Author's Note: Thanks for reading! And especially thanks to clawmachines who has made absolutely amazing fanart based on the characters in this fanfic! That seriously made my life! Reviews are always welcome :) enjoy! Hopefully I'll be able to update quicker than normal over this holiday! Happy Thanksgiving!

"Arabella!" exclaimed Jane, completely shocked.

Arabella immediately pulled away to Hook, aghast to see her parents. She looked down, completely ashamed. Elmer looked vaguely amused at his daughter's reaction. She was clearly young and in love, she had nothing to be ashamed of. Jane, however, was horrified. Not necessarily at Arabella's public display of affection to a man, but the fact that Jane recognized the man. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Hook saw Jane's recognition as she gazed at him and he immediately felt guilty. The wisest thing would have been to talk to her parents before starting anything romantic, but it was too late now.

"Get out of my house," ordered Jane, furious.

"Honey, it's quite common for girls this age to—" started Elmer, but was cut off by Jane.

"This man is Captain Hook," said Jane firmly.

Elmer stopped, and frowned, genuinely concerned. Edmund approached from the living room at the commotion, curious. He glanced thoughtfully at Peter. Peter's face was expressionless as he watched the scene unfold.

"I know who he is," replied Arabella bluntly, "he's different than the pirate you remember…"

"Arabella, this man is bad. He plays tricks, he tricked me as a child, and it seems he's trying to trick you, too. GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Jane yelled at Hook.

Elmer put his hands on his wife's shoulders as James began to feel nauseous. He couldn't believe that once again his past in Neverland was messing up his life now. It was almost too much to handle.

"Good-bye, Arabella," spoke James, realizing there was no way Jane would let him stay and explain, "I'm very sorry for the trouble, Mrs. Price."

"No," argued Arabella, "James, you can stay. Meet my parents."

"I absolutely forbid it," said Jane.

"Papa," begged Arabella, looking pleadingly at her father. Elmer thought carefully before speaking.

"He should leave now. We can discuss this as a family tonight," Elmer said diplomatically.

James nodded his thanks and left the building, feeling extremely nervous and defeated. Would his past follow him everywhere? He began to walk extremely quickly towards his home. He wouldn't be able to get to sleep tonight.

"James!" Hook heard somebody call.

He turned around, and to his shock Arabella jogged over to him, without a coat in the cold weather.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, alarmed.

"I just felt like you needed me. Edmund and Peter can explain you've changed, I don't care. James, you are so important to me. I know we still don't know each other well, but that has to change. You're not Captain Hook, you're a new and much better man. I love you," Arabella whispered.

Tears came to James' eyes, but he didn't want Arabella to see him cry and held them in.

"I love you too," he whispered back, as Arabella smiled.

Arabella grabbed his hands, the first time his new hand touched anything, and looked into his eyes. He looked back, so relieved.

"I want to come with you. Wherever you go," said Arabella, "I'm an adult, I've been for a while. It's time I make my own decisions."

"Then come with me," said James.

He kissed her on the lips, and then led her back to his home.

"Smee!" called James.

"Yes, captain?" asked Mr. Smee, emerging from the upstairs.

"Help me prepare the guest room for Arabella. She needs a place to stay for the night," explained Hook.

Smee eagerly went to the closet to find blankets for the old guest bed, but stopped as there was a knock on the door. Smee hurried over and answered it. James frowned, having no idea who would be visiting them. Could it be Arabella's family? Had they followed him?

"Hi, Mrs. Morris!" exclaimed Smee.

Henrietta Morris was Hook and Smee's neighbor. She was plump, and had lost her husband a few years ago before ever meeting the two former pirates.

"Hello there, Mr. Smee," said Mrs. Morris, smiling, "And Mr. Hook."

"What is it?" asked James, wondering why she had appeared.

"Who is this?" asked Mrs. Morris, walking over to Arabella.

"This is Arabella," introduced Mr. Smee.

"My name is Henrietta Morris," their neighbor replied.

"Why are you here?" asked James, not rudely.

"Well, I saw you enter the home with a young girl, and I think it isn't right that she would stay with you two boys. I know you are both honorable, but something about a young girl with two men just looks scandalous. I would be glad to offer my daughter's old room for her to stay in, for as long as she needs," explained Henrietta hospitably.

"That would be lovely," said Arabella, touched at the older woman's kindness.

Henrietta smiled, and led Arabella out and into her own house. Mr. Smee looked at his former Captain and shrugged.

"She really wanted to stay with us?" asked Mr. Smee.

"Yes," said Hook, "or at least be out of her family's interference."

"She must really like you, then," remarked Smee.

Hook felt extremely happy and a smile creeped onto his lips.

"We kissed. I think she might be the one," said Hook confidently.

"I sure hope so. I couldn't imagine you going through that with anybody else," bumbled Smee, "You deserve to be happy."

"Thanks, Smee," said James, "I think I might go check on Arabella."

"Already? Um, sir," said Smee, immediately looking away rather than admitting to the fact that he might actually be questioning Hook's authority.

"Mr. Smee," said Hook suddenly, "You do not have to listen to me. I am no longer your captain, in fact, I am your roommate. One who is staying in your home. I am planning on moving out soon, very soon, in fact."

"I know, cap'n, it's just… I feel like I've always been meant to follow orders," explained Mr. Smee.

"Smee," said Hook, suddenly feeling sorry for the short man, "You don't have to listen to anybody, but yourself."

Mr. Smee shrugged.

"I've been following orders my whole life. I see no reason to stop now, especially since I've only got a couple of months left," bumbled Smee.

"What do you mean?" asked James, staring at his best friend.

"About two months ago when I went to the doctor I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. I decided I didn't want to get any treatments, as the technology in this world confuses me. I would rather not be distressed, and I am not a young man anymore. I was late in the stage of cancer and the doctor explained I had a low chance of recovery anyway, you see, so I saw no point in trying. I'll be gone in a few months. And Hook, I'm leaving this house to you in my will," said Smee, as if this were a completely casual conversation.

"Smee!" yelled Hook, sounding like his old captain self, "Why in the world would you not tell me this?"

Hook was absolutely furious. Not necessarily at Smee, but the fact that Hook was very close to losing his best friend.

"You were just so concerned about Arabella, I didn't want anything else bothering you. But that seems to have worked out well so I figured now must be a good time," bumbled Mr. Smee.

"Smee! There's nothing you would do? You're just going to let it run its course?" asked Hook.

"I plan on it. I should've been dead now anyway, cap'n. You were the one who needed a second chance, not me, you know."

With that, Smee turned to leave. Hook was absolutely speechless. Mr. Smee having something significant to say? That rarely happened. Ultimately, James was feeling guilty. Ever since he had known Smee, he had taken the little man for granted. Mr. Smee had never, ever complained that entire time. And no matter who Hook was, who he was becoming, Smee was always there for him.

At the thought of life without Smee, tears came to Hook's eyes. And James let himself cry. True, James didn't want anything to do with his life in Neverland, but Smee had been there. Even now, Smee still referred to him as cap'n. James realized not once had he corrected the man.

Perhaps the price of forgetting Neverland was forgetting his best friend. Perhaps this is exactly what Hook wanted. Either way, James realized he could never stop it. All James knew, was that he would miss Mr. Smee terribly. Why could his life never be simple?

Author's Note: I promise I'm not a horrible person for giving Smee cancer. That is all.