One last night until the plan was put into action. Emmet, Malec, Captain Sin and the rest of the crew went over the plan, perfected it and thus ended the discussion. The kitchen crew was preparing dinner while Emmet and Malec sat in the crow's nest, away from the bustle on deck.

“When are we getting to England?” Asked Emmet, still unfamiliar with the speed of the ship.

“By noon tomorrow if we stay on the course we’re at. If the winds pick up in our favour, we’ll be there by morning.”

“And if they work against us?”

“Emmet, I know you’re nervous, you won’t take one step without me right next to you. Everything will be alright.” Malec squeezed Emmet’s shoulder in a reassuring way. “Is there something I can do to ease your discomfort?”

Emmet sighed “No, I’ll be alright.” He sighed and looked forward instead of at Malec. The setting sun cast its rays into Emmet’s hair and eyes. The sea was calm, blue stretched all around them and the few clouds had a pink colour cast against them.

“Emmet?” Malec asked.

“Yes?”

“Why have you been so calm? This whole event has probably been earth shattering, so why do you seem to remain in such a sedated state of mind?”

“I really don’t know, I just feel alright with it all. I mean, I am scared half to death, but the crew likes me, I’m staying with you, everything here just seems like a better alternative than anything back home. I supposed the calm is just from shock.” Emmet sighed again. “I don’t suppose I should call that place home though. I think I finally found a place to call home.” He looked back to Malec who was staring. “What?”

“Nothing I just- I’m just glad you’re finally… home.” 

Emmet smiled at Malec's reply. “Finally home. Yeah.” He repeated.

“Since you are staying with us, do you want to continue staying in my room? We could get two beds and rearrange the cabin."

“I think I'd be the most comfortable in your room. We don’t have to get two beds, yours is really comfortable and I don’t mind the close quarters if it means we get to keep the comfortable one.”

“It is comfortable, I stole it from a palace.” Malec said proudly, puffing up his chest a little.

“Liar.” Emmet elbowed Malec’s side. 

Malec laughed. “You’re one to talk, you’re saying you’re alright sleeping with a bloke, you liar!”

Emmet blushed a little. “I am alright with it. Really.”

"You just want me for my bed." Malec pouted.

Malec stopped laughing but still smiled, “Have you considered a partner?"

“A what?” Emmet asked, confused.

“You don’t know what that is? Have you learned anything of a pirate’s life?”

“Not really.”

“Well, you always see Mickey and Ulio together right?”

“Yeah?”

“Since women aren’t usually pirates, men begin to miss the physical aspects of a lover. So sometimes, close friends make an agreement and sometimes have secret or public affairs. We call them ‘mates’ since it can be disguised as friends or comrades, hence 'matey'.”

Malec made a point, Ulio and Mickey, a tall and dangerously scrawny man, were always together, talking, laughing, drinking. Now that he mentioned it, Emmet had sometimes seen them exchange a fond brush of a hand on the other’s arm or a sneaking glance and a smile, they always seemed to be admiring each other.

“You mean to say… they have a relationship?”

“Smart one you are.”

"Where exactly are you going with this?

“Well have you ever loved a woman or a man before?”

Emmet blushed again. “Well, no. I mean I haven’t ever given it much thought. I was told to want women, but I never fancied anyone so I just gave up considering them.” Emmet hadn’t ever considered men an option.

“You’ve got a funny way of thinking kid.” Malec said, “What’s that look for?”

“Have you ever loved a man or a woman?” Emmet asked.

“Of course, I’ve loved both. Perhaps no woman has ever met your ideals because,” Malec swept Emmet into a dip and pulled his head close to his own “you’ve needed a man to sweep you off your feet.” He finished in a deep voice. Emmet was bright cherry red at this point and Malec waited a second then burst out laughing, helping Emmet get his balance. “I’m kidding.”

"And what the hell was that for?"

Malec ignored him. “As we go about in our daily lives, I want you to keep an eye out for potential men you’d consider being with. Women too, but I want you to try to focus mostly on men.” Malec gestured to the ship. “Any one there?”

Emmet looked around, no one looked quite his type, given that most were full grown men or women. “I don’t think this is going to work, Malec.”

“Perhaps you just don’t want a relationship with anyone.”

“Perhaps.” Emmet turned away from the rail and found Malec only inches away from him. “Christ!” Emmet jumped back and felt himself tip towards the edge, he and Malec both snapped forward, Emmet grabbed him by the shoulders and Malec snached his shirt at his sides and yanked Emmet back to the middle of the nest. They both stood for a while, holding the mast and each other.

“Emmet, if you do that again, I’ll die of heart attack.” Emmet nodded and clung tightly to Malec’s arm. “Perhaps we should move somewhere you can’t fall off.” Malec laughed, Emmet laughed nervously and climbed down the ropes.

Is this the kind of man I want to marry? Emmet asked himself.

This is the kind of person I’d love to be married to. Malec thought to himself as he looked at Emmet, with a slightly flushed face.

He is. Besides, we wouldn't have to act like husbands all the time. Emmet answered himself while looking at Malec.