And it was with great joy that Wendy got to "keep" her lost boys. As Mr. and Mrs. Darling had said, they were sent to school. And they proceeded to grow up. Wendy found that, though he had been a very evil man, Hook had not been all wrong in his comments regarding growing up. It was a rather messy, unpleasant process. But all got through the process, with their fair share of bumps and bruises along the way, and very few scars, save for Michael, the poor dear, who was still in the throes of it
John was now pursuing after what his father had chosen to do and was a bank clerk, and had an interest in the girl who live in Number 4. Nibs and Curly had ventured into the military, and were diligently serving the King. The two young men were exactly in their element as well, for they still had bits of Neverland within them. Michael was trying very hard to continue believing in Neverland, but found it very difficult, because believing in Neverland is not something one tries at; it just happens. Tootles still loved to hear the stories of Neverland (which Wendy still told with great relish), but no longer really believed in it. He had found himself a job at a bookstore. Tootles was not married, and had no plans of becoming so, therefore his position at the bookstore suited him fine, though the wages were meager, and hardly enough for him to do anything leisurely or extravagant. The twins quickly tired of being lumped together, and found their own separate interests. One became a connoisseur of music, and having picked up several instruments and becoming proficient in many of them, was becoming quite well known in the area for his talents. The other focused on his schooling, and became a lawyer. The firm he worked for was a constant kind, where he knew he wouldn't starve, but also knew that his income would never rival that of his brother's.
Such is where we find the Darling family once again. More or less grown up on the outside, and at various stages of grown up inside.
As Wendy was previously our heroine, and remains the only female descendant of the Darling family, we shall discuss her for the time being.
Wendy had become very much a woman in both mind and body. Her mind dwelled less often on pirates and fairies, and Indians and adventures, and more on the girlish tendencies of romance, and marriage, and children. She did not change completely, mind you, and still adored to tell the boys stories when they would hear them, but the truth was, save for Tootles, none of them wanted to hear her tales any longer. They were too busy growing up, and trying to live the lives of grown ups in the grown up society to trouble themselves with Wendy's fanciful tales.