Chapter Five

A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to Disney or the Greek Myths.

Woo, we are cooking with the metaphorical juice today! Another chapter that practically flew from my fingers to the keyboard to the page! Hopefully not all the chapters will go this smoothly or else the story will be over before we can blink! :D

As always thank you so much for your support with this story! :D

Tracie Adams: Yep, Mal's back to normal! I couldn't keep her in the hag form for too long!

Urmimala Hazra: I'm so glad you liked the chapter! Yeah, Harry does care for his sister even if he didn't show it. She's family after all!

Guest: Ask and you shall receive! :D

Snowwhite45: I agree, it would have solved a lot more problems if they had let Harry kill Freddy. Alas, the plot needs Freddy alive for a bit longer.

danifan3000: You know that's an interesting question and one I'll have to think about, Audrey not being able to turn Ben into a beast.

Gigi18: Very true! I guess it's kinda ironic in a way, Uma able to see that Jay's in denial without being able to see that she herself is also in denial!

AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! Agreed it is long overdue! I'm glad it made you chuckle!

billyandkimfan1994: The logic of DCOM's I guess *shrugs*.

AliceCullen3: Oh I'm so glad! :D

twilightgirl587: I think you'll like this chapter! :D

OceanBlueSeaEyes: lol, probably Greek Gods ancient considering who her parents are!

ScoutGinervera: I think you'll like this chapter then! :D

Katie2001: I'm so glad you liked the chapter!

Hope you all like the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D

Harry and Jay walked up the gangplank of the Lost Revenge, Harry feeling as if concrete had been poured into his shoes. Gods, he was just going to talk to his little sister. Why did he feel like he was walking to the gallows?

Oh yeah. Because he had made his sister feel like he hated her. Because he had hated her.

No! Don't think about that, he told himself, gently shaking his head. You think about that and you're going to turn right back around to join Uma and Mal over at Lord Hades.

"You know, it's like every time we see you, you're taking more of our crew," Henry chuckled as he walked up to them as Jay and Harry made their way to the deck.

"They're our crew too," Jay said, shaking his head as he went over to pat Henry on the shoulder.

"That they are," Henry nodded as Jade walked up to them.

"Hey Harry, hey cuz," she said with a grin upon seeing the two boys.

"Hey Jade," Jay grinned back. "Wrestle any more crocs?"

Jade rolled her eyes. "You do that one time and they never let you forget it."

"Because it was a six foot crocodile and you almost drowned," Jay told her.

"Details, details," Jade chuckled and waved her hand as if she was waving away Jay's words.

Harry sighed. "Henry, we've got something the crew needs to know and I need to talk to CJ. Where is she?"

"She should be with Ryan," Henry told him. "They're under orders not to leave the ship though. After what happened with Freddy at Mal's Cotillion, we're pretty positive the Angels are going to go for either the Captains or the under fifteens as payback. I mean, they've been quiet so far but that could always change."

"Right," Harry nodded. Thank Gods I got Harriet off the Isle then, if the Angels are going to target the leaders of our crew or the kids. Wait…the only under fifteens left in the crew are Ryan and…

"Henry, you're positive CJ's still on the ship?" Harry asked, his hand tightening around his hook as if his life depended on it. If some Angels needed to taste his hook, he'd be more than happy to oblige.

"Yeah," Henry nodded. "Jay, go with Jade and let the crew in on what we need to know. I'll take Harry to see CJ."

Jay chuckled. "You've been enjoying the Captain role a bit too much haven't you?"

"Sorry, forgot you were third in command," Henry said, giving Jay a sheepish smile.

"It's okay," Jay told him. "You're the captain after all. You're going to be the one making the orders."

Harry sighed and resisted the urge to tap his foot. Dear Gods, they were burning cloud here!

"Okay, okay, I'm coming," Henry said, as if sensing Harry's annoyance at the delay. The two of them split off and Henry led Harry to where Ryan and CJ were reported to be. Of course when they arrived, they had to pause as they didn't quite know what they were looking at.

"Henry?"

"Yeah?"

"Is Ryan braiding my sister's hair?"

"Looks that way."

"Why is he doing that?"

"I came across the exact same scene you did Harry. I know everything you do."

Harry blinked and then blinked again for good measure. The scene before him didn't change one bit. Ryan was sitting on one of the mattresses in the crew's quarters, CJ sitting with her back to him and letting him braid her hair. It was honestly one of the strangest things he had ever seen and he saw Mal turn into a dragon.

"You realize I'm putting life and limb on the line right now right? What if word got back to Harriet or Harry that I was doing this? Why didn't you ask one of the other girls to do this?" Ryan asked, and Harry realized the younger boy was keeping his voice low.

He probably doesn't want anyone else in the crew to hear him, Harry thought.

"Because you do it better," CJ said. "Besides you know perfectly well that Harriet would just smirk in amusement when she heard and Harry would have to actually tear himself away from Uma and come back from Boreadon."

"He's come back plenty of times, what if he decided to do a surprise inspection?"

"Let me deal with Harry if he randomly shows up. You've been braiding my hair like this for the past few months now. If he's got a problem with it, then boo freaking hoo."

"CJ, he's your brother and he's the First Mate of the crew. I'd rather not be—."

"Ry, for Harry to care about who's braiding my hair, he'd have to actually care about me," CJ stated. "So shut up, relax, and braid."

Henry glanced over at Harry and the redhead could tell that the younger girl's words were almost like a sword to the gut for the First Mate.

"Ahem," Henry said softly but loud enough to get the attention of the younger kids. Ryan nearly jumped out of his skin when he realized the two were standing in the doorway and scrambled to stand up.

"Henry! Mate! How…how long were you standing there?"

"Long enough," Henry said, giving Ryan a small smile. "But Harry here want's a word with CJ so why don't we give them some privacy?"

Ryan nodded. "I'll just…I'll just join Henry and be someplace that's not here."

"You won't have to be gone for long," CJ scoffed.

"And what's that supposed to mean CJ?" Harry asked, crossing his arms but he had a feeling he knew what it meant. After all, Harriet had flat out told him in the limo.

"I think you know exactly what it means Harry," CJ said as she stood up, Ryan and Henry nearly scrambling to get out of the crew's quarters as to provide the two Hooks some privacy. "The only thing I am to you is the Runt, the thing that ruined your perfect life with the Captain, Harriet and mom. Sometimes I'm surprised you even know my name!"

"Of course I know your name Calista Jane! And I may have treated you like that but I'm still your big brother!" Harry shot back before taking a breath to steady his growing anger. Now was not the time for that.

"Look, I'm not going to lie it hurt when you were born and mom died. But after spending time in Auradon and actually having someone to talk to who didn't tell me to just suppress what I was feeling…it was messed up, me blaming you for that. But I was two and just lost my mother—."

"I was born!" CJ shouted. "I was a newborn who also lost her mother, Harry! And without knowing it I also lost my brother! Do you know how much it hurts, to see you and Harriet pal around and you not look at her with distain?! To know you're capable of loving one of your sisters! What did I do? Was it simply because I was born? Because I didn't ask for that!"

"…when I look at you, I see mom," Harry said after a few minutes. "You're mom in miniature CJ, only you're blonde and not raven haired. And in all honesty, the memories I have of her are getting kinda fuzzy. All I know is that I miss her, every day, and looking at you sometimes hurts especially when it gets close to the anniversary of her death."

"At least you have memories," CJ shook her head. "What, did you think I wanted mom to die? You think I wanted the only memories I even have of her to be the ones from the stories that Harriet told me? You think I wanted to have no memories of you looking at me like you cared at all about me? Then again I can count on one hand the number of times you were actually at home rather than the ship or at Mal's! And by the way, the 'anniversary of her death' as you called it is my freaking birthday! How do you think I feel about that?!"

Harry tried, he really tried, but with every word CJ snapped at him, his anger just kept growing and growing. He was going to burst soon, he knew it.

"I was two when mom died CJ!"

There it was, the burst he knew was coming.

"Two years old and I went from having mom to having Harriet, and then after being promised a baby brother by the Captain, you became his favorite. Tell me, how old were you when he told you to stop calling him 'papa' and start calling him 'Captain'? I was six when it happened. You got to keep his affection. You got a familial name, while I got my arse handed to me for trying to hide a picture of mom he was throwing out!"

"You think I wanted his affection?" CJ asked, her eyes wide with shock. "I wanted my brother to not look at me like I killed his favorite person in the world every time he lowered himself to look my way. That was if you were home at all! You went to Auradon and said goodbye to Harriet and barely looked my way except for a brief 'see you runt'!"

She took a breath to try to steady her emotions, knowing there were tears threatening to make their way down her face. "Do you know how many times I've tried to make myself not care about you? Or the number of times I've hated myself because I took mom away? Because…because if we had her, then I'd have you?"

"CJ…" Harry said, his voice soft and without thinking he quickly pulled her into his arms, holding the young girl close. "I am so sorry CJ. You're my baby sister and…and I should have acted like it. Hate me, hate the Captain…hell hate mom. Don't hate yourself."

CJ gave a watery chuckle as she looked up at him. "That person you talked to when you were across the bridge must be a miracle worker. The Harry that was here before you went to Auradon would have told me to keep hating myself. Would have told me that I was right, that you do hate me."

"Maybe I did when I was younger," Harry admitted. "But I was an idiot then. Hell I thought the Captain would love me again if I acted like him and I'm pretty sure he's broken or bruised half my ribs at this point. You're my sister and no matter what happens between us, I will never let anyone hurt you."

CJ sighed. If she really wanted to be spiteful, she could have told Harry that he already had. That the Captain had stormed into her room and slapped her because she wouldn't stop crying one night when she was ten. That the only reason she was crying was because it was coming close to her birthday and the only thing she wanted was Harry there. Something she knew wasn't going to happen.

But she could see the sincerity in her brother's eyes. She had a feeling that Harry was going to keep his word.

"You know why I was around Mal's so much when I was growing up?" Harry asked and CJ shook her head.

"I just thought it was because Lord Hades had good food," she said.

Harry chuckled. "That was part of it but also it was the only place where I felt I mattered. Harriet did what she could but…to go from sitting on the Captain's knee listening to stories about sailing on the Jolly Rodger, or at least that's what Harriet told me they were about, to basically being ignored at best and at worst..?"

"I get it," CJ nodded and Harry sighed.

"After I got the job at Lord Hades' restaurant when I was nine, it just became easier to stay over at Mal's rather than leave and go back home," he said and then shook his head. "Gods, I've gone soft over there haven't I?"

CJ shrugged. "I got pretty emotional there too. Tell you what, you can spar me and we'll pretend we didn't just explode like Boreadon fireworks."

"You know you're going to have to stop calling it that," Harry chuckled as they started to make their way back to the deck. "Seeing as you're going to be living there."

CJ stopped in her tracks and looked at Harry. "What?"

"You heard me CJ," Harry said as he looked at her.

"Harry, I'm a pirate. I don't rub elbows with prissy princesses and pampered princes!"

Harry sighed. "Gods, why do all my sisters say the same thing? CJ, I want you in Auradon with me. You, me, and Harriet. The three Hooklings in Auradon where we belong."

Plus this way the Angels can't get to you if you're across the bridge, he thought. Sure Freddy and Audrey are still a factor but that's two and I can protect you from Freddy easily. I can't do anything if Shayla or Locklyn decide to lob a dagger at you here.

"This isn't because the Angels have put targets on us under fifteens is it?" CJ asked, narrowing her eyes.

"If that was the case, Ryan would be coming too," Harry said.

"Oh wait, is it because I'm a girl?!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Mal and Uma would have my head for that. No, it's because you're my sister and I want to make sure you're safe."

"…spar me for it."

"What?"

"Spar me for it," CJ repeated. "You win, I'll go to Boreadon but if I win, I stay here with Ryan."

"CJ we don't have time for this!"

"Those are my conditions, Harry. Take 'em or leave 'em," CJ stated, crossing her arms over her chest. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose to stave off a headache.

"Oh…what the hell? Jay can tell the crew what we came here to warn them about," Harry muttered. "Fine CJ, I'll spar you. But if I win, you've got five minutes to pack a bag understand?"

"And if I win…?"

"You'll get a lot more letters from me."

CJ grinned and nodded as the two of them went back out to the deck, picking an area that was relatively secluded before drawing their swords.

"You sure you want to do this?" Harry asked.

"Scared you'll lose to your little sister?" CJ teased, a small smirk on her face.

Harry chuckled. "Oh it's on CJ!"

The swords clashed and the two siblings quickly got to work sparring each other. While there was no denying that CJ had gotten better, Harry still had the advantage of two years on her.

"Come on Harry! Are you going easy on me?"

"Why would I do that? I want you in Auradon with me. You're getting good CJ."

CJ snorted. "Look at our family tree! I'd have to cut off my hand in shame if I wasn't at least decent with a sword!"

Harry chuckled before jumping back from an attack from CJ. Before long though, it became clear to the older pirate that CJ was tiring out. With a quick twist of his sword, Harry disarmed CJ and smirked.

"Go pack," he told her.

"I'm pretty sure you cheated," CJ muttered but shot him a small smile.

"If I did it's because I'm a pirate," Harry told her. "Now go on, go pack. Auradon awaits you."

CJ shook her head and slowly made her way back to the crew's quarters where she grabbed a duffel bag. Sure she had stuff at the Captain's house but in all honesty, the Lost Revenge had become more of a home to her than her actual home was. Besides it's not like she had plush toys she yearned for or anything.

Meanwhile, as CJ packed, Harry was on another mission. Where was Ryan?

"Oi Williams! A word?" Harry asked when he finally spited the brown haired boy.

"Uh…sure Harry," Ryan nodded, more than slightly nervous. No one on the crew had ever referred to him by his last name before.

"What are your intentions with my sister?" Harry demanded, glaring at the younger boy.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"We're…we're just friends Harry. I promise!" Ryan told him even if his eyes shone with fear. Well that and I have flirtationship type feelings for her but I'm pretty sure you'd kill me if I said that right now.

"Good," Harry growled before sighing. "You're CJ's best mate, I know she cares about you. I also know that if anything were to happen to you, she'd be devastated. So…don't let anything happen to you."

"Wouldn't CJ know if something happened to me? Seeing as she'd probably be here with me?"

Harry shook his head. "I'm taking CJ back with me. She's packing her stuff right now."

"You know I figured that'd be the case," Jay nodded as he walked up.

"Easier to keep her safe, especially with Harriet across the bridge with me," Harry shrugged and then frowned as he saw Ryan's face. It looked like the other boy had been hit in the stomach and was almost struggling to regain his breath. "Ryan…?"

"I'm fine," Ryan sighed."Good for CJ. Tell her I said good luck in Boreadon."

"Tell her yourself," Harry said. He was not going to have CJ think another guy she cared about hated her.

Ryan nodded, knowing an order when he heard one. Gods, this is going to be torture! I know she deserves to be in Boreadon but…I'll miss her. She's the one who really got me past Kristy's death. But…I know she's wanted this more than anything. Harry acting like a big brother to her…I'll suck it up.

"You ready?" Harry asked, looking over his shoulder at CJ, who came walking up to them.

"Yep," CJ nodded and smirked at Ryan. "You thought I'd leave without saying goodbye?"

"Of course not," Ryan choked out a small chuckle and CJ gave him a brief hug.

"See you soon," she promised. "You'll be part of the next group Ry. I know it."

Ryan nodded and CJ turned to Harry.

"Let's go," Harry nodded and the three of them made their way down the gangplank; Ryan watching morosely from the deck.

Enjoy Auradon CJ, he thought with a small sigh. I'll miss you though.