Peter walked past the boys' room, counting each one as he went by.
There were the twins, Thomas graphing something out on paper, and Timothy, pouring liquid into a beaker and swirling it. "Hi Peter," they said, barely looking up from what they were doing. He paused a moment.
"Be good boys," he said.
"We will," said Timothy laughing a little too maniacally for Peter's taste. Michael was tying bed sheets together, for what purpose, Peter had no idea. Curly was bouncing a ball against the wall lazily and Tootles was on his bed, feet up reading a book.
"Since when do you read?" asked Peter.
"Since I discovered books about pirates!" said Tootles excitedly, not looking up from its pages.
"Ah, I see. I'm going to put Janey down. Anyone want to say good night to her?"
"We already did," they chorused.
"Well then, goodnight boys."
Peter went into Jane's Nursery and found Wendy rocking her back and forth, singing. He paused in the doorway and stared at the scene in front of him. He leaned against the doorframe and smiled. His heart ached suddenly, to give them more; more to life than this smoggy city and more than just a nine to five o'clock lifestyle. He wanted for them all of the beauty and adventure that life had to offer them.
Wendy turned and saw him and smiled. He'd grown even more handsome, his hair darkening a little over time, his shoulders broadening even more. And his eyes still held that twinkle. He stood leaning in his trousers, his jacket off and his shirt sleeves rolled up. His vest buttoned tightly over his muscles. Her stomach still quivered when she thought about his naked torso.
She looked up into his face, and hers fell suddenly at the sad look in her husband's eye.
"Peter, darling, what's wrong?"
"Dod, da," said Jane.
They looked at her surprised.
Peter picked her up out of Wendy's arms and held her tightly, his lips squished against her chubby cheek. "She said my name," he whispered incredulously.
Wendy smiled and stood next to him, putting her head on his shoulder, and grasping Jane's arm in her hand.
"Peter, I'm so happy. I love you so much."
"I love you too Wendy," he said meaningfully.
"But you're not happy."
He sighed, and kissed Jane again, setting her down in her crib and gave her a blanket to chew on. She just held it in her hand though, and watched them talking
"I am happy Wendy. I don't know what the matter with me is. I'm just not happy enough for your sakes. I want more for you than living in your parent's house, I want you to feel free, and I want Janey to feel that same freedom."
"I am free Peter, you gave me that choice. But I choose to be with you and live here with you. I'm in love with you, and I'll never stop loving you. But I think you're a little sad for yourself too."
He jerked his head up to look at her.
"It's alright, I know. I came back with you because this is what you wanted and I wanted. But I know it was a hasty decision. You miss Never Land, you miss the freedom it gave you," she said quietly.
"Wendy, I feel so guilty… I…"
"It's alright! I know you love me. But just don't disappear on me," she said tapping his head with her finger. "It doesn't matter where we go or what we do. Just stay with me. In here." She put his hand over her heart.
"Oh Wendy," he breathed, and pulled her into a tight embrace. He kissed her sweet mouth, the feel of them pressed together, giving him more than just pleasure. Wendy was his hope, his security.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.
He began to groan deeply sending shivers down her spine, as his hands traveled down her back over her rear.
They heard a soft coo, and looked over at Jane, standing up and smiling at them while she bounced.
"Never a free moment," said Wendy giggling. Just then the door bell rang, and Wendy looked at Peter puzzled. "Who could that be?" she asked.
"I'm not sure, Lillian is already here. Let the maid get it," he said pulling Wendy back to him, trying to hold onto her as she went to the door.
"You know very well I have to go down and see who it is," she said struggling against his grasp as he kissed her neck. "I'll be right back, you rogue." She ran her finger down his nose and pecked him on the lips, and hurried out of his grasp.
He sighed, and picked up Jane smiling into her little face. "My darling, I hope you'll always know how much your father loves you," he said kissing her cheek. He looked into her face, and was surprised by how seriously she was looking back at him.
She put her hand on his cheek and opened her mouth. "Fly," she said.
His eyes shot open wide. "What?"
"Doddy… fly."
He stared at her not believing what he heard. She looked back into his eyes.
Wendy was surprised to see Annie Merriweather at the door. "Mrs. Merriweather! What are you doing here?" she asked, as the maid took her coat. She gave her a brief hug, and took her umbrella.
"I'm here to see about my employment! Is Curly upstairs?"
"Why yes he is, he's getting ready for bed. Is there something wrong?"
"You tell me. I received notice that my employment had been canceled with your family, and I'm here to speak to George Darling."
"I regret that they're not in right now. I'm so sorry, I'm confused. You said that you were sacked?"
Annie stopped surveying the room wildly, and turned her angry eyes on Wendy.
"Yes. And you're going to tell me you had nothing to do with it!"
"Of course not! I would never suggest anything of the kind!"
The shorter woman evaluated Wendy up and down, and finally relaxed. She smiled. "Wendy, I wonder if I might run up and have a chat with Curly? There must be some misunderstanding that needs to be addressed and corrected. You don't mind?"
"No, not at all," said Wendy.
She began to climb the stairs with her.
"I wondered," said Annie turning around. "I wondered if I might have a cup of tea. I'm completely parched."
"Yes of course. Margaret!" she called. There was no answer. "I wonder if she's in the water closet. I'll just go start the water for you, shall I?"
"Yes thank you." She began to climb the stairs again. "You do that," she said under her breath.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she heard Peter's voice talking to Jane in one of the rooms. She smiled to herself, and walked in.
"Hello Peter," she said quietly.
Peter's heart stopped as he turned to see Annie standing behind him.
"Annie! What the devil are you doing here?"
"I had to clear up this misunderstanding between us Peter," she said sauntering up to him. "I think its all clear to me now though."
"I hope so Annie, it's not going to happen."
"Oh you're right Peter, nothing could ever happen while I was still Curly's tutor. That's why you had Mr. Darling sack me. So we could be together." She put her hand out to try and touch Jane, but Peter jerked his daughter away.
"What?! Annie, you're completely delusional! I'm asking you to leave this house right now. Get out." Jane began to cry at her father's angry tone.
"I know, it's not very convenient to be together when Wendy could walk in on us. Meet me somewhere tonight later? I could be waiting for you at my house. I'll wait in my bed if you'd like."
Peter felt his stomach turn and his head grow heavy with rage.
"I don't know what to do to make you understand! It doesn't matter if it's here, or there, or anywhere in space or time; I will never want to be with you! Get out of this house, and out of my life!"
Annie took a step back and her eyes flashed with a frightening anger. "You won't cast me aside that easily Peter! I'm a woman with feelings! If you won't fight for me, then I'll fight for you!" She came forward to try to grab for Jane, when a bright light burst into the room, and the walls started shaking. The noise was deafening, and Peter tried to shield Jane from the sound.
Annie began to scream.
...
Wendy was downstairs just pouring the water into the teapot when the gas lights began to flicker, and a noise like thunder began to shake the house.
"Earthquake?" she said to herself, and dropped the teapot with a crash. "Jane!" She ran to the staircase as fast as she could go.
...
Peter was feeling himself lifted inexplicably, as if gravity had completely given out. He felt himself being sucked out toward the window, but the truly frightening thing was that Jane was being pulled out of his arms. He tried desperately to hold on to her, but he couldn't see, he couldn't think. He couldn't even feel.
Wendy skittered to the doorway of the nursery just in time to see Peter's body being contorted in a blinding light. They locked eyes for a moment, and then the flash was gone as well as everyone in the room. Wendy felt her scream, but could hear nothing. The nursery was empty, completely empty. Where was Jane? Where was Peter? She felt herself losing consciousness, and then there was darkness.
