A/N: Whoa guys. That episode was amazing! And Robbie Kay still did the eyebrow thing; even as Henry. *Melts*

And all the lols at the Hook/Tink thing. Because I never saw that coming. =P

Thank you for the follows and favourites and reviews - they make my day!

Enjoy! xx

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Ten Years Ago

"Even demons can be killed," Killian's voice was trying to be strong through his pain as he clutched his hand to his side; Milah lying still upon the deck behind him. "I will find a way."

"Well good luck living long enough," the Dark One replied with a smile as smoke clouded around him, taking him away from his ship, running like the coward that he was. Killian stared at the ground, where the hook he had embedded, or thought he embedded, in Rumplestiltskin's heart, clattered to the ground.

Eyeing it carefully, he almost couldn't bear to look back at the ground where Milah's lifeless body was lying. Hadn't he thought it before? It was so much easier to simply not care about anything. Because the pain within in him was not only because of his hand – but because of the woman whose love had crept into his heart and made him a better man…less of a pirate…

"Haul the anchor and get ready to set sail Smee," Jones ordered, his eyes cold and unfeeling as he eyed his first mate. Pulling out the bean from his breast pocket, he stared at it questionably for a few moments before he finally continued, slowly and hesitantly.

"We bury Milah at sea. She would have wanted that."

"Aye Captain."

"Then we're leaving this realm Smee."

Killian wouldn't say that they were escaping – no. Nor that they were running. The Dark One had wished him luck in living long enough to kill him. Well, he just needed to bide time then, didn't he. Go to Neverland and bring back a poison potent enough to kill any man – no matter how powerful.

And it consumed him so much that it gave him a blissful sense of peace in forgetting. He forgot the pain he had felt; the pain he was feeling.

Killian Jones was not one to forget his feelings; he revelled in life. But fuelled by revenge, the Captain held onto the hook tightly in the hand that he still had as he staunched the bleeding of his left hand.

And soon enough, Killian Jones was no more.

Present Day

"Hook!" Ella jumped up the stairs, swinging on her hands. "How much longer?"

"'Bout an hour, love," he replied as she came up beside him at the wheel. He steered them easily through the air with his one hand and hook. He was at ease when he stood at the helm, a ship under his control and journeying through soft watery clouds.

"You love it when you're sailing away," Ella commented. Hook looked up at her in surprise and Ella was confused for a moment before realising she'd said that aloud.

"I'm not the only one, Hart," Hook answered knowingly. "I saw your face when we set off into the air."

"I'm free Hook," she answered, saying the words aloud for the first time. A small smile began to grace her face and Hook couldn't help but smile inwardly too. He caught himself quickly and his brow creased. Focusing back on the route, he checked the compass to ensure they were still going the right way.

"Where are we landing?" Ella finally asked, walking around Hook to run her fingers over the polished wood of the wheel.

"The Western Ocean if I do my job correctly," the pirate responded, looking over at the girl. "And I'm very good."

"Don't get cocky Captain," Ella rolled her eyes, sensing his double meaning. As she did so, she felt the subtle brush of his hand on hers as they unconsciously met on the wheel. Ella hadn't realised she was still holding it.

"Did you want to steer?" Hook asked, a smirk on his face.

"Maybe," Ella answered, equally as confident. She slipped in front of Hook, in between his arms and folded her hands around his. Loosening his grip he tsked at her behind her ear and placed his hands on top of hers. "What are you-"

"Have you ever steered a ship before, love?" he murmured, his chin finding its way to resting upon her right shoulder. She was hyper aware of every place their bodies were touching. His breath on her cheek, his arms following the contours of hers, her back flat against his chest and his rough hands folded delicately around hers…teaching her. Taking her silence as a negative, he muttered, "Thought so."

"I'm a fast learner," Ella replied fiercely.

"Oh, I don't doubt it, darling."

She could feel the smirk radiating from his face, but chose to ignore it. Not letting herself get caught up in emotions was easier. Because the moment she did, she felt the return of her guilt.

They stood in silence for a few more moments until Hook released his hands. He sat back after that, only giving her instructions when they needed to change direction. But after half an hour of Hook's eyes being fixated on the back of her head, Ella finally stopped the annoyed look aimed at the mast and turned her gaze upon him.

"What is so fascinating Hook?"

"Watch it Hart!" He jumped up to realign the wheel that she'd moved as she swung round to face him. "Can you not sail my ship off course? Thank you."

Ella let go of the wheel suddenly as Hook turned them back the right way. She was annoyed with herself for being distracted by the pirate and took a step back as they both calmed themselves. Ella took a few moments to look at Hook, not exactly limiting her eyes to his head.

"Enjoying the view there, love?"

His blue eyes sparkled as he glanced over his shoulder and Ella quickly turned her eyes away from him. Under normal circumstances, she would have blushed, but these weren't normal circumstances.

"Tink!" Hook yelled at the fairy who was down the other end of the ship. "You remember how to sail her?"

"Aye Captain," she half smirked, running lightly across the deck to where they stood. Taking the wheel from Hook excitedly, he held out his hand to Ella, who, seeing his point began to walk straight past him. He sighed in exasperation and stalked after her.

"Ella!" Hook said almost angrily, and she finally stopped. "Why do you keep running from me?"

"Why shouldn't I run from you Hook?" she said, looking up at him in incredulity as she took a step towards her. How many times would she have to remind him to not use her name before he finally got it? "I know who you are; what you've done. For some godforsaken reason, I was drawn into your head to relive Bahnen Nain. And then I went and gave you the one weapon you need to kill Rumplestiltskin."

"So why do I keep-" She pursed her lips and lowered her eyes to where she had inadvertently begun to clutch at his collar with her small hands.

"Why do you keep what, love?"

"Just…" she let go and took a few steps backward. trying to calm herself. "Just leave me alone Hook. Please."

But he closed the space between them quickly, his arm bracing himself on the wood above the door as they shared the same air. He was tantalisingly close; threatening all of Ella's resolve. "Please," she whimpered, her body betraying her as her purple eyes drifted down to his lips. "Please," she whispered again, in a different tone; wistful…longing…

His lips came down softly, in the barest whisper of a kiss. He was waiting for her, she realised within that moment. He wouldn't take anything from her unless it was given – wholeheartedly.

And she couldn't. Looking up at his hesitant blue eyes; she knew she couldn't. It was her wish in the echo caves – her secret – that all she wanted was to feel. And even now, she couldn't let herself.

Staggering backwards, Ella practically ran into a spare room and closed the door, plunging herself into darkness. The next moment, however, a single flame was casting light over her-

Illuminating the boy who was standing directly in front of her.

She went to scream, but her sound was muffled by the hand he placed over her mouth.

"Shh Ella," Pan whispered, eyeing her carefully before removing his hands when he realised she was too shocked to make another sound. He ran his finger over her lips, having heard every word passed between her and Hook, and growing extremely jealous with each moment. "I'm here."

He said it like it should be a comfort to her. But all Ella could do was fear. So he had always intended to use them to get out of Neverland then. Whether he came because they had Wendy or simply because he had to didn't really matter to Ella, but the fact was that he was there frightened the hell out of her.

"You're here to save Neverland," Ella finally let out, when she regained control of her tongue.

"Well done E," Pan smirked. "You've been listening. And I need you to listen again."

Ella wasn't exactly going anywhere.

"Take care of Wendy for me." They would do that anyway; it wasn't exactly a chore.

"Sure Pa-"

The ship was jolted forward as a loud splash echoed around them. Ella was knocked off her feet and thrust forward into Pan's arms. She wasn't exactly uncomfortable with the way his hand snuck around her waist – she knew that if she wanted to, she could snap his arm and there'd be no slave band or contract to get in the way of it.

"We just landed," Pan said with a smirk, looking down at her. She disentangled herself from him quickly as she made to exit, uncomfortable with the way he was looking at her, if not the way he was holding her. But his hand snapped the door shut as she tried to open in, continuing on, "Just thought I should wish you luck when you go to find your man."

Ella glared at Pan defiantly. He knew as well as she did where Shang was.

"Oh!" Pan reminded himself. "Of course, your friends, the fairy and the pirate, would have told you where he was. And where he was, of course, going."

"Well," he shrugged, beginning to circle her like a vulture. "I'm sure they believed it to be truth when they told you Ella."

"What are you saying Pan?" Ella asked dangerously, her teeth gritted as she resisted the urge to throttle the boy before her.

"I'm just saying that your Prince is waiting for you in the Emperor's city," Pan said with a smile – a dark smile – his conniving smile.

"He's not a prince," was all Ella said. He wasn't and never would be. Because he was dead. Who was she going to believe? The boy who'd kept her captive for ten years, or the pirate who had saved her?

"Oops," Pan brought his hand up to his mouth, feigning a slip of the tongue. But he was beyond that; he did everything with a purpose. "Well, I guess you'll find out soon enough. See you around Zhanshi Mei."

And with those words, the boy disappeared. His power unhindered by the transit between worlds.

"Pan, you little shit!" Ella muttered under her breath in anger as she pushed open the door with a loud creak and made her way up the stairs to the open deck, once again not too sure who she was supposed to believe.

And not even daring to let herself hope.