Neverland, Wiser Than Us All

A Queen and the Wash

Neverland itself, didn't seem to worry itself about Peter's time away. It didn't feel neglected, The star knew what was more important, and now that Its Peter was back to being Peter, it simply went about its business as if nothing were amiss. However, every living thing's eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief, somehow managing to keep their faces impassive. Peter chided the star to no avail. It simply blew through his ears chiming softly. The constant teasing  made him smile, wink, or roll his eyes. Neverland could and would wait for the joy of its boy forever, but Peter was not that patient.

True to his word the boy who was almost a man came back every night to his Wendy Darling. That was all he called her in his head anymore. Though it was not quite two weeks since he had first brought the girl to Neverland, there were certainly some moments that stuck out more than others.

The first was...very different than anything Peter had experienced before. She had flown in and lighted on the shore. It was not unusual for them to eat on the beach, but this time she landed ankle deep in water and simply stared out. Pan landed close by, but out of the water. She took off her apron, which is the first time Peter had ever seen her without it, so he simply watched.

She looked as if she were about to toss the apron into the ocean, but she just twisted it around so she could see both sides. Then looked down at her dress and hands and let out a huff. "Peter?" she spoke confidently.

"Yes Wendy?"

"Is there a place I could wash up?"

Peter was confused. They went to the same washing place everyday, she knew where it was. "Of course, we can walk back and gather something to eat on our way."

"No, Peter." She was still staring out to sea and speaking with more confidence than she felt. "I need a place to bathe. Wash my clothes, wash dirt off my skin and the smell of dung out of my nose. I need a place...to get clean."

Peter had stopped breathing completely. His mind went blank. This was not something he had thought about happening only once quite a while ago. Shocked and not letting his mind wander was the least of his worries. He had washed his hands beside her for a week, but now trying not to see her doing that was all he could do.

"Peter? There has to be a place for you to wash all those boys." She huffed out a laugh. Wendy turned to look at her host, and the sight would have made her laugh if she wasn't so concerned about protecting his feelings.

Peter was just staring at her. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and the action seemed to wake him and he started to breathe again. He swallowed, though it seemed to be unnaturally hard for him.

Now Wendy was honestly concerned. It was asking a lot, but it was completely within acceptable bounds as long as Peter was a gentleman, which he was. Besides, it was Neverland. The only place that truly felt like home. And besides, being dirty isn't good manners, and she had the right as a human being to be clean! "Peter? Are you-" she had reached forward to touch him but he had jumped before she made contact.

He cleared his throat from his place now several steps away. "Uh...uh huh. Follow me." These bits of conversation gold were the last words he would speak for at least an hour.

Peter took her to the waterfall pools that came down from the mountain. They were deep in the woods, so there was plenty of privacy and it was also the same place that he and the boys bathed. It would be chilly at night, but it was really no different. Bathing here was really no big deal he tried to convince himself.

They were too quickly at the path leading into the clearing and he just landed and pulled the bushes apart, motioning her through.

Now Wendy was feeling uncomfortable. Not uncomfortable enough to keep her from longing to bathe. She stepped in a couple yards and there was a great noisy waterfall that fed a deep pool. To the right a much smaller waterfall, with a steady stream that fed into a more shallow divot at the end of the great pool. She almost groaned. It would be perfect for washing her hair.