Chapter twenty- The Return to Neverland.
Wendy crept through the house with utmost anticipation. It was hard to navigate the modest country house without a light. With her breath held, she hoped the stairs wouldn't squeak. It would be quite hard to explain to the Depurets what she was doing so late at night dressed in her day clothes and carrying her suitcase.
They would naturally assume the worst; she was running away. Which of course was true, but she had to find Nana. Now that her family was reduced to her siblings and carer, she would do what she needed to keep them together. With an affirming nod to steady her emotions, which were fluttering as if a swarm of butterflies had been released inside her stomach, she continued down to the bottom of the stairs.
She glanced nervously behind her for sounds of movement, but her brothers were silent with their decent. She was most nervous about Michael, but he had seemed to have grown up so quickly in these short weeks, struggling to carry his suitcase, but gritting his teeth in determination. He had already told off John and Wendy for trying to help him as he wanted to start doing things on his own.
John was solemn as he glanced down to look at Wendy, following Michael quickly. His expression was unreadable as his eyes quickly returned to the stairs in front of him.
The Darling children made their way across the floor passing the hearth of the fire, the last pieces of wood reduced to a glowing ember, providing a soft light for them to see. Their shadows halted over the glow when John motioned for their attention. They quickly huddled together for the discussion of what was to come next.
"We should leave a note" John whispered.
Wendy nodded. The children, resembling meercats the way they poked their heads up, looked for a source of pen and paper. Michael found one of Anita's books resting on the armchair while John found Lawrence's pen misplaced on the side table. They motioned Wendy over who took both things and started writing in the front page of the book.
"We will leave it in an obvious place. Maybe sitting open on the dining table would be the best idea." Wendy whispered. After her note was placed gently, they once again made way for the outside door.
John approached the door and quietly turned the handle, squeaking softly as it spun. The children took a collective breath and turned around with hunched shoulders, the situation being quite humorous had their freedom not been resting on this course of action, listening for sounds.
A rustling noise came from the second story and after a moment it was assumed someone was turning in their sleep. The children breathed out as John kept turning the door handle. The door opened softly as John opened it painfully slow, the children were wondering if they would be standing here until morning. The door finally opened wide enough for them to step out into the cold night without a sound.
As John closed the door just as slow as he opened it, he murmured "Now to find Nana, is she around the back of the yard?"
Wendy and Michael shrugged as they looked around for Nana. Leaving their suitcases at the front door, packed with their own personal items and the clothes they had been given, they trudged around to the back of the house to see Nana in her kennel, tied with a rope.
"John can you please untie Nana while I keep Michael and myself out of the candlelight?" Wendy asked.
The Darling children stood still as Wendy realised the full extent of her question. Her eyes widened as the glow made its way through the loungeroom, just visible over the window ledges.
"Move." John panicked as they quickly moved to the side of the house, pressing themselves flat again the brickwork. Nana peered up at the children, having finally woken from sudden movement and barked at the children.
The children motioned to her for silence. The candlelight flickered over to the window and Anita's voice called out "Quiet Nana, it is just me."
Anita moved back into the kitchen, to make one of her late-night Hot Chocolates for her Bad Dreams. As she was doing so, her thoughts drifted towards the children. They had been mumbling in their sleep as of late and she was deeply concerned. She had written to St Mary Abbots Hospital and even though they had responded, she had not the strength to reply back. She only wanted what was best for the children, but their talking's about Neverland was infiltrating their dreams.
It was perfectly acceptable for children of Michaels age to have a vivid imagination, but to the extent where all the children were involved was beginning to grow too much on her conscience. As supportive as she was, and even though the children had gone through quite a big change, Lawrence had promised on their behalf that they would look after the children and provide what is best for them, for their parents.
As Anita was stuck in her thoughts boiling water over a dying fire, she didn't notice a pair of blue eyes watching her every move.
Wendy held her breath for longer than what seemed possible as the candlelight slowly faded away. It was lucky that Anita didn't look too closely outside otherwise the whole expedition would have failed. She slowly turned and peeked above the window ledge to see where Anita was. As her eyes followed Anita across the rooms, she relayed all she was seeing to her brothers and let them know it was finally safe to untie Nana.
John held his hand up to Michael who wanted to come with him, motioning to stay put. Walking across the small yard would need to be efficient and John prided himself on being just that. He scampered over with hunched shoulders, keeping as small as possible, until he reached Nana's kennel. She was very much awake now and was eagerly awaiting attention from the family.
John quickly untied the rope knot on the kennel to make a rope leash, giving Nana some room to move whilst being under his direction. He gave her a hug then walked back to Wendy and Michael so they could grab their suitcases and find a secluded area.
Wendy looked back at the house for a moment, reflecting on all that had been and the love they had been shown by the Depurets. She hoped she had conveyed appreciation enough on their goodbye letter.
She turned when a gentle hand was put on her shoulder, John was standing next to her with the same look in his eyes. He could never truly understand what she was feeling, but he was just as conflicted. Regardless if they stayed here or went back to Neverland, he knew they would all be lost, but at least time was paused and they always had the option to go home, whereas if they stayed and grew up the opportunity would have been missed.
John was determined, more than ever, to protect his siblings. Especially Wendy from Peter Pan. It would be over his grave that he would let Wendy be hurt again and had every intention of telling Peter that. He would not run from family problems; he would confront them like a gentleman. John adjusted his father's tie and a newfound confidence consumed him. He was the gentleman of the family now and he had to provide for his siblings.
Johns train of thought was disturbed as a small hand grasped his free one. He looked down to see Michael looking into his eyes, upset yet hopeful at what the future would bring them. Michael was learning to cherish each day, so you never miss the opportunity to tell your mother how your first day of school was.
Michael was growing up fast (as Wendy had correctly observed), beginning to understand his brother and sister's actions while coming to terms that his mother and father were not coming home. His family had changed (in his opinion not for the better) and he had to quickly adjust. Grief had been painful and consuming, but he had constant affection from Wendy and Anita, while John was giving him "gentleman lessons" as a way of coping. The children had done what they always had done, supporting each other through the good and bad.
He turned as Wendy put her hand in his, looking down with a grim smile. The children walked with Nana under the cover of night until they were well and truly out of sight.
Anita was consuming her Hot Chocolate for Bad Dreams when she noticed a book spread open on the dining table. Shuffling into a comfortable position on the armchair, she dismissed it at first, as she thought one of the children may have left it out. After a few sips of her warm beverage, she could feel the dreams of George and Mary slipping away. She sunk lower into her chair and placed her arms on the arm rests. She sat up with a puzzled expression, her book wasn't here. She frowned as she stood up and walked over to the dining table, assuming it was her book and wondering when she had put it there.
As she walked over, the firelight almost out, she could see an unfamiliar scrawl over the cover page of her book. She ran to her candle to bring it back, illuminating the words on the page. Upon reading the words, she screamed for Lawrence to wake up.
The children had walked a fair distance from their temporary home, but the piercing scream of Anita still found their ears.
"That was quick" John exclaimed "we have to go now."
Wendy and Michael nodded as they pulled out their own handful of fairy dust from Johns top hat. It was now or never. The fairy dust glowed in the light and sparkled with familiarity. Michael sprinkled it over his head followed by John then Wendy. John used the remaining dust all over Nana. The children started to rise as Nana did too, ecstatic and petrified all at once for what waited ahead.
The frantic calls of Anita and Lawrence could be heard faintly in the distance. The children looked at each other and giggled, finding themselves in a situation weirder than they could imagine as John pulled Nana's lead gently to get her to follow him. They started rising higher into the cold night sky, stars glimmering all around them. As they rose above, the faint outlines of Anita and Lawrence could be seen, wrapped up in their warmest coats, scarves and gloves as they searched desperately in candlelight.