Once upon a time, there's always once upon a time. Even if children grow up, the shadow places remain. And will remain, until there are no children to haunt them. Places like Neverland don't really disappear. And people like Peter Pan don't die.

But, children still grow up, and set the stories aside. Set Peter aside. But whether or not he's believed in, Peter still exists. He waits on the edges, waits for a chance to break through again. He's done this many times. And will continue to break through, to have adventures, until children are no longer gay, innocent, and heartless. So, even then, Peter is still there.

Until children grow up, grow old, and have children. But some children don't stop believing.

Anyone who's watched or read Peter Pan knows he attracted to stories. If you can tell a tale, keep him amused, he'll be your best friend. Especially if you tell stories about him. What can anyone say; he's a self-centered little prig.

But for the only child who never grows up, he's awfully lonely. Lost Boys die or grow up and become pirates (they have to be rather sneaky to grow up. Peter has a tendency to weed out those who he believes are growing up.) Only Peter stays.

Only Peter.

This story begins, as it were, with a story. "And they, if they didn't live happily, did live ever after."

"Why weren't they happy?"

"Because that can't happen. No one can always be happy."

"Please, one more!" cried Gabriel. "Please! Peter Pan!"

"Him? Again?" the storyteller smiled. "Only a beginning, because it's late."

"Lili!" Raphael began to bounce.

"And only if you are quiet, you monsters." Lili crossed the room and opened the window, letting summer air in. "After all, Peter wouldn't want to listen to his own story over two noisy little boys."

"No, he'd slit them from belly button to throat."

She laughed, "You're thinking of Captain Hook. Peter is just... rowdy. He's a... normal boy."

"Tell it!" cried Gabriel.

"Ok! Everyone knows that all children grow up. Except one. Peter Pan. Peter ran away to the Neverland when he was small, because he wanted to stay a boy forever and have adventures."

"Grownups don't have adventures?"

"Not ones little boys would find fun. But Peter had many, many adventured, the greatest, or the one most told was his saving of Wendy and defeating evil Captain Hook."

"Wow."

"But now, his greatest enemy is a buccaneer who calls himself Barbarrossa, Red Beard. The captain is a vicious man, said to be ten times worse than even Hook on a bad day. Barbarrossa captured Tiger Lily, the Princess of the Piccaninny tribe, and her son, Prince Hyacinth."

"What about Peter?"

"Peter is in the branches of the great baobob tree, and had just finished his plans to rescue his allies."

"How?" asked Raphael around a giant yawn.

"That's for tomorrow night."

"Aww... I want to know what happens!" said Gabriel.

"Enough. It's late, and you have school tomorrow. Besides, mum would flip if she knew I told you stories of Peter Pan. So shhh."

"I wish you were Mother. You tell good stories."

"Don't let Mummy hear you! She'll yell, and never let Lili finish!" Raphael pulled his blankets around himself. "Mum thinks stories are evil. Besides, Lili knows Peter!"

Lili laughed, "I do? Imagine that!"

"You do! I saw him."

"Really, don't let Mum find out, she won't let me tell any more stories. Then you'll never find out what happened to Peter." Lili turned out the light, "So, shh."

After the light had gone out, outside the window, a lone figure watched, and then flitted away.

In the hall, Lili ran into her mother. "Oh, Mum!"

"It took you long enough to tuck them in, Lilith." Mrs. Leonhart sniffed.

"Well, you know the boys, always full of questions." Lili smiled. "And please don't call me Lilith."

"It's your name. And you better not have told them those stories. You shouldn't fill their heads with nonsense, Lilith."

"A story won't hurt them before they go to sleep."

"I can't stop you, but if I find out you've breathed one word of your little kidnapping incident, and that hallucination you had, I'll never let you see the boys again."

"Scout's honor, Mummy dearest. Not one word of Peter."

"Do not mention that name in my house!"

In her own room, free from the insanity of her mother's panic about Peter Pan, Lili sighed and opened the window, then sat down at her desk to type.

Outside, the strange figure searched for an open lit window. What appeared to be a mobile star flitted around him. "No, Tink!" he caught the fairy, "Do you want to get swatted?"

At that the fairy jingled, and brushed off some fairy dust on him.

"Well... yes, she was... I think. But even if she was she's grown up by now. And everyone knows grownups don't believe in fairies." He alit on the windowsill, watching the girl within. "But maybe she's not too grownup." When Lili had her back turned, he began to slip in the window. She turned, and he froze, almost standing on the floor.

"Peter Pan?!"

Surprise forgotten, he straightened and put his hands on his hips, in the familiar pose. "Yes!" he looked at her. "Who are you?'

Lili laughed slightly as she answered. "Lilith Leonhart. Lili. Remember?"

"Lili..." he cocked his head to one side."I..."

"You... what?"

"I order you to help me!"

"You certainly haven't changed, Peter."

"Please," he mumbled, "I need... help..."

"You? The great Peter Pan? Need help?"

"Flattery will get you no where." he crossed his arms. "Do you really think I'm great?"

"Yes, Peter I think you're great. Why do you need help?"

"You know how stories go together. And what Barbarrossa is doing, and you're not even in Neverland! I know, I come and listen. And Barbarrossa is doing... something."

"What's he doing?"

"It's hard to describe. Can you come with me?"

She laughed, "Peter, I'm too old... don't waste the fairy dust."

"No! You weren't too old before! You helped before!"

"I don't know..." she knelt before him.

"I don't... know what to do." Peter began to cry.

"Shh." Lili brushed away tears. "Peter, don't cry." with that, he threw himself into he arms.

"He hurl me! He..."

"Hush." Peter pulled back a little bit, and looked at her, his eyes ringed with tears. She sighed, and those large green eyes watched her, full of accusation. Clever boy.

"I can't do it alone..."

"What of the Lost Boys?"

"There are some things they can't help with." he replied coldly.

"Peter, what did he do?"

Peter didn't answer; he just pushed his face into her shoulder. "Peter?"

"I don't remember?"

Lili pushed him away, holding him by his shoulders. He stood stalk still, staring at his feet. At closer glance, Peter was dirtier than normal and his clothing was ragged.

"Peter, you're lying."

He finally looked up, anger flashing in his eyes. "I don't remember."

"Fine."

"Please come with me." he stepped closer, "Pease, think of the stories."

"Peter, my family."

"I need you."

"And I have to think of others now."

"I'm an other. Please!" he started to cry again.

"I thought Peter Pan never cried."

"I don't"

"Ah. It must be raining." She brushed away a tear, and he crossed his arms. "Fine. You won't help. You said you'd always help." as egotistical as Peter was, he certainly knew how to turn people to his favor.

"I can't believe you remember that."

"You promised." unspoken was, a promise. You swore to help us, to help me, if you could. But you grew up. "Grown ups never keep their promises."

"I..." she raked a hand through her hair."I can't break my word, now can I?"

"Not you want to be without honor."

"I'll do what I can. But you have to..."

Peter paled. "I won't! I won't let anyone--"

"Take a bath. Peter Pan, you're so filthy, you leave footprints."

"Oh."

Lili smiled. "In. Now."

Peter slipped into the bathroom right as a knock came at Lili's door.

"Lilith? I heard voices."

Lili opened the door, and her mother stood disapproving in the hall.

"Sorry, I was thinking out loud."

"When are you going to get a real job?"

"I... have a job."

Mother snorted. "While amusing, writing is hardly a real job."

"Says who?" Lili looked over her shoulder. "I really should finish this chapter."

"Really? I'll keep that in mind."

"Good night, Mom." and she shut the door.

Successfully rid of her mother, Lili stood in front of the bathroom door. "This is stupid. It's nothing I haven't seen before." Sighing, she had to admit, ten years is a long time, and she didn't remember Peter seeming so fragile. Or attractive.

Jesus! I sound like a pedophile! It doesn't matter." she knocked on the door. "Peter? I have some old clothes and a towel."

"These clothes aren't pink, are they?" Lili opened the door. Peter sat in waist deep water, clean. At least, for now.

"Me, force you into pink pants? No, I value my life."

His grin gave a glimpse of the old, cocky Peter. "Good, now that I've taken a bath, can we go?"

"I suppose. Where's your little demon?"

"Tink? I think she's around here somewhere..."

"I'll find her. Get dressed."

Tinker Bell, one of many fairies to hold that name, sat on top of Lili's computer.

"Well, aren't you going to do anything? Tink stuck her tongue out and jingled.

"She says she doesn't believe you believe in fairies." Peter walked in, finishing pulling on his t-shirt.

"Aw..."

"You do believe in fairies still, don't you?"

"Believe in them, yes." Peter grinned. "That doesn't mean I like them."

Tink tinkled in a remarkably rude way.

"Tink! You should act like a lady!"

"Please, Peter, she's Tinker Bell, she should mend pots and kettles." Tink made several rude gestures. "So much for sweet flower fairies."

"Tink!"

"Oh, stop yelling, she's just jealous."

"Of what?! You're grown up, and she's five inches tall!"

"I didn't say I knew why."

"I hate women." he crossed his arms.

Tink jingled merrily.

I do not love you!" Lili started to laugh. "Don't laugh at me!"

"Shall we get started? Unless you want to rant about women some more?"

"Fine." Peter caught Tink, and blew fairy dust on Lili. He floated out the window and held out a hand. "Come away."

"I can't stay forever."

"Then stay as long as you can."

"Second to the right and straight on till morning?"

"You know it." Peter smiled. "You will help?"

"I'll try."

The window closed.