I started crying when I wrote this chapter. Thanks to all who read and review!

Chapter Fourteen

Peter paced back and forth outside the hollow tree. Tiger Lilly sat with him, singing to herself.

"I should be in there," Peter said.

"No," Tiger Lilly said sternly. "Fathers are not allowed."

"But…"

"You listen to me. The women in there with Wendy have done this before. Nothing bad will happen."

Peter let out a long sigh and plopped himself down beside her. "Is it supposed to take this long?"

"Sometimes longer. A woman in my village birthed her son through two sunsets."

"That's not reassuring."

"You must have patience." Then Tiger Lilly decided to change the subject. "What will you name the baby?"

"Harper if it's a girl and Gavin if it's a boy. They are English names."

Tiger Lilly kept Peter engaged in a long conversation, trying to keep his mind at ease. Time passed until finally, the medicine woman came up to the surface. Peter and Tiger Lilly stood and looked at her expectantly. The old woman smiled at them. She told them that everything went well, and that Peter was now the father of a baby girl. Peter and Tiger Lilly smiled at each other and laughed jovially.

"Congratulations, my friend," Tiger Lilly said and she hugged Peter.

"Can we go inside now?" Peter asked.

The medicine woman told them that everything was clean and that Wendy was resting with the baby. It was time to introduce Peter to his daughter. Then the medicine woman headed back to the encampment. Peter and Tiger Lilly went inside the hollow tree. They found Wendy sitting up in bed holding the newborn. Mrs. Darling sat at her bedside, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. Wendy looked up at Peter and Tiger Lilly and smiled.

"Come see the baby," she said.

They came closer. Peter sat on the edge of the bed and marveled at the infant sleeping in Wendy's arms. Harper was small with a button nose and rosy cheeks. Her head was covered in sandy colored hair.

"She's beautiful," Peter said.

"She certainly is," Tiger Lilly commented. "Congratulations, Wendy."

"Thank you, Tiger Lilly," Wendy said. "You have been such a great friend to me."

Tiger Lilly smiled. Wendy looked at Mrs. Darling.

"Mother, please stop crying," she said.

"I'm crying because I'm happy," Mrs. Darling said. "Seeing the birth of my first grandchild is an indescribable experience."

"I'm so glad that you came. Are you sure you can't stay?"

"No, dear. I've stayed long enough." Mrs. Darling had arrived in Neverland three days ago to help Wendy with the birth. "I need to get back to my motherly duties. Your father's probably going mad trying to handle all the boys on his own."

"Please send them to visit," Wendy said.

"Get yourselves settled first," Mrs. Darling said. "You let us know when you're ready for visitors."

Wendy nodded.

"If you are ready," Tiger Lilly said to Mrs. Darling. "There are fairies waiting to escort you home."

Just then, Tinkerbell came into the room. She hovered over the baby.

"What an adorable child," she said.

"Thank you," Wendy said.

"Wendy, you truly are the best thing that has happened to Peter."

Wendy smiled. Then Tinkerbell went to Mrs. Darling.

"Better go before the weather picks up," she said.

"Alright, I'm ready," Mrs. Darling said. She picked up her bag. She kissed Wendy's cheek and hugged Peter. Then Tiger Lilly and Tinkerbell led her out of the hollow tree.

Wendy looked at Peter, who hadn't taken his eyes off of Harper. "Are you alright?" she asked.

"This is amazing," Peter said. "We made this baby."

"Would you like to hold her?"

"Yes, I would."

Wendy handed the baby to him. He carefully cradled her in his arms. She woke up, but she didn't cry. Her blue eyes looked up at Peter, and he felt his chest swell. A silent tear rolled down his cheek.

"Don't you start crying, too," Wendy said.

"They are happy tears," Peter said.

"Incredible, isn't it?"

Peter nodded as he wiped the tear away. He saw that Harper was asleep again, so he set her in the cradle. Then he sat next to Wendy again.

"Thank you," he said.

"For what?" Wendy asked.

"For teaching me about love. It is the best feeling in the world."

Wendy smiled. Then Peter kissed her.