It was an average day in Neverland. Actually it was a somewhat lazy day for the pirates. With nothing to do and nowhere to go, they were basically just lolling about on the ship. Not that any of them were arguing about it though.

A call suddenly came up from the deck, “Lost Boys off the port bow”. Billy sighed from the crow’s nest, where he had been relaxing. Slowly he got up and stretched. Around him were the sounds of battle, the other pirates having gotten up quicker than himself. Out of the corner of his eye Billy saw something breeze by and instinctively grabbed it.

“It” turned out to be the leg of one of the twins. The momentum pulled Jukes halfway out of the Crow’s nest.

“Let go,” complained the snagged Lost Boy, but Billy would do no such thing. The twin was the only thing between the gunner and a long drop.

Smee saw the scene and, being his usual intellectual self, called out “Hold him tight Jukes” and took aim with an ornate pistol.

The next moment was one to remain etched forever in Neverland. At first nothing moved, then Billy, his body limp, fell from the Crows nest, then trough the deck to the cabin below. There were no more pirates or lost boys then. Just a crowd gathering around the newly formed hole, peering inside.

Inside was the form of a small boy, his neck at an odd angle, deep cuts, bloody lacerations, and other wounds (not the least of which was a small bullet hole in his chest) covering his body. Simultaneously two people (Mullins and Slightly) dove in after him. But there was nothing to do or say but one thing,

“Bill Jukes…is dead”.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

From his hiding spot, Slightly heard the cannons of the Jolly Roger go off. The final act of Billy’s funeral, a burial at sea. The battle between the pirates and the boys had grinded to a halt. However there was no doubt that the next time a lost boy set foot on the deck, there would be hell to pay. The pirates were thirsting for blood, even though it had been because of one of their own that Billy was…

Slightly dried a new tear and settled down. He didn’t want to go back to the hideout. No one else had been friends with Billy. No one there would understand the loss.

Although all felt it. Even Peter had been strangely quiet.

It was almost nightfall when something washed up close to where Slightly was. The Lost Boy’s curiosity got the better of him and he went to investigate.

It was Billy’s body.

Slightly thought for a second about leaving it there. Moving him would be like digging up his grave, right? Almost instantly another, unwelcome, thought came to mind. The Crocodile. Slightly began to drag his friend ashore. Billy would not be come a meal for the over grown reptile if Slightly could help it.

At nightfall Slightly considered going home, but he didn’t want to leave Jukes alone, dead or not. That decided, Slightly went to sleep next to the shattered form of his best friend.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

The next morning Slightly was awakened by a loud groaning. He reached under his head to throw a pillow at the offending Lost Boy, whoever he may be, but all he felt under his hand was dirt. With a start he remember the previous day. Smee’s missed shot, the pirate’s burial at sea, finding and staying with Billy.

Who was slowly sitting up, moaning in pain.

Billy noticed Slightly, not to mention the look on his face. “What happened cully? Yer as white as a sheet.” Billy stared at his friend, trying to figure out what was wrong. Slightly stared at his friend, noticing most of Jukes’ injuries were gone and small traces of blood on his chest were the only remaining marks of Smee’s bad aim.

“You …You were dead.” was the only reply Slightly could muster.

Confusion turned to nervousness.

“I was probably just unconscious. It wasn’t as bad as you thought. As a matter of fact, I’m fine now.”

Who was he trying to kid? “You were dead. I saw you. Smee shot you through the heart aiming for one of the twins, you fell from the crow’s nest and broke your neck, not to mention get more than slightly cut up. Now you’re barely hurt at all. What’s going on?”

Nervousness changed to panic.

“Did anyone else see I was dead?”

Slightly was a little surprised Jukes dropped the act so quickly. “Everyone, pirates and lost boys alike. I…I watched your funeral yesterday”.

At these words Billy burst into tears, crying as though his worst fear had come true. Slightly was still a little scared, and MORE than slightly confused, but there was no way he was going to let his best friend sit there all by himself and cry like that. Slightly got up and sat next to Billy. Placing a comforting arm on his shoulder, Slightly tried to consol his friend. “What’s wrong, do you want to talk about it?”

The young pirate looked at his friend through tear stained eyes.

“Slightly, I’m…I’m immortal.”

Okay, didn’t see that one coming. “What do you mean, immortal?”

“Slightly, don’t you know what immortal means?”

“So you can’t die?”

Billy gave a cynical laugh, “Oh, I can die alright. But as you can see, I don’t stay that way. I heal quickly, I don’t get sick, and I stopped aging long before I ever got to Neverland.”

“How?”

“Wouldn’t mind knowing myself. I’m pretty sure when it happened, but I have no clue how, or why. Why did I have to be immortal? Why do I have to go through the pain of death without the relief? Why did I have to live after everyone else I knew, everyone I cared for, died?”

Slightly didn’t have an answer for that, because there was no answer. It was just fate. “What happened?”

“Well, I was on a ship called the Mermaids Scar….”

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
“The stars be bright tonight, Billy. A bad sign”.

“If you say so, sir.”

“Ah, you’re on of those young hooligans who don’t believe in such things as stars or monsters or mermaids.”

“They’re just legends, Mr. Martin”.

“Men and dogs lie, Billy, but the stars always tell the truth. Remember that”.

“Yes sir.”

Billy Jukes was a servant of Captain Kannagi. Because of the color of his skin and his young age, he was looked down upon by the majority of the crew. Only a few of the men, such as superstitious old Martin would talk to him at all. He had to work harder than everyone else and got less food to boot. Though that last on was not necessarily a bad thing. The cook, Mr. Coche, could have given Cookson a run for his money any day.

As Billy left to go see if the captain had any orders, he heard a riot starting in the Galley.

“Dammit man, can’t you even cook a simple fish.”

“Well if ye be such a fine cook, Take, let’s see ya make tomorrows dinner.”

“It’s a bet.”

Billy returned to the cabin with a measure of relief that the next night he wouldn’t have to deal with Coche ‘cuisine’. His relief was short lived, however, as soon as he got back to his masters cabin.

“Where the devil have you been boy, you should have been here five minutes ago.”

“Sorry sir, it won’t happen again.”

“Darn right it won’t”

Billy winced, knowing what was coming.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

The next night, Billy gingerly sat down to dinner. He felt like a walking bruise, which was pretty much the case. To his right was Martins, to his left Coche. Take walked in with the air of a superior chef and placed a dish filled with a pinkish meat at every ones place. There was so much, even Billy got a large share.

The young gypsy took a bite and was shocked. This was the best tasting meat he had ever tasted. Others were also consuming it at a rapid speed, though still others complained of a bitter taste.

Billy then noticed Martins had yet to take a bite. “Eat up, it’s good for once.”

“I ain’t eating any fish I don’t recognize. And there’s evil in this food”

The first mate stood up. “Well, since it seems that Take can cook a good meal, I propose that…” He never finished his sentence. A fit of coughing overtook him like a warship.

“Are ye alright man?” asked the officer next to him. The first mate never answered as half his blood cam pouring from his mouth. He keeled over dead.

No one moved. No one said a thing. Then another man began to cough up blood.

The cry went up “It’s poisoned!” The galley became total chaos.

Then it got worse.

“My arm, my arm!!” one man screamed as his arm, and indeed the rest of his body began to change. Where there once stood a man there was now a huge monster. It was hunched over. It sported huge muscles, claws, and a head like a piranha. And all around those who were not dying were also becoming those loathsome creatures. Billy didn’t move. All he could think was I’m going to die. I’m going die

He didn’t snap out of it till one of the monsters clawed him, leaving three bloody slashes across his chest. Dimly he realized that Martin was pulling him out of the galley and into a longboat.

As they rowed away Billy felt a strange tingle in his shoulder. For a brief but horrifying moment he thought he was going to be turned in to a monster. But the feeling soon faded, leaving him very much relieved.

It was a long while before he could speak, but finally he sputtered, “What happened?”

“Did I nay tell ya the food was evil?”

“How did you know, never mind, the stars. But why wasn’t I affected?”

“Yer guardian angel was looking out for ye. But she slipped once. How’s that wound?”

“Fine” answered Billy, before he realized it was true, “It doesn’t hurt at all. Come to think of it, neither do the bruises.”

Martins looked as if he was going to ask what bruises but decided against it. “At the very least, ye should get the blood off.” The old man stripped a piece of cloth from his vest and soaked it in seawater.

“Now this may sting a bit,” he warned. The kind one wiped the blood away and then took an expression of shock.

There was no wound.

“What? How?” Billy sputtered.

Martins shook his head, “You listen ta me young one. When you reach port, I want to leave this area. Forget about this ship. And tell no one about what happened.”

“Don’t you mean we?”

“Nay, I’d never make it back alive, but you don’t have much of a choice.”

“What do you mean?”

“There have been times you haven’t always believed me. But you have to do so now. Because you’re different now.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re Immortal”

“Martins passed away a week later from exposure. I found out his words were true. I don’t age and I can’t die. I always had to wander, because I couldn’t let anyone find out. Those that have always turned on me, distrusted me, a few even killed me.  Coming to Neverland was a godsend. No one notices I don’t age, because no one dose. I should have known it was too good to last.”

“But wouldn’t Hook see your immortality as a bonus?”

“He would, but it’s Mullins I’m worried about. He was the closest thing I ever had to a father. But he’s also the first to cry evil. If he rejected me, I don’t think I could stand it.” Once again Billy broke out into tears.

Billy looked out on the water. He could see the Jolly Roger drifting about. The boy who had lived many a lifetime had never been so scared than he was now, but he knew what had to be done.

“You don’t have to do this”, suggested Slightly as if reading Billy’s thoughts, “You come and be a lost boy, I mean you slightly never grow up so you’re already halfway there.”

“Thanks for the offer, cully. But for now that ship is my home. And I’m not going to abandon it unless its people close the doors to me.”

Slightly flew Billy over to the pirate ship. The Lost Boy wished him good luck before leaving Billy on the silent deck. The whole ship seemed to be bathed in an aura of sorrow. The gunner felt guilty for putting his shipmates through such pain, and wondered if they’d forgive him. Quietly he crept to the bunks below deck. A fresh wave of guilt seared through him as he saw Mullins’ tear streaked face. Taking a deep breath he began to shake his friend awake. “Mullins, Mullins it’s me”.

Mullins groggily awoke to the sound of he young friend calling his name. He felt very tired and fuzzy headed. “I’m up, I’m up” he grunted at Billy, shaking him off. He shook his head, there seemed to be something about Billy he was supposed to remember. Something that happened yesterday. The fog cleared from his mind. Mullins did a double take at the boy in front of him, paled, and began to scream.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Starkey was quite rudely awakened by the sound of the Brooklyn pirate screaming his lungs out. After levitating about a foot in the air he turned to see what demon Mullins was seeing now. “For heaven’s sake Robert it’s only Ju……AHHHHHHHH”
Needless to say it wasn’t long before the whole crew was up.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

“Well, Mr. Jukes, we’d thought we’d seen the last of you.” Hook suavely commented.

“I’m…I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Sir” Billy mumbled meekly.

“’E’s a ghost, that’s what ‘e is. D’ya want me to tickle him with Jonny Corkscrew, Captain?” Smee asked, eagerly unsheathing said sword.

“If a ghost he be, than a sword will do no good, however, he seems to be flesh and blood. Now pray tell, Mr. Jukes, how did this come to be?”

Jukes gulped, and began to tell his story.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

“You expect me to actually believe you are immortal?”

“It’s the truth, Sir. I know it’s hard to believe but it’s the truth. I’ve been immortal for almost as long as I remember.”

“Could you supply any proof?”

“No more proof than you see before you now. I was dead yesterday, you all saw me”, he gestured to the crew, “But as you can see, I don’t have a scratch on me now. What more proof do you need?”

“What indeed?” asked Hook uninterestedly. Without warning his clawed hook shot out at Billy, leaving two long gauges that oozed blood all over the left side of Billy’s face. The boy gasped in pain and shock, but an all too familiar tingle told him he was fine. The gypsy boy wiped some of the blood off with his hand, but there was too much there to get off.

Hook yanked Smee’s bandana off his head and threw it to Billy. “Clean that muck off yer face, now”. Somewhat dazed Billy wiped away a vast majority of the blood. The only marks on his face were two pale lines that vanished before the crew’s eyes. Mullins began chanting prayers.

“It seems that you are telling the truth. How old are you?”

“Wha…?”

“Since you are immortal, I’m guessing you are far more older than you appear. So how old are you?”

Billy had expected a number of scenarios upon his return, but nothing like what was actually happening. “I don’t really know sir. I’ve lost track of it over the years.”

“Surely you have a rough estimate?”

Billy mumbled something under his breath

“Come again?”

“Onthousevtin . . .”

“Answer me straightly, or I’ll have you keelhauled. Twice.”

“One thousand, seventeen. Give or take a decade”.

THAT got a reaction.

Hook considered his response. “Jukes, I want a conference with you, in my cabin. The rest of you scurvy dogs, get to work. I’ll not have this ship falling apart when Pan could come by any moment”. With that, the captain swirled into his cabin.
Billy looked back at the crew. He had gotten pretty good at reading faces, and he could tell that, at the moment, none of them were looking at Billy Jukes. Instead they saw a phantom, a myth, something not quite real. And on Mullins’ face something worse.

Betrayal.

With a sad sigh Billy followed the captain to his quarters.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

“Why didn’t he tell me? What unholy bargain did he strike? Why didn’t he tell me?” the same questions went round and round in Mullins’ head. He, like the rest of the crew, was working on the deck; cleaning the cannon, mending the sail, fixing a huge hole in the deck…

Around him the rest were discussing the only topic they could: Billy’s death, revival, and secret.

“He always seemed more experienced than he was letting on. Now I know why.”

“He always was a fast healer. I can’t believe I never noticed how fast.”

“One thousand seventeen. Talk about being older than you look”

“Wonder why he never said anything about it.”

“Oh, that’s obvious.” Starkey proclaimed “I can sum it up in four words: ‘There’s evil in it.’” A number of snickers drifted through the deck.

“Ze boy deed dote on eem. Itza no wonder Billy deedn’t want Mullins to know”

Mullins registered the last comment. Billy wouldn’t tell because he didn’t want Mullins to turn on him. He meant that much to the boy? Feelings of betrayal turned to guilt “And I had to go and react like he feared. I betrayed him.” Mullins made up his mind that as soon as Billy returned from the meeting, he would make things right.

“You know,” commented Mason, “It might not be proper to call him ‘Boy` considering at one thousand seventeen he’s older than all of us put together.”

“You wanted to see me sir?” asked Jukes timidly.

“Would you care to take a seat?” Hook asked graciously. Rather than ease the boy, however, this just put Billy more on his guard.

“I trust you were not exaggerating your age to the crew back there?”

“No sir.”

“I thought not. It seemed to me as if you wanted to do as little as possible to alienate yourself from the crew. To give an age of that sum would surly be counterproductive to that cause.”

“Yes, Sir”

“To be around and ageless for such a long time… you must have been very lonely.”

“Yes, Sir” Billy did not like the direction this conversation was going. One didn’t live as long as that and not develop an acute danger sense.

“Did it ever occur to you that it did not have to be that way?” Billy said nothing. “After all, as a part of my crew, you are family, and I would like to be a part of your family for a very long time.”

Danger reaching critical. “That’s very nice of you to say, Sir.”

“Alas, unlike you, I am a mere mortal. I can only be around for what? Another 60 years, then you would be alone again. Unless, of course, you could do something about that?” Hook eyed Jukes expectantly.

Inside Jukes groaned. Not this again. “I’m sorry Sir, but I can’t help you.”

All of Hooks pleasant manner melted away in an instant. “Can’t or won’t?”

“Can’t. I told you along with the others that I don’t know how I became immortal.”

“You really expect me to believe that.”

“It’s the truth. Beat me, kill me if you like, but you can get nothing more out of me because I know no more myself.”

“As you wish.”

The crew was startled out of whatever conversation they were having by the sound of the cabin doors being flung open. Billy, a corpse once again, came flying out. No one made a move as the form lay quietly, bleeding and broken. Mullins turned his head. This was the second time in 24 hours he had to see Billy like this. Hook strode purposely out the door.

“You!” he commanded Mason, “Lock him in the brig”

Mason looked at the small form not two feet from him. “Sir?”

“I said to lock him up, or are you crying mutiny?”

Mason looked into his captain’s eyes and saw that disobedience would lead him to the same fate as Billy. And unlike the gunner, for Mason death was a rather permanent situation.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
Mullins could here the sound of dinner being served from the galley. The event held no interest to him, though. He sat in the brig, “guarding” the prisoner. It was not his duty to Hook, but rather his worry for Billy that made him volunteer. Mullins wanted to be the first thing Billy saw when he woke up, and maybe even help the lad find a way out of this mess. He looked sadly on the inanimate form, more still than any sleep could be. Suddenly, without warning, the corpse moved.

Billy groaned as a light penetrated his eyelids. “Let’s see: splitting headache; stiff, sore body; sensitivity to light; fuzzy memories. Checklist complete, I have just come back to life” Billy thought.

Even though Mullins knew it was going to happen, seeing a dead body become a living person was still a huge shock. “You…You okay, Boy” he asked tenitivly.

“Don’t talk. Head hurts”, Billy mumbled. He held his head for a few more minutes. “Worse than a hangover” he muttered under his breath. When his cloudy head cleared, Billy noticed his location. “What am I doing here?!”

Mullins shrugged, “Damned if any one knows, save the captain. He looked more murderous then a pack of demons, literally. And, ‘cept for you, none of us can exactly jump back to life.”

Billy sighed, “Are you mad at me?”

“I was, a little, but now I’m more confused than anything else. How is immortality possible for a human to achieve? And before you ask, I thought long and hard about it, and I severely doubt that you would sell your soul for something ye obviously don’t want.”

For the first time since the incident in the crow’s nest - Had that only been yesterday? - Billy really smiled. Dying a hundred times would have been worth hearing Mullins say that. “Thank you for believing in me.”

“After all the worry I must have put you through these past years, it’s the least I can do. Now, mind telling me why the captain’s gone insane?”

Billy’s shoulder drooped, “Long ago, more years than I care to remember, someone once told me ‘For a man to lead a good life, one must work in moderation, rest in moderation, love in moderation, and, most importantly, live in moderation. ` Hook doesn’t seem interested in leading a good life.”

“He wants to be immortal.”

“And there’s nothing I can do about. I don’t know the secret of immortality. And even if I did know I wouldn’t tell him. To live forever is a curse I wouldn’t wish on any man. Not even Hook. He won’t listen though. He’s more stubborn than Captain Franklin.”

“Who?”

“A captain I served under. Tried to find a shipping passage around Canada. Everyone got lead poisoning, went nuts, and froze to death. Long story.”

Mullins decided not to ask. “And there’s no way to kill an immortal?”

“Not that I know of, or believe me, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now”.

Mullins glanced over the indications of suicide. Thinking of loosing the boy that way would be too painful. “So what now?”

“Wait for the captain to get over this. Worst case scenario he dumps me over the side and I wash up on another island till someone finds me. Then the cycle starts all over again.”

“Why did you come back? You could have stayed with them Lost Boys. Slightly would have put in a good word for ya”.
Billy’s head jerked up and he looked at his friend in shock.

“Come on, I’m not that blind. I’ve known about your friendship since it started.”

“You never told…”

“I owed both of ye my life. Getting you hanged would have been a fine way to repay my debt. Especially since I didn’t know ye couldn’t die.”

“Thank you”, Billy simply didn’t know what else to say.

“Ye could have saved yourself a lot of pain by not coming back, but ye did. I think it’s time to correct that little mistake”. Mullins hoisted the keys to the cell.

“What are you doing?” asked Billy.

“I’m letting ya go. And trust me, none of the crew will blame you. Immortality or not, no captain has the right to kill a crewmate in cold blood.”

“The crew may not blame me, but the captain will blame YOU! Hook’ll hang you, and as you said, you’re not going to jump back to life! If I left, it would be as good as murdering you! Even if no one else blamed me, I would blame myself. So unless you’re planning to jump ship with me, don’t ask me to leave. And you wouldn’t leave the rest of the crew to Hook, Robert Mullins never abandons a shipmate.”

Somewhere deep inside, Mullins felt a surge of pride, love and grief. Pride that the boy, no, Mason was right, Jukes, thought so highly of him. Love in that Jukes was willing to stay here to protect him. Grief that because of this, the boy would continue to suffer.

Mullins dried his eye. “All right, stay. But the first time ye have an opportunity to leave, please go.”

“Not until I know you will be safe. Don’t you understand? No one’s ever cared for me after they found out. I may have the wisdom of the ages, but I’m still a boy. A child. More than anyone else, I understand how much a human needs to be with people he cares for and that cares for him. I finally found someone who cares for me. I won’t abandon you.”

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Hook crashed around his cabin. Two weeks and the boy still said nothing. Even the most hideous of tortures had no effect. He picked up another volume and raised his hand to throw it against the wall. His eye caught something on the cover and the Captain lowered the book to his face. Slowly he sat down and began to read.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Mason quietly crept down to the brig, a platter of food on his hand. He, Mullins, and (occasionally) Starkey had been taking care of the young (ha) crewmember. Billy’s stand was clear. He would not abandon his shipmates. So while he refused to be let go, they could help him by supplying food and companionship (In the beginning they also tried medical aid, but Billy healed so fast it was rather pointless) when the Captain wasn’t looking.

Billy was sleeping. Mason took the time to study his face and was surprised by how old Billy looked. Though his face was eternally thirteen, the sorrow and depression made Billy look more his age. Dried blood now covered most of his clothes, as Hook’s torture grew more violent every day.

As Mason set the plate down, Billy awoke with a start. The boy rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stretched. “Thank you Mason” he smiled graciously, before digging into whatever slop Cookson had produced that eve.

“You’re welcome, sir” Mason responded.

Billy stopped mid bite. He looked at Mason, slowly raising an eyebrow.

“Well ya are the oldest one on the ship, so you have seniority. Sides, not many people would stick their neck out for a shipmate like ye did fer Mullins that time, like yer still doing, s’mater of fact.”

For some reason that made Billy laugh. It felt good, as if the past few weeks had never happened. When he stopped he looked upon Mason with eyes revealing the maturity he had been so careful to hide. “Thank you, for both your food and your words. I don’t know the outcome of this, but I want you to know that in all the time I’ve been immortal, I’ve never met anyone who’s stuck by me like this. As pirates you may be technically the bad guys, but inside, you’re good. People like you and Mullins (Starkey’s pushing it) only come around once a millennium, believe me-I know.” He leaned back in his cell, “Never forget that.”

“Thank you sir”. Billy smiled, still amused. “I’ll go now, you look tired.”

Billy looked sad again. “I am tired. I’m tired of pain. I’m tired of loneliness. I’m tired of life itself. Sometimes when I die, I feel true death. It’s like a long, restful sleep, but I can never quite reach it. I wish….” Billy trailed off, looking away. When he looked back at Mason, he had a very serious look in the eyes. “Mason, will you make me a promise?”
Mason gulped, “Sure. What de ye want?”

“When you get away from Neverland, get off this ship and find someone you love. When you find the right girl, get married and have a child, please.” Billy looked a little sheepish, “I’ve always wanted a son or a daughter but…I can’t. If I live a thousand more lifetimes I will never be biologically old enough to have a baby. Please have the child I cannot.”

Mason gulped again, tears coming to his eye, “You have my word on that sir.”

Billy smiled again, and leaned his head back to rest, ‘Thank you, Mason, Thank you.”

“Is it that hard to be immortal?”

“If mankind could choose it’s one desire, half the time it would choose immortality, the other half wealth. Why does Man always chose that which is worst for him?” Billy quoted.

“Thought so. G’night sir”.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

“AHA!!” cried Hook, pointing at the page excitedly. This was his salvation. This would give him the gift his gunner wouldn’t. All he needed now was Billy.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

The next day started early. Too early for the likes of anyone, save Hook. And as Smee was dragging Billy to the deck, the immortal guessed today would not be a good day.

The whole crew was glaring at Hook as Billy was dumped unceremoniously at the captain’s feet. Hook took on an air of superiority as he gazed on to the boy. “Ye have seen many of the most ruthless tactics for delving information these past weeks, yet your lips remain sealed, Mr. Jukes, despite my best efforts. Your silence has got you naught but pain, as that is all it will ever get you. And I can promise you a lot of pain. What say ye now, Mr. Jukes?”

That’s IT. Mask’s off. . He was not hiding behind his mask of youth anymore. He had had lifetimes of experience and confidence in him, and it was time Hook saw it.

“I think you should learn to respect your elders” Billy smirked.

There was a desperate struggle amongst the crew (minus Smee) not to laugh. As it was, several snorts were heard.

Hook’s rage rose, but he contained it. “Anything else you think I should learn?”

“Yes, that I’m not, nor was I ever afraid of you. I was afraid of your hook and sword, not because they were intimidating weapons, but because an angry stroke might have revealed my secret. Now that secret’s out and I could care less what you do to me.  You are nothing but a pathetic old man with less maturity than Peter Pan”.

“Bravo” thought most of the crew.

“I once told Mullins that immortality is a curse I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but you’re changing my mind Hook. If I knew the secret, I might tell you. But I don’t. So stop acting like a jackass, pardon my language, trying to get something you can’t have. You will never know the secret of immortality.”

But rather than get angry, Hook smirked, “Oh, but I do”.

“WHAT!!!!!!”

“It was right here in me book the whole time. Allow me ta read it: `To become immortal, one must eat the flesh of the immortal.’ Well, Mr. Jukes?”

Jukes just stood there dumbfounded. For the first time in at least a century he was in a situation that he had no idea how to deal with.

“Let me see that.” Starkey reached for the manuscript, but only met with Hook’s sword in his abdomen.

With one fluid move Hook sunk his two-pronged claw into the gunners chest, ripping off a good deal of skin and muscle. Billy collapsed, wracked with a kind of pain that he hadn’t felt since, well, yesterday. The purpose behind this pain, however, made it much worse. Hook lifted the bloody flesh to his mouth and started eating.

Nothing Cookson could have made would have caused half the nausea Mullins and Mason were feeling. This had to be a nightmare, the captain was EATING Billy!

As for the Grecian chef, he had mercifully passed out when Starkey was stabbed.

Speaking of which, Starkey was slowly regaining consciousness. But he knew it would not be for long. The `Gentleman’ was slowly dying, and he knew it. “Eat the flesh of the immortal, become immortal” and Jukes was right there.

Mullins cried in horror as Starkey lunged at Billy and sunk his teeth into the boy’s leg.

“Get off him!” screamed Mason, stepping forward to rip Starkey off. Hook merely laughed and pushed Mason into Billy. As the two collided, some of Billy’s blood got into Mason mouth. As quick as he could, the carpenter spat it out. Then screamed. At the same time Starkey began choking. Billy (who had been healing the whole time and was once more alert) had a very bad feeling of déjà vu. Mason screamed more as a large purple scar appeared on his shoulder. Starkey’s whole body seemed to balloon out as coughed up more and more blood, finally dropping dead.

Mullins just stood there, horrified.

Smee just stood there, oblivious.

Hook slashed Mason’s arm. It did not heal. Hook then did the same to his own arm. It did.

“I see, I guess when the reward be immortality the stakes must be pretty high. Guess I be a pretty luck man. And now that I’m immortal, I have no more need for you, William Jukes.” Billy didn’t know how Hook intended to get rid of him, but really didn’t want to know. He tried to get away, but only seemed to stumble over Starkey. Who got up and lunged at him, a man no longer.

Jukes felt a spray of blood on his face as Starkey was neatly beheaded. Mullins had finally unfroze. The Brooklyn Buccaneer pointed his sword at Hook. “Unless ye want to meet the same fate, I suggest ye back off”.

“And what could ye possibly do to me. I’m immort…”

It was then that Hook’s eyes bulged out of their sockets. Purple veins popped up all over his body. He watched his good hand become a webbed claw. “What cozening is this!” cried Hook as he doubled over in pain.

“C…Captain!” cried Smee, rushing over to help. The half man half monster clawed at him knocking him unconscious. Mullins tossed Smee in the longboat.

“Ahoy, Mason. Are ye well enough to carry Cookson?”

“Aye, just give me a minute.” The carpenter flung the heavy chef over his shoulder. Mullins picked up Jukes and carried him over to the longboat.

Jukes looked back at his rapidly transforming captain, “I guess you weren’t so lucky after all.”

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

“My there is such a fuss today,” thought Crooked Tail as more and more things came barreling off the ship. One of them was a book, Crooked Tail read: “In order for one to become immortal, one must eat the flesh of the immortal…” she turned the page, “mermaid. This can have some very bad repercussions, but does indeed work.”

“I’d better get rid of this before anyone gets any ideas.”

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
Slightly saw the five pirates at the edge of the beach. He noticed Smee was unconscious and Billy was extremely bloody. Without thinking he flew down. “What happened?” he asked, right before he found himself at sword point.

“Put it away, Mason. We’ve no need for swords with this one. Besides, we’ve no quarrel with the Lost Boys.”

“Mullins what are ye talking about?”

“The only real quarrel was between Hook and Pan. Hook’s dead, so the quarrel’s over.”

“And he’s my friend.” Piped in Billy.

“I’ve had all the shocks I can take for t’day, so I’m not asking.”

“Hook’s really dead?” Billy nodded. “Then what are you doing now?” They looked at each other.

“I thinkz Ima gonna get a job atza tavrena” answer Cookson.

“I might go to the tavern for a while, but I got to get back to the real world. Got me a promise to keep.” Mason smiled at Billy, who smiled back.

“What are you doing Billy?”

Billy was about to reply that he didn’t know, but Mullins spoke up first, “If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll join up with the Lost Boys, that’s what. Then he won’t have to be alone ever again.”

The immortal blushed “That would be nice, but why would Peter trust me?”

Slightly laughed, ‘Give him a week and he’ll forget you were ever enemies. The other boys might be more difficult, but I’ll work on them."

“Thank you, but…” Billy looked at Mullins.

Now don’t ye be worryin about me. I’m happy if I know you’re happy. Sides, it’ll be good for ya. Since I don’t have ta worry about Hook keelhauling me no more, I can say this freely. I wish I had a chance to be a Lost Boy when I was a lad. There, I said it, and no ones gonna make me regret it.” Mullins leaned back against one of the large trees that dotted the shore. The ground beneath him collapsed and he fell through with a splash. When he climbed back out everyone had to fight to keep from laughing.

“Congratulations, Mullins”, said Slightly, doing his best not to go hysterical, “You’ve found the Neverland Fountain of Youth”.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Mullins grumbled at the new outfit. It consisted of a dark scaled vest (think Tarou from Ranma), shorter slacks tied with a red sash, no shoes (They still had to find some), and his old hat, which had shrunk enough to fit him, but still looked too big.
Mason picked up Smee. “We’ll be heading for the tavern now. I’m gonna miss both of ye.”

“We’za never gonna forget you!”

“We won’t forget you either” Billy hugged each of his former crewmates. If you see either of us flying around, just holler.”

“Of course, sir” Billy and Mason laughed, though no one else knew why.

And with that Mason, Cookson, and Smee were gone.

“Come on” laughed Slightly, “We’d better get moving. I have two new Lost Boys to introduce”.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
End theme: “May you always be courageous”
“May you stand up and be strong”
“And will you always remain forever”
“Forever Young”
“Forever Young”
“Forever Young”
“May you stay…Forever Young”

~fin ~
At least for now . . .