Title: Necromancer
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Four - Afternoon Delight
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Author's Note: Thank you to all who send such enthusiastic reviews, that you respond so readily to my original characters means I'm hitting the right note, and that is wonderful. Several have made suggestions of what they'd like to do to poor Bane....I hope at the end of this chapter you might feel differently. Usual fluff and stuff ensues, so enjoy.
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Wendy had her grand tour of the underground, and was impressed with what she saw. On her first trip, the hideout had been crude in the extreme, the central room unfinished and crowded. In the intervening years Peter had expanded with passages and side rooms and multiple concealed entries and exits, so that they had several choices for escape if their home ever came under siege. By the time they returned to the main room all of its occupants were gone, the table scattered with dirty plates and empty platters, food everywhere.
"Is it always like this?"
Peter grimaced, seeing the chaos through her eyes. "More or less...I was hoping you'd take them in hand."
"I'll do my best Peter....but I'm not sure...I mean..apart from my brothers and the original Lost Boys, I've not had that much experience as......as a mother."
"That's okay.....I'm not exactly a good father either."
"Well....father.....help me clear this mess up and we might be able to find ourselves something to eat."
They set to, Peter taking the empty platters to the kitchen while Wendy cleared the table of food scraps, sweeping them into the bucket to be disposed of later. With the table cleared, she replaced the uneaten fruit back into the bowls and dusted off one of the rough wooden stools before sitting down, the small mountain of candles still burning merrily as a centrepiece. Peter came back carrying some cleaned plates and a jug, along with some cups. Sitting down on the opposite side of the table, he poured her a drink and passed it over.
"Only water, we have a spring not far from here, so its fresh every day."
Wendy took a sip, then chuckled. "Do you remember me filling those flower cups with water and pretending it was medicine?"
"Of course....that blasted drip was one of the reasons I decided to enlarge on what we had.....plus it gave me something to do until a new Lost Boy turned up."
"In between invading my dreams of course."
"Yes.....inbetween our adventures."
"I'm amazed you had any time to yourself at all."
"Oh, I managed. Here, use this," He handed over a bone handled paring knife which Wendy proceeded to use, peeling the skin off a ripe pear-like fruit, the flesh juicy and sweet.
They sat there in companionable silence while they consumed their meal, the air around them redolent with the scent of the candles and warm earth. Their eyes meeting and sliding away, their hands frequently reaching for the same thing, touching and withdrawing, like a dance that only they knew the steps to. Finally satisfied, Wendy piled the fruit peelings on her plate and got up.
"Where have they all gone to?"
"Oh......out.....probably to avoid doing what we just had to do."
"Hmmm......in that case, I think I'll take the opportunity and see what supplies we're going to need. I warn you now, Peter Pan...I don't intend to put up with a dirty bed and perpetually grubby clothes."
Peter pretended to be outraged. "What...you don't like bugs in your bed, and mud on your skirt?"
"No, silly.....I don't. What I tolerated the first time I was here, is a far cry from what I'll put up with now.....that's if you still want me to live with you.....I mean, stay here....oh, you know what I mean."
Flustered, she picked up their plates and walked to the kitchen, Peter holding the curtain back for her to pass under before following her in.
"Just give me a list.....and I'll see what I can do. I suppose towels are top of the list?"
"Well something to use to dry my hands, other than my skirt, would be nice."
Peter shook his head, a mock gloomy expression on his face. "Girls!"
"Oh you....now make yourself useful and fetch me some water......please, and that bucket of food scraps needs emptying, and I'll need some help shaking out those covers on your bed if you expect me to sleep there tonight...and...."
"Wendy......you don't have to do this.....you're their mother, not their servant."
"You're quite right Peter.....so you can have the task of organising those children and getting all those chores done....otherwise you'll be doing them all yourself."
"I thought you might say that." Leaning forward, he pecked a kiss on her cheek before turning and leaving her standing in the middle of the kitchen, her hand held to her face and a small smile curving her lips.
The rest of the morning and into the afternoon was spent spring cleaning the underground. The younger members all pitched in, although Wendy had to admit they were sometimes more of a hindrance than a help, so she tried to make it as fun as possible, the air often rent with shrieks of laughter as they worked. Briggs and Topper also helped, reluctantly as first, before themselves joining in the mayhem, throwing off their assumed dislike of her for the time being and getting into the spirit of the occasion.
By the middle of the afternoon, Wendy was satisfied that she would be able to sleep quite comfortably that night, her bed freshly laid, the covers brushed and shaken, a new curtain of privacy created to shield her and Peter from the rest of the room. Topper had smirked when she'd first proposed it, but a nudge from Briggs stopped his snigger in mid-snort. The younger Lost boys had enjoyed flinging their bed covers about, ostensively getting rid of crumbs and dust, but mostly just jumping about and screaming, until Wendy shooed them outside and the dust with them. Briggs fashioned a broom and set too, sweeping out the remnants of past meals, Topper scooping up the dust and debris into a bucket which was carried away from the tree to avoid leaving evidence of their existence too near to the hideout.
Finally, it was done. Everyone was hot and tired and very dusty, their faces smeared with streaks of dirt, appearing a little like chimney sweeps, just not so black.
"All done......and thank you, all of you for your help. Now we need to get cleaned up before we think about something for supper."
"Not washing......again!" Whined Twig, wiping his hands over his jerkin, adding to the dirt already ingrained into the fabric.
"Yes a wash.....good lord, you're so dirty I don't know who is who under the grime." Laughed Wendy, licking her thumb and running it down Twig's cheek, leaving a broad streak of clean skin.
"We use a stream usually, for swimming. There a big waterhole, deep enough to bathe in." Said Topper, exchanging a look with Briggs who shook his head almost imperceptibly.
"Sounds wonderful......you'll all need a change of clothes of course."
"Change? But we only have these?" Said Twig, pulling at his grubby trousers.
"Well that will never do.....your clothes all need a wash."
"We could all run around naked?" Suggested Topper, getting a rude glare from Briggs and an elbow in the side.
"I'm sure if you don't mind......I certainly don't." Replied Wendy with aplomb, the boys mouths all dropping open, Briggs blushing furiously.
"I should qualify that by saying that I won't be bathing with you. But I still suggest you take something else to wear, your clothes will be damp for some time, and I believe it gets too cold at night for running about without a stitch on."
"We'll use the dress-up clothes, they'll be good enough until our clothes dry. Come of you lot, lets get it over with."
Wendy watched as the boys rummaged in a large chest, pulling out an assortment of adult clothes, each choosing several items before Briggs shut the chest and started to chivvy Topper and the littlies out of the room.
"Don't forget to wash your hair, and behind your ears." Wendy called after them, grinning to herself as a fresh wave of muttering broke out as they left.
She was just getting to her feet, preparing to sort out something for herself to change into when she heard a chorus of greetings, Peter having obviously returned as the boys were leaving. Within seconds Peter appeared with a deer carcass draped over his shoulders, the body skinned and dressed, already missing its head, feet and innards.
"I've been hunting!" He announced proudly, although entirely unnecessarily.
"I can see.......um....where do you propose we cook it?"
"In the fireplace of course."
"Oh.......on what?"
Grunting, Peter lifted the carcass and dumped it on the table, Wendy squeaking in dismay as it ruined the freshly cleaned surface. Peter didn't notice and marched over to the wide fireplace set into the wall. It had been swept the same as the rest of the room, but Wendy hadn't realise it was also used for cooking. She had stacked a collection of metal poles to one side, meaning to ask Peter what they were for. As she watched, Peter assembled a spit, positioning it over the empty grate.
"I'll get the fire going and we can cook it over the coals."
Eyeing his gory shoulders, slick with blood from the deer, Wendy swallowed hard before heading for the stack of wood neatly placed against the wall. Within minutes Peter had a blaze going, the smoke drawn up a concealed chimney.
"What about the smoke, won't it attract the pirates?"
"They're back at the Jolly Roger......I checked. The trees will disperse most of the smoke, don't worry."
When the fire started do die down, Peter threaded the carcass onto the long metal pole and carried it to the fire, positioning it on the side braces. Immediately blood started to drip down onto the flames, making them sizzle and flare.
"We need the boys to turn this, otherwise it'll just burn. Where are they?"
"Oh....I sent them to wash.....we've been cleaning all day."
Peter looked around the room, noting the changes.
"Sorry about the table." He finally said, wiping his nose with the back of his hand, leaving a gory smear over his face.
"I'll get a cloth. I think you should have a bath yourself Peter."
Looking down at himself, Peter laughed. "I do look a sight...I'll wait for the boys to get back, then I'll show you where you can bathe as well."
"Thank you.....I was hoping to get washed up."
While Wendy cleaned the table top, Peter squatted by the fire and turned the spit, the smell of cooking meat filling the room, making Wendy's mouth water. The Lost boys appeared all in a tumble a little while later, their freshly washed bodies encased in an odd assortment of ill fitting garments, their wet hair slicked back off their scrubbed faces. Peter rose to his feet and indicated for Topper to take over. Wendy took charge of their wet clothes and hung them around the room, close to the fire to dry off.
Pebble walked up to Peter, his pink face squeaky clean, and looked him up and down, before wrinkling his nose and annoucing, "you smell bad....and you're covered in blood."
"Thank you Pebble......I know. I'm off to take a bath. Briggs, you're in charge, don't let that burn."
Wendy was already by the door, a bundle of clothes clutched in her arms, waiting for Peter.
As he approached she wrinkled her nose at him. "Pebbles right, you do....um....pong!"
Peter laughed and made to grab her, causing her to jump back and give a little shriek.
They kept up the game of catch and grab outside, Peter leading her down a path that wound its way through the dense shrubs until it opened out into a grassy clearing beside a wide pool, the stream feeding it at one end, a natural dam emptying at the other. It was private and very inviting.
"Oh Peter....this is lovely, is this where the boys came?"
"No.....they go further downstream....this is where I bathe."
Not bothering to do more than remove the various weapons about his person, Peter tugged off the top half of his leaf outfit and dived into the water, Wendy staring after him. When he surfaced, he shook his head, water flying in all direction, his sun-kissed curls flat against his head.
"Come on Wendy........its wonderful."
Putting her bundle of clothes on the grass, Wendy stepped forward, dipping her toes into the edge of the water.
"Aren't you going to take your dress off?" Peter asked curiously.
"NO!......er......no.....it needs a rinse, anyway."
Shrugging, Peter turned and dived under the water. Taking the opportunity, Wendy waded into the pool, the water quickly reaching her waist, then her breasts, until she floated, her skirts tangling around her legs as she trod water. It was awkward, swimming in her clothes, but the alternative was too shocking to contemplate. She had been taught to swim by her brothers on a visit to a cousins' country house several years before. Her initiation taking the form of being pushed in fully clothed and having to learn the rudiments or drown. Since then she'd had only a few opportunities to swim, so felt quite nervous for several seconds before she relaxed.
It dawned on her after several minutes that Peter had not surfaced. Fearfully she started to call his name, her body twisting as she tried to peer into the green depth, her voice becoming shrill with anxiety. Just as she was about to scream for help, Peter erupted out of the water behind her, making her scream in relief and surprise, her arms clutching him around his neck, too pleased to see him to worry about the propriety of clutching a wet, half naked boy to her bosom.
"Where did you go....I couldn't see you anywhere?"
"I swam to the side, to take the rest of my leaves off."
"W-w-h-at?"
Peter's arms were loosely holding her to him, her arms firmly wrapped around his neck, their lower bodies not quite touching.
"I-took-my-leaves-off," Peter carefully enunciated, grinning at Wendy's shocked expression.
"You....er....you...." She darted a look down to where the water reached, half way up his chest. "You're.....naked?"
"And clean.......see." He glanced over his first one shoulder then the next, before turning back to face her, his eyes reflecting the sparkles on the water. Wendy gulped and made to push away from him.
"I think I'd better......er....better get out."
"And I think you should get this dress off......you can't wash it if your wearing it."
"Peter!"
As she strained to get away, Peter reached around and undid the buttons at the back of the dress, his face scant inches from hers as she twisted to avoid meeting his eyes. With her attention elsewhere Peter took advantage and kissed her, his mouth hungrily devouring hers, his teeth nipping at her lips, keeping her too occupied to worry about what his hands were doing.
Having disposed of the buttons, Peter lowered his arms and started to bunch the material up in his hands, dragging it up over her legs almost to her waist before she started to struggle in earnest.
"Peter please.......stop.."
"You'll feel more comfortable without this dragging you down," he murmured, his lips still engaging her, her senses drowning in an avalanche of feeling, his busy hands pulling her dress up further.
"Raise your arms."
So drunk on his nearness and his lips, Wendy concurred before she realised what she was doing. By the time she did Peter had her dress off over her head and it was floating across the surface of the pond. The sensation of being completely naked in a tepid pool with a handsome young man was something Wendy simply had no defence against. Her skin tingled and she felt unbearably aware of her entire body all at once, the water seeking out and finding a host of sensitive places as she moved in the water. Peter was still holding her lightly with his hands on her waist, the movement of the water making his fingers tips drag back and forth over her skin. Blushing so hard she was sure she would burst into flames, Wendy ducked under the water, coming up almost instantly, but now able to push her saturated hair back off her face, sweeping it behind her ears, studiously avoiding meeting Peter's eyes.
"Peter......this is.....well....this is...."
"Delicious.....yes I agree..." Pulling her against him, Peter claimed her lips again, his hands reaching around and flattening against her lower back, pulling her into his body, her hands reaching up and tangling in his hair as the kiss deepened. They were so caught up in their own responses that they didn't notice the person standing on the grassy bank, her brown eyes taking in the scene with a jealous gleam. As Peter's mouth left her lips and started on her face, chin and neck, Wendy languidly opened her eyes, only to meet Bane's glare, shocking Wendy into jerking away from Peter, who raised his head in surprise.
"What's the...."
"Bane." Wendy whispered, ducking down in the water until only her head was above the surface.
Peter slowly turned around, his back to Wendy, shielding her from Bane's view. "You're early Bane.....I thought I said dusk."
"It's as near as maybe.....and I wanted to bathe.....but I see your occupied with her....so I'll come back later."
"Use the lower pool....the boys have already had their bath for today."
"But I prefer this one......"
"Well I'm using this pool......so use the other one."
"Ooooooooh!" Furious, Bane stamped off, scowling horribly. Peter sighed and turned back to Wendy who was having a difficult time keeping a straight face.
"Oh dear....another black mark against me," said Wendy resignedly.
"She'll get over it.......now.....where were we."
Peter made to grab for her, but Wendy pushed off from the bottom and kicked away, laughing as Peter growled and set off in pursuit. Being the better swimmer Peter quickly overhauled her, diving under the water and coming up, his arms around her, their bodies sliding over each other like otters. Pulling her towards him, Peter wrapped her legs around his waist, the intimate contact shocking Wendy and making her gasp before she found herself once more drowning as his mouth made love to hers, her eyes sliding shut as his tongue sought hers, her heart setting up a rapid tattoo in her chest pressed hard against his. After several pleasurable minutes, Wendy broke free, gasping and trembling, overwhelmed with her bodies responses.
"Oh Peter.....what are we doing.....I feel.....so..."
"So what?"
"So out of control.....its frightening."
"Not frightening......exciting."
Nuzzling her neck, Peter kissed his way to her ear, sucking on the lobe, making her groan, her arms tightening around his neck. She felt on fire, her body overwhelmed with need, for what she wasn't entirely sure.
"We have to stop....Peter....oh....oh yes, just there...."
Peter grinned against her skin, nibbling at her jaw, working his way back to her mouth. Feeling languid and relaxed, Wendy loosened her arms, her body sliding down Peter's a little way. Abruptly she tightened her arms and her eyes opened wide, her body tensing in his arms. Sensing the change, Peter lifted his head and met her shocked gaze.
"Wendy?"
"Peter....I.....I think we should stop....right now."
Grinning Peter moved his hands up and down her back, each stroke bringing his hands down until he was able to cup her backside in his palms. Wendy squeaked and flushed crimson, burying her face against his shoulder as he pulled her more firmly against him, his arousal pressing against her most private centre.
"I think...." Peter started to say, a rustling sound alerting him to someone's approach, his bottom lip pulled into his mouth for a second before he continued. "I think........ we should get out of this water, and find somewhere a little less.......exposed." Turning slightly, Peter saw Bane stomp past the river bank, her eyes averted from the pair in the water, her face set and angry. Almost immediately, he heard his name being called by one of the boys and felt Wendy shaking in his arms. Lifting her head she turned her brimming eyes to him, her mouth stretched into a wide smile, a muffled giggle escaping before she buried her face against his shoulder again, shaking with laughter.
Peter pinched her bottom, making her jump in his arms, her head coming up to admonish him, her words never said as their eyes locked.
"We will finish this...."
Wendy felt adrift, drowning in his blue-green eyes, a hint of fairy dust dancing in their depths.
"Tonight," Wendy whispered back. Slowly they separated, her legs releasing his body, his hands letting go of her hips. Feeling instantly bereft, Wendy chewed her lip, her eyes still locked with his. As if by an invisible signal they came together again, lips and teeth clashing, tongues duelling in a kiss that set their hearts thumping and their senses swimming. Breaking apart more slowly, they swam back to the shore, stepping out of the water together, hardly noticing their state of undress. Peter reached for her hand and drew her towards him, her body slick and warm, igniting his own in a fever of want.
"Tonight, my Wendy....."
"Until tonight...." she replied.
Stepping to the bundle of cloths, Wendy pulled out a pair of trousers and a loose shirt, tossing them to Peter.
"I thought these might be more.......convenient than your leaves."
"Thanks.......they will be."
They quickly dressed, Peter helping her with the buttons of the new dress. Wendy suddenly remembered the one she'd been wearing the turned back to the pond.
"Oh no.....my dress!" she wailed, seeing the fabric snagged on the dam. Peter lifted off and flew over to the collection of logs and branches, hanging upside down to untangle and retrieve the sodden gown, careful not to get himself wet again. He wrung it out and carried it back to the bank.
"Oh dear......just as well I wasn't planning on wearing it to a ball anytime soon." Squeezing the worst of the water out, she rolled it up and they set off back to the hideout. When they entered the underground the smell of cooking meat was mouth-wateringly overwhelming. The boys were all clustered around the fire, watching the carcass turn on the spit, juices running down and hissing into the flames. Wendy hung her dress up besides the boys clothes, turning to see where Bane was. The girl was lying on her stomach on one of the sleeping couches, her body tense, pointedly ignoring everybody. Wendy went over and stood beside the bed and waited for the girl to notice. Bane chose to ignore her.
"Do you have any clothes to hang up Bane?....They should be dry by morning if I hang them up now."
"Here." Bane handed Wendy a bundle of damp clothes, the fabric as torn and worn as the boys. Bane was wearing another refugee from the costume chest, a large frilled shirt that came down to her knees, the long sleeves with their lace cuffs flopping over her wrists. As Wendy moved away to hang up her clothes, Bane suddenly moved, swinging her legs over the side and sitting up. When Wendy turned back to the room, Bane was leaning back on one hand, the other dragging a comb through her pale hair, the shirt hanging wide open, almost unbuttoned to her navel, exposing a large expanse of chest and barely covering her still immature breasts. Wendy glanced over at Peter, but he was absorbed at the table, checking over his weapons, rebinding a knife handle. Bane continued her preening, her arm raised as she combed her hair, the movement of her arm pulling the shirt open with each move. Wendy then looked over at the fire and saw Briggs eyes staring at Bane, his hand automatically turning the spit, but his attention all on the lovely girl and the teasing glimpses of her body. Walking over to Bane, careful to keep herself between the fire and the bed, Wendy stood infront of the girl, forcing her to stop her combing and look up at the older girl.
"I think you really should button that shirt Bane....I wouldn't want you to catch a chill."
Leaning back on both hands, Bane smirked up at Wendy, the shirt now barely covering her at all. "I like it like this.....and I know the boys do."
"I'm sure that Briggs does....if that is who you are trying to attract."
"Oh him.....he looks at me all the time.....he's just a boy," Bane dismissed her beau with a roll of her eyes, tossing her head to make her hair flick back over her shoulder.
"He may be a boy.....but he also a young man, and its not fair to tease him like this. It does no credit to you or show respect for him."
Bane looked up at Wendy for a second as if not believing her ears. "Respect?...who the hell cares about respect?"
"Well I do for one.....and Peter certainly does."
"What would you know about Peter and what he likes?"
"I have known Peter for a very long time Bane...many years before you arrived in Neverland. If this display was intended to garner his interest, then look for yourself if it has been successful." Wendy stood back and Bane looked over at the table, seeing Peter totally engrossed in trimming the feathers of an arrow, not once glancing up from his task.
"I'm sorry you have taken a dislike to me Bane.....but the fact is, I am here to stay and will be living here, with you and the others and Peter for quite some time. I will also be sleeping with Peter, in his bed, every night." Wendy moved to sit down next to the girl, Bane's head now tilted down, her eyes staring at the floor. Slowly, as if dealing with a nervous fawn, Wendy softly fastened all the buttons on the shirt, her slender fingers closing each opening until Bane's chest was demurely covered and her modesty restored. "I don't want to be your enemy, and you're too old for me to baby you like the others. I can understand that you don't want a mother, I'm not exactly sure I'm ready to be a mother either. But I would like to be your friend. It's nice sometimes to have another girl to talk to about things....things that we simply can't talk to boys about. I'm just the same...."
"Why doesn't he love me?....why does he love you?" Bane's softly uttered whisper reached Wendy and she felt a lump in her throat at the poignancy of the question. Still cautious, Wendy reached for one of Bane's hands and took it between her own.
"Bane, Peter does love you, he cares for all of you, he would be devastated if any of you were hurt of captured. He told me about Dak, it still hurts him that he couldn't rescue the boy."
"I knew Dak......he wasn't here long...he didn't...wouldn't understand the dangers here."
"I know, Peter told me. Would you like to hear how I met Peter?"
Bane lifted her head, her expression chastened.
"Why are you being nice to me?.....After all I've done."
"Because I was a girl, much like you, not so many years ago, and because I think we can be friends."
"He does love you...I mean, really love you....doesn't he?"
"Yes Bane.....he loves me, and I love him, so very much."
"Did you really give him your hidden kiss....and did you really save him from Hook?"
"Well it all started one night, in the nursery, when I awoke to find Peter hovering over my bed. Of course, I didn't know who he was then, and I thought I was dreaming, but Nana barked at him and captured Peter's shadow as he flew out the nursery window, so he had to come back to get it......"
As Wendy told the story of her first meeting with Peter, sitting on the bed holding Bane's hand, the other children shuffled over, leaving Briggs to turn the spit. Peter looked up and smiled at Wendy and her small audience. Bane was listening raptly to the story, her face turned towards the older girl, her hands still held between Wendy's. Turning back to his arrow, Peter chuckled to himself, once more in awe of the girl who had so easily beguiled and won his heart all those years ago. It seemed her magic hadn't dimmed one speck over the years.
Briggs called a halt to the story when he announced the meat to be cooked, the boys instantly leaping up and crowding around, Peter clearing the table before coming over and shooing the youngsters away.
Together, Peter and Briggs lifted the spit away from the fire to give them access to carve the meat from the bone. Wendy rose and gathered the children to go and fetch the plates, coming back with a platter for Peter to put the slices of roast venison on. Bane hung back until Wendy asked her to fetch the water jug and mugs, a task she set to with a willing spirit, setting the table and replacing the candles that had burnt to the stub. Finally Briggs carried the groaning platter to the table and everyone gathered around, sitting themselves on the benches and stools. Topper made to grab a share but his hand was stayed by a glare from Peter.
"Wendy.......is there anything you'd like to say before we eat?"
Startled, Wendy looked up, not quite sure what Peter meant.
"Oh....I suppose so.....er....thank you to Peter for bringing this food to our table, and thank you to Briggs for cooking it so well." She darted a look around the table, noting the intent expression on the faces around her. "And thank you for bringing me here to Neverland, if this is my heaven, then I'm well pleased."
As she ended, everyone's eyes swivelled to Peter, who grinned back at them. "Dig in!"
The table erupted and hands made a grab for the steaming platter, Wendy sitting well back to avoid being splattered by grease and gravy as the boys filled their plates. Peter, at the head of the table, leant negligently back in his chair, one leg thrown over the arm. He too waited for the first flurry to pass. Bane, sitting to Wendy's right, also hung back, her initial move to grab her share stopped when she saw that neither Wendy nor Peter were making a move. When the first wave of eager hands had filled their plates and retreated to munch, Wendy passed her plate to Bane and asked her to put some on for her. Looking at the meat, then at her clean hands, Bane hesitated. A knife thunked into the table in front of her, her startled eyes looking up to find Peter indicating for her to take it. Quickly she pulled the knife from the wood and speared several slices of the meat, passing the plate back to Wendy before filling her own. The boys were too engrossed in filling their bellies to notice the small byplay, their clean faces rapidly becoming grease smeared and as grubby as before.
Wendy had appropriated the paring knife she'd used before, and cut her meat into smaller chunks before using the knife like a fork and eating daintily. Both Peter and Bane watched her for a minute before following suit, Bane squirming as Twig, sitting beside her, propped his elbows on the table rudely and chewed with gusto on a large slice of dripping meat.
Wendy caught Peter's eyes and they exchanged a smile, Peter lifting his shoulders in a shrug accompanied by an eye roll, echoed by Wendy before they dissolved into giggles and broad smiles at the antics around the meal table. Bane was the only witness to the exchange, her mouth drooping as she acknowledge to herself how foolish she'd been to even think that Peter held anything but parental feelings for her.
The boys finished their meals in record time, the bolting of food resulting in a burping contest which entertained the children for some time until Peter called a halt, his rib aching from laughing so much, instructing the children to go and clean themselves up before the littlies got ready for bed. There was the usual chorus of moans and a new request that Wendy tell them a story before they settle to sleep. She agreed readily and the children set to on the table, clearing it in record time, while Wendy turned the clothes still hanging around the room so that they dried evenly. The fire had made the underground very warm and she felt a need for some air while the children took care of the dishes and remains of the deer. Slipping along one of the passageways, she stepped out into the semi-gloom of dusk and drew in a deep breath, welcoming the sting of the cooler air in her lungs. She heard a noise and turned her head to glance over her shoulder. Bane had followed her, the girls over-large shirt hanging loosely down her arms and body, the shirt hiding her hands as she crossed them over her chest.
Wendy waited for her to speak, ignoring her as she remained silent, just enjoying the evening air and waiting for Bane to pluck up the courage to talk to her.
"Wendy?"
"Yes Bane."
"Wendy......would you.......um.....would you teach me to be like you?"
Turning slowly, Wendy faced Bane and looked at her. Draped in the adult shirt, the girl looked ridiculously young and very vulnerable. It reminded Wendy of her own adolescence, her fear of growing up and forgetting, of her bodies betrayal as it grew in some places and did unmentionable things in others. Admittedly Wendy was hardly as old as Methuselah, but compared to Bane she felt decades older.
"Why do you want to be like me, I'd have thought being like you was hard enough....to try and be someone else if almost impossible."
"No....you don't understand......"
"I do Bane.....you want to learn how to act like.....a lady."
"Yes....that's it......will you?"
"You know something Bane.....I wish I could be more like you, sometimes. I wish I could just throw my control to the winds and let my emotions rule my head and heart. In the years since I left my childhood behind, I've had to learn to restrain my natural impulses, to forget the sheer joy of being alive and free. I want to get that freedom back, to enjoy what is, and not worry about what other people might think, can you teach me that?"
"I don't know.....I can try."
"Then that is enough.....and I will try to help you be the beautiful young lady I know is lurking inside you."
"Pact!" Bane lifted her hand to her mouth and spat in her palm before holding it out for Wendy to take. Wendy hesitated only a second before spitting in her own hand and gripping Bane's, the two of them grinning like idiots at each other.
"You'll be sort of like my sister........I mean, you're not exactly old enough to be my mother.....even if I knew what a mother was....which I don't."
"Oh Bane......do you want......do you want to tell me about...."
"About me? Nah....not tonight.......it might scare you off."
"Nothing scares me Bane....didn't Peter tell you that?"
"No....he did say he thought you were the bravest girl he'd ever known."
"Oh......well, I think you're the bravest person I know...."
Again they grinned at each other, the wood darkening around them as the night drew in. Wendy rubbed her arms at the sudden drop in temperature. "I think we should go in....it's getting cold."
"It's been getting colder and colder every night.....isn't that strange?"
"I don't know.....I certainly don't remember the nights being cold when I last came here.....but that was so long ago, maybe things have changed. Come on, let's get inside."
They met Peter coming up the passageway. "I was just coming to get you two, the littlies are in bed and waiting for a story.....mother."
"On my way....father."
Bane made a rude noise and brushed past them, Peter watching her leave before turning back and lifting an eyebrow. Wendy just smiled and pecked him on the cheek.
"Don't worry....everything will work out fine."
"Good.....I have to go out and check over Neverland, so go ahead, I'll be back soon."
"Be careful Peter....."
"I will...."
Wendy watched as he left the tree, instantly soaring into the sky on his nightly patrol of their island world.
Turning away, Wendy made her way back to the underground and the eager children waiting to hear a bedtime story.
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(aha.......hope you enjoyed.....onwards and upwards.....brave reader.)
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Four - Afternoon Delight
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Author's Note: Thank you to all who send such enthusiastic reviews, that you respond so readily to my original characters means I'm hitting the right note, and that is wonderful. Several have made suggestions of what they'd like to do to poor Bane....I hope at the end of this chapter you might feel differently. Usual fluff and stuff ensues, so enjoy.
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Wendy had her grand tour of the underground, and was impressed with what she saw. On her first trip, the hideout had been crude in the extreme, the central room unfinished and crowded. In the intervening years Peter had expanded with passages and side rooms and multiple concealed entries and exits, so that they had several choices for escape if their home ever came under siege. By the time they returned to the main room all of its occupants were gone, the table scattered with dirty plates and empty platters, food everywhere.
"Is it always like this?"
Peter grimaced, seeing the chaos through her eyes. "More or less...I was hoping you'd take them in hand."
"I'll do my best Peter....but I'm not sure...I mean..apart from my brothers and the original Lost Boys, I've not had that much experience as......as a mother."
"That's okay.....I'm not exactly a good father either."
"Well....father.....help me clear this mess up and we might be able to find ourselves something to eat."
They set to, Peter taking the empty platters to the kitchen while Wendy cleared the table of food scraps, sweeping them into the bucket to be disposed of later. With the table cleared, she replaced the uneaten fruit back into the bowls and dusted off one of the rough wooden stools before sitting down, the small mountain of candles still burning merrily as a centrepiece. Peter came back carrying some cleaned plates and a jug, along with some cups. Sitting down on the opposite side of the table, he poured her a drink and passed it over.
"Only water, we have a spring not far from here, so its fresh every day."
Wendy took a sip, then chuckled. "Do you remember me filling those flower cups with water and pretending it was medicine?"
"Of course....that blasted drip was one of the reasons I decided to enlarge on what we had.....plus it gave me something to do until a new Lost Boy turned up."
"In between invading my dreams of course."
"Yes.....inbetween our adventures."
"I'm amazed you had any time to yourself at all."
"Oh, I managed. Here, use this," He handed over a bone handled paring knife which Wendy proceeded to use, peeling the skin off a ripe pear-like fruit, the flesh juicy and sweet.
They sat there in companionable silence while they consumed their meal, the air around them redolent with the scent of the candles and warm earth. Their eyes meeting and sliding away, their hands frequently reaching for the same thing, touching and withdrawing, like a dance that only they knew the steps to. Finally satisfied, Wendy piled the fruit peelings on her plate and got up.
"Where have they all gone to?"
"Oh......out.....probably to avoid doing what we just had to do."
"Hmmm......in that case, I think I'll take the opportunity and see what supplies we're going to need. I warn you now, Peter Pan...I don't intend to put up with a dirty bed and perpetually grubby clothes."
Peter pretended to be outraged. "What...you don't like bugs in your bed, and mud on your skirt?"
"No, silly.....I don't. What I tolerated the first time I was here, is a far cry from what I'll put up with now.....that's if you still want me to live with you.....I mean, stay here....oh, you know what I mean."
Flustered, she picked up their plates and walked to the kitchen, Peter holding the curtain back for her to pass under before following her in.
"Just give me a list.....and I'll see what I can do. I suppose towels are top of the list?"
"Well something to use to dry my hands, other than my skirt, would be nice."
Peter shook his head, a mock gloomy expression on his face. "Girls!"
"Oh you....now make yourself useful and fetch me some water......please, and that bucket of food scraps needs emptying, and I'll need some help shaking out those covers on your bed if you expect me to sleep there tonight...and...."
"Wendy......you don't have to do this.....you're their mother, not their servant."
"You're quite right Peter.....so you can have the task of organising those children and getting all those chores done....otherwise you'll be doing them all yourself."
"I thought you might say that." Leaning forward, he pecked a kiss on her cheek before turning and leaving her standing in the middle of the kitchen, her hand held to her face and a small smile curving her lips.
The rest of the morning and into the afternoon was spent spring cleaning the underground. The younger members all pitched in, although Wendy had to admit they were sometimes more of a hindrance than a help, so she tried to make it as fun as possible, the air often rent with shrieks of laughter as they worked. Briggs and Topper also helped, reluctantly as first, before themselves joining in the mayhem, throwing off their assumed dislike of her for the time being and getting into the spirit of the occasion.
By the middle of the afternoon, Wendy was satisfied that she would be able to sleep quite comfortably that night, her bed freshly laid, the covers brushed and shaken, a new curtain of privacy created to shield her and Peter from the rest of the room. Topper had smirked when she'd first proposed it, but a nudge from Briggs stopped his snigger in mid-snort. The younger Lost boys had enjoyed flinging their bed covers about, ostensively getting rid of crumbs and dust, but mostly just jumping about and screaming, until Wendy shooed them outside and the dust with them. Briggs fashioned a broom and set too, sweeping out the remnants of past meals, Topper scooping up the dust and debris into a bucket which was carried away from the tree to avoid leaving evidence of their existence too near to the hideout.
Finally, it was done. Everyone was hot and tired and very dusty, their faces smeared with streaks of dirt, appearing a little like chimney sweeps, just not so black.
"All done......and thank you, all of you for your help. Now we need to get cleaned up before we think about something for supper."
"Not washing......again!" Whined Twig, wiping his hands over his jerkin, adding to the dirt already ingrained into the fabric.
"Yes a wash.....good lord, you're so dirty I don't know who is who under the grime." Laughed Wendy, licking her thumb and running it down Twig's cheek, leaving a broad streak of clean skin.
"We use a stream usually, for swimming. There a big waterhole, deep enough to bathe in." Said Topper, exchanging a look with Briggs who shook his head almost imperceptibly.
"Sounds wonderful......you'll all need a change of clothes of course."
"Change? But we only have these?" Said Twig, pulling at his grubby trousers.
"Well that will never do.....your clothes all need a wash."
"We could all run around naked?" Suggested Topper, getting a rude glare from Briggs and an elbow in the side.
"I'm sure if you don't mind......I certainly don't." Replied Wendy with aplomb, the boys mouths all dropping open, Briggs blushing furiously.
"I should qualify that by saying that I won't be bathing with you. But I still suggest you take something else to wear, your clothes will be damp for some time, and I believe it gets too cold at night for running about without a stitch on."
"We'll use the dress-up clothes, they'll be good enough until our clothes dry. Come of you lot, lets get it over with."
Wendy watched as the boys rummaged in a large chest, pulling out an assortment of adult clothes, each choosing several items before Briggs shut the chest and started to chivvy Topper and the littlies out of the room.
"Don't forget to wash your hair, and behind your ears." Wendy called after them, grinning to herself as a fresh wave of muttering broke out as they left.
She was just getting to her feet, preparing to sort out something for herself to change into when she heard a chorus of greetings, Peter having obviously returned as the boys were leaving. Within seconds Peter appeared with a deer carcass draped over his shoulders, the body skinned and dressed, already missing its head, feet and innards.
"I've been hunting!" He announced proudly, although entirely unnecessarily.
"I can see.......um....where do you propose we cook it?"
"In the fireplace of course."
"Oh.......on what?"
Grunting, Peter lifted the carcass and dumped it on the table, Wendy squeaking in dismay as it ruined the freshly cleaned surface. Peter didn't notice and marched over to the wide fireplace set into the wall. It had been swept the same as the rest of the room, but Wendy hadn't realise it was also used for cooking. She had stacked a collection of metal poles to one side, meaning to ask Peter what they were for. As she watched, Peter assembled a spit, positioning it over the empty grate.
"I'll get the fire going and we can cook it over the coals."
Eyeing his gory shoulders, slick with blood from the deer, Wendy swallowed hard before heading for the stack of wood neatly placed against the wall. Within minutes Peter had a blaze going, the smoke drawn up a concealed chimney.
"What about the smoke, won't it attract the pirates?"
"They're back at the Jolly Roger......I checked. The trees will disperse most of the smoke, don't worry."
When the fire started do die down, Peter threaded the carcass onto the long metal pole and carried it to the fire, positioning it on the side braces. Immediately blood started to drip down onto the flames, making them sizzle and flare.
"We need the boys to turn this, otherwise it'll just burn. Where are they?"
"Oh....I sent them to wash.....we've been cleaning all day."
Peter looked around the room, noting the changes.
"Sorry about the table." He finally said, wiping his nose with the back of his hand, leaving a gory smear over his face.
"I'll get a cloth. I think you should have a bath yourself Peter."
Looking down at himself, Peter laughed. "I do look a sight...I'll wait for the boys to get back, then I'll show you where you can bathe as well."
"Thank you.....I was hoping to get washed up."
While Wendy cleaned the table top, Peter squatted by the fire and turned the spit, the smell of cooking meat filling the room, making Wendy's mouth water. The Lost boys appeared all in a tumble a little while later, their freshly washed bodies encased in an odd assortment of ill fitting garments, their wet hair slicked back off their scrubbed faces. Peter rose to his feet and indicated for Topper to take over. Wendy took charge of their wet clothes and hung them around the room, close to the fire to dry off.
Pebble walked up to Peter, his pink face squeaky clean, and looked him up and down, before wrinkling his nose and annoucing, "you smell bad....and you're covered in blood."
"Thank you Pebble......I know. I'm off to take a bath. Briggs, you're in charge, don't let that burn."
Wendy was already by the door, a bundle of clothes clutched in her arms, waiting for Peter.
As he approached she wrinkled her nose at him. "Pebbles right, you do....um....pong!"
Peter laughed and made to grab her, causing her to jump back and give a little shriek.
They kept up the game of catch and grab outside, Peter leading her down a path that wound its way through the dense shrubs until it opened out into a grassy clearing beside a wide pool, the stream feeding it at one end, a natural dam emptying at the other. It was private and very inviting.
"Oh Peter....this is lovely, is this where the boys came?"
"No.....they go further downstream....this is where I bathe."
Not bothering to do more than remove the various weapons about his person, Peter tugged off the top half of his leaf outfit and dived into the water, Wendy staring after him. When he surfaced, he shook his head, water flying in all direction, his sun-kissed curls flat against his head.
"Come on Wendy........its wonderful."
Putting her bundle of clothes on the grass, Wendy stepped forward, dipping her toes into the edge of the water.
"Aren't you going to take your dress off?" Peter asked curiously.
"NO!......er......no.....it needs a rinse, anyway."
Shrugging, Peter turned and dived under the water. Taking the opportunity, Wendy waded into the pool, the water quickly reaching her waist, then her breasts, until she floated, her skirts tangling around her legs as she trod water. It was awkward, swimming in her clothes, but the alternative was too shocking to contemplate. She had been taught to swim by her brothers on a visit to a cousins' country house several years before. Her initiation taking the form of being pushed in fully clothed and having to learn the rudiments or drown. Since then she'd had only a few opportunities to swim, so felt quite nervous for several seconds before she relaxed.
It dawned on her after several minutes that Peter had not surfaced. Fearfully she started to call his name, her body twisting as she tried to peer into the green depth, her voice becoming shrill with anxiety. Just as she was about to scream for help, Peter erupted out of the water behind her, making her scream in relief and surprise, her arms clutching him around his neck, too pleased to see him to worry about the propriety of clutching a wet, half naked boy to her bosom.
"Where did you go....I couldn't see you anywhere?"
"I swam to the side, to take the rest of my leaves off."
"W-w-h-at?"
Peter's arms were loosely holding her to him, her arms firmly wrapped around his neck, their lower bodies not quite touching.
"I-took-my-leaves-off," Peter carefully enunciated, grinning at Wendy's shocked expression.
"You....er....you...." She darted a look down to where the water reached, half way up his chest. "You're.....naked?"
"And clean.......see." He glanced over his first one shoulder then the next, before turning back to face her, his eyes reflecting the sparkles on the water. Wendy gulped and made to push away from him.
"I think I'd better......er....better get out."
"And I think you should get this dress off......you can't wash it if your wearing it."
"Peter!"
As she strained to get away, Peter reached around and undid the buttons at the back of the dress, his face scant inches from hers as she twisted to avoid meeting his eyes. With her attention elsewhere Peter took advantage and kissed her, his mouth hungrily devouring hers, his teeth nipping at her lips, keeping her too occupied to worry about what his hands were doing.
Having disposed of the buttons, Peter lowered his arms and started to bunch the material up in his hands, dragging it up over her legs almost to her waist before she started to struggle in earnest.
"Peter please.......stop.."
"You'll feel more comfortable without this dragging you down," he murmured, his lips still engaging her, her senses drowning in an avalanche of feeling, his busy hands pulling her dress up further.
"Raise your arms."
So drunk on his nearness and his lips, Wendy concurred before she realised what she was doing. By the time she did Peter had her dress off over her head and it was floating across the surface of the pond. The sensation of being completely naked in a tepid pool with a handsome young man was something Wendy simply had no defence against. Her skin tingled and she felt unbearably aware of her entire body all at once, the water seeking out and finding a host of sensitive places as she moved in the water. Peter was still holding her lightly with his hands on her waist, the movement of the water making his fingers tips drag back and forth over her skin. Blushing so hard she was sure she would burst into flames, Wendy ducked under the water, coming up almost instantly, but now able to push her saturated hair back off her face, sweeping it behind her ears, studiously avoiding meeting Peter's eyes.
"Peter......this is.....well....this is...."
"Delicious.....yes I agree..." Pulling her against him, Peter claimed her lips again, his hands reaching around and flattening against her lower back, pulling her into his body, her hands reaching up and tangling in his hair as the kiss deepened. They were so caught up in their own responses that they didn't notice the person standing on the grassy bank, her brown eyes taking in the scene with a jealous gleam. As Peter's mouth left her lips and started on her face, chin and neck, Wendy languidly opened her eyes, only to meet Bane's glare, shocking Wendy into jerking away from Peter, who raised his head in surprise.
"What's the...."
"Bane." Wendy whispered, ducking down in the water until only her head was above the surface.
Peter slowly turned around, his back to Wendy, shielding her from Bane's view. "You're early Bane.....I thought I said dusk."
"It's as near as maybe.....and I wanted to bathe.....but I see your occupied with her....so I'll come back later."
"Use the lower pool....the boys have already had their bath for today."
"But I prefer this one......"
"Well I'm using this pool......so use the other one."
"Ooooooooh!" Furious, Bane stamped off, scowling horribly. Peter sighed and turned back to Wendy who was having a difficult time keeping a straight face.
"Oh dear....another black mark against me," said Wendy resignedly.
"She'll get over it.......now.....where were we."
Peter made to grab for her, but Wendy pushed off from the bottom and kicked away, laughing as Peter growled and set off in pursuit. Being the better swimmer Peter quickly overhauled her, diving under the water and coming up, his arms around her, their bodies sliding over each other like otters. Pulling her towards him, Peter wrapped her legs around his waist, the intimate contact shocking Wendy and making her gasp before she found herself once more drowning as his mouth made love to hers, her eyes sliding shut as his tongue sought hers, her heart setting up a rapid tattoo in her chest pressed hard against his. After several pleasurable minutes, Wendy broke free, gasping and trembling, overwhelmed with her bodies responses.
"Oh Peter.....what are we doing.....I feel.....so..."
"So what?"
"So out of control.....its frightening."
"Not frightening......exciting."
Nuzzling her neck, Peter kissed his way to her ear, sucking on the lobe, making her groan, her arms tightening around his neck. She felt on fire, her body overwhelmed with need, for what she wasn't entirely sure.
"We have to stop....Peter....oh....oh yes, just there...."
Peter grinned against her skin, nibbling at her jaw, working his way back to her mouth. Feeling languid and relaxed, Wendy loosened her arms, her body sliding down Peter's a little way. Abruptly she tightened her arms and her eyes opened wide, her body tensing in his arms. Sensing the change, Peter lifted his head and met her shocked gaze.
"Wendy?"
"Peter....I.....I think we should stop....right now."
Grinning Peter moved his hands up and down her back, each stroke bringing his hands down until he was able to cup her backside in his palms. Wendy squeaked and flushed crimson, burying her face against his shoulder as he pulled her more firmly against him, his arousal pressing against her most private centre.
"I think...." Peter started to say, a rustling sound alerting him to someone's approach, his bottom lip pulled into his mouth for a second before he continued. "I think........ we should get out of this water, and find somewhere a little less.......exposed." Turning slightly, Peter saw Bane stomp past the river bank, her eyes averted from the pair in the water, her face set and angry. Almost immediately, he heard his name being called by one of the boys and felt Wendy shaking in his arms. Lifting her head she turned her brimming eyes to him, her mouth stretched into a wide smile, a muffled giggle escaping before she buried her face against his shoulder again, shaking with laughter.
Peter pinched her bottom, making her jump in his arms, her head coming up to admonish him, her words never said as their eyes locked.
"We will finish this...."
Wendy felt adrift, drowning in his blue-green eyes, a hint of fairy dust dancing in their depths.
"Tonight," Wendy whispered back. Slowly they separated, her legs releasing his body, his hands letting go of her hips. Feeling instantly bereft, Wendy chewed her lip, her eyes still locked with his. As if by an invisible signal they came together again, lips and teeth clashing, tongues duelling in a kiss that set their hearts thumping and their senses swimming. Breaking apart more slowly, they swam back to the shore, stepping out of the water together, hardly noticing their state of undress. Peter reached for her hand and drew her towards him, her body slick and warm, igniting his own in a fever of want.
"Tonight, my Wendy....."
"Until tonight...." she replied.
Stepping to the bundle of cloths, Wendy pulled out a pair of trousers and a loose shirt, tossing them to Peter.
"I thought these might be more.......convenient than your leaves."
"Thanks.......they will be."
They quickly dressed, Peter helping her with the buttons of the new dress. Wendy suddenly remembered the one she'd been wearing the turned back to the pond.
"Oh no.....my dress!" she wailed, seeing the fabric snagged on the dam. Peter lifted off and flew over to the collection of logs and branches, hanging upside down to untangle and retrieve the sodden gown, careful not to get himself wet again. He wrung it out and carried it back to the bank.
"Oh dear......just as well I wasn't planning on wearing it to a ball anytime soon." Squeezing the worst of the water out, she rolled it up and they set off back to the hideout. When they entered the underground the smell of cooking meat was mouth-wateringly overwhelming. The boys were all clustered around the fire, watching the carcass turn on the spit, juices running down and hissing into the flames. Wendy hung her dress up besides the boys clothes, turning to see where Bane was. The girl was lying on her stomach on one of the sleeping couches, her body tense, pointedly ignoring everybody. Wendy went over and stood beside the bed and waited for the girl to notice. Bane chose to ignore her.
"Do you have any clothes to hang up Bane?....They should be dry by morning if I hang them up now."
"Here." Bane handed Wendy a bundle of damp clothes, the fabric as torn and worn as the boys. Bane was wearing another refugee from the costume chest, a large frilled shirt that came down to her knees, the long sleeves with their lace cuffs flopping over her wrists. As Wendy moved away to hang up her clothes, Bane suddenly moved, swinging her legs over the side and sitting up. When Wendy turned back to the room, Bane was leaning back on one hand, the other dragging a comb through her pale hair, the shirt hanging wide open, almost unbuttoned to her navel, exposing a large expanse of chest and barely covering her still immature breasts. Wendy glanced over at Peter, but he was absorbed at the table, checking over his weapons, rebinding a knife handle. Bane continued her preening, her arm raised as she combed her hair, the movement of her arm pulling the shirt open with each move. Wendy then looked over at the fire and saw Briggs eyes staring at Bane, his hand automatically turning the spit, but his attention all on the lovely girl and the teasing glimpses of her body. Walking over to Bane, careful to keep herself between the fire and the bed, Wendy stood infront of the girl, forcing her to stop her combing and look up at the older girl.
"I think you really should button that shirt Bane....I wouldn't want you to catch a chill."
Leaning back on both hands, Bane smirked up at Wendy, the shirt now barely covering her at all. "I like it like this.....and I know the boys do."
"I'm sure that Briggs does....if that is who you are trying to attract."
"Oh him.....he looks at me all the time.....he's just a boy," Bane dismissed her beau with a roll of her eyes, tossing her head to make her hair flick back over her shoulder.
"He may be a boy.....but he also a young man, and its not fair to tease him like this. It does no credit to you or show respect for him."
Bane looked up at Wendy for a second as if not believing her ears. "Respect?...who the hell cares about respect?"
"Well I do for one.....and Peter certainly does."
"What would you know about Peter and what he likes?"
"I have known Peter for a very long time Bane...many years before you arrived in Neverland. If this display was intended to garner his interest, then look for yourself if it has been successful." Wendy stood back and Bane looked over at the table, seeing Peter totally engrossed in trimming the feathers of an arrow, not once glancing up from his task.
"I'm sorry you have taken a dislike to me Bane.....but the fact is, I am here to stay and will be living here, with you and the others and Peter for quite some time. I will also be sleeping with Peter, in his bed, every night." Wendy moved to sit down next to the girl, Bane's head now tilted down, her eyes staring at the floor. Slowly, as if dealing with a nervous fawn, Wendy softly fastened all the buttons on the shirt, her slender fingers closing each opening until Bane's chest was demurely covered and her modesty restored. "I don't want to be your enemy, and you're too old for me to baby you like the others. I can understand that you don't want a mother, I'm not exactly sure I'm ready to be a mother either. But I would like to be your friend. It's nice sometimes to have another girl to talk to about things....things that we simply can't talk to boys about. I'm just the same...."
"Why doesn't he love me?....why does he love you?" Bane's softly uttered whisper reached Wendy and she felt a lump in her throat at the poignancy of the question. Still cautious, Wendy reached for one of Bane's hands and took it between her own.
"Bane, Peter does love you, he cares for all of you, he would be devastated if any of you were hurt of captured. He told me about Dak, it still hurts him that he couldn't rescue the boy."
"I knew Dak......he wasn't here long...he didn't...wouldn't understand the dangers here."
"I know, Peter told me. Would you like to hear how I met Peter?"
Bane lifted her head, her expression chastened.
"Why are you being nice to me?.....After all I've done."
"Because I was a girl, much like you, not so many years ago, and because I think we can be friends."
"He does love you...I mean, really love you....doesn't he?"
"Yes Bane.....he loves me, and I love him, so very much."
"Did you really give him your hidden kiss....and did you really save him from Hook?"
"Well it all started one night, in the nursery, when I awoke to find Peter hovering over my bed. Of course, I didn't know who he was then, and I thought I was dreaming, but Nana barked at him and captured Peter's shadow as he flew out the nursery window, so he had to come back to get it......"
As Wendy told the story of her first meeting with Peter, sitting on the bed holding Bane's hand, the other children shuffled over, leaving Briggs to turn the spit. Peter looked up and smiled at Wendy and her small audience. Bane was listening raptly to the story, her face turned towards the older girl, her hands still held between Wendy's. Turning back to his arrow, Peter chuckled to himself, once more in awe of the girl who had so easily beguiled and won his heart all those years ago. It seemed her magic hadn't dimmed one speck over the years.
Briggs called a halt to the story when he announced the meat to be cooked, the boys instantly leaping up and crowding around, Peter clearing the table before coming over and shooing the youngsters away.
Together, Peter and Briggs lifted the spit away from the fire to give them access to carve the meat from the bone. Wendy rose and gathered the children to go and fetch the plates, coming back with a platter for Peter to put the slices of roast venison on. Bane hung back until Wendy asked her to fetch the water jug and mugs, a task she set to with a willing spirit, setting the table and replacing the candles that had burnt to the stub. Finally Briggs carried the groaning platter to the table and everyone gathered around, sitting themselves on the benches and stools. Topper made to grab a share but his hand was stayed by a glare from Peter.
"Wendy.......is there anything you'd like to say before we eat?"
Startled, Wendy looked up, not quite sure what Peter meant.
"Oh....I suppose so.....er....thank you to Peter for bringing this food to our table, and thank you to Briggs for cooking it so well." She darted a look around the table, noting the intent expression on the faces around her. "And thank you for bringing me here to Neverland, if this is my heaven, then I'm well pleased."
As she ended, everyone's eyes swivelled to Peter, who grinned back at them. "Dig in!"
The table erupted and hands made a grab for the steaming platter, Wendy sitting well back to avoid being splattered by grease and gravy as the boys filled their plates. Peter, at the head of the table, leant negligently back in his chair, one leg thrown over the arm. He too waited for the first flurry to pass. Bane, sitting to Wendy's right, also hung back, her initial move to grab her share stopped when she saw that neither Wendy nor Peter were making a move. When the first wave of eager hands had filled their plates and retreated to munch, Wendy passed her plate to Bane and asked her to put some on for her. Looking at the meat, then at her clean hands, Bane hesitated. A knife thunked into the table in front of her, her startled eyes looking up to find Peter indicating for her to take it. Quickly she pulled the knife from the wood and speared several slices of the meat, passing the plate back to Wendy before filling her own. The boys were too engrossed in filling their bellies to notice the small byplay, their clean faces rapidly becoming grease smeared and as grubby as before.
Wendy had appropriated the paring knife she'd used before, and cut her meat into smaller chunks before using the knife like a fork and eating daintily. Both Peter and Bane watched her for a minute before following suit, Bane squirming as Twig, sitting beside her, propped his elbows on the table rudely and chewed with gusto on a large slice of dripping meat.
Wendy caught Peter's eyes and they exchanged a smile, Peter lifting his shoulders in a shrug accompanied by an eye roll, echoed by Wendy before they dissolved into giggles and broad smiles at the antics around the meal table. Bane was the only witness to the exchange, her mouth drooping as she acknowledge to herself how foolish she'd been to even think that Peter held anything but parental feelings for her.
The boys finished their meals in record time, the bolting of food resulting in a burping contest which entertained the children for some time until Peter called a halt, his rib aching from laughing so much, instructing the children to go and clean themselves up before the littlies got ready for bed. There was the usual chorus of moans and a new request that Wendy tell them a story before they settle to sleep. She agreed readily and the children set to on the table, clearing it in record time, while Wendy turned the clothes still hanging around the room so that they dried evenly. The fire had made the underground very warm and she felt a need for some air while the children took care of the dishes and remains of the deer. Slipping along one of the passageways, she stepped out into the semi-gloom of dusk and drew in a deep breath, welcoming the sting of the cooler air in her lungs. She heard a noise and turned her head to glance over her shoulder. Bane had followed her, the girls over-large shirt hanging loosely down her arms and body, the shirt hiding her hands as she crossed them over her chest.
Wendy waited for her to speak, ignoring her as she remained silent, just enjoying the evening air and waiting for Bane to pluck up the courage to talk to her.
"Wendy?"
"Yes Bane."
"Wendy......would you.......um.....would you teach me to be like you?"
Turning slowly, Wendy faced Bane and looked at her. Draped in the adult shirt, the girl looked ridiculously young and very vulnerable. It reminded Wendy of her own adolescence, her fear of growing up and forgetting, of her bodies betrayal as it grew in some places and did unmentionable things in others. Admittedly Wendy was hardly as old as Methuselah, but compared to Bane she felt decades older.
"Why do you want to be like me, I'd have thought being like you was hard enough....to try and be someone else if almost impossible."
"No....you don't understand......"
"I do Bane.....you want to learn how to act like.....a lady."
"Yes....that's it......will you?"
"You know something Bane.....I wish I could be more like you, sometimes. I wish I could just throw my control to the winds and let my emotions rule my head and heart. In the years since I left my childhood behind, I've had to learn to restrain my natural impulses, to forget the sheer joy of being alive and free. I want to get that freedom back, to enjoy what is, and not worry about what other people might think, can you teach me that?"
"I don't know.....I can try."
"Then that is enough.....and I will try to help you be the beautiful young lady I know is lurking inside you."
"Pact!" Bane lifted her hand to her mouth and spat in her palm before holding it out for Wendy to take. Wendy hesitated only a second before spitting in her own hand and gripping Bane's, the two of them grinning like idiots at each other.
"You'll be sort of like my sister........I mean, you're not exactly old enough to be my mother.....even if I knew what a mother was....which I don't."
"Oh Bane......do you want......do you want to tell me about...."
"About me? Nah....not tonight.......it might scare you off."
"Nothing scares me Bane....didn't Peter tell you that?"
"No....he did say he thought you were the bravest girl he'd ever known."
"Oh......well, I think you're the bravest person I know...."
Again they grinned at each other, the wood darkening around them as the night drew in. Wendy rubbed her arms at the sudden drop in temperature. "I think we should go in....it's getting cold."
"It's been getting colder and colder every night.....isn't that strange?"
"I don't know.....I certainly don't remember the nights being cold when I last came here.....but that was so long ago, maybe things have changed. Come on, let's get inside."
They met Peter coming up the passageway. "I was just coming to get you two, the littlies are in bed and waiting for a story.....mother."
"On my way....father."
Bane made a rude noise and brushed past them, Peter watching her leave before turning back and lifting an eyebrow. Wendy just smiled and pecked him on the cheek.
"Don't worry....everything will work out fine."
"Good.....I have to go out and check over Neverland, so go ahead, I'll be back soon."
"Be careful Peter....."
"I will...."
Wendy watched as he left the tree, instantly soaring into the sky on his nightly patrol of their island world.
Turning away, Wendy made her way back to the underground and the eager children waiting to hear a bedtime story.
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(aha.......hope you enjoyed.....onwards and upwards.....brave reader.)