The Next Adventure (2003 Peter Pan fanfiction)

"When he saw she was a grown-up, he gnashed the little pearls at her."

WENDY'S P.O.V.

        We watched together from the shore with the lost boys and Tink as they waved and called after the Natives their farewells. "See Wendy," Peter whispered to me as the distant canoes sailed away with glowing orange lanterns. "Aren't they beautiful?" he asked. I agreed they were but feared they could be seen from Hook's ship if a pirate were looking through a telescope.
         I then made my way over to Tink. "Might those lanterns be seen by the pirates, Tink?" I asked her. She replied, explaining they were too dull but I still feared. She escaped me once she finished to usher the boys back to our camp. They left Peter and I alone once they disappeared.
         My hand was suddenly taken. "Don't worry, Wendy, I know the way back," he whispered to me.
                "Shall we be off with them?" I asked him, looking up into his eyes.
                "But I'm not sleepy!" he protested, pulling me closer to the ocean and sitting down. He urged me down with him. Sighing, I sat next to him. He then frowned at me.
                "Don't be such an old lady!" he complained. Feeling guilty, I frowned back and looked down.
                "I'm sorry, Peter."
                "Why are you sad, Wendy?" He asked me. "Do you want to leave?" he suddenly asked. I hurriedly looked back up at him, terror in his eyes.
                "Never, Peter," I said quickly, caressing his cheek. He calmed.
                "Good because you promised with this." He grabbed the acorn hanging from my neck.
                "I know I did," I spoke almost sadly and looked back down.
                "Do you miss them?" He then asked me. "Your family?" I looked back up in desperation.
                "You are my family," I told him in definition.
                "Have you forgotten?" he then asked. I tried to understand what he meant.
                "Forgotten what?"
                "Your brothers, and your mother and father," he explained, almost timidly.
I sighed, "no..." I waited then thought of something. "Peter?" I asked him, growing timid myself.
                "Yes, Wendy?"
                "Would you..." I became scared, "would you...ever come back i-if I--" Peter gasped then his expression darkened.
                "No," he said sternly. My heart sank and tears welled in my eyes.
                "Never?"
                "Never," he confirmed.
                "E-even if it meant I'd always wait for you?" Tears dripped from my eyes.
                "Wendy," Peter started, coming to a stand, "once you grow up you can never come back!"
                "B-but Peter, please," I cried before he decided to run off. "Peter, wait!" I panicked, getting up and chasing after him. I quickly snatched his hand. "Don't leave me again, Peter!" I cried more. He pulled his hand free.
                "I can say the same thing to you," he commented bitterly, staying in his place. I sighed, wiping my eyes.
                "I miss them, but I can't lose you." I hugged him tight.
                "You have to choose," he spoke.
                "We can't visit them?" I asked, letting him go.
                "No," he replied sternly.
                "But," I started, wanting to tear up again.
                "No," he repeated, sighing. "I think I'd like to go to sleep now," he finished, emotionless.
 
Once we reached the tree house, I had stopped my crying and put him to bed. I laid down with him at first but was haunted by the sight of Robin's gaze through the fire, during the party. Every time I'd close my eyes, I'd see him and think of that urge that nearly led me to follow him into the forest. Then suddenly, I felt the urge again. Since I was unable to find peace in the night like Peter so quickly had, I glanced back at him to check and make sure he was asleep. And he was, perfectly content, and I slipped out from under the covers.