Peter woke the next morning with a smile on is face. He got up and walked out of the home and into the forest. The birds were singing and the sun was out. The island was alive. Even the waters. He could hear the waves crashing against the shore. All seemed at peace and filled with joy. Peter looked around with worry. He knew something was wrong. With Hook back nothing should be so calm. He rushed, while Christine lay sleeping, to the Mermaid's Lagoon. He had to know what evil had been done... or undone in order to protect his new family.

The mermaids came at the sound of his pipes. They seemed to be crying as they spoke to him in their song like voices. He gasped. Hook was dead. He was filled with joy. Then he looked at the mermaids and saw their tears. "Christine..." he whispered as his joy turned to grief. He would need to know.

He flew back to the home his heart heavy with worry. What would she do? How would she act? She hated Hook indeed but he was her father? All girls needed a father. He'd learned that from Wendy. Boys needed mothers and girls needed fathers. That's the way it worked. He used the door to the home instead of his usual route through a tunnel or slide. "Christine." He said softly. She turned, her face graced with the most beautiful smile. Peter swallowed hard. His face straight as a stone. Her smiled faded into worry. "I've... I've got some bad... bad news." He said. He felt tears. Not for Hook. For Christine. She walked to him. He took her hand and lead her out of the home and then flew her to the Mermaids. She looked shocked as she saw their tears. Lowering to her knees she listened to their story. Her head fell with grief. Peter stood behind her and awaited the sound of her tears.

"I must go Peter." She said softly as she rose to her feet, her eyes on the ground. His heart stopped. No tears. "Why?" he asked with shock. "I must bring my father to be with my mother." She said. "It's only the proper thing to do." She said. Her eyes finally rose to meet his. Tears fell from them softly. He watched as they faded from bright beautiful green to a muddy brown. His words of protest got caught in his throat and he only nodded as a tear fell from his eye. "You'll..." he chocked. "You'll need some food for... for the trip." He said. Then he flew up into the air and back to the home. Once inside her screamed with pain. He pulled out his sword and sliced through one of the chairs and cut a notch into the table. He sank to his knees in tears. She was leaving him. Just like Wendy had. Just like Hook said she would. He took a deep breath and pulled himself back together. He got up and swallowed back his tears. Then he packed an Indian bag with fruits and flew back out to the shore. Christine stood staring out towards the ship Hook had been on. He landed just behind her. She turned and looked him in the eyes. He handed her the bag and took a deep breath.

Peter stood staring at her. He felt the tears building again in his eyes. They seemed to burn as he held them back. She swallowed back her tears though he could still see them collecting in her eyes. She reached behind her neck and unclasped the necklace he'd given her. "Please..." he started. He felt a tear roll down his cheek. "Shhh...." She covered his mouth with her fingertips. The small touch sent all his tears rolling over. She took his hand and placed the necklace in it, closing his fist around it. "Remember me..." she said. "And I'll be back... before you notice I'm gone." She said. Then she kissed him and walked towards the water. He watched her dive into the waves and disappear into the ocean like the mermaid inside her knew how to do. He stood on the shore as his tears took over. He sank to his knees and cried. There he sat until the last rays of the sun faded and the night took over. No stars shined that night. Not a single one twinkled. When he couldn't see the pirate ship anymore he rose to his feet and walked back into the forest.

Arriving at the Underground home he walked in and went right to bed. He hung the necklace on the root that hung just over his head. Staring at it he drifted off to sleep unwillingly. Nightmares he'd not had since she arrived flooded his mind and destroyed his spirit. Destroyed his hope.