Disclaimer: Peter Pan, all characters, places, and related terms belong to J.M. Barrie.
From a Little Acorn...
Two little faces surrounded by dozens of blond curls stared with quiet awe at the chain their mother held up.
"That was your first kiss?" asked one of the twins.
"Yes," Mother sighed, cradling the acorn button in the palm of her hand. "I was only eight, so young!"
"How sweet!" the other girl sighed. "Please tell us how you were given the kiss."
Mother smiled. "One night, after your uncles and I had been put to bed, I met a boy. Not an ordinary boy, a wonderful boy. Who could fly."
"Ooooooo!" breathed the girls.
"This boy was very small—"
"As small as you once were, dearest Mother?"
"Yes."
"And me and Sarah?"
"Aye."
Little hands clapped with delight.
"This boy was very conceited, very cocky. And he had a beautiful smile. He'd lost his shadow and could not attach it back to himself; so I sewed it for him. He did not remember to thank me but talked about girls in the loveliest manner. I told him I wanted to give him a kiss and did."
"Did he like it?"
"I believe so."
"Of course he did, Mary! He gave a kiss to Mother in return."
"Just like in our fairytale book?"
"No, darling," Mother laughed lightly. "It was not romantic at all, sadly. The boy just gave me the kiss."
"He never gave you another one, did he, Mother?"
"No."
A long sigh of sadness filled the air. Mother came out of her musings first.
"But that was a long time ago." Carefully she put the chain around her neck again. "And now it is time for bed." She rose from her chair by the fire. The girls jumped to their feet and got into their beds.
"Do you not wish you had more kisses?" Sarah asked when Mother tucked her in.
"Sometimes. But, Sarah, kisses are to be treasured and not given lightly. And you never forget your first kiss."
"I will remember," the little girl promised.
Mother smiled and then moved to Mary's bed.
"A boy tried to steal your kiss once," Mary recalled sleepily, her eyes already fluttering shut.
"Yes, dear." Mother brushed her lips against her daughter's forehead.
"Father threatened to chase him all over London…" The girl yawned.
Eyes shining with love, Mother gazed on her children before leaving the nursery.
"…With his sword." The words stretched out just before the door closed shut.
"And I would have beaten him, too, if you hadn't stopped me."
Startled, she turned quickly to discover her husband standing much too close. A smile played over his lips.
"If you had chased that boy, Father would have never let you call again. You would have been arrested. And using your sword…!" she exclaimed with dismay, shaking her head as they moved down the hall.
"It was not his to take," he frowned darkly, hazel eyes flashing. "And as for seeing you…I would have just climbed up to your window."
She looked thoroughly scandalized. "Really, that would not do! A gentleman would not behave in such a way."
"Not a gentleman. I'm a wonderful gentleman," he corrected her. "And secretly, you would have been delighted if I went through so much trouble to see you."
She shook her head, yet was betrayed by the bright shimmer in her eyes and the corners of her mouth turning upwards.
"See, you cannot deny it!" he crowed.
She sighed in defeat, yet her smile remained. "Thank you, dear, for defending my honor and protecting my kiss." She touched the acorn button gently. "It means a lot to me."
He nodded, "And to me. Though I think I prefer a thimble just a little more." The stars in his eyes twinkled at her.
She blushed beautifully and stuttered. He drew her to him, their chests touching, his arm wrapped around her waist. His gaze turned serious and tender as he gazed deeply into her blue eyes.
"I love you, Wendy-lady," he whispered before their lips met for a long and gentle moment.
"And I love you, Peter Pan."
THE END
