A/N: Here we go; another chapter! Special thanks to CaptainHooksGirl for your lovely review. The next one will be up later this evening/tomorrow morning. Don't forget to review!

Chapter 11

They walked in silence for some time, Peter keeping his eyes trained on Wendy as she stumbled forward, keeping as close to the wall of the Black Castle as possible in order to not risk falling into the tumultuous ocean below. Wendy moved slowly, trying to think up a plan that would protect both Hook and Peter without bringing too much harm to herself, but nothing came to mind. She kept her gaze low, not even stopping to notice the subtle changes in the castle's exterior that Hook had previously taken the time to digest. A sigh escaped her lips as she turned her head to glance at Peter, who had narrowed his eyes and only responded by jabbing his sword towards her once more. Wendy shifted her gaze upwards, glancing up at the portcullis.

"There's no way in."

For the first time in quite a large number of minutes, Peter broke his gaze from Wendy, surveying the portcullis as if it might just magically open upon his order.

"Tink?"

The fairy leapt forward, purposely spraying dust in Wendy's face to make her sneeze, which she did, before diving in and out of the metal bars, trying to discover some way to raise them. After a moment or two she returned with a shrug of her shoulders and her head shaking sadly. Peter sighed, thinking hard.

"What about the terrace where…"

Wendy's words drifted off as she remembered that Peter would have no recollection, and therefore no need to care, of the first time they had flown to the Black Castle in order to rescue John and Michael. She was right, for Peter didn't even question her lack of sentence finishing; instead his mind was entirely focused upon thinking of the best way to get Wendy up onto the terrace. With a hint of disgust, he conceded. He had two choices: carry Wendy, for as he had previously discovered, she was not too heavy, or give her fairy dust so that she could fly. The decision was simple: he was not giving the enemy the advantage of flying.

Peter withdrew his sword, tucking it back into its sheath, before approaching Wendy somewhat cautiously but still with an air of authority about him. He stepped behind her and carefully untied her hands, completing the task slowly to ensure that Wendy would not use her freedom to attempt to escape. She remained still and Peter stepped away from her once more.

"Put your arms around my neck, and whatever you do, make sure you hold on tight."

Realising what Peter was intending to do, Wendy immediately began to protest.

"But, Peter…"

"Do as I say lady, or I will leave you here to die!"

The statement was rather dramatic, even for Peter, and both knew his words to be untrue. He was, after all, using Wendy to capture Hook and wouldn't leave her be and forfeit his plans quite that easily. Yet Wendy still complied, finding herself having no other option but to do just that. Taking a small step forward, she rested her arms around the boy's neck, to which he, only slightly hesitantly, wrapped his arm around her waist for support.

With a slight push, Peter soared skywards, Wendy clinging onto him as the memory of flying coursed through her bones, her hair waving in the breeze. Not quite enjoying it as much as she remembered doing so as a child, Wendy leant in to Peter, her head resting against the boy's chest. Although he showed no outward reaction to this movement, an image had suddenly flashed into Peter's mind. He was flying, just as he was now, but, instead of an adult, he was carrying a young girl, about his age, in his arms. Her face was hidden as she buried it into his chest, her arms wrapped tightly around Peter's neck, but her hair was almost identical to that of the grown up's, which only served to confuse him. As he held onto the girl he suddenly realised she was quivering and it became apparent that he must have just rescued her. At that moment she moved her head, looking up to stare gratefully into Peter's eyes.

"Peter."

A look of horror crossed Peter's face as he suddenly recognised the girl before him: she was the grown up, the only difference between the two of them was that the girl was a child. It was the same person!

"Peter!"

Wendy's scream brought Peter out of his subconscious, thankfully, just in time for him to avoid the chunk of rock they had been about to hit. As he tried to comprehend precisely what he had just seen, Peter quickly glanced down at the grown up in his arms. True, she looked almost identical to the girl he had just seen himself carrying, but if it was the same person, why didn't he remember her? To be more precise, why, up until this moment, did he not even have any recollection of a girl stepping foot on Neverland, let alone being so close to Peter that he would rescue her from danger?

He landed on the stone terrace in silence, loosening himself from Wendy almost instantly. Peter did not like this: having flashbacks to events that may or may not have occurred. It spelled trouble, and magic, magic that no one but the darkest of sorcerers could achieve. With difficulty, he pushed the thought out of his head, deciding to focus on the here and now: he had to get to Hook, he could find the answer to his problems later, or perhaps even Hook would know. Of course, he would have to fight the answers out of him, but Peter didn't mind that.

Withdrawing his sword once more, Peter began to usher Wendy towards the rooftop entrance of the castle, making sure he had fully tied her hands back together in case she decided to try and escape upon seeing her beloved Hook. The castle was almost exactly as Wendy recalled it; dark and dingy with an overwhelming smell of rot and stale water. As she slowly made her way down the slippery stone steps that paved the way into the ruins, Wendy caught glimpse of a couple of a few boys hiding between and behind the rocks and arches that decorated the castle. At one moment she could have sworn she also saw Curley, but within a heartbeat whoever it was had vanished from her sight, leaving her debating whether there was any chance the boys may have followed her from London.

Stumbling slightly as she reached an uneven patch of stone, Wendy turned her head away from the hiding children, focusing instead upon her journey. They crossed through the archways and began to make their way down to the ledge on which Peter had almost fallen prey to Hook's vengeance before. However, just as they reached it a large shadow of a figure began to descend around the corner opposite from where Wendy and Peter where standing. In a flash Peter had hidden, nearly toppling over Wendy as he moved. She was less fortunate in her movement, barely having time to struggle before Hook came into view, his sharp eyes instantly resting on her.

For a moment there was silence, as both parties stared at each other, one angry, and the other apprehensive. All of a sudden, Hook growled, marching, as fast as he could for the ground between them was rather uneven, towards Wendy as she ever so cautiously backed off.

"What are you doing here? Where's Smee?"

Wendy stuttered, somewhat stunned at the way Hook was looking at her, his dark hair tousled and his wet jacket clinging tightly to his arms, revealing a set of rather impressive muscles underneath. She blinkered out of her reverie as Hook continued to approach her, the forget me not blue of his eyes laced with streams of blood red. Wendy gasped, struggling to untie herself in an attempt to avoid the imminent danger. Alas, Peter had tied the ropes too tight.

In one swift movement, Hook's fingers had entwined themselves into Wendy's hair. Pulling her towards him with little effort, she whimpered softly.

"Captain, I…"

For not the first time in the last few hours, Wendy was interrupted, this time by a hook as it pushed itself against her windpipe, threatening to break her skin. Behind her, a soft gasp broke the almost silence and Hook, who until that second had looked as if he was about to kill the poor Wendy, raised an eyebrow, his features softening ever so slightly as is gaze flickered upwards.

"What was that?" he whispered, his hook still uncharacteristically close to Wendy's throat.

"Nothing," she croaked softly, trying to remain as still as possible. His gaze flickered back down to hers.

"Don't lie to me Wendy. We are not alone."

He lifted his hook ever so slightly, purposely cutting off Wendy's breath. She began to panic, wishing with all her might that Peter would reveal himself and end her torment. He appeared to read her mind for, as Hook raised his arm to strike, a shadow cleared its throat directly behind him. He spun around in shock, his look changing to one of hatred as Peter hovered before him.

"Pan?"

Peter smiled, a cheeky grin playing on his lips. "Did you miss me?"

He laughed playfully, prompting Hook to curse all that was good and true for the opportunity to slash his neck with the weapon that adorned his right hand. He swung his Hook outwards but as always Peter dodged out of the way, his shoulders shaking as he laughed.

"You're going to have to try harder than that old man! Otherwise your little guest will end up as crocodile food!"

Hook's face fell and he turned back to Wendy in one swift movement. The red in his eyes was gone: the old Hook was back. Taking her chin in his hand, Hook surveyed the girl before him, finally noticing she was bound. His fingers gently stroked her cheek.

"Wendy." He whispered, not taking his eyes off her for a moment.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, my dear."

Behind them, Peter was rapidly growing inpatient, a plan formulating in his mind.

"James, be careful."

Hook froze, having both never heard Wendy use his first name before and having never been worried over in concern to his deathly pursuits. After a second's hesitation, he pulled her into his arms where she instantly rested her head against his chest. Using the moment of comfort to its best advantage, he slowly slipped his hook under Wendy's bonds, slicing them away in as carefully as the situation would allow. Her arms flung around his neck as soon as she was free, her head moving to rest on his shoulder. Hook held her tight, lost in his own little world until, suddenly, Wendy froze.

As Wendy opened her eyes, a terrifying sight met her gaze. Peter was hovering in front of her, his sword drawn and its sharp tip not three inches from her face. He had a look of disgust on his face, which, Wendy assumed, was more than just because there were two people embracing before him: one of them was the evil Captain Hook. Peter's lip twitched as he snarled down at them.

"You should never have returned."

Wendy felt her mouth fall open as Peter raised his sword in order to strike but Hook was ready. In one swift movement he ducked, taking Wendy with him, and withdrew his own sword, spinning around to face Peter as he rose once more. Their eyes locked.

The fight began. Peter struck first, childlike and clumsily, but Hook deflected it coolly. They continued to battle, the sound of swords clanging echoing around the stone walls of the castle. Wendy felt herself creeping backwards as Peter forced Hook towards her, until a wall abruptly appeared behind her, giving her no place to go. She screamed as Peter lunged over Hook's shoulder, Hook jumping out of the way easily although the blow clearly wasn't intended for him. Luckily, she moved her head just in time and the sword instead lodged itself into the stone behind her.

Peter groaned angrily, pulling with all of his might in order to dislodge his weapon. Seizing the moment of peace, Hook turned to Wendy, a concerned but authoritative tone in his voice, and ordered her to hide. She hesitated for a moment, trying to think of something to say, but at Hook's urging, and Peter's freeing of his sword, she found she had no other choice but to dart into the darkness and watch as the fight unfolded once more.

Hook grimaced as Peter swung his sword towards him, prompting him to dive out of the way so that he wouldn't suffer being hit. As he glanced up at the boy, he noticed something strange about his expression. Pan had always fought with a smile before now, no matter the situation. To him, fighting was just a game, and there was no real vengeance to be had. This was what normally irked Hook the most, as, to the pirate Captain, revenge was pivotal, and Peter always seemed to be mocking his anger whenever he defeated him with a stupid grin splashed across his face. However now something had changed. Peter was no longer smiling but had a look of deep concentration etched into his skin, his lips were pursed and his eyes were furrowed; he was not quite out to kill but merely confused and hurt at Wendy's loyalty to Hook, not that he remembered her, but it must have been difficult to come to the understanding that the old, lonely Captain could find friendship in a member of the opposing gender.

This time it was Hook's turn to lunge, using the moment to direct Peter as far away from Wendy's hiding place as possible. The boy recovered quicker than Hook could ever dream so and came at him once more; driving him up the staircase he had earlier forced the captive Wendy down. Gaining his bearings, Hook began to formulate a plan. He had to get Pan out of the vicinity and allow Wendy to escape. Glancing ever so slightly upwards, Hook spotted the archway leading out onto the stone terrace and, deciding that was the place they needed to go, he started to edge his way towards it.

Wendy watched on in horror as the child and the pirate fought, forgetting the world around them as they became so intensely wrapped up in their own. With a gasp, she realised that Hook was leading the both of them out onto the terrace and away from Wendy's line of sight. She straightened up, watching them until the very last moment and then began to run, jumping over loose stones and stumbling on the uneven surface in order to catch them before something drastic happened.

When she was only a couple of metres away from the archway, her ears still desperately listening out for the clink of metal on metal, Wendy's foot suddenly became entrapped in a small gap in the stone and with a scream she fell to the ground, landing heavily on her side, her cheek scraping across the rough stone floor. Breathing heavily through the pain, she lifted herself back up as fast as she could, checking momentarily for cuts and grazes, of which there were a few, before continuing, albeit at a much slower pace, towards the arch through which Peter and Hook had disappeared.

Just as she was about to turn the corner and limp out onto the terrace, a cry echoed through the dark cloudy skies. Wendy paled: it wasn't the cry of a boy, but one of a man, which meant only one thing.

Gathering all her strength, she turned out onto the terrace, seeing Peter standing victoriously over Hook's fallen body. She went to call out for Hook but before she could even breathe Peter had turned, a demonic smile on his face, and flown over to Wendy, slamming her backwards into the stone as he covered her mouth with a blood streaked hand. He grinned one filthy, proud grin and whispered:

"It's too late. Hook is dead."