Their flight was a somber one. The previous attempt of leaving Neverland had flashed through both Margaret and Peter's minds on more than one occasion, punctuated by the pair's frequent glances about their surroundings to ensure that no pirates would shoot either individual down. In these moments, the other person would gently squeeze their intertwined hands to bring the other person back down to earth. Well…maybe back into the sky, if we were to apply a more apt term.
Margaret had remained with Peter in the hideout until all the Lost Boys returned. There was plenty of food and water for Margaret to consume, so she took her time with each part of the process as everyone chatted in the liveliest state that the group had been in since before Margaret's first attempt at departure. Of course, this time, everyone knew that Margaret would be leaving after she finished, even though that had never been explicitly communicated to anyone. The sadness dampened the delightfulness of the group being reunited, but everyone managed to put on a brave face, even when Margaret said her final farewells.
Not a single eye was dry, but everyone managed a smile through it. Margaret could still vividly remember the deep melancholy in each boys' eyes, though. They flickered across her vision as she flew, bringing down her mood considerably.
Peter squeezed Margaret's hand, drawing her attention with a pointed figure toward the London Bridge. They were close to home.
Home…
Margaret felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity at being in London, although she really wasn't gone for very long…or was she? Margaret had been unable to keep track of the length of time she spent in Neverland. Had Nana called the entire police force to find her? How long had she been missing for?
Margaret did not have much time to ponder these questions, as before she knew it, she and Peter landed in Margaret's room. Margaret's window was open, allowing her curtains to dance with the light breeze. It was quite strange, since Margaret recalled leaving her window open the morning of her…attempted murder.
"I can't believe that Nana would keep my window open for so long," Margaret said with a furrowed brow. She reached a hand to run her fingers over the curtains, allowing the familiar texture to ground her emotions. So many were swirling within her now that she was having difficulty choosing one to concentrate on. Peter reached a hand to touch Margaret's shoulder. Margaret turned to look at him.
"In my experience, time between here and Neverland is really…weird."
"Mm, I guess I shouldn't be surprised," Margaret replied, looking outside of her window. The view was one she had seen for so many years, yet…yet it took her a few moments to register that she really was home. "So…I believe that this is where we say goodbye," Margaret stated. Peter looked down at his feet.
"I guess so."
Margaret felt a frown wash across her face. "I…do you think that the Lost Boys will need you back very soon?"
"I don't think so, no."
Margaret felt her heart lighten. "Then, maybe you don't have to leave immediately? I do wish to speak to Nana so that I won't worry her longer than needed but…I would like to spend some time with you here, afterwards."
Peter smiled. "I'll happily wait for you then."
Margaret leaned forward, kissing Peter on the cheek. She rushed out of her room shyly, causing her to miss the dopey smile on Peter's face. Margaret quickly rushed down the hall and practically flew down the stairs, reaching the kitchen breathlessly. Nana was next to the stove as she stirred what appeared to be a stew.
Upon hearing the sound of quick footsteps, Nana turned around, looking at Margaret in casual confusion as a smile spread over her face. "Oh, Margaret! I apologize dear I must've been asleep when you came home today. How was school?"
Margaret stood, blinking at Nana in complete shock. Wait…what—what? "Nana, I've been—I must've been gone for a month at least…how are you so calm?"
Nana blinked, extremely vexed at what Margaret was saying. "I'm sorry dear, I don't believe I understand."
Margaret felt her mind race, resulting in her simply stating: "Peter."
Upon hearing the name, Nana froze momentarily before she hastily put her spoon in a spoon holder and urged Margaret to sit at the kitchen table. "You've met Peter Pan?" Nana asked in breathless excitement.
"Yes," Margaret replied with an anxious smile. "But that doesn't answer my question—"
"Oh, goodness me! No wonder you are so confused about the time! Dear, it's October 31st, 1968. It's the same day as when you left for school this morning."
A gob smacked expression exploded across Margaret's face. "Peter—Peter mentioned something about time being strange but I had to have been in Neverland for a month—longer than a month how—"
"Margaret, dear, I do not believe it wise to question the strange passage of time between our world and Neverland when Neverland is home to fairies, mermaids, and magic that you had once been sure did not exist."
Margaret opened her mouth to speak, but she could not refute her grandmother's points. "I…I was so sure you would've been worried sick! I wish I'd known no time would pass."
"Of course, if time had passed, I would've been absolutely worried. However, that did not happen, and you are here now," Nana said comfortingly as she reached a hand to stroke Margaret's hair. "But…my dear, how did you and Peter…? I didn't receive a call from Grim Prep about you missing classes."
"Oh," Margaret said, her face falling as she recalled the events that led to her introduction to Neverland. "It's…a long story."
"I don't have anything else to be doing. The stew is just simmering now," Wendy said as she walked to the stove to turn it off.
"Well, did I ever tell you about a Mr. Hook at school?"
!
Margaret began the story simply, only planning to explain that Mr. Hook was actually Captain Hook the entire time before simply stating that things were dangerous in Neverland which was why it took so much time for her to return home (from Margaret's perspective). However, before she even realized it, she was talking about Hook's attempted murder, her crippling worry about her grandmother, the scuffles in Neverland, her torturous stay on the Jolly Roger, and the romance that developed between her and Peter.
Wendy was an engaged listener, although she remained quiet the entire time. Wendy schooled her expression to one of neutrality as Margaret explained the particularly emotional parts of her journey. Of course, Wendy did not want to invalidate her granddaughter's experiences, but rather, Wendy did not know a way to react to the sheer horror of her experience without potentially worsening Margaret's mental state thinking about it. Nana figured that she would broach the matter at a different time, when things had settled down for Margaret considerably.
"And, that's everything leading up to now." Margaret waited breathlessly for Wendy to speak, unsure of what her Nana would say.
Wendy remained preoccupied for a moment before she looked over at her granddaughter. "Three generations of women whose hearts were stolen by Peter Pan," she muttered. "That really is quite a predicament, hm?"
Margaret didn't know how to react to Wendy's statement. About thirty seconds of silence passed before anything happened. And this "happening" was in the form of a sob from Margaret. Wendy reached out a hand to stroke Margaret's arms as the younger girl attempted to reach some composure.
"I'm—I'm so sorry Nana, I just—I don't even know why I'm crying so hard!" Margaret cried, wiping her eyes as a few stray tears landed on the table.
Wendy had a few of her own ideas why, although she wouldn't voice them immediately. The violence and abuse Margaret experienced from the pirates was one explanation, but something about the heartbreak in Margaret's eyes made her think that the true source was Peter. That in itself was a completely foreign concept for Wendy to grasp since it was applied to Margaret, who up until now, had never shown any ounce of romantic attraction toward anyone. Margaret held disdain for the thought of dating and only ever entertained marriage as a "have to" not a "want to". So, for Wendy to see her grandchild broken down entirely over a boy, who was the only individual Margaret had ever been interested in, felt like such a foreign experience.
This situation could've easily called for dismissal and assurances that Margaret would grow to love another in time. But something stirred deep within Wendy. Whispers trailed across her mind, leaving her under the belief that somehow, this wasn't a first love doomed for failure.
"Margaret…may I ask you a question?"
Margaret took a few moments to respond, wiping away her tears as her crying subsided into a mildly composed state of being. "Yes."
"What are your thoughts about moving to Neverland?" Wendy asked.
Margaret blinked. "Move…move to Neverland? As in…a permanent move?"
Wendy nodded, her face betraying that the question had been asked entirely in earnest. The younger girl stared with wide eyes at Wendy as she remained speechless for a few minutes. Wendy remained patient, understanding how such a thought might be a bit overwhelming considering Margaret's previous plans were wildly different from what Wendy was proposing.
"I…I would like to but…but…I couldn't leave school now. I have to finish the year—and—and I can't leave you alone—"
"Margaret."
Margaret fell quiet, allowing her grandmother a platform to speak.
"Based on what you have said, it's clear to me that you have fallen in love with Peter, and Peter has fallen in love with you. Now, three generations of Darling women have fallen in love with Peter, and none so far have gone to live with him. I'm not saying that it is your responsibility to fulfill this potential inevitability. But what I am saying, is that you don't have the same barriers that prevented your mother and I from going to live with Peter." Wendy thought for a moment. "I did not stay because I felt a sense of duty to remain here in this world. I wanted to experience life as a grown-up. I wanted to experience things that would not have been possible for me in Neverland. Your mother did not stay because she wanted to be with us during the second war. Once the war finished, she had already fallen in love with the man that she would eventually marry three years later."
"What about me? Isn't it logical to believe that this first love will fade away as I live my life, destined to be forgotten to time as I find someone here to marry and experience life with?" Margaret asked. Wendy's face softened.
"That's a possibility. But do you picture that kind of life for yourself?"
Margaret took a moment to look inward as she thought the matter over. She imagined herself attending university, graduating with a degree in mathematics, science, or history. She imagined herself meeting a fellow student in school. The two of them sharing a shy romance that would take a few years to come to fruition. They would marry and spend their lives involved in the world of academia. Maybe a few children would arrive along the way. Maybe Margaret would make a few revolutionary discoveries. She would live a quiet life with her family and her achievements, only to perish just like anyone else in the world, with her knowledge of the extraordinary perishing along with her.
Everything about that life for her seemed wrong. Margaret couldn't imagine a life deprived of adventure, of continuous learning about a world so fantastical as Neverland. Sure, there were discoveries to be had in London and across the world but…nothing quite so enchanting as that in Neverland. Nothing would ever be quite so grand as Neverland.
Margaret looked over at Wendy, Margaret's heart pounding against her chest wildly. "I…I think I do want to live in Neverland."
Wendy smiled knowingly.
"But I can't leave school in the middle of the year. I must at least graduate from secondary school. I loathe to forgo post-secondary but if I am to live in Neverland, there would be no point—"
"I'm certain Peter would be able to wait until July, even if its sometime away."
"But what about you? And our family? Great Uncle John and Great Uncle Michael would surely be able to notice my absence at family gatherings?"
"Well, I'm certain more than your great uncles will notice," Wendy chuckled. "But there's nothing preventing you from visiting us from time to time. I'm certain that your cousins might like a visit to Neverland," Wendy said with a smile. "As for me, I managed things on my own before you began living with me, and I certainly can manage my own affairs now just like I've always done."
Margaret mulled things over in her mind before smiling. "I should go tell Peter." Without another word, Margaret raced away, leaving Wendy behind to smile at her granddaughter.
!
Peter paced around Margaret's room anxiously. He could hear Wendy and Margaret speaking downstairs, although he couldn't understand what each was saying. The conversation was going on a lot longer than he thought it would. To respect their privacy, Peter didn't eavesdrop, despite his temptation to do so.
Suddenly, quick footsteps rushed into the room. Peter turned around to look at Margaret, who appeared extremely eager. Peter blinked.
"Peter, I've spoken to Nana and I…well, I want to say something to you."
"O-ok?"
"I've been thinking lately about how going to Neverland has practically ruined any chance I could have at living a normal life happily. Being in Neverland has been such an enlightening experience for myself, that I have found that living in Neverland would be the only way to satiate my desire for a life that I would be content with."
Peter felt something inside of him stir at what Margaret was saying. Hope bubbled within him.
"I also have found that I have fallen in love with you, even if it might be hasty for me to say that, and I just—I want to live in Neverland. Permanently."
Everything stopped as Peter heard those words come out of Margaret's mouth. She…wanted to live in Neverland permanently. With him. In Neverland. Forever—
Peter tackled Margaret in a hug. A laugh bubbled from Margaret's mouth as Peter twirled Margaret. Margaret leaned forward, pulling Peter into a sweet, lingering kiss. Upon parting, Peter darted forward for another, and another, and another…
Neither individual knew how long they spent in this elated state, truly. However, this was another moment that Margaret felt couldn't have been more perfect. Each kiss that caressed her lips was another seal in the fate that she had chosen. Margaret's eyes widened as she remembered her self-imposed stipulations. She quickly pulled away.
"I can't leave just yet, though! Oh, Peter, I'm sorry!"
"What?"
"Peter, I can't simply leave in the middle of the school year! The people who know me know I wouldn't simply leave my education so suddenly! I do promise I will go to live with you! But not until July."
Peter looked a bit stricken for a moment, before he grasped Margaret's hands reassuringly. "I'm not so great at waiting, but if we have forever, then I can wait a little longer for forever."
Margaret's smile shone brighter than the sun as she leaned in for another kiss.
!
A/N: Well, so much for worrying about this getting out before my trip. Immediately after posting Chapter 31, I decided to go and edit this chapter. It didn't take me too long to edit it into a form that I was content with.
Anyway, the epilogue will most likely take much longer, so I can't give any estimates on when that will come out. However, I will do my best to not keep everyone waiting. See you guys in the next (and final chapter).