A/N: Howdy Team!

Sorry 'bout the delay, my writing finally caught up with my updating, so I actually had to write this on time *le shock* (plus had an awful headache, but I got over it. =P)

I really enjoyed that episode of OUAT. I dunno, I guess now that I don't have to stick with canon it makes my watching time a little more laid back. BUT OMG! That plot twist (again) is going to make next week's episode amazing.

Would love to hear from you guys! Please read and review!

Enjoy! xx

She

Ella was staring at Tinkerbell in shock.

"So," Hook said curiously, leaning easily against a crate, "What you're saying is, Ella needs to search through Pan's unbelievable mass of things until she finds a contract that was probably destroyed the moment after Pan made it. Do you not understand that Pan is making her obey with magic?"

"Magic comes with a price Hook," Tinkerbell said sharply, looking at him from where she was staring at his map of Neverland. "Even for sadistic teenage boys. The price of the contract would be that if it's broken, something significantly detrimental happens to Pan. Which you know, is a bonus for everyone. But magic also needs to be bound, generally to something physical, like parchment."

"So you're saying I have to go back to Pan and kindly ask him to hand me the contract?" Ella verified. It sounded incredulous.

"No, that would be idiotic," Hook answered, moving off the wall and snatching the map out of Tinkerbell's hands. "That's a stupid plan Tink."

"Do you want her to get out of Pan's fucking hold?" Tinkerbell said angrily, standing up and stalking after Hook. Ella watched them. They bickered like they'd known each other for years and she wondered what their relationship was to each other. It contained so much familiarity, but they fought way more than they spoke reasonably.

"I want her free," Hook answered, turning back to Tink, a little anger simmering beneath his usually cool surface. "And if she goes back to him; to his room. What's he going to think?"

"Still here guys," Ella commented with a small wave.

Tinkerbell was infuriated by Hook's constant rejections of her ideas. "He'll think she's doing her job. And then when he's satisfied, she can search his room, find the contract and we can get the fuck off this island."

Tinkerbell frowned for a moment before reconsidering, "Once we have the compass and another fairy."

"There are no fairies on the island anymore," Ella piped up. TInkerbell looked at her in surprise. Finally glad to have been recognised, Ella stepped in between the two of them.

"We need to get the compass before I get the contract," Ella began, looking over at Hook meaningfully. "Once I'm out from under Pan, he's going to expect me to go there. He doesn't suspect anything yet."

"And what's this thing about another fairy," Hook said, a little confused, looking at Tinkerbell. "Is that the reason why you're back here?"

"I thought…" Tinkerbell's voice faded off for the first time. "Never mind."

Ella's eyes widened in shock when she saw Tinkerbell back down. It was a first. But the way Hook was staring at her, Ella didn't want to be around for the argument was about to blow up. Looking out at the horizon, she saw the telltale signs of a red sunset.

"I need to get back to Pan for dinner," Ella sighed suddenly. "Don't want him asking unnecessary questions."

Hook glanced up at her with a question in his eyes, "Tomorrow?"

"Dawn," she replied with a nod. Pan wouldn't be up that early. "Bring weapons, and a hull full of secrets."

"No worries, love," he replied, slipping back into his usual self with a wink for good measure. "Have a good swim."

xxx

Pan was sitting on his bed, staring absently at his ceiling. He was slowly moving his hand across his vision, magic streaming from his hand like water as it connected with the ceiling. Cutting through the air, it left only momentary colours, but upon the wooden plank of his ceiling, an image began to form.

Pan was almost painting absentmindedly, not truly realising what exactly he was doing. His thoughts were lost, sitting about fifty years before the present moment…lost…

"Hey Pan!"

"Ella?" Pan's eyes snapped to the door as his magic cut off, the girl coming swiftly into his room. He shot upwards and spotted his assassin standing with her arms folded in the doorway.

"Are you not intending to eat or not?" she looked at him curiously. Normally he was the one fetching her for dinner. "Felix managed to kill something for once in his life. As for its edibility…only one way to find out." She shrugged as she waited expectantly for him to move.

"I'll be out in a moment."

She took his words, and gave a momentary curious glance to the ceiling before she climbed back down the stairs. Felix was staring daggers at her as she walked over to the fire – evidently he's heard her insult of his cooking ability. But nevertheless, it was true. She was hoping Pan had a stash of food in his room somewhere that she could pickpocket later.

But after eating Felix's food – that tasted like burnt chicken – she looked back up at Pan's candlelit treehouse. He still hadn't come outside to eat, and it was at least another hour, when the lost boys had dispersed, before he finally made an appearance, a bowl of fruit in his left hand.

Ella was surprised when he made a beeline for her and offered her some. Once again, Felix stared harshly at the two of them from across the campsite. But after eating in silence for a few minutes, Ella settled herself into the ground, lying beneath them in relaxation.

The innumerable stars were reflected in Ella's eyes, and Pan, who hadn't said a word as yet, almost found himself complimenting her beauty, but he held it in. Mentally, he berated himself for the next five minutes, his face becoming harsh once more. What was happening to him?

"Who is she?" Ella asked finally, the image from his ceiling plaguing her thoughts as she stared up at Neverland's endless sky. She'd never seen Pan paint before, even magically. He didn't seem the kind to like anything of an artistic nature; except Neverland. Neverland was pretty beautiful for a prison.

"Who?" Pan turned to Ella, his eyes flickering red in the firelight. She should have known better than to push him, but her mouth ran away with her, "The girl you painted on your ceiling."

Ella saw Pan's muscles clench in unwelcome surprise at her prying. He'd hoped she wouldn't bring it up; it was something even he didn't bring up. When Felix even dared to mention her name he grew angry-

"I'm sorry Pan," Ella started quickly in response to his reaction. When he was angry, bad stuff went down. "I didn't mean – you don't have to-"

But Pan was on her in a second, straddling her harshly as he covered her body with his own. He leant down easily to capture her lips in a searing kiss; heated and possessive. A loud sigh alerted the both of them to Felix's presence in the campsite as he turned away and climbed up his own ladder.

Pan turned back to her then, having taken a moment to calm down. He looked at her wide eyes and slightly shaking hands, the anger disappearing from him. He muttered lowly to her, his voice lacking the punch it usually did, "You don't question me Ella Hart."

But she did, even if it wasn't aloud. She questioned why Pan was staring at her with wonder hidden behind his possession. Why was he suddenly not pulling her up to his treehouse to ravage her senseless?

Why was she suddenly thinking of Pan as a human person?

He got off her silently and left her lying on the ground as he climbed up to his bed. The candles went out in his room and the only light then came from the dying fire. Sitting up, Ella was alone with her thoughts for a few moments before she decided to go home, coming face to face with Felix who had been silently watching her.

"Stop it," he warned, eyeing her darkly, his face menacing in the night light. "Whatever you're doing to him ends now."

"I'm not doing anything to him," Ella said honestly, attempting to side step the boy as she added harshly. "The same can't be said for him with me." Although the last few days had been surprisingly peaceful…

Shut up, Ella told herself.

But Felix stopped her, his hand clasping around her wrist.

"You're a slave," Felix almost spat at her, his grip tightening. "You'd be incredibly wise to remember it."

Ella tried not to feel the burning pain that Felix was inflicting upon her, but he seemed unconcerned, and so she took charge, sweeping his feet from under him and twisting in his grip. She had her foot on his chest, keeping him down as the wind was knocked from him.

"I'm not just a pretty face Felix," Ella commented, rivalling the disgust that he so often treated her with. "And Pan's plaything I may be, but if you ever touch me again, I won't give a damn about his consequences; I will kill you."

It was a little harsh. But to be honest, she'd put up with Felix's bullshit for ten years, and if she was getting out of here soon, having a little fun on her way didn't sound like too bad of an idea.

And leaving Felix to catch his breath on the ground, Ella almost whistled as she made her way back up the path towards home.