Oh god, how long has it been since I updated? WAY TOO LONG. I was just checking this lovely story and noticed that I had over 4000 views! YAY! So I decided it was mean to not update and wrote up the next chapter. I hope you enjoy and aren't too mad at me for not posting for so long. I am starting my second year of university next week, but I will try my best to post more often.

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Peter, Hook, Neverland or any other of Mr. J. M. Barrie's wonderful creations. I do claim Miss Rena Darling, my lovely lost boys and any other characters I make up for this.

Chapter 14: The L word?

It was a beautiful day that day and spending the day at home with Peter and the others was a wonderful change of pace compared to adventurous nights in Neverland. No doubt that we'd be returning to that sooner or later. I wasn't sure how Peter felt about it; I'd imagine that it was rather boring compared to his adventures with the lost boys and pirates, but he seemed to be enjoying himself throughout the day.

We went out around town for a while and Beth came with us, excited to be around Peter Pan. Whenever no one was looking she and Tinker Bell would go play and Peter was really good with entertaining her. Still a kid at heart I guess. And I smiled the whole time, watching them. I actually felt really relaxed, not worrying about the children or Captain Hook, or any other troubles in Neverland or at home.

I couldn't help thinking the whole day about how different my life had become since meeting Peter and travelling to Neverland. I wondered if it would ever be possible to have a life like this; peaceful and carefree like this day was. Could my life even stay like it was in this moment? Was that even possible, to have a life with Peter Pan?

He never wanted to grow up; everyone knew that even if they didn't know he was real. And no matter what, I didn't expect him to change his mind about that because of one girl. His life was in Neverland, which meant never growing up, which for me meant eventually having to lose him, or rather he'd have to lose me, or I'd be subjected to the same fate. Did I really want to stay young forever?

It was an interesting concept, never growing old. Think of all the things you could see, all of the things you could experience. But I think, eventually, you'd get tired of it wouldn't you? Tired of it all, witnessing everything but being on the outside, losing anyone you managed to actually get close to…

How had Peter managed for so long? I thought of the things that must weight down on his mind. He'd lost Wendy, Tiger Lily, even his Lost Boys and he acted as if it didn't bother him a bit, but the only things consistent in his life were Tinker Bell, the pirates, and Neverland. And even those things changed. They changed over time, changed with the changes of the world and Peter had been around for so long, unchanging but for a few years in age. Maybe that was the reason he'd come to London for so long, he wanted to change.

If that was the case, would he ever consider leaving Neverland? Was that actually a possibility or was my mind just wandering and looking too far into things?

I hadn't said anything to him yet, but it wasn't too long ago that he had muttered that he loved me in his sleep. It was sad, the way he'd said it, as if he was dreaming something bad, something he didn't like and those were the only words he could say to try to make it better. At this point would he even remember that dream, had he even remembered it when he woke?

But it begged a more urgent question. If he was really speaking the truth, and he did love me, was it possible that I loved him too? I never really wanted to think about it, about the idea of us being in love. Being in love meant we'd have to make compromises, we'd have to make decisions about what our relationship really was. Would we just keep up this whole thing, going back and forth between my home and his, or would we have to pick one or the other? Could we admit that we loved each other without having to make that decision?

"Rena?"

I looked up from my spot on the grassy hill that I was sitting on with Peter and Beth. It was getting late now and we were sitting behind the orphanage. Beth was practically falling asleep; she'd really tired herself out today.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Are you alright? You kind of spaced out there for a bit."

I laughed lightly. "Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about some things."

"Anything I should know about?"

Shaking my head, I gave him a smile. "Nothing you should concern yourself with, don't worry." I looked down at Beth. "Perhaps we should take her inside."

Peter nodded and we both stood up. I gave Beth a gentle shake to get her out of her half asleep state and she looked up at me tiredly, reaching her arms up in a silent request to be carried inside. Peter bent down and let her place her arms around his neck, picking her up gently and returning to the house. I watched them going ahead, smiling at how sweet it was, before following after. We took her in and put her to bed before going up to my room and sitting on my bed. Peter leaned back, pulling me down to rest on his chest.

"This was nice…" He muttered, closing his eyes.

I smiled again. "Yeah? I was afraid you might be bored…"

"Everyday can't be adventures and pirates, right?"

I lifted myself up a bit to look at his face. "Really? Peter Pan can go a day without an adventure?"

He opened his eyes to look into mine and raised a hand to touch my face. "Every day with you is an adventure."

I couldn't help but smile as my checks flushed. I put my head back on his chest and cuddled into him. "That's cheesy…" I muttered.

He laughed and kissed the top of my head. "Maybe."

I looked over at the window at the warm colored sky, the sun getting close to disappearing. "Are you going to leave soon?"

"Yeah, I can't leave the Lost Boys another day. Will you come?"

"No, I'm tired. This whole day time here, night time there thing is hard on my sleep cycle."

"Okay, well I'll stay until you fall asleep and come back tomorrow night, alright?"

I nodded, leaning up to kiss him goodnight. "Alright. Goodnight Peter."

"Goodnight Rena."

Peter was right, everyday was sort of an adventure. I had to wonder what tomorrow would hold, maybe we'd go visit the natives, maybe mess with the pirates, or just play some games with the lost boys. But everyday couldn't be all fun and games. People have to grow up some time…

Sorry it's not much, but its better than nothing right? I've already got an idea for the next chapter and there wasn't anything else to really put in this one without jumping into the next chapters ideas. Hopefully I'll have something for you soon. So sorry for the wait everyone! Do you still love me?