On with the story...

For the first eleven years of his life Sam had lamented his birthday falling right smack dab in the middle of summer. It was usually a scorching day, had actually set heat records a couple of times, or so he'd been told by his father…who was never there on his actual birthday, always away at one conference or another.

But since meeting Dean Sam was thrilled to have his birthday be a summer one, as it meant that he was free to spend it with the fairy, which he'd done for the past eight years. He was looking forward to it tomorrow, actually, wondering how he and Dean would spend his milestone 21st birthday. Thus he was surprised although undeniably delighted when Dean arrived rather early the night before.

"I have a surprise for you," Dean said without preamble once he landed inside Sam's room.

"You do?" Sam replied sounding pleased as could be, "what is it?"

"I am taking you to Neverland."

For a long minute all Sam could do was gape at Dean before he grabbed the fairy in an enthusiastic hug.

"You are? Oh Dean I cannot imagine a better surprise! Whatever made you think of it and on this night in particular?"

"This is the last night that it would be possible for you to journey with me," Dean explained, "as it is the last night before you gain your majority."

"I see," Sam said mood faltering slightly, "then we best be on our way with all haste."

But Dean had noticed Sam's mood take a dip.

"Sam? What has troubled you? Do you not wish to go to Neverland?"

"No I do, of course I do…you know it is the perfect gift for me. I guess I had not thought of tomorrow as gaining my majority. It saddens me a little, I suppose."

It saddened Dean, too, although he was bound and determined not to remind Sam of why it was that he would be upset about the fact.

"But let not my moodiness spoil what I am sure has been an evening long planned for by you," Sam said, brightening slightly, "please let us depart for what I am sure will be a night I shall treasure within my memories forever."

"Indeed, that is what I wish for it to be," Dean said, allowing his cares to fade slightly if not disappear entirely, "so take my hand and I shall lead you away."

Sam paled slightly, startling Dean.

"What is wrong?"

"I may not have ever confessed this to you before and indeed 'tis foolish that I did not do so before now but…I am afraid of heights."

Dean smiled in relief, taking care not to make it look as though he was making fun of what was a very real fear for Sam.

"Then you may climb on my back or I shall carry you in my arms, whichever you prefer," he said, "and rest assured knowing nothing matters to me more than your safety so I shall not drop you."

"I shall climb on your back, if that is all right with you," Sam decided, casting an uncertain look at Dean.

In response Dean merely turned and crouched down in order to make it easier for Sam to climb on. In truth Sam thought he was a bit too big for this to work but Dean appeared not to notice his weight at all.

"You may keep your eyes closed the entire time if you wish," Dean said once Sam had his arms and legs wrapped securely around him, "I will let you know when we are there."

Sam nodded and felt the bottom of his stomach drop out as Dean suddenly took off. He gasped and grabbed him tighter until he realized he wasn't feeling the harsh flow of wind smacking his skin and threatening to dump him off of Dean but instead it was as if they were surrounded by a warmth which shielded them from the wind and everything else. He relaxed as he understood it must be Dean's magic which was causing it to be thus and he even opened his eyes, though he kept his cheek pressed to Dean's back and merely watched the clouds roll by and the rays of the sunset which still painted the sky.

It was an undetermined amount of time later when Dean suddenly spoke up and announced they would be landing. Sam's stomach only dropped a little and he was pleased to find his legs mostly steady as he slid to the ground.

As they landed Sam could see a girl with blonde hair making her way towards them. She appeared to be a few years younger than Sam himself and she smiled when she reached the pair.

"Hello," she greeted them, "you must be Sam. I am Jo and it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise."

"Jo is my most trusted assistant," Dean explained.

"Oh yes!" Sam said with a smile aimed at Jo, "Dean has told me how wonderful you are with everything!"

Jo blushed prettily and reached out to squeeze one of Dean's arms.

"Talking about me? You could have warned me."

"Ah but then how would I have ever gotten to see you blush like that?" Dean teased her and they all laughed.

"Everything is as you requested," Jo said, "so you may begin the tour anywhere you wish."

Dean nodded and turned to Sam.

"What would you like to see first?" he asked and Sam shrugged, ducking his head a bit shyly.

"I trust you to know the route we should take," he said, "for I have no doubts I shall be pleased with everything."

"Then let us begin with a trip to the lagoon," Dean announced and Sam only had time to blink before they were suddenly there.

"That mode of travel shall take a bit to get used to," he said somewhat shakily and Dean's gaze turned worried.

"I did not make you sick by transporting us thusly?" he asked, relieved when Sam shook his head.

"No, it merely caught me unawares," he assured him; "in truth I did not feel much of anything beyond a slight pull and tingle."

"Wonderful," Dean said, "for it shall make it easier to get around Neverland."

And they began to explore the lagoon, with Sam oohing and ahhing over everything, then blushing when the mermaids swam over to them and commented on his fair features. Everything was amazing to Sam and he found himself running out of adjectives to describe the wonder he felt at all Dean showed him. Each part of Neverland held some wondrous thing which instantly captivated Sam and made his head swim with the magnificence of it all. Perhaps the most amazing thing to him was that all of the creatures—be it the pirates, the mermaids or what have you—were all former children of Neverland who had gained their majority and had chosen to remain in Neverland as that particular creature.

Dean was in the middle of teasing Sam for being reduced to speechlessness at the sight of the waterfall when he suddenly stopped speaking and shut his eyes, hands going to his head. Before Sam could question him Dean spoke.

"Sam I am afraid we must cut our visit somewhat short," Dean said, "there is an emergency arrival."

And before Sam could do anything other than nod they were back at the entrance to Neverland and Dean was looking skyward. Sam followed his line of sight and gasped aloud as he saw a baby floating down, landing gently in Dean's arms. The infant trembled and squirmed and looked as though she would break into sobs at any moment. Sam was shocked to see tears running down Dean's cheeks as he held the infant tighter.

"How can someone not want you?" he whispered to the baby, "you are beautiful, you have worth and you will be loved here."

Soon the area began to fill up with other Neverland residents, with Jo leading the way. They all cooed and fawned over the baby but it wasn't until the infant had clearly lost all sense of fright and was content that Dean decided it was time to pass the baby off to Jo.

"Standard protocol," he told her as he did so, "Anyone who wants to offer a name choice or who wants to serve as her surrogate may petition to do so tomorrow."

He turned back to Sam and gave him a smile, wiping the tears off his own cheeks with no trace of shyness.

"It is rare that we receive infants," he explained as they watched everyone disperse, most of the crowd following Jo, "and it never gets any easier."

"She is lucky to have you," Sam said and Dean shook his head.

"No, I am the lucky one to be able to serve the residents of Neverland."

"I think we shall have to agree to disagree on this matter," Sam told him with a smile which Dean returned briefly before turning away from Sam.

"It is time for me to take you back to your realm," he addressed him without turning back around, "for it is almost your birthday."

Sam frowned at Dean's behavior but decided the fairy must have started to feel embarrassed by the praise and admiration Sam had displayed.

"Very well," he told Dean, approaching him from behind and cautiously laying a hand on one of the fairy's shoulders, "if you wish for us to leave I will go with you."

And Dean wanted to tell Sam the truth but he knew he couldn't, not there, not then, and so he simply nodded and once again crouched down in order to make it easier for Sam to hold on to him. They arrived back sooner at Sam's than Dean was prepared for, though he knew there was not enough time, and it had in fact run out, leaving him with the only option available to him…tell Sam the truth. So once he made sure Sam had his feet under him and was not feeling queasy he cut right to the chase.

"You may not be able to see me anymore after tonight."

"What?" Sam choked out, horrified, "Do not even jest about something like that!"

And while it should have given Dean some semblance of hope to see how clearly devastated Sam was by the information it did nothing to ease his heartache.

"I would not."

"Why? How?" Sam whispered, crumpling down to the floor. "Did I do something wrong?"

And Dean knelt down beside him and placed his arms on Sam's shoulders.

"No," he said firmly, "and I would not have you think any thoughts such as those. You have done nothing wrong."

"Then why?" Sam asked, raising tear-filled eyes to Dean.

Dean stood up and slowly began to pace around the room.

"Tomorrow you shall be an adult, and with that mantel comes blindness to childish things."

"But I want to see you! All day! Every day!" Sam cried out. "Tell me there is a way!"

"I will return tomorrow and if you truly wish to see me then you will, but we shall appear as near strangers to one another."

"I do not understand." Sam said, watching Dean walk the length of his floor and feeling as though he may not ever be able to stand up again.

"I have been able to only see you as a child," Dean told him, "you are the only one who can make it so I can see you as an adult. And when you look at me through the eyes of an adult you shall see someone who looks different to your eyes."

"Different how?"

"I am not sure," Dean admitted, "I told you that part of the book was rubbish. I have no idea what really happens."

"But what happened with Barrie?" Sam asked, knowing now that Dean had been through this before.

Dean shrugged.

"After the night he left Neverland I never spoke with him again."

And Sam's heart ached at the thought that Dean had lost someone who he had considered a dear friend by that person's callous behavior. He simply couldn't imagine not knowing Dean or if he did not recognize him not allowing him the chance to prove he was who he said he was.

"Well you shall see me tomorrow," Sam announced, "and every day after that as well because I cannot imagine there is a person who wishes to be with you more than I."

"I will go now," Dean announced abruptly, making his way to the window quickly, "And I shall return upon the morrow."

"Dean…" Sam called out, waiting until the fairy had locked eyes with him once more, "I will see you tomorrow."

Dean gave a hesitant nod before darting up and out of the window so fast Sam's breath caught.

Dean went through his duties mechanically the next day, and he knew he had Jo to thank for his ability to be on his own as much as he was. When he arrived back from Sam's she had taken one look at him and had brewed some tea, sitting Dean down and listening as he poured the whole story out to her.

Try as he might all Dean could do was to think about Jonathon, and how things had played out. Dean could well remember that night when he went to see Jonathon. Landing outside his house Dean had waited for Jonathon to come home, anxious to see his friend. He had been startled to see a man who looked almost nothing like the Jonathon he had known for years approaching the dwelling. In fact had it not been for someone calling his name Dean would have been tempted to say it was not in fact really him. But another man called out his name and Jonathon stopped, a smile on his face.

"We're going to drink a few pints at the pub," the man said, "care to join us?"

"Love to," Jonathon replied, "just let me put my things down inside and I'll meet you there."

And then the moment Dean would be haunted by for ages happened—Jonathon walked right past him without seeing him. Came so close the material of his overcoat brushed against Dean's shirt, making the material flutter weakly in the aftermath, like it had been caressed by a breeze.

"Jonathon," Dean called out then, a mere whisper to be sure but certainly loud enough to be heard by a man less than an arm's length away from him.

But there was no hitch in stride, no momentary pause, nothing.