Once A Lost Girl | Once Upon A Time Story | Peter Pan

03x07 - The Moment - Past

        Peter took me to a cliff, one that looked over some of Neverland's archipelago. There was one smaller island with a rock that formed the shape of a skull. The ocean waves crashed into it ominously. I let that go, figuring it was just creepy because of the shape.

        I took in the horizon. Even at night, there was a clear line between the endless waters of the realm and the sky, which was just a few shades brighter than the deep midnight blue of the ocean. The wind blew in my hair. It smelled salty, just as salty as when I was on the Jolly Roger. I relaxed, letting the tension in my shoulders fall away. The only thing I was missing was the feeling of grass between my toes.

        "Beautiful, isn't it?" Pan remarked.

        "Stunning. I've never seen an ocean-scape in person like this." I breathed.

        His hands traced around my waist as he embraced me from behind. "I thought you might like it, Love. It isn't often I get to stop and observe it myself. Really puts into perspective how small you truly are."

        "I don't follow."

        "Look out there--all that ocean? There are goldfish underneath the surface bigger than us; creatures more savage and powerful than we can imagine. Reminds you truly of how insignificant you are. The ocean doesn't care about evil or good--it's rules are different. In the ocean, it's kill or be killed."

        I hesitated, "s-sounds dark."

        "Explains the temperament of the mermaids."

        "Yeah," I scoffed. "Sirens more like." Peter moved--parting from me just enough that I could turn and see his face. His brow was raised in question. "I--I may have met one."

        "Elyssa, you could have died." He chastised.

        "I didn't! They're cowards anyway." I claimed.

        "I wouldn't say that too loud--it doesn't matter how high up we are, you never know what Mermaid is going to grow legs."

        "I," I started. He only stared at me seriously. "Fair enough."

        The next moments were silent. The moon was huge--huger than I'd ever seen a moon. It created this super large, deformed, white reflection in the water. I dared to look down the side of the cliff--only confident enough to do so because Peter was still holding me. He didn't say anything. I merely retreated meekly back into his arms. He snuck a kiss onto my neck. I paused, face flushing. He chuckled.

        "Come on, lay on the grass with me."

        His calloused hand traced my back and then my arm until he reached my hand. I muttered an awkward "okay" and followed him further away from the cliff.

        I laid on my back on his right side, eyes now focused on the dark night sky above me. It was incredible. There were hundreds of tiny lights in the sky, and that was just what we could see. Nothing stood out as a recognizable constellation, but there were definitely clusters.

        "Wow," I breathed.

        "Breathtaking?"

        "Awe-inspiring. The sky never really gets old--and yet we never take time to appreciate it."

        "You sound like a grown-up," Peter remarked.

        "Maybe this one time, grown-ups have a point." I glanced at him.

        There was a small smile on his face--something I never could quite get a good enough look at because he always covered it with a smirk. I smiled back, butterflies forming in my chest and a pit forming in my stomach. As nice as this was, I didn't come back for him. He's gonna find out.

        I sighed, looking back up to the sky. "I don't want to be caught in the middle anymore."

       "So stay," he blurted out, "don't go back. You won't have to deal with the Queen or Snow White's problems. Let them destroy each other." his tone darkened.

        "Peter," I sat up on my arms and looked down at him, "I--that's selfish. It isn't right, and besides, other people will get hurt if I don't--"

        He sat up, "Grown-ups created the problem, let them fix it. You don't have to pay for their sins." I turned away from his gaze. "Unless... you aren't atoning for theirs." I sat up fully, turning away. Tears pricked at my eyes. My chest tightened. "Elyssa." he gently grabbed my chin. I shook him off. "Love, please."

        "I'm no better," I choked out. I shut my eyes to try and blink the tears away, but instead I felt more guilt. Aiden and that guard--they didn't have to die. Nor did the one I accidentally threw off the balcony. "I'm glad you taught me how to control my magic--but after I help Snow, I never want to use it again." I turned to face him, tears falling down my face. "It always hurts people."

        "Elyssa." he cupped my cheek. "I'm sure you didn't do it on purpose--you never could." The blond wiped my tears away with his thumb, solemnly scanning my eyes. "You're a good person." I swallowed, eyes downcast. "You don't believe me," he said in disappointment, "I'll prove it to you."

        I scoffed, "how?" I looked him in the eye. "How do you know I'm not a monster?"

        "Because the only monster here is me," he said plainly, "if anyone's sinned it's me." I furrowed my brow. "I haven't shown you how much you're worth. The realms don't deserve you Elyssa, but you deserve palaces."

        Tense silence folded around us. For a moment, I thought he was truly about to confess every awful thing he's done--that he truly was going to tell me what Baelfire told me was true. What he did profess, however, caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to speak, yet had nothing to say. His words made my heart swell and confused me.

        Is that what he truly believes? That I'm worthy enough to rule and have riches? That where the Queen has failed I will succeed? That I should have what Snow was fighting for? Power like that--it goes to people's heads. Not many rulers were benevolent. Still, he did say it and didn't hesitate.

        Peter leaned in. My eyes fluttered shut just as our lips connected. They were warm, and soft, and just fit perfectly against mine. My heart raced and warmth spread through me. His hand moved to my neck as he ever so slightly deepened the kiss. I pulled a fistful of some grass, completely overwhelmed by the emotions I was going through. His thumb lightly traced my jaw before he slowly pulled away.

        I chased him, taking a quick breath of air before closing the gap. He grunted in surprise, but wasted no time in returning the kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck. The sorcerer caught me by the hips, barely keeping me from toppling him. Before anything went too far, Peter placed his hand on the side of my neck again and lightly pushed back. I pulled away, settling back on my knees.

        "We should head back--you should sleep," he suggested. I bit my lip.

        "Do we have to right now?" I shifted so I wasn't propped up on my feet and calves anymore. We were eye-level now.

        His thumb traced my bottom lip, eyes trained on that part of my face. "Tempting, Love, but you'll need to be up early."

        "Peter," I whispered, "I don't want to go back yet." He seemed to consider it, this time meeting my eyes.

        "5 minutes."

        A grin crossed my face. He suppressed his own--not very well if I might add. I kissed him again, fully leaning into it. He asked for entrance, I happily gave it. Peter pulled me closer, as in into his lap. One of his hands landed on my thigh, mine tangled in his hair. He pulled away.

         I pouted, then flushed with embarrassment. "No--"

        Peter chuckled, sort of cutting the tension of the moment. "You're adorable." He pulled a strand of hair back over my shoulder. "I'm serious this time--let's go."

        "Okay," I squeaked, nerves settling within me. I got off of him and he helped me up, taking us back to camp.