“Oh, this is brilliant.” Captain Hook roared. “My gunner, threatening me, and all for the sake of a woman. Well it’s refreshing to know you’ve at least maintained some of your education. Even if it’s for one that’s - oh what’s the word in your language; marhime’ - tainted you?”

“Wendy’s done no such thing!” Billy yelled back as he held her close in his arms. “Besides, what do you know about marhime’. You’re not Roma. He’s the one who brought all this on!”

Billy pointed his cutlass in the direction of Elijah as he glared at the scrawny brat who was mockingly smiling back at him.

“The only thing I did, phral was finally make the Captain see just how much of a traitor you really are,” Elijah hissed at Billy.

It’s true,” Hook answered, his eyes narrowing at Billy. “Regrettably, it is true. And I allowed myself to be blinded to every indication that something about you was not right. All the times you absolutely had to go ashore for whatever reason or another. If I had only known then what I know now I could have stopped you from involving yourself in what has become the biggest mistake you’ve ever made. But I allowed myself to believe you were the crewman I had put so much pride in.

“Never again, Billy Jukes. Never again will you betray me!”

“Go ahead, Cap’n, do what you want. Kill me if it seems appropriate.” Billy then stood in front of Wendy ready to take whatever blow Hook would render upon him. “Just don’t hurt Wendy. She’s done nothing wrong. She doesn’t deserve your wrath.”

Hook began to laugh at the gunner as his eyes glowed with a fire that made Billy cringe. “True, she doesn’t. She’s not one of my crewman. But for you to say she’s done nothing wrong? I would talk to Peter Pan before you make an announcement like that.”

Both Hook and Billy looked at Peter who was standing now with Nibs and Slightly. Both lost boys stood in silence not knowing what to say or do, while Peter, with his cold eyes, stared blankly at Wendy.

“Am I correct Master Pan?” Hook inquired.

Peter slowly looked at the captain, his blank eyes holding no expression to them at all, and flatly muttered out. “She’s betrayed me. I don’t know her anymore. Do what you want with her. Whatever you want.”

“See there, Billy Jukes, Miss Wendy has done something wrong....And it appears to me as though Peter Pan is leaving it up to me to exact the proper punishment.”

“You wouldn’t,” Billy yelled, as he reached behind him and put a protective arm across Wendy’s waist. “You wouldn’t kill her. She’s a lady! And everything you’ve taught me about how to treat a lady-. How can you be such a hypocrite and go against everything you yourself hold so dear. How can you show such bad form, yet have the nerve to diminish me for what I’ve done when right now you’re behavior is much more appalling.

“If you must punish us then do so now; take my life, but you’ll spare Wendy’s.” Billy then dropped his cutlass and stood firmly in front of the captain. “I’d rather die now and take our punishments as one....than have her die as well.”

Billy then kneeled down before Hook. “Kill me, Cap’n. And if you are a gentleman, and a man of honor, the way you claim to be, you’ll spare Wendy.”

Hook couldn’t help but smile a devil’s grin as he looked at his gunner kneeling before him, defenseless. How easy it would be to just strike him down, the captain thought. But no...not yet anyway. “How noble of you, Mr. Jukes, to postrate yourself before me in order to save the honor of Miss Wendy. Tell me, why would you do such a thing as this?”

Billy looked up at the captain, tears beginning to gather in the corners of his eyes, and he said the words he knew were true, “Because I love her.”

Gasps made their way across the deck as everyone from the pirates to the lost boys looked at Billy with disbelief.

“‘Ave ye gone mad, boy?” Mullins yelled as he approached Billy. Only coming within a few feet of him, as the captain raised his sword to stop him. Mullins then carried on. “You’ve gotta be crazy. Lovin’ a women’s th’ worst thing ye can do. ‘Specially Miss Wendy ‘ere. She’s b’witched ye, Billy.”

“No she hasn’t, Mullins,” Billy yelled, as he looked at his shipmate. “I love her! Do you understand - do you hear me. I love her. And though I’d rather be at her side; if it means guaranteeing her safety, I’ll give up my life for her.”

Billy then looked at the captain once more, but before he could say anything Wendy’s was at his side covering him with her arms. Hearing his declaration of love for her, momentarily placed Wendy in a stupor, but when she heard Billy say he would give up his life for her, she panicked, horrified at the thought of living her life without him.

“I won’t let you kill him - not for me. If he must die then I’ll die as well.”

“Wendy, no,” Billy protested, looking at her with disbelief.

The same look covered the faces of those surrounding them.

“Wendy are you crazy?!” John yelled at her, struggling in his bonds. “He’s not worth it.”

“What are you thinking? Don’t do this,” Nibs yelled to her, stepping forward in as panic, only to be stopped by Peter’s cold glare.

Only Slightly stood there in stunned silence. He couldn’t believe he had heard his best friend say he loved Wendy. And the whole notion swam in his head, making him dizzy.

“NO!” she cried back, looking at Billy. “I won’t live my life without you. We either live, or die together.”

She then looked up at Hook, bravery showing in her eyes. “If you kill him, then you must kill us both.”

Captain Hook stood there looking down at Billy and Wendy. His little game had not gone as planned. He had not expected Wendy to come forth and demand the same punishment as Billy did. He expected her to beg for mercy, and to spare Billy’s life, thus indebting the two of them to him forever to do with as he saw fit; whatever that would have been. This sudden change of events took the captain off guard and he didn’t quite know what to do. He knew it was terribly bad form to so much as even harm a lady. But to kill one; it was a despicable act that he couldn’t fathom partaking in.

As he stood there, he noticed the fire burning in their eyes. This fire was one of passion and love, and it vaguely reminded him of the love he once felt for Cecilia. A twitching began in his lip. and he could feel a wave of an unfamiliar emotion come over him. His heart began to beat loudly in his chest and the hand that held his sword began to shake.

“ARGH!” he bellowed, as he turned around and walked away from Billy and Wendy, dropping his sword in the process.

Amazed at what they saw, Billy and Wendy looked at each other with bewilderment.
 
 

**********
 

“NO!” Elijah yelled as he watched the captain walk away. Quickly his eyes darted around for any sharp object. Seeing a small dagger resting on a cargo barrel behind Starkey, he raced for it. Picking it up, he ran to the two kneeling on deck and grabbed Wendy, dragging her off of Billy and clumsily to her feet. He pulled her in front of him and held the dagger up to her throat, making her cry out in fear as she cowered under the cold steel of the blade.

“NO! This isn’t how it supposed to end!” the cabin boy yelled as he glared at Billy. “I want to see you suffer!”

Everyone stared at Elijah in shocked surprise, and Nibs and Slightly instantly became airborne while Billy moved towards the Roma to try and help Wendy. Peter flinched at the sight and for a moment he found himself torn between what to do as well. But Elijah pressed the dagger harder into Wendy’s throat, making her cry out, and the three to stop where they were, causing the two lost boys to alight the deck once more.

Even the captain had turned back about and looked at the scrawny boy with wonder.

“Elijah. Boy, what the deuce do you think you’re doing?” Hook asked him before Jukes could get a word in. His said this in a steady voice, but it was noticeably clear he was angry.

“If you won’t make him suffer for what he’s done, then I will!” Elijah yelled as Wendy trembled in fear.

“Excuse me, boy! This is my ship, and how I handle traitors is none of your concern. YOU are but a mere cabin boy. Now release her and stop this foolishness.”

NO! I won’t!” the Roma yelled at the captain, not caring that his actions would be considered just as traitorous as Billy’s had been. “I want to see my phral suffer. Suffer for the shame he’s brought upon himself; upon all of us.”

He then began to walk slowly towards the plank, all the while watching everyone around him. He made sure no one was behind him or close by as he skittishly made his way across deck. Never loosening his grip on Wendy. He examined the looks of all that stared at him, and he knew that as long as he held her at knife point, no one would challenge him.

“Surely, Elijah the shame Billy has brought on is no reason for you to want to hurt him - or Miss Wendy for that matter,” Starkey said carefully, looking at the boy with veiled disgust. “We’re all mortified by his actions, and yes, they are shameful indeed, but it doesn’t reflect on us quite the way it does on him.”

“I don’t mean us, you dinili gadjo!” the young Roma, spat, glaring at his shipmate. “Not here on the ship! I mean us; what Billy and I are. Romany. I want to see him suffer for the lazhav he has brought upon our people!

“And if you won’t do it, Captain Hook, then I will!”

Billy looked at Elijah in disbelief. “That’s what this is all about?

“You think I’ve shamed our people....so you’ve done this to me? Why, Elijah....why?....What have I done that you think has brought lazhav....What have I done to make you hate me so much?”

Now at the plank, Elijah stepped back onto it, pulling Wendy with him. He glared hard at Billy and seethed out at him. “What have you done?! You don’t know?!”

“No, I don’t. Tell me.”

“First, you’ve soiled our people by lying down with a gadji. Tainting your body, tainting your blood; and doing it over and over again. And now, you say you love her? Are you didlo? Do you want to spend the rest of your life marhime’?”

These words took Billy by surprise. He had no idea Elijah felt as strongly as he did about his situation with Wendy. But he soon found out there was more.

“But that isn’t all. When you found me, and I found out you were Romany; Kalderash like me, I couldn’t believe how bakalo I was; how lucky. I thought I had found a brother in you; a phral, and I couldn’t wait to share our experiences and kindredship together. But that never happened. I soon found out that you may be Roma on the outside, but you’re a gadje on the inside!”

Billy eyes went wide, not believing what Elijah just said to him. “How am I gadje?”

“How?! By forgetting the way our people live. The customs, the traditions, the taboos we live by; the laws that govern us. You’ve forgotten all that. All of it! You still speak our language, but that doesn’t mean anything! That doesn’t make you Romany!

“Because, instead you choose to live your live among the gadje. Living by their rules, by their laws. Accepting their ways. My brother would never do that. My phral would never allow himself to lose his identity like this. And you’ve lost it among pirates! Even here you could still hold on to who you are, but you haven’t. And I hate you for that! You pride yourself in being Romany, yet you’re no more that this lubni is.”

Mullins made a move forward, followed by Mason when Elijah made the remark about Billy loosing his identity amongst the pirates. Both intended to do whatever they could to get their hands on Elijah. But Billy motioned to them to stop. His expression telling them this was his fight.

At the same time, Elijah held Wendy tighter in his grip, causing the dagger to slide across her neck. She let out a small cry as she felt the sting of the blade against her skin.

“Gadje Gadjensai, Rom Romensa,” he said to Billy, still glaring at him.

Billy let out a wavering sigh as his body shuddered and screamed from hearing Wendy cry out, and the words Elijah spoke to him. Gadje with Gadje, Roma with Roma went through the gunner’s head. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Elijah.

“I know what you’re saying, but what was I supposed to do, Elijah. I’ve spent the past ten years on pirate ships. That’s the only life I’ve ever really known.

“I was seven when I found myself aboard the Walrus. I was all alone, separated from my familia and my vitsa. What was I supposed to do? It was either join up with the crew; become one of them - I was a cabin boy like you - or find myself ridiculed and still alone. I did what I had to, to survive.”

“But did it have to mean losing everything you are? Forgetting where you come from? Forgetting your people?”

“I didn’t forget, Elijah. I would never do that,” Billy started, but he was cut off as Elijah raged at him.

“Yes you did, Billy! And I see it every day. Not a day goes by that I don’t see you breaking a law or taboo the Kris have set in place. And it sickens me to no end.”

Billy became furious now. “What you rather I had done? I was alone and scared. I had no one to take care of me. There were no other Romas on the Walrus. There was no one there to guide me. I had to fend for myself, even if it meant taking on the gadje’s ways. I had no choice. But I never forgot who I was, or where I come from. And I still haven’t.

“If how I live my life upsets you, then I’m sorry. But it’s my life - and you have no idea what I’ve been through. And I don’t need to explain myself to you - or anyone else. And if you’ve done all this just because you don’t approve of how I do things, then tell me who made you judge and jury; a part of the Kris, because you’re much more pathetic than I ever thought.”

Billy then began to walk slowly towards Elijah, trying to figure out how he was going to get Wendy away from the pathetic brat.

Elijah backed up even further onto the plank, keeping a firm grip on Wendy. “Stay away!” the cabin boy yelled.

“Elijah, let her go,” Jukes pleaded. “Please. She’s done nothing to you. You have no reason to harm her.”

“Yes, I do. If it means watching you suffer, then I have every reason to harm her. I want you to pay for what you’ve done.”

Billy stopped where he was. Slowly, he asked of the boy. “Elijah, please, let Wendy go. Your fight is with me, not her. There’s no reason for her to be involved in this. Let her go.”

“NO!” Elijah screamed. He pushed the dagger harder into Wendy’s throat causing her to scream as she felt the warm blood spurt on her skin. But the action also caused her to flinch and jump in pain. Standing on the plank, Elijah wasn’t prepared for the sudden movement, and Wendy’s reaction made the two of them lose their balance. Wobbling and teetering, the Roma tried to regain his footing, but his efforts were useless as he and Wendy fell of the plank.

Elijah fell to the sea below, screaming as he hit the water, while in an instant, Wendy was to the air and alighting the ship, also bringing her hand to her neck to feel the wound that had been inflicted on her. Billy ran to her and kissed her, holding her in his arms, thankful that she was all right. Then he gave her his bandanna to use on her wound.

“HELP! HELP ME!” rose up from the water and Billy and Wendy - along with Mullins, Mason, Starkey, and now Smee - ran to the side to look down.

Elijah was swimming in the water; spitting it out as well. Looking up at his shipmates, he cried out once more. “PLEASE, HELP ME! THROW ME THE LADDER, PLEASE!”

The five shipmates watched the scrawny brat struggle in the water, debating what to do. That’s when they heard it. Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock

Looking around, no one could see where the she monster was coming from, but her warning sign could be heard loud and clear.

Instantly, this put Elijah into a panic and he now began frantically screaming up to Billy to help him. “Billy! Please! Phral! My brother. Help me, please. Don’t let this she-devil eat me. PLEASE! I’ll do anything, just help me!”

Anything? With this word, a smug grin covered Billy’s face. Finally, the time had come. Now he would have his revenge. Now, he would exact himself.

“You’ll do anything?” Jukes called down to the younger Roma.

“YES! Anything!” The ticking was getting closer, but there still was no croc in sight. Elijah was flailing around in the water, frantically trying to find the source of the sinister sound.

“Anything I say?” Jukes called down. He was toying with him, and he intended to enjoy it.

“YES! YES! Anything you say, anything you want.” Suddenly, the croc skimmed the surface of the water. Total fear set in now, as the Roma brat yelled, “Whatever it is; I’ll do it. PLEASE, just help me!”

Billy motioned to his shipmates who stalled at first; not seeing the point of saving the lowly cabin boy, but when they saw the look on Jukes’ face they quickly then got a rope ladder and tied it to the railing.

“No, not yet,” Billy said before they could send it over the side.

“What are ye doin’, Billy?” Mullins asked.

“Exacting myself,” he replied in a hard steady voice.

He then looked down at Elijah. “I have the rope ladder....I’ll send it down....But only if you swear to indebt your life to me, now and forever.”

“What!?....NO!” Elijah yelled back.

“Then I have no reason to save you. And I’ll leave you to the mercy of the croc.”

“NO! Billy wait!....”

“Wait? Why should I? I’ve waited months for this moment. I’m not waiting any longer.

“It’s simple, Elijah. The choice is yours. I save your life - you’re indebted to me forever. We’ll be phral now and from this day forth. Or you spit on my request, and I let the croc have you....What’s it going to be. Does your life mean more to you than vengeance, or are you going to let your hatred eat you like a disease? Which means more to you....phral.”

The croc had come closer by this time, and Elijah was deep in a panic. Tears became to form in his eyes as he saw the sinister orbs and deadly daggers break and dive; each time a little bit closer.

“All right! I agree. I take your request and I place it in my heart. If you save me, I will be forever in your debt. We will be phral now and forever. I will remove my hatred and only welcome in love. For we are familia now. And I am indebted to you. Whatever it is you wish of me will be granted.

“Now please, throw down the rope ladder!”

The ladder came down and Elijah, now surging from an adrenaline rush, swiftly began to climb it just as the croc had made her first lunge at the boy, causing him to scream, and the ladder to shake.

The cabin boy was only a few feet above water when the croc tried again. This time she struck at her target and caught hold of her intended prey; snapping Elijah’s lower left leg in her jaw. The boy screamed in ear-splitting agony as he felt the CRUNCH! and heard the SNAP! of his leg as it was bitten off.

The blood-curdling scream caused the crew of the Jolly Roger to look over the side; minus the captain, who just stood when he was.

“Elijah!” Billy screamed, as he watched the horror of the whole thing. Elijah looked up and opened his mouth to speak , but no words came out. Shock had quickly set in and the scrawny Roma felt himself slip.

“NO! Hang on phral!” Billy yelled as he was over the side of the ship and began climbing down the ladder.

“Billy, be careful,” Wendy called down with fear in her voice.

By the time Jukes had reached the younger Roma, Elijah was slipping in and out of consciousness. Blood poured from the gaping hole below his knee while the croc menacingly swam below. Billy wrapped his arm around Elijah and began to hoist him up to the deck.

“It’ll be all right, Elijah. Just hang on.” Billy told him.

“Don’t let me die,” the boy mumbled. “Save my soul....I’ll....respect for you.”

“Sh!” the gunner ordered. “Save your strength.”

They were about half way up the ladder when the croc struck again. Although she missed the two Romas, she had caught hold of the ladder and was thrashing it around in her mouth. Billy was trying desperately to hang onto Elijah as well as the ladder, but he found himself loosing his grip.

Wendy rose into the air and looking about called to the lost boys. “Nibs, Slightly, please help me save Billy and Elijah.”

The two looked at her, as did her brother, whom they had just untied and then at Peter. He stood there with a stone cold expression not saying a thing. The three then debated whether or not to help her.

“Please! I’m not asking you to forgive me, just help me save them. Please. I’m begging you. They don’t deserve to die.”

Slightly knew what he had to do, and in a flash he was airborne and over the side of the ship.

“Hang on, Billy!” he called as he reached him.

“Slightly?” Jukes exclaimed. The look he had told the lost boy what he was thinking.

“I don’t understand what you did, or why - and yes, I’m a little more than slightly upset with you, Billy Jukes. I'm furious. But you’re my best friend, and I won’t lose you....Or Wendy for that matter.”

“Thank you,” Billy said.

John and Nibs came to Billy’s aid as well, and together with Slightly and Wendy, the four of them helped to get him and Elijah on deck.
 
 

**********
 

“We need something to stop the bleeding,” John cried, getting sick to his stomach as he saw the monstrous wound.

“‘ere’s some pitch,” Mason said, as he brought a bucket full of the black residue over.

“Are you mad?” Starkey questioned, looking his shipmate up and down. “That won’t stop the bleeding. The only thing that’ll do is cause a nasty infection.”

“Well, do you have any better ideas?” Mason snapped back.

“It needs to be cauterized!” Billy yelled at his shipmates.

“With what?” Nibs asked.

“Fire!”

“An’ where's are we gonna find that, Billy boy?” Mullins asked.

“I don’t know,” Billy whined out. He racked his brain trying to figure out what to do when it occurred to him. “The forge! Bring him down there and put his leg in the kiln.”

“What?! Now yous is crazy,” Mullins yelled at him.

“No I’m not. The kiln will cauterize it. I know it will. Mullins, please do what I say. I’ve finally been able to exact myself. I’m not going to have his death on my head.”

“All right,” Mullins reluctantly agreed. “But I don’ like it.”

Gingerly, Mullins and Mason picked up Elijah and began to carry him towards the forge.

But before he was brought down there, Elijah who was conscious once more, looked at Billy. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Forever I am indebted to you.” He then took Billy’s forearm and gripped it firmly; the best that he could.; his dark eyes looking up at the older Roma. “We are brothers,” he said to him in Romani. “Family, now and forever. ”

“Family, now and forever.” Billy responded back in Romani. He smiled at Elijah; one of triumph, as well as sorrow, because as he looked at the boy, he saw in those dark eyes a wicked glint burning back behind all the pain and shock. You’ll never change, Billy said to himself. But you can’t hurt me anymore.

“Where’d Peter go?” John asked after the three pirates were out of sight.

“Peter Pan has taken his leave of the Jolly Roger,” came from behind them all in a menacing tone. They all turned around to see Captain Hook towering over them. Swiftly, the lost boys took to the air as Hook make a swipe with his sword.

“He has left the ship, burdened by his pain. And he has reminded me Miss Wendy, that you are mine to do with as I please. To do what I see fit. And what I see fitting is you living a life here without your beloved Jukes!”

Hook took another swipe; this time directly at Billy who dodged away; defenseless. He had put down his cutlass when he offered himself up for punishment, and now he saw it tucked into the captain’s belt.

“I told you, you would see my anger eventually, did I not Billy Jukes? Well, now you will see it in it’s full glory! I have stood and watched this spectacle play out long enough. Now you will pay for your treason, and it will be by my hand. Prepare to meet your doom Billy Jukes, for your death will be swift and painless; a courtesy I am giving you here.”

Hook had Billy backed up to the cargo barrels that were situated just to the left of the mast. Looking around, Billy saw that he had no where to go. This is it. he said to himself as he watched the burning rage in the captain’s eyes. Hook readied his sword and started to bring down what Billy was certain was going to be his death blow.

But Billy found himself airborne as Wendy swept in and lifted him off the deck.

“Come back here, you traitorous slumgalleon!” Hook bellowed, shaking his fist at the two of them. “I have my own revenge to exact upon you Billy Jukes!”

“Never Cap’n!” Billy yelled down. “I will not give you the satisfaction of taking my life just to quench your thirst for vengeance. Didn’t what happened to Elijah teach you anything. Or are you now so blinded by it as well that you can’t see beyond it's reasoning?”

“You will not give me the satisfaction now. But you will soon enough. You’ll come back to me, and when you do, I’ll be waiting.”

Billy laughed at these words. “Come back to serve under you? Cap’n you must be crazy? I will never serve under you again. Just as I will never set foot on the Jolly Roger again. I am through with you Captain Hook. I am through with being your crewman and a pirate. To ensure the safety of myself and Wendy, I am through with you; through with this place forever.”

“So, this is how it ends? You take the cowards way out. You turn tail and run. Well, you can run Billy Jukes, but you cannot hide. Mark my words, boy, as long as I’m stuck here in Neverland, you will never be safe from me. Wherever you may go, wherever you may hide, I will hunt you down and find you.”

“Please Cap’n Hook, sir!” Jukes chortled. “You make it sound as though I’m Peter Pan. But he’s the one who cut your hand off, not me. What I’ve done can’t be as bad as that?”

“Yes, it can, and far worse. And just like with Peter Pan, I swear, I will have my revenge on you. So go on, Billy Jukes; run. Run away, but you’ll never be able to escape me.”

“Yes, I will, Cap’n. In fact I already have, and you don’t even realize it. Good bye, Cap’n Hook, sir. And good riddance.”

With this Billy and Wendy flew away from the Jolly Roger.

“But what are we going to do?” Wendy asked with a touch of fear and uncertainty in her voice. She searched his dark eyes looking for an answer.

“Just what I said, we’ll leave this place and find somewhere else to live.”

“But Billy, I can’t leave this place. I have no where else to call home.”

“But you can’t stay here. Peter’s banished you....And I can’t stay here either.” The former gunner then looked down briefly at the Jolly Roger, and the captain who was still ranting at him. “Hook will hunt me the way he’s hunted Peter all this time. And he won’t rest until he has me; until he has us.”

“But where will you go?” Nibs asked as he and the other two came up to them.

“Yeah, where? It’ll be slightly impossible to hide forever with the way Hook is mad at you,” Slightly added.

“I know. But as long as I’m with Wendy, I don’t care where we go.” Billy then kissed her on the forehead and hugged her tightly.

“I don’t care either, as long as we’re together,” Wendy responded.

“You-you really....You really do love him, don’t you?” John asked as he stumbled over the words.

“Yes, I do,” Wendy answered as she smiled at Billy. “I never thought I would, but I do.”

“Well, wherever you go, please be careful; and be safe,” John moaned out. “And think of me and Michael.”

“Hey, think about the rest of us too,” Slightly protested.

“I will,” Wendy laughed. “I promise.”

Then her expression became sad as she had a thought about Peter. She looked at Nibs, the second-in-command, the one closest to Peter and opened her mouth to speak. But Nibs quieted her, somehow knowing exactly what she wanted to say.

“I know....I’ll tell him,” the lost boy said.

“Thank you,” Wendy whispered. “Please tell the rest of my boys I’m sorry, and that I love them, and I’ll miss them all very much.”

“We will,” Nibs answered. Then with nothing to hold them back, Billy and Wendy fell out and away from Neverland.
 
 

**********
 

“Is that him? Can it be?” The tall dark woman whispered to herself as she watched Billy Jukes and Wendy Darling make their was through the busy cobblestone streets of Falconer’s Landing.

“Devlesa avilan,” she said in her native tongue. “It is God who brought you....Finally has he brought you to me?”

She watched further as the two then disappeared into the metalsmith shop.

It had only been a short time since Billy’s and Wendy’s arrival in Falconer’s Landing, but they already felt as though they had been there their whole life.

Days had gone by while Billy and Wendy looked for a place where they would be safe. But every island they went to, they knew it was too close to Neverland, for the archipelago in which the magical land was situated stretched out for what seemed to be endless miles, and Captain Hook would search these islands until he found them.

Eventually, they both felt that the only way in which they would be safe was if they returned to the world from where they both had originally come. They knew they were close to the boundary lines, yet the idea of returning went uneasily through their minds. How much time had passed? And would they have a place that they could call home? Both knew the answer was “No” so they found themselves wondering what to do.

Tired and exhausted, they came to land on a dull, empty island littered with trees of all kinds; some the two of them had never seen before. Finding a sheltered spot, they lied down in each others arms and were soon asleep.

Some time later, Wendy woke up to Billy placing soft kisses all the way down along her spine. She turned over and greeted him with a kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. Looking at each other, they knew what they wanted, and without uttering a single word they soon found each other. But this time they found themselves engulfed in a rapture they had never experienced before, and they knew why. For the first time they were able to enjoy each other without the fear of being caught. This revelation made their minds and bodies soar as they found themselves consumed by an unbridled passion of joy and pleasure they had never felt before.

Afterwards, when they were dressed, they decided to look around the island. Still playful from the earlier pleasures, Wendy began a game of tag with Billy as she yelled, “TAG, you’re it,” Laughing, Billy was soon running after her, and their game of tag went on for several minutes as they dodged their way through the trees. Both began running towards two large majestic ones; the kind they had never seen before. When they passed through the middle of them, they were suddenly met with a brilliant flash of light and a spiral wind that pulled at them.

Suddenly they found themselves looking at a landscape rich with color and light. Before them was a cobblestone road that led towards the sun. A horse-drawn cart was on this road, and where once was nothing, now two small houses could be seen; one on either side of the road.

“Where are we?” Wendy asked as she put her arms around Billy.

“I don’t know,” he said cautiously. Looking around he decided, “Let’s find out.”

Although she protested at first - the thought of being strangers in a strange land scared her - she agreed to go. So they went off in the direction the road went.

“Ah, you must be new here,” A man said as he approached Billy and Wendy. He was a tall man, lanky and skinny, and he had white hair, white skin and pink eyes; an albino. “Welcome, welcome. Welcome to Falconer’s Landing.”

“Falconer’s Landing?” Billy and Wendy said together.

“Yes! Falconer’s Landing,” the man replied with a smile. “And I see you made it through the gates. Always a good sign.”

“Good sign? -What are you talking about?” Billy demanded, getting confused.

“Ah yes, newcomers. Walk with me and I’ll explain everything.”

The man’s name was Dirnik Elmik, and he was the mayor of Falconer’s Landing. “A small simple place caught between Neverland and the Otherland.”

He explained how the boundary between the two worlds crosses over the island several times, and because of that it’s found in both places.

“Yet it remains hidden as well.” Confused looks told Dirnik he had to explain.

He told them how Falconer’s Landing is a place hidden among the hidden. Safely tucked away from seeing eyes. And it’s neither in Neverland or in the Otherland, yet it is, and because of this it’s more or less nowhere; yet somewhere.

“It’s here between the worlds, but you can’t see it.” He also explained how only those destined to be here were allowed to find their way to Falconer’s Landing.

“But we weren’t even looking for it.” Wendy told Dirnik.

“Exactly! But you found your way here. Through the "Two Majesties", as they’re called.

“I can’t explain why it happens this way, but those who are fated find their way to Falconer’s. No others. That’s just the way of the land. And you two were fated to be here. Whether it be because you need a safe haven; and you will find one here if that’s what you need, or because you need someplace to just call home for once. You’re here, because your destiny’s brought you here. And your destiny will continue to bring you back here each time you leave the island.

“So welcome home to Falconer’s Landing.”

And home is what Falconer’s Landing became to Billy and Wendy. A home full of safety and love, and good friends and neighbors.

No questions were asked when the two made their way into the busy town, though their status in Neverland was known. It didn’t matter to the Falconers though, as the inhabitants called themselves. And when word spread about Billy Jukes, the metalsmith and inventor from the Jolly Roger being in the Landing, he soon was implored to set up shop and bring forth his creations for the Falconers to employ. He did so and soon gained a reputation for his work.

Even a few times, under the cover of a disguise, he brought his merchandise to Small Monday Island Fair. It was here that he had seen his former shipmates, and his heart ached as they came to his stand. How badly he wanted to reveal himself to them, but he was afraid if he did, Captain Hook would find out. So sadly he kept his identity a secret. But at least he could see that his former shipmates were well. Even Elijah; who had survived his ordeal. He wore a peg-leg from his knee - down. But Billy could see he was still the scrawny, conniving little brat he had been before; just as he knew he would be.

Wendy had run into her boys as well at Small Monday Island Fair. Though greetings and tears of joy spread throughout all of them, and they had told her they had forgiven her, they were never able to come to Falconer’s Landing to visit her. They were not destined to find it They were not in need of it. Only the loss of Peter tore at her heart. He had not forgiven her, and she knew he never would. She also knew Peter would banish any of the lost boys if he knew they were seeing her. So Wendy’s time with the lost boys was limited to her visits to the fair.

But still she was happy. And so was Billy. As long as they had each other, they were happy.

“Please tell me that’s him, God. Please. I’m searched so long. Let that be him.” The darker skinned woman ran her hand through her long black curly mane that fell about her face and shoulders in ringlets and curls. Her features were exotic and defined, and her figure was tall and thin. She looked back in the direction of the metalsmith shop and bit her lower lip.

“Billy Jukes, is that really you. Have I finally found you?”

She knew his name. She, like so many in Falconer’s Landing did. But she knew his name for another reason. For it was her name too. Jukes. Her name was Natalya Jukes. And if everything she knew and hoped for was correct. Then she knew Billy Jukes as well. For Natalya Jukes....was Billy Jukes’ sister.
 

END
 
 

Romani words/phrases/translations

Mahrime' - tainted, dirty, unpure
Phral - brother
Dinili Gadjo - stupid, male non-Roma/gypsy
Lazhav - shame
Gadji - female non-Roma/gypsy
Lubni - wench
Didlo - crazy
Gadje Gadjensai, Rom Romensa - Gadje with Gadje (non-Roma with non-Roma), Roma with Roma
Bakalo - lucky; have luck
Kris - Romany court of law; council of elders
Davlasa Avilan - It is God who brought you to me