Hey guys I'm back in college next week so updates may slow down quite a bit, hehe, as 6th form is a bummer for homework:( However this story is one I defo want finished by Christmas, there's a lot left to write but hopefully I'll be able to update like once every two weeks, although if this story is getting updated then my others probably won't be so if you read my other fanfic I'm sorry!

Oh and also I've just started my first collaboration with a friend of mine Cerelia Rye; it's a Disney/ THG crossover and we've been planning it for AGES. We've only got the prologue up atm (it's quite short ahaha) but if you like Disney (if you're reading this I'd assume you do;) or THG then check it out!XD

Aahaha anyways enough of my rambling; hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 21- The First Move

I stared out into the empty bay, the water gently lapping at my toes as the moon shone down on the water, mapping the stars upon its surface.

"And just like that?" I asked the chief, my voice devoid of feeling.

"Just like that," He replied with a gruff sigh.

"He's gone again." I swallowed hard.

"Just without the peace this time." The chief's voice turned hard and fierce, a tone I hadn't heard since we'd first arrived on the Island, and he took off down the beach, his large build leaving deep footprints in the soft sand.

I glanced back once more at the water as a raven, it's black feathers stark against the white moon, swooped overhead and out towards the empty ocean; it's flapping wings were the only sound on the mourning Island.

At least until Tink rang her bells in my ears, concern written all over her pale face.

I sighed at her, staring deep into her emerald eyes, and my thoughts tumbled out like water running with the force of gravity, first slowly, softly, then faster, harsher. "I don't understand him; why would he kill someone and then just up and leave? What is he looking for? What's his plan? What does he want to achieve by all this? Or is it some kind of crappy warning?" I shook my head and groaned as the questions tumbled round my head, panic swirling in my chest, yanking at my heart strings painfully- was Wendy next? Slightly? Tootles? Tink? Tiger Lily? The Darlings? Paranoia buzzed around my head like an itch that wouldn't go away, "Tink… I can't… I can't live like this! This waiting… this confusion… this lack of…of anything! I don't understand him!" I let out an unstable laugh, "I was finally settled in London, and then this?!" My voice reached a high and I threw my hands up and went to shout out into the empty water, my frustration, confusion and guilt boiling over the surface; I wanted to scream it all out, let the whole world hear. But Tink pressed herself against my lips, her eyes sad and almost… pitying?, and motioned into the trees.

I swung my head round to see the edge of a wooden sword disappear suddenly from behind the lush bushes, and five fingertips snatch themselves back from behind a tree trunk, "I know you're there boys," I said dryly.

They poked their heads out and shuffled forward on the sand.

"Don't worry Peter," Curly smiled up reassuringly.

"Yeah! Hook won't ever defeat us!" Nibs added with a grin.

Tink tinkled in agreement, creating a sword from her fairy dust and beginning to brandish it around the boys.

"Avast thee!" Nibs cried out, meeting her fairy sword with his wooden one. The moment they clashed the dust sword gave a 'poof!' and showered us with fairy dust.

Tootles sneezed.

"You've changed again," The Twins frowned up at me and I smiled fondly back, patting their heads like Dr Ackerman had done with me before.

"I'm still the same me; I'm still your Peter Pan." I placed my hands on my hips and smirked arrogantly.

They all laughed.

"Yep but you've definitely grown," Slightly pointed out with a wink.

"So has your ego," I grinned and swatted the brown hat with a white feather in it that sat atop his head.

"Hey! That's my pan hat!"

"You need the PANpipes to call yourself pan," I winked and placed a hand smugly on my hip. "And you need to be able to play them too!"

"Pffft!" Slightly replied indignantly.

I sniggered, and then looked off towards the end of the beach where the chief's cloak disappeared into the woods. The boys followed my gaze and Nibs shuffled awkwardly, "It wasn't your fault… we just needed you to know in case… in case he went after you next."

They looked at me with wide eyes, "Hook's never killed before. Not truly." Slightly glanced out at the waves as they rolled onto the sand.

"He's desperate." My voice turned darker and deeper, "C'mon; we have a funeral to attend."

Xxxxxxxxxx

I looked down at the kid's face, so young, so fresh. His long lashes rested gently on his pure face and his cheeks were blushed with youth, something that death had not yet managed to steal away. His injuries had been carefully bandaged and covered up out of respect by the tribe.

I thought back to the night we played Capture the Flag, the way the kid, the one I'd simply named 'smaller Indian', had parried all my blows, turning me onto the defensive. He was a good, strong fighter, a true Brave.

"Rising Sun," The chief's voice rose and he held up the lit torch, "Although no sculptured marble should rise to his memory, nor engraved stone bear record of his brave and honourable deeds, his remembrance shall be as lasting as the land he has honoured and his spirit will live on in our hearts for as long as our tribe shall live." He placed the torch upon the body and I closed my eyes and clenched my hands together.

If only I had been there.

I could've saved him.

I shook my head, "I saved the girl instead."

"What?" Slightly frowned.

I stared at him as both our eyes filled over with tears and they ran in streams down our faces, "Nothing."

I turned away from my most trusted friend and looked up at the stars as they twinkled and shimmered above us, the sparks from the fire shot up to join them and the ashes were lifted gently from the body by the breeze and flew up towards the sky.

Towards freedom.

Xxxxxxxxx

"Are you sure it was Hook?" I asked for the umpteenth time.

The tribe and boys looked at me as if I was dumb, "Yes." The chief's voice was laced with impatience, understandably; they'd never had an actual death due to the pirates before, only ever close calls. Because I'd been there. Or because Hook had become more murderous than ever before? Desperate. "The Hook marks were unmistakable."

"So Hook did the deed himself," I growled into the dirt and my fingers fiddled with the grass that grew up in the Indian camp.

"He was tortured," A young girl spoke up.

"Willow," The chief warned.

"No!" She bit back, tears welling up in her eyes, "He was tortured for information on YOU!" She pointed her finger at me accusatively.

"This isn't Peter's fault!" A different brave shouted out.

"They had the chance to kill him on that ship a year and a half ago!" I flinched. "But they showed him mercy and set him and his crew adrift- I certainly wouldn't have." Her voice was thick with pain and anger.

"He was being a good man!" Another girl shouted out, it was only a moment later that I realised that girl had been Tiger Lily. In the centre of it all they were just voices, either with or against me.

"He couldn't have known Hook would take it this far!"

"No! He was being a fool."

"Yeah! Why does Hook hate Peter so much in the first place? Clearly they had some tangle in the past and Peter is just trying to avoid him."

"Leaving us with the dirty work!"

"Yeah!"

"SHUT UP!" Slightly's voice rang out like a knife in the air. My breaths were coming hard and fast and my eyes were still glued onto the ground.

Was it my fault?

After all… it was me who Hook was after…

"Peter didn't have ANY tangle in the past- I knew Peter right from the start and he never had anything to do with Hook until he came sailing up on the Jolly Roger with a bottle to his lips called 'anger.' Hook's just a psychotic bastard who hates Peter more than anything probably because he's cocky and used to wind him up, but we all did! Peter was just targeted because he's the leader of us!" His voice cracked and he notably left out the and now I'm the leader part. I yanked out the grass and crushed it between my finger nails. "Stop blaming Peter. He's as much a victim as you guys are- gods he nearly died the other year." Slightly's voice was more angry than I'd ever heard it before, it was laced with bitterness and boldness. "So just… SHUT UP!"

I felt a strange sensation like pride fill my chest and I raised my head to face the stares of the Indians. "Slightly's right. I don't know why Hook is after me, and I don't really know what to do about it." I could go after Hook myself… stop anymore deaths. The moment I had that thought Wendy's face filled my vision, and the picture of that tiny bump on her stomach…

My voice elevated a notch, "But for now he's gone again and I have a pregnant wife at home to provide for. I can't stay with you, but I can be at the other end of the stars when you need me. I'll visit often like I said. I don't know-" My voice broke, "I don't know what Hook's plan is, and I'm sorry for your loss. I'd be bitter and angry too. I never thought Hook would take it so far, I mean I used to think it was all just a game-"

"Like the child you are." The girl, Willow, spat out.

"Like the child I was." I corrected steadily. "For now Hook's disappeared again-"

"So we're just going to leave him?!" A brave called out, "We should go after him!"

"No!" The chief's voice rang out cold, "We must not endanger the tribe unnecessarily for a fickle thing like revenge. Peter is right, for now Hook is gone; we shall mourn our loss and wipe Hook from our minds. When he returns we shall figure out a plan. But we have no idea where Hook has gone, and we do not want to accidentally fall into the real world once more, we do not belong in that place. We stay here."

There were mumblings of agreement from the elder people of the tribe. Willow stood sharply and walked off down the mountain.

"They were engaged," Nibs murmured in my ear.

My eyes widened and my heart blistered at the thought of losing Wendy; I'd be lost, completely and utterly lost. My chest constricted painfully at the mere thought of it, for it to actually happen…I shuddered and a burst of anger boiled up inside of me and I stared out into the ocean. Hook had it coming this time. The moment he next attacked we would pounce without hesitation. He couldn't get away with this, this murder.

The tribe broke up and I lowered my eyes to the ground once more; confusion, pain, anger, all ripping through me, all taking it in turns to jab me with the feeling, right in the centre of my chest.

Slightly placed a hand on my shoulder, "I'll let you know when he returns; I promise." His brown eyes flashed with wrath. I placed my other hand on his shoulder and gave a sharp nod.

"I know I have a responsibility to Wendy, but I also have one to Neverland. When he returns, I shall finish him." My voice sounded unforgiving, foreign to my own ears.

"So shall we." He held out his hand and we fist bumped, like the good old days. Although this time it wasn't because we won a game, this wasn't make believe, this was very, very real.

A slight body settled down beside me and brushed back her charcoal coloured hair.

"Hey." The thick accent, the proud voice?

I glanced up at the princess, "Hey."

"How's Wendy?" Her dark eyes, almost black, were inquisitive and bright.

"She's good…" I smiled softly.

"I wish I could see her; who'd have thought we'd get so close on our last visit?" She sighed and rested her chin on her intertwined hands.

I breathed a laugh, "You did hate each other the first time."

Tiger Lily huffed, "She was jealous."

"So were you." I snickered.

"Oh come on! I'm just a natural flirt." She growled like a tiger and I laughed.

"You're so bad at making people feel better." I shook my head with a smile.

"I made you laugh, didn't I?"

"I suppose." My eyes drifted back down to the ground.

"Hey," She lifted my chin up with her first finger, "It'll be fine. Willow will realise who the real enemy is- she'll forgive you. And we'll worry about Hook when he comes. For now you need to go home." She drew out a piece of parchment from the yellow band that wrapped round her cream dress, "Will you give this to her?"

"Sure," I tucked it into my shirt pocket.

"And no reading it! Girly stuffs," She tapped her nose.

I breathed a laugh, "Gotcha."

The chief strode up, his stature and the way his cloak framed him creating the very image of supremacy and control, "Peter, you have a responsibility to your wife and child; you should go."

"Got their first papa!" Tiger Lily whispered to herself so only I could hear.

I raised my eyebrows at her and she winked.

The chief looked across at his tribe which had broken into separate huddles of people, "We do not know how much of your life Hook now knows. Our braves act to protect the tribe, if he threatened them I have no doubt that Hook will know of your child. I would have told him if he'd threatened my tribe."

I nodded seriously, "I understand. I'm so, so sorry for-"

He held up his hand, "It is no fault but Hook's. Willow is too overcome by grief to see that now."

"Will she be okay?" The stupidity of my question surprised me.

"Would you?"

I didn't reply. He knew my answer.

xxxxxxx

"I'll be back at Christmas; let me know if anything happens before then." I said steadily, looking at each of my boys in turn.

"Sorry Pete," Slightly murmured, "I know you were settled…"

"Stop. I'm glad you told me- I need to know. The tribe is right, Hook is after me for whatever reason, and in the end I'm going to have to fight him." I looked out towards the stars, "Whenever that may be."

"Agreed." Slightly replied.

The other boys were silent and merely nodded in agreement, "Say hi to mother for us," Curly mumbled.

"Of course I will."

"And hi to the baby!" The Twins added.

"Naturally."

"Do you have a job yet?" Nibs questioned out of the blue.

I laughed, "I'm training to be a fireman."

"Awh cool!" They all gasped before Nibs piped up with, "What does that mean?"

I sniggered at their lack of knowledge, "It means I save people from fires. I save lives."

"Well, not much is changing then." Slightly grinned at me.

"I suppose…" I replied softly, thinking back to how I saved them all. "Right, I need to get back to Wendy and my child, and I have training tomorrow and we have the wedding invitations to send out too… you'll be there won't you!" I looked at them all expectantly.

"Huh?"

"You'll come to the wedding! In January."

They nodded quickly.

"Of course!"

"YAY!"

"I love weddings!"

"Will they have that special drink? The chief said the white man has it on celebrations!"

"Woooo!"

"Don't forget! Promise me," I looked at them all knowingly and they smiled back sheepishly.

"We promise," They chorused.

I beamed, "Good." I saluted and they rushed to attention, naturally bumping in to each other (they'd never grow out of it), and saluted back.

"This is weird," One Twin said.

"Yeah, Slightly's usually the one in your place."

I grinned, "Ohhhhh it seems like I'm still the supreme leader here!" I winked smugly at him and he pouted.

"Excuse me!"

I sniggered, "Just kidding! How's the leader thing coming along anyway?"

"Aw he's great!"

"He's stricter than you Captain!"

"He invented a new game!"

They all blurted out at once.

"Whoa, whoa! One at a time," I laughed, turning to Slightly. "Looks like you're doing a fine job Captain."

"Well… I had a good teacher."

We beamed at each other and fist bumped.

"Well… I better be off boys." Tink swooped down and tinkled in my ear, "Lead me back Tink!"

Xxxxxxxxxxx

It was night once more when I returned, but Wendy wasn't in the bed. I felt seized for a second by fear, what if Hook had come and taken Wendy while I wasn't there?!

But then Tink pointed down to the living room below; Wendy's shape could be seen with her mother through the curtains, both sewing. Our house was still being decorated so we were still at the Darling's place, for once I was glad of this; at least Wendy hadn't been alone.

I drifted in through the window and Tink settled on my shoulder.

"I'll let you know if Hook does anything again," She rang.

I nodded, "Thanks Tink. What would I do without you?" I smiled at her softly and she placed her hands on my nose.

"How's Terrance?" I whispered suddenly.

She blushed tomato red, "Good."

"Hmmhmmm…."

She pouted, then gushed out, "We really really like each other and we're going to the annual winter season changing dance and then the Queen even said we were cute together which was just like wha? Gah! And then I stubbed my toe the other day on a rose bush and got a cut in my foot and he wrapped it up in leaves for me and tended to me for the day, and rubbed fairy dust on it to help it heal and omigosh it was sooo cute! And then-"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down!" I chuckled, "He sounds amazing! Keep me updated." I winked, then mumbled, "Have you kissed yet?"

Her face turned, if possible, even redder, "Niiiice." I smirked and she thwacked me with her tiny feet, which were surprisingly strong.

"Gah! I'm teasing Tink!"

She giggled, "Well, I should go- I need to make a dress for this thing! I was thinking long… or short? But I wear short anyway… er…"

"Go for something different… but still you- draw his attention." I winked.

"Aye, aye Captain!" I gave a wave and she zipped off through the window cheerily; if only I could be a fairy and have just one emotion at a time; life would be good.

I flopped down onto the bed with a sigh- what a day.

I groaned and placed my head in my hands, what was I supposed to do? I was trying to live a normal life in London, but at the same time had Hook baring down my back making murders in Neverland and torturing people for information about me! I didn't know what to think, or what to do, or if I should do anything at all.

A quick breeze suddenly shifted through the window, making my hairs stand on end, and a piece of paper spiralled down from Wendy's desk.

I stood and reached down, my eyes catching the words dear diary, and curiosity clouding the good judgement that said; oh hey look a private piece of writing you shouldn't be reading.

My eyes scanned the contents and my heart constricted once more in my chest…

Dear Diary,

Oh gods that sounds so bad. I've never written a diary before… but I suppose now is the best time to start. Peter's gone off again; well it's his first time flying off since we came back but… I've no idea when he'll return and with Hook lurking about I can't help but want to follow. But he made me promise to stay behind and… well I can't break promises, and besides it's not like I have a fairy that'll help me fly, is it? I don't really know why I'm writing this… I just needed to write something to let the pipe of worry lose a little.

Like, for one, Peter's never talked about his backstory with Hook before, he never really talks about his past at all. Which is fine, I know about his parents and his Aunt Eliza, (who is such a good cook! Literally I crave her buns all the time, I think Elisha does too!) but I can't help but wonder if there was something with Hook. Like why does Hook hate him so much? Can't he just leave us alone?

The writing became a scrawl.

It just doesn't make sense that Hook would target Peter without a reason. I mean to kill someone? You'd have to hate someone a LOT to do that and I don't get how that much hatred can be spawned from an arrogant child playing tricks with his band of lost boys. I don't want to think that Peter's keeping secrets, but I think he is… I don't even know. I guess I'm just scared. I don't want my child to grow up in a world where a pirate is breathing down her (or his!) father's back. Hook is like a curse…for now he's disappeared, then he'll come back again. It's driving me insane! Perhaps that's Hook's tactic, to come and then go and then strike and then go so we're constantly waiting for his next attack. If that's it then we'll show him he's wrong. We'll continue our lives in the happy way that we have been for the past month, decorating the house, preparing for the wedding, having picnics with our families. He can only break us when we lose hope and get consumed by his curse.

That won't happen.

I won't let it.

Wendy.

I stared at the paper, inspiration bubbling up in my chest. Wendy was right; we should forget about Hook completely; we couldn't let him antagonise us. Life would carry on. When the time came we would fight, but for now… we should live.

The door creaked and my head jolted up.

"Peter?" Wendy's frame stood in the doorway of the moonlit room, light from the hallway bursting into our bedroom. "Oh Peter!" She dived into my arms and I lifted her up, wrapping my arms tight around her.

"Oh Wendy, I'm fine, I'm fine." I mumbled into her hair.

She sniffled, "Gods I was so worried, you have no ide-" She paused, "Peter, what are you holding?"

I pulled back and stared down at the sheet of paper in my hands. "Sorry… I couldn't help it- I-"

"It's okay… it's just a bit embarrassing…" She giggled, "Like what on earth was I writing abou-"

"I thought it was brilliant." I said.

She looked at me, her lips slightly parted.

"You're right; we can't live in fear of Hook. Tomorrow I'm going to the fireman training, and I'm becoming a fireman, and I'm going to provide for you like I should. We're going to go out on weekends with the family and have a lovely Christmas, get married and have a beautiful baby and live in a beautiful house. Hook can but in at any time he wants, but until then he's gonna be attention-less." I smiled down at her and kissed her forehead softly.

She nodded, "Yes. We will." She threaded her hands in my air and pushed back against me, parting her lips and kissing me slowly and passionately, I kissed her back, my hand running up and down her white, silky nightgown.

I mumbled out suddenly into her lips, "I'm not keeping secrets… I truly don't know who or even what Hook is. I just play his game."

She stiffened slightly, then relaxed into me,"I know… I just couldn't rid myself of the doubts."

"I understand." I smiled softly.

"Gods I love that dimpled smile," She breathed.

I breathed a laugh, "Why thank you m'lady. Oh! And Tiger Lily gave me this," I reached into my shirt pocket and pulled out the parchment.

She took it gently and scanned the short paragraph, her smile widening, "Tiger Lily's so sweet!" She placed it down on her dresser tenderly.

"What's it say?" I sat cross-legged on the bed like an eager child.

"Never you mind!" She tutted.

I reached out for her suddenly and grasped her waist, she squealed with laughter, "Hey!"

I flipped her round and pushed her onto the bed with alarming speed, climbing on top of her gently, so her stomach was empty of any burden.

She giggled in surprise but her eyes darkened seductively as she lay below me. "She's just checking up on me… there's only a sentence about you."

"What's it say?" I breathed into her neck.

"Not telling," She mumbled back, "I love the fact you get so wound up about it- it's hilarious. You're so childish."

"Hmmm?" I nipped her neck, "Am I?"

She shivered below me, "Yeaaah…"

I pulled back and gazed into her deep blue eyes, "I love you."

"Trying to change the subject?" She challenged.

"Oy!" I leaned down and grazed my lips against hers, before journeying down the ridges of her collarbone, nipping her skin with little kisses, before I lifted up her nightgown to reveal the small bump and kissing it tenderly, "Hey baby," I whispered.

Wendy giggled, "She can't here you yet, she's only fourteen weeks."

"Dr Ackerman said he'd be able to hear at around sixteen weeks so that's close enough." I replied smugly. "Look who pays attention now."

She laughed aloud, "I suppose that's true Dr."

I laughed and planted baby kisses along her stomach, "You're so, so beautiful."

"Me or the baby?" Wendy interrupted.

"Shh! You're ruining my speech. And both- duh!"

She burst into silent laughter, her stomach shaking as she did, "I should sing to him."

"I've never heard you sing, except silly Lost Boy songs!"

"Those songs aren't silly! They're the beauty of being a Lost Boy; the breath and soul of it all!" I exclaimed loudly.

"Shh! You'll wake Michael!"

"Sorry!" I loud whispered, "Okay… Rock-a-bye baby…"

"No! The baby falls out the tree it's horrific!" Wendy half scolded, half laughed.

"Okay, then you sing," I dared, reaching up to peck her on the nose.

She placed a hand on her stomach and I placed my hand on top of hers, "Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay. My, oh my what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine, plenty of rain. Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay." I closed my eyes at the sound of her angelic voice filling the air.

But then…

"What're you doing?" Michael yawned sleepily, his small shadow stretching across the floor and up the bed as the light from the landing illuminated our room through the open door. Yeah we should really learn to close that in the future…

"Gah!?" I leaped backwards and tumbled off the bed, my head hitting the ground with a satisfying 'thump!'

"Peter?!" At least Wendy was concerned for my health.

Michael snorted, "Pahahaha you fell off!"

I shook my head to clear it and sat up, "Oh no you don't Mr!" I warned.

Michael merely giggled harder at my expression.

I sucked in deeply, "I'm gonna get you!" With that I leapt up and chased him out the room.

"Peter! It's ten at night he needs to calm down, not get all excited!" Wendy scolded, but I could hear the laughter in her voice.

I raced round the banister and grabbed him round the waist as he went to bound down the stairs. He kicked out laughing, "You cheeky little monkey! No one laughs at Peter Pan!" I tickled his stomach and he squealed in delight.

"Ahaahaha but you were such a dork!" He snorted.

"Dork?"

"Someone who's idiotic," John explained, halfway up the stairs, as he frowned at the two of us locked in a tackle at the top of the stairs.

"What're you doing?" George frowned up at us from slightly lower down and I ceased the tickling, leaving Michael gasping and giggling.

"He was laughing at me for falling off the bed."

"You're so childish Peter!" Michael poked my nose.

"Gah!"

George guffawed incredibly loudly at his son's words and John looked at him in alarm.

"What's this ruckus?" Mary appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

"Peter's back!" Wendy called down from the top.

"Oh thank goodness." Mary smiled up at me, "Everything okay?"

"Yep!" I called back down.

There was silence.

"Well… shall we all go to bed instead of standing on the stairs?" George proposed.

There were mutterings of agreement and I carried a squealing Michael back to bed, "I don't wanna go to bed! I'm not," Yawn, "tired!"

"Yep you are! The yawn gives you away!" I poked his stomach and he laughed aloud.

Dumping him on the bed, I picked up teddy and placed him snugly next to Michael's head. Michael pulled the covers up to his neck himself but, just as I was leaving the room, he spoke out, "Peter? Can I sing to the baby?" His voice was so pleading and quiet that I almost melted.

"You can sing him to sleep tomorrow night my little monkey." I kissed his forehead and he snuggled down with a smile.

"M'kay."

I closed the nursery door behind me with a 'click!'

Wendy stood leaning against the door to her room, a light smile playing on her lips, "You're so good with him."

"Well… I'm practicing." I placed a hand on her stomach and she beamed before leaning up and kissing me tenderly on the lips. "I won't ever let anything bad happen to you or the baby." I blurted out suddenly, my voice unnaturally sincere.

"I know you won't."

Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Lol they're getting longer and longer as the story progresses!

Let me know what you thought of this chappie in the reviews below!

Thanks for readingXD

Acia xxx