Neverland? Could we really be real life Peter Pans, and live in a world of our own, called Neverland?

Well, obviously we could.

Because we are, and have been for the past 3 weeks. We got by with the price of the place. Mom and dad's inheritance helped pay the majority of it, and we got a loan, which we are paying back little by little.

Also, Emma and Ryan gave us a little towards the place. We got there eventually, especially since we haggled the sellers' price down quite significantly.

Ryder's sixteenth is in two days, and he's been going on about what he wants and all that. Amusing, really. But I told him we couldn't get him much, cos we've moved from Gary, all the way to California.

I must admit, that was hard. Having to say goodbye to my entire life for a whole new fresh start was really something. Especially saying it to Emma and Ryan. I imagine it was hard for Michael to say goodbye to Janet, and the kids to all their friends. Also, the Jax boys. They were hard to say goodbye to.

Electra still had her prom. She didn't go with Sydney, but he spoke to her after the prom, when I went to pick her up from the venue.

I saw him kiss her cheek, and they looked like they were about to kiss properly, but then that Brittany chick came and ruined it. Oh well, better luck next time, Electra sweetheart. She seemed to get over it though. Good, that boy wasn't worth it.

Dexter and his girlfriend Ally have barely spoken since that incident, and I doubt they ever really will. As for Ryder.. he's still single. But we needed a fresh start, a new life.

Gary gives me the creeps now, there've been that many deaths there that I've witnessed. Daniel's, Janine's.. mom and dad's sort of.. it's been eventful. But here we are, getting on with a new start, and a new chance to forget about our old lives.

*19th April, 2005*

"And I need a new phone, too mum, cos my old one is seriously crap--"

"I'm gonna stop you right there, Ryder," I hold my hand up in his face to shut him up. "I've told you a gajillion times before that we're paying off some people for helping us pay for the house."

"You don't have to dumb the language down for me, mum. I know what a loan is."

"Fine then. We're paying a loan off. Point is, I doubt a new phone'll be on the present pile in two days time."

"Well.. driving lessons? C'mon, you know I wanna learn to drive!"

"Ryder, you can learn to drive at a slightly older age. Sixteen is too young for someone like you."

"Someone like me, eh? What would define.. "someone like me," hmm?"

"An immature sixteen year old that thinks he's got it all."

"I like the sound of that," Ryder smirks.

"You would.. anyway," I stop and look him in the eye intently.

He looks just like the young, twenty-nine year old Michael I fell in love with 17 years ago. His deep brown eyes, his beautiful jheri curls, his smile.. Ryder's a spitting image of his father, from his younger years. It's incredible how much my little boy has grown.

I still remember holding him in my arms as a baby. Now he's a fifteen-year-old boy, two days away from sixteen, and he's still gorgeous.

"Mom, why are you staring at me?"

I shake my head to rid my trance, and look properly at Ryder. Did I just stare at him that much?

"Sorry, son," I smile sweetly, and run my fingers through his curls gently. "I was just thinking about how much you've grown. You look just like your father when he was younger. Y'know, when I first met him. Both beautiful men."

Ryder blushes ever so slightly. "I get it. I've seen pictures of dad when he was younger, I guess I do look a little like him, don't I?"

"You're the spitting image of him. You'll definately get the girls as you get older," I chuckle.

"Hmm, I won't complain about that," he exhales through his nose and looks at me.

"So, I was born on yours and dad's original wedding day?"

"Yeah, you sure were," I sigh with a smile. "I remember that time, clear as day. Me and your father had just had an argument about your grandparents being gone, and I stormed out of the room. I started feeling sick, so I ran to the bathroom, and your father followed me.. the bathroom door got locked, and we couldn't open it. Michael called a doctor to come check on me, but when he came, he couldn't open the door either! Then, he called the fire brigade, to try and get us outta the bathroom, and I remember me and your father playing a game to pass the time--"

"Uh, why?"

"I'm getting to that bit, Ryder. Anyway, we played this game, that involved saying the most crazy sentences we could think of. Loads of different ones came up, like.. me and your father were gonna get married that day, and we used to hate each other.. but then I felt my first contraction from you, and I won the game by saying "our child is gonna be here sooner than planned. My waters just broke!" and that's what started it off.. it was an eventful day."

"Ha, I won that game for you. You should be thankful to me," Ryder smirks, and folds his arms triumphantly. I roll my eyes and chuckle.

"Yeah, yeah. That, and you caused me seven hours of pain."

"But I won you the game, right?" he reasserts.

"Yes, yes. Now c'mon. Go to your room or something. I need to sort a few things out."

"For my sixteenth birthday party?"

"Maybe," I give him a sneaky look. "Now c'mon, out!"

"Alright, alright. I'm gone."

He leaves the room, just as Michael comes in.

"You alright sweetheart? I'm home from work," he says. I nod and sigh.

"Yeah, just really wondering what to get Ryder for his sixteenth. I know I've left it later this year, but he's constantly changing his taste and we've not got a lot of money now.. he's so hard to buy for," I explain, and Michael places his arm around me and looks into my eyes.

"What's he been asking for?"

"A phone, which he won't be getting," I reply.

"Well, what else can we get him? The boy only cares about his phone. The one he's got has been.. malfunctioning.. lately. Maybe a new phone would be good."

"Michael, are you sure?"

"Of course. I'll pay for it. He's been asking for that iPhone thingy hasn't he? I heard they're quite new."

"And expensive," I sigh.

"Ah, no matter. He's gonna be sixteen, it's gotta be a good present, right?"

"I suppose. But you're gonna have to go out and get it today or tomorrow."

"Of course. I'll nip out tomorrow."

"Alright," I say. "So how was school today?"

"Not bad, thanks. Only two classes needed me today. But one of them was maths, which I'm not the best at. The other was art, so that was alright."

"And let me guess, in art, you made them "express themselves and find their inner artist"?"

"You really do know me too well."

"I do," I reach up on my tiptoes and kiss his lips once. "So, come help me with Ryder's party stuff."

"Ok," Michael comes with me to the kitchen, where Ryder's cake is, and I show it to him.

"That's Ryder's cake," I explain, and I show him every part of it.

The flakes around the edges, the chocolate sponge, the coloured sprinkles. It looks amazing.

"Well, if there's one thing that doesn't change with Ryder, it's his daddy's sweet tooth," Michael jokes.

"Yeah, that's true," I laugh. "He does get that from you."

*Ryder's POV*

So, just two days until I'm sixteen. That opens up a whole load of doors for me, if you know what I mean. I can get away with talking to the girls, more than I do now.

There's this girl in my tutor group, her name's Katrice. I've had my eye on her for a while now, but I've never asked her out. We get on great at school, we're actually quite close friends, but I've never actually spent time with her out of school, cos I'm normally with the guys from my class. But damn, she is fine.

Her hair is naturally blonde like mom's, and she has deep blue eyes. She always goes to school without make-up, because she doesn't need it. She says she prefers looking natural, that make-up ruins a person's facial identity, but I know the truth. It's because she wants to show her natural beauty, cos she certainly has it.

She's coming to my party, in a couple days time. I'm glad my birthday is on a Saturday, meaning we can party til dawn, without worrying about school. But I'm gonna take my party as an opprtunity to flirt with Katrice. She's just damn perfect. I need her. Only thing is, dad is so strict when it comes to relationships. He has to know every detail about them. So, I'm gonna warn him before I start flirting with Katrice.

In fact, why don't I do it now?

I leave my room, and head downstairs. I get to the kitchen, where mum and dad are.

"Hey, dad, can I talk to you a sec?" I ask. Dad nods and walks my way.

"Hey, Ryder, watcha want?" he asks.

"Oh, nothing, I just wanted to tell you that.. er.. well, it's my birthday in two days, right?"

"Yeah?"

"And that girl from my class, Katrice is coming, yeah?"

"You like her, don't you?"

How did he know?!

"Maybe.." I mutter.

"You're gonna be sixteen, it kills me to say this, but from then, you're the only person that can make relationships decisions for yourself, son. But don't go too far for your age, ok?"

"It's that easy?" I ask in disbelief.

"Of course. You only gotta tell me how you feel, I don't bite all the time," dad explains.

"Cheers, dad," I smile, and pat his shoulder before heading back upstairs.

That was so easy!

I get to my room and unlock my phone. It's a really crap phone, I seriously need a new one, but mum won't get me one. It's my sixteenth birthday soon, you'd think she'd give in!

I dial Katrice's number. I wanna talk to her.

"Hello?" her voice is angelic.

"Uh.. Katrice.. it's Ryder Jackson, from your class?"

"Oh, hey Ryder, what's up?" her voice perks up at the knowledge it's me.

"I was just thinking about my birthday party in a couple days time, y'know, and.. I was wondering, since you're coming, would you like to hang out a little on Saturday?"

"Uhm.." she exhales. "Yeah, sure. Why not? Wait.. you're not gonna make me dance are ya?"

"Of course not," I chuckle nervously. "Unless you wanna, of course."

"I'll pass on that one," she giggles. "But sure, I'll come hang with you. See you tomorrow at school, ok?"

"Sure. See ya tomorrow."

I hang up and fall back on the bed. Phase one of my plan is complete. Now I just gotta win her over, then my mission is complete.

*Becky's POV*

Things are coming together, little by little. Ryder's present has been planned, almost everything is ready for his party on Saturday, it's all good. Michael has just come back into the room from talking to Ryder.

"What was it? Was it "The Talk"?" I ask with a wink.

"Uh.. not entirely, no.. but similar."

"Similar how?"

"He was basically saying there's this girl in his class that he likes."

"You need say no more," I smile. "Ahh, it's so sweet, isn't it. Our oldest son is growing up into a young man. It's quite something."

The doorbell suddenly goes.

"Dexter!" I call. "Get the door for me, would ya?"

"Ok mom!" he calls back, and I turn back to Michael.

"It's quite something," I repeat my last line again.

"You can say that again," Michael hugs me from behind. "Sixteen years old.. almost.. already!"

"I know.. how time flies by, I swear I missed half his life just by blinking once."

"Sixteen," Michael repeats, almost in shock. "From that little tiny child to a wonderful young man."

"Yeah.."

"Mum!" Dexter runs into the room quickly.

"Yeah?" I ask. Dexter looks a little confused.

"There's some woman here saying that she needs to see dad. I think she said she used to date him, and that her name is Brooke."

Author's note: oooohhhh what's gonna happen? And sorry I didn't update for slightly longer this time, I'm on holiday at the moment, so I've been real busy :p