To Live and Grow Up

Disclaimer: See first two chapters. In general, if you recognize it, I don’t own it.

A/N: Thank you again to all of my readers and reviewers; you guys truly make my day and keep me motivated to work on this. Now begins the massive time skipping, just as a warning, though I think all of you are actually looking forward to it. I also have a poll up on my profile regarding a story idea I got if anyone's interested in voting.

I hope you all have a blessed holiday season, may it be happy and safe for you and your loved ones. Now for the present for all you guys, don't say I never gave you anything ;)

Chapter 5: Home for the Holidays

Winter came and with it a return home for the holidays. Lilly's family was waiting at the station for her with smiles and large, breath-stealing hugs... well, at least from her parents, Petunia was still irritated with her and could be heard mumbling in the background.

Rambling happily about her school year so far, Lilly dazzled them with stories about her classes and teachers and castles and magic dining tables and the neatest sport ever, Quidditch.

Days were spent with her family Christmas shopping and going to parties. At night, she once more traded stories with Peter, though hers were now as incredible as his at times.

Lilly also had to show off the necklace she wore to Peter. During one of her trips to Hogsmeade, she'd taken her star to a jeweler and had them make it into a pendant. The coarse stone now was caged by four thin strands of silver and attached to a black velvety cord.

"The man gave me the oddest look when I handed it to him. He even asked to buy it from me, but I told him it was a gift from a friend and I'd never sell something like that. Of course, most everyone else just asks why I'm wearing a plain old rock."

Peter smiled fondly as Lilly laughed, his gaze set on the stone as he tumbled it across his fingers, being careful not to snag the delicate cord on his calloused fingers. It warmed him that she thought so highly of his gift that she chose to make it into something she could always keep on her. Thinking of the properties of the stone, his fingers unconsciously closed around it. I hope she has this with her when she most needs it.

Lilly's question about his plans for Christmas drew him out of his thoughts and he handed her necklace back to her with a promise to return Christmas night.

-HP/PP-

Lilly waited impatiently on her bed late Christmas night. She'd had a great day and received a ton of wonderful gifts, but now she waited for Peter to show up. He had told her that he never really did anything special for the holiday and so she had prepared a special little treat for him, plus a present she had picked up for him on another Hogsmeade trip.

She'd fallen into a light sleep when she heard the normal chiming bells sound that announced the arrival of Peter and Tink. Smiling sleepily, she watched as the two flew in and settled on the foot of her bed. "Merry Christmas, Peter, Tink! I have a surprise for you."

Leaning precariously off the side of her bed, she pulled a covered plate and a little wrapped box from underneath. Uncovering the plate, she revealed a dish piled high with different foods. "Since you couldn't come for dinner, I made you a plate. Mum's a really good cook. Oh, and this is for you."

Breath held, she watched as he unwrapped the present, smiling at the surprised look on his face. It took all her willpower not to pester him as he pulled out the necklace inside. As soon as she saw it in the shop, she knew she had to get it for him. On a sturdy chain hung a locket shaped like the Hogwart's crest with a colored stone inset in each house quadrant to show the house color. Inside she'd placed a wizarding picture of her smiling and waving. "I hope you like it. I wanted you to have something from the magical world...and something to remember me by."

Peter stared at the locket for several long minutes, tracing the emblem with his fingers before watching the moving picture cycle through its recorded sequence.

Lilly was beginning to think she'd made a huge mistake as Peter's silence drew out. Just as she was about to start apologizing, he looked up and gave her a shaky smile, his brilliant blue eyes looking a little watery. But since she knew brave, adventurous boys didn't cry over presents, she said nothing, waiting until he gathered himself enough to speak.

"It's wonderful, Lilly, thank you. Now I can take you with me to Neverland after all. Now, let's eat!"

She smiled and handed over a fork, nibbling on some of the food as she watched him try everything. And if she happened to notice the wistful note in his voice as he spoke of taking her with him... well, she let him be, her hand reaching for the stone hanging from her neck automatically as the first wish she made slipped through her thoughts once more.

-HP/PP-

The rest of the holidays passed quickly with more visits to friends and relatives. And much to Lily's parents' dismay, at least if they would have known, she greeted the New Year with Peter, drinking sparkling cider and listening to the party going on downstairs, giggling and laughing as they heard the drunken adults singing loudly and off key.

Soon enough she was on the train back to school, catching up with her friends from school and comparing parties and presents, discussing upcoming classes and potential homework assignments.

The rest of the year passed uneventfully aside from the magical quality of all the classes. Lilly's friendships strengthened and she began to find her place in her life at school. She also quickly learned how to escape the attentions of an obnoxious trio of boys from her year that called themselves The Marauders, though her friend Severus was much more unlucky.

Before she knew it, she was eating at the end of year feast, cheering for the House cup winner, and then boarding the train back home. With tearful farewells to her friends, and promises to owl and write frequently, Lilly was reunited with her family and on the way home. And even as she told her family story after story about her life at school, she was looking forward to visiting with Peter a lot more often that summer, feeling that he'd actually understand some of what she was talking about a little better considering what he dealt with on a normal basis.

-HP/PP-

Tinkerbell was worried. Peter was growing much more withdrawn as time went by. It was bad enough after that Wendy-girl and her brothers left, but then the Lost Boys decided to up and leave as well, and Peter was left alone to wander the little collection of houses that had once been so full of life and noise. Even his visits to the mermaids and the Indian tribe did little to cheer him nowadays.

Perched on a tree branch, she watched as Peter reclined at the base, staring at the locket that the Lilly-girl had given him. As much as she really didn't like him associating with those silly human children, they did seem to cheer him up considerably. With a sigh, she decided she couldn't put it off any longer unless she wanted to deal with a sulking Peter.

Fluttering down from her perch, she hovered in front of him as she pointed out that it was the day that the Lilly-girl said she would be returning from her school. And as much as it grated on her nerves to be thankful to the stupid human child, the bright smile that momentarily graced Peter's features was worth it.