Never

Chapter Ten

Before Lily knew what was happening, Pan was landing on the deck, ripping his sword from his scabbard, letting loose on the pirates. He spun in a circle, never letting anyone get within a sword's reach of him, slashing and stabbing at the men, who were bloodied instantly. Recovering from their initial shock, the men retaliated, all trying to force their way closer to him. He seemed to fly, lean muscle rippling as he slashed, angrier than she'd ever seen him. He tore his green eyes away from the battle, still battling away, and they landed on her shoulder, where the blood trickled slowly down from Lily's earlier wound. Those eyes narrowed, and suddenly he was throwing himself into the battle harder than ever, and one by one, the pirates fell. Lily watched as Smee and Hook himself retreated to the cabin, eyes wide with horror. Did they really fear him this much?

And then the battle was over, and Pan's arms were wrapped around her from behind, hands gripping her waist gently as he lifted her up, numb and shivering. He flew high above them, keeping her held tight to his chest as they maneuvered through the sky, faster and faster. The cold wind rushed by, chilling her skin, giving her more and more reason to cling tightly to him, for his warmth. Yesterday's Lily would rather have let go and fallen to her death than been warmed by him, but after everything she'd been through that night, Lily gave in.

Peter landed them in the middle of a path just a few steps away from the camp, where the sleeping Lost Boys were snoring loudly. He helped her carefully to her feet and looked into her eyes, his own burning with a mix of anger and something deeper, a shocked, terrified emotion that Lily had no name for. Why was he so upset over the night's events?

Finally turning dangerously calm, he turned and walked silently down the path. Lily followed, hands clenched into fists, just in case he lashed out at her. Pan was holding himself perfectly still, rocking himself back and forth on his heels as the walked, slowly. He seemed to be holding something inside, just below the surface, and every time he turned and their eyes met he lacked the usual hatred. Instead, his green eyes looked tormented, lost and confused, like the Lost Boy he really was.

Finally the two of them reached a small clearing, where Pan stopped. He folded his arms over his chest, not looking at her, jaw set in a hard, angry line. Lily leaned against a tree, tiny nightgown barely covering her, and wrapped her arms around herself, trying desperately to keep warm.

"Why did you run?" Pan finally broke the silence. "I thought you were happy here."

"Happy?" burst out Lily, finally letting go of all of the emotions she'd held in that night. "Happy? We've been over this, Peter Pan. I would rather die than stay here another day." To her fury, her voice trembled.

"You've been bonding with the boys." his voice was quiet.

"Yeah, them. Not you. You are the worst... the most..."

"I've heard it before." Lily hated him for casually slipping out his trademark smirk, as if they were just having a casual conversation. She let out a strangled sound, half sob, half scream, and fell to her knees, against the base of the tree. Pan's eyes widened.

"I'll ask again. Why are you keeping me here?" She shrieked.

"You belong here!" shouted Pan in response. "You are as much a Lost Girl as I am a Lost Boy! This is where you are supposed to be? Why don't you get it?"

"I don't want to belong here! I don't want to be like you!" Lily screamed.

"You are nothing like me."

"You're not making any sense!" she was in hysterics now. "I belong here, but I don't. We're the same, but I'm nothing like you."

"God! You don't get it! Lily, you heard the music, it was fate for you to be here! You can't fucking leave, I won't let you!"

"I'm asking one last time. Why?" tears dripped solemnly down her face as she jumped back to her feet.

And then Pan's hands were on her hips, and he was pushing her roughly against the tree and pressing himself against her violently, his chest heaving. Lily gasped, tilting up her chin to look at him as his lips crashed down on hers. Her head slammed against the tree, and somehow she found herself kissing back, nearly as passionately as he was, as Peter's fingers dug into the fabric of her dress, nearly ripping it. Her hands went up to his hair, his face, tracing his jawline, eliciting a low growl from his lips before he pulled away slightly. She pulled him back, digging her fingernails into his shoulder blades, their tongues twisted together, fighting for dominance.

Pan gripped her tighter, bodies connecting painfully as Lily let out a small sigh of pleasure, lips entwined with his. The kiss was hot and angry intense, seeming to light every nerve in Lily's body on fire, until she was wrapping herself around him, fingers in his hair, pulling, grabbing at him. They barely let each other come up for air, so desperately devouring each other. He had to lift her up a bit so they could kiss, and so she stood on her tiptoes, hands tracing the muscles beneath his shirt, before returning to his hair. Pan's hands slowly traveled upwards, caressing her until they reached her face, running delicately over her scar. She bit lightly on his lip and he gasped, pulling away momentarily before kissing her harder than ever before.

They broke apart, like a star exploding, pieces of them falling away as Peter Pan and Tiger Lily stepped away from each other, eyes wide. Lily absentmindedly touched her lips, breaths coming out short and fast. Pan backed away, looking struck by what he'd done, but somehow glad.

And then he whispered, "That's why."