Peter Pan led Will and Elizabeth through the lush tropical forest. Will noticed the ground was growing steeper. Palm trees gave way to immense live oaks. A stream trickled over rocks nearby. Peter stopped abruptly and motioned for the young couple to be silent. He pursed his lips and produced a bird call. A moment later the call was repeated further up the hill. "That's the signal," said Peter. He glared at Will. "If you tried to enter our secret hideout without the signal, the Lost Boys would shoot you so full of arrows you'd look like a pincushion !"


Elizabeth and Will looked at one another, not sure whether to be amused or concerned. They followed the boy as he strutted up the forest trail. A few more steps, and the forest opened out into a clearing. Directly across from them stood a massive tree. Will caught a glimpse of a ramshackle structure circling the huge trunk before his attention was distracted by four of the noisiest, filthiest children he had ever seen. They surrounded Pan, all shouting at once, "Peter, Peter, what took you so long ? It's been terrible ! You have no idea !"


Finally a tall, skinny youth managed to yell louder than the others. He pushed his way to the front and saluted Peter Pan. "Nibs, report on the situation," ordered Peter.


Nibs puffed out his chest importantly and began his report. The effect was spoiled just a bit by the other boys, who kept inserting comments. "The pirates can fly. They've been flying over the island looking for our hideout -"


"Yeah, Peter, they have. We've had to stay hidden under the trees -"


"Shut up, Curley, I'm making this report ! That's not the worst of it, Peter. Toodles is gone and - "


"Nobody knows where he is, Peter. We've looked all over -"


"I said, shut up !" A brief scuffle took place before the report could continue. "Our clothes don't fit any more, look ! And, and Peter...something terrible has happened to Slightly !"


Will tried to take it all in. He guessed the boy called Nibs was about twelve years old. Must have recently had a growth spurt; he was tall and skinny and had that gangly, awkward look. Curley was shorter and stouter with matted black curls. That explained the knickname. The remaining two boys must be twins – maybe eight years old, shaggy brown hair, bright blue eyes, and identical right down to the smudges of dirt on their faces and the bruises on their shins. All the boys wore furs. Crudely stitched together, poorly fitting, dirty furs. Curley must have gained a lot of weight recently; his clothes were almost bursting at the seams. The boy saw Will looking at him and smoothed his fur shirt over his bulging stomach self-consciously.


Peter silenced the mob with a wave of his hand. He walked over and stood in front of Nibs. The boy was about four inches taller than Pan. "Nibs, you've grown," stated Peter. He nodded decisively. He stepped to the next boy, Curley. The twins hurriedly took their places in line. "Curley, you're an inch taller. You look older too. Darn, but you've gotten fat !" Curley blushed and tugged at his shirt. "Twins," Peter paused, frowning. He looked them up and down. "How old are you ?"

"Five," they replied simultaneously.


Peter shook his head. "No, I think you're about seven. Maybe eight," he pronounced.


The twins exchanged looks. "But," ventured one.


"You're older," replied Pan. He glared at the two boys. Reluctantly they nodded in agreement. Right, then, where's Slightly ?" Nibs motioned toward the big tree. Pan started to step out into the clearing, then changed his mind. "Stay under cover, men," he commanded. The five boys began to make their way stealthily through the trees. Taking Elizabeth's hand, Will and his young wife followed.


"Oh, wait," said Peter, suddenly, coming to a stop halfway around the clearing. He turned and looked back at Will and Elizabeth, bringing up the rear. The Lost Boys turned and stared at them. They looked... feral, thought Will. He stared back.


"Boys, this is 'Lizbeth, the lady I brought back to plan Tink's rescue. You will call her Lady 'Lizbeth." He smiled brightly at Elizabeth. She smiled back at all the boys, who seemed suitably impressed. Nibs stood up straighter and brushed his hair out of his eyes. Curley blushed and gave another futile tug on his shirt.


"Aaw, they're so cute," whispered Elizabeth. Will rolled his eyes.


"Oh. And that's Will," said Pan as an afterthought. The boys shuffled their feet and looked nervous.


Nibs frowned. "Looks like a pirate to me," he muttered.


"Nah," Peter dismissed the thought. "He's just a blacksmith." Then he brightened. "He's pretty good with a sword, though. He almost whipped me in a duel !" Will sighed. He never got any credit. Pan's band of urchins looked a bit more friendly, though. Tentatively, Will gave them a quick grin. The twins smiled back brightly, won over in an instant.


The ragged group made its way around the clearing. The ground behind it rose steeply. Through the woods, he could see that the stream had been dammed up nearby, creating a circular pool. A series of little waterfalls splashed down from level to level where the stream tumbled down the hillside and into the pool. The huge tree rose majestically before them. Some of its gnarled roots stood as high as his knees. Will saw that there was a circular tree house built around the central trunk, at least fifty feet above them. A rope ladder and several knotted ropes swung from above.


The Lost Boys and Peter swarmed up the ropes. Will and Elizabeth followed more cautiously up the swaying rope ladder. "You go first," he suggested, leering at his wife's scanty attire. "If you lose your grip, I'll catch you."


Elizabeth giggled, then pushed her husband toward the ladder playfully. "No, no, after you. I'm sure I can manage."


Reaching the tree house, Will put his full weight on the platform gingerly. Rising to his feet, he jumped, carefully, a couple of times to test the floor. The structure seemed sturdy enough. He stepped aside to allow Elizabeth to clamber onto the platform.

The children were gathered around a huddled form sitting slumped in one of several rope hammocks strung under the low roof. The figure clutched a ragged blanket over its head as the twins tried to pull it off.


"Come on, Slightly, Peter's here," they pleaded. "Guess what ? He's brought back a lady !" A groan issued from under the blanket. The twins tugged harder.


"Slightly, take off that blanket right now !" ordered Pan. "Show yourself like a man."


The blanketed form shuddered. "Ouch ! Ger off me !" came a muffled protest. The twins were flung backwards.


"You see, Peter, that's just the problem," said Slightly, emerging from his cocoon. "I, I think," The last word ended in a squeak as his voice cracked. Slightly groaned again and yanked the blanket back over his head. " You, you see...I think...I am a man !"





Author's note: Thank you to my two intrepid reviewers ! :o) Panther7x - I thought Jack Sparrow was Peter Pan. ;o)