Disclaimer: I own nothing, just Sarah and other minor characters.

AN – Gets quiet angsty. I promise happy times will come. smiles

Chapter seven - A bond of trust.

A couple of days had passed since Sarah had met James again on the Jolly Roger that morning.

She looked from her room window. The sea looked far away as did the Jolly Roger.

The place where she stayed was in the centre of Ravens town, near a tavern called 'The Rat'. The name was extremely off putting but inside, Sarah saw the pub looked warm and full of hospitality, filled with many drunken clientele.

It had been two days since she had set foot on the Jolly Roger and things had yet to settle. The new world of Ravens town was very different from back with Peter and the lost tribe and in some ways she missed her old home, at least she had know people and had her own routine. Here, she was lonely and as much as she thought James Hook would come and sweep her off her feet and spoon feed her her new life, she was very much mistaken.

When she arrived at her room with an escort, another man came and delivered a large trunk. Sarah saw it contained many garments and material from the Jolly Roger. Delving into the bottom, Sarah noticed the chemise, petticoat and corset awaiting her body. As she had told Betty bluntly she never wore underwear and the new feeling of it confused her and was awkward.

Sarah looked at the trunk finding the stunning gowns. The idea of wearing 'second hand whore clothes' had slightly insulted her, but James didn't really want her wandering around in his coat and neither did she. The coat became a comforter than an item of clothing and she still kept it in her room that James had rented for her.

There was no Betty this time, no one and Sarah had been given instruction to stay close to her room and not to talk to people, whatever that meant. Hours had been filled with boredom. James had paid for meals to be delivered to her room.

She had tried the dresses on once and found only two had fit nicely. The rest had been too complicated for her to cut and stitch back together.

This was her day until a messenger would come and give her instructions for the evening.

The dresses had actually made her smile even though it gave her impressions of James' old mistresses. It made her think of happy times he must have had with these other women which all in all made her quite jealous, even though she didn't admit it to herself.

The new versions of the dresses, tailored for herself had made her smile again making her feel very glamorous as she had in Betty's old dress.

It was obvious that James' taste in woman had been ladies who at least could afford to dress well as there was no peasant or baggy clothing in the trunk.

Sarah took out the corset again and put it on trying to fasten it herself to no avail. She chucked it on the bed and sat on the edge huffing. She wore a petticoat and the chemise, her hair out over her shoulders. She felt a chill and she wrapped her arms around her chest as she noticed the door slightly ajar. She frowned and stood up closing it.

She noticed James' coat and put it on, folding her arms, a sudden comfort reassuring her.

She looked out of her window; the afternoon sun at it's highest before it set.

The whole 'prisoner' thing was beginning to become a joke in Sarah's eyes and it frustrated her. She had wandered once from her room down to the street where the tavern sat, but the prospect of meeting scummy pirates put her off and she ran back to her room like a timid mouse.

The chill had passed and Sarah put her hand out of the open window feeling for the breeze.

That's when she noticed someone standing there watching, looking up at her. A very familiar face or so it seemed.

Sarah pulled off the coat and ran downstairs to the street in her underwear where the man stood leaning against a wall near the main doorway to her rooms.

When she stepped outside she got a shock to see him standing there very close.

"Sarah?"

Sarah looked around the street. Only the merry sounds of the tavern were all that could be heard, no one else was in the street. She pulled the stranger into the ground floor corridor of the rooms and smiled when he pulled his hat off.

"John!" Sarah whispered with excitement.

"Knew I'd find you, but not in your underwear." He laughed. "Actually, when have you ever wore underwear?"

Sarah blushed dismissing his comment.

"Wait." She said bluntly, stepping away from him. "Did Peter send you to find me?"

"No, but I heard you were missing through the lost boys, so I said to them I'd try to find you. It would have looked suspicious if one of the lost tribe came."

"Was it Curly who told you?"

"No."

"Slightly?"

"No, it was Nibs."

"Nibs?"

"Came to see Lilly and I. Told us what had happened recently, about you and Curly and Peter, everything. The new lost girl, how Curly had been banished. He was really concerned."

Sarah stopped him.

"What did he say about me and Hook?"

Johns face was unrecognisable for one brief second but then it melted to concern.

"Nibs told me what Peter had said to the tribe, about how you were kidnapped by Hook, how he took you away."

"Oh how nice of Peter." Sarah said sarcastically. "He told Curly a completely different story!"

"Like what?"

"Said I was well you know… that I was 'with' Captain Hook."

"Oh my God are you?"

"No, well, yes I am, but not in that way! He helped me you know. I got shot and the bullet was meant to be for him. He got me sown up and I'm on the mend." Sarah finished turning her shoulder to him so he could see the healing wound.

John frowned at her then sighed.

"Even though he is a nasty piece of work, he is a gentleman too and I believe you."

"I ran away from Peter."

"Nibs told me. I think Slightly would of but you know how Peter is over him."

"John, do you know if Curly is dead?"

John paused making Sarah's heart race. His face looked glum.

"I don't know Sarah. Lilly and I have been trying to look for him. Thought he may come to the Indian camp, but, well, some of the Indians swear to Peter for an alliance and they like to be on his good side. Accepting Curly would have been fatal to them if he had turned up. Word was told to also banish Curly from the Indian tribe lands if he was seen."

"Oh God, I hate Peter, I do. I don't understand why everyone bows down to him?"

"This is a bit of a change?" John said smirking.

"What?"

"Look at you Sarah, you've changed. Your clothes and your attitude, everything."

Sarah blushed but regained the topic of conversation.

"John, why does everyone obey him?"

"Because they are scared."

"I'm not any more."

"But you were and you still are. I think we all should be."

Sarah looked up to John, knowing his words to be true.

"You're not scared?"

"The man still can't remember my name sometimes, after all these years, why should I be scared of someone who can't remember me? The only name he remembered was Wendy's."

An odd look appeared on Johns face and Sarah couldn't figure it out completely, only that it held anguish.

"It wasn't your fault. You did everything you could." She said sympathetically.

"I miss her so much."

"So does Peter."

"You wouldn't have thought it."

"He did though, it was odd."

"It seems were losing everyone. Michael, Wendy, Nav, maybe Curly?"

The mention of Nav had tugged at Sarah's heart and she felt her throat become tight.

"I know Curlys alive, I can feel it." She said changing her thoughts, trying to find hope somewhere.

"You know why he fought Peter don't you?"

"I don't want to admit it to myself because I just don't feel the same way for him."

John was silent and looked at Sarah with concern.

"I just don't want him to be dead, that's all. He's my best friend he's got nothing now I'm worried Neverland will finish off what Peter started." She finished.

"He's strong and I think he's one of the best we can all have, he's one of the good guys."

"Who's next to go?"

John frowned at Sarah's question.

"Are you sure you should be here John, if Peter finds out?"

"He won't, he's not in Neverland."

"He's not searching for me?"

"He's back in London, supposedly."

"Oh."

"Even if he was here, you know I wouldn't tell him where you are. It was chance that I found you myself."

"Nav would have found me too."

"He was a good man, the best God damn navigator we ever saw."

Sarah looked at John carefully. He had matured, completely over taking Peter. He wasn't as tall or as strong, but John's maturity came from his growing up. He had accepted it and so had Tiger Lilly and they had recently gotten married after being a couple for quite some time. Peter hadn't attended the marriage but Nibs, Slightly and Curly had gone to wish the couple well, John was still a good friend of theirs.

John was welcomed with open arms to the Indian tribe and thus has lived happily ever after with his wife and baby son. He became a good translator for the tribe and helped them with the process of selling goods to Ravens town which they had to offer.

"How's your son?"

"He's very well thank you."

"What's his name again?"

"Michael."

Sarah regretted what she asked but John didn't seem to mind even though she could tell the mention of his dead brother was still painful.

"Do you know what I think sometimes?" John said.

"What?"

"If Neverland wasn't real and that Wendy had never woken me up to come here."

"Do you mean that?"

"No, I don't blame Wendy, look what initially she gave me, the chance to meet Lilly and have a son with her, the most precious thing I have in the world, my family, I never thanked her for that. It was a shock when Peter brought her back to Neverland."

"That has been the only time I've ever seen Peter with a genuine smile on his face, he was truly in love with her."

"Ah, but look what happened. His feelings for her were so strong that it cracked the barrier of his existence. He went mad, started to grow up, the thing that he had worked all his life not to do."

"His being is far too complicated to understand. In some ways I wish Wendy was still alive, Peter wouldn't be the way he is now. Do you hate him for what he did?" Sarah asked.

"What, for killing her?"

"I know I do. He could have grown up and died."

"He was caught in the middle. Love Wendy and grow up with her and commit himself or stay a boy. Wendy cursed him to be in the middle of it all, a young man who needs to have satisfaction with a woman, that's what he is."

"He's a monster."

"No, he's a tyrant."

"John, I have to tell you something. I'm staying here for a while as you've probably guessed. The person who has set me up is, well it's Hook."

John's face paled dramatically.

"No Sarah." He uttered. "He's after one thing. He just wants to take you, physically and then ring you dry for information about Peter." John finished urgently.

"No it's not like that, well not yet. I swear I would never give any information away that could endanger the lost boys or girls you know that."

"I don't know Sarah. Are you sure you not putting yourself in danger."

"Believe it or not he's helping me. He's already saved me in countless of ways. He's not the man he is in the stories. He's different. He's protecting me from Peter. Do you realise what I had to put up with with Peter? The violence, the raping, the abuse?"

"Sarah." John stopped her. "I know, you don't have to explain yourself."

"John, I don't deny that I could be being completely stupid right now, that I'm placing myself in a trap or something, but I have noting else. If I go back, he'll kill me and there'll be another one on the list."

A silence occurred for a brief second between the two as they thought over their words.

"I'll try my best to find out about Curly, but don't hold your breath. Stay safe Sarah."

John embraced her and kissed her forehead.

Sarah found herself relaxing into his hug and welcoming the friendly embrace warmly.

"Love you John." Sarah smiled.

"Don't tell Lilly." He smiled, a small chuckle escaping his lips and hers.

"Listen I'm going to go ok. I'll try and see you soon. Bye."

"Bye." Sarah smiled, sadly watching him go, wrapping himself up and pulling his hat down.

Sarah sighed, feeling quiet empty and lonely walking up to her room.

The view hadn't changed and small figures in the port of Ravens town busied themselves.

Sarah, now knowing that Peter wasn't around decided it was safe to wander. She put on Hooks coat and locked her door making her way out into Ravens town.

It would have taken too long to walk into the Neverland jungle to find anyone so Sarah made her way to one of the highest parts of the town to look around. It was pretty pointless but it made her feel that little bit closer to her friends.

By the time she had got back to her room, the sun had decided to set and the evening brought a steady warm breeze. A woman stood waiting by her door.

"Sarah, I presume?"

"Who wants to know?" Sarah asked cautiously not recognizing the young woman before her.

"I do. I'm Gloria Benson, I know the Captain. He asked me to help you get ready tonight. Figured you'd be useless without Betty, whoever she is? I can see he was right."

Sarah looked at the young woman before her, she was probably late twenties in age but she looked older from her style of make up and clothes. Her vibrant red hair was intricately curled and twisted onto the back of her head. Three large ringlets fell over one shoulder and her breasts were pushed up into her small but plain dress. Never the less it looked painful.

"Well, best get on with it, you look a state." She sneered.

As the stars beamed and the sky fell to a deep midnight blue, Sarah looked at herself in the full length mirror, her own self unrecognizable to her eyes.

Gloria had scrubbed her so hard that Sarah thought her skin would bleed. She had brought as small glass bottle of an orange, cinnamon smell which she placed into the water. She had to admit, it smelt beautiful.

Gloria had dressed her carefully putting her into one of the old gowns, a beautiful red number filled with different shades, crimson and scarlet littered with dark shimmering beads.

A corset had been placed under the dress as well as all the rest of the undergarments which made Sarah feel quite heavy and restricted.

Part of the evening had been devoted into learning to walk in high heels which she did not find amusing.

She found her hair interesting to say the least. It was a copy of Gloria's red locks only this time shorter and blonde.

Her make up had been a bit heavier than Betty's light attempt and Sarah found herself sneezing at the pale powder Gloria put on her skin.

"You look wonderful if I don't say so myself." She gleamed at her model some time after.

During their time together Sarah had found out a little bit about Gloria. The only thing that worried her was if she had been one of James' mistresses or still was. The truth came out thankfully to be told that Gloria was the daughter of the landlord of 'The Rat' tavern near by and was engaged to an 'up and coming' pirate or so she said.

Whoever the hell 'Mighty Jim' was, she didn't know but it made her snigger anyway.

Gloria heard the knock on the door and opened it carefully.

There in all his glory, stood James. Elegant and refined in his wealthy clothes, a trademark he'd carry to his death bed.

Gloria curtsied and let James enter the room.

Candles littered the area, on tables and in scones, giving the room a warm almost amorous glow.

Sarah stayed standing upright until she caught Gloria mouth the word 'curtsey' from the corner of her eye.

Sarah did so and blushed for forgetting her new manners she'd tried desperately to remember. "Good evening Captain."

"Please Sarah, call me James."

James turned to Gloria and handed her a small leather pouch, a few coins clinking in the process.

"That will be all Miss Benson, thank you for your time."

Sarah waited for Gloria to leave before setting her eye level on James.

"Not going to run away again?" James asked in his humour.

Sarah didn't appreciate the comment but replied anyway.

"No."

"Ah good." He smiled. "I thought I might take you to meet some people I know, they live up to the west of Ravens town, a beautiful area."

"Peters gone." Sarah stopped him as if the thought had just sprung into her head.

James looked at her then smiled. "I know."

Sarah frowned.

"One of my crew saw him flying off. But tell me Sarah, how have you come by your own information?"

Sarah froze. She didn't want to reveal that John Darling had seen her this afternoon, jeopardising her safety against Peter, or so it seemed and his safety against Hook.

"The winds changed and the sun had grown colder. His mood sometimes affects Neverland in some ways."

"Indeed. Anyway." James gave her a second look over, resting his gaze on her eyes.

"As I mentioned, if it's alright with you, we'll be going to some friends of mine. I say friends when actually their not. It's just one of the governing bodies in Ravens town who tries to keep peace between piracy and the law and everything else, I commend the man for trying, others have been murdered in his place before hand. I'm a decent man so I thought I'd go along and have a word with him about things, make sure others know I'm on his side, help him out a bit."

"Erm, that's nice of you." Sarah said not really knowing what to say.

James looked closer to her and Sarah clasped her gloved hands in front of her stomach and smiled nervously.

James lent over to her ear.

"Relax." He purred sincerely.

Sarah laughed nervously. "Sorry." She mumbled.

James was amused by her apprehension and felt guilty for doing so.

"Is it me?" He asked with a half smile." Because you weren't like this when we meet on my ship."

"It's a bit of everything I guess. You, the clothes, Peter."

"Sarah if there's one thing I can promise you tonight, Peter Pan will not harm you. He will be dead before he can even think about it."

James looked into her eyes and Sarah smiled.

He moved a bit closer to her, towering over her again breathing her scent in. Stepping back he viewed her, the whole of her. He noticed how the dress had completely changed her stance making her look older. There was a sparkle in her eyes and a permanent blush on her cheeks. He became aware of her breasts pushed tightly together in her dress and how they heaved up and down when she breathed.

"Now, let's go." He smiled offering his left hand. "Our audience awaits."

James had been true to his word when he had said that the place where they were heading tonight was beautiful. The large town house was surrounded by enchanting, prim gardens, filled with tame tropical flowers and bursting water features. Even though everything about Neverland was tropical, Sarah couldn't help but feel that there was also an 'English garden' element to the property's grounds.

Inside the house, there had been greetings and conversation but Sarah mainly kept quiet. James never told anyone the truth about her background, instead making up a story that she had travelled with her family on a ship which had been ambushed leaving her the only survivor off the coast of Neverland. The men believed she was a proper young lady, feeling sorry from the deaths of her family and the loss of her wealth after James added elaborate points and delved into his knowledge of historic names of families in Neverland.

"Ah yes, you know, I seem to recall the name 'Richely', goes way back doesn't it?" One of the men replied, lost in thought and brandy.

The women on the other hand were not so fooled by James, but still gave their Captain their full attention and over powering, dreamy smiles. Sarah couldn't help but notice both their obvious glances at her, their whispering, snide remarks to her and their flirty gestures towards James.

"I'm telling you now Banbury, the piracy law is not followed accordingly. Captain James is right; we have to let them deal in their own affairs for the time or we'll end up dead."

Banbury, the owner of the house, turned to James.

"And you're sure they've gone?"

"For all I know, yes. Chatham's ship hasn't been seen in days. My crew have been looking for it and it's crew. It seemed they scarped, but they'll be back."

"Oh thank God for men such as yourself James. What would we do without you?" Another important looking man said.

"My business is piracy I do not deny it, but if I can help the town and the waves rid of these filthy bastards then I will do so."

"Here, here!" Another man replied.

"Oh James you're such a tease." One of the wives purred low near him, smiling seductively, her husband completely oblivious.

Sarah had to hold her retch.

"Now some more drinks I think!" One of the men called to the group.

A band played and figures danced in large room that held the social gathering.

Many maids walked around with stiff white caps covering their heads, serving drinks to the guests. Sarah caught the eye of one of the young girls who had been standing timidly by an over powering man who had come onto her. The maid's downcast look on her face was a frightened one and she flinched as he touched her hip.

"James." Sarah spoke.

James turned to Sarah, noting the slight alarm in her voice. "Yes?" He asked quietly coming to her side away from the group, women watching his moves all the time.

"Please can you get me a drink, from that maid over there, call her over." Sarah nodded to the young girl.

James looked at Sarah's face, noticing that she didn't take her eyes off the scene. He looked up and saw the maid cowering as a fat, old, man leered over her in a disgusting way.

"You, maid." James called. His voice clear and well spoken.

The maid looked up as did others near. The maid with the man pointed a finger at herself and Sarah nodded eagerly.

The relief on the maids face was visible and she served them drinks and curtsied gratefully to James and Sarah before dashing off to another side of the room.

"It happens." James said bluntly to Sarah before turning back to the large group he had been with.

A few hours had passed and more guests were merry and the same group of people talked on and on, debating everything they could think of. There did come a time when some of the couples parted from the others to dance the town's jigs, but other than that, they mainly stayed in one place and got drunk, much to Sarah amusement.

Sarah found herself adding a comment or two in conversations when James had been whisked off to dance by a swarm of ladies but she mainly stood quiet, her boredom hopefully not showing on her face.

Sarah sneaked glances at James as he flirted with the woman who clung to him viciously. He'd once or twice looked over to her and smiled lightly before carrying on the conversation with his dancing partner.

Once the dance was over he declined many offers for another and walked over to Sarah, the heated looks from woman, venomous.

James took Sarah's arm and she linked it in his. She smiled as he started to walk away from the group to open glass doors onto a veranda.

The night air was crisper than in the warm house and was a pleasant sensation in their lungs.

James led Sarah down some steps onto the path that led into the striking garden.

His steps had become slower as he parted from the house.

"Are you enjoying the evening?" James asked breaking the ice that that froze between them.

"Yes."

"You're a very bad liar." James smirked.

Sarah smiled lightly.

"I'll have to admit, it's not usually this bad."

"I didn't say it was bad, just, from a woman's point of view it's A) annoying and B) boring. I hope I'm not offending you."

James smiled again. "The women?"

Sarah nodded humbly. "But it has been ok, free drinks and music? I'm not going to complain."

"When you've been to one you've been to them all, believe me. And Banbury's wife? Can't keep her hands off other men, knows more than just her husband, if you know what I mean. All the women are like that. They are rich, they are pompous and they have nothing better do to."

"James?" Sarah asked, her tone questioning. "Why aren't you married?"

James stayed silent for a second before answering. "Because I don't trust anyone."

"Really?"

"Mostly."

"Have you ever loved anyone?"

"No."

"What about when you were a boy, did you have a first love?"

James smiled slightly but dismissed it. "I can't remember. Should I ask you now if you've been in love, so young?"

"Yes, well it felt like it, but I'm only in love through my memory now."

"Oh?" a twinge of jealously and curiosity in his voice.

"He's dead."

"I hate to point it out to you but you are very young to be..."

James was cut off by Sarah's words.

"I know, but it felt like it. It felt like it was meant to be."

"How did he die? If you don't mind me asking that is?" James asked his voice softer.

"No…Peter."

James didn't speak, he only looked at Sarah, reading her thoughts and thinking his own.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah well, tell that to Peter."

"I'll talk to him, but I won't be saying sorry to him."

"James, he's a killer. Nav, Michael, Wendy, he killed them all for stupid reasons!"

James was taken back by Sarah's sudden outburst.

"Wendy?" He asked, a look of shock appearing on his face.

"Yeah, Wendy."

"Shame, nice girl, had ambitions. But I thought Peter adored her?"

"To love is to grow up. These things would kill him because they're so powerful. He's banished growing up for so long that when it comes around he can't take it." Sarah sighed loudly in frustration.

"Peter got me pregnant. He raped and next morning I swear, I honestly swear he looked older, his face looked different, and he acted different. He knew he'd changed because he could see it himself and feel it. It was so odd had he's aged so fast, everyone noticed, even the Indians."

"Even me." James spoke hardly moving his lips, his look still concentrated on her.

Sarah looked at James for a second, her face filled with deep anger and sorrow.

"We both figured it was because of the child I was carrying. It was a bond to him, a bond to force him to grow up and take responsibility to care for a child and become a father."

Sarah took a breath and laughed at herself.

"I don't know why on earth I'm telling you this? She said turning from his holding herself.

"No." James spoke quickly touching her shoulder so she'd turn around. "Please carry on."

She looked at his face seeing the genuine concern he had and bafflement that her story had to him.

"Peter didn't want to grow up, he attacked me constantly and made sure I'd never have children again I guess. He thought if the child was gone, he wouldn't grow up anymore and he was right. I was the one too stupid not to run." Sarah put a protective hand on her lower belly, her legs prised together from her thought.

"Wait, do you mean there been more?"

"How do you think Wendy died?"

James' face went blank. His expression was nothing like what Sarah had seen.

"She bled too much and she couldn't breathe very well either, her chest had been crushed. John tried to save her but… he blames himself to this day."

"And what did the lost boys say?"

"Nothing they don't know the truth. They know she died from injuries but they don't know anything else and when it was my turn, Peter came up with a lame excuse and they bought it."

"And let me guess Peter will kill you if you tell the truth."

"John left on his own accord, seeking sanctuary with the Indians."

"But the Indians are on Peter's side?."

"Yes, but John is very valuable to them so they protect him."

"Why did you never run?"

"He'd always find me. I'm not brave, I'm not a fighter. He'd make it so I couldn't leave, give me burdens to look after all the young ones, stay and mother them, just like Wendy and more so. She got it good for a while. He'd never lay a finger on her unless she wanted it. I guess it freaked him out in the end. Wendy was so much into wanting to be a family; I mean a real one, not the games."

"Now I understand, a little."

"Everyone is petrified of him James; they know what he's capable of. And all the time he doesn't give a shit about anything but himself, he has no guilt in his heart." Sarah's voice was starting to quiver.

"Why hasn't he killed you yet?"

"He keeps me alive to remind me of how I nearly killed him. This is my punishment for something he carried out." Sarah held the sob that escaped her throat and closed her eyes.

James stood speechless from Sarah's words. There had been a time when he'd considered himself the cruellest person in Neverland but it seemed there was another, a one more vindictive and merciless than he had ever expected. Who would have thought that the happy go lucking, pretty boy had a the heart of a murder and the soul of a fiend

"I think Curly; the lost boy who saved me, is dead you know…." Sarah cried. "And now, I'll be next."

James could see the visible shiver across her face and his heart told him the only thing to do. Hold her and save her.