Chapter Seven

When Wendy awoke the next morning, she didn't feel any better than when she had gone to sleep. Her visit to Neverland was supposed to be joyful, but it turned out to be miserable. A future with Peter was nearly impossible. This sad truth made her heart ache.

She spent the day doing housework with her mother, but Wendy half-heartedly completed each task. The day dragged on until finally it was dinnertime. Wendy pushed her food around her plate while the rest of her family chatted about their days. Each boy had something to say and they all tried to talk over one another. Then Mr. Darling stood.

"I will be in my office," he announced.

"Yes, father," the boys said in unison.

Just then, there was a knock at the front door. It silenced everyone. Mr. and Mrs. Darling looked at one another.

"Are you expecting company?" Mrs. Darling asked her husband.

"No, I am not," Mr. Darling replied. "Are you?"

"No," Mrs. Darling replied.

They looked around the table at Wendy and the boys. They all shook their heads.

"Go and do your work, dear," Mrs. Darling told her husband. "I'll see who it is."

Then the couple left the dining room, each going their separate ways. A moment later, Mrs. Darling's voice called out.

"Wendy? Wendy!"

Wendy got up from her seat and hurried to her mother. She stopped short when she saw the visitor. Mrs. Darling looked pale, apparently also surprised by the visitor.

It can't be Wendy thought. His clothes were modern, stylish even. He wore shoes that were polished. His face and hands were clean. His hair was neatly groomed. Then he smiled at her.

"Hello, Wendy," he said.

Wendy gasped in spite of herself. She would recognize that voice anywhere. Her brain managed to find its way around the baffling situation and form a response.

"Hello, Peter," she replied. Then she looked at her mother, who gave her a curious look. "Aren't you going to invite our guest inside, mother?"

"Oh," Mrs. Darling said. "Where are my manners? Yes, please come in."

"Thank you," Peter said and he came inside. Mrs. Darling shut the door behind him.

"Will you excuse us for a minute?" Wendy asked.

Peter nodded. Wendy motioned for her mother to follow her. They went into the parlor, out of Peter's earshot.

"Wendy," Mrs. Darling said. "Is that him? Is that Peter Pan?"

"Yes," Wendy replied. "I didn't believe it at first but then he spoke…"

"What is he doing here? He knocked on the front door. He's dressed in nice clothes."

"I'm just as confused as you are."

"You need to talk to him."

Wendy took a deep breath. "Alright."

But as she turned to leave the parlor, there was a commotion coming from down the hall. Wendy and her mother quickly hurried back to the entryway, where the noise was coming from. The boys were holding back Slightly, who was apparently trying to attack Peter. Everyone was shouting at one another. Mrs. Darling silenced them with one word.

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone stopped shouting and stood frozen, looking at Mrs. Darling.

"Let go of your brother," she said.

The boys released Slightly. He still had an expression of anger on his face. He gave Peter an evil glare and then attacked him with words.

"You are a traitor, Peter Pan," Slightly said through gritted teeth.

"Slightly!" the others remarked.

"I only speak the truth," Slightly said.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Slightly," Peter said. "You really should rethink that statement, though. If I'm a traitor, then so are you."

Slightly's expression slowly turned to one of sadness. Then he hung his head. The rest of the Lost Boys also hung their heads.

"Now," Peter continued. "I was angry with you all when you left. With time, I have learned to understand and forgive. The question is will you be able to do the same for me?"

The Lost Boys looked at one another, not sure how to respond. It was finally the Darling boys who took the lead and spoke up.

"Yes," Michael said.

"Of course," John agreed.

One by one, every boy agreed to forgive Peter. Then they shared a group hug as they were finally reunited.

"What about Wendy?" the twins asked in unison.

They all turned to look at Wendy. She smiled at Peter.

"I already have," she said.

Peter smiled back. "Thank you, Wendy."

Mrs. Darling looked back and forth between Peter and Wendy. She recognized that dreamy, romantic look in both their eyes.

"Boys," she said. "Why don't we leave Peter and Wendy to talk?"

"B-but, we will see him again?" Michael asked, and then he looked at Peter. "Won't we?"

"Of course you will, mate," Peter replied.

Mrs. Darling gathered the boys and escorted them out of the room.

"These walls have ears," Wendy said. "Let's go out on the veranda."

"Alright," Peter said and he took Wendy's hand.