Peter's eyes opened at the sound of splashing and he figured the mermaids were already up. But he felt water splashing his face and frowned.

"Would you girls quit it?" There was a girlish giggle and he peered over the rock. The mermaids were nowhere to be seen. Instead, a beautiful girl stood naked in the shallows, the moonlight dancing on her pale skin. Peter recognized those blonde curls immediately. He sucked in a breath and came up on his knees.

"Wendy?"

"Come swim with me, Peter," she purred and he felt himself harden with desire at the tone of her voice. He stood and suddenly realized he too, was without a stitch of clothing. Strangely enough, he didn't care. He put one foot into the water and it felt pleasantly cool. The water came up to his shins and he waded out to meet Wendy. When he met her, his hands went to her shoulders and he turned her to face him. She smiled and wound her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his and both of them gasped at what they felt. Their lips came together in a passionate frenzy, their tongues battling one another for supremacy, their hands roamed each other's bodies, their faces becoming warmer and pinker as they made new discoveries. Wendy reached down and grasped him where no one, save for himself, had touched. He sucked in a breath and tossed his head back, his hands traveling down her back and pulling her closer.

"Wendy," he whispered into her hair as she kissed at his neck and let her lips travel over his throat and face. Her treatment of him was driving him wild and he bucked into her hands.

"Peter," she whispered against his flesh, letting her hands fall to her sides. "Do you love me?"

"I…I…" he started to answer but his eyes shot open and he leaned back, staring at her with wide eyes.

"Why would you ask me this?"

"Because I want to know."

"I told you I have never heard of…that."

"And I know you lie! Why can you not admit your feelings?"

"Feelings are for grown ups! I am not nor will I ever be a grown up." Wendy turned from him, hugging herself for comfort. Peter stared at her back, biting his lip and searching for the right thing to say. He hated to upset her but he wanted her to know that he was always to b a boy, nothing more.

"Wendy-"

"Don't, Peter. I should know better. You're still deficient as ever." Peter took a step back, looking as if he had been slapped.

"I am NOT deficient."

"You always will be, until you can admit you have feelings for something…or someone."

"Then just go home and grow up. Take your feelings with you!" Peter turned away from her and crossed his arms over his chest. Wendy stared at him for a moment before turning and picking up a cloak that floated in the water beside her. Wrapping it around her form, she cast Peter one last look before she prepared to get out of the shallows. She took one step and froze, letting out a deep gasp.

Peter wanted to fly away from that spot but he couldn't. Something held him there and he sighed and unfolded his hands.

"Wendy, I'm sorry, I just—" he started to turn back toward her but saw her standing at the edge of the shallows as if frozen, her eyes wide and glassy. He took a hesitant step toward her.
"Wendy?" She let out a few shuddering breaths before she fell to her knees, the cloak falling back into the water. Peter fell to his knees in front of her and grasped her chin.
"Wendy, what is it?" His eyes widened as the water around them became red and it seemed to come from Wendy. She almost fell, face-first, into the water but Peter caught her in his arms and saw the gleaming handle of a dagger protruding from her back. He gasped and held her against his chest. Blood poured from the wound and Wendy shook in his arms. Peter bit his lip and tentatively touched the dagger, afraid to pull it out. Wendy glanced up at him, her sodden curls plastered to her face.

"Peter," she said shakily. "Promise me something."

"Anything Wendy," he said, his hands still hovering over the dagger, as his mind raced.

"Promise me…you will find love…someday. You have too….too much love in you…to live without it. Promise me you will give in…to your feelings….and—"

"Quit talking like this, Wendy. You're going to be fine. I'll make sure of it." But one look at her pale face told him that she was not going to be fine. Making up his mind, Peter firmly gripped the dagger and yanked it out of her skin, wincing at her high-pitched scream. He dropped the weapon into the water and pulled her closer.

"You're going to be fine, Wendy. Just fine. I promise. I've got you. I won't let you go." He rocked the girl back and forth, burying his face in her hair so she wouldn't see his tears. He didn't notice when her body went limp in his arms. He continued to hold her, sobbing against her curls. Hook and Smee emerged from the bushes and stared at the children, looking quite smug. Peter saw the boots in front of him and his eyes shot upward.

"YOU."

"Don't pretend as if it is entirely my fault, Pan. You could have saved her, you know."

"How? Tell me how to save her!"

"Oh it is far too late for that, I'm afraid," Hook said softly. Peter's glance flew downward and he let out a pained moan.

"No," he groaned, lifting Wendy a little and seeing her closed eyes and pale face. "No! No, Wendy, come back to me! Please! Don't leave me!" He shook her violently, pleading for her to wake up but she remained limp and cold. He gently touched her lips, which had turned a slight shade of blue and he blinked back tears.

"True Love's Kiss heals all, Pan. And if you had only admitted your love, your Wendy might still be here." Peter stared at the girl, his breath catching in his throat.

"You're…you're lying," he choked out, refusing to look at the pirates. He heard Hook chuckle lightly.

"Oh Mister Smee, the boy does not realize the power of love."

"Not surprised, Cap'n, sir, he's always been just a selfish little boy." The pirates laughed together and Peter's arms tightened around Wendy. He collapsed backwards into the water, the shallows coming up to his chest as he held Wendy above water.

"He'll never be anything else. Especially now that he has lost the only person who would ever love him."

"It's all a bit tragic, Cap'n."

"That it is, Smee. Let us leave this place." Peter tried to block out the pirates' voices and did not notice when they were gone. He continued to stare down at Wendy, at his blood-soaked hands clutching the girl to his chest, and his tears falling onto her pallid face. He lifted his hands to her lips one more time before he succumbed to his tears, burying his face into her chest and resting his head against the heart that had beat only for him, the heart that would beat no more.

Peter had several nightmares after that, one right after the other. He finally awoke in tears and quickly wiped them away before the mermaids could see. Sedna, Tethys, and Oceane were wide awake and huddled together, their heads lowered and whispering softly. Peter flew above them, resting his chin in his hand as he looked down. Sedna stopped talking, looked up, and gasped.

"Peter, don't DO that!" He couldn't help but laugh.

"You girls are always so easy to scare! What are we gossiping about?"

"We're trying to find a way to get Cragen and stay in one piece," Oceane said grumpily. Peter felt a pang of guilt.

"Girls, I don't want you to get hurt again. After Sedna kisses me again, I'll go alone."

"You won't go alone and Sedna won't kiss you again," Tethys said patiently. Peter frowned.

"It's the only way I can go under there!"

"We nearly lost you the last time, Peter," Sedna said delicately. "We won't be trying that again."

"You have to let me try! Cragen isn't for you, it's for Wendy. I have to get it myself."

"And what if you don't make it back to your Wendy? What will happen to her? Did the fairies tell you?" Peter was silent. Sedna's eyes were full of understanding.

"Exactly. She may be lost without Cragen but without you, she will be killed without a doubt. And not just killed, Peter. The fairies will send her here and she will become one of those writhing shadows that you saw. The Sea Witch feeds on them little by little—"

"Ok," Peter said, looking sick.

"And everyday their torment grows and they have no way to escape it, no hope of ever breaking free. Your Wendy will become little more than a shadow herself, screaming for—"

"Ok, stop it!"

"I hope I have scared you a little. You understand now why you cannot risk your life again? Without you, your Wendy is nothing. Forever trapped in this world without any hope of ever escaping the pain. That is why we cannot allow you to accompany us again." Peter was silent; he knew Sedna spoke the truth but he still didn't like it. He let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

"Ok, you're right. But what can I do while you girls are down there? How can I help?"

"Have the healing water ready, just in case. Be ready to fly if anything happens to us. We will find Cragen but we do not know if we can make it back to the surface before…" the mermaid trailed off, and her two sisters hissed.

"Enough talk. Let's get down there and find this bloody thing. And hope that Ione doesn't catch us." Sedna's nostrils flared and she rose up on her fin but Peter's ears perked up.

"Ione?" Tethys and Oceane watched Sedna nervously, waiting with baited breath.

"Ione was our sister. She started dealing in dark magic and she was banished from mermaid court ages ago. She vowed revenge on our entire clan. She succeeded with most of them." Peter's head was reeling.

"You mean the Sea Witch…is your sister?"

"Was our sister. She cast aside her mermaid name as easily as she cast aside her love for her clan. With her magic, she changed her physical shape, into something far more terrifying than any simple sea witch. I don't even know what she looks like anymore. I have not laid eyes on her in many moons."

"Let us keep it that way," Oceane said softly. Peter breathed heavily.

"But if she's your sister…couldn't that mean…I dunno, that she could have a change of heart?" Sedna laughed though there was no humor to her face.

"That is not even possible, Peter. She no longer has a heart. It was one of the ingredients that her dark spell called for; she gave her own heart for magic. She cares for nothing now, save for revenge. And to torment Neverland's creatures who are sent here." Peter felt sick again.

"And you're sure there's nothing else I can do to help?"

"Remain hidden and out of sight. If you spot any trouble in the water, lend a hand if you can but be prepared to fly back to your home. I am serious, Peter. Do not hesitate to leave us." Peter nodded though he knew he would never leave the mermaids behind. Oceane flicked her tail.

"We should get going. We need to pick up more ink pods before we approach the cave." Peter remembered the frightening creatures that guarded the cave and he winced.

"Be careful, my dear mermaids," Peter said softly, surprising everyone including himself. Sedna gave him a soft kiss on the cheek before she dove underneath the water, the other two following her.

This story took an interesting turn today and I'm excited to see where it leads! I do hope you are all still enjoying! Plz keep those reviews coming-Im writing another chapter as we speak

:)