Author's Note: Sorry for the incredibly long wait. I'm kind of burned out on ideas, frankly. I want to continue this, but I don't know what to do next. Once again, I've dug myself into a hole. I do it quite frequently, as you might know if any of you reading this have read any of my other unfinished stories. So, once again, sorry for the wait. I hope you do read what I have written, though.

Dear Emeline,

I know I promised you there would be no mutiny, but there was. Don't worry. I was not hurt. Peter is fine as well. I miss you more than anything now that I am on this ship. I was transferred to the HMS Surprise, so I will not see your brother anymore. I received your last letter. How is the little girl? I wish I could see her. And you. I think this Jack Aubrey (my captain) will be better. I will see you again. I promise.

Love, Joseph

Give my love to Ana.

Emeline wiped her nose with her handkerchief. She had not seen her husband for almost a year. He had promised her that they would meet so many times that she had lost count. And now, mutiny, a new captain, and no hope of ever seeing him again. She stepped over to the fireplace, tearing the letter as she walked. With tears in her eyes, she tossed the paper scraps into the fire.

"Emeline?" a man called. "Emeline, love, come to bed." He came up behind her, kissing her cheek and taking her hands. "Have you been crying?" he asked, feeling her wet cheeks.

"It's nothing, Stephen," she lied. Emeline smoothed out his collar. "I'll be there in a moment."

"As long as you're all right," he said a little worriedly.

"Yes," she replied softly, "I'm fine."

"Well, come, then," he prodded, pulling on her hands. "The rest will do you good." A baby cried in another room and Emeline pulled away. "Emeline—"

"I've got to tend to the baby," she said in pained tones. She left the room. "Ana, my little one," she cooed. Emeline hugged her daughter to her chest. "Your father sends his love." Inside she hoped Joseph lived to see his daughter, but she had little hope. She laid the baby back down in her crib and doused the lamp.

Stephen was waiting for her in the bedroom. "What is it? I don't believe it is nothing."

"Well it is," she answered shortly, climbing into bed.

"Please let me stay with you tonight," he said softly. "I think you could use the…the comfort," he finished gently.

Her first reaction was to ask him to leave, but she refrained. "You may stay," she said slowly, "but there's something you need to know. I'm ma—"

"Married," he finished for her. "I know. I saw the letters." He cupped her face in his hands and moved closer. When she pulled away, Stephen said quietly, "If he returns, I'll leave—I will tell no one." The second time his lips neared hers, she did not resist, and that night she made love for the first time since her wedding night.

Joseph stirred in his sleep. It was a cold winter night in the English port. They would be setting sail in two days. He had worked it all out: He would take a carriage to his house in the morning and get there by the afternoon. He put on his shoes and grabbed his cap. But since he was up anyway…

He rapped on the door. The sun was shining brightly and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Joseph waited impatiently, trying to peek through windows and ringing the bell constantly.

Finally the door opened. The tall woman was holding a baby in her arms. Her long red curls fell untidily on her shoulders. "Joseph," she said breathlessly.

He quickly removed his hat. "Hello, Emeline." Tears were welling up in her eyes and spilling onto her cheeks. "I missed you."

She shifted the baby to her hip and hugged him tightly. "I spent so many nights alone without you." She kissed his cheeks and his lips. "This is your daughter. Ana, this is your father."

Joseph held the tiny baby in his arms. She had his dark hair, but Emeline's blue eyes. "She's beautiful, just like her mother. I…I don't know what to say." He felt rather awkward now that they were finally together. Their conversational exchanges were almost uncomfortable.

"How long do you have?" she asked later that night.

"You mean before I have to go back?" He paused. "We leave at midday tomorrow."

"That doesn't leave us much time together," Emeline observed quietly, absently playing with Ana's hair. She sighed. "You know, we never did get married, Joe…in a church, like we talked about."

"I want to, Emeline, believe me," he said honestly, "but I'm just not given the time. I shouldn't even be here now, if you want the truth."

"Well, maybe they'll fire you, then," she said hopefully.

"Hang me, more like," he muttered.

"That's not funny, Joseph Nagel," Emeline said with annoyance in her voice. "I don't want you working on those ships—they're dangerous! I can't tell you how many times I've heard about boys drowning on this side of town."

"Emeline!" he interrupted loudly. "I don't know if you know this, but the only reason you're still alive is because of me and this job. I need this job and I don't want to lose it. Most men volunteer for this. It pays well—makes poor men rich, it does."

"You don't need to shout at me," Emeline said sullenly. "I know you need the job, but I worry about you."

"Save yourself the trouble and stop." She glared at him and immediately stood up. Hugging Ana close, she walked away irritably. He stared after her. He couldn't believe that within a few hours they were already disagreeing. He loved his wife, but something was wrong.