Ch.9: Time Travel

        It was a dismal night, as Robin Hood and Regina sat on the floor, her fireplace going, having dinner. She'd finally taken a leap of faith, and had allowed herself to truly love. And it was paying off.

        They clinked glasses of red wine together, each having a sip and putting the glass on the floor, before kissing.

        He pulled away. Then, seeing her face, asked, "What is it?" 

        "I just never thought I'd have this," she told him. 

        "After I lost my wife, I felt like that for a long time. Her death was my fault."

        "I'm sorry."

        "I would've walked through hell to be with my Marian again. But when I finally admitted to myself that she was gone, and that she was never coming back, I had to let that guilt go."

        "My first love, Daniel, was killed because of me. Because he loved me."

        "And that's why you never wanted to open yourself up again."

        "Tinkerbell told me it was possible. I could love again. She led me to this tavern to a man who she said I was destined to be with. I never saw his face. But..." she grabbed his arm, rolling up his sleeve. "I did see his tattoo."

        "It was me?" he questioned. 

        "Yes. I was just too scared to approach you."

        He gave a chuckle, before stating, "Well, maybe things work out when they're supposed to. Maybe it's all about timing."

        The next day, everyone was at the diner, when Rumple walked in, which was when they all saw the light coming from the sky. It was going straight up into the sky. 

        "What's that?" Kat inquired. 

        "That's a problem. That's from Zelena," he informed her. "It's an open portal."

        "Let's make sure Zelena's still where she should be then," Kat stated. 

        Once at the police station, there was no evidence of Zelena. 

        "That's impossible. She's powerless without her pendant," Regina stated. Then looked at Rumple. "Unless you had something to do with this."

        Rumple didn't exactly what to tell Regina that he killed her half sister, even if the truth eventually came out.

        "If you did, I'd understand why," Kat assured him. Like her and Klaus, she and Rumple were alike, and as many times as Zelena had come after her, she knew it was a possibility.

        He decided since Katherine was the one asking, he might as well tell the truth.

        "I wasn't going to let what she tried to do to you stand," he informed Katherine. 

        "So you, what? Walked in and killed my sister?" Regina interceded. 

        "I'm glad for your honesty, and even though I didn't want her killed, thank you for what you did for me," Kat replied. "I know you're upset, but right now, we need to work together on this," she then told Regina. "The two of you know portals better than Klaus and I, so tell me. How do we get that thing to close?"

        "It's not simple to close a portal," Rumple informed her. "But until we figure it out, no one should go near it. A trip to the past could have catastrophe repercussions."

        "I think I already figured that out. The question is how you close a portal," Kat replied. 

        "As far as I know, nobody's ever closed one before," Regina informed her. 

        "Well, there's always a first for everything," Kat replied. Then told Hook, "Come with me. You know your way around portals I imagine. Klaus, you stay in town. We'll be back as soon as we can."

        When they got to where the portal was, it was inside what looked like a barn of some sorts, and it was shaking, light glowing inside it. 

        Kat went to open it, but he pulled her back. 

        "We need to find a way to close it," she reminded him. 

        "We shouldn't bloody hell be messing with this. Let's go," he said, his hook around her arm.

        Suddenly, the barn doors opened, showing how big the portal was, dragging them towards it from its power. Then they got sucked into the portal, which made the portal close, and they both landed on dirt and ground. They were obviously in the Enchanted Forest, since she recognized it from the last time she'd been in it with Klaus. 

        "It appears we're in the Enchanted Forest," Hook informed her. 

        "Yeah, I got that," Kat replied. 

        "The only question is when?"

        Kat looked around for a clue as to when, which led her to a tree with a Snow White wanted flyer. 

        "Pierce?" he inquired. 

        "I think I know when," she stated. 

        He got up from where he'd been leaning against a fallen tree, only to see what Katherine was looking at. It was a flyer, saying Snow White was wanted for murder, treason, etc.

        Not wanting to stay in the Enchanted Forest, he questioned her, "So, any ideas how to get back?" 

        "We could locate a magic bean. I'm sure in this time, there's bound to be some, right? Problem is, last time, we went to you for one. And I doubt the other you would be keen on seeing his future self. I guess we'll figure out another idea. In the meantime, let's try not to screw up the past," Kat replied to him. 

        Hook saw a flash from the corner of his eye, and then there was the sound of horses. He grabbed Katherine, getting them both behind a tree. 

        "Black knights," he stated to her. Then, when they'd gone, they went to investigate, which was when they saw the Evil Queen threatening a village. 

        "What now?" Kat questioned him, as they watched from the bushes. 

        "First, before we go looking for a portal back, you need to find a change of clothes," he informed her. 

        She hated that idea, remembering how uncomfortable they'd been in her past, and imagined they'd be just as uncomfortable as she remembered.

        After the Evil Queen left, they got up, beginning to walk through the forest, figuring out how to find a portal.

        "Maybe we should go to Rumple. I convinced him last time to help Klaus. He had a sort of spirit inside of him, trying to control him, and Rumple did that for me."

        "If we do this, perhaps it's best that I stay back, what with our past. I'd wager he'd want to kill me on sight," Hook suggested. 

        As if talking about him had summoned him, he appeared a small distance behind them. 

        "Oh, I'll take that bet." 

        Both of them turned around to see him. 

        "I can't tell you how long I've been looking forward to this! Oops. I suppose I just did."

        Rumple magically began to choke Hook. 

        "Stop!" She yelled at him, and he tossed her away magically. 

        "I don't know who you are, dearie, but why don't you run off and let me enjoy my killing in peace?"

        She got to her feet. 

        "You may not know me now, but I know you. In the future. Rumple, let him go, and listen to me." 

        "Now, why would I listen to you?" he inquired of her. 

        "Because we're friends in the future. We used to be more like friends until you found Belle again. In the future, you'll find your son again."

        After a moment, Rumple let Hook go, whom then fell to the forest floor. 

        "What do you know of my son?"

        "His name is Baelfire. You're planning to enact a curse in hopes of reuniting with him," she stated. 

        "Who told you that? What are you? Some kind of witch?" he wanted to know.

        "I'm definitely not a witch. I'm the one the helps you find your son."

        "That's part of my plan, but I haven't done it," he told her. 

        "You will. And you will succeed."

        "If that's true, then that means...," Rumple began. 

        "We're from the future, mate," Hook told him.

        "But time travel hasn't been done, mate," Rumple replied. 

        "Sure, it has. I ended up here with someone else before. That version of you was more willing and understanding. I already paid that debt in the future that I owed you. Now, I need your help again. This time, I need you to help Hook and I get back home, if you're willing to help."

        After a few minutes, he decided that he'd help, and that he'd believe them.

        When they got to his castle, they were in the room that she recognized from the last time she'd been here. But in another time. 

        "You still haven't answered me about one mystery. Why haven't I killed him?" Rumple wanted to know, pointing at Hook. 

        "If it makes you feel any better, if wasn't for lack of effort," Hook told him. "Let's just say we bury the hatchet."

        "Yes. But why not in your skull?" Rumple asked him.

        "Because you've changed," Kat told him. "For Belle. You two fell for each other." 

        "What?" Rumple questioned, surprised at that. "First you tell me I let the pirate live. Now you're telling me I fall for the help." 

        "Let's get back to what we came here for. Shall we?" Hook interceded, not wanting this to drag on. 

        "I can work on getting your portal to the future open again," Rumple assured them. 

        "Great," Kat commented, happy to have gotten somewhere so quickly.

        After a while, Kat was given a special wand by Rumple, which would help get a portal for home opened up. Just like a magic bean, she thought of where she wanted to go. Then opened up the portal. 

        "Let's get out of here," Kat stated. 

        "Aye," Hook agreed with her. Then they went through the portal. 

        After a few minutes, they were back home in Storybrooke, the portal closed up. Then they headed back to the diner, where she told them where they'd been at, since they'd been wondering what took a bit for them to get back.

        That night, she and Hook were outside the diner, talking. 

        "Thank you for going after me. If you hadn't, I don't know what would've happened." 

        "It was the right thing to do," Hook told her.

        "Well, thanks anyway," she replied to him. 

        She gave a smile, before she and Klaus headed back home.