Not known for motion sickness, her heart skipped a beat as the boat sprang to life, mastering the breeze to slip along the waves happily. Juliane nodded and smiled her thanks, moving to the now vacated bench. She leaned into the side wall of the boat, her elbows resting on the rail and extended her legs. Lifting her face to the sky, she was content to sail along in sleepy silence before breaking it with a question. "Wha' are we fishin' for today, Hudson? Herring?"

?Aye, perhaps. Cod sells well, also. But whate?er th? catch, there?ll be few we throw back, nae with th? wide variety o? beings in th? city that eat all manner o? things.? Hand light on the tiller, Hudson looked at his passenger stretched out on the center bench and then turned his black eyes out to the ocean. His voice was matter-of-fact as he watched the wake curving away from the prow of the small boat. ?Often I find that simply tae be out here be a thing tae soothe th? soul and set th? heart at ease, ye ken??

"I'd think fishin' like tha' ta be easier than sortin' through what ya haul up for somethin' specific." She was about to say something more but at his confession, she fell silent. Her head turned towards him, green eyes now open. A blonde brow arched and her mouth pulled to one side as she bit the inside of her cheek. "Am I tha' obvious, Hudson?"

The gentle smile he gave showed nothing of humor at her discomfiture. Salt spray was a clean breath on the air, and he enjoyed it in silence for several minutes before he answered. ?Ye?ve nae slept, or nae well indeed. Ye were about and walking long enow that yer lantern wick be fair burnt down. And ye came out tae th? docks and for th? boat wi? nae a word tae explain th? impulse ye?ve nae had before. Sae I dinnae ken th? reasons for it, Juliane, but dinnae think I cannae see when a soul might wish for th? freedom here, aye?? There was no sharpness to his tone; it sounded as if he was speaking from experience.

The fact that his tone held no jest or teasing nearly did her in. She'd not expected compassion, or understanding, but just hours of sun, salt and work. It wasn't that she thought him incapable, just that she hadn't thought much at all. "Las' night was an interestin' one. Planned ta sleep at th' Studio an' had crawled onto th' cot b'fore I realized I'd left m' bag at th' Dragon. Went back out after it an' jus' couldn't get settled, yeah? Kept feelin' like I was a jar of pebbles somebody jus' shook fer all they were worth." Her words slipped out easily, her guard down around him.

?Aye, I ken.? That was all he said, though there was truly understanding in the words. If Juliane wished to speak of what had unsettled her so he would listen without pressing her with questions. If it was simply bright sunlight and open sea she was needing, the morning was shaping to meet the desire beautifully. A gull soared around the mast briefly, dipped its wings and scolded in harsh tones before it turned its wings for shore again.

"I think I know how th' gull feels." A wry smile caught her lips and even a slip of chuckle escaped. "He doesn't like seein' us head out ta open water while he still has ta cling ta land. Not meant ta go where we're going, yet wantin' it jus' the same." She realized she was rambling and caught her lower lip with her teeth. The water around them changed colors as they headed out into deeper waters, sleek dark shapes breaking the surface farther out along the horizon.

Shifting the tiller to steer the Mothan in the direction of those bobbing dark shapes in the distant water, Hudson was silent again for several minutes. Once their course was set, he spoke again, and now there was humor in his voice, but clearly directed at himself. ??Tis a trying thing, tae be wanting that which be beyond yer grasp. Enow tae unsettle any.? Violet eyes and children?s laughter, and Hudson reminded himself that he had a letter to write in the evening.

"Yeah, and how do ya tell th' one's tha' grasped it how ya feel, how yer joy is double-edged?" Faces came unbidden to her mind's eye. As the last of the morning mist burned away, the unfettered sunlight warmed her considerably. Peeling off her outer jacket and the cardigan, she kept the long-sleeved cotton shirt on for now, two pullover tee-shirts layered beneath that. Balling the material up, she tossed them to the narrow bench at the prow and clasped her hands behind her head.

The sleek dark shapes bobbing in the water showed as seals when the boat drew near. Curious, they dived, ducked and played, moving gradually closer and closer to the dory. Hudson smiled and leaned far over to reach the lid on a bucket of small bait-fish. Removing a few, he tossed one out near the seals. ?Ha?e ye a look, Juliane.? The next silver bait-fish flew through the air to be snapped up before it hit the water. He shortened the length of the throws to bring them in near the hull. ?As for th? question ? ye tell them in honesty, that ye be happy for them and wish them th? best. ?Tis true enow, aye? And when th? other side o? th? blade cuts ye, ye reach for sommat ye can grasp.?

She had moved to the other side of the boat, her arms folded atop the rail, her chin resting on her forearm. A smile curved as the dark sleek head of a seal bobbed up before her face, deep all-knowing eyes looking back at her with interest. A blink, and the animal was gone, having blended in with the others for the fish Hudson was tossing out like treats from a parade float. "An' if there ain't anythin' there?" The question was asked softly, tentatively, as if she feared the answer.

With the last of the bait Hudson was willing to sacrifice gone, he returned a scarred hand to the tillers. The seals bobbed in place for a little while longer, waiting to see if there were more treats coming, before they again ducked beneath the surface and returned to their play. The quiet sigh then escaped as he looked back at the blonde woman sitting forlorn in the center of the boat. ?Then ye hold hard tae what ye ken o? yerself, until ye can look tae risk th? longer reach.?

Her arm extended and her fingers trailed in the water. "Ya know somethin'? No' even sure what part of me is left, yeah? Spent m' whole life doin' wha' others needed me ta do, wha' they wanted me ta do, or some combination of th' former I thought they 'spected." Head turned, chin buried in her shoulder as she watched him a moment, and then another. The wind had picked up considerably and wisps of hair blew loose at his temples and whipped in the air. An apologetic smile was offered. "Sorry Hudson, I shouldn't be ramblin' yer ear off. Ya agreed ta let me work, no' chatter yer ears off."

??Tis nae trouble tae listen, and little work yet ? though that dae be about tae change, as we come tae th? proper area now. Ye see th? flash o? it, and th? birds circling? Now ? there be a line knotted tae yer side there. If ye loose th? knot and let th? rope slide slow, ye?ll be lowering th? sail while I drop th? anchor.? Hudson fastened the tiller in place and suited actions to words ? and the loose trousers and woolen sweater he wore for fishing made moving around the boat that much easier. ?As for nae kenning yerself ? aye, ye dae, though ye may ha?e buried th? kenning. Sae ye start wi? th? first thing.?

Setting the new wrist-band firmly in place, he answered the question calmly enough, without acknowledging her blush or stuttered apology. ??Tis naught elaborate tae my wishes, aye? Hearth and home, and th? finding o? them here, since th? Highlands be gone tae me. Mayhap a love again, and th? bairns my poor Moira could nae gi?e us. Th? freedom and th? means tae spend th? time here on th? water, and now th? challenge o? trade, as working in th? Yransea interests has taught me.? With that he cast the new net and watched it sink slowly into the dark green waters.

She leaned against the side of the boat. Arms crossed in front of her and took it all in. "Wish I could sum it up as well as ya did, Hudson. Or tha' my wants could be so easily described." She looked over her shoulder, trying to see if she could spy any other boats, only to catch the fleeting burst of air from a blowhole. A small pod of dolphins were caravanning through the expanse of waves. Her mouth dropped at the sight and then clarity struck. "I guess when it all boils down, I'm wantin' ta be selfish an' have somethin' all ta m'self. M' tired of sharin' or havin' ta give up somethin' I want." Turning back around to face him, she squinted in the morning light. "D' ya think it makes me a bad person for bein' jealous of those tha' have somethin' tha' jus' belongs ta them?"

The question prompted a pause in his rhythm so that he could look at her squarely. Black eyes were a bit sad as he considered the blonde woman. After a moment he turned back to the net, pulling the draw-cord and starting to haul it up hand-over-hand. ?I think if that be a question ye ask in honesty, then ye?ve been sorely lacking in such a thing. Nae, ?tis nae much ill in being a wee jealous o? another, but ?tis wiser tae gain for yerself what ye be jealous of. Nae harm at all tae ha?e a corner o? th? world all tae yer own, and ?tis nae a thing out o? reach, either.?

Easy rhythm resumed as he pulled up the net. Juliane opened the catch-bin and he slung this load up ? lighter than the last, it was easier to manipulate. ?Ye be an artist, aye? ?Tis a thing I?ve seen afore, that ye artist-types tend tae look inwards instead o? reaching out from time tae time.? Hudson shrugged as he adjusted the strap around his wrist and began to gather up the net carefully. The last haul had almost filled the second catch-bin. Perhaps another three casts would see them done for the day, if they continued as well as the first had.

"Ya wouldn't be talkin' 'bout Sianna would ya, yeah?" A wide grin escaped her as she looked up at him. Wiping her hands on the thighs of her jeans, Juliane stood from her crouch and moved to lean against the same side of the boat, staring down into the water. A dark shadowed form slipped from under the boat and jostled it from underneath. Gripping the rail with white-knuckled hands, she let out a nervous little stutter. "C-castin' again here or movin' on ta other waters?

About to cast the net, he had seen the darker shape moving under the waves and held the cast instead. Moving easily with the sway of the jostled boat, black eyes were sharp as the dark shadow circled and cut back around. Flashes of silver showed the scattering of the fish he had come to catch, and the baitfish were a lure ? two dark shapes cut through the water, now. With a sigh, he began to undo the wrist-strap and refold the net. ?We move on. ?Tis nae sense in remaining here, when th? fish be scattered sae. Will ye begin raising th? sail, Juliane??

"Sure thing. No need ta ask me twice." As she walked, she shrugged off a dark shudder at the appearances of the sharks. Sail rope was gripped comfortably in her hands as she leaned back to add leverage to the pully. The wide sheet of canvas lifted and fluttered, eager to capture the air. The slaps against the mast seemed an impatient chatter, urging her to secure the rigging so that the Mothan could rule the waves again.

While Juliane raised the sail, he worked on raising the anchor. Chain rattled and clanked, and eventually the anchor was settled back in its place in the hull. As the sail caught the wind, the Mothan seemed to leap into motion. Juliane wavered and Hudson reached out to steady her before he moved forward to finish adjusting the lines and tying them off. ?Would ye rather gae back in tae shore, then? Or carry on wi? sailing wi? nae need tae stop for th? fishing??

"I came out ta help ya wi' th' fishin', no' make ya head back wi' less than a full day's catch, yeah?" She took a step and then another, feeling her way as the boat moved unguided for a few moments in the direction of the wind. "If ya find fair waters again, th' bins'll be full in no time 't'all." Crossing to the hold where she had secured her bag, she called out to him over his shoulder. "D'ya want somethin' ta drink?" The salt spray, while invigorating, had her longing for a long cool swallow of fresh water.

?Aye, if ye would.? He called that back as he lashed the last of the lines in place firmly. Crossing towards the stern, he passed her in the middle and paused to take the small stone bottle she offered. A long swallow of the cool water was refreshing, and he smiled as he handed it back and moved on to the tiller. ?Tapadh leat, Juliane. And as for th? fish ? they?ll be here another day, aye? This be more than I brought in yesterday already. Sae long as I ha?e enow tae cover th? dock fees and repairs, ?tis a good day.?

She chuckled softly as she recapped the bottle and placed it close to him, having thought ahead to bring one for each. "I'm guessin' at what ya said, but yer welcome." Uncapping her own, she tilted the bottle back and took a long swallow, the muscles in her throat rippling until she had to stop drinking to catch her breath. "Ahhhhh." The back of her hand wiped across her mouth. "Yeah, know jus' what ya mean. I've only had a few commissions, but I price 'em jus above wha' I have in 'em. Tha' still doesn't mean today can't be yer best fishin' day so far. Ya do need ta buy a wedding present, yeah?"

??Tis taken care o? already, though th? fare for that came more from th? work in the warehouse, aye? But as for th? difference between fishing and yer art ? why dae ye charge sae little? I sell everything I bring in for what th? market will bear ? and from what I?ve seen of yer work, th? market would bear a fair bit more than ye charge, if ye only ask th? cost o? materials and time.? He rubbed absently at the slight rawness around his wrist where the strap had pulled and rubbed, and then put his hand back on the tiller, turning the Mothan toward another of the fishing grounds he?d come to know.