See Author's Note on profile to get update on Sail the Ocean Blue.

Chapter One: Arrival

She came to them from the sea aboard the Cardinal. Just like how Conor had come to them and how Dennis had come before him.

She was small. So very, very small. Swaddled in a thick blanket to keep out the ocean's cold winds, only her face was visible. Her eyes were shut in sleep that seemed fitful with her bold lips pressed tightly. Chubby cheeks rosy from the wind and sun. Tuffs of red hair stuck to her forehead with sweat and salty spray.

The moment she was given to him, Dennis cupped her close to his chest were he nestled her in the crook of his arm. He hunched in around her with his gangly teenage width as if his body could provide all the protection she would ever need. The babe, barely two months old, was completely oblivious to Dennis' realization in that moment that the girl won his heart and total devotion within seconds with soft snores and twitching eyelids.

"She's beautiful," he whispered, awe drenching his words while his heart worked its way up into his throat.

"Isn't she?" his father chuckled, beaming down at his eldest and youngest. Dennis couldn't look away from the small bundle, choosing to run a callused thumb down her chubby cheek while he said,

"I had no idea—"

"Me 'either. I visited yer ma on 'e way 'ome and 'ere she was ready ta burst. It was sheer dumb luck on my part I was 'ere ta see 'e birth." His father's hand, still so massive and strong in his aging mind, reached out to cup what little of the girl's head Dennis' elbow didn't cradle. "'er name is Rowan."

Dennis couldn't help but laugh at that. Fiachra smirked as well. Dennis didn't need to look up to know said smirk pulled just so at his father's scar, the one that cut from his chin up to the left side of his mouth.

"A redhead in a sea of redheads," Dennis continued with a chortle. Either the sound of their voices or the shaking of Dennis' chest had the babe waking. Dennis felt his lips stretch from ear to ear as his own green eyes met hers. Unable to focus well just yet, Rowan stared up at Dennis with her bottom lip pouted out. He watched her take him in to the best of her abilities before glancing over at their father. It was painfully obvious to both men that the girl was not pleased with her current surroundings.

The powerful squalls that rang from her little lungs were fierce and ear splitting.

"I see we have been joined by another."

"Nesas! 'ow ye been?" Dennis smiled around his wince as he looked upon the aging woman. Her face was the stereotypical blank, non-giving, expression it usually was when dealing with his father. The man appeared to take no notice and planted a kiss on the wrinkled cheek.

"I suppose a warning would have been too much," Nesas commented drily, eyeing the still screaming baby. Rowan had worked her arms out of her blanket and were throwing them about her head in her tantrum state, face now a brilliant shade of red.

"Was a bit of a shock to us all actually." Nesas let out a short but clear huff before striding past Fiachra and slipping the baby into her own arms with years upon years of practice ease. Rowan continued to squall to her heart's content.

"Yes child, we all hear you quite clearly. Come let us see about getting you feed and cleaned."

"Amazin' 'ow quick she takes to ya kids. Poor woman." Dennis laughed along with his father as the two walked from the main hall.

"How was your trip Da?"

"Eh, 'ow is any trip with Marines tail skirting me like I'm a pirate or somethin'." It was impossible to stop the eye roll.

"Perhaps if you didn't look like such a villain while saying something like that…" Dennis grunted as his father threw his massive arm around his neck and pulled him against his chest. The hard fist smashing into the top of his head and giving him a fierce noggy had him squawking.

"Turnin' against 'er own da! That be that old peacock peckin' away at 'er sensibilities."