“And the Cap’n is so fed up with him,” Billy chortled as he sat on the bank of the pond, Wendy wrapped tenderly in his arms.

  “Day in, day out, he keeps telling the Cap’n over and over about you and me.  But the Cap’n it seems still refuses to believe him.  And lately, I’ve seen the cully come out of the Cap’n’s cabin with his fair share of scrapes and bruises - only to curse me for it all.  But I think he’s been getting those beatings because the damned brat won’t let sleeping dogs lie; also because I’ve been very careful to cover my tracks and make sure I haven’t been caught.  So I’m not giving the Cap’n any reason to be suspicious.”

He chuckled again as he squeezed Wendy and kissed her on her cheek.  “And I think I’ve been very convincing to the Cap’n in how to play the innocent around him too.  I don’t know how I’ve gotten away with it this long - I must be a better actor than I thought - because the Cap’n is a very observant man - but I have.  I only hope I can keep this front going.

“But Elijah.  I don’t feel the least bit sorry for him, bi-lach Beng, now that he’s started to feel the Cap’n’s anger.   He’s getting what he deserves, as far as I’m concerned.”

  Wendy gave him a slight look of disgust for this remark.  Although she had come to dislike Elijah herself; and the looks he gave her whenever she came to the ship with Peter and the lost boys make her extremely uncomfortable, she didn’t think anyone deserved to get a beating, and she was a bit surprised by Billy’s comment considering what he had gone through himself on The Walrus.  Billy saw this look and quickly defended himself.

“Well, he’s constantly after the Cap’n to listen to him and to believe him.  It’s gotten to the point now where Elijah so much as opens his mouth and the Cap’n is there to shut it immediately.  None of us mind it though.

“Oh Wendy, I know you don’t approve of actions like that.  But if you saw how he was you’d understand why I feel the way I do.  It doesn’t matter that I’m older than him, or that he’s nothing but a lowly cabin boy.  He has no respect for me.  He’s so....so mizhak, so wicked and he’s bound and determined to get the better of me no matter what.  I wish we had never brought him on board.”

“Oh Billy, I’m sorry,  Wendy cooed, as she wrapped her arms tighter around him.  Kissing him on the cheek, she went on.  “I know it’s been a nightmare for you having him on the Jolly Roger.  I just wish there was something I could do to help.”

“Just being here is all the help I need,” he answered, as he pulled her into a kiss.

Warmly she responded, when she suddenly remembered what he had told her about the Romany code of honor and he exacting himself.  Curious, she broke the kiss and asked.  “What about your code of honor?  Are you still going to follow through with that?”

“I have too,”  Billy told her knowing she wouldn’t like hearing this either.  “It’s the Roma’s way.  If I don’t do something, Elijah will never barearav; respect me.  Not that he does now, but I can’t have him see me as marhime’.  I can’t and I won’t.

“And my shipmates are after me to get it done and over with as soon as possible.  But it’s not that simple.  The circumstances - not to mention the timing - has to be right.  It has to be just perfect.  And it’s not.  Not yet.”

Wendy just sighed.  “I just wish there was another way.”

“I know.  So do my shipmates.  But then if they had it to do, their way would consist of Elijah getting beaten to within an inch of his life.  And, despite how much I hate him, that’s not right.”

All Wendy could do was shake her head and let out a sigh.

“I’m sorry, I’m depressing you,” Billy said as he got up.  Taking Wendy’s hands he pulled her up as well.  “Let’s forget about all this and go for a swim.”

“That’s a good idea,” Wendy smiled.

Both having discarded their clothes a short time beforehand, they waded into the cool water.

  After their swim they sat on the bank again.  It had been almost three weeks since Jukes had burned himself down in his forge and he was inspecting the wound once more to see how it was healing.  Wendy sat next to him with her head on his shoulder as she ran her fingers gently up and down his back.  Although she had seen his whip-scarred back numerous times since they had begun having their rendezvous', and never once reacted in a negative way, Billy was still uncomfortable having it exposed to her. And though the touch of her fingers sent warm ripples through his back and the rest of his body, he couldn’t help but ask.  “I don’t know how you can touch my back like that, or even look at it.  Doesn’t it repulse you?”

“No.  Why would it?” Wendy inquired softly.

“Well....it’s just so....so scarred and mangled.” Billy stammered out.

“It’s not your fault this happened to you.”  She then moved to sit behind him and look more closely at the raised scars.  She traced her fingers over the whip marks; the ones that were visible, and the ones that were covered by his tattoos, and examined the chaotic zigzag pattern that covered him from neck to waist.

“Wendy, no,” Billy said as he started to move away from her.  But as always, her touch made him melt and he sat there as he felt her fingers glide along his back.

Feeling sorry for the gunner who sat before her, and the torture he endured at such a young age, she did something that came as a surprise to her.  She leaned forward and started placing small kisses on his back.

The touch of her lips on his back made Billy cringe at first, as he gasped out her name in protest, but when he realized she wasn’t stopping he let himself relax once more as he marveled to himself How can she possibly do that?

Wendy then moved his long black mane out of her way and proceeded to plant kisses all over his shoulders.  Enjoying this now, an all too familiar urge began to wake up in him once more and a slight smile began to curl up in the corners of his mouth.  Wendy then wrapped her arms around Billy’s shoulders and focused her attention on his neck.  Each kiss was like a lightning bolt of fire as it ran down his spine and out to every inch of his body, but when she bit down on his ear, the gunner lost it.

Maneuvering himself around in her arms to face her, he wrapped his arms around her as he pushed her down to the ground.  “Now you’re in trouble,” he chided, as he caught her in a kiss.

  “I hope so,” Wendy laughed, and her eyes sparkled as she welcomed him.

“I hate this part,” Wendy complained.  Casually, she moved Billy’s hair out of his face as she looked at him.

“I know, I do too,” he sighed back.  “But I have to get back to the ship.  I’m pretty certain I’ve been gone a lot longer than I said I would.  And I don’t want the Cap’n coming ashore to look for me.”

“And I have to get back home. Peter and the boys are probably wondering where I am.  It’s just so hard to say goodbye to you.”

“Then don’t.”

A smile covered Wendy’s face.  “All right.  I won’t.”

Billy stared into her green eyes, knowing he could get lost in them.  “Everytime we get together, it’s so much harder to leave.”

“And each times been longer and longer.

  “We need to be more careful, Billy” Wendy said in an almost motherly tone.

Jukes nodded knowing she was right.

Holding each other once more, and agreeing when they would get together next, they sealed it with a kiss then parted ways.

A few more weeks went by for Billy Jukes and Wendy Darling.  Weeks that were filled with more joys than either one of them ever imagined.  And soon these weeks turned into months.  Months that were spent discovering each other in ways never thought possible.  They learned of each others dreams and ambitions; their heartaches and sorrows.   And though they were mindful and careful of the time they spent together; never wasting one precious moment, it never seemed to be enough.  They hated the sneaking around, but both knew what the consequences would be if they were ever truly caught.

Yes, Elijah still followed Jukes’ every move on the ship, making the gunner feel like a caged animal at times; and his shipmate pestered him about getting even with the lowly cabin boy and when.

“C’mon Billy boy, when ya gonna take care o’ th’ lil’ blighter?”  Mullins had asked him after breakfast one morning.  “It’s been weeks now an’ yous ain’t done nothin’.  Why?”

“This takes time, Robert,” Billy tried to explain.  “And when the time is right I’ll exact myself.  It’s not as easy as just giving him a good beating; this is different.”

Seeing his older shipmate, who he had always looked up to as a father, shake his head in dismay, Billy couldn’t help but feel a little hurt.  “I know you don’t understand, and I don’t know what to tell you to make you.....You’re not Roma.”

“I know I’m not,” Mullins growled.  But when he saw the hurt look on his young friend’s face he quickly softened.  “Whatever it is ya do, boy, ya know I’m b’hind ya 100%.  Just do it soon, b’fore the rest of the crew begin thinkin’ yous a cow’rd or somethin’.”

These words stung Jukes, but he knew to a certain extent they were true.  He had Elijah and what he knew hanging over his head everyday - though the brat had never been able to successfully use it against him.  And though his rendezvous’ with Wendy had been going on for a long time, and Hook seemed to have no clue to the truth of it, he still couldn’t help but wonder if it was all a ruse.  What if Elijah got Hook to believe him somehow and the captain was merely playing along with the charade waiting for the right moment to spring a trap.

No!  Billy said to himself one afternoon.  Hook’s not one to play games like that - and not for this long.  If he knew he would have played his trump card a long time ago.

Then he wondered if Hook didn’t know; how long before he would?

Four months had passed.  Four wonderful beautiful months and Billy and Wendy never thought they could be happier.

  “Come to the ship tonight.” Jukes said as he and Wendy lied on the grass.

“What?” Wendy asked, somewhat surprised.

“Come to the ship tonight.”

“Tonight?”

Nodding his head Billy answered, “Tonight.  It’s my turn to stand watch.  So I want you to come to the ship, please.”

Giving him a look of uncertainty, Jukes went on.  “I’ll be up in the crow’s nest.  We’ll be completely safe there.”

“But won’t that be dangerous?”  Worry hung in her voice now. “A little.” Billy then gave her a devilish grin.  “But as long as we’re quiet and careful.  No one will know.  Please say you’ll come tonight.”

Wendy thought about it for a quick moment before she agreed.  “All right, I’ll come.  After midnight.”
 
 

**********
 

As she had said, Wendy showed up at the Jolly Roger a little after midnight.  Her heart pounded wildly in her chest and she was nervous about being there, especially with the little snitch sleeping below deck.

“It’s all right, he’s not on deck,” Billy assured her.  “I checked every possible place he could hide - three times - and he’s nowhere to be seen.  Don’t worry.  We’re perfectly safe.  Besides with the sides as tall as they are here no one will be able to see us if by some chance someone does wakes up.  But I don’t see that happening.  It’s pretty uneventful at night.”

“Still I can’t help but be nervous,” Wendy spoke her concern.

“You have no reason to be.”  Billy then pulled her into a kiss, and carefully the two of them sat down in the crow’s nest.

A few hours past before Wendy took her leave of Jukes and flew back to the underground house.  Shortly after she left Billy nodded off to sleep himself.

A few minutes later a scrawny silhouette slowly, stealthily made it’s way down from the observation deck.  Dark smoldering eyes peered in the direction of the crow’s nest and a white sinister smile flashed in the moonlight.  Elijah had perched himself secretively up in the observation deck and he had witnessed Wendy come, and leave.  He could make out some of their conversation; when they were talking, and he had heard the malignant comments his fellow Roma had said about him.  This was enough for him to decide Billy was going to get caught once and for all.

“I knew you were still carrying on with her!” he seethed through a whisper.

Stepping onto the deck, the younger Roma looked up to the crow’s nest once more and cursed Billy and Wendy.  “Te pochinen penge lazhav!”  They’ll pay for their shame!  he snarled out.  Then he went below deck.
 

**********
 

The next morning Hook and his men went ashore for provisions.  As a surprise to everybody, Elijah asked if he could go along.  He had heard what Billy had said about him the night before- “The mizhak chavo never leaves the ship.  I think he’s afraid to go on water or something because the seven months he’s been with us I’ve never seen him go ashore.  The Cap’n doesn’t seem to mind.  Whenever we come back he has the ship looking pretty good.  That’s the only saving grace Elijah has; he’s a clean freak.”

I’ll begin going ashore now.  The scrawny Roma told himself.  Regardless of if I like water or not.  If it means catching you, I’ll go.

So off they went to shore.  Billy was fuming inside and he couldn’t help but wonder what the pathetic cabin boy was up to.  Once they reached land,  Elijah asked if he could go help Billy with whatever he had to do.

“Very well, young Elijah,” Hook stated.  Pleased to see him being he dutiful old self, the captain went on.  “Nice to see you take the initiative, boy.  Perhaps the rest of my crew could follow from your fine example.”

All eyes glared at the boy; minus Smee who was too busy trying to figure out just what the captain meant.  The gunner’s eyes glared hottest of all and his heart beat hard in his throat.  He didn’t want that no good brat tagging along with him.  He could just imagine what would happen.  And he couldn’t guarantee the boy would come back in one piece.

“But Cap’n, sir-”  Jukes began.

But Captain Hook cut him off.  “Billy Jukes, I want you to go to the fish traps that wretched boy, Peter Pan, has set up and bring back as many fish as you can.  He shall not be the only one feasting on Neverland trout, especially not tonight.  And bring Elijah with you to help gather up any morsels that try to get away.”

“But sir,” Billy protested.  “I always do this alone.  Besides, with two of us he might scare the fish away.”

“Oh poppycock!  How can an additional set of hands possibly scare fish away.  Specifically the ones that are already netted.  Hm, Mr. Jukes?”  Hook then got into Billy face and raised his iron claw into view.  “Now take young Elijah here with you and go about emptying the traps so that we may partake of a decent meal this evening.  Is that understood?”

Billy swallowed hard, knowing he had no choice but to bring his worst enemy with him.  “Uh..Y-yes, sir,” he stammered out.  All the while Elijah was glaring at him with malicious eyes.

The two of them made it to the river, emptied the traps and started heading back.  All this was done in relative silence, and Jukes was surprised at how well the lowly cabin boy cooperated with him; doing exactly as he said when they were retrieving the fish.  But the silence bothered Billy and he couldn’t help but wonder What’s he up to?  He’s too quiet.  Moments after, he got his answer.

“I noticed we had little visitor last night.  Shortly after midnight.  A little white bird, dressed in pink with skin as fair as flowers, and hair as black as - well, as black as your Billy.”

Billy faltered upon hearing these words, almost dropping the fish, and he could instantly feel the blood drain from his face.  He saw us? his mind screamed, as he knew Elijah from somewhere had been spying on them.  But where?

“And she slowly, gracefully landed in the crow’s nest.  Hm, funny, I don’t recall there being a bird’s nest up there, do you Jukes?  Or maybe it’s someone’s love nest instead.  After all there were some peculiar noises coming from it last night.”  These last lines came out like a cold hiss, and Billy turned around to look at the younger Roma who had become his nightmare and enemy.

“I saw you last night - both of you.  I knew you were still sneaking around with her.  I knew it.  And you have the boldness to have her come to the ship.  Oh Jukes, you are so dinili.  The captain doesn’t believe me, but I’ll get him to, and when I do he’ll finally see you for the backstabbing traitor you really are.”

Billy could feel his heart pounding in his throat once more and the blood race through his brain.  He had checked the ship thoroughly; or so he had thought.  Where the hell could the damned brat have been?!  But that didn’t matter now.  He had a much bigger problem standing in front of him.

Keeping his cool, though he was raging inside, Jukes looked at Elijah and said with a remarkably straight face.  “You just don’t know when to quit do you?  When are you going to realize there’s nothing going on between Miss Wendy and I.  NOTHING!  She’s the mother of Peter Pan and the lost boys for Devel’s sake.  Why in the world would I even think about her.  She’s my doshman’s dai, you dilo!  My enemy’s mother.  She’s also the love of Pan’s life.  I don’t want anything to do with that!”

It killed Billy to hear himself say these words.  But he knew he had to at least try and be convincing even though he knew it was hopeless.  He was just happy that Wendy wasn’t anywhere around to hear him say these things.

“And the Cap’n.  He still doesn’t believe you.  And he NEVER WILL!!  No matter what you say.  I would think you would have gotten it through your thick head by now that the more you insist with this, the angrier the Cap’n’s going to be with you.  Or do you enjoy getting beat everytime you open your pathetic trap about this?”

Billy shook his head now as he let out as small laugh.  “You are so mokadi.  And to think I once wanted to call you phral.  You’re no brother to me.  Te bisterdon tumare anava!”

“I won’t be forgotten,” Elijah spat with contempt.  “And neither will you.  You’ll forever be known as the perfect Jolly Roger crewman who betrayed his captain, and all for the need to fulfill some lustful carnal desires with some lashavai gadji.  It’s so pathetic Billy how you turned Miss Wendy Darling into a molaxo lubni.  A WHORE!”

Without thinking, Billy dropped the fish now and struck the cabin boy hard with his fist knocking him to the ground.  “Don’t you EVER call her that again!  EVER!  She’s not a whore!”  Then the gunner was on top of the boy pounding him with his fists.  Elijah balled up into a fetal position and protected himself from the older Roma’s blows.  All the while,  Billy was cursing the boy in Romani and calling him every name he could think of.  Jukes then grabbed Elijah by the scruff of his collar and hauled him to his feet.  Glaring at him with eyes that glowed like two embers, Billy menaced.

“If I EVER hear you call Wendy a whore again, I swear I’ll kill you.  She’s not a whore.  She’s nothing like that.  She’s one of the nicest, sweetest, most caring people I’ve ever known.  And she has a beauty and light to her that you will never, EVER understand.  You don’t know anything about her.  NOTHING!  And for you to say I made her into a....a whore.  It’s basht le Devlesa that you’re still breathing.”

Without realizing it, Billy had just given Elijah the confirmation he needed about the two of them.  But Billy was too angry to acknowledge this or notice the triumphant smirk on the boy’s face.  He was still angry that the Roma brat had called Wendy a whore.

But it was when Elijah started laughing; a low sinister sound that Billy realized what he had done.  Dropping the boy, he stood there, breathing hard as his chest heaved.

“Oh, what will the Captain think when he finds out everything I’ve told him is true.  Billy Jukes has indeed been taking liberties with the mother of Peter Pan and the lost boys.  Soiling her image, and dare I say; probably ruining her purity as well.  Am I right Billy boy.”

Jukes turned around to recompose himself while his heart and mind raced.  I WILL NOT let him get the better of me! he screamed inside.   Slowly he turned around once more, determined to take control of the situation.  “Think whatever you want, Elijah, it doesn’t matter.  Because you see, even if Miss Wendy and I were sneaking around, as you seem to think we are, no one would believe you if you told them.  That’s been proven time and time again.” -Jukes got right in Elijah face now, and condescended to him- “Besides, I have the Cap’n pretty convinced that I’m as innocent as can be.  He has no reason to be suspicious of me....and he never will.  So go ahead, bi-lach scug, think - say - believe what you want.  It doesn’t matter.  Because no one believes you.”

With this Billy picked up the fish and walked past the scrawny Roma, knocking him with his shoulder as he did.

“He doesn’t believe me now.  But I’ll find a way to make him,” Elijah threatened as his eyes shot flames of fire at Billy.  “Just wait Billy Jukes,  your secret won’t be one for long.”

Billy laughed, shaking his head - though it was a nervous one, and kept going in the direction towards the shore.  Elijah fell in a few yards behind him.

When they reached the shore Hook immediately noticed the bruises on the cabin boys face.  When he inquired as to what happened, Jukes felt the blood drain from his face once more.  Quickly he stammered out how Elijah had slipped on some rocks on the way back and because of this fell down a steep embankment.  Jukes then glared at the cabin boy who surprisingly corroborated his story.   Somewhat satisfied, yet a bit perplexed with this explanation, Hook ordered his men back into the long boats and back to the Jolly Roger.
 

**********
 

Two more days had passed before Billy and Wendy saw each other again.  They had agreed to spend the night by the pond, and though Billy was still reeling from what happened with Elijah, and he was uncertain whether seeing Wendy would be a good idea, the moment she came into view all doubts quickly left his head.

“Come on, let’s go,” he whispered between kisses.

Shortly after they had left the Jolly Roger, Elijah came sneaking out of the shadows.  Although Jukes had scoured the ship looking for the brat, the boy was tricky enough to stay one step ahead of the gunner so he never saw him.  Standing at the side, looking out over the railing, Elijah decided to crawl over the side and down the rope ladder.

“I’ll find where the two of you lie, and when I do; next time Jukes you won’t be so lucky,” he prided to himself in Romani.

Hanging just above the surface of the black water, the cabin boy waited as he listened for any tell-tale signs of the croc.  Hearing none, he took a deep breath - “To catch you I will suffer the water.” -then made his way in and to shore.

Relieved he had finally reached land, Elijah bowed down and kissed the sand.  Looking at the moon then he knew he didn’t have much time so he quickly went on his way.  Hours seemed to pass as the Roma scoured Neverland searching for his shipmate and the mother of Peter Pan and the lost boys.  Not knowing the landscape at all he found himself walking in circles, as well as completely unaware that he had passed right over the underground house and through its collection of tree’d doors.

Frustrated that he could not find the two, and furious that he had made his way through water only to catch no one, Elijah was unwillingly ready to give up when, suddenly, to the right of him he heard a laugh.  Stopping still in his tracks, he listened closer as he also heard a whimper and a sigh.  Instantly his eyes lit up in a triumphant, almost demonic glow and he slowly began moving in the direction the sounds were coming from.  Stealth-like he made his way through the trees and shrubbery.  As he moved, the sounds became louder until the scrawny brat found himself on the edge of a shallow clearing that encircled a small pond.

What he saw before him made his face contort in evil delight and a malicious smile covered his mouth; curling up from ear to ear.  There in the small clearing bathed in the silver moonlight lay two bodies; entangled in each other.  One had dark skin like his, the other had light skin, like snow.  Elijah had found Billy and Wendy.

“Finally!” he hissed with contempt.  “And now you will get what you deserve.”  With a sick satisfaction Elijah watched the two for a brief moment before he turned away, feeling a sickness rise in his stomach.  Carefully he made his way back to shore, noticing every step he took and marking his path every few yards to he could remember how to get there next time - when he had the captain with him.

“Now I’ll make you pay for the humiliation I’ve had to endure.  Seeing is believing, and Captain Hook will believe me now.”  With this the scrawny cabin boy swam back to the ship.
 

**********
 

“Mullins, Mason, Smee, Starkey, I’m going ashore.  It appears young Elijah here has something that he insists I absolutely must see,”  Hook recited to his crew, though visibly irritated with the boy.  “When Jukes returns from his land expedition, tell him I will be back and that I expect this ship to be in tip-top shape.  Do I make myself clear?”

“Aye, aye, Cap’n,” the four men resounded to their captain.

“Very well.  Lower the long boats.  Whatever it is you insist I see had better well be worth the excursion, boy.”  Hook glared at Elijah as Mason and Starkey lowered the boat.

“Oh yes, sir,” the cabin boy practically purred. “I guarantee it’s worth every moment that we’ll be on land.”
 

**********
 

Quickly, Billy ran to Wendy when he saw her alight the ground.  Lifting her up off the ground and into his arms.  He embraced her in a kiss.  “I missed you,” he whispered.

  “I missed you too,” Wendy almost laughed as she smiled at him. Pulling her close, Jukes caught her in a more passionate kiss this time as he held her tightly.

There seemed to be a sense of urgency this time with Billy, and he knew why he felt it.  With Elijah knowing what he did, and the threat he made to expose the two of them no matter what, the gunner couldn’t help but feel like his time with Wendy was running out.  And he knew he had to savor every moment he had with her.

Framing her face in his hands, and staring into her green eyes, he smiled.  “I just want to look at you.  See how beautiful you are.”  He then ran his fingers over the delicate features of her face.

“Billy, are you all right?” Wendy questioned innocently.

“Yes, I’m fine,” he answered then pulled her into a kiss once more.

Slowly, his hands moved over the curves of her body, as hers began to trace his body lines as well.  A fire burnt up inside of them and with just a look they knew.  Billy’s hand had found its way to Wendy’s thigh, then carefully, they began removing each others clothes all the while locked passionately in a kiss.

  But the two of them would never enjoy that afternoon together.  From behind them a rustle and a voice came tearing out of the trees.

“Get off of her! Get away from her!” the voice yelled.

Suddenly,  Billy was charged away from Wendy and knocked to the ground  “You no good pirate.  You scoundrel!” rang in the gunners ears as he brought his arms up to defend himself from two pounding fists.

“JOHN! STOP IT!” Wendy yelled, causing Billy to become alert to the situation that had just been created.

“John,” he began, but discovered it was no use.  Wendy’s brother couldn’t hear him through the fury he was in.

“John, please, stop!  You’re hurting him!”  Wendy had hold of her brother now as she pulled him off of Jukes.  Tears were running down her face, but she didn’t know exactly why.  Was it because she was afraid John would hurt Billy; or the other way around.  Or was it because in that moment she realized she and Billy had just been caught and nothing now would ever be the same.

John squirmed out of Wendy’s arms and looked at her.  And when he did he noticed she was crying.   He then noticed further the top of her dress unbuttoned and off, and her shirt was messed up.  Naturally thinking the worst he turned on Billy again who was getting to his feet.

“You bastard!” John yelled as he attacked Billy once more, knocking him back down to the ground.  “I’ll kill you, you monster!  If you’ve so much as harmed one hair on Wendy’s head I’ll-”

“JOHN!” Wendy screamed this time, making him stop suddenly and let go of Jukes.  “John, please stop it.  Please, “ she sobbed.  “You - you don’t understand.”

Rushing to her, John instantly fell into his protective brother persona and looked his sister over.  “Yes, Wendy, I do understand.   I do.”  Looking her over he went on.  “Please say you’re all right.  Please say he didn’t hurt you.”

He suddenly looked round to Jukes to make sure he wasn’t trying to sneak up on them.  But all John saw was the pirate sprawled out on the ground looking at the two of them with a strange look on his face.

“No, he didn’t hurt me, John.  I’m fine,” Wendy was able to choke out.

“You’re sure? You’re sure you’re all right?”

Wendy knodded her head as the tears kept falling.

“But, Wendy, he must have.  You’re crying.  What did he do to you?  Where did he hurt you?”

John kept exchanging glances between his sister and the pirate he was sure had attacked her, keeping a wary eye on Billy.

“He didn’t do anything.”  Wendy then looked away not knowing what she was going to do now.

“Didn’t do anything?!  Wendy I saw him!  He attacked you!”

These words made her cry even more and she found herself looking at Billy as though she was pleading with him for help.  Seeing the pain and tears in her eyes, and not being able to stand it, the gunner spoke out.

“I didn’t attack her, John.”

John turned around once more and glared at him.  “Yes, you did, you liar.  I saw you, you mangy cutthroat.  You were all over her; no matter how hard she tried to get away.  It’s a good thing I showed up. I don’t even want to imagine what you would have done to her if I hadn’t.”

  John began moving towards Billy now; his fist clenched when Wendy yelled, “He didn’t attack me!”

John froze in his tracks, then quickly spun around.  “What do you mean he didn’t attack you?  I saw him.  He was all over you.  Wendy, what are you talking about?”  John was right at her side now; concern in his eyes.

Bringing her hands to her face, Wendy composed herself.  Looking at John, she said through her falling tears.  “Billy didn’t attack me.  It’s nothing like that at all.”

“Then what is it?” John asked with a perplexed look on his face.  “Wendy, what’s going on.”

“Oh John, you won’t understand.  I don’t quite understand myself....”

“Understand what?”  John was beginning to get irritated.  “Wha-huh-wh - Wendy would you please explain to me what’s happening here.  Peter sends me out to find you because he has a surprise for you, and I find you here with Billy Jukes who - from what I could tell - was attacking you.  And you tell me he wasn’t.”

He then turned on Billy.  “You had better not have, or I swear I’ll-”

“I didn’t hurt her, dammit, John.  I would never do that.”

John was taken aback by these words when Wendy spoke.  “It’s true....He wouldn’t.”

Flabbergasted by her comment, John admonished to her.  “Yes he would.  He’s our enemy - a pirate.  He would too hurt us - any of us - in an instant.  You know that.”

Wendy just shook her head at her younger brother as the tears kept on falling.

Realizing something wasn’t right, John looked at her sideways.  “Wendy, what’s going on here?”

He then looked at her more closely and noticed how disheveled her dress was and the way the top was resting open beneath her chest, and her shirt was pulled down to one side.  Getting a frightening realization of something he didn’t want to even consider, he looked at Wendy once more.  “Wendy,” he drawled out.

Glancing at Billy, his eyes saying the same thing hers did, Wendy decided to do what she had hoped she’d never have to.  Still crying she poured out.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen, John.  Honest.  I don’t know why it did.  Neither one of us do; it just did.  But I can’t help it.  I’ve never felt this way before. And I’ve never felt this way about anybody either.  Not even Peter.  I don’t know what it is - or why.  Please understand John, I never meant to hurt anybody.  I never meant to hurt Peter.”

“Peter?  What’s Peter go to do with-”  John then went silent as he looked at Wendy, and then Billy.  The hard reality of it all was setting in and he could feel a knot growing in his stomach.  The more he thought about it, the larger the knot grew until he was literally sick to his stomach in disgust.

“Don’t tell me....you and Billy.  The two of you.”

Wendy knodded.  “I never wanted you or anyone to find out-”

A wave of nausea fell over John as he looked at his sister in disbelief.  “You and Billy Jukes, the pirate.  The two of you have been....”

Wendy just nodded again.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” John moaned.  But that was soon replaced by anger as he looked at Billy.  Striding over to him and grabbing hold of his vest, he howled.  “You’ve been taking liberties with my sister?  You’ve been fulfilling some pirate’s need for lust and carnal desires?   You damned bastard!  I should kill you.  Just exactly what have you done to her?”

Wrenching John’s hands from his vest, Jukes answered truthfully.  “Nothing that she’s doesn’t want or has asked me to do.”

Getting a bit more information than he had planned, John grimaced in disgust.  “You make me sick.”

He then turned his attention back to Wendy.  “What about Peter.  I thought you loved him?  If this is what I think it is - how could you do this to him?”

Anger instantly shot up in Wendy; and she realized her dress was still open.  Reassembling her clothes, she chortled at John.  “How can I possibly love Peter when he doesn’t see me for who and what I am. When he doesn’t even love me.”

“Peter loves you.  You know that.”

“No he doesn’t.  He loves no one but himself.  If he truly loved me he would see for what I’ve become.  For the person I am now.  But he doesn’t....And he never will.

“I’m not the little girl who came here all those years ago.  I’ve changed, John.  Look at me.”

“I know you’ve changed.  We all have to a certain extent.”

“But Peter doesn’t see that....But Billy does.  And he has for a long time.”

“What do you mean ‘a long time’,” John asked in a shaky voice.  “H-h-how l-long had th-this b-b-been going on?”

“Four months,” came the answer from Jukes behind him.

“Four months?!  Wendy!  No, this is sick!  This is wrong!  You and Jukes - four months!

“But then that would explain your strange behavior.  Why you’ve been so distant and preoccupied, and why you’ve been so awkward around Peter.

“But Wendy, how could you do this to him?”

“I’m sorry, John, I can’t help it.”  She then began walking over to where Billy was.  “Billy makes me feel something Peter never has.  He makes me feel a way I’ve never felt before, and I can’t deny it.  Every day that I’ve spent with Billy has been like being in a dream.  And I don’t want to ever wake up.

“I don’t feel this way with Peter.  I never have....But I feel it with Billy.”

  By this time Wendy and Billy had their arms around each other, as John slowly approached them.  “Exactly what are you trying to say, Wendy?”  he asked, slowly.

Wendy took a deep breath, and looked at Billy, then John.  “I love him, John.”

These words stunned both Billy and John - but for different reasons - as they heard them come out of Wendy’s mouth.

But neither one of them, nor Wendy were able to say anything further as a dark menace made it’s way out the trees.

“Well, well, what have we here?”  Hook snarled, glaring at the three before him.  His burning eyes rested on Jukes as he continued.  “It looks as though my persistent twittering, tongue-tied mop of a cabin boy was right about the two you all along.  Elijah!”

Hook had grabbed hold of Billy and Wendy when Elijah dived and tackled John, getting the older boy’s hands behind him and tying them quickly with a knot.

Billy looked at the captain; panic and fear written all over his face.  But when he saw the captain’s, this quickly dropped to shame.  For there on Hook’s face was the same expression he had portrayed when he found out about Billy’s birthday exploits; bitter disappointment.  But this time the expression was much harsher and more painful and the disappointment much deeper and more serious.  Billy felt himself shrink as he realized he had just let the captain down.  But not only had he done that; he had caused the captain to face humiliation and embarrassment in front of a lowly cabin boy; and it had all been at his hands.

“I say, Mr. Jukes, I’m a bit put out to find that the lad here was being truthful and honest about your little rendezvous’ with Miss Wendy here.”

Hook then gave him a reproachful sigh and glance.  “And I thought you were a better man than this....Where did it all go wrong?”

All Billy could do was look at the ground, not knowing what to say.

“I’m sorry, Cap’n,” finally escaped his lips.

“Hm.  Quite,”  was all the captain said in return.

Hook had let go of Billy, who just stood there, staring down at the ground.  He didn’t dare look up because he knew he’d see Elijah mocking at him with a triumphant smirk, and Billy knew that most likely the boy would end up dead at his hands then.

He also knew it was pointless to run.  Where would he go?  And with Wendy and John as prisoners now he couldn’t risk them getting hurt, especially Wendy.

  He watched out of the tops of his eyes and through his black mane as Elijah tied Wendy’s hands together.  Her head was bowed as well, but he could hear light sobs coming from her.

Lifting her face with his hook, the captain told her. “Don’t cry Miss Wendy.  After all, you were bound to be discovered sooner later.”

Shaking his head now, the captain went on.  “But now, I don’t know which one would truly be the worst fate for you.  Getting caught by me - which you have, with the help of young Elijah here....Or getting caught by the one who loves you like no other; Peter Pan.  Oh, what a quandary you have here Miss Wendy.  And what will your dear Peter Pan say when he finds out your little secret?”

These words ripped at Billy’s heart, and he wanted desperately to say something to help Wendy, but he knew in doing so he would just bring the captain’s anger upon himself. Miserably, he watched as Wendy squeezed tight her eyes, trying to hold back tears.

“Come let’s get these slubberdegalleons on board the Jolly Roger.  I will decide exactly what their fate will be once we get them on board.  And you, Mr. Jukes.  I want to have a word with you in my quarters when we return.”

“Aye, sir,” Billy responded as he forlornly walked with the captain, Elijah, and the prisoners towards the shore.
 
 
 

Romani words/translations
Bi-lach Beng - “No good devil”
Mizhak - “Wicked”
Barearav - “Respect”
Marhime’ - “Unclean, tainted, dirty”
Te pochinen penge lazhav - “They’ll pay for their shame”
Dinili - “Stupid”
Chavo - “Gypsy boy
Devel - “God”
Doshman - “Enemy”
Dai - “Mother/Mom”
Dilo - “Fool; idiot”
Mokadi - “Dirty”
Phral - “Brother”
Te bisterdon tumare anava - “May your name(s) be forgotten”
Lashavai gadji - "Shameful female non-Roma/gypsy"
Molaxo lubni - “Dirty wench”
Basht te Devlesa - “With God’s luck