Ch. 5

She's Old Enough

A young girl with bright red-orange hair and soul-piercing eyes read a bedtime story to her sleeping three-year-old brother. She brushed his blonde hair as she read word for word, as her mother often did for her, flipping the story to its end. She kissed her baby brother's cheek, a maturity about her, and tucked the little lad in bed. She switched on his nightlight and exited his blue and gray hued room. Kimberly Buchanan had grow into such a charming girl: kind, fun, witty, and beautiful, as her mother before her. The first born tiptoed down her brother's hallway and motioned a corner.

Margret Buchanan was proud of her Kimberly, growing more into a lady every day. But sadly, the child's mother feared she'd never see that wonderful day when Kimberly would embark on her own life's dreams. You see, Margret had a secret: she had become quite sick in the last few months, very sick. She and her husband could mask it from their daughter and son, at least for now, but as optimistic and bright as Margret could be, she knew her strength was fleeting. The city's finest doctors advised her to enjoy life with her family, Margret's body no longer responding to treatments for some time.

A strong breeze carried within her bedroom, "Margret?"

The mother shifted away from her bedroom's large windows; her loving smile was weak tonight.

"How are you?" her dear friend had heard she was sick—from her thriving grandmother.

"I'm alright, Peter." she kissed the boy's cheek as he gently flew beside her.

"Where's Mr. Buchanan?" Peter cautiously scanned the room. After ten years, the two still didn't see eye to eye.

"He's still at his firm—a late night with a partner."

"Oh." Peter's sharp ears lowered. He didn't want Margret to be alone, solely to please his upcoming request.

"Did you need something, Peter?" Margret could see it in his hesitant lips and slouching form.

"Huh?" the child rose his thoughtful gaze, "No."

"Peter…" she knew something was on his mind, "The key is safe." she promised, thinking that the reason.

"Oh, I know." he proudly smiled, making her chuckle, "I just wanted…Well," Peter shyly removed his pine hat; its scarlet feather brushed against his palm as he pondered, "Kimberly's ten now, and—"

"No, Peter!" the girl's mother then knew for certain what he wanted; she folded her arms and faced away.

"Margret, she's old enough."

"I was twelve when you took me to Neverland for the first time! So was mother—and grandmother!"

"Well, Kimberly's smarter than the rest of you."

Margret glared, the sky blues among it turning to ice, "Peter—"

"Margret, I promise to keep her safe." he flew into her vision every way she shifted, "she's like a sister to me."

"Only a sister?"

"What's that suppose to mean?" Peter's lip descended.

"Every Darling—every one, Peter—you've always done this!" the thirty-year-old pointed.

"Done what? Take 'em to Neverland? I promised Wendy and her brothers I always would." Peter tossed his careless posture.

"Every Darling girl! You build up their hopes that you just might like them—like them enough to grow up and—"

"Not this again…" Peter expected, and went and sat on the Buchanans' bed.

"I'm warning you, Peter—not with Kimberly!"

"I can't help all you girls find me irresistible, Margret!" Peter's face didn't shed an ounce of humor, "And the only girls I ever really liked were you and your grandmother! I don't even see Kimberly that way."

"In what way?" the child's mother protectively scowled.

Peter's eyes shimmered with innocence, " A pretty girl…I'd see her as a Lost Girl before that, and I wouldn't dare take her from you- especially now." he looked up from his swinging tan shoes, "Margret?" tears drenched his old friend's eyes.

She wrapped the surprised child in a hug. Peter still found girls gross, even her, but returned the gesture, anyhow. He did love her, after all. He could stomach it.

"Mother?"

"Peter," Margret quietly warned as her daughter searched the close halls, "Kimberly doesn't know I'm sick."

"What?"

"Shh!" the woman silenced his muffles.

"Mother?"

"Please, Peter, don't tell her. It's a secret." Margret held out her pinky for a promise, childhood habits between them hard to end.

"Margret!" Peter's cheeks flustered, not wanting to lie—for once!

"Promise, Peter. I don't want her to worry!"

"Fine!" he wrapped his smaller pinky around hers.

"Mother?" Kimberly entered the bedroom, "Why didn't you answer—" she shifted her stance, discovering her red-headed playmate, "Peter!" she ran into his arms, squeezing him close in her banana-washed nightgown.

"Hello, Kimberly." he gently answered, despite the watchful glare that burned his bones within her mother's eyes.

"How long have you been here?"

"Not long."

"Mother!" Kimberly excitedly left Peter's side, "Mark is asleep."

"Thank you, dear."

Her daughter nodded, "Is it possible for me to go to Neverland tonight—before Father gets home?"

Peter widely grinned on Margret's bed.

"Dear!" Margret was appalled with her daughter—always a planner, a communicator, practical! "You have school tomorrow."

"I'll have her back before then, Margret." the trifling accomplice stepped in.

"She still needs to sleep, Peter!" Margret snapped, frowning his way.

"Mother, I only want to see Mermaid Lagoon."

"And ruin your nightgown?!" the design was expensive.

"Oh, Mother!" the child's eyes shined, "Wouldn't that be wonderful?" she found the idea an honor. Maybe her gown could collect a little mud and get tattered around the edges!

"Kimberly…"

"Oh, come on, Margret." Peter Pan began to play the devil's advocate, in a long sneaky tone, "Let the poor kid have a little fun." he cued Kimberly with a light wink, and the two formed matching damp pouts.

Margret sighed, opening her bedroom's window, "Two hours, Peter!"

"I don't have a watch." the boy stated, showing his bare wrists before lifting the woman's daughter in his arms. He stood upon the windowsill, gaping into the night.

"Where's Tinkerbell?"

"Huh?" Peter gazed back across his shoulder, "Back in Neverland. She said if I wanted Kimberly to come so badly, I'd have to carry her myself."

Margret's heart raged. History repeats itself.

"Goodnight, Mother!" the scarlet haired girl waved as Peter dived into flight.

"Oh, Peter, be careful!" the poor mother was about to have a heart attack, the experienced flyer swifter than a hawk, circling a large loop, "Two hours, Kimberly Elizabeth!" she echoed over her home's garden view.

"Don't worry so much, Margret!" the male child cackled, fading toward the moon.

X-X-X-X-X-X

"Wow!" Kimberly admired London's tall glowing clock tower and elaborate bridges as Peter balanced her upon his back.

"It's just a clock." Peter shrugged, seeing Big Ben a thousand times in the last century.

"To you!" she defined, "To me," the girl's sapphire orbs shined, cherishing the clock's nightly appearance, "I've never seen the arrows this close." her long soft hair stirred in the air as she noted the landmark's every detail.

"How could you? You can't fly!" Peter smirked, and Kimberly playfully tapped his scruffy red locks.

"Alright, Peter, I get enough of London in the day! It's seven-fifteen now. So, that means you have to have me back by nine-fiftee—"

"Are you going to boss me around like Margret for the next two hours?" the boy dodged traveling trucks and drivers as he and the girl took a detour over a bridge.

"I might! Now, take me to the stars." and she steadied her hold around his neck.

Peter smiled and spiraled into the clouds, faster than the world's strongest jet. Kimberly's wild screams rang out over the milk-blue clouds, begging for more. She was definitely no Darling!

X-X-X-X-X-X

"And you let her go?!" Mr. Buchanan shouted, arriving home early to tuck his daughter in bed.

"Fredrick, Kimberly's wanted to see Neverland for three years."

"So what's two more, Margret?"

"I may not be here in two more years, Fredrick."

The husband's face grew long, "Darling, don't say that." he pulled the scared woman in his arms.

"She needs to hear my stories and see them come to life. I want to share her own adventures with me—" a tear flowed down her cheek, "while I'm still here." Fredrick Buchanan kissed his loved wife's temple, "I'll need her to tell my stories to Mark for me—and her own. The children need Peter."

"And what about me?"

"Of course you!" Margret pulled away, "But Fredrick, you've never given Peter a chance—or the stories about him."

"Because of how you've always looked at him, Margret! Your cousins were the same way!"

Margret glanced toward the floor, shame coated her tone, "I'm sorry, Fredrick."

The husband, that she did in fact love, scoffed and left her side, needing dinner and a hot shower. Margret sighed and went to rest on their bed.

X-X-X-X-X-X

"There's Neverland." Peter directed his head, Kimberly wide eyed within his hold.

"Peter, it's more beautiful than I thought!" she smiled as they overlooked the island from the clouds.

The forests carried a deep olive sheen, and Neverland's sandy shores looked heavenly soft to walk upon, all encased by the star's radiant blue ocean, reflecting the sun's morning light.

"Come on. I'll show you Mermaid Lag—"

"Peter, could I meet the Lost Boys first?" Kimberly requested, happily hunching her shoulders with folded hands.

"Kimberly, it took almost an hour to get here." the children's leader reminded, brushing down the girl's messy hair, pleading with him for more spirals through London's clouds an extra twenty minutes.

"Please?" her sparkling orbs were prettier than all of Neverland's waters.

Peter sighed, smiled, and carried her down into the island's trees.

A/N: Woo, it's been a long time! I've been busy with work and school. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed chapter five. Pretty short, I know, but now with some time off, I'll be posting for this story and my other stories more frequently. I am several chapters ahead in writing for them all. Please, please, please review (what you do like, what you don't )! You are not hurting my feelings, believe me! I need and love reviews (even if you're an anonymous post)! I hope everyone reading my stories stays safe, along with your families and friends. Take care, and I hope to have chapter six up in another week! If not, two at the most! Thank you so much for reading.