Eggnog 14, Pomelo 24: Changing
Title: Changing
Main Story: In The Heart -- EPIC PIRATE AU
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Eggnog 14 (all wrapped up), pomelo 24 (War makes thieves, and peace hangs them.), My Treat (EPIC PIRATE AU: Nathan's transition from Navy to privateer.), malt (How things used to be challenge), butterscotch (the last one), chopped nuts (EPIC PIRATE AU), fresh peaches (all good things must come to an end at some point.), pocky chain, cherry (backwards chronological order), caramel (the first one).
Word Count: 500
Rating: PG.
Summary: The world is changing.
Notes: Ivy in the EPIC PIRATE AU is straddling a couple different eras of piracy; her father straddles even more. Here's a story about that.
The age of the privateers was ending, and Ivy knew it.
It wasn't just her, though at forty, she was getting old for piracy. Time and past that she retired. But it wasn't just her. Her kind, her father's kind were dying out, replaced by rougher, bloodier men who did nothing but take.
She would not be that.
No, she would give it all up, settle down with Gina, fish for a living. They'd be happy. The world was changing; she would change too.
"I hope you're proud of me, Papa," she said, and brushed her fingers over his headstone.
--
His time as a pirate was ending, and Nathan knew it.
He couldn't ignore it any longer. Little things adding up-- his children growing tall, his bones creaking loud as the ship, Gail tired-eyed and sleeping late. He took longer and longer to heal from trivial wounds. He looked forward less and less to each voyage.
Ivy wasn't quite old enough to take the ship yet, but never mind that-- Aaron could captain for a while, until she was ready. His family would be provided for.
Yes, he thought, leaning on the wheel. Time to retire.
He'd miss it, though.
--
The world changed when he was least expecting it. Elizabeth died, James became king, and the war was suddenly over, the letters of marque revoked. Suddenly he had no shelter.
"We'll manage," Gail said softly, so as not to wake their children, asleep by the fire. They were still so young, and if he couldn't support them...
"Nathan," she said, and squeezed his hand, so he'd look at her. "We'll get by."
"I don't know anything else," he told her, helplessly.
"Don't be anything else," she said. "Be who you are. We'll manage."
Such faith in her voice.
They'd manage.
--
His son changed everything.
He came home from the wars and there was his child, a tiny, unexpected scrap of life in a cradle by Emma's fire. He knew, looking into those solemn, sea-grey eyes, that he couldn't go back to the navy.
It wasn't Aaron's fault. Nathan could have paid a woman to care for him in his father's absence. But it was his son. His only family. He knew he couldn't leave.
He would not go back to the Navy.
The next day, he presented himself to the local lord, and asked for a job as a captain.
--
His father had sent him to the navy when he was very young, and now, with the wind in his face, he was so grateful for that.
He wasn't a captain, but he was young; he'd work his way up. The war with Spain offered plenty of opportunities for enterprising young men. He might even catch the queen's eye, get a place at court. From there, who knew what he could achieve? A fortune, a title, even an estate.
He could marry Melanie, if she'd have him.
The future lay spread ahead of him, and it held nothing but wonders.
Main Story: In The Heart -- EPIC PIRATE AU
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Eggnog 14 (all wrapped up), pomelo 24 (War makes thieves, and peace hangs them.), My Treat (EPIC PIRATE AU: Nathan's transition from Navy to privateer.), malt (How things used to be challenge), butterscotch (the last one), chopped nuts (EPIC PIRATE AU), fresh peaches (all good things must come to an end at some point.), pocky chain, cherry (backwards chronological order), caramel (the first one).
Word Count: 500
Rating: PG.
Summary: The world is changing.
Notes: Ivy in the EPIC PIRATE AU is straddling a couple different eras of piracy; her father straddles even more. Here's a story about that.
The age of the privateers was ending, and Ivy knew it.
It wasn't just her, though at forty, she was getting old for piracy. Time and past that she retired. But it wasn't just her. Her kind, her father's kind were dying out, replaced by rougher, bloodier men who did nothing but take.
She would not be that.
No, she would give it all up, settle down with Gina, fish for a living. They'd be happy. The world was changing; she would change too.
"I hope you're proud of me, Papa," she said, and brushed her fingers over his headstone.
--
His time as a pirate was ending, and Nathan knew it.
He couldn't ignore it any longer. Little things adding up-- his children growing tall, his bones creaking loud as the ship, Gail tired-eyed and sleeping late. He took longer and longer to heal from trivial wounds. He looked forward less and less to each voyage.
Ivy wasn't quite old enough to take the ship yet, but never mind that-- Aaron could captain for a while, until she was ready. His family would be provided for.
Yes, he thought, leaning on the wheel. Time to retire.
He'd miss it, though.
--
The world changed when he was least expecting it. Elizabeth died, James became king, and the war was suddenly over, the letters of marque revoked. Suddenly he had no shelter.
"We'll manage," Gail said softly, so as not to wake their children, asleep by the fire. They were still so young, and if he couldn't support them...
"Nathan," she said, and squeezed his hand, so he'd look at her. "We'll get by."
"I don't know anything else," he told her, helplessly.
"Don't be anything else," she said. "Be who you are. We'll manage."
Such faith in her voice.
They'd manage.
--
His son changed everything.
He came home from the wars and there was his child, a tiny, unexpected scrap of life in a cradle by Emma's fire. He knew, looking into those solemn, sea-grey eyes, that he couldn't go back to the navy.
It wasn't Aaron's fault. Nathan could have paid a woman to care for him in his father's absence. But it was his son. His only family. He knew he couldn't leave.
He would not go back to the Navy.
The next day, he presented himself to the local lord, and asked for a job as a captain.
--
His father had sent him to the navy when he was very young, and now, with the wind in his face, he was so grateful for that.
He wasn't a captain, but he was young; he'd work his way up. The war with Spain offered plenty of opportunities for enterprising young men. He might even catch the queen's eye, get a place at court. From there, who knew what he could achieve? A fortune, a title, even an estate.
He could marry Melanie, if she'd have him.
The future lay spread ahead of him, and it held nothing but wonders.