Hey everybody,

a new chapter just for you! Hope you like it!

The fact that today is the first day of school and it's Monday makes it physically impossible for me to get out of bed...

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

Chapter 51

Aura's POV:

We were lying in the sand, watching the sparkles of the indigo crystals and reflecting gleams of my heart on the cave wall.

He held my hand.

Cold from the wet undergarments and the lack of a warm cover, I started to shiver; but Pan wrapped his arms around me protectively, resting his chin in the crook of my neck. I could feel the heat radiating from his chest and where our bare skins touched, it burned.

'Pan, where did you get your scars?' He looked up, our eyes locking for what seemed like an eternity.

'From fights and hunts, not important...'

I was ready to repay the favor of his healing, the marks fading wherever my fingers gently traced invisible lines on his naked chest. Somehow, my mind jumped to another memory; how good it felt to be pressed flush against his body, Pan driving even deeper into me as I felt so close to my high. Quickly trying to shake the dirty thoughts out of my head, a bright blush I was certain he could see in the dark crept upon my cheeks. His eyebrows raised in question, but he didn't press on, only brushing away damp strands of my hair from my face. I smiled.

'Thank you.' He put his hand over mine which was resting over his irregular beating heart.

From his tone, I could tell his expression of gratitude wasn't only for me healing his wounds, but also for trusting him enough to let him touch me and be near me. For coming back to him. For forgiving him for putting me in the Echo Caves.

The Echo Caves. Hook and the rest of the group! How were they holding up; were they wondering where I was after I had so suddenly disappeared? Had Neal found Henry yet?

'Is everything alright, Aura?' Pan asked, worry in his eyes.

'It's just, before I came back to the Echo Caves, these people rescued me. They offered to take me home with them after they find a boy...'

'Do you mean Emma and her group, per chance?' He let out a slightly irritated sigh.

'Actually, yes. Hook was there, too...'

'Did they tell you the Evil Queen is with them, here in Neverland? I bet Hook forgot to mention that fact. All they want is to use you; to distract me so they could get Henry!' Pan stood up, pacing around aimlessly, throwing his hands in the air.

It was true, the quintet had not told me that the Evil Queen, the very woman who had caused me to seek this safe haven - who desired my heart - was on this island. But I had only revealed to Hook that Pan was my True Love; that I used to be his weakness, an exception to his games.

'You are paranoid! They weren't...' Now I rose, frustrated.

'I am the paranoid one? If you had only a day to live, you would be acting the same way! I need Henry more than they need him!' Pan shouted, the cave echoing some of his words.

'Why do you need Henry? What is happening?'

'I'm dying, Aura!' The second he had let out those words, Pan sunk to his knees; his head in his hands.

What? The forever young Lost Boy was dying? All my anger towards him moments prior disappeared, replaced with a pain in my chest. A few years ago, I would've laughed at the fact Pan would soon never be, but now I felt empty. What would happen to me; to the Lost Ones; to Neverland if Pan wasn't alive anymore?

'Why?' Walking over to him, I knelt down and took his hands to look into his sad faint grey eyes.

'Because I said I loved you. Love means growing up, and soon, all my cheated years will catch up with me. That's why I need the Heart of the Truest Believer to make me immortal, and Henry has that heart.'

'But he's just an innocent boy! Isn't there any other solution? Can't you...can't you use my heart instead?' I didn't know where this sudden protectiveness of Henry came from; maybe it was because I didn't want anyone else to experience the same fate I did.

'No, you don't understand! I need this heart inside of me to work. I would rather die than make you...' Before he could finish his sentence, I silenced him with one finger pressed against his lips.

I knew what would happen to me if Pan died. I would die on the inside, I would be a lifeless shell with an empty heart wandering around on a magical island; damned for eternity to walk without my True Love.

'You have to understand, if I become immortal then I restore Neverland to its former glory and keep its inhabitants safe. I keep you safe.'

'I...don't care what you do. As long as you can be here with me...' I pressed my forehead against his, still holding both his hands.

'I love you, Aura. I would do anything to be with you.' Pan tilted his head to the side, and cupping my cheeks, moved in for a soft kiss.

In the midst of a cave, the crystals illuminating the radiant glow of my heart like a clear night's sky with many stars, Pan stopped. And without hesitation, pulled out his heart from his chest.

'Here, you own it anyway.' Handing me the beating organ, I saw many tiny black specks, but they were slowly pulsating and fading.

The first Lost Boy kept surprising me with these acts. I was still so unsure about that warm feeling spreading through my chest every time I saw him, every time our skin touched…but I believed it was something close to whatever it was that he felt for me.

'Now, I need to get Henry and leave for Skull Rock. I'm not sure if the group will come to camp, so it would be best if you stayed here till I come back for you.'

'Then I will wait.'

So...yeah...I've got the bad case of feels...it hurts so much..

Reviews are always appreciated and make me smile!

Love you all,

aureaborealis