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Notes from the Authoress: Hey guys, ellie here! Great news: I saw Peter Pan for the 5th time last night! I really do think that I'm going into psycho mode, it's just not healthy. Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter six, and bammaslamma, you asked for more detail so check it out and see if I did any better! Keep reviewing guys; it's completely my source of motivation, aside from my love of writing. Unfortunately, I am in an opera right now and the director is FLIPPING OUT! But that's beside the point. I thought that I had a plan for this story, but these damn characters really do have a mind of their own, they just seem to do whatever they want. Oh well. By the way, I've treated you all to an extra-long chapter this time, because I know my previous ones were kind of short. Unfortunately, this has got to be your fix, I think after this they're gonna go back to regular- length, mmmmkay? Keep reading and reviewing, it's much appreciated!! I LOVE YOU ALL ~Ellie~
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The room was silent. All the boys were now looking at John and Peter. Peter sat on the floor looking expectantly at John, awaiting an answer to his question.
John didn't want to answer Peter's question. Not only would it be difficult to explain, but when and if Peter understood, he would probably be heartbroken. John could easily see what Peter and Wendy couldn't; he could put into words what they couldn't say to each other. How was Peter going to react? How on earth was John going to explain this delicately? Beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead as he became aware that all eyes were on him.
"Peter, when a girl grows up, she is expected to have children and to raise them to become good adults as well. Now, in order to have these children, she needs a husband." Peter stared at John, bewildered. That sounded just absurd to him.
"Wendy doesn't need to marry. She can find the children on her own! Why does she need a husband to help her find the children? And what's a husband?"
John sighed. This was going to take a long time. He could hear muffled laughter coming from the boys. "Now this is where the term 'marriage' comes into play. You see, in order to get a husband, you have to marry a man. A marriage is two things, really. The actual marriages is a ceremony in which the man and the woman exchange vows that they will spend the rest of their lives together, and love each other forever. The woman gives the man a kiss, or a thimble, I guess. The second part of a marriage is that the man and the woman spend their entire lives together."
Peter's insides tightened. Wendy was marrying the governor's son, so that must have meant that she loved him. He couldn't bear the thought of it. Also, didn't her thimble belong to him? That's what she had said when she'd given it to him. But maybe it was pretend, like she's said earlier. "But that doesn't explain why she needs him to find the children," he said defiantly.
John sighed. Peter was never going to understand this part of a marriage, so he decided it was best to make up his own explanation. After all, Peter would be happy with whatever he told him, and he'd be none the wiser. "Well, the woman needs a man to help her find the children because there is just so much housework for her to do that the man has to do the child- hunting. But the woman helps to find the children with whatever time she can spare away from her housework." There. It was a perfectly reasonable explanation, and he had managed to sidestep the real one.
"And they're in-in love?" Peter asked quietly. He couldn't even look at John anymore. "Yes."
"But what is love exactly?" Peter had a vague idea, but he wanted to be sure. He needed to know. 'Finally, something I can actually answer,' John thought with relief. "I can't say I've ever been in love myself, Peter, but Wendy has told me the most-ahem-interesting things about it. When you love a person, you think about them all the time."
'I think about Wendy all the time.'
"When you're in love with someone, you always want to be with them."
'I always want to be with her.'
"You can't imagine life without them."
'What would life be like without Wendy?' Peter thought. He tried to imagine it, but he couldn't. Life wouldn't be worth living without his Wendy.
"You want their-erm-thimble to belong to you and only you. You get insanely jealous at the thought of them being with someone else besides you."
Peter thought of the governor's son, Edward, and Wendy becoming.married. He thought of Edward receiving Wendy's hidden kiss. The one that she had promised to him forever. His stomach tied itself in a knot and his blood boiled. 'This must be what jealousy feels like,' he thought to himself.
"And that's what love is," John finished. "Thank you, John. I think I'm going to go to bed now." The boys began to protest. "But Peter, it's still so early! Don't you want to play pirates with us? You can be Long Tom! Michael's already got dibs on Hook," Tootles proclaimed.
"No thanks," Peter said wearily. "I just don't feel like playing games tonight." And with that he walked over to the bed that the boys had made up for him, leaving the gaggle of disheartened boys behind. "You sound just like Wendy when you talk like that," Nibs called after him.
But Peter wasn't listening. He was too busy thinking. Everything John had said about love was true. He was feeling everything; his senses were in overdrive when he was around Wendy. There was only one simple explanation for all of his tortured dreams for the past six years.
Peter Pan, the boy who didn't have to bother with grown-up feelings-
Peter Pan, the boy who didn't grow up-was in love.
He could finally admit it to himself. It was all so clear now. He wondered why he hadn't seen it before. His heart burst with the joy of this knowledge, and the entire night sky seemed to shine one hundred times brighter than it had before. And it was all because he was in love with Wendy.
His Wendy.
"I love you, Wendy-girl."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But as soon as the stars and the moon brightened, they dimmed again as a terrible thought hit Peter. Wendy was to be 'married' to Sir Edward Dean, the governor's son.
She loved him.
A lone tear slipped down his face.
Wendy could never be his.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile, at the long-awaited engagement party
Wendy shivered against the cold night air as she was helped out of the carriage along with her mother and father. The house that they had stopped in front of was no ordinary house - it was an extraordinary house. It was a gargantuan structure of marble. Corinthian columns spiraled into the night air, supporting the canopy of white marble shadowing the front stairs. The gardens and fountains that surrounded the mansion were all aglow, and the twinkling lights in the flowers reminded Wendy of the dancing faeries she had seen so many years ago.
She winced at the thought. Any thought or memory that involved Peter made her heart break. Immediately after she had fled from him she had felt terrible, and she was fraught with the fear that he might have flown home- without ever saying goodbye. But she had other things to think about now.
She jolted back to reality as her mother nudged her and whispered, "Wendy, Sir Edward is waving at you! Aren't you going to acknowledge him?" Wendy waved sheepishly at the young man that awaited her at the entrance of the house. He was a good-looking young man, with dark hair that was slicked back formally, and he wore a princely suit. His eyes were a dark hazel, and they appraised her every step. She felt naked under his gaze. It was very disconcerting. Edward was notorious for being a 'player', as they called it, and everyone had been surprised when he had wanted to marry Wendy.
"Ah, my bride to be; Wendy, my love, how are you?" Edward said in a cool, smooth voice that sounded like almost-frozen water. He took her hand and kissed it, his eyes on her face the entire time. "Do come in, Wendy dearest. Yes, and hello, Mr. and Mrs. Darling! What a certainly fine night to have our party-so glad you and you're enchanting daughter could make it. And might I say you look lovely this evening, Mrs. Darling."
"Oh dear, you are such a charming young man," Mrs. Darling gushed as they began to walk inside. He led Wendy inside by her arm - a little too forcefully it seemed to her. It made her uncomfortable the way he looked at her the entire time.
The grand hall in the governor's house was enormous. The ceiling must have been up around one hundred feet, and its beautiful dome was decorated by paintings of cherubim and seraphim playing their harps and singing. There were multitudes of beautifully dressed men and women, all who looked as though they came from supremely wealthy households. A group of distinguished-looking men sat in a corner with music stands and violins, where they were serenading the chatting guests. A long table was set up near the other end of the hall, where the places were set in the most elaborate way; Wendy guessed the two chairs in the center were for her and Edward.
"Wendy! How wonderful to see you! How do you do, Mr. Darling, Mrs. Darling?" Edward's father, the governor himself, had come over to greet Wendy and her parents. He was a jovial, good-natured man who was quick with his sometimes harsh comments.
"Lovely, sir; thank you," Wendy said quietly, curtsying before Edward took her hand again and led her down the stairs. "This is going to be quite the party, my love," said Edward as he whirled her away onto the dance floor.
Wendy sighed inwardly. It was going to be a long night.
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After the festivities had died down a bit, Wendy found herself, Edward, and everyone else seated at the long table, preparing for dinner.
The governor stood up and rang his glass with his spoon, and all eyes turned respectfully to him. "Lovely ladies and gentlemen, tonight is a special night indeed, for tonight is the night that the engagement of my son, Sir Edward Dean, and the enchanting Ms. Wendy Darling is official! I wish only the best to them as they prepare for what will most certainly be the most memorable day of their lives. So I ask you to join me in a round of applause for our young lovers!"
Edward stood up and pulled Wendy with him. He kissed her, and she recoiled. It was a cruel, commanding kiss that made her stomach lurch. The grand hall erupted with applause as the violins began to play again.
Once dinner was well underway, Edward took a moment to lean over to Wendy. "You look just delightful, you beautiful creature," he whispered into her ear, and Wendy wrinkled her nose in disgust. His slimy manner sent uncomfortable chills down her spine.
"Thank you sir," she said coldly, and turned back to her food. But Edward wasn't finished.
She felt his hand snake up her leg, and she drew away quickly. "Why do you shrink away from me? We're going to spend the rest of our lives together, you might as well get used to my more-forward-actions." Wendy stared at him in disgust. How could someone so cool and clean looking be so sleazy and disgusting? She was still very aware that Edward's eyes were glued on her, and her heart was racing in fear.
She turned to her mother, who was chatting happily with the governor and his wife, who was wearing more jewels than she had ever seen in her entire life. "Mother, I'm not feeling very well all of the sudden. I think it might be the food-might we leave now? I think I might be sick." Mrs. Darling looked at her daughter's pale face worriedly and said, "Of course dear, right away. George, dear, Wendy's feeling under the weather, I think we should be going home now."
Mr. Darling looked pained from being drawn away from his discussion with the governor, but complied with his wife's pleading face, and excused himself and his family. Mr. Darling; who looked quite displeased indeed, turned to the governor and said in a strained voice, "I'm terribly sorry but I fear my daughter has taken ill-but we appreciate your hospitality immensely. I'm sure Wendy would like to thank you also-Wendy?"
He glared at her pointedly, and she stood at attention.
"Thank you ever so much for having us, governor, it was a truly splendid party," Wendy said, curtsying deeply.
"And thank you so much for coming, Wendy dear, I am so happy that Edward has finally found a girl worthy of his affections," The governor said warmly, bowing slightly to Wendy, "In fact, I'm sure he'll be happy to see you three out to your carriage. Edward?"
So Edward followed them outside, where he shook Mr. Darling's hand and helped Mrs. Darling into the carriage. "Allow me to bid my fiancée farewell," he called into the carriage, and he shut the door.
He grabbed her waist and brought her to him so that their faces were less than an inch apart. She could feel his breath mingling with hers, and it made her sick. "You're going to be mine very, very soon, Wendy Darling," he hissed, "You're going to be MY wife, living under MY roof!" Wendy couldn't breathe. Her corset and her fear took all the air out of her lungs. "Now," he continued. "You'll do as I say and be a good, quiet wife, is that understood?" Wendy nodded, tears forming in her eyes. "Good," he said, and let go of her.
"Well then I guess this is good night, my love." He helped the shaking Wendy into the carriage and closed the door. Wendy watched out the carriage window as her fiancée grew smaller and smaller as they proceeded down the road.
'My life is a living hell,' Wendy thought to herself as she saw her fiancée turn to go back to the party.
She needed to talk to Peter as soon as she got back to London.
Just to see.
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Afterthoughts: Thanks for coming back to chapter seven guys! Happy? I hope so-yes, I know Edward is a royal pain in the ass, but it's just another lovely little dimension to the plot. I hope you all come back for chapter 8; I am so glad that you're all enjoying 'I didn't Forget'. This fic has become a big part of my life, and I'm very dedicated to it and its readers. I LOVE YOU ALL ~Ellie~
PS-thank you so much Annabell Ali Adams for being my one and only beta reader! *sniff* wish I had some more... PPS-seeing it again this weekend, CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!
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Notes from the Authoress: Hey guys, ellie here! Great news: I saw Peter Pan for the 5th time last night! I really do think that I'm going into psycho mode, it's just not healthy. Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter six, and bammaslamma, you asked for more detail so check it out and see if I did any better! Keep reviewing guys; it's completely my source of motivation, aside from my love of writing. Unfortunately, I am in an opera right now and the director is FLIPPING OUT! But that's beside the point. I thought that I had a plan for this story, but these damn characters really do have a mind of their own, they just seem to do whatever they want. Oh well. By the way, I've treated you all to an extra-long chapter this time, because I know my previous ones were kind of short. Unfortunately, this has got to be your fix, I think after this they're gonna go back to regular- length, mmmmkay? Keep reading and reviewing, it's much appreciated!! I LOVE YOU ALL ~Ellie~
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The room was silent. All the boys were now looking at John and Peter. Peter sat on the floor looking expectantly at John, awaiting an answer to his question.
John didn't want to answer Peter's question. Not only would it be difficult to explain, but when and if Peter understood, he would probably be heartbroken. John could easily see what Peter and Wendy couldn't; he could put into words what they couldn't say to each other. How was Peter going to react? How on earth was John going to explain this delicately? Beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead as he became aware that all eyes were on him.
"Peter, when a girl grows up, she is expected to have children and to raise them to become good adults as well. Now, in order to have these children, she needs a husband." Peter stared at John, bewildered. That sounded just absurd to him.
"Wendy doesn't need to marry. She can find the children on her own! Why does she need a husband to help her find the children? And what's a husband?"
John sighed. This was going to take a long time. He could hear muffled laughter coming from the boys. "Now this is where the term 'marriage' comes into play. You see, in order to get a husband, you have to marry a man. A marriage is two things, really. The actual marriages is a ceremony in which the man and the woman exchange vows that they will spend the rest of their lives together, and love each other forever. The woman gives the man a kiss, or a thimble, I guess. The second part of a marriage is that the man and the woman spend their entire lives together."
Peter's insides tightened. Wendy was marrying the governor's son, so that must have meant that she loved him. He couldn't bear the thought of it. Also, didn't her thimble belong to him? That's what she had said when she'd given it to him. But maybe it was pretend, like she's said earlier. "But that doesn't explain why she needs him to find the children," he said defiantly.
John sighed. Peter was never going to understand this part of a marriage, so he decided it was best to make up his own explanation. After all, Peter would be happy with whatever he told him, and he'd be none the wiser. "Well, the woman needs a man to help her find the children because there is just so much housework for her to do that the man has to do the child- hunting. But the woman helps to find the children with whatever time she can spare away from her housework." There. It was a perfectly reasonable explanation, and he had managed to sidestep the real one.
"And they're in-in love?" Peter asked quietly. He couldn't even look at John anymore. "Yes."
"But what is love exactly?" Peter had a vague idea, but he wanted to be sure. He needed to know. 'Finally, something I can actually answer,' John thought with relief. "I can't say I've ever been in love myself, Peter, but Wendy has told me the most-ahem-interesting things about it. When you love a person, you think about them all the time."
'I think about Wendy all the time.'
"When you're in love with someone, you always want to be with them."
'I always want to be with her.'
"You can't imagine life without them."
'What would life be like without Wendy?' Peter thought. He tried to imagine it, but he couldn't. Life wouldn't be worth living without his Wendy.
"You want their-erm-thimble to belong to you and only you. You get insanely jealous at the thought of them being with someone else besides you."
Peter thought of the governor's son, Edward, and Wendy becoming.married. He thought of Edward receiving Wendy's hidden kiss. The one that she had promised to him forever. His stomach tied itself in a knot and his blood boiled. 'This must be what jealousy feels like,' he thought to himself.
"And that's what love is," John finished. "Thank you, John. I think I'm going to go to bed now." The boys began to protest. "But Peter, it's still so early! Don't you want to play pirates with us? You can be Long Tom! Michael's already got dibs on Hook," Tootles proclaimed.
"No thanks," Peter said wearily. "I just don't feel like playing games tonight." And with that he walked over to the bed that the boys had made up for him, leaving the gaggle of disheartened boys behind. "You sound just like Wendy when you talk like that," Nibs called after him.
But Peter wasn't listening. He was too busy thinking. Everything John had said about love was true. He was feeling everything; his senses were in overdrive when he was around Wendy. There was only one simple explanation for all of his tortured dreams for the past six years.
Peter Pan, the boy who didn't have to bother with grown-up feelings-
Peter Pan, the boy who didn't grow up-was in love.
He could finally admit it to himself. It was all so clear now. He wondered why he hadn't seen it before. His heart burst with the joy of this knowledge, and the entire night sky seemed to shine one hundred times brighter than it had before. And it was all because he was in love with Wendy.
His Wendy.
"I love you, Wendy-girl."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But as soon as the stars and the moon brightened, they dimmed again as a terrible thought hit Peter. Wendy was to be 'married' to Sir Edward Dean, the governor's son.
She loved him.
A lone tear slipped down his face.
Wendy could never be his.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile, at the long-awaited engagement party
Wendy shivered against the cold night air as she was helped out of the carriage along with her mother and father. The house that they had stopped in front of was no ordinary house - it was an extraordinary house. It was a gargantuan structure of marble. Corinthian columns spiraled into the night air, supporting the canopy of white marble shadowing the front stairs. The gardens and fountains that surrounded the mansion were all aglow, and the twinkling lights in the flowers reminded Wendy of the dancing faeries she had seen so many years ago.
She winced at the thought. Any thought or memory that involved Peter made her heart break. Immediately after she had fled from him she had felt terrible, and she was fraught with the fear that he might have flown home- without ever saying goodbye. But she had other things to think about now.
She jolted back to reality as her mother nudged her and whispered, "Wendy, Sir Edward is waving at you! Aren't you going to acknowledge him?" Wendy waved sheepishly at the young man that awaited her at the entrance of the house. He was a good-looking young man, with dark hair that was slicked back formally, and he wore a princely suit. His eyes were a dark hazel, and they appraised her every step. She felt naked under his gaze. It was very disconcerting. Edward was notorious for being a 'player', as they called it, and everyone had been surprised when he had wanted to marry Wendy.
"Ah, my bride to be; Wendy, my love, how are you?" Edward said in a cool, smooth voice that sounded like almost-frozen water. He took her hand and kissed it, his eyes on her face the entire time. "Do come in, Wendy dearest. Yes, and hello, Mr. and Mrs. Darling! What a certainly fine night to have our party-so glad you and you're enchanting daughter could make it. And might I say you look lovely this evening, Mrs. Darling."
"Oh dear, you are such a charming young man," Mrs. Darling gushed as they began to walk inside. He led Wendy inside by her arm - a little too forcefully it seemed to her. It made her uncomfortable the way he looked at her the entire time.
The grand hall in the governor's house was enormous. The ceiling must have been up around one hundred feet, and its beautiful dome was decorated by paintings of cherubim and seraphim playing their harps and singing. There were multitudes of beautifully dressed men and women, all who looked as though they came from supremely wealthy households. A group of distinguished-looking men sat in a corner with music stands and violins, where they were serenading the chatting guests. A long table was set up near the other end of the hall, where the places were set in the most elaborate way; Wendy guessed the two chairs in the center were for her and Edward.
"Wendy! How wonderful to see you! How do you do, Mr. Darling, Mrs. Darling?" Edward's father, the governor himself, had come over to greet Wendy and her parents. He was a jovial, good-natured man who was quick with his sometimes harsh comments.
"Lovely, sir; thank you," Wendy said quietly, curtsying before Edward took her hand again and led her down the stairs. "This is going to be quite the party, my love," said Edward as he whirled her away onto the dance floor.
Wendy sighed inwardly. It was going to be a long night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the festivities had died down a bit, Wendy found herself, Edward, and everyone else seated at the long table, preparing for dinner.
The governor stood up and rang his glass with his spoon, and all eyes turned respectfully to him. "Lovely ladies and gentlemen, tonight is a special night indeed, for tonight is the night that the engagement of my son, Sir Edward Dean, and the enchanting Ms. Wendy Darling is official! I wish only the best to them as they prepare for what will most certainly be the most memorable day of their lives. So I ask you to join me in a round of applause for our young lovers!"
Edward stood up and pulled Wendy with him. He kissed her, and she recoiled. It was a cruel, commanding kiss that made her stomach lurch. The grand hall erupted with applause as the violins began to play again.
Once dinner was well underway, Edward took a moment to lean over to Wendy. "You look just delightful, you beautiful creature," he whispered into her ear, and Wendy wrinkled her nose in disgust. His slimy manner sent uncomfortable chills down her spine.
"Thank you sir," she said coldly, and turned back to her food. But Edward wasn't finished.
She felt his hand snake up her leg, and she drew away quickly. "Why do you shrink away from me? We're going to spend the rest of our lives together, you might as well get used to my more-forward-actions." Wendy stared at him in disgust. How could someone so cool and clean looking be so sleazy and disgusting? She was still very aware that Edward's eyes were glued on her, and her heart was racing in fear.
She turned to her mother, who was chatting happily with the governor and his wife, who was wearing more jewels than she had ever seen in her entire life. "Mother, I'm not feeling very well all of the sudden. I think it might be the food-might we leave now? I think I might be sick." Mrs. Darling looked at her daughter's pale face worriedly and said, "Of course dear, right away. George, dear, Wendy's feeling under the weather, I think we should be going home now."
Mr. Darling looked pained from being drawn away from his discussion with the governor, but complied with his wife's pleading face, and excused himself and his family. Mr. Darling; who looked quite displeased indeed, turned to the governor and said in a strained voice, "I'm terribly sorry but I fear my daughter has taken ill-but we appreciate your hospitality immensely. I'm sure Wendy would like to thank you also-Wendy?"
He glared at her pointedly, and she stood at attention.
"Thank you ever so much for having us, governor, it was a truly splendid party," Wendy said, curtsying deeply.
"And thank you so much for coming, Wendy dear, I am so happy that Edward has finally found a girl worthy of his affections," The governor said warmly, bowing slightly to Wendy, "In fact, I'm sure he'll be happy to see you three out to your carriage. Edward?"
So Edward followed them outside, where he shook Mr. Darling's hand and helped Mrs. Darling into the carriage. "Allow me to bid my fiancée farewell," he called into the carriage, and he shut the door.
He grabbed her waist and brought her to him so that their faces were less than an inch apart. She could feel his breath mingling with hers, and it made her sick. "You're going to be mine very, very soon, Wendy Darling," he hissed, "You're going to be MY wife, living under MY roof!" Wendy couldn't breathe. Her corset and her fear took all the air out of her lungs. "Now," he continued. "You'll do as I say and be a good, quiet wife, is that understood?" Wendy nodded, tears forming in her eyes. "Good," he said, and let go of her.
"Well then I guess this is good night, my love." He helped the shaking Wendy into the carriage and closed the door. Wendy watched out the carriage window as her fiancée grew smaller and smaller as they proceeded down the road.
'My life is a living hell,' Wendy thought to herself as she saw her fiancée turn to go back to the party.
She needed to talk to Peter as soon as she got back to London.
Just to see.
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Afterthoughts: Thanks for coming back to chapter seven guys! Happy? I hope so-yes, I know Edward is a royal pain in the ass, but it's just another lovely little dimension to the plot. I hope you all come back for chapter 8; I am so glad that you're all enjoying 'I didn't Forget'. This fic has become a big part of my life, and I'm very dedicated to it and its readers. I LOVE YOU ALL ~Ellie~
PS-thank you so much Annabell Ali Adams for being my one and only beta reader! *sniff* wish I had some more... PPS-seeing it again this weekend, CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!
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