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Chapter Six

The second Kate shut the door behind her, she allowed her body to relax against it, taking slow, calming breaths and allowing herself a moment of weakness. Even three years after Montgomery had passed and left the ship in her care, she still found herself becoming overwhelmed.

"Never show weakness," Montgomery had once said during a sparring match, "to anybody. The second they see a weak spot," he swiped at her left foot and she lifted it, grinning momentarily before he swiped at the other foot, knocking her to the ground, "they'll go for it." He grinned down at her. "Understood?" he asked.

Kate had sighed. "Yes, Captain," she said, standing and getting back into position.

"It's a slow process," he'd gone on; "you'll find yourself lowering you defenses, unwittingly, but you mustn't. Not unless you trust the person, implicitly."

"There is no trust in swordplay," Kate replied, echoing the words he'd told her so many times before.

"Ah," said Montgomery, "but lessons learned during swordplay are broader than that. You should know that by now."

Kate thought back on those words now; they'd carried her through these last few years as Captain. She was not yet twenty-five, but already she carried the weight of her mistrust of every new face she came across. Her defenses must constantly remain up, lest she allow herself to fall prey to a traitor. She still didn't even trust Tory completely, even after years of knowing her.

And now this Mr. Castle…Kate felt her heart rate pick up at just the thought of the muscular, clean-shaven man. Never before had she had such a longing for a member of her own crew before. She wouldn't allow herself to; not knowing how horrible things could go. A sour romance could result in mutiny—or worse.

No, she thought to herself, not worth it. She had thought, fleetingly, about dropping him off at the next closest dock with enough money to buy him and his daughter new clothes and a roof over his head, but that thought had dissipated right on the spot. To give charity would be to show weakness, and, for Captain Kate Beckett, that was impossible.

Kate sighed, closing her eyes, allowing herself a moment of silence before standing and straightening herself. Checking that her cutlass was properly fastened to her hip and fixing her hat, making certain that her hair stay neatly arranged underneath. She glanced around the room, her eyes falling on the shelves, nearly bare but for a small silver chest; one she'd not yet opened in the three years it had been in her possession.

Kate's head tilted at the sight. Perhaps, now was the—

The loud clanging of the meal bell startled her from her thoughts and Kate sighed.

Time for supper.

She gave one last forlorn look at the chest, vowing that she could open it soon, before making her way to the dining hall, squaring her shoulders and schooling her features as she entered.

As always, the clatter and voices that she could hear muffled by the door immediately ceased as she stepped in; just like they had every time Captain Montgomery had stepped through that very same door thousands of times before her. Everybody was solemn as she walked the length of the room to her own seat, at the head of the table and sat down, her stomach rumbling lowly at the sight of the meal before her.

Antonio and Jenny had made good use of two of the lobsters, as well as the potatoes, which they'd chopped and mashed, and the vegetables, which they'd steamed. There was just enough food on the table to keep everybody sitting at it satisfied until the next meal; never any surplus, lest they run out of nourishment before they reached the next port.

Kate looked around the table at the dirty, hungry-looking faces and nodded.

"Eat," she said, and at once hands were reaching for rolls and passing around spoons and dishes. Lanie passed Kate a plate filled with food, as well as a small bowl of stew and a glass of rum, which Kate thanked her for.

The older members of her crew barely registered the two new hungry faces sitting with them—Alexis having taken up residence on her father's lap, her chin barely rising above the tabletop she was so tiny. Castle prepared her a plate and fed her in between bites of his own food.

Once everybody had their plates filled and glasses topped, not a morsel left on the serving plates, everything was silent as they began to eat, shoving as much food as possible into their mouths.

After a few moments, Eustace seemed to be the first to notice the newest members of their crew.

"Captain?" he said, looking to Kate. "Who is this man? And why does he have a red-haired monkey?"

Lanie let out a cackle at the face Alexis made at being called a monkey and the rest of the table followed. Kate even allowed herself a tiny grin, hidden behind her glass, before answering him.

"Mr. Castle," she corrected, "is actually our new mate, Eustace; he and his daughter, Alexis, will be taking Deacon and Martin's place on the crew."

"I doubt the monkey could do much work here," Eustace laughed, grinning at the deathly glare the little girl sent his way. Kate rolled her eyes.

"That is enough, Eustace," she said. "Or else I'll have you on the twenty-four hour sailing shift."

"Sorry, Captain," the man said immediately, laughing as Alexis stuck her tongue out at him. "Oh," he said, addressing Castle, "she is a feisty one."

Castle laughed, patting her head. "Takes after her grandmother," he said, "hair and all." Alexis tipped her head back to look up at him and he leaned down, kissing her nose and making her giggle.

"Aww," Jenny and Lanie cooed, together. Even the toughened Tory grinned at the adorable little girl and her father. Kate felt Lanie nudge her under the table and rolled her eyes at the raised eyebrow her friend was giving her.

"As I was saying," Kate went one, "Mr. Castle and his child will be joining our crew since we've recently said farewell to other mates. Alexis, obviously, is far too young to be helping out with the labor, but perhaps Lanie wouldn't mind teaching her healing techniques? Perhaps, in time, she will become our next healer."

Lanie nodded, grinning madly. "It would bring me great joy," she confirmed, waving to Alexis, who waved a chubby hand back.

"And Mr. Castle?" Paulo asked. "What will he be doing?"

"Mr. Castle will take over Deacon and Martin's labor. In fact, while at sea, Mr. Castle, you will be responsible for tying up the crates in storage and keep them from tipping over during our travel. As well as taking shifts steering the ship; Eustace and Paulo will teach you how." The two men in question groaned and Kate turned her eyes on them. "Is there a problem, gentlemen?"

Tory snorted at the very inaccurate moniker; pirates were never gentlemen.

"No, Captain," Eustace said, shaking his head. "It's just that…well, with us taking the night shifts, and Mr. Castle undoubtedly taking day shifts, there doesn't seem to be time to teach him the ropes; perhaps you could do that better than us."

"Especially since Eustace nearly decapitated Ryan when he attempted to teach him how to steer," Paulo added.

"Me?" Eustace scoffed. "You were about a minute from throwing him into the ocean!"

There was a series of chuckles throughout the table and Kate sighed.

"Fine," she said, "I will teach Mr. Castle." She turned to the man himself. "Our first lesson begins at sunrise; don't be late."

Castle nodded. "Yes, Captain," he said, obediently, his heart secretly soaring inside of his chest. It was not every day that he got to spend time with such a beautiful woman—as guarded as she seemed.

After that, they went back to making plans for the Philippines and the contacts that they would have to meet for trades. Castle wondered just how lawful these trades would be, but decided against asking. Instead, he focused on filling his and his daughter's long empty stomachs, still in awe how much can change in just a matter of hours.

CBCBCBCB

Over an hour later, after the plates had been cleared and Esposito was left to wash them (it was his turn, after all), the ladies led Castle and Alexis to their room, where nearly half the bunks were empty—and tiny. Castle could see what the captain meant about the spaces being too tiny for more than one person. He would be lucky if he could fit.

The ladies retired to their own bunks, settling in for the night, and Castle made his way to two adjacent bottom bunks, placing Alexis in one and covering her with one of the blankets they'd been given. She immediately snuggled into the lumpy mattress, which was softer than anything she'd ever slept on before. Castle kneeled by her bed, stroking her hair until she'd been completely lulled to sleep.

Only after he saw her breaths evening, did he stand, making his way to his own bunk. Lanie helped him raised the one above it so that it was flat against the wall and he could sit up in bed. He thanked her and she just nodded before suddenly pulling something out of her dress pocket.

Castle's eyes widened at a small leather-bound journal and a pen. Lanie placed them in his lap.

"Captain said you would need these," she said. Castle nodded and thanked her again, checking to see how much ink was in the pen before cracking open the journal.

On the first page, he smiled at the cramped handwriting that covered half of it.

"Mr. Castle,

I look forward to your first tale. Do not disappoint me.

Captain Beckett"

He sighed, searching his mind for a tale that might interest her and falling flat. He hadn't written in years; hadn't even put a pen to paper since he left his wife. He didn't even know where to begin…

Suddenly, his eyes widened as a thought struck him; a story about a street-wise orphan who, by some series of events, becomes the first female pirate captain.

The details in his mind were a bit fuzzy, but after a few pages, he had a clear vision of his character—Nicolette "Nikki" Heat—in his mind.

The sun was just beginning to peak through his portside window when he lifted the pen, the journal completely filled.

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