She sat hunched over on the bed with her face in her hands when she heard a gentle knock on the door.

"Go away!"

"C'mon Piper open the door." It was Alex.

"Leave me alone! You're all making fun of me, I'm tired of hearing about your sexual endeavors and being attacked by them, the food is disgusting—"

"You didn't even try it."

"—And I'm tired of being taken advantage of and I just want to go home! Take me home!"

"Piper open the door."

"No. I said leave me alone!"

"I have something for you."

"Whatever it is I don't want it!"

"I think you do."

Silence hovered between them for a moment then Piper wiped her face and went to open the door.

Alex's hands were behind her back, she was smiling.

"What?" Piper snapped.

The captain revealed a wooden bowl filled with delectable looking oranges.

"A peace offering."

Piper saw them and was careful to keep her angry scowl not wanting to give Alex the satisfaction of knowing how happy she was at seeing something that wasn't still twitching.

She said nothing as she took the bowl from Alex and headed back inside with Alex following behind her.

Piper sat back down on the bed and immediately set to work at peeling an orange. Alex took her place in the chair behind her desk and just watched her. Piper was far too busy tearing into the orange to notice her staring. She moaned at the delicious tangy juices filling her mouth. It was heaven.

"You know there's plenty more where that came from. Slow down or you're going to choke."

Piper did and looked back at Alex. "Thank you." she said.

"You know princess, the food wasn't that bad if you had at least tried it—"

Piper spoke with a mouthful "It was still moving Alex."

"Red takes a lot of pride in her cooking Piper. She may not show it but you hurt her feelings."

Piper said nothing but looked at Alex with a twinge of regret. She never meant to hurt the woman's feelings but after having been kidnapped, locked in a storage closet, turned into a swab, beaten by a mad woman, a twitching appendage in her food was probably the cherry on top to all of the wonderful things that have happened to her. Her cup had finally ran over.

"I'm sorry your first day didn't go so well. I promise you the girls are not that bad. They treat all new shipmates this way. it may not seem like it but we are a family and we look out for each other."

"I already told you Alex, I'm not a pirate. I'm not like any of you. This is not my family."

"I know princess. I get it. I know." Alex said with displeasure.

Piper took her attention away from Alex and looked at the extensive collection of books in the two bookcases beside her desk. She walked over and examined all of their worn covers giving away how often they were read.

"I didn't know pirates were such avid readers."

"Only the best pirates." Alex said with pride.

"You've read all of these?"

"Aye, I have. Some more than others…you're impressed?"

"Maybe." Piper said glancing carefully over each one.

Alex rocked back in her chair with her hands laced across her stomach "I learned when I was very young, when my mother handed me my very first book. She couldn't read herself so she gave it to me with the hopes that I could learn on my own. Eventually I did and I taught her."

"Where is your mother now?"

"My mother is dead."

Piper looked over and saw the blank expression on Alex's face.

"She has been for past few years."

"I'm sorry." And she truly was. Piper had struck another wound and the way Alex said it told Piper that her mother was a subject that was not up for discussion.

"So what was the name of the book?" Piper asked.

"Gallatea and the Journey Beyond the Seas."

Piper blinked in surprise "You've read Gallatea?"

"Many times. It is one of my favorites. I have it practically memorized. You're familiar with the story?"

"It's one of my favorite books. The castle is filled with many libraries but Gallatea was my favorite I could read it every day. She was a heroine of mine."

Piper nearly forgotten she was upset and her words ran together in excitement at the thrill of having someone to discuss the topic of books.

"Do you think that—nevermind."

"What?"

"Do you think Gallatea ever found what she was looking for in the end? I asked my friend Pollina about it once but she wasn't exactly interested. Usually the conversations were one-sided. Gallatea leaves her home to find something new, leaving everything behind venturing into the unknown only to return to her old life. She was happy in the end of course but it seems like the adventure was all for nothing."

Alex stretched her arms to the ceiling "I don't think the story was ever really about the destination."

"You don't?" Piper asked honestly curious by her answer and wanting her to elaborate.

"I think it was the journey that mattered most. Whether she found what she was seeking or not at least she had the courage to try before settling back into her old ways and making the safer choice. My mother used to always say 'Go out and see the world Alex then decide if this is to be your home.' I haven't returned since nor have I exactly found 'home' either."

"That book there that you have your finger on is an interesting read. It talks about soulmates, parallel worlds, and the theory that after we die we are born again into different lives."

"Soulmates?"

"Mmhmm." She made a blasé gesture with her hand. "You know, people destined to meet and be together. The theory that there is someone out there for everyone. And once they meet should they ever separate they'll always find a way back to each other because they are…"

"Inevitable." Piper said.

Alex smiled "Exactly."

"Do you believe that?"

Alex had a small hopeful smile. "I didn't before. But I'm opening up to the idea."

After a beat Alex said "Sylvia is not my woman."

"What?" Piper was taken aback by the change in topic.

"Sylvia…she's not my woman."

"What is she then?"

"It's difficult to explain."

"No it's not. Either she is or she isn't."

"I never kidnapped Sylvia. Well…correction, yes, I did but Sylvia went willingly. They all did as a matter of fact. Sylvia was the last one before you. The attack on the Dauntless was very much like our attack on Imperial Terra except she knew of our plans. I knew her long before that incident. She would sneak away from home a lot and we had fun drinking in taverns and…fucking each other 'til dawn."

Piper cringed "Nevermind I decided I don't want to hear this."

"I'm trying to be honest with you Piper. I want us to be mates. Just listen please."

"So Sylvia eventually grew tired of sneaking around and decided she wanted to come with me. And now here we are. I had no intention of sinking the Dauntless my intention was only to retrieve her and escape but they struck back. Sylvia is—was fun, a lot of fun but I didn't love her."

"What do you mean by 'they all did'?"

"Every woman that I have taken aboard my ship have all come willingly. Nichols was the first and like she said we have had some…funtogether but that was mostly to ease loneliness. She's my first mate and friend. She can give me a headache sometimes but I know I can count on her and can always trust her to tell me the truth even when its ugly. As far as the sex that has stopped years ago and besides she has Morello now. And she'll never say it out loud but she loves her."

Alex spoke making sure she had Piper's full attention. "I have never once taken a single woman against her will. You've made history in being the first. The women that I have taken they either became part of my crew or…."

"Or what?"

Alex had the look again. The look that said she was contemplating if she should say what she was about to say.

"They go to Litch."

"Litch?"

"It's short for Litchman's Island. It's the largest pirate haven that we have hidden inside of the Emerald Caves lying to the far east. And the farther east you go the more treacherous and violent the sea becomes. Monstrous beasts and creatures the size of your house princess, that can swallow a ship whole. And even if you somehow managed to survive the sea and make it to the Emerald Caves there's only one pathway that leads to it. Taking the wrong one could have you lost for days. Only a pirate knows its location and only a pirate knows how to get there."

"The Emerald Caves…sounds beautiful."

"It is. Its called that because of the thousands of emerald jewels that line the cave making it glow. But its also very dangerous navigating through it if you don't know where you're going. Whirlpools, cave demons, things like that." Alex spoke like such things were a trivial matter.

"Cave demons? Sea monsters? I thought such things only existed in books?"
She lifted an eyebrow and smirked "I told you princess the world is a much bigger place outside your birdcage."

"If you still haven't changed your mind I can take you to there."

"Another stop on this adventure?"

"We'll make it the final stop. And the deal still stands. If you still want to go home after I'll take you."

Piper rolled her eyes and shrugged "Fine. I'll admit the Emerald Caves do sound a little interesting."

The sound of fast approaching footsteps came from behind the door. Nichols burst in "I don't hate to interrupt and I'm a little surprised that I haven't caught you with your face between 'er legs Vause but we got a serious problem. Storm's coming and I don't think the Widow will be able to take it. We've got to move!"