You Can Fly
A tear silently feel down Wendy's check as the view of the Clock Tower came into sight. That's where they had rested after Peter taught the children to fly and he showed them the second star to the right. Memories of their adventures in Neverland start to fill her head and more tears flow out as well. Wendy gazes out at her two brothers still pretending to the pirates and running around the flying pirate ship.
"Oh to be that young." She thinks to herself. She is only 13 years of age but a girl of 13 has many responsibilities and she knows this. All children must grow up, that is, except one. She turns around and looks at the ship's young captain. Peter stands tall and proud with his choppy red hair poking out from under Hook's hat that Pan had stolen before Hook fled. The angered captain had lost to Pan yet again and was busy running from a crocodile when Wendy last saw the ole codfish. Peter was so fearless no matter what. He would always fly in and save the day with that foolish grin on his freckled face and his dagger in hand.
The longer she stares at the hero, the harder it becomes to make her decision. As much as she would love to stay in Neverland, her responsibilities drag her back down to London. She needs to start becoming a proper lady who doesn't tell foolish stories about flying orphans and jealous fairies. Wendy looks down at her bare feet on the wooden floor of the ship. In her modest opinion, shoes are drastically overrated. She loved the sense of freedom that came with the feeling of her feet running through the dirt or tall grass.
"Stop those thoughts, silly girl!" she scolds herself. Mother and Father need her at home to care for her brothers and help host parties and other English activities that qualify one as a lady.
"WENDY!" Peter shouts and waves her up to him. She slowly walks towards the back of the ship.
"What will I tell him?" the wheels are turning in her head as she reaches him. "Yes, Peter?"
"Come here." He takes her hand and guides it to the steering wheel. "Try steering for a bit."
"Oh Peter, I don't know how to-"
"Hush and I'll teach you." Pan stands behind her with his large hands over her dainty ones, slowly controlling her and the ship. Wendy starts to relax with his hands on hers.
"Why can't it be like this forever?" She wishes.
"It can if you stay with me." Peter answers; startling Wendy who was unaware she had wished aloud.
She pulls away from the wheel and says,"Peter don't ask me to do that."
"Why not, Wendy!?", Peter asks rather harshly, "The boys can stay with your parents until they grow as old as you and me, then we can come back for them. Come on, Wendy, don't you want to free yourself of all responsibilities and worries."
"Yesss.." she thinks to herself, careful to not let this thought slip through her mouth like the last one did. "Peter, I want to. Believe me, I do, I just CANT. I have parents, Peter! People who care about me! You had no one when you went to Neverland!"
She realizes the curtness of her words when Peter looks at her shocked, that she would bring up him being an orphan. He turns away and walks to the edge of the ship. "Peter, Im sorry! I didn't mean to-"
"God dammit Wendy! I care about you why isn't that enough?! Am I not good enough or something?!" and with that he kicks the side of the flying boat and storms into Hook's study.
John and Michael had noticed the quarrel by now and John, being the eldest brother ran to take control of the ship. He and Wendy made quick eye contact but she pulled away her glance when she saw the glimpse of want for Neverland in his deep blue seas. They were as blue as the waters in Mermaid Lagoon, both in color and sadness.
Wendy walks down to the front of the boat and drops her face into her hands to stop her tears. "It isn't fair that I have to make this decision for me and my brothers." Is all she thinks about. Several minutes go by. She finally pulls up her head and sees her house not far away. The tears come rolling down her face even quicker now. She truly doesn't want to leave that land, the Lost Boys, mermaids, Indians, and mainly Peter. The two had grown quite fond of each other.
"Uhm," Peter coughs to get Wendy to turn around," I wanted to apologize for snapping at you earlier-". His apology is cut off by Wendy throwing herself into his arms. Peter Pan wraps his arms around her tightly and closes his eyes making the most of his numbered minutes with his one and only Lost Girl.
Peter flies in the nursery with Michael in his arms; the little tike had fallen asleep during the last few minutes of the boat ride. After Peter, in flies John who immediately goes to his bed to fall asleep. Lately he has been sleeping on scratchy pine needles so the cloud-like mattress is heavenly to his aching body. Another reason John wants to fall asleep so soon is to avoid a painful goodbye with Peter Pan. Peter had become like an older brother to John and Michael in the past days yet John didn't want to break into tears in front of him. Wendy slowly flew in their room and landed on the window seat. Peter was struggling to pull back Michael's covers and not disturb his deep slumber. Wendy floated over to the red headed boy and helped. Once Peter laid Michael down and tucked the covers in around him, he stared at the babe's sweet sleeping face. Wendy noticed a single tear slide down Peter's pain-stricken face and splash gently on Michael's sleep shirt. Then Peter surprised Wendy by reaching out his hand to stroke Michaels's soft blonde hair. She had been oblivious to how close her brothers had gotten to Pan until now.
"Peter," She whispers. He keeps his head down and walks over to the window seat.
"Do you remember when I came in this window that night?" he asks as he stares out at the city below them.
"Oh yes, Peter. I don't think I will ever forget."
"That's good. Wendy do me a favor and never forget because forgetting-," He chokes back tears," Means going away. Forever."
Wendy sits down next to him and touches his arm, " Peter, I could never forget you."
Pan turns and looks her in the eyes, taking in his last moments with her effortless beauty. He remembers her telling something unknown to him when they first met. Something about a kiss.
"Wendy,"
"Yes, Peter?"
"Close your eyes."
She obeys.
"I'm going to give you a kiss." And with that he takes her hand and places the kiss that she gave him the night the first met in her open palm.
When she opens her eyes and sees it, a bittersweet tear falls. "Now you close your eyes."
He obeys for the first time in his life.
"I'm going to give you a kiss too." He holds out his hand, expecting a thimble to be placed in his palm like he did with her. Instead, Wendy places her hand in his and leans in. Lips meet lips. She slowly pulls back and opens her eyes as Peter opens his. He smirks and then pulls Wendy in for another kiss. Their sorrowful tears run into the others. Slowly, Peter pulls away and steps out the window refusing to let himself turn around to catch one last look of his Lost Girl.
Wendy props her head up with her elbow resting on the window sill. She smiles as she sees a cloud shaped like a ship float over the full moon. She sighs and whispers,
"I'll never forget you, Peter Pan."
"I won't forget you either, Lost Girl." thinks Peter as he listens from the side of window.