Hey everybody,

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

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

Chapter 53

Aura's POV:

As I saw Pan disappear, presumably to get Henry and take him to Skull Rock, I also saw the chance to find my brother at camp again. I needed to see him one last time, convince him he had to leave the island without me. There wouldn't be much time before Pan would come back for me since this beach wasn't far from the compound. Quickly manifesting some comfortable clothes in the style that I used to wear when I first came to Neverland, I debated on where to keep Pan's heart. If I left it here in the cave, I couldn't watch over it; and he had entrusted me to keep it safe. Creating a wooden box in which the beating organ fit perfectly, I tucked the case into the satchel attached to my quiver.

Navigating through the dense jungle, the string of my bow already stretched in case any of Neverland's animals decided to attack me, I followed the shouts of boys and music that would surely lead me to my brother.

'Don't think. Just feel.' I felt him place his large hands on my shoulders, the words encouraging me to forget for a moment.

The arrow missed and hit the ground, making noise and causing the animal to run away. My body sagged, disappointment filling me as I realized that my chance to prove myself was still running around the island and my arrow was sitting limply in the dirt.

'Not bad for a first try, now we better head back to camp.' I noticed how the mask of emotionless apathy faltered and his flat tone had sounded more alive.

'Felix?' Crouching behind a thick bush, I whispered to a boy with blond hair who was sitting far away from the campfire, on the outskirts of camp.

The Lost One immediately turned his head, his faint grey eyes meeting mine. A smile tugged at his lips before he stood up, walking the path I came from and motioning for me to follow.

Suddenly, I felt his strong arms wrap around me in a protective hug. 'You got out of the Echo Caves? How?'

'These people rescued Neal, and me. I...'

'Does Pan know?' Gripping me by the shoulders, there was a fire blazing in his eyes.

'He does. But that doesn't matter; did you find you find a way off the island? Because…you know I can't leave without dying.'

'How could I have been so stupid?! Dreamshade poisoning…I completely forgot. I…how are we going to run away now?' I could see the distressed look in his features, he wanted to pace around, but I cupped his cheek so his focus was on me.

'You will, without me. Pan mentioned Emma and her group maybe coming to camp. They told me they had a way off the island. That's your passage away from Neverland.'

'Why would I want to go without you? The whole plan was to be with you, to start over.'

'Because it's your best chance. You could find someone you love and loves you back, you could start a new family. You could be happy. Just without me. Maybe it was meant to be this way. Maybe we were always meant to be separated.' It pained me - broke me inside - to say those words to my brother, my only real family, but it had to be done. He had to leave.

He still didn't seem convinced. 'Aura, no. I won't...' If he was smart, not stubborn, he would do the right thing.

'Brother, remember what Father said: as long as I love you, everything will be fine.' Pressing our foreheads against each other, I closed my eyes, letting a tear slip.

Then I heard a commotion from the camp; Lost Boys were falling to the floor unconscious. True to Pan's word, the quintet had arrived at camp, but in addition to Tinkerbell. I could feel my brother slipping away from me, his weight slumping against my form, his eyes fluttering.

'Felix, I love you.' Gently setting him on the ground, I placed a soft kiss on his cheek and made one of my pictures I had drawn in the Echo Cave appear in my hand.

A doodle of Felix's lifting me up in the air, heart-warming smiles on our faces, a small heart in the corner of the page. This was goodbye.

After setting it in his hand, I disappeared into the jungle as tears fell down my face. I left a sleeping Felix at camp, never expecting to see him again.

Just as I stepped foot into the cave, the ground began to shake and my feet lost their purchase on the rocks. I fell into the sand. The deed must've been done. Pan would arrive any second now. Making the bow and arrows dissolve into thin air, I decided to distract myself from the pain in my chest with Pan's heart.

Before I went to camp, a healthy glow was emitting from it. But now, a darkness dominated his heart, only a small speck of red…of goodness…was left.

The feeling of someone's hands on my shoulders caused me to jump up. 'I didn't mean to scare you.' A familiar husky voice whispered behind me.

Turning to Pan, the first thing I noticed was a cut on his cheek, the blood already dry around the wound.

'You're hurt.'

Gently touching his injury, it faded away.

'You are, too.' His eyes intently searched mine; he must've noticed the dry tears on my cheeks.

'It's nothing.' I quickly dismissed, trying to avert his attention. 'So, you are alive? Forever?'

'Indeed. This calls for celebration...and I know just where to go.' Taking hold of my hand, he transported us to the the cliff that was right above the beach.

My eyes stood transfixed upon the ocean that seemed to keep going on and on…endless. Even beyond the horizon.

I didn't hear a word Pan was saying.

'...Aura? Are you even listening?' Turning my attention to him, I saw a beautiful cottage, similar to the one I had once called home, with candles burning inside already.

'I thought, now that you are staying here, you could live here. It isn't far from camp, so the Boys won't be annoying you, but if you don't like it...' He stood there, looking on the ground awkwardly, his hands in his pockets.

'It's wonderful, Pan. Thank you.' Walking up to him, I made him look up, a sad look on his face.

'You know, you don't have to keep secrets from me.'

Staring dumb-founded, I tried to hide the fear, the fear Pan could hurt Felix.

'Your brother might be very good at keeping secrets; you however...' He didn't seem angry, or furious, or anything of that sorts; just heartbroken.

How did he know about me having a brother? I certainly had never mentioned it; I myself didn't know for quite some time.

'I know it's Felix, he told me before I made you my Queen. Just so you know, it is possible to survive the poisoning in other realms; there is an elixir. If I give it to you, you could run away with him. So the question is, do you want to stay with me in Neverland? Because you can stay here by my side. Or you can walk away, leave now.'

It was too late to deny anything anymore. 'You would give me passage off the island, just like that? Why?' There was a chance, a start of a new life with my brother, just as we planned.

'Because if I love you, I can let you go. I lost you once, and there was no sunshine. If I lose you again, there will be no clear skies. Everyday it will rain.' Pan gently stroked his thumb across my cheek, as if trying to capture how my skin felt, and turned away.

'The choice is yours.'

All I could do was stand there in silence, a battle playing inside my head. I had the possibility of starting over with my brother, but I would wander without my True Love. If I stayed here, Felix would still have the opportunity to begin a new life.

Pan must've assumed I would leave him here for another life, because in those moments of thought, it began to rain. Salty. Like tears. I looked up at him and my heart ached at the sight and sound of his crying, I needed to make him happy; to be with him.

In that moment, everything became clear to me. He had won me over. He had rekindled a love lost for a hundred years. I forgave him. I wasn't sure when, but I had. And all I had to do was tell him. Tell him that I wanted to be with him, that I loved him too. I had made my decision.

So...yeah...any guesses what's going to happen next chapter? :)

Reviews are always appreciated!

Love you all,

aureaborealis