Title: To Have & To Hold
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Eighteen - Life and Death
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Wendy blinked, and she was there.
One moment she had been walking towards the chart table with the Captain's cabin walls about her, then she was standing on nothing, surrounded on all sides by the bright twinkle of stars.
"Oh goodness...PETER!"
Turning slowly around she looked for any sign of movement to tell her where Peter was. The Emerald Guardian had said he would send her as close to Peter as possible, but she couldn't see anything other than the velvet blackness of night and the brilliance of the diamond spangled sky.
"Where are you?" She called out to the stars, twisting around in building frustration.
A sudden blast of wind almost knocked her to her knees and she staggered, then suddenly he was there. Hastily brushing the loose hair away from her face Wendy looked up and Peter was hovering above her, laying on his side in the air as if held up by an invisible chaise longue.
"You rang, m'lady?"
Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Peter righted himself and drifted down until his feet connected with the invisible surface supporting Wendy. For several seconds they just drank each other in, their eyes caught and held by the other, all else forgotten in that second of stolen time.
Licking her suddenly dry lips, Wendy tried to articulate a warning about their need to leave the Never Realm but she couldn't tear her gaze away from his, the smile painting his lips tugging a mirror image from her own. Leaning closer, Peter covered her parted lips with his and spent several pleasurable seconds reacquainting himself with their contour and taste.
"Sweet," he pronounced finally, watching Wendy's eyes slowly open and blink at him. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." As she recalled the reason she was there her eyes widened. "Peter...we have to leave this place...if we don't it will never let you go back, you'll become part of the void."
"Like the Keeper?"
"Worse..."
"Then let us leave here...now."
"I don't think so..." Hook's drawl made them spring apart, Wendy whirling around to find Hook barely a swords length away from them.
"Where were you...?" Wendy gasped, her hand fumbling for the hilt of her sword, drawing it clumsily. Peter had also drawn his sword and stood at her side.
Hook started to circle them, his hand and hook held out from his sides, his sword, as yet, undrawn. "And here I was thinking you'd be happy to see me."
Unseen by anyone, the Keeper materialized above the three protagonists, his swirling robe spreading like a malevolent cloud above their heads.
Keeping their eyes on Hook, Wendy and Peter stood side by side, their sword tips pointed at the pirate Captain's heart. Hook kept his hand and hook held out from his sides, a smile playing about his lips as he stepped slowly around them.
"Well now...we have everyone here now...the once and future King of Neverland, the usurper, his bedmate along with the acorn, thimble and the books. Did I forget anything?"
"You are the usurper Hook...the prophecy was never intended for you." Wendy spat, the sword point wavering as her anger made her hand shake. Hook merely raised an eyebrow at her and continued his slow circling.
"Semantics dear lady...the book does not specify any one in particular, so why not me? I have lived on Neverland longer than Peter, I know every rock and blade of grass better than anyone...have I not earned the right? I have died and been reborn, so who better to take the throne of Neverland?"
"He's just stalling," Wendy murmured to Peter, never once taking her eyes off Hook.
"Of course...he's hoping the Keeper will do his dirty work for him. What he doesn't know is that the Keeper is expecting him to take care of us, leaving the way clear for the Keeper to assume the mantle. Both are laboring under a delusion. There is only one ruler of Neverland and he stands here before you."
"Impudent brat...you are barely out of your leading strings, I have sailed the seven seas and commanded a ship and crew!"
"As have I..."
"You are still wet behind the ears boy...you are not yet a man."
"Again, you are wrong...I am more than man enough to defeat you Hook."
Above their heads the Keeper drew out the two books, holding one in each hand. Slowly the bound volumes rose into the air and hung suspended, starting to spin, the covers opening to reveal the blank pages within.
Finally Hook drew his sword, the intricately woven basket hilt glinting in the starlight as he cut the air, testing the blade.
"You are no King...you who hides behind a petticoat!" Hook spat, goading Peter while keeping out of reach of his opponents blade.
Wendy had bridled at Hook's slur but a quick glance from Peter quelled her urge to reply to his insults.
"I have no need of anyone to fight for me...Wendy is here by choice, can you say the same James?"
"What say you brat? Of course I am here by choice...by rights I should be ruler of three kingdoms, not some puling spawn!"
"You have no rights James...you are just a pawn in another's game." Peter taunted, shifting his blade from his right to his left hand and back again. Hook's eyes narrowed as he stopped his slow steps and faced Peter, Wendy now behind Peter's right shoulder, effectively blocked by Peter from attacking Hook's flank.
"I am no pawn...you are living in a fools paradise if you think you'll be leaving here in one piece!" Like a snake striking, Hook brought his blade to bear, slashing downwards to cleave Peter in two. Instead his blade sliced through air, his opponents having danced out of reach before advancing again and bringing their blades together with a ringing clash of metal on metal. Wendy stepped out of the way of the two men her blade still in her hand, but her eyes watching the men manoeuvre while looking for an opening. Hook cunningly kept Peter between himself and Wendy, parrying a thrust and countering with a back slash that almost found its mark, Peter ducking at the last moment to avoid the biting swing.
Above them the Keeper still hovered, his cloudy robes spread out like a grey blanket, the two books starting to gather speed as they spun faster and faster, their pages fluttering outward and making them look like whirling stars, floating above the Keepers hands.
Peter and Hook were entirely focused on each other, all else forgotten as they thrust and parried, the blades ringing against each other in almost unceasing blows, Hook's downward blows almost bringing Peter to his knees, his lightning moves keeping him out of the way of most of the jabs and thrusts testing his guard.
Despite his age Hook was barely winded as he nimbly dodged a back slash from Peter, catching and trapping his blade with his hook, bringing the two almost nose to nose, each unwilling to break the hold as they glared into each other's eyes.
"Ready to surrender yet brat?" Hook jeered, his lip curling.
"Never." Peter replied, a smirk pulling his lips upwards, twisting upwards and breaking Hook's hold on the blades, narrowing missing the pirates neck with the edge of his sword.
Hook's long hair swung away as he ducked his head, Peter's blade whistling past his face alarmingly close. Raising his own in defense he parried the next few blows, stepping back as Peter attacked, both hands wrapped around the hilt of his sword as he rained blow after blow on Hook's sword.
Wendy stood clear, her eyes fixed on the battle being waged in front of her. She still had her sword drawn, although unless Hook tried something underhand she was not going to enter the fray unless Peter fell, something she refused to dwell on at that moment. Now the sound of heavy breathing was added to the clang and clash of metal as each opponent started to feel the effects of the sustained assault, Peter's mouth held in a grim line as he blocked another blow, the force sending shockwaves up his arm. So far he hadn't resorted to flying to avoid Hook, his confidence in winning not dented despite being evenly matched with the pirate leader.
To catch their breath they parted and stepped back from each other, swords still held en garde, but for a long moment they simply regarded each other across the crossed steel.
"How long do you think you can keep this up boy?" Hook called, doing his best to control his labored breathing.
"Longer than you, old man...ready to come to terms?"
"Never." Hook replied, repeating Peter's reply to his own challenge given minutes before.
Above their heads the Keeper watched the two books start to glow, turning from paper and leather into twin balls of light. Around Wendy's neck the thimble also started to glow, pulsating with each beat of her heart as she watched the fight. The acorn, nestled against Hook's chest also started to flash in time with the pirates pulse, the two pendants starting to lift away from their wearers, the chains parting so that the two small icons lifted free from Hook and Wendy's necks to float upwards. Once again Peter and Hook paused their fight, stepping away to watch the glowing golden pendants rise up to the glowing balls of light hovering above their heads. Wendy had also tilted her head to stare upwards, her attention on what was going on above her head.
"Finish it." The Keepers rasping voice commanded.
"Finish it? Which one? They are evenly matched Keeper!" A new voice boomed out, pulling everyone around to stare as a familiar figure approached.
"The Emerald Guardian..." Wendy gasped, backing towards where Peter and Hook still stood, their fight forgotten.
The huge merman appeared to swim towards them, his muscular tail undulating as if through water, his upper torso bristling with an impressive array of spines.
"What are you doing here?" The Keeper hissed, drawing back slightly as the merman fixed his obsidian gaze on the creature above him.
"The same as you...determining the fate of the three Kingdoms."
Hook stood a little apart from Peter and Wendy and glanced up at the Keeper briefly before returning his fascinated gaze to the merman who was now standing on his tail before them, the appendage slowly moving from side to side as if treading water.
"I thought I knew all the creatures of Neverland...how is it I never met you before now?"
Fixing his unblinking gaze on the pirate, the merman bared his fearsome teeth and a rumbling sound issued from his mouth. "But you did Hook...but at the time you took me for someone else." Before their eyes the merman appeared to shimmer, his outline blurring until he transformed into a human shape and stood before them on two legs.
"Blackhearted Bart!" Hook breathed, staring at the old man standing before him. "I thought I hung you."
"You did and a pretty death it was...but Bart was already dead, long before you got your hands on him." As his audience stared, the old man's outline shimmied and blurred, the huge figure of the merman reappearing before them. "A simple trick, but effective."
"Who exactly are you?" Peter asked.
"The Keeper of the third realm. Like my smokey friend, we are merely holding in trust what is yours by right."
"It is not his yet!" Cried the Keeper, darting down to where they stood and hovering behind Hook. "This one's claim is as valid as the boys...why should he not be King!"
"As I stated before, they are evenly matched in skill, but not in nature. For too long has Hook indulged his greed and ego, fed his jealousy and hate. He has proved himself untrustworthy for the position of Ruler...as you, yourself have proved unworthy to remain Keeper of the Never Realm."
With a scream the Keeper swept his grey robed arm wide, a hard wind knocking the humans off their feet. In an instant the Keeper had smothered Hook, his essence flowing into the pirate and taking him over. As Peter and Wendy lay winded, Hook rose to his feet and grabbed Wendy by the arm and hauled her upright, her sword dropping from her hand as dizziness made the stars whirl about her head. Before Peter or the Merman could react, a knife was pressed against Wendy's throat, the pirate's hooked arm curled around her waist, pressing her close against Hook's body as a shield. Peter raised his sword and moved towards Hook, seeing the flare of red flames in the pirates eyes and the knife press into Wendy's neck, drawing blood.
"Don't be hasty boy!" Hook spat, grinning broadly. "Wouldn't want to spill your trollops blood, but I will if you don't back away!"
Peter stood still, his sword still raised and pointed at Hook, his expression grim. Wendy was straining to relieve the press of the sharp blade against her skin, her eyes wide as she stared white faced at Peter, her lips pressed together in a thin line to hold back the scream lodged in her throat.
"That's better," Hook gloated, seeing the impotent fury in Peter's face as Hook stroked the knife up and down his captives throat, Wendy's eyes closing she swallowed hard, a whimper escaping her lips. Behind Peter the Merman was watching the drama with an intent gaze, his muscular arms folded over his chest as if waiting for something to happen.
Taking a step back, Hook grinned at Peter over Wendy's shoulder, his arm tightening around her waist as he dragged her back with him. "I have no wish to find out what you have planned for me, so I'll take this body and leave you now."
"No!" Peter's voice rang out when he saw Wendy's eyes open wide in surprise as the Keeper, inside Hook, directed the pirates knife lower and plunged it into Wendy's side, piercing her heart. Like a puppet, she instantly slumped in his grip, the pirate releasing her body so that she slid to the ground. At the same time the two books still spinning brightly above the scene merged together to from one single light, the two pendants suspended above and below the brightness while they floated above the drama playing out below.
As Wendy's body slid out of Hook's grip, the Keeper found himself expelled from the pirates body through his mouth and nose, streaming out like grey water to coalesce behind Hook, who staggered but kept his feet. Hook barely had time to take in the scene before Peter's blade pierced his chest, killing him instantly so that he fell backwards with an expression of bewilderment in his blue eyes before they clouded in death.
"What have you done?" The Keeper of the Never Realm screamed, flying at the Merman who impassively gestured with one hand, the Keeper uttering a choked cry before dissipating into thin air.
Peter had fallen to his knees beside Wendy's body, his mind unable to grasp that she was dead, his sword discarded to lay beside Hook's body laying sprawled behind him. The stars appeared reflected in Wendy's sightless eyes as she stared upwards, Peter's own stinging with unshed tears as he bowed his head in silent agony, his heart feeling rent in two.
Above his head the two pendants fused with the spinning orb that was the two books, the golden glow slowly descending until it hovered just above Peter's head, gilding his hair and face with bright light that somehow didn't reach beyond his body. The Merman gestured again and the light above Peter seemed to spread, dropping down like fairy dust all over him until he glowed with an inner light as if the sun was rising within him. Peter knelt unaware and uncaring, his head bowed, his eyes squeezed tightly shut, pain etched on his youthful features as he swallowed down the scream of pain rising in his chest.
Slowly the glow inside Peter stared to fade until it disappeared completely, leaving Peter as he was, the thimble pendant once more around his neck on its gold chain, the acorn lying on the invisible ground beside Wendy's body.
As if in a dream Peter opened his eyes, unmindful of the tears starting to trickle down his face, and reached to pick up the acorn pendant. It appeared dull and old, as if not worn in many years, the acorn shriveled and black against the tarnished gold chain. It seemed to Peter to be the final proof that Wendy was now lost to him, her life as dead as the acorn pendant crushed within the palm of his hand.
"Why?"
Peter's anguished cry brought the Merman over to where he knelt.
"It was meant to be...but..." The Merman found himself cut off.
"Meant to be?" Pete echoed savagely, getting to his feet and rounding on the Merman with death in his eyes. "Meant to be? All this was not part of the prophecy. She was supposed to be with me forever, not dead!"
"An error of judgement Your Majesty..." The Merman started but found himself cut off once more.
"Don't call me that...I'm not King!" He wheeled back and stared down at Wendy's body. "Without her I'm nothing."
"But there is still..." The Merman tried to say, but Peter wasn't listening any more. Bending down he straightened Wendy's limbs before lifting her into his arms, her head lolling against his shoulder, her body limp and lifeless against his chest.
"You have the power..."
"I have nothing." Peter ground out dismissively, turning his back on the Merman and starting to walk away.
"Wait...there is no need to grieve!" The Merman called out, his hand outstretched as if to stop Peter.
The new King of Neverland and the three Kingdoms ignored the creature and continued to carry his burden, tears rolling unheeded down his face as he stared ahead, the stars blurred before his vision, his heart a stone in his chest.
Growling his frustration the Emerald Guardian let his hand drop, staring down at the body of Hook where it lay. Crooking a talon, the Merman lifted Hook's body up from the ground to lay suspended in the air. With a gesture and a muttered incantation from the Merman, Hook's body disappeared from sight, leaving the Merman to stare after Peter with his obsidian black eyes. He watched the figure in the distance until he saw it stagger and fall, then he moved, gliding towards where Peter knelt, slumped over Wendy's body, Peter's arms clasping her to him in a parody of a lovers embrace.
Not bothering to speak the Merman waved his hand and Peter, together with Wendy's body, disappeared in a flash of light. Alone among the stars, the Emerald Guardian smiled in satisfaction before waving his hand once more and disappearing from view as well, leaving the stars to shine down upon an empty stage.
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The appearance of Peter clasping Wendy's body aboard the Nymph was only witnessed by three people. Aramis, Harry and Stubbs were waiting for his arrival by the main mast, the deck for once clear of any crew but those three. Their grins of welcome quickly turned to dismay as they saw the blood soaking Wendy's shirt, her still open eyes staring without blinking up at the sails furled against the spars.
"Peter?" Aramis's shocked whisper went unheard, Peter not moving from his kneeling position on the deck, the three men edging forward after exchanging worried glances at each other.
Harry reached down and picked up Wendy's hand where it lay limply on the deck, his fingers feeling for a pulse, his head shaking when he found none.
"Peter?" Aramis asked again, this time rewarded with Peter raising his head to stare blankly at the three men surrounding him. They stared in shock at his ravaged expression, his eyes blank with grief.
Suddenly, out of the clear blue sky, flakes of white started to fall, at first melting on contact with the warm decking, but soon they were falling so thickly that they quickly coated everything in a blanket of white, the warmth of the sun unable to penetrate the chill as snow continued to fall in a smothering cascade. The three men stood impervious to the cold, their shoulders and heads quickly gathering a layer of snow, as did Peter who bent over Wendy's body, shielding her from the falling flakes, his numb fingers brushing away any that dared to fall on her still face. Soon clouds had covered the sky and snow fell continuously over Neverland, turning the world white.
Lost in his grief, Peter gathered Wendy close and tilted her face to bring her lips closer, lowering his head until his mouth covered hers, the shock of her cold flesh against his warm not stopping him from kissing her. As he pressed his lips to hers the snow started to slow until only a few flakes drifted down out of the sky, the three men shaking off their coating of white as they bore witness beside Peter.
As he continued to hold her unresponsive body, Peter felt something warm start to glow inside him, his body heating up quickly until he thought he would burst into flames. Knowing it was impossible, he pressed Wendy closer as if to pass on his heat to her and warm her chilled flesh. He continued to kiss her, his lips moving over her mouth and cheek, pressing hot kisses over her forehead and nose, all the time murmuring words of love and loss, inaudible to the men standing watch over him. Unseen by Peter, his body started to glow with a golden light that quickly melted the banked snow around him, the circle spreading wider as the glow intensified. Stubbs, Aramis and Harry watched in wonder as the deck quickly dried and itself started to glow as if gilded, the widening circle encompassing the mast and sails, the forecastle and poopdeck from the prow to the stern so that the ship appeared made of gold.
"What's happening?" Harry asked in an awestruck voice, gazing around at the transformed ship.
"Doing what the lad has always done," Stubbs replied, a grin starting to curl his lips. "Bringing life to Neverland...see?"
As the three men watched, Peter appeared to be a creature made of gold, an inner light turning him into a living flame. In his arms Wendy lay as she'd been, but as they watched faint colour started to appear on her cheeks, her lips turning from blue to red and her eyes, before so staring and blank, slowly blinked their long lashes, the pale lids closing over them as Peter pressed a kiss to each in its turn.
Barely able to believe their eyes, the men saw Wendy's chest rise and fall, her lips parting on a breath as the golden creature holding her covered her mouth with his own and she responded, her formerly limp arm rising up to wind around Peter's neck, his own arms clasping her close.
The glow was starting to fade from Peter, returning him to normal until there was no sign of light other than the sunlight now streaming down on the deck. Peter and Wendy were still clasped in a passionate embrace and Stubbs fidgeted uncomfortably as they showed no sign of stopping.
"Do you think we should..." Stubbs started to say only to be shushed by a grinning Harry and elbowed by Aramis on the other side.
The kiss finally ended. Wendy smiled tremulously up at Peter, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Peter gazed down at her with his heart in his eyes, his look of wonder causing her to catch her breath. Slowly she drew her hand back and cupped his cheek, stroking the faint dampness still coating his skin.
"I thought I was kissing a golden angel." Wendy breathed, her lips curving in a smile as Peter grinned down at her.
"No angel...just me."
Gently she smoothed her thumb over the corner of his mouth, Peter's head twisting so that he could press a kiss to her finger tips. She could feel the muscles in his arms where they pressed against her back, holding her close to his body. Against her breast she could feel his heart beating strongly through the linen of his shirt, her own beating in time with his.
Looking past Peter's curls she saw the main mast and above that the spars and sails, all of them gilded as if solid gold.
"What happened to the ship?" She asked dreamily, returning her gaze to meet his, drowning in the love shining freely from his sea green eyes.
Peter met her question with a quizzical look, his eyes flicking up to look around, widening as they took in the golden deck all around them.
Hearing a cough, Peter glanced up at the men still standing a step or two away. As if just suddenly realizing that he was sitting in the middle of the main deck clasping Wendy to his chest, Peter grinned sheepishly.
"How long have you three been standing there?"
Aramis quirked a grey eyebrow and grinned back. "Long enough to witness a miracle m'boy!" Receiving a nudge from either side, Aramis started guiltily. "I meant to say...Your Majesty." As if on cue, the three men bowed deeply in obeisance, holding their position until Peter told them to stop being idiots and quit bowing.
Wendy watched the pantomime with a bemused expression, her body suffused with a strange lassitude as she lay in Peter's arms, her mind a worrying blank before awakening in Peter's embrace, his lips warm and enticing on hers.
"Why are we laying on the deck?" She asked, blinking up at Peter.
For a second Peter frowned down at her, then his forehead cleared and he grinned at her. "I know where I'd rather be...certainly somewhere more comfortable than this." Gently he disentangled himself from their embrace and carefully, together, they rose to their feet. Wendy felt incredibly weak and leaned heavily on Peter, her head suddenly too heavy for her neck. Harry darted forward and put an arm about her waist after seeking Peter's permission in a glance and receiving a nod of assent over Wendy's head. Together they slowly made their way across the glittering deck and headed for the main cabin, Wendy almost asleep when they finally reached the Captain's cabin and lay her on the bed. Harry checked her pulse and rested a hand against her forehead.
His eyes met Peter's across the bed. "She seems fine...whatever happened to her, you seem to have reversed the effect, although looking at the amount of blood loss she may be weak for a time until she recovers her strength."
"I'll take care of her...leave us...I'll fill you all in later...but for now we need to be together."
Nodding his understanding, Harry bowed low and backed towards the cabin door, Peter smiling in amusement until the Doctor shut the door behind him.
Turning back to the bed, Peter sat on the side and leant over Wendy.
"Are you truly asleep or just resting those tired eyes?"
Blinking sleepily, Wendy gazed up at him and smiled. "Just resting."
"You need to get out of those clothes, if you're going to sleep at all comfortably."
"And what's to stop you having your wicked way with me if I do?" Wendy replied, still smiling dreamily.
"Nothing at all." Peter grinned back wickedly, his eyes dancing.
Lifting her hands, Wendy started to undo the buttons down the front of her shirt but Peter lifted her hands away, kissing the tips before placing them palm up on the pillows beside her head.
"Let me."
Keeping her eyes on his down bent head, Wendy lay still and let Peter undress her, only mildly surprised when he bundled up her shirt and flung it with force across the room. She had noted a stain before he bundled it up but he placed a finger across her lips before she could ask a question.
In silence he efficiently divested her of her remaining clothes before unplaiting her hair, letting it fall about her shoulders in disarray before sitting back to look at her. Wendy blushed rosily under his scrutiny but didn't shy away from his regard. Instead she felt her body quicken in response to his loving gaze, her eyes turning a deeper blue as her love spoke to him across the space separating them.
Still not speaking, Peter stood up and started to take off his own clothes, the shirt discarded in haste, followed by his trousers until he stood naked before her, his leanly muscled body glowing golden in the subdued light of the cabin.
Mutely, Wendy raised her arms to him and he came to her, joining her on the covers, his arousal plainly felt against her body as they lay skin to skin, legs and arms entwined until it was impossible to tell where one finished and the other began. Kisses and groans, sighs and moans echoed softly around the cabin as the bars of sunlight made their slow progression across the floor, the sounds of flesh on flesh muted by soft words of love and joy, of faith restored and life renewed between two destinies finally fulfilled.
Sated and sleepy, Wendy held Peter tightly, their bodies still joined, sweat sheening their skin.
"Tell me I'm not dreaming?"
"You're not dreaming," Peter's muffled voice against her breast made her laugh softly.
"Did I die?"
She felt him stiffen against her, his muscles in his back like iron under her finger tips. Unable to voice the words, Peter could only nod his head.
"I don't remember...I don't remember anything after the Emerald Guardian appeared."
"Good." Peter said forcefully, lifting his head and taking her mouth in a savage kiss, Wendy responding in kind until they parted, panting heavily and stared at each other in wonder.
"I never want to go through that again," Peter rasped, pulling her more tightly into his body, making her draw in a sharp breath.
"How did I..." Wendy started to ask only to have her mouth assaulted so sweetly again and she lost interest in the answer as Peter moved against her and within her, drawing out her pleasure until she arched against him in helpless pleading to end the torment and bring them both to completion.
Breathless, they lay against the sweat dampened covers and listened to their thundering hearts. Catching her breath, Wendy rolled onto her side and propped her head up on her hand, staring down at Peter who lay in boneless bliss beside her.
"You are King of Neverland now, aren't you?"
Lifting his lashes, Peter gazed up at her, his face unusually sombre.
"King of Never Neverland and Ruler of the three Realms."
"Such a long title. You have everything now, as it was foretold, but you're not happy." She stated softly, tracing the outline of his lips with her finger. She waited for him to answer but he only turned his head away, his Adam's apple moving as he swallowed hard. Leaning down she pressed a kiss against his cheek, lowering her head to lay it against his shoulder, snuggling into his side. Peter continued to stare off into the distance, listening to her breathing slow until he knew she had fallen asleep. Closing his eyes he listened to her simply breath, well aware that only a short time ago he'd thought her lost to him, her breath forever stilled, her life ended before it had even begun. He could still feel the awesome power that dwelled within him, the power of life or death, of hope or despair, the responsibility for that power almost scaring him senseless. That same power had brought her back to him, restored her back to life, but was it fair to expect her to stay with him? She was so much a part of him now, as she had been so long ago, he felt that if he sent her away it would be like severing his own limb or cutting out his heart. But if she stayed, would he be enough for her to give up her life beyond Neverland's borders? Would she not regret not seeing her family or friends, her life before fate and destiny changed it all? Did he have the right to have her remain with him, to hold her if she wanted to go?
Turning his head he stared at her beloved features, so soft and relaxed in sleep, so recently cold and lifeless beneath his hands. It overwhelmed him how much he loved her, the tumultuous feeling making his heart swell almost to bursting. Shifting slightly he eased her head to a more comfortable position on his shoulder before wrapping her more tightly in his arms as if his strength alone would be enough to protect her, his love enough to keep the regrets and fears at bay.
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TBC...