A/N:Ok, at this point I'd just like to mention that Elizabeth from here is NOT anything like, or having to do with Elizabeth from Pirates of the Carribean 1, 2, or 3. I didn't really realise the name until the chapter was submitted. It was all like MER... that didn't go well, did it? I just liked the name.

The plot is unfurling, and its been suggested to me that you all aren't commenting because I have Erik as a supporting role and nothing more. He's SO much more. Or at least he will be. He's pretty quiet here. As more of their background is revealed, it'll show why he's not captain. He knows his temper might get in the way. And theres alot of other things. And as Firmin becomes distracted, Erik will step up. I don't know how you will all like today's little chapter though...

Andre: BETTER THAN I WILL. I'm still on a blinking ship, trying to catch up with my would be wife.

Oh can it tinker-bell. She's doing fine, and you don't love her anyway. Anywayz. My randomness aside, here's a chapter. So please, Reveiw!


In several hours, Tortuga was in view and soon The Venus was docked. The men all but broke their ankles getting off, and Firmin suspected at least one child was to be fathered before the day was done.

"You coming, kid?" the captain asked to Noel.

The girl stuck her bottom lip out a bit. "Papa, can Christine come with us? Please?"

Christine looked to Firmin, seeming pleading. "I won't run off. I just need to walk somewhere!" She said. She knew he might say no however.

"Oh... Fine. God, this ship is run by its women," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "It'll do no good to leave you here. And running isn't an option; a girl like you wouldn't last long in Tortuga."

Christine nodded. "So I've heard." She said, eagerly following Firmin as the ship disappeared into the distance.

Firmin led them through one of the better parts of the port, which truly wasn't all that great. "Don't let Celina bother you, either. She's a poison mistress, but she's mostly harmless. ... Well, not really, but she won't hurt you."

Christine laughed. "Alright. I won't let her bother me." She said. Unbeknownst to them or anyone there was one less figure aboard the Venus.

They reached an in on the edge of the port town, quieter than most of the other ones (Firmin knew it was because it lacked a pub). A faded sign proclaiming it to be 'The Mistletoe' hung above the doorway.

"This is it," smirked Firmin. "Mistletoe is often said to be romantic, but it's really just toxic. Celina's big on symbolism."

Christine nodded. She followed him closely.

The first floor of the inn was all but deserted, and they did not linger there. They went to the second floor and down a hallway. Firmin rapped on one of the doors.

A woman with brown hair and eyes to match opened the door, smiling as she saw the captain. She threw her arms around his neck. "Richard! God, when they said your ship pulled out so early last time I thought you were going to your death!"

Christine lingered in the hallway. She didn't wish to bother him or her.

Celina realized him, ruffling Noel's hair. "What's up, kiddo?" Then she noticed the bandage covering her wrist. "You get hurt?"

"Branded," Firmin sighed. "It's a long, long story." He gestured to Christine. "This is Miss Christine Daae."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that officer in Edwardsville marrying a Daae...?"

"Yes..." Christine piped in, unsure. "He is...Gilles Andre...his name, miss." She said softly.

"I thought hostages weren't your style, Richard," she said, coming out into the hall and closing the door behind her. "Trust me, you don't want to go in there, it's a total mess. I don't keep my work area very tidy."

Christine nodded, understanding what she meant. She wondered when the question of Erik would come into play.

"Like I said, it's a long story," Firmin sighed. "To shorten it up, do you have anything for infection?"

She blinked. "Yes. ... Why?"

"Erik was shot, and he wouldn't keep still so the stitches came out. They had to be done up again, but this time we were out of antiseptics. Had a hard battle with the navy. Now he's in a fever."

Christine nodded. "He didn't even recognise me." She said softly. She wondered how Erik was. She didn't even think that he could potentially be gone...

"Not good..." muttered Celina, opening the door next to the one she had emerged from. The second floor was largely dedicated to her work, aside from her room, her assistant's room, and the room for the two-year-old terrors who called themselves her sons.

The room was shelved, filled with various bottles and jars. She plucked a green vial from one of the far shelves, glancing at the label. "This is the strongest I've got. It's to be applied to the infection. It's gonna burn like nothing else, but it should do the trick." She took another bottle, this one clear. The liquid was red. "And this should take care of the fever."

Christine nodded and watched her retrieve them. She hoped they would work...what was more she hoped he would take them. He seemed against anything of that sort.

"There's... one small thing," Firmin admitted as he took the bottles from his sister. "He might not take these."

"... Do I want to know why?"

"He wouldn't have the stitches fixed up, so I had to... give him something to help him relax."

"Richard, with friends like you, that man doesn't need any enemies."

Christine nodded. "But perhaps he will...we have to try." She said to Firmin seriously. "It's important..." She said firmly.

"It's worth a shot," shrugged Celina. "Then again, if he's as out of it as you say he is, he might not be able to resist. When someone's deep in fever, they're usually as weak as a child."

"Speaking of children," Firmin said, wanting to shift the topic away from the darker tones. "How'd the birth go?"

The woman's face (the half visible under her hair, anyway), hardened, and she turned away from them as she closed the storage room door, locking it. "... Not so good."

0o0o0o0

Erik rose from the bunk he was lying on. His mind was coming in and out of delirium, but for the most part, there was only one thing that flashed. Out. He pushed open the door, checking to be sure no one was there.

He came into the hallways, walking casually on deck, making sure no one was on there to watch him before he slipped neatly from the deck. He escaped into the towns, unnoticed. He was just another in the masses.

He could remember Firmin… he had drugged him, let that crack-job doctor work on him. And then Elizabeth…she had helped Firmin… and tried to get him to take something else…

But then another image flashed into mind…

The woman ran to him, through the rain, tears mixing with the down-pour. Her cheek was bloody, and her hands had rope marks around them. She ran to him, sobbing, falling into his embrace.

"Erik… My god…" She was gasping and half collapsed, Erik catching her, and supporting her with ease. He kissed her bruised forehead.

"Elizabeth… what happened? Tell me who did this…"

"I don't know… the officer… at the bar… I said I wouldn't. I wouldn't do that anymore. Not after I found you. He didn't take no for an answer." She said, clasping her arms around him.

"Shhh… it's alright… he won't hurt you again. I'm here Elizabeth. He won't hurt you."

She nodded and he tipped her chin up, kissing her on the lips, his mask high enough on the upper lip that it didn't interfere. When she pulled away, she had calmed. "I love you."

"I love you too. Come… We'll get you some dry clothes. We'll be out of here tomorrow. The storm should be letting up… come on."

She had been there. And he had comforted her. She was fine after that. But why would she help Firmin? They were against him… He continued on, getting away from the busy streets once and for all.

He stopped, pain shooting through his head in his fevered state. He collapsed, sitting there, back against the fence in the middle of no where on the island. He dropped his head into his hands as another memory took place. Not too long after the last had taken place…

He looked for Elizabeth to show up… where was she? There… a speck on the shore hurrying towards the ship. He frowned, for another figure was about twenty yards behind her and gaining. He was over the side of the ship in an instant, Firmin yelling after him to come back.

He could finally make out the figures infront of him. But he wasn't near enough yet… not to prevent what was going to happen.

"You little wretch! You think you can just run away from me like that! Wh0re!" The man was screaming. The navy uniform was the only thing he could make out at that point.

Erik yelled his warning as the pistol was raised, but the thunder drowned out his warning and the gunshot… He ran to her in time to catch her before she hit the ground, her few belongings falling to the beach.

Her blood was running from her back, and the girl he had caught was already dead.

Erik looked at his hands. No… her blood had been on his hands. No… he was confused… She had been there… Elizabeth had been there… Elizabeth… Christine? … Elizabeth…

0o0o0o0

"Speaking of children," Firmin said, wanting to shift the topic away from the darker tones. "How'd the birth go?"

The woman's face (the half visible under her hair, anyway), hardened, and she turned away from them as she closed the storage room door, locking it. "... Not so good."

"What do you mean by that?" questioned Firmin, brow furrowing slightly.

"He was just under two months premature." Her voice suddenly didn't sound as strong as it did a moment ago.

"Was...?" Noel whispered, knowing what was coming.

"He only lived for thirteen days..."

Christine paled slightly. "That's horrible." She breathed.

She gave a small shrug though her face showed the true extent of her sadness. "It happens. Everything that could be done was, and it wasn't enough. Some things... Some things can't be helped."

Firmin gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, knowing she was likely to hurt him for anything more. "I'm sorry, Lina."

Christine nodded, but she remained silent. It wasn't her place to speak.

"I'm over it, alright?" she said, harshening slightly.

Firmin knew very well that she wasn't, but he didn't want to make her upset. "Thank for you the medicine."

Celina managed a smile. "What are sisters for?"

Christine nodded. "Thank you." She said, for her own side of it. She stepped back into the hallway to wait, not wanting to linger too long, but allowing Firmin to linger without her. She didn't want to intrude...she was after all, a stranger.

Firmin gave his sister a light peck on the cheek before following after Christine.

Noel hugged onto the woman. "I'm so sorry..."

"Don't lose any sleep over it," she said softly, mussing the girl's hair. "Better luck next time. Now go. Look after your Papa for me."

"I will." With that, she hurried off.

Christine walked with the two back towards the ship. She was encouraged by the fact that Erik would most likely have to take it. She stopped in the hallway, waiting for Firmin to go in.

"You mean you'd rather him kill me then you?" Firmin said with a wry smirk. "No, I'll do it."

Christine nodded. She waited in the hall way. "Good luck."

"I'll need it..." Firmin rapped sharply on the door. "Erik...?"

There was no response. Silence. Nothing.

He knocked harder. "Erik, I mean it. I'm coming in."

There was still no answer. Christine shrugged. "Go in..."

Firmin nodded, opening the door. He didn't even want to think about the possibility that he'd find a body.

The room was empty. There was no one there. His most valuable belongings were gone. There was a half finish map, an ink stain mark on it, as evidence from a hasty exit.

Firmin cursed silently, storming into the hall and slamming the door hard. "He's gone! Oh god, he was sick... He's probably lying somewhere dying..." He cursed under his breath, angry at himself.

Christine looked up, her already pale skin becoming more so. "He's gone!? Lord. He's delirious! He might not even know where he is!" She said, unsure of what to do.

"I'm going to go find him," Firmin muttered. "Even if he wants to leave, I'm not letting him go sick."

"How will you find him?" She asked softly. She also grabbed her cloak. "And how can I help?" She added.

"Quite honestly, I don't know," he admitted. He was reluctant to bring along Christine, but two pairs of eyes were better than one. "If you want to help, you can come with me. Noel, stay here..."

"But Papa..."

"You need to be here in case he comes back."

"Papa, maybe he doesn't want to be found!" Noel shouted, finally allowed to complete her sentence. "He was so mad at you, maybe he simply left..." Her eyes were brimming with tears.

"He might not have known what he doing." Firmin said softly.

"And he might have. If he doesn't want to be found, you're never going to find him."

"Perhaps...but...perhaps we should all look...in case Firmin is right...then he could be wandering, not knowing where he is..." Christine whispered.

"Look..." Firmin sighed. "I hate to admit this, but Noel may be right. I'll go out alone to look. If he's truly delirious, he shouldn't be hard to spot. ... Then again, with all the drunks... But my point is that he won't be hiding. You two stay here."

Christine looked up firmly. "He'll be hard to find. He's Erik. Let us come. We'll look for a while. The crew will be back here by nightfall. We can leave then if we don't find him.

"Oh... Alright. Noel, maybe it's best if you don't stay here alone." His mind was shifting back into captain's mode; he didn't know when the navy ships would be coming. He doubted they were near them now, but still... "Come on, we'd better hurry."

Christine ran after him, glad she had stolen a pair of sailor's shoes. Much easier to run in than heels. She had her cloak around her, for night was drawing in and with it was chilly.

Noel kept close to her father; even she wasn't fond of Tortuga come nightfall. She had never been forced to work the streets, she could say that much for her previous master.

Firmin tried to keep all traces of worry from his face, but he knew that the hunt was probably not going to end well either way. Even if they found him, he would still be in the market for a new first mate.

Christine sighed, seeing no traces of the masked man.

Noel grew more worried with each passing minute that she had been right. She had never wished to be wrong so much in her life.

"I don't think we're going to find him," Firmin finally said. It hurt nearly as much to say that as it would have been to order Noel to be left behind.

Christine choked back a sob. Why was she even crying? "No...it's late...I think...I think the crew will be back by now...its nearly midnight..." She said softly.

Firmin had taken to carrying Noel at this point; the girl was worn out both physically and emotionally. "I hate to do this." His voice was much weaker than he willed it to be. "I really do... But there's no way I can force him back on the ship."

Christine nodded. "You...you did the right thing...trying to help him..." She said, swallowing hard.

Her words meant little to him. Even his own assurances couldn't ease the guilt in his mind. "We should head back; we need to be out of here as soon as possible. We've already given the navy a good jolt on us."

Although Noel was silent, Firmin could feel her tears on his neck. He kissed her cheek gently, wishing he knew what to say.

Christine nodded, turning around with him. Erik had wanted to leave, and had done so. There was no bringing him back from the grave.

"If you wished to go back," Firmin said as they headed back to the ship. "With the commodore, I mean, it could be arranged. You could stay with Celina until they catch up here."

Christine looked up. She hesitated. "I...I..." She bit her lip. "I'm fine...I'm kind of getting used to it here..." Of course, without Erik... But she felt she owed it to them. She failed in giving Erik the medicine.

Firmin shrugged, although it was only with one shoulder. Noel was resting her head on the other. "You're probably going to be returned eventually anyway..." He paused. "Unless, of course, you don't want to go back. I mean, I know some of the men in the upper classes don't treat women very well..."

"He treats me well." Christine said swiftly. "We'll see when the time comes." She said, trying to sound business like, but only managing to sound defeated, depressed, and tired.

"When a female says 'he treats me well' in that tone of voice, it's not very convincing," he commented. Noel was asleep, he could feel her slowed breath.

"He treats me fine...but I don't love him...I never did and most likely never will...he's never around either..." She added, her voice a whisper.

"If he's never around, what's to stop you from getting a man you actually want while he's working?" Firmin questioned, raising an eyebrow. "God knows that's exactly what he's doing."

"It doesn't seem right. I don't know. I wasn't brought up that way. And the people in my town see me for my money and my looks. Nothing more." She said with a sigh. The Venus was in sight. For this time, it filled her with dread. He wasn't there. Erik wasn't there… things would be so different without him to talk to.

Another one-shouldered shrug. "My philosophy had always been 'If you don't like it, run'. By rights I should be an accountant, working at my father's firm right now, and I should be completely and utterly miserable."

He sighed, shifting Noel's weight a bit. "And I'm afraid I'm not the best person to ask about matters of the heart. I've got Celina and Noel. I had Erik, and look what I did to that."

Christine nodded. "Perhaps this is a way of running. Coming here that is. I don't know." She said softly.

"You're welcome to stay on The Venus, anyway," Firmin shrugged. He saw several men staggering to the bunk room. You can't come on raids, of course, but it would be nice to have someone keeping an eye on Noel when I'm not around. I never want a repeat of last time."

Christine nodded. "Alright." She agreed. She'd stay, at least for now. She climbed the plank to the deck and stepped on, light on her feet in the shoes. She looked to Firmin. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"Not that I can think of at the moment," he replied, shaking his head. "If I think of anything, I'll ask. Besides, it's not customary to put hostages to work."

"You haven't a gun to my head anymore. I don't consider myself a hostage. But there must be something you need done so we can get out of here..." She said softly.

"Well... With most the crew drunk, they're more or less useless. I can get the mooring lines in by myself, but someone needs to hold the wheel so we don't take out the dock."

Christine nodded, going towards the wheel. "Just hold it still?" She asked, just to be clear.

"Turn it as far as you can towards the sea, then just hold on. It can strain a bit, but you should be able to hold it in place. I'm going to put Noel in the cabin first, though." He disappeared below deck, the dark girl in his arms.

Christine nodded. "Alright." She got into position, bracing herself and being ready to turn when ordered to.

Firmin set Noel on his bed, pulling the covers up over her. She curled herself in them without waking, and he could not restrain a smile, despite how horrible he felt to be pulling out without Erik, thinking how he would never see him again.

He was gone from the room in a second, however, and was soon back out on the deck. His rough hands made swift work of the knots, and as each rope was undone, the ship strayed a bit more to the open water. Finally they were free, and The Venus glided out onto the water.

Christine held the boat steady as Firmin instructed her to. She felt... accomplished. It was odd.

"Well, we didn't hit the dock, so you did better than expected," Firmin said with a smirk as he coiled the lines before heading up to join Christine on the helm.

Christine looked down on him with a small smile. "Don't think I didn't hear that."

"Eh," he shrugged, reaching the platform. "Not many noble women ever steer a ship. While it's harder when you're actually sailing, it's still a bit hard to hold it. Noel's too small to keep it in place for long."

Christine nodded. "I'm stronger than I look. I wasn't always in a noble family." She said truthfully.

He raised an eyebrow, taking the wheel from her and spinning it. They would head out, and then down the coast. "Really? You strike me as the 'poor little rich girl' type."

"My father was poor. I lived in a small hut on a hill for most of my childhood. My father married my step mother when I was fourteen. She was a bit richer. Not as much as Andre. But when I was sixteen, I got a request from Andre's parents. The arranged marriage was set between our parents before I even met him..." She said with a sigh.

"You could have gotten worse," Firmin shrugged, though the thought of marrying some girl irked him. "Could have been matched up with some fat, bald man who'd have you whenever he'd like. Still, living out your life with someone you've barely met is rarely going to end well."

"Yes. I know it could be worse. But like every young girl...to have your hopes dashed like that... I mean... I don't know. I shouldn't be bothering you with this. You certainly have enough on your mind." She said softly, eyes gazing out over the moonlit ocean. Her hand idly grazed the wood of the banister.

"If you don't let it out, you go crazy," Firmin shrugged. "Either that or you start drinking more than you should. Believe me, I know."

She looked up. "Seeing how you only have rum, I doubt I'll take to drinking. I can't stand the stuff." She said softly as if he were serious about her drinking problems.

"I was just joking. Though if you want wine, we've probably got a few bottles kicking around somewhere," he said, smirking.

Christine shook her head. "No thanks. I'll tell you if I ever do." She said with a small smile. "But no. I just...I always dreamed of finding love. Not...friendship."

"Everybody dreams of finding love," shrugged Firmin with a slight sigh. "Sometimes you find it in another form. I have Noel, and I wouldn't trade her for anything else. If you can't love your husband, love his children."

"If we ever have children." She said, sitting. The thought of 'settling down' was not high on her priority list. She was much too...out there.

"They'd be pretty if you did," he said with a slight laugh. "Awful at sword fighting, however."

"Yes." She said. "They would be." She looked up. "But then I'd be at home indefinitely. He hasn't even mentioned children, so I don't know if we'll have any. But I mean...we aren't even married, so I suppose it's early."

"That's another thing I've been meaning to ask you... I know he looks like a sod, but... He wasn't... Doing anything to Noel, was he...?"

"No. He was hardly even there during the time she was with us. She was with me the entire time. He rarely touches anyone if he can help it. I think the only time he even came in contact with Noel was holding her wrist still while he helped it."

Firmin let out his breath. "Good. I didn't mean to insult him, it's just... Well, he's a naval officer, enough said. I don't trust them nearly as far as I can throw them."

"The only reason he is a naval officer is because his family has money and he knows how to plan. He can order and plan but not fight himself."

"I figured that once I knocked him over with one hit," snorted Firmin. "He looks like he should be on the stage, not on the battlefield."

"True. And sometimes, that's where he is. Pretending he loves me in public. It is obvious we don't feel that way about each other."

"Sometimes people just never find that one person," he shrugged. "Happens often enough. I don't see myself with anyone special in the future."

Christine nodded. "Yes. I know. Well. I need to sleep..." She said softly, almost sadly.

He nodded. "I've got to stay with the wheel. Normally I'd just tie it and drop the sails, but we need to make distance on the navy ships. Good night."

She nodded. "Good night." She slipped into her cabin and fell asleep. Tortuga was already out of sight.


Told ya you weren't going to like it... but a glimpse into his past? Perhaps worth it? -hides under virtual desk-