It was only when Matthew picked up his chamber pot the next morning that he gave the monkey's toileting a moment's thought. A small perfectly formed dark turd lay in the bottom of the pot. Matthew shook it gently to check and it sloshed gently in his night water. Hmm, he thought appreciatively, just as well. "You've been well trained I see," he said to the monkey who eyed him warily from the rafters. "Shall we get some breakfast?" Feeling ridiculously self-conscious under its steady gaze, Matthew took off his nightshirt and got dressed. He reached out his hand for the animal, but it ignored him so with a shrug he made his way out to the kitchen. Out of the corner of his eye he could see it following. Rummaging around in the cellar he located an old apple, left over from the previous years' harvest and walked up to the kitchen juggling it between his hands.

"Will this do?" he asked. When there was no response he cut it up into quarters and placed it on the table. The monkey did not move. Matthew turned around to fix his own breakfast and was aware of movement behind him but did not react. When he did the apple was gone from the table. "Pretty sad for you", said Matthew conversationally, "to lose your mistress. She's a real nice little thing." Unsurprisingly the monkey did not reply.

He stirred his porridge then ladled it out into a bowl and topped it with a dollop of preserved blueberries. Absentmindedly he placed it on the table and turned to get some coffee. When he turned back with his cup of coffee in hand the monkey was gobbling it down, picking out the blueberries with its feet and delicately popping them into its mouth. "Oh, ho! porridge is it?" Matthew sighed, he supposed he'd have to share this batch. He fetched another bowl, ladled some more into it and offered Goliath a spoon. The monkey did not appear to be conversant with cutlery and continued to feed itself with its hands. Matthew ate alongside, but Goliath finished well before him and when he had done so he leapt onto the gas lamp causing it to yaw wildly and from there he climbed the chain and hung at the top, drumming the ceiling with his feet. Well now there's a new issue, thought Matthew as he scratched his head; scarlet footprints on the ceiling.

Goliath ignored him when he called to it so he changed tack saying, "well, gotta go to the barn now, coming?" It followed behind him with its unusual gait and swung up to the rafters when they entered. Its beady eyes watched him all day long while he milked the cows, forked hay, fixed a faulty cartwheel. It followed him around the barn keeping its distance but never venturing too far either. At lunch time it came back to the house with him and he gave it part of his sandwich. It was comical to watch it nibble like a little man.

Anne burst into the barn late in the afternoon her red hair splayed out behind her and the monkey raced over to her side. Matthew was interested in how animated it became in her presence. He realised it had been rather listless all day. The monkey chittered and chattered in her face as though it was having a proper conversation. Over it Anne said to Matthew, "I've got leave for an hour or so."

"Do you want some afternoon tea?" he asked. "I might be able to rummage something up."

"That's all right, I brought some cookies," Anne replied. The monkey was avidly searching her pockets for treats. "No Goliath, you have to wait," she chided gently. Together they made their way up to the house, Goliath riding easily on her shoulder looking as if he belonged there. In fact, Matthew thought her shoulder looked rather bare without it.

Afternoon tea was easily the best time of the day. Anne set out the teacups and made the tea but took a back seat when Goliath insisted on playing mother. He deftly poured the tea out between the cups barely spilling a drop and then daintily poured each one back into the pot and did it all again. Then using the tongs, he gave everyone a sugar cube, rather too much really because having served them one each he just kept going until there was no more left, hooting softly as he went. Rocking back on his haunches obviously satisfied, he watched while Matthew and Anne took up their now cold cups of over sugared tea. They sipped in false appreciation for really the stuff was undrinkable, but the monkey seemed so delighted with his work that it seemed churlish to deny him. For his part he drank his own tea with relish, smacking his lips after he downed his cup in one go. Matthew watched with some trepidation, but the monkey placed his teacup safely back down on the table with measured delicacy.

"What does he like to eat?" Matthew enquired.

"Really, bananas are his favourite," Anne started.

Matthew frowned, "never heard of them, what are they like."

Anne looked up at him, "oh yes, that's right no bananas on PEI I suppose. Well, um," she thought about how to descibe them to him. "They're yellow and curved and um they taste like, like um bananas. I can't compare them to anything. They're sweet and tangy I suppose," she trailed off dismally. "And he likes peanuts," she added.

"I've seen them for sale at the mercantile. They're pretty expensive," Matthew said. "I suppose they could be a special treat." Matthew glanced upwards, "he liked the blueberry jam with porridge for breakfast."

Anne followed his look and instantly apologised, "I am sorry. You bad boy, Goliath. You must leave Mr Cuthbert's ceilings alone."

"That's all right Anne. After all you helped me clean them once."

Sadly, Anne said she had to go, "Mrs Lynde just gave me leave to visit," she explained. "I still have to help her with dinner."

"Anne before you go, is Mrs Lynde sending you to school soon?"

"No," said Anne sadly turning around to look at him, her big grey eyes filling with tears. "She said she was too busy, I have to stay home to mind the children."

"Right," said Matthew resolutely, "let's go." Matthew despised discord he liked a simple life, but this poor wee waif jumped ship with a purpose in mind and he was damned if Rachel Lynde would get in her way entirely. He understood that Anne could not live with him, but that did not mean she had to be no more than an indentured servant.

He practiced his speech on the quick walk down to the Lynde house as Anne trotted beside him; aware that he was upset, but not entirely sure why. There were several children playing outside and they greeted him cheerily, Anne nodded at them, but Matthew was not in the mood for them today and strode past.

"Now look here Rachel," he said as he stormed through the front door followed by a mystified Anne. "What you're doing? It isn't right. You sent your Marilla to school. You must send Anne too."

"Matthew Cuthbert how dare you burst in here making demands. I was considering pulling Marilla out of school anyways I needed her at home with me. I see little point in educating a girl at her age. Learning to keep house is what she needs. An orphan girl has few enough prospects as it is." Rachel spoke as if Anne were not there, but Matthew was acutely aware that she was taking it all in.

"No," he countered, pulling her closer. "Anne expressed a desire for an education, and I promised her that I'd make it happen."

"Well you were foolish to make that promise Matthew, that's what."

Matthew stood firm. "I mean it, Anne must go to school. She can still help you out, but I can see no reason why that's not possible. And," continued Matthew in one of his longer speeches, "if she wants to come and visit Goliath and I," the monkey's ears pricked up at the sound of its name," she may do that too."

Rachel spluttered at him but gave way upon seeing the rare steel in his eyes. As inconvenient as it was, Rachel was in fact rather relieved that something had moved Matthew sufficiently to get his mettle up. She had been worried that the man would sink into his old ways once his sister departed. "Very well," she conceded. Turning her attention from Matthew to Anne she said, "I'll send you to school if you like, but you must still help me with the chores." Anne nodded. "I'll enrol you tomorrow if you like. Will that do?" she asked Matthew. He nodded his affirmation.

Anne escorted him out the door. Giving Goliath a kiss on his head she extracted herself from his clasp and watched as Matthew carried him away. Matthew noticed the previously animated monkey withdraw into itself. Sad, he thought they should be together, but he did not know how to manage it; he doubted Rachel would countenance small footprints on the ceiling or elsewhere come to think of it.

Ting ting the ship's bell sounded the time and the answering bell could be heard like an echo down towards the bow. The moon cast its reflection like diamonds scattered over the sea. The watch was changing, John handed command over to his first mate and made his way below decks where it was stifling. John knelt down to kiss his boys' goodnight breathing in the heady mix of their sweet breath and salty hair. Jacob was snuggled into Johnny's side as usual, one pudgy foot escaping the sheets. They always feared he'd suffocate but no matter how deeply asleep he was when they moved him, he'd always find his way back.

Marilla sighed when he lay down next to her and murmured, "mmm?"

"It's nothing, go back to sleep my love." He lay down next to her and considered her sleeping form for a moment. As the cabin was hot and close she slept in very little, with just a sheet as covering.

With his wife by his side John believed he was the happiest man in the world. Leaving her still white form in Rachel's spare bed had been the hardest thing he'd ever done. He had no choice, not really. If he wanted to care for his family, he knew there was nothing better he could do for her. Rachel would care for her as if she were her one of her own. Yet his heart broke as he walked away from the house. It took all his will not to turn around and kneel by her side. Resolutely he made his way back to the ship and sailed away vowing to return as soon as he was able. He had tried unsuccessfully to hide his misgivings from the men, but he was sure they knew how wrought up he was.

Heart in mouth he had eventually made his way back to Avonlea praying that she would be well upon his return. Thomas Lynde's curt greeting filled him with unlooked for hope and he had no words to express his sheer joy at finding her safe and recovered; all he could do was hold her tight and cry into her shoulder. Even now he could not quite believe his luck and kept glancing in the direction of his strong and brave and beautiful wife. He did not deserve anyone so marvellous.

Marilla moaned quietly and he turned his head on the pillow to regard her barely able to see a thing in the dark cabin. "S' hot," she said sleepily. With one quick movement John gathered her sheet and all in his arms and carried her out onto the deck. The slight zephyr revived her somewhat and she clasped the sheet about her chest with a giggle. "John, we can't," she complained, but he could tell her heart wasn't in it.

They had an alcove, some might call it a secret though the entire crew knew about it but honoured their privacy, and he took her to it now. It was tucked away near the bow on the port side. The First Mate noticed the billowing white sheet and averted his eyes. What the captain did in the privacy of his space on this hot night was his own affair; which is not to say he was unenvious.

John laid Marilla down on some old sheeting they had there for just this purpose and stretched out next to her, "better?"

"Mm, absolutely," she whispered. "The only problem is the baby. What if I don't hear her?"

"Shh, leave that to Mari. She'll manage."

Marilla nodded in the moonlight and snuggled close. Cradled together in the comforting embrace of the rocking ship they were completely content.

A/N: Some of Goliath's antics were lovingly borrowed from Alinyaalethia, thank you.