Chapter 25: The Birth of Red Handed Jill

Wendy felt peaceful as she slept. She dreamt that she was in her fathers arms, drifting in a place between sleep and awake, and that he was rocking her back and forth. In her dream she looked up to look at her father, and instead of seeing the cruel man that plagued her living moments she was confronted by the face of Mr. Darling. It was comforting sight, and it reminded her of the times that she had seen him rock Michael to sleep, and how she longed for a father than would do that for her. While she looked up at Mr Darling she felt a cool hand touch her cheek, like an icy sea breeze. Twisting her head she saw Mrs Darling, with happy tears in her eyes, "Wendy. My daughter."

Wendy closed her eyes again, caught in the moment. The rocking of her body, the cool touch against her cheek. It was calming, peaceful. But it felt wrong. And when she opened her eyes she was no longer in Mr. Darlings arms. Instead she was looking at the stars, and a cold breeze brought the smell of salt into her nostrils. Sitting up, she quickly realised that her bed was no longer her leafy matters but a pile of canvas sails, and that the rocking was caused by the surface beneath her. Jumping to her feat, she looked around her, trying to take in her surroundings, realising that she was was on the deck of a ship. Running to the side, she looked over the railing, she was also surrounded by water, the beach hundreds of meters away from her.

Turning around, she could see nothing. There was no sign of life on this ship, not even a sentry in the crows nest. All she could hear was the creaking of the wooden ship and the sound of waves lapping the sides of the ship. And then, a new sound entered her ears; the sound of a merry tune and a joyous song. Twisting around she followed the sound of the tune all the way to a big oak door. Light seeped out from the crack underneath the door, as did the happy tune of the of piano inside. Examining the door further, she noticed there was a large golden plaque on the upper centre of the door, and in beautiful golden script, the words Captain James Hook rested.

Panic seeped through her veins. This was wrong, so very very wrong. She was not meant to be here. Not on this ship. Not on the Jolly Roger. She took a step away from the door, and another. She was about to turn and flee until a warm hand wrapped around her upper arm, and a sharp gasp was pushed out of her lungs as she was forcefully spun around, steely blue eyes scrutinised her under bushy grey eyebrows drinking in the fear on her face.

"Miss Wendy." Thin, pink lips moved under Smee's bushy beard and he a broad smile pulled at his cheeks, revealing his brown teeth, "The Cap'ain has been awa'en for ya' ta' wake up from ye' snooze. C'mon dearie, best not keep 'im wai'en."

Smee's hands pushed her towards and through the large door. The joyous song continued, partnered with a deep, melodious voice singing a pirates tune. The room was bathed in warm light and Wendy swore she could hear the jingle of bells from somewhere within the room. In the centre of the room, a grand piano painted with imagery of Aztec treasure played a beautiful tune, accompanied by the deep voice of the curl haired captain. Hook sat on the piano stool, his black locks falling wildly without his large hat and his bright blue eyes stared straight into Wendy's similar ones as he continued to troll his tune.

"The Cap'ain wrote this one 'imself. Beau'iful, innit?" Smee said quietly, moving Wendy towards the Captains dining table and pushing her into a seat. The table was lined with plates of food, from lobster to turkey, to glorious fruit salads and Wendy's mouth began to salivate and her stomach starts to groan, the memory of her last meal near 3 nights ago come to the front of her mind. Before her an ornate silver plate with matching cutlery on either side was and a similar goblet was placed and she licked her lips at the thought of food but resisted the temptation to reach for the food which was surely poisoned by the singing pirate.

The captain finished his song on an enthralling note, before slamming the case down above the keys, smiling bittersweetly at Wendy, "Before I lost my hand I used to be the best piano player on the seven seas, perhaps even the world."

As he stood from the stool, Hook brought his metallic appendage to his chin and scratched at his stubble, stroking the top of his piano with his feeling hand, "And then Pan stole my hand and the love of my life was gone. Music was always the one for me, but at least he didn't take the sea from me too. Peter has never really understood what feeling love is like."

Wendy watched the pirate carefully and tried to swallow her fear, "You still play magnificently well for a man with one hand."

The Captains smile grew and he barked out a laughed, taking a step towards the dining table, flourishing his hand, "With practice, Wendy, darling. All with practice."

Smee ran to pull out is captains chair at the dining table the aforementioned pirate came to stand by the table. Taking his seat across from Wendy, the captain began to remove his hook and Smee pushed the hair into the desk, taking the hook from the curly haired man and passing him a knife appendage and a napkin. The captain began to fill his plate with assortments of food from the table, and raised a black eyebrow at Wendy when he noticed her plate was empty, "Wendy my dear, you must eat something. Have you even eaten anything since you got here?"

The girl looked suspiciously at the food before her and her stomach growled at her, demanding her to grab some of the food on offer. Captain Hook chuckled upon the sound, "It's not poisoned you know. If you're really that concerned, Smee here can test it for you."

Her baby blue eyes glanced at the red beanie first mate and she shook her head, tentatively placing a leg of turkey on her plate, before picking at it with her fork, her stomach beginning to protest at being teased so. Slowly she cut a piece off of the leg and placed it in her mouth, and a wave of flavour exploded on her tongue and she began to eat her meal faster, placing more food on her plate as she went.

The captain let her eat silently, and waited until she was picking at a cluster of green grapes before he spoke again, "A little butterfly told me you ran away from home." Wendy's eyes flashed hard, "I–" she stopped herself short and sighed, realising that's exactly what she did, "I guess I did."

Captain Hook laughed a rotund laugh and began removing the knife appendage from his arm, replacing it with his namesake hook, "Marvellous. Tell me all about it."

She was silent for a moment, and she could wear she heard bells again but spoke up when Hook hummed, waiting for her response, "It was better that I did. My parents weren't particularly supportive people. Well, my father wasn't at least - you could go as far to call him a real pirate if you will."

Hooks eyebrows rose to his hairline and he set his hand and hook down before him, "What do you mean by that?"

Wendy coughed uncomfortably before continuing, " Well… He drinks a lot. He swears like sailor, especially to my mother. And he is quite violent…" She trailed off, breaking her eye contact with the captain.

"Wendy." The pirate spoke softly, edging her to looking into looking into his eyes, "A pirate may be a scallywag… but we do not raise our hands to women. Especially to those we care about."

The two dropped into silence again, and Wendy's eyes begin to water at the thought of her father. 'My father doesn't care. Why couldn't I make him care?' The captain noticed the girl in front of him's impending tears and abruptly stood from his chair, making his way over to the teary girl.

Kneeling beside her he grasped onto her hand and stroked it with his thumb, "Now now darling Wendy." he cooed, his voice smooth and comforting, "Some people just don't know how to care my dear girl. I mean, your father could not. Pan cannot."

Wendy's head snapped to look at the pirate next to her, and her tears pooled to the corners of her eyes, "P-pan?"

Hooks eyes soften as the poor girl's voice cracked, "Oh? You didn't know? Yes, Peter Pan cannot love, because he cannot grow up. Love is too mature of a feeling for the boy. It's what makes him such a riddle."

Peter Pan… Could not love… Wendy could feel her heart breaking. Her chest was throbbing and her lungs felt like they were being crushed by her ribs. Her throat felt clogged and she could do nothing to stop the tears from falling freely down her cheeks.

Hook pulled a white napkin from the pocket within his coat and dabbing at the tears trailing down the young girl's pink cheeks. "Hush now my dear. Sh. Sh." The tears seemed to slow down as the pirate soothed the girl. His actions were almost fatherly, and Wendy nearly relaxed as he swiped a rogue tear away from her chin with his calloused thumb. Nearly.

"W-why are you being so nice to me Captain? You wanted to kill me not a day ago."

The light chiming of bells rang out again, and Hooks eyes flashed behind Wendy's head for a split second before he looked at her and sighed, pushing a lock of stray ash hair behind her ear with the blunt end of his hook, "Wendy, Wendy, Wendy. I did not want to kill you. I acted out of anger, anger against Peter. I have every right to be angry at him you know - just as you do - after all, he did steal away my hand, my music. But you were never in harm's way darling. I assure you of that."

Wendy was silent but nodded in understanding. Anger made people do unkind things sometimes, like try to banish those you care about. Peter Pan cannot love. The words echoed through her mind and she gnawed at her lip, confused as how to feel.

"Wendy," The Captain started quietly, "have you ever wished to be a pirate? I recently became a crewman short, and I have a position available."

Wendy's head shot up and her cheeks flushed red as she began to sputter, "Me - No- I - I-"

"There's no need ta' be ashamed of i' girlie." Mr Smee piped up from the back of the room where he had previously been lurking, a muffled chiming resounding from behind him, unheardby Wendy.

The red of her cheeks spread down to Wendy's neck and she gave a breathy laugh, "Well… I once did fancy calling myself…" She trailed off and the captain egged her to go on, "… Red Handed Jill."

Glee splashed over the Captains features and he shot in his excitement, "Red Handed Jill! That's a wonderful name! Truly inspired! That will be your name if you wish to join us."

Wendy's smile faltered just a little. She had always fantasised about being a pirate, but if hurting people she knew as friends was what it took to be a pirate she wanted no part in that, "W-What would my duties be. I refuse to take part in any pillaging."

"But with your fighting skills?! No? Oh okay." The Captain stroked at his black goatee and paced the length of the table, deep in thought. He exclaimed when an idea came to his mind, and raised his metallic appendage above his head, catching it on the light, making it gleam, "You wouldn't be able to tell stories perhaps? The crew do love a good story every now and again. And a good storyteller is hard to come by these days."

Wendy nodded her head vigorously, "I love telling stories. It's all I've ever wanted to do."

Hook extended his hand to the small girl, and raised her from her where she was seated, "Well then, you shall be Red Handed Jill - the Official Storyteller of the Jolly Roger! Now let's see what we can do about those clothes. Mr Smee! Go fetch our newest recruit some more suitable clothes for a member of the Jolly Roger."

The colour dropped from Wendy's face as the first mate jostled out of the room with a sound of assent, and she stepped away from the captain "Cl-Clothes? What's wrong with my clothes?"

"Well, my dear girl. You can no go frolicking about my ship in that…" Hooks icy blue eyes scrutinised her apparel, "…garb. You must wear something suitable for an esteemed pirate."

Before Wendy could even retort, Mr Smee came running back into the room, panting as he shoved a bundle of white and red into his captain's face. "This… is wha' …I could find. Can't …do nuffin' …about' …the pants… sorry."

Hook snatched the bundle from his first mates hand, before gifting it to Wendy, who took it carefully, pointing with his hook to a door on the far left the room, "If you go behind that door there's room to change. I promise, no one will disturb you there."

Wendy bowed her head in thanks before travelling over to where the Pirate had pointed, oblivious to the glass jar that glowed golden with a trapped fairy.

Once she had shed the Indian clothes from her body and donned the garments that the captain had bestowed upon her she left the room. She was fitted with a large white blouse that low neck had to be tied up to preserve her small chest and a red jerkin which hung loosely from her shoulders. The tights she was given from the Indians still clung to her legs, and she was certain her feet would need a good scrub after all her barefooted walking.

Walking out of the designated change room, she was met with the sight of the captain and his first mate heads bent together in deep conversation. As she neared she cleared her throat and extended her arms out to her sides, revealing the bagginess of the top on her small body, "It's a little big."

The captain chuckled, "Well unfortunately for you, we don't often have thirteen-year-old girls on this ship. We had to make do. However," The captain turned around and strode to a vanity which had an assortment of necklaces, belts, and hats strain across it and plucked a thick brown belt from the pile, "If we accessorise… There! You can hardly tell!"

The captain had passed her the belt, which she had to push a new notch through just for it to fit around her waist. Once it on, the Captain Hook led her to a nearby floor length mirror and stood behind her as she took in her appearance.

"I couldn't be prouder if you were my own daughter." The Captain grinned at her through the reflection, "Now, come meet the crew. They're dying for a story."

"…and they all lived happily ever after."

Wendy concluded her story slowly and grinned satisfied at her audience. The band of pirates before her had tears cutting through the grime on their cheeks, and a round of applause erupted from within the crowd.

"Bravo!"

"Another!"

"A Sequel!"

Captain Hook, who had been lounging beside the young girl pounded on the wooden railing with his hook, "Now now! Let the lass catch her breath! Rest up! Return to your business!"

The crowd groans were cut short by Hook's sharp bark of orders, and they all commenced their activities immediate henceforth. With a grasp gentler than the voice he had just used on his crew, Hook led Wendy towards where the small boat hung, gesturing to a member of the crew to start lowering it, "That was excellent my dear girl. Absolutely outstanding."

Wendy blushed at the praises, and looked at the Captain with pleased eyes, "You really think so?"

Hook grinned down at her once more, and nipped at her nose with his hook playfully, "I know so darling. Best story I've heard in a long time."

Wendy giggled, before stifling a yawn, "Captain. Do you mind if I return to shore? To consider your offer."

"Of course my dear girl of course," He gestured to the ladder on the side of the ship, an indicator for her to start climbing down towards the small boat, which she did, "Take all the time you need."

"Thank you, Captain." She was silent for a moment as she began to settle into the rickety boat.

Smee and one other pirate accompanied the Captain and the girl back to the island, rowing the small boat for the two. The boat rocked against a slight chop, and icy water splashed into the boat.

"Pan must be in a mood." The nameless pirate grumbled to Smee.

"What was that Johnson?" Hook barked out, causing Wendy to jump.

"Nothin Cap'ain." Johnson replied stoically.

After several tense minutes, the small boat pulled onto the shore, and the four of them clambered out onto the sandy shore.

"Thank you for everything Captain." Wendy smiled up at the blue-eyed man.

The curly haired captain grasped onto her shoulder and pulled his mouth into a thin-lipped smile as he looked down at the girl, "The pleasure has been mine Wendy, darling. You are like the daughter I never had. Now run along now, before you are missed."

Tears sprung to Wendy's eyes as she nodded before running off into the thick forest that lined the beach.

Hooks smile dropped from his face and he glanced coldly at his two crew members, "Follow her."

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Woah. That was a big chapter. So hey everyone. I kicked my but back into gear and wrote something. I hoped you enjoyed this. I enjoyed writing it. It has been 40 degrees Celsius and when I have not been on my laptop I have been in the pool. I have stayed up throughout the night to get this to you so I really hope you enjoy it and I just want to say thank you again for all the support. I cannot believe many of you are still here with me.

As Always I love you all, Dawn xox