Author's Note:

I'm back! You can read the chapter and scroll back up to look at this author's note, because I know it's been a while (OUAT has since been cancelled! Be aware: NOTHING after 3A is canon. Not all of 3A is canon. But yeah, we're ignoring the rest of the show). But I do ask you all to read this note, please.

First off, thank you all so much for your continued support and kind words. I read (and reread) each and every review and message I get. They all mean SO MUCH TO ME. I should have replied to every one, if I haven't, please message me so I can gush over you.

Secondly, I now have a tumblr where I can interact with you guys more frequently (someone messaged me suggesting one, so I made it to discuss "Dark Paradise" and my other works. The URL is ladykikyo1792 . tumblr .com (no spaces).

Thirdly, while most of you guys have been unbelievably kind, I do feel the need to address one particular review. Someone asked me if I had writer's block and that's why the wait was so long. I know it has been a long wait and I do apologize, but I did not have writer's block. I had ongoing health issues for a while, and as much as I love Peter and Wendy, I had to take time to focus on my health. They have thankfully since resolved. Still, I'm not abandoning the story- just my health needed to be fixed. Additionally, my computer deleted the first draft of Chapter 25...so I had to rewrite the entire thing. So...yeah.

Thanks for the many guest reviews will be placed in the author's note at the end of the chapter, because you guys are incredibly awesome and left a ton (you're the best).

Finally, shoutout to Hildebrant for the chapter title. Please keep it up. I'm floored how you do it.

Please enjoy and let me know what you think!

~ladykikyo1792

Chapter 25: We Carry on Our Back the Burdens Time Always Reveals, In the Lonely Light of Morning, In the Wound That Would Not Heal...

A scream ripped through the mansion, sudden and sharp like the blade of a knife.

Felix shot upright, casting a glance to the left to find the space in bed next to him empty. Heart pounding, he got to his feet and approached the en suite bathroom, uncertain what he would find there. He nudged the door open with his foot, and the creak of the wood sounded like gunshots in the otherwise silent building. Still, there was only one figure in the bathroom, and she was now hunched over and crying before the mirror:

"Felix, don't look at me."

Cautiously, as though he were approaching a wounded animal, Felix took tentative steps towards her, "Tink, are you okay?" His eyes flicked back and forth from the girl bowled over the sink, clutching her arms around herself like a vice, to the floor beneath her. He didn't see any trails of blood, so she didn't seem to be actively bleeding. Felix had spent much of the past night conferring with Pan about how to respond to this assault on one of their own (Felix was in favor of drawing and quartering the Blue Fairy), alternating discussions of vengeance with staunching Tinkerbell's new wings. He'd done (he'd thought) a passable job packing the wounds with gauze, stemming the bleeding long enough for Tinkerbell to fall asleep. Nibs had helpfully ransacked the pharmacy for Tylenol to stem the pain. Slightly had taken on the job of explaining what had happened to Tinkerbell to the other boys, as Felix himself was unable to contain his rage at it. Their shocked whispers at the savagery of it echoed long into the night, but eventually, Pan had ordered him to go to bed. As always, Felix obeyed, dreams of smashing the Blue Fairy's skull in filling his brain.

Now, though, he was fully awake.

"Felix," Tinkerbell repeated, making the sound of his name almost a sob before growing more hysterical, "Don't- don't look at me!" Her fingernails were digging into the edge of the counter with such ferocity he could see the pink under the nailbed.

Eyebrows furrowing at her reaction- Felix moved forward anyway, wrapping both arms around the fairy and pulling her to his chest. Tinkerbell continued to push back, bucking against him with all the force she had in her. They fought for purchase in the bathroom, feet pushing against the tile- Tinkerbell all the while doing her best to hide her face. Eventually, though, Felix had the upper hand, as Mab's curse had made her weak. Her scratching and clawing were largely ineffective. As gently as he could, Felix used his arms to force her upwards, so he could get a clear view of her face in the mirror before he himself gasped:

"Holy fuck."

At the piercing sound, Wendy's hand instinctively shot to her right, reaching for the body of the demon beside her. Her palm only made contact with red sheets, and she demanded, vision bleary:

"Peter, what is that?"

Peter himself was already up out of bed. In the milliseconds it had taken Wendy to open her eyes and discern where she was- back in Regina's mansion –Pan had swung, catlike, off the mattress and begun lacing his boots. His daggers were already in place at his waist, and at the look in his eyes, Wendy realized abruptly that he was treating whatever this was as a threat. He hadn't planned this. Could someone truly have breached his sanctuary? It seemed so outlandish, so utterly impossible, and yet there he was, immediately on the defensive.

If he was treating this as a danger, Wendy was hardly going to wait to discover what the danger was. She scrambled to her own feet, stumbling towards the dresser and throwing open the doors to find passable street clothes. Her fingers trembled as she tried to discern what she was even doing. What could she do? She might be over a hundred years old, but she was hardly a warrior. Pan had never taught her to fight, or even to pick locks, else she would have broken out of jail- and the cage he'd put her in long ago –herself. How was she going to handle a threat? Still, she couldn't sit back anymore. Wendy didn't quite know what she could do…but sitting and waiting hadn't served her well before. Perhaps now she would take another path.

"Stay here," Pan commanded bluntly from behind her, as if reading her thoughts.

Wendy, despite herself, blanched at the order. She whirled around, her face coloring as she practically spat, hands on her hips:

"Stay here? I'm not staying here-"

"Of course you are," Pan retorted as he slid yet another dagger into his boot, "Who else would be visiting us in the morning except an irate group of Charmings, out for revenge after discovering Henry gone? Do we really need to remind them of your presence here?"

Cocking his head at her, he queried, "What would you even tell them?" Wendy gaped at him. What was he even asking? There was no malice in his voice. No taunting. Just a question, and if she wasn't mistaken, there was a trace of genuine puzzlement in his voice. As if he himself- for once –didn't know the answer.

She couldn't say she did either.

Before she could formulate a verbal response, Peter had swept out of the master bedroom. He didn't look back- though notably, he didn't lock the door, either. Wendy's eye flicked to the door. The open door.

When had he ever left a door open for her? Giving her the option of whether to stay or go? She was far more familiar with him locking doors, both in her treehouse and then later, her cage-

God, her cage.

Nausea swam through her at that memory, tears prickling at her eyes. Still, Wendy forced down her turmoil, because now Pan had left the door open. She wasn't in Neverland, she was in Storybrooke, and there was a threat in the house-

Uncomfortably, Wendy was reminded of Tinkerbell's suggestion to her:

I suggest you make your choice, Wendy, and soon.

Shaking her head, Wendy stood up and followed the infernal boy down the hall.

Hook had spent enough years in Neverland to know when he wasn't alone. As it was, he had his crew searching the Jolly Roger for the stowaway he was certain they'd picked up in the midst of yet another storm. It couldn't be Pan- Pan had no interest in subtlety, and he was unlikely to stage a battle in a maelstrom –but perhaps a Lost Boy had tried to hide in some ill-begotten quest for freedom, not knowing the cruel reality of Hook's situation?

Yet, as Hook heaved himself into the crew's nest to get a better view of the flurry of activity on board, he realized that theory was incorrect as well. For there was suddenly a blade at his throat, and the fingers clasped around the hilt were distinctly feminine.

"Aren't you a little old to be a Lost Boy?" a soft voice asked.

"I'm not a part of Pan's brigade, and I can assure you, I'm anything but a boy," Hook retorted, doing his best to keep calm. He sorted through the various possibilities of who could be the owner of the voice and the blade. He looked down at the dagger, and at the spiraling design on it- clearly made by a distinctive type of magic.

Hook whirled around, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a fairy." Still, he mused as he reviewed her haggard appearance, she didn't look much like a fairy. Instead of the bright shining garments of the Fair Folk, her dress was a deep green, dirty, and haggard. Blonde hair was strewn all about instead of the tight, neat hairstyles they favored, and perhaps most tellingly, she had no wings. But she was clearly wielding a fairy-made blade, and he wondered at that anomaly- could she have been cast out by them? A brief look of pity flashed across his face, because that meant there was only one possibility for who this could be, and the ex-fairy narrowed her eyes as she realized he'd discerned her identity. Wounded ego shooting to the forefront, she retorted:

"And if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a pirate." She kept the blade pressed against his chest, but Hook wasn't threatened by her anymore. Tinkerbell, for some reason unknown to Hook, had lost her favor with Pan. Judging by her appearance, she'd also lost her favor with the fairies some time prior to that. What that meant- most importantly, and most critically –was she was alone. And mortal. Hook could hurt her easily, if he wanted to, and so he smirked as he replied:

"Guilty." He advanced on her, and she took tiny steps backward until she was pressed up against the edge of the crow's nest. The pirate looked Tinkerbell up and down, and he wondered at what her game was. Why had she bothered to sneak on his ship? What was she hoping to gain? Some sort of information to get back in Pan's good graces? It couldn't be to actually kill him, because Pan would be upset at that. After all, these days, Hook and his men were one of the few unfortunate souls left for the Lost Boys to take out their anger on.

So why was she here?

"Captain Killian Jones, of the Jolly Roger, sometimes called Hook," the pirate swept her a bow and offered her his hand, "Though I'd wager you know that. Now, if you're done threatening me," Hook admonished her, "What say you we get out of this storm and you can discuss what's actually going on?"

Tinkerbell, clearly astonished at this turn of events, stepped forward again. She took the fairy blade, ignoring his proffered hand, and instead swept the weapon towards him. Haughtily, she inquired:

"Aren't you worried about me slitting your throat?" She dragged the blade up and over the hollow of his neck, but tellingly, made no incision.

Hook smirked again, "Well, that's not the fairy way. You should be helping me find my happy ending, or something else equally as precious. Since you're not…you can either tell me why in my cabin, or get off my ship. Your choice, Tinkerbell." She froze when Hook said her name.

It had been so long since she'd heard anyone say her name.

Mutely, Tinkerbell nodded and took his hand. Hook climbed down to the deck of the ship easily, calling off the search with a wave of his metal appendage. He used his human hand to assist her to the deck, almost overly chivalric. Yet she could tell he wasn't making fun of her, and as he led her to his cabin, he continued his actions, opening the door for her.

Tinkerbell took a moment to survey the cabin. She hadn't known what she was expecting from the hated captain Felix had once described to her, but the politeness wasn't it. Trying to regain some sort of control over the situation, she sat herself at the head of the table before Hook had an opportunity to pull the chair out for her. The pirate, for his part, raised his brows.

The second Hook had shut the door to his cabin, Tinkerbell admitted:

"I was a fairy. A long time ago. But then my wings were taken away, and later, he took away my love, too." There was no need to emphasize who "he" was, and both Neverlanders were wary of saying Pan's name aloud.

"As for your happy ending…" Tinkerbell continued, "You're on your own."

Hook strode towards her end of the table before reaching into the pocket of his leather jacket.

Tinkerbell immediately leapt to her feet, retrieving the dagger and holding it towards Hook again. Just then, she realized what an idiotic situation she'd gotten herself into. She'd placed herself alone on Hook's ship. She'd never met Hook personally. In fact, all she knew of him was what she'd heard, ages ago it seemed, from the Boys. And from Felix. Hook had killed Rufio. Hook could kill her easily. And if he did, it was her own fault for getting herself into this situation. She'd been the one to sneak aboard- and for what? Because she'd been so…desperate for company? Disgusted at her weakness, Tinkerbell redirected her anger outwards:

"Watch it!" the ex-fairy menaced as she held the blade towards Hook's throat again.

"It's not a weapon," Hook said, revealing the bottle in his hand with more than hint of warmth, "At least, not in the traditional sense. It's whiskey." He placed the bottle on the table definitively, before turning on his heel to rummage in his cabinets- for rum, apparently, judging by the second bottle he retrieved. Disbelievingly, Tinkerbell managed to sit herself down again and slow her racing heart.

She was equally flummoxed when Hook placed a teacup in front of her, then gestured for her to pour the whiskey into it. He might not be afraid of her, but he'd clearly gotten the message she was still jumpy, and so stayed out of her space.

Mostly to have something to do with her hands, she complied and took a quick drink from the cup. The alcohol burned her throat, and curious despite herself to know more about the pirate who was being (in his own way) nice to her, she asked, "What's so important back home?"

"The Dark One murdered the woman I love," Hook confessed, pulling the bottle of rum towards him as he sat himself down next to her and leaving the whiskey for her. He took his own drink directly from the bottle, and she watched his lips wrap around the glass with a combination of empathy and puzzlement. For his part, Hook was unperturbed by her whirling emotions, simply adding, "And I intend to make him suffer for it."

"And so killing him is your happy ending?" Tinkerbell asked, with another, smaller sip from the teacup. The alcohol burned less this time- and so did her confusion. Hook, it seemed, had a very human motivation at the bottom of things: revenge. And loneliness. Terrible, loneliness.

Tinkerbell could understand that.

But Pan would not. If Hook tried to escape Neverland, Tinkerbell was sure Pan would ensure there were terrible repercussions. So she asked:

"Even if by doing so you could end your own existence?"

"I'd risk my life for two things," Hook said honestly, "Love and revenge. I lost the first, and if I die for my vengeance, that's enough satisfaction for me."

Tinkerbell stared at him for a long moment. Hook, she concluded, looked nothing like Felix. Where Felix was light, Hook was dark, and vice versa. Where Felix still had a boyish grin, Hook had the confidence of a man. And where Felix would choose duty before love, Hook would choose to give up his life for love.

That realization caused the words to tumble from her lips:

"He made a deal with me. He's made…many deals with me. Once when the king and queen made me nobility, again after Mab ripped my wings…but the most fatal deal was this: Neverland would always provide for me, so long as I never spoke to anyone on its shores," the ex-fairy took another sip, this one larger, before she could lose her nerve, "but that isolation- that loneliness –it's driving me mad."

Hook inquired, taking a swig of his rum, "So…Lady Bell, this whole thing was about companionship? The sneaking onto my ship, the threatening with a fairy blade?"

"I wouldn't call it companionship," Tinkerbell immediately interjected.

Hook laughed, his eyes sparkling as he downed his drink, "You can call it whatever you like, love. I'll help you as I can. You're more than welcome to come aboard, if you need anything."

"If I need anything," Tinkerbell repeated. Shaking her head, she completely downed the teacup before rising to her feet. She approached him slowly, cautiously, eventually standing before him. She rested her hands on his shoulders, and he, still seated in the chair, allowed her to.

Eventually, she asked, "I need to forget someone. Can you help me with that?"

This time it was Hook who stood up. One hand encircled the fairy's hip, and he brought her closer to him:

"Aye, Lady Bell, I think I can," Hook promised.

Then he kissed her.

In the minute and a half it had taken Wendy to decide to follow Pan, a crowd of Lost Boys had gathered. The older ones- her Lost Boys –were standing shoulder to shoulder, arms crossed firmly, blocking the way of the new. The new ones were yelling, each clearly itching to earn weapons, but Slightly, Nibs, and Curly stood still. Sternly, Curly ordered them downstairs, and while a few begrudgingly turned to go down the staircase, most continued to protest- though when they saw Wendy, they parted immediately.

"What is going on?" Wendy demanded of her three boys. It was rare that she was so put out with them, but the lack of information was killing her. Was Pan really so intent on letting down physical barriers, but keeping up the verbal ones? What was the point of that? It was confusing, and maddening, and she wouldn't stand for it- especially since this clearly wasn't Charming-related.

After all, the Boys wouldn't be blocking the upper hallway if it was the Charmings. Which meant those involved were Neverlanders.

Slightly swallowed, clearly regretful, the apple at his throat bobbing, "I'm sorry, Wendy-lady. But Pan said to let no one pass."

Of all the- he left the bloody door open! What else is that supposed to be if not an invitation?

"I," Wendy retorted through gritted teeth, "am not no one. And I resent that implication." She crossed her arms, barely suppressing her anger.

No one? How dare he tell them that? How dare he include me in that?

Noting her evident distress, Nibs tried to calm her, "I'm sure Slightly didn't mean anything by it, but it is what Pan said. We'll break ranks when he tells us to."

At that, Wendy felt a sort of righteous fury spiral up, "Nibs, Slightly, Curly," she said each Boy's name clearly and distinctly, "I want you to listen to me. And I want you to listen carefully. You have three seconds to listen to me, and if you don't, I'll tell Pan myself," she leaned in then, uncomfortably close to Slightly's face:

"I am not no one. I am Wendy Darling, and you will move!"

With that, she shoved her way past the Boys, and though they stared at her back as she marched down the hallway for a long moment, their expressions immediately returned to a harsh neutral- and to their mission of keeping the other Boys away for the time being.

For Wendy Darling had always been the only one to change Pan's rules. Lost Boys never could.

Peter Pan saw the war, the battle, and the clashes. The cause was irrelevant to him. His magic told him there was a Lost Boy here, somewhere in the midst of the chaos. He closed his eyes, reaching out to find the one he needed. The wars in other realms had the various military regiments in different-colored uniforms. Though as color didn't exist here, telling them apart was a tad more difficult.

Still, Pan eventually found him. The boy stood, a bayonet in his hand, frozen before his opponent. The boy looked much too young to be at war, but judging by the state of his uniform, he probably hadn't had much of a choice. The army or the poorhouse, if Peter had to guess. Still, while the boy trembled- his body betraying anxiety –his face was wide with a sort of shocked joy.

Pan recognized that emotion easily, for it was one he'd experienced himself, though he'd been alone for that particular life event. He wouldn't let a Lost Boy stand in solitude during such a momentous occasion, though. Accordingly, he wrapped himself in shadows, appearing next to the boy as he advised:

"Not bad, but a twist to the left and you'll sever an artery. Don't know who this geezer is, but you really seem to want him gone."

The boy, too caught up in his bloodlust to even marvel at Pan's sudden appearance, followed the instructions. The metal made a sickening squish as it tore through flesh, blood dripping down the gray metal. The boy's opponent- older, with brown hair the same shade as the his, though just beginning to streak with gray –grunted in disbelief:

"Gunther! How could you? Why would you?"

"How could you?" Gunther retorted, driving the bayonet in farther as the older man gasped and clutched at the wound, "How could you abandon your own son to those witches?"

"You," the man choked out, "were- are- ille- illegi. I couldn't- I didn't- the matrons said they'd care for you-" blood bubbled up into his mouth, staining his white teeth.

"They starved me," Gunther seethed, "and sent me here, with a contract to get a new name and pay back my debts to them," he shook his head, unable to fathom it, "It wasn't enough for you not to acknowledge me- you sold me into slavery! Slavery that I had to pay for! If you can't call me your own, how am I supposed to care when we end up on opposite sides? If you can't call me your son, then I can't call you a father. And I really could care less about you after what you did to me."

With that, Gunther removed the bayonet, and the stunned man fell into the mud. A few tears stained his cheeks, but his eyes were glassy, clearly lifeless.

Good kill, Pan thought approvingly.

For his part, Gunther gazed down at the body, chest heaving. As his hazy brain finally processed the rage, and the incredulity of what he'd just done, he sucked in a deep breath before tearing his eyes away from the corpse. Then, and only then, did he finally take notice of the anomaly that had appeared beside him.

"I've never seen that uniform before. Whose side are you on?" he queried, eyes raking over Pan's outfit of leaves and leather. It resembled no ensemble Gunther was familiar with, and that included those worn by the witches his father had sold him to.

Pan smiled and held out a hand, "Yours."

Gunther took it.

Seconds later, they were removed from the fray, seated in a nearby grove. It was far enough that they were hidden from view of the main regiments, still engaged in battle and oblivious to the family drama, but close enough that they could still hear the cries and screams of war. Pan's eyes raked over the boy, and he took in his emaciated state. He would be derelict in his duty if he left him like that- and Gunther would likely be unable to fly if he didn't have something in his stomach.

Peter waved his hand, and food appeared before the child-soldier. A floored Gunther wasted no time in devouring it, asking between mouthfuls:

"Who are you? How did you do that?"

"He's called Peter Pan," a new voice said, "and he's the last person you want to trust."

Pan turned to face the interloper, eyebrow raised, "And why would you say that? That's a bold assumption, coming from you-" Peter cut himself off as his gaze landed on the soldier's uniform. Decidedly not of this realm's, it was much closer to ones used in the world he was born in. In fact, by those of his native country. Pan's eyes alit on the nameplate on the man's chest at the same time as the man raised a gun towards him:

DARLING.

"Because my sister trusted you," John Darling laid one finger on the trigger, "and now she's dead."

Before John could pull it, Pan laughed, the sound echoing around the glade, making an eerie contrast to the screams of battle nearby. John's eyes narrowed, and he clenched one fist around the barrel. Smirking with amusement that the man even thought he had some sort of power in this situation, Pan used his power to appear behind John, whispering:

"We need to correct that little assumption. I assure you, Wendy is very much alive. In fact, she's the reason you still are, John. Though where's Michael?" Pan overexaggerated the motion as he looked back and forth for the missing brother, "Thought I did my duty and kept the two of you from getting harmed enough in the last war. Don't tell me you've gone and made me break a promise to her now." Pan's smirked widened as he reached forward and snatched the rifle from an astounded John's grasp. He tossed the rifle behind him casually to Gunther, whose eyes were wide at this turn of events. He had no idea who Peter Pan was, but felt loyalty well up in him nonetheless. For in Gunther's view, all he could see was that Pan had supported Gunther in standing up to his "father." Now, an older man was staring down Pan, clearly itching to kill him. Despite himself, Gunther knew he couldn't- wouldn't –let the situation that had ruined his own life repeat itself.

"What are you talking about?" John hissed, barely resisting the urge to spit in Pan's face.

"Please," Peter strode before John, intending to rattle the man further, "Did you really think the two of you lived because of any luck of your own? No," he snorted, "the two of you are alive because I promised Wendy I'd keep you two breathing. You're terrible soldiers-"

"You're a terrible person!" John snapped, the words escaping him before he could stop them. Then, he ran his hand through his hair and paused, trying to swallow his venom enough to finish his plea: "If Wendy's alive, let her come home. Please. We've been searching for her, all this time-"

Although Pan kept the smirk firmly planted on his face, behind his confident gaze, his eyes widened the tiniest bit. The pieces fell into place. The Land Without Magic had indeed earned its new name since he and Felix had murdered the fairies unfortunate enough to be on Neverland, the former Elphame being fully abandoned by the remaining fey. Yet while no fairies had tended to the Land Without Magic, there remained behind some magical beings and artifacts. Peter hadn't been concerned with them- the Land Without Magic was not Neverland, and he had no quarrel with the beings left behind, so he hadn't paid it much attention –but he'd heard rumors from the Boys that someone did. Magical beings were being hunted down, slowly and methodically, by someone intent on destroying magic. It seemed Pan had stumbled upon who exactly that was.

And if in the destruction of those magical beings, John and Michael Darling stole the remaining artifacts, using them to cross from realm to realm in search of Wendy, it seemed they could put aside their hatred of magic for that one task: to bring her- or her body -home.

"I'm terrible?" Peter raised a brow, "At least those I kill have actually done something wrong. What's your excuse?" he scoffed, "Bad form."

Unable to take another of Pan's insults, John snarled, "A monster killed my sister," He pulled a fist back, ready to punch Peter in the face. His fist never made contact, however, for Gunther barreled into him, knocking the older man to the ground. Gunther took his bloodied bayonet and held it at John's throat, forcing the foreign man to listen. Peter nodded his thanks to his newest Lost Boy, then focused entirely on John:

"As I said earlier, Wendy is alive," he bent down, close enough to whisper in John's ear, "Though if you insist on repeating this ridiculous notion of yours, I could be persuaded to make it otherwise."

As expected, the man went completely ashen. His glasses askew, he surveyed Peter in utter horror.

Pan for his part, kept his expression calm. He had tried to be careful with his use of magic, well-aware that time was running out for his beloved Neverland. It was all he could do to find new Lost Ones, bringing those willing to the island. His magic, that magic that had once fueled him, was slowly being sapped away as it struggled to fight the laws of the universe and match Neverland's time to that of the Land Without Magic's. Peter had been searching for The Boy himself, but even he had to admit he couldn't keep up the search now. Too much travel between the worlds drained him- he wouldn't have even conjured a sandwich for Gunther if the boy hadn't been blatantly malnourished.

Perhaps John Darling had provided him the perfect solution. For while Peter Pan had no intention of killing Wendy Darling, her idiotic, insolent brother didn't know that.

"No," John whispered, "You can't do that." Although it was ostensibly a command, from the fear filling his voice, it was obvious his own anger had dissipated into a sinking despair.

"Can't I?" Peter cocked his head, daring John to question him. After all, from the point of view of the Darling brothers, hadn't Peter already done the impossible? Taking Wendy to begin with, his eternal youth, then taking Wendy again-

What was to keep him from getting rid of her? Surely, the cruel being that was Peter Pan would have no qualms about getting rid of Wendy? After all, it had been many years. Perhaps he was even bored of her by now-

That thought had obviously just occurred to John, as he immediately began to beg:

"Don't! We'll do anything- please, let her live, and let us have her back!"

"Anything, huh?" Pan pretended to consider the offer, "That gives me quite a bit of leeway. Are you sure you're willing to do that?" If John really had spent years crossing realms and hunting down magical beings and artifacts, he should have known the dangers of an open-ended deal.

At that, John bristled, "Wendy's life is worth it."

On that, Pan mused darkly, we're agreed.

"Very well," he shrugged, "I'll keep Wendy alive as long as you and Michael do my bidding. For now, I want you to find someone for me," Peter waved his hand, covering his wince at the extra magic by proffering the paper with Henry's face on it to John. It was worth it, he promised himself, for if John had to believe in him, he needed to look invincible. He would be invincible…as soon as they found The Boy for him.

"Find him," Pan breathed, "and Wendy can go home."

"That's it?" John asked, floored at the simplicity of the request, "That's all you want?"

Pan smiled, "For now."

Felix held a shaking Tinkerbell flush against him. The fairy was trembling, though with horror, fear, or exhaustion, he didn't know. The face looking back at her in the mirror wasn't her own. Instead of the golden blonde hair, bright as the sun, long black strands flowed down her back. The hazel eyes that used to haunt Felix in his dreams were now a bright blood red. And her skin was pale as a corpse.

"I told you," Tinkerbell sobbed, the last word coming out on a hiccup, "I told you not to look at me!" She did her best to cover her face with her hands, but as her crying intensified, Felix didn't even know what to say to her.

Behind Tinkerbell's reflection in the mirror, Pan suddenly appeared, hand on his dagger. His expression, half wary and half full of excitement- it had been some time since he himself had gotten to truly best an enemy –faded to one of pity. He loosened his grip on his dagger and sighed.

Somewhat belatedly, Wendy appeared in the mirror behind him. Though when she caught a glimpse of Tinkerbell's reflection, her hands flew to her face and she gasped:

"Oh my God, Tinkerbell!"

Tinkerbell sobbed even harder.

Peter shot Wendy a look- that particular reaction was hardly helpful -and the girl instantly flushed with embarrassment.

"How can she- how did she- am I stuck like this?" Tinkerbell nearly wailed, clearly referring to the Blue Fairy, "I look like I'm dead!" she finally managed to get one of her own hands loose from Felix's hold, reaching upwards to claw at her face. His frown deepening, Felix seized her hand and pulled it back down.

"Pan?" he asked, casting a glance at his leader. He had no comfort of his own to offer his lover, but as he thought Pan never failed, he also thought Pan might have an answer.

"Peter," Tinkerbell entreated, daring to use his given name in her misery, "what did she do to me?" She hoped it might elicit any small amount of pity he had left. Besides, after she had agreed to rejoin him, he was bound to help her.

As her rid-rimmed eyes tore into his own, Pan blinked and swallowed. It was rare he felt a glimmer of what might have once been his conscience, but it appeared now. Accordingly, he tried to explain:

"Tinkerbell, Mab turned you into a dark fairy. This…physical change," Peter sought to find the least offending word he could, "is a reflection of that." At Pan's pronouncement, it was as if all the fight had gone out of Tinkerbell. She abruptly spun around, burying her face in Felix's shoulder. The bewildered Lost Boy, who had been doing his best to keep his demeanor calm in an attempt to soothe his lover, wrapped his arms around her tightly. Meeting Peter's eyes over the newly black-haired Tinkerbell's head, he inquired, struggling not to shake with rage:

"What do we do?"

In those words, Wendy again heard Felix's plea:

Let me kill her. Please, let me kill her.

Peter, though, gave a barely perceptible shake of the head. Felix bit his lip, shuddering once at the refusal. It was a difficult task, an impossible command. Still, he was loyal to Pan. He would obey him without question.

Pan, for his part, took a step towards Tinkerbell. In a rare show of care from him, he lifted one hand to rest it on Tinkerbell's shoulder. Tink stiffened, instantly recognizing the touch.

"Tink, listen to me. Mab will be punished for her offense. But you are not defeated. Remember, she made you a dark fairy." He emphasized the word, and while Tink made no reply, Felix's eyes widened with realization:

"Her powers..."

Pleased by his second's quick deduction, Pan granted him a small smile, "Take care of her." Then without so much as a by-your-leave, he grabbed Wendy's hand and tugged the protesting girl out of the bathroom behind him.

Killian Jones stared at the tiny blonde in his arms, wondering how it had come to this. Tinkerbell was sleeping soundly, her cheek resting on his chest. She was there, in the place Milah should have been.

Despite himself, he wasn't immediately disgusted by the thought. While his heart still ached over his lost love- and he was still desperate to get revenge on His Crocodile –he'd found himself developing a soft spot for the ex-fairy. Tinkerbell didn't spend all her time aboard the Jolly Roger, but she was there more often than not- on one memorable occasion, the pirate had had to meet with Wendy Darling in Smee's room, leaving a rather miffed Tinkerbell in the captain's quarters. She'd let him have it after that, berating him fiercely for leaving her behind. She was sensitive about that, it seemed.

It was that which had made Killian consider alternatives to his long-laid plans to flee Neverland- ones possibly including the fairy. Originally, it had been just him and his crew, but what was one more soul aboard?

After all, would it be so bad if the fairy accompanied him when he killed his Crocodile? Maybe then, maybe when Milah was avenged, he might be able to really consider the blonde.

Yet, as she shifted in her sleep, he heard Tinkerbell murmur a name.

And it wasn't his.

He bent his head down, and she muttered again, lips parted, "Felix…"

Hook froze. When had he started to think this might be something real? For like all of Neverland, even this was a dream. Tinkerbell had been quite clear that she'd needed someone to talk to, someone to distract her, someone to help her forget the Lost Boy. For some reason the flummoxed pirate couldn't figure out, she actually seemed to have loved Felix. Killian had been more than confident he could do it, but it had been months now. Bloody hell, she was in his bed, sleeping in his arms, and she was still dreaming about Felix.

Which meant a very harsh truth:

He wouldn't- couldn't - measure up to the Lost Boy's specter, because the fact of the matter was Tinkerbell might enjoy Killian's company, they might make each other laugh, they might discuss the horrid things Pan had done, but she didn't love him. If he ever found a way off the godforsaken island, Tinkerbell might even come with him. She might enjoy being free at first. But eventually, she would resent him. Because he wasn't Felix, and she'd have no way of getting back to Neverland. She'd regret leaving.

Hook didn't want to be anyone's regret. His jaw settling, he wrapped his arms tighter around her. Tinkerbell, feeling the movement, opened her eyes. Bleary with sleep, she smiled at him:

"You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"A ghost?" Killian chuckled, "What ghost, love? I only see you." He leaned in again and kissed her, and while she returned his embrace, even she could hear the lie in his voice.

Felix had finally managed to persuade a slightly less hysterical Tinkerbell out of the bathroom and back to the bed. She'd crawled into his arms, hiding her face in his shoulder as she begged him to get rid of the mirrors in the bedroom. He had no qualms about letting her cry- she clearly needed it –but when she repeated her request about the mirrors for the sixth time, he interjected:

"You never cease to amaze me."

Startled by the comment- he'd mostly been silent since Pan forbade him from slaughtering the Blue Fairy -she paused, looking up at him with bright-red eyes, "What are you talking about?" She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting him to say, but that wasn't it.

"Somehow, you're failing to notice how beautiful you are," Felix shook his head in mock-disappointment.

"Felix," Tinkerbell repeated, as though he'd missed the entire morning, "I look like I'm dead."

Felix let his eyes drift over her form. He had been shocked, initially, by the drastic changes in her appearance- for he hadn't expected them. But she was still Tink. Her skin might be paler, but upon further inspection, he'd come to the conclusion it looked more like the color of the moon than that of a body.

"I've seen dead bodies," he protested, "You don't look like them. Your skin," he pointed out, tracing his fingers over her arm, "is not turning blue."

"Thanks," Tinkerbell rolled her eyes, and he felt some sense of relief as she sassed him, "Your ability to compliment knows no bounds."

Felix smiled slightly, "I'm not much of a romantic. You know that. But I speak the truth. You're not turning blue, or green, or brown, and your figure is…still your own. Yeah, the coloring is…different. But actually," he ran his hand through of the strands her newly black hair, "I think you look kind of badass."

"Really?" Tinkerbell queried, utterly floored.

"Yeah," Felix admitted, "but if you don't like it, we can go to the store and get some dye. And when we get back to Neverland, you can always change it permanently."

Despite herself, Tinkerbell felt her heart skip a beat. He seemed so nonchalant about it, as if she'd gone out shopping and returned with a new outfit. He really seemed like he was unfazed by her appearance, as if it didn't change anything- as if he still wanted her…

"'When we get back to Neverland,'" she echoed, hardly believing he was voicing her dreams aloud.

Felix merely raised an eyebrow in response, "Yes?" Pan had said they would return, and he'd thought Tinkerbell had long since learned her lesson about doubting Pan. Consequently, in his view, there was no possibility of them not returning to Neverland. It was merely a matter of when.

"It's just…incredible to hear you say that," Tinkerbell confessed, "For so long, I thought you never would, and then when I woke up like this…" she trailed off and looked away, unable to state her fear.

"Tink," Felix chided her gently, "I'm not that shallow. I care about you. Blonde hair, black hair…" he shrugged, "Whatever. It's you that's important. But Pan had a point. Sure, Mab thinks she cursed you, but did she really?"

Tinkerbell blinked, "Again, look at me. I look like a ghost."

Realizing that Tinkerbell perhaps needed to hear it said directly- and as much as Felix struggled to voice his feelings, she deserved to hear him try -Felix resolved to mimic the lead of a romance movie Tink had made him watch the other day. He leaned in and kissed her softly:

"Do you know what I see? I see a gorgeous fairy who doesn't have to listen to fairy laws, and a fairy who has her own wings," he drew back, holding her hand in his.

He waited a long moment, and she nearly fell over as she finally grasped his meaning.

Hardly daring to breathe, she closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she simultaneously opened her hand. Inside, a flower flickered to existence.

"I have my magic back?" Tinkerbell gasped, tears of sorrow replaced by tears of joy, "You- you sap, why didn't you just tell me?"

Felix grinned, "Like I said, you never cease to amaze me. You come out of what seems like a terrible curse with new powers. That bitch didn't realize it, but she freed you. You're free from the stupid shit she used to make you do- all the labels, and the ranks, and the rules. Tink, you've always wanted to be more than what she said you could be. Now? You actually can."

"No," Michael growled, slamming his fist down on his desk, "You can't be serious, John. You made a deal with him?" The two brothers were in the flat they shared. Ostensibly, they should have been married with families of their own by now, but instead they still lived together, sleeping in the same bedroom- as if they were eternally frozen in childhood. While they did not possess the powers of Peter Pan, in a way, he had frozen them. The loss of Wendy kept them from moving on, and it was an unspoken vow between the two brothers that they couldn't pursue their own families until their own fractured natal one was reunited- even if it had just been by discovering her body and bringing it home.

Michael had even been against splitting them up in the first place, hoping instead to slay a creature who was exploiting the sick. Supposedly, the creature used unnatural forces to heal unnatural ills- and to do so, it also required incredible payments, both personal and financial. It was vile, and disgusting, and yet another example of how magic only hurt- even when it seemed to help. They'd heard conflicting rumors- Michael that the creature was in China, but John had heard of a sighting of Peter Pan in The World Without Color. Michael had wanted to slay the creature first- thinking they would take whatever artifacts it had, then traverse more of the realms. But John knew from experience that Pan traveled fast- and if he had wanted to take vengeance, he had to go immediately.

"You know better than that!" Michael admonished, disgust evident in his tone, "What makes you think you can trust him?" tears prickled at his eyes, "Wendy trusted him, and now she's- she's-"

"Alive," John supplied, revealing the terrible and wonderful truth he'd discovered, "Michael, she's alive." He rested one hand on his sibling's arm, squeezing it in an attempt to shake him out of his rant.

Michael gawked at him, "What?" This had been the exact opposite of what the brothers had surmised happened to Wendy. They assumed Pan had imprisoned her, of course, but with the passage of the years, they'd also come to the conclusion he'd killed her, or she'd died of natural causes anyway. Their search had changed from a rescue mission to one of recovery, hoping only to bring her body home for burial beside their parents.

"It's clearly some kind of trick," Michael insisted, shaking John off as he stomped across the room.

"I didn't believe it either," John acknowledged, "but why would he lie? What would he have to gain? He also said he kept us alive in the war," John's eyes went to the floor, "At her request."

At that, a long silence passed.

"Michael," John prodded, "You're a decent shot. But me? With my vision? It's a miracle I made it past the first skirmish. And for both of us, starvation would have killed us at-"

"Enough! Don't talk about Ausch- it. Don't. I see it enough in my nightmares." Michael grimaced. At that, John felt a surge of guilt. Neither brother enjoyed recalling their time as prisoners of war, instead preferring to focus on the current enemy: magic. They rarely discussed it, both from the atrocities they'd seen and because they'd barely survived. Still, this wasn't about them anymore. This was about Wendy. And if there was a chance Wendy was alive, John had to get Michael to believe in that impossibility. So it was that he added:

"It wasn't supposed to be Reynolds climbing that gantry, Michael. It was supposed to be you. Franz wanted you up there-"

"And he pointed to Reynolds by mistake because he couldn't see me in the shadows," Michael finished.

"They shot him, Michael. They shot him for refusing to climb, and they would have shot you for doing the same except for the shadows. We thanked God for that, but it's not God who works with shadows. It's Pan. Pan saved you, and he said he's been saving our skins this whole time because Wendy asked him to."

Michael sank into a nearby chair, holding his head in his hands, "If she's alive- John, if she's alive…we have to save her. We have to get her away from him. We can't let her go through what we did."

Although John agreed wholeheartedly, he couldn't help but feel that if Pan wasn't lying, Wendy may well already have gone through the same experiences.

John sighed, looking at his younger brother:

"The only way we can do that is if we listen to the deal. We have to find this Boy. And if we do, he'll let her go. He'll let her come home."

Michael frowned: "We'll have to divert our resources. Spend half the time searching for the Boy, the other half searching for magic. Maybe even recruit more people to help. If we do- if we're lucky –we might end up getting something we could use to beat him. Find our way around this deal."

"I don't like this deal any more than you do. If we find something else, so much the better. But if we don't- is there anything more important than rescuing our sister?"

They both knew the answer to that.

Wendy followed Peter out of the bedroom Tinkerbell shared with Felix. His stride was purposeful, and he announced to the older boys atop the stairs:

"All right, Boys. It's not the Charmings- yet. But they'll discover Henry's gone soon enough. Set a perimeter." Slightly, Nibs, and Curly nodded. They began to direct the remaining younger boys down the stairs, who were all whispering at this latest development.

"Pan," Gavin pushed his way through the crowd, "If not them, who was it?"

Pan eyed the boy he'd pulled from the battlefield years ago. The same boy who he'd pushed into fighting Henry. Still, that boy had been faithful. Maybe not the oldest of the Old Guard- but he'd proved himself. He was a useful foot soldier, and he could spread the word through the ranks.

"You know the Blue Fairy attacked Tinkerbell. There have been some unexpected… side effects, but she's recovering. The Blue Fairy will be punished, but not yet. Keep everyone focused on defending the mansion."

Gavin nodded, and Pan waved the other Boys after him, satisfied his orders would be obeyed. He didn't have time to explain it to all of them himself- he had an errand to run before their visitors arrived.

"Peter," Wendy interrupted his train of thought with genuine concern in her voice, "What happened to Tinkerbell…will she be okay? Really?" She worried her lip, and Pan's gaze shifted downwards for the briefest moment.

He couldn't afford distractions, especially now, and so he made himself answer her question:

"Yes." He didn't elaborate, as he was still somewhat surprised by the friendship that had sprung up between the fairy and the Bird. In general, he was excellent at planning, but if someone had told him a few months ago that Tinkerbell and Wendy would become close friends, he would have laughed in their face- perhaps even considered them a bit mad.

Wendy gathered her resolve and plowed forward, announcing, "If she's okay, then you can't- what happened was terrible, but you can't punish the Blue Fairy." She stood firm, crossing her arms. She hadn't planned on starting an argument with Peter immediately, but she had to show him it was wrong, since he clearly was incapable of seeing it himself.

She swallowed uncomfortably, trying to forget how she'd once wondered if she was Peter's moral compass.

Peter crossed his arms, oblivious to her inner turmoil, "Can't I, Darling? She attacked one of my own. I won't let this stand." Aside from violating the agreement he'd made with Tinkerbell, it would set a bad precedent- for the Lost Boys would wonder if he truly could protect them, and the other inhabitants of Storybrooke might think of trying to test his dominion over the town. These were smaller incidents for him to deal with, but he hoped he could avoid them at all, if he could.

"Peter," Wendy insisted, "you don't- you don't own Storybrooke. You can't play judge, jury, and executioner. It's not your right." She didn't agree with what he'd done in Neverland, but at least he'd built Neverland. It belonged to him- Storybrooke and Oz, however, did not.

"Darling," Pan said, this time amused at her determination, "I'm not playing, but if it makes you feel better, fine. I won't kill Mab." With a cursory shrug, he wandered down the stairs heading for the front door. Wendy followed him, instantly suspicious. Peter never gave up so easily, and the fact that he had bothered her. It meant he wasn't focused on her- his attention was on something else.

And if he was paying attention to something else- particularly when he was concerned about the Charmings raiding the mansion –that something was clearly critical.

"The Boys can't kill her, though," Wendy stipulated, both trying to get her point across and discern what he was actually up to, "The Blue Fairy's not- she's not Neverland's. Let Storybrooke take care of her. Surely they have laws."

At that, Pan let out a barking laugh, "Let Storybrooke enforce law? You mean the Charmings? Wendy, do you even realize how inept they are? These are the same people who didn't realize when they broke a curse, they had an entire realm to rule," his face grew serious as he reminded her, "The same people who imprisoned you- with your brothers' full agreement –because you kissed me."

Wendy drew back as if she had been slapped, "Don't bring John and Michael into this. They don't have anything to do with this-" It was a low blow, she felt, even from him.

"But they are in this," Peter insisted, all traces of mirth gone, "They've been in this for quite some time. If you really want to know how far they've been in this, perhaps you should speak with them." He leaned against the wall, curious to see what she'd do.

Wendy clenched her fists to her side. They both knew very well that she couldn't- wouldn't –go back to the apartment she'd shared with her brothers. Not until this was ended, one way or the other. Because she had no guarantee they wouldn't lock her up again.

"Unlike me, Bird," Peter said, and this time there was almost a trace of what she swore was regret in his face, "I don't think they've learned their lesson from caging you."

Wendy fought the urge to scream at him. Why did he have to do that? Why did he have to bring up such a painful memory? Why couldn't they just talk? Why was everything always a game he had to win?

Shaking her head, she challenged, "If you've learned your lesson, and you're not caging me, then let me go out."

Peter raised his eyebrows, "Suit yourself. You can go wherever you like. I'll be sending some Boys with you. Not to keep you anywhere, but to defend you, in case they get any ideas about locking you up again."

"I'm free?" Wendy reiterated, certain now that he was playing a game- one she didn't know the rules of.

She didn't like it.

"Free as a Bird," Pan graced her with a cryptic smile, before signaling to some Boys to escort her.

Then he strolled out the door, once again leaving it open.

Author's Note:

Some dialogue in this chapter- that in the first Hook/Tink flashback- is inspired by inspired by and taken from Season 3, Episode 11 "Going Home," written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Credit for most of that dialogue goes to them. I always found the interactions between Hook and Tink strange in canon. There was definitely some sort of history there, and I wanted to explore it- so you're starting to see my take on it.

John and Michael were British prisoners of war at E715, which was a workcamp attached to Monowitz, a concentration camp under the control of Auschwitz III. The soldier John and Michael reference, of Corporal Reynolds, is a real person and his death was a real event (obviously without John and Michael involved). Corporal Reynolds refused to climb up a steel gantry covered in ice, stating it was too dangerous, and he was shot. In my version, Pan intervened to save Michael (how exactly he does this will be explored later).

I personally also always thought it was strange that there was never any explanation about why John, Michael, and Wendy collectively work for/with Pan. I know there's a throwaway line about it between John/Michael to Belle, but how did that interaction even happen? It's kind of a big plot point, and the show brushes over it. Here you see my version of how it happened- as well as a brief glimpse into Gavin (yes, I know he's Devin in canon. I'm not changing his name now). Like Dr. Whale, he originally comes from the World Without Color (Frankenstein's world).

This chapter has lots of Tinklix fluff. I promise there a lot going on with overall plot progression in the next chapter, but I wanted to give you guys something. I expect the next chapter to be up in a month or less.

As always, your messages and reviews are much appreciated. Please know I read every single one and they mean so much to me. Thank you for your continued support! I'd love to know what you think!

And as promised, replies for the guest reviews for Chapter 24:

Guest September 5- You have an update! It's 9,066 words! With the next chapter hopefully being longer! I do have some deleted scenes/little vignettes I could publish- please let me know if you guys would be interested in seeing them.

Guest August 2- All of my works- not just this story -were paused so I could focus on my health. Real life takes precedence. I apologize for the delay and hope you enjoy the update.

Guest July 24- I'm so happy you like it! As I said, I've got deleted scenes/vignettes- would you guys like to see somethin glike that in between chapters?

Guest May 30- Thank you for your kind words! I did continue and I'm so happy you like it!

Guest May 20- let me know what you think!

Lilyflower- I'm so happy you love my story! I'm back. :)

Guest July 27- No need to beg! I'm back.

Dreamgirl372- I do plan on finishing this story. No need to apologize for spelling errors. I'm so flattered you like the story and check every month!? Oh my goodness I might actually cry. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Guest October 10- hopefully in one month or less. I've got about 1/3 of the next chapter already written.

Guest September 28- I did continue!

Guest September 22- I did!

A fan- I did write more! Please let me know what you think!

Guest July 31- I know. I'm sorry. I hope it's worth the wait!

Viovio- Hi! Thank you so much for your kind review! I'm so glad you think the relationships make sense and that Wendy's character does as well. I always thought they would all grow mentally, so I wanted to address that. Haha I'm a Tinklix fan myself. I find them adorably awkward. Thank you so very much for reading and reviewing. I look forward to your thoughts on this chapter.

Claire- thank you! I did continue! I hope you like it!

DarlingPan- I did continue. Thank you very much for your kind words! I'm not giving up on it. I love Wendy/Peter too much to give up.

Jilveny- oh my goodness, five times!? Seriously? My jaw dropped! I'm so happy you like it! And thank you for believing in me. ;) I do not give up on my stories, and here is an update. Most recent FAQ can be found on either my tumblr or my profile.

veronica- thank you so much! There are so many wonderful works in the Darling Pandom. What an incredible compliment!

Sweetgirl- Thank you so much! There are so many talented writers in the Darling Pandom that your words just amaze me. Unfortunately, I don't think the story will be made canon given OUAT has since been cancelled, but...hey, an author can dream, right?

darlingpan 768- I did update! I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Guest January 15- wow! You properly binge read it! I hope this chapter is worth the wait!

Guest November 12- thank you so much!

asterash- no, Wendy doesn't deserve a lot of things...she is a bigger player in this than has been revealed however. We are all worried about Henry. Thank you for the review!

Fantasygirl374- thank you so much! I will be trying to update sooner! I have an idea for an ending in mind, but I don't think we're close to it yet!

Angie- thank you! So glad you like it. This story is still a work in progress. Here's Chapter 25! I'd love to see it made into a film, but I think copyright laws might prohibit that (that being said, if anyone wants to make a trailer, I might cry of happiness).

VERONICA- I'm so glad you like it! Yes, there is a chapter 25...which hopefully you enjoy!

Guest August 19- I'm sorry it took so long! I'm happy you like the story- hopefully you're still following and enjoying it!

Guest May 29- I LOVED Peter on OUAT until they made him Rumple's dad. That just...didn't make any sense to me. He was a fantastic villain, and incredibly unique because he wasn't related to anyone. And then they made him related to Rumple (who had so many ties already)...it just deflated all my excitement. I felt the need to change that story...and here we are with "Dark Paradise." Thank you so much for your kind review!

Ghest- Thank you! I do plan on continuing. Peter and Wendy have a very complex relationship and I love writing about it to explore everything that the show didn't.

Darlingpan fan- wow! Thank you so much! I'm glad I got top scores from teachers haha. In all seriousness, I'm so honored it's your favorite fanfiction. I shared this originally as a rant and to see the love and support it's gotten has been truly astonishing. I do plan on continuing it. I hope you enjoy it!

Guest February 19- thank you! I'm so glad you like the story! I hope this chapter (and the next) were worth the wait! Thank you again for reviewing!

Bezinha- I did!

Guest February 11- I have zero visual artistic talent. Trailers aren't my forte! I'd love to see someone make a trailer though. I'm off to give the song a listen now!

Guest January 24- Thank you! I know the timeline's confusing, and that's due to a lot of factors. I'll try to simplify it as best I can: (1) originally one day in Neverland equaled one year in the Land Without Magic/Elphame/Earth, so when Wendy left London and spent a year in Neverland, it was only one night. (2) Pan later was able to give some of his own magic to artificially slow Neverland's timeline to match that of LWM/Elphame/Earth in order to make sure Neverland would last in time for him to get the Heart of the Truest Believer. (3) Wendy's three months in London (after her single night visit, when she meets Bae, and then when she goes back to rescue Bae) equal about 100 years because there are roughly 30 days in a month. Three months is about 90 days, and if we go by Neverland's original timeline 1 day = 1 year, so 90 days = 90 days, hence Rufio's comment that Wendy has been gone for almost a hundred years. I hope that clarifies things a bit!

Guest January 16- I did! Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Guest January 12- Thank you so very much! I'm glad you can relate to the characters! and I can't believe I made you cry! Hopefully more smiles than tears!

Guest December 13- updated! hope you enjoy it!

Beca- Please never be ashamed to post a review! I love and look forward to your reviews! Thank you very much for believing me. Oof I hope school, your thesis, and everything went well. Because...I have plans for Tink. That's all I can say- other than there is no angst without a purpose. And yes, Tink and Peter have an old friendship. I too hate Blue (I was waiting for her to be revealed as a villain in the show and ngl was disappointed when she wasn't). Blue has specific motives which will be addressed, but she does hate Tink for defying fairy rules. Tink will have her day though. I really really really wanted Felix to have a backstory, and I'm so glad you enjoyed my spin on him! I kept waiting for OUAT to explain why Felix was so loyal to Pan...and they never did. So naturally, I wanted to fill in the blanks. And in Felix's POV in my version, Pan honored the one "good" adult Felix was familiar with- his mother -and saved his life from the worst adult he could possibly meet. Bam, eternal loyalty. Welcome to team Tinklix. :) We're a small team in the Darling Pandom, but we're a fun team I think. And I hear you- Wendy definitely has a tough decision ahead of her. I hope this chapter gave John's and Michael's motives a little more explanation though. Regina did indeed raise her own stakes- but what's it going to cost her? After all...Peter Pan never fails. Ah I'm so glad you liked the trips to Wonderland and Oz! I was nervous how they would be received, especially since a lot of people didn't like OUATIW. Still, I wanted Regina to really be herself and also see her parallel in Anastasia/The Red Queen. Regina has her motives, but she did become the Evil Queen. She isn't a perfect pure hero...and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Peter is very pragmatic, and also ruthless- so when knew the kids couldn't be rescued, he decided on the other option. But I think he overstepped a bit there, even for him. I do love long reviews and your review was NOT BORING. Alas, the Henry reveal is going to be the next chapter. ;) But things do go haywire when it happens. Thanks and best of luck to you as well!

~ladykikyo1792