IX

David and Tom Livesey were in the office. Like always, the door was left open halfway so they could hear if there was a need for them. The older of the two was pacing back and forth talking to himself and stretching his face by means of pulling on his cheeks. The younger was sitting in a chair playing with a toy airplane. His feet were on the table and he was making airplane sounds as his hand swooped and rose.

"Are you done pacing? You're giving me a headache," Tom snapped.

"Do I do it without her permission or not? He's going to die and it's apparent that he wants to die. I don't want him to die. He's a good person. Would you want to die? I don't know why he wants to die. I've never let anyone under my care just die like this. If I do it without her permission she might kill me because he's going to feel it this time," Livesey rambled, hardly paying attention to his brother.

"Let's evaluate our situation shall we?" suggested Tom, grabbing his brother by the arm when he paced past. "And that requires you to sit still."

Livesey dramatically sighed as he shakily sat on the desk. He muttered something as he raised ankle, setting it on his knee and began massaging his foot.

Tom cleared his throat and raised his forefinger and another finger for every valid point he shared. "One, the execution is in three days. Two, it's been four days since he's eaten anything. Three, he's barely drank anything. Four, medicine in his body is nonexistent. Five, he's in so much pain from refusing his medicine that he's barely awake. Six, he doesn't care that he's dying. Seven, he doesn't want to live. Eight, his mother is panicking. Nine, she's beginning to not eat or do anything to take care of herself. Ten, this isn't your choice to decide. Eleven, and keep in mind these next points are being counted on my toes, the entire populous of nearby planets has booked every room in every inn. Twelve, there is no possible way he's getting out of his execution without a pardon from an official. Thirteen, and that's not going to happen. Fourteen—"

"Owen. Shut. Up," Livesey told him.

"Just trying to help you evaluate your situation here," said Tom. "So what are you going to do? Knowing you you're already prepared to do it to him."

"I am," admitted Livesey.

"Look, if I was you, I would talk to her and make some sort of deal with her. If he doesn't want to live then there is no sense forcing him to live. Forcing him live when he doesn't want to isn't going to make anything better," said Tom.

"I don't want him to just give up like this. I knew this was going to be hard on him considering his age and his history. Everything is more difficult because of—"

"If you were in his situation, losing someone who is practically your second father, having a mechanical arm, and having the rest of your life chosen for you," Tom began. "Jake." He removed himself from the chair to sit beside his troubled brother on the table and placed his palm on his shoulder. "You and I both know you sure as hell would kill yourself before they got to you and gave you no choice. I know he's only fifteen and young, but he's smart and he knows there is no way out of it."

"I'm still talking to her," Livesey said, moving away from his brother's words.

No. He never lost someone that easily. Jim Hawkins was just a moody teenager with too many problems in his life. That fifteen year old boy was smart and worth living. There was something about him that was abnormal to all fifteen year olds, and it wasn't just the mechanics. He was a strong boy with something in his eyes.

A terrible event in his past was causing him to give up. It was either his father leaving him and Silver being taken away or his crimes and the courts deciding he was old enough to be punished for it. There was a saying out there that went something like "let go of the past, but never forget it". He knew it meant learn from the past, but how did one learn from the past if the world wasn't going to give him the chance to prove he did learn from it?

Jim was something more than just a patient of his. The two had similar pasts more than a man should have had. Both of them lost a father at fifteen and life suddenly changed. Unlike Jim, he was able to get out of it and getting out of it was barely how it was described. The only way to get Jim out of it was to either kill him before they did or get him as far from that place as possible.

Before entering his room completely, Livesey stood with his toes against the door. His eyes were peeking through the seam of the wall and doorframe. The teenager was curled tightly on his bed, his blanket covering all areas of his body. Although the back of his head was facing the door, the painful expression on his face was obvious in part to his soft whimpering and constant uncomfortable shifting. Jim coughed roughly and weakly.

Quietly, Livesey entered the room. He ignored Sarah's pleading expression to take a peek at the teenager's face. Jim's face was ghastly again. His lips were cracked and caked with dried blood. There was a slight pink coloring to his cheeks. Not only were his eyes red from constant sobbing, but red circled the skin surrounding his eye sockets. His jaw was clenched tightly. Fingers were clutching the blanket. Yet, with all this pain, he continued to have that soulless expression in his eyes as if he was waiting for something. Emptiness was in his head and pain in his eyes. He was waiting for something.

"Sarah, can I talk to you privately?" Livesey asked.

"I'm not leaving him," she told him.

"Between you and me, I don't think he cares if you leave him or not," Livesey said.

Knowing he spoke the truth, Sarah shut her eyes and sighed. She rose from the chair heavily and tiredly. A gentle kiss was firmly planted on her son's face. "I'll be right back. I love you."

Jim's reply was a few weak blinks then turning his head further into the pillow before slipping unconscious again with a weak sigh.

"Well since he's out again, I can just talk to you here," noted Livesey. "He's dying."

"I know," replied Sarah.

"Do you want him to live?" Livesey asked.

"Of course I do. He's my son. I love him. I don't know why he is doing this. Why does he not want to live? I know about his future, but it's still a future. He can still live and have a family. Life should be enough. I almost lost him once," said Sarah. She looked at her son. "I'm going to lose him this time aren't I?"

"Perhaps not, and maybe yes."

"John is the only person that can bring him back now."

"Unfortunately he's being executed in three days and nothing is going to prevent that but an official pardon from the Navy and a lot of convincing."

"I don't want to lose Jim. He's my son."

"Look, I don't know how to put it this way except this way. There is only one thing I can do to get him to eat and drink and take his medicines and he might hate it more than you because he's going to be awake and—"

Sarah looked at him shaking her head. Fear and sorrow were in her huge eyes. Her lip was trembling. She knew what he was referring to. Two weeks she had to put herself through it, only wondering how painful it was going to be on him. He was out for those two weeks and she still couldn't bear the sight of it. Awake, she knew he would do something stupid. Seeing him curled up tightly like he was killed her further every day. Seeing him awake, and unable to move his head because of it was going to destroy her.

"It's the only way," Livesey added. "I need to get medicine in him as soon as possible. The pink in his face and the red around his eyes and the shivering are because of a fever. He has an infection and he's going to die from it soon if I don't help him."

"He wants to die so just let him die. I don't care anymore," Sarah said. She turned to her son and let loose all she had been keeping in for a few days. "Do you hear that Jim? I don't care if you want to die! Go ahead, kill yourself! You were never my son anyway. You were always your father's son! You're just like him. When faced with a problem you just give up and leave! My life might be a little better without you in it! I might be able to show my face in public again! I'll adopt my own son. Those papers are off Jim. Forget the adoption. If Silver does get out of this alive I'm signing you over to him! You are not my son!"

Not surprising, Jim did not move. He remained on his side unconscious and unaware of the living world.

Sarah breathed deeply through her nose. "You can shove those tubes down his throat. I don't care. I give up on him."

Like any good female there was, she stormed out of the room. There were no tears in her eyes which caused her to think there was something wrong with her. She was a mother who just told her son off when he needed her the most. Then again, he didn't exactly need her. If he needed her or wanted her he would have come around and started eating and living again. It was his wish to die and so she would leave him to die. No, she was a good mother. A mother would never let her child die in front of her. Since she was no longer with her son, he was allowed to die now. Of course, she would attend his burial, and then move on with her life.

Heading off to start her new life, she sat at the terminal waiting for the next shuttle to Montressor. She would return to the Doppler Manor and collect her things. She may as well take the two chests of treasure with her too. Earth. Her next and final stop was Earth. The Caribbean to be exact. As a child, she remembered the white beaches and clear waters. Yes, she saw herself now sitting in the sand in the sun with bronze skin. Ahead of her was going to be the ocean with the gently lapping waves. Behind her, the tropical birds would lull her asleep. No worries of her son or where he was at the time would burden her.

At only her mid thirties and hardly looking her age, a difficult task it wouldn't be if she wanted to find another man to marry and start over. All humans were still on Earth anyway. She didn't even remember why she moved away from Earth. Oh, right, it was Leland that caused her to move away. It was him and his lack of work on Earth. Right. He was a spacer and did most of his spacing around Montressor anyway, selling the raw ore materials to nearby planets. She moved with him so they could always be together.

After that one last long trip to Earth, she was never going to sail again. She hated sailing. Her fear was Space. She was afraid of Space. Sailing she didn't mind, especially when it was only from Montressor and back. She could see her destination. Out in the middle of nowhere deep space she saw nothing but potential life threatening and deadly occurrences. There were black holes and supernovas and solar flares and solar gases and comets and asteroids and exploding stars left and right and pulsars and quasars and pirates—

Pirates! Why did she want to go to the Caribbean? That was the last place she wanted to be now. She had enough dealings with pirates that to walk the beaches and be reminded of them on a daily basis would drive her mad. Pirates. She shook her head at that very thought and entered the transport for Montressor.

The journey was short as always and loud as always and uncomfortable as always. The same people accompanied her as always, mostly miners who chose not to live on the planet or workers whose homes were on Montressor and found jobs on Crescentia.

But as she walked up the stairs in the manor, her heart had a sudden change. She walked to the third level of the house where the bedrooms were placed and down the hall to the right and then down the hall to the left then all the way down to the last room on the right and entered.

This was going to be her son's room where he was to recover and rest while the Inn was being rebuilt. Soft blankets were folded on the bed and new pillows. Every pirate book worth reading was on the table. A new flag of the Interstellar Navy was hung up over the window. Clothes were in the drawer, all the clothes he would ever need again. New coats were hanging up in the closet waiting for him to wear. Boots were below the coats in the closet. The spyglass was in its protective box, waiting to be broken out on a clear night, with the most comprehensive book of star charts below it. A small wooden chest of treasure was sitting on one of the pillows.

She sat at the foot of the bed. Just a few days ago she was here with Silver preparing her son's return. He would have been sleeping in that bed tomorrow if— He was supposed to get permission to leave the hospital. Livesey told her he would be home in a week a week ago. She should have known she was always one to know that life can change overnight or in a second. Her life was always like that.

Why was she wishing her son to die? It may have been just because she was suffering while having no choice but to watch him in pain. She loved Jim so much. She must have been losing it because he wanted to die. That was it. She had to have been trying to convince herself she didn't love him so when he did die then she wouldn't feel horrible about it, but it was killing her.

Tears wouldn't solve anything. She knew that by now. And so, she brushed them out of her eyes. She had to go back to Jim and be there for him. With those tubes once again in him, he wouldn't be able to move his head and he would have no choice but to lie still on his back. The pain he would feel and the constant choking and needing to swallow—she shook her head and slowly walked out of the room.

Since she was there already, she quickly bathed herself and changed clothes. The entire process would have been done by then, but she simply didn't want to have to deal with it any more than she had to. As she walked down the stairs in the main hall, she heard voices.

"You live here? I like it here. It's a lot better than the cave I was in. Anything is better than the planet. I like this planet. Are there any more robots here? Have I been here before?"

"Well Delbert, I must say, this is quite brilliant. I never thought you to have the finances to afford this. I must say, you do surprise me."

"I do that a lot Lia."

Sarah turned a corner on the stairs, her steps quickened and then she simply stopped. Delbert, B.E.N., and Amelia were standing right there in the foyer. She couldn't help herself nor did she know what came over her. Sarah walked down the stairs right to Captain Amelia Smollett and gave her a piece of her mind. Her balled fist was sent into Amelia's jaw.

"Bitch!" she screamed.

"Sarah!" Delbert cried, yet he was unsure what shocked him most, her foul language or the incredible punch she had in her.

Amelia rubbed her jaw. "I beg your pardon," she said, but felt gentle rubbing to her jaw was needed more.

"My son has no future!" Sarah shouted. "He's being sent to that prison planet and having his life chosen for him. You had a hand in it I know you did."

"My hands are clean in that matter. The matter with Mr. Silver however, my hands are filthy," replied Amelia.

Sarah gave her another good punch to the face. "My son's life was saved by him. John saved my son's life. You took him away. He changed. He's a good man. Jim is dying. By now I'm sure he has two tubes shoved down his throat again to keep him alive, one leading to his stomach and the other to his lungs."

"I'm sorry your son fell in with the wrong crowd," said Amelia.

"Don't you dare tell me that it's Jim's fault," Sarah warned, pointing a finger. "You put him with Silver."

"You did do that," Delbert agreed.

Amelia looked between the two. "There is nothing I can do. John Silver is to be hanged like all good pirates and the judges have decided your son's fate. Now, mind my asking, who was it that continued to allow her son to get into trouble with the authorities and not take action into one's hand?"

"How dare you tell me how to raise my son!" Sarah cried. "You know nothing about raising a child."

"I have no time for children," noted Amelia.

Delbert looked at her. His eyes were suddenly saddened and angered. His shoulders were slumped low. The lips were set in anger and disappointment.

Amelia's ears dropped as she saw this. "Delbert, what I meant—I didn't mean—I'm not ready for motherhood. I'm not quite sure I'm ready for marriage. I just met you and—"

"It only takes one right action to make a person fall in love with someone she thought not possible," said Sarah.

"What is that to mean?" wondered Amelia.

"You two are in love. That's clear," Sarah told her. "I fell in love with a man after he brought my son back to me alive and helped heal him in more ways than I ever could.

"Are you saying to me Mrs. Hawkins, you are in love with Silver?" Amelia asked, incredulous.

"I am," replied Sarah softly, her head low and with no hesitation. "I don't know what happened. He brought Jim back alive and I fell for him." She sighed and shook her head. Surprisingly, she held out her hand to Amelia. "Woman to woman, I want to speak with you. Not as a captain. Not as a mother. Just two women. I'm Sarah Hawkins, Jim's mother."

"Amelia Smollett," said Amelia, hesitantly taking her hand.

B.E.N. cautiously walked over to Delbert. He raised his hand to his mouth and leaned toward Delbert's head. "Are all women like this?" he whispered, curious at the sudden change of mood.

Delbert's reply was rolling his eyes. "You have no idea."

The two women sat on the porch beneath the astrology tower. They each had a teacup in hand and a pot of tea on the table. The table was separating them from each other, which was most likely a good thing. Sarah had noticed Amelia's jaw to begin swelling and turn black and blue on the left side. She noticed the feline to rub her jaw now and then and even caught her with the warm teacup against her skin.

Between Sarah's glances, Amelia observed the human's appearance. Sarah looked tired and worn. When she blinked, her eyes remained closed for a few split seconds longer than they should have. She was exhausted, yet so very wide awake. "I will admit," began Amelia, rubbing her jaw again. "You have quite a punch in you."

"I'm not apologizing," Sarah flat out told her.

"That was a compliment," Amelia said. "An awkward complement nonetheless, but a compliment."

"You and Delbert then?" Sarah asked.

"I fancy him," replied Amelia, taking a sip of her tea. "And you and pirate who is to be hanged?"

"He saved my son's life," Sarah said.

"How so? Silver was the one who put your son in danger," said Amelia.

"Actually, it was someone named Scroop," Sarah corrected.

Amelia let out a frustrated sigh as she set her tea on the table. She shook her head. "Ludicrous parcel of driveling dilutes."

"Apparently Scroop got to Jim when he went back to get the map," added Sarah.

"Yes, the boy did appear wounded when he was returned to the planet's surface," recalled Amelia.

"John patched him up on the ship," continued Sarah. "Scroop broke his arm again. John kept him close to him and as calm as possible. By that time though, Jim's arm was infected. I guess, according to Livesey, his broken bone's shifting and bleeding inside gave him the infection and he got gangrene."

"Is he all right?" Amelia suddenly asked, haste in her voice and her body leaning forward.

Sarah was surprised by her sudden shift of mood and concern. She was lost of all thoughts and words for a moment, but then shook it off. "Well, not quite. There was blood poisoning going up his arm. His left arm was removed from his shoulder. He has a mechanical arm. Scroop threw him roughly and gave him a severe head injury. Jim also has metal plate in his forehead. After Silver was taken away, he's simply given up. He hasn't eaten in four days and he's barely drank anything. There is an infection in his shoulder, where the silver and flesh are bonding. Before I left, Livesey was going to do a procedure to him. Jim is going to have a tube placed down his throat to his stomach so he can be fed and given water and another tube in his nose that leads to his lungs so he can breathe. He's given up."

"That sounds rather painful, and I will admit I thought wrongly of your son's situation," admitted Amelia softly. "I for one thought he chose to accompany Silver."

"Jim had no choice. He was dragged into it," said Sarah.

"I must say," began Amelia, interrupting to take a sip of her tea. "Your son has gotten quite close to Silver. It's a shame he cannot be with him, yet Silver made his choice as well."

"What if I told you Jim's operation and medicines that are keeping him alive were paid with by using three quarters of a chest of treasure?" wondered Sarah, beginning to hint toward something.

Livesey told her it would take an official pardon from a person of rank in the Navy. Well, right in front of her was a captain of the Navy one of prestige no doubt. If she could just convince Amelia to give Silver a pardon and somehow strike a deal with her to keep Silver with Jim, then maybe—She was a woman too. Somewhere under the uniform and medals was a woman with a heart and a heart that was in love no doubt. She must have been told a thing or two about the Hawkins family from Delbert.

"I'm just wondering, has Delbert told you anything about us?"

"Your husband left you when your son was young and you've been running an Inn yourself. Rather, you were running an Inn yourself. I will say I admire you for raising a son and running a business. Women don't often have the stamina to take care of themselves much less a child and run a business. And, from time to time, Delbert did mention that Jim was on my ship as punishment," said Amelia.

"I thought sending him off into Space would give him some character and discipline. Delbert said there were much worse remedies than a few character building months in space and I actually believed him!" Sarah cried, impressed with herself for believing him. She rambled, but needed to ramble on about this situation. "Who would have thought that my son would come back with no arm and a severe head injury and a broken body? It wasn't just his body that was broken. His head is so very, very broken. He's afraid to be alone, yet he wants to be alone. If Silver is not there then he lives in fear. I don't know what it is. I think Silver protected him from all that harmed him and now he's alone afraid. Scroop is still out there and I'm waiting for him to come here and kill my son. I may not know much about that crew of yours, but I do know Scroop would come back here and kill Jim just to say that he killed Jim. I don't know why I let Jim go on this escapade in the first place. Treasure Planet. For goodness sake, it was supposed to be just a legend. I don't know why I thought there was actually going to be treasure. I hate Space. I fear Space. And there I was sending off my rebellious teenage son to Treasure Planet. I must have been out of my mind!"

Amelia's eyes were low in thought. Her finger was tracing the rim of her teacup. She must have felt like a woman because she removed her gloves and coat and unbuttoned the buttons on her sleeves. "I come from a family of six brothers and one sister. Yes, I was the only daughter of my parents. The rest of my brothers were eager to enlist in the Navy. I for one was hesitant. I didn't want to. I wanted something else with my life. My father, however, gave me no choice but to enlist. He wasn't going to have one of his children not in the Navy. Low and behold, I've become a better spacer than my brothers."

"Then you know what they are trying to do to Jim. They are trying to force him to go to a six month rehabilitation class and then force him into a school and chose how he is to live," said Sarah.

"However, James does need a good whooping. That boy has quite the mouth and no respect for anything but his hair," noted Amelia.

"He got a mechanical arm instead," Sarah told her, grabbing the skirt of her dress and balling it in her fist to keep her fist firmly on her person.

"I was one of a handful of females at the Academy and I learned to lose my femininity quickly," began Amelia. "Boys will be boys I guarantee that. They were consistently taunting me about being a female and that I would break a nail. Thank you very much, I did break a nail. I broke several noses as well." She chuckled and Sarah smiled. "I had no time for friendship; it was a waste. I spent most of my hours staying up late studying my classes. I knew that to gain respect of others one must first gain respect of herself. I respected myself because I was successful at pushing aside all that was not needed in the Academy. Dancing is not a requirement to be a Captain.

"As you could imagine, I graduated top of my class and before all the males that were there. I had no time for male interaction either, although they wanted it with me. Honestly, what it is about men that always makes me seem to think that there is no lot in life for women but to remove their clothes and stand there for the men to stare? We don't consistently think about getting into bed with men to simply satisfy our needs. We, as women, can are able to do normal activities to satisfy our needs. Anyhow, onward and upward, I got my own ship and took on Mr. Arrow, a fellow classmate of mine and graduating second, as my first mate. He was one of the few that respected me. The first ranking of my brothers was ninth, and my father was pleased to know that at least his daughter graduated first.

"Well, after I got my ship and crew I set off into the universe. I have always kept to the law book and always intend to."

"You wanted to be a dancer?" asked Sarah.

Slowly, Amelia looked at her. Her ears lowered as did her eyes. Her lips pursed. She appeared angry for someone having mentioned that, but her complexion soon became softer and sorrowful. She sighed and gave a nod of her head. "I did. I took classes in all dance when I was just a kitten. Ballet was my favorite. I dreamed of being head ballerina in the Dance Company. All I wanted was to dance my way through the universe. My father called it a right old waste of time and energy. Dancing was a passion and an occupation was not a passion, it was work. I've forgotten how to dance. Come to think of it, I've forgotten how to be a woman."

"I did notice that," said Sarah. "I've forgotten how to be a mother. I was a mother once, and I drove my husband away. I've been so busy trying to make a living that I pushed my own son aside and now he's dying. Amelia, I need you to give John a pardon. I need you to spare his life."

"I will do no such thing!" Amelia cried. "That man is a pirate. His sentence has already been laid out. I can do nothing."

"There must be something you can do. You are a well-known captain in the Navy. Silver burned down my house. Debt him to me forever. Make his punishment to pay for the expenses. He must work for me until he has paid me enough money to repay the damages. Keep him on a leash if you must. Give him a chip or a social worker to keep an eye on him. And Jim, you must be able to do something about him. Convince the judges that you recommend him to the Interstellar Academy. Jim built his first solar surfer when he was eight years old. He's a mechanical genius. If there is an engine and a sail he can fix it or fly it. He's always been like this. Give him the chance to prove he's changed. Give John Silver the chance to prove he's changed. There are still two chests of treasure in this house. John kept them here for Jim's future. He's bought Jim so many clothes and accommodations to help him. He's stuck with Jim and pushed him to heal his arm. The two of them need each other. Amelia, John Silver wants to adopt Jim. He wants to become Jim's father. If he wanted to continue to pirate, he wouldn't have me put in an application for the adoption papers."

"Sarah, it's not that simple. I cannot just walk in and say I want to pardon this man," Amelia told her.

"Is it the law preventing you from doing it?" wondered Sarah.

"Absolutely," replied Amelia.

"Why haven't you danced?" asked Sarah.

"What has that to do with this conversation?" asked Amelia.

"Just answer the question. Why haven't you danced?" Sarah asked again. "Is it because you can't or you don't remember, or because you think it's not proper for a Captain in the Navy to dance? Be a woman. You seem like someone who has fought hard to get your reputation and you deserve to be congratulated. Along the way, you forgot how to live. You forgot who you are. You forgot how to be a woman. Amelia, dance again. Learn how to dance again. Show the world that a woman can both be a woman and a captain and let two people show the world they have changed. You won't know unless you try." She stood from her chair. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should be returning to Jim. I don't know what amount of pain he'll be in. It was nice speaking with you."

Promptly, Sarah left, leaving one Amelia Smollett to ponder her thoughts. The female captain let out a heavy sigh. She hated it when people other than herself were right. How is it, this woman, this mother on a planet she never heard of before had the power to remind her who she was? She had forgotten how to be a woman. No one knew how lost she was from being a female. She owned not one dress in her closet. Long ago, she wore heeled shoes. Flowers were a forgotten gift and memory. Perfume was nonexistent and bathing was hardly an action she paid attention to.

It seemed as though her happiness was her rise and she couldn't be happy without another victory. She had a reputation to keep intact to her. She was one of the best captains in the Navy and only the best captains were given the honor of the best missions. They were the most respected and feared. Children dreamed of being one of them. She was a symbol to young females. There were women in the universe who wanted to be captains in the Navy and her being one of the best must have given them hope. It was possible to be a female and one of the best there was.

She fought hard to get where she was a lost more than she bargained for. It wasn't losing her femininity that bothered the most. She had forgotten how to dream. Long ago she could look at the stars and dream of dancing in them. Comets were dancers of the sky. She would see a comet and make a wish. She could look at a book and dream of being a character. She could dream. Dreams were now a waste of time. Looking at the stars she only knew them to be planets or gas and wondered if she was able to conquer that planet too. There was no magic in the sky anymore.

It wasn't possible to be a female and be one of the best. To be the best one has to keep begin the best. Being the best means fighting for it and not letting anything tear away from that path. Dancing and dreaming were distractions from that path. Dancing was an activity that required hours of commitment and dreaming only wounds the heart. She dreamed twice in her life and one of them was shattered. The pain from her shattered dream was more than she could bear and so now that her dream of being the best was complete there was nothing that was going to tear her away.

That is, except for a small voice.

"Do you not want to be married?"

Amelia whipped her head around. "Delbert. Hello."

"Before I let myself fall completely in love with you, I need to know if I can fall in love with you," Delbert told her.

"I don't know if I am capable of love anymore. I don't know what love is," said Amelia.

"Yes you do," replied Delbert. He grabbed the chair Sarah was seated in moments ago and pulled it in front of Amelia. "You know what love is. Remember us in the cell on the ship? Remember you sleeping in my arms? Remember you letting me carry you willingly? Remember all the conversations you and I have had? Love doesn't have to, well, love. Love is other things."

"Why do you want to love me?" wondered Amelia.

"You are the first woman I find myself talking to and struggling to say the right words. I hardly speak right when I'm around you. I should have kept a better eye on Jim, but I didn't because I wanted both eyes on you. There is something about you that I find myself being drawn to. I can't breathe around you. I can't speak. Whenever you smile at me, my legs turn into putty and I feel I can fly around the universe on my own free will. I've known many girls in my life, but you are the only one who gives me weird little shivers and feelings that I want to have more of," said Delbert.

Amelia raised her head and smiled at him. There were tears in her eyes. Only once before did she let this man see her tears and that was after she lost her best friend. Was that love? "Do you think I am a woman?"

"I do," replied Delbert. "Only a woman could I fall in love with."

"Do you believe people change for the better?" Amelia asked, her voice hinting to something else.

"I know people change. I've seen it," said Delbert.

"Do you think it's better to let a person try than to give him no option at all?" asked Amelia.

"Lia," Delbert said, grabbing her small hands in his. "No one will say anything horrible about you if you choose to dance again. You have the reputation as one of the greatest captains ever to sail in the Navy. Once you have that reputation it is quite difficult to lose it. You can be a captain, a dancer, a wife, and a mother all in one. All these captains you have spoken of have lives other than their ships and crews as well."

"And what if I was to do something that would risk my reputation to save to other's lives?" asked Amelia.

"Do you believe in letting people try?" Delbert asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I do," Amelia said softly.

"This may be rushing it, but would you be willing to say those words again?" wondered Delbert.

"Are you sir asking my hand in marriage?" Amelia asked.

"Not quite. Yes. Well, no. Pre-asking. I would never unless your father knew. It's only been a few months. We've not kissed before and certainly—"

Amelia suddenly leaned forward and pressed her lips against Delbert Doppler's. The canine struggled out of shock for a moment but a shiver went up his spine. His hands tightened on hers. Slowly, Amelia loosened and let the kiss linger. She pulled one hand away from his to place behind the back of his neck. The other hand slowly pulled away too until both arms were wrapped around his back. Delbert reached around her small body.

They held like that for several moments, each embracing the new feeling. Their hearts fluttered and sang. Solarflies flew around in their bellies. Breathing was not possible because their faces were so close and there was no breathe to be had. Their breaths were stolen from them in that kiss.

As if knowing the timing was right, they simultaneously pulled away. Amelia lowered her head, blushing red. Delbert lifted her head to press a light kiss on her forehead.

"I think it's time you gave yourself a try," he whispered.

"What am I doing?" Amelia asked herself. "I'm going to be expelled from the Navy and this goes against all judgment I have ever stood for—Doctor Doppler I need your help."

"You know I'm useless," Delbert said.

"No, I need your information on the Hawkins family," said Amelia. "I cannot believe I am doing this."

She stood and immediately turned around and began to walk away. Her hand was pulled and when she turned to ask him to let her go, she was pulled into another kiss. Never once had she kissed someone until just a moment ago. Kissing and love were not required to be a captain, yet she found herself wishing and dreaming for more kisses. With time, perhaps she would learn to balance out her Navy career and her duty as a woman. Children—well, she was going to let that come in time if it was meant to be.

On the planet of Crescentia, a new story was beginning to loom. John Silver was to be hanged in a day, but there was rumor going about that he was being pardoned and from his hanging. Apparently he was debited to something else he had done previously. There was another rumor going about that he was to be exiled immediately with some boy name Jim Hawkins.

In fact, in the legal offices, a certain event was transpiring as the rumors flew.

"You are to work for her to pay for the damages. She will decide where you are to sleep and eat. You will obey her. Every week a social worker will come for a visit to examine your behavior. If there are any concerns, further investigation will be involved. If any being suspects that you are pirating, you will be brought back here for further investigation. We will place a location chip in your body. We have a tight leash on you."

"Yes, yes, I understand."

"Do not take this pardon for granted. If you lose your papers, we are not responsible for providing new ones. These papers prevent you from hanging on all other planets as well. They debt you to Sarah Hawkins and Sarah Hawkins alone. You are her servant in real terms and therefore cannot be touched."

"Again, I understand."

"As for her son, you will be closely monitored for your influence upon him. If he does any wrong and we suspect you are the cause of it, you will be placed in prison. You will listen to him as well. You are also debited to him."

"Already am."

"If you'll follow this sir right here, we'll get this chip in your body."

Quickly, the former pirate rose to his feet and was at the man's side almost immediately.

In another office there was further information being told.

"He is to finish proper schooling. Every week, his physician is to check on him and report back to us with his healing progression. We will also be sending someone to monitor his behavior. If he is to leave your sight, someone is always to accompany him. If he and John Silver are together, they are to be accompanied. Should your son commit another crime, he will be sent to Planet X-185 for the rehabilitation course."

"Yes, I understand completely."

"Although we are not worried over this matter due to his injuries, we must tell you that he is forbidden from setting foot on any vehicle for six months. To ensure that this is followed through, we will inform the legal authorities on Montressor. Should they report him as such, we will decide what is to be done."

"I don't think you have to worry about that. He's so very broken and I don't want him being a mere foot of the ground with a head injury like the one he has. It's going to be a long healing process. I can't imagine him being over a gorge."

"After his formal schooling, we strongly stress him to apply to the Interstellar Academy. He may or may not be accepted, but we stress that it is a good option for him. We are not forcing him to do so, however, we strongly recommend it. A little military discipline would do him good."

"I think he would like that very much."

"Well, if you would sign here as understanding that you accept these terms."

She grabbed the pen on the table with trembling hands. It fell causing her to grab it again. She signed.

In another room, he was not looking at the huge needle. He hated needles. Always had. They were a thing of torture. Why, when he had to be stitched for a wound, he nearly broke the object he was sitting in to keep himself still. He hated needles like he hated the thought of being hanged and after nearly being hanged that was a pretty big thing to think.

As he felt a sharp prick in his upper left arm, he grabbed the chair with both hands in a death grip. His face went pale and he squeezed his eyes shut. One thing was for sure, two things actually, the chair was going to be in pieces when they were done, and Jim owed him a lot.

"Here please."

She signed again.

"And here."

Once more time.

"And we should require a signature from your son as well."

"That may take time. He has an infection in his arm and he's not doing too well."

"We'll know when he is able to do so. His medical reports are to begin tomorrow."

"May I ask what is to become of the adoption?"

"It depends on them. There is a slight chance we will allow this adoption to follow through. They need to prove that they have changed for the better."

She nodded her head knowing they have changed.

Rubbing his arm, he was brought into a different room. Papers were laid out in front of him. He was told to sign them all and he did. He was beginning to think signing his name away wasn't such a bad thing after all. He was signing his name a condemning himself to be a good man and stray away from the wrongdoings of long ago. If anything was going to keep him from returning to piracy, it was going to be the reminder that he signed his name and soul away.

Should he go against these fourteen signatures, he would face the noose in a second. He was changed. He knew he was changed. All he wanted right now was to sit beside Jim and tell him what he tried telling him long ago.

Sarah walked into the main rotunda with papers in her hands. She was absolutely glowing. Somehow, she had done it after all. Amelia Smollett. David Livesey. Ramieas Dance. And now her and John Silver's signatures were on those papers. Silver was alive and her son was going to choose his life.

Quickly as he could and with that damn leg of his, Silver pushed out the door into the rotunda. The papers were folded and put in his pocket.

"John!"

"Sarah!"

The two met in the center, like a happily ever after in fairy tales. They greeted with a tight embrace that did not last long.

"You have to go to Jim now!"

"I need ta see him!"

Speaking at the same time, they knew what the other meant. Just for a moment, they looked at each other wanting to say so much.

Silver grabbed her hand in his left one. He raised her hand until his lips pressed a mark on her fingers, his eyes never leaving her.

With a smile, Sarah held onto his hand.

They walked out just like that.

The darkness was fading away as he was coming to again. He hated waking. Like always, he knew he was coming to and back to the living, because he gagged and tried swallowing. His nails dug into the blanket. Inside him, his throat was forcibly larger than it should have been. He felt that tube and didn't know how far it went into his body. It was pressing his tongue down and separating his teeth. Such a strange feeling it was though. He couldn't breathe through his mouth. He wanted to, but he couldn't. What was worse was probably that he felt where the two tubes met in his throat. They met in the back. He swore he felt them going their different directions, one to his stomach and one to his lungs.

A few days ago, he made the mistake of trying to move his head. When he did so, he somehow managed to scream, not in fright, but in pain. He felt the smooth objects suddenly become rough and rub against his throat. The feeling was like swallowing something that was burnt and halfway chewed, scratching and clawing at his throat.

Another time, he tried to pull the tubes from his body when no one was watching him. He barely moved either of them. He couldn't do it. It wasn't right being able to feel something pulling from deep with inside of him.

However, the worst thing of all was when it was required of him to get his three square meals and medicine. He felt the cool liquid, but did not taste it. He was able to feel the coolness, but couldn't feel the wetness. It was cold and then it was gone and he felt it all the way into his stomach. Warm was the same way, but cold was worse. He wished he could taste the oil and sweet, because it was better on him that way. Instead, he simply felt his stomach churning and burn.

Alone again, his eyes darted around the room. His fingers were still in the death grip on the blankets. He hated being alone like this. He was so scared. He couldn't move. He felt helpless, more helpless than he usually was. All he could do was cry. And because he only felt the tears rolling from his face and nothing else, it caused him to cry even more. He was trapped in that bed, lying on his back, with those things shoved down his throat. It hurt more than his arm did at times. He couldn't call out for help or talk to anyone. He could only lay still and alone.

It scared him the most that Morph was not with him either. Not even Morph could bear to see him like that. Livesey told him Morph was staying in his office, hiding from everything and whining. He knew it was because he was like this.

Wanting to die now more than ever, the drops fell from the corner of his eyes. His breathing increased. He tried to swallow because his body was telling him. He gave out a small cry and squeezed his eyes shut because he felt it move down his throat, like he always did when he tried to swallow and then Livesey had to pull it up again. Lying there, he shifted uncomfortably. He wanted all of this to end. He just wanted to be dead.

Jim heard the sound of someone approaching from down the hall. His ears must have been deceiving him because it didn't sound like normal feet. There was one soft step then a hard clank. As the steps approached, he swore he heard the familiar sound of gizmos and gears whirling.

No! It was impossible. He was going to be executed in a day. John Silver was going to be killed for piracy. The entire area of the galaxy was expecting this. No one would give him a pardon or be able to convince anyone that he was a good man.

"Oh, Jim."

Jim's eyes turned to the doorway. He tried to speak, but was obviously unable to. Instead, his eyes widened with disbelief and his right hand pulled across his person. All five fingers were stretched out past the point of hyper extending. He couldn't believe it. After all the days of crying himself to sleep and wishing, there he was standing there in the doorway. It was like a dream, yet he knew it was not a dream because each breath he took he felt those things shoved into his throat.

Silver rushed to his bedside and gently sat on the mattress. He sat so gently so he didn't move the teenager's head. Both hands grabbed Jim's right hand. "I'm right here lad. It's all right Jimbo. It's all right. It's over. There's been a change of fates. I be debited to ye an' yer mother fer burning down yer house. Ye, lad, are just ta finish school an' be a good boy. They have people coming every week jus' ta see tha' we're being good. After six months, if we're good, then they'll stop coming an' we can have our lives back. Everything's goin' ta be all right."

He kissed the boy's hand then lowered himself to leave a fatherly mark on his small forehead, right where there was plenty of skin for him to feel. Suddenly unable to hide that feeling inside of him, he breathed in sharply. Soon enough his tears were also falling on Jim's face. He never thought he was going to see him again. He never thought he would be able to hold Jim's hand or hear his heart beating. Jim was so special to him. Without Jim in his life, he didn't think he could live his life.

He heard softly moan in different tones as if he was trying to talk to him. "Wha' is it lad?"

Jim pulled his hand from Silver's and gently rested his fingertips on his throat as tears, if it was any more possible, were shed from his eyes.

"I know," said Silver firmly, taking his hand back. "We're gonna leave them in for a day or two more lad, jus' until we know we got enough food an' medicine inta ye. I'll see if he can keep ye a bit outta it so ye don' have ta feel it all th' time."

The teenager squeezed his eyes shut as his forehead wrinkled. His expression seemed to agree to that bargain.

"I don' know if I've ever told ye lad," said Silver, still hunched over him, but this time a hand was caressing the boy's face. "I love ye. Yer so special ta me lad. I need ya in my life now. Yer part of my life. Ye asked me if it was worth it. It was Jim. Th' treasure isn't gold or silver or jewels. It's ye lad. Ye are th' treasure. Yer what makes it worth it. I always thought if I found tha' treasure things would be all right again, an' my life would turn out fer th' better. It's turning out much better than I ever thought it would." He poked Jim's nose and the boy smiled a bit. "We jus' gotta get ye better now."

Jim's blue blanket was pulled to his chest, keeping his slightly shivering body warmer. He was looking into Silver's smiling eyes and face, still hardly believing it was him and that he was there.

The teary smile on Silver's face widened. This boy had his heart completely. Whenever he saw that smile and somehow, even with a little clear cylinder disrupting the smile on the teenager's lips, it brought tears to his eyes.

Yes, everything was going to be all right now. The two just had to be normal and they would be fine. No more treasure hunts. No more running away and rebelling. No more pain. It was just going to be the two of them trying to recover.

There was going to be much more than the two of them though, but only John Silver knew what Amelia and Delbert did for them. For now, he was content keeping Jim calm by simply rubbing the back of his fingers on his cheek.

Sarah, both Livesey brothers, Delbert, Amelia, and even little Morph all stood outside the doorway somehow all managing to peek inside. A picture was indeed worth a thousand words, but it was clear a simple touch was worth something a hundred thousand times greater.

A note from TurtleHeart:

well, here you are, things are finally starting to turn around for the better. but, as you all should know, there is a lot more to come! i hope you all are enjoying this story as much as i am writing it!

happy readings!