Chapter 2: An Awfully Big Adventure

"'All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, 'Oh, why can't you remain like this forever!' This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.'" A young woman with light brown hair and blue eyes read from the book in her hands, pausing as she cast a glance at her eager audience consisting of children in the Children's Hospital. A nurse interrupted before she continued.

"Excuse me, Miss. We received a call from the other hospital and your father is awake and asking for you."

"I'll be right there, thank you."

The children started to complain that she was leaving, but quieted down when she promised to come early the next night and stay longer. Once they were satisfied, she got up and left the ward. She traveled through the halls with a sense of familiarity, greeting nurses and patients she passed in the halls. Most knew her by name. She walked out the doors and hailed a cab, getting in and giving the cabbie the address for the hospital her father was staying at. She remained silent after, lost in her own thoughts. It didn't take her long to reach where she was going. She paused in the doorway, silently watching the man in the bed.

James Darling was ill, very ill. The cancer had appeared so suddenly and by the time they had spotted it, it was too late, there was nothing they could do to save him. They had offered him treatement, to at least give him a few more months, but he had refused. He knew his time was up. He had been a handsome man, but the illness had ravaged his body, leaving his skin sallow and sunken, hair lank and body weak, but his spirit still shined bright through his eyes. He looked to be at peace, a worn book in his hands. One would say that he was hopeful about mending, but she knew better. He was dying and it was going to happen tonight, James having clearly made peace. Why else would his machines be off and disconnected from him?

Wendy sighed and made her way in, slipping off her shoes before she climbed onto the bed next to him, tucking herself under his arm, her head on his shoulder, just like when she was a little girl. She didn't say anything and neither did he. They didn't need to. They had said everything that needed to be said long before this. They didn't want to mar this last memory with tears.

An hour later, James Darling passed from this life, leaving his daughter alone in the world. His soul too journeyed to Neverland, becoming a star, like all those who had come before him.

Wendy didn't cry as they wheeled his body away. It wasn't him anymore, just an empty shell that once housed her father's wonderful soul. She hoped, wherever he was, he was happy. She went back to her home, the Darling house in Bloomsbury. Nana the Fourth greeted her, licking her hand and accepting the hug Wendy bestowed on her.

Nana may have just been a dog, but she knew that Wendy was hurting deeply and the Master wasn't coming home again. She let out a mournful whine, putting a paw on Wendy's back. She stuck close to Wendy through the night, faithfully following her as Wendy wandered the empty house.

It felt so different, without her father here on the earth anymore, knowing that he wasn't going to come home anymore. She came to a stop in the old nursery, the same nursery her great great grandmother Wendy had met Peter Pan. She climbed onto the window seat, staring up at the heavens. She could just make out the second star to the right and sighed. She drew a chain out from her blouse and played with the charms. One was a silver thimble, a kiss Wendy had given to Peter, an acorn with a hole in it, Peter's kiss that had saved Wendy's life and finally, a small vial filled with golden glitter. Her father had said it was Pixie Dust, some he had gotten years ago when he flew to Neverland.

Wendy recalled that it had glowed brightly in her childhood, but as she grew up and stopped believing in the stories, the glow had dimmed. She brushed it off as being a child who believed anything and continued to stare out the window. She eventually fell asleep there, not knowing her life was going to change.

Off the shores of Neverland on the deck of the Jolly Roger, Captain James Hook peered through his telescope as a golden light streaked across the sky and became a star, joining a small cluster of stars. He knew what it meant and his plan was ready to put into action. "Mr. Smee, pipe up the crew!"

Smee did as he was told and piped up the crew, every mate assembling on deck.

"The time has come for us to put the plan into action, boys! To your stations!"

The streets were quiet, people snug in their beds, dreaming the night away. So, no one saw the massive frigate looming out of the fog, hovering over the Darling home. Everyone was at ease, apart from Nana, who lifted her head from her slumber, sensing something was wrong. She got up and went over to Wendy, nudging her arm until the young woman awoke.

"Alright, Nana, alright." Wendy yawned, getting up and walking out of the room to let Nana outside and change into her pajamas. She came back and changed into a pair of capri mint green pajama pants and a black tank top, throwing her hair into a braid and then left to brush her teeth.

Hook gazed out over London. It was much quieter than the last time he and his crew had been there. Had their war finally finished? His ship stopped above a house he had known once before. He could see Jane Darling moving within the hallway of the open door. She had grown to look much like Wendy before her.

His crew stood ready, awaiting orders to go inside the house and capture their target.

"Await my orders," he commanded, waiting for her to leave the area. Once he knew that it was clear, he slipped his hook through and undid the latch. He crept inside and hid himself away.

Wendy went downstairs and let Nana in, putting her in the kitchen for the night. She got some water and went back upstairs, heading for her room. She paused in the nursery, noticing that the window was open. She frowned as she walked inside the room, setting her water down as she went to the window. She could have sworn it was closed when she went downstairs. Shrugging it off as being tired and the wind blowing it open, she kneeled on the window seat and pulled the window shut, latching it for good measure. She froze after a moment, realizing with dread that there was no wind blowing, and couldn't possibly have blown it open, not if it was latched. Something was very wrong. She stiffened as she heard something behind her and turned her head slightly, looking over her shoulder. She was wishing she hadn't left Nana downstairs, her heart beating wildly in her chest.

"Hello Jane," Hook said.

Wendy didn't take the time to reflect on his meaning as something struck the back of her head and she fell to the ground, completely unconscious.

It was no small matter for one of his crew to hoist her limp form over his shoulder. "What should we do with her Cap'n? Put her in the brig?"

"No, have her chained up in my quarters," he answered, "Despite our history, I will still be a generous host."

The pirate did as he was bid and chained the girl up in Hook's cabin, tossing her with little gentleness onto the bed.

The crew scrambled about, preparing to sail off to Neverland. They were soon airborne and sailed through the air towards the second star to the right.

Throughout all this, Wendy lay unaware, unknowing of her destiny that awaited her.