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Chapter 12: Questions and Answers
Wendy's bag had become heavy during the journey home, and it was a constant reminder that Peter wasn't with her. At long last, she had reached her window. She looked into her room and found it cold and empty. She pushed her window open, and stepped inside. Her mother had kept her room neat and tidy. Wendy sat down her bag, and a glint of silver caught her eye. For on her dresser sat her necklace--- the necklace she had left behind when she went to Never Land with Peter. On a thin, silver chain sat her and Peter's first kisses: her dented acorn, and his rusty thimble. Lately she had forgotten them, about what they stood for.
Undying love.
She let out a small sob.
It was good enough for her mother's radar, and suddenly there was a ton of commotion. Mary threw open her daughter's door and burst into the room. There, in her nightgown she stood, "WENDY!" She screamed, "George, it's Wendy!"
"Mother!" She hugged her until her sides hurt.
"Let me look at you," Mary said, examining her. "Oh, just as beautiful, if not a little bloated."
Wendy looked at her mother as well. Her hair had a few strands of gray. How long had she been gone? Mr. Darling's now balding head appeared behind her mother. "Father!" Wendy screamed, and hugged him tightly as well.
"Where's Peter?" Mary asked.
"Oh," Wendy said, trying to hide the face that the question nearly brought her to tears. "Well, he had some things to take care of, he'll be back for me soon."
"How long are you staying?" Mary gushed. "A month? Two?"
"I think we can arrange that," Wendy said softly.
Mary grinned, "I'm going to go wake the boys! Oh, you're home, Wendy!" And she left the room in a fluster.
It was late at night when Wendy had greeted all of her brothers, and noted how big they had gotten. John now appeared to be the same age as her. So many things had changed. Maybe it was because she was actually sleeping on a real bed, or because she was around people that loved her, but Wendy fell into a restful sleep.
The next morning, Wendy vomited as quietly as she could, hoping not to alert anyone in the house. Luckily, the boys had always been big eaters, and she was sure her family was downstairs around the breakfast table.
She mumbled a "hello", and took her place next to her mother. As Wendy sat, a funny thing began to happen. The table began to swirl. Tables didn't usually swirl, did they? She looked up, and found that her father was asking him a question. Well, she thought he was. He was looking right at her, and his mouth was moving. But she couldn't hear a thing he was saying, because he began swirl too! Wendy put a hand to her head. Now everything was swirling, and her head was beating like a drum. She closed her eyes to the pain.
When she opened them, her vision was very blurry, but it was focusing slowly. She could make out the faces of her brothers staring over her. And she realized she was on the couch in the living room. It all came flooding back to her. Oh, how embarrassing! She must have fainted. She tried to sit up, but a hand stopped her. "Whoa there, just rest." It was the voice of her doctor!
Wendy blushed with embarrassment. "Oh, Dr. Elliot, I'm terribly sorry. I just had a dizzy spell." She confessed. She looked at her brothers worried faces, and her parent's horrified ones, "I'm fine, really."
"I'd like to do one more test," Dr. Elliot said. "Gentlemen, would you mind?" He stared at her brothers. The twins stood in front of Wendy as if to shield her. Nibs and Toodles went through his bag.
"Boys, it's okay," Wendy said, "Nibs, Toodles, get out of there!"
Mrs. Darling swept all of her sons in her arms and led them upstairs. She returned a few moments later. Dr. Elliot did a thorough examination of Wendy. She though this hardly necessary, she had only fainted after all!
"Well," Dr. Elliot said, a smile on his face, "I suppose a congratulations is in order."
They all stared at him.
"Con-congratulations?" George asked.
"Yes, George," Dr. Elliot said, "Wendy is pregnant."
"Pregnant," Her brothers whispered in unison by the stairs.
"I told you to get in your room!" Mary shouted, and there was the sound of thunderous footsteps.
Wendy felt as if she had heard wrong. "You must be mistaken, Dr. Elliot, I… I---"
"I'm not mistaken, Miss, though you'll have to see me a lot more often." He smiled.
"I can't be!" Wendy cried. How could this happen now? Why couldn't she have gotten pregnant when Amanda was still dead? She felt tears well up in her eyes. She never felt more alone. And her parents… oh God, her parents… what would they think? The sound of a body hitting the floor broke her out of her trance. Her father had fainted.
"Is he pregnant too?" Nibs asked, but one look from Mrs. Darling sent them all upstairs again.
Wendy sat in her room, absent-mindedly stroking Nana's head with one hand, and her tummy with the other. The big Saint Bernard had her head in Wendy's lap, and stared up at her with sad eyes. She gave a whimper.
"I am happy," Wendy said. "I'm going to be a mother, a real mother."
Nana licked her hand affectionately.
"Do you think Peter loves me as he once did?" Wendy asked her. "Would he love this baby?"
Nana gave two barks.
Wendy smiled, "Thanks."
There was a knock on her door. Wendy dried her eyes, "Who's there?"
"John."
"Come in,"
John walked in, and closed the door.
"I just wanted to say that we're happy for you, and Peter," he said. "It's not everyday that we become uncles."
Wendy gave a small nod, and then burst into tears.
John didn't quite know how to handle this reaction from his sister. He rooted around in his pockets and handed her a handkerchief, which Wendy blew her nose on.
"When are you returning?" He asked. "When will Peter know the news?"
She sobbed quietly.
"You're not returning, are you?" He whispered. "You're not really here for a visit."
Wendy shook her head, and told him the whole story.
John shook his head. "Babes McGee? Really? How beautiful is she?"
Wendy stared at him.
"I mean, I dare say, complete riffraff!"
Wendy gave a small smile, "Thanks, John."
John grinned, "What are brothers for?"
It was getting very late. He stood up. "Well, good night, Wendy."
"Good night, John."
He turned back to her, "Any names yet?"
She smiled, and shook her head.
"The twins chose Wolfgang for a boy, and Michael, Nibs, and Toodles want Sparkle for a girl."
Wendy laughed, "And you?"
"I personally like Jane," He said.
"Jane," Wendy whispered. "Maybe."
He waved his farewell, and left her alone again. How did she land herself in these fixes? Pregnant, and the father miles away, with absolutely no clue.