Title: Spirited Away
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Eleven - New Beginnings
Rating: R15 for naughty bits and violence, but nothing extreme or objectionable. (well I don't think so anyway)Enjoy.
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Wendy sighed and ran her finger around the swirl of a knot in the wood grain of the table, her nail catching on a splinter as she thought about what she'd do next.
They had returned to Neverland that afternoon, arriving at the tree house almost breathless with anticipation. To Wendy's consternation a small contingent of fairies were awaiting them, their bell chime voices over-ringing each other in their eagerness to tell Peter something of great importance. Wendy found herself set on the ground and abandoned before she had a chance to open her mouth, Peter promising to return soon and flying off without a backwards glance.
Piqued out of all proportion, Wendy had taken herself off and up into the tree house, cross with herself for feeling so neglected when she knew that Peter had all of Neverland to take care of, not just herself.
After taking several deep breaths she felt calm enough to notice how untidy the room was, her fingers itching to set it to rights. After a moments hesitation she started to do just that until the air was filled with dust motes dancing in the sunshine as every surface received a thorough cleaning. After two hours of intense spring cleaning and several trips to the spring for hot water, Wendy plumped herself down on a gleaming chair and gazed around her. The tree house shone, not a single speck of dust daring to alight on the table top or shelves, the mattress well beaten and turned, the clothes in the chest sorted, washed, dried and folded, the cobwebs chased from the ceiling and the spiders banished back to the jungle.
Her chores exhausted Wendy sat down at the table and contemplated what to do next. Her dress felt dusty and damp, not really suitable for the tropical climate with its high neck and long skirts. What she needed was a bath.
Picking the pins out of her hair, she allowed it to fall about her shoulders and down her back, several tendrils sticking to her hot forehead. Climbing down the ladder she flipped the freshly washed towels over her shoulder and pushed open the bark door, sighing as she wriggled her toes in the cool leaf litter before heading towards the hot pool and a well deserved soak.
On reaching the bank she struggled to release the buttons securing her dress at the back, wriggling to free herself, almost tearing it in her frustration. Next came her undergarments, the pile of clothes growing as she untied, unbuttoned and stepped out of her former life like a snake shedding its skin. When finally she stood as naked as Eve, she stepped into the pool, sinking up to her shoulders and sighing in bliss, tilting her head back to allow her hair to float on the surface like golden seaweed. Luxuriating in the warmth, Wendy shut her eyes, drifting in her thoughts, daydreaming as steam curled around her head.
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Peter crouched down, a swarm of fairies darting around his head as he peered into the hollow tree, the interior brightly lit by more fairies crowding round a tiny bed.
"What happened?" Peter asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
In the bed lay a fairy, her tiny body wracked with shudders, a gossamer cover drawn up to hide the worst of the tiny creatures grievous wounds.
"She was caught by him and tortured."
Peter's lips thinned into a grim line as the fairy moved restlessly on the bed, the cover slipping and revealing the stumps of her wings.
"Will she survive?" He asked bleakly, swallowing hard.
"No...a fairy without wings..." Peter glanced to the side and saw his tiny escort shrug, her own wings fluttering in sympathy.
"What did he want to know?"
"Where you were...what you were doing...where you lived..."
"I see...I'm so sorry..." Peter whispered, feeling his eyes start to prickle as the fairy on the bed turned her head to look at him, her light growing fainter by the second. Lifting his hand he extended his fingers and gently touched the bed with one, the dying fairy clasping the tip of his finger, acknowledging his regret for her suffering, her tiny hands dropping away as her light finally faded to nothing, taking her life with it.
Swallowing hard against the lump in his throat, Peter removed his hand and watched as the remaining fairies clustered around the bed, hiding their dead companion from his view. Turning away Peter slumped against the tree trunk, biting his lip, blinking away the threatening tears. Dashing his hand against his eyes he climbed to his feet and turned to leave. One of the fairies flew into his face, halting him.
"Our sister was cruelly treated and suffered greatly...she held out for as long as she could but finally succumbed. She told him where you lived Pan."
"I know...I will have to kill him, not only for this but for all his past crimes. Hook's tyranny can not be allowed to continue."
"Good luck Pan...much will be riding on the outcome."
Smiling grimly, Peter ran a few steps then launched himself into the air, quickly climbing to clear the trees then swooping around and heading for the coast.
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Lifting her hands out of the water, Wendy noticed they were heavily wrinkled. Sighing she twisted her hair to remove most of the water before rising to her feet and climbing out of the pool, her limbs deliciously relaxed, her skin steaming in the cooler air of the late afternoon. Picking up a towel she wiped down her legs and arms, not bothering to cover her body as she squeezed more water out of her long hair. Dropping the soaked towel she picked up the dry one and started to mop the water from her torso. With her hair draped over one shoulder, Wendy partially wrapped the damp towel around her chest before bending down to collect her clothes together.
"What a delightful sight...a siren me thinks, rising from the waves in all her golden glory." Hook's voice behind her made Wendy start violently, the clothes tumbling to the ground as she clutched the towel more firmly to her chest, wishing wholeheartedly that it was three times the size.
Mutely she faced the pirate captain, her body breaking out in goose bumps as she struggled to stop the blush suffusing her skin, her efforts quite futile as she turned pink from top to toe.
"Quite delightful..." Hook murmured appreciatively as he circled Wendy, amused at her attempts to hide her charms with the inadequate scrap of material, her efforts quite irrelevant considering Hook had been watching her for some time.
"Go away!" Wendy hissed, turning on the spot as Hook paced past her, keeping her towel covered front facing him.
"Oh I don't think so m'dear. I went to so much trouble to find out where dear Peter Pan lived, and now I find you here as well...I'm hardly likely to just leave because you ask me to," grinning broadly, Hook stepped towards Wendy, making her step back hurriedly, her heel hitting the rocks edging the pool, forcing her to halt her retreat.
"What do you want?" Wendy demanded, her embarrassment turning to anger despite her vulnerable position.
"What do I want? Well...let's start with Peter Pan's head on a stake...or maybe I'll settle for his humiliation...then his head on a stake."
"You'll never defeat Peter...he'll kill you for this."
"He might try...but I've been dead before and come back...who's to say, this time I might kill Pan...after all, I'm not handicapped," Hook raised his two hands, wafting them in the air at Wendy making her flinch back. "And I have an advantage that is sure to make Peter act very rashly."
"What advantage?"
"You." With the speed of a striking snake, Hook snagged Wendy's arm, pulling her forward until she stood breast to breast with him, the gold frogging on his coat digging into her soft skin above the towel as his other hand wrapped around the back of her neck, burying itself in her wet hair, holding her still as she fought to free herself.
"As the boy hasn't seen fit to introduce you to the pleasures of the flesh, it's only fitting that I take you in hand...so to speak."
With one hand still frantically maintaining her flimsy covering, Wendy lashed out with her other fist, her fingers curved into talons as she attempted to rake her nails against his face. Seeing the move, Hook jerked his head out of the way, letting go of her upper arm and seizing her wrist, his other hand pinching the nape of her neck causing her to cry out.
"Little she-devil..." Hissing as he blocked her leg from coming up and kneeing him in the groin, Hook tilted her head back, the pull on her hair bringing tears to her furious eyes as he bent his head and captured her lips with his own, almost immediately ending the kiss when she bit him.
"Do that again and I'll break your arm." Hook whispered against her cheek, licking the blood from his bottom lip. Squeezing her wrist, he applied enough force to make Wendy sag against him, pain temporarily robbing her of the will to fight. Taking advantage of the lull, he once more captured her parted lips with his own, grinding his mouth against hers, her body shaking as he demanded her surrender.
"LET HER GO!"
Peter's angry shout ended Wendy's ordeal, Hook sending her flying, shoving her towards the ground where she landed heavily, the towel forgotten as she put her hands out to break her fall. Panting she tried to drag herself away, Hook's fist catching her on the side of the head, stunning her.
"You bastard, you didn't have to hit her!" Peter cried out, drawing his sword from its scabbard with a menacing hiss.
"Can't have her crawling away and hiding...once I dispose of you, I intend introducing the fair Wendy to the pleasure of the flesh...my flesh, to be exact."
"Over my dead body!" Peter declared, brandishing his sword, sunlight glinting off the wicked blade.
"My thoughts exactly." Hook drawled, drawing his own weapon and slashing it through the air with dexterity.
Icy blue met stormy green as the two antagonists circled the small clearing beside the pool, steam rising to diffuse the afternoon sun, giving the glade an ethereal quality, Hook and Pan prepared to fight to the death.
Hook feinted and Peter blocked, the blades sliding against each other as each tested the reach of the other. They circled each other, Hook switching the blade from his right to his left, intending to confuse Peter, but to no avail, his slash blocked by the hilt of Peter's sword then thrust away as they looked for a weakness. With a swift combination of blows, Peter drove Hook back, the pirate defending himself with aplomb, using two hands to block Peter's furious lunges, both breathing hard from the concentrated attack.
"Is that the best you can do Pan?" Hook jeered, pressing his own attacked, forcing Peter to step back and block a vicious downward slash. "You're nothing but a boy, Pan..." Lunging forward Hook tried to spit Peter on his blade, the edge sliding past Peter's ribs leaving a bright ribbon of blood in its wake.
"First blood to me Pan...not so cocky now, are we."
"You talk too much Hook...trying to buy time?"
Baring his teeth, Hook swung his blade, Peter blocking the move, the hilts locking together as they fought for supremacy, Peter's muscles cording as Hook threw his weight behind the wrestle, the blades mere inches from each other's faces as they tousled.
With a sudden twist Hook forced the hilt of his sword upwards, landing a blow on Peter's jaw, forcing them to separate, blood trickling from the corner of Peter's mouth as he sidled to avoid Hook's back swing.
"You've lost boy...admit it, I'm too strong for you...I always was!"
"Never...!" Peter ground out, blocking Hook's next blow, the force felt right along his arm and into his back. Pressing his advantage, Hook drew a small knife from his belt, feinting to distract Peter he suddenly dropped his guard, Peter pushing forward only to find Hook's knife buried in his side, Peter staring in surprise into Hook's eyes as he felt hot blood soak his shirt.
"You're finished Pan...dead...history..." Hook grinned at his opponent, seeing fear flash in Peter's eyes as they darkened.
"NO!" Wendy's scream surprised them both, Hook not seeing the branch that crashed down on his head, knocking him senseless before his body hit the ground.
Peter stood for a second before dropping heavily to his knees, his eyes wide with shock as his life blood dripped steadily between his fingers.
Standing over them both, still brandishing the branch, Wendy stared down at the fallen pirate, ready to hit him again if he stirred.
"Wendy..." Peter's voice pulled her out of her fixation, her numb fingers dropping the branch before she dropped to her knees in front of Peter, her body shaking in reaction.
Seeing the blood Wendy paled, her hand coming up to press against her mouth to still the scream fighting for release. Mentally shaking herself, she concentrated on the knife still protruding from Peter's side, his body swaying as he fought to remain conscious.
"Wendy...Wendy..." Peter tried to speak, his thoughts becoming fuzzy.
"Don't talk Peter...we have to stop the bleeding...oh God..." Swallowing hard, Wendy scrabbled for the towel, dithering for a moment before taking hold of the knife hilt, her eyes meeting his as she hesitated. Receiving a tiny nod, she grasped the hilt more tightly and pulled, the blade slipping out of Peter's side, his accompanying groan bringing tears to her eyes.
"Hold this against the wound Peter...press hard, as hard as you can."
Peter paled further, his lips almost blue as he tried to make his trembling hand hold the towel to his side.
"Wendy...I don't think...I'm going to...I'm sorry..." With a sigh, Peter's eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed back on the ground, his hand releasing the towel as Wendy tried to catch him.
"No...oh no...Peter...PETER!" Picking up the towel, Wendy pressed it against his bloody side, her hands becoming coated in Peter's blood as she fought to stop the bleeding.
Biting her lip she maintained her hold, tears dripping unnoticed down her face, watching Peter's chest rise and fall, her own breath leaving her body in harsh gasps as she fought against the panic rising in her throat.
"Please don't die...please...I love you...don't die..." Sobbing hysterically, Wendy kept the cloth pressed to Peter's side, her head coming down to rest on his chest, her hair covering them both as she knelt naked beside him listening to his erratic heartbeat.
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Hook moaned, wincing as light stabbed his eyes, his head pounding as he grimaced. Attempting to lift his hand, he found himself bound tightly, hands behind his back, ankles tied and pulled behind his body, attached to his wrists by a length of rope causing his back to arch as he tried to relieve the tension.
Shaking his black hair out of his eyes, Hook lifted his head to look around, finding himself trussed and laying on what appeared to be a rubbish heap at the bottom of a large tree. Squinting upwards he could make out a light coming from a window far above his head, stars just visible through the canopy of trees. Next to his head someone had left a lantern, the light making him wince as it exacerbated the pain throbbing in his head.
"Blackguards...untie me...do ya hear me, UNTIE ME!"
Staring up at the light he saw a shadow pass in front of the window. Seconds later a figure came around the trunk of the tree and stood just beyond the lantern's circle of light. Hook squinted but couldn't tell if it was a male or a female regarding him from the shadows.
"Free me, dammit!" Hook snarled, glaring at the figure.
"No."
Surprise at the cold denial as well as the gender of the speaker Hook paused before an unpleasant smile crossed his features.
"W-e-n-d-y.." Hook drawled. "That was a sneaky trick coming up from behind to brain a fellow...worthy of a pirate, m'dear."
"You are not worthy of anything...comfortable, are we?"
"Not a bit...be a good girl and loosen these bonds, I can't feel my fingers."
"No."
Stepping forward, her face cast in deep shadows, Wendy stared down at the pirate captain, no trace of sympathy or pity in her expression. Hook regarded her with some surprise, her usually pretty face drawn in lines of fatigue and worry, her hair scraped back from her face, highlighting her tense features. Raising a sardonic black eyebrow, Hook lay back against the refuse heap, his hands working behind his back to loosen the ropes.
"So is he still alive?...Or is this new look because you are mourning his passing?"
Wendy stared down at Hook with her face carefully blank, her arms folded across her chest. She had donned a black silk shirt and breeches, securing a wide leather belt around her hips to hold a sword and dagger, her feet encased in black leather half boots elaborately decorated with stitching.
"If Peter was dead, so would you be...a heartbeat behind him."
"Then the brat lives...but for how long? Are you prepared to take his place ? Is that why you are dressed like that ? Hardly a fetching ensemble for the drawing room."
"But quite a suitable ensemble for dealing with a cruel and ruthless pirate, not worth the skin he hangs in."
"Such plain speaking Wendy...me thinks you'd make a fine pirate yourself."
Smiling grimly Wendy stepped around Hook, careful to keep her distance, well aware that Hook deserved respect for the formidable pirate he'd been, despite being trussed like a beast.
"Peter will decide your fate Hook...and until he is fully recovered, you will remain a prisoner."
"Here? This is a rubbish heap!" Hook retorted, his eyebrows rising to his hairline. "Untie me wench and I'll pretend you haven't been treating me so poorly...I'll even offer you a place on my new crew."
A harsh laugh erupted from Wendy, her boot kicking an rotten fruit rind against Hook's coat front. "Your crew? You'll never see the ocean again, let alone a ship. You have hurt all the people you are going to hurt in this lifetime. If I had my way, you'd be banished to a deserted island to live out the remainder of your miserable existence alone and done for...but Peter will be your judge, so pray he's in a generous mood, for if he dies, I certainly won't be. But for now...sleep well."
Not waiting for a reply, Wendy bent down and picked up the lantern, blowing out the candle and plunging Hook into darkness.
"You can't leave me here like this? Free me you witch...NOW!"
Without a backward glance Wendy rounded the tree, her stoic facade crumbling once she was out of his sight, collapsing against the trunk as the lantern slipped from her fingers. Trembling violently she pressed her fingers to her mouth to stifle her sobs. It had taken every scrap of her strength to face down Hook, her stomach doing somersaults as she waited for her legs to stop shaking. Dragging in a deep breath she pushed herself away from the tree and staggered to the doorway, climbing the stairs and crawling across the floor to where Peter lay, pale faced and insensible, on the mattress. Exhausted, Wendy heeled off the boots, the wadding falling out as they skidded across the floor boards, then stripped off the shirt and breeches, tugging on a long nightshirt. Once more comfortable, her limbs no longer shaking, Wendy knelt next to Peter and placed her hand on his face, stroking the downy cheek and tracing the outline of his jaw. His skin felt cool against her fingers, no sign of a fever, just his continuing, worrying, state of unconsciousness.
As she sat looking down at him, Wendy wondered how she'd managed to do all she'd done since the fight at the pool, her arms starting to ache, her eyes shutting despite her best efforts to stay awake. Crawling onto the mattress she lay down beside him, her hand finding his, their fingers entwining as she snuggled against his undamaged side. Despite her exhaustion she lay listening to his breathing, her thoughts going back to the pool and the fight, her breath hitching as she recalled her grief, thinking Peter dead, her hands covered in his blood.
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After a few minutes of panic stricken weeping, Wendy had raised her head, wiping her eyes on her arms, her hand still pressed against Peter's side. His heart was still beating strongly, his chest rising and falling, giving her hope. Tossing her hair out of the way she looked over at the pirate laying close by, Hook's face smoothed of its usually cynical lines, his forehead marred by a trickle of blood from the blow to his head. Thinking furiously, Wendy reached for a rock, jamming it against the bloody towel to keep it in place before rising to her feet. Looking down at herself she had to stifle a hysterical giggle, her formerly clean body covered in streaks of blood and dirt, her hands positively gory. Lurching to the steaming pool she washed off the worst, biting her lip as she scrubbed to stop a further flow of tears, her mind turned to how she was going to get Peter back to the tree house.
First she got back into her dress, only fastening half of the buttons before running back to the tree and finding a length of rope. Returning to the glade she trussed Hook as efficiently as possible, thanking her brother John for the summer spent creating and testing different knots to use when playing pirates and Indians. With Hook incapacitated, Wendy turned her attention to Peter. He lay exactly as she'd left him, her hand seeking out his heartbeat, feeling light headed when it remained regular, pulsing encouragingly beneath her fingertips. She was just starting to worry how she was going to get him to the tree house when a tiny spark of light appeared, darting across the surface of the pond to hover over Peter, its bright light showing up the dark shadows bruising Peter's face. After inspecting Peter the fairy flew up and flitted into Wendy's face, her voice chiming loudly.
Shaking her head in frustration at not understanding the sprite, Wendy pleaded with the fairy instead."Please, you have to help me...Peter's been hurt...badly. I have to get him to the tree house..."
Despite not being able to speak the creatures language, the fairy seemed to understand what Wendy was asking, her wings fluttering quickly, shedding fairy dust all along Peter's prone body. Wendy stared as Peter's body appeared gilded in gold from head to toe, the fairy finishing her dusting and flying back to indicate for Wendy to try and lift him. Knowing the ability of fairy dust to make a person as light as air, Wendy cautiously hooked her arms behind Peter's legs and back, his body lifting effortlessly, almost completely weightless in her arms. With Peter's uninjured side pressed against her chest and his arm about her neck, she trekked back to the tree house, the fairy helping with a plentiful supply of the enchanted dust. Once there, she stripped Peter and found a shirt she could cut up for bandages, as well as remembering the cloth he'd found on the Jolly Roger. Fashioning a pad from another clean towel she wadded it and secured it, wrapping it tightly against the wound after cleaning up the worst of the blood. She then redressed him in a long nightshirt, the white lace only highlighting his bloodless features, his lips still looking faintly blue in the uncertain light of the candles. With Peter settled, Wendy signaled for the fairy to follow her, the sprite hovering over Peter for a moment before zipping past Wendy and out of the tree. Outside, girl and fairy returned to the glade where Hook still lay, bound tightly. Again the creature sprinkled her dust over the pirate, putting in a tiny kick to the captain's nose when she passed his face and tugging hard on a lock of black hair, her victim quite unaware of the fairies efforts to extract revenge against him.
With Hook, Wendy just grasped the foot of one boot, dragging the Captain along the ground, albeit he weighed nothing at all, her anger squashing all twinges of sympathy as Hook collected dirt and leaves in his journey across the forest floor. Careful not to touch any part of him except his boot, Wendy dumped the unconscious pirate on the midden, taking some satisfaction from that. The fairy seemed to share her view, submitting Hook to a series of pinches and fairy sized punches before leaving him with a parting kick and following Wendy back to the tree house.
The sun was fast disappearing, clouds starting to creep across the sky as Wendy wearily climbed the ladder to the room above, the fairy buzzing about her head as she tottered over to the mattress to stare down at Peter. As she stood there something struck her foot, drawing her attention away from Peter's pale face. As her eyes flickered to her extraordinarily grubby feet another droplet struck the sensitive skin on the top, splashing beside the previous one. Curious, Wendy stared as the drip ran off between her toes, another one joining it, then another until she realized she was crying without realizing it. Lifting her hand she touched her cheek, surprised to find it wet. With the realization she was crying, the floodgates opened and she sank down on the floor-boards, her hands covering her face as she wept, the fairy darting around her head and chiming softly in sympathy.
When her sobs reduced to hitching gasps, she dragged herself up and splashed her face liberally with cold water before striping off her soiled dress, casting it into the corner before rummaging for a change of clothes. No knowing how long Hook would be unconscious, she dressed with a view to facing the pirate captain, choosing a black silk shirt and breeches, along with a pair of fine boots, several sizes too large that she stuffed with some cloth to stop them falling off her feet. Then she scraped back her hair, knotting it behind her head before plaiting it and tying it off with a leather thong. Satisfied that she presented a suitably severe image, Wendy found a wide belt, also black, which she belted around her hips before slipping one of the rapiers into the scabbard, along with one of Peter's stiletto knives. The fairy had retreated to one of the rafters, watching Wendy's actions with curiosity, her tiny chin propped on her hands.
With her costume complete, Wendy sat down beside Peter, checking his forehead for any sign of a fever, and his bandages for any sign of further bleeding. Satisfied that he was no worse, if not any better, Wendy prepared herself to wait, the stars starting to appear above the forest prompting her to light several of the lanterns. After an hour of restless pacing and the night fully dark outside, Wendy ventured outside, taking one of the lanterns. Carefully she stepped around the tree in her borrowed boots and approached the dark outline on the rubbish heap, the circle of light glinting off the gold braid decorating Hook's clothes. He appeared to still be unconscious, the trickle of blood on his face long since dried, now the colour of his hair. Dispassionately Wendy stared down at him for a long moment before setting the lantern down near to his head then she turned on her heel and walked away.
An hour later she heard him shout.
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Wendy finally slipped into a troubled sleep, Hook having shouted himself hoarse, his cries ignored by anyone near enough to hear, her fingers still entwined with Peters'.
The fairy, forgotten up in the rafters, waited for silence to once more descend on the tree house before fluttering down and landing on the rough planking. As soon as she touched the floor her outline blurred and appeared to grow, the gold light swelling then fading to leave behind the familiar nut brown figure of Kirano standing in his loin cloth and shell beads, his top knot as shiny and black as ever.
Moving slowly so that his ankle shells wouldn't rattle, Kirano stood over the young couple on the bed, his hand reaching out to pass over Peter's head and down his body, pausing for a second over the stark white bandage before carrying on.
Satisfied that the wound was healed, Kirano stared for a moment at Wendy's tear-stained face, his mouth twisting into a grimace of sympathy for her heartache.
His purpose fulfilled, Kirano turned away from the bed and sat cross legged by the window, the chirp of cicada's masking the faint croaking from the man below.
Smiling to himself Kirano shut his eyes, his hands held loosely in his lap as his outline faded into the shadows.
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Peter awoke with a start, his eyes popping open as he lay listening to his heart pound, his pulse drumming in his ears. After a few seconds he calmed down, blinking up at the thatched roof, trying hard to recall his last memory before the blackness. It was starting to get light outside the tree house, his eyes darting to the window and able to make out the outline of the trees. He felt something constricting his chest and lifted his hand to explore, feeling the thick bandage surrounding his mid-section and the wad of padding tied to his side. Tentatively pressing, he felt no pain, further prodding also proving painless. Puzzled he turned his head and found Wendy asleep beside him, on her side and facing him. She looked tired even as she slept, her beloved features drawn with a fine line between her brows. When he tried to lift his other hand he found it entwined with hers, their fingers meshed together as if sealed, flesh to flesh.
Peter smiled as he stared at her, noting her almost translucent skin and the dark shadows under her eyes. He saw her lashes quiver, her eyes starting to dart behind the lids as she too swam up towards awakening.
"Wendy..."
Peter's whisper penetrated the disturbing dream Wendy had been having, his voice drawing her out of the dream world and into the real one. His fingers squeezed hers, reassuring her and making her lips curve into a smile before her memory rushed in with a sickening jolt and her smile faded. Opening her eyes she stared anxiously at him.
"Peter...your side...are you in pain?"
"No...I feel...fine. Why am I bandaged like this?"
The line between Wendy's brows suddenly deepened. "You were stabbed...Hook had a knife...there was so much blood."
This time it was Peter who frowned, his free hand coming up to prod at the bandage, "well it certainly doesn't hurt...maybe its all healed?"
"Peter...wounds like that...they don't heal over night...at least...I don't think they do..." Wendy felt hope start to creep over her, her fears for him cast away as she inspected him. He looked just as he always did, tanned and vibrant with life, his lips no longer blue, his eyes no longer shadowed underneath. "Why don't we take a look...if you truly say there's no pain."
Levering herself upright, Peter did the same, lifting the nightshirt at the side to allow her to unwind the linen around his chest, the padding dropping away and revealing a blood stain at its center. Of the injury there was only a puckered purple scar, the skin sealed over as if from an old wound long healed.
In wonder Wendy touched the mark, her fingers shaking a little as she explored his side. "It was here Peter...I-I pulled the blade out myself."
Tucking his head, Peter peered down at his skin, his own fingers brushing over the slight imperfection, another to add to his catalog of battle scars. Their heads came up at the same time and their eyes met, Wendy's' with awe and Peter's with acceptance. He shrugged, grinning at Wendy as she stared round eyed at his torso before he dropped the hem of the nightshirt, concealing the expanse of bronzed skin.
"I don't understand Peter...you were...I...we...I don't..."
"Whatever happened, I'm all better now...why have you scraped all your hair off your face?"
Wendy put up a self conscious hand, feeling the tendrils of hair which had escaped during the night, the rest screwed back into the tight plait. "Oh...I had to face Hook...so..."
"Hook?"
"He's down there," Wendy pointed to the window, the dawn light now strong enough to see the outside clearly. Getting to his feet Peter padded over to the wide window, leaning out to peer downwards. Wendy scrambled to her feet and went over to join him, unable to prevent a gasp of surprise when the morning light revealed no sign of Hook on the rubbish heap below.
"He was there...I tied him...hogtied him securely...there was no way he could have escaped." Wendy told Peter, staring down in disbelief.
"Well...he'd not down there...so unless he crawled away..."
"No...I had his hands tied to his feet, he couldn't move."
Peter stared at Wendy sceptically.
"Well, he's gone now."
Wendy pulled herself back and turned to face Peter, confused and a little alarmed.
"If he escaped he would have come up here...if only to gloat then finish you off...it's what he threatened to do.."
"We'll find out what happened...but he's gone now."
"But...but..."
"It's early, why don't we...er...get some more rest." Linking his hand with her's, Peter tugged her away from the window and back to the mattress, pulling her down until she sat beside him, her expression still abstracted as she puzzled over Hook's disappearance.
In an effort to distract her, Peter reached over and started to fiddle with the twist of leather holding the end of the plait, his fingers deftly undoing the knot before threading his fingers into her long hair and unbraiding the tight plait, freeing the honey gold locks until they flowed down her back in their usual glory. Having plaited it when it was still damp, Wendy's hair now fluffed out with a distinct wave in it, Peter threading it through his fingers, enjoying its silky feel.
"I love your hair."
"Really?" Wendy asked, not paying attention. A tug brought her sharply back to the present and her head turned to look back at Peter who was grinning at her.
"I said I love your hair."
Blushing, Wendy smiled back at him. "Thank you Peter...I was getting a headache, it feels much better now."
Laying down on her side she faced him as he also lay down and rolled to face her.
"Wendy?"
"Yes Peter?"
"There's been so much happening...I haven't told you where I went yesterday...we haven't talked about..."
"Where we go from here?"
"Uhuh."
"Where do you want us to go...er...be?"
"I want us to be...together."
"We are together Peter...I came back with you so we could be..together."
"I know...I mean...I want to be...everything, to you."
"You are Peter..."
"No Wendy..." Peter stopped, frustrated that he couldn't seem to get the words right. Sudden inspiration made him scrabble for the chain around his neck. Finding it missing he stared wide eyed at Wendy.
"Oh...I took it off...when I...when I undressed you...er...last night." Blushing furiously, Wendy sat up and reached behind the mattress, lifting up the fine length of gold and passing it to Peter.
"That's good...I'd hate to think I fought Hook in a nightshirt." He teased, taking the chain and fiddling with the clasp. Hiding her red face against her bent knees, Wendy didn't see what he was doing until he tugged her around and back down onto the mattress to face him again.
"Wendy...I know we don't have anyone to marry us here in Neverland...nobody official...but I want to marry you, I want us to be together...I want it all."
Not waiting for a reply, Peter grabbed Wendy's left hand and slipped the gold ring onto her third finger, the ring fitting as if was made for her, only then daring to look up and see her reaction to his impulsive declaration.
Wendy appeared dumbstruck, her eyes huge in her face, a tear snaking its way down her temple as she stared at the gold band encircling her finger. Taking her silence the wrong way, Peter felt his heart stop, his tentative smile fading as Wendy continued to stare at the ring. Suddenly unsure, he felt his stomach churning, certain that he'd botched everything and she was shocked at his proposal. Unable to bear the suspense he rolled over and buried his face in her hair, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly.
"Please say yes...please, please, please..."
Finally finding her voice, Wendy gave him the only answer she knew she could.
"Yes Peter...I will marry you...I want it all too."
Saying the words that would commit her to be his, and his alone, freed something in Wendy's chest and she laughed out loud, her arms returning Peter's hug with one just as fierce. Having come so close to losing him, she was not about to waste another moment.
Hearing her gurgle of laughter, Peter raised his head from her neck and stared at her a trifle uncertainly.
"Yes?"
"Yes!"
"Sure?"
"Absolutely."
As if the sun was rising in his face, Peter smiled, his eyes dancing as Wendy returned the smile with a blinding one of her own, her blue eyes no longer sad or haunted but full of love and something Peter couldn't define.
"Does this make me your husband now?"
"Yes."
"Sure?"
"Oh yes."
"Good...because I've been wanting to do this since I woke up."
Rolling them over so that Wendy lay beneath him, Peter leant down and covered her mouth with his own, tentatively at first but with growing surety as Wendy parted her lips to welcome him, her hands coming up to cradle his head, her fingers combing through his short curls and driving him to distraction as he kissed her heatedly.
Having his arms full of warm, willing Wendy and his mouth pleasantly occupied, provoked a now familiar reaction from his body, his flesh hardening between them as he lay on top of her, her legs parting beneath her night shirt to accommodate him even as he shifted restlessly against her.
Feeling his bodies reaction to her, Wendy felt a growing sense of power, a heat starting to suffuse her body with the knowledge that she could provoke such ardor, her back arching to press her closer to him, against him, making him gasp and moan against her mouth with the delightful friction despite them both still being, if not fully, at least partially clothed.
Gasping as Wendy moved beneath him, Peter raised his head and stared down at her flushed face, his eyes dark with excitement and need, her own sparkling with an answering need, provoking another sound from him.
Wendy felt a thrill shiver through her when Peter growled low in his throat and buried his mouth against her neck, nipping and suckling as his lower body moved against her, pressing his hardness against her belly, heat spiraling down to pool in her abdomen making her squirm and sigh and want something more. She squeaked when she felt Peter's hand burrow under her shirt, seeking and finding her breasts, brushing over the sensitive nipples making them leap into life, her mouth dropping open even as her eyes slammed shut, heightening the sensations swamping her. Her own hands were suddenly busy, pulling up Peter's night shirt and running all over the hard muscles of his back and shoulders, the shirt ending up discarded on the floor and her fingers exploring the satin smoothness of his skin where ever she could reach. Peter had bunched up her own shirt under her chin, his mouth exploring her chest and making her heart pound as his mobile lips latched onto a pert nipple, sending lances of lightning into her belly and between her legs.
Pulling the nightshirt over her head she sent it to join his on the floor, leaving her skin to skin with a very aroused Peter, her bodies response to his ardent, if inexperienced love making, leaving her melting and boneless as a spring started to tighten inside her, her chest heaving as she strained for something unknown in her experience, her body knowing the way even as Peter's hands found the source, his touch sending her over the edge so that she clutched him close, shaking and shivering against him, her eyes squeezed tight as she panted against his shoulder.
A little startled at her reaction to his tentative exploration between her legs, Peter stilled his movements and stared down at Wendy's flushed face, the blush extending down her neck and chest as she panted beneath him.
"Are you alright? Did I hurt you?"
Still not sure what had just happened to her, but enjoying the bliss and bone melting lassitude, Wendy could only smile up at him as she waited for her heart to stop pounding in her chest.
"You...didn't...hurt...me...Peter."
"Oh...but I only...are you sure?"
"Oh yes...very sure." Dreamily, Wendy watched his frown turn to a smug smile with the realization that what he'd done had made her feel good, maybe in a similar way that he made himself feel good when he touched himself. Please that he'd made her happy, his fingers started to move against her again, stroking and exploring as Wendy lay relaxed and boneless beneath him.
"I'm glad...," said Peter, his own body starting to get restless, wanting its own completion even as he waited for some signal from Wendy. Almost intuitively Wendy parted her legs and tilted her pelvis, pressing herself against him in an open invitation as he moved against her. Lifting himself up slightly he repositioned himself, his body aligning with hers as his hardened flesh encountered her slick entrance, his eyes closing as Wendy wrapped her arms around him and urged him forward. Slowly but surely he slipped inside her, her body both open and unbearably tight around him, wringing a groan from his throat as he paused, only partially encased in her, something preventing him from going further. Lifting his head he opened his eyes, asking a question without voicing it, her own replying without a word passing her kiss swollen lips. With a bunching of muscles, he pulled back slightly before thrusting forward, burying himself deeply inside her, her back arching to meet him even as his mouth swallowed her cry of pain at the breech of her body. Overwhelmed with the feeling of being inside her, surrounded and swallowed whole by her body, Peter could only shudder against her, his hot forehead resting against her breast as he panted to regain some measure of control. Lifting his head he started to move, withdrawing a little way only to plunge back in, his body too long held on a knife edge to last more than a few strokes before exploding inside her, his hips jerking and thrusting as he emptied his essence into her, collapsing not long after to lay panting and flushed in her embrace.
Wendy cradled him against her breast, her hand petting his head as he cuddled her, their bodies still joined as each floated on the edge of bliss, hearts beating in rhythm as they lay chest to chest.
Realizing belatedly that he was probably squashing her, Peter made to roll to the side but Wendy kept hold and rolled with him, keeping them joined, legs and arms entwined as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"That was...wonderful." Peter breathed, his fingers brushing over the satin of her back and shoulders, her hair tangling and slipping through his fingers as he stroked her warm skin.
"Hmmmmmm..." Wendy hummed, too content to do more than press a kiss to his neck.
Remembering her crying out, Peter turned his head.
"Did I hurt you?"
"Only briefly...I expected it."
"Oh...will it hurt every time?"
"Oh no...just the first time."
"Oh."
They lay quietly for a moment.
"Peter?"
"Hmmmm?"
"I want us to exchange vows."
"I thought we just did that..." Peter grinned, wincing in mock pain when Wendy lightly slapped his chest for his impudence.
"No...I mean say the words we would have said if we got married...in a church, or at the registry office...officially."
"Okay...what do we say?"
"Well...I would say...I, Wendy Moira Angela Darling do take thee, Peter Panferris as my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, keeping only unto you, 'til death us do part."
"I have to repeat all that?"
"Peter!"
Squeezing her shoulder, Peter smiled up at her.
"I'm only teasing...okay then. I Peter Pan, take you Wendy as my lawfully wedded..."
"Wife.."
"Wife...to live with me forever, to love and to cherish, to protect and take care of, until death takes my breath."
"Oh Peter...I love you."
"Do you?"
Laughing, Wendy made to slap him again but found herself rolled over and Peter once more grinning down at her.
"I love you too, Wendy Moira Angela Darling...now Pan."
"Wendy Pan...I called myself that at the hospital when I couldn't remember anything...I must have known even then, isn't that strange."
"No...I knew it from the start...when I used to come visit you when you were asleep...I used to stare down at you and never wanted to leave, you looked so beautiful ."
"Oh Peter..." Pulling his head down she kissed him sweetly, their lips lingering together before pulling apart again.
Feeling his body stir once more inside her, she blushed rosily. Seeing her flushed face Peter grinned smugly and rotated his hips, seating himself more securely in her body.
"Again?" Wendy asked, one eyebrow arching as he moved again.
"If you wish it..." Peter replied, leaning down and kissing her soundly even as his hips started to move rhythmically.
Wrapping her arms around his neck more securely, Wendy lifted her legs and cradled him against herself.
"I do indeed wish it...with all my heart."
Biting his bottom lip, Peter closed his eyes and let sensation wash over him, Wendy's soft moans and breathy sighs leading him on to greater heights as they both climbed once more towards nirvana.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
TBC...