Peter, noticing the intrigued stares they were collecting, drew Wendy into
the reception area outside the ballroom.
"Wendy, why were you with him?" Peter asked, harshly.
"James?" Wendy asked. "He's my escort."
"But why him?" Peter pressed.
"He's been helping my family out since Michael and John were taken," Wendy replied.
"Michael and John?" Peter repeated.
Wendy glared, "One of those things you would have known if you had been here."
From behind the mask, Wendy couldn't see what he was thinking, so she sad irritated, "Take off the mask."
Peter reached up and removed the mask, revealing the face of a young man. Wendy gasped, "What happened in Neverland? Why do you keep growing, though you never come?"
"Neverland is in turmoil. Hook's son has declared an unofficial war on the rest of us," Peter explained.
"Hook had a son?" Wendy asked. "Why didn't we ever meet him?"
"I'd say you know him pretty well," Peter replied, scowling.
"What?" Wendy asked.
"James," Peter replied. "James is his son."
"But, how?" Wendy asked, feeling betrayed and alone.
"Hook, like all in Neverland, lived elsewhere first. He had a wife and son and they all came to live in Neverland not so long ago. After I cut off his hand and he became absorbed in his vengeance, she left him and took James with her. After his death, James returned to seek retribution on me for his father's death," Peter explained.
"Then, why is he here?" Wendy asked.
"Perhaps he knows that I – that you know how to fly," Peter replied, rather haltingly. "And you just clung to an absolute stranger without any misgivings."
Wendy glowered, "You know very well that I have not been 'clinging'."
"Well, if you weren't then, you will now," Peter said fiercely.
"What?" Wendy asked, confused.
"Since James has taken such an interest in you, I think that you should continue seeing him. Then you can find out what he is up to and tell me," Peter explained.
"You want me to spy?" Wendy asked, abhorring the suggestion.
"If you ever want to see your brothers again," Peter threatened. "I am assuming that it was him who took them."
"Fine," Wendy replied, vehemently. "I will continue to see him. And, believe me, I'll enjoy it."
"Like I care," Peter replied calmly.
Wendy marched into the ballroom, angrily swiping the collecting moisture out of her eyes.
"Wendy, why were you with him?" Peter asked, harshly.
"James?" Wendy asked. "He's my escort."
"But why him?" Peter pressed.
"He's been helping my family out since Michael and John were taken," Wendy replied.
"Michael and John?" Peter repeated.
Wendy glared, "One of those things you would have known if you had been here."
From behind the mask, Wendy couldn't see what he was thinking, so she sad irritated, "Take off the mask."
Peter reached up and removed the mask, revealing the face of a young man. Wendy gasped, "What happened in Neverland? Why do you keep growing, though you never come?"
"Neverland is in turmoil. Hook's son has declared an unofficial war on the rest of us," Peter explained.
"Hook had a son?" Wendy asked. "Why didn't we ever meet him?"
"I'd say you know him pretty well," Peter replied, scowling.
"What?" Wendy asked.
"James," Peter replied. "James is his son."
"But, how?" Wendy asked, feeling betrayed and alone.
"Hook, like all in Neverland, lived elsewhere first. He had a wife and son and they all came to live in Neverland not so long ago. After I cut off his hand and he became absorbed in his vengeance, she left him and took James with her. After his death, James returned to seek retribution on me for his father's death," Peter explained.
"Then, why is he here?" Wendy asked.
"Perhaps he knows that I – that you know how to fly," Peter replied, rather haltingly. "And you just clung to an absolute stranger without any misgivings."
Wendy glowered, "You know very well that I have not been 'clinging'."
"Well, if you weren't then, you will now," Peter said fiercely.
"What?" Wendy asked, confused.
"Since James has taken such an interest in you, I think that you should continue seeing him. Then you can find out what he is up to and tell me," Peter explained.
"You want me to spy?" Wendy asked, abhorring the suggestion.
"If you ever want to see your brothers again," Peter threatened. "I am assuming that it was him who took them."
"Fine," Wendy replied, vehemently. "I will continue to see him. And, believe me, I'll enjoy it."
"Like I care," Peter replied calmly.
Wendy marched into the ballroom, angrily swiping the collecting moisture out of her eyes.