26.

Hook opened his eyes, trained to wake up when he needed to, and saw Wendy tucked neatly in his arms, the blanket just covering her chin. He sighed, not wanting to leave her again, but he needed to take care of errands, the dream he had was just to vivid… it most likely didn't help that he could feel himself aging, which attributed to the dream.

It had started off pleasant enough, which actually might have added to the terrifying effect. He was on his ship, Wendy in her pirate outfit- he absolutely adored it- and she was smiling widely as a little child, he assumed it was his, running around on board. Suddenly mermaids, Indians, enemy pirates, fairies, and Peter were all in the scene, angry, bleeding from their eyes, and Wendy and his child were in the middle of it. He ran, he was getting closer to them, everything jumping out of his way. He reached Wendy, fear pounding through him, yet numbing him, and the moment he touched her, he was shoved back to the beginning. Every step he took he aged, years falling onto him like bricks, his knees weakening, his face growing a beard long and grey. His hook fell off, but he kept on going, trudging through an invisible force as Wendy and the small baby were being crushed under the force, piercing screams echoing to him as everyone else laughed. Wendy being pushed, beaten, it was worse than anything he had seen her gone through, and the baby wailing, fully wailing as it watched its mother loose the fight. He screamed her name, and he saw her eyes, perfect, gold, clearly seeing him, and mouthed "help" before being dragged into the crowd one final burst of cries, and she was dead, oh he knew it, he had thought so before, but this time it was true. He was old, his wife was dead, his child would be alone forever, in pain, he was useless, decrepit, done.

He had no perfect words to describe the release he felt when he saw Wendy's face next to his when she woke him up.

He quietly slipped out of bed, getting dressed, he had mastered his hook straps thanks to Tiger Lily's help.

He went around looking for a pen and paper, and slowly Wendy woke up, just barely. Her eyes were still closed when she said his name.

"Yes my beauty?"

"Why are you up?" she said groggy, not even getting out of her comfortable position.

"I didn't mean to wake you. I have a few errands to run today, I'll be back soon."

"You said you'd stay," she mumbled sitting up.

He went over and gently pushed her shoulder down, and she easily consented, still half asleep, "I'm not leaving London. We'll talk when I get back, I promise, but I have to manage a few things first."

"Now?"

"Unfortunately."

She mumbled something and was about to get lost in her sleep again.

"What was that?"

"Careful."

"This coming from you," he chuckled, and then kissed her cheek, "Go to sleep my beauty, I'll see you tonight."

"Shh," she said indicating she would sleep now.

"One more thing," he added, and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry so much. I already love the child."

He left and she fell back asleep.

When she woke up there was a sound of crashing china, and she gasped, "Not the good China? Oh mother will die!"

She ran downstairs, still in her nightgown when she saw Charles.

"Oh," she breathed, "Charles, it's just you."

Charles was unexceptional in the fact that he looked largely like all the other men Wendy had once circulated with. Dark brown hair, large blue eyes, high cheek bones. A sweater on, slacks, it was all the same. He was a nice man though, and she felt somewhat guilty, and when he turned around to see her, he gave a sad smile.

"You poor dear," he said coming over to her and taking her hands, "Having to go through all of this."

She was hesitant, her eyebrows rising, her shoulders leaning away from him.

"Yes…"

"I must admit I am very disappointed, I was looking forward to getting married to the prettiest girl I know. However, I must settle with what has happened."

"Yes!" she said nodding vigorously, "I am sorry Charles, I never wanted it to happen this way."

"Can I see you outback?" he asked kindly, and she nodded, she supposed she owed him an explanation.

"Just a moment," her father said appearing from the kitchen, "I also would like to speak to my daughter."

Charles nodded and went to the back door.

"I approve of that boy," her father said, "I went through the Great War, remember that? All to see my family become happy, and now you're throwing your life away with this… Hook fellow!"

"Stroud father," she whispered.

"It doesn't matter! I know nothing of him; nobody ever considers my feelings around here, what if I don't like him?"

"You're feelings? So we should completely disregard my feelings to whom I marry, so that you may be happy? I love him, I'm happy; I'm going to be a mother! There's nothing else I could ask for."

"He didn't even ask me!"

"We were out at sea, and he asked me," then remembering how he hadn't really asked the first time, she gave a small smile, "I'm sorry you're unhappy father, but I'm not. I've never been happier in my life."

"It doesn't explain anything about how I know nothing about him."

She thought, "He graduated from Eton, he's kind, although he tries not to show it. Attentive, he has the tendency to be funny, when he gets excited his nose twitches… there's so much father! He knows how to take control of a situation, he's assertive, never gives up, I mean the man is so stubborn I think it would cause him great pain to give up on anything!"

Her father looked at her, his eyes softening, "You mentioned nothing about his hand."

"Oh well it's much bigger than mine-"

"His missing hand," her father said interrupting, he had realized that she must truly love him to see past it, to accept it as who he was as if there was nothing unusual about it at all.

"It was an accident," she said stonily, "he doesn't like to talk about it."

"Wendy," her father sighed, "I just don't know if he'll do you good."

John came in, yawning, "Well if it isn't my pirate sister, planning to loot us Wendy?"

"You're not funny John."

"Actually," Michael said coming in, "I thought it was. I mean for John."

"You're all insufferable!"

"Now Wendy," her mother said gently, "Calm down. Don't vex your sister so boys, don't you know it's unhealthy for the baby!"

Wendy sighed, "If you'll excise me, I must speak to Charles."

"Oh," her mother said softly, "Is that wise?"

"I owe him that much mother," Wendy said and left.

Hook came in a few minutes later, looking tired. He surveyed the kitchen and saw Michael eating jam and toast.

Michael seeing Hook enter gave him a blank stare.

"Is she upstairs?" Hook asked, not sure how he should address Wendy to her brother.

"Out back with that Charles man," Michael shrugged, "Personally I don't like either of you."

"I say the same about you and you're brother, but Wendy insists I should let you live," Hook shrugged as Michael's eyes widened in horror. Hook left the boy and went to the back door, and saw Wendy and Charles, obviously arguing. He stood still, not sure if he should intervene or let them sort this out. This Charles man raised his arms above his head and Wendy shook her head in disgust her hands on her hips. How wonderful to see this used on someone other than himself. Charles put his arms down and took closer steps towards Wendy, obviously trying to seem bigger, dominant, but Hook had perfect this trait, and Charles seemed to be leaning awkwardly. Hook put his hand on the knob, not leaving to stop but getting ready to pounce if needed.

Wendy pushed Charles away, who grabbed her arms roughly. Hook swung the door open as Charles began to shake her, and she twisted out of his arms, kneeing him and then very nearly fell back, but Hook was there, his hand on her back to steady her. He then felt his sight turn red.

Wendy grabbed his arm, "James get back inside, I'll handle this."

She held her breath, anticipating his next move. He proved her right by shrugging her off and grabbing Charles by the throat. He pushed him up against the wall, Wendy's voice barely registering.

"James you're over reacting," Wendy said running over and putting a hand on his shoulder, which he shrugged off again.

"If you ever touch my wife again, I'll kill you," Hook growled, his hook pressed against Charles gut.

"James, let him go!"

"I only allow you to live now because she asks me," he hissed lowly so she couldn't hear, "Get out. Don't come back."

Charles gasped for air, and then ran out of the back year, fear in his every movement.

"You didn't have to do that!" Wendy said angrily.

"Sorry, next time I'll let a man bigger than you abuse you. Of course I know you could have handled it yourself, who am I to think I have such a right to interfere, after all I am only your husband and father to your child, I obviously deserve no credit."

Her anger fell, and a half amused and half annoyed look replaced it. Hook was being incredibly sarcastic; his eyes trying to hide the red that threatened to kill Charles.

"Fine," she shook her head, and then taking his hand in one hand and his hook in the other, she pulled him down and kissed his cheek, "Where were you?"

"At the ship and attempting to take care of something personal."

"What was it?"

"Nothing you need to worry yourself about my beauty," he said stroking her hair.

"Oh yes, who am I to have such a right as to interfere? After all I am only your wife, carrying your child."

Hook knew that would come back to him, not in his favor.

"I had some affairs to get in order."

"Like what?" she asked curiously.

"Come; let us go back inside, you need to get dressed."

"James?"

"Inside my beauty," he kissed her head and lead her back into the kitchen and up the stairs to her room.

He went into the hall while she changed, finding it ridiculous to do so, but she insisted that while they were at her parent's house it would be done. Another reason he planned on buying their own home tomorrow. After all, he had much money saved in his account from when he was younger, and then from the many successful raids in Neverland. He was very rich now that he thought about. Rich enough to afford that haircut he knew he would have to get soon. He couldn't look like a pirate forever.

When Wendy came out he kissed her cheek and they walked to the small library in the house.

"Not nearly as impressive as yours but father does try to keep up with his colleagues."

"Sit down Wendy," he said softly and led her to a chair.

"What's going on?" she asked skeptically.

"My ship will be sailing back to Neverland this week," he said quickly.

"Oh," she sighed, "So you are leaving," then it registered, "You're leaving? After what you said, you're just leaving! How could you do this?" her eyes held the anger and she began to stand.

"No, no," he said gently putting her back, "I'm staying with you."

Her breath caught, "But… how?"

"The ship will be back, and I've left people in charge. As true Captain I can call it back when I want," she shrugged, but she saw him wince, "I do keep my word Wendy. I said I would stay while you went through this, and I will."

"And when it's over?" she asked in a small voice.

He sighed, he was behind her chair, leaning over head and playing with a strand of hair.

"I want to find a way to fix this. Bring you back to Neverland and let the child grow there, like Peter did. He arrived as a baby and grew, if I can figure out how then it will all be fine."

"But what if the baby wants to grow?"

"Then when it's old enough to say so I'll find a way for that too," he said determined. He rested two fingers on her throat and they walked down to her chest, not touching her breasts, but walking right by them- for the moment.

"I want to stay with you," he said sighing again, "I don't want us to be apart. When we are you always manage to find trouble."

"It never happened before I met you," she pointed out.

"So the man in the alley?"

"You were there," she stated, taking his hand of her and examining it. It was rough like leather from years of being a pirate, his pinky as big as her pointer finger.

"Hmm," he said, "Well if I could leave you forever I would, I shouldn't need you as much as I do."

She nodded, "I know the feeling."

Thank you all for sticking with me and the story :) your reviews are AMAZING and so helpful. sorry if i havent added as much detail to everything, Im learning as i go along and you guys are great about letting me know, i couldnt ask for better readers! sorry again for the wait. more chapters to come later, sadly the end is near, but its not here yet!