Yours, now and forever.

Chapter 7

"Alright boys! Off to bed the lot of you." Peter called over the sounds of boys dancing and singing around the fire. I knew that meant me too, I said goodnight to Oliver and Benjie, then walked with Noah to his tent.

He dropped to his hands and knees and crawled inside, bundling himself up in the covers. "You all cozy little guy?" I said ruffling his hair with my hand. We had a real connection, different to the other boys but somehow even stronger. He nodded and smiled, scrunching his nose up. I took my pointing finger and pressed it softly against his little nose. "Goodnight buddy." I whispered as I watched his eyes flutter closed.

At this point, I would have normally gone back to my tent and read my book again. But something in my mind wanted me to stay outside tonight. To go explore some more. It was a warm night, so I wouldn't be cold, I knew my way around, and Neverland was safe. I saw no reason why I should have to stay, well besides Pan's rule. 'Never leave without permission.' But I'd be back before sun up, he wouldn't even know.

I set off into the night, letting the light of the moon and stars guide me through the woods. I took the usual route, past the berry bushes, making only a few different turns, just to see where it lead me. Everything was so quiet and peaceful, all that was heard was owls and creatures of the night scurrying around. Looking for food and warmth. I carried on wandering around, before stumbling out onto a sandy beach. At first i thought I'd landed myself on the mermaid lagoon, but then I realised, this is the sea.

There were rocky cliffs that towered high above the waves. I looked to the biggest one I saw, it was easy to get up. Just a simple matter of walking to the top, only a little scrambling or climbing necessary. I headed up, taking short breaks between my walking to catch my breath back. I peered over the edge around half way up. Woah, I definitely under estimated the height of this thing. Whelp, no point stopping now. I finally made it to the top. Standing right on the edge of the cliff and gazing down into the waters below.

Waves crashed furiously against the stone wall I stood on. Making the sounds of loud cymbals smashing together, and even crashing off bits of rock and stone. Something in my mind was speaking to me, haunting my thoughts. Just imagine it Bella, what if you jumped. You certainly wouldn't survive. And who'll really miss you? Your dad? Pan? Don't make me laugh. The thoughts possessed my body, taking over. One part of me believed them, it was true, Dad wouldn't miss me. Who would? But the other part of me wanted them to stop. I shouldn't be thinking this.

My body became over powered slightly. I stood up on my toes, holding my arms out and feeling the wind take my balance. Like it was a friend, a friend I thought wasn't going to let go. That's it, only a few more steps to go now Bella. I wanted more, more of this adrenaline, I wanted to feel alive and on deaths door all at once. I stayed on my toes, lifting one of my legs out in front of me, and swaying from side to side, it was so thrilling. You're so close Bella, just one more. I was about to completely let myself go, I was ready to fall forward and let myself float down into the water and rocks below. I felt two arms grab hold of my waist suddenly, pulling me back and away from the edge of the cliff, and causing me to stumble back and fall into their arms.

*Pan's POV

I pulled Bella back from the edge, the pit in my throat finally going away. She stumbled away from the drop, as I caught her in my arms. It took her a second to figure herself out. Simply staying for a moment, one arm around my neck, sending fizzes up and down my spine, and the other drooping down beside her, to the floor. She looked into my eyes, a little flustered, both of us panting slightly, wide eyed and eyebrows raised. I helped her to stand up right and gain her stability, before we both came to the realisation that I was still holding her.

"What was that for?" She pushed me away from her. I remembered myself, giving her a glare of disappointment and anger.

"Are you kidding me? You were about to jump!" I flung my arm out to the edge behind me. "I think what you mean is thank you."

She paused and laughed, but not out of joy or humour. It was a laugh she did when she was frustrated or angry. "You were spying again weren't you?"

"No!" Yes.

"Why did you follow me Pan?" She said, confronting me. I was starting to get more and more annoyed with her. Every moment of her being around me she frustrated me more. She seemed to be the centre of all of the chaos in my life at the moment. The very source of my constant infuriation. She broke MY rule! And she's acting like I'M the bad guy?

"You broke a rule Bella, you wandered off, in the middle of the night. And not only that but you could have killed yourself! For God's sake do you have a death wish?" She smirked for a second, as if what I had said had been a big dare. What was she finding so funny? She bolted past me and back to the edge of the cliff. Her brown hair and her green dress flowed gracefully in the wind, mocking the worried feeling that had begun to settle into my stomach again. I gazed angrily at her as she twirled around over and over, like some sort of dancer who had no fear. Elegant and fearless. She stopped abruptly to face me.

"What's wrong Pan? Scared I might fall?" She teased, and balanced on one leg how she had been doing before, smiling at me. I breathed heavily, trying to prevent myself from showing any sort of fear or concern.

"That's not funny Bella, come down." I said seriously. I don't think she really realised how near she was to the edge, there was only a step away from her and a complete drop.

"Or what?" She laughed, spinning around on one leg, and stopping elegantly. "I'm fine, don't worry." I watched her spin around more, feeling my breathe become more sped up by the second. I watched as she leg was placed on a rock behind her, and for a second I relaxed a little. At least she has both feet on the ground. Then I heard something that made me freeze with fear. I heard the rock under her back foot clicking and wobbling. She wasn't realising. She needed to realise!

Suddenly I saw the rock skid and tumble from under her foot. Her face dropped its smile and turned into pure fear, the blood completely draining from her face. She was losing her balance. I ran forwards to try and grab her but her feet slipped from the surface, sending her down towards the crashing waves and jagged rocks. BELLA! Her scream pierced my ears. I needed it to stop. I wanted it to stop. Shit, she's still falling.

Without thought I ran, diving off the edge of the cliff, flying down towards her. As I neared towards her I could see her eyes were clenched closed. Like she was waiting for the impact on her back. I wasn't gonna let her die. I couldn't! I sped towards her as fast as I could, her arms flailing about as the wind hit them. She was nearing the rocks so quickly. C'mon Peter! I closed my own eyes and put everything I had into speeding up. Then, the most amazing feeling I'd ever felt.

I caught her. Her head tucked into my neck, my arms wrapped around her back, holding her tightly into my chest. I lifted us up into the air, spinning us straight up into the wind. I felt her hands loop and hold tightly around my neck, holding herself even closer to me. I let us hover for a moment in the air, before gently letting our feet touch the ground again. I finally took a breathe of relief, feeling Bella sink down further to the floor. Collapsing to her knees as we held our embrace. I fell with her, kneeling down and letting her head rest into my chest.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I'm sorry Peter, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She kept saying. I could feel her whole body shaking in my arms. It was crushing me. She was so scared, I wanted to take it all away for her. What's happening to me? I'm not supposed to feel like this. I'm Peter Pan, I am purely evil. I shouldn't care about anyone! Even as these thoughts washed through my mind I found myself holding her tightly in a hug, stroking her soft hair while she kept telling me. "I'm sorry Peter, I'm so sorry,"

"Sh, sh, sh." I hushed her trembling apology, twisting her hair in my fingers and moving my arms so she was enclosed in them almost fully. "It's ok, sh it's ok. You're safe Bella." Her whispers calmed down and I felt her stop shaking a little more. "You're safe, I'm here. I'm right here."