Chapter One

"So I guess this is goodbye then?" Wendy Darling allowed the tears to fall from her sky blue eyes and roll down her face. She hated goodbyes but none were quite as terrible as this one. The one where she was going to have to lose the boy… her boy. Who knows when she'll see him next? If at all.

"Hey now Wendy-bird," the boy looked away from the ship's helm and faced his friend. He stepped towards her and softly took her hand in his. "This is not the end. Nor will there ever be an end for us –"

"But Peter –" she tried to interrupt, her brows furrowed. Her boy placed his finger to her lips. "Hush my Wendy-bird. I will visit all the time! To hear stories – about me! And all of my adventures! Maybe next time I could actually meet the famous Cinderella and we could fight Hook and Blackbeard together? I mean she can't do it on her own. She needs the great Peter Pan to help her win!"

Through her tears, Wendy managed a weak smile and a small giggle escaped from her lips. "There now all better!" He smiled, trying to hide the sadness in his own hazelnut eyes. "Alright men!" Peter shouted down to his Lost Boys. "Lower the anchor – but watch Big Ben"! The Boys saluted their captain and slowly (and carefully!) began to lower the anchor down into the city of London.

As Wendy's younger brothers, John and Michael, ran to the side of the great ship to watch, Wendy only had eyes for Peter. Peter Pan. He had brought her back home like she had wanted but her heart ached, mourning the loss of her adventures in Neverland and having to leave her new friends behind.

"I do wish I could stay Peter," Wendy whispered, still clutching his hand tightly in hers. But as she saw his expression change from one of melancholy to hope, she forced herself to add: "but I just can't. We have to grow up." Doing his best to shrug his sadness away, Peter Pan grasped her other hand and spun her around the ship's deck. "Well then"" he cried. "I shall just come back to visit and bring you back with me sometimes!" It all sounded so simple and fun coming out of Peter's grinning mouth that Wendy had to laugh along. Her auburn hair flew out behind her and the blue bow holding it neatly in place caught the wind, freely dancing its way down off the platform and onto the main deck where it lay forgotten in its owner's glee.

As their feet began to ache, Wendy wiped her eyes and started to slow. She glanced down and saw her brothers saying their goodbyes to the Lost Boys. She then raised her head to see the ship was resting on the roof of her home. They had arrived and it was time to go.

John shook the hands of each Lost Boy chanting "I won't forget you Slightly old chap…keep practising that shot Curly my lad…take care of yourself ol' Nibs…" Wendy giggled to see they all looked rather perplexed at John's hand wiggling farewells but they played along as best they could, swinging his arm from side to side as he tried in vain to lead them in the more traditional upward then downward motion of an English handshake. She looked at Michael tiredly dragging Teddy along the deck tightly hugging his friends in turn. She smiled to see they seemed to understand this action a lot more.

Peter sadly took her hand in his once more and led Wendy down the steps to join her brothers. "Attention! Lost Boys, line up and say goodbye to Mother!" he called. Wendy passed by each boy giving them a loving squeeze. "I will miss you all so much boys. Do take care of each other and remember to take your medicine."

"We will Mother," they chorused, sniffing and wiping their eyes fiercely on their furry sleeves.

Peter was next. He patted Michael on the head (not forgetting to ruffle Teddy's fur), and wiggled John's hand. "See ya soon boys!" he said, grinning that cheeky boyish grin that made Wendy's legs feel like jelly.

Then Wendy stood in front of Peter Pan. She ran her gaze all over his face and body, drinking him in so as not to forget a single part of her hero and her friend. "Goodbye Peter" she said shakily. "I shall never forget you."

"This isn't goodbye Wendy. We'll see each other again - you can count on it." He then reached into the small leather pouch he kept attached to his belt and pressed a tiny glass vial into her hand. It was filled with fluorescent green dust. A type of Pixie Dust. "Just a small gift from me to you Wendy. Tink used her special stuff for ya. Y'know just in case you miss me too much." He winked cheekily and added, "it's just enough for one trip and one person I'm afraid." Wendy's eyes began to fill once more. "Oh thank you Peter!" she whispered. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Really. I shall treasure it." Wendy stopped, overcome with emotion.

"Just promise me you'll save it for a special trip, okay?" The usual twinkle in Peter's eyes turned serious for a second. Wendy nodded, slipping her precious token onto the silver chain that hung around her neck. The vial rested next to her acorn kiss. "I shall miss you," Peter whispered, pulling her in for one final hug. He rubbed his nose into her hair, enjoying her sweet smell before he knew it was time to let her go.

Wendy slowly pulled away and the Darling children stepped off the ship and glided through the open nursery window. Wendy, John and Michael stood in their room and saw it looked exactly how they had left it. As if they had never left. Happy to be among familiar things again, the boys smiled and contentedly made their way to bed. John hung his hat on the bed knob and rested his umbrella against the bedside table. Why on earth had he taken that thing anyway? It wasn't raining after all and Neverland seemed like a sort of Tropic Island. He tutted at his own foolishness, removed his glasses and immediately fell asleep. Michael climbed into his own bed, tucked Teddy in his rightful place into the crook of his arm and promptly began snoring as well.

Wendy on the other hand took a moment to survey her room and sighed. Her emotions were a confused jumble of joy at being home and seeing Mother and Father in the morning and sadness at leaving behind her friends and her Neverland.

Suddenly there was a large gust of wind and startled, Wendy rushed back to the open window. "G'bye Wendy-bird" was the last thing she heard, so faintly, as if the wind had gently whispered a lullaby in her ear. Wendy's eyes searched the sapphire heavens but all she saw was an empty night sky and a single shooting star.