Hello again! I promise *the scene* is coming soon, I just though seeing as this chapter was already a couple words off 5k that I would leave it until the next. :) Thanks for sticking with this fic and it's slow af author.
"You really shouldn't Miss, let it to us!" Mr Smee insisted, when Jenna offered her help in the kitchen.
"Don't be silly, I promised. I don't have anything else to do besides." She said. "And anyway, I abandoned James telling him that this is where I'd be. I don't fancy going back to him having been turned away."
"Oh, I suppose then, if only to save you face. Come on, get peeling those potatoes!" He instructed briskly.
The cook, who's name was Gabriel, 'like the angel,' he had informed her, but preferred to be referred to as just 'Gabe,' was a huge man, tall and broad, carrying a hearty amount of meat on his bones, but possessed a unique delicacy when it came to food. His palate was wasted on the crew, who tended to just wolf their meals down, and he would have been much better use in some high-end restaurant somewhere. Alas, this is where he was, and Jenna felt honoured to be able to work alongside someone who truly appreciated the culinary arts.
"It's so horrible of me, but I haven't even thought about who makes my food even once since I got here." She admitted frankly.
"Aye, not many do." He said simply, stirring the large pot of broth on the stove.
"I should help more often. I can't believe you manage to feed the whole crew all on your own."
"Don't you worry; I've had more than enough experience coping with this lot." He replied, dicing carrots faster than Jenna could keep up with and tossing them into the pot.
They prepared the food in a comfortable silence for a long while, Jenna happy to settle into her task, Gabe whistling in the background.
"So..." The cook began, and Mr Smee tutted disapprovingly.
"I know that look Gabriel. You are a gossipmonger if I ever knew one!" He shook he head, muttering to himself.
Jenna laughed, "Go on, I won't mind. At least I don't think I will."
"I was only going to ask, seeing as we're having this party to celebrate your staying an' all; does that mean the Captain and yourself are...?" Gabe trailed off, leaving the question hanging in midair.
"Are we what?" Jenna asked, slightly puzzled.
"Yes Gabe, do please elaborate." Smee interjected.
"You know! Are you courting?"
"Oh!" Jenna exclaimed, relieved. "Yes, yes we are. I was worried you were going to ask something more personal."
Gabe raiser his eyebrows in disbelief. "That would be terribly rude to ask personal things of a lady."
"I'm glad you think so. I'm starting to think some of the men on this ship have better manners than their captain." She said dubiously.
Some time later, when Jenna had peeled the potatoes, tasted the broth, learned how to descale fish and gutted enough for a lifetime, sliced so many limes she smelled of them, and even had to run out of the kitchen for a moment whilst Gabe boiled a few lobsters, he declared her finished.
"You've done more than enough, leave the rest to us." Gabe insisted, taking her apron when she untied it with a pout.
"Fine," She relented, "And make sure you actually get to enjoy your work later."
Jenna reemerged from below deck, the sunlight blinding her for a second. It was a bright, warm day with a gentle breeze, and she hoped the weather would stay pleasant well into the evening. She scanned around at eye level for James or Wendy, but they didn't appear to be on deck. She spotted Tommy rolling out barrels of ale onto the deck, and walked over to him.
"Have you seen Hook around?" Jenna inquired, helping him lift the heavy barrel upright.
Tommy looked up into the rigging, and pointed in the general direction. "Cap'n and Miss Wendy went to release the sails, Miss. They're somewhere up there, though I can't really see from the sun."
"Thanks, I'll find them." She replied, and jogged off to find a better angle.
Stood in the shade cast by one of the great sails that had been let down, Jenna gazed to the sky in search of the Captain and his first mate. There they are. She thought once she'd spotted them, and then felt her heart leap into her throat at the same time as her stomach dropped to the floor, as she saw exactly where the two pirates were. Wendy, sat precariously atop one of the lower spars, holding idly to a hanging rope, watching as James- oh dear god- jumped from one spar to that of the highest sail, above the crows nest. Jenna watched, breath held, as he hung from the wooden beam by his arms, moving further along before swinging himself up, making it all seem far too easy if she did say so herself. Once balanced, he stood, taking hold of a rope and- he is an absolute maniac with no regard for his wellbeing and will be the death of me if he doesn't get himself killed first!- jumped yet again, only this time not to anything, simply wrapping around the rope and letting himself swing for a moment, before sliding down smoothly and a little too fast for Jenna's liking. Though, she had to admit, it was quite magnificent to see the mainmast fall as it was released.
In no time at all James had reached the deck, and Jenna saw him approaching. "Were you trying to get yourself killed?" She asked, slightly hysterically, as soon as he was within earshot.
"There's no need to fret, my dear, I've done it a thousand times before."
"Well I'd never seen you do it before and it was bloody terrifying, okay?" She replied, almost snapping at him.
"I'm all in one piece, my sweet." James assured her. Then he leaned in, his voice suddenly low in her ear, and said, "I thought about you."
Jenna was unsurprisingly confused. "What? When you jumped?"
"No!" He scowled at her misunderstanding, the moment apparently ruined for him. "When I...you know...took care of myself." He smirked. Jenna supposed he thought himself seductive.
"Oh! You actually- did you?" Jenna said, the realisation dawning on her.
"You didn't expect me to wait for the water to grow cold and plunge myself into it did you? Or just tuck the poor bugger away and hope he settles down on his own?" He looked at her with a start, "I haven't offended you have I? I had no intention of-"
"No, no! I don't mind." She said, laughing. "Well, I should hope so. I can't stand the idea of you thinking about anyone else." She wrinkled her nose in disgust and a tad of envy.
"I can swear that it was very much you, and only you, on my mind; and your name on my lips when I-"
"Thank you, James!" Jenna cut him off abruptly. "Is there something you wanted me for or are you just here to whisper dirty things in my ear?"
"I believe it was you who approached me," He corrected, Jenna grumbling acquiescence, "but now that you mention it, there are a few things I would be wanting you for."
"James!"
"This is what I have a crew for, Jenna; they do all of the hard labour whilst we hide away in our cabin."
Jenna barked out a laugh. "That's not true and you know it."
Hook stood back and rolled his eyes. "That is irrelevant. I cannot bare waiting to have you Jenna. I am wound so tight I fear I may just explode."
"You just came." She deadpanned.
"That was hours ago." He argued.
"And it didn't even take the edge off?" She asked with a pout.
"You are being most unsympathetic." He groused.
"Yeah, well, if you weren't so bloody virile you wouldn't have this problem!" Jenna laughed.
James smiled reluctantly. "I can't say I've ever had a woman complain of my being too virile, but I suppose there's a first time for everything."
Jenna glanced away from him, head dropping, a feeling of uneasiness coming over her. "That must be so nice for you."
James was silent for a moment, sensing that something was off. The tone of the conversation had suddenly changed. "...what?"
"Nothing. I'm going to find Wendy." She said.
"I believe she went to her cabin-" James offered, confused, as she left him to release the remaining sails.
Wendy raised her head to glance back at Jenna when she called her name, smiling as always. "Come here, tell me what you think." She was sat on the edge of her cot, looking at something lain carefully across it.
"Oh..." Jenna said in awe. It was a dress. A beautiful silken dress of pale pink, cream, and gold, intricately embroidered with lace and brocade, layers upon layers of soft flowing fabric. Cut low at the neckline with a tight bodice leading to wide skirts and full sleeves, it was a true example of 18th century elegance. "It's magnificent. You'll look perfect in it."
Wendy smoothed some of the fabric carefully, "Thank you. I was worried that it would be too much. I'm not from James' era you see, as I'm sure you are not either, and he insisted I get it a while back. He said it was just what all the best Ladies wore."
"Don't worry. You could come to the party dressed in a flour sack and you'd still look great."
Wendy tittered at the compliment and shook her head. "You flatter me, Jenna. Darius is to be joining us- and Samuel too, though not Tabitha as she couldn't get away from work. We've been corresponding via letters you see, there is a man who keeps carrier pigeons-"
"Oh, I see, you want to impress Darius. I'm sure he thinks you look beautiful whatever you wear."
"Yes, but it's a nice change from breeches, wouldn't you agree?" Wendy smiled indulgently, caressing the soft material of the dress. "I will be needing your help to dress later, you don't mind? I think Mr Smee would be scandalised if I asked him to lace my corset for me." She said with a giggle.
"Of course." She replied, coming to the realisation that she didn't have anything special to wear herself. She was about to raise this particular topic herself when Wendy stood and gestured to one of her chests at the foot of the cot.
"Don't think I've forgotten about you." She said conspiratorially, urging Jenna to open the chest and see what was inside.
She knelt by the dark wooden chest and lifted the heavy lid, to reveal a mass of dusky pink and pastel blue fabric, not unlike that of Wendy's dress. She unfolded the material and stood, holding it out in front of her to admire it fully. The dress was a similar style to Wendy's, and Jenna was utterly lost for words.
"Now we can both be Ladies." Wendy said from beside her.
Jenna had steadfastly avoided Hook since their earlier encounter. She was feeling decidedly uneasy about his attitude towards her. It took her a while to pinpoint exactly why she felt so, but when she did it was as though a lightbulb had gone off in her head.
This is what I have a crew for, Jenna; they do all of the hard labour whilst we hide away in our cabin.
She felt used. Despitethe fact that Hook and herself had yet to actually participate in anything truly intimate, his entire demeanour of wanting to take his pleasure when he wished, and accusing Jenna of being unsympathetic and unfair when she was not yet ready to further their relationship was deeply unsettling her.
She knew it was something that she must discuss with him at some point, preferably soon, but she couldn't help but put it off. In fact it was only when they had set sail for the halfway point between Pan's Island and the West Port, (where Darius and Samuel were to row out to them) when Hook was busy commandeering his ship, that Jenna gathered the courage to bring it up.
Her heart stuttered at the way his face lit up when he saw her approaching.
"Jenna! Isn't it marvellous to be sailing again?" He said passionately from behind the wheel of his great ship.
She hummed in agreement, her uneasiness obvious to Hook.
"What is it that is bothering you, my beauty?" He asked, concern evident.
"How many..." She thought better and rephrased, "When was the last time you had relations with a woman who wasn't a prostitute?"
"I must admit, a long time." He replied slowly. "Does it bother you that I have seen them? I do not any longer; I would not whilst we are courting."
Jenna knew that he was being honest, and probably thought himself the epitome of feminism. Not that he'd know what that is. She was getting sidetracked.
"Right." In for a penny, she thought. "I need you to listen, James." She made sure she wasn't sharing his attention with the open sea before continuing. "We will consummate our relationship when I am ready, and no earlier." He seemed taken aback. "And if I am to stay I want to be useful. I have to have a role on this ship beyond 'Captain's Concubine.' I don't just want to be your personal bed warmer, I- I can't just live in your cabin and do nothing but be there for you to take your pleasure whenever you please."
Hook closed his eyes and shook his head minutely before looking back at Jenna. "I...thought you enjoyed the way I spoke. It was intended as lighthearted flirtation. When you spoke that way to me after our bath, I thought you wanted reciprocation."
"I did, I just-" She sighed, "We are from very different cultures, James, and I'm just worried that your view of what is a woman's place is vastly different from mine."
"Your place?" He whispered absently to himself, almost mouthing the words. "It is...wherever you want it to be." He gestured for her to come close, and when she did he reached out and held her against him. "I can only hope," Hook said sincerely, "that you want your place to be by my side."
Jenna was almost overwhelmed with relief, and then affection for the man.
"Of course I want that." She said, resting her head against his chest. She tilted her face up to meet him in a kiss.
"And certainly not underneath me..." He rumbled. "Unless that's what you want." She bit his lip.
"Come on, pull it tighter! Darius will be arriving soon and I have to be ready!" Wendy urged, bracing herself against a bedpost as Jenna stood behind her and tried, with all her might, to lace up Wendy's corset as tight as possible.
"You won't be able to breathe if I make it any tighter!" She said incredulously.
"Fine, fine, just tie it up then, quickly." Wendy relented. Jenna did, and then helped her into her dress that went over the top of the many undergarments. There was the corset, hosiery, garter, and the frankly ridiculous wired underskirt that made the dress flare so far out from her waist.
"Excellent!" Wendy said satisfactorily, once they were both fully dressed. Well, almost; Jenna had forgone the corset, having never worn one before and fearing that she may pass out.
Wendy had put up their hair in beautiful dutch braids. Her own plait lay elegantly and simply over one shoulder, while Jenna's was a more intricate affair, a braid curving round the front of her head and coiling into a bun at the nape. They both looked like fine young ladies, though, if you payed attention, you would catch a glimpse of leather boots peaking out from underneath their voluminous skirts.
Darius and Samuel's little row boat was hauled up via rope pulleys once they arrived, and they were welcomed onto the ship with hearty greeting by the crew,though Darius was still wary of their Captain. The atmosphere soon picked up as the drink began to flow, the barrels of ale stood side by side serving as a long stretch of tabletop. The food was laid out upon them, Gabe having truly outdone himself. The positively humongous pot of broth stood next to an equally large one of meat and vegetable stew, and those were surrounded by all kinds of fish, sea food, meat, salad leaves, and potatoes. And everything was adorned with lime. Gabe had told Jenna that there would be no scurvy amongst any men eating his food.
Some of the men had even dug out instruments that they played; flutes and fiddles and a few bearskin drums that they had crafted themselves. The music would begin once everyone was tipsy enough for a dance, Jenna thought.
"I must admit, I am rather nervous." Wendy confided, just before they were about to join the party. "I spoke to James earlier, and I told him that I want him to make peace with Darius. He had one of his entirely unreadable expressions on and now I don't know what to think."
"I wouldn't worry yourself about it. James isn't going to ruin the fun over their stupid fight. In fact, he might even do as you asked, for you." I only hope I'm right. Jenna thought desperately. "Come on, we can't wait forever." She said, urging them to join the rest of the people on deck.
The ship was positively abuzz when they emerged from below decks, everybody having a proper, merry time of it. But then it...stopped. It went quiet; and heads turned. Jenna lead the way, as the party was in her honour, with her head held high. Though, she couldn't avoid feeling self-conscious with everybody looking as they were.
She looked over at James. He looked almost frozen mid-conversation, body half turned towards her and half still facing the pirate he had been conversing with. Then, as the women approached, he turned fully towards them, and made an almost tentative step forward.
Once they were face to face, Wendy stood off to the side slightly, Jenna did what only felt appropriate when greeting an eighteenth century pirate Captain decked out in all his finery, and curtsied. She bowed her head low and picked up her skirts as she did so, painfully aware of the silence thick and stifling in the air.
"Miss Lois," He said, deeply, lowly, veneratively, "it is an honour to welcome you aboard my ship as an official member of my humble crew." Then he took her hand in his, bent over it, and placed a kiss atop the knuckles.
"I look forward to a future alongside you, Captain." She replied, then stepped aside, allowing Wendy to take her place. All eyes were still on them.
"Captain." Wendy addressed him, curtseying. "I trust you have given thought to my request?" Jenna tried not to crumble under the tension of the moment.
"I have." Hook replied. Wendy only stared the man down, forcing him to elaborate. "And...I believe it to be in our best interests if..." Wendy raised her chin in defiance, daring him to make the wrong move, "I make peace with Mr. Ashwood."
Jenna almost sagged with relief. She thought Wendy would have too if her corset wasn't holding her rigid.
Heads turned again when Darius stumbled forwards, Samuel having pushed him out of the small crowd.
"Mr. Ashwood." Hook addressed him formally.
"Captain." The poor man was clearly terrified, though he gathered his resolve and stood tall before Hook, shoulders squared and chest puffed out.
"I have come to the conclusion that, if Wendy has chosen you to be hers, then you must be a good man. The time has come for me to realise that our Wendybird is...all grown up," He glanced fondly at the young woman. He paused, then brought his hook closer, "However, if I find that you have betrayed her, or have taken advantage of her love for you, I will be making good on the warning I left you the last time we had an...altercation." Hook warned menacingly, "That is," he added, "if Red Handed Jill doesn't gut you first."
And then the whole company burst into cheers and applause and whistling, some of them picking up their instruments and beginning an upbeat, fast paced jig.
"May I have this dance?" Hook asked Jenna.
"Of course, but I warn you that neither do I know this particular style of dance, nor have any actual ability at dancing at all."
"Well then, it's a good thing I'm anaccomplished enough dancer for the both of us!" He replied, pulling her into the mass of men who had paired up and began dancing, Jenna laughing at the audacity.
"I'm afraid you'll have to go slower, James, my dress is getting caught up!" She said, as he whipped her round at the cue of the music.
"I'm afraid that simply isn't possible my dear! The musicians won't allow it!" He replied, stepping, though it was more like jumping now, faster than Jenna could keep up with. It wasn't such a great hardship though, she thought, as James easily held her and moved her along at the set pace. She glimpsed Wendy and Darius dancing too, as they brushed past each other in their couples, a look of utter delight on both the women's faces.
James' hook suddenly pressed firmer on her waist, and he looked down at her with a quizzical expression. "You..." He paused, breathed in, as though daring himself to continue, "are not wearing a corset."
"No." She replied nonchalantly, getting the hang of the dance now. "Is that a problem?"
"It is rather...improper."
"I haven't been wearing one this entire time James. What's the difference now that I'm wearing a dress?"
"There just is, that's all."
"Well I do hope it won't be too much of a distraction for you this evening." Hook pulled her tightly against him in response.
"I suppose we shall have to see. The feel of you, so soft against me..."
"Just enjoy the dance, there's plenty of time to think about that later." Jenna told him, just as the song came to a climactic end.
Hook stepped back from her, bowing slightly. "It was an honour."
"Why thank you Captain, I can say the same for you. Now lets drop the formalities and get some food, I'm starving."
With a bowl full of stew and half a coconut full of milk, Jenna sat on the side of the ship, skirts almost brushing the deck.
"I told you this would be fun." Wendy said giddily, before taking a sip from her coconut. "Delicious."
"Mmm." Jenna agreed, only half paying attention. She was watching Hook, who was stood on the opposite side of the deck, in animated conversation with some of the men. She was thinking about how astoundingly handsome he was when he really smiled.
"Oh, Jenna." Wendy began, apparently having read her mind. "It is marvellous to see him so happy. When I first came to Neverland- I was only a child mind you- well, even a child can tell when a man is utterly miserable."
Jenna focussed onto Wendy then. "Oh?"
"Yes... I may not have realised it then, but to be constantly so fearful, so angry? And vengeful and so alone- how could he not be miserable?"
"I see..." She said. "That's so sad. What was he like when you came back?"
"He seemed much the same initially, though with an extra confidence about him since he'd slain that dreadful crocodile."
"I can imagine." Jenna snorted.
"But then after a while I realised he was quite...well, frazzled." Wendy laughed. "He was just all over the place! If you think he's mercurial now, you've seen nothing." She smiled sadly. "He was exhausted. It's a good thing I returned when I did, because I don't know what he would have done much longer."
Jenna thought sadly that Wendy was James' saving grace. If she hadn't returned- she didn't want to think on it.
A couple of hours into the evening and it was finally dark, the night sky having settled in over the daytime blue. The musicians had taken a break to eat, drink, and join in on the merriment, and were now back to play again. They picked up their respective instruments and began a slow, sedate tune; it was undeniably romantic.
Jenna raised her eyebrows in a mocking fashion at Hook, gesturing to where there was space made on the deck to dance. He made to hold her like he had before, but she stopped him and smiled.
"Oh no, this time we're going to do it my way." She told him, as they walked into the centre. He allowed her position him, hook and hand around her waist as she placed her own arms around his neck.
"I do say," Hook whispered on an exhale, as they began to sway, "this is rather intimate."
"That's the point." Jenna replied with a smile, moving them slowly along to the music.
Wendy was quick to follow their lead, pulling Darius into the close embrace; not that either Jenna or Hook noticed. They were too lost in each other to take notice of anything outside the intimate bubble that was their dance.
"You've got to be kidding me." Jenna laughed quietly.
"What is it, my dear?" Hook inquired, lips brushing her cheek as he spoke.
"Look." He did, and saw a multitude of what could have been mistaken for fireflies light up their dark surroundings- that is, if one were not in Neverland and didn't give the fairies a second glance. The tiny creatures emitted such perfect, soft light, glinting and tinkling as they hovered around the ship. "How is this so perfect?" Jenna sighed wistfully, and Hook could only reply with a kiss.