A/N: Sorry I haven't updated as soon as I usually do. I was in a huffy the other day because we're getting a new puppy and I was just so excited, I spaced the story for a little bit. Sorry! Anywho, thanks for reading and for the reviews. Hope you like this chapter.

Dash180: Yes, he is alive. Well, you'll sort of find out what he has been up to in this chapter. Thanks for reading!

Ash: Nope, they aren't all dead!:)

Legend Keeper: Thanks for checking it over!:) It's no problem you're computer can't bold. I know how you feel. My computer is a pain in the butt as well. When are you going to update your story?

Mike: I'm glad the story is coming up to your liking. Thanks bunches for the review. What kind of reservations did you have? Anywho, you'll find out what happened to Wendy pretty soon. Cheerios!

Yuki Asao: Yea! I'm glad you had/are having a great trip! I would love pictures. I believe if you look on my profile, me Email is there.....hmmm. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Yes, go Slightly! Hopefully, I will be updating pretty soon. Have a peach of a day!

Chapter 9: A True Leader

Peter didn't know how he felt. Confusion, shock, and joy were swirling around in his head. At one point, it was as though a storm was blowing around inside him. He did know he felt hate and sorrow so strong at the thought of his friends dead. It had seemed foreign in him and he hadn't liked the feeling. But then, he got rocked off of his balance when he saw Slightly run to him. Sheer joy and wonder flooded his soul. One minute he was frozen solid with shock and unbelieving--then the next minute, he flew through the air, and threw himself against his friend, crowing with happiness. His laughter bubbled up from below and seemed to float around to everyone. The Indians smiled at it's sound. They had all missed it.

Slightly finally let go of Peter, his face beaming. He was covered in paint and his old raggedy clothes. He had a band around his forehead which had feathers sticking out of it. A little too many to Peter's thinking. Slightly brought him out of his perusal when he poked Peter. "I can't believe it's you."

Peter shrugged with a lopsided grin plastered on his face. "What happened to you Slightly? Tink thought you dead, just like me."

Tinkerbell flew up to Slightly and stuck out her tongue. He giggled. "Ello Tink!"

He sobered up then. "We have quite a bit to talk about Peter. Come, we must go back to camp so the others can see you. You back is like a dream!"

Peter brightened up even more. The others. He wondered how the Lost Boys were. They really did need to talk. A lot of explaining had to be done. He turned back around and noticed Colleen. "Slightly, we must get her out of the net. She is my friend."

"You can talk to birds now? Wow, you are full of surprises." His eyes glittered as he walked over to the net and helped two Indians unwrap the net.

Peter walked over with him. "She isn't a bird. Her name is Colleen and she is my good friend."

He reached out his hands and helped pull the net off of her wings carefully. He watched as everyone gasped. Apparently they hadn't gotten a close look at her and thought she had just been a bird. He smiled and then looked down to her. She was still unconscious but it looked like a little bit of color had returned to her cheeks in the past few minutes. He reached down and picked her up with one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back. "Err....."

Slightly, noticing Peters predicament, ran to his side, and held up her wings so they wouldn't drag. Thus, the group continued on their way to the camp. Colleen's world was spinning. She felt like she was in a tornado. The pounding in her head felt as if someone had split into it with an ax. She reached up her hand to the pain and grimaced. Yep, she was sure an ax was in there. She opened her eyes groggily and saw Peter's blue staring back at her. "Here, drink this. It should help."

She took the cup from him and sipped it slowly. It tasted like ice, cold orange juice. She pulled herself into a sitting position when she was done drinking. She noticed they were in, what she perceived as, a room full of furs. She herself was lying upon a beautiful white one. A fire was crackling in the middle of the room. Finally awareness struck her. They were in a teepee. It was real warm in there and she felt like dozing off. Peter cleared his throat and she returned her attention to him. Colleen finally noticed someone sitting next to him. It was a boy with dark brown hair and dark gray eyes. He had an array of feathers sticking out from a band on his head. It reminded her of a peacock. He smiled at her. "So sorry about the net incident.....it was a good shot though."

He put out his hand to her. "Colleen, I'm Slightly."

She recognized the name and her face lit up as she shook his soft, dirty hand. Suddenly, a great commotion outside grabbed their attention.

"Where is he?"

"Hurry up slow poke!"

A flap lifted on the other side of the teepee. Colleen's first impression was of a pack of Turkeys. Then she realized it was a whole bunch of boys, who went a little over the top with feathers on their dark brown clothing. She looked to Peter and saw his expression. "Boys!"

He jumped up in the air and laughed. The pack of boys flung themselves at him and tackled him to the ground. There was a torrent of laughing and cheering. Colleen wasn't sure who was who as legs and arms would pop out here and there in the ball of flesh. Slightly, not to be left out, jumped in on the fun. It was another five minutes before Peter untangled himself from the boys. Then it took another five minutes before everyone calmed down enough to understand or hear anyone speak.

Finally everyone sat down in a circle and Colleen was pleased to see she was included. After the boys stopped staring at Peter (she was sure their cheeks were beginning to get sore from smiling so much), they turned to her. Their mouth dropped in awe. Self consciously, she pulled her wings back more. Peter, seeing her blush, spoke up. "Everybody, this is Colleen. You have her to thank for my returning."

The boys all cheered, and to Colleen's surprise rushed over to her and hugged her fiercely. Peter laughed and called back out to the boys as he stood with his hands on his hips. "I shall tell you of her adventure."

With great pleasure, all listened as Peter told the story of Colleen swimming to the cavern, finding him, and being chased by the mermaids. She wasn't sure how he knew all of it considering he had been dead, but she assumed Tink had told him all that she had had to do. She assumed he had been in the cavern before as well, because he knew exactly what it looked like. Colleen smiled with sheer delight watching him tell the story. He used huge hand gestures and acted the whole thing out. She was enthralled at the part where he told of waking up in the water with the Mermaids all around, while she sank to her death. The Lost Boys were a wonderful audience, as they gasped and laughed at all the right places. After Peter ended the story, everyone clapped.

He bowed and smiled his cocky grin. "Colleen," he then proceeded to point to the boys as he called each of their names, "this is Nibbs, Michael, John, Toodles, Curly, and you've already met Slightly."

She nodded her head to each of them. Peter, his cheeks red with happiness, turned back to the boys. "But where are the twins?"

Each and every one of the boys' heads dropped a notch and their eyes fell to the ground. "Slightly?"

Slightly looked up to Peter's questioning gaze. He looked around uncomfortably but no one else would speak up. "I guess now would be a good time to tell you what happened after," he paused, "you know."

Peter's smile faltered and he stared intently. Slightly took a deep breath.

"After they threw you into the water, Hook was so very happy. It was quite frightening watching him smile with pleasure." Slightly shuddered at the memory. "Then, one by one, we were pushed off of the plank. All of our hands were tied behind our backs. Well, we all had the same idea. As best as we could, we swam to the shore. It was really hard too what with the waves and of course, no use of our hands. I really am not sure how we managed to do it. We almost lost Curly there for a moment. We all got to the shore finally, about five minutes between each other since we were pushed off the plank at different times."

He paused for a moment. Colleen could see his eyes fill with tears. "The twins never got to the shore."

Peter bit his bottom lip. The Lost Boys all were sniffing. Peter finally smiled, although Colleen was sure he was hurting inside. "I'm sure they gave the pirates a hard time before they went. I wouldn't be surprised if they took a few pirates with them."

The boys smiled gently at the thought. Colleen looked to Peter with a new light in her eyes. This really was what made Peter so admirable. She was glad the Lost Boys had him. He was a true leader. He brought happiness to those without it. Slightly brought his arm to his nose and rubbed it, continuing. "After we got out of our ropes, we found the Indians and have been with them ever since."

Peter nodded and was silent for a moment. His eyes looked at Slightly, uncertain. "What of Wendy?"

At the words, John and Michael's heads dropped the lowest. Michael grabbed hold of a teddy bear at his side and hugged it. Slightly shook his head. "She never arrived at the shore."

Peter was silent for the longest time. Nobody dared speak. Finally he stood up. "Well boys, prepare yourselves. Tomorrow, we go to battle. It's time to get rid of the pirates for good. Rid Neverland of their filth!"

The boys shot up and cheered. Peter nodded with a new resolution upon his face. As the boys cheered and danced around the fire, Colleen watched as Peter slipped out of the teepee. It looked as if his act wouldn't hold out for long. It didn't. When he got outside and into the trees, he cried.

He cried for Wendy.