Peter froze in mid-air, frowning around him. He had always been able to find Wendy's house so easily. He supposed something, or someone, had drawn him but now he felt nothing. Groaning in frustration, he turned and glanced down at the rooftops. They all looked the same! And it was broad daylight; someone could easily look up into the air and see a flying boy. Deciding he had better come back at night, he turned and headed back to Neverland.

He touched down in the Fairy Glade and saw his children playing with the fairies but there was no sign of his wife.

"Where is Wendy?" he announced his arrival and the girls hugged him round the middle.

"She said she'd be back in a moment. I think she went to check on Aunt Lily," Wyatt said softly, as if the tone of voice would make the words better. Peter gritted his teeth and without another word, jumped into the air and flew to the Indian Village.

The Indians bowed low as he passed but he ignored them, heading straight to the fire in the center of the Village. There were several figures huddled together. Two of them were embracing and as he neared, he saw long blonde hair and long black braids.

"—so grateful, Your Majesty. We can't thank you enough."

"Oh Chief, I would do anything in my power to help Tiger Lily." Tiger Lily pulled away and Peter's eyes widened; she was once again a young woman, her dark eyes moist as she hugged her Queen.

"Wendy," Peter said softly, his anger fading. Wendy jumped to her feet and hid her hands behind her back.

"Peter, I'm sorry I didn't wait for you, I just wanted to see how she was doing."

"How is this possible?"

"The Queen used her magical healing flowers. Our Princess has been restored," the Chief said cheerfully. Peter gently led Wendy away from the group and gripped her arm.

"You used Pahana's flowers to heal her?"

"Yes I did. They have the utmost healing power and Lily was growing weaker by the minute. We still have one flower left." Peter bit his lip and looked anxious. He was grateful that Lily was alright; but they had already used one of the flowers to heal Adette when she had fallen from the sky in a flying lesson gone bad. Peter felt better that he had those flowers. He felt more prepared for accidents and he didn't worry as much about his family coming to harm. With only one flower left, he didn't feel as comfortable anymore. Wendy didn't say anything else and turned and sat down beside Lily again. Peter walked over to the princess and embraced her.

"I'm so glad you're alright."

"Thank you, Peter." He pulled her away and gave her a stern look.

"No more stealing fairy dust and flying to London, alright? The next time you want to see John, I'll kidnap him and bring him to you." Wendy giggled but Lily had a sad smile on her face.

"Is she pretty, Wendy? Is she good to him?"

"Oh Lily," she squeezed Lily's hands and leaned in close. "You have always meant a great deal to John. He's a fool, in my opinion."

"No," Lily sighed, resting her face in her hands, "Peter was right. He's of the mortal world and therefore we can never be together." Wendy shot Peter a look before scooting closer to her friend.

"Never say never, Lily. The impossible happens everyday. This is Neverland, after all." Lily nodded and rose to her feet.

"I think I'll go hunting. Thank you again, Wendy. It's wonderful to see you. You as well, Peter."

"Take care, Lily," Peter nodded, watching her trudge off. Wendy stood and joined Peter, watching her walk away with her head hanging low.

"Poor Tiger Lily."

"Come on. We'd better get back to the kids. Can I carry you?"

"Actually, I think I'll walk. I need to clear my head. I'll meet you all back at the house." Peter stared at her for a moment, his mouth opening and closing but finding no words. Without a word, she turned away and walked off, following Lily. Heaving a great sigh, Peter jumped into the air and flew back to the Fairy Glade. His children were running around, laughing but Peter hung back. WHY couldn't things be as they were? Why had life become so complicated? Life had never been complicated in Neverland. Not until…he shook himself roughly, casting those thoughts aside.

"She's the best thing that's ever happened to you," he told himself in a gruff voice.

She's changed you completely. She made you grow up and have responsibilities. Duties. Obligations.

"It was my choice. I chose it, for her. To be with her. It's all worth it."
Is it? Is it really? Is the love of a mortal woman really worth all those years of fun and games you had? She took your Lost Boys from you. She took your youth, your adventures. Your best friend died because of her. You, Peter Pan, are weak and worthless now.

"I am not!" He exclaimed to no one in particular. The fairies who were flying around froze and looked around, worried. The Fairy Queen felt the King's distress and glanced around anxiously.

"King Peter?"

Peter heard it but he didn't answer; he wasn't ready to return to the Glade to see his children. He wanted to find Wendy and ask her why things had to be this way. Why did age matter so much, and why were they so different now that they had children. He remembered when he had first found her, after they had been separated for so long. After all she had been through, she constantly cried and hid in her room. He was always begging her to tell him what was wrong. It seemed like that they were returning to those times and he didn't like it one bit. Growing more and more frustrated, Peter leaped into the air and flew away from the Fairy Glade. Flying with no particular destination, he landed at Mermaid Lagoon and rested on one of the rocks in the middle of the sea. Pulling his knees up to his chest, he gazed out over the water and sighed heavily. His ears perked up when he heard voices and he quickly ducked behind a bush to hide himself. Wendy and Lily were coming up the bank, their dresses dragging in the sand.

"Have you tried talking to the King?"

"He's always so busy, I feel like my troubles and heartache are so far down on his list, that I musn't bother."

"Wendy, you know that's insane. Peter would be angry to hear you—"

"I know. I said I feel like. He talked to me about it last night, actually. He wants me to start telling him when I'm bothered. And what am I supposed to tell him? That I no longer feel that I'm supposed to be here? That I have doubts that we belong together? That I think about life before Peter?" Peter gasped and clapped a hand to his mouth, fearing they would hear. But the girls noticed nothing. Lily's hands went to her hips.

"You'd better chase away those thoughts right now. Everyone knows you and Peter are meant to be together. Your love is legend. It has done so many things. Why do these thoughts come now, after all this time?"

"I can't explain it Lily. But I know I'm not the only one. I see the way he looks at the children. I see the way he looks when he flies. He misses being a boy. He thinks about what life would be like had he not grown up for me. I know him, I know how his mind works. Even if he says he loves me and regrets nothing, I know a part of him wishes he hadn't married me."

"Wendy, what a thing to say!"

"It's true, Lily. Ask him. Talk to him about it. See for yourself."

"I'll do no such thing. You are his wife, you talk to him. All married people go through this, Wendy. Especially after they have had children together. You cannot doubt Peter's love for you, you just cannot. He may be an immortal man but he is still a man nonetheless. Men forget that women are more fragile, we are more delicate. We must be reminded of their feelings more often and reminded that we are loved. Peter just needs a push in the right direction."

"I wish I believed that was true, Lily but the fact is, I think it's more than us not communicating. We are falling apart, in a way. We will always love each other but the fact is, something has happened and we are not as solid as we once were." Peter's heart was tearing and even more so because he knew Wendy was right. He had been feeling the very same thing. Something was happening to them and he had no idea how to fix it. The Fairy Queen had told him to take her away for a few days but he now knew that was not the solution. He also knew they had to find some way to resolve it and fast. He couldn't lose her. He just couldn't. And despite the fact that she had sworn to him she would never leave, he felt like he was moments from watching her fly away. He remained hidden while they passed and watched their retreating backs, his jaw slightly agape.

"What am I supposed to do?" he asked aloud.

"Pan find shiny thing for Pan's Wendy," said a voice beside him. He glanced down and saw one of the mermaids splashing her tail.

"Shiny? Wendy's not like that. She doesn't care about wealth and pretty things. She never has." Peter tapped his chin impatiently. The mermaid cocked her head.

"Why Pan sad?"

"I'm losing her. And I don't know to stop it."

"Pan loses Wendy-lady? Don't know where she is?"

"I know where she is but I'm afraid she'll leave me soon."

"Where she go?"

"Back to her home in London. Back to her family. To something different, something real." He repeated Wendy's words and they stuck in his throat. The mermaid hummed while she played with her hair.

"Then Pan can be a boy again! More fun when you were a boy."

"Hey, I'm still fun."

"More fun when you were a boy." Peter's brow furrowed.

"You're right," he sighed, "I was more carefree. With a family, I constantly worry. I feel like I'm growing older by the minute."

"Pan stop growing. Touch magical stone and Pan stops growing." He looked quickly at the mermaid, who had dove beneath the waves.

"Wait, come back!" But there were only waves where the mermaid had been. Heaving a great sigh, he jumped to his feet and prepared to fly back to the Glade. But a head popped out of the water and the mermaid resurfaces, cradling a beautiful amethyst in her arms.

"Pan touch it. Stop growing." She set the gemstone in front of him and watched him. His brow furrowed, he knelt and studied it for a moment.

"What is it?"

"Magical stone. From the sea."

"But how does it work? What's the catch?"

"No catch. Make Pan stop growing."

"Ok, I got it." He bit his lip and reached toward the gem. Curling his fingers, he withdrew his hand.

"I think I'd like to speak to Reyna first. Before I do anything."

"Reyna gone to see sister in North Sea. Pan take stone home. When ready, Pan touch stone." With a swish of her tail, the mermaid was gone and Peter was left staring out over the sea. Glancing down, he hesitantly picked it up and held it in his arms. Nothing happened. No sparks, no glow, no crash, nothing. Sighing with relief, he cradled it in his arms and flew back to the house. He decided to hide it and slipped it into a chest that held some of Wendy's dresses. Locking it tightly,he flew out of the house without a backwards glance.

Peter felt as if the stone was weighing him down as he flew with his children back to the house. Wendy was still not back so Peter told them to go play and he sat at the kitchen table, knocking his knuckles against it absentmindedly. Glancing up at the window, he saw it was getting dark and he had promised Wendy he would visit her family this evening. Calling to Wyatt to come inside, he quickly attached his sword belt and tucked a dagger in his leggings.

"Father, where are you going?"

"I told your mother I would fly to London to talk with her family. I should be back later with all of your uncles. You kids stay inside and don't let anyone in, alright?"

"Does Mum know you're leaving us alone," Adette asked anxiously.

"Stop worrying Addy, I'm old enough to take care of all of us. Nothing's going to happen," Wyatt said smugly. Peter tousled his son's hair.

"Keep an eye on your sisters for me, Wyatt. I'm going to find your mother before I leave. I don't like that she's been gone all day."

"She's probably just gossiping with Aunt Lily. Women do that you know," Wyatt said, rolling his eyes. Peter crossed his arms over his chest.

"Alright, I'll be back shortly." His children waved him off as he flew out of the house and soared over Neverland. The moon had come out and still Wendy had not returned home. He felt sick to his stomach; Wendy had not stayed out that long since the days of Hook and the pirates. Could something have happened to her? He kicked himself for not worrying sooner. Deciding he had better check with Tiger Lily first, for that's who Wendy was most likely with, Peter changed course to the Indian Village.