Belle of the Ball (part 13 of 'My Brave Wendy')
by Isabelle
Disclaimers: The rights to the film and book "Peter Pan/Peter Pan and Wendy" do not belong to me; this is just done for entertainment.
Rating: PG-15 (for adult themes and mild sexual references)
Feedback: isabelle@komodo-skin.com
Archiving: It's a requirement that I have that you ask me before posting any of my written work. Thank you.
Summary: This is a work of fiction based on the 2003 film "Peter Pan"; it is centered, like the film around Peter & Wendy's relationship, just so you know. Basically the whole "never saw each other again" is out the window and for the purposes of the fiction they did.
Setting: This happens 1 year after Peter last saw Wendy, she's now been sent to a boarding school in Switzerland with her parent's new found fortune, but it's nothing like the place they thought it to be, as WWI is in it's starting stages there's fear all around and she's left without adult supervision along with some of her boarding school girls to find a way home and hoping that a certain first love will find her.
Spoilers: The film, it'll spoil you if you have not seen the film!!
Appreciation: Always to my beta Rogue, who is absolutely awesome!
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This place feels so unfamiliar
And yet I know it well
I think I used to belong here
But the only way I can tell
Is that I miss you still
And I cannot find you here
You left me tattered and torn
Just like that sweet Spanish doll
Spanish Doll - Poe
Wendy rushed to her room ignoring as Christian called out to her and swiftly slammed the door. Her heart was thumping as fast as it would go, her palms were sweaty and her eyes were prickling with un-shed tears.
She wanted to simply break down and sob her heart out of her chest until it wouldn't ache anymore. She wanted so many things that her body wouldn't let her do, so many emotions for such a small piece of flesh that she didn't know if you could handle it.
Love was a hateful and hurtful thing.
Now she understood. Love could and would change you, change you either for the better or for the worse... and knowing now that her heart had never felt such hate, pain and discomfort she knew she was letting love change her for the worse.
She was never this fickle or unsure.
Love had made her this way. Love had made her this way and she intended on stopping it.
She was so caught up in her emotional strife that she failed to notice that all the girls were in Joanna and her room. They were huddled by the bed, laughing... at least until she came in, obviously distressed and looked at her curiously.
"Wendy... you looked as if you've seen a ghost," Joanna commented.
Wendy blinked her eyes and turned to look at them all... focusing on Anna. Trying to keep her calm she walked up to them.
"Just a bit shaken, it's all," she told them.
She walked around the bed to see what they were talking about.
"We've received the dresses!" Rosalind cried happily, in the floor along with Helen they were looking through large boxes filled with lace and satin.
"They're all divine," Helen commented. "Wont you like to see yours, Wendy?"
Taking her eyes off Anna who was looking at her with a neutral and unfeeling face she looked down to a box Helen was pushing at her. With clammy hands she picked up the box, sitting down she placed it on her lap.
"We all agreed you would look best in blue," Joanna told her, coming to sit next to her. "Helen has yellow, Rosalind has pink, mine is light green and Anna went for dark blue."
"It matches my eyes," Anna commented.
Wendy ignored her and pulled away the covering paper of the box to reveal a baby blue sating gown. She gasped. It was like mother's dresses.
"The ball is the day after tomorrow, so father hired a hair-stylists to come do our hair!"
The girls squealed around Wendy as she gazed down at her gown. Her fingers reached down to caress the fabric. It was perfect. If only... if only she would be wearing it for the person her heart longed for.
That brought her back to the person sitting across from her. Her eyes narrowed.
"Peter told me about you two going together to the ball." Wendy commented to Anna, she tried to keep all emotion out of her voice.
Anna sat up on Joanna's bed and looked at her innocently.
"He was the one who asked, Wendy. No need to be upset," Anna told her but behind her cool nature Wendy could feel the waves of enjoyment coming off her.
"Yes. I know. He told me." she stated quietly.
The girls around them fell silent.
"I'm happy for you both," she continued coolly.
Rosalind shifted in the floor and looked at her curiously. "Are you going with anyone, Wendy?"
Looking down at her new beautiful gown she lifted it out of the box and stared at it. "Yes. Yes, I'm going with Christian Kelley."
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By 6pm on the night of the ball the mansion had filled with over fifty over-night guests, and carriages warred their way through the snow to get to the illustrious soirée. Apparently it was the biggest thing happening in these parts all year and anyone who was anyone was not going to miss it.
Ladies arrived dressed in silk and ruffles with tasteful necklines, full skirts and shinning smiles. The gentlemen were just as handsome, in their perfectly fit black suits, top hats and walking sticks.
The large orchestra began their melody when the first of the guests arrived, and before they knew it the gentlemen were asking the ladies for dances, sweeping their long gowns over the freshly waxed floor that was illuminated by the extravagant chandeliers that were hung above.
The main ballroom mirrors from side to side; reflecting the candles that were adorning the entire room.
"Marvelous party, is it not?"
"How charming to see you once more Madame LePierre!"
"Have you see the chandeliers, Monsieur? They say they cost fifteen thousand pounds each!"
"Oh, yes Mademoiselle Ruttier! We met in Moscow, did we not?"
"Your dear late Aunt Countess DeWinter was a dear friend of mine, perhaps you're acquainted with Prince Phillip?"
"I am flattered you have come, Princess Rubina; please, let me show you my humble home."
It was around this time that Wendy drew a deep breath as she stared at herself in the mirror. She was a lady now. In a few more days she would be fifteen.
At fifteen all young ladies had their coming out parties. She was a lady, eligible to be married, courted and asked for a dance.
But all her dances belonged to just one person tonight. Mr. Christian Kelley. A man she knew nothing about except that her dreams insisted on her marrying him. Nothing else. He had told her he was a business man, a business man on a pleasure hunting trip in the alps.
She had questioned how someone so young would be in business but he quickly replied that his father had left him his business when he died last winter. So she had left it at that.
When her the knock was heard at the door she jumped slightly from gazing at her reflection.
"Miss. Darling? Mr. Kelley is here to call on you," one of the maids told her from the other side of her dressing room.
"She'll be right out. Don't worry, Wendy... you look simply beautiful," Joanna told her coming up behind her and handing her the gloves.
Wendy smiled as she took them from her. "You look absolutely beautiful too, Joanna."
Joanna smiled back at her. Joanna was slightly younger than her so she had decided that her gown should be a bit more reserved, though her shoulders were slightly bare her neckline was relatively high and flatly squared, her waist was low and princess cut giving her thin body a bit of curves and the satin fell to full gown down to the floor.
"I'm not used to being so...lovely." Joanna answered her.
"You should then." Wendy told her, grasping her gloved hands in hers and giving her a warm smile of thank you.
"And you don't have to go with Christian to the ball... you'll just be falling into Anna's trap." Joanna told her giving her a hard look.
Wendy's smile faded. "I know... it's my choice. A conscious choice... besides... I'm starting to believe that I am meant to go with Christian to the ball."
"Listen to me, Wendy." Joanna told her. "Dreams are made up of our fear, simply our fears. They don't tell nothing but what we dread the most."
"That's very wise, Joanna... where did you hear it from?"
"Around."
The girls laughed and went out to face the ball.
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"So don't tell me that it's over
Don't give up on you and me
'Cause there's no such thing as hopeless
If you believe..."
The Impossible - Joe Nichols
Just moments ago Peter had properly picked up Anna from her room and watched as she flashed him a large charming smile, holding out her gloved hand.
But he didn't smile, this entire night tasted bitter in his mouth and he was formulating a plan for later on tonight. Once the ball was over he would once again tell Wendy how he felt... then he would leave. He would leave and let her and Christian be. Let them have their happily ever after. To be man and wife to each other.
It was a decision that he had not made lightly but it was a necessary one, he understood that.
Anna had complimented on how he looked in his suit and he had simply nodded because simply stated he hated it. He hated the suit he wore. It was confining, it was rough and it was above all a symbol of manhood.
He was now a man complete with emotions, thoughts and appearance.
His greatest fears had come true and there was nothing he could do to stop it, it was as if he were walking down a tunnel that spiraled into nothingness; a walk he couldn't stop himself from going to.
He was walking to his doom.
So when the announcer told their audience of his presence the crowd all turned to gaze at the young handsome couple; many knowing smiles and gasps were heard with cries of appreciation as he led Anna to the dance floor.
Not long after another announcement was heard for "Miss. Wendy Moira Angela Darling" and "Mr. Christian Alan Kelley"
Peter turned from where he was standing with Anna to the top of the staircase though he wanted to look away and ignore the couple as much as he could there was something in the air that told him that Wendy was approaching and his body automatically turned to her.
It took all of his will power to run up the stairs and rip her hand away from Christian's. And there she was. His won life-sized fairy.
She looked angelic, her hair all pinned to the top of her head while pale white flowers adorned it, her gown was form fitting, baring her shoulders and showing a decent amount of cleavage. The skirt was killed and shinning against the candles lit in the room, making the cloth shimmer as she walked. Next to her stood Kelley, with a smile on his face as he looked on at her adoringly.
"My, what a grand pair they make," the older man next to Peter said.
"Grand indeed, they say Mr. Kelley saved Miss. Darling in their horrible ordeal," the woman next to him whispered back.
"He's in trade, they say; excellent for the young man, the young lady should be very well provided for."
"Indeed," the woman agreed. "And what a handsome young lady she is!"
Wendy's bright smile took over the room and all eyes turned to her as she was guided down the grand staircase. She was indeed the belle of the ball; as all men stared at her in wonder. And when she lowered her smile in a coquettish way to show the world the missing kiss from her lips; right there before them; a seductress was born.
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It would've made Wendy a blind woman not to see that Christian looked absolutely charming in his suit. She had blushed scarlet red when she saw him, but most of all she had been embarrassed at the way he had gapped at her when she came in.
He had stuttered for words, fumbled with his hat and almost made a fool out of himself. After re-composing himself a bit he extended his hand out to her and swiftly led her to the ball.
She had made it a specific on to herself that she would not seek out Peter in the crowd, or look at him while she danced in Christian's arms... because she knew she would simply not be able to take it if she saw him dancing with Anna... or doing anything more though highly improper.
She could feel the room sizzling with energy when they entered it and now looking down at the crowd who greeted her with warm smiles she felt her heart in her throat. The announcer presented them and an enthusiastic applause was heard from the people. Christian helped her go down the stairs were they were introduced to a dozen countesses, ladies and semi-royalty of the Russian states.
All the older women marveled at her, the prospect of a new young lady in society, her and her mother were invited to a half-a-dozen tea-parties and balls that were going to take place in the Spring. Of course, she said yes to all of them all the while suffocating inside with the need to find some peace and quiet.
And then the orchestra began to play a waltz and many nearly ran to the dance floor.
"Shall we?" Christian asked, his white-gloved hand extended in an invitation. He gentle bowed and she returned it. A dance she was quite familiar with.
Grasping her hand in his and without any reservations they were off in the dance floor.
He moved gallantly and very self-assured and though Wendy didn't dare to look at his face she was sure he was studying her every move.
"You dance wonderfully," he commented.
Rose tint rose to her cheeks. "Thank you."
She felt the room spinning as he continued to lead her in a dance, swiftly moving through the crowds and making her feel like she was dancing on air.
Only she wasn't, if there was someone who knew all too well what it was like to dance in the air it was Wendy Darling. She was most definitely not dancing in air.
Then it happened. She saw him, she saw him dancing with Anna. Holding Anna just like he had held her, swirling her just like he had swirled her, and though at the moment the last thing that she noticed was that he was indeed not looking at Anna the way he looked at her it was enough to freeze her mind and calculate all of the things that could happen.
"Mr. Kelley... I feel faint," she whispered, holding her head.
He looked at her with right panic and quickly stopped. "Come, let's get you some fresh air." Gently he led her outside making a quick stop to get their coats.
Wendy didn't know if she had really felt faint or not, all she knew is that she had her heart broken before her and it was now laying before in her in a million pieces.
Peter would never... he couldn't.... he was her Peter and no one else's'. It didn't seem right for him to be with another girl.... she looked up at Christian. It also didn't seem right for her to be with another boy.
"You love him," Christian stated. No question, just an observation.
Wendy leaned against a pillar. "I doubt this is a proper conversational topic."
"You're never so formal and coy with him."
"I've known him longer... we've been through some things..." she started, closing her eyes.
"I see. You've been through some things that would never lead me to fully understand you." his words were bitter.
"Something like that." she told him softly.
"I want..." he came closer to her, his hair and eyes dark in the night but shinning like she'd never seen them shine before. "I would like to... if given the chance.... to show you. T-to show you what a real man can do for you Wendy. A provider. Someone to give you a family and a home... and all the things you deserve."
Wendy shook her head, breaking eyes contact. "Those things don't always bring you happiness, Mr. Kelley."
"Christian," he emphasized.
Wendy looked down, very uncomfortable with his proximity. "Christian."
"Why are you so afraid of me?" he asked, coming to sit next to her.
She shifted on the bed, gathering her skirts around her so that they wouldn't be touching him. "I... I'm not afraid of you, Christian." But she wouldn't meet his eyes and she fidgeted.
Christian smiled as he recognized her shyness. "It's all right... I would be afraid of me too... the first time you meet me and here I am almost killing the man you love."
Wendy smiled. "Yes, well I suppose that would place a damper on the relationship."
He laughed and threw his head back, looking up at the sky.
"I once met an Indian Scout who told me of the making stars," he told her, looking at her sideways.
Wendy sat up and looked at the stars herself. "I've touched them myself... they're actually quite cool to the touch."
He grinned. "Really?"
"Yes..."
"Well, it throws the validity of my story to the air," he told her, still smiling at her. His dark eyes penetrating her gaze.
"I shall still like very much to hear it," Wendy told him, looking away from his intent gaze.
"Alright... but assure you that none of my words will ever be as pretty as you... I mean yours...." he caught himself entranced by her lips. Her full, luscious pink lips that were ever so-slightly pouting.
Wendy on her end watched, entranced as he leaned in, enraptured in her lips. Bile formed at the edge of her throat and she tried desperately to claw it away.
Before she knew it, he leaned in and with his own lips captured hers.
She gasped and pulled back.
"Peter..."
His eyes clouded dark.
"Peter, no!"
Christian quickly turned to were her eyes were looking and before he could react a strong first connected to his nose.
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TBC.....
A/N: I don't know why you guys all feel that I have to reassure you after every chapter that this is (YES IT IS) a Peter/Wendy fiction, a romantic Peter & Wendy fiction that will soon show itself to the light. Just have patience, please. Once more, if you have questions, I answer them much better if you simply email them to me at isabelle@komodo-skin.com answering anything through fanfiction is a hassle--thanks!
Also, just so you know, I have 2 midterms/papers in by next week, so I really don't know when the next part will be out, have patience--it's not that I'm abandoning the story, it's just that I'm swamped.