"Jonathan?" he said quietly, not sure if the other man was still awake.

"Aye?"

"Go up to t’main dock and find Jack, ‘e should remember ya. Find out which ship Miss Allison’s father is on and watch for it t’dock. As soon as it has, come let me know so we can ken tell Morgan." Jonathan nodded, pushed himself to his feet and started up the wharf, stretching as he went. Jacob returned his gaze to the window above. "I wish yer father was here, Mor’, he’d know what to do." Sighing he pulled the small pouch that he wore on a leather thong around his neck and tugged it open, dumping it’s content into his hand. Pensively he fiddled with the small narrow gold band. "Maybe it’s time I give you this, Morgan." Still deep in thought he returned it to the pouch and tucked it back into his shirt. "Maybe it is time."

Morgan gazed at the rafters above her head unseeingly, her fingers drawing idle patterns on the smooth skin of Allison’s back. The rising sun painted their twined bodies in shades of gold, making Allison’s red hair shine with a fiery light where it cascaded over both of their shoulders. She knew that all too soon Jacob would be knocking on the door to let her know that Allison’s father was on his way and was dreading that moment, had been dreading that moment all night. She knew she was in no shape for the turmoil of the day, knew she should have slept at least an hour. They both had agreed that they needed to get some rest when she finally extinguished the lamp, but Morgan had the feeling that she wasn’t the only one who had stayed up. Allison lay tucked up against her side, half-sprawled across her, and her hand rested on Morgan’s stomach where her fingers traced letters against her skin. The captain’s weary mind was too tired to try to figure out what they spelled even though she knew she ought to, but was also afraid of what they might say. Morgan knew if she glanced down she would see Allison gazing towards the windows, could feel the tickle of her eyelashes against her shoulder as the young woman blinked. Neither of them had slept, though Morgan didn’t regret that. She had spent every moment she could engraving every inch of her young companion into her memory and Allison seemed to have done the same in return, and their passion had burned long and hot. Her body was sated and exhausted, and, though deep down she knew it was only temporary, she hoped it would make saying goodbye a little easier.

"Morgan?" Allison’s voice was husky and quiet.

"Yes, Allison?" she answered.

"I’m going to miss you," she said softly. Morgan swallowed hard against the lump that surged into her throat.

"I’m going to miss you, too, Allison." The captain stubbornly refused to acknowledge the tears that threatened to well up and eased herself out of the bed. Padding naked across the room she gazed down at the street to see Jonathan kneeling next to Jacob in conversation. Jacob nodded once at the man and glanced up at the window, starting a little as he saw her there. Morgan cocked her head in question and he made a series of hand signals at her. Sighing softly she nodded at him then backed away.

"I should get dressed, shouldn’t I?" Allison had quietly followed her to the window and was standing right behind her. Morgan turned around and pulled the younger woman into her arms for a tight hug.

"Yes, we both should. Apparently your father’s captain was able to bribe some dockhands to bring him in at dawn. He will be here in less than an hour." She felt Allison heave a shaky sigh then the young woman resolutely untangled herself from Morgan’s embrace.

"I’ll get ready then." Morgan’s jaw clenched as she watched her young lover walk across the room to her trunks. Morgan headed for her own and carefully dressed in her finest breeches and shirt, laying her jacket over the foot of the bed to don before they left. She strapped her belt around her waist and pulled her hair back at the nape of her neck.

"Morgan?" The captain turned around to find Allison looking over her shoulder at her, her corset held loosely around her torso. A small smile played across her lips and Morgan felt a similar one tug at hers as she strode across the room to lace up her young lover. Allison laughed softly as Morgan tickled her sides with her fingers before beginning to tug at the laces. The older woman leaned forward and pressed soft kisses along Allison’s bare shoulders as she tied the laces in a bow at the top, then pressed a kiss against the redhead’s lips as she looked back at her in gratitude.

"Need help with your dress?" Morgan asked quietly. Allison nodded and pulled a pale gray dress from the trunk. Morgan lifted it up over Allison’s head and helped her settle it around her, then buttoned up the back. As a last touch the young woman pulled half of her hair back with a pair of pearl combs, leaving the rest of it to pour down her back in waves. Smoothing the skirt with her hands Allison glanced up at her through her eyelashes.

"How do I look?" she asked shyly. Morgan swallowed hard.

"Absolutely ravishing," she answered huskily. "Though, you look sexier in my shirts," she answered teasingly. Allison laughed softly in reply and stepped forward into Morgan’s arms. She wrapped her arms around Morgan’s neck and pulled her down to kiss her. The captain willingly lost herself in the play of their lips against each other’s for a long moment, not pulling away until they were both breathless.

They stared into each other’s eyes, both struggling with words they couldn’t seem to wrap their minds around. Morgan felt as though she needed to say something, and it hung on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t get it out. The things unsaid between them hung heavy in the air but they both remained silent until a soft knock on the door made them both jump. Morgan reluctantly stepped away from Allison and answered the door, opening it to let Jacob in. Her first mate glanced at both of them uncertainly before ducking his head at Allison.

"Your father’s here, Miss." Morgan’s stomach twisted over on itself and she turned towards the bed to get her jacket, hiding the emotions she knew showed stark on her face. Allison wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, glancing uncertainly over her shoulder at her belongings.

"But what about my things?" she asked quietly. Morgan carefully schooled her expression then turned around.

"I will pack everything up and have Jacob or Jonathan bring them to you." Jacob nodded his agreement as he backed out of the room. Morgan motioned Allison in front of her and followed the redhead out the door, closing it behind her. Her first mate led them down the back stairway to the pub and Morgan struggled with herself all the way down, trying to control her emotions before she had to face Allison’s father.

Jacob stepped off the last step and through the doorway, moving quietly to avoid alerting the older gentleman sitting across the common room of their presence. Allison followed quietly and he heard her sharp intake of breath as she spied her father. The tall man stepped off to one side and watched as his captain passed him, her face so devoid of expression it could have been carved of stone. The only betrayal of the turmoil she was feeling was the weary eyes she turned on him briefly and he smiled sadly at her before she turned and led Allison across the room.

Jacob walked along the perimeter and placed himself against the wall within earshot, but not close enough to interfere and watched as Allison’s father finally glanced up from the small chest he had sat in the middle of the table. His eyes spotted Allison and he jumped to his feet, moving stiffly around the table to embrace her.

"Ahh, Allison, honey, you’re safe!" he exclaimed. Morgan stayed a couple of paces back and Jacob saw the muscles of her jaw flex.

"Hi, Daddy," Allison said quietly. The redhead wrapped her arms around her father in a hug then stepped back, glancing at the chest on the table worriedly. "But…how?" she asked softly. "What about the plantation?"

"Don’t you worry, Allison, dear, some things have changed back home, I won’t lose it," her father answered, patting her hand reassuringly. Jacob watched as her expression brightened for a moment.