Chapter 12

When he entered the ship, Henry looked around. The pirate was not anywhere on deck.

He looked at the watch basket, but nothing. Went to the lower deck entrance. He heard nothing.

- Captain? - Called at the entry.

- Ready for your birthday present? - He heard the pirate deep voice say behind him.

Henry jumped with fright, turning to Hook.

- You`re all right, lad? - Hook put a hand on Henry's shoulder, worried. - I hope I haven`t scared you. After what happened in the other day...

- No. I'm fine. - Henry smiled satisfied. - Where do we start?

Hook nodded. With a satisfied smile, he turned away.

- Well, if you were new in my crew, I think you would start by cleaning the deck or... - The pirate approached and gently squeezed Henry´s arm. – Start exercising these tiny arms at the oars. To gain muscle and resistance for the hard times at sea.

Henry laughed with the tickle.

- You`re laughing, lad? Life at sea is not sweet. - Hook mocked, dramatically. But then he grinned. - But since you have two mothers, who command respect and who I'm afraid of... - The pirate winked. - It's best to begin by the duties of a Captain. What do you think, lad?

- Aye, aye, Captain. - Henry agreed with an open smile.

Nodding, satisfied and delighted by the enthusiasm of the young man, Hook began pacing the deck, looking at the calm sea. The sun shone, golden in the clear blue sky and the wind was mild.

- Well... the place of a Captain is at the helm and among his sailors. But also studying maps, making calculations, read the sky and the sea and never, but never, endangering his crew and his ship... And while the adventure is exciting and almost impossible to resist, a Captain, or at least one that follows a code, do not risk the lives of those who follow him. - Hook winked, jokingly. - But usually those who join the crew of a pirate ship, is what they really want... Adventure!

The afternoon passed in a moment when Henry sat on the rail of the ship, with Hook by his side leaning over his elbows. Both looked to the sea. The sun began to lower in the horizon to give way to the night.

The afternoon was fun and he had learned a lot, from the operation of a ship, where the pirates slept, the task of each one and what the Captain does. However, Henry noticed on something when Hook showed him his chambers. After leaving them, the pirate stopped in front of the door that was right in front of his and glimpse of pain were showed in his eyes.

And after what happened days before, and recalling the story that his father told him, Henry had a feeling he knew to whom that door belonged to.

He stared at the pirate that had turned his back to the sea, leaning against the rail, wiping his hook.

- You miss her? Tinkerbell, I mean.

Returning his blue gaze to Henry, the Captain smiled.

- Tink... she was a fearless pirate. And much kinder than me. Something impossible for a pirate.

- Yes. She helped my grandfather once. My father told me that she took him home after coming to the ship, looking for my grandmother.

Hook nodded.

- She never told me what she had done. But I realized that the two were somehow connected when your grandfather accepted to put down his cane in the other day. - The pirate looked at Henry with an amused expression. - Once, she saved me. She stabbed a pirate named Black Beard. - He smiled when he saw Henry`s startled face. - I thought it was the end of me, but she appeared, quickly and quietly, and stabbed him. If not for her, the Jolly Roger would be his. Alongside with the lives of my pirates. - The melancholy and pride were mixed in the deep voice of the pirate.

- You should go visit her. I'm sure she would wake up soon if she had a friend with her. - Delivered Henry, optimistic.

- I do not know if Tink would want me to be there when she wake up, lad. She didn`t seemed very pleased when she saw me.

- But she saved you!

- Only a mere reflection.

Seeing that Henry wouldn`t stop with the questions, Hook stopped him, stepping away from the rail of the ship.

- It's getting late. It`s better if you go home, lad. Or your mother will come looking for me for satisfaction.

Henry realized that the pirate didn`t want to talk more about his oldest friend, so he nodded and jumped down the rail of the ship.

- Until tomorrow, Captain. Thanks for the lessons.

- Until tomorrow, lad. - Hook smiled as he watched him disappear down the ship and the pier towards town.

He had grown attached to the boy since he had saved him in Never Land. There was something about him that made him remember his childhood, especially his curiosity. It made him remember one little Tinkerbell, always following his father, always wanting to know more.

Smiled at the sweet memory as he headed for the lower deck.

...

After returning from the ship, while walking home, Henry crossed Gold`s pawn shop. He entered, looking for his father.

- You should go tell him. - He heard his father voice say.

- That she had woken up?! – He heard Emma murmuring. - She prefers to go meet him first. – Emma murmured. – I don`t know when she will do that, but if he knows that she is awake and I didn`t tell him...

A bell behind him rang. Henry turned and looked at Gold.

- Henry, didn`t know you were here.

- I guess nobody knows. - The boy smiled. - Hum... it is true that Amelia has wake up?

Gold looked into the shop, to the light coming out of the back room and realized that Henry had heard his parents talking.

- It is true.

- And have returned home? - Gold nodded. - And no one said the Captain?

Grabbing his cane tightly, Gold took a deep breath at the mention of his enemy.

- Apparently, not yet. And you shouldn`t hear your parents conversations.

- I'm not stupid, grandfather. Why my mother didn´t told Hook that Amelia has already woken up?

- She has her reasons, Henry. - Gold said as he walked to the counter.

- But why? I already know the story... she helped you.

Gold stopped and looked at his grandson.

- It is true. And according to what I know, Hook hurt her. Nearly killed her, Henry. I don`t think she wants to see him.

Frowning, Henry approached Gold.

- But he is good now. I know you can`t see it, but he needs her. And she needs him. They were friends. I`m sure that if she knows that she will want to go see him. I'll talk to her.

The pawnbroker squinted.

- You are very perceptive, Henry. - The boy smiled faintly. - Although I don`t agree with your relationship with the pirate, I'm afraid that's out of my reach because of your mother, but if you really want to talk to Amelia, you have to go where she works.

- And that is where? – Henry frowned.

Gold went behind the counter and scribbled Amelia`s work address on paper.

Then, extended it to Henry.

- Knowing her, she must be there tomorrow around two p.m.

Henry saw the address and nodded.

- I'll be there.

...

Ps: Any guesses where Amelia work?

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