Falling part II

Kissing Peter is intense, not that Wendy would mind. Full of passion, he insinuates himself in every corner of her mind. Breathless, she breaks the kiss to realise they are both above ground.Unlike their first kiss, or rather second, this one was full of passion. Wendy feels light like a feather, secured in his arms. She contemplates his adorable smile, and she makes a silent vow to always keep it so.

When finally they untangle to breath, both of them are levitating in Wendy’s room. As the two of them come gently down, reality settles on Wendy.
What was she doing ? Her mind is swarming with the gravity of what she’d let herself do, or rather decide. For in her heart she knows she has already chose. And it scares her.

« Come with me ! I can teach you how to ride the winds once more ! » his plight accompanied by sweet kisses along her neck, making her toes curl.

« Peter, I… »

Suddenly the voice of Mrs Darling echoes in the corridor. Her voice closer now. Swiftly Peter lays her back on her bed and rushes out the window. He leaves so quickly, she barely has time to process it before her mother enters the room.

“Wendy dear, are you alright ? I heard voices.”

“I’m quite fine mother ! I was… resting !” She answers struggling to come to a seated position while adjusting her hair. She knows her cheeks are burning with shame, she prays to God the dim light doesn’t reveal it.

“Really ? How strange… But you are red !” She fusses around her, hand on her forehead checking her temperature.

“I’m not, I must’ve dosed off on my cheeks…” her flush increasing under her mother’s scrutiny.

“Wendy are you exerting yourself too much ? I know your aunt can be… singleminded, but you shouldn’t exhaust yourself so.” She gives her a warm smile making Wendy’s guilt so much more present.

How could she lie to her mother ? A mother that had cared and provided so well. It pained Wendy to even think of leaving her mother forever. What would she think ?

“Are you sure this is what you want ? ”

Her emotions must have shown on her face. She switches to her usual smile, her turmoil hiding underneath it.

“Don’t worry for me mother, it is for the best.” She feels her daughter’s refusal like a knife, twisting in her heart.

She’d long regretted Millicent’s involvement in the raising of her own children. Her character had always been too soft, too caring. Millicent over shadowed her, so concerned that she was about the betterment of the family. Never caring about the cost of it. A cost that was very present in Mrs Darling’s mind. One of her boys was almost estranged to her, the other one rebelling against everything. And then there was her brave daughter, that shouldered everything and bottled up her emotions. Wendy hadn’t confided in her for so long. She could feel their connection wither and erode under the societal pressure.

Surrender had become so familiar to Mrs Darling. Yet she couldn’t let her daughter ruin her life.

« Did I ever tell you how I came to marry your father ? »

« I know you married beneath your position, Aunt Millicent never fails to mention it. » Her mother had never really told her the details, but she’d known for long the rumours about them. Good society could never forget an offence, minor though it may be.

« Yes, she’s rather focused on that part your aunt. I guess I never thought it would help you to know. » she sighs, massaging her temples.

« Do you want to know ? I think it will give you perspective. » Wendy nods and they both take a seat at the edge of the bed.

« My family is of nobility as you know. In my first season I got attentions and a Duke proposed to me. My family was so excited. Millicent wasn’t as you know her now, she used to be driven by other pursuits. I had to say yes to that Duke. After all he was perfect, wasn’t he ? Wealthy and well connected. I was quite resigned. » For an intense moment she seems lost, her eyes scanning old memories.

« How strange, I haven’t thought about that time in so long. I guess it was easy to forget. I was very unhappy. On my engagement party I met your father. Oh you are right to be shocked, it was a scandal at the time. We fell in love almost instantly. Your father was a low bank employee, barely any money to his name. I sank the ship you might say. Because of me, Millicent lost her chances at the marriage mart. Our family lost its reputation, or what little of it we had. »

Wendy knew her parents loved one another, in a manner that was frankly embarrassing. It wasn’t a done thing in society, to show so much passion in a couple. She’d always known they were an anomaly, an exception to every rule. But never had she understood how much of it was true.

« It must’ve been difficult… How did you find the courage to go through with it ? »

« Oh it was simple. I couldn’t live without your father. So we eloped. » she giggles, memories of their run through England. Their small wedding in Scotland.

Wendy couldn’t be more surprised if she had tried.

« Mother ! That is… How did Millicent react ? » Wendy couldn’t fathom the implications of such a scandalous wedding.

« My sister took it as you can imagine. She came after us to Gretna Green. Well she tried, we hid inside a barn as she stormed the village. We had payed the inn taker to conceal us. » Mrs Darlings’s cheeks take a rosy tint, she looks so young speaking of her elopement.

« We had a few hard years. But eventually Millicent came around. Maybe because we eloped, your father and I feel we owe her. We did put her through a lot… »

« Do you regret it ? » Wendy asked in concern.

« Regret founding my soulmate ? Never. I would do it again, I would shame myself in front of England’s mighty and powerful ten times over, to share my life with him. »

This declaration fills Wendy with pride, her mother had metamorphosed during their conversation. Wendy could almost see her younger version. A young woman, not so different from her, running away with her lover.

« I’m happy you found him mother. »

« You wouldn’t be the first in our family to chose a different path, I hope you have the courage to take it. » she gets up, giving her daughter a warm hug. « Don’t stay up late, I will see you tomorrow. »

Soon she’s out of her room, the silence making her thoughts that much louder. She remembers Peter, probably freezing outside and rushes to the window. She puts her head through it, calling his name softly. She looks around in vain for he appears from above her, head upside down. His signature cheeky grin plastered on his face.

« Sorry, she was worried for me. »

« Did much dozing off on those cute cheeks of yours ? » he teases, his smile growing.

« It’s your fault and you know it ! She could’ve discovered us… You need to be careful. » His eyes drop low on her lips. He comes closer to her and she is again reminded of his height. He hovers above her, grin never leaving.

« What if I don’t want to be careful ? » he nuzzles against her neck, his lips dancing above her skin.

« Are you coming back with me Wendy ? » he asks. Hope was a fickle thing, and Peter was hanging on it.

« I… I have to set things right here. My parents, I can’t just leave them. » she watches his smile drop. « But I… » his eyebrows quirk at that, renewed hope filling his features.

« But you ? » He is too close for Wendy to focus. « I’m gonna need you to say it darling. » Embarrassment colours her face once more.

« I want to go with you Peter. I don’t know exactly what you are offering, but I want to. »

« What I’m offering ? Maybe I wasn’t clear. By the laws of magic you’ve made yourself mine. Your powers flow through my kingdom, through me. I offer you a kingdom that has long been yours, as is my heart. I’ll gladly surrender to you, abandon my ways for you. You need only ask and I’ll follow where ever you wish to go. » the intent on his voice makes her heart beat louder, her body warmer.

« Wendy, I’m asking for you to be my wife. » The question seemed to dissolve in the atmosphere.

His green eyes narrow on hers, a silent plea for her answer.

« I… I need to think. Will you wait for my answer ? » she tries, her emotions threatening to overpower her and just say yes.

« You have three days. I have to return to Neverland, but make no mistake when I do, it will be with you as my wife and queen. » He finishes, his discontent palpable.

Heart still beating in a mad rhythm, she brushes her knuckles against his jaw, willing to soften his features.

« Thank you Peter… »

He steps away for her touch before she can continue. His frown visible even in the dim lights.

« Good night Wendy. »

And just like that he is gone. Leaving her alone once more with her restless heart.