"ANNE!"

Anne Darrow looked to her left as she walked down the wooden plank of the SS Venture. She didn't know who was calling her name or if it was even directed towards her, but she looked anyways.

Sure enough, a young woman about the same height and age as Anne with long straight brown hair and hazel eyes was running towards the ship, arms waving. Anne smiled broadly as Captain Englehorn helped her from the plank to the dock.

"Hello Charlie!" Anne called happily as the girl embraced her.

"Oh Anne! I was so worried about you! I didn't know where you were! What are you doing?"

Charlie's attention went to the trapping steamer docked and crowded with gruesome looking men. It was surprisingly appealing to her.

"You'll never believe this Charlie, but Jack and I are getting married! We're taking Mr. Englehorn's ship to Singapore and having our wedding there!"

At the mention of his name, Captain "Skipper" Englehorn turned towards the two young women. There was Anne, her short blonde curls representing her soft, yet childish personality. The corners of Englehorn's lips curled into a rare smile as he watched her talk excitedly to the attractive young woman standing only a few feet away from her. Do all women get so excited over such silly things? Thought Englehorn as he pulled out a small cigar and lit it.

"Jack? I haven't met this Jack yet! And here you are, about to marry him!"

"Oh I know, but with the whole Kong," Anne hesitated, remembering the death of the beloved giant guerrilla, "I wasn't able to introduce him to you,"

Charlie gave her a smile of compassion, "I understand, but enough of all this chatter, where is he!"

Anne laughed and pointed to a tall man with black hair boarding the ship. He wore a simple gray jacket and tan pants, but Anne had a look of total adoration in her fair blue eyes. Jack caught the look of his lover's gaze and smiled back, his deep brown eyes twinkling.

"Well, come on slow poke! Lets meet him already! Oh and Anne, can I ask you a favor?"

Anne gave Charlie a questionable look, "What now?"

"Oh Anne! Please don't be like that! I thought…I…" Charlie turned away to wipe the tears that threatened to spill down her delicate cheeks.

Anne smiled warmly, trying to lighten up the mood, "Don't cry Charlie! Come on and meet Jack and know what? I'm inviting you to the wedding,"

Charlie hugged Anne tightly, "Oh thank you so very much Anne!"

Anne laughed and hooked arms with Charlie, "Come on! You can meet some of the people I've had to spend a lot of time with!"

Englehorn watched as the two young women approached him, giggling and smiling. What do they want? Another room! Damn wedding guests. Englehorn thought as Anne looked up at him, sky blue eyes meeting those of the blue sea.

"Mr. Englehorn, this is my dear friend Charlotte Stone,"

"Pleasure, Miss Stone," Englehorn said, taking Charlie's hand and pressing it gently against his soft lips.

Actually, Charlie noticed, his lips were probably the only thing soft about him! He was dirty like the other men and was starting to need a shave; she had even caught the hint of annoyance in his German accent.

"Pleasures all mine, Mr. Englehorn," she said, stabbing the irritated tone back at him.

He just smiled sarcastically, acting as if he didn't notice the young woman's stubbornness.

"Jack! I want you to meet my dear friend Charlotte Stone," Anne said excitedly, waiting for her future husband to except the hand of her best friend.

Jack smiled and shook her hand, "How are you Miss Stone?"

"Oh he is the charmer," Charlie said turning to Anne and shaking Jack's hand, "I'm fine thank you,"

Jack blushed a little and turned towards Englehorn, "Captain, may I have a word with you?"

"Oh course Mr. Driscoll," Englehorn said dropping the cigar and crushing it with his boot heel.

"Mr. Englehorn doesn't seem very…um…happy," Charlie said as Anne and her explored the ship.

"He's easily irritated and isn't one for small talk," Anne said as they rounded the corner and into the kitchen where a tall brown haired man with a mustache and one blue green closed eye turned towards them.

He had a massive cigar hanging limply from his bottom lip and he smelt terrible! He was hovering over a big pot of something or another and personally, Charlie didn't want to know what it was.

"This is the cook, Lumpy," Anne said, holding in her laugh as Charlie shook the massive slimy hand of Lumpy.

"Good to meet you miss," Lumpy said with a crooked smile.

"You…too…Lumpy," Charlie said uncomfortably.

"Have you scene Jimmy?" Anne asked gazing around the room for the cabin boy Jimmy.

"'Round here somewhere," Lumpy mumbled turning back to his, if you must call it something, food.

Anne continued Charlie on the tour. Charlie avoided looking at the crewmembers that gave the two young women odd glances that made her feel totally out of place. She hoped that the ship would be as appealing on board as off, but obviously not. Charlie admired the sea smell, but not the dirty crewmen and molded boards.

"Jimmy! I want you to meet a friend of mine who will be staying on the ship with us," Anne said brightly as she grabbed the sleeve of a boy walking past.

He was probably 16, Charlie guessed, and about the same height as her. He had ruffled brown hair and curious blue eyes. He wore a sailors hat, similar to the one Englehorn had. He adjusted his hat nervously and spoke softly, as if he didn't want to be there.

"Hello miss," he said holding up a hand and finally making eye contact with Charlie.

Charlie smiled; she liked this kid, "Good to meet you Jimmy. I'm Charlie,"

"Isn't that a mans name…er…Charlie?"

Charlie and Anne laughed causing Jimmy to turn red.

"You're right Jimmy, it is, but my real name is Charlotte and Charlie is short for that. It's also short for Charles, which was my…fathers name,"

"COME ON MEN! LET'S GET THIS SHIP OUT TO SEA!" Shouted Englehorn's voice from somewhere above them. Jimmy quickly bowed the rim of his hat in a mock salute and ran past them.

"I'll show you where you can stay," Anne said walking the other direction than Jimmy.

Charlie glanced over her shoulder to see Jimmy watching them. He quickly ducked behind a corner, embarrassment written on his face. Charlie just smiled and followed Anne.

"You can sleep in this room. I know the rooms aren't very big, but they are quite cozy," Anne stood to the side as Charlie examined the room around her.

Anne was right, it was small, but cozy. Charlie set down the checkered bag from around her shoulder on the bed and began to out some of its contents into the dresser that stood in the corner.

"This will be fine. Thanks Anne…for everything,"

They embraced again and Anne left Charlie to get situated. Charlie sat on the bed and gazed out the window, the rolling sea was going to take time adjusting to.

Alright readers! I'm kinda starting over on writing and hoping this site will be better for me! Ok, if you haven't noticed Charlie's a new character and ends up having a almost father daughter relationship with Lumpy so, that's why I didn't kill him off like he is in the movie...hope you don't mind...R&R!