Disclaimer: If you don't know what goes here, I'm not telling you.

All the pressure that has been building on me, all the haywire emotions that have been going through me finally take their toll.

Looking down at the ground, I start crying.

I cry because Pan has pulled such a low blow, using my nature against me. Because I'm miserable here, and I swore that I would escape, but I have no idea how. Because I'm cold, and dirty, and tired, and I don't know when I'm going to get out of this place. Because I'm relieved to find a friendly face. Because part of me wishes I could be comforting those kids, but I can't, because they will tear me away from home.

Hook lowers his lantern, and walks over to me, concern taking place of the relief that had been on his face.

"Hey, it's alright," he murmurs consolingly to me. He hesitates, and after a moment, wraps a comforting arm around me.

I'm really glad that I decided trust him, or else I would feel awkward about burying my face into his coat, and sobbing into him.

For his part, Hook doesn't pull away or makes the situation more tense. He just rubs his hand around me soothingly, and softly tell me that I'm alright. I don't know how long I cry, but I just know that its enough to take away the things I've bottled up.

When I finally calm down a little, I pull myself out, and look up, wiping my eyes.

Hook surveys me up and down, his eyes lingering on my bruised wrist.

"What happened, lass?" he asks, taking in my appearance.

I wipe my nose, and exhale.

I've had my cry; I've got my emotions under control, somewhat. Now, I have to stay calm. Crying won't get me out.

Hook gestures for me to walk with him. I start to explain everything that happened after I jumped off the cliff.

I keep Bae out of it, instead saying that I was able to find a cave nearby. I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling that Bae may want to meet Hook on his own before he trusts him.

I have trouble remaining calm as I explain Pan's ploy with the younger boys, but I'm able to control it. Just barely, though.

"...So I left camp," I finish. "I'm trying to find someway to escape, but I'm just so tired…"

I trail off, letting Hook figure out the rest. We keep walking in silence for a few minutes before Hook speaks up.

"You're going to have a mite trouble escaping, lass."

I stop, and look at him, ready to put up a fight. If he has a despairing speech about escape, I'm not in the mood. If it's something that makes Pan seem more powerful, I'm going to hit him.

"I've been on this island for years," he explain. "Me crew and I have searched for a way to leave. We haven't found anything, after years of looking."

I roll my eyes, and start to stalk forward. If he wants to talk about how it is impossible to escape Neverland, then he's just wasting my time.

Well, actually, I have plenty of time, but my family doesn't.

"I'm not doubting your resolve, lass," Hook insists, as he hurries to catch up. "I'm just saying that you are going to have some trouble. Especially if Pan wants you to stay. He's going to fight for you to remain in Neverland."

"I don't care," I reply, turning to face him. "I need to get back to my family. If Pan wants to keep me here, he's going to have to throw everything he's got at me. I am going to leave Neverland."

I continue to walk, but don't stalk away. Letting my emotions control me takes me away from my goal.

Finally, Hook walks next to me, but he doesn't say anything. Surprisingly, I'm okay with us just walking. It's nice to have the company.

After a few minutes, we come to a stream. I can't help but smile a bit in recognition. It's the same one Pan pushed me in when I first came. It means I'm in familiar territory.

"So, where's the rest of your crew?" I ask, as we walk along the side.

"Back on me ship," he replies. "The Jolly Roger."

I nod, but something strikes me as odd. I can't quite place my finger on it. I glance at my dim reflection in the water, and stop for a moment to get a better look. I look worse than I thought.

I'm pretty much smudged anywhere that isn't covered, and I'm only in my jeans and tank top, which have holes in different places. My hair is a matted mess, and I probably have bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. Not to mention that they are probably still red from my breakdown.

Hook catches what I'm looking at, and smiles sympathetically.

"I didn't want to say anything," he says, shrugging. "I know how girls hate to be told that they don't look good. You're pretty enough anyway, there didn't seem to be a point."

I roll my eyes at the flattery, but smile a little.

Still though, I can stand to be cleaned up a little. Okay, fine, a lot.

Closing my eyes, I imagine a brush, just like my brush back home.

I hear Hook's gasp, and open my eyes, my brush in my hand.

I tug at my hair, trying to pull out the band that is holding it up. It must be really tangled in there, because after a few minutes of tugging, I only manage to nearly dislocate my shoulder.

"Here," says Hook, chuckling. "Let me try."

I turn around, and let him struggle for a little.

It's strange how I'm trusting him this much. I'm not sure why. I know he was genuinely reluctant to hand me over to Pan, and that he promised he wouldn't hurt me. But that makes us-what-allies? At the most?

"It's in there good," he says, after his turn of fruitless tugging. "You may have to cut it out, lass."

I reach up to my hair, trying to think of a solution besides that. I'm not in the mood for losing my hair.

I glance at the brush I was holding.

Pan said that all you have to do in Neverland is think of something to have it. What if you think of something that's already there, just in a different place?

I close my eyes, and imagine my rubber band disappearing from my hair, and reappearing on my wrist. I can feel its weak hold on my rat's nest hair fade, and I feel it appearing, ever so tightly on my wrist.

Opening my eyes, I see it there. I start to grin a little, and I part my hair, letting the brush do its work.

Hook sees what I've done, and arches an eyebrow.

"That's impressive, lass," he notes, as he and I continue to walk.

"Can't you do it?" I ask, as I brush out the first of lots of tangles.

Hook shakes his head.

"Trust me," he says. "If I did, me crew would have all the rum in the world, and we'd be eating like kings every night."

I guess he's not a Dreamer. But, then again, Pan said everyone can do it in Neverland.

"All you have to do is think of something, and believe that the magic will get it for you," I explain.

"Aye, for children maybe," says Hook nodding. "But not for adults."

"Oh, so I'm a child now?" I ask playfully, knowing he didn't mean it like that.

"Just barely," replies Hook.

He pulls out his sword, and uses it to cut through the thick foliage in front of us. It's easier to walk through without it blocking your path.

Or without a string of Lost Boys on your tail, for that matter.

"So, where exactly are we headed?" I ask, following him as he cuts a particularly thick branch out of the way.

"Back to the Roger," he replies. "Unless you'd rather stay on the island."

I pause, thinking it over.

I would rather be on Hook's ship, but I don't want Pan taking his anger out on Hook when he finds that Hook has given me refuge. I also don't really want Mr. Smee insisting that they should hand me over.

That's when I realize what had struck me as odd earlier.

"Why are you alone?" I ask.

Hook hesitates for a second, but I catch it.

"If you've been on Neverland as long as you say you have," I press. "then you know it's probably smart to never be alone. Heck, I realized that when I first arrived. Why didn't you bring someone with you?"

Hook sighs and turns to face me. There's a hint of guilt on his face, and for the first time since I met him, I have to steel myself for what he is about to say.

Has he betrayed the trust that I've given him?

"Sometimes, Pan will call me to the island," he explains. "Sometimes, he will ask me to do something, in exchange for letting me and me crew roam the island. Tonight, well…"

He trails off, just as I did a while ago.

"He asked you to help him break me, didn't he?" I guess, reading between the lines.

Why else would he be so relieved to see me, and so willing to comfort me when he saw I was hurt?

I take his silence as a 'yes'.

"He told you to betray me," I continue. "And you didn't say no."

Hook looks away, and softly mutters, "I didn't say yes either."

To my surprise, I'm alright with it. He didn't agree immediately.

He is considering saying no, which means he was willing to put his crew's lives at risk for me. I actually feel touched by this, not betrayed.

"Well," I say. "So long as it's not too bad."

Hook gives me a look of surprise.

"I don't understand, lass," he says, cutting the branch in front of us.

I shrug, feeling surprisingly light. My hair feels like it's got all the knots out, so I tie it back up.

"You didn't say yes immediately, which means that you don't want to betray me," I explain. "But, I don't want you to have your crew killed, either. So, yes, you can betray me, but seeing as I know, that kind of takes the blow away, which puts Pan a step behind us."

"Us?" repeats Hook, cocking an eyebrow.

Instead of replying to this, I give him an incredulous look. If I don't say something now, this will be bothering me forever.

"Okay, seriously," I say, pausing. "What is with it with the guys on Neverland and their eyebrows? Do you know how hard it is to concentrate on what you or Pan are saying while watching those things go up and down?"

The look on Hook's face is priceless. I wish I had a camera. Unable to resist, I start to laugh. After getting over his shock, Hook starts laughing as well.

It feels good, being able to laugh. And it must feel good to Hook as well, because as soon as he stops, he hears me laughing a little, and picks up where he left off. This causes me to laugh more also.

Finally, I'm wiping away tears from my eyes, and Hook has to use his hook on my shoulder to support himself.

"Oh, I needed that, lass," he says, when we are finally able to stop. "Thank you."

"I needed it just as much as you did," I reply, smiling. "Real laughter seems like a rare thing in Neverland."

He finally cuts the branch, and the foliage seems to be thinning.

In the back of mind, I sense something. I'm not sure what...but something.

As I take a step, I feel it more. Curious, I go forward through the foliage, the sense growing stronger with every step.

It's not the twisted feeling I get when I'm near Pan.

It's good. Strong. Beautiful. Magical.

I walk into a clearing, the sense practically radiating through me. I see a couple of tree stumps, that look like they have been cut down, rather badly at that.

Another tree still seems to be growing. Somehow, I know that whatever it is I'm sensing is at the top.

"Lass?" I hear Hook call.

I don't answer.

Instead, I walk to the tree, and hesitantly grab the first branch.

Yes, the sense is stronger. It's definitely in this tree.

I hoist myself up, and start to climb. I climbed a lot when I was little, so it isn't unfamiliar. The tree also has a lot of branches that make excellent handholds and footholds.

"Lass, what are you doing?" asks Hook, from down below.

"Don't you sense it?" I reply, continuing to climb.

"Sense what?" he asks.

I guess he doesn't, then.

"The magic," I answer. "It's really close. Don't you feel it?"

"No," replies Hook flatly. "Now come down before you break your neck."

Aw, he's worried.

I feel something creep around my leg, twisting around my ankle. I look down, and see a rather creepy looking vine, winding its way around my calf.

"Bugger off," I tell it, kicking at it.

"What?" calls Hook.

"Nothing!" I reply, as the vine shies away.

Good, I don't want to be distracted.

I continue to climb, when I see it. Just an arm's length away is a blossom, open in the starlight.

It almost seems to be taking it in, giving it life. Like a night-time photosynthesis. Something inside the flower seems to be sparkling. Pollen, perhaps?

I reach out, and pinch some out of the flower.

As soon my fingers come in contact with the dust, I feel my foot slip on a patch of moss.

I reach for a handhold to steady myself, but find none. For a split second, I totter dangerously on the branch, and in another, I slip.

A shriek escapes me, and I hear Hook cry out something, as I fall. I think my life may flash before my eyes, but I can't tell, since they're closed.

But, am I falling?

I can feel the wind whipping around me, but I can't feel gravity working on me.

Hesitantly, I crack open an eye.

I'm not falling at all. If anything, I'm farther up than where I was when I slipped. I look down, to see Hook staring up at me. A green glow surrounds me, and my feet are kicking the empty air.

I'm not falling; I'm flying.

I'm not sure how I should react to this. I figured one could fly on Neverland. That's one of the biggest points of the story, after all. But the story also said that the dust that made you fly was from fairies, and you needed faith and trust.

Then again, Pan is a decent person in the story, so I shouldn't expect the details to be correct.

I'm also pretty glad that I'm not falling to my death. That would be kind of nasty. On the other hand, I have absolutely no idea how to do more than hover, and I'm not sure how to do even that. And I have no idea how to land.

Still, I'm actually flying. And, to be honest with myself, it feels pretty darn awesome.

So, I react as anyone would naturally react.

I throw back my head, let out a whoop of joy, followed by a round of necessary laughter.

Right, now that I've got that out of the way, how the heck do I get down?

Slowly, I find myself going down feet first.

Okay, so I thought that I wanted to go down, and I went down. Lets try getting a hang of this so I'll know for next time.

I want to go up.

Responding to my thoughts, I fly upwards, past where I was when I opened my eyes.

I can't help but grin, as I start learning how to slow down, to go left and right, to go faster…

"Are you done yet?"

I look down at Hook, who looks bored, but is watching me with warily. He's probably still concerned that I'm going to break my neck.

Yeah, I kind of forgot about him while learning how to fly.

"You've got to try this!" I say in reply, as I allow myself to fly to another tree.

I catch a branch, and use it to propel myself upwards, like one might do with a swimming pool wall.

"Can't," Hook calls up. "Grown-up, remember? Now, are you coming down, or not?"

"Where's your ship?" I ask.

"About half a mile east of here," he answers. "Why?"

"Race you,"I challenge.

"This isn't a game, lass," he replies sharply.

I bite my lip when I realize he's right. This isn't a game. I'm flying like a flag up here, probably in sight of Pan and all the Lost Boys. I could be leading them straight to me and Hook.

Feeling slightly embarrassed for letting myself get carried away, I think how I want to land. Lightly.

In a couple of seconds, I'm on the ground, and the green glow fades. My skin now has what looks like glitter all over the place, but other than that, there's no sign of my flight.

"So, that was pixie dust?" I ask, brushing the sparkling dust off my arms.

"Aye," replies Hook.

I nod, but try to familiarize myself with the sense that the dust gave me. I have a feeling that I will need it later, and if I know the feeling, it'll be that much easier to find.

"Let's keep moving," Hook says, holding his lantern back up. "Preferably without climbing any trees this time."

"Only if I can't sense any magic around," I reply, half-joking.

If we do come across something that I sense has a good magic, then I'm going to try to find it.

Partly because I may be able to use it to escape, and partly out of curiosity. I certainly never sensed magic back home, which means that either there's no magic, or I can only sense magic in Neverland.

Either way, I'm curious to try out this new ability.

"I'm serious, lass," says Hook, as we continue walking. "If you hadn't touched that dust, you would've killed yourself."

Technically, if I hadn't reached for the dust at all, I wouldn't have fallen, but I'm not going to bring that up. I'm not in the mood for a lecture.

"Why are you so worried?" I ask instead. "I mean, you only met me less than twenty-four hours ago. It's not like you owe me anything."

"It would be bad form to leave a girl like you in Pan's grasp," replies Hook, shrugging.

No, there's more to it than that. He's acting too casual. And just because it would be bad form doesn't mean he had to do it.

"You still don't have to take me back to your ship," I point out. "If you just wanted to avoid bad form, then you could have always just have made sure I was alright, and moved on. But, you are obviously concerned about me, because you're taking me to your ship, at the potential risk of angering Pan. Why?"

Hook lets out an exasperated sigh, that tells me that he really wishes that I couldn't use logic that quickly.

Hey, Pan said that Dreamers have logical trains of thought, and that I'm a powerful one. So, logically, that means I'm going to put things like Hook's concern over me together quickly.

I decide it would be best not to push it by asking why again, but wait for him to answer.

"Like I said," he says, after a few minutes. "it would be bad form."

Okay, I guess that he's not in the mood to tell me.

Normally, I'd try pushing it, but seeing as Hook is my only ally right now, and he does seem genuinely concerned. So, I'm alright if he keeps his secret.

Besides, Pan could have ears all over the island. If it's important, best to keep it hidden. The less he knows about you, the less he can use against you.

We walk on in silence, until we come to a beach. A rowboat sits tied to the shore, and I can see Hook's ship not that far off.

"All aboard, miss," Hook says drily, as we climb in.

I take a seat in the back, as he unties the knot. I take a look at the boat.

It seems perfectly normal. Like any old rowboat you see in the movies. Something still seems odd about it.

As Hook pushes off, climbs in, and sits down, I realize what it is.

"Hook?" I ask. "How did you row over here with one hand?"

Hook doesn't reply. Instead, he turns his hook at an angle so that it holds on to one oar the same way his hand does. I cock my head, as he starts to row. He can turn his hook, apparently. Cool.

I wonder briefly how he got the hook. I mean, in the story, it got cut off by Pan, and tossed to a crocodile.

Obviously, though, the story is a lot different from the real thing. And even that part of the story seemed a little far-fetched.

Then again, should I ask? I have kind of badgered him a lot…

I sigh, as I suddenly hear what I've tried to block out all night. I can hear the children crying. Because I'm not there to help.

Think about Abby, I tell myself. She's probably crying now, because she knows you're trapped here.

"What was that?" asks Hook, breaking the silence.

I look up, and realize I spoke out loud.

"Nothing," I reply.

Hook seems unfazed by the crying. I wonder if it has anything to do with how long he has been here. Well, whatever he's doing, I hope he can teach me. Because I won't be able to stand night after night listening to the crying.

"Hook," I say. "How do you ignore the crying?"

"The what?" he replies.

"The crying," I repeat. "On the island."

Hook just turns to me and gives me an uneasy look.

"You can't hear it, can you?" I guess, heart sinking.

I guess this is going to be one battle I have to fight on my own then.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he agrees, turning back to rowing.

I look back on the island.

"Some of the Lost Boys miss their families," I explain, thinking about the younger ones who wanted me to read to them. "When they go to bed, they start crying. I've been able to hear it since the shadow brought me."

Hook probably thinks I'm insane. Maybe I am. Maybe these cries I've been hearing have just been in my head.

Then again, I wouldn't know that any were crying when I first came. And I've been in that room, where all the children cry. So I know that they do cry.

But, how can I hear it from here?

I shake my head, unable to find an answer. Turning, I see we're pretty close to the ship.

"Well," says Hook, seeing where I'm looking. "There she is. The Jolly Roger."

I smile, noting the loving tone in his voice. This ship is pretty much his home, and he's proud of it.

"Oi!" calls Hook, "Where is my warm welcome? Am I going to have to tow our lovely guest up here myself, or are you going to make a good impression on her?"

There's a sound of scuffling, as Hook rows beside the boat. A rope ladder appears over the side, and Hook chuckles.

"After you, lass," he says, gesturing to the ladder.

"Are you going to keep your eyes where they belong?" I ask, playfully.

"A gentleman like me? Of course," replies Hook, spreading his hand and hook up innocently.

I smile, and start to climb up. A couple of ropes fall beside me, and Hook starts to tie the ends of the boat up. Probably to lift the boat back up onto the ship.

I'm midway up, when I stop.

I feel it again. That dark, twisted feeling that I always get around Pan.

He's here. Or his shadow is.

I freeze, trying to figure out what to do. He's here, and is probably going to wait to capture me again. I'm a little sick of this whole ring-around-the-rosy thing we have going on. I run, he finds me, captures me, I run again.

However, he doesn't know that I'm aware of his presence. I can take him by surprise.

And if not…

I look around at the ocean. There's no way I can make the swim back to shore. If I go aboard, Pan will have to leave. The trouble is getting him to leave without me.

"Lass?" asks Hook, noticing that I've stopped my climb. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I reply, lying through my teeth.

I really, really hate Pan right now. He always has to take me when things are at least feeling alright.

Which is what he's trying to do, I realize. He's trying to show me there's no security, except with him.

Like that'll ever happen.

I continue climbing, but imagine a knife as I do. He can try to take me.

Just let him try. I'm sick of this game, and I want to rest. If I have to fight him to get that respite, so be it.

I climb up, and hoist myself up on the deck.

I immediately look around, but I only see the same group of men that were there when I first met Hook. I see Smee, who is staring at me, and looking like he's seen the Ghost of Christmas Past. The sight is sort of ridiculous, and I can't help but smile at his squirming.

The captain let me on the ship. He's going to have deal with it.

I don't see Pan or the shadow anywhere, though. But one of them is here; I can sense it.

Hook climbs aboard, as two of the crew members pull the raft back onto the ship.

"Well?" he asks, gesturing at the ship we stand on. "What do you think?"

I stop to actually look around.

The ship seems like any ship I've seen in the movies, but there is something else about it. There's something about it that feels like home. It's like going to a friend's house for a sleepover. It's not home, but it has a feeling that tells you that it is the home of someone else. And that makes it better.

"It's...wonderful," I say, taking in the feeling.

It's all the home I've got right now until I escape Neverland, so it feels great.

I still look around warily, waiting for Pan to jump out at me. Nothing.

"Let me show you around," says Hook, leading the way.

He starts a full tour, starting with some of the deck. We circle down to the lower levels, and then go back up, where he shows me the Crow's Nest, and the helm.

The wheel marks me as strange, not because it's the steering, but because of the wood beside it.

Carved into the wood is an arrow, in a circle, pointing north. An S and P label the left and right side. Starboard and Port. What's really strange about this carving, though, is that its been scratched out by something.

My fingers trace the jagged line, and I turn to Hook for an explanation. He simply shrugs and says it's always been like that.

Again, I can tell that he's lying.

I still can sense Pan, but I can sense him getting farther away. Maybe he's going back to the island.

Well, as long as its away from me, I can live with that.

As I open my mouth to explain this to Hook, Smee appears beside us.

"Er, Captain," he says, giving us a nervous glance. "A word?"

Hook looks from Smee to me, and I can tell he's put together what I have. Smee's probably worried that Pan is going to come and set a crocodile on the entire crew for giving me shelter.

"In a moment, Mr. Smee," replies Hook, turning to me.

"Tired?" he asks, catching my yawn.

I nod, not bothering to explain. It's been a long day. Being kidnapped, throwing poison at said kidnapper, meeting pirates, almost being drowned by mermaids, discovering magical powers, almost falling to my death and flying.

Yep; long, full day.

Hook gestures for me to follow, and leads me to one of the rooms we passed. He simply called them "quarters" but they look like they could be his. I'm kind of touched that he would let me use them.

"Thanks," I say, turning to him.

Not just for letting me use his room, but for everything. Giving me sanctuary from Pan, allowing me to stay at the risk of his men…

Hook just nods in acknowledgement.

"Well, someone has to be a gentleman on this cursed island," he replies.

I smile, but am only vaguely aware of what is happening as I bid him goodnight, and he promises to wake me if something is wrong. I just lay down, and close my eyes.

I'm so tired, I drift off instantly.

A/N: Well, at least Jess is feeling better.

Thank you MarishkaTheUnderdog and dream lighting for putting this story on alert, and to dream lighting and savystories for favoriting it. Also, thank you FurySaidtoaMouse, meguhanu, Female whovian, storybrookering, Dreamer-Girl96, and Uncommon fairy for your awesome reviews. And, as always, a special thanks to my amazing betas, Can't-Escape-My-Fandoms and Uncommon fairy. Kudos to Female whovian, Dreamer-Girl96, and Uncommon fairy for incorporating Princess Bride quotes into their reviews. Plato, Aristotle, Socrates? Morons, compared to y'all!

Also, a very happy birthday to my beta, Uncommon fairy! I couldn't have written this fic without you!

Please follow, favorite, review, or whatever y'all want to do! Opinions of Jess and Hook's relationship are greatly appreciated! :)