Helloo :) I hope you like this chapter and thank you for your kind feedback to the last one :) As ever I shamelessly beg for reviews haha xD This chapter switches between Wendy's house and the treehouse where the pirates are so I hope that works okay - let me know if not

Enjoy!

Chapter 16

(The Treeehouse)

Hook reeled backwards, clapping his hand to his nose and growling as his hand came away red. That whelp of a girl had given him a nosebleed!

"You'll pay for that you little strumpet!" he barked, grabbing hold of her and swinging her roughly into the wall, holding her by the shoulders as she struggled. Fiercely Jane fought against him, thrashing and twisting within his steely hold, but she was no match for him and he soon had her pinned inescapably. Hook looked truly mad, his eyes flashing as red as the blood that lingered on his face. He was seized with an almost irrepressible urge to harm this girl who thought she could flaunt her love in front of him, she was so fragile and felt so small in his grip...it would be the easiest thing in the world to crush her.

His hook was resting heavily across her neck, making it hard for her to breathe, and he held her slightly off the floor with the other arm. Their faces were inches apart, he could see the tears trembling on the edge of her eyelashes, feel her gasping breath.

So vulnerable...

He had grown to hate things that were weaker than him.

Jane was terrified – each breath was harsher than the one before as the pirate pressed ruthlessly against her throat – but what scared her the most was the look in his crimson eyes.

The hate.

The contempt.

He wasn't letting go.

"Please," she rasped, her eyes swimming with tears.

Hook simply looked at her with detached scorn; she wasn't even fighting back.

It was as he applied more pressure and the room around Jane began to fade in and out of focus that she realized she had to try. She had to at least try and save herself or she'd be dead. And then who would look after Johnny?

As if sensing her train of thought Hook sneered at her and it was this look that made Jane react. Quickly through the fog of pain in her head and throat she kicked out, catching him squarely in the shin. He snarled with pain but didn't let go so she quickly brought her knee up and hit him in a more...sensitive spot.

Hook buckled, letting her fall to the ground at his feet and doubled over with pain. Jane used this opportunity to push herself up and try to run but he recovered quickly, if anything more incensed than before, and grabbed her arm, yanking her back.

"You stupid girl," he spat, slapping her so hard round the face that she stumbled backwards, dazed. Stay quiet Jane, she told herself, don't let him see you cry, and don't let Johnny hear. Be brave.

Slowly and with measured movements Hook wiped away the blood on his face, staring at Jane with those frightening red eyes all the while. Again that urge to crush...to kill.

She was not backing away any more, choosing instead to stand her ground, but she couldn't help but tremble when he began to advance.

Stay quiet, Jane. Stay brave.

"You really thought you could take me on and win?" Hook hissed, closing the distance between them with long, powerful strides. Jane seemed to shrink away from him but stood firm, refusing to move away from him. She thought she might as well get it over with.

Hold on...

"Foolish girl," he jeered as he finally reached her, looking down at her from his greater height.

Stay strong. For Johnny.

She forced herself not to make a sound or flinch away when he raised his fist.

(The House)

"Peter?"

Wendy pounded on the bedroom door, ignoring John as he paced frantically behind her.

"Peter open the door!" she shouted, going so far as to give the door a kick in her frustration.

"This is ridiculous!" She was screaming now, undone by her fear for her children and her guilt.

Peter couldn't really hear her, he was staring out of the window with bloodshot, fierce eyes and her voice was just a vague irritation on the border of his overloaded mind.

He took a step towards the windowsill just as the banging increased and, slowly, he turned his head.

"Peter, please," said Wendy in a broken voice that sounded a lot like Jane's when she was upset. It took a matter of seconds for Peter to cross to the door and open it but to him it felt like a lifetime, as if he was moving underwater. He couldn't think...couldn't breathe.

Wendy almost fell into the room when he suddenly opened the door and he reached out automatically to catch her.

"Careful," he said in a monotonous voice that was quite unlike him.

Before Wendy could say anything he let go of her and moved to stand on the other side of the room with his arms crossed, regarding her coolly as if prepared for anything she might say.

"Peter...you can't go back to Neverland. It's simply too dangerous," she whispered, despite the pain it cost her to say it. Jane was her daughter and Johnny her son and she loved them more than anything in the world but surely there had to be some other way than Peter dying. Any other way.

"I'm going and you can't stop me. I'll get her back," replied Peter calmly.

At these words John, who had been hovering outside, walked into the room and put his arm around Wendy.

"Let him go, for Jane's sake and for little Johnny. You know it's the only way," he said softly, dropping his normal, business-like tone.

Wendy's shoulders sagged and she leaned into her brother, glad of his support.

"I know," she choked out, looking at Peter with a pained expression, "I just...please be careful."

She had loved him. Obviously all of that was in the past but still when she thought of him in danger she couldn't cope, she needed him to be okay. If not for her then for Jane.

Seeing her acceptance John turned to Peter.

"How exactly do you plan to get there?" he asked, adjusting his glasses.

In response Peter silently pulled a small wooden box out of his belt and slid the lid off.

"It's pixie dust. There's just enough left," he said flatly. This would be his last trip, he couldn't fly on his own anymore. The thought was torturous but the idea of losing Jane was worse.

Both adults fully understood the sacrifice he was making and were grateful for it and they also knew that he needed to be alone. Wendy turned to go but couldn't resist turning back once John had gone.

"I'll always believe in you, Peter Pan," she said tremulously, trying extremely hard not to cry.

His only reply was a nod but it was enough.

She was gone.

Peter slowly climbed up until he was stood on the broad windowsill, looking down. He had never been one for premeditation and this case was no different, he just took a deep breath and tipped the dust over himself, closing his eyes as the light grains settled on his skin.

"It's Hook or me this time," he said grimly to the night sky and that thought alone was enough to lend purpose to the magic. The dust started to glint and buzz on his skin and he opened his eyes – it was time.

Peter Pan didn't hesitate, it wasn't in his nature. He launched himself into the sky and reveled in the cold air as it rushed past him.

His bright blue eyes narrowed as he flew swiftly towards Neverland.

He would get Jane back.

He had to.

(The Treehouse)

From her crouched position on the floor Jane saw Hook's shadow loom over her with dread. She couldn't take any more. Each part of her ached and protested against her every move. And yet not a single sound, be it beg or plea, had passed her lips and with every refusal on her part to acknowledge her pain Hook grew angrier.

Squeezing her eyes shut Jane drew her arms around her legs and curled round herself, using her body to protect her face.

Hook had had enough. His rage was like a blindfold, maddening him with his loss of control, and yet he couldn't stop. When he looked at the girl at his feet he was filled with spite and malice that made him hate her for her innocence and beauty just as much as it made him...

He raised his hand and was about to hit her one last time, to complete the lesson he had been teaching her, when he heard a noise that set his teeth on edge.

The sound he despised and loathed.

The sound he thought we would never hear again.

The crow of Peter Pan.