Wendy Darling was a good person, at least she liked to believe she was. She was quite studious in school and helped take care of her two younger brothers when she was at home. She knew to look both ways before crossing the street and to thank the shop workers when they gave her her purchases. She knew to be kind and generous, and also to never follow any stranger no matter what they said to her. Yes, Wendy Darling was a good person, in every sense of the word.

A good person who was also achingly terribly bored with her life.

There were moments, in the night, when she could let go of proper things and strip herself of everything that society saw her as. Those were the moments when she could truly be herself and enjoy her small stolen memories of fanciful lands and things no proper young lady should be interested in. Things such as pirates and sword fighting on board ships that housed ruffians and thieves. These things were always mixed in her mind with pretty girly thoughts such as pixies and Mermaids. Thoughts such as these found their ways into the stories she told her youngest brother when she tucked him into bed. Her stories always revolved around one boy, who was the hero o her tales, though she never included the thought that she believed he often came to watch over her as she slept. Wendy couldn't tell why the thought made it easier for her to pass into her land of dreams, though it did and she had often taken to leaving her window cracked just a bit so that he could better watch over her sleep.

She knew that keeping thoughts of someone watching over her sleep to herself was something she absolutely had to do. It would not settle well on the minds of adults or those of her little brothers. John, being but a few years younger than she, was ferociously protective of her and only wanted the best for his dear older sister. Michael, still being quite young at the age of five, would not understand and run to tell their mother or father if she dared to tell him that the hero of her tales was in fact her personal guardian angel.

It was just in her thoughts of course, for she knew deep down it was quite a childish thing to imagine a boy at her window every night. Still the thought remained and she allowed it to simmer in the back of her mind as she grew.

Wendy knew that her thoughts were far too fanciful for her social status, thus she became a simple wallflower at the gatherings she was allowed to attend with her parents. Often she could be found by a window, gazing longingly at the stars with a sad smile gracing her lips. Nearing the age of sixteen meant that she had many a young man looking towards her for a future bride, though she had no time to worry about such things. Why should she worry about something she would have to do as an adult when she could spend her days being a child while she still could? She often heard her mother softly complaining about how fast she grew up, and lamenting to Wendy's father that she hoped her own daughter would stay young for just a bit longer. Wendy liked the thought of staying younger just a bit longer, for she knew that the boy in her thoughts did not age as one normally would and she did not wish to outgrow him just in case he would think that meant she no longer needed him to look out for her during her sleep.

It was at one such party that she spotted what she was sure was the boy from her thoughts. She was standing at the window as she always did, but that night she decided to glance down rather than up, that's when she spotted him. He was nothing more than a dark figure rushing along the rooftops, but for a moment the moon illuminated him and she swore she saw a flash of red atop his head. His hair was red, she decided, with just a touch of orange thrown in as well. He would have wild green eyes as well, yes, the boy in her thoughts always had eyes the color of grass or palm leaves.

She didn't realize she had stepped closer to the glass until the cold of it registered on her fingertips. There had been another figure in the shadows for a moment, one that appeared and vanished in the time it took her to ponder the color of the boys hair. Her brow furrowed as the thought that the other figure was chasing him crossed her mind. Perhaps it was a pirate that wanted to hurt him. She wished she had some way to earn him but they were both out of her sight and all she could do was stare helplessly at the now empty rooftops around her. Her palm was pressed up against the glass as her lips fell into a deep frown, all she could do was hope that whoever it was chasing after him would not catch up.

"Wendy?" It was her mother's voice that drew her away from the window. Mrs. Darling was a lovely woman, someone that Wendy could see the boys fighting over in her youth, but she was never conceited about it. No she much rather doted on her own children then herself in social situations. The perfect lady, always smiling, though Wendy was sure her mother always smiled in order to better hide the kiss tucked away in the corner of her mouth. Right there on the right side of her lips. Wendy knew it had to be a very special kiss, though if her father had not yet received it then she had no clue who her mother could possibly be saving it for.

"Wendy dear, are you listening?"

"Yes." Wendy answered her a bit too quickly and looked down ashamedly at the realization. She hadn't been listening, though she doubted listening mattered when her mother gently took her by the hand and lead her away from the large windows.

"You are always such a wallflower at these things, and your father wanted to be absolutely sure that tonight you mingled with people. I would hope he would allow you to be the you you are now for just a bit longer but your seventeenth birthday is approaching and you will be expected to attend more gatherings like this and show yourself to your fullest." Wendy was taken aback by her mother's words, whatever could she mean? Didn't her father want her to remain herself for as long as possible.

"Wait, mother dear, I don't understand." Wendy stammered quickly as she slipped her hand from her mother's grip. Mrs. Darling stopped in her tracks and turned to face her daughter with a sad smile pulling the corners of her lips. She placed her hands on Wendy's shoulders, pausing halfway through as if she was going to cup her cheeks before steadying herself on and gripping Wendy's shoulders just tight enough for her to know she was being serious. Wendy watched with worry filled eyes as her mother let out a slow deep sigh and lightly squeezed her shoulders once again.

"My dear, your father is only thinking of your future. He wants you to settle down with a proper young man and-"

"Wait. Settle down?" She received a disapproving look from her mother for interrupting her, something that told her if it had been her father she would have received a much harsher punishment, and immediately wished she could take back her own words.

"It's only proper for you to be looking towards marriage." Mrs. Darling did not sound as if she was chiding her daughter, no the woman sounded quite saddened by her own words. This was only highlighted in Wendy's mind when her mother gently lifted one hand to tuck a stray hair behind Wendy's ear slowly before pressing her palm against her daughter's cheek. "You are growing up so quickly, if only I could have kept you small just a bit longer." She sighed as she studied Wendy's face. Wendy frowned at her mother's words, she wasn't growing up too quickly, she was growing at just the right amount. At least, she thought she was.

"Mother, I don't want to think about marriage. I am still far too young for that kind of thing." She insisted as she took a step back from the other woman. The room was becoming suffocating, everyone's eyes seemed to be on her and she couldn't seem to catch her breath. She had to get out of there. "I, I need some air." She mumbled softly as she turned from her mother to look for an exit. She spotted a door near the windows, possibly leading out to the large balcony beyond them. "E-excuse me Mother." She added quickly before making her way as quickly as possible to the door while still walking at a rational pace.

Outside. The air was chilly and crisp but she could breathe once again. Outside of the large party filled with young gentlemen that were looking at her as a marriage prospect she could pretend that her conversation with her mother had never happened. She was quite good at pretending, and as she leaned against the balcony railing and stared up at the stars above she found herself pretending she was soaring through those stars with the boy from her thoughts teaching her how to do loops in the air. A smile crossed her lips as she imagined him flying up to the stars and tickling them before coming back to her and pointing out how their laughter made them twinkle against their black velvet bed. It was easy to imagine, almost as if it were a memory rather than simply pretend.

Hello Dear readers,

This is my second attempt at a Peter Pan fanfiction. Let's just say the first one lost steam (heh). I hope you all enjoyed reading this and come back for more. It is based off of an odd dream I had, you know the kind that feels like you're watching a movie, and when I awoke I knew I had to write it down before I forgot. I managed to get the basics down before it became hazy so most of this is me compromising. I wait eagerly for your input and hope that you will come back for more. I know Peter Pan isn't exactly the most read fandom on here but I hope that the ones who do read this truly enjoy it. Three chapters have been written so far and the fourth is in the works so if you want more please let me know. Until then.

Much Love;

Ad