The Dr and Neverland - Ch5: Returned to Neverland

Chapter 5: Returned to Neverland

Tick Tock Croc was a time conscious crocodile. Time conscious and…time obsessive. An alarm clock ticked deep inside his belly and Tick Tock Croc lived to the beat. The metronomic ticking paced his heart, propelled the undulations of his tail, synchronized the paddle of his feet, and (most importantly) kept track of the three most important times of the day: Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. And dessert. Well then… four most important times of the day.

It was right around snack time (so be it…five – and sometimes six – most important times of the day) when Tick Tock Croc smelled the girl, the man, and the funny blue box. The girl smelled sweet, the man smelled succulent, and the blue box just made him salivate! Licking his chomps, Tick Toc Croc curled under the waves, mobilizing his jaws for his third snack since brunch. Goodness! Seven, eight, nine most important meals of the day?! Heavens he was a busy crocodile!

Tick Tock Croc frisked to the girl, man, and box. Greedily he coiled around them, shooing mermaids from his food. When the mermaids fled, Tick Tock Croc investigated the best order to eat his meal.

The blue box looked most appetizing, but the little girl he could swallow in one bite. He sniffed. She would make a lovely appetizer to tide him over until the blue box finished sinking. Tick Tock hated to eat and swim. It gave him indigestion.

Tick Tock Croc nosed the girl. She was asleep, but held tight in the man's arms. Tic Toc Croc nuzzled the man. He was also unresponsive, but kept the girl in his hug. Tic Toc Croc was annoyed. Then he perked. A human wrap! Yum!

Satisfied, Tick Tock Croc unhinged his jaws. Tummy rumbling, he prepared to pop off the humans' heads.

Then, he tasted the man. Jaws stretched nearly horizontal, Tick Tock Croc probed his tongue over the man's hair, cheekbones, and chin. The crocodile receded. Experimentally, he smoothed the lingering flavor over his palette. It was sugary then bitter fermented. It was aged. It was transient. It was dusty. It was…

…time.

Time!? Tick Tock Croc licked and sniffed. Yes! Time! The man was filthy with it! Time!

Tick Tock Croc hiccupped bubble. Time! He loved time! Oh goodness! Tick Tock Croc gasped in horror. He couldn't eat this man! Or is blue box! Or the girl in his arms! That would be improper! That would be rude! That would go against all his beliefs!

Hastily, Tick Tock Croc swirled once around the man, the girl, and the blue box. Company gathered in his claws, the crocodile zoomed for the Neverland shore.

After all Tick Tock Croc, although he was a monster, was a moral one; from the tip of his tail to the end of his snout!

It was even worth missing one of the many most important meals of the day!

The ocean covered Wendy like a blanket. Foam collected just beneath her chin before sinking back with the tide. Waves lapped into her ears, muddling all sound. Wendy opened her eyes. Blearily she dropped her head sideways. She stared at the man beside her. The Doctor.

"Doctor?"

The Doctor blinked. Hair slicked to his cheeks, he managed a smile. Painfully sifting fingers from the sand, The Doctor reached for Wendy. The screwdriver flickered weakly as he touched her hair.

"Geronimo." he whispered, feeling that Wendy was unbroken. Wincing, he depressed his ribs. They hurt. "Ohh-ahh. Not fun. Whew. Old adage – when you hit the ocean, it body slams you back. Twice. Ooo. Wendy Moria? Are you all right?"

Wendy nodded. Her cheek sunk into the sand. "Your box?"

Sparks snapped behind the Doctor's eyes. Urgently he pushed upright, goggled at the ocean vista, and moaned.

"Ohhhh no! Nooo-wahhhhh! My TARDIS! Look! Look at her! She's wet with sand! Chalk full of water! And – are those – jelly fish?!" Exhausted and distraught The Doctor flumped backwards. Water splashed as he lamented to the sky. "Wendy Moria, I have decided! Pirates are obnoxious!"

The Doctor flexed his neck. Peering down his chest he brandished his screwdriver at the Jolly Roger, prowling distantly on the horizon. The screwdriver spluttered. It was waterlogged. Nothing happened. But the intent was clear.

"Pirates. Yo ho ho and a bottle of dumb." The Doctor pursed his lips and rubbed his jaw. Pulling the skin, he turned decisively to Wendy. He calmed, noticing that she was shivering.

"Well. This not a proper start to any story! Come on Wendy Moria Angela Darling! Spit spot and up we go. Oooo. So long as premature rheumatism doesn't kick my literal and proverbial behind first! Oooo. All right young miss. Take my – "

The Doctor stopped. Gaze behind Wendy, he paled.

"Wendy." The Doctor wrenched upright. Frantically he crawled, loafers sucking in the sand. "Wendy take my hand! Wendy – "

Wendy gasped. Two hands jumped under her shoulders and around her waist, lifting her from the ocean with incredible speed. Balancing the girl perfectly, the captor curled his arms, resting Wendy against his chest like a reciprocal piece. Instinctively, Wendy's arms fell around his neck, brushing against wild, fiery hair and pointed, elfin ears.

Even The Doctor was silent as Wendy Darling fell seamlessly into Peter Pan.

Neither child spoke. Excepting their beating hearts Wendy and Peter were utterly still, displaced from everything but each other.

Then, a tear bled from Peter's midnight eyes.

"You came back."

Wendy's heartbeat throbbed into Peter's. "Of course I came back."

Peter gasped and smiled. He buckled, using all his strength to hug Wendy. Harder he embraced, trying to press Wendy forever into his heart.

"Peter." Wendy trembled, head buried in his chest. "I missed you. So much."

Peter laughed. Smile lifting his ears, he held Wendy at arms length. Still laughing he turned her around, and around, and around. He touched her hair, her nose, her face, her hands, her dress, her bow, her eyes, her smile, and the magical spot at the right hand corner of her lips. He touched everything and breathed her in, just to make sure he was not dreaming again. Just to make sure that Wendy was real.

Then, Peter Pan seized her waist, lifted her up, threw back his head, and crowed.

"WENDY! MY WENDY! YOU CAME BACK!"

Wendy laughed. She wept. And as Peter spun her about, she could have flown twice around the moon. Figuratively at the moment, of course!

Peter already had. Elated he twirled Wendy until they tumbled down. Splash! Still laughing, Peter rolled over Wendy until the two were giddy as imps and caked in sea and sand. Their happiness jingled across Neverland, attracting the attention of The Lost Boys.

"Mother!" The Lost Boys cried, tackling Wendy in kind. "Mother! Oh Wendy! Peter said you'd return! He said you'd return to Neverland!"

The Doctor smiled, touched. Peacefully, he gazed at Wendy buried under warm hugs and wide smiles.

"Crying because you're so happy. Well. Wendy Moria Angela Darling…." wisely The Doctor grinned, "…good for you."

Peter's ears pricked. He looked up. He saw The Doctor. He saw the TARDIS. Both bodies were submerged, strange, and trespassing on his shore. And both seemed very interested in his Wendy.

"All right! Men! Men! Atten—tion!" With difficulty, Peter pried each Lost Boy from their mother. He pulled Wendy up, giving her a little, gentlemanly boost into the air. Wendy glowed, gracefully descending back to earth.

Peter grinned. "Okay men! Who votes I escort the Wendy Lady home?"

The Lost Boys cheered. The Doctor even joined, bashfully as Peter angled a brow.

Turning, Peter took Wendy by the hand. Then, unable to contain himself, he held Wendy's face before lifting her into his arms.

"Next stop, Wendy Lady: Hangman's Tree! Oh, and Lost Boys!" Stopping, Peter nodded at The Doctor. "Kill him."