A/N: Hey Team! Thanks for the reviews, follows and favourites! Questions are, of course, always welcome. =]

This is one of my favourite chapters; part of it was actually one of the first scenes I wrote for the fic. Guess which. =P

Anyway, enjoy! xx

Safe

Tink had left a pile of clothes in the Captain's cabin the next day with a note telling Ella that they were for her. By around ten o'clock, she was up and bathed and scrounging through the back for something that seemed like it was suitable to walk into the palace with. Eventually she found an embroidered blue and gold sleeveless wrap-around dress sitting inside, along with some brand new undergarments and shoes which almost made her giddy with excitement. Ten years in the same rags would do that to you.

Ella, probably for the first and last time in her life, was happy to be pulling on a corset. Lacing it up behind her back, she realised it was a comforting bind, even if it was horrendously uncomfortable. It did make her realise, however, just how bad her posture had gotten, and she almost winced as her back straightened out.

She refused to put on an underskirt, pulling on a new pair of black pants made of much thinner and smoother material than her old ones. Wrapping her dress around herself then, she tied the silk sash at her waist and turned to the mirror above Hook's basin. Looking at her face, she grimaced when she realised what she was going to be looking like going to see Shang again. What she wouldn't give for some kohl…

"Hook," she murmured with a small grin to herself, and began to rummage about in nearby drawers. After finding a brush and what looked to be an empty flask, she rolled her eyes, looking in the next drawer where a pot of ground black powder sat next to a blunted pointed stick. Glittering at Ella from beside it was a comb, ornate in its decoration with beautiful golden flowers dotting the edge. She couldn't deny the allure of the beautiful thing, until she realised who it must have belonged to…Hook's lover – Milah. She simply took the kohl and snapped the drawer closed with a swift flick of her hand, trying to ignore what she had just seen.

Her hair was drying in soft waves, and seeing herself, Ella hurriedly began to pull it back. Her reflex was simply to pull it into a bun, but she hesitated and instead began to separate it into strands, braiding it across the back of her head to fall in a plait down her left shoulder. Lining her upper eyelid and eyelashes with the black kohl, she began to see once more, the girl who Shang had fallen in love with. Smudging it just a little, she put Hook's effects away and grabbed a shawl out of the bag, eager to cover up the tattoo on her arm. Wendy was walking in just as Ella was examining herself in the mirror once again.

The young girl almost jumped in surprise at seeing the woman dressed before her. Ella spun around thinking something was wrong, but Wendy was simply a smiling mess, tears building in her eyes as she said, "You look so beautiful!"

Ella's face softened at the girl's compliment. It had been a long time since anyone had told her that with such honesty and no ulterior motive. She swept the girl into a motherly hug, tucking her underneath her chin as she murmured, "Thank you Wendy."

"Will you be back soon Ella?" Ella thought about it. She wasn't too sure what this meeting was going to mean; to be honest she wasn't entirely sure she was willing to think about it.

"I don't know," she smiled. "But I'll see you soon."

xxx

"Ella! You look positively ravishing." Pan winked at her as he said it and Ella grimaced.

"Say anything like that again Pan and I will punch your face so hard, you'll be looking out of your arse."

"I'm not familiar with any medical knowledge of this world, but I'm fairly certain that's anatomically impossible. Point taken, however. Shall we?"

As Ella followed Pan through the gate, which the guard opened after Pan showed him a certain slip of paper, she suddenly wondered why Pan was accompanying her. Eyeing him curiously, she noted that he too, had changed his clothes. And the outlook wasn't all that bad. When she asked him about his little trip though, he responded with-

"I have my own business to attend to here." Shrugging her off with a half answer, he closed the case, but didn't settle Ella's curiosity at all. However, as they wound their way through the front garden to the wide ornate doors, Pan snuck his hand around her waist like they were together.

"Move it or lose it Pan," she muttered as they entered the palace, trying to worm out of his grip, but he merely tightened his hold.

"Unless you want to end up in the Emperor's Harem I suggest you play the part E," he hissed back as a servant came to greet them. Ella was a little shocked at that, but she closed her mouth.

"Welcome," the servant smiled. It didn't reach her eyes; she obviously hated her job.

"We have a meeting with the Princess Shayan Xue and Prince Li Shang."

"Mr. Pan?"

Mister Pan? Ella mouthed the words at him and he gave her a look that told her to not question it.

"That's me," Pan grinned. "And this is my wife Zhanshi Mei."

"Right this way," the servant replied, a little bored, directing them away before Ella could berate him for the 'wife' comment.

She knocked quietly on the door before the sound of laughter echoed and a singing, "Come in!" allowed them entrance.

"Peter Pan and his wife to see you, Your Highness."

"That will be all," the princess replied, sweeping down from her chair to embrace Pan in a wide hug, her empress sleeves swinging around her as she grasped the boy like she hadn't seen him in years.

"Peter!" she said excitedly. Ella watched the two of them incredulously.

She used to visit Neverland in her dreams, he mouthed over Xue's shoulder to Ella, who nodded in understanding before a light cough alerted her to another's presence.

"Xue, who are these people?"

Ella craned her head when she heard the voice, searching for the man she knew it had come from. Xue broke away as he came around the corner, not letting go of Pan's hand.

"This is my childhood friend Peter; and this is his wi-"

"Mei."

Shang had turned pale when he spotted her, his eyes widening as though he'd seen a ghost. Xue looked between the two of them in confusion, "You know each other?"

"Xue," Pan interrupted. "I would love to see the Palace Gardens. Care to show me?"

"Certainly but-"

"I think Shang and Mei have some catching up to do." With those words, Pan led the Princess from the room.

"You're alive," Shang finally said to her, when he was done taking in her face across the room. "I thought…"

"Yeah," Ella breathed, looking up at his almost fearful brown eyes. "Me too."

After a moment more of silence building between them, Ella began to breathe a little easier. She couldn't help but feel that standing there, across from Shang, was so much less than anything she'd expected. He looked at her in surprise, a little happy at seeing her, but extremely confused.

He had grieved for her.

"Where have you been?" He even sounded a little angry. "You got married-"

"No," Ella said quickly, taking a few steps forward. "That's a ruse. Pan's idea to stop me being stolen by the Emperor."

"The Emperor would have," Shang answered softly, closing the space between them. "You're still just as beautiful as you were twelve years ago. I still remember when you saved me."

"It would be pretty hard to forget."

She didn't know why she was being so indifferent but it was noticeable to both herself and Shang. They were close, but oh so far. Ten years of growing apart. And those ten years hung between them like a thick, tangible blanket.

"You found yourself a princess."

"She requested me," Shang said quickly. "I didn't…" he stumbled over his words "If I'd known you were alive…things could have been different."

"They aren't though," Ella said finally, the realisation almost expected. Shang questioned her with her gaze. "Things aren't different, but we are."

"Mei…" Shang's hand came up to cup her cheek, but his touch didn't have the same effect that it used to, and all she found herself responding with was, "It's Ella now."

Shang frowned, dropping his hand as Ella thought on her feet, the air in the room stifling her uncontrollably. Before she could change her mind...the resolution forming in her mind...she leaned up to her neck and pulled her necklace apart, slipping the ring off of it and holding it in her hand one last time before she gave it back to him. He looked at it with wide eyes, quite plainly never expecting to see the engagement ring again.

She needed to get out of there, and taking a few step backwards, Shang gave her a look that said he shared her sentiments exactly. They had both moved on.

"I still love you Mei," he said quietly, as she took one last look at her.

"I love you too Shang," she replied, knowing that it was the truth of a first love, to never forget them. And walking out of that room, she left the man once more, alive, and safe in the knowledge that she was no longer worrying about the man wanting her because she no longer needed him.

Ella pretty much ran from the palace grounds, but as she started to run back down the road to the town she was met by a familiar face. Then, and only then, did she realise what she'd done.

"Whoa E," Pan grasped her by the arm. "Slow down."

"Pan, you evil bastard," Ella spun round, concentrating on her anger to avoid the tears. "You knew!"

"Well of course I knew," his smug face only infuriated her further. "I had to have some leverage."

"You knew all this time. Ten years...you knew he'd moved on."

"At least I let you hope Ella," he sighed as though he'd done her such a great favour. But seconds later, her hand had made contact with his face. In shock he looked up at her, astounded by the fact that she would actually slap him.

"I can't believe I thought you'd changed," Ella muttered in anger, walking away and leaving him staring after her in wonder. Whatever Pan had expected from her, it had most definitely not been that.

When Ella stormed into Hook's cabin at dusk, she wasn't expecting Hook to be sitting at his desk. She thought he'd be out on the town, enjoying his freedom at the tavern, or brothel, whichever took his fancy.

Instead, his eyes found her the moment she stepped into his quarters.

"Oh God lass," Hook groaned, leaning back in his chair as he stared her up and down. "If I knew you were going out dressed like that I never would have let you leave."

"Shut up Hook," Ella breathed, not in the mood to banter with him. Going over to his basin, she began to take off her army tags – now ringless.

"And you found my stash of kohl?" His voice was smiling as he watched her carefully in the mirror.

"Not my fault you feel the need to wear makeup like a girl."

"Well, most people find it incredibly sexy," he commented, giving Ella the time to grab a washer and begin to scrub the black from her eyes. It smudged a lot, making her look like a crying panda, but she persisted, angrily rubbing at her face until her eyes were red and puffy, and Hook's hand came to rest on her shoulder, seeing her distress.

She stopped her movements, looking up at him cautiously as he delicately took the washer from her hand. She was momentarily too shocked to speak as he pulled her gently by the shoulder to face him. He didn't say anything, but simply began to dab at the areas on her cheek that she had missed. He didn't look in her eyes, just concentrating on the simple act of removing the remnants of her horrible day.

With his eyes not focusing on her, Ella had no trouble in taking in his face at such close quarters. The soft glow of the candles gave warmth to his piercing blue eyes, but they were weighed down by the soft creases of a frown upon his forehead. His eyes had shadows under them, as though he hadn't slept well for days. Ella felt a sudden desire to bring her hand up to his face and wipe away those shadows, smoothing out those lines.

But the gentle motions of the washer on her face had begun to move down her neck, and Ella closed her eyes peacefully, not too sure why Hook had gone there, but surprisingly not too concerned. With her eyes closed, she could hear Hook's laboured breathing. His movement's slowed, coming to a stop as she opened her eyes. He was looking at the fading bruises on her shoulder and regret crossed his face. Taking a step back, he muttered, "I shouldn't have. I'm sorry Ella." He turned his face away and began to walk towards the door.

"No!" Ella said softly but with the hint of an order in there somewhere, surprising even herself. Hook stopped abruptly in his tracks. "I don't-" Ella hesitated, biting her lower lip, not too sure what to say. She'd been with Pan only moments ago, finally learnt Shang's true fate, and right now, all she wanted was to be comforted. She looked over at him as the familiar warmth his presence gave her emanated around the room. "Will you…stay with me?"

This time it was Hook's turn to be hesitant. But only for a moment. He changed his direction, slipping out of his coat and vest and dropping them delicately over his desk chair. As Ella watched him, he unlaced his boots and slipped onto the bed, still clothed and simply looking at Ella without expectancy or lust.

But as she turned her back to him and slipped off her dress, she heard his sharp intake of breath and felt a small smile begin to creep across her face. It was freeing, to not have Pan looking over her shoulder, or knowing that she was looking out for Shang.

"Love," Hook's voice was huskier than normal. "If you don't put some clothes on, I think this night might go a little more different than either of us want."

With the smirk still plastered on her face, she went to his drawer and pulled one of his spare black shirts on over her corset and breeches. Quickly, she undid the clasps of her corset and pulled it out from beneath Hook's shirt. Finally kicking of her boots, she padded barefoot over to the bed. Hook had his arms out waiting and she raised her eyebrows but didn't reject the offer, settling herself into them comfortably, her back leaning against the pirate when her head hit the pillow.

Hook seemed distracted by something on her shoulder, and for a moment, Ella thought he'd seen something else that had marked her skin, but he was simply staring at her hair, bound in the braid. Quickly, she began to undo it, but he leaned over her, pulling it free with loose tugs of his fingers. She began to shiver with the feeling of his fingers threading through her hair. Ella knew that if he kept going like that, if she took one more glance at his stormy eyes in the state that she was in, she would be lost in them. So she shuffled as though uncomfortable, which to be perfectly honest was the complete opposite of what she actually was, and Hook's arms settled loosely around her waist.

Shuffling back into position, Ella leaned into him, his voice murmuring honestly over her head, "I won't ever hurt you soldier." A feather light kiss was placed on the top of her head.

"Thank you Killian," she said, her eyes already falling shut. His body stiffened beneath her as she whispered his name. The moment didn't seem so strange for her, but he was absolutely certain it was the first time she had ever called him by name. And with a wave of something new flooding through him, he held the girl closer, feeling the rise and fall of her body as she breathed calmly, sending them both off to sleep.

A single tear fled Ella's eye that night, but she would not let them overcome her. For there, wrapped in Killian Jones' arms, for the first time in a very long time...she felt safe.