Seriously, what was the deal between Tinkerbelle and Peter Pan?

Cafe Society
1

All right, it was a play for children and then a Disney cartoon, but aside from that… has anyone ever explained why Tinkerbelle was hanging around with Peter Pan?

Pan got his flying powers from her sprinkling him with fairy dust and presumably this had to be renewed at intervals, so it was in his interests to keep her nearby, but what did he have to offer her? Protection from hawks or predators?
A food supply and a warm dry place to sleep? He seemed to treat her more like a pet than a partner?

And what was her interest in him, if not the obvious providing of shelter and food? The difference in their sizes made any physical consummation unlikely, but she seemed jealous and possessive of him anyway. What was going on in her little blonde head?

For that matter, why was she the only winged fairy around? It would serve Pan right if some buff, studly six inch tall pixie came flying in the window and said, Hi, gorgeous, lets go for a little flutter.`

Just wondering if anyone else has given this matter any thought.

2

According to the novel, Tink was very womanly in nature while Peter was childish. She loved him and was very jealous when he paid attention to Wendy, particulary in the matter of the “thimble.” It was Tink who convinced the Lost Boys that Wendy was a bird and they should shoot her out of the Sky. Luckily, the arrow hit the “kiss.”

3

According to one of the Disney cartoons, a fairy is born when a child laughs for the first time. Tinkerbell was supposed to have been Peter’s first laugh, so there’s a sort of bond between them.

I’m not in the least trying to imply that Disney’s a canonical source, but it seems plausible.

4

Does that come from the book?

5

After a little research, I found PETER AND WENDY, the book that Barrie wrote, based on his own play. And frankly, a lot of it is fairly creepy and not much like the prettied up Disney version or the Mary Martin interpretation.

For one thing, Peter and the Lost Boys fight the pirates with swords, and there are deaths on both sides.

Whats a bit unnerving is that, years later, Peter shows back up gain in the window where he first appeared, exactly the same. Only by now, Wendy has grown up and he thinks Wendys little daughter is her.

Peter doesnt remember Captain Hook or Tinker Bell, living in the present as he does, but he supposes Tink is dead as fairies dont live very long in any case. It`s stated specifically that no one can fly without being sprinkled by the magic dust.

Barries mythology states that a fairy is born every time a baby laughs for the first time, but also that a fairy somewhere dies every time a child says I dont believe in fairies.

Also, Tinker Bell tells Peter that Wendy is a big ugly brute. and that She (Tink, that is), is Peters fairy. So theres a possessive thing going on there.

Barrie`s book is really not the cheerful, sugary little version the Disney flick presents. It has some wonderful, evocative moments but it also shows how heartless children can be. So kids in the audience saw it one way, and their parents with them caught a different, darker meaning. Quite a surprise.

I also found a very sexually graphic fan fiction about Peter and Tink, but although it sidetracked me for a few minutes, it really wouldn`t be considered germane. Startling image, though.