Ah, the lovely, lovely reviews! My beautiful public! Beg pardon while I wallow in the ego trip you put me on. I hope you all know just how much those reviews you send me mean. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if it wasn't for you people out there that review this story would have stopped a long time ago. And that would have been a disappointment for me. If you haven't caught on yet, this story is getting dangerously close to being completed, and I think I'm gonna cry when its done. But when this is done and over with, I'm gonna start up my Van Helsing fan fiction that I've been plotting, so if you like Van Helsing that will be a treat. If you don't, there's always my other Peter Pan stories that I've kinda be neglecting as of late. Well, here's one of the last few chapters in the story. Try to contain your grief!

Chapter Twenty Three

All in all, it didn't look to promising. Three days had passed since Alex and Tink had brought Peter back from the other world, and so far he had not pulled anything up memory wise. They had long since finished the book and had actually started reading it again in an effort to light a bulb in his mind. The Lost Boys had taken him to different parts of the island that they used to spend countless hours at. The coast had only proved to bring up the fact that this new Peter was afraid of swimming, let alone letting four or five giggling girls pull him into the water. Skull Rock had bored him to no extent and within five minutes of being there he was begging to leave. The ruins of the Indian camp only got in the way of his feet causing him to trip a few odd times.

Alex hated to just think it straight out without backing it up or anything, but this new Peter was a loser. Her was dull, he was uninteresting, he was a whimp, and ever since the incident in the hideout he blushed every time he laid eyes on her. He wouldn't touch her when she was trying to improve his flying methods, showing him how to sword fight, or even when she was trying to pull him out of the sea.

"He's a hopeless case, Alex." Karry started up, joining her friend on the edge of the bed in the den of the hideout. "We're never gonna get the real Peter Pan back. We're always gonna be stuck with…that." she finished just as said boy slipped down the entrance and onto his face.

"A hopeless case he may be, Karry. But he's our hopeless case." the taller girl sighed and shook her head.

"Don't you mean your hopeless case?"

"How's Slightly?"

"Point taken." Karry laughed softly and let herself fall back on the bed. Meanwhile, Peter was pulling himself up from his awkward position and dusted himself off, all the while avoiding Alex's eyes.

"I don't suppose that knock on the head jarred something in your mind did it?" the ex pirate droned out looking at him with tired eyes. He only shook his head fiercely before retreating into his room. If one thing had been accomplished, it was getting him to claim that one room as HIS room.

"Seriously though, where's Slightly and the other boys?" Alex changed the subject and looked back to her right hand gal.

"I think they went to see what Hook was up to."

More things accomplished while they had been there. The kids had found the new resting place of the Jolly Roger over the mountains at the eastern part of Neverland. They probably wouldn't stay long, but at least Alex had an idea of where they were. Seeing it that she was serving as the 'leader' while Peter was in his less then Pan like state, she needed to know what was going on. Also, she had discovered where the natives had made camp. Wedged in between two hills near the tree line at the base of the mountains proved to be a good fortress for the still on guard Indians. Tiger Lily had found out about Peters…problem, and of course blamed Alex right away. Though the light skinned girl did see a glimmer of gilt passing through the Princess's dark eyes.

"We're gonna have to fight Hook, aren't we?" Karry asked out of the blue. The hideout was quiet for a few moments before the questioned girl answered.

"Yeah. Yeah, we are."

"And Peter…he's not gonna be ready in time, is he?" another pause.

"No he's not." Alex answered again and bit on her bottom lip. She knew it may have been a bit wrong to talk about Peter when he was in hearing range, and was probably eavesdropping like he usually did, but Karry needed to know the truth. And Peter probably did too.

"Then how do you expect us to win?" the younger girl asked and raised back up to look at the other girl in the eyes. "And please tell me that you expect us to win."

"I expect us to win. We have youth and stamina on our side. And if all goes well, we might have the Indian tribe backing us up. Maybe…"

"Maybe? What happened to that unbridled anger you and Tiger Lily have for on another?"

"That's the only thing holding me back at the moment." she explained and stood up from the bed and began pacing the room. "I was actually gonna go and try to talk to them today…" she ended and glanced back over to Karry. The two stared at each other for some time before the youngest shook her head and mouthed 'no'. The other nodded her head with a pleading look on her face.

"No…no, no, no! Do you even remember the last time we were at the Indian's camp? We watched you nearly get fried! If you wanna do that on you own, that's fine! But I'm not gonna watch this time!" she exclaimed and threw her hands in the air. Alex only stayed standing, looking down at her friend with a pitiful expression.

"Come on, Karry, I need help." she clasped her hands together under her chin and gave the best angelic look she could muster. "You my bestest friend…"

"Bestest? My, my, my, you certainly are desperate aren't you?" Karry went on and gave a thoughtful look. "But my answers still no."

"Fine." Alex grumbled and began toward the door, "By the way, if I get sliced, diced, and cooked, I'll haunt you for the rest of your days." she added in a delightfully sweet tone. The still sitting girl rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine!" the standing on exclaimed and tossed her hands in the air. At this bit of commotion, Peter lifted the bearskin flap to his room and peeked out.

"I'll go with you." he said in a timid voice.

"No, not you Peter." Alex interjected, "It'd be my luck that Tiger Lily would brainwash you into thinking I'm wrong and she's right."

"What would you be wrong about?" he asked stepping fully out of the other room.

"I don't know, but she'd find something. Just stay here."

"I'm not a complete moron, Alex. You don't have to protect me like a child. I wouldn't let anyone brainwash me against you." Peter stated in a strong voice. "You shouldn't go alone. I'm going with you."

Alex stood there staring at him for some time. Between his words, she could she the outline of his former self trying to break through. He was still in there…somewhere. Every time he said something with determination she would always see the little bit of Peter Pan behind his eyes. He was there trying to get out, but something was holding him back. If only she could find out what…

"No, Peter." she replied back just as sternly. "Your staying right here with Karry until the boys get back, then you can go and do something with them."

"I don't wanna do something, I'm not bored. I just don't think you should go alone, you could get hurt."

"Like you would be of any great help if it came down to fighting, Peter. All you would do by being there would be making me worry about you." she snapped back. Instantly she regretted it. She knew very well how vulnerable Peter was about his…vulnerability. And she just hit a bad note with a sharp knife.

"Fine." Peter grumbled and went back into his room with a fierce gate. As the two girls watched him, Karry stood from the bed and went over to her friend where she slapped her a few times on the top of the head.

"No. No. Bad." the short girl scolded before Alex shook her head and exited the hideout, leaving Karry alone with an angry Peter Pan.

"Squaw pirate not welcome." the booming voice of the Indian Chief announced as Alex was brought forward and he turned swiftly and began to retreat into his teepee. The new camp was not as well put together as the old one, but it made do. At least until Hook was out of the way.

"Believe me, Chief, I'm very much aware of that, but I need to talk to you about Hook." she quickly spoke, stopping the large Indian in his tracks. Turning back to the ex pirate, the Chief stared down at her. His black eyes were narrowed in part agitation and part interest.

"What you say about your Captain?"

"He's not my Captain. I'm not a pirate anymore." this said, a chuckle came from the braves surrounded her. The Chief 'humph'ed and shook his head once.

"Once pirate, always pirate."

"Believe what you want, Chief, but I came to ask for your help for the fight against Hook." Alex continued, "We can't do it alone, and Peter is still out of action."

"You reason Little Flying Eagle no remember anything. Why help you?" he shot back in a bitter tone that matched the look on the Princess's face behind him.

"Because…Well, just look at the island." rolled her head around, "It's a wreck without Peter to protect it, so someone else has to." she argued and looked back and forth from Princess to Chief. When they made no effort to agree, she gave a small growl. "At least to it for Peter!"

On that note, a crash came from the trees that spotted the side of the camp. Braves grabbed their weapons and slowly crept toward the brush where the breaking of twigs and the grumbling of an angry voice was still sounding. As the sounds got closer, the braves let out a war cry and jumped through the trees. Suddenly, the cries stopped and another more frail voice was asking desperately for them to spare him. Him? Oh no.

"Peter?" Alex asked aloud with a raised eyebrow. At that, the boy causing all the ruckus stumbled through the trees followed by the braves. As soon as he laid his brown eyes on the girl, he straightened himself up and jogged over to her. When he was panting beside her, she punched him squarely on the arm. Hard. "You idiot! I told you to stay in the hideout."

"Don't hit me! I wanted to make sure you were safe!" Peter yelled back after steadying himself. Everyone in the camp could tell a fight was about to ensue, but so far the two showed no signs of caring anyone was watching.

"That's real touching Peter, but you can't just go roaming the island like this! How did you get here anyway?!"

"I flew." he stated plainly.

"You flew. Peter, you can't even fly two feet off the ground at a steady pace, let alone fly on your own!"

"Well I did! I thought you'd be happy, after all, isn't this one step closer to getting your OTHER Peter back?!"

"Ah!" Alex yelled a frustrated sigh, "There is no other Peter! Cause right now I can see that the same stubbornness, bullheadedness, and all around being a jackass attitude is still thriving live and well inside that little head of yours!"

"Jackass? Is that what you think I am!?" he retorted and took a step toward her. At this moment they were nearly touching staring each other down, Peter with his smoking over chestnut eyes, and Alex with her ever growing silver orbs.

"I said it, so I guess that's what I think then isn't it?"

"Well then you're a…a…a pirate whore!" Pan screamed that was followed by Alex's own scream of rage. At the same instant, both teens started tearing at each other, Alex not caring that Peter was vulnerable, and Peter not caring that Alex was a girl.

Hair was being pulled, clothes torn, slaps and punches thrown, kicks landed, and words shot back and forth. A cloud of dust rose up over the two quarreling ones, leaving the Indian tribe to stare at nothing besides the occasional flailing limb. Every now and then they could catch the sound of a punch being landed and at the sidelines the braves were making their own little bets about who would win. The ex pirate vs. the whimpy Peter Pan. The match of the century.

Then, as suddenly as the fight began all stopped. The dust slowly began to settle, and the only sound being made was the heavy breaths of the fighters. Off to the side, about ten feet away, Peter had Alex pinned up against a tree with the tip of his dagger, that he still kept with him, pressed up against Alex's throat and his other hand holding the base of her neck securely against the trunk of the tree.

Something flashed through Peters eyes at that moment. The tree, the dagger, the anger, the pirate. It was all ringing a very loud bell…and that's when he saw it. That's when he finally remembered something.

"Who are you?"

"Alex…my name is Alex."

"Have I seen you somewhere before? You look very familar." "I should…"

Peter shook his head fiercely and backed away from the girl, dropping the dagger to the ground. Another scene flashed through his mind, causing him to grip his head.

"What are YOU doing here?"

"You had a big window with blue curtains..." "Peter, you knew who I was and you didn't do anything!"

"I can't remember…"

"Peter? Peter, open your eyes!" the voice from his memories echoed through. His hands where wrapped through his hair and his eyes shut tight, but he could see her face.

"Alex…Alex, wake up. Please wake up."

"Y-You saved me…"

"I never make the same mistake twice."

"Somebody do something!" her voice called out again. People were rushing around, yelling to each other. Another females voice asked what was wrong but Alex, his Alex, couldn't answer…

"Hey, ya wanna go for a ride?"

"I take it you mean flying right?

"Are you gonna go back to Hooks ship?"

"Peter?"

"I really want you to stay, Alex."

"Peter can you hear me?! Please, open your eyes, say something!" Alex yelled and shook his shoulders. "Peter!"

"Vincent! Get in 'ere and take out the trash!"

"I'm Alex."

"Your crazy."

"I'll tell you everything…"

"Alex!" Peter finally yelled out, his eyes shooting open. The ex pirate moved back a little when he sat more upright and looked her in the eyes. It was like watching a strobe light go on and off. Vincent's brown eyes, to Peters honey eyes. It was like the two parts of him were fighting over control. He was so close…so close to remembering everything and putting the pieces together. Pictures and words, only pictures and words. All he gathered was that he had known Alex for a while now, and that she wasn't lying. If she wasn't lying about that then…

"Peter, are you alright?" the girls voice asked in a concerned manner. The boys slack faced nodded before he threw his arms around her waist like a child would hug a mother after he had a nightmare. Looking up from her sitting place on the ground, Alex stared at Tiger Lily. At that brief moment, a bit of understanding passed between the two females and the Princess nodded. The war was about to begin.

Duh, duh, duuuuh! Yes, Vincent Peter is another step closer to remembering exactly who he is. And if I figure right there is only…oh dear…two more chapters left. I'm not sure what to say about this development, so I'll leave you with this…REVIEW!!!