Peter landed roughly next to a river and stumbled next to it, tears staining his face. He couldn't believe Jackie had said it so loudly. She had practically screamed it at him. Was he bothering her?

Peter sighed and sat back slightly. He loved her. He loved her so much. He would give anything if she would stay with him another day. But, she stated it for him: made sure that it came across. She did not love him. She wanted nothing to do with him. He comforted her when she was sad, and he tried his hardest to make this a fun day for her. He growled as another tear slid down his face.

Stop it, Peter. his conscience told him. You are making it seem as if you have known her forever. Peter obeyed as another thought popped into his head: How long has she known Ryan?

Ugh...Ryan. His stomach boiled and the hairs on his neck raised when the name was mentioned. Peter viewed Ryan as the luckiest boy in the world right then, and his disdain and envy for him was indescribable. He hadn't even met him yet, and Ryan was on the top of his wanted list. Well, if he had one, he would be.

Stop it, Peter. he said to himself again. You are becoming like Hook. Don't fill yourself with hate. Peter moaned and did as his better judgement told him.

He crawled closer to the brook and stared at his face, trying to keep his mind off of Jackie. He saw a poor, saddened boy staring back at him, full of hatred and remorse. Normally, he would scoff at himself and say 'lighten up,' but today was no such day. He was crushed.

He traced the red line of youth across his face with interest. It had been smeared by tears and sweat, but it still stood out against his skin. Then it dawned on him: youth.

It was this very thing that was keeping him from experiencing love. All of his woman companions he has had left him for one reason, and that was to grow up. Any male that he took was more than happy to stay, but it was different with girls.

Girls want to have a family. They desire to have a man to stick up for them, protect them, love them. They are willing to grow old just for that one purpose. A purpose that didn't compute with any boy. And that very rule applied to Peter.

He didn't get it: The Lost Boys could be her children, and Peter could be her husband, the father (only make-believe, of course). Peter knew for certain that he would stick up for Jackie against anyone who dared to oppose her in his prescence. He would give his life before he let any enemy get within three feet of her. And there wasn't a shadow of a doubt that he could give her as much love as she needed. What was he missing?

His eyes drifted to the blue dot on his forhead. That blue would certainly never change to red. The one thing that was impossible for Peter Pan: marriage. Is that the thing that kept him from Jackie, Amy, and Wendy? Not being able to get married?

But Jackie had another reason to return: Ryan. Peter immediately focused on Amy to keep himself from any thoughts he might regret.

But that still left Amy and Wendy. They didn't have boyfriends. Or...did they?

Peter choked back a sob and threw a pebble angrily into the water. He had never felt so alone. He always thought Neverland was his haven, and anyone who didn't reside there with him was simply crazy. But he had never seen it this way before. He almost felt cursed.

Jackie! You can't just leave her there, Peter! he reminded himself. Peter nodded and stood up quickly. He decided he was going to tell her the truth, regardless of what she replied with. She was going to leave him anyway...

Peter floated off of the ground and above the trees, landing easily on the path he had left his secret crush on. He plopped down and scanned the road quickly. But...she wasn't there.

"Jackie?!" he called out. He waited a few seconds. Nothing.

"Jackie, please come here! Look, we need to talk, okay?" he yelled. No response.

"If you are hiding, please stop!" Peter begged. "I need to tell you something!...Jackie! Please, come here!" Peter groaned when no one said anything back. Perhaps she returned to the party.

Peter dashed through the little wooded area and ran smack into Tiger Lily. "Where's Jackie?" he asked impulsively.

"She left with you." Tiger Lily answered. "She hasn't returned. Is she missing? ...were you crying?"

"No!" Peter shouted as he turned away from her and flew to the Underground Home. Maybe she came here.

Peter opened the door and rushed inside, not bothering to close it. He swept through the rooms of the home again and again, calling out pleas and begging her to come to him. But, no such luck.

Peter sat on the couch and buried his head in his hands. Where was she?

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Jackie's eyes peeled open as she groaned loudly. What happened?

She sat up and rubbed her head, only to bang it on something hard. She gasped and fell back onto her pillow. What...pillow?

She glanced upward and surveyed the metal bar. It looked like she was in a bunk bed...

As her mind kicked into overdrive, memories flooded back into her head. Indian party...food...crying...paint...running into the woods...Peter. Jackie felt her eyes sting as she recalled her furious, untrue outburst. She looked to her side, hoping to see Peter by her side, watching over her. But he wasn't there. Instead, she was greeted with another bunk bed across the small, cramped room.

A sudden sway caused her to believe that she was on a ship. She scanned the room for anymore objects. There was a light on the ceiling and a porthole on her wall.

She moaned and sat up, unfortunately slamming her head onto the bar again. But she managed to trip out of her bed and stumble onto the floor. She crawled onto the wall, her curious eyes peering out of her little window. They were sailing away from a large, peaceful-looking island. Jackie recognized it as Neverland.

She gasped. Was she being abducted by someone? Did Peter know she was gone? What if he didn't rescue her because of what she said to him? A tear glazed Jackie's eye as she placed her hand on the bars keeping her from squeezing out of the window. She wanted Peter. She wanted him so badly.

She imagined him swooping into the room, wrapping her in his arms, and kissing him. But her pleasant thoughts were interrupted when someone barged rudely through the door. She jumped and whipped around, her heart pounding in her chest and her heart crying out for Peter's warm embrace.

A scruffy man stood before her, his greasy hair tied back with a ripped cloth. He had a pirate hat atop his head (although it was much more tattered that Tootles's), and he was clothed by a battered trench coat and baggy pants. He smiled evilly at her, his rotten teeth making her sick.

"Who are you?"