Author's Note: Yes, finally chapter 6 – the next to last chapter! I apologize for taking so long to update. I've had the outline for the last two chapters for a long time, but it took me a while to get all the details and such. I hope this is worth the wait.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed: Elf Reader, blondie3862, MiniEllie, kasmira36, Squigglius, platinum star, Sangami, rolletti, Olwyen, Sasha, Willow-189, Allie Nick, Zelda-Jewel, Elirrina, Monique, Gallon of Firewhiskey, and dear prieto. :)

Chapter Six: Respite for One, Realization for Another

"Who was that?" Tootles whispered wonderingly.

With their mouths hanging open, the other boys only shook their heads, staring wide-eyed after their mother, who had disappeared into the woods hand in hand with an Indian boy.

"I did not know Mother was good friends with any of the Indians," one of the twins mused.

"Did you see the way he looked at her?" Curly asked, his eyes thoughtful. He was given blank looks in return. "It, it was like how Father looks at her sometimes…" he shrugged helplessly, unable to find the right words to explain.

"Like he wishes her to be his mother?" John voiced slowly.

"Yes!" Curly agreed instantly.

"Why would he want that?" Michael asked. "She is our mother already."

"I hope she does not want to be his," Nibs said.

"Father would probably not approve," Slightly put in.

The boys all remained quiet for a few moments, lost in their own thoughts of the mystery which had hung over their family the past two weeks. They shrugged their shoulders as though to rid themselves of such heavy thinking and started another game of marbles.

Wendy did not speak as she followed Running Deer through the dark island. She was filled with anticipation and excitement.

Running Deer kept his gaze halfway on the path before him and halfway on the girl he led by the hand. He could sense her bubbling curiosity. His heart pounded with uncertainty and nervousness as they went on. Finally, he came to a halt.

Looking about, Wendy discovered they were on a small hilltop. The churning ocean rolled lazily before them, the waves breaking against the rocks. Straining her ears, the girl thought she heard very faintly the mermaids singing. She lifted her eyes to the night sky filled with millions of stars and the moon smiling down on her.

As Running Deer had hoped, the quietness, peacefulness, and beauty of the night view caused a smile to come to Wendy's face, and the lingering worry and wonder of the day's events slipped away. Though she could not explain it, the girl felt as if she had been to this place before.

Freeing her hand from the Indian boy's gentle grasp, she lay down on the soft, silvery grass. For a long while, a contented expression was on her face as she gazed up at the night sky and listened to the waves far below. Slowly her eyes closed.

Running Deer set himself down a foot or so away from her and watched her out of the corner of his eye with great interest. He was relieved he had been able to for a little while draw her away from the dark cloud that had caused her eyes to lose their sparkle, her smile to have a hint of sadness, her head to be bowed instead of held high, and weariness to characterize her step instead of cheeriness. For a little while he had been able to get her to forget momentarily about the troubles at home and Peter. She deserved much better…

Wendy turned to her friend and flushed at meeting his stare. "Running Deer, thank you." She smiled shyly.

The boy grinned at her. "You are welcome, Wendy," he said softly.

Turning away from Running Deer's shining eyes, she traced patterns the stars made with her finger. "How old is your sister?" she asked curiously, recalling something he had shared earlier today.

"Fifteen," he replied, his eyes still on her.

"Fifteen! And she is to be married?" Wendy gasped, dropping her arm and looking over at the boy once more.

"Yes." Noting her stunned expression, he asked, "Girls do not marry so young where you come from?"

Wendy frowned, trying to recall the customs regarding marriage back in London. "No, I think not. My mother was nineteen when she married." She was silent for a moment. "I shall never marry," she added lightly, "for here I'll never have to worry about such grown-up things! I shall not grow up." Nodding firmly, she returned her attention to the star-filled sky.

She did not see the Indian boy's eyes become troubled as he thought about what she had said. It was true, Running Deer realized. Wendy would not grow older while here in Neverland. She would remain young, while he would grow older as the seasons passed, for the Indians were not blessed with eternal youth. Perhaps she would never see him the way he saw her…

"How are the boys?" Running Deer changed the subject.

"They are well." Wendy rolled onto her stomach and cupped her chin in her hands, "though nowadays they are not as noisy or ruddy. We all try not to disturb Peter. The boys spend more time outside the house."

"Peter has never been like this before?"

"No. And the boys have no idea what is wrong with him. He does not talk about what is troubling him, and if he hints at it, he speaks in riddles," Wendy sighed.

"Maybe he feels threatened in some way," the boy suggested, thinking hard.

Wendy shook her head. "I do not think so; what is there for him to fear? There is peace between him and your people – for otherwise I doubt you and I would be friends. And the boys and I have not turned against him." The girl shook her head. "I am through with wondering and worrying about what is troubling Peter, though. I have tried many times to discover what the matter is. But he is so stubborn, refusing to tell me. I cannot help him if he does not open up!"

"Why do you stand it?" Running Deer frowned. He went on upon seeing Wendy's puzzled look, "Why do you let him treat you so? Why do you keep on trying to find out what's wrong even when he lashes out at you? Why do you hope for things to be right between you two while he pushes you away, as though he does not wish to make up with you? Why do you stay, instead of leaving the house, getting away from his changes of mood?"

"Oh, no!" Wendy protested immediately. "I could not leave him and the boys. They all are very dear to me. I have to hope that things will be right between him and me. A mother does not desert her family, even in tough times."

"Even though he has hurt you and given you cause for sadness?" Running Deer asked.

Wendy met his intense, questioning gaze, her eyes soft and wistful. A smile touched her lips. "He is my friend, even if he has wronged me and I him, somehow," she explained quietly.

"Do you not hate him?"

Wendy averted her eyes from his and was quiet for a moment. "Brat! Spoiled little brat! I hate you!" The words came back to her and she frowned. She had spoken the words in a moment of frustration. She had kept her feelings bottled up until she could hold them in no more. But she knew she had not really meant it when she claimed to hate Peter. Wendy lifted her eyes to Running Deer's. "No, I do not," she replied in a calm, certain tone.

Her face became concerned as she watched Running Deer's eyes close briefly, and a strange expression fleeted over his face before vanishing. He turned his face away from her and sighed heavily. The girl was puzzled by the Indian boy's reaction to her answer, and she wondered if she had offended him in some way. She could not guess that her sincere answers to his questions spoke volumes of things he had mused to himself regarding her and Peter, and he was saddened to finally know his conclusions were correct. But Running Deer gave nothing of his thoughts or feelings away when he brought his gaze back to her and smiled.

"He is unworthy of your friendship," he stated quietly.

Here Wendy laughed and shook her head. "No, I am not deserving of his friendship, for he chose me to bring here."

Running Deer objected firmly. "Before, he only knew the companionship of the boys of his band. You are the mother and friend he never had. He does not realize how precious a thing he has, the fool," he mused.

Wendy blushed, though she did not understand the meaning of the last part of Running Deer's words, and she did not know if he spoke to her or to himself. "Peter is not a fool," she softly said. A brat, and an arrogant, spoiled one, yes, but not a fool, she added silently to herself.

Running Deer simply smiled at her jumping to Peter's defense and chuckled quietly. "I meant no offense; forgive me, Wendy."

She nodded simply, still confused.

He did not explain himself, though he saw the questioning in her eyes. Instead, he got to his feet and offered her his hand. "It is late. You are probably tired."

Wendy covered a yawn with her hand and rubbed at her eyes, suddenly feeling a bit sleepy, and became aware of the chilliness in the night air. She accepted his hand and was pulled to her feet.

Running Deer kept a gentle hold on her hand as he walked her back. An air of sadness came over him as he accepted the truth; he had answers to questions he had pondered over for quite a while. And he resignedly knew Wendy would only see him as a friend; they could never be more. She would remain a little girl, and he would grow still older. He came out of his thoughts when they reached the edge of the clearing where the trees that served as entrances to the house under the ground and the Indians keeping watch were.

"Thank you for everything tonight, Running Deer," Wendy said, squeezing his hand and giving him a smile.

"You are welcome," he replied and returned her smile, though his seemed almost sad. Slowly the smile melted away, and he stared at her for a silent moment. Wendy shifted her weight from one foot to the other, growing uncomfortable by his unreadable gaze. The boy brought his free hand up to touch her cheek. "Good-bye, Wendy," he said with sad finality. He hesitated, and then dared to do something he had longed to do ever since the day he had first met Wendy.

He kissed her. It was brief and sweet, with Running Deer's lips pressed gently against her soft ones for a short moment before pulling away. Wendy stared up at him in shock; a dawning expression slowly came over her face, as though she thought she understood but not completely. He placed a finger against her mouth when she attempted to speak.

"Good-bye, Wendy," he repeated softly. He smiled again, nodded to her, and then disappeared into the night.

Wendy leaned against a tree. She slowly touched her mouth in disbelief. She had been kissed twice in one day! Peter had been mean to her and then for some unexplainable reason kissed her. And Running Deer he had been strange tonight. Asking about Peter, claiming he did not deserve her friendship. He had seemed sad when he bid her farewell. As though they would not again have times as they had shared in the past. And then, he, too, had kissed her. It was all terribly confusing to the girl.

Like one in a dream, she walked to her tree and entered the house. Her feet barely touching the floor, she put down her bedding and floated down on the soft covers. Her mind a-whirl with questions and wonderings, she closed her eyes and, before drifting off to sleep, swept a finger over her still tingling lips.

The small fire died slowly, crackling and sending sparks up into the air. All was quiet and still, with all peacefully asleep. Except one, who watched the sleeping girl with bright, half rage and half-frightened hazel eyes.

TBC…