Chapter Fifteen: Lovers

~~ When we were leaving the restaurant I smiled to him and hesitantly grasped his pinkie with my own; smiling to him as he turned to me. "That's not any way to hold hands, sweet cheeks" said he, giving me a frank look.

"Well, why don't you show me how?" I asked, I actually came up with a come back! His left eyebrow raised and he grinned.

"First of all, you smile to the person you want to hold hands with" said he, smiling to me; I giggled and he continued. "Then, you get closer to the person" said he, leaning down and closer to me, my cheeks burnt crimson and I bit my bottom lip; shyly glancing from him to the ground and back at him. He turned his head a little to the right and a smile was sketched upon his lips. "You get ever closer and you take up their hands" he whispered, so close to me I felt his breath on my cheek; I closed my eyes and allowed a small smile to cross my face, he slipped my hands into his and he leaned ever closer, to my ear. "Then, you touch their lips" he continued, gradually moving his lips a mere millimeter from my own.

He leaned his forehead upon my own and sighed, I opened my eyes to see his eyes were closed and his teeth were dug so deeply into his lips blood began to drain from it; his eyes were clenched shut and his left hand broke away from mine to gently caress my cheek. He opened his mouth and came forwards a bit, but his lips trembled and he pulled them shut again, backing away from me. He pursed his lips and moved his head up a bit, kissing the tip of my nose. I smiled and he opened his eyes. "Those aren't my lips" I said quietly, he smiled.

"I know, I'll deal with them later" said he with a wink, standing back to his normal height and grasping my hand, taking me around the little plaza. He led me into the small bakery and let me free to pick whatever I wanted! He sat at a table and watched as I stood on my tippy toes to see what were in the display cases; I turned to ask him what he wanted to see his index finger and thumb upon his chin and a strange smile upon his face.

"Do you want anything?" I asked over the loud commotion about the room.

"Surprise me" said he, his eyelids drooped, but he didn't appear tired. I nodded and turned back, standing on my tippy toes again; I had moved from one side of the bakery to the other, and had my eye on a cake, a very large, double chocolate cake with chocolate icing and, inside were included chocolate chips! I more than likely drooled as I stared at it. Moments later, sadly the man removed the cake from the display case; someone had bought it. I sighed in disappointment and looked on for something new, however, I felt a hand slip into my own and turned to see the Captain holding a rather large box.

"Come, sweet cheeks, we've got to go" said he, I nodded but stared at the box, suspecting something.

"So, uh, what's in the box?" I asked as we walked back to the 'Black Pearl'.

"You'll soon find out" said he with another wink.

~~ Everything on the boat was silent, for, the crew was either ashore, at a bar, or lying in their hammock, asleep. The Captain led me up to my room, and, when he opened the door, I was stupefied. The entire room was different! There was actual furniture! There was a red, velvet fainting couch near a black table near two, red, velvet wingback chairs and it all sat upon a red and black silken carpet!

My bed was now one that a Queen would sleep in! The wood was a red tinted oak and the mattress was filled with feathers! A large, black quilt laid atop the bed and a red, polka dotted throw laid over that; a black lace was draped all around the bed. I walked forwards a bit and turned to see portraits of me, portraits that I didn't remember getting done, standing proudly on the wall in golden frames; large, golden candelabras stood in every corner of the room, lighting it. There was a small, tea making station next to a bookshelf that was filled to the brim with books (The book shelf had oaken doors to protect the books from falling out, all of the furniture was nailed down so that nothing would fall or break if the boat rolled)!

I stepped forwards and touched the bed. "This is" I whispered, slowly turning back to the Captain who leaned on the doorframe, a grin on his face. "This is more than wonderful...this is..." I said, he smiled and I sighed, I ran to him and jumped, throwing my arms around his neck and basically tackling him. He dropped the box and I became daring; I attached my lips to his! I closed my eyes and laid my right hand on his cheek, allowing it to escape from his face and into his hair (his hat fell off).

He was incredibly stiff, now, I realize I'm not the best kisser in the books, but he was so extremely hesitant at doing anything! His hands laid upon my lower back and his mouth didn't move a bit in the beginning! After a few moments of stiff awkwardness I let his lips free and felt my cheeks pinking. "Are they taken care of now?" I asked, smiling; he blinked as he stared at me, he was still in shock.

"Uh.." he began gulping and laying his head back, upon the deck. "Is uh...is what taken care of?" He asked, licking his lips, I smiled and wiggled closer to him, he was incredibly tall and I was incredibly hobbit sized.

"My lips, silly! You said you would take care of them later; are they taken care of?" I asked, he slowly sat up, causing me to retreat, I was forced to sit on his legs; the expression of confusion still was clearly defined in his features.

"I'm sorry...what?" He asked, I laughed and patted his chest, standing and helping him up.

"Perhaps I'll remind you tomorrow when you're not so scatterbrained" said I, enjoying his confusion at my sudden, surprise attack affection. He nodded and lifted up the box, he smiled and placed it in my arms, hesitantly leaning forwards and planting a kiss on my forehead; turning upon his heel and hurrying away, to his quarters. I stood there, grinning like an idiot for a while, until I opened the lid of the box to find the double chocolate cake with chocolate icing and chocolate chips from the bakery. I smiled and closed the door, walking to my new bed and pushing the fabric over me, sitting down upon the mattress and dipping my finger in the icing; sticking it in my mouth afterwards and giggling in joy. He was so kind hearted, when he wanted to be, that is.

~~ The very next day I saw the opposite side of the Captain.

Our food, rum and gunpowder had been replenished and we pulled away from port; I had just walked to me closet and I opened it to find, on one end, gorgeous dresses of all colours and perfect jewelry to match! Yet, on the other side were cotton shirts, leather vests and trousers. I smiled, he had to be one of the most thoughtful men I had ever encountered. I dressed in the cotton shirt, vest, and trousers and walked out on the deck to find that already, we were out to sea; we were moving quite quickly, this was due to the wind's fierce might that day. As we hit open sea we encountered few other ships, one being a fellow pirate ship; the Captain stood proudly at the helm, next to the wheel, looking out to sea.

As the other pirate ship approached I spotted something strange, they were readying their cannons! I turned and ran up the stairs to the Captain as fast as I could, but, I didn't make it there in time before the first cannon pierced the water around us. "What in the devil was that?" A crew member shouted.

"Cannon fire!" I yelled. "It was cannon fire!" I repeated; the Captain ordered everyone to their stations. He turned to me and sighed.

"You go in my quarters and stay there until the battle is over" he ordered.

"But-"

"No, I will not see you hurt" he hissed; grasping my arms with the gentle tightness I always associated with lovers. I sighed and nodded; he sighed and kissed my cheek quickly. "Now, hop along, quickly!" He yelled as I went down the stairs, sadly, I didn't go down fast enough. The pirate boat was close, too close, and I was far too slow; it was a sword, a sword flew through the air, it was coming straight for me but I didn't see it.

"Anna!" The Captain screamed, I turned around in just enough time for the sword to bury itself in my stomach as I fell to the deck.