Title: Acorn and Thimble
Author: Aspiring Shieldmaiden
Rating: PG-13
Book/Film: Peter Pan
Spoilers: If you haven't seen the film, there will be spoilers ahead.
Pairings: Peter/Wendy
Summary: Peter and Wendy still wear their thimble and acorn, respectively. But Wendy doesn't want to grow up and Peter wants her back…and Peter has a certain way of getting what he wants.
Chapter Updated: Friday 22nd October 2004
Disclaimer: None of this is mine except the plot.
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Many thanks to my reviewers:
hefalump: Thanks!
Pupetta: Hope you like this!
Zeldy: I know! They'd be perfect for each other. But Peter wouldn't grow up…but what's Fanfiction for?
babs08: Keep reading!
Tina: Glad you're enjoying this!
sarah: Ooh…not quite… But it is kind of correct…you'll just have to read ahead to see what I mean!
kasmira36: Enjoy!
Uozumi: I hope you keep on liking it!
Lizzie Presscott: I don't actually have a plot planned out now, but things should get underway soon. Because Wendy somehow has to get back to…and then…and after that… But I can't say! (Though the first '…' should be fairly obvious!)
sparkling-teeth: No, it's not Hook. He's dead and isn't going to come back. But it's someone you've met before. I thought Aunt Millicent was great in the film.
Vela: Thanks very much and keep up the wonderful reviews (they make me really happy!).
Quiteona: A Black Family Reunion is really good! Are you going to write more for it?
Nethwen: Hi! Please update Opposites soon. looks bossy as glasses slide down nose In the words of Commodore Norrington: THAT IS AN ORDER! author begs Urgh…school on Monday. I can't believe I have to waste my Saturday studying for French. I don't mind Biology, though, because the teacher is funny and she makes the subject interesting. See you on Monday!
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A/N: Wow. stares at computer screen YOU GUYS RULE!!! This story was a complete spur-of-the-moment thing after I saw the movie and I wasn't expecting many people to tell me what they thought, much less like it. But you've inspired me. And a HUGE thank-you to those who put my story on their favourites!
On with the story!
Chapter Two
Wendy was dreaming…
She was running through trees. The narrow path she was following led her through a dense mass of undergrowth and her nightdress kept getting caught on brambles, but she barely noticed them. Her mind was unfocused and she had no idea where she was going. But then again, the place was so peaceful, it did not occur to her to wonder about that.
The sound of birdsong reached her ears. No…it was a kind of very faint tinkling. She frowned. There was no one here except her.
Yet the sound persisted, growing louder every few seconds. Still she could see nothing. Lightly, the girl trod on, sweeping her long brown hair out of her eyes. A faint scent of flowers hung in the air. There was nothing to spoil the tranquil atmosphere now –
Something rammed into the side of her head in a flurry of light and furious buzzing. It did it again, knocking her sideways off her feet. She cried out and tried to grab the thing, whatever it was, but it flew out of her reach, cackling with glee.
"Who's that – TINK!"
Feeling cheated and angry, Tinkerbell let go of Wendy's hair and flew off, away from the pair of them. Peter bent down over her and tried to take her arm, for she looked oddly faint, like a flickering image.
"Wendy?"
Just as Peter's eyes widened in shocked recognition Wendy opened her eyes and shot up in bed.
"Peter!"
But the room was empty. A feeling of disappointment rose up in her chest. She had been so sure for a moment there that the dream was real she felt like laughing out loud. But now all she could see were the dark walls of her bedroom.
Throwing back her covers, she swung her feet over the side of the bed and padded across to the window. Dragging the heavy curtains aside, she stared up at the sky, trying to remember which star it was that Peter called his home. His words wouldn't come. It was as if her memories were vanishing along with the dream she'd just had.
One good thing about having her own room was the absence of her brothers. They didn't understand about her stories she told them – about Peter Pan. For they'd forgotten about Neverland, for them it was all just a sort of dream. She had tried asking Michael what he remembered, but the answer had been far from encouraging.
"Fairies?" A strange look crossed the little boy's face. "They don't exist, Wendy. Mother says so." Inside her head, the older girl had screamed, You can't say that! You've seen them! You know they're real!
The Lost Boys also had quite clearly forgotten who they were. "I can't remember no mermaids," Nibs said firmly, when Wendy asked him.
Eventually she realised that she would have to keep quiet or awkward questions might be asked. She might have to reveal who Peter was, and she rather enjoyed having this secret companion, even though she probably wouldn't see him again. It was odd, but sometimes she felt as if he was watching her. A shadow would linger at the corners of her eyes, vanishing the second she tried to get a closer look.
- - - - - -
Peter did watch her – she would have been surprised to know how much. He was planning to do it again the very day Tink reported the newcomer in the woods. He couldn't believe his Wendy was here, right here beside him, and he hadn't noticed. Well, almost. But he didn't want her to disappear like she had done. He wanted her to stay! But he didn't know where she was. She was no longer allowed to sleep in the nursery – he'd heard Mr Darling talking loudly about it to his wife ("I insist that she has her own room, Mary. The child is growing up now; you can't pretend it isn't happening. She must have privacy. Surely you see my point."). His heart clenched when he heard that. Even though he was ashamed to admit it to himself, Peter had grown very used to the idea that Wendy could solve anything. Well, he had proof, didn't he? She had been able to sew his Shadow back on. It had never got away since. But if Wendy grew up, there was no one left who could possibly understand about Make Believe. Peter knew Wendy hadn't forgotten about him because at night she would stare up into the heavens, his name on her lips.
So now his only option now was to arrive after hours and stay and spy on her in daylight. But it was much harder then, as lots of other people were always milling about and he could never get a proper view of her. His favourite haunts were the schoolroom and her house. She always looked so absorbed when she sat at her desk, but it wasn't her schoolwork she was so interested in. Sometimes when she lifted her head he caught glimpses of pictures she'd drawn – all of which seemed to depict a person lying in bed and another individual flying down to them.
No one else noticed. Wendy was very much in her own little world, the existence of all the others barely touching her. The teacher stalking the rows with her wooden cane had, on occasion, rapped her knuckles, making her gasp with pain and surprise and Peter snarl up in the rafters (that was odd, too – he never felt much sympathy when the punishment was inflicted on anyone else) – but he doubted whether the teacher actually knew what Wendy was doing.
She sat at the desk at the very back right-hand corner. The room was shadowy here and sometimes Peter would creep down the wall, hand over hand, trying to keep himself small, and he would balance there and simply observe.
Tink jabbered away beside him, clearly angry. "Why is SHE here? I don't want her here, Peter!" Now, please remember that fairies are so small that they can only handle one emotion at a time. Peter gritted his teeth and ignored her. If he did that for long enough, she might just flounce off again and leave him alone. In case you're wondering, he has forgotten the grief he experienced when Tink died after drinking Hook's poison.
He also, as stated above, watched Wendy in her home. He hid in the semi-darkness of the dusk and watched as she wondered from room to room, quite lost for something to occupy herself with. When morning came, he liked the way she always plaited her hair, smiling at her reflection in the mirror when the task was finished.
And you can imagine his reaction when he watched Aunt Millicent's attempts to tutor Wendy in what she called the "female arts". Well, actually, his reactions were mixed. Sometimes he was cheering and sniggering at the older woman, while at others he muttered furiously at her. What was she doing, forcing Wendy to act like that? But something odd happened when she instructed Wendy during dancing lessons, enlisting the reluctant help of one of her brothers. He would stare at her, mesmerised, as she twirled about, ignoring the annoyed wails of her partner. His eyes never left her face, which always looked bored, as if she'd rather be anywhere else…
He stopped suddenly, startling Tink, who took this as a motive to try and offend her and flew off in a rage. Peter raised his eyebrows at her retreating form and shrugged. She'd be back soon, and she would act as though nothing had happened.
Well, this time, something would have.
The boy paused, debating with himself.
He could go and bring Wendy back.
No – she might have grown up too much. Maybe he just hadn't noticed.
That was stupid, he thought angrily. I'd have known if she had!
It would certainly be nice to have her back here…though he wasn't quite sure why.
And he was wanted company. This must be what "being lonely" meant, a Feeling he heard grown-ups talk when they travelled about in the streets.
And Tink, now that she'd run off, couldn't stop him.
Yes. He was going
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A/N: Hmmm…Peter has it bad, doesn't he? Even though of course he doesn't know it yet. Please review and tell me what you think!