First off, I'm so sorry about the story being deleted; my laptop's been an absolute nightmare and with finals I've not had a chance to update or sort it out! Hope the next chapter makes up for it and a new chapter should be up in the next day or so :) enjoy!
Peter Pan had always been her favourite story. It was the one constant thing throughout her chaotic life. Shuffled from home to home, it was the one thing she kept with her, the one story that had kept her and her brother going throughout the foster system. And when they broke her heart by snatching Michael, her only family, away from her, claiming it was too difficult to house two children in the same home, she gave Michael the book as a way to keep on hoping, a promise that one day she would find him again and they would both have their adventures together again. And even when she grew older, when times were so tough she thought she would drown in plain sight, she'd sit on her windowsill, searching the sky for that second star to the right that would help her fly away from everything.
But she grew up. Everyone does eventually. She left the foster system at 16 and realised she was never escaping this life, no matter how she wished on the stars, fairytales weren't coming true and no one was coming to whisk her away. She started thieving in the city, working to get by. But it was lonely. And on her 18th birthday, as she was walking through the park back to the hostel, she lay on the grass and wished on a star.
"Pretty", she mumbled to herself, curling her fingers around the grass. She could sleep out here, she supposed. It beat trying to break into the hostel again, she was only allowed to stay so many times and she'd used up her quota. If it wasn't for the dangers out here, she'd be set. The warm breeze whisked the scent of grass into the air, filling her mind with thoughts of the few happy memories she had in childhood, playing in the park with her brother, making daisy chains as a gift for her new foster parents, desperately hoping they let her stay so her and her brother wouldn't have to part…
She closed her eyes, blocking out the memories. She couldn't cry anymore. But even as she said it, a tear slipped down her cheek. She felt the ice cold trickle, catching it between her fingers.
"Well, happy birthday me', she whispered sardonically to herself. "If you're out there Michael…Neverland, heck, if anyone's out there, come take me away. Take me to my brother. Please.'
She sighed, curling around herself as the cool breeze enveloped her. It wasn't sensible, it was damn right stupid, but she'd take her chance in the park tonight. She'd slept in worse and after years of being raised in the foster system, she could take care of herself. She'd had to. Her last thought as she drifted away was of the stars, the bright shining lights of planets far away watching over her. They seemed to shine right into her, burning bright, heading closer to her…
"Hey, hey, wake up."
"Umrgh", Emma murmured, pushing away at the light invading her sleep. Someone was in serious trouble when she woke up properly. She grabbed at the wings…wings? her mind supplied confusedly. What the hell had landed near her?
She rubbed her face tiredly, cursing herself for falling asleep on the grass. She raised her head, blinking, and decided she was still asleep. In front of her stood a tall, lean guy similar to her age. He had sun-streaked hair, bright green eyes and a cocky grin slapped across his face.
"Never thought you'd wake up, thought I'd have to leave you."
Emma blinked blearily again, feeling far too lacking in caffeine to have this conversation.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" she asked, struggling to sit up straight, caught totally unawares.
"I'm Peter", he claimed, puffing his chest out proudly, a hushed magical aura spreading across the park. He looked at her expectantly, flashing a wide, white grin that briefly took her breath away.
No, it didn't. She wasn't the type to fall for cocky, confident, cute looking guys (Okay, she totally was, but she was also in complete denial about that fact).
"Look, Peter…It's very nice to meet you, but I ought to be getting off…"
"Yeah, you're right". His grin momentarily had slipped upon her failing to bow down to his charm, but a mischievous look crossed over his features. "I was sent to get you. I couldn't come for a while, you stopped believing…', he looked at her accusingly, 'But after last night it was easy. So I'm here to collect you. We better get going."
What a wacko. What the hell was she supposed to do now? She was stuck in the middle of the town park with a crazy (and very attractive) candidate for a new loony tunes character.
"Look, Peter, I think you've got the wrong girl…."
"So, you didn't wish for me to come take you to Neverland last night?"
Her heart stopped. Did I…?
"He said you wouldn't believe me, I thought that my charm might prove enough", he cheekily grinned, flashing that smile at me again (God, stop doing that, psychopath or not, he sure had charisma), "but I'm glad now that he told me to bring proof. Here, take a look"
He tossed me a package and sauntered over to watch me open it. Clearly this guy didn't know what personal space was.
I'd had so much crazy tonight, I thought I'd indulge him. I pulled the object out of the bag he'd wrapped it in. My heart stopped.
It was our book, mine and Michael's. The book that had given us hope, the book I'd read to him before tucking him in and telling him to go to sleep and dream of Neverland. I hadn't seen this book in years. Even after I'd given up any possibility of ever finding Michael, I'd always hoped I'd find some clue as to what had happened, I'd always prayed he was safe and cared for. But I'd never imagined this.
"Open it", the boy whispered, crouching down behind me. His breath tickled my ear, the scent of wild flowers and honey enveloping me.
Inside, I saw a message scribbled.
Emma, I found it. I actually found it! We can have our adventures, you just have to believe it hard enough. I miss you, come find me in Neverland.
Love Michael.
I let out a sob, my brain refusing to let it sink in. He was alive. Michael was alive, I'd found him. And, whether this was a dream or not, I sure as hell wasn't letting it go without a fight.
"I'll come with you", I rasped, turning my head suddenly. I found myself staring into green eyes. The cocky grin was gone, he suddenly looked vulnerable and unsure as he glanced at me, taking in my tear-streaked face and trembling lips…
His mask slipped back on, his mischievous grin came back.
"Well then, let's get going. Tink!" he hollered, his voice echoing around the park. A bright yellow light descended, swooping around me, surrounding me in gold light.
"All you gotta think about is happy thoughts". He wrapped his hand in mine, his face quirking into half a smile, "Don't. Let. Go."
I looked at him puzzled, wondering why he was so worried…until I looked down. I let out a shriek, clutching onto him. We were floating to the top of the tree branches, sailing away from the ground.
"I gotta warn you…I have no health insurance…so if I'm off to the hospital or loony bin I'd like to know now!" I gasped, only half joking.
He looked at me puzzled, grabbing my arm and swooping me into the sky. I clung to him as we soared, floating with the clouds. I giggled, pulling away and soaring through them on my own, feeling the silver moonlight shine through the inky night onto my skin.
"Second star to the right and straight on till morning?" I shouted, his giddiness infecting me as he flew in loops around me, showing off. "Race you?"
He stopped, shooting towards me suddenly.
"Deal."
