Disclaimer: IOOMOC

J.L.: If you have been reading this within the last week, you probably noticed that I was updating once a day. That was until Friday, when I didn't. You could blame Easter, though I try my best to avoid holidays, but the truth is that I have been busy getting my webcomic back up and running. If you like my style of writing, you can only imagine the crap that I do with my own original characters (well, the main comic is based off my friends and I's antics, but I'm currently working on an entirely original story). You're more than welcome to check it out, the link is in my profile or just look up Jamie Zielesch on the Facebook. There are a few Resident evil parodies over there as well, and we all know how much you guys like Resident Evil. Anyways, enjoy.

Chris

As Jill and I boarded the pirate ship, the eeriness kicked in. It was as if the ship's life had been extinguished along with the previous occupants and all that remained was a cooling husk. Jill kept her mouth shut as she opened the door leading to the stairwell below deck, her hand gripping her blood spattered saber, expecting an ambush. I was scared of what we would talk about, if we would talk. Things were going to be hugely different, that much was clear. Jill descended quietly, and then she headed for the galley, where most pirates stashed their treasure.

"Jill?" I asked. She stopped in her tracks, not looking back at me.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Is it true that you are going to marry the Duke?" I asked. Her shoulders sunk.

"It's an arranged marriage, suggested in my father's will and upheld by my mother, who is executor of the estate until I am married. Once the marriage takes place, our town will be merged with the Duke's lands and we will be officially part of England rather than just a territory." She answered.

"So…then the Governor…" I started, trying to avoid what I really wanted to know.

"I am replacing the Governor upon my marriage." She replied, and slowly turned around.

"Oh." I responded. Her eyes searched my own.

"Chris…I know what's going through your mind. My intentions with you…were true. I did…was…am…I like you a lot. I wish there was a way that all this political mess could be sorted out without the Duke but…"She tried.

"We can run off, elope." I suggested. Hope and hurt flashed in her eyes for a brief moment.

"Wesker is right; I have been shirking off my responsibilities. You and I come from completely different worlds, despite living in the same town. You only have to worry about your well being and the well being of your sister. I have to worry about the well being of an entire town and soon much more. I have always prayed that I would find my brother, because some of that responsibility would be on his shoulders. I can no longer use that hope as an excuse to abandon that. I am terribly sorry, but I cannot run off anymore." She replied. My heart began to shatter and she turned back towards the galley, making her way to it. As we started hauling boxes of food and treasure to the deck, someone ran out and dropped to his knees in front of us.

"Please don't leave me here!" He begged. The man was scrawny and looked nothing like a pirate should. Jill put her sword to his throat.

"What is your rank?" She demanded. The man looked up at her nervously.

"Cabin boy." He quickly answered.

"What's your name?" She drilled on.

"Brad Vickers…please don't kill me! I have only been on here for a few months, and not by choice. I needed to escape and they didn't charge me and I don't want to die!" Brad cried out. Jill shook her head.

"You are damn lucky that we are now horribly short on crewmen right now. I am First Mate Valentine, this is Chris Redfield. Help him move the supplies to our ship and I will talk with the Captain about you." She ordered. The man got off his knees and nodded, and allowed her to walk off.

"Hu-hi-hello." Brad managed to choke out. I shook his hand.

"Relax…we're government sanctioned." I explained. This seemed to breath some relief into the nervous man.

Jill

For the remainder of the trip, I buried myself into the ship's various duties, avoiding Chris and the others as much as possible. Chris had busied himself with training Brad anyways. Wesker almost never left his quarters. Barry was almost always on navigation duty. Forest and Sully avoided me, know that they owed me. Rebecca was still grieving Richard's death and though she didn't blame me, she didn't take time to talk to me as she use to either. I dreaded the return home, but there was nothing I could do.

The day came for us to dock at our harbor and I kept back as I watched all the sailors walk off the ship with their belongings to greet loved ones. Chris gather a young woman up in his arms, spinning her around in a hug, and I knew this had to be his sister Claire as Barry greeted his family not too far from them. Forest and Sully walked towards the town's pub, and Brad walked off towards the inn. Rebecca greeted her aunt Elza, and then entered the carriage to head to her home. Wesker stood beside me as we located Richard's father in the welcoming crowd.

"You know…I was perhaps a bit too harsh on you." Wesker spoke.

"No…it was the truth. I need to grow up." I replied, watching the Governor look around for a son that would not be coming.

"So this is it then." Wesker eluded. I nodded.

"Yes. Once the commissions are paid out, I'll probably start interviewing for a complete replacement crew for the ship. I may even have the Alpha and Beta go back out, make this company profitable." I explained.

"I think I'll see what other commissions are lined up for me. While it is nice to police the waters with your company footing the bill, my talents could be used elsewhere." Wesker said. I nodded.

"I figured as much, thus the wording complete replacement." I noted.

"It has been a pleasure." Wesker concluded.

"On my half as well. I've got to go deliver the news." I concluded as well and made my way off the ship.

Chris

I set Claire down and examined her. She had grown a bit since I had been gone, looking more and more like our mother had looked and less like a child. Barry's kids had shot up in height as well, his wife putting a little weight on.

"How was it?" Claire asked, eager for stories. I smiled at her and ruffled her hair.

"It was an adventure." I teased and she swatted my hand away.

"Less an adventure and more like you spending most of the journey making puppy eyes at the first mate." Barry teased back as he started leading the way back to their house. I glanced over and didn't see Jill on the ship, but instead in front of Governor Aiken. My attention turned back to the makeshift family.

"I wasn't making puppy eyes with her." I defended, my heart still sore.

"Chris was making puppy eyes at a woman? Did anything happen?" Claire asked, eager for dirt. I shot Barry a look, and he kept quiet.

"No. She's engaged to Duke Spencer." I answered and we continued our way to the house.

"Ah well, a woman like that is more than likely trouble. I'm sure you'll find a good woman someday." Barry's wife, Kathy, encouraged. Wistfully, I pushed aside thoughts of Jill being that good woman. Once we reached the house, I set my bags down and stepped out to sit on the porch. Claire joined me soon after.

"I'm doing really well in my studies." She announced. I smiled at her. She continued to study me, suspicion furrowing her brows.

"What?" I asked.

"Something did happen, didn't it?" She asked.

"Almost. Now please drop it." I asked. She nodded and sat back.

"So…you have the summer off before you sign up for another ship…what do you plan on doing?" She asked.

"Hm…I think I'll help Barry around here, and maybe hang out at the pub. Made some friends while I was sailing and that's what they seem to do on their free time." I answered. Claire nodded and gave me another hug before heading back in. Barry stepped out and put a hand on my shoulder.

"You did well for your first year boy. It'll probably be the roughest year you'll have sailing too." Barry encouraged. I nodded, my shoulders still slumped.

"I should have just stayed friendly, shouldn't I have?" I asked. Barry cocked an eyebrow as he puffed on his pipe and then slowly blew out the smoke.

"I don't know what happened between you two…but I'll assume the worst and agree with you on that statement. Tried warning you about that boy, and now you've got nothing to show." Barry lectured.

"Was it really that bad of an idea?" I asked. Barry frowned for a moment, and then grinned.

"It was a stupid idea." He announced. I sighed out as he removed his hand.

"I couldn't help myself." I tried reasoning. Barry kept quiet, puffing his pipe until all the tobacco was gone. He turned back for the house, pausing briefly.

"You know…I've sailed with her as my first mate for four years now…and in all that time, even when she had David, I had never seen her look so happy than when she looked whenever she was interacting with you." Barry mentioned and then he left. I leaned back in the chair, pondering all the what ifs.

J.L.: I realize this one is shorter than most of the other chapters, but never you mind that.