Chapter Twelve
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths!
Gah! I'm so sorry about the delay you guys—i had hoped to get this published earlier in the week but then I just hit a wall around the 1k mark which led to me writing the final chapter for Because People and yeah, apologies there!
And yeah, I know it's kinda another fluffy chapter—consider it me making up for the utter angst that Half and Half is going through lol :D
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Yeah I was smiling as I was writing it because of how cute that image was!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Yep, Jay and Uma in the house (or on the Isle as you put it) :D And of course Hades knows how to spar with the kids! He's lived with them for years how could he not?
danifan3000: Yep, Dizzy and Jade are sisters :D Well Freddie and Uma would be princesses anyway since Ursula is the sister of Triton. Though they'd never go by that title :D
Bluebird: Yep, Mal's on the way! :D
BriarEvans: I'm so glad you're enjoying this story! To avoid spoilers, I won't say for certain but…you're not far off! :D
twilightgirl587: Hades scarred all of our minds! Of course Mal's going to be in the story! As for the alcohol, well I mean Gaston would find a way to get it! Yeah Esmeralda was 16 in Hunchback at least according to Google! :D
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Hook chuckled softly as he leaned on the doorframe of his daughters' room; trying to spend as much time with them as he could as to not make them feel neglected during Milah's pregnancy. But alas he found them in the middle of a spar and he certainly didn't want to interrupt as the two of them went around their room with their wooden swords.
Yes, despite the numerous rooms in the Underworld, his daughters shared a room. It had started as Milah not wanting Lord Hades to think that they and the Smees were taking over the Underworld and then grew into the girls not wanting to be apart.
As Harriet would always say, they were twins and twins deserved to stay together.
Ah lassie, it's amazing how much you love your sister, he thought as he watched the girls spar with their wooden swords. You'll be a good Captain someday, as will Jess if she chooses to be. I know I put the importance of being a Captain out there but that's just because that'll afford you the most security on the Isle. No one messes with a Captain compared to a deck hand after all.
"Hiya papa!" Harriet said as she looked over at the door and grinned when she saw Hook, inadvertently pulling Hook out of his thoughts.
"Pay attention Harri!" Jess said before looking over at her father as well. "Hiya papa!"
"Sorry Jessie!"
Hook chuckled again and shook his head. "Your sister's right lassie, while I'm always happy to see you, you need to pay attention to your surroundings when you're in a spar."
"But I was! If I wasn't, how would I have noticed you?" Harriet asked.
"Not the surroundings I was talking about lassie," Hook told her.
Jess nodded. "Papa says the most important rule in sparring is—."
"Stick 'em with the pointy end?"
"No!" Jess shook her head and shot a look at her sister for interrupting her. "It's know your surroundings."
Hook nodded. "That's right lassie. If you know your surroundings, you know what you can use to trap your enemy or pin them to a wall."
"That's not really nice, papa. When I spar with Sammy, we never do that kind of thing," Harriet said with a small frown and Hook had to admit, he was legitimately impressed with how his daughters were still maintaining the spar while talking with him.
Then again maybe he shouldn't be. After all, they were his daughters and if a Hook kid couldn't maintain a simple conversation while sparring, well could they even call themselves a Hook?
"It's not about being nice lassie, it's about survival," Hook told Harriet as he walked over to her. "Your mama and I would rather you be mean to someone who was trying to hurt you then not have you in our lives, just like Sammy's mom and dad want the same thing. It's nice that you two don't want to hurt each other but not everyone will have that mentality."
Gently taking the wooden sword out of Harriet's hand, he turned to face Jessica. "Harriet, look at your sister. Do you see anywhere I could trap her?"
"…I…I don't want to papa," Harriet said, lightly biting her lip as she'd often do if she thought she was going to get in trouble with either Milah or Hook. "I don't want to hurt Jessie!"
"You're not hurting her lassie," Hook said, looking at his youngest though she wouldn't have that title for long. Soon he would be his middle child even if she and Jess were the same age—and that was still rather bizarre for Hook to think about. Was he happy about the child Milah was carrying? Of course! But he'd just gotten used to having two kids thank you! "If you can tell me how I might be able to trap your sister, you'll be helping her."
"How?"
"Yeah papa, how?" Jess asked, her eyes sparking in curiosity.
"Because you'll know how to avoid it in the future," Hades called as he walked past the open door, a basket of laundry in his hands. While the Lord of the Underworld wasn't exactly one for doing his laundry, it was a good way to note how close they were to Lady Persephone's arrival back to the Isle.
Hades would often say, the more chores he could get done before Persephone's arrival, the fewer he'd have to do when she arrived home. Which was always a good thing in his book.
"Oh…thank you Unca Hades!" Harriet called and Hook couldn't help but smile as her face lit up. There we go lassie, you just relax. I'm not going to teach you how to hurt your sister. What kind of a father would I be if I did that? he thought.
"…Jessie's in the corner," Harriet spoke up after a minute and Hook looked over at her. "And you're bigger than her papa so you could just trap her with your body."
"Very good!" Hook said with a smile as Jess scurried out of the corner. "Anything else?"
"Hmm…"
Hook chuckled as he saw where his eldest daughter was now standing and gently tapped the lantern next to him with the wooden sword. "Next important rule of sparring? Face away from the sun whenever you can."
"…What's sun papa?"
"Oh I know! Aunt Steph told us about it! It's the thing that helps her make plants grow," Jess said before Hook could answer.
Hook nodded, trying to ignore how his heart broke slightly at the innocent question. After all, they should be out exploring the seas, feeling the sun on their faces, and being the best pirates anyone could want. But instead they were here, on the Isle. "Exactly! But it can be very bright, especially if you're near the water. Even the tiniest bit of it poking through the clouds can be blinding."
"What are some other rules papa?" Harriet asked as she sat down, crossing her legs under her as she looked up at her father with wide eyes. Hook chuckled and lightly tapped the bottom of her shoe with the wooden sword.
"Always be light on your feet," he told her. "They can't beat what they can't hit after all."
"Mama always says you should stay calm and confident if you're in a fight," Jess spoke up.
"That's a good idea lassie. Did your mom say why you should do that?"
Jess shook her head, causing Hook to smile once more. "It's so you try to intimidate your opponent into giving up without you ever having to actually lift your sword. The right attitude can be a great aid in preventing a fight."
"But I thought pirates like fighting?" Harriet asked and the way she tilted her head almost made Hook chuckle.
Stay innocent like this for as long as you can girls, he thought. I know I probably sound soft even thinking it but seeing you two getting to be kids is one of the few joys I have on this hellish rock.
"Papa?" Jess said, looking up at Hook.
"Yes lassie?" Hook asked, pulling himself out of his thoughts. His children needed him right now, he could think his rather depressing thoughts when that wasn't the case.
"Can you teach us more sparring rules?" Jess asked.
"Yeah, can you papa?" Harriet asked, seemingly ignoring the way Hook hadn't answered her questions as she nodded her head and gave Hook a mega watt grin that somehow always managed to melt Hook's heart. There was no doubt she would be a great Captain…just like there was no doubt that she would likely break the hearts of all the boys on the Isle.
Hook smiled. "Of course lassie. I guess the next most important rule is to have your sword out before you approach, followed by always keep your balance. Make are there's nothing around that you might trip on."
"But isn't that the same as the first one?" Jess asked. "Why have two rules that mean the same thing?"
"You'll have to take it up with the people who made the rules Jess," Hook said with a shrug.
"If you're going to get into a fight, why wouldn't you have your sword out?" Harriet asked. "The person who made these rules sure was silly if he didn't think about it."
"Maybe it was Captain Jack Sparrow!" Jess said, grinning at the thought. "After all, his dad is on the Brethren Court so he's one of the most powerful pirates to roam the Seven Seas! Plus he's pretty silly! Didn't you say that he danced around the deck of his ship singing about having a jar of dirt, papa?"
"Yes, that was the scuttlebutt amongst the crew," Hook nodded.
Harriet tilted her head. "Why would they be talking about Scuttle's butt? That seems kinda rude not to mention none of their business."
"No, they weren't talking about that scatterbrained rat with wings Harriet," Hook said, trying to hold back his chuckles so his daughter wouldn't think he was laughing at her. "'Scuttlebutt' is pirate for 'gossip'."
"And they named it after Scuttle?"
Jess shook her head. "Papa, you might want to just move forward with another rule otherwise Harri's gonna be focused on that all night long."
"Very well lassie," Hook said with a chuckle. "I guess another important rule to think about is always shave your elbows bent close to your body."
"Why" Jess asked.
"So you don't bump them while you're sparring," Hook told her.
Harriet shook her head. "But that's just like the first rule again papa! Are all these rules just repeating the other?"
"Hmm, I don't think so. For instance there's a rule about never turning your back on your enemy. That's not repeating now is it?"
Jess and Harriet looked at each other before shaking their heads.
"See? There you go," Hook said. "Now am I going to actually spar one of you two or am I just going to be talking all day?"
"Me first!" Jess said quickly.
"No fair! I was going to say that!" Harriet pouted.
"You snooze you lose, Harri! Everyone knows that! Right Papa?"
Hook shook his head in amusement before answering his daughter's question. "Your sister has a point Harriet. But don't worry, I promise I'll be able to spar with you too."
"Really?" Harriet asked.
"Pirate's honor," Hook nodded. Truthfully he was more than a little thankful about the fact that they'd moved on from the sword fighting rules since the next rule that he knew he hadn't covered was 'keep your empty hand out of the way'.
A good rule to cover but not one he wanted to address with his young children. Especially as that might have led to questions about his hook.
Not that I'm ashamed of my hook and I'll curse that brat Pan nine ways to Sunday for cutting off my hand but I think the girls are a bit young to hear about that, he thought as he began to spar with Jess.
She was good, there was no doubt about it. Even for how young she was, her skill could not be questioned. However, she was still rather young and Hook might have loved his daughter but he wasn't about to throw a spar—even a friendly one.
"Aw man!" Jess pouted as her sword hit the floor.
"You did well lassie," Hook told her. "I bet you anything with a bit more time and practice, you'll end up beating me."
"You mean it papa?" Jess asked, looking up at Hook with wide eyes.
"Would I lie to you?"
"Mama said that adults on the Isle lie all the time though," Harriet piped up as she stood up. "And it's my turn right papa?"
Hook chuckled. "Well, just to prove to you girls that I will never lie to you, you're absolutely right Harriet. It is your turn."
"Yay!"
The two girls switched places and the spar started once more. However, none of the Hooks noticed Hades watching from the doorframe; a smile on his lips as he watched the father and daughters interact.
It was a nice thing to see, a semblance of Auradon normalcy on the Isle where it was a Cerberus eat Cerberus world outside the Underworld.
…Okay so maybe Auradon wouldn't consider a grown man sparring with young children armed with wooden swords to be normal by any stretch of the word but compared to the rest of the Isle, it was nice to see.
I'm not gong to lie, there's a small part of me that wonders what life would be like if Steph and I had kids of our own, he thought as he watched the match unfold. Would they get to know life outside the Isle or would they be trapped here despite having committed no crime other than being born? Then again, I don't exactly see Demeter being okay with never being able to see her hypothetical grandchild even if I'm sure Zeus would rather just forget I ever existed.
"And what are you thinking about so intently?" A familiar voice whispered in his ear as arms wrapped around his waist.
"Okay, I know I had the day written on the calendar this time," he said with a small smirk as he turned his head to see his wife.
"Honestly Hades, with three young kids around the Underworld, it's understandable that you forgot," Persephone said, gently kissing him on the cheek. "Besides, you were clearly invested in this spar that's going on…why is it going on?"
"Dunno, I tuned in late," Hades told her as he gently kissed his wife on the lips. "How was Olympus?"
"Same old, same old and do you really want to talk about Olympus?"
"You know me so well."
"Auntie Steph!"
Hades and Persephone's attention was drawn away from each other and toward the two girls who had run to the door. Even Hook, who'd been left mid spar, was shaking his head in slight amusement.
"Oh I see how it is," he said with a chuckle. "Welcome home Lady Persephone."
"Thank you Captain Hook," Persephone said, giving the raven haired captain a friendly smile. "I hope my husband wasn't too bad with me being gone."
"Of course not your Ladyship."
"Oi! I'm right here!" Hades exclaimed, causing Harriet and Jess to giggle from their spots hugging Persephone's legs.
"So you are dear," Persephone nodded, kissing Hades on the cheek once more. "Shall we go say hello to the rest of the Underworld?"
"I think that's a good idea," Hades said, looking down at the two girls. "What do you two think? Should we go tell Sammy that Steph's back?"
"Yeah!" Harriet nodded, her eyes lighting up.
"Then go lead the way," Hades told her and all the adults chuckled as Harriet ran down the hall to find Sammy. Wrapping his arm around Persephone's waist, Hades proceeded to follow her with Hook scooping Jess into his arm and joining the procession.
"Welcome home," Hades whispered to Persephone.
"It's good to be home," Persephone whispered back to him before kissing him gently on the lips. "There'll be more where that came from later on…when we can have the door closed."
"Gods I love that the girls know not to disturb us with the door shut," Hades said with a grin. What? It was a very good lesson for them to know.