Disclaimer:I do not own any of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan.

He had told himself he wouldn't search her out when he went ashore that afternoon. Then the time had come to return to the ship. When faced with the path back to the shore, he turned insteadtowards her house. He had watched her only very briefly. She sat watching the sea as the sun made its final dip below the horizon. She sat with her back against the front wall of her cottage.Her arms wrapped around her legs, which were pulled up tightly to her chest. It was a warm evening, but Hook saw her shiver.

"What troubles you so, dear girl?"

He realized he had said these words aloud. It darkened his mood knowing that he wanted to know the answer. He turned around to return to the familiarity of his ship.Captain James Hook was reboarding that ship, assisted by an arm offered by a crewmember.He was being hoisted over the railing when it happened.

The poor man must have overcompensated and the Captain had stumbled awkwardly as he tried to gain his footing on thedeck. The men on board that ship all believed they knew what was to happen next. Those standing nearby looked in horror at the ill-fated crewmate. They all assumed his demise was imminent.

And Hook had drawn back his right arm as to slash the trembling man's throat with the sharpclaw –and then had stopped. His eyes had locked with the other man's for a brief moment and then he had swung his arm upwards instead.

"Get out of my sight you damned idiot!"

The man scrambled to escape striking distance of the hideous claw. He hurried away quickly offthe deck and away from jeopardy.

"All of you! You have work to do, don't you? He yelled at their shocked faces.

Thus began the pacing. With it, the crew fell into a new uneasiness. They knew they should be scrubbing blood from the deck. Instead their Captain was pacing those same boards talking to himself in the growing darkness of night. They wondered what would come next.Finally, after nearly an hour, the Captain answered that question for them.

"I'm going back ashore. I'll need the dinghy again. I want it now."

The crew did not dare make him wait. They worked quickly, and Hook was rowing back to shore minutes later.

James Hook stood in front of the door, uncertain as to what he was really doing there. Hetook a deep breath, only then realizing he had nearly run there after pulling his boat ashore.He looked to the warm glow coming from beyond the window.

"You are stalling, man."

He knocked.

Inside Wendy could not begin to guess who was at the door. She didn't know why anyone would call on her so late.

" Because everyone here follows the rules of proper etiquette? Really, Wendy." She chided herself.

"Hello? Who's there?" she asked in a voice full of forced cheerfulness.

Even though she knew she sounded absolutely ridiculous, she knew her Mother would have been pleased her daughter hadn't forgotten her manners.

"Even though she'd faint dead away if she saw me without my stockings…"

She was smiling at this thought until she heard the voice outside answer her.

" It's James Hook."

"I thought Captain Hook died, how could it be James Hook?" she called through the door.

Was he a ghost? A malevolent spirit that had unfinished business with her? Wendy couldn't detect any malice in his voice…and he certainly sounded real enough. She had to assume he was the living, breathing man himself.

"What kind of pirate would I be if I had let that beast be the end of me?" he paused briefly.

"I know, you were there. I wouldn't believe me either. I wouldn't trust someone who had promised to fling me overboard in front of her children or that business of walking the plank. All I can give you is my word that I mean you no harm Miss."

"And w-what do you want?" she asked, trying to sound unafraid.

"To talk to you." He said sincerely.

Wendy stood poised to open the door. As she reached for the handle she thought fleetingly of finding a weapon…. She quickly scanned the room. She realized the most dangerous thing she had was a sewing needle.

"Deep breath, Wendy."

She took her own advice and then opened the door with a smile.

"Captain Hook." she said politely

"Miss Darling." He replied graciously.

"Please, come in."

Wendy was not sure where her courage was coming from. She knew this man should frighten her. But there was nothing in his voice, or his face, that was suggesting he was there to harm her.

Wendy motioned to a small cushioned stool on which the Captain could sit. He thanked her quietly, and sat down. He looked very large and out of place on the dainty seat. Wendy returned to her own chair and sat facing him.

"It has been quite some time, has it not?" he asked in a very formal tone.

"Yes, several years." She answered.

He was looking directly into her eyes.

"But not so long that you forgot the way." His voice was smooth and even. Wendy looked away.

"Well, it was Peter, actually…" she trailed off awkwardly.

"Yes, of course. I thought that might have been the case. But Wendy, it has been a while. Why are you here?"

"Oh." was all she could manage. It left her mouth in a little 'o'shape.

It was the question she had pushed out of head again and again during the past several weeks. It actually had many variants, and she had pondered them all.

"But, why do you want to know?"

She knew he could hear the fear in her voice, and she was upset she couldn't hide it.

"Let me give you my assurance as a former English gentleman, I mean you no harm." And he offered her a small smile.

Wendy was unnerved. This was stranger, and more unexpected, than Peter's new attitude. There was something very straightforward and honest about him. The whole…flourish about him was gone. His hair was pulled back modestly. His clothes weren't the same fussy ones she remembered; he was dressed very simply.

" Thank you." She said.

"I should thank you. You have no reason to trust my word. If I were you I might not have even let me in. I want you to know I appreciate that you did."

He was struck as he heard his own voice how much he meant what he said.

He lowered his head slightly as he spoke again.

"I'm sorry. I actually shouldn't be here, should I? You see, I have forgotten all those English manners.

He stood to leave.

"Uh, no-I mean, It's all right."

"Well you are polite to say so. It is very late and I should be returning to my ship." He was already at her door.

"Wait," she stopped him as he opened the door. She couldn't help but still look at him curiously. There was something in his face that she just couldn't identify. He looked down at her; she realized he was waiting for her to speak. The words finally came out in a rush.

"I-I don't know why I'm here."

James considered her words.

They brought a smile to his face. Wendy, however, was frowning.

"Oh, I'm very sorry. That was astonishingly rude of me…but"

"But what?" she sounded more than a little irritated by his reaction.

"It seems we have something in common."

"And that's not including that hint of a temper I believe I just saw."

"But-haven't you always…"

"Always been here? No. No, I definitely have not." He shook his head.

Wendy hadn't ever considered that Captain Hook might have had a life outside Neverland. She hadn't really considered anything about the other residents here

"Just what I needed, more to think about…"She let out a sigh.

"Miss Darling, perhaps you would let me join you again tomorrow to continue this discussion. You could tell me of London and I could tell you more about here."

" I wouldn't be opposed to that."

"Then I'll call sometime, late morning?"

"That would be fine."

"Till tomorrow. Thank you again Miss Darling." He gave a very slight bow of his head and turned to walk down the hill.

"Good evening Captain Hook."

Wendy closed the door behind him. She returned to her chair and sat.

It was all rather strange.

"And I thought I was losing my mind before?"

A/N: Forgive me if this chapter seems brief, I wanted it split from what happens next. I promise to try to answer some questions in the next chapter instead of making more.Thanks for reading and reviewing!