Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

AN: GranddaughterOfCaskettAndTivia, you are seriously my hero. I'm not sure I've ever had such a hard time writing a chapter before. Thank you for your patience and your hard work at helping to twist this into something presentable! You're the best! ~ XOXO MAS

And let that river run dry

The Shores of Neverland

With no real plan or knowledge of the terrain, the group brandished their weapons and moved slowly and carefully through the jungles of Neverland. Before leaving the ship, Killian had grabbed a book he'd been studying on rumored plants in far off regions and tore out the section on Neverland. There was only one plant listed: Dreamshade. The plant was rumored to be highly poisonous, deadly to the touch. He passed the picture around, ordering everyone to memorize it so they wouldn't try to cut through it, potentially killing themselves. He wished they had more to work with, something that could tell them more about the terrain, the native inhabitants, the animals that roved the island, anything. Instead they knew nothing more than the lore they'd all heard about the boy who refused to grow up. They all knew the fairytales couldn't help them find Emma.

"I wish we had a bloody map," Liam admitted quietly to Elsa and Killian, dropping back and letting David take the lead.

Elsa sighed. "You have to stay calm, Liam," she reminded him, she could practically see the nerves he was trying to hide vibrating through him.

"Calm?" He snapped, the tension finally winning over his usually controlled demeanor. "Els, we don't have any idea what we're walking into. None of us have been here, we don't have any idea what we're walking into and-"

"You're not suggesting we go back?" Killian snapped.

"Of course not!" Liam fought to keep his voice down so the others wouldn't hear them. "I just hate not having anything to go off of. We could be walking into a bloody trap and I just wish we had something."

Killian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, Liam, I bloody well know, it's just, we have to find Emma."

Elsa stopped the two brothers, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "We'll find her, Killian. Alright? I need the two of you to believe that. Emma loves you both very much and she trusts you both implicitly. So, I need the both of you to pull yourselves together and prove to me that you are two of George's best navy men."

Both of the Jones brothers straightened. "You're right, lass," Killian agreed.

"Of course, Elsa, we'll find Emma." Liam glanced over at Killian. "I think it's time we take the lead."

"After you, Captain." Killian nodded with a salute.

Elsa smiled at the two men. The truth was that she did not feel nearly as confident as she appeared to be. Killian and Liam were right. Without a map they were just wandering aimlessly through a jungle they knew nothing about. They had no idea what dangers awaited them.

OUAT

Pan's Camp

Emma felt the bile rise up in her throat. She'd wanted him dead, there was no lying about that. She'd imagined it. She'd imagined a time when George wouldn't be a threat to her family and her kingdom because he was dead. Still, seeing his lifeless body that Pan intentionally left on the edges of his camp for her to find, it was enough to bring her to her knees. She crumpled to the floor, her hands hovering over George's still form helplessly.

"What have you done?" She whispered. He couldn't respond, of course, he was dead. "If you'd just left us alone, you'd be alive in your kingdom and I'd be at home."

Of course the gut-wrenching truth of that was that she would've never met Killian if George had stayed out of their lives. She wouldn't trade any of this for the safety of being at home in castle without having met her lieutenant. She'd take the danger and her potential death or the possibility of her never going home again for the short amount of time she'd had with him, for having the pleasure of knowing him.

Looking at George's lifeless body, Emma felt the fear that she was spending her last days here on this island. Pan was ruthless, and she wasn't confident that her magic was enough to stave him off. If she was being honest with herself, she didn't know where her magic came from, she didn't know what caused it or how to control it. She now understood the fear Elsa felt at her powers. She had no idea what she was capable of and who she could hurt with it. The only comforting feeling she had was that she was alive because of her magic.

"Oh dear, Mother. You weren't supposed to find him," Pan's voice sounded behind her and she cringed. "This is what happens to adults when they come to our island. The shadow, he takes them." Pan was trying to sound remorseful, as if he weren't to blame for the death of George. She knew better than to believe him for a moment.

Emma snorted and turned. "The shadow? You honestly think I'm stupid enough to believe that you didn't do this or orchestrate this?" Her voice was calm and cold. "You're a psychotic little child, did you know that? Whatever adult hurt you, what you've become is absurd, it's cruelty for your own pleasure," she snapped.

"And here I thought you'd be glad that George was gone. He wanted you dead, after all. I couldn't let that happen. You're our mother," he reminded her.

She roared to her feet. "I am not your mother, you insolent little child. Do you understand me? You need to let me go or so help me-"

"You'll what?" Pan asked. "You think you can blow me away with your magic?" He asked. He shook his head. "You're not going to leave this island, Emma. You belong here. Your magic, it will save this island. You are apart of this island. You're going to be our mother until the end of time," he predicted.

"Pan!" Felix came to a screeching halt in front of Pan, Emma and George.

"What?" Pan snapped, spinning to look at Felix.

"In the lagoon, there's a rowboat. The mermaids didn't get whoever was on the ship," Felix reported.

Emma's eyes widened. "A ship? There were other people? They came on a ship?" She asked quickly.

Pan let out a growl, latching onto Felix's arm and pulling him away from Emma and George. "What do you mean the mermaids didn't take care of them?" He asked slowly.

"I mean that someone made it to the island," Felix answered.

Pan growled. "Get the boys. We're going hunting."

Emma watched from behind a tree, listening closely. She had a feeling that the people who were out there wandering the jungle were her family. Her family was here, she could feel it. As quietly as possible, she moved back into the jungle. She had to find them before Pan and the Lost Boys did.

OUAT

The Jungle of Neverland

Killian swiped back another plant before pausing. He held up his hand to halt the expedition, listening closely. Ther was a rustle of bushes ahead of them, a sound that didn't belong. "There's someone up ahead," he murmured, readying his blade at the sound of the movement ahead of them. His senses were on high alert, ready to face whoever inhabited the island in a fight. He watched as the other members of their group prepared for a potential attack from whatever or whoever was on this island.

"Stand back, I'll be of more use in wolf form." Red moved to the small clearing next to them, handing her cloak off to Snow and transforming into a wolf. She let out a low growl, pushing herself to the front of the group, prepared to rip the throat out of the next person who crossed their path.

A moment later, Killian saw a flash of blond through the dense green jungle. His pulse quickened dramatically. "Emma?" He murmured, pushing around Red, the wolf growled in protest.

"Killian!" Liam warned as Killian stepped away from them all, advancing alone. David and Snow tried stop Killian as well, both protesting quietly.

The young lieutenant paused and turned to face them all. With his eyes full of hope, he stated certainly, "It's Emma." He moved forward despite their disagreement at the action.

"Emma?" Elsa was by his side in an instant, a restraining hand on his forearm to keep him from bolting alone. Taking a steadying breath, she asked, "Are you sure, Killian?"

Killian nodded, straightening to his full height. "Yes, I'm sure." Elsa nodded, silently motioning that she supported him.

"Killian," David's hand rested on Killian's shoulder, "I understand. This is my daughter, but you can't go traipsing ahead half-cocked just because you think you saw a flash of blond hair. We need to strategize and-"

Elsa growled, interrupting on Killian's behalf, "If Killian says it's Emma, then it's Emma."

Liam sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "Elsa, darling, you need to listen to David," he advised her.

Her head spun and her eyes narrowed in on Liam, her voice turning cold, "You will not tell me what to do."

"It was Emma, I know it was," Killian interjected, stopping the argument. "Liam, please, believe me."

"I believe you, Killian," Elsa replied for the rest of them, pushing past Liam and David.

"Elsa, wait, think about this." Snow tried to grab her, but Elsa simply raised a hand to silence them.

"Lead the way, Killian," she instructed, falling in line behind him. Killian nodded, pushing ahead.

"Bloody hell," Granny cut in. "Well, let's follow them, shall we? Can't have them getting themselves killed, now, can we?" She hefted her crossbow over her shoulder, following in Elsa's footsteps.

They trekked in the direction of the blond hair that Killian had spotted. They walked for five minutes before David stopped them all. "What, mate?" Killian snapped impatiently.

"It's too quiet," David murmured.

"What do you mean?" Granny asked, her crossbow up and prepared.

"David's right," Snow agreed softly. "It's too quiet."

"You all have good instincts." A boy with a lilted accent appeared before them. "Well, maybe not all of you." He motioned to Killian and Elsa. "Mother is here, but she's not right here and you can't have her back."

Red let out a long growl and approached the boy, but Snow held up a restraining hand. "What do you mean 'Mother'?" She asked quietly. "And who are you?"

"Oh, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Peter, Peter Pan." He bowed. "And Emma is our new mother. She's staying here with us. Forever." He held up his hand. "Before you object, you should know that I'm not alone."

A moment later they were surrounded by boys with arrows, swords and axes. "Bloody hell," Liam muttered.

OUAT

XOXO

MAS