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Home Sweet Neverland

Chapter Two

Rosie's stomach lurched and she began spiraling down, head first, towards the sheet that was London. Letting out a cry, she shut her eyes tightly and pulled her arms in. Tinkerbell saw the fall first but made no motion to help. Peter looked around alerted by the sound and spotted Rosie falling. He quickly flew after her, arms outstretched, as fast as he could. Rosie pulled herself inward, preparing for a crash when two strong arms suddenly scooped her out of the air and flew back up into the night. Opening her eyes, Rosie saw that Peter had caught her. He landed on the minute hand of Big Ben which was pointing at the 15 min mark. As his feet touched the clock hand, it chimed. Once, twice, three times and four times. He then looked down at Rosie.

"What happened?" Peter asked in confusion attempting to set her down beside him. Rosie saw London again below and closed her eyes gripping tightly to Peter's arm.

"I can't fly Peter! I'm awfully terrified of heights!" she said remembering now. Her feet were precariously placed on the edge of the minute hand as Peter's feet took up most of the space and Rosie struggled to keep her head clear.

"Aw, that's no problem!" Peter exclaimed scooping her up again. "I'll carry you." He said and took off again. Tinkerbell fumed bright red as she followed and plotted a way of getting rid of this girl.

Rosie held tightly to his arm as Peter flew. She wasn't quite so terrified now that she was securely away from any risk of falling into the depths of the city below. It was actually a very peaceful ride though she did her best not to look down. Then, Peter suddenly smiled.

"There it is Rosie!" he called and motioned with his head to something up ahead of them. "The second star to the right and straight on till morning."

She looked ahead as the aforementioned star came into view. It seemed to be flickering red. Rosie shut her eyes again in fear as it loomed closer and the next thing she knew, Peter was landing. Opening her eyes, Rosie saw Neverland below the clouds. Despite the height, she didn't feel that same fear of falling as she had in London. There was something magical about the island below her that pushed any slivers of fear away as Rosie stared down with wide eyes.

"I'll show you around later," Peter promised in his aloof tone. "First I want you to meet the Lost Boys." He said and took off again. As they neared the island, Rosie noticed a lone ship in the water. As they passed the red hull, she noticed that the residents had gone. Peter noticed as well. "I wonder where Hook's off to." He commented as they passed. They had now entered the cover of trees when Peter sped off towards an oddly stumped trunk. Rosie opened his mouth in question but before she could voice the question, Peter had dropped her into the top. Rosie spun to the bottom on what seemed a slide and landed in the dirt sending up a small puff of dust completely bewildered.

Looking around, she saw Peter fly in over her head and land on the ground before her. Offering her a hand, Peter hoisted Rosie to her feet and grinned.

"Lost Boys!" Peter called cupping a hand over his mouth. "Atten…tion! Fall in!" he called and looked around with a wide smile. Rosie looked around but everything was strangely still; she had just begun to wonder if this was a trick when suddenly there was a lot of scrambling. A boy then appeared dressed as a fox and ran into the trunk hideout followed by a rabbit. Then a tiny skunk boy fell in through an entrance from the roof and a pair of what looked like twins came hurrying in from behind Rosie. Then, lastly, entered a chubby bear that got stuck coming in from his entrance. The boys scrambled and formed a line in stiff salute to Peter. The twins did their best to help the bear out before following the others into line then everything was still once more. "Lost boys," Peter began. "This is Rosie." He said and held out a hand to show them.

"Hi Rosie!" the fox one, Slightly, called.

"Yeah, hiya Rosie!" echoed the twins.

"D-duh, Hi Rosie!" called the bear, Cubby.

"Hello Rosie!" The rabbit, Nibs, called. The little skunk waved and Rosie let out a small laugh.

"Hello, er - boys." She said and smiled. They all beamed and Peter nodded in satisfaction.

"Rosie is going to be our new mother!" he announced and sat in his throne like chair. Rosie looked at him in bewilderment.

"But Peter," she said "I don't know how to be a mother. I've never had one." The Lost Boys all gasped and Peter raised an eyebrow. Tinkerbell jingled in smug satisfaction. "I told you remember. I don't have a family." Rosie continued stepping towards Peter with her finger raised.

"Why?" called Nibs. The other boys all began to cry out their own questions and Rosie blinked in surprise as they crowded her.

"I –" she started.

"Where did your family go?"

"What's it like without a family in the other world?"

"Where did you live?"

"Who took care of you?"

Peter watched in amusement but Rosie felt all their questions hitting her like little arrows. She blinked rapidly and stepped back as tears began to well up in her eyes. When she'd finally had enough, Rosie turned around and blinked back the threatening tears as the Lost Boys bounced. They suddenly stopped and Peter caught sight of a tear that slipped down her cheek. He sat up curiously and the Lost Boys exchanged glances. They then shuffled and moved around to the front to see Rosie's face without a sound. She wiped her eyes quickly and tried to smile.

"I'm sorry guys," She said as all the worried faces looked up at her. Peter looked around the hideout quickly.

"Lost Boys! Go capture some Indians." He said standing and pointing to the right as the boys quickly scampered away to do so. When they were gone, Peter floated over to Rosie. "You ok?" he asked sympathetically. Rosie quickly nodded.

"Yes, fine." She said and smiled as best she could. Peter beamed back with a nod.

"Good." He said. "Come on Rosie, I'll show you the island." Peter offered and held out his hand to her. He floated on his stomach with his feet in the air behind him as Rosie nodded and placed her hand in his. Peter smiled and led her up the stairs to exit. As they went, Tinkerbell watched from her little hallow guarded behind a leaf. Scowling, the pixie didn't follow and turned to go back inside.

Outside the secret hideout, Peter and Rosie exited through a small side panel. Peter floated in the air and pulled out a small flute. He blew a little tune and offered Rosie his hand again. She laughed lightly and Peter smiled down as he floated around her.

"So," he asked circling. "What would you like to see first?" Rosie smiled again and brought her finger up to her chin in thought.

"I don't know." She said. "I've never been here before." It was true. Rosie hadn't finished the whole story back in her room. She didn't know much about Neverland but vaguely remembered something about "Mermaids?" she asked then. Peter nodded.

"Yes? What about them?" he asked still circling and blowing into his flute again.

"Well, how about you show them to me?" Rosie said. "It's the only thing I really know about Neverland anyways." She added watching as Peter flew around her. Peter let out a small gasp and dropped a foot in the air at that moment.

"Wait, you mean you don't know anything about Neverland?" he asked. Rosie shook her head. "I'll show you everything then!" he announced animatedly. Rosie clapped her hands again in excitement.

"Really?" she asked. Peter nodded.

"Come on!" he said and lifted her into the air by the waist. They flew for a short while, Rosie in Peter's arms once more due to Tinkerbell's lack of hospitality, through the forest until they reached a small opening through the trees. Just beyond them was a small pond like thing. Through a small opening in the trees, it was apparent that the space was guarded on the other side from the rest of the waters by a large rock only splitting on the far side to allow passage. A waterfall cascaded down into the still waters and many rocks were scatteredaround the center of the lagoon. A few mermaids were sitting at the base of a large rock that sat in the center of the entire tarn. Peter flew into the open and placed Rosie on that main rock right at the top. "Rosie, welcome to mermaid lagoon." He said and swept a hand around to show her. The mermaids all looked around at them to the place Peter's voice came from. There were the beginnings of a few called 'hello's' when gasps echoed around the lagoon.

"Another girl?" one mermaid with a red ponytail called.

"Oh Peter, why do you bring so many girls to see us?" a black haired mermaid called.

"We haven't been able to drown a single one!" another blonde one called.

"Drown?" Rosie echoed, her hands flying to her mouth.

"Oh no dearie, come swim with us!" another with long red hair called nastily.

"I-I don't think so." Rosie replied stepping higher onto the rock and nearer to Peter. "Are they always this nasty?" she asked in a hushed whisper. Peter let out a laugh while the nearest mermaids let out angry huffs.

"Nasty?" the black haired one echoed.

"We'll show you nasty!" the blonde cried angrily. Rosie looked around at the mermaids and frowned as they advanced.

"Oh Peter, don't let them!" she cried as one mermaid grabbed her dress. Rosie huffed angrily and aimed a kick at the mermaid.

"Rosie!" Peter said rushing forward and trying to stop her. The mermaid quickly let go as another tried to grab Rosie's now bare foot. Rosie shook her off and gathered her golden nightdress up to kick the other mermaid. And she would have too if Peter hadn't lifted her into the air. Legs flailing Rosie tried to struggle free.

"Put me down Peter!" she called.

"Why do you defend her?" the mermaid who had almost been kicked asked angrily and echoes of agreement rose up around them from the others.

"Oh the horrid!" Rosie exclaimed and threw one of her hair clips at the mermaid. It bounced off her wet hair and landed with a plunk in the water. Peter lifted Rosie higher into the air as the mermaids called angrily after her. Peter looked around again and flew Rosie over to a higher rock on the left away from the lagoon and mermaids before setting Rosie down. Rosie turned and put her hand on her hips as the mermaids calls echoed up to her.

"What horrible mermaids!" she exclaimed. "I've never met anyone so rude in my life!"

"They were just playing a little." Peter said smiling. "You didn't have to get so mad." He added smugly and floated onto his back blowing on the flute again. The sound echoed around the lagoon and down to the mermaids who were still calling after Rosie angrily. Rosie let out a short breath and dropped her arms stiffly to her sides but didn't answer. "Come on, I'll show you around Neverpeak mountain next." He said. Rosie crossed her arms and Peter laughed lifting her into the air again.

They flew through the forest and Rosie saw a river snaking its way far below. Peter followed it for awhile when he suddenly flew up into the clouds. He tossed Rosie into the air and the young girl let out a cry.

"Peter!" she called as she began to fall again. Rosie's curls flew up and her nightdress flapped against the wind as she spiraled down. Then, Peter flew below her and caught Rosie in mid fall. She grabbed his arm tightly and looked up at Peter with a frown. "What was that for?" she cried. He laughed.

"Just wanted to see if you could fly yet." He said and soared ahead.

"How could I? There's no pixie dust!" she said crossly as Peter flew around a tree in their way. Rosie's nightgown flapped up and she quickly pressed it down. Peter's laugh echoed around again as they flew over a wide, open gorge.