Dirk looked up at the short ceiling of the kitchen. He felt Jane tug him down by the lapels of his coat and she fixed the cravat around his neck. She smiled at him and pecked his cheek.

"You look handsome Dirk," Roxy commented, smoothing down her pink dress lazily.

"No I don't," He retorted, rotating his shoulders uncomfortably. "This costume is itchy, Jane."

"I know Dirk. Jake doesn't take very good care of his dress clothes...it's the only one that fits you though," She combed his hair down and he waved his hands at her to get her to stop.

"Why can't I wear one of Equius'?" He asked.

"Because Equius is much larger at the shoulders than you, dear," Jane smiled.

"Horse shit."

Jane tapped his cheek with her fingers and stepped away from him, going to help John and Dave with their own cravats.

Roxy giggled and smacked her lips together. He glared at her and she pecked his cheek. "Do you think we'll get the chance to dance?"

"Not at all," He brought her close, one hand holding her waist with the other taking her left hand. He moved slowly around the kitchen, Roxy laughing happily as they danced.

Jane gasped as Dave pulled her close to him, joining Dirk in his dance around the kitchen. John chuckled and leaned against the wall, watching the other four practically prance around the table. The door opened suddenly, Jake stepping in nervously, but it quickly changed to anger at the sight before him.

"What on earth is going on in here?" He shouted, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Jane dropped Dave's hand and looked down at the ground. Roxy slowly peeled herself away from Dirk and the blond stepped in front of the girls.

"We were dancing," he retorted, venom in his voice. "Wasn't that obvious?"

"Watch your bloody tone. Jane, guests will be arriving in a quarter hour. The king will here at half past seven along with Jade's..," He trailed off and snapped his fingers, trying to remember the correct words. "Her acquaintance, I believe, is accompanying the king. Her name is Rose Lalonde."

Dirk's hands curled into fists at the name and Roxy pressed her face into his back. Dave bit his lip and patted Roxy's shoulder, not sure how to comfort her. Jake noticed them out of the corner of his eyes and frowned.

"What's wrong with you three?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Nothing," Dirk replied, loosening his hands and rolling the tension out of his shoulders.

Jake sighed and rubbed at his face, his age showing. He often looked very young and upbeat, maybe eighteen, but he appeared to be displaying his twenty-six years of life. His emerald eyes though showed a whole life. They were old and no longer shined how someone in their youth, would. "Fine, so be it. Though Dirk, I do have a few questions for you."

"Yes?" He lifted an eyebrow up in question.

"Would you dance for the king tonight?" He said.

"What?"

"I need entertainment."

Dirk snorted and turned away from him to look at Roxy. "Do you want to?" He asked her, running his hands up and down her arms.

She gazed up at him, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. She and Rose haven't seen one another in an entire year. He lifted his hands up to her face, cupping it. He kissed her cheeks and offered her a gentle smile. She choked back a sob and smiled back at him, nodding her head. "Okay." Her voice cracked but she kept nodding her head.

"Alright English, we'll dance for you but only Roxy and I will. Dave isn't half as good as I am and Jane is," He stopped talking and turned his head to stare at her. "Jane is too good."

Jane blushed and giggled. John chuckled and wrapped his arms around his sister's waist. "She had lessons back when our father was alive," John explained. "Father wasn't half bad either. Of course I always had to play the piano for you to have dancing music."

"Oh hush, you're a wonderful pianist," Jane smiled and pecked John's cheek, untangling herself and leaving the kitchen.

Jake motioned for Dirk and Roxy to follow him as he left the kitchen. He headed for the ballroom, Dirk and Roxy walking behind him. They were almost stepping on his heels with how close they were.

"What are the two of you comfortable dancing to?" He clapped his hands together, rotating his body to gaze at them intently.

"Anything but I like the nitty- gritty shi-stuff," Dirk laughed and walked over to where the musicians were sitting. He began to riff through the music, whistling softly to himself.

"Got any dirtier stuff?" He asked the cellist, still looking through the music.

"How much dirtier, señor?" The cellist gazed up at him, eyebrows drawn together in confusion.

"Gypsy," he replied.

"Gypsy music?" The cellist looked taken aback but then smiled, "Of course señor...but uh, why gypsy music?"

"The king loves gypsy music."

Jake's jaw dropped and Dirk winked at him. "Play me this one? Just a fragment, señor, por favor," He asked, handing the cellist the sheet music.

The musicians started playing and Dirk rolled his hips, enjoying the sound. He grinned and started to dance a little, body curling and twisting with every beat of the drum. Roxy's eyes followed Dirk's body as the blond male danced expertly across the floor. His movements weren't as fluid as they would be with looser clothes and she smiled. He always appeared happier when he danced, like he was getting rid of all his worries and finally letting go. Jake licked his lips and stared at the shiny floor. He felt Dirk press himself against him, his arm draped around Jake's shoulders. Dirk dragged his lips across Jake's jawline, nipping at his earlobe.

"For that song I want you to wear your usual uniform, understood?"

"Mhmm..." He bit his earlobe again and pulled away. "I'll go get dressed."

Jake coughed and nodded, cheeks burning as Dirk sauntered out of the ballroom. Roxy giggled and followed him, twining their fingers together. Jake licked his lips and scratched the back of his neck. This was dangerous. He couldn't let himself slip up.

Jane walked in and wrapped her arms around Jake's waist, burying her face in his back. "Just tell him..." She murmured, forehead pressed against his shoulder blade.

"I can't..." He replied, patting her fingers, which were laced around his middle.

"There's nothing wrong with it."

"He's a pirate, that's wrong in itself."

"Is it really?" asked Jane, turning Jake to face her.

He nodded. "Yes it is." Jake sighed and kissed her forehead, keeping his lips there for a few seconds. "If I love him, if I allow myself to love him...I don't know if I'll ever be able to put him to death."

"But that's why you brought him here, is it not?"

"I brought him here to give him a second chance at choosing the correct way of living," he brushed her hair down in the back, smiling sadly.

"Then perhaps you should tell him that." His eyebrows knitted together and she gave him a soft smile. "He doesn't think he's here because you've given him a second chance. He thinks he's here as punishment before death."

Jake rolled his eyes, "Fine."

She patted his chest with her hand and left, but not before giving Jake a warning, "If you don't tell him, I will."

He puffed out his cheeks and sighed, feeling them deflate slowly. He walked around the ballroom, wiping his finger on every windowsill, surprised at how spotless they were. Dirk had done a good job, a very good job. His lips pulled into frown as he touched another one of the windowsills, staring out at the Derse Dreamer that was tied at his dock. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears and he felt someone's hand on the small of his back.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" Dirk whispered in his ear.

Jake shrunk away, turning around to where his back was to the window. He glared up at Dirk who was still staring at his ship. His amber eyes were glazed with sadness and when he flicked his gaze up at Jake's, anger filled his eyes. Jake reached forward and Dirk stepped back. The bells around his waist and feet jingled.

"I'm not going to hurt you," muttered Jake. He pulled Dirk forward, bells jingling loudly in the moderately empty room. The musicians were talking amongst themselves, paying no mind to the two males. He pressed his lips to Dirk's jaw, relishing in the noise of shock that it drew from the blond haired male.

"You are not here as punishment before death, Dirk," Jake said, lips moving against Dirk's jaw to his lips. "You are here to earn a second chance at living a good, safe life with your brother and cousin. Make one false step, one false move against me and I'll have you hung by the neck before you can say apologize for your stupidity... Do you understand?"

Dirk scowled at him. "Well if I'm here to have a second chance at life, then why am I your personal servant?" He gasped and covered his mouth. "Oh, do forgive me master; I shouldn't use such foul language. I meant to say sex slave."

Jake snorted, pressing his nose in Dirk's bare shoulder, laughing lightly, "And I meant, a better life as my servant."

"You ass," Dirk cursed, smacking his arm.

"So I take it you understand?"

"Yeah, yeah I understand."

"Good." He pushed Dirk away from him and stepped away from the window, walking over to the musicians. "Oh and before I forget," He glanced back at him. "If you so much as embarrass me tonight, I'll make you clean the armory. It's filthy and in need of a good spit shine." He smirked and started up a conversation with the musicians in Spanish.

Dirk frowned and leaned against the paneling of the cream colored room, gazing out at his ship.

People started to fill into the ballroom, rich ladies with expensive jewels and men who had far too much wine before attending the party. Roxy floated over to him, her bells jingling with her quick steps.

"Look at them, the vultures..." She muttered bitterly. She grabbed a glass of wine from a passing server and sipped at it, "Beautiful, bodacious ladies who are defined by their idiotic husbands. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them didn't make it home in the morning, dead on the floor, the drunkards."

"You're one to talk," laughed Dirk, taking the glass away from her. He downed the rest of it and sighed, handing it back to one of the servers. "You don't even like wine, Roxy."

"True, but I'll drink it if I have too," She winked at him and dragged him over to where the musicians were stationed. "I am French, after all."

Dirk snorted and rubbed her back. "Yeah, blame it on your French insides..." He glanced around the room. "What time is it?"

"Almost half past seven."

"Which means King Richard will be here soon..." He trailed off and tapped his chin in boredom. "I need a drink."

"No drinking for you, you can barely handle a bottle of my family's best wine, let alone a bottle of rum," tutted Roxy. "

He groaned and his head fell on her bare shoulder. She giggled and smoothed his hair down in the back, enjoying the soft noises of content he made. She swayed to the gentle music, still combing down Dirk's hair. He closed his eyes. It was moments like these that he enjoyed the gentle feeling of Roxy's fingers through his hair with soft music in the background. He sighed and she kept swaying, humming as she combed.

There was a ring of bells and then the large doors on the south side of the ballroom opened. Dirk broke away from Roxy, eyes wide. Roxy grasped his bicep tightly, keeping him tethered to her. They watched as the king strutted in, Rose holding onto his arm. She was dressed all in white with the exception of her silver headpiece and purple jewelry. The king brought Rose to Jake, smiling as he handed her over to him.

"As a token of my gratitude and affection, I give you my lovely niece as your bride," the king said, placing a hand on Jake's shoulder and squeezing it. "I take it that you will treat her well and love her until death do you part."

Jake nodded. "I am honored, my lord. Now if you'd come sit right over here, I have a treat for you, a dancer who is well versed in gypsy culture." He guided the king to a throne that was against the north side of the room. The king sat down and Dirk took a deep breath as the music began. Roxy let go of him and stepped away.