Chapter 1 – Fare Thee Well
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Wendy sat next to the open window and stared out into the bustling city of London. She remembered a time from her adventures in Neverland, and shivered at the very thought of it.
~ All she could see was the inside of a blindfold. Behind her she could hear shouts. She walked closer to her demise. The farther she walked, the more scared she became. She felt the tip of a sword beckon for her to turn around. As she turned, she could feel the edge of the plank below her heels. Hook's voice said, "You know, I really am terribly sorry about this."
The plank below her was unstable and it felt like it would give out at any moment. From below her she heard the ticking of a clock. She heard Hook say "The irony. It comes for Hook, it gets a story."
Wendy could feel him stomp on the plank causing it to shift below her feet. She attempted to keep her balance. He stomped on the plank yet again, making it harder for her to keep her balance. He stomped on it for the third time and that did it. She fell backwards. The air was rushing around her, and she couldn't help but scream as she fell towards the unforgiving ocean. Suddenly, she felt someone's arms catch her. ~
The near death encounter was still fresh in her memory, even after 9 months.
Had it only been 9 months since Peter had departed from her window?
2 months after the group returned, the Lost Boys decided that they were unhappy in their new lives, and they decided to go back to Neverland. Tinker Bell had come to get them and bring them back. Shortly after, Mr. and Mrs. Darling mysteriously got a divorce. Mrs. Darling left to escape her past, and Mr. Darling kept the children, but fell into a habit of going to work before the children woke up and staying out until the children fell asleep.
John and Michael were playing one of their nursery games. They were reenacting the final battle between Hook and Peter. "You are old!" shouted Michael who was pretending to be Peter.
John as Hook says "But I've won!"
They continued their battle in such perfect chronology that it never ceased to amaze Wendy. The boys jumped and ran around the nursery. The walls were a tan patterned color. The walls had lights clocks and pictures scattered about them. The floor was covered in toys. On one wall there were two brass beds belonging to John and Michael. On the wall adjacent to John and Michael's beds, the wall across from the window was a four-post bed with bed drapes that covered the head of the bed and fell down to the sides where they had been tied back. John had grown a little, and still had the same brown hair and round glasses. Michael had also grown, but still had the same freckles and red hair. When they finished their battle Wendy decided that it was time for the three of them to go to bed. "Alright boys, it's time to go to bed," she told the boys.
The two boys climbed into their beds. Wendy went to John, tucked him in, and kissed him goodnight. She went to Michael and did the same.
"Wendy? Will you leave the window open in case Peter comes back?" Michael asked his sister.
"Of course I will Michael." Wendy assured him.
She walked over to the window, stepping carefully to avoid the toys on the floor. She lifted the heavy stained glass window high enough for Peter to get in. Wendy climbed into her bed letting her dirty blonde hair fall across the pillow. She fell asleep, to dreams of flying.
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Wendy's sleep slowly became lighter. She could hear talking in the room around her. She could hear John and Michael's voices, but there was a third voice… Wait, a third voice? Wendy shot up out of bed. There she was, face to face with her brothers and the boy who wouldn't grow up. "Look Wendy, Peter has come back!" said John.
A smile slowly crossed Wendy's face as she got out of bed. "Hello again Peter," she said smiling.
"Hello Wendy," he said, also smiling.
She slowly wrapped her arms around him in an awkward hug, which he hesitantly returned. She looked up at him remembering their last romantic encounter. She had kissed him to save his life. John and Michael stood to the side of the two watching the exchange. Peter hadn't aged a day, as he has been in Neverland. His blonde, messy hair has stayed the same length and he is still the same height. As she talked to him she learned that the boys had caught him up on their lives. "The Lost Boys really miss having a mother," he said to Wendy.
Wendy sighed knowing what he was getting at. He wanted her to come back to Neverland with him. She silently debated the options in her head. "So, would you like to come back to Neverland?" he asked the 3 Darling children.
"Yes please!" John and Michael shouted in unison.
"What about you, Wendy?" Peter said turning to Wendy.
"Well…" Wendy started.
"Please!" Michael said.
"Yes, please Wendy!" John said.
"Oh, all right," Wendy, said.
Peter flew into the air. "You guys remember how to fly right?" Peter asked.
"Just think happy thoughts, and add pixie dust of course," Wendy said.
Just then, Tinker Bell flew into the room. Peter grabbed her and sprinkled the children with pixie dust. The children levitated into the air. "Alright guys, let's go!" Peter said as he beckoned to the window.
John and Michael with his bear flew out of it quickly. Wendy stood on the windowsill looking at the nursery she knew she'd probably never see again. "Come on Wendy," Peter whispered into her ear. "Forget about them, just like they forgot about you."
Wendy realized the truth in his words and turned to him, took his hand, and flew away with him. She stopped and turned back to the house and said her final farewell.
"Fare thee well, Father."