CHAPTER 18: AND SO IT GROWS
Peter wanted to shout it out to the world! Someone loves him! Peter had only heard that word to him once. It was when he was still living with his mother.
"Peter come downstairs!" His older sister, Catherine called. "Dinner's ready."
"I'm not coming!" the twelve year old Peter cried from his room, pouting.
Another voice was heard. A warm, soothing voice. "Peter, darling, come down."
"Fine, mother." Peter walked down the stairs and sat at the table, playing with his food. Peter's father, Adam, was whispering to his mother about something. "What are they talking about?" Peter asked his sister.
"Who knows, Peter." Catherine ate a piece of the chicken.
After dinner, Peter's mother, Violet, tucked her child in. "Goodnight my Peter." She whispered. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a braid. Every night, she would sing to Peter. So, she started to sing. "Dark is the hour when bed time grows near, sleep, sleep, sleep. May angel's wings guide you in your slumber and play the harp for you to hear. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Safety rolls by, as the fairies ring, sleep, sleep, sleep.
Mrs. Pan walked out of Peter's room and closed the door behind her. Peter lay awake, trying to listen on his parents' conversation.
"He will go to Oxford, graduate and grow up to be one of England's supreme ambassadors." He heard his mother say.
"First, he'll have to grow up." His father reminded her. "He could be a lawyer, marry a rich family, and have a happy life."
Peter pouted in his bed. He didn't like the idea of growing up. Never.
"I never want to grow up. I shall always be a boy, and have fun." Peter whispered. Without saying goodbye, Peter ran away to Kensington Gardens, never to be seen from his family's eyes again.
"Peter?" Wendy's voice interrupted his flashback. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." He smiled at Wendy. Wendy smiled back. "I was just thinking about something."
"Thinking about what?"
"It's nothing. Really." Peter said, reassuringly. He flew Wendy back to the Underground Home just in time for lunch.
"Peter, do you know what a real kiss is?" Wendy asked, making stew with left over vegetables. Peter pointed to his necklace. "No. A real kiss?"
"This is a real kiss." Peter snapped, pointing to the necklace. Wendy walked over to Peter and waited for him to fly to the ground. Acting like a bloodthirsty lion, Wendy leapt on Peter, knocking him to the ground, covering his face with kisses. "This, is a real kiss." Wendy kissed Peter once more. Peter got up weakly and stumbled around, looking dazed. Wendy smacked her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
"Wendy?" Peter asked, taking her hand and leading her to his room. He plopped her on the bed as he sat on the bed as well. "I have a funny feeling inside of me."
Wendy looked at Peter with concern. "Where, Peter?" Peter pointed to his stomach. Wendy tenderly placed her hand on it, sending more chills through Peter's skin. "Right there?" Peter nodded. "What does it feel like?"
"It feels like..." Peter jumped up taking out his sword and waving it in the air. "Like bees tickling you with their fur, just when they're about to sting you! It feels like butterflies fluttering around inside of you! It feels-"Peter crouched down to the sitting Wendy and calmed himself. "It feels like fireworks getting ready to explode, Wendy." He whispered.
"That's strange Peter." Wendy whispered in his ear. "Because I feel the same way."
"How can we cure it?"
Wendy lay down on Peter's bed, a coy look in her eye. "I think, that whatever it is saying to us in our hearts, we should follow the advice..." Wendy explained, still in whispers. "What is the voice saying to you?"
Peter didn't respond with words. He looked like he was between fourteen and fifteen years old now, Wendy looking almost fourteen. The Neverland rule on love was that the age of fifteen was the cut off. Together they rested, looking at each other with a want and desire, yet no one would move. All they could do was wait.
"It's saying..." Peter inched closer to Wendy and played with some of her hair, still inching nearer and nearer.
"Saying..." Wendy sighed, putting a hand on Peter's vine. Peter stopped playing with Wendy's hair and gently took her hand playing on the vine, guiding it to his heart. Wendy could feel it beating quickly. Since it was nothing but silence, she could hear his heartbeat. Wendy took Peter's freehand; one hand over Peter's heart, and guided it to where her heart was. Peter listened and felt, also knowing that Wendy's heartbeat was quite quick. Then, they both noticed a miraculous and symbolic thing at the same time. Their heartbeats made a sound at the same beat, like one person's.
"Wendy." Peter sighed with a soft breath, feeling his desire becoming bigger and bigger. He blushed, not wanting to kiss her if she didn't want him to. He waited for a signal from her. A smile grew on the girl's face, coming closer to the boy and resting her head on his arm. Peter kissed her forehead, leading down to her full lips.
Trembles arrived in Wendy's breath, wondering if this was right or not. After all, they were only children! But then again, Peter's kisses felt good, making Wendy want more and more every second.
Peter inched his hands down Wendy's back as quiet moans came from Wendy. She kissed Peter's bare chest and rested her head on Peter's chest once more, by his vine. Peter took in a deep breath, closing his eyes as usual when happy. Their bodies were pressed against each other, Wendy's nightgown becoming wrinkled. Everything was peaceful. Until, Peter yelled again.
Wendy sat up quickly. "What's wrong Peter?" she asked, her voice hoarse with worry. She worried about her dear ones often.
"The pain's not leaving, Wendy! But, I want more of it!"
"You're feeling something." Wendy took in a deep breath, slowly exhaling. She rested her head on Peter's chest again, closing her eyes.
"I just, want more Wendy." Peter said quietly. "I want, more."
"What do you mean?" Wendy asked, confused. Peter sat up and looked at the clock. It was almost three a.m.! They'd been awake the whole night. "What more do you want?"
"More. More Wendy, I want," Wendy quickly guided his hand to her side. Peter stared at it, curious. "More."
"I'm not sure." Peter got up and grabbed Wendy's hand. "Peter, no!" Wendy cried with fear as they flew out of the Underground Home, clinging to him as he flew faster and higher. "Peter, wait!"
They both landed on the ground. Wendy's eyes were covered by Peter, so she couldn't tell where she was. "I'm going to keep my hand on your eyes," Peter informed Wendy. "And I'll take my hand off when I'm ready."
Wendy stumbled, trying to move. She could feel grass under her toes, and could hear water falling down. Yet, she also heard the faint tinkle of bells and could smell beautiful roses. Now she knew where she was. The Fairy Forest. It had to be the forest!
Peter released his hand and Wendy gasped, faintly smiling. In the clearing, there was a small lagoon without the mermaids. The lagoon was a beautiful; red rose circling it, and fairies watching for light.
"Peter, it's beautiful." Wendy cried. But then, she noticed that Peter was no where in sight. "Peter?" she looked around for him. "Peter-" Peter snuck up behind her and quickly picked Wendy up. She screamed, shocked and surprised. Peter was laughing at her, running over to the lagoon. He swam out to the middle, Wendy still being dry, and dropped her into the water. He waited five seconds, and up came Wendy. Wendy waited for an insult to come out of her mouth, but nothing came. The only thing that came was laughter. Peter laughed with her, looking up into the sunset. The sky had blues and pinks, quite lovely and fading away.
The Lost Boys snuck after the two and noticed a shriek come from Wendy. Quickly, they crawled behind some rocks, unseen.
"Wendy." The twins whispered.
"And Peter." Curly and Tootles said at the same time. Every boy was shocked.
"They're probably just playing around." Nibs said coolly. "It's not like they're-"Nibs froze, as did the others. They all witnessed Peter kiss Wendy passionately in the water.
"Was that a...thimble?" Slightly asked, appalled. Curly nodded.
"Peter's growing...." Curly gulped. "Up."
"We shall meet them back at the home and have a talk with them." Tootles suggested. "After all, we need to know what's happening."
Bewildered, the boys silently ran back to the Underground Home, awaiting Peter and Wendy.
Wendy splashed Peter once more as she swam to the shore and climbed up to a rock. The air was brisk and the water on Wendy seemed cold. She shivered. Peter climbed up on the rock next to her.
"Wendy, you're cold, aren't you?" Peter asked. Wendy nodded, shivering.
"This nightgown needs to dry, because I might catch a cold if I stay here too long." Peter kissed Wendy on her cheek, causing Wendy to tremble.
"Still cold?" Peter asked, standing up. "Because you shivered again."
"No Peter." Wendy whispered. "I'm just trembling."
"Trembling?" Peter walked over to the clovers. "Let's go home." He decided this, though not wanting to. Wendy smiled and nodded.
"Yes. Let's." Wendy grabbed Peter's hand as they flew into the cold air, making Wendy shiver more. Soon Wendy began to sneeze. The shivering became louder and louder, every shiver making Peter more worried. He sped up so they would get there quicker. Peter had a worried look on his face, but whenever Wendy looked at him, he gave a reassuring grin.
They reached the Underground Home and quickly felt the warmth of the fire. The boys were all in a row, looking at the two children with angry eyes.
"Peter we need to talk." Slightly said, pulling a chair for Wendy. Wendy shook her head and went to her room to fetch a blanket for herself. She sat on the bearskin rug with her blanket around her, watching the Lost Boys and Peter. Peter kept standing up. "Did you or did you not thimble Wendy?" Slightly asked.
"I..." Peter froze. He glanced at Wendy, then the Lost Boys. "I did."
"Oh. Okay." Slightly immediately jumped to his bed, without supper. The other boys did the same, not feeling hungry. "But you banned that rule after-"
"Well the rule's gone!" Peter interrupted. Slightly froze, and nodded, trying to get himself out of trouble.
Peter looked at the Lost Boys with confusion, waved goodnight to Wendy, then retired to bed. Wendy lied down on the rug, the blanket keeping her warm. Quickly, she dozed off to sleep.
Peter wanted to shout it out to the world! Someone loves him! Peter had only heard that word to him once. It was when he was still living with his mother.
"Peter come downstairs!" His older sister, Catherine called. "Dinner's ready."
"I'm not coming!" the twelve year old Peter cried from his room, pouting.
Another voice was heard. A warm, soothing voice. "Peter, darling, come down."
"Fine, mother." Peter walked down the stairs and sat at the table, playing with his food. Peter's father, Adam, was whispering to his mother about something. "What are they talking about?" Peter asked his sister.
"Who knows, Peter." Catherine ate a piece of the chicken.
After dinner, Peter's mother, Violet, tucked her child in. "Goodnight my Peter." She whispered. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a braid. Every night, she would sing to Peter. So, she started to sing. "Dark is the hour when bed time grows near, sleep, sleep, sleep. May angel's wings guide you in your slumber and play the harp for you to hear. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Safety rolls by, as the fairies ring, sleep, sleep, sleep.
Mrs. Pan walked out of Peter's room and closed the door behind her. Peter lay awake, trying to listen on his parents' conversation.
"He will go to Oxford, graduate and grow up to be one of England's supreme ambassadors." He heard his mother say.
"First, he'll have to grow up." His father reminded her. "He could be a lawyer, marry a rich family, and have a happy life."
Peter pouted in his bed. He didn't like the idea of growing up. Never.
"I never want to grow up. I shall always be a boy, and have fun." Peter whispered. Without saying goodbye, Peter ran away to Kensington Gardens, never to be seen from his family's eyes again.
"Peter?" Wendy's voice interrupted his flashback. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." He smiled at Wendy. Wendy smiled back. "I was just thinking about something."
"Thinking about what?"
"It's nothing. Really." Peter said, reassuringly. He flew Wendy back to the Underground Home just in time for lunch.
"Peter, do you know what a real kiss is?" Wendy asked, making stew with left over vegetables. Peter pointed to his necklace. "No. A real kiss?"
"This is a real kiss." Peter snapped, pointing to the necklace. Wendy walked over to Peter and waited for him to fly to the ground. Acting like a bloodthirsty lion, Wendy leapt on Peter, knocking him to the ground, covering his face with kisses. "This, is a real kiss." Wendy kissed Peter once more. Peter got up weakly and stumbled around, looking dazed. Wendy smacked her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
"Wendy?" Peter asked, taking her hand and leading her to his room. He plopped her on the bed as he sat on the bed as well. "I have a funny feeling inside of me."
Wendy looked at Peter with concern. "Where, Peter?" Peter pointed to his stomach. Wendy tenderly placed her hand on it, sending more chills through Peter's skin. "Right there?" Peter nodded. "What does it feel like?"
"It feels like..." Peter jumped up taking out his sword and waving it in the air. "Like bees tickling you with their fur, just when they're about to sting you! It feels like butterflies fluttering around inside of you! It feels-"Peter crouched down to the sitting Wendy and calmed himself. "It feels like fireworks getting ready to explode, Wendy." He whispered.
"That's strange Peter." Wendy whispered in his ear. "Because I feel the same way."
"How can we cure it?"
Wendy lay down on Peter's bed, a coy look in her eye. "I think, that whatever it is saying to us in our hearts, we should follow the advice..." Wendy explained, still in whispers. "What is the voice saying to you?"
Peter didn't respond with words. He looked like he was between fourteen and fifteen years old now, Wendy looking almost fourteen. The Neverland rule on love was that the age of fifteen was the cut off. Together they rested, looking at each other with a want and desire, yet no one would move. All they could do was wait.
"It's saying..." Peter inched closer to Wendy and played with some of her hair, still inching nearer and nearer.
"Saying..." Wendy sighed, putting a hand on Peter's vine. Peter stopped playing with Wendy's hair and gently took her hand playing on the vine, guiding it to his heart. Wendy could feel it beating quickly. Since it was nothing but silence, she could hear his heartbeat. Wendy took Peter's freehand; one hand over Peter's heart, and guided it to where her heart was. Peter listened and felt, also knowing that Wendy's heartbeat was quite quick. Then, they both noticed a miraculous and symbolic thing at the same time. Their heartbeats made a sound at the same beat, like one person's.
"Wendy." Peter sighed with a soft breath, feeling his desire becoming bigger and bigger. He blushed, not wanting to kiss her if she didn't want him to. He waited for a signal from her. A smile grew on the girl's face, coming closer to the boy and resting her head on his arm. Peter kissed her forehead, leading down to her full lips.
Trembles arrived in Wendy's breath, wondering if this was right or not. After all, they were only children! But then again, Peter's kisses felt good, making Wendy want more and more every second.
Peter inched his hands down Wendy's back as quiet moans came from Wendy. She kissed Peter's bare chest and rested her head on Peter's chest once more, by his vine. Peter took in a deep breath, closing his eyes as usual when happy. Their bodies were pressed against each other, Wendy's nightgown becoming wrinkled. Everything was peaceful. Until, Peter yelled again.
Wendy sat up quickly. "What's wrong Peter?" she asked, her voice hoarse with worry. She worried about her dear ones often.
"The pain's not leaving, Wendy! But, I want more of it!"
"You're feeling something." Wendy took in a deep breath, slowly exhaling. She rested her head on Peter's chest again, closing her eyes.
"I just, want more Wendy." Peter said quietly. "I want, more."
"What do you mean?" Wendy asked, confused. Peter sat up and looked at the clock. It was almost three a.m.! They'd been awake the whole night. "What more do you want?"
"More. More Wendy, I want," Wendy quickly guided his hand to her side. Peter stared at it, curious. "More."
"I'm not sure." Peter got up and grabbed Wendy's hand. "Peter, no!" Wendy cried with fear as they flew out of the Underground Home, clinging to him as he flew faster and higher. "Peter, wait!"
They both landed on the ground. Wendy's eyes were covered by Peter, so she couldn't tell where she was. "I'm going to keep my hand on your eyes," Peter informed Wendy. "And I'll take my hand off when I'm ready."
Wendy stumbled, trying to move. She could feel grass under her toes, and could hear water falling down. Yet, she also heard the faint tinkle of bells and could smell beautiful roses. Now she knew where she was. The Fairy Forest. It had to be the forest!
Peter released his hand and Wendy gasped, faintly smiling. In the clearing, there was a small lagoon without the mermaids. The lagoon was a beautiful; red rose circling it, and fairies watching for light.
"Peter, it's beautiful." Wendy cried. But then, she noticed that Peter was no where in sight. "Peter?" she looked around for him. "Peter-" Peter snuck up behind her and quickly picked Wendy up. She screamed, shocked and surprised. Peter was laughing at her, running over to the lagoon. He swam out to the middle, Wendy still being dry, and dropped her into the water. He waited five seconds, and up came Wendy. Wendy waited for an insult to come out of her mouth, but nothing came. The only thing that came was laughter. Peter laughed with her, looking up into the sunset. The sky had blues and pinks, quite lovely and fading away.
The Lost Boys snuck after the two and noticed a shriek come from Wendy. Quickly, they crawled behind some rocks, unseen.
"Wendy." The twins whispered.
"And Peter." Curly and Tootles said at the same time. Every boy was shocked.
"They're probably just playing around." Nibs said coolly. "It's not like they're-"Nibs froze, as did the others. They all witnessed Peter kiss Wendy passionately in the water.
"Was that a...thimble?" Slightly asked, appalled. Curly nodded.
"Peter's growing...." Curly gulped. "Up."
"We shall meet them back at the home and have a talk with them." Tootles suggested. "After all, we need to know what's happening."
Bewildered, the boys silently ran back to the Underground Home, awaiting Peter and Wendy.
Wendy splashed Peter once more as she swam to the shore and climbed up to a rock. The air was brisk and the water on Wendy seemed cold. She shivered. Peter climbed up on the rock next to her.
"Wendy, you're cold, aren't you?" Peter asked. Wendy nodded, shivering.
"This nightgown needs to dry, because I might catch a cold if I stay here too long." Peter kissed Wendy on her cheek, causing Wendy to tremble.
"Still cold?" Peter asked, standing up. "Because you shivered again."
"No Peter." Wendy whispered. "I'm just trembling."
"Trembling?" Peter walked over to the clovers. "Let's go home." He decided this, though not wanting to. Wendy smiled and nodded.
"Yes. Let's." Wendy grabbed Peter's hand as they flew into the cold air, making Wendy shiver more. Soon Wendy began to sneeze. The shivering became louder and louder, every shiver making Peter more worried. He sped up so they would get there quicker. Peter had a worried look on his face, but whenever Wendy looked at him, he gave a reassuring grin.
They reached the Underground Home and quickly felt the warmth of the fire. The boys were all in a row, looking at the two children with angry eyes.
"Peter we need to talk." Slightly said, pulling a chair for Wendy. Wendy shook her head and went to her room to fetch a blanket for herself. She sat on the bearskin rug with her blanket around her, watching the Lost Boys and Peter. Peter kept standing up. "Did you or did you not thimble Wendy?" Slightly asked.
"I..." Peter froze. He glanced at Wendy, then the Lost Boys. "I did."
"Oh. Okay." Slightly immediately jumped to his bed, without supper. The other boys did the same, not feeling hungry. "But you banned that rule after-"
"Well the rule's gone!" Peter interrupted. Slightly froze, and nodded, trying to get himself out of trouble.
Peter looked at the Lost Boys with confusion, waved goodnight to Wendy, then retired to bed. Wendy lied down on the rug, the blanket keeping her warm. Quickly, she dozed off to sleep.