Author's Note: My apologies for the delay in posting. I had the story written but I never typed it up. I will be leaving June 12 for basic traing though so once that day hit, I wont be updating for awhile. I will however crank out as many chapters as I can before then.
Special Thanks
FeatherGirl13: Thanks so much and sorry about the typo in the last chapter it was supposed to be Miss Darling and it is Wendy
Flame Rising: I appreciate all reviews but maybe next time you decide to send a flame you will give me some kind of way to improve upon the story. If you didnt like it in the first place, maybe you should have stopped reading it?
Come Fly With Me
There is Still Hope
Kaytel's words echoed in Miss. Darling's head, briefly reminding her of another time and another place. She studied the spirited girl before her as she listened to Mistress Winthrop's smug reply, "Oh, I won't have to make you. Time will do that for you all on its own. I can however help speed the process along. You are thirteen now and nobody adopts a thirteen year old. This is your last week in that room with the rest of the girls so you best hurry up and get your goodbyes over with. Then you will be moved to the maid's quarters and you will work there until you can find employment elsewhere. You may not WANT to grow up, but grow up you shall. Nobody can remain a child forever. And you are no exception." She finished harshly.
Kaytel's eyes took on an almost emotionless, blank look as she slowly withdrew into herself. It was true, she DID have to grow up. No matter how much she might wish it otherwise. She was to be moved away from all the other girls in a week's time. She would be made to get a job, like an adult, and she would be all alone. There would be no time for her late night adventures as the Deadly Blade or any other make-believe. Her lower lip trembled slightly as she fought valiantly for control over the telltale tears that were perilously close to brimming over and betraying her. Her world of pretend mixed with slight reality was crashing down around her head and nobody in the room seemed to care enough to notice something so unimportant.
Miss Darling DID notice though. Looking into Kaytel's bleak face brought her back once more to that other time and place. A young boy had worn that same expression as an adult, that was not unlike Mistress Winthrop shattered his happiness like a rock would a mirror. She had been able to smooth that look away then however and she longed to do the same for this young girl that reminded her so keenly of the boy she had never forgotten, "Mistress Winthrop, might I borrow this girl for the day? She would be of great use to me."
Frustrated that she hadn't been able to give Kaytel the paddling she felt that the girl deserved, she reluctantly agreed, "Very well, just see to it that she is back before sunset."
"Of course, I wouldn't dream of further imposing on you after all you have allowed me to do around here. You can be sure that my family's donation will reflect my appreciation of your hospitality and tolerance."
Mistress Winthrop smiled just a bit greedily, "Your generosity to me and my humble establishment will not be forgotten, I assure you."
On that note, Miss Darling and Kaytel made their hasty retreat outside to the waiting carriage. The younger of the two had remained silent the whole time, still making pathetic and seemingly useless attempts at piecing her shattered world back together again.
Miss Darling finally broke the silence once the both settled into the elegant carriage, "She is wrong you know." her heart almost broke when her gaze met the hopeless, lost one of the girl sitting across from her.
"About what?" Kaytel asked, trying to pretend as if her world hadn't been torn to pieces.
"About growing up. There ARE exceptions. As a matter of fact, I know of quite a few boys who will stay young forever and always have fun."
Glue and tape introduced itself into her shattered world as she asked hopefully, "Really? You're not funnin' me?"
"I would never do something so dreadful. Now, from what I hear, you are quite the storyteller."
"What has the got to do with anything?"
"Well, I would like to tell you the story of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. You see, they live in a place called Neverland, and that is where you never grow up. Peter always loved to hear stories, and I happened to be quite the storyteller myself back when I was young. He loved my stories so much, that he took me away to Neverland. Maybe one day, he may fly by YOUR window and hear a story he loves and take you to Neverland."
A million questions ran through her head and, before she forgot any of them, she blurted them out, "Where is Neverland? Why did you come back? He could FLY? How? What's it like in Neverland? Did YOU fly? What'd it feel like?" Just like that, Kaytel shoved the words of the Winthrop into the Back of her mind. But they were still there of course.
Miss Darling laughed, "Well I can tell you all that I can remember," her eyes took on a slightly bewildered look and her brow furrowed.
"Well? What is Neverland like?" Kaytel asked, leaning forward eagerly, the last traces of despair wiped clear of her eyes.
"I'm sorry... it's strange but... I have forgotten what it's like. I cant recall a single thing about it... I have forgotten Neverland." The last part was said on a whisper.
Kaytel sighed, the expression on her face a mix between pity and disappointment, "Maybe because you're a grown up now?" She paused for a moment, "Does that mean you can't tell me ANYthing?" she then demanded.
"No, not at all. I can still tell you about Peter Pan and the Lost Boys," the carriage, which had started moving as soon as the sat down, now came to a halt, "here we are at Kensington Gardens."
"Why are we stopping here?" Kaytel asked curiously.
"This is where Peter Pan's adventure began," Miss Darling explained as they climbed out of the carriage and headed for a bench that was shaded by a weeping willow tree. Kaytel nodded as if to show that she thought it made perfect sense. Once seated, Miss Darling began to speak once more, "Now, before we begin, I would like you to call me Wendy and I shall call you Kaytel. Is that okay?"
"Oh, you may call me Kayt if you wish. I allow all of the girls in my room of the orphanage to do so," was her imperious response.
Wendy's eyes sparkled as she barely contained her laughter, "Well then, Kayt, are you ready to hear the story?"
"Of course I'm ready! I've been ready since you first told me about him in the carriage." Kaytel said impatiently as she plopped down onto the fresh, soft, green grass and stared expectantly up at Wendy.
It had been a long time since Wendy had been in control of such a captive audience. Feeling as if she had gotten a piece of her childhood back, she began in her best storytelling voice, "Peter Pan did not always live in Neverland. He started out a normal boy just like everyone else. He had a nice home and a loving family. He had a nice big playroom and a lot of toys to fill it. He was one of the happiest, most content boys around. Until he came downstairs one night and heard his parents making plans for his future. Soon, he would go to school, they would send him to the office to learn by his father's side after that, then, he would get a job of his own. He would be a man. Peter did not like what they were saying at all. He didn't want to grow up; he wanted to be a boy forever. He ran out the door without a backward glance. He ran from the future and from responsibility. He didn't stop until he reached this very spot right here. It was here that a small faerie by the name of Tinkerbell found Peter crying and took him away to a place you never had to grow up, never had to get a job, and always got to have fun and go on adventures."
"Neverland, right?" Kayt interrupted.
"Yes, you are right Kayt," Wendy smiled and continued her story of how Peter came for her and her brothers. To both Wendy's and Kayt's pleasure, she was able to recall her final adventure in Neverland before she, Michael, and John returned home. "I truly loved Peter and had the adventure of a lifetime."
"But you left Neverland and Peter Pan," Kayt pointed out what she believed was the biggest mistake of a lifetime and it was clearly written on her face.
"Yes, I did. It was the best choice for me. Peter wasn't ready for complicated emotions then and I wasn't ready to leave my family behind. Besides, if I would have stayed, I never would have met Andrew Richardson, my fiancee."
"Wait, so you're telling me that you gave up all the adventures you could ask for and flying for a fiancee?!?" she demanded incredulously.
"Yes, I did," she answered once again with a contented smile.
"You would catch me doing something so... ridiculous. I would've stayed," Kayt grabbed up two sticks, tossing one to Wendy, "En garde!" she shouted, holding up her "sword".
Laughing aloud, Wendy leapt to her feet, "You will never beat me, you're just a kid!," she declared in her best pirate voice.
"I will beat beat you because I'm a kid," she grinned cockily.
Wendy's "sword" collided with the girl's that reminded her so much of Peter Pan. When Kayt finally managed to disarm her, Wendy relented, "Fine, Fine, you win, I surrender. You are a very skilled and worthy opponent." she bowed slightly at the waist.
Flashing a quick smile, Kayt gave what she considered a great compliment, "You sure don't act as grown up and old as you say you are."
"Well, thanks I guess," she smiled wryly, "But we have been out for longer than I had anticipated. I better get you back to the orphanage."
"Yes," Kayt reluctantly agreed, "is is getting rather late and the girls will be waiting for their story before bedtime." They hurried to the carraige and climbed in, "Perhaps I shall tell them of Peter Pan and Pirates tonight." The carriage swayed into motion as it took the two passengers within it's warmth back to the orphanage and Kaytel back to reality.
Kaytel leaped out of the carriage before it lurched to a stop, giving the poor coachman a small heart attack, "Thank you Wendy! Maybe next time I can tell you one of my real adventures." she called over her shoulder as she raced into the orphanage, eager to entertain her audience with a new and fantastic story.
Wendy sat back in her seat and smiled. There was new hope in that young girl's eyes and she had put it there. There was no doubt about it. Peter had a knack for finding good storytellers. Peter would come for her. And Kaytel would go. She would stay too. There didn't seem to be anyone to whom she had an attachment. "As for me, I will go home to where Andrew is waiting to take me to see a play."
"Kaytel, where have you been? We were so worried." Amy's concerned voice greeted her as she entered the room and closed the door quietly behind her.
"I'll tell you later, for now, I have a story to tell." came the excited reply.
"Oh, do we get to hear the new adventure of the deadly Blade?" the youngest of the girls asked as she lifted her arms up reaching for Kayt to pick her up.
"Maybe for some other time. I have a different story for tonight. With pirates and flying boys!" Kaytel exclaimed as she lifted the girl into the air and spun her around.
At the mention of pirates and flying boys, the children gathered around in short order to hear the tale. Moving about the room in her rendition of the story, she put on a fine show then put all the kids to bed. Including Amy, who had been so tired that she fell asleep before she could ask questions.
This left Kaytel all alone. Like she soon would be on a regular basis. Slowly crossing over to the window seat, she sat down and pushed the window open and gazed up at the stars. Alone. Like she had been when her mother died, leaving her to wander the streets in search of a mother that wasn't ever coming back Her lower lip trembled and she bit down on it to still it. Slowly though, one by one, the tears began to make silent trails down her cheeks, falling unheeded onto her hands which rested in her lap.
"Girl, why are you crying?"