Chapter Six: Morning Stroll

By the time the movie credits rolled onto the big screen TV, the sun had started to rise in the pre-dawn sky. Rachel sighed heavily from her place on her recliner, and stretched out her arms and legs, welcoming the new day despite having pulled the craziest all-nighter of her life.

She rolled her neck experimentally with a soft pop, before she turned to look at her companion. A tired smile etched onto her relaxed features, as her eyes met with the two stunning forget-me-not blue ones opposite her.

Captain Hook may have been hailed a mad-man by J.M. Barrie, but the pirate made up for it in his appearance and speech. In the short time, Rachel had spent with him; Hook had never shown a lack of grace or a faltering moment. It was quite an impressive feat, all things considered.

The young woman felt as though she had been caught in a strange, life altering dream. And just like a dream, she didn't want to take the chance of waking up. But, since Tinkerbelle had brought her back home, something had felt off. . . And despite not knowing the outcome of this insane adventure, Rachel knew that she had to take matters into her own hands.

"Hey Captain Jas," Rachel whispered, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. "You wanna go for a walk? Get some fresh air before Shannon and Mr. Smee wake up?"

Hook gazed at her steadily for several moments, considering her proposal before he nodded in agreement, but didn't say a word as he silently stood from his chair.

Rachel followed his lead and walked towards her apartment door, with the pirate a step behind her. With familiar fingers, the young lady grabbed one of her hoodies out of the hallway closet, and exited into the morning air.

Rachel took the outside steps two at a time, and when she had reached the parking lot of her complex she turned to wait for Hook. But to her surprise, he was standing directly behind her.

Usually, the girl had to wait for people to catch up to her when she walked, so it was refreshing to find someone who could keep up with her.

Without preamble, Rachel turned so that she was side to side with the pirate, and slid her arm into his.

Hook raised an eyebrow, "Isn't this," he gestured to their linked arms, "A bit familiar for new acquaintances, my dear? What will your neighbors say?"

Rachel openly laughed as they began to stroll through the early morning light. She had never cared one lick what anyone thought of her, and she wasn't going to be stricken by others opinions now.

"I'm sure they'll live," she stated as her laughter subsided. "Besides, in this day and age, holding hands or hooking arms is quite a minor offense."

"Really," Hook asked with a light tone as he brought his hand to trace her knuckles with his good hand. "Then what would be considered a malfunction of conduct?"

Rachel's eyes crossed. That was a loaded question if she'd ever heard one.

"Let's just say that it'd have to be something you would regularly do in a bedroom," she said. "And something that you wouldn't want a third party to see if you had any morals or decency to speak of."

Both of Hook's eyebrows rose with this comment, and he shook his head in awe. "Times have most assuredly changed, my beauty. . . When last I visited the Main Land, it was highly improper for a lady to not be escorted by her family or a chaperon, let alone take the arm of a stranger who her parents hadn't approved of. And now, you imply that the intimacies of a man and woman are on display for the public's observation?"

"Yep, pretty much."

Hook grinned wickedly. "Then I think I shall very much enjoy my time here."

Rachel shook her head with another easy laugh. "If you say so, Jas . . . If you say so."

After the brief exchange, the two walked in silence for several long minutes, merely enjoying the fresh air and brisk stroll. Rachel mostly watched her companions' reaction to his surroundings and tried to breathe deeply, as she fought to keep herself calm. From the moment she had spoken with Tinkerbelle and had found out the fairy's reasons for transporting Hook, Rachel had known that she would tell the pirate the truth. After all, he deserved to know why he had been hauled from his ship, and why he was where he was. And, it wasn't like he had any way to return to Neverland, even if he wanted to.

She would keep her promise to Tinkerbelle- to give Peter Pan time to heal- and she would be honest with the pirate captain who currently, studying the parked cars that they passed with the curiosity of a child. She wouldn't break confidences or have to without information. She was a Wilson, and Wilson's told were honest, even if it didn't suit them.

Rachel was brought out of her deep thoughts, when Hook broke the silence.

"You seem quite distracted, my beauty. Any particular reason why?"

Rachel's brown eyes quickly lifted to Hook's face, and found that he had been watching her. His eyes were inquisitive and probing as he turned his head to fully look at her.

"I'm just chillin'."

"If you are indeed, 'just chilling' then why does this walk seem so utterly staged?"

Rachel was shocked, but tried to put on her poker face. "Seriously, dude? How could you have possibly come to that conclusion?"

Hook inclined his head ever so slightly, and his raven locks bounced with the movement; the perfect sign that he was mocking the young lady who stood beside him.

"It wasn't hard to surmise," he said pointedly. "Especially seeing as most females would have to have a very strong motive to take the arm that houses my hook without so much as a by your leave."

Rachel chanced a glance down and realized that she had indeed clasped James' arm that held the dreaded hook. In all honesty, she hadn't even noticed.

"I grabbed your arm because I'm not afraid of you," she answered bluntly, flashing him a defiant if not teasing grin. "And because you are quite the hottie, despite threatening almost everyone you encounter on a regular basis."

Hook's lips upturned at the statement, but his eyes gave his smug façade away. He was surprised by the admittance, and also somewhat pleased.

"You aren't afraid," he repeated slowly.

"Nope."

"Then you apparently do not know what I'm capable of."

"Oh but I do," Rachel interjected. "And that's what makes this so much fun!"

"Pardon?"

"It's like playing with fire!" She explained happily. "You never know when you'll get scorched, and you never know when the flames will just warm you up. It's a total 50/50 chance!"

Seeing as the comment was so absurd, the pirate waited for her to take it back, but when she didn't amusement colored his tone, and his eyes glowed with something akin to appreciation.

"You really are a strange one, Rachel Wilson."

"Thanks, Jas. You aren't so bad yourself."

"That is the third time you've used called me that," he noted with a deep chuckle.

"Yeah," Rachel agreed with a shrug. "I think it suits you."

"Jas," Captain Hook repeated with a gesture of affirmation. "Yes. . . I do believe you are correct."

Rachel reached up to playfully smack his arm, as she girded herself to tell her companion the truth, knowing that she actually was walking into a fire.

"Of course I am! Now, you see that café across the street?"

Hook nodded to show that he did indeed see the building.

"Let's go get a cup of coffee and some breakfast, and I'll tell you a story."

James frowned as the high-strung woman began to pull him across the street. "My experiences with storytellers have been unpleasant in the past, and I don't think I am willing to submit myself to another tale told by any other than myself."

As Rachel opened the cafe's door, she offered up a compromise.

"Then how about an exchange? A story for a story?"

Hook stood on the threshold of the establishment for a long calculating moment before he entered. "As you wish, my beauty. I just pray you can keep up."

A:N/ I would like to give a quick shout out to the newest reader and reviewer of this story- Suzystar. Without you, my dear, this chapter wouldn't have been written for a long time. Thank you for showing such a interest and respect for this story. Your reviews were just what the doctor ordered. *hugs*

And thank you all for being so patient and lovely! I love you all and would hug you all if I could!

~Lyn