Book One: Worlds Apart (Loki)

Chapter Fifteen

1719: Niklaus stands with Katri as she looks out over the sea, he's watching her, knowing just what is going through her mind. He knows her better then anyone. She's always loved adventure, and they've already been here 17 years, she's getting restless.

"Go" he whispers, she looks to him. "We both know that you'll come back when you're good and ready, I trust you not enough to plot against me" she makes a face and looks away.

"I'd never even think about it" she whispers. "You've never left me" she adds.

"And I never will" he strokes her arm and smiles at her. "And I know you never will me, which is why I have to tell you to go and explore" he nudges her. "You stand here everyday looking out longingly over the sea....you have a ship...go and see the world and then come back" he pulls her closer. "You're my sister, my twin, and I only want you to be happy" he looks to her sadly. "And you're not, you haven't been in over 700 years"

"You know why" she argues pulling away. "But some sea air might help" she agrees slightly. He takes her hand and nods.

"Maybe you'll become one of those pirates" he offers. "You know the ones we hear about in stories....." she snorts and shoots him a look.

"Do I look like a pirate to you?" she asks.

"Not yet" he offers with a smirk, they share a look.

............

Spain: Kaja stands watching Ark pace.

"It takes money to cross the sea" Kaja offers watching Ark pace. "Connections" she strokes his back. "Travelling on land is easier...."

"I know" he whispers. "I remember how hard it was getting over here" he takes a breath.

"And I am working on it" she assures him. "We have enough to get us on a ship to New Orleans" she offers and then nods. "But after that..."

"You want to make sure we can survive when he get to the other side" he whispers pulling her closer to him. "That's why I love you, always thinking of things I wouldn't" she leans closer and kisses him.

"Just a little longer" she offers. "Just enough to set us up" he nods and holds her closer to him.

.............

New Orleans, 1720: Ark leans on a wall looking ahead of him, a ship leave the port of New Orleans, he knows his mother is on that ship, he sighs and glances across the way to the where the rest of his family stands.

"You could say hello to the rest of your family" Kaja offers taking his hand.

"No" he whispers back. "I want it to be her first" he pulls her closer and kisses her head. "We can at least have a look around" he offers warmly, she nods and takes his hand.

"This was my home once" Kaja admits, Ark looks to her as they walk away from the port. "Long, long time ago now" he eyes her carefully before pouting a little.

"I never even asked" Ark admits. "I just...what is that saying....gift horses and mouths" She smirks a little, Kaja turns to him taking his hands.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you" she teases and smiles. "Let's go find something to eat" she whispers warmly and pulls him along. He snorts.

"Now I'm just more curious" he complains, she chuckles but keeps quiet. "Just....does it run out?" he asks, she looks to him.

"Not for a very long time" she assures him. "You're stuck with me" he pulls her closer and kisses her softly.

"Good"

..........

Katri looks out over the ocean stood at the helm of her ship, she looks every inch as a pirate should, she nods to herself and looks to the compass in her hand.

"Yo ho, yo ho. A pirates life for me" She sings softly closing her compass.

...............

1825, New Orleans:

"I heard she's back" Kaja tells Ark who nods writing a letter at the desk in their small New Orleans home. Kaja has found herself bonding with the local witches.

"I heard too" Ark whispers as she strokes her fingers over his shoulders, he closes his eyes and relaxes. "I also heard that she's just picking up supplies, she'll be gone again by morning" he looks to Kaja. "I keep thinking; Next time I will be ready.....next time I will be ready to face my mother"

"But you never are?" she asks sitting on the edge of the desk.

"There has to be a reason she didn't.....why I was with them and not her, a reason why she hasn't looked for me.....maybe she never wanted me....maybe she won't even believe me" Kaja takes his hand and smiles at him sadly. "I've spent more then 300 years looking for her, searching, waiting, and I'm not ready to talk to her yet" he snorts and shakes his head. "Makes me a coward" he mumbles pushing the letter on the desk away. Kaja looks to letter. Addressed to his mother, there are five or six lines written and then scratched out again.

"You are not a coward" Kaja corrects slipping from the desk and into his lap, he wraps his arms around her. "You are just afraid" she offers stroking his hair. "No one wants to be rejected by their parents" she offers sadly, understanding crossing her face, she gives him a soft smile. "I know you" she whispers. "She'll love you, just as I do"

"Hopefully not just as you do" he teases softly with a smirk, she hits his chest with a laugh.

.................

Rebekah sits on a crate with Katri's captain's hat on her head, she smirks playing with the feather. Katri watches her warmly. Looks reserved for her family. Niklaus plays with the flintlock gun Katri just bought, he nods impressed, of course it's the best compulsion can buy. He points the gun across from him, aiming, unfortunately, at Katri's gunner. He fires. Katri turns wide eyed to the now dead gunner and then turns to glare at Niklaus.

"Did you just shoot my gunner?" Katri asks, Niklaus gives her an apologetic look.

"I'll get you a new one"

"He was a good one" she snaps. "He could fill a cannon in less then a minute, do you know how rare that is?" she argues, Niklaus pouts at her and she softens and shakes her head. "Don't pull the face" she warns, he smirks a little.

"We're loaded, Captain" her quartermaster offers eyeing up her sister, Katri glares at him. "Whenever you are ready" he mumbles and runs away. Rebakah laughs.

"He's so afraid of you" she teases jumping off the crate and setting Katri's hat back on her head and gives her a smile. "I'll miss you, sister" Rebekah offers. "It's not the same being the only girl" Katri nods and looks to Niklaus who hands over her gun, she takes it and slides it into the holster she wears.

"I'll be back" she reminds them. "For rum" she teases, Niklaus snorts and nods.

"Priorities" he flicks the feather on her hat. "See you soon" she nods and then heads onto her ship.