A quick A/N – An apology for this taking so long, my 80 year old grandmother had triple bypass surgery and heart valve replacement. She wasn't doing well and we were at one point preparing for a funeral. She has pulled thru and is doing much better now. Thanks for your patience

Also, feel free to email me with baby name suggestions! I think it would be fun to hear some of your ideas.  S.Raven

-4- On the Horizon

Jirel readied herself for bed as the dusk faded into darkness. She felt weary and worn tonight. Hook had insisted upon seeing Bright Eagle and Tigerlily made it to their boat without incident. She knew her husband too well to think he would be back as soon as the ship had departed. In fact, she was certain he would take the opportunity to take the Roger out, claiming he was escorting the other ship on its way.

A grin tugged at her lips. She would have gone with him had it not been for her fatigue today. They had enjoyed the visit from their friends from the island but after two weeks the Indians insisted they needed to return to Neverland. She turned the lamps down as she crossed the room towards the bed. On the table near the balcony doors sat the crystal pendant, the silver knot work in its depths catching in the dim light. Her mouth set itself in a firm line. She had been greatly disturbed by Bright Eagle's announcement that the spirits felt Gabe needed the pendant more than the village. She was glad that it would only be another week and he would be back. She pulled back the cover on the bed and slid down into the sheets. A soft sigh was all the more she managed before she was asleep, her troubled thoughts even being unable to keep her fatigue at bay.

As Jirel had predicted, it was quite late when James Hook returned to the palace. He paused at their door a moment listening for sounds of movement within. Hearing nothing, he turned the knob carefully and slipped into the room, taking care to be silent. A glance around the room told him his wife had retired for the evening. He figured she would, he had noticed how tired she had been all day, despite her efforts to hide the fact.

He slid out of his clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor. He unbuckled the harness for his hook, laying it carefully across the table. A glint in the dim light caught his eye and he looked up to see the protection talisman winking at him. His eyes narrowed. He didn't like that Bright Eagle had brought the princess all the way to Cimmariel to deliver it. It didn't bode well and he knew Jirel was no happier than he was about it

He crossed the room to the bed and stood looking at Jirel as she slept. She looked totally at peace. A smile played on her lips as she dreamed. He reached out and brushed a lock of her hair across her forehead. Leaning down, he lightly kissed her as he whispered. "Goodnight, my love." With that, he circled the bed and slid underneath the covers alongside his wife, the bed being already warmed by Jirel's body.

Jirel was indeed dreaming. She was seeing a fond memory of Gabriel playing out in her mind. Shortly after Gabe had returned from a summer visit to his Aunt's, he had put together a production with the crew. Melody had introduced Gabe to most of the classic Disney films that summer and Gabe had turned into Bob Fosse. Jirel, Captain Hook and Smee were all seated looking at the starboard side of the ship with most of the crew bunched in that area doing their usual chores. Suddenly music cued up with a squeezebox and Gabriel stepped from the center of the group. "Got a whale of a tale to tell ya lads, a whale of a tale or two, 'bout the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved on nights like this with the moon above. A whale of a tale and it's all true – I swear by my tattoo!" The group of pirates all gave him their attention and appeared to be hanging on his every word.

"There was mermaid Minnie…" The crew all clapped twice. "… met her down in Madagascar. She would kiss me…" Clap, clap. "…anytime I'd ask her. Then one evening, her flame of love blew out…"

As Gabe sang the next line of the song several of the crew stood up and fell backwards to be caught by their fellows and tossed back up onto their feet. "Blow me down and pick me up! She swapped me for a trout!!"

This time the whole crew joined in singing the chorus, stepping in a lively jig as they did. "Got a whale of a tale to tell ya lads, a whale of a tale or two, 'bout the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved on nights like this with the moon above. A whale of a tale and it's all true – I swear by my tattoo!"

"There was Typhoon Tessie…" Clap, Clap. "…Met'er on the coast of Java - when we kissed I…" Clap, Clap "…Bubbled up like molten lava. Then she gave me the scare of my young life…" The group of pirates again gathered around him looking again to hang on his every word. "Blow me down and pick me up! She was the captain's wife!"

Once more, stepping their jig, the crew repeated the chorus. Jirel leaned over to whisper to her husband as the routine continued. "When did he find time to teach them this without us knowing about it?"

Hook snorted. "Never mind that, how the hell did he get them to all step in time?"

Gabe once again stepped to the front of the group. The music slowed dramatically as he sang. "Then there was harpoon Hannah…" Gabe had a dreamy look on his face as he spoke. "… Had a look that spelled out danger." He reached to grab hold of one of the men standing closest to him. "My heart quivered, when she whispered…" With a leering grin, Gabe spoke over his shoulder to the pirate standing behind him. "I'm there stranger."

Jirel sat up like someone had stuck her with a pin. "Gabriel!" Hook laughed out loud and placed a hand on his wife's knee to keep her in her seat.

"Bought her trinkets, that sailor's can't afford…."Gabriel held the last note while another pirate repeated the last line in a far deeper pitch, Gabe directing him with an outstretched finger, looking like he was scolding him. Jirel couldn't help but laugh as the pirate slid the note to an extremely low pitch when Gabe turned his wrist to point to the deck.

The speed of the music came back up and the crew fell back in step as Gabe bounced out to what would have been center stage. "And when I spent my last red cent she tossed me over board!" As they whole group said "overboard" they threw their arms out to their sides. To the back of the group, one of the men was smacked across the chest by the two men standing on either side of him, sending him flying backwards over the railing of the ship. Hook, Smee and Jirel moved to get to their feet, but the rest continued as if nothing had happened, singing the last verse of the chorus.

"Got a whale of a tale to tell ya lads, a whale of a tale or two, 'bout the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved on nights like this with the moon above. A whale of a tale and it's all true – I swear by my tattoo!" The last note was held out for several seconds and could be heard coming from the water along side the ship as well. After applause and bows, Gabe scurried down the net alongside the ship to help the man back up onto the Jolly Roger. Jirel remembered leaning over the edge of the boat watching the waves lapping the sides as her son hung onto the rope net. The gentle waves turned, in her mind's eye, to the wake waves of the ship cutting through the water with speed. She straightened up from the rail and looked out over night darkened water. Off in the distance was a dark ship with tattered sails emerging from a fog. The black ship was heading towards them and Jirel felt fear raking across her heart. A howling caught her attention and she looked to see a black and grey island off their bow lit up in the cold moonlight. She looked among the rocks on the shore and saw eyes watching them. One pair of the eyes caught her attention and held her gaze. Try as she might she couldn't pull away. The empty eyes seemed to burn into her soul. Jirel tried to call for help but had no voice. She stood transfixed on the deck as the eyes began moving towards her, seeming to float across the water like smoke. She could feel her nails biting into her palm but couldn't move as the eyes moved ever closer. Now nearly on top of her, the blackness began to swallow her and she let out a soundless scream as she struggled against the oppressive smoky specter.

Jirel heard a scream, at the same time realizing it was her own voice. She fought to untangle herself from her blanket. Her husband was awake and sitting up next to her, trying to grasp hold of her without getting hit by her flailing limbs. He looked at her with concern and helplessness as she sat breathing hard. Her mind was finally working out of the dream induced fog. Hook reached out with his hand to grasp her shoulder. The feel of his warm skin on hers reaffirmed reality for her. She fell forward against his bare chest, wrapping her arms around him with an almost crushing strength. Hook wrapped his right arm around her back and stroked her hair with his hand while he whispered soothingly to her. "Shush, my dove…. It was a nightmare. Just a bad dream, nothing more. Just a nightmare."

They stayed that way for several minutes before Hook shifted to lay back into the pillows. He kept Jirel held against him as he sank slowly backwards. Now reclining, resting against the pillows, he tugged the blanket over the both of them. Jirel, comforted by the sound of her husband's voice, the warmth of his body and the steady beat of his heart beneath her cheek, was soon drifting back into a now dreamless sleep. It was hours before Hook was able to join her in that blissful state. He stared out the window, never ceasing in his absent stroking of Jirel's hair, wondering what it was that seemed to be haunting his wife. First her edgy feelings before Gabe left, then the unease brought on by the arrival of Bright Eagle and Tigerlily, now this horrific disturbance of her sleep. His mind chased itself in circles till the sun was just cresting the horizon. As the sky became tinged with pink, he could no longer fight the exhaustion and sleep claimed him as well.

The sky had clouded over, making the day grey and overcast. Both Hook and Jirel were grateful for the sun being hidden from view. They had slept abhorrently late. They easily would have slept past noon had it not been for the insistent pounding of a page on the door. The couple had woken at nearly the same moment hearing the knocking. Hook glanced down at Jirel, still on his chest. She turned her head up to meet his gaze and they shared a moment of guilty pleasure realizing they were late for the meeting with the new Prime Minister. Hook spared a moment for a gentle caress of Jirel's shoulder before sliding out from underneath her to answer the door. Wrapped in a robe, he pulled the door open so swiftly the page nearly knocked on his forehead. The captain fixed the youth with one of his blackest scowls, knowing the effect it would have on the boy. Jirel tried not to laugh from where she lay sprawled across the bed.

The page couldn't manage to spit out the message he had been sent to deliver. His mouth worked but no sound managed to come out. Hook raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

The page began to fidget. "Um…. Their Majesties… that is… ah… well, I was…."

Jirel took pity on the boy, appearing next to her husband's menacing form. "We realize we are late. Please express my personal apologizes to my parents; we will be along as soon as we are dressed."

The page bowed to her before turning and all but running down the hall. Hook looked at his wife with a quizzical expression as he shut the door. "What did I say?" He asked in a completely innocent tone. The two of them collapsed against the door in a fit of hysterical laughter and slid to the floor. After taking a moment to wipe away tears from the intense burst of laughter the two wrapped their arms around one another. Sitting against the base of the door, Jirel rested her cheek against Hook's shoulder, her hand running up his chest under the edges of the loose robe.

He tipped his head to look at her. Their eyes caught and held. They had both been so occupied lately with different duties and often only had enough energy to curl up in each other's embrace before sleep claimed them. Now being rested from sleeping late, there was an energy sparkling between, a hungry look on their faces. Without thinking, they both moved at the same time, leaning forward to capture the other's lips. Hook reached up to twine his fingers into Jirel's hair, pulling her tighter to him as he teased her lips with his tongue.

Jirel lightly raked her nails across his shoulders then pulled away from him. "They're waiting for us."

Hook grinned at her with a predatory glint to his eyes. "They are just going to have to wait longer then." He didn't let her argue before he leaned to playfully bite her neck.

Prime Minister Nil Zantour was only half listening to the page who was escorting him on a tour through the palace. He knew he was going to get lost several times before he learned where everything was. He knew how to get from his quarters to the Great hall, the kitchen, his office and the suite of the heir-prince. Everything else would come in its own time. He realized he was being given this tour because the princess and her husband were not yet ready for the formal meeting in the great hall but he would have been happier spending the wait doing other things.

Ahead of them, one of the maids was exiting a room she had been cleaning. She was obviously trying to save a trip by carrying far more than she could handle. The page saw several pieces of crockery tipping dangerously and excused himself, sprinting ahead to assist.

Zantour sighed with relief as the boy left his side. He appreciated his effort but he was fast becoming annoying. The page came back towards him with an armload of dishes. He began stammering an apology when the older man cut him off. "Go ahead. I'll wait right here for you."

Looking rather sheepish, the youth followed the maid towards the kitchen. Zantour chuckled to himself and scratched his short cropped beard. A muffled noise caught his attention. He cautiously moved down the hallway towards the sound. He suddenly recognized where he was and was rather surprised the page would have brought him to this wing given the current circumstances. The noise came again. He continued warily down the hall past the suite belonging to the absent heir-prince towards the rooms belonging to the overdue consorts. He only was several feet away from the door when he comprehended what he was hearing. A sly smile spread through his salt and pepper beard and he chuckled knowingly. He remembered such times long ago with his late wife, Kierana. Amusement coloring his features he began making his way back to the Great hall, feeling slightly guilty for the stress he knew he would be causing the page boy.

James and Jirel took their time arriving at the throne room, both of them still feeling euphoric from their lovemaking. The couple didn't give the attendant a chance to announce them and they pointedly ignored the glares from the royals as they entered. Hook pulled out Jirel's chair as the new advisor stood politely, waiting for her to take her place opposite him. He was a tall thin man, almost gaunt looking. There was control behind his movements and James knew he would be more than able to hold his own in a fight, his strength carefully masked by age, fine trappings and a lithe frame. Jirel noticed a smile on the face of the new Prime Minister. It may have been her imagination but there seemed to be an almost knowing look on his face. The introductions were made and some of the more prominent matters of state were discussed. Gabriel's return was brought up and conversation turned into a discussion of his education. The royals were due to have tea with visiting ambassadors so they stood to excuse themselves, a biting comment was made towards Jirel and James about keeping appointments. The pair tried to keep appropriately petulant faces as the elders made their exit.

Zantour chuckled as they left; turning back to Jirel he spoke with a glint in his eye. "There was no harm done," he said as he rose to his feet, "but you may want to consider having a heavy tapestry hung on your door. It will help muffle some of the sound." He winked at Jirel and smiled at the captain before turning and leaving the couple to look at each other in shock and, for the second time that day, burst into laughter.

The week passed quicker than any of them thought possible and suddenly the day Gabe was supposed to return was upon them. Jirel's fits of unease and bad dreams seemed to disappear as the day Gabriel was to return got closer. That morning she, as usual, beat the captain up by at least half an hour. She had taken a bath and was half dressed standing in front of the vanity as he woke. He didn't bother to hide his smile as he watched her. She reached behind her back to pull the material of her slip tight across her front, turning to look at herself in the mirror from the side. He could easily pick out the bulge at her middle but that was because he saw her all the time before it had appeared. To the casual observer, they wouldn't notice her condition yet. After a moment she sat down on the stool and began brushing out her hair. James took this opportunity to push himself off the bed without startling her. He walked up behind her, leaning to kiss her shoulder. "No one will notice yet." She gave him a wry smile as he continued on his way to get dressed, trailing his fingers across her bare skin as he went.

Jirel rushed him and pushed him to get ready so they could be in the courtyard after breakfast. He indulged her in her fussing, knowing he had things well at hand. He had ordered breakfast to be laid out in the garden for the two of them so even through the meal they were outside waiting for their son's arrival. Jirel was delighted with his forethought and settled down to the meal without another word.

They were nearly finished with their food when Jirel's parents appeared out in the garden and asked to join them. The quartet was sipping breakfast tea when the guards called out. Two forms appeared up in the sky and slowly descended, circling the castle towers a time or two as they did. Jirel was on her feet and walking towards the center of the clearing before the pair had reached the second floor windows. The rest of them were close behind her. Gabriel had barely touched the ground when his mother enveloped him in a hug. He stepped back holding his mother at arm's length and smiling before greeting the rest of his family. Peter stayed hovering in the air as the greetings were exchanged. Once they were done, the eternal boy piped up before anyone else had a chance to speak. "I'll come back to see you before your parents leave Cimmariel, Gabe. I need to get back and check on the Lost boys." Without another word Peter streaked off into the morning sky.

Gabe watched him go and then took his pack from his shoulder. He dug a moment before pulling out a lacy cream colored article. He smiled broadly as he walked up to his mother. She looked confused as he handed her the item. "Aunt Mel sends her congratulations. She crocheted you a shawl."

Jirel beamed and hugged her son in thanks, knowing she owed Melody a hug and a visit herself. Gabe watched as his mother wrapped the delicate, lacy article around her shoulders. He suddenly looked far beyond his years as he spoke. "How are you feeling, mother?"

Jirel was taken aback by the question and the tone it was asked in. James didn't let her answer, stepping forward to put his arm around his wife. "Your mother has been, as mothers will do, worrying about you and anxiously waiting your return."

Jirel gave an annoyed look to her husband and reached out to tussle her son's hair. "I'm fine, my dear, but thank you for your concern." Jirel's father cleared his throat and Jirel nodded to him. She put her hand on Gabriel's shoulder and pulled him towards her. "Now we get to go meet your tutor, the new Prime Minister." She raised a hand to shush the protests. "You knew this was coming when you came back."

Gabe looked with askance at his father who, for once, nodded to agree with his mother. Hook would have normally agreed with Gabe on such matters, if for no other reason than to annoy his in-laws, but he wanted to get his son settled into his new routine and take his wife back to Neverland. Perhaps there she would be free of these forebodings and be able be at ease during the rest of her pregnancy.

The king and queen led the group to the offices they had assigned to the new Prime Minister. The old man was seated at his desk when the group entered his office. He stood and bowed from the waist to the royal family. Gabriel stepped forward and Zantour smiled politely. "You must Gabriel." He extended his hand to the heir-prince. The strength of the youth's grip surprised him slightly. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. We won't start your lessons till tomorrow and that will be for only a half day to begin with. We'll concentrate on studying political repercussions of trade first." Gabe tried to hide his sigh. The King nodded his approval and turned to lead his wife towards the door. Zantour watched them go with only his eyes. As soon as the door latched his eyes snapped back to Gabriel's face. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes now, which surprised the boy. "Those lessons will be first on days when the weather is inclimate. What we will be beginning with in the morning is archery lessons." Gabriel looked at his tutor with disbelief. Zantour hid his amusement and continued. "I was going to start with sword fighting lessons but your mother tells me that you have a fair grasp of sword work and simply need to polish your technique. So archery tomorrow then every afternoon thereafter we will be working on either your sword technique or riding skills as long as the weather permits. We will also be spending a great deal of time out in the city. It is important for you to be out learning the practical skills of working with the people and that can't come from books"

Gabe's jaw had nearly hit the floor. "Riding skills?"

Zantour looked a bit confused. "You do go riding with your Grandparents don't you?"

"Well yes, but Grandma insists I still ride something safe for my size."

The amusement sparkled in Zantour's eyes. "She has you still riding a pony doesn't she?" Gabe's disgusted face answered the question better than any words could have. The Prime Minister laughed and looked up at Jirel and Hook. "Do I have your permission to start the boy on a warhorse?"

Gabe whirled around to his parents, an excited look on his face. "Please?"

Jirel smiled and slid her eyes to look to her husband. He beamed down to his son, sending Gabriel into excited bounces around the room. Maybe this whole class and study thing wouldn't be so bad after all.

That evening as Gabe sat in his parents' apartment regaling them with stories of his vacation and passing along well wishes from Jirel's old friends, he noticed his mother was fidgeting with something in her hands. She normally was a rock solid presence, so this was unusual and immediately caught his attention. The hour grew late and they were all fighting to hide their yawning from each other. Gabe rose from his chair to excuse himself. Jirel reached out and caught his hand, pulling him closer to the couch that she and Hook were seated on. Her smile seemed a bit forced to him.

"Gabe, do you remember how when you were little you would use magic to hide little things from me?"

Gabe shot a questioning look at his father, who was also looking at him expectantly, and nodded.

"Can you still do that?"

Gabe was getting uncomfortable with this line of questions and shifted from foot to foot. He nodded again.

With a heavy sigh, Jirel placed an object onto his palm and folded his fingers around it. Gabriel brought his hand closer and opened it to examine the object. What he saw shook him. It was a crystal with an endless knot work of silver embedded within it on a leather thong. Jirel stood and plucked the thong from his hand putting it over his head so the pendant settled above his heart. "While you were gone Tigerlily …."
Gabe's head shot up. "Tiger was here?"

Jirel nodded. "And Bright Eagle. They feel that you are going to need the protection of the pendant more than the village will." She paused to let the implications of the statement sink in. "I want you to always keep this on. Keep it hidden with magic."

The intensity in the room was unnerving to Gabe, it was very seldom that his parents were this bothered by anything, but he nodded. He wrapped his arms around his mother and rested his cheek on her shoulder for several moments before breaking the embrace. He reached out and squeezed his father's shoulder as he walked past, retreating to the quiet of his own rooms for the night.

True to his word he didn't take off the pendant and extended his will with the magic to mask the talisman. Gabriel was finishing his morning archery practice several days after he was given the pendant, when a voice from behind surprised him.

"Well done. A very good shot."

Gabe turned to see his father standing watching him. The boy grinned and laid down his weapon.

Hook walked over to his son. "You've been improving. I've been making a point of coming by while you've been shooting. You're getting quite good."

Gabriel smiled and looked down. He was uncertain how to ask the question that was weighing on his mind. Hook seemed to read it in his son's actions. He reached out to put an arm around the boy and began walking away from the archery range. "Walk with me, Gabriel."

The pair walked down one of the garden paths towards the orchards in silence. Without looking at him, the captain questioned his boy. "What's bothering you?"

Gabe glanced at his father and sighed. "It's just…well… both you and mom… I mean…" He stopped walking and stood a moment to collect his thoughts. He closed his eyes and when he opened them he met his father's eye without flinching. "What's wrong with mother? She hasn't been herself since I got back. Is it just her pregnancy or is there something else going on?"

The captain gave an approving nod to his boy for collecting himself so well and motioned for them to keep walking. "You know your mother has always had a strong intuition about things, I think from her having been the Keeper. She is the only keeper to ever have been able to draw on Neverland's magic after a new keeper had been born. I think in some ways she is still tied to the magic." He looked down at his son as they walked under the fruit trees. "She has been having dreams and feelings, impending danger, foreboding and with Bright Eagle bringing the pendant she feels…"

"…That I am in danger of some kind."

Hook nodded.

Gabriel pondered a moment. "Is there anything I can do to help her feel better?"

The captain smiled down at his son. "You are already doing everything you can."

Several weeks later, the departure of the Jolly Roger was kept very low key, only Gabe and the Prime Minister stood on the dock in plain clothes to bid them farewell. Jirel waved to her son and blew him a kiss from the bridge of the gun ship. Gabe watched as one of the royal guard's ships escorted the vessel out to open water. As they watched the sails unfurl in the breeze, he felt a pang of longing to be with them on the ship. His tutor stood with him till the ship was nothing more than a speck on the horizon, then tapped his charge on the shoulder indicating they should return to the palace.

The pair had walked down to the docks to avoid the added attention drawn by horses or carriages. Now, in the midmorning crowd, walking was the only was they could traverse the streets. Gabe was surprised how many things he was now acutely aware of from his lessons with Zantour, the prices people were calling out for goods and what the markup must be to cover the trade fees, the general look of how content the people in the crowds were, the condition of the markets and buildings. He grinned as he thought about the carefree days he had spent with Peter up till now; they seemed like a lifetime ago.

When they reached the palace, Gabe excused himself, saying he wanted to go down to the stables. Zantour nodded, recognizing the boy's need to be alone for a time. Gabe wandered his way through the palace grounds to the stables. One of the stable attendants asked if he wanted his horse saddled and Gabriel declined the offer. He walked down the rows of stall looking at the assortment of horses kept there. His wanderings took him to a stall containing a dark bay warhorse. A small smile twitched Gabe's lips as the stallion whickered at him. The boy unlatched the door and stepped inside to scratch the horse at the base of his withers, his itchy spot as Gabe had learned in his riding lessons. He stood itching the great horse and listening to the sounds of contented horses in the barn, already missing his parents. Going to visit Aunt Mel was one thing but this was completely another.

The thought of the trip brought an embarrassed blush to his face and he was glad no one but Phantom was around to see it. He had been so sure he could use the magic to keep the cursed ones at bay on the island. The plan had been for the two of them to search through the ruins of the city for the treasure that was still there and bring back piles of the treasure. The stories told quite clearly that the betrayers of the city had been struck down while making their escape but the island had been cursed by a powerful sorcerer whose brother had been one of those thieves trying to loot the famous pirate city. Ever since no person had ever set foot on the island and returned. Except us. Gabe thought wryly. He had ceased in his scratching as he was thinking and now Phantom shoved him roughly with his head, reminding him what he was doing. Smiling at his horse, Gabe resumed the attention and let the thoughts drift away.

It was a bright, warm day in Neverland. Jirel was inside the captain's cabin changing the bed sheets when another loud splash followed by hoots from the crew caught her attention. Gathering the dirty laundry, she headed towards the deck. She blinked as she stepped out into the bright sunlight. A voice called out to her from above.

"Mom! Watch this!"

Jirel searched the rigging till she found her son on one of the yardarms. He was dripping wet and stood on the very end of the beam facing the mast. He looked down to where his father was standing, waiting for the signal. Jirel walked over to stand next to her husband, her eyes not leaving the boy on the above. Hook spared only a glance at his wife before nodding up to Gabriel.

Quick as a wink, Gabe launched himself in a backwards flip off the mast. As he fell he reached out to grasp hold of a rope and swung across the width of the ship. As he let go of rope and did a half flip so he dove into the water like a diver.

He climbed back aboard the ship to the hollers of the crew. He smiled as they clapped him on the back on his way over to his parents. Jirel frowned at both her son and her husband. "Gabriel, you are going to break your neck!"

Gabe's face fell a moment before his father touched his shoulder and told him to go it again. Gabe brightened and scrambled off to climb the mast again. Jirel softly cuffed her husband. "Don't encourage him!"

Hook gave her a cock-eyed grin. "Well you're the gymnast, you teach him then!" Jirel's comment was cut off by another splash as Gabe landed in the water. Sighing and rolling her eyes she started towards the edge of the ship. She hadn't made it halfway when Gabe's voice came floating up to them. "Mom…Dad…" The uncertain tone in his voice made both the captain and Jirel rush to the railing. There was a trio of mermaids circling the boy. They all took a turn stopping to examine the mark on his shoulder. A red haired mermaid popped out of the water right in front of Gabe and playfully spit water at him. Both of his parents chuckled before turning their attention back to their boy.

The air had suddenly gone ice cold, the sun offered no warmth. Color seemed muted as Jirel searched the water for her son. He struggled through the top of the water calling for help. The mermaids were no longer friendly towards the keeper and were trying to pull him under the water. Jirel leapt into the water near the group and pulled one of the creatures around to face her. Lifeless eyes met hers. A stench of rotting fish filled her nostrils and she could see strips of flesh were missing from the dead mermaid looking at her.

Jirel woke from the dream with a start. She glanced to her side the see if she had woken her husband. He was still in a deep sleep so she sat in the dark for several moments trying to shake the eerie feeling. Deciding she needed some air she quietly got up and plucked her shawl from the back of a chair before heading out to the deck.

Alf Mason was on watch and he nodded silently to her as she appeared on the bridge. She returned the acknowledgement and stood next to the railing looking out across the sea. They had been sailing back towards Neverland for close to a month. This was the first night of restlessness she had had since they left. Smee had credited being back on the water and out of the city to ending her unease. The moon was full and painted silver highlights across the clam water and Jirel sighed as she watched the changing pattern.

She didn't even jump when a strong arm wrapped slowly around her waist and pulled her close to a body behind her. She tipped her head back to rest against her husband's bare chest; he had come out on the deck half dressed to find her. He softly kissed her temple before speaking. "You were dreaming again." She thought it pointless to lie and nodded. Hook wrapped his other arm protectively around her. "I felt you scream. I don't quite know how but I could feel it while I was sleeping."

A small, almost sad smile quirked the corners of her mouth as she relaxed into him. A wind began to pick up and wisps of clouds started to streak across the moon. Jirel straightened as the wind continued to strengthen. Hook stepped forward to stand alongside his wife. Their hair was whipping in the wind and the pirate flag above them snapped like a bullwhip. Jirel turned to look at Hook. His expression mirrored her concern. The wind had a feeling of wrong that they hadn't felt in a long time. Another gust pushed Jirel hard enough she needed to step to keep her balance. Hook stepped forward to catch her. "We need to go back."

Jirel was surprised by the remark but didn't argue as he began barking orders to his crew. She pulled the shawl tighter around her shoulders as she watched her husband get the ship maneuvered around and under way. She looked off on the horizon in the direction of Cimmariel with a heavy, troubled heart.