't the version of Rumplestiltskin that she grew to know in Hyperion Heights. This Dark One looked the way he would when he let the darkness into his heart.

"I'm afraid your children have gone on a little trip," Rumplestiltskin announced as everyone continued to glare at him, "and the only way for them to return is with my help."

"Where are they? What did you do to them?" Sam demanded while Katherine's hands clenched into fists.

"Well, I sent them back to my home. In the Wish Realm. An entire world created by a simple wish," the Dark One responded in a tone that made it seem like the answer should've been obvious, "they can be powerful things."

"What do you want?" Austin hissed, not bothering to hide the hatred in his voice.

A sinister smirk instantly formed on Rumplestiltskin's lips as his eyes bounced between everyone standing in front of him. It wasn't long after that when his attention settled on Everly, making Felix take a step in front of her. The Dark One couldn't help but chuckle at the Thorne man's actions before opening his mouth to speak. "I warned a younger version of Henry Mills once that he'd never get his happy ending without my help. So now, I'm gonna prove my point."

"What does that have to do with our kids?" Katherine questioned while trying her best not to let her fear show. This was the Dark One that she remembered from her childhood and it terrified her.

"The five of you have always had a strong bond with Henry. He listens to you and trusts you for reasons I don't understand," Rumplestiltskin responded with a hint of disgust in his eyes, "I made a deal with Henry and if you ever want to see your family again, you're gonna help him get me something I want."

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Anger flowed through Everly's veins as she and what remained of her family walked through the halls of the police station. No one said a word as they went downstairs to the basement. The Thorne woman had a feeling she knew where she'd find her world's Rumplestiltskin. And if Henry was experiencing anything near what they were, he would be there too. It wasn't long until they finally reached their destination before Everly pushed the double doors open, revealing Regina, Hook, Rumplestiltskin, and Henry.

The Thorne woman couldn't fight the anger flowing through her veins as she glared at her nephew, who was staring back at her with a hint of confusion in his eyes. Another second of that passed before Everly broke the silence surrounding them. "What did you do?"

"What's going on, Ev?" the Mills man questioned while everyone continued to watch their interaction with mixed emotions on their faces.

"Rumplestiltskin took all of our kids because he wants us to make sure you keep your end of the deal," Everly responded while trying her best to control all of her conflicting emotions, "so again, what did you do?"

"He took Lucy and Ella too," Henry told his aunt, making all the emotion fade from her face and a shaky breath pass over her lips, "he said he's gonna keep them in the Wish Realm until I...until we give him the Dark One Dagger."

No one responded as they turned their attention toward Rumplestiltskin, who looked as though he wanted to be anywhere but there. He let the silence surround them for another moment before letting out a long sigh. "I should've seen this coming."

"None of you have to worry," Regina reassured Henry and the parents of the missing children, "we're gonna get them back. Together."

"So what are you suggesting? I give up the dagger?" Rumplestiltskin questioned, causing the Mills woman to let out a long sigh.

"No, of course not. We don't negotiate with villains," Regina responded before looking back over at the distressed parents, "we protect the people we love."

"That's great, Regina, but we still have a big problem," Everly said, drawing everyone's attention to her before she continued speaking, "our kids and Ella are stuck in the Wish Realm and we have no way to get to them."

"Don't be so sure about that, Everly. The Wish Realm was my home port and I may have a route back," Hook announced while sitting up a bit straighter in his seat. It wasn't long after that when he got to his feet and approached one of the shelves. After letting out a long sigh, the Jones man picked up a bag containing an object that everyone thought was gone forever. His hook. "I never thought I'd say this again. Captain Hook is ready to go back home."

────── ★★★ ──────

Everly and Felix walked hand-in-hand as they made their way toward their destination. Sam, Katherine, and Austin were behind them, wanting nothing more than to finish their latest adventure and get back home to Storybrooke. But all he could remember was Rumplestiltskin appearing in the room before there was a flash of light. In front of them, Henry and Hook walked side-by-side with determination in every step.

After everyone was separated because of the Curse, the Thorne woman wasn't ready to lose anyone again. She was prepared to do anything and everything to get them back. And by the looks on her family's faces, the Purest Heart knew they were thinking the exact same thing. It wasn't long before they finally arrived at the troll statue where they were meant to meet with Regina and Rumplestiltskin. Only another minute passed before the duo finally arrived. No one said a word as they watched the powerful pair approach them until they stopped a few feet away.

"The good news is Rogers was right," the Mills woman announced while the Dark One tightly clutched the object in his hand, "Alice did have a looking glass in her boxcar amongst...other things."

"My daughter was always a pack rat," Hook responded before a small smile appeared on his face.

"What's the bad news?" Austin asked after seeing the uncertainty in Regina's eyes.

"Well, it's cracked," Rumplestiltskin said while showing them the small mirror that was split in half, "which means it's possible its magic may not work."

Everly kept her eyes glued to the object until they moved to meet the Dark One's gaze. The two of them just stared at each other for a moment before the Purest Heart took the looking glass from him. "There's only one way to find out."

"As long as you understand," the powerful man told her before letting out a long sigh, "taking on this Rumplestiltskin in his own patch won't be a walk in the park. He'll make sure of that."

"He's expecting us, isn't he?" Katherine questioned while trying her best to hide the uncertainty in her voice.

"You and I both know I would," Rumplestiltskin responded as he stared at the redheaded woman before his eyes moved around to everyone surrounding him, "and I'd prepare something unpleasant."

"Well, hey, listen. Maybe I should do this alone," Henry announced, drawing everyone's attention toward him before he continued speaking, "this is between me and him anyway. I'll go and rescue all of them."

"Stop it, Henry," Regina told him with determination in her eyes, "you're not leaving your mother behind."

"Yeah, and he took our children too. We're not letting you do this alone," Felix declared with a small smile on his face while tightening his grip around Everly's hand.

"We're all with you until the end," Sam said after wrapping his arm around Katherine's shoulders, "just like always."

Smiles appeared on everyone's faces as Everly handed her nephew the looking glass. Henry didn't hesitate to take it from her and carefully placed it on the cement. No one said a word as the mirror began to glow before a large portal appeared in front of him. The Thorne woman kept her fingers tightly intertwined with Felix's as everyone stepped through the portal to the Wish Realm.

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