There was a knock at the door and Wendy's eyes shot open.

"Wendy, Henry and Charlotte are coming for tea. Make yourself decent! Why don't you wear that pretty new green dress I bought you?"

"Yes Mother," she replied with a grimace. Her husband-to-be and her future sister-in-law were not only dull, but snobbish and cold. They were from a very wealthy family and they lorded it over everyone. Wendy wasn't sure how she had attracted the attentions of Henry VonBrewer; after all, they had met once at a ball a mutual friend had thrown and had only spoken once. But Henry had apparently been enchanted by the young Miss Darling. Shortly after their betrothal, Wendy's parents pushed John at Henry's sister, Charlotte, who was even more snobbish than her brother. The VonBrewers had taken a glance at Wendy and John and sniffed.

"Well, they're both handsome enough, I suppose. We must have attractive grandchildren."

The days passed and Wendy dreaded that coming Saturday even more. More so, Peter dreaded it. He still had no idea how he would win Wendy back. He had taken to flying to London at night while Wendy slept and would leave small gifts on her pillow. She would wake to a lovely rose or an emerald he had found on the beaches. And their dreams were still paradise. Neither of them mentioned the impending nuptials and both had mutually agreed to enjoy their time together. They would collapse in each others's arms and not come up for air for hours. They found each other exploring each others' bodies and even though Peter wanted more than anything to have all of Wendy once again, she refused to go that far and Peter would immediately restrain himself. She was grateful that he didn't pressure her and that he wasn't angry or upset with her when she would gently push him away and shake her head. She told herself if they were only dreams, she could give herself to him and not worry about consequences. But she was starting to believe that Peter was telling the truth; in addition to little gifts on her pillow, he would also leave his mark on her skin where no one else could see. She treasured these little gifts as they were a reminder of what they shared. More than once, she considered calling off the wedding and telling Peter to take her to Neverland. But she just couldn't do that to her family, and she couldn't imagine that scandal and gossip that would surround them all. Nevertheless, she found herself going to bed very early, just so she could see Peter again. She would cling to him as if she was being dragged away from him. Peter refused to release his hold on her and when he woke in the morning, his heart sped up and he became panic-stricken until he remembered that Wendy was not with him after all.

Two days before the wedding, Peter sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the stone that was lying beside him. Tink watched him from across the room and let out a little huff.

"Peter, let's get out of this room! You've been staring at that stupid thing for days!"

"Go without me then, Tink. I have to figure this out."

'The wedding is in two days. How do you think you will stop this?"

"I don't know. But I've got to. I'm afraid of what my life will be like if I don't." Tink flew over to him and landed on his knee.

"Peter, I understand how you feel about her. But your life isn't over if you don't get her back. You still have Neverland and the lost boys and the mermaids…and me. I'm still here for you." Peter glanced down at her uncertainly and bit his lip.

"I know, Tink. And as I've said, you're my best friend in the whole world. But an immortal life without Wendy would be torture. Maybe it would have been better if my memory had been erased when I was sent here to this life. I could easily accept that she has moved on and I wouldn't want to grow up." Tink looked hopeful for a moment but Peter shook his had. "But I remember everything. So I have to try, Tink. I need her back. I need my life back."

"Why did you even make that wish then?" Peter rested his chin in his hand.

"I think people forget that it's not about the destination in life, but it's the journey and how you get there. Wendy and I set out on that journey together a long time ago and got lost along the way. People don't have a choice; they eventually make up and find their way again. Or they part ways and continue on their own journey. But the point is, they journey forward. But because I'm magical, I was taken backward. I questioned whether being a man with Wendy was really the life I wanted and that cost me everything. I shall never question it again. Wendy and I are meant to be together, I've always known that. And maybe I was meant to make that wish so that I would learn from it. I'll never doubt my place in the world again. It's not the boy prince, as I always thought. It's a husband, a father, and a king. That's my place. And I need to get back to that place. I need to continue journeying forward."

Tink could only stare at Peter. Finally, she believed him. For her Peter would never speak so passionately, so…grown-up. He may have looked like a boy but she knew this was not the Peter she knew so well. He had changed. It all had to be true. A shimmering light distracted them both and Peter started, moving closer to the stone. He gasped as he looked down and saw a mermaid's face forming on the surface of the stone.

"Reyna?"

"Peter, I am so sorry, I had no idea they had given you the Thorn of Amethyst. I would never have let them, had I known."

"Reyna, I don't understand any of this," he said desperately, pressing his nose against the stone.

"I know, Peter. The Thorn of Amethyst has magical properties to change what was, what is, and what is to be. But it looks into your heart and grants that wish, not the one you speak. Which is why it is so dangerous. It was forbidden many years ago by the King of Atlantique. His sister used it and turned into a terrible beast." Peter looked alarmed.

"I'm not a terrible beast but it did change my life. How do I make it right again, Reyna? Please tell me."

"I'm afraid in this case it is more complicated than simply wishing you back to a particular time. You are in an alternate reality and only your actions and the actions of others control your fate."

"What does that mean?"

"The prophecy, Peter. Fulfill the prophecy. If she accepts you, she will give you the power to return to that life that you know. If she turns from you, you will cease to be."

"That's a pretty big risk," he said tentatively.

"Love always is," the mermaid said wisely. Peter gripped the amethyst and nodded.

"You're right. I love her. And I know she still loves me. I can fix all of this." Reyna started to fade and she blew him a kiss.

"Good luck, Peter. May fortune favor you and your love." And then the stone was blank, just shining brightly in Peter's pale face. He heaved a great sigh and moved the stone aside.

"If she accepts my love, I can return to my life before."

"But if she doesn't, you die Peter," Tink said worriedly. Peter fought to keep the fear out of his eyes.

"She loves me," he repeated. "Now we have to test that love."