Captain Hook's hook turned out to be in the possession of the youngest of the Montgomery clan. She was sitting with her sister in the lounge using it as a wand as they played at doing spells.

"Who's stolen my hook!" cried Bianca, swooping in and scooping up her youngest daughter. Gabby just giggled at her mom's silliness. "And why aren't you ready yet!" gasped Bianca, realising Gabby was only half dressed. "Where's the rest of your costume?"

"I've got it here." called Marissa from the hall. Gabby hurried off to finish dressing.

Bianca turned to her oldest child, dressed in a very pretty fairy costume, with layers of silk and lace, and embroidered with flowers and finished with a pair of gossamer wings.

"You look beautiful." said Bianca planting a kiss on Miranda's forehead. "I think you are going to be a stunner when you grow up."

"Oh mom!" cried Miranda, pulling a 'you're being gross' face. "Don't get all soppy!"

Bianca smiled, but didn't say any more. Her girls were growing up so fast and she wanted to savour moments like this.

The clock chimed six.

"We've got to get going." gasped Bianca suddenly, "Or we are going to be late."

Bianca paused to give Miranda one last hug before adding,

"Sweetie if you don't take those wings off you're not going to fit in the car."

"Yes mommy!" Miranda said with sigh.

After Miranda had struggled out of her wings she followed her mom out into the hall. Gabby was now fully dressed. She had a papier-mâché crocodile hat on her head which mommy had made from an old baseball cap (which Miranda and AJ had helped paint) and a tail pinned onto the back of her green pyjamas. She even had little green claw gloves on each hand. Miranda thought mommy and Marissa had done a very good job of making Gabby into a crocodile. It wasn't as good as Miranda's fairy costume though, Miranda was sure she was going to be the prettiest girl at the party, maybe even pretty than Erica!

Now she was all dressed, Gabby turned to mommy doing her best crocodile roar. Bianca, as Captain Hook, played along at being terrified and ran away. Gabby soon gave chase, giggling like crazy between growls.

AJ then ran down the stairs his plastic sword drawn,

"I'll save you Captain!" he cried, running to intercept Gabby.

"Oh no you don't!"

Marissa chased after her son, her own little plastic sword drawn and started a duel.

Miranda smiled at all the silliness, but then frowned at her own costume. She really wanted to join it but didn't want to ruin her pretty dress. For the first time that evening Miranda wondered if she had made the right choice – if she had dressed up as Tiger-lily she could be chasing everyone with a tomahawk right now!

Miranda's doubt about her costume faded the instant Erica told her how exquisite she looked.

Bianca however got a glare of dismay from her mother.

"We went for a Peter Pan theme." She said by way of explanation.

"I can see that." said Erica flatly.

Feeling the tension in the air Marissa scooted the kids off into the party, leaving Bianca to talk to her mother alone. Marissa had learnt very early on that you don't ever EVER want to get between Erica and Bianca when Erica was in a bad mood.

It wasn't until Bianca saw Uncle Jack that she realised the real issue. Her mother was dressed as a 17th century countess, and Uncle Jack was dressed as her beau, in a costume almost identical to Bianca's, right down the red and gold jacket.

Bianca decided to keep it light and put her hands on her hips as she shook her head in mock seriousness,

"Well, we can't both be Captain Hook. I may have to keel haul my tailor."

Uncle Jack laughed at her joke, but her mother's mouth remained in a thin serious line. Bianca frowned maybe the costume clash wasn't the problem after all.