"When you lost hope you truly grow up, and that's what you're most afraid of."

Peter Pan opened his eyes. The words that Wendy had spoken to him the last time he had seen her always seemed to come up in his dreams. Peter would dream of Wendy or Neverland almost every night. It has been two years since Peter left Neverland.

"Peter get up! It's time for school; you can't be late again!" yelled Jane Price, Wendy's daughter and once Lost Girl.

Jane Price had adopted Peter soon after Peter had returned to London from Neverland. Peter had been looking forward to seeing Wendy so badly, but Wendy had passed away while Peter had said his good-byes to Neverland. Unfortunately for Peter, that was the start of his problems.

Peter Pan had been furious at the world for taking Wendy away from him. His instinct was to immediately fly back to Neverland, but deep down knew that now was his time to grow up. If he waited any longer Jane would be gone too. So Peter, filled with grief, turned around and returned to Jane Price.

Jane had done a lot of talking that day, Peter only partially listened. From what he could gather it had been about 25 years since his last visit to London. Peter had decided it was time to grow up, but he would say good-bye to Neverland by himself without the Lost Boys. He left the boys with Wendy, knowing she would be a great mother to them.

Peter returned to Neverland with Tinker Bell. After a run-in with the pirates, Peter tricked them into taking him to London where he escaped. Peter had said good-bye to Tinker Bell and she moved on.

When he had come back to London after what seemed a short time in Neverland, Wendy was dead. The Lost Boys had grown up, and all had families of their own, each thinking Peter Pan had abandoned them, and forgot him and Neverland.

"Come on Peter," said Edmund Price, walking into Peter's room.

Edmund, 18 years old, was Jane's son. Edmund had recently been employed by a powerful businessman, and would soon move out. He had always been kind to Peter, and Peter often looked up to the older boy. Edmund had grown up hearing stories about Neverland from his mother.

"I don't want to go," replied Peter simply. Edmund smiled at the boy.

"In all the time I've known you, you've never wanted to go to school. Now come on and eat breakfast."

Peter sighed and got out of bed. Edmund smiled and left the room, going downstairs to eat breakfast himself. Peter dressed and yawned as he walked down the staircase. He sat down next to Edmund and began to move his fork across his plate.

"Hurry up, Peter," said Jane, noticing Peter not actually eating.

"I might hurry if the food was more appetizing," muttered Peter.

"Now come on, Peter," said Edmund, "this isn't the worst she's ever cooked."

"You be lucky you get breakfast at all," retorted Jane.

The two boys often criticized their mother's cooking, Jane was no stranger to it.

"I quite enjoy your mother's cooking," said Edmund's father, now entering the room.

"You enjoy everything mother does," said Edmund simply.

Edmund's father just shrugged and sat down. Elmer Price, very distinguished looking, was a very calm man who complained little. He was a simple person and very much loved his practical wife.

"Where's Arabella?" asked Elmer, thinking of his daughter.

"She must be taking forever to get ready again," answered Edmund.

Edmund was always poking fun at those around him. He was a good-humored person, rarely in any mood besides happy.

"She's of marrying age," began Jane, "she should be trying to make herself look as beautiful as possible."

"Well that must take a long time," muttered Edmund.

Jane glared at her son. Edmund quickly stuffed his mouth with the eggs his mother had scrambled, pretending he hadn't said anything.

"I think girls spend too much time trying to look their best," observed Peter.

"Well, I suppose you know exactly what you're talking about, having much experience with girls yourself," said Edmund.

"Believe me, girls love me. They just don't know it yet," retorted Peter.

Jane smiled, recalling a time when Peter had said something similar to herself when she was a young girl. Peter Pan had grown since his time in Neverland, but the boy still had the same spirit. Jane was proud to call herself Peter's mother.

Arabella entered the room. She was a short, pretty, blonde girl of 22. She looked younger than her age, but men had recently been giving her attention. Peter and Edmund, as every little brother would, enjoyed torturing and teasing Arabella to all ends.

"Speak of the devil," said Edmund with a smile.

"Good morning, all," replied Arabella. She kissed her father and mother on the cheek before sitting down.

Jane finally sat down to be with her family. Peter began really eating his breakfast. Elmer began reading the morning paper, sipping a cup of coffee.

"Honey, you can't join the conversation with the whole family?" asked Jane to her husband.

"Oh, alright," said Elmer, setting down his paper.

"I'm off to the market," said Arabella suddenly.

"At this time?" asked Jane.

"Yeah, need anything?" asked Arabella, putting on her coat.

"You've barely touched your breakfast!" complained her mother.

"Actually, I'm off to school," interrupted Peter.

Jane sighed.

"You two can't wait a few minutes?" she asked.

"Well you said yourself I can't be late again," said Peter, puzzled.

"Oh, alright," said Jane, getting up to hug each good-bye, "I love you two."

"Yeah!" said Peter, leaving.

Arabella hugged her mother good-bye and left the house.

"Great family conversation," remarked Edmund.

Elmer laughed at his son, but quickly sipped his coffee when Jane glared at him.

Peter joyfully made his way to school. Even though school bored Peter, he quite enjoyed the walk there. A part of him wanted to one day fly this very route, but knew such thoughts were silliness.

It's been at least a year since he'd last flown over London. A couple nights after being adopted by the Prices Peter would fly out in the middle of the night over the city. One night, Jane saw him and immediately scolded him, worried that somebody would see the boy and perhaps take him away from them.

Peter had grown significantly since leaving Neverland, he was the height of the average man. His voice had deepened a bit and he found himself quite a bit more interested in girls. Jane guessed Peter's age to be about 13 after arriving back from Neverland, perhaps younger but his growth rate seemed to be consistent with that age. So Peter told everybody he was 15 years old since two years had passed since his time in Neverland.

Peter nearly ran into a man in the streets. The man glared at him and Peter shrugged apologetically. It was probably the man's fault anyway.

As Peter neared the school he picked up a caterpillar that was on the railing and let it rest on his finger. Outside the building he saw Trish Lounger talking to Greg Hurle and immediately interrupted the conversation.

"Hey Trish I got you a present," said Peter immediately. He threw the caterpillar on her and Trish screamed.

"Peter Pan!" she exclaimed, furious as he laughed. Greg glared at him

"Leave her alone," said Greg.

Greg Hurle was a very fit boy who seemed to always get his way. Peter often went out of his way to make Greg's life miserable. There was just something about Greg that made Peter feel constantly angry around him. The feeling was mutual.

"Oh, I did no harm," retorted Peter.

"Grow up, Peter," stated Greg menacingly.

"Hey, guys, let's just not worry about it," suggested Trish.

Trish Lounger was the daughter of Cubby Lounger. Cubby had been a Lost Boy in Neverland with Peter before returning back. The lost boys all had grown up and had families, many of which had children who currently attended school with Peter. The Lost Boys, save Tootles Darcy, each warned their children to stay away from Peter. Tootles Darcy, however, had recently had a newborn child with his wife and immediately visited Jane and even allowed Peter to hold the little baby boy.

Greg Hurle was the son of Slightly Hurle, a distinguished businessman and former Lost Boy. Slightly believed Peter abandoned them as a child and has never quite forgiven him, and was the most adamant on holding that grudge. He influenced the twins, Cubby, and Nibs to stay away from Peter and warn their children about him. Tootles simply remembered admiring Peter as a child and simply adored the boy and hoped his own son would look up to Peter as he did.

"Come on Trish, this guy isn't worth our time," said Greg to the girl.

"I don't know," said Trish suddenly.

"What would your father say if you mingled with scum like this? Let's get out of here," said Greg, leading her away from Peter.

"Don't listen to him Trish, we'd be great friends and you know it," called Peter after them. He sighed as he heard the bell ring and ran into school, making sure to actually be on time for once.

"Peter Price!" exclaimed Mrs. Laurens as he entered his first class of the day.

"Peter Pan," Peter corrected instantly.

"You're on time!" said the teacher again, surprised, "Good job!"

"I'm always on time," said Peter, "You're just early everyday."

Mrs. Laurens sighed, exasperated at the boy. Peter was an exceptionally bright student, but his head always seemed to be in clouds. He didn't really listen to anybody else other than himself and was convinced he always knew the right thing to do. The other students seemed to like the boy well enough, but it was almost as if there was something different about him. She did realize he had been adopted at age 13, but Peter had never spoken about it.

"Please be this punctual tomorrow!" decided Mrs. Laurens.

Peter nodded and sat down at his desk, suddenly looking forward to class to start. The sooner class started the sooner he could leave.

Mrs. Laurens announced a few things the class should know about various school events before giving them a creative writing assignment.

"You are to write a description of a setting of a possible story. It must be at least 500 words long," she told the class.

A few students groaned, but Peter perked up. He knew exactly what he would write about. He took up his pencil and the words started to flow out of him. Peter could picture himself in Neverland, and wrote down every detail of that magical world he had lived in. He finished rather quickly and had even written more than 500 words. Peter almost felt proud of himself.

He walked up to the desk and turned it in to Mrs. Laurens. She looked alarmed, Peter had finished the assignment quickly and before everybody else, but gratefully accepted his paper and began to read it then and there. Peter hurried back to his desk before she could say anything about his paper to him.

"What'd you write about?" asked Gabe Yolk, a boy who admired Peter. He had no relation to Neverland or the Lost Boys, but Peter had always felt Gabe would have loved it. Peter would tell Gabe stories about Neverland during lunch quite often, even though they both seemed too old to be dreaming of a place where they would never grow up.

"Neverland," said Peter with a grin. Gabe laughed.

Truth be told, Gabe didn't believe Peter had ever been to Neverland, but the stories still fascinated him. Gabe thought Peter to be a genius to have thought up such a place. Gabe could easily say Peter was his best friend.

"Neverland?" whispered Trish, fascinated. Her father had told her stories of Neverland when she was younger, and had heard stories about Peter himself, although she had never ever spoken to him about it.

"Yes," started Peter, but stopped at the sound of another voice.

"Neverland," said Mrs. Laurens, standing up. The students who were still working looked up and stopped writing. Mrs. Laurens began reading Peter's paper out loud to the class.

Peter just watched the teacher, not ashamed, but unsure of her thoughts on the paper. He nodded as she finished reading.

"That was my paper," said Peter immediately. Good or bad Peter would take credit for it.

"Yes, and it might be the best description I had ever received. It's almost as if you have been there yourself," said Mrs. Laurens.

Peter didn't say anything. Trish, however, turned to Peter, now remembering more and more of those stories her father had told. Peter had been the leader of the Lost Boys. Peter Pan had lived in Neverland with her father. Trish almost felt faint, but shook her head. Peter's name was really Peter Price, perhaps he had chosen Peter Pan as his name from stories he knew when he was younger.

There was no way the boy who could never grow up actually existed, Trish thought to herself. Even if he had existed he never would have left Neverland. Or would he?

Peter noticed Trish staring at him and smiled. Trish looked away, embarrassed. She suddenly wanted to learn more about Peter, whether or not her father approved.

Author's Note: Hey! Thanks for reading! This takes place after the events in Peter Pan Must Grow Up, my other fanfic, but you do not have to read that to read this! Reviews are welcome :)