Sorry it took a lot longer to get this written than I had planned. It was just really hard to finish this one, actually it was hard to get it started, I've been writing this story for at least a year. I'm actually kind of sad that it's done; but hopefully I will get inspired and write another story soon. Thank you so much everyone who has stuck with the story for so long and given me support and encouragement as well as constructive criticism and suggestions. I really hope you all enjoy the final chapter.

Chapter Twenty Eight: Fiddler's Green

Eight people sat uncomfortably silent at a long table in the dining room; barely a word had been spoken since Cook and Freddie had followed Rob and Jenna up to the house waving a white flag. The journal sat untouched and unopened in the center of the table; Naomi and Emily's eyes were glued to it now. They no longer needed it but it was impossible to look away from for no reason better than not wanting to make eye contact with the two people directly across from them.

"I'm afraid I don't understand." Mr. Fitch began. "This is what you asked for as ransom…but you don't want it?"

Captain Campbell glanced over at her first mate. The scraggily blonde nodded at her; his expression clearly telling her yeah I've tried but they won't listen to me. Her blue eyes turned back to the redhead next to her and she gave Emily a tense smile. Naomi faced Mr. Fitch and for the first time made eye contact; immediately she sensed something in his eyes, an understanding, that put her at ease.

"Not anymore." Captain Campbell answered.

"Then I don't understand why you don't simply make your new demands!" Jenna snapped. "This is utterly ridiculous. Have you no idea how anything in this world works? I've never heard of such ridiculousness…"

"Now dear we will get this settled." Rob interrupted his wife as politely as he could.

Mrs. Fitch's eyes flashed and the brunette across the table couldn't help but notice the resemblance between Katie and her mother. When the older woman's brown eyes turned to her own blue ones Effy did her best to stare directly back at her. The pirate mused to herself, as she kept her eyes locked with the angry woman, that it was quite a bit like attempting to stare down a hurricane.

"But it makes no sense Robert!" The twin's mother interjected. "None of this makes any sense."

"Did you even try to explain anything to them?" Katherine barked at the two men across from her.

Freddie gave her a tired look as he nodded and shrugged. There was no point arguing about how many hours a day he tried to explain the situation. Instead he stood and left the table – leaning against the wall behind Cook's chair.

"Well you didn't do a very good job of it." The redhead added.

"Oi! She's as hard headed as you are." Cookie bawled defensively. "Like talking to a fucking cannon. She took it about as well as you did at first. Doesn't believe a word we say about you four."

"That! That right there!" Jenna's voice rang out over the scraggily blondes. "The ridiculous stories. That's what I don't understand. What kind of tactic is that for ransom negotiations?"

"Jenna…" Mr. Fitch tried to hush her; it had been hard for him to believe at first but once he saw them together he knew it was true. It wasn't what he had dreamed of for his girls but he knew he didn't want to act rashly.

"What could you be thinking? Why spread such…hideous lies…when we have already clearly agreed to pay any ransom to have our daughters back?" She continued anyway.

"It's not a lie." Emily finally spoke.

"Yes it is." Her mother harshly corrected her. "Emily, dear, you don't know what you're saying. You don't know what vicious things that cutthroat has been saying."

Jenna reached across the table but her daughter leaned back – pulling her hands out of reach and dropping them to her lap. Emily braved a glance at her father; he sat with his hands folded in front of him at the table and he gave her a small nod.

"What about Freddie then?" She rasped as she continued to stare at her father's hands.

Mrs. Fitch faltered for a moment as she turned her head towards the dark haired boy. "Well…obviously…the time spent stranded on that island with the likes of him," she said as she gestured to Cook, "has left him…a little unhinged. But it simply isn't the truth."

"You know its true mother." Emily said. She raised her eyes to meet Jenna's for the first time in years. "You've always known and you just never wanted to admit it."

"It is not." Her mother snapped before continuing in a softer tone. "You're confused dear. You've been through a lot and these people have influenced you and confused you but it's going to be alright. Soon you will be back home and this will be just a bad memory; you'll find a nice man and fall in love and…"

"No she won't." Katie interrupted. "Just give it up mom. I love you but…you knew…like she said…we all knew."

"Nonsense, Katie," Jenna turned her attention to her other daughter, "you know your sister has always been shy and susceptible to suggestion. You know that and that's all that's going on right now, she's just confused…you know she's always been weaker and you've been stronger. That's why I've always expected you to…"

Katherine's fist came down hard on the table, causing everyone to jump as she stood up. "Then I failed you didn't I?" She snapped. "Turns out I'm just as weak and confused and susceptible as you thought Ems was."

Jenna's mouth gaped open as she took in her daughter's reaction.

"Because I used to think like you too, mother." The girl continued. "But I've realized something. Emily's never been weak. The only thing she's ever been is too kind to stand up for herself and all this time I should have been standing up for her but I didn't because I wanted to be like you. I wanted to be like you instead of like her."

"Katie!" Her mother gasped.

The two stared at each other for a moment; Katherine had always done exactly as her mother had instructed but now the redhead stood unblinking while she willed Jenna to accept what she was saying.

"And I am mom." The older twin continued. "I'm like Emily too."

When she was done talking Katie took Effy's hand and sat back down beside her. Everyone shifted uneasily as they tried to watch the twin's reactions as well as their mother's at the same time. Jenna looked as though the world had played a mischievous trick on her, as though at any moment someone would step in and tell her it was only a joke, but as reality set in she turned her angry glare to her husband.

"Robert. Are you going to do something about this?" She thundered. "You're just sitting there doing noting."

"I'm not." He sighed. "Not doing nothing, Jenna, I'm just trying to think."

"What on earth is there to think about Rob?" His wife wondered aloud.

"Dad…" Emily whispered as she chanced eye contact with him, "…please. I know it's not…what you wanted…but…"

Mr. Fitch's eyes darted to Captain Campbell's as he sized her up from across the table.

"Do you love her?" He asked sternly.

"Yes." Naomi answered without a moments pause.

"And you?" Rob continued, turning his attention to Captain Stonem.

Effy leaned in closer as she met his gaze and answered. "More than I've ever loved anything in my life."

Their father leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh as he looked at his daughters. His wife was practically radiating with anger next to him and he took her hand and caressed it gently.

"Then I don't know what to do because I have to know that you both can provide for my girls." He shrugged. "You'll both have to clean up your acts quite a bit…we will have to work something out."

Jenna's chair clattered to the floor as she jumped to her feet.

"You can't be serous!" Mrs. Fitch bellowed. "This is too much." She pulled her hand free and snapped her fingers. "This is quite enough. Girls this is it, you come with us right now or so help me…"

Before he could say anything Emily was already shaking her head. "No." She stated. "We're not coming with you. Why can't you understand why I can't?"

"You're coming home," her mother seethed, "even if I have to drag the both of you."

Captain Campbell pushed back her chair and stepped in between the two – putting even more space between them.

"Actually," she snapped, "you're not taking Emily anywhere if she doesn't want to go."

"Or Katie." Stonem added. "Though I think it would be funny to see you try." She added with a gleam in her blue eyes.

A smile touched the corners of Mrs. Fitch's mouth as she reached into her hand bag and pulled out a small pistol. Everyone in the room was suddenly standing and the sound of their arguments and curses filled the room and everyone fell silent just as quickly with the click of the gun as the hammer was pulled back. For a moment anyone with the presence of mind to listen for it could have heard the beat of the waves on the shore – but no one was listening.

Everyone stood perfectly still for a few moments after the pistol fired; the smoke from the gun's powder drifted about the room – it's sickly smell spreading to fill the air as Jenna dropped the gun and fell to her knees. The doors to the dinning room bust open as crewmen rushed to investigate the gunfire; Cook called orders for them to clear the doorway as Freddie lifted the now passed out Jenna and carried her out of the house – Mr. Fitch close behind them until the sound of screaming erupted from Katie. He spun around but saw no one in the room at first. It took several minutes for the older man to realize the table was blocking his view and Cook grabbed his arm to lead him around the table.

Katherine sat on the floor cradling her sister's head in her lap as Effy was trying to hold Captain Campbell still as the blonde struggled to hold on to her fallen lover.

"Ems! Emily!" Naomi screamed. "Let me the fuck go Eff! Emily!"

Captain Stonem tried her best to restrain the girl without hurting her. "She's ok." The brunette said - more praying it to be true than knowing it to be true. "Sshhhh. Stop struggling you've been shot."

"No I'm fine!" The blonde yelled. "She got between us. Is she breathing?"

Effy wrapped her arms tightly around Naomi's waist and for the first time the blonde's body registered the hot tearing pain in her side; the pain sent the room wobbling like the air above a fire and her blue eyes struggled to focus on Emily. It wasn't possible; she had seen the girl move in front of her when Jenna had pulled out the gun and she could see blood continuing to seep from the unconscious girl's side.

"Help her!" Naomi whimpered, unable to yell, as her mind became foggy.


"I don't know…" Captain Stonem chewed her lower lip as she thought.

"Is there a problem with my offer?" Mr. Fitch asked.

The brunette looked out to sea and sighed. "Well it would be perfect for Captain Campbell." She began. "But…"

"You can't seriously prefer the alternative." Rob stated. "What kind of life is that to take my Katie out into?"

Effy fidgeted in her chair on the porch. What kind of life was she making for them now? She was a wanted woman and Katie would be as well if they continued on this way. If her famous luck ever ran out – where would they be then? Mr. Fitch's offer to clear her record and set them up comfortably in Bristol seemed as tempting as it was impossible. The wild girl knew she could never live that life – no matter what he did society would never accept her and she would never be able to live that way. How could she ever settle down and do practically nothing for a living knowing how much life there was to be living? The sea was her home, it was freedom, and she wasn't sure she could survive without it.

"I don't know if I can." She admitted.

"Not with that attitude." He insisted. "You'd be a Fitch! Fitch's can do anything!"

"I'll think about it." Effy sighed. "I should go check on them now."

She patted Rob on the shoulder as she made her way back inside. She had originally only sought out Mr. Fitch ask him if they had any medical supplies to spare on his ship. The longboat had been sent out to bring fresh supplies; she hadn't expected him to offer her employment. Honestly she had expected that he might try to kill her right there on the spot.

Captain Stonem could already hear people arguing upstairs; the first floor of the house was empty – which meant they were all upstairs and involved in the discussion.

"I have a right to know what's happening!" Jenna grumbled, pulling her arm loose from Freddie's grip.

The older woman shrank back when Effy squeezed past her without bothering to excuse herself or be to gentle about it. The pirate gave her a withering look as she tapped at the door and announced herself.

"Please." Mrs. Fitch surprised everyone by saying. "Please. I just want to know if…"

"If you killed them?" The brunette stated coldly. "How bad off they will be if you didn't?"

Jenna dropped her head quickly. "If they are alive and if they can forgive me."

"I'll think about it." Effy shrugged as she tried not to let herself feel sorry for her.

Katherine cracked the door open and ignored her mother's calls to her as she let Effy into the room and slammed the door shut again. She wrapped the brunette in a shaky hug and leaned against her for support. The brunette gently stroked her hair while she assed the situation in the room.

Cook was finishing the last stitch on Emily while Naomi hovered over him; her side was poorly bandaged because she had refused to let anyone help her. Captain Stonem placed a soft kiss on her wife's head before suggesting that she go update her father. The redhead reluctantly nodded her head and slowly opened the door; the brunette listened to the shuffling and muffled voices from the hall before making her way to the bed.

"You're actually quite good at that Cookie." Effy commented before reaching out to feel Emily's forehead. "No fever...that's good." She added as she turned her attention to Naomi.

"I'm fine." The blonde snapped, taking a quick step back.

The wild girl cocked an eyebrow at her. "Then let me see it."

"It only grazed me." Captain Campbell insisted, rolling her eyes.

"In that case it shouldn't be a big deal if you let Cookie take a little peek at it so it can be properly treated." Effy scoffed. "You made a real mess of wrapping it."

"It's fine." Naomi snapped.

Captain Stonem quickly reached out and smacked the blonde roughly in her side; causing the other captain to double over. Angry tears clung to the side of her blue eyes as she let out a string of curse. The pirate put her hands on her hips and gave the blonde a knowing look.

"You're right." The brunette sneered. "You're in perfect condition. Now let one of us actually fix it."

"Fuck off." Naomi said with a glare.

The brunette cast a weary glance at Campbell's first mate. "Talk some sense into her. What is this all even about?"

"She's like her mom." Cook said pointedly. "She doesn't think we'll have enough medicine if Ems needs it if we use any on her."

"Oh." Stonem shrugged as she turned her back on the blonde captain for a moment. "In that case there's nothing to be done about it." She winked at the scraggily blonde.

"She's the boss." He agreed with a small nod of his head.


Captain Campbell continued to glare at them from across the room; despite her injuries it had still taken the two of them a lot of effort to pin her down and treat her wound without hurting her further or making the damage any worse.

"Don't give me that look." Effy teased. "You're being much too dramatic…only I am allowed to be dramatic. Besides you were asking for it."

The blonde didn't answer her; instead she leaned her head against Emily's shoulder on the bed and let out an angry sigh. She listened to the redhead's soft and steady breathing as she picked at the fresh bandages they had wrapped her up in. Naomi glanced up when she heard the door shut softly behind them; now that the room was empty she fished in her pocket and pulled out the ring – turning it slowly between her fingers. Captain Campbell sniffed as she held back angry tears. Mom said not to keep her waiting, she thought, what if I never get a chance now? It had been two hours and Emily hadn't woken up or responded to any of them.

"Ems." Naomi stammered. "Emily. Can you hear me?"

The blonde sat up and stared down at her lover; she wiped a stray tear way as she willed the other girl to open her brown eyes.

"Wake up Ems." She whispered. "I want to show you something…something I should have shown you weeks ago."

Captain Campbell dangled the ring over Emily's head. "Do you like it?" She asked.

She slipped the ring gently into the redhead's hand, which was folded across her waist, and turned to face the wall as she continued.

"I really am stupid sometimes, Ems, I've had that for nearly a month. Waiting for the perfect time…waiting…I really am stupid sometimes." The tears were falling quickly as she began to ramble. "I should have just asked you right then and there, the day I got it, what was I waiting for? I just can't let go and let things happen and now look what's happened. Now I've lost my chance. Now I can't even ask you if you want to marry me. I wanted it to be perfect. To tell you I love you and that you mean everything to me. To tell you that my life wouldn't mean anything if I didn't know you were going to be with me for the rest of it. I just wish I could ask you if you'd be my wife…" her sobs made it impossible to continue.

"I will." Emily answered quietly. "Don't cry Naomikins."


Katherine found Captain Stonem leaned against the fence, where she and Captain Campbell had been talking before the Fitch's Pride had dropped anchor, and leaned against her.

"My father told me about the offer he made you." Katie said.

Effy shifted uneasily and continued looking out over the shore; the sun was setting – making the sand look like the skin of a peach.

"Have you talked to him since?" The redhead asked.

Captain Stonem took a deep breath. "Not yet."

"Good." She surprised her by saying. "I was afraid you might have agreed…for me."

"But…" the brunette stammered, "I was going to…isn't that what you want?"

The redhead laughed. "Well I would like for there to not be a price on your head." She agreed but then sighed. "That's not a life I can really go back to now."

"I don't see that we have much of a choice…" Effy pointed out.

Katherine slid her arms around the brunette and pulled her close. "You were really going to settle down and be my father's book keeper? For me?"

Captain Stonem didn't answer; instead she rested her head on top of the other girl's and sighed.

"Well that would have been stupid." Katie teased. "Because I have a much better idea." She laughed when the other girl gave her a quizzical look. "He's already agreed to it."


Jenna waited nervously at the longboat while Robert escorted Naomi and his daughter down to join her. It had been several weeks since they had arrived and even though everything had long sense been sorted out Mrs. Fitch was still adjusting to all the changes. Emily smiled softly at her before giving her a quick hug.

"Don't look so worried." She said huskily.

"I'm really trying not to be." Her mother promised as she gave Naomi a forced smile. "I really am trying."

"In time." Rob said cheerfully. "Now are you two sure that you won't consider coming to Bristol?"

Emily rolled her eyes as she gave her father a warm hug. "We're sure. We'll visit after Katie and Effy get back."

Mr. Fitch beamed with pride; Katherine's idea was going to make their business much stronger and faster. With Captain Stonem's ship now protecting Fitch merchant ships instead of raiding them delivery would arrive quicker. They were already on board the Bloody Whore now waiting to lead the Fitch's Pride and the Lament back to Bristol. Emily waved towards her sister's ship and smiled to herself; she pitied any pirate that dared to get on Katie's bad side but still felt a little twinge of sorrow that she wouldn't see her for months at a time.

"I have to admit, I would be happier if you were at the helm of the Lament." Mr. Fitch pointed out.

"If Cook ever gives you trouble he will have me to answer to." Captain Campbell assured him.

"Freddie will be there to keep him in line." Emily added.

"I suppose you are right." Rob nodded and leaned forward to give both girl's a light kiss on the cheek. "Take care of her."

"I promise." Naomi smiled.

Before stepping into the boat Jenna pulled Emily into another hug. "I love you. I know I haven't always been…" she shook her head and continued, "but I love you."

"I love you too." Emily said, gently pulling free.

"Just…just always be good to her." Mrs. Fitch shrugged at the blonde.

Naomi held back the urge to point out that she had never hurt Emily; and instead gave the woman a warm smile and nodded her head. As the long boat made its way back to the ship, the redhead took the captain's hand.

"Thanks." She said.

"For what?" Naomi giggled. "Not torturing your mother?"

"And for so much more." Emily laughed back.

"So…Mrs. Emily Campbell," the blonde said, "whatever shall we do with our time alone together?"

Emily smiled and reached up to cup Naomi's face in her hands. "I don't know. Can you think of anything?" She leaned up and kissed her before taking her hand and dragging the other girl towards the house – their bare feet padding against the soft dry sand.

"Ouch." Naomi exclaimed.

"What?" The redhead asked.

"I just stubbed my toe on something." The blonde grumbled as she leaned down to pull a bottle out of the sand. "Stupid thing…" she spat, tossing it back out into the water.

"Well let's get inside so I can kiss it and make it better." Emily teased, tugging at the other girl's arm again.

The bottle bobbed wildly in the water behind them as the current began to pull it back out – the cork still fastened tightly and the letter inside miraculously undamaged by water. "I am Emily Monique Fitch. I have been taken on the pirate ship The Lament and am being held by Captain Campbell. I am alive."

Well I hope that is a happy enough ending. Once again thanks to all my readers. *I do not own Skins or Skins characters* (almost forgot that part) And as always keep an eye out for Invisimeg's stories. And maybe I will write another one soon.