Chapter 1- Peter's POV.

Lying at the mouth of a cave near Mermaid's Lagoon, I sighed heavily, putting my hands behind my head and crossing my ankles. I looked up at the night sky and listened to the sounds of the water splashing against the rocks below. My breathing was the only other sound I could hear. Things weren't right. It was too quiet. I strained my ears, trying to hear the sounds of the Lost Boys causing some sort of trouble off in the distance, but I knew I wouldn't hear anything. The Lost Boys were gone. So were John and Michael. And Wendy. Wendy… They had all decided to stay in London, to be with family. To grow up.

Oh, how he hated that phrase. Growing up. Growing up wasn't going to solve anything. Growing up wasn't going to make you stronger, or improve your fighting. If anything, it would worsen it. Growing up means growing old, and growing old means growing weak. No, growing up never solved anything. So why had Wendy been so eager to grow up, to leave me? Why had the Lost Boys chosen to stay in London instead of coming back with me to fight pirates?

Why didn't I stay?

I shook my head at the stupid thought and sat up, smacking my hand on the rock face. "Why would I want to stay? London could never be Neverland, it would never come close. I'm a lot better off here than I ever would be there."

I had said that to myself over a dozen times a day since I came back, and right after I said it, a small, extremely annoying thought would start nagging at the back of my mind. Neverland has nothing for you now. Everyone is gone. You're alone. "Alone," I said to myself. "I'm not alone. I've got Tink with me." But I knew that wasn't true, either.

A few days after we arrived back from London, Tink decided she wanted to spend some time with her family, considering she had just been brought back to life. So she left, saying she'd be back within the week. I wasted time by wandering the jungle, talking to the mermaids, and exploring the Jolly Rodger, which the fairies had brought back the night the others left. I sat at the helm, wishing Hook were still alive so I could cut off his other hand. When Tink finally did come back, she explained that things were worse than she thought back home, so she wouldn't be coming back for a while. I barely heard her apologies through the nagging voice in my head. Now you're truly alone. No one is here for you. No one will be here for you. You'll suffer the same fate as—

"Peter." Tink's melodic voice pulled me out of my reverie. "I'm sorry I can't stay." She put her tiny hand to my cheek. "But I know you won't stay for long, either."

My brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, Tink?"

She smiled sadly. "Peter you know exactly what I mean. You know your place doesn't lie here anymore."

I shook my head a bit. "Tink, what're you—"

"Peter." She looked me straight in the eye. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about." Her hand dropped from my cheek. "I just hope you make the right decision." Then she turned and flew away, leaving me sitting in our underground home, alone.

I grimaced at the memory. Alone. There was that word again. I stood and looked out over the ocean. The sun had begun to set, painting the clouds above a bright pink, and darkening the sky. The stars began to wake, twinkling brightly behind the wisps of clouds moving slowly towards the horizon. Birds flitted to and fro overhead, calling out to each other. In the distance I heard the faint music of the Indians' drums. See, I thought to myself. I'm not really alone. I frowned and slumped to the ground, folding my hands in my lap. I knew exactly what Tink had meant by her words. I just didn't want to believe they were true.

But I couldn't just up and leave Neverland. It'd been my one true home for as long as I could remember. From what I wanted to remember, at least. I had come to the conclusion, long ago, that I would never leave this place, so long as I live. But now… I didn't know if I could stay. There was a void in my heart that Neverland could never fill. Only one person could: Wendy.

I groaned as I remembered our parting words. "You won't forget me, will you, Peter?" she had asked hesitantly.

I smiled, trying to hide my tears from her. I would NOT let Wendy see me cry. "Me? Forget? Never!"

A solitary tear fell down her cheek as she grinned at me. "You'll come back, won't you?"

I shot a quick glance at Tink, who was motioning for us to leave. I looked back at the girl in the window. That beautiful, headstrong girl who was crying because of me. I made her an empty promise that I knew, at the time, I probably wouldn't keep. "To hear stories… about me!" And with that, I turned and flew towards the second star on the right, letting my tears fall freely. I reprimanded myself, wiping my eyes and thinking, Get a hold of yourself, Pan!

It wasn't until we got back home that I could get my tears under control. Tink had left me, saying she had some business to attend to, but I know it was because she was giving me time to calm down and be alone for a while. I fell asleep thinking of Wendy, thinking of the fun we had in Neverland, thinking of those tears running down her pale cheeks, thinking of her ruby lips upturned in that sad smile…

"Damn it!" I yelled to nothing in particular. I ran my hand through my hair and stood, walking towards my underground home. I went the long way, giving myself more time to think. What if I left? What would I do if I went to London? I'd spend time with the Lost Boys, and John and Michael, and Wendy… Oh, Wendy. I'd have to clean and do chores, which isn't that bad. I'd make it fun, somehow. I'd have to go to school… School. I nearly retched at the word. But I'd go. I'd do anything to spend time with Wendy. I stopped in my tracks. Why had I not come to this realization sooner? Without another thought, I rose into the air and began to fly towards London.

I found the Darling house easily. I crept along the ledge of the nursery room window, being careful not to disturb anything and draw attention outside. I crouched and waited for the children to gather in the room. Five minutes later the door burst open with Lost Boys and John and Michael rushing in. They sat in a circle, awaiting Wendy, no doubt. She was an excellent story teller.

"I can't believe Mother and Father moved Wendy out of the nursery. It's not fair. She hasn't grown up yet," Michael mumbled.

Wendy moved out of the nursery?

"It's perfectly fair, Michael," Slightly began. "She's older than all of us. And her chest is getting round, have you noticed?" He motioned towards his chest.

"I think you're right, Slightly," said John. "Maybe that's why Mother and Father moved her to her own room."

"Why is her chest getting rounder?" Michael asked.

"I don't know," John replied. "I think it's just a thing that happens to girls when they grow up."

Wendy growing up? Sure, I'd been away for at least four or five months, but this was happening way too soon. Wendy couldn't be growing up that fast, surely.

"I sure hope my chest doesn't get round when I grow up," one of the twins remarked. "That would truly be a terrible thing to have. A round chest."

John and Slightly laughed at this remark. I would've joined in but I was worried about Wendy and this growing up business. I couldn't let it happen. Wendy would grow up and go away, leaving me behind and all alone. Again.

I moved away from the window, putting a hand to my chest. An ache had begun to form there, making it hard for me to breathe. I sat on the window ledge and looked out over the city. Fog was working its way through the many buildings and streets below, obscuring my view of the ground. I was just about to look back into the nursery, for I heard John begin a story about Hook and the pirates, when I heard a small sigh come from below. I looked down and saw a girl with dark blond hair leaning out the window. "Wendy," I whispered to myself.

I watched her for a moment, barely breathing, waiting for her to look up and see me there. She never did. Instead, she turned back towards her room and moved away from the window, going inside. A moment later her light went out.

I wanted so badly to see her again, to make her smile and laugh. I wanted to stop her from growing up, from leaving me again. Tears welled up in my eyes at the thought of her leaving. I have to stay here. I have to make sure she stays with me.

I flew down to her window. She had left it open. Was she hoping I would come back? I stepped onto the sill and quietly put my feet on the floor. Wooden floors weren't very silent. I saw that she was just snuffing out the last candle lit in her room. She was beautiful in the candlelight. Her face looked livelier, rosier. Her eyes were dark, making her look a bit mysterious. The light caressed her hair, falling over her golden curls. I'd never seen anything so beautiful in my life.

She put the candle out and began moving towards her bed. I slipped into the shadows, so as not to be seen. I'd probably give her a fright. I stood there waiting for her to fall asleep. When I thought I heard her breathing slowly and deeply, I tip-toed over to the edge of her bed. Her eyes were closed and a small smile donned her face. I smiled in spite of myself and sat on the edge of the bed. She was lovely.

Before I realized what I was doing, I reached out and cupped her cheek in my hand, moving my thumb over her skin. Her eyes popped open. Startled, I fell back and hit the floor with a thump. "Ouch!"

She jumped off the bed and ran over to one of her candles, lighting it quickly. She spoke from the other side of the room. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Surely she hasn't forgotten me.

I stood slowly, rubbing my backside. "It's me, Wendy. It's Peter. Don't you remember me?"

Recognition dawned on her face and her eyes grew wide. "P-peter? Is it truly you?" she whispered.

I took a step towards her. "Yes, Wendy. It's truly me." I grinned at her.

Wendy put her candle on her dresser and ran towards me. She stopped right in front of me. A shaky hand extended towards my face, soft fingertips touched my cheek. She smiled brightly. "Oh, Peter, it is you!" She threw her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly to her.

I wrapped my arms around her and rocked her gently, burying my face at the base of her neck. I didn't ever want to let her go.