Aurora was the one who made the suggestion. August and Mulan immediately agreed to the idea, saying it was probably the best place to start. So they piled back into August's car and headed for New York City.

"Where are we supposed to start?" Mulan asked as they approached the Massachusetts-Connecticut state line. "New York City is pretty crazy from what I've heard."

"Which is why it would be the perfect place for whoever kidnapped Lily to hide," August said. "But I think the best place to start would either be Neal's apartment, Emma's apartment from the missing year, or the Wizard of Oak."

"What's the Wizard of Oak?" Aurora asked. "Does it have something to do with that one book with Zelena of it?"

"Yes. It was the shop that belonged to one of Zelena's flying monkeys who was spying on Emma for her. It was meant to be a reference to that book because it was actually the wizard who owned it, according to Emma."

"So which should be our first stop?" Mulan asked.

"I think Neal's apartment would be a good place," Aurora recommended. "Not only did Neal live there for years, but didn't Robin Hood live there for a few months?

August nodded. "Robin, Roland, and Zelena pretending to be Marian all lived there for about nine weeks. There's bound to be something off about that apartment. It's like a magnet to fairytale characters so many of them have been there. Heck, I stayed in that apartment years ago. Except it was only for one night and it was illegally..."

"I think that sounds like a good place to start then," Mulan agreed.

~

Nicole eventually found herself in a town somewhere near the Connecticut-New York state line. She entered a gas station and found a map, which she began to look at as she pretended to look at the bags of chips and candy that she wished she had the money to buy, but she was saving her money for a taxi in case she couldn't hitchhike.

"Where are your parents?"

Nicole's eyes shot up to see a man who obviously worked at the gas station looking down at her.

"In the car," she lied easily. "They sent me in to get a map and some food."

The man didn't seem convinced. "You're a little young to be in here by yourself, don't you think?"

Nicole used her normal story. "My dad died a few years back, so it's just me, my mom, and my little sister now. But my little sister is sleeping, and my mom didn't want to leave her in the car alone or wake her."

"I'm sorry to hear about that. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"What's the fastest way from here to New York City?" Nicole turned on her innocent eleven-year-old face that seemed to fool every adult she ever came in contact with. There had only been two times where she hadn't needed to use it to get what she wanted.

"Hmmm..." the man frowned. "I can mark it out on the map for you if you would like?"

"That would be great!" Nicole exclaimed, sounding like an kid who wanted to make her mom proud because she had followed directions.

Five minutes later, Nicole had a map with a route to New York City mapped out on it. She had told the man she still needed to get some snacks, so he had let her go, seeing as more people were needing to check out. Nicole waited until both cashiers were distracted before sneaking out of the gas station, map in hand. she had memorized the first few miles of the route so she wouldn't have to take the map out right after she left the gas station.

Nicole walked for an hour before a blue car slowed to a stop beside her. Inside was an old man with a fatherly twinkle in his eye He had a light grey beard that almost reached the top of his shirt. His hair was the same color and cut short. He was wearing a Hawaiian print shirt. He rolled down the window and spoke to Nicole.

"Do you need a ride somewhere?"

Maybe it was the fact that the man looked like a grandpa who wouldn't hurt anybody, or the fact that he smelled of salt water - one of Nicole's favorite scents - but Nicole nodded. "I need to get to New York City."

"I think I can arrange that." The man stepped out and opened a back door. "Your ride, milady."

Nicole grinned. The man smiled, like he was happy he had just made Nicole's day. He shut the door behind her and returned to the front seat.

"Next stop: New York City."