I awoke to the sound of unfamiliar birdsong, my chest was throbbing, and I was someplace dark.

Groaning, I sat up and put my hand over my heart. Where was I?

I blinked as my eyes adjusted and noticed the faint daylight coming through the building.

With great difficulty, I pulled myself off the dirt floor and looked out the little hole in the bark covered wall.

Waves were lapping at the distant, sandy shore.

"It's like a little house!" I marveled, following the light that streamed through the window and lit up a doorknob.

With one hand on the wall to guide me, I made my way to the knob. And with a twist I entered the forest.

I jumped as a startled Peter flew to his feet.

"Wendy, you're alright!" He exclaimed, wrapping his arms around me.

"Peter!" I exclaimed.

He scolded quietly into my hair. "Wendy, Moira, Angela, Darling! Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

I gently pushed off of him, resisting the insane urge to melt into his embrace.

He gently grabbed my forearms, preventing me from pulling away completely.

"Peter I don't understand! What happened?" I Shook my head, trying not to show how affected by his closeness I was.

"Toodles shot you."

My eyebrows raised.

"But he didn't mean to shoot you!" He explained quickly. "-It was Tinkerbell... Her jealousy has made her cruel."

I frowned, "But I don't understand, why would she be jealous of me?"

Peter gave me a rather disappointed look.

I gasped as it clicked, "Oh... she has a thing for you."

Peter's eyes widened, "No she doesn't!" he exclaimed.

I studied his face, amazed at how blind he could be.

And I think looking back that he truly believed it.

I huffed, "Fine. Well then why do you think she's jealous of me?"

Peter thought for a moment, "...Well you are to be queen, and she is just a pot-mender"

I blinked "She is?"

Peter cocked his head to the side "Yes, and I suppose she could be jealous of your beauty."

"S-she could?" I stammered.

"Well, you are quite beautiful."

I felt my cheeks grow pink.

"-In an ordinary, human-y sort of way." Peter added quickly, his eyes wide.

"Oh." I replied.

I shook my head to clear it and pulled away from Peter.

What was I doing?!

Certainly this was nothing but a fae trick. I must get my brothers and leave. I reminded myself.

"Where are my brothers?"

The easy smile was once again on Peter's face, as he gestured to a little lean-to where the boys and my brothers slept in a pile like a litter of kittens.

"I'm surprised we didn't wake them." I remarked.

I walked over to the pile of sleeping children and found Michael's head. The fringe of his hair, fell gently into his eyes. I swept it away from them and heard Peter sigh behind me. I turned back to look at him and he smiled at me, a dreamy look on his face.

"You'll make a fine mother some day."

The panic must have shown on my face. Peter immediately jumped and I could tell he was struggling to find a way out of his blunder.

"...Right! On that note, My brothers and I should get going." I exclaimed, pulling Michael out of the pile.

"Going?!" he exclaimed.

"This has been really lovely." I smiled.

"Hold on Wendy, going where?!"

"Home." I replied.

His brows drew together as I hefted Michael onto my shoulder.

"Wendy..."

I ignored him, standing and looking in the pile for John.

"Wendy!"

I peeked at him over my shoulder.

"Don't you see?" He approached me slowly. "Neverland is your home now."

"No." I replied backing away from him steadily.

I was startled when my back bumped into what felt like another human being.

I let out a yelp of fear, waking the boys who all rose from the pile, drawing their swords.

John alone was left on the ground, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

I gasped as the figure behind me lifted Michael from my arms. Spinning around to see who had relieved me of my brother, I let out a scream.

The person was no person at all. It seemed to be a corporeal shadow. And by looking at it I could tell it was Peter's.

A dark chuckle filled the air.

"Peter?!" I exclaimed

"In a way A rún mo chroí"

I jumped. Surprised to understand that he said, 'my heart's beloved'. I supposed I must have remembered more Gaelic than I'd thought.

The Shadow tilted his head at me, as I felt Peter's arms encircle my waist. I struggled against him kicking his shin.

"Ow!!! Now you quit that!" Peter exclaimed.

And a green vine encircled my legs, tying them together.

"If you won't go quietly, I'll use my magic and carry you myself!" and as another vine tied my hands together, Pan scooped me up bridal style.

"LET HER GO!!!" John exclaimed, rushing to help me.

The six boys held him back. Their swords blocking his way.

"Wendy!" John exclaimed.

"It's okay John, just do as they say." I replied, trying to keep calm.

"Come on boys," Peter demanded. "It's a long trek to the castle."

I glared at Peter but he skillfully ignored me.

So I settled in for a long walk. Pondering the best route for my escape.

~-~

Finnegan knocked on the front door of Wendy's house. The early morning breeze shifted the flowers in the front yard.

"Wendy?" He called.

No answer.

He let out a huff of frustration, circling to the back of the house. He frowned as he noticed the open back gate.

Then as he entered the yard, his body tensed as the wind caught the open back door. The door smacked against the outer wall of the house.

"Wendy?!"

He walked cautiously into the house, the smell of burned food causing him to scrunch up his nose.

"Wendy?!"

An empty stillness filled the house.

Then a ring broke through the gloom and led Finn to Wendy's room. He picked up the cell phone from the bed.

"Hello?"

"Wendy?!" an unfamiliar female voice asked.

"No, this is Finnegan Redmond, I'm a friend of hers." Finn replied.

"Oh... this is her aunt, where's Wendy?"

Finn swallowed past the lump in his throat.

"I-I don't know."

"Oh, well then how did you come by her phone?"

"I found it in the house. Ma'am I think something bad happened to Wendy."

"Oh no... I may be too late." The woman let out a hysterical hiccup.

"Too late for what?"

"When's the last time anyone saw her? Oh dear what are we to do!?"

"Ma'am please calm down. I don't understand!" Finn replied, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"He's taken her! They've taken her and it's too late!"

Finn's heart stopped. "Who's taken her!?"

"...Peter Pan."

"Damn."

Without hesitation Finn hung up, and tucked the phone into his pocket. And he ran. He knew exactly who would know where to find Peter.

~-~

Tinkerbell's wings burned, she wasn't used to flying for so long without a break. But the rage that filled her fuelled her.

"Filthy Dirty Rotten Human! She's not worthy of wiping his boots! She can't just waltz in here and become queen! She's not even a Fairy! She hardly even knows him!"

Tinkerbell's eyes burned with unshed tears. Her heart ached.

So lost was she in her own head that she didn't notice Hook's ship, until Hook himself had his good hand wrapped around her tiny body.

She let out a string of jingling curses.

"Now is that any way to greet an old friend?" Hook jested.

"You're the last person I want to speak to Hook." Tink spat.

"What's wrong bug?" he asked.

"You're crushing me! That's what's wrong genius!!"

"What's all the racket?" A sweet voice cut through Tink's next insult.

"Is that a fairy?" Rose asked, walking gracefully up beside Hook. He wrapped his arm carefully around her.

"Not just any fairy. This... is Tinkerbell." he sneered.

"Oh!" Rose thought for a moment, no doubt recalling Tinkerbell's role in her curse.

Tink prepared for the inevitable verbal onslaught she was sure to receive.

Rose smiled angelically "It's a pleasure to meet you... If you don't mind my asking what's wrong?"

Tink blinked in surprise as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Rose bit her lip, "It's Peter isn't it?" she asked softly.

Tink burst into tears much to the surprise of the small group of pirates, that had surrounded their captain.

"Oh sweetie!" Rose made eye contact with Hook and he nodded.

An unspoken agreement was reached.

"Come with me my dear, we'll have a girl talk."

With that, Hook released Tinkerbell, setting her gently into Rose's open palm.

The crew shifted nervously, as they watched the Princess take Tinkerbell to the captain's quarters.