Romano was silent, the blush on his cheeks even brighter than a few minutes ago. The crew members that had already or hadn't yet eaten and were on deck couldn't help but smirk and chuckle at the sight of the humiliated boy walking around in a pink dress. Romano knew they were all staring at him walking behind their captain so he kept his watery, hazel eyes on the wooden planks of the floorboard.

He kept trudging deadly until he ran into the paused Spaniard's back. "Wh-What? Why did you stop, bastard?" Romano growled into the man's back, but was ignored as he heard him laugh in the door way of what he guessed was the mess hall because of the aroma illuming from it.

He could hear the shouts of many crew members, yelling there good mornings and greeting to Antonio. Who, didn't hesitate to answer each of them with that silly grin, a wave and a "Good morning" back.

"Hurry up, dammit!" Romano mumbled angrily to the man who suddenly turned around and grabbed his hand in his own. "W-What are you doing!"

Spain just laughed and pulled he boy in with him, a few members clapped and others whistling to the red-faced Italian. Spain acted as if he didn't even realize any of this was happening and just pulled him further to the last open table. Obviously it was reserved for the Captain.

He motioned one of the cooks to bring them their food as he sat Romano down in the chair next to him. Just then a few other pirates moved to their table and from what Romano could gather they were the highest in ranks. The first-mate sat on the other side of Spain and the others in the empty chairs. The one beside Romano winked at him, making him shiver at the sun kissed man and actually scoot closer to Spain. That was a big mistake.

As he scooted closer, the Spaniard noticed and wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulders lovingly. Out of everything he doesn't notice he had to realize Romano willingly getting closer? 'Damn…' He thought warily to himself as food was placed in front of the two.

Romano stared at whatever it was that was on his plate though Spain just started laughing and eating, still chatting it up with the other crew members but hadn't let his arm fall from Romano's shoulders yet.

"What's wrong?" Antonio asked, looking down at his little servant that stared suspiciously at his food. "It's just pork and bread. Eat up, you'll need the energy." Spain winked.

Some of the crew members around caught onto the joke and laughed heartedly. Romano just grimaced and began nibbling his way through the bread.

After everyone was done eating, Spain and Romano were the last ones left in the mess hall because everyone else had gone off to do their duty on the ship. They sat there quietly, Romano staring down at the dress once again in hatred while Spain just ran his tan fingers through the boy's hair. It was so soft…

After about half an hour of silence, Spain spoke up. "Well, let's get going shall we?" He grabbed Romano's hand, leaving the dishes there for the cleaners to get rid of, and walked him out of the mess hall.

Romano glanced up into the Spanish man's emerald eyes. He could see the disappointment that he hadn't said anything in those beautiful eyes. 'Wait, what! Beautiful! Hardly! More like tricky and lying!' Romano thought in shame, his thoughts leading back to the sin from last night. She shook his head and refused to let the tears fall again.

"Alright," Spain said once they were on the deck again and stopped. "As my private servant, you have some special jobs entitled only to you and some regular jobs. You will help clean when I instruct you. You will do everything you are told by me. You will not complain. You shall stay with me at all times unless I say otherwise. You will sleep in my bedding. You will be punished if you break my rules." Spain went on and on about his rules and Romano's roll here on the ship. But really, all it sounded like to him was he was this guy's maid and toy.

"One last thing, Romano." Spain said more quietly so only Romano would hear in case any other crew members were listening. "When we dock, don't try running away. Trust me, you'd regret it now that you are part of our pirate crew. There are some people out there that were going to grab you up before I got you first and they won't hesitate to take you away. Not to mention those that just want to hurt me, like Arthur Kirkland and Francis Bonnefoy."

Romano flinched. He knew those names. They both had wanted posters all around South Italy and they often raided or stole from his country. He hadn't had so much trouble with Spain but he could only guess they were all rivals in this pirate game he was now dragged into.

Captain Antonio stood there, his face just a few inches away from Romano's as is green eyes watched him seriously. "You understand?"

Romano nodded slowly, still afraid of the thought of being caught by that sadistic Kirkland or perverted Bonnefoy. He didn't have time to visualize what they would do to him long before that idiot had put his grin back on and laughed.

"Well good, mi amor! Glad we will be alright. We should be docking soon, too. That storm doesn't look too good."

Romano stared at him a bit confused before he noticed in the distance a mash of dark clouds that cut the horizon. He hadn't even noticed them there, slowly sneaking closer to the ship. He glanced away, his eyes setting longingly as the hazel orbs locked onto the faint sight of land.

But those other pirates…could he really run now? What if this stupid bastard was right and he was caught? Would he even bother to try and help him?

"How long?" Romano mumbled to the man holding his shoulders as he stood behind him, both of them still gazing out at the piece of land that was inching its way towards them.

"Hmm?"

"How long?" Romano repeated, slightly annoyed. "How long will we be there?"

"Oh…" Spain replied, pondering the thought. "Let's see. Until the storm passes over, which could be a few days or not? It's hard to tell for right now, mi amor. The storm should be there by midnight, but when it does get there and over with we are going to spend some more days gathering supplies for the ship before we head back out. So, if the storm only lasts about three days we will be here for maybe a little over a week if everything goes according to plan. "Why?"

"Nothing." Romano muttered in return, his heart thumping so hard it would break his ribs as he felt the ship stop and the crew start preparing the ship for the storm not far behind while Antonio smiled down at the Italian as he grabbed his hand again and walked off the ship.

Slinking through the locals, Captain Spain found his way to an old inn. This would work for now. After getting them a room, he explained to Romano how they would sleep here for the next few nights but he should still be cautious.

Spain smiled, taking him back outside. It was still early, maybe about twelve o'clock at latest. "Let's go get some things to put in the room before the storm hits." He told the smaller lad, pulling him along with him as the rest of the crew made their way to get their rooms after having exiting the ship.

"Like what?" Romano growled, trying to pull his hand out of the Spanish man's grasp. But to no use as he kept his grip tight.

"Well, from the look of that storm it's going to be too bad to go outside, at least not for long, anyway. So, food would be important and fresh water." Antonio answered simply, chuckling softly at the boy as they stepped into a small shop.

"Hola!" Captain Antonio greeted sweetly to the elderly woman running the little store with her husband. "We'd like some goods, please?"

The woman and Antonio spoke back and forth for what seemed to Romano as hours. Mostly it was business and Antonio trying to get a better deal on what he was trying to get but often too they would drift off course and change the subject for a few minutes before Romano would cough to get them from telling their random stories of life and back to why they were here. Really, did this man have that much problem with paying attention?

As the time passed Romano only got more and more bored with this. Eventually he started scavenging the little place for something of interest while he waited. Not much to look at. Some food, books he couldn't read because it was in a different language other than Italian, and some toys…

The Italian sat on the dusty ground, quietly playing with some marbles and an old chess set that sat there. He wasn't sure how long he had sat there, playing chess by himself, but suddenly he jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"And however much these things are, my good ma'am." He heard Antonio say, motioning what Romano was playing with. He was already holding the food and water he bought, his arm that wasn't touching Romano stuffed full and the woman still had more on the counter.

"Come on, Roma. Let's get going. Grab your toys and let's go." He told the Italian, moving to get the rest of the food in his other arm. Once he was satisfied it wouldn't fall out of his arms, he left the store with a puzzled Romano behind him. The boy looked down at his new toys, the marbles and the chess set. He didn't bother asking to help with the food or water, that bastard was the one who kidnapped him. He didn't deserve help.

Back in their room, Spain let the things in his arms fall on a small, wooden desk in the corner of the room.

"You can just put that down where you like, Roma." Spain told him softly, ignoring the glares coming from the boy. He watched as Romano set the things he held on the ground and watched Spain leave the place again.

"Stop going back and forth, dammit!" Romano whined, following him out because truthfully he was afraid to be alone in this place. "Now where are you going?"

Spain grinned, is eyes searching the building curiously before he grinned wider and started forward again. "Just to get some poison, mi amor…" He told him playfully, stepping into the bar he had found without delay.

Romano scoffed in disgust but as he turned to walk away he caught sight of two larger men he hadn't seen before pointing at him and talking amongst themselves suspiciously. So, Romano would rather stay with Spain than try his chances with those two brutes. He caught up to Spain promptly, only having him wrap his tan arm around him by the waist and walk straight to the bar, pulling him along. "Rum, please, my good sir." He told the man behind the wooden barrier, pulling Romano into his lap. He shot a look at the boy and grinned deviously. "Make that two, actually."

Romano glared harder at the hand that still had his arm around him. "I don't want your disgusting rum, you damn pirate bastard! And let me go!" He fussed as Spain was handed the two drinks.

"What? You can't hold your liquor, mi amor?" He asked curiously, trying the young man as he started to gulp down his down drink.

"It's gross!" Romano protested as Spain nudged the drink closer to him.

"Come on, just try it."

"No, dammit! No!"

"Please? For your Captain, Roma?" He asked, his own drink already half gone and he pushed Romano's even closer to him.

"I said NO, you damn pirate go to hell!" Romano yelled, smacking the drink so it shattered on the floor at their feet.

"Romano-" Spain started but was interrupted by an all too familiar voice.

"What's wrong, Spain? Can't even handle a little boy? That's sad, even for you. Alfred here is perfect, and even France's Matthew is better than yours."

Spain turned around, holding Romano close to him as he watched the British man, Arthur Kirkland, laugh at him. He had his arm around a smaller boy, around Romano's age, but he had dirty blonde hair and one part of it was sticking up oddly. His blue eyes were filled with wonder and curiosity as he looked from the Spaniard to the Italian in front of them. His smile was innocent and childish, nothing like the pirate he stood next to.

"Damn…What are you doing here, England?" Spain glared coldly, only getting more chuckles from the Brit.

"What? I wanted a drink, same as you. Is that a crime?" He asked, helping Alfred onto one of the high chairs at the bar before Arthur made himself comfy in the one between Alfred and Antonio.

"A rum for me as well, sir." Arthur said, looking down at Alfred who shook his head. He wasn't much of a liquor fan same as Romano. But, he didn't smack I away like him either. He just kept his smile and watched the three others, his enormous imagination exploring it's thoughts of what would happen.

"Stay close to me and stay cautious, Romano." Spain whispered in the trembling boy's ear. "This is going to be a long week."