20.

Wendy knew the paths she was and was not allowed to take.

When she walked it was almost instinct now, there were paths in Neverland that Hook had said were safe- the only paths she should (he had actually said "you're going to") take. Go off the paths and she was almost guaranteed certain danger, the only time she was "allowed" to walk off was with Peter, and even then she should resist as much as she could.

So it was no wonder why she was heading off the path just then, her chest fueled with renewed anger at Hook. He hadn't done anything, just the fact that Smee had been here talking to her made her angry, and a little ashamed. Before she could get completely lost though, a nervous voice stopped her.

"W-Wendy."

"Charlie?"

She turned around to see him standing under a tree, watching her with too much intent in his eyes.

"Captain sent me," he said grudgingly, "To give you a message."

"He couldn't make it himself then?" she said crossing her arms.

Charlie looked pained, "He's busy."

She shook her head, "What is it then?"

"He wants to meet you tonight…"

"How nice of him," the sarcasm leaked from her words.

"He says it's very important," Charlie rubbed the back of his neck, not looking at her, "He wants you at 'the cave' tonight…"

"Charlie, what's going on?" she asked suddenly worried.

He took quick steps towards her, inches away from her face, "Wendy please, don't stay with him. We can leave together, I love you! He's dangerous, he just views you as something else to own, he'll just take everything you have, he's using you! Please Wendy I'm begging you, please, don't stay with him. I love you, I'll take care of you, we can escape before it's too late."

He seemed so desperate that it scared her, the pleading in his eyes wrapping around her.

"Charlie I-"

His lips clamped down on hers, and she felt as if he was attacking her like a pathetic dog in heat. His lips were chapped, his hands fumbled around her, and she knew none of this was his fault. But there was no connection, she felt as if she was shoved into something wrong. For a few moments she was so surprised all she could do was think, but the moment he tried to part her mouth with his tongue she became alert. Shoving him away, she punched him as hard as she could and he cried out in pain.

Hook's defense lessons always seemed to pay off.

"Don't. Touch. Me."

"I was trying to save you!"

"I don't love you!" she shouted, and then snapped her mouth shut.

"You love him then do you?" Charlie said darkly, his hand clamped over his eye, "Well then maybe you deserve what you get. I was trying to help you Wendy Darling, but maybe you're too far gone."

"Don't talk to me," she said heavily, "We're done here."

She began to walk away when Charlie grabbed her arm.

"I don't want to hurt you," she said in a low voice, "But I will."

"You already have," he said sadly, and dropped her arm.

When Charlie returned to the ship Hook was waiting on deck, his face blank, until he saw the bruise forming around Charlie's eye. Then his face became smug, his plan had worked. The cabin boy was no longer a problem.

Not that he was ever much of a threat.

That night when Wendy came walking down the beach, her bare feet covered in sand, her white cotton dress billowing around her, Hook's breath was caught in his throat. She was so beautiful to him, and if things went right, she would remain this way forever, with him.

"You're looking lovely as always," he said bowing, then taking her hand and kissing the palm.

"You flatter me," she said in a stoic tone.

"You're still mad," it wasn't a question.

"No," she shook her head, and he felt the lie hit his face.

"Yes," he countered, "But your time here is almost over. Soon you won't even remember this."

She gave him a blank look and he sighed.

"Don't be like this Wendy," he said thickly and pulled her closer to him, enveloping her in his arms. She hesitated at first, stiff and pulling back slightly, and then slowly relaxed.

"I'm sorry," she sighed, defeated.

Suddenly he felt the locket pulsing through her dress and into his chest, and he knew now was the time to act.

"You know Wendy," he said carefully, "I've been thinking about you. About us really."

"Us…" her voice was hesitant, he never had mentioned their relationship out loud before.

"Yes. I think the best thing to do, so that I may keep you safe you see, would be to get married."

Her eyes widened in shock and she pulled out of his arms, her whole face in disbelief.

"You're not serious?"

"I never joke," he said shrugging and then grinned, "My sense of humor has dwindled to nearly nothing."

"You want to marry me? Are you drunk?"

He rolled his eyes, "I tell you a simple statement and suddenly I'm drunk."

"Statement," her eyes narrowed, "You aren't even asking me!"

"Is that really necessary?"

"So I have no say in this!"

He blinked, "Well I assumed if you did you would have spoken up."

"This is ridiculous," she threw her arms up in the air and made to leave.

"Not so fast my beauty," he wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her against him, "Is it a crime to marry?"

"You'll tire of me," she said trying to shrug him off.

"I always tire of you, you're particularly exhausting."

"You'll tire of me for good. I'll upset you enough to have you throw me off the damn ship."

He put his lips in her hair, just above her ear and whispered, "Never."

"I'm just something you want to own…" she said remembering Charlie's words, "You only want to marry me because you think it gives you a tighter hold on me."

"Isn't that what marriage is Wendy? Owning one another? Of course I want more claim to you, I never said otherwise. I want all of you, just for me."

"I've told you before; I am not a material thing to be possessed!"

"Is that so bad really," he said lifting her hair and kissing the back of her neck, making her shiver. He felt the vibes and he smiled against her skin, lowering his kisses, till Wendy thought her knees would give out from under her, "Is it really so bad for me to want to posses you? I just want you to myself; you know how I hate to share."

"This is supposed to make me agree? You just want a bigger way to control me."

"I don't want to control you. I'm telling the truth," he muttered against her spine, "I just want you."

Before he could seduce her any more she pulled away, gently, so he let her go.

"You don't know what you want."

"Really?" he raised one eyebrow and then took her small hand in his and bent down on one knee.

"What…?"

"Wendy Moira Angela Darling," he brought the hand to his lips, "Would you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?"

She gasped, and it gave him all the more confidence, he thrived in her gasps. He kissed her palm, letting his tongue graze the skin briefly, and once again the gasp washed over him. He was teasing her with all the affection, they both knew it, and he felt it as her body became weaker with his touch.

"Marry me?"

Slowly her eyes moved from her hand to his eyes, the light blues crashing into her, and then she answered before she knew whose voice was coming out of her mouth.

"Yes."

He stood up quickly, and kissed her, and unlike Charlie's kiss, this was right. It was so powerful that after everything else he had already teased her with, she lost her footing, and Hook caught her, giving a deep laugh in his chest as she fixed herself.

"Not funny," she mumbled, and he pulled her closer for another kiss.

"I find it amusing," he grinned, and then taking her hand, began to walk quickly down the sand.

"Where are we going?"

"To get married my beauty," he laughed out loud, then kissed her again.

"I don't believe you're my James Hook," she said as they pulled away.

"We'll see," he said and pulled harder.

Smee married them, Hook making him Captain (temporarily) so he was able to do so. The moon shone against them, their ankles in the small waves, washing away everything but their adoration, their need, and- Wendy hesitated to think it- love.

After, Wendy kissed Smee on the cheek with a meaningful "Thank you," and Hook took her arm and led her back down the beach.

"Part of the marriage agreement was that you only kiss me," Hook smiled against her ear, and she playfully swatted him away, then pulled him to her and kissed him.

"Better?"

"I will be in a moment," he said in a gruff voice, and her stomach tightened. He swung his arms under her in a swift movement and picked her up as if she weighed nothing.

"James!" she gave a small laugh as he began to walk towards the small cave mouth.

"You have no idea," he said in a ragged whisper, "How badly I need you right now."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his chin, "Then hurry."

He laid her down on a giant pile of blankets behind the rocks in a corner, and giving her an apologetic look said, "I wish it was better…"

"I have you," she whispered and pulled him towards her.

888

"Where's Wendy?" a small voice said loudly into the night.

Peter, who had been sleeping, lifted one eye, "Who?"

"Our mother!" the lost boy said on the verge of tears.

Peter slowly raised himself up and gave a tired glare at the boy, "I was sleeping."

"Wendy is gone!" the boy wailed and pointed to the tree house she had been staying in.

Peter rolled his eyes, "She's probably on one of her late night walks. She suffers from pneumonia," she said exasperated, mixing up the word insomnia with pneumonia.

The boy nodded, rubbing his eyes, "But… I had a bad dream…"

"What are you a codfish or a lost boy?" Peter mumbled, going back to sleep.

The boy sniffed and went back to his tree house, still shivering from his nightmare.

888

Wendy lay against Hook's chest as they relaxed in the warm water. She wore her chemise, although Hook had argued there was no reason to, and Hook wore his trousers, but not until he was defeated by Wendy and her thing layer of clothing.

They were married- married! - but Wendy wasn't sure if she could bring up the subject. It felt almost unreal, and she did not know if Hook even wanted to talk about it, perhaps she was right when she had said he just wanted a stronger hold on her.

As if reading her thoughts he kissed her head, and began running his hand through her hair, "Married to a pirate," he gave his deep chest laugh, "What would society say?"

"Damn society," she sighed, and he laughed.

"Getting a little brash aren't we? You become more like a pirate every day."

"Don't ruin the mood," she grinned, and kissed his neck.

"You're going to leave a mark on my neck, and then what will my men think?"

"That you have a woman in you bed and they only have themselves."

Hook laughed loudly then, louder than she had ever heard him laugh, and still laughing he brought her face to his and kissed her.

"I knew there was a reason I loved you. Please, continue."

Wendy was so shocked b his words she could only stare at him. He seemed to think nothing of it, and continued to play with her hair.

Although to Wendy he seemed perfectly calm, inside he was berating himself for saying anything. His eyes stared intently at the strand of hair in his hand, he knew what he felt, and he couldn't say he liked it, but to let her know as well? Ridiculous, he never let his guard down so easily, and then this girl- his wife! – swipes it down with one movement, and his emotions fall out. This was uncalled for, not allowed, how could he even let this happen, she was just…

That felt good…

His attention was moved to Wendy's lips, moving from his neck, to under his ear, down his jaw line.

"Where," he said in a husky voice, "Did you learn such a thing?"

He was almost sure he heard her giggle, something he didn't even know Wendy was capable of, but if he did she put a halt to the noise.

"Just comes naturally," she said in his ear, and he felt his spine become cold in the best way possible.

"Well," he nearly growled in animalistic want, "I might just have to teach you something new."

She gasped as he held her against the wall, a seductive smile playing around him.

"Unless," he took her hand in his as he pressed up against her, pushing her harder into the wall, "You're scared."

Her eyes narrowed, "I will never be scared of you."

His smile widened, "We'll see."

I think this chapter may have gone a little quickly, even if its longer than usual, but there was so much I wanted to fit in one chapter I was just like, ok go! It is a bit long, I felt like I owed you the reader something for taking so long, haha, hopefully you're still interested in the story. Originally I was going to stop here, but obviously that isn't going to happen. A few more chapters till the end!