Wendy had her dream again. She was soaring over Neverland. She remembered the deliciously scary feeling. It was something unnatural, and something she was made to do at the same time. Her body was vibrating with excitement, with possibility. She could go anywhere, do anything. With Peter. Her heart leapt. The thought made her fly higher. And then, out of nowhere there was a crack, a bright light and a pounding in her head, and then down… down… and darkness.
She sat straight up, gulping in air.
Tootles jostled into consciousness, while Peter, who hadn't been sleeping, took her face in his hands. "Wendy, Wendy are you alright? What happened? Was it your dream again?"
Wendy was still breathing heavily, her eyes wide with emotion. "Yes," she said. "It's not real is it? It's not real…"
Peter held her head to his chest, and kissed her hair and she grabbed his shoulder. "No, it's not real," he said.
Tootles crawled to the other side of her and laid his hand on Wendy's knee. "Mother, are you alright?" he asked in a small scared voice.
Wendy took a deep breath and blew it out. Peter let go and she turned toward Tootles. "Yes Dear, I'm alright. I'm sorry I frightened you, it was just a bad dream." She held out her hand and he took it, swinging it back and forth a little.
"You know what you do for us when we have bad dreams?" he asked.
"I sing to you," she said smiling.
"Yes. Want me to sing to you Mother?"
"You sweet boy," she said stroking his cheek. "Yes, I would like it if you sang to me."
Tootles looked around, surprised that no one else was awake with all of the noise Wendy had made. He pushed her shoulders back to the ground, and began singing softly. Peter smiled at the scene, but then became serious again. How could he stop the nightmares from coming? He knew they were because of Tinkerbell, and here they were trying to find her. He made up his mind. He would wait until Wendy and Tootles were asleep again, and then he would leave before first light. He would find Tinkerbell himself and not expose Wendy to more cause for nightmares.
Just when he'd settled on the idea, he heard a thrashing noise, and a cry coming from where the other boys were sleeping.
"No! Tinkerbell! Oh no, oh no!" Nibs was kicking his legs, and reaching out grasping at nothing.
"Hey! What's going on?" cried Slightly. The other boys rubbed their eyes, and pulled the blanket around them again. Peter jumped up and knelt in front of Nibs. He was sniffing, his eyes swollen with tears.
"What's wrong?" asked Peter.
"Please don't kill Tink, please Peter!" He let out an uncontrolled sob, and reached for Peter's arm.
"What? Nibs, what are you saying? Of course I'm not going to kill Tinkerbell. What makes you think I'm going to kill her?"
Wendy had joined them, and pulled Nibs into her arms. "No one's going to kill Tinkerbell," she said soothingly, stroking his head. Nibs clung to her crying salty tears on her shoulder.
"I keep seeing it!" he wailed. Wendy looked up at Peter with concern. Peter was at a loss.
John and Tiger Lily had woken up as well, and came over to see what all the commotion was about. Tiger Lily held Michael on her hip, and John had wrapped them up in the blanket. "What's going on?" he asked, putting his spectacles back on.
"He keeps dreaming it," said Curly. "He dreamt it last night too."
"It's only a nightmare Nibs," said Wendy. "I've been having them as well. They're awful aren't they?" She pulled him out a little, and lifted his chin to look in his face. Nibs nodded. "But they aren't real. You're here and you're safe, and I've got you." She hugged him close and he began to breathe normally again.
"I love Tinkerbell," he murmured.
Wendy nodded her head. She couldn't say she felt the same, but said nothing.
"She always brought me a treat. She brought me to Neverland. I love her." He sighed. "I'm scared. She didn't mean to do this to Neverland, I know it. Please, let's not hurt her," he said again, fear growing in his voice again.
"No one's going to hurt her, I promise you," said Peter kneeling down again. "We're only doing this to talk to her."
Nibs nodded. "Alright. You promise Peter?"
"I promise Nibs," he said, holding out his pinky. Nibs took it with his own and they shook on it.
He climbed off Wendy's lap, and crawled under the blanket again.
Wendy took a deep breath, and shook her head. What was going on? Shared Nightmares, and a song that only the two of them could hear? What did it all mean?
Suddenly, the vibration of the mountain grew louder. Wendy's head was buzzing and her eardrums were shaking. She held her hands up to her ears.
"Ah!" she moaned. She looked at Nibs, and saw that his fingers were in his ears too.
"What's happening Wendy?" he cried. Peter grabbed her wrists. "Wendy? Tell me what's going on? What can I do?" he asked helplessly.
"I don't know!" she yelled. "It's telling me something!" She sank to the earth, and her eyes rolled back in her head. She and Nibs were writhing on the ground, with Peter looking on powerless.
"Wendy!" cried John, and he knelt down to try to hold her so she wouldn't hurt herself. "Get Nibs!" he yelled to anyone who would listen.
Peter dove for Nibs, holding his arms.
Suddenly they stopped, and lay limp on the ground. Wendy's eyes fluttered open.
"Are you all right? Oh God Wendy! What's going on?" cried Peter.
She sat up on her elbows, panting. "I know where it is," she said.