Disclaimer: This story was only written for entertainment purposes and is in no way making any money here or anywhere on the net. All characters belong to J.M. Barrie. Story comes from the Movie verse of the 2003 release of Peter Pan starring Jeremy Sumpter and Rachel Hurd-Wood.

Author's Note: After some thinking and then some more thinking, I have finally managed to write a sort of extended version to my short fic, "The Secrets We Keep." Things are similar and some things are the same. What worked in that short story didn't seem to fit into this one. You might find out in later chapters of those differences. For right now, both stories are basically complements of each other.

Prologue

The wind can blow and time can stand still. In that brief lapse of time, one can realize the most revealing of truths. It only takes a moment for your life to change. Countless childish joys paled in comparison to the utter bliss that can result from maturity. With all things, maturity came at a price. Bliss and agony coexist in a world of uncertainty. To one who had experienced the never ending adventures of youth, the adult life was all consuming in its inevitable approach. Yet, a decision had been made and a promise would be kept.

A boy stood alone on a street. His expensive attire catching several stares from those who looked his way, but he never turned his head. Gone was the bushy, wild, dirty blond hair. It was replaced with dark blond hair, pulled back to match the fashion. His face he covered carefully with the tip of his hat. His attentions fully focused on the quaint house that lay across from him. A feeling of unbearable need and impatience stirred within him, yet he kept his feet firmly planted on the sidewalk on which he stood. He was not ready yet. His new adventure had begun and he would make sure it was the grandest one yet. Feelings always were things to be hated and dismissed. Yet, now he found that only one feeling could comfort his otherwise straight-forward existence. All the things he felt were given only one name, Wendy.

Love. What was love? She had mentioned it before. Was it something fleeting? Was it as pointless as hoping the sun would stop rising and falling? Did it always make you feel as if you could not breathe if you were separated from the one you desired most? Was it the cause of how his breath always caught in his throat whenever he caught a glimpse of her? What he wouldn't give to hear her telling her stories again. Just to see how her face would light up and the animated fashion with which she always brought her stories to life, would give him solace.

Schooling had opened his eyes to many new stories, but they were written in books with no pictures. There was no one to act out the many stories that he had, had to read so far. Though he understood what was happening within the story, it was never as appealing than having Wendy tell them. To have her act out the various characters was so much more appealing. Then again, nothing was as appealing as Wendy in his mind. For it was her appeal that had drawn him back to this world.

Being in this world had brought him many surprises, both pleasant and horrid. Something that he had to work most on was his patience. Never had he been forced to practice it in Neverland. Now it was of the utmost importance. Patience was something that he could and would never master, but it was necessary. It was not patience had rooted his feet firmly on the street, but his stubbornness. When things almost became unbearable, his stubbornness shined through. For it was his supreme stubbornness that had gotten him through this difficult and challenging adventure.

Standing there, as he was, he knew was longer than appropriate. He knew he had to leave before one of the occupants of the house noticed his presence. He sighed audibly as he looked down at the black shoes that he had to force himself daily, to wear. Everything was so restricting and frustrating. Dark emerald eyes looked back up at the house again.

"Life without you is not worth the adventure," he sighed softly as he turned to leave the beloved house behind.