I love all of the reviews and reactions I'm getting :-P here's a longer one for you and the goal is to get more written this weekend! Thank you all for the support and plz keep those reviews coming, they're what make me smile at the end of the day! :-)

It was strange to see such a healthy looking Neverland. It had been ages since he had seen it this green and fruitful. The storm that had hit had ravaged for days and left many areas damaged. Tink kept glancing over her shoulder to see Peter's reaction but he was looking all around him, taking it all in.

"Is this really my Neverland?"

"Always has been, Peter, and always will be. You're the Prince, after all."

"I'm actually King," he said quietly and Tink giggled.

"Kings are old and boring. Neverland doesn't need a King. That's why you're the Prince! Come on! I see the boys down below!" She took off toward the ground and Peter found that he could easily out-fly her. It turned into a race, one that had both of them laughing and panting. Tink rested on his shoulder as they both went tumbling to the ground. Peter lay on the grass and breathed in deeply.

"I don't think I've had that much fun in months."

"We have that much fun everyday!"

"Right," was all he said. He rolled over and rested his chin on his hands. Was this so bad? Maybe it was actually a blessing and not a mistake. Wendy had said she wished she had stayed in London. But he knew in his heart that they had both said things they didn't mean. Still, being a little boy again had been his wish. He could play with Tink and lead the Lost Boys and fight the pirates…just as he had done before Wendy. But could he forget her that easily? He sighed deeply, blowing dandelions everywhere.

"Peter, sir! We did as you asked and brought back a wild boar." Peter jumped to his feet as several filthy little boys appeared, carrying a huge boar carcass on their shoulders. He glanced at Tink, who was watching him expectantly.

"Obviously the new Lost Boys?"

"Do you know their names?"

"Men. Sound off!"

"Ted!"

"Tommy!"

"Ash!"

"Latch!"

Peter shook his head. WHERE did these names come from?

"Ok men, good work. Um, go on home and um, start cooking dinner."

"Aye aye, sir." They saluted him and hurried off toward the hideout.

"Why are they calling me sir?"

"You pretty much demand respect from them. You're the Leader, after all. And after the old Lost Boys left you, you became…um, a bit cold toward the others. But like you said, it's better to be feared than liked."

"I said that?" he stared at her incredulously. "I don't believe that for a second!" Tink shrugged.

"We don't question you, Peter. No one does. After...she left, you got all moody and depressed. It took ages to bring you out of it. The Queen of the Fairies said you'd never be the same again—"

"The Queen! That's it!" Tink frowned.

"What's it?"

"I need to see the Queen. She'll know how to fix this." Peter took off toward the fairy glade, ignoring Tink's cry for him to slow down. He landed in the Glade and looked around.

"Your Majesty? Could I have a word?"

"What does Peter Pan desire with our Queen?" said a cold voice from above him. A male fairy was hovering over him, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Treelore!" Treelore's face remained impassive.

"Our Queen is very busy, Peter Pan. What do you need her for?"

"I believe that's my business," Peter said, disliking Treelore's tone. The fairy continued to stare at him, his arms crossed and Peter crossed his arms as well, his eyes narrowing.

"I'm the Prince of Neverland and I would like an audience with the Queen."

"I am here, Peter Pan, what is your desire?" Peter's head shot up to see the lovely Queen drifting down toward him. Treelore bowed low and Peter bowed his head.

"Majesty, thank you for seeing me."

"As always, we are at your service, Peter. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Peter frowned at the Queen's tone; it was exhausted, and dare he think it, slightly cold. He shook his head, his curls tumbling into his face.

"Majesty, I am in dire need of your help. Do you know where I can find Renya the mermaid?"

"You banished her sometime ago, Peter. We have not seen Renya since."

"I understand that but do you know where she is?"

"I do not keep track of mermaids' whereabouts."

"But I really need to speak with her."

"Something the fairies cannot help our dear prince with?" Peter definitely noticed a bite to her tone now. He shifted uncomfortably and looked at his dirty hands.

"Majesty, tell me the truth. What sort of boy am I?"

"An extraordinary one, Peter."

"Please, Your Majesty. The truth. I won't get angry. I want to hear it from you. Tink would never tell me the truth."

"Because people get banished for telling you the truth," she said slowly. Peter's eyes widened.

"Who else have I banished?"

"Princess Tiger Lily was almost banished but her father intervened. Renya and two of her sisters. A gryphon and I can't begin to count how many Lost Boys you have sent back." Peter's jaw dropped and he stared at the ground, his face going red with shame.

"Then you don't need to tell me. I'm horrible. I sound like a terrible person."

"You're not terrible, Peter. You're just…misguided. And very hotheaded. You're just a boy." Her words reminded him of his reasoning for coming. He straightened up and cleared his throat.

"Have you ever heard of a purple amethyst with mystical powers?"

"Another treasure hunt? Really, Peter, after the last one—"

"It's not a treasure hunt," he interrupted her. "I think a magical stone changed my life and I want to know how to change it back."

"How exactly did it do that?" He bit his lip. The Queen wasn't exactly as friendly to him as she usually was. Would she even help him? He sighed.

"You're not going to believe me."

"Do let me be the judge of that." So Peter launched into his story of his real life, one that he wanted to return to, and needed magical assistance in doing so. The Queen listened patiently, her eyes widening more than once at this strange tale. When he finished, she floated lower and folded her hands.

"You say this stone was given to you by a mermaid?"

"Yes. But she never told me how it worked. Just that I would stop growing."

"And after you and Wendy fought, you touched it and made that wish?"

"Yes," he said miserably.

"It seems to me, Peter, that the stone knew your true heart's desire and granted your wish. Your youth was restored, your best friend is alive again, your Neverland is bountiful and green, and you have no duties or obligations. It's what you always wanted."

"Do not misunderstand me, Majesty. I'm thrilled to be a boy again. And I'm so grateful that Tink is alive and that Neverland is well…but I need Wendy. I don't feel complete without her. And Tink says I've stayed away from her for eight years. I mean, what if she's forgotten me?"

"Well you need to fly to London and see if she has. If that is where your heart truly lies, love will show you how. You'll have the task of making her fall in love with you all over again. But I don't imagine it was too hard the first time?"

"I loved Wendy the first moment I saw her, even if I didn't know what love was. I didn't confess it until Hook kidnapped her and threatened her life. We went through hell together and she left her family behind to be with me in Neverland so that I could be King. She gave up so much for me."

"It sounds as if you have both given up a great deal. Why, then, did you make that wish?" Peter's head hung sadly.

"It was a stupid mistake. A giant, stupid mistake. We were upset, we said some terrible things. She just found out that her father had passed, and she blamed me for not taking her to see her family more. You kept telling me to take her away and spend a few days alone but I never had the chance. But I think it was deeper than that."

"Pray tell," the Queen said, cocking her head.

"As you and Tiger Lily always say, mine and Wendy's love is powerful beyond anything we have ever seen. Our children have been powerful from the moment they were born. Wendy gave up a lot to be with me and I gave up a lot to be with her. But I took her to Neverland, not really thinking about what she would do there. She is an amazing Queen, Your Majesty. She learned the languages of the people, she has fought by my side countless times, and she even freed an oppressed people from the stars. She's done a lot for the island but she hasn't really had the time for herself. And I haven't really asked her. What she wants to do, that is. Why, Your Majesty? Why am I just now realizing all of this, when it may be too late?"

"If your love is as powerful as you say it is, you will find a way to return to that life. But if she is not meant to be here, as you said she thinks, then this is your life now. Our boy prince. And the choice is yours, Peter. Would you rather be a boy and a prince? Or a man and a King?" Peter opened and closed his mouth several times, staring at the ground. Did he want to return to all of those obligations he had, to his people, his island, and even to his family? He had never seen himself as a husband or father, but then again, he had never seen himself as a man before either. And he had chosen it for her. He always thought Wendy completed him, that she was his soulmate. Could she have been right when she said maybe she didn't belong there? His mind raced and emotions flooded through him.

"I guess I need to go to London and see if she even remembers me."

"That's a start. But be gentle and be careful. You don't want to upset the balance." Peter looked thoroughly confused.

"Balance? What balance?"

"The balance between our world and theirs. Neverland is tied to you and your emotions, Peter, it always has been. If this mortal girl is so important to you and she refuses to believe everything you tell her, it could disrupt Neverland as we know it. Just be careful." Peter nodded but he still had no idea what the Queen meant. He heard Tink's chiming voice and he glanced over his shoulder.

"I'm here, Tink."

"THERE you are! We were getting worried. Do you want to explore Neverland some more or do you want to go on home and eat dinner?"

"I think…I think I need to fly to London," he said slowly, glancing at the Queen for confirmation. Tink gasped.

"But why?"

"I need to see Wendy."

"Oh her again. I really don't understand what you see in—"
"Watch it, Tink," Peter said in a warning tone. "I love that woman you're about to talk about. You don't have to come with me but I'm flying to London to talk to her." Without another word, he flew toward the clouds and Tink stared after him.

"He's so different," she said sadly.

"Yes, I can see that."

"It literally happened overnight. He woke up talking about Wendy and marriage and…children!"

"He does seem rather panicky today."

"Do you believe him? His story, I mean?"

"If it is true, it's a miracle." Tink looked quickly at her, frowning.

"How is it a miracle?"

"Because it means our prince has finally grown up and loves something other than himself."

"Peter Pan is never supposed to grow up. That's just how it is."

"I don't know if it is a fantastic story he has come up with or if he really thinks it happened. But he seems truly troubled."

"He hasn't mentioned her name in nearly 8 years, Your Majesty. Why all of a sudden? Why do things have to change?"

"Everything has to change, my dear Tinkerbell. Even in Neverland."