The blonde boy lay still on the dirt ground. His body was cold to the touch, causing Wen to shudder as she laid her hands on him. A small tear escaped her eye, but she brushed it away, trying to appear tough in front of the group of boys around her. They all watched the lifeless body, waiting, hoping he would awaken.

Wen slumped to her knees and pressed her ear to his chest. The once hummingbird like heartbeat was long gone. She closed her eyes, and finally allowed a tear to fall and drop onto his chemise. "Good night Peter." She whispered burying her face into his chest as the tears soaked through the fabric of his shirt. How could I let it go this far? She asked herself, tears now streaming from her eyes. It's all my fault! Her fingernails burrowed in her palms as the pain crept its way through her.

A light chime moved through the clustered trees and settled on her shoulder. Wen lifted her head, and looked down at the boy below her. "I can't leave him." She whispered, her voice catching in her throat. The chime came again, this time gently gripping the strands of hair that fell around her face. "Don't you think I know this?" Wen responded, brushing the chiming sound from her shoulder. She looked up from Peter to the bright speck of light, floating only inches from her face. It was about the size of her thumb, and illuminated a bright gold and green glow. Specks of glittery dust fell to the ground, disappearing like snow as it hit the dirt. Wen looked back down at the dampness in the center of his chest from where her tears had fallen. She ran her fingers through his strawberry hair, and kissed his cold cheek. "You're right Tink. You're right."

A rustle came from the brush in front of her. Wen looked up as a dark haired boy entered the small grass area. He slowly removed his cap and pressed it to his chest. His face looked as though he hadn't shaved in a week, and his hair was a matted mess. "Wen, I-"

"Don't." Wen cut him off and stood, carefully stepped around Peter's body and moved to the dark haired boy. Her stomach dropped at the sight of him. "How could you do this? How could you James?" The tears fought at her eyes as her voice quivered. "He was your friend!"

"Was, Wen!" He shouted back so abruptly that Wen jumped out of fear. "He was my friend." He stepped closer to her, reaching towards her in an attempt to take her hand. The stench of alcohol swarmed Wens nose as she firmly placed her fists to her sides. "That friendship ended a long time ago." He continued, as he instead reached out and gently tucked a golden lock of hair behind her ear.

Wen closed her eyes as she looked down and swallowed the lump in her throat, letting the strand of hair fall back in her face. "What happened to you?" She asked, her voice shaking with anger.

James looked down at Peter, and scrunched his nose. "What happened to me?" He looked back at her, a smile dancing on his lips. "I just wish you could see what is really happening, Darling." He grips her chin in his hand and forces her eyes on him. Wen's hands gripped his wrists as she fought against his grip. The boys behind her called out in protection, one raising his sword to James as the others gripped theirs at their sides. "Make any moves boys and my men in these woods take your lives." He threatened, his eyes never leaving Wen's. He bit his lip, looking her top to bottom, her jeans ripped along the side exposing her leg from the hip down. "Soon his spell over you will lift and you will see that I'm the hero here Love. And when that time comes, don't be afraid to knock on my door."

Wen collected all the strength she had, and spit at him. James closed his eyes, as he composed his anger, gently released his grip on her chin and moved his hand to wipe the spit from his lips. He wiped the liquid on his shirt then ran his hand back over his stubble to make sure it was clean. His eyes found hers. "You will understand in time my Love." He put his cap back on, and turned from her disappearing into the forest.

Wen let out a cry, and dropped to the dirt. Each boy around her carefully walked forward and placed a dirt stained hand on her back.

"What's going to happen now?" One boy whispered as he dropped his cap to the ground.

Wen's head snapped up as she searched for the boy who spoke, her eyes falling on Dexter the youngest. She extended her arms and gestured for him to come towards her. As he folded himself in her lap, she placed a kiss on his forehead. "I won't let anything happen to you boys." She replied looking up at the night sky that crept in. "I promise you this."

Five Months before:

Wen rested her head against the cold window and closed her eyes. Her breath trembled as she took in a deep breath, trying to calm her mind of the negative thoughts and stress that clouded her from the hectic day. As a tear fell from her eyes, she sat up and wiped her cheeks, stopping herself from falling into a moment she couldn't afford to be in. She opened her eyes and blinked away the tears as she looked out to the night sky.

Wen glanced down at her phone, the time reading just past one in the morning. She exhaled and reached up to the latch of the window, locking the pane in place. Collecting her phone, she stood from the window bench and crossed the room to her bed. Just as she was about to turn off the light, a small tap came to the window. Wen froze, her hand dropping to her side as a smile stretched across her lips.

"Peter." She turned around to see the smiling boy on the other side of the window, his strawberry blond hair ruffled from the wind. He wore old tan trousers rolled up to his knees and a large V-neck shredded shirt that exposed his toned chest and abdomen. Around his waist was a handcrafted belt that held what appeared a water jug and a knife.

Wen jogged back to the window and unlocked the latch. Peter stepped back on the roof, allowing her to swing the window open. He knelt down on the ledge of the window and looked down at Wen, his smiled glowing. "Evening Wendy." His voice was harsher than usual.

Wen scrunched her nose and took a step back from the window. "Peter, I told you to call me Wen." She smiled up at him, tucking her hands behind her back as she grew nervous. "I thought you weren't going to show up."

Peter stepped into the room, his bare feet squishing into the carpet. "I promised I would be here." He put his hands on his hips and smiled. "I'm just a little late."

Wen walked over the edge of her bed and wrapped her arms around the post. "Tell me about it again." She bit her bottom lip, her eyes dropping to the ground.

Peter reached out and took her hands in his. "Mermaids, fairies, and magic Wen." He whispered enthusiastically. "The island is scattered with large flowers and smells of summer rain all the time."

Wen looked up into his dark brown eyes. "And time stops?" She asked, squeezing his hands back.

Peter nodded. "Time stops for however long you wish it." He raised his eyebrows, waiting for her response. "Come with me Wendy. Come with me to Never Land."

Wen nodded her head and quickly looked around the room. "Okay." She pulled her hands from his and shook them at her side, trying to gather her thoughts. "Okay." She quickly ran to her desk and sat down, rummaging through the drawer and pulling out a notepad.

Peter dashed to her side and looked over her shoulder as she jotted down a couple of words. "What are you doing?" He asked, trying to depict what the words were since it had been a very long time since he last read anything.

"I don't want my parents to worry about me." She whispered, setting down the pen and turning to face him. "This way they know I'm safe." Wen jumped from the chair and crossed the room to her closet. She pulled out a backpack and empties the contents on the floor, then pulled clothing options from the shelves. After packing the bag full, she turned to Peter and took a deep breath. "I'm nervous." She whispered, fighting back tears.

Peter crossed the room and took her hand. "I won't let anything bad happen to you." He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "You're going to love it there."

Wen smiled up and him and nodded her head. "Okay. Let's go."

It had been almost two months since Wen had been pulled into the world of Neverland. She missed the sounds of cars passing by her bedroom window at night, the busy subway and the smell of smoke from mother burning breakfast downstairs. She had never been away from her family for this long, and questioned when she would ever see them again. If she had known she could never go home once she came to Neverland, she would have never opened her bedroom window that night.

The bed she laid on was not much of a bed, but more of a wooden bench, with a pile of leaves that supported her back and head. A blanket Peter had found was just big enough for her to fit under, but too small making Wen worry about winter.

Wen sat up and surveyed the small room for anyone else who might be around. When the coast was clear, she climbed out of the bed, and picked up her jeans from the ground. They were dirty, and now had holes in the knees, but they were one of the few things that reminded her of home. As she buttoned them, a sigh fought at her throat noticing they seemed even bigger on her than the day before. Wen grabbed the vine rope that was draped over the chair and looped it through the hooks of her pants.

The room reminded her of a small New York studio apartment. In the far corner was a self-made fireplace that acted as a stove when needed. Next to it, was a little spout that poured out water from the spring when the string above it was pulled. In the middle of the room was a table Peter had made when he first arrived to Neverland. Carved into the side were the initials "P&J." Wen ran her finger over the grooves and smiled. The floor was made of mud and uneven stones which had now stained the bottoms of her feet an orangey/red color. Wen crossed the tiny room to the far wall and ducked through the small door that opened up to the forest. The small room was built inside a large tree trunk that towered higher than the others around it. Wen closed the door, and latched the lock.

"Looks like you need a bath Wen." Came a voice from above her.

Before Wen could see who it was, a gush of water dropped onto her head, soaking her clothes. "Peter!" She shouted looking up into the sky. The cold spring air created goosebumps along her arms as she shivered.

The strawberry haired boy smiled, hovering above her. His brown eyes were easy to see even though he was so high up.

Wen smiled back and lifted her hand. "Peter get down here."

Peter slowly lowered toward the ground, never once touching a single branch. "Where to today Wen?" He asked, his face only inches from hers.

"I was thinking the spring?" She said, keeping her voice even. "I do need to clean up."

He took her hands in his and lifted her off the ground. "Off to the springs we go." They flew up until they were above the trees, Peter's arm wrapped firmly around Wen's waist. Wen loved flying with Peter. She had always felt safe in his arms even when she was sixty feet off the ground.

Wen looked down at the small body of water known as the springs. A small, but beautiful waterfall cascaded into the body of water which created five separate streams that all flowed into the ocean. Peter lowered themselves onto a large rock into the middle of the springs, and unwrapped his arm.

"Is it just me, or does this place look even more beautiful today?" He asked sitting down on the rock, and looking up at Wen.

Wen shrugged her shoulders, and leaped into the water, splashing Peter. She emerged out of the water, slicking her hair back. She waded around, feeling her pores open and cleanse the dirt from her skin. Once she felt dirt free, she swam back to the rock and pulled herself back up. "Hey Pete?"

"Hmm?" He asked, smiling as she sat across from him.

Wen looked down at her hands, and picked at the broken skin on her palms. "How many days have I been here?"

He was quiet, as he sat up straight and folded his legs. "About 50. Why?"

Wen swallowed back the lump growing in her throat. "I think today is my birthday." She whispered, hoping he didn't hear her.

He did, and his body went stiff. "We don't have birthdays here Wen." He paused and turned his head to look at her. "We don't age here."

Wen looked up at him. "I know. It's just," she looked down at the water. "I would be 18 today. My mother and I would always talk about how we would celebrate my coming of age."

Peter turned his body away from her and dipped his feet into the cold water, his eyes wide. "Wen? Do you not like it here?"

Wen wrapped her arms around his waist, and laid her head on his back. "Don't be silly. I love it here. I just miss my family."

"Don't we all?" Came a voice in the distance. Wen looked up to see James standing along the line of water. The buttons on his shirt stopped just above his waist, exposing his muscular chest as his hand rested on the handle of his sword. "Did I over hear you mentioning it was your birthday?" He asked, kneeling down by the water and poking it with his index finger.

Wen sat up and smiled over at James. "I did!" She shouted.

James smiled and stood straight up. "Well! This calls for a celebration!" He threw his arms into the air and chuckled.

Peter sat straight up and clutched Wens arm. "Fine. We will throw you a birthday party. But just remember, it's just a party to celebrate your birth. Not you turning 18."

"Fine." Wen said, smiling up at him. "Thank you."

"Why don't we have it on the beach?" James asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Peter nodded. "Sounds like a plan. I will take Wen back to her cabin to get ready."

James nodded, but his face changed. "Say, Pete? How did you get on that rock, without getting wet?"

Peter's body stiffened. James didn't know of the fairies on the island and of their magic, nor the fact they had given some to Peter after he saved them. "Faith?" He looked down at Wen. "Trust?" Pixi-dust, he thought to himself.

James nodded, then smiled, pretending to go along with it. "Well, I shall see the two of you later today. Happy birthday Wendy Darling."

"Thank you Captain." She shouted as he disappeared into the tree's.

Peter shook his head. "He's not a Captain."

Wen turned to Peter, ignoring his comment. "Why are you so against me wanting to celebrate being 18?" She asked.

Peter stared pass her at the tree's where James had disappeared. After a long silence, he looked down at her. "I just don't want to lose you." He whispered. "Your dream is to grow up and to have a family. But you can't do that here." He took her hands in his. "I'm afraid you will leave me."

Wen wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face into his chest. "I'm not going anywhere Peter. Not without you and James."

He wrapped his arms around her, and held her close, the cold water on her clothes sending a shiver down his spine. "Never leave." He whispered into her ear.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Never."

Peter leaned down, wanting to press his lips to hers. She was so sweet. He had never felt this way about anyone in his life. The one person he loved, was slowly slipping away from him the longer she was here and not back home with her family.

A loud chime came from behind them. Peter's eyes widened. Before he could do anything, a golden speck of light dashed between them. It flew around Wens head, circling until it landed in her hair. Wen screeched gripping at the back of her head, as she was jerked back, off the rock.

"Wen!" Peter shouted diving in after her. The speck of light hovered just above the water watching the havoc below.

Peter emerged from the water, pulling Wen back onto the rock. She coughed and spit up water as she gasped for air. Peter sat beside her, and looked up at the sparkling light. "Damn it Tink!" He shouted slamming his fists onto the rock. "You can't do that!"

The speck of light made a chiming noise, and flew closer to Peter.

"Stop saying sorry!" He looked down at Wen who now sat up and clutched her chest. "You can't just hurt Wen, and say sorry, hoping it will all be okay!" The chime came again, but Peter cut it off. "Hey! Don't say things like that." Another chime. "Go away Tink!"

Wen touched Peters hand and looked up at him. "Peter, stop." She looked up at the speck of light. "Let's go."

Peter helped her to her feet, and wrapped his arm around her waist. With a gentle push off the rock, they lifted into the air. Peter tightened his arms around her, making sure she wouldn't slip. "I'm sorry." He said, not looking at her. "What a start to your birthday."

Wen giggled. "Did you just say birthday? And not gag?"

Peter shook his head. "Don't push your luck Darling." He joked, pretending to lose his grip. Wen clutched at his arms and squealed. Peter looked out into the distance, lost in thought.