"Tinkerbell," she gasped, turning to the fairy. Tinkerbell chimed and flew around Wendy several times.
"Tink, what are you doing here? Is Peter alright?" Tinkerbell shook her tiny head and she continued to chime. Wendy grew frustrated that she could not understand the pixie. Remembering the Lost Boys could speak to her, she held up a finger to Tinkerbell and ran downstairs. The boys were gathered in the living room, playing with Slightly's new train set.
"Boys, I need your help, if you please. Upstairs. Now." The boys all looked at each other then jumped up and followed Wendy up to her room.
"Tootles was right…he did see Tinkerbell. But I'm afraid I cannot understand her. I need one of you to translate." Slightly held out his hand and Tinkerbell landed in his palm. His face broke into a grin.
"Hello Tink! What brings you here? Is Peter with you?" Tinkerbell started to chime and the boys listened intently.
"Are you sure? Well where is he?" Slightly was looking concerned and Tootles looked as if he were about to cry.
"What is she saying?"
"She says Neverland is changing because Peter is changing. She says ever since your kiss, Peter leaves Neverland more and more frequently. And the longer he is away, the more he grows up. Neverland is tied to Peter's emotions and lately he's just lonely and sulky. She says Tiger Lily even tried to comfort him but Peter only talked about you and flew away. She says he comes and watches you at night sometimes but doesn't want to make you remember him. She says he's miserable without you." Wendy's jaw dropped. Was this just one of Tinkerbell's tricks? The fairy had almost gotten her killed once. But she looked down at the fairy and saw her eyes were large and full of sorrow. She chimed some more and Wendy waited for translation.
"Tink says that Peter comes to visit you in your dreams sometimes. That's the only place you can be together, he says. He hates you for leaving and growing up but he wants you to come back too. She says Peter has gotten weak and vulnerable. If any of his enemies found out, it would be the end of him." Wendy bit her lip. And what about her? If she was so special to him, they could use her to get to him. But Wendy had never been that selfish…it disturbed her to hear how miserable Peter was. But she could do nothing. He had chosen not to leave with her. He knew how she felt and when she had confronted him about his feelings, he denied everything. Wendy turned away, shaking her head and gripping her own shoulders. The boys watched her pace back and forth.
"How does Tinkerbell think I can help him? I did grow up and I can't change that. What can I possibly do for a little boy who refuses to acknowledge his own feelings?"
"He grew up too, Wendy. Perhaps he's not as mature as you but the longer he is in our world, the more he grows up. He does it so he can see you." Wendy didn't know what to say to this.
"Does Peter know that you're here Tink?" Tinkerbell shook her head no.
"She says Peter wouldn't like it if he knew she was here, telling you this. Peter thinks you deserve better and thinks that you've forgotten about him."
"Well tell her he's right," said Wendy, drawing herself up and suddenly becoming quite angry, "I haven't thought once about him. I grew up and he didn't. I've met a perfectly lovely lad who has a bright future ahead of him and he is content to stay here in London, not go flying about. Tell Tinkerbell I'm sorry for Peter but there is nothing I can do for him." Tink flew out of Slightly's hand and flew straight into Wendy's face, shaking her tiny fist and chiming unclear obscenities at her. Wendy backed away, guarding her face with her hands.
"Tink, stop it," came a deep voice from across the room. Everyone in the room gasped as Peter soared through the window and grabbed at Tinkerbell. Her wings drooped slightly as she looked up into his angry face.
"What did I tell you about coming here? I told you I didn't want anyone to know. Least of all her." Tinkerbell sassily shook her head and crossed her feet in Peter's palm.
"No she can't help me. No one can. So just mind your own business or I'll banish you again."
"Excuse me, we are in the same room. You can talk TO me instead of about me," Wendy spoke to him for the first time. Peter quickly looked up and seemed to notice her for the first time. Wendy gasped as she noticed the changes in him. Tinkerbell hadn't been lying; Peter was more grown up than the last time she had seen him. He was taller and more built; he still wore leaves and vines but they hugged his muscles in an almost sexy way. His face was fuller and more handsome but his eyes looked clouded and sad. Wendy blushed, remembering her dream as she gazed upon his body. Peter drew himself up and tilted his chin upward slightly.
"I'm sorry that she bothered all of you. We'll be going now."
"Peter, wait," Wendy reached out and held Peter's arm and he looked shocked that she was touching him. He was about to speak when his eyes remained fixed on something around Wendy's neck. She looked down and saw that he was staring at the acorn.
"It's my kiss," he said very quietly. His eyes drifted upwards and bore into hers.
"If everyone would please give me a moment alone with Peter," Wendy said, not taking her eyes off him. The boys all shuffled out, muttering hellos and goodbyes to Peter. Tinkerbell stayed but Peter shook his head.
"You too, Tink." She stamped her foot and flew after the boys. Wendy closed the door behind them and turned back to Peter, who was standing a good distance from her.
"Peter, I—" she stopped. What could she say? He thought she had forgotten about him. Well, she had been convinced that he had forgotten her but that was not the case. Peter longed for Wendy as much as she longed for him. She took a step toward him.
"Why do you think I've forgotten you?"
"Because you grew up. And I didn't. Just like you said. You met a lovely lad with a bright future ahead of him. And it's not me."
"Peter I was just saying those things to upset Tinkerbell, I didn't really mean them."
"But you did," he insisted. "I saw you this morning with him. You touched him. You might have given him your kiss if Tink hadn't stopped you."
"If Tink hadn't—Peter, how long have you been spying on me? And you sent Tinkerbell to pull James's hair? Just who do you think you are?"
"Not the boy you love," Peter said quietly. Despite her anger, Wendy's face softened and she crossed the room slowly.
"Peter," she took his hands into her own and he didn't try to pull away. "You have to understand. You told me you never wanted to grow up. I told you that night…my kiss will always belong to you. But I can't just sit around and wait for you to fly through my window. I want a family…and a husband." Peter winced at that word. He tried to pull away but Wendy held onto his hands.
"Listen to me, Peter. I have dreamed of you every night since I left Neverland. I think of you every single day. When I close my eyes, I'm filled with visions of you and I together in Neverland. I gave you my hidden kiss and only one person gets my hidden kiss. It will always belong to you, whether you want it or not."
"Your kiss saved me, Wendy. But ever since that night, I can't get you out of my head. Sometimes I come to your window just so I can catch a glimpse of your pretty face. I listen to you tell stories to the Lost Boys and just get lost in your voice. I realized how lonely I was without you and the longer I stay here in your world, the more I grow up. As you can tell." Wendy smiled.
"It surprised me but I quite like it. You look very handsome."
"You've changed too," he nodded, his eyes traveling over her. She blushed slightly but still held onto his hands.
"Do you still want to stay in Neverland?" He swallowed.
"Yes. I still want to be a little boy and to have fun. But I also want to be with you. So I don't know which one to choose."
"Well you have to make a choice. I'm not coming back to Neverland and I can't go back to being a little girl again. But Neverland needs you. Tinkerbell says it's changing because you're changing." Peter nodded heavily.
"I've been the Prince of Neverland for long as I can remember. I literally can't remember anything before Tinkerbell found me at Kensington Gardens, except that I ran away because I heard them talking of what I was to be when I grew up. I don't even know how old I am. How can that be, Wendy?"
"Peter…you're not a normal boy. You can't expect everything to fall into place so quickly. It takes time. You can go back to Neverland now knowing how I feel about you…how I will always feel about you." Her hand rested on his cheek for a moment before she leaned in and softly kissed his lips then broke away. Peter only stared at her.
"Then goodbye Wendy."
"Goodbye Peter." Peter gave her a little smile before he whistled for Tinkerbell to come, then flew back out the window. Wendy watched him disappear into the sky and her heart was heavy. The boys sensed she needed some time to herself and went back downstairs. Wendy rested on the floor next to the window and she pulled her knees up to her face and rested her chin. A tear fell silently down her cheek. Her eyes closed as she attempted to fix that memory in her mind but she was interrupted by a sound coming from the window. Thinking Peter had come back, she jumped to her feet and ran to the window but there was nothing there. Shaking her head, she turned to go back downstairs but a hand clapped over her mouth and she tried to scream.
"It's been too long, my dear Wendy," growled a voice in her ear. Her eyes widened in terror as she looked into the mirror and saw the man who stood behind her. He had haunted her nightmares for years but she had seen him fall into the crocodile's mouth. Nevertheless, James Hook stood behind Wendy and his hand roughly held against her.
"Now listen closely, my beauty. You will not scream, you will not make a sound. You will cooperate and do everything I say in order to save your precious Peter Pan." Wendy jerked her face out of his grasp and gasped.
"What have you done with him?"
"Nothing yet. That's where you come in." His hook came crashing down on her head and she fell limp in his arms. Smiling, Hook flung Wendy over his shoulder, stepped out of the window, and onto his ship. He handed Wendy to one of his crewmen, who took her into one of the cabins. Hook nodded to Smee, who yelled for the men to cast off. Hook grinned as he fingered his sword and looked up at the second star, for which they were headed.
"I've got you this time, Peter Pan."