Slightly stirred at the taping on the windowpane. Groggily (for it was very early, when almost everyone in London is asleep and everyone ought to be) he lifted his head, and rubbed an eye with the heel of his palm. There was a form at the window.

At once, Slightly's heart leapt. He knew he should be careful, for all sorts of robbers and thieves lurk in cities and should under no circumstances be let indoors in a roomful of sleeping children, but he was simply too eager to find out whether, this time, this was no dream. He sat up, shaking his head to clear it – he was most definitely awake. Quickly and quietly, he scurried to the window, cracked it open, and squeezed out onto the balcony of the boys' room.

"Peter, it is you!" Slightly squealed before Peter's hand clapped across his mouth. Slightly paused a moment, taken aback, then blinked and calmly removed Peter's hand with his own.

"Peter!" his voice was lower, but still trembled with excitement. "My gosh, it's good to see you! What are you doing here!" Peter gave Slightly his invitation-to-adventures-unknown smile, and Slightly's mouth automatically responded with a grin of its own.

"Actually," Peter began nonchalantly, "I wanted to see how you all have been. I worry about my boys." His lopsided smile was still in place, but Peter met his eyes and there was a little more than just cheerful concern in his look. He seemed a little more… haunted.

"We've been fine, Peter," Slightly assured him, wary of saying something that might upset the boy. "Growing up is… it's a good show. I think you ought to try it, maybe." Slightly pushed his lips tightly together, not sure if he'd said the right thing.

"Yeah." Peter's smile twisted and his eyes began to shine. "I've seen you. Through the window. Are you all… very happy?"

Slightly paused. "We all wish to see you again. Have you been watching us for long, Peter? We'd all just love it if you came in."

Peter turned away. "I can't, Slightly. You know I can't."

Slightly shook his head – Peter was sometimes too much for anyone but Wendy to fathom, ever since she'd first arrived. "Will you at least come back and we can talk to you on the balcony, then?" Peter nodded.

"Promise, Slight."

"We might not all be able to fit." Slightly blurted out. "I mean… it's a small balcony. Plus, snow – we'd probably all freeze. Not allowed to wear bearskins 'round here, obviously."

Peter met his eyes, looking somewhat cheered, and nodded solemnly. "I'll protect you." Slightly smiled back, satisfied with this outcome.

And Peter was gone.

Slightly crept back into bed. After lying restless for a few minutes, he crawled beneath the bed over to the wall, and scratched one notch into the decorating-paper – for visit number one. Maneuvering himself back up atop the mattress, he sighed, and committed himself to sleep.

Disclaimer: Yarr, the only pirate here be Captain Hook!

A/N: This is an idea I got from Keira Knightly's story "Peter Pan's return" – I just had to give it a go myself. I always ned a little cheering up/ wish-fulfillment after the ending of the movie (the 2003 Jeremy Sumpter version, that is -- this story is based off of that production.)