A/N: I'm a little disappointed that I only got one review from my last chapter but what did I expect updating on a Monday. Anyway, I won't be updating in a while until I publish a book. I've already got an outline written out, hopefully be done by spring. I'm going to be honest, I'm hoping to earn enough money for a trip to Valley Forge but struggling to get where I want to be. My chances of getting in are little, unless I don't try at all then it goes down to zero. Wish me luck! A warning, this chapter is a little dark so beware. Review!

Hook looked down on his dreary city, at one point it was sparkling new. Then the sun disappeared, and with it, the colors. Now something was eating at his precious city- the moss was turning the cement brittle; whenever someone touched it, there would be residue.

He had ordered some low life to scrape away the moss but when one was removed, another would appear elsewhere. Hook pinched the bridge of his nose; it wasn't easy running a city.

Why was this happening? Hook thought of only one answer: Pan. That boy has been a thorn in his side for far too long; it's time he did something about it.

Peter wasn't sure how to approach Wendy; in his experience, which isn't very much, girls are ticking time bombs of emotion.

Wendy, on the other hand, was preparing for her first time out since arriving. Usually the Lost Kids take turns doing each other's jobs but the new arrivals has to do the dirty jobs, a.k.a. dumpster diving. Dumpster diving is one of two main food sources, the other is trading with the Indians (they don't have much of a surplus of food but it's something). There was the occasional robbing of the grocery store but that is for special times.

"Do you have everything? Tools, bags, pepper spray?"

"Don't worry so much Kyle, I'll be fine."

Kyle was the one who had saved Wendy when she had first arrived. In a way, Kyle felt responsible for her; in other words, responsibility turned into overprotected big brother.

Wendy climbed up the ladder and vanished from sight.

"Why do people say that and something bad happens?" Kyle muttered.

Above ground, Wendy was sealing the man-hole with the cover and heading deeper into the alley. Kyle had drilled the route constantly since finding out that soon she'll be going out on her own. The route was, almost literally, straight forward; leading to the back of a night club.

The dumpster was halfway full and flies swarming the lid. Muffled music could be heard from the night club. The smell was over whelming, sitting in the bin; she couldn't believe she had been eating this during her stay with the Lost Kids.

Wendy picked through the trash carefully, avoiding as much mold as possible. The food was nothing more than scraps but scraps with a lot of meat. Pirates, apparently, waste a lot of good food since taking over, very confident in their surplus.

The door of the night club slammed open, startling Wendy.

"-bloody murder, that's a good one," laughed the bartender, carrying a bin of glass bottles. Wendy tensed as the clatter of glass drew closer; she was so still that she began having a cramp. She shifted, slipping in the process causing a clang.

"Who's there?" called the bartender, pulling out a knife. Wendy remained completely still, ignoring any cramps; the bartender's footsteps seemed very audible. "I know you're out here; come out, come out where ever you are," a sneer could be heard as he spoke.

Wendy scrambled to get the pepper spray, pressing the button, empty. Peering in, the tender had a malicious grin plastered across his features. "Got you, you little…" he never finished. He looked startled, before the light dimmed from his cold eyes and collapsed in a crumbled heap.

Wendy waited a couple of seconds to look over the rim but didn't get that that chance, for Peter was looking at her with an emotionless gaze; he offered her a hand and Wendy took it gladly.

Once out of the dumpster, Wendy hugged Peter tightly, shaking a little; unsure what to do next, he carefully returned the hug. Unintentionally, he took a deep breath and a whiff of her scent; she may have been in a garbage bin but under that stink is a faint smell of flowers. This causes Peter grin and small blush; he doesn't know why he's grinning, it just feels right.

"Come on," he says with ease, "Let's get out of here."

Wendy agrees, happily.

When Wendy hugged Peter, something was dislodged; a single acorn on his back fell with a silent clunk. Rolling out of sight, slowing down before falling down a drain; where it will be waiting for the sun to return.