Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1
A/N: Added scene coming up. And thanks to those reviewing!
As night fell Alex and I left our hiding spot. We had to be especially careful because neither one of us knew what happened at the Nevertree at this time. The movie always switched to a suicidal Captain Hook. We walked around the basketball court a few times, stretching our cramped legs. I walked over to the graffiti-covered wall where anti-pirate sentiments had been…expressed. I reached up to trace where Rufio's name had been written. I vaguely heard Alex telling me to hide and her feet scrambling away to do just that, but I wasn't paying attention. Until I felt a sword being pressed into my back, that is.
"Who are you? Did Hook send you?" I knew who it was without even turning around. My heart sank a bit as I realized he thought of me as a grown-up. I forced a smile into my voice none-the-less.
"I'm Lily. Hook didn't send me. No one did." I could sense his uncertainty as Rufio lowered the sword, giving me time to turn around. The sword came back up as his eyes met mine.
"You're a girl. We don't need a mother. Leave." My heart sank farther. I brushed the sword aside.
"Who says I'm here to be your mother?" Rufio looked uncertain again, and I was surprised at his reaction. He'd always seemed so confident. "I'm not a Wendy. And neither is Alex over there, either." At that Rufio put the Pan sword away. He seemed to be trusting me, if a little reluctantly. He offered his hand and I took it. He took me by surprise and twisted my arm behind my back. I really should have known. But I had one more idea.
"I know why you hate him, Rufio."
"Hate who?" His voice was cautious and he gripped my arm harder. I could see Alex out of the corner of my eye looking panicked.
"Peter. He forgot about you and the other Lost Boys, didn't he?" Rufio let go of my arm and turned me around to face him. I noticed he was taller than me but it wasn't really a surprise; almost everyone is.
"How did you know that?"
"He forgets everyone, eventually. Even his Wendy." My green eyes looked into his dark ones. I knew my eyes had mischief in them. "But that won't happen with you, will it? You don't have a Wendy, and you don't need one. Do you, Pan?" I mock bowed to him, keeping my eyes locked on his. He smiled and mock bowed back.
"Would you like to be a Lost Girl?" I smiled, and it seemed to be the only answer he needed. Rufio walked past me, on his way to dinner I assumed. Alex crept out from her spot, grabbing my shoulder as I started to walk after Rufio.
"What do you think you're doing? You're messing with cosmic forces here! Not to mention copyrights!" she said in a forced whisper.
"Oh, you mean the cosmic forces that put us here? Well, said cosmic forces don't seem happy with something! Small details are already off; this is supposed to happen, Alex!" I replied. "Now come one!" I said, grabbing her arm and dragging her with me after Rufio. We stopped when we reached the table; I don't think either of us had realized just how many Lost Boys there actually were. The long table was filled with food; any kind you could imagine and more. I found a seat between Pockets and Too Small, across from Rufio. I knew Peter would be sitting there tomorrow night. Alex found a seat between Ace and Don't Ask. Rufio clasped his hands together and bowed his head.
"Everybody say 'grace'." Everyone simultaneously said 'grace' and started reaching for food, Alex and I included. Pockets leaned over to me with a steaming roll.
"Could you blow on this for me?" I smiled and gently blew the steam off the roll for him. He took a large bite and nodded in thanks. I ruffled his hair and reached for a goblet, filling it with poe-poe; I'd always wanted to try it. It turned out to be a very sweet kind of milk. I nearly choked on it. Too Small patted my back and Rufio started to get up.
"I'm fine. Just wasn't expecting the taste is all." Now that I knew what to expect I managed to drink half a goblet straight. It felt right, sitting here among the Lost Boys like I really belonged, more so than at school. I had the sinking suspicion that it couldn't last. I was determined to make the most of it while I could. Alex seemed to be enjoying herself too.
When the youngest boys, including Pockets, Latchboy, and Too Small got tired I volunteered to help Ace put them to bed. With Too Small in my arms and Latchboy stumbling along in front of me I followed Ace, who was carrying Pockets, up various ladders and across platforms. He stopped in front of a tent-like house and pointed at Latchboy. I set Too Small down on the platform carefully and followed Latchboy into the small house, tucking him in and blowing out his lamp. I ducked out again and picked Too Small back up. I followed Ace a little further to another tent-like house with feathers on the outside. The door was small and I had to crawl through with Too Small still in my arms. Setting him down in a nest of blankets and pillows I turned to blow out his light. Under the impression he was asleep I turned to crawl back out the door. Apparently I was wrong.
"Are you here to be our mother?" he asked me in a voice heavy with sleep.
"No. I don't know how to be a mother. I could be your sister if you want though."
Too Small nodded as I crawled out of his house. There was an empty square house nearby and I chose that one for myself. Alex had found one a couple branches over; she waved good-night to me as she blew out her lamp. I lay on my stomach looking out at Neverland moons for a while before blowing out my own lamp.
My dreams weren't very restful, however pleasant my surroundings were. I kept seeing the final battle. Over and over my mind replayed it, and I couldn't seem to wake up. When I finally managed to I was in a cold sweat, my curls sticking to my face and my t-shirt to my back. I moved out of my house to sit on a platform nearby, my legs swinging over the edge. I started to hum a lullaby and before long found myself softly singing the words along to it in order to comfort myself.
"Oh, hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o'er the combers, looks downward to find us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.
Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow,
Oh, weary we flippering curl at thy ease.
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging seas."
"That was a nice song. What's it called?" I hadn't noticed Tinkerbelle on a branch near me until then. I continued looking out at the stars as I answered her.
"The White Seal Lullaby. It's from the Jungle Books, by Rudyard Kipling. My mother used to sing it to me until I was seven." I sighed, looking up. My eyes caught a flash of red and black above me. "Then I taught it to myself." I looked back at the pixie. I was expecting more questions, and I was right to.
"Why are you here?" she asked. I looked up again as I thought of how to answer her. The red and black I had seen a moment ago was gone. I smiled, going into Science Fiction Fan-girl mode.
"Cosmic forces beyond our control have placed Alex and I here. Said forces are…dissatisfied…with how a few things are supposed to happen. We're here to change those things. At least, that's what we think; cosmic forces just kinda put you places and don't tell you anything. Bit annoying, really." She laughed, nodding, and flew off. I went back into my house and lay down, eventually falling into a dreamless sleep.
A/N: 'The White Seal Lullaby' is an actual lullaby that I love. It is both a lullaby and a poem.
Thanks for reading! Please tell me what you think.
Redie