Hook and Regina moved swiftly through the jungle. They had been walking for a few hours, but neither had spoken. Regina just continued to follow the pirate, reluctantly trusting him to lead them to Skull Rock.

Deciding to break the silence, she quickened her pace and walked side by side with Hook.

"How much farther, Hook?"

"Not far," he responded dryly. "The grove is just beyond the next ridge."

"And how long will it take to get there?"

"Not long."

"What does that mean? A few minutes? A few hours?" she sassed.

Hook rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I am unable to give you an accurate time measurement seeing as there is always a chance of encountering our foe along the way. But, should everything go smoothly, we should be there within the hour."

"Are you going to tell me what the plan is? Or am I just supposed to go with the flow?"

"Well, I don't have an exact plan just yet-"

"So we're just going in blindly?!" Regina interrupted.

"Since we haven't arrived at our destination yet, I haven't exactly been able to assess the situation, Regina. Once we get there, I'll be able to formulate a better plan." He paused and walked a few more paces before continuing his thought. "My hope is that Ariel will have already scouted out the location."

Regina raised her brow. "This Ariel..." she started. "You don't mean 'the little mermaid' Ariel do you?"

Hook glanced at her out of the side of his eye. "She is a mermaid, yes," he said slowly and confused. "Not so sure what you mean by 'little' though."

"Never mind," she responded waving her hand in the air. "How do you know her?"

"That's not something I care to discuss with you."

"Well, can she be trusted?"

Hook halted and turned sharply to the queen. "Do you really think I'd enlist her help if she couldn't? I wouldn't risk Henry's life like that, Regina. His death is not the happy ending I'm looking for." Not waiting for a response, he resumed walking, this time with a faster pace.

Regina stayed silent for a moment, but felt she needed to ask the question. "You really care for my son, don't you?"

Hook sighed. "I love Emma, and loving her means loving her son. So yes. I care for the lad very much. As if he were my own."

She absorbed his confession, not expecting it to be so up front. "You know, Hook," Regina continued. "People consider us to be villains and they say that villains don't get happy endings." She looked at the notorious Captain Hook. "Do you believe that?"

He glanced at the Evil Queen. "I hope not. Or we've wasted our lives." He saw Regina look down at the ground sadly. "You'll find your happy ending, Regina," he reassured her. "We both will."

Regina smirked. "Well, you seem to have already found yours... with Emma."

"Aye, I believe I have," Hook said, smiling to himself. "But, if we can't save Henry, neither of us will have the happy ending we want."

"We will save him," Regina said confidently. "Or we will die trying."

Hook nodded. "Aye, Your Majesty. That we will."

The pair continued to trudge through the trees, keeping their eyes peeled and ears open for any sign of their enemy. As soon as they passed by the ridge, the sandy beach came into view and out in the distance, a massive skull-shaped rock appeared through the fog. Hook led them towards the beach, but then took a sharp right turn and headed back into the cover of the forest.

"This way," he whispered. "The grove is just in here."

Regina followed Hook closely until they found the lagoon. There was no sign of a mermaid. The water was still as glass.

"I thought you said Ariel was meeting us here," she said.

Hook toed the edge of the water looking into it for the mermaid. "She'll be here."

"You're sure you can trust her?"

"Yes," Hook snapped. "But if you are just going to be suspicious of her the entire time, then you can just head back to the cave now, Regina, and leave me to save the boy."

Regina pursed her lips as Hook shot her a dirty look as if challenging her to say another word on the matter. When she didn't, he turned his attention back to the water.

After a couple minutes of surveying the water, something under the surface of it caught his eye. A shining light was bouncing around down below, growing larger with every second. Hook placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw at a moment's notice, but removed it when he saw flaming red hair rising to the surface.

"Am I late?" Ariel asked when she came above the water.

Hook shook his head. "Were you able to take a look inside?" he asked.

"Yes and Henry's in there."

"Is he ok?" Regina prompted immediately.

"I wasn't able to get a good look at him without the Lost Ones seeing me, but he seemed to be fine. They have him chained up to a rock in the middle of the water."

"Just as I feared," Hook sighed. "How many of them are there?"

Ariel scrunched up her face. "That's the weird part," she said. "I only counted eight. I would've thought Pan would put more on guard than that."

Hook ran his fingers along his jaw as he thought. "He knows we're coming," he said after a minute.

"Yes, he does," a voice rang in from behind.

Regina and Hook whipped around, their weapons at the ready, but lowered them immediately when they saw Tinker Bell floating down to them.

"Tink," Hook said relieved as he sheathed his sword. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't just stand by and let you go in there without me," she trilled. "I couldn't do anything to save Bae, so the least I can do is help save his son."

"How is just one fairy going to help us against Pan and his army of pimple-faced punks?" Regina sassed.

Tinker Bell shot the queen a dirty look and turned a mean shade of red.

"She'll be a great help, Regina," Hook said annoyed. "What we need to do is devise a plan for getting Henry out."

"Did you have something in mind, Captain?" Ariel asked.

Hook crouched down to the sand. He took a moment and drew a layout with his hook of Skull Rock and the surrounding area in the sand. Regina lowered herself next to the drawing as Tinker Bell flew down and stood on the edge of it.

"We need to play to our strengths," Hook started. He analyzed the layout he had just created and began jabbing his hook in certain areas. "Regina, you and Tink have magic... I think it would be best for you two to provide cover from above."

"And what? Just shoot fire at people who get in the way?" Regina asked. She wasn't liking this plan so far.

"Precisely, Your Majesty," Hook said through gritted teeth. He was seriously questioning why he had selected the Queen to come along on the rescue mission.

"Why can't I just use my magic to unlock the chains on Henry and bring him to us?"

"Pan knows how to overpower your magic," Hook reminded her. "And I'm sure he will be expecting us to use magic to get him out." He paused and looked at Regina. "I'll get the boy."

"How?" Regina questioned.

It was taking every ounce of strength he had to not clock her right in the face. "If you would refrain from interrupting me and let me finish my thought, you wouldn't have so many questions, my dear."

Tinker Bell got a smug look of satisfaction on her face as Ariel flipped her tail out of the water in an attempt to break the tension.

"What do you want me to do, Killian?" Ariel asked.

"The two of us are going to swim in," he responded. "I'll have you go ahead of me and clear a path. Take out as many of those Lost Boys as you can."

Ariel gave a salut. "Aye, aye, Captain. I can do that."

"Tink," Hook said turning to the fairy, "I'll need some pixie dust. There's a chance he's put some sort of spell on Henry or the chains."

"Good idea," she nodded. Hook pulled a small vile from his jacket pocket and placed it in front of Tinker Bell as she sprinkled some of her dust into it. "There. That should be enough," she said.

Hook turned back to Regina. "If I fail to get Henry, use your magic and get the two of you the hell out of there. But only use it on him as a last resort. I fear using your magic on him might result in your death or his." She nodded. "We keep to the pirate's code for this. Agreed?"

"I'm sorry, the what?" Regina asked.

"The pirate's code," Ariel repeated. "Any man who falls behind is left behind."

Regina gave a startled look, but nodded. "Agreed," she said. "The priority is to rescue Henry."

Hook surveyed his map in the sand once more making sure he didn't miss any key elements. He had a strange feeling that something was not right with it. "Ariel, do you see any flaws in the plan?" he asked the mermaid.

Ariel narrowed her eyes and studied the layout. "I don't think so. Tink?"

Tinker Bell shook her head. "Just be ready for an ambush. You know it's going to happen."

"Aye. Be on your guard. Pan's a bloody demon." Hook stood up. "Are we ready?" His three companions nodded in confirmation. "Then let's head out."

"Your Majesty," Tinker Bell said as she flew up next to Regina's face, "it's going to be easier for us to sneak in if you'll allow me to shrink you down and have you fly with me."

Regina raised her eyebrows. "Or I could just poof us all into this damn place."

Hook scoffed, clearly at his wit's end with the Queen. "Do you have any idea what's out there? Or anywhere? There are dangers all about and only I can guide us past them."

"He's right, Regina," Ariel said. "Besides myself, Hook is the one of us who has lived here the longest and if this is the best way to go about things, then you should listen."

Regina threw her hands up in defeat. "Fine. Work your magic then, Tinker Bell."

The fairy twirled her wand and Regina shrunk. Tinker Bell turned to the pirate. "I'll send a signal when we see you and the coast is clear up above."

"Thank you," Hook replied.

"Ready, Regina?" The Queen nodded and Tinker Bell stretched out her hand. "Then let's fly."

Hook and Ariel watched Tinker Bell and Regina fly up into the trees and out of sight.

"Do you really think this is going to work?" Ariel asked him.

Hook sighed. "What I think doesn't matter. This is the only option we have and we need to take it." He looked at Ariel softly. "If you want to back out now, I won't blame you."

"Why would I?" she asked confused.

"You're risking your life for someone you don't even know, Ariel."

"But you care about him, right?"

Hook nodded. "Yes. Very much. As if he were my own."

"Then that makes him my family and us members of the Jones family always fight for each other."

"Aye. That we do." He smiled at the mermaid. "My brother was lucky to have you."

She smiled back. "And Emma is lucky to have you."

"How did you-"

"I know true love when I see it, Killian." She paused. "Shall we?"

"Indeed."

Ariel swam out into the middle of the lagoon as Hook toed the edge of the sand. He raised up on his toes and took a giant leap forward diving into the water. Taking Ariel's hand, he took a large, deep breath and sunk beneath the surface.

The mermaid pulled the pirate deep into the lagoon and began swimming rapidly through the rivers and tunnels that stretched throughout the island. Hook kept his eyes shut as he felt the water wash quickly over him.

After a few short minutes, Hook felt himself being pulled back up towards the surface. His head came above the water and he gasped for air.

"You ok?" Ariel asked.

Hook took a few labored breaths. "Aye. Can't hold my breath like I used to it seems."

He wiped the bit of excess water from around his eyes and glanced around. They were floating just off of the back of the skull-shaped rock. Everything was silent. Hook looked around for any sign of Tinker Bell and Regina, but saw none.

"They should already be inside," Hook said more to himself than Ariel.

"Are you ready?" Ariel asked.

"Aye," he nodded. "You go ahead. I'll be right behind you."

Ariel gave one last look to Hook and dove down into the water once again. The pirate treaded water for a few moments giving the mermaid time to do what she does best before swimming in her wake towards the mouth of the rock. He stayed well below the surface, swimming as smoothly as possible in an effort not to create unnecessary waves.

When he reached the front, Hook rose up slightly above the water's line and peered around the corner into the large, cavernous opening. He could see the faint glow of Ariel's tail moving swiftly under the water towards the few Lost Boys that were positioned around the rock.

And there, in the middle, was Henry, tied securely to the large boulder sticking high up out of the water. His eyes were looking around wildly; unlike the other Lost Boys, he was seeing his captors disappearing swiftly and silently around him. He knew that his family was coming for him. It was only a matter of time. Henry glanced down at the water and saw a streak of flaming red fly underneath him. His eye caught a figure out at the mouth.

Hook, who had silently climbed up onto the ledge just inside the rock, saw Henry looking over at him. He pressed his finger to his lips telling Henry to keep quiet and gazed up towards the top of the cavern.

Tinker Bell's light glowed off the ceiling above. Situating herself on a cliff, she saw Hook standing down below and looked over at Regina who was on the cliff opposite her. Regina nodded to the fairy and Tink rang her bell signaling to Hook that the coast was clear. They watched as Hook slid back into the water and swam towards Henry.

"Captain!" Henry exclaimed rather cheerfully for someone who was tied to a rock.

"Are you alright, Henry?" Hook asked as he grasped on to the ropes that held the boy captive.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said. "Where's my mom?"

"Regina is up on the cliff and Emma is back in the forest waiting for you." Hook examined the bonds, trying for a moment to cut them with his hook, but it was no good.

"He put them on me with magic," Henry confirmed.

"I guessed he would," Hook said digging in his pocket, "which is why I brought this." He pulled the vial of pixie dust from Tinker Bell, popped the cork off the top and dumped it on the ropes.

The ropes turned a violent shade of green and disappeared instantly causing Henry to splash into the water below. Hook dropped down and scooped him up and propped him against the rock looking for any sign of damage.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Hook asked.

"Yeah, I'm great!"

"Then let's get the bloody hell out of here." Hook turned his head up towards the cliffs where Regina, who had been returned to her normal size, and Tinker Bell were waiting and gave them a nod indicating that he had Henry and they could move out. "Can you swim, lad?"

"Aye, Captain!"

"Good. Follow me."

Before they could get more than a couple feet towards the mouth of the rock, the crowing of the boy who refused to grow up filled the cavern as Peter Pan came swooping in. Hook knew everything had gone too perfectly; he had been waiting for this evil little twist.

"Don't think you're getting away from me that easily," the boy called, landing on the rocks off to the side. "I expected more from you, Captain."

"Aye," Hook sneered, "and you'll get it."

"Let them go, Peter," Ariel said bobbing up next to them.

"Ah, Ariel," Peter jeered. "I always knew there was something fishy about you. Don't you know? Cheaters never win."

At that moment, dozens of Lost Boys crawled into the cavern through all the secret openings throughout, surrounding them. They drew their swords and loaded their crossbows.

Hook leaned down a whispered in Henry's ear. "Between lessons with your father, grandfather, and myself, you're comfortable with a sword, right, mate?"

"Yeah," Henry said, his voice shaking slightly. "I think so."

"Good." He glanced over at the mermaid. "Ariel?"

She nodded knowing exactly what he wanted. "I got you covered."

Hook, his eyes back on Pan, passed a smaller sword over to Henry. "Now!" he shouted.

Ariel flipped her tail and launched Hook and Henry over onto the rocks opposite of Peter Pan as arrows started flying in all directions. Glittering light and fire came shooting down from above as Tinker Bell and Regina started on the attack. Hook and Henry immediately began dueling with the Lost Boys as Ariel started jumping out of the water and snatching them up.

Peter Pan stood back and watched the battle rage on, waiting patiently for the opportune moment to make his move.

Regina and Tinker Bell made their way down from the cliffs, sending waves of magic in all directions, knocking out as many Lost Boys as they could with each hit. Ariel rounded up a few in the water and held them against the rock until Tinker Bell could tie them magically to it.

Hook and Henry were slowly making their way towards the entrance, the pirate constantly looking over his shoulder at the boy. His knowledge of the sword had been retained very well and was clearly holding his own against their foes, but the battle was far from over. Everywhere Hook looked, more Lost Boys were showing up and they were quickly being outnumbered on a drastic scale.

Felix caught sight of Hook and Henry and charged after them, his club raised high in the air ready to strike. Hook pushed Henry behind a large boulder just in time before catching Felix's club in his hook.

"It's been a while, Captain," Felix said, a hungry smirk on his face.

"Not long enough," Hook grunted back as he swung his sword up knocking Felix's club away.

Henry watched from behind the rock as the captain battled with Pan's right-hand man, the two of them twisting and twirling along the edge of the water. The two clearly knew how the other fought and danced around for several minutes, giving and taking blow after blow in an attempt to best the other.

"Remember what I did to Rufio," Hook growled to Felix as their weapons were entwined above their heads. "Well, it's a far worst fate for you!"

Hook pushed back against Felix's club hard, throwing him off balance. He stepped back and raised his leg up and kicked him square in the chest and into the water.

Several of the Lost Boys were now rushing over to where Henry was hiding. Hook knew there wasn't any time left. He needed to get the boy out now.

"TINK!" Hook called out as he crouched down behind the rock next to Henry. She was near; he could hear her bell. A moment later, the fairy swooped down next to him and Henry.

"What is it?" she asked urgently.

"I need you to take Henry and get out of here," Hook said to her pulling Henry off the ground.

"What? No!" Henry exclaimed. "I'm not leaving without you and my mom!" He looked up at Hook desperately.

"You must Henry," Hook insisted looking him in the eyes. "Regina and I will be ok, but you need to get away before Pan can harm you further." Henry opened his mouth to argue more, but Hook cut him off. "Tink, take him now!" He leapt up and swung his sword at a Lost Boy that had appeared behind them chasing him away from Henry.

Tinker Bell raised her wand and pointed it at Henry, but before she could sprinkle pixie dust on him, a hand swung hard and knocked the fairy to the ground.

"Where do you think you're going?" Peter Pan seethed.

Henry grasped his sword and launched it at the demon child, but Pan was too quick for him. He knocked the sword aside and stared down at Henry with the most loathsome, evil look anyone had ever seen.

"Do you really think it would be so easy to escape from me?" Pan's words oozed from his mouth. "No one leaves this island without my permission. Especially you, Henry."

"I'm never going to stop trying," Henry declared. "And my family will never give up on trying to rescue me."

Peter Pan's mouth curled into a cruel smile. "Well, we can't have that now, can we?"

Pushing one of the Lost Boys into the water, Hook looked up to see Henry standing defenseless with Peter Pan raising his arms high in the air ready to strike.

"HENRY!" he belted out, sprinting back towards Emma's son, but just before Hook could reach him, a blinding light burst out and Henry was thrown backwards. Hook stretched out his arms, catching the boy just before he hit the sharp rocks behind him.

The light faded fast, revealing Regina standing in the spot Henry had been just moments before.

"YOU WILL NOT COME NEAR MY SON AGAIN!" Regina roared, her arms stretched back ready to strike.

Peter Pan smirked wildly at the challenge before him. "You think you can stop me, Your Majesty? Your magic isn't powerful enough to defeat me."

"Maybe not," Regina hissed. "But I can certainly try."

Sparks of purple electricity shot out from the Queen's hands towards Peter Pan, but did nothing. Pan's laugh echoed menacingly through the cavern.

"I told you, Regina. Your magic won't stop me." His eyes flicked down to Henry who was being shielded by Hook. "Say goodbye to your son."

He threw up his hands and the same bright light burst out from them, but this time it was met by a fiery blockade streaming from Regina. The intensity of the two rattled the surface dangerously around them. All other fighting had ceased as everyone stood to watch the confrontation.

Seconds felt like minutes as the two magicians fought with all their strength to overpower the other. Cracks began forming in the rock under their feet, stretching quickly out around them and throughout the cave.

Regina felt her strength fading quickly. Tears started rolling down her face as pain began weaving its way through her body from the pressure of Pan's attack. Her heart raced and her breathing labored; she wasn't going to last much longer.

Blinking away the wetness in her eyes, Regina turned her head down to where Henry stood watching, his eyes wide with fear.

"I love you, Henry," Regina said, her voice shaking. "I only wish I was strong enough to stop him. I'm just not."

Henry began shaking his head wildly. "Mom... No!"

"Get him out of here, Hook!" Regina shouted, her arms starting to give way to the force. Henry started to rush forward. "HOOK! GET HIM OUT NOW!"

Hook reached up and caught the end of Henry's jacket.

"MOM! NO, MOM! PLEASE DON'T!"

Wrapping his arm tightly around Henry's waist, Hook leapt into the water pulling Henry along with him. "Ariel!" he called out over Henry's cries. The mermaid raced over to them. "Get us out of here now!"

She nodded. "Take a deep breath!" Ariel commanded.

"MOOOOOOOOOOM!" Henry cried out, trying to wrestle his way out of Hook's arms.

"Henry! Breathe! Now!" Hook yelled.

"DO IT, HENRY!" Regina called out to her son. She watched as he reluctantly took a long, deep, taxing breath. She smiled sadly and let out one last message to him. "I love you, Henry!" Regina tore her eyes away from her son and lowered her arms, letting her magic fade away and feeling Pan's light consume her.

Ariel pulled Hook and Henry under the water just as they saw the Queen drop to her knees and collapse lifeless onto the rocks above them and heard Pan's villainous laugh echo through the cave.

As the mermaid sped them out of the cave and back towards the island's winding rivers, Hook could feel Henry's small body shaking, undoubtedly fighting the emotions coursing through him. He squeezed Henry tightly, letting him feel that he was there for him and he was never going to let him go.