Chapter 4
"So Peter Pan is really evil? Man, J.M. Barrie got it wrong…" said Emma to Mary Margaret.
The group – Emma, Mary Margaret, David, Regina, Gold, and Hook – were packing up provisions for their journey into the woods of Neverland in search for Henry. They had managed to get Hook's ship ashore in an uninhabited area of the island, on the northern most point, according to Hook.
Mary Margaret just gave her a puzzled look. "Who?" she asked.
"Ah, forget it. He was probably a Lost Boy or something.." mumbled Emma. She turned to Hook, "By any chance is there a fairy named Tinkerbell that hangs around Peter Pan?"
"I've heard rumours," replied Hook darkly. He then addressed the group: "If we get into any trouble, we'll have to come back aboard and steer out toward Skull Rock. We're about eight kilometers away from the spot right now."
Regina smiled a little maliciously. "I think Gold and I can handle it," she said. Gold looked at her warily, clearly not comfortable to be working with her.
"Your magic won't work here. The only sort of magic that's useful here is pixie dust, and it's hard to come by. Pixies are allies of Pan and the Lost Boys, so the only way to get dust is to steal it," said Hook.
Regina frowned, but didn't say anything. David and Mary Margaret, however, looked relieved at this news. Hook pulled a map from his pocket and pored over it.
"We'll head south by foot to reach Mermaid Lagoon by tomorrow. I'll warn you again – don't be messin' with them, let me do the talking. They'll know what's been going on around the island, but a bargain will have to be stuck for information. Devilish creatures, the lot of them. But useful if handled correctly," he said, glancing at Emma. She glared at him after comprehending his double meaning.
Each group member grabbed a pack and climbed down a rope ladder to the base of the ship.
"What if someone finds the ship?" asked David as they walked toward the woods.
"Let's hope that doesn't happen," said Hook, "Most of the pirates are gone from here now, so it would seem strange to the Lost Boys and Natives if it was found."
They hiked in silence through endless woods and beach, Hook checking his compass to ascertain direction. Around mid-afternoon, they cooked some generic-looking fish that Hook had caught in a net in the morning and had a brief lunch. After, they continued on their way for a couple of hours, but when the sun began to set, Gold propositioned that they make camp. Stopping at a point near the beach, the group unpacked, set up tents, and created a fire.
"Will anyone see the smoke?" asked David as they all sat by the fire, eating leftover fish.
Emma was distracted as she watched the glowing sunset, the pink and purple hues giving the land a more enchanting appearance. She felt like a lost girl herself here.
"We're far enough away from The Lost Boys' camp and Cannibal Cove," replied Hook.
Emma nearly choked on her water. "Wait, there's cannibals here?"
"Don't worry, they'll only eat you if they track your scent," said Hook, smiling crookedly at her.
"That's not funny," said Mary Margaret. "No one is going to eat my daughter while I'm around."
This time Hook nearly choked on the rum he was drinking, making Emma blush heavily.
After the sun set, Gold, Regina, and Emma's parents headed off to their tents, but Emma and Hook remained by the fire.
"What if we never find Henry?" she said bleakly.
"We'll probably die trying," he replied.
Emma took that in, not responding for a moment.
"Why are you even helping us? Now that we're back in Neverland, shouldn't you leave to go gadding about killing Lost Boys and fighting maniacal pixies?" she said.
"Ye of little faith. Let's just say, I'm trying to make up for one of my greatest mistakes," said Hook.
"That's all I'm gonna get?" Emma said curiously. But one look at Hook's distanced expression, shutting out eye contact, deterred any advances in this conversation. "I guess I should say thanks."
"You don't have to," said Hook, now looking toward her, his silhouette only visible by the flickering flames of the fire. She moved closer. He leaned in slowly, and kissed her, this time patiently and smoothly. For the first time, she actually had butterflies in her stomach as she kissed him back. He brought her closer, and she sat on his lap, their lips meeting again and again, the kissing deepening. But he stopped before it got into heavier territory.
"Good night, Emma Swan," he said, and bid her goodnight.