Disclaimer: ...mer...I hate this... I don't own any of them. Except Emily and Madam Merlot! They're all mine! Mine, you hear! You can't sue me for owning them! Hah!

Author's Note: Alright, get prepared to love me, then hate me. I won't tell you why, just that you will. Hate me, that is. Oh, and cliff-hanger warning as well.

chapter ten:

After "sword practice" ((cough cough wink wink nudge nudge)), Peter and Emily laid on the cool dirt floor, staring at the root ceiling with stupid smiles on their faces as they talked about nothing in particular. Emily's t-shirt had been flung somewhere (we'll just say it was because she got hot while practicing...), leaving her in a sports bra and her flannel pants, but from the looks of things (particularly the red, swollen look to both their lips), she didn't seem to mind. They laughed about something and Peter propped his head up, turning on his side to look at Emily.

"I want you to stay," he said seriously.

Emily looked at him, surprised. "What?"

"I want you to stay here in Neverland," he repeated.

This was sudden. "Peter, I...I don't know."

Peter sat up, looking down at her desperately. "Emily, when this is over, I want you---I need you---to stay here, with me." He shook his head. "I don't think I can stand watching you walk away again. It'd kill me."

Emily sat up too, thinking it all through. She still wanted to grow up, get married, have children... but something inside of her was telling her to stay, that this world needed her more than her own...

"All right," she said.

Peter looked heartbroken. "Emily, you have to stay---" he continued to plead. Emily laughed as he began stating all the reasons he needed her to stay.

"Peter."

He stopped his rambling, looking at her with confused green eyes. "What?"

"I said I'm staying."

"You---" Peter's eyes grew wide. "You're---you're staying? Really?" He jumped up and looked as though he'd start dancing for joy. Emily hoped he wouldn't.

"You're actually going to stay here?" he asked. "Here in Neverland with me?"

Emily nodded her head slowly. "If thats what you meant, then yes, I'm staying here with you. In Neverland."

Peter yanked her more than helped her up and kissed her on the lips, hugging her tightly. "You won't regret it," he said when he'd released her. "You'll have so much fun. We'll go on adventures every day! You'll be able to fly like me in no time. You could spend time with the faeries and, heck, you'll probably end up looking like one. Taller, of course. And---"

"Peter! I get the point." She rolled her eyes, catching a glimpse of the red sky outside, and then began the search for her missing t-shirt. While she was looking under Peter's bed, she suddenly remembered something.

"I promised Gran that I'd come back," she said, sitting up quickly.

From across the room Peter groaned. For two reasons, actually. One because of Emily's comment. Two because he had just found another leaf suit and dicovered that it was two small, which meant that he would have to continue wearing the t-shirt and flannel pants.

"What?" Emily looked at him.

"These don't fit anymore," he complained. "I've grown too much."

Emily watched him stare at her a moment, and realized what he meant. His voice had gotten deeper, and though he hadn't gotten taller, the muscles in his body had filled out a bit more. She cocked her head slightly, biting her bottom lip as she slipped into a daydream...

"Em, knock it off," Peter said, snapping Emily out of her dream. "What's your problem? See something you like?"

"Maybe." She continued her search for her t-shirt, crawling on her hands and knees around the room. "Good grief, Peter! Where did you throw my shirt?"

Peter looked up from his belt that he was trying to stretch out. "Um..." He looked around. "I don't know. Why do you need it?"

Emily gave him an 'oh please' look identical to Wendy's. "I'm crawling around on the floor without a shirt. Hello! Why else do you think I need it?"

Peter shrugged. "I dunno. Its not bothering me."

Emily growled and crawled to where Peter stood, getting to her feet and staring up at him. She poked him in the chest.

"Of course it doesn't bother you. You're a boy. It wouldn't bother you if I were standing here naked."

Peter feigned innocent thought. "No," he said, shaking his head. "It wouldn't."

Emily smacked him across the face, playfully, but hard enough to leave a sting. But her hand had been in contact with his skin long enough to feel the short stubble growing on his jaw line. She pulled back quickly.

"This is really starting to scare me," she said, holding her hand.

"Why?" Peter's hand shot to his cheeks, feeling his skin. His eyes grew wide as his hands slid over the beginnings of a beard.

"Oh crap!" he exclaimed, picking up his sword and looking at his reflection in the blade. "This is getting way out of hand." Peter grabbed his belt and tied it around his waist, attaching his sword sheathe to it and sheathing the blade.

"Are we leaving?" Emily asked. "Where's my shirt---?"

"Its over there." Peter pointed to the sword rack. "Hurry up; I'm not waiting any longer. Whoever put this spell on Neverland dies tonight."

Emily pulled her t-shirt on over her head and picked up her sword. "Wait! I need a belt."

Peter picked up a coil of rope and tossed it to her. His eyes didn't meet her's; they were far off in the distance, glazed with thought.

After tying the makeshift belt around her waist and sheathing her sword, Emily walked up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Peter," she said softly. "We'll get through this. We'll get you back to normal."

Peter inhaled deeply, as if steeling himself for something, then exhaled. "C'mon. Let's go."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Madam Merlot clutched her onyx pendant. She grinned at Captain Hook.

"They are coming to the ship, Capitaine," she croaked.

Hook looked to Smee, who was standing in the corner. "Smee, tell the crew to leave the ship and go ashore. You go with them. The Madam and I will handle Pan."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Despite his new weight, Peter was still a considerably good flier. He and Emily waited in the clouds for the moment, going over their plan. Peter examined his sword once more, then spoke quietly.

"Emily, just promise me some things."

Emily swallowed; bad things always started when he said those words. "What?"

"Stay out of as much danger as possible," he said, green eyes shinning. "And if anything happens to me---"

"It won't, Peter," she interrupted firmly. "Nothing will go wrong."

"If I get hurt," Peter continued, "bad enough to where I can't fight, leave here; get out of Neverland. It'll be too dangerous."

Emily set her jaw stubbornly. "You won't get hurt---"

Peter grabbed her wrist, squeezing it. "Promise me, Emily. Promise me that if I die, you'll leave as fast as you can."

"Peter---"

"Promise me!" Peter demanded, eyes pleading.

Emily hesitated, tears forming in her eyes. Why was he acting like this all of a suddem? Did he actually think he would die? "I---I promise."

Peter sat back, sighing. "Good. Then I want you to have this, just in case." He pulled from his pocket a small shell that spiraled in may shades of blues and purples. Then he stuck it in Emily's hand.

"This is yours," he said.

"What's it for?"

"It's a kiss." Peter managed a half-smile. "I found it on the Mermaid's Rock. You know, when we first kissed. For real." He shrugged. "Who knows? It might save your life."

"Oh, Peter..."

"Stop worrying." He looked over his shoulder at the ship below them. Nodding to himself, he pursed his lips, brow furrowing. "Let's get this over with."

They flew down to the ship, quickly and discreetly as possible. Peeking over the edge, Peter muttered a 'huh' sound.

"What is it?" Emily hissed, trying to keep herself airborne.

"Nobody's there," Peter replied. Hook must've known we were coming."

"So what do we do?"

"Wait here." Peter flew up over the side and onto the deck. Emily heard his feet touch the wood and then him call out as he drew his sword, "C'mon, Hook! Show yourself, you pathetic excuse of a codfish!"

Emily could hardly believe that the young man on the empty deck of the Jolly Roger was the Peter Pan of her grandmother's stories. He sounded like her own father. It was almost frightening. But she stayed where she was, listening to Peter's new deep voice as he shouted.

"Get out here, Hook!" he yelled. "You and that old hag you're hiding in there! Come out here and fight!"

Emily's curiousity got the better of her, and she peeked over the edge of the ship. There Peter stood, his sword drawn at his side. He stared at the ship's cabins, eyes narrowed.

From the captian's cabin emerged Hook, his sword drawn as well. Behind him was a little old woman, wrapped in shawls, an onyx pendant glowing about her neck. Hook walked forward and raised his sword, bringing it down quickly. Peter blocked it, faster as lightning; their gazes met, green and blue eyes sparking.

"Well," said Hook. "If it isn't my arch enemy, Peter Pan? What a pleasant surprise."

Peter growled, his teeth bared in anger. "This is where it ends, Hook."

They glared at each other while the old woman smirked behind them. Hook pushed Peter away, making him turn his back to the woman. It was in this moment that Time slowed to a near standstill and Emily witnessed the most horrifying scene of her life.

Madam Merlot pulled from her robes a silver dagger and walked forward. At the same time, Hook swung at Peter again, forcing him to raise his own sword, leaving his sides exposed. And before the scream could leave Emily's lips, the old woman plunged her blade into Peter's ribs. Time reved back up.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Author's Note: ...hehe...I think i just did something very bad... it makes me happy that majority of you people don't know where I live...And remember that a faery dies everytime you don't review! flames are expected, so go ahead...i'll get my flame-retardant gear ready...Two more chapters left... I promise the ending's good!