Tempest

Chapter 5

***This chapter contains sexual themes and mentions of rape. Ye be warned.***

The provisions from the merchant ship that had been overtaken had given them enough to go on for another two months without making port. Belle had finally gotten hold of a pair of sea legs, although her sea-sickness was now full-blown morning sickness that often had her bedridden. Thankfully, the weather hadn't turned so bitterly cold that the cabin windows couldn't be opened to catch the sea breeze. The expecting mother often lay atop the bed with a cool compress to her forehead and the breeze blowing across her to help the ailment.

Things between the captain and stow-away turned passenger had been tense ever since Belle had witnessed the ruthlessness of Sera. She kept insisting on believing that there was good in the pirate, while Sera refused to change. It was nothing new to Belle of course. After her time with Rumplestiltskin though, Sera's piracy was easy going.

Despite the disagreements, almost daily arguments and the rarity of seeing eye to eye, something had blossomed between the two women. What it was, neither was brave enough to attempt to name, but their actions spoke loudly to all who were present to witness them. The way Sera always made room for Belle to sit with her when they dined with the crew, the way Belle always joined Sera at the helm for at least part of the captain's night on duty. And their laughter could be heard from within the cabin as none other than their fearsome captain read stories aloud to the unborn child and gave the characters peculiar sounding voices. The changes taking place in Sera had all of the crew more than a little baffled. She was kinder and more generous while still managing to captain their ship. Not that anyone was really complaining. They didn't mind the break.

As the supply was once again dwindling, although not nearly as dangerously low, the crew had voted on a port to sail into and they'd be reaching it soon. Already Belle could hear Todd shouting out orders to the crew on Sera's behalf while the blonde was at the helm. Belle had never actually seen the ship make port, and while she was excited to see land again she was more than a little apprehensive at sailing into such a notoriously questionable place.

It was an hour or so later after they'd docked and the crew had been dismissed that Sera entered the cabin to find Belle dressing to go ashore. "You'll be staying here."

"What? Why?" Baffled and turning away from the mirror, Belle glared at Sera as the captain began dressing in a pair of tight-fitting leather pants, a black shirt, and a deep purple corset. These were clothes, that while similar to Sera's day-to-day ensemble, were obviously more finely made and meant to impress.

"Because I have things to do and I can't waste time babysitting you. This is an unsavory place and you'll undoubtedly run into trouble." Her sword was slid gracefully into its sheath. "Trouble I haven't the time to get you out of."

"But that's not fair! I'm not your prisoner and you can't keep me here! I refuse!" Belle crossed her arms over the top of her belly and was fixed with such a dangerous and predatory gaze that she nearly faltered. "I mean it."

Sera sauntered over to her with a graceful swagger to her hips that drew Belle's attention for the briefest of moments before they stood toe to toe. A gentle hand came up from Sera's right and was placed carefully to the side of Belle's protrusion. As if he could sense her presence, Belle's unborn son began moving and pressed against the exact spot where Sera's hand was. The pressure brought a smile to both of them before Sera spoke.

"I'm not doing this to keep you as my prisoner. I'm doing this to keep you safe. To keep *him* safe," A circular motion was made against the spot with the palm of her hand. "Because I care about you. And the places I'm going aren't safe for a woman in your condition. While the people here know me and fear me, they won't think twice before taking advantage of you. And I may not always be there to save you."