Tink frowned as she watched the pirates climbing back onto the ship and every one of them looked pleased with themselves.

"Set a trap for Pan. Undoubtedly he'll come here, looking for a cure."

"IS there a cure, Cap'n?"

"Of course not, you fool. Time works differently all over the place. It can be both wonderful and horrible. In this case, time is not Pan's friend." Smee chuckled darkly as he retired to his cabin, leaving his crew to do the work. Tink watched them hide ropes and nets in the rigging and she fluttered her wings before she took off across the sea, determined to tell Peter to stay away from the Jolly Roger.

As she approached shore, she saw something rather unusual near the caves. A bundle of purple material, which was what Peter had told them Wendy was wearing when she disappeared. As she came closer, she saw that it in was, in fact, more than material; it was a person who was weeping uncontrollably. Tink hovered over the shaking figure and studied her. Her hair was the same color as Wendy's, though it looked softer and longer and there was no bow in sight. Her legs were slender and smooth, her torso was clearly defined and Tink could even made out a willowy figure. It was a young woman. How did a young woman get to Neverland? She lowered just a little bit and cocked her head.

Wendy heard the jingling and gasped.

"Tinkerbell?" Tink nearly fell out of the sky as the woman looked up at her. Her face was narrow; her eyes had become more gray than blue. Her nose and lips, even, were slender and her face was well defined. Tink flew a little closer.

Wendy? Is that really you?

Wendy's face fell.

"I wish I could understand you, Tink, but I still can't. Is Peter nearby?" Tink shook her head.

He's been so worried about you! Tink bit her lip and pounded on her heart a little bit and pointed to Wendy.

"He's worried about me?" Tink nodded emphatically. "Then why hasn't he come looking for me?" Tink mimed someone being tied up and she gasped.

"Do the pirates have him?" Tink shook her head frantically. Oh, she wished she were better at charades. She had always sat out when the Lost Boy would play. Tink mimed a feather in her hair and Wendy frowned.

"The Indians have him locked up? Why?" Tink gestured toward her heart and pointed at Wendy again. Wendy shook her head.

"I don't understand." Tink shrugged and grabbed Wendy's finger. Wendy stood and brushed her gown off, grimacing at how torn it was and how much of her body she was revealing. Tink, too, noticed the girl's scant clothing. She bit her lip and continued to stare at Wendy. What had happened to her? How would Peter react to this? He would be furious and confused and…what if he thought she had done it on purpose? She shook her tiny head. Peter was thick but he wasn't THAT thick. Anyone could clearly see Wendy had been a prisoner. This had been forced onto her. Wendy, though, seemed to be thinking the same thing. She looked down at herself and her eyes filled with tears.

"He's going to hate me for this," she said softly. "He'll never want to see me again." Tink shook her head frantically, squeezing Wendy's finger. She felt immense sorrow and pity for the girl. And she hoped with all her heart that Peter would understand this was not Wendy's fault. They would find a way to turn her back. They just had to. But Tink suddenly remembered what she had heard the pirates saying on the ship. "In this case, time is not Pan's friend." She didn't have the heart to tell Peter or Wendy what she had heard. Wendy wiped at her face with the back of her hand.

"Growing up is the ultimate betrayal in Peter's eyes. It doesn't matter if this is my fault or not, the fact is that I'm still a grown up. An enemy to Peter Pan." Tink tugged on Wendy's finger and tried to pull her away but Wendy shook her head.

"I can't, Tink. I can't stand the thought of how he will look at me. I can't go back." Tink's eyes widened.

Wendy, he's so worried about you! He misses you! But Wendy shook her head.

"Go back without me, Tink. Tell him I'm fine. No, you know what? Tell him you found my body in the lagoon. That way he'll stop looking for me. He'll forget about me soon. Yes. Yes, that's it! That way, he won't get hurt!" Wendy started talking very fast and watched Tink for a reaction; Tink's jaw was hanging open and she crossed her arms over her chest.

No way I will tell Peter any of that. I will not break his heart like that. For good measure, she motioned to her heart and mimed breaking it in half.

"No, don't you see Tink? If he thinks I'm gone, he won't go to the pirates! Tell him I must have had an accident and drowned. He'll be sad at first but at least he won't hate me. Please Tinkerbell. We have to save him. We have to keep him from going near the pirates." Tink hung her head. She hated that Wendy was right. And she cared more about Peter's safety than his happiness.

But where will you go? What will you do? Wendy looked around her and sighed.

"I suppose I'll try to find a way home. Would you be able to help me fly back to London?"

Only Peter can come and go from Neverland as he chooses. I can only travel with him. Wendy stared at her and Tink shook her head sadly.

"Very well. I'll stay hidden and try to find a way home. Please Tinkerbell. Do this for me. Do this for Peter. We have to keep him safe. We both love him." Tink stared at the girl in shock and Wendy looked like she was about to collapse in tears again. Tink couldn't take it anymore; she zoomed away as fast as she could and headed toward the Indian Village.

Peter put his hands to his mouth and called for his fairy again. The Indians had finally let him out and he wanted to fly over to the pirates' side of the island. But he wanted Tink to come with him and hadn't heard from her since that morning.

"Tinkerbell!" He sighed in frustration and leaped into the air. He turned when he heard jingling and held out his hand.

"Finally. Where were you?"

Um. I was…near the pirates. Then I…um….stopped by the lagoon…because I saw something.

"Oh. Ok. Well I want to fly over to the pirates and see if we can get into any of those cabins. I bet Wendy is in one of them." Tink sighed heavily and hung her head. Peter frowned at the fairy's behavior.

"You don't want me to go after her, do you?"

It's not that. Oh Peter. Don't go to the pirates. Wendy is not on that ship. She never was.

"What? How do you know?" Tink stared at the ground and Peter gently shook his hand.

"Hello? Tink, how do you know that? Do you know something?" When she didn't answer, Peter's breathing became rather labored. "Is it Wendy? Do you know something about her, Tink?" Tink blinked back tears as she looked up into the eyes of the boy she adored. The boy whose heart she was about to shatter. Peter noticed the tears in Tink's eyes and could not remember if he had ever seen her cry before. He lowered his hand and Tink hovered next to his face.

"Tink," he said slowly.

I found her, Peter. Her body was in the lagoon. She just looked like…she slipped and fell in.

Peter shrank back, shaking his head.

"No," he said softly.

It was an accident. The mermaids and I moved her to shore and…I buried her in the sand.

"No. No, no, no, it can't be true," he was saying to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. Peter started to fall and it was a good thing he wasn't far from ground because he went sprawling in the dirt in a mess of tangled limbs and his body shaking with sobs. Tink landed on his head and gently stroked his hair. His body was shaking uncontrollably as he sobbed into the dirt. He started to choke from his tears and leaned up on shaky hands. His face was streaked with dirt and tears as a hard resolution appeared in his eyes. He yanked out his dagger from his trousers and held the blade close to his own throat. Tink shrieked.

Peter! What are you doing?!

"She was my reason for living, Tinkerbell. I don't want to live if Wendy isn't here with me. I'm sorry." His eyes shone with madness and desperation, and he held the blade dangerously close to his windpipe and closed his eyes.

Peter, stop! She's alive!

Peter's eyes snapped open and he stared at Tink, who was hovering directly in front of his face.

"What are you talking about?"
I lied to you. She asked me to lie to you. I never thought you would… she trailed off and stepped on the dagger, lowering it away from his throat. His eyes were as wide as dinner plates.

"What the hell do you mean, she asked you to lie to me?! Where is she? Is she hurt?"

No Peter, she's not hurt. But I don't think you want to see her…that is…

"Are you INSANE? Take me to her. Now."

Peter—

Peter brought the blade over his wrist and sliced a tiny line. Blood immediately started to trickle down his hand and Tink gasped.

"Take me to her," he said again in a stony voice. Tink looked up at him sadly.

You must promise me, when you see her, your… feelings for her won't change.

Peter didn't even flinch at the word. "They couldn't. Tinkerbell, WHAT is this about?"

Come on. She's going to kill me for this. And if you try to hurt her, I swear to you—

"Tink, I could never hurt Wendy. But since when do you care so strongly for her?"

Come on. I'll take you to her.