Alex's heart beat faster when he saw Lacey the next morning. He had to resist the urge to wrap his arms around her and hold her close to him like he had last night.

Stop it, Alex. You can't just do that. You aren't Allan. She was just frightened last night, and needed comfort, that's all.

Lacey stepped onto the deck, closer to where he was, her auburn locks wound in a knot on her head, a few strands pulled loose by the wind. Her cheeks were bright and rosy, and it made her freckles stand out.

Was it wrong for him to wish another thunderstorm on them?

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He could not start thinking that way when clearly she did not share those same thoughts. Plus, she had the locket—she wouldn't need him.

His attention was wrenched away from Lacey when Sam rushed up to him and pulled on his shirt.

"Alex!" The boy grinned at him with his hazel eyes and chubby cheeks.

"Sam!" Alex smiled back, and ruffled the boy's hair.

"She's allowed on deck now?" Sam cocked his head toward Lacey.

I'm "Yeah, now that we've set sail, Alastair thinks it's alright that she's out. She's not a prisoner."

"Why'dja keep her locked up then?" Sam's curious gaze studied Alex.

"Uh, Alastair didn't want her to get off and go screaming that she'd been kidnapped."

"Won't she do that when we get back?" Sam picked at the wood railing and Alex pushed his hand away.

"Hey, you know Alastair hates it when you do that." Sam grinned. "And yeah, I guess she might. Alastair thinks that maybe by staying with us for a little while, she might realize we never meant for any of this to happen." Alex turned to watch the water.

"How long will she be with us?"

"Around two or three weeks."

"Two or three weeks?" There was a definite scowl on the eleven-year-old's face.

"It won't be that bad. She'll probably leave us immediately when we bring her back to Arendelle."

"Are you upset about that?"

"What?" Alex was caught off guard. Sam sighed.

"Will you go with her when she leaves?"

What?

Before Alex could say anything more, a shriek came from top deck.

"Alastair!" A girl's voice pierced the air. Alex recognized it as his sister Allisa. She was grasping the railing and half of her body was bent over it, her honey brown hair blowing wildly in the wind. What was going on?

"You didn't tell me! I can't believe you didn't tell me!" Allisa's arms were flailing excitedly and Alex thought she might fly off any minute. She flew down the ladder and rushed over to Alex. "You didn't tell me either!" She shook Alex. He grinned.

"Tell you what?" Alex laughed.

"That we have Princess Summer of Arendelle on board!"

Everyone turned to look at Lacey.

Time froze for several moments on that ship.

The captain realized that he was responsible for the kidnapping of a princess.

The princess realized everyone knew who she was and would treat her differently.

The platinum haired pirate realized he had held a princess in his arms last night, and liked it.

Summer blinked and felt several pairs of eyes trained on her.

Well, so much for keeping that a secret.

"You're Princess Summer of Arendelle." Alastair asked, his face a look of horror.

"Yes." Summer smiled.

"I'm confused. Didn't you all know you had Princess Summer on board?" Allisa turned her brown eyes on each of the crew members. "You didn't?" She searched their faces frantically. "Did you kidnap her?" Allisa's voice squeaked and she covered her face with her hands. "No, no, no! Please say you didn't!"

"Hollingberrys. Kitchen. Now." Alastair's voice was firm and void of emotion. The smile dropped from Summer's face. Alex wouldn't even look at her as the group moved belowdeck.

Why are they so upset?

She watched their retreating backs and wondered what she'd done. It wasn't her fault any of this had happened. Alex was the one who had stolen things, and she'd followed him. She set her mouth in a firm line and walked to the side of the ship.

The water skipped alongside the boat and the sun glinted off the waves and seaweed floating on the surface—that wasn't orange seaweed was it? Summer peered closer at the mass of orange floating near the ship. Suddenly a nose and two bright blue eyes appeared in the middle of the bright, orange seaweed.

Summer screamed.

Footsteps sounded on the deck around her.

"What is it?" Alex asked, breathlessly, near her ear. He was soon followed by Alastair and Allisa. Summer pointed over the edge and bounced on her toes.

"I saw eyes, and a whole face!" She exclaimed excitedly.

"Great. Now she's seeing things," Allan's voice came from behind.

"You don't believe me?" Summer blinked and looked at the people surrounding her.

"Of course we believe you!" Allisa assured her while Alastair sent Allan a warning look.

"Allan, I believe you have things you should be doing, correct?" Allan grumbled and retreated out of sight.

"I know what I saw." Summer declared, arms folded stubbornly across her chest.

"Of course, your highness." Alastair nodded solemnly, the shock of carrying a princess on board still reigning over his thoughts.

"You don't have to call me that; my name's just Summer." She reminded him with a soft smile, before turning back to peer over the railing to try and catch a glimpse of the strange orange seaweed with a face. A thought donned on her and she whirled around, nearly colliding with Allisa. "Sorry," she giggled. "Are there mermaids in this ocean?"

"Mermaids? I think so, I mean I've heard stories about them, but well..." Allisa trailed off and watched the dancing waves. Summer waited patiently, she didn't want to appear too bossy and demanding.

"I've never actually seen one." Allisa confessed, as if it was something to be ashamed of.

"Me neither." Summer smiled and watched the sun glint off of the blue water. "But I don't think mermaids really make it a habit to let people see them." Allisa hummed her agreement and the two stood watching the vast expanse of ocean spread before them.

"So you're Princess Summer. Of Arendelle." Allisa said, lifting her gaze only to glance behind her. Summer looked back too, wondering what Allisa was looking for. Sam and Alex had disappeared to who knows where, Allan was scrubbing something on top deck, Alastair was busy instructing a few of the crew members, and Uncle was napping in the sun. There was no one close enough to hear their conversation. She turned back to the honey brown haired girl beside her.

"Yeah, that's me. Summer of Arendelle."

"So," Allisa's cheeks pinked slightly, "your brother is Prince Kristian?"

So that's where this is going.

Summer smiled, "Yes, my brother is the one and only Prince Kristian."

"He's so handsome," Allisa gushed. Summer laughed to hide the sadness growing inside her. Thinking of Kristian made her think of home. Allisa seemed to notice this and looped her arm through Summer's.

"Let's get you some more comfortable clothes for traveling in. I have just the thing!"