Thanks guys, you certainly know how to make a girl feel loved! :D Here's a long one for ya and I'll try to post more after work tonight! (Peter says hello to everyone and to keep reading about him ;)

Wendy glanced downstream and could no longer see the Indian girls. Good she wanted privacy. She appreciated all they had done but she felt dirty and used. Tiger Lily had given her soft towels and oils and scented soaps to clean with. Wendy spread them all over her body, giving herself the most thorough cleaning she had ever done. She washed away the blood smeared on her thighs and the pirates' filth all over her body. She bit her lip in pain as her fingers traveled up the brand on her thigh. She glanced at down at the word and wanted to cry. That's what she felt like at the moment. Forever tainted. She dove underneath the water and closed her eyes, allowing everything to drift away in the water. Her nails raked through her scalp and relished feeling clean again.

When she finally resurfaced, she shook her curls back and wiped the water from her face. Sighing deeply, she lazily leaned back and floated for a few minutes until she decided it had been long enough. She wondered if Peter had returned yet. He had said he was going to talk to the fairies about returning her to London in the morning. The thought of it made her want to cry again. She missed her family but she didn't want to leave him or Neverland. Mostly him. She didn't think it was fair, to have to say goodbye to him. She did wish they could spend one last night together, perhaps cuddling in bed with an occasional kiss. She heard footsteps nearby and her head snapped up.

"Who's there?" When no one answered, she peered into the darkness, her eyes squinting. "Who are you?"

"You're awfully far from the Indian Village," said a quiet voice not too far away from the river. "Didn't I tell you to stay close?"

"Peter," she sighed with relief, shaking her head. But she gasped and covered herself with her hands. "How long have you been watching me?"

"Calm down, my eyes are closed. So you're never going to learn to listen to me, are you?" Wendy cocked her head, searching for him in the night. He sounded different. His voice had changed, had gotten deeper and huskier. It sent chills down her spine.

"Peter? Come closer." She saw a dark shape appear from the shadows and walk, very slowly, towards her. She moved quickly to the pile of material lying on the ground and wrapped the towel around her slender frame. There wasn't much light save for the moon, which was bright and full. When Peter left the shadows and the moonlight fell upon his handsome face, Wendy nearly fell back into the water.

He was tall, taller than she, with broad shoulders and a strapping chest . He no longer wore leaves and vines but was dressed as the Indian braves, bare-chested and leather leggings. He had a masculine jaw-line and a chiseled face that looked as if it had been carved from marble. His golden curls were longer and more tousled but his eyes, those bright blue eyes full of mischief and mystery, remained the same. Wendy's hands were covering her mouth and Peter approached her, taking her hands into his. They stood there for a moment, staring into each others' eyes. Finally Wendy found her voice.

"I don't understand. What have you done?"

"I told the fairies I'm taking you home in the morning. And I'm coming with you." Wendy drew a sharp breath and his face went to her cheek.

"I told you you're stuck with me until the end of time, Wendy. I asked the fairies to make me older and they agreed. We leave Neverland in the morning and we'll start a new life together."

"But…your wish to be a boy—"

"Was my greatest pretend, just like you said. My only wish is to be with you. I love you Wendy. I have always loved you." Overcome with joy and perhaps because she had no words left, she flung herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his. His arms wrapped around her and lifted her off her feet as he kissed her back, his tongue sliding across her lips before exploring her mouth completely. She moaned at the intensity of the kiss and he felt himself harden with desire. She felt it too. He bit his lip, afraid that she would be offended but instead, she pressed herself against him and ground against his groin. He growled against her lips, his hands going to her curls and pulling slightly. Their passion intensified as Peter carried her to the edge of the grass and gently lay her down on her back, leaning over her. Her trembling fingers traveled over the expanse of his shoulders and back and his hands tentatively explored her body until they reached the edge of the towel, where her thighs were peeking out at him. His breathing became heavy as he caressed her creamy skin, and glanced back at her to see if she would stop him. When she did not protest, his hands slid past the towel and traveled up her hip and her side, brushing against the side of her breast. She bit her lip and she tossed her head back and sighed and Peter leaned up to kiss at her throat.

"Wendy," he whispered, his face buried in her skin. Her hands went to his hair and gently tugged on his curls. His breathing hitched as new sensations coursed through him. He didn't understand them but he certainly didn't dislike them. Leaning over her and sucking at her neck, his hands traveled back down slowly and pulled the towel aside, so that it fell to the ground, revealing all of her to him. He lifted his head to gaze down at the beautiful sight before him and saw that her eyes were wide and nervous. He leaned down to kiss her again, wanting to wipe away all nervousness and uncertainty from those lovely eyes. Of course he was nervous as well. Terrified, in fact, but he would never admit it. He was the great Peter Pan and even if he was, well, older, he had confidence that he would figure it all out. His mouth made its way back to her neck and he started kissing his way down her throat to her chest, down between the valley of her breasts. Her coral-pink nipples stood at attention in the cold breeze and Peter's lips grazed one gently. She let out a loud gasp and tugged at his hair again, harder this time. Peter felt that something was building between them and before long, he would have to ask her what that was. Not right this moment, however. Right now he wanted to explore every inch of her perfect body. He squeezed and sucked at both breasts and his tongue traveled slowly down her stomach to her pelvis and smiled when her stomach seemed to jump at his actions. He planted kisses all over her, kissing his way down her hip and down her thighs. He paused when he came to the brand and he forced himself to remain calm, rather than let his temperature rise again. He very gently touched it with a finger and heard her let out a hiss of pain. Swallowing, he leaned back to stare down at her for a moment. Shaking his head, he went back to her mouth and kissed her again.

"Wendy," he said slowly and she pulled away at his hesitant voice. She remembered that tone of voice. It was how he had sounded in the Fairy Glade several weeks prior, when he wanted to wake her up from the fantasy she was living. To tell her it was all make-believe. That was how he sounded again tonight. She bit her lip; what was she doing? He had grown barely twenty minutes ago and now she was forcing him to do this? Of course he wouldn't be ready for this! She was barely ready for this. But by god, she wanted him badly. She wanted him to purify her and make her his, so that she could get rid of that dirty feeling. Could she tell him what they had done to her? No. No, she could never tell a soul. She would pretend that he was her first, as he was meant to be. When they finally reached that level in their relationship. Not tonight, of course, but hopefully soon. She reached out and touched his cheek and he sighed softly.

"We can stop this if you like," she asked softly. His eyes shot open.

"Please don't. I just…need to know some things before we continue." She nodded and sat up.

"Ask anything, Peter."

"This grown-up thing that we're starting…what is it?"

"It's called sex, although many call it making love. As I told you before, people who do it, they have very strong feelings for one another."

"Strong feelings? They love each other, right?"

"Yes. They are in love. They share one another's bodies."

"I don't understand that. What does that mean?"

"They become one. One single entity. You cannot possibly understand it until you have experienced it." Peter huffed.

"Does someone…have sex with a lot of people?"

"No. Those who do, have such awful names. Strumpet, harlot," she swallowed and seemed to lose her voice for a moment before she continued, "whore." Peter's eyes flew back to her face but she had lowered her eyes. She couldn't seem to look at him. That word was branded onto his love. He wished he could bring back every single of the pirates and kill them again. He breathed deeply for a moment, searching for the right words.

"Then it's only between two people. It's something special, sort of like a hidden kiss?"

"I suppose you could look at it that way. It's supposed to be with one person, the person you'll spend the rest of your life with. You're supposed to be married first. Husband and wife."

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Does that make me your husband?" Wendy's jaw dropped and he worried that he had said something wrong. But her face broke into a huge smile.

"You are the only husband I want, Peter." Peter smiled.

"Then we're married?" Wendy bit her lip. It was Neverland, where would they find someone to oversee a wedding? How could she possibly put one together? So she nodded and leaned forward to kiss him. Their first kiss as husband and wife.

"Yes Peter. We're married. You're my husband and I am your wife."

"My Wendy-wife," he said nuzzling against her and she giggled.

"So if we're married…we can do this? Make love?" Wendy blushed and looked down. For heavens sake, she was completely naked in his arms. Why was she so shy now? He seemed to be thinking the same thing, and he lowered his head to her breast again, causing her eyes to slam shut and her head to tip back. His hands gently made their way down her hipbone and he pulled her closer to him. As he ground against her, Wendy felt a pain down below and she winced. Peter noticed and he pulled away.

"Did I hurt you?"

"No! No, it's just…" she trailed off and shook her head. Peter cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"What is it?"

"It's nothing," she said softly, closing her eyes.

"You're still a terrible liar, Wendy. Tell me."

"I…I can't. Peter, it would just…destroy everything. Everything between us." His hands went to her face and held both of her cheeks gently.

"Look at me. Look at what I did. You can't chase me away, Wendy, I'm here to stay. I'm your husband and you can tell me anything." She wanted to smile at his words but she started to cry instead. Overcome by sobs, she leaned up and he pulled her into his arms, allowing her to cry into his chest. His hand made gentle patterns on her back as he held her close, kissing her hair. When she had cried all of her tears, she continued to hold onto him, not wanting to see his face when she told him what had happened to her.

"Peter…I want to make love with you…more than anything," her voice was muffled by his shoulder and he turned his head slightly so he could understand her.

"As much as I wish it was untrue…as much as I wish that you could be my first, I'm afraid my body has already belonged to another. They were right; I am a whore." She blanched and Peter felt her body shake with sobs. As much as he wanted to allow her to cry, he shook his head and gently pulled her away.

"You said a whore is someone who has sex with more than one person." She nodded, staring at the ground. Peter frowned, then his eyes widened as a look of comprehension dawned on his face. Fury was etched in every line of his handsome face and when Wendy chanced a look up at him, she cowered at his rage.

"It wasn't my choice," she said quickly, feeling that she had to explain. Peter leaped to his feet and walked a few steps away, facing the stream. Wendy watched him through tear-filled eyes, feeling her heart break. Very slowly, she gathered her dress and the towel and held them to her chest. She cautiously approached him and reached out a trembling hand.

"I'm…so sorry, Peter—"

"Don't," came his sharp reply and Wendy winced, her hand dropping to her side. Peter turned back to her and he had angry tears streaming down his cheeks. "Don't you dare say you're sorry. Don't you dare think it's your fault. I'm not upset with you, Wendy."

"But…why—"

"I'm the one who let this happen! I wasn't here to protect you. I wasn't able to get to you in time. It's MY fault, Wendy. Mine. You should hate me. I hate me."

"Peter," she rushed forward and grasped his cheeks in her hands. It was he this time who couldn't look into her eyes. "Look at me. LOOK at me," she said again, more firm. He reluctantly brought his eyes to hers and trembled under her touch.

"You went on a dangerous mission to find a cure for me. You nearly died trying to save me. I do not and will never blame you for any of this. It happened, yes, but we can try to forget about it and move on with our lives. All I ask is that you are patient with me and give me some time. I'll belong to you and no one else."

"You have always belonged to me and no one else," came his soft reply. "No matter what they've done, they never made you theirs. Your heart has always belonged to me, has it not?"

"Yes," she said, feeling tears start to flow again. He raised a hand and gently wiped her tears away before pulling her into his arms and kissing her forehead.

"And mine has always belonged to you. I'm so sorry, Wendy. So sorry." She reached up and wiped away his tears, kissing him gently on the cheek. He squeezed back tears and pulled her close.

"We should really get some rest," he said against her curls. "I'm sure Tiger Lily will want to see us off in the morning. Are you ready to head back?" She nodded and he draped his arm around her shoulders, holding her against him and together, they walked back to the Indian Village, as husband and wife.