AN: Another chapter done. I guess I'm in the zone right now. More character development, and back story. Plus, a 'blink and you'll miss it' CS moment! Thanks to everyone who's reviewed or is following or favourite-ing this story already! I get a kick out of checking my phone every time I get an email notification and it's in reference to this story. I've been smiling all day!

Legal Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or its characters.

Chapter 2

The Jolly Roger emerged from the portal and landed into the surrounding water with a large splash. Killian looked around and tried to get his bearings. "Bloody hell, Tink! You've landed us in the Enchanted Forest!" he yelled, frustrated.

"I can't take you all to Storybrooke in one go," Tinker Bell explained, sounding exhausted. "It's a difficult task, even with pixie dust. This is just a rest stop so I can gather my strength."

"But the next stop is Storybrooke, right?" Mary Margaret inquired, concerned for David's health.

Tinker Bell nodded. "We'll be here two nights, at most," she assured everyone. She flew up to the crow's nest of the Jolly so she could bask in the starlight once night fell.

Emma looked at Hook. "Will the water last that long between doses?" she asked worriedly. "Does David have enough time?"

Hook shook his head helplessly. "I don't know, lass. It was hours after we'd left Neverland that the water's magic stopped working and my brother succumbed to his Dreamshade poisoning," he replied softly. "I don't know how long it will last for your father."

"You needn't worry," Rumpelstiltskin informed them. "My secret laboratory is here in the Enchanted Forest. I'll be able to whip up a cure while we're here, rather than wait 'til we get back to Storybrooke." He turned to Regina. "I'll need some transportation, if you wouldn't mind, dearie."

Regina narrowed her eyes at Rumpelstiltskin. "You can't get there yourself?" she asked disdainfully.

"I promised my son that I wouldn't use magic, and I intend to keep that promise," Rumpelstiltskin replied as he held Neal's gaze. His heart warmed when Neal nodded his thanks.

Regina rolled her eyes but wrapped her hand around Rumpelstiltskin's forearm. "We'll be back," she informed them. She shifted her gaze to Henry and her expression softened. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mom," Henry replied with a smile.

With a faint smile in return, Regina and Rumpelstiltskin disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.

"We're going to get some rest," David announced as he and Mary Margaret headed below the deck. "You should all do the same."

Henry shook his head. "I'm too excited to sleep right now," he declared.

Emma shrugged. "Suit yourself, kid." She gave Henry a big hug and kissed his forehead. "I love you," she said, intent on following her parents to the crew quarters. But she stopped and turned. "Hook," she called out.

Hook turned his head at the sound of Emma's voice. "Yes, love?" he questioned.

Emma reached out and placed her hand on top of Hook's, where it grasped the ship's wheel. Surprised blue eyes met her green gaze. "Thank you for all of your help. We couldn't have done any of this without you," she said sincerely. She squeezed his hand lightly, ignoring the slight tingle she felt where their skin touched.

"Sure you could, lass," Hook countered with an easy grin. "As I said before, I've never known you to fail. It just wouldn't have been as interesting if I hadn't been around." He turned his hand to bring hers to his lips and kissed her knuckles softly.

Emma rolled her eyes and walked away, letting her hand fall from Hook's grasp. She ruffled Henry's hair one last time before heading off to get some sleep.

Hook steered the ship around the bay they'd landed in for lack of anything better to do. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the smell of the salty sea air surrounding him. It had been hundreds of years since he hadn't had a care in the world without a mountain of troubles weighing him down. While there was still the matter of the Crocodile to deal with, he was actually able to push those thoughts to the back of his mind to worry about later.

"You really love the sea, don't you?"

Hook opened his eyes to find Harry regarding him with a small smile. "I can see it on your face," Henry continued. "You actually look happy."

Hook nodded. "It's a relationship of mutual respect," he told Henry. "Respect the sea, and she'll take you wherever you need to go." He reached out and placed his hook on Henry's shoulder, pulling him to the wheel. He scratched fresh marks into the worn wood. "Port. Starboard."

"You're not like Captain Hook from the movies," Henry remarked as he steered the Jolly Roger under Hook's guidance.

"Well, that's no surprise, as I was unavailable for any sort of consultation," Hook replied as he scanned the horizon. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Good," Henry confirmed with a nod. "The movies made Captain Hook pretty silly."

"Well, I am never silly," Hook declared with authority. "One notch starboard, lad.". Hook nodded in approval as Henry followed his instruction. As Hook's eyes continued to sweep the panoramic view in front of him, something caught his attention. "Baelfire! Take the wheel with your son," he ordered.

Neal came up to them with a sour expression on his face. After witnessing the scene between Emma and the pirate, he was in no mood to be snapped at. "I don't take orders from you, Hook," he said, annoyed.

"Then get your own ship and find your own way home," Hook replied testily. "Take the wheel." Without waiting for a response, Hook stalked away to the bow of the ship where his attention was focused.

Wendy held onto the bowline and gazed wistfully out across the water. She couldn't believe that she would be seeing her brothers in a matter of days. After all this time, it was like a dream. She felt someone come up behind her and place their hand on her shoulder.

"You've been awfully quiet this whole time," Hook observed. "Is everything all right, lass?"

"I'm afraid that I'm still in Neverland and this is just a dream," Wendy admitted. "I'll wake up and I'll be in that horrid cage with Pan and Felix stalking about."

Hook squeezed Wendy's shoulder reassuringly. "This is no dream, Wendy," he promised her. "You will see your brothers soon."

Wendy gave Hook a shy smile. "Thank you, Killian," she whispered.

Hook's expression was one of pleasant surprise. "I didn't think you remembered," he remarked.

"How could I not remember the gentleman that tried to save me from Peter Pan?" Wendy countered. She put her hand on his arm and was about to say more, when she whimpered and seemed to crumple in upon herself.

"Wendy, what's wrong?" Killian asked, concerned. He crouched down beside her. "Are you hurt, love?"

"I don't know what's happening," Wendy gasped. She started thrashing about and Killian was forced to wrap his arms around her tightly to keep her from injuring herself, not to mention him as well.

"Hey, what's going on?" Neal demanded suspiciously. He wasn't able to hear their conversation but from his point of view, it looked like Wendy was struggling in Hook's grasp.

Hook rolled his eyes in exasperation, thinking for a split second that Emma was rubbing off on him. Then his thoughts immediately returned to the task at hand. "She's sick," he ground out through gritted teeth. "One moment she was fine and the next she was in pain." He used his good hand to smooth Wendy's hair away from her face. It seemed as if the touch was soothing, and her struggles ceased momentarily.

"She told me she was sick in Neverland," Henry piped in worriedly. "I thought maybe she was faking it because Pan had ordered her to. She said it had something to do with being on the island."

Killian shook his head. "I don't think she's acting, lad." He gathered Wendy into his arms and stood. "Let's get you squared away safely, darling."

Wendy turned her bright blue gaze on Killian and managed a tiny smile. "Miss Darling," she countered softly, before wincing in pain.

Killian chuckled softly. "Miss Darling," he echoed with a nod. As he passed the wheel he exchanged a look with Neal. "You have the bridge, Baelfire."

Neal nodded and he stared worriedly after Wendy as she was carried away.

Killian carried the girl below deck to his cabin where he laid her in his bed and he sat down on the edge beside her. "Can I get you anything, love?" he inquired kindly.

"Could I have some water?" she asked plaintively.

Killian patted Wendy's hand and pulled the blankets over her. "Of course, Miss Darling," he replied, rising to his feet. He strode to his washbasin and grabbed the pewter jug. "I'll be right back."

"Do you promise?" Wendy pleaded softly, her eyes bright with pain.

Killian nodded, touched that the girl welcomed his company. "Aye, I promise." He left his cabin to go topside where barrels of drinking water were kept.

"How is Wendy?" Neal asked, concerned.

"Not good, mate," Killian replied, as he filled the jug with water. "I don't know what's making her ill, but I believe it's tied to Neverland."

"This is my fault," Neal said, his voice filled with guilt. "This wouldn't have happened if she hadn't come to Neverland looking for me."

"Don't beat yourself up over this, mate," Killian advised. "The only one to blame for this is Peter Pan." With that, he turned to head back below deck.

"You should let me go," Neal insisted. "I should be taking care of her."

"She made me promise to return," Killian countered loftily. He couldn't help the flicker of empathy for Milah's son, however, and his expression softened slightly. "Once David wakes, tell him to take the helm, and you can come to my cabin and relieve me."

Neal nodded gratefully. "Agreed," he said. He felt something akin to jealousy stirring inside him as he watched Hook walk away but squashed it down. There was no way he could be jealous about Hook and Wendy. That was ridiculous. It was just a holdover of his feelings about the situation with Emma.

Killian opened the door to his cabin and stopped short. Wendy was still lying in bed, but something had definitely changed. He stared at her for a minute, but couldn't put his finger on what was different. He poured some water into a mug and offered it to Wendy. "Here you are, lass."

Wendy smiled tiredly at Killian as she took the mug. "Thank you Killian," she replied, her voice husky from pain. She took several sips and set the mug down.

"Do you think you can sleep at all?" Killian inquired.

Wendy nodded. "I'll try," she said, stretching out in bed. "You'll stay with me?"

"Of course," Killian promised. "Baelfire is worried about you too, lass. He might be here instead when you wake."

Wendy smiled. "I'll be happy to see him later," she said, stifling a yawn. "We have so much to catch up on."

Killian smiled fondly at the tousled head that peeked out from under the blanket. As he watched the lump in bed rise and fall evenly, he thought back to the first time he'd let Wendy Darling stay in his cabin.

*****Flashback*****

Killian heard the familiar sound of Pan's shadow flying overhead, accompanied with the sound of wildly flapping fabric. That one was new. He looked up and was confused to see the shadow clutching the wrist of a young girl. Killian frowned. Taking boys was one thing; bringing one girl to an island populated by boys was an entirely different matter. He turned to address his crew. "It looks like Pan's taken a fancy to a lass," he announced. "I'll just make sure everything is on the up and up."

Killian took two of his crew with him in a longboat and headed in the direction of Pan's shadow; out to Mermaid Lagoon. When they reached the shore, he ordered his men to stay put while he investigated on his own. He tread softly not wanting to alert anyone to his presence. He soon found what he was looking for. A girl, no more than thirteen years of age, was tied to a tree, with a gag in her mouth. Killian frowned. This was no way to treat a lady. Bad form indeed. Casting a quick glance about to make sure that Pan's shadow or the Lost Ones were nowhere nearby, Killian made his way over to the captive girl.

The girl sensed Killian's presence and looked over in his direction. He could see her blue eyes widen at the sight of his hook, and she started to shake with fear. Killian knelt down beside her and indicated her gag. "If I remove this, will you promise to stay quiet?" he whispered.

The girl nodded.

Killian gently untied the gag. "Killian Jones at your service," he said softly. "Am I correct to assume you've no desire to be here?"

Again, the girl nodded.

Using a dagger from his boot, Killian made short work of the ropes which restrained her. Tucking the dagger back into his boot, Killian stood and held his hand out to the girl. "Shall we?" he asked, kindly.

The girl reached out shakily and placed her hand inside Killian's. She let him help her to her feet and followed him into the trees. She opened her mouth to speak but Killian silenced her with a look. Within minutes, the two of them were in the longboat and heading to the Jolly Roger.

Some time later, everyone was back on board the ship. Killian escorted the girl to his quarters for privacy and took a good look at the girl he'd rescued. "Now, lass, what is your name?" he asked as she sat at his desk, while he sat in his favorite reading chair.

"Wendy. Wendy Moira Angela Darling," she replied in a small voice.

"And what ungodly reason brings you to Neverland, Miss Darling?" Killian inquired. He watched as Wendy wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. Killian cursed himself for not noticing until now that the poor girl was only wearing a nightgown and a pair of satin slippers. He shrugged off his coat and placed it over the girl's shoulders. "Is that better?"

Wendy nodded. "Thank you, sir," she said. "I was looking for someone."

"Your family?" Killian guessed. "A brother?"

Wendy shook her head. "A dear friend," she replied sadly. "He was taken by the Shadow while he was staying with my family."

"And what was your friend's name?" Killian inquired curiously.

"Baelfire," Wendy answered wistfully, not realizing the effect of the name she'd spoken.

Killian felt the air leave his lungs. "Baelfire?" he repeated. "Your friend's name was Baelfire?"

Wendy looked up at Killian hopefully. "Do you know him?" she asked eagerly.

Killian looked away so that Wendy wouldn't see the shame on his face. "Aye, I rescued him from the sea when he fell from the Shadow's grasp," he replied evasively. "Later, the Lost Ones came and took him."

Wendy was clearly disappointed. She looked up and studied Killian's appearance, taking in his hook and his attire. "Whose navy do you serve, Captain Jones?" she asked.

"None," Killian answered simply. He watched her face as she drew the logical conclusion.

"Oh!" Wendy gasped. "You're a…?"

"Pirate," Killian finished flatly. "Yes, I am. I would rather follow my own code of honor than serve a corrupt king." He stood up from his seat. "It's late, Miss Darling, and you're no doubt exhausted from your ordeal. I offer you my cabin for the duration of your stay on board the Jolly Roger." Killian bowed to Wendy and exited the cabin, shutting the door behind him.

*****End Flashback*****