Happy Thoughts || Peter Pan

Chapter 36

'Tinkerbell knew how to come up with something for every lost item,' Bobble said. 'Quite an achievement that was, and it helped the Tinkers tremendously.' All the while they flew through the fairy village, Bobble proudly told about the work of the Tinkers, as well as the seasonal holidays the fairies worked hard on every year.

'I'd love  to experience the changing of the seasons here,' Avery said dreamily, 'I can remember when I was a little girl I wondered how the dew ended up on the grass every morning.'

'That must have been the water fairies.'

She chuckled. 'I won't try to tell my parents that.' She glanced sideways at Peter for a moment, realizing she had just used the forbidden word. He looked sternly ahead and hummed, 'Adults are too stupid to believe in the truth.' And strangely enough, Avery completely agreed. Adults, in her eyes, were always so convinced that everything could be explained in a scientific way that there was no room left for the acceptance that things could be anything other than scientific. She was immediately reminded of the Bermuda Triangle and the ocean, of which humanity has only explored 6%. Who knows, maybe mermaids were closer than she could have ever dreamed. Maybe they were not just in Neverland. The idea that mermaids or other mystical creatures could be the cause of the lost ships in the Bermuda.. 

When they arrived at Tinkerbell's cottage, Bobble remained standing a few feet away, staring at the little green door. 'I'm going back.' The enthusiasm with which he had just told his stories had completely gone from his voice. 'Sleep well.'

'Thank you,' Avery said before he flew away, and she looked at Peter. Silently they stepped toward the cottage. The interior gave Avery an uneasy feeling. It was as if Tinkerbell had vanished into thin air, for there were unfinished projects and tools everywhere, as if she had just been tinkering, walked out the door and never returned. Her closetdoor was ajar and her bed unmade. The sound of a match being lit sounded behind her, and a few moments later the orange light from the fireplace illuminated the cottage. Avery looked back at Peter for a moment. He was crouching in front of the fireplace, staring at the flames. It couldn't be easy for him to be here. Tinkerbell had been his best friend for decades and suddenly she had been ripped from his life. 'Are you all right?' she asked cautiously.

Peter nodded. 'Don't worry about me, Avery. Soon Tink will be sleeping in her own bed again.' He looked at her. 'Would you like something to eat?'

She shook her head. 'I'm not that hungry.' She looked around again. 'It feels strange to be in someone's house when I've never met them and had been stolen away in such a terrible way.'

'I had an feeling, but don't worry. Tink probably won't mind.'

Avery closed the closet, where she saw a glimp of many green dresses and little shoes with white pompoms. She pointed at Tinkerbell's bed. 'May I?'

He nodded slowly. Avery closed the covers and fluffed-up the pillows. Then she sat down on the edge of the mattress. Peter sat down next to her. Avery sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. 'It's so sad. The entire fairykingdom is in mourning for their lost friends and terrified of another attack. It is because of their perseverance and persistence that I can see the kingdom in a somewhat normal state, but you can sense their grief in each of them.'

'I know,' Peter replied. He put his arm around her. 'That's why I didn't return for such a long time. But I can make up for that now, thanks to you.' His hand softly rubbed her arm, and she felt warmth flowing through her body, as if it pushed away the chill from the entire cottage.

Soft knocking sounded on the little door and it slowly slid open. Terence poked his head around the corner. 'Am I interrupting?' He blushed and Avery laughed. 'No, come in.'

Terence kept his eyes fixed on her, without even glancing around, as he stepped into the cottage and pressed something into her hands. 'This is additional Shrinking Powder. Sprinkle it all over you before bed. It will keep you small long enough to make it to the next night.'

Avery nodded gratefully. 'Thank you, Terence.'

The boy smiled and then turned, taking a glance at the messy work table before leaving the cottage again.

Avery sighed. 'That's what I mean. Poor Terence.'

'Tink talked about Terence a lot. Those two were very attached to each other.'

Avery gave him a shove and sat back down on the bed. 'That's such a boy thing to say,' she sighed. He had no idea of the feelings at play between those fairies, let alone hers. She put her hand in the pouch and sprinkled some of the powder over her head before handing the pouch to Peter. 'Did I say something wrong?' he asked worriedly, sprinkling some over his head as well.

Avery shook her head. 'No, that's not it.' She smiled at him. 'It's been an intense, emotional day. I'm just tired.'

Peter nodded. 'I'll fly over to Fairy Mary for a while. You go get some sleep. I'll try not to wake you when I get back.'

Avery watched Peter as he walked to the door. 'Peter?' she said, 'you're not going to sleep on the floor later, are you?'

He looked over his shoulder grinning. 'Not if you don't mind.'

She shook her head laughing. The door slammed softly behind him. Avery lay down on the little bed. She pulled the covers over her body and stared at the ceiling. The crackling fire soothed her a little, but she didn't know if she could ever fal asleep here. She felt like an intruder and didn't want to be alone at all. She closed her eyes, trying to sleep. She didn't know how much time had flown by when the door opened again and Peter's shadow slid across the walls, but she hadn't slept a moment. The mattress dented when Peter lay down beside her, and for a moment she stiffened. Until she heard his breathing, felt the warmth of his body close by and her muscles relaxed. Peter was with her. She was no longer alone. Sleep slowly pulled her into his grasp and she stretched out her arm to him, curled up against Peter so that she could leave for dreamland in his security.