Brielle was known to be a kind and patient girl, when she was well rested, well fed, and not on the run from pirates. The Brielle sitting here now was someone Jim had never met, but something about her felt familiar. The way she ordered the pirates around like she owned the place, the way the pirate who had brought them tea had avoided eye contact, Jim knew he had seen this before.

No one had said a word since they came aboard the ship, all sitting tired and slightly confused by the young woman in their company. Jim watched her pacing, the two different thuds her boots made on the floor capturing his sleep deprived attention. She sat down briefly at the desk in the cabin, but stood back up immediately to continue pacing.

"So uh, Bri, what is going on?" Jim ventures to ask after a moment. She looks at him, her eyes sad.

"Well I uh, it's just that," she stumbles to get her words together, unsure of what to say. Her strength was failing her, and while normally she could think of a way out of the situation, right now she was lost. "I'm not really used to having to protect this many people, and now I'm realizing that it was a mistake to come here. We would've been better off on Fang's ship."

"Why do you say that?" Amelia speaks up. "Not that this would ever be my first choice, but you seem to have authority here," her tone wasn't angry, but somewhat accusatory.

"Well on Fang's ship, we would've been sold off as slaves most likely, which means we would be at this port anyway. And while we would be separated, at that point I could've freed myself, and then bartered all of you into freedom, at which point Fang couldn't harm us. But also he probably would've killed me before we got here because he probably would've realized who I was and at that point anyway and it would be easier to kill me than getting rid of the evidence of trying to sell me because then he would be dead, but so would all of you," Brielle was running on fumes at this point, and had rambled everything in one breathe. She breathed deeply, trying to regain her posture.

"Bri, who are you?" Jim steps up to put a hand on her shoulder. At the same time, Amelia, who was the least happy to be where they were, began poking at objects on the desk.

"Oh no Ms. Amelia, wait!" Brielle pushes Jim aside and jumps forward, as Amelia touches a picture projector. The first picture was a young girl, smiling happily, the curls on her head tied up in a light blue bandana. It flashed to another one, the same girl, a little older now, sitting at one of the cannons on a ship next to crewmen. Another one, this time the girl with a sword striking a familiar cybernetic arm. And the last one, the girl much older, grinning, sitting on the shoulder of the cyborg, holding a letter out in front of her.

The projection stopped, and nobody really wanted to move. Brielle could feel tears forming. She had thought about telling Jim at one point, but never like this. While she figured that there was no way her companions wouldn't have found out eventually, she had hoped at least she would be in a better state to admit it. But, seeing those pictures, those happy memories that she'll never get back, reveal her secret, she was lost.

"Why didn't you tell us Brielle, there's no need to worry!" Sarah was the first to speak. She was the only one who had never met this SIlver, but from the differing opinions from the Dopplers and Jim, she wasn't sure what to make of the man. But knowing that Brielle seemed to have been raised by him, and what a lovely young woman she was, there was no way this Silver could be the horrible pirate Amelia especially made him out to be.

"Oh, we should be the ones worried! Who knows what his pirate lead us to," Amelia snarls at Brielle.

"Oh yes, the girl weeping after trying to protect her family is a fierce pirate who doesn't care about us at all," Sarah glares at Amelia, and pulls Brielle into a hug. Jim steps up next to them, between them and the Doppler's.

"C'mon ma'am, she obviously is here as a last resort, this was never supposed to happen!" Jim wasn't sure how to feel. So Brielle was Silver's daughter? Alright, that's...not something he expected. While now the familiarity he felt from her was explained, there were a lot of questions bouncing around his mind.

Amelia stood up to continue her argument, when the door burst open. Silver walked in, unchanged from the last time either Brielle or Jim had seen him. Brielle pushed away from Sarah, and ran up in front of her father. She takes a deep breath, then begins speaking in a language Jim had never heard

"Da, m'sorry but I wasn't sure what to do. We were captured by a Captain Fang, and I just- I did my best to keep them all safe," Brielle gestures towards her companions. Silver crosses his arms, listening intently to what she was saying. "And when we got here I thought about asking someone else, but I was scared because there's five of us no one I knew would take us on board, and Jim-" Brielle continues, Jim perking up hearing his name between snarled words , "was pushing to see you, and I knew I would have to explain why if we didn't come here, and I, I-i just, " she sobs back tears.

"Lass, y'know I would kill for ya," Silver starts, pulling her into a hug. While under most circumstances he does his best not to show his softer side, seeing his daughter cry, especially after all this time, he couldn't avoid it. "It might be a bit 'o trouble getting you all on your way, especially with that cap'n there, but you did fine," Silver pulls Brielle slightly tighter, then moves her over to one arm. "Jimbo m'boy! Long time no see! Cap'n, Doc, good t'see ya as well," Silver's jovial voice booms around the cabin.

"That's Jim's mom, Sarah," Brielle whispers to her father, voice muffled even more as she pressed her face into his long coat.

"Oh and Mrs. Hawkins, pleasure t'meet ya!" Silver continued with help from his daughter. "Now what's this m'girl here was telling me about those nasty pirates?" Silver laughs out those last words. After the life he had lived, very few things could tear his spirits down.

"So we're just meant to start there, then? The fact that this woman who has been with us is a pirate herself, we're just to ignore?" Ameila, of course, is the first to question their situation.

"What's there t'say? This young lass is my daughter y'see, but she ain't a pirate," Silver adds emphasis to his words. "She hasn't been aboard a proper pirate vessel in years, and if she wasn't who she is, where d'ya think you would be now?" In response, Amelia turns her head away.

"Fang is gonna come after us," Brielle unburies herself from her father's arm. "Unless we convince him t'back off, and that's not gonna be easy," she says, and her father nods.

"But Silver, can't you just tell him it's not worth it? It seemed to work for Bri," Jim asks. So much had happened in a short period of time, and he was lost.

"Well, I've met this Fang a time or two, and it won't be easy. Not sure how she got y'out, but I'm sure he ain't happy 'bout it. Which means he'll be looking for some kinda payment for losin' a bounty."

"I may have hit a few of them," Brielle tries to smile. The pain from her injuries was starting to return, now that she had time to calm down.

"I'll see what I can do," SIlver starts to head back towards the door. "Fer now, get some rest, I'll get the crew t'bring ya some comforts. Brielle, m'dear," he pauses and puts his jacket around her shoulders, "don't let it get ya too down," he finishes, and leaves the room.

Brielle sat, facing her companions. Her father's coat wrapped around her, and all her strength gone as her injuries reminded her they were there.

"So are you gonna explain this or…?" Jim questions. Brielle pulls the coat a bit tighter around her.

"So when I was young, I wished that someone would come and rescue me, or at least make my family nice to me. And maybe I wished a little too hard, because I was rescued by the only pirate in existence that would do anything to protect me. Even if in this version of a rescue, it means my family was dead," Brielle's voice was cold. If they wanted the truth, they were going to hear it. "So Mr. Silver took me on his ship, and I guess I learned to be a pirate, for seven years of my life. Then I went to a school, where an accident crushed my arm and leg. And then after I graduated I went to Montressor, and now I'm here. I-I don't know what you want me to say."

"So this is all coincidence? You just happened to find us, without knowing we all knew Silver?"

"Jim, the day I met you, and I saw you had Morph, I may have wanted to kill you. The last I had heard from my dad, he was safe, but I wouldn't be able to see him for awhile."

"Why didn't you tell me! Bri, if you had said-,"

"Because I was angry! I thought about telling you eventually, but just going 'hey y'know that pirate that may have led a mutiny on your ship that one time? Oh yeah he's my father. All those other pirates? Yeah I grew up with most of them and they were basically my family, oh no don't worry I know you didn't mean to kill some of them!' I don't think that would've come off very well!" Bri's voice was tired, but rage comes off her like a fire. Bruises were starting to show on her face, and suddenly the rest of the group felt very small. Brielle had never been especially intimidating, but now it was hard to tell from the anger fuming off of her. "I didn't-I never expected to meet any of you. I never wanted to," she sighed and hid herself in the coat, her fire extinguished.

Silence rested into the cabin. There wasn't much anyone wanted to say now. Silver had come in for a moment with some of his crew and set up beds for them, but had left without saying a word. He still had a ship to run, and knew his daughter and her companions needed rest.

The adults had fallen asleep fairly quickly, which left Jim and Brielle sitting in silence, trying to communicate through a series of eye rolls and sighs. After a few moments of this, Brielle gets up, gesturing to Jim, and walks out of the cabin.

"So, is this to weird for you?" Brielle breaks the silence.

"It might take another day, but I think I'll get used to it."

"I can try to make it worse then, but you'll have to give me awhile because everything hurts," she smiles. The crew on the ship were fully aware of who she was, and nodded to her as they passed. Seeking some privacy, Brielle and Jim climb somewhat awkwardly up into the crows nest.

"So, what's gonna happen now?"

"I dunno. Da still has to do whatever business he was taking care of, so I'm not sure when he'll be back. Fang is probably trying to figure out the best way to confront us, so that's something we might have to deal with." Suddenly a smile spreads across her face, "So you still think it would be funny to ask m'da to marry your mum?" Brielle laughs, recalling talking about that a few months back. Jim looked at her in horror for a second, remembering that.

"Never. She would scare the pirate out of him, though."

"I've never met a woman so calm after a day like today. I'm sure if given the chance, she would've mothered Fang and his crew into submission," Brielle smiled, moving closer to Jim.

"So you really had no idea when you started working at the Benbow? Silver didn't send you to find us?"

"Oh, no. That was all accidental. Fate just wanted me to meet you, it seems," Brielle replied. "I didn't know until I saw you with- Oh no! Poor Morph!" she exclaimed suddenly. "The poor little bugger is home all alone! Who knows when we'll be back!"

"Hey, I'm sure he'll be fine. We were supposed to be gone for a few weeks anyway," Jim reassures her. They thought it would be better to leave the strange creature at home, away from the scientists they were supposed to be around.

"I guess you're right. Just, so much has happened," Brielle leaned on Jim's shoulder.

The two kids fell asleep up there, leaning their heads on each other. Sarah was the first of the others to wake up, and was sitting on the stairs to the deck, watching the pirates wander back and forth around the ship. She had never minded pirates, and was actually fascinated by their culture. Many had thought it was Jim's father, who had always been a sailor, that got him interested in them. But it was actually Sarah, who had grown up with stories from her grandfather. When Jim was young she would repeat the stories she had been told, and was the one that had bought him the children's book about Flint. She could see her son's feet hanging out from the crow's nest, and had a feeling that he had fallen asleep up there, so she didn't worry too much for him.

Sarah was waiting for Silver to return, wanting to thank him for how he helped Jim. She had a vague idea of what had happened on their voyage to Treasure Planet, and wasn't so sure the man was the best role model for her son. But he had helped Jim out of the depression the boy had slumped into, and that was good enough for her. The man had managed to raise Brielle, who was one of the most polite and well-mannered young woman she had met. That was something Sarah was always surprised about. Pirates were some of the most well-mannered people she had seen, when they were not committing whatever crime they chose. Before the Benbow, she had worked with her parents at another inn, at a heavily frequented port. She had met many sailors, and knew many to be pirates. The pirates were always the first to jump to her aid when one of the other rabble would start groping at her.

It wasn't long before she saw the pirate walking back towards the ship, a few of his crew in tow with something or other. She stood up, adjusting her clothes slightly. She carried herself proudly up to the pirate, who nodded in acknowledgment of her, and sent his crew off with a wave of the hand. "Aye, Mrs. Hawkins?" he asked.

"Just, Sarah, if you please. I wanted to thank you, for helping us, and especially Jim. My son changed so much after that trip, for the better, I might add," she says, pleasantly.

"Ah, Jimbo is quite th'young man."

"He spoke fondly of you, and despite what Amelia and Delbert have to say, I trust his judgement. And also, thank you for whatever you did that brought Brielle into our lives. That girl is a wonder."

While Sarah and Silver talked, Amelia and Delbert woke up, both coming to join them. Brielle also woke up, and laid her head in Jim's lap. The adults talked about how they were to get home, but Silver's mentioning of Brielle staying with him lead to immediate backlash from Sarah.

"You cannot make that decision! Let her decide whether or not she returns with us!"

"She may be your child, but that doesn't give you a right to make decisions for her," Amelia adds. She wasn't happy that the girl was Silver's daughter, but with the initial shock worn off, she still liked Brielle. Silver looked at the two women that were about ready to rip him to shreds. Neither were particularly frightening, Silver towered over both of them. But the way they spoke without fear to him, left him slightly overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do.

"If I asked her, would it make ya feel better?" he asked hesitantly. Both women nod, accepting that idea. "Brielle!" he shouts up to where they assumed she was. Sure enough, Brielle swung herself down a few moments later. Silver decided it would be better to take Brielle off the ship, and the two could talk alone, since he hadn't talked with her since their arrival. Jim woke up in time to see them leaving, and hastily joined, wanting to see the city now that he had rested.

Silver kept his left arm tight on Brielle, knowing the girl would want to run off as soon as she had a chance. Jim walked on his right, sticking close and looking around curiously at everything that was passing by him. The three of them walked along past stores, Brielle occasionally bubbling up about something. If the circumstances of seeing his daughter were better, Silver would have enjoyed walking with the two kids.

The moment Silver tried to talk to Brielle, however, he had the sudden realization that she was a teenager, only seventeen. He had only spent time with Jim as a teen. Brielle had spent nearly all of those years in school, and the few times he had seen her, she didn't act up. But there was so much that had happened to the girl in the past day alone, that it was hard for her to keep herself inline. Silver dropped his hand from the hold he had on his daughter, but she turned right around and hugged him. Caught off guard, he looked down at her. Jim repeated her action, so both kids were holding tight onto the man. Silver sighed, and wrapped his arms around both the children, glad that they were mostly out of the way, and not in view of everyone.

"I know that you're gonna want me to stay with you, Da. But I like living with Jim and his mum," Brielle sobbed into her father's stomach. "If I could visit, it would be fine. But I know- I know-" her voice cuts off into more sobs. Silver was not ready to deal with this. Jim came to the rescue of the inept father pirate, however, by whispering something to Brielle. She smacked her arm out at Jim, and started laughing, tears still streaming down her face.

"C'mon, Bri! It's a great idea!" Jim laughs, jumping back. She jumps at him, and wrestles the boy to the ground. But she starts laughing too hard and rolls off of him.

"Not on your life, would that be a great idea," Brielle responds, wiping her eyes. Silver decides he'd rather not know what Jim had said, and just shakes his head at the kids, and half to himself. Why did he have to care about either of these children? He watched Brielle help Jim up, then proceed to push him back down when he apparently repeated whatever was making her upset.

"What are ya fightin' 'bout?" Silver asks, now deciding he'd like to know. Both kids look at each other, then back to him.

"Nothing?" Brielle says, but looking at Jim she once again breaks down laughing. Giving up trying to understand them, he grabs the kids by their shoulders, picking them up onto their feet.

"Now Brielle, I do want ya t'come with me. But i'tis your decision," Silver finally says what he needed to. Brielle looks at up at her father, opening and closing her mouth a few times, trying to find a response. Instead, she grabs his and Jim's hands, and starts pulling them towards a store she suddenly decided was more important. It was full of strange animals from various worlds, and she sat down in front of one of the cages. Jim sat beside her, and the two watched the creature look back at them curiously. Silver sighs, knowing he would have to give Brielle time to have an answer. But he didn't have time, he was supposed to be off by midday the next day, and he would like to get them all on a ship home before then.

Brielle stood up after a few minutes, saying she was hungry. Linking arms with Jim, the two walked out of the store, and Silver followed behind them, cursing his soft heart. They walked into a different shop, and Brielle bought a giant loaf of bread, paying for it with money Silver knows she stole from him somehow. With all Brielle had been through, she was holding up like nothing was wrong. While bruises covered her face, and she occasionally winced from moving her wounded side too much, it would be difficult to guess what she had been through.

They finally walked back to the ship, where one of the crew rushed down to meet them.

"Cap'n Silver, sir! Cap'n Fang is on board, looking for you and Ms. Brielle," the man says.

"Has he tried anything?" Silver asks, all of them walking quicker to get on the ship.

"No sir, he just arrived."

They rushed up, Silver standing protectively in front of his daughter. Fang stood there, with some of his own crew. Fang smirked at them, stepping closer to Silver.

"Ah, John Silver," Fang's smooth voice dripped venom, as he said the name.

"What d'ya want?" Silver snarled back, he knew Fang, and didn't much care for the fox.

"Your daughter. You see, she attacked part of my crew," he motions to the men that Brielle had hurt, "and stole one of my boats."

"From what I heard, it was yer own fault, Fang. Brielle was jus' protectin' her friends, is all."

"Well, that may be how you see it. But I deserve recompense, for what she did. I'm sure you'd rather make a payment, than let your precious daughter duel me," Fangs smirks at this. Silver, knowing that Fang just wanted him to appear soft, grabs Brielle roughly by the shoulder, throwing her forward.

"She'll duel ya," Silver crosses his arms, glaring down at the other captain. He would rather not let Brielle do that, but couldn't let anyone see his soft side. It tended not to end well for him.

"Oh," Fang looks mildly surprised, but regains his composure quickly. "Well, it will be to the death, just so we're clear," he smirks. Both Brielle and her father had the same scowl, looking at him.

"Fine by me," Brielle sneers. On the outside she appeared ready to kill the man. On the inside, she was cursing everyone, and wanting to run and hide behind her father. She'd fought, and nearly killed people, but never before was there a guarantee that someone would die.

"To make it fair I'll ask you to remove those knives from your arm."

"Oh, so you're scared I'm gonna win?" Brielle says, handing the knives off to her father. She takes her necklace off as well, and then glances at Jim, who looked terrified. "Don't worry, Jim," she smiles to her not-quite-brother, "I'll be alright."

In the few minutes that passed, a large group had formed, excited to watch the duel. People came aboard the ship, but Silver paid them no mind, just keeping a sharp eye on his daughter. The onlookers made a circle, where it would take place. Brielle had given Sarah a hug, and kept a smile on her face. If she was going to die, she was going to make sure her friends remembered her with a smile. She gave a final nod to her father, and turned to face Fang, who was pacing opposite of the circle from her.

"Ready to die, you bastard?" Brielle swings her arm out, brandishing her sword. In response, the fox leaps forward, thrusting his own sword. The two dance back and forth for a moment, each easily evading the other's attack. Brielle manages to get the first strike, slashing Fang's side under his sword. He hopped back quickly assessing the damage, before leaping back at the girl. Again, they evaded each other's attacks, but both grew tired from hopping about so quickly. Fang managed to slap Brielle across the face with the flat of his blade, and she stumbled back. He took that opportunity to kick her in the stomach, pushing her down onto her back. He stood over her, a devilish smile on his face.

"Anything you'd like to say, brat?" he hissed, stepping on her right arm so she couldn't move it. She looked up, her eyes steel and sharp, mouth frowning. Her eyes were focused on him, she didn't say a word. "What? No begging?" he stepped forward, driving his sword deep into her side, below the ribs. Brielle gasped in pain, but a smile formed on her lips.

"I told you," she panted, trying not to let the pain cloud her mind. "I told you it was a mistake crossing me!" she manages a yell, and grasps the knife she kept in her left leg. Fang had been leaning over her at the perfect height, and she slashed the knife over his exposed throat. He steps back, choking, holding his throat as blood poured out of it. Brielle grasps the sword still in her side, and stands up. "YOU DON'T CROSS A SILVER!" she thunders as Fang bleeds out on the deck. Darkness starts to claim the edge of her vision, as her own wound was bleeding, slower than her victim's. She falls backward into her father's arms, who rushed forward now that Fang was gone.

Jim held onto his friend's hand, anxiously waiting for her to wake up. They were in a hospital within the city, and Brielle had been asleep since they had left the ship. The whole duel was vivid in Jim's mind. He stood behind Silver, his heart beating rapidly, knowing his friend was going to be hurt. Amelia and Delbert were next to him, while Sarah was far away, not wishing to see the fight. He watched Brielle and Fang dance around each other, but as soon as Fang had caught her, he tried to rush forward to help. Silver had stuck his hand out, blocking the boy from rescuing his friend, so he could just watch helplessly. Watching the sword being driven through his friends side, Jim's eyes widened in horror. He was amazed at Brielle's determination, she never let the pain show on her face. Fang's death was the most repeated scene in his mind. Brielle surprised them all, taking the extra knife from her leg. While her right arm was pinned and useless, her left arm had slashed the knife like she had done it a thousand times. Her last yell about crossing a Silver had taken the last of her energy, as she was also bleeding out. Silver was the first to her, catching her, and not spending a moment waiting, rushing her to the hospital. Sarah, of all people, was the one that kept everyone together. She sent Fang's crew away, and all the other onlookers. She instructed Silver's crew to clean up Fang's body and blood, and then had someone lead them to the hospital, so they could be beside Brielle.

The doctors stopped the bleeding well enough, but she had lost a lot of blood. She would be fine, so long as her wound didn't reopen. While just a few hours before, Silver had hugged both Brielle and Jim close, he was now ice, not even glancing at Jim. He had a scowl on his face, and didn't talk. Jim and the others stayed back from him, not wanting to be within range, should his anger get the best of him. After a few hours, the doctors moved Brielle into her own room, and instructed everyone to be quiet around her, to let her rest. Silver had left and come back a few times, not sitting still for more than a few minutes. He left Brielle's knives on the table beside her, and had cleaned the knife she killed Fang with. Silver would get up and pace, then leave as a crew member came to talk, then sit back down, and repeat the cycle. Jim watched him, feeling sorry for the pirate. But he was also angry, that Silver had let his daughter be hurt like that. He didn't care that it would show he was soft, Brielle could have died, and there was still a possibility of it.

Sarah got up at one point, and returned with food for all of them. No one was exactly sure where she had got it from, but no one had energy to ask her. Silver was outside the room, talking in a hushed voice with one of his crew. After distributing food to those within, Sarah placed a soft hand on Silver shoulder, handing him the last plate. He looked slightly surprised, and finished talking to the man, sending him away. Most of the food went to waste for all of them. Jim didn't even take a bite, just swirled the food around the plate. His mind went over and over what had happened that week, still not convinced any of it was real. They had been on a giant ship, for a dumb science convention he wasn't that excited to be on. They got attacked by pirates. He found out that his closest friend was the daughter of a pirate. And not just any pirate, but Silver of all people. Then, for just a moment, Jim felt like he had a complete family, joking with Brielle. But it was all taken away, watching Brielle fall.

It was well into the night, when Brielle's eyes opened, and Jim gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Her eyes were unfocused, but swept across the room, and then closed again. An hour or so later, they opened again, and this time she spoke. She called softly to her father, and the two talked in a language the others couldn't understand. Brielle fell back unconscious soon after. As dawn approached, Silver talked with the doctors about his daughter, and then told the others he was leaving. He expected the backlash from them, wondering how he could leave his daughter as she laid half dead in the hospital. Jim's argument was the most fierce. The boy followed the pirate out, all the way to his ship. Not once did he stop yelling that he couldn't leave. He yelled about how it was going to hurt Brielle, not realizing that it was going to hurt him too. Silver turned to him when they got to the ship, and he saw tears streaming down Jim's face. The boy had seen his own father leave without so much as a goodbye, and seeing Silver leave again had brought up that memory.

Silver clasped a hand onto the boy's shoulder. He apologized, but gave no explanation to his departure, aside from that he had to. He said goodbye to Jim, and the boy watched him leave. Jim's walk back was slow, and he just gazed ahead, trying not to think too hard about it. Brielle woke up that night again, and this time stayed conscious. She didn't say much, but a nurse brought in food, that she managed to eat. Not once did she ask about her father, but she did try to make sure everyone else was ok. After an hour or so, she fell back to sleep.

The next morning, she woke up, and Jim started to talk about Silver. "You know Silver left, right?" he assumed that's what they had talked about the other night.

"Yeah. He left money for a ship home, and paid the hospital."

"And you're ok with this? He just left you, Brielle. He didn't even try to help you, when you almost died! Are you sure he cares about you?"

"He had to, Jim. If he stayed, he might have lost control of his ship. Lots of pirates respect or fear him. But if he showed weakness he would lose that."

"You're his daughter though! Isn't there some kind of exception?"

"Jim, these are pirates. They will cut someone's throat, given the chance," she paused, remembering what she had done. "And you need to understand, he wasn't always a pirate, so there's already a fault on him."

"He wasn't always a pirate?" that caught Jim off guard. He didn't know all that much about Silver, or pirates in general, he just assumed they were born into piracy. "What do you mean?"

"You know that crazy adventure you all went on? To Treasure Planet? That stupid thing was how he lost his arm and leg! His children died because of that stupid map," Brielle was angry, because Jim was mad at her father, and had no reason to be in her mind. "You want to know why he took me in? Why he likes you so much? Pirates came after him, because of that map. They burned a ship he was on, and his children ended up dying!" Brielle paused for a moment, her anger was aggravating her side, and she took a few deep breaths. She could see the shock on Jim's face as she talked, but ignored it. "He almost died too! The reason he was so obsessed with it was because he had no life after his children died! He chased that map, and never found the ones that hurt him. Don't you dare say he doesn't care, Jim," she finished talking, her anger subsiding now.

"He had children once? Not just you?" Jim was the most shocked by that. Brielle does her best to repeat the story Silver had told her, so many years ago. About halfway through, Sarah came in. She and both the Dopplers had been given a room that had beds they could sleep in. When Brielle finished her patchy story, she just stared up at the ceiling, remembering she had promised not to tell anyone.

Jim didn't say anything after that, he just sat in silence next to Brielle. Sarah, who only got half the story, didn't want to question Brielle on it. They spent the next few days in the hospital, Brielle was up and walking everyday since she had fully woken up. At the end of the week, the doctors said she could leave, as long as she didn't stress her wound. Brielle was ready as soon as they gave her the ok. She replaced her knives back into her arm and leg, and then looked around confused. "Where's my necklace? My crest?" she searched around as well she could, but no one knew what she was talking about. "I gave it to Da before the duel, with my knives!" she was frantic, making everyone search for it. With no luck, she tells a doctor as she was leaving to keep an eye out for it, but she had a feeling her father had kept it. So she couldn't come back, so she couldn't prove she was Silver's daughter.

They got aboard a ship to Montressor, thankful it would go straight to the spaceport. It took two days to return home, and Brielle realized that Amelia might try to send the navy after it. But Amelia said she'd rather not deal with that mess, and Brielle let it go. Returning to the inn felt strange to Brielle. It had only been two weeks since they left, if they hadn't been attacked by pirates it would have been the same time. But nothing felt right, and she just laid in her bed for a day. Jim tried to tell Morph what had happened, and the little blob was happy at the mention of Silver. Sarah let them rest that night, but was set on opening the inn the next day, hoping work would keep the two kid's minds busy.

While Brielle couldn't do much until her side healed, she did her best to help Sarah. Brielle and Jim didn't talk to each other, besides asking for something occasionally. This went on for about two weeks, until they finally started talking again. It wasn't so much that they didn't want to talk, but neither knew what to say. But as soon as they did start talking, they apologized profusely to each other. They were close once again, and they decided there was going to be nothing secret between them.

One night Amelia and Delbert came over, and they discussed everything that had happened, now that it was way behind them. Amelia wasn't going to say anything about Brielle's pirate life. She worked honestly now, and from what Amelia saw, only acted in defense.

"Your father, however," Amelia started. Brielle looked at her, daring to continue. "I'm sorry, Brielle. But nothing short of a miracle would I let that man escape what's due. While he did help us, there's so much that he's done, I can't just ignore that."

"I understand," Brielle says softly. None of them expected her to answer like that. "I doubt I'll ever seen him again, anyway," she sighed. In the hospital, her father had told her that he was going to be away for a while. She didn't call him out on it, but she knew that meant he'd never be back for her. Keeping her crest confirmed that, but she trusted his judgement.

"It's ok, Brielle. You'll always be my sister," Jim smiled at her. They had decided that, knowing blood didn't matter. She gave a quick smile, but didn't talk more. She was holding a cup of tea, and sipped at it.

"I would be proud to call you my daughter," Sarah added. A knock on the door distracts her, and she moves to go answer.

"One day we should go to Ursa," Brielle says. "I think my grandparents would really like you Jim."

"How far is that from here? I'm not really a fan of long trips now."

"Like a week? But then we could stay as long as we want, grandma would prob-" Brielle pauses. Sarah had just opened the door and the voice from the other side was unmistakable. "Da?" she and Jim run to Sarah's side as fast as they can. The cyborg was standing just outside the door, holding two large boxes.

"Ain't it a bit late fer ya t'be up, lass?" Silver laughs and makes his way into the Inn. The Dopplers glance at each other, and decide it's for the best they leave.

"If I catch you here tomorrow, Silver," Amelia doesn't need to finish her threat. Both Jim and Briella glare at her as she makes her way out.

"Would you care for tea or anything?" Sarah asks. Always the calm and rational one, this unexpected visit didn't bother her. Silver goes to respond, but she's already through to the kitchen, leaving the pirate and the children alone.

"Why'd you come here?" Brielle asks.

"What, I can't see me own daughter?" Silver tries to laugh. "I didn't want t'leave ya when I did, and it's been breaking me heart t'think about it," he sighs. "I guess I really have gone soft."

"You mean you've always been soft," Jim grins. Brielle laughs and seconds it.

"It's good t'see you two gettin' along," Silver says, and shoves one of the boxes at each of them. "Wasn't plannin' on seein' ya again, Jimbo, but I figured I owed botha you somethin'."

They open the boxes, and they're both filled with an assortment of items. Brielle's has a new coat and hat to match her father's, some odds and ends from different planets, a sword, among other items the pirate knew she would like. Jim's had a similar coat, a few old weapons that Jim had definitely seen in the pirate books he read growing up, and some other things. Both of them immediately put on the coats, and reached down. In the pocket of both their coats was something Brielle had been missing.

"My crest! I thought-"

"I wasn't going t'let ya keep it when I left you. But I realized, if something like t'at were t'happen again, I would be leavin' ya without an extra leg up."

"But, why would you give me one too?" Jim asks, looking down at the crest he had retrieved.

"Well, I just thought," Silver starts. He didn't want to admit it outloud now, but he did sort of think of Jim like a son.

"It's cause you're m'brother," Brielle says, and pushes her shoulder into Jim to knock him off balance. Silver was thankful his daughter knew him so well. Jim pushed Brielle back, and the two began a shoving war with each other as Sarah returned from the kitchen.

"Oh you two both look so handsome in those coats!" Sarah smiles as she puts down tea. "Jim do you remember when you used to play pirates and run around in one of my blouses?"

"Mom, please don't," Jim begins to protest, but it was too late. Sarah pulled a picture projector down from a nearby shelf, and flipped to one. A young Jim was holding a toy sword, wearing his mother's shirt, and giggling excitedly. Silver laughs at the image, and pulls out some pictures of his own.

"Ok Da wait, stop, did you plan this or what?" Brielle asks. Both her and Jim are red in the face from embarrassment, and both the parents ignore them. Nothing could have prepared Brielle to see her father like this. She knew he was soft hearted when it came to her, but this was at another level. She and Jim sat down together, watching both parents flip through what seemed to be endless pictures of both their childhoods.

"I didn't even know mom had this many pictures," Jim whispers to Brielle.

"Ok, but it kinda makes sense for her. Since when did a pirate have time to take this many?" Brielle whispers back.

They sat there for a few minutes, watching pictures of their childhoods. While very different, seeing the pictures side by side, and hearing the parents' comments, there were also similarities. They both had somewhat difficult upbringings, with Jim's father leaving and Brielle's being Silver. They both "played" pirates, although one was more...involved.

Once both parents had run out of pictures, they all sat in silence for a moment. It had been nearly two decades since Silver had felt peace like this. The two kids were picking at each other, getting along like they really were siblings. Sarah was smiling at them trying to get Jim to stop picking at Brielle. That made Silver laugh, as they all knew she was the tougher one between the two.

"Da, where are you going after this?" Brielle's lighthearted mood dropped. The realization that this sudden visit seemed final hit her.

"Yer not goin't'like it, lass," Silver sighs. He was tired. After seeing Brielle go through so much, he realized he didn't want this life anymore. The reason he had become a pirate was gone. Seeing Brielle half dead in the hospital made him realize that this life wasn't worth it. He had left his crew, and wasn't planning on ever returning to them. In fact, he wasn't planning on seeing two days from then. "I've given up the pirate's life."

"Oh? That's great! Are you going back to Ursa then? Because if you do I might want to come with because-"

"That's not going t'happen, Brielle."

"Oh, um, were you going to stay here? That would be better! I'm sure it might be weird with Ms. Amelia around, but she'll get used to it," Brielle's excitement isn't echoed by the rest of them. Jim shifts closer to her and puts an arm around her shoulders, and Sarah cleans up the cups they had finished. Brielle feels the cold mood, and slowly she comes to terms with what Silver meant. "Oh."

"M'sorry lass, but it would happen sooner or later. There's no draw left, and yer the only thing keepin' me afloat here."

"But, but you can't!" Brielle yells, and goes to stand up to face her father. Jim holds her down, and he wraps her into a tight hug. "You can't do this Da! You- there has to be another way! I'm sure you can avoid getting caught! Or I don't know, go join grandpa? I just- I don't- why?" Brielle breaks into sobs. Jim can feel himself start to cry, but does his best to hold it in.

"Brielle, I wanted to say goodbye," Silver says, softly. He kneels down in front of the kids. "If I were t'stay out there, who knows when I would see ya next. And who knows if I would be able t'say goodbye if somethin' were t'happen to me. I couldn't do that t'ya," he says, pulling both of them into a hug. Jim too starts to sob, and if it weren't for that, he would've noticed Silver himself had begun to cry.

Silver stayed there that night, neither Brielle nor Jim budging from his side. Sarah had gently led Silver, half carrying the two children, up to a room, and the three of them fell asleep holding each other.

The next morning Brielle woke up first. She was curled up in her father's side, and decided she was never moving. Jim woke up slowly after her, and decided the same thing. They looked at each other sadly. Silver was the only family Brielle had ever truly known, and she didn't know what to do. While his reasoning made sense, she hated it. Jim had already had one father leave him, a second was going to crush him. He too understood Silver's reason, and was grateful that he had stopped here to say goodbye. The two of them softly whispered to each other, trying to reassure the other that everything would be alright. Silver had woken up before this, and listened intently to his kids. And, upon realizing that he had just referred to them as "his kids", moved just enough to alert them that he was awake.

"Jim and I have come up with a great plan. It's that we're never going to move, so you can't ever move," Brielle hugs him tightly. Jim echoes her, and Silver hugs them both. But. Silver is also twice the size of both of them put together, so he breaks out of their attempts to hold him down, and stands up. "Da, please don't do this."

"Lass, I wish there was a way to avoid it."

"Well like, don't just turn yourself in or whatever your plan was! Ask for a trial! Draw it out as long as possible! Jim and I will find a way to save you."

"Silver, if you die, I'll never forgive you."

The three made their way downstairs, where Sarah is busy waiting tables. Jim and Brielle hop to work quickly, both keeping an eye on Silver to make sure he doesn't leave. After all the tables were satisfied for the moment, they return to Silver. Again they try to come up with ideas to save the old pirate, but there seems to be nothing they could do.

"Ah, Silver, you are still here," Amelia says. Brielle and Jim turn in sync to slightly glare at the feline.

"O'course cap'n wouldn't want t'spoil the justice you've been seekin'," Silver jokes. He leans over and hugs his kids tightly. "Don't blame 'er now, y'know she's just doin' whats right," he whispers to them.

"But it's not right," Brielle whispers back. While she wants to cry, she holds it in.

"We know it's not her fault," Jim says, holding Brielle's hand. "Mom and I will take care of Bri, so don't worry."

"Thank ya, lad."

"Da, I-" Brielle stops, holding back her tears. Silver kisses the top of her head.

"I love ya, lass."

Sarah shoos Jim and Brielle upstairs after Amelia escorts SIlver away. She doesn't know what to do, but is glad the man had said goodbye. If he hadn't, she might've been the one to take his life. She sighs and gets back to work. Thankfully the diners had all been too engrossed in their meals to notice what was happening. And she didn't blame Amelia for wanting to get this done. Silver had still committed many crimes in his time as a pirate, even if he was good to the kids.

A few hours later, she had just cleaned the last table, when the kids thundered down the stairs. Jim was holding a large book, and Brielle was carrying loose paper that fluttered everywhere as they ran down.

"Mom I think we found a way to save Silver! You just might not like it," Jim trips over Brielle who had knelt down to gather up her pages.

"According to these," Brielle holds up a sheet, "twelve laws, these 10 regulations, and about fifteen technicalities, we might be able to legally save him."

"And why won't I like it? If this is all legal, shouldn't it all work out?"

Jim and Brielle look at each other. "Mom will you come with us to the spaceport in the morning? Hopefully this will workout."

In the morning they arrived at the spaceport, and immediately set to work. Jim ran off to the library, Briella ran off to a courthouse, and they sent Sarah to go find Silver. It wasn't too hard to find him, as Amelia was in the lobby of the jail, talking to some of the guards to make sure they kept a close eye on Silver. She nodded Sarah through, trusting that her reasons for being here were well intended.

Silver was sitting down on the bed in the jail cell, waiting for someone to come in and tell him it's time. He was not expecting to see Sarah, especially without at least her son in tow.

"Ah Mrs. Hawkins, and t'what do I owe this visit?"

"I'm not actually sure. Jim and Brielle seem to have a plan, and they scattered as soon as we got to the spaceport. My job is to wait here for them, but they haven't told me exactly what they're up to."

"Heh, sound about right fer the two of 'em."

They chatted away together for awhile. Trying to avoid talking about the predicament Silver was in. Mostly they talked of their children, keeping the mood light.

"Ms. Amelia, please, I just want to talk to my father!" Brielle's voice echoes into the room.

"I guess they found whatever they were looking for."

"Alright, but if you-"

"Ms. Amelia, I swear we're not going to break him out!" Brielle huffs, and she and Jim storm into the room. "Da you're really lucky your daughter takes after you."

"Mom I'm so sorry, can you please sign this?" Jim asks, handing his mother a sheet of paper.

"What is-"

"Don't, don't worry about it. Don't even read it. It's better if you don't."

"Oh Da, can you sign this one?" Brielle hand her father a different sheet. "SAme rules, don't read it."

After the parents had signed both sheets, the kids left quickly without a word.

"Did you read it?"

"I'd rather not know what the lass is up to."

Jim and Brielle had run off looking for two specific papers. Jim had run to the library, looking for a custody promise note. While technically it was meant for crimes committed by children, in the law it states that spouses are covered as well under certain circumstances. While piracy was not covered, and crimes that Silver had committed and they could prove he committed, were technically covered. By signing it, the guardian (Sarah) takes full charge and responsibility of the person in question (Silver).

Which lead to Brielle's task. She was looking for a specific marriage document. It was a form that, when signed by both parties, qualifies them as eloped, and was often used by couples at the spaceport.

"So do you think this will work?" Jim asked when they met back up after finding the sheets.

"Well, no. But I mean, legally they have to consider it? So if not at least it should buy us some time to come up with another plan."

"So as you can see, our parents are married and according to-"

"What did she just say?" Sarah stands up. After the kids had ran off again, she and Silver had begun to talk again. However, hearing Brielle's voice, she was momentarily distracted. "I'll be right back," she says as she leaves the room.

"Well young lady, I can see that however-"

"And because my mother signed this note, his crimes are excused."

"So if you would be so kind as to release my father, we would be very grateful."

The man sitting at the desk looks at the various papers in front of him. "I have to go ask someone about this," and he hurries off.

"What did you two do?" Sarah asks. Both turn around, and look at each other, not wanting to explain.

"Hey mom, so I think this might actually work!" Jim says.

"Yeah, I mean like, that guy knows it's true."

"And what is true?"

"Um, can we tell you lat-"

"Sarah you married that criminal!?" Amelia shrieks as she comes around the corner. Sarah side eyes the kids.

"Yes." Technically, she did. She didn't know she did, but legally she was married to the pirate now.

"Why on earth would you-" Amelia pauses, looking down at the two kids.

"Ms. Amelia I just want a happy family with m'da and Jim's mom," Brielle starts to sob. "Why can't you just let us be happy!" about half the tears were fake, the other half were left over from the other morning.

"Ma'am, please," Jim hold Brielle and does his best to look sad as well. Amelia looks at the sad huddle, and over to Sarah.

"So, you truly want to do this?"

"I want what's best for my family. I'm sorry if this upsets you, but Jim and Brielle mean more to me than anything."

"You understand what this means, right."

"Yes," no, she did not. She had very little idea of what was going on. But Jim and Brielle were putting all their heart into it, so she had to play along.

"I will...go get this paperwork cleared then. But you all understand that if he messes up even once-"

"Amelia, I have this under control." Sarah did her best to feign confidence. Amelia walked back with the paperwork to file it away and make sure everything was in order. "So were you two going to tell either of us?"

"Well, no."

"Yeah no."

"How long did you think that would work?"

"Long enough."

"Precisely one year, 6 months, and 12 days."

"So which one of you is going to tell your father?"

"Jim is because it was his idea."

"Hey, he's your father!"

"Yeah but, he won't take you seriously at first."

While the three of them bickered, a guard came out, congratulated Silver on his release, let him out of the jail cell, and gave him a strict rundown of everything that would need to happen so that he would not be arrested again.

"What th'hell just happened?" Silver asks as he walks out.

"DAD!" Brielle shouts and jump hugs her father. Instead of answering his question, she drags him along outside, and the small family makes their way back to the Benbow.

It took about two months for Silver to find out he was married to Sarah. He had taken over in the kitchen at the inn, of course. Being freed after basically turning himself in was confusing, but he figured all laws had their loopholes, and would rather not know what miracles were performed. But one night they had just finished up cleaning, when Amelia stopped by. While she had been very upset, since technically this was legal, she had to let it go.

"I still don't know how you two figured this out."

"Well Bri and I had joked about it a couple times, and I know mom has signed that note for me before."

"And I had a brief class on law my last year, so I vaguely remembered a section on loopholes."

"Yeah, and the spaceport has marriages like that all the time."

"Marriages?" Silver asks. Jim and Brielle look at each other.

"Did neither of you-" Sarah starts.

"Jim was supposed to!"

"I thought he knew!"

"Da I'm so sorry but you're married to Ms. Sarah."

"Mom I'm not sorry your married to Silver."

Life was pretty normal after that. Navy officers would occasionally stop by to check on things, but besides that, they were a happy family.

I don't have any excuses. But I watched Treasure Planet again the other day and decided I should probably get this done. I have a couple one-shot ideas that I may post in the future, but for now this is it.