Hey, lovelies! How is everyone's summer going? Or...rather...how is whatever season you're in going? I've been doing really well. Getting ready to take my comprehensive exam for graduate school. I'm also looking for a new job. I've been busy, but I am super happy to post this chapter finally. It's something new. It's from Peter's perspective so let me know what you think. I was really nervous to write from his point of view.

The following people need all the love and acknowledgments: LiveOak, Lauren Lydia Jane, Mikaelson, ehluvr3, scorpiongirl92, Oh my Batman is that Spitfire, mia-secret's, lauren, DecayOfTime, RainyZ, scorpriongirl92, TakingNeverland, and TheBlackDragonette. You guys are the best!


Neverland – Present – Indian Camp

Peter bit his lip as he watched Neverland come into view. The boys all oohed and ahed over it, having all dreamt of going there. For those who were familiar with the island, they all grinned with excitement. Peter remembered his first glimpse of the island. It seemingly welcomed him. Its energy rising to greet him. He loved it immediately, and it made him its prince. The island was so different from where the fairies lived. Their island neighbored Neverland. The Vale wasn't nearly as welcoming. It was almost cold in comparison. It felt less like home. He felt out of place, like his mother had. He knew why. Humans weren't supposed to be there, and they were both part human.

As soon as he landed, a warmth surprised him like a hug. The sounds of the island started up again. It was saying hello. It was ecstatic to have him home. Admittedly, he felt rather happy to be there too. It showed on his face. The boy breathed in the scent of the island, feeling his lungs tighten at the change in air pressure. His body was adjusting to being there. From the groans of the others, their lungs tingled as well. Terence placed his hand on Peter's shoulder and smiled down at him. Peter smiled back happily. Somehow Terence figured out how to make Peter fly again. He was sleeping when Terence got him up. He was excited, frantic even. He said he'd figured it all out, and it was as simple as star stuff, a magical dust left behind from a falling star. Stronger than both pixie and fairy dust, just touching it might restore Peter's magic. He had some; enough for both Peter and Isabel. He told Peter they'd help her in the morning. With one touch, Peter was flying about his room, giggling to himself. He was so happy that he crowed loudly, forgetting that the rest of the town was probably sound asleep. Then Terence insisted they celebrate with a trip to Neverland. How he acquired magic beans was a little vague to Peter, but he didn't question it. He jumped at the chance to return, even if it was briefly. Terence also mentioned taking the boys from the town with them. Just for a little bit. Peter couldn't say no. it was just what he needed to get his friends back.

"It hasn't changed," Peter said dreamily.

"Not at all. It's just empty," Terence shook his head. "But not for long. You're back. The island will have to catch up. Then it'll fill up with life again." He gave Peter a reassuring smile.

Looking around where they landed, Peter realized they were in the Indian encampment. Other than their houses, nothing was left behind. Like they had just picked up and left. "Y'know, I don't see the natives in Storybrooke much. Where do you think they all went?"

"That is a very good question," Terence nodded. "You would think since the curse grabbed the lost boys as well that it would have gotten the natives. Come to think of it, the mermaids didn't seem to be affected either."

"But it didn't," Peter added. He pursed his lips together as he tried to remember if he'd seen any of the mermaids in town. No, he hadn't. Sure he'd seen some from other worlds there. Neverland's mermaids never did. It was strange. He almost wanted to say that the curse didn't pick up non-humans, but if that were the case, a good portion of the town wouldn't be there.

"Why don't you go show the boys how the island works? Show them how to wish up toys and all that," Terence suggested.

Peter shook his head and frowned. "I don't think they'd listen to me."

Sure they had started including him at school, but that didn't mean they would automatically see him as the leader while in Neverland. Even the lost boys seemed to have forgotten he was once their fearless leader. As he started to go sit off to the side, Slightly approached him. "What should we do first, Peter?"

The boy's blue eyes got even brighter than they were before as he stood back up. The rest of the boys looked on expectantly and waited for his first order. It wasn't necessarily an order, but Peter was used to calling the shots. A grin spread on his face. "Right then. First, I think we should wish up a giant feast to celebrate being here!" All of the boys cheered. Peter looked over at Henry who cheered on too, but he could tell that Henry was just play acting. He wasn't really happy to be there. He was the only boy in the town to argue before agreeing to go to Neverland. Tilting his head to the side, he marched up to Henry and the boys all quieted down. "You first, Mills." Henry's eyebrows furrowed, probably confused as to why Peter would single him out. "All you gotta do is wish it and it'll come true. Anything you want."

"What about…ice cream?" Henry sounded a little unsure, but without missing even a nanosecond, the island provided. A bowl of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream appeared in midair. Henry had to shoot his hands out in front of him to catch it. A grin spread on his face, and he took the spoon from the ice cream. Scooping up a bit of chocolate, he shoveled it in his mouth.

A haughty grin also appeared on Peter's face as he glanced over at Terence. The man looked proud of the boy, and Peter felt even prouder of himself. Before long, everyone was wishing up a fine meal for them engorge themselves on. Even Terence indulged himself in a bit of the wares they dreamt up. They were all going to suffer from belly aches afterwards, but it was going to be well worth it in Peter's opinion. It had been far too long since he got to enjoy the island. He planned on doing so thoroughly before they had to leave for Storybrooke. He tried to remind himself that they were going to have to remember when they arrived so they would know when to leave. However, the island would surely do its best to make them all forget where they were and who they had waiting for them back home.


The camp settled down finally once the boys had eaten themselves into quite a stupor. Almost every boy in the camp had fallen asleep or was on their way to doing so. Peter took this as an opportunity to go explore on his own. He glided above the trees of the island and sought out his old hide out. He wanted to see if it was still in good shape. Now that he could fly, he could make frequent visits to the island. He could probably take his mother and father there too. Peter wanted to keep it up so they would have a cozier place to stay. It didn't feel right staying in the Indian encampment. Not when half of the time he wasn't welcome there to begin with. Only when he and the lost boys had allied with the Indians were they allowed to visit, but even those times were short-lived and he wasn't allowed to stay for longer than the time allotted to him.

Vines had grown over the rock that served as the door to an underground tunnel. He cleared them away before stepping on what looked like an ordinary tree root. With a groan, the rock rolled away from the entrance and down Peter traveled. He walked along the tunnel, feeling a bit nostalgic. He remembered when Tink first showed it to him, having built it to protect him from any danger. He also remembered laughing at her because there was no possible way he'd ever need it. Joke was on him. He and the boys used it so often to get away from pirates and indians alike. Not knowing the truth, he felt awful. What he perceived as a silly and overly cautious fairy was actually a protective mother; something he'd wanted for years. After a few minutes, he found himself in the hideout. Echoes of memories flooded him. He and "his men" laughing throughout the night, high off another adventure. The sound of his mother's wings jingling as she darted around the room. Days filled with crazy schemes to upset the pirates. The place looked the same but felt so different. He was the same child, but he felt so much older now that he was aware of the truth about his parents. The island should've rejected him in that moment. He guessed it didn't because it was his island after all.

"I always wondered what this place actually looked like," a voice behind him mused.

Peter jumped so high that he flew to the ceiling and bumped his head. He saw Henry standing underneath the ornate arch of the hideout. The entire compound was like a large fortress; completely hidden underground of course. Peter wanted it that way. There were rooms the boys could sleep in, a kitchen, a grand den. The latter was the only room really utilized in the place. The boys pretty much slept where they fell at the end of the day, and none of them could actually cook. Not to mention, they were hardly ever there to begin with. It seemed like such a waste, but it was their home. Should he and his family ever return for good, he'd like to think it would be their home too. His mother probably wouldn't mind. His father might. The sea was home for him. The Jolly Roger certainly was. Peter wasn't sure it would work out having Hook live in the hideout. He'd be awfully bored. Then again, the pirate did just fine at their house in Storybrooke.

"I figured it would be smaller," Henry mused as he walked around.

"What are you doing here?" Peter asked.

"Couldn't sleep. Decided to explore," Henry shrugged.

"You followed me." Peter found it a little disconcerting. He guessed he'd forgotten how to travel incognito around the island. Maybe his mother's cloaking spell had worn off when they left. He didn't know, but he tried not to let it get to him. He might as well just be nice to Henry. "You want a tour of the place?"

Henry nodded. The two boys started moving about the compound. Peter told Henry stories about his numerous adventures in Neverland. He made sure to refer to his mom as Tink. Henry knew she was the same person, but it seemed like the island wanted the distinction made. Peter recognized it as the island setting to work to make him forget. He had to keep reminding himself that he wasn't the same. He had parents. He wasn't wary of adults anymore. Everything was different.

Henry seemed intrigued by all of the stories. They were much more dangerous than the book. As far as they book went, they were terribly inaccurate. He would admit that he was the bratty boy who was too haughty for his own good. However, he would never cut someone's hand off. He would never throw a fit over Wendy and her brothers leaving. Children were welcome to come and go as they pleased as far as he was concerned. The second they wanted to go home, the second he would lead them back. He wasn't going to keep them there. And, to be terribly honest, Wendy Darling was kind of irritating. There was something she wanted to be to him that he wasn't necessarily interested in. He found it a little unsettling that she had a crush on an eight year old boy, and she was quite a few years older than him. He just wanted to have fun. He wanted to explore, go on adventures, and always have things stay that way. She didn't seem to understand that. There was so much that Peter could correct Henry on, but instead, he decided to show Henry one of his favorite places on the island.

They climbed a staircase to the top of the hideout. Then they climbed and climbed all the way up a tree until they sat on the highest branch. Hangman's Tree was at the very center of the island, and its tallest branch had a perfect view of the island. Everywhere they turned, they could see almost completely to the ocean; aside from Skull Rock's ominous silhouette in the background.

"Thank you for bringing us here," Henry smiled over at Peter.

The younger boy shrugged. "It was nothing. I guess I was just celebrating getting my magic back. You really should be thanking Terence. It was his idea."

"Oh. Well, I'll be sure to," Henry nodded. "So...what's it like to have a pirate for a dad?"

"I dunno. Still trying him out." Peter chuckled. "He's alright I guess. He used to seem so scary but not anymore. Not since Mama told us the truth."

"My mom lied to me too." Henry looked down.

"About your dad?" Peter asked.

Henry nodded again. "Yeah. She said he died as a hero, but when we went to New York, he was alive."

"And the Dark One's son..." Peter trailed off. "You know, you got one hell of a family."

Looking over at Peter, Henry laughed softly. "So do you."

He had a point. Peter's family may not have been royalty, and his mother didn't use dark magic. His family was still just as unconventional. His mother's side of the family was fairies. From what he'd been told, his father's family was pirates. Well his father's adoptive family basically. Then there was Peter himself. Even as only part fairy, he was special. He could fly. He couldn't age, even away from Neverland. He was different from most children. No his family wasn't exactly normal.

"I suppose I do," Peter shrugged.

"What's it like? Having a mom for a fairy?" Henry asked as he went over to a doll house in the corner of the den. It used to be Tink's little house.

Peter shrugged again. "It's kind of the same from during the curse really. She makes me do my homework, tries to make me eat my vegetables. When we were here, I stopped remembering what it was like to have a mother. Before that, it was amazing. She taught me a little bit of magic. Just little stuff."

"You have magic?" Henry's eyebrows raised as if that was information that excited him.

"Only a little." Peter walked over to Henry and took a tiny bed out of his hands. "Don't touch that."

Henry frowned, watching Peter carefully place the bed back in its place, hiding the clean spot that was underneath it. "You miss this place, don't you?"

"Of course I do," he huffed.

"Would you come back to live here?" the boy asked.

Turning to look at Henry, Peter nodded though he didn't understand why it was any of Henry's business. "Yeah. I would. I mean, this is my home. Why wouldn't I want to come back here?"

"I dunno. I would too. I kind of want to go to the enchanted forest. My whole family, you know?" Henry smiled.

"And your family isn't up for it?" Peter asked.

"I can't really tell. I think my grandpa is," he answered.

"I don't know if my family would want to come back here." Peter frowned. He hasn't really thought what it might mean for his father. Only what it would mean for his mother and himself. Now that the subject had come up. He didn't know if returning to Neverland was really a good idea. His family needed a more neutral space. In Neverland, they were always at odds with one another. What if the island wanted that dynamic to come back? What if it simply brought up horribly memories for them? Peter didn't want his father to be uncomfortable around him, no more than he already was. "Maybe we really don't need to come back here."

"But where would you go if you didn't?" he asked.

"Probably to the enchanted forest. My mom used to live in a village there with my grandfather. That's where she and my dad met. We could probably go back there." Although, the thought of that kind of worried him too. "You know, we should probably go back to camp now. I doubt Terence really wants us wandering off so far."

The two of them started heading back to the camp. To be fair to Henry, Peter had chosen not to fly. Their walk was quiet. All that could be heard were the animals that had woken up the second his feet touched the dirt.

"You know, my dad has a fiancé. Kinda like your mom has a boyfriend." Henry spoke up. "I don't know exactly how I feel about that."

"I'm used to Terence being around more, but I can't help but want my parents to get back together. It's difficult, though. Terence is cool. He's helped me a lot over the years. Even before him and Mama got together, before we came here. He helped her a lot too. But my dad is my dad." Peter sighed. "Whatever she wants I suppose."

"Tamara's nice, but I don't know exactly how I feel about her. Emma seemed kinda upset when she found out. I only met her for a little bit," Henry shrugged.

"I think my dad doesn't really like Terence. I know they didn't when they were both trying to win my mom over." A smirk came over Peter's face.

They came to the edge of camp. They had to be quiet as they snuck back in. With all of the boys sleeping, a little bit of noise might cause a second round of revelry to begin. Peter had a plan for their adventure the next day. They'd need their rest. He tiptoed into one of the huts, finding a nice bed to collapse onto. He'd forgotten about his lack of sleep. Peter hadn't gotten any sleep since the night before. He certainly hadn't slept that night. Sleep took him over quickly. Soon enough he was snoring lightly, mouth hanging open.