Dear Peter,

So much has happened over the past few days.

I'm home from Brazil now. We stopped in Mexico, found a loot, not quite as much as we were hoping for but enough to cover the damage from that tropical storm a few weeks ago. So that's good.

I'm writing from Robin's ship. Petey, you wouldn't believe how beautiful it is. When I first arrived, I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

Everything is made of this honey-colored wood, trimmed in gold. Every detail is astoundingly intricate. I can't fathom how long it took to build, but goddamn was it worth it. The Aceituna is breathtaking.

I came to visit Robin, who has just gotten back from Cuba. He found his family, Peter. Can you imagine what it would be like to be separated from your mother for more than ten years and then find her again? I think I'd just let her stay lost. Reunions are too difficult.

I actually haven't spoken to my mother in . . . what, nine years? I don't know what you've been told about your grandma, Peter, but she's not the most nurturing of people, to say the least. When she and my dad got divorced, Bailey was already in college and Brett had moved out. So for that last year, it was just me and my parents.

They fought all the time. Every meal, every night, every time they saw each other. And if one wasn't around, the other would take out their anger on me. So when Mom moved out, it was both a relief and a disappointment.

I remember the day they told us they were separating for good. They invited Bailey and Brett over for lunch. Mom made hamburgers, forgetting that Brett and I had gone vegetarian. We just picked at the limp salad she served along with it and made faces at each other while the rest of them ate their dead cows.

When we were done, they gathered us all up in the living room and dropped the bomb. Brett and Bailey just nodded grimly like they'd expected it, but I cried. I was only eleven. I didn't want to have to live with my mom all alone.

Well, I ended up with my dad, instead. Okay, let's stop talking about this. Back to The Aceituna.

So, I climbed up on deck and he took me to his cabin so we could talk. We shared a bottle of wine while he told me about Cuba and his family. I love listening to him talk, Peter. His English is so delicate.

Anyway, we got a little tipsy. I wasn't that drunk, but you know. Well, you shouldn't know, because you're just a kid and drinking is bad!

But it's not like I kissed him because I was drunk. I did it cause I wanted to. Alcohol just gives you the courage to do things you already wanted to do. Scratch that, Peter. I DO NOT condone underage drinking, young man! So put down that bottle before you accidentally fall off the plank!

I know you probably don't care, Peter, but it was the best kiss of my life.

He's so soft and warm . . . god, he's beautiful. But I'll spare you the gory details.

When it was over, he just looked at me for a minute. Then he layed me down on the bed and told me to go to sleep.

I woke up a few minutes ago in Robin's bed. He's still asleep next to me. I know watching people sleep is creepy, but he's adorable. This one piece of hair is hanging down in his face and it flutters every time he exhales. He smiles in his sleep.

Well, I think I'm going to go back to bed. I'm not a real snuggly person, so I'm a little confused by this compulsive urge I have to cuddle with this man. CCD. Compulsive Cuddling Disorder.

I hope this is the start of something. Last night, it was just a kiss. Maybe next time, it will be more.

           Don't worry, I still love you most of all!

                       -Aunty Olive xoxo

XXX

Being back at sea felt unnervingly natural to Heather.

She paced up and down the deck, wishing she felt out of place. Wishing so could prove that she really had buried Pirate Heather, that she was no longer a sea scoundrel, but a respectable mother and wife with her own small business.

Yet, she felt at home her on The Aceituna. She sighed.

She sat down on a stray barrel to wait for Caelum. Her stubborn husband was downstairs, changing into some of Robin's old clothes. She loved him, but his instance could be a pain in the ass sometimes.

Heather turned herself toward the sea. The water parted around the ship's walls, rippling out into the ocean. She allowed herself to smile at the beauty of it.

Peter and Amelia were enjoying the view as well. Heather spared them a glance, rolling her eyes. Ah, young love. Right now, they were holding hands and watching the world roll by from the quarter deck. Twenty years from now, they would find each other on facebook and say to their significant others, "Hey, I that kid was in my eighth grade class."

Or maybe they'd find The Fina and stick together. Peter would become captain and they would have dozens of little pirate babies together. Heath snorted to herself. That was a laugh.

She heard the creak of the stairs behind her. Sighing, she leaned over the railing and imagined jumping off. Flying away.

Caelum's story for his mother had been that he and Heather were going off for an anniversary trip in the Bahamas. The woman had eagerly jumped at the chance to spend a week with her grandson, so she hadn't questioned them.

Heather wished that was what they were doing. A romantic getaway with her husband didn't sound too bad, right around now.

"Hey."

She jumped, startled by his voice. "Hi," she said to the open sea.

Cae placed his hands at the base of her spine, kneading the spot with his fingers which used to drive nuts when they were first married. Now she thought it felt good. She leaned back against his chest, wondering how Ollie was doing. His grandmother just adored him, but Heather wasn't sure the feeling was mutual.

"Are you mad at me?" Caelum asked.

She didn't answer. The first stop would be Cuba, a four day journey from Galveston. There, Robin hoped to find his cousin, the current captain of The Encantador. Robin was convinced that the man knew where The Fina was -- and that he could torture the answer out of him.

Plan B was to visit Uncle Juan Carlos, Robin's family psychic.

She went back and forth every five minutes. To tell, or not to tell? Not to tell always ended up winning, every time she went to approach Robin. She could just imagine the hurt expression that would take his face when she told him what she knew.

Hopefully, the evil cousin would spit out the answers they needed and Heather wouldn't have to say anything.

"Heather?" Cae sighed, leaning against the railing with her. "We need to talk."

"I know."

"Would you look at me, please?"

Heather set her face in a frown, casting him a reluctant glance. If she wasn't in such a bad mood, she might have laughed. Oh, her husband was a true pirate now, skinny jeans and all. She wondered if he had a knife tucked away in his boot like the rest of them did. She looked away again.

"Sweetie, I know you're pissed, but honestly? I'm a little pissed too. I think I at least deserve an explanation, don't you?"

Heather glared at the ocean. "No. You weren't supposed to find out about any of this, and it's to my fault you did. So if you're gonna stay, you have to keep quiet, okay? Don't ask questions."

"You can't do that, Heather," he insisted. "How am I just supposed to accept that you're a freaking pirate and not ask questions?"

She felt her face going red. "I am not a pirate!" She yelled, louder than she'd intended. Several crewmen paused to watch the showdown. "What're you looking at, bucko?" She snapped at one, who scurried away with a mumbled, sorry ma'am. She took a deep breath, returning to Cae. "I used to be a pirate," Heather corrected.

"Then what in hell are we doing on a pirate ship?!"

"I don't know what in hell you're doing here, but I'm trying to find my best friend's ship, okay? So if you can't deal with that, then you can just jump off the plank right now and spare the rest of us your whining, Caelum!"

"Whoa there, you two." Heather looked up to find a smirking Robin behind her, holding his hands up. "No squabbling on deck, please."

She sneered at him. "Since when was that a rule?"

"Since now," he said. "If you wanna fight, take it downstairs. Don't come back up until you're done, okay?"

Caelum squinted at the pirate captain. "Don't tell me how to live my life."

"My ship, my rules," Robin shrugged. "If you don't like it, take Heath's advice and test your luck with the sharks."

So they each gave him one last glare before stomping below deck to finish arguing.