It was a long road but I was beginning to see why the Lost Boys desired to remain lost. Neverland represented all of their dreams and fantasies. Life was peaceful, save for the occasional run in with the pirates. Hook had been staying away from Peter, which I guess was not normal. I was thankful that Hook didn't do anything, I really did not want to die.

I also began to not mind caring for the boys. I did their laundry (wishing I had latex gloves), cooked, and told stories. Tootles and Curly were the nicest I thought. Nibs was a little trickster and often stole my pajama pants—little jerk. And Peter would often look at them in such a way that it made my heart thud in my chest. I soon found myself watching the green eyed boy more then I wanted to. I had a feeling that Peter knew it to. Sometimes he would even sit next to me as I told tales. Since the waltz in the field, Peter had been more…what's the word…attentive, I guess? Right? And like any reasonably smart girl, I had a distinct inkling that Peter liked me. Not just liked, but liked. You know, the type of like that has them sitting next to you, finding reasons to go out with you to hang, laughing at everything you say…not that Peter did. Anyway all that aside, he also helped in putting the boys to bed and getting them up in the mornings! Now seriously, what boy would willingly assume the father figure role without so much as a grumble unless they wanted to impress someone?

But apparently, we had been acting more and more like a family that Tootles, in his innocence, asked that ill-fated question.

"Mother, are you and father going to have a baby brother for us to play with?"

My face all but melted off my bones. The other boys were waiting for my answer like kids eyeing gifts on Christmas day. I looked to each one, totally unsure of what to say.

"Uhhhhhhh."

"Sure we are Tootles! Just as soon as you go to bed! Mother and I will get crackin on that right away!"

The look of astonishment and murder must have been legendary because Peter himself backed away from me.

"Eh, heh. O..ok guys, go to bed…now!"

The thudding of tiny feet scampered away from us. Never before have I felt more like crawling under a rock then now. I should've set myself on fire and got it over with. Being alone with Peter bothered me. I knew/hoped he was kidding but still, you would be too if a beautiful imp/fairy/boy said that about you! I watched him walk by me and down the corridor to his room. I bit my lip and my heart went boom…boom…BOOM. When I didn't hear him call me, I settled myself to sleeping by the fireplace. Which suited me fine. I've always wanted to sleep on a bearskin rug next to a fire.

"Are you coming to bed? Or staying out there?"

I cringed and got up. He would sleep on the floor! I prolonged the walk to his chambers by taking baby steps. Actually, my mind ran away with me again. I kept thinking why Peter would joke so openly about that. I was pretty sure the boys weren't taught anything about sex, yet the topic caused my face to flush and my hands to shake. The audacity of Peter! This felt dangerously close to how I got near my ex -boyfriend whenever he talked about it with me. It wasn't sexy, it was creepy. So much so that I broke up with him without doing IT at all. He was a player, and Peter shares his suave qualities. The first moment I really got to talk to Peter, I saw my ex. The way Peter moves, walks, talks, and smells reminds me of my ex. The one significant difference is Peter's striking emeralds. I lost myself in them, just like the first night I met him.

Peter's door was closed. That was strange, he hardly shut his door. A part of me wanted to barge right in, but my respectable side chose to knock.

"C'min."

I opened the door and saw Peter staring at his own sparkling fire. He looked so contemplative, his arms resting on one raised knee. I shut the door and made way for the bed. I slept in my dresses, for I seemed to have lost my PJs after the first day and I didn't feel like wrestling them from Nibs. I snuggled under the blanket and turned to the side. My heart ached that night. For what reason I don't know. Then, he spoke.

"You are confused and weary."

"What? No I'm not. What am I confused and weary about? I didn't promise Tootles a baby brother. That was all you pal."

"Huh? Oh, that. Yeah, sorry about that. Just slipped out I guess. He'll forget it. But that's not what I was talking about. You are warring with yourself. You are fighting against the magic and your yearning for home."

I sat up, "What? You can read minds now?"

Peter shook his head, red hair swishing along his forehead, "No. But I feel Neverland's sadness."

"What sadness? I thought I was going along with it pretty well. I'm not sad. Yeah, I miss my home, and I want to go back, but…"

"You still wish to leave? Odd, usually visitors forget their homes," Peter mumbled.

"Forget? How could I forget?"

Peter sighed. "Those who come to Neverland sometimes forget their native lands."

I blinked at him and pursed my lips.

"So, all those boys…you took from their homes didn't you?"

Peter tensed. "No. I did not take them. They wanted to come with me. That is the one thing about Neverland that annoys me. No one may enter unless they are willing to go."

I thought back to when he first brought me here and a light went off in my head. "That's why you made that bargain with me, so that I would be permitted to come here."

The green-eyed boy nodded. The fire crackled.

"You tricked me then. You tricked all of them!" My voice rose. "You kidnapping son of a bitch! You stole those kids from their homes! Like some fucked up version of the Pied Piper! And now they have forgotten their families!"

I shot out of bed and stomped over to where Peter sat. I felt the flames in my eyes smolder at my realization. Then I let out an insult that would mar the most noble of Fae.

"You are no better than a hobgoblin!"

Peter glared up at me, his eyes glittering most dangerously. "Do not compare me with those lowly creatures."

"Why? Don't like it when you're not in control do you? It's a whole new ballgame when Peter Pan is gettin it! That's how you do it isn't it? You hypnotize and control those boys with those pipes of yours! You did the same thing to me in the field!"

Peter's lips drew into a thin line, like my dad's when he's pissed. Peter stood up, tilting back so as to not bump into me. The emotion in Peter's face held such passion that I could never express myself. I believe no human could. Peter had something about him that was untouchable.

"Yes. You're right. I did mystify you that day. But you must know, I had no hidden intentions behind it. I meant for you to enjoy it"

"And the nights when I say I want to go home…you play your pipes then too? After I'm asleep?"

Again Peter nodded. The rage boiled inside me. I thought I was going to burst.

"You are keeping me here. All of us! Like pets."

"No. It is my reason for being. I bring those who are unhappy to a place where their dreams come true."

"Like the Pied Piper. Only he killed the kids in the end."

"No! I am not evil, I am not a child abductor, nor am I a killer. Stop accusing me as such!"

"You trick kids into leaving their homes and then you brainwash them into thinking they had no other life then with you! That to me is pretty evil!" I spun and went back to the bed, reaching back to untie the lacings holding my dress up.

"I will not stand here and have you rant whilst in my room!"

"I'm not ranting. I'm going to bed. I've said enough. I calls it like I sees it. I'm tired and I would appreciate it if you did not speak to me. Now leave."

I let the heavy dress fall to the floor and got into bed.

"You will not dismiss me. You will not turn your back to me."

I snorted at his indignity. I ignored the angry boy and settled under his light coverlet. I barely pulled the blanket over me when an iron grip grabbed my ankles and shucked me off the bed and onto the floor. I protected my head from banging the ground, curling into a ball. The auburn haired boy glared at me quite furiously, his immortal face hardened. I felt my insides turn cold from that look. I once again saw the creature that he was.

"What are you doing Peter?"

My voice shook and I blushed. Those green eyes flashed with trickery. Peter leaned threateningly close to me, his white teeth shining.

"You want me to let you go home?"

The hidden threats in his tone made me shiver…in a very un-sexy way too. But I nodded and swallowed.

"I will let you go…only if you give me something in return."

"Oh? Really? Another bargain? Fine. Just as long as you don't want a shrubbery." I had to throw in a Monty Python reference…the chance was too good not to.

Peter smirked and leaned further still. "Give me a thimble."

I blinked. "A what?"

"A thimble. Give me a thimble, and I'll let you return home."

"A thimble? Do I look like a seamstress to you? Where the hell am I going to get a thimble?"

The green eyed imp stared hard at me. "You won't do it?"

"No, I'll do it. Just show me where I can get a thimble in this rat's nest and I'll give it to you. Prolly save you the trouble of looking for it too."

"Ok. I'll show you."

Peter pressed his lips to mine and held for palpable seconds. I…was…a…statue. Then it hit me. I knew all along he was going to rape me. Pretty weird way of starting though. I should clock him with a candle holder. Peter shifted closer, his white throat extending to better reach me. I had to admit and I hate to give him praise, but his lips were like air. We parted, which I'm gonna say I was sad to do, and looked at each other. Me gawking, he quite satisfied.

"There."

"…"

"That was a thimble. What? Are you disappointed? Would you rather I give you a kiss?" he held up a worn thimble from his pocket. It looked old, like early 1900's old. I wonder where he got it from…

I eyed the sewing tool, then him. I could not believe it. I really was at the mercy of a psycho.

"This is not Neverland…this is Bizarro World. How can a kiss be a thimble, and a thimble mean a kiss? You gonna tell me that Hello is Goodbye, and Goodbye is Hello?" Tehehehe, Seinfeld reference. ^^

"No. Hello is hello and Goodbye is goodbye here."

"You remember when you said that I wouldn't hate you forever?"

"Hahaha, yea?"

"What you are doing isn't helping."

"Do you want another thimble? I know they make me happy! Or perhaps you would prefer a thing much greater?" he said leaning in again.

I palmed his face and pushed him back, my brows knitted together. "No! Keep away!"

"You are not making this easy. Do not make me force you."

"Force me to do what! Go ahead! I dare you to try something!"

I felt his lips form into his grin under my hand and then he began to chant something in a language I had never heard of. It was low, almost inaudible, and then rose to a thunderous timber.

"Sibh o daonna, bean, bandia o an feoil agus ithir. Eist le mo siog amhran. Sibh lean mo glaoch siar, do an lios. Muinin me. Eagala me ni. Teigh i me i an neal aoibhnis analu tarrthala! An cara duinn do anam! Cluin me! Tagtha go me!" 'You oh human/mortal, woman, goddess of flesh and of the Earth. Listen to my fairy call/song. You will follow my call to the west, to the fairy mound. Trust me. Fear me not. Come to me with the raptures of the kiss of life! In the surrendering/complying/freedom of your soul! Hear me! Come to me!'

It was strange. The language came at me like a flood of warmth. It was ancient. And powerful. I found myself standing up and looking down at him. I felt hazy, kind of the way you get when you eat too much sugar. His voice hummed in my mind, those heavy and Earthy words resonated deeply. Peter rose as well, the fire lighting his face to be horrendously beautiful. I saw him for what he was. Glowing white flesh pulled over sharp bones. Almond shaped eyes that reflected the evil beauty of tempting Emeralds and preternatural knowledge. My gaze went to his pointed ears which I had gotten used to seeing. They were so delicately crafted, so transparent that I saw his veins pulse with blood. Those messy red locks were silky and like water. All of him, everything about him I now realized was more than inhuman. I couldn't help it any longer, I had to ask.

"Cad as tu? Cad as sibh?" 'Where are you from? What are you' Came the ancient tongue. It did not startle me, I was speaking his true language. I was under his spell.

Peter smiled enchantingly at me. "Ta me mo chonai i Tuaiesceart (na h) Eireann, i Avalach. Ta me siog." 'I live in/come from Northern Ireland, in Avalon. I am a fairy/Fae.'

"Avalach," 'Avalon' I said in wonder.

"Cad as ainm duit?" 'What is your name?' I wondered what Peter's real name was…if he had one. Hell it could be something crazy different than Peter, I doubt ancient fairies had names like Peter or Timmy.

"Mo ainm ta Peadar." 'My name is Peter.' He responded smoothly.

He stood there for what seemed like an eternity and I felt like I was staring into the face of my death. My reflection in his green eyes faded into nothing as his irises turned black. In fact, his entire eye became pitch black, like gaping voids. I felt the cold chill of fear but could not move. I was frozen in place. The fire behind us flickered wildly, dancing this way and that. Once it swayed to the side to the point where I swore I saw a face. Peter did not speak, or change his facial expression at all. My body felt limp yet it stood, cold and hot, here but not. Again I felt that same lift in my spirit as I had in the field. Only this time I knew he had placed me under one of his spells. I went to speak in that beautiful language, but my tongue was like pudding in my mouth. My lips sealed shut by magic. I could only watch in silent dread as Peter slowly lifted off the ground, his lean arms wide open- as if to receive me.

"Se ta am!" 'It is time!' Peter's normally melodious voice now held the demonic hollow of a creature beyond the centuries.

And I was utterly powerless to stop him.