Hook awoke comfortable well rested and to an empty bed. He should have felt abandoned maybe betrayed, guilty of what they did but there was no trace of that. He felt content and somehow peaceful. Well the on sloth of thoughts was probably coming but for now he will let it be. It may feel like Peter was a child mere months ago, technically that was true, but who know for how many years they were already trapped in this on-going battle. Not to mention that Peter proved that he is capable of adult thought and actions, probably more than some of his crew members.

Hook stood up from his bed blissfully blank mind, found a fresh pair of underwear, Smee might be close to him but James really didn't need and image of his naked butt walking around, branded into Smee's brains.

Hook made his way to the cabinet containing drinks when he noticed a note that was definitely not written in his handwriting.

"Don't think you get to be rid of me this easy. I will show myself again"

James couldn't decide if this was meant as a fret or a promise. With Peter, who knows? He took a few moments to wonder how Peter even learned to write, but decided to chalk it up to probably Wendy teaching him and then forget about it, not before putting the note into a safe hiding place so no one could stumble upon it by accident.

The day went by without an incident, but that didn't make Hook uneasy there were times when Peter didn't show himself for weeks. The only nagging thing about that was that when Peter didn't show himself was when he got completely occupied with something. Hook really didn't want to be bitter, but he couldn't help himself and be a bit disappointed that he might have been replaced in less than a day and his pride would never let him describe the feeling as being used.

He shook his head to get rid of the silly thoughts; he wasn't some stupid pinning desperate girl.

He used the last of the days light to read one of his many books. He might have or might have not nodded off with the book in hand, he might have only blinked but the next time he opened his eyes it was dark. Somehow he was a bit disappointed that there was no Peter smiling at him for getting him by surprise with his guard down.

Hook lit a few candles and lazily started to prepare for bed. The day and night went by boringly uneventful.

By the third time he repeated the reading and lazily getting ready for bed he was slightly getting worried. Peter could handle crocodile's, Indians, pirates but that didn't mean that nothing could happen to him. Even the crew started to act uneasy, James didn't know if it was because they were getting anxious of what was Peter up to or because they felt something was worrying him.

The next morning James was longing for the well-rested sleep he had those few days ago, not to mention how annoying a peaceful couple of days can be.

James sent the men on a pointless expedition just to make them do something and pretend that everything was normal. He was just putting away a thick book of maps when he heard the windows open. When he turned around like expected Peter was standing there what he didn't think was that he would see a downcast look the head slightly bowed and no smiles in sight, not even a hint of a smirk.

There was definitely something wrong James felt his stomach drop, what if Peter was regretting what if…

His train of thoughts was stopped when Peters head slightly lifted and his hands twitch like he wanted to grab Hook but he was too far away and Peter didn't really know if the distance was physical or in their behaviour limits.

James took a hesitant step closer consequently getting the full attention of Peter. Now looking properly at the boy's face there was a flush on his cheeks red rimmed eyes and a deep sadness in those blue depths.

Peter hesitantly stepped closer shakily brought up his hand looking into Hooks eyes before averting his eyes leaning forward burying his face in Hooks chest hands holding onto James back like the boy's life depended on it. There were slight tremors shaking Peter's whole body and every so often a sniff would be heard. James let his hands run up and down the boy's back not knowing what else to do but offer his body heat as a comfort for whatever Peter was going through.

They didn't know for how long they were standing there embraced and in complete silence. Peter lifted his head looking up feeling exhausted but better with a blank mind. James without a word guided them both to his room resuming the embrace on the bed.

James didn't know what to do if he should say something or be quiet but the silence was starting to get to him. He almost missed it when peters spoke, almost.

"Wendy's dead"

James took an unplanned sharp intake of air.

"and so are most of the lost boys"

A bit of his heart broke for the boy. Well yes the lost boys were annoying flying brats but they were all that Peter had and Hook knew what it felt to lose something to the claws of forever that is death.

"How do you know that" he continued to pet the boys hear brushing the blond curls for comfort.
Peter took a deep breath slowly exhaled before speaking, "I had this wears feeling and it was pulling to go to the window to maybe take a look of another change that accrued.
You know I didn't feel sad like the last time I went there, there was always something new happening to everyone I was the only one that stayed frozen in time.
But not this time, this time something was happening to me something completely new, so I was looking forward to seeing what Wendy was up to now, maybe she got a new grandchild or one of her children was getting married, but that wasn't it.
There was no one there but then I noticed that the living room downstairs was full with people in black.
They were mourning. Wendy Died….I never looked up on the lost boys, didn't want to disturb their new life they choose...but now that I did I couldn't find them. I looked and looked, a few moved somewhere but I don't know who, they changed their names. I visited Wendy's grave, I noticed a couple of other graves that had the same inscription 'I will never grow up'"

Peter took long pauses his eyes shifting. James never interrupted the silence he knew Peter must be reliving the memorise while recalling them for James. He was sad when he thought what Peter must have had been going through all of this in those few days; while he was peacefully wasting time reading pointless books.

"So many years have passed James. Soon there will be no more lost boys, but jet nothing has changed, if I hadn't visited that window so many times I would still be a short oblivious boy"

Hook ran his hand over Peters shoulder and down his arm "do you regret growing up"

Peter looked unseeing towards the wall a hint of a smile on his lips the first since he got here "No. You know I've seen so many things in only a few days, everything changes my friends left me, to me an incomprehensible amount of time has past, but I wouldn't have known any of that if I hadn't changed. It sounds bad but I don't regret it, if I hadn't grown up I wouldn't know this sadness but I also wouldn't be able to see the good things. Everything changed but we didn't, we are in it together aren't we?"

Hook offered a small smile and the same words Peter once used "Don't think just because of this I won't fight and defeat you"

To hearing that an open bright smile creped onto Peters face, shining like the sun that was rising on the horizon.

OMG when I was writing this I got so invested that when I wrote the line that Peter saw on Wendy's gravestone I almost made myself cry.

And sorry it took me so long to write this I hope you're not angry and that the update brought a bit happiness before I ripped it away with all this death.