AN: Hey guys! So I don't know how many people read this, but I would really love to get some reviews. They make me feel like I'm not just writing for my own benefit. If I get reviews, I want to write for y'all, and there are more frequent updates. Otherwise, I just write whenever I feel so inclined.
Alright. On to the story…
Moira walked down the stairs, Peter in tow. Wendy and Angela had finished the sandwiches and were now watching a Batman movie intensely. Angela adored Batman and owned every cinematic adaptation ever made. Moira laughed before covering her mouth, knowing that violence awaited anyone who interrupted one of her many viewings of the movies. She motioned to Peter to be silent and they sneaked out of the house to mail the letters.
An expression of realization set over Peter's face and he laughed. Moira looked at him in confusion and asked what was so funny.
"When Wendy first asked me where I live, she asked if-"
"If that's what they put on the letters. This is what she meant." Moira gave him a sweet smile. "Do you know how letters and mail work?" Peter shook his head and looked at her, hoping she would explain so his memory of Wendy could live a bit longer. She explained that everyone has an address, a place where they can be found. This address is written on an envelope and the postal service sends all letters with that address to the place. "And that's what Wendy was asking about. When she thought your mother got letters, she was wondering if that was your address."
Peter laughed gaily and flew in the air before hastening back down, knowing he shouldn't be seen. "I've wondered for so long what she was talking about! Now I've figured it out!" Moira quirked an eyebrow at him and shook her head teasingly.
"Oh, the cleverness of you." She laughed and began walking back to the house. She was sad that she would probably never be able to send a letter again. Nothing put a smile on her face more than finding a letter in the mailbox, not even Peter's story. It was a simple pleasure she'd come to cherish, finding pen pals from all over the world that shared her passion. She decided to take some of her favorite letters with her to relive the small joy that each handwritten page brought.
Peter scurried up beside her and laughed, bringing her out of her thoughts again. "Hey, that's what I say." She smiled at him, chuckling lightly and linking her arm in his. They entered the house and sat on the couch between the other two girls and watched the movie a bit. Peter kept asking questions and Angela had given him a few more bruises than he needed, so Moira took him to the kitchen to fix him something to eat. Little did they know that Wendy and Angela had agreed to leave them to their own devices as much as possible to ensure they would get to know each other better. As soon as the two left the living room, the cousins shared a knowing glance and smiled before returning to the movie.
Moira led Peter to the kitchen and he sat in a stool. "Why did Angela keep punching me?"
Moira grinned and explained her obsession with Batman. "It's like me with Pete-you." She rolled her eyes at herself and laughed. "Or, rather your story. It's a bit odd to say I'm obsessed with you, I suppose." She took a bottle of green tea out of the fridge and took a sip from it. "What would you like to eat before we go? And drink?" She took out a pan and cutting board before removing a few chicken breasts from the fridge where she'd put them to thaw that morning.
"I'm not sure. What are you making?" He watched her smooth movements as she took out ingredients and lined them up around her.
"Garlic brown sugar chicken. It's a personal favorite. I promised the girls I would make it for dinner tonight. I'll make more than we need so you can have some if you like it." She turned on the stove and set the frying pan down, allowing it to heat as she chopped garlic and set it in a small bowl. She placed the butter in the hot pan and let it melt on her spoon as she pushed it around slowly. Next, the garlic went in the pan and she browned it carefully. She removed a couple extra chicken breasts and washed them before setting them on a plate. While the garlic and butter mixed, she washed the cutting board and set it in the strainer. After inspecting the frying pan, she decided the garlic was brown enough for the chicken to go in and began adding the chicken breasts. The third one splashed the melted butter on her wrist and she gasped in surprise at the sudden pain. Peter rushed over to see if she was fine, but she held him away until the chicken was all in the pan and covered with a lid.
"No worries, dear. I was just startled. It happens all the time." She wiped off her wrist gingerly before turning it over to show him small pale dots on the underside of her forearm where she'd been burned multiple times by the exact same incident. He frowned and sat back in his stool. She gave him a kind smile and opened the cabinet to take out a glass for him. "You never told me what you'd like to drink, you know."
He shrugged and walked over to the fridge to see what they had. He was enchanted by the multitude of colors and shapes in the cold box, as he was only used to the fruits and berries of Neverland. Moira stepped over and saw his expression, laughing mentally before pointing out the drinks they had. "Green tea, water, soda, grape juice, apple juice, orange juice, milk, sweet tea, and pom juice." Peter looked at the options in confusion and looked at her, unaware of what to choose. "Well, I guess you'll have to try everything then." She left to get some paper cups from the bathroom and brought a small stack back to the kitchen. She lined them up and filled each one half-full with everything they had. She held him the first cup and grinned. "Green tea with mixed berry. My second favorite." He took a sip and grimaced. A chuckle left her throat and she threw the cup away. "It's an acquired taste. Try the soda." It proved too bubbly for Peter and he nearly choked on the foreign texture.
They repeated this process until all the cups were in the trash and he declared his favorite to be sweet tea. Moira grinned and poured more sweet tea in his glass and gave it to him. "That's my absolute favorite. The girls say I'm addicted, but I prefer the term 'intensely and violently passionate about.' It sounds much better." She checked on the chicken and flipped the breasts over so they could cook all the way through. After a few more minutes of idle chat, the chicken was cooked and Moira went back to the stove. She opened the lid and set it in the sink while the steam left the pan. She took the chicken out and set them on the now dry and clean cutting board. Her bowl of brown sugar was moved closer and she began rubbing it into the meat. Peter watched in awe as the sugar glazed and slightly sunk into the chicken as she let it rest. After her five minute timer went off, she took out four plates and put two chicken breasts on each. She set them all around the table with their flatware and called for the girls to come eat. Instantly, scrambling was heard and everyone was sitting at their plates within seconds. Moira made the girls pray before cutting open their food and gulping it down. Peter poked at the chicken, not quite sure if he would like it. Angela cut a piece for him and stabbed it with his fork.
"Eat or I'll eat it for you."
Peter took the fork from her and stuck it in his mouth cautiously. He chewed a bit before his eyes widened and he smiled. "This is delicious!" He picked up the chicken and began tearing off pieces with his mouth, eating in one of the most grotesque ways they had ever seen. Moira grabbed Peter's arm and gave him a death glare before speaking in a dangerously quiet voice.
"Use your knife and fork or you will not eat my cooking." She let go of his arm and watched him, the glare not leaving her face. Angela and Wendy looked down at their food and stifled laughter. They knew better than to eat roughly when Moira cooked. She had little patience for bad manners, no matter who you were. Peter looked at her with fear, not having seen this side of Moira yet. He slowly picked up his utensils and cut a bite clumsily, smiling weakly at her for approval. She quickly replaced her glare with a sweet smile and went back to her food. "Much better, love."
Peter looked at the other girls for an explanation, but with one look from his confused eyes, they burst into laughter. Angela finally regained control and offered no reasoning behind her cousin, but simply told them to finish up. A tilt of her head towards the window made them all look, and everyone took a collective deep breath.
It was dark outside. They needed to leave for Neverland.
AN: Alright, guys! Hope you enjoyed this last chapter of them in the real world. Next chapter will have them all departing for Neverland and will briefly deal with their new surroundings. I don't want to set a review bar because I hate when other authors do that, but I would really appreciate any reviews. If I get more than three, I'll randomly choose one reviewer to have a pirate named after them.