Peter didn't sleep for long; having Wendy back in his arms made him more alert and more on his guard. Wendy, too, wasn't able to close her eyes completely. He supposed she had learned to sleep with one eye open. She shifted beside him, throwing her arm over his stomach and resting on his muscular limb. He cradled her in his arms, stroking her hair and back.

"How did I forget you? I don't understand how I didn't recognize you…what could possibly have made me forget you," she said softly, almost apologetic.

"I forgot everything too. Hook had me on that ship for over a year. He tortured me every day. And you were made to do some horrible things. We suffered real tragedies, Wendy, and we didn't have each other to help each other get by. Trauma makes you forget…so don't beat yourself up because you forgot about me. The important thing is you remembered. The important thing is that we found one another."

"You found me. And sent me to jail." Peter winced but squeezed her closer.

"But I paid for your bail and brought you here, didn't I?"

"Indeed. And you saved me from those ruffians in the alley. You may have caused me trouble Peter Pan but you certainly helped me out of it too." Grinning, he looked sideways at her and playfully tugged on one of her curls.

"I'm your hero?"

"Hmm," she said, her lips thinned. "I suppose I can call you that." Peter pretended to be hurt.

"Fine, not a hero but the love of your life at least?"

"That sounds more like it," she said, leaning in to kiss him. He didn't think he would ever get enough of her kisses.

"Have you been in England all this time?"

"Marco sold me all over Spain and Portugal. Then on a 'business trip' to France, he got drunk and was killed in a bar fight. The girls and I didn't really know what to do or where to go, so several of us decided to go back to England, where we originally were from. Bonnie discovered she was pregnant and shortly after, she killed herself. Suppose she didn't want to a bring a baby into that sort of life that she had. There were four of us who came back to England, the rest stayed in France. I considered going and finding my family but I was ashamed. I could never let them see me this way. And I suppose after awhile…I forgot about them. People asked me if I had a man anywhere around here and I answered no. But then I'd look down and see your kiss around my neck and know I had someone somewhere, I just had to find him. At night I dreamed of a beautiful boy who flew under the stars and who took me into his arms and kissed me like no one else had ever kissed me. And when I woke up, it was all just a dream and I was back in my tiny shack with no food and no money. I won't tell you how I survived, it might make you feel ashamed to be with me. Just know it hasn't been an easy life. The men of England are rougher than the rest and they like to use their fists after they're finished. I was hospitalized twice for near concussions but couldn't afford my visit and was taken to jail because I couldn't pay." Peter listened to her tale and his heart sank lower and lower. Images of the whorehouse where Hook had left her came flooding back to him and he felt sick. He remembered seeing the women pleasuring the men and how miserable they had looked. He drew her in tighter, kissing her forehead and nuzzling her with his chin.

"Wendy I know you've had a terrible life. I don't care about anything that you've done to survive. You're still the same Wendy Darling I fell in love with many years ago. Don't ever feel shame when you're with me. You are perfect and complete in my eyes."

"And you, Peter? Hook kept you on the Jolly Roger the whole time? How did you escape?" Peter filled her in on everything, everything that he could remember. It made his blood boil when he recalled Hook telling him lies about finding him in the water and how he knew nothing about his past. He couldn't believe a man could be so cruel. He paused when he started to tell her how Hook would come in and take control of his body every single night but he blushed and felt ashamed. Wendy's hand rested on his cheek and she smiled.

"Never feel any shame when you're with me, Peter. We do what we have to, to survive." Peter kissed her deeply and their hearts beat in unison. He leaned up and started pulling his clothes back on, checking out the window to see how late it had gotten.

"Go on and get dressed and I shall introduce you to my master, Mr. Goldberg. He and his wife have been like parents to me these last few months."

"Peter, look at me. I'm a woman of the street. I've no place in fancy mansions with elegantly-dressed people."

"Wendy, from this moment on we are forgetting our time apart. We'll pick up where we left off. You're a well-born lady of England and I'm…well…" he trailed off, looking confused. Wendy gave him a pacified look.

"You see? We can't pick up where we left off…too much has changed. We have changed. My god, look at you. The boy who would never grow up has become a man. And a handsome one at that. You look more well-born than I. I haven't looked or acted well-born in ages. How can we just pick up where we left off? I don't know any other way to be," her last sentence sounded so desperate and sad that Peter drew her into his arms and held her close. He felt warm tears streaming down his arms and he whispered soothing words into her ear.

"It'll all be ok, Wendy. We're together again, we'll figure it all out. I'm not saying it won't be a challenge but we have each other now, we can conquer anything. If the Goldbergs don't accept you, we'll move away and start our lives anew with each other. Please don't cry, my darling, everything will work itself out." Sniffing, she pulled away and he wiped at her tears with his thumb. She pulled her dress on and laced it up quickly. Peter helped her down from the loft and took her arm in his. He hoped Mrs. Goldberg wouldn't recognize the dress but as Victoria had said, she had so many of them.

When they approached the house, Wendy seemed to slow down a bit but Peter squeezed her hand and continued on. He knocked on the door and when the housekeeper answered the door, she looked surprised.

"Good evening Miss Hillock. Is Mr. Goldberg in?"

"He's in his study. Come in Peter, and I'll tell him you wish to speak with him." She hurried off and Peter and Wendy waited in the entryway. Wendy nervously glanced around the room and nearly let out a scream when a little girl yelled Peter's name. Victoria came running into the entryway and into Peter's arms and he laughed as he swung her around.

"I missed you this afternoon! Peter, you'll never guess what happened! I rode Blackbeard by MYSELF!"

"Oh I knew you would, Tori, that's fantastic!" He put the girl down and she suddenly looked shy, noticing Wendy at his side.

"Is this her, Peter? The one who gave you the necklace you always wear around your neck? The one you thought you might never find? Is this her?" Peter laughed at the girl but he heard a man's voice scolding her.

"Victoria, that's enough. How many times do you have to interrogate the poor lad about his past?"

"But Papa, look! Look who Peter brought in!" Wendy blushed and scooted closer to Peter but he calmly took her hand in his and kissed it.

"Sir, I wanted you to meet someone very special. This is Miss Wendy Moira Angela Darling. She is the one my heart has yearned for all these months. We have found each other again." Victoria let out a gushing sigh and Mr. Goldberg looked surprised for a moment before he clapped Peter on the back and kissed Wendy's hand.

"I welcome you into my home, Miss Darling. I hope you will join us for dinner. My wife will most certainly want to meet the woman who holds our Peter's heart." Wendy was warmed by his welcome.

"I thank you, sir. Peter has told me nothing but wonderful things about you and your family. I should be honored to dine with you all." Victoria rushed forward and grabbed Wendy's hand.

"Come up to my room Wendy and meet my dolls! They'll be ever so pleased to see another young woman in the house." Before Wendy could say anything, Victoria was pulling her upstairs and Peter watched her go with a broad smile on his face. Mr. Goldberg poured two glasses of bourbon and handed one to Peter. He also offered him a cigar, which he politely refused.

"This is a celebration, lad! You finally found her. I don't suppose she knows what happened to you, does she?"

"I was lost to her in a shipwreck and she has been searching England for me ever since. What's more, she reminded me of my real name. It's Pan. The name I want to ask her to take."

"Well by George, Peter, that's fantastic! Have another drink then, my boy. Marriage is a wonderful thing, yes indeed. She looks like she will make a fine wife."

"And what are we celebrating?" asked Mrs. Goldberg, noticing the drinks and the cigar her husband was puffing on.

"Our Peter here found his love today! She helped him remember a bit of who he was and now he wants to ask her to marry him."

"Oh Peter that's wonderful news," she said, hugging him tightly. "Where is the lass, I should very much like to meet her."

"I invited her to dinner, Victoria took her upstairs to gossip and be girls." Mrs. Goldberg smiled and hurried upstairs toward Victoria's bedroom.

Wendy smiled as Victoria pressed another doll into her hands.

"This is Lissie, she's a Duchess. Isn't her gown beautiful?"

"It is. Why, Miss Lissie, you're so beautifully dressed! Are you going to a grand party?" Playing with Victoria made her remember her brothers and how they would always play pretend. With another pang of her heart, she remembered how long she had been away from them and that they must think she was dead by now!

"Wendy, did you hear what I said?"

"Hm? Oh I'm sorry, Victoria. And who is this?"

"This is Antonia, she's a French queen."

"You have so much royalty and aristocracy in your bedroom, Victoria!"

"Knock, knock," said a kindly voice from the door.

"Mummy!" Victoria ran into her mother's arms and Mrs. Goldberg smiled, straightening up and surveying Wendy. She reminded Wendy of her own mother a bit.

"I finally get to meet the woman who holds Peter's heart. Welcome, my dear, I am Eleanor Goldberg and it is a pleasure to have you in my house." Wendy stood up and curtsied to the older woman.

"You and your husband are most gracious, Mrs. Goldberg. My heart is overjoyed to have found Peter again but I am even gladder to see that he has been in such kind hands since I lost him."

"We love him as a son and we shall love you as another daughter. And we must get you out of that old dress and into something that will show off your sparkle! You are such a beautiful young woman, Wendy. Peter did very well." Wendy blushed but couldn't help but smile. Victoria clapped her hands together.

"Can we go pick out a new dress for her, Mummy?"

"Not tonight I'm afraid but in the morning we shall of course go into town. For now, you can borrow one of my evening gowns. Come with me." The elder woman took Wendy's hand and led her down the hall to her bedroom. Wendy was reminded of her own parents' bedroom and it made her heart ache for her family. Perhaps she could go home and see them…now that she remembered everything, she didn't see any reason why she couldn't go home to them. But what about Peter? Her heart raced as she thought about him and what kind of future they might have. Would he want to return to Neverland now that he remembered everything? Or would he stay with her and grow old by her side? Even though he had become a man, Wendy couldn't see him as a man forever. The image of the smug little boy stuck in her mind and tears formed in her eyes as she decided that he had to go back. Peter Pan was not meant to be a man; it had been forced on him and even though he appeared happy now, he would become miserable in a matter of time. She couldn't be the one to hold him back from his eternal youth. Mrs. Goldberg was searching her closet and holding the dresses up to Wendy without her noticing. At last, she smiled and nodded.

"This is the one. You will look ravishing, my dear."
"Thank you so much Mrs. Goldberg but-" she trailed off, staring at the dress in Mrs. Goldberg's hands. It was beautiful purple silk with several lilac roses on the waist. The neckline was the perfect length and the sleeves were puffs with purple ribbon encircling them. It was such a sight to see, after being forced to either wear a rough woolen sack or nothing at all. Forcing herself to tear her eyes away from the beautiful dress, she looked up into Mrs. Goldberg's eyes and swallowed.

"Mrs. Goldberg…I have to go."

"Go where, my dear?"

"I…er, I have to leave…tonight." Mrs. Goldberg blinked several times, looking shocked.

"Oh no, dear, you and Peter are welcome to stay here until you find a place of your own and get back on your feet. We have plenty of room."

"You can share my room, Wendy," Victoria said cheerfully. Wendy's throat stuck as she searched for the words. How could she tell this woman the truth?

"Peter and I…we're too different."

"Oh my sweet, of course you are naturally afraid of the changes in him after being away from him for so long. But you two are young and in love! Everything will come back, I promise you."

"It's not that, no. It's just that…Peter deserves better than anything I can offer him. I mean…he found me by accident."

"Accident?" Mrs. Goldberg's smile faded. "You mean you would have left him alone?"

"No! No, that's not it at all, I'm extremely grateful that I found him and know that he is safe. But the thing is…before his, er, ship wreck, we had a fight and er, I thought he was leaving me. So I wasn't, er, searching…that is, I wanted to make sure he was safe but I was sure he had forgotten about me…and he should. He deserves so much better than me." Her tears overpowered her and she sank to her knees, weeping. Mrs. Goldberg lowered to the floor and wrapped her arms around her. Wendy had forgotten a mother's touch and it made her weep even more.

"My dear Wendy, I see the love in his eyes. And I can see it in yours too. All women feel that they will never be enough for the man they love. But in your time apart, Peter knew there was someone out there who loved him and who would one day find him. And a few moments ago I saw a glow in him that I have never seen before and it is because of you, my dear. That glow of love that only you can ignite…that says you are the most deserving young woman of his love. Do not be afraid of that kind of love. It is the most powerful kind and it is what will keep you soaring through the stars each night." Wendy pulled away at her words and her eyes searched the woman's. Mrs. Goldberg smiled and gently touched Wendy's cheek.

"Victoria, dear, bring me my hairbrush and those crystal barrettes you love so much. We are going to make Wendy glow so much, Peter will have to shield his eyes when she enters the room."

Peter squirmed uncomfortably at the dinner table, waiting for Wendy to come in. Mr. Goldberg puffed on his cigar and said nothing. He had convinced Peter to wear one of his suits, which actually fit him quite well. Peter appreciated it because it wasn't a boring black, as most of them were. He wore a dark green shirt underneath a dark gray jacket and the rest of the suit was green pinstripes. He had attempted to brush back his blonde curls but they were as tousled as ever. During his time with the Goldbergs he never minded wearing fancy clothes but now that he remembered who he was, he grew uncomfortable with the rich fabrics. He remembered in Neverland how his clothes would consist of leaves and vines and he grinned at the thought of the scandalized expression Mrs. Goldberg would have if she saw him then.

"Peter, relax. You're writhing worse than a worm on a hot sidewalk."

"I'm sorry, sir, I'm just a little nervous." Mr. Goldberg clapped him on the back.

"Nothing to be nervous about, m'boy! Now they shouldn't be too much longer…knowing my wife and daughter, they're transforming your young woman like one of Victoria's dolls. My wife loves to dote on Victoria, I can only imagine what she's doing to Wendy."

"Well, we're here so you can stop teasing us," Mrs. Goldberg pretended to scold her husband as she entered the room. Peter jumped up as Mrs. Goldberg and Victoria entered the room, both splendidly dressed. Victoria even had tiny sparkling barrettes in her long brown hair, which she seemed to be determined that everyone see. Another young woman entered behind them and Peter felt his heart start to race. He could feel his jaw drop, which he knew Mrs. Goldberg would scold him for in a moment. Wendy truly had been transformed. She wore a dress of purple silk that trailed behind her. Her slender waist was accentuated with tiny lilac roses and she held her hands folded in front of her. Her long blonde curls flowed freely over her shoulders and was adorned with sparkling barrettes that matched Victoria's. On her ears she wore a pair of Mrs. Goldberg's elegant pearls and the tiny acorn hung low around her neckline. She carried herself so differently as she entered the room. Peter could see a more grown up young woman who truly glowed. He made his way over to her and softly kissed her hand. She gave him a little curtsy, sinking into a graceful bow in yards of silk and he bowed low.

"You've taken my breath away," he whispered. She smiled, holding his gaze and he offered her his arm, which she took. He pulled a chair out for her beside his and had a seat beside her. Wendy couldn't keep her eyes off him. He had changed so much and those changes were evident in this lovely mansion. Their servant poured them champagne and Mr. Goldberg held his glass up.

"A toast! You have found your love, Peter, and we are delighted to welcome Miss Wendy to our little family here." Wendy bowed her head gracefully as everyone raised their glasses to her. Peter slipped his hand into hers and rested them on his knee. His eyes fell on Mrs. Goldberg's hand, where a gleaming diamond ring rested on her slender finger. Peter didn't know much about marriage and he knew it would be embarrassing to ask the Goldbergs about it. But he wanted to do things right for Wendy. She deserved the very best. Thinking about how much money one of those rings might cost, he swallowed uncomfortably and sipped at his champagne, not speaking through dinner. He listened to the Goldbergs asking Wendy questions about her life and her family but was not really paying attention. He was surprised when Mrs. Goldberg rose and said it was time for Victoria to be in bed. The little girl hugged Peter and gave Wendy a quick kiss on the cheek before she followed her mother upstairs. Miss Hillock came into the sitting room and curtsied.

"I have the bedroom all prepared, sir."

"Ah thank you Miss Hillock. Miss Darling, I don't know if your home is nearby but we insist that you stay the night tonight. As my wife undoubtedly told you, you both are welcome to stay here as long as you may need." Wendy rose and curtsied.

"You are most kind, Mr. Goldberg." She followed Miss Hillock upstairs and Peter watched her go.

"Mr. Goldberg, I need to ask you something."

"Ask away, m'boy."

"I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with the customs of marriage and, er…I want to do everything right by Wendy. But I don't know where to start."

"You start by asking her," Mr. Goldberg said with a wink. "Go into town tomorrow and buy her a pretty ring and then you ask her to be yours. When she says yes as I know she will, you'll figure out where you will live together and then see to the ceremony. Now I promise you my wife will try to plan something for your ceremony. She's been dreaming about Victoria's wedding even before our lass was born. She loves to throw balls and grand parties and such."

"Wendy and I don't really know too many people, apart from you."

"Well then we throw you a party and introduce you to the neighbors! But start by asking her, Peter. That's the first step."

"I…I don't have a clue on how to pick out a ring." Mr. Goldberg chuckled and Peter blushed.

"Take Victoria with you tomorrow. She is just like her mother, she'll be able to help you." Peter rose, thanked Mr. Goldberg again, and headed upstairs to his bedroom. He wondered where Wendy's room was and if it was inappropriate to visit her after she had retired. He couldn't understand, now that he had remembered everything, why he suddenly felt so out of place in this house. He had been quite content and had come to like the life he lived with the Goldbergs. But now that he remembered who he was, he suddenly forgot manners and etiquette and everything that he had learned in the Goldberg mansion. Muttering to himself darkly, he turned and went back to his own room and readied himself for bed.