Love me. This is long. Very long.

My poor fingers are sore from all that typing.

LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! YOU HAVE CAUSED ME PAIN YOU GREEDY READERS!

...Don't get used to it. Also, no cookies today. I feel you should all go on a diet of starvation. (I SHALL EAT THEM ALL MYSELF. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)

Chapter 45: Darling

Third Person

As he could for everyone who ever left Neverland, Peter felt Baelfire departing the island along with his shadow.

He was no longer paralyzed, he hadn't been for a while now, and yet he hadn't attempted to stop the boy.

Why?

The main reason was simple: Baelfire wasn't the boy he needed. The owner of the heart of the truest believer was the boy's son. And as much as he would have preferred to keep an eye on Baelfire in order to control his future, it would be faster and more convenient to let him procreate on his own in the other world. When the time was right, he'd find a way to get the truest believer.

The other reason, despite Pan's denial, was Mya.

Her desperate attempts the save the boy proved that she cared for him, and keeping him prisoner would have meant loosing her, again.

Obviously keeping her father captive wasn't much help either. But he needed leverage of some sort.

"Felix!" He called for his second in command once he had returned to camp.

"Yes, Pan?" The Lost Boy replied immediately.

"The plan has changed." Peter stated, grinning. "Make contact with the Darling brothers, I have a message for them."

Mya's P.O.V

I wasn't shocked to find Peter was no longer paralyzed where I left him. I just prayed he hadn't been free for too long, or chances were he caught Baelfire before he could leave Neverland.

There was only one way to find out.

I hurried back to the camp through the woods, but before I could even step foot inside the clearing... "How lovely to have you join us again." Peter.

"I wish I could say the same." I flashed him a fake smile.

"Have you come to see if I was alright?" He taunted. "After all, you did shoot an arrow through my back."

"Err… I believe that was Baelfire." I defended.

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "Whose idea was it?"

I gulped. Okay, I'm sorry for my brilliant plans. But it's not my fault I'm so ingenious.

"Although, I have to hand it to you. It wasn't that idiotic of a plan." Peter continued. "Using my shadow to escape, clever."

"I'm sorry, was that compliment?" I mocked him.

"Don't flatter yourself." He smirked. "Besides, I assume there's a question you've been wanting to ask me. Go ahead."

I rolled my eyes at this. Of course he knew what I was going to ask, or even that I had a question on the tip of my tongue. "Baelfire." I said. "Did he…"

"He got away." Peter replied, his face expressionless. I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks to you." And here comes the scolding… "You defied me." He challenged.

"You left me no choice!" I countered. "I asked you first."

"Yet you still went behind my back after I said no." His voice started getting higher.

But so was mine. "Then you shouldn't have said no!"

"He belonged to me." He retorted. "This island and everyone on it belongs to me!"

"Well I guess he doesn't anymore, does he?" I tried to grin as I spoke, but I hated fighting with him. Bickering, yeah, sure. But when things got serious and his eyes darkened, as they were now, that I didn't enjoy much.

Peter scoffed. "Want to know who does?" Before I could reply, two Lost Boys came into view, both holding onto a taller man, pulling him along.

"Dad!" I cried. His eyes met mine, but he couldn't speak as a piece of cloth had been wrapped over his mouth. I started to rush towards him when Peter blocked my path, standing in front of me. "Peter let me go!" I protested, tried to move past him but he gripped my arms.

"Can't do that." He grinned. "You see, I was going to let your father go, in exchange for the boy. A good deal, right?" I death-glared him. "But unfortunately, you let your only advantage go. Now you have nothing I want."

"So what?" I asked. "Are you just going to keep him prisoner in your camp forever?"

He smirked. "Well not forever…" He trailed off, leaning down closer to me, his mouth next to my ear. "Just until I find something better to entertain myself with." He whispered, sending shivers down my spine.

And with that, he left. Leaving me to stare as the two boys dragged my father away.

Third Person

The Lost Boys dropped Hook to the ground in front of Pan, but remained by his side.

"It's been a while since we've had a proper chat, captain." Peter smirked and the pirate, who simply glared in response. "You should have taken the deal when I offered it. I'm afraid it has expired now."

Hook growled a reply through the material that disabled him to speak. "Sorry, what was that?" Peter taunted, grinning. Then nodded at one of the Lost Boys who roughly removed the piece of cloth.

"You're sick." Hook spat.

Peter's grin faded into a scowl. "Careful. Or instead of a piece of cloth I might opt for a more permanent way to keep you quiet." He smirked again. "Removing your tongue, for example."

The pirate didn't show any signs of fear, but the idea of loosing another part of his body wasn't exactly appealing. "What do you want?"

"I told you. I just want to talk." Peter said, seemingly harmless, but Hook knew better.

"So talk." He groaned.

Peter took a step towards him. "Baelfire left Neverland, as I'm sure you've overheard." Hook had indeed overheard. It had been his intention to help the boy, but now that he had left, the regret was starting to pile up. "I'm surprised you contributed to letting that happen, captain. After all, we both know what the boy was to you." Pan moved forwards once more. "A chance at revenge."

Hook glared back at the immortal boy. "I'll find another way."

"Will you?" Peter raised an eyebrow. "Because as I see it, you've got no means to return to the Enchanted Forest."

Of course, Pan was right. The pixie dust was gone, Baelfire was gone, and revenging Milah's death seemed almost impossible. But Hook would never give up. Not until the Dark One had paid for his actions.

"You should have taken my deal, pirate." Peter scolded. "Just something to think about while you're up in that cage." He nodded at the boys once more, and they brought Hook back to his feet, and into the cage.

Mya's P.O.V

If Peter thought I was just going to give up on my father, he was wrong.

I had no intention of leaving camp until I got what I wanted, and that would take a lot of negotiation. But I knew Peter well enough to know he wouldn't keep my father captive if there wasn't something to gain in return. And I was prepared to make a deal.

I entered his tree trunk and sat on the hammock that felt so familiar to me. Odd how I'd spent more time here than in my own cabin.

"I thought I dismissed you." I glanced up to see Peter had entered.

I stood up abruptly. "I don't take orders from you." I crossed my arms, trying to look tough. Obviously failing.

Yet Peter effortlessly looked menacing. "This is my island. Or have you forgotten that?"

"How could I when you remind me every five seconds?" I retorted.

He sighed, annoyed. "What do you want?" I thought that was pretty obvious… "Your father back?" Yes… That was probably a rhetorical question. "I thought I made it quite clear that wasn't going to happen any time soon."

"What do you want, huh?" I uncrossed my arms, taking a step towards him. "You wouldn't have taken my father if there wasn't something you wanted in return." I said, matter-of-factly. "So just tell me and get this over with."

He smirked his trademark smirk that provoked my urge to punch him. "Maybe I'm just doing it for fun." He winked.

Okay, I was going to slap him. "For fun?" I spat the last word out. "You think this is fun?"

"You see, this is between your father and I. We have unfinished business." Urgh. I hated being patronized.

"Well finish it with me then." I offered. "What do you need from him?"

"You might find this surprising but I actually want to help him." He used his serious tone. But I knew it was bullshit.

"Oh please, you only want to help yourself."

"I can't deny this would benefit me as well." He grinned.

I sighed. Of course it would. "What is it?"

He took a step forwards, his face slightly darkening, or maybe that was the lighting… "I want him to kill the Dark One."

Processing… Processing… "Why would you want the Dark One dead?" I thought Peter was more powerful than him… or was he? Dunn dunn dunn.

"He's simply an inconvenience I'd rather get rid of now than later." He replied with nonchalance.

"Inconvenience?" I furrowed my eyebrows. "For what?"

"For my diabolical plan." I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not…

I decided to move on from the topic. "Anyways, my father would be enthusiastic to complete that task. He's been waiting to get revenge since forever. What's the point of keeping him prisoner?"

"He needs more motivation." Peter replied. "Right now, he's focused on keeping you safe. If I granted him the possibility to leave the island, he'd take you with him. And that's not in my best interest."

Huh. "I thought you were mad at me."

"I am."

"And yet you want me to stay…" I trailed off.

He sighed, irritated. "I thought we were clear about this before."

"We were." I smiled. "I just wanted you to say it again." I also wanted to make sure he still felt that way after the whole me-letting-Bae-escape incident.

He moved closer to me, lifting his hands up to sides of my face. I wanted him to kiss me. I never realized how much until he was right there, inches apart. He leaned in, slowly, and I closed my eyes just as our lips were about to touch.

But then he stopped. I opened them, dumbfounded. "I won't." I could feel him smirking through his voice. After that, he leaned out again, his hands leaving my face, as I longed to feel his touch again. I had to admit I was disappointed. I just stood there, passively, as he winked at me before exiting the tree trunk.

The little tease. How dare he.

It took a few minutes before I recomposed myself. I hated he could do that. Make me feel like that. And make it seem as though he felt nothing in return. Was he trying to pay me back for leaving him after we kissed? …To help Baelfire escape? Because that would be way immature. Also something I would probably do in his place.

…Damn it.

I left the tree trunk only to be frowned upon by many angry faces. Ah, nice to see you too, Lost Boys. I guess Peter told them to hate me… Why else would they? I'm such a lovely person.

Now, time to free my dad.

Third Person

It took Peter quite a lot of restrain to leave Mya where she stood, but it had to be done. He couldn't let her win. Not anymore.

This was his island. His game. He controlled it. No one else.

He materialized himself out of the camp and to his favourite spot in the entire island: his thinking tree. And found Felix already there, waiting for him.

"Have you made contact?" Pan demanded, referring to the Darling brothers.

"Yes." Felix replied. "Fortunately they are old enough to understand the terms of our arrangement. Though their loyalty can't be assured."

"I think it can." Peter grinned.

At this, Felix smiled back, knowing they had understood each other perfectly.

Mya's P.O.V

I recalled saving Tinkerbelle from the camp, but as I suspected, Peter had changed the whereabouts of the prisoners.

He had to be somewhere around here… But where?

I was tempted to ask someone, but I knew none of the Lost Boys would answer me. They'd probably go blab about it to Peter who would be even more pissed off.

I decided to sit down after five minutes of intense walking around the camp. And yes, I was out of shape.

As luck would have it, a bird just had to poop on my shoulder. "…Gross." I commented, removing my jacket. And as any normal person would do, I glanced up to reprimand my feathered attacker. "Stupid bir-" I cut off my sentence at the sight of a floating cage. Wait, no, two floating cages.

Jackpot. Who else would be in a cage if not a prisoner… or a bird. But they were far too large for birds.

I tied my jacket around my waist, after believing in a sponge to clean the poop off. This is why I didn't like birds… Though it did lead me to my father… But still.

I glanced around for a way to reach them (since climbing was not an option) and a rope caught my eye. Why else would there be a rope in a forest? Making sure no one was around, I grasped the rope. I was about to pull it when a voice startled me. "What do you think you're doing?" I knew this was too good to be true.

I looked up to see a Lost Boy. No surprise there. But he looked familiar. "…Logan?" Right. He was the boy that was supposed to keep watch over me some time ago. And then I knocked him out with a branch. Huh.

"Hello, Mya." He didn't look too pleased to see me.

"I was just… uh… playing tug the rope with this tree." Brilliant excuse.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "I'm supposed to keep watch of the prisoners. And you're not supposed to know they're even here."

I realized I could use this to my advantage. "Prisoners?" I feigned oblivious, glancing up to see the two cages. "I didn't know they were here."

Logan frowned. "You did…"

"Nope. I didn't." I then grinned. "But thanks for telling me. I'll let Peter know what a great help you were."

"No!" He interjected. "You can't. He'll-"

"Kill you?" I opted. Logan sighed, confirming my suspicions. "How about we make a deal? I won't tell Peter, if you pretend you haven't seen me here."

He scoffed. "If your father is missing I think he'll notice." True… Why did he have to put a kink in my plan?

"I won't free him then." I surrendered. "I just need to talk to him."

Logan nodded reluctantly. "Be quick."

"I will." I started to pull the rope down when I realized I had no idea in which cage my father was. "Wait, which cage-" But when I turned around, Logan was no longer there. Great.

I shrugged. Might as well attempt to pull this one down, if it weights, it's probably my dad. I'd expect the other to be empty.

Luckily, or not, the cage was heavy, and pulling it down gently took a lot more effort and patience than I thought it would.

"Dad?" I whispered as the cage hit the ground. No answer. I moved closer to see it's contents. Yeah… that was not my dad. That was… a girl?

She was sitting cross-legged with a white nightgown on, her curly, blonde hair disguising her features. I could only see her face when she looked up, frowning. "Who are you?" She asked.

I raised my eyebrows. "I could ask you the same question."

She smiled. Well, she was really pretty… in a dollish kind of way. "I'm Wendy. Wendy Darling." The name sounded familiar, but I was fairly sure I hadn't seen her before.

"Mya." I said, studying her. I wondered how long she had been here for… Peter had said there no girls in Neverland, apart from me. That clearly wasn't true. "Why are you in a cage?" I didn't want my voice to be so snappy and rude. But it came out that way.

"Pan put me here." Right. "He said he'd free me once I completed my purpose. But he still hasn't." She sighed, then piped up. "Has he sent you to do it?"

"Um… No." I felt kind of bad for her… She seemed nice. "I don't work for Peter."

"Right, he only has boys on this island…" She trailed off. "So why are you here?"

"That's a long story." It was. It was also none of her business. "So what is your purpose exactly?" I wondered.

"I don't know." She shrugged.

Okay, now I was really perplexed. Why was she here? What did Peter want from her? "How did you get to Neverland?"

"Pan's shadow. It brought me here, for the second time." Second time?

"You've been in Neverland before?" I frowned. I had never seen her.

"Yes, I loved it here." Why. "But then, when night came, everyone started crying, because they missed their families. And I realized how much I missed mine." I listened attentively… Though no one had asked this much detail. "So I asked Peter if I could go home, and he said yes, but on the condition that someone else had to take my place. I didn't think he meant it. And I really wanted to go home." Oh when Peter says something, he means it. "When I returned the shadow came back, and it took Bealfire, our-"

"Wait, Bae?" I exclaimed. Her name was familiar. Baelfire had mentioned her. "You're the girl from the family he lived with!" It was all her fault he came to Neverland in the first place. Bitch.

"You know Bae?" She smiled widely. "Is he here? I came back to save him." I was about to scoff due to the face she was in a cage, but restrained myself.

"No," I shook my head, "he left, recently, actually."

"Oh." She forced a smile. "I'm glad he's okay." Yeah, no thanks to you.

"Safe and sound." I nodded.

"I'm sure Peter will let me out now that Baelfire is gone. He has no means to keep me." I'm pretty sure she was trying to convince herself, but I still felt the need to respond.

"Why do you think he kept you?" I inquired.

"I told you, I don't know." She replied.

"You must have some idea." I insisted.

"Well I'll make sure to ask him the next time he comes around." What.

I frowned. "He comes around often?" I asked, trying to be subtle about it. Truth was, I was itching to know why Peter was keeping her… and visiting her.

"Every few days." She nodded. "To bring me food." Well… He can't like her that much if he only brings her food once every few days. I could starve with that little food… Which is probably why she's thinner than me. Crap.

Okay, why was I torturing myself? He can't like her at all if he keeps her in a cage! Although he never brings me food… I actually have to through the struggle of believing it will materialize in front of me.

"Well, it was nice meeting you." Not really.

"You too." She smiled widely at me as I left.

Peter has some explaining to do.

Lol jelly Mya. I had fun writing that. It's basically me when I meet someone pretty that's also nice and I'm like WHY DO YOU NOT HAVE FLAWS while I look like a potato and I'm not exactly the nicest person around. Joking. *throws out cookies to everyone*

if you find any spelling or general grammatical errors it's because I'm really tired and have no time to reread this. yas I'm lazy.

& KEEP REVIEWING GUYS! I love knowing what you think and as I said before they remind me to update. And trust me, I need to be remind, or months shall pass and I won't even realize. I'm a legume like that.

also... OUAT COMES BACK IN TWO DAYS! WHO'S EXCITED?