~present~

Throughout the nights that followed she could hear the intermittent sobs of a child, the kind where you try to stop but can't and where you don't want anyone else to know. She had heard it before and could do nothing but now she would try. The first plan of action was to destroy the pan pipes and stop that influence over the boys for as long as it was possible.

Wendy crouched down in the grass and watched as a trope of boys walked along the shore, spears and arrow heads glinting faintly. The oldest, the ones who had been there longest, took the lead while the youngest trailed at the back. She eyed them carefully, looking for the weak link and zeroed on a small boy. He had to be no more then five or six and her heart broke for him. He carried a short club and every now and then he would take a swing at a passing seagull or become sidetracked by something in the sand. By a stroke of good luck he became so distracted that the others left him behind and by the time he stared up he was alone. Wendy took her chance.

"That's a pretty shell, isn't it?" she said sweetly and the boy whipped around. In his hand was a huge conch. He looked utterly shocked to see her.

"Who – who are you?"

"No one of importance," she said and took the shell and placed it over her ear, smiling. At once the boy was intrigued and a little miffed that she had taken his shell.

"Why are you doing that?"

"To listen to the sea of course. Haven't you ever done that?"

He shook his head and Wendy gently placed the shell against his ear. The look of wonder on his face was equal parts heart warming and breaking. He snatched the shell from her and from that point on the shell was glued to the side of his head.

"Is it magic?" he asked and Wendy shrugged.

"Probably," she looked up and down the beach and then down at him quizzically. "Did you come here with your parents?"

"My what?"

"Your mother or father? Maybe even your governess," she said and something in his eyes changed. He seemed to lose focus for a moment and he gazed in confusion.

"My mummy...?"

"That's right, mummy. Is she here?" she asked. She felt cruel for asking him such a deceptive question but she had to break Peter's spell over him, even just a little.

"Here? I – I don't know. I was walking with Poppy and then – then I got lost." He looked exceedingly confused and Wendy leaned down and hugged him. He reminded her painfully of Michael.

"It's all right. What's your name?"

"Curly," he says and Wendy ruffled his curly hair. He was a grubby, confused little boy and Wendy did not want to let him go. "I'd very much like it if you could do one thing Curly."

"What?"

"Remember what your mummy looks like. Before you go to sleep picture her in your mind as hard as you can. That way -"

"There you are, come on slow poke."

A lost boy was coming towards them and Wendy straightened. It was Tootles, the one who had shot her down by accident. Ever since she had unwittingly saved his life he had been marginally accommodating with her. Wendy smiled in greeting.

"Good afternoon," she said as Tootles grabbed Curly and pushed him forward, ignoring Wendy. She tilted her face. "I'm very well, thank you," she said mockingly and the older boy sighed.

"Peter says that we're not to speak to you," he explained, not looking at her.

"Why?"

He shrugged and began walking, pulling Curly along when he fell behind. The little boy waved to her before they disappeared into the jungle and she waved back feebly. It was going to be incredibly difficult, swaying the boys from Peter but she had to try.

If you believed enough you could make just about anything a reality in Neverland, and that went for the state of clothing too. If she wanted to she could pretend that her night gown was not soiled or ripped but in the back of her mind she knew the truth. No one could fool themselves so completely and she would not. She would clean and eat and sleep just as she would have done back in England. She would be the one point of antithesis in that land of make believe.

Peter hated it, she knew. He was aware of every grain of sand on the island, felt the tides and currents in his bones so if there was one traitorous point of boring, adult seriousness he could feel it like a splinter in his skin. So when he came to her one day suddenly she was not surprised, though he could not have picked a less convenient time.

She stood in the knee high waters, night gown gathered around her knees and reached towards the waterfall when he cleared his throat behind her. She let her gown fall into the water and turned quickly. He looked startled but she knew it was an act.

"Sorry, should I come back another time?"

"Were you spying on me?" she felt her cheeks flush from a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

"Do give me some credit. Though it's nice to know that your mind does have a salacious bent to it," he said with a smirk. "Scandalous."

"Shut up. What are you doing here?"

"Delivering a letter, just as you requested," he pulled an envelope out and offered it to her. Wendy hesitated for just a second before she waded forward and snatched the letter from him. Standing shin deep she tore it open with shaking hands.

"Hope you don't mind but I had a peak. It says that they love and miss you, that your parents are searching the country for you and," he said with an eye roll, "that Michael and John will do everything in their power to find you."

Wendy ignored him and read but everything he said was true. It was John who had written, his penmanship had improved she thought proudly. She pulled the paper to her face and inhaled. Maybe she imagined it but it smelt of home. She looked back up, tears in her eyes and Peter's mouth thinned.

"You better hope for their sake that they don't try to rescue you."

"How could they? No one enters or leaves this place without your permission," she said faintly and he smiled.

"That's right." He watched her as she reread the letter again and again, trying not to cry in front of him when he sighed. "Come on, cheer up. It's not all bad."

"Not all bad!" she cried. "How can you possibly say that?"

"Well from my point of view it's going well. You're here," he said with surprising gentleness and she stared at him as if he were mad. He smiled at her expression and offered a hand to her. "Come on, you can't sleep in tree hollows and ditches any longer. You do have your own home or have you forgotten?"

Knowing that he would not leave until she complied she stepped out of the pool and followed, her gown dripping and soon stemming in the heat of the jungle. He did not lead her towards the camp but instead as far from it as possible.

"Why are we going this way?"

"Oh, right," he said and turned. "When you left your house was destroyed," he said with a wince. "But some of the things inside were salvageable."

Wendy stared at his back thoughtfully as he continued walking. When he had banished her he had been genuinely angry and she had no trouble imagining that he had destroyed her little house in a fit of pique. It made her feel oddly relieved, to know that he did have some human reactions to things, be it anger. Her thoughts were interrupted when they came to a cave and he lead her up a bamboo ladder that disappeared within. He was right, most of her things were there, like the bed and curtains but it was the opposite to her cosy, little home. It had an unnatural feel to it.

"It looks like a set in a theatre production," she said and he looked around, considering.

"I guess it does a bit. Well you always said this place was fake so here you go," he gestured for her to sit, which she did gingerly. Here they were quite alone and when he sat down next to her she stiffened. She stared down at the letter in her lap.

"You know he didn't tell you everything that had happened," Peter said softly and she looked up.

"What?"

"Well the majority of your friends and family think you're either dead or disgraced. Or both. Most think you ran away to be with Bae. It's quite the scandal," he seemed delighted.

"You're lying," she said, pursing her lips while the letter scrunched in her fingers.

"Am I? What else are they expected to think? Wendy is not really a fallen girl, she's actually on a magical island with a boy who doesn't grow up," he said, pointing at himself and laughing. "You know how their minds work Wendy. You'd have nothing to return to, nothing good."

She did not want to admit it but he was right. People are far more ready to think the worst and the truth was impossible. But what people thought did not matter, only her family. "I do have something to go back for."

"I'm sorry but it won't last. After a few years your parents, your father first probably, will try to move on with their lives. Can you blame them? You know time works differently here."

Wendy frowned at him. "How long do you expect me to stay Peter?"

"For as long as it takes," he said through clenched teeth and she looked away, disgusted and confused. He gazed at her thoughtfully, tilting his head. "I know what you're thinking, what you're planning. It won't work," he said.

"You don't know what I think."

"You want to turn the boys against me," he smiled in bemusement. "You know it's a fool's errand."

She looked at him hotly, "You're keeping those boys prisoner and warping them and they don't even know it. It's not right!"

"Right? Before they came here they were abandoned and probably would have died. Here they have their true family," he said passionately and Wendy was shocked to see he meant it.

"Everything you say is lies. I think you've even managed to fool yourself about a great many things," she said and felt something sharp and hot writhe in her. For the last year she had been trying to forget about it, to ignore what she feels but here it was impossible. Peter's mouth quirked.

"Bitterness is not a good look on you Wendy-bird," he said and reached for her face but she leaned back.

"I'd rather be bitter then brainwashed like them or a cruel degenerate like you!"

Offended, he put a hand to his chest, lips twitching all the while. "You wound me!"

"I won't give up and won't stop fighting," she glared at him and he shook his head, eyebrows rising.

"All this because I turned you down. I would have thought you'd take it more gracefully. Bad form, as our alcoholic friend likes to say."

Her eyes grew wide and she could feel a scream building in her throat. For a moment she was not Wendy Darling, daughter of a, somewhat, respectful banker but something else. Something that wanted to scratch the smug smile off his lips, something that wanted to hurl herself against him and beat him with her fists and curse. Peter had his body turned towards her, poised, titillated by her rage. Chest heaving she saw the excitement in his eyes, the way he seemed to drink in her passion and knew that it fed him, somehow. She forced herself to be calm, fisting the bed clothes below and closed her eyes. If he wanted a rise he would not get it.

"Why am I here?" she asked weakly. "Do you delight in tormenting me?"

"It may shock you but no, I don't," he visibly relaxed but looked disappointed that she did not lose control. "I know you don't believe me but I am fond of you, despite the...misunderstanding. You keep me on my toes and well, I love a challenge," his eyes gleamed.

"A challenge? What can you hope to win?"

He said nothing, just smiled and looked at her intensely and her skin crawled. He got to his feet finally and stared down at her. "I promised that I would leave you in peace and I will but I'll be keeping an eye on you, to make sure you're not up to any mischief."

She wanted to make all sorts of mischief, she wanted to make his life hell and he would probably enjoy it, to an extent. But she knew not to provoke him because then it stops being a game and people die.

"Never thought Peter Pan would be warning against mischief making," she said dryly and he laughed.

"I must be getting old!" he said but the smile faded from his face. "You think you can handle being alone but soon you'll be the one seeking me out. No one can endure an eternity alone," he said and she could not ignore his haunted eyes. She looked down, not wanting to feel any softness for him. When she looked back up he was gone.

The first time she had seen Captain Hook it had been under awful circumstances and was something that she would like to forget. She suspects he feels the same way. Every so often Tink would venture down from her tree house but she would not go to the camp but to the shore where she would get into a small boat made from leaves and vines and row to the Jolly Roger. She did not tell Wendy why or what happened there but she could guess and at the time it made her blush. Now she realised Tink had been mixing business along with pleasure.

"Beans," Wendy whispered, watching the fairy prepare her boat. It was the dead of night and not a soul was about. Though the fairy did not tell her out right she had summarised that while acting as a go between for Peter and Hook she had also been a deliverer of a special commodity.

"You'd make a terrible spy Wendy," Tink said, not turning and Wendy stood up quickly.

"You're going to the ship, aren't you?"

"I can't take you, it's no place for a girl," she said as Wendy came to her side.

"I'm not a girl. I just want to get away from the island, if only for awhile," she pleaded and Tink smirked.

"You're also a terrible liar. I can't give you a bean, I'm sorry."

She knew Tink would give magical beans to Hook, who would then use them under Peter's orders. Learning that the pirate had been under his influence had been shocking but now she wondered why she even doubted it. There was nothing on the island or around it that Peter did not control. Or at least try to.

"I'm not asking you to do anything! Deliver them as instructed. Just let me accompany you and I'll handle the rest," she gazed at her desperately and Tink sighed.

"If I refuse I'll know you'll do something stupid like swim there."

Wendy smiled. "See, it would be saving us from a world of bother." She helped pushed the boat into the water and then climbed in as Tink started to row with a surly expression.

"This is a bad idea and he'll end up blaming me."

"I will take full responsibility, if it comes to that. I promise." Wendy swore and stared out to sea. The ship was cast off not to far from the island, to make it easier for Tink and as they drew closer Wendy's heart started to thud. Tink motioned for her to lie down before covering her with a tarp.

"Thank you Tinkerbell."

"Don't thank me when Peter comes for you," she sighed and then called out. Wendy watched her climb up the side of the ship and disappear. She could hear men greeting her and then silence fell. She waited for a long while before throwing the cover off and with a prayer she started to climb up the net.

Most of the crew were asleep or in a drunken stupor and Wendy crept along as quiet as a ghost. If any did wake and see her blurry, white figure that was what they took her for and superstitiously closed their eyes and prayed. She made her way towards the captain's quarters, keeping to the shadows and stilled when she came to the correct door. It was the most lavish and from inside she could hear faint music but nothing else. Taking a chance she pushed the door and saw bottles and goblets on a table while music played from a gramophone. She was avoiding looking at the sleeping couple but she could not tear her eyes away for long. Tink was resting with her head on Hook's shoulder who was asleep beneath her. It was a strangely lovely image, though she could imagine what lead to them getting there.

Get your mind out of the gutter Darling and find a bean!

She tip toed to the table, looking for one amongst the glasses and plates, almost mistaking a grape for one when a noise made her blood freeze. Someone was outside the door, shuffling just outside and Wendy watched the door in dread. After an age the person moved off and she exhaled a quiet breath. She looked back and Tink was staring at her, head still on the pirate's chest.

Wendy said nothing, did not make a move until the fairy looked at the floor tellingly and then back up at her. Frowning, Wendy moved around the table and saw in a pile of discarded clothes a small draw string bag. Eyes never leaving the sleeping pirate she crouched down and pulled the bag open and tipped it over her palm. The bean was blue, clear and seemed to sparkle and Wendy was entranced for a moment. Placing the bag back where she found it she stood and looked at Tink. The fairy smiled at her and then closed her eyes and Wendy left, closing the door quietly behind her.

Victory and adrenaline coursing through her she made no attempt to hide herself as she ran to the deck but as she reached it she heard a shout and crash from behind her.

"RUN WENDY!"

The sleeping pirates around her woke with a start and stared at her in amazement. Wendy wasted no time. She climbed over the banister and down the net but her progress was hindered as she carried the bean. The net started to be tugged up and she looked to see the pirates pulling as Hook came dashing into view. Not knowing what else to do she popped the bean into her mouth and used both hands to descend.

"Heave! Don't let that girl get away!"

She reached the end of the net and looked up as more pirates pulled it up. She stared down and let go of the net and one thought went through her head as she fell:

Don't bite down. She had to stop herself laughing hysterically as she hit the water. Surfacing she thanked god that she had learned to swim and made for the boat and climbed in with difficulty. She frantically untied the boat and cast off as Hook started to be lowered into the water himself in another boat. She started to row with all her strength but she was no match for a centuries old pirate. He over took her with ease and jumped into her vessel, almost over turning it. Wendy spat the bean into her hand and moved her fist over the churning water.

"I'll drop it, I swear," she warned, scared but resolute.

"I can't let you do that I'm afraid," he said, breathing heavily.

"I just want to go home!" she cried desperately and Hook smiled sadly at her.

"Do you think you're the only one love? Everyone that sets foot on Neverland wanted to go home at one point, I'm sure even that boy did too." He moved towards her but she twisted her hand upright and opened her fist. The bean wobbled on her palm.

"I'll do it!" she said again and he sighed.

"If that was the case you would have done it already. Why haven't you?"

Wendy hesitated, eyes fixed on him before she suddenly started to cry. She had wanted to rescue the boys, as many as she could but now she had lost her chance. As she drew her hand back, tears running down her cheeks Hook looked deeply uncomfortable.

"There, there. It was a gallant attempt, there's not many that can pull one over me. Me and Tink shall be having some words," he said darkly and Wendy straightened.

"Don't hurt her, she didn't have anything to do with this."

"I'm not going to hurt her. Maybe give her a damn good spanking," he said with a rakish grin and Wendy pulled a scandalised face which made him laugh. "My manners are shocking today, forgive me. May I?" He pointed at the oars and with a defeated air she nodded. He began rowing her back to shore and she stared sadly into the middle distance. He shook his head with a sigh.

"If it was in my power I'd take you home. This is no place for a girl."

"I just wanted to help them... Why don't you stand up against him?"

"What would be the point? You remember what became of my original crew when they thought they'd go against him?"

She would never forget, it haunted her nightmares. "I remember."

"If Pan wants you then there's no running away or hiding. It took me a long time to realise that. I am sorry sweetheart," he said and meant it. Wendy nodded, looking at the bean in her hand miserably. Hook gazed her thoughtfully. "You've got much honour for someone so young."

"But honour doesn't get you off Neverland," she said dejectedly. "And an honourable person doesn't steal." She offered the bean back to him which he took after hesitating. He narrowed his eyes as the boat made land.

"A person does what they can to survive."

"But at what price?"

They fell silent, neither moving and Wendy stared at him and suddenly missed her father and mother a painful amount. "Do you have any children Captain?"

He smiled sadly. "I've never been that lucky...good luck Wendy."

He helped her out of the boat but did not let go of her hand. He stared at her intently. "You don't get off this island by being honourable, you get off by being smart. Don't steal something that he'll miss. Go to the source."

"Peter?"

He shook his head and spoke lower. "I don't know where he keeps the beans but it must be very well protected. There's only one place I can think of that no one in their right minds would dare venture: the Dark Hollow."

Wendy shivered. She had heard that the Hollow was cursed and haunted and Peter had warned all never to go near it. If he had something that he wanted no one else to get their hands on that would be the most likely place to hide it.

Hook inclined his head in farewell. "Don't risk your life over an uncertainty. It's a bloody farce but the only true way off this island is to side with him, as much as you hate it."

"I'd rather be mermaid bate," she said as he rowed away.

Wendy looked at the jungle, casting her eyes to the highest peak and nodded. "Be smart." She walked into the jungle, heading towards Bae's cave. He had been in Neverland for goodness knows how long, he must have left something behind that could help her.

But as expected most of his possessions were now gone, removed by the Lost Boys after she had stayed there. She searched through trunks and in crevices but could not find anything that could help her. She did find his red dressing gown that her mother had got him and Wendy put it on, aching even more for home. She stared at the walls, at the scrawls in chalk and ideally played with a candle flame that was stuck in a teacup. Her shadow flickered against a wall, the only other inhabitant. Bae had made an awful lot of candles, placed in all sorts of holders and if all were lit they must have banished every shadow.

"Shadows, shadows..." suddenly she straightened, an idea blooming to life in her mind. She leaned close to the flame, fingers hovering over the wick before she snuffed the light out with a secretive smile.

"Got you."

a.n:

I can't be the only one that thought those flirty looks and greeting between Tink and Hook hinted at something? ;)

Thanks once again for the amazing reviews and all the people who are following this story! Next update might not be tomorrow but the next day but I'll try.