I'm so sorry it took so long for me to update this story. I hope that the fact that this chapter is a little bit longer than previous ones, makes up for it ;)

As always, I hope you enjoy the chapter, and please let me know your thoughts.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, just this profile.


''We're here,'' says Jeffrey.

''And where's here?'' asks Emma.

They've arrived at an opening in the dense jungle that Neverland is known for. At one side, there's a high and steep waterfall. Its water is dropping deadly into a small lake that has a purple color.

''Welcome to the Lake of Reflection. It's the best kept secret of Neverland, if I may say so. It's my lifework so to say.'' A devilish grin plays on the boy's face.

''Okay, cut the crap! I don't have time for all of this. Tell me what I have to do to save my father and let's get it over with.'' The blonde feels like she's about to explode any second.

The boy motions her to calm down. The evil grin doesn't disappear from his face. ''All in due time. All in due time. The object you're searching for is lying right there.'' He points to the waterfall.

''That's a waterfall…?'' asks Emma not understanding.

''You're quite observant aren't you?'' Jeffrey asks sarcastically. ''Well, it's not as much the waterfall you should be interested in, it's what's behind it.'' He casts a sly glance at the blonde. ''The key to your father's cure is behind that waterfall. In the Cave of Whispers.''

''Lake of Reflection, Cave of Whispers, not the most original names in the world now is it?'' She walks up to the waterfall to get a closer look. ''And how the hell do I need to get behind it?'' she asks as she's leaning forward.

Within a split second, Jeffrey is next to her, holding her arm and pulling her back a little.

''I wouldn't do that if I were you,'' he says. ''The water is poisonous.''

''Of course it is…'' says Emma sarcastically. ''So, how do I enter the cave than?''

''That's all up to you. You're the Product…''

''Of True Love, with the purest form of magic, yeah, yeah, I get it,'' interrupts Emma the boy. ''But can't you give me a clue? Anything on what I've to do?'' She looks around for any indication that will point her to the right direction, but there's nothing. At least not at plain sight.

''Try to find your inner calmness,'' is the only hint he gives.

''My inner calmness? How in the world can I find my inner calmness when my son is kidnapped by a crazy lunatic who is way too much of a smartass for his age, when my father is dying because a deathly poison is running through his veins and when my mother's on the edge of a mental breakdown because of it?'' it all comes blurting out in one single breath. Emma's cheeks are red of exertion and desperation.

Another grin forms on Jeffrey's face. ''What you need is a little bit more of self-confidence,'' he says. ''Where's your fighting spirit gone? I know you have it in you.''

''That went lost in the process,'' is Emma's curt answer.

''Did it? If I recall it correctly, you were probably the only sane person entering this island, taking up the leadership role, and getting everyone to cooperate. I've seen your strength Emma, and you're capable of even more than you're aware off. Come on, just give it a try.''

He can't almost hide the eagerness in his tone of voice, which finds Emma suspicious. But she feels that she has come to a point where she's willing to do anything, at all cost. There's also simply no time to ask questions. ''Okay,'' she sighs, ''here goes nothing.'' She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. She needs to ignore all the thoughts that are rotating like a whirlwind through her mind. Block it all out in some way. But how? Without noticing, she has clenched her fists and is squinting her eyes in an attempt to fully focus on the task at hand.

After about a minute of standing like that and hoping, praying that it would work, still nothing happens. She opens her eyes and releases the air she didn't realize she was holding. ''I can't do it! I just can't do it!'' Emma cries.

Jeffrey shakes his head. ''Just giving up so fast won't help you Emma. You need to try it again.''

''But don't you see it? Ican't. I can't,'' she says almost so quiet as in a whisper. ''I'm not the strong woman everyone tries to make me believe. I'm just like everyone of you here. Just as lost. I'm an orphan.''

And that's when it happens. The waterfall splits in two and opens like a set of theatre curtains. The water is now on both sides of the mountain, leaving a wide opening in between. A path of rocks make their way from the bank of the lake into the cave, like a footpath.

''Apparently you can,'' remarks Jeffrey, as he beckons her to lead the way into the cave.

''But… how? I mean… How did this happen? I thought I had to find my inner calmness and all that crap? How did this just happen?'' The blonde is completely confused.

''It seems that honesty works too. Therefore it also seems that you're more lost than I would've ever thought…'' answers Jeffrey mysteriously.

''What's that?'' asks Emma?

''Nothing, forget about it. Come on, let's go inside. We've a Prince to save.''


''Charming?'' asks Snow worried. Her husband tends to fall asleep every few minutes or so, and every time that happens, the brunette is terrified that he won't wake up.

But her husband opens his eyes and searches for hers. ''Hey,'' he whispers hoarsely. When he senses her anxiety, he takes her hand in his and squeezes softly. ''I'm sorry Snow. I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away.''

The brunette shows him a small smile. ''I know you are. And to be honest, I can't blame you. I know why you were trying to hide it from us. You were trying to save me and Emma from the pain. I think I would've done the same. But to realize that if I hadn't found you on time, it would've been too late, and I wouldn't be able to say goodbye to you. That breaks my heart. Also to know that you decided to go through all of this by yourself, all alone. Charming, it kills me!''

The Prince also takes her other hand in his. ''The only thing I could think off was that I needed to protect you and Emma. There was no time to think this through, and keeping it a secret from the two of you seemed like the best option at the time. I do realize now that it might even hurt you more than when I would've told you right away. That wasn't my intention, and I'm so sorry.''

Snow releases her hand and gently cups his cheek. She then softly kisses his lips, which is enough information telling him that he's forgiven.

When she pulls back, the forgiveness has made room again for anguish. ''She still hasn't come back David. I don't know where she is.''

''She'll come back to us Snow, I promise.''


''What if something has happened to her? What if she ran into a Lost Boy, or even worse, what if she ran into Pan?'' cries Snow.

Pitch blackness are the only words to describe the cave with. Emma and Jeffrey just entered the so-called Cave of Whispers, and the blonde is trying to find support while holding onto the wall. ''Jeffrey?'' she asks. She really can't see a thing. ''Jeffrey?'' she tries again.

''Just follow the sound of my voice.''

Chills are running up Emma's spine. She recognizes this voice. ''Pan?''

''As I said, a very observant lady you are. You really didn't notice it was me didn't you?''

''What do you want?'' Emma asks in a flat tone.

''Well Emma, I've to say, I'm a bit disappointed that you still have to ask me that question. I think we spent some reasonable amount of time together, did we not? Are you really going to tell me that you don't know what my favorite activity is?'' Peter makes a disapproving clicking sound with his tongue. ''And I really started to feel a connection with you, but I'm afraid the feeling wasn't mutual. Too bad.''

She could've known this was all just a trick of that miserable Peter Pan. Why did she let herself being fooled like that?

''Like I said Emma, just keep following my voice. It will all become clear in a minute. I assure you that.''

But the blonde already had turned around, trying to find the exit.

''Oh, and if you're trying to find the exit, don't bother. This is a maze. You won't find the exit so easily. Not until you've completed your task here.''

''What task? Pan, let me out. Right now!'' His evil laugh sends another chill through her spine.

''You wanted to save your father didn't you? Well, in that case you've to do just as I say.'' Emma can almost hear the victory joy in his voice. ''I can't explain to you how much I love to play games. Especially the ones I created. You've to follow my rules, otherwise you've basically killed your own father. Oh, and you won't see your son back alive.'' He drops a pause for the dramatic effect. ''So where were we? Oh yes, that's right. And there was light!'' As soon as he has spoken these words, the cave is illuminated in light coming from burning torches across the cave. ''Much better don't you think?''

Emma now can actually see the evil grimace across the boy's face.

''Just one more thing,'' Peter adds.

With a snap of his fingers, Snow and Charming appear out of nowhere in a corner of the cave.

''Welcome Prince Charming and Snow White. I hope you enjoyed the short trip down here?'' asks Pan, still grimacing.

''Emma? What's happening? What are we doing here?'' asks Snow worriedly to her daughter.

Emma can't turn away from her father's gaze. He looks so much worse since the last time she saw him. Suddenly she feels extremely guilty for abandoning them, when they needed her so bad. ''Mom, Dad, I'm sorry, I didn't know, I…''

''Okay enough with the pathetic tears Princess. Let's play,'' says Peter as he interrupts her.

''Why are you doing this?'' asks Emma again.

''I told you! I like to play games. And there's that little other fact I need to share with you. The longer I keep you folks away from Henry, the better Lost Boy he becomes…''


Thanks for reading! Enjoy the new episode of Once Upon a Time tonight, and for the Ginnifer Goodwin fans: enjoy Killing Kennedy tonight! We get a double doze of Ginny this Sunday! :)