"So, what is it that we're cooking for tonight again?" Molly asked as she glanced over her shoulder at her husband, as she chopped up vegetables.

Nathan came over and inspected her work. "Beef and vegetable soup." He wrapped his arms around her as she continued chopping, giggling as his lips tickled her ear.

Earlier that year, the Sirius crew had decided to take some time off from pirating and to try to live normal lives for a while. They had all decided to settle on a remote island out past Yamato, and live quietly for a while. The agreement was that they'd live quietly for a year and a half, and would then return back to the Sirius. Some trouble had come up with the navy, a couple of villages had been pillaged by a group of pirates, and all eyes pointed immediately to the Sirius, despite their innocence on the subject. They all decided that they needed to lay low for a while before sailing again.

Molly and Nathan were thrilled at the idea, having been married for two years at that point, and wanting a little peace and quiet. They had all become very close with each other during their time on the Sirius, so they hadn't wandered too far from one another. She and Nathan lived further up in the woods, but a fifteen minute walk down the road lived Russell and Eduardo, who had roomed together to save on costs. Across the street from them, Christopher had opened up a small treatment clinic and worked as the town's doctor, as small as the town was. Thomas lived in a small cabin nearby, and often worked at Christopher's clinic in his spare time. Morgan, unable to adjust to town life quite as easily as the others had, traveled around the island and didn't really have one particular place that he stayed for a long length of time. He'd pop in around once a week though for a meal.

Molly and Nathan enjoyed their little house in the woods, and as it was conveniently located, whenever she did miss the ocean from time to time, she'd walk the path she'd made out to the ocean. Nathan would often join her, as his heart still partially belonged to the sea as well. They'd sit out on the beach and gaze out into the sunset, watching as the sea swallowed up the sun, as it had always done when they lived on the sea. Nathan had become quite the woodsman since the two started living in their cabin. Nathan would go out several times a week to cut up wood for their fireplace. Though Molly would never tell him, she'd often just stare at him out the kitchen window as he cut the firewood, admiring. He'd caught her several times staring at him, but would just smile up at her.

They quite often cooked large meals and gathered the group together, a tradition they still kept and would likely never die out. While Nathan was still the cook of the house, Molly's skills in the kitchen had improved considerably. Not too long ago, in fact, she solely cooked the meal for their weekly gathering, and had earned much praise from it.

That night in particular was another one of their weekly meals, and Nathan had suggested soup since the weather was starting to get colder. He held her in his arms as she continued chopping vegetables diligently. He nibbled at her shoulder, sending a quiver through her belly that instantly sent her mind into a fog. She shook her head and playfully slapped at his arm.

"I'm chopping here."

Nathan chuckled. "So?"

"Everyone will be here in a few minutes."

"I direct you to my previous question… So?" He said as his fingers traced lines up and down her arms. He pressed a kiss to her neck right where he knew would make her melt in his arms almost instantly. Which, to his credit, did. She placed the knife on the counter and leaned back into his chest.

She turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Because I don't think you want to start something you can't finish right now."

Grinning mischievously at her, he tightened his grip around her waist. "Who says I couldn't?"

She pressed a kiss to his lips and stood on her tip-toes, pressing her lips up to Nathan's ear. Feeling as his skin rose into goose bumps as her lips rubbed his ear.

"Later," She whispered, "after everyone leaves."

"Later." Nathan replied as she released him and turned back to finish chopping. Nathan went over to the soup sitting on the stove and stirred the mixture around as Molly chopped up her remaining vegetables, and went over to toss them into the mixture.

She went over and grabbed the pitcher of tea she had made, walking over to the table and placing it in the center. As she looked up, Russell and Eduardo entered through the front door. They shook off their coats and walked over to Molly.

"How's it going? What's for dinner?" Russell asked as he went over to Molly and patted her on the back and held his arm out for his hug. Russell had gotten much softer than he had in years previous, and he actually showed quite a soft spot for Molly, he treated her almost as a younger sister. Despite how much he would tease her. Then again, all of the guys absolutely loved teasing her, so Molly had gotten used to it. He half hugged her and went and sat down at the table.

"Beef and vegetable soup." Molly said before Eduardo walked over and pinched her cheek.

"You being a pain in the ass still?" Eduardo asked as he gently squeezed her cheek.

"It's only been a week since I saw you last, you know."

He laughed. "I know, but I like keeping you on your feet."

Eduardo released her cheek and his head flew forward as Nathan stepped forward and slapped the backside of his head. "Sit your ass down and behave yourself for once."

Eduardo winced as he rubbed the back of his head. "I was just teasing her you know."

"Don't care. Sit down, shut up, and eat." He barked at Eduardo, despite the satisfied grin on his face. Eduardo slumped down into the chair next to Russell as Thomas and Christopher came in through the door. The room became clustered as everyone greeted one another and gathered around the table as Nathan and Molly started bringing in the food. Morgan always showed up later than the others did, so they didn't necessarily feel guilty when they started in on their meal.

Thomas took a sip of the soup and threw a thumbs up in the air. "Just as usual, Nathan's cooking is awesome."

"Agreed. Well done Nathan." Russell said in between shovels full of food. Nathan shook his head at Russell and grabbed Molly's hand underneath the table, smiling as her face visibly flushed.

Molly looked down the table at Christopher. "How's the clinic doing?"

Smiling, Christopher nodded his head and swallowed. "Good. A bit slow lately, but with the colder weather coming in I know it'll pick back up."

"I haven't been able to work in the clinic as often lately." Thomas pouted. Thomas seemed to enjoy helping Christopher on his time off. He worked as a clerk at one of the store's in town most of the time, but preferred to spend what time he could at Christopher's clinic.

Eduardo nodded over at Molly. "Hey, by the way. I've got some clothing that could use some mending. I brought them with me."

"They need stitching?"

"Yeah."

"Ok, well if you'll leave them here I'll fix them and bring them back to you tomorrow when I go into town."

Eduardo took a sip from his drink. "Fine. Just hurry up with them if you can."

Russell elbowed Eduardo. "Quit being so bossy. She's nice enough to fix them for you without complaint." Nathan, who had frowning at Eduardo, relaxed in his chair at Russell's comment. He leaned back in his chair and squeezed Molly's hand below. She smiled up at him as the rest of the group continued talking and eating.

A few minutes later, the door swung open and Morgan stepped inside. The group cheered upon his arrival and he laughed as he sloughed off his coat. Nathan released Molly's hand as he got up and went into the kitchen. Morgan walked over to behind Molly's chair and leaned over to kiss the top of her head.

"Always kiss the hostess." He chirped happily as he quickly ran over to his chair at the other end of the table, seeing Nathan coming back towards the table. Nathan had a glass in one hand and a bottle of rum in the other and handed them to the smiling Morgan. He sang his approval as he snatched both out of Nathan's hands and poured himself a drink.

Nathan rolled his eyes as he went and sat back in his chair. Molly stood up and began collecting empty dishes and walked into the kitchen to wash while the boys had their private time with one another. She knew that being the only woman in the group of pirates would invade on some of their guy time, so each week she would sneak away to the kitchen for a length of time so that they could talk and catch up.

Eduardo rolled up his sleeves and leaned back in his chair. "What's the word Captain?"

Morgan slugged back some of his rum and looked over at him. "Nothing good I'm afraid."

"What's been going on?" Thomas asked.

"There have been more attacks."

"Where?" Nathan asked, leaning forward.

"On the other end of the island."

Eduardo raised his eyebrows. "The other end of this island?"

"That's not but only a few days trip from here." Christopher said, looking visibly worried.

"What are we going to do?" Russell asked.

"Nothing we can do, I suppose. Just hope they don't find their way down here."

Nathan glanced over his shoulder at his wife in the kitchen. "Well what if they do?"

Morgan folded his arms across his chest. "Then we defend these people here the best that we can. Until help arrives. Maybe then the navy will believe that it's not us doing this. But until that happens, which I'm hoping it doesn't come down to that, you all go about your lives exactly as you have been."

"Should we tell Molly?" Thomas asked.

Nathan considered for a moment before shaking his head. "No. She'll only worry more than she needs to. I'll tell her later this week, after we're sure that they're gone."

Eduardo glanced at Nathan. "And if they're not?"

Russell pushed back into his chair. "Then we'll get them."

Nathan nodded and picked up his glass, churning the mixture inside. "Well again, let's hope it doesn't have to come to that. Captain, you'll keep us updated on what's going on?"

Morgan nodded. "Of course. And if I hear that they're heading this way, then we'll go after them."

"Agreed." The crew answered quietly.