The Mermaid-Cursed Pirate

Chapter 21

Recap:

A question pops into Hook's mind. "How are you going to explain why you're leaving? With the story you told the boys, there's no way they'd let you go if you tell them the truth."

"I'll figure that on my own. I'll come back soon to see what Viviane finds out. I want to make a few more memories with the boys before I do anything else."

"Until then, lass. Have some fun, okay? You deserve it," he urges her.

"I will, captain. Give my best to Viviane."

"Will do. Goodbye, Sirena."

"Goodbye, Hook."

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The next morning, Sirena is half-awake when she hears the slightest movement outside her door. Grinning, she stretches her hand to the bucket of water beside her bed and feigns sleep. Her door opens but before Charlie can jump on her, he is sprayed with a strong spout of water.

"No fair!" he screams as he tries to wring his clothes out. After a moment of anger, they laugh together at their antics.

"Let me help you," Sirena suggests. She waves her hand again, making the water return to its bucket.

Once he was dry, Charlie jumps onto Sirena's back after she turned away. "To breakfast!" he shouts, pointing to the door.

Sirena grunts, "I don't think you need any more food, you've gotten much heavier since I last gave you a piggyback ride."

"That's rude!" Charlie complains as she carries him anyway. "Maybe you're not as strong as you were."

"Now you're being rude!" she laughs. They arrive at the breakfast line, and Charlie hops off Sirena's back. He runs over to Pan who had arrived from his treehouse.

"Pan! I tried to jump on Sirena to wake her up and she sprayed me with water! Then she said I got heavier! You should punish her," he says with an evil smile that he failed to completely conceal.

"And what do you suggest as the repayment?" he questions with his own smirk. He meets Sirena's eyes and takes in her silent annoyance from the breakfast line.

"Hey!" she interrupts. "I was only teaching him a lesson."

"What lesson?" Charlie interrogates.

"That no one should interfere with my sleep!" she shouts as she chases him with a huge grin. She catches him and twirls him around. Unknown to her, Pan was watching them with a soft smile and longing in his eyes.

"I think you two can sort this out on your own," he concludes. "Maybe you can duel for revenge, Charlie."

"Excellent idea, Pan. If I win, you let me sleep in peace or politely wake me up if needed. That means no jumping, Charlie," Sirena explains.

"Okay. But if I win, I get to jump on you every morning to wake you up and you can't spray me when I do."

Sirena considers the offer, then asks "Hand-to-hand in the fighting ring or island hunt?"

"Island hunt!" Charlie chooses with an evil glint in his eyes. "But make sure there's no poison on your weapons.

"So be it," Sirena concedes with an equally evil grin.

They shake hands and Pan becomes worried for their safety. This will be a vicious duel between the two good friends. It was all in fun, but they had placed some high stakes on it. High to them, at least. On the other hand, Sirena had interacted with him and didn't seem to be upset by it. Maybe there was some hope for him after all. It would take some time, but time was endless on Neverland.