DISCLAIMER: I only own Jade and her relatives and friends. That's it. I do not own Peter Pan.

-

-

It was a cool, breezy Saturday afternoon and Jade was walking home from town. She had gone to get a bag of some groceries for her mother, and she had decided to walk instead of ride her bike. She only lived five minutes away, after all. Her nose was stuck in a book as she walked down the sidewalk, dodging people and signs and lampposts.

Of all the people on the sidewalks, an elderly woman around the age of 80 spotted this youth and thought to herself that she was amazing the way she could read and yet still manage to maneuver around the obstacles in her way. She was on the same side of the street as the girl, and the girl was walking towards her. When the girl was close enough for the woman to see her clearly, the girl lifter her head from the book and looked around, then at her watch.

When she looked down at her watch, she lifted up the book in her left hand slightly, but enough so that the woman could see what she was reading. Then she went back to her book and started walking again. She caught up to the woman, and the woman finally spoke.

"Excuse me, dear, is that 'Peter Pan' you are reading?" she said with a British accent.

Jade looked up and closed the book with her finger still inside, holding her page.

"Yes, ma'am, it is."

"Do you like it?" the woman asked. Jade nodded.

"Yes, ma'am, I do. Very much. I've read it many times. Do you like 'Peter Pan'?"

"Yes, I do. It's nice to see someone who loves the book as much as I do. Not many people do these days."

"That's true, I know. I have a couple of friends that do, though, but they are only three. She sighs I wish Neverland and Peter Pan were real. The whole story…I want to live it. But that will never happen, I just wish I could meet him…oh never mind it's silly of me." Jade didn't know why she just told this total stranger that much. She just felt like…she could trust her, and not be afraid to tell her anything. But why? Why did she feel that way? Who is she? The woman chuckled.

"My dear, you can tell me anything you wish. Do you want to know something? I believe in him, too. Come closer, child, I want to tell you something." Jade did as she was asked. "I know him." Jade gasped. She looked wide-eyed at this woman.

"You…you…have met him?!" She couldn't believe her ears. The woman motioned towards a bench where no one was lingering around and they sat down.

"What is your name, child?" she asked.

"J…Jade, ma'am."

"My dear, Jade, do you have any clue of who I am?" Jade shook her head nervously.

"I feel that I can trust you, tell you everything about my past. I can sense that you will hold my secrets and cherish them. I can tell how much you believe in Peter Pan, and I want to share everything with you. My name is Wendy Moira Angela Gregors," Wendy said.

"Gregors?" Jade asked.

"My last name used to be Darling, until I got married. Oh Peter was so angry with me."

Wendy chuckled. "That was when he stopped coming to my window to take me to the neverland for spring cleaning." Jade couldn't believe her ears. This woman was Wendy. THE Wendy, from the story. Her face must have looked funny for Wendy started to laugh again. Jade composed herself.

"I…wow, it's…such an honor to meet you! Is it really you? Oh my gosh," Jade stammered. She was in shock. How could this be? What a chance meeting! Of all the people in the world, Wendy bumps into her, the girl who never wanted to grow up. And she, who bumped into the woman who once knew the boy who never wanted to grow up, and who also never did. Wendy chuckled again.

"Yes, I am the Wendy you know from his story. Peter Pan was definitely the most interesting boy I had ever met. I think he will be the same to you when you two meet," Wendy hinted. Jade's eyes widened again.

"You mean to tell me that he's going to visit me??! That's crazy. He doesn't even know that I exist."

"Well, you never know. Are you in a hurry?" Wendy asked suddenly. Jade was caught a little by surprise at the sudden question, but she shook her head.

"No. How come?"

"Will you come to my cousin's house, where I am staying for now, and, say, listen to stories of my adventures in Neverland? Savvy? (an adventurous twinkle in her eyes appeared and she smiled) What say you to that?" Jade laughed at the use of pirate language and the gleam in Wendy's eyes.

"Aye! I would be delighted, Red Handed Jill!" Wendy's smile broadened at the mention of her pirate name when she was on the Jolly Roger during her first trip to Neverland.

"Come with me. I don't live far from here, only two minutes. Do you have a cell phone so that you can call your parents to tell them you won't be home for a while?" Wendy asked.

"Yes, I do. Hold on one second while I call them."

Wendy and Jade had walked to Wendy's cousin's house and they were in the living room sitting on the sofa. Wendy's cousin walked into the room carrying a tray with tea and biscuits.

"Jade, I would like you to meet my cousin, Amelia, who has been taking very good care of me. Amelia, this is Jade. She believes in Peter Pan as well. I met her on a street in town, and I am going to tell her of my adventures. You may listen too, if you like," Wendy said.

"Thank you, Wendy, but I have other things in the house I must attend to." Amelia smiled weakly at the pair, and left.

"Well, where should I start? Hmm…how about the time when Peter stole and hid Captain Hook's best gold hook? It's as good a place to start as any. It was my second trip to Neverland and Peter and the Lost Boys wanted to find something to do. So Peter cooked up a plan to go to Raven's Town and…" Wendy told Jade many stories. All of them, in fact, up to her marriage when Peter became angry with her and flew off for the last time, vowing to never fall for another, never to see Wendy again. "That's all, I'm afraid. (Wendy took one look at Jade's face and laughed) I hope I kept your interest," She said with light sarcasm. The expression on the girl's face was one of adventure, daring, mischief, and a lustful hunger fo more stories, though Wendy had no more to give her. Her face fell a little, but then lit up again.

"Wendy?"

"Yes?"

"Whatever happened to John and Michael?" Wendy's face turned to sadness.

"They died, both of them, from heart attacks. They lived long, happy lives, though. I miss them terribly but I will be with them soon." Jade's face turned to surprise and horror.

"Oh no you won't! Wendy, you're not going to go that easily! You're strong. You've fought pirates, outrun Indians, chased the Lost Boys! You can't d…go so easily, I won't let you!" she said with strong determination that had always flowed through her veins.

"Oh, my dear if only that were true. But it isn't, and my time has come. I am not afraid of death, though, for I have faced it many times during the years I had known Peter Pan. You listen to me, though. You must keep being strong, never let your guard down, and never, never let your temper get the best of you. Listen to me, Jade. I can tell that you have an enormous amount of trust and faith, but not enough belief. You trust Peter and you have faith in him, but you must have more belief. That is dying down in you, and if you keep thinking that he won't come to you, it will eventually die down forever and it will never come back. Never. You must believe with all your heart that he will come. Do you understand me?" Wendy explained in her gentle motherly voice. Jade nodded.

"Yes, I do, it's just that…I did, once, but he never came. And each day it became less and less, and I started to lose faith in him. That I gained back, but my belief I didn't. I guess it was because I had been praying for him every night for three months. That's gotta lower your belief, and even your spirit. But by meeting you and listening to your stories, I gained that back, too. Not one hundred percent yet, but I can feel it working its way back up. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. It means so much." Wendy smiled.

"You are very welcome. I am so glad that I bumped into you. You are a very nice girl, and I'm sure that Peter will find you if he hasn't already. You should head on home now because it's 5:30 but before you do, I want to give you something. You wait right here. I will be back in a minute." Wendy went upstairs. When she came back, she was holding a tiny pouch with a string attached to it. "Here. Take this. Open it, but be careful to not spill its contents; it is very precious and you can't find any of it here on earth," Wendy hinted. She had that gleam in her eyes again.

Jade looked up at her and immediately knew exactly what was in the pouch. She opened it and sure enough, there was the glittery dust of all light colors with the main one being gold – pixie dust. Jade couldn't believe this…real pixie dust!

"Wow…Wendy! Are you sure you want to give this to me??" she asked.

"Yes. As I said earlier, I will not be around much longer and I have no need for it. I am old, and you can use that. I cannot."

"Thank you so much! Wow I can't believe this! This is so amazing! Wow…oh yeah, I have to go now. Again, Wendy, thank you. I can't thank you enough. You have just given me the biggest reason to have more and keep up my faith, trust, and belief in Peter Pan. Just seeing you

here and knowing you exist – you are proof." Wendy chuckled, and moved towards the door.

"You are very welcome. I am glad that I could help you. Now you really must go home before your parents call the police. (she chuckled softly again) Amelia will take you home."

Amelia walked into the living room towards the door with her coat on.

"Are you ready to go?" she asked Jade.

"Oh no, really, it's ok. I can walk home, there's no need to go out of your way," Jade said.

"Never mind that, it's alright. Let's go," Amelia said as Jade waved a goodbye to Wendy and started walking to Amelia's car. Then suddenly she turned around and ran back to Wendy and hugged her. This took Wendy by surprise, but she smiled and hugged her back.

"Thanks for everything," Jade said into Wendy's shoulder.

"My pleasure." Jade broke away gently and walked to the car. She got in, and Amelia drove her home. It was already getting dark out, and Wendy looked up at one star shining brighter than all the rest.

"I know you can hear me, Peter. Please grant my last dying wish, and make her one greatest wish come true. Go to her and take her to Neverland with you. That is all I ask of you. Goodnight, Peter." Wendy turned and walked back into the house.

Jade and Wendy stayed good friends, and they visited each other often. Wendy met Jade's parents, but she did not tell them who she was in fear of getting Jade in trouble. She simply was known as Wendy Gregors, and that was that. Weeks passed, then another month, and Wendy grew weaker. One night Jade got a phone call. It was Amelia calling from the hospital giving Jade the news that Wendy had died. Jade was in shock.

"Th…thank you." She hung up the phone with a shaky hand and just sat there. Her mother came into the room and saw her daughter so in shock that she couldn't even show any emotions.

"Jade? Honey? Who was that?" No answer. "Jade? Who was on the phone?"

"Amelia. At the hospital," Jade replied monotonously.

"Huh? Why did the hospital call…(she gasped) Oh no, it's Wendy, isn't it?" Jade nodded. Her eyes hadn't moved from the one spot she had been looking at ever since she got off the phone. "Jade, I'm so sorry. I know how much you loved her." Her mother came over to her and hugged her daughter, taking her out of her trance. Jade hugged her back, but she refused to cry the tears that were threatening to spill over any moment. She was a tough girl, and never let anyone see her cry. She felt it made her seem weak in a way.

"Thanks, mom."

"Of course. Do you want me to drive you down there to say goodbye to Wendy?" she asked. Jade shook her head.

"No, Amelia said she would drive me. Thank you, though. You can come if you want," Jade said, still speaking slowly.

"Alright." Her mother left the room. Jade couldn't believe that she would die so soon. She, her family, Amelia, and Wendy had all celebrated Wendy's eighty-first birthday just a week ago. They had so much fun, and Wendy still seemed pretty healthy. She died from the same thing her two brothers died from – a heart attack. The doorbell rang and Jade slowly got up from the chair by her computer and walked downstairs to meet Amelia and her mother waiting for her. They drove to the hospital, Jade looking out the window at the gloomy day.

'What a perfect day to die on. Clouds for miles, not a sign of sky anywhere. Drizzles of rain,' Jade thought to herself sarcastically. They arrived at the hospital and walked inside. They took the elevator up to Wendy's room to say their last goodbyes. Mrs. Smith, Jade's mother, and Amelia left the room to leave Jade alone with Wendy. That is when Jade's strong barrier broke. She was so upset and depressed over the death of one of her dearest friends, the only friend who gave her a reason to keep believing.

-

Hope you all enjoyed that chapter. Poor Remember to read and REVIEW! PLEASE review my chapters! I love it when people do that. It keeps me motivated and makes me want to write more.