AN: I'm sorry this took so long and this chapter isn't great; I just needed something posted. Oh and the name of the ship is The Black Storm, I hadn't mentioned that yet I don't think... enjoy :)

Chapter Four: Trouble On The Horizon

I woke surprisingly refreshed the next morning, stretching my arms above my head and pointing my toes as far as they would go, my muscles loosening from being curled in the foetal position I so often slept in. A yawn pulled at my jaw and I let it loose, feeling even more refreshed after it.

"Bloody hell Lilly, I knew you had a big mouth when it came to arguing, but that yawn… fuck."

I span my head to see Miley buttoning up her tunic as she passed me, a smile on her lips as she looked at me. I found my gaze drop from her face to her nimble fingers which were buttoning up past her chest then I quickly righted myself and looked at her face again. What was I doing? The same question was in Miley's eyes as she stopped what she was doing completely, her hands stilling as she stared at me, an eyebrow raised quizzically. An odd smile pulled at the corners of her mouth and she bit her lip to prevent it coming into fruition.

"What?" I said sitting up, hoping to dismiss the whole event. Why the hell did I stare at her like that? And why did she seem so entertained by it? The blanket was still over me and I didn't dare move less it fell and revealed my half-nakedness. I dared myself to look back at her. She was still looking at me, a curious look on her face. Her tunic was now fully buttoned and she finally pulled her gaze from mine with a soft chuckle, grabbing her waistcoat from where it hung on the chair and shrugged it on.

"Oh… nothing," she finally responded softly, a smile still in the corner of her lips. And with that she turned, grabbing her hat and her long coat on the way out of her quarters and presumably up onto the deck.

"What the hell was that about?" I muttered to myself, shaking my head. I honestly didn't know. I removed the blanket and shivered slightly as the air licked at my exposed chest. I pulled on my own tunic and stood, pulling on my pants then my boots. I pulled a hand through my hair, getting out most of the knots before tying it in a braid. I still didn't have my ribbon so I had to let it hang loose and hope it stayed in on its own. I doubted that.

Up on deck I found the crew rushing around with a vigour I'd never seen them have before. What was going on? Was it the Navy? Had they finally caught up with the ship? Or was it more pirates?

Miley came to stand by my side, also surveying the crew as they rushed around. "We're preparing to make port," she explained. "We need to resupply and such. Plus, the men need a well earned break."

I nodded my understanding but my thoughts were on the horizon. We were stopping. Surely that gave my rescuers time to catch up and save me? Then why did I not want that to be true. I wanted to go home didn't I? Hell, I was a hostage. Wasn't I? Of course I was, I was forced to clean the deck and spar with the Captain… but I kind of liked the latter. I was growing to like the Captain too; she wasn't just the Captain now… was she becoming my friend? Someone I could trust? All throughout this ordeal she'd been cutting and harsh but then, when no one could over hear her… she was nice-ish. Or what about last night? That had been fun. Playful sparring and she'd laughed, giggled as we'd fell to the ground. I felt… I don't know… something, last night. Was that a growing friendship I'd felt? And of late she'd been much nicer to me than when I was first on board…

"What are you thinking?" She asked softly, and I realised she'd been watching me. "You look confused."

"I am confused." I admitted as I turned to her and I saw something spark in her blue-grey eyes as if she'd realised something. "I don't know why though… which is even more confusing." I looked back out to the horizon, staring hard at that straight line separating the blue sky from the darker blue ocean. "They're out there looking for me, aren't they?" I asked rhetorically.

"Yes." she answered almost solemnly. She too turning to look out to see, resting her elbows on the railing. "If you're insanely lucky, you might just be rescued." The comment was clearly meant to be a sarcastic jibe but it came out in a sad voice that surprised even her. "I mean…" She started but her voice trailed off, panic in her eyes which I didn't understand. She never continued the sentence and instead changed topic. "You don't have to clean today. Just hang around till we make port," she said and nodded behind us before disappearing. I turned to where she'd nodded and noticed for the first time, the small island we were heading towards. It looked beautiful, so green and surrounded by gorgeous, tranquil blue waters. The yellow sands were only just visible from this distance but they looked so inviting.

I sighed, confused. Had we come here about a week ago, I'd be planning how to escape once we docked. Instead, I was thinking of exploring the island, of swimming in the crystal clear waters, of walking amongst the locals… with the Captain. Was she my friend? Or merely putting up with me? I think she was… my friend… or at least getting there, she seemed to like me after all. But was this a pirate thing? Lull the enemy into a false sense of security? Shut up Lilly. You cannot befriend a pirate. You are the Governor's daughter. You do not have any friends other than other rich girls and the Commodore. Ha, friends with the Commodore. If only. The Commodore didn't have friendship on his mind; he had marriage and children on his mind. Both of which I didn't want. Not just that I didn't want it with him… I just never felt the need for marriage, nor that maternal instinct - marriage was over rated, it was only paper after all. And children? Sure, I liked children but to have my own? To go through all that pain and potential death? No, that scared me. I didn't want that. Especially not the Commodore's children. I just wanted to have some kind of adventure in my life, escape the world of corsets and riding side-saddle… and I suppose my kidnapping had given me that, sure it wasn't what I expected but I had some kind of taste for the world now, didn't I?

Soon we were at the island and I came out of my thoughts. The crew set about with whatever it was they had to do, dropping the anchor and using some kind of long plank thing as a walkway down to the jetty of the port. I stood there, shuffling my feet. What was I to do?

"Don't look so scared."

I turned to see Miley, her hat on and her long coat blowing with the breeze. A green parrot came and rested on her shoulder. I remembered noticing the bird on my first night aboard but I hadn't seen it since.

"This is Tanika." She said and petted the bird. "She flies behind us most of the time, not really one for being tame." And as if to prove this point, Tanika bit Miley's finger and flew off to sit upon the mast. "See," Miley laughed and shook her finger which bled slightly.

I smirked at her, amused. She threw me a fake glare which only heightened my amusement. She shoved me with her elbow towards where Oken had descended. "Down you go," she said and I did as I was asked, climbing carefully down. My foot slipped on the final rung of the ladder and Oken raised his hands to my hips to steady me but I still ended up falling backwards, landing in his lap in the boat. Usually, I'd be embarrassed about such a thing but I oddly found it amusing and started laughing. Oken was silent for a moment before his own gruff laugh bellowed in my ears.

The next thing I knew, firm hands wrapped around my forearms and pulled me off of Oken and onto the wooden seat at the other side of the small boat. Miley sat herself down next to me, her arms crossed and glaring at Oken who looked physically wounded. What was wrong with her? I'd only fell on him. If she wanted to glare at someone, she should glare at me. He'd prevented me from toppling into the water. He should be thanked, not glared at. I wanted to tell her this. I really did want to defend Oken but she oozed an aura that made me fear her. Even with this almost friendship we had, I suddenly felt the same fear I had on the first night. I knew not to open my big mouth right now; she'd probably push me in the water herself.

Once on dry land, the locals all greeted Miley and her crew as if they were all good friends. I felt out of place. Everyone seemed to know each other and I felt as if I were being ignored. I suppose it were true, the locals did ignore me and barely even looked at me. I just dutifully followed Miley, trying to stay close to her so not to get lost in the crowd. We ended up in some kind of bar and the crew were each given a free round of rum to which they were all cheering. Miley took my arm and sat me at one of the tables, telling me not to move while she went to talk to someone. I told her I wouldn't; truth was, I daren't. The men were quickly becoming rowdy and someone was already starting a fight. I felt so scared, so unsafe but I did as I was told and didn't move; hoping no one would notice me sat here, trying to shrink into myself in the corner.

It was so loud in here and the lights barely lit the room, casting the room in an awful glow which made it seem much smaller than it was. There was music coming from somewhere, the beat loud and fast but I couldn't see where the band was. I didn't recognize the tune either; it was so different to that which I was used to. Everything was so unfamiliar here. It even smelt different.

"I haven't seen you around," slurred a local man in broken English, his breath reeking of alcohol. I panicked. I didn't know what to do or how to act so I just shrugged and tried to ignore him. He didn't get the message and his hand snaked on to my thigh, I squirmed in my seat. His hand squeezed my leg and I tried to shake it off but I could barely move, most of his weight was on that hand now. It felt so wrong there; I knew it was, I knew what he was thinking but it was just so wrong - it was too big, too hot … just awful. He said something in his language that was clearly supposed to be seductive but it really wasn't with his too forward gestures, his alcohol smelling breath and the heat from his breath heavy on my face. I tried to move back, away from him but he just moved closer, moving his arms to trap me in the corner, unable to move in either direction, pressing the apex of his legs against me and smirking. I wanted to cry but I was too petrified, I couldn't even move my arms to push him away. Instead I sat there, scared, my heart racing as he pushed himself ever closer to me. A small 'eeep' sound escaped my lips which he misinterpreted and practically dived on my neck and sucked and licked at the flesh.

Almost as soon as his tongue had touched my neck, he was ripped from me and I opened my eyes which had closed in terror to see Miley punch him in the face. She picked him up from the floor with ease, holding him by the throat, a look of pure hate on her face as she yelled at him in the local dialect. The fear on his face was impressive considering Miley was half his age, size and a woman.

"Understand?" she spat harshly in English into his face. He nodded feverishly and she threw him down and he slid across the floor from the force of it before scampering away. She turned to me, her face softening and held out her hand. "Want to get out of here?" she asked, her voice soft despite the uproar of noise in this bar. I nodded and quickly grabbed her outstretched hand, my muscles aching slightly from being so tense just seconds before. She held tightly on to my hand and directed me through the rowdy drunks and through a back door, keeping me close to her at all times.

Once outside, the fast setting sun meant that the air was quickly cooling and the sky darkening and I burst into tears. Miley released my hand and pulled me to her body in an embrace, her hand on the back of my head as she held me as I shook with violent sobs, clutching the blades of her shoulders and pressing my face into the soft fabric of her coat.

"I'm sorry Lilly; I shouldn't have left you alone."

"S'okay…" I sobbed and she pulled back and lifted my jaw with her finger.

"It is certainly not okay. What if I hadn't come back when I did? I'd hate myself if he'd tried anything. I should of at least had someone with you, or kept you at my side…" her voice trailed off and she gently pushed my disheveled hair behind my ear, her finger slowly traced down my cheek. I felt that pulling sensation once more as I looked into Miley's eyes, which seemed to darken by the second. Why did they do that? And what was this feeling… this curious… I don't know… but I liked it.

Someone cleared their throat and Miley jumped away from me, my body so much colder without her embrace. I turned and saw it was Oken. He removed his hat and bowed his head slightly.

"Captain. Some of the men were wondering how long we were to spend here. Some are worried about the Naval armada which has been following us since young Lilly's… kidnapping," he said and nodded towards me, but never rose his eyes much further than my boots.

"Um…" Miley ran a hand through her hair, clearly flustered for some reason. "We shall stay for two days. Unless we hear of them approaching quicker than expected. The Storm has the upper hand with the wind which has been gracious to us so far. The Navy has to work twice as hard to go half as fast. We have time until they catch up." she said, but it seemed to me she was reassuring herself rather than Oken. He nodded then left, going back inside.

"Fuck…" she breathed, casting a glance at me then turning away, her hands in her hair much like that night I'd seen her on the deck. I resisted the urge to put my hand on her shoulder, not even knowing where the urge came from.

"Miley…" I ventured, using her name for the first time to her face. This seemed to shock her slightly and she turned to face me and I saw how she was holding back tears. "What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing…" she said and sniffed, wiping her eyes. "Come on. Let's get you back on the ship before someone else tries to pounce on you…" She said and started walking briskly away and towards the ship. I jogged up to her and had to walk quickly to keep up.

-X-

I woke the next morning to find that Miley had already left. I groggily pulled on my clothes and headed out on deck and saw her, halfway to the shore rowing the boat on her own. Bellamy, the pirate who had kidnapped me, appeared and nodded towards me. I smiled politely back before staring back after the brunette.

"She's quite taken with you Poppet,"

"Hmm?" I turned back to him, not quite sure I'd heard him right.

"If she doesn't show it, it's cause she's scared of mutiny,"

"Mutiny?" I questioned. Why would there be mutiny if she was my friend?

"Aye Poppet, not everyone is so approving. Shows weakness, you see." He said as he picked up a rope from the deck and began looping it neatly. I pondered what he said for a while as I watched her finally reach shore. Was that why she'd always put on the indifferent façade? Only allowed herself true emotion when no one could see? Cause her being friends with her hostage would… cause disrespect to her position as Captain?

"Sail ho!"

Both Bellamy and I span around and looked out. We spotted the small specks on the horizon and then saw more and more and more… the whole armada.

"Sink me…" Bellamy breathed.

AN: A review last chaper told me to change it to a chocolate covered Lilly for them to review, well here you are *chocolate covered Lilly waves seductively* happy? Reviews really do make my day/week/month.

FYI 'Sink me' is like, pirate talk for 'fuck me' basically...

Stay tuned X