Chapter Twenty-Nine – To Rendezvous

Swooping over the sleeping town of Lakeside Landing, Peter glanced over his shoulder once again to see if Tink or Ruff had followed him. So far, so good – he was free. In his arms was a wiggling little bundle, cooing as the wind hit his face. Gip blinked at Peter, wondering what was going on.

"Don't worry," Peter smiled, tickling the baby under his chin. "If they're no good, I won't leave you to them." The baby laughed, his eyes closing in glee as Peter continued to softly scratch the child under his chubby chin.

Diving down to the neighborhood, surrounded in darkness, Peter found Ben's house quickly, looking to the right and seeing what must have been the Berri residence. Sneaking over to a window, he peeked inside. The kitchen was dark, as were most of the first floor rooms. Pouting in frustration, he looked to the second story and was rewarded with a brightly lit window. Traveling on a breeze, he drifted upward, hiding off to the side. He was stunned to find the curtains fluttering in the night air, the window wide open. Cautiously, he stretched over and peeked inside.

It was a simple bedroom, painted a warm yellow color with white trim. A woman sat on the bed, her hand on her now flat stomach. Her golden hair fell into her blank, sad grey eyes, her face stained with tears.

A knock on the door didn't make her even blink. The door slowly opened and in entered a man. He was very handsome, even if he was about ten years older than his wife. His red hair streaked with silver just behind the ears, his brown eyes fell upon his wife and dimmed.

"Margie? Are you hungry? Thirsty?" he asked gently, shutting the door and sitting beside his wife.

She shook her head. "No, thanks," she whispered.

He took her hand in his, his eyes glued to her face. "Listen, it's ok. We can try again soon. Sometimes the doctors are wrong about this sort of thing. We could still have a baby-"

"Jamie, I can't," she said, her voice strained. "I can't have kids…there's something wrong with me…with my body…no matter how much we try, we'll never have our own children!" She was crying now, covering her face as she sobbed. He reached over and embraced her tightly, fighting back his own hurt and disappointment. "There's nothing wrong with you, Margie…there must be a reason this is happening…"

Peter felt his heart break as he watched them. He wondered if this was what Shade might've been like when he was human…He quickly shook off the notion. He pitied the creature, but he was no longer human, no longer his father. Peter Pan didn't need a father or anything of the sort…!

Gip gave a little whine, making Peter snap out of his thoughts. "Shh!" he whispered, hoping they hadn't heard him.

Unfortunately for him, they had.

"Jamie," Margaret asked, blinking in disbelief. "I think I'm going crazy…I thought I heard something…"

"No, I heard it, too," he reassured her, his brows furrowing together. Getting up, he walked to the window, skeptical that anything or anyone would be floating about on the second floor. He looked to his right and found nothing. He looked to the left…

A pair of green eyes were staring back at him, sparkling like magic.

"AAAAAH!" Jamie yelled, tripping over himself as he tried to back away.

"Jamie!" Margaret gasped, her eyes wide as a flying boy came into their bedroom, grabbing her husband's wrist before he could his the floor. "Oh…my…God," she whispered, gawking at the strange child.

Jamie stared in disbelief as the boy floated before him, having helped him to stand on his own two feet. "Wha…what…? Who are you?!"

"I'm Peter," the boy declared, landing lightly and bowing politely to the couple. "Peter Pan."

The man and woman looked at one another, stunned and confused.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Peter explained when the bundle in his arms began to whine again. "Uh-oh, I'll bet they didn't feed you before we left, huh?" Peter spoke to Gip softly, grinning at the little blinking eyes. Glancing up, he saw the two grown-ups staring on, unsure of what to think or say. "Oh, I forgot to introduce Gip," he said cheerfully, flying over to the woman.

Jamie stiffened, uncertain if he ought to find a frying pan in case the boy tried something, but as he watched Peter move about, he noticed how he cared for the baby in his grip.

"Wanna hold him?" Peter offered, transferring the babe to the woman.

"Oh…oh, aren't you a sweet one?" she said quietly, smiling down at the baby.

Gip stared into the woman's eyes, blinked once, and began to laugh, reaching out and trying to grab her hand. She began to laugh back, cradling the infant to her chest as she placed a kiss on his forehead.

Jamie watched awe at the scene, moving over to look at the baby himself. "I don't believe it…" he murmured, looking down at the child.

Gip gurgled, making some incomprehensible talk and waving at the man. Jamie smiled back at the baby until he realized that their visitor was still there. "Why are doing this?" he whispered, giving Peter a stern look. "My wife's baby just died…why are you making this worse?"

Peter's eyes were filled with anger and insult as he began to float off of the bed. "What do you mean I'm making it worse?!" he snapped, face to face with the man. "Honestly, you grown-ups can't appreciate anything!"

"What're you talking about?" Margaret asked, looking up at the floating child.

"I thought that this baby could use a good home and loving parents," Peter informed them indignantly, crossing his arms over his chest. "But if you don't want him-"

"Wait, you're giving us a baby?" Jamie asked, confounded.

"You mean he's ours?" Margaret gasped, holding the child even closer to her heart. Gip grabbed around her neck, snuggling in her embrace. "M-Ma…Ma-ma…"

Everyone's eyes grew huge at the speech the baby had uttered. Jamie ran over to his wife's side, beaming as she began to cry tears of joy. "D-Da…Dada!" Gip pointed at Jamie, causing Jamie to tear up as well.

Peter smiled ruefully, shaking his head. "Even now, he's already growing up…" Seeing the smiles on their faces, how they gathered and cuddled together, Peter felt a twinge of pain in his heart. He had no experienced that sort of love before, not until Wendy came at last and visited him and the Lost Boys. Even then, she only came when she didn't have school, and she would have to leave. He wondered if his band of Lost Boys could be transformed into a family if Wendy stayed permanently, leaving with them to Neverland…or what if he stayed and grew up for Wendy? They could look like this in a few years, couldn't they…?

Shaking his head, he knew that he could not have that sort of thing. Smiling at them, he pulled out a small sack from his vest and set it on the night stand. Turning, he prepared to fly out the window when a shrill little voice made him stop in his tracks.

"P-PEEEEDERRR!" Gip cried, laughing proudly as he pronounced the name.

Looking over his shoulder, Peter stared at the baby in shock, a smile slowly growing onto his face.

"He wants to see you," Margaret smiled, motioning for him to return.

"Where did he come from?" Jamie asked, tilting his head at the flying boy.

"Gip's mother couldn't keep him because his father didn't want him," Peter explained, taking the child from the woman one last time. "She didn't know what to do until me and my friends came. I offered to take him someplace safe…he's been with me n' the boys for a long time now, but we always have to make sure someone's with him. Sometimes, I think the others find him a little bothersome because he's so young. And the fairies can't always watch him." Looking to them, he felt his throat tighten as he said, "I heard about what happened with your baby, and I though that maybe…just maybe…you all could learn to love each other and be a family. But I warn you-!" He pointed an accusing finger at them, trying his best to look solemn. "If I find out you're no good, or that he wants to be a Lost Boy, I'm taking him back!"

Margaret laughed gently, motioning for him to come to her. He did so cautiously, and was shocked when she placed a kiss on his cheek. He rubbed it off like any little boy would, a look of annoyance covering his face. She laughed harder at this and touched his shoulder. "We'll take good care of him, I promise," she reassured him, her eyes shining.

"What's this?" Jamie asked, noticing the little bag Peter had left of the nightstand.

"That's to help you care for Gip," Peter informed him, watching his eyes become as big as oranges.

"WHA-? How…? Where-?" Jamie choked, stunned to see the little sack filled with gold and diamonds.

"I know a few pirates that like to hoard their treasure," Peter grinned. "No," he said, putting his hand out, his palm facing the grown-up as if to say "stop there." "I won't take it back – I'll toss it into the ocean if you tell me to take it back."

"Why are you-?" Jamie began when Peter growled in frustration.

"Can't I be nice and you take it without asking so many questions?!" Peter snapped, smacking his forehead. "Geez, if Tink were here she'd be pulling my hair from even trying to do this."

"Jamie's just in shock," Margaret said in her husband's defense. "Thank you, Peter." Peter huffed and shrugged. Mothers always did have more sense than fathers, he supposed… Looking back at Gip, he smiled at the infant's face and placed a kiss on his forehead. Gip giggled and was transferred once more to Margaret's arms.

"You promise to take good care of him?" Peter asked, putting on his best careless look.

"We promise," the woman responded, her husband nodding in agreement.

Peter felt his eyes pricking, his throat tightening. His sniffled but kept a happy face and bowed. "Then I thank you…" Looking to the stars outside, he began to fly to the window. "One day, me and the others will have to return to Neverland…there's a park nearby called 'Never-Neverland,' I'm sure you've heard of it." When they nodded curiously at him, he explained, "If you fix it up and find good people to run it, I'm sure you could make lots of money." Jamie blinked in awe at this message, almost unable to believe it. "All I ask is that you take Gip there every so often," Peter said softly. "And to send a portion of what you make to the children at Ormond Street Hospital in England."

Margaret could not contain her happiness and admiration as she gaved at him. "You're a sweet boy, Peter."

"I know," he shrugged.

"We'll do as you say," Jamie nodded.

"When it's time, I'll leave all the papers to you," Peter said, startled when the man offered his hand to him. Pursing his lips in suspicion, he shook hands and offered a mischievous grin. "Don't forget – his name's Gip!" Flying out the window, he gave a loud crow and took to the sky.

With a wry smile as he shook his head, Jamie watched him until he could see him no more. "Thank you…Peter Pan."

~NEVER-NEVERLAND~

Peter was not yet through with his visit to the mainland, not by a long shot. Despite Hook's warnings and pleadings, he was determined to find out what had happened to Shade. Scanning all the different homes in the sleeping town, he sensed he was not too far off. Turning and checking one house after another, he felt an ominous chill in the air. Looking over his shoulder, he caught sight of a secluded house, surrounded by gnarled old trees. All the windows were dark, save one that was dimly lit. His brows knitting together, he darted to the house and peered inside. There was nothing distinguishable inside or out, but the dark, cold feeling did not leave him.

With all his strength, he tugged the window open from the outside and slipped in, surrounded by shadows. The eerie feeling intensified, putting him on guard as he looked about the dark living room.

"…Peter…"

He stood still, a shape appearing before him from the darkness. Peter watched as Shade stepped out, looking like Fuller, but with the dark smoke constantly flowing off of him. He looked exhausted, and though he wasn't bleeding, he was holding his side in pain.

"Have you come to surrender?" Shade asked hopefully, sounding very tired.

"Hardly," Peter replied curtly, crossing his arms over his chest. "I came to tell you to stop hurting innocent people. It's only making things worse for you."

"Then give yourself up," Shade coughed, taking a seat on a nearby chair. Wearily, he looked at Peter. "Can't we just go home, Peter? Why didn't you stay in your room?"

"You set out to destroy my home!" Peter fumed, insulted. "Besides, you should know by now – the longer you cage a bird, the more it wants to spread its wings and fly!"

"Don't start," Shade growled, his eyes glowing white. "What I can't stand is that your supposed enemy is now your ally…"

"Technically, you're the one who started it," Peter shrugged. "If you hadn't gone to destroy Neverland and kill everyone, Hook would've continued plotting ways to do me in. Now, we have a common enemy." He looked the monster in the eye at this, making the man furious.

"ENEMY?!" he howled, the darkness consuming him. "I'll show you what a real enemy does!" No more was the human form – Shade had returned in all his dark glory, his eyes shining wickedly. Lashing his hands out, he made his fingers into sharp points, lunging at the boy. Hopping away, Peter flew circles around the infuriated being, drawing his sword from its sheath.

"You will return with me!" Shade snarled.

"I don't think so," Peter retorted, slipping out through the window and into the night air. Shad followed close behind, waving his sharpened hands at him.

"You will do as I say!" Shade grunted, his sharp fingers blocked by Peter's sword.

"No one tells me what to do!" Peter responded, nimbly darting off to the side. "I won't let you hurt anyone else!"

Shade bared his teeth, attacking with one hand and shooting the other straight at the boy. "I shall keep on until you finally fall-!"

The sound of flesh being cut made him stop, his eyes fading from white to black again. Gaping, he saw Peter's eyes widen in shock before he looked down, seeing that his own hand had cut through the boy's side, blood spilling onto the black arm.

"No…" Shade whispered, his body trembling. "NOOO!"

Hurt filled Peter's eyes, only to be replaced by anger. With a furious cry, he raised his sword and brought it down onto Shade's wrist, cleanly slicing off the man's hand.

With a bloodcurdling scream, he fell back, sending a blast of black magic at Peter. Falling to the earth, he collapsed, changing back into his human form. Gasping in pain, he clutched his bloodied hand to his chest. He would have to perform a spell quickly to first heal his wound and then try to recreate a new hand…

His eyes snapped open as he remembered how he had been injured. His head whipped to and fro, his eyes vaguely scanning the area and then the skies for the boy.

"PETER!" he cried out, frightened for his boy. What had he done?! "PETER!"