Title: Thimble and Acorn

Author: Aspiring Shieldmaiden

Rating: PG-13

Book/Film: Peter Pan

Spoilers: If you haven't seen the film there will be spoilers ahead.

Pairings: Peter/Wendy

Summary: Peter and Wendy still wear their respective thimble and acorn. But Wendy doesn't want to grow up, the "no adults allowed" rule is breaking out of Peter's control and Peter wants her back…and Peter has a certain way of getting what he wants.

Chapter Updated: Thursday 19th May 2005

Disclaimer: None of this is mine except the plot.

Many thanks to:

Zeldy: She definitely saw something. Read on!

shero003: Thanks!

Karaniya-broken: Well… the fact that he's stubborn, and he has an unrivalled ability to wreak havoc if Wendy stays at home with her parents. So she doesn't have much choice but to go with him…

Koda-san: Thanks for putting my story on your favourites. :) Good luck with your Peter Pan fic!

Sweet Stephy: Thanks!

Ryuu no Taiyou: Hope you like this! smiles hopefully …Can I keep my head?

Chiruken: Corsets sound horrible… shudders Peter will be coming out of the thorny bush soon. Thanks for putting my story on Favourites!

Wander Aimlessly: Please read on! What do you think?

Zorrina: Yeah, it must have. But the compensation is that he'll see Wendy again. Thanks!

Alyssa: Thanks! Keep reading!

Stardrops: Thanks for reviewing - here it is!

kasmira36: Yes, THEY are going to meet again. I'm really looking forward to writing that part!

Uozumi: Thanks for adding this to your Favourites! does little dance I'm feeling really happy now.

longblacksatinlace: Read on! Thanks for putting this on Favourites.

Elirrina: Enjoy!

And I'm sorry it took me such a long time to update. I've seriously had no inspiration for months. That is the only excuse I can offer.

Chapter Four

"I left her outside," Mrs Darling said to her husband. "I'm sure all she needs is a breath of fresh air."

"Mary …"

"Yes?"

"You honestly think she will grow up?"

"Yes. Of course she will. Honestly, George, you were the one who brought this up before." The music started up again. She held out her hand. "Now, are you going to ask me to dance, or will I have to lead myself out there?"

"Oh, right …" Mr Darling had forgotten this part. Smiling, he led her somewhat awkwardly through all the swirling dancers. Really, this made it much more worth coming.

Wendy was staring at the bushes in horror. Normally, she would have just thought it was the wind rustling the leaves. But there was definitely a dark shape blundering around. It crashed through the green mass sputtering and coughing.

Her first impulse was to turn and run, but there wasn't anywhere she could go without them catching up to her. Besides, something seemed oddly familiar about this person, whoever they were, and she couldn't quite place it.

Someone was lying facedown on the ground now, completely rigid. It was a boy of about her own age with light brown curly hair … and a somewhat odd outfit. And blue eyes were staring up at her, full of confusion. And they were, just like before, full of tears.

"Why are you crying?" she asked gently, dropping down to be on his level. There was something nagging at the back of her mind. It had to be something about the smile … or maybe it was the hair …

"What is your name?" she said, trying to get something out of him.

""What's your name?" Good, he'd said something. They were getting somewhere.

"Wendy Moira Angela Darling," she replied, smiling prettily, as if her aunt were glaring at her.

Now there was a sharp flicker of something like … confirmation? … in his eyes.

"Wendy?"

Now she had it.

Peter watched the girl stare at him, feeling all his certainties crumble away. This couldn't be Wendy at all, it just couldn't. This was some elegantly dressed girl from a different family—one that made their daughters walk all funny, as if they were permanently taking tiny measured breaths. You definitely couldn't fly in such clothes.

And he was crying because he'd just been poked in the eye. Not for any other reason. Couldn't she work that out? Wendy would have been able to. But not this girl.

But now she was smiling hesitantly, as if she didn't recognise him. Well, he didn't see why he should have to tell her, seeing as she was some complete stranger. And she'd answered him, giving some stupidly long version of hers—what mother would give a child four names? He only had two. He only needed two.

And as she leaned forward so as to hear him better, something swung forward at her neck. A small acorn on a string.

He frowned. He recognised acorns like that—they had them at home. Tink liked to collect them for him, coming back with a small pile every so often. He'd given Wendy one—because, he remembered, she'd wanted a kiss—but he didn't think she would still be wearing it.

"Wendy?" Oops. He hadn't meant to say it, because this wasn't Wendy … was it? But she did look like Wendy, and she sounded like her.

She looked confused for a second, and then an expression of heartfelt delight spread over her features.

"Peter!"

Well, who else would it be?

The band had stopped playing, and Wendy was still not back inside. Mr and Mrs Darling headed outside to look. She'd been left down by the bushes. Mrs Darling made her husband go down and look around the other side of the building, if she had gone for a walk, and maybe couldn't find her way back. Her mother knew perfectly well Wendy would not have ventured far at all, but she was almost sure something had changed. She couldn't say exactly what, but something was definitely different.

She could see the skirt of her daughter's dress swishing as Wendy walked slowly backwards and forwards, as if she were trying to decide something.

Peter hadn't really known what to do when Wendy hugged him. Hid first thought was that he was suffocating because she was holding him so tight. But he hadn't wanted to make her let go because she was smiling happily, all trace of sadness gone.

"You came back …" she was saying.

He nodded.

"I hoped you would, but …"

"Of course I did. I said I would. Anyway," he said, looking at her with approval. Now the smile was back, she didn't look nearly as grown up. Good.

"But …" She was looking a little ashamed now. "I thought you'd forgotten."

"I told you I wouldn't forget!"

Neither of them said anything for a moment. Then …

"Wendy," Peter said very quietly.

"Mmn?" she asked.

"Do you want to come back?"

"Yes!"

His spirits rose. But then she said, "But what about Mother and Father and the Lost Boys and my brothers, Peter? I can't leave them behind."

Truth be told, he has no idea who most of these people are. The Lost Boys as a group sound vaguely familiar, but he can't remember their names. And he doesn't really care, as I've said. But Wendy seemed to care, so he said, "They can't come with us …"

She seemed to have been expecting that. "I know."

Just then, the sound of someone coming towards them, caused Wendy to look up. Her mother was standing there, staring at Peter, and at the hand that was holding her daughter's. He leapt into the air before she had a chance to pull Wendy away … and she was pulled up too.

Wendy's heart felt as light as her hands as she rose swiftly upwards, Peter leading her, his laughter ringing though the air. They sped away, until the sight of her mother's face and sound of her pleading cries were lost, her form becoming smaller and smaller until it was no more than a speck, before vanishing completely.

But Wendy wasn't paying attention to any of that. She felt as if she were going home.

A/N: I'm not sure if I liked that last scene, but please tell me what you think!