As he crossed into the mortal world, he felt a sudden chill and realized Wendy was right. Tiny droplets of frost dropped onto his face and made him shiver. He found the house more easily this time. Perhaps it was just because he had always been here at night and not during the day. Peter flew to the window and peered in. He wasn't sure who all even lived here anymore and he gently knocked on the glass. He saw a shape rise from the chair at the desk and open the window.
"Peter?" Peter nearly fell out of the air; he was staring at Michael, the youngest of the family, now clearly a man. His throat stuck and he felt sick to his stomach as he stared at the handsome youth.
"Come in, come in," Michael stood aside and allowed Peter to step in. "Is Wendy with you?"
"She's waiting for you all back in Neverland. I've come to take you all for an adventure." Michael's brow raised.
"Peter, we're much too old to return to Neverland." Peter winced but shook his head.
"As long as you believe and haven't lost your happy thoughts, you can return. Where is everyone else?"
"Moved out. They have places of their own. John has a flat on the east side of London. Nibs, Curly, and Slightly all share a flat not far from here. Tootles is away at Cambridge, studying medicine. Ben and Frank were just here, visiting with Mum but they've gone back to their country home in Witham. I'm the only one here, I'm afraid."
"Ben and Frank? Who—"
"Oh, Twins. They finally stopped going by that and finally stopped finishing each other's sentences." Peter looked stunned for a moment but hitched his smile almost immediately.
"Well then fly with me and let's go get the rest of the boys. Where is your father? Would he like to come as well? And your mother too." Michael looked saddened for a moment and shook his head.
"Father passed several months ago. Cancer of the throat." Peter gaped at him.
"And no one told Wendy?"
"We didn't want to tell her through a letter. We thought we might see her soon. Slightly has been asking for her to come for a visit for the longest time."
"I can't allow her to come here. It's a long story but Tiger Lily left Neverland and her age caught up with her." Michael's eyes widened.
"What?" Peter sighed.
"I don't know if it would happen with Wendy but I can't…take that chance. She still looks as you remember her. She looks like I do. We don't age, Michael. If she leaves Neverland, her age may catch up with her as well. It's not as bad as Tiger Lily but she would still age dramatically. There are many changes in Neverland."
"And changes in your marriage?"
"What's that supposed to mean," Peter snapped.
"I mean no disrespect, Peter. In Wendy's letters—"
"Yes?"
"Don't go getting upset by it. She just mentions that things are a bit tense between you two. I'm sure it's nothing." Michael searched frantically for a distraction.
"Is Tiger Lily alright?"
"Yes, she was healed and she's fine now. She's been given strict orders to never return here though."
"Why was she here in the first place?"
"Spying on your brother…and his new woman." Michael noticed Peter's dark tone and bit his lip.
"She came to see John?"
"Wendy told her that John was betrothed. So Lily stole fairy dust and flew here. She was heartbroken and returned to Neverland immediately. I told her they could never be together."
"I'm sure that's not easy to hear from someone who is from her world and who married someone from the mortal world." Peter lifted his chin haughtily.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Stop getting so defensive, Peter. I only mean that it must be hard for Lily. Let me check on Mum and then I'll come with you to see the boys." Peter waited while Michael hurried off and he looked around the room. He realized, with a start, that they were in Wendy's old bedroom. He recognized the shelves of books, the writing desk in the corner, and the gold bed with a heart in the frame. Grinning, he knelt on the ground and peered through the heart. He could see the little girl grinning back at him.
"Peter, it is perfectly lovely the way you talk about girls." He rose to his feet and stared down at the bed, How many years had it been? Lots, he decided. They didn't keep track of those things in Neverland. But he still remembered coming to this house for the first time, the first time he heard her voice as he listened to her stories about him. He ran his fingers along the bed and sighed heavily.
"Mum says hello and she hopes we have a safe trip," Michael announced his entrance.
"Where is she?"
"She's, er, in bed. Hasn't risen for days. She became very sick after Father passed and she just isn't getting better. I've moved in with her to take care of her. But we also have a housekeeper who has agreed to watch over her while I'm away. We won't be gone too long, will we?"
"No. Wendy just wants you all to come for a visit. Though I imagine it will be less pleasant now, with the news of her father." Michael nodded sadly.
"She will be furious but we really thought it best this way." Peter certainly didn't agree but he kept his opinions to himself. He opened the sack of fairy dust and glanced up at the youth.
"This won't work if you have forgotten to fly."
"I could never forget. And I still have a few happy thoughts left." Nodding, Peter sprinkled the dust over Michael's head and watched him rise into the air.
"Not bad," Peter said with a smile. "Come on, you lead the way to the boys."
Sorry it's so short but it's been a long day, and even longer day tomorrow and I wanted to post something :-) Thanks for all the reviews, everyone! (April, your comment made me laugh but it's so true. get ready for more though cause this one is about mistakes, lost love, and following your heart)
:-)