A/N: Update 22
Warning: This chapter contains strong language aka the F-word I tried to avoid using it, but I feel like it really gets the point across. You have been warned.
I took a deep breath, ready to tell her as much as I could. "That man you call 'Dad' is Captain Hook, he's my enemy, so to speak. But you already knew that; we've been over this. He's been trying to capture me for as long as I can remember, and he finally won. He expects me to help him find the source of energy that keeps the island young, so that he can use the power to control the world. I refused to take him to Mount Never, so he threw me in this tiny hellhole until I'm 'ready to cooperate.'"
"But he's not the bad guy," Winnie argued. "You are."
"And what makes you say that?"
"After you left dinner, my dad went off on how you are a horrible boy. He told me that you terrorized his crew, killing many of them, as well as killing members of your army of lost boys when they showed signs of growing up. He said that you are trying to kill Neverland and all its inhabitants just because you have the power to do so," Winnie explained.
"Your dad is a lying sack of shit," I scoffed.
The next thing I know, I'm being pinned down to the bed, Winnie straddling me, with the dagger at my throat.
"My father is NOT the bad guy," Winnie sneered through clenched teeth.
"I'm getting real tired of people pointing that thing at my throat," I said struggling to break free. She was stronger than she looked.
"Well you better fucking get used to it, because I'm not fucking leaving until you tell me what you know," Winnie replied, putting slightly more pressure on the knife.
"Such a foul mouth," I smirked. "It's no surprise, you were raised by pirates," I spat.
"I'm warning you, Pan. I won't fucking hesitate," Winnie growled, pushing the tip of the knife into my neck. She sounded exactly like Hook. "Tell me what's going on. Why don't you look like the bad guy? Why won't you tell me what you know? Why, even after everything you've done to my father, his crew, and me, am I so fascinated by you?"
I was able to wiggle my arm free, and I pushed the knife away. I sat up as best I could. "Okay, one, I'm not the bad guy, I told you that. Two, you wouldn't understand. And three…" I hesitated. "Same answer as two," I finally sighed.
"Not good enough," Winnie forced the knife back at my neck. "Tell me the truth. You know something about me and I can't figure it out. I can't figure YOU out."
I smirked up at Winnie, suddenly amused. The tension between us was becoming more heated. "I'm not saying anything 'til you get MY knife away from my neck." I struggled to get my arms free again.
Winnie lowered the dagger. "Your knife?" She looked down at the weapon in her hands. "This is mine. I lost it a long time ago."
I shook my head. "I took it from your dad. He also decided to point it at my neck. It's my knife, so give it back," I said, reaching for it.
Winnie pulled it just out of my reach. "It's not your knife, it's mine. I've had it for as long as I can remember."
"Give it to me, and I'll prove to you that it's mine," I sighed leaning on one elbow holding my palm out. Winnie hesitated for fear that I might turn and use it on her, but then she handed it over. I wiped the blade on my shirt and held it out pointing to the initials.
"P.P.," Winnie stated plainly. "How does that prove that it's yours?" She tried to grab for it, but I was too quick for her.
"Come on, I know your smart. You can figure it out," I teased. When she didn't say anything, I knew she knew. Winnie was too ashamed to admit it though. "I know what you're thinking, and you're right: Peter Pan. P.P. So I thank you for returning my knife, Wendy."
"Wendy?" She looked at me confused.
"Sorry, I meant Winnie," I corrected, my face turning pale. How could I make such a huge mistake?
"No wait, Wendy? Why does that feel familiar? And this knife, I remember finding it on the ship. I was fascinated by it," Wendy babbled to herself.
I looked at her with hope in my eyes. "What else?"
"I remember being in a treehouse. You were there, and so was Nate, but you both were younger. I was there too, telling stories to a bunch of boys, and you got mad because I wanted to leave. When we tried to leave, we were kidnapped by…" Wendy began to cry. "Captain Hook, my father."
Still straddling me, she buried her face in my shoulder. "It's all right, Wendy. Try to remember some more," I encouraged her.
She sat up and rolled off of me. "I was on the plank, being forced to walk. And I jumped, but I never hit the water. I was rescued, by you. And then you were fighting him—my father that is. You both were up high on the masts of the ship. You won the battle, and Captain Hook promised you that he'd leave forever. You got control of his ship and we sailed away in the sky."
"Keep going," I encouraged. I figured we could work our way up to when she left London to come back to Neverland.
"Peter, I'm scared. I've just found out my entire life is a lie. Who am I supposed to trust now?"
"You can trust me, Wendy," I said brushing the hair away from her face.
"Don't call me that. It makes me all confused. And it reminds me of thimbles. Why do I keep thinking about thimbles?"
I smiled and leaned in and kissed Wendy softly on the lips. "That's a thimble," I whispered.