And this chapter is the longest of them all. There is just so much to say and considering I've had writer's block the last several days and have written and rewritten this chapter so many times, I just decided to let the words flow. It beats not saying anything at all!

Thank you all for the kind reviews! Can't believe that we actually managed to reach the 100 point but I love your encouragement. I completely eat it up.

Once again, I don't own a thing!

Emma could feel her heart racing inside her chest as she ran through the foliage of the jungle in the direction she had seen Pan head toward, ignoring Killian's calls for her to come back to the battle she had left the others to fight. Pan knew where Henry was so it was Pan she was going to follow. Her feet hit the dirt floor of the jungle, carrying her farther and farther away from the noise of the battle until she could only hear the sound of her pulse pounding in her head keeping up with the rhythm of her steady breathing.

An ominous laugh slowly echoed around her as if coming from all directions and she slowed down her stride until she was completely stopped, listening for a twig snapping, leaves moving, anything that could direct her toward Henry. She stood for another minute, impatience threatening to cause her to burst when her feet started moving toward her right. She didn't know why and she didn't ask questions. It just felt like the right direction to go so once again she picked up her gait and got to running.

Branches and leaves scratched her face and arms but she pressed on, the urge to call for Henry fighting against the back of her lips. Her open wounds began to sting and she tasted salt in the air, a cool breeze playing with her hair. Bright blue cascaded through the trees and blended with the sky and Emma picked up her pace as she continued running toward the horizon.

Finally she broke through the tree line and stumbled onto a rock cliff, the bright light of the sun momentarily blinding her. She winced against the sudden brightness and used her arm as a shield until her eyes adjusted to the ocean around her. She surveyed her surroundings, taking in the beach and the jungle that seemed to roam forever before she saw him.

"Henry?"

A boy wearing the familiar black jacket she had seen him wear so many times turned around and faced her, the ocean breeze tousling his hair. Tears stung at the back of Emma's eyes and she swiped at the trail that fell down her eyes and travelled down her face. She began to walk slowly toward him, her heart beating wildly in her chest as a million thoughts and emotions screamed through her mind. He stared ahead as she came toward him, remaining still and quiet, and never uttering a word which Emma found strange but it was the fact that his eyes never really made contact with her that made her withdraw her advancing steps.

"Henry? Kid, can you hear me?"

He continued to stand there and stare past her or much rather through her as if she wasn't there; as if she didn't exist. She began to walk toward him again, this time her stride was more direct and intent when she heard someone scoff behind her.

She turned around to see Pan standing there with his arms crossed, his mouth curved up into an irritating grin.

"What's wrong with him? What did you do to Henry?"

"He doesn't know you. He can't remember a thing thanks to the magic that is in itself completely Neverland. You do know why it's called Neverland, right Emma?"

Emma knew and she nodded in acknowledgement that she was fully educated on the topic but that didn't keep the little demon from coming toward her, the expression on his face never falling short of condescension.

"Because children never grow up, they never remember, but most of all they never leave. Not unless I give them that right and Emma," he said her name in a droll tone while his dark eyes met hers, "Henry isn't leaving with you. Not now, not ever."

He walked past her, effectively turning his back on her as he walked toward Henry who followed Pan's movements with his eyes. The fact that Henry couldn't see her but could see Pan ate at Emma's gut and made her feel sick and defeated.

"Oh and Emma, another thing," Pan turned toward her as a twisted smile crossed his face. "It would serve you well to remember that I always, always remember my promises."

His gaze fell beyond her then, indicating something behind her and she turned slowly as dread filled her chest. Her heart froze when she saw David and Mary-Margaret lying on the ground in a crumpled heap several feet away, their skin deathly pale while their eyes were unnaturally wide and glossed over.

"David! Mary-Margaret!"

The sky turned dark grey then as she started to run toward them, that previous sick feeling turning into nausea that roiled in her stomach. She fell to the ground beside them, her hands hovering over their bodies as if she wanted to touch them but she didn't dare to, knowing that if she did it would only confirm her worst fears. Her eyes grazed over her mother's face, noticing the tears that lined her eyes and her heart plummeted. She should have been there, she should have never left them behind. They should have stayed together and as the thoughts overcame her, guilt began to eat at her, filling the empty void she felt with anger.

"No, no, no!"
"Love?"

Her heart pitched at the sound of his voice but she allowed her eyes to wander from her deathly still parents up the shadow that belonged to Hook. Arrows and spears of every sort were embedded in his body causing the leather of his vest and coat to gleam with crimson, his ocean blue eyes gazing into hers as silent tears fell down his face. She lost it then and completely fell into a crumpled heap, her tears falling freely. She had failed and she had done so miserably.

"Killian," she broke and he just gave her a gentle smile, the love in his eyes never fading as his skin turned dark with dream shade poisoning and she watched with horror as his body broke into ash and flew away in the wind.

"Killian!"

Peter let out a laugh as he scoffed at her and Henry began to laugh with him, the sound of it unsettling and disturbing. Emma began to cry and it seemed their laughter only grew louder and louder the greater her distress became.

She felt something grab her then, something she couldn't see and she fought her way from it but whatever it was had a strong hold on her and it wasn't long before she gave into its persistence, drifting off into a place that existed between being awake and sleeping.

Hook sprawled his legs out in front of him and let out a long sigh as he leaned his head back against the log that was propping his body up. Everyone else had gone to bed to catch some sleep what felt like hours ago even though he knew it was more than likely mere minutes. He smiled at the dull pain that throbbed through his body, recounting the evening after they had set up camp.

He had been aware of Emma following him with her eyes nearly all day and the want, the need, to spend some time with her had only grown stronger as the time had passed. He had been half tempted to just haul her off into the jungle away from the others with the excuse that they were gathering firewood when in truth he wanted to feel her lips on his once again, this time not intending to keep his burning passion pent up. Instead he had proposed that he teach her some new technique with the sword, something that David had been quick to encourage and agree to.

The scent of her hair and the way her smooth skin had felt under his rough, calloused hand still over rode his senses as he had stood behind her, his hand covering her lead hand while he directed her swing at David, pointing out the very few openings the prince demonstrated and how to maneuver herself to gain the upper hand. The best part of the evening, the part that sealed his heart and completely placed it in the capable hands of Emma Swan was the moment he had hesitated, not knowing how to direct her other hand with his hook. With wenches in the past it hadn't been a problem, he'd been arrogant and cocky not wanting anything to extend past a single night and even the past few days with Emma he hadn't minded it because it was just an extended part of who he was. But then he'd been faced with the part he was most vulnerable about and she had sensed it. Without a second's hesitation, she took hold of the steel device and encircled it around her wrist.

"Killian, I don't know you any other way," was all she had said as she readied her stance, not even blushing under David's speculative gaze.

He wanted her alright. After that move and the sword play that followed she had him under her spell and a part of him wondered at what would happen between them after they found Henry and were on their way back to bloody Storybrooke. He was so used to being in her proximity he wasn't sure how he would fare after they made port and she returned back to sheriffing and her normal life before him.

Before he could dwell on it anymore, he heard strangled screaming from behind him, echoing through the cool air, and he shot to his feet instantly.

Emma.

He leaped over the log and ran the distance where he'd seen her make her bed just inside the tree line, noticing David and Mary-Margaret sleepily stumbling toward her as well. He briefly met David's eyes, the same concern he felt reflected in the prince's face as they rounded the blind to see Emma thrashing about. Mary-Margaret stooped to her side just as Ariel sauntered toward them, her dagger drawn and her eyes narrowing on their surroundings as if expecting an enemy of some sort to come lurking from the shadows.

"Hook," Emma mumbled in her sleep, her voice broken and shattered.

His heart pitched at the sound of his name on her lips and he felt Mary-Margaret's hot gaze scald him. He didn't have an explanation for any of it so he didn't know what she thought she was supposed to gain from making faces at him. He just wanted her to wake Emma up and he voiced his opinion in a frigid tone that seemed to snap the princess back to attention.

"Hook!"

Emma's voice was more shrill this time and Mary-Margaret began to shake her shoulder, tears forming in her eyes at the despair and hurt that contorted Emma's face. David was fidgeting like he wanted to fight the demons that tortured Emma's sleep and Hook felt the same. Without giving it much thought, he rested his good hand on the prince's shoulder which caused Ariel to raise her brow. He ignored the skeptical look and focused his attention on Mary-Margaret who was now using both hands to shake Emma from her nightmare.

"Emma! Sweetie, listen you need to wake up! Wake up!"
"Just slap her," Ariel muttered which earned her a heated glare from everyone else.

Mary-Margaret consistently shook her, harder and harder before Emma's eyes finally snapped open, her green eyes cloudy and distant with fear.

"Emma, it's okay, you're alright," Mary-Margaret soothed as Hook and David both battled the urge to gather her in their arms. Mary-Margaret did that for them and Emma squeezed her back with a kind of desperation that she rarely ever showed.

"You, you guys," she stammered before sobs racked her body and she fell forward into Mary-Margaret's embrace. Sober silence fell on the others as Emma let it all out in a rare performance of vulnerability that Hook struggled to watch.

David broke out from under his hand and crouched beside them, his hand gently cupping the back of Emma's neck as he placed a tender kiss to her temple. Ariel watched the emotional display with a moist sheen in her eyes before she gave Hook a long look and slowly stepped away back toward where her bed was situated.

Hook was about to follow suit, finding it hard to leave the family when Emma's red rimmed eyes locked onto his willing him to stay.

No words were said but he could see the relief in her eyes to see him standing there, alive, well and whole. The familiar look he had seen in many a woman's eye shone in Emma's and he knew that she wanted him to hold her, comfort her, assure her that whatever she had just experienced in her dreams was just that- a dream.

David and Mary-Margaret pulled from her and she let them go, albeit a bit slowly before giving them a wobbly smile.

"Did we die?" was all Mary-Margaret asked and the faint nod of Emma's head confirmed her suspicions.
"Well, it was just a dream. You don't have anything to worry about," David comforted her in low tones, gently wiping the tears from her face with the pad of his thumb before glancing up at Hook who still stood there, his brows knit together in concern.

He gently touched Mary-Margaret's shoulder and Emma watched as they passed a silent conversation to each other using nothing but subtle facial expressions. Mary-Margaret finally looked at Emma, a hesitant smile flickering across her lips.

"We'll let you alone now. If you need us, you know where we are," she whispered and squeezed Emma's hand before standing to her feet. She shot Hook a look and he wondered in awe how she could muster every maternal chiding and threat in one expression. David placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and slowly started to walk her back toward their bed, shooting a small smile at Hook that undermined the gleam in his eye that clearly said "hurt her and you die".

Finally it was just them two, Emma looking down at her hands as Hook observed her unsure with how to proceed or break the ice.

"You're not going to sleep are you?" he finally said, wincing at how stupid it sounded.
"No, not really," she mumbled as she ran a shaky hand through her blonde mane and allowed her gaze to connect with his. He extended his hand toward her and she took it, allowing him to help her to her feet.
"Why don't you come sit with me by the fire then, love? You look cold."

She followed him numbly, letting him lead her toward the orange blaze. It wasn't until she was sitting under his arm with his jacket wrapped around her that she realized that she had indeed been cold. Nothing but silence passed between the two and she was grateful because she didn't want words. She just wanted physical comfort, and the warmth radiating from his body and the feeling of his chin resting on the top of her head was enough. It would always be enough.

Emma woke up the next morning to the sound of David's and Hook's voices passing back and the forth and something that sounded like rock scraping rock. She lay still, allowing her body to slowly wake up and her senses to come to life, the smell of leather, rum, the ocean breeze and exotic spices surrounding her in their comforting scent. She slit one eye open to see the collar of Hook's heavy overcoat resting over the bottom half of her face and she allowed the ghost of a smile to spread across her lips as she inhaled the smell, every bit of it completely him.

She thought to the night previous, of her nightmare, of Mary-Margaret and David comforting her before Hook finally led her to the fire, silently radiating strength and warmth back into her body. They were alive and well, they were whole and they were more than determined to rescue her son. At the thought of Henry, she began to slowly sit up, the familiar feeling of perseverance pulsing in her bones. She winced at the heavy, throbbing pain in her head and she paused, lifting a hand to rub her temples.

"I'd take it easy if I were you," Ariel's voice cautioned from somewhere close by and Emma glanced to her right to see the young woman straddling the log she'd been resting against, a crude dagger in one hand and a sharpening stone in the other. That explained what the weird scraping sound was.

"What time is it?"
"Doesn't matter," the woman muttered and motioned toward Hook and David across the clearing. "Those two are coming up with a plan so until they have it figured out I would render to guess we'll be situated here for awhile."

Emma nodded and allowed her gaze to land on the subtle bruising on the girl's cheekbone and jaw .

"Is your face okay?"

Ariel smirked and touched at her bruise. "I figure I deserved that. I'm not looking forward to being on the receiving end of another punch from you anytime soon."

Emma returned the smirk with one of her own.

The girl had been knocked out cold, only waking up hours later in Hook's arms somewhere over the Pass. She hadn't reacted very well to that either, having pushed at Hook's chest in an effort to get away which had worked just fine when she'd hit the ground and rolled onto her feet but it was Emma who once again thwarted that plan. Ariel had only made it two strides away before Emma had tackled her and placed her in a restraint which bought Hook just enough time to yell exactly what it was he was willing to do. Somehow, over the screaming and struggling his words got through to her and she had frozen in Emma's arms, staring at Hook as if trying to weigh the sincere honesty in his words. His open expression and the determined gleam in his eyes eventually won her over and since then she'd cooperated with the others, none too quietly, but still she cooperated all the same.

"Don't threaten our safety again and I promise I won't have to clean your clock out anytime soon," Emma grinned and Ariel turned back to her small task.
"Fair enough."

Emma watched her for awhile, growing more accustomed to the scraping as the mermaid expertly flashed the blade back and forth.

"What are you doing that for?" she finally asked.
"What do you think? There's more than likely going to be a battle considering Pan isn't the negotiating type."
"So you're going to poke him with your dagger?"

Ariel gave her a dry smile as she lifted the blade in her hand, bracing it between her fingers. Before Emma could blink the dagger hissed through the air, embedding itself in the trunk of a tree that was on the other side of the clearing right beside Hook. He glanced their way and narrowed his eyes at the mermaid who only responded with an innocent shrug of the shoulders.

"Remind me to never piss you off," Emma said in an appreciative tone as she focused her attention back on Ariel. "What else do you have in your arsenal?"
"Poisoned darts. I don't think I need to tell you how those work."

Mary-Margaret broke into the clearing just then, her quiver and bow hanging from her back. She smiled at Emma as she approached her, her green eyes lighting on the mermaid behind her.

"Where have you been?" Emma asked feeling like she'd missed far too much during the time she'd been sleeping.
"Target practice," was the simple reply as her mother situated herself on the ground beside her.

A shrill whistle broke across the clearing and all three ladies glanced up at the two men who were slowly walking toward them, purpose and determination settling in their facial expressions. Emma felt excitement building up in her chest at the hope that gleamed in their eyes.

"Well, we have a plan," David exhaled and the proud look on his face was unmistakable as his gaze settled on Emma's, his corners quirking into a grin that made him look somewhat boyish. "You ready to save your son?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Emma answered, her heart beating in anticipation at the thought of holding Henry in her arms once again.

Pan was going to be sorry he had ever taken him, that he had posed threats on Emma's family, and that he continued to mess with her regardless whether she was awake or asleep. Yes, she was going to make sure he paid and that he paid dearly. As far as she was concerned, he was far overdue.

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