What happens when you grow up

by LadyCordeliaStuart

After the events of Pan, Tigerlily and Hook finally admit their feelings for each other. But as they grow closer, Hook struggles with his jealousy of Peter, and everyone is threatened when it is revealed that Blackbeard didn't die after all. Also delves into Tigerlily's history with Blackbeard. Hook x Tigerlily, one-sided Blackbeard x Tigerlily.

1. Prologue

The footsteps were coming closer.

Tigerlily listened fearfully, pressed against the corner of her cell. Her heart hammered painfully in her chest. Her eyes swept frantically around the cramped room, but she knew there was no way out. She had already tried countless times to escape, but it was impossible.

She heard the knob begin to turn, and she pressed her hands against her mouth to cut off her scream. She couldn't let him know how much he terrified her; he only grew off her fear. The door swung open with a creek, and his tall frame filled the doorway.

"Good evening, Princess," he said with a sardonic smile, his rich voice vibrating deep in her bones.

She said nothing in return, just watched as he sauntered towards her cell. As always, his very presence made her freeze. Even as he slipped the key in the lock, she could do nothing but watch, rooted to the spot, as tears started to stream down her cheeks.

"What's this, then?" he asked as he pulled the door open. "Why the long face? We're going to have so much fun!"

Then he was reaching for her, and she knew what would happen next, what always happened next, he was going to hurt her, HURT HER, and there was nothing she could do to stop him, oh please couldn't anyone stop him from hurting her hurting her HURTING HER—

"Tigerlily! Wake up!"

Tigerlily's eyes flew open as she snapped into a sitting position. Heart pounding, she automatically braced for a fight, but James caught her fist gently.

"You were having another nightmare," he explained quietly, his beautiful blue eyes filled with worry. Slowly, he loosened his grip on her wrist and held her face in both hands. "Are you all right?"

"It was awful," she gasped. "I was in the ship and he was going to—he was—Oh, James!" A heart-wrenching sob shook her body.

James wrapped his arms around her protectively. "Shh, shh," he soothed, holding her until the sobs subsided and her breathing had slowed. "I'm here. And I promise I will never let anything happen to you."

Tigerlily let James lower her back onto the bed, where he continued to hold her until she finally drifted back into sleep. In his arms, she felt safer than she had in a very long time.

It was a feeling that would not last.