I EYED SILVER’S CREW with a hint of trepidation wondering who would recognize the little boy in the man I had become.

Black Dog, Billy Bowlegs, Iron hand, Ned Shill and all the rest looking as mangy as ever. It had been far too long, and I could have gone a lifetime more.

The Henrietta was a fine ship, far more extensive than The Jolly Roger. Which incidentally Hook stole the name of the pirate flag for his ship. His lack of originality wreaked of amateurism. Hook was never meant to be a pirate Captain.

Dodd Perch was his real name, faked a big death scene, and Captain James Bartholomew Hook was born.

But I supposed we all wore masks of a kind, so who was I to point fingers?

My arms were tied behind my back, and they had secured my feet with rope. But I could still speak.

“Captain Silver, surely we can come to some type of arrangement?”

Silver turned to where I was standing. Black Dog had Ebony as she fought tooth and nail to be free of him. These weren’t the type of pirates that Ebony knew of. Her fairy tale existence was about to come to a crashing halt.

“You always did have a silvery tongue, Jim.”

Fuck.

Ebony ceased all movement, “Who is Jim?”

I had hoped she wasn’t paying attention to our conversation.

“That there is Jim,” Silver smiled, and I wanted to knock his teeth out. “Jim Hawkins and I have a history, don’t we son?”

“I am not your son,” I bit off.

His grin widened, “You see, Sweet Ebony, Jim here took on the name of Peter Pan when he and Dodd Perch stole Captain Flint’s treasure.”

“Who is Dodd Perch?” Ebony blinked in confusion.

“Your father,” Alex blurted out, “Or rather, Hook.”

We all swung round to face Alex.

“Smeed told me the whole thing one night over a bottle of rum,” Alex went on bitterly. “Told me that I wasn’t his, as much as he loved me, but a cast-off of Dodd’s. I didn’t understand until later who he was referring to. But at another date, I heard Smeed slip up and call Hook by his real name.”

“Why has everyone changed their names?” Ebony demanded, “This doesn’t make any sense.”

Silver’s laugh rumbled out of his chest, “She is as bright as a penny! You see darlin’ when a pirate steals from another pirate they become the walking dead. Dead men don’t bite, is what they used to say. So, by assuming new names they think they have outrun their past. But they haven’t, have they, Jim?”

I tensed, “My name is Peter. It was never Jim Hawkins. I made that up when I came on your boat. My given name is Peter Gallagher, and that is the name I go by to this day. I am positive your mother didn’t christen you Long John Silver.”

In a flash, a long saber was thrust in the direction of my throat. I dogged, half expecting a hothead like Silver to try something similar.

Ebony screamed, “Do not touch him! Do you understand me?”

Silver turned to her, a curious glint in his eye, “Now tell me why lass, you are so attached to Peter here and perhaps I will spare his life.”

He was bluffing. Silver wouldn’t dispatch me so quickly. There was much more to reveal, and he needed what resided in my brain.

“He’s,” She swallowed, her chest rising and falling with fear as Black Dog held her immovable. “He’s my husband. And if you truly are my father, you won’t harm the man I love.”

Her declaration sent a shock wave through the crew.

My heart was pounding a million miles a minute. I couldn’t refute her, and the Lord knew that I wanted it to be true. But I couldn’t help but feel an ominous warning that this could only end badly.

Silver whipped his gaze back to me, and I tried to remain impassive.

Tink looked incredulous, and that was nothing compared to Alex. Whose chin was dangling somewhere near his knees.

“I don’t believe you,” Silver declared after a moment of speculation.

I thought it might be a good idea to say something here, but I hadn’t the slightest idea what to add.

It turns out. It was Tiger Lilly who saved us.

“They are married, Captain Silver. I have witnessed them being alone together. They behave as all newly married couples do.”

Ebony’s cheeks heated, and I scowled.

“You married my little girl?” Silver got right into my face, and I could smell the rancid meat he had eaten earlier.

“She is mine,” was my only response.

Silver swung his beefy fist connecting with my jaw.

“Stop!” Ebony cried out. But Silver had only just gotten started.

Crack, the next punch split my lip and the next blackened by eye. I had known the chance I was taking getting involved with her. I could take the consequences, but Ebony was not of the same frame of mind.

She bit Black Dog and shimmied under his arms as he jerked away from her. Grabbing another pirate’s sword, she brandished it like a pro.

“You will stop this instant!” She screamed. “Or I will run you through.”

Silver was huffing by the exertion, “He took my little girl away from me!”

“I am not a little girl. I am a grown woman. And if you were my father, you would respect my wishes.”

“I AM YOUR FATHER!”

Silver yanked out the silver locket that he had stashed in his front pocket. Ebony took it from Silver’s dirty hands and opened the lock. Her lower lip trembled, and her eyes began to swim with tears.

I wanted to go to her, comfort her. But as much as I strained against the ropes, I couldn’t budge.

Slowly, Ebony turned it around so that I could see the likeness inside. The woman’s hair was done in an old-fashioned style. Her clothing reflected a time long since passed. But for those discrepancies, it could very well have been Ebony. She had the same wispy hair that looked like hazelnuts, the same sparkling eyes, and cupid’s bow mouth.

“Damn it,” I muttered.

She nodded jerkily, “I will listen to what you have to say.”

Silver’s smile could be seen for leagues around. However, it dimmed when Ebony finished her statement.

“But I will need my husband free from the restraints and my crew treated as guests, not prisoners.”

Some of Silver’s crew spouted off what they thought Ebony could do with her requests. But Silver ignored their banter and focused his attention on Ebony.

“You will listen to everything I have to say with an open heart?”

Ebony nodded, “I give you my solemn vow.”

Silver’s eyes gleamed, “Release the prisoners!”

Ebony cleared her throat rather loudly.

Silver looked sheepish, “Right! Release the guests and show them to their new chambers. We will have some crew go back to the Jolly Roger to man the wheel.”

“Where are we headed?” Ebony asked Silver.

He laughed, “To Neverland, it’s the second star to the right and straight on till morning.”

I felt the ropes loosen around my feet and then again at my back. I barely had enough time to bring them around as Ebony launched herself into my arms.

"I'm sorry," she whispered in my ear, and I felt a flood of emotion fill my heart. 

Her tender lips against my flesh had me shiver with need. I held her tighter to me. She had no reason to be sorry. We should have been more forthright with her. I should have been more forthright despite Alex's protests.

I had a feeling that things were only starting to become complicated, and we were nowhere near the clear yet.