Lily's feet dangled over the edge of the pond as Peter stood in the center. He glanced her way and noticed how she was staring at his bare chest. As soon as she noticed he had caught her, she looked down at her feet, her cheeks burning red. « Who are you, Pan? » She wondered out loud, as Peter returned his attention back to fishing.

He looked up again surprised to meet her eyes directly staring at him. She didn't flinch when their eyes connected. « What do you mean? » He said, his eyes darting away from her blue gaze. « I mean... We've been here for what... two weeks now, and I don't get to know the slightest bit about you. » She continued staring at him, though her attention was divided over his entire appearance. « Well, you've never asked. » Peter replied, as he returned to the edge to lay the fish aside. He smirked as he noticed how Lily's body froze when he was this close to her, the fabric of her skirt tickling his arms. She scooted the basket closer to him. « Where are you from? »

Peter frowned. If she was going to ask him about his past, he didn't have that much to tell. « A small village. I lived on a farm. » He said as he pulled himself out of the water, a puddle immediately forming at his feet. His pants stuck to his legs. He bent down to pull them away from his skin. In the same time, Lily stood up, quickly joining her feet in the puddle on the ground. « What was your village called? Maybe I've heard of it. » She asked, her eyes bright and intriguing. Peter sighed and picked up the basket as Lily held the spear. They started strolling back to the tree house. « Dandlion. » Peter answered and as he could have predicted, Lily had never heard of it. « And how are your parents? » Peter remained silent. He had been used to stop thinking about his parents. Whenever someone brought them up, he felt like he should feel guilty, leaving them behind without notice. But he didn't. He was glad he escaped the solitude of Dandlion, the poor life his parents had as farmers, the way his mother always made him feel as if he was her biggest mistake.

« I haven't spoken to them in a long time. » He said as Lily gently nudged him with her shoulder to get his attention back. The action made his skin burn where hers had touched him. « If you don't want to talk about it... I understand. » Lily said but her eyes were burning with curiosity. Peter could tell she wanted to know more about him, and deep down inside it flattered him. He wasn't used to people being interested in him. Merlin was interested in his studies and work, Arthur was interested in ways Peter had screwed up, but nobody had ever shown genuine interest in him. He glowed a little inside. He could barely hide a smile.

« It's just not that much to tell... » Peter continued. « My parents are farmers. They didn't have much time to do anything else, so that sums them up perfectly. » Peter shifted the basket to his other side, in between Lily and himself. « My father worked long hours on the fields, whilst my mother joined the other women to clean and wash. I mostly helped around on the farm, but I had my hopes set on a better future. »

« So that's why you joined Merlin? » Lily asked. They continued walking through the forest. Peter wouldn't call it « joining. » « I actually ran away. » He said and he refused to look at her. He was about to suck it all back in when he felt her hand on his arm. He nearly dropped the basket as she did so. Lily had stopped and made him look at her. Her hand didn't leave him though her cheeks were redding again. « Why? » He knew Lily came from a warm home. Sure she has had some troubles with her parents as well, but at the end of the day, they always knew they could count on each other. She probably didn't understand why someone would run away from his family, his home.

Peter awkwardly shifted the basket between his hands. « I had a big fight with my parents and I fled. I had already walked for miles when Merlin passed by in his carriage. That's when he found me, and when I realized he was a sorcerer, I begged him to make me his apprentice. » The words tumbled down his lips, as if he wanted to get over it as quick as possible. He didn't want to give details. Lily didn't have to know about the raging fire he left the house with, only to break down in tears a few miles further. He had begged the wizard to take him to Camelot, to teach him how to use magic. Merlin had seriously doubted his decision, but he had never again spoke of the events as soon as Peter had climbed in the carriage. He had never known what had become of his parents. He hadn't really thought about it either.

He didn't miss them, but he wondered if he could confide that kind of information with Lily. Lily pulled her hand back, still flustered. « I'm glad you can call Camelot your home, then. » She smiled at him, but her eyes revealed she felt sorry for him. His fist clenched around the handle of the basket. « You don't have to feel sorry for me, it was my own choice. » He said firmly and started walking back to the treehouse but not too fast to make sure Lily would follow him so she wouldn't get lost. She was right behind him. « I know, but still... You don't want to have a family? » Peter remembered the night in the library at Camelot where he had told her he'd never wanted to marry. « I don't really feel the need to. » He stated and he made sure he remained in front of her. « Why? A family is the only thing that will give you more than you put in. No matter how cruel you act, they always let you in. They have no choice but to love you. » He turned around, the basket dropped down on the ground and Lily bumped in on him. He didn't hesitate to grasp her wrists. He knew how he felt about her, he had known she was the one from before they met, but he couldn't stop himself. « Is it bad that I want people to love me by their own choice? » His voice was low. Lily was obviously surprised. Because he had told her he didn't want to marry, she assumed he didn't intend to fall in love as well. Though their kiss had burnt her entire soul, she always thought he could not mean those feelings.

Lily swallowed and blushed, thoughts of kissing him stumbling down her mind. Peter as well remembered the times his lips caressed hers, though he couldn't quite remember how it felt. He noticed how her breathing became heavier and released her wrists. As he turned around, a smirk crept on his mouth. He was glad about the effect he had on her. However, he had to be patient if he wanted to prove his earlier statement. She had to love him willingly.

Peter groaned as he pushed himself on his elbows. His head ached and his heart felt as if it had been broken all over again, not once being healed by Tiger's tender touches. He needed to forget. He needed to get out of the treehouse. He ducked into his trousers and ran down, making his way towards the indian village. He knew the route by heart by now. His heart started racing, adrenaline was pumping through his veins. As he waited by the border of the camp, he send out a magical black raven. It didn't take long for Tiger to meet him. Peter could barely control himself as he pushed her against a tree, his mouth devouring hers. She willingly let him. Their tongues battled for dominance but Peter wasn't going to give in. His hands travelled up and down her curves, a moan escaped her lips. She tasted like plums. Nothing at all like Lily. Good. He held her tight, she could barely move. He knew Tiger liked it when he was dominant. Her hands grasped his bare back. Her nails dug into his flesh.

That's how it went the last months. Peter only wanted Tiger at night, when the thoughts of Lily haunted him and made him escape into the warm embrace of the Indian princess. Her face followed him everywhere he went, her words echoed in every silent moment. The entire island seemed to focus on that one missing element. That one piece of laughter that had once accompanied the birds' singing. But the missing was in vain, for Lily would never return to Neverland. Peter knew. That's why he had to get to Camelot.

A/N

Woah, another update? I told you my updating scheme is irregular. I'm honestly really pleased with this chapter and I intend to do more like this one, so tell me what you think about it. Are you excited for some flashbacks from the "simpler days" ? Don't hesitate to comment and vote, I honestly enjoy reading your comments. We've made it up to 100 reads for the Sequel of Enchanted, which I think is pretty cool, so thank you.

We've now reached chapter 9, so at the end of chapter 10 I might do some questioning again, just like I did with Everland (you cannot believe how helpful those have been!)

Also HAPPY NEW YEAR, may your 2016 be the year your dreams come true and that you find where you want to be. Good luck!

Quote

It felt like you threw me

so far from myself

I've been trying to find my way back

ever since

- RUPI KAUR