Chapter 10- Wendy
Right so I was wrong; my internet is not actually working so I wasn't able to update chapter 9 till two days after I finished it. Although then it went off again. Still, at least you can now read it. Wonder how long it will take for me to post this one….?
"I'm…" Claire started taking a deep breath, "the Little Match Girl."
Sabrina eyes widened. She was NOT expecting that….
"B-but how?" Veronica cried and that was the first time Sabrina had ever heard her mother sound unsure. She didn't like it. Her mother's strength made Sabrina feel strong too. Claire smiled, like this question and the answer that was to come, was normal. It was anything but that.
"I had a good life at first. When I turned six my mam died. My father, overcome with depression, needed to let out his pain. He let it out on me. He beat me with a stick and for that I am ashamed to even call him a family member. He abused me badly and threatened to kill me if I told anyone. He even sexually abused me when he was… well… horny. I was so scared, and to make matters worse, I became the 'money maker'. Michael, was his name, would send me out onto the streets every day and make me sell things. If I did well, I was lucky to receive a chunk of bread and something to drink. I would also get no beatings that night. If I did badly, I would starve and be thirsty all night and he would beat me extra hard. I was a very thin, pained child.
"One night he gave me match sticks and chucked me out on the streets. It was time to work. I was out there till all hours of the night trying to sell those matchsticks. I only sold two packs. I was so scared to go home even though it was like any other night, so instead I stayed in the streets. I found an empty alleyway and lay there. I was so cold so I lit a fire. I knew I was going to die that night; I was sick and there was no treatment for it. I didn't have long to live and that made me even more scared. It was called meningitis and had just been discovered at the time. Anyway, I decided to not think about my death, or my freezing, aching body. I thought about the only good thing in my life that was taken away from me; my mam. I wished I could tell her how much she meant to me… and as if by magic, she appeared before me. We shared our true feelings and I hugged her. She disappeared but I felt content with myself that I had talked to her. I didn't even have time to wonder how it happened. I wasn't thinking about it. Then I wished for some food. I was so hungry. Suddenly, before me, was a huge feast of wonderful food. I ate it all and found myself very full afterwards. Then I suddenly felt so tired and I knew this was the end. Before I died I saw the match sticks glowing. I knew they were the reason for the impossible things happening." Claire finished. That still didn't exactly explain anything.
"So, you're… dead?" Granny Relda wondered out loud, "impossible." Henry started scratching his head and Daphne pouted.
"Nuh uh Granny, she's an everafter. She wouldn't die." Daphne explained matter-of-factly. Sabrina held back a laugh. Serious and Daphne did not mix. Claire smiled but shook her finger at the little girl.
"Not true Daphne. Did Red's grandmother survive the accident and live to tell the tale?" Claire asked her. Red whimpered a little bit at the supposed 'Little Match Girl' mentioning her grandmother. Daphne thought for a moment but eventually shook her head.
"No." she answered. She was met with a smile and Daphne grinned back.
"That's right. She's dead." Red whimpered again and Sabrina thought she could hit the little girl. She needed to get over it.
"So how are you still alive?" Sabrina asked the question that everyone had on their minds.
"I guess before I died… I must have wished not to, and instead fell asleep. When I woke up I was in the hospital. Afterwards I was taken to an orphanage and my life started to get better. I was healthy again and without my father. It seemed as if my cuts and bruises had disappeared too… like I was placed in a whole new body. You have no idea how lucky I felt. I lived, you could say, a happy life at the orphanage. My past was slowly forgotten. I grew up and ran my own cake store and was extremely successful.
"One day, a daughter and father came in and it got me thinking about where my dad was now. I decided I would try to find him and see if we could resolve things. I've never been a vengeful person and I just wanted things to be okay. I searched the world trying to find him before realizing it was impossible. Instead I would search for my match sticks. Then I could wish again too. So once again I travelled the world. That's when I met you're uncle. See, I too heard that the Pharaohs had magic and I was searching for it. While I was exploring, I fell and twisted my ankle badly. Problem was, I was lost in the middle of the tunnels and no one would find me. Jake saved me and I wanted to thank him. When he handed me over to the medics and walked away, I followed him and then decided I would come back later to thank him. So I did. I never knew I would fall in love but I did. I have never been happier and I forgot about those matchsticks. That was until; I came here and realized you guys were the Grimm's. I started to search the books for any clues about the matches. That's when Sabrina saw me and she must have suspected something. Later on, when I was in town, she must have spotted me and followed me to the Hudson River… where I met up with Baba Yaga.
"Now don't get me wrong, she scares the hell out of me… but she had a lot of magic. I was wondering if she knew where the match sticks were. But she didn't. That's all I was doing though." Claire finished, her eyes were full of hope. Hope for forgiveness. Hope for help. Hope for… anything. Sabrina felt sorry for her. Claire wasn't lying and her story made sense. There wasn't much in their family journals about the Little Matchstick Girl, so no one really knew for sure if she was lying. Sabrina had a feeling she wasn't though. She believed her. Now she felt bad for accusing the woman. Everyone stared at her in shock. All expect from Uncle Jake. He looked at her in disappointment. Sabrina tasted guilt on her tongue and she didn't like it. This was all her fault.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked so quietly it was almost a whisper. Everyone was silent, waiting, watching, listening. Claire rushed to Uncle Jake's side and took his hands.
"I wanted to, really… I did. I just didn't know how, when, whether you would believe. I was scared you wouldn't want me anymore." Claire whispered, looking into his eyes. Uncle sighed and put a hand to his forehead. He rubbed his temples.
"I don't want to lose you." He said finally, solemnly. Claire laughed.
"Trust me, I'm not going anywhere." She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. She leant in for a kiss and they both passionately kissed each other. Sabrina grinned, despite herself. Granny Relda patted Red's hair. Henry and Veronica shared a loving look. Daphne, of course, inserted her palm into her mouth and chewed. Puck pretended to be sick but smiled anyway. Suddenly a thought popped into Sabrina's mind.
"Wait," Sabrina cried and everyone turned to look at her, even Jake and Claire, who pulled away from each other, "Charming gave us the matches. There were only two left and I used them to save us from underneath the school and find my parents." Claire's eyes fell and she studied the ground. Everyone shifted uncomfortably and eyed each other awkwardly. Just then, Claire lifted her head and grinned happily, like nothing was wrong and her dream of finding the match sticks weren't crushed.
"Wait… you're… happy?" Daphne asked uncertainly. Claire looked at the girl and patted her head.
"As long as they were put to good use I couldn't care. After all, I'm getting a new family anyway." The woman said, looking lovingly at her fiancé. It looked like everything had worked out and Sabrina felt a sigh of relief whoosh past her, and a weight was lifted off of her shoulders. She didn't have to be suspicious, anxious or on-guard anymore. The whole family seemed to have the same expressions as Sabrina. They laughed and joked and smiled.
"I'll make some tea and cookies." Granny Relda beamed and walked in the direction or the kitchen. Red followed her like she always did and so did Daphne, eager to help cook.
"I'll occupy Basil, he's getting tired." Veronica said with a yawn and walked up the stairs.
"I'm quite tired too." Henry smiled sleepily and padded upstairs.
"Tell me everything Jake!" Claire took his hand and Uncle Jake laughed at her. He kissed her cheek and she giggled.
"Sure, only if you tell me everything too." He replied.
"Let's take a walk." Claire winked and led Uncle Jake out the house. It was only Sabrina and Puck left in the room now. They made eye contact at least five times and each time looked away in awkwardness.
"I'm glad everything worked out…" Sabrina said into the deafening silence. Puck glanced over at her and shrugged.
"Yeah I guess. I kind of sensed someone magical in the room but I was just never sure." He said. Sabrina nodded.
"Do you ever sense me?" She wondered out loud. Puck gave her a funny look but Sabrina simply shrugged at him.
"No, why would I?" Puck snorted. Sabrina stuck her tongue out at him.
"Er, because I'm an everafter now?" Sabrina said sarcastically.
"Yes but... you weren't born one and you never grew up with magic or have magic in you." Puck said.
"Oh." Was all she could manage. She wondered what it was like to be a magical creature like Puck. To not be addicted to magic like Daphne. To be everafter-born like Claire. She thought back to her life as a human and thought about how similar it still was now as an everafter, although she just didn't get hurt as easily. And of course the fact that now she could live forever. Sabrina often wondered how quickly it would go by and what she would do in her long life. If she would ever see the world end or a new species be born. If the human race would ever run out. Forever was a very long time… would she forever be alone? What would happen to her family? What would happen to Puck? Sabrina looked over at him and found he was looking at her. She gave him a slight smile.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked. Sabrina wondered why he cared and was about to ask him and opened her mouth, but had second thoughts. She quickly closed her mouth again. Their relationship was fragile at the moment and she didn't want to make it worse. She didn't want to cause an argument.
"How I'm going to live forever." She said softly. There was a silence between them.
"You could always age." Puck said thoughtfully. Sabrina thought for a while.
"Only if my life turns out alright." She replied with a smile. Puck raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean by 'alright'?" Puck smirked. Sabrina debated whether to tell him or not in her mind.
"Love, family, friendship… not being alone." Sabrina said finally.
"You're not alone." Puck sighed. Sabrina rolled her eyes.
"Yes I am." She argued.
"No, you have me." He protested. Sabrina rolled her eyes again and sighed. She looked down.
"You won't be with me forever… you hate me." She said quietly. When she looked back up, she found Puck standing in front of her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Trust me. I'll be there. Wouldn't miss it for the world." Puck grinned. Sabrina held up her pinkie and Puck gave her a funny look.
"Promise?" she whispered. Puck laughed and wrapped his pinkie around hers. They shook their hands.
"Promise." He said quietly. Sabrina let her hand drop down to her side again.
"Does this mean we are… you know… okay again?" Sabrina wondered out loud. Puck nodded.
"Sure," he shrugged, grinning, and Sabrina couldn't help but sigh a sigh of relief, "I can't exactly hate you when I'm saving your butt all the time. Anyway you're a bit of a loner and I pity you, so, since I'm super awesome, I'll be your friend." Puck continued, teasing her. Sabrina huffed and folded her arms.
"At least I have a life. You just fly around here and cause trouble. Pretty boring, huh? I, on the other hand, do have friends and a social life, thank you very much, and my life is pretty amazing." Sabrina said. A pathetic comeback but her head was whirling with the day's events so far and she was tired with a headache. Plus she was going easy on Puck because she didn't want to mess things up again. She really just wanted to grow up actually and try to form a better relationship with Puck. Sabrina wished Puck could do the same but it was best to not get too far ahead of herself.
"Yeah but to be perfectly honest, my life is pretty cool. Admit it. And… you would be dead without me so I play a pretty big part in your supposedly 'amazing' life." Puck stated and Sabrina rolled her eyes. She hated when he was right. Puck, in fact, played a huge part in Sabrina's life… but he could never know that of course!
"You are SO annoying." Sabrina huffed.
"You love me really." Puck teased. Sabrina stuck her tongue out at him.
"Sometimes I tell myself why… but I come up with no answer." She laughed and Puck grinned and stuck his tongue out at her too. Just then there was a loud knock on the door.
"Who could that be?" Sabrina wondered and walked over to the hallway where she went to open the door. She swung it open and was surprised to find a bewildered, wide-eyed, slightly shaking Peter Pan.
"Peter?" she asked anxiously, worried by the shocked, dazed expression on his face. She bit her lip and his head snapped towards her. Peter shot forward and was standing right in front of Sabrina, who was now looking at Pan like he was crazy. He was so close, she could see all his freckles and how his green eyes had flecks of grey in them. Sabrina didn't move though, she didn't even flinch and even though she wanted to push Peter away… she didn't. First she needed to know what was going on. Peter bit his lower lip and held her hands tightly. Sabrina grimaced at the fact that they were sweaty but tried not to notice.
"Peter…?" she said again, panic rising in her throat. Peter looked at her, brows furrowed with beads of sweat lining them. He quickly looked around.
"Sabrina, please help me… she's here. I don't know what to do…" Peter cried. He was scared. What if she did something to him? But he was so sorry and he had sent her all those letters too… he just wanted her to know that even after what he did, after she left him, after all these years, he still loved her. More so than Sabrina.
"Peter, who? Please. You have to tell me if you want me to help you." Sabrina said, looking deep into his eyes and trying to calm him by freeing her hand from his sweaty grasp, and patting him on the back gently. Peter gulped. Maybe it was because she reminded him of her. Maybe he was just lonely. Maybe he was desperate. Either way, he loved her and needed her back.
"Wendy." Just as the single word escaped his lips, all the memories came flooding back to him and he wondered if he would break down. Sabrina stared at him in shock. Now it was time to learn the real story about Peter Pan….
OMG, yes, I know that I am a terrible person and I am so-o-o-o sorry for not updating sooner. It's just been really hectic but I feel so bad. But hate me and not my story. Anyway, this may sound desperate but please review. PLEASE! REVIEW! It's those kind words about someone's work that keeps them going on with their writing because it gives them something to write for! Other fanfic writers will surely agree with me and I know… cheesy. I'm not proud of it but it's true. Till next time… which will hopefully not be next month like this one… xxx