Chapter 30.

But every paradise has its snake. And this time the unintentional snake is a bored Crosby looking for something to do.

"Hey Will your up here? What are you two doing? Dude, Art get a room."

Crosby didn't even manage to sound shocked or surprised, mostly because he isn't. He always new Art got confused during longish trips, and as long as Will is the willing recipient Crosby couldn't care less. Only Art jumped back as if he had gotten a electric shock, going so red it must hurt.

"Crosby, I…..eh…we…eh…..what….. no man"

Both Will and Crosby decide to totally ignore Art and his mumbling.

"Hey Crosby, what's up, why aren't you sleeping, as Art should be doing."

Grinning Crosby motions to Art. "Art, can't you take over Will's wheel watch? I am bored and want to learn how to cook, so if you do wheel watch Will can teach me. Is good for the boat as well, if I can cook, because Will's going to leave after this season, right?"

"Not sure yet. But I think so, have to get back to my real job."

Art takes over the captains chair, but he is chagrined. Crosby's timing sucked big time, again, and now Will says he is going to leave? For probably the first time in his life Art hates wheel watch. He isn't even tired enough to fall asleep and the things he is thinking are no fun at all.

Will and Crosby are in the galley discussing what it is Crosby would like to learn exactly. Crosby still somewhat stunned by his sudden desire to learn how to cook, Will not in the least surprised nesting can out itself in strange ways, even if he had made a bet with his sisters that Crosby was going to take up crocheting. So Will lost his bet and now was stuck with a bag full of yarn, but he didn't mind much.

"So Crosby what do you want to make?"

"Well I really like the desserts you've been making? So how about a cake?"

Rifling thru the cupboards for ingredients Will makes a suggestion.

"We have everything for a lemon cheesecake. How does that sound?"

"Sounds great, let's do it."

Will starts piling things in the sink under Crosby's intensive scrutiny. Best place to leave it, that way it won't travel all over the counter or floor. Four lemons, butter, cookies, a container of curd, a container with five round pieces of mozzarella, four eggs, cornflower, a big bag of white caster sugar and a bottle of limoncello.

Picking up the bottle of Limoncello Crosby studies the label and comes to a rather unwelcome conclusion.

"Dude, this has alcohol in it. No way Keith is going to accept us using it."

"Relax Crosby, the cake has to go into the oven for forty minutes at 160 degrees Celsius anyway, alcohol boils at around 80. So the alcohol will have evaporated before we ever get to eat it."

"Okay, now what?"

Settling against the table Will starts his instructions, the best way to learn is by letting the student do it him or herself.

"First you melt the butter and when it is melted you put in a generous splash of limoncello."

Crosby searches for a pan to put the butter in. he wants to put in the entire package to Will's consternation.

"Dude not that much, only 50 grams, about a quarter of a pack."

So Crosby finds a knife and cuts off about 50 grams and puts that in the pan and with a low heat stands there waiting for the butter to melt.

That might work if you don't have anything else to do, but on a crab boat that isn't the best way of doing things.

"Okay, now the butter is melting start squeezing the lemons, because you need the juice of four lemons."

Alternating squeezing lemons and stirring melting butter Crosby is starting to get confused. But he manages to do it. The lemons are done first.

"Now take 400 grams of curds, and 200 grams of mozzarella, that is about four pieces, you have to tear those up first, and mix those in this bowl" Presenting Crosby with a big round RVS bowl. Looking at the containers Crosby puts about 4/5 ths of the curds in the bowl and starts tearing up the mozzarella and ads that to the bowl as well and starts mixing. While he is putting in some elbow grease Will adds the lemon juice.

"This looks very thin? Are you sure it's okay?"

"Yeah, the eggs and cornflower will stiffen it up ones it starts cooking in the oven. It is fine, now that the butter is melted put in the limoncello."

Giving the bowl to Will Crosby looks at the butter and yeah it is melted, so adding a smallish splash of limoncello he asks if it is enough.

"No a bit more is better. And then you crumble the cookies, 160 grams into the buttermix."

The cookies are crumbled in an instant. Always nice those care packages from the fans. They send the best cookies.

"Could I use chocolate cookies for this?"

"NO absolutely not. Only these simple digestive like cookies, nothing else."

Looking disappointed Crosby is mixing the cookies with the butter limoncello mix, he really likes his chocolate.

"I'll teach you how to make chocolate muffins next, okay?"

"Yeah, great, I like chocolate. Now what?"

"Put the cookies crumble mix on the bottom of this silicone cake form. And make sure it is everywhere and push it in."

Crosby likes this part, pushing in the cookie mix with his bare hands. He now also has an excuse to lick his hands clean. Will sees it and grins. That is one of the perks of being the chef. When Crosby has his hands clean Will gives him a smaller bowl and the eggs.

" Now break the eggs and make sure there aren't any pieces of shell in it."

Crosby's egg breaking skills also need some work, giving him a small bowl to make sure the eggshell isn't in the cheesecake was a smart move. But after some fishing all the pieces of shell are out of the eggs, and Crosby isn't licking this off his fingers, no this time he washes them with some water and soap. Will gives Crosby the big bowl again.

"Now add the eggs, and two teaspoons of cornflower. Mix again, then taste, try to decide how much sugar you want in it. Not too much because it should be a bit tart and sour."

Mixing with a vengeance Crosby is almost splattering the whole galley with the cheesecake batter. Tasting is also done and Crosby decides he wants three table spoons of caster sugar added, even if Will is saying that two should be enough. So Crosby has a sweet tooth now he is expecting.

"Okay, now put this on top of the cookies, I already preheated the oven at 160 degrees Celsius. Put water in the tray and put the cake in the middle of the water, for forty minutes and then it is done."

By the time the cheesecake is in the oven Crosby is smiling from ear to ear.

" I made a cheesecake. My mother is going to be so surprised. Couldn't even boil an egg before this. You are a great teacher Will, thanks."

Crosby gives Will a big hug. Hey if Art can give Will hugs than Crosby can do so too, now that Art isn't watching.

"Thanks Crosby, now I am going to bed, you stay awake until this one is done and make two more. Because one cake isn't enough. when it is done take let it cool down a bit and then put them in the fridge"

Will pulls some clean dishcloths and two big plates from the cupboards. "Use these to stack them. I'll make some room in the fridge."

Five minutes later there is an empty shelf in the fridge and Will is ready to turn in.

"Good night."

"Okay, good night. Only you can't sleep in your own bunk. Monte is in there and Keith and Lynn are sharing my bunk."

"Thanks, I'll crash in Art's bunk he is doing wheel watch anyway."

And with that Will makes his way to the stateroom that Art and Travis normally share.