When they approached the Village, Peter turned to Wendy awkwardly and sighed.
"Let me go in first and…prepare them. If they see you they might get the wrong idea. Don't leave though." She nodded and watched him disappear through the gate.
"Tinkerbell…what will happen to me if we can't find a cure? Will Peter return me to my home?" Tink bit her lip as she fluttered next to Wendy.
I don't know what he'll do, Wendy. Wendy glanced up at her and Tink shrugged her shoulders sadly. When Peter returned, Tiger Lily was at his side and her eyes widened.
"Wendy-bird," she said softly, taking the girl's hands. Wendy blinked back tears. The princess's eyes scanned the girl before her and she took in her scant clothing and the wounds on her wrists and ankles. "Come." Her arm went around Wendy and she lead her into the Village, away from Peter and Tink. Peter watched the girls disappear into a tent and he sighed heavily.
"What am I going to do, Tink? The Chief has already reminded me we don't allow grown ups on the island. What am I going to do, if I can't find a way to save her?"
The Chief is grown up! He can't really talk—
"You know what we mean, Tink. No adult mortal, from the outside world, has ever been allowed in Neverland. The adults we have here are a part of the island now. Wendy isn't, as much as I'd like her to be. If we can't change her back, what are we going to do with her?"
You could return her to her family. The Lost Boys will be glad to see her again.
"You know we can't do that either," Peter said sadly, still not looking at her. "The magic of this island has to be protected. Too many people would be suspicious if she returned, aged." Tink cocked her head and stared at the boy.
Then what are you thinking about? You can't just keep her here and banish her!
"I know Tink but…I don't know what to do." Peter's eyes filled with tears and he impatiently brushed them away. He walked away and disappeared into his tent. Pacing the tent, his thoughts raced a million miles a minute. Finally exhausted, he fell down and curled into the blankets, wishing he would wake in the morning and all of this would be a nightmare he could easily toss aside.
When Peter awoke, he saw that night had fallen. Tink had curled up beside him and was snoring into the blankets. Peter carefully rose and opened the tent to see the moon high in the sky. Stretching his arms behind him, he walked through the Village, wondering where Tiger Lily had taken Wendy. He saw no one, however, and it seemed everyone had retired for the evening. He helped himself to a bowl of soup from the fire and stared up at the moon. Feeling restless, he leaped into the air and flew over to the lagoon on the Indian's side of the shore. The spot was quite beautiful with clear water and lush grassy knolls to rest on. Peter flew to his favorite spot and pulled his knees against his chest, resting his chin and staring out over the water. A splashing noise brought him out of his daze and he jumped to his feet, yanking out his dagger. He climbed over the hill and peered down. One of the Indian women had apparently come out to bathe and was standing in the water, holding her dress up above her knees. She shook back her long hair and Peter gasped as he realized it wasn't an Indian at all, but Wendy' long blonde curls that were catching the moonlight. He started to move down to talk to her but something stopped him and he froze when he saw her lift her dress over her head and toss it aside. The moonlight made her skin glimmer and Peter could clearly see her new curves. Wendy turned so that he caught an even better view and her hands tentatively touched her neck, trailing down very slowly to rub her breasts. Her face was a mixture of sadness and wonder, as she explored her new body, her hands splayed on her flesh and trailing all over. Peter's wide eyes were glued to her glowing skin, his eyes traveling her body with her hands. His mouth had gone dry and he suddenly felt very warm. Noticing that something was happening around his midsection, the same thing that had been happening lately when he would think of Wendy or when he would wake up beside her, he tore his eyes away from Wendy to glance down at himself. Sighing in frustration as if it was merely a nuisance, he attempted to push it down and gasped when his touch sent sparks throughout his body. His eyes flew back to Wendy, who was treading the water, her breasts half submerged and her head thrown back and her eyes closed. As if it acted on its own, Peter's hand slowly moved down his body to grasp himself and he let out a deep sigh as his eyes closed lazily. Now Peter and the Lost Boys had experimented plenty times, as do all young boys when they reach that age where the games and the pride begin, but this was the first time it had happened in the presence of someone else. It was the first time he was feeling strange sensations coursing through his body. And it happened when he thought of Wendy. He moaned as his hardened length practically danced in his hand and his eyes went back to her, and he felt like he was about to explode; sighing deeply, he stripped off his leaves and leaned back for a moment, closing his eyes and biting his lip anxiously, feeling his head start to spin. He moaned her name as his breathing became heavier, and his hands increased in pace. He threw his head back and squeezed his eyes shut, overwhelmed by the many sensations he was experiencing. His hand moved faster and he gripped the grass beside him, feeling himself reaching some sort of amazing precipice. The image of her naked body in his mind, her name on his lips, he released and collapsed on his back, panting heavily. He wiped the sweat from his brow and quickly redressed, peering out to see if Wendy was still bathing. He heard someone call her name and he ducked back down. He saw Tiger Lily approaching the lagoon, carrying an armful of various things. He moved a little closer so he could hear what the girls were saying.
"I'm glad to see you're feeling better."
"Three days in a pirate's cabin makes you feel like the filth will never wash off," Wendy said from the water. Tiger Lily nodded.
"I brought some herbs and medicines for your wounds. Are you ready to get out?"
"Can't I stay in here forever," Wendy said quietly, ducking her head underneath the water.
"You may not. Peter Pan will go mad if you disappear again. Come, let's take care of your injuries." Sighing, Wendy rose from the water and Peter bit his lip as droplets of water rolled down her perfect flesh. Tiger Lily wrapped her in a blanket and brought her to sit down with her on the grass.
Tiger Lily spread the same kind of thick ointment Peter had found on her ankles, then her wrists and she felt them sting for a moment before they instantly felt better. She then began to wrap them with a thick material and Peter edged closer, feeling a pang when he saw the welts and cuts the manacles had left on Wendy. Tiger Lily finished wrapping them, then handed Wendy a dress.
"The women made this for you. It is your size." Wendy felt the soft material and let her blanket fall away. She stood and slipped the dress over her head, sighing at the velvety feel of it on her skin.
"Thank you, Princess." Tiger Lily approached Wendy and stroked her cheek.
"Wendy bird must not worry. Peter Pan will find a way to change you back."
"I don't want him to get hurt because of me, Tiger Lily. And that's the pirates' plan. He'll be walking right into their trap. I love him too much to lose him." Peter gasped at her words. Usually the 'l word' upset him, but tonight he felt differently.
"And yet you were ready to fake your death to throw him off." Tiger Lily's voice had a sort of bite to it and Wendy hung her head.
"I never imagined that he would…I mean, I didn't think I meant that much to him…Peter is supposed to be this little boy with no cares in the world—"
"Until you came along," the princess cut her off. "Now you are his greatest care in the world. You already know he would die for you. Would you be so surprised if he grew up for you?"
"I'd never want him to. Growing up is his greatest fear, his ultimate hatred. I feared he would hate me when he saw me. Adults are his enemy and now I am his enemy too." Peter shook his head but bit his tongue to keep from speaking out loud.
"You are wrong, Wendy-bird. Peter feels for you. He loves you."
"He doesn't love me. He can't. It's a part of the riddle of his being." Peter's heart was racing and his head ached. Love. There was that word again. Why was it not upsetting him more tonight? He usually flew into a rage. He should have flown into a rage when Tiger Lily said that. He didn't love. Wendy was right, he couldn't…..could he?
Peter waited awhile after the girls had left; he sat on the grass, his chin propped on his knees, as his mind raced. Sighing, he rose to his feet and flew back to the village.
He peered into Wendy's tent and saw she was sleeping. Shuffling forward, he knelt beside her and watched her sleep, as he had so often done in the past. She moved a little, bringing her arm over her head and Peter noticed her wrist, wrapped up in gauze. He leaned back to study her and had to admit, she was breathtakingly beautiful. He always thought she was very pretty but as a young woman, Wendy looked perfect. He felt a pang as he realized she couldn't be his, as long as she was grown and he wasn't. Shaking his head, he leaned down and placed the gentlest of kisses on her lips.
"Sleep, my Wendy-bird. Forget your troubles and find peace in your dreams. I will find a way to bring you back." She moaned something that sounded suspiciously like his name before she rolled over and Peter was left staring at her back. Smiling, he rose to his feet and left the tent, casting the sleeping girl one last look and smile.