Wendy glanced about the Jolly Roger, and saw familiar faces going about their duties. Her brothers John and Michael were busy scrubbing the deck, along with Smee. Her scowl deepened as she regarded the condition of the ship. She could not imagine how it had become so dingy and dirty in her brief time away. Years of her scolding ought to have taught them better. Ah! Well, she thought in growing amusement, there would be worse anger than hers, soon: the Captain would return shortly hence.

She smiled to herself. Oh, how she revered him, whom all others feared (except Peter Pan). She had learned everything she knew from the dark man. Of course, her temperament was less hostile than his, but had grown close to him. Closer than anyone could get to the miserably obsessed pirate. Only Wendy could accomplish friendship with both Peter Pan and his nemesis Captain Hook.

Her luxurious hair floated in the warm sea breeze. She was all grown up, something she had once believed to be undesirable. For, though her proximity to the Neverland slowed the aging process, the Jolly Roger often left the seas surrounding the isle, and she matured, however slowly that had been.

Movement caught her eyes. "Hoy there, gents!" She commanded their attention with harsh tones and an ever deepening glare. The three were making their way down to the kitchen. "No food until the condition of this ship pleases me," she commanded wickedly, grinning at their despairing groans. "Smee, be a dear and run down and fetch a pitcher of water for me, I'm so dreadfully parched." Smee nodded, and scurried off to do her bidding. John and Michael grumbled incoherently. They both knew better than to complain to her. She tapped her fingernails on the dark wood of the ship in satisfaction.

"Mother..." came the quiet voice of Smee from behind her. She turned and gladly accepted the pitcher and glass from him. As a reward, she patted the top of his head, kissed his forehead and flashed him a brilliant smile. Something that might have been a shy grin spread across his face and disappeared quickly, for she had begun to frown at his dallying. Still frowning, she was smugly amused at the change she had inflicted in the little man. She poured a glass of water, drank it quickly, and poured another. She dumped the rest of the water on her head, reveling as the cool water dripped down her face, neck, and blouse.

Wendy was a harsh taskmistress, but the short hours after her arrival seemed to pass by quickly. The Captain returned near the third hour after noon. Wendy waited for the shouting which would shortly ensue.

"Smee!" Came a deep growl from the main cabin.

"Yes, Cap'in?" Smee's face blanched as the tall, dark figure of Captain James Hook approached him threateningly.

"Why is my cabin in such a dismal state?" He demanded malevolently.

"The blame is mine, sir," Wendy said, chagrined. "It seems I've not taught them well enough, for while we were away, they took to dilly-dallying." The only show of displeasure that showed upon her lovely face was in her eyes. None of the crewmen dared looked at her. "It would seem, Captain, that I haven't disciplined them adequately," she remarked quietly.

"Nonsense, girl." He glared about maliciously at his crew. "Tell me, Smee, what are you?" He cast an icy glare at the little bald man.

"Lazy wretches, Cap'in?"

"Yes! Now get back to work, all of you, before I cast anchor in you!" He commanded in a low growl. He turned to Wendy, offering her his arm. She took it, and he led her back to his cabin.

He sat her down in a cushioned chair and poured her a cup of wine before reclining in his own chair. They sat discussing ship's business until the sun's remaining light was fading. They turned to more important discussion while they ate dinner.

When she had joined the pirates, she suggested that they change tactics, and hunt the redskins, rather than the lost boys. The redskins were better trackers, and while they might be harder to follow than the lost boys, in the long run it would make finding the lost boys easier. "Now, tell me what you discovered of the redskins," he demanded, his blue eyes glittering with a wicked glee that frightened all but her, who was merely entranced by them.

She sipped her wine before answering. "We found an empty camp, but no trace of where they might have gone. We burned what was left there." She sighed and took a sip of the wine. She saw over the rim of her cup the Captain fingering his hook, and scowl contorting his handsome face. He drove his hook into desk. Wendy did not flinch at the sudden outburst, and waited until the desk no longer shook to put her glass down. She rose and circled the table. Coming up behind his chair, she wrapped her lovely arms around his shoulders. "We'll just have to keep looking," she said coolly into his ear.

His pale eyes regarded her with cold malice for a moment. Then he smiled slightly and nodded, excusing her. She drained her cup, and set it back on the desk. Regarding him once before she left his cabin, her eyes dark and sultry, she ducked out.