Chapter 17: Diaries

Amy and Peter had some time to themselves when the boys were put to bed. Little Marzi was also in bed, confident that Peter and Amy would be in bed soon.

Right now, both Peter and Amy were writing in their journals. Amy had bought a journal each for Peter, Petra, and herself. Petra was in her room, writing in her book, while Peter and Amy were sitting at the table in the main room to do their writing.

Dear Diary, Amy's entry began.

Peter is so very sweet! I woke up this morning with a headache, and he told me to just rest, and he'd take care of things today! He gave me a kiss and a smile, then picked up Marzi and took her in the other room. I slept for hours, and the headache went away. I got up and entered the main room of the house. Peter had some food set out for me, and a note:

Amy,

Decided to take everyone on an outing so that you could get some rest. Here's something for you to eat. Please come and join us when --and if-- you feel like it.

Love,
Peter

How very sweet of Peter! I noticed, however, that he had forgotten to put down where he and the others went. I ate the food, then flew out to see if I could find them.

Meanwhile, Peter began his own journal thusly:

Hi, Diary!

Amy's head hurt when she woke up this morning, so I let her rest and took Marzi, Petra, the boys, and the pixies with me to the meadow. I know I should have had Dusty stay with her, but Amy said a nap would do just as good. So I let her sleep in.

She found us in the meadow, where we were playing tag. (I had forgotten to tell her where we were going...) We were all happy to see her. I flew up to meet her when she arrived. Then, we played games awhile, until it was time to go home. Oddly enough, we began sleeping during the nighttime after Amy arrived. We used to sleep whenever we wanted. Oh, well. Small price to pay for Amy's love and company.

As Peter was writing, something soft rubbed against his leg. He looked down and smiled. Tiger. When he arrived, Amy's golden-striped pet had only been a kitten. But now, Tiger was a full-grown cat!

Tiger stopped rubbing Peter's leg, and jumped onto his lap. Then, the cat concluded his trip by jumping upon the table and sitting down --right on the page where Peter was writing!.

Amy hid a giggle as the red-haired boy attempted to deal with this intrution into his private thoughts. First, Peter simply lifted the cat off the book and set it down on the floor. Tiger simply climbed right back up and sat down on the page again. Peter repeated the action, and Tiger would hop right back on the page again. Peter did this several times, with the same results.

Tiger has become a family pet, Amy continued to write. Petra, Marzi, and the boys play with him a lot, but they don't mess with him. Not since he gained the power to become a giant, winged golden tiger. Tiger pretty much has the run of the underground house, even going into Peter and Petra's private rooms.

Peter lifted the cat into his arms and scratched it behind the ears, trying to think of a way to distract Tiger so that he could continue writing. A quick glance at a corner, and Peter gave one of his mischievious grins.

"Tiger," he said, "if you look over there, you might find a mouse. Why don't you go chase it?"

Good try, Peter, Amy thought. Tiger just blinked at the boy, then lept from his arms and curled back up on Peter's journal and went back to sleep.

Peter folded his arms and "hmphed" as he glared at the dozing feline. Amy could not help but giggle at this. Feeling sorry for Peter, she got out Tiger's favorite toy: A cloth "mouse" filled with catnip. Amy waved the "mouse" in front Tiger, and the smell of the catnip lured the cat away from Peter's book. As soon as Tiger was clear of the journal, Peter grabbed it up. Amy then put the "mouse' down on the bare table, and the cat curled itself around the toy and went back to sleep, purring contentedly.

"Thanks," Peter smiled at Amy. She smiled back at him, then continued with her writing. Peter also got back to his writing.

Amy is clever, Peter wrote. And I don't just mean with the cat! She knows how to stretch food supplies, as well as how to trick Hook. And she tells stories like you'd never believe! Alhtough, Peter paused with a slight frown, none of the stories she tells has me in them. Still, her stories are works of wonder.

Amy thought about her relationship with Peter. There was no doubt about it: They loved each other very much. Their relationship could never be physical, but that did not matter. It was how they felt about each other that counted.

Amy yawned and stretched. It had been a long --but nice-- day, and she was tired. She closed her journal, stood up, and picked the book up from the table. She looked at Peter.

"I'm ready for bed. How about you?"

"Yeah," he yawned. "I'm ready, too." He closed his book and rose to follow her to their room, his journal in his hand. In their bedroom, Peter and Amy placed the diaries in their hiding places, then turned to their bed.

Peter had switched back to permenantly sleeping in the bed with Marzi and Amy weeks ago. It seemed a better arrangement than him in his hammock, and the two girls in the bed. And with all the storms they had been haveing lately, he was sharing the bed with them to keep Marzi calm, anyway.

"Good night, Amy," he said softly. He kissed her on the cheek, then gave the sleeping Marzi a kiss on her forhead.

"Good night, Peter," Amy answered. He was already asleep, but Amy returned his kiss anyway, brushing her lips to his cheek. Then, she snuggled close to Marzi, putting her arm around the small girl, protectively.

In his sleep, Peter placed his arm around both girls. The three of them slept thus, quietly, as the household finally settled down to sleep.


Next: The Croc Returns. In Peter Pan II: Return to Neverland, Captain Hook mentions "ridding himself of the Crocodile". That does not mean that Hook killed the Croc. What if it returned to resume it's search for Hook, and what happens if it runs into the Octopus?