I don't own Hook, Smee, Starkey, Skylights or Noodler, but George Fredricks is stolen somewhat from the Weasley twins of Harry Potter (Fred and George), and Lars Ericson is based on my high school band director. And, we have a departure back to the old Hook, the dreaded captain... though not so dreaded, as needing to maintain order.

Rolling Thunder Rose- Glad you liked it, that's one of my favorite's so far. And thanks for the Victorian Era notes.

"Mary, need I remind you- again- that you are a member of my crew and therefore answer to me?" Hook asked the girl, who pretended not to hear him. "You must ask for permission to go ashore, like everyone else, and you can't just leave your duties in the meantime!" Mary whirled around, her hands on her hips, glaring defiantly. "And need I remind you that I refuse to wash the decks if I'm the only one!" Her cheeks flushed in anger as he advanced on her. She threw her fist wildly, he ducking easily.
"They're at it again, mates!" Skylights shouted gleefully from the crow's nest. Smee turned from mending the sails to watch the captain and Mary exchanging blows. In the months- or was it weeks or even years?- since they'd first found Mary on the beach, the arguments between Captain Hook and the lady had grown more frequent. They fought over trivial things, though in this case, the captain's anger was legitimate; he had to maintain order, though he agreed with Mary as well. But he wasn't about to help her sweep the decks, nor say his views to the captain.

"Who d'ya think it'll be this time?" Starkey asked from behind the first mate.

"Honestly, me money's on her. Hook or no hook, the cap'n ain't never gonna win against her. But ye never heard it from me." Starkey nodded, smiling as Mary caught Hook in the jaw, knocking him over. On his way down, he caught himself and kicked Mary's legs from under her. She landed on her back, allowing him to pin her down quite easily.

Mary struggled against Hook, the captain's weight holding her down. He smiled, enjoying the position they were in, making Mary even more furious. She brought her knee up into his groin, getting up and running for the stairs as Hook gasped for breath. Her triumph was short lived, however, as she soon heard the captain running behind her. Before she could reach her room, the captain caught her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder.

"Put me down!" she shrieked, beating against his back.

"You've gone too far this time, my dear..." he yelled back at her. "I know you can be quite reasonable, Mary, but you must learn that I am in charge here. You can't do as you wish. I have to be in command, or I'll have a mutiny on my hands." He carried her down into the brig, tossing her into a cell and locking it before she could throw herself at him. "I'll give you some time to come to your senses." Mary watched after Hook's form in shock, realizing too late- as usual- that she'd made a fool of herself.

"That was quite a show, eh? The look on his face... He'll be walkin' careful for a week!" George Fredricks crowed, his trademark sense of humor overriding his fear of the captain overhearing.

"Pay up, mates," Noodler demanded, gaining him grumbles from his more intelligent crewmates.

"He didn't win, it was a tie! He wasn't doin' too well when she kicked him where it hurts, was he? But he picked her up an' took her to the brig pretty neatly," George reasoned; unfortunately, his reasoning was said while the crew was trying to end the conversation.

"Am I to assume," an icy voice whispered behind George, "that you have been betting on who wins our little fights?" George turned to find the captain behind him, a chilling smile on his face and a red spark in his eyes. Before he could even answer, the hook flashed out and ripped into the man's chest. "The joke's on you, Mr. Fredricks." Hook pulled his claw free and let the body drop. "Clean up this mess, and if I find any of you wagering on this again..." he let the sentence hang, pointing his hook meaningfully at them. They gulped and dragged the body to the side of the boat. Hook went below to the washroom, making it a point to walk past the brig. He rinsed off the hook, smiling as he noticed the almost apologetic look he was getting from Mary. He turned and walked back up the hall and into the brig. He leaned against the cell door, watching her.

"Well? Anything to say?" Mary turned away from him, still too proud to say anything. Hook reached through the bars and pulled her toward him. "You, my dear girl, disobeyed direct orders. You left the ship with out asking, leaving your duties undone, and avoided our search party for three hours... I was worried about you..." Mary turned to him in astonishment. "You could have been captured by the Indians, or Lost Boys."

"I'm sorry, James, I truly am, but I can't take much more of this! I'm always cleaning something, that's all you ever have me do, and I'm tired of it!" Hook pulled over a barrel and sat facing her.

"Really. Well, what did you have in mind? The only thing you've expressed an interest in is pillaging, and we can't do that all the time."

"And what do you do that's so important? I've never seen you lift a finger!" Hook clenched his teeth and stood to face her. She looked him square in the eye, not wavering, knowing she was right. He watched her steadily, his mind racing. There must be something...

"Come on." He unlocked the door and pulled her out and down the hallway. He opened the door to the crew quarters where they found Lars Ericson, the infamous violin player tuning his instrument. "Lars, I have a student for you." The pirate looked her over skeptically.

"This isn't a joke, is it, like when you asked me to teach Noodler to play piano?" Mary smiled in spite of herself; with hands fixed on backwards and no brains to speak of, piano was out of the question for poor Noodler.

"No, she enjoys music and needs something to do. You know what they say of idle hands." Lars handed Mary the violin, which she took carefully.

"Have you ever played?" Mary shook her head and gave back the instrument.

"I'll just leave you to your instruction," James said with a smile. He turned to leave and was surprised when Mary followed him.

"Thank you, James." The captain smiled and pulled Mary close to him. She looked up at him suspiciously, wondering if she was going to be told off again. Then, to her complete surprise, he kissed her, only breaking away when they were in danger of suffocation. James smiled at her shocked expression, and then got one of his own as she kissed him. He pushed her into the wall, holding her close. Mary involuntarily let out a small purr of contentment as she wrapped her arms around James' neck. They pulled apart shakily, trying to compose themselves.

"I should probably go," James said, his hand resting on her waist. She slid her hands down his chest slowly, reluctant to let go.

"Yes, that's probably a good idea." They went opposite ways, Mary back to the crew quarters, Hook back to the wash room.

Smee watched their display from the dining hall, a knowing smile on his lips. He could remember the emotions his captain was feeling; the Neverland hadn't been able to drive them all out. Sometimes, when he closed his eyes, he could see-

"UGLY FAT SMEE!" the parrot squawked from behind him, nearly giving Smee a heart attack. He fired his pistol at the bird, which flew away cackling. Smee shook his head at the beast. What he wouldn't give for a moment's peace... That sentiment seemed to be going around a lot.

Ah, romance! There will be more about Smee's past soon, and more pirating.