Notes:

Heya Descendants!

Two posts one day?

Everyone thank Dobby.

She reminded us to post again with her review.

Aren't you guys the lucky little readers ;)

So let's not be upset the last chapter was so painfully short.

But, JFC. Editing. Ugh.

Hope you guys enjoy this one.

It was as fun to write so hopefully it'll be just as fun to read!

-Twisted

(See the end of the chapter for questions.)

*Later that day...*

A secret note pinned to the door of the hangout saying T wanted to meet up? Yeah, that wasn't suspicious. Not that wanting to meet up and telling Mal they were going to play hide and seek was unusual, but in a note pinned to the door while she was alone inside?

Highly suspect.

Hyades sighs as she walks yet another path to the book club beach, still staring at the paper in her hand.

She was being careful, not paranoid. At least that's what she kept telling herself. It didn't stop her from reading it through for the hundredth time. Nothing was wrong with their language. The handwriting was the same, though more rushed than normal. The tone of the letter was a little off, but after the way Mal had been acting it didn't surprise her.

Something had happened between those two. No one else seemed off. Well, Yensid seemed a little off, but he was harder to read than most.

She sighs before she holds the letter in her palm and burns it to ash.

It takes her longer than usual to reach the beach, but she eventually hops down to the soft sand.

She smiles as she looks around. They weren't as concerned with someone stumbling across this place as they had been at the old stretch of beach. She could still see the pools of cooled metal she melted down and left for later, discarded pieces from a machine that Carlos had stripped for parts, and a large blanket with rocks to weigh it down. She'd forgotten to pull it up and store it the last time she'd been here.

They were a lot messier when they weren't worried about being discovered.

Her smile turns to a frown. T had missed Gil finishing his sword. T had missed all their book club gatherings for the past, it had been a few weeks at least. He hadn't been attending meetings, and she hadn't seen him either.

Again, nothing suspicious... Right?

Nothing to be worried about? Her hand hovers over the sword on her belt. Was he going to jump out and attack? Or was this really just a meeting?

"T?" She calls out nervously before she continues to edge closer to the cave entrance.

"Yo." T greets as he stands up from where he was looking over the scraps of broken greatswords. "Sup?" He walks over to her.

"Sup?" Hyades shakes her head as she drops her hand from the sword hilt. She looks behind T, smiling when she sees the dingy from Uma's ship. No wonder she hadn't seen any signs of T.

"Was hopin' you could do me a favor," T admits as he looks away from her and keeps walking to the shore.

Hyades tilts her head to the side. T so rarely asked for her help. How could she refuse? "Sure. What's up?"

"Cool." T nods before he pulls a vial from his pocket. "Drink this."

She pauses, her eyes dropping from T's face to the dark liquid, "Okay?" She reaches out for the vial, "Like, because you want an opinion?"

T nods, 'Something like that, sure."

"This is the favor you needed?" Something was off, but she couldn't put a finger on it, "The favor you snuck around the hideout, pinned a letter to the door while I was inside and alone?"

"Look, Deez, if you don't want to help you can say no." T frowns as he crosses his arms. "But, whatev's I guess not being around for a while would make me suspicious of one of my closest friends too."

That stung, "No, T, don't be-"

"No-No- I get it." T holds up his hand. "I wouldn't trust me either."

"I trust you!" Hyades snaps as she breaks the wax seal and downs the liquid inside. The taste makes her gag and cough, but when T surges forward and locks his lips over hers, she swallows in surprise.

When T pulls back Hyades looks up at him, "What was-" She throws a hand out as the world spins.

"Thank you." T grins at her as he picks her up off her feet. "But, you know, you weren't wrong to question it."

"Wrong?" Hyades blinks up at T as the edges of her vision slowly filter to black.

"This is just gonna be easier with your ass passed the fuck out." T admits, "Promise, it's nothing bad."

"Ask..."

T looks down at her and shrugs before he continues his way to the stolen dingy. He wraps her in a sheet before he tucks her in under a bunch of garbage. Once she's secure, he grabs the oars and kicks the dingy out.

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"Fuck?" Hyades jerks awake and instantly springs to her feet in confusion.

"Oh good, your up." T greets from where he was crouched down next to her. He would be lying if he didn't say he'd been starting to get worried. He didn't think of the complications of her half god-ness. Her breathing had become far to shallow, and her pulse way too light while she was out. But he wasn't sure what she usually slept like. "Was hoping your body would burn through that shit quick with how quickly you went down..." He stands to his feet.

"T?" Hyades groans.

"Last I checked." T jokes darkly as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Sup?" He asks surprised she knew it was him with how dark the room was. But he had just spoken to her, even confused by lingering side effects she probably recognized his voice.

"What, what was in that vial?"

"Sleep shit." T shrugs, "I needed a favor, remember?"

"I thought drinking it was the favor?" Hyades grumbles before she looks around, "Wait, are we on the ship?"

"Yep." T nods, eyes narrowed as he struggled to make out her shape. Could Deez see him? It would make sense. She wasn't complaining or scared to wake up in pitch darkness. Huh. He flips her off.

Hyades chuckles, "Real mature T."

"Holy shit, so you can see down here?" He asks with a raised brow, torn between astonishment and envy. He wished he could fucking see like that. Damn. That was fucking awesome.

"Can't you?"

"Fuck no." T shakes his head, tensing when a hand touches his shoulder.

"You really can't see me?"

"No." T frowns. "I fucking wish. I just memorized this ship's layout to bug the shit out of Hook." T admits sheepishly. It was so easy to get a rise out of him he couldn't help himself.

"Of course you did." Hyades chuckles, "Seriously though, I didn't know this wasn't normal."

"Tch." T scoffs, "Of course you didn't, it's your normal. And how many times have you been this much in the dark with someone else?"

"My room... With you and Gil. Night... Still mostly with you. And the well, also with you."

"Huh." T shrugs, "And I'm just now figuring it out? That's fucking pathetic." He kicks an imaginary rock. "Damn it."

"Wow, you're slackin'."

"Shut it." T rolls his eyes. "And come on, you need to get ready." He opens the door, letting in the barest hint of light from a lantern left down the hall.

"So, not that I'm ungrateful, but why the ship? What favor do you need?"

"I want to finish what I started, and I don't want the sea three up my ass... Well that, and I know Uma's been missing you." T sighs. He still couldn't believe Uma had cried like that. If Ursula had been standing in front of him he would've backhanded her with no regard to the consequences.

He pulls a bundle of clothes out of his messenger bag, "Here. Put this on. Fuck only knows who's working for who on this ship." Seriously though. He fucking hated all the adults on this ship at this point. Their captain had clearly been exhausted to the brink of insanity and none of them offered to work in her place? Fuck that. He wasn't even a member and he picked up more slack than all the shitiots she called the crew. It was disgusting. Well, everyone but James. James was chill. Though he was half of the age of most of the other adults so maybe that constituted for something.

Hyades takes the offered hoodie and pulls it on before doing the same with the pants.

"Here." T steps closer and pulls up her hood, tucking her hair into it. "There. Just another urchin."

"Another, much shorter urchin."

"Eh, so I took up the Core Four's adopt-a-mini-me mentality." T laughs dryly. "You're about Dizzy's height anyway." He adds playfully.

Hyades looks down at herself before she jumps forward and hugs him, "Thanks."

T grins as he wraps one arm around her shoulder, "No problem, but, come on." He tugs her to long sleeve, "Times limited ya know?"

She pulls the hood low over her face, "Ready."

T shoots her a smile, "Good, come on." He walks out of the room.

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Uma sighs as she looks over the latest report from James. They were doing great, thanks to T. The ship was nearly repaired. All the stolen wood had been used on the inside of the ship to keep her mother from suspecting her of sabotaging the remodel. The old wood on the outside of the ship was just another layer of protection and served as a red herring if anyone were to think that perhaps the kids were getting smarter than they should be.

All in all, she was pretty proud of her plan to stay unassuming. Until the time was right. Not bad, considering the hell they'd gone through to get here.

She looks up at the knock on her door.

Her eyes dart to the table where Gil was sketching and doing his best to ignore Harry's grooming.

The two look back to her and shake their heads. Apparently, they weren't expecting anyone either.

She stands, but before she can move the door swings open, revealing two dark-clad figures

"Thanks for the warning " T grumbles as he walks into the room, with someone dressed identical to him, but half the height at his side.

"You knocked first," The shorter one grumbles before the hood turns to Uma, "Surprise!" the voice shouts before it jumps her.

T shuts the door behind him and leans against the wall closest to it.

"Deez?" Uma blinks before she rips the hood back, spilling out the girl's long white and blue hair.

Gil's chair falls to the ground as he runs over, "Deez!" He picks up the two girls in a bear hug.

Harry doesn't move, just stares at the figure near the door, "Smart."

"I thought so." T smirks.

"I don'nah be ah suposin' ya be ah wantin' ta be tellin' us what be ah goin' on with ya?" He glares at T.

"You'd be suposin' correct."

Uma sighs as Gil puts them down. She boops Hyades on the nose before she moves past her and Gil, "Thanks for this." She nods to T as she reaches Harry's side.

"No problem." T pushes off the wall, "Let me know when she's ready to get back, I want to check out the repairs and shit."

"Feel up to giving me a moment before you leave again?" Uma questions, ready to bolt to the door if she had to block it.

"If you must?" T shrugs.

"And you won't just up and vanish on me?" Uma presses. She'd made a mistake when she'd let T go the first time, and she knew he was avoiding her now because of it.

"Figured it would just be easier for me to bring her back." T shrugs. "Just ya know, wanted to finish what I started, and can't do that without noise."

"And if we're gonna be up anyway..." Uma chuckles as she turns to find Hyades pulling off the too large hoodie. She closes her eyes, telling herself that everything would be okay for a few more hours. T said he was going to take her back. There was no way he'd leave her in a position that could end with the blue princess getting banished, "Fair, but take Harry with you. Might as well make him use the skills he got from the shop. Help him apply it to the ship."

T opens his mouth to argue before he just nods his head and sighs, "Kay."

Harry nods as he walks over to Hyades, smiling as he ruffles her hair, "Ya best be ah savin' some energy for me." He teases before he turns back to T, "Ready?"

T nods and opens the door, heading out.

"Keep an eye out," Uma warns Harry.

"Aye Cap'in," He grins, "Always."

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Harry chuckles as he follows T down the stairs.

"What?" T asks as he looks over his shoulder.

"Oh... I just be ah marvelin' at yer strategy with that play." He admits with a grin.

"Oh." T turns back around, "Sometimes I think before I act."

"I be knowin' ya be havin' it in ya." He shakes his head, "especially since we ain'nah been seein' hide nor hair 'bout ya since ya be ah last talkin' with Uma." He snorts, "But we be ah findin' plenty o' black powder."

"You're welcome," T grins, as he heads to the hold. "Figured if everything else was getting up to par, the cannons could use some love too."

"Aye. That be ah makin' sense," Harry nods, "But where ya be ah findin' it?"

T looks away for a moment before he sighs. "I made a deal with Maleficent." He shrugs, "And my end is getting information on Shan Yu-"

Harry's eyes widen before he reaches out and grabs T by the shoulder, spinning him on the spot until they were eye to eye, "Why the fuck ya ah bein' so damn reckless?"

"I said think sometimes." T defends himself, unable to meet Harry's gaze, "Just thought it was stupid that Deez ended up with Mal because of some deal she made when she was a fuckin' toddler."

"What do that be ah havin' ta do with ya being so gung-ho ta die?" Harry shakes T's shoulder impatiently.

"Nothing." T's head drops with a heavy sigh. "Why do you guys always assume that I'm trying, or want to die?" He questions, kicking at an invisible rock. "When all I'm doing is saying fuck it, we're too old for this shit, and I'm done." He huffs dejectedly.

Harry's brow furrow, "That really be all ya be ah doing?"

T nods, "I just... I'm just so sick of the fucking lies."

Harry furrows his brow as he drops his grip on T, "I can be understandin' that." He could remember being fed up with the peddlers' lies and hold on him. Not that he'd ever dreamed of fighting back until Uma came along.

T's lips tilt into a small smile. "Thank you." He looks away, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"What are mates for if not for understandin'?" Harry smiles ruefully, "At least me past be good for somethin'."

T tilts his head to the side, brow furrowed as he turned back to Harry. "Whatcha mean?"

"Ya think I always be ah charmin' pirate belongin' ta Uma?"

"Kinda, yeah..." T narrows his eyes before he frowns. "But then again, I didn't know you existed before Uma started pulling you around everywhere."

Harry laughs before he rubs a hand over his lower face to soften the bitter sound, "I certainly never thought ya be one ta visit the red lantern end o' the docks, so that be ah makin' sense."

T frowns as he stares at Harry, his face going through several emotions before it lands somewhere between surprise and horror. "Wait- What? Why the fuck would you tell someone that?!"

"What ya be ah meanin'?" Harry frowns, "I don'nah be likin' the memories or nothin', but Gil and Uma be ah knowin', and I just thought ya might be ah wantin' ta know too."

T stares at him green eyes with dark eyes, "Why would you think anyone- Why- Just..." T growls in frustration, "What the fuck am I supposed to do with that?" He accuses as he brings up his hand to run his hand through his hair, clearly annoyed. His hood falls back, revealing a shock of red under a mess of black knots.

"Nothin' ya don't be ah wantin' to?" Harry shrugs as he fights his urge to finger comb T's hair, "I just, understand is all."

T opens his mouth, only to snap it shut as his eyes widen in realization.

"T?" Harry frowns as he watches the boy in front of him shivering, unable to speak or even snap back at him with a witty one liner he was so well known for. "It ain'nah bein' ah big deal mate. So what I can be understandin' yer hatred of lies? Not ah big reveal or nothin'." Why was he freaking out so much right now? Uma was on alert with him, should he also be on alert?

T blinks in response as he scrutinizes Harry before he looks away with a look of relief. Color floods back to his cheeks. "Oh... Gotcha... My bad."

"Uh, not ta be ah changin' the subject, but what ya be ah doin' to yer hair mate?" He lightly pulls at a single lock of hair escaping the matted mess.

T turns back to Harry with a raised brow. "Not brushing it?" He shrugs.

"Obviously." Harry rolls his eyes, "I did'nah be ah knowin' ya be ah redhead though, ya shouldn't be ah hidin' that color, I be ah thinkin' it looks nice."

T tilts his head."What?!" He grabs a chunk and his eyes straining to see what Harry was talking about. "Fucking really?" He hisses in exasperation fueled disgust as he steps back away from Harry pulling out a dagger. His other hand darting to grasp his rat's nest that was currently his hair, to twist it taunt, before he slides his blade through it.

"Oy!" Harry jumps forward to late and stares in horror as the ragged slices fall, "There be better ways ta be ah treatin' yer hair mate!"

"Tch." T kicks the matted braids away. "The fuck I care 'bout that."

Harry covers his mouth with his fingers as he stares at T's choppy new haircut. No. He was not going to be able to deal with that. "That's it, I have to fix your hair now."

T blinks in surprise. "Wha-" He shakes his head."We're supposed to be fixing the ship right now. Just, ya know, ignore it." He throws up his hood.

Harry blinks, "But, I've seen it. I, how I be supposed ta leave ya with that butchery?"

"Tch." T rolls his eyes as he crosses his arms.

"Ya don'nah be 'tch'ing me." Harry glares, "It be ah takin' me all o' five minutes ta ba ah fixin' the damn mess ya be ah makin and ya be expectin' me ta not?" It was wrong. All wrong. It was long in all the wrong places and short in the rest of them.

"You were fine with the rat's nest."

"I ain'nah never seen yer hair that bad ah'fore," Harry slowly shakes his head, "an' I know ya ain'nah one for touchin' so I be doing me best ta not obsess." He admits as he drags his fingers roughly down his chin.

T studies him for a moment before slightly relaxing. His eyes sweep over him curiously. "Seriously? It's just hair, Hook."

Harry quickly narrows his eyes, "Ya can just be ah bitin' yer whore tongue."

T can't help his snort, as a small amused smile tilts on his lips.

"T. Five damn minutes so I can be ah sleepin' at night." Harry begs, "I can'nah be wakin' up ta night scares cause o' this, Uma'll laugh at me."

T rolls his eyes, "I'd laugh at you too. It's. Just. Hair."

"But it's your hair and I can fix it if ya just be ah lettin' me." Harry rushes to explain, "I can do fix it. Who ya be ah thinkin' fixes Gil's hair every time he be ah gettin' in fights with his damn family, or be ah doin' Uma's braids? I even be ah brushin' Deez hair and cuttin' it for her."

"I never doubted you're skill Hook." T rolls his eyes, "But I came here to fix the ship. And so far I've-"

"Been pulled into awkward conversations and butchered your hair?"

T raises his brow at Harry's bitter tone, eyes narrowing. "Are you-" T's eyes sweep over him in confusion. "Are you serious?"

Harry finally tears his eyes away from the hood hiding T's crime, "About fixin' yer hair? Aye, I be ah fuckin' serious."

T frowns, "About hair..." He states uncertain. "That's what you're serious about? Hair?"

Harry crosses his arms over his chest, "Ya don'nah be blinkin' at Gil when he be ah playing music or drawin', or Evie when she be ah fightin' Deez inta new clothes, but ya be hung up on me likin' ta fix up hair?" Really? This was his hang-up?

"Kinda. Yeah." T shoves his hands in his pocket.

"Ya gonna be lettin' me fix it or let it be hauntin' me dreams?" Harry snaps.

"You're fucking with me right?" T blinks.

"I can be," Harry quips back automatically before he shakes his head, "But not until I can be fixin' that." he stabs the air between them before he drops an accusing finger towards the mess of hair on the ground.

"Huh." T stares at him for a long moment. "Hair? That's your thing, seriously?"

"I like ta be fussin' with hair," Harry shrugs in exasperation, "why it be ah botherin' ya so much?

T turns his head away, "I've been trying to figure out what your hobby was for years..." He mumbles. "So, like seriously. That's your music? Or sewing?" He asks skeptically. "Hair."

"Why not?" He glares, "I did'nah be expectin' ya ta be so judgy over it." It hurt. Not as bad as the teasing had when he was a kid, or when his father called him names for liking to style C.J's hair, but he hadn't been expecting that kind of shit from T.

"I wasn't tryna- I just..." T tilts his head. "Hair?" He pouts. "I've been seriously trying to figure it out for years."

"Ya should'ah just been uh askin'." Harry rolls his eyes, "Me hobbies are swordfightin', doin' hair and fuckin'."

T swallows as he shifts uncomfortably. "Kay." He blinks. "I mean-" He clucks his tongue. "Huh." He pouts, "Those are all really hard things to keep in stock." He sighs, as he rubs his neck through the hoodie. "Five minutes?"

"I swear," Harry quickly nods, "then we can be ah fixin' the ship ta yer heart's content. I just be ah needin' me tools."

"Oh." T grins, "Like Dizzy's?"

"Aye, like the little mini blue princess." Harry smiles as he backs away slowly, "But I be better."

"She's eight or something. I'd hope so."

"Shut up and follow me." Harry rolls his eyes.

"Hair...?" T mumbles under his breath petulantly as he follows after Harry.

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"Will ya be ah holdin' still?" Harry grumbles as he pulls a comb through what was left of T's hair.

T pauses his fidgeting. "My bad." He frowns. Hair. The thought still threw him. His thumbs drum against the table absently. How the fuck had he missed something so simple?

He glances from Gil's light feathered hair to Uma's perfectly braided bright teal and black hair that never seemed to fade. He'd never even considered hair to be an interest of Harry's. But now that he knew he was kicking himself for missing it. It's not like they could go to Dizzy. She was deep in Mal's territory. And regardless of how ragged Uma got, her hair remained nearly as perfect as Evie's. And then Gil... Gil was about as good as him when it came to caring about his appearance.

Well, maybe not as bad as him. He doubted Gil didn't know his natural fucking hair color. His eyes shifted in his seat again. He could fucking kill Harry for dragging him in here. Gil, Hyades, and Uma's eyes had immediately been drawn to him when Harry had so loudly announced he was getting a hair cut. His face darkens.

How many layers deep did the lies go?

Hair. He narrows his eyes, boring a hole into the table in front of him. He'd fucking gotten them to believe a lie about his fucking hair. And he hadn't even known it was a lie. How much bullshit could he seriously swallow this month?

It was much easier to pretend everything was okay before that. He was getting paranoid that they all knew the truth, and were just afraid of sending him bolting out their lives. He didn't know if he should be appreciative or embarrassed that none of them had asked why he dyed his hair. He was so fucking sick of lying, yet he knew another would just pour out of his mouth.

He tenses as Harry steps to the side to brush out another section of his hair. He knew five minutes would be a lie. Though he had no one to blame but himself. He'd spited Faustina right into another web of deception. Did she know their hair color was red? Is that why he'd heard a shriek in the back of his head when Harry had pointed it out? He swallows. He was oddly grateful when Harry tugs the comb too hard, making his head jerk to the side and out of his thoughts.

"Sorry, but this be why ya should be takin' better care o' yer hair mate."

"Eh." T shrugs. He was pretty sure if it had just been the two of them, the taller boy would be non-stop berating him for how bad he'd let his hair get.

He'd been surprised at first. Harry was so gentle with working through the knots. He knew it had to be obnoxious, but he kept shifting in discomfort. This was the exact opposite of what he'd been hoping for when he hi-jacked Hyades. And though he was usually comfortable with all four of them, he couldn't stop fidgeting as Harry leaned over him. Nothing tonight was going as he hoped it would. Well that, and he had never actually let anyone into his personal space for this long. Not without a blade in their hand anyway.

He was still confused as to what Harry got out of this particular hobby. But he could understand what the others got out of it. He might not like the invasion of space, but he kept zoning in and out due to the gentle tugs and occasional ruffle of his hair.

He'd be lying if he said he hated it. Though he wasn't happy about it either. He wasn't sure what he was feeling. And he couldn't help blanking at how shockingly soothing it was.

"Want to brush my hair next?" Hyades asks eagerly from her perch on Uma's desk where the other three were busy with one of Uma's new maps.

T rolls his eyes. Of course Hyades knew Harry's stupidly simple pastime. He was so fucking annoyed with himself. But seriously, how the fuck had he missed it? He glances at Uma's braids again. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen it so much as faded. Ugh. Why did it bother him so much? He frowns, probably because he'd been able to figure out everyone's hobbies but Hooks.

"Yer hair ain'nah bein' ah challenge, fire princess, ya just be ah likin' ta be petted," Harry teases her in a sassy tone as he gestures to her with the scissors still in his hand, "But aye, I can be ah pettin' ya next."

T's eyes focus on the scissors he was currently using, noting the chips in the blade with a frown before he sits up a little straighter. He could find him a better pair than those. And hunt down hair products. He'd done it several times for Evie when the girl had had a complete meltdown over her hair not being smooth enough when it got muggy.

Uma chuckles, "We have been missin' spoiling ya, baby girl." She looks up from the map on her desk to her cousin and lovingly pats her knee.

Gil grins as he pulls Hyades into his arms before he walks over to sit on the bed with her in his lap, "She's not wrong." He nuzzles his chin into her hair before his brow furrows and he looks around the room with his goofy grin in place, "I think this is the first time our whole family has been together in one room." He chuckles warmly, "I always expected it'd be louder."

T lifts his brow, this wasn't their first time in the room together. He knew for damn sure the four of them had plenty of moments before the shit hit the fan with that stupid favor. Hell, he used to carry her here for them. Admittedly, that felt like a lifetime ago... Still, there was no fucking way the kid had forgotten it so quickly. Yet he couldn't bring himself to correct him, not when he looked so damn happy.

Hyades chuckles as she watches T, "You really don't get it." Her eyes twitch before she instantly looks away again.

T glances at Hyades in confusion. Who didn't get what? What had he missed?

"T doesn't like admitting he's part of the family." Uma shrugs without even bothering to look up, "He'll get over it eventually."

Family? His thumbs stop drumming. He looks between the two of them, his fingers twitching to pull up his hood as he fights the urge to shrink in his chair, knowing it would only draw more attention if Harry yelled at him again.

He wasn't sure he'd ever heard any of them ever refer to him as family before. He bites down on his cheek and drops his eyes to his lap. He feels his cheeks flush as his mouth dries. How the fuck was he supposed to respond to that? Why the fuck would they even want him in it? If he couldn't trust himself, how the fuck had he managed to earn theirs? His hands reach for his hood reflexively before Harry smacks one away in reprimand.

"It's okay T," Hyades sighs before she looks around the room once and drops her eyes to the floor, "I didn't know how to react at first either."

Gil chuckles as he firmly takes her chin in his hand and tilts her head back, "But we helped you figure it out."

Harry lightly drums his fingers across T's shoulders in an oddly reassuring way, "Aye, we did."

Hyades, after a moment of struggling to look away, sighs and shrugs, "They're still helping me figure it out." She admits with a small smile.

T looks between the three of them with a worried frown. It's not like Harry had gotten a chance to talk to them since he'd admitted to him he made a deal with Maleficent. He wasn't sure he'd ever been this type of uncomfortable before.

"Not even distance can change that," Uma nods as she turns in her chair to face the group, "Something else we've been working on with ya." She winks at Hyades.

"Or who else claims ya." Harry continues pointedly, tapping at T's shoulder once more before he goes back to fussing with his hair.

T tilts his head up to look at Harry curiously. Was that directed at him? Something in his stomach flips as he meets unflinching, icy blue eyes.

"Because that's how real families work." Gil nods his head in approval. "It's just... Nice. To not have to worry about where both of you are."

"Ya paying attention there T?" Harry asks as he continues to stare down at T.

T drops his head. "Not deaf. Just dense." He mumbles.

Harry nods before he walks around T once, "Look up mate, I be ah needin' ta be seeing me handy work from all angles."

T drops his hands, realizing he wasn't going to get away with flipping his hood up yet. He looks up, as instructed. Of course Harry would have such an oddly intimate hobby. His eyes don't leave his lap. "Meet your standard?" He asks curiously, unable to stand the silence for another second.

"Aye, I be ah fixing the mess ya be ah makin' well enough for now." Harry nods in satisfaction before he leans over T and grabs something off the table behind him, "Here." He holds out a small, cracked mirror.

"Nope." T pulls away from the mirror as if it would burn him, as he holds up his hands. "I trust you." He he throws up his hood.

Harry frowns, "But ya don'nah even be ah wantin' ta see the new T?"

"It's a good look on you," Hyades smiles before she rolls her eyes at Harry, "Leave him alone, he let you fix it."

T nods in appreciation, "Imma go do the thing I came here to do." He jumps out of the chair at Deez's well-timed distraction.

Harry pouts, but slowly starts wrapping his tools back up in the small cloth he kept them in.

"Hey..." Hyades pouts, "No fair, you said you'd brush my hair next."

Gil chuckles as he releases Hyades. His sad eyes following T's back.

Harry purses his lips and narrows his eyes at T, but then looks back to Hyades with a smile, "Aye lass, I did be ah promisin' ya pets did'nah I."

Hyades boldly nods and holds her hand out, clearly beckoning Harry to join her and Gil on the bed. Her eyes linger on T for a moment before he slips out the door.

Uma lowers the map she'd been scouring when the door clicks shut. "Anyone else think T seems more like his old self?"

Gil nods as he helps Hyades twist in his lap to give Harry more access to her hair.

"Aye, he be ah seemin' better ta me." Harry nods as he tosses his tools onto the bed and starts running his fingers through Hyades' long hair.

Hyades stays quiet though, and it was that silence that bothered her the most. Uma stands slides from her seat and stands in front of her cousin, "Something you noticed baby girl?"

"Not really." Hyades looks up for barely a second before she drops her eyes again.

"You sure?" Uma asks with a raised brow.

"I was just surprised at how he still didn't get it, that's all." She says softly as she leans back into Harry's hands.

"Yeah well, he said it best." Uma sighs, "Denseness runs deep in that one."

"Aye." Harry sighs, "We'll get through eventually, don'nah ya all be worryin' none 'bout that."

"That's a quick one-eighty," Uma observes as she crosses her arms. "You've been biting at the bit all week because he hadn't come back."

"When ain'nah I bitin' the bit when I don'nah be knowin' what be ah goin' on?" Harry purses his lips before he grabs a brush and starts pulling it through Hyades' soft hair.

"So then, what's going on?" Uma asks with a raised brow.

"I just be ah givin' T space," Harry shrugs, "Ain'nah that what ya be doin' for us when ya be helpin' us out?"

Uma narrows her eyes, tapping her foot several times before she sighs. "I still need to talk to him."

They all look up at the sound of hammers hitting metal.

"Sounds like T might have recruited James again." Gil frowns as he looks from Uma's frown to Hyades hiding her face, "Why is everyone not talking about something they want to talk about?" He asks once his eyes lock with Harry's.

Uma smiles as she rubs the back of Gil's neck. Of course her sweet boy would pick up on the uncomfortable vibe. "I'm worried that T seems to be fine because it seems too good to be true after everything he said the other day."

Harry sighs, "He's been busy since then, so maybe he is ah doin' better 'cause he don'nah be havin' time ta be thinkin' on it."

"Anything to add to the discussion baby girl?" Uma pokes at Hyades, knowing full well that she was listening despite her closed eyes.

Hyades sighs before she opens one eye to look at Uma, "T's been avoiding Mal recently, or I think he is. And I think he's the reason she's in such a bad mood, or part of the reason anyway. She's been pissed at her mother here lately too."

Uma raises a brow when she catches Harry's grip on the comb tightening. So T had gone to Maleficent. But for what? She sighs, "Let's just enjoy what time we have while we're still hearing the damn hammering."

Notes:

So lots to cover in this chapter!

What did you guys think?

So, what did you guys think about the start of this chapter? Hyades reaction to finding the note on the door? And T's tactic to get her to drink the vile concoction and the kiss?

What about that reunion? Wasn't it hella fluffy?

The Sea Three adore the shit out of Hyades, wasn't it a relief to finally see her own it? She's certainly come a long way, hasn't she?

And the scene between T and Harry?

Was anyone surprised T's not a natural brunette? That Frollo's obsession runs that deep? Gross right?

What'cha think about Harry's reaction to T's butchery?

How about T's sulking he hadn't figured out Hook's hair fetish sooner? Cute right?

And the scene at the end?

How flippin' adorbs was it that Uma and her boys stated their claim on T?

How painful was it to read Ts reaction to it?

Let us know,

In the comments below!

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted