A/N: Hey everyone! This is my first fanfiction story here! Woot! Anyway, I hope you like it, it's just been an idea I've had for a while since seeing Pocahontas after about 7 years, and realizing how much of an interesting character Thomas is! Hopefully I'll get it pretty accurate to the actual movie.

Disclaimer: No, I do not own any of the characters. If I did, I'd be making expensive movies, instead of writing cheap fanfics.

The skies were a bright blue on that day in England, circa 1607. Thomas Caleb (I made up his last name) had been walking down the street, from his father's shop back home. His left hand massaged his right shoulder as he strolled down the street. Thomas had been helping his father unload a ship.

"Bloody hard work…" he mumbled to himself as his auburn bangs feel in front of his eyes. Thomas really didn't mind as much as he let on. His father had fallen a bit behind since his illness, and needed extra help to keep the money coming in for his family. Daniel (Thomas's father's name) had also wanted to spend more time with family, including his wife, Carrie, and his daughter, Jenny.

Thomas looked back at the buildings as he passed them. Talk around London was all about "The New World." He sighed. He had ached for his dream to be able to get on an expedition like that. Any time his father told him about his voyages when he was still young, Thomas's dreams were filled with exploring, dreams of becoming a sailor, and then a captain; he especially wanted to become a captain- or at least a soldier- after he had heard all about the famous John Smith. He was Thomas's idol, a guy he could aspire to be like. While he put his own father before someone he never met, Thomas kept his true fantasy of wanting to be a Captain over a shop owner. Although it seemed that the more he yearned for his dreams, the more childish and futile they became. The talk seemed to always be more interesting when it was other people fantasizing over journeys; he knew that he wasn't alone.

"Thomas!" His thoughts were instantly broken, as he turned around to see who was calling out to him. A smile broke out on his face as he saw his friend, James. "Thomas, where have you been? The boys have been rather bored." James walked over to Thomas, slapping the back of his shoulder. He winced a bit, as the arm was still sore from lifting the heavy materials from earlier. He shook off his pain for a minute and looked back at his other to friends in back of James, Ron and Joshua. "Well of course you would be rather bored, the lot of you couldn't possibly find anything interesting to do without me, right?"

James cracked a grin, "Oh yes, we are completely lost without your strong guidance Thomas." He rolled his eyes. Ron held out a hackey sack. "We've had this however," he tossed it up in the air, catching it in the same hand. "and we're probably now a right lot better than you." He pushed. Joshua stayed quiet, but grinned. "Oh you think so? Well, we'll see about that one then." Thomas challenged. "'Atta boy." James accepted as they walked into the alley. Thomas decided that he'd have enough time to hang out with his friends before heading home.

Joshua took the hackey sack and dropped it down, kicking it up in the air, hitting it with both sides of his foot, and then back to the top, tossing it to James. James caught it on the shoulder, shrugging it off so that it fell, allowing him to catch it on the inside of his right foot. He kicked the hackey sack up a couple of times, and kicked it to an unprepared Ron. Ron clumsily caught it on the back of his foot, not quite sure how to move then. He kicked it up moving to the side, and caught it on the calf of his leg. It rolled to the top of his foot and then was passed to Thomas. Thomas caught the hackey sack on the outside of his left foot, tossing it up a little, and then kicked it up so that he could catch in on his knee, he threw it up, catching it on his other knee, and jumped up, letting it fall to his right foot on the inside. Thomas kicked the hackey sack up and caught it on the outside of the foot. He kicked it over to James. Each of the boys got to go around again, but then James accidentally kicked it out to the sidewalk. Thomas went to get it, that way he could just leave it with his friends and go back home. But before Thomas could reach for the hackey sack, a hand reached for it first.

"Oh, thank you-" Thomas stopped himself momentarily as he stood up. He was facing his idol, Captain John Smith! John grinned and tossed him the hackey sack. "No problem." He said and started back down the street. Thomas stared back at the Hackey sack, and then at the man retreating down the street.

"Uhh, Thomas?" Joshua called out. He shook his head hard.

"Huh? Oh, sorry." Thomas tossed them the hackey sack. "Sorry, but I have to go. Great seeing you guys again!" And he took off before there could be any further protest. James sighed, turning to face the other two guys. None of them had seen very much of Thomas lately. He was always working. For a seventeen year old, Thomas was certainly much more mature than expected.

"What has gotten into him lately? He never used to 'leave early'." James sighed, putting his hand in his dark hair.

"I dunno, perhaps his father really needed his help. You know Thomas, never says 'no'." Ron grinned as he casually tossed the hackey sack up, and catching it. "Of course I know that," James glanced over, "but never like this."

"Ah, give it a rest." Joshua said. "He's just helping out, as soon as the store gets back on track, Thomas will have his freedom back, and we'll all hang out again." James and Ron just nodded as the three walked back to their own homes.

And just as his three friends were worrying about him, Thomas walked up to his home, and stepped through the door to his family.

"Thomas?" Came a voice from a small parlor in the Caleb Home. Carrie Caleb came out to greet her oldest child. A grin spread across her young face. She was glad to see that her son had come home just then. The sun was setting, and it would be dark soon.. Worry took over her heart if her husband or son were still out at night. She had always kept Jenny inside before the sun fell. Ever since her husband fell ill, after that night, she had waited up for the both of them to come in.

"Yes, it's me, mum." Thomas smiled, as his mother went over giving him a hug.. "Is dad doing better?" He asked, as he noticed his father's favorite green cap on the table by the door.

"He is. Just a bit of exhaustion, that's all." She nodded. "He's very grateful for you, staying there by yourself." Thomas smiled, and shrugged.

"It's no big deal, really. He needs to let himself rest a while." Thomas continued to massage his right shoulder. Thomas really didn't mind, but he had realized how much he was missing out on with his friends, when they stopped him today. "I did see a few of my friends before coming home." He walked into the parlor, where his six-year-old sister had been waiting for him as well.

"Thomas!" Jenny cried, running up to hug her brother. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a braid, and she had changed into her nightgown.

"Hello to you to, Jenny." He laughed at his Jenny's enthusiasm to see him. "And what did you do today?" Jenny made it a habit of telling Thomas about her day. And, she never left anything small out. So Thomas even listened to the small things like when she stopped to eat lunch, exactly how many cartwheels she did, and what color her hair ribbon was. Anyone else would have tuned her out, but Thomas listened to his sister.

"Well, today I was playing, 'castle'." She grinned. Jenny sat next to her brother as she told him all about her pretending to be the Queen and how she had a ball, a ball where everyone was invited, and that she, of course, was the most beautiful girl at the ball. Jenny reassured Thomas, that he was invited.

"Well that's good; I'd hate to miss my own sister's ball." He laughed. Carrie smiled as she watched her children talking on the couch. Thomas was always so patient with Jenny, and Jenny adored her big brother with all her heart.

"Alright then, I think it's time for a little girl to go to sleep." Carrie sing-songed, walking over to her daughter. "Would you like Thomas to put you to bed?" She offered, seeing as how Jenny would probably ask sooner or later. She nodded vigorously, which made Carrie laugh. "Alright then," she bent down, hugging Jenny affectionately, "night, night, my love." She gave her a kiss.

"Alright then, Jenny," Thomas picked up his giggling sister, "let's get you off to bed." He walked in to Jenny's bedroom. Thomas pulled the covers over, and let Jenny slide in under her blankets.

"Thomas?" Jenny asked, before yawning.

"Yes?" He replied.

"Can you get me, Kerry?" Jenny requested the doll that Carrie had made for her on her first birthday.

"Of course I can." He grinned, and reached to the shelf where the doll was sitting. Thomas gave Kerry to Jenny, and saw her face light up, as she held her favorite doll. As he was about to leave, his sister stopped him with a question that fit their earlier conversation.

"Thomas? Do you think I'll ever get to meet the Queen?" she asked with a tired hint in her voice. Thomas laughed lightly. He imagined that it was every girl's fantasy to meet the Queen. Jenny's especially.

"Someday perhaps you will, but certainly not right at this moment." Thomas told Jenny. "Why the sudden urge now?" He cocked an eyebrow. Jenny sat up in bed.

"I want to, because if I meet the Queen, then she'll make me a Princess!" she squealed excitedly. "And when I'm a princess, I'll get to live in a palace, and have all the royal balls I want!" Jenny sighed happily and stood up. "I'd get my own crown, and a beautiful princess gown, too." She went on. Jenny then started off on explaining how her dress would look, down to the last inch of lace.

"Mummy and Daddy would come too, of course. Daddy wouldn't be sick, and Mummy wouldn't have to worry." Jenny explained, starting to yawn. Thomas smirked, and again, helped Jenny into bed. "You'll come too, Thomas, and you can be a soldier, like you've wanted to." She said becoming engulfed in a yawn. Thomas tucked her in, touched by how she remembered his dream.

"Good night, Jenny." He kissed her cheek and walked out of the room. Jenny's fantasies of palace life sometimes made Thomas feel bad. He knew that Jenny wouldn't give up that dream, but he knew she wanted to live in the palace for other reasons than being a Princess. He doubted that Jenny knew how to express these feelings, so she just lived them out through her fantasies. It was for no doubt the same reason Thomas wanted to become a captain. To be known…

The teenager yawned as he walked over to his room. By that time, both of his parents were talking in their room. He usually would think nothing of it, and just walk by to go to sleep, but what they were saying caught his attention. Daniel was sitting up, reading over a letter, while his mother was sitting on a chair next to the bed, persuading him to not do whatever it was the letter said.

"Carrie, it is the King's wish that I go on the voyage. And besides, the Caleb name could prosper." Thomas cocked an eyebrow as he listened in. He was leaning against the wall, his right arm up over his head, and his left arm just below his chest; he was pressed against the wall firmly.

"Yes I know, but Daniel, you still haven't fully recovered." Carrie got up, removing that cap from her head, and pulling out the hair stick that held her bun in place. "Today you had to leave Thomas by himself to finish up the work." She sighed. "I know that he never complains, but think about it. It's forcing him to give up is his friends, just being himself, and doing what he wants to."

Daniel sighed, knowing his wife was right. He wasn't exactly proud of leaving his son by himself at the shop. In fact, he wasn't proud to leave the shop at all. Daniel wanted to have a day where he felt well enough to do what he wanted, and not have to rely on everyone's help.

"It may not sound like the best suggestion," He said, as he got up and walked over to Carrie who was looking into the mirror, "but what if he brought his friends along their, even if I stayed, the work would get done a lot faster, and he could still have time before it turned dark."

"And then what about Jenny?" Carrie asked, turning to her husband. "She has been such a patient little girl, helping me out around the house, preparing meals. I don't want her to grow up so fast. I think it would be best if you found someone to cover for you a while, and then you could rest back at home."

Thomas sighed, about to turn back down the hall and get ready for bed, when all of a sudden, his father said the one thing that could make the teen stop in his tracks, and run back to listen.

"I wish it were that easy, Carrie." Daniel walked over, putting his hand under her chin. "But I must be on that voyage for the new world. They're already short on hands as it is."

Thomas's eyes widened. His father? Daniel Caleb had been chosen for the voyage? It was unbelievable; the Caleb family could live on in the new world. He looked over and saw a tear roll down the cheek of his mother. It must be hard on Carrie, to let her husband go when the family had been just getting back on their feet.

"I don't care!" Carrie cried out, sending chills down Thomas's spine, as he quickly checked back to Jenny, seeing that she stirred slightly, but was otherwise still asleep. "We need you here, Daniel! Thomas can't run the shop alone, Jenny is still very young and can't take on everything, and I can't do it all alone! Thomas and Jenny need a father here, not there!" Thomas cringed, wishing that his mother knew that neither him, nor Jenny minded helping out. They knew it was for their father.

Daniel turned from his wife; ashamed of himself he walked back to the bed. "I'm sorry, Carrie." He said, and sat down on the bed. Carrie sighed, and sat next to her husband.

"I know, Daniel my love, and it's alright. I just wish…" Carrie trailed off

"What do you wish?" Daniel asked, the ever-caring man. That's where Thomas resembled his father's traits.

"I wish there was someone else to send, for us." Carrie rested her head on Daniel's shoulder, and he kissed her. Thomas stepped back from the wall, and got to thinking.

As he got ready for bed, Thomas's thoughts were dedicated to the conversation he had heard earlier. His father said he wanted the Caleb name to start up in the New World, and his mother wished that someone else would be able to go. The voyage was coming up very soon, and Thomas decided that he had to take action. He would go. The entire plan seemed fine, the Caleb name would start up in the new world, his father wouldn't have to go, and Jenny wouldn't have to grow up so fast.

Thomas brushed a hand through his hair, pulling on an old shirt of his fathers, and looser pants as pajamas, and slipped into his bed, gazing out the window, deciding to propose his plan tomorrow. With that, he rolled over and fell asleep.

A/N: Okay, that's all I'm going to post up for now. I had to make up the last name, and his family's first names, because I don't think they're mentioned anywhere, if they are, please message them to me, and I'll change them.

Please R&R! Flames are yummy for breakfast.