Cherry and Peter vs Hook

chapter 8

The next morning, Peter and Cherry had limited time. They were hiding out in the background while the pirates organized a baseball game to make it up for Jack. They were in pirate disguises to blend in.

"You look guilty." Cherry told Peter, looking around for Felicity.

Peter heaved a heavy sigh. "It just so happens Jack had a baseball game before we came to see Wendy... I didn't make it."

"And people say I'm a neglectful parent..."

"Home run, Jack..." Peter whispered, though he was sure his son couldn't hear it. At least he was there with good fatherly encouragement.

Cherry looked around frantically. "Flick, where are you?" she whispered to herself.

The pirates were about to give Jack a ball. Smee was the one pitching and he was about to throw a curve ball. Peter was a little nervous and worried knowing that his son wasn't able to hit a curve. Smee then threw the ball and with accomplishment or sheer luck, Jack struck the ball with his bat, nearly like cannonball fire. The ball was, in the least to say, out of the park. The pirates seemed very happy for him, especially Smee.

"My Jack!" Hook cheered.

Peter and Cherry then turned to him once they noticed Captain Hook was here.

"My Jack..." Peter whispered.

Jack ran through all the bases and high-fived everyone. Hook then commanded Jack to be crowd surfed and the pirates did as told. This was what Jack wanted from his father. Peter felt emotionally crippled with how Hook was treating Jack like his very own son and the pirates chanting his name. Peter then left to the Boys with Cherry, feeling really bad for what he just witnessed. Peter then went in the distance, making Cherry follow him.

Peter ran to an edge and dropped on the ground. "Gotta fly..." He sounded like he was now convinced he was the legendary Peter Pan. "Happy thought... Happy thought... One great big happy thought!"

"I can't help you, Peter," Cherry told him, standing by. "Whatever makes you happy, makes you happy, I can't control your happy thoughts."

Peter thought long and hard. He tried to fly again by jumping off the height he was on, but landed in the ground again. Suddenly Jack's baseball ricocheted over to him and hit him on the head. Peter had a nervous laugh, then fell in the middle of the ground.

"Is there a doctor in Neverland?" Cherry wondered, filing her nails in the background.

Peter wasn't unconscious thankfully. The ball landed in the water and he crept over after he heard the splash. Cherry came to his side and looked with him. Somehow, Cherry was able to see what Peter saw in the water. Peter got a glimpse of his younger self when he was the boy who never grew up in Neverland.

"Is that me...?" Peter breathed.

"Uh-huh," Cherry knew Peter anywhere. "Why did you grow up, Peter?"

"It's kind of all coming back to me now," Peter said, taking the ball out of the water. "You see, after I met your daughter, I wanted her to come with me to Neverland... I knew Jane wouldn't come with me, the poor girl grew up during World War II which was why she wasn't as fun as Wendy. I wanted Felicity to come with me, but she told me she was cursed to never grow up. I told her that sounded like fun, but she told me the depressing life she led doomed to be eight years old forever..."

Cherry sighed and slowly nodded. "I know what you're talking about. Her father bit me when I was 19, that's how I still look like this, but I'm supposed to be at least 45 right now..."

Peter looked at her, amazed at her body structure. "I guess if that's possible, I am Peter Pan." he then threw the ball up and caught it. He then saw his shadow do the same thing, only slower. His shadow then waved at him, then started to run away.