"I'd say hold onto me but you're already doing that." Pan says, annoyed. "Right. Can you do me a favour? I need your hand."

I laugh at him, breaking free and running away. "You're going to have to catch me first."

He appears right in front of me and grasps my shoulders, forcing them backwards into the tree. "Ruby... concentrate. I need your help to do this too, alright? It's not going to be easy, but if you want to remember who you truly are, you need to stop being so... annoying."

"You're annoying." I say, poking my tongue out at him. "But still handsome."

I'm pretty sure he gags, not loudly, but audibly. "Fine. Give me your hand."

I obey, and instantly, there's power flowing through me. It feels... awesome. "Are we going on an adventure?" I murmer as the world starts dimming. Something is knifing through my head, like a giant headache. I would fall, but the tree is holding me up.

"Indeed we are." is the last thing I remember.

**********************************

Pan concentrates hard, forcing his way through Ruby's mind. It's not as hard as he expected, mostly due to the fact that she's so willing to let him in.

Bypassing all the past events, he concentrates on a memory of the past. One pops up. He concentrates, and suddenly they're in a room. A room that's eerily familiar. It's the house of her family, Pan realizes. The man that Hook, Regina and he questioned shows up.

"You infield!" the man's face is red. "We pay for a doctor to come and tell us that your pitiful self is insecure. That you make up stupid dreams so we pay atention to you, that someone needs a little more love?"

He throws Ruby against the wall, breathing heavily. She doesn't move as his foot connects with her side. She yelps, curling over.

"Tom." A woman's worried voice shakes slightly. "We're late for the theatre."

"Just think about what you've done to us, you ungrateful bastard." The man smashes his hand against her face before he finally accepts his coat and pulls it on.

The memory fades. Pan looks down at his hands, clenched by his sides. What do I care? he thinks. This is not what I want. He swallows anger and concentrates again.

This time, there's a strange memory, a memory of a man in a white beard staring down. Pan concentrates with all of his mind. All of his magic strains against the memory, striving to make it appear. It grows, then diminishes.

"Here." Ruby mumbles against his chest. "Let me help you." For a brief moment, they're back at the tree. She's pressed up against him, head turned sideways like they're dancing partners. Her hand meets his. The tree fades, the memory appears again, and suddenly it's right there. A power that doesn't seem possible seeps into it, drawing it out.

******

A man with a white beard stands there, looking down at the baby. "She's in danger." A beautiful woman peers past him. "I can't stand this." She turns to hug the man beside her.

"I know. Shh." The man comforts his wife. "I love our daughter... but she can't live a life like this."

"I'm willing to do what you ask." The man with the beard says. "I can help you. Can you trust me?"

"Yes." The couple nod. The woman reaches down to kiss her baby on the forehead. "I love you, little Ruby. We will always love you. And when you need us most, we will be there."

The man with the blond hair holds his wife hands and leans down to kiss his daughter. "I love you Ruby. Stay safe. You are very special."

"Alright." The man in the white beard stretches his hands over the bed, and the world goes white.

**********

I stumble against the tree, feeling completely giddy with exhaustion. The world narrows onto one thing in front of me. Peter Pan. He's panting, but looking pleased, and curious. "Well?" He asks imploringly.

In one foul blow, everything comes rushing back. The forest. The Bakers, Henry. Peter Pan. Me saving Henry - saving magic - waking up to a huge expanse of white and everyone looking at me - not remembering my purpose... the shadow... I take a huge intake of breath, reach up and punch the smirking teenager right in the nose.

A/N: Weren't expecting that were you?! Ahahah. I have a way of surprising you, dear readers. Since she was so awful in the last two chapters I thought I'd end it with her back to being her self. Which leaves me with two questions:

1. Do you like the old Ruby or the Ruby I just described? I think I know everyone's answer. :P

2. Can you guess who Ruby's parents are? I'll give you a hint: Her father's name starts with A. If you piece everything together you might be able to figure it out. I've give you hints. ;) Enjoy! Until next time!