Chapter 9

My mom's arms wrapped more snugly around my waist as I revved the engine of a motorcycle, clearing a small hill. She always had been uneasy with my hobby in tinkering with machines, and she was worse still about my insistence on riding them. Deathtraps, she called them. Fun, I called them.

Still, there was nothing fun about the ride I was taking today –my mom's pasty face and choking death-grip could attest to that. I was taking it at an easy pace, as much for her sake as for my trepidation for leading a band of seething pirates to a place of peaceful recuperation, but for all she believed I was recklessly tearing up the road with yet another dangerous ride. Usually her disapproval annoyed me, but I could hardly blame her now. I was grateful enough that she had agreed to sit behind me on the bike.

Hook had tried to make us join him and his cohorts in the ratty old school bus he had procured to travel on land, but I stalwartly refused. Had it been just me, I probably would have gone along with it, but mom insisted on coming with me this time, and I'd be damned if I let those grubby sea-mongrels within a hair's breadth of my mother even one more time.

When I had finally gotten my way over Hook's for transportation, mom grabbed the keys to her old Honda, but when I put a hand on my motorcycle and jingled my own keys, she bit her lip and surprisingly grabbed the yet-unused helmet I had bought for her when I got the bike. I gave her no more than a grateful smile, but inside I was both impressed and relieved. She hated my bike, always had and always will, but she was a tough old gal and we both knew that her used and abused vehicle was an unreliable piece of garbage. Well, she was more optimistic about it than I was, but if it came down to it and we had to escape these brigands fast, her crumbling little car would be a smoking heap on the side of the road. It would never make it. My bike on the other hand, would.

We crested one more hill, and Butterfly Manor came into view. I could sense as well as feel my mother gasp in admiration of the manicured beauty of the grounds. It was pretty, alright, but to me it was also stuffy and overstated. Give me the good ol' raw and rough of the Benbow any day over this prim and proper palace. Still, mom gaped openly. Let her look. She deserved better than what she had, that is for sure, and if I ever came into the means, I'd let her primp and polish her inn until it shined brighter than this hunk of tax-payer dollars ever could.

I ran over the plan again in my head. I was there to check on my latest charge, Snow White, ensure she was getting in her volunteer hours and seeking counseling as directed by the court. Mom had come along as a business woman, curious of seeking advice from those she could to get ideas for her own inn. Her questions would lead directly into asking for a tour, which I doubted she would be refused. Then she would take a look around for any sign of a boy matching Peter Pan's description. The crew of the Jolly Roger was waiting on an abandoned mining road a mile or so behind the manor grounds, prepared to grab and secure Pan if only my mom and I could lure him back there.

I inhaled slowly. This was a long shot, but my mother's life depended on it. I would do anything for her. Sure, we did not always see eye to eye –to tell the facts, we hardly ever do- but you only have one mom.

My motorcycle rumbled to a halt at the front steps, and I put down the kickstand and helped Mom ease off the seat. Leaving our helmets on the ground beside it, we made our way onto the marble portico and rang the bell. A few moments passed, and when nothing happened, I rang again. We waited a little longer this time, and I finally knocked firmly on the door with my knuckles.

A young girl with blonde hair kept back behind a black ribbon pulled open the door and bade us entrance. She curtsied and smiled primly before bursting into chatter. "I'm ever so sorry for leaving you on the porch! You weren't out there long were you? I do hope not, I'll be in ever so much trouble. Of course I really am in trouble an awful lot, but it is my own fault you see, I get ever so caught up day dreaming. My tutor tells me a dawdle, but I hardly know what that is supposed to mean. Of course I suppose I'd know if I ever were to pay more attention to my studies, but studying is so dull, isn't it? Especially when there is ever so much to see and do out of doors. Why is it that boys get to go out of doors so often when girls are stuck having to stay inside and learn to sew and dance and mend and speak quietly and –oh. I guess I am not speaking very quietly, am I?"

"You're doing just fine, dear." Mom smirked. The child was already gabbing on about how the plates in a row in the china cabinet reminded her of a caterpillar she had once met, and it was all I could do not to beg her to please shut up and find a grown-up.

Mom, as usual, handled things more tactfully. "Sweetheart, I am sorry to interrupt your stories, but is there anyone here we can speak to about some things?"

The little girl's face fell into a resigned boredom. "Yes, I suppose I can leave you to your adult conversations. As they say, when you are no longer a child, you must put away your childish things, and I dare say you have put them all away, I see. I do hate the idea of growing up. Even as a kid you are afflicted with so many expectations and responsibilities, I can hardly bear the thought of-"

"Now would be nice." I snapped.

Mom sighed, but she said nothing. We were here for a purpose, and at this rate, we would be trapped in the foyer all day long.

"Yes, yes, I'll go find someone you can talk to. Queen Cinderella is here today. Do you want to speak to her?" she asked.

"Speak to me about what?" As if on cue, the familiar face of the Queen appeared from around the corner. Instead of the dress she had worn to welcome her sister-in-law to the manor, today she was simply dressed in a pair of black slacks, a pastel blouse, and a trendy black vest. Strappy heels clacked on the tile floor as she came into the foyer and shook my hand, then my mother's. We bowed respectfully, and she spoke again. "Welcome back to Butterfly Manor, Jim Hawkins. What a pleasure it is to see you again! I hope you have been well."

"The pleasure is mine, your majesty." I replied, avoiding the subject of my 'wellness.' I put a hand on Mom's back. "Please meet my mother, Sarah Hawkins. She owns and runs the Benbow inn."

"Oh, how lovely!" Cinderella exclaimed. "I am so pleased to see a young, female entrepreneur making her way in the world! You must be quite experienced."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, your highness." Mom said humbly. "I do try, though. As a matter of fact, I was hoping to ask some questions about the manor. I would really appreciate some input in where I can improve in my own business."

Cinderella patted her shoulder. "Well, as you know, this Manor is funded by the government, not like an actual business, but I do have a little time to answer some of your questions if you like. I am always happy to help."

"I would like that very much." Mom nodded. "Firstly, do you mind telling me a little about your layout? I want to expand my boarding rooms in the future, but I am worried that adding onto the building I already have might cause stress on the original structure."

"You know, that was just the issue we faced when we wanted to add a wing for our troubled children's program!" Cinderella pointed out. "We ended up constructing a separate building altogether. That also prevented us from having to close down a portion of the manor while the work was being done."

"Oh, that's very clever!" Mom said, putting her hands together. "Do the children eat over there too?"

Cinderella shook her head. "Not usually. That building contains their dorm rooms and their classrooms as well as a small kitchen for snack times, but typically they eat there meals in the main building so they are used to interacting properly with adults."

Mom put a finger on her chin. "Doesn't that create a problem? If it rains, what keeps the children from getting soaked on the way to the Manor? That is one thing I will have to worry about if I add a second building. I could never handle two kitchens by myself, and the weather where we live is usually pretty dreadful."

"Why don't I show you around?" Cinderella suggested. "I'll take you on a brief tour of the grounds so you can see how we have set up our covered pathways and living quarters."

Whoa, smooth, Mom.

"That would be marvelous." Mom answered gratefully.

"Excellent!" Cinderella smiled. "Right this way, then. Oh!" she turned to me. "I suppose you must be here for Snow."

"Uh, right." I nodded.

"I left her in the library. Alice will show you the way so you can get your business done while your mother and I talk." She gestured to the little blonde girl who was staring absently into the face of a grandfather clock.

Mom winked at me, and I nodded imperceptibly. Things were going right on track thus far, but this was just the easy part. I still was not quite sure how I would both find Pan and convince him to head down that old dirty road. Mom and Cinderella exited through a door across the hall, and came back to the matters at hand.

Alice was still leaning lazily on the wall, watching the ticking clock and murmuring a private song about a crocodile with shiny claws, and I doubted she had even heard the Queen when she had been volunteered to take me to the library. I could probably leave right now unobserved and do a little of my own snooping. And yet… the chance to see Snow…

I shook my head. What was I thinking? I was here on a mission, valuable time not to be spend fraternizing with some girl who's face got stuck in my head. Lives were at stake.

Leaving Alice to her musings, I tip-toed into a hall to the left and up a staircase. It was just a hunch, but if I had the ability to fly, I wouldn't spend all my time near the ground floor. I could hardly keep myself tied to the ground as it was. I would much rather be sailing through the heavens, full sail, the solar wind at my back. No, there wasn't a chance this kid was within ten feet of the floor.

On the third floor I discovered a wide balcony. A couple of women were leaning on the railing, deep in conversation, but I decided to go on out there anyway. The glanced at me, and I gave a half-hearted salute. After a nod, they returned to their conversation and I turned my eyes to the sky. Nothing but the sun and clouds overhead.

While I was searching the trees, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, not used to be taken by surprise. Suddenly I was facing the heavenly vision I had seen in all of my dreams since standing with this woman in court. My breath hitched. Her eyes were narrowed in a teasing expression of long-suffering, and her mouth curled coyly in a half-smile.

"Miss White." I said without greeting. Why was my mouth so dry? I swallowed air.

"Good afternoon, Hawkins." She waved with one hand, unnecessarily, and laughed. Was I hearing bells? "Sorry, you caught me at a bad time."

Only now did I realize the green tank top she was wearing was drenched in sweat and her curly black hair stuck to her flushed face in a drooping mass. Still, though, the black shorts she wore fit her just right, and her bare legs were shapely coming out of those sneakers. A cool breeze whooshed over the balcony, and she leaned her head back, fluffing her hair back off of her face.

"Ah, that feels better. The air conditioner is out in my wing, and I can't seem to cool down." She explained. "I have been doing this workout class every day, and I came back to my room hoping for some relief, but then this happened!"

"I –I didn't realize." I stammered. "Sorry, I thought you were in the library."

"So you came to look for me out here instead?" she raised an eyebrow and leaned on the railing next to me.

I shrugged. "Figured you were busy."

Snow shook her head. "No, not really. I stepped in there for some A/C, but Belle was reorganizing some books, and I felt like I was in the way. Decided I'd rather take my chances outside."

"So…" I said, noticing my mother crossing a small bridge over a stream with Cinderella, "How have you been doing here?"

"It's not so bad." Snow replied. "It gets hard sometimes, being so confined, but I am used to it, anyway. Everyone is pretty kind or at least respectful, and Belle gave me some textbooks so I can study for my GED, so that's nice."

"How are your public service hours coming along?" I asked.

Snow pointed to a vegetable garden nearby. "I'm pretty far ahead of schedule. What we produce from that lot will go to needy children and orphanages around the realm, and I like helping out with that, so I spend most of my time there. I am going to fill up my volunteer hours before my counseling sessions are finished, that's for sure."

I put my hands in my pockets and sneaked a sideways glance at her. "That's good I guess."

"What, you don't want to know about the counseling?" she rolled her eyes.

"I guess a girl deserves some privacy there." I replied.

Snow laughed and pushed off from the rail. "Not really much privacy to be had. It's all group sessions. Nice enough, but it is a little uncomfortable at times."

"I can understand how that would be stifling." I agreed.

"Mhm." Snow looked over at the girls on the other end of the balcony. "That girl with the pony tail, Meg, invited me out this weekend. I had to put in a pass for it because I am still so new. Cindy isn't thrilled with the idea of me hanging out with her, but she isn't going to tell me no. Besides, it's against her nature to make judgments about people when she hasn't walked in their shoes."

"It's good that you'll be getting some fresh air with a friend." I said. "People are not always as bad as they seem, and you'll find lifelong friends in the most unlikely places."

"Kind of like you?" Snow caught my eyes and held me in a stare. "I never would have thought I'd make a friend by having him represent me in a court of law, truthfully."

"Me? A friend?" I repeated, surprised.

She withdrew her gaze and threw it elsewhere. "Or not."

"No, I-" I struggled for words.

"It's whatever." She turned back to the door to go inside. "I'll mail you a copy of my progress this week. Bye, Hawkins."

I stood there dumbly for a few moments after she left and wanted to kick myself. How could I let her just walk away like that? I growled to myself and glared back at the grounds, half-heartedly looking for the boy with red hair and the ability to fly.

Oh well. I didn't have time for any type of real friendship as it was. Mom was depending on me to sort out this mess into which Hook had drug us both. I would close the door to Snow's pretty face and focus all of my energy into the problem before me. I could do this.

I felt my cell phone buzz in my pocket, and I pulled it out to look at the number. My team leader in the Interstellar reserves was on the line. I frowned and pressed "talk," bringing the phone up to my ear. "Yes, Sergeant?"

I listened to him speak for a minute and felt my blood run cold. "Yes, Sergeant." I said and hung up.