Blueeyeddevil06 thank you for being my beta!


Tortuga. Killian smiled as they sailed towards the island. He heard his crew cheering. They never had to worry about their reception there. One mention of the captain that they sailed for, and they were instantly treated with more respect. He looked at Billy watching the men and knew he'd have to keep an eye on him. His eyes drifted to Swan walking towards him, and he had a brilliant idea. "Kid!" He yelled out. "Come here."

Billy trotted over to him and smiled at him. "Yes, Captain?"

He pointed his hooked hand at Swan. "The Captain's wife is always to be protected. You did a good job before. I want you staying with her and being part of her guard."

"Aye, Captain! I won't let you down."

"I know you won't, Kid."

Emma walked up and smiled at them both. "I'm glad to have someone protecting me that isn't even scared of The Dark One."

Billy looked up at her with wide eyes, "I was terrified, Mrs. Jones. I just knew I wouldn't forgive myself if you were hurt."

She grew serious and said, "Bravery is doing things despite fear. My father told me any idiot could face things and not know the danger, but knowing the danger and facing it anyway makes you truly brave."

"I don't think I'll be as scared now anyway. You're so powerful that there isn't anything on this island that could hurt you!" He beamed at her.

"That's not entirely true, but I have been practicing with my magic." She dropped her voice. "But, let's not tell anyone on the island I have it. It works even better if it's a surprise."

"I won't tell anyone." He said very seriously.

"How old are you?"

"I don't quite know. I don't even know when my birthday is. My dad was away at sea when my mom died having me, and a neighbor took care of me for a while. One day, my father showed up and made me a sailor with him." He paused, "When's your birthday?"

"October 22nd." She paused. "I'm trying to figure out how old you are."

Killian chuckled at Billy. He knew he was suppressing a smile that he so quickly figured out her birthday for him. "Most of us don't really know how old we are, Kid. You fit right in. Mac guessed he was eight or even ten when he first started sailing. You look older than that, though."

Emma tried not to focus on how sad it was that they didn't even know what year they were born. She knew not everyone's birthday was a national holiday, but to know so little about their age upset her. She decided to focus on something else for now. "Why do you call him Kid?"

"It's become his nickname among the crew. They started calling him Billy the Kid, and it quickly was shortened to Kid. I think it's a joke that has to do more with him ordering around much older crewmates when you were attacked in that shop. He took control effortlessly and did a great job." Billy beamed at his captain's praise.

Emma headed off to get ready to dock, and Killian steered the ship into the harbor. He looked at all of the ships anchored as he arrived and saw that Queen Anne's Revenge wasn't there. Blackbeard wouldn't be at the port. That removed one complication. He was glad to know that he was most likely further north this time of year, stalking sandbars and waiting for ships to beach themselves.

Killian was surprised that Emma stayed below deck while the crew got the ship settled, and he paid the docking fee. He was relieved since her bodyguards were busy with their tasks right now, but he knew something was up. When he went to get her to head to land with her, he quickly found out what it was. He walked in, and his breath was knocked out of his lungs at the sight of her.

"Do I look like a Pirate Captain's wife, Hook?" She asked saucily.

He swallowed hard and raked his eyes over her body. All he could do was nod dumbly. She was wearing a dark blue corset top, tight leather shorts, and thigh-high leather boots. She also had her sword belt on and a beautiful sword at her waist. "Wow." He coughed and said, "Yeah, you look… damn, you're sexy."

"Then I'm ready for you to show me the island."

He walked her out of the cabin and over the deck and saw all the eyes in the harbor being drawn to her. He realized he'd probably have to kill someone by the end of the day. She was his, and he wondered if he'd have to slit a few throats to make sure that point got across.

They walked onshore from the dock, and her bodyguards were following them. He had quite the entourage, and it made the perfect picture. She was escorted by Captain Hook, three men with swords, and Kid with his pistol. He watched everyone clear a wide path for them.

He walked her up to the roughest tavern on the island, and they walked in. It was here he'd make his point. He scanned the place and walked to the largest table that also happened to be occupied. Before they even reached it, all the men there grabbed their drinks and moved to other tables. He sat without comment and said, "Rum for the table. We're celebrating today!" Everyone grew quiet to listen in to see what he was so happy about.

"What are you celebrating today, Captain Hook?" The bar wench asked as she brought over a bottle of rum and enough glasses. She then began setting them out on the table.

"Swan!" He exclaimed. That really got everyone's attention since it didn't clear anything up. He was drawing it out to be dramatic. "Now, her name is Swan Jones. This beauty here is my new wife!" He sat back and added, "And any man that bothers her will find it's the last thing they'll do."

Emma laughed and shot back all her rum. "No man but you could handle me. And if by some chance they live after bothering me, I'll even let you take care of them." She kissed his cheek. "Thanks for warning them that I'll slit their throats."

He chuckled. He admired how she spun his warning to make it sound like he was warning them that she'd kill them. Clever girl. "If I have to step in, I'll be using my hook to take care of the situation. I'm quite skilled at making a man suffer using it."

She caught his hook up with her index finger and pulled it over to herself. He knew she wanted him to draw the tip of the hook over her body. He did, and he watched her arch her neck back in pleasure as he ran it over her breasts. She moaned out, "You're very talented with your hook, Captain."

He took a large drink of rum and poured himself some more. She was driving him crazy. He wanted to… He had to stop thinking that way right now. She was stage acting right now, and he had to keep his head in the game. She was good with power plays. She was right. Now, he had to finish his part. He looked over at the bar owner and said, "She gets anything she wants. Spread that around to all of the shop owners. I'll make good any bill she has."

They then ordered food and had lunch together. He sat there and was very aware that the tavern's talk was about them, and soon it would be all around town. He would defend her to the death, and she wouldn't stray from him. Those two points were well made, and soon everyone would know it.

Emma was having a wonderful time in Tortuga. Everyone seemed to either leave her alone or go out of their way to make her happy. Either way, she wasn't bothered by anyone. Halfway through the second day, though, there was one thing that really began to upset her. Billy was nowhere to be seen. As the days passed, it became known that he was still alive and around. He just seemed to be hiding from them. She couldn't figure out what caused him to give up his post as her guard. Not only that, but he wasn't sleeping on the ship at night, so she couldn't find him to ask him. She didn't voice her concern to Killian right away because she knew he was already aware, and she didn't want her worry to add weight to Killian's already obvious concern.

Killian addressed it one night, though, as they got ready for bed. "I'm thinking I'll put a bounty on bringing in Billy alive and unharmed. I at least want to know what is happening with him."

She kissed his cheek, "I'm worried too."

"If he's not back in contact tomorrow night, I'll spread the word for the reward. I just hate to give the impression anyone would desert the ship."

"What if I spread the word and say the money I'm offering is from me? Then you can laugh and say I'm just a hysterical female, but you'll let it go to humor me. That way, it won't reflect on your ship or your reputation." She climbed into bed. "I know you wouldn't talk about me like that, but it would protect us all that way."

"You're brilliant, Swan. That would preserve my reputation and be a nod to the fact that I'd give you anything you want." He climbed into bed with her. "And, since he's a boy, they'll assume it's your motherly instincts, not you getting some on the side."

She grabbed his cock and rolled him on his back. "You're more than enough man for me." They then made love before falling asleep, wrapped up in each other.