Chapter Six
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.
Hey guys, apologies for the delay in posting this here chapter! Unfortunately, with the original system of rotating every time, it effectively killed my muse by the time it came to updating Small Twists of Fate. Now that the rotation has more or less been killed and I work on chapters as the muse strikes me, updates should be a bit more cohesive. :D
Holy cats you guys! Can you believe we're only 32 reviews away from 100? Thank you guys so much for your support here and I hope you continue to enjoy! :D
Also, I just want to take a moment and address something that's come up: a-person-on-the-internet-75 has been dealing with accusations that they stole my OCs for their fic. I gave them permission to use my characters. My policy with using my OCs is that if you ask me, I'm not going to have an issue with it and they did. However, if in the future, anyone comes across my OCs and it's not noted that I gave permission, just shoot me a PM and I can either confirm I gave permission or check it out myself. But in this case, permission had been granted, given, call it what you will a million times over. :D
Katt Kiki: Thank you so much! That was kinda the reason why I 'killed' the rotation so to speak—just so the other fics didn't get held up by one fic having writer's block. :D
danifan3000: Oh yeah I've heard of those! I actually read the Beast within when I worked down at Disney after graduating form college. I'll have to give the others a try!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! :D Ain't that the truth? Sometimes I wish writing could come before real life but sadly it's the other way around. :D And yeah sorry Milah, but you've got two kids to go but thankfully you've got about three years until the first one and then two more years after that before the second one. So you've got time to forget about the throws of labor :D
OceanBlueSeaEyes: I'm so glad you liked the chapter! I'm sure there'll be those types of chapters too! :D
Anonymous Reader: Yep! I couldn't have a story with the Hooks being part of the focus without baby Harriet :D
twilightgirl587: Yeah Peter Pan really is kinda a brat—hence why I prefer the sequel to the first one since Peter seems less bratty there. :D
LotusQuil: Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I think we'd all like to see Frollo dead ngl :D Oh it amuses me too—I mean I know it's a cliche but one I like! :D
ginnypotter242: I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter! Oh yeah, with no medical records of the birth, there's no way to counter the claim that Harriet didn't have a twin when she was born. As for ages…I'm going to be completely honest here, they're kinda my downfall when it comes to the characters. Claudine/Jess is supposed to be about Henry's age and he's older than Jay. I try to keep them consistent though chances are I changed something for this story. :D
guest: So glad you liked the chapter! Hope you continue to enjoy! :D
IWantColouredRain: So glad you enjoyed the chapter! :D
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Milah smiled softly as she held Harriet close to her, her newborn daughter sleeping away in her arms. Hook looked down at the infant and smiled as well, happy that the lass had survived to be born.
Though he knew Harriet would be able to make it to labor—she was a Hook after all. They were strong and could weather whatever life threw their way.
"You're…you're not disappointed are you?" Milah asked, her soft voice catching the attention of her husband.
"Why would I be disappointed?" Hook asked.
Milah sighed. "You had talked about wanting a son all through the pregnancy. I just thought…"
It was Hook's turn to sigh as he looked at his infant daughter. "I won't pretend like a son would have been a disappointment…but that's only because of how risky the Isle is for girls. You've seen Gaston's girl have to struggle to survive and the lass is only one. She's lucky that the Bimbettes are decent when it comes to family, Laurette and Claudette have been helping out Paulette as best they can."
"But that's only because Gaston won't claim her daughter as his," Milah shook her head. "He works two jobs with being the coach at Dragon Hall and then there's the Duels without Rules…has anyone figured out if it's a weapon's shop or a fight club?"
"Not yet though Smee's been," Hook said. "Apparently it's both from what he said."
"…why was William in there?" Milah asked, looking at her husband.
Hook shook his head. "Apparently it was in the last couple of months of Mollie's pregnancy and Smee needed some extra food. He and LeFou wrestled for a can of beans."
"And he didn't come to us why?"
"A pirate's pride of course! Plus Smee said he didn't want to take food out of the mouth of a pregnant woman."
Milah shook her head. "We could have combined our resources but no matter. We can't change the past and clearly there was no harm done since Sammy and Mollie were both fine after the birth."
Hook nodded, though if it was slower than how he normally nodded, Milah didn't notice. The last thing he wanted to do was worry her by saying that Smee had kept a shark like eye on Mollie for months after the birth.
The last thing the First Mate wanted was for something to happen to his wife if he could prevent it.
"James?"
"Yes Milah?"
Milah sighed. "You never answered my question. Not truly at least. Are you disappointed?"
"You and the babe are healthy," Hook said as he bent down to kiss Milah on the head. "That's all that matters to me. Besides, it's not as if I can't train Harriet here on swords just as well as I would have if she were a boy. I'm going to be training Jess after all and no sense in playing favorites with our kids."
Milah chuckled. "At least wait until they can both walk okay James? I don't want either one of the babies crawling with a sword in their hands."
"As you wish my Captainess," Hook said with a small chuckle.
Milah shook her head and then sighed. "James…I just thought of something. Your hook."
"Oh….right," Hook said as he looked at the appendage. "Probably not the best for helping with the babes I'm guessing."
"Maybe when they're a bit older and might understand commands to stay still," Milah said. She knew that while balancing two babies would be difficult, at least she would be able to do it without fear of hurting one of them. She also knew her husband and while he might not have cared for children, he loved his children.
He had been so excited the day they had found out she was pregnant with Harriet after all.
"I could talk to Smee," Hook said softly. "At least while you're recovering from giving birth…you should have someone to help you with the babes and since I'm missing a hand…"
"I can't ask William to take away from his own child," Milah shook her head. "We'll make it work James. We always have and we always will."
"…not to interject on this heartwarming moment but you could always borrow my imps."
Milah and Hook looked over to the open doorway and saw, to their shock, Hades holding Jess. Granted he looked somewhat uncomfortable holding a baby but that might have just been because of his divine nature and the fact that Jess was extremely fragile.
"Sorry for butting in but Mollie said that Jess here wanted her mom but then Sammy started crying and so I figured I'd bring over the sunspot," Hades said as Jess cooed.
Milah smiled as she looked at her daughter. Jess looked completely at ease in the arms of the Lord of the Dead which honestly was just another sign to Milah that she was her husband's daughter.
Oh sure there was the belief that evil wasn't born, it was made. But parentage had to have some aid in determining how a person would turn out. Any child of Frollo's would more than likely scream their little lungs out if Hades were to pick them up.
Hades quickly made his way into the room and handed Jess to Milah. "I figured for right now, it'd be better if she avoided your hook," he said as he looked over at Hook.
"Note to self, find a way to baby proof this," Hook muttered, shooting a glare at the offending appendage.
"If there's such a way, we'll find it," Milah reassured him as she gently shifted Harriet to allow for more room for Jess. "Maybe Lady Persephone will have suggestions when she comes back from Auradon?"
"It's entirely possible," Hades nodded. "I'll leave you four alone now. Captainess, is there anything you need? I'd be happy to have Pain or Panic get it for you."
Hades knew the chance of Hook leaving Milah's side was slim especially after she had given birth and was still recovering.
"I'm fine Lord Hades," Milah said. "But the offer is appreciated."
Hades nodded. "Well if you do find you need something, reach out to Pain or Panic. They're imbecilic but they do a good job at finding what you need or want."
Mainly because they know that if they fail, they'll likely get hurt, Hades thought as he turned to leave the room. Granted Panic's been a lot better ever since his son was born. Actually that was fairly recently if I remember, the living question mark would be about the same age as Hook's girls and Smee's daughter. Be good to give them an ally or henchman plus with how jumpy Panic is, he likely passed that on to his son. The kid'll need some protection is all I'm going to say to that.
Milah sighed as she watched Hades leave. "We owe him so much don't we?"
"More than what we can ever pay back," Hook said, having heard his wife's whisper. "However I don't think Hades would want us to. After all, to him, this is just getting back at Frollo."
"Frollo didn't think he'd form an enemy by calling Lord Hades a 'false God'?"
"Honestly I question how much Frollo actually has a brain," Hook said, shaking his head. "But enough of him. I'd rather not talk about the French Fanatic while our girls are in the room."
"They're going to know about him at some point but I agree," Milah nodded as she smiled down at her girls. They were both so similar and yet different at the same time, it would be so easy to pass the girls off as twins.
For the first time, Milah thanked the lack of a medical system on the Isle. Sure she had to wonder why one wasn't established (especially since Queen Ariel didn't seem the type to let people suffer unnecessarily) but for right now? When the lack of the medical system helped keep her daughter safe?
Milah would say nothing negative about it.
"Is the fact that Harriet's not crying a good thing?" Hook asked.
"Oh trust me James, according to Mollie, Harriet'll be crying all the time and we'll be longing for the days where she didn't cry," Milah said with a small chuckle. Mollie had been more than helpful with advice on what to expect the first few days of having a newborn.
Or at least, she'll cry until the Isle trains it out of her, she though, her chuckle dying off. She hated to think about it, about how the Isle would likely take the innocent girls in her arms and twist them into people who'd need to do what they had to to get ahead…or survive.
No, Milah thought. The girls won't be twisted like that. They'll have the crew of The Jolly Rodger and The Rose to look out for them. They'll have Lord Hades hopefully as an ally…and they'll have us. James and I won't let anything happen to our girls. Sure some of their innocence might be lost in order to survive the Isle but I can at least hope that they won't lose all of it.
"Love?"
"Yes James?"
"Are you alright? You grew quiet," Hook sad as Jess cooed softly, looking up at her mother.
Milah sighed. "I'm alright James."
"You're sure? I…I know that there can be complications after birth," Hook said, his voice soft and Milah knew he was likely thinking about Red Jessica. After all, she was the reason they had Jess in the first place.
Milah looked up and gave her husband a small smile. "I'm sure James. I was just thinking."
"Oh? What about?"
"…I was thinking about the girls," Milah said. "About how with any luck they won't get twisted and turned into people who need to do whatever they need to to get ahead or survive."
Hook shook his head. "They won't love. Sure they'll be pirates but pirates have a code after all."
"I thought the code was more like a set of guidelines than anything else?"
"Yes well living on the Isle, that'll change. If we don't have rules here, it's chaos. I mean, did you ever expect Maleficent to be elected ruler of the Isle?"
"In all honesty she likely was because most people are afraid of her. Even you fear her a bit James."
"There is no shame in fearing someone who can turn into a dragon," Hook said as Harriet cooed softly.
Hook smiled down at her. "Is that right love? You agree with your papa?"
"You don't know she's agreeing with you, James. She might just be saying that you're silly," Milah chuckled.
"Nope, she's definitely agreeing with me. After all, a future captain would side with another captain!"
"So why didn't Jess side with you? You're saying that Jess won't be a captain?"
Hook shook his head. "Both girls can be captains if they want. I won't deny Jess her heritage—that was the whole reason we took her in after all."
"I know James," Milah nodded. "But I don't want you pressuring the girls to a captain if they grow up and realize they don't want to. Okay?"
Hook chuckled and leaned over and kissed her head. "A Hook not wanting to be a captain would be the same as that cursed crocodile not being out for my blood. That's just something that's impossible. But if the lassies come to me and say they don't want to be a captain, then I'll respect their choice."
"Thank you."
"Besides, we'll have more kids after them to take up the mantle of captain if these two refuse it."
"James, if you want more kids, then you need to be the one to carry them!"
Hook chuckled and gently kissed Milah's head again. "Hush love. I'm in no rush to have more kids right away. I'm not Gaston after all."
"Yes well the less we say about that man the better," Milah muttered. She'd seen the one year old Piper around the taverns trying to swipe things to eat for herself while her mother worked to try to prevent herself from relying solely on Gaston. After all, Piper was a daughter and everyone knew that only sons would be the apple of Gaston's eye.
Well…maybe 'eggs' would fit better considering how much the muscled Frenchman loved eggs compared to apples.
Milah had tried to help but Piper had refused, saying that LeGumes didn't take handouts. Even hearing that from a one year old's mouth had been like a blow to Milah's heart. Well…once she figured out what had been said.
She knew how rough the Isle was but Piper hadn't asked to be born there, hadn't asked to be born to a father who refused to acknowledge her. So Milah had tried again, thinking that it had just been because there had been witnesses the first time that had caused Piper to refuse the assistance. But Piper had refused the assistance again and Milah couldn't exactly push the issue.
Gods, she hoped the young girl was okay. Thankfully the Bimbettes were a favorite of Gaston's for…relationships so he made sure the mothers at least had food so that he could continue to have offspring.
Which inadvertently made it so that the young girl he sired would have food as well.
Good, Milah thought as Harriet and Jess both cooed. Hopefully Piper will be okay. At least until Harriett or Jess can form a crew of their own and make allies with the older girl. Yes Gaston's an idiot and truthfully I don't want him near my daughters…but alliances are always a good thing. Especially since Gaston runs Duels without Rules.
Hook leaned over and gently brushed his hand over Harriet's hair, pulling Milah out of her thoughts.
"You're positive you're not disappointed?"
"That's the third time you've asked me that love. I'm not going to change my mind," Hook said gently.
Milah sighed. "I know. But…all this talk about Gaston had me thinking about his kids. You know he's got a one year old daughter he doesn't acknowledge as being his?"
"I know," Hook nodded. "And trust me. That will never happen with us. Lad or lassie, any pirate can wield a sword. You've proven yourself to be a fantastic pirate, you really think our daughters won't be as well?"
"That's not what I'm asking James."
"I know Milah. And trust me. I love our kids. Even if Harriet is the only child you give me, she will be one of our two prides and joys. Would a son be nice? If only for the possibility of passing on the Hook name? Of course. But it's no end all be all. I have you and there's no replacing you, love."
Milah smiled and lifted her head so that her lips met his. "And there's no replacing you either James," she whispered as they parted. "Or our girls."
"Aye," Hook nodded. "Or our girls."
In that moment, it didn't matter that he couldn't hold his child out of fear of harming the newborn. Hook was quite content just standing there, being with his wife and children. There was no where he'd rather be.
