Chapter Three

Wendy awoke late the next morning. Fortunately, it was a weekend day and everybody let her sleep. Thoughts of Peter and their meeting the previous night kept creeping into her mind. She was unsure what it all meant and where she was supposed to go from here. Peter was to return that night. Would they continue to talk about their feelings?

Lying in bed and thinking of these things was starting to weigh on Wendy's nerves. She finally got up and dressed. After washing up, she went to downstairs. The house was unusually quiet for a Saturday. She searched the rooms until she found her mother sitting in the parlor, working on a needlepoint.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Mrs. Darling said, not looking up from her work.

"Where is everyone?" Wendy asked.

"Your father took the boys to the park."

Wendy smiled to herself. Ever since the arrival of the Lost Boys, father had loosened up. Of course, he still had to play the role of disciplinarian, but he could also be a playmate, and join in the boys' games.

"That's good," Wendy said. "Because I wanted to talk to you."

"What about?" Mrs. Darling asked.

"Oh, um…boys. And…things."

Mrs. Darling looked up at her daughter. "About Peter Pan?"

Wendy gave her a curious look. "Why do you ask?"

Mrs. Darling smiled. "You haven't slept through breakfast since you were eleven. Your window was left open. There were flowers on your nightstand. I know he was here."

Wendy came into the parlor and sat down beside her mother. "It was very odd to see him again, but I was so happy that he came to visit."

"It is a bit strange when you see someone that you haven't seen in a long time. You have missed him."

"Terribly. I think he has missed me, too."

"Wendy, what are your feelings for Peter?"

Wendy thought for a moment. "I care deeply for him. I never stopped."

"Oh, my dear. That sounds like a different emotion."

"Love?" Mrs. Darling nodded. "You're right. I do love him. Would it be so terrible for me to love a boy who doesn't want to grow up?"

Mrs. Darling laughed. "Wendy, no man every really grows up."
*

Peter finally had a restful night's sleep, which was something he hadn't had in quite a while. No waking up, screaming and terrified. No cold sweats. No hyperventilating. He did dream, but it wasn't the same.

This time, he was able to reach Wendy. They laughed as they chased each other across the shore of the Lagoon. He held her close as they danced together in the meadow. They lay side by side underneath the forest canopy. Then he gave her a kiss that seemed to go on forever.

When Peter awoke, he found that he had a problem to deal with. The appendage between his legs had grown hard, as it sometimes did when he thought of Wendy. Before the pirates were defeated, Peter and the Lost Boys often spied on them. Peter had seen they what they did in this situation, and the disgusting jokes they made about the act. Peter was not a pirate.

He looked up at the ceiling and recited instructions on how to tie knots. Square knots, slip knots, every knot that he knew. As he did, his body relaxed.

With his problem dealt with and under control, Peter noticed a growl in his stomach. He got up, grabbed his dagger and headed out to find food. He crept through the forest in search of animals to hunt. Suddenly, he heard a voice.

"Stop!"

Peter froze, confused that the voice was somewhere overhead.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Take two steps back and one step right."

Peter obeyed the command. Just then, the one who warned him appeared. Tiger Lilly jumped down from the tree in which she was hiding.

"There is a trap there," she explained. "You almost became my dinner."

"Thanks for the warning," Peter said.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes. Have you caught anything?"

Tiger Lilly shook her head. "I did find some berries. Would you like some?"

"I have nothing to trade you."

"No need to trade. This will be a gift."

With that, Tiger Lilly reached a hand into her bag and produced a handful of berries. She handed them to Peter.

"Thank you," he said and he started to eat.

"You're welcome," she replied. "Are you traveling again tonight?"

"You knew?"

Tiger Lilly smiled. "You have to fly over our camp. Of course I knew. How is Wendy?"

"She's good. It was strange to see her after so long."

Tiger Lilly nodded. "You're going to see her again tonight?"

"Yes. Our meeting last night was very short. We talked for the most part."

"What about?"

Peter sighed heavily. "About our feelings. She asked me if I loved her."

"Do you?"
"Well, that's just the thing. I'm not sure what love is."

"How do you feel about her, then?"

"I care deeply for her. I always have."

Tiger Lilly smiled. "Then you do know what love is."

"That's it? That's what love is?"

"That is the very base of it. It starts there and it grows."

"I've also had dreams about her."

"Ah. That's a good omen."

Just then there was a rustling noise.

"Quickly," Tiger Lilly said. "I've caught something."

Then she took off running as Peter followed close behind.