I yawn and sit up, stretching my arms and arching my back. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. As my usually habit, I stayed up on the deck last night until I saw Peter and Tink return from their trip tot he mainland. What I was not expecting last night though, was to see two extra figures flying to the island behind Peter. 

Despite my lack of sleep, I am surprisingly alert for the early hours of the morning. The soft rays of the sun are gently peaking through the window of the cabin on the ship. I can feel the warmth on my face, I haven't opened my eyes yet. I take a deep breath of the salty air and sigh in contentment. 

I finally open my eyes and look around my cabin. Or well, I was planning to. But once I opened my eyes I am met with the sight of the petite fairy sitting in a chair across from my bed, staring at my patiently. Her head is tilted slightly, as if mildly curious. Her eyes are wide and unblinking. 

I jump slightly at the shock of waking up to a fairy watching me. Luckily I don't make a startled noise. "Why hello Tink, lovely morning isn't it? In my private room, on my ship." My voice is dripping with sarcasm, not that she would understand it. 

"You saw us arrive last night," it wasn't a question. I'm not entirely sure if that is a fairy thing or just Tink. Though Tink is better than most fairies when it came to understanding and participating in what she calls "human communication methods". 

I rolls my eyes at her statement. "Yes Tink, I saw you guys get back from the mainland. I stayed up watching for you like I do every night you go to the mainland." 

"So you saw the others who came back with us," again, it wasn't a question. Her voice was slightly irritated this time, I noted. 

I nod, "Yeah. What was up with that? You guys picking up strays now?" 

Tink shakes her head with a suddenly grave expression. "The siblings of the boy were there when we got there. The girl convinced Peter to take them all to Neverland with us." 

"Girl?" I ask, trying to sound nonchalant. "Doesn't he usually prefer to take boys to the island? Why the sudden interest?" 

Tink raises a pencil thin eyebrow at my statement. "Why your sudden interest?" 

I shrug in response. 

"You know you aren't special to him. He has taken girls here before. True, so far you've been the only one near him in age before." Tink says in an almost insultingly bland tone. 

"So she is out age?" I ask. 

Tink narrows her eyes and nods. 

"That means she's supposed to be on my sip, not the island," I point out. I smile at the idea. "I think I better meet his, what's her name?" I ask, suddenly realizing I don't know the name. 

"Wendy. And the older boy, John, is old enough to join your crew as well," Tink informs. 

"Let's go meet this Wendy and John, shall we?" I jump out of bed and start getting ready. I change into my usual clothes, wrap the bottom half of each pant leg. Pull on my blouse and put on my vest over the top. I tug on my boots and yank my coat on, pulling my hair out and running my fingers through it as I do. I grab my belt and latch it around my waist, tucking my hook into it and adding my cutlas. I snatch my hat as I near the door to the deck. 

Tink stops me with a hand on my arm before I can yank the door open. "Peter's already bringing them here." 

My breath catches. Peter is coming here? To my ship? "Is he bringing the hoard with him?" I ask carefully. Trying to determine if I should be prepared for a mock fight or not. 

Tink simply shakes her head in response. I catch this gasp before it leaves my lips. "He is just coming with the Darling children, to meet you." 

A short laugh escapes my lips before I can stop it. "Darling children? You have got to be kidding. That can't be their name." 

Tink tilts her head and furrows her brows slightly. "Why would I not be serious about this? This is a very serious matter Hook." 

I roll my eyes in slight exasperation. "Never mind," I mutter as I yank the door open finally. 

I know they've already arrived before I even set foot on the deck. I can hear his laugh. So musical, so cheerful, so familiar. My stomach wants to do flips at the warm sound coming from him. But I don't let myself show a reaction. 

"Peter, what happened to asking a Captain for permission to board her ship?"I raise my voice so it carries over all the noise on the deck. It grows suddenly quiet, a hush settles over the deck as I step out of my cabin. 

Everyone's attention is now on me. I scan the deck of my ship carefully. Peter has his goofy grin plastered on his face, as usual. My crew is at their stations doing their morning chores. Three new figures stand by Peter on the deck. One is a girl about the same age as Peter and i. Her brown hair is curly, her face is quite nearly plain in my opinion. Her blue dress and stockings making me want to curl my lip in disgust. And her shoes? terrible. The only thing about her appearance that catch my eyes is the dark grey sash around her waist. They way it's laying implies it's hiding something. 

Next is a boy with brown hair and looks not that much younger than the the girl. He has glasses and is in plain trousers and a disheveled white shirt. The third figure is a young boy. He looks terrified. He is in pajamas, his sandy hair is messy. He presses himself against the main mast, as if trying to hide in it or hoping it swallows him. This is curious to me, I have never seen a child scared of being in Neverland. 

Excited? of course. 

Hesitant? Sometimes. 

But never scared. And the only difference between him and others is that he came with people who didn't belong here. One of these kids must have hurt him. I'm betting it's the girl. 

"Hook!" Peter shouts. Breaking my chain of thought. 

I smirk down at him. "I'm waiting Peter." 

"Apologies," he does an exaggerated bow. "Permission to board ship ma'am?" He barks like a fresh sailor trying to please an officer. 

I raise an eyebrow at him for a moment. Then I give a single nod. "Well I suppose, you're already on my ship." I give a pause, during which he grins at me. "Who're these strange stowaways you bring aboard my ship Peter?" I nod towards the three strangers. 

"Ah, yes. Hook, these are Wendy, John, and Michael Darling. They came in last night!" He excitedly gestures to each one then looks at me like a proud child bringing their pet home to their mother. 

I narrow my eyes at him and cross my arms. I send Tink a look. Silently communication that I wanted her to keep an eye on the youngest one. She gives a small nod. I step forward towards the group and narrow my eyes at Wendy and John. "You two don't seem the pirate type," I observe. "I don't know if you'll be any good on my crew." 

John's eyes widen. "Your crew?" I nod. "You're the captain?" I nod again. He looks me over quickly and I smirk when I see realization come over him. "You're Captain Hook?" 

I smile crookedly at him. I give a mock bow, "The one and only." 

"But that's impossible," the girl says in a very proud, matter-of-fact tone. I raise an eyebrow at her. "Captain Hook is a grown man!" 

I let out a very loud laugh at her words. "Oh Darling," I start, using the irony of their last name, "I assure you that is a far cry from the truth. As you can see, I am neither grown, nor a man." I give a wicked smile and wink at Peter. Wendy catches the action and seems to steam with jealousy. Peter however, grins back at me. 

"But how?" John asks. 

I smile at him. "The Captain Hook you know was my father in life. Like most of the children here, I was taken to Neverland Peter when I was dying as a child. But I belong on the water. So my crew and I built this here beauty," I indicate my ship, "and set to the waves." 

"But your name is Hook too?" John asks. 

I nod. "My father did have a hook for a hand. But, as you can see," I hold both of my hands up to show him, "both of mine are intact. I gained that name in a different manner." I share a knowing look with Peter. 

"It was brilliant!" He starts retelling the story of how he gave me my nickname that has stuck to this day. I watch as he retells the story. John seems to love the story. Wendy however, has a fixed scowl on her face. Every time I catch her looking in my direction I see a flash of disgust in her eyes. 

When Peter finishes his tale they all turn back to look at me. John held an expression of awe, especially when he saw my hook hanging off my belt. Wendy looked irritated beyond compare. Michael looked a little less scared as he looked up at me with wide eyes. 

"So children," I start. "Ready to join the crew of the one and only Captain Hook?" I ask Wendy and John. 

"Join your crew?" Wendy and John ask at the same time. Wendy's voice was thick with disgust. John's voice however, held a trace of awe and excitement. I simply nod. 

"We will not!" Wendy states firmly. "We are not barbarians!" 

I snort, "If that's what you think I am, I wonder what you think you are." I take a step towards her. "You are no better than me, especially on the deck of my ship. You will treat me and this ship with respect or march the plank you will." I state firmly, bringing out my captain authority. 

"I was hoping we could keep them together," Peter interrupts the exchange. 

"Fine, I'll take them all," I huff. 

"That's not what I meant Hook. I was hoping they could all come with me." Something in his tone told me he wasn't so much asking as telling me. 

I glared at him. "This is not what we agreed to," I hiss. 

"I know but, you don't want to break up a family do you?" Peter tried to reason. 

"I offered to take them all," I point out. 

He sighs and gives me an imploring look. I know he won't relent. But I am not so easily won over. 

"Any of them set a tow out of line, Pan.A single one. They are mine. You have a trial period. Know that you have tried my patience today. I will not be taken for a fool. If any of them wish to join me and my crew they can, whenever they want," I negotiate. He nods with a grin. "Any of them Pan. Even the kid." I emphasize. This gets a few confused looks from my crew, but no one dares question me. 

"Alright," Peter agrees. 

I nod. "Now, get off my ship." 

They listen without hesitation.