Peter's POV

Peter and the Queen burst into the room, chests heaving.

The queen immediately took her place by the sickbed, grabbing her husband's hand.

A small smile, one of relief, curled at the edge of the King's mouth.

"My love." He breathed, as the tears raced down the Queen's face. "Please don't cry."

Peter stood frozen in the doorway. Looking down at the King, as he lay quietly breathing in his bed. The servants had done the best they could to make him comfortable. But it was his time to go. He was struck at once by how small the King looked. Lying there, the bed nearly swallowed him whole. And the King was not a small man.

As if realizing he was being studied, the King turned his head with a groan.

His bright blue eyes opened halfway as he studied Peter.

"Peter..." The King wheezed, his hand reaching...

"I'm here." Peter exclaimed, rushing to the bed and taking the King's hand.

The King clutched his hand weakly, and smiled softly.

With a slow intake of breath, the King proclaimed, "You've made me so proud."

Throat clogged with tears, Peter managed a nod.

And ever so softly, so softly that only Peter could hear... the King whispered, "You take care of that little human now."

Then for the last time...

His eyes closed.

The chamber was silent, as the King's breathing slowed.

Then stopped.

Nobody dared break the silence.

Everybody held their collective breath, as the King dissolved into gentle lights.

The lights rose, and floated out the window.

With a cry of pain, Peter flung himself out the window. Barely registering the change from ground to air as he chased after the tinkling lights.

The hot tears were torn from his eyes, as he flew quickly to the old ancient ash.

-~-

A solitary twinkle caught the corner of Wendy's eye as she searched the courtyard for Peter.

She glanced up as the moon burst out from behind a cloud, and watched as a shadow jumped from the window racing after the lights.

"Peter?" she called out, her voice echoing in the night air.

The figure zipped after the lights, and into the forest.

With a gulp of air, Wendy gathered her skirts in her hands and vaulted over a table, half torn down by the workers who were hastening to clean up the party.

She heard gasps behind her but paid them no mind, as she followed Peter deep into the forest.

They ran for what felt like forever and Wendy despite a stitch in her side managed to keep up with the shadowy figure above her. That was a miracle in itself. Yet she thanked her lucky stars when the lights stopped at a massive ash tree.

The tree stood alone in a field of white daises. Wendy pressed a hand to her side and paused at the treeline to take in a few shuddering breaths.

She watched as Peter descended from the air and slid down the trunk of the tree dejectedly.

Her breath even, Wendy gathered her wrinkled skirts into her fists again and took a step into the field, the flowers tickling her ankles.

She was preparing to run to Peter, when a hand gripped her hip painfully and pulled her back into the forest.

Before she could protest, a hand pressed over her mouth.

She struggled in the arms of her captor, until he finally released her, and she prepared to scream when he stepped into the light.

"Finn?!" she gawped.

"Wendy thank God!"

"Finn!"

She launched herself at him, knocking the poor man off his feet, and onto the forest floor.

"You're okay! You're okay I'm here now." He buried his nose in her hair and took a deep breath.

With that it was like a dam broke, her tears soaked his shirt as he cradled her in his arms.

"I'm getting you out of here Wendy."

"My brothers." She whimpered.

"You and your brothers." He confirmed.

"They're in the palace, heavily guarded." She explained.

"You get them out or I'll break them out. I don't care. Come daybreak you'll be safe. I'll take you home. I swear." His fingers pushed her bangs off her face tenderly.

She let out a heart rending cry that was muffled by his shoulder, as he tugged her closer to him.

"I promise you Wendy. Nobody will ever hurt you again." He glared at the far off shape of the Fae prince at the foot of the tree.

He had half a mind to kill him where he sat.

"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep." She sniffled, her brown eyes sparkling.

"I love you."

It just popped out of his mouth.

Her breath caught.

His eyes scanned her face in the darkness of the forest.

And he was caught rather off guard when she launched herself at his face, her lips meeting his in a fiery kiss.

And he melted into the forest floor.

After a moment of pure bliss. She pulled away, her face flushed.

"I have to go." she stated firmly.

"Now?" His voice came out all strangled.

She smiled at him, brushing a strand of hair off his face.

"I want to stay. But they'll get suspicious."

He went to argue, but was caught off guard by her lips again.

She pulled away far too quickly, "Until tomorrow my prince."

And with that Wendy disappeared into the forest.

When Finn finally came to his senses, he scrambled to his feet and returned to the others who had hidden their camp in the depths of the forest.

-~-

Wendy's Pov.

My face still flushed by the kiss, I made my way to the Ash tree in a sort of dream.

But I was brought crashing back to reality by the look on Peter's face.

"Wendy." He whispered listlessly.

"I'm here." I replied, kneeling down beside him.

With sightless eyes he reached out to me, and pulled me to him. I embraced him with the same gentleness that he held me. As if I was porcelain and he did not wish to break me.

After a moment I was startled to realize Peter was gently weeping.

"Boy, Why are you crying?" I asked softly.

"Nobody should have to go through this... Loosing somebody." Peter sniffled, shaking his head. "I finally understand. He may not have been my father but I wish..."

"Shh... It's okay."

I stared at the lights of the tree, they swam around us, casting shadows on the flower field.

Peter spoke again, softly.

"You will grow to love me, I think... In time. And I promise. That here you will never have to loose anyone."

"But your father?"

"He was diseased. He contracted that disease when he went to get the Queen. Many a year ago. I assure you I am fit and healthy."

"What? The queen?-"

"She was human too." Peter confirmed.

"Oh..."

"I think if he had to do it all again, he would."

I nodded.

"I just want what they had. You know?" Peter looked at me, those vibrant green eyes almost blue with tears.

"I know." I replied, laying my head down on his chest.

I lay there in his arms at the base of the glowing tree for what felt like hours. And for some foolish reason I felt safe.

"I never mean to loose anyone again." Peter stated in a voice so commanding it almost froze the blood in my veins.

"Oh?" I wondered at his meaning.

"Yes, and you never will either, you and your brothers will be quite safe here. And so I've decided, our wedding will take place tomorrow. Just before daybreak." He nodded to himself.

I pushed up off of his chest.

His green eyes met mine, and I swallowed down a lump of fear. Pasting on a smile. "The sooner the better."

Peter's eyes darkened. "I love you."

The vines around my neck threatened to strangle me as I replied.

"I love you too."

He smiled and it seemed a huge weight had lifted off of him. His eyes cleared, and he was quiet for a moment.

"I'm glad you were able to find me. You took so long. I was worried you weren't coming."

"I wouldn't miss this."

"Still." Peter sighed, his head turning as those keen green eyes scanned the forest.

My heart thundered.

"Peter!"

"What?!" He blinked.

I scrambled to think of some excuse for my behaviour, my eyes landing on his lips.

"On earth. We have this custom... for occasions like this."

Peter quirked a brow.

"Go on."

I felt myself blush.

"It's called a kiss."

Peter frowned in confusion and pulled something out of his drawstring pouch, placing it into my hand.

"You kept it!" I exclaimed, gazing wistfully at the tiny bronze thimble in my hand.

"It was the first gift you ever gave me. Of course I kept it." Peter replied.

I flushed with pride, as he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

"I think, I should like to give you a thimble now..." I whispered tentatively.

"What's a thim-"

My lips on his caught the rest of his sentence.

His eyes widened, and he pulled away.

I froze, still leaning forward.

We both turned a bright cherry red.

"I-I'm sorry!" I said jumping up to my feet.

Peter brought up a hand to his mouth, his eyes still starting out of his head.

"I'll see you back at the c-castle!" I stammered.

And with that I took off running.

And that was when it clicked.

'Dear Lord... I think I love him!'

The thought turned my world upside down.

But not quite as much, as the creature that stood outside the castle.

The deer was at least eight feet tall, It's neon coat shone in the silvery moonlight and it blinked it's four eyes rapidly.

My mind jolted back to that car accident with my parents.

For a moment I froze, then heard a voice.

"Peter's such a fool. To think that that Wendy girl could ever love him." Peter's shadow spoke, running a brush over the creature's soft coat.

I crouched behind the bust of an antlered fae.

"Then again, now that the King's dead, the girl will likely be out of here soon. It won't take much for Peter to scare her off. Especially since He's going to kill that boy of hers.... what's his name? Finn?" He continued.

I pressed a hand to my mouth, stifling my breathing and biting back a cry of terror.

"Ah well, no matter... we should probably take you back to the stables, Eh girl?" He asked the Deer.

She snorted in response.

And with that the shadowy figure mounted his steed and rode off into the night.

Once I was really sure he was gone, I scrambled up the castle steps and into the castle.

It was a long and sleepless night.