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    TIME, AS ALWAYS, was not linear in Neverland. Peter's hold on the place had even begun to affect Kaelyn, who started to feel time blur past in the way it only did on Neverland. It was how her and the Lost Boys had passed their days so quickly without a care in the world back in the old days. What seemed like a day on Neverland felt like weeks, and Kaelyn had no real grip on the reality outside the island. She had no idea how long she'd been here with Henry, just that it was definitely too long.

The boys had begun to party around the bonfire, whooping and chirruping as they spun dangerously close to the fire. Some played and tapped away at their own instruments, and Kaelyn hated the old reflex in her that made her want to jump up and join them. Instead, she was sat with Henry on a log, pressed up against him. He'd been quiet after the incident with Peter, but then again, so was Kaelyn. She'd healed the wound on her head with ease and cleaned the blood.

Kaelyn was also not blind the way Peter was watching Henry, that look of conquest that meant he wasn't going to stop until he got what he wanted. The immortal teenager didn't quite know what that was yet, just that it had a lot to do with the kid she babysat and had come to care for. Kaelyn moved closer to Henry as Peter got to his feet and made his way towards them.

"You don't want to join in the celebration?" he asked, standing above the pair. Henry looked up.

"Nothing to celebrate," he told Peter, as the immortal boy sat down opposite them.

"Nothing to celebrate?" Peter scoffed. "Henry, this whole party is to celebrate you."

"Why him?" Kaelyn piped up. Peter met her eyes, now in the understanding that he was only able to talk to Henry because she let him.

"Oh. You're still here," the blonde boy said, dryly. Kaelyn sneered. Peter refocused on Henry. "Because you've come to save magic, of course." Kaelyn tried to think what on earth that could've meant, as she knew Peter wasn't about to reveal his whole plan in detail with her there. Instead, he removed something from his pocket. "And I, for one, can't think of a reason more deserving of celebration than that. Just look at them." Peter gestured to the boisterous Lost Boys and their party, Henry glancing at them.

"I'm not like them," he said, firmly, turning back to Peter. "Or you."

"Sure you are," Peter insisted. "You're still a boy," he added, lightly. Henry didn't seem convinced, and Kaelyn watched as he held up a set of pipes between his thin fingers. "Maybe a song will get you on your feet."

Kaelyn wasn't even aware she could move that fast, as she lunged forward from where she was sitting and lashed the pipes out of Peter's hands. Peter's eyes widened slightly, and Kaelyn's were gleaming.

"Don't," she hissed. Henry looked between the two rapidly, as he always did during their tense interactions, likely trying to piece together their relationship. It was nothing like his book of stories.

"Why don't you use that energy for something more useful?" Peter said, lowly, getting to his feet, bracing his hands on his knees. Kaelyn got to her feet, too, watching the boy go over to retrieve the pipes. Henry took a light hold of Kaelyn's hand from where he was sitting.

"As long as I'm here, he's not touching you," she told him at the look on his face.

"Promise?"

"I promise." She nodded. "Now, everything I do here is to help, okay?"

"Okay."

Kaelyn pulled away, their hands disconnecting as she walked over to Peter, who was standing there waiting for her to come over. He greeted her with a grin, pocketing his fabled pipes, as she came to stand before him with Henry behind him, the bonfire to her back.

"You can't keep me away from him forever," Peter said as soon as she was in earshot, which was close given the ruckus of the Lost Boys' party.

"Actually, I can," Kaelyn responded with a shrug. "Kind of immortal. We do have forever."

Peter scoffed. "You knocked it from my hands cause you're scared he'd hear it."

"Obviously," she replied, dryly, trying to hide the vulnerability.

"Well, if it's about time," Peter said, stepping closer to her, "then let's waste some." He held out a hand, palm to the sky. Kaelyn flicked her eyes down to look at his open hand, as inviting and familiar as the day she had left.

"You want me to dance with you?" she asked in disbelief. Peter glanced over his shoulder at Henry sitting on his own. "You know, normal people would call this blackmail," Kaelyn said, lightly, as she took his hand.

And it was then she realised it was the first time she'd touched him since she'd come back, the first time she'd given in and felt him. And it felt nice, her hand in his, as he moved his fingers to curl around the top of her hand and squeeze. It felt normal and homely in a way she hadn't felt in a painfully long time, like things were the same as they were back in the old days. Until she remembered it was not because he cared, or because he craved her closeness, it was all a manipulation, a game.

The interaction lasted a second, and it was not to last as Peter's eyes suddenly locked onto something behind Kaelyn. She whipped around to see Felix storming into camp, with that look on his face. Peter clearly recognised it, too, as he disconnected their hands.

"I'll be back," he told her and went towards Felix, the immortal teenager left reeling. Kaelyn watched, curiously, as the pair talked, glancing to Henry halfway through it, the Lost Boys continuing to party around them. She couldn't hear a word of what they were saying, but it looked important.

After a few minutes, the pair split, and Peter strolled back over to where Kaelyn was standing. "What's going on?" she asked, immediately.

"Nothing you need to worry about," he replied dismissively with a smirk.

"Sure," Kaelyn drawled, trying to think of as many reasons for Felix's entrance as possible. She knew someone was on the island, since Peter had been moving his camp. Were they causing trouble? Getting close?

"Now, about that dance," Peter interrupted her thoughts.

Kaelyn raised an eyebrow. "You mean blackmail?"

"Call it whatever you like," the blonde boy mused. But they would not get the chance, as a biting wind suddenly rushed through the camp, carrying the taste of strong magic. All around them, the Lost Boys and Henry collapsed into slumber, the fires going out and leaving the camp in silence and darkness.

"It wasn't me," Kaelyn said immediately, as Peter looked around the camp.

"I know," he responded from beside her. "We have a guest," Peter announced to the quiet camp. "No doubt someone who knows how much I like guessing games. Who could it be?" Kaelyn and the blonde boy turned in synch as Peter relit some of the torches and the bonfire, the flickering light illuminating the face of none other than Rumpelstiltskin, now donning black face paint of some kind. "I guess... The Dark One," Peter mused.

"You," Kaelyn breathed, staring at the man. He was the last person she'd expected to see here.

"Me," he acknowledged her.

"Almost like we've all been here before," the brunette girl said, bitterly. Peter had now moved so he was standing in front of her during the interaction, the malice in Rumple's eyes hard to ignore as he looked at both of them, especially together.

"Come to save Henry, have you?" Peter asked Rumple. "How exciting," he added, mockingly. "The Dark One, ready to sacrifice his life for his family. Speaking of family..." With a wave of his hand, a torch behind Rumple reignited. "You can come out now, Baelfire."

Before Kaelyn could even react, Neal appeared from the bushes, crossbow raised to Peter. "Name's Neal now." His eyes briefly turned to Kaelyn, who had gone still in shock, eyes wide and round. "Hey, kid," he greeted her, as if nothing had ever happened.

"You're okay," Kaelyn murmured.

"I am."

"A new name but the same old tricks," Peter spat, interrupting the reunion. "It's heart-warming to see father and son working together. Especially after you abandoned him Rumple."

"What're you waiting for?" Rumple muttered.

"I got this," Neal reassured, firing the arrow straight at Peter's neck. The boy, predictably, caught it.

Peter grinned. "Clever. But we've been through this before, Baelfire. Have you remembered nothing?" His voice was dripping with arrogance.

"I remembered plenty," Neal said, lowering his crossbow. Peter winced and threw the arrow to the ground. "That's why I didn't coat the tip." Peter stared at his hand as a blue glow emanated from it, spreading up his arm and encasing his whole body. Kaelyn took a step back.

"Grab Henry," Rumple said as the duo ran forward, but Neal made a beeline for the frozen immortal teenager first.

"It's okay," Neal said, placing both his hands on Kaelyn's shoulders. She swallowed thickly, taking him in, before she nodded and pulled herself together.

"Get Henry," she told him.

"Well, how about that? I'm impressed," Peter continued as Neal ran to the sleeping Henry and threw him over his shoulder with ease. "Are you sure you're really saving him, Bae?"

"What could be worse than leaving him here with you?" Neal asked in disbelief.

"Why don't you ask your father?" Peter said, darkly. Both Kaelyn and Neal looked to Rumple. "Sometimes the people we should fear the most are the ones closest to us," Peter added.

"Oh, you'd know all about that," Kaelyn snapped without thinking. An unreadable look flashed across Peter's face, but just as soon as it had appeared it was gone.

"What's he talking about?" Neal demanded, looking to his father.

"Don't listen to him," Rumple dismissed.

"You mean you haven't told him?" Peter said, in that tone Kaelyn knew well.

"Told me what?" Neal asked.

"Why, about the prophecy, of course," the blonde boy said in that all-knowing way, the way that got on your nerves and made you feel stupid.

"What prophecy? What's he mean?" Neal questioned, desperately.

"We're wasting time," Kaelyn cut in.

"The prophecy that says you've been tricked," Peter finally said. "Your father isn't here to rescue your son. He's here to murder him." Go figure. Kaelyn looked at Rumple out of the corner of her eye. She could deal with him later.

"Neal, focus," the brunette girl said, sharply. "Family drama later, run now."

"She's right," Rumple agreed.

"Don't agree with me ever again," Kaelyn said in disgust. The two men turned away into the jungle just as Peter spoke up.

"Leaving so soon?" he said, bitterly, to Kaelyn's back. She paused, but didn't look back at him. "Again?" Peter added, voice softer than it deserved to be.

Kaelyn looked over her shoulder at him. "Still have no reason to stay," she said, coldly, before disappearing into the jungle.

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"WHAT THE HELL was he talking about?" Neal asked as he laid Henry down in a clearing after Rumple had performed some sort of magic to get them far away from the camp, putting as much distance between them and Peter as possible. Not that it mattered, the boy had full control of the place and could teleport anywhere at any point. It was just about how long the squid ink lasted.

"Oh, don't mind him," Rumple dismissed again, as Kaelyn crouched down beside Henry. The clearing harboured a campsite, presumably Rumple's campsite. She wondered how long he'd been here, and how he'd gotten here.

"He said you were gonna murder Henry," Neal pointed out.

Rumple shook his head. "He plays games, mind games."

"I don't believe you," Kaelyn said, standing up from Henry and walking over to join the father and son duo.

"You don't believe anything that leaves my mouth," Rumple told her with a smirk.

"I do sometimes believe Belle," Kaelyn said, putting on a tone of mock offense. The look Rumple gave her was lethal, but she only smirked. "Can't really blame me now, can you?" she reiterated, tone darker.

"The important thing is we got the boy, and we got away," Rumple said with a level of finality.

Kaelyn rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "So, is somebody gonna tell me what's going on?"

"I came here on a boat with the others," Rumple explained.

"The others are here?" Kaelyn asked, hating the hopeful tone in her voice.

Rumple nodded. "Presumably, if they made it ashore."

"Good to know." Kaelyn then looked to Neal. "And you, how the fuck?"

"It's a long story but I'm alive," Neal said, hastily.

"Yeah, no shit," Kaelyn jeered. "But good to have you back," she added in a slightly softer tone.

"Good to be back," he agreed, giving her a smile. "But where are we?" Neal asked, looking to Rumple for the answer.

"The other side of the island," he replied. "We're safe here for the time being."

"Keyword, time being," Kaelyn snorted, Rumple sending her an annoyed look.

Neal had moved to crouch down beside Henry now, gently brushing the hair from his face. "Hey, Henry. It's me, hey it's your dad," he said, softly.

"He can't hear you," Rumple sighed.

Neal looked up at his father, eyes cold. "Then wake him up."

"Pulling him out of the spell could be dangerous," Rumple denied. "He'll wake naturally in a few hours, he'll be fine," he added, seeing Kaelyn bristle slightly.

"All right," Neal said, standing back up. "Then you can explain to me what the hell Pan meant," "Which prophecy was he talking about? Why would he say you're going to kill Henry?"

"I don't know, to create a wedge between us," Rumple said, quickly, in the way he did when he was lying through his teeth, on the spot. Kaelyn was familiar with that.

"There's already a wedge," she pointed out dully.

"Shut up," Rumple snarled.

"That's not a denial," Neal cut in. "No, this has to do with what happened when I found you. You thought I was a hallucination. You said that you had to do the right thing and save Henry. What did that really mean?"

"Baelfire–"

"It's Neal!" Neal shouted, Kaelyn raising her eyebrows at the outburst. "Now stop dodging and tell me what's going on!"

Rumple went quiet, looking at his son, his eyes briefly flicking to the immortal teenager who was well-known for protecting Henry. Rumple swallowed thickly and finally spoke something of sense, "There was a seer, and she told me of a prophecy. That a boy would help reunite me with you." He looked pointedly at Neal. "And that boy... would be my undoing."

"Henry?" Neal breathed as Kaelyn rolled her eyes, everything clicking into place from the last few weeks, all from how Rumple treated Henry, to reacting to finding Neal again, the whole thing.

"I didn't know it was gonna be my own grandson. Until I found you in New York and discovered you were his father," Rumple said, quickly, trying to do damage control. But, unfortunately for him, he was standing in front some of the few people who knew him well.

"You were planning on getting rid of him, whoever he was, weren't you?" Neal's tone was much different now; it had a harsh edge to it. "To try and cheat fate, to get around the prophecy." Rumple didn't say anything. "You cold-blooded son of a bitch. You were gonna kill him."

"Yes."

Rumple hardly had time to react as Kaelyn's fist flew in from the side and struck his cheek, sending him back a few steps. He put a hand to his face and stared at her in shock, like he couldn't believe she'd dared to touch him.

"For the record, you deserved that," she snipped.

"Get back," Neal told his father, holding out a hand and backing away, Kaelyn unmoving. "Stay away from him."

"That was then. Things have changed. I didn't come here to Neverland to hurt Henry, I came here to save him," Rumple insisted.

But Neal wasn't stupid. "After what you just told me, I'm supposed to believe you?"

"I won't lie to you, Bae. Self-preservation has been a nasty habit I've had my whole life, but I came here to break it. To do the right thing, and to save your son, even if that meant sacrificing my own life. You have to trust me."

Kaelyn had heard that story before.

"How can I?" Neal said, lowly, and pulled away to sit beside Henry. Rumple clenched his fists in frustration and made to move forward, but Kaelyn stepped in from the side.

"No."

Rumple looked down his nose at her, eyes full of so much loathing it was almost impressive. But then he steeled himself and looked over her shoulder to Neal. "Tell me what I have to do to gain your trust and I will," he said to his son.

"You can fuck off," Kaelyn scoffed.

"Kaelyn," Neal chastised. There was a beat of silence. "Give me The Dark One dagger." Rumple's face shifted. "I know you. I know you wouldn't come all the way to Neverland without it. It's the only thing that can control you. It's the only thing that can stop you. You wouldn't take any chances with it."

Rumple's face already showed his refusal, and Kaelyn wanted to laugh at him. "You're asking too much of him. Choosing love over power is not a strong suit of people like us," she said, snidely.

"Your victim complex is showing," Rumple snarled.

"Can't really say that when everything around us is your fault," Kaelyn said lightly, hardly affected by the man's remark.

Rumple snapped, his hand going around her throat in a flash and pressing her up against a tree, and he squeezed against her windpipe. Neal had leapt to his feet but paused when Kaelyn laughed, an unnatural and jarring sound.

"Truth hurt you that bad?" Kaelyn said in a saturated, whining voice.

"I saw your work in the clearing," Rumple hissed. "Greg and Tamara; lifeless."

"They deserved it," Kaelyn retorted.

Rumple increased the pressure against her throat, but Kaelyn was unwavering. "We're the same. Stop treating me like I'm the only monster here."

"I don't. I just don't shy away from it like you," Kaelyn ground out. "Hiding behind your shop counter, justifications about your son and some higher purpose and a redemption arc you never seem to be able to fill."

"I will crush your throat," Rumple growled, and Kaelyn just smirked at seeing how she'd gotten under his skin.

"Careful," the immortal teenager whispered, eyes flicking to Neal watching the scene tensely, then back at the man prepared to strangle her. Rumple relented and pulled away with a grunt and Kaelyn grinned up at him, a smug look comparable to Peter's on her face. "I love how much you hate me," she mused, rubbing at her throat.

"Enough, both of you. The dagger!" Neal exclaimed, pulling the attention back to the matter at hand.

All of Rumple's malice disappeared from his eyes as he looked back to his son. "I don't have it," he admitted.

Neal shook his head. "Why're you lying?"

"I'm not lying to you, Bae," The Dark One continued to insist. "I hid it, so Pan couldn't get it. So he couldn't stop me."

"So unhide it," Neal said, immediately.

"My shadow took it."

Neal laughed. "Your shadow. Man, you got an answer for everything, don't you?"

"I'm telling you the truth, I swear," Rumple said, frantically.

Neal sighed stepping up to his father. "You know what, maybe you did hide it. Maybe you do wanna do the right thing. But that's today. What about tomorrow?"

"I've changed."

"Have you?"

"Yes."

Neal briefly glanced to Kaelyn over Rumple's shoulder, the girl subtly shaking her head. "The prophecy still stands. You save him, he's still your undoing," Neal told his father, firmly.

"I'm still willing to die for him."

"What happens if we get back, and you're reunited with Belle, and you realise the only thing standing between you and your happy ending is my son? And suddenly, 'undoing' doesn't sound so great," Neal reasoned.

"You're my happy ending. This is. Because it's my redemption," Rumple said, voice desperate beyond measure now. "I can be strong, son, if you have faith in me."

Neal finally seemed to relent, and held his father's hand against his chest, saying something Kaelyn couldn't quite make out, and when he pulled away, a leaf coated in squid ink was stuck to Rumple's palm.

"Neal? What're you doing?" Rumple asked, voice shaking as blue energy spread around his body.

Neal picked Henry up. "I'm gonna find Emma and the others, then get the hell of this island. And I'm gonna get my family back home." He walked over to where Kaelyn was still standing, giving her an encouraging nod.

"You can't go into the jungle alone," Rumple called after them. "Without my power to protect you, Pan will capture you both."

"Wow, it's like I don't exist," Kaelyn drawled.

"You can't trust her! When it comes down to it, she won't be able to bring herself to take down Pan," Rumple spouted off, Kaelyn rolling her eyes, ignoring the twinge in her chest at his words.

"I'm sorry, I've got no choice," Neal said. "We're safer without you. Goodbye, papa."

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THE PAIR TRAVERSED THE JUNGLE, now putting space between them and Rumple, Henry bouncing against Neal's back as they ran. Kaelyn was flushed with adrenaline as they moved, ready to retaliate at any sign of interference. They were met with none, and instead eventually came to a clearing, with a smoking fireplace and earth trampled with recent footsteps.

Neal and Kaelyn exchanged wary glances, as the man set Henry down and went over to the fireplace, holding out his hands. It was still warm. "Emma," Neal said, looking up at Kaelyn in relief.

"They really are here."

Truth be told a part of her thought Rumple had been lying, she wouldn't put it past him. But it was a comfort to know the rest of the family was around, and that three parties were now on the island aiming for Henry. For the first time in however long it'd been since she'd returned to Neverland, Kaelyn let herself feel a bit hopeful, that they'd be able to leave.

"You left Pan," Neal said, abruptly, cutting into her thoughts.

"Hm?" Kaelyn hummed, sending her best friend a look.

"I thought I'd have to convince you to come with or something but... you just left," Neal elaborated. Kaelyn frowned at his words.

"Of course, I did," she said, softly, and Neal gave her an almost-proud type of smile that made her stomach turn.

"You were so close to finding her."

And Peter was there, Neal leaping to his feet and Kaelyn whipping around to face the boy, who lacked any of the emotion from the last time she'd seen him. Now he just looked pissed. Lost Boys appeared out of the shrubbery, weapons raised, closing in. "You disappoint me, I thought I taught you better. Never break in somewhere unless you know the way out."

"I'll remember that for next time," Neal scoffed. Beside him, Kaelyn's hand lit up with indigo energy, but Neal held out a finger at his side, and the brunette paused her attack.

"There isn't going to be a next time," Peter said, firmly. "But don't blame yourself." Felix stepped forward, looking down at Kaelyn as he passed, and picked up Henry over his shoulder.

"We're going to get him back no matter what it takes," Neal told the cocky boy in front of him.

"You're not getting it. That's not the problem," Peter scoffed. "You got him, I got him back." He gestured between the two of them. "It's the game," he said, with a hint of childlike pleasure, before his face fell and darkened. "No, the real problem for you is that there is no escaping Neverland. No one gets off this island without my permission."

"Bit rich since both of us have before," Kaelyn piped up, shrugging one shoulder.

"Did you?" Peter jeered. "Look where you are now. It's like you never left."

"You wish," Kaelyn snapped back.

"You saying you let me go?" Neal scoffed.

"I'm saying everyone's where I want them." Henry began to stir and Kaelyn twisted her fingers, desperate to lash out now. "Something to chew on," Peter concluded, before looking to the Lost Boys. "You know where to take him."

Neal finally clenched his fist as his side and Kaelyn lashed out, purple energy slamming the Lost Boys coming at Neal from behind to the ground. The man then sprinted for Felix and Henry disappearing into the jungle, as Kaelyn sent out a wave that forced all the boys in the clearing to the ground, pressing them into the dirt and leaves.

"I can't let you do that," Peter said. Neal turned to look at the blonde, just as Kaelyn held out a glowing hand. But she hesitated, indigo energy not reaching his skin, not taking a hold of his throat or anything. She could do it; she was more than capable and strong enough to take him down. But Rumple was right, she couldn't do it, not really. She could fight to prove a point, but not to damage him.

And in her moment of holding back, she felt the spell hit her, the unavoidable tiredness as Peter immobilised her with an unusually harsh sleeping spell, Neal's stunned and horrified face slipping from her view. She heard him shouting, then, and the shuffling of the Lost Boys getting back to their feet as Kaelyn's spell dissipated. She felt the energy leave her body; useless.

"No," Kaelyn murmured, hands falling to her side. "No, no, no." She felt his arms around her as her knees buckled, her vision flickering as he entered it above her. Peter placed a hand to her forehead, and the strength of the spell increased tenfold, Kaelyn letting out a frustrated scream, trying to jerk away from his soft fingers caressing her face. Peter crouched down and lowered her to the ground as she weakly brought her hands up and tried, hopelessly, to pound at his chest.

"I am sorry," he told her. She wanted to believe him. She always wanted to believe him. "But I need more time to fix this."

As she felt the control slip through her fingers and his magic rendered her powerless because she'd let him, because she'd hesitated, she managed to utter three, bitter words before she fell into an abyss of darkness and enchanted sleep.

"I hate you."

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stayed up till 1am getting this out instead of studying for an essay on friday please appreciate it i'm a struggling year 12 (so then also excuse errors pls)

told y'all this one would be a good one

next update may take a while as i'm doing another double release of a flashback chapter, followed shortly by a present day on top of me approaching the end of high school, so it might take a while as a warning in advance. but i am still slowly but surely getting through 3A, thank god.

as always, please leave a vote or comment, however random, if you enjoyed this chapter! the engagement keeps us authors going.