Mrs. Goldberg had pulled Peter and Wendy into a hug so tight, they gasped for air. She announced to the cook to prepare a grand feast to celebrate and insisted they all dress splendidly for the occasion. Mr. Goldberg lent Peter another of his suits, one of his finest and Peter felt uncomfortable in the splendor. Wendy, however, was delighted to wear one of her new gowns and when she entered the room, Peter thought she looked like a high-born lady of society. Victoria had helped her put her hair up so that it was tucked into an elegant bun save for a few curls hanging in her face. As before, she carried herself differently and looked more confident than he had seen her in ages. He felt his mouth go dry as he stared at her through dinner. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen and she was all his. Mrs. Goldberg rattled away happily about their wedding plans and Peter started to tune out except when he heard her say the word "parents". Mrs. Goldberg was watching them expectantly, having asked them how she could contact their parents to come to the wedding. Wendy looked quickly at Peter, suddenly anxious and uncomfortable. Peter bit his lip.

"I'm an orphan, Mrs. Goldberg. And Wendy…well, she hasn't seen her family in quite some time."

"By choice, Wendy?" Wendy shook her head.

"Er," was all Wendy could say. Mrs. Goldberg waved her hand and shook her head.

"No matter. The most important thing to figure out now is where you two will live. Of course we should like you to stay in the area. You don't have to work for us anymore but we have grown to love you like our own family, you know."

"That's very kind, Mrs. Goldberg," Peter said, inclining his head. She smiled at him before she continued.

"This is a wonderful area to raise the children in." Peter nearly dropped his fork at her words. Children? He knew he had become a man but he was nowhere near ready to have children of his own. Being a child his entire life, for nearly hundreds of years, he didn't think he'd be ready for children anytime soon. Yet as he stared at his betrothed, the thought crossed his mind. What a wonderful mother she would make. She had been a wonderful mother to the Lost Boys. She was Mother and he had been Father. It was a silly game they had played but he had wondered what it would be like to be married to her in real life. Now that they were going to do that, he now wondered what it would be like to have a family with her. He knew it would be incredible. He loved her more than anything and he decided they would make good parents together.

"Mrs. Goldberg, we have quite a bit of time before we start thinking about that," Wendy said quietly.

"Oh I know my dear but I should think you'd be anxious to start a family. Believe me, dear, nothing is more wonderful than holding your first born child." She glanced at her husband and they were lost in a loving gaze. Peter watched them, smiling, but his face fell when he saw tears streaming down Wendy's cheeks.

"Won't you excuse me," she said quickly, dropping her napkin on the table and rushing out of the room. The Goldbergs looked surprised and turned to Peter expectantly.

"Er, won't you excuse me as well," he didn't wait for an answer as he rushed after Wendy.

She had locked the door tight and collapsed against it, refusing to answer when she heard Peter calling her name. On his third attempt did she reply.

"Wendy, let me in."

"Please, Peter, just go back downstairs. I'll be along in a moment."

"Wendy, I'm not playing games here. Open the door." He didn't want to break the Goldbergs' door but he would if he had to. He had seen tears on her face and had been baffled by them. He lay his head against the door, listening. She made no movement to open the door and he set his palm against the cold wood.

"Wendy…please sweetheart. I just want to talk. I saw you crying and I just want to know why. What did they say?"

"Peter, it doesn't matter," she said in a muffled voice from the other side. Peter was starting to grow frustrated. He knew she had some problems but he didn't want to be begging her to talk to him every time she started to cry. He had to find some way to make her open up to him. He glanced down and saw the thimble lying against his heart. He unwound it from his neck and slipped it under the door. He listened for a response and when he heard nothing he said quietly, "the girl who gave me that would tell me anything. Won't you please find her and bring her back to me? I miss that girl. I miss the way we used to be. When you could share anything with me. When you weren't afraid to smile, weren't afraid to fly by my side. Wendy, you gave me this thimble because you trusted me. Your kiss, you called it. Right before I took you to Neverland. What happened to that girl?" Wendy was silent on the other side and with a heavy sigh, Peter rose to his feet, resting his forehead on the panel.

"I miss you, Wendy," he said so quietly, he didn't know if she had heard. He turned to go back downstairs when he heard the door open. He spun around to find her tear-stained face peering from inside the bedroom. She was staring at the floor and her tears were flowing freely.

"Come in," she said in a bare whisper. He closed the door behind him and picked up his necklace from the floor, putting it back on. She was sitting on the bed, hugging herself tightly. He sat beside her and gently stroked her cheek.

"Did they upset you in some way? Did I?" She shook her head but did not elaborate. He sighed and leaning forward, he pulled her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest, crying softly. He stroked her hair lovingly and whispered soft I love you's in her ear.

"Peter…when she started talking about children…" she had started, her voice muffled by his sleeve. He hesitantly pulled her away to look at her but her eyes went to the floor again. His eyes searched her face and he used his thumb to wipe away the tears. He waited patiently for her to tell him whatever it was that had caused her such pain.

"I don't know if children will be a possibility for us."

"Oh Wendy, I know neither of us are thinking about children. It's just the Goldbergs, so excited for us. We can think about that later, after we are wed—"

"It's not that. I don't know if…if they'll ever be a possibility." He frowned slightly, still searching her face for some sort of explanation but it remained blank.

"What does that mean?" She took in a deep breath and hugged herself even tighter.

"After…after Hook sold me to Marco…weeks after we had been sold and used all over England…I discovered that I was…that is, I had been getting sick and Marco called in a doctor for me. They said I was with child." Peter's jaw dropped. She glanced at him for a moment before casting her eyes to the floor again.

"Marco knew who the father was and just laughed at me. Taunted me. Reminded me that the father of my child was now a sex slave to one of the most evil pirates in Neverland. Still, I begged him to let me keep it and he obliged. But I grew quite large and the men didn't want to have a woman in that condition. Marco lost money on me and he grew angry. One night… and it had to be close to when I would have had the child because I was so large…he attacked me. He screamed at me as he beat me that I was useless and would never be loved. I was nearly unconscious when he threw me down several flights of stairs. He left me there to die and a few of the girls found me and dragged me back to their room. When I awoke I was covered in blood. Bonnie told me that I had lost the baby in the night." She blanched and hid her face in her hands, her tears splashing the blanket beneath her. Peter could only sit there and stare at her. He already knew she had suffered immensely…but this new horror was almost too much. Wendy was sobbing into her hands and it took everything he had to reach out and pull him back to her. She allowed herself to be held and her tears soaked his shirt. Coming out of his shock, he shook himself and his hands went back to her hair and he kissed her tenderly. He would have been a father. He had lost everything that night when Wendy was taken from him and now he discovered he was robbed of a child too. He wanted to run down the streets, screaming. He wanted to find Hook and murder him slowly so that he could feel every ounce of pain he had inflicted on Wendy. Most of all, he wanted to fly away to Neverland and forget this pain and emotions. But he knew he couldn't do any of those things. He had made a promise to his Wendy and he had to remain strong for her.

"Wendy," he said quietly into her hair. "I will never be able to replace what was taken from you. As much as I hope I can heal your heart, I know there will be pieces lost to us forever. If I could, Wendy, I would hunt down every single man who ever hurt you and kill him a thousand times so he could feel the pain a thousand times over. I cannot wait to start a family with you…but only because you will make such a wonderful mother. And if it turns out we cannot, we can be young and free forever. Either way, I will love you forever and my love for you will never change. Despite what you may think, I love you for what you bring to my life. If children are in our future, that's wonderful but if they're not, I still have you and that is more than enough for me." Her grip around him tightened at his words. He finally pulled her back and caught her eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile and gently kissed her lips.

"Why don't you stay up here and rest? I'll come check on you after dinner is finished."

"I don't want to be rude-"

"I'm going to explain everything." Her eyes widened.

"Peter you can't!"

"Ok, maybe not everything. But I am going to tell them the truth about what happened to us. You've been around here for quite some time, dearest, someone may recognize you and try to turn it into a scandal. I want them to hear it all from me rather than someone else." Reluctantly, she nodded.

"I'm such a burden on—" his finger flew to her lips and her eyes darted back to his face.

"And from now on I don't want to hear these words from you. You're not my burden, nor my responsibility. You're the love of my life and I will care for you and love you until the day I die." He gave her another gentle kiss and stood to leave.

"Break it to them gently, Peter. And do tell me if they decide to order me to leave."

"They will do no such thing. They have become like my family and I trust them. You needn't fear, Wendy. Everything will be alright now." Kissing her one last time, he left her bedroom and went back downstairs, where the Goldbergs were waiting patiently. After asking that Victoria be excused, Peter told the Goldbergs their story. How Wendy had been kidnapped to lure him, how she had been sold into slavery, how Peter had lost his memories, how he had found her again, how he had paid for her bail and had brought her to the manor. How he loved her with all of his being—he told them the solid truth. Of course he left out who he really was, Neverland, Tinkerbell, and the Lost Boys but everything else was the truth. The Goldbergs sat in stunned silence as he told his story, not stopping once had he started for fear he might not be able to finish. He started to choke up when he told them what Wendy had just revealed to him about the child and Mrs. Goldberg's hands flew to her mouth in horror. Peter came to a close in his story and he was staring at his hands in his lap, ashamed to look at them.

"I really am dreadfully sorry I lied to you. The thing is, you have become like my family…and I never knew my family so it has been wonderful to have people who love you. And I wanted you to know the truth. I understand Wendy and I might be a terrible burden on you now and I am prepared to take her away from here and hope that she can forget these awful memories. I only hope all of this will not taint your memory of me." The Goldbergs were silent; Mrs. Goldberg rose from her seat and very slowly walked over to Peter. He was sure she would slap him but she bent down and hugged him tightly. His eyes widened, feeling that she had been his mother all his life.

"You and Wendy are welcome in our house for as long as you need. Tell her not to worry about anything anymore. These horrible memories will disappear once she is married to you. Your love will shield her from all things unpleasant. Make sure she knows that."

"Peter, what do you say to coming into town with me and finding you some real work? You need a better job than tending horses and if she's alright with it, your Wendy would be wonderful at that. I mean to find you some good work with good money. So that you may provide for her and a family if it comes along one day."

"I would appreciate that, Mr. Goldberg. I only have one request." Mr. Goldberg's brow raised.

"No offices," Peter said, his arms crossed. Mr. Goldberg chuckled.

"I'm sure we can find you some good work that does not involve an office. Go lad, go to your betrothed. Tell her everything will be alright and we welcome you into our home with open arms." Peter jumped to his feet and bowed low to the family, then ran upstairs, taking the steps two at a time. He calmed himself as he approached Wendy's door, fearing she might be asleep.

"Wendy?" he said quietly, peeking in. She was in the bed with the covers pulled up to her chin, her hair spread across the pillow like a golden halo. She turned to him when he opened the door and he crossed to her.

"Wendy, everything is going to be alright," he said, sinking to his knees and grasping her hand. "I just told them everything and they said they welcome us into their home. We're safe, Wendy. We'll make a life for ourselves here. And if you want, we can try to contact your family and invite them to the wedding."

"Peter, that's wonderful," she said with a small smile. Grinning he rose to his feet and leaned over to kiss her. Meaning only to kiss her goodnight and leave her to rest, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her. Losing his balance, his hands rested on either side of her, supporting his weight. She kissed him deeply and their tongues did a furious dance. His hands itched to caress her sweet curves and she felt his arousal pressing into her groin. She broke the kiss and stared into his eyes.

"Is there somewhere we could go?" she whispered. Quick as a flash, he gathered her in his arms and carried her downstairs. Making sure the coast was clear- it seemed that the Goldbergs had retired for the evening- he carried her out to the barn and up into the loft. He gently set her down and lit a lantern, keeping it away from the hay. She looked gorgeous in the flickering light as she stood and slowly, tantalizingly slow, slipped her nightgown off and stood before him in all her glory. He swallowed as his eyes raked her body, feeling himself growing harder by the minute. Without looking away, she lowered to her knees and slowly pulled at his clothing. Bare-chested, left in his trousers, he sank to the floor as she climbed over his body seductively, lowering her lips to kiss at his sun-kissed flesh. He sucked in a breath as he felt her mouth on his skin and her nude body straddled him while she kissed her way down his body. Keeping her hands on his chest, she started to unbutton his trousers with her teeth and his eyes widened with lusty fascination. She yanked at the waistband and slid them down around his legs. Still moving painfully slow, her tongue trailed down his stomach, across his hipbone, and around his quivering member. His head dropped back on the floor and her name drifted from his lips in a moan. Taking her time, Wendy's tongue created trails of fire across his thighs and he groaned as it flicked across the head of his dancing cock. Trailing her hand down his chest, her soft palm came into contact with his delicate flesh and he bucked his hips upwards. Wendy's warm mouth enclosed around him and he felt as if he was flying. Her fingernails raked across his nipples as she brought him to his glorious climax. He cried out her name as he pistoned into her warm cavity. She let him fall from her lips and leaned back and studied him. Panting, he rested his head on the floor and his hands covered his heart. She smiled and leaned down to kiss him but he was quick and caught her. Entangling her in his arms, he forced her onto her stomach and straddled her body, kissing her shoulders and back. She grinned as she felt him push against her, as he grew hard once more. He leaned down and sucked at her neck and she gasped in pleasure as she flung her head back, her long hair covering them both. His fingers wrapped in her curls and he pulled gently, making her moan in desire. By the light of the lantern, he thought Wendy's pink flesh looked like the most tempting thing in the world. His hand trailed, slowly, down her spine, down to her rounded backside, down between her legs. Using his knee to spread her legs even wider, Peter lay himself across her body and he slowly pushed his finger into her. He heard her gasp and moan his name and he inserted another. Still moving agonizingly slow, he pumped in and out of her, loving how her body trembled beneath his.

"Peter…I need you-"

Happy to oblige, Peter flipped her over onto her back and leaned across her, leaning down for a kiss. He rubbed himself against her and his eyes rolled to the back of his head as he entered her slowly. Wanting to savor the moment, they moved together slowly, relishing the feeling of being melded together. But their passion soon took over as they started to move in rhythm of each other and Peter, letting his fervor take over completely, flung her legs over his shoulders as he thrust into her roughly. She screamed at the change of pace and her fingernails raked across his back and shoulders. They moved at the same pace, not feeling like they could get close enough! She clutched at his rippling muscles as he plunged into her and he brought his hand down between her legs. Her eyes rolled back in pure ecstasy as he used his thumb to find her button, then as he pushed hard she screamed out his name. The sound of it spurred him on and he emptied his seed inside her. Finally spent, he collapsed on top of her and rested his head on her slick breast. Her fingers went to his sodden curls and he closed his eyes at her touch.

"By the heavens, you are perfect, Wendy Darling."

"As are you, Peter Pan," she said sleepily. Grinning, Peter flung a blanket over the both of them and they fell asleep in each other's arms, still connected in the most intimate way, feeling like this was the ultimate place to be.

Wendy moaned a little in her sleep, reaching her hand out to find Peter's warm flesh. Her eyes opened and she sat up, looking around. He was nowhere to be found and now that she was awake she could see she was no longer in the Goldbergs' barn.

"Finally awake my girl?" came a horribly familiar voice from across the room. Marco's dark eyes found hers and she tried to push away from him.

"What's going on? What are you doing here? Where's Peter?"

"As I've told you countless times, your precious Peter is aboard the Jolly Roger, in the arms of Captain Hook. You'd do well to forget him, sweets. I'm sure his heart has long since forgotten you." Wendy's heart thumped painfully as she tried to take in her surroundings. She and Peter had fallen asleep in the basking glow of their sweet lovemaking only hours ago. How could she have gotten here?

"No, you're wrong. He was just here! What did you do with him?"

"You're becoming hysterical. And you know what happens when you become hysterical." Quick as a flash, Marco bent down and bound and gagged Wendy with tight rope. She struggled against her bonds, screaming for Peter.

"Now then, once you've calmed down a bit, I'll bring in your next customer. He's traveled from afar looking for a sweet face." Wendy's screams continued when a tall man entered the room and he scratched at his chin with a hooked hand.

"She's breathtaking, Marco," she heard him say. He tossed a bag of coins into Marco's hands before he scurried out of his clothes and covered Wendy's body with his own. Wendy thrashed around and Hook delved his weapon into her arm to keep her still. Tears poured from her eyes as Hook violently took control of her body and he flipped her onto her stomach so that he could take her from behind.

"Wendy?" Wendy's heart raced as she recognized that voice and she looked up to see a young man watching her. His sea blue eyes were clouded with sadness.

"You've betrayed me. You said you would only belong to me." Wendy tried to explain as Hook continued to take her but Peter ignored the fact that her mouth was covered.

"How could you do this to me, Wendy? How?" She screamed out his name through her gag as tears stained her face. Hook grunted behind her.

"Peter, glad you could join us. Would you care to take a turn with your little whore here?"

"A whore she may be but clearly she's not mine," Peter retorted. His words made Wendy's heart drop. As Peter turned to leave the room, Marco stood in front of him, blocking his way. A shining blade flashed through the air and Peter let out a surprised gasp as it pierced his heart. Wendy screamed again and tried to get to him but Hook grabbed at her hair and yanked her back. Peter fell to his knees, grasping at his wound and his eyes fighting to stay open. He fell right beside Wendy and as he drew his last breaths, his eyes found hers.

"Whatever happened to our happily ever after, Wendy? Why couldn't we be happy too?" Wendy's tears splashed his face as he closed his eyes and drew his final breath. She threw himself on top of him, refusing to let someone move his body. Someone removed her bindings and she held onto Peter's arm, crying into his chest. One of the men tried to pry her arms away from him but she refused to move.

"No," she sobbed, burrowing her head into the boy's chest. Blood stained her face as she held onto him for dear life. Again someone shook her and tried to move her but she tossed her head about.

"Stop it, leave me alone. I'm not leaving him."

"Leaving who? Wendy, sweetheart, it's just a nightmare. Wake up." Peter watched her, alarmed, as she had latched onto his arm and started to cry in her sleep. Try as he might he couldn't wake her and she had started to say funny things amidst her dreams. He tried to wake her again.

"Wendy, it's me. It's Peter. I'm right here, my sweet, wake up now." He shook her harder and stroked her hair. Gasping, her eyes shot open and she looked around, confused.

"Where am I?"

"You haven't gone anywhere, love. You're still in the barn, with me. You just had a nightmare."

"A nightmare?" He nodded, watching her as she pushed herself up and continued to look around. When her eyes rested on his, he saw they looked anxious and sad and full of tears.

"Do you still love me?"

"A thousand times you may ask me this and a thousand times I'll answer I always will." It seemed as if she needed reassurance; she leaned forward and pressed her lips upon his and his hands wrapped in her curls and pulled her close. He knew she had had some sort of nightmare about her old life. He knew he would never be able to make her forget all of the terrible things that had happened to her. But by god he would do everything he could to create new wonderful memories for her to cherish. His hand stroked her cheek and she sighed at his touch.

"You want to tell me about it?"

"I just went back for a moment. To a horrible time and it seems my dream self just can't forget." She bit her lip, then kissed him again. She still looked fearful.

"I'm sorry Peter. I'm sorry that I betrayed you."

"Betrayed me? Wendy, what are you talking about?"

"Marco forced me to do it all. I pleaded for you the entire time but Marco forced me to do things…I never meant to betray you. I never wanted any of it to happen. Even if I am a whore, please, please say I'll always be yours." Peter frowned, alarmed at her words. He cupped her chin and stared into her eyes.

"It was just a bad dream. I'm right here and I'll never leave you. I know what happened to you and I know you had no choice. But Wendy don't ever- EVER- call yourself that again. You are my girl and I'm the one who holds your heart. You are free from that life, so don't keep going back to it. Stay with me, here and now."

"Always Peter. Always and forever." She leaned in and kissed him again and his hand lingered on her cheek. She broke the kiss and bit her lip again. Acting so quickly that she acted as if she didn't want him to notice, she moved her hands down to his chest and seemed to be feeling for something. After a moment, she sighed with relief and sat back, relaxing a bit. Peter's brow raised at her curious behavior and he leaned in for a kiss.

"No one will ever hurt you again. I promise."

"It wasn't me this time…it was you. If anything should happen to you…" she trailed off, her eyes welling with tears again. Peter wiped them away with his thumb and pulled her close.

"I can take care of both of us. I've changed, Wendy. I've lived the life of a real man. I know what it takes to care for and protect a family and I know what it's like to work for a living. I've said goodbye to my life in Neverland. My life is with you, wherever you may go."

"Oh, Peter," she said softly, leaning up to kiss him. She laid her head on his chest, exhausted, and slipped off to sleep. He watched her sleep for a moment, caressing her in his arms and never wanting to let go.

Peter carried her back to the house and tucked her into her bed. He rose to go back to his room but decided otherwise. If she woke up to find him gone she might panic again and he wasn't sure what she would do. He lay down beside her and she shifted in her sleep, flinging her arm over his chest and pulling him close, nuzzling into him. He grinned then gave into his exhaustion and finally fell asleep.