"Poor Nana?!"

[George Darling]

The large, middle aged man dug through the drawers of his bureau in restrained aggression, shoving this and that aside as he searched for something - something which, apparently, did not wish to be found.

He frowned in distaste, his thick brows and dark mustache furrowing, his forehead creasing before he leaned away from the drawers, turning his head toward the open door. "Mary! Have you seen my good pair of socks?" He called out, his voice tinged by his apparent agitation.

[tt]

Outside of the Darling home, there came a brief flash of bright, green light, as well as a low, sustained whirring sound.

[George Darling]

Out of the corner of his eye he could detect some sort of flash through the upstairs window. He, at first, had thought the flash had been green, but he quickly pushed the idea out of his mind, instead wondering if perhaps it had been a lightning flash.

That would be just his luck if it were to rain now, so he didn't doubt it. Making his way to the window, he saw that the night air was cloudless and clear, the stars twinkling in the inky sky. So if it hadn't been thunder, then what had that flash been?

His gaze fell down to the street below, where two youths were currently standing. He scowled at the sight of them. Kids their age, wandering the street at this hour? He was convinced they were somehow responsible for the flash, and was willing to wager that they were up to some form of shenanigans.

He unlatched the window and slid it open, poking his head out as he leered at the duo on the street below. "Hey, you two! What are you up to at this hour?" He bellowed in a booming, threatening voice.

[tt]

The youths looked up to the man.

"We're..." the older male started.

"Looking for some friends," the younger female called up to the man.

"Yeah, that's right," the boy chimed in with a nod. "We didn't mean to disturb you!"

[George Darling]

He perked a thick, black eyebrow as they traded off lines in their response. It seemed rather rehearsed, in his opinion. Or was it merely coincidence? Either way, it was certainly odd.

"Yes, I see." He responded flatly, almost in an inaudible mutter as he rubbed at the back of his neck, eying the two suspiciously. "Say, did the two of you--" He began to ask, about to inquiry the strange, green flash of light he had witnessed earlier. "No, never mind." He decided against it, pulling his head back through the window as he began to close it once again.

[tt]

"Wait, mister!" the girl called to the man.

[George Darling]

He had gotten the window about a quarter of the ways closed when the young girl called up to him. He grumbled inwardly and pushed the window back up. He would be late, with all of these delays. He just knew it.

"Yes? What is it?" He called out to them in a less-than-patient tone of voice, again poking his head through the open window. By the dim light of the street lamps lining the sidewalk, he could now see that they were dressed somewhat peculiarly.

[tt]

"A horrible accident is going to happen!" she called up to the Darling patriarch. "When you leave, please stay on the other side of the street." She motioned to the sidewalk a good distance behind her. "Not this one!"

The boy sensed it, too. He could see it. In the near future there will be an instance that could be damaging to an unlucky passerby. "Whatever you do, listen to my sister, mister!" He called up with a nod.

[George Darling]

His eyes grew wide at the revelation of impending disaster before his sensible and rational side took command of his mind. "Ridiculous! What are you prattling on about?" He called back to them, far from grateful in regard to the girl's warning. How could she know what would happen?

"You children shouldn't be playing pranks down there!" He scolded, now convinced that they were up to no good. "Now I'm on a very tight schedule, so I say good day to the both of you!" He added before pulling his head back in through the window and quickly slamming it shut before they could protest.

He turned away from the window, scratching the back of his head. What if something bad did happen to him if he didn't heed their advice? "Poppycock!" He shooed the idea out of his mind, returning his attention to preparing for the night's outing.

[tt]

"I'm sure he'll take our advice," Tony said to his sibling. He looked to her.

"I really hope so," Tia replied. "Come on; let's start looking."

Together, the two started for the sidewalk at the opposite end of the street, a sidewalk they would follow and search for... 'their friends.'

[George Darling]

He had pushed the incident with the two youths out of his mind for the remainder of his time dressing himself. He hadn't been able to find his good pair of socks, but had instead settled on a comparable pair.

He exited the Darling residence wearing his best suit, complete with top hat and walking stick. He glanced along the dark streets, eerily lit by the faint glow of the street lamps here and there. He gave his hat one final adjustment before he began to stroll down the street.

He stopped momentarily, the children's warning springing to mind at the realization that he was walking down the side of the street they had warned him against. He considered crossing to the other side before rational thought pulled his mind back to reality. He continued down his intended path.

[Wendy]

Wendy had been woken up by her Father's shouting. She only caught bits and pieces of what he was saying, but when she heard the front door slam, she grabbed her robe and raced to it, her slippers slapping noisily on the floor behind her.

"Father?!" she called, throwing the door open wide. "Father?"

[George Darling]

He stopped when he heard an all-too familiar voice calling out to him, turning around to face his daughter. "Wendy? Good heavens, child; whatever is the matter?" He asked in a stern, yet concerned, tone of voice.

[Wendy]

Wendy would feel utterly exposed if she stepped out on to the street in her robe and slippers, so she remained where she was, her head poking out from behind the doorframe.

"I heard you shouting, Father," she explained. "And I was wondering if everything was all right. You didn't say goodnight to the boys and Michael thinks you're angry with him. You're not, are you? Of course, I told him I didn't think you were, but..." she trailed off, her eyes lingering on her father. Only a week ago, Michael had accidentally spilled juice all over his Father's freshly pressed shirt.

[George Darling]

His expression softened as she spoke. "No, no; everything is quite alright. It's just that I'm in quite a hurry. Time seems to have slipped away from me. That's all." Of course, one of the contributing factors to his hurried state was that he had stopped to converse with those eerie children, though he wouldn't trouble her any with that information.

He suddenly felt ashamed. In his haste he had forgotten to say goodbye to his three children. He supposed that Wendy and John were old enough to understand that he had simply been in a rush, but that Michael was still at an impressionable age.

"You can assure Michael that I'm not cross with him; and do tell them both that I say goodbye, be it somewhat belated. Oh, and Wendy..." He hesitated a moment, thinking about those kids again. "...do make sure that the doors and windows are securely locked, will you?" He wasn't actually worried... was he?

[Wendy]

Time. If only time would stop ticking for one day. Then people like her father could enjoy themselves and the whole Darling family could have a grand day together. Why they could go for a picnic and maybe a walk through the park! Even Nanna could join them! Wendy was torn from her thoughts however when her father mentioned locking the windows.

"Oh, but Father, I can't lock the windows! I'll be shutting him out if I do!"

Now Wendy hadn't seen him in some time, but she most certainly wouldn't be seeing him if she kept their windows locked up tight!

[George Darling]

He had been far more lenient toward the fantasy-driven antics of his offspring since that fateful night when he witnessed the cloud formation of the ship from his childhood memories, but on this particular night he was spooked to a degree that he didn't much care to play along in any way, shape or form.

"Well tonight, you will! Do as you're told, Wendy!" He said in an authoritative tone. "If he truly has dire need to speak to you I'm sure this Peter Pirate fellow can knock." He said sarcastically, adjusting his fine dress shirt by giving it a few sharp tugs at the breast.

[tt]

George was highly fortunate that his daughter had stopped him.

At that moment, a shrill neigh from a horse was loudly audible. There was a runaway horse and buggy; the horse was completely out of control, much to the coachman's horror.

The panicked horse broke free from the buggy, and the coachman hopped off the buggy, preferring to be bruised instead of crushed. Once the buggy was without a horse, it rolled with extreme speed, down a hill that coincidentally led to the very same block where the Darlings resided. As it neared the sidewalk George was on, a wheel dislocated. The buggy immediately shifted its direction and collided in a deafening crash against a steel fence. The force of the collision bent the fencing considerably.

Had George continued without any interruptions, he would have been at that spot in the fence, precisely at the wrong place at the wrong time. The children's warning was accurate.

The coachman struggled to his feet and hurried as fast as he could to where the buggy collided. The horse had took off. The enormous commotion resulted in many households illuminate by the stirred residents.

[Wendy]

"Eh, Peter Pan," Wendy quickly corrected, but the girl looked crestfallen. She was hoping her father would have let her keep at least one window open for her friend. The neigh from spooked horse startled Wendy and she watched in horror as the animal ran down the street. Her hands flew to her mouth, stifling her gasp as the carriage collided with the fence.

Wendy did run out on to the street now, rushing straight over to her father, wrapping her arms around his middle.

"Oh my goodness! Do you think he's all right?" she asked, looking at the driver who was examining the carriage.

[George Darling]

"Good heavens!" The man exclaimed upon turning to the sound of fearful neighing and the sound of trampling hooves and spinning wheels, only to witness as a carriage collided with a nearby metal fence.

"I'm sure he is fine, Wendy. Now go back inside!" Though he tried to assure his daughter of such, he would make certain on his own whether it to be true or not. Gently prying free of his daughter, he rushed over to the carriage.

Coincidence. It had to have been. There was no logical way those children could have known that an event such as this were going to occur; that was simply irrational.

"Are you quite alright?" He asked the coachman.

[tt]

"Yes, sir," the coachman somberly replied, staring at the portly gentleman with relief. "Thank heavens you weren't standing here just now," he added, gesturing to the scene of the crash. "You could have been hurt... or worse."

[Wendy]

<Oh, man, guys. I suck epically. I'm going to post in here, but if you don't want to continue, I totally understand since it's been a month in two days since this thread was active!>

Wendy reluctantly turned and headed back towards the Darling home, but the coachman's words reached her ears and she paused for a moment. It felt as if a very heavy rock had just landed in her stomach and the girl looked over her shoulder and cringed. It made her woozy to think of her father in such a dangerous situation where he could have been seriously injured or worse. Picking her feet back up, she slowly made her way up the front steps and returned to her post, standing in the doorway. She could hear her mother walking upstairs to soothe Michael who appeared to have been upset by the crash as well.

[George Darling]

Once he had concluded that no one had been harmed in the carriage mishap, he turned and headed back over to where Wendy stood in the doorway. His expression softened somewhat; he did not want her to be concerned.

"Fortunately, everything is quite alright. No one was harmed, thank heavens." He explained to her. "Now, I want you to go on inside. Your mother will be leaving shortly, so be a big girl and watch after your brothers until I get back. I should only be away for a couple of hours." He reiterated, changing the subject away from the event as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

[Wendy]

The uncertainty Wendy had been feeling left her when she felt the reassuring touch of her father. Yes, of course he'd be all right; Father was smart after all and could take good care of himself.

"All right. Have a wonderful time, Father." She flashed him a quick smile and headed back into the house and up the stairs to relieve Mary Darling.