Chapter 21

Peter POV

A few days had passed since we left the ship. Our food supply was running short and being locked in all day was driving me crazy, but we couldn't risk stepping out the door and getting caught. The pirates had to come to us. I watched Darcie as she sat in the living room, twirling her hair in her fingers and reading. I sat sharpening the blade of my dagger lying on the sofa, she laid on her stomach on the rug.

"Darcie?" I called. She looked up at me, her dark, brown eyes staring into mine. "Nothing." I smiled. She rolled her eyes, smiling, and continued to read. I put my dagger down and slid off the sofa, kneeling beside her on the floor. She closed her book and pushed it aside; she rolled onto her back and looked up at me. I led down beside her and kissed her jaw line softly.

"I love you." I muttered.

"I love you as well." She smiled.

"You know, if it wasn't such a grown up thing to do, I'd marry you." I told her. It was true, I would.

"Would you?" Darcie giggled. I nodded and nuzzled her neck. "Wouldn't you rather marry a rich City girl? Or a mermaid?" She teased.

"Nope, I'd marry you. The homelands girl who I picked for my team." I smirked. "Wouldn't you rather marry a snob pirate boy?" I laughed. She shuddered and hit my chest lightly.

"Ugh, don't even joke about that!" She said, chuckling slightly.

"Sorry what was that you said Bambi?" I mocked.

"Oh shut up!" She grimaced and laughed into my shoulder.

"Bambi… Bambi, Bambi, Bambi!" I chortled. "Mrs Bambi Hook…" I trailed off. Mrs Darcie Hook… Darcie and Vincent… Darcie and Vincent Hook… Nothing made my heart ache more or my blood boil further.

"I couldn't think of anything more horrid." She buried her face into my shoulder. I held onto her tight, inhaling her scent. Frantic knocking on the door spoiled our moment. I shot up, thinking it must be pirates and grabbed my dagger. Nibs rushed in and peaked out of a curtain.

"It's Demetria…" Nibs mumbled.

"What?" I said and looked over to Darcie, whose head was bowed. "She better be here for good reason. Let her in." I said to Nibs. I crawled back over to Darcie.

"Darcie, Demetria knows what she did was wrong, we both do… She was provoked." I explained, cupping her hands in mine.

"Just, don't bring it up…" She said squeezing my hands. I smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Nibs! My goodness I haven't seen you in years!" Demetria squealed.

"Likewise, you're more beautiful than I remember." Nibs blushed, I knew he always had a soft spot for her. I looked over at her still holding Darcie close, she was wearing towering beige heels with a soft cream blouse and blue pencil skirt, her hair flowing a brilliant copper gold.

"Peter, I'm sorry to intrude…" She said, glancing over at Darcie. "But, there's situations… and complications."

"What do you mean?" My eyes narrowed. I scooped Darcie up, holding her against my hip and sat down on the sofa with her, I gestured for Demetria to sit in the armchair and Nibs sat on the rug by her feet.

"Well, my trip here was going to be an apology… then I heard what happened since you left Paris." She sighed. "I've been speaking to people and next to none are on your side… the City members maybe but, they have doubts. And because, from what I heard, you were being watched by pirates in Paris, they know we aren't in love anymore, the fairies know we tricked them. They feel betrayed and challenged… I heard they're planning something nasty to spite you. Hook, I've seen him around Homelands as well today. Also, something quite strange… there was a group of three boys, one blonde-"

"Lance, Sven and Rex." Nibs said. "Was one scrawny and one well built?" Demetria nodded.

"Yes, but, they came from London way… with a man. The man was obviously a captive and he looked ever so slightly familiar… I don't know why…" She examined her nails in thought.

"What did he look like?" I asked.

"He had deep brown curls, light blue eyes… dressed smartly too." She described and then snapped her fingers at Darcie. "Oh Darcie, if it wasn't for the blue eyes you could be related!" I felt her freeze under my arm. "I think they did say a name… Jeremy maybe?"

"John?!" Darcie squeaked.

"That's it!" Demetria said. Darcie's face drained of colour and she stood and began pacing.

"Peter, they've got John!" She cried and began heading towards the door. "I have to go to him. They can't hurt him they can't!" Before she could open the door I grabbed her and pulled her against my chest. "Peter, let go! I need to go get him! He's probably being hurt!"

"Don't you get it? They're trying to lure you in. They'll keep him alive as long as you're here." I grasped her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to get him back, but for now, we sit tight…" She nodded and hugged my waist. I pulled her gently back to the living room. We sat back on the sofa together, it angered me that they would go so far as to get John. I didn't necessarily want to sit and wait to rescue John, but he was most likely being used to lure her in, lure us all in. Louis, Tootles and Curly also walked into the living room, Demetria smiled at them.

"I haven't met them before…" She said, smiling at them.

"Oh that's Louis, Tootles and Curly. You wouldn't have yet but they're my team as well. This is Demetria guys." I introduced. Their mouths hung open slightly and I swear they would have drooled if I hadn't snapped them out of it. "They've got John now and fairies are angry again."

"John?!" Louis exclaimed. "Why? What use has he got here?"

"Evidently they think it's a way to get to Darcie." I placed a protective arm around her. "Pirates are nearing, it won't be long before they come. So, prepare weapons and also prepare yourselves for a fight." I said. Louis, Nibs, Curly and Tootles left the living room, Nibs smirking slightly at Demetria.

"I should probably leave now…" Demetria said and stood up.

"No, stay. You're one of the very few on our side, we need numbers." I said. She nodded and looked at Darcie.

"I'm sorry Darcie, about John and…" She began but Darcie smiled.

"Thank you, about John. The rest… we'll put the rest behind us." She said, looking down.

"It's amazing…" Demetria sighed. We both looked up looking confused. "Just, you can feel it between the both of you, you can almost see the connection you both have." I tightened my arm on Darcie and smiled to myself. "I'll go find Nibs… see if I can help him, or have a quick catch up…" She teetered away in her heels and me and Darcie were left.

"If you'd known all of this was going to happen, would you have accepted just working for the fairies forever?" Darcie asked.

"No, I'd take this any day, it's an adventure at least…" I laughed slightly. "We'd better go get ready too…" I said pulling her up in my arms and placing her on her feet. "Prepare to fight some pirates." I smiled, the adrenaline of a fight rushing through me.

Hook POV

"Ah, the Fairy Realm." I spoke to me accomplices I had with me, Smee, Carl, Alma and Vincent. We were just outside the ring of mushrooms around the cluster of golden branches and tree trunks. "Now remember, don't look them in the eye or you'll be trapped there forever."

"Crafty beasts…" Smee mumbled.

"Why are we here?" Vincent grumbled.

"We had a very urgent message from the King and Queen." I smirked. The King and Queen hardly ever intervened with anyone, especially not pirates, so this had to be extremely important. We entered the ring of mushrooms and kept our heads bowed, as to not look into their supposedly golden eyes. Walking further into the golden, glowing realm we were stopped by two looming figures, both dressed in gold robes.

"Captain James Hook of the Jolly Roger." The King's voice boomed. I bowed to them politely, taking my red, feathered hat off. "I think it wise of us to explain why we have called you here."

"Yes, that would be most helpful." I put a sickly sweet tone on.

"Peter Pan has once again fooled us. He is a most untrustworthy character and the punishment of bringing you back simply does not seem enough." The King said.

"What has he done?" Vincent curiously asked. I smacked Vincent's head slightly. "Oh, I mean, your Highness."

"A long time ago he convinced a powerful fairy here he was helplessly in love with a mermaid and the fairy granted her legs. Only we discovered this was a trick, she had run away to Paris and hasn't been in Neverland for some time." The Queen spoke, spite in her voice. "We have been fooled by him for the last time."

"We are willing to grant you one wish, however, that wish must be used against Peter Pan somehow." The King explained. I grinned broadly and looked at my accomplices. "What would you desire we do to Peter Pan, Captain James Hook?" I paced slightly, oh the many things I desire for against Pan… A gun, a deadly poison, torture equipment, his flying to be taken from him, flames scorching him, feeding him to the crocodile, tying him to the bottom of my ship… Images of Pan being at my mercy flashed through my mind, his pained screams and begging.

"I'll just quickly speak with my accomplices…" I turned to them. "Well?"

"Poison him." Vincent said instantly. I thought about, but it would be too quick, I want to relish in his pain.

"What does Pan love most? Not person wise…" I said.

"Believe that would be his freedom. He hated bein' coop'd up on your ship Capt'n! He hated bein' ordered around by us grownups…" Smee smiled. I looked towards Alma and an idea struck. A person who had the power to trap Pan without even knowing it, he had Pan tricked, wrapped around his little finger. I turned back towards the King and Queen.

"How about bringing someone back from the dead?" I chuckled darkly.