I approached the tree-house cautiously. I wondered if she even knew I was back in Neverland. She must have felt awful. After she showed my my true love I was captured and then banished. Maybe I just secretly hoped she felt bad, I was planning on using that as my leverage for help.
I stood at the base of the tree and stared at the rope ladder that would carry me into her hovel.
"Hello, Lilly." I spun around quickly and saw the fallen fairy. Her blond hair was dirtier than I last remembered and she had a sad look on her face. She stood awkwardly a few feet away from me.
"I need your help." I blurted, cutting to the chase. I saw her look down to the ground and sigh, bouncing on her feet slightly.
"I'm sorry, Lilly. I really am." I looked at her confused by what she meant. Someone appeared behind me and yanked me around. I gave out a loud shriek and was face to face with a green clad chest, and my heart sank.
"This ends now." Peter said menacingly in my ear and I was being dragged through the bush.
"Wait! Tink!" I shouted struggling against Peter, but his grip never faltered. I saw the fairy sink to the ground and hold her head in her hands as I was drug farther away.
Peter threw me roughly against a tree, again. This time he wasn't as affectionate about it though. He pushed his hands against my shoulders and held me there and I saw his eyes. There was a fury like no other burning in them.
"I am finding it harder and harder to be a good little boy, Tigerlilly." Peter began staring at me. I winced as the rough bark dug deeper into my skin. "Do not think I wont kill you."
"You wouldn't kill me. You can't." I spat in his face. Before I could think Peter slapped me hard and my head snapped to the side. Tears came to my eyes from the intense pain.
"I make the rules here!" He shouted. "Remember this one thing, Nancy." Peter said. "I will never love you!" I stared up at him and felt a pain in my chest. He meant it.
"Peter.." I began.
"Shut up!" I shrunk back at the outburst. "You are nothing more than a passing fancy to keep my bed warm."
"What are you trying to say, Peter." I choked out, hating the sound of my wavering voice.
"I control who leaves and who enters Neverland." He said backing away from me. "And right now, I don't want you here." I felt the cold sliver of the shadow surround my arms and I began to fight.
"No! Peter! Don't do this!" I began to beg, as I felt my feet leave the ground. The shadow paused and I was hovering several feet above the ground.
"If you come back, Tigerlilly." Peter said, grabbing the thimble necklace. "I will kill you." He said with finality and ripped it off throwing it to the ground. I felt the breath leave my lungs and I was carried across the sky. I continued to struggle against Peter's shadow and felt myself leave Neverland and then I was falling.
I found my voice and screamed as I landed in water. I popped up on the surface and coughed, wiping at my eyes. I didnt know if I was crying or if it was the salty ocean. I stared ahead of me and saw docks and a small town.
I was back in Storybrook. I looked above and and saw something falling towards me and it looked clear and like a dome forming. My eyes widened and I swam towards the shore just before it slammed into the ocean and I looked back at it to see it dissapearing.
"What the hell..." I muttered as I pulled myself up on the docks and shook to dispel the water that made my clothes cling to my form. I sank down onto the wooden planks and felt and emotion crash over me that I had never felt before. It was terrible. Like I was drowning on the inside. Then I realized what it was... I was heartbroken. I was heartbroken because of a monster.
Peter was back at his Lost Boys camp and he approached Henry. The boy looked up at him with a fire in his eyes.
"Where's Nancy?" He asked. Peter sighed and sat down by the boy, pulling his acting skills off quite well considering he was having a war with himself on the inside.
"She left." Peter said simply. "She went on her own adventure." He shrugged.
"Wait, she.. she wouldn't do that. You did something to her!" Henry accused. Peter held his hands up in defense.
"I didn't do anything to her. She was always like that while she was here. Going off. Exploring. I guess she couldn't contain it any longer and just went off." Peter said.
"That's not true." Henry said firmly. "She is going to find a way to get us off the island. That's what shes doing." Peter sighed and clasped Henry on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry Henry." Peter said, pulling his fake sympathy off like a pro. He wanted Henry to lose belief in everyone but himself. Pan left the campfire and stood off to the side, watching everyone. The boys were seeing who could climb a rope the fastest.
Peter leaned against a tree, with his arms crossed. Leaning his head against the bark he closed his eyes and pushed back his emotions that were screaming to come forward. He could feel the magic slipping farther and farther away. The hourglass was slowly emptying and he could tell it was now moving faster.
"I don't love her." He muttered to himself, growing aggravated at himself. He felt the pain in his chest as the though of her, and now having no idea where she was or if she was even still alive. "I do not love her." He repeated punching the tree for emphasis.
Pan knew he had slipped and was playing with fire. He had to get rid of the girl before he ruined his own plans. As many times as he told himself otherwise, Peter had begun falling in love with Tigerlilly.
And that was not a good thing.
I walked down the streets of Storybrook, feeling awkward and exposed in the short leather dress. I got several odd looks as I sped up and burst in through the doors of Granny's. Belle and Ruby were sitting at the counter talking heatedly, no doubt about what had happened.
"Nancy!" Belle cried running towards me. "How, how did you get here?" She asked staring at my clothes. "What are you wearing?" She added.
"Peter Pan had his shadow send me back." I paused thinking of how to word this. "Its a long.. long story." I finally pushed out. "Did you release a cloaking spell?" I asked remembering the dome that seemed to cover the town. Belle nodded smiling to herself.
"Gold gave it to me before he left on Hook's ship." I nodded. "The others, are they okay?" She asked me.
"Yeah, as far as I could tell." I thought about it, I hadn't seen Rumpelstiltskin though. "I didnt see Gold though." I added as an after thought.
"Wait, so he wasnt with the others?" She asked me, and I realized I may have said the wrong thing.
"Well, I uhm. I dont know! I was with Pan most of the time." I admitted. "Henry is safe for now, and I need to find a way to get back to Neverland." I said sitting down and putting my head in my hands. "But first, I want a nice long shower." I said. Ruby laughed lightly and pointed towards the stairs.
"Go to one of the rooms, help yourself."
"I'll go to the library and see if there are any books about Neverland." Belle said. We all agreed and I left to refresh myself from the few days of hell. Also, I needed to cry my eyes out over this broken heart that I didnt want.
–
"I didn't find anything in the library." Belle admitted. I was sitting back at Granny's with Ruby and Belle. I sighed a nodded.
"That's okay, Belle. I know you tried. I think I know of a way to get back." I said sitting abck in the booth.
"I thought you said Nobody comes or leaves Neverland without Pan's permission." Ruby said confused. I smiled at her.
"Peter may not admit it, but always in his subconcious he will want me in Neverland. So I should in theory be abble to come back." I said, shrugging. This was just a theory though.
"What do you need us to do?" Belle asked eagerly. I rubbed my hands on my face and thought on my words.
"Does anyone here have a child?" I asked finally. Ruby and Belle looked at each other and thought.
"Michael Tillman." Belle admitted after a while. "He has two... why?"
"I need to summon Peter's shadow, and only a child can do that."
"But wait, you are only what, 17?" She asked looking at me.
"Well, yes, in theory. But I need someone much younger. Its complicated how it works."
"Are they going to get hurt?" Ruby asked starting at me suspisciously.
"No, I have a plan." I said smiling.