Emmy opened the door with all her courage and again was suprised to find another man waiting at the door. This one was shorter than Nick, with curly blonde hair, and a sullen look upon his face.

"Thomas, whatever do you want?" she said, annoyed, but glad to see the kind youngster.

"I am here to be your escort, Captain's orders." he grumbled to her sighed as she strode towards to main deck.

"So the Captain has decided I am to be a prisoner? I see. Bloody..."she oozed out as she slowly strode into the morning air.

"You know..." Thomas began with a fury under his voice. "I was going to court your sister. That very night you...you both..." he stopped as she spun around to fully listen to his story. He took a deep breath and started again. "I was at dinner, getting the courage to tell your sister how I felt when all of a sudden I felt so tired I had to lay my head on the table. When I awoke I was sitting on the main deck, with my arms tied and your sister was gone. Somebody told me what happened. Now, I don't know..."

Emmy shrugged her shoulders and tried to not show the sadness she felt for the lovesick boy. It was probably true that Gwenn felt the same about him. She had to let these feelings of regret and hurt go, this was the game of lies and money and power and when she and her sister were born into this family they had to realize that people would get hurt, even themselves.

"You're young. You will live, Thomas." she said as she spun around and strode into the faint sunlight.

The ship was alive with action. Each sailor was busy doing their task with great passion and talking to each other in the rhythm that spoke of years of experience. As Emmy walked into view the sailors stopped their work for only a second and regarded her with cold eyes. She stared back at them with hatred and crossed her arms as if inviting them to say or do anything against her.

A voice called out above her. "Don't stop now, lads! We'll make it to Tortuga in plenty of time!" Captain Carey bellowed. Emmy stared ahead and pretended not to care.

"Captain, Miss La...Roberts has come out of your quarters." Thomas yelled to Captain Carey.

"He bloody well noticed, Thomas." Emmy yelled behind her. Captain Carey laughed..

"Good job, lad. She's going to be a hand full, that one." Nick Sabine said as he stood beside the flustered boy. "You'll find that the men don't take kindly to traitors, Miss Roberts. We'd all be hangin' or run through because of you." he calmly said to Emmy.

"Pity." she smirked to herself and strode over to the railing. The waves splashed against the boat and she inhaled a calming breath of sea air. Home was indistinguishable in the sea mist and she gripped the wet wood tightly. She wanted to scream! Steadying herself, she turned and walked over to Nick and Thomas. They were eyeing her with uncertainty and she did the one thing an angry woman would do, she slapped them both. Before they could retaliate, she spoke to them.

"You got yourselves in a mess the day you decided to kidnap a nobleman's daughter." she told them both loud enough for everyone to hear. "Now, if I am to be staying on this pitiful excuse for a floating piece of wood I'll be giving you a piece of my mind!" she angrily poked her finger on Nick's chest.

"I will not be called Miss Roberts. My name is Emmy. You will do well to address me as so. I will not tolerate you or your men reminding me that I was a traitor. I did to you exactly what you did to me. I handed someone over for a price. None of you chose to ignore my father's money in exchange for me. You all wanted money. I feel as much betrayed by you greedy snakes!" her voice came down a bit softer. "Now, I suggest you keep your scummy remarks to yourself or come hell I will kill you and everyone on here!"

Emmy felt the power rising in her and she climbed the ladder to where the Captain was watching in amusement.

"You...you bastard." she said as she swung her hand to deliver a slap to him as well, but he grabbed her hand and flung it back to her. "I want to know how you escaped. I want to know how many of my family died in your little pursuit for revenge. I want to know exactly what you plan to do with me."

"Your wants are not my concern, Emma." he said and her breath hitched a the nickname he had given her. God, it sounded like pure sin coming out of his delicious mouth.

"If anything has happened to them..." she clenched her fist and stood her ground as Captain Carey rubbed his chin and studied her.

"I don't care what threats you make. I don't care about your family. I was locked in your father's dungeon because of you and I plan to find some way to repay you for the favor." he said with a cool indifference and strode away.

--

Emmy strode towards the Captain's quarters as Thomas obediently followed. She grabbed all the belongings given to her and threw them into the bag. Thomas was waiting for her with a confused look and she brushed past him and threw her stuff into the room that she and Gwenn had shared a short time ago.

"I will not be sharing a room with your despicable Captain." she spat out to Thomas as she slammed the door in his face. Emmy paced the room she was very familiar pacing and cracked her knuckles. A soft knock came from outside the door and Emmy spat. "What?"

"It's me, Sabrina, now let me in!" she growled.

"Go to hell." she answered.

"If you are on this ship, it is." she answered back and as Emmy opened it to throttle her, Sabrina pushed her way inside holding a basket and a cup. Emmy watched her as she set delicious smelling bread, fruit, and a bottle of wine on the table near the small bed she and Gwenn had occupied. Sabrina turned to Emmy and nodded.

"I know you're starving, girl, go ahead." she motioned to the food and watched as Emmy walked over and ripped off a handful of bread and hungrily bit it.

"All talked out now, are we?" Sabrina teased.

"I'm scarier when I don't say anything." Emmy replied. This got Sabrina to laughing and holding her stomach. She sat on the bed as Emmy drank a large gulp of wine and wiped her mouth with her hand.

"So, the Captain brought himself a little present, did he?" Sabrina said as she studied the beauty before her who was digging into the fruit.

"He's getting back at my father and me." she told her.

"Believe what you want." Sabrina simply said with a flick of her wrist in the air and stood up. "I suspect the Captain won't be allowing you near the ale any time soon, but if you want any company, the girls and I are right by the galley." she said as she opened the door and strode out.

Emmy sighed and ate the rest of her delicious meal. How did the men have a chance to get all this wonderful food? They probably killed her whole household and stole everything inside. Did Gwen, Ben, or father escape or were they laying dead with their blood spilled upon the floors of her beloved childhood home? It was too much for Emmy to think about and she lay on her bed and slept a pitiful sleep.

Some time later she strode out and saw Thomas waiting for her as he had been ordered to do. He had been sitting on a stool whittling some wood and abruptly stuffed his knife into his pants and waited for her to decide where to go.

"The crew are eating dinner in the galley, Emma. Would you like me to take you or would you rather eat alone?' he asked her with a miniscule bit of kindness. She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Alone, please, Thomas. Right now I'd like to take a walk and get some air. I suppose you'd like to join me?" she said coldly.

Thomas snorted and followed her out to the deck.

Emmy gasped as she watched the most beautiful sunset splash red, blues, and yellows across the clouds that were rumbling with thunder in the distance.

"Storm looks to be a ways off, she'll miss us by a long shot, I wager." Thomas said to her in a soft voice.

Emmy nodded and turned to the boy.

"What happened to my family, Thomas? Surely you must know. What did the Captain promise you to keep silent? Gold, jewels?? Did he and your men kill your precious love? Tell me!" she yelled to him and grabbed his shirt by the collar. Two strong arms grabbed her and pulled her away.

"That's enough! Thomas you are dismissed to the galley. I'll find you when I need you." Captain Carey held on to Emmy and stood her on her feet when she had stopped squirming.

"Bastard!" she slammed a fist into his chest.

"You keep calling me that. I have a name, you may call me Daniel or Captain Carey, if you wish." he told her with no hint of amusement.

"I believe I have aptly named you, Captain Carey."

"Emma, you will not address me as anything but my name. I am Captain of this ship and if you are going to be on it, you'd better be more respectful."

"Being on your ship was not my choice. Having my family brutally murdered was not my choice. I will not be giving you any more respect than you have shown to me." she yelled with all her might.

"I am not a murderer!" he yelled back at her. Realizing what he had said she flung herself into his arms and cried in relief. Her family was safe! Thank God! She pushed herself away and wiped her eyes.

"But you are a kidnapper. You are my kidnapper." she spat.

"Emma, there were things done to me that I must not let go without being repaid. That now lies with me deciding what to do with you. It is my problem and I plan to deal with it."

"I am your problem?" she ground the words out. "Then why don't you just deal with me now? Why don't you do what you really want to do, pirate?" She folded her hands over her chest and waited for him to strike. He simply stepped forward and kissed her softly on the mouth. Emmy was sure her skin was on fire for a brief second. Then, as she opened her eyes, she watched his retreating back.

--

Here's the third chapter. Hope you enjoy. Feeling a bit stuck on where these characters should go now, so I think I'll take a small break and give myself some time to think! Thanks!