Here is part two of episode 9! It is slightly longer then I thought it would be but hey ho. Finally get to write Sarah awake again! Turns out she is less sarcastic when she is dead... who knew. Hope you enjoy my lovelys.
Sarah managed to escape her mother's grasp, stumbling to her feet. The whole ship began spinning causing her to lean on the rail and close her eyes.
"Kid, you need to calm down," Emma said softly grabbing her daughter to keep her upright.
Despite how she was feeling, the girl leant into her mother for support. "Where is he," the teen whispered, almost scared to hear the answer.
Emma felt tears sting the back of her eyes. This was going to hurt. "We lost him."
"What does that mean?" Sarah snapped, shaking off her mother's hold.
"It was my fault," Neal piped up from his place next to Regina. "Me and Zac got captured, Emma could only save one of us."
Sarah looked at her blonde mother with sad eyes. "How could you just leave him?"
Emma opened her mouth to respond but she didn't have an excuse. She already felt guilty for letting the man go like that. Not waiting for a response, Sarah made her way to get off the ship, unable to walk in a straight line. "Where are you going?" the blonde shouted.
"To get my dad," the teen called over her shoulder.
"We don't have time for this, we have to get you home," Regina lifted her hand to use magic to block her daughters' path.
As if sensing her mother's actions, the young girl span around lifting up her own hand. "Don't even think about it. We both know, even with how weak I am, I am still more powerful than you," Regina lowered her hand slowly to her side. "Now, I'm going back for my father with or without your help. But saving my life seems like a waste of time if you are just going to let me do this alone."
Emma knew her daughter wouldn't cave: not when it came to Zac. "Okay," the saviour sighed in defeat. "But will you please rest for a second," the blonde pleaded with a child.
With that, Sarah did take a seat but only because her legs were not going to hold her for much longer. "Only while you explain to me where the hell you left him."
The family explained what happened to Zac and where they had last seen him. The teen listened in silence wondering how her dad must be coping. Once they had finished Sarah stayed silent for a few moments before speaking. "Let's go."
"Didn't you hear us," Regina could not believe how stubborn her daughter was being. Well, maybe she could, it was her daughter after all. "Emma could only save one."
"Exactly so I can save one," Sarah stated like it was obvious.
"But you would have to tell a deep dark secret, and it cannot be how you glued your history teacher to her chair," Emma wished her daughter understood what she was about to do. Saving Neal almost broke her. She didn't want the same for her child.
"That's not a secret I'm quite proud of that," the teen gave a satisfied smile.
"Did you ever parent her," Regina whispered to Emma who chose to ignore the sass.
"I know it's going to take a lot," Sarah sighed. "But he would do it for me," the look on the teen's eyes showed that there was no talking her out of this. Back onto Neverland it was.
The tension between the teen and her mother's was palpable as they walked back through the jungle. They still had a lot to discuss but none of them dared breach the subject. The charming's had also joined the group while Neal and Hook stayed on board to prep the ship. They were relieved to have their granddaughter back, but even they could see the change in the girl. It was not going to be easy to recover from.
"That's it," Emma piped up as they made it to the entrance of the cave. "Are you sure?" Emma asked her daughter one more time.
"Do you even have to ask," with that the teen made her way into the cave, her family close behind. Once she saw her father, she took off running to his small cell.
"What are you doing here?" Zac was equally relieved to see his daughter again in one piece and panicked that she hadn't left the island.
"Oh, you know this place has a great breakfast," Zac rolled his eyes at his daughter. "I'm here to save you what do you think."
"It's not safe," Zac tried again.
"Since when has that stopped me," the young girl scoffed.
"You have a death wish," the man wagged his finger at his daughter. "It impresses and terrifies me."
"Hey, do you want me to leave you here?" the girl faked backing away from the cave.
"Well I am used to a cell so to me this is almost comforting," the man looked around the small space.
"True. But it doesn't have a super fun cell mate to keep you up with his snoring," the teen knelt by the cage.
"Well I have you for that now," Zac gave a sweet smile.
"Remind me why I'm saving you again?" Sarah sighed.
"Can we hurry this up!" Regina yelled from the cave entrance.
Sarah looked back at her father. "Guess it's my turn to be honest," the girl sighed looking at the floor. "I love you dad. You are one of the best things to ever happen to me."
"That's not a secret," the man interrupted.
"I'm getting to it," the girl snapped. "I love you, but sometimes I wish you hadn't come back," Sarah didn't dare look at the man. "When you're around life feels so great but then…" she trailed off thinking of the best way to continue. "But then you go away for a new adventure and leave me behind like its easy and I have to try and hold the pieces together until you decide I'm good enough to come back for." Zac listened in silence; he never knew she felt that way. "Sometimes I wish you would just break my heart fully once, then keep coming back and chipping away little pieces," a couple of the bars disappeared.
"I am so sorry," Zac almost started crying himself as he saw tears slip from his daughters' eyes. He wished these bars were gone so he could hug his child. "You need to keep going kid."
The teen looked back at her mothers who seemed to be listening intently. She took a deep breath before turning back to her dad. "I've spent my whole life trying to find somewhere where I belong and I finally thought I had. I had you, Emma, Josh, New York…" she let out a sad laugh. "It all seems so distant now. I don't regret Henry showing up," the girl let out a sigh. "At least I think I don't, but a part of me does resent him for it. We were happy. Me and Emma. Then we got thrown into a fairytale land where everything is out to get you. Suddenly, I had no idea who I was. I couldn't control myself. I scared myself," Emma and Regina exchanged a look. "Suddenly, everyone had someone and I had no one. I didn't fit with Emma anymore, not now she had her parents and Henry. The thing I counted on in life was gone. I tried to be okay with it I really did," the tears were now in full force. "Regina gave me up without batting an eyelid and it became obvious I don't stand a chance against Henry, or her need for revenge," Regina felt shame flood through her. So did Emma. "All I wanted was to belong," with that final sob the cage was gone allowing Zac to wrap his arms around the girl.
"I'm so sorry," the man kept whispering into his daughter's hair.
"Did you have any idea she felt that way?" Mary Margaret asked no one in particular as she found tears on her own cheeks.
"No idea," Emma whispered.
The family made their way back to the ship in silence. Zac kept Sarah in his arms the whole way, as if trying to protect the teen from the turmoil she had found herself in. Sarah knew all eyes were on her but she couldn't bring herself to face them. Things needed to change. But how was the question.
"You did it," a smiling Neal called from the deck.
"You don't get rid of me that easily," Zac greeted.
"Believe me we've tried," the teen added.
"Suddenly I miss the cage," Zac mock glared at his child.
It was then Emma noticed how pale her daughter still was. She needed to rest. "Come on kid I will tuck you in," Emma wrapped an arm around her child leading her below deck. Once in the bed Emma saw a look appear on her child's face. "Oh, I know that look. Caffeine withdrawal starting to kick in?"
"Caffeine is so good. I tell you it beats oxygen," Emma smiled at her daughter before sitting on the bed looking down at her.
"We need to talk about today," Emma said softly.
"And we will," Sarah sighed. "But not now okay? I'm so tired."
"Fine," Emma reluctantly agreed. "Just know I love you okay."
Sarah gave her mom a soft smile. "I know. I love you too mom."
Emma smiled finally allowing herself to feel relief at her child being back safe. It was then she noticed Regina hovering in the doorway. "I will be on deck if you need me," she gave the kid a kiss on the forehead before leaving the two brunettes alone.
Regina gave Emma a grateful smile before walking over to take the blondes seat. She placed an enchantment on the girl's chest causing her to hiss slightly.
"Well hello to you to," she grumbled. "What's that for?"
"A spell. So, no one can ever take your heart ever again," Regina explained before brushing the girl's hair behind her ear.
Sarah could see the guilt eating the other woman alive. She didn't want that. That's why she had kept her feelings to herself. Sarah gently took the elder brunette's hand. "Thanks, mom."
Regina couldn't help the tearful smile before placing a soft kiss on the girl's temple. "We'll be home soon, my little princess," with that the mayor left to let the teen rest.
Sarah adjusted the blanket covering her body. Well no one could say her life was ever boring. Just as she was about to drift off into a much-needed slumber a figure appeared by her bed, a blade in hand. "I'm sorry it had to come to this, Sarah," Pan whispered, knowing the girl was not strong enough to use her magic against him.
"What are you doing?" Sarah snapped. "You don't give up easily do you."
Pan just smiled. "I wanted your heart, Sarah. But your mother took it away from me. Left me for dead. What a mistake," with that the boy quickly tried to remove the girls heart, only to be burned by Regina's spell. "Ugh! Oh, how clever," coming up with a new plan quickly, the boy grabbed the teen again causing her to squirm in pain.
"What are you doing?!" The girl screamed as Pan began to remove her shadow.
Before Pan could answer another voice joined them in the room. "Blood magic works both ways, father," the pair turn to see Gold in the shadows.
"I never thought I'd be happy to see you," Sarah choked out, still in pain.
With that Gold opened Pandora's box absorbing the boy who still refused to let go of Sarah's shadow. Before the box could take him fully Pan quickly switched bodies with the fellow teen before Gold could notice. Sarah's eyes turned black as her body succumbed to the young boy.
Hearing the commotion, Regina ran into the room to see her daughter in pain. "Sarah!" she yelled as she crossed the room to get to her daughters' side.
"It's okay. I'm okay," Pan spoke from the girl's body.
"Are you sure?" Regina asked still in a panic.
"She's a strong girl, Regina," Gold smiled. Finally, he had put things right. Or so he thought.
Once Pan had adjusted himself to his victims' body, he made his way above deck to find Zac waiting for his daughter. "Hey. Feeling' okay? Shouldn't you be resting? I could bring you some food if you're feeling up for it," the man rambled, desperate to help his daughter in any way he can.
"I'm feeling much better now. I think the fresh air is good for me," Pan smiled.
Zac gave a small nod before finding his words. "Sarah, I know we haven't had much of a chance to be a family; not yet. I know that's my fault for always disappearing but I want you to know that you have a Dad now. Now and forever. I'll never leave you again, okay, kid?" Playing the part, Pan smiled before embracing the girl's father.
Later, with all parents distracted with directing the ship home, Pan made a plate of food heading over to Felix. He pushed the food in front of the boy who just snarled. "Go away. I'm not hungry."
"But I came to thank you," Pan responded in Sarah's voice.
"No matter what those other traitors do, I'm on Pan's side. And Pan—" Felix began his rant but was soon cut off.
"Never fails," Pan smirked.
"What?" Felix gave the girl a confused look.
"You heard me. Peter Pan never fails. He can't be stopped even when they think he's defeated. When they think they've won, he finds a way," Pan was enjoying playing with his fellow lost boy.
"So, you think you're not safe?" Felix questioned.
"Oh, no, I'm perfectly safe. During our struggle, my fate was sealed. The one who's in trouble is Sarah," Pan smirked.
"But you're Sarah," the boy didn't know what kind of game the girl was playing but he had to admit she had his attention.
"Not anymore," Pan watched as realisation came over Felix's face.
"You. You switched," Felix felt a smile break out on his face.
"You sure you're not hungry?" Pan pushed the plate forward once again.
This time, Felix accepted the plate. "Thank you, Pan."
Pan smirked with black eyes. "Now, let's play."