AN: This is my first serious Peter Pan Fanfiction. It is a dark fic, containing subject matter not everyone may be comfortable with. Read at your own risk.

Gossamer Threads
 By Daggerpoint

The window was still open. It had been years since her adventures, and now Wendy sat preparing for her last night of childhood. As of tomorrow, she would truly become a woman, with her wedding to Sir Richard. Her hair gleamed in the lamp light, drawing the deep gold out. She slowly ran a brush through her hair contemplating what the dawn would bring. She had grown in to a lovely young lady; despite that she had fought every change. A single crystal tear made it's way down her pale complexion. Dread filled Wendy's being. She had no love for her intended, and he had only lust for her, but she had no choice. He had connections and power; her family dangling in his grasp. She could not be selfish. She would protect her family, even if it meant sacrificing herself.

A shadow hovered at the window. A face peered into the room, the eyes fixed on Wendy. It was Peter Pan. But not the Peter of old. His eyes had remained the same, but the rest of him had grown older in accordance with Wendy's growth. He was startled to see the female he loved in tears. Peter had often dreamed of entering her room, of comforting her, but something had always held him back. What could he offer such an amazing girl. He was, as someone once told him, incomplete, deficient. These thoughts continued to swirl in Peter's head. He could take no more and he fled into the night.

Wendy looked up as her curtains moved. Was it... No it was just wishful thinking. With a sigh she set down her brush, turned down the lamps and slipped into bed. Her eyes filled with tears as she slipped into sleep, a single word on her lips. "Peter..."

Wendy lay deathly still listening to the steady breathing of the monster that called himself her husband. She feared waking him. Feared to be used again. She could barely suppress a shudder at the thought of how he had been so careless and rough about taking her innocence. She felt dirty, used, and empty. The clock chimed 2 o'clock pulling Wendy out of her thoughts. Gently she managed to remove herself from the bed with out waking Richard. She moved waif like to the armoire extracting a clean nightgown to replace the one that had been ruined by her husband's passions. She then let herself out of the room and headed for the washroom.

Sighing Wendy stood looking at her body in the washroom mirror. She had just finished removing all traces of the loss of her maidenhood from her body, but she could not remove the bruises that even in the light of the moon could be seen turning deep purple in color. Wendy turned and pulled her nightgown up off the floor, and gently stepped into it. The gown covered most of the bruising; he had been careful not to mark where the bruises could be seen.

Silently she left the washroom in search of a place to sleep. After a brief search Wendy found herself in a guestroom not far from the washroom. She curled up into a fetal position in the middle of the bed, tears leaking from her eyes and silent sobs wracking her body. Wendy looked out the window, her eyes widening with the realization that this room faced the same direction as her room in her parents' house had, and of course the direction the nursery had. Her eyes began to the search the heaven looking for a specific star. There, there it was second to the right and straight on till morning. Moving slowly she managed to reach the window seat and throw up the sash, before collapsing. "Peter..." Wendy whispered brokenly. "Oh Peter how I need you."

Peter settled down outside the nursery, listening to the chatter of the boys. Wendy's window was shut and locked, and Peter needed to know why. His brows furrowed as he listened as they talked of a wedding. Of his Wendy's wedding! He only grew more concerned as he listened to the boys speak of Sir Richard, her husband. He sounded cruel and hard; not one who would treasure Wendy. Peter was startled out of his thoughts when one of the twins began to sob. Michael began to comfort him. He had grown to be so much like his sister, a kind caring person, with a knack for story telling, but he had a mischievous streak as long as the Nile. His voice rose as he began to weave a tale of what a life Wendy would lead, the dresses, the balls, the beauty.

"Michael." The other twin pulled gently on his sleeve. "But where is Wendy's room now?"

Michael was silent for a moment. "The manor in the country. The one by the river and the old oak."

Peter did not wait to here what else was to be said but leaped into the air, headed towards the old manor. The building rose stately and lonely from the fields that surrounded it. A haunting forbidden look was taken as the moon cast her pale shadow upon it. Peter slowed his flight at the edge of the field, wary to cross the moonlit plain, where he would be easily visible. His eyes scanned the old house, wondering in which room he would find Wendy. The moons glare at his back made him feel as though her were being watched, searching desperately for a clue to where she would be. A flicker of movement from one of the windows caught his attention. Fixing the location of the window in his mind, Peter flew towards the stars.

Peter again approached the old manor, this time coming from the sky. In his hands he held flowers unknown to this world. He didn't care if Wendy was married, he needed her. Peter hovered in front of the window he had seen earlier, surprised to find the window open, but even more surprised, and completely angered to find Wendy passed out in the window seat, evidence of her pain evident in the tear tracks that had dried upon her silken cheeks.

Gently he extended his hand caressing her cheek, moving to push a stray lock behind her ear. She sighed, moving gently in her sleep. Pan's concern increased tenfold, as she winced at the movement. Ever so carefully he gathered Wendy into his arms, careful not to wake her. Hovering gently he moved to the bed, pulling the covers back gently. Ever so slowly he covered her with the bed cloth; finally setting the neverflowers on the bedside table. Completely drained by holding his emotions in check, Pan slumped to the floor, Wendy's hand clasped in his own.

Wendy awoke with a start, the clock in the hall chiming 4. As she attempted to move she found her hand immobilized. Fear coursed through her body, as the memories of the evening came rushing back to her. She struggled to pull her hand away, backing into the headboard as she sat up, shaking uncontrollably.

It was the movement of his hand being jerked that brought Peter pan back to wakefulness. Wendy sat huddled at the top of the bed, shaking. He was hurt, but concern quickly drove the emotion out of his heart. Tentatively he reached out his hand, touching Wendy's shoulder. She reacted as if she had been burned, moving away and whimpering. Not knowing what else to do Peter stared forlornly at her.

"Wendy..."

It had escaped his lips, a simple whisper of a word, before he realized he had spoken. Despite this, it seemed to calm the shaking girl before him.

As her shaking stopped, Wendy looked up. Sun kissed skin, covered in leaves, golden curls, and eyes the color of the sea, normally bright with mischief and happiness, were filled with concern. Peter. With a soft cry, Wendy threw herself into Peter's arms, startling him. Tears leaked out of her eyes, as she buried her head in his shoulder.

Peter was dazed by the sudden change in Wendy's manner. Pushing his thoughts away, he wrapped her in his arms, sitting on the bed rocking her steadily as she sobbed.

AN2: Sorry if Pan and Wendy are a little OOC. I'm trying to predict how they would be if they did grow. Any ways let me know what you think. Thanks!