Rampant Id

A thousand pardons to my wonderful readers. Life is crazy these days (for everyone I'm sure) and in such times we get to go through all sorts of life changes. I've moved back to my home country (after having lived one decade of my life in Asia) and with that come many adjustments. I will of course try to update my stories on a more regular basis, but I can make no promises.

I would like to dedicate this chapter to two of my newest readers: AniLovesMe and theatreweeb741. Also a shout out to sarahwilliams1986. Thanks to all of you for leaving a review - it actually jump-started me into writing this next chapter. :)


Chapter 8:
Forget-me-not

That morning I woke up quite early due to the rather restless sleep that I had gotten the night before, thanks to all that tossing and turning. There was only one place that I wanted to be in right now, and so that's where I went.

He found me in the tree grove sitting amidst the flowers. Rufio's shadow fell on me and the unfinished flower bracelet that I held in my hands. I had put special care into plaiting it the way that grandma Wendy had taught me, and it made a matching set with the already finished blue flower garland crowning my head. I looked up hesitantly, automatically pushing the flowery creation up and out of my eyes for the millionth time.

"How did you find me?" I asked, trying to hide the fact that I was feeling quite nervous as well as conflicted.

He looked down at me, with my lopsided blue flower crown once again sliding down into my eyes. "Tinkerbell suggested that I might find you here."

"Because she wants me to leave Neverland." I stated forlornly, and glanced down at the sad looking blue flowers spread out on my lap. I didn't feel like meeting his gaze just now.

Rufio looked a bit startled and then understanding filled his eyes. "So you heard that, did you?"

I nodded miserably. "Why does nobody want me around?" I swiped my small fist across my suddenly wet eyes.

"Nobody? I'm sure your mother misses you a lot. Also, It's not that we don't want you around, it's just that this isn't your home. Unlike the lost boys you still have people who love and miss you back in your world. You were stolen away - trapped here in Neverland - and I've been selfish in keeping you here." I felt a large hand ruffle my hair and my flower crown slipped entirely over my eyes as a result.

I pulled the blue flower garland off my head in frustration and stood up, ignoring the loose blue flowers and the unfinished bracelet that slid off my pants and fell forlornly onto the ground. "You didn't do anything wrong. I like it here!" I stomped my foot for added emphasis, wishing I was taller so that I could meet his eyes without having to tilt my head back so far.

Rufio scratched the back of his head looking uncomfortable and a little bit lost. "Look, I'll be honest. I don't know where your brother is, nor Hook for that matter. It's going to take a lot longer for me to track them down, and the longer that you stay here the more time passes back in your world. You have family there - a mother and grandmother Tink tells me. You need to go back and live your life the way you were meant to. I'll be taking you home tomorrow."

My bottom lip started quivering. I did miss my mother, and my grandmother as well, but I had a feeling that once I went back I'd never see Rufio again. Rufio who had become my friend, sort of like a second big brother who looked out for me. I didn't want to loose that.

"You'll forget all about me," I whispered, wiping the tears from my eyes with a fist. "Tink told me you would."

Rufio rolled his eyes grinning. "You're hard to forget lobster face.

My eyes widened, not at the annoying nickname he'd taken to calling me since my trial, but rather at the wonderful idea that had suddenly popped into my head. "Take this." I said, thrusting the blue flower garland toward him that I had been clutching in my hand.

"What? Your little princess crown? No thanks." Like every other stupid boy before him, Rufio looked down at my gift of flowers with that boyish superiority.

"These flowers are forget-me-nots. If you take this you will remember me every time that you look at them, so you'll never-ever forget me!" I was quite excited by this point. Tinkerbell had told me that people in Neverland needed some kind of reminder to keep from forgetting us regular people. This was the answer! Grandma Wendy had done something like this before when she gave Peter Pan a "kiss". Apparently my dad had actually kept it somewhere in his tree house here in Neverland.

Rufio put my heartfelt gift back on my head and crouched down so that we were eye-to-eye. "Listen shrimp, I won't forget you or your brother. I swear on Peter Pan's name that I will fulfill my vow and bring your brother back to you. Who knows, I might even visit you from time to time when you're not watching." He winked playfully at that and patted my shoulder. "Tink is right, your future is back in your own world. I might be unable to bring your father back, but I can make sure that the rest of your family is safe."

So saying, Rufio stood once more and walked me back to the campgrounds where lunch now sounded like it was in full swing. I kept silent, mulling over his words and glancing up at him from time to time. His words had sounded so sure and confident, but then why were his fists clenched so tightly, I wondered.


It was my final day in Neverland and all the lost boys were lined up bidding their last farewells. Pockets and Too Small were openly wiping tears from their faces while the older boys seemed to be fine if you ignored the slightly moist sheen in their eyes. I had received various knickknacks from my newfound friends, not to mention the slight residual pain resulting from having been squeezed by everyone while in the centre of the biggest group-hug ever.

Rufio came over to me, ignoring the random sniffles coming from the crowd of lost boys. Tinkerbell trailed after him, ready to sprinkle fairy dust on me, so that I could fly alongside of him.

"Come on, it's time for us to go." He said holding out his hand toward my much smaller one.

"Oh! I forgot to give back your knife!" I realized and quickly started trying to unbuckle the belt that held the sheathed weapon. It had become second nature for me to carry it around.

"Keep it," Rufio said grabbing my hand as Tinkerbell showered me in golden sparkles. "Use it to keep yourself safe."

I felt myself lifting up off the ground, feelings of excitement coursing through me. Sure I was a bit sad to leave everyone, but I would get to see my mother and grandmother again, plus Rufio had given me his very own knife. It was nice getting gifts from people who liked you. I had given a gift to Rufio too - but he didn't know about it yet.

I had snuck into his room in the tree house and left my lovely flower garland - the one made out of forget-me-nots - on his bed. There was no way that he would forget me now. Feeling a grin spread across my face as Rufio and I flew up to the sky, I waved energetically down to the lost boys as they became smaller and smaller.


I must have fallen asleep. It was dark and I was a bit cold from the wind, but only along one side. Opening my eyes I realized that I was being held in someone's arms and that the part of me pressed against them was thankfully still warm. From the part of the crazy outfit that I could see - random spikes and bones jutting our from black leather - I quickly realized that it was Rufio who held me. Not only that, we were standing outside of the big window belonging to Grandma Wendy's bedroom. The same bedroom that Hook had kidnapped me and my brother from all those months ago. Currently Rufio was cursing under his breath and trying not to jostle me while he tried to shove open the window without breaking it.

Feeling me shift in his arms he glanced down and gave me a crooked smile. "Sorry Shrimp, I need one of my hands to jimmy open the lock. Some genius latched the window shut." Seeing me nod in response, Rufio had me grab onto his neck with both my arms while he held me with his right. Not wanting to acknowledge the fact that we were very far above the ground I simply buried my face into one of the non-spiky spots on his black coat and waited until I heard the window make a click sound.

The next thing I knew we were inside the bedroom. I couldn't hear his foot steps and so I looked down. At first it was a mystery for me as to why he had chosen to glide one inch off the floor rather than walk. Then I looked up at his face and followed his weary gaze. He was looking at a chair that had been placed next to the bed. In the chair sat my mother, but she looked a bit different now. Her previously rich brown hair-colour was now sprinkled with a mix of white strands, giving it a slightly lighter appearance. I tried pulling out of Rufio's grip, but it had turned into one of steel. Indicating to me to be quiet, he floated us over to the bed and carefully placed me down on top of it. His feet still hovered over the ground as he slowly floated away, back toward the window. His gaze strayed over to my mother's worn figure once more and his once proud posture took on a slightly defeated look. Once he was hovering again by the window he cast a guilty glance in my direction and then flew out, leaving the window open in his haste to depart.

Those tense shoulders and downcast eyes brought back the words that he had spoken to me the day before: "I swear on Peter Pan's name that I will fulfill my vow and bring your brother back to you." It was in this instant that I understood - he blamed himself for everything.

My poor, poor mother had clearly suffered a lot. Even in her sleep her face looked troubled. Wrinkles that had not been there before now heavily lined her eyes and mouth. Looking at my mother's worry worn face I was also hit by a powerful wave of guilt. Only now did I understand the level of suffering that she had been going through. Without a warning she had lost her entire family. What's worse, she would never get to see my dad again. My brother would come back, of that I was sure - Rufio had promised me. But Daddy was never coming back.

Sniffling a little, I crawled out of bed and reached out with both hands to hug my mother's frail looking form.

"Mommy, I'm home" I whispered when I felt her jolt awake in my arms. She squeezed me so tightly that I felt like I was getting crushed. At first I wanted to wiggle away, however, hearing her shuddering sobs next to my ear kept me right where I was. I didn't move an inch until some time later when my Grandma Wendy came in. By then all of us were hugging and crying.

I was home.


Rampant Id:

Please leave a review and tell me what you thought. Also, yes, the next chapter will have a time skip where our protagonist will finally be a teenager.