Chapter One: Peter Breaks Through

AN: About a year ago, I removed all my stories because I was no longer happy writing. After some time, I regained my purpose and reposted the Carry On series. Now, I feel confident enough to repost my OUAT story again. It may not be a priority, as I am currently serving with AmeriCorps, but I am dedicated to finishing at least this book.

~Once~

10-year-old Melody Roberts was looking around the second-hand bookshop in town, while her mother was ordering their food from Granny's. The bookshop was her favorite place in all of Storybrooke. She loved everything about it from the smell of the books to the nearly-deaf owner who shouted out random things as he read.

Since she did well on her report card, her mother promised her that she could pick out a book. Once she heard that, Mel had barely looked both ways before she raced across the road to her favorite shop. She greeted old man Barrie as she ran in, and then started combing the shelves for the perfect book. Mel wandered towards the back where, oddly, Mr. Barrie put his newest acquisitions.

She looked at every shelf she could reach, but she didn't see a single thing that caught her interest. She decided that she would go over to the children's section and see if there were any more books about Robin Hood or King Arthur. She turned to go, when she heard a noise, a whisper. She looked around, but didn't see anybody. She shrugged and started to walk away again.

"Peter!" a girl's voice called out. Mel frowned and turned towards the noise. Again no one was there.

"You know that place between sleep and awake? That place where you still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always love you. That's where I'll be waiting." Another voice whispered. Other whispers echoed throughout the back of the store, they were talking so fast and all at once that Mel only caught bits and pieces.

"I'll get you, Peter Pan, if it's the last thing I do." An angry male yelled.

"To die would be an awfully big adventure." A boy who sounded awfully familiar voiced. A pang shot to her heart urging her to find the source of the whispers. The voices led her back to the newest acquisitions' shelf. They seemed to be coming from behind the some of the books on the third shelf. Curious, Mel moved the books away and sitting behind them was another book. Mel reached in and pulled it out. It was green leather bound book with a gold etching of a boy who looked utterly mischievous.

"Peter Pan." Mel read the title. She cocked her head to the side, something about that name caused her heart to speed up. Where had she heard that name before?

"Melody?" a woman's voice called out.

"Coming mother." Mel said. She looked at the book once more before tucking it under her arm and heading up front.

"Did you find a book?" Regina Mills asked her adopted daughter. Mel nodded and showed her mother the book.

"Peter Pan?" Regina asked, "Aren't you a little old for a children's book?"

Mel shrugged.

"I've never read it before." Mel answered.

"Alright," Regina said before she herding her daughter towards the register. Mr. Barrie was sitting there reading a play called Peter and Alice. When he felt the presence of the two, he looked up from the play.

"Found something, have you?" he asked. Mel nodded with a smile and presented Peter Pan to him.

"Peter Pan?" Mr. Barrie asked. "Good choice. That will be $6.99, Ms. Mills."

Regina nodded and handed the man her card. Mr. Barrie scanned the book and card before handing them back to Regina and Melody.

"Thank-you, Mr. Barrie." Mel said before taking her new book and leaving the store with her mother close behind.

"Your welcome," he called after her, "Oh, and Ms. Roberts..."

Mel stopped and turned back to him.

"Enjoy the book, you'll find it to be an awfully big adventure."

Mel nodded and scampered after her mother. Mr. Barrie watched after the girl until she disappeared around the corner.

"I hope your happy, Peter Pan." Mr. Barrie said before disappearing in a golden light.

~Once~

That evening after dinner, Mel took her book upstairs to read. She jumped up on her four-post bed and snuggled into the middle. Once she was comfortable she flipped the book open to the first page.

"All children grow up, except one…" she read, inciting an adventure she didn't quite understand.

~Once~

AN: So this is from Aria's cursed memories. Though she was 16 the entire time Storybrooke was frozen, in her memories this comes to her as if she were 10. Plus, there's a hint of our beloved James Barrie who first gave life to the Peter Pan we know and love.