Peter was at kitchen counter, slicing fruit when he heard a thud from upstairs and then his daughter frantically calling for help. The knife slid and cut his thumb and he cursed as he held his thumb to his mouth, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste to get out of the room. When he entered the living room, he saw Addy and Farrah standing on the stairs, looking pale.

"It's Mum!"

Peter literally flew up the stairs and into the bedroom, where he saw Wendy curled up in the floor.

"Wendy!" He dropped to his knees and his hand traveled over her face, then her belly. A quick glance of her sodden nightgown told him her water had broke and it was almost time.

"Wyatt! Fly to the Village for the princesses! Hurry!" He heard the door slam seconds later and he turned back to his wife.

"Can you sit up, love?"

"It hurts so much, Peter," she groaned and he pushed her damp hair out of her eyes.

"Come on, let's get you back onto the bed so you'll be more comfortable." Addy ran into the room to help him lift her mother onto the bed and Farrah ran in with a bowl of water and a cool rag. She draped the rag over her mother's forehead, and Peter sat on the edge of the bed, squeezing her hand.

Wyatt burst into the room only minutes later, followed by Lily and Dragon Fly. Peter moved to the other side of the bed to allow room for the princesses and Dragon Fly's hand went to the Queen's forehead. Lily moved down between her legs and lifted the blankets.

"It will not be long now, my Queen. Are you ready?"

"Just keep my baby safe, Lily," Wendy said faintly. Peter let out a choked gasp and he grabbed his wife's hand.

"Keep them both safe, Lily. Please." Lily's dark eyes met the King's and she nodded, her lips pursed.

"Peter, wait outside with your children." Peter reluctantly left Wendy's side and herded his children into the hall. Addy stamped her foot.

"Why can't we be in there to help Mum?"

"Your aunts can handle it. Come on. This is going to take awhile and I could use some tea."


No one touched their tea. No one said a word. Wyatt's fingers drummed the table while he stared off into space, and Addy stirred her tea almost frantically. Farrah's feet were tucked underneath her and she chewed on her fingernails, her eyes wide. Peter sat on the floor, his legs and arms crossed, chewing on his lip. They waited for a baby's cry but as the night grew later and later, they grew more anxious.

Peter finally sent the prince and princesses out to various parts of Neverland to spread the word that the Queen was in labor and a new prince or princess would be born soon. When they were gone, he walked back upstairs and leaned his ear against the door, wincing at his wife's pained screams. He wanted to be in there with her. He needed to be in there with her.

He pushed the door open and stopped in his tracks when he saw the amount of blood on the sheets. He felt sick and weak, and not at all the King that he was. Lily glanced around and huffed.

"Peter, you were supposed to stay downstairs."

"I'm supposed to stay with my wife," he protested as he made his way to her side. Wendy was extremely pale, and her hair was soaked from sweat. Peter picked up the rag, dipped it in water, and dabbed her forehead and face. She turned toward him, her eyes fluttering faintly.

"Peter." He winced when he heard how feeble her voice sounded. So un-Wendy like.

"I'm here, my love. I'm not leaving you. You're doing wonderfully, sweetheart. You are the most amazing being on this earth." She swallowed and blinked up at him.

"Peter…you must promise me that you will continue training the children. You will teach them…and raise them properly."

"Wendy! What-?"

"I don't expect I shall live through this, Peter. I feel terribly weak…and like I am at death's door. But do not treat our child any differently, my love. It's not their fault."

He blanched, his hand grabbing hers and holding on for dear life.

"Wendy, stop! Don't…just don't say things like this."

Lily and Dragon Fly looked solemn, though they continued to hover around Wendy's midsection. Peter shook his head uneasily, leaning in closer toward her.

"You listen to me. You're not leaving me. That…alernate reality I saw wasn't real. You're my life, Wendy. My everything. I am so utterly lost without you. You can't leave me. I won't survive it."

"Wendy, you need to push," Lily said from between Wendy's legs. Peter gripped her hands as she braced herself, though she looked beyond exhausted.

"Highness, you should elevate her body with your own," Dragon Fly whispered to Peter. "Hold her while you sit behind her." Peter quickly moved behind his wife so that she could sit between his legs. He took her hands in his and winced as she squeezed tightly.

"Push Wendy," Lily said, looking up at the Queen. "You need to push." After several pushes, Wendy shook her head and leaned back against Peter's chest.

"I can't," she said as she closed her eyes.

"Wendy, you are the strongest person I know," Peter said urgently. "There is nothing the Queen of Neverland can't do. Come on, sweetheart." Wendy bit her lip and tasted blood as she pushed even harder.

"Yes! Just one more push, Wendy, you can do it," Lily said, her eyes downcast. Peter tried to peer around Wendy so he could see but she seemed to collapse against him and she was sobbing into his chest.

"Wendy don't give up! You're nearly there, we're nearly there!" Her face screwed up in pain, her teeth clamping down on her bottom lip, she gave one last almighty push and Peter heard a shrill cry. Wendy slumped against him and his arms wrapped around her as he stared over her shoulder. Lily wrapped the royal babe in a blanket and Dragon Fly took it from her sister's arms. The baby's cries were strong and hearty. Dragon Fly smiled at Peter and held the baby up.

"Congratulations, Peter. Another princess has blessed the life of the King." Peter blinked back tears as he smiled at his daughter.

"Another girl, Wendy, can you believe it?" He glanced down at his wife and saw she was unmoving. His smile disappeared and was replaced by a look of horror.

"Wendy?" She didn't stir and he gently shook her.

"Wendy! Wendy, please!" Lily swooped down on them and disappeared between Wendy's legs. Peter stared down at his wife, whose pallor terrified him.

"I need herbs and salve," Lily muttered and Peter's head jerked up.

"From the Medicine Woman?" Lily nodded and Peter carefully moved from behind her, and gently lay her against the pillows.

"I'll be back as soon as I can. Don't let her die, Lily."

"Please hurry, Peter," Lily said softly and Peter felt it harder and harder to breathe.


As he raced to the Indian Village, he thought of the many times he had stared death in the face and had even laughed at it. But Wendy had faced death too many times, and each time, it nearly killed him. He thought about the alternate reality he had visited, the sight of the gravestone at his favorite spot. He shook himself and gripped his curls. No. He just couldn't fathom a world without his Wendy-bird.

He prayed with every fiber of his being, to whoever might be listening, to save his wife.

"Please," he whispered. "I'll die without her."

"Peter?" His head snapped up and he nearly ran to his brother-in-law.

"Is she alright? The baby-"

"I need to see the Medicine Woman, John," Peter cut him off. "Immediately."

"Of course. Right this way." John lead him to Tacumwah's tent and bowed while Peter rushed inside. The old Medicine Woman raised a brow when the King entered so abrubtly and she bowed her head.

"King Peter."

"Tacumwah, I'm desperate for your help. Tiger Lily has sent me for herbs and healing salve for Wendy. She's given birth but…she's not well." Tacumwah did not look the least bit surprised as she shuffled to her shelves and opened several jars. She gathered the supplies and stuffed them into a basket and handed it to Peter.

"If the Queen is able, it would be best to bring her to me." Peter bit his lip. Perhaps he could carry her and fly her here.

"Go, Peter Pan." Peter gripped the basket tightly and flew straight home, his heart hammering the entire time.


When he entered the bedroom, the princesses were in conversation, while Fly cradled the new princess.

"-need to tell him-"

"Not yet. We will try to save her."

"We have tried! There is nothing more to be done."

"Hold your tongue! Your Queen needs your help. We WILL save her."

Peter cleared his throat and the princesses whirled around, their dark eyes widening.

"Highness," Fly bowed low.

"Here are the herbs," he ignored her and went straight to her sister. Dragon Fly was the one who had been saying that it was a lost cause. At least Tiger Lily still believed there was a chance, however small it was. Lily grabbed the supplies and immediately spread some salve around Wendy's pelvis. Peter sat on the bed, by Wendy's head, stroking her hair softly. She was still pale and her eyes were still closed, and he leaned down to rest his head over her heart. He blinked back tears when he felt how faint her heartbeat was.

"Dragon Fly, give the princess to Peter so you can wrap those lines in the healing herbs for me. We need to wrap the Queen in them." Fly obeyed and passed the sleeping babe to her father. Peter cradled the child's head and stifled a sob when he saw a tuft of curly blonde hair, like her mother. He held her to his chest and lowered his head to Wendy's chest. He kept his head resting on her breast while the girls worked, his fingers counting the slow beats of his wife's heart.

"Her heart is slowing, Lily."

"I know, Peter. We are doing everything we can-"

"Tacumwah said to bring her to the Village. Let me just carry her!"

"Peter, we can't stop the bleeding. Moving her right now-"

"Lily, we have to! Please!" Lily's lips tightened but she nodded and Peter jumped up.

"Very carefully. Here, let's wrap her in this," she gently wrapped Wendy in a sheet and Peter passed his daughter to Lily so he could drape Wendy in his arms.

"I'll see you there," he whispered before he took off out the window and the princesses watched him disappear over the trees. Fly shook her head.

"Poor Peter."

"Don't," Lily said sharply. "Not yet. She still has a chance. Tacumwah is wiser than any of us, perhaps she has a way to save the Queen."

"And if she does not? How do you think the King will react when he loses his Queen?" Lily's throat tightened and she shook her head as she stared down at the new babe.

"Pray to the spirits that she will be spared. For her children. For her husband. For her people."


As Lily and Fly were leaving the house, they saw the three royal children walking up the path. They all bowed their heads in respect and Wyatt started when he saw the bundle of blankets in Lily's arms.

"Is that-?"

"Your sister, My Prince," Lily said as she handed him the babe. Wyatt gasped as his arms fumbled to hold the princess, and Addy and Farrah all leaned close, their arms going under their brother's to hold their new sister.

"She's so perfect," Addy whispered and Wyatt smiled.

"She's beautiful. Look at her curls, they already look like Dad's."

"She has your nose, Wyatt," Farrah said with a smile. Wyatt looked up at Lily, his eyes brimming with tears.

"How's Mum?"

"Your father has taken her to the Village to see the Medicine Woman." Wyatt's smile faded and he noted the immense concern and sadness on the girls' faces.

"Aunt Lily…just tell us. How is she?"

"We are praying to the great spirits and to the second star that she will recover." Addy's hand clapped over her mouth and Wyatt squeezed back tears. Farrah's arms went around her twin and they held each other as they cried. Wyatt's arms tightened around the tiny bundle, determined to protect her from anything and everything.

"Let's get to the Village to check on Mum. Aunt Lily, do you want some dust?"

"We will walk, thank you Wyatt. Tell Peter we are on our way back." He nodded and he and his sisters rose into the air and flew off toward the Village. Addy and Farrah closed in from either side, their arms hovering underneath Wyatt's so they could hold the baby securely between them.