4.

"Back to Never Land?" Wendy repeated, rooted in the spot with shock. "Peter...I...I..." she couldn't speak; it all seemed so preposterous, having him standing in the middle of her bedroom, asking her something like this. As well, it seemed very unreal. I'm dreaming, she told herself sadly, and it's time to wake up. Without looking at Peter, she pinched the skin on her arm and yelped.

"Why'd you do that, Wendy?" he seemed confused.

"I'm dreaming."

"I don't think you are."

"Am I?"

"No. If you are, then I must be dreaming too! But my dreams aren't of me in London; it's you in Never Land!"

Wendy fell silent, staring at his face with shiny eyes. "Peter...are you saying this is real?"

"I'm pretty sure it is."

"So...so you are really asking me to go back to Never Land!"

"Yes, Wendy; so will you?"

There really was no point in asking. "Yes!"

With a joyful yelp, Peter swept her up into his arms once again, swinging her around the room. Her feet weren't touching the ground and neither was his; they were flying, their heads nearly knocking against the ceiling. Wendy tipped her head back and laughed, wishing she could pause time and stay in this moment forever. All too soon, Peter set her back down on her feet, releasing her from his hold and grinning from ear-to-ear.

"So you'll do it? You'll come back!"

"Of course! Oh I've missed Never Land terribly!" the mere thought of going back pleased Wendy greatly.

Peter took her hand, holding it tightly in his. When she looked up at his face, Wendy could see he was serious once again. "It will be dangerous." He warned her, seemingly frightened himself, something she found very unusual.

"Is the great Peter-Pan scared?"

"I'm scared for you, Wendy."

She drew away from him, teasing. "I can take care of myself, Peter; you needn't worry."

"I can't help it; I've seen you fall from great heights too many times to feel you are safe on your own."

"Be that as it may, I'm sure I can handle a few Pirates. I've done so before, if you remember."

Wendy griped the sword in her right hand, sweat beading on her skin. Be not afraid, not now, she told herself. Beside her, John was having no trouble at all spearing Pirates and sending them toppling off the side of the ship. He was crying out in a sort of maniacal voice as he did so. The Lost Boys were equally appeased at killing Pirates. But Wendy was not a killer; she wasn't even one to wound anybody!

"Wendy!"

She turned at the sound of her name, and ducked just as a sword swiped the air where her head had been. A grim looking Pirate cussed, and readied himself for a battle. "I don't want to fight you!" Wendy pleaded, shaking her head and staring, confused at her sword. "I don't even know how to use one of these!"

"Then this should be easy!" he lunged, and again, Wendy moved out of his way.

"Stop that! You're going to hurt me!"

"Isn't that the point?"

"Why you dirty-rotten-man!" without a second's hesitation, Wendy jutted out her sword and poked him in the arm.

He gripped his upper arm, blood seeping between his fingers. Sidetracked, the Pirate dropped his sword and Wendy managed to kick it off the side of the ship before he could retrieve it. She held her own sword right under his neck, and glared down at him as he cowered on the ship floor. "Care to admit defeat?" Wendy asked, giving his neck a tiny prod with the sword; soft enough as to not draw blood, but hard enough to make him yelp.

"Yes! Yes! I surrender!"

Peter shuddered at the memory. "That reminds me; you need to learn how to use a sword! I can't keep worrying about you while I'm fighting! At least I'll have the peace of mind knowing you know the proper way to duel a person."

"So you'll teach me?" Wendy asked excitedly.

"As long as you come back to Never Land with me."

She smiled, nodding, but it slowly began to vanish when she realized, "Peter, I can't fly." Wendy noticed that he wasn't wearing the usual pouch of fairy-dust around his neck, and since he'd arrived, she's also failed to spot Tinker Bell.

"Right..." Peter looked down at his chest, as if expecting to see his pouch. "I suppose I forgot my dust."

"Well, where's Tinker Bell?"

He gave her a grim look. "The Pirate's captured her on our way here; they almost got me as well."

"Peter that's terrible!"

"Tink can take care of herself, but I'm worried that someone might say something."

"Say what?"

"You know, about fairies?"

"Oh!" Wendy nodded knowingly. She remembered having to save Tinker Bell, after someone had said, "There's no such thing as Fairies."

"Is she going to be okay?" Wendy whispered, staring at the tiny, limp body of the fairy. Beside her, Peter, the Lost Boys, and John and Michael were huddled over Tinker Bell. Peter looked at Wendy and she could see the hurt washing over his face.

"I...I don't know."

"Well what do we do?"

"...I don't know!" Peter bowed his head over Tinker Bell and began to cry.

Wendy couldn't stand the sight of him, admitting defeat. So, with a heavy look at Tink, she began to chant. "I do believe in Fairies...I do believe in Fairies...I do believe in Fairies...-"

"What are you doing?" John whispered.

Wendy looked at him, motioning for him to join. "I DO believe in Fairies!"

John quizzically exchanged glances with Michael, but he was already chanting with Wendy. "I do believe in fairies!"

The Lost Boys joined in, their voices louder than the rest. "I DO BELIEVE IN FAIRIES!"

"I do...I do..." Peter lifted his head slowly, his tear-streaked face looking right at Wendy.

"I do believe in Fairies," she shouted, smiling up at the sky, "I do! I do!"

And then, right before her very eyes, Wendy watched as Tinker Bell twitched, and her light flickered... "Tinker Bell?" Peter stopped chanting to stoop down and stare at his friend. "Tink come on! We believe in Fairies!"

Tinker Bell opened her eyes, and looked up sleepily at them all. Then she smiled.

"Wait." Wendy took a deep breath, shaking her head. "How do I know that Never Land was real?"

Peter didn't answer right away; he released her hand from his, walking around to her backside. Unexpectedly, he lifted up the hem of her tee-shirt, revealing her bare back to the night's cool air. "Peter!" Wendy exclaimed, unsure what to do. Ignoring her, Peter lifted her shirt up right to her neck, and then said quietly,

"Did it hurt?"

"Did what hurt?" she was still in shock, and unable to follow his train of thought.

"This, this cut." His finger tip traced against her back, sending electricity down her spine.

"I..."

"If I had known a Pirate was cutting you with their sword, I would have stopped whatever I was doing and taken the cut for you."

Now she remembered, and knew what he was talking about. "It's just a cut, Peter."

"Yes, but I can't stand seeing you in pain."

"Do you think I like seeing you in pain?"

Peter set her shirt back down, moving away from her with a small, mischievous smile. "You've never gotten the chance; I'm far too good of a sword-fighter for a single Pirate to even touch me." From her seat on the ground, Wendy stared at him, just to take in the image of a boy she'd once almost forgotten. Every inch of him was as if her dream, be it real of not, was coming rushing back to her. Peter stared back, and then dropped to his knees beside her. "You know, Wendy, I really missed you when you left."

"I missed you, too." As she spoke, Wendy felt foolish tears welling in her eyes. "I missed you so much."

"Well," Peter stood up slowly, holding out his hand for Wendy's. "Let's go! The boys will be anxiously waiting my return!"

"But wait!" she looked to where her brothers were still soundly sleeping. "What about them?"

"Do you want them to come?"

Wendy considered that, remembering Michael's teacher scolding him, and John coming home with a black eye... Maybe it was better if they didn't get any further thoughts of Never Land into their minds. "No, they should stay." She murmured, wishing that they could join her. She knew how much they both missed their adventures, and it hurt her terribly, knowing that she was the one holding them back. But this was better for them.

"Alright." Peter took her hand in his, and pulled her gently towards the open window. He stopped, and lifted her into his arms. Wendy closed her eyes shut, leaning her head against Peter's shoulder. "Hold on tight." He whispered in her ear, his warm breath tickling her skin. "We'll be there soon." Without another word, Peter jumped out of the window, and for the second time in her life, Wendy was flying.