Yours, now and forever.

Chapter 34

Pan's POV

For her final day on our land, Bella wanted to re-create the memories she had experienced in Neverland. She said it was so they were fresh in her mind when she got home. A part of me didn't want her to leave. I wanted to prevent it, in any way I possibly could. I would have caged her up, demanded that she stayed. But for some reason I couldn't even think about doing that to her. She was never, and would never be someone who could be caged up and stopped from doing anything. She was a wild bird, she would soar above the clouds and no one would ever stop her. I knew that even if I did try to stop her leaving she'd find a way.

I left Oliver in charge of the camp while I took Bella to the waterfall we used to swim at. We walked slowly the whole way through the woods. Of course I could have got us there in seconds, but there was something about hearing our bear feet crunch on the blossoming grass and flowers that made me feel so comforted and peaceful. The Neverland summers were the most beautiful time. The flowers bloomed brighter and more colourful than all of the shimmering scales on a mermaid's tail. The fresh smell of flowers hung around in the air and the birds seemed to sing so much happier, especially when Bella was around them. She gazed up through the trees, small fractures of sunlight catching her face and making it glow as they were allowed to peak through the leaves.

We arrived at the waterfall and changed out of our clothes. Our swim suits had been underneath in advance so it wasn't long before I turned around to see Bella dive straight into the depth of the lake. She resurfaced before long, flicking her head back and laughing. "Hurry up!" she laughed. She swam over to a tall rock that towered over the lake, it was so close to the side of the water fall it created the illusion of almost being a part of the rushing water. I teleported there instantly and helped her with the last little climb up to the top. "You already know don't you." she said, raising up onto the balls of her feet in excitement. I smiled and chuckled at her fearlessness, then nodded towards my back. She fist pumped the air and jumped onto my back, clinging onto me by wrapping her arms around my neck. I hooked my arms under her legs and crouched down a little, peering over the edge. It was a pretty big drop, but we had done this so many times before it hardly seemed like anything.

"ready?" I shouted, matching the energy she was giving me.

"READY!" she shouted back. I jumped off of the surface of the rock, hearing her scream from the thrill as we plummeted into the depth of the blue beneath us. I felt her break free from my back as we hit the surface, creating a cracking splash and resurfacing. I watched her as she flicked her head back and gasped for air, smiling and laughing with joy and she ran her hands over her face, kicking her legs in the water to keep herself afloat. I swam to her, not even thinking before my muscle memory took over. I placed my hands around her waist and pulled her close to me, keeping us both surfaced.

I couldn't help but allow a smile to spread across my face as her fingers rustled up my soaking hair, her nose scrunching sweetly as she did. "So mature." I chuckled sarcastically.

"You love it." She smiled, tilting her head the the side, impersonating the most perfect to goody two shoes person she could. "Come on. Let's jump a little higher." She turned her body in my arms and pointed her finger up to the very top rock, shadowing over the water fall. I was ashamed that my blood ran cold with fear for a second. We hadn't jumped from there yet, we hadn't dared it yet.

"No love." I said calmly, trying to seem serious, and yet not controlling. She turned back to me, a confused frown on her face.

"Why?" The frown brightened into a childish smile, almost teasing. "Are you scared?" She laughed a little. I answered automatically.

"No, of course not." I said, my tone showing my clear offended to such an accusation. "It's just dangerous. I don't want you hurting yourself." She swam backwards, out of my hold and continued to smile and laugh.