Neverland's Angel

Chapter 25

Emily sat on the edge of Peter's shoulder as he adjusted the strap that held a quiver of arrows on his back. Peter and the boys were heading out on a hunt, and Peter was mentally debating on whether to bring Emily along or leave one of the boys to stay and look after her for him. "Peter, I'll be fine. The baby's not gonna give me a hard time, so there's nothing to worry about." Peter lifted her off his shoulder and kissed her forehead. "Maybe you're right. We'll only be gone for a little bit." Emily smiled and waved at them as they headed off.  Emily used the time she had to herself to mend some of her clothes, clean the hideout, scrub down the table, and start fixing some of the lost boy's trousers. Emily yawned, last night's restless sleep from a kicking baby taking it's revenge. Her eyes closed and her sewing dropped from her hands. A rustling noise startled Emily awake. She looked at the fading sun and groaned. She had slept in her chair for a good part of the day. Sore from sleeping in one position for so long, she stretched. The sound of feet scuffling up the stairs came from her left. "Back already? Peter, you don't need to be so overprotective." Emily called out, gathering her sewing off the floor. When there was no answer, she cocked her head. That was odd. "Boys? Peter?" still no one answered her. Her heartbeat picked up. She knew she wasn't alone, but no one responded to her calls. Silently she glanced around for something she could use as a weapon. "I wouldn't do that if I were you m'dear." Emily froze in place. Blood drained from her face. Hook. Hook was here, in the hideout. Slowly she turned around, swallowing hard. Sure enough Hook and his band of pirates poured through the stairway entrance and into the hideout. Emily's eyes met Hooks. Gone were the pleasant blue eyes of the gentleman. And in their place was the hatred filled red eyes of her nightmares. Emily straightened her shoulders, daring to show him she was not afraid. Hook's mouth twitched up, as if he were amused. "I'm so sorry for barging in unannounced, but we've been patiently waiting for just the right opportunity to get you alone." Hook's men snickered and leered at Emily. Lifting her chin in defiance Emily addressed Hook. "What do you want? What are you doing here?" Hook chuckled lightly and then turned serious. "Why we want you, m'dear." The pirates grabbed her before she even had a chance to either fight back or scream. The gagged her and shoved her in a sack. Hook smiled, turned and started to walk down the steps. "Bring her. Oh, and men...send a message to our dear Pan."... Peter was distracted during his patrol. He wasn't able to concentrate on anything except Emily and their baby. Peter pushed a hand into his stomach. It had been in knots all night, worried sick about her. About them. Tinkerbell noticed Peter acting strange and knew exactly what he was thinking of. Sympathetically, she buzzed in his face. ("Don't worry so much, Peter. I'm sure she's fine.")  Peter's emotions were clouding his vision. He needed to talk to someone, but that someone wasn't Tink. "I'm going to go visit the Chief, why don't you go and help the lost boys? I'll be alright on my own for a little while." Tink disagreed but flew off to help the boys anyway. Peter turned towards the Indian Village and took off. He crouched down just outside the Chief's tent. Before he could announce himself, a deep voice spoke from within the teepee. "Ah, Chief Flying Eagle, I've been expecting you." Peter tilted his head quizzically and watched the Chief come out . "How did you know..." "The winds have bespoke change, and I knew you would come to seek council. Sit, and let us council together." The Chief said as motioned for Peter to sit down. Peter sat and started fidgeting with his hair. He couldn't look Chief in the eye when he spoke. "What does it mean to be a father?" The Chief's eyes widened and he almost let out a chuckle. Whatever he had thought Flying Eagle would need council with, it was not that! "Why do you ask?"
Peter stood up and started pacing. "I just don't know what to do anymore!" Amused the Chief leaned back. "Why don't we start from the beginning?" Peter looked pointedly at the Chief, then blew out a long breath. He started talking about Emily and the baby, how he began to fear for it's safety as well as Emily's. Then he told the Chief how he had a nightmare last night. "I'm scared out of my wits and I don't know what to do!" Peter said throwing his hands in the air. The Chief took all of this in stride, nodding at the appropriate times all the while listening to what the real problem was. He stood and clapped the boy "What you are saying is you worry about the wellbeing of your wife and child?" Peter looked at the Chief confused. "Wha..." The Chief chuckled. "I was listening to the real problem my friend. The first thing you need to know is that Love of a father is a powerful and strange feeling. Even after all my years I don't fully comprehend it. To love a child of your own means to care deeply for it, to value it above all else." Peter started to shake his head, and then stopped. "I don't understand..." The Chief laughed, a booming boisterous sound. "You will, my friend. It may just take a little time. But for now, I believe it will start to make sense to you." Peter looked affronted. "That doesn't make any sense" The Chief looked off into the distance. "You'd be surprised." Peter scrunched up his face. The Chief was making no sense today. "Talk to her. Tell her what is going on inside that head of yours." The Chief thunked a finger against Peter's head. Then he climbed down Peter's back to the ground. Peter was left standing in the setting sun, more confused than he was when he came. Sighing he started to fly home. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to do what the Chief had suggested. Peter thought as he rounded up the boys and took them home. It would be a relief to finally be able to talk to Emily. Maybe...maybe he would even see what her lips finally felt like. Peter's goofy grin was instantly turned to a gasp when the boys reached the hideout. The Hideout was trashed. The table was overturned, chairs were broken, pots and pans, weapons and Emily's sewing things were strewn all over the floor. "Emily!" Peter called out frantically. "Emily where are you?" The lost boys started to call out for their Mother. Peter looked in her room, nothing. A spec of blue caught his eye. There stabbed into the back of his throne, with a dagger, was one of Emily's dresses. Peter slowly walked over to it. His worst nightmare was coming true. Hands shaking he pried the dagger out of the wood. His stomach clenched. Hook. Hook had his Wife and child.