Longing
Chapter 1:
Peter's POV:
I stepped out of the hideout into the chilly Neverland air. It was late, nothing made a sound. At least nothing did in my presence.
I made my way to the beach. When I arrived, I sat down in the moist sand and laid back. The stars shined down on Neverland, as they always did. I stared at the bright suns, that seemed so far away. My mind began to drift elsewhere. The wind was soft, but goose bumps still arose on my skin when a thought came to my head. As they did every night, my thoughts became locked on Wendy. I couldn't bear to be so far away from her for so long. Ever since I'd let her and her brothers leave the island I'd knew I had made the biggest mistake of my life. The sadness that crept over me made me look older. When Wendy had come, she was fourteen and I was however old I was. But I looked about the same age as her. Now, I'd seemed to look about eighteen. I had no clue how old Wendy was, but I hoped she wasn't too much older.
A little jingle of bells made me snap out of my trance. I sat up and quickly turned around. "Hey, Tink," I said.
It's almost morning, she jingled. You should come back to the hideout. The boys will be wondering where you went.
"Okay," I said, and stood up. We flew back to the hideout, which was located underground not too far from Hangman's Tree. Though what he had said when I'd seen him last, he still stayed on the island. We moved not too far knowing he wouldn't look near where we were located last.
We arrived back at the hideout just as the sun was rising. I climbed into bed as I heard the boys waking up. Tink told them to go hunting without me. I drifted to sleep thinking about Wendy. I had to see her tonight.
Wendy's POV:
My eyes followed the path of words written before me. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen was my current book I'd been reading. I'd fallen in love with the characters. The boldness of Elizabeth, the friendliness of Mr. Bingley, and the love of Mr. Darcy. I'd been reading many love stories lately. Mother and father(mainly father) had been persisting me to find a good man and get married. I just told them I wasn't ready. Most girls in London were married by the time they were eighteen. I couldn't help it. There was no one in London who was longing for adventure as I was. Since my experiences with Peter Pan I'd come out of my shell a little more, and I wasn't afraid to do anything. That was seen as improper for a lady of my age. I'd driven away all of the men who'd come to seek my hand. They all believed I was mad. Ladies should not speak of such things, they'd all said. Things like these do not exist. But they did. I'd seen them. And as much as father insisted they were dreams, I knew they were real.
The smallest things sparked my memories of the island. Michael and John had decided to forget. They didn't want to remember. When Nana died a few years after our accounts on the island, it sent Michael into a deep depression and he refused to remember. But even the smallest thing made me remember. Seeing a man with a red coat made me think of Hook. Even someone with a bright smile made me think of Peter. I'd missed him so much. His words always echoed in my mind. Once you go back and grow up, you can never return! I hadn't exactly grown up, had I? I guess being eighteen meant I was truly an adult. I could never go back. Tears welled in my eyes at the thought of it. I'd always regretted the day I decided to leave him.
I closed my book in anger and sadness and put it back on my shelf. I slid out of my bed, putting my shoes on and walking out my bedroom door. I passed the boy's rooms down the hall and finally got to a large door at the end of the hallway. I slowly twisted the doorknob and entered it. The three beds remained in their same spots, and the tower of blocks Nana always built stayed in the corner, untouched. A wave of sadness came over me when I spotted the window seat, and tears came. I buried my face in my hands, and cried silently. When the tears stopped I wiped my eyes with my hand, and exited the room. I needed him back.
Peter's POV:
The boys got back from hunting at sundown. I had been up and flying around the island. The mermaids had waved to me as I passed, but I didn't stop to join them like I used to. I was waiting in the living room when the boys got back in. Nibs carried a buck over his shoulder, and Slightly held two rabbits by the ears in his hand. Tootles, Curly, and the Twins came in only carrying their weapons.
"Hey guys," I said, starting a fire in the middle of the room. Nibs placed the buck next to me and slumped down in a chair. The boys had aged as I did. They looked as if they were teenagers. They had matured and were a lot bigger and stronger.
How was the hunt? Tink jingled.
"It was okay," Curly mumbled, laying back in his hammock.
"Until Nibs let that squirrel get away!" Tootles said sarcastically.
"Shut up!" Nibs said, throwing a pillow at him. "It was quick!"
"Well, you guys got a fair-sized buck, so don't feel bad, Nibs." I reassured him.
We cooked the food and ate as we always did. The boys were pretty quiet and fell asleep right after supper. I cleaned up with Tink and finally sat down in a chair.
"I need to go somewhere tonight, Tink," I finally said.
Where? She asked.
"Don't get mad, okay?" She nodded. "I'm going to London."
To get Wendy? She asked immediately.
"Yes. You aren't mad are you?" She thought for a moment. Then, she slowly shook her head.
I think you'll finally be happy if she's here. You've seemed miserable ever since she left. She was right. I nodded and stayed silent. You should go, she continued. You shouldn't keep her waiting too long. I smiled and she winked.
"Thanks, Tink." I said, and flew out of the hideout. I smiled as I left Neverland. I was finally going to see my Wendy.
Wendy's POV:
I slipped on my night gown and pulled my hair down. I opened my window and let the cool air brush against my cheeks. I looked up at Big Ben, and at the stars next to it. I dreamed of the things that happened there, and I yearned to go back.
I walked slowly back to my bed and laid down. I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep. But it wasn't too long until my eyes snapped open to the sound of the howling wind. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I once again looked at the stars out of my window.
"Wendy…" I heard a voice say. I rubbed my eyes and looked again.
"W-what?" I stuttered, thinking it was just a dream.
"Wendy." The voice said again, more serious. I stood up quickly and slowly walked to the window. I reached the window sill and looked around. Nothing was there. I closed the window, and rubbed my eyes again. I was just hearing the wind, I told myself.
I turned and jumped back. My heart began to beat faster than ever before. My breathing became uncontrollable for a few seconds, but then calmed down. His red hair hung down close to his eyes under his hat. His hazel eyes were serious, but gentle. Just as they were the last time I'd seen him. He stood facing me, just a few feet away. I tucked my hair behind my ear slowly.
"Peter," I finally whispered. After a few moments he walked towards me. "You're older," I said. He nodded. "How?"
"I have no idea. Wendy, how old are you?" He asked me.
"I just turned eighteen a couple weeks ago," I said.
"Okay," He said, nodding. Before I knew it he pulled me into a tight hug, resting his chin on my shoulder. I didn't move for the first few moments out of shock, but then wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his shoulder.
"I missed you," He said after a couple seconds.
"I missed you too," I said. "Why didn't you ever come back?"
He pulled back but didn't let go of my waist. "I couldn't. I couldn't live with myself knowing I'd let you go," He said. Tears welled up in my eyes but I refused to cry. "We'd better go," He mumbled, letting go of me.
"Where?" I asked, looking at him with concern.
"To Neverland, of course." He said with a smile.