So, wow- hey guys! Has it been a year already? Something like that...!

So, I could't stress enough to the worried writers, who's notes I receive on the monthly, that this story was FAR from over! Though, as life does, it gets incredibly busy (in the good and bad kind of ways!) which left me with no time to sit down and properly write more of this story. However, it certainly wasn't all for not, as it gave me a lot of time to stew on a solid direction to go with this. I had juggled so many plots and it's nice to have settled on something (I'm hoping) you'll all enjoy! I'm rather excited to share the rest of this with you, and I feel this chapter is the start of the story I really wanted to tell- it just took a LONG time to get to this point! You're all well aware of my inability to rush by now! Ha!

As always, thank you so much for sticking around and having such incredible patience! I talk with a lot of you on DeviantArt and Tumblr, and I always have so much fun hearing your thoughts and knowing the Hoff Hook fandom is refreshed and lively! The internet is better for it, in my opinion! That seriously brings a big dumb smile to my face! It's beyond wonderful to have HookxMaggie become such an enjoyed and supported ship (never would have guessed)! Watch out Wendy!

This is more fun than I ever could have imagined, and it certainly wouldn't be as awesome without the readers who enjoy it all as much as I do!

Here's to another year of this silliness- may the holidays bring even more chapters!

Enjoy!

Chapter 25

The sun was sinking with a slow tranquility, the warm gradients sizzling in the sky above Neverland. Shadows began to creep across the scarred wood of the Captain's desk as night began it's takeover. Black tendrils hung limply about the surface, covering an array of wrinkled papers and various trinkets. Hook hung his head, uninspired. It was quiet all around, spare the creaks as lazy waves shifted the Jolly Roger ever so slightly beneath him.

The days rolled on wards in dull monotony ever since her death. First it was a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and infuriating regrets- all pooled together, yanking at the man's spiteful heart and then it was gone, as quickly as it had all happened. In a manner of ways, it was truly a relief. It had passed. He was somehow free. Empty- but free.

Better yet, these days, with the lonesome darkness, came true intrigue. For several weeks now, Pirate Town had been hit hard with curious activity. Items of various value, shapes, and sizes had started to disappear without a trace. Concerned residents clamored to Hook's chambers in a fury and ready to raid the first place the dagger handed leader would point them. No such luck, however. The brooding buccaneer only lay in wait.

Patience! He would demand. This was something to get excited about. As to whom may be causing the ruckus was unknown, though, that's what made it so intriguing to him. He had a good feeling the Lost Boys were the culprits behind it. They had been known for petty thievery before, and this was no different. No, just a lot more audacious.

They wanted to up the risk it seemed, and Hook was more than happy to oblige- perhaps they were just as bored as him these days? The only interesting thing to come their way had long since disappeared, leaving them virtually no other means of entertainment.

"I encourage it." Hook would grin as Smee paced back and forth before him.

"But Cap'n...! The town is almost dried up! There's hardly a speck of gold left! They're like phantoms! How they do it is beyond me!"

"Put your frustrations to rest, my dear Smee. We'll reveal our bandits soon."

Hook had thought about this for a while now, and he was more than excited to execute his plans to catch the sticky fingered Lost Boys in their tracks, once and for all. It was hard to tell if he was even upset about the entire ordeal. It was blinding before- his rage. He couldn't stand the thought of those children getting away with so many things. It made him feel like a dolt. He had envisioned them all sitting around the Nevertree, dumping loads upon loads of pilfered goods into a pile and having a dandy laugh at his expense. Ah, but that was all about to end.

"Captain!" The door to Hook's chambers swung open, slamming into the wall with a deep thud. Hook's head shot up, the black curls receding from the table and into his lap. "They're here." Smee said with borderline fright. It seemed the anticipation had gotten to him as well.

"Quickly then, to the deck." Hook's grin pulled across his face, revealing a sinister smile.

The sound of sharp echoing steps were the only sound as the Captain made his way outside. All was eerily quiet.

"There's not much else for you to take, I'm afraid!" Hook hollered into the night, his eyes scanning the silhouetted darkness beyond him. Only the slapping of the ocean upon the side of the docks answered him.

"Cap'n!" Smee's frantic whisper came from behind. Hook turned to look at him. The stout man held his finger up towards the lowest mast. Taking a moment to search, Hook's eyes landed on something. A tall, cloaked figure stood motionless, high above.

"Ahhh." Hook mused, straining his neck ever so slightly. A giddy joy overcame him, as the familiar symbol landed in his sights. It took him back to the time he truly felt alive. He knew it couldn't possibly be Pan, but it would certainly suffice. Now to catch them.

"Why don't you come down here then? See about plundering my cabin? There may be some things you would fancy."

No answer- only the cloak billowing quietly in the dark. The figure unmoving.

"Well, perhaps you're simply afraid of heights? Allow me to assist in getting you down!" Hook smiled yet again, knowing full well how substantially prepared he was for tonight. From behind the heavy hanging sail appeared one of his men, only the glint of his knife visible from the deck far below. He seemed to be closing in on the intruder, but Pan-like visitor had heard the quiet footfalls and turned quickly. All Hook could see were some vague movements, which included something being thrown quite fiercely. The yelp of his crewman prompted the the rest of Hook's thugs to jump out of hiding, all taking to the base of the mast to apprehend the mysterious interloper. Hook began a very slow descent on the stairs, keeping his eyes on the busy scene overhead.

The intruder managed fairly well to evade the swinging blades of the various pirates. They all mounted the mast from the taut ladder below. Grasping wildly, the cloaked figure hurled themselves to a nearby rope and swung to the opposite mast, which was not yet crawling with Hook's men. The quick moving form then began to scale their way down to the deck and bolt towards the dock ramp.

"You won't get far, boy!" Hook bellowed, as the trespasser disappeared from view. He came to a halt. His foot had tapped something. It was a rather roughed up baseball. It rolled lazily to one side, it's red strings looking worn and frazzled.

Hook picked it up and began turning it over in his hand. He was still, mouth agape. It couldn't be, could it?

"...Jack." He whispered, then laughed deeply. This was even better than he could have imagined.

Hook knew the layout of the town better than anybody. He had clever shortcuts that even Smee didn't know about. He could get to the other side of town half the time it took one of his lackeys to run, which was one thing that utterly horrified his men- keeping them on their best behavior. If anybody was attempting to escape, Hook would happily meet them at the exit for a proper farewell.

He took behind a rotted out tree stump on the edge of town. It marked the shadowed and ominous opening to the jungle. He waited for the sounds of hurried feet making their way across the wooden ramp. 1...2...3... Hook counted in his head. He then swung out around the stump, digging his heels into the soft ground as he went, and stiffened his arm- preparing for the collision. There was a garbled screech, followed by a grunt as the stranger fell into a pile before him. Hook shook his arm, "Not as solid as I figured you'd be."

Hook straightened himself, dusting off his cuff. He moved towards the figure, who was still concealed beneath the crumpled cloak, which shook and shivered as coughs erupted from underneath. Catching a better look at his new nemesis in the moonlight, Hook could see that the roughed up cloak was haphazardly quilted with a variety of different fabrics, of many textures and patterns- all very desaturated. The feet sticking out were composed of messily wrapped boots and buttons, stained with dried mud and grass stains. The cape's hood was spread over the wearer's head, and only a frail wrist could be seen poking out, a piece of ragged leather wrapped around it. The fingers that lay motionless were dirty and scrapped up.

Hook closed in, his grin almost aching. He hadn't been this ecstatic since his close encounters with Peter himself all those years ago. He was almost face to face with this warmly welcomed impostor.

"Bravo! I mean that sincerely, my boy! I couldn't even write something as delightfully mouthwatering as this." Hook tightened the weapon upon his wrist. "Little Jack Banning, left behind. The loss of your sister driving you into a rage fueled journey for revenge! Ah yes, and here you are now, King of the Lost Boys, I imagine- thieving and causing quite a ruckus for old Captain Hook. Color me impressed! Your efforts certainly didn't go unnoticed!" His glossy heels neared the mound of person only inches away. "It's truly a shame though, you know. About your sister." He readied his cold claw, knelt to one knee, and grabbed the shoulder of his prey. Hook then wrenched the body over. "You never got to say goodbye to-" The cape's hood fell open, a head lulled to one side. Wide blue eyes met his.

"Maggie!" A harsh whisper escaped him.

She wheezed, eyes flickering. "Son of a bitch...!" She haphazardly rolled up to a sitting position, shooing Hook away. Her hood lazily fell down around her neck, revealing a messy bun, full of tangled, almond hair. Maggie coughed again, still catching her breath from being clothes lined by the infamous pirate. "Ughhhouch!" Her hands cradled her chest now, her nose scrunching from the pain.

"You're alive." Hook dryly stated.

"No shit, buttfuck."

"But...months have gone by. Nothing. Not a sign..." He clamored for words. Visions of Maggie plummeting off the dock played in his mind. Hours of scouring the beaches for days afterwards, his heart racing at any sign of her. All hope dwindling with the stars as the sun rose.

"Did you have to do that?" Her breaths were fragmented and hoarse. Hook only stared, his famous brow furrow on full display. "Christ, just help me up already." Maggie tossed her head back, irritated. He did as she instructed, in a thoughtless motion, still processing the scene before him.

Maggie grasped his hand tightly as she pulled herself up. Hook steadied himself as she rose, only staring down at her in troubled silence.

"You thought I was Jack?" She looked up at him now.

She sounded distant at first, and Hook replied with a rather noticeable delay. "Yes." He cleared his throat and started again. "Yes, It seemed probable, given the...clues." He looked back to the ship in the distance, still reeling the night's events.

"Well, thanks for playing, but I'm not dead, nor am I a guy." Maggie's voice quivered slightly. She looked up into Hook's face, frowned with a troubling gasp, and blurted, "Whelp! Gotta run!" Maggie let go of Hook's velvety gloved hand with a bit of a pull, her cloak kicking up behind her as she turned. She took off into the thick woods, faintly coughing as she went.

Hook hadn't the energy or mental capacity to bother giving chase. He had to stew on everything. This had blown wide open all the walls he had mortared so carefully since her untimely passing. A false passing, no less. He felt wronged. Foolish. All this time, she resided so close without his knowledge. All those nights he spent carefully erasing her from his mind, yet she slept soundly just across the water. Each thought of her that would race through his mind was painful back then. There she had been, warm in his arms for mere seconds. It all washed away in livid waves of resentment, knowing full well now that she was in and out of Pirate Town dozens of times- stealing right from under his nose. Ohh, he was upset. He was very very upset.

An anger that bubbled with acidic embarrassment pounded through his veins. He clenched his fist, thinking of those nights he lay wide awake, tossing and turning, wondering where her body had gotten to. The horrors it had endured all those weeks later. Rotting, decaying, festering. She was gone- without a word. Dead. Or so he thought.

His fist tightened further.

It was then that he noticed his most favored ring was no longer on his finger.