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Astrid quickly ran through the woods, forcing herself into narrow spaces past any incoming branches in her path; A group of boys her age hot on her trail with sharpened spears and crossbows.

Astrid looked back to see how far behind they were, but in looking back, it resulted in her tripping and losing her balance by a fallen tree branch on the ground. She fell face first and spit up dirt and then stood back up swiftly while the boys continued to grow even closer.

The Lost Boys whooped and hollered in excitement and exhilaration as they chased their prey down-- their prey being Astrid.

Astrid sprinted in the other direction and made a sharp turn before being grabbed and yanked aside by a pair of familiar set of hands- or hand; It felt cold and rough and held many rings on each finger.

His grip only tightened around the girl's mouth as the boys from before passed, not noticing the two. Hook released the teenager as she looked at him. "You wild them up, lass. You shouldn't have spoke to Pan like that."

"Well, he shouldn't be such an arrogant ass." Astrid smirked, fixing her twin swords on her sides and then placed her hands on her hips as she looked at the pirate in front of her.

Hook chuckled before replying in a serious tone, "Well, to get off of this bloody island, you have to follow his game. Might even do you some good to be nice to the demon."

Astrid scoffed in amusement, "Yeah, well, I'm not that nice." She punched him in the arm before they started walking back to the shore. "That's for ditching me to go hide."

Captain Hook smiled and glanced down at the teenager. "Sorry, AJ. I didn't mean to leave you."

Astrid woke up breathlessly, sitting up off of the floor as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight shining into her bedroom; She had been sleeping on the floor for a couple of nights now because she was used to her other homes.

Astrid rubbed her face with one hand and stood up, moving her blanket and pillow back on top of the bed before moving to her door; She groggily walked down the hall and then down the stairs to see her sister sitting at the counter, reading a newspaper.

"Morning. What time did you come in last night and where have you been?" Emma immediately spoke up.

"Unless, you've got something strong to drink and fully wake me up, don't talk to me. I'm not a morning person." Astrid blandly remarked.

"Here, try this." Emma said, handing the teenager her mug that held a dark brown liquid in it.

Astrid cupped the mug in both of her hands, feeling the warmth of the beverage and then smelled the strong scent of it. "What is it?"

"Coffee." Emma answered, "Not only does it taste good, but it's filled with caffeine, meaning it will keep you awake."

"What's it made out of?" Astrid asked suspiciously before taking her first sip.

"Coffee grounds. You can get it at the grocery store. Just try it already." Emma told her sister.

Astrid sniffed it once more and then took a big sip of the hot drink. She grinned big and looked at her twin. "This is now my favorite."

Emma watched in amusement with wide eyes as Astrid downed her coffee in four big gulps; Astrid then poured herself another cup of coffee from the pot, drinking it quickly again. "You awake now?"

Astrid nodded in satisfaction as Emma asked her question again, "Where did you go yesterday after we left Gold's shop?"

Astrid smirked and shrugged, "Oh, you know, just a place that's my business." She turned on her heels before she stopped to see their father walking into the kitchen.

"Astrid, where did you go?" David immediately questioned as Emma immediately answered, "Good luck getting her to answer that question. She won't even answer me."

Astrid admitted, "I was out looking for my own evidence to prove Regina's innocence. I know all of you are convinced that she did it, but I don't think so... So, that's where I went."

David stepped over to her after sharing a look with Emma who still sat at the counter. "Astrid." He began.

"Don't." Astrid cut him off with a small sad smile, "Nothing you say will make me believe that she did it, just like nothing I say will make you believe that she didn't do it."

David nodded slowly, unsure of what to say now. He knew her enough to know that once she sets her mind to something, she doesn't stop fighting for it and continued looking for the whole story.

Emma pursed her lips out slightly before asking somewhat to the girl, "Why wouldn't you tell me that when I asked you before he did?"

Astrid smirked, saying, "Because you're my sister and it's fun to annoy you. Too, he's my father, and I kind of have to listen to him."

Emma rolled her eyes while David lightly moved a fatherly arm around the teenager and smiled at his two daughters.

***

Astrid was feeling too energetic at the moment from all of that 'caffeine' as she listened to her mother deliver a speech at Archie's funeral, "Some of us knew him as Archie. Others, as Jiminy. But we all knew him as a true friend."

"And though, he may now be gone, he will always live on inside of us." Snow continued, "Reminding us to be our best selves, to do the right thing, to always fight for what we believe in." She choked on some of her words as her emotions got the best of her. "So, we shouldn't think of today as goodbye, just as a way of saying... Archie, we'll be listening."

Astrid continued to bounce slightly and fidget somewhat as she watched her mother bury herself in her father's arms; She noted all of the anguish looks on the townsfolk.

Henry looked up at his aunt and then took her hand into his, needing the reassurance from her. He didn't want to lose Archie who was a good friend to the boy. Astrid glanced down at her nephew and then moved her arm around his shoulders reassuringly and pulled him close to her as he wrapped his small arms around her waist.

Just as Astrid was about to leave from finding food and was about to head back to the shore, two boys jumped out from the woods.

One was holding a bow and arrow, the arrow dipped in Dreamshade and it was currently aimed at her; The other was holding a wooden spear, one he had made himself, and was also pointed at her.

Astrid lifted an eyebrow at them, not impressed or scared in the slightest, which made the two boys a bit nervous as one managed to state, "Stop, Girl... in the order of- of Pan."

"Oh, in the order of Pan?" Astrid repeated curiously and then began laughing as she unsheathed both of her swords. The two Lost Boys began backing away at the slightest but kept their ground. She smirked, adding, "Yeah, I don't take orders from that boy."

The boy with the spear was the first to attack her as he tried stabbing her in her gut, but she effortlessly dodged him. He tried again, but Astrid moved one sword quickly and sliced his spear in perfect halves as his face paled.

"Aw, your little spear broke." Astrid smirked and then stepped towards him swiftly, scaring him, "Aah!"

The boy fell to the ground after being successfully scared as he looked up at her; Astrid quickly turned around and caught an arrow the second boy shot at her. "About time you made a move. This one here was way too easy defeating."

She threw the arrow back at the second boy as it embedded itself deeply in his left shoulder; His eyes widened in fear as Dreamshade now coursed through his blood. He screamed out and fell to the ground.

"I have to get back to the ship-- or Hook will worry." Astrid murmured in small amusement, "He's always such a mother hen to me."

She sprinted down the path to the shore of Neverland and finally made it there within a few minutes. Astrid stopped in her tracks when she noticed that the Jolly Roger was gone.

"Looks like your trusted pirate friend abandoned you, love." A teenage boy with dirty blonde hair and green eyes spoke from behind her, a smirk upon his face.

Astrid quickly withdrew one of her swords and pinned him against the tree, her blade against his neck. "What did you do to him, Pan?"

Everyone gathered inside of the Blanchard apartment after the funeral; Emma had told Snow about Astrid drinking two whole pots of coffee, which is why the teenager is so hyped up. Snow and David decided to limit their teenage daughter on her caffeine now, which Astrid protested a lot.

Astrid was now a bit exhausted now that the caffeine was leaving her system; She was sitting on the bed beside Henry who looked out of the window sadly while still holding his aunt's hand.

"Want to talk about it yet, buddy?" Astrid began softly.

The eleven year old tore his gaze away from the window and looked at her, sniffling a little. He sighed some before answering her quietly, "You ever lose someone you cared about a lot?"

Astrid's blue eyes then showed her hurt and sadness as she watched him carefully. "All the time." She admitted sadly.

"Does that hurt ever go away?" Henry asked her.

Astrid sighed, "I hope so." Henry wrapped his arms around her waist as he laid his head on her lap, crying some; Astrid patted his back reassuringly softly. "Hey, I do know that it will get better."

"How do you know?" Henry inquired, not moving from his spot. Astrid smiled some before answering the kid, "Because I have faith."

Emma walked around the kitchen island while holding a plate with a pop tart on it; She moved over to her son and started, "Hey, Kid. You hungry? I managed to wrangle up a pop tart."

"Managed? You just put it in that cooking box on the counter and it's done. Even I could've figured that out." Astrid remarked with a small smirk as her twin glared at her slightly.

"No, thanks." Henry sadly said as he sat up and looked out of the window again. Astrid stood up and moved over to her parents as Emma followed after her. Astrid tried, "Em, you're trying. That's what counts."

"Emma, you're doing all you can do." Snow also said while nudging the teenager a little in her side.

"That's what makes me feel awful. Astro Girl here managed to get him to open up to her in a matter of minutes." Emma muttered.

Astrid looked at her sister in confusion and inquired, "Astro Girl?"

Emma looked at her and shrugged while explaining her nickname to the girl, "It's a reference to that animated movie Astro Boy. And it also seems to suit you because you're just so stellar and perfect at everything you do."

"I am not-" Astrid began as Emma cut her off while facing her, "Yes you are. Everything just seems to come natural to you, like everything's easy for you. Need someone to open up about something? You've got it covered. Need a warrior? Need someone perfect? You've also got that covered."

Astrid looked at her twin, now offended slightly, saying, "You think my life has been easy? Sister, you have no idea of the tough choices I had to make. You have no idea of what I've been through. And you know what? None of you even knows who I am."

"Astrid-" Snow started while moving her hand over the teenager's arm to stop her.

"No. Don't. First, you guys don't believe me when I tell you Regina is innocent." Astrid stopped her, yanking her arm away and then stepped back, which gained the attention of her father, "Then you tell me my life was a fucking picnic compared to yours. You know what? No."

The teenager marched over to the door as David and Snow called after her, "Astrid!" But that didn't stop her from leaving out of the apartment with the door slamming shut.

Astrid still held her sword against Peter's neck as he simply smirked and commented, "You've got fire, I like fire."

"Where did Hook go?" She questioned him again, her blue eyes narrowed slightly.

"He decided that his revenge is more precious than, well, you..." Peter began in amusement, "So, he made a trade with me. A way off of the island if he leaves you behind."

"I'm not some consolation prize. You don't own me." Astrid remarked, removing her blade and resheathed it.

"When are you going to learn, love? Everything on this island is mine, which includes you." Peter replied confidently.

"We'll see about that." Astrid said while quickly arming her bow with an arrow that had been dipped in squid ink. She released her bowstring as the arrow soared through the air towards him.

Peter smirked and caught the arrow in his hand right before it hit him in the chest. "You should know that I'm capable of catching an arrow."

"I know." Astrid also smirked, "-Which is why I coated the tip of that arrow."

"What?" Peter said while he unwillingly dropped the arrow to the ground. He looked down at his hands and body with slightly wide eyes as he slowly became immobilized. "Squid Ink."

"I told you. No one owns me." Astrid cheekily commented.

"I'm actually impressed." Peter sarcastically replied, not taking his defeat that well. "What else is up your sleeve, love?"

"That, Romeo, would be no fun to tell you. You started this game, well, game on, Pan." Astrid answered while picking up the arrow again and then slid it inside of the quiver on her back. "I'd love to stay, but I gotta run."

"This is my island, I will always find you!" Peter yelled after the teenager as she started walking away, "You can run, but you can't hide!"

"Watch me." Astrid called out before she entered the woods, leaving Peter Pan on the beach, trapped by Squid Ink, and slightly dumbfounded at the girl.

Just as Astrid was about to enter Granny's diner, she was stopped by Belle who ran over to the girl, yelling, "Astrid!"

The teenager narrowed her eyes slightly but then remembered who the woman was. "Belle, what's up? Everything okay?" She turned her attention to Belle who stopped in front of her.

Belle shook her head and started, "I heard that you're familiar with this one handed pirate..."

Astrid nodded slowly and cut her off, "And the other is a hook?" Belle nodded in confirmation as the teenager added, "I know him. What did he do?"

"He attacked me today in the library-- or tried to. I hid in the elevator until he left." She told Astrid who asked, "You okay?"

"I'm fine, but I need your help in getting something back that he had took." Belle answered while the teenager's eyebrows shot up at that but her blue eyes narrowed again as she replied, "I'm listening."

Astrid had been running nonstop from Peter for a week now; She would get only an hour nap each day. Tinkerbell has also been looking out for her since she had first crossed paths with her and Hook.

Astrid still couldn't believe that her friend, more like a father figure, had just abandoned her like she meant nothing to him.

Right now, Astrid was sitting Indian-style on a high boulder, sharpening her battle axe. She was trying to clear her head of being stuck in Neverland, Hook leaving her behind, and Peter Pan.

"Well, well. Didn't I tell you, Charming?" Peter began towards the girl who quickly looked up and over at him, "I will always find you, love."

Astrid scoffed, jumping down from the rock and moved tauntingly towards the smirking boy. "Well, good for you. Now what, Huckleberry?"

Peter smirked at that nickname while circling around the girl now. "You broke nearly all of my rules since you arrived here, you know. Here's what we're going to do, love. The two of us are going back to my camp where we'll deal with you."

"How about, no?" Astrid replied, "I'm not going anywhere with you, Pan."

Peter wasn't going to return to camp and tell the boys he had failed; He will get the girl no matter what. "Darling, you don't have much of a choice."

"Okay, then I choose choice number two: pass." Astrid insisted and started to walk away from him.

Peter vanished and appeared in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. "We can do this the easy way-" He stood very close to her now, inches from her face, "Or the hard way."

"You don't scare me." Astrid replied, unimpressed. "And I will get what I want, I always do." She smirked and continued to walk away from him.

"And I never fail." Peter also smirked and made her fall asleep by throwing poppy dust at her; She fell as he lifted her in his arms and leapt in the air, flying back to his camp.

Belle and Astrid walked to the Storybrooke pier as Belle spoke up first, "So, how long have you known Hook?"

"Seems like a lifetime." Astrid muttered and then stopped at the end of the dock. "We're here."

"I don't see any ship, though-" Belle started as Astrid chuckled and cut her off, "Because it's cloaked." The teenager grabbed a handful of bird feed from the box and tossed it towards the side of the docks, making the steps visible to Hook's ship.

"See?" Astrid grinned towards the woman beside her.

"Maybe you should go in first, considering you actually know him better than I do." Belle commented as Astrid shrugged and stepped onto the ship first as Belle followed suit.

"You look for whatever you came here for and I'll look around and make for sure no one else is here." Astrid said. Belle nodded and moved downstairs to look while Astrid looked around above the vessel.

Astrid sighed as memories of her being on this ship surfaced into her mind. Sometimes, she even wished that her and Hook hadn't went to Neverland and just travelled the seas, no worries in the world.

She moved her hand across the initials A.J and L.J and K.J in the wood on the railing of the left side of the boat as she smiled some. Astrid never met Liam because he passed away before her time, but she knows all of the stories from Hook telling her.

"Strolling down memory lane, lass?" A familiar male voice spoke up a few feet behind her now.

Astrid turned around and faced Captain Hook, her hands resting against the hilts of her swords by her sides. "I don't know. Don't you have your revenge to tend to or whatever?"

Hook's eyebrows furrowed somewhat as he stepped closer towards her. "Something's troubling you. What is it, AJ?"

Astrid shook her head and replied, "Nothing. I'm fine."

"I know you, Kid. If anyone here knows you, it's me... and Cora." Hook answered while leaning against a post beside him. "Is it your family?"

"I don't know." Astrid admitted, "I thought I would be happy that I'm back with them and reunited with my family after all of these years... But Storybrooke's not for me. I want to go back to Berk or the Enchanted Forest..."

"Talk to them." Hook said as the teenager gave him a pointed look while gesturing to herself, "I know. Your way of communication is through violence."

"You do know me." Astrid smirked.

They then heard noise down below deck as Hook narrowed his eyes at the teenager. "Who's here with you?"