Chapter Thirty-three
Piper stood in front of the shorter table that stood before two long tables in the galley, her hands on her hips as she thoughtfully surveyed what was set out before her. The plates, silverware, and napkins, which she had had an extremely hard time indeed in locating, waited at the beginning of the table while the bourbon chicken started the actual meal. Next in line were the strips of fried potatoes followed by the baked beans, biscuits, and cornbread. An assortment of pies finished the line-up. Everything looked appropriately delicious, and she could still see the steam rising off of the food. She shook her head in silent amazement at the remembrance of how Crystal's ice had kept the food safe and her dragon had then heated it back up. She glanced over at Lorne and Crys where they were busily fixing drinks on one of the counters. "How are we coming?"
Lorne counted the drinks. "We're almost there, Miss Piper. In fact, you could go ahead and ring the bell. It's over by the door."
Piper nodded and was about to walk over to the bell when Joxer rang it. He grinned at her. "You don't know how long it's been since I got to do that!"
"I thought you were one of the cooks before?"
"I was, but they never came when I rang so I gave up on the bell and figured they'd show up when they finally got hungry enough."
Piper did not speak again, but her gaze turned silently to focus on the door. She hoped they would come this time and, more importantly, that they would like the dinner she and the others had created.
Autolycus had ran as far and fast as he could after getting away from Xena. He felt lucky to be alive. He reached the place where he had hidden the girls and pulled the canvas back. Still scared, they were huddled under it together. "The Captain wants to see you ladies," he informed them. "Did you keep my money safe?"
The blonde nodded, but the brunette told him, "Yes. We haven't left from under here." She was watching him with an odd expression, but Autolycus dismissed it as fear.
"We didn't think you were ever coming back," the redhead cried.
"Well, I had a lot to do," he admitted, "and I got into trouble several times. Since I didn't reveal your whereabouts, the Captain demanded that I fetch you." He gathered up the bundles that contained coins and other loot and told the girls to come with him. He was leading them to where he knew Xena had waited when he heard the bells. He looked around in puzzlement. The bells never went off unless there was a fight. At least, they had not in a long time. Were they under attack? He looked around but didn't see anything. The girls huddled so close to him that he could hardly move without bumping into one of them.
Jack was in the midst of a discussion about his plans for redoing the sleeping quarters when the Witch's bells went off and he snapped to attention. What in the world! Were they under attack? His hand reached immediately for his sword, but a quick surveyance showed him that there were no other ships around. It could only be one thing: the dinner bell. It had been such a long time since he'd heard it that he had not recognized it. "I believe dinner is served, Your Majesties."
Jareth nodded. "Perhaps we can continue the tour later tonight after you've eaten?"
"You are welcome to stay to dinner. We have a new cook, and Gods know I hope she's great! I can't remember the last time I ate anything that was good!"
Jareth's eyes widened in surprise, and he interrupted Will without realizing it. "Are . . . Are you sure?" he asked softly. The thought of being allowed to sit down to a meal prepared by human hands astonished him.
"But of course, Your Majesty," Jack replied with a smile. "You are more than welcome to stay. It would be a pleasure to have you."
Jareth's smile lit up his face, and he squeezed Delvira with an eagerness that she knew, for a change, had nothing to do with their cabin. "That would be wonderful! Even if she can not cook as well as you are used to, I know it will undoubtedly be far better than anything I am used to! You have no ideal what having to eat goblin food is like!"
"You have no ideal what it's like to eat food cooked by Joxer and Autolycus, either. It's not fit for human consumption, so anything Miss Piper can cook should be fine."
Will spoke up at that time. "I saw her appetizers, and if the rest of her food tastes even half as good as they looked, we're in for a treat." He smiled.
"Why didn't you eat some of them?" Jack asked him.
"I saved two, one for each of us," Will explained rather sheepishly, "but . . . well . . . you know what happened when I went to wake you up . . . "
"Oh," Jack said with a solemn look on his face.
Delvira's black eyes passed from one to the other as she wondered if they were having trouble in the bedroom. "Anything we can help with?"
"Huh . . . No," Jack answered. "We . . . just sort of discovered each other and didn't get around to anything before the Bog, food or otherwise. We'd better hurry. The crew are starving; they'll be like pigs to a trough!"
Will shook his head, remembering the lady he'd met earlier that day. "She certainly won't know how to deal with that."
Jack led the way as he almost ran to the galley. He had seen his men in a hurry before when it came to something good to eat and knew that they would not be thinking of anything but putting food in their stomachs. He hoped they didn't panic Miss Piper.
Shadows filled the sleeping quarters of the Sea Witch. The only light came from the flickering wicks of the lanterns that circled the tubs at safe distances. Four hands reached out from the shadows. Winks were exchanged as fingertips came closer to two pairs of slender shoulders. They could practically feel the women already, but it was then that the bells shattered the quietness. Tom released an alien curse before he could stop himself, and Morph's fist hit the air instead of grabbing his wife. "Not again!"
The Lewis sisters quickly dried the children and slipped them into clean shirts. Katrina had been surprised when she heard Tom almost on top of her; it was the first time he had managed to get that close without her total awareness of his presence. "Thanks, guys, for helping get the water. Maybe you should go and check out what we're fighting now? We've got to find somewhere to hide the kids so they'll be safe. We'll join you as soon as we can."
Tom glanced at Morph, knowing that his friend was barely keeping from bursting out from irritation, and quickly returned his attention to Katrina and Celina. He nodded. "See you above, love." Grabbing Morph's wrist, he pulled him with him towards the deck.
The very moment the men burst out above, Morph nearly exploded. "Damn it! We're never going to get them to ourselves today!"
Tom glanced at him. "I'm just as frustrated as you are, but they wouldn't like it."
"Just what the heck is going on?" Morph demanded, glaring out at their surroundings. The realization that the day was practically gone and they had yet to get any quality time alone with their wives did nothing to help his mood. "I don't see anything!"
Tom's keen eyes could not produce any sign of danger, either. He shook his head in confusion. "There isn't anything." It was then that he caught sight of Brendan flipping over onto the Witch. "Where's the emergency?" he called.
"Food!" the hungry Werewolf shouted back at him.
Tom shot the thought to Katrina even as he and Morph sped after Brendan.
Carrying the children, the Lewis sisters raced for the galley. Even if they didn't get something to eat, the children needed to be fed. Katrina noticed that the rest of the Pirates were also running for the galley.
Lex was lying, just holding Clark as his lover's head rested on his chest, when they heard the bells going off. "Damn! We're under attack!" he muttered.
Clark tensed. "The children -- " he started but stopped as quickly as he had began. His muscles relaxed as his ears caught Brendan's shout to Tom and Morph, and he couldn't help laughing.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Lex cried, worry sounding in his voice. Had Clark finally flipped? "Please tell me what's wrong! What's so funny?"
Clark turned his head so that he could look up into Lex's worried eyes. His own shone with merriment. "It's just the dinner bell!"
"Thank Gods!" Lex said, breathing an audible sigh of relief. "Let's go get something to eat. I can't remember when I ate last, and if you and I are going to have some more time together, I need something for energy."
Clark's eyes sparkled at that. "Then we'd better get moving . . . even if I would rather dine on your lips." He whispered the last part of his sentence against Lex's lips before taking his beloved's sweet mouth with his own.
Lex reluctantly broke off the kiss, pulling Clark out of bed. "We'd best go, or there won't be anything left to eat when we get there." He kissed Clark one more time before quickly pulling him along toward the galley.
Piper had still been gazing worriedly at the door when it suddenly flew open with such force that Joxer was thrown into the wall. "Sweetheart!" Phoebe screeched, trying to rush to his side but being unable to make it there for the Pirates that poured through the door. "Get out of my way!" she told them as she pushed against the sea of bodies.
"Watch it, bitch!" Faith snapped as she felt a hand push against her. "Touch me again, and you'll lose it!"
Phoebe ignored her as best she could as she finally broke through. "Joxer, are you okay!"
"I am . . . now that you're here . . . What happened?" He was still having trouble breathing from being knocked into the wall. "I've never seen anything like it!" he declared, shaking his head.
"That." Phoebe pointed to the Pirates that were converging on the table of food like vultures to carrion. Then turning back to Joxer, she reached out, took him into her arms, and cradled him.
Piper could not believe her eyes. She tried to back away, but at just that moment, an elbow collided with her breast. "Sorry," some one called to her even as Faith's mouth again flew open.
"Who the Hell left these here?" she demanded, picking up a pair of boots that she had tripped over, sending her sprawling into the man who had knocked Piper in turn.
"Huh . . . Me?" Crys quietly spoke up. "Sor -- "
"Well, watch where you strip next time, bitch!" Faith's eyes blazed at her even as she tossed the boots toward the blonde.
Piper had just been recovering her balance when a footless boot connected with her knee. She fell back a second time, but this time, she found herself unable to catch her balance.
Cole had barely shimmered in to a world gone mad when he saw Piper come hurtling back toward him. He managed to catch her. He yelled at the top of his lungs, "STOP THIS MADNESS! STOP BEHAVING LIKE PIGS!" His voice went unheeded. He was about to get on the table and yell again when Wolverine did just that.
Wolverine jumped onto the one of the eating tables and yelled, "YA SCURVY BILGE RATS, STOP ACTIN' LIKE ASSHOLES! THERE'S ENOUGH FOOD TO GO AROUND FOR EVERYBODY, AN' YOU'VE DONE HURT THE COOK!" He was even more furious with them than he would have normally been for he had heard Ororo's gasp and seen the emotions in her eyes when her goddaughter had been injured. "STOP IT AND BEHAVE OR YOU AIN'T GETTIN' ANYTHIN' TO EAT!"
Brendan looked up at Wolverine's yell. A surprised whimper came from around the chunk of cornbread in his mouth. Just what had happened? He hadn't noticed anything, only the food.
It was at that moment that Jack entered the galley. He was surprised at the chaos, never expecting his crew to act like animals. "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!" he demanded. "THE NEXT ONE OF YOU THAT CHARGES THAT TABLE LIKE A MANIAC ISN'T GETTING ANYTHING TO EAT! THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD FOR EVERY ONE, AND THERE WILL BE ORDER IN HERE OR YE SHALL WALK THE PLANK, SAVVY!" He glared around at all of them, embarrassed that Jareth should see this display of idiots.
To both Jack and Will's utter surprise, Jareth, having taken in the scene, threw his head back in deep laughter. He quieted when he caught their looks but explained, "I always thought goblins were the only beings to act like that around food."
"Apparently not, Jareth. Pirates do the same thing, too. You owe the cook an apology!" he said to the crowd. "The rest of you, get in line." He felt like a father having to scold children. "And, Wolverine, get off the table!" What in the Hell was wrong with them! Was everybody starving to death as badly as he was? Still, that was no reason for poor manners! He watched as the crew slowly got into line and turned baleful eyes on Piper, who was still huddled against Cole. Cole held on to her, not just because he liked the feel of her in his arms but also because he wanted her to feel safe.
Like the others, Faith had fallen into line, but unlike them, she had no intention of apologizing to any one. As it was, her anger had risen to such a point that she gripped the plate she held with whitened knuckles.
"Sorry, Miss Piper," the rest of the crew spoke as one. "We didn't mean to act so . . . "
"Churlish," Wesley interjected.
Piper was about to answer them, though she was still glad for the safety of Cole's arms around her, when a massive roar sounded, echoing in the still galley. "What the Hell!" Faith screeched, having found a lioness a mere inch away from her side. Her hand itched for her knife, but she knew the big cat would be able to lunge before she could. Besides, she didn't want to kill a cat. "Who brought this thing!" Cindy roared again and stepped closer to Faith.
"Faith, apologize," Angel told her. "The cat belongs to Crys, who you insulted."
"Like Hell!" Faith snapped, bringing yet another angry growl from Cindy. The lioness quickly closed the distance between the girl and herself, licking her lips as she did so. "Fine! I'm sorry!" Now even more furious, Faith turned. Slamming the plate down and elbowing past Jack, she stormed out.
Cindy started to follow, but Crystal's quiet voice stopped the lioness in her tracks. "Cindy."
As the lioness padded silently back over to her mistress and the crew breathed a collective sigh of relief, Piper turned her attention back to them. She was nervous about addressing them, but the reassurance of Cole's arms around her gave her the courage. "Thank you for the apology, gentlemen and ladies." She wanted to say more but held her tongue even as she wondered if they would like the food and hoped they would.
Jack picked up a plate and began to help himself slowly from the table. It all smelled and looked delicious. He walked over to the end of the empty table and sat down, waiting for the others to join him. He looked up at the line to see what was holding the others. Jareth and Delvira were headed toward him, but Will was at the end of the line. Jack did not like that. He thought he should have grabbed him and would the next time. He'd have to speak to Will. Will would have to be more assertive if he was going to take his place beside Jack in the men's eyes.
Prue had stationed herself beside the desserts to make sure that no one got into them before every one had a chance to have something to eat. She smiled at the men but continued to hold her wooden spoon. If any of them got after the pies, she'd hit them.
Brendan reached the end of the table only to find himself faced with pies that looked so delicious that they made his mouth water and the very woman who he had been trying to avoid and who now wielded a spoon as if it were a weapon. His eyes widened as he looked at her in innocent surprise.
"Doctor Richards," Prue addressed him, "you can't have pie until you've eaten everything on your plate. Pie is a reward for cleaning your plate." She smiled at him.
Her smile brought a faint smile to Brendan's own lips. "I assure you, madam, that will not be a problem."
It was then that a voice piped up from somewhere behind Brendan's knees. "That ain't fair!" Carl complained.
"It might not be fair, Carl," Prue returned, looking at him, "but there's enough pie to go around and unless I see a clean plate, you're not getting any." Secretly she planned to find out which pie Brendan picked; she was going to hide a whole pie just for him. "Now go eat your food like a good Gnome."
Carl glared up at her. "It better be better than Joxer's!"
"Don't look at me like that; I didn't cook it," Prue told him. "Piper did, and everything Piper cooks is a feast."
Brendan watched Prue quietly. "Did you not cook a single thing here, milady?"
"Yes," she admitted, her eyes turning back to his, "the cornbread. It's the only thing I know how to cook."
His smile dared to grow even as his eyes met hers. "I thought I smelled your scent on it, and it is quite delicious." His thumb brushed over what remained of his first piece of cornbread. The innocent motion sent shivers down Prue's back as she imagined his hand on her skin instead.
Behind Brendan, Carl rolled his eyes and, with a muttered oath, walked off. Werewolves in love! What was next! It was then that he caught sight of the redhead and nearly dropped his plate.
Paige was trying very hard to be a lady and not look at the Pirates as they trooped slowly by the table, but when her eyes finally caught sight of the little fellow, she knew any hope of maintaining her act was lost. She'd already had a Leprechaun and wondered how different a Gnome would be. There was one thing Paige would never go for, and that was an ordinary man. There had to be something mystical about them, or they simply weren't exciting enough to rise her blood!
Carl stared at Paige. Was she actually looking at him? He glanced behind him but didn't see any one.
Paige continued gazing at him, touched her tongue to her top lip, and licked it.
Carl barely managed to silence his groan even as he shot up. He started to hurry towards her but was stopped by a quiet voice. "Do you think she'd mind?"
"Huh?" Carl turned his head to find Hoggle looking at him with questions in his eyes. "She's not looking at you! She's looking at me!"
"Who's looking at you?"
"Paige!"
Hoggle shook his head. "Carl, I've told you before. If you can actually get them in the bed, go for it. But I was talking about the food."
"Oh." Carl glanced at Piper. "Well, you could go ask her."
Prue had overheard their conversation and told Hoggle to get a plate and that the food was for everybody. Her eyes glanced over toward the table where Jack sat with the King and Queen. "Maybe you'd better hide under the table with it," she suggested, "to save the fireworks display?"
Hoggle nodded. "That's a good ideal, ma'am. If he knows I'm getting to eat as well as he is, he'll send me right back to that awful Bog!"
"I should hope not," Prue whispered back to him. "Come on the back side of the table; he won't see you there."
The cousins were grinning as Hoggle eagerly trotted after Prue and Carl continued on toward Paige.
Jack closed his eyes as he savored the first bite of his bourbon chicken. He had had it once before and thought it heavenly, but this was even better than that time in France. He chewed quietly and only opened his eyes when he felt some one standing beside him. Had Will finally got there? He glanced up to see Crys smiling down at him and holding a tray. "Ma'am?" he asked.
"You forgot your drinks, Captain," Crystal told him politely. "Would you prefer coconut or vanilla?"
"Gods, that's a hard decision! Can I have one of each? Maybe you could leave one of each for Will, too, if it wouldn't be too much trouble?"
She nodded and was setting the drinks down even as Will's name tickled a memory in the back of her mind. "That wouldn't be the gentleman with the donkey, would it?"
"Yes, ma'am, he does own a donkey. In fact, it's the only donkey aboard, and that's him," he said, pointing at him with his fork. "The man at the end of the line. I'm going to talk to him about that," he reminded himself.
Her gaze followed his gesture, and her eyes widened slightly in surprise at the realization that he had been the one she had used the crystal to heal earlier that day. "Thank you, Captain," she managed to speak, returning her attention to Jack but not without a silent reminder to herself that she'd have to have a word with the lad later. "I hope you'll enjoy your drinks. I realize they're a bit . . . unusual, but the rest of the crew seems to like them." She could not help smiling at the memory of how her treats had been taken to.
Jack took a sip first of the coconut and then the vanilla. The tastes seemed to agree with each other, and he looked up and smiled at Crys. "Maybe you could mix the two? They taste great separately, but I think they'd taste even better together."
"I'll try that next time, sir."
"Thank you, Miss Crys."
She nodded and turned her attention to Jareth and Delvira. Blue's wings shifted warningly from where he sat on her shoulder, reminding her of her manners. "Your Majesty," she spoke, first addressing Jareth, "which would you prefer?"
"Could I perhaps have two, one of each?" Jareth asked. He had been fighting desperately not to swallow his food whole. It was better than anything he'd ever eaten, and he wanted it to last for he was afraid there wouldn't be seconds.
"Of course, Your Majesty." She set two in front of him before turning her attention to his wife. She studied her pale skin and the signatures she picked up from her before asking quietly, "You need something a bit . . . more special, don't you?"
Delvira returned the blonde's intent gaze. How did she know? she wondered even as she nodded. "If it would bother you, however, I can have Hoglet fetch me some."
Crys shook her head. "Not at all, Your Majesty. I'll return shortly." With that, she stepped backwards away from the table and, keeping her back as much pointed towards the wall as she could, headed back to the counter where Lorne and Angel awaited her. Looking first to Lorne, she told him, "We're going to need about three more."
"Sure. No problem," said Lorne.
"Sis," Angel called to her, "I'm about to go up and watch the deck for a while. I wish I could partake of this feast, but you know I can't and it bothers me to watch the others eat it. Besides, somebody needs to keep watch. If you need me, just call up."
She nodded in understanding, wishing simultaneously that there was some way that he could enjoy human food. "Would you mind sharing a bit of your blood?" she whispered to him. When both men looked at her as though questioning her sanity, she quickly explained, "It's not for me but for the Queen and her sister."
"No problem," Angel replied. "I'll show you where it is. I brought it over so that it would be closer for you to make me some treats. I didn't tell Miss Piper, though. You might want to break it to her. It's in the cooler."
"I'll fetch it, and thanks." Turning back to the drinks that sat on the counter, she lifted the only red one and handed it to him.
Angel downed it in one gulp. "Thanks," he told her with a grin. "Remember, if you need me, call." He was gone like a flash.
Walking above deck, he noticed that no one had stayed. The others were all in the galley. He wondered where Cordelia had hidden herself this time as she had not been in the galley. He glanced toward the sky, and the sunset took his breath away. There had been a time when he had not been able to even see a sunset, but now he could walk in the full light of day. He was thankful for that. He stood and watched as the sun faded away and then continued to walk around the deck, checking everywhere that he could think of where Cordelia might have hidden.
It was then that screams met his ears. "GET OFF OF ME!" "WHAT ARE THESE THINGS!" "I DON'T KNOW, BUT," there were sounds of something being hit, "THEY'RE NOT GETTING MY HEAD OR YOURS!"
What the Hell! he thought even as he flew to where he heard Cordelia's and Elizabeth's voices coming from. In the darkness, his eyes could still make out something bouncing around the two girls and making grabs at them. There seemed to be a lot of them. He grabbed the nearest one and threw it into the others. "What the Hell are those things!" he asked.
"I don't know." Elizabeth shook her head, but where she answered him, Cordelia did not even look at him. She slipped behind the blonde instead but did not dare to run yet as one of the creatures launched itself straight at Angel's head.
"Yo, man! Take off your head!"
"Yeah!" another chimed in. "Let's play a game!"
"You play a game and get back to your ship before I call for Jareth! Do you really want to see him right now? And leave the women on this ship alone! What's wrong? You don't have any of your own?"
"Aw, come on, dude!" one of the flying heads called, its ears flapping wildly to stay in the air. "We just want to play!"
"Then go play with yourselves! None of our heads come off, and none of us want to play with you! I'm counting to three, and then I'm calling Jareth. One . . ."
The creatures did not yet scurry, but they stilled considerably, huddling together instead. "You know he's liable to throw us in the Bog for this one," one whispered.
"Two . . . "
"If he doesn't, his crazy bitch of a wife will barbecue us instead," another put in.
"Do I need to say it?" Angel asked, his narrowed eyes intently gazing at them.
"You're no fun!" one pouted.
"No, he's not," another agreed, "but I'm not sticking around here!" His departure led the others, but the last one could not leave without first giving Angel a raspberry.
As soon as they were gone, Angel turned back to the ladies. "Sorry about that. Jareth does what he can to make them stay on board. I heard him threaten them. I knew all I had to do was mention him to them and they'd take off." He didn't admit to them that he was extremely relieved that they had because he had no clue how to destroy them. He didn't think that biting their necks would do anything to them, and when he had grabbed one and threw it, it had seemed to be nothing but feathers and a beak.
Neither woman answered him. Instead, Elizabeth looked to Cordelia who, without a word, turned and walked away as swiftly as her legs could carry her. Having sensed her new friend's tears, however, Elizabeth turned back and promptly slapped Angel.
"Hey, what's that for?" Angel demanded. "What did I do to injure you?"
"Me, nothing!" Elizabeth snapped, her eyes blazing up at him. "Do you really need to ask, though? Don't you think we saw you with your little blonde, you . . . you . . . ?" She ground her teeth together, unable to think of an insult that would actually fit.
"That's my sister!" Angel exclaimed in disbelief that being with Crys had caused Cordelia to think he was doing something else. "Wait, Cordy!" he called after her. "It's not what you think it is! I've been looking for you all day," he called out to her, "but I can't just shirk my duties! I am the First Mate. Whatever Jack gets into, I have to accompany him. If he has a busy day, then I have an even busier day, and this has been one Hell of a day! Please come back!" He continued walking in the direction she had ran, following her scent.
The last thing Cordelia wanted at that moment was to face Angel. So what if he was the First Mate? That still didn't explain his closeness to the blonde. He claimed she was his sister, but he had also told her that his family was dead. Suddenly, she found herself in front of the railing. She whirled back, hearing his voice coming even closer, and turned to run in another direction only to be met with a wall.
Good, Angel thought to himself. She's boxed in. Maybe now she'll listen to me. "The lady you saw me with today is my adopted sister. She's in love, even though she won't admit it, with Lorne. He's the green Demon that Crys' wolf bit in the butt today. Honest, I swear, she's my sister! I know you don't believe me, but I really did want to be with you some today. Circumstances just wouldn't let me be. It's been an awfully long day, and it feels like forever since I kissed you. Believe me, I wanted to come back and do more of that if you wanted it. I didn't know how you'd take it. After all, we had just met." As he came up to her, his voice softened, "And I also didn't know how you were going to take what I told you earlier. The people on this ship are my family. We've adopted each other, some of us even more than others." He let his voice trail off, hoping she'd talk to him.
Cordelia kept her back to Angel even as he came so close that she could nearly feel him. Silent tears shimmered in her eyes. Was what he was telling her the truth? Had she so completely misread what she had seen earlier? If the woman was his sister, that would explain their closeness. Brothers could kiss their sisters on the forehead, couldn't they, she reasoned silently, especially when they were as distraught as Crys had been? His duties would have kept him away. That was true enough, and she certainly knew about busy, duty-filled lives. After all, wasn't that what had kept her mother from ever realizing what her father was doing to her? But what if this was a new pack of lies? Could she really trust him? Was there any man alive who could be trusted?
Her silence bothered him. He could tell she was crying, and he was never very good with crying women. He reached out and gently touched her hand, pulling her around to face him. "If you want to slap me, go ahead," he said, "but please at least talk to me." He lifted her hand up to his lips but kissed her wrist instead. "I am sorry for making you think all these bad thoughts, but honestly, I did not intend them. If we are together, there will be many days when I will not be able to see you except for brief seconds. It doesn't mean that I don't want to be with you."
Though a feather of pleasure splintered her insides, racing through her with all the swiftness of the wind, she still hesitated. Slowly, she lifted her eyes to his and studied what she saw in his mesmerizing depths. They seemed to shine with truth, but did she dare believe him? "If . . . If this Crys is your sister, what was she so upset over?"
"She wants to run away and hide, because she fears that Demon we fought earlier today. He is seeking her out, and she fears that all who she cares about will be killed by him. You must keep this to yourself, Cordelia. She is really scared. That's why she tries to keep Lorne and me both away from her, but it's not going to happen. I want you to meet her, but don't say anything about what I told you. Please?" He pulled her closer to him, hoping she wouldn't resist. He longed to seek the nectar of her lips.
Cordelia shook her head but did not resist him. "I won't," she promised. "So your blood family is . . . as you told me, but the crews are your adopted family?"
"Yes. My blood family. It happened just like I told you. Jack will tell you the same. He is the only one aboard that really knows my entire story, but if I ask him to, he will tell you if you don't believe me. There's not a member on this ship except maybe Autolycus that I haven't claimed as family, but now there's you. I don't want you to be my adopted family. I want you to be more."
Gods knew she wanted to be and that she ached to melt against him yet still the nagging questions of her mind persisted. "But why?" she asked him, her voice a breath of a whisper. "Why do you trust me when we just met today? Why . . . Why do you want me? We barely know each other." Why did she want him? Why had she let him kiss her and already ached so much to taste him again?
"I don't know the answers, my darling. I just know that when I met you, it was as though my soul was complete for the first time. You filled an aching loneliness that had driven me crazy for so long with just one little touch of your sweet lips. It is as though we were together before, yet I have never met you. I want you to be with me." He sniffed her hair and nuzzled her neck.
Cordelia could not help but to smile and sigh in pleasure for not only did she feel the same but his touch was driving her wild with desire. Still, she tried to hold on to her senses. She had not been taught to behave like this. She had been taught that a lady would never allow a man to take such liberties with her, let alone be so close to him when she barely knew him . . . Yet she felt like she'd known him her entire life, and hadn't the ones who had taught her such also been the ones to completely destroy the life she had known? Perhaps it was time she stopped listening to society and just listened to her own heart?
From somewhere in the darkness behind Angel, a certain being unseen by both smiled. "That's right," She whispered to Cordelia. "Listen to your heart. Brains are only pesky things that get in the way."
Angel knew that if he did not take Cordelia to the galley, things could easily get out of hand. He would not fight both her and himself. He could easily fight himself, but if Cordelia began to melt into him, there would be no stopping until they were one. He stopped nuzzling her hair. "I want to take you to meet Crys now and get you something to eat. You have not eaten all day," he gently chided her.
Her stomach rumbled at the thought of food and she blushed lightly, hoping that he had not heard it. "Not yet," she whispered to him, her hand gently touching his cheek. She pulled her head back so that she could look into his eyes again. "I'm sorry, Angel.""Don't be, my sweet darling," he said even as he gazed down into her eyes, feeling himself lost more by the minute. He lowered his head and gently took her lips. One taste went straight to his head and loins. He pulled her closer to him, feeling the heat from her body surging through him.
Even as desire swept through her, causing her body to melt into his, Cordelia returned Angel's kiss. Her lips parted under his as she dared to deepen their kiss. Her fingertips ran up into his hair.
Watching the two, Aphrodite smiled. "It's about time . . . "
Light clapping suddenly sounded, causing all three to whirl toward the sound only to find Elizabeth smiling at the couple. "I'm glad there's at least one man still left in the world who isn't a jerk and that you have him, Cordelia."
Angel was glad for the reprieve. He had been about to pull Cordelia up into his arms and do a naughty, naughty thing as all thoughts of fighting his urges had left him and only one thing remained in his mind -- taking Cordelia to his bed. Thank the Gods, he thought, for if he had done that, she would have hated him in the morning! He knew he had to woo her slowly.
Cordelia smiled at the sound of Elizabeth's voice. She did not appreciate her interruption but knew it was for the best. Angel had melted her completely with just one kiss, and had they not been interrupted . . . She shook her head. She had to be a lady; she would not allow her mind to wander down such paths.
Aphrodite glared at Elizabeth. "I'm going to have to do something about you." She then blinked out.
Angel scooped Cordelia up and carried her high against his chest. "We are just on our way to the galley," Angel told Elizabeth. "Our new cook has prepared a feast, and I want both of you ladies to be able to enjoy." He strode off toward the Witch. As he reached the railing and took a rope, he told Cordelia, "I can't hold you and swing over, so I want you to put your arms around my neck and hold on tight. Don't let go for anything. Wrap your legs around me."
Cordelia could not help shooting Angel a look of shock at his last statement, but Elizabeth quietly assured her. "He's right. I know it's rather . . . scandalous behavior, but it's the only way."
"I'll come back for you in a minute, Elizabeth. Don't try to go over by yourself; it's dangerous unless you've been doing it a long time, and believe me, it's a long way down to the water. There's no telling what's down there in the dark," he stressed that part.
Elizabeth shuddered but nodded her agreeance even as she watched Cordelia carefully move to Angel's back. Cordy's hands slid over Angel's muscles, and the feel of them shot thrills through her. She inhaled deeply even as she wrapped her legs around him. Gods, how the feel of his body went straight to her core!
He quickly swung over, dropped lightly to the deck, and waited for Cordelia to slide down his back. The heat from her was driving him crazy, and he almost lost his control as he felt her bosom press against his back. What he wanted to do most was to turn around and dive deeply into her, but he knew he could not. "Back in a minute, sweets," he told her even as he felt her slide the rest of the way down his back. He did not dare to even kiss her but swung immediately back over to Elizabeth. "Hang on tight, Elizabeth, and don't let go. You can close your eyes if you need to."
"In . . . In a moment, Angel. I . . . want to apologize first. The blonde's new. I haven't seen her before, and after seeing you so close with her, even hugging her and kissing her forehead, and Cordelia telling me that you had kissed her earlier today . . . " She looked helplessly up at him. "What else was I to think?"
"It's okay, Elizabeth; I forgive you." He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "I can't tell you all of what I'm feeling, but what I do feel is scaring the Hell out of me. I can fight an entire army and not be even as near as scared as I am now. Cordelia burns me with her mere look, and I want her so badly that I'm burning inside. No woman's ever done that to me before, and I have had plenty of women in the past."
Elizabeth nodded. Though she was not about to touch the latter part of his admission, the rest of his words about the feelings between Cordelia and he reminded her of Will. She fiddled with the engagement ring she had yet to give back to him even as she told him softly, "I understand at least some of what you are feeling. I . . . I felt the same with Will. I only hope that the two of you will find and keep happiness."
"Thank you, Elizabeth, and thank you for being her friend. You'll find the right man one day. I know about the secrets with Will. I know you two broke up, and I know why. Neither one of them were aware of each other's feelings. Will tried desperately to love you, because he thought it was the right thing to do. We can not always dictate what our hearts feel, and it's not right to be with the one we don't really love. Most often, we don't even find the one we really love. It scares me that I have found such a jewel as Cordelia. I hope and pray she feels the same way about me. Thanks again." He broke off, not wanting to be so open. He didn't know rather or not to trust Elizabeth, but he didn't want her sad. "Grab a hold. Here we go," he said as he felt her climb onto his back. Seconds later, they were on the Witch, and he began to escort both of the ladies to the galley.
