“What is it?” Smee yelled.
Rell bounced up and down. “A girl!”
“I knew it!” Sage punched the sky.
Shimmering powder drifted through the air. Tink floated a foot off the ground, her wings glowing with joy. “How is Reya?” she called.
Warmth spread through him in a wave. Beautiful, glorious woman. The love she already showed his family took his breath away.
“Well!” Rell’s pronouncement sent up another round of cheers.
“A girl, a baby girl.” Barley shook himself, still wide-eyed and reeling with the news. Then, all at once, he shoved up on the railing and dove into the sea, boots and all.
Hook lunged to the rail and planted his arm on the top beam, leaning over to spot his friend. Others pressed in around him.
Barley surfaced a moment later, shook his head like a dog, and swam for the dock.
“What are you doing, man?” Hook called.
“Gotta meet her!” He shouted.
Hook shook his head though a grin still pulled hard at his cheeks. Bloody fool. Bringing the Jolly Roger into port wasn’t a swift process, but better than sodden clothes and boots full of water. What a way to greet his wife and new child.
Someone knocked into him. Hook grimaced as the wound on his side twinged with pain. He turned just as Smee reached the railing and lifted his hand in salute.
“Relinquishing command,” his first mate said.
If Smee is here… “Who the bloody hell is captaining the ship? ” Hook twisted toward the helm.
Red hair blazed from under a black tricorn hat, floating on the breeze behind Anne like a flag. His shoulders sagged. At least Smee hadn’t left the wheel unattended, and Anne would do as good a’ job as any of them bringing her into the dock.
“Sorry, Captain.”
Hook looked back just in time to see Smee climb onto the railing. The boards groaned under his weight.
The first mate gave a goofy smile, his eyes never leaving the dock, as he said, “Gotta meet my niece.” He didn’t wait for a reply before jumping into the water after Barley and making an impressive splash in the gentle tide.
Tink perched on the railing, her wings still glowing and giving off a sparkling mist of dust. She no longer feared the sea as much, not after the battle with Blackbeard and their subsequent swim from the sinking ship. Though he’d have to be a fool to think she loved it the way he did, at least, she didn’t yet.
“Like hell if he’s going to meet her first.” Sage climbed the railing and dove in after Smee.
Hook sighed and shook his head. At this rate, half his crew would be in the water. “Anyone else?” he asked. But most of them ignored him as they cheered on either Sage or Smee, who cut through the water after Barley. The new father was alreadyhalfway up the ladder to the dock. Even Tink giggled and cheered.
Hook laughed, a fierce ember of joy blazing in his chest. Reckless fools, every one. And he loved them for it.
Tink
Tink sat on the railing near the gangplank, savoring the feel of the light breeze against her wings. Most of the crew had departed by the time their captain made his way over to her again, eager to reunite with their families after their harrowing adventure. And to greet the new arrival.
“Not excited to meet the little one?” Tink teased.
James was thrilled by the news. She could see it in the easy way he walked, despite his injury and the wide grin that kept finding its way to his face of its own accord.
Truly, she was thrilled, too. She hadn’t stopped smiling since just before Barley jumped into the sea, and her wings still glowed as bright as when she lay in bed wrapped in James’s arms.
“Aye, I am.” He edged closer to her until mere inches separated them. “Thought I might give the others some time to see her first, though.”
“Well, I think they’ve had their time.” Tink shoved him back with a palm to the chest and slid down from the railing. “And I want to meet her.”
