Update time! Chapter 6:

This chapter is dedicated to:

AKAFredandGeorge

AKAFredandGeorge- Wow! Love to review do we? ; ) It's nice to know you enjoy it though! No, I did not want to keep it quite, quiet mebbe. Yes, I did have to quote the movie, cause I can. And just who does our darling leading lady remind you of? Oh, you need your nautical assignments…

Fred: Quartermaster, cause we all know she's gonna take over the world some day anyway, so she might as well get in some practice.

George: Hmm, ah! Resident oddball! J/K. We'll make you navigator.

Sarah-K-O-M-Thank you! It's always nice to know one's characters are coming across as intended. It's one of my fears that I will allow my characters to slip out of their personality, or that I will portray other's characters out of, well for lack of better word, character.

Drink-Up-Me-Hearties-Yo-Ho- Yeah, I decided to try something a bit different, JackOC fanfics are too common. And, don't worry 'bout it, happens to everyone I suppose. I'm just glad you are not abandoning me.

Disclaimer: I don't have to, cause this chapter is all original! …at least I think it is…hmmm. Oh well, here's chapter 6!

Since the last chapter was really short, I decided to make this one a bit longer, enjoy!

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The creaking of the ship woke Katrina up. She smiled, stretching in her small cot in the cabin she had decided to "borrow". So far her luck hadn't run out on her. The first day aboard Katrina had decided to keep a low profile. She had managed to secure a cabin of her own, but only because it was barely big enough for one. She had been determined to stay in her cabin for the whole journey. What better way to keep from drawing unwanted attention?

But after three days of hardtack, stale water and close confines, she was ready to go stir crazy. And so decided to explore the interior of the ship, as most of the passengers decided to mill about the deck most of the day. Exploring the White Tiger, Katrina heard a deep voice singing softly. Following the mellow sound, Katrina found herself standing in the doorway to the ship's galley. A rotund man was standing over a pot, stirring and singing a countryside folk song:

"The milkmaid loved the boy from the dell,

Who loved the girl who kept the sheep,

Who loved the lad who sung so well,

That loved the girl with eyes so deep,

Who loved the boy who fished in the stream,

Who loved the lass with golden hair,

That loved the boy that drove the king's team,

Who loved the girl that danced at the fare,

Who loved the boy that rode the sea's swell.

That loved the milkmaid so well,

Who loved the boy from the dell."

"Singing goes well with food. Don't you agree?" the man commented, turning his chestnut brown eyes towards her.

Katrina blushed slightly at being found out. "That was lovely."

He beamed "Well, come on in, sit down."

Not wanting to be rude, Katrina complied, sitting at a small bolted down table.

"Here now, try some of this. " he placed a steaming bowl in front of Katrina. The tantalizing smell made her mouth water.

"It smells wonderful. What is it?" she inquired tasting a spoonful.

"Beef stew." He turned back to the pot giving it a quick stir before turning back around. "Jordie McCradey, ship's cook." He offered his hand.

Slightly taken aback Katrina took the proffered appendage. "Katrina, Katrina Ellis." She answered, giving a small smile, relaxing a little around the jovial man.

"Ever had shark stew?" Katrina shook her head. "I'll never forget the first time I had shark stew…"

Half an hour later Katrina was completely entranced by Jordie's tales, her empty bowl sat forgotten in front of her on the table.

"and I didn't even realize that it was the queen!" he concluded his latest vividly animated story.

Katrina burst out laughing, joining Jordie's hearty chuckle. It had been to long, she decided, since she had anything to laugh about.

After that, Katrina began visiting Jordie in the galley every day.

One day, after another one of Jordie's fantastic tales, Katrina said "Jordie?

"Aye?"

"I never see anyone else down here. Do you make all the food by yourself?"

"Aye, milady, that I do." He replied never looking up from the fish he was busy cleaning. "I used to have an assistant, but he got recruited by another ship."

"Oh."

"Ah, it's not so bad, just a little tiring is all."

"I could help."

"Nah, you don't need to worry 'bout it. Besides, now I get his share of the money." He replied with a wink, causing Katrina to smile.

"Oh, but I want to help, I'm just about crazy with all the spare time I have." she pleaded.

"Well…." He pretended to look thoughtful. "I could use some help. So…I guess. You've won me over milady." He said, using the nickname he had given her.

Katrina crossed her arms in mock disgust "Flattery will get you no where, you know. Now where would my apron be?"

Jordie chuckled. "There be some extras in that cabinet." He waved in the general direction. Katrina found the right cabinet on her third try. Finding one that would cover most of her dress, she slipped it over her head and tied it firmly.

"OK, I'm ready…what do I do?'

"Hmmm. Well, why don't you make biscuits while I finish on these fish."

"Alright." Katrina looked around the large kitchen. "Um, Jordie?"

"Aye?"

"Where is everything?"

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Katrina paused to tuck a damp strand of hair behind her ear. It could get hot rather quickly in the galley. The biscuits were finished and she was helping Jordie fry the fish.

"How many more do we have? It seems like they emptied the entire ocean." She jokingly complained.

Jordie throatily chuckled. "There are just a few more. Why don't you go for a walk on the deck? The fresh air would do you some good. I can finish up here."

"Well," it did sound good "only if you are sure…"

"I'm sure. We're just about done anyway. Now get going."

"Alright." Katrina couldn't help but smile at his brotherly tone. In the week that she had known him they had become rather close friends. She peeled off her apron and hung it from a nail by the door.

The ocean air felt especially cool and refreshing after the warm kitchen. Katrina walked to the bow of the ship, contentedly watching the sky turn colors with the setting of the sun, not leaving for her cabin until the stars started to appear in the night sky.

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And there we are, end of chapter 6!

Reviews are as good as fresh pineapple!