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Young Jennifer changed into her dinner dress and rummaged through her dresser, her room a deep green and the floor scattered with belongings.
A messy room is a sign of genius.
Well then, Jennifer Pan must be very brilliant.
She brushed aside her drawings of Neverland, she had never been there herself but the stories her Mother and Father told was her inspiration. She had to tell stories now because Mummy wasn't there to tell them.
Maybe if she kept telling them, Mother would come back. . . .
Jennifer pulled out her present for her Father and started to race her brother downstairs but then remembered that you-know-who was sleeping and that they mustn't wake her. They quickly, yet quietly, tiptoed down the staircase and into the dining room. Their Father set out the plates of food and gestured them to come on.
They all sat down and a voice asked softly, "You can cook Peter Pan?"
He grinned, "I guess so."
Peter got up and embraced their housekeeper/nurse. He pulled up a chair for her, "Are you hungry? Did these little devils wake you up?" The kids pretended to ignore them but couldn't hide their grins, she laughed, "No, I was up hours ago working on Jenny's dress."
She always called Jennifer 'Jenny', in fact, she was the only person who called her that. After eating for a few minutes, Jennifer banged her fork on the table, "Daddy, I have found something of yours, I believe you lost it a while back." She presented her item and Peter's eyes widened. With trembling hands, he took the old leaf bracelet into his hands.
Peter touched Wendy's thimble and it gave him a jolt. He jumped and felt a sudden desire to cry.
The nurse whispered, reading Peter's eyes, "Cam, Jenny, finish eating and go upstairs. I need to talk to your Father alone a moment." She pulled him into the sitting room as the children left and said concerned, "You're so pale Peter."
Peter stumbled to sit down, "I thought...I had lost it forever."
She said reassuringly, "Ay, I remember. Do you need something? Do you need to lie down?"
He shook his head and looked at the thimble, "I wonder if she thinks of me...?" The elder woman grinned, "Knowing her, all the time Peter. All the time." Peter grinned back, tears running down his face. She encircled him and he mumbled, "I miss her so much!" She pulled away, "Be brave Peter, she would not want you to sink into misery. You still have these wonderful children, spend some time with them, they can teach you a lesson or two about life."
Peter wiped his eyes, "Thanks Tink."
She smiled, "You are such a silly ass sometimes."
Surprised? Tinkerbell left Neverland and become human, aging much faster then a normal life span. She worked as a nurse/housekeeper for the Pans, even before Wendy disappeared. Tinkerbell had curly snow white hair, pinned up in a bun. Weathered wrinkled skin, eyes of a untamed nature. Her beauty did not fade with age.
She straightened up, "Go tuck those devils in. Go tell them a story."
Tinkerbell walked out stiffly and Peter looked upstairs, walking into the playroom. They were both camping out there with lots of blankets and pillows on the floor. He greeted them and a small voice asked, "Password?"
Peter stifled a smile, "Fairy dust."
Jennifer answered, in her light green pajamas, "How did you know?"
"You need to find a new password Jen."
She grinned an adorable smile, if he was saying 'Jen' then he must be in a good mood.
Cameron peeked from under the bed and nodded, "Ello Father!"
Jennifer asked, "Did I upset you Daddy?" He hugged her, "No darling, I just miss your Mother, that's all." Cameron got up, stretching his slight form, "We miss her too, you know."
Peter pulled him into his lap as they sat on the floor, "I know. Tonight, I'll tell you all a story."
Jennifer squealed, "O, Will it be about the time Mother fought the mermaids at the Lagoon!"
Cameron cried, "Or the time you cut off Hook's right hand!"
"Or the time you asked Mother to the Fairy Cermony!"
"Or the time Mother nearly got killed by the Bluefeathers?"
"O, or the time -?"
Peter shouted, "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! It's none of those, settle down and I shall tell you." They squirmed around like puppies, pulling their bedspread to their chins.Hesmiled, "Did I ever tell you how your Mother and I first met?"
Cameron stated, "No, you always talked about what you did at Neverland."
"Well, I knew who she was, but I didn't really know her. I knew she was the best storyteller in England and always told stories of Neverland, she dreamed of Neverland but had never been there. I was captivated by this creature and came intoher nursery one evening, I floated right over her bed and that's when I saw it!"
Jennifergasped gleefully, "Saw what Daddy?"
He tickled her neck laughing, getting up and she giggled, rolling on the floor, "Her woman chin, and right on the corner of her mouth was a hidden kiss!" Both children gasped and sat up more alertly, Peter continued, "I guess I must have awake her and I tried to escape but lost my shadow on the way. So, I came back with Tinkerbell-"
Cameron interrupted, "When she was a fairy."
Peter nodded, "Yes Cam, when she was a fairy and she told me that my shadow was in a dresser. So I fought my shadow and tried to get it back on but with soap and that didn't go very well."
Jennifer giggled.
"Then I started crying, your Mother found me and asked me why I was crying. I wasn't very polite to her when she sewed my shadow back on for me. But she forgave me when I told her girls were clever." The children chuckled more softly, Peter smiled secretly, "She said that she wanted to give me a kiss but I didn't know what one was. So, instead, she gave me a thimble. And I gave her an acorn button."
Jennifer breathed, "That's why you wore those! How romantic Daddy!"
Peter smiled, "So then I discovered Tink went missing. When I was trying to find her, your Mother wanted to give me a thimble."
They nodded understandingly, making disgusted faces, "Did you really...kiss?" Peter grinned, "No, Tinkerbell stopped us, she was very jealous. Your Mother wanted to go to Neverland and to take her brothers, so Itaught them all to fly and we soared out of the room, into the second star to the right, and then straight on till morning."
Cameron was already asleep but Jennifer was elated, "O, teach me to fly! Teach me to wind the winds back!"
Peter frowned, "I cannot, I don't remember how. I'm too old now."
She looked down unhappily and Peter kissed the top of her head, "Go to sleep my angel. Dream of sweet dreams." He tucked her in and she fell asleep instantly, Peter set the nightlights and left the playroom door open a crack.
All was now peaceful.
He remembered Wendy vaguely saying something about nightlights being the eyes a Mother leaves behind to guard her children. Now, they were Mother and Father's eyes.
Peter sighed, turning away.
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