Disclaimer: I do not own any thing of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan

Wendy found herself looking for places to dust the next morning. She had only the sun by which

to judge the time by, and was beginning to think 'late morning' was getting close. "I'm nervous.

I shouldn't be nervous. No reason. It's a conversation, an exchange of information. I'm just

having company." She had decided to leave the front door open. It just seemed less formal.

"Less formal, that's good considering you're in your underwear having a man

over with no chaperone in sight... maybe I should consider the everyday china for tea."

Wendy looked down at her clothing.

"Maybe I should put the real dress back on..."

Wendy took one look at the heavy wool dress that she had hung up on a peg. She could feel a

sweat build just thinking about it.

"It is SO itchy." She decided against it. After all, he had already seen her without it. This is

what she was comfortable in.

"I am fine in this. There is nothing wrong with this."

It really wasn't such an obscene outfit she had adopted. After all, evening gowns were

sleeveless. It was more about knowing that her parents would rush to cover her if they could

see her dressed like this. She had left her house wearing a long sleeved, wool dress. She had a

fancy corset cover underneath; even though she refused to wear the evil corsets themselves.

Underneath that item was a one piece garment that continued into drawers. Under her skirt had

also been an underslip that had a fancy decorative hem that could be seen beyond the original

skirt. Underneath the first slip she had a plainer petticoat that normally wouldn't be visible. All in

all, she had two layers on top and three on the bottom.

"Two skirts. I have on two skirts, not to mention knickers-Good God! Do not mention

them. And I'll keep my shoes on." That thought started her laughing.

"Yes, it is the shoes that will protect my reputation. At least my family's name, something

for Mother and Father to hold on to." She actually was laughing quite heartily when the Captain

arrived at her doorway.

Her laugh was something he hadn't been prepared for. It was a far cry from the drunken

snorting that he had been surrounded by for years. It was unrestrained, but so feminine.

He knew he was seeing something she hadn't meant to share with him, and he wasn't

certain how to announce himself. She had obviously left her door open in welcome, but

now he felt like he was intruding on a private moment. Luckily he was saved from

finding something to say.

Wendy turned thinking she heard a noise in her doorway.

"He must think I've gone daft."

"Well, hello, and good morning." She said trying to compose herself. She still felt

laughter pulling at her sides as she straightened herself and her skirts.

"Yes, good morning to you Miss Darling."

"You can call me Wendy, I prefer it actually."

"And I would be pleased if you'd call me James."

"All right, James. Please, come in, have a seat." She motioned towards the

two available seating options.

"Thank you."

He entered and sat on the stool he had used the previous night. Wendy walked over and

joined him.

"So, I have heard that Pan has been a bit of a terror since the time of your return."

"A terror?" She groaned, "Just what has he been doing?"

"Nothing too awful, more like making himself a general nuisance. I believe he

managed to threaten several of the younger mermaids. A family member-a father- I

believe, told him he would 'fillet him' if he continued to upset them one minute longer."

He chuckled, but Wendy shuddered as she looked out the door.

"He must have been really awful to them..."

James shrugged his shoulder a bit.

"Well, I don't believe any limbs were lost." He said casually.

Wendy's head snapped back towards the man sitting in front of her.

"I'm sorry. I should have thought first."

"Don't be sorry. He was behaving badly, and this" he lifted his hook up and

contemplated it.

"This isn't anything I didn't ask for." He looked from the hook to Wendy's face

He spoke to her.

"Anyone who seeks out the battle must be prepared for all its consequences-even

death. This is just a reminder of the choices I've made for myself."

"And you chose to be here."

"I did, and you?"

"I chose not to be where I was that night he came." She said quietly.

"He wanted you here very badly, though, didn't he?"

"I didn't know that then. Not there. I didn't know when I left with him. It upset

me when I realized. Oh," she took a quick breath in, "I'm afraid I was very harsh with

him." she shook her head.

"Because?"

"Because he," she started a little too hotly, and stopped herself. She knew the

truth now, and couldn't put all the blame on Peter.

"Because he made himself into what I wanted him to be when I was a twelve year

old girl. Oh God, I was so cruel."

She felt a terrible guilt sweep over her.

"What kind of person have I become? How could I do that to someone? He

became what I wanted."

"What he thought you wanted."

"But it was what I wanted. It's the most horrible thing I've ever done."

"You never asked him to do it."

"No, I just let him know it was my true desire. The dream of a silly little

girl...and I've changed so much since then."

Tears were beginning to shine in her eyes.

Wendy was so deeply horrified. She was responsible for someone changing his whole

life-his entire being-to suit her...and then she rejected him.

"I told him he was wrong...I couldn't say he was right, but five years too late."

Now James could understand some of what he had seen when he watched her. He still

wanted to know was why she had come with Peter, if he wasn't what she wanted.

"Did you run away from your life Wendy?"

It wasn't an accusation. There was something sad and knowing in his voice. She looked

up at him through a blurry haze of pooling tears. She knew now what it was that she

couldn't identify in his face before. She blinked once, and the tears spilled down her

cheeks.

"It's why you're here too."

They both knew now why Neverland was their common ground.

A/N: I'm sorry about the line spacing- I can't seem to get the same when I upload. Hope you all enjoy the content. Make someones day-review!