Author's Note: The bookstore mentioned here is from my hometown, but I didn't want to mention the name for fear of, I dunno, legal repercussions. Or something. It's a great little place, I spent a lot of time there when I could. Anyways, I promise there's a rhyme and reason for Illana buying what books she does – I suppose Peter Pan makes sense, but Cosmos will too, later on. The idea of reading Jacob Peter Pan – or teaching him to read it, I'm still on the fence as to whether or not he's literate – came when I was watching a musical version of the play, and . . . well, the lyrics of one song struck a chord, concerning Richard and Jacob both – of never growing up, never growing old, on a magical island where around every corner is another adventure. And a ticking crocodile, who reminds me of Smokey. Sort of. In a strange, roundabout way.

More to come, it's a work-in-progress. :) (Oh, and the faith bit of the title will be explained later, too.)

[Edit: Ta to How Like a Winter, who pointed out that Jacob was reading a Flannery O'Connor book before Locke fell out the window, SO, he's literate. Well, then maybe this is AU or before he could read or... something. But I thought the thanks deserved bold type. :)]


Once, off the Island, Illana and Richard passed by a bookstore walking through a sleepy town in Iowa. Glancing up and down the street - although who'd care in the slightest if they took a detour wasn't clear - they opened the door and went in.

They were greeted with a tinkling bell and a room full of shelves; to their left was a rickety, narrow staircase, leading both up and down to a lower level. Richard stared in awe; he had never seen so many books in one place. In his former life, as he liked to think of it, he'd read only the Bible - but here, here were books of stories, books of different philosophies, such a great collection of knowledge that he scarcely knew where to turn. Illana, however, had a clear purpose in mind. Scanning a sign - an arrow pointing to the lower level, marked "Children's" - she took his hand and led him downstairs.

This room - for it was only that - was much different than the first, and Richard couldn't help but smile. Toys lined the walls and bright murals decorated them. The shelves only reached his hip, and around him, children darted between them, calling to their parents if they found something satisfactory. Along a corner stood a desk, and an older woman sat there, behind a computer, idly turning the pages of what looked to be a book for adults; upon closer inspection, Richard saw it was by a man named Dostoyevsky.

"Don't you like him?" he asked, nudging Illana's hand and nodding to the woman's book.

Illana followed his nod. "Fyodor Dostoyevsky-great man. Great author. You should read him sometime, I think you'd like him, Ricardus - heavy on philosophy, commentary on the human condition, while still spinning a very good tale . . . long books, though - some of them, anyway."

As they approached the desk, the woman looked up. "Can I help you two find something?"

Richard glanced uncertainly at Illana. What were they doing in the children's section of a bookstore?

"I was hoping to see if you carried something," she said.

"Which is?"

"Peter Pan, by . . . J.M. Barrie, I think."

"Ah!" The woman stood up slowly, reaching for a cane. "We have a couple versions - a few down here, which are illustrated, some abridged, and a few upstairs, meant for - well," she winked, "grown-ups. With book club commentaries."

Illana's brow furrowed with thought for a moment, and Richard knew in that instant there was more to this venture than she would tell him. They weren't looking for a book for her - or him. Its recipient was, for the time being, who-knew-where. Or when.

"Do you have something unabridged, but illustrated?"

"Sure do. Right this way…"

With painstaking steps the woman led them to a series of shelves, glancing at the array spread brilliantly in front of them, before turning to Illana. "Would you help me, dear? It's on the bottom shelf and I can't bend down like I used to . . ."

Richard struggled to keep a straight face - it was incredibly awkward to hear anyone call Illana "dear." But the strong-willed, no-nonsense daughter of Jacob didn't seem to mind; ducking her head she let her fingers dance deftly across the spines until –

"Ah!"

She straightened with a book held triumphantly, almost reverently, in one hand.

The old woman smiled broadly. "Find what you needed?"

"Yes, thank you." Illana smiled briefly, and then tilted her head as if struck with a sudden thought, and Richard glanced inquisitively from one woman to the other. "May I ask if you have something else?"

"Sure, dear."

Illana shot Richard a look of I'll explain later, and then, almost breathlessly, asked, "Cosmos – by Carl Sagan?"

The woman's eyes brightened. "That must be a smart kid you've got!"

Richard felt distinctly uncomfortable as clear green eyes shifted from himself to Illana. She thinks we're parents! He gaped, struggling to articulate the thoughts rushing through his mind – No – we're not parents, he's not our son! Clearly Illana sensed his fear and bewilderment, because she put a hand on his shoulder, which was oddly soothing. Like father, like daughter . . .

"He's not our son," explained Illana. "He's – a friend, you see. He missed out on a lot of things growing up, so Ricar—Richard and I are going to, uhm, educate him."

"All the better – illiteracy in adults is such a shame . . ." The woman sighed heavily, then squared her shoulders. "Well! All the better you're looking for a copy of Cosmos – that's a great book. Very beautiful, and mind-altering – daresay life-altering. But – you must already know that, dear? Hm, with the way Sagan writes, you won't even have to explain much, I'm sure. And what you will have to explain – well, you both seem well up to the task!"

"Indeed." Illana smiled, and Richard was again perplexed at her ambiguity to being called "dear." He sighed. Another custom off-Island he had yet to learn, he supposed.

"Anyways, dears, upstairs and by the far wall is the astronomy section. It should be there. If not, ask at the front desk."

"Thank you!" Illana took Richard by the shoulder and waved farewell to the children's bookseller. When they reached the narrow staircase that would take them to the upper level – ground floor, as it were, they heard the woman call after them,

"I hope you find what you're looking for, dears!"