Again In Neverland

Chapter 32: Savage

"There is a savage beast in every man, and when you hand that man a sword or spear and send him forth to war, the beast stirs."
-George R.R. Martin

OMNISCIENT POV:

Lil didn't sleep at all that night.

Following her world-shattering conversation with Wendi on the terrace, she dragged herself back into the tree house and sat by the fire in silence.

Some of the Lost Boys tried to console her but, she felt too numb to be of any good company, so she politely sent them off to bed, and wished them sweet dreams.

For a while, Pip sat by her side, joining her in the silence and not trying to force a discussion out of her. He at first asked her why she looked so sad, and when she explained that she didn't want to bother him with her silly problems he replied simply by saying,
"Alright, but I can't leave you by yourself like this."
"Why not, Pip?"
"Because Peter told us that ladies should always have company. Even when they say they don't want it."

Pip looked up at her with such innocence in his eyes that she could not bring herself to push him away. And so he sat next to her, in front of the fire, watching it flicker and dance to a soft breeze that drafted through the house.

At some point, when the house was completely silent except for the low breathing of all the boys in the rooms next door, Pip had fallen asleep in Lil's lap. His head rested against her knee and his legs were curled beside him. She gently stroked the hair on his face behind his ear, and rubbed a thumb across his cheek. A dreamy smile spread on his little face as he snuggled himself closer to Lil.

She realized then that he had probably never had the comfort of a girl before. All the boys who were here were orphans. Unwanted children who fell out of their prams and were whisked away to Neverland, where they spent their days in the company of other young boys doing dirty little boy things.

Sure, this must be a grand adventure for them all. No rules, no baths, no pushy adults, but Lil knew in her heart that at some point or another all these children must be sad. At some point they remember what their lives truly are.
And what they truly are are rather lonely.

Their family consist of brothers, and only brothers. There is no Mother. No one to tuck them in at night, or fix them a warm breakfast on a chilly morning, or swaddle them in unconditional love. The company of other boys must be fun, but nothing compares to the love between a Mother and her child.

It was as Lil was stroking Pip's hair that she remembered her own mother. How dreadfully worried she must be about Lil's disappearance. Was the guilt eating her alive? Was she still looking for her lost child? Or had she moved on completely.

Lil pushed the thought of her mother out of her mind when she heard Alina land on the floor beside her. Alina smiled softly at her, and then at Pip in her lap.

With a calm shake of his shoulders, Lil woke Pip up.

"Off to bed with you, little one." She whispered.

Sleepily, he stood up and rubbed a small hand across his eyes. He took a stumbling step forward as Lil held his hand and directed him back into his bedroom, filled with other sleeping boys. She gently lifted Pip on to her shoulder and maneuvered her way around all the boys on the floor. His head fit into the crook of her neck and he wrapped his tiny arms around her shoulders.

Carefully, Lil laid him down on his bed and pulled the blanket up around his shoulders. Pip nuzzled himself into the pillows and sighed.
Lil once more rubbed his cheek, and stood to leave the room.