Oh I hope you like this chapter! I think it's quite an important one and wanted to get it right. Comment and critisicms are very greatly appreciated and I will take them all on board. Hope you enjoy this chapter and PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks to those who have 3
Chapter 5
Jane's eyes opened slowly and she sighed, nestling her cheek into her soft pillow, her lips stretching in a yawn. As she blinked sleepily the room blurred into focus and remembered yesterdays events...
Peter, she thought, and her eyes snapped open to look at the chair in which he had sat not so long ago.
The chair which was now empty.
Of course he's gone, the dark side of her whispered, you lost him once and now you've lost him again; big deal.
Tears sprang into Jane's wide eyes but the voice did not care:
What's so special about you? What's to keep him here? He wouldn't even get within touching distance, you repulse him. He doesn't want you.
"No." Jane's whisper was almost noiseless but she heard a voice from behind her.
"What's wrong?"
It was Peter's voice.
Jane turned around sharply to see him standing at her mantelpiece, a portrait of herself and her Mother in his hands.
"Peter?" She asked, her voice trembling.
"Yes?" He replied as if she was somewhat idiotic.
"Oh Peter! You stayed!" She cried exultantly as she hurled herself out of bed and into his arms he started and then smiled, wrapping her in his arms and pressing his lips to the top of her head.
"Of course. But quiet now – Wendy will hear." He warned gently and felt her nod, stifling sobs.
Tenderly, Peter took her shoulders and led her to the bed.
"Sit down, you're shaking." He said and she did so. Peter lowered himself beside her and draped an arm round her shoulder, smiling as she tucked her head into the crook of his arm.
"I was so scared I'd lost you." She whispered and the smile left Peter's face.
"I am here." He assured her, threading his fingers though hers, again he felt her nod, her soft hair tickling his bare skin.
"I thought you did not want me anymore." This was even quieter but it had more effect on Peter. He took her chin in his hand and raised her head to look him in the eyes.
"How could I not want you? Beautiful, kind as you are?" He asked as if aghast by the very idea.
Jane's smile was the widest and most lovely he'd ever seen and before either of them knew it their lips met and they were kissing passionately, happily, ecstatically, wildly and without restraint.
In one smooth movement Peter pulled Jane to sit on his lap and they tumbled together onto their backs, laughing. Peter felt some long-buried instinct push him up so his body was lightly on top of hers, her eyes met him with a new emotion and he slowly lowered his forehead to rest on hers. This time the kiss was soft and gentle and Jane, as she closed her eyes, thought she'd never felt so close to anyone – so connected.
Then suddenly the perfect moment was ruined by the opening of the door and the entrance of her little brother.
"Johnny!" Jane yelped, pushing Peter off her. He fell to the floor with a thump and Johnny's mouth dropped open.
"Jane who's that boy?" He asked suspiciously and Jane winced, getting to her feet.
"Um, well he's -"
"I don't like him." Johnny scowled, and Jane laughed nervously.
"You don't know him!"
"I don't want to know him." Johnny answered stubbornly, crossing his chubby arms and watching his big sister closely as she hurried to close the door.
Peter sat up and was immediately treated to the little boys glare.
"Why are you in here?" Johnny demanded and Peter rubbed his head bemusedly.
"Visiting Jane." He said, hoping that would suffice. But Johnny was far from appeased.
"You were hurting her!" He accused, pointing a finger at Peter.
"I would never hurt her." Peter said fervently at the same time as Jane said,
"He wasn't hurting me."
The little boy looked between the two and relaxed slightly.
"Oh." He shuffled closer to Jane and looked up at her imploringly, she swung him into her arms and he went to whisper in her ear.
"Jane, who is that boy? He's dressed funny." Jane smiled.
"He is Peter Pan." She whispered back with sparkling eyes and Johnny gasped, scrambling out of her arms and running to where Peter now and stood looked up at him in awe.
"Are you really Peter Pan?" He asked and Peter smiled and lifted him to stand on the bed so they were more similar in height.
"Yes I am." He replied and they boys eye grew wide with admiration. As Peter looked at him he felt, bit by bit, more of himself seep back to him. He was Peter Pan – that remained the same even amidst the other changes.
"Does Mama know you're here?" Johnny asked and both Jane and Peter tensed up, looking at each other worriedly over the boys head.
"No she doesn't Johnny, and you mustn't tell her." Jane said, holding her little brother's gaze.
"It's like a game." Peter added and the little boy nodded excitedly.
"Okay!" He agreed readily and Jane breathed a sigh of relief.
However she sighed too soon as just at that moment the door swung open to reveal Wendy, standing with a load of washing in her hands and a confused expression on her face.
The silence was thick and seemed to hang low in the room, beads of sweat appeared on Peter's brow and Jane merely opened and closed her mouth like a fish.
Johnny, on the other hand, was not at all perturbed and simply flung his arms out.
"Oh dear mama, you caught us! It was meant to be like a game!" He exclaimed and Jane hid her face in her hands as her Mother dropped the clothes she'd been holding and gestured to the hallway.
"Jane." She said quietly but firmly, "I think we need to have a little chat." When they were at the door Wendy turned round and looked at Peter with difficulty.
"I will leave Johnny with you. I presume I can trust you not to steal another child from me." She snapped and with that ultimatum, shut the door crisply behind her.
