Home Sweet Neverland
Chapter Three
Peter and Rosie flew through Neverland passing all sorts of beautiful sights. Rosie tried to imprint them all in her brain as they flew and called out directing Peter's attention to certain things her had never noticed before or cared to pay attention to. Peter smiled to himself cockily and thought it had been right to bring Rosie here. She would love Neverland and it would, in turn, become her new home. Then the two flew over a wide, open gorge and Rosie gasped.
"Oh, look Peter!" she exclaimed and clasping her hands together. They were approaching a brilliantly colored rainbow. Peter nodded and flew under it as Rosie gazed in admiration as they passed. Going forward back into the forest, Peter flew up higher towards a looming mountain up ahead. He landed around what Rosie presumed was the base and placed her on another, dryer, rock. Rosie landed lightly on her feet and looked around. They were in the middle of the forest and ahead loomed a towering mountain. She didn't see what was so special about this when suddenly a scrambling noise came from a nearby bush.
"What is tha–?" she began but Peter hushed her and pointed. Rosie turned in that direction and saw a small chipmunk come out from under the ferns at the base of the rock on which she was standing. It held a nut and was looking around for something. "What's it doing?" she whispered to Peter who's head had come floating beside her while the rest of him hung back behind them.
"Ask him." Peter said nodding. Rosie made a face of confusion.
"Ask him?" she echoed. Peter nodded and Rosie wondered what to do. "Erm…excuse me Mr. Chipmunk," she began feeling somewhat foolish. The small Chipmunk looked up at her and smiled.
"Hello dearie," he greeted in a small squeaky voice. Rosie gasped.
"You can talk!" she exclaimed bringing a hand to her mouth.
"Oh course I can talk." The chipmunk said with a small nod. "You must be new here." He continued. Rosie watched with astonishment. "Hello Peter!" the chipmunk greeted and Peter nodded back at him. "Where is Tinkerbell on this fine day?" the chipmunk asked. Rosie shrugged. The chipmunk nodded in understanding. "It's best if Ms. Bell doesn't see you together." He said in a knowing fashion. Rosie raised her eyebrow.
"Erm, excuse me, but why?" she asked and Peter floated nearby looking on interestedly. The chipmunk blinked and realized he had said too much.
"Well, I must be on my way!" he said rushèdly and began gathering the nut once more before beginning to scramble away. "It was nice to see you dearie!" he called before disappearing into the underbrush again. Rosie blinked in confusion and turned to Peter. He shrugged.
"Well, come on Rosie." He said changing the subject. "How about we go see if Hook's back in his ship, eh?" he asked grinning and pointing in the direction over the mountain. Rosie nodded. She would very much like to see the infamous Captain Hook from afar. Peter flew over and lifted her bridal style once more before flying up into the sky again.
Rosie saw Neverland below and the sight was beginning to get familiar; the beautiful trees and winding rivers added so nicely to the overall beauty of the island. As they neared the main shore of Neverland, Rosie saw the brilliant blue waters breaking in waves on the beach. Beyond that, in the waters away from the shore was a great big ship with a red hull and white sails. There was movement on it now and Rosie saw a feathered hat moving back and forth on the deck with a plump man following and looking flustered. Peter wondered if he ought to approach and give Rosie a better look when suddenly there was a cry from the ship and a cannon ball soared through the air towards them. Rosie let out an exclamation and Peter flew up to dodge it.
"Looks like they're back," he said with a laugh. "Let's go see what they brought." He smiled and flew towards the ship while Rosie, wide-eyed and nervous, said nothing.
As they approached, the canon continued being fired and Peter dodged about three more shots before reaching the ship. He flew up and placed Rosie gently on the rim that enclosed the empty crows nest. She sat and clutched the rim tightly between her fingers as Peter leaned on a rope nearby and smiled down at Hook.
"So, you're back!" Peter called cheerfully. Hook wasted no time in small talk.
"Come down here boy!" called the pirate angrily. Peter did no such thing and Hook fumed. "Get him you mangy rats!" Hook demanded of his crew. Peter laughed and flew down to mock them as they all tried to snatch him out of the air. A particularly burly man with a knife in his mouth swiped at Peter and managed to knock over three barrels as he went. Rosie let out a small laugh and quickly covered her mouth as the pirates and Hook looked up at her. Peter knew he needed to re-direct the attention so he snuck up behind Hook and pushed the hat down over his eyes before howling loudly. The crew turned back to Peter and Hook leapt three feet in the air.
"Don't just stand there you blithering idiots! GET HIM!" Hook cried tugging on the hat and putting it back on his head properly. The crew rushed at Peter and he again began to dodge playfully bothering everyone he came into contact with before finally beginning a mock sword fight with two of the pirates. Meanwhile, Hook was climbing up the rope ladder behind the crows nest while Rosie watched Peter with her hands over her mouth. Suddenly she heard the sound of iron on wood and turned around. Hook was grinning at her and suddenly lunged. Rosie felt the pirate grab her and pin her against the pole in the crows nest his hook around her neck. On tiptoe, she struggled trying to get out of Hook's grasp while Peter battled below.
"Peter!" Rosie called desperately. Down below, the cry was heard all along the ship and Peter looked up to where Rosie had been sitting. He saw her struggling against Hook and, after pushing the pirate he was fighting into the water, Peter flew up and landed on the crows nest rim.
"Let her go Hook!" he called. Hook grinned.
"You want her back?" he asked smiling maliciously and raising his sword. Peter pulled his dagger out and began to block Hook's unannounced blows. Rosie meanwhile looked from Hook to Peter with a fear filled countenance still trying to keep her face up above the hook that was around her throat. Then, she fired a well aimed kick at Captain Hook who staggered backwards and let her go. Rosie slipped down from the pole and backed away. Peter laughed and grabbed the sword that was flailing in the air in Hook's regular hand. Floating up out of range, Peter brandished both swords mockingly at Hook. The pirate, after regaining his balance, roared with rage and lunged, not at Peter, but at Rosie. He pushed her back out of the crows nest in a futile attempted grab. Rosie slipped through the air, unable to fly, down to the nasty pirate crew waiting below. Peter tossed Hook's sword behind him and into the water before flying towards Rosie. He caught her a moment before the big pirate with a sword in his mouth could grab her and flew up into the sky.
"Well Hook," Peter called to the enraged captain. "Looks like you have nothing new here so we'll just be going!" Peter's ringing laugh echoed around the ship as he and Rosie flew up and away back towards the main land Neverland.
"Curse you Peter PAN!" Hook's wail followed them and Peter laughed as they soared away. Rosie looked up into the beaming face of the boy who had saved her quite a few times now.
"Oh Peter, you really shouldn't go getting yourself into such trouble." she said in a gentle yet disapproving tone.
"You're the accident prone one!" the boy laughed as they skimmed across the water. Rosie crossed her arms.
"Excuse me!" she demanded. "Just because I can't fly doesn't mean I'm accident prone!" she said in a stubborn tone. Peter laughed again.
"Alright; Prove it." He said and dropped her into the water a few inches below them. Rosie let out a yelp of surprise as the cool water enveloped her but she soon surfaced and frowned up at Peter who was grinning down at her.
"Oh Peter!" she exclaimed crossly and slapped the water. Her hair was drenched and the perfect curls she had were lying quite flat against her back. Rosie looked quite a mess. Peter laughed and crossed his arms and legs floating above her making no move to help. Rosie opened her mouth to speak when suddenly a ticking noise floated to her ears. She twirled in the water to try and identify the noise as Peter looked around. What looked like a swimming green log was moving towards them and Rosie cocked her head to the side curiously. Then she realized what it was. "Crocodile!" she exclaimed and covered her mouth with her hands. Peter spun and spotted the croc swimming towards Rosie. He scooped her out of the water with time to spare and began heading back towards Neverland.
"See, you are accident prone." He laughed and carried a vexed and dripping Rosie back to the beach.
Once they arrived, he placed her lightly on the sand and Rosie stood to wring out her golden nightgown. It was soaked as was her hair and everything else about her. She wrung it out as best she could then turned to try and fix her curls. They were soaked and flat but at least they would naturally re-curl themselves into the large springing coils they were usually. Suddenly there came wild howling from the forest behind them and Peter sprung to his feet from the rock he had been sitting on. Drawing his dagger as a precaution, he held it back up beside his ear as the Lost Boys came howling into view like Indians.
"Look! Look!" they cried. Surging into view, they fell into line and Slightly held up a rope. Dangling from the rope by its tail was a live chipmunk.
"Oh!" Rosie exclaimed drawing her hands up to her face. Peter sniggered and put his dagger away.
"Well done boys!" he praised. The Lost Boys all swelled with pride and straightened as the chipmunk squeaked angrily.
"Peter, do make them let it go! Please!" Rosie implored turning to Peter. He nodded then and addressed the Lost Boys.
"Good job men! Now give it to Rosie to do as she pleases with it." He said. The boys saluted and Rosie moved a step forward with cupped hands as Slightly dropped the rope. The chipmunk tumbled into them and Rosie pulled him to her chest as she walked back to where Peter stood. Then, moving her hands back out and open, Rosie looked at the little creature.
"Hello again dearie." He greeted straightening and brushing off dirt from his chest and tail. "Thank you for saving me." He added. Rosie smiled in response.
"Of course, Mr. Chipmunk." She said and moved him into one hand to un-tie the rope form his tail with the other. She handed the rope to Peter and held the chipmunk in both hands once more. Peter looked down at the rope then turned back to Rosie smiling.
"Now," said the chipmunk brushing off his tail again. "If you wouldn't mind setting me down. I have to get back to the mrs." He tittered. Rosie smiled brightly again.
"Of course, Mr. Chipmunk." She repeated and bent over. He stepped down from her hands and turned to smile. "Thank you dear," he said and Rosie nodded. "What was your name again?" he asked.
"Rosie." She replied.
"Ah, thank you then Rosie." The chipmunk said with a bow. "Goodbye now!" he called and waved before tottering off back into the forest. Rosie smiled after him. Peter and the Lost Boys exchanged amused glances as Rosie turned and she moved her hands behind her back curiously.
"What?" she asked. Peter shook his head.
"Nothing." He said tossing the rope aside. "Come on Rosie, let's go back to the hide out and you can tell us a story." He said lifting himself into the air and motioning with his hand. The Lost Boys all cried out excitedly.
"Oh stories! Stories!" they echoed. Rosie let out a small laugh and nodded.
"Alright." She agreed.
Once everyone had arrived at the hideout, and Peter dropped Rosie through the slide again, Rosie climbed up onto the large mattress bed and curled up pulling her legs into a cross-legged position as she slid the large purple pillow into her lap. Peter sat in his throne-y chair and the Lost Boys scattered themselves all about comfortably; then everyone watched as Rosie lifted her finger to her chin in thought.
"Well," she started. "What would you like to hear about?"
"Rosie? What was it like to live without a family?" one of the twins asked. The others all looked to her with expectant gazes.
"Well it was not fun." Rosie began. "I lived in a place called an orphanage. That's where children without and families go. At the orphanage I never had anyone to talk to or play with. Our only forms of amusement and fun where books. I hardly ever saw the other orphans unless it was in lessons and I was almost always alone. I cried a lot and wished countless times to get away. That was when Peter showed up and brought me here." She said. The Lost Boys all looked to her with sad faces. Even Peter looked a little unsettled.
"Well you have us now!" Slightly said.
"Yeah, we'll always be your family Rosie!" Nibs added. A chorus of 'yeahs' echoed around the hideout and the Lost Boys all came forward to hug Rosie in a big group hug. Even Peter floated over to smile.
"Say!" he exclaimed. "I have an idea! How about we help find Rosie a home!" Peter called. The Lost Boys all cried out in agreement. "I have just the place too." Peter added. "So it's decided. We leave first thing tomorrow to help Rosie find a home!"
"Oh, Peter!" Rosie gasped clasping her hands together with a wide smile. Peter beamed. "Alright if we are going tomorrow, you all need to get to bed this minute!" Rosie said standing and ushering the boys to their beds. Slightly and Nibs crawled up to their beds with wide yawns as Cubby and the twins rolled into theirs nodding. Tootles was already asleep so Rosie lifted the small skunk to his bed. She then smiled and went around checking each one.
Slightly's arm was hanging over the edge so Rosie moved it up preventing it from falling asleep oddly. The twins both had their tails sticking out so Rosie adjusted them and Cubby's blanket was on the floor. Rosie moved to lift it and threw the blanket gently over the big bear. Once she turned, Cubby kicked it off again in his sleep and turned over. Rosie noticed this and giggled. As she went around and did this, Peter gave his suggestion some further thought and regretted it slightly. If he took Rosie to a new home, then she'd leave Neverland just as Wendy had. Would he be able to live with himself after that again? Shaking his head dismissively, Peter yawned looking a little worn out. He blinked sleepily as Rosie passed on her way to Tinkerbell's little hallow. The pixie had been hidden all day and it worried Rosie. Lifting the leaf, she peered inside.
"Goodnight Tinkerbell." She said softly and smiled. The pixie looked up suspiciously and turned her back but Rosie didn't mind. She just nodded and turned away. Peter, who had been watching, now yawned again. "You get to bed too." Rosie said wagging her finger at him. He nodded and with a laugh disappeared behind a bear skin. Rosie heard him lie in his hammock and pull out the small flute he had played before. Nodding in satisfaction, she walked back over to the large, empty mattress bed. She lay down and gently closed her eyes. The last thing Rosie knew or heard that night was the sound of Peter playing his flute in the other room.