Tenshi-san: Well, some unknown force is forcing me to type. Does someone have a voodoo doll of me? Ah, not that it matters. Enjoy the updates while they happen. It can't last forever.

DISCLAIMER: I still don't own it. If I did, Peter would be in some serious need of counseling. Yes, be afraid. Very afraid. Not yet though.

The Fairy Queen was the oldest, and thus the wisest, of the fairies. If anyone on the Neverland could help Peter, it would be her.

Peter landed and started walking to the great tree that had been the fairies home since time immemorial. Or as far back as Peter could remember. Pick one.

"Peter! Please, don't run off." He spun and covered her mouth with his hand.

"Shh. I'm trying to help you."

"You're acting like a silly ass." She muttered.

"Oh, the cleverness of me." Lili glowered, "I'm kidding. You have to calm down, the Queen likes her peace."

"Here? Quiet? The only time it's quiet is when you leave."

He gave a sad smile, and flew to the tree, leading Lili. In the tree, fairies danced a masked ball in miniature. Peter floated to a larger 'window', but Lili remained where she was, entranced. Peter smiled at her obvious delight at the scene.

"Peter Pan, it has been long since you have graced us with you presence. "

"Milady." He gave a pretty bow.

"We taught you well. Pretty manners to go with that angelic form." The Queen floated up, and proved to be a full five inches taller than the others. The gown she wore was of silver spider silk.

"Peter? Manners? Well, he may have them, but I'm surprised to see they aren't rusty." The fairy gazed coolly at Lili.

"And who are you that poke fun at our little princeling?"

"My name is Lili."

"Lili, that isn't your full name."

"No." Lili hesitated, "Lilith. My name, my full name is Lilith."

"An evil omened name indeed. You should fear to tread here."

"I always did hate that name..."

The fairy turned. "You are too old to be held by this place. The Neverland is a haven for children; adults can no longer visit this place."
"She's not grown up!" Peter caught Lili's elbow. "I need her."

The Queen brushed her hand against Peter's face, "This harm you have suffered has begun to break you. The strongest has walked in fear."

"I don't want to be afraid anymore. I want it to go back to the way it was." he pulled closer to Lili. "I want it to stop."

"That can't happen, what's done is done."

"I wish I could forget."

The Queen flew higher. "Ah, but, in a way, your ability to forget is what caused this." She sighed, and landed on her throne. "I will help, for Peter, this is our home. You are its heart and soul. If you die, so does Neverland." Peter studied her. "I also realize that the harm that befell you can be healed by her. But you must trust her."

"Long have I ruled the fairies of Neverland. I am Aoife, and I will not allow my home or my adopted child to die. I give you, Lili, this." A courtier flew up with a flower filled with nectar. "This will give you more time, until you can use the Never Flower."

Lili drank from the cup.

"The Never Flower?" asked Peter.

"Yes. But, a warning. This is no free gift. The Never Flower will cure Lili, but you will pay the price."

"Okay!" and he was gone.

"Peter! You don't even know where it is!" she sighed, shaking her head. "Boys. I don't know why I even bother."

"Because, child, you love him. You would sacrifice yourself to save him, to keep him safe."

"Is it that obvious?"

"To me, yes. And possibly to other adults."

"So he didn't notice."

"Child, Peter only notices things if you hit him over the head."

"I never thought of it like that... But, the Never Flower?"

Queen Aoife smiled. "It is good, you cannot be swayed from your task. The flower is in the cave opposite the Black Castle."

"Thank you!" and Lili flew off in the same general direction as Peter.

Catching up with Peter wasn't as hard as you would have thought. Neverland was small, so there wasn't a long wait between adventures. Peter sat on a rock, idly drawing in the sand.

"Decided to wait for me?"

"I decided it would be polite."

"And the fact it would be useless without me didn't matter?"

"That too."

"While you're thinking, you might want to contemplate about taking lessons on lying. You're horrible."

"...... Whatever." Peter stood. "Well, are we going to stand around talking or get this over with."

"The flower is in the cave opposite the Black Castle."

"I knew that."

"Is this anything like how you never cry?"

"I don't cry!" Peter turned, and crossed his arms.

"I see why you are either a tragedy or the best there ever was."

"I never understood that! How am I tragic! Do I, I a fit of jealousy, murder my best friend? Do I die? Do I rip my eyes out? No!"

"You live unchangingly ten on an enchanted island where everything is controlled by your moods and/or absence." Lili sighed. "Some would find that tragic."

"Yet anyone would take my place. Grownups confuse me."

"That's not my fault."

"You grew up!" peter poked her. "I didn't make you leave. I wanted to keep you here, forever."

"Forever is an awfully long time."

"Why does everyone say that? Really?" Peter turned to her. "Why is it so long?"

Lili studied him. On one hand she could tell him why forever is a long time. But doing so seemed wrong. It was an adult thing. Was stripping innocence away piecemeal better than losing it at one go? "Peter, you don't want to know. It's not something you want to live with."

"What if I did?" Peter lifted just enough to look her in the eyes.

"I still wouldn't tell you. If I could go back, I would never have left this place. Too many children want to know what being grown up is about."

"Why leave me? Why choose that over this?"

"People want everything. And when children show something adults lost, adults want them to lose it."

"It?"

"Innocence. That sense that the world is fair, and no one would ever be unfair. No one really gets over losing that. Except you."

Peter leaned against her. "I... forget."

"Yes. It helps you. No one would not fight fair, every one is intrinsically good."

"I didn't forget Barbarrossa. He fought dirty."

"Eventually, you will. It will go away if he stops"

"He won't. I begged and begged, but he wouldn't. Until the coal scuttle fell on him."

"Coal scuttle?"

"Tink dropped it on him." Peter looked at her, "Why didn't he stop?"

"I don't--- Did you suddenly get taller?"

Peter just looked confused, a normal reaction to a sudden switch is conversation. "I've always been this tall."

"No, you were shorter when we were at the fairy tree."

"No, I wasn't."

"Fine. I'm shrinking."

He just smiled. It wasn't a sweet smile, it was a cocky, 'I know something you don't' smile. "Do you want to know?"

Lili regarded the green eyes that studied her. He was keeping a secret. But she didn't want to know what it was right now.

"Let's go."

"Then some dinner?" she asked hopefully.

Tenshi-san: I am so tired. And if some one doesn't review I'm going to burn the damn fic. I'll keep the damn ending to myself. And my sister, but just cause she bugs me for the story. I don't know if she should be allowed to read the later stuff... it's gonna get violent. OO

Ah, well, as long as no one acts this out....