Shout out to AchemicAliens, Doodle0505, Whiskey Bloodsbane Pincher, Guest, Noire Knightmare, Canadaburst, Angy, Cardfighter by Maple, Guest, and ChaosIceAngel! Sorry I skipped this bit last chapter but it is my custom and I will be returning to it post haste. Each and every review makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. They also offer me insight into how I might go about improving my work, be it in storyline or edits.

BTW, once I've completed this story I will go back and edit it from the beginning. I read back through it from chapter one so I could get momentum going, and noticed many embarrassing mistakes. Both with English and translated words. {Thank you, by the way, to all reviewers who provided me with aid in polishing my translations! :)}

Enjoy!

The Cuervo de Advertencia, as well as the rest of the crew, joined them as they cleared the harbor, having been standing watch at the port's mouth. They kept watch for any signs of pursuit, but the Veiled Queen didn't immerge from the harbor before it was out of view. Both ships would be on alert until they reached Tortuga. While it was deemed a neutral port to all pirates, they did take exception to foreigners attacking pirates who provided good business. It would be several days until they reached it, with plans to resupply before making for Port Diego. Antonio's other flank ship, the Muerte Alada, had been sent back to Tortuga with the extra hands they'd hired on. They'd pick it up there as well, adding to their meager numbers.

Once they were underway and out of immediate danger, Amelia found herself in one of the few, tiny, passenger quarters on the Gelb Klaue. Arthur removed his belt, along with the sword sheath, setting it in the corner before slowly sitting on the small bed, wincing.

Amelia planted herself before him, propped her fists on her hips, and demanded, "Explain all this. Now, Artie."

The Brit smiled wryly up at her. "What, no kiss for returning from beyond the grave. Ow, oi, Amelia!"

The American released her grip on his ear, which she'd been twisting quite painfully. "I'm not joking here, Arthur! Do you have any notion just how worried I was?"

Arthur sighed. "I'm sorry, love, really. To be honest I didn't plan on seeing you again. I expected Carriedo to kill me that night."

Amelia frowned worriedly, bending down to study his bandages. "You should get these changed. What did he do? I heard you scream, but he never..." She swallowed tightly, her throat closing up.

A callused hand wrapped around her fingers, bringing them away from where they hovered over the bandages. "I won't be able to use this eye again. He wanted me to suffer, but it seems he also wanted to spare you some grief. It's probably why he didn't relieve me of more than an eye, why he bandaged my wound and dumped me in a row boat rather than into the water."

"Then he left you to row yourself to shore?" she demanded incredulously. "No way. How'd you get here, anyway?"

"I was lucky. Fishermen picked me up a day later. They didn't recognize me, so they brought me to New Madrid. I was somewhat delirious at the time, had only been fully aware for an hour before that bloody Turk attacked."

"If he did all this, why are you willing to work with him?" demanded Amelia angrily.

"I'm tired, love," said Arthur, meeting her gaze. He got to his feet, swaying slightly. Amelia forced him back down, frowning worriedly. "It wears on you, having so many people trying to kill you, especially if killing them isn't an easy task. Besides, it was true I perused him, not the other way around. Carriedo has something of a brutal reputation, and he earns it. But he doesn't attack unless he's provoked or you have something he wants."

Amelia paced as much as the tight quarters allowed, running her fingers through her mussed hair. "So what will you do now? The Green Revenge and everything on it is gone, so is your crew."

"No. He set fire to it, he killed many of the crew in the fight, but she was still afloat last I saw her. If they survived I expect to find them in Tortuga."

After taking a minute to absorb that, Amelia coarse corrected. "Then what will you do? Go back to pirating? Are you really tired, or was it just about Carriedo?"

Arthur shrugged. "What does it matter? I've seen the posters, love. To say I'm a wanted man is an understatement. I couldn't go back to a respectable profession if I wanted to. Pirating is all I have."

Amelia returned to her pacing, but slower, brow furrowed at she thought.

"Amelia?"

She shushed him, flapping a hand in his direction. Then Amelia froze, eyes widening. Then a slow smile spread across her face, and she snapped her fingers. "You know your fiancé is brilliant, right?"

"It depends on the day," responded Arthur, watching her carefully. "What are you plotting this time?"

"Oh plotting sounds so devious," pouted Amelia.

"If the boot fits, love."

Amelia sighed, folding her arms. "It's really the British government you need off your tail, right? You can deal with anyone that might hold a grudge, and none of the other countries have a personal vendetta against you."

When she raised an eyebrow in question, Arthur nodded, then winced.

"On second thought, I'll be right back. There's got to be medicine or bandages around here somewhere."

Arthur caught her wrist as Amelia turned towards the door. "Finish the thought, love. Then you can fetch bandages."

Amelia hesitated. "How much money have you...accumulated?"

When the Brit gave her an incredulous look, she hurried to explain.

"Listen, what's the one things governments always want? Money, right? If we can make it worth their while, maybe work out some sort of deal...you're already down to one eye, I don't want to see you get hurt anymore, Iggy. If you keep going like this..." she shook her head.

Arthur seemed to turn this over. "I haven't exactly counted the stuff, Amelia. But there is a stash I keep." He chuckled wryly. "I kept telling myself when it was big enough I'd retire someplace the Queen could never reach me, with all the rum I could drink."

"I don't know about rum, but maybe we can figure something out. Now stay put."

Amelia kissed his cheek and slipped out of the room. By the time she returned, Arthur was sound asleep on the bunk. Smiling a little, she set the basin of heated water, clean linens, and salve she'd managed to scrape together on the small table shoved into the corner.

Carefully perching on the edge of the bed, which was really more of a bunk, Amelia reached for the bandages. As gently as she could, she managed to work the securing strips free. It wasn't until she managed to get most of them off that she realized what she might be uncovering, but she steeled herself, making sure her hands were steady when they worked.

When she first got a good look at the wound, Amelia's breath choked in her throat. She didn't know what was more amazing, that Arthur hadn't bled out or that she hadn't heard more screaming that night. His left eye socket was a gouged, bloody mess, the lids tattered and cut. Fighting down nausea, Amelia dipped one of the clean rags in the warm water, tenderly started dabbing around the boarders of the wound. It looked like whoever had patched him up after Carriedo had given him some sort of herbal paste, and while Amelia didn't recognize it, she remembered such things were usually quite effective. The horrible tasting teas a midwife had made her and Madeline drink when they were ill had always been more effective than whatever the local doctor had prescribed.

After cleaning the raw flesh as best she could, Amelia added the salve with as light a touch as she was able to manage. Only when she was satisfied he wasn't one infection away from his deathbed did she start wrapping the wound again. This proved to be more difficult than unwrapping it, though. She secured a square of fresh cloth over the wound, and tried to bandage it down, but she had to coax the strips under Arthur's head with every pass. Frankly she was amazed he was still out. It was a testament to just how exhausted he was.

Wound cleaned and rebadged, Amelia blew out the lantern and curled up in what little space was left next to Arthur, utilizing his chest as a pillow. Once she settled down, it wasn't long before her own weariness caught up with her. For the time being, Madeline was safe, Arthur was safe, and they were headed to the relative safety of Tortuga. When she nodded off, it was with a contented smile on her face.

BREAK/BREAK\BREAK

"You really are taking me back?"

Antonio was taking his sweet time propping his axe in the corner of the tiny room. There was a perfectly suitable empty one across the hall, but Lovina had followed him into this one, demanding answers. As glad as she was to find him alive and well, it didn't excuse him from questions. At least that was his assumption.

His guess proved to be correct. She'd started prying as soon as they were alone. She didn't seem to believe what he'd said about returning her to Port Diego though, and started pelting him with other questions. "What happened to you? What did you do to Kirkland's face? Why did you agree to take me back with Gilbert? Do you have any idea-

Antonio liked to keep things simple where he could. It made things run smoother, he found. The same tactics were well suited to the handling of the short tempered Italian he'd fallen for. Rather than defend himself, and not willing to wait for her to run out of breath, he stepped forward, took her by the shoulders, and planted a kiss on her mouth.

It worked- Lovina was immediately silenced. She jerked away, and at first Antonio was worried he'd miscalculated. But after delivering the obligatory slap for impudence, she tangled her fingers in his hair and yanked him back, melting into the kiss.

Antonio was in no hurry to move on, but he also knew he couldn't just kiss away her questions. He took his time, only pulling away when they were both breathless. Assured he had a few seconds before she could restart her interrogation, he said simply, "I got your message."

"Which one?" gasped Lovina.

"Both of them. Amelia has a good memory."

She snorted. "You wouldn't believe how long it took for her to get it right."

Antonio chuckled, tugging her into his embrace. Pressing his lips to her ear, he murmured, "Te amo."

Lovina fisted her hands in his shirt. "Then why are you taking me back?"

"It's why I have to."

"No it's not," she protested, pulling away to glare up at him. "Is that what you're planning? Dumping me in Port Diego then sailing away?"

"No. I will return you to your abuelo, then I will turn myself in."

Lovina's eyes widened, then narrowed. "How hard did Kirkland hit you?"

Antonio kept a straight face.

She shoved him away, face flush with anger. "¡Idiota! Why would you do that? You will be hung within the day!"

"I told you once that I knew I'd die soon enough, Lovi. I am only facing the-

Smack!

Antonio blinked as the sharp sting registered. When he looked down at Lovina, she was fuming, furious, but her eyes were brimming with tears.

"Estúpido bastardo!" she sapped, voice cracking as she shoved hard against his chest. "You don't get to do this and then go die on purpose. If anyone is to kill you, it will be me. I might do it now."

"Lovi-

"You are not going to act noble in a time like this! You're a pirate damn it!"

"You deserve to be happy," protested Antonio. "I think it has been proven you're only in danger when you're with me."

"I'm happy with you," snapped Lovina. "I don't care if it's dangerous."

Changing tack, Antonio argued, "You won't be able to see your family often, or at all, if you're with me. I sail within cannon range of that port and I'm a dead man."

Lovina frowned, brow furrowing. Antonio opened his mouth to drive his point home, but then her head snapped up and she said something he'd never expected to hear: "Sposami."

Antonio stared at her, mouth open. "¿Qué?"

"Sposami," she repeated, folding her arms and lifting her chin stubbornly. "Marry me. If I bring home a pirate, Nonno will run you through before you can say hola. If I bring home a husband, he'll still want to run you through, but he'll wait long enough to hear us out."

The pirate was frowning, still a little off balance. "Eh, wouldn't it be worse to bring home a husband? And I do not think you are the one who is supposed to ask."

"You weren't going to," she quipped. "Think about it, idiota. Even if you were not a pirate, you were a merchant returning me, then what would happen? Nonno is being very nice about it but I'm still going to need to be married in the near future. I'm a noble, I don't have a choice. So far out of dozens of suitors, you are the only one I have ever had feelings for. If I can love you after you've kidnapped me, held me captive, nearly gotten me killed numerous times, gotten me into fights, and made it necessary for me to flirt with some of the most disgusting bastardi I've ever met, I think I can live with you being my husband for a while. Besides, you've protected me until now. Let me protect you for a change, Antonio."

Antonio felt a wide grin spreading over his face. "That's the first time you've said it yourself, Lovi. And I think it's the first time you've called me Antonio without me making you."

The Italian made a face. "Did you hear anything after the 'I love you' part, idiota?"

"Sì. I don't understand, but sì."

"And if you are married to me, Nonno has the rank to deal with your charges, or find a way to negate them."

Still Antonio hesitated. It sounded reasonable, he wanted to believe it would work, but would it?

It must have showed on his face, because Lovina kept pushing. "I can sail in with Gilbert, you don't have to go to the estate with us. If we can talk to them-

Antonio was already shaking his head. "No. I will go with you. I will not hide."

Lovina chewed her lip, brow furrowed. "Nonno is always looking for good captains, good ships. If you still have that map...

The Spaniard smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Wherever the Delfín Rojo is now, the map is with it. No, I don't have it anymore." He cocked his head, considering. "I studied it so much I no longer needed to look at it. If I could reproduce it, do you think it would make an acceptable gift?"

"Why do you think he always needs more ships and captains? The ones who aren't corrupt or retire are either sunk by pirates or captured by angry natives. It would make him like you more, I think."

She yawned hugely, and it occurred to Antonio she looked exhausted. Gently guiding her over to the small room's bunk, he pushed her down onto the edge and set about removing her shoes.

"What are you doing?" she squeaked, voice oddly high pitched.

"You're tired, and you're wet. I'm taking off your boots so they can dry." He glanced up, and found her face redder than it had ever been. Sure she blushed a lot, and he found it cute, but he'd never seen her this shade of tomato-red before. Antonio bent back to his task, hiding his grin as he tugged off her boots. "I might be a pirate, Lovi, but I'm an honorable one. Sleep, I'll see you in the morning."

Antonio stood, kissed her forehead, and slipped out into the hall, leaving the Italian unmoving and red-faced on the edge of the bed.

BREAK/BREAK\BREAK

"No. You can't stay here," Madeline insisted, exasperated. "Why don't you get that?"

Gilbird cheeped stubbornly, but still refused to leave his current position. Not for the first time Madeline tried to reach down, to remove him herself, but got pecked for her troubles. She yanked her hand away before he really made contact, which was more than she could say for her previous attempts.

"Your master is probably worried about you," she informed the bird tiredly, which was a little hard at his current angle. All she wanted was to collapse on her bunk and sleep, but she was afraid she'd crush Gilbird if he stayed where he was.

Gilbert had shown her to one of the small rooms, but when he'd left Gilbird had returned to her bosom. Madeline had been trying to remove him for several minutes, but the fluffy canary was oddly stubborn. Irrationally so, she thought.

"Nein, but the Awesome me was wondering where he was."

Madeline's head snapped up, blushing when she saw Gilbert in the open doorway. He was leaning against the frame, arms folded, a smirk on his face. "He won't leave," she protested. "He pecks me when I try to make him."

One white eyebrow cocked. "Gilbird is too awesome to peck, Birdie." Shrugging off the doorframe, he strode over to them, bending to make eye contact with the canary. "Come on, Gilbird, let Birdie get some sleep. You're not being very awesome."

"You're trying to reason with a bird?" asked Madeline.

Gilbert grinned, straightening as Gilbird slowly wiggled out, perching on the edge of her bodice. "So were you. Now come on- ouch!"

"I told you," said Madeline, folding her arms as the pirate yanked his hand away, a startled look on his face. He'd reached for Gilbird himself, but the fluffy bird still wasn't in a cooperative mood it seemed.

"Ja, you did. He's usually more awesome than this," said Gilbert, eyeing the bird.

Gilbird squawked, fluffing himself up. Then he fluttered up, settling on Madeline's head. She slumped, turning towards the bed. "Fine. Just stay there so I won't crush you."

As she turned away, Gilbird fluttered off her head, flying in her face, squawking all the while. Madeline yelped, shielding her face and stumbling back. The squawking only stopped when she staggered back into a lean chest, hands catching her shoulders before she could fall. When she looked up, regaining her feet, she was just in time to see Gilbird returning to his master's head, cheeping contentedly. Gilbert, oddly enough, looked a little red.

"Not awesome, Gilbird," he said, carefully stepping back. "I, um, the Awesome me is too awesome to make him do that."

Madeline was having a hard time focusing, about to fall asleep standing up. Wearily she said, "I believe you, Gil. Just...take him out so I can sleep."

"Ja, ja. Guten Nacht. "

Madeline was so tired she didn't bother guessing at what he'd said. All she knew was that she was free to collapse onto the sheets, not even waiting to make sure Gilbert was gone. She closed her eyes the moment her head hit the pillow, finally able to let sleep take her away.

Te amo- I love you

abuelo- grandfather

Estúpido bastardo!- stupid bastard

Sposami- marry me

Guten Nacht - good night

[]

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