I am in love with Peter Pan and his story. I just thought it would be interesting to put that the Codfish had a daughter and he abandoned her in the real world and…wait I'm getting ahead of myself. That's the story! (Slaps fore-head with palm.) I'm such a butthead. Any-who, on with the story!
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing Peter Pan related except for Vanessa, Mr. and Mrs. Underwood, Lynny, Richard and...well, ya get the picture :-)
WARNING: This is a mixture of 2003 movie/ Peter and the Starcatchers/ normal Peter Pan book.
It was a dark stormy night in London, 1954. The young man in charge of oiling Big Ben's clockwork glanced out of the window and fell back with a yelp. The huge outline of a 15th century ship loomed before his astounded eyes. A lighting flash and it was gone. He stuck his head out of the window. Was it his imagination, or did he hear a man shouting out that they were almost there? He listened closer. There was nothing, except the howling of the wind. The guy pulled his head in and shook his soaked mane of hair out of his eyes. He quickly slammed the window shut. What had he seen? He went down the stairs, pondering until his head hurt. He shook his head again. That was the last time he ate anything out of the back of the icebox.
The ship struggled across the sky. A brief lighting flash lit up the hull and the name, The Jolly Rodger. The name that struck fear into all on the Spanish Main and the natives of the Caribbean. The ship fought to keep a steady course in the gale. Noodler kept his eyes peeled, looking for the building. Where was it…? THERE! Lights, several stories high, sparkled to the right of the ship.
"BRING 'ER DOWN!" he bellowed to the first-mate, Smee, at the helm. Smee twiddled the wheel and tiller and the ship began a slow descent. Just when it was about to smash into the roofs on either side, Smee brought it to a complete halt. Crewmen lowered the anchors. Don came to take control of the helm. He nodded to Smee who took a deep breath and started down into the bowels of the ship.
Smee moved with the balking and swaying of the ship, completely at home in a ship in the air as if it were on water. He moved down the stairs quite steadily. As he entered the corridor, he started to sweat. If only this hadn't happened, if only the Captain hadn't fallen…. He shuddered. He couldn't even bring himself to think of the 'L' word. He stopped in front of the captain's cabin door. He took another deep breath, steadied his nerves and let himself in.
The cabin was completely dark, except for small glow of a pipe in a corner.
"Captain…" said Smee.
"Yes…?" came the hoarse voice that sounded unused to speaking softly.
"We're there…"
"So soon?" sighed the voice. "Is the dingy ready?"
"Ready and awaitn' your arrival, Cap't ."
There was a heavy sigh and a lantern was lit. By the dull glow, Smee could see a small bundle wrapped in a bright green blanket. The captain gently lifted the bundle and arranged in more comfortably in the crook of his right arm.
"Careful, Cap't." Smee warned. "That's your hook..."
"I know, you idjit!" snarled the captain as he started up the stairs to the deck. "Did ja think I'd pierce my own child?"
"N-n-n-n-n-n-n-no, s-s-sir."
Silence remained as they continued up the stairs and into the teeth of the gale. They struggled to make it to the dingy. As they entered the boat, hurricane force winds pounded the tiny vassal. It began to lower. If at any point in this whole adventure that frightened Smee the most it was hanging between sky and land with nothing but old ropes to keep them on course. Just when they were halfway, the bundle let off a high-pitched wail that continued for several minutes, like a siren.
"Cap't..."
"Let her cry for a few minutes. Many a dark deed has happened this night. Let her."
Smee sat back abashed. With another lurch, he grabbed the sides of the boat with white knuckles. Soon the little girl stopped crying. The dingy hit the street with a small thud and almost spilled Smee onto the cobblestones. The Cap't however, remained perfectly balanced. Less than five minutes later, they stood in front of a pair of bottle green doors. If they listened carefully, they could hear many voices, shouting and laughing.Shadows flirted across the brightly lit windows, making it a very cozy scene.
"Well, at least she'll be happy here, sir." Smee commented in a small voice.
"Smee, keep watch." he said, not looking at his ever faithful first mate.
Smee obediently turned his back and walked out into the street. He felt the rain drops lessen. He looked up into the cloud-ridden sky and began to chew his filthy nails. He almost instantly quit.
The captain gently set the little girl on the doorstep next to a carton of milk bottles. They clanked gently as he slid his arm out from under her. She suddenly gave a high-pitched wail and began to cry again.
"Poor little one. It's almost...as if you know...what has happened." He crouched there a few mintues more before reaching into a pocket and pulling out a black drawstring bag. He placed it on her stomach and she stopped crying. With infant sweetness, she grasped the bag and pulled it to her. He gave a small laugh.
"It's the least a father can do...from my world to yours."
He pulled a note out of his pocket that was sealed with bright red wax in which the imprint of a star could be clearly seen. He set it against bundle and baby. He gently rearranged the blanket around her face. Her sad blue eyes stared out at him, eyes as blue as the ocean...eyes as unfathomable as the sea...eyes that held a spark of impishness...her mother's eyes.
He was instantly transported back to when he had first seen eyes like them. It had been a cold winter morn and she had been the only other one on the beach. Her hair was being blown about her face while she sang a song of raindrops and moonbeams. Her smile lit up the waters of the bay. It had seemed as if the whole world had frozen just to listen to her. He closed his eyes and brought that picture of dark red curls, ocean blue eyes and angelic smile to his minds eye. He smiled. His thoughts were shattered as Smee yelled, "Captain! Captain, there's a child..!"
The two pirates were gone in a flash as they heard a young girl scream from within; "Mrs. Underwood, there's two strange men outside! Mrs. Underwood!"
"I heard you, Lynny, I heard you!" The doors creaked open and a middle-aged woman peered out. She had peppery-red hair, soft green eyes, and oval shaped glasses. She looked around in the storms aftermath, confused. Right on cue, the baby started wailing. Mrs. Underwood immediately looked down. With a coo, she stooped down and scooped the child up into her arms. She looked around for a few more moments, as if she was hoping to see a teenage mother glancing about the lightpost. There was nobody there, of course.
"Poor little one." she murmured. "You come right inside with me. I'll take care of you, dear." She walked in, carrying the baby, note, bag and all. The doors gently closed shut behind her. From their hiding spot in the alley, the two men let out a sigh of relief. As they walked back to the dingy, Smee asked: "Sir, do you think that this is right? I mean, the child will want to know who she is, and-"
"I know, Smee, I know. I shall be back for her in twelve wintertides..."
"I will be back for her in twelve wintertides...' I tell you, George, I do not know what to make of it." Mrs. Underwood said to her husband in the large kitchen, as they read and re-read the strange note written in a spidery hand.
"Neither do I, Mora, neither do I."'said George, setting a cup of tea down by his beloved wife's elbow. He glanced at the newest edition to their family curled in Mrs. Underwood's arms. He smiled as the baby murmured sweet baby murmuring and cooed.
Upstairs in the bedrooms, the children were all gathered by the windows, gasping in wonder as they watched the ship take off and fly away. That night inspired many stories within the orphanage. And the little girl who had sparked such mystery and intrigue, slept--safe and warm in New Lives Orphanage, little knowing what a life she would lead.