Chapter 6: Secrets

Hook walked over to Snow and Charming, his eyebrows drew together and he bit his lower lip before he sighed.

If he didn't tell them, then Pan would, and he didn't want to find out the consequences. "We need to talk. Pan paid me a visit. He, uh, He told me that Neal is alive, that he's on this very island."

Snow gasped , but shook her head. "Emma saw him. He was shot. He fell through a portal."

"No one could survive that." David stated.

"Well, he did, and now he's here." Hook replied. "Pan said he took him from this very camp while we were off in his cave. According to Pan, if he's telling the truth."

David frowned. "And, uh, why would he tell you? What does he hope to gain?"

"Who knows why he does anything? He has his reasons, but it's a sure bet they're not good ones."

Snow nodded, looking at something behind Hook. "He's telling the truth. Tracks and a scuffle. Someone was here while we were gone." She pointed to the ground, where broken twigs and moved dirt justified what Hook had told them.

"We have to tell her." Snow stated, about to walk over to Emma, who was learning how to control her magic with Regina's help.

David pulled her back gently. "No, no, no. She already lost Neal once. And if this is a game, we can't put her through losing him again."

"He's right." Hook agreed. "Either way, telling her is what Pan wants, which is why we shouldn't do it."

David nodded. But Snow wasn't convinced. "You want to find him without letting her know? Why hurt her unnecessarily? I've never lied to her before."

"You're not lying." David reassured her. "You're just keeping a secret until confirmation."

"Secrets always seem to keep us from the people we really care about." She stated.

David put his hands on his wife's shoulder. "And sometimes secrets protect the people we love."

Hook frowned slightly, remembering what Pan had told him. "Pan also said you might be hiding something from me too..."

David frowned in confusion. But Hook could see in Snow's eyes that she knew something they didn't.

"You can't see the future here." Peter stated, as he walked over to Rumple. "It's impossible to see the future in a place where time stands still."

The dark one jumped slightly. "I may not see the future here, but I can make one happen."

Peter scoffed. "Was that a threat? And here I made you your favorite breakfast: eggs in a basket." He gestured to the food. "I thought you could use it. You looked a little down in the dumps."

"I'm fine."

"Sure you are, Rumple. You've lost your son Neal." He started pacing. "Again. And Henry's unattainable because Well, you'd have to go through me, and we both know you can't."

"You still like the yolk runny, don't you? What do you want? Well, if you won't eat, then I will." He picked up one of the eggs and bit into it. "I'm just trying to point out the silver lining in your cloudy life."

"That by killing you, all our troubles end?" Rumple asked, glaring at him.

"We both know that's not going to happen!" Peter chuckled. "Because the only way to do that is for you to die, too. You can go, leave the island."

Rumpelstiltskin narrowed his eyes. "And abandon my son? And Henry? I don't think so."

"Look, even if you did save them -which you won't- what would be the point? They'll never forgive you for all the horrible things you've done."

"You don't know that!" He protested.

"Have you forgiven your father? You see my point? Back to that silver lining you have a nice girl waiting for you back in Storybrooke." Rumple's eyes widened. "Belle, is it? Stop this foolishness and go back to her. Make a new start. She looks fertile."

Rumple glared at him. "Maybe a new child? You and I both know that's the only future for you Assuming you want to live. Enjoy the eggs." Peter grinned. "I've got my own little girl to get back to... But don't bother yourself with her."

Lily caught her breath. Her whole life had been a lie.

Peter had killed her parents. But they weren't her parents.

They were two people she loved with all her heart more than anything.

People who held her when she cried. A family. But not relatives.

She looked at the ground, trying hard not to think about them. Impossible.

Time seemed to stop. A boiling fury swelled inside of her, and the physical pain was suddenly too much to bare.

She screamed and fell to the ground, tears covering her pale face.

She could feel her heart, as though it's going to break into a million pieces.

Her grief consuming her to a point where she feels she cannot breath.

One simple question she had been asking herself: "Who are they?"

"If we're gonna hide this, we need a good cover story." David stated.

"What?" Hook asked Snow. "What are you hiding from me?"

Emma and Regina walked over to them. "What's going on?" Emma asked, noticing the worry on their faces. "Where you guys going?"

"Firewood."

"To get water."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Guys, what's going on?"

"Neal's alive." Snow stated.

Her daughter's eye's widened. "Neal is... Alive?"

"Maybe." David added.

"Sorry." Snow said. "She deserved to know."

"And I deserve to know what your hiding from me." Hook reminded them.

Snow sighed, and looked over at Regina and Emma. "He's right."

"Pan paid us a visit too... He had a girl with him." Emma said, Hook's eyes widened.

"Who?"

"He said she was your daughter."

Peter returned to camp and grabbed his spyglass. "Look at them go." He told Felix.

They were watching Emma and the rest of Henry's 'rescue team' look for Neal. "So determined to find their missing friend."

"Speaking of that friend What should we do with Neal?" Felix asked.

Peter sighed. "Take him to the echo cave. The game is about to get interesting."

With that said, Felix left. Peter made his way back into the tree house.