Ignorance is Bliss

I laugh with the other boys, jumping up and grabbing hold of a rope as Cubby does the same. "You ready, old man," I taunt, swinging in time with the rope. He grins in answer, the race beginning shortly after that. I climb quickly and skillfully, calling back on the days I spent outside and climbing the trees that surrounded Papa's castle. It doesn't take me long to reach the top, but Cubby is right behind me.

I slap the bell tied to the top of the rope before letting go and falling to the ground, barely managing to stay on my feet. "What was that," Cubby asks in surprise.

"I'm part monkey," I grin breathlessly. Henry's shout makes my smile disappear and my protective instinct kick into high gear. One of the older boys is poking at him with a spear, taunting him cruelly.

"If you can't take this," he sneers," how are you gonna handle what Pan has in store for you?" Henry stays silent, picking up a long stick that was laying by his feet and going on the attack with it. I move to the front of the crowd with Cubby right behind me, interested to see that the lessons he had with David and my brother has stuck in his head after all. The fight is relatively short, the other boy having a stronger sword arm than Henry and forcing him to be on defense.

"Not bad," Pan shrugs, appearing out of the jungle. The two boys take a few steps back from one another as all of our eyes land on the leader. He walks over to Henry with a small smirk playing on his lips. "But wouldn't it be more fun if you had real swords?"

"I've never used a real sword," Henry says, suddenly looking nervous.

"This is Neverland and you have the heart of the truest believer. You can use whatever you want. You just need to believe, Henry." He rests one hand on Henry's shoulder and uses the other to raise Henry's sword arm. "Close your eyes and believe you're holding a real sword." I let out a small gasp as the stick slowly transforms into a sword, a boring one, but a real one nonetheless. "What are you waiting for? Go on."

I move to Pan's side as Henry lunges forward, watching the fight with growing excitement. All of the Lost Boys—Pan and myself included—cheer for my nephew, the fight spurring everyone on. It only ends once Henry cuts through the spear and knocks the older boy down with a cut on his cheek to remember the fight by. "I'm sorry," he apologizes quickly when the other boys stands up again. "It was an accident."

"Henry, don't you know the best thing about being a Lost Boy?" Pan walks forward again, looking proud as he picks up the sword and examines it before handing it back to its owner. "We never apologize." The Lost Boys start their cheering again and I skip forward, wrapping my nephew in a tight hug. "You're learning quickly, that's good." Henry grins, his chest puffed out with pride.

"You did great, Squirt." I ruffle his hair, grinning when he pushes my hand away. "Now." I turn on Pan. "I believe I am retiring for the evening, it's much too cold to be outside in this outfit." Pan grins, pulling me against him tightly and leaning in for a quick kiss.

"Mm, maybe later I could warm you up?"

"Not a chance, Romeo." I giggle, pushing his chest playfully. "That's not happening until I decide otherwise." Pan chuckles and I can feel his eyes on me as I walk away. I bite my lip, wondering if I'm doing the right thing. Sighing, I scramble up the ladder and to my room inside the hollowed out tree placed in the center of camp. There's no point in a mental debate tonight; that can wait until tomorrow when Pan and I return to our cave. I make quick work of the corset, tossing it across the room before curling up in my warm bed. What's the point of those thoughts anyway? The only parent I have isn't here, the only reason Hook is here is because he wants in Emma's pants.

Pan

"Don't pull him up yet," Pan instructs, waiting for the pirate to turn and face him. "I want to talk. Alone." Hook drops the vine rope, walking towards the slope Pan is standing on.

"What do you want?"

"To offer you a deal. Come back and work for me like the old days."

"I don't miss the old days."

"What if I were to offer you something very hard to come by?" He uses his magic to appear directly in front of the Captain. "Passage off the island."

"Still not interested."

"What if I were to sweeten the deal? You can take someone with you—Aveena." Hook shakes his head, but Pan can see he wants this deal badly.

"My daughter would never leave her nephew."

"I could remove all of her memories of him, of the Dark One. You can be her father again, don't you want that? We've know each other a very long time, Killian. We've done business before and I think this is the perfect time to restart that relationship."

"What if I'm not interested?"

"Of course you are. Because that's what I've always liked about you; you're good at surviving." He can see the pirates resolve beginning to crumble.

"What do you want me to do?"

"You'll be in my employ. Do my dirty work."

"What dirty work?"

"When the time comes, I'll let you know. But first, I need a signal that you've taken my deal."

"So my word right now wouldn't be good enough?"

"You know me," Pan grins and uses his magic to get behind Hook. "I like action. I'll know you've taken my deal when I see the Prince's dead body up on that peak." Hook turns to look at him again, looking like a broken man that has very few choices left.

"Well, you'll see that anyway. He's on his last legs, thanks to Dreamshade."

"I want to see you kill him before the poison." He moves around Hook while he continues talking. "I want to see your hook inside his body."

"And what if I don't take your offer?" Pan leans in to whisper in Hook's ear.

"Remember that last time you didn't listen to me? Remember that I'm the one that's holding your precious daughter in my camp? Women are such fragile creatures and she's taken so much abuse all ready, I wonder how much more before she shatters." He shoves Hook's flask into his hands. "Have a drink. You know it always helps you think." He disappears, leaving Hook to explain to the Prince why he never lowered their makeshift rope.

Pan clears his throat, leveling Hook with a glare that would make the bravest men beg for mercy twice. "You really should have taken my deal." Hook lowers his flask, his head lowered for a moment before meeting Pan's glare head on.

"It doesn't look as though I need your help after all, mate."

"What, you think that now the Prince is back in good shape that you have even the smallest chance of getting Aveena?"

"I do. I think it's the reason you wanted the Prince to die so badly in the first place. She'll be overjoyed when I get her away from you and see who I really am."

"Really, is that why she willingly kissed me a few nights ago, why she's always excited when I return to camp? And besides, what is there for her to see in you?" He smiles and shakes his head. "A one-handed pirate with a drinking problem. I'm no grown-up, but I'm pretty sure you're not the type of father she needs."

"A man of honor."

"So tell me." Pan kneels down in front of him, feeling smug as he rubbed everything in Hook's face. "What would a 'man of honor' such as yourself do with a big, fat secret?"

"Well, that depends what the secret is."

"Baelfire." Pan stands again, liking the fact that he was higher up than Hook for this one time and liking the expression on Hook's face even more. "Neal—whatever name he goes by these days. The guy Emma loves, Henry's father, Aveena's brother."

"What of him?" Hook stands, looking down at Pan in a manner of a man adrift at sea. "He's dead."

"No, I'm afraid not. He's alive. That's not even the best part." Pan turns walking a few feet before turning again with a smile. "He's in Neverland."

"Is he?"

"Oh yes. Can you believe it? I'm sure Emma would love to know that Henry's father is still alive, but I'd hate for that to get in the way of a budding romance. So I'll leave it up to you….To tell her or not." Pan walks a few more feet, stopping briefly to tell Hook one last tidbit. "Let's see what kind of man you really are." He disappears, following the path he knew his Lost Boys were taking. "How's our guest," he asks once he catches up with the small group, looking down in the bamboo cage that Bae is stuffed in.

"We drugged him," Felix answers obediently," he'll be asleep for a while. Where do you want him?"

"Hang him up over there." He jerks his chin in the direction he wants Bae placed before grinning impishly at his captive. "Next to the other one."