So, Jane? Which Jane?

Chapter 4
"Jane"

Peter set Melody down on the beaches' sand, laughing. The rest of the Lost Boys were laughing, just as Tink watched Peter and Melody approvingly. In her devious mind she already had the rest of their lives planned out, on Neverland, very much in love with one another. This would all go according to her plan, especially if-.

She froze, a thought dawning on her. Oh no. This was unacceptable!

Tinkerbelle was suddenly in Peter's face, shouting at him. Everyone stared in surprise, but Peter was the only one who understood her reason for irritation.

*Melody isn't trained! She needs to be taught how to fight someone like Captain Hook before she goes back, or she'll be killed next time!*

Peter held his hands up, "Whoa, Tink, calm down. I get it." Satisfied, she stopped, sitting on a nearby rock. "We'll start immediately, if they're up to it."

Slightly, on his elbows, looked up at him with curiosity. "Up to what, Peter?"

Peter turned his attention to Melody. "Tink says that we should train Melody, so there's no risk of her getting hurt next time."

Melody giggled, "I didn't know Hook could be a threat . . . ever."

The Lost Boys laughed. Tinkerbelle pouted.

"Well, it's not a bad idea," Peter said, after another nasty glare from Tinkerbelle. "How about it Melody? Up for the challenge?"

She pushed herself off the sand onto her feet, "Sure!"

"Catch."

He tossed her a nearby wooden stick on the floor. Most likely it was some piece of driftwood or piece of broken tree. Melody caught it just barely and Peter frowned, realizing just how smart Tink's idea was, now that he saw how inexperienced she was.

Those thoughts all went away with her next words.

"Wonder what my parents and Jane would think if they could see me now," she laughed, freely.

Jane . . . She didn't just say . . . She couldn't have just said . . . But she did!

"Uh," Melody's eyes darted from the staring Lost Boys, to Peter, to Tinkerbelle, and back. "Why is everybody looking a me like that?"

The Twins pointed quivering hands to her. "Y-You know J-Jane?"

She felt wary and uncomfortable. "Yes, and?"

Peter darted in front of her, making Melody jump a little in surprise and drop the stick. "How do you know Jane?"

"She's my little sister-."

"WENDY IS YOUR MOM?"

"Whose Wendy?" Melody demanded, getting irritated. "My mother is Ariel, my father is Eric, and Jane is my little sister."

"But . . . Jane said she had a little brother!" Cubby protested.

Melody frowned, tapping her chin. "Are we talking about the same person here? First off, my little sister has never been away from home. Second, she is only two, and as far as I know, my mother hasn't had another child. Third, my mother is most definitely not named Wendy. And lastly, when was Jane here?"

Peter looked away, crossing his arms. Tinkerbelle nudged him, ordering him to give Melody an explanation. He sighed.

"Its a long story."

"I've got time."

She sat down, the boys sitting around her to listen as Peter sat on a boulder, above them.

"A long time ago, I brought this girl named Wendy and her two brothers to Neverland because she told stories about me, and I wanted her and her siblings to stay with us. But she wanted to grow up, and so she left. Then, Hook kidnapped her daughter, Jane, thinking she was Wendy and wanting to use her to bait me into a fight. I saved her but she wasn't anything like Wendy. She was too adult-like and serious. She betrayed us by accident, giving me and the Lost Boys over to Hook and nearly killing Tinkerbelle." Melody's eyes went huge with disbelief about the girl who shared the same name as her sister. "In the end she saved us all, and we took her home, and I saw her again with her family, but . . ." He trailed off, peering closely at her. "Thats not your sister, is it?"

Melody shook her head. "My little sister barely knows how to walk and speak, let alone . . . do all of that."

Peter nodded, "I figured as much."

There was a moment of awkward silence before Melody reached out, touching his hand. "Do you miss them?"

He looked up from the floor. "Miss who?"

"Wendy and Jane. Do you ever miss them?"

Peter rubbed his neck, looking anywhere but at the Lost Boys curious faces and Melody's passionate one. "Uh . . ."

Eventually she retracted her touch and he was surprised to feel some part of him missing it. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Melody stood, scooping the stick back up from the ground and twirling it in her hands. "So, we gonna do this or what?"

Peter smiled appreciatively. "Yeah, sure."

The Lost Boys were entertained as Peter taught Melody move after move. They cheered when every so often she'd cheat, and trip him, stepping away before he could retaliate. It was training in a fun way and Tinkerbelle found herself growing . . . protective of Melody. Though she wasn't very fond of Peter's attention on one girl (that wasn't her) Melody was now his priority, like Wendy and Jane had been to him. Now that she'd brought her, she was going to have to get over herself. It soon became late though and Peter and Melody, having more endurance then the smaller children, took them home around nine, as they were yawning too often.

Melody carried Tootles, fast asleep against her, back to the tree. They entered the easier passage ways, so as not tire the children, and Melody had the children surrounding her, each with a droopy eye and pretending they could stay awake if they wanted to.

"Alright kiddies, into bed," She ordered, giggling as Peter nearly fell over on their sudden burst of energy to get into their comfortable beds.

I tucked them in, and they began to doze when Nibs gave a weak protest, "But . . . what about our story?"

Peter, sitting on his throne, sat up straighter at this. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot!"

Melody seemed unsure. "Well . . . the only stories I know that are worth telling are my mothers and mine, and you've already heard those . . ." She thought. "What about a lullaby? Is that alright?"

Peter shrugged and the Lost Boys, remembering a certain other lullaby another young lady had sang to them, eagerly nodded their head in anticipation. Peter had a bad memory (it seemed Melody was making him think a lot lately). The last time a lullaby was sung to the Lost Boys, they had all wanted to leave Neverland (and him) behind.

Peter shrugged and the Lost Boys showed no protest. She continued to tuck them in, singing sweetly. None of them were awake enough to really here the lyrics or words to what she sang, but that became unimportant as their eyes drooped and they eventually fell asleep.

She smiled at them, when a small belle noise sounded behind her. Melody turned, and Tinkerbelle smiled at her. Melody smiled in turn before they both looked over to where Peter had fallen asleep in his throne, peacefully.

"He's hurt."

Tinkerbelle became alarmed, zipping over to Peter and inspecting him until she heard Melody's quieted giggling. She turned, confused until Melody regained an understanding look on her face.

"I meant he's hurt in here," she touched her chest, where her heart was. Tink looked on in confusion. "Let's go for a walk, and I'll explain."

Tinkerbelle knew it wasn't dangerous to be in Neverland at night with a guide, such as herself. Going out alone and lost was just stupid with the unpredictable whether they had on their perfect little island. And she doubted they'd go far. Tink led her out, and soon they were above ground, climbing a nearby tree that had a perfect view of the full moon.

"Am I right?"

*About what?* Tink responded, looking at her.

By now, Melody had become good at reading Tink's expressions. Though she couldn't actually understand her words, like Peter, she did get the meaning. "About him being emotionally scarred, am I right?"

Feeling unsure of what to say, she frowned, sitting on a branch higher up so that she was level with Melody's head. Tinkerbelle felt ashamed, liked she'd tattled or told a secret of Peter's. Melody seemed to know that.

"I can tell by the way he looked at me when we first got here." Tink hadn't expected that. She'd thought Melody was too distracted by the Lost Boys to notice. "And by the way he talked about those two girls. He wanted them to stay and he feels like they abandoned him, right?"

Once again she looked to Tink for confirmation and reluctantly, she nodded, admitting defeat.

Melody sighed, "I . . . I don't know . . . if I can ever be them."

Tink didn't say anything. There was an uneasy pause, because neither knew what to say.

"I never wanted you to be."

Both girls jumped to their feet in surprise (or in Tink's case, hovering in the air), turning to face the one who'd been spying on them. Peter Pan himself sat hovering in the air, obviously amused at having been able to sneak up on them without their notice. Seeing this Melody's blushed a deep crimson on her cheeks, giving him a nervous smile.

And of course, evading the clearly would-be awkward conversation.

"Uh, wow, I'm getting kind of tired, what about you Tinkerbelle?" Melody said, far too quickly. Peter continued to watch with a smirk. Their small companion nodded her head vigorously, fairy dust coming off in her violent shaking.

Melody jumped to the lower branch, while Tink zoomed beside her, both praying Peter would let this go.

Of course, that wouldn't be like him at all. So he waited for what he knew would happen.

In her hurried descent, Melody was being careless. It was only a matter of time before she-.

Melody gave a yelp of surprise as her footing was lost and Tink turned, a fraction of a second later in time to see Melody beginning to fall. But Peter was their instantly, grabbing her in his arms and laughing. Her blush deepened with her weak grin.

"Uh . . . oops?"

"You could say that," he said, smug still, which worried both of them all the more. He began floating towards the floor, still carrying her, until they reached the ground. Feet firmly planted on the dirt, he set her down gently, but he was now in between them and the entrance to their home. They knew they were doomed to talk to him. "Or, you two could tell me just exactly why you were talking about me when you thought I was asleep."

Realizing he'd heard everything and not just the few (not) vague words in the tree above, even Tinkerbelle looked embarrassed rather then just nervous. The girls exchanged knowing glances before Melody sighed, deciding to take the wrap, since she had started it.

"I just wanted to ask Tink a few things about you I was curious about," she said, calmly, though her insides were quivering.

Peter's brow rose, "Then why couldn't you just have asked me?"

"Because sometimes people close to you know you better then you do." She said, frowning after a moment. "If that makes sense."

He nodded. "I get it. You think Tink knows me better then anyone, including myself."

"I know she does, otherwise, I wouldn't be here right now," Melody countered, gaining courage. Peter's smug smile dropped from his face, into a frown. She was right. Darn her for being right!

"Well . . . yeah," he mumbled, begrudgingly. "But-."

"And I didn't want to make you uncomfortable," she continued, not allowing him to speak. Her face regained that understanding expression again, stepping towards him until they were only a few inches away. "I figured that Jane and Wendy story was a once in a lifetime thing and even the Lost Boys seemed a tad disturbed by your story, like a bad memory. I know what that's like. If I were in your position, I wouldn't want some girl bringing it up just out of curiosity. Get it?"

Peter sighed, "Yeah." He then glanced over her shoulder, at Tinkerbelle. "Tink, would you mind going in the house? I thought I saw Tootles getting a little fidgety before I left to follow you two."

All too happy to have an excuse to leave, she shot off, right into the tree, her light and belle's fading with her absence. When they were both sure she was gone Peter turned back to face Melody, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I appreciate your concern," He started.

Melody gave a sigh, "But you'd rather me keep my nose out of your business?"

Peter's eyes widened. "What? No, snoop all you want, just ask me before you ask anyone else though."

"But-!"

"Sure it would've been weird, but I would've told you." He held up a pinky, "Promise."

Melody looked down and had a flashback herself. She was in a pink dress, in a ballroom, and that blond idiot prince had asked her for a dance, holding his hand out to her. She blinked at it was gone, replaced by someone so much different then the prince. Melody looked up into his face, seeing honesty and trust in his face.

She grinned, genuinely, before locking pinkies with him. "Then I intend to do the same with you. Promise."

Peter lifted his arm, so their hands were now at eye-level. "Wanna know a secret?"

She gave a confused but excited look, her head turning slightly. "What?"

He looked around, as if expecting someone to be hiding in the shadows before releasing her hand, leaning in, and touching her forearms, to keep her from leaning back. Melody stiffened in surprise as he whispered, quietly, "Tinkerbelle is still watching us."

Melody giggled, her hand going to her mouth like always. Peter gave a small laugh himself before motioning for her to shush, which she nodded at, and picking her up, darting so they were above the entrance, looking down. He continued to hold her as they waited.

Slowly, a yellow glow came out, peering around. Peter place Melody down silently before shooting forward, catching Tink in his hands and shouting his triumph. She squirmed and pushed but Peter could hold her with two fingers easily, so she definitely wasn't getting out of the grasp of all five. Melody laughed, cheerfully.

This was going to be a good home for her. And with the look Peter gave her, amused and smiling, as he laughed at Tinkerbelle's hopeless struggles like the boy he was, she couldn't help but feel safe with him.

Short chapter, and short story. Easily the shortest thing I'll ever write, but that's all I wanted to put in their. Peter accepting his past and Melody accepting that this is her home and she has no desire to return.

But, there is Tinkerbelle's desires for the two . . . *wink*

TWO CHAPTERS LEFT