A/N: Update 14

"Shit, I, uh, aw, shit! Winnie, you have to listen to me. Yes, I am Peter Pan. I left Neverland because I was looking for…someone," I faded out. How did I go about explaining all this to her? I couldn't sit and bash the man she called her father, but she needed to know the truth.

"I don't know what to say," Winnie said quietly. "You lied to me, you destroyed Captain Hook's ship multiple times, and you cut off his hand," she sat there glowering at me.

"Winnie, please, just hear me out. I'm not the bad guy here. Hook has been after me for as long as I can remember. When I lived in Neverland, I didn't know why, but now I do. The island is dying, and Hook thinks that I have something to do with it. That's why he kidnapped me. That's why we're going back to Neverland," I tried to explain. "I know it doesn't make much sense now, but you have to trust me. I would never hurt you, you have to believe me."

"Why would I trust you? I just barely met you!" she yelled beginning to stand up. Her face was turning red with rage.

I was just about to answer, when the boat shifted as we began our ascent to Neverland. Winnie lost her balance and fell on top of me. She scrambled to stand up but I grabbed her arm. "Winnie, please. I trusted you after I found myself passed out and kidnapped, the least you could do is trust me now. I can't explain everything at the moment, but believe me: you mean so much to me. More than you know. We have this connection, and I know that you feel it too. Just trust me, please." I looked her straight in the eye, and her brow began to unfurrow.

"Fine," she replied yanking her arm away. She rolled off of me and sat down crossing her arms. "Tell me the truth. What's the real story behind you and my dad?"

I explained that Hook had been trying to capture me for years. I told her that she was right; I did cut off Hook's hand, but that it was only because he was attacking me. I said as much as I could without revealing her identity. I also explained Hook's plan to her, at least what I understood of it. By the looks of it, she believed me. She was beginning to warm up to me again, but I had a feeling she would have a hard time trusting me again.

"Okay, so to clarify," Winnie stated. "My dad kidnapped you because the island is dying, and he thinks that you have something to do with it. And we're going back to Neverland, because the magic only works there?"

I nodded. "I'm pretty sure the magic only works there. I'm not really sure how, or if I even do, play role in it, as you can clearly see, I have aged since leaving Neverland, so maybe there's some source of magic that needs me there on the island. I really have no idea."

"Are you happy?" Winnie asked. I looked at her, confused. She clarified, "are you happy that you left Neverland and 'grew up'? And, why did you leave anyway?"

"I, uh," I stammered. "How do I explain this? I left because I was looking for someone. A friend, who once visited me a long time ago."

"That's it? That's all I get?" Winnie smirked.

"What more do you want?" I asked laughing.

"What made this person so amazing that you had to go find them? Was it a girl? I bet it was a girl. No guy would ever leave the only place he's ever known, unless it was for a girl," Winnie kept speaking, lost in thought.

I sighed. "Yes, she is a girl. She means so much to me."

"Did you ever find her?" Winnie asked curiously.

This was the question I was dreading. I didn't think that Winnie could handle much more information right now. I'd already told her that her dad was a pirate who tried to kill me on multiple occasions, and I didn't think that she could handle the full blown truth right now, so how was I supposed to explain? I didn't want to lie to her; she was already having a hard time trusting me. "Yes," I finally answered. "I did find her."

"And?" Winnie asked anxiously.

"She…had changed. It's like she was a completely different person," I finished, my face dropping.

"Oh, she turned into a bitch," Winnie smiled slightly.

I laughed. "What? No! She's not. She just…it's like…she never remembered who I was, and any subtle attempts I made to see if she remembered didn't help. It's almost like I was just a part of her imagination," I sighed.

Winnie's eyes softened. She slipped her hand into mine and comforted me. "I'm sorry, Peter. I didn't mean to pry. I just really want to get to know you. I want to know why you're all moody and mysterious all the time," She winked at me and kissed my cheek.

I sat there shocked. Apparently it wasn't going to take very long for her to feel comfortable around me. "It's okay," I answered, barely audible.

"So, you didn't answer my first question: are you happy?" Winnie asked smiling.

There were many things that I missed about Neverland. And I still really hated the idea of growing up, but it had all been worth it. I had found my Wendy. It was only a matter of time before I could help her remember her past. I leaned forward and kissed Winnie lightly and whispered, "Yes."