Wendy sat on her window seat, staring out into the stars. So many years had passed since she had saw him, but she knew he was out there, she knew that he was watching somewhere. Sometimes she would see a shadow, other nights she could swear she would hear him say her name, but she never got the chance to see him face to face, or to talk to him.

As she sat in her window seat she could immediately identify the second star to the right. "Neverland" she whispered, hoping that if maybe, she said it enough, hoped it enough, she would be magically be able to fly back there. She closed her eyes and breathed in the cool autumn night air. Wendy had dreamt of Peter every single night since she had returned, so many years ago. She was no longer that little girl that had run away with her brothers to Neverland with a strange boy that she had fallen in love with, no, instead she was an 18 year old that was about to be betrothed to a man she hardly knew, all the while, still being in love with the boy from Neverland.

She knew this was going to be her last few chances to stare out from her window, her window that she thought belonged to Peter too. She wished and hoped that she could talk to him, to tell him everything that was going on, and force him to take her back with him. She didn't want to grow up anymore, not if it meant being without him and having to marry someone she did not love.

Wendy sighed, she stood up and straightened her night dress. She leant over to close the windows. She never normally locked them, but tonight, she was second guessing her choice. In her heart, she knew he would not love her once he saw her all grown up. For he was just a boy. She did something that had not been done since her mother had, so many years ago; she locked the window and drew the curtains closed.

As she tip-toed to bed she could hear the muffled conversation of her brothers in the room next door. She pulled the covers over her, trying to comfort her as felt utterly defeated. Pan would never love her, she would never return to Neverland and she would have to Marry an man she did not love.

—-

She awoke to the sound of scratching against glass, but she didn't dare move. Wendy knew she must of been dreaming, for the only person who could get up high enough to be breaking into her window would have to be him. Her heart thumped so loudly she thought it might jump right out of her chest. The latch on her window flicked and she heard the squeak in the hinge of the window it makes when it is opened.

"Wendy.." he whispered. Her breath caught and her heart launched and she thought for sure this cannot be happening. She could hear the slow creak of the floorboard as he made his way towards her. His voice was not how she remembered, it was deeper more husky, but definitely him. She did not want to scare him away so she stayed still, barely breathing at all and heart thumping away. "Wendy?" he asked. His voice was close, just hovering above her. She could almost smell the trees of Neverland coming off of him. "Please wake up." She felt his hands on her blanket before he pulled it off her.

"Peter?" She whispered as she slowly turned over. When she could see a shadowed figure hovering near her bed she shot up instantly and retrieved the blankets to cover herself. She couldn't make out the features of this man but he was tall and standing dangerously close. "Who are you? What do you want?" she said loudly. He flew into the air and covered her mouth.

"Shhhh! You'll wake Michael and John, and they are not coming this time!" He whispered. His features came into view as his dirty hands covered her mouth. His blonde hair has turned mostly brown and the curls in front of his face she remembered were gone, replaced by a short haircut. His body had grown tall, his jawline was defined and he even had an adams apple. So many parts of him had changed, but the important things had stayed the same, those aqua eyes were piercing into hers and those lips were still plump and still had the mark of her thimble in the corner. "Oh Wendy… You've grown up." She laughed and he pulled his hand away, startled.

"Peter, you've grown too" She whispered. She reached out to touch his face but he quickly retreated. She sighed. He is not a boy anymore but even that, could not make him love her. She turned and sat on the edge of her bed, confused by his presence but heartbroken by his rejection. She made the choice to end this dream, she pulled the covered of her bed up and quickly tucked herself back into bed, willing herself to dream of something else. When she heard the floorboards creaking towards her again, she sighed in defeat. "This isn't a dream is it Peter?" she asked, not looking at him.

"No" he said simply.

"I am to be married Peter" as soon as she said it the blanket that was providing a barrier between her emotions and him suddenly ripped from her grasp.

"What?" he was talking so loud it was almost a shout. He glared down at her and she suddenly felt small and helpless. "You will not" he stated. Pacing back to his place near the half opened window.

"Mother and Father, they're arranging it tomorrow, I'm 18 now and tomorrow there will be a party and they expect to receive offers for my hand" she was sitting up and holding her knees to her chest, tears threatening to fall. She couldn't make eye contact with the boy- no wait- the man she was in love with.

"No" he whispered

"I'm sorry" A tear fell. I was sorry, but I could do nothing to stop it, Father was inviting all of the eligible men that were quite wealthy and he made every opportunity to remind me of how important it was to impress them and to marry one. Peter walked towards me so quickly that it had surprised me. I stood before him and realised that he was taller than I thought, I was looking up into his aqua eyes - I had never met someone with such beautiful eyes - and I saw it, pain.

"You are not to marry anyone" His hand was on my cheek and moved quickly into my hair bringing my head closer to his. I nodded just before his lips met mine. This kiss was different to the one we had shared so long ago, the first "thimble" he didn't kiss me back, this one, he was kissing me fervently. His lips captured mine and the whole world felt like it stopped. His hands were in my hair pulling me closer and closer until every part of our bodies were touching each other. Mother had told me never to do such things until I was married or at least betrothed but this was Peter, and Peter never followed the rules. He pulled away and before I knew it he was back out the window. I ran after him stupidly, thinking I would be able to stop him, but he was simply gone.

—-

I awoke the next morning wondering if it had all been a dream. I sat in my bed, my fingers lingering on my lips, thinking I could still feel him, still taste him, but it must have been a dream. I looked over at the window and it was closed and locked, just like I had left it before I went to sleep. "Wendy are you up yet?" Mother barged into the door and was not happy to find me daydreaming in bed. "What are you doing dear child? We have a party to get ready for!" She simultaneously pulled the covers off me and pulled me out of bed at the same time. "Oh dear, look at the state of your hair." She chastised me like I was still a child, and yet here I was getting ready for my betrothal. "Did you fight some sort of demons in your sleep Wendy? Honestly, your hair is a mess!" My hair - I remembered my dream with Peter and how he had his hands through my hair. I quickly ran to the mirror and assessed my reflection. The only side that was really messy was the side Peter had run his hand through, but that must be a coincidence, right?

My mother picked up the brush before I could assess the situation any further and continued to fix my hair into a respectable state. Once she was finished she proceeded to apply small amounts of make-up and told me all the reasons why a woman should always look her best for her husband.

"Mother, what if I don't want a husband just now?" I whispered. She dropped the lipstick she was holding and glared at me.

"Don't you even start that conversation Wendy!" she reprimanded. "Your father has been working on this party since you were young! Just try to understand all the things he has done for you! We took in the lost boys and gave them a home, put them through school, fed them, and we've given you everything you have ever asked for, the least you could do is repay both of us by attending a party!" She placed her hands on her hips and I knew there was no winning this battle, I'd already tried so many times.

"Sorry Mother" I simply said, she knew how to make me feel guilty. Besides, last night was just a dream - it wasn't a real promise to Peter if it was just a dream.

Mother proceeded to help me get ready for the party - she and father had gifted me and expensive dress for the occasion and she was not shy in helping me do up the corset back. I knew it was a bit of punishment for my earlier comments on not wanting to go through with this.

"Mother, I can't breathe.." I felt a bit faint but she continued to pull tighter.

"That's the way it's supposed to be dear" She pulled at the corset again and I thought I might topple over. "You can't expect a man to fall in love with you instantly if you don't look your best." She tied the knot at the bottom of the corset and I thanked the heavens she had stopped tugging. I felt like my bones were being contorted and I could barely move my upper body. This party would most probably be the death of me.

—-