Here's Chapter 4! I decided to split Chapter 4 (partly because Jojen's part is quite hard to write. Haha. I'll publish it within the next two days though). This is a chapter dedicated to Peter because his presence has been quite lacking in the story. Haha. And I kind of wanted to delay one of the most awaited moments in the story (Yes I'm a bit of a tease). I know I promised more Jojen but at least there's more Peter?:D Haha. I promise Jojen will be the main focus of the next Chapter.3 :) I'm sorry in advance for the grammatical errors… I didn't get the chance to edit because I got lazy.x.x :))
Peter woke up with a jolt and immediately relaxed when the weight of Henry's head kept him from sitting up right. His heart was racing, his mind trying to remember his dream but he could only remember bits and parts of it. He took deep breaths, calming his heart beat as he laid back down, letting Henry's head go back to lying comfortably on his chest. Peter was quite thankful for the fact that Henry was quite a deep and heavy sleeper. He wasn't ready to answer the boy's curious questions he knew he'll have if Peter managed to wake him. He looked down at his Beau and couldn't stop the smile forming on his lips. It was quite a heart-warming and endearing sight to see. One of Henry's hands was fisted in Peter's clothing, his fingers tightening every so often. It was as if the boy was afraid he'll float away if he didn't hold tight enough or if he let go for even a second. Henry was smiling and it took Peter's breath away at how relaxed the boy looked. He looked so content beside Peter. It was not an unfamiliar sight to Peter because it happened more often than not. He did not mind waking up to it and he hoped that he did always wake up to it. He didn't always feel that way though… there was a time that it bothered that he didn't mind and Peter realised that no amount of pointless worrying and irritating questions in his head that more often than not gave him migraines and not to mention the unnecessary heartache will make it not okay for him to have the boy by his side. Now, it was an unfamiliar sight if the boy wasn't at least curled up next to him. He's gotten used to it so much… actually, now the thought of Henry not being near him made bile rise up in Peter's throat. The thought was something he did not like to entertain in his head. The arm wrapped around Henry tightened around him pulling the younger teenager closer to him. He closed his eyes brushing his lips against the crown of Henry's head, breathing in the scent of the boy.
As cliché as it sounded, the boy in his arms managed to worm his way into Peter's heart like the older teenager didn't have the defences built around it. It was like he waltz in to it with ease and his warm light melted the ice that surrounded Peter's heart. Peter always believed that his chest… his emotions and he was impenetrable by anyone but he was wrong. Henry proved him wrong. Peter has had Henry's picture for almost a millennia before the younger teenager managed to make his way to Neverland; never had Peter imagined nor did he ever think that he'll become one of those saps who will fall in love with someone. He never thought that he'll be one of those people who knew the beginning of a very tragic love story but still don't care about the consequences. Peter didn't think he'll say sappy words to anyone before because he was Peter Pan, after all. His name sent shivers even through the Dark One's spine. He was fearsome, he was not far from a sap. But this boy… changed everything. He was far from being a sap but that wasn't the case anymore, was it? Peter never saw himself as a boy who'd try to defy everything to just be with the one they loved. He didn't care that all the signs that the universe has been giving them was that they shouldn't be together, that it was wrong, they were wrong for each other but… Peter's heart… and he was assuming Henry's heart too said that it was right and they loved each other. It was right. He didn't care about the signs because Henry was… is his true love.
Peter's heart skipped a beat; his breath hitched and his head was buzzing. There it was, out in the open. It was a truth that would have been worthy to have been revealed in the Echo Caves. Peter sighed and stared up at the ceiling. He watched as it slowly turned into his version of the sky outside. Peter knew how clichéd it was but before Henry, it was almost pitch black, the only light that dimly lit the skies were the stars twinkling from afar. It seemed like the stars were more than a million miles away, but now, the moon shined bright in the sky with the stars twinkling bright next to it. The twinkling seemed like it was expressing the happiness that Peter felt. It was all because of Henry, of course… He was happy before the younger teenager came to the island but now, the reason for his happiness is because of a more noble and purer reason than in the past. It was honestly ridiculous, a whole new level of stupid and insanely clichéd and Peter didn't care. The teenager sighed, closing his eyes again.
The shadow flashed through his eyes, and he was reminded of the dreams he's been having the past few days. The shadow never failed to remind himof his fate, the deadline that his island set up for him. The shadow showed him the supposed events of that moment he was saved. Henry was lying unconscious on the floor while a green mist went through the island, absorbing it's power. Peter floated and he was just looking down at Henry, the younger teenager wasn't waking up. He was just lying there and the shadow flew towards Peter, sneering as he did. The shadow said a very merry 'congratulations' to Peter in succeeding but it wasn't a success. Life was not worth living without Henry by his side. It was a stupid thought because it was infuriatingly co-dependent that he wanted to wring his own neck for it. It was clichéd. He hated it. Peter knew if he didn't do it, he will die. He will die unless Henry willingly gives him his heart. Henry dying in Peter's hands was a more disturbing and unwelcomed thought than the thought of not having Henry beside him.
The whole pretence about saving magic it was all bollocks and he felt bad for lying but he didn't know if he could tell Henry the truth. Not now when they're happy. He didn't know how Henry will react but Peter doubted it would be good. He sighed, Henry desperately wanted to be a hero like his other family members. He wouldn't be here if he didn't. Peter was taking advantage of it. "I can hear you thinking." Someone said suddenly, piercing through his thoughts. He looked down and saw Henry looking up at him, with one of his eyebrows arching. Henry looked a bit amused but a bit alarmed.
Peter chuckled and shook his head. He brought his free hand up and caressed his face. "What's with the worried look?" Peter asked, that only made Henry's eyebrow go higher. "Sleep, Henry." Peter told him, he pressed his lips on Henry's forehead and smiled.
"I just woke up." Henry told him, yawning. He was still tired but he wanted to stay awake and ask what was bothering the older teenager. Peter was humming which was a bit more effective than Peter;s pipes to lulling Henry back to sleep. He wondered if Peter enchanted those too. He didn't ask and it was partly because he didn't want to know. Henry's eyes were droopping and slowly closing without his permission. His eyes finally shut and the humming slowly faded, and Henry was momentarily stuck in a black abyss. He felt panic erupt in his chest, fearing he'll go back to the burning room. It lasted for a moment and he started to dream.
Peter watched, smiling as he did, as Henry was lulled back to sleep. His humming didn't stop until Henry was back in deep slumber. He hoped that he was sweet dreams. Henry deserved only those kinds of dreams. At the corner of his eye, he could see the shadow floating around the island. He knew he was watching Peter's camp, protecting it from other forces like Baelfire's group or Rumplestiltskin's. Peter knew that the shadow could see him and it slightly unnerved him because this was one of the private moments he had with Henry. He wanted to keep it between his Believer and him. He didn't want to taint it, he didn't want the Shadow to taint it. Peter gently laid Henry on the bed before getting up and looked out the window.
He caught the eye of the shadow and Peter appeared in his 'thinking tree' where the shadow was waiting for him. "I know why you seeked council with me, Peter Pan." The shadow said in his very eerie low voice. "You seek another solution." The shadow mused, the mocking tone thinly veiled. "There is no other solution."
"There's always a way." Peter glared at the shadow. "You found a way before."
"And that is the solution we have been sticking to for centuries." The shadow said, it sounded so reasonable but Peter knew that it was mocking him with his tone. "You seeked to stay young forever and the island granted you your wish. It came with a deadline and a solution. You're breaking the rules again, Peter Pan."
Peter wanted to say that rules were made to be broken but it'd be pointless. There has to be another way. "There has to be a way!" Peter bellowed, if he could, he would have killed the shadow with the glare he's throwing the shadow's direction. "There has to be another way!" Peter took deep breaths. He cannot lose Henry. There is another way! "You found a way before, you'll find another." Peter insisted. "Find another way!"
"You forget your place, boy." The shadow sneered, getting in Peter's space. "You do not order me around." The shadow always liked Peter Pan, he wouldn't have helped the teenager if he didn't but right now, Peter Pan was being an insolent brat and just because of 15 year old boy. He looked into the teenager's eyes, forcing him into submission but Peter Pan stood his ground. The shadow stayed for a moment to make sure that his message was received before flying out the window.
Peter stayed there for a moment. What if the shadow couldn't find another way? Peter didn't want to die, but he didn't want Henry to die either. It was a choice laid in front of him. He had to choose between himself and his true love.
Having Henry in his arms was the sweet part of that memory and the conversation with the shadow made it a nightmare. Peter's brain woke up, but his eyes didn't open. He wanted to keep seeing Henry's face even just for a second. He took a deep breath before he opened his eyes and found Henry sitting on his… their bed, his gaze fixed on him with a gentle smile formed on his lips. His sleep deprived brain couldn't process it until the younger teenager wrapped his arms around him. Peter was taken aback, his arms automatically wrapping themselves around Henry. "Wha – " Peter started but he couldn't form any coherent words. Henry was hugging him tight and it surprised Peter. Peter didn't feel like he was home like he normally did when Henry's near him. "You're not him." Peter said, trying to push the imposter away. The imposter hugged him tighter squeezing him tight, until he was out of breath. He woke up and found himself in Skull Rock. He scrambled to get up and found the shadow hovering near the Golden Hour Glass that has been turned into a mere fixture over the past couple of years. "Why have you brought me here?" Peter asked, glaring at his old companion. The little shit has taken it upon himself to torment Peter a couple of times. "Answer me!" Peter said, using his powers to bring the shadow closer to him.
"I think it's not a question of why I brought you here, Peter." The shadow chuckled, slipping out of Peter's grasp easily. "It's a question of what I can do for you." The shadow smirked. Peter knew that the shadow knew what he was looking for. "There is no way to go to Storybrooke." The shadow said, flying circles around Peter but Peter knew better than to believe everything that the shadow says. "You cannot leave this island." The shadow smirked, hovering in front of Peter before flying towards the hourglass once again.
"I no longer need to stay here. I have the magic of the island in me." Peter snapped at him. The shadow knew this; he knew that Peter was more powerful than he ever was before. There was nothing impossible to him but getting to Storybrooke was becoming an impossible feat for Peter. Peter could easily cross realms but what about his boys? He can't leave them here. He was their family and they were his. He may be just a boy but he knew a lot about abandonment. He knew how it felt and how it hurts. He won't ever make the same mistake like their families did. His boys deserved a whole family, a home. "You know a way! Do not insult my intelligence, shadow. I know you know a way." Peter glared at him.
The shadow slowly came back to him. "Henry still believes that you did what you did to save magic?" The shadow sneered. The shadow smirked and circled Peter again before stalking forward. "You did it to save yourself, to make yourself powerfful. Do you think your Beau will still love you when he learns the truth?" The shadow asked, still gliding around the floor. If Peter could trip him, he'd do it in a heartbeat just to get rid of the shadow's smugness. What was the point of bringing this up now? But the question is not a foreign thought in Peter's mind. He often thought about it because there was a strong possibility that Henry will find out. Rumpelstiltskin knew about it and he wouldn't put it past the old man to put his true love against him. "He will no longer see you as his Peter Pan." The shadow said, his tone mocking. He's always so mocking.
The shadow then shifted into Henry. He walked over to Peter, a predatory smile formed on his lips and it wasn't Henry. It would be easy for anyone to pretend it to be him, but not Peter. It wasn't. The differences between his Henry and this imposter made it impossible for Peter to even think about Henry this way. It was practically an insult. The shadow smirked as Peter took a step back when he touched the teenager's arm. He touched him again, tugging him back, pulling him closer. "You're not him." Peter said, moving away again. "Don't pretend to be him!"
"Why not?" The shadow asked, grip tightening around Peter. "This Henry knows all the despicable things you did." The shadow pulled him closer, harder than before. "Do you think if the real Henry finds out that you planned on killing him, he would still love you?" The shadow asked another question. It wasn't easy thinking about it. It wasn't easy having to hear it in Henry's voice but it wasn't Henry's voice, was it? No matter how spot on it is, the shadow couldn't capture the boy he loved perfectly. "He will never love you for who you really are."
"He does!" Peter said, trying to slip out of the shadow's grasp but it was tight. He was almost suffocating him. 'He will." Peter insisted. The shadow wrapped his arms around Peter's neck, tugging him down before pressing his lips on Peter's and it didn't feel right. Peter pushed him away and shook his head. "You may look like him, but you'll never be him. You can never successfully pretend to be him. You're too corrupted."
"That's because you know its me." The shadow said. The shadow's version of Henry was so corrupted that Peter almost died a little inside because he couldn't help but think what if Henry became like this shadow? What if after everything he's been through, he turns out to be like this shadow? But a light shines and he realises that his Henry was stronger than that. Everyone had a dark side and Henry was strong enough to reign in that part of him. "Why do you fight it? Don't turn away from me, boy." The shadow commanded.
Peter shook his head, shoving the shadow away with his powers. "You're not him!" Peter said. A strong wind entered Skull Rock and made the shadow hit the wall of the island. There was like an invisible force keeping the shadow from flying off of it. "Tell me the way you know." Peter demanded. The shadow sneered, squirming against the force holding him in place. Peter knew if the shadow's gaze held any power, he would have been vaporised at the spot. He was thankful that it didn't. It would be very messy if it did.
The force disappeared and it was obvious that Peter made the shadow angry. "We both know that you can freely leave this island without my help." The shadow said, his voice was now intimidating and it would have made Peter back down if the teenager didn't know that the Shadow was still there because of him. "Are you planning taking those 'lost boys' of yours?" The shadow sneered again. He passed through Peter, almost knocking the teenager off his feet. "Has this boy really changed you?" The shadow mocked. But no, even before Henry, he wouldn't have left his boys to rot in the island. Henry only showed him that he should give them a choice. It was better letting them have a choice in the decisions that concerns them and their well-being. "When he learns the truth, he'll never bear to look at you again. Not even true love can withstand that." The shadow said.
"You're wrong." Peter insisted. He wasn't all that sure but he knew Henry. He knew that the younger teenager was more forgiving than most. He doesn't expect to be forgiven when Henry learns the truth. He was hoping for the best but expecting the worst. "What do you know about love?! Let alone true love." Peter asked. If Henry finds out then Peter will deal with it. He'll accept whatever fate has instore for them but not being realms apart from one another. Anything but that fate, he'll accept.
"I know enough." The shadow told him. He hovered near one of the exits of the Rock. "You've always been intelligent, Peter Pan but never did I think that you can be this naïve." The shadow said, he was silent for a second before flying towards Peter again. "I'll grant you your wish but be ready to pay for the consequences, Peter Pan."
Peter made his way back to his camp. He heard Felix breathe a sigh of relief as he made his way towards his best friend. "Where have you been?" Felix asked, giving him a look of concern. Peter shook his head and he hoped that his face didn't reflect how shaken he was. The Shadow knew how to get under his skin. He knew how to break down Peter's defences and not the way Henry did. This was entirely because the shadow intended him to stop his plans from leaving the island. But he was determined to leave, he wanted to leave with his family. The lost boys were his family. "We have been searching the island for you." Felix told him.
He cleared his throat. Although he could see the answer on their faces, but he just can't stop himself from asking them. "Have you found anything?" Peter asked. Some of the boys look down on their feet and he could sympathize with them. They didn't like disappointing them. Felix shook his head and Peter nodded. "Don't look so sullen boys! Are you losing hope?" Peter asked, he was satisfied when the boys looked up at him once again. "We will find a way. We will find a way, just needs a bit more time… just like when we found Henry." Peter said, smirking. The lost boys sighed, nodding. He knew that some of them were getting tired but they still believed which was better than nothing.
Felix followed him to his treehouse, closing the door behind him. "I know that look, what did the shadow tell you?" Felix asked him.
"I don't want to talk about it, Felix." Peter told him, crashing face first on his bed. Felix knew about his plans and he stood by his side. He was a true brother. He is a true brother. He didn't know what he did to deserve such people in his life but he never questioned why they were there. They were there by his side because they wanted to be. "I can feel you judging. Stop it." Peter muttered against the pillow. He grabbed one of the pillows and threw it at his brother when he could still feel Felix's eyes on him. "What?" Peter asked, pushing himself to sit up. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Peter asked him, frowning at his best friend. "He didn't tell me anything. He pretended to be Henry again." Peter muttered under his breath. Honestly, Felix was such a worrywart. "How is the search coming?" Peter asked.
Felix looked at him and shook his head. "We've been through the island more times we can count. We haven't found the portal." Felix told him. "Yet, anyway. But we will." Felix added quickly. "Well, it's a good thing you never fall for his impersonation, isn't it?" Felix shrugged. They settled in a comfortable silence until one of the lost boys called Felix outside. "We'll find a way." He said, reassuringly to Peter but Peter had a feeling it wasn't him Felix was reassuring. He heard Felix asking the boy what he wanted and it was quiet again.
Peter crashed on the bed and when he opened his eyes. There was a small pouch on his table with a note. He grabbed it and gingerly opened it. There was a magic bean inside but it didn't look like one of the regular magic beans grown by the giants in the other realm. It had a golden colour, and it looked bigger than usual. Peter put it down and turned his attention to the piece of parchment attached to the pouch. He had a feeling that it came from the shadow. He opened the letter and he felt a weight lifted in his heart. You found your way. Accept the consequences no matter what they are. You made your choice. They finally found a way, a way to Henry, a way back to a semi-normal life. They were going to Storybrooke and Peter didn't want to think about consequences, not now anyway. That'll be a bridge he'll cross when the time comes; but not now. He heard an eerie squawk coming from behind him and he didn't notice until now a three eyed raven was watching him.