This is the only chapter I've updated on time all week due to my lack of sleep…splendid! Enjoy!

(Also congrats to the King and Queen of Castle and Castle, itself, for all the PCA's we won on Wednesday!)

Chapter Eleven

It was well past lunch when the thieves returned with their newly acquired goods, each holding at least two sacks in their fists, pockets stuffed with bread and trinkets. They lay the haul at the Captain's feet and she looked through it all, ordering Jenny and Antonio to take any and all food to the kitchen for storing.

"We got some spices here, too," Esposito said, pulling a few vials out of his pockets. "Paprika, banana leaves, bay leaves, adobo, and Chile peppers." He grinned at the last one, the vial containing a few small red dried peppers that would likely last months, if they were careful. As a boy, they'd been in many of his mother's dishes, and he often missed them—his food tasted so bland without the added spice.

"Give them to Antonio for safe keeping," Kate told him, "but keep the Chile peppers; we don't need to waste all the water again." Esposito nodded and Castle, who'd been rifling through the bag Tory had tossed his way, looked up, glancing between Kate and Esposito.

"There's a story there," he said and the Captain smirked.

"Not a very long or good one, I'm afraid," she said. "Mr. Esposito just tried to help Antonio with the cooking one night and ended up spilling a whole vial of peppers into the pot without his noticing." She shuddered at the memory. "Things were not so good for the next few days after that."

"Days?" Tory snorted, returning from the kitchen. "Try weeks. We ran out of drinking water faster than ever before and we had to ration the rum until we reached the next port." She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, Captain, I got you those things you asked for." Tory reached into her coat and pulled out a thick package, handing it to Kate, who nodded in thanks and ripped it open, looking up at Castle.

"New books," she explained. Castle nodded, before pulling out a small shirt.

"This doesn't seem to be quite the size I was expecting," he told Tory, who rolled her eyes.

"It's for the little one," she growled. "You didn't expect me to buy her a dress, did you?"

"Yes, actually," Castle said. "She's a young girl."

"And the captain and I are, as well," Tory pointed out. "But we wear trousers; besides, there were no dresses in her size. None befitting a pirate, any less."

Castle wanted to argue that his daughter was not a pirate, but he knew the words would be untrue. And he did have to admit that she probably wouldn't be too comfortable in dresses for much longer; not while they were living on a dirty old ship, least ways.

So he stayed quiet and continued to fish through the bag, pulling out a tiny pair of trousers—with a real leather belt—and a jacket, which may have been a few sizes too big but Alexis was sure to grow into it. He smiled, imagining his daughter in her new clothes, fitting in with the rest of the crew. He was certain she wouldn't care if she had to wear a potato sack for the rest of her days, nor if she was naked; Alexis would be happy just to have a belly full of warm food and a place to stay the night, much like himself.

"Thank you," he said, smiling at Tory, who simply shrugged, before her eyes widened.

"Oh, don't thank me yet!" she said, grinning, before snatching one of the bags from the captain's feet, which let out a suspicious clang. She reached in and pulled out a long silver sword in a leather sheath. Castle's eyes widened at the sight.

"You lifted a sword for me?" he asked. Tory shook her head.

"Nah, mate," she said. "I had an old…friend who owed me a favor; consider it a gift." She tossed the sword to him and he caught it, unsheathing it and feeling the weight.

"Good balance," he commented. "Your friend is quite gifted."

"As I've told him, many times," Tory replied with a grin. When the captain gave her a look, however, the grin dropped from her face. "Apologies, Captain," she said, bowing her head. Castle chuckled and sheathed the sword placing it in the bag of clothing, before slinging it over his shoulder.

"Well, thank you so very much, Tory. And thank you, as well, sir; this is very much appreciated," he bowed to the captain, who shrugged, self-consciously.

"No need for thanks, Mr. Castle," Kate replied. "Your actions saved my life and the lives of my crew before; this is our thanks to you."

"Yes, Captain," Castle replied, bowing once more, before heading off to change.

"I have to say," Tory sighed, aloud, "I'll be quite remiss when his chest is no longer bare." Kate gave her a look and the other woman shrugged. "I'm quite certain you're thinking the same, Captain?" Kate rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her smirk.

"Go and lift the anchor," she ordered. "We'll want to leave as soon as possible. And tell Eustace he'll be taking the first shift, aye?"

"Aye, Captain," Tory replied, still grinning as she went off to find Eustace.

Kate, meanwhile, brought her new empty journals back to lock away in her office. The package contained nearly a dozen of the small, lined books, each with about a hundred pages; they would be enough to last until they docked in the Caribbean, surely.

She hoped so.

C&B C&B C&B

By the time dinner was ready to be served, the ship was surrounded by water, land nowhere to be seen in all directions, their path clear and concise. Still, it would take a few weeks, if the weather was on their side.

Antonio had just rang the dinner bell when Alexis burst into the dining hall, dressed in her new "pirate's" clothes, smiling brightly and happily. Lanie and Jenny cooed over her and Antonio pressed kisses to her little cheeks and called her a 'dapper princess' which she took great pride in.

Even Kate tossed a compliment her way, which made the girl beam as she clambered into her spot next to Lanie at the table.

A few moments after her, Castle entered and everything seemed to go quiet at the sight of him, looking quite…handsome in his new clothes, as well. Tory had snagged him the best pair of trousers she could find, which were only slightly tighter on his rear than he was used to, and a clean white shirt and barely-patched coat to go with them. That, along with the new hat and the sword handing from his hip made for an impressive picture.

He had the attention of all the men and women in the room. Especially the captain.

But only Lanie was brave enough to compliment him, having found her voice before any of the others.

"Why, Mr. Castle," she cooed, "you look very dashing, if I do say!"

"Thank you, Miss Lanie," Castle replied with a grin. "I think so. And I'll have to thank Tory for the wonderful fashion sense; I haven't worn clothes this fine in years!"

"It was my pleasure," Tory practically purred, before clearing her throat at the withering look the captain threw her way. "For saving all our asses back there, I mean," Tory added, quickly. "Never properly thanked you for that, Mr. Castle."

"No thanks necessary," Castle insisted, not for the first—or last time. "It was the least I could do after you took in my daughter and me, fed us, and clothed us."

"Enough thanks," Kate groaned, before anybody could say anything. "Let's eat before this gets cold!"

There was silence as the numerous pirates dug into their food, and then:

"I would like some thanks for the slaving I did over that hot oven…"

Another moment of silence.

"Thank you, Antonio," the table chorused, setting a smile on the large man's lips for the rest of the night.

After supper, Eustace was relieved of his duty by his brother and everybody retired to their bunks. Castle wasn't surprised to see yet another journal on his pillow. Before he could open it, however, Tory approached his bunk.

"Mr. Castle," she said, "I forgot to give you something." Before he could ask what, the young woman was pulled a small wooden sword out of her jacket. "For your daughter," she explained, "to use for practice until she gets a real one."

"Oh, I doubt that will ever happen," Castle replied, taking the small sword in hand, "but thank you very much, Tory; I'm sure she'll love it."

Tony bowed to him before heading off to her own bunk. In the next moment, Alexis skipped in, dressed in her night gown, and raced to her father for a goodnight hug and kiss. Castle quickly hid the wooden sword, intent on giving it to her the next morning, lest she fall restless with excitement.

Taking the sweet child into his arms, Castle laid her down on her bunk, tucking her in and placing a kiss to her forehead.

"Goodnight, Pumpkin," he whispered in her ear.

"G'night, Papa," Alexis replied, letting out a long yawn, before cuddling into her blanket. Castle watched her sleep for a few moments, reveling in each tiny breath and grunt she emitted, in the little snot bubble that formed every few moments, his heart swelling with happiness at the simple fact that she was alive—that they were both alive and well, even if not under the most ideal of circumstances.

He tucked the sheets more tightly around her tiny body before returning to his bunk and opening the journal Captain Beckett had left for him.

Out fell an ink-loaded pen into his lap and he read the message scrawled onto the inside cover.

"Continue your story," was all tonight's message said, but the simple imagining of the captain's voice in his head was enough the spark the remains of the story in his mind and, soon, Castle was writing, his hand growing cramped and achy, but never tiring.

Not until both the flame and his pen ran out.

REVIEWS! Just twenty minutes past midnight; not so bad, aye?