"Do you think-"

"No."

"But fa-"

"I said no."

Jonathon frowned at his father from across the carriage. The proud man sat tall and stiff, muddied hazel eyes staring forward and a slight frown tugging the corners of his mouth down. He occasionally looked out of the carriage window, though he returned his gaze to it's former position just as quickly. Jonathon didn't mind though. His thoughts and attention were focused on making his father see things his way.

"Will you at least tell me why you keep saying no father?"

The man heaved a sigh and turned to look directly at his young son. The soft, slick hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail and his dark eyes were brimming with restrained disappointment, held back by his willpower. He couldn't help but smirk with relief and joy at the thought he had a perfect son. The boy was nearly eleven, separated from the mark by only a month or so, and yet he was already begging to be allowed on the Tide's Song with his father. The Admiral reached over the empty space between them and placed a roughened hand on the back of the boy's neck, smiling at him gently.

"Will you at least tell me why you want to come along?"

He withdrew his large hand and placed it back in his lap, watching with a slight, building amusement as the boys lower lip slowly began poking out.

"What have I told you about pouting lad?"

The boy looked startled but quickly retracted the lip and bit down the scowl before it even had a chance to appear. He looked down and swallowed.

"That it's not proper at all and that I should like to have an extra weeks worth of work for that."

The man nodded and appeared to look forward again, though he slipped a sly glance at the young boy every now and again. He couldn't help but feel slightly bad about his slight threat just now, but so went the trials of parenting, right?

"You don't really dislike your tutor that much, do you Jonathon?"

The boy looked up and father and son locked gazes.

"Well, I suppose not Father. I apologize. I did not mean to insinuate-"

His father waved him off and chuckled.

"Look lad, I don't wish to make you miserable at all. I just want the best for you. And for you to know that I intend to keep you safe."

He became serious.

"That is why you cannot come along with me on my trip. Port Royal is a very long ways off lad and the Caribbean is infested with the crawling vermin you've been studying about. I cannot keep you safe while commanding my men and capturing pirates all at the same time."

Admiral Wolfe tipped his disappointed son's face up and shook his head ever so gently.

"But Father I could keep myself safe! And I could help you too-"

"No Jonathon. And that is final. Now lay this subject to rest, will you? Perhaps when you are older we'll discuss this a bit more. Alright?"

Quietly, and no longer able to hide the disappointment, Jonathon nodded. He had knew it was hopeless when he'd begun trying, but for some reason he had this idea that it would be different now. He was almost eleven. He could take care of himself. But yet his father still answered the same. No, he could not come along on his pirate hunting expedition. Jonathon forced his own gaze out of the carriage window, trying extremely hard to hide the sulking. After all, it wasn't in the least bit proper or becoming. He did have his father to make proud and the man had eyes on him at all times. How suspicious it would look if the man could not control his own son. Jonathon couldn't do that to his father; he loved him much too much.

A sudden jerk in the overall gentle riding, jolted Jonathon out of his thoughts and he stretched further to get a better look out of the window. They had halted just before a carriage and a man riding a horse and with a sinking feeling, Jonathon pulled back. He looked back up to his father who was waiting for the door to be opened for him. Jonathon felt a lump building in his throat.

"Father, are you…"

His voice faltered and he looked down to his hands that were settled in his lap.

"Are you sure I can't come along?"

He instantly regretted asking, seeing his father's eyes flash with irritation and his jaw stiffen. He panicked slightly but let out a tiny sigh when the door flew open. Just in time too. He could tell his father had been about to say something, his mouth hanging slightly open.

Noticing the fresh eyes on him though, the Admiral settled for shooting his son a meaningful glance and when he spoke, it was through gritted teeth.

"Stay here until I send for you. Your aunt's escort and I have a few words to discuss."

Jonathon shrunk down in his seat, ignoring the slam of the door behind his father's exit. He let out a hefty sigh and let his head rest against the back of the carriage. Today was the day that his father left on a trip to Port Royal to help cut down the pirate and outlaw population, handpicked by the king for his tremendous skill. However, he would be gone for close to three years, which was longer than the last time. Last time he was only gone for one year and two months. But the reason Jonathon hated that he couldn't come along wasn't solely based upon the eagerness he felt for wanting to follow in his father's footsteps. It was also partially because, however much he loved his aunt, she was a very boring and very religious woman. She had been widowed for nearly four years and that had caused her to turn to the Lord above. It wasn't that Jonathon was disgusted with that. It was just the fact that she had begun to become overbearing with it all.

"Jonathon!"

He started at the loud tone of his father's voice and quickly pressed his face to the glass of the window so he could see better. A tall man with a tanned face and light scar across his cheek was walking with his father back toward the carriage, seeming to be talking. His father appeared to be satisfied that this man was okay to transport his only son, and so Jonathon, as happily as he could, jumped from the carriage when the man opened the door. If his father trusted the men, then so did Jonathon.

He missed the muffled look of surprise that the man wore when he looked at him, his eyes set on the tall, strong figure of his father. Tears were becoming a bit too hard for him to choke back and Jonathon had to look down to avoid embarrassment, but his father simply sighed and approached him, wrapping him in a warm embrace. Jonathon tightly returned it, not wanting to let go. Now it was the fears of losing him that prevented Jonathon from letting the man go unhindered. But the Admiral strongly yet gently pried him away, kneeling down to look him in the eyes. He squeezed Jonathon's arms and smiled at him, despite his earlier show of anger.

"Johnny, its going to be alright. I promise you. Time is going to fly by and before you know it I shall be back here with you telling you of all my adventures and such. Smile will you?"

Jonathon reluctantly nodded, watching his father stand and turn halfway around. He would have stood quietly, allowing the hand of the tall man to rest on his shoulder, if a sudden cold fright hadn't grabbed him and thrust him forward to grasp his father again. The man frowned but rested a hand on Jonathon's shoulder while he mumbled into his father's vest.

"Please come back safely father. I can't bear the thought of losing you. I love you."

The tall man turned ever so slightly and shot a glance behind him at his carriage driver who, stiffly and unnervingly, returned it.

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