Thanks to everyone who reviewed and put me on story alert! I loved all the suggestions for the possible name of the ship, in the end I combined a couple of names as my final decision. As to the question of Iggy, for the most part people wanted to see him remain single, so for the moment, unless it becomes important to the story, Iggy is free and single.

We're back to Max's POV for this chapter, hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: Me No Own. Except the plot, the plots all mine :)

On with the Story

MPOV

I had been woken early in the morning by the sounds of shouting and movement on deck, and the feel of the ship cutting through the water.

To late to change your mind now Max I thought.

For a while I just listened to what was happening on deck, trying not to freak out every time someone came close to my hiding place.

I very quickly became bored. Who wouldn't? Lying in the same position all day, afraid to move in case you made a noise that alerted someone to your presence.

I was going mad. I was not the most patient of people at the best of times, and I was used to being relatively active. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. How the hell was I going to last three days?

Finally I think I must have dozed back off, because the next time I became aware of my surroundings I realised the ship had gone quiet.

I lay still and listened for a while, until I was sure there was no one around. I lifted the edge of the tarpaulin slightly, peeking out. It was dark, I had survived my first day.

I stretched, hearing my joints crack from stiffness. I was glad the boat was long enough to accommodate my 5 foot 9 length, even if there was no room to sit up.

I rolled on to my stomach and unzipped my pack.

I was starving. Due to my reluctance to move all day I hadn't been able to dig in to my pack to find what meagre food I had managed to steal from my house. My stomach felt like it was eating itself.

I had barely got it open though when I heard footsteps on deck. I froze, listening intently as they got closer.

Please be Angel, please be Angel, I repeated over and over in my head.

The footsteps stopped outside of my hiding place and the edge of the tarpaulin lifted.

"Max?" a voiced hissed and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Angel!" I rolled on to my side so I could look at her.

She grinned at me "I was afraid you might have gone." She whispered. I raised an eyebrow, where she thought I might have gone to, I didn't ask. She didn't wait for me to say anything either as she glanced around her then lifted the tarpaulin further and scrambled in to the boat, landing next to me with a slight thump.

"No Total today?" I asked, my voice sounding a little raspy. What do you expect? I've had nothing to drink all day.

Angel shook her head, she could just about sit in the boat if she kept hunched over, her hair scraping the tarpaulin. "He makes too much noise, I was afraid he might alert those on guard duty." Guards? Damn, there goes my idea of going for a walk on deck to stretch my legs.

"You weren't afraid they'd hear you?" I kept my voice quieter now I knew there was a chance of being heard.

Angel gave me an impish grin "I'm very good at sneaking around on deck."

I raised an eyebrow at her once again, but said nothing. I had a feeling this little girl probably knew more about what was happening on this ship than even the captain.

"I brought you some food and water." She offered me a flask and I took it eagerly, gulping down half the contents in one go. The water was warm and didn't taste the nicest but I didn't care.

I wiped a hand across my mouth as she produced food.

"Sorry it's not much," She whispered looking a little upset "It was all I could get."

I reached out and ruffled her hair "Its great kiddo." I said softly as I started to eat. Angel had managed to get hold of a few pieces of fruit and some biscuit like things that didn't actually taste too bad.

As I ate I looked at the little girl in front of me. She was playing with the hem of her shirt nervously, her eyes downcast.

I narrowed my eyes at her "What's up Angel?" I asked. She was obviously upset about something.

She chewed on her lip nervously, still not meeting my eyes. I put down the apple I had been about to bite in to and caught hold of one of her hands.

"Angel?" I said softly. She finally glanced at me, just to go back to staring at her hands as she mumbled

"We're not going to Ayres any more"

For a second I just stared at her "What?" I said. She blinked at me and I sighed and lay back down, rubbing a hand across my eyes.

"Where are we going then" I asked, trying very hard to keep my voice calm.

"Trulia" her voice was so quiet I barely heard her.

"Trulia?" I pinched the bridge of my nose and screwed my eyes shut "Deep breaths Max, deep breaths." I muttered.

"I'm sorry Max," she sounded as if she was about to cry "I didn't know Fang was…"

"Wait Fang?" She looked at me her eyes wide. I think my eyes were equally as wide as I recognised the name "As in Fang Reaver?" I asked "The pirate captain Fang Reaver, of the Midnight Hawk?"

She nodded and I swore loudly, just for Angel to slap her small hands over my mouth

"Shush, someone will hear." She hissed. I covered my face with my hands, trying very hard not to scream in frustration.

I was on a freakin' pirate ship! And not just any pirate ship! Freakin' Fang Reavers pirate ship! I had heard the rumours, everybody had.

I had heard my father cursing his name on more than one occasion when the pirate had raided one of his ships. I had thought it funny at the time. What? My father deserved it. But that wasn't the point. Captain Fang Reaver was known as a hard headed, cold hearted, arrogant son of a… You get the idea.

"I am going to die." I groaned in to my hands. I felt Angels small hands clasp my own, pulling them away from my face. I looked up to see her tear filled blue eyes staring down at me.

"I'm sorry Max" she whispered as tears trickled down her cheeks "I didn't know that he was going to change his plans, I really didn't. He only changed them because he thinks someone told…" She bit her lip, her eyes widening slightly "oops, wasn't meant to say that" She muttered.

I raised an eyebrow at that comment but then, because really I'm a soft hearted fool, at least when it comes to kids with bright blue eyes and curly golden hair, I pulled Angel down in to a hug.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and I felt her wet face against my shoulder.

I sighed. Let's face it, I would have stowed away whether I had met Angel or not, it's not her fault.

I stroked her back soothingly "its ok Angel" I muttered "I know it's not your fault. I should have checked what kind of ship this was before I stowed away. I'm not mad at you."

She sniffed and pulled back from me and I wiped the tears away from her eyes and smiled at her.

"We'll just have to go even more careful I don't get found, won't we?" Because if I was caught stowing away on a pirate ship I was definitely dead. I didn't voice that bit out loud though, no need to make her cry again.

She nodded, and hugged me again, just lying with her head buried against my shoulder, whilst thoughts chased themselves around my head.

I was seriously dreading the next few weeks, I had struggled with one day, had thought three days would drive me insane, how the hell was I going to manage the three weeks it would take to get to Trulia?

After a while I sighed and shifted position, I wanted to ask Angel more about the running of the ship.

"Angel?" I said her name quietly as I shook her shoulder gently. With a shock I realised she had fallen asleep.

What did you expect Max, she's only young and it's the middle of the night, I berated myself.

I sighed again as I listened to her gentle breathing, deciding it wouldn't hurt to let her sleep for a little while. I would wake her up in a couple of hours and send her back off to bed.

I found out what a big mistake that decision was when I woke up the next morning to feel the hot sun beating down on my face and see a pair of dark obsidian eyes staring down in to mine.

Oh hell.

Well we all know whos eyes they are, don't we?

As usual let me know what you think and if you notice any mistakes or anything that needs improvement. I love getting your feedback.

Do you want the next chapter in Fang's POV or Max's? I can't quite decide, so I'm interested to see if there's a preference.

Till next time :)