Peter Pan

Summary: Based on the recent film; Peter Pan was notorious for never wanting to grow up. He wanted to stay young and play with the Lost Boys on the enchanting island of Never Land. However, after being separated from his Wendy once Hook had gone, Peter began to realise that he couldn't stay a child forever, neither could he stand the thought of Wendy growing up without him … can he give up the life of Never Land for Wendy? What happens when he returns to London to grow up in secret? Will she even recognise him? But something happens, which causes his need to return to his homeland … without him, Neverland will never survive …

Disclaimer: I do not own the book by JM Barrie, nor do I own the film.

Author's Note: Sorry the wait's been so long; I've been swamped with everything. Anyway, I wrote this chapter with the soundtrack, so hopefully it'll kind of fit more with the film! Hopefully the DVD's out on May 4th! So I guess… May the forth be with you.

- - - Chapter Four - - - Close Your Eyes      

          "Pan?"

          "Peter Pan?"

          "The Pan?"

          "I do not believe you, Wendy!"

          "Who's Peter Pan … oh! Him! Really?"

          "Yes, I have said it a thousand times! How many more before you'll believe me?"

          "At least twice more. Wendy how – "

          " – I knew you were up to something …"

          "That's enough!" Wendy shouted. They were all crowded around her in the nursery, surprised looks on their faces. She had just told them what she had witnessed the day before, and was note prepared for the sea of responses she got. "I have told you all what you need to do, please do not be so childish as to make me repeat it again and again. Here is what we must do."

          "An adventure!" blurted Slightly, unable to contain himself. "No more school!"

          Wendy glared at him. He seemed to crumble under her gaze.

          "Please?" he added as an afterthought.

          "I suppose," Wendy said. "We must all go together and try to convince Peter to fly back to Neverland."

          "But if he can't fly, then …"

          " … And what did Tink say?"

          "Tinkerbell told me that something was wrong in Neverland. Peter shall have to remember how to fly, or else something terrible will happen."

          "What kind of terrible thing, Wendy?"

          She sighed, her shoulders drooping. "Oh, I dread to think … Hook's back."

          Once again, a storm of responses broke out, some of fear, some denial, some comic, and none heard Michael except Wendy.

          "What was that, Michael?"

          The most common response to Wendy's news, was how? Michael had not asked that, but was looking strangely thoughtful, his hand over his mouth.

          Everyone went quiet, as though Michael was under a spotlight.

          "Go on," Wendy prompted.

          "It … it's in one of the stories … one of the other stories," he said quietly.

          "What do you mean, Michael?"

          "Not the real one of course, but you know how we knew about Hook before we went to Neverland? There was another story about a man who was eaten by a crocodile, except even though it swallowed him whole, it didn't get his soul. That was still floating about."

          "What, like a cloud?" piped in Nibbs.

          "Perhaps," said Michael. "But the soul is so evil and so nasty that it eventually m-mankifusts?"

          "Manifests, Michael," John aided.

          "So that's how it happened," said Wendy dreamily. "Why have we never read that story?"

          Michael suddenly went red and blushed. "It was in mummy and daddy's room. They keep books we're not supposed to read in there. I suppose it was too scary."

          Wendy smiled. "All right, Michael. Anyway, boys, now we know what's happened, how are we going to sort it out? I'll take any suggestions you have."

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

          Fully laden with clothes, new ideas and food, the children set out into the busy main street of London that evening. They were lucky in terms of being caught; Mr and Mrs Darling were at a work dinner, and Aunt Millicent was asleep in the sitting room. Despite this, all kept to the shadows, and stepped as quietly as they could. Wendy felt even more scared of turning down Davenport Lane this time; even though she had a great deal more company than last time, she was worried of how Peter would react to seeing her again.

          They reached the small shack, covered still by the thin hanging veil, swaying slightly in the evening breeze. Wendy poked her head carefully inside first, seeing nothing but darkness. As her eyes adjusted more, she drew back the veil and entered fully. One by one, the Lost Boys followed by John and Michael followed her. There was plainly no one here. Wendy's heart began to beat very fast. Where on earth was he? Had something terrible happened? Maybe he had forgotten her already …

          But before she could think on these thoughts, something rushed at the wall of boys, knocking them flying. This 'something' was brandishing a cutlass, swinging it back and forth dangerously. The Lost Boys, on instinct none of them had lost since their Neverland days, took up the fight, but were soon falling with bruised faces, arms and legs. There were grunts of pain and surprise, and in no less than ten seconds, everyone except Wendy was lying in a crumpled heap on the floor.

          They all looked at their attacker, and found it to be none other than Peter, whose face broke into sudden recognition.

          "Lost Boys?"

          "Peter!"

          They all burst into great laughter, the Lost Boys standing up again, only to fall over with heaving gasps, Peter smiled so broadly it hurt, as it was something he had not done for a long time. They plainly thought it was a game.

          "Peter, why did you attack us?" asked the Twins when the laughter ceased.

          "I thought you were trying to steal my shelter," Peter said plainly.

          The grin vanished quickly from Peter's face, only to be replaced by the immovable sadness that had been there only moments before.

          "Peter why didn't you see us?" asked Nibbs.

          "I – I don't know …"

          "Did you forget?" asked Slightly.

          "Of course not."

          "It's OK if you did Peter … but you remember us now, don't you?"

          "I did not forget!"

          "Peter …" Wendy walked up to him slowly.

          Peter's eyes flashed. First, she thought they were in anger, but much later on, Wendy would read it as something else. "You came back," he said quietly.

          "Yes."

          "Even though I told you to go away."

          "Yes."

          "That's not very polite, Peter," said Michael loudly.

          Wendy rolled her eyes. "We've all come with the hope of making you return to Neverland."

          Peter turned his back on them.

          "I saw Tinkerbell last night."

          Peter spun around. "Tink! Is she all right? I miss her so much …"

          "Then return!"

          "I cannot! I don't know how!"

          "We'll help you Peter," piped up the Lost Boys, and Wendy smiled.

          "What did Tink say?" asked Peter.

          Wendy looked down. "She said there was trouble in Neverland, Peter."

          "Trouble?"

          "Yes, you see … Captain Hook is back."

          Peter frowned, narrowed his eyes, looked to the Lost Boys, and grinned. "That will not work," he said.

          "What do you mean?"

          "I know what you're trying to do."

          "But Peter, it's the truth … Neverland will be in ruins if you do not go back! You cannot let Hook take over your home! Nor let down those that live there!"

Peter sighed. "Whether you lie or not, it's not my home anymore. He can have it."

          "Peter!" Nibbs exclaimed.

          "Peter, this isn't you," Wendy said sadly. "The real Peter Pan would not talk like this."

          "I cannot fly Wendy," he said shortly. The Lost Boys gasped.

          "Pan, not fly?"

          "Peter Pan? That's not right …"

          "I know, Peter," Wendy said gently. "I can see that, but we're here to help! If only we had some fairy dust …"

          And in that exact moment, there was a tingle of bells, and a sudden burst of light. Tinkerbell had flown into the dark shack and lit up everyone's surprised faces. Peter's expression was one of joy.

          "Tink!" he yelled.

          But she didn't stay; all she did was cover all of them in sparkly fairy dust. Then she was gone. To their sudden amazement, everyone rose a few feet into the air and hovered for a few seconds … all of them, except Peter. He stared around in disbelief at them all, then looked down at his own body. Nothing happened. The joy that had erupted in everyone else at the thought of flying eventually evaporated as Peter's sadness caught wind.

          "Oh, Peter …"

          Peter turned his back on them, not wanting them to see any tears. Peter Pan did not cry.

          "I have no happy thoughts left," he mumbled thickly.

          Slightly huffed. "What about birthdays?"

          "Or Indians?" suggested Nibbs.

          "I've got it!" exclaimed Tootles. "Cake!"

          Peter looked crestfallen. Nothing could make him remember how to fly. Except …

          "Lost Boys, and you too, brothers, I want you to go home and write a tasteful note to mother and father."

          They all frowned. "What on earth for?"

          "Tell them that we had to leave home for a little while to sort some things out … some things that couldn't wait. And mind you make it literate, John," she added.

          "But what are you going to do? We can't go anywhere if Peter …"

          "I have an idea," she said simply. They raised their eyebrows and left, confused. Wendy turned back to Peter.

          "Peter, you must fly! You must fight!" she said animatedly.

          Peter shook his head. "I can't, Wendy. Not even fairy dust can help me now. I have no happy thoughts."

          Wendy moved closer. She could see tears glistening in the corner of his eyes, threatening to fall; she knew he would never let them, not now he was so much older …

          "Am I not your happy thought?" she said quietly. Peter blinked.

          "I – I never really … thought about it like that," he said.

          "Not once?" she prompted.

          "Well … I suppose, you are … yes …" he said.

          "And did you not come back for me?" she said, and moved still closer. Had he still been a boy, Peter would have jumped back in alarm. But he was not that anymore, and did not know what to do.

          "Yes … but so you would come back with me …"

          "To Neverland?"

          "Yes."

          "To your home?"

          " … Yes …"

          "So will you not come back with me now? And fight Hook?" she said, seeing the lure of adventure in his eyes.

          "I want to," he said. "But I can't."

          "I can help you," she said quietly. Peter frowned.

          "How?"

          "You must close your eyes."

          Peter eyed her warily, but then did so, screwing them up tight, as though something was about to hit him in the face. Taking a deep breath, Wendy bent forwards gently, and lightly touched his lips with hers. He immediately opened his eyes in shock, but did not move for sheer astonishment. They stayed where they were for about five seconds, until Wendy drew back slowly.

          To both their bewilderment and delight, they were floating in the air, ten feet off the dusky floor. Peter looked at Wendy, his eyes shining.

          "How did you … ?"

          But Wendy had no answer. All she knew was that they had grown up a great deal. Peter's eyes suddenly gleamed with the boyish rogue-ness they had once had in times of adventure, and he darted out of the shack and soared around the rooftops as gracefully and as daringly as if he had never forgotten. Wendy laughed in delight, and it was all her doing.

          "What do we do now?" Wendy called up gleefully.

          Peter somersaulted in the air, and landed softly in front of her.

          "Next stop, home," was all he said.

A/N: There we go! Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long. Well, please review! I shall promise a little dance if you do … (nothing kinky I swear.)