A/N – Good evening everyone! Currently, I'm watching OUAT on the DVDs that just arrived at my house, so I almost forgot to put this up! Doh! Oh well, it's here now. Hope you guys enjoy!

Resourceful

Hook closed his eyes, preparing himself for what was to come. He had been on the doorstep of death more than his fair share of times. And, as legend contended, his life flashed before his eyes on every occasion. A lot happens to a person in 300 years, so it moved rather quickly, a great deal of it being Milah and oddly enough, his ship. He really did love the Jolly Roger. But this time was different. The usual things flashed by in an instant, but as Regina's grip really settled in, his mind halted on the image of Emma. Just her face was there at first and then his mind progressed rapidly through every single minute they had spent together.

"Bloody hell," Hook murmured at the realization that he was having.

Regina smiled, having no idea his words had nothing to do with his impending death. She started to tug when a voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Did I say to kill the pirate to save Henry?" Pan asked smugly.

"He's going to protect Emma until he's dead," Regina replied, not loosening her grip on Hook's heart. "He's an obstacle."

"I said Emma and I meant only Emma or the deal is off," Pan said stoically. "Do you really think I'd make it so simple?"

"You bastard," Regina growled.

"That's a nasty way to talk," Pan chided. "Now, let him go."

Regina glared at Pan as she removed her hand from Hook's chest. Hook took several breaths and backed away from Regina and Pan as the two squared off.

"Where is Henry?" Regina demanded.

"Safe," Pan assured. "Safer by the minute, I imagine. So long as he's away from you."

Snow and Charming walked along slowly behind Emma. She hadn't spoken a word since the decision to leave Hook behind and both their hearts ached as they saw their daughter in pain. Even if Charming hated to admit it, he'd rather Hook be around than to see Emma hurt over his absence.

"Maybe I should go back for him," Charming suggested quietly to Snow.

"What?" Snow asked. "We need you. You can't go back."

"It would make her feel better," Charming shrugged. "I don't like seeing her like this."

"I can hear you," Emma muttered. "I might be upset, but I'm not deaf."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Charming offered. "I want to fix this for you."

"I know," Emma nodded, stopping and turning to face her parents. "But you were right. Hook did what he did. We have to keep looking for Henry or else what he did was in vain."

"I'm sure he's okay," Snow added.

"So am I," Emma said with a small smile. "You don't live as long as he has without getting to be resourceful."

Emma turned around, continuing through the jungle and taking a deep breath. She had said all the right things to her parents to make them stop worrying, which was important. But inside, she was a wreck. Regina's murderous plans almost always ended with the wrong people being hurt. Collateral damage was the normal occurrence and she just didn't want Hook to be what was lost this time. Not when the last thing she had done was slap him in the face.

Not when she had told him to go to hell.

Hook walked along quietly with Regina, unable to get Emma off his mind. He was equally hoping she was and was not worrying about him.

"Why are you stalking me?" Regina snapped.

"If I'm with you, you can't kill Emma because I won't let you," Hook said simply.

"My mother told so many stories of what a masterful villain you were," Regina noted. "She would be so disappointed in what a love sick puppy you've become."

"I imagine she would," Hook agreed. "Cora was always rather easy to disappoint. Though I'm sure you know that better than anyone."

Regina glared at him and went quiet again, leaving him to his thoughts. He was beginning to shift from just thinking about Emma to worrying about her. He didn't like not being close enough to take an arrow for her. Or shield her from any harm that might come her way. He knew Charming would protect her with his life, but it wasn't enough to calm him.

"Do you think we can save Henry?" Regina wondered. "Really?"

"Aye," Hook answered. "Quite frankly, I'd be surprised if we did not. But I do fear that someone will be sacrificed along the way."

"And you hope it's not you?" Regina guessed.

"I'd rather it be me, actually," Hook muttered. "I'm not Henry's family."

"When he finds out that I tried to kill his mother… again… I doubt I will be either," Regina sighed.

"I think you underestimate the lad's penchant for forgiveness," Hook quipped.

"People can only forgive so much," Regina said sadly. "Even Henry."

"Perhaps you should earn yourself some credit by giving up on Pan's deal," Hook suggested. "And beginning to work with Emma rather than trying to kill her."

"We should stop for the night," Snow suggested. "It's dark and we're all exhausted."

"I'm fine," Emma and Charming said in unison.

"Okay, then I'm exhausted," Snow said, rolling her eyes. "And maybe the two of you could use a break, at least."

"We don't have the time," Emma argued.

"It's Neverland," Snow noted. "Technically, we have nothing but time."

"The longer Henry is here, the more likely it is he doesn't come home," Emma said softly.

"Honey," Snow said rationally. "Can you honestly say you could fight Pan right now?"

"No," Emma replied. "I probably couldn't."

"So let's rest," Snow suggested. "We'll take shifts. One person sleeps for a couple of hours while one keeps watch for them. The other can explore a little and see if they find some kind of trail that can help us find where Pan is keeping Henry."

"Okay," Emma agreed. "I'll search first."

"How about I search first?" Charming suggested. "You rest now and then you can take both of the next two searching shifts?"

Emma set her jaw, wanting to argue, but knowing that was more than fair. And knowing that she needed to try to sleep to get her strength up.

"Two hours, tops," Emma relented.

Charming nodded and helped his girls settle in. He touched a gentle hand to Emma's shoulder and kissed Snow on the forehead before heading out to try to find any hint of Henry or Pan. He had been walking for about an hour and was thinking of turning back when he saw a faint light through the trees. He moved back a branch and smiled at the sight in front of him. A large house, built between trees and surrounded by an army of young boys.

Pan's house.