I'm sorry. Captain Swan is so distracting. So so distracting. Forgive any sloppiness as I get back into the groove of this story. And I am sorry I made you wait so long. I was busy and then I was editing previous chapters and then... oh, never mind. You've waited long enough.

I love you guys!

Recap:

"First time you've been distracted enough for me to do this..." He detangled his fingers from her hair, her spikes in his grasp. She hadn't noticed until this moment that while he kissed her he had managed to pull her braid loose and lift the strap free. He let the spikes drop to the floor with a solid thump before his fingers returned to her hair, brushing lightly through the curls the braid left behind.

"Rosto?" Alva's soft voice called.

Rosto's head fell back, a look of mild exasperation on his face but Beka just smiled and whispered, "I did warn you."

"Right here Alva," he called. "Beka and I just got off watch. Your parents are on deck." Beka settled comfortably next to him one hand still resting across his chest.

"Who's Beka?" Alva asked in confusion.

"That's what most people call me, Alva," Beka told her grinning at Rosto's slip.

"I like Mia."

Beka chuckled, "you can still call me Mia if you like."

"Sorry I took your bed, Mia."

"It's ok," Rosto told her, a small smirk on his features, which Beka hoped the little girl couldn't see in the dim lighting. "I really don't mind sharing."

Beka on the other hand... apparently did mind sharing. (Or so Rosto realized when he landed with a thump on the deck floor sometime late the next morning.) He looked around groggily for the threat before he realized that Beka was still sleeping soundly curled up in his hammock.

He grinned to himself, glancing over at Beka's now vacant hammock. He considered going back to sleep in her hammock so as not to wake her, but he could see from the bright sunlight filtering down from above that it was now well into the day. Instead he put on his boots and made for the ladder towards the sound of boots scurrying on the deck. Alva no doubt, taking in the new scenery.

He blinked when he opened the hatch, eyes watering in the sudden brightness.

"Bout time you lazy scut," Leon called across the deck. "Now I know for sure you'd have never taken to a seafaring life."

"I suspect the chronic seasickness as a child should have been your first indication to that reality."

Leon's eyebrows furrowed. "Don't you get sick on my ship, your majesty. Or I'll make you scrub the deck. You may be King of the Rogue but on this ship I'm the captain."

"Always wanted to say that, have you?" A smile flicked across Leon's face and Rosto laughed. "Well then, Captain, how are we faring? Fair winds and bonnie... tides or some nonsense like that?"

Leon rolled his eyes, "something like that. We're managing excellent time in spite of your attempt to destroy my ship this morning."

"Any sign of pursuit?"

"None."

"That's lucky..." Rosto mused.

"That's bizarre," Leon corrected. "Regardless, we're well past Scanran waters and we should reach Port Caynn by tonight."

"How's your leg?"

"I'll live. Not even broken, I don't think, because it's a little less swollen today."

"Are you sure, about staying in Corus? I own a boarding house. You'd be more than to stay there as long as you desire."

"You own a boarding house?" Leon asked, dumbstruck.

"And the inn... But I don't think you'd want to stay there. Can't promise the rats will be well behaved for Alva."

"I appreciate the offer, but this is our home. We're happy here."

"Will you at least stay with us when you come to Corus?" Rosto asked.

"You'll teach Alva to pick locks won't you."

"Naturally."

"Fine, but don't tell Liv."

"You know Liv is already teaching her to pick pockets right?"

Leon's eyes widened and he glanced over to where Liv was sitting with Alva. "Really?"

"What are you boys gossiping about," Liv called, when she noticed them watching her.

"Navigation" Leon said as Rosto hurriedly said "Lodging."

Liv shook her head as the two glanced at each other sheepishly.

"I'm going to go... um... below." Rosto said, making for the hatch to the hold to escape the line of Liv's glare. On his way down he motioned to Fiddlelad and Brian and they fell into step behind him.

It took his eyes a moment to readjust to the dark but once he did he was surprised that despite the noise above deck, Beka still slept soundly. It had been at least 12 hours since their watch and he wondered if he ought to wake her. But neither of them had gotten much sleep these last few days and he decided to let her sleep on. He dropped back into the other hammock one foot still on the floor feeling the gentle rocking of the vessel. He always slept with one foot on the cabin floor now, a trick he'd learned as a child, which helped deal with the chronic seasickness. Reaching out he grabbed a flint that was hanging from a nearby lantern and lit it, lighting the room with a soft glow that didn't seem to perturb Beka in the slightest. The two rushers dropped into two more hammocks that Leon had put up for them last night.

He pulled out a wrist blade and tossed it easily from one hand to another just for something to occupy his hands.

"You left Leon behind," he commented, tone flat.

The tension in the room thickened suddenly, "We all had our jobs majesty," Brian finally said, "We thought he was doing his."

"Fortunately he was, and he wasn't caught with that vial. That could have ruined everything." The two rushers glanced at each other nervously, but Rosto was in no mood to make a point. "But it didn't. Now the dogs can take care of our slavers problem. A successful trip."

The rushers relaxed and Fiddlelad glanced over at Beka. "You think she'll go easier on us now?" he asked. They must have realized that things had changed between the Rogue and the Dog, but still he skirted the subject tentatively to see how Rosto would react.

"Easier?" Rosto laughed, "No, most certainly harder. She'll not want anyone claiming she's a doxie."

The subject breached, Brian spoke up too. "And you?"

"Nothing's changed," Rosto said. "She'll try to hobble us, we'll avoid getting caught and pay our dues to the happy bag like good little rats. It's how it's always been and nothing's changed now. And that's not the only thing that hasn't changed." Rosto paused for a moment, and when he started speaking again his voice was cold and dangerous. "I want everyone between Corus and Scanra to know what happened to the Pell brothers. Beka is under my protection. As are Liv, Leon, and Alva. Anyone harms them they will regret it."

The two rushers nodded and Rosto continued.

"You two are the only two who know the details of this little trip. If details start to leak out... Like for example, the three friends I brought back with me... I will know where they've come from. Do you understand what I am telling you?" They nodded again and Rosto smiled a cold smile at them. "Glad we understand each other. Now get above and do something useful for a change."

They made for the hatch, sufficiently rattled that it took them several tries to get the thing to open. Rosto chuckled to himself and leaned back in his hammock.

That will do, he thought with a grin.

When the sun began to creep down towards the horizon and Beka still hadn't emerged from the hold Rosto once again took his leave from the upper deck and slipped down into the hold. The lamp, which he had extinguished when he went topside again was once again burning and several things had been moved around. So she had been up at some point but clearly she had gone back to sleep. He crept closer and on sudden impulse, leaned down and kissed her.

Bad idea.

Her forehead crashed into his as Beka jumped up reaching instantly to where her hidden blades were normally kept. Fortunately for Rosto, Beka had not had time to rearm herself since Tok had stripped her of her weapons.

"Bloody hell," Rosto groaned, holding his throbbing head.

"Rosto? What are you doing?"

"It's called a kiss, Cooper, I know for a fact that you're familiar with the concept!"

"Oh come on, Rosto," Beka said sheepishly, "I've seen you take harder hits than that before."

"Not while trying to kiss my lady-love, I haven't!"

"You startled me. You shouldn't startle me!"

"Noted," Rosto grumbled, sinking onto the hammock Beka had just vacated.

"I'm sorry," Beka said, moving to sit next to him. "Are you ... all right?"

"Certainly not. Might not make it, in fact. If there's anything you want to do before I take a trip on one of your pigeons we should probably get on it now."

She rolled her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder, "Good morning, Rosto," she offered sweetly.

He grinned in spite of himself. "Good evening, Puppy."

"Evening?" Beka cried.

"Indeed. We're nearly to Port Caynn. Congratulations love, we're free of Scanran territories."

"How much longer?"

"Back in Port Caynn any moment, according to our Captain."

"And then on to Corus?"

"We'll have to discuss that with Leon, I've no idea if he'd be amenable to navigating the Olorun at night." Beka sulked a bit and Rosto raised his eyebrows. "Problem love?"

"It's been weeks..."

"You miss Corus."

"And if we go back at night I can sleep a night in my own bed before having to deal with everyone."

"You think you could sneak back into the city without anyone knowing?"

"Why not?"

"Well you'll want to go to the Kennel first... if Aniki's doing her job right she'll beat you back to your room," he told her. "Goodwin's not there though, you know? Hasn't been since you fell. Since she said you fell. She kept showing up in my court though... we all assumed the grief had cracked her." Beka nodded, unsurprised, and Rosto raised his eyebrows. "Why was Goodwin monitoring my court? Did she think I was involved?"

"No, it wasn't that. She just thought..." Beka stopped again, face flushing.

"What is it?"

"She was keeping an eye on you. She thought you'd crack. She was probably making sure you didn't do anything stupid."

"She wasn't wrong." Rosto shrugged, "Packing up and making for Scanra was not among my most tactically brilliant ideas."

"Really wasn't," Beka agreed, the boat lurched slightly and Beka groaned.

Rosto raised his eyebrows. "Not feeling well, puppy?"

"I don't like boats," she grumbled.

"Have you felt ill all this time, love?"

"Not while I was asleep."

"Come," Rosto told her making for the hatch and throwing it open, "It's better above deck."

Beka grudgingly followed, squinting against the last sunlight of the afternoon. As her eyes adjusted she saw Alva was at the helm, the probable cause of the lurch earlier. Her father held the wheel steady with one hand as Alva did her best to spin it free.

Fiddlelad and Brian were deep in conversation at the stern. "Eyes on the horizon, love," Rosto told Beka as he moved to join them. Beka turned to where Rosto was pointing.

"What? I don't see anything?"

"It helps with the sickness. Trust me. You'll feel better."

She kept her eyes on the horizon as he suggested and it calmed her revolting stomach slightly. Still she didn't really feel better until Pounce came up beside her and rubbed across her shins gently. She picked him up and draped him across her shoulders and whether it was the warmth on the back of her neck or some kind of magic she was never quite sure.

"Thank you Pounce"

In general or for something specific.

Beka smiled and reached up to scratch his ears. "For being around. When no one else was. I couldn't always see you but I always knew you were nearby. It was ... nice."

You're not old enough to be left on your own, Pounce commented. You'd get in all sorts of trouble on your own.

"I would not," Beka argued.

You can't possibly believe that.

Beka shifted her shoulders in irritation and Pounce hoped down with his version of a little laugh as Beka made her way over to the stern, the constellation close on her heels.

Didn't I tell you two to stay in your rooms? Pounce asked and Fiddlelad and Brian must have understood since they went pale as sheets.

Pounce turned and trotted back to the bow without another word, tail twitching in what Beka assumed had to have been amusement. Rosto cuffed Brian on the back of the head, shaking his own head in annoyance. "Stop your sweating you craven, the constellation is having a bit of fun at your expense."

Before Brian could respond Liv joined them and Rosto turned his attention to her. "We're rather eager to be on to Corus. Any chance of making that stretch this evening?"

Liv nodded, "The current will take us to Corus in no time, it's the return journey that will require us to go with the wind."

"Then you'll stay at the boarding house tonight, surely? For a few days at least?"

"I don't know about days," Liv said tentatively.

"Just until the dogs have dealt with the slavers, Liv," Rosto said. "You protected me when I had no one else, let me ensure your safety now?"

Apparently it had not yet occurred to Liv that someone could be following, because her eyes widened and she nodded quickly. "All right Rosto. We'll stay. Just for a little while."

There was a hint of the smell of port on the wind. Rotting fish and several other things that it was best not to examine too closely and soon enough the docks of Port Caynn were within sight.

"We'll stop here, just long enough to unload our latest catch," Leon told Rosto when they finally began to slow and Rosto nodded.

"I've some business to attend to with Flory anyway, he said," glancing at Brian.

It took all the self-control Beka had not to ask what business he had with the Rogue of Port Caynn. But they were nearly home now. And they were no longer quite on the same side. She had to start acting like a dog again. And dogs didn't sniff around Rogue's business unless they start causing a mess.

Fiddlelad and Beka stayed behind when Rosto and Brian disembarked, helping Liv and Leon unload their cargo of fish and spices. It took surprisingly little time for them to find their normal trade partners and conclude their business and within half and hour they were prepared to weigh anchor once more. But Rosto had not yet returned...

They waited for another fifteen minutes before Beka started getting anxious.

"What is he doing," she finally asked Fiddlelad who shrugged. Beka couldn't be altogether sure if he was lying or not and she scowled at him. She kept her eyes on the crowd and finally, after nearly an hour Rosto reappeared. Her sigh of relief caught in her throat when she saw Brian following with his eyes carefully watching none other than Dale Rowan. The cove stumbled as he walked and his eye was bright red and starting to swell.

Beka clenched her jaw as they ascended the gangplank. On closer inspection his eyes were glazed over and he was well past half drunk.

"Beka?" he asked, in stunned amazement.

"What the hell happened?" Beka said, turning to Rosto whose telltale red knuckles answered the question for her.

"He decided that it was my fault you were dead," Rosto said, eyeing the cove with distaste. "Tried to gut me as I left the court... craven scut."

"He's drunk!"

"If he wasn't he'd likely have been smarter than to try," Rosto replied flatly.

"Beka you're dead," Dale told her in shock.

"Not exactly," she replied with a sigh. "Why did you bring him here?"

"He followed me," Rosto said with a shrug. "Thought maybe if he saw you he'd stop making incompetent attempts on my life."

"He's not a fighter, Rosto," Beka said irritably.

"Clearly," Rosto commented, "Which is why he's not dead."

Dale drunkenly tried to touch Beka's face and she caught his arm. "Dale I'm not... I had to go away for a while. No one could know. But I'm fine."

"I shouldn't have sent you back to Corus," he grumbled. "s too dangreis there"

"Sent me?" Beka retorted angrily, forgetting momentarily her intention to be kind.

"Stay?" Dale slurred. "Stay here? Safer here."

Beka chuckled. "Safer? Clearly we've different recollections of my time here. Look, we have to go-"

"He'll kill you."

Beka raised her eyebrows, "Who?"

"Rogue. He'll kill you."

Beka rolled her eyes, "let him try. You need to go home. Sleep it off ok?" Dale shook his head vigorously and Rosto's jaw clenched in irritation. "I'll walk you home, ok Dale, you still living in the same building?" He nodded and Beka took his arm.

"Want some company," Rosto asked.

"I think I'd better do this myself. It's not far," she told Rosto. "I'll be back."

He nodded tersely.

She wondered if Dale would even remember this in the morning as she hurried down the gangplank as fast as the inebriated cove could follow.

"I hope you weren't playing tonight," Beka told him as the moved toward his rooms.

"Never play drunk, Beka... you know me."

"Yeah, Rowan, I do."

Before long they had reached his rooms and Beka fished in his pocket for the key to open the door. Once inside she helped him over to the bed and he sat heavily.

The brisk walk seemed to have cleared his head slightly and he smiled at her. "Glad yer not dead," he said.

"Me too." Beka replied, thinking she would probably have to come up with a better way to respond to that particular sentiment before they reached Corus. "I have to go, Dale. Get some sleep ok."

He nodded groggily, but before she could pull away he grabbed her wrist and tugged her down to kiss her. Her muscles tensed to strike him but the kiss was sloppy and now she was almost entirely certain he wouldn't remember this in the morning. She pulled away and reclaimed her wrist from his grip.

"Good night, Dale." she said as he leaned back and curled up on the bed. There was no reply, he was already asleep. She locked the room with his key and then slipped it under the door before hurrying back to the docks. They were ready to make sail and the ship began to move practically the moment she was back on board.

She moved to the side of the ship, holding tight to the wood, still warm from the afternoon sun. "I don't think I thought this through thoroughly," Beka whispered when Rosto came up and put an arm around her.

"If it makes you feel better Beka, most people will not be half-swilled when you tell them the news. Should improve the experience."

"You thought you'd gone mad, and you were sober."

"You left us behind, Beka. Does it so surprise you that we grieved?"

Beka shrugged, "It surprises me that you grieved... so much."

"You've a lot of people that care for you. They'll yell at you, scream, berate you, probably call you cold hearted and cruel. Then they'll hug you and kiss you and tell you that if you ever do it again they'll kill you themselves. And then everything will be back to normal."

Beka smiled. "Thank you."

Rosto tightened his grip and kissed the top of her head. "Almost home, love."

Ok, like I said, I apologize if it takes me some time to get these characters back and I'll do my best to not make you wait so long this time. Thank you for all of my guest reviewers that reminded me that I need to come back and update!

lol... and now I remember why it took me so long to update. This fandom is a bit dead these days. Oh well. OTP forever bitter lives on in my heart :P