Neverland Masquerade

Synopsis: This is a tale of Peter Pan and the nine Darling/Harding children. Set when Wendy is fifteen-years-old and has already had her coming-out party. Her Aunt Millicent is looking for a suitable husband for her niece. This fanfic is set when London celebrates Sir J.M.Barrie's play and novel release. It's of course Peter Pan

Disclaimer: I don't own any J.M.Barrie character presented however I do own everyone else in this fanfic

Chapter 1: Preparation

The air was with filled with perfume coming from the many blossoming flowers and trees of the arriving spring season. Within many houses in Greater London, families and couples got dressed up for tonight's masquerade in Kensington Gardens. There was to be a celebration for all who loved fairytales and children's tales- Sir James' play 'Peter Pan' was a hit release and was being shown at the Royal Albert hall right next to the gardens where the masquerade was to be held.

In the district of Bloomsbury at number fourteen of an intersecting quiet street, there was a large amount of noise coming from the upper levels of the house. The noise were voices of children, boys mostly and the scolding of a stressed servant. "Miss Wendy can you please help me with these outrageous boys" Liza called from the nursery.

Sitting down writing the beginning pages of her latest novel, a maiden of fifteen years looked up from her writing and smiled standing up. "Coming Liza!" she responded before closing the leather-bound book and walking out of her own room with a swish of her daily cotton skirt with silk blouse. Wendy entered the nursery and giggled at the sight, running around the large room shouting out like those Mohican Indians from Neverland was the two twins and young Michael.

The four older boys were already preparing for tonight's Neverland masquerade in Kensington Gardens while Liza and Nana tried to attend to the three youngest ones. Liza smiled looking up from chasing one of the twins "ah Wendy can you please retain at least one of the twins" "certainly Liza" Wendy laughed before chasing after the twin that darted behind her "ah-ha! Come back little Mohican," she goaded.

The twin or renamed Benjamin Darling halted in his tracks and turned around "sister what did you call me" he asked shocked, Wendy placed her hands on her hips and proclaimed "little Mohican!" before chasing after him. "Ahhh!" Ben cried running around the hallway of upstairs.

He ran right past his eldest brother John who stood at the doorway of the bathroom "honestly Ben control yourself" he shouted after him annoyed just as his older sister dashed past him "ah Wendy, mother wants you to get ready" John said more calmly "sorry John, make someone else have their bath I have my hands full here" Wendy apologised looking over her shoulder.

John sighed shaking his head before hollering down the hallway "anyone who needs a bath, it is now free!" Mrs Darling walked down the hallway from her private bedroom wearing her burgundy robe because she wasn't in her costume yet for she was helping her husband fit into his. She saw Michael dash out the nursery and she smiled kindly "Michael". The young boy stopped running away and turned around smiling weakly "er hello mother" before walking over to her as if a guilty prisoner just escaping from prison. His orange head hung low in shame.

His sweet mother kneeled down and placed her hand on his shoulders. Michael slowly looked up and Mrs Darling stroked his cheek "don't be in shame dearest, I know how much you hate your baths…" she whispered just as Liza came out holding the other's twins hand "and since you hate it so much, I will bath you" Mrs Darling concluded smiling. Michael's face lit up and hugged his mother while Liza sighed "what a relief, thankyou madam" before steering William to the other bathroom.

Wendy came back down the hallway holding onto Benjamin's shoulders standing behind him proudly. Mrs Darling looked up smiling at her daughter "ah I see you managed to retrieve my other fleeting son" "yes just barely, he is so full of energy its hard to keep up" Wendy giggled lightly.

Ben blushed looking down embarrassed "ok send him to Liza so you can prepare for the masquerade" Mary told her daughter who nodded "and Benjamin…" Mrs Darling called after her son "yes mother" Ben looked over his shoulder "please don't cause trouble for Liza and tell that to your twin brother too" she smiled kindly and Ben nodded "I promise" before Wendy led him down the hallway to the other bathroom.

Knocking once on the door, Liza opened it up before looking down "oh no! Not the both of them" Wendy smiled at her "mother told Ben he and Will had better behave or there will be trouble" Benjamin nodded with his older sister "yes I promised mother I would be good" Liza sighed "very well come on in Ben" and the other twin went inside Wendy smiled closing the door. She walked further down the hallway to her dark bedroom. The room was stuffy from that day's hot spring weather and Wendy decided to open her window. Unlocking the latch of her tall stained-glass window, the maiden threw open the sliding window and a gust of a cool breeze rushed into the medium-size bedroom blowing Wendy's hair and clothes back.

There was something familiar about this breeze and Wendy's childhood memory box began to unlock at the back of her mind. The maiden stood in a trance as the little black box slowly opened up and memories came surfacing to the front of her mind. Memories she thought had had locked and kept away to stop her from crying, to grow-up and be filled with love for someone not for a person who would never grow-up. Wendy sank to her knees looking up at the clear evening sky "oh Peter…why haven't you returned" she whispered distressed.

Mrs Darling soon entered the room and was surprised to see her eldest child kneeling on the floor looking up at the sky "Wendy?" Mary walked over to her. Wendy blinked before turning around smiling weakly "oh hello mother" "what is it dearest?" Mrs Darling asked helping her daughter onto her feet. Wendy sighed "its nothing mother" before walking past her and grabbing her new undergarments and corset to bring with her into the bathroom. Mrs Darling smiled after her daughter before turning to the open window. She frowned for on the small balcony was a green skeleton leaf.

Inside the bathroom, Wendy turned on the hot water tap letting it run for a bit before filling the rest with refreshing cold water. Pouring in the scented oils from their small bottles till the water bubbled with the mixed oils. Disrobing from her day clothes and wrapping her waist-length brunette hair into a fluffy towel, Wendy submerged herself into the soapy water. Getting rid of all the daily filth of London city as well as the stress of being the perfect young woman. Memories kept on arising from her memory box and Wendy tried to push them back inside deep within and locked up tight.

But no matter how she tried, her mind kept on resting upon the same images over and over again- The Fairy Dance, her Hidden Kiss and the Rejection after the dance. Also images of that confident young boy with golden curls upon his head with sun-kissed skin and toned arms from sword-duelling all the time. Those golden curls wild and free due to being in the air countless of times.

Wendy closed her eyes and whispered softly to herself "Peter Pan…why can't I forget you" fifteen minutes passed and Wendy's eyes fluttered open, Liza was kneeling beside the bath with a smile, draped over one of her arms was a new fluffy white towel "come now Miss its time to prepare you for the masquerade" the maiden blinked twice "Liza how long have I been here" "not long enough to make your hands pruned, thank goodness, but long enough to be cleansed from all the day filth" her servant replied with a warm smile before Wendy pulled out the plug and stood up. Liza wrapped the towel around her before turning around and opening the cream bottles for Wendy to rub down on her arms and legs "the perfume will be put in with your hairstyle" Liza told her before leaving the bathroom.

The bathroom door opened up and Wendy quickly tiptoed her way into her bedroom already dressed in her new undergarments that were soft and cool upon her now scented skin. Inside the lit up room, her costume was laid across her double bed with the accessories and jewellery on the sides.

With the silver rays of the Moon coming through the open window and casting upon the white gown it made the costume look angelic and so ethereal that it was close to being illusive. Wendy smiled tracing a hand across the gown. It was supposed to be the formal version of her nightdress that she wore on the night of her flying to Neverland and having her adventure. It was made of silk with a bronze Celtic girdle and the same hem pattern as her old nightdress except the gown was strapless to keep her cool.

Wendy cast her gaze upon the accessories on both sides and she smiled recognising one particular jewellery that she'll always have until she died. It was cleaned and polished to look not cheap or ugly.

Her special acorn upon the silver chain that still had its old dent right in its centre. The maiden remembered how she refused to wear any heavy costume jewellery and settled in wearing this acorn necklace to be exactly like that night she returned home. Besides the acorn necklace there was a set of sheer white gloves that matched with her gown. Their length was to be above her elbow and the material sparkled as if having fairy dust upon it. The shoes and mask were something even better that Wendy liked for they looked to be suiting a fairy princess than just a maiden like herself. The shoes looked to be made of Venetian glass but when the girl had put them on to try, they easily bended with her movement. And the mask it was styled like angel wings spanning up and down with small diamantes going across the top of it. Wendy was going to have silver eyeshadow to blend in with her silver angelic mask. Her lips to be glossed a berry colour.

Liza entered the bedroom and smiled at the maiden "Miss Wendy why aren't you dressed yet" "I was just admiring my costume" Wendy simply replied looking over her shoulder before lifting up her pearly corset "and having some time to breath before I put this on" Liza laughed "I shall help you with that miss" before walking over as Wendy wrapped the strapless corset around her small figure. Liza took the drawstrings and pulled, Wendy inhaled and exhaled calmly while clutching onto her waist as her servant continued to pull "is this enough Miss Wendy" Liza asked from behind "…um…yes…any tighter…and I might…f-f-faint" Wendy gasped for air.

Liza nodded understanding tying up the drawstrings into bows and the corset was done up and ready. Wendy sat down on her bed adjusting her breathing to the pressure of the corset and her back remained straight as ever. Liza placed a comforting hand upon the maiden's bare shoulder "are you ready for your costume" Wendy slowly nodded "yes…yes I am" before standing up.

Five minutes passed and Liza was putting the glass shoes onto Wendy's feet "I shall put on my mask before I enter the gardens" Wendy explained picking up her mask, her servant nodded before standing up from kneeling on the carpet floor "now miss what about your hairstyle" "I had it flowing down when I went on the adventure so it should be out now" Wendy replied after remembering. Liza nodded "but it should at least have some style to it" she suggested as Wendy followed her to her dressing table where the brush and other ribbons were set.

Wendy sat down on her velvet stool and relaxed as Liza took up the brush and began to brush her long brunette waves "oh Miss Wendy I do not think I know anyone who has softer curls than you" Liza sighed while brushing. Wendy giggled "Liza you lived under this roof for nearly your entire life" Liza giggled too "too true". Ten minutes passed and Liza was styling Wendy's hair into a simple half and half.

The servant had told Wendy that her hair needed to be clear from her face so it wouldn't be caught with her mask. The maiden had agreed upon this and continued to sit upright patiently as Liza styled her hair. Mrs Darling entered the private bedroom and smiled as Liza did the finishing touches upon Wendy's hairstyle. She increased speed in her walking and passed Liza two pearl strings "twine these around the two hairpieces it will glamour them up a bit" Mary instructed. Wendy looked up at her "hello mother, wow! You look absolutely divine" her face lit up happily.

Mrs Darling smiled curtsying "thankyou dearest, I had this specially designed by your aunt Lillian" "really! Is she coming to the ball then" Wendy hoped for she adored her mother's younger sister. Mrs Darling smiled her secret yet knowing smile "maybe, maybe not" she teased, Wendy laughed, "mother! Please tell me" "no you'll you have to wait and see darling" Mary shook her head.

The maiden's kind mother was costumed up like a Pirate queen robed in a gorgeous blood red satin sleeveless off the shoulder gown with gold embroidery all over it. Small red circular diamantes stuck under her eyes in a curved shape. A black leather girdle was around her waist with a design of round rubies going around the middle. Her ebony hair was pulled up into a nice beehive bun with a silver costume tiara at the front. A matching choker was around her neck. She wore black nylon gloves that went pass her elbow.

Liza patted Wendy's bare shoulder "done Miss Wendy" and the maiden stood up to face her mother. Both women smiled at each other and took each other's hands "ah my darling this shall be your grandest night" Mrs Darling crooned to her daughter who smiled sweetly up at her she wasn't as tall as her mother yet "mother how do you know tonight is my night" she asked curious "well you are the co-writer of James' excellent play" Mrs Darling replied wisely.

Wendy continued to smile "I guess you are right" before Liza announced "I think its time for you both to go downstairs now, or you will all be late for the masquerade" "quite right Liza" Mrs Darling agreed with the servant before leading her daughter out of her room. Liza stayed behind to clean up the rest of the bedroom.

Downstairs in the foyer, the seven boys plus their father, aunt and cousin waited patiently for the two other women. While the three younger boys played around with their wooden swords, Mr Darling wouldn't allow for them to wear real swords afraid they would hurt themselves or someone when brandishing them around the five elder boys talked sensibly about what they were to expect at the Neverland-themed masquerade.

All of them had their masks on their heads not over their eyes yet; they were going to wait until they reached Kensington Gardens. Mr Darling all decked out in his 'Captain Hook' costume mixed with his black tuxedo talked with his older sister like good adults of society, Aunt Millicent gossiping about what her neighbours were doing as usual.

It wasn't until Michael noticed a glow coming from upstairs out of the corner of his right eye. He looked up and gasped nudging Ben or Will who in turn did it to his older brothers and cousin. John while staring up patted his father's arm who looked up in turn tapping his sister.

Aunt Millicent smiled folding her arms "well they are both stunning for this masquerade, Wendy dear niece you look beautiful, a great opportunity for finding a fiancé" she said warmly. The maiden sighed exchanging a half agitated look with her mother who giggled at her daughter's annoyance.

Wendy looked back down at her family and looked at each individual's costume with their formal outfit. All looked splendid with exception of Aunt Millicent who didn't want to get dressed up as anything or anyone only to looking just all tight and voluminous in skirt space for tonight's masked affair. The maiden and her mother reached the bottom and Mrs Darling let go of her daughter's arm and linked with her husband who helped putting on her long fur coat.

Everyone was to be cloaked until they stepped into the gardens. Aunt Millicent took Wendy's gloved hand in her own and announced "well let us go now" she sounded very excited to start looking for young suitors for her niece. Wendy sighed yet again, despite tonight being an exciting event, her egocentric aunt was going to make it a bit hard for her to handle with the so many introduced young men. The group then left number fourteen and entered the two carriages one carriage carried six.

Authors Note: So how was my first chapter…please review and I shall give you the next chapter. I want positive reviews but also critical analysts to see where I'm going wrong, if there is nothing wrong review anyway