Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet

Surprise!

For grumpypirate

Two years later...

Xavier Richardson knew what his eldest daughter's hearts desire was. If she didn't tell him with her mouth she certainly said it with her eyes. For so many years Captain Richardson had been unable to allow his daughter to accompany him on his voyages. Ever since she could walk she always begged her father to let her come along with him. All she could make do with was the stories which he brought back and was hardly anything. Some things were much more miraculous when you saw and experienced things yourself rather than having someone else tell you. He was not the sort of man to think that a woman should never step on board the ship however the laws stated that unless for political purposes anyone under the age of 15 were prohibited from stepping onto a ship. He could tell that Cassandra had his thirst for adventure and now for decades women had been trained to become Space Captains. Like her mother you could tell where the winds wanted to take her and her eyes were always were wandering beyond the horizon. She didn't want to be confined in a stuffy marriage or in a school room and Captain Richardson would never allow something like that to happen to any of his daughters. Victoria was too young to know what her dreams were and Helen knew that she wanted to follow in her late fathers footsteps and be a doctor. Things which were possible for them now and he was going to help them to the best of his abilities.

After a few months after her arrival Helen and Cassandra had become fast friends and as intimate as sisters should be. They both had so much in common it was no surprise. They both thirsted for knowledge, they weren't the type of girls who wanted to go to afternoon tea and would rather go running in the woods. Or more Cassandra running ahead, grasping Helen's wrist as she struggled to keep up with her. Victoria soon began to accompany them on their country walks to give Gina a few moments of relief. However these walks also deepened the relationship between the two sisters which had been long waited. For so many years Cassandra had rejected her younger sister. He knew that Victoria would always been associated with the death of her mother however Cassandra's hatred went further. Most fathers would've already intervened and spoke to her about this discomfort she was bringing into the household. It was best to let things occur naturally, he knew of his daughter's nature. She would eventually come around and let go of the grudge. He knew by far though that that was the longest grudge she had ever held. On some days the sun would shine so brightly their skin would almost seemed like glowing gold. Like little angels.

On the other hand, Cassandra and Helen were no longer little girls. The arrival of adolescence and approaching womanhood had very much changed them. Cassandra had now grown tall, taller than her mother was, she was still slightly shorter than Gina however the nursemaid had always been a tall woman. She had shed her puppy fat and was as slender as a ballerina and her dark hair now shone with the morning sun where is almost seemed like there was a halo hovering over her head. Her bright green eyes sparkled with more intensity than before. Helen, had finally grown up to be a rather pretty girl. She had golden blonde curls which shone brighter than Cassandra's hair and bounced every time she moved. Her bright blue eyes now seemed more violet than grey. Her skin which used to be pale is now a peachy colour. She wasn't slender or tall like Cassandra but she had curves which certain gave her a womanly figure.

Their personalities had changed some also. Helen was more confident than she was before, perhaps with the help of Cassandra to boost her self-esteem. She had grown to be more cheerful and less serious. Cassandra was more studious rather than running round the fields with all the time she had to spare and come back with muddy knees. An influence which no doubt came from Helen. Cassandra's temper was not what it used to be either. Once she had such a passionate temper which could frighten a whole pirate crew however know it seemed that maturity had sobered it. She was less hasty and impulsive than she once was. Sebastian, the butler came to deliver a message however remembered his manners and had to wait for the master to give permission for him to speak, which took him a few minutes as he was so absorbed with what was going on outside, it took him a while to notice Sebastian was actually there. In fact, when he noticed him from the corner of his eye he almost jumped.

"Sebastian, you almost startled me. What is it?" He chuckled.

"Sir, your guest is here. Mr Hawkins." He reminded him, when Master Richardson looked bewildered. When he remembered his eyes widened.

"Oh yes! Of course. Bring him in." Sebastian nodded and hurriedly went to fetch him.

Captain Richardson raised his eyebrows and turned back to the window. It took Sebastian only a few moments to return with the new graduate of the Interstellar Academy. When the twenty-one-year-old man entered the room Captain Richardson gave him his brightest smile.

"Mr Hawkins." He greeted stretching out his hand. "I'm glad you were able to make it."

James Hawkins chuckled. "Are you kidding? Every graduate would kill for an invitation. Anyone would move around their schedule."

Captain Richardson brushed these flatteries away. "Now lets have none of that today. I merely wanted to get to know you before the voyage." Xavier put his hands behind his back and smiled. "James Hawkins, as of now you are to be my second-mate on my voyage to the Coral galaxy. Congratulations, young man."

He held out his hand for him to shake, the gaping, young graduate accepted. "Thanks- I mean, thank you, sir. I won't let you down. I promise."

"I know, Spacer. Now I hope you're hungry because I've told my cooking staff to prepare a particularly special meal for a particularly special night. Unfortunately, James your promotion is not the only reason. You see those two young women out in the garden there?"

"The dark haired one is my daughter, the other is another I adopted when her father, a ship's doctor died about two years ago. My daughter, Cassandra had dreamed of nothing but going on a voyage since she was a toddler. She would always been gripped to her seat whenever I told her tales about my travels across the galaxy. She might even take it up as a profession one day. I can't really imagine her doing anything else. God forbid, sending her to those awful finishing schools. I was planning to take her on this voyage with me, now that's she old enough. Helen, the girl I adopted will be coming to keep her company. I hope you have no issues with this?"

He turned to James who was staring at Cassandra wondering where he had seen her before. He was usually really good with faces but this was really beginning to annoy him. He had never been to an event where women of her class would be present, so he wouldn't have met her there. Maybe when he was out somewhere? Xiaver raised his eyebrow suspiciously.

"No, sir."