A/N: Not to be a weirdo, but is anyone enjoying this so far? Hoping for some comments, but I will write regardless. Thank you for all the views!

Of Hooks and Pans

Chapter 7: Story of a Lifetime

"So, say I am the great, great granddaughter of Peter. You're telling me I am the only one left in the bloodline, so I have to stay here? Or what, Neverland will blow up? Get sucked into a black hole?"

"Basically." Hook hands me a bowl of grapes. I set them on the table and pop a few in my mouth. He sits across from me and inhales deeply.

I squish another juicy grape in my mouth. With silence hovering over us, I wonder if he thinks I believe everything yet. I say, "This is all so strange to me, Captain. I don't believe in this at all, but something tells me I am not anywhere near my . . . erm . . . world. What's next, then? You need to fill me in on everything else. Namely, who that woman was."

"That was Carmen. She is a gypsy, a witch, a woman of great power. Somewhere along the lines, she made her way here. The Lost Boys are under her thumb. In the old days, Peter and the Lost Boys would duke it out with us constantly. It was a great game to them. To me, it was a quest for power. When Carmen appeared, she manipulated the boys into thinking she was a mother, a storyteller. They were craving that kind of a presence since Wendy went back home." He stabs a grape with his hook. "She is ruining Neverland. She is trying to turn our world into something it's not."

"Let me guess, I need to stop her, too?"

"It would be nice, but that's jumping ahead of yourself."

"How in the world do you expect me to do anything here? I don't fit in."

"Quite the contrary, dear," He replies. "You fit in more than you realize. It is in your blood. You cannot deny it, but you can mold yourself into whoever you wish to be."

I shoot back, "Then I wish to be nobody and float through life like a dust mote. I'm not cut out for any of this weird stuff. I need to go home."

"Was home a good place for you? Is Neverland such a nightmare?" A glint of mischief plays in his eyes. "I haven't been a bad host, have I?"

My stomach forms knots. I feel my face flush. I reply, "Other than your claw, you're fine."

A second of needed silence brushes over both of us.

"So, why was Carmen so keen on reaching me? Tiger Lily seemed to not want a conversation about it, either. Maybe you have an answer for me."

"Tiger Lily is a nuisance," Hook says. "Her whole tribe has been on our case since we came to Neverland. I believe she is intimidated because Carmen is a threat, as well as us pirates. If we were all to engage in war, The Tribe would lose immediately. I'm not even being harsh. Carmen and the Lost Boys versus us, however, is a different story. To answer your question, however, I cannot say. Perhaps we will find the answer to this some other time."

"Captain?"

"Yes, Petnuia?"

"Am I ever going back again? To my world?"

He leans forward and says, "If you must. I do hope you will stay for your adventure, though. It's coming soon."

With a wink, Hook throws another grape in his mouth. In this calm environment, I completely forget my worries.

"Shall we adjourn to the deck and see where we are?"

I shake the void filling my head. We stand, gather a few more grapes, and exit the cabin.

Outside, wind is picking up. Clouds in the distance look dismal. Hook scrunches up his brows and focuses on the weather.

"A storm is in our path!" Smee says from above. He is on crow's nest duty, but I can see his accordion next to his leg. "Are we heading in a different direction, then, Cap'n?"

"No, Smee. We will be staying true to our destination." He looks at me and says, "When Peter was here, it was sunny all the time. When he left, it would turn bitterly cold. Waters would freeze and it would snow across Neverland. Since he left long ago, the weather has mixed. It is unpredictable. We shall see what kind of weather you bring to Neverland."

I shrug my shoulders. He beckons me to follow him to the helm. Hook discusses with a rather large man that we are not diverting paths. The large man takes a hard hold on the helm and nods. Hook glances at me.

"Come here, Petunia." He half-smiles. "Would you like to learn how to steer?"

My eyes nearly explode from their sockets. I shake my head. He does not take no as an answer. I find myself being pulled by the arm to the helm. Large Man moves out of the way. I hear his name is Ramskin. Hook watches me with intimidation as I take hold of the helm.

"Make sure you do not let go," Hook says.

My attempt at steering must be horrible, for Hook places his good hand over mine as he stands behind me. Nerves in my stomach explode one by one like fireworks.

"There," He says softly in my ear. "It's not so tough, is it?"

I inhale sharply as Hook rubs my hand before letting go. Something inside of me has awoken; a thrill takes over my body and I am suddenly very focused. I feel blood pumping hard as a hammer throughout my veins. I can still sense Hook very close behind me, but he is backing up. As though I am possessed, I steer the helm perfectly.

"Welcome to Neverland, my dear." Hook steps to my side and grips my shoulder. He says, "You are extremely alert. As if you have been doing this your entire life."

With complete shock, I let go and move away fast. Ramskin takes over again. My hands float to my cheeks and I begin to hyperventilate. Hook rubs my shoulder. I take several deep breaths to try calming down.

"Dear, do not fret. There is much to learn. If you wish, I can teach you how to properly sword fight."

I examine Hook's expression. He seems gentle, almost too content.

I find the closest railing and puke my brains out.

"Maybe not yet, then?" Hook asks. He adds, "You are too nervous, dear."

My vision absorbs a vast ocean. Above lies a cluster of gloomy clouds, closer than before. After a moment to gather myself, I head back to the cabin with Hook on my trail. He stops me from going in by grabbing my arm.

"Petunia, you cannot hide forever." He snaps. "Your destiny awaits."

I reply, "It can wait for a few hours longer. I need rest." My arm loosens from his grasp and I head inside, ready to collapse on the bed.

In a fetal position, I try unclogging my brain of confusing emotions. Though I am not tired, my body needs to relax and be still. Hook is a man who has many complex layers, I get it. Yet, his attempts at being informative and helpful are only making me more uncertain of everything. This is Neverland, I know that. I am not dreaming, I gathered this. But being in a whole other world is not something I wanted. Now with pressure from a bloodline I did not know existed, I haven't the foggiest idea of who I am supposed to be. Am I truly capable of saving an entire world? Is Carmen someone I should fear? Is Captain Hook planning something more devious than I am aware of? He is the Master of all pirates. He is the pirate who puts other pirates to shame . . . no, to their death. And here I am, on the Jolly Roger taking steering lessons from him.

Goodness, when did life melt into such a puddle of unrecognizable goo? It's like an artist spilled buckets of paint in a white room and called it fate.

Alas, I fell asleep some time ago. I hear shouting outside muddled by thunder claps. I examine the cabin and do not see Hook. Of course, he is outside manning his ship. Still in my torn shirt and jeans, I can now carefully remove the tourniquet from my cut hand. It doesn't look so bad; the cut was not too deep.

Now opening the cabin door, I hear bullets of rain dropping along the ship. I cannot see very well, but Hook's voice is carrying through the wind. I step outside barefoot and nearly fall on my ass. Several crew members run about, screaming ship terms back and forth as if they're coaching football.

"Petnuia!" Hook spots me. "Get back inside. This storm is not treating us kindly."

I struggle to climb the stairs. Hook is soaked from head to toe, as am I by now, and he is clearly frustrated.

"What did I say?" He scolds me. "Get back in there."

Lightning creases the sky like paper. It lights up Hook's eyes, which are bright and concerned.

"I'm fine," I say loud over the rain. "Trust me."

Again, I feel possessed. The ship rocks between wind and waves. I see the helm and Ramskin, who cannot get a tight grip around it. I shove him aside and take the helm. My eyes narrow on shadows far, far away. It is extremely dark, but my night vision has kicked in. My hands tremble, but I keep a clear mind. Hook finds his way to my side and stares into the ocean. I can hear his breathing slow down to a normal pace. This gives me confidence and I let the force of my nature take over.

"You are a Pan." He says. "But Wendy thrived on being a pirate. Her daughter sailed the world. In fact, most of the family did. Peter and their second child, a son, was the only one into the woodland adventures of hunting and whatnot. We heard the stories for a time, but they evaporated."

The rain lets up a bit, but lightning still flashes overhead. I am listening intently while steering a ship with all of my energy.

Hook continues, "Eventually, word came that another girl was born. She was the last Pan with enough of the family in her to actually come to Neverland. After you, the bloodline would fizzle away. Petunia, this is it. You are it. Will you believe in us?"

A smile pulls on the corner of my mouth. A final, brutal wave crashes over the ship. I fall onto my back. Ramskin takes hold of the helm and Hook leans down to help me up. Instead of his hand, I take his hook by accident. It re-opens my wound and I shriek. Face to face, Hook studies my hand.

"It's my own doing," I say.

His eyes pierce mine. I can feel his hot breath on my face. He lifts my wounded hand and kisses my palm, right outside of the cut.

"We should stitch you up," He whispers.

Ramskin interrupts and says, "The storm is ending. The Black Castle is not too far."

I am gentle to pull my hand back. "The Black Castle?" I ask. "Isn't that where history was made with the almost-drowning of the Lost Boys and Wendy?"

"Yes, but that was so long ago. Doesn't anyone update their tales?"

"Not really." I joke, "Most of the old stories remain the same take or add some details."

Hook shakes his head. "Such a pity."

We walk side-by-side to the quarterdeck as the clouds part. Above, a full moon is breaking through remnants of the storm.