Captain Hook Untold (English Version)

6. Building a future

The next morning, James had moved away from Neverland and had docked the ship in a port. He hid below deck all the bags with fairy dust, then took a tray, put a mug of fresh water and a basket of fruit on it and went to his cabin. Elizabeth was still asleep. He sat down next to her and he gave her a caress to wake her up. She opened her eyes yawning. She noticed the breakfast tray and smiled at James. She had done the same thing to him when they first met and she was happy to see James do the same to her. He hadn't forgotten anything and she was happy about it, maybe there was some hope of not losing him completely. A part of his sweetness was still there under the clothes of a rude pirate. "Did you sleep well?", James asked her softly. She, pulling up on her, hugged him and said: "Very well. I'm glad I found you again. I was afraid I would never see you again", "Now I'm here and I'll never leave you", "But where are we now?", "We are back in the real world. We'll now begin the search for your home. If you can't remember it, we'll find our own place to stay", "Oh, James. Thank you". He picked her up and twisted her around, amusing her. Then he put her down and said to her: "I'll bring you a jacket, going around in a nightgown you will certainly not go unnoticed. Then we will find a tavern and stay there for a while. I'll bring you some new clothes and many other things. When we are settled, we will start looking for your old home". That said, he gave her an old jacket found in the bottom of a trunk and when she was ready they got off the ship. James had docked in a fairly isolated part of the port, he didn't want to risk losing his new ship or even the precious cargo it was carrying. As soon as they were ashore, they searched for a place to stay. Not far away, they found an old inn, paid for a room, and settled there. Once inside, James told Elizabeth to wait for him and not open the door to anyone for any reason. "But where are you going now?", she asked worriedly. He, stroking her hair, said to her: "Don't worry, it won't take long. I'll be right back, I promise you". He kissed her forehead and left the room, locking the door securely for Elizabeth's safety. In that inn there were old sailors, some perhaps pirates, and given his experience with Blackbeard he knew very well who he was dealing with. Elizabeth sat down on the bed. James had kept his promise to take her away from the Neverland her own and therefore she trusted him. She knew he would be back soon. Around lunchtime, she heard the door open. He was back and had some nice surprises for her: new clothes, jewelry, shoes and much more. "It's all wonderful!", she said enthusiastically, "But how did you manage to take all these things?". He, smiling at her, replied: "With a part of Blackbeard's booty". For a second, she stopped smiling and asked him: "By booty do you mean all the things of the looted ships?". He, sighing, said: "Blackbeard made me do so many horrible things, but I had no choice. Either I obeyed him or he would kill me. Anyway, what it happened, happened. What has been plundered can no longer be returned". Elizabeth gave a slight start. She couldn't imagine James killing and robbing innocent people, but she also knew it wasn't his fault. She tried to forget about it, then she put on one of the clothes he had bought to her. It was pink and white, very elegant. She also wore a very elegant pair of shoes. She stood in front of the mirror, dancing happily. James, smiling, watched her, sitting on the bed. Now that they were far from that hellish island, she could finally grow up and in a few years he was going to ask her to marry him. He would do anything for her and he would keep her safe. At the same time, however, he wanted to go out to sea and see the world. Now that he was no longer in Blackbeard's service, he could do it with peace of mind and he would take Elizabeth for a ride too. The sea had become another great passion of him for years. After a while, James took Elizabeth by the hand and they went together to eat something, then took a walk out of the harbor. They went to a park and walked together for the whole afternoon. People might think they were father and daughter, given their age difference. James, however, didn't care. For the moment he was fine with that like this.

Towards evening, after having eaten something, they went back to their room. James prepared the bed for Elizabeth and he went to sit in the chair beside it, but she took his hand, begging him to sleep with her. He hugged her and lay down beside her. In the middle of the night, Elizabeth heard him cry. She gave him a caress, whispering softly: "James, are you okay? Why are you crying?". He turned away and replied: "I wish I had never been born!". Elizabeth, shocked by his words, stood up, shook him and said: "But how does that come to your mind? Don't ever say that again! Why are you saying such a thing?". James, sobbing, said to her: "Since I was born I have done nothing but cause trouble for everyone! And all those I love are all gone! I almost lost you too for good! I know it will happen, even if I try to prevent it, it will happen anyway! I killed my mother while I was born, my best friend was counting on me and I abandoned him! How much pain will I still have to cause?". Elizabeth turned him over and said: "James, please stop talking like that! I am here with you now! We are together again! You, at least, remember your home! Me I don't have the slightest memory about it! As you told me today, what it happened, happened! Now the important thing is to move forward and try to build our future! I'll help you if you want, as you helped me!". James felt a little better. He smiled at her, but when he tried to kiss her she pulled back. "I'm sorry", he told her, "Please excuse me. I didn't want to", "It's okay. One day when I am older, it will be more normal. Now, thanks to you, I will finally be able to grow". James took out his pink handkerchief and wiped his eyes. Elizabeth asked him where he got it and he told her again about his beloved aunt Emily, about his time with her until he was a teenager and about when she gave him her handkerchief as a gift before died. Then he told her about the rest of his sad childhood. Elizabeth, after his story, hugged him and tried to comfort him. James didn't stop crying, so she had an idea: she started singing a lullaby. James calmed down, listening to her sweet voice. As she sang, she made him rest his head on her legs and she stroked his long black hair. James gradually fell asleep. Elizabeth stroked his hair for a while longer, then tucked the covers and she went back to sleep too.