Author: wildbubblesroam
Title: Pain vs. Nothing At All – Part 11
Pairing: Hook/Wendy
Rating: PG or PG-13
Summary: After a busy day of shopping and enjoying themselves, Wendy learns about Hook's secret business out of Neverland.
Warning/Category:There isn't really anything too bad in this chapter but if you don't like Hook/Wendy pairings, obviously you may have a problem with this chapter/fanfic.
Notes: Hook is still a little bit out of character here but no worries; he'll go back to normal soon! I know this chapter seems longer than the other ones, but there's a lot of dialog. P.S. I just updated this chapter. No changes, just had to fix a formatting mistake that was bugging me.

Wendy adored the first dress Edward gave her to try on, and the second, and the third, along with the other nine dresses she tried on. They all fit her differently but every time she asked Hook how she looked, he said they were perfect, even if the shoulders were falling off of her or if the length was nearly dragging on the floor. She tried asking him why some of the dresses were so big while the first two dresses seemed to fit perfectly but all Hook said was "You never know when we'll be back here, Wendy. It's best to stock up on such nice things when we come across them." Wendy paused, thinking of the next question she could ask but simply nodded and thanked Edward. Hook must have changed his outfit when Wendy changed into one of her new dresses because by the time they left Fantasy Fashions, his frilly elegant clothing and his big feathered hat was in one of the many bags they left with.

When they stepped out of the store, Hook handed the bags to a nearby pirate and told him to put them on the Jolly Roger. "Do not damage a thing." He didn't need any threats or insults. Hook's tone was stern enough to keep the pirate in line. The crew member nodded and hurried back to the ship.

Hook was now sporting a pair of black trousers, a white shirt lacking in his usual frills and a maroon vest covered by a black house coat. He offered Wendy his arm. She looked at it for a moment before slipping her own arm inside his with a smile. "Now, my Darling, where would you like to go first? To check on Smee getting the supplies, to get anything else you may need while you stay aboard the Jolly Roger, or for a bite to eat?"

"Well," Wendy paused. "How long are we to stay in London, Captain?"

"Call me James." He started with the charming smile he'd been giving her all day. "And we'll be here until tomorrow morning."

Wendy thought for a moment. They had so much time but also so many places they could go. "I am a bit hungry."

"Good, food it is then!" Hook put his hand on Wendy's arm, still snug around his own, and they began walking down the street.

They chose a small, casual restaurant to dine at. Hook picked a rather dark, private table in a corner of the room. Of course Hook didn't hesitate in ordering nearly everything on the menu along with some of his own requests. It didn't take long for Wendy to bring up his relationship with Edward the shopkeeper. "Captain, how do you know Edward?"

Hook didn't look up from his plate but simply answered her with a rather bland response. "His great-grandfather was a friend of mine." He went back to eating his meal, still refusing to look her in the eye.

Wendy nodded and brought her fork to her mouth before stopping. "Wait…his great-grandfather?" Hook nodded silently. "But that man is nearly 90 years old!"

"He's 85 actually." Captain Hook finally looked up, only to pause in thought. "Or is it 86?"

He was cut off by Wendy's confused remark. "But how…what do you mean you knew his great-grandfather? I mean, how is that possible?" She laid her fork on her plate and stared at him, waiting for an answer.

Hook stuck some mashed potatoes in his mouth, taking his time, before swallowing and explaining. "Wendy, how long have you been in Neverland?"

Wendy tried to recall but just shook her head. "Not long, why does that matter?"

"Exactly, my dear. It doesn't seem very long to you but you've actually been in Neverland for a full year. And have you grown at all?" Hook finally looked at her. She had an awkward look on her face as if she'd just realized something she'd never noticed before. "How long have we been out of Neverland? Perhaps a couple hours at most. Look at your fingernails."

She did. The paint she applied only days ago seemed to not be covering her nails much at all anymore. In fact, it looked as though her hands had outgrown the small amount of nail polish she put on. "You've grown, Wendy. You'll continue to grow and age normally as long as you're here. When we go back to Neverland, you will not. You will look older because of being here and catching up a bit but you will not grow old in Neverland."

"Oh…so Peter wasn't…?"

"A child? No. In body and sometimes I believe in mind, he was a child but in truth, he got his wish. He found a place where he could never grow old, never grow up. Fortunately for me and my crew, we also found Neverland. It wasn't only Peter who wanted to live forever. Of course Neverland doesn't make us invincible, as you've seen, but it allows us to remain youthful in a sense and not grow old and crippled."

Wendy had begun playing with her food, soaking in all this new information. So that was why Hook wanted her to get larger dresses. They'd fit her, just not until they come back to London when she'll begin to age again. "Does this mean every time we get out of Neverland I'll grow like this? I mean, so quickly?"

Hook smiled, almost chuckling to himself. "No, my dear. Look at me. Have I grown since we've been here?" Wendy stared at him. He hadn't grown. "Pardon me saying so, but you're still an adolescent in many ways. You're bound to grow and change faster now at this age than when you're older. It's the same way normally, without going to Neverland at all." He went back to eating his food. When he noticed Wendy still hadn't begun eating again, he stopped and looked at her. "Is something wrong, Wendy?"

There was silence for a moment before Wendy looked up at him. "No, not at all James." This was the first time she called him by his first name without him insisting on it. He smiled and continued eating, knowing she was becoming more and more his every day.

The rest of the day was spent going from shop to shop, trying to find anything and everything Wendy thought she might need or want. Hook certainly wasn't going to let her go and a part of her didn't want to go either. Of course she missed her family and her dog back home but she'd never seen this side of Hook before, or at least it wasn't shown for as long as she'd seen it recently. He seemed caring, delightful and even a bit charming. They went back to Edward's clothing shop by nightfall after checking on Smee and the new supplies. Wendy was amazed at how much rum was needed for a group of pirates.

"Oh, back so soon? Did you find everything you need?" Edward must have heard the ring of the door's bell when they walked in. He peeked his head out from the back of the store and smiled when he saw it was none other than Wendy and Hook. "I didn't expect to see you two until midnight!"

"I'd rather get an early start tomorrow." Captain hook put his hand on Wendy's shoulder. "You said you had room for two?"

"Yes, yes. Of course. I was just about to close up here." They waited for Edward to finish what he was doing before all three of them went to a small house nearby. It looked old but had a cozy feel to it. Wendy couldn't help but stare at all the beautiful artwork hanging on the walls. The walls that weren't covered in framed paintings and photographs had large bookshelves in front of them, filled to the brim with all sorts of literature. It could have been a larger version of Captain Hook's cabin minus the rocking of the waves.

Edward pointed up the stairs. "There's two empty rooms upstairs, the last two doors on the left." He paused and looked at Hook. "Or would you prefer one room?"

"What about your son? Is he not here?" Hook questioned the extra empty bedroom. Usually there was only one extra room when he'd stayed here in the past.

"He can sleep down her-" Edward began to explain the sleeping arrangements but Hook wouldn't hear of it.

"No, no. Let him have his room. We'll be fine in one room." Captain Hook grabbed Wendy's hand and they went upstairs without another word. The room looked lovely. It had a large bed with a fluffy comforter and extra blankets on a nearby chair. There was a large window like the window she and her brothers had in their bedroom growing up.

Her Captain began to shed his clothing, having no changing dividers to go behind. Wendy sat on the bed, thinking nothing of it at this point; she had gotten used to being around him more and more. When he finished by removing his metal hook and placing it on a nightstand, he joined her on the bed, turning on his side to sleep.

"James?" Wendy was still awake. Hook answered her with a low, tired groan. He didn't drink any alcohol since they ate in the restaurant earlier, and didn't drink any rum since they left the Jolly Roger that morning. "Thank you for everything you got for me today."

"You're welcome, my dear." He rolled over, now lying on his back.

Wendy hesitated before asking, "You said you were talking business with Edward earlier. What kind of business?" She was afraid of the answer, him being a pirate captain and all, but her curiosity was getting to her.

Hook opened his eyes. It was obvious he wouldn't be getting any sleep until he cleared a few things up. "Edward runs the shop we were in. I've known his family for a long time; therefore he knows who I am. He knows about Neverland and the Jolly Roger. In exchange for providing myself as well as anyone I bring with me a place to rest and some fresh clothing, I provide him with some helpers throughout the years. He's getting older and in order to keep the shop owned by his own family instead of having to sell it, he needed some extra help whom he wouldn't have to pay."

Wendy was sitting up by now, listening to his explanations, word for word. Hook continued. "Peter stole children, young boys from their homes and kept them in Neverland. My crew and I simply took them back and gave them a home. Edward's son is a boy, I believe he's 13 years old now, who lives with him. In exchange for living in this lovely home, being fed three square meals a day, and being provided with clothing—much like a parent would do for their own children—the boy works for Edward in his store."

"How many boys have you given to Edward?" Wendy had so many questions, she couldn't think of which to ask next.

"Only two. The first one has grown up by now and has a family of his own. Therefore, Edward needed another young man to assist him with his shop. The stores we get our supplies from also have this arrangement with us. They'll provide us with the supplies we need, within reason, in exchange for a young man to help with their business. Often times this is exactly what the boys want, a home, rules, and a life to live outside of Neverland. They want to grow up and have children of their own. None of that is possible in Neverland." Hook paused in thought for a moment. "However, now that Peter is gone, no more children will be coming to Neverland. I had to tell Edward not to expect any extra help for a while. He's still got many years of help with the boy he has now but eventually there will come a time when he needs a replacement."

Wendy laid back down, allowing all this new information to sink in. "Oh. I see." She could feel herself getting tired. They had a long day and had to get up early in the morning. For now, it was time to sleep.