Peter's Lily (Sequel to Pan's Tiger)

Chapter 30: Henry's family

'How can you help us?' Emma wondered, trying to hide her excitement in case I disappointed her. I sighed, leaning against a tree bordely, looking at my fingernails.

'Pan trusts me, but I can't do much more because ever since I tried to help this girl and then later this boy he had kidnapped escape, who then came back anyway, he's been watching me closely.' I explained delicately, my eyes briefly reaching Hook's, before my gaze returned to the ground.

'We found Pandora's box...' Someone I hadn't met before trailed off as he saw me and stopped, blinking at me. He had entered through the bushes, followed by my son. My eyes met with Rumple, but I didn't say anything because I knew that nobody else knew I was his mother and being the enemy's son wouldn't do the Dark One any favours. 'Tiger Lily?'

'Do I know you?' I mumbled, frowning at this man in confusion. There was definitely something about the way he walked, smiled and spoke that seemed familiar, but he didn't look like anyone I knew.

'It's me,' The man smiled hopefully. 'Baelfire.'

This was Neal? This was adult Baelfire? I couldn't believe it because he looked so different, so much older, so much more mature than how I remembered.

I narrowed my eyes for a moment, inspecting him cautiously. Then all of a sudden my face lit up with hope, 'Bae? Is it really you?'

I came forward and wrapped my arms around his neck, brining him into the most brotherly hug ever. When we broke away, we had the largest smiles on our faces to date. 'I'm so pleased you're ok.' Neal beamed.

'I can't believe you came back, I was so worried about you.' I chocked out shrugging. I hadn't seen Baelfire since I helped him escape and I was so relieved that he was ok and hadn't come to any harm.

'Of course I'm safe,' Baelfire teased happily and I grinned in return. 'I just can't get over how little you've aged- I know this is Neverland but it just seems so weird.'

'What, because now you're all grown up and boring!' I teased and we both laughed.

'Oh really?' He teased, raising an eyebrow mockingly, reminding me of the childish follies we used to have and the games we played with the Lost Boys together, like capture the flag.

'You guys know each other?' Emma wondered in confusion, but I could sense the passive aggression in her tone as she saw us so happy together, being long lost best friends.

'This is Tiger Lily, Emma. She helped me escape from Neverland and leave Peter Pan. She's like a little sister to me.' He cooed and I laughed at how ironic it was that I was in fact his grandmother, sending Rumple a knowing glance he pretended to ignore, but I didn't tell Baelfire this. Then he continued, 'Did Pan find out that you helped me leave?'

I shock my head solemnly and then said, 'No, he didn't. But I think that was because he didn't want to think that I had helped a traitor escape, he wanted me to spend time with him because I cared and not because I wanted to get something in return.'

There was a long pause, but honestly Neal looked relieved that I hadn't got into trouble, but mostly people just looked confused.

'If you helped that girl you mentioned earlier and Neal off the island, do you know how to get us off of the island?' David wondered and my eyes briefly hovered over him, remembering that in actual fact, drinking the water of Neverland ensures that he could never leave the island anyway.

Baelfire's head turned to mine and mouthed "Wendy", which I nodded to. Then I turned my attention back to David, to say definitely, 'I used the Shadow before, but he won't help me again. He used a trade earlier, but now he is very loyal to Pan and to Neverland.'

'Is there another way?' Mary Margaret asked me patiently as I thought this through carefully, because I hadn't needed a way off Neverland without the Shadow before.

'I recommend that you use a candle to trap the Shadow in a coconut and then trap him the sails of the Jolly Roger to give you flight home.' I said mechanically. 'There is very little I can do now, or Pan will get suspicious.'

'Does he already suspect that you're working with us? That the kidnapping wasn't legitimate?' Mary Margaret asked cautiously, looking at me with fear for my well being, worried that Pan would hurt me.

'I don't know,' I admitted, my shoulders drooping.

'Kidnapping?' Baelfire frowned, clearly concerned about the arrangements.

'We decided that we could use her against Pan.' Hook said and I froze with anger, not wanting to talk to this with my captain, my son or with my childhood friends. 'I thought, since Pan fancies her, that we might be able to use her as leverage.'

Emma finished, 'So the pirates kidnapped Tiger Lily so that Pan would go and rescue her while we rescued you. It worked well for us and for Hook, how about you?'

With happiness, I reported to them, 'It certainly worked, but Pan is skeptical and has got Lost Boys watching me closely most of the time. He claims it's for my protection, but it just makes it harder to leave to talk to Henry.'

'Splendid,' Regina said boredly.

'Indeed, Regina.' I hissed angrily, not wanting to admit whether Pan liked me or not. 'There isn't much more that I can help you with, except that I can talk to Henry on your behalf, because Pan doesn't know I'm here.'

The utter unbroken silence was more appalling than any ominous noise, than the loudest yells of anguish, than the most piercing screaming.

Dead silence.

Literally dead.

Oh god.

Pan was here.

I could feel him lingering behind me before he even announced his presence. I could sense his smugness.