Joel:

Here's the next update, so please review!

Fran: Criticism will help out a lot! Only the good ones! :)

Disclaimer: We don't own anything! Except for the OC's.

Amy was sent out of the cabin by Julia's command, and she was glad to follow through. She didn't want to hear any quarrel that would be held between the two. Finally opening the door that would lead out, she took in lungfuls of fresh ocean air. A slight smell of drugs lingered in the air, but it was nearly gone.

"Sorry about that, ma'am."

The little boy fox trotted towards her and bowed down a bit with remorse. Amy couldn't help but adore his cute actions.

"No problem. But why blame yourself?"

"I know the captain. He...likes his entertainment. When he brought that woman, I knew what was in store for them, so...I kept a lookout for Lady Julia so I could warn Sonic."

"Sonic?"

The boy's lips twitched into a smile. "Our name for the captain."

"Why?"

"Well, he's known for his speed, both physically and business-wise."

Amy nodded a bit. "Okay, I get it."

The boy's small smile vanished, and he held a worried look in his face. "I shouldn't have fallen asleep, now the captain is in trouble..."

"It was only a party, y'know..." Sonic muttered, settling himself on the chair. He lit his pipe, filling it with fresh herbs, and took a small breath from it.

"Just a party?!" Julia snapped, glaring at her son. "Thomas, I thought you were better than that!"

"How many times have you said that phrase..?" he wondered, his eyes to the ceiling. Julia just shook her head.

"I don't know, you tell me. I can't go on telling you what to do or what not to. I thought your consciousness will lead you to the right things."

Sonic merely frowned. He drew some more smoke from his pipe, letting out a sweet-smelling fume from his mouth. Julia heaved a sigh and walked right next to him, placing a hand on his cheek.

"I can't baby you anymore, Thomas, you're a grown man. Try to act like one once in a while." she finally said, a frown on her face.

"Okay, okay..." he replied, crossing his legs. Julia knew that her words fell on deaf ears. Shaking her head again, she exited his room, leaving the male hedgehog to his own thoughts.

"Is everything all right?" Amy asked, walking slowly to the blue female. Julia merely smiled.

"Yes, it's okay."

"Good," Amy said, nodding. "I...err...never expected to see what I saw in that room in my unmarried life."

Julia chuckled a bit. "Really?"

Amy blushed. "Well, doesn't that happen only in marriage..?"

All she had for a response was a gale of laughter from Julia, and, surprisingly, Sally.

"So, what do you think about the two lassies with Lady Julia?" asked Tails to the crew. The young fox left the scene when Amy told him she''ll wait for Julia to come out of the captain's room. He just nodded and left her to her own devices.

"The pink one's ugly, don't you think?" answered a low feminine voice.

"Don't be harsh, Rouge." a rather deep voice replied. He scratched his chin with his hand spikes, a small grin in his face.

"Listen to that red dog talk to me about being harsh." she cackled, crossing her arms against the bitter cold around her ample breasts.

"Calm down, Miss 'I-sleep-with-the-captain', or you will learn just how harsh I really am." he replied. It was all playful banter, using truths against others, and is enjoyed by the crew.

Rouge looked flustered by having a known fact repeated again, and she immediately quieted down.

"It's time for bed, little Cream needs her sleep." Tails finally said. Walking over to a small half-asleep rabbit girl, he picked her up gently and used his tails to propel himself to the crow's nest. Rouge yawned a bit and walked towards the cabin door, intent on reaching her personal room. The other crew members began to leave to bed until the red-furred male was left by himself.

"G'night, everyone." he called out softly, and he watched over the ship like had always done for many years.

"This is your room, Sally and Amy." Julia said.

The room was small, but serviceable for two. Two cozy beds were near a round small window, and a vanity mirror was just a few paces away.

"Thank you very much for everything, Lady Julia." Sally said, bowing and smiling at her blue-furred friend.

"You are very welcome." Julia replied. She smiled. "It would be nice to talk to other women, the men in the ship are rough-worded."

The two nodded, and they immediately began to set their stuff in place.

"I must be going, I have to catch some sleep as well." Julia said, and she left. There was a small silence as they shifted their items into place.

"She's very nice." Sally murmured, yawning slightly.

"Yes, she truly is a gem among others." Amy replied. Tucking herself into the soft sheets of her bed, she said "Good night".

Sonic left his room after his small fight with his mother. Strolling around the deck of his ship, he let out a sigh. 'Act like a man...'

"Something troubling you, captain?"

Sonic smiled. "Hey, Knuckles."

"Yet another row with your mater. When will you ever learn..?"

"Shut up, you ol' sea dog!" Sonic laughed, shaking his friend's shoulder in a friendly way.

Knuckles grinned. "Alright, I will."

Sonic just shook his head. "Hey hey, I was just joking about that, Knuckles. ...Knuckles? Helloooo?"

His red-furred friend was busy grinning, whistling a tune.

"As your captain, I order you to talk to me." Sonic commanded, puffing out his chest and adding a mock-harsh tone.

"I shall, Captain Thomas." Knuckles said, his grin getting wider.

"H-hey!" Sonic yelled. "What did I tell you about my real name?! Shut up!"

"As you wish, my prissy Captain Thomas." Knuckles replied, mock-bowing at the same time. "But before I do that Thomas, what shall we do with the two new ladies Thomas, because maybe they're not used to the ship's ways, Thomas, so I am rather worried that they won't adapt to this kind of life, my dear Thomas. What say you, Thomas?"

A muscle twitched in the blue hedgehog's jaw. "Okay, just leave that to my mother. She knows how to handle their type."

As he began to retreat to his quarters, he turned on Knuckles, a serious look on his face. "And never, NEVER, do that again."

As he said good night to his friend, Sonic swore that he heard the name 'Thomas' quietly repeated in an amused tone. Sonic only chuckled and kept at his way.

The morning rays reached Amy's eyes and quietly woke her up. Her eyes opened slowly, and soon she got out of bed, stretching her muscles. Sally was still fast asleep, her body curled up.

Amy looked at herself in her mirror, wanting to see herself before others do. She looked the same as always, her hair droopy, her fur a dull color, her eyes lacking a spark most others had. 'Just a plain woman.'

Sighing, she looked away from her reflection, ashamed to see herself like this everyday. Just some plale, floppy-haired woman, and an oddball at that.

Looking at the beautiful ocean through her tiny window, she smiled a bit. It was a complete miracle that Julia allowed her and her friend to go with her in her travels, and she was even more delighted that her mother allowed her to do that. Which made her wonder: just why did her mother let her do what she wished?

'It doesn't matter,' Amy thought, 'maybe this journey will do me a whole world of good.'

Smiling indulgently, her stomach fluttered at the thought of traveling to new places and that, just maybe, she can truly have a good start in her new life with her two friends.

Note: It's a little short, but we're doing this during school, so...yeah.