Hey everybody,

it's New Year's Eve! 2014 is coming! And here's a new chapter, just for you! Really hope you like it! Can't wait for your reaction!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Once upon a Time, just the ideas in my head that I incorporated in this story!

Chapter 17

My head was resting on Peter's chest, just above his steady-beating heart, stirring me from a dreamless sleep.

Somehow, he had brought us to my bed after a rather sensual evening by the campfire with many kisses and whispers of sweet nothings.

I don't know, but somehow, amongst all the wonders of Neverland, Peter had touched something deeper than anyone ever had. And I didn't want to admit it to myself, but there was something about the way he held me. Maybe it was because I knew his story and the fact that he symbolized freedom and youth, but I still couldn't pull myself away from the boy lying next to me. He had been nothing but nice and kind to me. He had admitted he liked me…he had kissed me.

The few moments of peace gave me enough time to study his face; how calm and carefree he looked. Even though his eyes were closed, I knew exactly where each little speck of faint light blue that dotted them were. I brushed the disheveled brown hair from his forehead, and planted light kisses from his brow, down the nose to his full lips, swollen from yesterday's action. Stirring from sleep, the edges curled up to a smile.

'Don't stop,' he murmured, his eyes still closed.

This time, I tried to pour all my emotion, everything I felt for him, into the kiss.

Feeling my need, Peter responded by flipping us around, the positions reversed.

His lips started to trail along my neck, eliciting soft moans, and I gasped as he found my pulse point, gently sucking on it.

I was all too aware of what could happen if this went on, turn into something more serious. And although my body was clearly betraying me, somehow, the idea of this kind of intimacy as a proof of real love was stuck into my head. And a small voice in the back of my mind refrained me from continuing, telling me it was too early and I might regret my decision later.

Sensing my uncertainty the moment it even entered my thoughts, Peter stopped at once and sat up at the edge of the bed.

'I'm sorry. I...I shouldn't have-'

'You don't need to apologize. It's just...I'm not ready, yet.'

'Then I will wait.' Peter looked back at me, yearning in his eyes.

At first, I had a sense of deja vu of hearing that answer somewhere in the past, then the meaning of his words hit me like a ton of bricks. He felt it, too. Wanted it. The annoying voice in my head kept lecturing me about how maybe it wasn't love,only desire, something normal for an adolescent boy to feel on an island full of other boys. But deep down, I desperately wanted to believe Peter not only liked me, but that it went beyond that. That he could possibly love me.

'Would you like to meet Tinkerbell, and talk about, I don't know, girly stuff?' Peter interrupted asked as we sat outside eating with the Lost Boys. He was treading unknown territory and it was quite amusing to watch how he almost stuttered each word.

'Sure. A nice change from all you boys.' I smiled, setting aside my bowl of porridge, eager to meet the fairy I'd read so much about.

'Well, just run along the path here, it will lead you to her house.' Peter pointed to one of the many trails, before pushing his breakfast away and kissing me goodbye chastely.

Many of the Lost Ones present groaned in disapproval. The occasional 'ewwww' was heard.

Treading to my destination, I couldn't help but think about the fact that Peter was getting rid of me for quite a few hours. Was it intentional? Was he hiding something? Was he avoiding me because of my uneasiness before?

I pushed aside my worries as I spotted a woman jumping out of a tree house, similar to mine.

'Are you Tinkerbell?' I asked, looking up at the blond girl with a smile.

'Yes, and you're a girl!' Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me from the top of my head to the end of my toes, the way she smiled at me confirmed my suspicion.

There weren't many girls in Neverland.

'Come on in, I have some tea.' She nodded to her home excitedly, causing her messy bun to loosen.

After only five minutes, I had found out everything I needed to know about Tinkerbell, from her favourite color to what she had cooked yesterday, not leaving out any details.

'I'm sorry if this is rude, but why don't you have any wings?'

And then the bubbly talkative woman sitting there, sipping her tea, went quiet for the first time.

I set my cup aside, my face falling as I noted in my head that I had pushed the fairy too far. 'I shouldn't have asked, I'm so sor-'

'No, no. It's fine. I'm just trying to put it together in words,' she interrupted.

After a while in complete silence, Tinkerbell carried on.

'I lost them trying to fulfill a woman's happiness. Regina was bitter and lonely, desperate for love, and I wanted to help her. My superior, the Blue Fairy told me the woman was beyond needing help, she was called the Evil Queen for a reason. But everyone deserves to love, so I snuck out, stole some pixie dust and led her to her true love. Later, Regina called me a terrible fairy, because the man was not her love. But pixie dust never fails, it will always lead you to your love. The Blue Fairy caught me and took away my wings by not believing in me anymore. Nobody has ever since. After losing my fairy powers, I was banished to Neverland, and well, here we are.' Her gloomy state changed the second she finished retelling her tale, as though she was trying to remove the painful memories with a smile.

Again, I was baffled how different the person in front of me from my storybook.

'I'm sorry.' I squeezed her hand tenderly, offering my comfort.

'Well, I can't change anything in the past. Only my future. So why did you come? Surely, not for that?'

'Peter kind of sent me here. I just wanted to talk.'

'What's your name again?'

'It's Aura.'

'Oh! You're the girl Peter was talking about. Kept coming here for days, just asking questions.'

That caught my attention. 'What did he ask?' I tried hard to hide the jealousy.

'Things he never bothered asking before. Like what flowers girls like, or how to act like a well behaved boy. Basically advice.' Her giggle was quite contagious, it did seem weird as to why Peter, a carefree boy with no troubles, would ask something so silly.

Thinking of Peter reminded the constant struggle I was having with my mind about if he felt something deeper for me. There would be only one way to know for sure.

'Do you have any pixie dust?' I asked, a plan already forming in my head.

'Plenty. Need any?' Tinkerbell opened a cupboard, exposing neatly arrayed vials of green dust.

'It will lead me to my love, right?' I caught one vial she threw to me.

'Yes. Sprinkle some on yourself, and if your true love is here on the island, the green-glowing will lead you to them. Only you can see the dust. But you have to really believe, or it won't work.'

She followed me outside, just to make sure I didn't make any mistakes while following her instructions.

'I think we'll be really good friends, Aura. I hope you find your happiness. It will make me incredibly happy.'

I patted her on the shoulder. 'I'd like to be friends.'

She answered with an infectious wide smile before I sprinkled some pixie dust on me, closed my eyes, and cleared my mind of any unwanted thoughts.

Just believe.

I felt a surge of pure magic run its course through my veins, before I opened my eyes and saw a green path in front of me.

'Don't worry, Tink,' I said to her as I saw the path, 'Someone will believe in you… I'm starting to.'

And with those words I headed off. The path led me back to camp through the jungle. I was walking endlessly, always following the path, but still it felt like I was running in circles.

My love was on the island. And in response, my heart was beating so hard, not from physical activity, but from anticipation that made my stomach ache.

Finally, I reached the shore and the green trail stopped.

My eyes, trained on the ground, slowly moved upward to see the back of a boy.

'Hey,' I whispered to my love.

Startled, the boy turned around.

'Aura?'

The familiar huskiness made my heart stop completely.

Sorry for the cliffhanger! (But I think we all know who it is) So next year, you'll get the answer!

Reviews are always appreciated!

Love you all,

aureaborealis