Wendy arrived at Mrs. Nancy's to find all the boys crowded around a huge chocolate and raspberry cake in the kitchen.
"Miss Wendy! Miss Wendy!" They all yelled, clamoring around her. "Can we have some of your cake?"
"Calm down!" Wendy exclaimed. "What's this all about?"
"Somebody brought this cake for you this morning," Zachary said. "It's got a note."
Wendy pushed her way through the excited boys and found a small card at the base of the cake.
Wendy,
I didn't want to bother you at work. Could you come see me as soon as you're able? I need to talk to you.
Love, Peter
Wendy shivered at his use of words, then turned her attention back to the boys. "You can have some after lunch," she told them. "Now go clean your rooms."
The boys sulked and dragged their feet as they left the kitchen. Wendy read the note again, then found Mrs. Nancy and asked if she could run down to the bakery.
"Of course, dear," Mrs. Nancy replied with the morose tone she had taken on since Trevor had run away. "But don't be too long, there's laundry to do."
Wendy tried not to think too much about what Peter wanted to discuss as she made her way down the street. Their last meeting had made her heart ache in ways she didn't know were possible, and she wondered why she was so willing to go see Peter again. Perhaps she loved the pain.
Wendy walked into the bakery and nearly turned around walked out again. The blonde girl was standing behind the counter, and she sneered when she saw Wendy. In an attempt to be civil, Wendy walked forward and extended her hand.
"I don't think we've ever been introduced," she said. "I'm Wendy."
"Oh, I know who you are," the blonde girl replied, ignoring Wendy's hand, "Peter talks about you all the time."
Wendy wasn't sure how to feel about that statement. She dropped her hand and waited for the girl to elaborate, but she continued to scowl at her. Just when Wendy was beginning to feel uncomfortable, the blonde girl opened her mouth again.
"Do you know what? You are so awful!"
Wendy's eyebrows shot up at the sudden accusation. "Excuse me?"
"Peter is in love with you, and you keep coming around, leading him on, and breaking his heart. Why can't you just put the poor boy out of his misery?"
"I... I thought the two of you were... together," Wendy said, stumbling over her words.
The girl snorted. "I wish! He's so irresistible with those muscles like a Greek god and that mischievous smile and those beautiful green eyes." She stared dreamily out the window for a moment, then snapped back to Wendy. "I tried to kiss him once, but he pushed me away and told me he was still in love with you!"
Wendy's heart soared. "Really?" She asked, trying to hide her elation. She knew she shouldn't be so delighted at this girl's pain, but she couldn't help it.
"Yes. He told me I was a cherry jelly doughnut, and all he wanted was chocolate cake." The blonde girl sniffed and tossed her long hair over her shoulder. "I'll go tell Peter you're here." She disappeared into the kitchen, and a few moments later Peter came rushing out.
"Wendy, thank you for coming, I..." he trailed off, giving Wendy an odd look. "Wendy, are you alright? Why are you smiling like that?"
Wendy found herself momentarily overwhelmed. Seeing Peter before her was like looking at an eternity of adventures and pleasant thoughts. Her feet moved of their own accord, and before she knew it she had slid over the counter and planted herself in front of Peter. She closed the distance between them in one step and urgently pressed her lips to his. She felt Peter flinch, but then he wrapped his arms around her and held her so tightly that she thought she might melt into him. She buried her fingers in his hair and let herself get lost in his kiss. When she started to pull away, Peter drew her back in, his lips moving across hers in a way that nearly obliterated her senses.
After what seemed like a lifetime, he pulled away, his bright eyes shining. He kept one hand on the small of her back, unwilling to release her completely. He took a few deep breaths before he spoke.
"If I had known you would react that way to chocolate cake I would have sent it over a long time ago."
It took a moment for Wendy to figure out what he meant. "Oh, that. No, I didn't even eat any yet."
Peter quirked an eyebrow. "Then what made you decide to suddenly make all my dreams come true?"
Wendy smiled. "I talked to your co-worker."
"Susan?"
"Yeah. She cleared up some… misunderstandings."
"Misunderstandings?"
Wendy exhaled, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "I saw her kissing you a few weeks ago."
Peter's eyes widened. "You did? Wow, you have the worst timing in the world."
"I know."
"So, you thought we were...?"
Wendy nodded, and Peter ran his hand through his hair. "Wendy, there is no way she, or anyone, could compare to you."
Wendy blushed. "That's funny, because that's precisely the way I feel about you."
Peter beamed at her, but then something clouded his expression. "Wendy, I actually asked you to come here because I needed to apologize."
Wendy stepped back. "For what?"
Peter swallowed. "I know where Trevor is."
"What?" Wendy exclaimed. "For how long?"
"When he ran away from Mrs. Nancy's he came to the bakery and asked me for help. I told him he could stay in Neverland until we figured something else out."
Wendy shook her head. "Why didn't you tell me before? We've been so worried about him!"
"He didn't want to go to the new home, and I could understand why."
Wendy softened. She loved Trevor and she wanted him to be safe, but Peter could relate to him in a way she never could.
"You aren't mad, are you?"
Wendy gazed at Peter and almost laughed. She couldn't possibly be mad at him, not now. "No, I'm not mad," she admitted, "but he's going to have to leave Neverland."
"Actually, we might have worked out a way for him to stay."
Wendy raised her eyebrows. "Really?"
"Slightly's Aunt is going to adopt him."
"Wait, Slightly has an aunt?"
"Yeah, it's a long story. So she'll be his legal guardian, but he'll spend most of his time in Neverland, which, I think you can agree, is the best and safest place for a boy with his talents."
Wendy felt relief wash over her. This was the perfect solution. "Peter, that's wonderful. Thank you." She stepped forward and hugged him just as someone was coming out of the kitchen.
"Oh! Well, don't you two look cozy!"
Wendy pulled away and saw her mother staring at them. "Mom!" She exclaimed. "How long have you been back there?"
"A while," Mrs. Darling responded. "I was asking Susan to show me how to make pie crust."
Peter gave her a puzzled look. "But you made a dozen pies yesterday."
Mrs. Darling gave him a wink and went to fill the napkin dispensers. Wendy felt her cheeks burning with humiliation, but at least now her mother seemed to approve of her and Peter.
"So, Peter," Mrs. Darling said, "I must say I'm rather excited that Neverland will soon be open to the public."
That's an understatement, thought Wendy. Her mother had been going on and on about it ever since she heard it on the news a few days before.
"Although, I wonder," Mrs. Darling continued, inspecting her nails, "with all of the public coming in, will James be staying?"
Peter gave her a knowing look. "No, Slightly spoke with Captain Hook before he set all these plans in motion. He will be putting some things in order and then he'll be turning himself in to the authorities."
Mrs. Darling stared at Peter, and several emotions danced across her face. "How very courageous," she said softly.
"That's what we've all told him," Peter replied, "but I'm sure he would appreciate hearing it from you."
Mrs. Darling cleared her throat and excused herself. Wendy watched her mother walk into the kitchen, wondering if she'd ever get used to the fact that her mother had feelings for Captain Hook.