Chapter Sixteen – The Reveal
The boys were a tumbling pile of laughter and hiccups, bumping into one another as they flew back to their home through the forest.
"Sure was nice of Lily to drop by, huh, Jon?" Skipper smirked, nudging the boy with his one elbow.
"Shut up!" he blushed, shoving him away. This only gave the boys more reason to laugh, making Nana roll her eyes and grumble.
"Ok, guys, that's enough," Ruff chuckled. "Pipe down. Gip might be asleep in there."
"Sure, lover boy," Lump snickered.
"Oh, now you're gonna get it!" Ruff snarled, swooping down and attacking the group with wet-willies and headlocks.
Violet giggled as she found her nook and snuck inside. "I'll leave them to their fun," she said to herself, shaking her head. Going through the slide, she skidded out of the exit and landed on her feet. "Wendy?" she called out. "Peter? Are you guys…?" She stopped, her voice cutting off when she saw the two of them under the covers in one of the beds. Gip mumbled in his sleep in his little basket bed but he didn't stir.
A gleeful, wicked smile passed onto the goth's dark lips as she tiptoed over and stood over the snoozing couple. She bit back an "AWW!" when she saw how they had snuggled together. "Man, I wish I had a camera right now…"
A bold laugh echoed in one of the slides behind her, making Violet jump in bewilderment. As the boys slid into the great room, she spun around and harshly shushed them all, wildly motioning with her hands for them to remain quiet.
"Psst, Ruff, what' with your girlfriend?" Partly whispered.
"Charades?" the Twins asked, cocking their heads in puzzlement.
"Over here!" she hissed, waving for them to come closer. "But be quiet!"
Mikey and Jon exchanged perplexed glances before leading the boys to the bed. Everyone's eyes widened upon the sight of their leader snuggling with their new mother.
"…COOTIES!" Mouse screeched, running away in the opposite direction.
The twins bolted off to another corner, also screaming (more from amusement than horror). Their shouts made the boys jump – not only that, but Peter and Wendy immediately woke up, frightened from the sound.
"My-God!" Wendy gasped, placing her hand over her heart, her eyes huge with fear.
"I didn't fall asleep!" Peter shouted groggily, waving his pillow about like a sword. Blinking, he noticed everyone around them. "…who're you?" he asked, yawning.
"Smooth, Pan," Ruff chuckled. "Getting cozy with Mommy, huh?"
"Eh?" Peter asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Turning his head, he noticed Wendy sitting up beside him, her face rose red as she struggled to hide behind her hands.
"So, just what do you have to say for yourself?" Jon asked snidely, crossing his arms over his chest with a disapproving frown.
"Aw, go hunt Lily," Peter scowled, waving him off as he set his head upon Wendy's lap.
"EEP!" she squeaked, frowning as Violet burst out laughing.
"Jon, you look like a red balloon," Mikey declared, pointing at his brother's face.
Len bit back a laugh before clearing his throat. "How about we all get some shut eye? That way we have more time to play tomorrow."
"Not sleepy," yawned Mouse.
"Yes, you are," Partly shook his head, scratching his head. "We all are. Let's go."
Splitting off into their own cots and bunks, the children shared their beds with their guests.
"Hey, I need details when we get back to your house," Violet smirked at Wendy, heading off to join Ruff.
Shaking her head with a sigh, Wendy gazed at Peter's face, watching him breathe. She couldn't help the smile that came to her lips as she gently moved him back into place and snuggled against him once more. "Sweet dreams, Peter…"
~NEVER-NEVERLAND~
Wendy reached out during her slumber, expecting to feel Peter's side, but there was nothing. Frowning, she forced her eyes to flutter open. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she sat up in the bed and looked around. Violet, her brothers, Nana, and all the Lost Boys remained in their beds, snoring as they slept. Peter was the only one missing. Slipping out, she took the liberty to freshen herself up before fixing her hair.
"Wendy…?"
Looking over her shoulder, she saw Violet yawning and stepping out of the cot. "Is it morning?"
"I'm not sure," she shook her head. "But Peter's missing."
"Ruff told me he usually goes on a morning 'run'…of course, by 'run,' I mean 'fly.'" Stretching, she walked over to Wendy and stood before the miniature waterfall and washed her face. "He told me Peter usually stops by Mermaid Lagoon for a swim. Wanna go check it out?"
"I suppose…but I'd better leave something for the boys to eat, just in case," she stated.
Violet laughed softly as so not to wake the others. "We could sure use some fairy dust, too, otherwise we'll be stuck to the floor."
"Need fairy dust now, do we?"
The two girls spun around to see Tinker Bell standing behind them, her arms crossed over her chest, one eyebrow raised in expectation, her lips pursed and pouting.
"Tink?" Wendy gasped. "When did you…?"
"Got in late last night," she shrugged. "Heard you girls talking so I woke up. If you're gonna make something for the boys, do it now. There's some meat in the gray jar on that shelf." She took the liberty of pointing it out to them. "I'll get some eggs from the Indians."
"Thank you," Wendy nodded.
Tinker Bell gave a small smile, surprising the British girl, and transformed back into her glowing, miniature state before flittering away.
"Well, you heard the fairy. Let's get cooking!" Violet grinned.
Gathering a pan and finding the meat Tinker Bell had shown them, Wendy and Violet began to cook their meal, the heavy scent of it filling the home in the tree. As they were starting a second round, Tinker Bell flew back in, now large once again, and with a basket of the goods.
"Nice," Violet said, seeing the brown shells.
"Hey…what smells so good?"
The three females looked to see Jon waking up, rubbing his eyes. His nose had guided him out of his dreams, and he was now rewarded with the sight of breakfast being made. "Oh, g'morning," he waved with a sleepy smile. "Thanks for breakfast."
"Breakfast?" Lump mumbled, stretching his arms. He licked his chops, sniffing the air. "Mmm…!"
"Did someone say-?"
"-breakfast?!" the Twins asked, popping out of bed.
"So much for them being asleep," Violet chuckled, shaking her head.
"How is it that you boys never wake up for anything except food?" Tink snapped at them.
"But we've never had breakfast cooked for us before by a mother," Partly argued, throwing his covers off.
"You can eat as soon as I'm finished here," Wendy promised them. "But you'll have to make your own beds."
"WHAT?!" they gasped in horror. "But Wendy-!"
"You want breakfast?" They nodded. "Then make your beds. At least try to. You're big boys – you fight pirates and go on adventures. Surely you can make your beds? Or…" she smirked. "Are you afraid to try and do such a simple task?"
Her question did the trick. The boys immediately scrambled, indignant at being called cowards by their new mother. They fought to smooth out any wrinkles their covers had and prepare their pillows properly as it became a contest between them.
"Nice trick," Ruff grinned, doing as he was told before going over and sitting by the fire.
"Something I learned from Mum," Wendy winked, setting aside the meat to get started on some of the eggs. "Tinker Bell, where's your friend?"
"Who? Blue Falls?" she shrugged. "Probably sleeping. He had to work all night at the carousal."
"Was that the only thing that tired him out?" Ruff smirked, received a smack upside the head from the human-sized fairy.
"You pervert!" she shrieked, fuming at him. "For your information, all we did was kiss!"
"You kissed?!" the Twins gaped at her.
"Finally," Skipper muttered, snickering.
Mouse and Mikey exchanged glances, shrugged, and plopped down beside Wendy.
"Tinker Bell…I don't suppose you know what happened to Peter?" Wendy asked. "I mean…about him being older and all this Shade business."
The boys became silent at this, looking as solemn as an undertaker at a funeral. Wendy, Violet, Jon, Mikey, and Nana all looked at one another, befuddled. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize-" Wendy started.
"No, it's best you learn now. You're already in too deep," Tink sighed, sitting beside the girl. "Really, this is only part of the story…Peter doesn't care to talk about what happened to him…but I can tell you that it certainly wasn't planned…"
Her eyes drifted to a wall, glazing over as the memories came to life in her mind. "It was December…snow was falling on the ground, and I was freezing. I told him we should go home, but he insisted, as always, to see his Wendy…"
She didn't understand why he cared so much about that stupid, silly girl. She was clumsy and ugly, and she'd already made the choice to grow up. Each time they came, she got a little older, with some new brat from her bloodline for Peter to play house with. It was utterly frustrating putting up with this, but she did it for Peter. Tink would drink that awful poison again if she had to…she loved him that much.
Flying beside his shoulder, she followed him to the window of Number 14, seeing his face light up. Peter Pan was an extremely handsome and adorable boy, clad in leaves and the juices that oozed out of trees. His skin was still as soft as it had been when she'd first found him as a baby, but his feet and hands were calloused and dirty from all the adventures he's partaken in. He had a faint sprinkle of freckles over his cute button nose, his emerald eyes shining as he squinted through the window of the nursery. His curly brown hair was matted with the light fall of snowflakes that came drifting down, and his heartbreaking smile showed all his first teeth. He must've been at least twelve or so, judging from the stature of other human boys she'd seen both in Neverland (when the Lost Boys had lived there) and here in this dreadful real world.
"Huh…no one's home," he frowned, giving a gentle push on the frame of the French windows that blocked his path. No sooner had he touched them, they lazily opened at his touch, the curtains fluttering from the sudden movement. "I'm sure Wendy won't mind if I let myself in," he said cheerfully, floating into the room with such confidence that it appeared he lived there.
"What if she's not home and a stranger sees us?" Tink asked, frowning at the changes in the room. It was barren of toys, books, pictures, and even nightlights. Even the beds had been stripped of their sheets and coverlets. Something wasn't right.
"She'll be here," Peter said firmly, sitting Indian style in the air. "And when she sees we've come, she'll-"
"MARIAN!"
The harsh male voice boomed in the air, making the boy and fairy yelp in surprise. Pulling out his dagger, Peter snarled as he spun around to face his challenger. He gave a disappointed frown when he saw who it was - just a man in a sweater with bulky glasses sliding down his nose, shaking at the sight of a flying boy. "MARIAN! I'VE GONE MAD! I SEE A FLYING CHILD!"
"What's the matter – never seen a boy before?" scoffed Peter, sheathing his dagger. Crossing his arms over his chest, he sniffed. He didn't care to speak to grown-ups, let alone be seen by them. But if this idiot was related to Wendy somehow, he'd try to be as polite as possible.
As he stuck his tongue out at the man, he heard a woman's voice call out, "George? What's all that ruckus about?" In stepped a lovely lady, with soft blonde hair that curled in ringlets around her pale face, her brown eyes blinking in surprise at the visitor. "Oh!" she gasped, covering her mouth. "…George…Gran was right. He IS real!"
"'Course I'm real!" Peter huffed. He'd never been so insulted before, but what did you expect from grown-ups.
"What?" George asked, never taking his eyes off of the freak before him.
"That's Peter Pan! You know, the boy from the stories your great-grandmother Jane told us about when we were small…" Marian looked to the boy again, smiling beautifully, and curtsied. "Hello."
"Hello," he replied, returning a bow her way. He gave her a polite smile but looked past her to the open door. "I'm here to see Wendy."
"Wendy?" Marian repeated, stunned.
"Yes, Wendy Moira Angela Darling. That one. Ring any bells?" Peter asked with a playful grin.
"What kind of joke is this?!" George snapped. "If you had any sense, you'd know that Granny Wendy died years ago! So did Gran Jane."
Peter stared at him, the words hitting his chest like Hook's hook. "Died? You mean…dead?"
"YES! Extinct, gone, deceased! 'Ring any bells'?" the man mocked the boy, receiving a smack on the arm from his girlfriend.
Marian tried to soften the blow. "It's been may years, Peter…I do believe the last one you saw after Jane was Margaret, George's grandmother. You never saw Moira or George…" Reaching out, she stretched her fingers to touch his hand but he drew back, disbelief and fear in his eyes.
"No…No, you're lying! All you grown ups lie! Wendy's fine! Where is she?!"
Marian's eyes filled with tears as she whispered, "If you look down the street in Mayfield cemetery…she's buried under her full name…Oh, and…" She darted off to one of the empty drawers, opening the first one and retrieving a letter. "Can you read?" she asked quietly.
"No, and I'll never learn!" he said angrily, looking away from them.
Marian gazed at him sadly before opening the parchment. "Then…at least listen to this…" Feeling her throat tighten from all the emotion, she took a breath to steady herself, accepting George's arm around her shoulders. "My dear Peter," she read aloud. "I'm sorry that I had to grow up. Everyone must…all children do, except for you, of course. But I have seen and learnt that no matter how old we get, we are still children at heart. We grow up, and we die, because that is how the world is supposed to be…but we should never be alone. That is why, even though I am gone, one day, perhaps one of my descendants will be the one to return with you and stay forever in your Neverland. Please, Peter, do try to forgive me. Even if I am not here anymore…I shall remain in you heart so long as you wish it. I shall love you always in the next life as I have in this one. Please do not forget me (for I know how easily you forget things and people, you silly boy…). Do not forget me, for I shall never forget you. With all my love, kisses, and thimbles…Forever Yours…Wendy Moira Angela Darling. PS – do give my regards to Tink. She's such a plucky little fairy."
"Plucky?!" Tink snapped, though she rubbed her tears away. She'd never cared for the girl…but she forgot that humans could live, love, and die…Wendy's words would remain with her and Peter forever.
"Here, Peter…this is yours to keep." Marian stretched out her arm once more, handing the letter to the boy. His back was still turned to her, but she could see his frame shudder, a choked sob stuck in his mouth. With a sudden fierceness that startled both Marian and George, the boy snatched the paper from the woman and leapt out of the window. Marian dashed for the window, checking to see if he'd fallen to the pavement, but there was no body.
Peter flew so quickly that his tears slid off of his face and into the air like raindrops. Tinker Bell clung to his hair for dear life as he followed Marian's instructions. Down the street to the corner, on the left, there was a quiet, solemn place where stone were erected, and flowers wept their petals over the tombs of loved ones. "She's NOT gone…all grown ups lie!" he kept repeating to himself. It had not occurred to him that he would not be able to read the tombstones, but it seemed that he didn't need to. His teary eyes found one particular grave, where two stars were engraved at the top of the rock, one larger than the other.
"Tink…is it…?" he whispered, his body descending to the ground.
She bit her lip. She could read, but she didn't know if she ought to. He was so fragile at this moment, she was afraid he would break.
"Tink," he said more sharply, and she knew better than to keep quiet.
"It says her name, Peter," she nodded, pointing her tiny finger at the stone.
Walking to the tomb, he fell to his knees, whimpering. "Wendy…" He knew no amount of clapping could bring back a human. Wendy had tried to explain to him ages ago that when people die, their souls go to Heaven, and they stay there forever because it is so wonderful…just like Neverland…perhaps even more so. Nevertheless, he gave a great cry and clapped his hands so hard that they became red and sore.
"Come back!" he cried, hot tears staining his beautiful, childish face. "WENDY!"
Tinker Bell clung to his shoulder, weeping with him. Oh how she wanted to pinch Wendy, even if she was dead. She was nothing but trouble…! "Peter," she started, cleaning her face. "Don't wail so. Someone could hear you…"
He would not stop crying, however, giving up on the clapping and falling face forward before the rock, gripping the earth with one hand, the letter in the other. He stayed that way for what felt like days, until at last he slowly sat up, his face red with grief.
"Take this, Tink," he said, handing the paper over to the fairy. "I want to be alone for a minute."
Though she didn't wish to leave his side, she could see that he did need a moment of silence to accept this cruel fate, and to say goodbye. Taking the paper, she kissed his nose and said, "Just a minute…and then I'll be back. I'll be in Kensington Gardens." She darted off, still striving to compose herself, not noticing another figure in the quiet cemetery…
Wendy had finished cooking the meal, but no one ate. They all sat there, bleary eyed and solemn, some even trying to cover up their tears.
"That was the last time I saw him, until I found him again about four years later," Tink sighed, her eyes red from crying.
Violet gawked at her. "Four years?!" she gasped. "That long?"
"What happened? Wendy asked gently, placing her hand on the fairy's shoulder.
"I grew up."
All froze at the sound of the voice, turning their eyes to see their leader. The boys faces became pale, not knowing whether or not Peter would be angry with them. Wendy swallowed, mustering her courage. "Peter…it's my fault. I asked Tinker Bell-"
"It's ok, you would've found out sooner or later," he waved it off, walking over to them. "I'm starving. It smells good in here." His hair was plastered to his face, dripping wet. His red coat hung on his arm until he tossed it on one of the beds and made room behind Wendy. Accepting a plate of leftover turkey and scrambled eggs, he ate calmly, looking at all of their faces. "I suppose I ought to just tell you all what happened after Tink left…what happened in those four years or so…but then you all get so sad and mopey, and I get angry sometimes when I think about what happened."
"You don't have to say anything, Pete," Ruff said firmly, gripping the boy's arm. The others murmured their agreement, and Peter smiled at them gratefully.
"You're good boys…I appreciate that…but Wendy's gotta know…and I haven't given you details either. You've never pried, and that means a lot to me…so it's time you all learn the truth." Casting his gaze into the fire, he took a deep breath. "Get comfortable, everyone. This could take a while…"