21.
Wendy woke up wrapped in blankets, Hook pressed up against her, still sleeping. She smiled at her husband, and then suddenly stopped. There was sun coming into the cave, and she inhaled horrified, it was morning!
She sat up quickly, knocking Hook over, causing him to wake up cursing.
"Blasted woman, what are you doing?"
"Oh no," she said picking up her still wet clothes, and in a sarcastically distressed voice said, "Perfect."
"I think so," he said grinning at her as she looked up at him and realized she wasn't dressed.
"Oh!" she huffed and pulled a blanket around her.
He rolled his eyes and pulled the blanket off of her, "You're my wife," he stated simply.
She glared at him and rushed to put on her clothes, but they still clung to her as if she wore nothing at all.
"What do you think you're doing?" he said amused as she tried to wring the water out of the bottom of her dress.
"Its morning," she said as an explanation, and seeing that the water wasn't going to come out as easily as she had hoped for, climbed in the water, and submerged herself, thinking that if she was entirely wet it would be easier to make an excuse and say she fell in the water.
"Morning," he repeated, then looking out the mouth of the cave, his eyes widened, "Morning!"
"Exactly," she sputtered, and began to climb out, but Hook reached out and pulled her up, "The boys are going to ask questions."
"Dammit," he said as his opening for the other curses he began to utter.
When dressed, he took her hand and pulled her out of the cave, running to make it to the tree houses before Peter woke up.
"He'll find us," Hook said angrily, and then turned to Wendy, "act like I'm kidnapping you."
"What?"
"For God's sake scream!"
He pulled on her arm violently, and she complied.
Suddenly Peter appeared out of the trees and began to circle the island, and seeing Wendy struggling as she was, called for the lost boys, and dove to the scene.
"Foolish Hook!" Peter laughed, "Let go of our mother."
Hook looked so menacing Wendy almost forgot it was all an act.
"You shouldn't let your Wendy bird loose Pan, remember last time you allowed such a thing to happen? Then you lost all those boys of yours to adulthood, and your little mother. She is such an adult now Pan, how can you stand it?"
Peter frowned, "Let her go."
The boys echoed his commands, and the new Tinkerbell flew around in circles chiming along.
"As you wish Pan," Hook said in a threatening voice, and then giving Wendy's hand a quick squeeze that only she knew about, dropped her hand.
Wendy's eyes did not leave his back as he walked away, glancing over his shoulder just once, but showing the lack of control he really had. The other boys began to cheer loudly, some of them rushing to her skirts and commenting on her wet clothes.
"Peter," she said trying to give him the brightest smile.
"No need to thank me Wendy," he grinned as he floated in the air, some of the boys joining him, "My pleasure."
She didn't know how to respond, but continued to smile, enjoying the boy's company. Then she called Peter back over.
"Peter what if we played a little prank on Hook, just you and I."
Peter glanced over at her, his attention in her hands.
"What kind of prank?"
"Remember the crocodile that ate him?"
"No."
"Well it did," she said trying not to get annoyed or angry, "He has the tail. What if we take it and he thinks the thing is after him again? Then hide clocks all around his room to scare him."
Peter thought on this, not fully convinced, "The clocks… the ticking… I think I remember. His hand!"
Peter began to laugh joyously, "A small prank on Hook it is then!"
"Tonight?"
"Tonight… well its before the full moon, why not? One last time before he's blown out of the water!"
The boys cheered, "Get some clocks men! Build them if you have to, find something that ticks!"
Wendy felt the guilt stab her, but ignored it as well as she could. This was better for every one.
"I'm sorry Peter," she whispered, and then began to follow the boys into the forest.
888
Hook walked in circles, his hand behind his back and clinging tightly to his hook. His eyebrows were knit close together, and every few seconds his eyes would dart to the island. She was there, too far from him, but she'd be back. No matter what, she would be back, he would see to that.
"Captain?"
Hook turned to face Smee who was standing behind him, a nervous smile twitching at his lips.
"What Smee?" he snapped.
"Miss Darling, she's coming tonight?"
Hook squared his shoulders and gave Smee a withering glare.
"I mean Mrs…" Smee became confused, he had married the two under Hook's Christian name, but he wasn't sure if he should call her 'Mrs Stroud' or 'Mrs Hook', the Captain judgmental, one wrong move could bring him down, "Wendy," he finished.
"Yes Mr Smee, with the boy. Make sure the men go to the island to capture the other while I take care of Pan myself. You may stay aboard if you wish," meaning he would.
"Most of the men sir?"
"I don't care," he waved his hand dismissively and left Smee standing alone.
Smee looked back towards the island. He liked Wendy, truly he did, and the whole crew did, but no one more than Hook, though he tried to deny it. Smee had been with him long enough to know that she was the one thing that made him happy, the one thing that could wash away his cruel anger, matching his stubborn nature with her own. He knew less about Wendy, but even so, he could still see her vibrant face light up at the sight of Hook, the man that she use to fear.
It should be a perfect match, yet Smee felt that something was about to unhinge it all.
888
That night Peter held the clocks in his bag, all ticking, and held out his hand to Wendy.
"Ready mother?"
Wendy nodded; tears filling her eyes, these boys would feel betrayed by her. She wanted them to have a family, she wanted to do the right thing, and she knew this was it. But it felt wrong.
"I can't fly Peter," she reminded him.
"Oh that excuse. Tink!"
The foolish fairie flew down to his shoulder where he snatched her up and threw the dust on Wendy.
"Happy thoughts," he reminded her, and taking her hand began to fly.
Peter hovered outside the large window, Wendy clutching his hand for dear life, her happy thoughts falling in and out, making her a clumsy flyer.
"So Hook should be with the men eating dinner below the ship?" Peter asked.
"If his schedule is still the same then yes," she said her voice slightly higher than usual.
Peter grinned, and taking his pocket knife, slid it through the window cracks and lifting it up, unlocked the window.
"How clever am I?" he smirked, and flew into the window, dragging Wendy with him.
They landed on the wood floor Wendy had spent so much time walking around on before.
"Hello Pan," Hook said in a deep voice, his eyes flashing.
Wendy grabbed on to Peter, as if she were protecting him, and Peter tried to shrug her off.
"I'm fine Wendy," he said glaring at Hook.
"No Pan," Hook grinned, "I don't think you are…"
888
"Wendy," Hook put both hands on either side of her as she leaned against the rail, "Don't cry."
"I'm not," she snapped, trying to hide her face behind her hair, the dark night helping her, "I'm perfectly fine."
Hook kissed her ear but she shrugged him off.
"Don't listen to what the boy said," Hook insisted, "You did nothing wrong."
"He called me a traitor," she whispered, "He said I was a horrible mother, that I sealed his death."
Hook exhaled loudly, "It's for the best Wendy. He doesn't know that you're trying to help him, he will eventually."
"What if I'm not trying to help him? We both know I was just trying to help you."
Hook glanced back at his cabin, Peter in the connected room under the floor. The boy had put up a fight, all the while yelling at Wendy. He fought as well as always, but this time he was defeated, this time there was no where to fly, and no one to help him. He was able to make his mark on Hook though, he was cut up, but Wendy looked worse, blows of a different kind.
"It doesn't matter; you are helping him, and me. Just don't cry," he tried again, "I can't stand to see a woman cry."
She pushed him off with her shoulder, and tried walking towards his cabin, "I have to talk to him."
"Wendy," he grabbed her arm, and gave her a hard look.
"James," she said giving him an equally hard look.
"He doesn't want to see you," he sighed, "Why would he?"
The clouds shifted, and the almost full moon sprayed light on the deck, and he saw her watery eyes, the tear stains on her cheeks, even though she turned her head quickly, he saw.
"Fine," she said pulling away.
"Wendy," he pulled her back, and held her against his chest, "I'm… sorry. I wish it could be different."
She nodded against him, letting his arms tighten around her.
"It's hard," she said into his jacket.
"I know," he murmured into her hair, "God, do I know."
Ok I know I didn't show the fight scene, but don't worry, there will be later on