Author's Note- I own none of the charcters created by J.M. Barrie and make no money by playing "what if..." with them.
-1- The Music of the Night
The full moon spilled crystal light across the city of Cimmariel, frosting the city in silver. Above, the stars sparkled like diamonds resting on blue-black velvet. From the courtyard of the castle, the guards could hear the music the orchestra played drifting slowly into the darkness. The royal hall was bedecked in satin and silk splendor. Swaths of the fabrics hung across the room in shades of cream and white. Candles danced merrily everywhere, every scion and candelabra was lit. Faceted crystals hung from the fabric and gleaming sculptures of ice decorated the tables across the hall. All the crystal twinkled as the candle flames moved about. Above the heads of the royals on their dais, the cut crystal chandelier sparkled in the swaying light.
Young Gabriel sat on the steps of the dais watching as his father led his mother at arms length out to the middle of the room. This was his favorite time of every official visit they made to Cimmariel. The entire trip across the ocean his father would complain, the whole time they would prepare for dinner he would grumble and all through dinner he would scowl but, after the dinner was through, the orchestra would start to play. Gabriel would watch as the scowl would slowly fade as the music would rise. A small smile would sometimes tug at the corners of his father's mouth as he would stand and walk formally around the table to offer his hand to his wife.
Gabe smiled slyly as his mother had to quickly conceal a look of surprise. His parents had insisted he learn music growing up and he put that knowledge to good use on his last trip to visit his aunt back in London. He had found several pieces of music there and purchased the scores for them from a local music shop. In his spare time he had adjusted the parts of that music for the royal orchestra. When Peter Pan had arrived to bring him home, Gabriel had asked the boy to deliver the music to Cimmariel.
Now Jirel smiled over at her son as she recognized the music from her time on Earth. His father nodded approval to his son before her spun Jirel into a sensuous dip. Now smiling broadly, Gabe watched his parents float across the floor. He knew they were partners in every way possible but they never looked better matched than when they were dancing. They moved as if they knew what the other was going to do before they did.
As the music drifted away, applause filled the air. The king rose to his feet and raised his hands for silence as he walked to the edge of the dais. "On this beautiful evening, it pleases me greatly to bring you all good news for the whole kingdom. Tonight I will name my successor. "
A murmur moved across the room like a wave rolling into shore. Jirel tipped her head to rest it against her husband's shoulder. He absently wrapped his arm around her shoulder, the polished wood of the fingertips of the fairy-spelled right hand caressing her bare skin. Once the assembled guests had quieted the King continued.
"After much discussion amongst the royal family…"
Hook snorted quietly. "I don't remember being included in any discussion."
Jirel shushed him.
"… the decision has been made that my grandson, Gabriel Angelus Hook, shall follow me on the throne, his mother having abdicated her place as heir."
A roar of applause covered up the captain's objections to Jirel. "Why wasn't I consulted about this?"
Jirel smiled patiently at her husband. "You don't want all the headaches that come with being King, believe me."
"But my son…!"
Jirel gently placed her hand across his mouth as she cut him off. "…will make a just, fair and compassionate King." Her eyes sparkled with amusement as he wordlessly conceded the argument. "Do you want to tell them or do you want me to do it?"
Hook grinned a wolfish grin. "You can, I'll enjoy watching them squirm."
Jirel rolled her eyes and leaned to lightly kiss her husband before stepping up to the base of the dais. Her father glanced down at her with a questioning look. Jirel cleared her throat to catch the attention of the nearest nobility. The quiet spread across the room in much the same way the excited murmur had moments earlier. Jirel cast a quick glance over her shoulder winking at her husband. The tension in the air was almost tangible as she slowly climbed the stairs to stand next to her father. The King gave her a wary look as she reached the top of the steps. Jirel smiled pleasantly at him. "My husband and I also have news for you."
Hook grinned to himself and winked over at his son. Gabe was doing everything he could not to laugh at how tense his grandfather looked at Jirel making some unplanned announcement.
Jirel stood with an expressionless look for several breaths before finally deciding to break the tension and finish her announcement. She didn't think she could keep her straight face much longer. She looked over to where her mother was seated next to her father's empty throne. The queen's face was one of attentive curiosity. "You're going to be grandparents again."
It took several seconds for the meaning of what she said to register. When it did Jirel was enveloped in a stifling hug from her mother and her father. Gabriel coughed to cover a laugh as he noticed his mother frantically waving for his father to come rescue her from her parents. Captain Hook casually started to climb the steps and Gabe fell in alongside of him. When they reached the top, Gabriel moved to rescue his mother before his father had the chance. "Mom, am I still going to visit Aunt Mel?"
The royals turned their attention to the boy. The King scoffed at the question. "Of course not, my boy. You'll start on with your royal tutors."
Jirel raised a questioning eyebrow at her father. "Tutors?"
The King was unfazed by her tone. Hook knew the tone well and was amused that the king chose to ignore it. Hook himself was careful to tread softly when Jirel used that tone. "Yes, he will need to start learning the necessary skills of ruling a kingdom, as he is now the heir to the throne."
Hook leaned forward to whisper in his son's ear. "You did that on purpose." Gabe didn't bother to hide his smile.
Jirel's voice became tinged with ice as she addressed her father. "Heir or not he is still my son and he is going to visit his aunt in London, on Earth, for three weeks." Her look dared the king to argue with her. The queen tactifully stepped forward and changed the subject before her husband could get any more egg on his face. The orchestra began playing again, cued by the queen, and the dancing resumed with no one other than the royal family being aware of the slight argument.
Hours later, Jirel stood wrapped in a light quilt on the balcony of the suite she and her husband were given whenever they were visiting. A light breeze tousled her shoulder length hair and she pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. She smiled, remembering how Hook had fought with her when she cut her waist length hair, as she lightly placed a hand down on her midsection. She was thrilled to be pregnant. After Gabriel, they had tried for another child, but they never seemed to be able to get the timing right. There had been several disappointing false alarms before they finally decided to simply let nature decide for them. After all these years they had all but given up on any more additions to their family.
In typical fashion, when they had least expected it was when it finally happened. Jirel had actually not noticed she was late until her husband had made some remark to the effect on the several month voyage to Cimmariel. If it were another case of being overly optimistic, she should have had another cycle just before they reached the harbor city. Many of their crew had misinterpreted their excited tension as they arrived. They hadn't been docked for an hour when Smee was given watch of the ship and Gabriel, while they went in search of one of the local doctors.
Smee had known there was something afoot when they had returned to the Jolly Roger but he couldn't find a way to broach the subject. When he brought them lunch, Jirel could see the old man's curiosity eating him alive. With a barely perceptible nod she gave Hook permission to tell him. The old bosun was nearly as excited as they had been. He stepped forwards and took the rum from the table, ignoring the protests from the captain, before leaning to fold Jirel into a gentle hug.
Jirel smiled as she remembered the events of that morning four days earlier. The breeze picked up stronger, blowing the scent of sea air to the balcony. Suppressing a shiver, Jirel went inside, latching the double doors behind her. She could remember a time when a cold wind would cause her to shiver for a reason other than the chill. She crossed the dimly lit room to where her husband, James Hook, was sleeping on the bed. Draping the light quilt across the bed, she carefully climbed underneath the covers. An arm snaked around her waist and pulled her against a strong chest. Jirel smiled as a kiss was planted just behind her ear. Sighing with contentment and being wrapped in her husband's solid, protective presence, she rested her arm on his to lace together their fingers as they both sank into dreams.
On another balcony of the castle, Gabriel sat waiting. He searched the sky until he saw a star which seemed to move. As he watched, the star came closer and closer until he could see it wasn't a star at all but a tiny fairy. The fairy flew at the shoulder of the person Gabe had been waiting for.
"Hey Peter."
Peter Pan landed lightly on the railing of the balcony. After taking a moment to pose, he hopped down and smiled at the other boy. "So when are you going?"
Gabe stepped inside his room to grab a light cloak. "Mom said I will still be leaving to spend three weeks with Aunt Mel on Wednesday, just like we originally planned." He wrapped the cloak around his shoulders with a dramatic flourish. "So we have two days till I leave to get the stuff together."
Peter ordered Tinkerbell to dust the other boy. Gabe surprised him by floating into the air before the fairy had the chance to. Gabe flashed a slightly cocky grin at his companion. "There are perks to being the Keeper of Neverland."
With mischief in their eyes, the boys flew silently off into the night on their mission.
