echoes of the past.

Hook stood beside of Emma after they had reached Neverland. He never liked this place, not after what happened to his brother. He never spoke of it to anyone. Running a tiresome hand over his face he let a big yawn escape his lips, “Good lord.” He heard Charming say as he glanced in the Prince’s direction.

“Something to say?” He questioned Charming.

“Just that this plan has no thought to it. It’s just boom we’re here in Neverland go get Hennery.” He said.

Hook nodded his head, “I do agree, for once.” Hook muttered.

---

Rosalie stood on the rocks as she looked down at the water. She’d been trapped here since discovering the island after Charming had broken her heart. Choosing her over Snow White. She let a grumbling growl escape her lips as she took and turned looking out at the entrapment she had no choice but to call home.

((Hope it’s ok!!))

[It was perfect, darling. ]

"How do you suggest we go about this?" Charming asked, glancing over to Hook. As much as he disliked the pirate, he was their best option, really the only option actually, of getting to Neverland. He didn't like that they didn't have a plan of action, not one that he knew of anyway, and he wanted to at least discuss things somewhat before they tried to get Henry back. "You know Pan and Neverland better than the rest of us put together." Really, Hook's help was essential. They couldn't just go into something like this blindly. It would never work.

---

Astrid didn't know how long she'd been there. Time was immeasurable. Everything remained exactly the same, however, she knew that it had been a long time. She never stopped wondering though. She always hoped that he would return. Sure, she was angry with him, he'd abandoned her there, practically left her for dead, but there was still that part of her that cared for him. It was a feeling that she doubted would ever truly evade her. No matter how angry she was, and how stupid she felt for letting his charms fool her, she would always care for him. Killian Jones had, and always would have, her heart. And he probably didn't even realize it.

Hook sighed looking at Charming, "Pan sees all on this island. He'll see us coming. He'll use that to his advantage. You have to be a step ahead of him. If you're not. Then you're a step behind and stepping into your own death trap." Hook said moving his way froward to where Pan normally would be at on this island.

---

Rosalie sat in a tree top looking out over the island. She saw new comers land in what looked to be, the Jolly Roger. She took and shook her head knowing they must be coming for the boy that Pan had taken. That boy was always doing something so stupid. But he'd said this time it was more personal, whatever he meant.

Charming nodded. "How do we ensure that we're always one step ahead?" He asked, glancing over to the pirate. In any other situation, he wouldn't be so keen on taking advice from someone like Hook, but he really seemed to be the only one here who had experience with Pan and Neverland in general. He was their best bet for finding Henry and then getting the hell out of there. And he knew that Emma wasn't leaving until she got him back.

---

There were never very many visitors to the island. The only newcomers were usually young boys who Pan, or someone working for Pan, brought back, the most recent one being someone who obviously hadn't been given a say in the matter. When she overheard a few of the mermaids chattering about a ship, her curiosity was peaked. Someone was here, and they'd come by ship too. She didn't want to get her hopes up, though it seemed as if it were too late for that. "I know that ship." She whispered to herself when she spotted it.

Hook looked over to Charming, "As long as we don't see Pan, or any of his lackeys. We're one step ahead for now." Hook muttered using his sword to cut come some vines down as he walked. He took and sighed a little hoping he was one step ahead of Pan.

---

Rosalie took and slipped down from the tree with ease. She slowly walked to the rocks and sat down near where Astrid was. "Who do you think she is?" She asked the mermaid she'd made friends with.

Charming nodded. "Lets try and keep it that way." He said, glancing over to where Emma was walking a few feet back with Snow and Regina. He didn't know what they were all getting themselves into, and the last thing that he wanted was for something to happen to Emma or Snow. He knew that this probably wouldn't be an easy task. He just hoped that it would be possible to keep those two out of harm's way.

---

"I'd know that ship anywhere." Astrid said quietly, glancing over to Rosalie and away from the ship. "She's called the Jolly Roger, belongs to Killian Jones, though you might know him as Captain Hook." A slight frown was tugging at the corners of her lips. She didn't know how she was feeling about this right now. Part of her wanted to be relieved, and the other part of her was still extremely angry. She had so many different questions swirling around in her head, but there was one that really stuck out: why was Killian back?

Hook sighed glancing back at Swan. The ping of the memory of Astrid struck him as he shook it from his head. Last time he truly was here, he'd left her. Hook sighed as he kept swinging his sword and cutting the vines and limbs down. He walked further as he heard something causing him to stop. He glanced around seeing a black cloaked figure running. He drew his sword towards it, "We have company." Hook announced.

---

Rosalie frowned remembering Astrid telling her about Hook. "Honey." She said softly taking the mermaid's hand into hers. "Maybe things will turn around. I mean maybe you'll get a happy every after." Rosalie smiled lightly at Astrid. She frowned remembering when Charming chose Snow over her. Snow just took her from her. She took and let a soft sigh escape her lips.

Charming would do anything in his power to protect his family. He wasn't going to let anything happen to Emma or Snow, and he'd put himself at risk before he let them put themselves in harm's way. He knew that neither of them would want something to happen to him, but he'd do whatever he had to do in order to keep them safe. When Hook spoke, he was taken from his own thoughts. Following the pirate's gaze, he spotted the dark figure and quickly drew his sword, prepared to fight whatever, or whoever, that thing was.

---

Astried let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "I fell in love with a pirate, Rosie. There's no happily ever after in my future. Trust me on that." She said. She knew that she shouldn't be so pessimistic and negative, but how else was she supposed to be? Killian had left her here. She really didn't know how much time had passed, and she wasn't so sure that she wanted to know either. It would probably only make things worse.

Hook watched the cloaked figure as he narrowed his eyes slightly. He took and turned going through the vines and woods near them. He glared remembering that figure. It was Felix, Pan's right hand man. Hook took and quickly moved trying to catch him as he managed and slammed him into the tree, "Where's Pan, Felix?" Hook narrowed his eyes.

"Good to see you again, mate." Felix grinned at Hook.

Hook narrowed his eyes, "Where. Is. Pan?" Hook seethed out narrowing his eyes. Hook heard clapping as he turned slightly seeing Pan.

---

Rosalie frowned a little at Astried as she nodded her head lightly. Knowing her friend was right. With a pirate, or for the matter a prince, you never got a happy ending. Rosalie sat there as she stared and looked out at the ocean before them. She frowned sensing was off.

"Do you think they're here for the boy?" Astrid asked, glancing over to Rosalie. She didn't want to think about Killian specifically right now. There were others on the ship, and she wondered exactly why Killian had brought them here in the first place. A connection with the boy seemed to be a reasonable explanation for it all. She had no idea who Killian had come here with though she also didn't know very much about the boy that two of Pan's lackeys had brought to Neverland recently. All she knew was what others were saying and what others were claiming Pan was saying. The boy was special, though Astrid didn't really know why.

---

Charming watched as Hook slammed the boy up against a nearby tree. He was young, obviously one of the infamous Lost Boys. The boy didn't appear to be afraid of Hook. In fact, he seemed to be amused, the grin on his face one that would get on the nerves of just about anyone, no matter how much patience they harbored. Hearing clapping, Charming realized that they weren't alone. Turning, he saw another young boy. "So it's true. Captain Hook has returned to Neverland and he's brought the Savior with him."

Rosalie shrugged a little staring at Astrid, "I have no idea." She said honestly looking back to the ship then up to the vines and wooded area. "Probably." She looked at Astrid. She got up and smiled, "I'll be right back here in a few minutes. I am going to go see." Rosalie said. She took off as she climbed the tree the best she could seeing a few people and Pan and Felix. She jumped from the tree walking over to Astrid and sitting back on the rock. "Yeah they must be." She sighed a little.

---

Hook turned letting Felix go and narrowed his eyes at Pan, "That we have, mate." Hook narrowed his eyes. "And I am going to get the boy back, Pan." Hook growled. He saw the amused look on Pan's face.
"That so, huh?" Pan grinned as he circled Hook. "I doubt that." Pan said before disappearing. Hook growled out and looked at the group. "Well the games have begun." He said.

Astrid nodded, watching as her friend disappeared up into one of the trees. "And there are others with him?" She asked once her friend returned, confirming what Astrid had assumed. They were here for the boy, but who else was with Killian? Where had he brought them from, and why was this boy so important? If he was important to Pan, she was sure that it was only for personal gain. That always seemed to be his motive.

---

"So much for being one step ahead of him." Charming said. Pan knew that they were here, and he knew that they were here for Henry. "Where do you suggest we go from here?" He asked, glancing over to the pirate. While he still didn't trust Hook, he knew that he was their best chance for getting Henry back successfully. That didn't mean that he would gain his trust that easily though. This was for Henry. That was it.

Rosalie sat there quietly as she let a sigh escape her lips. She looked at Astrid, "I could see a few women and another man with Hook." Rosalie said lightly staring at Astrid a moment.

---

Hook sighed looking back at Charming at the others, "We make camp till morning." Hook said as he began walking. "No. Not while my son is with Pan." Regina retorted at him. Hook rolled his eyes, "Look love, it's the best choice for right now." Hook told her.

Astrid nodded. "Any idea why this boy is so special?" She asked her friend curiously. She wanted to keep the conversation going for as long as she could. If it ceased, she knew that her mind would wander, and then she'd be left thinking about things that she would rather not think about at all. She hoped that she didn't have a run in with Killian, though there was at least some small part of her that felt otherwise.

---

"Hook's right." Charming said, glancing over to Regina and the others. As much as he didn't want to admit that fact, he knew that it was the truth. This was the best that they could do right now. "Pan knows we're here now. The best thing we can do right now is get some rest. We'll come up with a plan of action in the morning."

Rosalie shook her head, "I have no idea." Rosalie admitted to Astrid as she ran a hand through her hair slightly. She took and looked around. "It must be something important for Pan to do this." Rosalie said.

---

Hook nodded his head leading to them a small clearing. He took and went about collecting things for firewood. He got it and began the fire. He sat down and sighed seeing how upset Emma was. He scooted to her, "I promise to get Henry back for you." Hook told her as he glanced to Charming and rolled his eyes before getting up and walking away to look around.

Astrid nodded. "Everything that Pan does is for personal gain. I feel sorry for the kid." She said, a slight frown tugging at the corners of her lips. Whatever Pan was up to, it obviously wasn't anything good. He was always scheming and planning, and the outcome was never good for anyone involved unless it was Pan himself. She hoped that this was an exception, but she highly doubted it.

---

Charming watched as Hook walked over, taking a seat next to Emma. His eyes narrowed slightly. Just because he was willing to tolerate the pirate, didn't mean that he wanted him near his daughter. He bit his tongue though, not wanting to start an argument. It wasn't really what any of them needed right now. "Where're you going?" He asked, watching as Hook started off.

Rosalie took and looked at Astrid as she laid on the rocks the best she could. She took and smiled at Astrid, "Have you ever met Ariel?" Rosalie asked kind of curious if she'd met Ariel or not. She knew Astrid didn't want to talk about Hook and she was going to do her best to keep her mind occupied.

---

Hook turned looking at Charming, "To look around." Hook said as he walked away from the group. He sighed running his hand through his hair. The memories were vivid like yesterday. When he had left Astrid here, to save himself. He sighed sitting down on a rock away from the group and shook his head. He'd messed up so bad with Astrid. If he could take it all back, he would.

Astrid shrugged her shoulders. "We've spoken once or twice." She said, glad that her friend realized that she wanted to talk about anything but the pirate who had stolen, and broken, her heart. Conversation would keep her occupied for the time being, and her mind wouldn't wander. If she were alone right now, that would be exactly what would happen, and that was certainly something that she didn't want.

---

Charming wasn't about to follow after Hook. He might not trust the man, he had no reason to, but he could tell that something was troubling him. Not to mention the fact that he didn't want to leave Emma and Snow behind while he went off somewhere with Hook. He'd brought them all here, so he doubted he'd just abandon them when he'd went through all the trouble to get them there. Now that Pan knew they were here, he didn't want to go off somewhere. Not at night. He'd stay with the others.

Rosalie took and smiled at Astrid. She looked around and sighed a little. "So, have you ever seen a dolphin?" Rosalie asked smiling lightly. She giggled as she sighed. "You know, I had my heart broken same way almost as you did." She frowned a little running a hand through her long brown hair. "Charming, Prince Charming. We were almost to be wedded. Well. Snow White took and done something and boom he left me to be with her. With The Evil Queen always after her." Rosalie sighed looking down as she felt the tears. "I came across here and well. I got stuck here." She frowned looking at Astrid. "Good think is you became my friend."

---

Hook sighed and sat down on a rock. He opened his flask up and took a swig of the rum. He let a long sigh escape. Astrid kept plaguing his mind. He'd left her here. He sighed closing his eyes and sitting there. Listing to the water that was below crashing into the rocks below. That always seemed to calm him.