Mulan and Jim's One Night Stand:

The captain's quarters weren't half bad. Certainly better than the crew's. The bed however was a poor contraption, cobbled together from rough wood and supporting a stained mattress. The sheets used to be rich red velvet, taken from some trading vessel, no doubt. Now they just seemed shabby and musky. With her back propped against the headrest, Mulan was studying a map intently. She had a golden crown sitting askew on her head and wore little else. The entire bed was littered with doubloons, gems, gold jewelry and pearls. She occasionally found a coin uncomfortably digging into her skin and tossed it aside, with a certain amount of irritation. Captain Hawkins had insisted on taking his two "treasures" to bed together. At least it was better than the time he wanted to lap grog off of her skin. All that had resulted in, was some clammy, sticky sheets and a pirate too drunken to perform. Stunts like these reminded Mulan that the nickname "The Kid" had less to do with Jim's relative youth for a captain and more with his general immaturity.

After muling over the map for a while she announced: "I think we need to focus on a different route." There was no answer.

She looked down. Her captain was currently resting his head in her lap, snoring contentedly into her thigh. She couldn't help but smile a little when she flicked at his ear. That made him stir."Huh? What is it, love?" He propped himself up on his elbows. "Want me to shower you in gold again?"

Mulan made a face: "That was not a pleasant experience."

"Yeah, but I enjoyed watching it." He took a hand full of coins and let them tumble down her abdomen, to form a little pile between her legs.

"What I was trying to say is that I think we need to focus on a different trade route. They're probably going to send protection, if we keep harassing this one."

Jim scratched his chin. "You worry too much. The sea's too big a place for them to chase after our little pleasure barge."

Mulan exhaled: "You don't worry enough, Captain. Sooner or later they're gonna wise up to your tricks. And then you'll either fight like a man, or they'll hang you like a dog."

He made notions to pull himself closer "Well, given the choice, I'd rather fu-" he didn't dare continue. The dagger's tip was resting directly under his adam's apple.

"The sole reason I didn't cut your throat one night and made off in a dinghy, was, that despite everything pointing to the contrary, you convinced me that you were a decent man. Now I'm considering doing it anyway, to spare you of a grimmer fate." Mulan's nostrils trembled.

"Could you please not…" He gave her an uncomfortable smile. She pulled the dagger back and threw it across the room with enough force to lodge it deep into a wall.

"Okay, you want to talk business. Let's talk business." Jim was immediately back to his cheerful old self. That was one of the things that had attracted Mulan to the young pirate in the first place. He had an unwavering spirit and wasn't easily offended.

 

"The ship is running at full capacity, a few minor repairs pending, but nothing substantial. The crew is more focused and disciplined than ever, on account of you whipping them into shape. Our holds are filled with treasure and not a case of scurfy in months. We can easily outrun any warship and go toe to toe with anything Hook could send our way. I'd say we're doing pretty good."

"We are." Mulan agreed "But you have to think ahead, Jim. Things won't always be this simple."

The pirate chuckled: " What do you expect me to do? Kidnap the wise Taran, so that I can know what the future holds? Part of being a pirate is to savor the freedom and not worry so damn much." He gave her a playful pinch to which she didn't react. Instead she looked him directly in the eyes and said:

"What I mean is: Where will you be in 10 years, What will you do?"

"That's easy. In this very bed, with your legs wrapped around me, making you scream… and curse… and laugh…" He punctuated each of those with a light kiss. "Perhaps with a beard though," he mused, "On me, I mean. Not you. That would just be weird." He pulled Mulan down under the sheets with him and nuzzled her neck. " In fact, we should prepare for that day in 10 years right now."

Jim began fondling her, but she didn't react at all. After a moment, he looked at her helplessly. The thing with Jim Hawkins was that he talked a great deal, but sooner or later he expected Mulan to take charge, like she always did. She cupped his face. It was curious how much of a boy he still was.

"I expect an honest answer." she said.

He gave her a look of sheer exasperation.

"What? You want me to plant a few bastards in your belly, buy a house in the countryside and smoke my pipe while you take up knitting? Is that what you want to hear?"

Mulan honestly didn't know, what she had expected. Or what answer would have set her mind at ease. She feared, that there wasn't even one to begin with. So instead she put on a smile and turned Jim on his back, pinning his hands over his head.

"Goodness no," she said while straddling him, "We can talk about that beard though."

EPILOGUE:

"Christopher! I swear if you end it there-" Arthur had grabbed the other boy by the collar and was swinging his fist at him, when Alice walked in.

"What are you two up to?" she asked in honest confusion.

"Nothing." the two of them agreed.