Doing her best to pick up the slack of Roth being on family leave, Ileen had worked since before dawn after returning to the docks from the cabin. The Pandora as it was primary was still in the midst of being prepared for winter, while the Sloop sat over there, as pretty as you please and danced there in the water.

Mast silks finally finished, they were unfurled and pristine as one would expect, anything less would have had them being thrown into the harbor and the throat of someone gripped.

It was simply too much fabric to mess with and it be off plumb by even the first centimeter. Most of the men finished for the day, they had said their farewells and either headed off home, or to the closest tavern for a night of....something.

Crouched down, Ileen was still giving the rigging joists a good oiling and was almost humming to herself as she did so. The edge of a blade held tightly between her teeth, it made it an uneasy task to accomplish, but there was a hum there somewhere.

While Ileen took care of getting the ships ready for winter, Jack had been in town checking on Roth and his family. With Jack Jr in tow for once, and after waving good bye to the family. He started his way back towards the ship, nodding to the crew as they passed by.

Some off to be with their families, and the single men off towards the local tavern for drink and a possible woman for the night. That in it's self got him to smirk, as before meeting Ileen. That's probably where he would be at, instead he was heading for the Pandora.

Guessing Ileen was still hard at work, so he would slowly move up the gangplank so not to alert her, and once on deck. He spotted her, still working which got him to smirk. " Ye daft woman! What ye be doing on me ship! " Trying to get a yelp out of her, while teasing her yet again.

Ileen not only yelped, but she was so engrossed in the links chaining the rigging together, the blade was dropped and she promptly fell back on her ass with a startle. It was almost ridiculous to glare at him, but she did, and she also winked. Figure that one out. "Stealin' it o' course, lowly Cappy o' dem dere seas wit'out a clue...tae dam'd purrrrrty t' bae sittin' up here in dis dere cove y' ken?" Really laying it on thick, Ileen wasn't sure if she even understood her own brogue, but would deny it....absolutely. Lifting back to her haunches, she motioned towards his father's rapier. "Care to tussle this eve, darlin'...?" Oooo, a challenge?

He would so laugh when she fell on her ass, then quirked a brow at her. " That be so? " At least Jack understood what she said, as he was used to people talking funny at him. " I be shooting the last woman that be trying to be stealing me ship. " Knowing that Ileen would never do that, no matter how many times she even threatened to sink it. His brow then rose to her challenge. " We be tussling all the time. " Lift of finger to point that out to her, now slowly moving towards her.

"Jack Morgan, if I was not only stealing it, but was also moving her out of the harbor....you still wouldn't shoot me....my only guess is she didn't have red hair and didn't tell you to kiss her ass 15 times a day....or....or..." She could go on, but instead she growled at the metal as it snapped....again and let it fall to the deck. "If we don't get new joists, we're gonna be caught with our pants down in the spring..." Said way up to him, she stayed down there where she was as the effort to move was just not in her at the moment. "How is Roth's wife....Judith is her name, aye?"

And he did have a point about the tussling. The cad.

He tilted his head at her claim that he wouldn't shoot her, as one hand moved to rest on one of the flints. Fingers tapping it just to make it look like he was considering it. " Well.. Jack Jr would be missing ye if I shot ye. " Which the monkey looked between the two before climbing down to head into the cabin. " And we can be fixing it when we get to it. " He then looked down at her. " They be well, and be saying hello. " Now a tilt of his head, as he kept just out of her reach, as a smirk crossed his lips. " Ye be knowing something. Ye be looking nice right now. " Let's see her figure that one out.

Watching Jack Jr go, she knew darned well he was going to snuggle into their bed and muss it all up. Which could be an improvement as neither of them ever made the bed. Sight dancing back to him, her eyes rolled at his tapping and then she looked at him kinda odd before as if she been slapped across the face, she turned beet red, but that didn't keep her mouth shut. "That could mean one of two things...." Fine, she was up for a game of chicken....was he? Both palms reaching the deck, she slowly began to close the distance between them. Real slow like. "Each in which will have me tackling you overboard....but let's see where your cards lay, oh future husband..."

(tbc)

" Oh.. I see. " Moving by her to take the lead now as she totally said it the way he said it. " If that be the case, then I'd just be haunting ye. "

"Do you honestly think you could live without my nattering as you call it?" Patting at his back until he went inside and she heeled the door closed. "You already do haunt me, I keep thinking you're behind me in the mornings when we stay out at the cabin and I leave before you do. It's like you're right there, but you're not....maybe it's just the smell of rum still on me..."

"And it would be me haunting you, as I would die first....get it straight, Captain..."

He looked over his shoulder at her. " I could do without the nattering, but it be yer company that I would be missing the most. " Moving to remove most of his weapons in the bedroom. Keeping a dagger and flint on hand, for those just incase moments. " And ye already do be haunting me. Nattering woman. " Now leaning on the doorway to the kitchen.

"So silent company would be best for you...." Changing out of the sweaty blouse, she pulled a fresh one on and rounded him towards the cold box. "Speaking of that, after we wed, we might need to see a Solicitor or write something's out ourselves..." Wasn't a pleasant subject and truth be known, Ileen loathed it. With her back to him, she leaned on the counter and started slicing some sausage, potatoes and onions.

" I not be saying that. " Shaking his head at her as he shifted to watch her as she started to cook. " And I already been thinking on that. Jeremy said he be knowing someone that be willing to be writing us up something, free of charge. " Head tilt again for a moment. " I be leaving everything to Jack Jr. " To try and lighten the mood.

"Aye...me too..." Glancing at him, she wrinkled her nose and went back to slicing before adding a bit of lard to the skillet always left on the burner and turned on the flame. "Ain't like anything will change....something happens to me now, the cabin and the ship are yours...." It was simple, at least to her. "But aye, best make it legal for Jack Jr's sake. Saint's forbid anyone tries to take what's rightfully his..." The pan gave a slight sizzle and the items were set into it with a bit of salt and pepper.

He nodded lightly to that. " See. If I be going first, ye be having Jack Jr to be with ye. " He's on the move just incase she threw something at him. " But that not be happening fer a long time. We both be knowing how to be getting ourselves out of trouble. "

"Least he won't complain about my nattering..." Watching him flee, he had no idea how amusing that was to watch when he did it. She was going to hover over that pan, because she knew darned well if she didn't it would be burnt beyond recognition. "You're lucky, I'm actually cooking something or I would be tossing the whole pan at your head.."

" And ye would be missing what I be making ye feel, both in the sheets and in total. " Smirking at her as he moved to sit down at the table in the kitchen. " And he already be chittering about yer nattering. " Slouching in that chair as he watched her cook for once.

"It's in total that matters, sweaty and tangled sheets are just a plus...and aye, I would..." Quieting a moment, Ileen was struck with an image of herself that could have possibly resembled Neddy and she looked over her shoulder at him. An onion popped and she went back to what she was doing. "Aye, but I wouldn't understand him until he bit my nose or some such thing..." Giving the whole mix a flip with a spatula, their dinner might turn out pretty good.

A nod in agreement before the look, getting him to tilt his head. " Ye be picturing yerself without me in yer life, ain't ye? " Damn him to hell for knowing her to the point he could guess what she was thinking with just a bloody look. " I need to be teaching him to do that when ye be nattering me. " Winking at her.

"Somehow in that case, I'll teach him how to bite your calf..." A couple of plates, utensils, napkins and two large glasses of water set there on the table, it wasn't a moment and she was dishing out his plate with it all and only some potatoes and onions for herself. Flipping the burner off, she sat down in front of him. "I'm not answering that question, Jack Morgan....eat before it get's cold..."

" He not be biting me, as he be knowing that I be the one that freed him from where he used to be at. " Shaking a finger at her, before sitting up to slowly start on the food. " And I be knowing that be a yes. Ye tend to avoid things when I be right. "

"Does it make me soft, that the very thought of something like that makes a knot form in my throat and my heart feel like it's going to shatter into a million pieces....if so, then I will state it loudly." That almost muttered, she was grateful for the fact that they were both quiet when they ate....even if she was going to have to fight to swallow it down.

" I not be leaving ye fer a long time ye nattering woman. " Murmured in between bites, as he watched her for a moment. " And ye be having the men to be rallying around ye if something ever be happening to me. So ye not be alone as ye be thinking. Ye already be family to them and to their families."

Stabbing a potato with the fork, she held it there and twirled it around briefly. "Aye...." While she knew all of that, it just would never be okay. What was even worse, was that Ileen was now having a hard time remembering her life without him, perhaps because it wasn't a life after all. Watching him eat, she finally took a bite and spoke around her chewing. "See, I can cook...sorta..." Grasping for anything to change this subject.

" Aye." Nodding lightly as he watched her for a moment, then back to eating. Once done he moved to set his plate in the sink. " Aye, ye can cook. Be guessing that be meaning ye be having more than one use. " She wanted the subject change and she got one. " Other than nattering. "

"See, all the better for you tolerate my nattering, I can sail a ship and you won't starve..." Countered, she was no longer hungry, she rose to scrape her plate and washed both of them, leaving the leftovers for the men if they wanted it.

(tbc)