The shore seemed to stretch on endlessly. The water was clear and warm, inviting the ignorant to swim in the splendorous tropical waves. Emma could only shudder with the reminder of what really lurked under the shallow, rippling waves: savage bloodthirsty mermaids. No cute Little Mermaid nonsense. Blending in with the colorful reefs that littered Neverland's shore, the human-hybrid creatures waited for any unwitting swimmer to be lured into the inviting sea.

In the course of their travels back to the ship, neither of them could bring themselves to address what had happened the night before. After waking still beside each other, they found that a great weight had been lifted between them. Emma's lack of faith in him had changed into something different, a different kind of tension she didn't yet understand.

"We should be approaching the bay," Hook flatly remarked as they paced on. She took notice that he was also acting curious for his nature. Perhaps it was just the level of physical exhaustion they were now both suffering. A few spare hours of sleep on the beach couldn't remedy that.

"How is your chest?"

He looked back at her confusedly.

"Where you were stabbed," she blushed.

"Ah that," he fisted the gash on his dark red crusted shirt, "not a bother."

"Don't you think it's a little strange that they haven't found us yet?"

Hook smiled bitterly, "You have much to learn about them. The Lost Ones are often cryptic in their methods of hunting their enemies. In the three centuries I spent in Neverland, not once was I ever able to foresee an attack. They will act on command of their leader."

Emma nodded, "Pan. What really happened between you two?"

"I crossed him once before, so he was quick to brand me as an enemy. He was a shadow then; a bloodthirsty savage. I suppose that much hasn't changed. Pan enjoys toying with his prey. He drives them mad with his cruel immature games. Only when his victims reach their final breaking point does he end their suffering." Now walking side-by-side with him, Emma could see the brightness dissipate in his eyes as the dark memory consumed his thoughts.

"But he didn't come after you."

"Ah but he did. The price of my insubordination was not my own life, but the lives of everyone else aboard the Roger. I endured watching the slow and torturous death of my crew. He hunted each of my men down and brutally killed them off like flies until there was no one left but me and the insufferable Mr. Smee." His hatred practically burned the words right out of his mouth.

"And here I thought all your issues just came from Milah," Emma mumbled with caution.

Hook looked at Emma with tired eyes, "I came to Neverland to buy me time to figure my revenge. The more time I spent in this land, the more my quest against the crocodile became a delusion. Pan's wrath lasted three centuries," he paused, "you have no idea what that was like."

"I'm sorry," Emma mumbled, unsure if there was anything more she could say to comfort him. Obviously not.

It took Hook a moment to gather his thoughts before he caught up with her. "I can assure you that they know where we are and that it is only a matter of time before it all starts."

"Before what starts?"

"Before he starts playing his game."

Emma bit her lip, letting her grief turn to anger. "When I can get my hands on that little son of a-"

"Wait," his hand raised in the air to silence her. Two figures wandered out from the forest and onto the beach ahead of them. Emma immediately recognized the taller figure as David, and the other as Gold. David dropped his sword when he caught their sight, immediately recognizing his daughter's distinct blonde locks. "Oh, thank god," he muttered as he reached the two of them in a jog. Once David reached her, he pulled Emma into a tight embrace, "You scared the hell out of us last night."

"Miss Swan, I had hoped you'd lost the pirate by now," Gold bitterly remarked as he limped after David's foot prints in the sand.

After spending two long days on high alert, being back in the safety of her father's embrace felt surreal. "Dad," she struggled to articulate her thoughts. "We've got a problem. We couldn't get back to the ship last night because of the Lost Boys."

David's eyebrow rose with curiosity, "The Lost Boys?"

"Lost Ones," Hook corrected her quietly under his breath.

She turned and gave him an annoyed glare, "Yeah okay whatever, the Lost Ones. They're vicious. I would've been killed if it hadn't of been for," she hesitated and motioned back to Hook, "him." His eyes perked up to meet hers.

"And there's something you should know about Pan."

"You saw him?" David's voice rose with concern as he distressingly threw his hands on his hips.

"Yeah, sort of. He was-"

"A mere child," Hook interrupted, "just as I remember him."

Emma turned to give him a questioning look. He stared back at her blankly with the determination to keep their knowledge of Pan a secret. She didn't understand why he thought it was a good idea to not bring up Pan to David, but for some inexplicable reason, she trusted his judgement. Stay silent, for now. To her surprise, David suddenly grinned, "Emma, we found him."

"Who?"

"Henry."

"You've retrieved the boy?" Hook repeated with skepticism.

"Yes," he half chuckled, slightly confused by their dreadful expressions. "Regina found him wandering around the forest a little ways up from the bay. He was delirious when he was brought back to the ship." Rumple shifted his weight uncomfortably.

Emma shot a concerned look to Gold then back to David, "Are you sure it's him?"

"Yes Emma, of course! Who else would he be?" Hook bore a subtle look of trepidation. Gold seemed oddly uneasy as well, leaving David as the only person excited by this news.

"I'd say now is a good time to get you all back to the ship," Gold spoke out tensely, offering his hand to David. (After damaging the life boat soon after their arrival to Neverland, it was impossible to transport to and from the island without the skilled assistance of Gold, Regina or Emma.)

David quickly linked hands with Gold and Emma. With her other hand, Emma instinctively took Hook's good hand without question, unsure if she was ready to face whoever was awaiting them on the ship. Emma felt the reassuring squeeze come from Hook as she met his eyes. His gaze was warm yet unwavering: don't worry, don't be afraid.

Pan's game was starting.