She gathered her hair up, walking with her arms up to let the breeze blow against the back of her neck before lowering her hands and letting her hair tumble back again. It wasn't wise to relax or keep her guard down. They could be attacked or Pan could decide to play a game and she had to be ready. But it was too damn hot. She had lived in Florida, which sometimes felt closer to the sun than its neighbour Cuba but the humidity of the jungle was unrelenting.

"How the hell can you walk around like that?" she waved a hand at Hook's long black coat as it swished over the ground and he cocked an eyebrow, looking back at her over his shoulder.

"Quite dashingly actually, thanks for noting," he smirked and then stopped, pointing upwards. "There she is," he said and his voice was gentle. Emma looked up, hand over her eyes, and spotted in the canopy far above a small, modest treehouse.

"Tinkerbell."

Once the plan to take Wendy as a trade for Henry had been agreed, much to Hook's reluctance, they had realised that they could not just sneak into his camp and grab her. What they needed was someone who Pan trusted but also someone who they could count on to help them. Hook had provided the fairy's name as if it caused him a psychical pain and since he and Emma had left the ship he had been dragging his feet. He gave another sigh and rubbed at his mouth, his hand fingering the bottle of rum by his hip. Emma ignored him and gripped the first rung of the ladder.

"What should I expect?" An image of a jealous, tiny fairy pulling a girl's hair came vividly into Emma's mind, just as sometimes she battled with the impulse to call Hook a codfish. Tinkerbell could be no bigger than her hand and talk in another language for all she knows.

"Depends on her mood...when she's happy she's ecstatic, when she's angry…" he rubbed the back of his neck and smiled to himself in a nostalgic way and Emma frowned before climbing up. Whatever kind of magical creature was up there it was clear that she and Hook shared a history and judging from the captain's almost bashful hesitance she could almost guess what.

Henry would laugh, she contemplated with a soft smile before catching herself. It was at once painful yet comforting knowing that he was so close but maddening that she couldn't get to him. Pan, who she was rather perturbed to realise was not a little kid and seemed to emit a weird sexual frisson, had promised her the night before that her son was safe and unharmed. According to Hook the immortal always kept to his word but it was hard to trust a smug, skinny bastard who held her son hostage.

"Knock gently, she'll give you what for if she's sleeping," he advised as Emma reached the treehouse. Panting for breath and perspiring heavily she knocked against the bottom of the trap door but received no answer. Praying that she had not just climbed so far for nothing Emma cracked the door open an inch and peered through. She could see the bottom of a table and an empty hammock but no fairy. She looked back down at Hook.

"I can't see anyone."

"Go in, we'll wait for her."

Emma pushed the door back and climbed into the fairy's treehouse. As she straightened she immediately realised that she had been wrong. Standing on a balcony with her back to her was a blonde woman dressed in dark green clothes. The sun glinted off the messy bun of hair perched on top of her head and the sequins stitched into her clothes.

She's got no wings and she's my size. The thought drifted through her mind as Tinkerbell turned, hearing Hook close the trap door, and Emma inhaled sharply. For just a second the fairy seemed to shimmer and the faint glow that seemed to surround the woman winked out and she stood small and oddly faint, as if the dim sun was shining through her like she was no more substantial than paper. Emma had lived in a place called the retirement state, where the old came to live out their remaining years and die and she had seen the same wasted faces there but never on someone who looked so young.

Shocked and not knowing how to proceed Emma jumped when Hook's sword cluttered to the floor as Tink hastily turned her back and gripped the railing. The captain approached her but then stopped at her back, clearly uncomfortable.

"Tink?" his voice was low, rough and the most vulnerable Emma had ever heard him. The only time she had heard anything close to it was when he talked about the death of Milah or his shame and regret about Baelfire. Apart from a few passing comments he had never spoken of the fairy. But then I never asked…

"What are you doing here?! You – you can't just waltz in you know!" her voice was strident but Emma could tell she was deeply embarrassed. Her shoulders hunched as he lifted a hand to touch her but hesitated. Emma suddenly felt intrusive and averted her eyes away before they flicked back, unable to stop herself.

"Are you well?" he asked delicately and Tink laughed, her shoulders slumping.

"You know the answer to that and you've known it for a long time," she answered with a sigh and then inhaled deeply before turning. Emma steeled herself but the person turning was not sick at all, in fact she looked the picture of health. Her skin was plump and rosy and her blue eyes gleamed. She was beautiful and at the sight of her Hook sighed.

"Glamour. How long have you been using that trick?"

"Long enough to fool you," she retorted smartly and Emma suppressed a smile. Tink's tongue was barbed and she seemed someone who did not suffer fools gladly. Not insulted in the least Hook grinned and as the two old friends gazed at each other Emma could feel the pull between them, made blatant by the resistance they were both fighting.

"I've missed you, my lady," he added quietly with feeling, inclining his head with an easy smile and for the first time the scornful look on Tink's face disappeared. The tension snapped and they moved as one into an embrace, the pirate lifting the smaller woman off her feet. He held her like she was a precious thing. Feeling more intrusive than ever Emma distracted herself by looking around the treehouse as they hugged. Kettles, pots and pans hung from hooks, too many to actually be of use but what drew her attention was a shelf on a wall. Clustered on it were a number of small bottles, all neatly labelled and she leaned down to read.

Poppy seeds, squid ink, Dreamshade, fairy dust, pixie dust. The last substance was everywhere she looked, a dull grey dust that glinted duly in the light. At her feet she could see an open sack full of the stuff. Emma picked up a tiny phial half filled with inert pixie dust and gave it a little shake, smiling. The dull, ash like dust immediately shifted into a vibrant, sparkling green and Emma's eyebrows lifted in surprise.

"Cool."

"What did you do?!" Tink's voice barked out from behind her and Emma dropped the phial in surprise and bumped into the sack of pixie dust, upsetting it. The once lifeless dust spilled out over the floor like thousands of finely cut emeralds, burning brightly. Emma winced, lifting her head up to apologise when she froze. Hook and Tink were staring at her in stupefied wonder that quickly turned into a barely suppressed excitement. Finally, unable to hold back, Hook whooped with delight and swept Emma into his arms, kissing her.

"You did it Swan!" he cried out, laughing in happiness. Emma, confused but pleased, pushed at him to put her down and he did so reluctantly. Tink blinked at the show of affection before she turned her attention to the green dust. She lifted her fingers to her mouth and her eyes grew glossy with emotion.

"It's alive…how did you do it?" she asked faintly as Hook bent down to scoop some up. Emma shook her head, deeply confused.

"Do what? I just shook it."

"No, pixie dust is inert in Neverland, only sometimes will it work but usually the magic drains away, like everything else here now," Tink explained, moving closer to her, head tilting. Emma felt a little awkward under the scrutiny, especially as this was touching on a subject that she was still coming to terms with.

"I, uh, I have magic."

"Innate?"

"I guess so."

Tink smiled, a flash of jealousy in her eyes. "Most people who practise magic need a source for it. Like here the magic is powered by belief. Fairies use dust and a wand as a conduit but some people have an inborn supply."

"Like Miss Swan here!" Hook said as he took a seat on the low table, beaming, and Emma couldn't remember if she had ever seen the pirate so happy. But it was more than happiness, it was pure relief. He was looking at the fairy with an unbridled hope. "You're saved Tink."

The fairy sunk down into the hammock, staring between the dust that Hook poured into her hand and at Emma in a guarded sort of wonder, as if she couldn't quite believe it. Emma, uncomfortable with the attention and what she had done, stared out of the window that showed a breath-taking view of the canopy top and her mind strayed to Henry, hoping that he was safe, both psychically and mentally. Her display of magic and the benefit that she had unwittingly wrought would have to take back seat.

"We actually came to see you for a reason," Emma began and Tink smirked.

"Oh, so it wasn't to say hello?" her eyes flicked to Hook who looked a little ashamed before he grew stony faced and straightened. Tink's eye narrowed. "Not only haven't you skinned your crocodile but you're sharing quarters too."

"Hardly," Hook replied dryly but he shifted uncomfortably. "The partnership is matter of convenience…but yes, my revenge is dead and buried. As the queen still breathes I take it you've had a similar change of heart?"

"Yes…though I can't say what the root of your forgiveness is."

Hook smirked and looked at Emma. "You're looking at her."

His attention on Emma he did not see the flash of hurt on the fairy's face but Emma did. Now fully aware that the history they shared was anything but platonic she felt a squirming embarrassment. She and Hook flirted, they bantered and teased each other and while she could confess reluctantly that she enjoyed it and found him too attractive for his own good that was as far as it went for her. She may have had a hand in his change of heart but only one thing truly swayed him to help her and her family.

"Neal. Neal is why he's here," Emma said softly and the smile of Hook's face dropped like a weight. Tink nodded sadly, tears actually welling up in her eyes.

"Regina told me what happened. I'm sorry for your loss. We both knew Bae when he was here. I wish I could have done more for him," Tink confessed and Hook nodded.

"None more than I. If Milah lived we would have raised him and even after she died I had that opportunity. I could have been a father to him, I should have protected him but I sacrificed him for my own ends…as I seem to forsake everything," he added, looking at Tink sadly. She smiled and shrugged.

"Who here is blameless of that?"

"I couldn't help him while he was alive but I will protect his son if I can," he finished passionately and Tink stared at him, her expression unreadable. She placed a hand against her stomach and then smirked.

"Careful Killian, you almost sound like a gentleman again."

"Well my lady you can take a boy out of Eton…" He joked and Emma was about to ask him about his school days, where he actually comes from but the only thing that was of importance was Henry. She leaned closer and stared at Tink intently.

"Will you help us get my son back?"

Tink narrowed her yes. "You know you can't beat Pan. You know that better than anyone," she directed towards Hook who nodded.

"Perhaps but we both know his pride has always been his downfall. Going after him directly doesn't work but there is a way to even our odds." He rose and peered out of the window, as if looking for eavesdroppers. "We can't take Henry so we have to find another way to save him. What we want is Wendy."

"Wendy?" Tink blinked, straightening up in the hammock.

"Listen, we need someone we can trust to bring Wendy to us. Someone who can walk freely into Pan's camp without suspicion. We need your help," Emma explained, staring at Tink desperately. The fairy narrowed her eyes.

"What makes you think you can trust me?"

Hook laughed tiredly and sat back down on the table. "Come on Tink, after everything we been through together! We've always had each other's backs."

Tink stared at him, clearly in conflict before she visibly hardened and shook her head. "Those days are gone. The only back I look out for is my own. Why should I risk it?"

"You're sick," Emma replied flatly and Tink's eyes snapped to her, angry and startled. Emma pressed on. "You said magic is fading and I'm guessing that's what you need. I can give it to you," she said clearly, pointing down at the green pixie dust still speckling the floor. "If you bring Wendy to us I'll make as much of this stuff as you need. You have my word."

Tink bit her lip, gnawing at it and her fingers rubbed against her side. "If Peter finds out that I'm helping you he'll have my head."

"He won't kill you, he's too fond of you," Hook reasoned and Tink's mouth thinned and she leaned forward and spoke in a harsh whisper.

"Do you remember what happened to the people Peter thought were after Wendy?"

Hook grew pale and he swallowed. "It's that reaction we're counting on Tink. She's the only thing he seems to care about, apart from himself. She's literally the only card we've got. Please Tink? I promise that no harm will come to Wendy. She's another I should have protected more, done more for but maybe now I can do that. When we get Henry back you can leave this forsaken place, you and Wendy. You're not bound to it anymore."

"I can leave…" she muttered, gaze unfocused as the implication sunk in. The corner of her mouth curled up in a soft smile and Emma knew that the fairy was now on their side, as far as it served her. Soon, if she was very lucky, Henry would be safe and back with his family.


She was to stay out of sight, to hide in the shadows and speak softly. She was to be the image of a frightened girl, still in her white night gown because the truth was too dangerous. She was Wendy Darling of Bloomsbury to the unaware, kept on the island under duress and threat of violence because the alternative, the truth, was a weak point in Peter's carefully constructed plan. If they knew he had a heart and who it belonged to they would crush it.

But she grew half sick of shadows and white Edwardian dresses long ago. She paced the confines of her old cave bedroom until the restlessness became too much and she left. She ventured down to Peter's camp, the sound of laughter and drumbeats guiding her way until she stared down at it through the dark trees. With a lurch she realised this was the same place she had first seen Peter's camp all those years ago. She had been wearing a gown that was wet and see-through and she had been embarrassed because Peter had seen.

That time, that ignorant bliss, is like a dream now. She sighed, her mind dragging up the past, reflecting on those very early days when she had been so naïve to the dangers of the island and Peter. For all her ignorance she could not deny that she had never been so happy during those heady few weeks. The bonfire blazed, casting the dancing boys into shifting shadows that jumped and twirled, all under the hedonistic sway of Peter's panpipes. Sometimes it felt like no time had passed at all.

"Oh no…" she whispered as she realised one of the smaller boys spinning was Henry Mills. Peter had been steadily wearing the boy down, manipulating him into believing that no one was coming for him, that the only ones that truly cared was Peter and the Lost Boys. It made Wendy feel sick with shame and anger but the only way that Peter could truly claim Henry's heart was if the boy utterly believed Peter and gave it to him freely.

He did the same to me, once, she thought suddenly. Peter had once tried to convince her that her place in London with her family was impossible, not after her reputation had been besmirched. Her only option was with him. Half of his reasoning was cruel, a means to pass the tedious time and cause an upheaval in her life but that had turned into something else by the time of her seventeenth birthday party. He called me his…

Wendy sighed and leaned against a tree, eyes not really seeing the boys below any longer. She was now a hundred and twelve years old and she felt every non passing of those years in her bones. Now more than ever she longed for change, for liberty and purpose with a restlessness that made her want to scream. She wanted to be free and with that freedom she wanted age. She was not a girl and she wanted that truth to be reflected back at her.

"I want to grow up…"

"Why would anyone want that?" Felix said dryly from behind her and she turned. He was carrying his club over his shoulder, looking as bored and laconic as always. Wendy cocked an eyebrow.

"Peter told you to keep an eye on me didn't he?"

Felix shrugged in answer and inclined his head back towards the jungle. "I'll escort you back."

"How gentlemanly of you," she joked and hooked her arm around his and he rolled his eyes. Wendy glanced up at him, narrowing her eyes.

"Tink told me something rather shocking about you. I don't know whether to believe it or not."

"And what would that be?" he asked, not looking at her as he pushed some hanging vines out of their path.

"That you were once married," she supplied conversationally and not even missing a beat or breaking his stride Felix made a noncommittal humming noise.

"Interesting."

"Interesting!? Come on, don't be such an old woman and tell me the truth," Wendy demanded as they made it to the edge of her lake. Felix snorted.

"An old woman?"

"Felix you are positively matronly. I've never met someone who keeps so many secrets," she turned to him, hands on her hips and looked up into his amused face. He leaned down, mouth curling.

"An old lady has to keep some of her secrets Wendy. What else has she got going for her otherwise?" he joked quietly and straightened as she laughed. As she looked down to the water's edge she gasped and her heart leaped. Peter was standing in the boat.

"Old women like to gossip too, don't they? Do you want to hear something juicy?" Peter asked, hands on his hips. He was grinning, in fact he was trying to not to laugh and Wendy was on alert at once.

"What is it?"

"We've had a surprise guest quite literally drop in on us," he said, jumping up from the boat and landing by her side. He grabbed her hand and spun her around and she laughed despite herself.

"Who has?" she asked as she twirled around to face him. He placed his hands on her waist and tugged her against him, his face close to hers.

"Oh I don't want to spoil the surprise. Come and see," he said and motioned for Felix to go on ahead. Now alone Peter pulled her into his arms and roughly pressed his lips to hers. It was a greedy, needful kiss and she was shocked at the ferocity of it. He would sometimes kiss her in such a way when he was feeling victorious but there was an edge to this one. Wendy pulled back, head tilted.

"What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothing is wrong! Henry is starting to forget his family, he's able to believe things into being with a mere thought and he starting to trust me at last. What could be wrong?"

To the uninitiated he would seem the picture of giddy delight, of unbridled happiness but Wendy could see the cracks, the change in him. His smiles, for all their fierceness, seemed hollow, like he was wearing a mask.

"Is it getting to you?" she tapped gently at his chest and he paused, expression blank before he shrugged.

"It doesn't matter, I can pretend better than anyone. As long as he's fooled that's all that matters."

"Is it?" Wendy gripped his arms and stared fixedly into his eyes. He started to smirk slowly, pulling her closer to him. The clouds above drifted apart and pale shafts of moonlight fell on the jungle.

"I've missed you. I actually want to spend tonight with you," he said casually, his head dipping down to her neck and Wendy nodded.

"You're having nightmares," she guessed and he drew back. Instead of denying it he frowned lightly.

"I thought being unburdened of a heart would make a difference but still they visit me…" he drifted off, looking uncomfortable and Wendy sighed.

"Is a heart such a burden?"

Peter paused before answering, a strange smile on his lips. "Maybe you should try mine bird and find out."

Wendy blinked in shock but before she could think of a response or recover he grinned and pulled on her hand, tugging her after him. "Where are we going?"

"I have a surprise for you remember! One I think you'll be exceedingly happy with!" he said and ran and Wendy tried to keep up, pulling up her night gown. They ran until they reached a set of caves that she recognised at once.

"The Echo Caves?"

"Yes but I haven't moved him yet," Peter said and pulled her over to a bamboo grove where a few of his boys were loitering. They made a path for Peter and Wendy and she was lead to a clearing. In the centre of it was a wicker cage. Heart in her throat Wendy peered through the bars and jerked back with a gasp.

"Baelfire!"

"I believe he prefers Neal now. Can't blame him."

"Shut up! What are you doing?" she yelled, turning on Peter and he stared at her in mock affront.

"I thought you'd be pleased to see him again!"

"Why is he in a cage?"

"Why do you think?" Peter said nastily and jerked his head. The Lost Boys hoisted the cage up on their shoulders and walked into the cave. Wendy moved after them but Peter ringed his hand around her wrist, stopping her. "He used to be a Lost Boy, he knows the layout of Neverland, he knows my tricks. He'll try to rescue Henry."

"Are you surprised?!"

"No, it's nauseatingly predictable. I won't harm him, not if he gives me reason to. I'm rather fond of him and his father actually, I've been watching over that family since Rumple was a wee lad," he mocked in a Scottish accent and Wendy pulled her hand away in disgust.

"You've heaped nothing but misery on that family. You've schemed and moved them around like chess pieces."

"I know," he answered with unfiltered pride and Wendy snarled and turned on her heel.

"I think there is a big part of you that resents them because you've known for years and years that your replacement would spring from that family and you hate them for it," she uttered waspishly and the leaves above her head suddenly whipped angrily through the air in a sudden gust of wind.

"Angry? I'm anything but! If it wasn't for them and my careful manoeuvring to make sure Henry was born at the right time and to the right people I wouldn't have my heart!" he all but shouted. "And he's not my bloody replacement!" he added in severe annoyance.

Wendy smirked before shaking her head sadly. "Keep telling yourself that Peter, one day you might even believe it." She walked away into the trees, leaving Peter alone before the dark opening of the caves.


a.n:

What will Wendy do? I wonder... ;)

To clear up some confusion: yes Tink is pregnant. I dropped hints to it at the end of The Riddle of his Being. I don't just add big plot points as they pop into my head, all this has been planned ;)

I will update again over the weekend. Thank you so much for the response so far, it's been fantastic and I'm so happy! :D