"Stop!" she shouted after Hook but he was too fast for her. Even if she caught up with him she knew that he would not be reasoned with, she had seen the white blank shock on his face turning into something insane and knew nothing would get through to him now.

Peter's fault, it's all his fault! she screamed in her head, feeling as mad as Hook looked. The awful truth of what Peter had spun into action was just settling over her mind, blanketing it in disbelief and betrayal but it was too painful to really inspect and so she ran harder, fuelled by terror and a building rage.

"Wait!" Peter shouted behind her and the sound of his voice sent a shudder up her back and spike of fear through her belly. She could not let him stop her so she thought of the Echo Caves, the last place she had seen Rufio and focused her mind on it, willing herself to appear there before Peter caught her.

The caves, as stark and imposing as they always were, reared up before her suddenly and she skidded to a stop. Wendy looked behind her, hearing someone faintly rushing through the jungle and knew that Hook was not far behind. Praying that he was there she ran into the caves, running blindly.

"Rufio!" she yelled and his name vibrated around her as she came around a bend in the path and found a small cavern lit with flame. Tink was lying on the ground, bound and gagged, and at the sight of her friend Wendy rushed forward but Rufio suddenly shot up before her and Wendy gasped.

"What are doing here?" he shouted and his voice was rough. He looked awful, like he had spent hours crying and shouting but it was more then that. The fire and laughter that Wendy had so adored was now drained from him and he looked like he had aged, if that was possible. But she saw with a swooping relief that he still held Tink's heart in his hand.

"No! You don't have to do this! You mustn't!"

"You think I want to? I've been sitting here for hours, too coward to squeeze hard enough," he said and looked down at Tink with a wretched expression.

"That's not cowardice! That's compassion, that's kindness and all those things that I picked you for! You're better than this!" Wendy cried and wrapped her hand around his wrist, staring at him intensely. "Stop this, leave Tink unharmed and come away with me," she urged but Rufio shook his head, defeated.

"We both know I'm not making it out of here alive. Don't give me that look, I know what's coming. I just hoped I'd be able to save you, free you before I did. This was his trap, his web and I fell into it long before I realised what it was," Rufio said through his teeth and Wendy gazed at him miserably.

"This was your secret?" she whispered and he nodded.

"And Peter's. You know he's been lying to you from the start, don't you? He's known that there was a cure but he did nothing to make sure you got it. I couldn't understand why, not at first but I do now. He wants you trapped here, like something in a cage and you've got no say in it because that's what he wants," Rufio hissed, shaking and Wendy looked down, unable to look at the rage on his face that was mirroring the boiling sea inside her.

"He – he must think I'm an idiot," she uttered, shaking not with fear but fury now. "I spoke with seers once and they told me, they told me that I'd rule like a queen but really I would be no more than a bird in a cage! He's planned all this, masterminded it like a spider in a web."

"He's not human, he's not like you and me. He knew what I was doing, he never said anything but he knew. I think that's why he let me go with him and Felix, he wanted to see how far I would get and stop me if I got too close, like it was a game. When I angered him he grounded me, trapped me here like you. That's why I had to resort to this, I could never get a heart, they were too rare. He gave me no choice and that was his plan all along," he said bitterly and they stared at the fairy heart in his hand. It was shinning bright but pulsed faintly.

"There is a choice and you know it. My life is not worth this and I refuse to see you become a villain because of him. This is what he wants and so we must not give him the satisfaction," she said and Rufio nodded and finally lowered his hand. He stared at Tink in shame.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't go through with it and I wouldn't have, I swear. Tell her that?"

"You tell her yourself! I knew you weren't capable of this, that's why you're my Lost Boy," she smiled and it flickered on her lips weakly as tears stung her eyes. "I'm sorry I ever brought you here, you didn't deserve this."

"Neither do you. I'm not sorry I'm here because I met you," he answered softly and Wendy stared down, too choked with emotion to speak. She could feel it now, that tidal wave that she had been so good at repressing, so good at ignoring was starting to waver and froth. It was colossal and she knew she didn't have long before it all came down.

"I'm sorry I could never -"

"YOU!" the word roared through the caves, bouncing off walls and deafening them and Wendy gasped as Hook appeared, billowing and red faced. He was beyond out of control now. As his frenzied eyes saw the heart still in Rufio's hand the pirate snapped completely and he ran forward, screaming something undefinable and Wendy moved in front of Rufio without thinking about it, screaming for him to stop.

"No!" Rufio yelled and roughly pushed her aside where she fell to the floor. A gasping, strangled noise suddenly echoed around her and she looked up to see Hook stabbing Rufio through the chest, piercing his heart.

She wanted to scream, to tell him to stop and wait, to show him that Tink was safe but it was too late. Rufio fell to the ground next to her, eyes open but sightless and she flinched as the sword was roughly pulled out. She stared into his glossy, vacant brown eyes, stared at the lips that were parted in pain and she could not look away. Just as something seemed to crack in Hook something equally fragile snapped in Wendy.

"You're safe, you're safe now Bell," Hook whispered and Wendy watched but could not really take in that the pirate was returning the fairy's heart and then ripping the ropes and gag off her with shaking fingers. As he lifted Tink into his arms Peter appeared.

It was just a flicker, just a quick flash of emotion that could have been easily missed but when Peter saw his rival lying dead on the floor he grinned viciously and his eyes flashed with a giddy dark triumph. It was over before she could really process it, before his expression shifted into something genuinely concerned as he spotted her on the floor.

"Wendy? Are you all right?"

She stared at him for a long time, blinking and then began to laugh. It was a laugh the likes of which he had never heard and one she thought incapable of sounding before that day. It was skin crawling and terrible.

"Am I all right? Am I? I don't know. Do you think it's fit for me to be all right? Isn't that up to you?" she asked with an awful grin that stretched her mouth and Peter blinked, mouth curling at the corner in uncertainty. His gaze swept to Hook who was carrying Tink and nodded at the pirate who barely seemed to observe him.

"I've lifted the curse Killian, it's gone. You're now free to seek your revenge and I think you'd best be served by starting in the Enchanted Forest," Peter said and Hook blinked at him, as if waking from a dream. He gazed down at Tink softly.

"The deal was not needed, I would have run him through without it. But you knew that..." Hook said quietly, not looking up and without a backwards glance he left with Tink.

Now left alone, Peter standing in the mouth of the cave and Wendy cradling the dead Lost Boy, the two remained in an awful strained silence, the air thick and charged. Finally Peter lifted a hand and motioned his fingers at her, asking her to come to him.

"You can't do anything for him now, come on," he urged gently and her burning eyes snapped to his.

"Never, not ever again. You've betrayed me! You wanted this, you made this happen! As soon as I saw him, as soon as I wanted him, you put a mark over his head. He was dead before he even set foot on the shore!" she accused and started to shake harder.

"I didn't kill him, that was -"

"YOU! Do you think I'm a fool?! Oh you must, how you must laugh when I'm not there," she cried out, her words ringing around them and Peter narrowed his eyes, thinned his lips as if she was screaming right into his ears. Wendy lowered her face and kissed Rufio's forehead and gently closed his eyes before she struggled to her feet. There was blood on her now and Peter eyed her carefully, watching her every movement but all she did was stand and sway, strange eyes pinned to his own.

"I don't think you're a fool, I never have," he replied softy, his tone calm and body still, the opposite to her rage, her stinging words and wavering figure like she was fire instead of something solid.

"But I am a fool! I knew you were lying about a cure, of course I knew! I wanted to believe you so much, I wanted to stop doubting you because I was so tired of it and knew that if I did I'd never stop! I wanted to be happy with you and to live here in peace but I had to delude myself into thinking that you were something else and it changed me!" she cried, voice cracking and tears ran down her face.

Peter remained still, not knowing what to say or do and was deeply uncomfortable. He had dealt with her grief before, her anger and resistance but not this fractured disappointment. But he had to try, had to salvage it somehow and for the first time in his long, long life he wished he knew how to truly comfort her.

"You have changed but for the better. You're stronger here Wendy, you're important. You're important to me, in fact you're the only thing that matters," he confessed but she was shaking her head hard, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Lies. You don't feel anything, not really, only thirst for power and control, spite and cruel enjoyment at the suffering of others. I wanted to believe that you could give more, that in time it would come but I knew deep down what you were. Did you think I could forget? You kidnapped me, you made a mockery of me in front of my family!" Her eyes snapped open and her gaze was dreadful to see. "Oh how you must have been secretly rejoicing when my parents died. I bet you couldn't believe your luck!"

"That's not true," he denied quickly, a little too quick.

"You've taken everything from me! My family, my home, my life! I pushed aside my grief, ignoring it like it was not important and now, now I can't even remember what they look like. My brothers did not get that luxury, they had to deal with the pain but at least they didn't get to see that I've become a coward," she confessed, crying silently before she bared her teeth and pointed at him. "Name one good thing you've done for me that didn't benefit you in some way?!" she asked out of the blue but he was quick to respond.

"I gave you half of my island!"

"Not willingly! You hated having to share something of yourself, just like your nightmares. But I took it as if it were a gift, as if it were a sign of something that you couldn't really show me. I wanted it, to share your bed and your kisses, living for those moments when you smiled at me, when you showed kindness or more. I just wanted it to be real," she admitted and he gazed at her intently.

"It is real. You know I care for you."

"People who care don't do this, don't inflict this much pain and smile about it. I've tried to ignore this for far too long, pretending that I had some control over you but in the process I've become someone else, someone I don't want to be," she admitted, looking self disgusted but Peter shook his head, trying to smile.

"You're a queen," he said but Wendy laughed again.

"I'm queen of a cage! You trapped me here again, you made sure of that and I just went along with it! And do you know why? Because it was easier than facing reality! I've been living in a dream but I tried to do some good, to help others but how was that ever going to be possible? Rufio was right, you're like the sea and one day you would sweep away everything I worked for because you could. Here's the first casualty," she said, staring down at the body. "This cursed place, this place where actions have no consequences or repercussions! His death will never be avenged, never be mourned except by me and...oh!" she gasped suddenly and covered her mouth. "Tiger Lily..." she stared down in misery and slowly shook her head. "This is beyond reason, this isn't fair! He wasn't going to go through with it but now he'll be known as a traitor," she groaned, pointing down at the dead boy at their feet. Peter's jaw clenched and he exhaled through his nose, suddenly irritated.

"He was and I'm not sorry he's dead!"

"I don't doubt it! Be truthful, come on, don't stop there!" she cried with a sudden mad smile and came forward. She stopped when she was a foot away and jabbed her finger against his chest. "No more secrets, no more lies! I always told you they were better off your chest and by Christ you must be practically choking on them!"

"He wanted this island! He wanted you!" Peter seethed, hating how histrionic she now was.

"He never wanted Neverland but yes he did want me," she breathed, still smiling. "You know what his plan was? He wanted me to overthrow you and become a true Queen in my own right, with him as my captain."

Peter's gaze became cold and his mouth started to curl. "That would have been something to see Darling, shame it won't happen."

"I turned him down because whatever I imagined you were always beside me and we ruled as equals. That's why I knew it was a dream," she admitted sadly and the coldness in Peter's eyes melted a little.

"It doesn't have to be a dream. I could do that, I want that," he whispered and cupped the side of her face. "You asked for truth and I'll give it. I can't love you like you want me to, you've always known that but I do love you. I wish our lives had gone down that other path, back in London. I really do but this is it until I win, until I get the heart. After that I can give you everything you want."

Wendy shook her head sadly. "No you won't because you'll fail but you can't accept it. I know what you're capable of showing and despite that, even now, I still love you but it's not enough and I do deserve better. This isn't worth my soul. Indifference is worse than being evil because when it comes down to it I wanted to pretend you could change so I could sleep at night. But it's not possible, my dreams are bloated with the death of my parents who died thinking that your love was worth more to me than theirs. Maybe that's true."

Peter was shaking his head, trying to stare into her tear filled anguished eyes. "That's not true. You did choose them over me and you've just convinced yourself otherwise because the truth is too painful. I've taken your home away from you because you're right, I am a monster but not heartless. I hoped that in time you'd see this place as your only home and I withheld the cure because I can't bare the prospect of losing you. We belong together, we always have and I can't risk living without you, not any more."

"Peter Pan has a weakness," she said softly and touched his lips with her bloody fingertips. He pulled back, blinking and tilted his head at the strange smile on her lips and wondered if he had finally broken her.

"You'll be okay," he said with something close to honest compassion. "You'll see in time that the things that once hurt you will stop and soon nothing will get to you," he said and unthinkingly tapped over his blackened heart. Wendy blinked, staring at his chest and something rose up in her, something bright, free and terrified and she knew what she had to do. Feeling galvanised she placed her hands against his chest and gazed up at him softly.

"I will be okay," she said encouragingly and leaned up to kiss his mouth gently, eyes focused on his before pulling back. "Just not with you because I can't live like this any longer. I don't want to turn into you and if I stay I think I might. You disgust me and I never want to see you again."

Wendy suddenly vanished in front of him, leaving Peter to blink in shock. He had told Wendy that over time the heart becomes impenetrable to pain but as he realised what was happening something sliced through his heart, making him gasp and his eyes sting. He was hurt. She had got through to him, as surely as Hook's sword had pierced his rival's. Reeling and feeling the first licks of rage Peter spun around and bellowed out his lover's name before disappearing from the cave in pursuit.

Her first thought was the Dark Hollow, where the beanstalk was but Peter had frozen the use of them and even if he hadn't they were useless to her. She would die if she left Neverland and that was unavoidable, Peter had seen to that. So she went to the only place she had even the slightest power and appeared before her Dreamshade covered cave. She knew that he would be coming for her so she used every trick she had been taught, throwing obstacles in his way. She brought down trees, diverged paths and lead him to dead ends but he had taught her everything she knew so he threw them right back at her. She ran towards the narrow stream that cuts off her land from his and saw with shock that the bridge was gone. She turned as rain began to lash down furiously and lightening flickered. The weather had always been indicative of Peter's moods and right now he was battling with a terrible inner tempest.

Not knowing what he would do once he caught her Wendy jumped over the rushing water and then focused on the stream. With every scrap of imagination and strength of will she could muster she made the water rise until the stream was bursting it's banks and rushing down the hill towards Peter's side of the island. She believed with such desperation, her freedom and sanity at stake, that it became so powerful that when Peter suddenly appeared he slammed into the waters and stepped back, looking shocked.

"You can't come any closer," she shouted, shaking with the effort to keep him at bay and he cocked an arrogant eyebrow but his eyes were terrible to behold.

"I can't?"

"Just leave me alone. I meant what I said," she warned him and he smiled at her but then the expression faltered when she turned her back and he held out a hand. He really couldn't move any further and he was secretly confused and disorientated. Maybe it was because she was his True Love that she could master such control over something that was basically an extension of himself. No one else could.

"Wait! If you really want to play this game then fine but you've got to know you have nothing to fear from me," he stressed and she turned in disbelief.

"Do you even hear the things that come out of your mouth? I will not risk becoming corrupted like you and it's already started."

"You can't believe that? Wendy there's only one person on this island with a spotless, unsoiled heart and I'm looking right at her. If you really don't believe me I can show you, I can prove it," he said sincerely and held out his hand for her. "Just come with me."

"Leave this place, if you really do care for me after everything you've done then please respect my wish," she said and began to climb the ladder and forcing herself not to turn around she disappeared into the cave. She kept her tears back until she came to the screen and then ran for the door, heartbroken as sobs escaped from her mouth and she slammed the door closed behind her, sealing it.

Peter stared at the cave, the waters she had made rise still flowing, blocking his path. He could make it retreat, he could cross and force her back with him but he remained still, thinking. He knew that she would be upset but he had not seriously considered that she would do this, her love had been too secure, too easily accessible to think that she would ever put her own needs before their relationship. He had taken her love for granted, not counting on how fiercely moral she still was and he was paying the price for that now. She was still on the island, she was going nowhere but was he expected to make good on her request?

"You just need time," he whispered, hoping that she could hear it. "I'll leave you alone but like I told you once before you'll come back to me because the alternative is not something you can endure."

He would allow her this breathing space, show that he could be reasonable but as he turned back something twisted in his stomach and he found it hard to concentrate on where he was going. When she had bared her soul to him, revealing what she really thought of him he felt a pain go through his chest and instead of fading it continued to throb horribly. Not someone whoever regretted his decisions because he did not care enough to he battled with an old and now unfamiliar emotion and walked back to his camp overshadowed by an angry regret. Not for Rufio, he'd gladly see him dead a hundred times over, but for what it had cost him.

Rain pouring down around him Peter looked back with a gaze filled with bitter disappointment but such weakness was loathsome to him and bordering on defeat. He hadn't lost, he was just bidding his time before he made his next move and he could be very patient. So he bowed with a tiny smile, waving his hand like she had just scored a well deserved point and vanished, leaving the cave isolated and half drowned.

a.n:

Sorry for the rough emotional ride! I hope people will understand where Wendy is coming from but don't worry, the ship still floats. Peter will find ways to get to her...

Thank you for the amazing responces I've received, they mean so much to me! You're all brilliant!