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KAELYN REMEMBERED when the Diner had been a source of comfort for a girl named Katelyn. There wasn't much of a difference between them when it came down to it. They looked the same, talked the same, thought the same, and their names were the same down to a 't'. But, in the end, the two girls could not have been more different. Katelyn did not leave people in fear, she was kind and compassionate, people often said her heart was "too big" for her body. Katelyn wasn't feared or hated, not like Kaelyn was.

She should've been thankful, yes. The queen's Curse had been broken after almost three decades. She was no longer living the eternal lie of an eighteen-year-old country girl who had been in her final year of high school for twenty-eight years straight without an inkling of time passing. But Kaelyn had liked the idea of it, the idea that there was an alternate universe where she was just an ordinary girl with an equal amount of friends and enemies. It had felt normal.

She thought of that often; someone's heart being too big for their body. What would that person think of her now? Would Katelyn – who she considered a separate person altogether – look at her in disgust the way everyone else did? Of course she would have. Katelyn had been a local babysitter, an ordinary teenage girl who tripped over her own feet and whose biggest problem was the homework she had left till the last minute. She had been well-liked, and people treated her like a child who didn't know better.

But now? Kaelyn was back, reclaiming all her memories and what made her different from the girl with a T, discarding the last twenty-eight years as a mere fantasy to the very back of her mind. And she wasn't the only one. Everyone else from their fairytale land had regained their old selves and how they were placed in a different world, all thanks to the 'Saviour.' And with the Curse broken, came back every memory Kaelyn had gathered over her annoyingly long lifespan, as well as the reputation she had earned back in the day.

It had been a fantasy. No longer was she loved and treated like a child, but scorned, shot wary looks, held at an arm's length. She wore the face of a teenager, of someone innocent and harmless, but the truth was very different to that. She couldn't blame them, her reputation had never been unintentional back in the Forest.

Some still liked to pretend their life was normal. Like they could all be friends and coexist in places like the library – a place Kaelyn would never verbally admit how much she loved – or Granny's Diner, where Kaelyn was currently sitting at a booth on her own. They acted as if they could live peacefully forever in a land without magic, tucked away behind the town line in a small pocket of fairytales and magic.

It was hardly smooth-sailing, with the amount of people who'd continually tried to screw up their lives. Kaelyn mostly stayed out of it, unless it involved Storybrooke as a whole or threatened Henry, Neal or especially herself, she wasn't interested. She kept up, though, she heard all the whisperings and the news from around town. She was good at getting people to tell her what she wanted.

If there was a plan to head home, then she hadn't been made aware of it. But Kaelyn wasn't even sure what she considered home. After spending so long in close quarters with people she had once been a bedtime story to, people she had inconvenienced and caused harm, and in such a mundane setting, she wondered if things could ever get back to normal.

"Hey, Katelyn."

At first, she didn't recognise that someone was greeting her, the name with a 't' already a distant memory to her even after just a few weeks. But when someone cleared their throat, Kaelyn looked up from where her head was resting on her hand to see none other than the saviour herself, Emma Swan.

"Kaelyn," the brunette girl corrected. Emma furrowed her brows, and Kaelyn angled herself so she was facing Emma. "The Curse is lifted, we all remember. My name is Kaelyn. Just take away the 't'." Despite herself, she reached protectively for the half-finished steaming cup in front of her. "But, not literally." Emma looked like she wanted to laugh, but just sighed as she slid into the seat opposite Kaelyn, who raised her eyebrows. "Okay, make yourself at home."

"Well, you do practically live here," Emma retorted. She was, of course, referring to the fact that Kaelyn had no actual home. Even when she'd believed she was Katelyn, she'd permanently stayed at the Bed and Breakfast, working five days a week instead of actually paying to stay when she became closer with Ruby and Granny herself, who were the closest thing Katelyn had had to a family. Kaelyn still resided upstairs, in the same room as the last twenty-eight years, and the deal was still on, just a bit tenser now that all three were aware of who the other was.

Kaelyn sipped her tea. "Really? Hadn't noticed."

Emma ignored the girl's comment, and instead went to what Kaelyn assumed she'd come to tell her in the first place. "Neal's bringing his fiancé to Storybrooke."

"Yeah, I know. He told me this morning," Kaelyn responded. She hadn't actually met the woman, Tamara, but had heard plenty from her old friend, who was one of two people Kaelyn would actually call that.

Many people had asked the two how they knew each other, and so well, but they had become adept at deflecting the question and the town had just come to accept that Rumpelstiltskin's long lost son (and also the father of the kid Kaelyn had babysat for years) was one of two people Kaelyn actually liked. Henry, of course, being the other.

"We stay opposite each other upstairs," Kaelyn explained at Emma's confused look.

"Right."

There was an extended silence, both women knowing the cause. The only sound was Kaelyn drinking her herbal tea, a daily morning occurrence for her.

Kaelyn set her cup down, looking at Emma from across the table. "Was that all?"

Emma frowned. "Hook. You remember Hook?"

Kaelyn couldn't stop her eyes from rolling. "Vividly."

"He got out of Neal's storage closet."

"Why do you sound confused? You locked up a guy with a hook for a hand in a wooden closet. What did you think was gonna happen?" Kaelyn scoffed, leaning back in her seat and crossing her arms over her chest.

Emma shrugged. "Yeah, well, God knows where he is right now."

Kaelyn ignored the fact that Neal had neglected to tell her, as little as the event may have been, as she sighed dramatically. "Ah, great. Yet another person who wants to kill me is on the loose."

"Pretty sure he only cares about Mr Gold at this point," Emma replied. Kaelyn knew she was right, and the pirate's bloodlust for the Dark One far outweighed his hate for Kaelyn, who was probably more like an immortal thorn in his side than a vendetta.

"Oh, he can do whatever to Rumpelstiltskin," Kaelyn said, nonchalantly, downing the last of her tea before it got past the three minutes where it was cold enough to be drinkable but still hot enough to be enjoyable.

Emma looked shocked by Kaelyn's words. The girl thought she would've been used to it now. And Kaelyn's care – or lack thereof – towards Rumpelstiltskin in particular was no secret, the two positively hating each other for reasons no one could seem to grasp. Considering both were extremely old and powerful, it was no surprise they had clashed at least once in their lifetime, but they held off on details, maintaining their titles as the two biggest mysteries in Storybrooke.

"You know, I don't think–" Emma went to say, but Kaelyn sensed a moral lecture.

"Anything else?" she cut the blonde woman off, sharply. Her tone was a warning, one Emma had come to recognise in their time together. For a few moments, the two just regarded each other, before Emma spoke up.

"No." She got to her feet and Kaelyn didn't miss how her hand slipped from the gun on her belt, as if she had been gripping it under the table. "Just thought I would give you a heads up." And, with that, the woman left the Diner, the bell tinkling on her way out the door.

Emma had been an anomaly in Storybrooke. She was their first newcomer in years, and everything had started changing the moment she showed up. Kaelyn had seen a lot of her before her memories had begun coming back, given she was Henry's birth mother. As the brunette's true nature had returned, she had come to heavily dislike the blonde and her moral highness. That and she didn't like leavers, especially when she had nurtured Henry through his abandonment.

"Kaelyn!" Granny's voice called from the back of the Diner, interrupting her pessimistic thoughts.

"Yeah?" she called back, looking away from the Diner's door.

"You're on in ten!" Granny reminded.

Kaelyn sighed, standing up and taking her teacup with her, preparing for the daily grind, a strange mix between the world Kaelyn with a 't' had lived in and a world where magic existed. It was a world that was slowly becoming the town's new definition of 'normal,' and Kaelyn was yet to see if she liked it.

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WORK WAS largely uneventful, as per usual. She had served pie to the new guy Greg, who had come from outside of town and crashed his car, from what Kaelyn had heard. He'd been back on his feet for a while, but Kaelyn hadn't really talked to him and didn't plan to. Of all the people to meet him though, was Regina.

Kaelyn remained unbothered, as the Evil Queen wasn't technically an enemy to her, more just a 'hey we both do magic and people hate us both but we never really did anything to each other' type thing. It was a weird mutual respect and understanding that Kaelyn actually enjoyed. It was one less person glaring at her, she supposed. Maybe enough time had passed that Regina had forgiven her for the guards' blood she had shed back in the day, or maybe she hadn't cared enough to make Kaelyn a problem.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the day was finally meeting Neal's fiancé, who he had strolled into the Diner with him at midday. She was a pretty and charming woman, Kaelyn supposed, though at times she felt like she was talking to someone wearing a mask.

"I'm Tamara," she had introduced over the counter after Neal had insisted the two meet. Kaelyn shook the woman's hand, politely, as was expected.

"I'm Kaelyn."

"Katelyn?"

Kaelyn had bitten her tongue as best she could. "No. Kaelyn. Without the 't'." She had been one of the few who regained their memories to revert back to their real name.

"Oh, like the fairytale villain?" Tamara had asked, sounding fascinated.

Kaelyn had fought back a laugh, while Neal had failed to hide his grin behind his fiancé. "Yeah. Exactly like that," Kaelyn had calmly responded.

After that encounter, the soon-to-be-married couple headed upstairs to unpack, followed shortly by Emma – again – and Henry. Kaelyn took her time to talk with the boy, giving him a quick hug before getting back to work, not neglecting the fact that Tamara stuck around and watched her when she thought Kaelyn didn't notice.

That left Kaelyn where she was now, finished with her shift and sprawled on her bed in her room, a novel in her hands as she absentmindedly sipped on some coffee. There was a knock on her door. Kaelyn briefly glanced up from her book, stopping mid-air in raising her coffee to her lips. After a few moments, she shrugged and went back to reading, when there was another knock.

"Kaelyn, it's me," she heard Neal's voice muffled through the wood. Kaelyn set her coffee down and marked her page, before heading to her door and swinging it open.

"What?" she struggled to hide the annoyed tone from her voice as she came face-to-face with Neal and Tamara, an arm slung around her shoulders. "Someone better have died." Kaelyn arched an eyebrow as she noticed their faces. "Oh shit, someone died."

"August," Neal told her.

"Oh." Kaelyn wasn't sure how to react. She'd barely talked to the man during his time in Storybrooke.

"Well, not really," Tamara piped up, her face lighting up. "He did come back to life as a little boy thanks to... Mother Superior, is it?" she looked to Neal for confirmation, who nodded, before kissing his fiancé's nose.

Kaelyn's jaw clenched at the affection. "Oh, so he's not dead." She turned her attention to Tamara before the couple could say anything else. "And you're okay with all this? You're staying?"

"Well, yeah," Tamara grinned. Kaelyn smiled, but it was hardly honest. "So, does this mean you're really... the fairytale?" Tamara asked, sounding more cautious.

"Yep."

"Wow, okay." Kaelyn didn't miss how Tamara took a slight step back. "I really like your movies, by the way," she said, tightly, but still keeping an easy smile on her face.

"Thanks," Kaelyn said. There was a silence, Kaelyn studying Tamara the entire time. A woman who had shown up the day someone had been killed in Storybrooke, a woman who looked at Kaelyn as if she knew before she'd even found out about the fairytale world. A woman who just so happened to be getting married to a man who had deep roots in the magical world.

"Well," Tamara broke the silence. "I'm gonna go to bed."

"I'll join you soon," Neal assured her, pecking her on the lips as she retreated to their shared room across the hall from Kaelyn's very own. "You could at least pretend you like her," Neal chided as soon as Tamara closed the door.

Kaelyn's demeanour changed now that Tamara was gone, her body relaxing as she leaned against the door frame and faced Neal with a permanent teasing smirk on her face. "Excuse you. I am."

Neal had the same smile on his own face. "Do better."

Kaelyn raised her eyebrows, as if the whole thing was a challenge to her. "I'll like her when I know I can trust her," she said, lowly.

Neal let out something between a scoff and a laugh. "You don't trust anyone."

"Not true," Kaelyn said in mock hurt. "I trust you."

"Besides me," Neal scolded, but he couldn't help the fond smile on his face. Kaelyn opened her mouth but he cut her off. "And Henry." Kaelyn rolled her eyes and didn't say anything, the two standing in comfortable silence. "Is that coffee?" Neal asked, changing the topic as his eyes went over his friend's head and looked into her room.

Kaelyn glanced back momentarily to see the cup on her bedside table. "Oh, yeah," she said, innocently, turning her head back.

"At ten at night?" Neal sounded like a big brother chiding his sister.

"I'm immune," Kaelyn said with a shrug.

"Hey," Neal raised his hands in defence, "just don't wake me up at three cause you're bored and can't sleep. We're not in Neverland anymore."

Kaelyn's breath hitched at the mention of the place. "No, we are not," she agreed, letting out a small laugh to try and cover up her moment of vulnerability.

"G'night Kaelyn," Neal said, ruffling her hair, Kaelyn lightly slapping his hand away. He just chuckled as he retreated back to his own room, Kaelyn still leaning in her doorway.

"You, too, Bae," she told her friend before he closed the door for the night.

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STORYBROOK REMAINED peaceful for a few more days. Tamara was still flitting around, talking to everyone she could about their past selves without seeming too intruding. She mainly avoided Kaelyn, which proved hard since she was around Neal and Henry the most. Kaelyn was entertained, she liked seeing the woman choke on excuses of why she couldn't be around whenever Kaelyn was, darting away when the immortal teenager arrived on scene.

Kaelyn continued her shifts at the Diner, spending her first free day of the week reading in her room. The library was largely inaccessible now, after Belle had been attacked by Hook and crossed the town line a while ago. She'd seen Belle around town after she'd presumedly been discharged from the hospital, but she hadn't come back to Diner yet, which Kaelyn noted as odd.

That was until that night.

"Bet you're glad you're working the nightshift now."

At Ruby's words, Kaelyn snapped out of her thoughts and glanced up to see Mr Gold enter the Diner, Belle with him. Kaelyn instantly noted Belle looked different, dressed in a fitting, sparkly dress that didn't suit her, or at the very least what Kaelyn knew of her. Kaelyn met Mr Gold's eyes from across the diner and gave him a small dishonest smile. He ignored her and went to take a seat with Belle at an empty booth.

"Have fun," Ruby said, grabbing her coat on the way out, patting Kaelyn's shoulder. She just rolled her eyes. Of all the people in town, Ruby was probably the least afraid or judgemental of Kaelyn, which was understandable when considering the taller girl was a werewolf. But it was a nice change, especially since Kaelyn spent so much time around her.

"You got this?" Granny asked Kaelyn, eyeing Belle and Mr Gold. If there was a prize for most-disliked in Storybrooke, then Mr Gold was a strong contender with Kaelyn.

"Yep," the girl said. To prove her point, she strolled over to the pair, notepad and pen in hand. "Hi," she chirped as she reached their table. The look on Mr Gold's face was almost too much for Kaelyn to not burst out laughing. "What'd you do? Raid Ruby's closet?" Kaelyn teased, focusing on Belle, who looked straight through the waitress.

"I'm sorry. Do I know you?"

Kaelyn raised her eyebrows slightly but took it on. "Nope. Apparently not."

"Perhaps Lacey and I could order," Mr Gold cut in.

"Well, of course. What can I get you two lovebirds?" Kaelyn clicked her pen, looking expectantly at the couple. Mr Gold's glare deepened, but Kaelyn kept the easy smile on her face, knowing he wouldn't do anything in front of Belle – or, well, Lacey.

"Two burgers, two ice teas," Mr Gold said. "Please," he added, and Kaelyn knew how much it hurt to say that to her. Kaelyn jotted down the order, before he handed her his menu, Kaelyn noting his shaking hands.

"Actually," Belle spoke up. "I'm gonna go...chicken parm and white wine." Kaelyn smirked and wrote down the order. "And make it the bottle."

"You planning on sharing that?" Kaelyn chuckled, practically feeling Mr Gold glaring at her.

"Depends," Belle responded, casually.

"Coming right up." Kaelyn took the menu from her, giving Mr Gold one last look. "The lady knows what she wants." She patted his shoulder, feeling how tense he was, as she strolled off. She placed the order in the system and let out a satisfied sigh. Granny gave her a look. "What? I just love my job."

Kaelyn returned to the pair a few minutes later with their drinks, Belle saying 'thank you' as Kaelyn set down the full bottle of alcohol. She had to return shortly after when Mr Gold spilled his drink. The smirk on her face as she wiped down the table and took away the glass was wicked, almost as much as the look on Mr Gold's face.

"Where's your barfly?" Kaelyn asked, sweetly, when she returned a while later with their food. Belle still hadn't returned to the table after going to clean her dress.

"That's none of your business, dearie," Mr Gold said, tightly. Kaelyn narrowed her eyes and slid into the seat opposite Mr Gold where Belle had been sat.

"So, how's the date going?" she asked inquisitively, like a curious child.

"Don't pretend like you care," Mr Gold snapped, looking as if he were restraining himself.

Kaelyn loved that. She loved knowing she was causing him discomfort, hitting him where it hurt. "Badly, right?" she added, innocently.

"No," he ground out.

She studied him for a moment. "Hmm. You're doing it all wrong."

"What?"

She laughed, relishing the look on Mr Gold's face at the thought that she knew something he didn't. She leaned forward, as if she were a kid telling a guarded secret. "You're being the person that Belle fell in love with," Kaelyn told him.

"Exactly."

"But, that's not Belle right now. That's Lacey. And she's not into polite, shy businessman like you." Kaelyn watched Mr Gold register her words. Any flicker of hope he seemed to have had had faded from his eyes, as if Kaelyn's words had made him accept the reality of the situation. "By the way, I'd check outside if I were you. Just to be sure." She reached across the table and plucked a potato fry from Mr Gold's plate, as he seemed too numb to stop her. "Have a good night."

She winked at him before stuffing the fry in her mouth and heading off. A minute later she heard the door open and close, the table the pair had occupied now completely empty. They didn't return, and Kaelyn ended up taking the food back and began eating the chicken parmigiana herself when a flurry of dwarves entered the diner with the shrunken-giant, Tiny.

"Where have you guys been?" Kaelyn asked, scanning them up and down. Each looked like they'd been doing manual labour all day, their clothes covered in dust and some even on their face and arms. They looked at Kaelyn warily, and she wanted to roll her eyes.

"Uh, the mines," one of them said. Kaelyn didn't know or remember their names.

Kaelyn didn't believe that for a second, and was considering pushing it, but decided against it. They looked scared of her enough already, anyway. She stuffed another mouthful of the parmigiana in her mouth before grabbing her notebook and pen.

Maybe she had lost the T, but life went on as if nothing changed. Regardless of whether she liked it or not. Either way, at least she had managed to drag one enemy down with her, as she imagined what Mr Gold would see outside. That, at least, could bring her some comfort in the new world she found herself living in.

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aaaand that's the regular first/introductory chapter done! this chapter covered episode 2x18 & 2x19 and truthfully wasn't the most exciting but hey it sets everything up for the future. the hook reference is also from an earlier episode

i pretty much skimmed over the episode but that's mainly due to the fact stated in the chapter that kaelyn generally stays out of all the shit going down (for now oops).

i hope you all enjoyed, let me know what you think and thank you for reading! xx