Yours, now and forever.

Chapter 31

Bella's POV

The lost boys, Peter, Darius and I made our way into the boats that floated on the side of the ships. When I sat down in mine, a friendly face greeted me. "Dealla!" I said excitedly, leaning over the side of the boat. I nearly toppled in, but she pushed me back a little as to not capsize the boat. She laughed with me as we hugged.

"Your friend is very smart you know." she pointed elegantly at Darius, looking in any direction but ours. "The plan was very clever." I smiled, thinking about the secret plan we had strung together as soon as we found out I was being killed. It was simple, but it would work so well. Either she saves me from the sharks or, if I found a way to get free, she would be the bribe for Hook. I couldn't thank her enough, and I couldn't thank Darius enough. "I'll see you back at the waterfall Bella, I can't risk running into my sisters out here."

We said our goodbyes, and once all the boys were safely in a boat, we towed to the shore of the beaches and headed back to the camp. The familiar glint of sun peaked through the trees and the soothing sent of burnt out fire wood filled my lungs. "BELLA!" Noah ran towards me, I fell to my knees in joy. He wrapped his little arms around my neck as if he would never let go again. "I thought I wouldn't see you again!" He was saying excitedly. I let my arms wrap around him as I lifted myself, and him, off the floor, getting to my feet. I sat him on my hip to make sure I wouldn't drop him, he pulled away from hugging me finally, gazing at me with a big smile and those big eyes,

"Never. No way I'm leaving you here with this lot." I pressed my forehead against his and scrunched up my nose, he repeated my action. God I missed him so much. I ruffled his hair up and placed him down on the floor, where he grasped at my hand with his fingers, running to Peter, dragging me after him.

He hugged Peter the same way he did me, and was picked up off his feet and thrown up into the air. I laughed slightly at the fun the two of them were having, I missed seeing those moments. The smile faded from my face, watching them laugh and smile as Peter attacked Noah with tickles. It somehow just reminded me of what had happened. Why I tried to leave.

I knew I couldn't forget it, and I really really wanted to, but he had lied to me, so many times. How could I trust him again? Just because he saved me? That's not a good enough reason for me. I took myself away from the camp, going for a wander up to the tree. The tree that held so many memories of stargazing, our first kiss, and finding out how Pan really felt. Like it was a known ritual, I climbed the tree, branch by branch and found a steady one to perch on and look at the view. The sky was a clear blue colour, with no clouds and the sun shining brightly, beaming strong heat onto my face. I closed my eyes to bask for a while, alone with my thoughts. And for about 30 seconds I did.

A rustle within the tree made me jump backwards slightly, and a strong arm found its way to my back, holding me up so I didn't topple down. "Please leave me alone." I said calmly. Pan stayed silent and removed his hand, but I could still feel that he was there. I let my eyes open slowly, and turned to look at him, crouching down on the branch a few feet away from me, as to not invade my personal space. "I asked you nicely." I said, a stern tone edging its way into my voice. He still didn't move, and still didn't talk. "Whatever it is you want to say just say it." His eyes began to dot around, searching for something to say to me, any words that made sense.

"How's your neck?" he uttered quietly. I brought my hand up to where aching bruises had settled around my throat, trying not to press them as they were still quite painful. I quickly snatched my hand away again, replacing it on the branch underneath me and looked away from him into the distance. He sighed heavily and cautiously brought his hand to my neck, pressing gently with his fingertips onto the skin. For a second I was filled with confusion, but as I began to notice the pain go away, I realised what he was doing. The purple bruises were removed, they melted away as if they were ice left out in the beaming sun.

"Thanks. Why are you really here Pan?" To be honest, I knew exactly why he was here. I knew what he was going to say before he even said it, he was going to tell me to stay. He was going to order it. Tell me that no matter what I cannot leave without his permission-

"If you want to leave...... I can find a way." Wait what? Words left my head, and I forgot how to speak. My stomach was in my mouth. What was he saying, was he really letting me leave? What about 'no one leaves without me saying so'? I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn't even know what I was going to say, what I would have said if any sound was able to escape my lungs. "I can create a portal, and send you back home." He continued. "You can make a life for yourself there. If you really want to." I sat in silence, listening in shock as he spoke. Finally, words managed to make their way out of my mouth.

"Are you lying?" I whispered. He simply shook his head, a look in his eyes that said he wished he was. "Why are you doing this?" he stared into the sea for a moment before answering me.

"Because I want you to be happy. I want you to be where you want. Obviously I wish I could make you stay, I would beg you for days if I thought there was even a chance it would work-"

"Peter." I cut into his monologue. "I love it here. I love what we had and I love those boys, and maybe if things hadn't gone...the way they did I wouldn't be saying this," a glint of hope on his face urged me to continue, "but I just can't trust you enough to feel like I belong here. You have lied to me, so many times." His eyes closed in shame and his head dropped limply in hopelessness. "I wish I could forget it, but I can't."

"I know." He whispered through poorly hidden disappointment. "But, if you are leaving, let me at least have one thing." He looked up and shuffled closer, placing his hand gently on top of mine. Everything in my head was telling me to pull it away, but for some reason, I couldn't, I wouldn't. My hand stayed there, soaking up the amazing feeling of happiness it gave me. "Give me one day, that's all. I just want one more day to be with you. Then you don't have to see me, hear of me, even think about me ever again."

I didn't know what to think, I didn't know what to say. Did he really care that much? He would rather I never thought about him then be unhappy here? His hand stayed in mine. I let my hand turn over to face my palm upwards and intwine my fingers with his. I kept my gaze on the sea and beaches in front of me, and from the corner of my eye is saw Peter's head snap up and look from me to our hands over and over. I took a deep breath, and finally prepared to give him my answer.

"One day?"

"One day, starting tomorrow. That's all." He nodded, I guess trying to reassure me. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to. I just want one more day. One more day to remember what it was like when I was yours." He squeezed my hand tighter as if he were using it to beg. At last I pulled my stare from in front of me and made eye contact.

Soft tears were sitting on the edges of his eyes, a single one trickling down his pale cheek and dropping onto his clothes. I think it was the first time I had ever seen him cry. Something inside of me wanted to pull him close, kiss him and never let go.

But the other half of my head was screaming at me, making me remember all the things I'd gone through for him, because of him! You're so stupid! He's doing this on purpose! He's lying, he doesn't love you he just wants his way again!

Just shut up! I want to make this decision by myself! "Ok." I mumbled, squeezing back. "One day starting now. The rest of today, and all of tomorrow." I agreed, adding on just a little more time for myself, I guess so I felt I was winning a bit more. "And then I go home." He hardly hesitated.

"I'll tell Noah to get his things ready-"

"No." I heard myself say seconds after I had. "Let Noah stay." Those three words stabbed my heart, ripped it out and crushed it. I loved Noah more then anyone on this island, but I couldn't do this to him, this was where he belonged and I wasn't going to change that. "He's been through far too much for a little kid. This is his where he belongs. I'm not going to make him lose another home." A moment passed, Peter shuffled closer towards me with caution and held out his arms.

I let myself fall into them, feeling the comfort of being in his arms again, and digging my head into his neck. That feeling of safety rushed through my veins like a drug, like nothing was ever going to hurt me anymore. Not Hook, not Felix, not his crew. Not even Peter himself. I was safe with him, and when I sat there embracing him, it felt like he would go to the ends of the earth to keep me out of harms way.

And to think, one day and that feeling is gone forever. One day and all I have is me. Little old me, in a world that was cruel and vast.