Author's Note: First week of school is done! So, as a reward for both myself and any of you out there who have gone through the same deal - here is Chapter Twenty one! Whoo!

Chapter Twenty-One – You Never

Two days. She should have told him two months. Two years, maybe. Two days was way too much, way too soon. There was no way she was ready for this, and there was no way her people – Walter, Jasper, her guards – were ready for this. No one was ever ready for Reaver.

"I know I am going to regret asking this question, your majesty, but are you sure you are ready for this?" Jasper asked, coming up slowly behind her. She cracked a small smirk, turning to face him.

"Jasper, first of all, call me Sparrow. Or Lillian, as Walter seems to prefer. And second of all, yes, you should regret asking that question," She patted him on the shoulder, walking past him to saunter into her armory. He sighed, following her with his hands folded neatly in front of him. She had never seen him without his white – perfectly white – gloves.

"Your maj – Sparrow," The name seemed to be acid on his tongue, "you really ought to sit down and prepare –"

"Prepare for what, Jasper? I don't even know when he will be here, and knowing Reaver, he will pick the most elaborate way to enter. In what way could I prepare for that?" She asked as she slid her pistol onto her hip, then handling her sword gently in her hands. She stared down at the blade as if it offered her some kind of solution to her "Reaver Problem". She knew it offered one, that one being her favorite, but also the most illegal. She would not kill someone who simply got on her nerves… would she?

"Sparrow, I urge you to think this through, before he makes that impossible," Jasper stated, placing one of his hands gently on the Queen's shoulder. She heaved a sigh, looking to him with a small amount of despair in her eyes.

"I… Thank you, Jasper. You can rest assured that I will come to you before doing anything he has suggested," She threw him a small smile, trying to show him that her words were in fact true.

She wanted to believe that they were herself, but she had a hard time thinking that anything would be the truth with Reaver around. There was no telling what he had planned for this small Castle, and she could only take so much. Sparrow wanted to do nothing more then have him thrown in the dungeon upon his first foot setting on the ground outside. She wanted to have his head chopped off as well – she had still to decide to which head she was referring.

"Your Majesty," A guard appeared at the armory's door, signaling Jasper to take his leave. Sparrow hooker her sword to her back, turning to the guard with her "business" face already in place.

"Yes? What do you want?" She started walking as the flustered boy began to speak. Obviously a new recruit.

"Reaver's here, Ma'am," He stated, a fleck of fear in his voice. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"How long?" She demanded. Seeing he didn't know the answer, she muttered a curse under her breath, turned on her heel and stormed towards the castle's entrance. The boy stayed still, wondering if he should follow her or not.

Sparrow made her way towards the entrance, mentally preparing herself for whatever hell she was about to walk in on. She knew Reaver could be creative, she just hoped that today was one of his more relaxed days.

"Ah! Mon Cheri!" Reaver exclaimed as she rounded the corner. He was at her side in a second, his arm around her shoulders. She cringed, studying the sight before her as she tried her best to ignore him.

Surprisingly, she did not see the normal ruckus she w2as used to. The hall was simply filled with gaping soldiers or servants. Sparrow quickly moved from his arm, turning to glare at him.

"What, no grand entrance as per your usual?" She asked, half teasing and half grateful. Her eyebrows quirked as he simply shrugged.

"I could turn the carriage around and shoot someone, if you felt it was necessary," He offered, reaching for his gun at his side. Sparrow jumped, reaching to stop him.

"No, no, none of that," She stuttered, almost laughing as he cracked a smirk. "Well, your room is just up these stairs," Sparrow gestured over her shoulder, watching as the servants scurried off to resume their duties. As she turned to face him again, his face was suddenly mere inches from her ear.

"I do presume that I am allowed to –" Reaver stopped, eyes wide as Sparrow slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Whatever you are about to ask me about "women," no. There will be none of that in the Castle," The Queen emphasized her last words, eyeing him completely seriously. He grabbed her wrist, removing her hand slowly from his lips.

"Why, of course, Mon Cheri," He pulled away to do a mocking bow before waltzing up the stairs. Sparrow sighed, turning around to come face to face with Walter. She felt the smile spread over her face almost instantly.

"How long have you been there?" She asked, slipping her arms around his waist. He smiled, wrapping his arms, in return, around her shoulders.

"Not long enough, apparently. I missed his grand entrance," Walter joked, both of them letting out small chuckles.

'Where's Logan? Did he have a play date with one of the servant's kids?" Sparrow asked curiously. Walter sighed, untangling himself to that they could start walking together.

"He's out with... I believe it was Page," Walter recalled, linking their hands together.

"Oh, again? I figured he'd –"

"For once second, can we not be all business, Lillian," Walter interjected, throwing her an almost-disapproving look. Sparrow rolled her eyes, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"Right, well then, was there any particular reason you stopped by?" She teased, knocking her hip against his playfully. He simply laughed, pulling her a bit closer.

"I can't just see my wife?" He teased, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

"You? Never," Sparrow laughed, then receiving an evil eye from Walter. She broke free from his arms, dashing up the stairs as he chased after her. Soon enough, he had her caged against the wall, their faces inches apart. She was still laughing, her breathless laugh filling the air with his.

"They fell for it, did they?" The voice asked, crossing their arms behind their back.

"Just as you planned," Reaver replied dryly, not interested in their words. He rolled his eyes, laying further back on the bed.

"A naïve Queen… How very interesting," They replied, ignoring Reaver's dismissive attitude. Reaver let out a sigh, flipping on his side to study the figure.

"Are you not joining me tonight, little minx?" Reaver husked out, motioning for them to join him on the silken sheets. The figure rolled their eyes, coming to sit on the edge of the bed.

"You heard what the Queen said; no guests," They scolded, returning his sultry gaze. Reaver huffed an indignant sigh.

"Have I ever listened?" He chuckled.

"You? Never."