My Darling Girl *Disney fanfic*

30. Your Mother and Mine

"Are you sure we can trust her?" Hook questioned as they walked down the rocky path, Tinkerbell's hut behind them.

"She has as much reason to hate Pan as anyone." Wendy reasoned. She took the lighter out from her pocket and played with it between her fingers – the silver casing winking in the low sun.

"There was a time when she loved him. I think it would be wrong to assume her feelings completely."

Wendy's shoulders stiffened defensively.

"You distrust her... because she once cared for him?" Her voice was soft. She flicked the lighter but the strong wind extinguished the flame in an instant. "Isn't that unfair?"

"Pan cast her aside like an old glove, but we have to consider the possibility that she wants him back again."

The path sloped down and Wendy walked a little ahead, so Hook couldn't see her face.

"Love can turn to hate."

"Love can also make a person blind and foolish. Hey, wait!" Hook called out, when Wendy's pace suddenly quickened. "Why are you running?"

Wendy's eyes had filled with tears. She'd never told Hook about her past with Pan, not fully – not the complicated parts. She'd told him about her brothers - but she'd allowed Hook to think that she'd been one of Pan's slaves. She hadn't wanted to confess the messy history.

"There was a time when she loved him..."

Many years ago...

Wendy's heart hammered in her chest.

"What were you doing?" Pan asked, crossing the room toward her. Wendy furtively pocketed the letter she'd stolen from his desk.

"I was looking for my sewing kit." She lied. "I thought maybe I brought it in here last night."

"I'll help you look." Pan offered smiling cheerfully.

Wendy moved with care, terrified he'd hear the rustle of paper from her pocket. In her pretend search, she happened upon a little box – tied up with ribbon. It had been hidden behind a cushion.

"What's this?" She asked, showing it to him. Pan sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

"A present. I was hiding it so that you wouldn't find it before our anniversary." Pan's ears turned crimson with embarrassment.

She gently shook it, trying to guess what was inside. "Open it."

Inside was a silver bracelet – the design surprised Wendy with its simplicity. Pan usually chose diamonds or emeralds – anything that sparkled. This had no glittering stones. Pan quietly approached and rolled up his sleeve. Already on his wrist was a matching bracelet.

"Is it a butterfly?"

"It symbolises new beginnings." He explained. "I wanted to commemorate what we're trying to create – our new beginning."

Wendy studied it for a moment.

"I...," she swallowed nervously and glanced up. Pan's gaze encouraged her to keep speaking. "I never liked our anniversary." She admitted. "All these years, you've wanted to celebrate it but – it just made me remember London and... my family."