"I-" starts Peter. The dagger in his hand no longer trembles, but he keeps his gaze on the ocean in front of us.

        I turn towards him and offer him a small, sad smile. "There are no kings in Neverland, but there are still pirates. Hook is using you. He's the one who cursed this island. He isn't just a pirate. He's fae. He's dangerous and evil." I keep my gaze steady on him. "It's true. You need to believe me."

        Peter's eyes shift back and forth, the knife still clutched in his hand. There is a fight raging inside him. The curse still has a strong hold over him, but it is starting to crack.

        "You told me once you weren't good at following the rules. Well, the game isn't over yet, Peter. But you don't have to play anymore. Hook left the island and he's distracted. You can be stronger than the curse."

        He leans away from me and the moonlight catches on a silver chain around his neck. I don't remember seeing it there before. He must have kept it hidden under his shirt.

        I grab it before he can pull away. "What's this?"

        "Nothing!" He snatches the chain back, loosening his grip on his dagger.

        I look at the silver chain that he hastily shoves back under his shirt, my gaze pausing on the small lump resting on his heart. "Why wear my kiss if it means nothing? If I mean nothing."

        Anger flashes in his eyes. "You don't know what you are saying."

        "Really?" I pull an acorn out of my pocket and drop it into his hand. I can't believe it survived the waves.

        Peter's lips part. But he doesn't say anything.

        "I thought that you were Peter by day, and Pan by night... But now I realize that you have always just been Peter Pan. You're strong. And you're weak. You're Hook's most powerful weapon." I brush my fingers down his cheek. He lifts his eyes. The green shimmers in the light of the moon. "Can't a sword be used against its own master? You can still save Neverland."

        "Save Neverland? The darkness won't destroy this place. It will only change it, make it more powerful. Make me more powerful."

        "You still think that changing isn't the same as destroying. But the evil has already destroyed Neverland and replaced it with a shadow. This is Hook's doing. He is the evil inside you."

        Peter smirks, but it looks strained. "Pretty words, Wendy Darling, but stop trying to save me. Worry about yourself."

        My eyes trace over the dagger. "If you were going to kill me, you would have by now."

        Peter turns toward me again. His eyes catch on mine.

        The waves continue to crash against the shore, but we do not hear them. The fire burns out, but we do not care. Down the beach a crocodile wanders, but we do not see it.

        We are alone, blue eyes lost in green.

        A thousand moments dance before my eyes. And Peter is in every one.

        Teaching me how to fly. Sitting high above the ground surrounded by broken glass. Slipping a blue rose behind my ear. Teasing me about bear meat by a campfire. Catching me as I fell from a cliff. Adjusting his green hat over my curls. Rubbing my back as I cried. Screaming my name as the cave exploded. Talking when I was too tired to respond. Bringing me blueberries. Wrapping his blanket around my shoulders.

        My heartbeat picks up and won't slow down.

        Peter's eyes shift slightly as they focus on mine. His brown hair brushes the tips of his ears. His lips part, his breathing ragged.

        I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry.

        Heat tingles in my fingers and travels up my arms.

        Peter.

        His eyes glisten and a single tear falls. It is the first time he's let me see him cry.

        I raise my hand to wipe it away. But his fingers catch my wrist, his dagger falling to the sand with a soft thud.

        He pushes his hand up and laces his fingers through mine. He tilts his head down and this time I don't move away.

        "Peter, I-" But before I can apologize for my words, he erases the space between us.

        And kisses me.

**

        Peter leans his forehead against mine.

        My breath catches in my throat.

        No one.

        No one has ever kissed me before. No one has ever cared.

        No one has ever looked at me like that...

        Except for Peter Pan.

        He smiles and hope unfurls inside me. "Be my day, Wendy Darling, and we'll defeat the night together."

**

        Sunrise.

        I glimpse sunrise. I can't see it yet, but I know one day it'll come. This darkness won't last forever.

        It might be too late for Neverland.

        But we can still save my world.

**

        "Are you ready? Peter helps me up. I nod and brush off the sand.

        "But how are we going to help?" I push back my damp tangles. "How will we find the lost boys? I know Hook went to my world, but it is such a huge place. I've never been out of London."

        Peter smiles. "I know where they are. And I think you do too."

        England. Of course. "But I can't fly in my world."

        "What are you talking about? Of course you can." Peter rolls his eyes. "Wendy, it depends on you, not where you are. You can fly anywhere. I'll help you. Besides, there is magic in your world too."

        Magic in London? There are  fairies in a garden with an ancient queen. A queen who knew Jas before he became Captain James Hook.

       Peter stares down at me.  "I still can't believe you're Hook's daughter. You look nothing like him."

       I smile. I know he can't hear my thoughts anymore, but sometimes I still wonder... "I take after my mother. Oh, I forgot to tell you-my mother is the fairy queen."

        Peter blinks. "That should surprise me, but it makes sense." His eyes catch on my curls and shifting blue eyes. "You do look like her."

        Hook might be my father, but at least we don't resemble each other. I refuse to become like him. I still can't believe he was willing to kill me so easily.

        Just to destroy Peter Pan.

        Blood connects us, but we will never be family. I have found my place...and it is in Neverland. The island that he is destroying.

        Peter slips his hand through mine. We fly into the sky. Past the broken shell of Skull Rock, past the blue waves and silver moon.

        Starlight bursts around us and Neverland fades away.

**

        London, England. Less than an hour until midnight.

        The moon is half full, proving that time has continued here even though it stopped in Neverland.

        "Look, Peter! We're too late!" I point down at the pirate ship floating above Big Ben. Clouds drift around it.

        "The ol' Jolly Roger." Peter's eyes narrow and he swoops toward it.

        "No!" I gasp, but it is too late. Peter flies quickly, keeping clouds between him and the pirate ship. He lands on the other side of Big Ben, a tiny blur of green.

        Should I follow him or stay here? Ugh, that boy! We didn't even have time to come up with a plan!

        My eyes strain as I watch him climb down the back of Big Ben and slowly circle around until he's under the ship.

        Small dark figures move on the deck. I fly down a little to get a better view. Fear beats in my heart.

        Peter Pan is crazy.

        I duck behind clouds, for once grateful it is nighttime, and work my way towards Big Ben like he had. Flying low, I circle the clock tower and come up under the Jolly Roger. Peter is a few feet above me, holding onto the edge of the ship.

        "Peter!" I whisper as I reach his side. "Are you crazy?"

        He waves his hand at me. "Shh..." He points up. "The lost boys are all on this side, tied up. I just have to free them and we'll give Hook a fight worth remembering. If he survives it. Oh, sorry, I know he's your dad and all-"

        I roll my eyes. He sure is talkative for a boy who just told me to be quiet.

        "How are you going to free them? We are two against an entire crew of pirates and their Captain!"

        "Please, Wendy." It is his turn to roll his eyes. "This isn't my first scrimmage."  

        But it is mine.

        Peter peers over the edge of the ship. I gulp and cover my mouth with my hand. I feel useless. How am I supposed to help them?

        He glances down at me and motions me forward. "The pirates can't fly. Only we can. That's why they've had to tie down the lost boys."

        Something doesn't make sense. Felix is Hook, so Hook can fly. But maybe only in Felix's body.

        Peter peers up again. He quickly hands a dagger over the edge of the ship and flies back down, his eyes bright with excitement.

        "Fools!" He laughs softly. "They tied Daine next to the edge. He'll be free in no time at all."

        "But how will he escape?"

        Peter shrugs. "If he can, he'll quietly free a few-if not all-of the other lost boys. Then they can fly away."

        There is still a sick feeling in my stomach, a strange sensation poking through my mind. I feel like I am forgetting something, but what?

        "What about weapons? We left them in Neverland."

        "A few boys probably have some hidden on them. The rest can grab-"

        Daine suddenly crawls over the edge of the ship. How on earth could the pirates not have seen him? It is dark, but the moon is still bright.

        It's too easily.

        "Daine!" Peter motions him under the ship. "What about the others?"

        Daine grins, his eyes dark. He grips his dagger as he flies toward us. Peter must have accidentally handed him my dagger-the one laced with fairy dust and gold.

        Uneasiness explodes inside me. "Peter-"

        Daine lurches forward, the lethal knife slicing towards Peter Pan.