Once Upon a Time Lord

Chapter Four

                  Illustration by Moi

It was a long trek through the forest, not necessarily because the camp was far away, but because Lucy, Killian, and the Doctor kept tripping over the unfamiliar terrain, and also because walking through a jungle, no matter how long he had lived there, was difficult for Peter when he was carrying Jane.

"Here, let me carry her, mate," Killian said, holding out his arms for Peter to place her in. 

"Looks like you've got enough trouble on your own," Peter said, "mate."

Killian scowled.  "I can carry the lady just find, thank you very—"

"Okay!" Lucy interrupted.  "Is your camp close, Peter?"

He nodded.  "Just up the hill."

The camp, as it turned out, was in a tree.  Peter led them down through a hidden door and into the ground via a series of dirt steps that looked more like they have been worn into the ground from use rather than intentionally built.

The cavern below was large, as caverns below hollow trees go, but still not much larger than a master bedroom, which is quite cramped for five adults and... six children?  The way they moved about so much, it was hard to count them all.

"We didn't plan for visitors," Peter said apologetically.  "But we can make some temporary beds on the ground until we can get official ones made."

"Temporary will be fine," Killian said.  "We don't intend to stay long."

From the expression on Peter's face at the statement, it became clear that that particular topic would eventually have to be argued out, but Peter only said, "Well, we can discuss that later.  For now, I'll send you off with the boys to find some bedding while Slightly heals Jane."  Slightly nodded.

"I'm not picky about bedding," Killian said.  "I think I'll stay behind."

"It wasn't open for discussion," Peter said.

"But now I'm opening it," Killian countered.

Lucy and the Doctor looked at each other.

"How about if you and Killian both come and look for bedding?" the Doctor suggested.  "It's not like you really need to be here."

Peter glanced hesitantly at Jane.  "...Fine.  Fine, I'll come."

         ...

Upon returning to the Hollow, which was the oh-so original name Peter and the Lost Boys had come up with for the hollow ground beneath the hollow tree they lived in, everyone was delighted to see that Jane's green-tinted eyes were back open.

"Oh, Jane!" Lucy exclaimed, running toward her and enveloping her in an embrace.

"Killian," Jane smiled, seeing him over Lucy's shoulder.  Lucy stepped back to stand by the Doctor, smiling.

"Glad to see you're alright, love," Killian said warmly.  "I do say, there was a moment I..." he trailed off, seeing that Jane's attention was clearly no longer directed at him.

Peter had come in last, and only now had he emerged from behind Killian.  His eyes were swirling with both hope and nervousness, perhaps at the possibility that she wouldn't remember him.  But her next word cleared up any doubt of his.

"Peter?" she breathed.

He let out a sigh of relief and nodded, a smile spreading onto his face.  "Yes."

"W-What..." she looked around her and understanding dawned in her eyes.  "We landed in Neverland?"

Peter nodded again.  "By a stroke of fate."

Peter had told her many stories of Neverland over the course of the many visits he had paid her back home.  Jane was young at the time, and had since occasionally entertained the idea that Peter Pan had been nothing more than an especially realistic figment of her delusional childhood mind.  An imaginary friend.

And she had very nearly convinced herself of the idea.  Because she hadn't come across Peter after they had moved, and it was easy to blame childhood imagination for such a thing.  But of course she had always known, if not consciously, that he had been and always would be real.  The only difference was, until now she had had no confirmation of this except the immortal memory of the great and marvelous Peter Pan.

Jane's smile faded away as she remembered the rest of the tale.  "You left."

"What?" Peter asked.

"You left," Jane said.  "You abandoned me."

"What?  No!  I would never—" Peter said.

Jane stood up, and instantly the dizziness became apparent on her features.  Killian rushed to her side, steadying her, and she closed her eyes for a composing second.  "But you did."

"Jane, you have to understand—" Peter started, but Jane held up her hand. 

"My head is spinning.  I need some air."

Killian moved to put his arm around her, but she pushed him off, heading toward the stairs.  Killian stepped back, looking hurt.

"Jane, please," Peter said as she passed by him.

"Aye, lay off her," Killian said. 

"This isn't any of your business, pirate," Peter snapped.

"How you treat her is my business," Killian said.  "Leave her be."

Jane glanced back at him, a mix of annoyance and gratitude in her eyes, before she disappeared up into the outside.

Killian knew when people needed to be alone, but he also found it important that Jane wasn't attacked by the Amazons, or whomever it was that Peter seemed to be so worried about.  He followed her up the stairs, and called back down to an angry Peter, "I'm just making sure she's safe.  I won't bother her."

The safety of Jane Darling seemed to be the only thing both Peter and Killian could agree on.

She was slumped against the trunk of the hollow tree, so it was impossible for Killian to "keep his distance" when she was right against the exit.  Jane looked up at him.

"Sorry, love," he said.  "I was just coming to check that you're alright."

"Fine, thank you," Jane said calmly.  "Sit down, won't you?"

Killian glanced back at the Hollow before nodding, and seating himself beside her.  "I'm sorry for yelling at him."

Jane laughed softly.  "It's fine.  If you came across a girl you had a history with, I'd be jealous too," she teased.

"Jealous?" Killian scoffed.  "I'm not jealous."

Jane stared up at him.  "I don't mind if you're jealous."

Killian glanced down at her lips.  Jane realized how close they were, and decided she didn't mind now.  This was part of the adventure.

But Killian shifted away.  "I'll go back inside, seeing as you're safe," Killian said.  "Don't wander off."

He climbed back into the Hollow, while Jane remained against the tree and closed her eyes.

A/N: Illustration featuring the early stages of our "time skip" markings. I note it because it is the first in a progression :)

Thanks for reading!