Hola! I dedicate this chapter to my second biggest fan and just as large an Abarat lover as me...Candy Quackenbush!


Disclaimer: I own nothing Peter Pan related...


Hook eased open the window. He cast his glance around. Where was she…? Ah! Right near the window. He looked at the still form, encased in sheets. He could tell it was her, from the black hair leaking out of the opening. He smiled. Finally, after 12 years...his daughter.

Vanessa stirred. She reviewed the plan in her head. Peter was laying in wait on the ceiling. When she felt Hook above her, she was to grab her pillow and give him a good whack. Then Peter would drop down and shove his hat over his head. Then they would fly out and Peter would lead her to a hiding place so he could lead Hook back to Neverland. She still thought that this was some sort of waking dream, but Peter had such an air of command around him that she couldn't help it.

But...why did she want to see the face of Hook? It was such a powerful yearning. She tried not to...but..oh, she couldn't help it! She twisted over and opened her eyes.

She had opened her eyes. She was looking directly at him. He swallowed. He was suddenly so nervous.

"Vanessa...?" he asked.

Vanessa blinked in astonishment. That silhouette! It was the exact same as the shadow the shell had showed her! The hat with the feather, the sword, the long cloak, the hook was new...but still...Peter's greatest enemy...was...her father! She stared at him. He stared back at her. Then he spoke her name.

"Vanessa...?"

She screamed. This was just too freaky! She screamed again and Peter dropped down unto Hooks head. He pulled the hat over his head as planned. He then grabbed Vanessa's hand and dashed out onto the balcony. He took off into the night, dragging Vanessa behind him. Once they were safely on the roof of a nearby house, Peter turned to her, his eyes questioning.

"Why'd ja scream like that? And why didn't you hit him with your pillow?"

She sat there, staring off into the night. She didn't answer.

"Vanessa? What's wrong?"

She still didn't answer. She drew a great shuddering breath and whispered, "My father..."

"Wha?"

"My father." She said more firmly. "My father."

"Who-?"

"My father!" she cried. Peter clapped his hand over her mouth again. What was she thinking? Pirates were looking for them! He quickly flew them to another roof.

"Okay," he said, alighting on the tiles. "Explain. Who's your father?"

She murmured something that he couldn't hear.

"What?"

"Hook." she said, louder.

"What?!" he cried, disbelievingly.

"Hook." she said even louder. "Hook is my-"

Peter clapped his hand over her mouth again. He stared at her. She stared back. "You mean to tell me that Hook is your..?"

She nodded.

"But-but you were in an orphanage!"

"Yeah. I was a door-stop baby. Left there 12 years ago on this very night."

"Whoa. Freaky."

"Defiantly. This is unbelievable."she said, holding her head in her hands. "My father is alive."

"Hook's your dad?"

"I was waiting all day for him."

"Hook's your dad?"

"I can't believe it."

"Hook's your DAD?"

She gave him a glare. "You just can't get over that, can you?"

He had a stunned look on his face. "Hook is your dad?"

She sighed, and pushed him off the roof. "Yahhhhhhh!" he yelled, flying back up. "What'd ya do that fer?"

"You were like broken record. I had to snap you out of it some-how." she giggled. "You screamed like a girl."

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did NOT!"

"Did too!"

"Believe it or not, Pan, you did."

Peter whirled around to confront Hook, sword drawn and hook menacing. Peter drew his sword and threw himself at Hook, yelling to Vanessa, "Quick, fly!" Her instincts told her to fly, and she did. The clang of steel upon steel rang through the night.

She went back to the balcony of her room and entered. She looked under her bed and pulled her cricket bat from underneath. She didn't close the window this time. She slowly walked around the room, bat upraised. To her surprise, all the girls were sound asleep. Normally, if anything made a noise, they would be awake and kicking. But they lay there, dead asleep. She considered that odd. Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind and pulled her into a bear-hug. She screamed and kicked.

"Lemmego! Lemmego! Put me down you sneaky snake! Put me DOWN!"

"Now, miss. Please don't fuss so." said a nervous voice. "Capt'n told me to-"

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR CAPTIAN TOLD YOU! PUT ME DOWN!" she began to thrash and the person could barely hold her.

"Miss, please..."

"Vanessa? What the-?" she glanced over her shoulder. Sally was awake. She was sitting up in bed and was looking at her, trapped.

"Sally! Help me!"

Sally leaped up and grabbed the cricket bat that she had dropped. She ran up wielding the bat.

"Uh, oh.." said the man, as he speedily backed up. Sally was gaining. She ducked her head a little as she ran. Vanessa immediately threw her head forward onto her chest.

CRACK! The cricket bat connected with the would-be-kidnappers skull. He instantly released her and she kicked him in the chest, sending him downwards. He thudded to the floor. Vanessa got her first look at Hook's most faithful crewman. Smee.

Just then, three other pirates entered the room. Sally screamed, and dropped the bat. Vanessa scooped it up and threatened them with it. They laughed and drew their weaponry. Vanessa gulped. In front of her face were cutlasses and swords and a few pistols. Sally clutched her arm with fright. Where was Peter when you needed him...?


AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Another cliffhanger. Aren't I wicked? This enough Hook for this chapter, tinks-belle? I hope so...

CONTEST TIME!

Alright all you readers out there. I'm having a contest. Whoever can give me the best idea to use in this story gets their name used in my story as a character! Just tell me what you want to happen and if it's good enough, I'll use it with your permission!