A/N: Okay, I lied. Not all of the songs will be by Allison Weiss unless specified. For this chapter, yes, it is a AW song.This chapter isn't as long because my bff has been rushing me to get it done. Love you, Emily! Mwah! You're welcome! More soon, because she'll prod my eyes out with a fire poker if I don't update often. xo
"I'm tired," whined Sophie. "My feet hurt and my backpack's heavy and we've been walking for ages and Julia won't quit making doe eyes at Peter!"
"I did no such thing!" snapped Julia, blushing a deep red. Vera snickered. "It looks like the cat is out of the bag now, sis," she teased. Julia's ears and neck turned a dark red and she said nothing, stomping her feet sullenly.
Peter was up ahead and hadn't heard the bickering. "Come on, guys!" he called out excitedly. He turned around and was greeted by an odd sight. Vera was carrying Julia, who was unconscious, and Sophie was carrying all three of the bags and grumbling about whose neck she would wring first. "What…what happened here?" Peter asked quizzically.
"She got worn down," Vera barked in reply, Sophie echoing her. Peter seemed ready to press them further, but decided against it. "Anyway," he said. "We're almost here. I'll go first!" he yelped joyfully, and banged his fist on the knot hole of a tree. A trap door opened, a slide leading into some massive cavern that had been built into the ground: the hollow earth under the huge tree's roots. Sophie gasped, Vera's eyes widening, Peter chuckled and Julia's head was jostled against her sister's chest. Julia murmured something unintelligible and continued sleeping.
"I'll go first," Peter repeated. "Vera, you next, so you can catch Julia. Sophie, you have to let her down gently ("As if she wouldn't," scoffed Vera), and then you go last, Sophie. Wahoo!" This last part he yelled, jumping onto the slide.
"We've got visitors, boys!" Vera faintly heard from below. She gulped, hearing several boys calling out curiously, "Visitors?" She steadied herself, howling "Vagabo-o-o-onds!" as she fell. "Oomph," she grunted upon landing, looking up into the faces of about half a dozen boys. "Move!" she ordered them, and move they did. They backed away while Vera spun around and crouched, calling up to Sophie: "All right! Let her down!"
Down went Julia, her head softly bumping against the gently sloping slide, but she didn't wake up. She landed into the waiting arms of her sister. "Now you, Sophie!" Vera told her. With a cry of Geronimo! Sophie was the next down the slide, the trap door falling neatly shut behind her. "Is that a hammock!" she cried. "I've always wanted a hammock." And she leaped onto the bed, asleep within seconds. Vera scooped Julia into her arms, holding her honeymoon style.
Vera quickly backed up against the wall, and in the silence that followed, everyone could hear Sophie, snoring. Until all of a sudden, Julia woke up.
"…? Vera?" she said blearily. "I'm right here, sweetheart," Vera cooed. Julia smiled blissfully, the kind of smile she hadn't done in a while. "How are you feeling?" Vera asked her. Julia grinned as Vera set her back on her feet. "I'm fine and I am okay," she sang. Suddenly aware of her audience, Julia spun around, remembering that she was still wearing her pajamas. She clutched Vera's sleeve, looking to Peter, a question on her face.
"These are the Lost Boys, lady," he said proudly. "Lost Boys, this is Julia" he pointed her out, "and her sister, Vera. The little munchkin in the hammock is their other sister, Sophie. Girls, Lost Boys. Lost Boys, girls. And I'm Peter. Can we have some fun now?"
One of the boys blushed. "Oh, that is so adorable," Julia whispered to Vera, unaware that everyone in the room could hear her. The boy blushed harder. "Hello, ma'am," he said. "I'm Tootles. And, well…I can hear you. Does this…does this happen often?" Julia smiled again. "It wasn't the first time," she sang. Another of the Lost Boys stepped forward, a swagger present in his step that had been absent in the others. "And I'm Nibs, madam," he said, his voice absolutely without any irony as he bent down to kiss Julia's hand. "Pleasure." The next boy jumped up before Nibs had returned to his place in line, chirping, "And you'll be pleased to know that I'm Slightly! You're welcome," he said, before bowing. The last teenager, a boy with curly hair, stepped up. "Hello," he whispered, "I'm Curly." The last of the Lost Boys stepped up together; two boys with some of the same features, looking bouncy and full of energy. "Hiya!" they chirped. "We're the Twins. First Twin and Second Twin. We're ten," one giggled.
Adorable, Julia mouthed to Vera over her shoulder, shaking the twins' hands. Vera shook her head and snorted. In the bustle of everyone greeting each other, Sophie woke up. "Whatsamatta," she asked, rubbing her eyes. She removed her hands, revealing huge bright blue eyes. All of the girls had these same crystallized big blue eyes, from their mother's side. Sophie had a slightly upturned nose, with a smattering of light freckles and soft dark hair that was neither brown nor black. Julia had the same features, but was without freckles, and her hair was a shade lighter, and longer, tumbling down her back. Vera had a broad nose, inherited from their father, but it suited her perfectly, and her hair was a very short pixie cut, framing her face.
"Whaddidimiss," Sophie said blearily. Julia coughed, the noise seeming to wake Sophie up, her wide eyes made wider with concern. Julia waved a hand at her, and straightened up, smiling at everyone. "Lost Boys, this is my sister, Sophie!" she announced brightly. Slightly had one hand outstretched, reaching out to see if she was okay, which he quickly retracted. The Twins seemed to be transfixed by this bright new creature that was of this totally foreign concept—"their age." Sophie slipped down from the hammock, stretching so that her Avatar: The Last Airbender pajamas (the ones that had a picture of Toph, Sophie's favorite, on them) showed her bellybutton. She yawned cutely.
The Twins and Sophie regarded each other curiously, the older kids watching, amused, until First Twin reached out and pinched Sophie's cheek lightly. "Hey!" Vera gasped, indignant, but she was shushed by everyone else, who was waiting eagerly for something to happen next. And something did; Sophie leaning in and using her pointer fingers to lift the corners of First Twin's mouth so that he was smiling. The older kids "d'awwwwww"ed, with expressions ranging from happiness to joy to condescension to teasing. Sophie smiled softly, Second Twin blushing from watching this display.
Abruptly, Sophie and the Twins ran off to have some adventures ("Good, now can't we do the same?" grumbled Peter), the Twins dragging Sophie behind them to show her the best places. Julia bit her lower lip in anticipation, already picturing Sophie all grown up with one or both of them at her side. Oh, to imagine the love triangles that might occur! Julia giggled, ignoring the looks she got. Remembering a song that, she felt, foretold what was to come, she opened her mouth and sang.
The minutes pass
and it's hours before I sleep,
'cause I'm still contemplating
when it's over, where we'll be.
And I can't speak
when I'd rather give up now
and make this last forever.
There's just got to be somehow.
When Autumn's drawing near,
and my vision's got less clear,
will you be worth the wait?
That's a chance I'd like to take.
We're going nowhere fast,
but we're growing up at last.
Will the end be worth the scare?
Well, we'll see when we get there.
I can't deny
these feelings anymore.
I'll tell you that I need you,
and I'll tell you I want more.
The timing sucks,
just like it always has,
but someone tell me,
why's it gotta turn out bad?
When Autumn's drawing near,
and my vision's got less clear,
will you be worth the wait?
That's a chance I'd like to take.
We're going nowhere fast,
but we're growing up at last.
Will the end be worth the scare?
Well, we'll see when we get there.