Maeve joined the rest of the crew a while later.

"She's a sweet one that one" commented Doubar.

"Aye, she is" sighed Maeve distantly.

"Now don't go getting broody on us" laughed Doubar.

"I'm not, I just...I'll miss her" she answered giving a week smile.

"I know lass, and you'll make a great mother someday. But not for a while I hope!" he smiled.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because we'll be sorry to lose you again" said Doubar. Maeve smiled.

"I don't understand" said a rather confused Firouz.

"Well, when Maeve has a babe, she'll have to look after it ashore. This is no place to raise a child." explained Doubar.

"What's wrong with the Nomad?" argued Sinbad.

"There's nothing wrong with the Nomad. I think he was referring to the trouble you always seem to attract" smiled Maeve kindly.

"I suppose monsters and demons are a bit much for a child" he agreed.

"And even if you put him below deck out of harms way, there's no way you'd be able to keep Maeve down there" laughed Doubar.

"Too right" laughed Maeve.

"Aye, it's not right for a small child to be worried about losing his mum that young. And what if he did?" said Sinbad a little more seriously.

"And what about the father?" contributed Firouz. "I'm sure he wouldn't approve of his child and wife facing all that danger."

This shocked everyone into silence; for they all hoped the father would be Sinbad, (Even if some would never admit it!). But Firouz knew this.

"Would you Sinbad!" he added causing he, Doubar and Rongar to start laughing. Maeve just rolled her eyes as Sinbad turned red.

"Not that he hasn't tried!" laughed Doubar.

"Wasn't very successful though was he!" added Firouz.

"I'm a member of this crew aren't I? I pull my weight around here don't I? I will not..." started Maeve.

"...be left behind" finished everyone else before bursting out laughing.

"Yes, we know Maeve." laughed Sinbad.

"You should feel special Maeve, Sinbad cares about whether you get hurt. He doesn't care about us though." smiled Doubar.

"That's not true and you know it." stated Sinbad. He knew he was digging himself into a hole, but he couldn't help it.

"Oh, so you don't care if she gets hurt" taunted Firouz.

"Of course I care if she gets hurt, and I care about whether each of you gets hurt too." he answered.

"Then why do you want to leave her out of fights then if it's not because you care for her more than the rest of us? Do you feel that she can't fight as well as the rest of us?" quizzed Doubar. Maeve looked enquiringly at Sinbad.

"Now you know that's not true." he argued. "She's saved all our lives, many times. And she fights just as well as us, if not better than some of us."

"Who does she fight better than?" asked Firouz blindly.

"You for a start" laughed Sinbad. Firouz pulled a face and went to argue.

"Oh come on Firouz." intervened Doubar. "Do you remember the time you knocked your opponent down, only to let your big head run away with you. Instead of watching what he was doing, you started explaining to him that 'scientifically' it's called 'getting the wind knocked out of you'. Only to then have him knock you off of your feet!" he laughed.

"Well" stuttered Firouz. "Maybe your right. But Sinbad, if it's not that, then why do you insist on leaving Maeve behind?"

"I don't" Defended Sinbad. "Only ONCE did I say to her that she didn't have to come if SHE didn't WANT to."

"Ok" smiled Maeve. "I may have blown it slightly out of proportion."

"And what about when you send her with Firouz to avoid the battles?" quizzed Doubar.

"Magic was needed elsewhere. It was only logical for Maeve to go. I mean, who else was I supposed to send?" he smiled.

"Fine, I give in. But I still reckon there's more to it than your saying." smiled Doubar suggestively.

"And if there is you'll never know." smiled Sinbad just as suggestively. "Will you?" he teased.

"Well I for one have had a long day. I'm turning in. See you tomorrow." smiled Maeve.

"Night Maeve" said Firouz.

"Sleep well" grinned Doubar.

"Sweet dreams" smiled Sinbad.

"Night" she answered.