I'm sorry to all my wonderful fans who want to kill me right now :-P I hate cliffhangers as a reader so I understand your pain. Still, we have to keep you on the edge of your seats sometimes ;-) here's another to pacify you ;-) And I just started on the last chapter today, I'm super happy with how it's turned out and hope you are excited to see how it ends.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Peter was rooted to the spot. His children watched him nervously until Wyatt reached out and touched his arm.

"Dad? You alright?" Peter snapped and jerked back.

"No, no, this can't be happening…this isn't happening!"

"Listen, Peter, if you'd rather stay home, we can take the children to the grave. Perhaps you should just…go visit the mermaids or something like that," Curly said softly. Peter turned his wide eyes to Curly and the former Lost Boy took a step back.

"Come on kids," Slightly lead the girls down the stairs and Peter watched them go, his jaw wide open.

Nibs glanced up as they came down the stairs.

"Where's Peter?"

"He's not coming. He's not doing so well."

"Well of course he's not doing well, she was the love of his life," he said miserably. Michael appeared around the corner, sniffling.

"Can we get going?"

"Wait," Peter called. The boys looked up and saw him coming down the stairs, his face very pale. He had changed into normal clothes and looking very uncomfortable.

"I'm coming with you." He couldn't believe Wendy was really gone; he decided he needed to see the gravesite with his own eyes. The expressions on his childrens' faces should have been enough to convince him but he needed more. Wyatt handed him a white lily and Peter stared at it for a moment before he followed them outside.

The group was silent as they trudged through the forest; Adette and Farrah were both crying and holding hands, Michael kept sniffling, and John kept furiously rubbing at his eyes. Peter glanced around at the boys but didn't say a word. As they got further along, others started to join their little train. Tiger Lily squeezed in next to John and John draped his arm around the princess, as she hid her face in his shoulder. Several fairies fluttered along, the Queen ahead of the group. Peter even saw the Astrumi boys Wendy had introduced him to right after Adette and Farrah were born. They both bowed to the boys and they all embraced.

"Christoff. Chase. So good to see you both again."

"Thank you for coming," Nibs added. The boys both nodded, their birth stars shining a dull yellow color.

"I can't believe it's already been a year. Seems like only yesterday she was battling the Valdes, freeing us and our people."

"With the help of Prince Wyatt of course," Chase said, nudging the boy. Wyatt couldn't help but smile.

"Mum used to tell me that story all the time. The first time I ever flew."

"Aye. Surprised us all. Your Mum nearly fainted, she did." Wyatt smiled sadly.

"There were still plenty of adventures to be had." The boys all nodded in agreement and continued on their way. Peter hung back, finding himself unable to continue. Lily glanced back and whispered something to John, then turned and joined Peter.

"Are you alright?"

"I…I don't know."

"Oh Peter, you know we all loved her. But life has to go on. You have to move on as well. You've barely moved from your house since her death." Peter glanced at Lily uncertainly.

"How?"

"How what?"

"How did she die?"

"Peter…don't start this again."

"Start what? I'm asking a question. I can't remember. What happened?"

"Neverland decided there would not be another royal babe. Don't you remember? You held the tiny body in your arms for days." Peter winced and shook his head.

"I can't remember anything. I think my mind has blocked it out. What else?"

"We could not stop the bleeding and she grew very weak. She bled to death." Peter felt like he would retch. He stopped and steadied himself against a tree.

"Died…in childbirth?"

"She was devastated that she lost the baby, Peter. It was hard for her to find the strength to recover after that."

"But what did I do? Why couldn't I save her?"

"Peter, you did everything you possibly could. There was nothing we could do. She was lost to us. The Spirits decided she would be the brightest star in the heavens." She glanced up at the sky and Peter's eyes followed hers. He noticed the group had stopped and he looked around. It was a grassy plain with a waterfall nearby. His heart lurched; it was their favorite spot on the island, the place he would always bring her to be alone. Near the water's edge, he could make out a large white stone and the boys were scattering flowers around it. Feeling his heart slowing down, nearly stopping, Peter approached the stone and glanced down at it.

Wendy Pan, Queen of Neverland.

Beloved Wife, Mother, Storyteller

To Die Will be an Awfully Big Adventure

Peter felt something choke him and he doubled up in pain. Dropping to his knees, he hid his face in his shaking hands. His sobbing daughters threw their arms around him and cried into his shoulder. Wyatt did his best to keep himself composed but he knelt beside his father and sisters and wept. Everyone stood back and watched the royal family weep for their lost queen. It was still unbelievable that she was gone. And obviously, the King was not handling her death very well. Peter's arms went around his children and held them close. The four of them wept, their tears watering the flowers spread across the grave.