I awoke to the harsh lighting of my hospital room.

"Wendy!" A familiar voice exclaimed.

"John?!"

I blinked, making out his dark haired silhouette against the white walls of the room.

"Oh Wendy! We were so worried!" He pulled me into a painfully tight hug, and the room spun.

I pet his hair as he cried into the shoulder of my blue hospital gown.

"John? Whatever's wrong?" I managed.

John pulled back so I could see his face. He looked much older than his eleven years. He almost looked older than I.

"John?" I asked quietly.

He gulped. "You were in an accident... Mother and Father didn't make it."

All children must grow up. But the age that that happens changes with each child. My whole life I had tried to avoid that moment. But here it was.

I reached out and pulled John towards me. We held each other in heavy silence.

After a few moments. He pulled back.

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked.

"Too long... three days. The doctor was worried... that you wouldn't wake up."

I brushed a stray tear off his cheek.

"But I did." I smiled bravely. "Where is Michael?"

"He's in the waiting room with our aunt."

"How's he doing?"

"He... I don't think he really understands. And Aunt has been in too much of a state of worry over you to talk much to him."

"I see..."

At that moment there was a knock on the door.

"Wendy is it?" The kindly silver haired man asked.

"Yes. And you must be the doctor." I replied with a smile.

The doctor nodded and looked over at John.

"John would you mind?" he asked.

John shot a look at me.

"I'll be alright John."

So John left the room and the door shut behind him.

"Miss would you please state your full name for the record."

"My name is Wendy Moira Angela Darling."

"Quite the mouthful." He remarked writing on his clipboard.

"I know, my hand gets quite tired writing signatures." I replied wryly.

"You're how old?"

"Twenty sir."

He proceeded to ask me my birth-date, and a few other questions, all whilst checking my eyes and reflexes.

"Well?" I asked hopefully.

"This has to be the most curious case I've ever seen." The man mumbled adjusting his glasses.

"Beg pardon?" I asked.

"You aren't injured in the slightest. And judging from that car wreck... you should be dead right now."

My stomach dropped, my mouth hung open in shock.

"But seeing as you're perfectly fine... I see no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to go."

"Oh... Good."

"There is one odd thing however." Said the doctor walking over to me.

"What's that?"

"You have a mark. Right about here." He pointed to his chest on the left side just under his breastbone.

"Oh. I've always had that. Ever since I was a child." I spoke dismissively.

"But it's not a birthmark. There is no record of it on your birth certificate."

"Really? That is odd."

"Well since it's merely a mark and not doing you any harm. I suppose you can be allowed to leave. Your aunt can sign you out. Just try to not do anything to strenuous and if you see anything strange do call me." The man smiled, though I could tell he was still mulling me over in his head. He handed me a card and a few short hours later. My aunt had dropped us all off at Gran's old house.

It seemed like time had stopped for this little town. I half expected Gran to run out and pull me into a comforting hug.

"John dear, here's the key, why don't you and your brother go explore." My Aunt smiled.

John's face lit up and he pulled Michael towards the cottage.

My aunt laid a hand on my arm, keeping me in the car.

"I'm afraid my dear, that I have more bad news."

I blinked at her.

"What is it?" I cringed.

"..." She frowned softly at me. "Are you aware dear that your family was experiencing financial troubles?"

"I had my suspicions." I replied. Not liking where this was going.

"Well... you see... that is."

"Spit it out!" I exclaimed.

Her eyes widened.

I sighed running both hands down my face. "I'm sorry it's been a trying few days."

She spoke so softly I almost couldn't hear her.

"You lost the house. The bank took it as collateral."

"Oh my goodness." I cradled my head in my hands.

"There is a light at the end of this tunnel Wendy." She sighed.

"What's that?" I muttered.

"Gran left the house to your parents. And since you are the eldest child... it will now go to you. You can live here for a while."

I nodded.

"Now Wendy I have to go back to England, I've already been here too long. I have to get back to my family. Are you going to be alright here?"

"I know you've done all you can. We'll get by."

"If you need anything talk to anyone in this town. There's a real sense of community here in Pan's Hollow." She spoke anxiously.

"Thank you. I will."

"And I'm only a phone call away." I smiled at her but we both knew that was not quite true.

I gave her a peck on the cheek and trudged into the house. The sun was setting as I went into the kitchen and put the kettle on.

John's soft footsteps on the wooden floor let me know he had entered the kitchen.

"This house is amazing." he spoke softly, making his way to the kitchen table and sitting down.

"Gran was pretty amazing too." I remarked. "Where's Michael?"

"In the nursery. We found a picture book on pirates I wasn't able to pull him away from."

"Tea?" I asked.

"Yes please."

I poured him a cuppa and joined him at the table.

"Thanks." He sighed tiredly, taking a sip.

I looked around the familiar room. It was just as clean and comforting as it had ever been. Like it had been frozen in time. A feeling of peace settled over me.

"You were right. This place really is amazing." I remarked running my fingers through my hair.

John finished his tea in silence. He was always the quiet type. The thinker of us all.

"Wendy what are we going to do?"

"I take it you overheard Aunty at some point in these last three days?" I groaned.

He nodded morosely.

"You let me worry about that."

He nodded.

"You hungry? I can whip something up." I smiled.

"Not really. Just tired." He sighed.

"Come on. I'll tuck you in."

I was expecting something along the lines of 'I'm not a baby Wendy!' but instead he pulled me into a hug.

I walked with him into the nursery.

It looked almost exactly the same. All my toys were still there. But the nursery had changed slightly. It wasn't all girly. There were some boys toys. Fake swords and a new book case.

Gran must have set this up. Hoping that one day we'd come to visit her. I blinked back tears.

There were now two beds, and as John climbed into the one. I scooped the sleeping Michael off the floor, gently removing the book, and placed him in the other one.

"Wendy. Tell us a story." Michael asked, his big blue eyes widening.

"It's getting late." I replied.

"Please!" Michael begged. "You used to tell us stories all the time."

"Oh, alright." I crawled into the bed beside him.

"Once upon a time there lived a girl named Cinderella."

A light breeze swept in through the open window, bringing in the scent of Gran's garden.

"Cinderella was a kind and good girl, she had a father and mother who loved her very much." My throat tightened.

"But one day. Cinderella's mother got sick."

Michael clung to my arm.

"And her mother... passed away. Years past and her father remarried..."

I had hardly gotten into the story when the boys had drifted off.

I pulled the covers more snugly over Michael and tried to slip away. But his grip on my arm wouldn't let up. So with a sigh I got comfortable and drifted off.

-Later in the night-

There was a thud as the rocking horse tipped over.

"Damn!" A male voice hissed.

I sat up in bed.

"Hello?" I asked anxiously.

The room was silent.

Michael had pulled away from me in the night. So I was able to slip out of bed easily.

I turned the knob on the old fashioned hurricane lamp.

"Show yourself. I heard you!" I whispered to the silent room.

John rolled over in his sleep and I jumped.

I listened to the room again.

"You're loosing it Wendy." I sighed, shaking my head and sitting on the bed.

I turned the lamp knob and heard a distinct rattle.

I flipped it back on.

The wind picked up, blowing the sheer white drapes into the room eerily.

I padded across the room, shakily making my way to the rattling chest of drawers.

My shaking hands grasped the handle and I pulled open the drawer.

Much to my surprise a... shadow jumped out of the drawer.

I shrieked and the shadow flew up the chimney.

"Wendy what's wrong?!" John asked, sitting bolt upright in bed.

"S-something was in this drawer!" I gasped, hand over my heart.

"Where is it now?" John asked calmly.

"What's goin' on?" Michael mumbled sleepily.

"Nothing, Michael. Go back to sleep." I replied wearily.

John got out of bed and walked over to me, grabbing my hand.

"Perhaps it was just an animal." He asked, inspecting the empty drawer.

I frowned.

"I-it could be.

"Would you feel more comfortable if we slept in Gran's room for the rest of the night?" He asked.

I nodded.

"All right." he smiled comfortingly.

I scooped up Michael, and John shut and locked the windows.

Finally.

We trudged upstairs and retired to Grans room.

The rest of the night went by with painful slowness. At least for me.

I was very glad to see the sun as it broke through the forested backyard.