The wind rushes in her locks, and with a flick of her tongue, she tastes salt on her lips. In the distance, a patch of land meets the line of the sea. The land she failed to conquer several months ago.

A tug on one of her braids brings her back on the Isle of The Lost.

"What ye daydreaming about, Uma?"

The suave tone of his Scottish accent makes her turn to face him. Leaning against the ship's railings, her golden bead between his fingers, a grin curled the lips of Harry Hook.

The sea which shakes away the feeling of defeat that already plagued her enough these months.

"Nothing important", she mumbles between tight teeth.

It really wasn't.

"What were we talking about?"

She solely recalls the subject of the orphans they took in earlier that day. They were supposed to find a safe place for them to settle in. But she can't remember where they left off.

Her first mate looks straight at her, waves rolling behind his eyes, before lowering his lips on her braid.

"About the last two wee lads. We have yet to find 'em a place", he whispered to the bead.

Ursula's daughter recollects chubby cheeks, timid smiles and blond heads.

"Right. So, I think I can sneak one of them in my mother's shop." Harry dropped her bead, letting her braid slip between the leather of his hand."

"Ye don't have much space in yer room."

"Enough for one more person, at least", the girl assured, turning back to the sea, the wind chanting in her ears.

James Hook's son chew his lips in thought, while straitening his hair on his scalp.

"What about the last one?"

"All the quarters are already packed..."

"What about me home?" She quirks an eyebrow at him. He returns her gaze with a slight widening of his eyes.

"My Da is most certainly drunk at this hour (he fiddles his pocket watch). I'll just have to sneak out the lad early in the morning." Uma eyes his far-off look on the sea. He didn't lost his hold on the watch of his father.

She slips a hand on the railings, close to his own. "We don't want the kid hurt."

I don't want you hurt, the thought lingers in her mind. Harry didn't return to his father for over a week now.

The sound of her voice brings him back from his thoughts. His eyes fall on her hand. Harry focused on her knuckles, which he brushes with his fingertips. Before caring them to his lips.

"Of course, cap'tain", he said, a lopsided grin growing across his face. She returns a smirk of her own.

Uma then turns to the main deck, where their newcomers were listening to shreds of pirate's tails. She leaves her musings with the sea and its roar. Her first mate wasn't far to follow.

Confidence in her feet, power in her smile, the Captain promptly approaches her crew. She drops a hip and leans on the knob of her sword.

"Alright, listen up people!" All eyes are on her in a matter of seconds. The rest of the crew who were off the main deck hastily made their way to her.

"Harry and I managed to find a way to accommodate everyone", Ursula's daughter affirmed, while folding her arms on her chest. At the sound of his name, the pirate confirms his presence by the warmth of a shoulder. "We divided

you in two main groups."

She designed by a movement of her head a group of two boys and a girl. "You three will stay on the ship. You'll sleep in the quarters below deck – Jonas, you'll show them the way."

Uma directed her stare on the two kids remaining. Brother and sister, if she remembers correctly.

"The two of you will come with either me or Harry. Your choice, but make it quick kids", the sea witch advises with furrowed brows.The captain inspects the hesitant step the girl takes – her brows low on her forehead. Features too tight for her young age.

"I can't stay away from my brother", she asserts, taking a hold of the boy's wrist. The blond boy slightly leans on his sister as a response.

Uma's partially opened lips let out a sigh. She drops a knee on the ground. "Listen, it's only for this night. I need time to find a permanent solution. Got it?"

While her words might seem sharp, her tone couldn't be more tender. At least that's what her soft breath on Mandy's full cheeks communicate. She raised uncertain hazel orbs on the Captain's features. She finds abysmal brown

eyes, that shined with a glint of understanding.

With a thoughtful expression, she attempts a glance at her twin. Ron breaks free from her hold and trails his fingers to her hand. He gave it a light squeeze, his unfazed gaze holding her own. Reassured, the girl slowly nods her head to the sea witch.

Along with the gentle curl of her lips, Uma wordlessly promised security through a ruffle of blond hair.

She promptly got up on her feet and addressed her second mate – who she spotted in the crowd sitting on a barrel by the railings: "Gil, don't forget to stop by my mother's shop to bring back food to our new members. Just ask the chief for the food."

He leaves his barrel, getting ready to depart, before she stops him with a pointed finger and a stern expression. "Don't you dare take a bite of that food on your way back", Uma warns him between tight teeth. With a gulp, he swiftly shakes his head yes and darted towards Ursula's fish and chips. Satisfied, she called for her crew to return to their occupations with a flip of her braids.

The sea witch nods her head to the girl who will share her bed tonight to follow her. The little blonde follows her steps.

The two girls leave the main deck and were just about to return to land, when a hand seize Uma's. A downpour of silver and teal blew on Harry's face. Her expression fixed in irritation melt away when her eyes catches his. She crooks a brow, and cracks a smirk, before responding to his demand of attention:

"What is it Harry?"

"I was wondering if I could come with ye to yer ma's Shoppe."

"For what?" Uma asked, facing him fully. "Don't ye have any preparations for tomorrow's opening?" The pirate inquires, playing with the handle of his hook. "Already done it this mornin'."

Even on her day off, she rises with the sun, he thought as her gaze lost itself among the crew's activities. He takes a step forward in her personal space, towering her frame. The young Hook tickles the skin of her knuckles with his free hand.

Her attention falls back on him, and the grin etched in his features.

"What about some company then?"

"You gotta take care of the boy. And I have the girl with me."

"Ye know I will. And what's one more person?"

He takes a glance at the kid, who was waiting silently, scrutinizing the point of her holed boots. A giggle bubbles from deep inside Uma's throat, which steals his attention right back. He swears he felt the warmth of her laugh high on his cheeks. The boy can't help but letting escape an infatuated gaze on his sea empress.

"Fine, she concedes. "But as soon as you finish eating, I kick your ass out, am I clear?"

"As clear as water, darlin'."

With a last smirk gracing her delicate features, she turns on her heels. He follows with delight in his steps. The wee lass close to his Captain's left side.