A/N: Sorry it's taking so long. I'll try to speed things up. Hope you like this chapter, and I wish you fair winds and a strong sail. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All characters, places, names, and other such nonsense is the property of Walt Disney, I am not making money off this story, and I will remove this story if asked.

Chapter Three: Shadowed

A soft tapping came from outside, and wrapping herself in an overly expensive robe, Lady Vanessa stood and answered the door.

"Ava, you look simply wonderful!"

Early that day, Lady Vanessa ordered the cook to take Ava shopping for a new set of work clothes, fit for her station. Ava insisted on a simple dress, and only with cook's firm command did she purchase the tight bodice. New lace and fabric always made Ava itch, but the merchant promised that such discomfort would hardly be noticed while at sea. After setting the children to bed, and finding herself without discretion from the constant sway of the ship, Ava was starting to agree.

"Thank you, Madam. The children are sleep, and since we won't be sailing until dawn, I was wondering if I could leave the ship for a short time."

"By all means, please. I don't mind. Just be sure to return before dawn. Do you visit a sweetheart, perhaps?"

Caught off guard by the personal question, Ava blushed. "No, Madam. Just saying goodbye to an old friend. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Clucking like the gossip she was, Lady Vanessa closed the door and returned to her chair, biting her lip in thought.

"I almost feel sorry for the girl," Lord Brandon commented from his desk, leaning over some piece of business like an old crow. "If she hasn't a sweetheart now, the crew will be sure to remedy that."

"I'm surprised by you, Brandon. Here I was thinking only young women and widows chatted about such things."

"After seven years of marriage to you, how could you be surprised?"

Lord Brandon ducked as a cushion was promptly hurled at his head. He continued his work as if nothing happened, a smile on his face.

The streets were dark, it being almost midnight, but even the late hour didn't scare Ava. She was used to the hard streets of Liverpool and the shadows that hid in alleyways. Since arriving, her old family friends made sure that no harm came to the little Ava who was all but tossed into their care after she escaped the orphanage. You could say that Ava was a two-sided creature, one with rusty knife knowledge and some rusty lock-picking skills that would lead her motive to be questioned, if ever a proper housemaid found out her deep secrets.

Ava all but ran down the gangplank and onto the wooden docks. A few sailors milled about, too drunk to notice a slip of a young woman rushing past. The night was infectious with its darkness and the smells of the ocean and surf. Ava held back the row of giddy laughter that she yearned to let out as she spun in circles. This was her home, if ever she had a home. This place was her life, if you could call what she had before a life. The harbormaster, Mr. Peers was an old family friend. She'd seen him early that day as he greeted captains and the naval personnel, but he didn't notice her. She wanted to say goodbye before the tide came in and her ship left. Now was the perfect time.

Although it was late, his lamp shined brightly, and Ava approached the door with excitement. She often spent time in his office, observing the ledgers of his ships and their cargo and on a rare occasion, Mr. Peers even allowed her to work on the books, one of the reasons Lady Vanessa agreed to hire such a young and inexperienced girl like Ava in the first place.

Knocking lightly, Ava thought nothing of it when she heard no reply and opened the door. Inside, someone doused the lamp, plunging the room into darkness.

"Mr. Peers, is everything alright? Mr. Peers?"

A hand grasped her throat and Ava let off the strangled gasp as a blade reflected the light from outside.

"Now, what do we have here, aye? A little company for my old friend? Why Peers, I never imagined your taste would stretch so young."

"Mr. Peers!"

"Don't hurt the girl, she has nothing to do with our business," the voice came from the floor, and as her eyes adjusted to the light, Ava could see a form lying beyond the desk.

The hand on her throat back more of a caress as the voice turned oily, "Perhaps I could be of better service than 'Mr. Peers'. Why don't you come back with me, darling? I could show you a good time-"

Ava twisted a hand as it slide down the side of her thigh and used her body weight to shove the man, a sailor, by the smell of him, into the wall behind them. Spinning out of his grip, she fell to her stomach and rolled behind the desk, her body taunt with nerves. Mr. Peers gripped her hand, setting his spare pistol in her palm. Some moments passed before Peers dared to strike a flint. Their attacked was gone, running down the street.

"Bless you, Ava. You're either daft or brave, but whatever you are, I'm glad you're it." Lighting the lamp, Ava winced at the crack along the glass and the bloody slash along her friend's cheek.

"I thought you stopped all this dark-alley business of yours."

"Old habits die hard, my girl. And I thought you left the docks."

"I've had a run of luck lately. Lady Vanessa hired me as a nursemaid for her children. I'm to serve her until they reach Boston, and then rejoin her normal staff once they reach their new townhouse in the country."

"I always knew you'd do well. When to you leave?"

"At dawn. I wanted to tell you sooner, but keeping children in line is harder than I imagined. I've told more stories in the last two weeks than I did back in the orphanage. Not to mention the headaches and back pains."

"The kids are just sweet on you tis all. They'll calm down and make their peace once they learn what you're about."

"All I want to know is why that man attacked you," taking out a handkerchief, Ava pressed it to Mr. Peers's cheek.

"Just an old friend. He lost some money on an unfortunate venture, and when I refused to give him a loan…well, business men aren't known for their manners."

"You should contact someone from the Navy. They'd be able to stop him. I won't always be around to protect you, you know."

Laughing, Mr. Peers stood and brushed off his clothes. "It was my business venture that he lost his money on, as it turns out. The man deserves a break."

"The only thing he deserves is a night in the prison. You wouldn't be heading for the same problem, would you?"

"Nothing I can't handle."

"Why did you tell me? I would have spilt my wages with you!"

"There's no need for you to be fussing over me."

Ava slipped her family's crest from her finger. "Take this."

"Ava, I-"

"Take it, or I'm tossing it in the gutter. It's not important to me."

"The Gorrión crest. Ava-"

"You have meant more to me than any family I had back in Spain."

"Don't give up yet, they could still be out there."

"My parents are dead and my brother never returned from the sea. My chances of him walking through the door aren't possible."

"You have a good heart."

"Just don't spend that ring on liquor, and you'll have a deal."

Ava hugged her old friend good night and left. Mr. Peers was just Ava was leaving. He was in debt to most of the banks in London, and three in Liverpool. The sooner she left the better. With inflation, wars, all of Liverpool was rolling down hill. From inside his deck, Peers removed a small, silver flask of whiskey and took a long swig. He needed a good, long vacation. Turning, he sent the flask back inside his deck. Peers only saw a shadow, but he ducked anyways.

"Peers. Giving my men trouble again?"

"Look, William, an old friend showed up. She came to say goodbye and she attacked your man."

"A woman?"

"You'd be surprised. My sailors practically raised her."

"Her name?"

"Why should you care?"

"I'm a curious man, Mr. Peers. And I'm sure your wife would agree."

"My… Her name is Ava. She's just a child, a family friend. What did you do to my wife? She has nothing to do with this!"

"Leverage, Mr. Peers, is a very effective strategy."

"Look, I have your money. Here." Handing William the ring, Mr. Peers returned behind his desk, and used its bulk to cover his actions as he reached for his pistol under the table.

"The Gorrión crest! Where did you get this?"

"What difference does it make?"

William advanced before Peers could act, drawing his pistol and pushing it, painfully, in his skull, "I said where!"

"Ava gave it to me. It belonged to her mother. B-But I don't understand. Her family is dead, brother and father lost at sea, and her mother died. What do you want from her?"

"I'm just a family friend that's all," but as William pocketed the ring, Mr. Peers saw more than familiarity in his eyes.

"You won't hurt her, will you?"

"Of course not, Mr. Peers," William's voice had an oily tone to it that sent his nerves tingling, "I only want to ask her a few questions about her brother. You are sure he is dead?"

"Ava has searched every Spanish and English port for him, but there's been no word, besides old rumors of a storm and…"

"And?"

"Well, there was this foolish bit over the ghost of Davy Jones, but-"

"Thank you, Mr. Peers. Consider our contract terminated."

"But I-"

Mr. Peers never finished his sentence. In fact, Mr. Peers never spoke again, because William Moody shot him point-blank in the head, and left.