So chapter 2 everyone. Hopefully, this one is longer than the first.
Read and review!
Enjoy!
The woman opened her arms wide and the boy folded himself into her kind embrace.
"Please, please. Do come inside," she said, as the boy nodded.
The woman ushered him into the small building. It was warmed by the two ovens in the kitchen even though the seating area facing the street was fairly empty, except for a few women chatting amiably by the window.
The old woman led the boy up the stairs to a small room above the bakery. She gestured to the multiple small cots lying around. "Please. Make yourself at home."
"Thank you," the boy said gratefully, but did not sit down. "But I really came here to see if you could tell me what this says."
She took the slip of parchment from the boy's outstretched hand and squinted down at the faded ink. "I'm sorry but my eyesight isn't what it used to be."
The boy's shoulders slumped in defeat as he reached out to take the parchment back.
"But my daughter should be home soon. She should be able to help you."
They sat in silence for half an hour until the door downstairs slammed open and a shrill voice carried throughout the building. "Mother! Why are you not down here helping to support this family?!"
"Louisa, It would be best to mind your manners. We have a guest."
A dark head of hair appeared at the top of the stairwell, followed by the beautiful face of a middle-aged woman. Her clear blue eyes and high cheekbones were overshadowed by a harsh scowl and many frown lines from too many years of anger.
"Stop staring boy," Louisa snapped in a clipped, accented voice. "What is he doing here, mother. You agreed..."
"I know," her mother said quietly, holding her hand up to stop her daughter's tirade. "He came to me. He asked me to read this."
The woman handed her daughter the slip of paper as the boy watched on longingly. Louisa glanced at the words, then at the boy standing in front fo her. "My children are downstairs waiting for me."
"I will attend to them. But you must promise me one thing: you will tell the boy...truthfully...what is written on this parchment. "The woman lowered her voice so the boy could not overhear. "No matter what stories or rumors are attached to him; the boy has a right to know."
Louisa gave a curt nod and her mother nodded back and descended the stairs down to look after her grandchildren.
"Please, Louisa," the boy pleaded. "I only wish to know what is there. I promise that once I do, I will leave you in peace and never bother you again. But I have to know."
Louisa sighed, "A name is what is written here. Your name. Do you know why we never gave you a name of your own when you stayed with us?"
He shook his head as she continued. "Because some people have great power within them and must first learn to understand who they are before they can live up to their name. While you were with us, my mother saw a great deal of magic in you. WE thought that if your parents hadn't given you a name, it was not our place to bestow one upon you. Why did you never show this to us before?"
"I didn't think it was that important."
"Bah!" Louisa admonished. "You foolish boy! You didn't have the sense to be honest with us after all we did for you! After we welcomed you into our home!"
"Please!" The boy begged, tears streaming from his eyes. "What is my name? I have to know."
"Peter Pan."
Please review! I hope you like what I'm doing with Pan b/c I, personally, wanted to give him a better back-story than the one OUaT gave him.
Lost Girl out! :-)