A/N: Howdy team! Would love to hear from you guys! What are your opinions on PanElla? Or are you pro CaptainHart? (Yes, I did just come up with my own ship names. And yes, I did just realise that one of those names is a Torchwood character - sue me. I'm invested in this.)

Also, I'm going on schoolies tomorrow, after having an interview with the Conservatorium of Music so, that's gonna be fun. But it means that updates may be a little sparse for the rest of the week. But I'm back on Saturday at the latest. =]

Thanks for reading and reviewing guys! Here's the next chappie.

Enjoy! xx

Time

"Do you take pleasure in finding me at such inopportune times Captain?"

The dark pirate was creeping up the path silently as Ella sat on the river's edge, washing her clothes in the moonlight. Hook's breath caught in his throat momentarily as he saw her silhouette imprinted against the harsh background of Neverland's forest, but her words broke the moment. Evidently he hadn't been as silent as he thought. His usual demeanour was back as he swaggered up behind her and crouched down behind her, muttering huskily into her ear, "I'd take pleasure from you anytime love."

Ella couldn't help herself, becoming agitated immediately by his words. Her hand went flying at the face behind her, not remembering of course, that her underpants were in said hand and only catching herself just in time before he snagged them with his hook.

"You're leaving yourself incredibly open tonight Assassin," Hook smirked, not having missed what she almost hit him with a second before. Huffing away, she dumped her wet clothing in the corner of her cave and came back out to meet the pirate with anger bubbling in the pit of her stomach.

"I'm prepared for whatever comes my way."

"That sounds promising," Hook smiled, taking a step closer to her that she echoed with a step back. He frowned as Ella did so. It seemed they were back to the moment they met, when he'd kidnapped her, a game of cat and mouse.

"Why are you here again Hook?" she asked in frustration, her arms folding across her body in a guarded motion. She eyed the pirate carefully; after that morning she hadn't expected to see him again so quickly.

"In case you haven't noticed," Hook replied, taking another step forward, "There aren't exactly many people to talk to on the island. Besides, you've killed off everyone who made decent conversation on my ship."

"You came to talk," Ella confirmed doubtfully. "You aren't exactly a person I want to talk to-"

"What's that?" Hook cut across her rudely, staring directly at her chest. Her face was a mask of horror as she slid her hands upwards to cover herself, realising as she did that he was actually looking at the necklace that was sitting just above her shirt line and not at her chest.

"Nothing," she shrugged, knowing that it wasn't something she wanted to share with Hook. Ever.

"Really?" He eyed her curiously. They looked strangely like Shayan Military Tags. But he was more interested in the sparkling ring that hung amongst them. It was too beautiful to simply be a gift. "You sure you don't have someone you need to get back to?"

Ella needed to learn that silence clearly spoke louder than words. And Hook seemed to be staring at her in blatant confusion. She was Pan's slave – and no one had come to save her. Even though clearly, someone had cared enough to –

"Are you married?"

"No," Ella answered quickly, feeling a shiver run down her spine as Hook gazed at her with his penetrating eyes. She was being honest. If she was lying then the world would know; she wasn't exactly known for keeping a good poker face.

"Engaged then," Hook surmised with a nod. Ella gnawed on the inside of her bottom lip before whispering, "If he's still alive."

Hook nodded, unconsciously taking another step closer to the girl. "Of course, the Western Kingdoms' War."

Ella looked up at Hook in surprise. She hadn't ever considered the fact that Hook had arrived slightly after she did, so he could possibly know about the war. He must have pieced together her tags and the endless war that raged in the Western Region.

"I wasn't involved," Hook said quickly, waving his hands a little when he saw the narrowing of Ella's eyes. She wasn't fantastic at reading people; unlike everyone could with her, she couldn't tell if he was lying. Instead, she tried to get the topic off her before he started asking harder questions.

"You could have gone anywhere when you fled the Enchanted Forest Hook," Ella asked curiously, realising as she did that their conversation had brought them within a few feet of each other. "Over Narnia, Wonderland…you chose Neverland?"

"I needed time." He didn't elaborate and Ella didn't expect him to. If Pan knew he was finding a way to kill Rumplestiltskin then obviously she knew. Her simple nod confirmed it.

"But time's running out here," Ella murmured finally, almost musing to herself. It was what Pan didn't want her to know. That magic was running out; the world was cursed. And time – Neverland's endless supply of time – was running out.

She almost welcomed it.

Except Hook was standing before her, prepared to help her flee the oncoming collapse – and the world that Pan had made for her.

"Speaking of time," Hook said, taking a final step forward so that he was only a few inches between them. "How long have you been trapped on this island love?"

"Same as you Hook," she inclined her head at him, seemingly not as intimidated as she normally was. He hadn't made a suggestive comment in almost ten minutes; it had to be a record for him. "Ten years."

"I thought it might have been more," Hook said softly. There was a dash of relief in his eyes at the thought that it hadn't been too long. Ten years was nothing here, especially when neither of them had aged.

"It's been long enough," Ella said suddenly, remembering the proximity of her and Hook and stepping back. It had suddenly grown cold, the night flying by quickly and she said to him, "You should go before Pan comes."

"Why would – " His face gave away silent surprise. "I'm sorry love."

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said suddenly, ignoring the conclusion he had come to on his own, she gave him his cue to leave. He ducked his head in a gentlemanly fashion before bowing out gracefully. He couldn't help himself though, replying –

"Is that a promise?"

"No!" she smiled, beginning to step into her cave, the fire casting a warm glow around the cavern.

"What was his name?" Hook called back finally, already half way down the path. His voice wasn't demanding, but soft, as though he didn't expect her to answer.

"Captain Li Shang," Ella answered strongly without turning around. And she left, not knowing that Hook was watching her go, his face pained with knowledge of her fiancé that she simply could never know.