NEVERLAND
Felix escorted the prisoner, Neal, through the jungle as he said, "Feels like just yesterday I welcomed you to Neverland the first time, Baelfire. Gotta say, hoped I'd never see you again."
"Then maybe Pan shouldn't have taken my son," Neal retorted.
"Maybe you should've left well enough alone. "
"I'm gonna get him back. "
"You really believe that? You were a lost boy. You know Peter Pan's not be to trifled with. You know how long he's been searching for the heart of the truest believer. Do you really believe he'll just... give him up?"
"Maybe, if I ask nicely."
Felix chuckled. "You may have grown up, Baelfire, but it would appear you have grown up stupid."
"I have grown up. I don't know if I'm stupid or not, but I do know I know how to tie an overhand knot. "
"Uhh!" He panted.
"I'm not a boy anymore, Felix. I sure as hell ain't lost."
THE ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST - BEFORE THE FIRST CURSE - RUMPELSTILTSKIN'S HOVEL
"Bae," Rumpelstiltskin called. "A present. Something to sharpen your coal with."
"Where did you get it?" Baelfire asked.
"Oh, from a man who no longer needed it."
"You mean taken from a man who couldn't pay you."
"Bae..."
"Papa, I told you, I don't want any more gifts from the people you terrorize." A thud sounded.
"Then what do you want? Tell me, son. What would make you happy?"
"Leaving this place. I'm tired of staying in this hovel all the time."
"Well, that's easy to fix. How about a castle, huh? I could build you a palace so magnificent its shadow would blanket the countryside."
"That's not what I mean. I wanna go out, have friends, see the world beyond these four walls. Papa, why can't you just trust me to do that?"
"I do trust you, Bae. It's... It's others that I can't. You see, I have many enemies beyond that door. And once you leave, any one of them could hurt you."
"You sure that's the only reason? Maybe what you're really worried about is if I leave, I might never come back."
"No, no. I... I... I'm worried about your safety. This is the best place for you. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you."
NEVERLAND - PRESENT
Mr. Gold put on war paint. A scraping sounded and a fire crackled.
"You always felt more comfortable behind a mask," Belle said.
"You were the only one who could ever see past it, past the mask of the monster," Mr. Gold told her.
"Then why put it back on now?"
"I need the monster, Belle. It's the only way I can save them. And that's what I've decided. I'm gonna save Henry."
"The prophecy states that Henry will be your undoing. To save him, you ensure your own death."
"You don't think I can do it?"
"I think your intentions are good. But a lifetime of craven self-interest is a nasty habit that you've never been able to break."
"Things are different now."
"How? What... what's different?"
"Because I have nothing to live for."
"What about me?"
"You're not real. Just a vision."
"But I'm... I'm back in Storybrooke, waiting for you."
"You shouldn't be. When I said good-bye to you, Belle, we both know it was for good."
"Well, maybe I think you'll come back.
"Even if I did, eventually you'd leave me because you can see me for what I really am. You think you see a good man, but in time, you'd see the monster. My son is dead. The only way I can redeem myself is by saving his son and giving my life."
---
"This is where they're keeping Henry. Pan's compound. According to, uh..." Emma trailed.
"Tinker Bell," Tinker Bell said.
"Yes, I know. Still weird to say."
""Tink" is fine."
"Not sure that's any better. Anyway, she says that there are sentries positioned across the front, which is why we are gonna come in through the back entrance here. She's gonna talk her way in. Once she makes sure the coast is clear, then we are going to sneak on in."
"You'll still have to deal with any lost boys once you're inside."
"I think we can handle a few children with pointy sticks," Regina retorted.
"It's not the sticks you need to worry about. It's the poison they're dipped in."
"Dreamshade," Mary Margaret remembered. "Hook warned us."
"Good. Because one nick, and you'll spend the last of..."
"Poison sticks equal death," David interrupted. "We got it. Now when can we put this rescue mission into action?"
"I'm ready to go, just as you tell me the exit plan. You do have an escape plan, don't you?"
"It's... it's more of a last-minute trip," Jackie admitted. "But fear not, we'll find a way."
"If you don't have a way off this island, then none of this matters."
"We'll figure it out," Regina replied.
"You'll figure it out? No one comes and goes from this place unless he allows it. This is a waste of time."
"Hey, when it comes to family, we always find a way," David said.
"You don't get it. Here. Let me show you something. You know what this is?"
"Yeah, a watch," Emma answered.
"I got it from the people who brought your son here for Pan."
"Greg and Tamara? Where are they? Why'd they give you that?"
"I got it off the girl's body. Spent half the night cleaning the blood off it. And the other guy... Well, there wasn't enough left of him to find anything useful. This is what Pan does to people he employs. What do you think he's gonna do to you? I'm not sticking my neck on Pan's chopping block without a way off this island. When you figure that out, you know where I live."
"Where the hell is she going?" Mary Margaret wondered.
"I'll get her, bring her back," David told the others.
"Don't," Emma said. "She's right. If there's one thing I've learned, you never break in somewhere unless you know the way out."
"And where'd you get that, in bail bondsperson school?" Regina asked.
"Neal taught me that."
"What about you, Hook?" David questioned. "You and Jackie got off this island before."
"Yes, aboard my ship, which would require some form of magic to create a portal, which... I got from Pan in a deal I don't think he's ready to repeat," Hook replied.
"So no one's ever left the island without Pan's permission," Regina determined.
"One man," Jackie corrected. "Emma's partner in crime Neal."
"How?" Emma inquired.
"Maybe we can find out."
---
The Lost boys spoke indistinctly in the distance. Foliage rustled.
"Stop by order of Pan!" a lost boy yelled before whoosh sounded, causing him to grunt and groan.
"I don't take orders," Mr. Gold said as rustling sounded. He grunted and whispered, "Bae?"
"You're not real," Mr. Gold stated. "You're dead."
"What? Of course I'm real. What the hell's going on?!" Neal demanded.
"You're a vision, just like Belle."
"No. No, hey. Listen to me. It's me. I was shot. Okay? But I survived. See? I'm alive."
"My son is dead! You're just here to remind me of my failure!"
"That's not why I'm here."
"My weakness."
"Put the spear down."
"You're here to question my resolve. But you won't succeed. I will sacrifice my life for Henry. And nothing will stand in my way!"
Neal whispered, "Please, Papa."
Mr. Gold gasped and whispered, "Bae? Is that really you?"
Neal answered, still whispering, "Yeah."
The spear thudded to the ground as Mr. Gold said, "I thought I'd lost you forever."
THE ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST - BEFORE THE FIRST CURSE - RUMPELSTILTSKIN'S HOVEL
"I was thinking..." Rumpelstiltskin began. "Only a king should live in a castle. So why don't you try this on for size? Bae?"
Baelfire was nowhere to be seen.
THE VILLAGE OF HAMELIN
"All right, now listen," a man said. "We'll start organizing search parties right away."
"You think you can hide him from me?" Rumpelstiltskin asked and a woman gasped. "Where is he? Where's my son?!"
Murmuring sounded.
"He's not here, Dark One. I swear!"
"Don't lie to me! Magic has led me to this rathole of a town! His trail ends here, in Hamelin. I know you're hiding him from me."
"No. No, we're not. Many of our children went missing last night, lured from their beds by some unholy music."
"What kind of music?"
"From the Piper. Only the children could hear it. Some of them tried telling their parents, but no one believed them. They were sent back to bed. And this morning, they were gone."
"And who was playing it?"
"No one saw his face. O... only a figure hidden by a pied cloak of multicolor patches, leading the children from their homes and into the forest. Don't you see? It... It has to be the same man that has taken your son."
"Then whoever this Pied Piper is, he's about to play his late note."
NEVERLAND - PRESENT
"How is it possible?" Mr. Gold wondered.
"It's kind of a long story," Neal replied. "Let's just say that the debt Robin Hood owes you has been paid."
"You were back in our land?"
"Yeah, but I made it here. The only thing that matters now is that I help Emma and Jackie save Henry. Where are they?"
"I left them and the rest of them aboard Hook's ship. As noble as their intentions may be, they don't have the stomach to do what needs to be done."
"Like what you did to these boys? They're not, uh..."
"No, they're just sleeping. For now."
"Let's leave it that way, okay?"
"You don't have the stomach either."
"I'll do what needs to be done. But killing lost boys? We don't have to do that."
"We shall see."
"So I take it you have a plan? The whole "sacrifice your life" thing was just you being dramatic."
"Well, it's the only way. Pan's too powerful. You can only beat him if you're willing to die, which I am."
"What if I told you there was another way?"
"So what exactly is your plan?"
"You know how if you hold a shell up to your ear you can hear the ocean? Certain shells, the ocean can hear you." He played a conch shell.
"Why would we need the ocean to hear us?" The note continued. "What have you done?"
"Give me the spear." A squid growled. A grunt sounded, followed by a squish, a roar, and two grunts.
"A squid?"
"That's right. I believe you know how to extract ink from one of these bad boys."
"Squid ink. So this is your plan?"
"It can immobilize the most magical of creatures. At least for a little while..." Water lapped. "Even Pan."
"I have some experience with it."
"Can you get it out?"
"Indeed. But how do you plan on getting close enough to use it?"
He sighed. "I don't need to get close. All I need is one clean shot to get Henry back."
"Well, leave that to me."
---
"What is this supposed to be?" Regina wondered.
"So... what, Neal swung out of Neverland on a vine?" Emma asked.
"Well, if someone would be kind enough to lend me a hand... What do you say, savior?" Hook suggested.
"I'll do it," David said.
Hook lowered his voice. "You don't look so hot, mate."
David lowered his voice as well. "It's a hundred degrees in this damn jungle. And I'm plenty hot." A stone scraped.
"Ladies first." He turned to David. "How much longer do you think you can keep up this charade? Don't you think your family deserves to know you're gonna die?"
"What do you care?"
"Why don't you?"
"What is the good in telling them when there is nothing I can do to stop the poison, when there is no hope?"
"Well, if there's one thing I've gleaned from you hero types, it's that there's always hope."
"Is there something you're not telling me, mate?"
"Alas, hope and reality are most often worlds apart. I told you the truth. You'll never make it off this island alive. Just as Matthew Sparrow didn't."
"Well... Then this is between us. The only thing they need to worry about saving is Henry."
"Hook! What is this place? What are we doing here?" Emma asked, coming to a realization. "Neal. This is where he lived."
"Aye." He set down the flint. "Baelfire spent some time in Neverland as a boy. This was his home."
"So you think he may have left a clue as to how he escaped from here?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Well, let's hope so, or we'll be lost just like he was," Jackie replied as she looked around the small space.
THE ENCHANTED FOREST - BEFORE THE FIRST CURSE
A pipe melody played in the distance. Boys whooped and laughed as drums played a tribal beat. The whooping and music continued.
"Bae!" Rumpelstiltskin called. "Bae!" The whooping continued and the pipe music played. "Bae!" A whoosh sounded. "Where is my son, Piper?"
"Is that what they're calling me?" Pan asked. "We both know who I really am. Been a long time, laddie. Glad you could make the show."
Pan continued. "You surprised to see me, Rumple? I don't blame you. I'm a little surprised myself. Look who's all grown up and become The Dark One! Good for you."
"What are you doing here?" Rumpelstiltskin questioned.
"It's lonely in Neverland. The only friends I have are the children who visit in their dreams. But they can't stay. The boys I take back with me will."
"You're here for my son."
"I am."
"It's gonna take a lot more than a magic pipe to take my son."
"The only thing magic about this pipe is that only certain boys can hear it... boys who feel unloved, boys who feel lost. I guess that's why you can hear it, Rumple. Isn't it?"
"Don't pretend to know me. You don't. Not anymore."
"Oh, I think I do. Beneath all that power, you're nothing more than an unloved, lonely, lost boy. Hey, I like the sound of that. That's what I'll call my new group of friends. The lost boys. It has a nice ring, don't you think?"
"You can call them whatever you like. Baelfire will not be part of it."
"Oh, he's already a part of it. The question is, what are you willing to do to get him back?"
"I'm gonna make you regret ever asking that question."
"Oh, I understand you're upset. Most parents' worst fear is that their child will be taken away from them. But that's not yours, is it, Rumple? No. You're not afraid Baelfire will be taken from you. You're afraid he'll leave. After all, being abandoned is what you're good at, isn't it? Everyone you've ever known has left, haven't they? Like Bae's mother Milah. Not to mention your own father. Why should Baelfire be any different?"
"You're wrong."
"Am I? Well, let's find out, shall we? You ask Baelfire if he wants to come to Neverland with me or stay here with you. If he wants to stay, I'll leave and never return. Deal?"
"I don't have to make any deals with you. Pan: But why wouldn't you, if you're so sure he'll stay?"
NEVERLAND - PRESENT
Lost boys whooped and drums played a tribal beat.
"You don't want to join in the celebration, Henry?" Pan asked.
"Nothing to celebrate," Henry replied.
"Nothing to celebrate?" He chuckled. "Henry, this whole party is to celebrate you."
"Me? Why?"
"Because you've come to save magic, of course. And I, for one, can't think of a reason more deserving of celebration than that. Just look at them."
"I'm not like them. Or you."
"Sure you are. You're still a boy. Maybe a song will get you on your feet." He blew air.
"Sorry. I... I don't hear anything."
"Interesting. You see, this pipe's enchanted, Henry. It can only be heard by certain children."
"Like who?"
"You'll find out soon enough, I promise." He turned to the newcomer. "What? I know that look. What happened?"
"Baelfire. I'm afraid he got away," Felix informed.
"Well, then why didn't you get him back?"
"I tried. I followed his trail and found two of our sentries knocked out... By a sleeping spell."
"The Dark One. So father and son have been reunited."
"They'll be coming for the boy. We should move him somewhere safe."
"Now, now, Felix. Where's your sense of adventure? We can't end the party when the real fun is about to begin."
Matthew narrowed his eyes, vowing to attempt to get Henry away from Pan before anything could come to be.
---
"Anything important?" Hook asked.
"I can't tell yet," Emma replied. "I didn't know he liked drawing."
"He got it from his mother."
"I'm hoping Neal left something useful in the details of one of these. Maybe a map? Some kind of clue. Hand me that candle. What about you? Any luck?"
"No potted bean plant or swirling vortex under the rug, if that's what you mean. There may be no rug at all. There are other drawings on the far wall, but as far as I can tell, that's all they are. Probably just a way to pass the time and keep occupied."
"You knew him pretty well, didn't you?"
"We spent some time together. You all right there, Swan? Jacqueline, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Looks like you're right. They're just a bunch of pictures. What's all this?"
Jackie nodded. "Aye. I'm all right." She studied the pictures with a curious expression.
"Uh, just some cups and bowls he fashioned from things he found here," Mary Margaret said.
"Don't know how great a cup this coconut could make," David stated. "It's filled with holes."
"Uh, maybe it's a tiny colander."
"Yes, because preteen Baelfire probably made lots of pasta," Regina commented sarcastically.
"Hold on. Hook, snuff out that torch," Emma instructed.
"Am I supposed to be impressed that he made a night-light?"
"Look up," Jackie instructed.
"Stars," Mary Margaret said.
"It's a map," Hook clarified.
"To where?" David wondered.
"Home," Emma and Jackie replied.
PAN'S CAMP
The lost boys yipped and grunted as the wind blew.
"We have a guest!" Pan exclaimed. "No doubt someone who knows how much I like guessing games. Who could it be? I guess..." Fire whooshed. "The Dark One. Come to save Henry, have you, laddie?" He whispered, "How exciting. The Dark One ready to sacrifice his life for his family. Speaking of family... " Fire whooshed again. "You can come out now, Baelfire."
"Name's Neal now," Neal said.
"New name, but the same old tricks. It's heartwarming to see father and son working together, especially after you abandoned him, Rumple. This is a real family reunion."
"What are you waiting for?" Mr. Gold asked.
"I got this," Neal told his father as a whoosh sounded and he panted.
"Clever," Pan commented. "But we've been through this before, Baelfire. Have you remembered nothing?"
"I remember plenty." An arrow clattered. "That's why I didn't coat the tip." Another whoosh sounded.
"Grab Henry," Mr. Gold ordered.
"Well, how about that? I'm impressed. But are you sure you're really saving him, Bae?" Pan asked.
"What could be worse than leaving him here with you?" Neal shot back.
"Why don't you ask your father? Sometimes the people we should fear the most are the ones closest to us."
"W... what's he talking about?"
"Don't listen to him," Mr. Gold said.
"You mean you haven't told him?" Pan asked.
"Told me what?" Neal wondered.
"Why, about the prophecy, of course."
"What prophecy? What's he mean?"
"The prophecy that says you've been tricked. Your father isn't here to rescue your son. He's here to murder him."
---
"What the hell was he talking about?" Neal questioned.
"Oh, don't mind him," Mr. Gold replied.
"He said you were gonna murder Henry!"
"He plays games. Mind games. The important thing is we got the boy and we got away."
"Where are we?"
"The other side of the island. We're safe here for the time being."
Neal moved closer to his son. "Hey. Hey, Henry. It's me. Hey, it's your dad."
"No, he... he can't hear you."
"Then wake him up."
"Pulling him out of the spell could be dangerous. He'll wake naturally in a few hours. He'll be fine."
"All right. Then you can explain to me what the hell Pan meant. This prophecy that he's talking about, why would he say that you'd kill Henry?"
"Oh, I don't know, to create a wedge between us."
"That's not a denial." He sighed. "No, this has to do with what happened when I found you. You thought I was a hallucination. You said that you had to do the right thing and save Henry! What did that really mean?"
"Baelfire..."
"It's Neal! Now stop dodging and tell me what's going on!"
"There was a seer, and she told me of a prophecy... that boy would help reunite me with you. And that a boy... Would be my undoing."
"Henry."
"I didn't know it was gonna be my own grandson, till I found you in New York and discovered you were his father."
"You were planning on getting rid of him, whoever they were, weren't you? To try and cheat fate? To get around the prophecy? You cold-blooded son of a bitch. You were gonna kill him."
"Yes."
"Get back. You stay away from him!"
"That was then. Things have changed. I... I didn't come here to Neverland to hurt Henry. I came here to save him."
"After what you just told me, I'm supposed to believe you?!"
"I won't lie to you, Bae. Self-preservation has been a nasty habit I've had my whole life, but I came here to break it, to do the right thing and to save your son. Even if that meant sacrificing my own life."
Mr. Gold whispered, "You have to trust me."
Neal returned in a whisper, "How can I?"
THE ENCHANTED FOREST - BEFORE THE FIRST CURSE
Drums played and boys whooped.
"You don't even recognize him, do you, Rumple?" Pan asked.
"Well, how could I when he's wearing a mask?" Rumpelstiltskin retorted.
"Well, he might be wearing a mask, but that's not the reason. Look at him... Playing with to boys, out in the world. He's happy, Rumple. That's why you don't recognize him."
"Bae." He panted. "Baelfire. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Baelfire replied. "Why are you here?"
"I know you think I don't care about you, son, but I do. And I'm here to prove it."
"How?"
"Go ahead, Rumple," Pan told him.
"Papa!" Baelfire cried. "What are you doing?!"
"I'm protecting you," Rumpelstiltskin replied as a whoosh sounded.
"You're gonna regret not taking my deal, Rumple!" Pan yelled as another whoosh sounded.
"Don't touch me! Get away!" Baelfire demanded.
"It's all right now, Bae. You're safe," Rumpelstiltskin reassured.
"Safe? I was never in danger. The Piper was my friend!"
"He may have wanted you to think that. But you have to believe me. He would've hurt you."
"Why? Who is he? Another person that you abused with your power?"
"His name is Peter Pan. I've known him since I was a boy. Growing up, we were incredibly close."
"So you're saying he's immortal, too."
"He wasn't always. He went to a place called Neverland. He betrayed me, Bae. He can't be trusted."
"What happened?"
"All that matters is that he fooled me for a long time before I'd finally seen his true nature, and it is darker and more repulsive than you should ever be exposed to!"
"He can't be any worse than you."
"I had to protect you, Bae. I didn't have a choice."
"Stop lying because I know that you did! I know about the deal Pan offered you. He said all you had to do was ask me if I wanted to come home."
Rumpelstiltskin whispered, "He told you?"
"He said that way I'd know if you really trusted me, if you really cared."
"Oh, please, Bae."
"You didn't need to. I would've chosen to come home. I would've chosen you! If only you asked. Maybe we could've found a way to be a family again."
"We can be. Bae. Bae!"
NEVERLAND - PRESENT
"Tell me what I have to do to gain your trust, and I will," Mr. Gold said.
"Give me The Dark One dagger," Neal ordered. "I know you. I know you wouldn't come all the way to Neverland without it. It's the only thing that can control you. It's the only thing that could stop you. You wouldn't take any chances with it."
"I don't have it."
"Why you lying?"
"I'm not lying to you, Bae. I hid it so Pan couldn't get it, so he couldn't stop me."
"So un-hide it!"
"My shadow took it."
Neal laughed. "Your shadow. Man, you got an answer for everything, don't you?"
"I'm telling you the truth, I swear."
"You know, maybe you did hide it. Maybe you do want to do the right thing. But that's today. What about tomorrow?"
"I've changed."
"Have you?"
"Yes."
"The prophecy still stands. You save him, he's still your undoing."
"I'm still willing to die for him."
"What happens if we get back, and you're reunited with Belle, and you realize that the only thing standing between you and your happy ending is my son? And suddenly, "undoing" doesn't sound so great."
"You're my happy ending. This is, because it's my redemption. I can be strong, son, if you have faith in me."
Neal lowered his voice. "You know, when I was living here and sleeping in a cave, I used to dream of you coming to rescue me. But then I'd wake up and remember how you left me behind. You left your own son behind for the power of that dagger. How can I think that things would ever be any different?" A whoosh sounded.
"Neal. What are you doing?"
"I'm gonna find Emma, Jackie and the others and get the hell off this island. Then I'm gonna get my family back home."
"You can't go into the jungle alone. Without my power to protect you, Pan will capture you both!"
"I'm sorry, I got no choice. We're safer without you. Goodbye, Papa." He cried.
---
"How can you be so sure it's a map?" Mary Margaret asked.
"There was a short time in Neverland when Baelfire was aboard my ship," Hook replied. "Jacqueline, Matthew and I taught him to navigate using the stars. What you're looking at is the fruit of our labors."
"Then you can read it," Regina said.
"Sadly, no," Jackie and Hook stated.
"I thought you just said you taught him how," David commented.
"Yes, but we also taught Neal something else," Hook said. "The key to being a pirate... secrecy. The best captains conceal their maps in a code. He was an apt pupil."
"So you're saying the only person who can read this map is Neal?" Mary Margaret questioned.
"Which means the only person who can read it is dead," Emma noted.
"Emma, wait!" David called.
"Now is not the time."
"I can't imagine even imagine the sadness you must be feeling," Mary Margaret said.
"I'm not sad. I'm pissed. Yes, Neal just died, but I lost him years ago." Her voice broke. "All that time thinking that he didn't love me, only to find out that he did, and it was too late. I can't even tell him how angry that makes me, or how much it hurt when he left, or how terrified I was when he came back, because... I knew the moment I saw him, I never... I never stopped loving him."
"She'll be okay," David reassured.
"Really?" Mary Margaret shot back.
"We have done everything we can."
"But that's the problem." Her voice broke. "I have no idea how to comfort my own daughter. It is the first thing a mother learns, and I don't know how."
"I know. I feel the same way. But she is so upset, we have to get..."
"How can we even blame her? If you died, I would not be able to move on."
"You must." He stammered, "I'm just saying. Every day we're here, something bad could happen. And if it did to me, I'd want you to move on, to continue, to be happy."
Mary Margaret whispered, "That's really sweet, but nothing is going to happen to you, not while I'm here." She sighed.
Jackie ran after Emma and said, "I'm sorry, lass. If it's any consolation, perhaps we can figure out another way off this bloody island."
Emma nodded slowly. "I hope you're right?"
She smirked lightly. "Of course I am. We won't be in Neverland forever."
---
"Emma. Jackie," Neal called.
"You were so close to finding him," Pan told him. "You disappoint me. I thought I taught you better. Never break in somewhere unless you know the way out."
"I'll remember that for next time."
"Well, there isn't going to be a next time. But don't blame yourself. Your father could have protected you out here, sure. But then who would've protected Henry from him? Talk about a rock and a hard place."
"I will get my son back, no matter what it takes."
"You're not getting it. That's not the problem. You got him. I got him back. It's the game. No, my boy, the real problem for you is that there is no escaping Neverland. No one gets off this island without my permission."
"I've done it before."
"Did you? Look where you are now. It's like you never left."
"You saying you let me go?"
"I'm saying everyone's where I want them." Henry groaned. "Something to chew on. You know where to take him."
"No! Henry!" Neal cried.
"Oh, don't worry. It won't be for very long."
"I'm alive!"
"Just until I reset the board. See, the game is about to change."
"Don't give up hope, Henry! I will come for you! I promise!"
---
A whoosh sounded, followed by a deep sigh before Belle said, "I'm so sorry, Rumple. Neal should have trusted you."
"How could he?" Mr. Gold replied. "After everything I've done?"
"Well... He may not know what was in your heart, but I do. You would've protected Henry. You would've even given your own life to show Neal that you've changed."
"Are you asking me, or do you truly believe that?"
"I know it with all my heart. What I don't know is why you look so upset now. I mean, Rumple, he's alive. Baelfire. You have something to live for."
"But the prophecy remains. Henry's still my undoing."
"That's why you're upset. You were so determined to die for the boy, but now? Having something to live for has brought back that nasty habit of self-preservation, hasn't it? Rumple... Habits can be broken, can't they?"
"Go away, Belle. I don't want to talk right now."
PAN'S CAMP
Drums continued playing and lost boys whooped.
Henry groaned and asked, "What happened?"
"Oh, you fell asleep," Pan told him.
"I did?"
"No, don't worry. It was just a little catnap. The night's still young." The whooping continued.
"Wait. I... I remember something. My dad... When I was asleep, I... I could've sworn I heard him calling for me."
"Really?"
"It must've been a dream."
"Well, how can you be sure?"
"Because... 'Cause my dad's dead."
"I'm sorry, Henry. It makes sense for us to dream about the things we've lost and the things we hoped for, like your father being alive and your mother and your friend coming to find you. But eventually, you'll find new things to dream about. And when you do, they'll start to come true."
"How do you know?"
"Because that's what I did. And now you're here. Neverland used to be a place where new dreams were born. You can bring that magic back, Henry. And we can be your family. I'd like to play a song, a song for our guest of honor... Henry." He played a melody and the whooping continued. Pan's voice echoed. "You can hear the music now, can't you, Henry?"
Henry's voice echoed. "Yeah!"
Lost boys yipped and whooped as voices echoed.
Matthew stared at Henry and slowly shook his head as he muttered, "Pan, you bloody demon."