Thumping my pillow, I roll over and throw off the blankets. It doesn't look like I'll be getting any sleep again. Silently, I slip out of the room without waking Flicker. She is still sleeping peacefully on the other side of the bed as I close the door. The lookouts nod respectfully when I walk past on the deck towards the crow's nest. Grabbing a rope ladder, I begin climbing upwards. I could fly to the top, but the exercise will help clear my mind. My shoulders and legs start aching when I'm halfway to the top, but I keep my eyes on my destination and push through the pain.

"Finally, some peace and quiet," I sigh as I crawl over the edge of the crow's nest.

Suddenly, a hand fastens around my ankle. I start to fall backwards in surprise, but the steel grip pulls me into the small space. Falling forward, I crash into a firm object.

"Easy there, Stormy."

I look up into Hook's calm face. He is sitting in the bottom of the crow's nest with his pipe beside him. Heat starts to rise through me as I realize that I tumbled directly onto his chest.

"Sorry," I mumble an apology. "I wasn't trying to...I'm not...I didn't mean to intrude on you."

"You're no intrusion." Hook picks up his pipe. "I'll move out of your way."

"It's fine." Shifting away from Hook, I crane my head up and look at the sky to resettle myself. My resolve to be stiffly proper around him is swiftly evaporating. The chilly night air cuts through my thin shirt. I shiver slightly and wrap my arms around my body.

"Here."

Unfastening the gold pin at his throat, Hook drapes his cloak around my shoulders. His weathered hands rest on my arms momentarily before he draws back. I nod gratefully and pull the heavy wool mantle tighter around my body. Hook fidgets with his pipe uncomfortably.

"If you're not going to use that, can I?" I ask, cheekily poking him in the ribs with my finger.

"Stormy," Hook scoffs, "you're far too young to smoke."

Snatching the pipe from him, I inhale and blow out a large ring. Quickly, I snap my finger above the smoky shape. The top of the circle curves down to form a heart. I puff out three more smoke rings around the heart before handing the pipe back to Hook.

"One of the advantages of drinking liquid light is that smoking doesn't affect me." I smile smugly up at him. "And I'm probably just as old or older than you if Merlin's legend about me is true."

"Well, you do look like an ancient crone." Hook grins. 

Making a face, I smack at his head. Swiftly, his hand shoots out and wraps around my wrist. I try to tug free, but he latches on to my arm with an iron grip. His eyes glint mischievously, and I can see his usual cocky personality emerge for a second. Looking down, I run my fingers lightly over his sinewy hand. Hook looks in my eyes for a second before drawing back.

"Why did you decide to come up here?" he asks, turning away.

"It's too crowded down there." I jerk my head towards the deck. "I'm not used to having so many people around."

"Should I leave then?"

"You can stay." I shrug and flick an invisible piece of dust off my shoulder. "I've gotten used to ignoring clinging little barnacles."

"Little?" Hook rises to his feet, towering above me.

"Yes, little." Standing, I rise into the air until I am slightly higher than Hook. I smirk down at him, but he doesn't return my smile. 

Slowly, Hook tilts his head back and places a hand on my arm. "Everyone is small compared to you."

"And yet, I am miniscule compared to that." I gesture upwards. Gently, I slip my hand into Hook's. Flying up out of the crow's nest, I take both of us above the mast into the cloudless night sky.

"The stars are brighter up here." Hook gazes up. "And it's so quiet."

"Well, it was for two seconds."

Hook chuckles deep in his chest. He tightens his grasp on my hand involuntarily while he laughs. The warmth of his callused palm sends a flutter through my chest. Quickly, I look away from our clasped hands. Clearing my throat awkwardly, I point towards the bright stars above us.

"That's Ventaris. When I take my sailboat out, she always guides me home, and Ithylwild keeps me from plummeting over the edge of the ocean into the sky."

"So those are my stars," Hook says. "Sailor's stars."

"Actually, they are my stars since Neverland is my world." I raise an eyebrow at Hook. "And I thought you were a captain."

"Not here." Hook gives me a sidelong glance. "Not with you."

Holding tightly to his hand, I fly in front of Hook and turn to look at him. A single moon ray falls on us from above. Hook starts to shift his head away from me, but I place a hand under his chin and lift his face. Instinctively, his piercing eyes raise to mine.

"What are you with me?"

In the silence of the sky, my quiet question rings clearly. Hook opens his mouth to speak, but stops. Tightening his jaw, he places his hand over mine on his face. A shiver runs through my spine as Hook strokes the top of my hand with his thumb.

"With you, I'm..."

Hook pauses and inhales deeply. A spark flashes through his eyes briefly like lightning over an ocean storm. Pulling me towards him, Hook wraps an arm around my waist. The warmth of his body ignites arcs of electricity inside of me. Hook leans his mouth next to my ear. His breath drifts softly across my cheek.

"With you, I'm nothing," he whispers. "That's the only thing I can ever be to you. You don't know me, Jimmy. You haven't seen the truth of who I am. And you wouldn't like me if you did."

"You don't know that," I protest.

"Yes, I do."

"Oh, are you a mind reader now?" I laugh. "I don't even have that ability."

"I know." Hook's expression remains serious. "If you could open my soul like a book, you would despise me more than my brother."

"James." I lean my forehead against his and place a hand on his cheek. "I believe in you. Even if you don't."

"Oh Stormy, why are you doing this to me?" Hook runs his fingers through my hair, tilting my face back. "You cloud my mind, and I can't think clearly. I want to be honorable, but you won't let me."

"Honor?" I smile impishly into his face. "Dear me, whatever will happen to your reputation as a pirate?"

"Don't you dare tell anyone else." Hook mock glares at me.

"Or what?" I dare him.

"Or I'll...I'll..."

"You'll keep stammering on until the end of time." I push a strand of his long, dark hair back from his face. "You see. I do know you, James."

"Perhaps so." Hook pulls back from me with a teasing smirk. "But how much do I really know about you? What if you're a crazy person who only eats imaginary food? Or what if you play really annoying music on reed pipes? Or what if you're a hypochondriac who takes fake medicines? I mean, I don't even know your favorite tea like Merlin. Maybe you should be talking to him now instead."

"If you insist."

Without warning, I plummet us down through the sky. Hook yells in surprise as we dive towards the ship. I pull us up right before we crash into the deck. The lookouts start to approach us in alarm, but Hook waves them back to their positions.

"I guess I'll go find Merlin now since that's what you wanted," I comment airily.

"Fine, you do that. Just one thing first."

Hook grins roguishly. With an unexpected jerk, he pulls me into his arms. Before I can draw back, I can feel his soft lips on my forehead. Then, just as suddenly, he releases me and walks away. I am rooted to the deck in shock. I can still feel the ghost of his kiss like a burning flame on my skin. There will definitely be no sleep tonight.

Greetings mates,

Thank you for reading on with Flying. I really appreciate your views, likes and comments! Please keep them coming!

Fun Fact:

Just in case you were wondering, I do not smoke, and I do not recommend it for you unless you also live on Neverland and have access to drinking liquid light. If you do live with Jimmy and drink from the fount of magic, you can try blowing a smoke heart. After you exhale a smoke ring, snap your fingers gently right above it. If timed correctly, the shock wave from the snap will gently push the top of the ring down, bending it to a heart. You can also try poking the smoke downward with your finger, but it is very easy to break the smoke apart that way.

Please join us next week to see where Jimmy and Hook's story continues! And don't worry...Peter will be making another appearance soon!

Sincerely,

Commodore Caroline