Chapter Four: Life in Neverland
Sasha awoke the next morning from the comfortable bed the lost boys had made for her the previous night before. She smiled and stretched her arms. She opened the curtains and walked into the "living room". The lost boys were sitting around Peter, who was sitting his big arm chair.
"Good morning Mother."
"Good morning Father. Good morning children."
There was a unison of good mornings as Sasha stood behind the triplets. "What is for breakfast?"
"We have to go out and get breakfast…" Peter replied smiling at Sasha.
"Can I come Mother?" Inquired Tiny. He was smaller than the rest of the boys and by far younger. His name fit him well. Sasha took a liking to him right away.
"I select you Tiny, to show me where to get food for our breakfast. Then you can help me make it for everyone." Sasha spoke and looked at the group of boys, "Your nickname will be Monday."
"Monday Mother?" Tiny stared at her confused.
"Yes, Monday. See, today for example is Monday, so every Monday you will help me pick berries. Since there are seven of you boys, I will call you each by a day of the week. That way I never loose track of the days." Sasha walked towards the circle of boys.
She turned and pointed at the triplets, "You triplets, you will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday…since Peter didn't seem to find it in his best interest to give you real names."
Sasha turned and pointed at Sammie, "You Sammie, you're Friday. Slim you will be Saturday and Billy, you will be Sunday. Remember your names boys! That is key!"
"Now then, come on Monday we're going to gather some berries."
Tiny jumped up and grabbed Sasha's hand. He grinned at the other boys and then lead her out of the tree house. Sasha turned back and looked at Peter, they shared a quick private smile and then Sasha followed Tiny into the forest.
In Tiny's hand was a small wooden bucket. They walked a ways towards a near-by stream and a bush of blueberries and raspberries. Quietly, they both set to work gathering as many berries as they could.
"My real name isn't Tiny you know…" Monday told Sasha.
She looked down at him, "What's your name?"
"I can't remember, none of us boys can except for Billy. But I know it wasn't Tiny. I…" Monday paused and glanced around quickly making sure no one else was in listening distance.
"I hate the name Tiny. I know I am smaller than the rest of the boys…but sometimes I wish I wasn't. I wish…" Tiny leaned in closer towards Sasha, "I wish I was older."
Sasha knelt down towards Tiny and smiled softly at him. "Well I will just have to give you a new name that's all."
"Nobody here grows up! How could you WANT to be a man?" Peter yelled loudly as he flew down from an enormous tree branch.
At this Tiny started to cry. He'd never seen Peter this upset. "If you want to grow up, then I will no longer house you. Go back to England and...grow up for all I care!"
Sasha stood up in front of Tiny, protectively, "Peter! How dare you! Now he is my son too and I have a say in this as much as you do! If you're to banish Tiny then you may as well banish me too!"
Peter stared dumbfounded at Sasha. He couldn't believe she just went against him like that. "Fine! I take it back!" He shouted and flew high up into the air.
Sasha turned back towards Tiny, "Don't worry, you don't have to go back to England. Not so long as I am here. Now about that name, how about Todd?"
"Todd? I like it!" Tiny grinned, wrapping his well, tiny arms around Sasha's waist.
"Come on Todd, we have to get home, I bet your brothers are starving."
Together, hand in hand they walked back to the tree house. Sasha picked up the bucket and walked happily along with Todd. She had always wanted a younger sibling and now she had one. She was so caught up with getting to the tree house with food that she didn't notice Hawk the pirate in the bushes watching her every move.
"We're home!"
Sasha followed Todd into the kitchen area as the rest of the boys gathered round them. Sasha divided the berries into two piles, blueberries and raspberries. Then she washed them each underneath a stream of water. She got out nine wooden plates and divided the berries amongst each of them. Each one had a special smiley face on it composed of two blue berries for the eyes and the rest made out of the raspberries.
"Breakfast is ready! But first you all have to wash your hands, even you Peter."
As the boys washed their hands, Sasha set the table with the berries. Then she sat down at the far end and looked over at Todd.
"I have an announcement to make boys. Tiny's new name is now Todd. You all will address him by Todd. Anyone that does not do so will have to eat slugs for a week!" Sasha giggled at this, "dig in!"
During breakfast, Sasha watched Peter at the far end of the table. He grunted throwing one leg over the side of his chair and began picking at the blueberries on his plate. Sasha was disappointed at this, Todd had told her that blueberries were Peter's favourite. Peter huffed when he noticed her staring at him. He turned his head and looked at Wednesday, "Don't play with your food!"
Wednesday sniffled and looked down at his plate, trying hard not to start crying. Sasha had enough of this. What was Peter's problem?
"Come on boys, let's leave your father alone to clean the table. I'll tell you a story."
Sasha glared at him and then shuffled the boys out of the room. They went into the living room and Sasha sat down in Peter's big arm chair. Immediately Todd crawled in Sasha's lap while the triplets sat around her. She smiled warmly down at Wednesday.
"This is a story of a beautiful young maiden called…" Sasha paused, "called Regan. Regan was a princess in a castle not to far from here. Now the day Regan was born many of the villagers had come to the castle to bestow gifts upon her. All the gifts were wonderful save for one, a magic curse…" Sasha looked up, suddenly interrupted by a loud noise. It was coming from Peter's pipes. He was play so loudly that none of the boys could hear Sasha's story.
Sasha groaned and helped Todd to the floor. "Go play outside!" She shouted over the music.
The boys followed her orders and ran outside into the forest. Sasha brushed her jeans and walked into the kitchen, completely ignoring Peter. She glanced down at the table and noticed it was still messy with the children's half-eaten breakfast. Sasha walked over to the a wooden stool and picked up some un-used cheese cloth. Then she wrapped up the uneaten berries and stored them away as a mid-day snack. She picked up the plates and brushed past Peter, but still didn't look at him. She ran the plates underneath the stream of water getting the bits of seed off as best as she could.
"I may be their pretend mother but I am certainly not yours." She spoke quietly and then walked out of the kitchen. Peter immediately stopped playing the pipes gaily and was replaced by a different emotion, guilt.
She went to her bed and drew the curtain around her. Peter huffed as he walked out of the kitchen. He didn't want Sasha to be upset with him. He didn't want to lose her too. He left the tree house and walked past the lost boys without speaking a word to them. If his fairie Tinker Bell were still alive, he'd ask her for a suggestion…but then Tinker Bell would probably be jealous of Sasha and try to do her in. As Peter walked further into the woods he noticed a rose bush in the distance. Girls loved roses! Peter smiled at himself, oh how clever he was. He bent over the rose bush and realized that they were coated in pixie dust. Once Sasha forgave him, he'd teach her how to fly.
Sasha emerged from her bed in the afternoon. She fixed her ponytail and wandered outside to check on the boys. As she suspected, they were all playing happily amongst the trees. Sasha nodded and then walked back into the house, surprised to find Peter standing there.
"I thought you left.." She trailed off.
"I did leave." He replied with his hands behind his back. He winced because of all the cuts on his palms. "I, brought these for you." He brought his hands forward and showed her the bouquet of silver roses.
"Oh Peter! You're bleeding!"
She took the roses out of his hands and set them aside, then carefully she took him to the kitchen. "This may sting." She spoke placing his hands under the stream. Peter closed his eyes and in a second it was all over. Sasha had wrapped his hands with the remaining cheese cloth.
"All better?"
Peter nodded his head and smiled a tiny bit at Sasha. Sasha walked back into the other room and picked up the roses. Gingerly, she brought them back into the kitchen and placed them in a vase Billy had stolen from a pirate called Sim. Then she set them in the centre of the table and smiled and their beauty. Never in her life had she seen silver roses.
"The roses are lovely, thank you."
She walked over to Peter and carefully hugged him. Then she stood back and kissed him gently on the cheek. It was Peter who made the next move. He carefully placed his bandaged hand on Sasha's cheek and closed his eyes tightly, kissing her on the lips. Sasha placed her hands on Peter's shoulders and kissed him back. When she opened her eyes she noticed that they were floating above the ground.
Sasha gasped wrapping her arms tighter around his neck, "what's happening?"
"We're flying…" Peter whispered.
"But how?"
"The roses were covered in pixie dust."
Sasha kicked her feet slightly and then looked back up at Peter, "this is amazing."
"Look at Mother and Father!" Slim exclaimed as the lost boys entered the room.
Sasha looked down and suddenly the floor was right beneath her arms. She cried in pain as Todd ran towards her, "Mother are you ok?"
Peter pushed Todd out his way and knelt down beside Sasha, "Sasha?"
He looked worriedly at her face and then looked at the lost boys unsure of what to do.
"I think I'll be okay, just in a lot of pain…" Sasha whispered rolling over on her back.
"Boys, let's carry her to her bed!"
…
That night, Peter flew back to England. He knew it wouldn't be long before Sasha would start to miss her home. He had to speak with Margaret right away.
As he flew over the townhouse he noticed a man storming down the street. Little did he know, that the man was Sasha's father Oliver. Peter flew to the third story balcony and tapped on the window.
Both Jane and Margaret jumped up, surprised by Peter's presence. Margaret looked like she wanted to ring his neck, but Jane was more than happy to see him.
"Oh Sasha is wonderful!" He cried flying in circles around the ceiling before sitting down on the bed.
Margaret glared at him angrily unable to speak. She was afraid if she spoke she'd begin to cry and not stop. Jane looked up and Peter and smiled, "Why Peter, you're glowing. Margaret do you see that? He's glowing! Why he's in-"
"Mother don't you dare say it! It's not true, it can't be!" Margaret barked.
"But it is true, just look at him."
Margaret glanced away loosely brushing the falling tears from her rosy cheeks. She had lost Sasha forever…and there was no way she'd get her family to understand. Oliver had already walked out on her just moments ago.
Peter looked at both of them with a confused expression plastered on his face. "What's true?"
"Why that you're in love with Sasha!" Jane exclaimed happily.
For a moment Peter froze still and then flew against the ceiling to get away from Jane. He glared at her with an odd expression on his face, "Love? Don't be absurd!"
"Why Peter it is as clear as daylight!"
Peter looked down at Jane, suddenly feeling dizzy, "I have to go!"
Margaret ran up to the window and called after him, "Peter you get back here this instant!"
But he was too far gone by then.
Margaret collapsed on the ground and cried softly, "I have to let her go don't I?"
Jane didn't speak but just simply nodded her head.
…
Sasha awoke early the next morning, being tugged by Tuesday's arm. She turned and stared sleepily at him. "It's Tuesday Mother!"
"So it is…"
"We have to get breakfast for everyone!"
"Okay, I'll meet you in the kitchen in a couple of minutes."
Tuesday smiled and skipped happily into the kitchen. Sasha grabbed her right side and slowly got out of the bed. She was in so much pain that it hurt to move around. She stood up and slightly lifted up her tank top to reveal and large black and blue bruise on her side. She winced and ambled into the kitchen.
"Mother? Where is Father?" Sammie inquired as Sasha met Tuesday in the kitchen.
"Is he not here?" She responded stupidly.
"No and look, the sun isn't out…" Whispered Thursday pointing out the hole in the tree trunk.
Sasha shook her head and clutched her side again, "Don't worry boys. He'll be alright…just wash up for breakfast okay? Tuesday and I are going to pick some berries."
Peter flew among the clouds feeling worse than he had back in the nursery. He felt as if the whole world were spinning in circles around him and he didn't know why. Like a baby bird fallen out of his nest, he floated to the ground.
"What was that?" Sasha cried noticing something in the distance.
Immediately she dropped her bucket and ran towards the fallen creature. She gasped in horror when she realized that it was Peter. He had his eyes closed and laid perfectly still. Sasha turned and faced Tuesday, "Go and fetch Wendy's house! Get the other boys to help you…Peter won't be going anywhere for awhile."
Tuesday nodded his head and quickly ran back towards the tree house. Sasha brushed back her lose strand of hair and leaned closely to him. "Oh Peter…what on earth happened to you?"
She gently brushed his cheek and sat down beside him. Peter moaned slowly opening his eyes,
staring up at Sasha, "uh.."
Sasha gently kissed his cheek, "you'll be alright, just rest up. The boys are bringing Wendy's house. I can stay with you if you like…"
Peter nodded his head slightly and then closed his eyes again. Sasha held back a giggle and got to her feet. She walked back towards the basket of berries and decided to carry them back to the three house. "Peter, I have to make sure the boys have their breakfast. I'll be back."
Sasha met Sammie on her way back to the house, "Tell Tuesday when he is finished to come back home and help me make breakfast. And please make sure that Peter is comfortable."
"Yes Mother!" Sammie replied grinning from ear to ear. Hearing that his father was alright was good news.
Fifteen minutes later, Sasha and Tuesday had composed a wonderful breakfast for the boys. "I shall return during the afternoon to check on you."
"Don't worry about it Mother, just take care of Father." Tuesday replied.
"Okay, thank you." Sasha picked up the cheese cloth of berries from the previous day and then began her journey back to Wendy's house. When she walked back to the tiny house she realized that it was empty. Sasha didn't know whether to be worried or not. She sat down and placed the berries on the ground.
"You were gone a long time." Peter spoke entering the house.
"How are you feeling?" Sasha questioned, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Much better."
"Good, now that you're feeling much better, can you show me the island?"
"Of course!" Peter replied placing his hands on his waist.
Sasha released him and laughed, she wanted to see exactly what had been in her mother's stories. Peter opened a leather pouch on his side and sprinkled pixie dust on Sasha. She walked out of the house and flew in circles around it three times. Then Peter flew beside her and took her hand. Higher and higher in the sky they flew, up towards the clouds. "See that smoke stack down there? And those tents? That's where the Redskins live."
"I see it."
"And over there is the Jolly Roger, which once belonged to Captain Hook. Surely you've heard of him? Well, anyway he's dead now."
Sasha looked down at the magnificent sailing ship and then back up at Peter, "are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. I saw that crocodile swallow him whole."
"Oh."
Peter laid down on a giant cloud and Sasha laid down beside him, wondering how it was possible that they didn't fall through. "And down there as you well know is the Mermaid's cove."
"Who sails the Jolly Roger now?"
"Just some of Hook's old men, they don't bother us much and we don't bother them…unless we run into them in the woods or something. Then we just kill 'em…"
"That's terrible!" Sasha exclaimed.
"Oh we love it! The boys don't see much action since Hook died… But anyway, down there, that giant Oak tree is where the fairies live. See how it's glowing? They're dancing right now…"
"Wow…" Sasha whispered.
"And the other side of the island, that's where the boys and I like to go swimming, near the black castle."
"This island, this place is so wonderful…"
Peter smiled at Sasha and watched her as she used his telescope to look closer at the island.
Then he remembered what Jane had said about his being in love with Sasha. He stared contently at Sasha feeling his heart beat quicken. There was no way Peter could be in love…only adults were allowed to be in love. And as everyone knew Peter Pan was no adult…
"What's wrong?" Sasha inquired suddenly, "you look like you swallowed a bug or something."
"I'm fine." Peter replied, standing up and fixing his leafy costume. "We should get back home, it's almost mid-day."
Sasha nodded and handed the telescope back to Peter. Then she stood up and bounced off of the cloud. "Wee…" She laughed as she floated in mid-air. She turned around and flew down in the direction of the tree house. Peter followed slowly behind her, deep in thought.
Peter was afraid that if he admitted to himself that he loved Sasha, she'd leave him shortly after…just like his…Wendy.
"Boys!" Sasha called out as she stepped into the tree house.
Immediately, all the boys ran to Peter and began hugging him. "Father you're alright!"
Peter nodded quietly, avoiding eye contact with Sasha. He pat Todd's head and then turned towards the rest of the boys, "I am going to retire now."
He sighed and walked into his living quarters leaving Sasha alone with the boys. Sasha fixed her tank top and sat down in the big arm chair, holding Todd in her lap. "How about I finish my story?"
The boys all cheered and sat around her happily. "Okay, now then as we left off…the magical curse."
Peter stood quietly against the doorway listening the end of Sasha's story. He had spent the afternoon in his bed crying quietly to himself, but he wasn't sure why. He sat down on the soft ground and pressed his cheek against the doorway.
"For one hundred years the kingdom slept peacefully…and as the prince walked past the castle gates with his bloody sword, he found this very odd indeed. He placed his sword and armour on a stone bench and without hesitation he ran into the tower where the sleeping princess lay. As he approached her bed, his noticed that it was surrounded by beautiful silver roses. He smiled to himself and leaned over her. How beautiful Regan looked to him. He knew he loved her from the beginning and he had been waiting so long to kiss her…He closed his light green eyes and gently kissed her on the lips…Suddenly the princess stirred and opened her soft brown eyes, smiling warmly up at him."
The boys gasped, "She's alive!" Slim cheered.
Sasha nodded, 'Hello Princess…oh I love you…' "and he did love her and they lived happily ever after. The End."
The boys cheered happily, "Tell us another one!"
Sasha yawned, "not tonight, it's getting late. I'll tell you one tomorrow". She stood up and carried Todd to his tiny bed. Then she gently kissed his forehead and bid the rest of the boys goodnight. She couldn't believe how much time had already passed in just that one day. How long had she been in Neverland? -she wondered.
Sasha walked into her part of the room and noticed Peter sitting on the ground. He stood up and grabbed her hand, "Come on…" he whispered.
Together they left the tree house and flew out into the night sky. If possible Neverland was even more beautiful at night with all the giant shimmering stars. You could never see stars like that in L.A. or in London. Peter lead Sasha down towards the giant Oak tree.
"Watch…" He whispered and they approached the tree.
Sasha looked down inside the tree and noticed many fairie couples dancing gaily in each other's arms. "They're playing for us Sasha."
"This is amazing…"
"I come here a lot by myself to watch them. They really are magical creatures…"
Sasha drew in a deep breath as the tiny fairies all flew out of the tree. They were so beautiful with their magnificent gold colored wings. Even the male fairies had magnificently colored wings. Sasha had never seen anything so spectacular in her entire life. As the fairies flew towards Peter and Sasha it seemed as if they were forcing them closer together. Peter Peter smiled placing his hands on Sasha's shoulders while she placed her hands on his waist. The fairies floated above the pair sprinkling their magical dust all around them. Sasha held tightly onto Peter as they began to slowly spin around in circles.
"This night is such a lovely night…" Sasha whispered in Peter's ear.
Peter suddenly let go of Sasha's shoulders. He flew back against the trunk of the Oak tree. "Love has nothing to do with it!"
"What? Peter?" Sasha spoke floating back to the ground. "Love has everything to do with it."
"No, no it doesn't. Just the very thought makes me ill."
Sasha glared at him, "Peter? What are you saying? If you're…" Sasha paused trying not to cry, "If you're not in love with me then why did you bring me here?"
"Because the boys needed a mother!" Peter exclaimed.
"And what about you Peter what do you need?" Sasha cried as Peter ran off in the opposite direction.
She cried burying her face in her hands. It would be another hour before she got the strength to walk back to the tree house.
Sasha awoke from her bed, days later feeling as sore as ever. It had been three days and Peter still hadn't returned to the tree house. Sasha knew that she'd have to find a way to go back home since he made it perfectly clear that he didn't want her around. Why else would he be avoiding her for so long? If Sasha hadn't named the boys after the days of the week she wouldn't have known how long Peter had been gone.
She stretched her arms and then tiredly walked into the kitchen. Todd ran up to her and hugged her gently around the waist. All the boys knew that she had spent each night in her bed crying herself to sleep.
"Mother it's raining outside still…" Spoke Friday.
"That's alright, we have some left over strawberries from yesterday's breakfast. Why don't you go and set the table?" Sasha replied.
"Father still hasn't come back has he?" Inquired Slim as Sasha walked over to the table.
She looked down at the wilted silver roses and decided it was time to toss them out. She turned towards Slim and shook her head. Sasha then decided that if Peter didn't come back to the tree house that night, she'd leave the Neverland forever.
Yeah, she'd miss the boys terribly but in time they'd forget about her. As Sasha sat at the far end of the table she began to think of California. But the more she thought about her previous life the less she could remember. At first she forgot what the condo looked like, then it was her school, her friends and finally she was beginning to forget her family as well. Sasha didn't want to forget her family but more importantly, she didn't want to be them to forget her.
Sasha awoke the next morning from the comfortable bed the lost boys had made for her the previous night before. She smiled and stretched her arms. She opened the curtains and walked into the "living room". The lost boys were sitting around Peter, who was sitting his big arm chair.
"Good morning Mother."
"Good morning Father. Good morning children."
There was a unison of good mornings as Sasha stood behind the triplets. "What is for breakfast?"
"We have to go out and get breakfast…" Peter replied smiling at Sasha.
"Can I come Mother?" Inquired Tiny. He was smaller than the rest of the boys and by far younger. His name fit him well. Sasha took a liking to him right away.
"I select you Tiny, to show me where to get food for our breakfast. Then you can help me make it for everyone." Sasha spoke and looked at the group of boys, "Your nickname will be Monday."
"Monday Mother?" Tiny stared at her confused.
"Yes, Monday. See, today for example is Monday, so every Monday you will help me pick berries. Since there are seven of you boys, I will call you each by a day of the week. That way I never loose track of the days." Sasha walked towards the circle of boys.
She turned and pointed at the triplets, "You triplets, you will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday…since Peter didn't seem to find it in his best interest to give you real names."
Sasha turned and pointed at Sammie, "You Sammie, you're Friday. Slim you will be Saturday and Billy, you will be Sunday. Remember your names boys! That is key!"
"Now then, come on Monday we're going to gather some berries."
Tiny jumped up and grabbed Sasha's hand. He grinned at the other boys and then lead her out of the tree house. Sasha turned back and looked at Peter, they shared a quick private smile and then Sasha followed Tiny into the forest.
In Tiny's hand was a small wooden bucket. They walked a ways towards a near-by stream and a bush of blueberries and raspberries. Quietly, they both set to work gathering as many berries as they could.
"My real name isn't Tiny you know…" Monday told Sasha.
She looked down at him, "What's your name?"
"I can't remember, none of us boys can except for Billy. But I know it wasn't Tiny. I…" Monday paused and glanced around quickly making sure no one else was in listening distance.
"I hate the name Tiny. I know I am smaller than the rest of the boys…but sometimes I wish I wasn't. I wish…" Tiny leaned in closer towards Sasha, "I wish I was older."
Sasha knelt down towards Tiny and smiled softly at him. "Well I will just have to give you a new name that's all."
"Nobody here grows up! How could you WANT to be a man?" Peter yelled loudly as he flew down from an enormous tree branch.
At this Tiny started to cry. He'd never seen Peter this upset. "If you want to grow up, then I will no longer house you. Go back to England and...grow up for all I care!"
Sasha stood up in front of Tiny, protectively, "Peter! How dare you! Now he is my son too and I have a say in this as much as you do! If you're to banish Tiny then you may as well banish me too!"
Peter stared dumbfounded at Sasha. He couldn't believe she just went against him like that. "Fine! I take it back!" He shouted and flew high up into the air.
Sasha turned back towards Tiny, "Don't worry, you don't have to go back to England. Not so long as I am here. Now about that name, how about Todd?"
"Todd? I like it!" Tiny grinned, wrapping his well, tiny arms around Sasha's waist.
"Come on Todd, we have to get home, I bet your brothers are starving."
Together, hand in hand they walked back to the tree house. Sasha picked up the bucket and walked happily along with Todd. She had always wanted a younger sibling and now she had one. She was so caught up with getting to the tree house with food that she didn't notice Hawk the pirate in the bushes watching her every move.
"We're home!"
Sasha followed Todd into the kitchen area as the rest of the boys gathered round them. Sasha divided the berries into two piles, blueberries and raspberries. Then she washed them each underneath a stream of water. She got out nine wooden plates and divided the berries amongst each of them. Each one had a special smiley face on it composed of two blue berries for the eyes and the rest made out of the raspberries.
"Breakfast is ready! But first you all have to wash your hands, even you Peter."
As the boys washed their hands, Sasha set the table with the berries. Then she sat down at the far end and looked over at Todd.
"I have an announcement to make boys. Tiny's new name is now Todd. You all will address him by Todd. Anyone that does not do so will have to eat slugs for a week!" Sasha giggled at this, "dig in!"
During breakfast, Sasha watched Peter at the far end of the table. He grunted throwing one leg over the side of his chair and began picking at the blueberries on his plate. Sasha was disappointed at this, Todd had told her that blueberries were Peter's favourite. Peter huffed when he noticed her staring at him. He turned his head and looked at Wednesday, "Don't play with your food!"
Wednesday sniffled and looked down at his plate, trying hard not to start crying. Sasha had enough of this. What was Peter's problem?
"Come on boys, let's leave your father alone to clean the table. I'll tell you a story."
Sasha glared at him and then shuffled the boys out of the room. They went into the living room and Sasha sat down in Peter's big arm chair. Immediately Todd crawled in Sasha's lap while the triplets sat around her. She smiled warmly down at Wednesday.
"This is a story of a beautiful young maiden called…" Sasha paused, "called Regan. Regan was a princess in a castle not to far from here. Now the day Regan was born many of the villagers had come to the castle to bestow gifts upon her. All the gifts were wonderful save for one, a magic curse…" Sasha looked up, suddenly interrupted by a loud noise. It was coming from Peter's pipes. He was play so loudly that none of the boys could hear Sasha's story.
Sasha groaned and helped Todd to the floor. "Go play outside!" She shouted over the music.
The boys followed her orders and ran outside into the forest. Sasha brushed her jeans and walked into the kitchen, completely ignoring Peter. She glanced down at the table and noticed it was still messy with the children's half-eaten breakfast. Sasha walked over to the a wooden stool and picked up some un-used cheese cloth. Then she wrapped up the uneaten berries and stored them away as a mid-day snack. She picked up the plates and brushed past Peter, but still didn't look at him. She ran the plates underneath the stream of water getting the bits of seed off as best as she could.
"I may be their pretend mother but I am certainly not yours." She spoke quietly and then walked out of the kitchen. Peter immediately stopped playing the pipes gaily and was replaced by a different emotion, guilt.
She went to her bed and drew the curtain around her. Peter huffed as he walked out of the kitchen. He didn't want Sasha to be upset with him. He didn't want to lose her too. He left the tree house and walked past the lost boys without speaking a word to them. If his fairie Tinker Bell were still alive, he'd ask her for a suggestion…but then Tinker Bell would probably be jealous of Sasha and try to do her in. As Peter walked further into the woods he noticed a rose bush in the distance. Girls loved roses! Peter smiled at himself, oh how clever he was. He bent over the rose bush and realized that they were coated in pixie dust. Once Sasha forgave him, he'd teach her how to fly.
Sasha emerged from her bed in the afternoon. She fixed her ponytail and wandered outside to check on the boys. As she suspected, they were all playing happily amongst the trees. Sasha nodded and then walked back into the house, surprised to find Peter standing there.
"I thought you left.." She trailed off.
"I did leave." He replied with his hands behind his back. He winced because of all the cuts on his palms. "I, brought these for you." He brought his hands forward and showed her the bouquet of silver roses.
"Oh Peter! You're bleeding!"
She took the roses out of his hands and set them aside, then carefully she took him to the kitchen. "This may sting." She spoke placing his hands under the stream. Peter closed his eyes and in a second it was all over. Sasha had wrapped his hands with the remaining cheese cloth.
"All better?"
Peter nodded his head and smiled a tiny bit at Sasha. Sasha walked back into the other room and picked up the roses. Gingerly, she brought them back into the kitchen and placed them in a vase Billy had stolen from a pirate called Sim. Then she set them in the centre of the table and smiled and their beauty. Never in her life had she seen silver roses.
"The roses are lovely, thank you."
She walked over to Peter and carefully hugged him. Then she stood back and kissed him gently on the cheek. It was Peter who made the next move. He carefully placed his bandaged hand on Sasha's cheek and closed his eyes tightly, kissing her on the lips. Sasha placed her hands on Peter's shoulders and kissed him back. When she opened her eyes she noticed that they were floating above the ground.
Sasha gasped wrapping her arms tighter around his neck, "what's happening?"
"We're flying…" Peter whispered.
"But how?"
"The roses were covered in pixie dust."
Sasha kicked her feet slightly and then looked back up at Peter, "this is amazing."
"Look at Mother and Father!" Slim exclaimed as the lost boys entered the room.
Sasha looked down and suddenly the floor was right beneath her arms. She cried in pain as Todd ran towards her, "Mother are you ok?"
Peter pushed Todd out his way and knelt down beside Sasha, "Sasha?"
He looked worriedly at her face and then looked at the lost boys unsure of what to do.
"I think I'll be okay, just in a lot of pain…" Sasha whispered rolling over on her back.
"Boys, let's carry her to her bed!"
…
That night, Peter flew back to England. He knew it wouldn't be long before Sasha would start to miss her home. He had to speak with Margaret right away.
As he flew over the townhouse he noticed a man storming down the street. Little did he know, that the man was Sasha's father Oliver. Peter flew to the third story balcony and tapped on the window.
Both Jane and Margaret jumped up, surprised by Peter's presence. Margaret looked like she wanted to ring his neck, but Jane was more than happy to see him.
"Oh Sasha is wonderful!" He cried flying in circles around the ceiling before sitting down on the bed.
Margaret glared at him angrily unable to speak. She was afraid if she spoke she'd begin to cry and not stop. Jane looked up and Peter and smiled, "Why Peter, you're glowing. Margaret do you see that? He's glowing! Why he's in-"
"Mother don't you dare say it! It's not true, it can't be!" Margaret barked.
"But it is true, just look at him."
Margaret glanced away loosely brushing the falling tears from her rosy cheeks. She had lost Sasha forever…and there was no way she'd get her family to understand. Oliver had already walked out on her just moments ago.
Peter looked at both of them with a confused expression plastered on his face. "What's true?"
"Why that you're in love with Sasha!" Jane exclaimed happily.
For a moment Peter froze still and then flew against the ceiling to get away from Jane. He glared at her with an odd expression on his face, "Love? Don't be absurd!"
"Why Peter it is as clear as daylight!"
Peter looked down at Jane, suddenly feeling dizzy, "I have to go!"
Margaret ran up to the window and called after him, "Peter you get back here this instant!"
But he was too far gone by then.
Margaret collapsed on the ground and cried softly, "I have to let her go don't I?"
Jane didn't speak but just simply nodded her head.
…
Sasha awoke early the next morning, being tugged by Tuesday's arm. She turned and stared sleepily at him. "It's Tuesday Mother!"
"So it is…"
"We have to get breakfast for everyone!"
"Okay, I'll meet you in the kitchen in a couple of minutes."
Tuesday smiled and skipped happily into the kitchen. Sasha grabbed her right side and slowly got out of the bed. She was in so much pain that it hurt to move around. She stood up and slightly lifted up her tank top to reveal and large black and blue bruise on her side. She winced and ambled into the kitchen.
"Mother? Where is Father?" Sammie inquired as Sasha met Tuesday in the kitchen.
"Is he not here?" She responded stupidly.
"No and look, the sun isn't out…" Whispered Thursday pointing out the hole in the tree trunk.
Sasha shook her head and clutched her side again, "Don't worry boys. He'll be alright…just wash up for breakfast okay? Tuesday and I are going to pick some berries."
Peter flew among the clouds feeling worse than he had back in the nursery. He felt as if the whole world were spinning in circles around him and he didn't know why. Like a baby bird fallen out of his nest, he floated to the ground.
"What was that?" Sasha cried noticing something in the distance.
Immediately she dropped her bucket and ran towards the fallen creature. She gasped in horror when she realized that it was Peter. He had his eyes closed and laid perfectly still. Sasha turned and faced Tuesday, "Go and fetch Wendy's house! Get the other boys to help you…Peter won't be going anywhere for awhile."
Tuesday nodded his head and quickly ran back towards the tree house. Sasha brushed back her lose strand of hair and leaned closely to him. "Oh Peter…what on earth happened to you?"
She gently brushed his cheek and sat down beside him. Peter moaned slowly opening his eyes,
staring up at Sasha, "uh.."
Sasha gently kissed his cheek, "you'll be alright, just rest up. The boys are bringing Wendy's house. I can stay with you if you like…"
Peter nodded his head slightly and then closed his eyes again. Sasha held back a giggle and got to her feet. She walked back towards the basket of berries and decided to carry them back to the three house. "Peter, I have to make sure the boys have their breakfast. I'll be back."
Sasha met Sammie on her way back to the house, "Tell Tuesday when he is finished to come back home and help me make breakfast. And please make sure that Peter is comfortable."
"Yes Mother!" Sammie replied grinning from ear to ear. Hearing that his father was alright was good news.
Fifteen minutes later, Sasha and Tuesday had composed a wonderful breakfast for the boys. "I shall return during the afternoon to check on you."
"Don't worry about it Mother, just take care of Father." Tuesday replied.
"Okay, thank you." Sasha picked up the cheese cloth of berries from the previous day and then began her journey back to Wendy's house. When she walked back to the tiny house she realized that it was empty. Sasha didn't know whether to be worried or not. She sat down and placed the berries on the ground.
"You were gone a long time." Peter spoke entering the house.
"How are you feeling?" Sasha questioned, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Much better."
"Good, now that you're feeling much better, can you show me the island?"
"Of course!" Peter replied placing his hands on his waist.
Sasha released him and laughed, she wanted to see exactly what had been in her mother's stories. Peter opened a leather pouch on his side and sprinkled pixie dust on Sasha. She walked out of the house and flew in circles around it three times. Then Peter flew beside her and took her hand. Higher and higher in the sky they flew, up towards the clouds. "See that smoke stack down there? And those tents? That's where the Redskins live."
"I see it."
"And over there is the Jolly Roger, which once belonged to Captain Hook. Surely you've heard of him? Well, anyway he's dead now."
Sasha looked down at the magnificent sailing ship and then back up at Peter, "are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. I saw that crocodile swallow him whole."
"Oh."
Peter laid down on a giant cloud and Sasha laid down beside him, wondering how it was possible that they didn't fall through. "And down there as you well know is the Mermaid's cove."
"Who sails the Jolly Roger now?"
"Just some of Hook's old men, they don't bother us much and we don't bother them…unless we run into them in the woods or something. Then we just kill 'em…"
"That's terrible!" Sasha exclaimed.
"Oh we love it! The boys don't see much action since Hook died… But anyway, down there, that giant Oak tree is where the fairies live. See how it's glowing? They're dancing right now…"
"Wow…" Sasha whispered.
"And the other side of the island, that's where the boys and I like to go swimming, near the black castle."
"This island, this place is so wonderful…"
Peter smiled at Sasha and watched her as she used his telescope to look closer at the island.
Then he remembered what Jane had said about his being in love with Sasha. He stared contently at Sasha feeling his heart beat quicken. There was no way Peter could be in love…only adults were allowed to be in love. And as everyone knew Peter Pan was no adult…
"What's wrong?" Sasha inquired suddenly, "you look like you swallowed a bug or something."
"I'm fine." Peter replied, standing up and fixing his leafy costume. "We should get back home, it's almost mid-day."
Sasha nodded and handed the telescope back to Peter. Then she stood up and bounced off of the cloud. "Wee…" She laughed as she floated in mid-air. She turned around and flew down in the direction of the tree house. Peter followed slowly behind her, deep in thought.
Peter was afraid that if he admitted to himself that he loved Sasha, she'd leave him shortly after…just like his…Wendy.
"Boys!" Sasha called out as she stepped into the tree house.
Immediately, all the boys ran to Peter and began hugging him. "Father you're alright!"
Peter nodded quietly, avoiding eye contact with Sasha. He pat Todd's head and then turned towards the rest of the boys, "I am going to retire now."
He sighed and walked into his living quarters leaving Sasha alone with the boys. Sasha fixed her tank top and sat down in the big arm chair, holding Todd in her lap. "How about I finish my story?"
The boys all cheered and sat around her happily. "Okay, now then as we left off…the magical curse."
Peter stood quietly against the doorway listening the end of Sasha's story. He had spent the afternoon in his bed crying quietly to himself, but he wasn't sure why. He sat down on the soft ground and pressed his cheek against the doorway.
"For one hundred years the kingdom slept peacefully…and as the prince walked past the castle gates with his bloody sword, he found this very odd indeed. He placed his sword and armour on a stone bench and without hesitation he ran into the tower where the sleeping princess lay. As he approached her bed, his noticed that it was surrounded by beautiful silver roses. He smiled to himself and leaned over her. How beautiful Regan looked to him. He knew he loved her from the beginning and he had been waiting so long to kiss her…He closed his light green eyes and gently kissed her on the lips…Suddenly the princess stirred and opened her soft brown eyes, smiling warmly up at him."
The boys gasped, "She's alive!" Slim cheered.
Sasha nodded, 'Hello Princess…oh I love you…' "and he did love her and they lived happily ever after. The End."
The boys cheered happily, "Tell us another one!"
Sasha yawned, "not tonight, it's getting late. I'll tell you one tomorrow". She stood up and carried Todd to his tiny bed. Then she gently kissed his forehead and bid the rest of the boys goodnight. She couldn't believe how much time had already passed in just that one day. How long had she been in Neverland? -she wondered.
Sasha walked into her part of the room and noticed Peter sitting on the ground. He stood up and grabbed her hand, "Come on…" he whispered.
Together they left the tree house and flew out into the night sky. If possible Neverland was even more beautiful at night with all the giant shimmering stars. You could never see stars like that in L.A. or in London. Peter lead Sasha down towards the giant Oak tree.
"Watch…" He whispered and they approached the tree.
Sasha looked down inside the tree and noticed many fairie couples dancing gaily in each other's arms. "They're playing for us Sasha."
"This is amazing…"
"I come here a lot by myself to watch them. They really are magical creatures…"
Sasha drew in a deep breath as the tiny fairies all flew out of the tree. They were so beautiful with their magnificent gold colored wings. Even the male fairies had magnificently colored wings. Sasha had never seen anything so spectacular in her entire life. As the fairies flew towards Peter and Sasha it seemed as if they were forcing them closer together. Peter Peter smiled placing his hands on Sasha's shoulders while she placed her hands on his waist. The fairies floated above the pair sprinkling their magical dust all around them. Sasha held tightly onto Peter as they began to slowly spin around in circles.
"This night is such a lovely night…" Sasha whispered in Peter's ear.
Peter suddenly let go of Sasha's shoulders. He flew back against the trunk of the Oak tree. "Love has nothing to do with it!"
"What? Peter?" Sasha spoke floating back to the ground. "Love has everything to do with it."
"No, no it doesn't. Just the very thought makes me ill."
Sasha glared at him, "Peter? What are you saying? If you're…" Sasha paused trying not to cry, "If you're not in love with me then why did you bring me here?"
"Because the boys needed a mother!" Peter exclaimed.
"And what about you Peter what do you need?" Sasha cried as Peter ran off in the opposite direction.
She cried burying her face in her hands. It would be another hour before she got the strength to walk back to the tree house.
Sasha awoke from her bed, days later feeling as sore as ever. It had been three days and Peter still hadn't returned to the tree house. Sasha knew that she'd have to find a way to go back home since he made it perfectly clear that he didn't want her around. Why else would he be avoiding her for so long? If Sasha hadn't named the boys after the days of the week she wouldn't have known how long Peter had been gone.
She stretched her arms and then tiredly walked into the kitchen. Todd ran up to her and hugged her gently around the waist. All the boys knew that she had spent each night in her bed crying herself to sleep.
"Mother it's raining outside still…" Spoke Friday.
"That's alright, we have some left over strawberries from yesterday's breakfast. Why don't you go and set the table?" Sasha replied.
"Father still hasn't come back has he?" Inquired Slim as Sasha walked over to the table.
She looked down at the wilted silver roses and decided it was time to toss them out. She turned towards Slim and shook her head. Sasha then decided that if Peter didn't come back to the tree house that night, she'd leave the Neverland forever.
Yeah, she'd miss the boys terribly but in time they'd forget about her. As Sasha sat at the far end of the table she began to think of California. But the more she thought about her previous life the less she could remember. At first she forgot what the condo looked like, then it was her school, her friends and finally she was beginning to forget her family as well. Sasha didn't want to forget her family but more importantly, she didn't want to be them to forget her.