The white curtains of the bay window twirled and danced on the breeze like ballet dancers. I watched them with fascination until my own curiosity pulled me from my bed. The curtains seemed to greet me with a bow, so I returned the greeting with a curtsy. Moonlight caressed my skin as I twirled with the curtains, pretending that I was a professional ballerina.

"It's time for bed, Amelia." I twirled around to see my dad standing silhouetted in the doorway of my bedroom. His smile pulled softly at the corner of his lips and the shadows darkened his bright green eyes. He strode into my bedroom to sit at the edge of my bed.

"Daddy, when I grow up: I want to be a ballerina!" I giggled, twirling and twirling until I became dizzy.

Before I realized what was happening, Daddy came and scooped me up in his arms. "Alright, but it's this ballerina's bedtime!" He lifted me like an airplane then laid me into my bed. I was laughing up a storm.

Daddy tucked me in under the purple and white quilt that I've had since I was a baby. The warmth wrapped me in its comforting embrace like Daddy's bear hugs. I snuggled into a ball underneath the quilt with my head laying on the pillow.

"Daddy, will you tell me a story?" I asked with pleading blue eyes.

He sighed and pursed his lips, glancing at the door. Then he smiled softly. I knew he could never say no to me; I was his little princess. "Okay, sweetheart." He thought for a moment with his eyes looking to the ceiling. "How about the story of Neverland?"

I squealed with delight. "Yes, yes! Neverland!"

Daddy chuckled then began the story I've heard so many times before. "Far away, in a land only reachable to children, lies an island of wonder!" He waved his hands dramatically, causing me to giggle. "The only way to get there is by flying with a little bit of pixie dust as you follow the second star to the right."

"Where does pixie dust come from, Daddy?" I asked excitedly even though I already knew the answer.

He gave me a look but answered me anyways with unyielding patience. "The fairies make it at Pixie Hollow." Then he continued with the story: "Neverland is a place where children never grow up. The lost boys who live there play all day with their leader, Peter Pan. They go on adventures all over the island."

"Do they go swimming with the mermaids?" I interrupted him again with wide eyes filled with wonder.

"Yes," Daddy smiled, "They go swimming with the mermaids. The lost boys and Peter Pan can do whatever they want." Then his voice dropped, "But sometimes, Neverland gets attacked by a treacherous pirate named Captain Hook!"

I gasped, pulling the covers over my face. "Not Captain Hook!"

"He comes to Neverland to seek vengeance on Peter Pan!" Daddy raised his voice and spoke quickly. "But he can never get him because Peter Pan is too quick!"

"Go Peter Pan!" I cheered, sitting up in bed.

Daddy stood up and pretend to parry with an invisible sword. "Captain Hook draws his sword, but Peter Pan dodges with ease! He tries again and again to get him, but he can't! Peter Pan is undefeated!"

"Peter Pan never loses!" I stood on my bed, jumping with excitement.

Daddy picked me up and held me above his head. "Not with the help of his lost boys and Tinker Bell!"

"Michael..."

Both Daddy and I froze. Daddy turned around with me still held above his head like an airplane to see Mum standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. She looked stern, but I knew that she loved Daddy's stories just as much as I did.

"It's way past her bedtime," Mum said as she glides into the room. The moonlight illuminated her fair skin and blonde hair which she wore in a messy bun.

Daddy lowered me down to my bed so that I could crawl back in again. Mum came up to his side to tuck me in gently. "Oh, Amelia, you've got your father wrapped around your little finger."

I giggled since I couldn't deny the truth. Daddy would do anything for me. He made bedtime fun with his stories. I often dreamed about the stories he told me.

Mum kissed me on the forehead. "Goodnight, Amelia." Then she left the room, but not before beckoning my father to follow.

Daddy shook his head then bent down to plant a kiss on my forehead. "Goodnight my princess, may your dreams be of magic and wonder." He walked towards the door and closed it behind him.

My star nightlight offered some comfort in the darkness. I closed my eyes and hoped to dream of Neverland, the place where children never grew up. The place where Peter Pan played with the lost boys and fought off Captain Hook.

~*~

A/N
The map pictured above belongs to me.