Scarlett had just begun to lose herself in the Captain's passionate embrace. It was just the two of them now and she would have been content to spend the rest of the night alone with him. She felt safe in his arms again--something she wasn't sure she would ever gain back--but it all vanished as he posed his question to her so abruptly.

Instantly, all her anxieties came flooding back to her mind in one burdensome rush. She worried about her brother, whose safety had been compromised so many times; she worried about the whole crew's safety aboard the Captain's ship now that they had made themselves enemies of Bastian De Leon; and she even worried about her long-lost sister. What if they couldn't find her? What if it was all for nothing?

Scarlett gazed at the Captain for a few seconds with a perplexed look. “What did you say?” she said.

He took a step back, returning to his own space with a smug look on his face. “What if we tried taking him down like you said--'expose his operation?’”

“But you just said it's impossible.”

“I didn't say it was impossible.” He brought a finger contemplatively to his lips, sitting back down and leaning back in his chair. “You know what happens when you run away from a man like that. That is what's impossible. No, someone like him needs to be stopped.”

“And how?”

“Well, that's the challenging bit.”

“Oh, Alex, I don't know. I have a bad feeling about it.”

“But you were the one who just suggested it.”

“I know but that was a desperate thought and I wasn't thinking it through. You were right--you can't take him down. Not without losses. Look at what he did to your ship. Next time, it could be lives.”

“Aye, that's true,” he said, furrowing his brows together. “But what happens if this continues--if I continue working for him? What about Blackbeard, who is also after us? Lives will be lost anyway--lives that would be better off dead standing up and fighting rather than working as slaves for that man.”

Scarlett mulled over his words, their weight settling down on her as she recognized his valid point. Yes, it was more dangerous to remain as they were. Besides, it wasn't like they had much of a choice. Bastian was out for revenge and if Scarlett knew anything about the Captain, it was that he never went down without a fight. However, she was noticing a change coming over him. The fact that he even considered standing up against Bastian spoke much more to her than anything he could say.

“It's getting late,” he added, interrupting her thoughts. “We better fetch some supper underdeck before the whole crew gobbles it up. Come, follow me.”

The Captain stood and led the way to the door. However, just as he opened it up to the crisp evening air, Scarlett put a hand on his arm to stop him.

“Alex, I'm sorry for running away today.”

He began to shake his head dismissively but she continued.

“No, it was irresponsible of me to do that--putting my brother and I in danger. I should have known better. I'm sorry for all the trouble we caused.”

“Don't apologize. I think we've caused each other enough trouble to call it even.” The Captain cracked a sad smile. “But despite our differences, you do know I love you?”

Scarlett smiled at him warmly but she couldn't ignore the fluttering in her heart when she heard those words. Yet, seeing the sad gleam in his eye scared her. He made it sound so final as if suspecting he may never have another chance to say it. “Yes, I do,” she said. “And I love you, despite whatever may come our way.”

A look of concern shadowed his face as he grasped for her hand and kissed it gently. “Don't be afraid, love,” he said. “I'll take care of you.”

Her heart fluttered again but before she had a chance to take it in, he led the way out of the cabin. Scarlett followed closely behind as they climbed underdeck. The crew had long been gathered together for their supper, not giving a second thought to wait for their captain. He didn't seem bothered by it, however, and sat down to join them at the head of the table. Swiftly, the cook placed a bowl before him.

Scarlett, on the other hand, found her brother, who hung on the outer edge of the rowdy group. She joined him and sat by his side, which prompted the cook to place a bowl before her as well.

“It looks unpleasant,” William said, nodding towards the food. “But it's actually not too bad--or perhaps I'm actually getting used to this…way of life.”

“I think you were likely just famished,” Scarlett said, smirking.

She scooped up a spoonful of the muddy stew and hesitated for a moment before taking a bite. It wasn't anything like the stew her mother made but rather bland and watered down. Still, the heartiness of the potatoes was a welcoming taste to her mouth.

“So,” William said, turning towards his sister and blocking off the rest of the crew. “What happened in there?”

“Well, he was upset--but understandably so. We made a horrible mistake, William. This is more serious than we imagined.”

“That much I gathered,” he replied, rubbing his throat subconsciously. “But why us? Why is everyone after us so badly?”

“Well, you know Blackbeard already sold us to Bastian when the Captain stole us away. Now that we're stolen property, they’re not about to let us get away. And with the Captain's involvement, Bastian is out for revenge. You saw what he did to the ship as a warning.”

“So what are we supposed to do now?”

“I suppose we stay with the Captain. It's not safe out there for us anymore.”

“Well, then it's not safe for us anywhere,” her brother said, gloomily.

“Perhaps. But Alex remains our best option for getting to Plymouth and finding our sister.”

“And what about him, though? Are you two going to get along well enough to be on the same ship?”

She nodded. “Yes, we talked everything through and I think we reached an understanding. He's a broken man, William.”

He gazed at her for a few moments. “You really love him, don't you?”

She gave a slight shrug and blushed helplessly. “I suppose I do.”

He nodded, completely convinced his sister was madly in love with a pirate. A tiny smile crept onto his face for only a second before he wiped it away. For once, Scarlett couldn't read his mind.

“Well, sell my soul to the sea, am I glad to have you back on our ship, Miss Scarlett.”

Sitting abruptly beside her was James, ending the conversation with her brother before she had a chance to speak further. A little bit of ale splashed from his tankard as he set it before himself.

“I was right scared for you out there,” he continued. “Besides, if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be living so well tonight. Stew and good ale both on the same night? We only bring out the good stuff for special occasions. I don't think I've eaten so much in my life!”

“Nah, you halfwit,” said a pirate across from him. “We's got our ship back--that's why we're celebratin’.”

Scarlett smiled. “He is right.”

“Well, maybe so,” James said, dejectedly. “But I still think it's because you're here. When we were back at the tavern, the Captain was furious when he saw you had disappeared. I had never seen his face turn color so. He jumped up immediately and set off out the door. He didn't even give us orders to search for you. Methinks he was afraid he had lost you forever.”

James smiled satisfactorily at Scarlett as she pondered his story with a contemplative gaze. She was intrigued to hear about the Captain's response to her departure. In the heat of that moment, she had given up on him and was ready to consider his love for her lost and forgotten. But how foolish she was as she realized it had really grown stronger than ever.

“A toast!” said a voice from the opposite end of the table. A scruffy pirate stood and lifted his tankard in the air. “To our beautiful ship--given another chance at life. No matter what wrath she incurs, may she always live on and bless my soul, may the sea never take her!”

“Aye!” said the Captain, raising his tankard as well. “Couldn't have said it better myself, Mister Collins. A toast to my beloved ship, who has weathered many a storm with us. Perhaps she'll weather many more but like her crew, she's strong and resilient. May the sea never take her and us.”

The Captain took a steady sip from his tankard as his crew shouted their agreement.

“To our ship!” they echoed, raising their tankards high and clashing them against those of their nearest comrade. A shower of ale spilled over the table like rain, causing an eruption of laughter and cheers.

Scarlett joined in with the laughter as ale clung to her hair and dripped upon her face. For the first time in quite a while, a feeling of warmth and safety was reaching her. Perhaps it was the intoxication of the ale or something deeper. She didn't know but she allowed herself to embrace it. She raised her tankard as well, nudging William to follow suit. He responded hesitantly but when the pirate beside him slapped him across the back, he couldn't help but let a grin appear on his face.

The Captain smiled and catching Scarlett's eye, he raised his tankard toward her with a nod and a wink. He sat still and quiet as his crew bustled about him and burst into an old favorite sea shanty. Yet, his eyes danced with delight as he gazed upon her and Scarlett couldn't help but feel his desire emanating from across the room. Whether or not she was only reading into her own feelings, she knew they had to be wishing for the same thing. However, she wasn't in denial. Their arguments were still fresh in her mind and she couldn't forget the differences that remained between them. But despite everything, Scarlett felt her treacherous heart beginning to yearn for him again and this time, she didn't want to let it go.