Peter returned to the hideout as the sun was setting. Standing by his tree, he put an ear to the trunk. The laughter and shouts of the Lost Boys floated to his ears. Disappointed, Peter turned to leave. He had hoped that Abby would have put the boys to bed early like Wendy used to do. Apparently, she didn't. Peter flew to his favorite place on the island, the cliff overlooking the bay. It was the prettiest place, especially when the sun was setting. Once again Peter took to waiting. It was a little more bearable for him that night because he preferred it to the alternative of facing Abby.
Eventually, the sun disappeared behind the ocean and the first star came out. Peter took that as a sign that it was time to go home. This time at the tree, there was no sound. Quietly, he slid down his hole into the hideout. It was very dark. Abby had left one candle burning. To Peter, it looked like a fairy light but Tink was asleep in her small room. He reveled in the silence that was so uncommon. Peter climbed onto his bed and turned toward the wall. Something was moving in the room.
"Peter," someone whispered. It was Abby. Peter shut his eyes and began to fake snore. "Oh, stop it. I know you are not asleep and I would not care if you were." He said nothing. She gave him a yank. "Come on. I want to show you something." There was no anger or resentment in her voice. Peter relented.
They made their way out of the hideout. "But the boys ," Peter made one last attempt at getting out of whatever Abby was trying to get him to do.
"Oh they'll be fine," she assured him. Abby grabbed Peter's hand and led him to a spot where there were no trees. She sat down, pulling her brother after her. For a minute, both of them were silent. The stars above seemed to whisper to the pair. Peter glanced at Abby. She had a peaceful smile on her lips.
"Look," she said softly, pointing to a group of stars. "There's the Big Dipper. Oh, and there's Regulus." Her finger traced a lion's shape in the sky. "And that is Cassiopeia right there." Abby was beaming.
"I never knew the stars had names," Peter replied. His eyes were on the heavenly lights. He had flown among them so often and seen them up close but there was something that he didn't know about them.
"Oh, yes! Many of them have names," Abby told him. She pointed at a particularly bright star. "Look there, Peter. That is Arthur's Star." Abby didn't know if that was earth or not. She had never had the chance to look at the skies from another planet. That wasn't the point though.
"Who is Arthur?" Peter asked.
His line was so reminiscent of Arthur's words that Abby had half a mind to say, "Never you mind." But she didn't. "Arthur is your brother." Peter said nothing so Abby continued. "You would really like him you know. You two are so much alike."
"Abby, I love you and I miss you," Peter started sadly, "but I can't go back. I can't. I'm sorry."
The girl looked crestfallen but not angry. "I understand, which is why you must understand that I can't stay here."
Peter nodded slowly. "I wish you would."
"I know," Abby told him, "I would like to stay a while longer though, if it's all right with you."
"Of course." Peter smiled. He was secretly hoping that he could convince Abby to stay with him forever. Unknown to him, Abby was hoping she could convince Peter to go with her back home.