Chapter Eleven: Think Lovely Thoughts

AN: Only minor continuity edits in this chapter. Enjoy!

~Once~

Peter's Perspective (Before Neverland):

"STOP THIEF!"

I ran faster at the sound of my pursuer, running straight for the center of town where I knew I could lose him in the market crowds. Pushing my way through the masses I manage to duck into an alley, unaware how close the man I was running from had gotten. He grabbed the back of my hood and pulled me out into the street, the force of the yank, knocked me off my feet.

"Nowhere to run now, thief. I'll admit you got farther than the others, but now you'll pay for what you've done." The man said with a sneer, "Guards! Guards! Over here I've caught him."

I watched as ten guards emerged from the crowd coming to the aid of the man I stole from. The lead guard smiled smugly when he saw me. He had been after me for years but nobody had been able to prove I stole anything until today. Everything had been running perfectly until Rumple screwed up. All he had to do was be there on time, to cry and throw a fit, but he couldn't even show up when he was supposed to.

"Well, look who we have here, boys. I've always knew you were a thief and now I've finally caught you."

"Actually, he caught me, you were slow as usual." I mocked him. His face grew red with rage, before he backhanded me.

"That'll teach you respect." He hissed. I could feel blood fill my mouth and I spit it out at his feet. I saw nothing to respect. In response, he raised his sword ready to hit me with the bunt of it when suddenly my little brother ran in between us.

"Please, don't hurt him he's my brother." He begged, "I was hungry, he only took the pouch to get me some food, we haven't eaten in days."

The guard calmed some, but he still wore an angry look. He looked to the man I had stolen from, as to ask what he wanted to do with me. The man sighed, and looked down at me.

"Give back the pouch boy, and I won't press any charges." He told me. I shot my brother a hard look, before unhooking the pouch from my belt. I handed it to him wordlessly, even though I could tell he was expecting me to apologize. When he realized that was all he was getting, he stormed off into the crowd, mumbling as he did so. The guard took another look at me before turning to Rumple.

"If I were you lad, I'd ditch your brother. He's no good, and you'd be better off without him." The guard said. He whistled loudly and his men fell in behind him, they marched out but not before the head guard gave me one last kick in the gut.

"Oof." I let out, glaring at the guard's back.

"Are you okay, Mal?" Rumpelstiltskin asked me, offering his hand to help me up. I angrily knock it away, and stand up on my own.

"Where were you?" I demanded. He looked shamefully down at his boots.

"I'm sorry, Malcolm, some man was doing a puppet show and I lost track of time."

"Well, because of you we lost our dinner. I hope your stupid puppet show was worth an empty belly." I yell at him before stalking off. After a few seconds, Rumple catches up and grabs my hand.

"I really am sorry." He apologized giving me that sad look of his. I shake my head with a small smile.

"I know. I did manage to successfully swipe one thing today."

"What did you get?"

I pulled up the back of my shirt and pulled out a straw doll I had stuck in my waistband for safekeeping. The doll was no bigger than eight inches and had on smart blue coat. I had spotted it at a toy stall and knew Rumple would have liked it. And no matter how angry I am at him, at the end of the day he's still my little brother and the only family I have left.

"Oh, wow. Thank-you, Mal." He said excitedly taking the doll from my hands. "I'm going to call him…Peter. Peter Pan."

"That's a stupid name." I tell him.

"No it's not." Rumple insisted with a pout. I just rolled my eyes at him.

"Whatever you say, laddie." I tell him throwing my arm over his shoulders, keeping my little brother close so I wouldn't lose him in the crowds. On our way back to our lean-to, my stomach growls loudly and I'm struck again with feelings of resentment. If only I didn't have to take care of Rumple, I could go where I want and never be hungry again. I contemplate what if I just ran away in the middle of the night and never came back. Getting food would be easier, because people wouldn't notice small amounts of food or coin missing, but when you're stealing for two it's more noticeable. I could do what I want when I wanted, I could go have fun with the guys from the village, spend a night with a girl. But then I look down at my little brother, and I know that I can't. I can't be a kid anymore, I have to grow up. He needs someone to care for him. With a huff, I shake those thoughts out of my head and think up a plan to get us some food for dinner.

~Once~

Aria's Perspective:

I retreated to Peter and I's underground home after Peter brought us back. What I told my father to do continued to ring in my head: Save them both. Peter wasn't going to do it or he couldn't. While Papa was helping Henry's family, he certainly wouldn't lift a finger to help Peter even it meant a temporary reconciliation. And Henry, well, he had no idea what was going. Since the men in my life couldn't get it together, then I would.

I headed towards a heavy oak door, that led upstairs to the reading room. Peter sort of used it as an office. He kept books, maps, important papers in there-including all the research that he had done on the Heart of the Truest Believer and immortality. If I could look at what he had, maybe I could find a way to save him and Henry.

I opened the door and went over to the bookshelf. I began grabbing what I needed and took it over to the desk.

"Okay," I said surveying the research in front of, "Time to get to work."

~Once~

Pan's Perspective (Before Neverland):

"What are we doing here?" Rumple asked as I knocked on the door to an old shack. I ignore him and proceed to open the door to let us in, and pulled Rumple in with me.

"These nice ladies are going to watch you for a while." I tell him, nodding towards the spinsters who agreed to watch Rumple for a few days.

"You must be the boy." One of the spinster greeted Rumple.

"Do you know how to spin?" the other asked before turning to the first, "You should teach him."

Rumple turned to me his eyes panicked.

"I don't want to stay here. Please, Malcolm, I'll be good."

"This will give me time to find a real job," I lied. I just wanted a few days off from being his keeper, "that way we won't have to steal to eat. I f I get nicked, what will you do?"

"Please Mal, don't leave me here. I'll get a job too." He cries hugging me tight

"Hey don't be scared now," I said, pushing him back so I can look him in the eye, "I brought Peter Pan with me, so you won't get lonely. Don't worry Rumple, I'll be back soon I promise."

~Once~

As soon as I could untangle myself from Rumple, I went directly to a tavern we had passed on the way to the spinster's house. There had been a pretty blonde eyeing me earlier, and I wanted to see if she was worth her good looks. When I went in, I did not see her. The only barmaid was a fiery redhead, and I had no taste for gingers. I preferred blondes, with doe like eyes, and busty…ah there she is. I spotted her coming in the back, carrying a tray full of beer steins for handsy customers. I took a seat at a clear table, and waved her over. Her tempting lips upturned at the corners tauntingly, she knew she had enticed me in. She flounced over and sat across from me, leaning over the table to give me a nice view of her chest.

"See anything you like?" She said in a husky voice.

"I see at least two things," I say with a smirk.

~Once~

A few days later I was still at the pub, entertaining myself by cheating at cards during day and during the night, well my nights were spent with Giselle, the blonde barmaid who tempted me in. I was in the middle of a good hand, when a familiar voice spoke from behind me.

"They were right. You're here."

I turned to see Rumple standing behind me with a disappointed look on his face.

"Hey, laddie." I greeted, too buzzed to care that I had been caught. I placed my cards down and gave the gentlemen at the table a nod to continue without me.

"You see I stopped in here for lunch, after looking for work all morning, and I thought I could get money for supper by playing some cards."

Rumple looked between me and the other men, before walking off dejectedly. I huffed before following after him.

"Rumple! Rumple!" I called several times, before he slowed down allowing me to catch up with him.

"You said you were finding a job." He yelled at me.

"I just wanted a break, laddie. Besides we both know no one would hire me, we've stolen from half the town."

Rumple looked down contemplatively, before lighting up.

"What if there was someplace we could start over? Somewhere, where no one knew us?"

"How?" I asked intrigued, as fun as stealing and causing mischief was, it didn't always fill our bellies.

"With this." Rumple answered lifting his hand to show me an oddly colored bean. It was a magic bean!

"Where did you get that?" I ask," Do you know how much a bean like that would fetch?"

I go to reach for it, but Rumple pulls back his hand, clenching it closed tightly.

"No, it's mine! I won't let you sell it."

"Rumple, you don't understand-"

"I understand that this bean can take us someplace where no one knows us. Where we can be a family."

"A real fresh start." I say, catching on to what he wanted.

"Yes."

"Where should we go?"

"There must be someplace special to you."

"Hmm…" I start to ponder, "Think. ….Think Lovely Thoughts. That's it."

"What?"

"When I was a boy about your age, father sold me to a blacksmith to help feed the family. Every day I would stand there sweating by the fire, hating it, and I would say to myself 'Think Lovely Thoughts.' And in my sleep, I would travel to the most wonderful place"

"What was it called?"

"Neverland."

"Then that's where we should go." Rumple said presenting me with the bean. I smile and take it from him, ready to return to the land from my dreams. I tossed the bean onto the ground, and a swirling portal opened up at our feet.

"I don't even know it this place is real." I laugh when I see the vortex. Rumple grins at me and offers his hand, I take it and with a nod at each other we jump in.

~Once~

Rumple and I land roughly on a cold beach. I do a mental inventory of all my limbs before opening my eyes. The island is exactly how I remembered it. The jungle was still the dominate terrain of the island, and the Peak was just as tall.

"We actually did it." I laugh, "We made it. It's just as I remembered from my dreams."

"It's beautiful," Rumple added.

"It's more than that, laddie, Neverland is special. You can do anything here, just think it and it can happen. What you'd like to eat?"

"Umm…cake." Rumple answered grinning.

"Well go on then, just think. I mean really think it." I urge him. Rumple holds out his hand, and closed his eyes in concentration. A golden glow emits from the air above his hand before a piece of chocolate cake appears. He opens his eyes and his mouth drops in surprise.

"You can eat all the cake you want here, and never get a stomachache. You can swing from a vine into a waterfall or climb the highest peak without getting winded. But best of all, in Neverland you can fly." I tell Rumple opening my arms wide to show him.

"But flying is impossible."

"Neverland is where the impossible is possible. If you believe it. Here I'll show you." I say running over to a rock cropping. I pull myself up to the top. I look down to make sure he's watching before jumping off. Instead of taking off, I just ended up falling. I hit the ground with a hard thud.

"Ow! I don't understand that's how I used to do it. I could always fly when I was a lad."

"Maybe you can't fly, because you aren't my age anymore." Rumple suggested. That could be it but then I remembered something else I had needed to fly when I was younger.

"Oh, how could I have forgotten that? Of course, pixie dust. Even when I was younger, I needed it to fly."

"Where do we get some?" Rumple asked.

"I'll show you, come on." I said, before heading off into the jungle. Rumple caught up quickly and grabbed my hand, and I pulled him along the familiar path.

~Once~

Henry's Perspective:

I watched as Pan gently laid Wendy down on her cot, showing her more consideration than I had seen him show anybody other than my sister.

"How is she?" I ask.

"I fear she's getting worse, Henry."

"But if I save magic…she'll live."

"Yes," Pan replied, "But more than that. If you save magic, you save us all. But to do it you have to truly believe."

Wendy began coughing again, and I knew what I had to do, to save her and everyone else.

"I do." I give my answer.

"Good, because we don't have much time. Follow me."

I nodded and gave Wendy one last look before, following Pan into camp.

"My brothers!" Pan announces, "Tonight the dream of Neverland will awaken from its slumber. Tonight, the Heart of the Truest Believer shall fulfill its destiny, and with it our destiny. Tonight, Henry saves magic!

The Lost Boys began to cheer and clap and I can't help but feel a little proud at myself for helping them. I scan the crowd for Mel, and I find her resting on the tree that led to her and Pan's home. Unlike everyone else, she was not cheering. Instead she's looking at Pan and me, with tears in her eyes.

I glance at Pan to see him gazing at her with a look that is both pleading and triumphant. However, when she saw he was looking at her she looked down at the piece of paper in her hand. I was just about to ask Pan what was wrong, when one of the boys picked me up and set me on his shoulders carrying me around camp victoriously.

"Whoohoo!" I cheer along with the Boys, completely forgetting about my sister.

~Once~

Aria's Perspective:

I slipped the paper I found in my boot. Peter did have the answer in his notes after all. It just wasn't in his stuff about the Heart of the Truest Believer. But now I knew how to save Peter and Henry. I just hope that they wouldn't hate me when it was all over.

I watched as the Lost Boys lifted up Henry high into the air. He looked so excited, and, why shouldn't he? In his mind, he's finally getting to be a hero like the ones in his storybook. Tears sting the corner of my eyes, and I had to turn away again. I closed my eyes, trying to shut everything out.

Not soon after, I felt a hand touched my cheek and turned my head. A thumb brushes over my cheekbone, and I open my eyes. I find myself staring into Peter's green eyes. The triumph I saw earlier was replaced with concern for me. I gave him a soft smile before closing my eyes again and leaning into his touch. His other arm wraps around my waist and pulls me close, and I felt his forehead rest against mine.

"Stay here," he whispered, "I don't want you anywhere near Skull Rock tonight."

I nodded, fearful that if I spoke, I would be found out.

"It's almost over, love." He assured me before kissing my head, "I'm sorry."

His arms start to pull away from me, but I reach out and grab him before he can get t far. I look him in the eye once more, before stretching up to kiss him. Surprised at first, Peter quickly recovered. He slowly backed me up against the tree behind me. I slid up against the bark, and wrapped my legs around him.

I needed this. To kiss him, to feel as much of him as I could. To feel his lips against my neck, the teasing nipping of his teeth. To feel his heart pounding against my chest.

Breathless, Peter pulled away and ducked in one more time for a slow drawn out kiss. I unwrapped my legs, and he gently placed me on the ground.

"I'll see you soon," Peter said. This time I let him pull away.

"Yes, you will." I said watching him walk away.

~Once~

Peter's Perspective (Before):

When we finally arrived at the Pixie Dust trees, Rumple was too scared to climb the tree. I made my own way up after promising him I would get enough for the both of us and to be down as soon as I could. I was more than half way up the tree when I found a flower that was in bloom. I grinned and grabbed some of its dust on me. I closed my eyes and pictured myself flying, but when I opened my eyes was still standing on a tree branch.

"What?" I uttered. I had done everything right, why wasn't it working. I was going to try, when something sped past me in the air almost knocking me down. I grabbed on to the trunk of the tree to steady myself I moved my head back and forth looking for what had flew past me, when I came face to face with a shadowy figure.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am the sole inhabitant of Neverland." The figures haunting voice answered.

"Then can you tell me what's wrong? Why can't I fly?"

"You have to believe."

"I'm trying, but it doesn't work."

"Because you don't belong." The voice replied, before flying past me again.

~Once~

Aria's Perspective:

Once Peter and Henry had left, Felix started to come over to see if I was alright. But I held my hands up to stop him, before informing him I was just going to stay in the treehouse until it was all over. He nodded, and returned to the other Lost Boys. I waited until his back was turned before moving. I walked towards the treehouse just in case one of the Boys were watching me, so they could tell Felix they saw me head there. Once I was out of sight I looped around the camp and headed to where the Boys kept the boats, knowing Peter had planned to set off from there.

When I got to the beach, Peter and Henry were already half way to the Rock. I wasn't too worried about that I knew I could catch up; I was more worried that Peter would sense my presence. Nonetheless, I ran and dove off the pier. My tail grew within seconds of being in the water, and my lungs adapted to the salt water. I dove deeper under the water, hoping the distance and the ocean would distort any feeling Peter may have about my location.

I swam out towards Skull Rock, a place I had only been a few times as Peter rarely let anyone see the place of his power and his weakness. I surfaced so only the top of my head and eyes were showing once I knew I was close. I watched as Peter rowed into the mouth of the skull, where I knew he would dock. I continued to stay back until he disappeared from sight. I decided to the best way to get in undetected were the underwater tunnels, and I swan around to the back of the tiny island to reach them.

I dove back under the water to half way down the sunken rock, before spotting the entrance into the underwater cave. I follow the hollowed out tunnel until I reach a pool directly under the cave where Peter's hourglass resides. At the expense of a scratched up arms and palms, I manage to pull myself out of the pool, and got my tail out of the water. It took longer to dry because of how damp the cavern was. When it finally splits into two legs again, I head up the stair-like structure that lead up to the room above.

I made it to the chamber with little difficulty; I looked out from my spot and see Peter standing alone. Oh God, am I too late? Is Henry dead? I make a move to sprint out of my hiding spot, when I see Mr. Gold coming up the carved-out stairs to the room. I immediately backpedal back; this was one fight I knew I did not want to get into. I know all about family feuds, but I also knew that what happened between these two brothers, who despite their denials, were so similar. I did not see this ending well.

~Once~

Peter's Perspective (Before):

After a long chat with the shadow, I came to a decision that I knew that would haunt me for the rest of my life. But I needed to do it in order to live my dream. I climbed down the tree to where Rumple sat at the base crying, I was probably gone too long for his liking. Usually his crying weakened my resolve; he's my little brother I'm supposed to hurt anyone who makes him cry. But today that only strengthened my resolve all the more.

"What's wrong, Rumple?" I ask dropping down in front of him.

"Malcolm?" he exclaims springing up to hug me. I return the hug.

"I thought something terrible had happened to you?"

"No, laddie, course not. Just a farther climb than I had expected, that's all."

"Did you get pixie dust?"

"Yes," I replied, pulling out some dust for him to see, "But when I tried to use it, it didn't work."

"Why not?"

"I'm twenty, Rumple; I'm not a boy anymore. I haven't been a boy in a long time. Neverland is just for children, adults don't belong here."

"Then…we'll leave and go somewhere else. All that matters is that we are together."

"I wish it was that easy, but we both no wherever we go it will be the same story as the last town. I can't be the big brother you need me to be Rumple, I wasn't ready for this kind of responsibility."

"I don't understand, what are you trying to say?"

"That there is a way I can stay here, that I can use pixie dust so I can fly again."

"How?"

"By letting go of the thing that's holding me back…you."

The shadow swoops down to grab Rumple. Rumple manages to grab hold of my arm.

"Help, Mal, it's a monster." He yells. I let him slip a little until I can grab his hand.

"It's not a monster, Rumple, it's a friend. It's part of the island. And after I do what it tells me, and let you go, it will become part of me too."

"Don't let it take me."

"I don't have a choice. To stay here I have to believe that I am young again. And with you here to remind me I can't. "

"No please, Mal, don't let it take me."

"A child cannot raise a child Rumple. I'm sorry, but it's true. Don't fight it. We both know you'll be better off without me; someone is more likely to take just you in than the pair of us. I was never meant to be a parent." I tell him before letting him go. I watched sadly as the shadow took my little brother away, the only family I had left.

Once he was off the island, magic coursed around me, filling me up just like the shadow said it would. I felt myself shrink a few inches, and after looking in a puddle nearby I was confronted by seventeen year old face. I was a teenager again. A teenager with enough magic to do whatever I wanted. Gone was the regret of giving up my brother, I was free.

"Let's play." I said smirking at my reflection.

~Once~

Aria's Perspective:

"Hello, laddie." Peter greeted turning around to face Gold. "Oh, I see you come bearing gifts."

"Where's Henry?"

"Oh, you mean my great-nephew? You still haven't told the others who I really am? Not even your own son. Why?"

Okay, that one still weirds me out. I mean seriously, technically Gold's my brother-in-law which adds me to that crazy family tree of Henry's.

"Because you're nothing but a coward to me."

"We both know if that were true, I'd already be in that box."

"You don't think I can do it? You let me inside just to, uh…, taunt me? "

"No." Peter answered, "To see you again, to give you one last chance. Stay with me. Let this go. Let's start over."

What are you playing at Peter? Don't fall for it Gold, ask him about Henry.

"Do you think I really want to be with you? That I could ever forgive you after you abandoned me?"

"I'm disappointed Rumple. After all these years, I thought you'd be more...understanding, considering you did the same thing to your son. You traded Baelfire for the power of a dagger and I traded you for youth. We're a lot more alike than you care to admit."

"We ARE nothing alike."

"Oh, of course we are. It's nothing to be ashamed of, neither one of us was cut out for the responsibility of being a parent."

"I regretted leaving Baelfire, the moment I let him go. I spent my life trying to find him, to get him back. And what did you do, Malcolm? You forgot about me."

Malcolm? Peter's real name is Malcolm?

"I never forget about you," Peter roared, stirring me from my musings about the revelation of his real name, "Why do you think I call myself, 'Peter Pan'?"

"Don't expect me to believe for a moment it's because you care for me, brother."

"But I do," Peter answered quietly, "All you have to do is put down that box, and you'll see it's true. We can make that fresh start you always wanted, together, just as we planned."

Peter held his hand out hesitantly to his little brother. Mr. Gold looks at him with disgust.

"Oh, I'm going to make a fresh start, just not with you." Rumple grits out. He waves his hand over the tiny square object he has in his hand, and Peter looks worried. But nothing happens, and Peter's worried face slips into a triumphant one.

"I don't understand." Gold exclaims.

"Because you don't have it." Peter says revealing a duplicate of the box in his own hand.

"You switched it." Gold says in disbelief.

"Follow the Lady? Do you remember that game? Still having trouble believing. In Neverland, all you have to do is think of something to have it. Even something fake, but the real one… well let's see what it can do." Peter taunted, he made a circling motion over his cube and a red smoke emerged from inside, he surrounded Rumpelstiltskin before sucking him and the smoke back inside. I clamped my hand over my mouth to muffle the cry that came out. What the hell, Peter? What did you just do?

"I'm sorry, Rumple, but you made your choice." Peter spoke sadly to the box. Oh, Peter.

~Once~

Peter's Perspective (Before):

I was soaring across the island, at lighting speed. I was pin-wheeling, and free falling only to catch myself before I hit the ground. Flying had to be the best feeling in the world. Before too long I felt the shadow call me, he must be back from taking Rum- he's asking me to come to a small island off the coast of the mainland, the one that looks like a Skull. I flew straight up to get a better view and spotted it off the west coast. I flow over to it, and went straight threw the right eye of the skull shaped island. I landed near a large hour glass.

"What is this place? I don't remember seeing it from my dreams." I asked the shadow.

"That's because it didn't exist. It was created when you made the decision to stay here." He answered

"A giant skull? It's glorious. What's the hourglass for?"

"It represents the magic fueling your youth, the magic allowing you to stay here, to stay young."

"What happens when it runs out?"

"Your youth will be taken and you will die."

"But I thought I was going to stay young forever?"

"Neverland is a place for children to visit in their dreams, not a place for them to live. You were the first that tried to stay. And in doing so you're breaking the rules."

"Any rule can be broken, especially here. I made this place without even thinking about it. There has to be a way."

"Perhaps."

"Then I will find it. I will find a way. I believe."

~Once~

Aria's Perspective:

After capturing his brother in a cube, Peter went in the back somewhere. I slowly crept out of my crevice and moved closer to his hourglass. It was still losing sand, so that meant Henry was alive. Oh, thank God!

I saw two shadows coming back into the cavern and I dive behind a rock cropping. I look out from small hole, and see that it is Henry and Peter. Henry heads straight for the hourglass and stares at it like he's mesmerized. Peter smiles before walking past him to deposit Gold's box on a rock.

"It's time Henry." Peter announces, turning back to my brother. "Time to save magic, to save Neverland."

"What do I have to do?"

"You must give me your heart, Henry, the Heart of the Truest Believer."

"You mean… I have to believe."

Nice try, Henry, but no dice.

"No Henry," Peter answers chuckling softly, "I mean you need to give me your heart."

"But… what will happen to me?"

Now you're asking the right questions, why couldn't you have done this before you got on the damn boat with Peter. You're so freaking gullible, Henry.

"You'll become the greatest of all heroes." Peter replied. Really Peter?

"You can tell me the truth. I know all magic comes with a price. Saving it must come with one too."

He could tell you the truth but he won't.

"I would never lie to you, Henry. I mean, you're right there is a price. You have to stay here on the island with me, with Aria. Neverland will become your new home. I know it's a huge sacrifice, but isn't it worth it? "

Don't drag me into this you asshole.

"Heroes have to make sacrifices all the time. My family taught me that."

"They would be proud if they could see you now, because you're about to save them all. Now are you ready?"

"Yes."

"The let me help you." Peter offered. He took Henry's hand enchanting it, so Henry could take out his heart. I mimic his spell, and take out my own heart as Henry takes out his. It hurts like nothing I have ever felt, and I bite down on my lip till it bleeds in order not to cry out. Once it's pulled out I pant in relief, I look over my rock to plan my next move. I start to get up, when I hear pounding footsteps coming up the stairs. My head whips around to see who's coming up, and I see Emma, Neal and Regina storming the cavern.

"Henry, wait!" Neal yells, "Whatever Pan's telling you to do, don't do it."

"Dad, you're alive." Henry exclaims.

"I am, buddy. And I need you to listen to me, Pan is lying to you. "

"Oh, pleasure to see you too, Baelfire," Peter greets trying to deter the conversation, "not to mention the Savior, and the Evil Queen."

Peter practically spat out Regina's title, still harboring feelings of hatred towards her for the curse that increased our separation.

"Henry, "Emma says, "You need to get away from him, now. He's trying to hurt you."

"No," Henry argues, "The Heart of the Truest Believer, it's what's gonna save magic. It's going to save all of you."

"No, it's not. This was never about magic, Henry. You have to believe us. The only person Pan's interested in saving is himself."

"That's not true," Henry insisted.

"Of course, it isn't. Henry, you know how much I care for my Lost Boys, for Wendy, for your sister." Peter said to him

"He's lying. Pan can't live without you dying. If you give him your heart, it's going to kill you."

Peter had his back turned to me, to meet Henry's eye. So, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to move closer. I emerged from behind the rock and crept towards the others.

"They are trying to stop your belief, Henry, but don't let them. Remember, every hero get tested. "

"Henry," Emma calls out, "I know what being a hero looks like and this isn't it?"

"Why would they lie?"

"Because that's what adults do, Henry. You know that better than anyone."

"Henry," Regina pleads, "You have to believe us."

"Your parents don't care about Neverland, Henry. They know that if you give your heart to save it, then you'll have to stay. They're lying to you because they don't want to lose you."

"Henry, you have to trust us." Emma pleaded.

"Trust?" Peter yells, "I'm the only one that has been honest with you Henry. The only one who ever believed in you. This is your choice, not theirs. You have to choose now."

Peter castes a worried glance at the hourglass. Time is running short.

"We're running out of time." Peter insisted.

"We believe in you, Henry." Neal said, trying to prove Peter wrong.

"Because we love you." Emma adds. I pull the paper from my boot, and read over the spell once again.

"More than anything." Regina finished. I looked up from the paper.

"I love you too. But I have to save magic."

"No, No, No!" Neal exclaims.

"I'm sorry." Henry goes to stuff his heart in Pan's chest, but that's when I sprint from my hiding place and charge for Henry and Peter.

"Melody!" Regina exclaims. I ignore her and knock Henry down and shove my own heart in Peter's chest. It was the perfect heart, one full of love and belief. One he gave up for immortality, the other is what fuels him.

"I believe." I whisper to Peter, before everything goes black.

Immortality Spell

The key is what paid the cost

~Once~

Peter's Perspective:

"ARIA!" I yell. I grabbed her before she could crumble to the floor. I felt magic like no other coursing through my body, before it pulsates from my body sending a wave of magic across the land. The force of it knocks me onto my knees, dragging down Aria with me too.

"Melody!" Regina cried getting up and rushing towards.

"Stay back!" I yell at her, unleashing another wave of magic, "No one touches her."

I look down at her and cup her cheek, smoothing my thumb over her cheekbone. I looked down, and saw her clutching something in her hand. It was a crumpled of piece of paper, and written on it was an Immortality Spell that I had long ago dismissed as useless.

"You're so stupid, love. Why would you do that?"

"Pan, please let me see her." The Evil Queen begged.

"I said no one touches her!"

And with that I lift off into the air. I needed be alone. I needed someplace to think. I promised her no one would separate us again. No one, not even if it is was us.

~Once~

BOOM!