Arabella grabbed her coat as it was a cold night, intending to head out. Her father walked into the entryway and looked at her curiously.

"Arabella, where are you going?"

"I-I just wanted to meet somebody," she replied quickly.

"Oh?" asked Elmer," I understand. Don't stay out too late."

"I'm not planning on it," replied Arabella, knowing her father didn't understand.

"Who is he?" questioned Elmer.

"Oh no, papa, it's nothing like that," said Arabella quickly.

Elmer smiled knowingly, but said nothing.

"Good evening," stated Arabella, leaving.

"Goodbye, honey."

Arabella shivered as she stepped out the door, realizing it to be much colder than she had expected. Not wanting to go back inside, she focused her thoughts away from the cold and walked the London streets as the sun began to set.

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James Hook was a mess. He'd said absolutely nothing to Smee as they finally agreed to go on and eat dinner. Arabella wasn't coming. Hook felt as if someone ripped out his heart. Although he barely knew Arabella, she already meant so much to him. He was depressed as it was, the last thing he needed was something else bad to happen.

Smee was simply at a loss for words. He had been confident Arabella would show up, but she hadn't. Smee was afraid Hook would lose his temper if he spoke up.

There was a knock at the door. Hook immediately jumped up, hopeful.

He opened the door to reveal Arabella. A huge smile crossed his face and Arabella gave a shy smile back.

"Come in," said James immediately.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I dined with my family," said Arabella quickly.

"No, it's fine, don't worry about it," said James, "Would you like me to take your coat?"

Arabella obliged and Hook hung it up on the rack. Smee came in and smiled happily. They all sat in the sitting room briefly asking how each other was doing.

"James?" asked Arabella nervously.

"Yes?"

"I want to know the truth. I want to know about the time you spent in Neverland."

Arabella's voice shook, as she was nervous. Hook looked down, ashamed. Arabella obviously knew something about who he had been there, and he couldn't deny it.

"I was a bad man, Arabella," said Hook, his heart breaking. He started shaking.

"He was a good cap'n," put in Smee, trying to help.

"So Captain Hook? Is it true you tried to kill Peter and the Lost Boys many times?" asked Arabella.

Hook just nodded, not looking her in the eye. Arabella frowned. She didn't feel like she was in danger, but the pirate that Peter and her mother had warned her about was undeniably sitting right in front of her.

"Do—do you still want to kill Peter?" whispered Arabella.

"No," said Hook instantly, "I don't. Revenge… I know now that it's a dark way of living. There's no happiness in revenge. That's the last possible thing I want."

James looked at her, his eyes pleading. She realized that all this time, he wanted to be forgiven. He regretted who he had been in Neverland; that was obvious. Arabella frowned. She looked to Smee.

"What happened to him? Why has he changed?"

Hook looked perplexed that she had chosen to ask Smee instead of him, but said nothing. He couldn't risk making Arabella angry.

"It was Neverland, not him," insisted Smee.

"What?"

"The island, just him and the island, you see, they didn't mix," bumbled Smee.

"I'm not sure I understand," said Arabella.

"There was something about Neverland, Arabella, that I didn't get along with," explained Hook, "That's no excuse, however. My actions were wrong, I was a terrible man, the longer I spent away from the island the closer I came to my senses. I needed a new life, and I have one. But I can't stand living everyday expecting my old life to come and take everything away from me. If anybody find out, I wouldn't be an honest man."

Arabella felt pity for Hook, and laid her hand on his.

"I'm so sorry for asking," she whispered.

"No, you needed to know. I understand why you did. It was right you did. There's absolutely no excuse, but I am sorry. And I never, ever want to go back," replied Hook.

"You don't have to go back. James, you can cut your ties from Neverland."

James looked up quickly as an idea came to mind.

"This might be quite literal… but I really can cut my ties from Neverland. Please, Arabella, come with me," begged Hook.

Arabella looked surprised, and glanced at Smee, who gave a huge smile.

"I guess I could go," replied Arabella.

"I'll stay," suggested Smee, winking at Hook.

Arabella blushed, not sure what to make of the two, but glanced at James. He glared slightly at Smee, but then turned back to her.

"Then follow me."

James, helping Arabella with her coat, led her out the door and onto the London streets.

"It's chilly," said Arabella, shivering under her thin coat.

"Here, you can have mine," said James instantly.

"No, I couldn't," insisted Arabella, but James already had his off and put it over her shoulders.

Arabella was blushing, but was thankful it was now dark so James couldn't see. She had no idea where he was taking them, and felt herself silly for just trusting him. He was much older than she, wasn't it obvious that she shouldn't trust strange men? However, Arabella couldn't help but trust James, she had no idea why, but she felt safe.

Finally, Arabella's eyes widened as they approached an abandoned dock. A huge pirate ship was docked there.

"That's your ship, wasn't it?" asked Arabella.

Hook nodded slowly. The ship was tied to the dock with only one remaining rope. It seemed as if it should've floated off by now, but it was still here.

"Arabella, I always know the Jolly Roger is here, I feel like it could take me back… if I could just cut the tie to it then there would be no way I would ever go back to Neverland. But I just haven't been able to do it," explained Hook.

Arabella thought she could see tears coming to his eyes, but it was too dark to tell.

"You have nothing to worry about, James. If you've really changed, then you don't need your boat. You don't need anything from Neverland. Just don't worry about it, remember it so you know not to be that man, but know that you've changed. I can see it," whispered Arabella.

James smiled in the dark. Using his hooked hand he ripped the rope off the dock. The boat slowly started to move on its own downstream. James turned around, not wanting to know where it was going. He closed his eyes. Finally, he was free.

"Hey!? What's happening?" yelled a voice from the boat.

To James' horror, he turned and saw Peter Pan on the ship with a girl, trying to control it. It was floating well enough, but they had no way of steering it.

"Peter!?" exclaimed Arabella at the sight of her adopted brother.

The ship was moving quickly and Hook and Arabella ran along the shore, watching the ship float away. There was nothing they could do.

"Hook!" yelled Peter, furious.

To Arabella and James' shock, Peter jumped up and flew into the night sky. He flew down and grabbed the girl he had with him and safely landed on the shore. Arabella ran to him to make sure he was okay.

"Go with them, Trish," said Peter to the girl.

The girl looked completely shocked. Hook's face was white. He looked absolutely horrible, as if his entire life was falling apart. Peter jumped up again, and took off into the night sky, flying over the city.

"Peter!" yelled Arabella.

There was no response, and soon Arabella lost track of where he was. Trish sat on the ground, desperately trying to comprehend the situation. Arabella put her arm on Trish's shoulder, concerned for the young girl.

"Come on, Trish, I'll take you home," she stated, "James, I guess you can go home. I'll see you some other time."

Arabella left, leading Trish, leaving James standing by himself. Tears flew to his eyes. Arabella knew Peter? He had no idea how that was possible, but there was something more. It was almost as if Arabella treated Peter as family. Hook could never face Peter Pan, not after what he had done.

Hook could never be with Arabella. There was no way he could deal with it, as much as he did feel for her. He couldn't breathe, and felt as if his heart was ripped out. He could never love somebody who loved Peter Pan. Yet again, Peter Pan had destroyed his life.