The kind of game Peter had in mind was the kind that involved tying Wendy up and doing things she couldn't even think about with out blushing. They lay together in the bed afterwards, Wendy examining the marks or her wrists.
"Are you okay?" he asked looking over at her.
"Yes. That was fun. I just... Can't bring myself to believe that I- well that we..." she trailed off and shook her head. He laughed and pulled her to him comfortingly.
"You'll get used to it," he told her.
"What makes you think I'll allow that again?" she asked stubbornly.
"Because you enjoyed it. And because you're mine, remember?"
"I can't talk about this," Wendy said blushing and standing up.
"We don't have to. We'll pretend it never happened if that's what you want."
"It is."
"Okay."
"Okay."
Wendy sighed and sat back down. "I have to go home," she told him uneasily.
"I don't know why you insist on calling that place your home. You don't even like it there," Peter replied moving so he was next to her.
"I'm not having this conversation with you again. Even if we're not getting along right now, they're still my family and I still need to be with them."
"Do you? Or are you just saying that because that you think that's what they want? They're not here!"
Wendy flinched, tears springing to her eyes. She didn't know what, but something about the harsh tone in his voice, the fire in his eyes, well it... It scared her.
"I... I think that they love me. No, I know that they love me. Whereas you- you heartless jerk, think that you have some crazy claim over me. That I will just stay here with you and be your pet forever. But I won't. I can't. We just made up, Peter. Why can't you just let things be?" Wendy asked, losing fire as she spoke.
"If you go, then you might as well not come back." That was it. No apology, no gentle touch, no crack in his shell. Her broken, lost boy had retreated into himself again and she didn't even have the energy to try to pull him out.
"Fine. I won't. I meant what I said about us needing each other, but you insist on fighting it. Me being yours does not mean I do what you say when you say it. When we're... Playing, it's fine. But once it's over I am my own person before anyone else. Even you."
He looked at her. He didn't say anything, but the look on his face made her want to stay forever. Still, she had a point to prove. She was his girlfriend, not a slave. And if he kept this up, she would have to force to herself to give up being that too.
"Come find me when you understand my needs are just as important as yours," she said unhooking her necklace. She kissed him once, leaving her hand on his face a minute longer that necessary, and then left.
Wendy didn't even have the energy to climb back in through the window. She walked in through the front and slammed the door.
"Where were you?" her father asked when he saw her.
"Granny's," she lied automatically shrugging off her coat.
"I didn't see you leave," her mother commented softly.
"Guess you weren't paying attention," she spat storming up the stairs before either of them could react. She walked into her room and threw herself on her bed. Deep down she knew it wasn't fair to take her frustration out on her family, but it felt nice to be mad at someone who would actually react. She just didn't understand! The minute she disagreed with him he turned into exactly the person she'd always thought he wasn't. It was the most frustrating thing in the world. She caught something out of the corner of her eye. She sat up and walked over to the window. It was a dream catcher. She picked it up and saw that there was a note underneath.
"To keep you from the dark corners when I'm not there to protect you," she read aloud. It was so simple, but so thoughtful and so sweet. Tears burned the back of her eyes. Maybe she'd overreacted. She knew he had a dark past, and maybe that meant abandonment issues. It could be that every time she walked out, he felt she wouldn't come back. But she would. Every time. The problem was that he didn't realize that no matter what, she'd always come back.
Wendy sighed. Peter was being completely unfair, but she wasn't being much better. She hung the dream catcher in the window. She'd give him a few days to relent first, but if he didn't give in by Christmas Eve, she'd have to take matters in to her own hands. Satisfied with her plan and completely exhausted, she crawled into bed.