Okay, author here; I changed a bit in the prologue about her eyes, partly because Violet is so rare, partly because I had a better idea, partly because, as my Beta says best, I have no backbone. I bend to most of your people's wills, so feelfree to make suggestions. I only ask that they're polite, please. Now, enjoy the newest chapters of Arden of the Sea.

"Sparrow, you sodding fool!"

"Look here, mate, she's only one little girl, and she don't eat enough to starve the rest of you," Jack pushed into the short, burly man's face. " She needs to get out of here; it's not good for her! Look at her, she'll be killed here on her own!" He held a hand out to her.

Arden stood on the dock, her bag at her feet. She was aware of her appearance, her long black hair falling over her shoulders and her clothes ragged, and self-consciously aware of how familiar this situation was.

"Sparrow, I told you that *you* had a standing invitation, but I never mentioned anything about little whelps you happened to courtin'-"

"Wait a minute!" She stormed forward, tossing her bag at Jack's feet. "There is no courtin' goin' on here. I need a place to go, and he said he could get me out. Can he, or can he not?"

The man looked her over, pausing at her arms and face. He looked to Jack.

"Can she lift? Cook? Anything useful?"

"Excuse me, you can address me directly, sir," She said hotly. "I can cook, lift, build; any job you need me for I can do. I just need to get away from here."

"Sparrow, it's bad luck to have a woman on board, especially one so damned independent," He said lowly. "If we capsize, it's on your head."

"Ah, Kepburn, you old scoundrel!" Jack smiled brightly, taking the man's hand. "I knew you had a heart somewhere in that massive chest of yours!"

He held a hand out to Arden, scooping up her bag and escorting her aboard.

"You won't regret this, Arden, luv, I promise you," He said beneath his breathe as the Captain turned away. "I swear on pain of death for you."

Hours later, she cursed him, clutching her stomach as nauseous cramps flooded her body with pain.

"Oh, Arden, you're going to be fine," He said soothingly, holding her close.

"You'll get your sea legs soon enough."

"Oh so much for my legs, what'll happen to my stomach!" She moaned loudly as the ship gave a lurch, listening to the rumble of thunder from somewhere far. "You told me I wouldn't regret this!"

"Ah, pet, what's to regret?" He asked pleasantly, stroking her hair. He remained as calm as ever, his stomach hardly moving under the assault of the sea. "You spent a year out here with me, remember? You'll be fine, you just need to adjust."

She gasped sharply, taking hold on his shirt in her fist and pressing against him. Jack smiled and leaned back against his bunk, thinking that this was how it was best; a ship on the sea, an obliging captain at helm, and a pretty lass in your bed. Of course, it would have been fit for a dream had said pretty lass not been cursing him to hell and beyond, but he settled for what he could get.

Hours passed and soon she had passed into a light sleep, still moaning and breathing hard. Jack found a great deal of appreciation for a woman who could continue to curse his specific soul even while she slept.

"No courtin', aye?"

He looked up and found Kepburn, the burly, battered old fiend of a captain, standing in the doorway. His unshaven face and sea-salt coloured skin stood out against the dark wood cabin, his muddy brown eyes flickering from Arden to Jack.

"Oh, come off it, Kep," Jack shook his head. "I'm just watchin' out for her safe-being."

"Her safe-bein'?" Kepburn chortled. "She's the one who talked her way onto this vessel, Jack. She better than you."

Jack chuckled weakly.

"There'll be work in the mornin'. Reckon she'll be up to it?"

"Oh, I'm sure," He nodded, patting her lower back gently as she moaned again, her fist tightening around his shirt.

Kepburn smiled sourly, turning away and leaving them in the quiet cabin.

"Alright, pet, time for bed," Jack moved slowly, shifting her so that she would lie in the bunk he had originally set to occupy. But she clung to him, and he took pity and lay down beside her. It hadn't been so hard the previous night, after all, her pained groaning and the cold sweat pouring over her skin not withstanding.

His stomach gave a single, defiant lurch as he drifted to sleep, reminiscing of his days of greater youth and of a girl with the heart of pirate.