One month later, Leadworth:
"Well, if it isn't my favorite pirate," Clara called out when Rose walked into The Rose & Crown, Lucie and Bill right behind her.
"Hey there, Clara!" Rose answered, grinning at her friend. "Made it back in one piece, just like I promised."
"And still looking good," she shot back with a wink. "Who're your friends?"
"Bill and Lucie," Rose said, gesturing to each of them in turn. "And this is Clara, who I've told you about."
"You failed to mention she's bleedin' gorgeous," Bill hissed in Rose's ear. "I was not prepared!"
Rose just nudged her in the ribs and kept walking towards the bar. "Can we get ale all around?"
"If you come back here and pull them yourself, the first round's on the house," Clara said. "I'll go grab the letters I've been holding for you before things get too crazy in here."
She headed into the back while Rose slipped behind the bar and started pulling pints of ale. She had just made it back to a barstool when Clara came back with a bundle of letters bearing Jackie's familiar handwriting.
"I hope you know that she threatened to come up here to Leadworth just to make sure I wasn't holding you captive or something."
"I've been sending her letters from everywhere, she couldn't possibly think you have me stashed away here," Rose said, exasperation lacing her voice.
"It was a threat she sent with the first letter she sent. It was probably written before any of your others got to her," Clara explained.
"Your mum?" Lucie asked, looking over Rose's shoulder.
"Yeah. I have her write here and Clara holds them for me." Rose tucked the letters into her waistband to read back on the ship.
Bill smirked. "She could hold-"
Rose's elbow made hard contact with Bill's ribs before she could finish that sentence but from the twinkle in Clara's eyes, she knew where it had been heading.
"Bill, right?"
"That's me."
"Got plans for the night, sailor?" Clara asked, a decidedly wicked smile on her face as she gave Bill a thorough look-over.
Rose groaned.
"Not yet," Bill said with a grin.
"Stick around after closing, I can make sure you have a softer bed than you're used to."
Clara walked away to tend to another customer before Bill picked her jaw up from the floor.
"You're my lucky charm, Rose, I swear," Bill said, watching Clara with reverent eyes.
"She's something else, isn't she?"
Bill gave her a look. "Any history there I need to know about?"
"Nah. We're just friends." Rose shrugged a shoulder. "Met her at the wrong time to be anything more."
"So long as I'm not stepping on your toes."
"Not at all," Rose assured her.
"You two are hopeless," Lucie said.
"Tell you what, Luce," Rose said, slapping her friend on the shoulder. "I'll flirt with men tonight with you. We can see how many we charm before the night is up."
Lucie agreed with a laugh. "Winner is whoever gets the most free drinks."
"You're on."
By the time they stumble back to the ship in the wee hours of the morning, they're both drunk and laughing.
"You cheated," Lucie complained. "People remembered you from when you worked there and that got you more drinks."
"Just admit that I'm more charming than you," Rose shot back. "And we weren't even counting the drinks a couple of the ladies bought me."
"That's because you weren't supposed to be flirting with them!"
"I wasn't!" Rose claimed. "At least not on purpose. Charming, remember?"
"Ridiculous, more like," Lucie said with a snort.
Rose slung her arm around Lucie's shoulder. "You love it."
They make it back to The Red Lady and collapse into their respective hammocks with muted giggles, ignoring the aggrieved mutterings of the few crewmates who were already trying to sleep.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The next day, Rose made her way back to Clara's pub, wanting a chance to catch up with her friend. She ran into Bill on the way there.
"Bout time you crawled back to the ship," Rose teased. "Have a good time?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Bill asked. Her smile screamed satisfaction.
"No, I really don't. Forget I asked," Rose said. "Is Clara up and about? I was on my way to see her."
"Sadly, she was getting dressed when I left so she should be ready for visitors now."
"Hopeless," Rose said.
"You sound like Lucie." Bill pushed at her friend's shoulder.
"Take it up with her when you get back to the ship. If you can wake her up, that is. Was still sleeping hard when I left."
"Snoring?"
"Loud enough to wake up everyone but herself," Rose confirmed.
"Brilliant," Bill said with a roll of her eyes. "I'll go save everyone from that."
"See you later."
They parted ways and a few minutes later, Rose let herself into the pub's kitchen and shouted up the stairs that she was making tea and expected Clara to be downstairs and decent by the time she was done.
"You're no fun," Clara groused as she came down the stairs.
Rose raised an eyebrow. "Judging by the smile on Bill's face when I ran into her, you've already had plenty of fun this morning."
"Mmm, true." She took a mug of tea from Rose's hand and sat down at the small table off to one side of the kitchen. "So, tell me about life as a pirate. Bill said you sail back out tomorrow?"
"First tide of the morning," Rose confirmed.
They fell into easy conversation, swapping tales of life on the high seas and tavern antics until Joan arrived to start preparing lunch.
"I've got to get back to the ship," Rose said with a regretful twist of her lips. "Supplies should be getting delivered and I have to take inventory."
"Stay safe out there," Clara said.
"Tall order to give a pirate."
"It's one you better follow," Clara retorted with raised eyebrows.
Rose hugged her friend and was about to turn to head out the door when Clara cleared her throat.
Clara tapped a finger to her own lips. "Can't break tradition, Rose. A kiss before you run off to be a pirate again."
Rose laughed and swiftly pressed a kiss to Clara's lips. "Until next time, Clara."
"Until next time."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Some months later, at sea:
Rose's knives flashed in the afternoon sun as she helped subdue the crew of a merchant ship. She was guarding the fight between Amy and the merchant captain, preventing anyone from coming to their captain's aid as Amy toyed with him.
Mels was next to her, her sword cutting through the air.
Neither of them were aware that their twin ruthless smiles were as terrifying to the merchant sailors as their blades.
Later that night, Amy and Mels met in the captain's quarters to discuss their haul and various crew matters.
"Heard we're losing Vicki next time we make port," Mels said, propping her feet up on Amy's desk.
Amy glared at her but it had no effect. "Yeah, she already came to talk to me. She's got a bloke waiting for her, I think."
Mels sighed. "Of course she does. Don't understand how any of them leave the open seas for something as fickle as love."
"If it pulls on them as hard as the sea pulls on us, it makes sense," Amy argued.
"I suppose."
Amy leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. "Figured out who you want to train up as your replacement, yet? I know you're itching for your own captaincy."
"You know I'm no good at taking orders," Mels said.
"Bane of my existence," Amy agrees. "I'll be sad to lose you though."
"You'll still see me around," Mels said with a shrug. "But I'll miss you too, you big sap."
"Take that back or I'll pull my sword on you." Amy's threat was without heat. She smiled at her friend.
"Your secret's safe with me."
"So, who do you have your eye on as my next first mate? I retain my right to veto anyone I don't want."
Mels rolled her eyes. "Of course you do, but you won't."
"Sure about that?"
"You generally seem to like Rose, so, yeah."
Amy grinned. "Excellent choice. Think there will be any problem with her not having been on the crew as some of the others you might pick?"
Mels shook her head. "Everyone likes Rose. She's a fast learner, she takes care of everyone without making a production of it, and besides you and me, she's the best with a blade in her hand."
"I wouldn't take her on in a knife fight," Amy said.
"Me neither. I can still best her with swords but she's picking that up fast."
"She's got the love for the sea, too," Amy mused. "She'll make a good first mate."
"She'll make a good captain one day, too."
They both considered that for a moment and a gleeful smile formed slowly on Amy's face as she pictured Rose and her blend of ruthlessness and kindness in charge of her own crew.
"I can't wait to see what she does," Amy said.
"Nobody will know what hit them," Mels agreed. "So, you're on board with me training Rose as your next first mate? I don't have my eye on a ship yet so I have plenty of time to teach her what she needs to know."
"Yes. Don't tell her until you know you're leaving soon. I don't want the rumor mill getting riled up about you leaving when it's not imminent quite yet."
"Aye aye, Captain."
Amy rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
"You already said you'll miss me when I'm gone, can't take it back now." Mels's smirk was smug.
"Impossible."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The port town of Cheem:
John felt lighter than he had in months as he pulled on a rough rope on the deck of a ship. The burn of fibers against his palms, the strain of his shoulders, and the familiar rocking rhythm of the ocean beneath his feet felt like home.
He hadn't heard any news of his old ship or caught up to The Red Lady but he'd pulled into port while The Thorn Queen was making a supply stop. Having heard good things about the ship and her captain, John sought out Captain Jabe and applied for a place on her crew.
The woman's smile was kind but her eyes were sharp as she questioned John about his qualifications. After a few minutes, she took a sip of ale and set it down gently.
Her lilting voice was quiet as she spoke. "I recognize your name, Doctor, even if you aren't laying claim to it here. I know not your reasons for joining a crew when you used to be a captain, but I'd be happy to welcome you onto my ship."
John's jaw clenched and he took a moment to gather himself. He brushed his thumb over the rose brooch, still in his pocket after all these months. He'd pinned it to the lining to ensure he wouldn't lose it.
"Thank you, Captain," he said finally, skirting the subtle dig for information. "I'd be honored to serve on your crew."
"Welcome then. I will have someone tell the guards to expect you." She paused, considering. "Should I call you John or the Doctor?"
"It's just John, now," he said. "For now at least."
"Your secret is safe with me, John."
"Thank you." He stood. "I need to gather my belongings from my current ship. I will report to The Thorn Queen as soon as possible."
"Take your time. We are in port until the day after tomorrow. As you might be aware, Cheem is my home port. We have an..." she pauses, trying to find the right word, "an understanding with the authorities here, so our shore leaves are a little more leisurely than in other places."
John nodded. "Thank you again, Captain."
"I will see you aboard," she said. She dismissed him with a nod and called someone over to her with a wave of her hand.
John assumed she was informing a crewmember that he was to be allowed to board The Thorn Queen, and left the tavern without looking back. Now he was back at sea on a new ship, as a member of a new crew who he was getting along with.
It was a good first step and for the first time in quite some time, he was looking to the future with something other than resignation.