Six: It Never Takes Long

In the weeks that followed Alle's return, Peter slowly began to fall back into himself; he was less serious and more playful. He indulged in music and games and food and sex. He appeared human again.

Eventually, Bartlett gave report to Alle that the crew was becoming restless; they wanted treasure, adventure, excitement.

"Let them have it," she'd said. "I will stay with Peter." She handed her captainship to Bartlett, much to his surprise. He promised not to forget her generosity and kindness, and she promised to forgive him if he did. No one knew the temptation of forgetfulness better than Alle.

o0o

They say time heals all wounds. Well, maybe that's true, but sometimes wounds never meant that much to begin with. I've lived my life (the beginning of which I can't even remember) lightheartedly, humorously, excitingly, differently. I've fallen in love and I've broken hearts – I ripped my own out of my chest once…only to return it when an amazing young woman proved to me that love does in fact exist.

They say time heals all wounds. But it doesn't heal curiosity.

It was several years after Rose…Alle's return when at last, I could stand it no longer. Our children were young: London was a mature four years old and Tori a mere two. I loved them to death, just as I loved their mother. But something had been nagging at the edges of my mind ever since I'd aged; I had noticed that as I aged, so did my world around me. The seas seemed to calm, to grow old. The sky began to decay, if only by a few years; its luminous blue paled and the clouds became wispier. It was as if Neverland was speaking to me. It was telling me that there was something I needed to know.

One night, I was standing on a distant beach, embracing the strong but gentle salty breeze, a cooling salve against my skin. The sand between my toes molded itself to me as I moved. The waves that once so violently crashed against the shore now climbed softly over the sand, caressing it. My world was growing older.

"Something be troubling you, Pe-tah?" It was Amínah.

"No." I didn't turn around to face her, though she had startled me.

"Den, what it is it my son?" She came to stand beside me and stare out at the same ocean, the same sky, the same aging world.

I turned to look into her dark eyes and said, "There is something I need to know."

.:Fini:.