Chapter 8

The woman-her mother, shook her head, explaining to Bebelle that she was not. But Bebelle couldn't quite yet believe it, staring at her unconscious body and then back at herself. How could she be there but also here?

"Then how ?" She asked, unsure of her situation.

Her mother smiled, hand clasping Bebelle's shoulder.

"Your soul has temporarily been separated from your body."

Bebelle's eyes widened in horror; she wasn't quite sure whether such a statement was better or worse than death.

She supposed it had to be better, since a temporary state was a lot less permanent than the fate of death.

"Whatever spell they did, it cut off your link to the isle of neverland, and the way your magic works it feeds part of your soul to nature to receive power from it." Her mother explained, and Bebelle nodded numbly as she tried to process the information.

"So when they severed the connection your soul had nowhere to go, it'll return back to your own body shortly."

"What about you? How are you here? "

Bebelle asked again, after realizing the first time she hadn't been given an answer.

"I told you I was trying to find you, and I finally did, but this place is somewhere I can't reach, the only way I could make contact with you was through your dreams, and even then it was difficult, the spell they cast only allowed me to get a little closer to you."

Reminded of the spell, one of Bebelle's thoughts was brought to the forefront of her mind.

"My magic, what will happen to it? Can, can I get it back?"

Uneasiness stirred in the pit of Bebelle's stomach.

Her mother smiled.

"I have no doubt you'll find a way. Power like that doesn't just disappear."

She watched Bebelle for a moment, eyes landing on those that were a mirror of her own only sadder, and more childlike.

"It's almost time for you to wake up." She stated, wrapping her arms around Bebelle to hug her.

Bebelle stiffened at the foreign action, but didn't pull away. She looked over the shoulder of her mother and saw the white fox watching her from afar, before everything faded.

Her eyelids fluttered as she started to wake, and she jolted, coughing and spluttering as her lungs breathed back in air.

Her movement brought immediate relief to the surrounding lost boys, who cheered knowing she was safe and well, not dead.

A look from Peter sent them scattering as Bebelle rubbed tear stained eyes to clear her vision.

She let Peter pull her up and then set her down on a boulder, before joining her and sitting beside her.

She could feel his eyes on her, but was too embarrassed to look at him so instead she fiddled with her sleeves.

"I thought i'd lost you there."

He muttered and she flushed pink with the admission, remembering the look of alarm she had seen on his features, she hadn't seen a look like that before from him.

"You know you can't get rid of me that easy." She said through a smile, and Peter snorted in agreement.

"Believe me I know, how long have you been here?"

Bebelle scowled as he smirked.

She swatted his arm but it was a half hearted effort, and he could tell straight away that she was obviously still troubled.

"I've already sent the boys to get Tink, she'll know how to get your magic back."

Bebelle nodded, but he was yet to see her smile.

"I know," He said, jumping up from his seat, making Bebelle raise her head with curiosity.

"Let's have a party, have a little fun."

She chewed her lip, a little unsure.

"I don't know, I don't really feel like it."

"Come on i'll save you a dance."

Her lower lip was released from her teeth, puckered now as she pondered.

"One dance."

He insisted and Bebelle rolled her eyes.

Then she relented.

"Okay. Just one dance."

Peter grinned and led Bebelle back to the group. When they returned he announced the party to the lost boys and they all cheered and began to prepare a bonfire. Peter started off by playing his flute to get the lost boys dancing and eventually, when they were all on their feet he held his hand out to Bebelle.

"How about that dance?"

Bebelle mock curtseyed grinning. She could hardly say no to him, not when he was devoting so much attention to her.

"It would be a pleasure."

A sudden squeal left her lips as Peter hoisted her in the air, spinning her around, and she clung to him, expecting the devious boy to drop her.

"There it is."

"What?"

"Your smile, I missed it."

As he set Bebelle down gently on her feet, she tilted her head towards the ground to hide the pink flush on her cheeks.

Peter leaned in with a smirk.

"I missed that too."

He said, poking her cheek.

Trying to hide her embarrassment she choked back a whine and snapped her teeth threatening to bite the offending finger..

Peter quirked an eyebrow and she stuck out her tongue.

"Come on let's go join Henry." Peter said, gesturing towards the boy who had ostracized himself from the group by sitting in a far corner.

Bebelle nodded, perching on the log beside Henry as Peter sat opposite.

"Don't want to join in the celebration Henry?"

"There's nothing to celebrate."

Peter raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing to celebrate? Aren't you happy that Bebelle is okay? You like her don't you?"

"Well yeah..." Henry mumbled, trying to think of an excuse, but Peter didn't allow him the time.

"Then you should enjoy her party, it'll make her happy."

Henry turned to Bebelle wondering what she would say, but her attention was on Felix who was angrily making his way through the camp.

The rustling of her skirts as she moved to stand, drew Peter's attention towards the scowling lost boy. He headed over to Felix, Bebelle following behind.

"What, I know that look what happened?"

"Baelfire, i'm afraid he got away."

"Well why didn't you get him back?"

"I tried, I followed his trail and found two of ours knocked out, by a sleeping spell."

Bebelle's shoulders dropped, along with the corner of her mouth as it pulled into a frown. If she still had her magic she could have prevented all this, but now she was literally powerless and unable to do anything.

Even though she knew peter would still get his way without the help of her magic, she had still caused him a setback. She just hoped her magic would return as soon as possible, she didn't want to ruin things any further.

Her head tilted as she thought about the current predicament, baelfire didn't have magic, so he must have been with someone; had he found Emma and the Evil Queen or...

"The dark one, so father and son have been reunited."

"They'll be coming for the boy, we should move him somewhere safe."

Peter laughed.

"Now now, Felix, where's your sense of adventure, we can't end the party when the real fun is about to begin."

Felix wandered off and Peter, went to sit down by the fire.

Bebelle wore a troubled mask as she followed him.

"The dark one will be able to sense that i haven't got my magic."

She mumbled, nervously fiddling with her sleeves, dropping to the floor beside him with an upset huff.

"Don't worry he's not going to touch you, not if he wants Henry."

"I know, i just don't want them to hurt you."

Peter chuckled.

"You don't need to worry about me either."

"I know I don't have to, but that still doesn't mean that I won't."

A sudden silence fell upon the camp as the Lost boys fell into an induced slumber.

Bebelle looked form them to Peter, he and herself were the only ones untouched by the sleeping spell.

She understood Peter's own immunity, but her own? Her brows knitted together as she tried to think of an explanation.

"We have a guest."

"No doubt someone who knows how much I like guessing games, who could it be?"

Peter rose from his seat, nudging Bebelle behind him.

As he lifted a hand to relight a burned out fire, Rumplestiltskin appeared.

"The dark one."

"Come to save Henry have you laddy, how exciting the dark one ready to risk his life to save his family, speaking of family..."

Peter lit a torch revealing Baelfire.

"You can come out now Baelfire."

"Names Neal now."

Bebelle's eyes landed on the weapon in Baelfires hands, the crossbow which was pointed at Peter, and then her.

Her eyes widened as Peter's narrowed.

"New name but the same old tricks, it's heartwarming to see father and son reunited and working together, especially after you abandoned him Rumple."

"This is a real family reunion."

Rumple turned to Neal.

"What are you waiting for?"

"I've got this."

Neal said, and Bebelle sucked in a breath as he released an arrow in her direction.

She thanked Peter's fast reflexes as his hand curled around the arrow, stopping it in it's path towards her.

Bebelle looked at Neal with wide eyed horror.

So close, the pointed weapon had been so close to plunging into her heart.

"You could have killed me!"

The man avoided her gaze, instead turning to Pan as he tutted.

"We've been through this before Baelfire, have you remembered nothing?"

"I remember plenty," Baelfire rebutted.

"That's why I didn't coat the tip."

Peter threw the arrow to the floor and opened the palm of his hand finding it coated in squid ink.

The boys feature darkened, irritation marring his face as his lip curled back into a snarl.

Bebelle looked at Peter, but his head shook, telling her to do nothing.

She chewed on her lip as she looked between the immobilised boy and Baelfire and The Dark One, who had rushed over to Henry, picking up the sleeping child to carry him away.

They were halted in their escape, when Peter started to talk, informing Baelfire of Rumple's prophecy.

"Your father isn't here to rescue Henry, he's here to murder him."

There was hesitation, the anger in Baelfire eyes as he looked at his father. The two left the camp, though Peter's words no doubt put an end to their team up.

When the squid ink and the sleeping spell wore off, Peter immediately sent the lost boys to work, to track down Henry.

He took a small party with him as he went to search himself, Bebelle tagging along, probably not because Peter actually wanted her to but more so that he needed her to so he could keep an eye on her.

They headed to the old campsite that Emma and her search party had long since left and luckily found Neal resting there with Henry.

The lost boys moved silently, sneaking through the shadows until Neal was outnumbered and surrounded.

"I'm disappointed, I thought I taught you better, never break into somewhere without having a way out."

Neal scoffed and turned to Bebelle.

"How can you still be on his side after all this time?

"He's not the one who aimed an arrow at my heart."

She hissed coldly.

Peter laughed, nodding his head over to where Henry was, giving a silent order. Felix approached the sleeping boy, grabbing him. Neal was helpless, unable to do anything about it as his son was taken from him once again.

Peter smirked, and Neal stepped forward trying to intimidate the boy, but it was a feeble effort.

"I will get my son back, whatever it takes."

Bebelle, still angry from their earlier encounter, rolled her eyes.

"Good luck with that." She muttered, receiving an amused look from Peter and a look of disbelief from Neal.

"You used to be nice, what the hell happened to you."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know I was supposed to be friendly with the people who try to kill me."

Peter smirked, trying to hold his laughter as Bebelle's mouth scrunched up into a sneer as she gave Neal a deathly glare.

He leaned into her ear, whispering subtly.

"As amusing as it is seeing you look so mad, I think it would be best if you put more distance between yourself and Baelfire."

Bebelle complied skipping over to Felix's side. Henry began to stir and Peter ordered a group of lost boys to take Neal, away whilst Felix took Henry back to the camp.

Back at the camp they set Henry down on the ground and the lost boys resumed their party.
Bebelle saw Felix sat by the fire boredly throwing his dagger in the air and decided to join him.

"You look like you're having fun."

Bebelle teased causing Felix to stop tossing the knife and look at her.

"I can say the same thing to you."

Bebelle pressed her lips together in a firm line. Then she pouted, in a duck like manner that tilted Felix's mouth into a smirk.

"Why? I am having fun."

The words barely sounded convincing to her own ears, and she knew Felix wouldn't buy it for a second. And he didn't.

Felix exhaled a long breath.

"You can stop pretending you're fine, that losing your magic hasn't affected you"

"I'm not pretending."

She tried, holding her chin up stubbornly.

"Dolly I know you're only pretending for Pan."

Bebelle huffed in defeat.

"I just don't want him to worry about me, he has more important stuff to take care off."

He wanted to say to Bebelle that nothing was more important to Pan than her, but he couldn't be certain, no one but the ruler of Neverland himself knew what was in his mind.

So Felix just nodded.

"Why don't you tell me the truth and tell me how you really feel."

Bebelle paused for a moment, trying to think how best to describe her position.

"I feel empty, like i'm missing a part of me."

Felix watched her sympathetically listening to her as she continued to explain.

"With my magic I could feel the island around me, the flowers, animals and trees. It was kinda like a fuzzy buzzing, sometimes like a whisper but now I can't feel any of it. When I try touch a leaf or a flower or something it's like there's a cold wall stopping me and everything is just so cold..."

Teary eyed, she trailed off.

Felix reached out to comfort her, but she shook him off.

"You can count on me to kill a party huh?"

She joked, composing and calming herself to stop Felix from voicing any worries.

She added a smile for good measure, and it worked, as the conversation was diverted to another topic.

As the night progressed Bebelle felt her eyes grow heavy, and yawns frequented her conversations. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, her head lolling and leaning against Felix's arm.

After seeing to Henry, Peter glanced over to where Bebelle was, and felt a pang of jealous seeing her sleeping form resting against Felix.

He approached the two and spoke to Felix in a hushed tone.

"Put her in my room, it'll be best for her."

His room was spelled, with various different layers of protection, so keeping her there would be safest, especially when she was currently powerless and the Dark one had been provoked.

Felix hesitated, unsure how to move without waking the girl.

"Felix."

Pan's tone was rather irritable and he nodded, scooping the girl up without disturbing her sleep.

When the party had died down and the lost boys had retreated to bed Peter went to his room. Bebelle was sleeping soundly and Peter stared at her transfixed. She looked so peaceful and small with her long lashes closed against her pale skin, thick dark hair sprawled on the pillows framing her face, her cheeks dusted with the lightest of pink shades and her pink lips pursed in a pout forming a tiny o. Peter realised that for the first time she had slept during the night in Neverland she was serene in slumber. Usually the girl was waking up at regular intervals due to confusing dreams and nightmares. Tearing his gaze away from her he crossed the room setting his flute down on a desk. Bebelle stirred and blinked half opening her eyes.

"Peter?"

Bebelle spoke groggily and Peter turned to her.

"Did I wake you?"

Bebelle slid up into a sitting position and rubbed her eyes trying to make sense of her surroundings. Peter saw her puzzled expression as she tried to figure out where she was.

"You're in my room, i figured it would be better for you. Safer."

"Oh."

She nodded, pressing her hand to her blushed cheeks.

Bebelle looked around the room she had never been in before, studying every nook and cranny.

The room was quite large with walls covered in several bookshelves all completely full, desks piled high with things and trunks containing things from weapons to clothes, A smile adorned Bebelle's face when she saw that all her past drawings, paintings and artworks were spread around the room.

"You kept them."

"It would have been a shame to let them go."

Despite the fact that it didn't seem much of anything to Peter, Bebelle still smiled.

"I fell asleep at the party, what did I miss?"

"Henry can hear the song."

"He's getting closer to being like us."

Bebelle realised, wondering if by the time Emma and the rest of Henry's family got to him, he would even want to go with them.

Peter nodded and Bebelle stifled a yawn, but he caught it.

"You're still tired i'll let you sleep."

Peter made to leave but Bebelle called to him.

"Peter wait.."

He stopped, turning on his heel to listen to her. Bebelle looked anywhere but at him, shyly bit her lip and began fiddling with the lace on her dress before she eventually brought herself to speak again.

"Will you stay with me please".