Author: Mosh
Fandom: Peter Pan
Title: First Thing in the Morning
Pairing: Hook/Smee
Rating:G
Summary: How does the captain keep his locks so perfectly curly, anyway?
Disclaimer: These characters are property of J.M. Barrie. No money is being made, and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: I can't remember why I wrote this, but I do recall it happening at work when I should have been working. Says it all, really. :) 400 words.

Note: You may not archive, re-post, or alter any of my stories without my permission. Please contact me first. Thanks!

Hook never let Smee into his cabin first thing in the mornings. The bo'sun always had to wait in the crew's quarters until the little bell above his bed jingled, signaling that the captain was ready for his breakfast.

Smee had never questioned Hook outright about it, but inwardly, over the years, he had thought up many different fancies as to why his master preferred to be alone when rising.

Was he prone to sleepwalking, and would wake in strange positions or random places? Was it just that Hook rarely slept at all? Or maybe it was because he wasn't really a man, but a God, and would travel down through the cabin windows with the rumble of the early morning breeze, to take his place as head of the Jolly Roger every day.

Smee didn't really believe any of these things, but he liked to entertain the notions to pass the time while he scrubbed the decks or tended to the many repairs that needed doing in the hull.

Years passed before Smee's curiosity was suddenly answered.

It happened early, as the first rays of light drifted hazily through the clouds and the forest began to wake, birds chirping in the distance. Smee had been out on deck, and had spotted a strange dot in the sky while glancing up as a flock of seagulls passed overhead. Gradually, it had drawn closer, growing as it approached. As soon as he realised what - or more like who - it was, he leapt to his feet and raced up the wooden stairs towards Hook's cabin to alert him.

"Cap'n! Cap'n - it's him! Pan!"

No reply.

With little other choice (and a rabid fear of the boy that he would never admit out loud - to anyone, including himself), he pushed open the door and entered Hook's private quarters.

"Hammer and tongs, you imbecile!" the captain roared, as he rose from his bed. "I thought I told you to never come in here while I was asleep!"

Smee's eyes widened and he clapped his hand across his mouth. "M'surrruh surr," he said, as sincerely as he could, though inwardly he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

There stood James Hook - feared pirate of Neverland, captain of the most dreaded ship that sailed the seas - wearing only a night shirt that fell to his knees, and a set of bright pink foam haircurlers in his hair, pulled up under a frilly net.

~Fin~