The pair spent the rest of the day running around the woods and acting like... Well children. "What's this?" Wendy asked after they'd collapsed on the bed laughing and out of breath.
"Hmm?" Peter asked looking over at her. Wendy handed him the leather-bound book.
"They're fairy tales. My parents used to read them to me," he explained. His tone was matter of fact, but there was flash of darkness behind his eyes.
"They look great. Want to read one?" Wendy asked, not wanting to force him into rehashing the past any more than he already had.
"If you want."
"Come on dummy. I'll read you 'Treasure Island'," Wendy said ignoring Peter's attempt to sound passive. She sat up against the headboard with his arm around her and began to read. She was halfway through the story and beginning to get really wrapped up in it when she noticed his staring.
"What?" Wendy asked self-consciously.
"I can't stop thinking about kissing you, and quite frankly it's driving me crazy." Wendy blushed and looked down at the open book in front of them.
"So do something about it," she said without thinking. He smiled at her, a genuine smile, as if he'd been waiting for her to say just that. Then, dropping the book, he pulled her close and kissed her. Softly at first, and then deeper, more passionate, like the need filled kissed they'd shared that morning.
"You're mine," he told her between kisses.
"I'm yours," she promised realizing it was true. He was her broken, lost boy and she was his Wendy bird. And no one, not her parents, or her brothers, was going to take that away from them.
"It's getting late," Wendy said pulling away with sheer will power.
"You could always stay another night," Peter said into her neck.
"Why must you make this so hard for me?" Wendy asked sighing.
"I never promised to play fair," he pointed out kissing her neck.
"No I guess you didn't," Wendy answered. She kissed him once more and quickly stood up before she was tempted to fall back in to his arms forever.
"I'll see you tomorrow okay?" she told him readying to leave.
"Wait up, I'll walk you home," Peter called getting up.
"Oh... Alright," Wendy said vaguely surprised.
"Don't sound so shocked, Darling. You're much too fragile to wander around town by yourself," he said walking past her.
Wendy shook her head and followed him out of the forest. They walked into town, Peter holding her hand and walking ahead of her protectively.
"Wendy!" She turned her head to see Ruby waving her over from the dinner. She walked over to Granny's curiously. What happened? Ruby pulled the pair into the dinner and shooed them to the back.
"Where the hell have you been? Your parents have the whole town looking for you," Ruby whispered sharply.
"Of course they do," Wendy muttered shaking her head. She'd only been gone one night!
"Look I won't tell anyone where you are, but you have to go home," Ruby told her warningly.
"Fine. I'll go home," Wendy agreed reluctantly. Peter got up to follow her.
"I don't know if you should bring him. Your parents are kinda blaming him for the whole thing."
"It'll be fine. Thanks Ruby," Wendy promised and walked out before she lost her nerve.
"So you're sure you don't just want to go back?" Peter asked as they walked.
"Yes. It'll only be worse the longer I'm away," Wendy explained, but she did want to go back. She wanted to go back, forget everything, and just stay with him forever.
"I can tell when you don't believe yourself you know."
"Of course you can."
"You underestimate me Darling," Peter said pulling her to him.
"And you underestimate a town full of angry concerned parents," Wendy replied, but there was no fight in her voice. He smiled- not a smirk, but a genuine smile, the rare kid she'd only ever seen directed at her, the kind that transformed him into a completely different person, and kissed her.
"I'm serious," Wendy said pulling away, "I don't want you in any trouble."
"Trouble? I live for trouble," Peter said smirking.
"Trust me, I know. But I don't So please stop distracting me," Wendy instructed.
"You're the one distracting me," Peter argued.
"Me? How?"
"Well let's see... Between your hair being down for the first time since I've met you and that whole innocent big blue eyes thing you're doing I don't know how you expect me to focus."
"I..." Wendy trailed off, speechless and blushing. Then, collecting herself, "You're going to have to deal."
With that said, they continued to walk and managed to make it all the way to the Darling's house.
"Now go before they see you," Wendy pleaded.
"I told you before your family doesn't scare me," Peter said arrogantly leaning against the side of the house.
"Now is not the time for this! Please, Peter, just go," she begged quietly.
"As you wish. But I expect a memorable goodbye."
"Fine," Wendy said giving him a long, deep kiss. "Good enough?"
"For now. Later, Darling." And with that he was gone.
Wendy sighed and pulled her ribbon out of her pocket. It'd fallen out earlier that day and she hadn't thought to put it back in. She eyed it, wondering if she should make an effort to let her hair down more often. Then, realizing she was stalling, she tied her hair back up and went inside.
The door opened to choruses of "Where have you been?!" and "You are grounded for the rest of your life!" from Mr. and Mrs. Darling.
"I went for a walk," Wendy said shrugging. She hadn't meant to brush them off. The plan had been to grovel for forgiveness. But she was so mad. And the words were already out of her mouth.
"You were with that boy weren't you?" her mother asked looking shocked.
"Where I was and who I was with is my business," was Wendy's only reply. Mrs. Darling looked at her as if she'd slapped her.
"As long as you live under my roof it is," Mr. Darling injected, flabbergasted. Wendy had never seen her parents so mad. In all honesty, it was kind of amusing.
"Then I'll move out. But until that happens, I'll be in my room." She gave her parents a smug smile and headed up the stairs.
"You're not leaving your room for a month!" her father called up after a minute.
"Who said I wanted to?!" she called back slamming the door. She'd never slammed a door in her life.
Wendy sat down on her bed and attempted to gather her thoughts. She'd just lashed out at her parents. She couldn't believe it. Her whole life she'd been quiet and respectful. She'd kept her nose buried in a book and only spoke when spoken to. She'd been timid and soft-spoken... Until now. And it was actually.. Liberating. She felt free of her parents expectations, free of the pressure of society. Free to do whatever the hell she wanted and she was going to. A large yawn escaped her. There was plenty of time to enjoy her newfound freedom, but first she had to get some sleep. She laid down and let thoughts of Peter and Neverland send her to sleep.
