Disclaimer: I don't own Finding Neverland and I'm not making money off this story.

Just Believe

Chapter One: Our Little Secret

J.M. Barrie

I didn't know where my place in this world was anymore. In just a year's time I had lost my wife to another man, lost a loving woman to an illness, wrote a fantastic play, gained the guardianship of four wonderful boys and moved into the home of Emma de Maurier. But I had lost my footing along the way. I fear there have been too many valleys and mountain tops that I had to travel over that now, I did not know what kind of ground was underneath my feet. For the boy's sake, I needed to find my balance again. I needed to gain back the foot holds that I had lost.

"Uncle Jim?"

I actually jump at the sound of Peter's voice, realizing just how deep in thought I had been. "Yes, Peter?"

"Is Porthos coming to the park with us today?"

I looked over at the sleeping mass of fur that was snoring in front of the fire. "I think not. It is a wise thing to let a sleeping bear lie."

Peter tries not to smile at the comment and only half-way succeeds. "I'll get my brothers then."

I nod and stand, gathering my notebook and pen for the journey to the park. I give Porthos one last look before heading towards the hallway. He was getting old, as all dogs do. I was struggling with whether or not to inform the boys of Porthos' imminent demise or face it when the time came. I feared the boys had seen too much death already. They understood it perfectly at a much too young an age. Perhaps I could tell them that Porthos had found a traveling circus to perform in and was traveling the world.

A loud crash from the kitchen interrupted the creative turn my mind had taken. It sounded as if one of the maids had broken an arm full of china and was busily cleaning it up. I took a few steps forward to investigate when a couple voices drifted out into the hallway to greet me.

"Mrs. de Maurier is going to have my head for this," an American tinged voice said. I immediately recognized that it belonged to Lily, the newest addition to the household. Emma de Maurier apparently thought she needed another maid to help with the extra fuss the boys had brought into her home. I knew very little of the slight red head other than the fact that she was an American.

"Don't worry, we won't tell Grandmother," Michael's voice rose over the clanging of broken pieces being picked up.

"She's going to notice this many dishes having been broken."

"George is right, I'm afraid," Lily's voice answered. "It'll be back to America for me."

"No, you can't go back yet," Michael whined.

There were few things in this world that the Llewellyn-Davies boys treasured now and if they had developed a connection to the new housekeeper I was determined to keep her in the house. I stepped through the door into the large kitchen to assess the damage. I found myself ankle deep in broken tea cups and saucers.

"Mr. Barrie."

"Miss Howard."

"Please, Uncle Jim," George asked with all the seriousness of a man, "Don't tell Grandmother of this. It was Michael's fault."

The accused looked down at his scuffed shoes. "I left out one of my toys and Ms. Howard tripped over it."

I was surprised to see Lily lean over and place a gentle hand on Michael's arm. "And I should have been watching where I was stepping."

I bent down and shuffled through the bits of white porcelain till I found the stamp on the bottom of a shattered tea cup. "Were you just carrying tea cups and saucers?"

"Yes, Mr. Barrie."

I wrapped the piece in my handkerchief and placed it in my pocket. "I happen to know a shop where they should still sell this particular line of china. How many sets were you carrying?"

Lily flushed a deep red. "Eight."

I nodded and opened the kitchen door to find Peter on the other side, obviously still looking for his brothers. But once his eyes caught sight of the mess on the floor, all thoughts of the park were gone.

"Boys, why don't you help Miss Howard clean up this mess while I go try to find some replacements."

All four head bowed obediently and started to gather up the broken pieces. I turned and left the kitchen, barely making it halfway down the hallway before Lily caught up with me.

"Mr. Barrie?"

"Yes?"

"Sir, I greatly appreciate your willingness to cover my mistake, but…"

I watched her face contort as words seemed to leave her. I placed my hat on my head and blindly grabbed a walking cane from the stand near the door. "Yes?"

She twirled her fingers around her apron and stared at the floor. "It's just I don't have enough money to pay for that many cups and saucers, Mr. Barrie."

"That is why I'm going instead of sending you."

I watch as the realization creeps across her freckled face. Relief is evident, followed quickly by gratefulness but everything is overshadowed by fear. "Mr. Barrie-"

I reach out and quickly made contact with her elbow, much how she touched Michael in the kitchen. "It'll be our little secret."

"I can't pay you back either, sir."

"I never expected you to." I tip my hat and slip out of the door before she felt the need to come up with another excuse as to why I shouldn't be doing this favor. It was the longest conversation I ever had with Lily and was surprised that I had let that much time slip past without getting to know her. Mary always thought it highly inappropriate that I knew our housekeepers and cooks last names, places of origin and number of family members. I was certain that Emma de Maurier was no different so I would have to make my inquiries with care.