Chapter Thirty-Three – My Happy Thought
Hook tapped his finger on the desk, irked and distracted. Since Peter had vanished, he couldn't concentrate on anything. He wasn't in much of a mood to go sailing, nor was he concerned about drilling the men that day. The day was already well into the afternoon, and he couldn't think of anything to keep himself busy. Rhythmically, he opened and shut his mother's locket, still stunned by Peter's small act of appreciation. It wasn't often that Peter showed Hook any form of gratitude, and vice versa. The fact that Peter had given him this precious trinket from so long ago made him wonder if Peter actually considered his enemies' thoughts and feelings.
Leaning back into his chair, he closed his eyes, remembering days of old. Pan was a little sprout, a child of no more than twelve years of age, dressed in nothing but leaves and the juices that oozed out of trees. He was a little trouble maker, enjoying Hook's chases and especially when the Crocodile would make an appearance, causing a hasty retreat from the one handed pirate. Of course, Hook blamed Peter for losing his hand, but then again, he, too, was faulty. Tinker Bell had been flying around the ship, exploring, when Smee captured her. Peter arrived, not knowing Tinker Bell was there, and engaged in what he considered a playful battle with Hook. It wasn't until he saw Tinker Bell, brought up by Smee in a lantern, that he stopped, urging the captain to show good form and release his friend. Hook, however, smirked, and began to say the dreaded words – "I don't believe in fairies."
In a fit of rage and panic, Peter sliced off Hook's hand, causing the lantern to fall and shatter, releasing the fairy of her imprisonment. Nearby, the Crocodile floated, opening its jaws to eat an unsuspecting bird. As Hook howled and cried in pain, Peter wickedly gnashed his teeth at him and tossed the hand into the open jaws of the reptile. The rest was history.
Wincing at the memory of losing his hand, Hook shook his head, anger bubbling within him until he remembered the times he and Peter had spoken and jested, and even his rescues. Without Peter, Hook would've been dead by now…and perhaps, vice versa. Stroking his chin, he recalled the time Peter had joked that he was acting like an overly-protective father. He had scoffed at the notion at the time, but now it didn't seem too far off the mark. Scratching his chin gently with the point of his claw, he mused what it would be like to sail the seven seas with someone like Peter at his side…
He could see it now… Captain James Hook standing at the helm, his scarlet coat flapping in the salty wind, his feathered hat set over his brow, his dark curls surrounding his face. The men were busy at work, preparing to board a cargo ship, Smee blowing his whistle to signal how close they were. Suddenly, out of the rigging, a lithe figure swooped down, laughing merrily as he glided and landed gracefully at Hook's side. Peter Pan, the Terrible Youth, beside the most fearsome pirate of all time. Gone were the leafy garbs – instead, he wore a billowing poet's shirt and dark breeches, knee-high boots covering his feet. An emerald cape was settled over his shoulders, a tricorne hat on his head with golden and scarlet feathers quivering in the breeze. Drawing his sword, he grinned at Hook, tipping his hat in a salute before shouting orders to the men. Such a glorious life!...
…a knock on the door took him out of his daydream. He shook his head, chuckling at the insanity of the idea. Still, it was an intriguing notion. The knocking was persistent at his door, causing him to grumble an incoherent curse. "Brimstone and gall, who goes there?!" he bellowed.
The door cracked open and Mr. Smee stuck his head in, smiling brightly. "Beggin' yer pardon, Cap'n," the bosun said happily. "But ye got visitors."
Hook raised an eyebrow at the man, suspicious of his giddiness. "Very well, bring them in," he said at last, getting up.
Smee pushed the door open and ushered them all in, beaming as he did so. There at the door stood three females, two of them children, the other an adult.
"Christine?!" he gasped, a smile stretching over his face despite himself.
"Hello, James," she smiled in returning, gasping when he picked her up and twirled her around, kissing her lips gently. "Well! I should surprise you more often," she laughed, kissing him back.
"My dear, you have no idea how I've longed to see you again," he chuckled, making goose bumps rise on her skin. "I've been needing a distraction as well, I'm afraid." He heaved a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That blast popinjay, Pan, torments me even when he's not here in person."
"I'm sure he'll be pleased to hear that," another voice laughed.
Looking past the teacher, Hook noted that Wendy and Violet stood besides Smee. Violet smirked at the public display of affection taking place between her teacher and the pirate while Wendy strove not to giggle as she held a container of cookies.
"Well, well, well, to what do I owe this honor?" Hook grinned, bowing to the girls. "It's not everyday I receive such lovely visitors."
"Ruff and I went to see how everyone was doing," Violet explained. "We brought them along…the boys left with Ruff to see how Peter's holding up."
Hook's eyes dimmed before he quickly put on an irritated face. "That boy'll be the end of me. Nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw him."
"So you do care?" Christine raised an eyebrow with a knowing look.
He sputtered, indignant. "I care…he should be alive and well so that when we return to Neverland, I can run him through myself!" he snarled.
Wendy gave a small grin, shaking her head at him. "At any rate, thank you for helping him." Hook blinked, stunned by the girl. "Oh!" Wendy exclaimed. "I almost forgot. I brought cookies for the boys, but if you like, you may take one. I'm afraid I didn't have time to bake – it was a last minute idea. I only just bought them…"
"Oooh, may I try one, Missy?" Smee asked, his eyes glowing in delight. He couldn't remember the last time he had a cookie, and the offer was too good to resist. Wendy opened the plastic container and he slipped one out, sniffing the pastry before taking a nibble. He smiled and closed his eyes. "Mmmh! Lovely! Perhaps, next time, y'can make some of yer own?" he grinned. "I'd love to sample one!"
"I'd be more than happy to do so," she giggled. Turning to Hook and Christine, she said, "Violet and I will be leaving to find the boys. When should we regroup?"
"How about seven o'clock? Is that too late?" Christine asked, taking two of the cookies for herself and the captain.
"No, that should be all right," Wendy nodded. "I'll be sure to let Ben and the boys know." Waving to them, she and Violet excused themselves.
"Take care now, lasses," Hook called after them, taking one of the treats from Christine. "And tell Pan to get well soon so I can gut him properly!"
Laughing, Christine pecked his cheek. "You're so cute when you're trying to act ruthless."
Hook pouted, but the warm fuzzy feeling didn't leave his chest. It's a strange thing, to be in love…
~NEVER-NEVERLAND~
"Here we are!" Violet said, grabbing Wendy and flying her up to one of the entrances of the tree house. Together, the girls slid down through the indoor slides, laughing and screaming as they tumbled and dropped, finally popping out of the tunnel in a heap. Clutching the container of goodies to her chest, Wendy pushed her hair out of her face and looked up.
"WENDY!" the Lost Boys cheered, running over and attacking her with hugs and kisses.
Laughing, she kissed their foreheads and cheeks, standing before them.
"You made it!" Mikey exclaimed, grabbing onto his sister.
"We were telling Ruff that he should've stayed with you!" Partly said, relieved to see the girls safe and sound.
"Hey, we can take care of ourselves, right?" Violet argued.
"Right," Wendy said, letting both Nana and Neko lick her face. "Oh! I have a little something for you boys," she announced, opening the container once again. "I bought them, but hopefully, next time, I can bake some of my own."
"COOKIES!" Lump shouted, his eyes wide as coconuts. As the boys began to crowd around her, ravenous and greedy, she lifted the cookies into the sky.
"Ah, ah, ah!" she scolded them. "What kind of manners are those?"
"Oh, you're right!" Len said, snapping his fingers. Getting the boys to huddle, they murmured amongst themselves before turning back and smiling sweetly. "Thank you, Wendy lady," they sang together.
"You're welcome," she replied. "Now, if you'll please get in a line, I'll make sure everyone gets one. Violet goes first." The boys grumbled but were silenced by a stern look from Wendy. Winking, Violet took a treat and said her "thank you" before moving aside. By now the boys were in a line when Tinker Bell and Blue Falls flew over.
"Hello, you two!" she greeted them, giggling as they flew around her. "Care to have one?" Together, the two fairies grabbed a cookie and flew away, breaking the treat straight down the middle before munching on their respective sides. "All right. Now you may each take one," she informed the boys, letting them grab their own sweet. First came Mouse, then Mikey, followed by Lump, Partly, Jon, the Twins, Ben, Len, Skipper, and finally Ruff.
"Thanks, Wendy," Ruff said, biting into his cookie. He smirked and added, "Looks like you're gonna have to share that last cookie."
She raised an eyebrow at him, confused. "With whom, may I ask?"
"Just a boy who doesn't want to grow up," a mischievous voice breathed into her ear.
She gasped, her head whipping around to face the speaker. There, nose to nose with the girl, was Peter, wearing a new leaf vest though he kept one hand over his wounded side. His eyes twinkled as he gazed into her big blue eyes. "Hi, Wendy."
Seeing him in front of her, images of the previous night flashed in her mind. His face distorted in agony, his side cut open, blood spilling everywhere, and then, he was gone in the morning light. She felt her frame shake, her eyes stinging with tears. Relief washed over her as she realized that he really was ok…it felt as though last night had been a horrible nightmare.
"Wendy-?" Peter started, noticing how she stared at him.
Throwing her arms around his neck, biting her lip to control herself, she whispered, "Thank God you're all right! Oh, Peter!" Squeezing her eyes shut, she couldn't stop the flow of tears that came from her eyes.
Peter felt a twinge of guilt, realizing that she was probably worried for him the whole time. The fact that he left without saying anything that night probably didn't help either. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her close to him, ignoring his side. It was better now, though it ached when he moved. If it weren't for Blue Falls and his medicine, Peter would still be recovering and sleeping.
"Please don't cry, Wendy," he whispered, stroking her hair. "I'm sorry. I…"
"Oh, Peter, I'm so glad you're ok!" she said, choking over her own words.
"It's ok…I'm right here…it's thanks to you, y'know?" he hushed her, loving the feel of her body against his. He didn't ever want to let go. Opening his eyes, he saw that the boys, fairies, Violet, and even the dogs were sneaking out of the room. Ruff gave him a thumb's-up and flew out of the home through the tunnels. Peter smiled, silently thanking his friend in his mind. With a swift movement of his arm, he caught Wendy's legs and began to walk to the beds, carrying her off.
"Peter!" she gasped, clinging to him at first until she realized what he was doing. "Peter, put me down! Your wound-!"
"It's healed," he reassured her. "It's just sore. I'm ok now. Thanks to you, Hook, Tink, and Falls." Setting her down, he flew back to the fallen container and snatched his treat before returning. Sitting on the bed next to her, he placed the cookie between his lips. His eyes shone as his lips curled into an impish grin. With one finger curling towards himself, he made the message perfectly clear: "Come take a bite."
"Peter," she shook her head with a wry smile. "You're naughty." She couldn't help but laugh when he gave her big puppy-dog eyes, even whimpering to sound like a dog. "So very naughty," she giggled but surrendered. Leaning forward, she took a quick nibble and retreated.
He chuckled, taking a huge bite from the pastry before handing it back. "Here, you have the rest," he insisted.
Taking it in her hands, she continued to nibble on the cookie as he scooted over and wrapped an arm around her. Peter smiled at her, causing her to turn her face and return the gesture. That's when he noticed a faded red mark on her cheek.
"Wendy," he said, his brows knitting together in suspicion. "What happened to your face?"
Reaching up, she touched her cheek, and the memory of her father slapping her came rushing back. "Um…um, nothing," she stammered. "I just…I fell down and hit my face before we came and-"
"I know what a slap mark looks like, Wendy," he frowned. "I've seen it, and I've felt it. Who did this to you?"
"Please, Peter, it's nothing," she insisted, gasping when he grabbed her hand.
Squeezing it, he looked into her eyes and pleaded, "Please, Wendy – let me protect you!"
She blinked, dumbstruck. "But…you've always protected-"
"If you're being hurt by someone, how am I protecting you?!" he argued, cautiously reaching and touching her injured cheek. "Aren't boys supposed to protect the girls they love? Just like in the stories I heard?"
Wendy felt tears prick in her eyes again as she listened to him, a trembling smile growing on her lips.
"You protected and helped me last night," he said, pulling her to him. "Why don't you tell me who's hurting you so I can look out for you and the boys, too?"
Resting her head against his chest, snuggling into his embrace, Wendy swallowed and took a breath before saying softly, "…it was Dad." She felt him stiffen, causing her to grip onto his vest. "Peter, listen to me…I was trying to sneak out with the others…Dad caught me and started asking questions. I should've lied and made up some quick story, but I mentioned that we were coming here. He…he told me he didn't want us coming because…he heard bad things about the park and his co-workers don't like it. I told him we were coming no matter what, that we love it here…I started saying things about Mom…that she'd be disappointed in him…"
"And he slapped you?" Peter finished, his insides quaking with anger.
"I shouldn't have gone so far, but I was so angry and frustrated, and I was so anxious to see if you were all right, I didn't stop the think how I might've better worded what I said…After he hit me, he just sort of stared at me and ran off." Hiding her face in Peter's collarbone, she breathed in the scent of magic, childhood, and freedom. Slowly running her fingers over the leaves that made his shirt, she realized that she'd never been any happier than when she was with him, the Eternal Youth, Peter Pan. Something clicked in the back of her mind, and she finally knew what she, Gwendolyn Marian Angelica Darling, wanted.
"Peter…when it's time for you to return to Neverland…I…I want to come with you."
Peter's eyes grew wide at this. Looking down, he found himself staring at the girl, unable to believe her words. "W-Wendy…are you sure? I mean, I can still grow-up if that's what you want-"
"But that's not what I want!" she shook her head vehemently. "I've never been so selfish before since I was little…I know that you can't leave Neverland, Peter. And I want to be with you always…if Mom was here, I'd want you to stay, and maybe things would be different, but…" Clenching her hand around the acorn button on its chain, she confessed, "Dad's not the same person he used to be…and I've been watching the boys on my own for a while now. In a sense, I'm their mother…and the Lost Boys have asked me to be their mother, too." Looking into his eyes, she said, "I can't be a proper mother to them…or to you…if I stay here. I want to go have adventures, too, Peter! I don't want to be ignored or told what to do…and I…I just want to be with you…you've made my life exciting, different…you make it worthwhile…and Jon and Mikey adore you! Please, Peter, take us with y-!"
She stopped speaking the moment he held her and pressed his lips to hers. She closed her eyes, wrapped up in a blanket of warmth and safety as he brought her close to him. He could taste the cookie she'd eaten on her lips, his lips parting unconsciously as he parted his mouth and let tongue slide over her lips.
She gasped, her eyes snapping open.
Peter immediately pulled away, startled by his actions. He covered his mouth, his face burning bright red as he thought about what he did. "I…I don't know why I…Wendy, I'm sor-!"
"Peter…I didn't realized you knew about that sort of…um, thimbling," she blushed, touching her mouth. She could taste him still, a mix of chocolate chip and mint on her lips.
"I…didn't…I don't," he shook his head. "Nobody told me or showed me how to do that…I just…I don't know." Holding his head in his hands, he looked away, a strange feeling in his stomach forming. "…it scares me, Wendy. I've never felt like that before. I think it's one of the reasons why I didn't want to grow up…I don't understand…"
"Peter," she cooed, placing her hand under his chin and redirecting his face towards hers. "Peter, when boys and girls, or men and women, when they k-…er, thimble, they do that sometimes. And the funny feeling you have…it's love. That's another part of love, one that you've probably never known or realized existed."
Shamefully, he cast his eyes away from hers. "I guess you know because there are boys you've liked in the past, huh?"
She giggled, kissing his cheek. "Not really…I've seen boys and thought they were cute, but I've never felt this way with anyone, Peter…and you're the only one who will ever give me this happy feeling."
Looking to Wendy once more, he gave a shy smile. "…y'know…I think I know what my happy thought is."
"What's that?" she asked.
Leaning forward again, he pressed his mouth against hers briefly before pulling back and whispering in her ear, "It's you."
~NEVER-NEVERLAND~
Tucking the boys into bed, Wendy kissed their heads and patted Nana's head before heading back to her room. She smiled as she closed the door and spun around gleefully, giddy as a five-year-old. She felt as though she could walk on air (and if she still had the fairy dust to do it, she would have). She thought back to when Peter had kissed her, blush filling her cheeks. He insisted on "thimbling" the way they always did, which was simply letting their lips brush against one another, though she sensed he may have liked their first attempt at "French kissing."
Peter had flown them all back with Tinker Bell, Ruff, and Violet, snatching Christine from Hook before he could protest. After dropping them off, Peter kissed Wendy goodnight and shot off into the sky, Ruff and Violet following after him as they waved and laughed. Mr. Darling was still out when they returned, and it wasn't until after Wendy had tucked her brothers into bed that she heard him enter and head straight for the shower.
Still, she was giddy from knowing Peter was safe and that he loved her very much. Changing into her night dress, she brushed her hair and wondered when Peter and the others would depart for the magical land. She had decided to refrain from telling her brothers about her choice for the time being, just as so not to get their hopes up and so Mikey wouldn't start talking about somewhere in public. Looking to the window, she got up and walked towards it. She gazed at the stars, smiling as the wind rustled the trees. Looking at the window handles, she swiftly unlocked them, just in case. Heading back to her bed, she turned out the lights and slipped under the covers, closing her eyes and snuggling against her pillow. Curling her fingers around the necklace Peter had given to her, she let her mind drift and found herself flying in her dreams, blowing out the stars with a boy named Peter Pan.