CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR- Back at the Ball, a Few Moments Before (Leif and Neal's Point of View)

"Have you seen Kendra? She left right after I danced with her. Did I upset her? I really didn't mean to."

"With her father's pirate personality, I highly doubt you upset her. I saw her, Liam, Oliver, and some others I didn't recognize head towards the library." Neal saw the look in Leif's eyes and immediately realized what was going on. "You have a crush on my niece, don't you?" Neal smirked at him.

"First of all, niece, that just sounds weird, you are only what three or four years older than her. Secondly, I don't even know that much about her, we have only met twice. I haven't really gotten a chance to know her. Like, for instance, what do you mean pirate personality? She seemed just fine when I met her. Lastly, even if I did have a crush on her, she probably doesn't feel the same way."

Neal just laughed at the Prince of Arendelle stumbling over his words. Leif talked too much, just like his mother.

"Like it or not Kendra, in addition to being one of the closest friends I have, is my niece. Also, I didn't mean for the pirate half of her to seem like a bad thing. She can just come off strongly. You honestly won't meet another girl that is as tough as her. There is hardly an ounce of princess in her. I can also assure you that you never will know how she feels unless you take the chance to get to know her. I am pretty sure she would like to learn more about you too. Could you really not see her turn bright red when you came in to greet her?"

"Really? You think she likes me?" Leif was practically jumping for joy.

"Yeah, I do. You just have one problem that will stand in the way of you getting to know her, and possibly court her."

"What's that?" Leif frowned.

A grin spread across Neal's face. "Her father, Captain Hook."

"Right…I've heard stories. I occasionally work down at the Arendelle shipyard, dealing with the trade goods. He was once one of the fiercest pirates on the sea."

"Don't let him hear you say once. You definitely wouldn't get to be with her if he heard that. Killian may not actually do any pirating these days, but he still has the attitude of one."

"Didn't he lose his hand to," Leif lowered his voice, "the Dark One?"

"Yeah, hundreds of years ago."

"HUNDREDS? That's impossible!"

"He lived in Neverland for quite a while, you don't age there. So, in other words, you don't want to make him mad, he has a lot of combat experience."

"You really aren't helping my cause here. I really do not want to die asking Kendra's father to court her." Leif looked like he was going to puke.

"Relax. The worst he would do for you asking is knock you out for a few hours, with a slight concussion, and send you back to Arendelle," Neal joked.

"Are you sure?" Leif relaxed slightly.

"Positive. I will even go with you if you'd like. He followed Kendra and the others up to the library."

"Yeah, I'd like that."

"And once you get past her father you get to worry about what her brother might do to you!"

"What?"

"And don't forget her mother, my sister, the Savior. She won't let you off easy either. Light magic isn't always nice."

"WHAT?"

"I'm, just joking with you. But really, you certainly didn't choose an easy path here."

Neal started leading a very nervous Leif down the corridors towards the library. Neither of them had any clue what they were about to walk into.