Meanwhile...

"Ain't this ah being where the map be tellin' us to be?" Harry asks as he looks down over Uma's shoulder, Gil at his side.

Uma growls in frustration, "Did T send us on a wild damn goose chase?"

"That doesn't seem like something he would do, Uma." Gil shrugs. It really didn't. It was something he might do to Mal, but T seemed to respect Uma's time. Which he appreciated as her crew. He wasn't sure he'd want T around the docks otherwise. Uma had it rough enough.

"Wait…" Harry takes the map from Uma, glaring at it in the darkness, "What be these markin's here?" He points to dots leading to the X.

Uma holds her dying lighter up to better see, "Looks like… Maybe a path marking?"

Gil looks over her shoulder. "Huh." He frowns as he studies it, looking around in confusion when he doesn't see a path. "Going where?" It would help if they knew what they were looking for. He was excited. If he knew anything about T, it was that they were all going to either enjoy or at least benefit from whatever the x was. The problem was just figuring out the kid's notes.

Harry walks around the edge of the cliff, hands on his hips until he snaps his fingers and holds his hand out, "Uma? Did'nah we be ah thinkin' the X be ah lookin' a little off the land?"

Uma frowns, her brow furrowed as she studies the map. "Aye. By just a hair too…"

"Like maybe we be ah needin' ta be followin' ah path?" Harry asks as he bends to look at something low to the ground.

Uma blinks, "Is he expecting us to climb down the cliff?" She growls.

"Now that-" Gil frowns, "that does sound like T." He admits with a sigh. It would have been nice to have some warning. It's not like any of them stopped for rope.

"Or, maybe it just be hard to see." Harry grins as he pulls out his sword, "I can be ah seein' a thin space just on the other side o' these damn plants."

Uma lets out a strangled bark of laughter. "Thin space? That sounds worse than climbing down." She glowers.

Harry walks over and cups her chin, "Don'nah be ah worryin' Cap'in, I can be ah seekin' answers and lettin' you know if I be right first. And Gil can be ah keepin' ya company while I be ah riskin' me pretty face."

Gil nods. That would probably be for the best. "Guess T doesn't know everything about us..." He smiles at Uma. Or at least he better not have known about Uma's aversion to height. Not that they'd figured that out until after they got the ship and he found himself carrying his terrified captain down from the crow's nest. He frowns when something stings his nose. His eyes drift to the sky above them. It looked like it was going to storm pretty bad soon. He frowns. What if they all ended up needing to go down though? Anyway they ended up down there was going to be traumatizing for Uma.

"Good." Uma takes a shaky breath as she glares up at the sky, "Just, be careful."

"Aye Cap'in," Harry bows with a flourish, "as you command." He swings his sword as he turns, cutting a small path through the toothed plants.

Gil's eyes drop the roiling sea beneath them. The combined sounds of the waves stirring wildly and the thunder were soothing and haunting in the same breath. "What do you think it is?" He asks as he turns back to Uma, hoping to take her mind off of Harry's descent.

"Worth not fucking telling me to take the damn dingy, that's what I hope it is." Bitterness tainting her tone.

Gil knows enough to hide his amusement. "I'm sure it's gonna be worth something… T's always just brought us stuff before. He's never sent us hunting for stuff like this…"


Harry smiles as he drops to the rock beneath the last of the thin ridges he'd navigated down. He hadn't felt this piraty in a long time. Struggling only made treasure that much more valuable, because if it was this hard to find it had to be something good.

He looks around before looking back up, wishing he'd brought the map with him. From what he could remember he had to hug the cliff and keep heading west. He hops to the next rocky surface, sliding a bit as the rain began to fall faster than a few sprinkles.

After a few more hops he finds himself facing a gorgeous beach, looking like it hadn't been touched in years. "Oh yeah, this be what I be talkin' 'bout." He rubs his hands together as he jumps from the boulder to the damp sand. He takes a few steps forward, scanning the ground for an X before he hears a muffled scream. "What…?"

The fuck was T expecting them to fix exactly? He swallows. Whatever it was, it sounded so fucking angry, and somehow at the same time so sad. It was an odd contrast.

He takes off running towards the sound when he hears it again, without thought to the consequences. He rounds another boulder and runs smack into something, sending him and whatever it was tumbling over to the ground several feet away.

"Fuck!" He groans as he partially lands in the shallows.

"Harry?"

"Aye?" Harry pushes himself up. That voice sounded oddly familiar. He shakes his head, eyes narrowed as he stares at the figure in the dark.

"Harry!?" Hyades lights her hand as she pushes herself to her feet.

Harry's eyes widen to the size of saucers as he stares at Hyades in disbelief before he tackles her to the ground with a pounce and starts nuzzling her. "Princess!" He chuckles joyfully, as he pulls back and steals a kiss in his excitement.

"How?" Hyades asks breathlessly as she pulls him back to her in a tight hug.

"T be ah givin' us a map and be tellin' us to be findin' the X!" He explains in a rush, so close to her that his lips brush over her forehead.

"Us?" Hyades pushes up against him to look around.

Harry jumps back to his feet and laces his fingers behind his head with a groan. He pulls Hyades up to her feet with ease and drags her out to the shore. "Who ya be thinkin'?" He chuckles. "We be needin' ta be gettin' their attention." He lets out a distinct whistle three times, hoping the sound made it over the wind.

"Where did you leave them?" Hyades hesitantly asks.

"I be ah partin' with 'em at the top," Harry explains. "An' ya be ah knowin' how much Uma be lovin' heights."

"Like near the trail?" Hyades sighs when he nods, "Yeah, Uma's not coming down that."

Harry frowns as he looks between Hyades and the top of the cliff. Uma would come down to see Deez, he was sure of it. Might hate it with every breath and curse T, but he knew she would come."Think ya might be able to sit long enough for me ta be gettin' them?"

Hyades immediately reaches out and grabs his hand, "I'll go with you!"

"It be a might bit of a climb with ah weather bein' like it be Deez." Harry frowns. The rain was starting to get heavier, as if to emphasize his point.

Hyades bites her bottom lip before she looks away, "I uh-" Her grip on his hand tightens.

"Aye, if it be bein' like that, how can a lad be ah resistin' some company." Harry grins at her, "But we best be ah startin' now before the cap'n gets all twitchy when she be thinkin' I be keepin' ya to meself." Something was really wrong if she didn't want to be alone. The girl usually dipped out for days, sometimes even weeks with no contact with anyone besides T. And as much as he liked the lad, he wasn't much company when you were feeling lonely. Or needed to talk. Or needed a shoulder to cry on. Or needed anything to do with emotions.

"Right." Hyades nods as she starts running with him back to the boulders.


"Where is he?" Uma demands as the rain gets heavier.

"I'm sure he's just takin' his time so he can be safe, Uma." Gil assures her as he pulls her close to his chest to block the wind and rain for her.

Uma sighs. She hated this waiting. Was this really something she should be risking Harry's life for? Ugh, she'd never been this furious at T, or anything for that matter, before this moment. If she found out he knew she was afraid of heights she was going to kill him.

Gil frowns as he rubs her shoulders in an attempt to comfort and provide warmth. "He'll be okay Uma, it's Harry. He can do this, easy."

"Why the fuck wouldn't T tell us to use the dingy?"

Gil frowns, "I don't know."

"Because I didn't use one to get down there would be my guess." Hyades grins from behind Harry as they walk out of the shadows along the trail.

"Deez?!" Uma turns and looks at Gil, "How?"

Gil grins and shrugs, "T?"

Uma pulls her cousin close the moment she steps away from the plants and the edge of the cliff, wrapping her arms tight around the soaking wet girl.

She grins even wider as she feels Harry close in the hug from behind Hyades. Her chest nearly bursts with joy at the sound of Deez's laughter as Gil joins in on the hug from behind her.

One moment they were all hugging and laughing, the next the three of them were easily hoisted into the air by her sweet boy. Her ribs groan as he tightens the squeeze but she couldn't care less.

"I can't believe T lied to me." Hyades laughs as she grips Uma tightly.

"What do you mean?" Gil asks as he lowers them all back to their feet.

"He just said we were playing hide and seek, but if he told you where I was then he'd already found me," Hyades explains as she reaches for Gil, who quickly meets her hand.

His signature lazy grin back was his lips as he squeezes her hand tightly, as if afraid of letting go.

"Ye be complainin' there princess?" Harry pouts.

"Only about the fact he found me so quickly," She pouts before she jumps into Gil's arms, "and got away with lying to me." She buries her face into his drenched shirt. His large hand cups the back of her head tenderly. His free arm supporting her as he holds her closer to his chest protectively.

Uma laughs. "Ah, if that's what bothering you, I completely understand." She smiles lovingly, as she starts absently playing with her cousin's hair. "I hate it when that little shit tries that bull with me." She chuckles. Albeit her earlier anger towards the boy had dissipated at the sound of her cousin's voice.

Harry squints as he looks up at the sky before he reaches out and takes Uma at her elbow, "Deez be ah havin' a sweet little set up waitin' for us down there, I think I even be ah seein' ah cave where we can be ah gettin' outta the rain."

"And less likely to be seen by others," Gil adds stoically as he looks down at Uma in concern.

"I can be ah takin' ya back ta the ship-"

"No." Uma shakes her head, "I ain't wasting our time together because of some pussy ass fucking whale shit."

Gil opens his mouth, but hesitates before he speaks, "I can be takin' ya down Uma." He offers, placing a kiss in Hyades soaked. He reluctantly releases her to Harry before he unclasps the buckle of his belt.

Uma swallows. This was so the last thing she wanted to do. Her anger at T flares back to life. She trusted Gil to keep her safe, and almost as importantly, knew not to comment on her trembling. Most importantly though, was the fact that if she ever wanted this to happen again, they were going to have to make damn sure they weren't seen.

Hyades pouts and reaches for Uma, "You don't have to do this-"

"I know that." Uma snaps in frustration, was her fear that obvious already?

Hyades drops her arm and turns away.

Harry's arm shoots out to stop her. "Where ya think ya be goin' princess?"

"Nowhere." Hyades whispers without looking at any of them.

"Look, sorry." Uma huffs, "I didn't mean to snap. I can-" She blinks as she finds herself pressed against Gil's chest, her face resting against his shoulder.

"She's just nervous Deez," Gil explains as he wraps the belt around both of them.

Uma narrows her eyes. Mutinous. She knew she shouldn't have let T get away with covering her mouth. Now her boys would think it was okay to just shut her up mid-sentence. Not that she particularly minded this time. She'd been about to say a line of bullshit herself.

"Aye, nothing ya need ta be takin' to runnin' away from," Harry reprimands as he grips Hyades' chin and tilts her head back, "yeah?"

"Yeah." Hyades blinks blankly back up at him.

Gil frowns at the expression. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen that look on her face. It made his chest hurt as he looks away. "You two can go first. Imma be goin' pretty slow."

"Right." Hyades turns and walks back down the path.

Harry shoots a concerned look at Gil, waiting for his nod before he shrugs and follows after Deez.

Gil's arms wrap around Uma protectively as he moves to follow, whispering soothing comments into her ear every time he hears a whimper. He knew better than to look down when he feels warmth where her head was tucked. His arms tightened, it was all he could do to express how he would never let anything happen to her. They'd all been surprised to learn of her fear, but it had shocked him. Uma was never scared. Concerned, sure. Worried. But never scared.

For the first time in his life, he was happy his neck was so thick, sure if he had been anyone else they would have stumbled with how tightly Uma was holding onto him. Like a lifeline. It was rare that he got to protect her, and he felt bad for it, he did… But he couldn't help the warmth in his chest that she trusted him this much.

Harry sighs as Gil walks up to him, "I be ah lettin' her go on ahead. Just be ah keepin' your back to the…" His eyes drop to Uma nearly suffocating the lad before he shakes his head, "Just be ah followin' me."

"After you." He smiles tightly. This was going to be a rough trip down.


Hyades stares up as Harry assists Gil and Uma navigate the now slippery boulders before they all jump down to the sand in front of her.

"I made a cave if you want a fire." She offers as she turns and starts walking.

"You made a cave?" Gil asks in surprise as all three follow her.

"A fire be ah soundin' nice," Harry admits.

"It fucking does." Uma agrees, arms wrapped around herself.

Hyades points to the opening in the side of the cliff with a rocky surface leading to it. Luckily she'd already gathered driftwood and stacked it inside.

"Ya didn't want T finding you this time, huh." Gil grins.

"I needed some time alone." She admits as they escape the rain. She immediately begins stacking wood into a pile.

"Lad be mentionin' ye not be feelin' like yerself." Harry offhandedly comments watching her from the corner of his eye.

Uma rolls her eyes. "No wonder why the kid came flying into the shop… He's got the emotional range of a barnacle."

Hyades shrugs before she walks up to Uma and starts steaming the water from her clothes.

Uma's eyes widen in surprise before she lets out a pleasant sigh. "That's new." She smiles at her cousin, clearly impressed.

"I guess I never did get to show you." Hyades tilts her head to the side as she continues. "I figured it out after running into T after he came back from the barge so many times. It took his layers forever to dry."

"Aye, an he be bein' the only one crazy 'nough ta be the guinea pig for that."

"I think it's really clever. Like ya get ta use your fire for something helpful, instead of being afraid you'll burn us." Gil smiles down at her.

Hyades slowly smiles back, "It does feel nice."

"Aye. My smart boy is right. What gave you the idea." Uma asks.

"The well." Hyades shrugs, "There was a lot of steam."

"Aye, that there were." Harry chuckles, clearly amused. "Ye be somethin' else princess."

"Isn't that the truth." Uma beams at Hyades.

"I've missed you guys." Hyades blinks, keeping her eyes focused on what she was doing.

"We've missed you too," Uma whispers as she steps forward and hugs her tightly. "So much baby girl, you don't even know."

The fire on her hands dies before she wraps her arms around Uma, hiding her face in Uma's hair as her eyes burn. She nods, unable to speak around the painful lump in her throat.

Uma frowns as she reaches up and caresses Hyades cheek, her thumb wiping away the first tear as the boys press closer to them. "It's okay baby, we're here now." Her voice breaks. "Might as well enjoy it while we can, right?" She smiles at her.

All three of them quickly engulf her in a hug.

"Together or apart, you're still our family. Still our baby girl."

"Our princess."

"Our Deez."

"No matter what."

Hyades bites her bottom lip and runs her hands over her face, her blush warm enough for steam to rise from the boys' clothing before she turns to look at her family. "I know… It's just-"

"We know," Uma assures her.

Harry shrugs as he leans forward and boops her nose, "We might not be ah completely understandin'…"

"But we know how hard this must be for you." Gil continues.

"It's hard for us too, but we at least have each other." Uma finishes.

"T says I'm making it hard for everyone," Hyades nods, sobbing at their confirmation that she was making it hard on them too, "but I don't know how to fix it."

Uma kisses Hyades hair. "It's not something that needs fixin' baby girl." She hugs her tighter. "Your world changed so quickly- It's not like any of us were expecting- Well that. We didn't even get to say goodbye…And before T showed up..."

"We be a might concerned ya be pickin' them over us."

"Cause we were pushing you too hard." Gil's voice breaks as all three of them are nearly crushed by the strength of his hug.

Hyades struggles to cover her eyes with her hands and shakes her head, "I would never… I miss…"

"We be ah knowin' that princess," Harry assures her as he nuzzles against her hair.

"I didn't mean to hurt-"

"We know it's not your fault."

"You're not the one that hurt us Deez."

"I hurt you," Hyades pulls her hands down to look at Gil, "I pushed you, no wonder you thought I hated you."

"You pushed me?" Gil asks confused.

"When my dad-" Hyades pulls her hands behind her back. "When he turned up at book club."

"Oh yeah." Gil sighs, as he releases them. "I wasn't hurt by that. I was scared for you, and pissed T would stand in my way. But ya didn't hurt me."

"Let me either steam the rest of your clothes or get the fire started." Hyades offers after staring at Gil for a long moment. He wasn't one to lie. She sighs and stands up.

"Aye. A fire be ah soundin' nice." She hears Harry rub his hands together. "Since ya be kind enough ta offer an all." She could just picture the wink.

Hyades smiles over her shoulder at him as she kneels next to the fire to touch an orange flame engulfed finger to the wood.

Gil and Harry both come over to sit by it, as Uma walks over to stand next to her.

"I know this is probably the wrong time for this- But I need to say it since I feel like you don't know it. I'm really proud of you. I never would have guessed ya could be controlin' your fire like this when we were kids- But you've grown so much since then, ya know?" Uma's hand sinks into her hair as she massages her scalp tenderly.

She missed this so much it made her heartache. Missed them. Missed how they weren't afraid to touch. Or show feelings. Such a stark contrast to her friends turned gang. "Thanks." She looks up at Uma, embarrassed when she feels a tear slide down her cheek. Before she can move to wipe it away, Harry reaches out to caress her cheek and tenderly wipe it away with a small smile.

"You earned it."

She jumps slightly when she feels a hand on her shoulder. A hand as cold it was like ice. She reaches up with her own to cover his, hoping to help warm him up.

"You've gotten so much better since ya started practicin'. You've made so much progress. And it shows." Gil grins at her. "Ya wouldn't be able ta melt metal, blow glass, or even let us hug ya last year."

"I guess I really wanted to be hugged," Hyades says before she covers her mouth as a blush covers her face.

"Aye." Harry chuckles. "An anyone who be sayin' they don'nah be wantin' one once in while be ah damn liar." He winks at her. "I always be wantin' a hug if ya ever be needin' one."

"Why is everything so different with you guys?" Hyades frowns as she throws herself into Harry's arms, happy when the other boy catches her and quickly pulls him to her chest.

"Because we're not emotionally stunted seagulls." Uma huffs. "The only decent one among them is the pup."

Harry chuckles as he runs a hand up and down Hyades' back, "I dun'nah be knowin' Uma, their princess be ah mighty protective an' willin' ta be sayin' thanks when I be uh tellin' them what be wrong with the pup."

"After they beat the shit outta you." Uma rolls her eyes.

Hyades pulls back to look up at Harry, "You got into a fight with them?"

"Were'nah bad as it be ah soundin' princess, Cap'in's jus' upset because we be doin' them a favor."

"I'm following her orders now Harry, I know how bad it is when she thinks someone is slighting her…" She looks away, her eyes focusing on the fire.

"Girl be petty as fuck." Uma sighs as she plops across from them.

Gil nods.

"Aye. But she be Deez' petty dragon now, an we can'nah be talkin' bout better things." Harry squeezes her protectively. "Like how her writin' be comin'."

Hyades rolls her eyes as she takes the opportunity to steam Harry's clothes. "I don't write anymore."

The three share a look of concern. T had mentioned that, but they hadn't believed him.

"Baby girl, you've been writin' since ya could hold a pen… What happened?" Uma frowns as she studies her cousin in concern.

Gil turns curious eyes to her. "Is it cause you're mad at the king?"

Hyades furrows her brow as she continues to dry Harry, "I don't know…" She sighs, biting her bottom lip before she continues, "I don't understand a lot of how I'm feeling lately, or why I'm doing what I'm doing."

"Aye. I can'nah be understandin' that." Harry chuckles as he leans forward and kisses her temple.

"I think we all can." Gil smiles at her.

"I haven't felt that way in a long time, but I remember it… But you'll find yourself again once ya adjust to this new life." Uma offers as she brings a knee to her chest. "I promise. None of us might like it, but it is what it is… You're gonna have to figure out how to make it work- But torturing yourself like this? It ain't healthy, baby girl. We might not get to show it, but we still worry about you a lot, ya know? You're like my sister. My daughter. One of my best friends. Nothing is going to change that. Not even the isle's Queen Bitch."

Hyades presses one flamed hand to her chest in a futile attempt to stop the pain there.

"Aye. Ya be like our wee sister. We be lovin' ya, no matter what." Harry ruffles her hair, playfully.

"Ain't no force on this isle can order us to stop carin' bout ya Deez." Gil smiles at her.

"Are you feeling warmer?" Hyades asks Harry, doing her best to not hide her face or the fact she was crying again. It was hard and uncomfortable, but she could remember a time that wasn't the case and she loved being open with her family. Was it really all about practice? Or was it because she'd gotten too good at representing Mal?

"Aye." Harry pecks her cheek and squeezes her tightly to his chest before he nuzzles into her neck. "Alright, guess it be me lad's turn." He kisses her nose, before letting her go.

Before she even has a chance to say a word she finds herself on Gil's lap, his large arms wrapping around her securely. "I missed this." He whispers into her ear before he rests his head on her shoulder.

She'd known she was going to have the hardest time not crying on Gil, but she wasn't prepared for the hitches in her breathing or the way her heart hurt at his simple gesture of trust. She couldn't breathe through the sobs wracking her lungs. She struggles to keep the flames on her hands to dry him but gives up and wraps her arms around him. She was losing her battle with herself, and suddenly she was okay with it. "I never thought I'd see you again! Any of you. I haven't even read your letters because I was so afraid." She screams hoarsely into his chest.

"Oh, baby girl." Gil breathes, his voice so sad it makes her cry harder.

Uma and Harry immediately slide to either side of them, pressing in close as they can. They work together to hold her tightly as the damn she'd been holding onto so hard finally breaks.

Each of them coo and soothe her with comforting words and small touches as she heaves and sobs.

"It's gonna be okay." Uma kisses her temple.

"Aye. If T pulled this off once we can be pullin' this off again. It won't be like it used ta, but it'll be better than nothin'." Uma caresses her cheek.

"We love ya Deez. Ain'nah nothing changin' about that." Harry murmurs as he takes a chunk of her hair, and starts braiding it like he and Gil did for Uma.

"You don't know... " Hyades shakes her head against Gil's chest as she struggles to breathe, "Things I've enjoyed…" She cringes and shivers, "I don't even know who I am anymore."

"We'll still have letters." Uma smiles sadly, assuming T wasn't too dead to deliver them after tonight.

"And of course ya know who you are. You're our Deez." Gil shrugs. "And you'll eventually start enjoying your normal things again. And see that just because things change doesn't mean our love for you changes, or your love for us has to stop." He squeezes her tightly.

Both Harry and Uma shooting him a look of surprise before they smile at him gently.

"That be our smart boy." Harry says as he rubs Gil's back proudly.

Uma leans up to place a kiss on his lips. "What he said." She smiles down at Hyades, her fingers sink into Gil's hair as she massages it gently.

Hyades takes a deep breath before she finally relaxes completely against Gil. One hand reaches for Harry and snakes under his jacket to rest against his chest as her other hand seeks Uma, the older girl quickly catching her hand as she brings it to her chest, over her heart. The beats strong and steady compared to her own racing heart.

"That be our princess." Harry grins at her as he finishes the braid he'd started.

All three of them lean in to press a kiss to either side of her cheek and the top of her head.

"Are you starting to understand what it means to be family?" Uma wipes away her tears with a brush of her thumb.

"Aye."

Harry can't help his grin. "There be me pirate princess."

Hyades smiles as she draws in another hitching breath. They were here, and she was okay. And they were okay. It didn't fix how she was feeling lost, but it made it easier to breathe and remember who she wanted to be.