Chapter 4
"Jane"
Peter set Melody down on the sand by the beach, laughing. The rest of the Lost Boys were laughing, just as Tink watched Peter and Melody approvingly. In her devious mind she already had the rest of their lives planned out, on Never Land, very much in love with one another. This would all go according to her plan, especially if—
She froze, a thought dawning on her. Oh no. This was unacceptable!
Tinker Bell was suddenly in Peter's face, shouting at him. Everyone stared in surprise, but Peter was the only one who understood her reason for irritation.
*Melody isn't trained! She needs to be taught how to fight someone like Captain Hook before she goes back, or she'll be killed next time!*
Peter held his hands up. "Whoa, Tink, calm down. I get it." Satisfied, she stopped, sitting on a nearby rock. "We'll start immediately, if they're up to it."
Slightly, on his elbows, looked up at him with curiosity. "Up to what, Peter?"
Peter turned his attention to Melody. "Tink says that we should train Melody, so there's no risk of her getting hurt next time."
Melody giggled, "I didn't know Hook could be a threat…ever."
The Lost Boys laughed. Tinker Bell pouted.
"Well, it's not a bad idea," Peter said, after another nasty glare from Tinker Bell. "How about it, Melody? Up for the challenge?"
She pushed herself off the sand and on to her feet. "Sure!"
"Catch."
He tossed her a nearby wooden stick on the floor. Most likely it was some piece of driftwood or piece of broken tree. Melody caught it, just barely, and Peter frowned, realizing just how smart Tink's idea was, now that he saw how inexperienced she was.
Those thoughts all went away with her next words.
"Wonder what my parents and Jane would think if they could see me now," she laughed, freely.
Jane…She didn't just say…She couldn't have just said…but she did!
"Uh." Melody's eyes darted from the staring Lost Boys, to Peter, to Tinker Bell, and back. "Why is everybody looking at me like that?"
The Twins pointed quivering hands to her. "Y-you know J-Jane?"
She felt wary and uncomfortable. "Yes. And?"
Peter darted in front of her, making Melody jump a little in surprise and drop the stick. "How do you know Jane?"
"She's my little sister—"
"WENDY IS YOUR MOM?"
"Who's Wendy?" Melody demanded, getting irritated. "My mother is Ariel, my father is Eric, and Jane is my little sister."
"But…Jane said she had a little brother!" Cubby protested.
Melody frowned, tapping her chin. "Are we talking about the same person here? First off: my little sister has never been away from home. Second: she is only two, and as far as I know, my mother hasn't had another child. Third: my mother is definitely not named Wendy. And, lastly:when was Jane here?"
Peter looked away, crossing his arms. Tinker Bell nudged him, ordering him to give Melody an explanation. He sighed.
"It's a long story."
"I've got time."
She sat down, the boys sitting around her to listen as Peter sat on a boulder, above them.
"A long time ago, I brought this girl named Wendy and her two brothers to Never Land because she told stories about me, and I wanted her and her siblings to stay with us. But she wanted to grow up, and so she left. Then, Hook kidnapped her daughter, Jane, thinking she was Wendy and used her as bait to lure me into a fight. I saved her but she wasn't anything like Wendy. She was too adult-like and serious. She betrayed us by accident, giving me and the Lost Boys over to Hook and nearly killed Tinker Bell." Melody's eyes went wide with disbelief about the girl who shared the same name as her sister. "In the end, she saved us all, and we took her home, and I saw her again with her family, but…" He trailed off, peering closely at her. "That's not your sister, is it?"
Melody shook her head. "My little sister barely knows how to walk and speak, let alone…do all of that."
Peter nodded, "I figured as much."
There was a moment of awkward silence before Melody reached out, touching his hand. "Do you miss them?"
He looked up from the ground. "Miss who?"
"Wendy and Jane. Do you ever miss them?"
Peter rubbed his neck, looking anywhere but at the Lost Boys' curious faces and Melody's passionate one. "Uh…"
Eventually she retracted her touch and he was surprised to feel some part of him missing it. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Melody stood, scooping the stick back up from the ground and twirling it in her hands. "So, we gonna do this or what?"
Peter smiled appreciatively. "Yeah, sure."
The Lost Boys were entertained as Peter taught Melody, move after move. They cheered when every so often she'd cheat, and trip him, stepping away before he could retaliate. It was training in a fun way and Tinker Bell found herself growing…protective of Melody. Though she wasn't very fond of Peter's attention on one girlthat wasn't her. Melody was now his priority, like Wendy and Jane had been to him. Now that she'd brought her, she was going to have to get over herself. It soon became late and Peter and Melody, having more endurance then the smaller children, took them home around nine, as they were yawning too often.
Melody carried Tootles, fast asleep against her, back to the tree. They entered the easier passageways, so as not tire the children, and Melody had the children surrounding her, each with droopy eyes and pretending they could stay awake if they wanted to.
"All right, kiddies. Into bed," she ordered, giggling as Peter nearly fell over on their sudden burst of energy to get them into their comfortable beds.
After being tucked in, they began to doze off when Nibs gave a weak protest, "But…what about our story?"
Peter, sitting on his throne, sat up straighter at this. "Oh, yeah, I almost forgot!"
Melody seemed unsure. "Well…the only stories I know that are worth telling are my mother's and mine, and you've already heard those…"She thought. "What about a lullaby? Is that all right?"
Peter shrugged and the Lost Boys, remembering a certain other lullaby another young lady had sang to them, eagerly nodded their head in anticipation. Peter had a bad memory—it seemed Melody was making him think a lot lately. The last time a lullaby was sung to the Lost Boys, they had all wanted to leave Never Land, and him, behind.
Peter shrugged and the Lost Boys showed no protest. She continued to tuck them in, singing sweetly. None of them were awake enough to really here the lyrics or words to what she sang, but that became unimportant as their eyes drooped and they eventually fell asleep.
She smiled at them, when a small bell noise sounded behind her. Melody turned, and Tinker Bell smiled at her. Melody smiled in return before they both looked over to where Peter had fallen asleep in his throne, peacefully.
"He's hurt."
Tinker Bell, alarmed, zipped over to Peter and inspected him until she heard Melody's quiet giggling. She turned, confused, until Melody regained an understanding look on her face.
"I meant he's hurt in here." She touched her chest, where her heart was. Tink looked on in confusion. "Let's go for a walk and I'll explain."
Tinker Bell knew it wasn't dangerous to be in Never Land at night with a guide, such as herself. Going out alone and lost was just stupid with the unpredictable whether they had on their perfect little island. She doubted they'd go far. Tink led her out; as soon as they were above ground,they climbed a nearby tree that had a perfect view of the full moon.
"Am I right?"
*About what?* Tink responded, looking at her.
By now, Melody had become good at reading Tink's expressions. Though she couldn't actually understand her words, like Peter could, she did get the meaning. "About him being emotionally scarred, am I right?"
Feeling unsure of what to say, she frowned, sitting on a branch higher up so that she was at level with Melody's head. Tinker Bell felt ashamed, liked she'd tattled or told a secret of Peter's. Melody seemed to know that.
"I can tell by the way he looked at me when we first got here." Tink hadn't expected that. She'd thought Melody was too distracted by the Lost Boys to notice. "And by the way he talked about those two girls. He wanted them to stay and he feels like they abandoned him, right?"
Once again she looked to Tink for confirmation and reluctantly, she nodded, admitting defeat.
Melody sighed, "I…I don't know…if I can ever be them."
Tink didn't say anything. There was an uneasy pause, because neither knew what to say.
"I never wanted you to be."
Both girls jumped to their feet in surprise—or in Tink's case, hovering in the air—turning to face the one who'd been spying on them. Peter Pan himself sat hovering in the air, obviously amused at having been able to sneak up on them without them noticing. Seeing this Melody's blushed a deep crimson on her cheeks, giving him a nervous smile.
And, of course, evading the clearly would-be awkward conversation.
"Uh, wow, I'm getting kind of tired, what about you, Tinker Bell?" Melody asked, far too quickly. Peter continued to watch with a smirk. Their small companion nodded her head vigorously, fairy dust coming off in her violent shaking.
Melody jumped to the lower branch, while Tink zoomed beside her, both praying Peter would let this go.
Of course, that wouldn't be like him at all. So he waited for what he knew would happen.
In her hurried descent, Melody was being careless. It was only a matter of time before she—
Melody gave a yelp of surprise as she lost her footing and Tink turned, a fraction of a second later in time to see Melody beginning to fall. But Peter was there instantly, grabbing her in his arms and laughing. Her blush deepened with her weak grin.
"Uh…oops?"
"You could say that," he said, smug still, which worried both of them all the more. He began floating towards the floor, still carrying her, until they reached the ground. Feet firmly planted on the dirt, he set her down gently, but he was now in between them and the entrance to their home. They knew they were doomed to talk to him. "Or, you two could tell me just exactly why you were talking about me when you thought I was asleep."
Realizing he'd heard everything and not just the few, not, vague words in the tree above—even Tinker Bell looked embarrassed rather then just nervous. The girls exchanged knowing glances before Melody sighed, deciding to take the wrap, since she had started it.
"I just wanted to ask Tink a few things about you that I was curious about," she said calmly, though her insides were quivering.
Peter's brow rose. "Then why couldn't you just have asked me?"
"Because sometimes the people closest to you know you better than you do," she said, frowning after a moment. "If that makes sense."
He nodded, "I get it. You think Tink knows me better than anyone, including myself."
"I know she does. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here right now," Melody countered, gaining courage. Peter's smug smile dropped from his face, into a frown. She was right. Darn her for being right!
"Well…yeah," he mumbled, begrudgingly. "But—"
"And I didn't want to make you uncomfortable," she continued, not allowing him to speak. Her face regained that understanding expression again, stepping towards him until they were only a few inches away. "I figured that Jane and Wendy story was a once in a lifetime thing and even the Lost Boys seemed a tad disturbed by your story, like a bad memory. I know what that's like. If I were in your position, I wouldn't want some girl bringing it up just out of curiosity. Get it?"
Peter sighed, "Yeah." He then glanced over her shoulder, at Tinker Bell. "Tink, would you mind going in the house? I thought I saw Tootles getting a little fidgety before I left to follow you two."
All too happy to have an excuse to leave, she shot off, right into the tree, her light and bell's fading with her absence. When they were both sure she was gone, Peter turned back to face Melody, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I appreciate your concern," he stated.
Melody gave a sigh. "But you'd rather have me keep my nose out of your business?"
Peter's eyes widened. "What? No, snoop all you want, just ask me before you ask anyone else, though."
"But—"
"Sure it would've been weird, but I would've told you." He held up a pinky. "Promise."
Melody looked down and had a flashback herself. She was in a pink dress, in a ballroom, and that blond idiot prince had asked her for a dance, holding his hand out to her. She blinked and it was gone, replaced by someone so much different than the prince. Melody looked up into his face, seeing honesty and trust in his face.
She grinned, genuinely, before locking pinkies with him. "Then I intend to do the same with you. Promise."
Peter lifted his arm, so their hands were now at eye-level. "Wanna know a secret?"
She gave a confused but excited look, her head turning slightly. "What?"
He looked around, as if expecting someone to be hiding in the shadows before releasing her hand, leaning in, and touched her forearms to keep her from leaning back. Melody stiffened in surprise as he whispered, quietly, "Tinker Bell is still watching us."
Melody giggled, her hand going to her mouth like always. Peter gave a small laugh himself before motioning for her to shush, which she nodded, and picked her up, darting so they were above the entrance, looking down. He continued to hold her as they waited.
Slowly, a yellow glow came out, peering around. Peter place Melody down silently before shooting forward, catching Tink in his hands and shouting his triumph. She squirmed and pushed but Peter could hold her with two fingers easily, so she definitely wasn't getting out of the grasp of all five. Melody laughed, cheerfully.
This was going to be a good home for her. And with the look Peter gave her, amused and smiling, as he laughed at Tinker Bell's hopeless struggles like the boy he was, she couldn't help but feel safe with him.
Myst: Ok, we are going to try to speed things up so that we can get the tenth chapter up.
Freak: But remember, when you have school and other friends to hang out with and homework, you have to be patient with us.
Myst: We are doing the best we can.
Freak: But we do apologize to those who are in agony to see it.
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