"What are we doing?" Wendy laughed as Killian drug her up the boat.
Jones hid his smile well. "You shall soon see, Miss Darling."
Wendy shrugged and followed, charmed that he still referred her to something so gentle. He'd been courting her for three days now, and each time they were together she found herself a bit more star struck.
Killian was so far advanced in the world than she. He had seen things, been places she'd only seen on maps, lived as a person she was far from being.
But Wendy ate up his stories, usually told over brunch or a nice picnic.
Tonight however would be the first time they'd have dinner, and have it on his vast ship she'd been admiring from the dock for sometime now.
She was grateful for his company just as much as she was that he was a distraction from her current dilemmas.
Pan still had yet to return or make his location known. They were both set to return to the Mirror in a few days with their suspension ending, and she only hoped he thought to come back by then.
She could honestly care less at this point, she had decided, squashing the guilt she felt. Pan had made his decision, had chosen to push her so far away he could never find her again. She wouldn't be the one to try to make amends if he returned.
The "if" part was what was keeping her from falling asleep at night. If he'd been more ceremonial in his departure, she might be more relaxed. But he just vanished. No note, no hints. Not even a plan for his cat. He pretty much left the poor thing to starve.
Wendy still checked in on the creature, but had slowly made the transition to her own apartment. Sometimes at night, when she was getting out of the tub or combing her hair, she'd look down her window at his building and spare the thought that he was coming back soon.
But it was just a flutter of a thought, and she would return to the present. Story ideas for when she returned to work, making peace with Tink, and Jones.
Wendy would be the first to admit she was naïve when it came to dating. Her first and only beau, Edward, had been more boring than a bag of flower and their breakup had been a celebration for her.
Whatever she was building with Jones excited her. It wasn't the back and forth screaming match she had with Pan. It was tamer, and felt unabashedly like romance.
"You know, the last time my view was obstructed I solved a nearly decade's old mystery in this town," Wendy deadpanned as she felt a railing under hand. They were going up something. And they were on the docks judging by the scent of salt in the air.
Killian's chuckle rumbled through her back. "I've heard a great many about your adventures in town. You'll have to tell me all about them."
Wendy felt around until she found his hand, and he paused.
"I haven't finished learning about you," Wendy teased, her heart speeding up.
She felt Killian's warm breath on the edge of her ear. "I have to keep some of my secrets, love."
Wendy swallowed hard. Damn. Now it was more than the darkness that made her heart swell.
Thankfully though, that part soon passed and Killian removed the blindfold.
Her eyes adjusted quickly to the setting sun, and then the sight before her made her gasp.
A well-set table decorated the deck of Killian's ship, complete with a bucket of ice and what looked like champagne.
She could smell garlic in the air, not doubt encased in whatever was under the metal dishes on the table.
Killian had passed her and began lighting the elongated candles on the table.
"What is all this?" Wendy laughed.
"An anniversary dinner of sort," Jones winked.
"We've barely been acquainted a full week," Wendy pointed out, following him when he motioned to sit in one of the chairs that he had pulled out.
"Then we have something to celebrate,"
Wendy watched him, amused as he popped over the champagne and poured them each a glass. He raised his, tipping it towards her.
"To five days of a beautiful relationship,"
Wendy scoffed. She could toast to that, and she did, tapping her glass to his.
She took a slow sip of the bubbly drink, stilling her flinch at the strong alcohol. She'd never had anything stronger than a glass of wine at her college graduation and she knew her tolerance would be very low.
He drained his glass quickly but made no attempt to refill his or hers.