Chapter Nine

Home Intrusions

Flashback

Peter only just managed to catch her as she fell from the clear blue sky. He had no idea where she'd come from as she fell right past him and he had swoop down and grab her, only missing the ground by a few feet. With her safe in his arms he landed gently onto the forest floor before getting a better look at his catch. She looked bewildered, her blue eyes wide with fright. Her light brown hair was wild and loose with only a blue ribbon tied around her head in an attempt to tame her locks. Her blue dress had ridden up when he's caught her revealing far more leg than was appropriate for such a young lady. Her cheeks flushed as she looked up at his handsome face.

She was without doubt the loveliest creature Pan had ever seen.

'Thank you. You just saved my life.' She breathed. Their eyes locked and they stared at each other

'Could you put me down please?' Peter took a second to register what she'd asked him.

'Oh yeah of course.' He muttered, his cheeks burning. Gently he placed the young girl on her feet. She was much younger than him in appearance and at least two feet smaller than him. Pan decided she couldn't be any older than thirteen.

'I would have fallen to my death if it wasn't for you. How did you do that? Fly I mean? Although I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised after some of things I've seen today.' She rambled on, her hands twisting in the air nervously as she spoke. 'Oh I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Wendy, Moira, Angela Darling. It's nice to meet you.' She stuck out a hand for him to shake. Grinning Peter grabbed her hand and shook it.

'That's an impressively long name Miss. Darling.' He said tilting his head to one side.

'And who might you be? She asked, her hand still securely in his.

'I'm Peter, Peter Pan.' He said proudly. He was slightly disappointed when there was no sign of recognition on her face.

'That's an impressively short name Mr. Pan.' She said gently tugging her hand from his grip. She looked to her left and then to her right as if trying to determine where she was. 'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

'That depends a good deal on where you want to go.' Peter leant against a nearby tree, folding his arms and raised an eyebrow with an intrigued look.

'I don't care where,' Wendy started.

'Then it doesn't matter which way you go.' Peter's smile widened.

Peter had been lost in his thoughts as he climbed the stairs up to his apartment but was startled out of them by the sight of two delivery men shoving a piano through his apartment door.

'What the hell?' He shouted. 'What are you doing?'

'We're delivering a piano to a Mr. Pan, we were told to use the Landlord's key and leave it in the apartment.' One of the guys in a blue uniform and a blue baseball cap told him curtly.

'Who ordered this?' Pan huffed. He had a sneaky suspicion as to who sent him the lavish gift.

'I don't know, we're just the delivery guys.' With that the two men left Pan to deal with the intrusively large instrument sat in the middle of his apartment.

Frustrated Peter stood there staring at it debating where on earth he could put it. He'd only just managed to push it against the far wall when there was a quiet knock on the door he'd left open.

He turned to see Wendy leant against the door. He gestured her to come in. She walked gingerly into the apartment, her eyes scanning the room. Peter watched her as she assessed his little home curiously.

'So this is where you live?' She said shoving her hands into her jean pockets. Peter shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. He wasn't sure he liked having her here.

'Yeah, this is it.' He mumbled. She shuddered and rubbed her arms gently.

'It's cold in here. Why is the window open?' She asked and without thinking she moved to close it. Peter was quick to follow her, his hands quickly covering hers as she went to push the window down. She froze at his touch.

'The window must always be open.' He said. There was an edge to his voice.

'Why?' She breathed. He was too close to her. She was trapped between the window and him and she could feel the warmth of his chest against her back. Peter wasn't sure how to answer.

'It just has to.' He said and stepped away from her. 'So are you here for piano lessons?'

'Yeah.' She found that she missed the warmth of him as he left her. He waved her over to the piano.

'Well come on then.' She smiled at him as he waiting for her impatiently. She crossed the room again and sat next to him at the piano. The lesson itself was enjoyable. Peter missed hearing Wendy's singing voice and insisted on playing the whole song and just have her sing for the last few minutes of her lesson. He was almost sad when it was time for her to leave.

'I'll walk you home.' He said and received a shy 'thank you,' in return.

Peter immediately went to take the stairs but was surprised when Sally went straight to the lift. He raised an eyebrow as she pushed the button.

'What? I'm not going down all those stairs.' She declared. He grinned at her and made his way to her side.

'There isn't that many stairs.' He nudged her gently. The lift doors opened and Peter found himself hesitating. The idea of being in such a small space unnerved him.

'You ok?' She asked frowning slightly in concern.

'Yeah.' He muttered and step inside. Peter jumped slightly as it started to move and didn't realize he'd stopped breathing until the doors opened again. If Sally had noticed then she didn't say anything.

He listened to her talk with mild interest. He didn't care what she said as long as she kept talking. Her voice was soothing to him.

'Do you hear about the John Doe who woke up and disappeared from the hospital?' She asked excitedly.

'No, have they found him?' Peter asked.

'I'm not sure but I hope he's alright.' They arrived at her house sooner than either of them wanted to. Peter stopped uncertain the gate of her front garden.

'So this is where you live huh?' He asked. It looked like a beautiful house from the outside.

'Yeah.' She tucked her hair behind her ear drawing Peter's eyes to the gentle movement. 'Thanks for walking me home.'

'No problem.' He smiled and watched her until she disappeared behind the door.

Flashback

'I wish you wouldn't keep appearing and vanishing so suddenly,' Wendy called out as Peter had appeared silently behind her. He hadn't even landed on the ground yet and was surprised she'd noticed his arrival.

'I don't need you to check up on me.' She didn't turn to face him. Peter flew horizontal, his back facing the ground and he sailed alongside her. He folded his arms behind his head and sat up slightly so he could get a better view of her. She saw the wide grin on his face in the corner of her eye. 'What?' She asked, her lips slowly spreading into a grin of her own.

'I wasn't checking up on you.' He answered. 'I was just wondering how such a young girl who clearly doesn't belong here could be so confident wandering around by herself.'

'Says the flying boy. I don't think you belong here anymore than I do.' She folded her arms and glanced away from him slightly annoyed with him.

Peter's grin faltered. 'There are dangerous people here Wendy.'

'Like you?' The question caught him off guard. She'd been asking about him he realized. He wasn't completely sure how he felt about that.

'Yes like me, but I won't hurt you.' He sounded sincere and she watched his expression carefully.

'So who should I be so terribly afraid of?' She asked curiously. Peter couldn't help but admire her courage and he smiled wickedly at her.

'The Queen.'

Author's Notes.

Hey guys sorry for taking so long to post this chapter, The Walking Dead has recently consumed all my thoughts and I've struggled to focus on anything else. Bethyl has taken over my life!

I really hope you like this chapter and I hope you like the flashbacks, please let me know what you think. I appreciate all your comments and thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far.