The Second Star to the Right

The Girl Who Was Gaining Everything

"Peter it'll be okay.." Wendy whispered, cradling his face in her hands as she nuzzled her forehead against his. She knew that he usually didn't like this sort of attention, but she felt like she was meant to comfort him. Especially if her suspicions were correct about what Tiger Lily was going to say. "It's going to be fine... I promise..." She whispered. Peter was avoiding her gaze but she could see a tear roll down his cheek. No one needed Tiger Lily to finish her sentence, but she did it anyway.

"Peter, I'm afraid you've lost your magic."

If there was a way Wendy could describe Peter, she would. She couldn't though. He felt limp now in her arms and he just stared down at her lap. Tiger Lily and Michael stood there awkwardly until Wendy finally nodded for them to leave. What sort of things do you tell a boy who lost his livelihood again? Peter had been through so much, being abandoned by his family, and now being abandoned by Neverland. She felt it in him without ever saying anything.

He didn't start crying though like he did earlier. This surprised her a lot. He just sat there in her arms, staring at her lap and biting his lower lip. Finally she was able to lower her head a bit and meet his eyes. They were such a brilliant blue but they looked blank. It was as if for the first time ever, Peter Pan had no idea what to do. He didn't have a clever, boyish plan that would impress everyone and win her heart over. He didn't have a home anymore. He didn't have a family. He didn't have magic. Wendy could have sworn that she felt her heart actually break for him.

Lifting his chin a little so that they were eye level, she whispered. "Can I-Can I do anything to make it better?"

He looked at her weakly. "What's the point? I didn't willingly give up the magic, who knows who has it now?"

She stood up, dragging him up with her. "Peter...we'll get it back. I promise."

He just nodded and avoided her eyes. Wendy analyzed him up and down. Now that he didn't have magic, he looked disturbingly normal. His height had increased again, making him look about her age. It was odd looking at him like this, yet she couldn't deny that he was still very attractive.

"Come on.." She said, snapping herself out of her own thoughts and grabbing his hand.

Walking out of the tent, she realized that whenever Peter's magic was drained, she also felt something in her. The feeling was indescribable. She knew it wasn't nearly as bad as what Peter had felt, but it seemed like she suffered through part of the pain. The only thing that could explain it was her bond to him.

They were each other's weakness. But they also gave each other strength.

It sounded to her like something she would find in a silly romance novel. The idea caused her face to heat up endlessly. Of all the children in the world, why her? Wendy's undying obsession with Peter Pan had started when she was in the nursery. Growing up as the oldest, she always had to entertain her brothers with stories of far away lands. The first story she had ever told them came from memory, but she had never read it before then.

The story of Peter Pan.

And when she met him, her obsession turned into somewhat of a crush. Her 12 year old self wanted to kiss him the moment he stepped into the nursery. It was only seconds before she thought Peter would be killed by Hook that she finally had kissed him. It never occurred to her why Peter had suddenly become so strong after that kiss. She was only a girl.

Now? Walking through the forest with him toward Skull Rock, she was more than just a girl, and he was more than just a boy. Wendy's parents had told her that it was just a phase of being a child.

"Every one has a 'Peter Pan' phase Wendy. It's all part of growing up." Her mother had said to her weeks after she had left Neverland.

She believed her mother too. For years, she attempted courting men from around London. For her 17th birthday most recently, she even agreed to her mother's wish of presenting her to the public. Wendy had tried everything to get out of her "Peter Pan phase." It was only until recently here in Neverland, that it was explained why she couldn't.

She loved him.

It was a silly revelation. Something she wouldn't dare to bring up to Peter now as they were going to spy on Hook to see if any one of his crew had received Peter's magic. The idea of love used to disgust Peter, and she didn't want to relive the conversation they had when she last visited. The memory burned in her mind vividly. She was pushing him that night, talking of love.

"I think you have, Peter. I daresay you've felt it yourself, for something... or someone."

They arrived at Skull Rock as it played in her mind. He tugged at her hand and led her over to one of the tents, waiting for Hook.

"Never. Even the sound of it offends me." He had spat at her.

"Peter -" She had reached out to touch his face but he backed away.

"Why do you spoil everything? We have fun, don't we? I taught you to fight and to fly! What more could there be?" He had looked like he was ready to cry that night. Back then she thought it was because he didn't want to accept his feelings. Now, she knew that wasn't the case. He was scared to feel them.

"There is so much more."

"What? What else is there?" He had been yelling at her, and the memory almost made her start crying again while she was standing next to him.

"I don't know. I think it becomes clearer when you grow up."

"Well, I will not grow up. You cannot make me. I will banish you like Tinker Bell." The words killed her even now.

"Wendy?" Peter's curious whisper snapped her from her memories. She jumped a bit. "Are you okay?" He asked curiously, his attention fully on her rather than Captain Hook, who apparently came out of his tent while she was daydreaming.

She shook her head. "Don't worry about me...look!" Wendy pointed to Hook, who now donned a long bright green dress coat. It looked sharp on him. The ruffled feather in his now green hat was a crisp red. The man's scruffy beard was gone, and he almost glimmered. Fairies that had seemed reluctant to help him before were now swarming him, jingling in a language that Wendy knew Peter understood.

Captain Hook looked more like Peter Pan than Peter did.

Wendy opened her mouth to say something but Peter's hand covered it before she could speak. "Don't say it." He was biting his bottom lip and she knew it took everything in him not to throw a tantrum. Uncovering her mouth, he sighed and gripped the hilt of his knife. "I can't believe it went to Hook...Why would my magic choose such a...such a codfish!"

She could tell he was trying really hard to retain his boyish personality. It was almost pathetic. Mostly sad and tragic though. "I guess it's because he's the only person on the island right now that truly believes Neverland belongs to him."

"I believe-" he started but she interrupted.

"Peter.." She had mumbled. "I don't think you do. I think you're pretending again."

He stood up, with a look of anger on his face and brushed the grass off of his knees. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'll get my magic back with or without you."

The snide comments made her remember why she left Neverland in the first place, but she tried to remain calm. Knowing that he was vulnerable right now, Wendy just assumed everything he said was out of pain and not what he meant. Standing up and also brushing the grass off of her ungodly outfit, she responded. "I know you don't mean that Peter. We're supposed to stick together. Please..." Her voice cracked slightly. "Fighting it will only heighten the chances of you not getting your magic back. We need to get it to Michael and away from Hook. Peter, please grow up."

She was afraid that he would hit her or banish her for saying everything he didn't want to hear. He had been pushed by almost every one on the island by now and Wendy just added herself to that list. She didn't want to, but a reality check is what he needed.

Crossing his arms and snorting a bit, he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Fine. But I'm not sitting in an office all day." He mumbled softly and turned, walking away from her and toward Hook's ship in the lagoon near the camp.

Somehow, this was enough to create a knot in Wendy's stomach. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, where her kiss was from so long ago, and she followed behind him.