The storm roared around the ship, rocking it like a cradle. Aileen was restless, a feeling of want, of need, keeping sleep from her. Calli hadn't come to River Port this trip. She had been gone for 3 weeks, a long time, and she didn't have anyone else to talk to about these feelings. She had been growing increasingly restless these last few months, unable to keep her thoughts from Jack, from his ready smile, his laughing eyes, his superb physique. The way he looked when he moved, muscles rippling under the loose seaman's garb.

A loud clap of thunder and flash of lightening made her jump. She'd better check on Brent. He was only four and storms sometimes frightened him. She slid from her bed, dressed only in the flimsy gown Calli had brought for her, and went over to the small bed where her son slept soundly. The door creaked opened. She looked up as Jack slipped in.

"Did that scare him?', he asked. "I just thought I'd check on him." He smiled down at the sleeping boy.

"Not as much as it did me.", Aileen answered drily.

Jack turned to smile at her and froze. Aileen was staring at him with a hunger no man could mistake. He stared at the girl, who was no longer a girl. He suddenly became aware that somehow she had become a woman. He reached up a hand slowly and stroked her cheek. Aileen swayed gently toward him, then she was in his arms, his lips finding hers in a slow, hungry kiss. He stroked her gently, easing the strap of the gown down her arm, trailing soft kisses along her throat, her shoulder. She ran her hands softly, tentatively along the strong muscles of his back, his arms. He was so big, so strong, the remembered fear fought with the powerful new emotions swirling in her like the storm that shook the ship. She was tight against him, frightened, confused, needing.

"Oh Jack" she whispered. "I don't… I want…."

"Shh, my little sea flower", he said softly against her ear. "I know what you want. Let me show you. Just trust me. I would never hurt you." His voice was so soft, so consoling so hypnotizing. Did she trust him? So big, so strong, her protector.

"Yes," her voice was barely a whisper. "yes…" and she relaxed against him as he swept her into his strong arms and carried her to the swaying bed.

Aileen lay against his strong chest, stroking the soft hair, following its path down his belly. "No wonder Calli can't get enough of you", she said wonderingly. Jack cocked an eyebrow.

"She tells you about our sex life?" he asked.

"Only that it's great.", she said. Looking up at him brightly she asked "Can we do it again?" Jack laughed, a low deep amused sound that gladdened her heart.

"Not right now. It takes a man a while to recover."

She smiled. "OK, later then." Curling against him she slipped off into a deep, contented slumber. Jack didn't fall asleep so quickly. What, he wondered, was Calli going to do when she returned.

Calli strode onto the Citadel dock with her usual intensity, almost vibrating in the bright morning sunshine. She always made a stir when she came in town, dressed always in her distinctive battle gear. People wondered just how scarred and horrid looking the little warrior must be, to hide herself like that. No wonder the handsome sea captain had taken the beautiful Aileen to bed, they said, with a wife like Calli. Rumor had been rife in the bars along the waterfront as the Tradewind made her calls on the trading posts.

Calli hadn't stopped to trade or take a drink in a bar since her return, so she hadn't heard the rumors. The crew watched her come aboard warily. It wouldn't be long before she discovered her husband had been spending his nights in Aileen's quarters this past week.

Calli had changed into her favored on ship outfit, loose seaman's pants and shirt, with a soft hood she had constructed and attached to the shirt. It could be pulled low over her head to hide her face when needed, though she never wore the outfit off ship. It was pulled back now, to expose her lovely tanned face. The only other person in the room was Aileen, sitting on the bed, watching Calli, fresh from her bath, as she brushed out the short pink blonde hair. Calli was observing Aileen in the small mirror. She seemed quiet, a little nervous, as though not sure of Calli.

"Aileen", she said, turning to the younger woman. "What is going on? Everyone has been avoiding talking to me since I came on board. What is it I don't know?" Aileen bit her lower lip, looking down, then looked up at Calli.

"Jack and I have been sleeping together," she said baldly. Calli blinked, then broke into a big grin.

"Is that what everyone is nervous about? It was bound to happen sooner or later, look at you, you're a beautiful woman now, hon, and anyone can see Jack's in love with you."

"But" Aileen looked confused, "he's in love with you."

"Of course he is. You can love more than one person can't you? Look, I'm not around as much as I should be, and there's never any guarantee I'll return from a trip. What if I don't? Jack needs someone to hold onto. Do you love him?", she asked.

"Very much", she smiled.

"And does he satisfy you?"

"By the One, does he! He's every bit as wonderful as you said he was. He calls me his little sea flower.", she giggled.

Calli laughed, " And so you are, hon, a beautiful sea flower. I don't see a problem. Come over here and let's brush your hair out. We want to look our best for Jack". The women laughed and chatted, good friends happy to be together, brushing each other's hair as women always have.

Jack looked up at the sound of laughter coming from their room. What could the women be so amused about? The men on deck turned their heads to hide their smiles at the look on Jack's face. He would face down a ship load of pirates without flinching, but he must be asking himself what had he gotten into with these women?

Calli and Aileen were in Aileen's room while Jack was taking care of his duties up top. Aileen was sewing a shirt for her small son. "He grows so fast, Aileen.", Calli said. "Here, let me do that." Aileen smiled, handing over the small garment. Calli studied the small shirt. "You know, I bet he'd like that patch I picked up last month. It would look cute here on this shoulder, don't you think? Why don't you go up and get it out of my sewing kit? You know where it's at. I expect we have time to finish this before Jack's done for the day."

"Yeah, I think he'd like that. I'll be right back.", Aileen said, heading off to get the patch.

"Calli!", Jack roared from the deck outside their room. Calli walked out of Aileen's room.

"What?"

"Get up here! Now!", he demanded.

Aileen quailed behind him, looking miserable. Calli strode up the stairs.

"Yes?", she queried. Jack grabbed her by the arms, staring intently at her.

"You are my wife", he snarled. " And when you are on this ship you will sleep in my bed. Do you understand?"

"Yes", she said with deceptive softness, her eyes blazing. She looked around Jack at Aileen, trying to make herself invisible. "Go on to your room, hon" she said. Aileen could see the excitement in her stormy grey eyes. "I'll take care of this." Jack glared at her and then dropped his hands from her arms, giving her a shove toward the door.

"Goodnight Aileen", he said firmly and followed Calli into their room.

Calli turned on Jack, striving to remain calm. It was the only way to handle Jack when he got like this. "You can't do this, Jack.", she said firmly.

"Do what?", he asked. "make you sleep in my bed?"

"Oh, no you can do that. I had every intention of sleeping here. What made you think I wasn't going to? Just because you found Aileen in our room? Why shouldn't she be here, you've been having sex with her, haven't you? No, you can't treat her like this!" This wasn't the response Jack was expecting.

"What? Like what?", he asked, eyeing her warily. Calli rolled her eyes at him.

"Like she's a whore! She's so young and you've probably hurt her terribly .You need to marry her.", she said firmly.

"What?!", Jack sputtered. It seemed to be his favorite response. "Marry her? But I'm married to you! I'm never going to give you up."

Calli snorted. "Of course not. Do you know of any law that says you can't have two wives? Even the Disciples of the One don't have that law! You better think about it. She's too fine a woman to treat like this. Either marry her, or give her up so she can find someone else." Jack watched Calli closely.

"You wouldn't mind?", he asked carefully. Calli smiled.

"Why would I?", she asked. "I always wanted a sister." Jack found this a little confusing, but decided to let it go. He would definitely think about it.

The wedding took place in Baton Rouge during Calli's yearly sojourn. At first Jack's mom had been against it, but since she thought Aileen would be a more suitable wife for her son than Calli, she decided maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. She knew he would never leave Calli. The rest of the family was less judgmental. They welcomed Aileen into the family. They accepted Jack's unconventional lifestyle as they had accepted his decision to go to sea when he was only 19. That had worked out well for all of them. Maybe this would too.

Lisa watched Calli and Aileen laughing together, obviously as fond of each other as they were of Jack. They were truly sisters. She wondered what their lives would have been like if Jack's first wife hadn't died in childbirth, and the child as well, when he was only 18. He would never have left her or their child to go to sea. That young death had changed the history of her world. How different everything would have been. She left off pondering to go join the party. Who knew what life held in store for any of them?