Snippet #2435047

"How?" Wendy finally had the strength to pick up the sword again and held it loosely at her side--old habits died hard. "But Peter, you know how. We left Neverland the same way we came, remember? That was ten years ago, this world's time. And..." This was the difficult part. She'd already made a mess of these introductions, no need to make her sound any more like the girl she'd been, so she gave it a moment to martial her thoughts.

"How you're here is a more difficult question, Peter, because I really don't know. If you remember, we came through a portal to Neverland, and returned the same way." Without you, unspoken, because that was a conversation she didn't know if she'd ever be able to have again. It was enough to have to go through it once. Watching him, it was odd to see the same gestures, like pulling his hair when he was working through a particularly difficult problem. Sometimes she could have sworn he must have pulled half his hair out and regrown it, over and over again, especially when dealing with something he found very troubling.

"Helping you? Peter..." She took a deep breath and clenched her hand on the hilt of her sword again, letting the breath out slowly. "Peter, you want to go back to Neverland, don't you." It wasn't even a question. Peter had belonged to Neverland for so long he didn't know how to be anywhere else, and of course today would not have made any difference. Age or no age, Peter was still Peter. Clearing her throat, she looked at the ceiling, blinking her eyes quickly. More than anything Wendy wished Ranvir was awake to save her from the turmoil of this conversation, but what was done was done.

Time to be a big girl, Wendy. You've done it before, you've done it every day, and you can do it again. Just one more deep breath, relax your hands, and look him straight in the eyes.

Calmer now, if only on the surface, Wendy's face settled into solemn lines as she looked at Peter's face. "The way we came back, Peter, it came with us when we left. And I'm afraid that as soon as we arrived the spell burned itself to ash. We always figured that it was Neverland protecting itself from adults, or that you had closed it from the other end, because if it hadn't... well, never mind about that. As for getting back there without it, your guess is as good as mine."

Be the adult, Wendy. You can do it. Just stiffen your spine and get it out. You are a strong, independent woman and you have survived worse. And my inner voice is melodramatic today, look at that.

"However, Alice and I both have connections in the city and elsewhere, as well as a wealth of books and bookstores to choose from. If you truly want to go back, I'm sure she and I can at least make a very good attempt at finding a way. Alice, especially, is in tune with that sort of traveling, and if we ask she'll be more than happy to help you get home." She was proud that her voice didn't falter on the last word. One must take one's victories where one can.

"In the meantime, Peter, you can stay on the couch. We'll need to find you some better clothes if we'll be wandering about town, so a bit of shopping will also be in order. As well as getting you some kind of temporary ID, just in case." Because when in doubt, Wendy girl, stay with the practicalities and muddle your way through.