Author's Note: Wow! I'm surprised with how many responses I got for continuing this. I'm…well, glad it has been enjoyed so much. Thank you all who have reviewed: BendyStraw, Helen, Mike, Zorrina, AriTwist, hi, danielle, mousie2, Snuffles2, Alison, MelodicWendy, Gohanzgirl, blondie3862, Pottergirllx, rolletti, kasmira36, psyche, Kantama, kitkat47, and My Divinest.

And now, here is the long awaited third chapter! Don't forget to review.

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Chapter Three: Sweetness and Sanctuary

"Hello, Peter," Wendy greeted him in return.

She attempted to smile at the boy. But his attention had already shifted; he brought forth his dagger and toyed with it, running one of his fingers along its sharp edge. She followed the path his finger took before turning away and started gathering the coconuts scattered about the floor. She nearly knocked heads with Peter who had bent down to help; he raised his eyes to hers, and she quickly looked away, mumbling an apology.

She carried the fruit in her arms to where she did her cooking and set them neatly on the floor. Kneeling down next to them, she took her dagger (given to her by Peter) and sliced the coconuts in half. She kept her head lowered, her hair shielding her flaming face, ignoring Peter who placed the rest of fruit at her feet. He stepped back, watching her work quietly, a curious light in his eyes. Wendy did not raise her head, for she was aware of being observed. But she could not simply stay there on the ground when her task was finished. Gracefully standing to her feet, she moved past the boy without a glance and tended to the fire. Peter continued to watch her wordlessly.

The strange silence was broken when the boys stirred and greeted their parents cheerfully after rubbing the sleep from their eyes. After they all had dressed and the bed had been put up, Wendy laid the sliced fruit on the table before the hungry boys. With impatient fidgeting, the boys waited for their father to be seated and to give the sign before digging greedily into their juicy breakfast.

The meal passed quickly, for all the boys were most excited to head out to play this morning. Wendy did not sit down to any of breakfast but started on her morning chores so that she could have a little bit of time to go above ground today. Besides, she had only gotten enough coconuts for the boys; instead, she put some water over the fire to make herself some tea.

She was in the middle of dusting when Peter and the others rose from the table, licking coconut juice from their fingers while contentment shone in their eyes. Wendy saw them off, giving each a kiss on the forehead, which pleased them greatly, before they disappeared up their trees. She then discovered Peter had already slipped away. She tried to shrug off an unexpected pang of disappointment and turned to clear up the table.

She was surprised when she saw half of a coconut left on the table. For a moment she blinked at it in puzzlement. Her brows drew together as she tried to remember who had not eaten all of his breakfast. But she had not paid that much attention to the boys this morning, for she had busied herself with work and tried to hide from Peter's gaze. Any one of the boys could have not finished the fruit. Wendy was unable to hold back a tiny smile as another thought came to her: perhaps the coconut had been intentionally saved for her! True, she had not been asked during the meal if she would eat or had already eaten, but still…

She tipped her head back, and a delightful laugh rang out. She could not help but be pleased at the possibility that the fruit was intended for her; she decided it was so, and the morning was suddenly much brighter to the little girl. She skipped up to the table and took the slice into her hands, her mouth watering. It did not take her long to eat the delicious fruit all up; it made up a sweet breakfast along with her tea she had right after.

Full of bubbling happiness for the first time this day, Wendy hurried through the rest of cleaning the house with a song on her lips and a sparkle in her eyes. When she put away her broom, she rushed to her tree and stepped outside a moment later.

The sun shined brightly. There was hardly a cloud in the sky, which was of the loveliest blue, matching Wendy's eyes. A cool breeze swept through and about the Neverland, creating a warm, comfortable day. Birds sang happily to one another. Chipmunks played tag among the trees. Rabbits feasted on the fresh green grass. Yes, it was a wonderful day – Wendy could feel it.

Immediately she purposely made her way through the island, her feet knowing the way. She eventually came to a dense part of the island. Trees were cramped together, shutting out the sunlight. Some of the trees seemed to be wilting in this dark place. Ivy hung in thick heavy curtains on the branches. Wendy continued on, knowing every landmark. She halted before one certain curtain of ivy. Putting her hands in front of her, she plunged forward. She could see nothing; she could only feel the ivy slide past her as she slowly walked on, neither turning to the left to the right. She sometimes felt she was trapped in the middle of a dark sea with no escape, but she knew she just had a little more to go… Suddenly the ivy ended, and Wendy parted the last of it, stepping out of the vines and into her secret hideaway.

She was enclosed in a circle of hanging ivy. Following the ivy, she could spot the tops of the old trees against the dark green. Lifting her eyes even farther, it appeared she was gazing upon more trees – trees made of gold and silver, sparkling in the darkness. At times Wendy fancied she could make out windows in those strange, breathtaking trees, and a dazzling white light shone from inside. And upon raising her gaze beyond even those trees, the girl saw a glimpse of blue sky spying curiously on the mysterious, secret place; and today a ray of sunshine had even managed to steal down, pouring light in the middle of that place.

Wendy did not creep into the middle of the clearing; instead she kept her back pressed to the wall of ivy behind. (Should she have ventured forth, she undoubtedly would have become frightfully lost if she left through the wrong curtain of ivy.) She dared not. This place seemed sacred to her, and she was certain she could smell magic in the air. She did not want to intrude. She simply seated herself down and gazed long and hard at the lovely silver and golden trees towering so high above her.

Wendy had known about this place for a long while. She had stumbled upon it on one of her first expeditions she made of the island alone. She had been puzzled when she found the trees so close together that no light could be seen; Peter had not shown it or even mentioned it to her when he had given her tours of the island before. She was not afraid of the place – despite of how dark and uninviting it appeared – but very curious. She did not think of attempting going through any of the curtains of ivy, until she saw that one, the one curtain which led to this amazing place. She was instantly entranced and had stayed still for seemingly ages, drinking in the wondrous sight. She had reluctantly left to return home, vowing to find the place again. Amazingly, the first time she returned to the dark wood, she found the secret hideaway.

She guessed no one knew of the place, or at least did not come there. She had a great joy: perhaps she was the only one who knew of this place of wonder. She had never told any of the boys about this place; it was her own little secret.

Wendy sighed. Here she thought nothing of the boys or Peter or of all that would have to be done when she returned to the house under the ground. Instead, a pleasant smile settled on her pretty lips, and she imagined that fairies dwelled in the trees above her and that they were getting ready for a party…

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TBC… ;)