Thanks for being patient with me! Chapters 4 and 5 will be up shortly :)

CHAPTER 3

The sun hit something metallic and gleaming. The rustling in the bushes became louder. Peter and Wendy's eyes scanned back and forth across the greenery until they could see that the reflected light came from a silver hook emerging from the shrubs. It was followed by a large red hat and coat.

The infamous captain with a look a cat might have after trapping a mouse in a corner. Mr. Smee followed closely behind, ever attentive to his worship, holding his sword. He handed it to Hook with a flourish as he would at a grand ceremony, and smirked at the couple in the pool.

Wendy had a hold of Peter's hand and in the other she had the dagger Peter had given her just such an occasion.

"Peter! What have we here? Two young lovers caught about to experience original sin? And in the open too. This isn't like you Peter, so unaware of your surroundings." He gave ugly chuckle.

"What are you talking about Hook?" Peter snarled.

"Distractions my boy, distractions," said Hook, gesturing to Wendy.

Wendy had been staring at the captain with a mix of terror and excitement. So far they'd beaten the pirates in several of Peter's "games". But now a flood of embarrassment colored her cheeks. This whole time Hook had been privy to this private moment with Peter where her soul had been unraveling for him only. Her blood boiled.

"It's no concern of yours Hook," said Peter. "Go back to your ship and we'll pick this up another day when I have more time for you." He squeezed Wendy's hand.

Hook glowered, and waved his weapon in the air. Pirates started to emerge from the surrounding bushes. Menacing and growling with swords brandished. They'd never been surrounded before, Peter was much to clever to ever have let that happen.

"Oh Peter, what do we do?!" Wendy whispered in his ear, gripping his hand tighter.

"Don't worry Wendy. I've done this lots of times!" He turned back to Hook and grinned. "I bet you think you're pretty clever Hook."

"Naturally," said the captain. Hook smiled at his crew, inviting them to laugh with him. Nervous chuckles travelled around the circle of pirates.

"You may be clever, but you have no real trust in your own skills."

Oh no, thought Wendy. She didn't see how this was handling the situation.

"What?" Hook stared at Peter.

"If you need extra men to fight your battles, then you've become a cowardly codfish. Now, come forward and fight me man to old man."

Hook's eyes darkened, and he waved a cease fire signal. "Old man am I boy?! We shall see!" Hook, quick as lightening, pulled out a dagger from his coat and threw it at the pair. Peter ducked to his right. The dagger hurled past his face. He tried to pull Wendy along with him but it was too late. She cried out as Hook's dagger tore into her sleeve. The knife sliced the skin on her shoulder before landing in the water behind them. Neither of them had much time to think. Hook rushed at them. Slashing his sword, he let out a primal cry.

Peter was there to match his wild hacking blow for blow. Wendy struggled to get out of the way. The cut had left her arm useless. It throbbed with pain, blood pouring out. Her dagger Peter had given her had dropped in the water. She tried to find it with her feet amidst the struggle. She wanted to help, but the situation was growing increasingly impossible.

With a loud clang, Peter's sword collided with Hook's, sending the captain's rapier splashing into the deep end of the pool.

"No!" cried Hook, as Peter held his blade to the neck of the pirate.

"Go back to your ship, old man," said Peter through gritted teeth.

Hook looked at his crew and made a slashing movement across his throat. The pirates spilled into the water.

Peter grabbed Wendy's hand. With a splash he took off from the water, pulling her with him. Screams of anger and firing gunpowder. were left far below.

In the air, he maneuvered her into his arms. He held her bridal style. "Thank you," she said. He said nothing. He didn't even look at her. When he felt it was safe enough, he set her down gently on the forest floor. They were close to the hideout. She held her shoulder to make the bleeding stop.

"Wendy, are you all right?" Peter asked. He ripped the sleeve completely from her night dress, examining the cut.

"Yes, I think so. It all happened so fast! Oh, that hurts Peter! Ouch!" Peter had wrapped the sleeve tightly over the cut. He blew on it, and despite the pain she was in, shivered a little at the contact of his breath on her skin.

"It doesn't look very deep." He closed his eyes, and turned away.

"Thank you for saving me Peter!" Wendy came closer. "Why didn't we fly away before? Before Hook attacked?"

Peter murmured something she couldn't quite hear.

"What?" she asked.

"Because it was only a game before!" He turned abruptly, anger in his eyes. His muscles were clenched, the veins in his arms popping. Wendy took a step back. "It was always a game. Until you got hurt. It's all my fault, it's all my fault…" He closed his eyes again.

"Peter, no. You didn't know that would happen, you didn't know he was there…"

"Exactly! I didn't know he was there, because… Because I was looking at you!"

Her heart stung. Worse than the cut on her arm. "You mean it's my fault," she said quietly.

He looked away. "Wendy, we can't do that any more. I couldn't bear it if…" he said. He put his hand to his eyes. "…if you got hurt again."

Wendy swallowed hard. He was right. She was a distraction. It was her own fault that she had gotten hurt. The words were a bitter pill. She nodded reluctantly.

The silence between them was palpable. There hadn't been any hint of a wedge before this moment.

"We can't touch anymore," he said. "I don't know what world I'm on when we do."

"I understand," Wendy choked out.

"I'll make sure the boys will take care of you and then I'm going to go hunting. I may not be back for a while."

Peter entered the hideout as Wendy turned to cry.