A/N I'm sorry for the short chapter, but it's one you've been waiting for—a little bit of Kat's back-story. I hope you all are picturing her with a Romanian or maybe Russian accent. Since I stink at writing accents, I just kept the words the way we would say them.

At Cynnx: I know, right! Emma should stay with her pirate, but she's Emma and she's reluctant. Don't worry-we have lots of CS moments coming up.

Thanks for all the lovely reviews! You guys are great.

Chapter 12

The Istrati family lived on the outskirts of a port town that sported a bustling city center with cobblestone roads and stone buildings that eventually gave way to rolling hills and green prairie land. The Istrati's were farmers, who sold their wares at the weekly market, which served as their only regular source of income.

Katrina was the second daughter in the family, and learned to work hard at a very early age. Her best friend was a boy named Gustav from the neighboring farm that raised horses, and who her father secretly wished she'd marry—so he could have his dear daughter live near him, just like her sister. But Katrina had other plans.

Katrina was 20 years old; she had offers of marriage, including Gustav's, but she had never been in love, and she had seen enough of the dreary co-existence surrounding her to know that she wanted no part of a farmer's life. She was a bit of a wanderer, an untamed woman of the forest, climbing trees daydreaming and talking to the animals, and a wild woman of the sea, sitting on the wharf, watching the roughness of the waves and the brave ships that fought them.

One uneventful day perching on her favorite spot overlooking the water, she saw a ship come into port. As it turned, she saw its name clearly painted on the back, "Jewel of the Realm". Watching the beautiful boat, she imagined being a princess out to sea, the wife of a sea captain, out on the ocean for adventure to faraway realms. Eyes glazed over, she relaxed into her daydream, and then noting the time, ran away toward home.

She would never forget the first time she saw him. Katrina had been selling goods at the market in her family's stall that day; the dashing seaman slowly walking down the aisle, his impeccable uniform standing out among the drab colors of the vendors and buyers around him. Katrina noticed him quietly perusing the stalls, not really buying anything.

Stopping at her own stall, he looked around at some of the handmade items, picking up a basket she had weaved herself. She was so nervous, noting his fine-looking features, his broad shoulders, his perfectly white jacket. And then he looked up at her and her breath caught in her throat. His eyes were the most beautiful blue she'd ever seen. He smiled at her, saying in an accented tone, "The workmanship on this basket is flawless. Did you fashion it yourself?"

Stuttering, and then finding her voice, Katrina shyly answered, "Y…Yes, sir," casting her eyes downward and staring at his strong hands.

He smiled, a splendid brilliant smile with flashing teeth, "I'd like to purchase it for my cabin. What price do you desire?"

She told him the price, inflating it a bit since he looked like he could afford it.

He chuckled, "Oh, no. I don't think so. I can appreciate your hard work, but I'm not some tourist you can swindle," he challenged, with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.

Shyness gone at his haggling, and not wanting to lose the sale, she put her hands on her hips and haughtily lowered the price.

"Still not low enough, lass." His tongue flicked across his lower lip, and without intending it, her eyes followed the motion.

"Fine!" she nearly shouted. She told him the actual price and took his money, turning away from him in frustration.

He gently touched her shoulder, an amused expression on his face. "Don't be angry with me, lass."

Still flustered, she whirled around, and he smoothly took her hand and turned it, slowly placing the rest of the coins in her palm, his eyes never leaving her face. When she looked down, she realized he had given her the full amount she had originally quoted. She stood unmoving, in shock. "Um… thank you, sir." Her cheeks were flushed and there was nothing else she could say that wouldn't betray her pounding heart.

Katrina was smitten with the young officer.

She found out that he was captain of the same Jewel she had been admiring a couple of days before. The military ships never stayed in port long, usually a couple of days at most, just enough time to offload supplies and give the sailors a break from the monotony of sea life before going back out to patrol the waters.

He actively sought her out the next time he was in port. Again stopping at her stall, he picked up a jar of honey, turning it back and forth, watching the slow movement of the thick liquid and collecting himself before confronting the beautiful young red-head before him. When he looked up, their eyes met and electricity sparked, startling them both. He had remembered that she was striking, and he wanted to confirm it in case his memory was lacking. It wasn't. Recovering, he asked breathily, "How much for the honey, lass?" His words poured over her and melted in a puddle at her feet.

Her brother rolled his eyes and answered for her. Thank God he had come to her rescue, since she must look like an idiot staring at the seaman in front of her, who had gotten even more gorgeous in the couple of months he'd been gone, if that was possible. He pulled out the appropriate change and handed it to her, intentionally brushing her palm, his eyes never leaving hers. He took a slight stiff bow and walked away, shaking his head to clear the fog that had gathered at the sight of the lovely lass.

It was another couple of months before they saw each other again. This time she was bringing a couple of pairs of her brothers' shoes to the cobbler. It was late in the day, and when she arrived, the shop had already closed. Her father was going to kill her for being so careless, likely lecturing her again on getting her head out of the clouds.

Sitting on a bench outside the shop, she put her face in her hands and began to cry. It was so unfair; she was so bored with her life. She wanted adventure, not lectures from her overprotective father.

So engrossed in her tears, she didn't notice the man who quietly sat down next to her.

Tears spent, she removed her hands from her face and looked up. "Oh!" She startled at the sight of the handsome captain's proximity. She could feel the heat radiating from his strong body.

"I didn't mean to alarm you, lass. Here." He handed her a white handkerchief with the initial J in one corner.

She took the handkerchief and used it to wipe the tears from her face. It smelled of soap and sea. "Thank you, sir."

"My pleasure. Now, tell me what has you so distraught." His eyes held concern in them, and he shifted his body toward her just a bit.

His kindness was her undoing. Looking over at him, she ranted, "It's everything. Just everything. My father thinks I'm wasting my life because I'd rather be anywhere than working on the farm, or I should choose a husband and have babies. My brothers and sisters are all the same—content with country life—but I'm not! I want… I want… more. There's more out there and I want to see it and breathe it and live it!" Her tears began to fall freely again, handkerchief forgotten, and she felt a little foolish for blurting everything out to him.

Seeing her distress, he placed a thumb on her cheek and wiped a few tears away. "I'm sorry you are in anguish, lass. But you're right. There is more out there, towns to see and people to meet, a whole world of possibility… Would you like me to show you?" He spoke quietly, his eyes imploring her to understand him. He liked her, and for as careless as it might seem to the rest of the world, he was offering her a place on his ship, and in his heart.

She gasped when she read the invitation in his eyes. Could it be that he had been dreaming of her as much as she had dreamt of him? "But… but… I don't even know your name." Her words came out in a heated rush, her heart hammering in her ears.

He stood up, took a bow and stated, "Captain Liam Jones, at your service, milady." He offered her his hand.

She accepted his hand, stood up, and answered, "And I'm…"

"Katrina Istrati," he cut in. "I took the liberty of asking a few questions about you the last time I was in port," he winked and didn't release her hand.

She threw her head back, laughing at the impossibility. Could this really be happening to her?

"Would you allow a gentleman to walk you home?"

At her assent, he placed her hand in the crook of his elbow, and enjoying the stars peeking out one by one, they talked about his adventures and her dreams the whole way home.

Arriving at her property all too soon, he bent over her hand, turned it over and kissed her palm, his lips tracing a line all the way to her wrist. Her eyes wide, she shivered at his touch. "We leave port early tomorrow morning, but I'll be back for you, love." His eyes held his promise.

Then the nightmare started.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"I just don't understand why you didn't contact me directly if you were looking for a place?" Neal pleaded with Emma, after Henry had dropped his bags, hugged his father, and run to the kitchen for something to eat, the kid obviously going through a growth spurt.

They stood facing each other in the main part of the antique store, Emma's arms folded across her chest and Neal's hand on her arm.

"It's not that big of a deal, and I didn't want to bother you." Emma looked at the floor instead of Neal's face.

Neal had inherited all of his father's holdings after his disappearance, and was managing his affairs with quite a bit more leniency than his father ever had. He was a godsend to many of the people in the town who were struggling with the rough economy. Knowing himself what it was like to live on next to nothing, and now that he had all the extra wealth, he was more than willing to help out his neighbors.

"I'm just saying that I could find you a place, something perfect for you and Henry. I have to keep track of all the properties anyway, and that way you wouldn't have to deal with a realtor." Even though Emma had told Neal she didn't want a relationship with him, he kept holding out hope that if they spent some time together, her feelings might begin to grow again.

Resigned, Emma let her hands fall to her sides, "I know, and you're right of course. Thank you. Henry and I went to look at a couple of places, but nothing panned out."

Satisfied, Neal smiled and dropped his hand from her arm. "I'll check the books and call you next week with possible prospects." He was glad to have a reason to help her, a reason to do something for her after all she'd done for him, not to mention another reason besides Henry to stay in contact with her.

Emma smiled at him, knowing that he was getting his hopes up, but not sure how to stop it. "That sounds good." She smiled, and shouted to Henry, "See you later, kid!"

He ran out of the back and hugged his mom tightly. She kissed the top of his head. "I'll see you next week for hot chocolate at Granny's."

Grinning broadly, he shouted, "Cool!" and raced off.

Emma looked back at Neal one more time, noting the fondness in his expression directed toward her. She smiled tentatively, wishing he would let their past go, and then turned and walked out into the bright sunshine, squinting at its intensity.