I just had to give a little flashback of Killipan! The idea of him once being Pan is something i've thought about since Hook was introduced...especially when characters like Ruby have dual identities.
I liked the idea of one identity being essentially destroyed by heartbreak and creating another, more bitter one seemingly incapable of feeling the one thing that had once defined him. It'll make it so much better when he finds love again because it'll have been a journey.
I hope you guys stick around for the ride! xoxo Enjoy!
"Well, that went well." Emma chuckled, out of breath as she caught up with Wendy down the street.
"I think I really..." Wendy began.
"Really, what?" Emma asked gently.
"I think I really remember...those eyes. I remember them." Wendy said softly, staring off across the street and looking as if she'd seen a ghost.
Perhaps she had.
Neverland - (A very long time ago)
"Wendy! Come on, love!" Peter called after her, a wide smile on his face as he glanced over his shoulder at the brunette chasing him, her wild curls bouncing without care behind her.
"You know you're much faster than I am! It's unfair!" Wendy called back to him, annoyed that he was always faster and better at things than she.
"Shall I wait for you then?" He teased as he stopped and made a dramatic show of yawning.
"I'd really appreciate it if you did...but, I know you won't." Wendy groaned as she caught up a little.
Stupid infuriating, boy.
Then, without warning, Peter flew up towards the tree that towered above them, laughing as he perched himself on a branch and looked down at her.
"Hmph!" Wendy groaned as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at him.
She still needed his help to fly. It was something she struggled with, even in this magical land. The rules were simple enough, or so they seemed.
Think happy thoughts; he'd say.
But, lately Wendy seemed unable to conjure them in her memory.
She missed home. And as time wore on in Neverland, memories of home seemed to become unclear and it became unsettling to her. She didn't want to forget, she just didn't want to grow up. She wanted to be with Peter forever in a land where nothing could harm them. Where life was simple. But, the longer she stayed, the more she realized that life was just as complicated here. Just as cruel.
The only thing that brought her any sort of happiness were her adventures with the infuriating young man in that damned tree above her.
Peter had brought her to Neverland on her 16th birthday and 16 she had remained since that very day. Peter looked to be her age as well, if not maybe a year older. But, as old as they were, there was still something so innocent about Peter. As if the world had not gotten to him yet. But, for Wendy...it was different.
She had already seen so much before coming to Neverland. Her parents had died and she was a foster child, living in a kind families home for however long they had wished to keep her. The loss of her parents had started this fear of growing up. Of facing reality, and Peter was kind enough to take the pain away from her, sharing with her this beautiful land of fairies and mermaids. But, a new pain arose.
"Darling, I don't wish to wait all day." Peter called down to her with a laugh.
"I really dislike you right now, boy." Wendy said as she approached the tree and struggled to climb up to his branch. She was halfway there when she lost her footing and began to fall with a shriek...but as always, there were arms to catch her.
Peter.
"We really need to work on your climbing then, love." Peter smirked, his blue eyes sparkling as he gave her a quick peck on her cheek and flew them to his branch.
Storybrooke - (Present, a week later)
When Killian woke up on this particular morning, he bathed and dressed, taking a little extra time than usual in his appearance. He smiled at his reflection in the small mirror by his dresser as he passed.
"Still devastatingly handsome, I must say." He said to himself with a little smile.
As he climbed the steps that led to the deck, he glanced towards town and at the clock tower.
7 am precisely.
He had about 14 minutes to get there before she did. Wendy had made it a habit of going to Granny's at promptly 7:15 every morning. What he was doing wasn't quite...stalking, per say. More like trying to put himself in her way so they could have some sort of interaction. She had intrigued him and he couldn't stop thinking about the day they first met and how it felt to look into her eyes, to be near her.
She reminded him of...something. A feeling, perhaps.
His steps quickened as he made his way to the diner and once there, he slipped onto the bar stool at the counter and ordered his coffee like usual.
When Ruby abruptly slid the cup and saucer over to him, Killian glanced up.
"What?" He asked,his brows furrowed.
"What are you doing, Hook?" Ruby asked, folding her arms across her chest suspiciously.
"Having a cup of coffee...?" He answered slowly, trying to hide any trace of his real intentions that morning.
"Mmmhmm." She hummed as the front door jingled and Wendy came in, Killian's eyes quickly darting to see her.
"That!" Ruby accused quietly as she pointed at Hook.
"What?!" Killian laughed, looking back to the waitress.
"You come here every morning now just to see her, don't you?" Ruby said in a low voice just before Wendy approached and sat down at the other end of the counter, Granny making her 2 coffees to go.
"What? That...that's laughable, wolf girl. I happen to like coming here. I eat here all the time." He reminded her pointedly, desperately trying not to look at Wendy now.
"You hardly ever came in the morning..." Ruby accused childishly.
"Can we cut the chatter til the lady leaves...please?" Killian added in a low voice, nearly begging Ruby to stop her inquisition.
"Fine, what'll it be, Hook?" Ruby asked, pulling out a pad to write his order on.
"Scrambled eggs and some toast with grape jelly." He said to which Ruby nodded and walked off.
"Good morning, Captain." Wendy replied with a smile as she got up to leave, holding a grey drink holder which housed her two coffees. One for herself and one for Emma, no doubt.
"Ah, good morning, lass. You look positively stunning this morning." Killian replied jovially. And she most certainly did. Today, she wore a dark green sweater that hung off one shoulder, baring it to the pirate's lustful eyes, and a pair of black skinny jeans with her tall black boots. She was always so put together. Always so beautiful.
"Well, thank you...you stay out of trouble, ok?" Wendy asked softly as she approached him, having to cross his path in order to get to the door.
To that, Killian winked and gave her a short salute.
She laughed and kept on walking.
"Lass?" He called after her.
"Yea, Hook?" She replied, turning around as she reached the door. Killian took a breath before getting up and walking over to her, the smell of her flowery perfume wafting into his sinuses. Her eyes nearly making him forget why he even walked over. Hell, they practically made him forget his own name!
"Well, being as you are a sort of babysitter to me these days...I thought it might be great fun to give you a tour of my ship...maybe tonight?" He said with a grin, faking confidence as he looked her over slightly.
Was he asking her to be alone with him on his ship? On the inside, she was freaking out but outwardly, she kept her cool. She needed to consult Emma and Regina about this. Was it a good idea for her to go? Probably not. Should she go out of obligation to her jobs objective? Probably.
Ugh.
Still, the thought of being alone with this man thrilled her and she couldn't help the words that spilled from her lips of their own accord...
"Sure, that'd be cool." She smiled softly. This only made his smile grow and it made him look like a young boy, his light eyes sparkling and his perfect white teeth shining.
"Brilliant, I'll meet you by the docks around...8, perhaps?" He suggested.
"Alright, 8 o'clock then." She replied with a nod.
"Looking forward to seeing you again, love." He said in a gentle tone as he reached down and took her hand, bringing her knuckles to his lips as he had the day they met and kissed them slowly before releasing her hand and looking up, sending her a wink.
"See you tonight." She whispered, barely recognizing her voice as her own as she turned to leave.
"And you agreed to go? That's good!" Emma exclaimed with a smile when Wendy told her the newest development.
"But how is that good?" Wendy lamented, slouching down in her chair and looking defeated.
Emma paused and considered the woman in front of her.
It hadn't really occurred to Emma to see it from Wendy's point of view. She was about to be alone with her True Love. A True Love that time and circumstances had made her forget completely...and something could happen tonight that could send all those memories flooding back to her. All those feelings. And considering the man he was now...she was right to be scared. He was dangerous.
"Listen...I know this is scary. And, I can't tell you what you will or won't feel tonight, but just spend a little time alone with him. He won't hurt you. I see it when he looks at you...he wants to remember, too. He said that you're familiar to him." Emma said gently.
"He did?" Wendy asked hopefully, unsure why this made her feel better.
Emma nodded.
"It'll be fine, but just in case anything happens, you have your gun and your cell phone. Keep both in your purse and keep it near you at all times." Emma instructed.
"Of course." Wendy agreed.
Wendy sighed and started on the pile of paperwork in front of her, but all she could focus on was waiting until the clock struck 6 and she could go home and pour herself a generous glass of wine.