Extra long chapter. Hopefully this will make up for the lack of updates. I've moved my focus to some of my other stories, I blame Star Wars, so this one wont be updated as frequently as it has been.

Chapter 25 – What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor

Klyeln and Grub had returned to the castle before night fully cast the island in shadows. Ryo had given them an earful when they did but begrudgingly had to complement them on their success. They had brought a fare amount of dried goods, cured meats, and other odds and ends. Kly was horribly smug about it all.

They spent the next few days working away at their new home. The large bundles of fabric the Captain had left them with went far, and while the mass of fabric wasn't quite a bed, it was more than Ryo had before. The days dragged on and they saw neither hide nor hair of Pan and his lot. Everyone seemed content for the moment to keep to themselves… everyone except Ryo herself.

She couldn't help it. She was bored, and only had so much patience when it came to children. Lodging with three obnoxious teens for days on end was giving her a short fuse. The bottles of fine wine Hook had given her took the edge off, but she just didn't care for drinking alone. So it didn't take long for her to cave.

Ryo had cornered Buttons and got the flighty creature to fill a small bag with pixie dust. It took some bribery and flowery praise to do so but she managed. With that in hand she climbed to the top of the castles remaining tower. The moon and stars greeted her merrily.

Happy thoughts…happy thoughts… Ryo stood with her eyes closed straining to focus on something that could lift her. Cute cat videos… uhh…nachos…um, trolling noobs! That got her a little more of a jolt then the others but not enough to really get her to take off. She hovered with her toes brushing the worn wooden floor. Crossing her arms, she huffed in frustration. This is harder then they make it sound. It didn't help that she was kind of afraid of heights…just a little.

If they had a boat she'd just row her way over to the damn ship. This is stupid. What's to say he even wants the company? Her thoughts towards the man had been mixed as of late. Guilt and anger tainted the fond affection she'd developed for him. She shouldn't have been surprised really…about what he'd done, but it still left a sick twist in her gut. She gave a sigh when her feet hit the floor with a solid thunk. With an irritated huff she plopped down between the crenelations of the tower wall. Stupid sexy pirate…Ryo took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting the warring feelings drift away from her.

He had been warm, she remembered, when I held him that night. She still couldn't say what had driven her to drape her arms around the sleeping mans shoulders, but she had, and he had been warm. She inhaled the salty breeze that blew in from the sea. His scent had been rich and masculine. A heavy masculine cologne spiced with rum, fine tobacco, and sea brine. She could bury herself in that smell. Ryo gave a content sigh as the wind whipped her hair around to brush her cheeks. Even in a wild frizz his had a luxuriousness about it. A thick inky black that fell to frame the face of a devil… A handsome devil. With a devils grin and a devils charm. His voice gave her chills and his coy smile sent her ablaze.

Ryo gave a thoughtful hum as she opened her eyes. The cold stone of her seat was no longer sapping away her warmth. She was no longer sitting on it. Ryo looked down at the tower she hovered feet above and let out a laugh. It was part disbelief, exhilaration, and exasperation. Of course thinking of him would do it. She felt like a fool, but a very happy fool. With a joyous laugh she zipped down to fly low over the water and run her fingers along the surf.

The Jolly Roger was fairly quiet as she approached and she flew low keeping to the ships shadow to peek out from just below the ships railing. There were two men on deck, one asleep and the others head kept lulling to the side as he gripped a bottle of booze. She let her eyes wander along the deck up to the Captain's cabin, light still shown from the stained glass windows. Ryo moved slowly over the rail and into the shadows. Crouching down low behind some barrels, she made her way to the filigreed door. She hesitated and glanced back at the two crewmen, neither made a move and the steady snore rumbled uninterrupted. This is so foolish… The grin on her face hardly cared.

The faint sound of chatter could be heard from within. Hooks deep baritone gave a rumbling laugh that was followed by Smee's much softer chuckle. Ryo reached out and rapped softly on the cabin door. The room went silent. She gave another soft knock. The silence dragged on for a few moments more before the faint pattering of footfalls approached the door.

The door eases open silently and the old bo'sun peeked his head out curiously. Ryo grinned cheekily at the puzzled look on the old man's face.

"Psst!"

Smee jumped slightly and turned towards the shadows beside the door. Ryo waved lightly wearing an amused grin. His eyes widened in surprise and he greeted her merrily.

"Miss Kesh! Well hello ma'am! What you be doin' here at this hour?"

The captain's voice sounded faintly from further within the room. His gruff voice sounded questioning. Smee poked his head back into the cabin with a broad smile.

"Why it's our lady Ryo come for a visit!" He said cheerfully.

There were the heavy footsteps signaling the Captains approach, and his dark form came to loom from behind the short old man. He looked pleasantly surprised and watched Ryo quizzically.

He raised a brow at the pale woman, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Ryo smiled faintly. He was dressed down in little more than trousers and a loose off white undershirt that opened a bit at the front to show a hint of his muscular chest. She did little to hide her inspection of him.

"Evening Captain. I didn't catch you at a bad time did I?" There was playfulness in her tone.

Hook cleared his throat and tried to hide a grin, but his brilliant eyes shined with mischief. He shouldered Smee out of the way to greet the woman with a charming smile. The bo'sun gave a slight scoff, shaking his head with a grin.

He gestured her in with flourish, "Not at all! Do come in."

She passed by him to enter the cabin. Smee looked at the Captain curiously, but he simply shrugged looking just as bewildered as Smee. He shooed Smee out of the cabin and closes the door behind him. There was a wiry grin on his face as the door clicked shut. Smee chuckled softly and wandered off with a shrug.

His eyes wandered over her as he watched her look about the room. She came to stand near its center before turning to face him. He stood dumbly for a moment unsure and a bit out of sorts. A quizzically raised brow from the woman put him into motion and he cleared his throat softly.

"Do sit down… " He gestured to a chair that sat beside the cabins furnace. A small table sat beside it with a decanter that glowed amber in the light of the fire and a crystal tumbler.

Hook watched her quietly trying to puzzle her out before finally speaking again, "I'll admit it's a bit strange seeing you without your young ones chasing your heels… How may I be of service to you?"

Ryo laughed softly, "Sorry for the intrusion Captain. It is a bit late for a social call."

He waved his hook dismissively and Ryo continued, "I was hoping… we could share a few drinks Captain."

An amused grin spread across his face, "Don't tell me you've already made it through all that wine?" He teased with a laugh.

Ryo smiled softly, "Well no… but I guess I'm just tired of drinking alone."

Hook hummed and nodded thoughtfully. He stepped away towards a cabinet full of finery and grabbed a second glass. He pulled another chair up beside the end table next to her.

"It is terribly unhealthy to make such a thing a habit…" he said with a slight tilt of his head and took a seat.

He watched her carefully over the rim of his cup as he knocked back what remained. She seemed quite at ease. Last time he'd seen her she was rather cross with him. Hook uncorked the decanter and gestured to the glass beside her. She gave a nod and he poured her a generous portion.

"Thank you Captain," She raised her glass to him and took a sip. It burned pleasantly all the way down.

"Please, James is fine…" He cleared his throat softly and shifted in his seat to better watch her. There was a coy grin on his face and he took a moment to measure his words. "Just stopping by for drinks... nothing else in mind?"

Ryo scoffed at the suggestive tone, but couldn't fight the grin creeping across her face. Hook grinned cheekily at the sight.

She feigned indignity with a hotty expression "Is it so much to want a little intelligent company?"

He chuckled softly his forget-me-not blue eyes sparkling, "Not at all… not at all. I must say though… I am flattered that you would come to me for such…company." He says the last word more suggestively then the last and leered at her. Ryo grin broadened and she shot him a playful glare.

Hook sat back and took a sip of his drink, "I take you have forgiven me for my transgressions against Pan and his ilk?"

Ryo's grin fell away and pulled her gaze away from him with a sigh. Hooks grin faltered as well. Damned fool… He berated himself harshly. Why the devil would you go and bring that up now?

"I suppose I can't fault you too much. I haven't had the pleasure of a visit from them yet." Ryo said with a resigned sigh.

Hook gave a bitter scowl, "I'm sure they will endear themselves to you soon enough."

Ryo turned her stare to the fire in the furnace, watching it quietly crackle away. Hooks face twisted in annoyance, more at himself then anyone, and leaned back in his chair to sip at the amber liquid. The mood had been sullied and with it came prolonged silence. Ryo looked down into the glass in her hand as she struggled to find something to bring back the casual air. Everything seemed too delicate at the moment though. Then she remembered the tattoo she'd seen on the man's arm during his short stay. It was a crest of some sort and had to have some meaning.

"That tattoo on your arm… the crest. What's the story behind that?" She asked hesitantly.

Hook looked up at her in mild surprise. He glanced to the shoulder in question and the tattoo that lay beneath his shirt there. Hook gave an amused chuckle, "The Eton coat of arms, I was schooled there as a lad." There was pride in his voice at its mention.

Ryo pondered the name. It was a little familiar, "That's a school in Britain?"

Hook scoffed and straightened in his seat, "Has the institute fallen so far that they are now so little known? Eton is no mere school in Britain. It is the finest and most prestigious boarding school in the entire kingdom."

Ryo gave an intrigued hum and hid a grin with another sip of rum. Hook hardly seemed to note her amusement and took the small noise as encouragement. He gazed off into the cabin with a smile on his face as he quickly became caught up in the nostalgia over his days in Eton.

"It is the place of my fondest memories." He said a bit wistfully.

Ryo smiled softly, "Was your family wealthy?"

Hook waved a hand flippantly, "My father was a nobleman. He groomed me for the position as heir of his fortune since he had no other options. I'm afraid I was born out of wedlock and he'd no other legitimate children… I had my own plans however." He gave her a slight wink, "I've no family other than that…" He glanced down to the hand holding her glass, "What about you? I see no ring on your finger… have you no family of your own?"

Ryo shrugged, "No, I guess I'm what they would call in your day a spinster. I live on my own and take care of myself."

Hook looked at her with mild surprise, "Truly? You've such a matronly air I would have figured you'd have a few young ones of your own."

She pursued her lips, "I told you before I'm no mother…"

He raised his 'hands' in surrender with an apologetic grin. Ryo knocked back the rum in her glass and he poured her the last of the bottle.

"So you've no one to return to?" He pressed curiously.

"Aside from a cat?" She said sarcastically, "No… no one. Women are pretty self sufficient these days."

He considered it then turned to her looking confused, "These days? Surely things haven't changed so drastically… how long have I been away from the main land?"

Ryo chuckled softly, "Well…What year was it when you came to this place?"

His hook tapped his chin in thought as he strained to remember, "1725 I believe. I could be off by a few, this place makes one lose track of such things."

Ryo smiled at him sadly, "A man out of time… with all the time in the world."

He frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Before I woke here it had just became 2016, I'm afraid even if you were able to escape this place your world is long gone."

Ryo watched the emotions flash across his face with pity and suddenly regretted the flippancy of her words. The Captain had visibly paled. His shoulders slumped as he sat back against the high-backed chair he sat in.

"God…" He whispered breathlessly, "That…that can't be right. The girl Pan brought, Wendy; she's only been gone maybe a year. She didn't seem so different from the young lasses of my day. Surely so much time can't have passed so quickly?"

"I won't even try understanding how this place works. With everything else I don't doubt this place can bend time as well as space. You could be right." Ryo shrugged, "Either way, I have no more idea how to get off this island and back home then you do. I'm not skilled enough at flying to make the attempt… It seems we are both stuck here."

Hook nodded looking suddenly morose. It appeared as though any hope the man had was now crushed, and she felt a sharp pang of sympathy. Even if he could escape… the modern world would destroy him. If that was even where he ended up, there was really no telling. Ryo had the strongest urge to reach out to the man. To offer him some sort of reassurance, perhaps as much for herself as him.

"At least we're not alone any more right?"

James glanced up and she caught his blue eyes with her own. He was captivated by their intensity and the warmth hidden there. The meaning behind her words caused a lump to form in his throat and he swallowed roughly. Hook looked away, suddenly overwhelmed by the emotions something so simple could inspire. Alone… just like me. Such vulnerability was a foreign sensation.

"I'm not…" He stopped to take a breath and steady his words. "I am… incomplete." He said softly and raised his hook.

Ryo scoffed and reached out. She gently wrapped her fingers around the sharp instrument as though she were simply holding his hand. James watched wide eyed as she drew the metal hook to her lips, pressing it to them tenderly.

"I'd worry more about your temper then this Captain," She said softly and released the claw from her grasp.

He watched her mystified. Never had anyone shown such disregard for the dangerous object… no one save her. Smee was the only other aside himself to even touch the thing and even the mild mannered bo'sun held a healthy fear of it. To her it was simply part of him.

They fell into silence and Ryo glanced down to the bottle on the table in front of them. It was empty and she suddenly felt exhausted. She stood slowly, feeling the spreading alcohol buzz leave her extremities a little numb. She smiled gently down at the pirate captain and placed her hand on the man's shoulder hesitantly.

"It's late…" She said softly. Hook nodded and looked away to stare into the flames of the furnace with an unreadable expression. The small flames reflection danced in his clear blue eyes. He looked lost. Ryo hesitated, steeling her nerve.

"James?"

He looked up at her questioningly. Her slender fingers reached out to trace his strong jaw and tilt his head up. She leaned in and her lips met his. They brushed together shyly at first but steadily deepened. He went still and his eyes slowly closed as her soft lips moved against his. It felt to soon when she broke away from him, and it took more will then it should to do so. When she straitened her cheeks were flushed with warmth and his held a hint of the same. With a final squeeze of his shoulder Ryo turned to leave and he watched her go silently.

Ryo glanced back at him, "Good night Captain."

A small sad smile graced the man's face, "Good night Miss Kesh."