Disclaimer:Not my original characters, all belong to Barrie

Do you still think it will be so easy to stop?

Wendy had indeed felt his hardness grow beneath her. She had been aware of its presence for some time. She had felt it stir more than once, seeming in her opinion, in correlation with particular noises she had made. She made a note to herself to remember that fact.

"Am I allowed to touch it?"

James raised his eyebrows. Her growing boldness shouldn't have shocked him at this point.

"Still willing to continue into the uncharted waters?" he asked her.

Wendy was prepared to answer him in the affirmative, but something at the window caught her eye.

"What on earth?"

There was a shimmering flash of light and movement, and then a faint noise. Something small landed on the floor with a tiny thud. Then, just as quickly as it came, the light was gone out the window.

"Well I guess I'm stopping now." She said, shaking her head.

"You really can just stop?" James exclaimed.

"James, I'm not even sure I can stand up right now. However, I believe that was Tinkerbell there in my window-watching us for God knows how long!"

James craned his neck to look at the empty window.

Wendy used the opportunity to leave his lap. She straightened her skirts as she stood.

"Can't stand up..." James mumbled.

But James did notice the high color in Wendy's cheeks; the bruised and swollen and kissed look of her lips.

The clearly disheveled nature of her clothing and hair overall was enough to keep him aroused. He decided he needed to get up, it was probably time he left her tempting presence.

Wendy turned her head as she heard him stand. Her focus immediately became the state of his trousers. She was shocked to see the condition she had left him in.

"My goodness."

James looked down at himself. He looked back up at her and smirked rather proudly.

"I did warn you."

He walked, somewhat awkwardly, to where Wendy was standing at the window.

"Tinkerbell, eh?" he said looking out into the sky.

"I think she actually hit her head on the sash-little spy, served her right."

"Maybe she was just curious too." He said as he trailed a finger down Wendy's back.

"Ugh! Watching us? Watching?"

"Hmm, who knows? She's been jealous of you before."

"She shouldn't be anymore then, should she? At least not on account of Peter."

"How about on account of a kiss? Who knows how long she's been without a kiss?"

He lowered his lips to the back of her neck, pushing aside her hair as he did.

Wendy seemed unaffected as she spoke.

"Did you ever wonder why she never sought out one of her own kind? Why shespent all her time with Peter instead?" she asked James.

James spoke between kisses.

"Maybe she was scorned by one of her own."

"Maybe...but...um...James, could you please stop that?"

"Do you need me to stop?"

"Yes, I suppose I do. That makes you happy, doesn't it?"

"Maybe. I do like to be right."

He continued to kiss her.

"James." She said firmly, as she stepped away from him.

With her hands on her hips, and such a stern look on her face, James knew it was time to go. He chuckled.

"Okay, I guess I should be going."

"You can come back tomorrow."

"Can I now?" he teased.

"Yes."

"If you are insisting?"

Wendy rolled her eyes at him.

"Tomorrow....night?" he suggested, smiling. He waited until he saw her slight frown to respond.

"No? Not good for you?"

"You really are terrible, James."

"How about I call in the morning and bring you to my ship?"

"Really?" she said eagerly

"You won't mind being back there I take it?"

"No, it won't bother me. I would really like to see the ship again. I'd like to see your personal quarters and your things."

"I'd like to see you in my cabin." He grinned.

"You really need to say goodbye James."

"Good evening, Wendy." He took her hand and kissed it.

"Good evening, James."

James walked himself to the door.

"I'll be waiting for you James."

"I'll be here." He answered

After he closed the door, Wendy returned to the chair and flopped herself down in it.

Oh, who knew? Who knew?

What kind of trickery did God and Mother Nature play at? Why did something that felt like-that did-lead to such seriousness as 'Pregnancy and Childbirth'?

Maybe if it didn't feel so good- no one would ever have the children...especially not the women.

Wendy was certain of those facts; childbirth was painful, and dangerous, for women. Nature tricked you into the condition and then you were saddled with the consequences forever.

You can't hike all matter of hills and forests swollen with child...

"Not fair!" she said aloud

To be tempted with something so delicious and then be informed of its sobering secret. What a terrible grown up secret. How dare adults spend time telling children to behave and settle down when behind closed doors they were themselves-playing? What hypocrites! Another reason not to want to be one.

But you did have to be one to play their games...

Somewhere nearby, Tinkerbell nursed her sore head. She made sure not to repeat her mistake; she was well concealed this time. The surprise of being caught had put her into a bit of a panic. Before she knew what she was doing, she had flown straight up-indeed hitting her head on the window sash. She was more than a little angry with herself for having become so...engrossed with what she had seen.

Very, very interesting events at Wendy's house. Wendy and the Captain certainly seemed to be enjoying each other's company...either that or the Captain had misplaced something of importance up Wendy's skirt.

James Hook was in a very good mood. In fact, he found himself whistling quite a nasty little tune as he pulled his dinghy across the beach towards the water.

"She's too good for you Hook."

James straightened himself and let go of the dinghy's ropes. He felt he was in just the perfect mood to speak with the young man.

"Peter," he turned to face the voice.

"She's too good to be assaulted by a schoolyard bully.' He said casually, "Do you want to address that?"

"She would have wanted me if it wasn't for you. I don't know what you've said to her-or done to her-but I'm not going to let it continue."

"If I wasn't certain that it would be complete insanity on your part, I would swear you are threatening me, boy."

"I am, Wendy is mine."

"It is my understanding she belongs to no one. I also believe she requested a truce, didn't she?"

"No one tells me what to do. I do what I want. I didn't give her any promise."

"Really? Maybe you didn't, but Wendy expects it anyway. She expects it from us both because she is a trusting person. I think her opinion of you may be clouded by sentimentality. She seems to believe in you, despite the fact that you have given her reason enough not to." James though he saw Peter's bravado fade alittle, "I, myself, did give her my word. I don't think you deserve anything from me- but do consider this a gift to you today Peter-get out of my sight. Leave now. Grow up-don't- I don't care what you do with yourself."

He walked very close to Peter.

"I'd like to extend the promise I made to her to you also. If you ever hurt her again, if you frighten or threaten her, I will come find you. I will find you and I will kill you. Do you understand? No restraint, no mercy, I will kill you."

There was silence on the beach as James waited to see if Peter would answer. He could see the conflict in the boy's face.

They could both sense the change in their game.

For James it was no longer a generic hatred of youth, or Peter Pan. Nor was it a hatred of himself and his own actions. It was anger that burned in him- and it burned alongside another emotion that was growing stronger in intensity. When James heard Peter speak he saw an image of upturned palms in his mind's eye.

"It doesn't matter what you say now Peter, not to me. I've made my decision-and I've told you of it. Wendy has also made herself clear to you. You...you have time Peter, a lot of time. Make the right decisions and have a life."

James turned and walked back to the dinghy. He picked up the rope handle and began moving back to the water.

Even as James rowed back to his ship, Peter stood watching him from the shore. He hadn't moved from the spot where their conversation had ended.

"Let it go Peter. Let it go, and it all begins." James said, knowing the boy couldn't hear his words of advice.

Wendy lay on her bed looking at her hands. She was re-playing every tender gesture James had made while cleaning them. It had been so easy to let the man take care of her. She had felt totally surrounded by feelings of comfort and protection.

He is proving himself to me

Unlike the young men she had known, James Hook did not try to impress with a puffed out chest or significant family names or transparent flattery. James Hook was courting her, Wendy Darling, in a manner devoid of fakery. He was doing it without trying, and it was working. Wendy could imagine spending a long time in the company of one Captain James Hook

Is that what I want? Have I started to think of staying here...permanently? And what would I do here? What would I be? The Official Gatherer of Flowers? Gazer of Stars? Mistress of Captain James Hook?

Pirate Captain's Mistress. Somehow that was managed to forget to jot down on any of her lists of things she wanted to be when she grew up. Thinking about it, she realized she'd never come up with anything to put on that list.

All she had was a 'Don't Want' list.

Don't want to darn socks.

Don't want to marry a boring lout.

Don't want to wipe noses all day.

Don't want to sit quietly and nod in agreement while some idiot drones on with a watered down, edited version of world events. Edited carefully to be easily digested by her little pea sized female brain!

Wendy could now add a few more details of married life she didn't want, thanks to information supplied by James. Certain things her mother had alluded to now came into glaring focus. After nodding obediently she would be expected to retire to her husband's bedchambers and 'submit to his desires'.

That was a huge DON'T WANT.

Don't want to perform any wifely duties that were described as 'something that just must be endured.'

So then just maybe there was one thing she knew she wanted...because Wendy knew that when she began to think of her bare skin pressed against that incredible heat that was his skin...that was something she wanted. She could feel an...urge build in her when she began to let herself think of touching him. Even after he was gone, no longer touching her, no longer filling brain with a single thought of moremoremore...that was exactly what she found herself wanting. She wanted more, and she wanted it from James, James who responded to her every impassioned response he drew from her with what seemed to be certain joy. He had said he wanted it all from her...to be loved by her and to be allowed to be loved by him. It seemed to be an easier request to grant tonight than it had this morning.

Wendy sighed. It had been a very long day. She could feel the heavy weight of sleep demanding she close her eyes and submit to it.

Such a long day...

In the darkness it was still possible to make out the long lines of Wendy's legs, the curve of her calves. The moonlight illuminated her skin with a pearly glow. She slept peacefully, one leg slightly pulled up, the other stretched with toes pointed towards the edge of her bed. Her toes were just close enough to touch if he wanted.

The urge to touch those toes, to run his hand up her leg, was very strong. He knew that touching her would risk waking her, and waking her would surely wipe away the peaceful expression on her lovely face.

To his surprise, he felt tears beginning to roll down his cheeks. Embarrassed, even though no one could see them, he wiped them away with the back of his hand.

To hold her in your arms while she smiles at you must be bliss. To see her face light up and...

"And instead I made you cry," he whispered, "I'm sorry Wendy."

He knew he couldn't force that smile and have it be the same thing...he knew he wanted everything that a smile like that meant, everything that made it be.

"I'll let you have the chance you asked for Wendy, I promise."

And with those words said, Peter Pan left Wendy's house to begin the journey back to being Trustworthy Friend. It was someone who he hoped might once again be welcome in that house.

A/N: Thanks to all my readers and especially those that have reviewed-it really does motivate!