Peter Pan had planted a lot of ideas in young Emma Swan's head especially where the pirates had been concerned. Ideas that had the truth twisted, making the pirates far worse than what they were in reality. Yes they were criminals, yes they stole, maybe even killed, but neither were the pirates the monsters Peter had made them out to all be. They were people first and foremost, individuals with their own quirks and personalities. Maybe not all of them liked children, but few if any would ever think to kill one. And even if that had, Hook wouldn't have allowed that kind of scum among his pirates, the man insisting at the very least that none of his men stand for a child to be abused, let alone tortured or killed.
But of course Emma didn't know that about Hook, and in truth she would have misinterpreted such good intentions. She wasn't yet ready to believe in the idea of an adult who was good, who might be kind to a child without some selfish motivating need of their own. Emma couldn't believe, but it still didn't stop her from being impressed by the pirate captain, Emma unwittingly attracted to him for his behavior as well as his looks.
She couldn't immediately say the same for his band of pirates, not all of Hook's crew as pleasant to look at. There was only a small handful of men that could in any way be considered good looking, and only one who came close to rivaling Hook's brand of handsome. That one, a pirate who went by the name of Rauol, still fell a million miles short of Hook's pretty brilliance. But with his own gypsy dark looks and brown eyes, Rauol had never had a problem picking up on Hook's leavings where both women and treasure was concerned.
He wasn't the only one, and while most of the pirates couldn't claim half the successes of Rauol when it came to the fairer sex, their pockets were bloated with enough gold and jewels to buy their way into a woman's affection. Some might be rich enough to start their own small harems, their wealth having accumulated over the many years that the pirates had spent in Neverland. There may not have been any ships to plunder, but there was still always treasure to be found. And Hook's pirates had discovered most of it, in their quest to find the key to Hook's revenge, and a way home.
Of course all that money and jthose ewels were of little use in Neverland. The dwarfs and the elves wouldn't sell to the pirates, and the Indian Tribes had never been greedy for gold. They had liked some of the prettier bits of jewels, but they hadn't been so desperate for what they considered nothing more than shiny bits of glass to overlook the kidnapping of their princess. With no one to buy from or trade with, all that treasure went unappreciated, stowed away in the hopes that one day they would return home and be able to finally spend it.
Many of the pirates would be able to at last retire, though most would not. They simply couldn't ignore the call of the sea, the adventure of it, and the new plunder waiting to be found. They wanted home, but more than that, they wanted a return to their way of life. That meant the things, the ships both prey and competition, and most of all the women. It had been too long since these pirates had dealt with anyone not of the demon and his band of boys, or touched things that they hadn't made with their own hands.
They were longing for the creature comforts of the Enchanted Realm, and though Hook hadn't made a point of stressing the importance of Emma Swan being on the Jolly Roger, they sensed it all the same. She was important, special if only because of what she was. Female, and lovely, and frustratingly a few years too young for anyone to fully appreciate all that she could offer.
Even as young as she was, Emma was still a temptation. The pirates warned by Smee, still had to school their reactions, still had to keep from stopping what they were doing to instead openly gape and stare. It helped that Hook stood besides her, his blue eyes fierce with a glower that spoke of pain and punishment to any who did wrong to the girl. Many wouldn't go against his wishes, knowing it was the quickest way to end up at the sharp end of his hook or worse. Too many who had tried to mutiny while in Neverland had ended up as chum for the beasts that swam Neverland's seas.
It left only the smart ones, or at least the ones with enough sense to preserve their own hides. Loyal because there was often little other choice, none came close to Smee. That pirate was the oldest of the group, with his hair long since graying. He hadn't started out as a pirate, but once captured and forced into the way of life on the seas, Smee had quickly realized just whp to place his trust and loyalties in.
The oldest of the pirates, he was loyal to a fault when it came to Hook, and absolutely, overly protective of the captain's interests. He hadn't been there to see the tempest that was the love story of Hook with his Milah, but Smee had seen the aftermath. The heart ache and grief Hook had gone through. Letting it haunt him, motivate him, everything that Hook did in the long run a response to it.
Privy to so many things, Smee was aware of how easily Hook let his heart get involved with lost causes. And no causes were as lost as the children Peter Pan brought to Neverland. And that included the girl, Smee watching her first with suspicion, then with real concern. Because he knew the path Hook was fighting against, the lost cause that would break his heart just a little bit more when Pan killed the girl for growing up.
Wanting to protect Hook from the heartbreak of Emma Swan, Smee was not at all fond of the girl. Something she was aware of, though Emma didn't understand the true reason behind Smee's dislike. She wouldn't have much cared either, but one taste of his food had been enough to make Emma want to be on Smee's good side. If only to pry from him the secret of his cooking success.
Determined to be a quick study, Emma was all too happy to follow Smee into the ship's galley at Hook's insistence. Smee had grumbled, but allowed it, well aware the captain needed to spend as little time with the girl as possible. Cooking lessons would take up some of that time, but not all of it, Smee wondering how he was going to run interference between his captain and the girl in the coming days.
He'd soon have his hands full with the first of Emma's lessons, Smee finding that if the girl had ever known anything about cooking, she had forgotten it all over the years spent with the lost boys. It was a small miracle she could even boil water, though Smee couldn't help but admire how earnestly she threw herself into the learning. She WANTED to learn, was eager for it, and so long as Smee was showing her how to do things, she didn't act the brat. Smee realized he could have liked this girl, if not for the worries and fears he had still for his captain over her.
If it was up to Smee, he would have kept Emma locked away from Captain Hook. It didn't matter where, be it the galley or down in the ship's brig. If he could have, Smee would have dropped her off on an island, anywhere that was far far away from Hook. But he couldn't, wouldn't actually harm the girl. It was his own morals at work, Smee priding himself on being kind to ladies, even the small ones like Emma.
And with Emma openly heaping praise, and devotion to Smee's skill with food, even the old man was slowly being won over by her, though he would never admit it. He kept his exterior gruff, even as inside he worried and thought it unfortunate that this girl would go the way of the lost boys. She was such a bright, vivacious creature, that it was hard to imagine her light being snuffed out. But Smee didn't doubt for one second that Peter Pan would go through with it. Something he feared the captain was in real need of reminding.
He was especially of that opinion when the night's meal time was upon them, Hook having sat young Emma to the right of him at his table. The top members of the crew were normally the only ones allowed such a privilege, and yet there she was, looking far too at ease with her guest of honor position. Too at ease for Smee's comfort, the man of the opinion that Emma should have been regulated to the position of servant, or better yet prisoner. But he wasn't the captain, it was Hook's decision to make, fool hardy a mistake as it so clearly was.
Emma for her part, knew nothing of what was troubling Smee. She had enjoyed what she hoped was the first of her cooking lessons with the man, and felt real pride to see the pirates eating the vegetables she had steam cooked with her own two hands. Of course it wasn't the main choice of feast for the pirates. That was reserved for Smee's veal, the pirate having insisted Emma only watch as he had prepared the choice cuts of meat. She hadn't missed a second of it's preparation, trying to memorize everything Smee had been doing. She wasn't yet confident she could replicate the skill the old pirate had, but she knew seasoned veal would go over a lot better than steamed cooked vegetables with her brothers.
Those brothers she missed, and felt real worry for. She knew they would miss her something terribly in turn, and would most likely be too frightened to even try to mount a rescue on their own. She felt bad for them, but Emma was glad they wouldn't try for any heroics. It would be hard enough to escape without having to worry about a brother or two, let alone without having to mount a rescue of someone who had come to rescue her.
If it had been the older of the lost boys, those around her age, Emma wouldn't have any had cause for doubt. She knew the older lost boys could take care of themselves, with or without Peter, Those older boys would have been able to handle a rescuing of her, even against pirates But Emma wasn't entirely content to just wait around to be saved. She considered herself strong and capable, and smart enough that she's get around the problem of not being able to fly or swim to the mainland. In the meantime she would enjoy the pirates' hospitality, and learn everything she could of Smee's cooking talents.
She wanted as many of Smee's culinary secrets as she could get, Emma learning once more how good meat that wasn't burnt, and that had been seasoned, could be. She was also appreciating the foods that were rare treats, things they only got when they visited among the different peoples of the land. Emma didn't have much use for dwarven or elven food, but the people of the many Indian Tribes of Neverland always, always had had some quite normal things that were practically delicacies to the lost boys. Things like freshly baked bread, or pie, and Emma really wanted to know how to make those flaky pastries she had enjoyed during lunch with Hook.
This time on the pirates ship was one of a rare opportunity. Peter had never allowed Emma and the lost boys to mingle long with the other natives of Neverland. Especially the adults. He would never have even considered allowing Emma or any of her brothers to take time out from playing, to go with the adults and learn something at their hands. In this Emma thought Peter was too strict, the boy overly protective of his family when it came to the potential evils that the adults could do.
Emma knew Peter would have a fit if he knew she was with the pirates. That she was doing more than just being their prisoner. He had always stressed how imperative it was to stay away from the pirates, though now that she had met them, Emma couldn't completely understand the danger. The pirates just didn't seem as bad as Peter Pan had claimed. If anything they reminded her of the lost boys, as though her brothers had finally grown up and become this unruly, rowdy bunch. And though they were very loud at dinner time, and perhaps drinking more than she was comfortable with, Emma wasn't particularly scared anymore. It wasn't that she felt safe, but she didn't feel threatened, especially with Captain Hook at her side, Emma sure the man was working to protect her if only because it suited his purpose.
She still didn't think Peter had what Hook wanted. Nor did she think Peter would have handed it over, if he had had it. But she couldn't help but wonder about it, wonder what it was, what it did, and where it could be. Emma even wondered if there would be peace in Neverland once-if Hook got a hold of it, though that wouldn't have made Peter Pan happy. Peace would have been such a boring adventure, Peter preferring excitement and fun for his family, rather than safe and calm.
Peter was always thinking, always looking for the next adventure for Emma and the lost boys to have. Normally she didn't mind this, kept too busy with the fun and the danger and the general insanity that was her life, to do much serious thinking. About anything, but especially about thoughts that would have troubled and upset Peter. But now new lines of thought were forming, not all yet explored, but were there all the same. Some of it was planted by Hook himself, the girl wondering just as much as the pirate had as to why Peter had gathered near exclusively male children. For that matter, Emma was wondering why Peter hadn't a single child from the Indian Tribe, or that of the dwarves of the elves. Why had he always sought out children from other worlds?
She was even wondering about the existence of other worlds, about the lands beyond her own and that of Neverland. Emma was allowing her long denied curiosity free reign, Hook in effect having taken a tiger out of it's cage. Her thoughts ran all over the place, finding threads that Hook hadn't yet had to supply, including ones that picked away at Peter's truth. And though there was pirate laughter and cheers all around her, Emma thoughts went over her lunch with Hook until she abruptly set down the fork Smee had reluctantly allowed her to use.
The fork's clatter on her plate didn't register over the din of noise that the jovial pirates were making. Most kept right on with their own conversations, and some were already well on their way to being drunk. But Hook wasn't, having noticed Emma's reaction though he couldn't have known it was a thought that had jolted her into frowning.
"You are not from Neverland."
Hook paused before nodding, draining his glass half empty under Smee's disapproving eye. "We're not."
"But Peter said..." She kept on frowning, Emma shaking her head as though trying to dislodge a thought. "The pirates have always been a part of Neverland."
"I can assure you we have not."
Her brow furrowed, the truth drifting in reach, though it was impalpable, the idea that this was something that Peter Pan could have lied about. His eyes studying hers, Hook's expression was a mask that hid his own thoughts on the matter, the pirate not trying to relieve Peter of any guilt.
"We've only sailed these waters some three hundred years."
"It just feels like forever." complained the bald headed pirate, who was named Mason, and had tattoos all along his torso, all the way right up to his neck.
"The day can't come soon enough when we get to leave." muttered another pirate, one whose name Emma didn't yet know. But his mutterings were picked up by the other pirates, many raising their mugs in toast of the idea of leaving Neverland.
"You're not going to stay?" Emma asked, glad to let the idea of the pirates leaving distract her from the fact that Peter might have lied.
"This is not now, nor will it ever be our home." Hook answered.
"Home..." Emma murmured, then louder asked, "Then what is home to you?"
Before Hook could answer, there was the pirates speaking. In voices loud with excitement, some sighing with longing, they began speaking of things, even people. It wasn't any one person they they were missing, these pirates longing to meet up with beautiful women, having sadly understood that anyone they had left behind was long gone and buried.
Some of the things that they missed was food not found in Neverland. Others missed the excitement of visiting cities and port towns, and a few even wondered if the kingdoms they were from still existed in one form or another.
The names of the kingdoms didn't mean much to Emma. She listened to what was being said, and couldn't imagine missing a place as much as these pirates did. But then she hadn't come from a real home, hadn't had any true connections with the people of the world that she had been born into. Her world had been nothing but a place of darkness, a place one could cower and cry themselves to sleep in. Neverland was her home, and until she had tasted Smee's cooking, Emma hadn't found Peter Pan's world to be lacking.
"What is this world called?" Emma asked.
"It's the Enchanted Realm."
Emma found herself repeating the words. "I thought Neverland was the enchanted realm...?"
"Neverland can't compare to the magic that makes up the Realm of Enchantment." Hook told her. "Nearly anything is possible, if you have the will strong enough to make it happen."
"Anything?" She quirked an eyebrow at him.
"It can make men into monsters, and produce beans powerful enough to open portals to other worlds."
"A bean..." Emma murmured. "Is that what you'll use to leave Neverland?"
"Sadly beans are a rare item, even in our home land." Hook answered. "Most people go their whole life without ever seeing a bean, let alone get the chance to use one." He glanced at Smee, and grinned. "We owe a life's debt to Smee for his talents, don't we men?"
"Aye!" But it wasn't a particular enthusiastic agreement. Not all the pirates were happy about being in Neverland, as though some would have preferred to have taken their chances with the demon Hook sought to kill.
"Smee is not just good at cooking, you see." Rauol sitting next to Emma, smiled at the girl. "He has a rare talent for finding whatever one needs."
"Whatever one needs?" Emma repeated, her voice unable to hide the doubt in it.
"Well nearly whatever." Smee allowed, then sighed. "My talents have yet to be of any use towards finding the captain the thing he needs most."
"Pan has just hidden it too well." Hook said, slapping a hand on Smee's back. "But we'll get it one day."
"But how many of us will die before that happens?!" wondered a voice whose owner Emma could not see. Hook cast a sharp look around the room, and suddenly the pirates all busied themselves with eating.
"The Roger can only sail so fast, and not even it can out pace death." muttered that same voice.
"Talk like that is of a mutinous slant, Damien." Hook cautioned, singling out a pirate whose short cropped blonde hair was oil slick and dirty. "And not talk I will stand for."
"You know as good as the rest of us how we would have died if we had remained in the Enchanted Realm." Mason chided Damien. "Rumplestiltskin would have killed us all, have no doubts of that."
"Maybe...or maybe he would have been content with just the..."
"Wait." Emma interrupted, glancing at Hook. For once he wasn't intent on Emma, staring instead at the pirate Damien. "Rumplestiltskin?!"
"Finish your thought Damien." Hook's voice was low, reeking of so much danger that even Emma couldn't help but react. The rest of the pirates were turning to look between them, many uneasy by either Hook or by what Damien was implying.
"It's a thought that we've all had." Damien retorted, and even to Emma he sounded as though defensive. "Just not many have the courage to speak it."
"Those who do, know where they can go!" Smee's voice snapped into the conversation.
"You'll run out of pirates in no time, if you kill us for speaking the Gods' honest truth."
"There will be no killing tonight." Hook answered, even as Smee made protests against that decision. "Our ships are all running on what amounts to skeleton crews for each and every one. I'll not waste another man's life without good reason, though Damien you best take care with how loose and free your tongue becomes when you've had too much to drink."
"Now is not the time to be fighting." added Rauol, and gave a wink to Emma. "Not when we have such a pretty guest among us, and a reason to celebrate!"
Emma might have blushed at being called pretty, but she was too curious about Rumplestiltskin, and the pirates reason for celebration. "Celebrate?"
"It was a successful hunt." Hook answered, the look in his eyes daring anyone, even Emma to challenge him on this.
"Yes!" Smee was quick to lend support to his captain. "Our Roger is sitting deep in Neverland's seas tonight!"
"Roger must have meant a lot to you." Emma began, trying for a casual tone. "Was he someone that the demon killed?" The room became silent, Emma able to hear forks scraping on plates. The rum in Hook's glass sloshed, the pirate captain taking a long drink before asking.
"And why do you think Roger was anyone of any importance?"
"Well..." Emma felt like all eyes were on her now. "You named the ship after him...? He must have been a good friend."
Suddenly several of the pirates were laughing, sound coming back to the room as a scarred man who was missing one too many of his teeth, grinned at her. "The ship's not named after a person, girl! The ship's called the Jolly Roger because there is nothing our captain loves more than a good hard rogering of the..."
"That's enough Pierre!" Hook snarled, abruptly lurching up out of his seat. His glass went flying, thumping the prate Pierre in the forehead. It made Emma gasp, and turn to look at Hook who was absolutely furious. There was a snicker behind her, and a different voice muttering about how Roger wasn't someone the pirates had had much time for lately. It only left Emma more confused, the girl sure that she was missing the joke and not understanding why Hook was now so upset.
Though upset was putting it mildly, Hook seeming furious. Emma would look to Smee in wordless confusion, the older man just shrugging his shoulders, at a loss to explain. Hook would actually move to leave the mess hall, then just as abruptly, change his mind, stalking back to the table. For one brief, all too frightening moment, Emma thought Hook was going to grab her, and maybe he would have, if not for the look that flashed to life in her eyes.
"If you'll come with me, we'll get you settled in for the night." Hook was offering her his arm. Emma wasn't sure she should take it, actually looking to Smee as though the older pirate could advise her on what to do. But Smee was too busy looking with concern at Hook, to even notice Emma's own worry and confusion.
It was Rauol sitting next to her, that gave a slight nod, his hand moving as though he would pat hers in reassurance. The touch never came, the man just sighing. "Go with him, little one. Away from us bad influences."
"Bad influences?" Emma asked, and she didn't miss the snicker of several of the drunks. Why did she have the feeling they thought Hook was the worst of the bad influences on board this ship?
She didn't like that thought, nor the laughter which she suspected was partly at her own expense. But she didn't take Hook's arm, simply rising out of her seat, and gesturing for him to lead the way. She followed several steps behind him, aware of the eyes boring into her, the men far too intent on what might happen next.
To her relief, and the pirates disappointment, nothing did happen. Hook was as always a gentleman, even though he radiated with an anger. The anger set Emma on edge, the girl beyond nervous, and trying to cast for something to talk about. Unfortunately her mind was stuck on the topic of the ship's name, an almost morbid curiosity compelling her to speak.
"Just what did he mean...a good hard rogering?" It wasn't a term she was at all familiar with, Emma used to the far more coarse word fucking. Roger was so far removed from fuck, that Emma didn't even think in terms of sex when she heard it, and thus didn't understand why Hook seemed to choke on his own breath.
"It's nothing."
"It's CAN'T be nothing." Emma persisted. "It's something you liked enough to name your ship after."
"Leave it be Emma." Hook advised, his voice holding a growl to it. "You're years too early to appreciate a good rogering." And then the ruthless, heartless, fierce some pirate seemed to cringe, and all over what he had just snarled at her. Emma was left blinking, and then began to blush, suddenly thinking she might be a step closer to knowing just what roger meant, and why the pirate had liked doing it enough to name his ship over.
She didn't speak again, didn't try to think of anything, let alone about rogering and Hook in the same sentence, and yet she still couldn't stop blushing. She was in such an embarrassed daze, she barely remembered walking into a nearly empty room below deck, barely heard Hook explaining that this would be where she would spend the night. She wasn't aware of much of anything, right up until the sound of a lock being engaged clicked into her awareness. But by then it was too late, the pirate having left and locked her into that room for the night.
To Be Continued...
Why yes, I felt inspired tonight. Trying not to spoil ya'll with two chapters in one day/night. But I couldn't help it...was so inspired. Might even try to at least start eleven while I am still wide awake.
This chapter was...okay I didn't mean for it to be a Smee POV. but it worked for me to have some of his thoughts at the beginning. Also, while I was proofreading ten, I realized how fun it would be to write some kind of big dinner time meal scene with her and the pirates, which leads into something I have been eager to write. A moment that would happen in eleven. Near the start of eleven. New day will start, but before that a moment! XD I feel like I got closer to Emma being able to have this kind of moment.
I'm really liking this chapter...and was so glad I got to put that stuff about Jolly Roger and Hook liking to do that in here! I was fretting at one point I might not get that bit in. XD It cracks me up that bit of convo. XD
Not much else to say! Laters!
You know the drill, 2/16.2018 updates to this chapter...
-Michelle
Shaded22, oh my goodness! *in shock but pleased* I don't know how to respond to that! *glows* Thank you so much! :D
Soulphur, aw thanks! I just love reading the reviews. So thank you for feeding me more! XD It didn't work exactly like I first thought, but I ended up really pleased with how this chapter came out. I hope you enjoyed ten too! :)
Zerousy, his sexy will not be denied! It is a brand all his own and it is unstoppable! XD We're so silly. I write fast when I feel uber inspired, and am not being stuck on my own doubts and insecurities...and not stuck on conversations. X_X After the way seven ended, it just felt like such a powerful statement (Him saying his heart was what the demon took plus the stuff that followed) and it stumped me sooooooooooo bad for eight. I'm kinda partying that nine, and better yet ten, proved so easy to flow from my head to the paper. Especially ten...I don't think I stumbled one time with the writing of ten.
Oh God,...first I was all aglow reading your review, and then I kinda went Shit. I don't want to spoil, but darn you picked up on it, didn't you? Reading between the lines, how careful I was stating what the Indian shamaness had said. *flails* Hopefully you haven't figured it all out, so that I can still surprise you when the time comes. *blinks* Not mad at you, got worried this sounds mad or something. I think one of my plot bunnies has been cozying up to you, whispering my plans. You been feeding them too many carrots. They'll fatten up in no time! XD *Being silly again*