He knew that he should be moving away from the spot that they left him. After they emerged from the portal in the waters close to the beach, the man that took him told his dad's fiancé that he was going to look around for a path. After a long while, she decided to follow him. Leaving Henry to sit on a weathered log and warning him to not move.
Even though he didn't have a watch, he knew that they have been gone too long. However, when presented with the opportunity to be a hero for a change, Henry sat and waited.
His mom's always tried to protect him but Henry knew to always listen to the adults around Storybrooke. He remembered Hook telling Emma about Neverland. It was dangerous and he was alone.
However, Henry was also 11 and bored.
So naturally, he took a step towards the forest behind him. Followed by another and another. Until he finally stood before the expanse of green. The forest around Storybrooke had nothing on the forest in front of him.
"Well, here goes.." Henry said to himself before walking to the forest.
"If I was a smart lad, I wouldn't go into the forest alone." A sharp voice called to him from behind, "Especially this close to the night."
Henry turned to look at the person in front of him. The girl looked like she was only a few years older than him. Even standing a ways from him, he could tell that she was taller than him with chestnut hair and brown eyes. She wore a tunic of soft peach paired with navy blue leather leggings tucked into brown leather boots. She held her hair back in a braid that lay on her shoulder. On her waist was a thick leather belt with a scabbard holding a sword.
She sauntered over to stand next to him, as she watched the forest. When she was closer, he noticed a worn strand of leather tie around her neck and tucked under her tunic.
"You don't look like you belong here." When she realized that the only answer that she was going to get from him was a sigh and a shrug, she continued, "Are you awaiting the rest of your party?"
"I'm smart enough to know not to tell you anything."
The girl's eyes widened before she let a smile grace her face. "Indeed you are. But are you also smart enough to know that the night is not the best place to remain unprotected on a beach in Neverland?"
Henry looked up at her and doubt slightly filled his eyes.
"Perhaps I can offer you another alternative lad?" The stranger offered, when she saw that he was watching her curiously, she continued. "You may retire on my ship for the night and I will aide you in finding your party once the sun rises."
Henry flicked his foot in the sand lightly, unsure of the choices presented to him. On one hand, he didn't want to remain alone during the night. He actually didn't want to wait for at all for them. On the other hand, this woman was a stranger.
He was still in his thoughts when he heard the crunch of sand under her boots. She was walking away from him towards another part of the beach. With one last look to the forest, he followed her.
"What's your name lad?"
"It's Henry," he supplied, "What's yours?"
"Isabelle," she replied without looking back, "But you call me Izzy."
(Page Break)
David waited a few hours before he began to pace restlessly. Snow kept watch over the group while Emma and Regina cuddled in a close circle together. It was still unsettling to see the woman who caused her family the greatest pain of their lives so close to the woman who brought her the greatest joy in her life.
Regina patiently watched as Emma blew a lock of brown hair out of her eyes. She hoped that Emma wasn't placed in a situation that caused her to protect Henry with her magic. She was unprepared and not in control of her magic. Much like she was at one point in her life.
She cut her eyes to Snow and Charming; it was a strange thing to be in this close proximity to them without having the constant desire to tear them apart.
What would happen when they returned to Storybrooke? Would Emma betray her trust, much like her mother did all those years ago? They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree …
"I won't keep him from you." Emma's voice broke the silence, as she continued to concentrate on the spell that Regina taught her. She could see the grains of sand clump and break as tiny shields were created. "You have no reason to not trust me, I have never broken my word."
"Your mother told me that long ago .."
"Then you should be glad I'm not my mother." She cut her off, "I'm Henry's mother and I'm telling you to trust me."
Regina looked at Emma for a few more minutes before her intense stare got the best of her. They would never be friends but for the first time, she truly understood the woman in front of her. It wasn't much, but at least it was a start.
Snow sighed as she watched the sun begin to inch closer to the mountain. It would be time to leave soon. She stood and walked the short distance to stand next to Emma and Regina, causing them to look up. "We need to be moving on soon. The sun will be touching the mountain."
For a split moment, she could see both Regina and Emma begin to protest. However the protests were never said in the open. She was shocked when she saw the two of them close their mouths tightly.
"Alright." Emma started, "David promised him that we would return to the ship."
Everyone stood and began to put out the small fire and gather their belongings. As the group started to return to the ship, they heard steady footsteps. She looked over Regina's soldier to see Killian saunter out of the bushes in front of them with Gold limping behind them.
Killian glanced at Emma before looking up in the sky sharply. "Well, it's good to know that you will at least listen well."
Before the camp begin to question, Gold spoke up from behind Killian. "Anything that needs to be said can wait until we are out of the jungle and on the ship."
At that, Killian briskly walked away from the group and started to lead them out of the forest. No words were spoken as they returned to the beach. After the long boat reach the Jolly Rodger, he strode away from the group and reached the helm.
"Mate?!" He spoke to David, gaining his attention, "Raise the anchor and get the sails open!"
"Where are we going?"
"We are docking for the night. I need to think." Killian replied, taking his place behind the wheel. Once the Rodger reached open waters, the deck cleared out. Emma decided to stay and watch the island float away until it receded into the distance.
She leaned against the railing of the ship in her thoughts when she felt him behind her. The entire length of his body fit against her back. Emma froze on the spot when she saw his remaining hand flow beside her to come to rest on the railing. The arm with his hook slowly came to rest on the other side of her body, effectively trapping her between his arms.
"You are awfully bold this evening." She said in a slightly shaky voice. He didn't reply to her, as he lowered his head to the spot where he shoulder and neck met. She was staring ahead with steel in her eyes when she felt him open his mouth to nip her with his teeth.
"And you aren't saying "No" Emma?" He replied as he continued to nip her down her neck and towards her shoulders. "Have you finally stopped running from me?" He asked as he pressed her hip sharply to begin to turn her to face him.
She held herself so tight that he feared that she would have bruises running up her arms. He could also feel a slight tremble in her body. He didn't know if it was the ocean air, nerves or something .. else ..
After the afternoon that he was forced to live with the Crocodile and dealing with mermaids, all he wanted to do was be lost in the woman in front of him. In any other instance, he would commend her for the sheer amount of will power that she kept showing him.
She wanted him, he knew that she did. Every fiber in his being kept calling to her, beating that will power down at all hours of the day, he knew that she must be exhausted. Any normal man would stop but Killian wasn't a normal man.
A man who doesn't fight for what he wants .. deserves what he gets
He said those words ages ago, words that he lived by. He wanted Emma and there wasn't anything .. even Emma herself .. that would be able to fight him off ..
He pressed her against the railing of the ship and began to toy with the collar of her jacket. He could see it in her eyes, that steely resolve crumbling in front of him. In a sheer act of tremendous willpower, he removed himself from her.
"I find that I have grown tired of the perpetual game of cat and mouse that we have begun, Emma Swan." He said as her named flowed from his lips. She looked up at him with tired eyes as he turned and began to walk away from her with a flourish of his leather coat. He stood on the first steps, leaving the deck to look back at her.
Emma felt like she was in a trance as she followed that coat, her poor shriveled heart beat loudly in her chest. She knew that she shouldn't follow him, it could only end in tears for her.
But as he drew her closer to him, she looked down into his eyes and made her decision. She could feel his eyes on her as she descended the stairs before him, and as she heard the door to his cabin close with a resounding click. She found that she truly knew nothing ..
(Page Break)
Henry followed her while they trekked along the beach. He somehow found it in him to remain quiet the entire journey, which he couldn't understand, since his mother always told him that he asked too many questions for his own good.
It wasn't until the two of them passed a large rock formation and into a cove that he found that he couldn't keep his thoughts to himself.
"Whoa." He exclaimed as their destination came into view. He had seen a pirate ship before but the one that rested in front of him was unlike anything he had ever seen.
The ship was smaller than the Jolly Rodger but still looked just as fascinating. He could see a large golden bell behind the helm as he came to stand on the deck. He walked a few steps before turning to face the girl.
"Does your ship have a name?"
"He has gone by many names, but I think these days I like to call him 'Finis'" Izzy answered as she began to tug on the ropes that held the sails. She came to stand behind the helm.
"What was his name before?"
Izzy smiled down at him before chuckling, "Bucky."
Henry grinned before remarking, "Bucky?! Really? What kind of name is Bucky?"
"It was a very long time ago, when the ship was captained by a very different crew." Izzy supplied, as she began to get lost in her thoughts. "A very foolish crew, with foolish dreams."
Henry grinned as he stood on the deck and proceeded to inspect everything in reach. Izzy took her time and began to watch her charge. He reminded her so much of another lad, so full of life and curiosity.
"You take to seeing a pirate ship rather well." Izzy trailed off, watching him ascend from the deck to stand beside her on the helm.
"That's because I have seen one before back home." Henry started, "We had to steal it to help save my grandpa."
"Oh? That's a mighty feat to steal a pirate ship for one so young."
"Young?! I am only a few years younger than you are?!" He replied, crossing his arms and attempting to stand taller by standing up straighter.
Izzy cut her eyes to him and grinned before bowing sharply at the waist towards him, "My apologies."
The ship finally reach open water after a time and Izzy looked over to see Henry tucked into himself on a crate near the helm. "There are cots in the quarters below that will be more restful than a crate, lad. Go and get some rest. The sea will be here when you awaken."
Henry perked up a little and began to trudge towards the stairs leading away from the deck. Before he left, he turned to her. "Thanks for letting me stay here."
Izzy nodded her head slowly and waited for him to leave before releasing the breath that she was holding. She felt wrong for deceiving the boy the way that she was. As she looked out at the sea before taking a deep breath, when she left Neverland years ago she vowed never to return until she had found a weapon to fight him.
Little did she know, she didn't need a weapon, she needed a person. A person of great value to him, he had been searching for years. He abducted countless children to feed his army, cut off all opposition against him. So she returned to fit the fight, after she received the information she needed.
Her thoughts were cut off by an unnatural flutter of movement, near the portside of the ship's railing. She delicately walked to the rail to look down into the black water. A flutter of green reached her eyes as she smiled.
"Marina." Izzy said, welcoming her old friend.
"Izzy!" The young mermaid replied and dove up and down into the water. "You will never ever believe who is back?"
Izzy patiently waited for the mermaid to calm before continuing her story.
"Hook has returned to Neverland! He went to the cove and talked to Ariel! He had a person with him and everything!" Marina fluttered her tail in joyful waves while she swam in circles.
Izzy mulled over this information, it had been many years since she had last seen the pirate known as Hook. The fact that what he was looking for and the arrival of the infamous pirate where to close to be chance. It would seem like chess pieces were being gathered on a very volatile board. She was vaguely aware that Marina was still talking to her and only stopped thinking when she noticed her old friend perched on the step that she used to perch on long ago.
Her blue eyes looked up at her, eyes full of hope. "Do you think that he could help? He was always better friends with the fairies. Maybe he could get them to fix your .."
"No." Izzy replied, looking down at the worn bag around her neck, many times she wanted to remove it but memories always stopped her. She turned from Marina with a heavy heart before softly speaking,
"You of all should know that pixie dust can't fix everything."
AUTHORS NOTE: I STILL DON'T OWN OUAT, JANP OR POTC.
So yeah, it has been forever! I am so sorry for my absence. I have 2 little ones and life got in the way for a bit. I hope that you forgive me! Little ones take precedence. Things are going to be picking up and next chapter will have a little bit of hotness in it. Let me know what you think! A big thank you goes too – Lisa1972, onetreefan, PeaceHeather, and Angelfan984. Your reviews mean everything! Thank you for all my new followers as well!