Pan's Never-Neverland

Strange Alliances

Chapter Ten – Strange Alliances

"The End," Wendy said, a smile gracing her face as she tucked her brothers into bed. Jon snored and tossed onto his side, mumbling in his sleep. Mikey's eyes fluttered close at last as she pecked his forehead. Nana gave a contented yawn, curling by the foot of Mikey's bed before closing her eyes and snoring.

"Nice one, Wendy," Violet giggled, turning out the lights before joining Wendy and Peter in Wendy's room. "They're so cute."

Peter grinned, floating comfortably in the air, cross-legged. "Thanks for the story and dinner, Wendy." He consciously patted his coat pocket, reassuring himself that Tinker Bell was fast asleep in her little compartment.

"You're welcome, but technically, you did help with dinner," she smiled. Sitting on her bed, she cocked her head at him. "Peter…isn't it dangerous for you to be on the island?"

"Ha!" Peter laugh, shaking his head. "It's much more dangerous for me to be away from the island than on it."

Violet raised a brow at this, glancing over at Wendy. "And…you're ok with that?"

"'Course! That's what makes it an adventure!" he replied, looking over his shoulder towards the window. "Huh, I guess I ought to be going…I've gotta take care of stuff back on Never-Neverland." Floating away, he was startled when Wendy grabbed his injured hand.

"Oh!" she said, releasing him just as quickly as she had grabbed him. "I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?"

"What, this?" he chuckled. "It's just a scratch."

"But you caught a blade with that hand!" Wendy protested, shuddering at the memory of the gleaming sword headed for her, only to be caught in Peter's flesh. He shrugged it off, however, and gave her a wink. "Peter," she started again. "There's still so much I don't understand…and I'm not stupid – I know you're hiding something. There are secrets that you won't say in front of the boys…"

"Yes," he nodded, landing before her. "There are many things, Wendy. There's so much I want to tell you…but not now." He shook his head. "You have to trust me. You'll learn soon."

Violet looked away for a moment, biting her lip as so not to make her smile obvious. It was hilarious how these two could have a moment at the most unconventional of times.

"Peter," Wendy started, grasping his hand again. "…promise me you'll be careful…and the boys, too."

His lips stretched, his pearls showing, his eyes shining with a childlike glee to them. "We will be." Taking her hand, he placed his lips upon her knuckles, stunning her. With a bow and a wink, he flew to the window, opened it, and shot off into the night. Running after him, Wendy paused at the window, squinting to see his shape against the sky, but found nothing.

"Man, that guy is nothing but trouble," Violet laughed, coming to Wendy's side. Smiling, she patted her friend's shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry. We'll see them again. I'm sure of it. And they'll be fine – you'll see!"

Nodding absentmindedly, Wendy's eyes continued to search for the boy hopelessly. "I do hope so…"

~NEVER-NEVERLAND~

The wind curled around his body, struggling to stick to him like his shadow, but rolled off at once, allowing another gust to try and cling to his lithe frame. Peter felt his heart race as fast as his body as he zoomed back to his temporary home, the grin on his face seemingly permanent. For the first time in years since she had left…he was beginning to feel complete.

Passing over the neon green letters, he headed a little further down past the amusements and Broken Road…he had a pirate he needed to speak with. Deep into Broken Road, just before the forests overtook the rest of the perimeter in that area, the pirates had claimed a nook of their own, refusing to be tied only to the docks, locked outside of the island. The Harbor was what they called their place, filled with booze, broken ship parts, and animals. Sometimes it was difficult to tell the animals from the pirates, which made it all the more amusing to the Lost Boys. Swooping down over the makeshift tents, shanties, and huts the pirates had so desperately tried to build, he landed soundlessly upon the roof of the only decent building in that area. Crouching, he remained in the shadows and dim torchlight, waiting for a pair of drunkards to pass. Sneakily, he crawled over the little house's walls, peeking into the window upside-down.