Author's Note: First and foremost, I must thank everyone for the lovely reviews. I cannot believe how many I have received throughout the chapters, and I must say I love reading all of them. I am truly grateful that you are all enjoying this story. For anyone who wanted to know if the story was ending, it's not. A few new characters are going to be introduced too. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 17: Surprise Guests
"What is this stupid gathering for anyway?" Curly gripes as he bends down to tie his shoes. The Twins shrug in unison and fidget in their new, clean suits. It is the evening of the Darling get-together and the boys have been forced to look presentable for the guests.
"Another one of Aunt Millicent's parties. Mother and Father have no say in this house anymore," Tootles responds. "Gosh, these suits itch!"
"It is a gathering for Wendy," Nibs says in a matter-of-fact tone. The boys gaze at him questioningly. "Oh, come on, lads, we've all seen the change in her. Wendy is a lady. Aunt Millicent wants to find her a husband."
"A husband? Wendy's getting married?!" Michael cries out.
"Someday. She'll move out and live with our future brother-in-law too and no one will tell us stories…not that she tells us stories now." There are tears in Michael's eyes as Nibs explains the future of his sister. "It will happen to us too. We'll all get married."
"I won't ever get married!" Michael blurts, throwing his hands over his eyes. Everyone is growing up and he cannot stand it. "Girls are gross!" The room erupts in laughter at this comment.
"Michael, you're too young to understand anything," Tootles guffaws, slapping his knee. "When you're our age, you'll have a different view of ladies."
"A much different view," Curly reassures him and the boys start laughing all over again. Michael does not understand this at all. Being as he only seven, this topic does not capture his fancy. He could care less about girls at this time in his life. Out of the blue, Tootles gets up and ambles over to the stained glass window. He undoes the lock on the frame and everyone gasps in horror.
"Father said we couldn't do that," Michael reminds him, but Tootles strains to open it. He turns around, looking very scholarly all of a sudden. He tilts his head up to the ceiling with his finger tapping his chin.
"He said couldn't, my dear boy. Couldn't was in the past! It's about time we get some fresh air in this sorry excuse for a nursery! Hey, Slightly, help me open this!" he calls and the boy scrambles up from the floor. He has just arrived and already he has dirtied his shirt. Millicent will not be happy with him.
"Will do!" Slightly says gallantly and stands next to his cousin. "How long has this been closed?"
"Too long!" the Twins reply in unison. Slightly rolls his eyes and spits on the palms of his hands. He has never learned to behave properly. Both boys grab the window and push it open. A gush of spring air spills through the bars and into the nursery, driving the gloom away. For a moment, the boys forget about their uncomfortable clothes and revel in the calming waves of wind blowing in.
"Why were the bars put on the window again?" Slightly asks, looking at the city in the distance. Silence falls over the room as they ponder the reason why. It feels as if it were only yesterday that they were protesting the barring of the window. Tootles hears Big Ben tolling five o'clock.
"I don't recall the exact reason." A loud crash sounds from downstairs, interrupting the boys. Aunt Millicent's cries of outrage are what follow and all the boys gather to listen.
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"JOHN! WENDY! I told you to be careful of the dishes! Look at what you've done!" Millicent chides, pointing at the broken shards of porcelain on the floor. Wendy has her hand to her cheek, the sound of the breaking dishes reverberating in her ears. Her blue eyes are wide as she looks at her aunt and then to John. Perhaps they are still in shock.
"Wendy didn't do anything, Aunt Millicent," John snaps, clenching his fists.
"Those were the dishes that were going to be used during supper! There are highly thought of people coming tonight and you are ruining Wendy's chances of ever finding a decent enough spouse! Don't you want her to get married soon?" Millicent hollers. Her face is contorted in an odd sort of frenzy and Mary looks embarrassed.
I don't want to get married soon, Aunt Millicent! Wendy screams in her mind. She cannot think straight. Her thoughts are on the gathering and Peter. This gathering is for her, not for the family. Aunt Millicent has been reminding her for the past couple of days. This marriage business is starting to trouble Wendy greatly. The only advantage of this evening will be Peter…
"We have other plates, Millicent," Mary groans. Wendy bends gracefully and begins to pick up the broken pieces. John was bringing them out to the dining room and Wendy accidentally bumped into him while she was cleaning the kitchen counter, lost with her thoughts. She had turned to help him, but he lost his balance and they all came crashing down.
"No, Wendy, let me do it," John says and kneels next to her. "Go get ready."
"I'll assist you," Wendy offers and begins to gather the porcelain. Aunt Millicent is appalled by this behavior. Before she can say anything, though, Mary leads her out to the dining room to discuss the silverware. Wendy breathes easily and peers over at John. She realizes how much he has grown and a faint smile crosses her features. Again, she begins to ponder the get-together and seeing Peter again. She is so nervous she can hardly keep her hands from shaking.
"Are you all right, Wendy?" John asks, wrinkling his nose so his glasses do not slide down. He knows his sister is going through quite a lot and she is being pressured into marriage so quickly. Wendy peers up at him and smiles half-heartedly. She is beginning to resemble Mother, John thinks.
"Yes, I am fine. Why do you ask?"
"You look troubled."
"I am far from being troubled, John. Do you know of the Eddingtons?" Wendy wants to tell John about Peter, she really does. Chances are, though, he will not have any memory of him.
"They are coming tonight, are they not?"
"Yes, they are. Their son is accompanying them. I think his name is Peter..."
"Hmm…well that's nice," John answers slowly and places the broken porcelain into the garbage bin.
He must think I have lost my mind, Wendy says to herself, cleaning the rest of the mess. "When you see him, you will know." John's warm brown eyes meet her bright azure ones and he can see excitement brimming in them. Wendy rises from the floor, dusting off her dress. The guests will be arriving soon and she needs to dress for the occasion. There are going to be many pleasant surprises happening this evening.
A half hour later, Wendy is dressed in an ivory gown. The neckline is high, but comfortable, against her throat. The gown is accented with a thin layer of lace, which is the fashion nowadays. The lower half of the dress sweeps down lavishly and moves ever so lightly as Wendy strolls down the hallway. Her hair is braided and pulled on top of her head. She dabs some cover-up over the few blemishes on her face and peers at the mirror. She looks different, older in a way. Wendy was never the one to worry about what she looked like, but tonight, she has changed. She wants to look presentable for Peter and she lingers near the mirror a little longer than usual. The boys are hiding behind the nursery door and they watch her smiling at her reflection.
"Girls are odd," Tootles observes, "but I still like them." The others murmur their agreement and Wendy twists around to them.
"You look marvelous, Wendy! Absolutely stunning!" Slightly shouts hurriedly. He has always been the one to compliment Wendy on anything she has ever done. He wants to stay on her good side. The young woman flashes a smile and someone knocks on the front door.
"COMPANY!" Nibs hollers, which sends all the boys running down the stairs. They almost trample their sister, who cannot stop them fast enough from behaving this way. Wendy hurries in a ladylike manner after the rambunctious boys and stands on the last step. John comes out of the parlor with Nana and looks up at her.
"Ready?" he interrogates blandly.
"Not entirely," Wendy replies, folding her hands in front of her. Her posture is impeccable as she waits for the rest of the Darling clan to walk in. Mary fixes George's tie and Aunt Millicent orders the boys to behave properly.
"Remember to be nice to the guests. None of your foolish games will be allowed," Millicent whispers to them. "Is that clear?"
"Yes, Aunt Millicent." Mr. Darling goes to the front door and opens it slowly. Everyone cranes his or her necks to see who has arrived. A plump lady clad in furs and a serious looking man enter into the vestibule.
"Hello Darling family!" the lady greets opening her arms wide. "Mary, oh, my dear sister, how are you?" She takes Wendy's mother in a warm embrace. Wendy recognizes the woman and man as Aunt Lillian and Uncle Frederick. Lillian is Mary's gregarious sister. What are they doing here? Three heads pop up behind Lillian…they are her children. Millicent is in hysterics.
"Lillian…Frederick? What brings you to Bloomsbury?" Mary asks in surprise.
"Well, a little birdie told me of a gathering at the Darling house. I haven't seen you in a while and we just had to drop in!" Lillian is the complete opposite of Millicent. While Millicent is a rule-follower, Lillian does whatever comes into her mind. It has gotten her into trouble many a time. She is a peculiar sort of woman, but everyone loves her just the same.
"It is a gathering for Wendy – concerning her future," Mary explains. Lillian's mouth drops open and she sees Wendy on the stairs.
"Oh, that sort of gathering. I am dreadfully sorry, Mary. We'll be going now."
"Please do," Millicent snaps, stepping aside to let them leave. "We do not need excess children in this household." She glares down at their offspring, who are hiding behind their parents. Lillian scoffs at Millicent; Mary looks anxiously at George.
"You can stay if you want. The children are welcome to play in the nursery with the boys. They are well behaved enough." Lillian and Frederick smile broadly.
"Bless you, George Darling, bless you!" Lillian says, throwing her arms around her brother-in-law. She does not keep her emotions hidden from anyone. George is at a loss for words. Millicent lets out an exasperated sigh and shows them to the parlor. Lillian begins hugging and kissing each boy, who cringe in disgust.
"Hello, Aunt Lillian," Wendy greets, when it is her turn to be praised.
"Wendy, darling Wendy, I hardly recognized you!" Lillian cries out, cupping her face in her hands. "You are a woman now." Wendy laughs as her aunt brings her into a joyful hug. The teenager looks up at the door and sees another couple standing there.
"Good evening, Mrs. Darling, Mr. Darling," the voice says, forcing Wendy to let go of her aunt. The man's gray eyes bore into hers and she feels helpless underneath his gaze.
"Good evening, Philip," Wendy sighs. She takes another step until she is at Philip's level. He is wearing a black suit, complete with a top hat. He stoops down to kiss her cheek, a bold move for any young man. Wendy is quicker and moves out of the way before he can get close enough to her face. She takes his coat to the hall closet, thoroughly annoyed by Philip.
"Who is that fellow?" Slightly asks in a hushed tone as Philip and his mother saunter by. He gives the boys a curious stare and they pretend not to notice. "He looks cold and disheartening."
"Nice adjectives," Curly responds. Wendy closes the closet door, rubbing her forehead in dissatisfaction. She cannot wait until Peter comes.
"Wendy!" Nibs calls. Wendy stops and raises her eyebrows in reply. "Who's that chap over there?"
"Philip Winston," Wendy answers, a tinge of sadness in her voice.
"We'll beat him senseless if he does anything to harm you," Curly assures her. Wendy shakes her head, strands of hair curling over her neck.
"He will do nothing of the sort."
"Well, just in case, we'll see to it that he doesn't hurt you."
"Thank you," Wendy replies, ruffling Curly's hair. "Please stay out of trouble tonight." The boys nod sheepishly, but Wendy still does not trust them. Something is bound to happen this evening! She goes to join the other guests, who are chatting pleasantly on the settees. Aunt Millicent beckons her to take her seat next to Philip, and Wendy does unwillingly. More guests start to arrive, but not the Eddingtons. Wendy is starting to become worried that they will not show up at all. Just when she is losing hope, there is another knock at the door.
She flies up off the couch, much to the surprise of the other guests. As before, the Darlings line up a few feet away from the door, eager to greet another visitor. Wendy stands next to John, twiddling her thumbs expectantly. She cannot wait to see the look on John's face…on all the boys' faces for that matter. They lived with him for God knows how long and it will be nice to see their expressions when they meet Peter again. George opens the door and low and behold, the Eddingtons walk in. Wendy's mouth drops open at how charming Peter looks with his new haircut, even though she will miss his messy curls. She grabs John's arm and he looks at her.
"What is it?" he hisses. She indicates Peter, who is looking back at them with a surprised expression on his face. There is a stunned silence as all this information is processed into their minds. Mary, George, Patricia, and Henry are waiting for some sort of sign from the children. They get one, but not the way they expected.
"PETER!" Nibs shouts, and all the boys rush at the young man standing in front of them.
"Come again?" John blurts, glancing at Wendy. She cannot help but laugh at the expression on his face.
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Author's Note: Do not think this was another cliffhanger. Well, in a way it was, but at least the boys remember Peter. I am very excited about the next chapter because there is going to be an appearance by Tink. Yes, after all these chapters, Tink will return. There is going to be some Peter and Wendy interaction, for everyone who wanted that. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Oh, to Natasha, I don't know what the fetish is with Wendy's lips. Peter likes lips, I guess…
School is over, summer is here, and tests are no more! I passed all of them, thank goodness. I am a bit overzealous this time of year. I'll have the next chapter up as soon as I possibly can and then you can all flame me, even though it is really hot and we should all be out on the beach or in an air-conditioned room! Have a nice day and don't forget to leave a review before you go!
Thanks, AngelicPirate