Never

Chapter Thirteen

Lily's new life on Neverland was incredible, for lack of a better word. She spent her nights sneaking off into the jungle with Peter, making out until their lips were sore and puffy, hands exploring each other and running through their hair, holding each other until it felt like they couldn't be any closer than they were in that moment, until they shattered into shards of beauty and pain. She rose early each morning with the sun, waking herself up by running through the forest, barefoot, wind in her hair, arriving back at the camp just as the boys were waking up. Every day was a new adventure, side by side with the boys she had come to consider hers. And then every evening she danced around the fire, stepping light and fast, her own voice raised with the howls of the boys.

A few days after Lily's first night with Pan, she began to sing again. It felt like it had been years since the last time she'd sung, really sung, and given voice to happiness rather than the pain that had plagued her for her for her year in the orphanage. It began one afternoon when Lily was bathing in the hidden lagoon she'd found. She stood under the smaller waterfall stream in her slip, letting the cool water pound against her skin. As she combed her long hair through her fingers, she'd begun to sing. Softly at first, then louder, her voice rose over the rushing sound of the water, high and as pure as it had once been.

And then Lily was laugh-singing, diving into the pool, swimming as her voice rose. The forest seemed to be perfectly still around her save the waterfalls, and Lily filled the empty space with her voice, low and rich and then high and smooth.

She reveled in it, the rich sound of her voice.

And suddenly Lily was aware that someone was watching her. She froze, standing waist deep in the water, pretending not to have noticed. Someone is behind you. Her voice trailed off, humming now, as she tried listened closely for sounds of movement behind her. When none came, she turned around cautiously, dress swirling in the water.

No one was there.

In seconds Lily was perched on the highest rock of the waterfall, sword in hand, eyes sweeping the dense forest around her. This was supposed to be my safe place, thought Lily angrily. She tightened her grip on the sword, stepping with perfect balance to the next rock.

And then he appeared, slipping out from behind a tree in that infuriatingly silent and smug way of his, eyes raking her up and down painstakingly. Pan smirked, and Lily became aware that her tiny white slip was rather transparent.

"Now what in the world are you doing out here?" he drawled, grinning up at her.

Without a word, Lily slid down into the stream of water, slipping gracefully down into the pool. She pushed herself out of the water, wet hair in her face, and glared at him.

"I could ask you the same," she growled playfully as she pulled herself out of the cool water, wringing out her hair like a towel.

"Little birdie told me my Tiger was taking a bath," he raised an eyebrow, "and that wasn't something I was going to miss."

"Damn you," Lily sat on a boulder, smacking him playfully, preparing to slip on her nightdress.

"Wait a minute,"

Lily looked at him skeptically.

"No, really. I brought you something." He reached into his leather pack, carefully lifting out something shiny and black.

"What-"

"I do have a little magic, you know," he sneered, looking pleased with himself.

She took the dress in her hands, letting it fall so she could see it better.

"Oh."
It was beautiful and simple, soft fabric falling midway down her thigh. The sleeves were long and delicate, and the fabric was black as night. As she made to pull it over her head, Pan stopped her with a firm hand on her arm. She turned away from him, trying to hide her smile.

"It doesn't go over a slip..."

Lily's breath stilled, her whole body going rigid. Pan's hand shuffled downwards, toying with the hem of the simple white garment that she wore under everything. He was behind her, but Lily could feel his smirk, was painfully aware of it, almost as aware as she was of his hand on her thigh.

"Wh-what?"

"You heard me,"

Cautiously, Lily's own hand slipped down to where Pan's long fingers brushed her leg oh-so-softly. She drew her slip over her head, painstakingly slowly removing it until she stood in just her tiny undergarments, feeling the rough fabric of Pan's clothes so close behind her, as his breathing sped up. She turned, feeling brave, and faced him.

His eyes traveled up and down her, corners crinkling playfully, as he took her in. His hands shifted upwards until they rested on her small waist, thumb tracing tiny circles.

And then Lily kissed him, her lips tracing across his delicately, pressing down lightly, teasing him. The kiss was gentle, but it was painfully hot, Pan's lips soft but his hands rough and tight around her stomach.

She pulled away, eyebrows raised, a tiny smirk playing across her swollen lips. Pan growled, deep in his throat, reaching for her, but she sidestepped him, slipping her dress over her head letting the soft, dark fabric cascade down her legs. She grinned, shifting so it slipped, swinging softly, across her smooth skin.

"If that dress wasn't so new, I'd rip it right off..."

"Whoa, there,"

"Oh, come on, it's not like you'd protest."

Lily leaned against him, hands on his biceps. "Not denying that."

"Then why don't-"

"Pan-"

"Call me Peter."

"Okay, Peter, then. Shouldn't we get back to camp?" Lily murmured, looking up at him, eyes narrowing in the glare of the sun.

Pan cocked his head. "To be continued?"

Lily kissed him on the mouth, fingers intertwining in his hair before she pulled away. They stayed chest to chest for a moment, breathing each other in, before Pan grinned and stepped back.

"I'll take that as a yes."