The Lost Boys touched down in the clearing, jabbering excitedly. "We really showed those pirates, didn't we-"


"Yeah !" cried Curley, "did you see how I held them off all by myself -"


"You screamed like a girl !" laughed Slightly, "Did you see how I swooped down and knocked off Starkey's hat ? He would have-"


"You should have seen me fighting Smee !" cried Will, caught up in the excitement. "He stabbed at me, and I slashed, like this, and then I knocked him out, like this-" He felt a soft touch on his arm. Elizabeth gently took the diamond from him and handed it to Slightly. Will had forgotten he had been holding it.


"Elizabeth !" he cried, "Did you see me ? I was great, wasn't I ?" Impulsively, he grabbed her and kissed her soundly. She pushed him away, laughing.


"Will Turner, this is a side of you I've never seen," she said, playfully. "You're not going to run away and become a Lost Boy, are you ?" Abruptly, Will came to his senses.


"That diamond !" he said, realization dawning. "It does something to anyone who touches it ! That's why the pirates could fly."


"And why you were behaving like a schoolboy just now," laughed his wife.


Will frowned, feeling a bit hurt. "Well, you were giggling like a ninny back in Hook's cabin," he pointed out, reasonably.


"It wasn't my fault," sniffed Elizabeth. "It was the diamond's influence."


Their bickering was interrupted by a low voice. "Lady 'Lizbeth," said Peter Pan, plaintively. The boy stood alone, ignoring the celebration of the Lost Boys. In his cupped hands lay Tinkerbell. The little sprite was totally unresponsive, her glow dimmed. "'Lizbeth, it's Tink...she's real sick."


Will peered at the tiny creature. Tinkerbell, he saw, was a perfectly formed woman. In miniature. Her tiny green tunic and booties reminded him of Pan's clothing. She lay cradled in the boy's hands, her eyes closed. Will peered closer. Her tiny chest rose and fell minutely. Limp gossamer wings sprawled under her body. Her face looked pinched and drawn, mirroring the look on Pan's own face. The boy gazed at Will, his strange, ancient eyes filled with pain. "Can anything be done for her ?" he asked quietly.


Elizabeth approached with the huge gem. "Here, Peter, lay her on the diamond." The boy looked skeptical.


"It's worth a try," encouraged Will. "The gem seems to have special powers."


Elizabeth sat down cross-legged, holding the diamond in her lap. Pan knelt and gently laid the unconscious pixie on the glowing gem stone. For several tense minutes, they watched for a reaction. The Lost Boys gathered around. Pan's face was intent. "Please be all right, Tink," he whispered. Will laid his hand on the boy's shoulder. Peter Pan seemed not to notice.


"I think her color's coming back," breathed Elizabeth, hesitantly. The tiny creature did seem to be glowing more brightly. She stirred. A faint chiming sound could be heard.


"Tink ! You're going to live !" cried Pan joyfully. The pixie chimed again. She sat up and emitted a series of tones. Her hands gently caressed the gem. Then she noticed Elizabeth. The next series of tones sounded decidedly unfriendly.


"Well, I never !" said Elizabeth, startled.


"No Tinkerbell, that's not Wendy," Peter explained. The pixie chimed again, sharply.


"My name is Elizabeth Turner, Tinkerbell," Elizabeth introduced herself. "This is my husband, Will Turner," she added, with emphasis on the word husband. More melodic tones ensued. The tiny female seemed mollified.


"You can understand her ?" asked Will.


"Why, can't you ?" He shook his head. Elizabeth seemed pleased, for some reason. "Must be girl talk," she smirked. The pixie was rapidly regaining her strength in contact with the diamond. She flexed her wings and emitted a rapid series of bell-like tones.


"Tink says Hook stole the diamond from the highest peak of Neverland," Peter Pan explained for Will's benefit. "You were right, 'Lizbeth, that's what caused all of the problems."


"I don't understand," said Elizabeth. More chiming from Tinkerbell followed.


"Tink says the diamond isn't really a diamond; it's the heart of Neverland. When Hook stole it from it's rightful place, everything started going wrong. The Lost Boys began to grow up, Tink grew weaker – the pirates shaking all the pixie dust out of her didn't help," he added. Tinkerbell chimed angrily. "Tink says I started to lose my spirit," the boy continued. He looked pensive for a moment. Once again Will noticed the boy's eyes, and a chill ran down his spine. The moment passed.


"Oh well, never mind," said Pan, airily. "We got Tink back, and we'll just put the diamond back now, right Lady 'Lizbeth ?"


"Oh, Peter," she laughed, glad to see the boy back to normal. "We'd better get some sleep and start out early tomorrow, don't you think ?" Will agreed. It seemed like days had passed since they had arrived in Neverland. He thought of the battles with the pirates and the mermaids' assault and sighed. Suddenly he realized how tired he was.


The Lost Boys, yawning, climbed up the ropes to the tree house. Peter picked up the diamond, gently carrying it and the tiny pixie up the rope ladder. Elizabeth followed. Slightly hung back, watching her. "Something on your mind, Slightly ?" asked Will.


Even in the darkness, Slightly's blush was obvious. "No !" he denied. "Well, uh, yes...you see, uh, it's Lady 'Lizbeth..."


"Go on," Will prompted.


"Uh, well, the thing is, whenever I see her...well, I get these feelings, you know ?" The boy squirmed, embarrassed. "Like...urges," he said desperately. "I don't know what to do."


"Trust me, Slightly, I know exactly what you should do," Will replied. You have no idea, kid, he thought to himself.


"What ?" asked the boy, eagerly.


"Sword practice," said Will, decisively. "Lots and lots of sword practice."


"Really ?" Slightly sounded skeptical.


"Really. Three hours a day...at least." replied Will. "Try to get some sleep, lad, I've got a feeling it's going to be a long day tomorrow."



Author's note: I wrote this to prove to myself that I could write something that would get some reviews. So thanks to all who reviewed and didn't prove me wrong. One more chapter will wind this one up. Hope you'll like the ending.


Jules: Thank you – this was the second-silliest cross over I could think of. Captain Jack Sparrow will not be making an appearance. I doubt I could do him justice, plus he and Pan together would be way too much for poor Will to take ! ;o)


LordLanceahlot: You figured it out, right ? Thanks for your reviews, they made my day.