Terence and Tink held hands as they zoomed alongside the Lost Boys. Cubby held the bushes apart with his club as they stomped through.

"We should probably tell them to keep it down a little," Terence said anxiously. Tink glanced at the boys and bit her lip.

"Boys! Could you be a little quieter?" Slightly glanced at her and frowned.

"What're you saying, Tink?" Tink bit her lip.

"How can I make them understand me? Is it the pixie dust?"

"I don't think so. Try again."

"Boys. Can you understand me?" Slightly looked quickly at the others.

"Did you understand her? I thought I heard her say 'boys'." Tink nodded emphatically and Slightly jumped up and down.

"Ok. Try again."

"Slightly. I'm Tinkerbell."

"I know," Slightly said, looking confused but then his eyes widened and he jumped into the air. "I understood her! I can understand fairy!"

"Not yet but you're on your way! Can you tell the rest of the boys to quiet down? We want to surprise Hook, not announce our presence."

"Sure thing, Tink," he turned to the boys and puffed out his chest, looking proud, "Tink says we need to be quiet. We're making too much noise."

"How do you understand her?" One of the twins asked with wide eyes.

"I dunno, I just can."

"I want to be able to understand fairy!"

"Me too!"

"Tink, talk to us!" Tink flew into the air and put a finger to her lips.

"We are sneaking up on Hook, remember? Let's do it quietly!" The boys' eyes widened but they nodded to show they understood. Tink turned to Terence, her eyes wide as well.

"They can understand me now?"

"It would seem so. Come on, let's get on with this." The boys quietly pushed the leaves aside and Nibs held up a fist, the other hand pointing a finger at something up ahead.

"—are we going to do with the treasure when we kill all the fairies, Cap'n?"

"Mister Starkey, I don't pay you to ask so many questions! Keep your trap shut."

"Aye aye, Cap'n." Terence glanced at Tink and nodded.

"Tell Peter we found him." Tink took off in the opposite direction and Nibs motioned for the boys to hide, keeping his eyes on the pirates. Hook and his men carried swords in one hand and torches in the other.

"I tell you men, nothing will stand in our way now that the brat is disposed of. I am finally rid of Peter Pan!"

"Never thought I'd see that day, Cap'n," Mister Smee said cheerfully. Hook gave him a dark look but twitched his mustache.

"Indeed. So men, you ask me what I will do with the fairies' treasure? Well I'll tell you. With its power, I will rule over Neverland and I shall be called King James." Terence's jaw dropped. The man was mad! He glanced up and saw a flash of green shoot on by and he smiled.

"Ahoy Captain Hook," said a young cheerful voice. Hook rolled his eyes.

"What do you want, popinjays?"

"We thought you might like to join us in a treasure hunt," Jake said loudly, holding up his sword. Hook leaned forward eagerly.

"Treasure hunt?"

"Aye, treasure hunt. Cubby found an old map that leads to some kind of treasure around Mermaid Lagoon. We thought you'd like to come with us and search for it."

"Mermaid treasure, eh?" Hook's eyes were dancing. One of his crewmates frowned and tugged his sleeve.

"Cap'n, we're sposed to be after the fairy treasure, aint we?"

"We have plenty of time for that," Hook snapped. "After all, no Peter Pan to stand in our way any longer," he said in a low voice. Jake frowned.

"What was that Captain?"

"Nothing boy. So, let's have a look at that treasure map of yours."

"Sorry Captain. I'm the only one who holds the map," Cubby said, tucking it away. Hook's eyes narrowed.

"Fine. Where do we start?"

"We need to get back to our ships. From there we can decide which direction to head out to sea."

"Men! Back to the Jolly Roger! Now!" The pirates trudged off, Hook right behind them. Jake shot the Lost Boys a thumbs up before he, Izzy, and Cubby followed the pirates and set off toward the Lagoon.

Cubby was panting within minutes.

"Boy, I didn't realize how far we were from the lagoon. Hook will beat us for sure."

"Hurry along, seapups! I shall reach my ship first and will not wait for you!" Hook was far ahead of them and Jake frowned.

"He can't do anything without the map."

"But Peter wanted us to make sure they get onto the ship and then have Bucky block the Jolly Roger. He may realize we're up to something and then it will be too late," Izzy whispered, looking dejected. Jake's eyes shot to the pouch around the girl's neck.

"Izzy, would you say this is an emergency?"

"Well yes I would but…" her eyes widened and she glanced down, holding the pouch in her hands. "Jake, you're a genius! Maybe we only need a little bit." She took a pinch of pixie dust between her fingers and threw it over the three of them. She started to rise into the air and she giggled.

"Pixie dust away!"

"Crackers! You're flying!' Skully laughed as he flapped his wings near them. Jake glanced at the ground and let out a cry of excitement.

"This is awesome! Yo ho, way to go Izzy! Let's fly back to Bucky!"

The Lost Boys gasped as they saw Jake and his crew zooming toward the Lagoon and they glanced down at Tink.

"Someday Tink, would you let us fly?"

"I'm sure that can be arranged," she said with a smile.

"She said yes!" Slightly exclaimed and Tink shook her head in exasperation.

"Come on, we need to get to the shoreline and make sure Jake's ship blocks Hook's."

Hook had no idea how the seapups had beaten him but he frowned as Bucky made his way in front of the Jolly Roger, with Jake, Izzy, and Cubby hanging off the side, waving.

"How?" Hook asked in shock. Jake grinned.

"Come on Captain Hook, you know Neverland has more magic than we know of!" Hook was about to respond when a loud crow made his eyes pop. He whirled around as Peter hovered above, hands on his hips and a smug grin on his handsome face.

"You!"

"Me. Come on, Hook, you think you can get rid of Pan that easily?" Hook let out a yell and yanked his sword out of his sheath. Peter's grin only widened and he cocked his head a little as another sound made Hook's eyes pop again and his skin go pale as a sheet.

"Do you hear something Captain?" There was a jingling at his shoulders and he smiled up at the fairy.

"What do you think, Tinkerbell? Is codfish on the lunch menu?" Tink giggled.

"Tic-Toc says it is!"

"Tic-Toc? Ha! That's great. Hey Hook, meet your old friend, Tic-Toc Croc!" He gestured to the sea and Hook peered down. The crocodile was circling the ship, grinning up at them. Hook jumped back.

"Smee! Save me!" Peter lowered closer to the deck and crossed his arms.

"Tic-Toc has generously agreed to be your jailer, Hook."

"No."

"He'll keep watch over you day and night. You're going to have a hard time finding your way to shore and going after the fairies now. Or me."

"Blast the fairies! I will get you, Pan! If it's the last thing I do!" He screamed as Tic-Toc jumped out of the water and snapped his jaws. Peter laughed and rose higher into the air, beating his chest with his fists and letting out the loudest crow Neverland had ever heard. The Lost Boys, Jake, Cubby, Izzy, and Skully all cheered.

"Hooray for Pan! Hooray for the Prince of Neverland!" Peter swept his hat off his head and bowed.

"Farewell, Captain Codfish. No doubt our paths will cross again!" With a wink at the crew, Peter and Tink took off back toward shore. Peter stopped to hug Jake and the crew before they flew back to the Lost Boys.

"We're glad you're ok, Peter," they all rushed toward their leader and threw their arms around him. Peter grinned up at Tink.

"My favorite fairy wouldn't let anything happen to me," he said in a low voice. Tink smiled.

"The Queen of Neverland protects her Prince. And everyone is safe from that smelly old codfish." The boys broke away, looking shocked.

"Peter! We can understand her!"

"Well that's good. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of her and the fairies." Terence appeared at his shoulder and smiled.

"That you will. We'd better get back to Pixie Hollow. It's been forever since we've been to work." Tink laughed.

"I guess you're right. Stay out of trouble, Peter!"

"Tink, wait." She lowered to level with his face and cocked her head. Peter dug in his pockets and withdrew a sparkling diamond ring. Tink's eyes widened and her mouth hung open in surprise.

"It was supposed to be a wedding gift but with everything that's happened…well, here you go. I thought you should be the sparkliest Tinker around." Tink bent her head and Peter slipped the ring around her hair, so that it encased her bun perfectly. Tink looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes.

"Thank you, Peter."

"You're the sparkle in Terence's eye, Tink. You're the jewel of Neverland." With a smile and a wave, Peter took off into the air, with the Lost Boys running behind him. With a smile, Terence flew over them and sprinkled dust on each of them, watching them rise into the air with Peter. The flying boy cast them a surprised look over his shoulder then with a grin and crow, they took off toward the Hideout. Tink grasped hands with Terence and rested her head on his shoulder.

"What mischief do you think a Tinker and a Dust Talent can get into today?"

"Neverland is filled with adventures, just waiting for us," he said, cupping her chin. She giggled and tossed her head, the sunlight catching the diamonds in her hair and sending rainbows everywhere.

"So what should we do tonight? Some Fairytale Theatre, perhaps?"

"I was thinking that flying to a remote area of Neverland and spending the night making you scream my name sounded like an excellent evening to me." She giggled again and leaned up and kissed him.

"Fly me through the stars, Terence. Fly me to the heavens and back."

"Forever and always, sweetheart. There's no parting us now. And even after the season ends and we're no longer King and Queen of Neverland, we'll still be together."

"I love you, Terence. I can't imagine my life without you." Terence gazed into her eyes and she felt herself becoming weak.

"Before you, Tinkerbell, Pixie Hollow was dull. My life was meaningless. The moment I saw you on your arrival day, the moment I poured the pixie dust over your head, I knew that someday, somehow, I had to make you mine." Tink gasped and giggled.

"It was you that greeted me to Pixie Hollow. I had forgotten about that," she snuggled closer to him and his arms wrapped around her tightly, "you were the first one I saw when my laugh broke apart. AND you were the one who convinced me not to leave Pixie Hollow." Terence laughed.

"I wasn't about to let you get away from me. I knew how special you were and just needed you to see it too."

"Thank you Terence," she rested her head on his shoulder again and closed her eyes. "Thank you for being my perfect mate."

'Thank you for being my perfect fairy wife," he said softly in her ear. Noticing that she had fallen asleep in his arms, Terence scooped her up and gently carried her back to Pixie Hollow. He set her down on the bed and left her to rest, going about his Dust Keeper duties. As he worked, his wings were gold with pixie dust, his eyes dancing with delight, and a look of love etched all over his handsome face. No doubt about it, Terence was the happiest Sparrowman in Neverland. And his fairy wife, the dozing Tinker back in the Nook, slept with a sweet smile on her face, dreaming of her perfect love.

END

So a huge thank you to every single one of you who read and reviewed! I really enjoyed delving into the origin of Tink's and Peter's friendship and the what-if of Terence and Tink. I hope you all enjoyed it as well :-) If you would like to read more of my writing, I recently started a 3rd installment to "Neverland Needs You", entitled "Dream of Me, Dream of Neverland" and I would of course LOVE to see everyone over there! Keep an eye out, I'm always writing and coming up with new ideas! Thanks again for your support-love to you all!