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    ADULTHOOD HAD NEVER been something Kaelyn had expected she would need to deal with. For so long she had lived day by day, not sure if she would be sleeping in the streets or inside, not sure if she would be alone again or surrounded by family. Maybe even unsure if she'd make it to her eighteenth birthday. Her future had always simply been something she didn't think about– or couldn't afford to.

    So, when the day finally came around for Kaelyn and the boys to leave the Spinsters behind, she couldn't help the bit of pride she felt. Initially, they had floundered in their home village, unsure whether they would be able to leave it behind and all the memories it held. As fresh adults, the world was suddenly open to them in a way they'd never quite felt before. Sure, they had always been unrestricted to a degree and spat at rules regardless, but they weren't kids anymore.

    At eighteen, they had all grown into their features, and themselves. Rumple stayed taller than either of his friends, but had gained muscle. His hair had already seemed to thin out, and his features had become sharper than expected, but he remained their mousey third addition. He had become less useless, but remained meek, and sometimes backed out of harder tasks and danger, but had never given the impression he would completely give up on his friends.

    Malcolm had managed a bit more height over the years, and started growing his hair out more, always rejecting Kaelyn when she volunteered to cut it for him. He was as mischievous as ever, that twinkle in his green eyes never dying out. He remained their leader, of sorts, a perfect mix of caution and risk-taking that got them through dangerous heists and predicaments that freaked the other two out.

    Kaelyn had perhaps changed the most. Maybe it was the way she held herself, or the confidence in her magic she had gained over the years, but she looked the oldest. It wasn't the weight or the shape she had gained, or the way her features fit her face, or even the gleam in her indigo eyes; it was that she knew the power in her veins was hers, and hers alone. It had become refined and strengthened through use, free and alive and a part of her.

    She could scarcely remember a time she had felt more free and alive, and unbeknownst to her, it would likely be the last time she would feel so. As the three young adults took to the road, finally splitting from their shared childhood village, it felt like the beginning of their lives, but in reality it would be the beginning of the end.

    They found security in savings, and selling old stolen items, which kept them afloat as they hopped between villages. They rode horses, stowed away in wagons, hitch-hiked, and even one time scammed a group of road bandits into giving them their transport, which had given Kaelyn a personal taste of satisfaction, as they travelled.

    As they built their fortune, and lives, Malcolm continued to plan for them. They continued to heist and thieve from the rich, sell to established buyers and the black market, and form relations with other groups in ways they couldn't when they had been children and locked to one place. Malcolm was the organiser, Rumple would sometimes switch with him to be the mouthpiece, and Kaelyn was the enforcer. People doubted a group so young, but if anyone got particularly spiteful, a single flick of purple energy from Kaelyn shut them up, and she never needed to hurt anyone for them to get their way.

    After nearly a year on the road, the trio arrived at a seaside town, passing the port filled with bobbing ships, and pirates hooting and cackling down the streets. Malcolm walked in front, Kaelyn in the middle of the line, and Rumple bringing up the rear. The boys insisted on walking like that to stop the smaller one from getting grabbed, even if they all knew she could defend herself.

    "I have a good feeling about this place," Malcolm said, as they had checked into their motel for the next few weeks. Whenever they did, the boys would share a room with two beds, while Kaelyn would get a separate one for privacy. She had always put magic barriers on it for added security, as she trusted no one in their line of business to not attempt something on a girl sleeping alone.

    Kaelyn had exchanged a glance with Rumple over her shoulder, looking unsure of the fishing village that was a key spot for pirates checking in and out. The motel itself was one of the nicer ones in town, with a downstairs tavern and kitchen for people staying there as well as simply visiting. To the left of the bar was a spiral staircase that led up to the upstairs rooms, all lit by orange torchlight in the growing night, with a dim hallway that branched off into the rooms they were staying.

    "Kaelyn you're across from us," Malcolm said, throwing the key to the brunette, who caught it easily. "Take a bit to unpack and then meet downstairs, okay?"

    "Why?" Rumple questioned.

    Malcolm gave him an indignant sort of look. "We gotta scout a bit. All the best people are out right now."

    "Right," Rumple responded. "How far we've come."

    Kaelyn could only agree as the trio split into their rooms, the brunette across the hallway from the boys. Her indigo eyes scanned the room quickly, closing the door behind her before chucking her over the shoulder bag onto the double bed. It had not even been a year since she had still lived with spinsters, sleeping on the floor or hay, struggling for meals almost every day and scrounging for money from the same town, day-in, day-out.

    And now here she was, a part of a group that could afford such luxuries, surviving alongside her best friends and finding freedom in her magic rather than fear or violence. The past had no grip on her now, she had made it.

    Kaelyn lit the room's candles with a wave of her hand, the dots of light swimming in the reflections of her dark eyes. She removed her now-lengthy hair from its ponytail, before twisting her fingers in the air, spreading them out to point in the general direction of each corner of the room, before sending out a thread of energy. She relaxed and lowered her hands once the barrier was set in place.

    Malcolm and Rumple were both already downstairs when Kaelyn came down, sending the boys a small smile as they left the motel together. Malcolm was right, the streets were crawling with just the kind of people they would do business with, some eyeing up the three warily. Kaelyn instinctively grabbed a hold of Malcolm's upper arm, the boy barely acknowledging the gesture.

    "That guy we traded with in the mountains recommended this place," Malcolm told his friends as they approached a bustling pub.

    Kaelyn blinked as two drunken men stumbled out, beyond words and swinging horrible punches at each other. "Fun," she deadpanned, tightening her grip on Malcolm as he led the group inside, pushing the door open.

    The inside was what one would expect, stuffy and humid, filled with many tables and rows of seats, most lined with people and glasses. Kaelyn did a quick scan of the place, noting about five separate groups that could easily be what they were looking for, and a number of them dressed in the signature clothing and bore symbols of pirate crews.

    Almost immediately upon entrance, a mad sidled up to them, a pint of orange liquid in his hand. "This your girl?" he asked, looking where Malcolm and Kaelyn were intertwined.

    "No," Kaelyn said for herself.

    "Then come on, little lady," the man slurred, offering his empty hand.

    Kaelyn already knew the dangerous intentions behind such an interaction, as she swallowed thickly. "I'm okay, thank you. I just want to stay with these guys," she politely declined.

    The man tilted his head to the side, as if she were challenging him. "C'mon darl, you really should–"

    "She said no," Rumple said, using his height to his advantage as he stepped in front of his friends.

    "She can speak for herself," the man protested.

    "And she said no, so listen," Rumple said with narrowed eyes, looking down his nose at the man.

    Kaelyn glanced around the pub, seeing a couple people had noticed the interaction. "Rumple, it's fine, leave it," she said, quickly, not wanting to cause a scene as their first impression.

    But he did not leave it, as the man continued to antagonise, slamming his drink on the nearest table. "And who're you?" he asked, indignantly, sneering at Rumple.

    "Her brother," the mousy-haired boy said without missing a beat.

    The man scoffed, but with a final scan of the trio, decided otherwise, and grabbed his drink again. "Have a lovely night," he said, softly, dipping in a mock bow before heading off.

    "Should've lied," Malcolm said, pulling away from Kaelyn once the man was out of earshot.

    She frowned at him. "I shouldn't have to."

    The boy gave her a sad look, before shrugging. "Whatever. Are we all okay to mingle?"

    "What're we looking for?" Kaelyn asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

    "Pickpocket anything you can, and do your best to find contacts that aren't locals," Malcolm instructed. "Or, maybe, if they own a jewellery store then yes," he added, lightly.

    "Hilarious," Rumple murmured. Kaelyn glanced at him, giving him a small smile to thank him for before, as the boy headed off towards a group of men at the bar. They had never acknowledged the kiss past the day it happened, and true to their word, it wasn't weird. As Rumple had declared, he was like her brother nowadays.

    Kaelyn didn't really feel like approaching someone random in the pub to find business, but she knew she could defend herself if absolutely necessary. Her eyes landed on a pair of men sitting at a table together, one of them wearing an expensive-looking locket that made Kaelyn's fingers itch.

    As Kaelyn moved to head off, Malcolm lightly took a hold of her hand, fingers trailing hers. She stopped and turned to look at him, eyes looking longingly at their hands together, before meeting his eyes.

    "Hey, you gonna be okay?" he asked, softly.

    Kaelyn swallowed thickly, telling herself his worry was just because they were best friends, nothing more. "Yeah, just wasn't expecting that," the brunette said with a nonchalant shrug, even if memories of Ajax had briefly pierced her.

    "Okay. Stay safe."

    Kaelyn simply nodded, before heading towards her targets, greeting them with a low "evening gentlemen" and sliding in next to the one who didn't have the locket. Kaelyn made sure not to eye it too obviously, though she was sure he was too drunk to notice anyway.

    The small talk was outrageous, but Kaelyn persisted, until the other man left to get another drink, leaving the girl with an opening as she moved closer. All she needed was to see the clasp, and then undo it with her magic, as her eyes tried to discreetly study it as she was now closer.

    "Probably wondering what I keep inside it?" the man asked abruptly.

    "I'm curious about what you'd wanna keep so close to heart," Kaelyn lied, easily.

    The man sighed wistfully and pulled the locket off his neck, flicking it open, Kaelyn reluctantly looking at it to save face. To her surprise, it was a preserved sketch of a woman holding an infant. Kaelyn merely blinked at the image, her eyes moving to see the clasp of the chain.

    "My wife is at home... just had a baby boy," the man continued, unaware Kaelyn was only half-listening and not truthfully interested. "Brennan Jones, my son," he added, so fondly Kaelyn's chest almost stung.

    The man closed the locket and returned it to his neck, leaning back in his seat as Kaelyn sighed, resolve shaken. The man in front of her was not what she had expected; a family man whose smile lit up his dark eyes and tied his dark hair back to show them off, who used a locket not as a status symbol or to store treasure, but to keep his family close to heart.

    "Sounds amazing," Kaelyn managed to say.

    "You got anybody?" the man asked, sipping his drink.

    Kaelyn laughed, awkwardly, when she realised what the question meant. "Oh, no, not me," she said, hastily, shaking her head and looking at her lap.

    The man shook his head. "It's a shame. Finding love– true love, is one of the best things to ever happen to me."

    "True love isn't a real thing," Kaelyn said.

    "Maybe not," the man said, hardly deterred by the teenager's pessimism. "One true love isn't. But the idea that you can meet anyone and fall in love and choose them over and over..." he trailed off, as he finished off his drink, flushed but grinning. He regarded Kaelyn, eyes twinkling. "I hope you are loved one day," he said suddenly. "I hope someone loves every part of you, even the parts that have made you feel unloved in the past."

    Kaelyn didn't have the stomach to respond as his words sunk in, before he abruptly got up to get another drink, leaving her alone to wallow. She hadn't even gotten his name.

    "Ready to go?" Malcolm asked as they reconvened near the door later in the night. Kaelyn nodded once, eyes fixed on her friend, the locket man's words echoing in her head as her pocket felt heavy. A moment later, Rumple came up to them, looking pleased with himself, as the trio left together.

    Kaelyn remained quiet, too busy thinking about what the stranger had said to her. Did she think she was unloveable? Had she still yet to accept her magic as something someone could love her in spite of?

    The trio gathered in Kaelyn's protected room, Rumple sitting on the floor while the other two sat on the large bed, unpacking their work for the night. Rumple had proudly dumped two decent-sized pouches of coins that he scammed over the night, while Malcolm talked grandly of the contacts he had gathered through rounds of drinks and talking.

    "I got this," Kaelyn said, holding up the golden locket, chain between her fingers as it dangled, reflecting the candlelight.

    "Pretty," Rumple remarked.

    "That's my girl!" Malcolm cheered, eyes shining as he took the locket from her hand, fingers brushing hers as he did so. He stared at it in the way he always did when they stole things, in a way that had not changed since they were kids. The ring on her middle finger reminded her of that. "It's empty," Malcolm remarked as he opened the locker. He furrowed his brows. "Huh, weird."

    Kaelyn only shrugged. "Guess he wore it for show."

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    KAELYN AWOKE TO the sound of waves the following day, an unfamiliar yet peaceful sound that she had yet to know would become a part of her daily life for decades to come. The fishing village during the day was more passive than when they had arrived during the night, and the downstairs of the motel was filled with patrons having breakfast, and light streamed in through the windows in a way that brought the place alive.

    The boys were also stirring when Kaelyn decided to head out to town to see it for herself during the day. The seagulls sang constantly, cutting through the morning bustle along the cobbled streets, which were lined with many stalls, especially fish. Kaelyn was uninterested by anything other than a stall of jewellery made of seashells, but her attention span for it was short as she moved on.

    At some point the boys joined her, exploring their own interests and niches in the new town. Kaelyn continued her people-watching, thinking briefly about how the youngest version of her would've loved her life now. The fresh encounters, the interesting characters, seeing so much and being left with so many questions about lives she would never touch. She would've loved it, before people-watching had become more of a look-out habit than something she enjoyed.

    The docks were the most alive part of town, filled with resting boats or new loads, fishermen filing in and out like mice. There were also pirates hanging around the docks, but they were less intense in the daylight, and mainly stuck to themselves.

    By the time the day began to draw to a close, the trio had their barings of the place for future reference. Their stays were always unsure time periods, and they often left abruptly despite how long they had booked at wherever they were sleeping. Kaelyn secretly hoped they'd leave soon, she didn't particularly like the atmosphere.

    There were no plans that night for them, so Kaelyn assumed Malcolm was still thinking and retreated to her room for a rest after the sunset, which she had diligently watched from a rooftop, face lighting up as the ocean turned all shades of pink and orange on the horizon.

    Kaelyn had stirred to get dinner from downstairs, pausing as she saw Malcolm also leaving his room. He blinked at her, and she once again felt that fuzzy feeling in her stomach. Her conversation from the night before struck her once again, annoyingly having not left her head yet.

    "Will you be able to order dinner from downstairs for me?" Malcolm asked abruptly.

    Kaelyn furrowed her brows. "Where are you going?"

    "To the pub," he told her, simply. "I met some guy yesterday who I reckon could lead to a good underground ring," he explained further when Kaelyn looked unsure.

    "Okay, just be careful," she said after a moment.

    "Always am," Malcolm chuckled, stepping closer to Kaelyn, who could only stare up at him. "I shouldn't be long."

    And then he kissed her cheek, just a peck, and was gone.

    Kaelyn remained frozen in the motel hallway far longer than she would ever care to admit, trying to process the show of affection, rationalise it, anything but get carried away. Her cheek continued to tingle with the contact, as she tried to snuff out what she was feeling.

    She had known Malcolm for six years, almost seven, since she was only twelve and they had met as unfortunate children. She still remembered, vividly, and she still silently thanked him for showing her a way out of Ajax's group, for accepting her. She thanked Rumple, too, he defended her like family and encouraged her the same way Malcolm did, he was there for her just the same.

    But something about Malcolm had become different.

    Initially, she had thought she just considered him a closer friend, because she had known him first and longer, but as they got older time became irrelevant when comparing character. When Rumple had kissed her, she had immediately wondered what Malcolm would think, immediately wanted him to know there was nothing there, that he still had a chance. She had been fifteen, thinking he was beautiful and wishing that something had happened.

    She had tried to pay no mind, not really understanding there was a difference between her two friends until holding Malcolm's hand or earning his praise felt different to Rumple, to how she simultaneously felt the safest but also sick to the stomach around him. She had continued to ignore it, snuff it out, because admitting it would only push her further.

    For so long, she had deemed herself unloveable, hard to see past the obvious flaws in her, despite how much she loved those around her. Befriending the boys had opened her up, but opening up further felt terrifying. There was no chance Malcolm returned her feelings, or had ever shifted the way he looked at her like she had for him.

    She wanted to hit herself over the face, clear her head, as she crossed the few steps to the room Malcolm was sharing with Rumple. She knocked, their signature knock of the group had to prove it was them, albeit a little more frantic than usual.

    "Come in!"

     Kaelyn unlocked the door with her magic and entered, closing it without touching it behind her.

     "What's going on?" Rumple asked, eyeing her weirdly.

    "Malcolm's gone to try make a deal, told us to get dinner for when he gets back," she told him.

    "Yeah, he just told me," Rumple said, with a shrug, sitting up from his bed. "That's not what I meant."

    Kaelyn pursed her lips, not wanting to have the conversation or even entertain the idea that Malcolm thought of her as more than a friend. "Can we just get dinner? I'm hungry."

    "Of course you are," Rumple snickered, and Kaelyn pretended to be innocent when he stumbled over nothing on his way out.

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    HOURS PASSED, and Malcolm still hadn't come back. He had missed dinner by a mile, and Rumple and Kaelyn had ended up spitting his as seconds to avoid wastage when the cook became frustrated no one was eating the third dish. Rain had begun to come down, only adding to the mood, as the pair started to head up to their rooms.

    Neither of them mentioned anything about how late Malcolm was, but neither of them wanted to check on him either. Kaelyn snuggled into her bed with a book, the purple stone glimmering on her bedside table in the candlelight. She tried to ignore the worry gnawing at her, the candles melting more and more as time passed, until she couldn't take it.

    "He's been gone too long," Kaelyn huffed as she entered the boys' room without warning. Rumple jumped but otherwise seemed unsurprised by her entrance as she slumped opposite him on Malcolm's bed.

    "Let him do his thing, he knows what he's doing," Rumple assured her.

    "I know. It's not a trust thing, it's a worry thing," Kaelyn told him, honestly.

    Rumple sighed. "Look, nothing's happening to him." Kaelyn wrung her hands in her lap. "I trust him, too, okay? And he's sneaky as hell. He can get out of anything," Rumple added with a chuckle, which managed to get a weak smile out of Kaelyn. "Would you feel better if we went and checked on him?"

    Kaelyn stammered at the offer, not wanting to burden him with the task, but ultimately knew she wanted to. Rumple only pushed himself to his feet, unhooking his coat and slipping it on.

    "Come on," Rumple said, opening the door.

    "Thank you," Kaelyn murmured, entering her own room to get her jacket. She thought of what he had said to the man the day before.

    The pair had only been in Kaelyn's room for a few moments, before the door erupted with knocks. They paused, looking at each other cautiously. A second later their signature knock sounded, and Kaelyn swallowed thickly as she unlocked the door with her magic.

    "Malcolm?" Rumple asked, cautiously, as their friend took a few steps in. He was soaked through from the rain, but that wasn't the most concerning thing. In all the time Kaelyn had known him she had never seen his eyes look so dull, so defeated. Rumple, also, seemed to pick up on this, as he asked, "What did you do?"

    Kaelyn hated the way it seemed accusatory, but even she had to push her concern away to regard her friend seriously. Malcolm took a shaky breath, closing the door behind him. He refused to meet either of their eyes.

    "I... I lost it all," he murmured.

    Silence.

    Kaelyn merely blinked at him, trying to understand what it was, as Malcolm continued to look at the floor, shoulders slumped. Kaelyn was still holding her jacket, which she slowly lowered onto the bed.

    "What do you mean?" Kaelyn asked, quietly. Malcolm inhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, while his two friends continued to stand in confusion. "What happened?" Kaelyn urged, growing concerned again.

    "I gambled everything we had, okay?!" he snapped. Kaelyn and Rumple both paled. Malcolm sniffed. "I got carried away and wanted to win against this guy, and-and I lost, okay?" He swallowed thickly. "It's gone, everything we have."

    It sunk in, Malcolm breathing heavily at the confession, as Kaelyn felt her stomach drop. All of it was gone? Their years of hard work amounted to nothing. They were broke again, no better off than when they had been roosting at the Spinsters. Maybe even worse off.

    "How could you?" Rumple said eventually. Malcolm grit his teeth, eyes focused on the floor. "Look at me," Rumple hissed. He still didn't. "We trusted you!"

    "I know, I know, and we can get it back," Malcolm insisted, finally breaking and looking at his friends.

    "The hell we can!" Rumple yelled back. "Your guilt isn't saving us here. We're done for!"

    "We'll make it back!" Malcolm snapped.

    "No, Malcolm, we can't. That was years worth," Rumple said in exasperation. "Back when we were living with the Spinsters, and didn't have to pay for a place to stay, for all the food we had." Malcolm's face fell as his suggestion was torn up. "We're alone, we're completely alone, don't you get that?"

    "I'm sorry–"

    "That's not good enough!" Rumple yelled. Malcolm backed down, while the other boy heaved a shaky, angered breath. "I can't believe we were so worried about you. We should've checked on you after the first hour, you selfish fuck."

    And with that, Rumple left the room, all but slamming the door behind him.

    "Your turn," Malcolm sighed, as it was just him and Kaelyn in her room.

    She just looked at him, eyes lowered and mouth turned down. "Rumple already said it all," she managed.

    "You should be angry at me," Malcolm told her.

    "I am."

    "Then why aren't you yelling?"

    Kaelyn blinked at him. It almost sounded like he wanted her to. Like some twisted part of him wanted to be punished for the mistake, the selfishness. He looked at her with glimmering green eyes, wide and pleading. Kaelyn lowered hers.

    "It's not worth it," she said, honestly. Malcolm didn't say anything. "Sleep on the floor tonight, I doubt Rumple left the door unlocked," she added.

    Malcolm just nodded, draping his jacket onto the floor in silence, as Kaelyn hung her own back up. She tried, desperately, to ignore the turmoil in her. The future, which had looked so promising and easy for them, was now rocky and unsure. She should've expected it, after so long she of all people should've known how unexpected life could twist and turn so suddenly.

    Her future had never been promised, but for one fleeting moment, she had allowed herself to think it was.

    A part of her wanted to ask Malcolm what had happened at the pub, how wrong the contact had gone. She and Rumple trusted him, they knew him and how he worked. He had never failed or lost his cool before, in all the years they had known him. What could have possibly happened to make the worst happen?

    Rumple blamed him, Kaelyn knew that. She could only hope he would cool down and come to see their friend had made an uncharacteristic judgement or call or something. Kaelyn was frustrated, she was angry at him, but she couldn't blame him. Something had to have happened, she rationalised, something just had to. None of them were good people, but they had always had each other's backs.

    Kaelyn and Malcolm didn't say anything as they milled about in their own spaces preparing for bed. She heard a few scattered sniffles from the boy, but thought better of drawing attention to it, as she tried to ignore the fear for the future. Everything Rumple had said was true, albeit delivered harshly and angrily.

    But he was right. They would struggle now, more than they ever had, and they were alone. All they had was each other.

    "He'll cool down," Kaelyn abruptly reassured. Malcolm looked unsure if she was talking to him or not, as she merely looked at him.

    He swallowed thickly, looking ready to throw up. "You don't have to reassure me. I deserve whatever you guys do to me."

    Kaelyn pursed her lips. Did Malcolm really think they would give up that easily after everything?

    "We're not going to kick you out or anything, if that's what you're worried about," Kaelyn snipped, annoyed by his attitude.

    "Stop trying to make me feel better," Malcolm hissed, whipping his head to look at her.

    Kaelyn's eyes hardened as she got off her bed, taking a few harsh steps till she was in his face. "If we don't have each other then we're truly alone," she snapped. "You fucked up. Of course there's consequences. But stop taking it out on me, you've already done enough." Malcolm's eye twitched as he looked down at her. "You're not alone," she insisted. "No matter what happens, we survive. Together. That doesn't change so stop acting like your life is over. You're supposed to be the one that holds us together."

    "No, you don't get it," he said through gritted teeth. "We're a family and I let you down. I shouldn't stay and make things worse."

    "You're not fucking leaving," Kaelyn bit back, feeling her heart shake. Malcolm shook his head with a sad smile, as if her efforts to keep him around were amusing. "Okay, we need you, we still do," Kaelyn said, with the most force she had probably ever said anything in her young life. And to prove a point, she got even closer to him, tilting her chin upwards and refusing to back down.

    Malcolm looked down at her, and Kaelyn felt her resolve shake at the idea of him actually leaving- out of guilt, shame or whatever emotion was driving him in the moment. The future wasn't promised, but she knew she wanted him in it, always.

    His eyes flicked down to her trembling lips, then slowly trailed back up to meet her eyes. "I need you," Kaelyn said, voice barely a whisper.

    In a moment, their lips were together, mouths moving in sync as they melted into the kiss, eyes falling closed, pulses racing. Kaelyn felt his hands on her upper back, holding her like a lifeline, as her arms went around his neck. They parted after only a few moments, only slightly pulling away, arms still around each other, foreheads almost touching.

    "Did... did you mean that?" Malcolm spoke first.

    "What?"

   "The kiss."

    Kaelyn could only blink. How many years had she spent hoping for such a thing? And not only had it happened, it felt right.

    "Idiot, of course I did."

    And they kissed again, more passionate than the last, pulling away when they both needed breath. Malcolm's fingers trailed down her face, one hand settled to caress her face, as the other went for her hand, which she had lowered from his neck.

    "I have loved you for years," he murmured.

    "You love me?" Kaelyn asked, pulling away so she could see his whole face.

    He was beautiful; raw and vulnerable. The candlelight cast shadows on his face, accentuating every feature, as his green eyes reflected the flickering light from their proximity.

    His confession went straight to Kaelyn's stomach, where she tried to convince herself he was lying, he didn't mean it.

    "Yes," he said without a breath. "And I never want to hurt you, not like everyone before."

    And Kaelyn found herself believing him, allowing herself to fall into him as she desperately wanted to for so long. The future was not promised, but she told herself it would be okay if they were together.

    "You won't," she said, softly. "And I am never leaving you."

    And he said, "Okay."

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young love <33

gif is peter before he went crazy. also he bet all the money because canonly that is what he did in the first place to make him desperate enough to escape to neverland. it's basically 10% canon at this point but there's still that

also it's so funny to me that i paint rumple as this like tall lanky dude when his actor is like 5'9. i seriously just envision young rumple being much tall compared to his friends. maybe being the dark one shrunk him idk i'm not shaming

can't wait for the angst the coming chapter titles do not lie

thank you all for 32k reads and 1.2k votes! the continuous support for this book keeps me going and i hope you're all enjoying. a more complete author's note will be included in the next chapter which is present day and will be published next week!