Tonight I am on my own to collect a young boy to take to the island. Or rather return to the island. This particular boy has been here before. Only a few years ago. 

I fly directly to his house after taking off from the ship where I informed Hook of my mission tonight. Peter is not accompanying me tonight. I will not need him. I enter through the familiar window silently and land lightly next to where he is on his bed. He doesn't seem surprised to see me. And why would he be? It only make sense for him to rejoin us on Neverland. 

"Hello Tink," John smiles at me. This is the most pleasant greeting I have ever gotten when picking up a child from the mainland. It feels a little strange. 

"Hello John. Are you ready to return?" I ask as carefully and gently as I know how. I have been working on my communication skills with humans. I have been told that I have made progress. 

He nods in determination. "I'm ready to go home." 

The faintest of smiles graces my face before I school my expression again. I reach into one of my pockets and pull out the pixie dust. I hand it to him. I don't have to explain it to him this time, he knows what to do. He sprinkles some of the dust over himself  before handing it back to me. He grabs a book that is next to him on the bed before standing and nodding to me. "I'm ready. Let's go." 

I go back to the window, knowing that he is following me, and float outside into the open air. I can feel him following me closely as we make the flight back to the island. I don't take him back to Peter and the other Lost Children. Instead we go directly to the ship. This is going to be his home now. This is where he belongs. 

Hook is waiting up for us, as she always does when Peter or I leave the island. We land by her on the deck of the ship. I don't bother to announce us, it is pointless. She knew we were coming and she saw us coming. 

"Welcome back John, I said there was a chance we would see each other again. Are you ready to join the crew?" Hook asks John seriously but gently. I marvel at how she can portray more than one emotion. Humans are so strange. 

John nods. "I'm ready." 

Hook smiles, dropping her professional facade. "Then welcome aboard! I'm sure you're going to be an excellent addition to the crew." I don't understand how she can switch between two completely different emotions so quickly. It's as though she is switching between personas. Humans are so weird. I would think that I would be able to understand some of these things after the centuries I have spent with the children on the island. Unfortunately, that is not the case. They are just as much a puzzle to me now as they have always been. 

John pulls out the book he brought with him. "After I was sent back, I started recording everything that happened from my first time here. As best as I knew what was going on and could remember. I wanted to give it to you." He hands the book to Hook who hesitates for a moment before taking it. 

"Thank you John, but I don't understand. Why? Why did you record your time here? And why give it to me?" She asks, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I myself am curious. It does not seem logical. But then again, I have found that there is little that humans do that is logical. 

John sighs. "I wanted you to know the full story. And you are the only one I think would understand. Besides, I wanted to thank you for taking care of my brother after I left." The sincerity in his tone is clear even to me. 

Hook's eyes widen with clarity. I still do not understand. Perhaps I will ask her about it later. She thanks him then encourages him to find a place to get some rest belowdecks before the crew gets up for their morning chores. 

John hesitates for a moment before doing as she says. 

"Is somethings wrong?" 

"It's just, Neverland was a story. It got me thinking when I went back, what other stories are true?" He confesses. He is smart, most of the children that come here do not think of this. But a lot of the stories or legends they perceive to be false or fairytales hold at least a kernel of truth. 

"Like what?" Hook asks. 

"Well, there's this old story about a girl in the woods. It turned into a local legend I think. I think they call her the witch of the woods." John explains. 

"Oh, Valeria. The girl with the red hood who  was raised by wolves? Yeah, I know her story. One of her kids is on the crew." Hook says casually. John's eyes widen in what I believe is disbelief. "Is there something else?" Hook asks. He shakes his head. "Then why don't you head off to bed." John nods and heads off belowdecks.

Hook smiles sadly down at the book now resting in her hands. "What is it?" I question. 

She looks up at me startled, probably not expecting me to speak, or stay for that matter. But she is my friend and I do like spending time with her. "It's nothing really. I just haven't gotten a gift in so long. And this one has a different sort of meaning than any other gift I've ever gotten before." 

"What do you mean?" 

She smiles and shakes her head. "It doesn't matter." 

I nod. I do not want to cause her any distress. So I decide to change the subject. "Are you enjoying the peace once again?" 

Hook looks at me sideways before bursting out in laughter. "Is that some sort of joke? Did you just make a joke? That would be priceless!" 

I am confused. What does she mean by that? Then I remember the conversation we had the night I went with Peter to pick up the Darlings in the first place. "No, I was being serious. But I see why you were amused." 

Hook grins at me. "I'm glad things are back to normal, old friend." Yes, things are back to normal. Neverland will always be our home. And if something threatens it again, I can be confident that we will be able to protect it.