Author Note: Oh my gosh, can you believe it's almost the end? When I first started writing this story, this chapter was planned to be the final chapter, but then I tweaked some things and decided to end it differently. It's been a tough call, deciding who Jenna would end up with and how exactly her life would unfold.

As I said before, there will be thirty chapters total. And then, of course, I'm planning out a sequel… but more about that later. In the meantime, thank you all so much for reviewing. Chapter 28 was a tough chapter to write, although one of my favorites, and I was glad to know that you enjoyed it.


Chapter Twenty-Nine

"And what's your name?" Jenna asked cheerfully.

The younger girl smiled shyly as she set her book down on the table in front of her. "It's Sadie," she told her. "S-A-D-I-E."

Jenna returned the smile as she turned to the inside cover of the book. "To Sadie-" she read aloud as she wrote, " – may all of your dreams come true. Yours, Jenna Parker." She handed the book back to the girl. "Here you go… enjoy!"

The girl thanked Jenna timidly, then raced to her mother as the two left the bookstore.

"I think that was the last of them," Allie told Jenna, grinning. "So, Jen – survive your first book signing?"

Jenna laughed. Five years had passed since her return from Neverland, and the experience had been the basis for her new book – Adventures in Neverland –which was finally released a few days ago. At nearly twenty years old, she knew that becoming a published author so young was a huge accomplishment.

"How's our lovely writer doing?" Elizabeth Parker asked as she and Daniel made their way over.

"Hanging in there, kiddo?" Daniel inquired with a grin.

"My hand's beginning to hurt from all those autographs," Jenna joked, "but I think I'll survive."

"Glad to hear it." Her father squeezed her hand. "We're proud of you."

"Thank you," Jenna said, having waited for those words for a long time now. Writing this book had been her dream for years; she had wanted to become an author her whole life, and now the accomplishment was all her own.

"Well, Little Miss Eventual J.K. Rowling," Elizabeth joked, interrupting Jenna in the middle of her thoughts, "your father and I are going back to the house. Come back home when you're ready?"

Jenna nodded. "See you later," she called, as her parents disappeared from sight. She sighed. "I still can't believe it's happened."

Allie hugged her friend tightly. "I can," she told her. "I'm just honored that you did your first signing at my mom's bookstore… especially since I'll be running it one day. I'll get to say that Cohen's was the first place that J.N. Parker ever signed a book!"

Jenna smiled. "You're my best friend, Al," she replied. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I've missed you, you know," Allie said, her smile softening. "It's been really hard not having you around."

Jenna nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. Now sophomores in college, the two girls had somewhat separated themselves over the past two years. While Jenna had gone to a state university several hours north, Allie had chosen a college close to home. Jenna scarcely had enough time to spend with her friend when she did come for visits, and this had certainly put strains on their friendship. But although Jenna and her new roommate Hannah had grown close, and Jenna had made many new friends, none could replace her best.

"I've missed you too," Jenna agreed quietly.

Allie held out her copy of Jenna's new book. "At least I'll have this autographed copy to remember you by when you're all the way up at school," she said. "And I can read it whenever I miss you too much." She paused for a moment. "You know, it really is genius, the way you came up with something like this. I love the whole concept of Neverland. How'd you ever think of it?"

Jenna bit her lip nervously. She knew she couldn't tell her friend the truth; even if she did, Allie would never believe her. She shrugged.

"I was inspired by a few things, I guess," Jenna said finally. "Stories my grandmother used to tell… my summers in London… and life itself."

Allie laughed. "Yeah, well… I wish that was my life," she said. "Except that if I'd gone to Neverland, I never would've left. Not with a hot pirate like James madly in love with me." She grinned. "What ever happens to him, anyway?"

Jenna sighed. All this thought of James made her miss Neverland even more; although she had broken things off between them, she still wanted to be his friend. She wished she knew how he was doing, but she doubted she would ever see him again.

"I don't know," Jenna admitted. "Hopefully he'll go on with his life and become the kind of pirate his father would be proud of… but he'll still remember her."

Allie appeared thoughtful for a moment, before nodding in agreement. "Of course he'll remember her," she concurred. "After all, they were engaged." She smiled. "Speaking of fiancées… where's yours?"

"What fiancée?" Jenna smiled innocently at this. She and Adam Clarke had been in an on-off relationship since high school, and now attended colleges within thirty minutes of each other. Lately the two of them had been discussing the possibility of marriage (once they graduated, of course!) but had only mentioned their plans to Allie.

"You're so full of it!" Allie giggled. "I always knew you two would be perfect together. First loves should always stick, you know?"

It took everything in Jenna's power to keep smiling in spite of everything. I love Adam, she thought to herself, but he's not my first love. Of course, Allie didn't know that, so Jenna merely nodded at the suggestion.

"The last I heard, he was checking people in at the door," Jenna said. "I wonder what he's still doing down there."

"I told you, the book signing is over!" exclaimed Adam's voice, growing nearer and nearer.

Jenna and Allie turned around simultaneously, wondering what sort of problems Adam was running into.

"Adam, is everything okay?" Jenna called out, standing up and rushing past the next few bookshelves to look for him. Allie followed close behind.

"Jenna!" Adam called back, as the girls came into view. "Come tell this customer that signing hours are over!"

As Jenna approached them, she heard a young man's voice argue back. "She'll see me whenever she wants!" he retorted to Adam. "You can't tell me what to do!"

"We're just about to close," Adam said, trying to keep his voice even as possible. "We don't have time for this."

"No worries, Adam!" Jenna exclaimed, grabbing a book off the display beside her. "I'll be happy to sign another one." As she drew closer, she took a moment to really look at the young man who accompanied Adam.

Fidgeting uncomfortably in his dark suit, the young man seemed to be about her age. He towered over her – although, then again, most males did – and Jenna could tell that even under the suit, he was probably quite muscular. His golden-brown hair appeared windswept, and Jenna wondered why. The air had been still outside… it was one of those humid summer nights with no wind whatsoever.

But when she looked into those cerulean eyes, she recognized him immediately.

"You!" she gasped, her eyes widening at once. "But… how did you… what are you doing here?"

"Jenna!?" the young man exclaimed, who seemed to be just as surprised as she was. "But you… you've changed so much!"

"Okay, wait," said Allie, "I'm totally confused now."

"Yeah," Adam agreed, frowning in bewilderment. "Have you guys met before?"

Jenna nodded. "He's… um… an old friend of mine," she replied, trying to avoid the entire truth. "Peter, these are my friends Allie and Adam."

Allie grinned. "How cute," she remarked. "Did you know that one of the main characters in her book is named Peter?"

"Really?" Peter grinned at this. "I'll bet he's everybody's favorite."

"Now that I think of it," Allie continued, looking somewhat pensive as she spoke, "you kind of look the way I pictured him."

Jenna laughed nervously. "What a coincidence," she said, hoping her friends wouldn't realize the truth. "Hey, can I talk to Peter alone for a few minutes?"

"Knock yourself out," Allie replied, grabbing Adam by the arm. Adam appeared entirely uncomfortable by the situation, watching Jenna connect with some other guy, but he remained silent. The two disappeared to the back room of the store, where Allie mentioned something about letting Adam take a peek at the new Harry Potter prequel books, which would be ready for distribution next month.

Jenna smiled at Peter. "I can't believe you're here!" she exclaimed, once her friends were gone and out of earshot. She thrust her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "But Peter… what's happened to you?"

She knew it was Peter Pan – she could tell by the mischievous look in his eyes – but in many ways he was not the Peter she remembered. For one thing, he'd grown much taller; when she lived with him in Neverland, they had seen nearly eye-to-eye. Peter was also more fully built, and his facial features were more defined. She could even detect the possibility of stubble on his chin. What had happened?

Peter shook his head. "I don't know," he told her truthfully, crossing his arms. "You were gone for a while, when one day I looked at my reflection in the lake and saw what I'd become." He looked into her eyes for some sort of meaning. "I don't like it, Jenna. I'm supposed to be a boy forever, but…"

"But you've changed," Jenna finished for him, taking his hand and squeezing it reassuringly. She remembered her last night in Neverland, when James had revealed Hook's Secret to her. He said that a person in Neverland grew up at the rate he chose, was as old as he wished to be. She wondered if that had held true for Peter.

"I don't know why it's happened," Peter said. "It's starting to happen to Klutzy, too- I can see it. I was hoping that if I came back to see you I might get some answers." He sighed, crossing his arms. "Have you missed me, at least?"

Jenna could feel her eyes welling up, but she would not allow any tears to fall. She still loved him, but she knew all too well how it was going to end. "Every day," she told him quietly. She bit her lip. "How are the Lost Boys?"

"They're good," Peter said. "We've gone on lots of adventures since you left. I wish you could've gone with us."

"So do I," Jenna admitted. "I've been wondering about you guys a lot since I came home."

"You should come back to Neverland with me," Peter suggested. "They still need a mother."

Jenna shook her head sadly. "I can't, Peter. I have a life back here… one that I never want to forget again." She sighed. "I wrote a book, you know. It's about you."

"Oh, the cleverness of me!" Peter laughed. "Do I go on a lot of adventures?"

"Of course," Jenna responded, smiling. "You fight pirates… lots of them… and rescue the children who don't wish to grow up." Suddenly, the mention of pirates made her feel nostalgic again. "How's James doing, anyway?" she tried to ask casually.

Peter frowned. Not that codfish pirate again! He thought to himself bitterly. But he knew that Jenna cared for him, so he tried to answer anyway. "He and Smee set sail right after you left," Peter said. "Went to a few islands, picked up some new pirates. Other than that, he came back empty-handed. We don't talk much."

Jenna nodded. "Where'd you get the suit?" she asked, noticing that he wasn't clad in his usual outfit of leaves and vines.

"I got lost looking for you," he admitted, grinning. "I stopped in some building to ask where you were, and this man laughed and told me I ought to change before I come to meet you. He gave me this stuff to wear and then told me where to find you… I think his name was Stan?"

Jenna smiled. "Stan!" she exclaimed, noting a friend of her parents. "Yeah, he owns a men's clothing store-" she could see Peter cringe at the mention of men "- and he's a pretty nice guy. I'm sure he didn't try to charge you for it?"

"What do you mean, charge?" Peter asked, confused. "I don't understand."

"Never mind," Jenna said, hugging Peter again. "I'm just really glad you're here. Did I tell you how much I missed you?"

"Only about five hundred times," Peter laughed. "What have you been doing since I left?"

"I go to this wonderful place called College," she told him, smiling, "where I write term papers and take really horrible exams. Some nights I barely sleep. And then, like I told you before, I wrote a book about our adventures in Neverland, and I got it published."

"Who was that man who stopped me at the door?" Peter asked. "When you came over here, he was looking at you the way James used to."

Jenna smiled sheepishly. "That's Adam," she said, finding it strange to hear him referred to as a man. "Remember I introduced you?" She hesitated before telling him more. "We're thinking about getting married."

"Again?" Peter threw up his arms. "All you ever do is get married!"

Jenna laughed. "That's not true!" she exclaimed in defense. "I was engaged, but never married. And if it makes you feel any better… sometimes I wish it was you."

It didn't make Peter feel better. "Let's not do this again," he warned her, hoping that 'love' wasn't about to make its way into the conversation again. "Okay?"

Jenna sighed. "Okay," she consented. "We won't."

Peter appeared triumphant. "Good." His smile returned. "I think I know why I couldn't stop growing."

Jenna looked at him curiously. "Why's that?"

"I needed to come back," he told her. "I had to know what happened to you, make sure you were happy here."

"I am." Jenna beamed.

"Good." Peter crossed his arms. "I guess I'd better return to Neverland, then. I'll have to tell the Boys everything."

Jenna nodded slowly. She knew she would never be able to convince him to stay. "Before you go, you should have this." She took one of her books off the display, pulled a pen out of her pocket, and began to write in the inside cover.

I'll never forget you.

Love, Jenna

"Here." She handed him the book. "I know you can't read, but I want you to bring it with you, to remember me by."

Peter took it without any questions. "I'll see if any of the Lost Boys remember how to read," he said, smiling. He began to step out the door, and Jenna followed him.

"Second star to the right, and straight on till morning," he told her, his eyes bright. "Will you always remember your life in Neverland?"

"I will," Jenna told him, reaching out to hug him one last time. "Will you visit me again someday?"

"That," Peter replied, "is a promise."


Acknowledgments: Thanks to everyone who read the chapter! Special acknowledgments go out to NobleBrokenBeauty, Yuki Asao, MistFairie93, The Consequences of Love, EragonPeep, AkemixHanako, jewelofthedawn, no name, SuperWafer, CurryCurran, -polishh, Black Raven Raye, Tallemera Rane, and duckmasta2020. Only one chapter left until the end!