Disclaimer: IOOMOC

J.L.: Many apologies on the hiatus, but May's often a busy month for me. My birthday and my anniversary with my husband fall within two weeks of each other, in addition to the whole "oh holy crap it's kind of summer" weather here in Ohio. Any dangway, let's get on with this, I know you're dying to read what happens next.

Chris

Months passed quickly, not once did Jill appear to assist with the construction of her ships. The official statement was that she was far too busy with her wedding plans, but I knew the truth had much more to do with the night on her ship. Barry had taken over of her supervisor duties, and it seemed like she had clued him in on what had happened because the bulk of the work often fell on my shoulders. I couldn't argue with him about it, and most of the guys didn't want to rush to my defense since they didn't want to share my workload. On one night, I was stuck painting the rails along with Kevin.

"So...are you going to Ms. Valentine's wedding at the end of this week?" He asked. I lifted the brush up and glared at him.

"Why would I do that?" I asked.

"I thought you were her friend." He replied.

"I was." I answered and then returned to my work.

"Was? Something happened a while back, right? That's why Mr. Burton's been bossing you around. What did you do?" Kevin asked.

"Look, you promise that you won't tell anyone?" I growled, knowing full well that Kevin wouldn't be satisfied with the barked profanity I had lined up and would only end up speculating something much worse.

"I promise." Kevin said, his tone dripping with sincerity.

"I crossed a line I shouldn't have crossed. We laid together." I admitted, part of me feeling relieved at not having to hold that in more.

"Wha-you-uh! I-I didn't think it was like that with you two! I thought she was your first mate and that you both had a mutual respect!" Kevin protested.

"Started out like that. Anyways...She rejected my proposal in favor of the Duke. Now, knowing that, would you expect me to attend?" I inquired.

"No, but...the Duke? He's like 80!" Kevin protested.

"She has good reason. Most of her assets are tied up in her Father's will, and in order for her to be free of liability to them, she has to marry the Duke as per her father's will." I assured him, and the sickening feeling of guilt twisted within my gut again.

"That sounds like a real tragedy." Kevin suggested.

"It is." I agreed and we continued our work in silence.

Jill

I heard a huge commotion and wailing from the plaza of the manor, so I set my quill pen down and made my way there. As I approached the railing on the second floor balcony overlooking the plaza, I saw my mother clinging to a man, Captain Wesker standing close by. As I locked eyes with the young man my mother clung to, I recognized him and found my hand gripping the railing.

"Leon?" I cried out and rushed towards the stairwell to him. He saw me and smiled a boyish smiled, though the lines on his face told of another maturity level.

"Jillian." He greeted as he shrugged mother off to pull me up into a tight embrace. I returned it, tears coming to my eyes. As soon we pulled away, I locked eyes with Captain Wesker.

"I found him serving as the cook aboard some pirate ship. It's hard to not notice the similarities in your facial features." Wesker explained. I hugged him tightly, whispering my thanks before pulling back. Wesker nodded and made his leave. Leon grinned at me, then at my mother.

"I hear you're to be married by the end of this week. I'd like to walk with you and discuss what I have missed over the years dear sister." He said. Mother wiped her nose and smiled, then made her way off as Leon and I headed for the garden.

"It's true, I am to be married to Duke Oswell Spencer in three days." I confirmed. Leon, no longer a child and almost a man, nodded.

"This is the same man as whom Father was courting you off to before that last trip I took with him?" Leon inquired.

"Yes. It was also in Father's will." I answered.

"Jill, I am to understand that you have spent half of the fortune father left to you in search of me." He continued on.

"Actually, it's closer to 3/4s. With my own privateering company though, I plan to make some of that back after my ships are repaired." I answered.

"Four years is a long time to search the seas for someone. I cannot help but think that you were trying to avoid this impending marriage. What changed your mind?" Leon asked. I stopped and looked around, ensuring that it was only my brother an I within earshot.

"A report that the ship that had taken you had been sunk. I had no leads to follow and my fortune was almost depleted. I had no choice but to return home. Those four years were some of the best years of my life but at some point I had to grow up and face reality. I suppose with you here, you can presume the title of proprietor of the Kennedy Estate, especially since I will be attending duties as Duchess." I started. Leon's face contorted to that of disgust.

"Must you throw yourself away to the bidding of an old man long due for his grave?" He argued. I grabbed my brother's hand and gave it a small squeeze.

"Had you turned up a year or two ago, I might have been able to escape that fate. I am accepting my social responsibilities, little Leon, and there is no turning away from them. I have even thrown away the love of a good man so that this town can prosper, a sacrifice I do not intend to be made in vain." I replied. Leon released my hand and spit to the side.

"How father could have done this to you I will never be able to understand or forgive." Leon growled.

"Who do you think funded Father's expeditions? Just wait until I show you all the paperwork. I am surprised that you are free of obligation in this, though I suspect your return will only urge mother to sell you out as well." I responded. My brother shook his head and walked off, leaving me to stand alone in the garden, pushing the thoughts of a sacrifice back into the depths of my mind before the burn could set in.

Chris

"Come on Chris, the least you can do for your former first mate is attend her wedding!" Claire chided me. It was the day of Jill's wedding to the Duke and Everyone within the Burton residence was dressing up for the occasion. Barry shot a glare at me that held a threat of many hours of hard work under the boiling sun, even though fall was starting to turn to winter.

"Would you take a hangover as a good enough reason for me to not attend?" I asked, hoping that it would work. I had spent the night last night drinking away my regrets.

"Would you man up lad? I know you fancied her, but if you truly appreciated her you would be ready to go now." Barry barked. I groaned and pulled out my finest shirt. Within the hour the Burton family, Claire and myself were sitting in the Cathedral on the bride's side. Most of the townsfolk were on her side, while many people of nobility sat on the Duke's side. As Captain Wesker wheeled the Duke in beside the Priest, I felt the bitter taste of jealousy boil within me. The wedding party began proceeding down the aisle and it was only when the organ started it's dreadful tune for the bride that I stood up to pay attention. The man that I recognized to be Jill's butler Renold stood firmly as Jill held to him in escort. Even though the veil blocked her face from us, the dress was stunning, my heart sinking and then shattering as they made their way down. When she reached the Priest, I couldn't bear it anymore and I sat down, my head sunken from their gaze and them from mine.

"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today..." The Priest started but the words were drowned out by my own beating heart, the pounding deafening me to everything in the room.

"Chris!" Claire whispered, elbowing me in the side. I shot a glare at her, and then looked up.

"If anyone should have any reason that these two should not be joined together in marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace." The Priest said. A voice within my mind yelled out for me to stand up, and the look Claire was giving me was almost begging me to do so, but I kept my lips sealed tight, knowing full well that nothing more would come of it. That was until the church doors slammed open.

"I do." A young man called out, garbed in pirate-like attire as he started into the church. Burning jealousy and betrayal clawed at me, until Jill flipped her veil up.

"Leon?" She called out and the name cleared the poisonous thoughts of hatred from my mind. This man was her long lost brother, rumored to have returned just a few days ago.

"Leon? What is this protest?" The Duke called out. Leon pulled out a pistol and shot the old man in the chest.

"I'll not have my sister slaved off to some old man over my father's long since paid debts!" Leon roared out. The Duke clutched his chest as blood seeped out from the wound. Jill stepped back, her face riddled with horror.

"What?" She questioned as Leon continued his way, reloading his pistol. The Priest clutched the bible like it was his life line and most of the congregation was now cowering. Barry held his family down below the tops of the pews and I grabbed Claire to do the same.

"Mother didn't let you into Father's safe, did she? So eager to marry you off into nobility that she neglected to tell you that Grandfather paid those debts for the expeditions upon receiving the news of Father's death. All the receipts and records were stored in the safe and mother carried the key with her at all times." Leon announced and stopped before Jill. Jill looked towards the church pews briefly, then back at Leon.

"Where is she?" Jill asked tentatively. Leon smiled and pulled loose his cutlass, just enough to show the blood still splashed on it. The Duke started coughing and wheezing, and Leon shot him in the head. Blood splattered back on Leon and Jill both as the Priest dropped to his knees to pray.

"Now, I have a small confession to make to you, my dear sister. Captain Wesker did not find me as a cook. He found me as a Captain, a pirate's Captain. The very men that you have started a career in hunting are the very men who have raised me to be the best on the seas. When Wesker, who may I proudly inform you has taken to becoming my First mate, told me of your plight, I could not bear with it. My dear sister as some old man's trophy, after all the years spent exploring the world and learning from it. It was sickening! She spent most of her fortune trying to find me and has only to suffer from it. Well, my dear beloved sister, I have ensured that you will not have that fate. You would be husband lies dead in his chair now, your enslaving mother lies dead within the Estate and I have left my portion of Father's fortune in your name. Why though? Why would I do this for a woman I have not seen in almost five years? The truth is this: I will have nothing to do with the remenents our of wretched family and it's politics. I have known a world of freedom of unrestraint and I will not surrender that in favor of a life of servitude to some dull town. Actually, I am presenting an opportunity for you to join me, be my second mate." Leon proundly boasted. Jill shook her head.

"I will have nothing to do with preying on others." She replied. Leon pouted for the briefest of moments, and then motioned at Captain Wesker.

"Shame. First Mate Wesker, would you kindly give my sister a reason to reconsider as we make leave? I fear that the stench of the dead guards will assault my nostrils soon." Leon said and made his way to leave. Claire and I stood up as did Barry, our mouths dropped in surprise as Wesker pulled out his cutlass and strode over to us, pointing the blade at Barry's chest.

"What of you two? Feel like following your former Captain to sail under a different flag?" Wesker challenged.

"I would never betray my King and country like that!" Barry roared.

"Neither would I." I responded in like. Wesker shrugged and within millisecond with a god-like speed, Claire was in his grasp with the blade of the cutlass at her throat. Rage boiled in me as he started dragging her away, but I held back for fear that he would cut her throat. Barry's hand found my shoulder, a slight bit of pressure to warn me to stay back. As soon as they left, people started fleeing for the side exits. Barry ushered Kathy and the kids on with them as I stood still, lost as to what I should do. Within minutes the Church was cleared out, the exception being Barry, Jill and myself. Barry walked up to Jill, who's eyes were locked on the cooling corpse of the Duke.

"Ms. Valentine?" Barry asked. She looked up at him, and shook her head, swallowing a breath.

"I need your ship." I demanded.

"We'll get the crew prepared within two days. They won't too far and we'll be ready for anything by then. I would like your permission first." Barry continued on.

"My brother...a pirate..." She muttered, removing her veil and dropping it to the ground.

"Permission Jill, please." I pleaded. She looked at me and nodded.

"Yes...um...get the crew ready Mr. Burton. We'll be going after them. Mr. Redfield, if you could, ask around for any information on what ship they are commanding. We'll meet back on the Alpha Stream in two days." She ordered, rationality overtaking her mind.

"Thank you." Barry and I bid and we took off.

Jill

As soon as Chris and Barry fled out of the church, I sat down, cradling my head within my hands. Everything that had just occurred needed to be sorted out within my mind, and I had no idea where to start. My gut feeling was telling me that I needed to report the murders, and then make arrangements. When I looked up, Renold stood before me, constables and guards beside him.

"Are you alright my lady?" Renold asked.

"Renold, I need you to take care of the funeral arrangements and Estate. I will be leaving to bring my brother back, for justice." I ordered. Renold nodded and left. I turned to the constables and guards, allowing them to begin questioning me.

J.L.: Told ya Leon would be a key point in the plot, though I have made him the villain in this (haha, surprise?). Anyways, review away!