Peter groaned and shifted a little, feeling a soft blanket underneath his skin.

"It appears he's coming to," said a voice to his left. There was chiming and Peter heard Tink's anxious voice whisper his name. Groaning again, he lifted his hand to his forehead and struggled to sit up.

"Slowly, Peter, you are not yet healed. It may yet take more time."

"Tiger Lily? Is that you?" He opened his eyes and saw the Indian girl leaning over him, holding a wet cloth in her hand. She gently stroked his face with the cloth and Peter closed his eyes again at the cooling feeling.

"What happened?"

"You were nearly killed by disbelief." His eyes opened and he frowned.

"Come again?" Tink landed on his chest and touched his cheek.

"You're more like the fairies than we knew. You know the words that can kill a fairy. Your friends didn't believe in you anymore and you started getting weaker. The one who means the most to you nearly killed you with her words." Peter quickly glanced at her and leaned his head back on the blanket.

"Should have let her run me through. It probably would have hurt less than that. Felt like a thousand swords sticking into me. So how did I escape?"

"I covered you in dust and flew you back here," she said, her hands going to her hips. He let out a little moan.

"Thank you, Tink." He put a shaking hand to his side and struggled to sit up again. He instantly noticed that he was not wearing anything and his head shot up.

"Um, where are my clothes?"

"I took them off you so I could bathe you," Tiger Lily said matter-of-factly. "You were sweating and shaking." Peter blushed bright red and he yanked the blanket up to his chin. Tiger Lily rolled her eyes.

"And this was burning into your skin." She dangled a necklace in front of his face and he gasped, grabbing it from her hands. It was the thimble Wendy had given to him; he had never taken it off and Wendy had never taken off her acorn, his "kiss" as they called it. He glanced down and saw there was something like a burn on his chest, where the thimble had rested against his heart. His fingers touched the spot and he winced.

"Peter, perhaps you should explain what has happened here. Tinkerbell has been going crazy all morning and I can't understand a word she says." Tink glanced at Tiger Lily then at Peter, rolling her eyes.

Useless. Peter heard the fairy's voice in his head and he gave her a disapproving glare.

"It's a really long story, Lily, and I still feel really weak."

"Shorten it then."

"I can't really do that. It's complicated. And you're not going to believe it so why even bother."

"Humor me," she said, her dark eyes flashing. Peter sighed and told the princess everything that he had told the Fairy Queen. Tiger Lily listened patiently, her eyes going wide and her jaw dropping. When he finished, he felt extremely weak and leaned back against the wall. Tiger Lily got him a glass of water, which she held to his lips.

"It all makes sense," she said quietly. He frowned up at her as he sipped from the glass.

"What does?"

"Your connection with the Wendy-lady. My father always said you both belong together and that one day, she would return to Neverland as our princess. It's in the prophecy."

"Prophecy? What prophecy?" Tink frowned.

"I've never heard of a prophecy about you, Peter."

"Me neither. What's it say, Lily?"

"I don't remember how exactly it goes. Our prince would forsake everything for his one true love and when the moment comes, when the stars are shining brighter than they ever have, he will make a choice. For things to remain as they are or for them to be changed forever. If the one his heart beats for turns from him, he will fade from existence forever. If she accepts him, her hidden kiss gives him more power than ever before and he may rise up against all odds." Peter gaped at the girl and her eyes shone brightly.

"We knew it was about the Wendy-lady, for she has already given you her hidden kiss. Everything you say is true then? You have really grown up for her? You are now King?"

"Every word is true, Lily. And I'm sorry for whatever wrongs I've done you or anyone else in Neverland. I never want to be that horrible boy people think I am. Apparently who I am now."

"But Peter, if the prophecy is true, you still have a chance to win her love," Tink said hopefully. "I don't like that you forsake everything else for one mortal girl but apparently she means that much to you."

"Don't be like that, Tink. You know you're my best friend in the whole world and you mean so much to me." His words caused her to brighten slightly but then her smile faded.

"When you first woke up, you said I was dead. Is that true?" Peter's face fell and he stared at the ground.

"I did everything I could to save you, Tink…"

"Did I die saving you?" He looked back up at his friend and his eyes were filled with tears. Her round eager face was turned up toward him and she wore a sad smile. Slowly, he nodded.

"Yeah you did, Tink. You died saving my life."

"Good. I wouldn't want to die any other way." Peter let out a little sob and Tink kissed his cheek.

"Silly boy, you know you have always meant the world to me too." Tiger Lily rose to her feet and brushed herself off.

"I'd better get back to the Village. I expect the Lost Boys to be rolling in here any minute now, they have been quite worried about their leader." She smiled down at Peter and turned to leave the hideout but stopped and knelt to pick something up. When she straightened up, she held the amethyst in her hand.

"Where did you get this?"

"The mermaids gave it to him," Tink chimed. Peter sat straight up.

"That's what did this. A mermaid told me it would make me stop growing and it brought me here. I'm hoping it can be my way home again."

"Have you tried it yet?"

"No," Peter said, feeling stupid. He reached for the stone and Tiger Lily set it in his lap. Peter put both hands on the stone and closed his eyes.

"I want everything to go back to the way it was, when I was married to Wendy. I want my life back, my family. Please. Undo what has been done." But nothing happened. Peter cracked one eye open and saw Tiger Lily shaking her head. He sighed and pushed the stone away.

"I don't know what to do."

"Well, for now you need to rest. Enjoy your time with Tink and the Lost Boys and just take it easy. You can return to London tomorrow and try again." Peter nodded and watched her exit the house. The Lost Boys peered in and looked hesitant. Peter smiled.

"Come on in, lads. I'm much better."

"Glad to hear it, sir!"

"And please, don't call me sir anymore. Just call me Peter."

"Yes sir…um, yes Peter." Tink smiled.

"It'll take them awhile."

"I hope they can forget how I've acted. I hope Neverland can forgive how I have acted."

"Everyone loves you, Peter. No matter how you act." Peter chuckled.

"I guess that's a good thing but I don't think it's true. I feel like I need to go around the island and personally apologize. And I need to find Reyna. She's one of my best friends, I don't understand how I could have banished her." He winced as he felt the spot on his chest burn and he covered it with his palm. Tink noticed and her hands went to her hips.

"Rest, Peter. No flying around the island or to London until you rest."

"Yes ma'am," he said with a smile, lifting the chain over his head and allowing the thimble to settle against his heart once again. He settled back on the blanket and drifted off to sleep. Tink ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead before she flew up and out of the hideout.

"Where am I?" Wendy looked around, puzzled, seeing that she clearly was not in her bedroom anymore. She looked down at herself and gasped as she noticed her school clothes were gone. Instead she was wearing a pretty blue gown that hung low so her shoulders were left bare, much more scandalous than the ones her mother wore to smart parties. Her long hair cascaded down her back and her feet were completely bare.

"You're stunning, Wendy," said an unfamiliar voice. She quickly looked around, frowning.

"Who is that? Who are you? What am I doing here?" A figure stepped out of the shadows and stood in front of her. His hands were on his hips but she couldn't see his face.

"You won't recognize me, Wendy. I look different now." Wendy cocked her head as she studied the figure. He was tall, taller than she, and he had a muscular build to him. He was dressed in the style of London boys but his clothing was green.

"Come into the light." He took a step forward and the shadows left his face. His messy blonde hair hung in his face and his bright blue eyes shone likes stars. He was quite tanned and his flesh looked as if it had been kissed by the sun. He gave her a smile and she immediately knew who it was. For no one else had a cocky smile like that.

"Peter?" Peter's smile broadened as he moved closer to her and his hand rested in hers.

"I don't understand."

"You've been dreaming of me ever since you left Neverland. This is just another really nice dream."

"So what are we going to do?" Peter was now so close to her, she could feel his lips touching hers.

"It's your dream. What do you want to do?" Wendy's eyes held his for a moment before she pushed forward and claimed his mouth. His hands went to her hair as he deepened their kiss. She opened her mouth slightly and allowed his tongue to slide in and explore her mouth. She had never done this yet she did not hesitate or feel shy. This was the boy who she had given her hidden kiss to. This was the boy she had wanted to kiss for the longest time. She moaned into his mouth and her hands traveled up his well-defined chest. Peter's lips moved down Wendy's jaw line, to her neck, where he sucked gently at the nape of her throat and her collarbone. Wendy felt a stirring growing inside her, traveling further and further down. Peter's hands left the back of her head and gently raked across her breasts. He rested his palm against one of her mounds and massaged gently. Wendy moaned again and pressed against him, feeling something growing between them. He broke away and took a small step back.

"Have you done this before?"

"Never," she said, closing the space between them. "You are the only one I want." He grinned again and swooped her up into his arms before claiming her mouth again.

He felt as if he were on fire as he kissed her hungrily, holding her close to his chest.

"I've had this dream before," he said against her lips. She smiled.

"Me too. I think I have it almost every night."

"You haven't forgotten me, Wendy?"

"I could never forget you, Peter." She kissed him again and he moaned into her mouth. He felt her reach up and grasp his curls and his fingers squeezed against her side.

"So why is it only in our dreams that we can be together?" Wendy bit her lip.

"Because you don't want to grow up. And I have to."

"Wendy, look at me. I've grown for you. I would do anything for you." He gently set her down and continued to hold onto her waist. "I would die for you."

"But it's only a dream. You'll never be more than a boy."

"No Wendy. This time it's different. I come from an alternate reality. Somehow, by mistake, my life was changed and now I need to set things right. I need you to know how much I love you. How much I need you."

"Peter—"

"No, Wendy, wait. Please. I know it sounds crazy but you have to believe me. We're actually married and we even have kids! I need to find a way back to that life. Please believe me." Wendy looked around frantically and even tried to pinch herself. Peter watched her, his brow furrowed.

"Why can't I wake up?"

"Because this isn't an ordinary dream. This is me reaching out to you. In our other life, we can even talk to each other in our minds. Our connection, our love is so strong that I can visit you in your dreams. I'm going to come see you again, Wendy. Tomorrow, if I can. And when you wake up, you'll remember everything." Wendy shook her head.

"I think I'm going crazy."

"You're not. This is all real. And I'll prove it to you." He closed the space between them and grasped her waist again. His lips came crashing down on hers and her knees nearly buckled as she leaned into him. His mouth moved from hers across her neck and shoulders, making her toss her head back. Baring her flesh to his fervent lips and tongue, she pressed against him and gasped as he moved the dress aside with his teeth and sucked at her tender flesh just above her breast. When he broke away, there was a shiny purple spot marring her skin. Her eyes widened and Peter looked smug.

"If that's there when you wake up, you'll know this is real. And that's me marking you as mine."

"Peter, this can't be—" but he silenced her with another kiss and he gently caressed her cheek.

"Sleep well, Wendy."