And Back Again

by actingflicka

Chapter Six

Disclaimer: Ok, this should be really obvious, but just in case, I DON"T HAVE ANY ASSOCIATION WITH PETER PAN! I am not and don't know anybody who had anything to do with the movies, book, or anything else.

Authors Notes: Well, I have taken a break from this fic. A too-long break! Two months! But I now have another story up, and several ideas jotted down. In any case, here is another chapter, and I'll put up another one as soon as I can. I promise.

Still looking for a beta reader; see my profile if you're interested!

Next chapter on the Darling boys, I think, and then another Peter/Wendy. Sounds good.

luv, hugs, and kisses, Kathryn

Captain Hook was subdued, for once. He was sitting in his study, his head in his un-clawed hand, thinking.

The barrier. The barrier. The barrier.

Hook half-wished that he did not realize what the barrier was. It would better if he didn't know and was wondering, than if he knew and was horrified about it.

Smee burst into the room, carrying a case and a washcloth.

Smee had the peculiar appearance of a man who has just been caught doing something he would not want to be caught doing. His hair was mussed, his face was rosy red, and his clothes were disheveled and dirty.

"Smee..."

Hook looked at the bumbly man suspiciously. "What have you been doing?"

Smee became even more flushed in the face. "N-nothing, Captain, absolutely nothing at all!"

But Hook was peering intently at him.

"Nothing?" he asked silkily. "You look a fright, Mr. Smee. Indeed, you always look a fright, but today even more so."

Smee wiped his brow. "What do you mean, Captain?"

"I mean, Smee, that you are red in the face, and your clothes and hair look like such a mess I am embarrased to have you on this boat. I would like to know...if you are my faithful servant, as you say..."

Smee was shining with sweat. "I was simply in a rush to bring you the morning's essensals! I am, like you say, your faithful servant!"

Hook raised an eyebrow. "Very well, Smee..." But his voice had an edge to it that plainly showed Smee that his Captain did not belive him.

Smee was quick to change the subject.

"Now, now, captain, here you are. I brought your selection of hooks, you are needing a change from that one, it's become a bit mundane, and a washcloth, you really must wash up, you're stinking up your cabin!"

Smee paused for breath. Hook turned, and without saying anything, motioned for the case. Smee came running forward with the air of a jewler showing off his latest collection to the most wealthy people in town.

Hook selected one of the more plain ones, and then turned to his wash basin. Smee hurredly lathered up the washcloth with a grainy soap, and started to vigorously rub his captain's face.

Hook snatched the cloth and took a swipe at Smee, who leapt back. "I'll do it myself," he snarled.

Smee was dancing from foot to foot.

"Certainly, master, certainly..."

Hook looked up at himself in the mirror that hung over his wash basin. He saw a fcae looking back at him, an old, tired, evil face. "Smee..." he rasped. "What have I become?"

"Pardon, captain?"

Hook turned to him and collapsed into a chair, Smee kneeling beside him.

"Smee, you do know that Pan and I came to Neverland in much similar ways?"

"Why, no, captain, but - "

"Ah, yes. I forgot that you were dreadfully thick." Hook grinned twistedly. "Well then, I must start from the beginning. Well, you see, Pan came to Neverland a long, long time ago, when he heard his parents talking about what he wanted to be when he grew up. At that point, Peter was a small child, apparently his journey started on the day he was born, and he came to be in Neverland some months later.

"At first, Peter was in despair, afraid of growing up, and so he continued to grow up, as is the evil way such things work. His only time that he would truly forget was when he went to London, to sit outside a certain window, and listen to a certain girl tell stories. One night, he accedently left his shadow there, and when he went to retrieve it, he met her. And he became so fond of her that he brought her and her brothers back with him.

"From that day on, Peter no longer had any form of dread, and he stayed young. You see, Smee, Peter Pan then knew the feeling that keeps one young, in Neverland at least. He knew the feeling of love. "

Hook leaned back and closed his eyes. Smee looked at his captain, his round face looking murky and puzzled. "Um, sir?" he asked tentatlivley. "Where are you going with this?"

Hook's eyes flashed open. Within an instant, he had Smee in his cold grasp, holding the point of his hook to Smee's neck. A tiny trickle of blood ran down the man's neck.

"What I am trying to tell you, Smee, is that now I know why I am old, cannot fly. I am...evil. And now I know why. I have not felt love! No one has loved me!"

Smee pulled himself away from Hook's clawed hand. "How, now, master. Calm yourself -"

Hook lunged forward. "I need to have someone fall in love with me! I shall then become young once more...and the barrier..."

"What about the barrier, Captain?"

"The barrier that protects Pan is the barrier of love. As long as Wendy still loves Peter Pan, no harm may come to him. But -"

Hook stopped with a sharp intake of breath.

"What is it, master?"

"That is it! If, by fair means - or foul - we can bewitch Wendy Darling to no longer care for Peter Pan, and then in turn, care for me, all will be right! I shall become youthful, and Pan will no longer have his barrier. If I can kill Pan, I shall! Mark my words, I shall!"

With that, Hook strode to his private stores. Smee was still puzzled.

"But how will you get Miss Darling to do such a thing? You've seen her, she is sickeningly in love with Peter Pan. How will we do a thing like that?"

Hook slammed down his hands, leaving a place where his hooked hand had clawed wood from the table.

"Smee...this is Neverland, is it not?"

"Why yes, captain, it is, but - "

"And Neverland is known to have extraordinary things happen in it?"

"Yes Captain, but -"

"So, I swear that we shall make this happen! You, who are apparently my humble servant, shall find me the strongest substance that can make a woman fall in love with whomever the potion-maker chooses, and you will make it for me, whatever the expense!"

Hook was shaking. He took a calming breath, and spoke again with a delicate stress on his words.

"Do I make myself clear?"

"C-certainly, master..." said a trembling Smee. He turned and ran out of the Captain's quarters as fast as his legs could carry him.

Once outside, Smee slumped against the door. He was breathing terribly fast. His master had almost found out...almost...

But he had no time to dwell on that now. He had to help his master find this substance, whatever it was.

Smee tottered up a level on the ship, and came to a library. He found it unusual that there was a library on Hook's ship; reading was scorned by the captain.

As Smee pushed the door open, it was obvious that the library had not been used in a very long time. The place was dusty and deserted. Smee coughed and looked around.

After a moment of disgusting observance, Smee wandered over to a shelf. He moved through the library, pulling of any likely-looking books and throwing them into the center of the room. Finally he plopped down in the middle of them, and began searching.

Three hours passed. Then four. Five. Smee was aching with tiredness. He had gone through three-fourths of the books, not finding any sort of hint as to a magical love substance. At that moment he was perusing through Secrets and Ancient Wisdom from the Fairies.

His eyes jumped open as he saw it. He eagerly scanned the passage, which read

The fairy secrets are also well-kept when it comes to the trickery of love, though the least-known secret is extremely useful. The fairy dust, which also holds the capacity of allowing an individual to fly, when put into a teaspoon of simmering water and three drops of the nectar from the Neverland flower are added, the mixture can be mixed into any drink or food that the desired reciever consumes, it will cause the reciever to fall in love with whoever created the mixture.

Smee jumped up, tore off a piece of his shirt to mark the page in the book, and sprinted back to the Captain's Quarters. He would show Hook what a true servant he was now...he could even obtain the fairy dust, tell the Captain a story of how he had risked his life to obtain it...

In truth, it would be quite easy to get the magic dust. After all, he was part fairy.

Hahaha! Bet you didn't see that one coming! I've already begun work on the next chapter, which is going to be focused on the Darling Boys and their 'adventures' in the alley. Stay posted!

As always, reviews and flames are welcome!

luv, hugs, and kisses,

Kathryn