Well, here is chapter 2! Hooray! Thanks to my two reviewers who reviewed on the first chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Peter Pan, but I own Dawn.
Wendy was perched anxiously in a rocking chair, her legs folded under her as she sat on them, peering out the window in the shadows, hoping, wondering, if one of them was Peter. Her fingers played with the frills on her dress. She wore a blue silk gown not quite formal enough to wear anywhere but the Darling house. None the less, it was much different from the nightgown she had dawned when Peter visited last.
Wendy twiddled with her thimble that hung on a silver chain around her neck. She ran her fingers over the small groove that dented into the acorn where it had deflected an arrow shot at her by one of the lost boys. The Darling girl sighed at the thought of her lost boys. They were all grown and had elegant abodes of their own. Ever since that faithful night that Wendy had chosen to leave Neverland and return to her family, after only a few moments after setting foot in her room again, had wanted ever so much to go again. She couldn't help but wonder if the boys had wanted the same thing; or if they had just forgotten about Neverland altogether. When they had called her "mother," and made it clear in their hearts that they wanted nothing more than to be with Wendy, when she had chosen to go home, they had gone with her.
Of course the lovely Mrs. Darling had accepted the wonderful boys into the house when they came in the window with her beloved Wendy, John, and Michael. Mr. Darling had since bred them in the ways of the respectful, wealthy, working man of London.
They come to the Darling residence every once in a while, bearing their manhood well, and gaining the all important respect as part of the Darling family. Despite this however, Wendy has always seen every one of them hold that certain magical glint in their eyes. However small that little hint the Neverland charm may get in there eyes, it is always there. It lingers behind the grown man's eyes, and if one looks closely, one can see the childish glint of everlasting dream that is Neverland.
Everyone who has been in contact with Peter has this… but none can dawn it more passionately, more wonderfully, than Wendy herself. She has not only been touched by the charm of a certain boy, nor is she just simply a part of the story of Neverland and Peter Pan; she has soaked it in, becoming a part of Neverland itself.
John sat propped on his bed, his back resting against the headboard, with a book in his hands. His spectacles rested on the bridge of his nose as he peered down through the lenses reading. The candle on a table near him provided just enough light to illuminate that one corner of the room, rendering the other section pitch dark. Slowly he read through the words, one by one, absorbing them. A smile curved over his lips as he fulfilled his secret craving for pirate stories at this late hour in the night. He read on, trying to still his breath, as the suspense and rich action flowed through the pages.
Had the candle next to John, that sat flickering in the dark, not blown out from a sudden gust of air… he may not have heard the scream that echoed faintly down the hall from the ballroom.
Dawn screeched in a reflex, stumbling backward on the slippery, freshly scrubbed tile of the ballroom. Her hands desperately searched for a grip, only finding a soapy path across the floor. The dark haired maid heard her scream echo through the massive Darling house carrying on through the halls.
She stumbled to her feet hoping that somehow she would have the balance to stay up despite her shaking knees. She kept her fearful gaze trained on the boyish figure standing curiously in front of her in the dim light. Dawn ran through all of the possibilities in her mind of what she could do. By some miraculous train of thought, she chose the most rash of them all.
John sat up straight, a chill shooting through him. Tossing his book to the floor, he dashed out of the room, his feet pounding on the wooden hall floors. The hall was pitch dark, not a single light to guild him. Air brushed past his face as he flew through that hall, and as he ran, he wondered what on earth would cause a woman to scream like that.
John knew Dawn well, but had never heard her scream. Yet, he knew instantly that it was her. The darkness seemed never ending as John ran taking in sharp breaths, heading straight for the ballroom. Finally he reached the two large doors, pressed his palms against them, and flung them open.
Peering around, squinting in the darkness, John spotted the two figures. Two flickering lamps hung lonely on each wall, casting a dim gold color to the vast room. John saw Dawn shaking presumably with pure fear, poised in a defensive stance, her arm outstretched toward a male figure, holding a knife.
John's gaze settled on the figure. The boy stood, his arm also outstretched, toward Dawn. He held a dagger ready to strike. John's entire frame froze in a temporary shock as he recognized the boyish figure. A wide grin spread across his face, and a childish glint shined brighter than ever in his eyes.
"Peter." He realized aloud. Peter flicked his head toward John, his tousled and windblown hair shifting. He smiled mischievously.
"John!" Dawn gasped in relief. Her frame shook as she watched Peter's dagger glint in the dim lamp light.
"Dawn… put down your knife," John commanded.
"But-" she started to protest.
"Put it down." He said again interrupting her. "Trust me," he said. Dawn hesitated, but nodded slowly. She uncurled her sweating fingers from the handle and let it drop to the tile floor. It clanged loudly, bouncing against the wet floor.
Peter did not flinch a bit. He soon had his eyes straight on Dawn again, as she cringed in fear, realizing again, the threat that his dagger posed.
"Peter, please put away your weapon. There is no need for it." John suggested. Peter shook his head.
"She threatened me. She moved first." Peter explained.
"Dawn is not going to hurt you. You must have startled her." John offered. Peter looked Dawn straight in her hazel eyes, watching her carefully. Her dark hair fell in pieces from her bun and beads of nervous sweat trailed down her face.
"Dawn… so that your name, girl?" he asked curiously, cocking his head. Dawn, still trembling, nodded slowly. Peter smiled and sheathed his dagger.
"I am Peter Pan." He said bowing courteously. John walked across the ballroom to Dawn. He put a hand on her shoulder. Dawn stiffened then relaxed slowly, blushing as she eyed his hand on her shoulder.
"John…"Peter suddenly said. "You… you've grown." He commented, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Yes… and quite taller than you I might add." John replied smiling. He walked over to Peter and stood next to him looking down. Peter crossed his arms defiantly and made a "pfft" sound. He glanced up at John.
"That is true... but I can still spit the farthest. Therefore, I am always the leader." Peter quickly made up.
"Of course," John replied, seeing no sense in arguing with the stubborn boy. Dawn watched curiously at the two, wondering what in the world was going on. It was strange really, to see a boy come in through the window, and then strike up a casual conversation with a young man in his night clothes.
Wendy's eyes fluttered open, and she quickly realized that she had dozed off. It was a dreamless doze of course without thoughts of Neverland to fill her mind. Peter was the first thing that entered Wendy's mind as she shook herself awake. She glanced toward the nursery door sensing something. Squinting through the dim light, she felt it. That rush. That wave of pure exhilaration that surged through her body whenever he was near.
"Peter," Wendy concluded aloud. This time she knew that he was here.
Racing down the hall, Wendy stopped and skidded slightly on the wooden floors. In the darkness she placed her palms on the wall searching for a door. Wendy flinched as she made contact with the cool knob. Slowly and carefully she turned it, peering into the unlit room searching for her brother.
"Michael! Michael!" She whispered anxiously. Wendy heard him stir in his bed. A candle flickered to life as he lit it. His dazed face peered sleepily at Wendy in the doorway.
"Wendy? What is it?" he whispered softly.
"Peter…" Wendy whispered. Michael's expression lit up with sheer joy. The now eleven year old sat straight up and smiled widely. Without hesitation he grabbed the candle and zipped to where Wendy was standing at the threshold of his door.
"Where? In the nursery? He came in the window again?" Michael tossed questions carelessly at Wendy as he jumped for joy. Suddenly, just as soon as it came, Michael's jubilant expression disappeared. "He couldn't be here Wendy… the nursery window has been locked ever since father added to the house." He said, thinking aloud.
Soon enough Wendy's smile faded as well as she realized what he meant. "He must think we have forgotten about him…" she muttered sadly. The nursery window has indeed been locked tight since additions to the Darling residence were made. The window that was always open to welcome that boy, had been shut many years, and only now did they realize it. Wendy's heart sank, and she felt so much like crying. If only she were a little child again like Michael. She could cry then… but now, as a near adult she couldn't.
"Don't cry Wendy." Michael murmured patting his sister's hand. Wendy hadn't realized that the tears had come at their own will. Suddenly, Michael's gazed shot down the hall.
"What is it Michael?" Wendy asked following his eyes.
"I was sure that I heard a crash." He replied squinting down the dark hall. Michael scooted around Wendy, slipping into the hall. He burst into a run and took off.
The vase shattered as it collided with the floor in the ballroom, sending an echo through the walls. Peter laughed giddily. "A bit clumsy are we John?" he teased. John looked down at the broken pieces from the air.
Yes, it had already begun. Dawn watched with disbelief etched in her features as she gazed at John fly. "J-John…" she choked out. "How in bloody h-" she started. Dawn quickly covered her mouth in a reflex knowing that a proper maid such as her should not engage in such distasteful language.
"Pixie dust of course!" Peter exclaimed. He zoomed over to Dawn and sat cross-legged in the air near her. Dawn jumped back alarmed. Peter lowered to the ground and extended a hand to her. "My lady," he said charming her. A strange feeling possessed Dawn as she reached out and took Peter's hand. She felt weightless and free, her senses capturing every wonderful feeling of the golden dust that trickled down on her from above. Her hand tingled slightly, sending warmth throughout her body. She never took her eyes off of the mysterious and mischievous boy that just smiled as she stared.
Suddenly, Peter let go. Dawn felt his hand slip effortlessly out of hers and she gasped. She stared in terror down at the floor below her; she was a floating at a dizzying height just near the ballroom ceiling. She began to descend at a faster rate than she would have liked, nearing closer and closer to the hard tile floors. A picture of her crashing into the ground slipped into her mind, causing her to descend even quicker. Dawn shut her eyes, readying for impact.
She cringed reflexively as she landed. She landed not on the hard ground, but instead in someone's arms. Her eyes remained closed tight. "I'm dead. I'm dead." She murmured. Dawn was sure that she had died, and had no way of knowing that someone had caught her at the last moment.
"No, not dead. In fact, very much alive. Although you do look quite pale…" a voice answered. Dawn's eyes fluttered open.
"John…" she gasped. A blush flushed over Dawn's face as she looked up at John's eyes. She silently hoped that he couldn't see her red face in the dim light. John's arms were wrapped tight around Dawn's frame, holding her bridal style.
"You look fine now. I caught you just in time. I do hope that Peter didn't frighten you much. He forgot to tell you to think happy thoughts." John said smiling. Just at that moment Wendy and Michael burst through the doors of the ballroom.
So... how do ya like it so far? Please please review! Thanks.