Chapter Seven

More time went by and Olivia found herself spending less time worrying about getting home, and more time with Tom Pullings. Their "unofficial courtship" as he had called it was quite possibly her best relationship yet. She hated that most of her dates had the maturity level of an eight-year-old and thought that calling her 'baby' would constitute as romantic and spend the rest of the time trying to 'score'. For some reason or another, Olivia had the worst luck with relationships. But Tom was different. She was not sure if it was because this was 200 years in the past, but he was so respectful and well, chivalrous she supposed would best describe it. Since they could not exactly make out of the quarterdeck, most of their time spent together was in conversation. He told her stories about his father's farm, earlier adventures on the seas, and would sometimes ramble off about nautical matters that if she tried to follow him she would get a headache. When that happened he would laugh and merely say, "But I forget, I am speaking to an American mountaineer" or something close to that effect, and would change the subject. Olivia would tell stories, often-modified stories, of her life as well. She was beginning to feel rather guilty about not telling him the truth of her home, and was often tempted to tell him, but always talked herself out of it. As much as she felt for Tom, she doubted he would believe her. After all, it was a pretty far fetched story, and if someone showed up on her doorstep back home saying they were from 200 years into the future or past she would have called them crazy and suggested they get their head checked.

Tom, while still curious as to how she came to be there, did not question her on the subject anymore. He believed that if she knew anything, surely she would tell him, and went on spending time with her as if in a parlor of some fine house, chatting away happily whenever he had the chance. He was beginning to wonder if he should ask her to marry him, not now of course, but when they reached port. He was shy on the matter however, remembering her previous opinions of marriage. Not to mention the uncertainty of the whole situation, and he had not known her a terribly long time, though he felt as if he'd known her forever. He had never felt more at ease with anyone in his life than when he was with Olivia.

He was pondering on this early one morning as he stood watch on the quarterdeck. The sun was just beginning to creep into the sky as first light hit the ship and waters. Tom looked into his glass, gazing to the east. He could make the faint outlines of the South American coast, the mountains looming in the far distance. They were not close enough to be seen with the naked eye, but were an impressive sight through the glass, rising out of the morning mist. He took the glass from his eye, considering for a moment. The sight made him think even more of Olivia and how she missed her own mountains. He wondered if it would do her well to see these foreign ones from the distance. Finally, Tom decided that she would enjoy seeing the mountains, she had said before she always wished to see new places after all. However, he imagined the Captain would not appreciate him leaving his watch, even for a moment, on such a frivolous task, so he called for young Blakeney, who was not far from him.

"Would you be so kind as to wake Miss Corin and ask her if she would please join me on the quarterdeck for a moment Mr. Blakeney?" He said to the young man. "There is something she would most certainly wish to see."

Young Lord Blakeney nodded, he was quite cheerful so early in the morning, "Certainly sir." He said, heading off towards the cabin to wake Olivia. When he returned he looked rather amused and went straight to Tom, "Well sir, she's awake and she says she'll be along shortly." He hesitated before continuing his message, fighting a grin. "She also says you best have a good reason for waking her so early, sir."

Tom tried not to laugh. "Did she? And what else did Miss Corin have to say?"

The boy hesitated, pondering on this. "She may not be in the best of moods sir, for when I went to wake her she mumbled, rolled over and flipped clear out of her cot, bumping her head on the way down causing a bit of a gash. She also uttered some words, which I ought not repeat and cursed the inventor of the hammock. She then thanked me most kindly and, still sitting on the floor mind you, sent me on my way. I do hope she is all right."

"I am sure she is. Miss Corin is surprisingly stronger than one might expect." He said, wincing as he remembered being on the wrong side of her fist. "Thank you Mr. Blakeney." Tom said, sending the boy on his way.

Olivia soon appeared on the quarterdeck, looking tired and quite unhappy. Tom tried not to grin seeing the gash on her forehead, presumably where she hit it falling from her cot. "Good morning Miss Corin. Whatever happened here?" He asked, indicating her forehead.

She raised a hand to her forehead. "Don't ask." She replied.

Tom nodded knowingly, "Yes, a hammock on calm waters can be most dangerous."

Olivia glared at him, as he held back his laughter. "You- I- Blakeney told you?"

Tom merely nodded, still attempted not to laugh and turning quite red with effort.

Olivia raised her head defiantly, "Oh hush. Pudding and ladders can be traitorous too you know." She said, reminding him of all the clumsy misfortunes he had met in her company. This stopped his laughter quite nicely. "Now, what on Earth is so important that you had to wake me at such a miserably early hour?"

Tom raised an eyebrow. "The sun is rising, it is not that earlier."

"It is if you're used to waking at a human hour, like say nine or ten?" She exclaimed with exasperation, causing Tom to laugh at her once more. "You morning people make me sick." She said with a sigh, yawning. "Now what is it?"

Tom directed her closer to the rail, smiling, knowing she would be pleased. He handed her his glass, receiving a look of confusion from Olivia. "Look." He instructed. She hesitantly took it from him, still bewildered. "Look. Go on!" He urged.

She did so, gazing slightly to far up to see the distant mountains. "What am I looking for?" Olivia asked.

Tom knowingly moved the glass down so she would be looking straight across the waters to the east. She gave a small gasp, which told him she saw the mountains. "That." He said simply, smiling, pleased that she seemed so happy.

"Tom-" She started, but her voice seemed to fade away. She finally lowered the glass turning to him, smiling happily. "I had no idea that seeing mountains again would make me so happy, how did you know?"

He grinned sheepishly, "I had no idea. I merely thought they would remind you of home." He told her honestly.

"They do." She said, glancing at them again. "And yet they don't." She shrugged. "I don't know, but they're so different, but that does not bother me. It's exciting really." She smiled up at him, the sleepiness gone from her eyes and instead they sparkled with excitement. "Did you know I've never seen a mountain range other than the one I live in?" She asked. "It's so different! But somehow, still the same." She laughed, once again looking to the coast. "I'm rambling again though, aren't I?"

He merely smiled, "Has that ever stopped you before?" He teased.

She turned to him once more, still smiling. "I know I ought to be insulted, but you started my day so well I would hate for it to go sour. So I'll ignore that comment." She handed him back his glass. "Thank you Tom. It was worth being woken for."

"And hitting your head?" He asked.

She rolled her eyes, "That too, I suppose. Should I expect you for breakfast?"

"I will be a while yet." He said.

"Good. I can go back to sleep." She said with a grin.

"Olivia, I insist you see the Doctor for your head." Tom protested.

Olivia sighed, "It's just a bump."

"It's bleeding." He pointed out. "Actually, it is bleeding harder than before."

"No. At first it was really bleeding, but I put some pressure on it and it all but stopped. Besides, it's quite small." She argued, frowning at the very idea of seeing the doctor for it.

He sighed, glancing at her forehead, wondering why she was so stubborn and quickly found her a cloth to hold to the wound. "Olivia, the cut is nearly an inch long, and is starting to bleed once more. Do not make me have marines escort you to sick-berth." Tom had to admit he sounded more concerned than threatening.

Olivia caught this and laughed, raising an eyebrow. "You wouldn't dare."

Tom smiled, "Do not tempt me." He said. "I am sure the cut is fine, as you said, but I doubt the Captain, or Killick for that matter, will appreciate you bleeding all over his cabin." He told her. "What did you hit it on that created such a cut?"

"No idea. I took a wild swing in that hammock." She said. "Next time, come down yourself and shake my arm so if I swing you can keep me from falling."

Tom laughed, "If you wish me too." He said. "Now, get to sick-berth. The Doctor was up early to make his rounds."

"Oh boy." Olivia muttered, unhappily. She hated having people fuss, so she hated being a patient, and her displeasure was quite evident as she appeared in sick-berth.

Doctor Maturin looked at her forehead and determined it would be fine as soon as it stopped bleeding, though it would need a bandage for the moment, and would most likely leave a scar. Olivia had not at all reacted with the worry he had expected, merely shrugging at this news and saying "Oh neat. A memento." Stephen had thought that a woman would be most unhappy with a scar on her forehead, but it did not seem to bother Olivia in the least.

Padeen had held a bandage in place to stop the bleeding for a while, but she sent him away, holding it herself, and settling next to a man named Smith who had lost his leg recently in an accident. She was quite cheerfully chatting with the man, who was pleased to have her company.

"And what happened here Miss?" He asked, as the Doctor appeared to check to see if her forehead had indeed stopped bleeding yet.

"Just a bump and a stupid accident on my part." She said, cringing as the Doctor touched the wound. "Nothing to worry about."

"I believe, Miss Corin, that I am the Doctor." Maturin said, amused. "Well, you are quite right. You are in no real danger, the bleeding has stopped, but do keep the cut clean. An infection would be most unfortunate. I am quite certain that soon the cut will be only a mere scar." He told her. "I see no reason to keep you here any longer, you may leave at your leisure my dear." He smiled kindly.

Olivia smiled, "Thank you Doctor." She said, as he continued to check on his other patients.

"Shame to leave a mark on a pretty face." Smith said.

Olivia turned her attention to him, "Oh I don't know. I think scars are quite interesting really."

Smith made an odd sort of laugh, "Of course you do." He commented.

Olivia's usually kind gaze suddenly turned quite sharp. "What do you mean by that?" She asked.

The man smiled, a smile, which did not quite seem right to Olivia. "Not a thing Miss Corin." He said, although his tone said otherwise. "Not a thing. You were saying about scars Miss?"

Olivia hesitated, not sure if she really wanted to continue her conversation anymore. Smith's comment had quite caught her off guard and was full of suggestion. It was as if he knew about her interesting relationship with Tom. She had of course, noticed Tom's scar before, it being rather hard to miss, and had asked him about it once, he merely told her it was an old wound where a sword had caught him, but told her nothing more in the way of details. He seemed quite self-conscious of it really, and so she did not press him any further.

"I was merely saying that I find them interesting." She said slowly. "They tell stories. Look." She rolled up her sleeve a bit, showing a small skinny scar on her arm. "That is where my brother and I decided we could fly and jumped off the roof as children. I decided at the last minute it was a bad idea and made a grab for the house, breaking a window and sending glass everywhere. My brother of course, ran away as soon as he saw I was hurt, not wanting to get into trouble." She said, fondly remembering the event. "This one here?" She pointed to another scar on her hand. "I burned it when I decided I would cook my Grandmother dinner for her birthday when I was eight." She shrugged. "This one." She said touching her forehead gently. "Will be when I foolishly rolled over in a cot at sea and bumped my head."

Smith laughed merrily. "Did you now?"

"I most certainly did, and I would appreciate you not sharing that information freely." She said with a smile.

Smith grinned, amused. "I will take it to the grave, Miss."

"Good. Then I shall expect you to hold it for quite some time." She said returning his smile. However, she was still troubled by his earlier comment and guarded her comments very closely.

She continued to chat with the Doctor's patients until Tom, apparently off his watch, came down to see how she did. This was not surprising considering she was in his charge, but Olivia thought she saw a smirk on Smith's face that reminded her of a look her friends would have given her. The look made her quite uncomfortable, and made her realize that it was impossible to keep secrets on this ship.

Tom however, did not notice the man's smirk, and smiled at Olivia. "How are you feeling?" He asked with concern.

"Well enough thank you." Olivia said, quickly standing to join him. She turned and bid good day to the men she had been speaking with and left sick-berth with Tom. "We should talk." She said, the minute they were out of hearing range.

Tom blinked, surprised. "Is something amiss?" He asked as they headed to the Great Cabin to talk.

Olivia did not reply, but her expression was clearly one of concern. As soon as they reached the cabin Olivia spoke. "I think they know." She said, keeping her voice low to prevent anyone from hearing her on the quarterdeck.

Tom stared at her, confused, "Who knows what?" He asked.

She sighed, batting a stray strand of hair behind her ear, something Tom noticed she only did when nervous or agitated. "About us Tom. I think the crew knows."

Tom blinked he was not expecting her to say that. "Whatever makes you think that?" He asked, he had been careful to remain quite proper and professional when with Olivia on deck. When he came to see her in the cabin he always made sure they were not alone too long and never went further than a mere kiss.

She hesitated, as if the thoughts were forming in her head. "Some comments Mr. Smith made led me to believe that he knew how fond I am of you. I don't want anything to... what?" She stopped when she noticed the look Tom was giving her.

He smiled, taking her hand in his own. "You're fond of me?"

"Tom! You know that!" She exclaimed. "And quit changing the subject! I hate it when you do that."

"Olivia, dear, it's merely gossip I am sure. You are the only woman these men have seen in months, and you being my charge, I am the one who sees the most of you in private. I would be surprised if they were not talking." He assured her, bringing her hand to his lips.

Olivia grinned because she loved it when he did that. It was one of those chivalrous things that girls from her time melted for. She could almost here some of her friends "aw" with delight. "But this time the gossip is true." She pointed out.

"I doubt we have done half of what they say we've done." Tom said, though as soon as the words came out he turned red. "My apologies m'dear, my coarse way of talking got the best of me."

Olivia laughed, putting her arms around his neck, allowing him to draw her closer. "I've heard worse, believe me. Besides, you turn such an adorable shade of red."

Tom laughed, "I am most certainly not adorable." He protested. "I doubt I would even qualify for handsome with this retched scar." His voice turned quite bitter at this point and his words harsher than intended and he turned his face away feeling suddenly self-conscious of his appearance.

Olivia looked at him with concern and gingerly ran a finger across the old sword-slash. Tom marveled at the lightness of her touch and returned his gaze to hers. "Tom, you really think that matters one bit to me? I adore you." She said earnestly.

Tom smiled, "Oh, so adore me is it? And I thought you were merely fond of me." He said, kissing her lightly.

"I suppose I cannot help but adore you." She replied sweetly.

Tom laughed again, "Well Olivia, my dear, I am quite glad of it." He said with a wide grin, making him look like a happy little schoolboy, causing Olivia to laugh as well.

"See? How could I not adore you?" She said, still giggling. "You make me laugh just by looking at me."

"I think you are very easily amused." Tom commented, still smiling. "And I best take my leave of you, or I will add to the talk."

Olivia nodded, giving him a quick kiss before releasing him. "I will see you tonight." She said as he left, watching him go with a happy smile playing at her lips.

A/N: Okay so this chapter was basically... nothing. They're getting closer.. awww... and the crew knows of course. Hehe they gossip like girls. I honestly thought I updated last week and then realized... um... oops... I hadn't! So here it is! TADA!!!!! Sorry about that...

R E Rakel: Haha yes I remember you! You're funny! Hi! Hehe thanks for reading this story. That makes me happy. I hope the loony bin is being nice to you because you're not in my closet... though my closet at home is freakin huge it's filled with school junk. Though someone could probably be right comfortable in there because I'm sure there's food somewhere buried in all that junk. If you're watching me then you must be really bored because um... yeah. Anyway! Thanks for the review and it's nice to hear from you again!

Gaeriel Palpatine: Haha am I going to have to stick Olivia on you for drooling over her man? She obviously likes his scar too... hehe. Thanks for the review m'dear!

PippenPirate: Haha you don't see Jack resembling a three-legged spider monkey on pot? Actually that's a really old inside joke from 10th grade biology that I randomly put in there. The person that joke was with I haven't heard from in like.... Five years and I randomly thought of it the day I wrote that chapter. Go figure. Please don't eat Bonden... if you're drooling like Homer you have me worried because he normal drools over food. Thanks for reviewing as always!

Calliope-Elven-Agent: I'm glad you're "wubbling" my story! Hehe! And sure... Tom's scar can make him look manly. Personally I think it makes him look like a James Bond villain or something. Can you see that? Haha I sort of can but not the way he behaves in this story... Love you for reviewing! Thanks!

Starkeeper: Yeah... didn't really update faster that time. Hope you didn't go insane. I'm glad you think Olivia seems real. Really. I was worried she was superwoman Mary-Sueish even for a random unexplained time travel story. I'm so glad you're enjoying this and hope you still are! Thanks a bunch!

Sillytigerlily: Haha your reviews crack me up. I'm reviewing your reviews. Haha whoo! Anyway, thanks for making me crack up. Keep in mind between the drunk scene and the next one there was a day, so she had a day of being hung-over. Haha and of course she cured it by kissing Tom. Who can blame her? The boy is a puppy! In a good way of course. Who doesn't like puppies? The really long chapter is next so thanks for hanging in there! Sorry to make you wait on this one and thanks for the amusing reviews!

Jack Aubrey: I now know you are reading without reviewing because you just said so like two minutes ago. (poke) How rude. Okay so I'm just as guilty as you are. Stop looking at me like that. Stop it! (poke) Oh yeah I can't be mad at you because you have gauze shoved up your mouth. Hope your face heals really fast! I'll keep Pullings in the hold until you can eat solid foods again, so don't worry, your pudding is safe!