Chapter 21

Peter eyes fluttered open to the sight of bright, white walls. The room smelled sterile, and honestly, he felt the cleanest he had felt in years. Turning his head, he felt something move on his face, something plastic. Thinking that was odd, he tried to shake it off of him. But he couldn't get it to move.

He tried to move his hands up so he could remove the thing from his face, but they were stuck in their position. Beginning to feel trapped, he tugged his hands harder, but he still could not move them.

"Somebody help!" Peter yelled. He panicked and tried to kick his feet, but they wouldn't move either. He glanced around the room and froze when he was confronted by a strange woman.

"Peter, it's alright. You're not trapped." She touched his shoulder gently and rubbed it. "Everything is okay."

"Where am I?" Peter whimpered.

"You're in a hospital."

"What's a hospital?"

"It's a place that takes care of hurt people, just like you! Don't worry, you're safe here."

Peter hesitated. His stomach throbbed and so did his head. He tried to sit up but was eased back down by the woman. "Don't try to sit up," she said softly. "You're still very weak, and your stomach hasn't healed all the way yet."

"Where's Maria?" he asked, remembering that he was barely standing the last time he had seen her.

"Right over there," the nurse gestured over to the window and smiled. "She's a great little girl. You're lucky to have her in your life, you know that?"

"Yeah…I do." He turned his head to Maria and cringed when she saw the cast on her arm. It stretched from her bicep to her knuckles. Then his eyes scanned her body, his gaze fixating on her head, which had a large bandage on the back of it. "How long have I been out?"

"Three days." The nurse wrapped something around Peter's arm, and it puffed up unexpectedly. He had a puzzled look on his face. "I'm taking your blood pressure," she explained. "It tells me if your heart is pumping blood correctly. And it looks like you are!"

Peter relaxed into the bed and raised his arm a little so the woman could get the wrap off of him easier. Then she released the restraints on his wrists, figuring that he wouldn't try to get out of bed since he knew he was safe. Taking the mask off of him, she sighed and hung it on the bed rail "I'll wake Maria up for you." She strolled over to the sleeping girl and shook her gently. Maria stirred and opened her eyes, looking up at the nurse. "He's awake!"

Maria shot up and glanced at Peter, who flashed a dashing smile. She got up and ran over to the side of the bed. "You're awake!" she exclaimed. "Oh, I've missed seeing you!"

"I've missed seeing you too!" he said, looking at her beautiful face. "So, what all have I missed while I was out?"

"I'll leave you two alone," the woman said, leaving the room and closing the door behind her."

"I cut off my dad's other hand," Maria mumbled, blushing pink on her cheeks.

"Wait, what? So he's gonna have another hook? Do you realize that it's going to be impossible to beat him now?" he laughed.

"No, he got it sewed back together." She smiled and squeezed his hand gently.

"Dang it!" Peter pounded his fist into the mattress, hoping that Hook would have suffered more for what he had done. "I'm going to kill him when I get out of here."

"Why don't you heal all the way? Then you can kill him." She chuckled and rubbed Peter's soft skin on his hand.

"How's your arm?" He gazed at her red cast and frowned.

"Well, it hurts like crazy, but the doctor gave me really strong pain medicine. So that helps. I feel a whole lot better now that I know you're going to be okay. I was so scared I lost you."

"You will never lose me. And I promise to listen to you from now on about your dad's plans to kill me."

Maria sat down on the bed next to him and brushed the hair out of his eyes with her hand. "Thanks for saving me," she whispered after a while of silence.

"What are you talking about? You saved me! I did nothing!"

"You kept me from turning into my dad. This tattoo on my hand used to remind me who I was supposed to be. Now it reminds me who to never become. You showed me how to be good. You taught me that I didn't have to be my father. So thanks."

"You're welcome." He glanced around the room and found flowers, presents, and cards on a table on the opposite side of the room. Then he looked back at Maria. "Those are all for me?"

Maria shook her head yes and moved over to the table. "Wanna open the one from me?" she asked, practically bouncing from the excitement.

"Yeah!" Peter propped pillows behind his back and sat up, reaching out to take the tiny box from Maria. She giggled and handed over, watching as he weakly tore the wrapping paper. Inside was a small box, about the same size as one that would hold a ring.

He popped open the lid and smiled when he saw what was inside. A small, silver dome laid on the cushion, and a string had already been attached to it. "I thought you could use a little protection right now," Maria explained.

"Thanks," Peter said while slipping the string around his neck. "I see you have your kiss too."

Maria fingered with it lovingly. "I will never rip it off ever again." She smirked. A long time passed before anything more was said. They were enjoying the peace of the silence. Maria finally was able to relax, not having to worry about Hook or what he thought.

"I love you." Her blue eyes sparkled, making Peter smile.

"I love you too."

The End