Ariel woke up to the evening chill as the personal heater known as Killian Jones was no longer by her side. Sitting up from her position on the floor, she looked around to see Regina, Snow, and David were sleeping in their respective corners. With one quick survey of a missing blonde as well, Ariel put two and two together. She didn't mean to be jealous but paranoia ran through her and she quickly stood up from her position on the floor. Their poor excuse for beds still had her back muscles aching.

Had she woke up from the cool air? Or did her inner raging's send her an alarm to know that Killian and Emma were gone?

Taking a deep breath of air, she slowly released it to try and control herself. She wasn't his babysitter. Why was she so upset? Killian can do whatever and whomever he wants. A rational part of her mind told her that perhaps Killian was just relieving Emma from her lookout duties. But…maybe it's best to make sure. Ariel focused her vision around her, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before deciding to quietly move to the east side of the camp.

Sure enough, there they were. They were standing up in pretty close proximity and having a heated discussion from the likes of it and sounds of their whispers. Emma looked like she was about to leave and head into Ariel's direction so Ariel ducked and prepared to make a run for it when Killian put an a hand to her arm and stopped her. The look in Emma's eyes when she turned back around to meet Killian's softened and Ariel turned her head away and left. She couldn't stomach it to look at them as the truth reignited in her gut. The truth she already knew but didn't want to admit to. She felt like she walked in on a private moment and although she didn't physically see anything spectacular, she knew that she had seen enough.

Walking back towards camp, Ariel observed her sleeping companions and knew that she wouldn't be able to lie down and fall back asleep as if nothing had happened. She couldn't lie there and wonder what Emma and Hook were doing or how long until they came back. Emma's shift should have ended already so maybe she would just stay with Killian and he would hold her the same way he was holding Ariel only moments ago. Wow, she felt pathetic.

As Ariel continued to decide what course of action to take, she realized how quiet the area was. Silent. Complete and utter silence. The campfire had diminished leaving a few small embers that made no sounds. Right on cue, a soft melodic sound pierced through the air and Ariel held back a groan. She should have known.

Following the music to the west side of camp and through the thicket of the trees, Ariel quickly found the one responsible for the tune. Or, he found her. Two arms snaked around her waist from behind and she was quickly pressed against his chest. The sudden movement made her jump but soon relaxed when she came to her senses.

"What is it Peter?" she sighed, not bothering to hide her emotions from him. She hardly could; the boy could read her like a book.

His grip tightened as he leaned close to her ear, his cool breath making her shiver, "Why is it that I never get a 'hello' from you?"

She closed her eyes to lean her head back against his shoulder and smirked. The leader of the Lost Boys smelled of pine needles and smoke fire, an intoxicating combination at the best (and worst) of times.

"Hello Peter," she said turning around in his grip and plastering a fake smile on her lips. Her voice sounding cheerier than she felt but that wasn't saying much.

"Hello Ariel," he whispered huskily as his eyes darkened, "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"

The siren tried rephrasing her previous question, ignoring his attempt at proper formalities, "Why are you here Peter?"

"Well I just wanted to see how my little spy is doing, that's all." His eyes sparkled with mischief despite the childlike smile on his face.

"Great. Just great," Ariel mumbled bitterly, kicking some of the dirt with her brown boots that Killian forced her to continue to wear.

Peter furrowed his brow and leaned down to look her in the eye.

"Something the matter?"

He was toying with her and she knew it. He had seen Emma and Killian together; his timing was too perfect. It was all just a game to him and she was playing right into his hand. Instead of indulging him in the information he already knew, Ariel decided to take a different route and try altering the game in her favor. She wouldn't allow him to see her upset.

"When can I go back? One day with these people and I'm already trying not to tear my hair out from boredom. They just keep walking in circles and their ignorance is annoying."

Peter chuckled as he stepped back to lean against the trunk of a nearby tree, bringing his flute up to his lips. He tested the small instrument and soon the air was filled with its soft whimsical sound again, instantly calming Ariel's nerves. Her eyes briefly fluttered closed, the magic behind the instrument already luring her to a more peaceful state. Peter Pan observed the siren before him as she silently swayed from the sound and he smirked against the wood pressed to his lips. It was all too easy to play with the mermaid's emotions and manipulate her need for affection. She was a strong one—he had to give her that—but her heart overpowered her will. When he realized the pirate had left camp to converse with Emma Swan, he woke Ariel up and knew she would go searching for the sea captain. Seeing the pair of them together would upset her and all he needed was for the little red head to release the bent up anger that she tried to keep hidden. She had changed since the first time she stepped foot on the island; Neverland had a way of doing that to people. Peter was just the extra push, the one that encouraged her to throw caution to the wind and be ruthless. He could see the change in her eyes, the darker look they took when she occasionally joined in with the Lost Boys or danced around the flames of the fire surrounding the Hanging Tree. She craved acceptance and he was more than willing to give that to her.

Ending the tune he played, Peter pocketed the flute and watched as she snapped out of the blissful trance she was in. She'd never admit to the effect that it had on her but Peter knew better. He always did.

"Soon," he spoke, referring to her previous question, "Your role in my plan isn't over yet and until then, I need you to continue being a good girl."

"I don't like being a good girl," she spat out in annoyance at him for speaking to her like a child before realizing its double meaning as Pan's smirk broadened.

"That's good to hear, love, because it means we're on the same page. However, right now, I want you to continue gallivanting throughout the jungle with this lot. Can you do that?" He asked crossing his arms, challenging her.

She nodded and stepped towards him, nesting her face in the crook of his neck. He released his arms from their crossed position and let his fingers dance across her waist, pulling her closer to him. His grip was possessive but she enjoyed the feel of his firm chest and tried squeezing her eyes shut to block out any remaining thoughts of the pirate that humiliated her.

What a fool she was for believing that things could be the same between them. He had been so kind to her and the feeling of once again falling asleep in his warm arms had brought back memories she didn't want to let go of. When they had returned to camp after collecting the sticks needed for the fire, they secluded themselves away from the rest of their hunting party and spoke of old times, reminiscing over past adventures. But that's all that it was apparently: the past. She still had no idea what he had been up to since he left her here in Neverland in search for the Dark One—a thought that still confused her. His sole purpose in life had been to kill the crocodile and deliver the revenge he deserved. She had learned during their time together that once Killian Jones had his mind on something, there was no stopping him. So what changed? What had he experienced during their separation? Was it all because of Emma? Four years is a long time to be apart, but regardless of what happened, he wasn't the same person anymore.

And neither was she.

Peter's breath tickled her bare skin as he kissed down her jaw. "Where's my tunic?" he murmured against her lips, hands sliding up the black cloak she still wore and resting on her smooth thighs.

Ariel decided it would be best to leave out the fact that it was currently lying in a puddle of mud somewhere after she tore it off during her fight with Killian, "I thought you'd like this better," she replied back coyly making him growl as he molded their bodies closer together.

She was standing between his legs and pressed her lower body against his while capturing his slightly chapped lips to her own. He kissed back forcefully and she knew her lips would be bruised in the morning. Biting down on his lower lip hard enough to draw blood, she pulled at the roots of his soft tresses making him shift their positions. Peter's eyes darkened as he all but threw her against the tree, the hard bark digging into her back. The immortal teenager placed a finger to his reddened lips and stared at the blood that coated its tip. Ariel chuckled smugly as he stepped towards her, blocking her only way of escape before attacking her neck. She let out a yelp as his teeth grazed her tender flesh, sending up a shock of pain before his tongue soothed her aching wounds. Tilting her head up to give him better access, she moaned as reached her collarbone. Cupping his face in the palm of her hands, she brought his lips back to hers and parted her mouth to allow him entrance. Their tongues battled for dominance but Peter refused to let her win. Pressing his body weight against her, she gasped as she felt his growing member against her inner thigh. The brief moment was enough for Peter to take back control and he hoisted her up, legs wrapping around his waist.

The look in his eye was of a predator catching its prey and it excited her. There were no butterflies in her stomach, only the fires of lust in her lower abdomen. The siren inside her begged release and her entire body tingled. She wanted him to take her in the middle of the forest floor and watch him bleed from the claw marks she'd leave on his skin.

The snapping of twigs nearby brought the pair out of their heated moment and Ariel glowered at their intruder. Peter, all too smug with the effect he was having on her, chuckled and released her from her compromising position. Moving a loose strand of hair away from her face, he gave her a chaste kiss and winked at her, "Until next time, love."

Pan disappeared in the shadows of trees just as a figure emerged in the small clearing. Emma held her sword raised in the air as she eyed the siren and the vacant clearing with suspicious eyes.

"Are you coming to finish the job?" Ariel sneered as she made her way over to the woman. Did this woman have a death wish? Why did she insist on ruining everything? "It's kind of cowardly that you waited for the others to fall asleep before cornering me."

Emma narrowed her eyes at the red head after sweeping the clearing again for any signs of an ambush, "I heard voices."

Is that all you heard, Miss Swan? Ariel thought, chuckling to herself before running a hand through her wild hair.

"Well…it's just little ol' me here. I'd be careful if I were you, though. There's stories about these woods and we wouldn't want people questioning your state of mind now, would we?" the mermaid gave her a tightlipped smile and turned to head back towards camp.

Emma stepped forward and grabbed her arm, making her halt, "What are you doing out here?"

"Peeing. Although that's not any of your concern."

"And the voices?"

"I sometimes sing to myself when I'm alone with my thoughts. It's an old habit, you can ask Killian if you like."

It was a threat that didn't go unnoticed by the blonde woman. Saying Killian's name out loud made a pang in Ariel's chest but she knew that her closeness with the hooked pirate irritated the blonde. With the way her current situation was going, however, Ariel would do just about anything to piss off Henry's mother. She could go for a little excitement. What did she have to lose? Nothing, apparently.

"Look," Emma started, "I don't understand why Hook is sticking up for you and letting you parade around camp but I don't trust you. Your poor little mermaid act isn't fooling me and I'll be keeping an eye on you."

"If I'm so untrustworthy then why don't you tell your precious parents to send me away?"

Emma stared hard at the siren and put her intimidation face on, "I prefer to keep my enemies close."

Ariel laughed in her face, annoying the other woman further. Her amusement continued to grow the longer she stayed in Emma's presence. Henry's mother was nothing but a guppy to her and didn't threaten her in the least. She may have a shiny sword and royal parents but Ariel was the true Princess. Killian may have fallen for the Savior's charms but Ariel could drown her within a second and let the Kraken feast on the rest of her pathetic remains if she so wished.

"I'm heading back to camp. Have fun with the voices in your head, Swan," she smirked and left the blonde alone in the clearing.

Emma glowered at the siren's retreating figure as she disappeared through the thicket of the trees. She had served enough criminals to know when someone was lying and Killian's old…"friend" was definitely lying. Pinching the bridge of her nose, Emma let out a frustrated breath as she wondered how she could prove Ariel's guilt. She had been conversing with Pan, Emma knew it. Who else would she be talking to in the middle of the night? How close had she gotten with him in the time that Hook had been away in Storybrooke? Had she always had that cold look in her eye or had she been hardened over time?

If there was one thing Emma knew for certain, it was that Ariel was not the same little mermaid she read about in fairytales.

XxXxX

Returning to camp the following morning after lookout duty, Killian Jones smiled when he saw Ariel sleeping in a curled position on the floor. It was a sight for sore eyes and he was somewhat enlightened in knowing that some things didn't change with her. He had grown quite close to the siren during their time together on the Jolly Roger but during his travels away, he tried putting her to the back of his mind. He knew that she wouldn't leave Neverland or its surrounding waters and he supposed that she would be there waiting for him. Last night strengthened that thought when she fell asleep with her head on his chest after they recalled a story of when Mr. Smee accidentally fell off the plank. She had laughed and he saw the same childlike joy in her eyes that he had grown to know throughout the years but imagine his surprise when she gave him the cold shoulder the next morning. He tried waking everyone up to get a good head start on the day and she bristled past him, not even bothering to look him in the eye.

Now, the notorious captain was known for pissing women off—forgetting their names after night caps, for instance—but he couldn't remember what he did to anger her in the last few hours that he had been on lookout. Emma was acting suspiciously obtuse with him too, puzzling him further. He remembered the conversation they had when he went to relieve her from her watch but they left each other on decent terms. She had asked him about his relationship with Ariel and he tried to be honest but it was difficult. What was his relationship with Ariel? Did they even have a relationship? Regardless, Emma reminded him that they were here for Henry and that's what her number one priority was. Any questions about romantic feelings or attraction would have to wait until they returned home with Henry safely in their arms. It felt like a rejection to be honest, but he took it with stride and that was the end of that.

Or so he thought.

Tensions were high between the group as they trudged through the dense forest. Emma was still having trouble with the map that Pan gave her and complained every ten minutes or so when it refused to show its picture, Ariel was in a sour mood, Regina looked bothered, Snow kept looking at her daughter in concern, and David seemed to be just at a loss as Killian.

Ariel was currently walking in front of him and had a frown edged into her features as she stared straight ahead, biting her lower lip as she did so. The slight pout on her face made Killian smirk, it had always amused him to see her cross—just as long as she wasn't cross with him. Not paying attention to the slight dip in the dirt, Ariel's eyes widened as she tripped and started to fall toward the ground.

"Be careful there, love," Killian grinned, holding an arm out to keep her steady.

Ariel glared at him and shook his hold off, "I don't need your help."

Walking past him, she ignored him and made her way up towards the rest of the party. David let out a low whistle as he moved to walk alongside the pirate. Killian groaned internally, already expecting the lecture that was to come from the royal.

"I can't say that I'm not enjoying this," David chuckled, "Your rejected advances are entertaining to watch but I have to ask, what'd you do to riel up the women?"

"Hell if I know, mate," he shook his head in disbelief.

The group members ahead of them stopped walking and landed in a clearing similar to the one they rested in the night before. Snow had her bow raised as she inspected the area for any signs of movement and Emma had her arm up, telling them to keep still. Regina balled her fists ready to call upon her powers and Hook unshielded the blade handing around his waist. Ariel stood off to the side with her arms crossed against her chest and a bored look on her face. There was no breeze and the area was completely still, not even the sound of a crickets chirp could be heard. Before anyone could react, an arrow shot into the tree trunk near David was standing and wild yells were heard as Lost Boys tore into the clearing. The members of the party pounced into action and the clanging of swords soon filled the air.

Ariel didn't have a weapon and she watched with a perched gaze as the battle went on around her. The Lost Boys ignored her and swarmed the others, knowing better than to attack her. She wasn't the enemy. The siren almost scoffed, unamused by the exchange and wondering how blind Peter could be. How did she fall into his game? Peter Pan didn't make plans; only games with rules that only he was aware of. He asked her to be a spy and she wasn't stupid enough to believe that the others trusted her. He certainly wasn't making things anymore believable either by having his boys leave her alone. She knew she could hold her own against them but maybe only one-on-one. The Lost Boys were savages when it came to fighting—they held no code of honor.

Suddenly she was roughly yanked and pulled off to the side, away from the tousle. The blonde hair and scar across the Lost Boys face immediately gave away his identity and Ariel smirked at him.

"No need to be rough, Felix," she purred, "I would have come willingly for you."

The tall teenager glared down at her and clenched his jaw, trying not to show how her words affected him.

"You have something of mine," he said flatly, referring to the black fabric she currently wore.

Ariel shrugged, "That sounds like a personal problem."

Her quick reflexes immediately caught the bundle of clothes that Felix thrust into her chest. Peering down at the items, she realized it was a forest green colored dress that had been neatly folded with a pair of undergarments. A belt lay on top of the pile and a small dagger lied protected within the folds of the dress. Ariel pursed her lips in question and looked at the older boy for an explanation. His annoyance grew knowing that he had to spend more time standing here in front of the redhead and wondered why Pan kept her around but knew not question his leader's actions.

"You're my problem," he sneered, "Now give me back my cloak. I said you could borrow it, not steal it you thief."

"Since when is thieving not under your code of ethics?"

He threw her a pointed look, signifying that his patience was wearing thin. Ariel sighed and dropped the belt and dagger onto the floor before slipping into the materials he gave her. Felix, knowing that his leader would not want him seeing his plaything undress, swiftly turned around and kept lookout.

"I didn't mean for you to undress in front of me."

"Yeah, well, get over it." She huffed with her hands behind her back, finishing up the laces that tied her thin green dress. Its material was soft and clung to her body nicely. The length was workable too and fell right above her knees, making it easy to move around in. Picking up the belt and pointed object from the ground, she situated the belt to rest around her waist and hooked the dagger into its placeholder. Why had Peter given her a weapon? She wasn't going to fight the Lost Boys and she didn't plan on rolling around in the dirt with Snow White anytime soon. Her daughter, however, was another story.

Picking up the disregarded cloak from the dirt, she threw it at Felix, whipping him on the side of the face in the process, "Your cloak, sir." she mocked with a fake curtsy.

Felix promptly shook the material and slapped away some of the brown dirt before pulling it over himself. Ariel hadn't even noticed that he was the only one without his hooded trademark and was only wearing a green tunic and trousers; the color similar to the dress she was wearing. Peter's fashion sense appeared to be improving, she thought as she admired the dress she wore, but his favorite color remained the same.

The sounds from the fight came closer and Felix looked over Ariel's shoulder with a bored look on his face. Letting out a sharp whistle sound, each Lost Boy ceased fighting and all turned to look at the second in command. Regina, Hook, and the Charmings also turned towards Felix and Ariel's location with surprised looks on their faces. The Boys had been fighting like their lives depended on it and now they all stood still—soldiers waiting for their next orders.

"Fall out," Felix stated in a level tone, the Boys instantly retreating away from the clearing and back into the brush. Hook glanced back and forth between Ariel and Felix with a furrowed gaze, taking note of the outfit she now wore. He wasn't the only one to notice the change.

"You send children to fight us and give her a new wardrobe?" Regina scoffed.

"She is a guest of Pan's. You are not." He replied coolly, observing the looks of disbelief on their faces with growing satisfaction, "Intruders are not welcome here. I suggest you leave while you still can."

His grey eyes trailed to David before he grinned smugly and followed the rest of his brothers into the shadows of tress. Realizing that they left her to fix the mess they started, Ariel groaned and mentally prepared herself. Peter Pan had played his turn by sending the Boys here and now he was waiting for them to make their next move. He was testing her—seeing how she would be able to handle the lot of them—and sending his final declaration of war to the others if they did not heed his word.

She remembered the words her mother used to tell her when she was a little girl and hoped that she was right.

Storms don't last forever.

A/N: This chapter was originally twice as long so I decided to cut it in half but what do you all think of the darker side to Ariel? We got a better look of her relationship with Peter and how its effected her over the years of being on the island but hopefully Killian will be able to help her. Reviews are much appreciated! I'd love to see what you think of the story so far and they help keep me motivated.