Killian
Milah still glowed despite the glistening on her forehead. My gaze was pulled away from her face only by the wiggling bundle in her arms. A full head of dark hair sat on her head, with time it was sure to be as thick and long as her mother's; she had my blue eyes. I was sure I'd never set my eyes on another girl as beautiful as my wife, until today. I never would have imagined this day in my wildest dreams. I was nothing but a pirate. And yet, here I was with my beautiful wife and our beautiful daughter.
"Captain! Captain!"
"What is it Lewis? You know I am not to be bothered right now." My first mate should have known better than to be disturbing us, disturbing our moment of peace.
"I-I'm sorry, Captain. But this couldn't wait-"
"Of course it could. Now leave us!" I waved my hand dismissing him.
"Captain, this is important. The Dark One, he was just here."
The baby began weeping at the mention of his name. Milah gave me a worried look while trying to soothe our child.
"What the hell do you mean the Dark One was here?"
Lewis looked down at his boots, hesitating.
"Bloody hell Lewis! Spit it out!"
"I'm s-sorry Captain. We told him that you weren't on board. He said that he would let you prepare for what was to come when you did finally meet."
Milah and I stared at each other in utter shock.
"He said he would find you. He said he was going to take what was owed to him. Whether or not you're here." Lewis finished and I met Milah's gaze again, we stared at each other a moment.
"What about the baby? What if he hurts her?" Milah clutched the baby protectively. I thought for a moment. Our newborn could not be on this ship when the Dark One returned.
"You'll take her into the village at sunrise, I'll see to the Dark One, you'll return after sun down."
"Of course, I'll take her to the other side of the village, he'll never know."
"Uhm, ma'am, he said he wanted to see the bother of you. He'll know something has happened if you're not here with the Captain."
Milah looked at me. What could the Dark One possible want with my wife and I? Neither of us had ever even met the creature.
"Give her to one of your men, he can take her into the village. If he's coming for us he won't notice one of the crew is missing." Milah rushed through her sentence, we were both trying to think of a solution that didn't seem possible.
"I don't think I trust any of my men enough to care for my newborn for that long." I gave Lewis a hard look. I turned to Milah, ready to argue with her, but the look on her face told me that she was right. It would have to be a crew member. "I'll send Marcus. He's the most responsible deckhand on board."
"Thank you. Don't worry dear, all will be well." She touched my arm lightly. I smiled at her, even though I was feeling ill.
"Now get out Lewis. Leave me and my wife with our child. Tell Marcus of his duty." Lewis nodded his head and left. I turned back to Milah. "Come now, let me hold my little girl."
She was so delicate. I didn't dare hold her tightly for fear of breaking her.
"What shall we name her?" Milah beamed at me. I thought briefly.
"How have we possibly not found a name yet?" I shook my head at her, chuckling to myself.
"We're pirates, we had other things on our minds." She gave me a cheeky smile. I'd been in awe of Milah since we learned she was pregnant. It was only in the last month that she had slowed down. I didn't understand how she'd possibly done it. "I was thinking Meena."
"That's one letter different from your name, love. A little conceited don't you think?" I raised my eyebrow at her.
She sat up in the bed and pulled herself closer to me.
"Perhaps, but I like it. Do you have a better idea?"
"I may have a few ideas up my sleeve, but, you need some rest. It's been a very long day."
I left her and the baby in our quarters and made my way to the deck. I stood at the hull, breathing in the night air. Nothing could ruin this day for me. Not even the Dark One.
3 Days Later
"Captain? The babe has been crying for the past hour. No one can calm her. I think you're the only person who can soothe her." Lewis' voice shook. I hadn't moved from my spot in hours. After the Dark One left Lewis had bandaged my hand, but my eyes never left Milah. I hadn't left her side since he'd finished. I'd been sitting there, Milah laying on my lap, staring out at the sea; I hadn't even heard the baby crying.
I looked up at Lewis, suddenly back to my ship.
"The babe you say? When did Marcus return with her?"
"Hours ago sir. We didn't want to disturb your mourning." He stared at his feet as he spoke. My body ached. I couldn't think of the little wailing child in my chambers below deck. How could I possibly raise her? How could I even look at her? She would grow to look exactly like her mother; I couldn't bear the thought of it.
"Please sir, the wailing need to end and you're the only person who can do that."
"I will see to the babe. Prepare Milah's body for burial. We'll leave port once she is ready."
"Yes, Captain."
I tried getting up. I hadn't realized that my lower body was numb and I stumbled. My entire body ached, but I couldn't tell if it was from sitting on the hard deck for so many hours or from my heart break. It was likely a combination of the two.
In a haze, I made my way towards my quarters. The men on deck avoided looking me in the eye, all of them put their heads down as I passed. I could feel their eyes boring into me after I had passed them. They wouldn't look me in the eye but of course they had no problem staring at me like I was a wild dog. It made me sick to my stomach. Not only had just lost the love of my life, but now my crew thought I was weak. I had to do something to prove that I was still the man I was before the crocodile has his way with my hand; and my wife.
The child squirmed around in her crib. She had gone hoarse from screaming for so long. How long have I been in a daze? I wondered as I pick the child up. I looked at her for a moment, wondering how I was ever supposed to care for this child? I couldn't imagine going on without her mother, but apparently I would have to.
"Sshhhh child, you're okay. I'm here now." I rocked her softly as I spoke. The words croaked out of me. I had apparently been crying myself. She reached up and touched my chin, I couldn't help but smile at her. She would be beautiful. She was my daughter. She was mine. I would mend my broken heart, and I would protect her. She would be the best pirate that sailed the realms. It was then that I knew what I would do. What I had to do to protect this beautiful little baby in my arms.
"Lewis!"
"Yes Captain?" His head popped into my captain, his eyes wide with concern.
"Find that goon with the magic bean. We're taking a trip."
"A trip where Captain?" He stepped into the chamber as he spoke. "Where will we go that we need a magic bean for?"
"You will see, Lewis."
I delicately placed the baby back in her crib. She was fast asleep. I was glad, hopefully she wouldn't wake during the journey. I turned to go back on deck but stopped dead in my tracks. All this time we'd only referred to her as the babe. Milah and I hadn't come up with a name. I had never told Milah what I wanted to name her. She had suggested Meena, but it was almost too close to her name to bare. I thought for a moment. An M name seemed right; after her mother somehow.
I smiled, making up my mind. Lewis was waiting for me at the door of my chamber.
"You look like a new man, that little girl is a miracle worker."
"Is her mother ready?"
"Yes Captain, and the captive with the bean is on deck as well."
"Good. And Lewis, my daughter will no longer be known as just the baby. Her name is Mara."
"Of course, Captain. I'll let the crew know that you've given her a name."
"Good. Now; let's get this over with. Then onto Neverland."
"Neverland, Captain? Are you sure you want to return there?"
"Don't question your captain. Pan gave me a proposition a while ago, I didn't take it then because of Milah, but now I see no reason why I can't take him up on it. We'll all get to live a little longer which means I'll get more time with my daughter. I see nothing but good in this."
"If you say so Captain. Your crew and I will follow you."
"Good. Now as I said, let's get this over with."
