First let me apologise for not updating as regularly as I would like to. School can be a handful, much apologies. To the accusers: The ideas in this chapter might seem a bit too modern for the 18th century but keep in mind the views of countless women in past ages- think of Sondok, princess of Asia, think of Joan of Arc- these women predate this story by centuries and yet they were people of very modern ideas. Granted, the thought of an 18th century commoner with such priorities might be considered inaccurate, but this is also a work of fiction, and I reserve the right to meddle with historical values just a teeny-weeny bit.

Replies to my AWESOME reviewers are at the end of the chapter, as always.

Ok, this chapter picks up almost exactly where the last one left off, so let me refresh your memory:


***

"Goodnight!" Meryl called after him. She sighed and lay her head back down on his pillow, pulling the blanket up around her already sweating body. "Love." She tried the word out on her tongue. "I'm in love." It sounded so false that she had to stifle a giggle. "I love you, Bart." Laughter escaped her mouth and when it subsided, she found that she was really quite tired. She rolled over onto her front and breathed in the salty scene if Bart's pillow.

Her eyes drifted closed...

...and then open again.

It was morning. Dawn's gilded rays peeked through the tiny porthole that served as her only window in the tiny room. She let her eyes graze over her surroundings, over the wooden walls, over Bart's sword propped up against the wall, over the dresser, over Jack, over the door...

Jack!

She jumped out of bed. "Jack!"

"Meryl!" Her arms flung around him and then recoiled suddenly. She stepped back and stared at him.

"Oh." Her voice was flat and toneless.

"Oh?"

She sank back down onto the bed. "Jack, I'm really sorry."

"Aye?" He plunked himself down beside her, sliding an arm around her small shoulders. "Sorry for what, may I enquire?"

Meryl sighed, staring intently upon the grimy floor. A part of her felt almost... resentful to Bart. The same part of her that still harboured feelings for Jack. But this was an obsolete undertone, a shadow of a thought compared to what she was now convinced of, what she had been laughing at as she had slipped into sleep the night before.

Love.

Being in love.

Being in love with Bart.

She shifted uncomfortably in Jack's arms and closed her eyes for a moment, relishing in the conclusion that she had just made. She turned to Jack. "I'm in love." She breathed dreamily. She wondered at how it was so much easier to confess this to him than to Bart.

Jack looked like he had just been kneed in the groin. "What?"

"I'm in love." She repeated.

"What?"

She stifled a giggle. "I've fallen in love."

Jack stared at her fearfully. "I cant commit-"

"Not with you." She snapped.

"Oh." Meryl swore she could literally see his ego deflating. Jack glanced at her. "I assume that means the end of our liaisons, aye?"

She nodded. "That's kind of implied, wouldn't you think?"

"Aye." He smiled, a bit amused. "Then the woman who holds men's hearts captive is a captive to love... that's interesting." Meryl was silent. "So who is it then? Who are you swooning all over now?"

"None of your business."

He raised his hands. "Apologies. I didn't know this was such a touchy subject." His face turned from pensive to grimacing as he asked suddenly, "It's not Liam is it?"

Meryl laughed. "It's not Liam." She assured him.

"Then who?" He pried.

Meryl rolled her eyes. "Keep your secrets, Jack, and I'll keep mine."

"Well it's a shame about this love business really," The captain mused. "I mean, you were so good in bed after all."

She scowled. "If I recall, I don't think we ever did use a bed."

"Well, you'd be surprised what can be done without one." He rose to leave, calling a quick and rather cold goodbye over his shoulder. Meryl didn't bother answering.


***


"Sir! Captain Roberts, Sir!" A young crewman called over to The Renegade Siren from the deck of the Royal Fortune. "The HMS Swallow is flagging us. She's looking to come up alongside us. Looks like a good fight, Sir."

Bart nodded. He had been expecting a fight with the royal navy ship that had been trailing him. It had come a little sooner than he'd expected, though. "Swing a grapple across, I'll be over." He turned to Meryl. "I have to go."

"Let me come with you!" She pleaded.

"What?"

"I can wield a sword better than most of your crew, I'll wager, and I can sail. Let me help!"

"I cant." He said, folding her hands in his. "Article eleven of me very own code, m'lady. No woman amongst us."

Meryl gaped at him. "Surely this is different!"

"No, Meryl." He went to kiss her but she stepped away. "No women. No exceptions."

"Just once- for me!" She begged. He shook his head. "Oh, I get the game now. I see, I'm a woman, I'm a weaker vessel, that's it, isn't it? Think I cant fend for myself? That I'm useless?" Her voice morphed from angry to bitter and sarcastic. "I get your logic, Bart- I cant fight because there's no fencing ring between the scullery and the bedroom!" She stomped her foot angrily.

"Do you know what my crew would do to you?" His voice was equally enraged. "I think they'll give you not the courtly modesty you so deserve, Meryl! They wont respect your purity-"

"Purity indeed." She snorted.

"Why do you keep saying that?" He cried. "What are you hinting at?"

"Oh, I don't know..." Her voice was racked with sarcasm now. "...maybe just that I used to be A GODDAMN WHORE!"

Bart stared at her for a long moment before reclaiming her hands with his own. "Listen, Meryl, I want you to be safe. I wont be there to defend you in the heat of battle."

"I don't need you to defend me." She mumbled.

"Meryl!" His voice was hard. "My men will take any chance they get with you, and if that's something you want, by all means do come. But if you want to keep your legs together, I think you should stay here. I'll be back in an hour." And he turned and left before she had a chance to protest.

Meryl stood on the deck and cursed under her breath.

Something had to be done.


***


Review Replies:

divinething-

I just put the bold and italics in with my word processor and it comes out- I save in HTML format, so maybe that's it. I don't know if it works in RTF or anything else.

Queen's Own Fool-

Well, I'm glad you like Bart… or did, though after this chapter who knows?

justjess22-

Wow, lots of people like Bart and Meryl. That's cool.

Jaina Kenobi-

I'm updating right now- glad you like it!

kristhegreat-

Yay! Glad you're happy with my dumb little plot-less pirate-y soap opera!

Erin Richards-

You know me, I jerk my characters around a lot, mostly by interrupting them. *devilish laugh* Yes, I'm evil, I know. Pretty knot work is fun… so are happy endings. Wait and see- and please update Love My Way soon!

PLEASE REVIEW- IF YOU DO I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER (DEARLY NOT QUEERLY)

-SQ