"Peter!"

"Yes!" Peter flew in circles. "What?"

"Something's wrong... this is not right."

"I told you."

They lay on the pink clouds and Lili watched the pirate ship. With Peter's return, the ice cracked, winter ended, and life returned to Neverland. But the Jolly Rodger was still preternaturally quiet.

"Not a single pirate on board. Not even a watch..."

"Barbarrossa must be searching for me."

"......" Lili slid off and went further down. "Peter, not even Hook was that mad about finding you."

"Who?" Peter hung in the air in front of her, studying her quizzically.

Sighing, Lili cursed whatever it was that made Peter forget everything. "Captain James Hook. You cut off his right hand and threw it to the crocodile. Later you killed him after he tried to poison you, tried to kill Tink, and kidnapped Wendy and all the boys."

Peter looked at her, somewhat confused, "Tink's not dead, she's right here." Tink tinkled and alight on Lili's finger.

"Peter, remember, fairies don't last that long. Only five or six years at most, there must have been at least six or seven Tinker Bell's." Tink chimed eight times. "She's Tink the eighth. Peter?"

"Tink... Hook... they died...? And the seven Lost Boys...?"

"They left with Wendy. Slightly, Tootles, Nibs, the Twins, all of them."

"Tootles... I have..." Peter rooted in a pocket; for he had put his dagger, pipes, and various other things in the pockets, and pulled out a bag of marbles. "His marbles." He grinned.

Lili smiled, "I know it hurts, but I need to know what's happening."

"I want to change."

Lili sighed. Damn him anyway. "Fine. Lead on captain."

"Father..." Peter shook his head slowly. "I was Father, you were Mother. And nothing bad happened."

At the underground house, which still got some use, just not as much as the house in the trees, Peter was rooting under the bed.

"Do you even know what you're looking for?"

"Yes. I know it's here..." he threw a sword, and a sad looking teddy bear out. Lili managed to catch the sword before she was impaled, but was bonked on the head by the bear.

"Watch it!"

"Sorry. Here!" grinning, he produced a new set of leaves.

"Great. Now get dressed. I'll round up the Lost Boys."

"Uh..."

"Peter, how many?"

"Five?"

"What? Aren't you sure? Are they even alive!?"

"Alive! Jeez, I'm not that bad of a commander! Nice to know you think so highly of me."

"Just get changed..."

"Yes, ma'am." He saluted before she left, the ghost of a grin on his face.

"Lost Boys..." Lili sighed. There was a trick to finding the Lost Boys, and she was out of practice. Not running across the pirates, Indians, and the wild beasts was a plus too. So was the ability to fly.

Not that flying made it any easier.

"Tink? Could you please help? I know you know where they are... and I solemnly swear I'm not going to kidnap him or anything. But... this place is dying..." Tink tinkled sadly in agreement. The jungle was still lush, but the colors seemed to be fading. "Whatever has been done needs to be stopped."

Outside in the clearing, the Lost Boys huddled. The five, the Triplets, (Peter, sensing something vaguely familiar had refused to name them) Liat, and Guyth.

"Why'd Peter leave?" asked Guyth.

Liat, the oldest at seven, was leader in Peter's absence. Which was happening more and more often.

"He said he was getting us a mother." Tink flew in, and whispered in Liat's ear. "What! She's here!"
The Triplets gasped, "A lady!"

"I'm no lady. Just your average storyteller."

Guyth spun and stared at the floating Lili. "You're grown up!"

Peter landed behind his small troop. "Not quite. She can still fly."

"Grown up's can't fly?"

"Well... not very well." Peter replied, grinning.

"A... compliment?" Lili raised her eyebrows.

"Me? I'd never compliment anyone. Aside from myself, of course." Peter turned to Liat, who had been making odd noises during the entire exchange. "Yes?"

"She's grown up! How could you!"

"I am captain, I can do as I please."

"But!" Peter put a finger to Liat's lips.

"No buts. My word is law. If I say she's your mother she is. No matter how old she is."

"Can we just go back?" Lili was grinning, and lifted off into the air.

In another part of the island, Barbarrossa stalked on the war path, searching for Peter Pan. Now, while having to admit, every pirate captain who has ever had the misfortune to come in contact with the Neverland has hunted Peter, but few did so with the near reckless abandon that Barbarrossa favored.

Quite unhealthy, an obsession like that, but what can be done? Other than some extreme psychiatric treatment.

All this obsessing over Peter usually stemmed from the fact Peter was in one word, cocky. It was, in his conceited arrogance that he was, and is, at his most interesting. You couldn't help watching him, because he so very fervently believed everything that he said, even when it was complete hogwash.

Barbarrossa just simply went from wanting to kill Peter to wanting to possess him. But Peter didn't want to belong to anyone, so he fought back, and got hurt. Poor pretty Peter Pan.

"Find that boy!" shouted Barbarrossa. "No one runs from me!"

First mate Trig saluted. "Yes, sir! But, we've searched everywhere! He's nowhere to be found..."

"Idiot! This is an island, he can't have left!"

Back in the house below the ground, Peter lounged in his chair, watching the Lost Boys play with the oddest look on his face. It was an almost nostalgic expression. Lili came up behind the chair. "Peter, we need to talk."

"I don't want to." He hugged his knees to his chest, "It hurts..." as he turned to face her, Lili paled visibly.

"Please! Don't move so fast..."

"Lili! What's wrong?"

"I can't stay, Peter. I don't belong, I don't have a place."

"But you do belong. Here, with me, as Mother."

"I'm too old, I think it's different if I was a pirate, but I'm too old to be with you, and I can't be a Lost Boy, I'm a girl. Peter, I'll die if I stay here."

"No! I won't allow it!" Peter stood and flew from the room. All the Lost Boys froze and stared at Lili.

"Peter..." Lili sighed, and followed after him.

Tenshi-san: I have noticed I didn't place a disclaimer on the first installment. Well, if you think I own the rights to Peter Pan, more power to you. But, 'ware the white coated men, for they follow you because you're freaking nuts! catches breath Oh, hmm... this seems to be a good place to get this off my chest. My sincerest apologies to Ian McCue. My friends made fun of you for over a year, and I joined in, even though I really, really like you. And, in case there are more than one Ian McCue's in this country, I mean the one that rides a Yamaha, number 66. You rule. So do the pink pants. I really mean it; the neon pink, sky blue uniform is... eye catching. And I hate not being able to go to the Switchback, but November 20th, I'll be there! Damn, it's not even September yet... And if you know Ian, have him write me. Yes, I am a dork. And this was rather public... But it fit with the fanfic! I made Peter not wear pink clothing!