Disclaimer:

James: Gaeruil's voice has essentially taken leave of her, and she has asked me to take care of the disclaimer for her. She—

Gaeruil: ~scribbles furiously in a notebook, then holds it up to be seen~

James: No, I will not tell him to behave himself. You're the one that gave him the donuts in the first place. You can deal with it.

Gaeruil: ~scribbles in notebook again~

James: You seem to be doing fine with your little notebook. You can tell him to eat with his mouth closed yourself.

Gaeruil: ~glares at James, looks to a nearby man~

Wedge: Don't look at me. I've dealt with him for the last 30 years.

James: Gaeruil, as she has stated before, owns nothing of importance and certainly nothing of incredible monetary worth such as Pirates of the Caribbean.

Wes: Dough fee wiffef fee did.

Wedge: ~smacks Wes on the arm~ Don't talk with your mouth full.

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Chapter 3

"I thought you said he was bleeding to death!"

James stifled a moan as Mary Kate Birch shot dark looks at Gillette and let his head drop back to the side slightly. He gave the lieutenant a long questioning look. "Please tell me you didn't."

Gillette returned the look with a carefully blank one. "Very well, I didn't." James rolled his eyes.

"You did so, and we all know it!" Miss Birch broke in. "You arrived at our door all but screaming bloody murder! You tell us he's bleeding so we rush to gather what we think will be enough, only to find him standing with apparently no injury whatsoever? If he's perfectly fine, what sent you to fetch me in the first place?"

"Well, you see—"

"What he means to say is that he leapt at me with a small concealed dagger and nicked my thumb," James said, sensing Nathan would likely try to wiggle out of facing her wrath.

"A nicked thumb? You came pounding on my door screaming 'He's bleeding!' over a nicked thumb?" Arthur Birch interjected. "That is hardly behavior befitting an officer of His Majesty's Navy, Gillette."

"Perhaps not, but it is rather typical of you men in general," Miss Birch muttered, though apparently not quietly enough.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Gillette and Mister Birch asked simultaneously. James kept quiet, refusing to be dragged into another argument with her right now. He still needed to go get that brush.

She rolled her eyes. "Simply that men fuss and whine and panic over the smallest of things. Don't even bother to deny it. I've seen proof enough with every sailor and soldier I've treated."

"We do not panic or whine, Mary Kate. If we did that in the middle of battle, we'd lose more than just a little blood," the young woman's uncle said.

"I don't believe I mentioned anything about battle. I know that you men typically keep your wits about you then. I am talking about after the battle when you're recovering from injury. I've never seen so many men whine and moan and complain about even the smallest of injury. Or when you come down with a very small cold," she said, finishing by throwing a pointed look at the retired admiral.

James shook his head as Birch and Gillette began arguing with her. The sound of small, bare feet slapping against the floor approaching him at a run had caught his attention instead. He turned in time to catch Lily as she leapt at him, then turned back to see that only Rosemary Longfellow, Miss Birch's close friend and attendant, was watching him. He put a finger to his lips and the older woman smiled. He then turned to Lily. "Shall we go up and fetch a brush for you?" he whispered.

Lily nodded. "Yes, please. They're noisy," she whispered back.

James chuckled quietly. "They are indeed. Let's go before they notice."

Lily smiled, as if she wanted to laugh and tightened her grip on his sleeve and just below the collar of his shirt. It reminded him that his sleeves were still rolled up and that he was without a jacket. It was hardly proper decorum with guests in his home. He resolved to remedy that while upstairs.

Once in his chambers, he found the brush he sought easily enough. Looking at her hair more closely, he tried to determine about how long it would take to untangle it. He didn't want to seem too terribly rude to his guests by remaining up here away from them for too long. He led her over to the footstool and chair and settled her on the footstool, taking the chair for himself.

Logically, he knew that the most efficient way to untangle ropes was to start at the section nearest the end of the rope. Using that principle, he worked quickly, but gently, to pull the tangles free starting from the bottom. "Let me know if I pull too hard, all right?" Lily nodded.

Once finished, her delicate curls sprang up more tightly than before. Beneath all that dirt and grime, he decided, was a very lovely child. He apparently hadn't pulled too hard once, since all she did was fidget in a way that made him think she simply didn't want to sit still. "What do you want me to call you?" she asked suddenly, turning around to face him.

"Well, you can call me 'James' if you like," he answered. He thought he had already taken care of that earlier in the day.

" 'James'?"

He nodded. "Are you comfortable with that?"

She nodded back. "James?"

"Yes?"

She gave him a rather forlorn look. "I'm hungry."

James chuckled as he walked to his closet. "You are, are you? What do you say to seeing if Jacob has something ready yet?" he asked as he rolled down his sleeves and pulled a fresh jacket on.

"I say yes, please."

James laughed that time and she smiled. "Then we shall," he said, scooping her up again. Though he hadn't picked up a child much since his posting here, he marveled at how familiar an action it was quickly becoming. He approached the stairway slowly, listening carefully to try and find out what the others were doing and where they were.

"…Then what would you say if I told you that Lieutenant Andrews had gotten a small splinter in his finger and, after asking me to remove it, he whined and whimpered before I had barely even touched him with my hat pin?" Miss Birch asked.

"I'd say it was a remote case, and that Andrews would whine over an eyelash poking him in the eye," Gillette answered swiftly. "He's an exception."

James shook his head slightly, rolling his eyes. Lily giggled, causing his attention to focus on her and smile. His heart soared at that simple sound. It assured him that she could and would bounce back after what he suspected had been terrible mistreatment at her father's hands. "They're rather silly, aren't they?" he asked her. Lily nodded. "Shall we see if we can't get them to stop behaving like children?"

"Will we get to eat?"

James chuckled again. "We will if Jacob has something ready."

"If he doesn't, can you make him hurry?"

James reached up and brushed a bit of hair from her face, then tapped her nose. "I don't know what I could do to have him hurry, but I would just bet that if you asked him nicely, he would do his best to."

"Would he?" she asked uncertainly as he neared the top of the stairs.

"I am almost certain he would."

As they descended the stairs and neared the group still in the foyer, he felt Lily shrink back, pressing into him trying to hide. It was easy for him to know that though she was beginning to trust him and open up around him, she still wasn't quite comfortable with even those he considered close friends. For some reason, that thought made him rather happy.

The door opened again as they reached the bottom of the stairs, the others still arguing over men and injury. "James! I came as soon as I heard! What happened?" Thomas Evans asked immediately, then grew puzzled. "You look fine."

"That would be because I am fine, Thomas. Nathan nicked me with a dagger is all. Don't tell me the entire port believes me to be on my deathbed."

"Well, stories are already going around. They vary in description, but some sound pretty serious."

Noticing the others had finally stopped arguing and were looking at him, James threw Gillette an aggravated look. "Thank you so very much, Lieutenant."

Gillette fidgeted nervously. "Well, I suppose you could use this as a chance for a bit of a break from duties."

"With the entire port apparently believing that I've been grievously wounded, I somehow doubt that staying home would help the situation." A new thought occurred to him. "The governor had better not have to rush back before that dispute is settled. I would hate for him to return in a panic to find that nothing is wrong."

Gillette cringed. "I will go and see that no word like that is sent." James nodded as Gillette left to do just that.

He turned to Lily, who was tugging at his lapel insistently. He only needed to see her face to know what she wanted of him. She wore the same expression she had upstairs. "Patience." He stilled her hands. "Lily, this is Mister Arthur Birch and his niece Mary Kate and their friend Rosemary Longfellow." He looked at the group. "This is Lily Cooper." He then began edging toward the kitchens. "Now, if you will all please excuse me, I have an important matter to discuss with my cook." He then left them, not seeing the bewildered looks being exchanged by Arthur Birch and his niece.

After finishing the day's dispatches, he had been looking forward to a quiet night at home. Thanks to a certain lieutenant, that was now out of the question. He simply wasn't in the mood to socialize at the moment, and Lily had now managed to excuse him from it three times.

In the kitchen, Jacob Craig was hard at work making a quick soup and James was pleased to see that it was, indeed, nothing fancy. "How is it coming, Jacob?"

"It's nearly done, I daresay." He glanced over to a point behind James. "Can I get anyone anything, or do you just want to loiter around in my kitchen?"

James glanced over his shoulder, feeling Lily press closer still. He barely managed to conceal his defeat. "Yes, would anyone like anything?"

"An explanation might be nice," Miss Birch said.

He sighed. "Very well, if you will wait in the parlor, I shall be out shortly to do so."

"I'll tell them the main bits of it, James," Thomas said, having come in behind them.

James nodded. "Thank you." He wasn't certain he cared to explain it again. The group filed back out to the parlor and James heard a relieved sigh from near the fireplace.

"I didn't think they'd ever leave. I don't care much for having so many people in my kitchen."

James nodded again. "Do you have enough to feed them all?"

"Aye, there should be enough."

"Thank you, Jacob. And I am sorry for the short notice." He set Lily down, who had been squirming.

"These things happen, James-lad. It can't be helped sometimes."

"How much longer, Mister Jacob?" she asked, now standing in front of the grey-headed man.

"Oh, not too much longer, Miss Lily. Not too much longer."

"Can it be cooked faster?"

"Hungry are we?" She nodded solemnly. "I'll see what I can do. But you take this carrot to snack on while you wait."

"Thank you, Mister Jacob," Lily said, accepting the carrot stick.

"You're most welcome, Miss Lily."

James smiled, nodding his own thanks to the rather jolly-looking fellow. "Come along, Lily. We should return to our guests before they think we've become grouchy little trolls or something," he said, taking her free hand and leading her back toward the front of the house.

"But you're not little," she said, crunching into her snack as she scurried along beside him.

James gave her an exaggerated look of confusion. "I'm not?" he asked, looking down at himself. "Are you certain?"

Lily giggled, bringing a large smile to his face. "You're very big."

"I am?"

Lily giggled again. "Yes."

He paused then, when he felt eyes on him, and looked up and around to see that they had entered the parlor. Lily's giggles abruptly stopped and she slipped closer to and behind his leg a bit. "I apologize if I seem rude this evening; I certainly didn't mean to be so," he said. Miss Birch and Mistress Longfellow continued to give Thomas pointed looks. "Have we interrupted something of importance?" he asked, hiding behind his mask of command while instinctively knowing they had been discussing him, and likely Lily as well.

He heard the soft crunching of Lily's carrot that she was anxiously nibbling on, while his guests glanced back and forth amongst themselves. It merely served to confirm to him that they had, indeed, been talking about him. He suppressed a sigh and locked his shoulders to keep them from slumping. Surely his own friends didn't think he was incapable of looking after a small child.

"Oh no, you aren't interrupting anything, James," Thomas tried weakly.

James nodded and moved to sit down. The room was quiet now—too quiet—and it made him uncomfortable. The chair he chose was in front of a large window overlooking what could be seen of the bay. Lily clamored up into his lap and sat quietly, watching the clouds and birds outside with her back turned to everyone else in the room.

James tried desperately to think of a topic for conversation, but thoughts eluded him. He hated silences such as this, and his guests did not help matters with the way they just stared at him and Lily.

"Have you thought of what to do, yet?" Thomas finally asked.

James would have preferred a different subject than this and debated whether or not he should tell them. "I—" he began.

"If you have, you have thought everything through, yes?" Arthur interrupted. "Children are a tremendous responsibility, you know. Are you prepared for everything that might come up if you decide to allow her to stay here? Or will you ask one of the local families to take her in?"

Lily stiffened where she sat, tensed rigidly in what he thought must be anxiety for his answer, but she remained still and silent. He decided on a safer response. "I have not yet had the chance to think anything through properly. I had hoped to later this evening."

"Master Norrington, Mister Craig sends word that the meal is ready," said a new, deeper voice from the doorway.

James looked up to see Cecil Porter, his newest addition to his rather small household staff. "Thank you, Cecil." He returned his attention to his guests as he lifted Lily and stood up. "There should be enough to eat if anyone is hungry. Though it is a simple enough meal, feel free to join Lily and I." He and Lily left the room and crossed the hall to the dining room. He didn't have to look back to know they had all followed.

Upon entering the dining room, he found Jacob had stacked several cushions on a chair and placed it as close to James's own as he could. "Cecil?" he said the man nearby.

"Yes, Sir?"

"Would you please prepare the room next to mine a little later for Lily, here?"

"Of course, Sir."

"Thank you." He settled Lily on the cushions and pushed the chair in as far as he could, then noticed that everyone else had settled while he had helped her. Jacob and Cecil then entered with bowls of stew, serving the ladies—particularly Lily—first. Everyone except Lily glanced around at each other before settling their gazes on James. He nodded slightly, and all bowed their heads while he asked God's blessings over the meal.

Heads then lifted and James noticed Lily eyeing her stew intently. He watched as she found her spoon and proceeded to try and get the food to her mouth. Despite the stack of pillows she sat on, the table was still almost too high for her. She managed, however, to not spill any on her clothes. But he was glad there was no tablecloth—especially an expensive one—this evening, even though he wouldn't have really cared.

"Has there been any news of importance from your captains?" Arthur asked, breaking the silence.

"Nothing out of the ordinary, though there has been an increase in Spanish traffic of late," James said, grateful for this relatively easy topic, even if there were women and a child present. "More in the way of merchant traffic, but I have yet to hear of anything that would warrant it. To my knowledge, there have been no new discoveries of precious metals or gems. No new large shipments of goods, either."

"Strange," Arthur said. "I haven't either, nor have any of the merchant captains I have spoken to." He paused, frowning at his stew. The older man spooned another bite, but glanced up sharply with the spoon halfway to his mouth. "You know what this could mean, don't you?"

James nodded. "They're up to something. They must be."

"The question is what," Thomas chimed in.

"Lieutenant Gillette has returned, Sir," Cecil said, leading him in.

Gillette made his way to the empty chair to Lily's immediate right. "What is who up to?" he asked.

"The Spanish with the increase of traffic," James answered. He glanced over at Lily to find she was nearly finished eating her smaller serving.

"Hmm," Gillette mused. James smiled slightly upon seeing the look of contemplation on the man's face. It was much better to have his thoughts bent on useful things rather than the mischief it usually was. Lily's spoon suddenly clattered in her bowl as she finished. "What do the reports tell you?"

"Only that there has been an increase in the number of merchant and naval vessels flying Spanish colors flooding into the Caribbean in recent months. There have also been a few brief battles, but nothing really outstanding," James said, musing to himself. His brow furrowed as one common aspect of each incident suddenly clicked. "The Spanish ships, while at times the stronger vessel, would retreat. Try to cut away from the battle as soon as they could."

"Well that doesn't sound like them at all. Not in my experiences, in any case," Arthur said.

"Indeed," James murmured. Why would they send so many ships, and just break away from a fight? he asked himself. Unless… His eyes grew wide.

"They're sneaking," Lily said, voicing his thoughts in her own way. "Momma used to sneak things away from Papa. When she didn't want him to know, she backed away." James looked at her. Clever, perceptive girl. She became more sad then. "But he found them. He sees everything." Her gaze dropped, but he saw her peeking over at him from the corner of her eye.

"What might they be sneaking, do you suppose?" Miss Birch asked.

"It could be any number of things," her uncle answered. "Money, weapons for their garrisons…"

"Soldiers," James said, pleased that with Miss Birch and Rosemary, he didn't need to censor the conversation as he would have to with anyone else.

"Soldiers?" Rosemary asked.

"Yes," Gillette picked up. "Just think about it. We took Jamaica from them, then it became the richest port in the area. We're practically the only British holding here with no really close reinforcements. We're easy targets, to them."

Silence fell then, with everyone lost in his or her own thoughts. For James, it was now a matter of alerting his superiors and requesting additional ships and men. As it currently stood, Port Royal only had a small number of ships for defense, and most of those were currently out on patrol. Still, there was a nagging feeling at the back of his mind. No matter how much he tried to grasp that feeling, it wouldn't go away.

It was then that a dull throbbing at the front of his skull made itself known. He sighed quietly knowing he would find no further answers tonight. He looked over at Lily and saw that her eyes were beginning to droop again. He was feeling rather tired himself, now that he had eaten.

He caught the sound of whispering further down the table. Arthur and his niece were speaking quietly. Arthur looked concerned, while she was throwing rather frequent, discreet glances in James' direction.

He passed his gaze over the rest of his few guests. Rosemary had just finished eating, Thomas was taking his last bite, but Gillette still had half a bowl full. The Birches stood, as did everyone else in respect to the women. "I hope you don't think us terribly rude, Norrington, but I believe we will leave your good hospitality now," the retired admiral said. "No doubt you would like to get the little one settled for the night and get some rest yourself."

"You've no need to rush off," James said. "There is no reason for you to leave so soon."

"Nonsense! The child is about to plant her face in her bowl and you're beginning to look much like her. No, we'll leave and allow you a night of peace. No doubt you've much to do tomorrow. You'll need a clear head, and plenty of sleep. Especially if the Spaniards are planning to do something." His niece took his arm. "Good night, Norrington, Lily, Lieutenants."

James nodded his resignation. "Good night, Sir, Miss Birch, Mistress Longfellow."

"Good evening, Sir, Miss, Mistress," Gillette and Evans echoed as the three left the dining room.

"I believe I will leave now, as well, James," Thomas continued. "By your leave. And if you need my help with anything, let me know."

"I will, thank you. Have a pleasant evening, Thomas."

"Good evening, James, Nathan, Lily."

"Farewell, Thomas," Gillette said as Thomas followed the other three out.

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Author's Note: So many more lovely reviews! Thank you all so very, very much!

I'll be back next Sunday with chapter four. See you then! :)

~Seaweed