AN- Well, well, well, long time no see everyone! I know, I'm a very bad girl for not posting sooner, but I'm glad to say that the epilogue is a story in its own (more like a long conclusion!) with not only one chapter but maybe two or three! And as always, I being the terrible speller that I am, ignore the bad grammar! I hope you enjoy and please make me happy and keep reviewing you beautiful, beautiful people!
I own nothing, I'm just borrowing. All characters and places belong to J.M Barrie except Sarah, Ravens town and other minor characters and places.
Curse of a dead man – part one
A little smile sat on the corner of a beautiful pair of ruby red lips. A smile on a face that was starting look thin and tired. A face covered with thick sun-kissed blond hair that had recently been cut to her jaw line, a face with the odd streak of dirt and sweat on. The face belonged to a body wearing a shabby, faded shirt with buttons missing here and there and a piece of beige cloth to act as a skirt. Bare feet were now not so unusual, as her own leather slippers had been given to Summer as a gift. With all this secret misery, there were things still to smile about every so often; Nibs, the tribe and the babe she was cradling. The corner of one side of the smile grew upwards slightly before turning into a full beam.
A few metres away from Sarah, a young handsome man stood talking animatedly to a group before taking a quick glance behind himself, admiring his lover and his bride.
It had seemed like a short eventful time since Sarah's return to the tribe, but time had past in Neverland and had struck the lost tribe in more ways than one.
Sitting in luscious forestry and jungle, Sarah had taken a moment to sit by a new make shift bamboo table, that held more than a dozen stools for everyone.
The new camp was far nicer than what they'd had for a while. Pan was gone and now make shift huts had been built back into the stronger of the trees, not the tallest ones, just little huts that stood a few metres off the floor for protection against midnight beasts.
Sarah smiled again and took in the chubby face of the blonde little girl smiling up at her face.
"She really is adorable." Sarah called.
"Adorable….and loud and smelly and always hungry and never sleeps argh!"
"Oh Summer no, she's a little angel!" Sarah cooed as she stood up and spoke the last of her sentence in what could only be known as 'baby language'.
Summer stood and put her hands on her hips, unbelieving that her young daughter was giving an 'act' to Sarah.
"I think she needs to get out of the sun and into the shade, is that what we'll do?" Sarah spoke to the child.
Sarah looked back to Summer for her approval and noticed Summers blank stare.
"Summer?"
Summer blinked and tossed the rag style blanket she was carrying over her shoulder, looking over to Sarah.
"Are you okay?" Sarah asked.
It was the worst thing to say.
Summer burst into tears at the mention of the question.
Sarah pulled a worried face that was slightly comical if anyone had been looking to see what had made Summer cry.
Sarah quickly walked over to her friend, one arm cradling the baby and another stroking Summers back.
"Hey, hey. What's wrong Summer, don't cry." She spoke soothingly.
"It's, it's, her." Summer sniffed and pointed at the baby in Sarah's arms.
"Huh?"
"I can't look after her, I, I don't want to. I'm too tired Sarah."
"Well of course you are, you bloody should be you've got a baby!" Sarah said, trying to make a joke but it didn't work.
Summer tears grew louder. "And he bloody never helps, always talking and off with everyone else but me, leaving me with her, all by myself. My breasts hurt, I aches still down there!" She spoke running a hand under her nose and sniffing after pointing at her own lover.
"Awh come here you." Sarah beckoned to Summer, enveloping the shorter girl.
"No one said it was going to be easy. Listen, you know Nibs and I are here to look after you; all of you." She smiled looking down at the child still in her arms.
"In fact we're all here."
"I guess."
"Listen Summer, I'm no expert by any means, but you've been through a hell of a lot. Bloody pregnancy and birth and everything that bloody comes with it you poor girl. If you want to relax that's fine with us, no one is going to judge you. You may feel like you don't want her and don't love her but deep down you really do and you'll see it soon. Getting up every other minute is no fun –"
"But that's it, she's keeping the rest of the tribe up all the time and it's, it's my fault!" Summer blurted out in tears. "It's just lucky we have no Pan or anyone to worry about because she bloody would have given us away and we'd be dead and It'd be all my fault!
"Hey, now listen; it isn't your fault, its nobodies. This is what happens, I think it, it just happens okay. You're a new mother, it's gonna be hard, but you're gonna reap the rewards, you just wait and see!" Sarah finished with a light smile and looked at her friend intensely.
Summer looked very tired and her cheery smile that was once held in the tribe was gone. The round healthy face that she carried was paler and had broken out in blemishes. Something Summer hadn't sported for a long time. The wild fresh curls that bounced on her head were limp and lanky. Summer really wasn't looking good.
"Ladies?" Slightly spoke before noticing his lover crying. "Summer? What?"
Summer sniffed and waved her hand. "It's nothing, really."
Slightly brushed a longer piece of jet black hair from his face showing he didn't look fooled as Nibs joined him at his side.
"Summer are you al-?" Nibs started to speak but stopped worriedly and a little comically.
That was it. It was the final straw. Summer huffed and stalked off to her respective hut with Slightly in tow after he'd given Nibs a puzzled look.
"Hmm?" Nibs wondered, looking in the direction of Slightly and then to the bundle in Sarah's arms.
Nibs took a brief glance around the camp to see if anyone was too near. Sarah rolled her eyes before smiling at her sometimes stupid lover.
"Hey gorgeous, look at you." Nibs spoke in his own 'baby voice' and took the baby from Sarah who smiled and hid her laugh.
Nibs held her up arms length before cuddling her to his chest. "Awh baby come here."
It almost made Sarah choke up a little when she saw the embedded father like figure that Nibs possessed and had grudgingly started to show.
Sarah smiled even more as Nibs brought the baby to his face and the baby girl started to grab for his dark hair which was below his ear lobes. His dress sense fairly relaxed today with an open white linen shirt and three quarter pants, his tan beating everyone else's now Peter was gone.
Nibs blinked and looked over to his girlfriend and caught her looking at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" Nibs raised a quick eyebrow before turning his attention to Slightly's child as she wriggled about.
"Nothing." Sarah repeated before picking up some plates on the table and taking them with her and walking away.
"Sarah?" Nibs called softly.
It was a voice that made Sarah melt but she didn't stop, instead, turning her head briefly and giving Nibs a foxy smile and laughing to herself.
Nibs looked at the baby in his arms and back to Sarah. He repeated this process three times before calling to Spring.
Spring who had grown more confident with her best friend Meg with the absence of Peter, happily walked over to Nibs, winking at Meg in the process.
"Told you he loves me!" She whispered.
Meg just shook her head and laughed.
"Yeah Nibs?" The thin girl asked, her dark hair tucked in a flowery braided.
"Here." Nibs spoke handing the child to Spring.
"What?" Spring murmured, but once Meg saw that Spring had the baby she instantly clamoured over to her friend and started to coo.
Spring suddenly forgot about Nibs as a motherly instinct embedded within her was lit, a spark that suddenly all of the lost tribe had encountered with the arrival of Slightly's and Summer's child.
Sarah wiped the last two dishes and stacked them in the small hollow tree.
"You had a look."
Sarah didn't have to turn around to recognise who the deep voice belonged to.
"I often have that look Nibs. It comes from looking at you and that baby.
"We could try again Sarah."
Sarah sighed and folded the cloth in her hands before turning around.
Sarah half smiled but looked away from Nibs' gaze.
Nibs knew this was a touchy subject with both of them but backed down.
"Peter's wrecked people's lives in more that one way." Nibs muttered.
Sarah knew he was trying to help but sighed again wishing not to think about these kinds of issues.
"Nibs its light still and the evening isn't till later, fancy coming to Ravens Town with me?"
"What you wanting to go there for?"
"I dunno, just a walk. A bit of private time."
The last bit of sentence made Nibs answer a little quickly.
"Mmm, okay. Let me get changed though."
Since the exit of the infamous Captain Hook and the known decease of Peter Pan, Ravens Town had some what relaxed about what could only be remembered as the childish followers of Peter Pan. Now the lost tribe were pretty unrecognisable to many of the overpopulate town. Ravens Town now had other worries on its mind such as the likes of the strangers that seemed to be arriving by pirate ship, every so often.
A hefty walk found Nibs and Sarah at the sandy dunes that stated the arrival of Ravens town. Evening was approaching and the entire place seemed peaceful. The blood red sun was settling on the ocean and the sky around had hints of purple creeping through the orange. Nibs kissed Sarah's temple as they walked hand in hand and she smiled back up to him, a hidden stir in her heart as she looked to the sun and had pictured the majestic Jolly Roger, reminding her of her place in the world and the riches that she didn't have and the dirt she had to live with and…
"Are you okay?"
Sarah frowned and looked up to Nibs blinking. "Huh?"
"Somewhere in fairy land?"
"I don't bloody think so and please don't associate me with Tinkerbell."
The couple laughed and Sarah was glad. Nibs had often seen this strange look on Sarah's beautiful face, unsure whether to invade her thoughts from his curiosity. Opting to not cause an argument, he often kept quiet, a little worried, but quiet.
"Ravens town is lovely isn't it? Sarah asked.
"Well, if you call the port being smelly rotten and the blood flowing down the cobbles, then yes it's wonderful." Nibs replied a little sarcastically.
Sarah felt a little hurt and decided to ignore him.
"What?"
"Well you! You, argh." Sarah sighed.
"John!"
"John?"
"It's John!"
John and Tiger Lily approached the pair, heavy wicker baskets and fur bags filled with trade.
"Hi!" Lily cried.
"Sarah, Nibs." John nodded in greeting.
"Bit of trade there?" Nibs asked looking at the hefty bags they both carried.
"The end of the fall, then beginning of winter, more mouths to feed." John spoke. "And this one for this one." John pointed at Lily and then nodded to her stomach.
"Oh, congratulations!" Nibs replied with a light smile.
"Yes congratulations to you both, that's wonderful news." Sarah said with a wiry smile.
"So what are you both up to?" Lily asked.
"Sarah wanted a walk."
"What here? This place?" John asked.
Sarah replied and Nibs listened until something caught his eye towards the sea.
He left the chatting and slid down the sandy hill to the murky water, curious to the splashing that was obtaining his attention. Reaching the dark water a silvery tail splashed about, joined by another two.
Nibs instantly knew who these beings were and kept his distance on the sand.
"Nibs." A hiss emerged from one of the mermaids who had surfaced as close as she could.
"Yes?" Nibs knew these mermaids or at least knew of them. He knew Peter was fond of these killers though they never touched a hair on his head unless he wanted it.
They knew Nibs because he was legend like, Hook and Peter in their eyes. Men who were pray in more ways than one.
"Tell me it's not true, he really is dead?" A hiss came.
Nibs didn't have to ask and simply nodded.
"Oh Peter…" One whispered softly.
All three mermaids wailed and splashed about in fury. The stir had been seen by John, Lily and Sarah who looked down to the scene, noticing that Nibs was conversing with the creatures.
Sarah made a move to go to him, but John held her arm. Sarah looked back to him with a frown.
"Let him talk alone. They don't talk to anyone and if they do, well, sometimes they know things that we should."
Nibs stayed silent, eyeing the creatures that Peter once claimed to call goddesses.
"Worried?" Another scaly yet beautiful face emerged, she seemed more mature.
"What for?" Scoffed Nibs.
"He's back…." The third one added and smirked before diving back into the water gracefully.
The other two mermaids smirked with her.
"Who?" Nibs asked wearily, a little unsure and less cocky than he was.
"Why only your lover's lover….."
"W-ha…" Nibs spoke before looking in the direction of the mermaids who were looking at Sarah and giggling.
"He's back." One of the mermaids giggled in a seductive way.
"You could throw her to us Nibs, we'll hide her." One spoke maliciously.
They all laughed.
"What do you mean he's back?"
"Hook." The oldest mermaid purred.
Ice flowed through Nibs' veins and he closed his eyes briefly.
"Didn't see his ship did you Nibs."
Nibs looked round to the port and there was no sign of the Jolly Roger.
"No sign of it."
"Your lying!" Nibs spat, trying after to not let them get the better of his temper.
"Back and ship less…."
"And without a lover…."
"Why do you tell me this?" Nibs barked.
All three mermaids looked back to Sarah, then to Nibs and laughed hysterically before diving off into the cool water.
Sarah saw the mermaids leave and looked with confusion as Nibs didn't turn around. Instead he started to walk along the beach.
A slight breeze lifted the dark brown fringe he had been growing and gave way to his pale grey eyes, eyes that simply now held confusion and sorrow. His closed dark blue shirt and black trousers, courtesy of Ravens town and one of its inhabitants who was missing the items, felt confined and wrong to be wearing. Suddenly Ravens town felt intimidating, it was Ja-Hook's domain…and he was back.
He stopped in his tracks as he heard slight breath and the pounding of ones feet on the damp sand.
"Nibs?" Sarah asked concerned, holding his fore arm and moving to face him.
"He's back?"
Sarah shaped her mouth in an 'o' position as if to ask 'who' but stopped as she realised who it must be.
"James?" She asked.
"Hook." Nibs replied a little forcefully than intended.
Sarah's hand dropped from Nibs' arm and she stepped away from him. The sudden move made Nibs frown.
"What?" He asked.
"I-I don't know?" She replied sincerely.
The pair stood quietly without looking at each other until Nibs took the chance to look at his lover.
She really did take his breath away. She may have recently been considerably grubby than she had been in the days leading up to Peter's death, but Nibs was glad to see the dirt. It told him she was part of the tribe, she was a lost girl, the longest living lost girl Neverland had ever been given the chance to clasp eyes on. There must have been a reason why Neverland had let her live on its lushes island for such a long time, she was in itself one of the many jewels hidden around.
Her dark skirt, patched with scrapes of material; an item Wendy had once sowed, was falling off her hips, revealing the thin tanned stomach. It was amazing how a change of life style could dramatically change one's physical state. Nibs had remembered Sarah fresh from Hook and very well. No parts too thin, a slightly more curvier Sarah with no dirt or blemishes or cuts. Every bit of skin had been nourished by fresh water, scented oil and glorious food. Now Sarah had lost everything she had enjoyed. Nibs knew she grinned and bared it; she had to, for the tribe.
Now when Nibs looked at her, he caught sight of the dirt and cuts, the blemishes and the smells, the body odour, the monthly smell, it was something he didn't mind but it was something Sarah wasn't comfortable with. Nibs noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the sigh that escaped Sarah cracked lips.
"Sarah?" He choked as he hadn't realised how dry his throat had become.
"Let's go home, hmm?" She replied in a trance.
Nibs looked at her carefully. He trusted her completely, they shared everything now.
"Sarah? Please tell me what you're thinking?"
"What else did the mermaids say to you?"
"Mmm, they said he was ship less and without a lover."
"A lover? Matilda?"
Nibs was surprised by her speedy response, but then shrugged, trying to show it didn't bother him.
"Ship less, oh Nibs; do you think he's alright?"
The words had come out before anyone could react. Nibs starred at Sarah in devastation and Sarah caught the look.
"Oh no Nibs I didn't mean…. Listen."
But before Sarah could carry on Nibs had started to walk off.
"Listen to me Nibs please!" Sarah cried.
Nibs' heart stopped him in his tracks.
"Nibs, he's ship less, something bad must have happened to him. There are no ties with us anymore, you know that, but if he is in trouble, I owe it to him to help, he did the same for me."
"And more." Nibs' snide comment crept out.
Sarah huffed and rolled her eyes. "Listen Nibs, you know I love you, I do…." Sarah spoke grabbing his fingers and linking them. She released one hand to touch his chest and she ran her palm over his cheek. "…I love you." She whispered sincerely.
Nibs took a deep breath and hugged her tightly, wrapping his strong arms under her arms and pulling her tight to him.
No one else needed to know, but Sarah knew he was crying. It had been a while since he had but the tension he had to deal with about Sarah's past was hitting boiling point. He didn't want to upset her when she mentioned little things, like what she had once eaten or where she had been, or the type of fine things she'd seen.
It was now too hard to hide the fact he was jealous and still jealous of how James Hook had cared for Sarah. He couldn't afford anything; he owned nothing to his name but his soul.
Sarah parted a little and kissed him on his salty cheek before burying her face in his neck.
"I love you too Sarah, it's just sometimes, I think….Ahhh, I know your not like that, you wouldn't, with someone else, but, it's so hard to compete with him, Sarah. I thought I'd won until tonight-."
"- It's not a competition!"
"I know, but until tonight…oh I don't know. I know I'm being silly but…"
"Listen Nibs, nothing is going to take away me from you…unless it's the higher powers or something…" Sarah spoke trying to make light of the conversation, making Nibs smirk and roll his eyes at her stupidity.
"But….But I do want to just see if he's okay. I really do feel obliged and before you say anything it wasn't about the luxury he had or anything. It was the simple fact he saved me and got someone I'll have you add, to stitch me up; I'm alive because of his kind gesture, I think I owe him, truly."
Nibs looked into the vivid emerald eyes and sighed, he couldn't say no to those sparkling pools.
"Do you know which way to go?" Nibs asked