(A/N: Thank you to all those who reviewed! It means so much to me! Thanks again! And this chapter is probably R for violence…I think. I dunno. Hope you enjoy!)

There was a long minute of silence before Clarice spoke again, her glazed over eyes staring into the embers of the dying fire.

"I was willing to give up everything for him. Everything." Her voice began to strain with the effort to hold back her hurt. "I was going to give up everything I had. My career, my possessions, my honor, my pride…," she gave a pathetic laugh, "I already gave up my honor and pride." A sigh. "And what was he willing to give up? A chance…a chance at happiness; a chance at love; a chance at life." She shook her head sadly, throwing a pebble into the easing fire.

"I'm sorry."

A crackle of the fading fire.

She said nothing to his response as her eyes watched the burning embers, feeling empathy for their dying heat, feeling herself relate to them.

Hook had returned to his private quarters, trying to make sense of what had just happened. How could anyone fall in love with him? Honestly? He wanted to know so desperately why she had fallen in love with him. Was it so terrible that he did not have mutual feelings for her? But, that was a lie. He did have feelings for her; a lot of feelings. But, none he could actually call "love". Love was such a strong word. He was simply infatuated with her. Perhaps she was infatuated with him, but misread it as love? But she seemed so hurt; so devastated. He remembered the look of complete pain and grief in her hazel eyes. He remembered how her eyes portrayed a great tragedy, her iris being stripped of hope and faith; the beautiful shade of hazel being taken over by dejection. Hook swore he saw her soul die that moment. It made him think when she had looked in his eyes; he could see that she saw there was something behind them. Because eyes are the window to the soul and she saw a soul through his eyes. She had been the only one.

The more he contemplated it, the more he felt. She was so alive and full of energy that he absorbed it through her. He had forgotten how exciting life could be until she came around. She was his adventure. And that was all she seemed to be. Hook couldn't ever see himself "settling" down with a woman; even Newheart. He just couldn't, it was impossible. Alright, not impossible but improbable. Would things stay the same or change dramatically? He would never know.

He let out a deep, heavy sigh, putting pressure on the bridge of his nose. What was he to do? He had to sort all this out or else it would play on his conscience until it drove him mad. He called for Smee to get him readied up. He was to find Clarice Newheart and try to make some sort of negotiation; deal. A deal? What was that suppose to mean? Hook was so confused. He had never dealt with such drama, with such emotion. He had just needed to get this sorted out between pirate and pirate; human and human; male and female.

Staring into her eyes, Peter remained close to Clarice, gazing upon her fair, beautiful face as she talked and explained how much she cared for Captain Hook. How it was all new to her: these feelings. And he listened to her carefully, holding her hands in his.

And then it happened all so suddenly. Peter brought his face to hers, his lips catching hers in a stolen kiss. Before she could pull away in shock and ask what the hell he was doing, a rustle in the leaves caused Clarice to rip away from the kiss and focus on what was now looking at them.

"What the hell are you doing, Newheart? What are you doing with him," Hook almost demanded in a disgustingly tone, sneering at the boy.

Clarice stood up quickly, shoving Peter off her. Her mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out. She looked at him intently, trying to form words. Weary eyes closed as she tried so hard to concentrate on such a simple task. She furrowed her brows, feeling anger boil under her exterior.

"Why would you care, Hook? Hmm? What's it to you? Nothing." She hissed to him, drawing his attention to her again. "What are you doing here anyways?" Her voice was harsh.

"What are you doing here? With him? Why the hells are you with him, Clarice?" He walked closer to the two.

Clarice and Peter stood their ground until Peter stepped forward, drawing his golden sword, raising it in Hooks direction. Hook gave him a pitiful look which soon turned into annoyance and hatred.

"Put that down you silly boy. Don't you know you are playing with the adults now?"

"Leave Clarice alone, Hook." Pan said bravely, holding his stance.

"Aw, but Clarice doesn't want to be left alone, now does she." He smirked towards Clarice who just watched him with knitted brows of concern. She didn't know what to do. Her mind didn't comprehend anything that was coming at her.

"Leave, Hook. Just go away and leave her alone!" Pan shouted, standing tall.

"What a rude boy you are, Peter," his voice held amusement along with his unique accent.

Another step he took towards the two.

Peter had it with Hook and lunged forward taking a stab at him. James instantly jumped back, retrieving his sword, getting into stance to fight back. Clarice too jumped back with the sudden events playing before her. As Peter and Hooks' swords clanked together she realized she wouldn't stand for this. This wasn't about Peter and Hook; Clarice and Peter. It was about her and Hook. Hook obviously hadn't come here to fight Peter; he could do that some other time. Just as she was about to shout out to them, her eyes widened at the sight of Hook cornering Peter against a large tree. Her face twisted into anger. She dashed over to them, grabbing James by the shoulder and throwing him off with a good heave.

"Leave him alone, James! This is between you and me! You can kill him on your own damn time! But, not now!" She yelled, stomping towards him as he caught his balance. She jerked her head around, glaring at Peter. "Leave, Pan. NOW." Her voice held a true fury that no one had witnessed before. He reluctantly obliged her, flying off. Her head whipped back around to Hook, her red locks covering half her face making her look slightly deranged. She stomped closer to the astonished Captain, her breathing heavy, but suddenly stopped as his blade was now merely an inch from her perfect nose. A beautiful sneer played across her face as she stared down upon the dim reflective blade.

"Get that outta my face, Hook," her voice dropped low.

"Now, why would I care to do that, Newheart? That'd take all the fun out of it." He smirked.

Bloodshot, hazel eyes trailed up the blade and his arm soon reaching his face. Her expression was cold and unforgiving as she looked into his eyes, knowing he truly didn't want to do this, to harm her but rather make a game out of it. In a swift move she dropped to the ground, swinging her right leg over, catching his legs, sending him to the ground. Her agile body jumped up, retrieving her sword, bringing it to his neck. Clarice could feel the heat in her body rising already; feeling alive again.

"Would you like a hand, Captain," she said evilly, looking down at him.

It was now his turn to sneer at her remark. Captain James Hook would not settle for this. With his own swiftness he grabbed his sword, slashing Newheart across her left thigh, sending her to the dirt floor in sudden pain. She bit down hard, suppressing a scream of irritation. She's felt worse. James got up smoothly, dusting off his outfit. Once he was done he looked down at the kneeling woman, holding her bleeding wound with one hand.

"When it comes to fighting, it seems you don't have a leg to stand on," he smiled cruelly, loving this game so far.

Clarice hissed in pain as she forced herself up. Nothing but a flesh wound she told herself, getting back into fighting stance. She wasn't even close to giving up. He had broken her heart so now she was going to break him. Clarice wanted to see him in pain whether it be physically or emotionally. She wanted him to see what she had—is going through. And at that they began to fight, their swords coming together in a harsh kiss, the noise of metal echoing throughout the forest and disappearing into the night. There was so much anger and passion in their fighting. Grunts and hisses with each strong contact the swords made.

With one hit from Hook, it knocked Clarice to floor made of dirt. She hissed inwardly at the hard impact. Her body couldn't help but make a whimper and produce a few stray tears. Not only was the pain physical, but now the emotional pain begun to dawn again. She only now allowed more tears to leak from her eyes as she finally looked up at Hook; a smug, successful smile smeared across his face. Hurt hit her hard. He didn't care. He just didn't care about anything evolving her.

She attempted to get herself up but was stopped by Hooks hurtful words.

"No, no, no, stay down there. You look so pretty when you're crying."

That was it! She wasn't going to allow this, no. Abruptly, her mind went back to earlier that evening when she had been talking to Peter. 'Yeah, we stash clocks everywhere around here for when old Hook comes around. Hah, it's a good laugh. Hmm, there's one over…there I think…yeah.' Her eyes grew wide and she began to crawl towards the large bush only a few feet from her.

"Aw, crawling away from fear, Clarice?" He asked as he slowly followed her.

Clarice began searching frantically for a clock, yet not finding one. Just as she spotted a shinning object she felt a sharp pain dig into her right shoulder. The pain intensified quickly as it dug deeper into her flesh and muscle, the weapon slashing open her body, digging against the bone. She screamed in agony when her body was dragged from the bush and thrown to the ground, her back hitting the soil. Another wail left her mouth when her eyes spotted Hook's silver hook now covered in her own dripping blood. She brought her hands instantly over the large, gapping wound that was oozing blood. She couldn't help but scream another cry of pain. She wasn't sure if it were the actual wound that hurt or the thought of what he'd done. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks as she held that wound, trying to halt the bleeding.

She felt something warm against her face; air. Her eyes snapped open and saw Hook deadly close to her. She didn't think she could have hated him more but oh how she was wrong. He was about to whisper something into her but Clarice stopped him short as the back of her hand came into contact with his face with a fierce hit; sending him to the floor. She could hear his grunt of pain and anger as she stumbled to get to the bush again. Aha! She got it! She staggered up with her sword in one hand and the clock in the other. The pain seemed to have disappeared all of a sudden as she hounded on Hook who was just getting up. A look of complete horror came across his features as his eyes came upon the clock in her hand. He backed up until his back went against a tree. At that Clarice held the clock high near his face, her sword to his stomach; tears flowing from her eyes and blood trailing down her shoulder.

"I should kill you right here! I should kill you the way you killed my heart! The way you killed me," she took in a shuddering breath, "You killed me, James. You killed me. I am now dead inside!" He felt fear run through his veins as the clock ticked and tocked, as the tip of her blade rested against his stomach.

"I want to know, Hook, I want to know did you even feel anything for me!" She shouted in his face, holding that clock with anger. Her face wanted to contort into hurt, but she fought against it with her anger; her pain.

"ANYTHING!" She screamed once again, throwing the clock to the ground in fury, her sword falling to her feet. A staggered sob shuddered through her body and she fell against his chest. And she sobbed into his beautiful attire, feebly hitting her fists against him. He grabbed her by the shoulders, being careful now with his Hook as he tried to calm her. She continued to weep, muttering incoherent words, shaking her head side to side. Hook was clueless on what to do. It was no longer a game; it was life. And so he decided to just go with what his mind told him; what his heart told him.

He slowly pulled away from her, lifting her tear-stained face up so their eyes met. He couldn't help but feel for her pain as her eyes showed it all. Every emotion ranging from hate to love, to complete sorrow. Hook tried to find words to say to her, but none could be found.

"When you kissed me…I thought I meant something more to you…," sadness lingered in her voice as her hollow eyes stared at him with no mercy. "I guess I thought wrong." Her head wavered side to side slowly before he stopped her with a gentle hand to her face.

"No. That's not true, Clarice. You do mean something more to me. Something I just can't figure out what. I tried. I did. But, I can't admit it is love, Clarice. I won't lie and tell you it is love I feel for you, because frankly I don't know what love even is." His words flowed over her, covering her with truth.