Disclaimer:

I, Aslansphoenix declare that I do not own 'Peter Pan', Neverland or anything that you find familiar. Technically some of the characters did come from my head ... but I think they belong to Neverland just as much as any canon characters.

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Author's Note

Thank-you for your patience.

Warning- If you are like me you will find this chapter a bit heart-breaking. Nothing traumatic (I hope), just has a sad concept to it.

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"All Children Grow up Except One"

Everyone Knows about Neverland,
About the home of Peter Pan.

Second to the Right, and Straight on till Morning.
To the place between dreaming and awakening.

There are rules in Neverland
Rules that must be obeyed.

Boys forget much easier than Girls.
"No Girl can resist Peter Pan,
When he uses a specific voice."
One more thing, which is True ...
In Neverland, You learn all about You.

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Chapter Sixteen

"Stupid, but sweet." With that Tigerlily turned and left the tent. George at grinning like an idiot to himself, then he threw his hands up in the air with a shout of triumph.

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It was evening when Peter told the Story.

The day had been filled by adventure and fun, and there was still energy buzzing in the hideout. Mother-Margaret was busy trying to prepare the meal and trying to keep the Lost Boys in line. Somehow all the restless energy of the room, lead to the issuing of a challenge for Peter to be the one to tell the evening's stories.

Peter was not generally the best story-teller. This was mostly because his tales were usually either; all beginnings, going off on tangents with different stories, or all middles with lots of physical demonstrations. They were fun and the Lost Boys all got involved with the playing, but mostly everyone preferred Mother-Margaret to tell the tales. Peter's retellings just weren't 'stories' in the true sense.

Mostly.

There were a few stories that Peter stayed on track with. A handful he seemed to remember better than his other adventures. Like the tale about cutting off Hook's hand – a story that was so embedded in the legend of Peter Pan, that of course Peter remembered it. (Even if the details sometimes changed). He also seemed to remember adventures with the maybe-mythical Wendy Lady.

George vaguely remembered that back in that other place (London as Mother-Margaret constantly restated), that there was a old lady of starlight who went by the title 'Granny Wendy' and told stories about Peter Pan. But she was a foggier memory for George than the figures George knew to be his actual Mother and Father. Plus, it was a challenge to associate the foggy person with the young child spoken so reverently about in Neverland.

And speak of her, Neverland did. The Wendy (be she a Bird, a Lady, or a Mother) seemed to be something of a myth to many of Neverland. George wasn't entirely sure why, but he felt it must have had something to do with the fact that Peter apparently remembered her. Or maybe it was just the fact that Margaret and Angela were known as children of the Wendy, that brought out the stories. Or maybe everyone just needed a legend.

As Peter had been challenged to tell a story; he told the story of how he had single handedly rescued Wendy and the Lost Boys from being held captive by Captain Hook. There was a lot of action and jumping around points of the story, and the children were having a blast. Peter was building up to an intense bit when Angela piped up in the middle of a sentence and finished it.

The Lost Boys cheered, but Peter scowled.

"How do you know that?"

Angela shrugged feeling unbothered. "I know the story already. I know all the stories with Wendy in them."

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Not!"

"Do!"

"Mother!" "Maggie!" the two children whined towards Mother-Margaret who shrugged apologetically towards Peter as she continued preparing the food. "Sorry Peter, but Angie is correct, we do know all the stories that involved Wendy Darling."

Peter sat up, the twinkle of a challenge in his eyes. "Nuh uh, I bet I can tell a story about Wendy that you have never heard before."

"Nuh uh!"

"Uh huh! There was a time that I saved Wendy's life, and she never even knew it."

George perked up "Like a spy?"

"What's a 'spy'?"

"A hero who saves the day in secret."

Peter went from confused to ecstatic in a moment, (and he quickly believed that it had come up with the concept of a secret hero), and he crowed "Yes, I was Super Spy, saving the day in secret!"

The Lost Boys eagerly sat down to hear this new tale.

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"I arrived in London. You see I had learned about what Wendy would do on that day- hand herself to be a prisoner of a man. I figured he must have holding her brothers captive, to force her into agreeing to his plan. But I was determined stop him and save her – because I am Peter Pan!"

Pause and pose as the Lost boys cheered enthusiastically at their hero.

"It was a cloudy – perfect for hiding until my time to strike. I hid on a ledge with a great viewing point. The building was weird – it was like a castle, with less towers. I sat in place and looked down on the foes below. A bunch of fancy-dressed grown-ups. Pirates pretending not to be pirates.

I was getting prepared to confront the man when I heard a sound from outside. I followed the grumbling around the corner, and I saw who it was … it was Captain Hook! He and his crew were skulking around the building. They were planning on taking Wendy to use as bait for me, but I was better than them. I snuck around them and started making noises to spook them, they were so scared. And … when they were really scared … I leaped into battle!"

Peter leaped onto his chair and began jabbing his sword in the air. What followed was a brief game where the children play fought as pirates against Peter as he shouted his version of the fight. It ended when Peter held his sword to the imaginary Captain. Then the story continued in a more 'told' fashion. And George thought Peter looked a little lost in the past.

"It was me versus Hook in that alleyway 'Hook', I said 'You cowardly codfish, you are here to kidnap Wendy, to take her from her choice, I will not let you!' There was fear in his eyes, but a smirk on his mouth and he spoke back.

'Are my actions any different to yours; Peter Pan? I seek your death, true. And you are correct I believed kidnapping the Wendy-Lady on this day would bring about your destruction. But at least Hook is honest about his intentions. But you Peter, are you not also here to take her from her choice.'

'I am here to rescue her!'

I lunged and the battle raged on, but I am better than hook, I backed him up and he tripped and landed on his backside!" Peter crowed and the listening children cheered at the victory. When the cheering died down Peter continued. "I tied the pirate crew up and was thinking of what should be done to them … when the music started."

A glance travelled around the room as they all thought 'Music?'

"It was the sound of Wendy's impending doom. I flew back to my position and saw them. At one end of the hall the man who was going to trap Wendy, next to an old man and with his crew of well-to-do dressed up pirates all standing in front of their seats. People were walking down the gap and finally she appeared – Wendy."

"What did she look like?" asked Angela curiously.

"Like the last flower still blooming, on the first day of heavy snow." Peter stared into the distance as he spoke, George thought he looked lost in the memory. "Her dress was white, there were flowers in her hair and a pink sash around her waist."

CLANG!

Almost everyone jumped at the unexpected sound, they looked at Margaret who had dropped a bowl on the table. Margaret's hands were held to her mouth and she was gazing at Peter with big sorrowful and shocked eyes. Up until that point she had been listening with a fond bemused expression on her face, while she set about preparing the meal, but for some reason that last sentence had shaken her.

And Angela. George had glanced at the little girl in confusion, but she had been staring at Peter with the same expression as Margaret. George felt very confused as he saw Angela mouth sadly 'you were there'.

Peter took a step towards the kitchen table "Mother are you well?" and George saw Margaret blink at being spoke to, apparently not expecting that. "I – I'm fine. Keep going with your story Peter. Please."

"But –"

"I promise, it's okay, keep going."

Well as Mother-Margaret didn't seem to be in any pain, just shock, Peter continued.

"Okay … Well Wendy walked down to the music of doom, and then she stood with the man and the old guy. I was standing ready to fly down and save the day!"

"But you didn't." came Angela's soft voice, and Peter almost deflated. 'No' thought George 'Peter was deflated … he was more … thoughtful'.

"I didn't. The old guy said a word that stopped me. He said something about 'joining as Husband and Wife.' Husband … That was the word used in the bad story that Wendy used to tell. I didn't like that story; she spoke about being 'grown-up' and having a 'husband'. It was a bad story*

… But Wendy wanted that. And I looked at her, and she was smiling. She was happy. It was Wendy's choice. And then I realised that the people I thought were pirates in disguise, were Wendy's brothers disguised as pirates in disguise. And Hook's words came back to me … if I went down there and forbade Wendy from making this choice, I'd be going against her will, her happiness. And that would make me as bad as Hook! I'm not like Hook – he's a villain and I'm a hero! I couldn't … wouldn't … won't be like Hook. I just don't understand why … why she wanted a husband …"

Peter trailed off, and for the first time that George could remember; he didn't look like the immortal flying boy, captain of all Neverland. He looked like a child who just genuinely did not understand something.

The silence of the moment was broken by Angela. She didn't look like she had recovered from whatever shock she'd gone through, but her smile was genuine and her energy was her usual uplifted sort. "Welp, so you were a secret hero twice - once in stopping the pirate crew and then the second time by not interrupting Wendy's happiness. Go Peter!"

As with any praise Peter received, this lifted his mood and stroked his ego. "Yeah, I did, I saved the day twice. I was an epic spy. That's a hero who saves the day in secret you know." Peter stood so proud of himself for explaining this new concept to the boys, so they dutifully cheered and applauded him.

Angela smiled "Well, congratulations Peter, you were right, you told us a story about Wendy Darling that we had never heard before. You win."

Peter cheered arrogantly and crowed his victory. Margaret stepped slowly out from behind the table, and when Peter danced near her, she grabbed his shoulder and pulled Peter into a tight hug. Peter looked very confused.

"Mother … What are you doing?"

"Hugging you, Peter."

"… But it's not bed-time?"

"I know, Peter."

"… Am I ill Mother?"

"No Peter."

"Are you ill?"

"No Peter."

Peter screwed up his face in confusion and stage-whispered "Then, why are you touching me?"

"Because you need it."

Peter looked even more confused and whined "No I don't."

"Yes you do. Trust me, a mother always knows."

Peter continued to look confused but let Margaret give the comfort she thought she was giving, and George couldn't help but remember the lost look on Peter's face earlier. Maybe he did need a hug. Angela looked smug and the rest of the boys looked to George for answer. Because he was also from the other place, so supposedly understood the girls better.

George "I don't know, it sounded like they were talking about a wedding, and girls always get emotional about weddings."

Angela put her hands on her hips "Boys can get emotional about weddings too."

George shook his head "Nah, it's only adults and girls who get weird about weddings. Weddings are weird people dress up all fancy and do boring speeches, but there is always cake." That started a chant of "Cake! Cake! Cake!" Which Margaret had to put a stop to – remember too much cake is bad for you*2 . And then the children fell into fun semi-chaos until dinner time; when they behave like perfect gentlemen so as to be allowed their food.

And only Margaret noticed when Eliza slipped out of the hideout, but no one saw the glint of silver clutched in her hand.

End of Chapter Sixteen.

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Author's Note:

Here this chapter ends.

I made myself sad with this chapter – my shipper heart breaks for the tragedy that is the tale of Peter and Wendy.

*I admit I prefer the option of Hook telling Peter about Wendy replacing him with a husband (2003 movie of Peter Pan), but in the book it is Wendy who tells the story of her hopes for the future; including having a husband.

*2 Hook's evil scheme reference. Boom! (I find pointing out that particular reference to be quite fun).

Thanks to all readers of this story.

I thank you all for your patience.

Date - Tuesday 6th August 2019