"No, darling, I think you wore me out." Allison blushed furiously and pulled her hood up over her head as the driver opened the door. Morgan followed suit then stepped out, turning to help Allison down the steps. Allison pulled the front of her cloak shut and tucked her head deeper into her hood as rain pelted her face, hurrying up the steps ahead of Morgan. The door opened as they reached the top and Morgan guided her inside as John stepped back and motioned them into the foyer.

"Welcome back, Captain," he said rather formally and Allison smothered a laugh as Morgan cocked an eyebrow at him. "We are all glad you were able to fetch your lady." The dark eyebrow arched even further and Allison saw the corner of John’s mouth twitch.

"Thank you, John, it’s wonderful to be back. Would you see if a couple of the stable hands can help get our things from the carriage?" John nodded and disappeared down a side hallway and Morgan looked down at Allison, whose shoulders shook gently with laughter. "And what do you think is so funny, Miss Allison?" The redhead looked up at Morgan in surprise then cleared her throat and smoothed the grin off of her face.

"Nothing, Captain, nothing at all." Morgan tried to give her a stern look that was spoiled by the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth and Allison leaned into her and kissed her sweetly, pulling back when she heard footsteps in the hall.

"John? Who was at the-", Isabelle asked as she came down the hallway, cutting herself off abruptly when she saw who was standing in the foyer. Morgan turned from the coat tree where she was hanging their cloaks and put her hands on her hips, cocking her head and smiling at her friend. "Morgan!!!" Isabelle hurried across the foyer and pulled her into a hug then embraced Allison as well, a beaming smile lighting up her face. "We were just wondering when you would be back!" Isabelle turned and raised her voice. "George, Anne, we have visitors!!" Isabelle returned her attention to her two guests and Allison found herself being scrutinized. The older woman frowned deeply and lifted her hand to touch the redhead’s cheek gently, shooting Morgan a look. "How are you, child?" she asked seriously. Allison smiled as Morgan wrapped an arm around her waist and she leaned her head against her shoulder with a smile.

"I’m much better than I was a week ago, Isabelle," she said softly. Isabelle smiled happily.

"Morgan, Allison!" Anne’s clear voice rang in the entryway as she came running down the stairs, wrapping her arms happily around both women as she reached them. "I’m so glad you’re both back!" Morgan laughed and patted Ann on her back.

"Thank you, Anne, we couldn’t ask for a warmer welcome." Isabelle chuckled and Anne pulled back, a sheepish grin on her face. Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway and George’s tall form filled the archway for a moment before he stepped through.

"Well, well, I guess if anyone were going to be out in this weather it would be you, eh, Morgan?" The captain laughed and moved across the foyer to embrace George. Anne reached out and took Allison’s hand and tugged her towards the stairway.

"Come with me, Allison," she said excitedly. Allison shot a perplexed look at Morgan who shrugged one shoulder then let Anne lead her up the steps. Morgan’s eyes followed her until she was out of sight and Allison waved at her from the top of the stairs.

"Mother and I were certain that she would be successful, so we had a room readied for you two," Anne said in a low voice as they walked down the upstairs hallway. Allison followed Anne as she led her to the end of the hallway, reaching out to push the door open in front of them. The young woman had picked up a candlestick and lit it at the top of the stairs and she now moved surely around the room, turning up lamps to bathe it in warm light. Allison gasped softly and moved slowly into the room, her eyes drinking in the four-poster bed, the chairs set comfortably in front of the fireplace and the pair of matched wardrobes across from the windows. The rain beating against the panes only emphasized the warmth and comfort the room exuded and she found herself eagerly looking forward to curling up in the inviting bed with her lover. Anne leaned against one of the bedposts, watching her with a knowing smile.

"I don’t know what to say, Anne," she finally managed. "I wasn’t sure if your parents would let us stay together when we came back," she said uncertainly. Anne laughed and waved her concern away.

"Oh don’t you worry about that, Allison, they know that the two of you are lovers, but they also know that you are in love and want the both of you to be happy. They also don’t want you staying down by the wharf again. Mother was very worried after the last incident, and she told my father she wasn’t going to let you two be endangered again." Allison felt tears sting her eyes at the ferocity with which her newfound friends defended her lover and brushed at her eyes. Anne moved over to sit in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace and motioned Allison to join her. "Will you tell me what happened since you left? I’ll fill you in on what happened between your father arriving and her departure if you like." Allison cocked her head thoughtfully for a moment then nodded and started relaying her tale.

Morgan watched as Allison disappeared around the curve of the staircase then turned around to find both George and Isabelle watching her with beaming smiles. Laughing, she shook her head at them and headed for the parlor, her body exhausted from the fight with the sails. The couple followed her into the parlor and they all made themselves comfortable. Isabelle looked at Morgan expectantly for a moment then heaved an exasperated sigh.

"Well? What happened, Morgan?" The captain laughed softly at her friend’s impatience.

"We tailed the ship for nearly a week, waiting until they were well out into the ocean before overtaking them. I wanted to make sure that we were well out of anyone’s influence," she said and George nodded understandingly. "They surrendered without a fight, and we boarded Captain Samuel’s ship without a problem. He was rather perplexed initially, wanting to know why we were attacking a ship whose hold was obviously empty. Then Joseph burst onto the deck, all disheveled and with blood on his shirt." Isabelle gasped and Morgan nodded. "My reaction was not a good one. When I found Allison she was unconscious." Morgan paused for a moment as the fury she had felt that day flared up again. She could feel George’s understanding gaze on her and she stared at her clasped hands for a moment longer before continuing. "I carried her back up to the deck and had Jacob take her to my cabin."

"What about Joseph," George asked, "didn’t he try to stop you?" Morgan smiled humorlessly.

"Other than asking me where I thought I was taking his wife, no. He truly is one of those men that just leaves a bad taste in your mouth." Morgan stared unseeingly at the floor and Isabelle reached out a hand to squeeze her arm comfortingly.

"Did you leave then?" she asked quietly. Morgan shook her head.

"No, I left after breaking his nose and heaving him overboard." George let out a laugh that startled Morgan and she smiled ruefully at him. Isabelle cocked her head.

"But you didn’t…." Morgan heard the words her friend left unsaid and shook her head.

"No, I didn’t kill him. I wanted to, trust me, and so did every member of my crew as well as some of Samuel’s, but I didn’t. I didn’t think that Allison would think very highly of me if I did. I just suggested to Samuel that he leave the bastard a dinghy, cut his losses, and head for the nearest port." George’s shoulders shook in a silent chuckle and he nodded knowingly at her.