Author's Note: Hey guys, this will be the last chapter in An Acorn and a Thimble. Thanks so much for your reviews, and support! Will Peter save Wendy? Will she go with him to Neverland? Will I stop typing and let you read? *Salutes* See below for another note!

Chapter 10: Saving Your Heart

There was a thud from the fireplace. Matthew ran over to it, and seconds later there was the sound of glass shattering from the front hall. Wendy looked up. Peter stood there in all his glory, having come through the same window he had thrown the necklace through.

She tried to call out to him, but the gag in her mouth made it impossible.

He rushed over to her, and pulled the gag out of her mouth.

            "You came," She said, exasperated.

            "Was there ever any doubt?" He asked with a grin. He pulled out his dagger, and started cutting at her bindings.

Footsteps stopped him. Peter turned, and found Matthew in the threshold, panting like a tiger. "PAN."

Peter backed away from Wendy, and put his hands on his hips. "Codfish."

Matthew withdrew his dagger, and brandished it wildly. "I've been waiting for this for a long time."

            "So long you had to…" He started ticking them off his fingers. "Bribe a girl to like you, capture said girl and tie her in a chair, and… oh yes, use her as bait just to meet me. A fan, I am truly touched."

Matthew's lip curled and he lunged at Peter. Peter avoided him easily by leaping into the air.

Except Matthew didn't chase him. He walked right over to Wendy, and put the dagger at her throat.

Peter landed to the floor in a hurry.

Matthew grinned. "Not so cocky now, are we?"

            "Look," Peter said. "This isn't about her."

            "Oh, isn't it? Or don't you remember all of the girls you steal from their beds?"

Peter cocked a brow. "What are you…"

            "Does the name Amanda bring back any memories?"

Peter's mouth opened in an "o" of surprise. "Amanda," He whispered, his eyes filling with recognition.

            "Yes, Amanda!! I waited a long time to get my revenge on you for taking her from me, and so help me I will…"

            "Fine," Peter said. "I will fight you, and I will not lose."

            "Ohhhh," Matthew grinned, "There are many ways to kill you." He grabbed Wendy's hand, and sliced it with the dagger. She let out a small gasp of pain. In a flash, Peter's sword was at the tip of Matthew's throat. "You'll regret that."

            "Oh really?" Matthew asked. "Then strike, Pan."

            "Move away from her first. She is too pure to be covered in your blood." He pushed the tip deeper into Matthew's throat.

            "Peter, no." Wendy said. "Let the authorities deal with him. He's too wicked to die!"

The sudden voice made Peter turn and Matthew darted out of Peter's reach. He took the butt of his dagger and knocked Wendy out cold.

Peter roared, and flew straight at him. They dueled for what seemed like hours. Peter didn't care, this was what he lived for. He could battle this idiot all day and not break a sweat. But Wendy was what mattered. At last, he kicked Matthew's dagger out of his hand. It skittered across the floor. Peter had him against the wall. Trapped. Game over.

            "Go ahead then Pan, strike."

            "As much as I would like to," Peter said, put two fingers to his lips and whistled.

The Lost Boys plus John and Michael ran into the room from the kitchen carrying various gardening equipment and lengths of rope. "They have a better idea. Tie him up. Tight." He backed away and watched them go to work.

            "I called the police and our parents," John told him.

Michael stuck his dirty sock in Matthew's mouth. "That's from Wendy," He said.

As soon as Matthew was securely tied, Peter rushed over to Wendy, and cut her binds with one swipe of his knife. Her head was back, and her eyes closed. And when he cut the rope, she slid out of the chair. He caught her at the last minute before she hit the floor. He sat on the floor with her head in his lap, brushing her hair back from her face. "Wendy," He whispered. He ran his hands over her face. "Wake up." He looked to the boys. "Get me something."

John vanished and returned moments later with a cup of water.

Peter took it and poured some on his hand. He gently slapped it on her face. "Come on Wendy, wake up."

Wendy gave a low moan, and opened her eyes.

Peter thought the amazing ocean color was the most beautiful things he had ever seen.

            "Peter," She whispered, and sat up. She rubbed her head, and looked around at her brothers. "Boys, what are you doing here?"

            "Saving you," John replied with a grin.

The police were called, the Darlings notified, and suddenly, Matthew's house seemed very small.

            "Maybe we should leave before they come," Peter told her.

            "No," Wendy said. "I want to see my parents before we go."

Peter gave a small nod.

There was a cry, and then hurried footsteps. Peter and Wendy turned, and found Mr. and Mrs. Darling running into the house.

Mary ran over and enveloped all of her sons in her arms. George and Wendy stared at each other for a moment.

George shifted his gaze onto Peter. "So…" he started. "You… you saved my daughter then, did you?"

Peter stared right back. "Yes," He said simply.

Wendy noticed her father's right hand move. For a moment, she thought he was going to hit Peter. But instead, he offered his hand.

Peter stared at it, dumbstruck, but then offered his hand as well, and they shook hands.

Wendy grinned at it, then she ran to her father and hugged him tightly.

            "So… so this is what you want to do, is it?" George asked her. "Go live happily ever after with this boy?"

            "Daddy…"

            "George, remember what we talked about," Mrs. Darling had come over to hug Wendy.

George gave a slight nod.

            "Are you sure you're okay, precious?" Mrs. Darling asked, and hugged Wendy again. She reached out for Peter. "And you, how brave, coming here for her!" She hugged Peter tightly.

Peter gave a small grin.

            "We talked, Wendy, and decided that maybe… that--- we cannot stand in the way of your dreams. And this boy more than meets our standards… how can we ever repay you for saving Wendy?" Mary asked him.

When she continued to stare at him, Peter realized it was a real question. "Uh, no repayment is necessary, though I think Wendy would like your blessing. Because--- because, I love your daughter and… and I'll make her happy."

Wendy grinned.

Tears leaked out of Mrs. Darling's eyes.

Finally, George turned to the pair. "Every holiday," He told her. "And if you ever want to come home, there will always be a room for you."

Wendy said nothing, but threw her arms around her father's neck.

After everything had died down, after the police escorted Matthew away, Wendy and Peter returned to her home to say goodbye properly to her brothers and family. She took one last look at her room, and saw Peter outside.Wendy sat down next to Peter on her balcony. He had his knees to his chest, starring up at the stars. They had been through a lot, and oddly, Peter didn't seem troubled by it.

            "Are you okay?" He asked her for the millionth time.

            "Yes," She whispered. "What about you?"

            "The first time I ever fought Hook, I thought of nothing else for what seemed like forever. After that, it just came natural."

Wendy frowned, put a hand on his arm, and her head on his shoulder.

            "They sure are beautiful, aren't they?" He whispered.

            "Yeah," She said. "Which one is yours again?"

He smiled, lifted his left arm as not to move her head, and pointed up at a brightly shining star.

            "Home," She said softly.

            "Home," He confirmed.

She was silent a moment, and then, she asked the question that was burning inside her. "Who was Amanda?"

            "What?"

            "Amanda," She said. "You know… Matthew's---" 

            "I know," He said, his eyes flashing darkly. "I remember her. That was… way before I ever heard your first story. Tink and I were flying about London, and we heard someone crying. It was a girl, and she was sad because her goldfish had died. I told her I could get her a new fish, a fish that would last forever."

Wendy gave a small smile. "That was really sweet of you."

            "She was very pretty," He said. "I guess I wanted her to come because of that."

Wendy frowned.

Peter's eyebrows jerked up in surprise. "I--- I mean… I'm new to this love thing, Wendy… I---"

            "Continue with the story," She said, smiling.

He smiled, but then frowned as he relived it. "Soon after we got to Neverland, she went exploring, and had wondered into the Black Castle. Tink followed her. Amanda met Hook, and she decided to join his crew. Tink tried to tell me, but I… I wouldn't listen. I was in love with her. I had convinced myself she had went to Mermaid Lagoon and drowned. That was why she wasn't there anymore. But then, in the fight where I chopped off Hook's hand, I saw her. There, on the Jolly Roger. She wore a red velvet dress, which hid a dagger on her thigh."

Wendy gasped, "Surely not Babes McGee?"

Peter gave a small nod.

            "I've told stories about her, I KNOW the stories about her! You---"

            "---Killed her," Peter finished. "Sliced her throat and through her into the sea."

            "She was the only girl pirate ever aboard the Jolly Roger under Hook," Wendy whispered. "She captured Tinkerbell. I'm sorry you had to…"

Peter shook his head, "I'm not. There was no other way! She would have killed Tink."

Wendy rubbed his arm soothingly.

                        "After that," Peter continued, "I vowed never to love anyone ever again. And soon, I forgot about love… until you came along."

            "Well," She said with a smile. "I promise not to become a pirate,"

            "You almost did."

            "Almost," She said. "Even back then, I don't think I ever could have went along with it."

            "I'm glad you didn't," He said. "That would have been horrible."

            "So young," She whispered, staring deeply into his eyes. "And to know so much pain--- to kill…"

            "I do what I have to," He said, turning away.

She turned his face back to her. "I just want you to know… that none of it's your fault."

He gave a painful smile.

There was a silence.

            "Are you ready?" He asked finally.

She gave a nod.

He got to his feet. "Come with me, Wendy," He said, offering his hand to her.

Wendy stared. She was not looking at the Pan that stood before her, but a little boy three years ago with a mischievious grin, and eyes she could drift away into.

            "I can't lose you," She whispered, stepping close to him and taking his head.

He closed her hands around his. "You won't,"

            "Tell me you love me," She whispered. "So I can know it wasn't just a dream."

He grinned. "I love you, Wendy. And I shall say so every day the sun rises."

Wendy felt herself glow. "You really love me," She whispered, stepping so close to him that she could feel his breath against her skin.

            "Yep," He said with that same grin.

            "I love you too, Peter," She said, staring into his eyes. "It's always been you, and it always will."

He pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, leaned down and kissed her. "Let's go."

            "I cannot fly," She said. "I have no fairy dust."

            "Then I shall carry you."

She laughed as he scooped her up, and flew high into the sky. Left back on the windowsill sat a dented acorn and a rusted old thimble adjoined by a thin silver chain. Two kisses that had withstood the trials and tribulations that came the young couple's way. For where they were going, they needed them not, and left them behind as a lasting testament to their love.

The end!

*Cries*

A/N: Thank you all so so so so so so so so so so so much for your continued support of this story!!! It was a blast writing it, and now that it's over, I'm a little bummed. Does that mean a sequel is comin? Maybe, you'll just have to wait and see ;) *salutes*

Peace, Pan, and Potter,

Diane (lil)