Well, hello again! And how fitting the title is for THIS considering, Peter does come back… In a sense. But anyway, here it is and I hope you enjoy. It's quite short, comparing to that monster previous to this one. Oh, and this goes more into Peter's character then I previously have done. Really, throughout this whole thing, I've been enamoured with Wendy :D Well, I think she IS amazing, but that's my opinion. Sorry if I've messed Peter up for you (Made him OOC) or whatever. I'm really not that good….

Peter Pan Comes Back

Chapter 13: Broken and Faithless

It was two months after the day where the two siblings decided that they were going to help fix Neverland, with or without Peter.

Peter, himself, had not been seen for any of those weeks, but both the siblings- As well as with the help of the Lost Boys and the Native Indians- were trying to revive Neverland. Wendy, to her complete surprise, learned that she DID have some powers towards the growth of Neverland. Of course, it would never compare to what many thought would happen if Peter decided to help out; yet, it was good enough for them anyway- even if it would take a few years for Wendy to finally finish her life-long project of reviving Neverland and bringing it back to it's regular state.

Peter, meanwhile, had actually begun to calm down after the weeks had began to tick by in his solitude. He rejected any socialization with anyone. Including Tinkerbelle, and the cries of the Lost Boys; And Wendy. Peter couldn't count how many times Wendy had come searching for him, her cries getting more desperate and lonesome as the days passed. Sometimes, when Peter was caught in a strange mood, Peter would watch Wendy sit on a rock and cry softly, her hopes of finding Peter dashed once more. At those moments, Peter would be full all of his guilt and regret from dashing away like he did; as well as the reject of knowing that he couldn't go out and comfort her. There was something holding him back- A certain feeling Peter never really felt all that often.

Though, Peter still kept his promise of protecting everyone on his island, despite not talking to anyone for various reasons unknown. He watched after all of them, sleeping in the large community they had created for themselves so they could help each other out when needed. Wendy was placed in the middle, with vinery and flowers abundant growing near her makeshift house, apart of her discovered talent for growing. Michael's own little make-shift hut was directly beside hers, as was John and Tigerlily's. Peter had watched, with growing curiosity, as John and Tigerlily interacted around each other. They acted much in the way he and Wendy do- did. Peter was certain that there was definitely something going on between the two. All the other Lost Boys had their own make-shift hut they could sleep in, but ever since Wendy's loneliness had become more prominent, they began to stay with her- eventually to the point of falling asleep in her little home. All the other Indians were situated around the tents in the middle, and the fairies and other animals, who had calmed down once Neverland began to restore, found spots in the grass or small trees Wendy had managed to grow.

As well as with the searches for him by the Lost Boys, and Wendy and a select few of the fairies, there was also searches done by Wendy's brothers- sometimes, Tigerlily would tag along as well. All three of them were as close to Wendy as they could be (The past few months, Tigerlily had been stuck to Wendy's side, on account of John's concern for his sister, and she had begun to admire the girl dearly). They all had the same message to him.

If he ever came out, and hurt Wendy again, they'd be certain drastic measures would be taken. Tigerlily was never short of punishments and threats to shout out at directions they thought Peter to be in. They were getting quite concerned over how depressed Wendy was becoming, and all knew who's fault it was; especially in those unpleasant observations Peter saw, he felt more guilt then he could imagine. Still, something terrible was holding him back from going to see them all.

Now, Peter didn't know it, but the emotion he felt was fear. He was afraid of going back, and seeing Wendy again. He wasn't sure on how she would react- or if she would react at all. Although she seemed quite desperate to have him back, there was always the doubt that when it came down to it, she wouldn't want him back. He could see all the hurt he'd cause her, mainly by the things he'd said before he left- and he was afraid that that might make Wendy never want him again, once she saw him and thought about it. As well, as Peter was shameful of his behaviour. How could he face Wendy again, after he had said those cruel things? After he had told her he never wanted her again? It was hard for Peter to look at her- This is the person that I have broken, but how do I fix it? It wasn't as easy as just going back to Wendy. Peter knew there was more, but he didn't know what it was. He didn't know how to fix it. So how could he possibly leave until he figured out how? He couldn't take the risk of breaking Wendy any more then he already had. There wasn't much left to break.

Wendy's daily life had began to form a pattern. Wendy couldn't handle any unexpected things lately, so depressed her mood had become. Wendy was so fearful and paranoid that someone else that she dearly loved would claim to hate her, and never want to see her again, that Wendy started to not act out and do anything rash and unexpected. Now, her life was set in a routine; a routine Wendy stuck to like glue.

In the mornings, she would do all she could to help save Neverland. Of course, that would drain much out of Wendy, and then she would go for a nap. After her nap, she would meet and greet with everyone in their tight-knit community and ask for any sign of Peter. By that time, after her brief socializing, Wendy would go out on her search for the person she had been asking about; of course, she would also be helping Neverland grow as she searched for Peter. By the time her even more depressed and wrung-out body tramped back home, it would be nearly midnight. Then, Wendy would collapse on the small bed near the end of her room. Before she did that, of course, she would carefully place each of the Lost Boys in a more comfortable position. The Lost Boys always waited for Wendy to come back from her search at her house. Of course, Wendy would take so long, that they would fall asleep before she even got there to wish them good night. Wendy still, however, tucked them in gently and whispered her good night wishes in their ears.

That was the routine Wendy had been living with for the past couple of days, and it wasn't the worst thing Wendy could think of.

Now, of course, Wendy wouldn't have been so depressed and life-less over Peter's words and actions under normal circumstances. It goes without saying, however, that Wendy would have been quite depressed and sad without her love, Peter with her, and the thoughts of his words surrounding her. Though, with the help of her friends, Wendy wouldn't have been stuck underneath depression for long. She'd be living with it constantly, yet it wouldn't be as noticeable as it was. The only reason it was so bad, was because of her helping Neverland.

Helping Neverland was taking everything out of Wendy. She was pouring all the love and affection she could into each part of "magic" she used. She wanted Neverland to be as great as it was- so that, in her harried thoughts, Peter would become himself once more, and come back to her again. Putting her very soul into the work Wendy was doing, she was doing more harm to herself then she could imagine. It was draining her, everyday, of her spirit and emotions. Wendy had to stop. She needed to stop.

When her friends were beginning to realize just what was causing Wendy's depression to spiral out of control, they confronted her about it. Wendy denied everything, and began to become defensive. She told them of her hopes that Peter would come back to her once everything was back to the way it was. All of them knew that her insane abusive way of magic would stop once Peter returned and set everything straight. Peter was the key to everything, only he was being stubborn and allusive- and self-fish. That's when the three of them decided to go searching for Peter himself.

Finally, another week later, Michael, John and Tigerlily were beginning to get sick of hunting Peter down, and the harm Wendy was doing in her innocence to get Peter back. She was becoming even more depressed and lonesome, as well as hallow on the inside. They decided, that this was the last hunt they were doing to find Peter. If it came to naught, well Wendy was going to have to be stopped by force; even if it hurt them all to stop her like that.

"Peter! Peter!" All three of them yelled, hours upon hours trying to track the allusive target. They couldn't find any sign of them, and John- the more temperamental of the three- was beginning to get angered. John swung his hot gaze around the swath of half-alive trees, daring Peter to step out from the shadows of the evening.

"Come out you bloody coward!" John shouted into the shadows, "You crazy loony! Peter Pan, I swear if you don't come out of there right now, I will kill you! You are killing my sister, you horrible monster! You don't know what it's like to watch her slowly die in front of you, all of her spirit seeming to sap out of her as she concentrates her own life to saving Neverland for you! You bloody little selfish jerk! I hope you're happy, all alone while you cause an innocent person's death! All she ever thinks about is you, you know. If you hadn't broken her weeks before, you've certainly broken her now with your silence and your disappearance. Jerk!" John was done. His anger spent, he was tired with their useless search. He glazed at the surprised faces of his friends, though Tigerlily's had a sparkle of admiration. He blushed slightly under her gaze, before turning to his younger- yet infinitely wiser- brother, "Come on, let's go. Peter isn't going to come out, selfish little baggage. We've wasted enough time as it is. Time to start working on repairing the repairer."

Peter floated silently in the shadows, his eyes luminous with pain and regret. He watched his three ex-friends file out of the gloomy half-alive forest, giving up on Peter entirely. Only, John's words circled in and around his head like flies. Cause an innocent person's death! Broken her with your silence and your disappearance! Peter knew that it was time for him to come out of hiding. He could risk Wendy dying once more, as she already survived twice. Three times was too many, in Peter's book. Wendy might not come back from her third time dying.

"Wendy, you can't possibly go on like this anymore! You are emotionally a wreck! And it's beginning to show physically. Wendy, we forbade you to go out looking for Peter and beg you to stop helping Neverland grow. You need a vacation Wendy- You need rest!" Her three dearest friends had come to her with that proposal, along with the Lost Boy's approval. Wendy had been just about to leave to go searching for Peter, and her friends appearance and demand/plea was getting Wendy a bit miffed.

"Of course I can't go on a vacation! And I already had a nap earlier today." Wendy stated a bit crossly, though her voice didn't hold it's usual Wendy spark. She gave them each a disapproving glare, though her eyes were gloomy and the glare didn't do as much damage as one would hope. Just as she was about to side step them all, Tigerlily put a firm hand on her shoulder. Wendy paused, looking at the warrior with curious- though gloomy and fairly unemotional- eyes.

"Wendy, you will listen to us and obey us. You may be as powerful as Peter is with controlling the island, but you are not emotionally well. Not only has Peter's disappearance effected your sensibilities deeply, but also caring for Neverland has taken much of you away. You need deep rest- a long rest- in order for you to recover from your… current state."

"I will not! I shall not! I have a duty to see to, and a Peter to find. He shall forever miss my visits. I'm certain he watches me, although reasons why he doesn't come out haunt my mind and my heart." Wendy slouched a bit, thinking of many reasons why Peter didn't want to see her any longer. Yet, then, she straightened her spine once more, determined to get past them all, "Now, if you'll excuse me-"

"No. Wendy." Michael spoke up, as the three of them formed a barrier around Wendy's door.

"Let me leave!" Wendy demanded, a bit crossly.

"No Wendy!" This time it was John who responded, "Peter's probably never coming back, alright? If he wanted he would have done so by now! Where is he Wendy? Where. IS. HE? Face the fact, he's not coming home."

Wendy looked at John in shock, "Of course Peter is coming back! He has to come back! He misses me! He truly does!" Wendy cried, her emotions actually a variable force. With a great effort of will, Wendy turns on her heel and walks slowly into her house, closing the door gently behind her, "Peter misses me. He really does." She murmured to herself, but her voice sounded doubtful. Well, if he misses you Wendy, why doesn't he come out to see you? Like John said, if he wanted to come he would be hear by now, She thought bitterly, as she tucked herself in for another nap. Without warning, a large yawn escaped her mouth, causing her eyes to water. Before she could even help it, Wendy started crying in earnest, nightmarish thoughts of why Peter didn't want her plaguing her mind. As Wendy fell asleep, a small bitter tear rolled down her cheek and splattered against her hand.

Peter couldn't handle the suspense anymore. He had been worrying the thought of joining his friends for hours now, but he couldn't put it off any longer. Wendy hadn't come out for her daily "search" for him- which was going to be the time he talked to her in private and apologized- and it was started to worry him immensely. So, without another thought, Peter dashed into the community of Indians, Lost Boys, animals, Fairies and Darling Children. Many of the community members who were out couldn't believe their eyes as Peter flew past them, a concerned look marring his features. Everyone knew, as soon as they saw which direction he was in, what Peter was going to do. Everyone thought it was about time.

"Wendy! Wendy!" Peter cried out, as he rushed in through Wendy's front door. Her guards (John, Michael and Tigerlily) had just gone out to collect some food to eat and other things, so the door was quite free for him to barge into. The Lost Boys, too, had grown a bit tired of staring at Wendy's sleeping form and had gone to find something amusing to do. It was just Peter and Wendy alone. Except, Wendy was sleeping.

At first glance, though, it had seemed to Peter that Wendy had died. Just as sorrow was beginning to well in his throat, Wendy moaned in her sleep. Peter instantly felt relief rush through him as he realized that Wendy wasn't dead at all. She was merely sleeping.

Peter stared at her, soaking in her entire appearance. Although he had been "spying" on her throughout the whole time he was sorting out his emotions, he never really looked at her. More like, saw her and made sure she was okay. Now that he was close to her, could see every eyelash on her beautifully closed eyes, he was surprised to learn that he had dearly missed looking at her face everyday. In his scoping of Wendy's face, Peter also noticed that a sheen of wetness was on her cheeks. He was puzzled for a couple of minutes, trying to figure out exactly why Wendy's cheeks were so shiny in comparison to the rest of her face. Then it hit him. Wendy had either splashed water on her face before sleeping, or she had been crying.

Peter knew exactly which one of the two had really happened. His guilt started to grow even bigger now. He knew that Wendy wouldn't be crying over anything else besides something she cared about; and the only thing that would be worth crying over now would be him. She had fallen asleep, crying over me. It was one thing to cry over him when she was in the middle of her frustration to find him. It was another to have suddenly started crying about him, while she was trying to sleep. Peter was hit with a curiosity to know why she had cried over- about- him. Wendy moaned once more, before shifting in her sleep.

"Wendy?" Peter asked attentively, "Wendy, are you awake?"

Wendy was having the most wonderful dream, in contrast with the terrible nightmares that had been plaguing her lately. In this dream, she had finally restored Neverland to it's full glory, and everyone was proud of her, and promised never to leave her. As well, Peter had shown up and apologized quite expertly for his rude behaviour and claimed his life was incomplete without her in it. Then, he had vowed never to leave her once more. She was the most happiest person in the world, right at that moment. Then, dream Peter turned to her and whispered her name softly. It was the most loveliest sound, and she began to walk towards him. He kept whispering it, until the words, "Are you awake?" sounded from his lips. Wendy suddenly stopped, puzzled.

That was when she woke up.

"Mmm?" Wendy moaned, her voice laden with sleepiness. She actually felt a bit better than she had earlier; though still, it was nothing compared to before accident-with-Peter. Wendy felt her eyes flutter open, her mouth starting to form her brother's name. She stared contently at the wall, deciding to tell her brother about her dream first, then going to face him. She wanted to savour the memory a bit longer, before her brothers' stern faces broke the spell of dreams.

"Michael, John, I had the most wonderful dream! Everything was back to normal- Neverland was healthy once more- And Peter Pan came back! He apologized ever so politely to me. It was the most loveliest dream I've had since Peter left me." Wendy turned to greet her brothers then, a bright smile on her face for once. It faltered into one of shock as she saw Peter staring sheepishly at her.

For a second, Wendy could only open and close her mouth. Then, a bright smile lit her face, "Peter! Oh, Peter! I knew you'd come back to me!" Wendy flung the covers off her, before running straight into Peter's arms. She hugged him tightly, as if she would never let him go again, "Peter." Wendy sighed into his chest, loving the fact she was still with him. Weeks and weeks of endless emotional torture, her energy fading and appearance just starting to deteriorate. Now, everything was going to be back to normal. It's a dream come true! Suddenly, Wendy went cold inside. She ripped herself out of Peter's embrace, "This isn't real, is it?" Wendy stated, and salty tears began to drip from her face, "All this is just me dreaming, isn't it? I'm dead, or something! This isn't real!" Wendy felt her legs crumble, and she hit the floor with a thud. Peter started to walk to her, but Wendy scooted away, "This isn't real at all! This is too good to be true, isn't it? I've died, and God decided that I deserved a little happiness, so he made a fake Peter for me. Well, I'm not buying it! My friends told me Peter's never coming back, and I believe them. I really do believe them. Especially not now since I'm dead!" Wendy started to cry, "Why is life so bloody unfair!" Wendy sobbed even louder, her small body shaking with her emotion.

"Wendy! You're not dead! This is real, this is all real!" Peter grabbed at her hands, forcing her to look up at him. Looking into her eyes, Peter knew that he had broken Wendy much more then he had realized. It would take time for him to fix her, but now Peter was dedicated to the task. He had to fix her.

More tears dripped down Wendy's cheek, which managed to splash onto Peter's hands, "No, this isn't real at all." Wendy whispered, "This is all a fantasy. A fantasy that would have been wonderful if I believed in it. But I don't, and I never will. My friends convinced me to believe that Peter was never coming back."

"What? What did they say to you? Peter is coming back- ahem, Peter is here right- I mean, I'm here right now, Wendy!"

Wendy's tears began to fall slower now, and she shook her head gently, her face a mask of sadness, "Oh no, that isn't you Peter. Why would it be you? My Peter would have come to see me days before now. If he truly missed me, truly wanted to come back, he would have came then. Not now. That's why this is all a fantasy that I caught onto." Wendy shook herself out of Peter's hands, intending to stride out the door. Peter's hands dropped away from hers easily enough, because Peter had been completely mollified by her words. He would have come back then, not now. It looked as if all of Peter's hidden fears had come to life. Wendy didn't want anything to do with him, and it was because of him. She didn't believe it was him at all. She didn't believe.

"Wendy!" Peter jumped up suddenly, his mind clawing at the one thing he saw, "Wendy, Wendy wait!" Peter flew over to Wendy, who was actually striding quite fast out of the small community. The onlookers watched as Wendy continued to ignore Peter. All of them knew what had happened. Peter's attempt to woo Wendy and be apart of things once more had failed miserably.

"All I can say is that he came too late." One onlooker commented, as he shook his head sadly, "He came too late, the poor guy."

"Wendy, Wendy please! Stop! I want to talk to you! Need to talk to you!" Peter cried out from behind Wendy's stiff back. Wendy turned around abruptly, her eyes stinging with pain and anger.

"What do you want? What is it that I can give you!" Wendy proclaimed sharply, her own emotions that had started to revive after her a while focusing on anger, "This is all apart of my diseased mind, but still you try to torment me? With false hopes of this all somehow being real!" Wendy's voice was rising in her hurt; rising in hysteria, "Well, I don't like having false hopes. Not anymore. You- Peter- had destroyed them all!" More embittered tears dripped down Wendy's cheek. She had lost it now, "Do you know what it's like to lose the one you care about the most? Then dream day after day he'd come back to you, sorry for his actions? Only IT DOESN'T HAPPEN! Do you know what it's like to search for him day after day, only to come back empty handed? Don't you know what it's like to have your heart ripped out, every single day because you know the person you love hates you? Never wants to be with you again!" Wendy's eyes were ablaze once more, as she challenged the "so-called" Peter Pan. Then, apart of her anger deflated as she saw the shock on 'Peter's' face. Her eyes softened and so did her body, "Well, it hurts, alright? It hurts a lot. I never want to feel so much hurt again. You can't expect me to rely on hopes and dreams any longer. Peter Pan has taught me they don't build an island. He taught me they don't find what I search for." With that, Wendy spun around on her heel once more, and disappeared into the growth that had started to build. Peter stood, silently, staring at the place she had disappeared from.

"But I don't hate you, Wendy? How could you possibly think I hate you?" Peter's voice was a soft whisper on the wind; a passing phrase that never made it far enough to ruffle the grass beneath his feet. Peter turned the opposite way Wendy had gone, his mood much more sour then before. |Wendy didn't only just not believe in him;

She thought he didn't want her anymore. She had given up, and that hurt the most.

Peter could say that now, a part of him felt broken.

Oh my gwad. WHY did I write this? Why? -.- I just keep adding complications now DON'T I? This was just so simple when it started out and now it is this big monstrosity! -,- I'm going to have to change the name, or something! The title certainly doesn't fit this anymore. Neither does the description… Ahhh, and I've just lead you on, on another merry chase, now haven't I? It's not finished. Not yet. Peter has to win Wendy back, since Wendy… Well, isn't quite right yet. Though, she DOES have credit to be. I mean, seriously. The LOVE of her LIFE tells her to go away because he doesn't need her, and he doesn't come back for MONTHS! Effectively leaving her with a broken heart, and then pretty much destroying her innocence. Her friends are no help, "trying" to speed up Wendy's acceptance that Peter just isn't going to come back, forcing Wendy once more to make the decision between dreams and reality. In the end, Wendy chooses reality, and now that that is her choice, she finds that all this is just a dream of her ill-mind. Who wouldn't? She knows she's been sick for a while.

So there you have it fokes! The thirteenth chapter of my story! That is only getting this more and more complicated. What am I going to do? *Next chapter is probably going to be pretty mushy, considering that Peter is going to have to get Wendy's faith restored in him. What else then romance and general mushiness to make that happen? ;)

- Calm-Waters (I still don't like this chapter….)