********I'm back? This is so soon for me. What's the deal??? I guess I've had some inspiration or something. Anyway, I've hit over 100 reviews!!!! And I've gotten a present for you all, so read the chapter and I'll tell ya what it is at the end! So exciting!!
Chapter Sixteen
The lovely view, the breeze flowing gently through your hair, and the freedom from gravity. How could Peter 'not' love to fly? Alex could think of ten good reasons.
She'd been practicing for three days and the only progress she made was making a nice little hole in the ground. She'd met water, rocks, and dirt, but had yet to shake hands with the sky. Sure she had the encouragement of the girls and the Lost boys behind her, well under her, but she had always imagined that Peter would be there when she learned how to fly. Whenever those thoughts came along, she just shook her head. She was doing this for Peter, to bring him back home. And that, along with the sharp objects that threatened to rip her to pieces if she fell, kept her up in the sky long enough to give herself and others a bit of hope. But even though she had brushed her fingertips over the tops of trees, she still wasn't able to touch the real Neverland sky.
Tinkerbell tried her best to teach the girl the same way she had taught Peter, but the pixie was never really 'there'. When she had learned about what had become of her beloved flying boy that day after Alex had pulled herself together, Tinkerbell held her grief inside. Peter was gone, and the only way to get him back was if someone went to find him. And Tink knew that she couldn't find him alone. Sure if there wasn't Alex there were the Lost boys, but without Peter they were clueless about most things. Besides, since Alex 'was' here Tinkerbell doubted she would let anyone else go without her.
So, the two trained and trained for hours and hours non stop. Every night they would return to the, now not so secret, hide out to tend to Alex's new cuts and bruises. Meantime, everyone else on the island had heard of the disappearance of their beloved Peter Pan. The Mermaids barely came to the surface and the Indians no longer played the joyful music through Neverland. None besides the girls and Alex new how Hook had found the hideout, and Alex was glad for that. She would tell everyone, just not yet.
The nights continued to be quiet on the island with Peters absence, and it left the older girl with an uncomfortable feeling. And in this silence, she hadn't overseen the strange content ness of the pirates. She had thought that with Peter gone that they would be running a muck on the island, but so far there was nothing unusual.
During these nights Alex would sometimes wake up to the soft sobbing of the little pixie up in her home. Of course hearing these sounds of pain would send a surge of guilt and her own sorrow through Alex's body. Sometimes she would walk into Peters old room expecting to find him there in his hammock, playing on his pan pipes with that smirk on his handsome face. But when she realized that she wouldn't be hearing that sweet music or seeing that smirk anytime soon, she would lean against the doorway and just stare at the empty hammock.
*******Two Days Later*******
"I think she's gettin' worse…"
"She is gettin' worse."
Jenni and Karry were conversing while looking above at Alex attempting to fly once again. No one could understand it. She had found her happy thought and managed to avoid most big object sticking out of the ground, but no one could figure out why she just couldn't stay up there. And as Karry had said, she was getting worse.
" I haaate thiiiiiisssss!" Alex screamed as she plummeted into the shallow water of the sea. A few seconds later, she sputtered to the top again with heavy breaths and a not so happy look on her face.
"There…has….gotta…be a….better way…to do this!" she panted as she drug herself onto shore. Soon Tinkerbell appeared above her with a look on her face that was a mixture of amused and disappointed.
The day wore on and Alex tried and tried to improve her flying abilities. She'd finally gotten the idea to grab onto a tree branch if possible when she was about to fall, so most of the time she spent trying to regain herself on the limb of some pine tree.
"I am never gonna get the hang of this…" Alex sighed and she leaned her head against the trunk of the tree she was currently perched on. From her spot upon the high branch, she could see all of Neverland. The small chain of mountains, the mermaid lagoon, dead mans cave, and even…the Jolly Roger. Just looking at that old boat made Alex's blood boil. She had to admit, killing Hook was one of the happy thoughts she used when trying to fly. But between that image and the image of a particular boy, she would pick the second most of the time. Tearing her eyes off the vessel, she looked down to the ground at the younger kids playing some kind of game and Tink sitting nearby looking out in front of her. She was glad that everyone was able to take their minds off of what was going on for a bit, but she couldn't help thinking that she was letting them down. Wendy had an easier time flying for crying out loud.
Now, Alex wasn't here when the fabled Wendy had been here with her two brothers, but she had heard a lot about them from Hook, Smee, and even occasionally from Peter. And she wasn't ashamed to admit she felt a stab of jealousy when he talked so lovingly of the girl. Though she couldn't help but think what that girl would do in this position. Of course she wouldn't have to worry about flying, but would she have the guts to search the entirety of the other world for him? Alex would like to think she wouldn't. But, she didn't want to think bad of Wendy, after all, the girl did hold a special spot in the Pans heart. So she must not be that bad.
Looking down at the scars that were beginning to form on her legs from the burns, Alex thought back to that day with the Indians. Peter 'did' save her. So did that mean she held a special place in his heart too? Alex shook her head at the corniness of her thoughts. But she just couldn't get the picture of Peter looking down on her with fearful eyes when she finally came too. Or, the feeling of how warm he was when she was grabbing onto him for dear life during there little flying adventure, or how shy he was during that sunset on the rock. A goofy smile spread on her face at these thoughts, then the thought of how chilly it had gotten over the past few minutes and how she could hear the excited yells of the Lost boys and her girls.
"Wait…"
Alex quickly looked down to see that she was a good hundred feet or so above the island. Instinctively she flailed her arms around for a second or two before rolling backwards in the air. How long had she been up there? Before she could yell or scream or anything else Tinkerbell popped up beside her with raised arms and a smile that hadn't graced her face in five days. 'What the hell is she so happy about?' Alex thought to herself, when it finally came to her. 'I'm more than twenty feet off the ground…and I'm not plummeting…Ha, ha! Take that Wendy Moira An…ge…Angela…Barling? Charling? Ah hell, just take that Wendy!' Alex's thoughts screamed.
Looking up at Tink who was currently waving her hands toward the sky in a 'what are you waiting for' kind of manner, Alex nodded understandingly. Well it was now or never. No use in waiting for the next time this would happen. Glancing back down to the kids, Alex called out to them before taking off after the fairy.
"I'll be back with Peter! I promise!"
*******In the Other World*******
"Ugh, I don't think I ever want to take that little trip again." Alex moaned as the duo came to a stop on the roof of one of the houses. The fly from Neverland to this world wasn't really explained very well to her before they left. On the way Alex had had encounters with jumping sharks, vicious seagulls, and ravenous hordes of elephant seals when she tried to land on a beach. Tinkerbell hardly made the experience better with her laughter and teasing. The girl never really completely understood what she was saying, but she got the idea.
Leaning back on the shingled roof, the girl looked up at the now night sky in wonder. She hadn't been back in this world for, well, she didn't really know how long. All she did remember was that there are lots and lots of places for people to be lost in, and she didn't even know where they were at the moment. Sitting up and looking around she could see streets, tall buildings, lights from those car things she remembered, and a bridge going from this larger part of land to a smaller part.
'Lets see…when I was here I lived in…Dew Nork? No, no that's not it. New Fork? Uh huh…New York that's it! I lived in New York! And, and, there was a bridge to…uh…um, Manhattan! We must be in New York!' Alex grinned at her great memory of this world. But another problem arose. If her memory was as good as she thought it was, New York was absolutely huge. But, she knew what they would have to do to get Peter back.
"Well, we ain't gettin' nothin' done sittin' here Tink." she stated before lifting off into the night with the pixie close behind.
Time passed over the two with no sign of the boy. Of course they were never able to really go out into a open space and look for him, after all, no one would know what to think of a pixie and flying girl roaming the streets of downtown New York. So, they stayed in the shadows of the buildings surrounding them and moved from block to block until the sun slowly began to rise. As the light threatened their hiding spot, Tink and Alex fled to an area with trees they could take cover in.
"We haven't even covered half of this place and its already morning! We're gonna need a better strategy." Alex announced as Tinkerbell floated in front of her. The little woman nodded her head in agreement.
"Ok, if I remember right, there should be another block of land over that water, so…I'll go that way and you stay here and look since your smaller and harder to see." Alex thought and gave her idea. Tink paused for a moment, thinking it over. Then she looked back to the girl and nodded once more.
"Right then. I'll leave once the sun goes down, but for now I need some sleep." she yawned, slid down the branch and rested her head to sleep. The pixie landed on a small twig above her head and nestled down to sleep as well, both trying to ignore the growing noise around them and the wanting of sunset to come.
*******Sunset in New York City*******
Alex's eyes fell open upon her ears hearing the soft twinkling of the fairy language. Tinkerbell was fluttering in front of Alex tugging on a strand of her hair in an attempt to wake the sleeping girl.
"Wha'd'ya Tink? Go bother the other girls…" she mumbled still half asleep. Rolling over on the branch, she would have fallen off if not for the loud pixie scream that brought her to her senses.
"Wha…What?! Where are…oh, yeh…" Alex shook her head trying to get the last bits of sleep out of her head. Sunset already. She couldn't say she wasn't happy. She had had nightmares about all the things going on all night. Now she would be able to continue looking for that flying boy. Or, used to be flying boy.
"Alrighty Tink, you know the plan. I'll come back in about three days to find you, with Peter…or without him." she finished with a regretful look. She had to admit that there was the possibility of not finding Peter, but she didn't want to think about it too much. So, inhaling a breath of the smoggy air, she took off for the body of water, while Tinkerbell went back to the steel and concrete forest.
When the open ocean came into her view, a feeling of relief came over Alex. It was too strange being in that city again, and the few dreams she had that weren't centered around Peter and Hooks death, were focused on her life before Hook, the pirates, Peter, and Neverland in general. She saw people and places she hadn't thought of in years. She even saw her mother. Her mother.
What she did remember of her was filled of happy moments. When she thought of the woman, she remembered piercing green eyes and long red hair that was usually let free to sway over her back. And the last thing she remembered was a song. She thought it was the song that her mother and father danced to at one of the balls they attended, but she wasn't sure. It was a lovely song, especially when her mother sang it during the daily chores or when tucking her in at night.
"If the sky opened up for me, and the mountains disappeared…if the seas run dry, turn to dust…and the sun refused to rise…" Alex whispered what pieces of the song she remembered while she continued her journey over the dark waters.
"If the years take away every memory that I have…I would still know the way that would lead, me back to your side…the north star may die…" she eventually faded out and in her head, her mothers voice took over. She didn't know how much she missed the woman in Neverland, but here she felt like a child again.
"But the light that I see, in your eyes…will burn there always…by the love, we have shared…before time…" Alex tilted her head down to watch a lone tear join the rest of the salty water below her.
*******In Another Strange Place*******
Some hours after taking off from the tree in New York, Alex reached her destination. She had flown over the coast of a few islands before coming onto some kind of city. It wasn't even close to the size of New York, but still decently large. One thing she noticed right off was that there was less noise, which was definitely a good thing. She soon spotted a clearing which resembled the place she took shelter in during the day back in New York.
Landing on the soft grass that covered the ground, Alex took in her surroundings some more. Beautiful old homes rested on the outskirts of this place, a few with the glow of candlelight emitting from the windows. The smell of the air was much different from that in the larger city. It smelt of nature, of trees…it smelled almost like Neverland. But of course there was always that back smell that was coated with steel and industry that told Alex that she was not in Neverland.
She continued on foot over the grassy clearing till she came to a concrete path. 'A sidewalk…right?' the lone girl thought to herself. She wandered on down the sidewalk and came to the decision that since Tinkerbell wasn't here, and wouldn't be seen, she could probably search in the light of day, if she could keep herself from flying that is.
As she walked, the sun eventually rose and this new city was drenched in the beautiful glow of the sun. 'Its weird,' Alex thought, 'It's the same sun here as it is in Neverland, but there you can almost hear it singing.' She had been noticing lots of things that the island and this world had in common, but the Neverland version seeming much more…well, magical. Which it probably should.
Alex received some strange looks from the people she passed during her search. Why were wearing shoes such a big deal anyway? But in time she figured out that here, they were a big deal. Something about being unsanitary or something like that. And she found that they would come in handy when she stepped on a shard of glass while looking in an old alley.
She had asked some people she saw on the street if they had seen the boy she described, and most shook their heads in regret. But there was one man who gave her a bit of hope.
"And shaggy hair do you say? Hmm, well if I recall correctly…I saw a boy resembling him the other day. He seem very confused though…I believe he was headed that way, dear." the kind elderly man pointed down the street toward the grassy place she first arrived at.
"That way? Your sure?" Alex had asked with a grin on her face.
"Yes, I'm fairly sure. Though my memory isn't quiet what it used to be miss." he gave a half smile and tipped his old top hat before switching his used umbrella from one hand to the other. "But if you need any more assistance, ask around for John. They know me pretty well around here." he finished and waved a hand over toward the people across the street who had given him a friendly wave back. Alex nodded and took off in the direction of the place she remembered. What she didn't hear or see was the old man turn and watch her run off and give a small laugh.
"Shaggy reddish hair, honey eyes, and an arrogant smile, heh. Why miss, that does sound very familiar indeed." he once again tipped his hat to the running girl before continuing this trail down the street.
Now Alex was standing the in middle of this place, which she had found out was a park of some kind. Called Kensing…Kensington…something like that anyway. The day had worn on and the sun was beginning to set below the line of trees around the park. She plodded through the area, searching behind every tree, rock and bench trying to find that missing Pan. Making her way down another path, she came upon a statue in the middle of another little clearing. Walking around to the frond of the structure, she narrowed her eyes a little in concentration. On top of a concrete block numerous fairies and children where carved into some kind of material. But the thing that caught her eye the most was the figure on top. A boy, playing some kind of horn instrument. Glancing down at the little slab of metal attached to the statue, she read until a name caught her eye.
"Peter Pan…" she whispered. Backing up and sitting on one of the surrounding benches, Alex never took her eyes off the statue. Sure it didn't much resemble the Peter she knew, but it was still a statue of him in another persons eyes. Besides, not many people got to see the 'real' Peter Pan. Alex knew she should be looking for Peter, but she needed a rest, and the man did say that he went this way right?
"Oh, hello there." a woman's voice sounded from behind her. "I didn't think anyone else would be here at this time of day."
Alex looked over at the woman as she sat down on the other side of the bench. She appeared to be about as old or older as the man she had spoken to earlier, and in some strange way they also resembled each other a bit. Alex shrugged that part of though. Aside from that, the woman had long graying hair that was pulled back in a high bun, with some loose pieces floating in front of her blue eyes. The old woman's face, though creased with age, was very pretty. Her lips were not thin like most elderly women, but full. Her face was long and delicate looking, covered by pale skin with few flaws. Besides the wrinkles of course.
"I come here every night, but I must say, this is the first time in a long time there as been another even in the park." she spoke again turning to Alex. The girl was long since done looking her over, and was now looking toward the statue once more.
"It is wonderful isn't it?"
"Yeh. Doesn't look a thing like 'im though." Alex snorted and chuckled a bit before she realized what she had said. She couldn't just say that she know the real Peter or this woman would think she was a nut case. So when the older woman looked over at her, she continued to cover what she said.
"I mean…in my mind, that's not how he would look…" she quickly said and gestured toward the statue. The woman nodded with a warm smile.
"Ah, I understand. In my mind, he doesn't look like that either. So tell me child, what are you doing in the park this late?" she questioned and turned her blue gaze once more toward Alex.
"Uh, I'm looking for someone…"
"I see. And may I ask who your looking for?"
"Heh," Alex started with rolling eyes, "He's a cocky guy who thinks he can do everything and anything. He's got these annoyingly charming honey brown eyes, the hair of a mutt, and the most arrogant smirk you've ever seen!" she said loudly and crossed her arms over her chest. "And because of me he…got lost, and doesn't even remember how to hold a dagger right, probably. He could be anywhere in this whole forsaken world and he doesn't know who he is, where his home is, who I am…" Alex's voice cracked as she went on. She didn't know why she was spilling her guts to some stranger, but she felt like she needed too. And the fact that the girl kept looking up at the boy on the statue didn't go unnoticed by the unnamed woman.
"And…and, I'm never gonna be able ta find 'im…I…I'm never gonna see him again…"
"Now dear don't say that…"
"But its true!" Alex lifted her face from her hands, "How could I think I could ever find him here?! There are literally over a million billion places he could be…and…I…" she buried her face in her hands once more.
"Dear…if you feel so strongly for this boy, you certainly won't be apart for long. You will find him, or he will find you." the woman spoke and put a comforting hand on Alex's shoulder. "Now, do you have a home to go to?"
"Um, yes…kind of. But not right now…" she stuttered and looked up at the now standing woman.
"Very well then. You will need a place to stay. Come on, come on get up now. We have to get you home and get you some rest." the girl did as the woman said and stood from her hunched position on the bench. As the elderly lady began walking out of the park, Alex stopped once more to glance up at the statue.
"Do not worry my dear. You will find him. All you have to have is faith, trust…"
"And pixie dust…" Alex finished and looked back at the woman who had a warm smile on her face.
"Who…Who, are you?" the younger female questioned. The other just shook her head briefly.
"No one important dear. Come along." her cool voice echoed over to Alex before she walked over to follow the woman.
The street the mysterious woman lived on was quiet with trees planted on the edge of the sidewalks. The house looked old, but very well taken care of. The outside was painted a light blue while the windows had white frames, and upstairs the windows were of the beautiful bay kind. The inside smelled of spices and cooking pastries, and was decorated with antiques of all kinds. From the kitchen the sound of clattering pots and pans could be heard, along with the laughter of a child.
"I'll show you to a room you can stay in." the woman removed the light jacket she had draped over her shoulders and began walking up the stairway. As she told, Alex followed close behind. One the walls numerous pictures were hung of family, Alex guessed, friends, and a child's drawings. She reached the top of the stairs in time to see the old woman open the door to one of the many rooms on this floor. The carpeting through the hall and in the room was soothing on her bare feet, and she felt kind of bad for putting her dirty feet on such a clean, spotless floor.
"Here you are, dear. I hope this old nursery can still give a warm bed." the woman said as she pulled down the sheets to one of the beds. Another was lined against the other wall, along with a small crib. Old fashioned lanterns sat on almost every table, but only one was lit, giving off a soft glow.
"If you wish, you can bathe in the bathroom just over there." she pointed to a door connected to the room. "And there in the dresser, there should be a night dress about your size if you wish to wear it. Make yourself at home dear, I'll be down stairs if you need anything at all. Sleep well dear." with that, she left and closed the door lightly behind her.
Looking around herself, Alex shuffled over to the dresser the woman spoke of and opened the drawers. Picking through the clothing she spotting one that looked like it may fit her. Lifting it out of its drawer, she held the garment in front of her to examine it. It was a night dress, as the old lady had said, made with a soft white fabric and three buttons down the front. It looked fairly old, but like everything else in this house, fairly sturdy. Pushing the drawer closed with her knee, Alex eyes fell on the top of the dresser. Raising an eyebrow, she reached to pick up an item that caught her eye.
"An acorn?" indeed, it was an acorn. It as well looked like it was many years old. On top there was a cut through the soft solid. It looked like it had been made by some kind of sharp object, a knife maybe? Alex shook her head and sat the acorn back in its place before turning to the bathroom.
"Don't mind if I do."
*******Next Morning*******
"Hellloooo…."
Alex stirred in her sleep at the sound of a small voice.
"Are you awaaaaaake?"
She pulled the blankets further over her face.
"Helllllloooooo, are you awwwwaaaaake?!" the voice almost screamed.
"Yes!" she yelled back and opened her eyes to see a small boys face near the side of the bed with a half toothless grin on his chubby face.
"Ah!" she yelled again and scooted over to the other side of the bed. The child just giggled and ran toward the door calling out.
"She's awake grandmother, she's awake!"
Then Alex remembered where she was exactly. The morning light shown through the window and onto the white carpet beside the bed. Pulling herself up, she slid out of the warm piece of furniture and into a standing position on the floor. The night dress she had worn that night only reached down to her knees, but it was very comfortable she had to admit. Closing the door, she turned toward her old clothes that hung on a chair near the dresser.
A short time later she was making her way down the stairs, feeling much better from the good nights sleep and the bath.
"Good morning dear. I hope you slept well." the familiar old woman met her at the bottom of the staircase. Looking down at her Alex almost groaned. She liked the old lady, but she needed to get out there and look, not gossip with her some more, like she was sure the woman would want to do. So it came as a surprise to the girl when the elderly lady held out a small cloth bag.
"I thought you may want something to bring along for your search. There should be little tidbits of about everything in the kitchen in there for you and your friend when you find him." she once again had that warm comforting smile spread on her face.
"Um, thank you. For everything, you didn't have to…"
"I know I didn't, but I felt I needed to. By the way, would you like a pair of shoes dear?"
"Uh, no. I'm…not really going to walking 'that' much." Alex grinned a little as she walked toward the front door. She caught a glance at the younger woman and her supposed son in the other room and gave them a smile.
"I thought as much." the woman nodded and laughed a bit. 'She thought as much?' Alex thought to herself.
She opened the front door and stepped out onto the front porch before slinging the little pack over the shoulders. Over the times she had been around the woman, Alex couldn't help thinking that she knew a little bit more about what she was talking about then she was giving off. So, before taking off down the sidewalk, Alex turned to the woman and looked her in the eye with a steady look.
"Who are you, really?"
"Just a friend my dear, just a friend."
Alex just shook her head at the woman with a small smile before leaving with a small wave goodbye. In turn, the woman raised a frail by graceful hand up to wave back.
"Do you truly think she's from 'there' mother?" the younger woman came up from behind her and asked while they watched the girl walk down the sidewalk.
"I'm almost positive dear."
"And why is that mother?"
"Because…she has the true spirit of a child. Something neither me nor you could obtain. Because when I look at her, I can tell…she will never grow up." the woman answered before the voice of the little boy came from inside the house, calling for his mother.
"Coming dear! Are you coming inside mother."
"Go ahead Jane, I'll be in in a bit." she tapped her hand on her daughters shoulder to tell her to go on and the young woman left to attend to her son. Meanwhile, the older woman looked up to the sky with half lidded eyes. Then, before turning to join her daughter and grandson in the house, she shook her head with a smile.
"You've got a good girl looking for you. But my…what 'have' you gotten yourself into this time Peter?"
*************All done! By the way, the song that Alex was singing is called Love Before Time by Coco Lee. Pretty cool song, I'll probably put more of it in the story as I go. Ok, here's the little present. If you give me your e-mail address, I will send you the part of the Peter and Alex picture I have done. It looks pretty good by itself so I don't know if I'll finish the rest of it. So, if you want it, your gonna have to give me your email somehow. But, even if you won't do that at least REVIEW!!!!
Chapter Sixteen
The lovely view, the breeze flowing gently through your hair, and the freedom from gravity. How could Peter 'not' love to fly? Alex could think of ten good reasons.
She'd been practicing for three days and the only progress she made was making a nice little hole in the ground. She'd met water, rocks, and dirt, but had yet to shake hands with the sky. Sure she had the encouragement of the girls and the Lost boys behind her, well under her, but she had always imagined that Peter would be there when she learned how to fly. Whenever those thoughts came along, she just shook her head. She was doing this for Peter, to bring him back home. And that, along with the sharp objects that threatened to rip her to pieces if she fell, kept her up in the sky long enough to give herself and others a bit of hope. But even though she had brushed her fingertips over the tops of trees, she still wasn't able to touch the real Neverland sky.
Tinkerbell tried her best to teach the girl the same way she had taught Peter, but the pixie was never really 'there'. When she had learned about what had become of her beloved flying boy that day after Alex had pulled herself together, Tinkerbell held her grief inside. Peter was gone, and the only way to get him back was if someone went to find him. And Tink knew that she couldn't find him alone. Sure if there wasn't Alex there were the Lost boys, but without Peter they were clueless about most things. Besides, since Alex 'was' here Tinkerbell doubted she would let anyone else go without her.
So, the two trained and trained for hours and hours non stop. Every night they would return to the, now not so secret, hide out to tend to Alex's new cuts and bruises. Meantime, everyone else on the island had heard of the disappearance of their beloved Peter Pan. The Mermaids barely came to the surface and the Indians no longer played the joyful music through Neverland. None besides the girls and Alex new how Hook had found the hideout, and Alex was glad for that. She would tell everyone, just not yet.
The nights continued to be quiet on the island with Peters absence, and it left the older girl with an uncomfortable feeling. And in this silence, she hadn't overseen the strange content ness of the pirates. She had thought that with Peter gone that they would be running a muck on the island, but so far there was nothing unusual.
During these nights Alex would sometimes wake up to the soft sobbing of the little pixie up in her home. Of course hearing these sounds of pain would send a surge of guilt and her own sorrow through Alex's body. Sometimes she would walk into Peters old room expecting to find him there in his hammock, playing on his pan pipes with that smirk on his handsome face. But when she realized that she wouldn't be hearing that sweet music or seeing that smirk anytime soon, she would lean against the doorway and just stare at the empty hammock.
*******Two Days Later*******
"I think she's gettin' worse…"
"She is gettin' worse."
Jenni and Karry were conversing while looking above at Alex attempting to fly once again. No one could understand it. She had found her happy thought and managed to avoid most big object sticking out of the ground, but no one could figure out why she just couldn't stay up there. And as Karry had said, she was getting worse.
" I haaate thiiiiiisssss!" Alex screamed as she plummeted into the shallow water of the sea. A few seconds later, she sputtered to the top again with heavy breaths and a not so happy look on her face.
"There…has….gotta…be a….better way…to do this!" she panted as she drug herself onto shore. Soon Tinkerbell appeared above her with a look on her face that was a mixture of amused and disappointed.
The day wore on and Alex tried and tried to improve her flying abilities. She'd finally gotten the idea to grab onto a tree branch if possible when she was about to fall, so most of the time she spent trying to regain herself on the limb of some pine tree.
"I am never gonna get the hang of this…" Alex sighed and she leaned her head against the trunk of the tree she was currently perched on. From her spot upon the high branch, she could see all of Neverland. The small chain of mountains, the mermaid lagoon, dead mans cave, and even…the Jolly Roger. Just looking at that old boat made Alex's blood boil. She had to admit, killing Hook was one of the happy thoughts she used when trying to fly. But between that image and the image of a particular boy, she would pick the second most of the time. Tearing her eyes off the vessel, she looked down to the ground at the younger kids playing some kind of game and Tink sitting nearby looking out in front of her. She was glad that everyone was able to take their minds off of what was going on for a bit, but she couldn't help thinking that she was letting them down. Wendy had an easier time flying for crying out loud.
Now, Alex wasn't here when the fabled Wendy had been here with her two brothers, but she had heard a lot about them from Hook, Smee, and even occasionally from Peter. And she wasn't ashamed to admit she felt a stab of jealousy when he talked so lovingly of the girl. Though she couldn't help but think what that girl would do in this position. Of course she wouldn't have to worry about flying, but would she have the guts to search the entirety of the other world for him? Alex would like to think she wouldn't. But, she didn't want to think bad of Wendy, after all, the girl did hold a special spot in the Pans heart. So she must not be that bad.
Looking down at the scars that were beginning to form on her legs from the burns, Alex thought back to that day with the Indians. Peter 'did' save her. So did that mean she held a special place in his heart too? Alex shook her head at the corniness of her thoughts. But she just couldn't get the picture of Peter looking down on her with fearful eyes when she finally came too. Or, the feeling of how warm he was when she was grabbing onto him for dear life during there little flying adventure, or how shy he was during that sunset on the rock. A goofy smile spread on her face at these thoughts, then the thought of how chilly it had gotten over the past few minutes and how she could hear the excited yells of the Lost boys and her girls.
"Wait…"
Alex quickly looked down to see that she was a good hundred feet or so above the island. Instinctively she flailed her arms around for a second or two before rolling backwards in the air. How long had she been up there? Before she could yell or scream or anything else Tinkerbell popped up beside her with raised arms and a smile that hadn't graced her face in five days. 'What the hell is she so happy about?' Alex thought to herself, when it finally came to her. 'I'm more than twenty feet off the ground…and I'm not plummeting…Ha, ha! Take that Wendy Moira An…ge…Angela…Barling? Charling? Ah hell, just take that Wendy!' Alex's thoughts screamed.
Looking up at Tink who was currently waving her hands toward the sky in a 'what are you waiting for' kind of manner, Alex nodded understandingly. Well it was now or never. No use in waiting for the next time this would happen. Glancing back down to the kids, Alex called out to them before taking off after the fairy.
"I'll be back with Peter! I promise!"
*******In the Other World*******
"Ugh, I don't think I ever want to take that little trip again." Alex moaned as the duo came to a stop on the roof of one of the houses. The fly from Neverland to this world wasn't really explained very well to her before they left. On the way Alex had had encounters with jumping sharks, vicious seagulls, and ravenous hordes of elephant seals when she tried to land on a beach. Tinkerbell hardly made the experience better with her laughter and teasing. The girl never really completely understood what she was saying, but she got the idea.
Leaning back on the shingled roof, the girl looked up at the now night sky in wonder. She hadn't been back in this world for, well, she didn't really know how long. All she did remember was that there are lots and lots of places for people to be lost in, and she didn't even know where they were at the moment. Sitting up and looking around she could see streets, tall buildings, lights from those car things she remembered, and a bridge going from this larger part of land to a smaller part.
'Lets see…when I was here I lived in…Dew Nork? No, no that's not it. New Fork? Uh huh…New York that's it! I lived in New York! And, and, there was a bridge to…uh…um, Manhattan! We must be in New York!' Alex grinned at her great memory of this world. But another problem arose. If her memory was as good as she thought it was, New York was absolutely huge. But, she knew what they would have to do to get Peter back.
"Well, we ain't gettin' nothin' done sittin' here Tink." she stated before lifting off into the night with the pixie close behind.
Time passed over the two with no sign of the boy. Of course they were never able to really go out into a open space and look for him, after all, no one would know what to think of a pixie and flying girl roaming the streets of downtown New York. So, they stayed in the shadows of the buildings surrounding them and moved from block to block until the sun slowly began to rise. As the light threatened their hiding spot, Tink and Alex fled to an area with trees they could take cover in.
"We haven't even covered half of this place and its already morning! We're gonna need a better strategy." Alex announced as Tinkerbell floated in front of her. The little woman nodded her head in agreement.
"Ok, if I remember right, there should be another block of land over that water, so…I'll go that way and you stay here and look since your smaller and harder to see." Alex thought and gave her idea. Tink paused for a moment, thinking it over. Then she looked back to the girl and nodded once more.
"Right then. I'll leave once the sun goes down, but for now I need some sleep." she yawned, slid down the branch and rested her head to sleep. The pixie landed on a small twig above her head and nestled down to sleep as well, both trying to ignore the growing noise around them and the wanting of sunset to come.
*******Sunset in New York City*******
Alex's eyes fell open upon her ears hearing the soft twinkling of the fairy language. Tinkerbell was fluttering in front of Alex tugging on a strand of her hair in an attempt to wake the sleeping girl.
"Wha'd'ya Tink? Go bother the other girls…" she mumbled still half asleep. Rolling over on the branch, she would have fallen off if not for the loud pixie scream that brought her to her senses.
"Wha…What?! Where are…oh, yeh…" Alex shook her head trying to get the last bits of sleep out of her head. Sunset already. She couldn't say she wasn't happy. She had had nightmares about all the things going on all night. Now she would be able to continue looking for that flying boy. Or, used to be flying boy.
"Alrighty Tink, you know the plan. I'll come back in about three days to find you, with Peter…or without him." she finished with a regretful look. She had to admit that there was the possibility of not finding Peter, but she didn't want to think about it too much. So, inhaling a breath of the smoggy air, she took off for the body of water, while Tinkerbell went back to the steel and concrete forest.
When the open ocean came into her view, a feeling of relief came over Alex. It was too strange being in that city again, and the few dreams she had that weren't centered around Peter and Hooks death, were focused on her life before Hook, the pirates, Peter, and Neverland in general. She saw people and places she hadn't thought of in years. She even saw her mother. Her mother.
What she did remember of her was filled of happy moments. When she thought of the woman, she remembered piercing green eyes and long red hair that was usually let free to sway over her back. And the last thing she remembered was a song. She thought it was the song that her mother and father danced to at one of the balls they attended, but she wasn't sure. It was a lovely song, especially when her mother sang it during the daily chores or when tucking her in at night.
"If the sky opened up for me, and the mountains disappeared…if the seas run dry, turn to dust…and the sun refused to rise…" Alex whispered what pieces of the song she remembered while she continued her journey over the dark waters.
"If the years take away every memory that I have…I would still know the way that would lead, me back to your side…the north star may die…" she eventually faded out and in her head, her mothers voice took over. She didn't know how much she missed the woman in Neverland, but here she felt like a child again.
"But the light that I see, in your eyes…will burn there always…by the love, we have shared…before time…" Alex tilted her head down to watch a lone tear join the rest of the salty water below her.
*******In Another Strange Place*******
Some hours after taking off from the tree in New York, Alex reached her destination. She had flown over the coast of a few islands before coming onto some kind of city. It wasn't even close to the size of New York, but still decently large. One thing she noticed right off was that there was less noise, which was definitely a good thing. She soon spotted a clearing which resembled the place she took shelter in during the day back in New York.
Landing on the soft grass that covered the ground, Alex took in her surroundings some more. Beautiful old homes rested on the outskirts of this place, a few with the glow of candlelight emitting from the windows. The smell of the air was much different from that in the larger city. It smelt of nature, of trees…it smelled almost like Neverland. But of course there was always that back smell that was coated with steel and industry that told Alex that she was not in Neverland.
She continued on foot over the grassy clearing till she came to a concrete path. 'A sidewalk…right?' the lone girl thought to herself. She wandered on down the sidewalk and came to the decision that since Tinkerbell wasn't here, and wouldn't be seen, she could probably search in the light of day, if she could keep herself from flying that is.
As she walked, the sun eventually rose and this new city was drenched in the beautiful glow of the sun. 'Its weird,' Alex thought, 'It's the same sun here as it is in Neverland, but there you can almost hear it singing.' She had been noticing lots of things that the island and this world had in common, but the Neverland version seeming much more…well, magical. Which it probably should.
Alex received some strange looks from the people she passed during her search. Why were wearing shoes such a big deal anyway? But in time she figured out that here, they were a big deal. Something about being unsanitary or something like that. And she found that they would come in handy when she stepped on a shard of glass while looking in an old alley.
She had asked some people she saw on the street if they had seen the boy she described, and most shook their heads in regret. But there was one man who gave her a bit of hope.
"And shaggy hair do you say? Hmm, well if I recall correctly…I saw a boy resembling him the other day. He seem very confused though…I believe he was headed that way, dear." the kind elderly man pointed down the street toward the grassy place she first arrived at.
"That way? Your sure?" Alex had asked with a grin on her face.
"Yes, I'm fairly sure. Though my memory isn't quiet what it used to be miss." he gave a half smile and tipped his old top hat before switching his used umbrella from one hand to the other. "But if you need any more assistance, ask around for John. They know me pretty well around here." he finished and waved a hand over toward the people across the street who had given him a friendly wave back. Alex nodded and took off in the direction of the place she remembered. What she didn't hear or see was the old man turn and watch her run off and give a small laugh.
"Shaggy reddish hair, honey eyes, and an arrogant smile, heh. Why miss, that does sound very familiar indeed." he once again tipped his hat to the running girl before continuing this trail down the street.
Now Alex was standing the in middle of this place, which she had found out was a park of some kind. Called Kensing…Kensington…something like that anyway. The day had worn on and the sun was beginning to set below the line of trees around the park. She plodded through the area, searching behind every tree, rock and bench trying to find that missing Pan. Making her way down another path, she came upon a statue in the middle of another little clearing. Walking around to the frond of the structure, she narrowed her eyes a little in concentration. On top of a concrete block numerous fairies and children where carved into some kind of material. But the thing that caught her eye the most was the figure on top. A boy, playing some kind of horn instrument. Glancing down at the little slab of metal attached to the statue, she read until a name caught her eye.
"Peter Pan…" she whispered. Backing up and sitting on one of the surrounding benches, Alex never took her eyes off the statue. Sure it didn't much resemble the Peter she knew, but it was still a statue of him in another persons eyes. Besides, not many people got to see the 'real' Peter Pan. Alex knew she should be looking for Peter, but she needed a rest, and the man did say that he went this way right?
"Oh, hello there." a woman's voice sounded from behind her. "I didn't think anyone else would be here at this time of day."
Alex looked over at the woman as she sat down on the other side of the bench. She appeared to be about as old or older as the man she had spoken to earlier, and in some strange way they also resembled each other a bit. Alex shrugged that part of though. Aside from that, the woman had long graying hair that was pulled back in a high bun, with some loose pieces floating in front of her blue eyes. The old woman's face, though creased with age, was very pretty. Her lips were not thin like most elderly women, but full. Her face was long and delicate looking, covered by pale skin with few flaws. Besides the wrinkles of course.
"I come here every night, but I must say, this is the first time in a long time there as been another even in the park." she spoke again turning to Alex. The girl was long since done looking her over, and was now looking toward the statue once more.
"It is wonderful isn't it?"
"Yeh. Doesn't look a thing like 'im though." Alex snorted and chuckled a bit before she realized what she had said. She couldn't just say that she know the real Peter or this woman would think she was a nut case. So when the older woman looked over at her, she continued to cover what she said.
"I mean…in my mind, that's not how he would look…" she quickly said and gestured toward the statue. The woman nodded with a warm smile.
"Ah, I understand. In my mind, he doesn't look like that either. So tell me child, what are you doing in the park this late?" she questioned and turned her blue gaze once more toward Alex.
"Uh, I'm looking for someone…"
"I see. And may I ask who your looking for?"
"Heh," Alex started with rolling eyes, "He's a cocky guy who thinks he can do everything and anything. He's got these annoyingly charming honey brown eyes, the hair of a mutt, and the most arrogant smirk you've ever seen!" she said loudly and crossed her arms over her chest. "And because of me he…got lost, and doesn't even remember how to hold a dagger right, probably. He could be anywhere in this whole forsaken world and he doesn't know who he is, where his home is, who I am…" Alex's voice cracked as she went on. She didn't know why she was spilling her guts to some stranger, but she felt like she needed too. And the fact that the girl kept looking up at the boy on the statue didn't go unnoticed by the unnamed woman.
"And…and, I'm never gonna be able ta find 'im…I…I'm never gonna see him again…"
"Now dear don't say that…"
"But its true!" Alex lifted her face from her hands, "How could I think I could ever find him here?! There are literally over a million billion places he could be…and…I…" she buried her face in her hands once more.
"Dear…if you feel so strongly for this boy, you certainly won't be apart for long. You will find him, or he will find you." the woman spoke and put a comforting hand on Alex's shoulder. "Now, do you have a home to go to?"
"Um, yes…kind of. But not right now…" she stuttered and looked up at the now standing woman.
"Very well then. You will need a place to stay. Come on, come on get up now. We have to get you home and get you some rest." the girl did as the woman said and stood from her hunched position on the bench. As the elderly lady began walking out of the park, Alex stopped once more to glance up at the statue.
"Do not worry my dear. You will find him. All you have to have is faith, trust…"
"And pixie dust…" Alex finished and looked back at the woman who had a warm smile on her face.
"Who…Who, are you?" the younger female questioned. The other just shook her head briefly.
"No one important dear. Come along." her cool voice echoed over to Alex before she walked over to follow the woman.
The street the mysterious woman lived on was quiet with trees planted on the edge of the sidewalks. The house looked old, but very well taken care of. The outside was painted a light blue while the windows had white frames, and upstairs the windows were of the beautiful bay kind. The inside smelled of spices and cooking pastries, and was decorated with antiques of all kinds. From the kitchen the sound of clattering pots and pans could be heard, along with the laughter of a child.
"I'll show you to a room you can stay in." the woman removed the light jacket she had draped over her shoulders and began walking up the stairway. As she told, Alex followed close behind. One the walls numerous pictures were hung of family, Alex guessed, friends, and a child's drawings. She reached the top of the stairs in time to see the old woman open the door to one of the many rooms on this floor. The carpeting through the hall and in the room was soothing on her bare feet, and she felt kind of bad for putting her dirty feet on such a clean, spotless floor.
"Here you are, dear. I hope this old nursery can still give a warm bed." the woman said as she pulled down the sheets to one of the beds. Another was lined against the other wall, along with a small crib. Old fashioned lanterns sat on almost every table, but only one was lit, giving off a soft glow.
"If you wish, you can bathe in the bathroom just over there." she pointed to a door connected to the room. "And there in the dresser, there should be a night dress about your size if you wish to wear it. Make yourself at home dear, I'll be down stairs if you need anything at all. Sleep well dear." with that, she left and closed the door lightly behind her.
Looking around herself, Alex shuffled over to the dresser the woman spoke of and opened the drawers. Picking through the clothing she spotting one that looked like it may fit her. Lifting it out of its drawer, she held the garment in front of her to examine it. It was a night dress, as the old lady had said, made with a soft white fabric and three buttons down the front. It looked fairly old, but like everything else in this house, fairly sturdy. Pushing the drawer closed with her knee, Alex eyes fell on the top of the dresser. Raising an eyebrow, she reached to pick up an item that caught her eye.
"An acorn?" indeed, it was an acorn. It as well looked like it was many years old. On top there was a cut through the soft solid. It looked like it had been made by some kind of sharp object, a knife maybe? Alex shook her head and sat the acorn back in its place before turning to the bathroom.
"Don't mind if I do."
*******Next Morning*******
"Hellloooo…."
Alex stirred in her sleep at the sound of a small voice.
"Are you awaaaaaake?"
She pulled the blankets further over her face.
"Helllllloooooo, are you awwwwaaaaake?!" the voice almost screamed.
"Yes!" she yelled back and opened her eyes to see a small boys face near the side of the bed with a half toothless grin on his chubby face.
"Ah!" she yelled again and scooted over to the other side of the bed. The child just giggled and ran toward the door calling out.
"She's awake grandmother, she's awake!"
Then Alex remembered where she was exactly. The morning light shown through the window and onto the white carpet beside the bed. Pulling herself up, she slid out of the warm piece of furniture and into a standing position on the floor. The night dress she had worn that night only reached down to her knees, but it was very comfortable she had to admit. Closing the door, she turned toward her old clothes that hung on a chair near the dresser.
A short time later she was making her way down the stairs, feeling much better from the good nights sleep and the bath.
"Good morning dear. I hope you slept well." the familiar old woman met her at the bottom of the staircase. Looking down at her Alex almost groaned. She liked the old lady, but she needed to get out there and look, not gossip with her some more, like she was sure the woman would want to do. So it came as a surprise to the girl when the elderly lady held out a small cloth bag.
"I thought you may want something to bring along for your search. There should be little tidbits of about everything in the kitchen in there for you and your friend when you find him." she once again had that warm comforting smile spread on her face.
"Um, thank you. For everything, you didn't have to…"
"I know I didn't, but I felt I needed to. By the way, would you like a pair of shoes dear?"
"Uh, no. I'm…not really going to walking 'that' much." Alex grinned a little as she walked toward the front door. She caught a glance at the younger woman and her supposed son in the other room and gave them a smile.
"I thought as much." the woman nodded and laughed a bit. 'She thought as much?' Alex thought to herself.
She opened the front door and stepped out onto the front porch before slinging the little pack over the shoulders. Over the times she had been around the woman, Alex couldn't help thinking that she knew a little bit more about what she was talking about then she was giving off. So, before taking off down the sidewalk, Alex turned to the woman and looked her in the eye with a steady look.
"Who are you, really?"
"Just a friend my dear, just a friend."
Alex just shook her head at the woman with a small smile before leaving with a small wave goodbye. In turn, the woman raised a frail by graceful hand up to wave back.
"Do you truly think she's from 'there' mother?" the younger woman came up from behind her and asked while they watched the girl walk down the sidewalk.
"I'm almost positive dear."
"And why is that mother?"
"Because…she has the true spirit of a child. Something neither me nor you could obtain. Because when I look at her, I can tell…she will never grow up." the woman answered before the voice of the little boy came from inside the house, calling for his mother.
"Coming dear! Are you coming inside mother."
"Go ahead Jane, I'll be in in a bit." she tapped her hand on her daughters shoulder to tell her to go on and the young woman left to attend to her son. Meanwhile, the older woman looked up to the sky with half lidded eyes. Then, before turning to join her daughter and grandson in the house, she shook her head with a smile.
"You've got a good girl looking for you. But my…what 'have' you gotten yourself into this time Peter?"
*************All done! By the way, the song that Alex was singing is called Love Before Time by Coco Lee. Pretty cool song, I'll probably put more of it in the story as I go. Ok, here's the little present. If you give me your e-mail address, I will send you the part of the Peter and Alex picture I have done. It looks pretty good by itself so I don't know if I'll finish the rest of it. So, if you want it, your gonna have to give me your email somehow. But, even if you won't do that at least REVIEW!!!!