Author's Note: Okay, people, you've all been waiting for it I'm sure! There is going to be a major event in this chapter! I have the Peter Pan soundtrack (which is very good, I might add) and there is one song named "Fairy Dance". In the movie, Peter and Wendy are flying/dancing with all the fairies surrounding them. Ah, so romantic… Thus, I named the chapter after my favorite song from the movie. Savvy? Hope you enjoy!!
Chapter 11: Fairy Dance
Peter's heart beats with anticipation as he walks toward Wendy, unsure of how their reunion will turn out…
He approaches her slowly, his legs feeling unusually heavy. Her face holds the same sweet innocence, yet he can see she has matured greatly. She stands off to the side, maintaining an air of insurmountable refinement. She does not seem to notice Peter as he draws closer and closer to her. This is it. He is going to ask her to dance. His heart is beating a mile a minute as he stops in front of her. The comforting scent of lavender fills Peter's nose and he closes his eyes for one brief moment.
"Hmm…excuse me," he interrupts her and Wendy's eyes meet his. Peter freezes, as does she. He tries to avoid staring at her, but he cannot help it. She is so breathtaking and he has not seen her for so long. He clears his throat and continues bravely. "May I have this dance?" He holds out his hand, much like the way he did when she was standing outside her open window. He wanted so much for her to come to Neverland and be his mother. Now, he yearns for her to have one dance with him and to remember him, if that is at all possible.
Wendy looks at his hand and then his face. She nods and places her gloved hand in his. Small shivers run up and down Peter's spine as they touch and Wendy seems to feel the same thing. She stops for a second before Peter begins to lead her out among the waltzing couples. He moves away from her, bowing low while she curtsies stylishly. They have done this before, in Neverland's vast forest. The fairies had danced around them, miniscule stars that never failed to brighten one's spirit. As if this dance is not a coincidence, the song being played sounds like the one from the fairy wedding. Wendy's blue eyes are full of wonder and curiosity as he takes her hand in his and places his other on her waist. A faint blush appears on Wendy's cheeks as they begin to waltz around the room.
Wendy is drawn to the young man who asks her to dance. Why does he look so familiar? Why does she accept his invitation to dance, even when she is thoroughly tired from the previous waltzes? Tiny, but identifiable tremors sweep throughout her body as the young man takes her hand. Even through the glove she can feel his warmth and it causes her to stop suddenly.
She cannot keep her eyes off him, which is a rude act to do indeed. Aunt Millicent will be horrified if she sees Wendy doing this. He is unmistakably good-looking, on account of all the young ladies ogling him. He is tall and has an American accent. Perhaps he is on vacation from Boston or New York, Wendy ponders. His eyes are a mix of emerald and sapphire that seem to go on forever. His skin is golden brown from basking in the sun too long and his face…his face is etched with hope and longing. He has been waiting for someone, most likely his fiancée.
He looks down at her as they move swiftly to the rhythm of the music. It sounds oddly familiar too, and Wendy sinks deeper and deeper in to thought. She feels the gentle touch of the man's hand on her waist and her heart skips a beat. She wants to ask his name, but at the same time she does not want to speak. She sees the waltz as a wordless expression of grace and sophistication. She holds her tongue as long as she can, secretly hoping that he is not promised to anyone.
The young man spins her around and she places her hand on his shoulder. "We've danced like this before," he mutters and Wendy gazes at him. She does not understand if he is talking to her or someone else.
"I – I'm sorry. I don't know what you mean," Wendy apologizes. He shakes his head and looks away.
"I was just talking to myself." He looks like he is in despair, and she does not know why. She wants to comfort him, even if they do not know each other that well. "Why can't you remember me, Wendy?" She opens her mouth in bewilderment.
"How do you know my name?" Wendy whispers. She is alarmed by this exchange and her grasp tightens on the man's shoulder.
"You told me," he admits and begins to lean into her. Certainly, he is not going to kiss me, Wendy thinks as he lessens the distance between them. She moves away cautiously and finds he is going to whisper in her ear. Wendy does not know what to do; she has never been in this situation before. Are they still dancing? Yes, they are, but slower this time.
"Come away with me Wendy, and we'll never, never have to worry about grown up things again," he says in a voice that no woman has been able to resist. The words penetrate Wendy's mind, setting the memories of the past on fire. She can feel the cold winter air closing around her body. The first snow of the season had fallen that night and strange occurrences were about to commence. Peter Pan had whispered that in her ear as she stared at the empty nursery. She turned around to see the clever boy grinning mischievously and her heart soared.
"Never is an awfully long time," Wendy answers and she gasps in utter surprise. "Oh my, Peter Pan…" The young man is smiling now, and his eyes are glittering. How can she not recognize him? His nose, his mesmerizing eyes, his mouth…they are all vivid characteristics of the boy who refused to grow up. His face has changed with age, though, and he looks so much older. Why is he an adult? As soon as Wendy figures out who the teenager really is, she instinctively pulls her hand away from his and covers her mouth in shock. She cannot believe it. It can't be him…no, no, it can't. Her mind is still absorbing all this new information.
"Peter Eddington," he corrects. He takes a step forward, but Wendy backs away, clearly stunned by him.
"But – how can this be – I haven't seen you in four years, Peter - " she stammers. Her eyes catch the light of the diamond chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and they are glazed over in tears. Peter touches her arm and finds that she is trembling. "You – you've grown up."
"And so have you," Peter mutters, staring at the girl forlornly. "I missed you." Wendy sees her parents and aunt looking at her from the other side of the room. Both parents seem worried about Wendy. If you saw your daughter crying, wouldn't you be? Aunt Millicent looks outraged. Peter follows Wendy's gaze and clenches his jaw. "I think I've upset them." Wendy shakes her head, her pearl earrings shimmering glamorously. Peter takes his hand off of Wendy's arm and she peers up at him.
"I waited for you countless times. When you ceased to come, I left my childhood behind," Wendy confesses. "I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry, Wendy. You yourself told me that all children grow up…and I did. Now, I need to tell you something important, something that I've been waiting for so long to tell you." Wendy's lips part slightly as she listens to what he has to say. He never gets to say it though, because a man rudely interrupts them.
"May I have this dance with a fine lady like yourself?" he questions. His eyes are a dark gray and his fake smile disgusts Peter. If only he had a weapon of some sort…
"If you don't mind, we are in the middle of a conversation," Peter responds.
"On the ballroom floor? I'm appalled! You should be dancing, not talking." He laughs and takes Wendy's hand.
"No, thank you. I am dreadfully tired," Wendy refuses, shaking off the man's hand. She has a feeling that Aunt Millicent told him to come over there and take her away from Peter. Wendy wishes she had not let her distress show when Peter convinced her it was truly he. Her aunt has already gotten the wrong impression of him.
"I insist," the man argues and Wendy bites her lip fiercely. Peter nods, and brings Wendy's hand to his lips. He kisses it softly, his eyes glued to hers. Public affection is not accepted by society, but this is an exception. Wendy trembles in ecstasy as Peter lets the intruder have his dance.
"We'll talk as soon as this over, Wendy lady," he promises, his lips curving into a gracious smile. Wendy smiles back at him, hoping this is not a dream. She pinches her arm and blinks twice, but she is still standing in the middle of the ballroom, staring after the grown-up Peter Pan.
"Thank God," she sighs and begins the waltz once again.
Author's Note: Oh no, is this another cliffhanger? I'm sorry. Please don't get angry because then you'll have some stuff to look forward to in later chapters. In my personal opinion, this is my favorite chapter. It has a lot of emotional and physical aspects that add to the tension or chemistry between Wendy and Peter. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did! In future chapters, there will be more Peter and Wendy stuff. There will be cool surprises too!
Seeing as it is 11:00 P.M., I'm dead tired. I can't believe I still have the ability to write coherent sentences. Tell me your opinion of this chapter, if you want! Everyone who has reviewed the last couple of days…you still rock! I like leaving you guys guessing, hehe, okay, stopping my intense, horrible rambling - g'night!