A/N: Update 20

I stumbled back onto the ship at about six in the morning. The sun was beginning to peak over the horizon. The treehouse was all set for tonight, as long as Winnie would forgive me. I headed back to the kitchen to frost the cookies I made. I placed a few on a plate, found some paper, and wrote an apology note. I headed back down to the living quarters, where I showered and then headed over to Winnie's room.

I knocked quietly. "Winnie," I whispered. "Are you awake?" There was no answer. I tapped again, a little louder this time. "Winnie, please. Open the door. I'm really sorry, and want to make it up to you." I heard stirring within the room, but still, no answer.

Suddenly I heard the pounding of feet on the ground. Winnie still sounded super angry, so I quickly placed the plate of cookies on the ground and ran around the corner. I felt like such a coward. I couldn't even face her, but right now, maybe all she needed was some space.

"Peter, I thought I told you to-," Winnie fumed opening the door. "What?" She looked around, confused, trying to see who knocked on her door. I was peaking around the corner, where she couldn't see me. She looked down and saw the cookies and note. She bent down to pick up the plate. She read the note:

Winnie,

I truly am sorry. I'm an idiot. I never should have

taken you to the Indians' party. It was rude and selfish of

me to take you somewhere you didn't really want to go to

while we were on a date. I totally understand your being

mad at me, but know that I never meant to hurt you. Please,

let me make it up to you. I have plans for you and me after

I get back from exploring with your dad. Meet me on the bow

of the ship after dinner. Think of it as our first real, official date.

Love,

Peter

After reading the note, Winnie glanced around looking for me. I thought I'd let her mull it over for the day, and find out her decision tonight. I was incredibly tired, but Hook would probably want to be leaving soon, so I headed up to the kitchen in search of breakfast.

Hook and I headed out not too long after. Winnie never came up for breakfast, so I'm guessing she's still mad. Smee packed us some lunches again, and sent us out on our way.

I yawned. "Why so tired, Pan?" Hook sneered. "Better not have been with Winnie all night."

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. "What's it to you?"

Hook stopped and turned around. He got right up in my face and whispered-sneered, "Listen here, you little bastard: don't think that I don't know what goes through your head. I was a teenage boy once, and although it was a very long time ago, boys don't change. I told you once; I don't want you and Winnie alone together anymore. You are a dangerous necessity I need for my plan to work, and if you do anything to my Winnie, you'll never see her again, got it?"

I simply nodded, too stunned for words. I could tell Hook was serious this time. I thought it would be best to just do as he pleased for the rest of the day. Finally I said, "Where do you want to look first, Captain?"

"Let's try the Mermaid Lagoon," Hook replied.

I nodded, so we headed over towards the east side of the island. When we reached the Lagoon I was about ready to collapse. I hadn't slept a wink the previous night, and all I really wanted to do was take a nap. I pretended to look around as Hook wandered further and further away. When I couldn't see him anymore, I sighed and laid out on the sand, hoping to catch up on some sleep. It reminded me of being back home on my nights on the beach. I could feel myself drifting off to sleep.

"Peter! Oh, Peter, wake up!" I jolted awake. How long had I been asleep? I was having a horrible dream that Winnie was trapped and tied up. I looked around. Who was calling my name? "Peter, out here!" I glanced out at the water. There were three mermaids waving at me. Crap, this was not what I needed right now. I was supposed to be fixing things with Winnie, and the mermaids were not going to help.

"Come on, Peter. Come swim with us," Aqua waved me down.

Maybe one swim wouldn't hurt. I smiled and nodded. I kicked off my shoes and pulled my shirt over my head. I swam out to where Aqua, Ice, and Rain were. "How'd you know it was me? Everyone else seems to have troubles recognizing me."

"Peter, we could never forget you!" Rain said swimming up to me. She began to run her fingers through my wet hair, and I suddenly knew that coming out here with them was a big mistake.

"I, uh, should probably get going. I'm on a mission looking for something," I said trying to swim away.

"Awe, but Peter, you just got here," Ice whined. "Don't you want to play?" she had a mischievous smile on her lips. She swam up to me and began nibbling on my earlobe. I sighed enjoying the sensation. Ice then grabbed my arm, pulling me underwater.

I was underneath the surface, kicking and trying to break free. It felt like I was underwater for an eternity. Finally I fought my way back up to the surface, gasping for air. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" I coughed out.

"Gosh, I'm sorry, Peter. I was only playing around," Ice replied innocently. "Please stay and play."

I was beginning to feel extremely uncomfortable. "Something's different with you, Ice. You never used to be this way."

"That was before you left us, Peter. You left, and the whole island started aging, including us. If we age, we become ugly, and no self-respecting mermaid is ugly." Ice replied getting angrier by the second.

"Oh come on, Peter," Aqua said glaring at Ice. "She's only joking. I mean, we did age when you left, but she really does care about you. So do I," Aqua swam up to me, examining my face. "Wow, Peter. You really matured. I thought you were cute back then, but look at you now!" Aqua began to run her hands down my bare chest.

My heart started beating faster and faster. I was nervous and excited at the same time. I knew it was a bad idea to come out here and swim with the mermaids, but I did it anyway. It was like they had lured me out here by magic. It was then that I remembered that mermaids do that. They lure men out to them, seduce them, and then drown the poor suckers. Aqua leaned forward trying to kiss me.

"Whoa! No!" I panicked trying to break their spell over me. "I'm sorry, but I have to go." I swam away as fast as I could.

"No! You are not going to leave us again!" All three shouted.

"We have to stay young and beautiful," said Ice swimming after me.

"If we can't have you, no one can!" Rain screeched as she grabbed my foot pulling me back under the water. I struggled and fought, but Rain was a lot stronger than Ice was. I was getting dizzy, and could tell I was losing consciousness. Suddenly I was coughing and spewing water. I was soaking wet, caked in sand, and my heartbeat was beginning to return to normal. I opened my eyes to see Hook staring down at me.

"What the hell, Pan! How am I supposed to find this damn youth source if you go off and get yourself drowned?" Hook began to lecture.

After catching my breath I sighed, "You…you saved me?"

Hook was taken off guard. "If you're dead, we're all dead."

I smirked and raised an eyebrow. Hook looked at me confused.

"Don't get any funny ideas. I need you for my plan to work. Don't get all mushy on me, boy. You are a necessity, that's it. If you think that I actually care for you, then that water must have gotten into your brain."

I didn't say anything, but I smiled. I stood up and grabbed my shirt and shoes. Hook was probably telling the truth, but for the time being, it was nice to know that someone cared even an ounce about me.

"Alright, Pan, where haven't we looked? I feel like we've scoured the entire island," Hook sat tapping his hook on his chin. "Got it! Mount Never. I don't know why I didn't think of it before!"

I started panicking. I thought I would have more time. "Didn't we already look there? I could have sworn we did."

"Yes, of course!" Hook wasn't even listening to me. "It's so obvious! It's in the cave at the top of Mount Never."

"Hook, I'm pretty sure we've already looked there." He still wasn't listening to me.

"Yes, yes, it's the perfect place to hide it. What do you think, Pan?" Hook looked over at me with an eager look on his face.

"I'm almost positive that we already searched for it there," I said once more. Hoping he would buy it.

Hook's smile faded into a glare. "It's there, isn't it, Pan? You've known all along, and you've been lying to me! Boy, you're going to get it!" Hook advanced towards me, reaching for his gun.

I backed away, finally stammering out, "May I remind you that you need me alive for the trade to work!"

Hook stopped and lowered his gun back. "Damn, you're right. Ooh, but just you wait boy, once we've made the switch you're dead, and your precious Wendy is mine."

"You said you wouldn't hurt Wendy. That was part of the deal. If you plan on hurting her, the deal's off." I said blankly.

"I'm not going to hurt her," Hook replied. "But I will do whatever I see fit. I knew you wouldn't risk Wendy's life for your own, so the threat was really just a play. I need her to gain the power of Neverland, a grown man can't rule here, it's not allowed. I need a child, Wendy, so that I may become the most powerful being in all the worlds."

"That's why you want to find the youth source? You think it will make you powerful?" I was fuming. My face turned red with rage.

"I don't think, I know. I've been studying Neverland and its powers for years. Everyone knew that you were the reason things didn't age on island, so I knew I had to figure out a way to get your power. I will be able to stay young and live forever, as long as I don't run into any trouble. I did discover another fascinating detail about the youth. I can restore some of my youth by harnessing the power with a potion I got from the Indians. I can suck the youth out of any snot-nosed brat who gets in my way. And I think I've just found my first victim." Hook smiled menacingly at me.

I gulped. I'd been tricked by Hook once again. You'd think I would have learned to never trust anything that old codfish had to say. I had to find a way so that Hook wouldn't get to the youth source. There's still the whole "it has to be my decision" thing, but what were to happen if Hook just decided to kill me if the trade didn't work? The island would have to find another source eventually.

"Let's head up to Mount Never, Pan. Get going!" Hook wacked me on the back of the head with his hook hand.

"We can't" I said rubbing my head, glad that he missed the faded bruising from the first time he hit me. "We need pixie dust to get to the top of Mount Never. You know that," I said, grateful to have left mine back at the ship.

"Well, where do you expect me to get some, Pan? No one in their right mind would give me any."

I shrugged. "It doesn't matter anyway, Hook. It's late, and you promised Smee you'd be back before dark this time," I smirked, glancing at the sun in the sky.

"Damn, you're right. Alright, let's head back. I'm sure I'll figure something out in the morning."

As we headed back to the ship, I was thinking about my plans for tonight. It was hard to plan anything if I didn't know how Winnie would act. I hoped Winnie had accepted my apology, but if she did, I wouldn't know what to do for the evening. I only had one piece of the plan: the treehouse.

"Great news!" Hook exclaimed entering the kitchen where Smee and Nibs were cooking. "I found out where the source of magic is." I rolled my eyes. Yeah, you found the magic.

"That's wonderful, Captain!" Smee jumped up and down, clapping his hands. "Where is it?"

"It's hidden at the top of Mount Never, so we need to find some pixie dust, but I'm not sure where we're going to get some," Hook explained.

"Pixie dust?" Winnie said walking into the kitchen. I looked at her with panic in my eyes. Please don't tell him I have some! She narrowed her eyes at me. "I think Peter has some of that."

I drew in a sharp breath as Hook turned and faced me, his face turning red with rage. Before either of us could say anything, Smee announced that it was time for dinner. I sat down and surprisingly, and despite how mad we both were, Winnie sat right next to me. I sneered. "Thanks, a lot," I whispered.

"Now we're even," She replied nonchalantly.

Dinner was rough. Hook kept glaring at me, and Winnie was ignoring me. I kept watching Nibs sneak food into his lap for Slightly. I couldn't eat anything. I was too nervous. By the way things had been going since Hook and I got back, I didn't think Winnie was going to come. I was still going to wait though. Dinner was almost over, so I excused myself, much to Hook's dismay, but Smee's refusal to let "petty arguments ruin dinner," so that I could go shower and put on some clean clothes. After I had washed up, I headed to the bow of the ship to wait.

I sat leaning against the ship watching the sun set. I'd been waiting for about twenty minutes now. I saw Winnie leave the kitchen about ten minutes ago, and hadn't seen her reappear. I had a feeling that she wasn't going to show up, but still, I waited. Ten more minutes had passed. The sun had set, I was sitting in the dark, and I was about ready to give up when I heard footsteps.

"You came," I stated. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up."

She didn't say anything, and I couldn't see her. It was pretty dark, and none of the deck lights were on. I finally stood up, curious as to why she wasn't saying anything.

"Winnie, I-I want to apologize again. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm such a dumbass," I apologized, hoping that she would say something, do something.

"Well that's something we can agree on," a voice said. It wasn't Winnie's.

I was startled, but began walking towards the figure that I thought was Winnie. I still couldn't see very well.

I walked closer, and all of a sudden I was grabbed from behind and I felt a cold metal blade at my throat. "Get me that pixie dust, Pan. We're going to Mount Never," Hook sneered.