Author's Note: Summer's almost over, and I have to go to school in a few days. I am so excited about returning! (No, I'm really not.) I apologize deeply for the lack of updating; I had this great idea in my mind, but I could not figure out how to write it. I was vacationing for most of August too, and whenever I pulled this chapter up, I did not have the urge to write. Then, I watched "Hook" a couple of nights ago, and I was inspired! Thank you, everybody, for all the great reviews and compliments! I really, truly appreciate it. Rolletti – sorry for the long, horrible wait. This chapter will be surprising in some ways…I do hope you like it. I based the last paragraphs on the song "Clocks" by Coldplay. It was in the promotional commercials for the movie. On with the story, shall we?

Chapter 19: Lovely Thoughts Can Make One Fly

"Yes, you were interrupting something," Peter clarifies tersely. He was so close and yet so far from sharing that moment with Wendy. He did not know what he was doing at first, to tell one the truth. He felt something warm wrap around his stomach and make him feel at ease. Peter never felt this certain way before and it became stronger when he was in Wendy's company.

She stood there, staring back at him with crystal eyes and a small smile on her lips. He began to lean forward cautiously, uncertain of whether Wendy wanted him to do this or not. He was quite sure she did because she inclined her head to meet his. Then, out of the corner of the eye, he spotted the intruders and pulled away. They were not alone after all.

At present, Peter has his hands on his hips and is sporting a serious expression; he is quite good at displaying his authority over the children. He watches them with an accusing eye, waiting for someone to fall to his knees and plead for forgiveness. Wendy looks terribly uncomfortable. "I do not believe they meant to disturb us intentionally," she sighs, gliding over to the anxious faces. "I am sure they had no notion of what we were doing…"

"Well, actually, we grew too impatient sitting downstairs. We thought you were over and done with what you came up here to do," Tootles peeps. A faint blush rises to Wendy's cheek as she turns away from them.

"May we come in now?" Madeline questions, her hazel eyes demanding entrance into the nursery. Peter gives his approval and they troop in. They begin to shout incessantly and jump off the beds. Nibs and the others keep pulling Peter to join in their games, but he does not want to. He is still irate over the previous interruption. He sits Indian-style near the hearth, a grim expression etched upon his face. Eliza, Wendy's little cousin, collapses on the carpet next to him. Her taffeta gown billows up around her; she tries to push the material down. She stares at Peter until she gets his attention.

"What is it?" Peter growls, turning to the girl. He instantly regrets how he acts because she is only a child, no more than ten. She has an angelic face that watches him sweetly.

"My name is Eliza," she states. "Why aren't you in the parlor with the other gentlemen?"

"I'm not interested in their conversations. I like it up here."

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen. How old are you?"

"Nine and three quarters," Eliza says enthusiastically. She gets on her knees and beckons Peter to move closer. "Will you promise to keep a secret?"

"Okay," Peter chuckles as she cups her hands over his ear. He pretends to be thrilled at the thought of knowing one of the world's many mysteries.

"My sister likes you very much…as do I!" Eliza confides and breaks out into a fit of unstoppable giggles. Peter laughs, but not as hard as she does. He wonders when all of this will stop, before the boys force him to crow and act like he once did.

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Wendy lingers near the window, steering clear of Peter. She is still humiliated over what happened and she does not want to go near him. The boys all know of their feelings for each other, but she cannot show them when they are present. Thinking about that abrupt kiss makes her shiver…in a good way. She chafes her arms for warmth, even if the long sleeves of the dress already cover them. She touches her forehead; the palm of her hand is freezing; yet her face feels feverish. Am I coming down with something? No, this is just a part of growing up.

She brushes a stray curl behind her ear before returning to reality. Peter is standing in the middle of her brothers and cousins, showing them how to crow. He towers above them; it makes her smile. It is amusing watching him teach the boys old childhood antics. Half of him belongs in the nursery, behaving like a kid; half of him belongs in the adult world, taking on responsibilities. It seems like he cannot choose between the two.

"I am Hook, Captain of the Jolly Roger!" Wendy hears a cruel voice announce. She looks up in horror, only to find that it is Nibs and Nibs only. He is standing on one of the beds, his index finger in the shape of a hook.

"I want to be Peter Pan!" Albert pleads.

"Peter will be the Pan!" the Twins fight back.

"You can be a pirate with Michael!" Curly reassures him and starts to whoop and holler like the Indians did in Neverland. Tootles and Slightly dance around an invisible fire. Albert perches near the hearth and listens to harsh commands from Nibs. Wendy notices that Madeleine and Eliza are the only ones left without parts to play.

"I want to be the damsel in distress that Peter Pan saves," Madeleine tells Nibs.

"Girls can't play our game…except Wendy of course," he explains.

"That is a horrid rule! I must be something!" Madeleine stares Nibs down, until he is forced to defer to her request. When given the roles of Princess Tigerlilly or Tinkerbell, Eliza chooses Tigerlilly.

"No! I do not want to be a fairy! I want to be a princess!" Madeleine demands. "I am the eldest, Eliza, and it is my duty to get the highest rank." Wendy is about to break up the feud between the sisters, when Eliza backs down. Madeleine ties a feather in her hair and lounges on the carpet, yelling out orders to the natives. Eliza looks like she is about to cry. Wendy kneels in front of Eliza and embraces her.

"Why are you crying?" she asks in a calm, almost motherly like tone.

"O, you know, Wendy! Madeleine treats me like a servant! She is so bossy!" Eliza complains, her eyes wide with hurt. Wendy feels someone brush against her shoulder and she turns her gaze to her right. Peter is crouching next to her.

"Don't worry about Madeleine, Eliza. Tinkerbell's not so bad. She was Peter Pan's best friend. They always had all sorts of adventures together." Through the tears, a small smile breaks across Eliza's face. Wendy recollects that stubborn fairy; she was not very nice to her. Eliza follows Peter to play, flapping her arms as if they were wings.

Nibs leaps down from his bed, flaunting a makeshift sword proudly. He aims it at Peter, snarling, "Prepare to meet thy doom!" Wendy wants to stop them before they get seriously hurt, but she does not have the heart to. They look like they are having an awfully good time.

"Have at thee!" Peter answers, positioning himself for an attack. Nibs runs forward as Peter ducks out of the way. He stumbles over Michael's teddy bear and saves himself from crashing into a nearby lamp. Wendy puts her hand over her eyes to avoid seeing this catastrophe.

"Peter, rescue me! The pirates have captured me!" Madeleine whines from the hearth. Michael ties a handkerchief around her mouth and she starts kicking and making odd beastly noises. Wendy pauses for a moment before going over to set her loose. It is nice not to hear Madeleine talking all the time. She savors the silence before reprimanding Michael for his unsatisfactory treatment of his cousin.

"She's a prisoner! Pirates are supposed to treat their prisoners with disrespect!" Michael protests.

"Not necessarily, Michael," Wendy sighs as she unwraps the handkerchief. Madeleine gives her a nasty look, obviously miffed that it was not Peter who saved her. Wendy ignores her and hears her father calling from downstairs. She hurries down the quiet hall and to the staircase.

"I am up here, Father," she says.

"Your mother wants you to help with the cake."

"I will be down shortly." Wendy turns around to see Peter leaning against the wall opposite her, grinning in a furtive manner. He raises his eyebrows at her horrified expression.

"Wendy, what are you doing up there?" Her heart beats a little faster as she turns to her father once again.

"I am watching the children. I am making sure they do not cause any mischief," she explains in a vivacious tone. She does not mean for it to come out so perky, but she is so nervous. What if her father discovered Peter up on the second floor? Aunt Millicent would surely have her head for that. Mr. Darling nods and moves on. Wendy leans over the side of the banister, listening to his steps grow fainter and fainter. When she knows it is safe, she faces Peter. "You have no business coming up on me like that. It is not proper."

"I didn't come up on you. I was right here, minding my own business," Peter smirks. "I was getting tired of playing all those games. Are you distressed, Wendy? Do you need some saving?"

"I am far from being distressed, Mr. Eddington," she whispers, narrowing her eyes at him. "I can take care of myself." Peter moves closer to her and she feels herself growing warm again. "Do you remember Tinkerbell?"

"I don't know. Sometimes, I have these short bursts of memory, and then other times, it all fades away. A couple of weeks ago I thought I heard a fairy, but I think my imagination was playing tricks on me."

"How can you hear a fairy?" Wendy questions. "I've forgotten."

"The tinkling of bells," Peter responds, a far-off look in his eyes. Now, Wendy remembers. Yes, the bells, of course! She does not want to cease speaking with Peter, but she has to go downstairs. "Where is your room?" she hears him ask. She blushes when he says this and he notices his mistake. "Oh, I-I'm sorry…"

"No, no, it's fine. It's the last door on the right," Wendy falters. "I have to go downstairs now." Peter's expression softens and he nods in agreement. "Before I do, though, I think I should give you a proper welcome. We are friends, aren't we?" Wendy stammers, gazing up at him. She reproves herself for saying 'friends'. She is certain that friends do not kiss each other on the lips. All that Peter does is give her a half-hearted smile.

Wendy slips her arms around his waist and she feels him do the same to her. She embraces him warmly and places her head on his chest. She breathes in his nice-smelling cologne and hears him sigh in satisfaction. As she pulls away, she reaches up and kisses his tanned cheek gently. He does not try to move so that she kisses his lips; she can see he is a gentleman. Peter's arms remain around her for a little while until he mutters another quick, "Sorry" and lets her go. She did not mind being wrapped up in his arms…she did not mind it at all.

She leaves him feeling like she is on top of the world.

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Peter is pondering what Wendy said earlier. He believes that they used to be friends, back in their childhood. Now, it's something different. He cannot put his finger on it exactly, but he knows that the friendship has transformed in to something else. He knows he has deep feelings for her, but it is hard conveying them. Soon, he is going to tell her how and what he feels toward her. For weeks now, there have been awkward silences and exasperating interruptions. He does not want that anymore.

The disorder in the nursery is finally winding down. Everyone is weary from playing and having fun. Bodies are scattered around the room, on the beds and on the floor. The sky is darker; no stars can be seen. Nibs tells a joke every so often, but no one laughs. Everyone is falling under the night's spell, excluding Wendy's cousins and Peter. Peter is propped against Nana's doghouse, thinking about how much trouble he'd be in if an adult were to walk in. I wouldn't care, he thinks, gazing at the ceiling.

"Peter, do you know what it's like to fly?" Eliza interrogates from the floor. Madeleine and Albert turn to hear Peter's response.

"I do. It's the best feeling in the world. There are no rules or restrictions. You are like a bird, soaring higher and higher each second." Peter describes this slowly, trying to recollect the exact feelings he felt while he was up in the sky.

"It sounds marvelous," Madeleine gasps dreamily, hanging on every word Peter speaks. "I would love to fly."

"I have flown once," Albert mutters. "It was in my dreams, but it felt real." Eliza sits up, her dark hair knotted down her back.

"I have flown too, Albert. Where did you go?"

"Neverland." That word sends a torrent of memories on Peter. There are jungles, snowy mountains, and hot beaches. That island possesses every climate you can think of.

"Oh, that is rubbish, Albert. That is just a fairy tale Mum told us when we were younger," Madeleine scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Don't you agree with me, Peter?"

"Neverland is very real," Peter says. "Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning." He is surprised that he even remembers that simple line.

"Really? Let's go then!" Eliza announces. Peter looks to the barred window; there is a very slim chance at achieving that goal. He wonders if Neverland has changed at all since he left three years ago. There is a change in the room. The window is unlocked and a breeze wafts in through the steel rods. No one moves as the breeze grows stronger and the sky opens up. That's odd, Peter thinks, observing the twinkling stars.

"Something's happening," Madeleine says in a hushed voice. A bright orb of light flies in between the bars and lit up the nursery. It reflects in the children's eyes and casts a mysterious glow over the sleeping boys. Peter stands up, his mouth hanging open in wonder. The light flutters over to him and he squints at the tiny person happily.

"Oh my gosh…Tinkerbell," he confirms. "Tinkerbell! I missed you!" His voice becomes louder. The fairy chimes joyfully and yells his name out in a squeaky voice. Peter puts his hand on his forehead, still in shock that his fairy has returned. She dances around him ecstatically; planting small kisses on his face. Madeleine, Albert, and Eliza tiptoe over their cousins silently and let out a bemused sigh when they see this spectacle.

"Oooh, she is the loveliest little thing!" Eliza squeals, reaching out to touch her. Tink scolds her, landing gracefully on Peter's shoulder.

"Tink, these are Wendy's cousins, Albert, Eliza, and Madeleine." The fairy bows to them.

"How do you do?" Madeleine greets, feeling a little awkward talking to something so small. Tinkerbell begins to chime quickly, but Peter has forgotten most of the fairy language.

"I don't understand you, Tinkerbell! Slow down!" He takes her in the palm of his hand and she becomes a vibrant pink. "How is Neverland?" Bells tinkle frantically and Peter catches some phrases.

"It's different, is it? I knew it," Peter says in a cynic manner. "In a good way, right?" Tinkerbell does not answer him. All she says is, "Come and find out for yourself!" Peter shakes his head and lets the fairy fly off his fingers.

"I can't go back. I'm nearly a man, Tink. Don't you see?"

"I'd like to go to Neverland!" Albert chirps. He cannot keep still; he is so excited. "How do you fly? Please tell us!" Tink disregards Peter's excuse for not coming and flies out of the children's reach, creating a very silly game.

"It doesn't matter. We're not going," Peter responds heatedly.

"Aw, come on!" Albert objects. Madeleine and Eliza give Peter dismal glances. He knows that they will not stop. He half wishes Tink did not come back.

"Happy thoughts and fairy dust." Peter sees Tinkerbell clapping jovially. She whizzes around his head, making his hair look golden under her light. She forms a tiny sphere of fairy dust and thrusts it at him. It bursts when it touches his head, transforming his sensible, adult view on this discussion. "What are we waiting for? Let's go to Neverland!" One happy thought pops into his mind: Wendy Darling.

Suddenly, Peter is hovering two feet above the ground. Eliza, Madeleine, and Albert are shocked; they want some fairy dust too. They grasp Tink in their hands and shake her until their heads and shoulders are covered in gold powder.

"No school!" Albert laughs and he rises off the floor.

"Birthday parties!" Madeleine mutters.

"Puppies and kittens!" Eliza giggles. Soon, they are all floating around the nursery, keeping their voices low as to not wake the people below them. "How will we get out?" Peter recalls that Wendy's room is right down the hall. She is bound to have a large window there. He touches the carpet as light as a feather and signals the children to follow. Peter knows something is wrong; he should not be doing this. Tinkerbell keeps inching him along, chiming about how tall he has gotten and how he will love visiting Neverland once more.

Madeleine skips ahead of Peter, her gown bouncing behind her. She twirls around and grabs Peter's hand tightly, eager to get a move on. She reminds him of what he was like a couple of years ago. They stop at the last door on the right. Peter has never been inside Wendy's room before. He wonders what it looks like.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Madeleine says in her haughty British accent. Peter moves his hand to the doorknob and holds his breath. He does not know why he is so nervous…it is only Wendy's room. He turns the knob carefully and pushes it open. The room is not large, but it is not small either. It is a comfortable size for any teenager. The walls are painted a soft blue and the air is filled with the scent of lavender. A full-sized bed sits adjacent to an open window. The ivory curtains that shroud it billow against the London breeze. There are no bars in the way. Madeleine, Eliza, and Albert crowd the window, arguing who will go first. "I want some more fairy dust to ensure I do not fall to my death!" Madeleine proclaims, holding her hand out to Tink. The fairy unwillingly sprinkles a bit more over her and Madeleine leans on the windowpane. "Now, Peter, how do we go about getting through the window?"

"You have to climb up on the ledge, and just let yourself go," Peter shrugs.

"It sounds like suicide," Madeleine gripes, tapping the glass with impatience.

"I don't want to die," Eliza murmurs. She wrings her hands out and chews on her lip undecidedly.

"Shall I show you?" Peter offers, but Madeleine declines.

"Just help me up, and I will do the rest," she commands and Peter opens the window wider. The twins watch in silence as he lifts Madeleine onto the ledge. She clutches both sides of the window and looks above and below her. It is such a long drop. Tink squeezes in front of her and coaxes her to take the first step into the sky. "Oh, my word, tell me why I am doing this again?"

"Because you wanted to," Albert reminds her cheekily. Peter holds fast to her arm, afraid she might fall. Madeleine gulps and lets go of the window, stepping forward cautiously. "Here it goes," she whispers and Peter releases her from his grip. He averts his eyes as she leaves the ledge. Let her stay up, let her stay up. Madeleine screams and Peter looks up. Madeleine is flying around in broken circles, shrieking with joy. A great weight has been lifted off his chest. His breathing slows as Eliza volunteers to go next. She insists Albert come with her because she wants someone to break her fall if the fairy dust runs out. The children rise into the air, laughing gleefully. It is Peter's turn.

He stoops on the windowsill for a while, contemplating all the reasons for why he should not go. What about his parents? What about the Darlings? What about Wendy? He is betraying them, following a silly childhood desire. He vowed to grow up and that is what he is doing. Neverland is supposed to be his past, and only his past. He cannot fly because it is not possible. Why is this so hard? Peter muses, holding his head in his hands.

"Come on Peter!" the children yell, but he does not want to hear them. His sparkling eyes spot them far above, doing flips in the air. Their parents will be heartbroken if they leave without telling them. Everyone will be so angry with him, branding him an insolent youth, a burden to society. This is his home now, in London.

"Come back!" he calls to the children and they fly closer.

"What do you mean by that? We don't want to come down! We are already up here, aren't we?"

"Your parents will be sorry you left," Peter says, hoping to instill in them a feeling of guilt.

"They won't care! You'll never get us to come back!" Albert snaps, diving down to Peter. The young man goes to grab him, but he flies out of his reach.

"Catch us if you can!" Madeleine guffaws, waving her arms at Peter. They shoot above his head and across the other houses. Peter cannot see them anymore and it alarms him. He has to get them back before Wendy comes back up. The night sky is calling him to fly in its dark depths, to venture far beyond this world. Tink appears at his face.

"Go get them Tink!" he orders, but all she does is stick her tongue out at him. "You're no good!" He frowns at her and looks at the door. "I can't leave, Tink. I don't know why I thought to go to Neverland. But, I can't leave the children out there by themselves. I have to go get them…" Tink nods wickedly; she planned all of this. She knows he has regretted leaving, but he cannot let the children fend for themselves. This is the only way to get him to come to Neverland. "What about Wendy? She'll find out sooner or later, won't she? I hope she doesn't come upstairs when I'm gone."

"Silly ass!" Tink chimes, pinching Peter's ear. She disappears in a flash around the houses and Peter arranges himself in the direction of the children's laughing. He stands up, feeling a severe case of vertigo when he peers at the street. What is it like to fly again? He cannot fight the guilt that is building up in his heart. With one quick move he lunges off the ledge, straightening out his body to gain speed and soaring up the side of the Darling house. This is unbelievable! I'm flying!

He is all but a shadow across the moon when Wendy reaches the top step and discovers that her worst fears have come true.

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Wendy had felt a presence when she was downstairs with her mother. A cold wind had wafted through the kitchen and she instinctively hugged herself for warmth. The nursery was quiet upstairs and she had sworn she heard the faint tinkling of bells. Her imagination was getting the best of her again. Then, she heard it again when she went into the parlor. No one else seemed to hear it. She listened to the vague creaks of the floorboards in the upstairs hallway and thought it was one of the boys going to use the lavatory. Everyone was talking around her; Philip was showering compliment after compliment on her. Wendy knew. Something was askew; there was not much time.

She appalled everyone by dropping the cookies she was serving all over the floor and racing to the stairs. "Wendy!" Aunt Millicent had screamed, but she did not hear it. Everything seemed to be moving so slow and she wanted it to speed up.

"Wendy, stop this behavior at once!" Philip said contemptuously as he wrenched her arm from the banister. "What is the matter with you?" Wendy spun around to him, anger boiling in every part of her body. Mr. and Mrs. Darling joined them; they wanted to know what was wrong. Wendy tried to wrench away from Philip's grasp, but he held her firmly. "Stop this now."

"Get your bloody hands off me!" Wendy retorted unconsciously. She knew this was a very unattractive thing to do, but she could not help herself. She hiked her dress up and scrambled up the steps. That horrid corset was cutting into her stomach and she could not move any faster. Nana seemed to sense something was wrong too because she dashed up ahead of Wendy. She tripped on the top step and listened for any noise… nothing.

She looks down the hall at her room. The door is open. Somehow she knows that they are in there; they have to be. Wendy hurries down the hall, which feels to be growing longer and longer. She runs in as hot tears run down her cheeks. No, no, no, this is not happening! Where are they? They must be playing a trick on her, that's it. Wendy crumples at the window, holding the ledge for support. Nana barks furiously beside her, staring out at the empty sky.

"Albert! Madeleine! Eliza!" she shouts. "PETER!" Rage boils inside of her, threatening to consume everything. She drops her head onto her arm, saturating the sleeve with innumerable tears. Her heart is beating so fast she does not know when it will stop. Why did they go? Why? Is he coming back? Wendy lifts her eyes, which are red and puffy now.

John and the adults run into the room, and Wendy dries her wet face. "Wendy? Wendy, what ever is the matter?" Mrs. Darling asks, patting Wendy's back. The young woman gets up and rubs her forehead in frustration.

"Madeleine and her siblings are gone…so is Peter," she murmurs. Wendy knows she has to tell them. There is a shocked silence filling her ears. Wendy takes a long, slow breath, and prays that they will understand. She looks at John, and he shakes his head worriedly.

"Mother, Father, I need to tell you something."

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Peter curses Tinkerbell for playing such a nasty trick on him. He cannot catch the children, and now they are flying straight towards that glowing star. He has to follow them because he cannot go back. The stars blind him and he squints at the heavenly bodies that surround it.

The only perk is that he got to fly again, which is always a thrilling experience in itself.

He is going home, to a home that is full of magic and wonder. He is going to a land of youth, the one he ruled for so long. Madeleine, Albert, and Eliza spiral around him and he forgets about the guilt. He forgets about Wendy and rules and responsibility. In his mind, he is Peter Pan, the boy whose only purpose in life was to have fun.

The wind begins to pick up precariously and Peter tries to steady himself. The star grows larger and a deafening roar fills his ears. A whirlwind of colors wraps around him, turning him every which way. He closes his eyes against the brightness of the star, which feels like an all too powerful magnet. He lets a scream of utter excitement as a tingling feeling rushes up his arms and legs and he senses that he is not even himself anymore. He never really enjoyed this ride until now.

He cannot stop it; he cannot fight against the pull of the majestic star. He is leaving one world to embark in another. Peter opens his arms wide to greet the morning sunlight. Neverland is awaiting their arrival.

One moment, they are flying in a tunnel of golden light, the next they are gone, transported to a land we can only look upon in our childish dreams.

The End

Author's Note: I know what you're thinking. What? This is the END? I am so sorry this ends in a mean cliffhanger, but I had to finish it somewhere. I needed to; I had to. It was eating at my brain for some time now. I know you are going to flame me, don't go too crazy! I wanted to end it before school because this year is going to be really hectic. Ah, I worked on this all day, so give me some credit. I have some ideas for a sequel. I really am thinking of writing one, if I ever get the time. So how did you like the chapter? Did you enjoy Wendy's outburst at Philip? It wasn't much, but it was something. Thank you for all of your reviews and ideas and comments! Tink did come back! I have to rest my aching head. Au revoir, my lovely readers and reviewers…looking forward to hearing what you think of this last chapter.