Opal's Pumpkin Bites Recipe🎃

Since autumn is upon us, I decided to make a Baker favorite recipe. These creamy pumpkin bites melt in your mouth and are the PERFECT treat for this fall season!

Here, Opal and I will show you how to make your very own copy cat Pumpkin Bites!

Opal is ready with the whisk!

🎃Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 can of pumpkin puree

• 1/4 tsp allspice

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

• 1/4 tsp cloves (You can add cloves if you'd like, in this I did not add any cloves)

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

🎃1.) First, preheat your oven to 355 degrees.

🎃2.) Take your wet ingredients and mix them together in a large bowl.

🎃 3.) While you are mixing the wet ingredients together, add in each dry ingredient one by one. I know many other people mix the dry ingredients together first, however, Opal and I find it much more effect to do it this way!

🎃4.) In a smaller bowl, set aside your white sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg for later. (If you enjoy cloves, add them! I'm just not a fan of clove myself.)

Opal says," MORE SUGAR!!!!"

🎃 5.) Once you thoroughly mix the batter, take your baking trays and grease those puppies up! You can also use wax paper (like me!) or tin foil. Remember to space them out! They are going to expand!

🎃 6. )When you're satisfied with the size and spacing of your delicious babies, pop them in the oven for 15 minutes.

🎃7.) Take 1/2 tsp of sugar, a dash of cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, and a peppering of allspice and mix together your sugary fall seasoning! After this, turn on Spotify and light a candle to really get into the mood for autumn.

(I would suggest listening to our original song "Join The Crew." by Hayden Gary, perfect for any time of the year) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iQUUKXHDtA

🎃8.) Now that you've gotten your spirits up, it's time to take the goods out of the oven! Let the Pumpkin Bites cool down and settle, they will seduce your nose and beg you to consume them! You must resist!

🎃9.) When the pumpkin bites are somewhat cooled down, sprinkle your spiced sugar over the baked goods.

🎃 10.) The time has come for you to finally consume your homemade pumpkin bites that Opal herself would be proud of! Enjoy them with a glass of milk or perhaps a cup of coffee!

🎃Tag us in any photos you share of your own autumn treats!🎃

Port Barcelona, Issue 1#

It was early in the morning on the S.S. Baker, the crew was going to dock in an unlikely port. Captain William was chancing his and his family’s luck by porting in Barcelona. Pirates were not welcomed in such, ‘refined’ places in the world.

Yet, this is where the Order of the Sea Captains decided to hold their latest meeting.

Cin grunted, she, with clenched teeth, storming away to go and collect everyone's fancy clothes from the Captain's quarters. Almost everyone was groggily trying to get everything situated, Thassilion was happily zipping around getting ready for the day.

Once the crew was dressed and proper, Cin looked like a wolf coated in makeup and her hair done. Thomas would have looked a proper gentleman if he weren't so anxious, the poor man was practically vibrating in place. Opal fidgeted with Leo's brim hat and purred loudly to him, glancing at her children and nodding in approval, deciding that they looked well enough.

Captain William looked back and smiled gently. Jonathan had his old cane and gripped it," Well, love?”

Captain William nodded gently, "It would appear that we are all ready."

Leo’s daughter was fuming and whining about her lacy dress, tugging at her collar.

Pip leaned over to her,

"Too bad you're not a boy or you wouldn't have to wear a dress.” A smirk wiping over the 8-year-old’s lips.

The 3-year-old looked up at her brother and hissed,

" I be boy now.'

Johnathan nudged him with the tip of his elbow,

" The roles…..for-." He grunted

He paused and nodded, "Yes! Do we all remember our roles?"

The crew shuffled and muttered, all trying to wake themselves up. The chilly salty breeze tousled and played with the crew’s neatly combed hair.

Cin growled lowly as everyone else looked very confused, she looked down with her velvet sleeved arms tightly crossed.

The Captain sighed gently,

"Let's review then...Leo, you are a writer. Not much change there...Opal, you're technically a house maker. Cin you are a teacher, “

Jonathan snorted at Cin's, the irony of her being 'illiterate' was too funny to him. William nudged him with his elbow. Forge master Cin was growling and grumbling under her breath as her father went into detail about each role each crew member was to fill.

“ Mr. Thomas you are the schoolmaster, and Mr. Thassilon you assist him."

Opal blinked," Oh, and the children?"

He nodded, "They are children."

Opal chirped," Yes but,-" her husband cut her off.

Leo shook his head, "Opal love, rich children don't have jobs...And Billie's trying to be a boy."

The blonde woman blinked, knitting her brows and humming.

" Darling love, that's impossible....we're not rich." She went down and picked Billie up

Leo shook his head,

"People here will think we are." He gestured to the clothes, "And we need them to think so"

Her brows perked as she nodded,

" Oh... Yes, I see." She awkwardly played with a loose blonde curl.

The small blonde French man spoke up with enthusiasm as he swaggered up,

" Come now, it is now zhat hard. Just.....don’t act as..." He paused trying to think of words.

Cin hissed out," Pirates.”

The Captain cleared his throat, taking a step forward

"While Cin is not incorrect...I'm sure Thassilon was going to find another word.."

Jonathan piped up, clearing his throat,

" All we are asking of all of you is to be on your best behaviors, follow your roles,-"

His daughter cut him off," And not be pirates."

Captain William growled,

"Cin, daughter dearest, that is enough. I understand your frustration, however, we do what we must."

Opal looked to the Captain and offered a soft smile,

" Before tensions rise too high...may I offer to hold a feast for the crew, if everyone sticks well to their roles?"

"If that wouldn't be too much trouble, Opal, I believe that could act as a lovely motivator."

Captain William turned to the meek ginger lad and his young sister, he grinned a wide grin, walking over to the two. He looked down at the two, then to the young lad Toby.

“Young Master Toby.”

“Huh...aye Captain?”

“I can’t leave the ship completely abandoned, now can I?”

“No sir..”

Jonthan furrowed his brows and looked to William, opening his mouth to speak.

“Doctor Wilton, don’t you think that this would be an excellent time for Toby to prove himself and show how responsible he is?”

“No, no I don’t, Captain. He’s a bloody 11-year-old!”

Captain William waved his husband off, smirking,

“Yes, I have eyes Jonathan. I’m not that old yet.”

Jonathan huffed and growled, being cut off by the Captain again.

“Besides, he won’t be alone.” William winked and nodded to the nest of the ship.

It was decided.

As the crew of the SS Baker began to dock,Thomas called to Toby and Kit, his protective dad instincts kicking in.

“Aye, ye two nay of te funny business, ‘m I understood?”

The ginger boy called back,” Understood, pa! Don’t worry, we’ll be safe!”

Little Billie ran and duck around everyone to get to Captain William. "Bossman!"

"Yes, little Billie?"

"I I be boy?"

She whined tugging at her itchy pink dress and making grabby hands for him. He picked her up,

" Why do you want to be a boy?"

She grabbed at his greyed curls," I not wear dress."

Opal shuffled through and scolded Billie.

" My princess, leave Captain-” She paused

“I-er... Mr. Holmes alone... Behave.'

He held her close, ignoring the ship’s cook.

"I see little one...Well if you're a boy then you are a boy...But I bet you couldn't be a girl for the day."

Opal looked at the 3-year-old and frowned," Darling-"

The wheels were already turning in Billie's head as she smirked,

" I be girl! Bet!"

"Now then...What will it be if you win?"

Billie pursed her cheeky lips as the Captain held her against his chest, walking on the port side,

" You boss hat!!"

"Mmm for how long?"

"Uhhhhhh.....a day!"

"Mmm alright.”

A gremlin-like smile wiped over her face as she giggled and bounced around, her mother taking her from the captain. William nodded gently to her, "Good.."

Once in the city, everyone went their separate ways.

Thassilion took off within the blink of an eye. William and Jonathan headed to the secret location to attend the meeting. Leo, Opal, and their 4 children went almost straight to the publisher. Cin followed her husband, hand in hand.

The once strong giant of a woman, put up a meek shy front as she walked with the salt and pepper haired man. Thomas held her close to him and kept his chin up as he looked around, trying to spot a tavern for the two of them to sit down.

Cin looked at him, growling lowly in his ear," Don't get too cocky, Mr. Thomas.”

Thomas swallowed thickly, "It's very much all an act.."

"Better be.." She muttered and followed him as they both awkwardly shuffled into a tavern.

With a spring in his step, Leo brought his family to the publisher. Leo smiled gently, taking a deep breath in and enjoying the gentle scent of leather, ink, and coffee, Newt instantly walked to look at all of the books.

His father called after him, "Be careful Newt."

There was a crash from the other side with Billie and Pip and a broken ink well.

He sighed, "Phillip! Billie!"

Billie whined," Pip do it!"

Phillip shook his head, "No!"

" Ye!" She yelled back at him.

Opal whined, walking over to Philip and Billie,

"Babies, enough, enough."

Leo sighed and apologized to the publisher, already getting out a coin to cover it. He grumbled something about being stricter on his children. Opal pinched their ears and scolded the children,

"Oh come now, you two.

Pip whined and squeaked, meanwhile Billie was struggling.

Newt whined, clinging to Leo as his father laughed nervously to the publisher. He was explaining the summary of his new short story. Something about a blue-jay and a lemon tree, that’s what Newt could tell, he hadn’t read it yet. Billie tugged on him,

" C'mon c'mon papa!”

"Yes yes, we're just wrapping up.."

Billie whined and tugged at his pants. The children looked outside of the window of the publisher’s shop. Animals of all shapes and sizes were being led around, it had seemed as if there was a show about to start. This captured Hamilton children’s imagination. Newt gasped as he bounced,

" Animals....animals?'

Leo nodded gently, “ it's all wrapped up.."

The children were bouncing and mewling like kittens for their parents, Opal smiled getting excited as well,

“Oh yes darlings, we’ll go look at all of the animals. I do have to find a...decent place to feed Oliver…”

She bounced the little bundle in his arms, a little 6-month-old baby boy was fast asleep.

“Leo, darling-love, let’s go have a look at those animals, yes?”

Mr. Hamilton sighed deeply, rubbing his temple as he finished up with the publisher,

"Yes, we can leave now..But we've actually gotta go out the door."

Out of excitement, the little gremlin child, Billie crawled out the doggy door. Leo sighed, muttering out a quick grumpy sorry and walked everyone else out

Meanwhile, at the El Burro Pateador Tavern, Cin stood there nervously,

" Thomas..." she whispered to him.

Thomas looked at her, "mmm aye?"

"Do normal women drink beer or ale..?" She asked through gritted teeth. Thomas paused and looked around the room,

"They have te drink somethin’...."

She began to sweat a little." Is it very humid.....? She muttered to him.

Thomas nodded, "Very.." he tugged at his collar.

The very tall muscular pale woman fanned herself, beads of sweat rolling down her face. He held her arm and guided her to a table. Cin was panting very hard as she tugged at her corset, growling. Thomas shook his head,

"Love, let's just sit down.."

She plunked down and panted loudly, wiping her forehead.

Thomas sat next to her, "Try te catch yer breath.."

A server came over and smiled," Anything to drink?'

Cin snarled," Beer, lots of it!"

Thomas smiled gently,

"Apologies, she gets in a wee bit of a mo’d once in a w’ile.”

The server winked chuckling," All women do." He nudged Thomas with the tip of his elbow. Cin dug her claws into his thighs, growling. The sailor gripped at his other leg, a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"Beer and Ale.." he nodded to the waiter.

The waiter paused and nodded zipping away to get the order.

Thomas whined, "Cin!

Cin grunted," Yes Mr. Thomas?'

"I have a role ta play… Remember tat my love….”

She paused, stopping her grip," Sorry”

Thomas looked to her, "I can only imagine how uncom’ortable dis is fer ye.."'

He looked to comfort his wife. Cin was not what a woman was thought of, she worked as a bodyguard and blacksmith on the ship. Her jaw locked as she growled at him, a band of men stumbling over towards them. Thomas sighed deeply, running his thumb and index finger along his coal-black goatee.

The band of men included; A greasy blonde skinny man who looked to be of English descent, two black-haired Spainards, one was a large round man and the other looked like a young fit matador, and lastly, there were two other men, they looked to be twins, their backgrounds were unknown. Thomas would have guessed Italian or Turkish. Cin didn’t care.

Looking down at Thomas, Cin’s piercing blue eyes stabbed into his heart. Although she’d never admitted it, she was very nervous.

Thomas whined softly and kissed her, "I'll handle ‘em.."

Cin kissed back and loudly huffed to him, fuming.

The ‘schoolmaster’ nodded, "I know."

He stood between her and the approaching men, leaning on the table and putting up a cocky grin.

"What brings you here, friend? Are you new in town?" One of the men asked Thomas.

"Aye just sto’ed ‘ere for a pint and to stretch our legs"

They all nodded in approval, one spoke up, hiccuping,

"Your profession?”

"Schoo’ Masteh."

"Oh? And your girlie there?" The greasy blonde man in the group asked, looking over Cin. He licked his plack coated yellow-brown teeth.

"Mm aye she's one of the teach’rs." He nodded.

" Oh yes? You’ve trained her yourself?"

Thomas chuckled angrily, "mmm aye someone had tah…”

Cin snarled to him, baring her teeth. Mr.Thomas gave her a look of "roles, remember the roles" before joking about her being a work in progress to the other men. The 6’9 woman was gripping the table, white-knuckled and fuming.

"Oh...fiery vixen." The group men grinned and chuckled amongst themselves. One of the Spaniards whistled and smirked,” la zorra!”

"Mm aye for sure"

Cin shot Thomas a look and barked," I deal with myself.'

"Mmm aye, tha’ she does keep herself in check mos’ of teh time."

“Si, that’s how women should act.' One commented.

Thomas bit his cheek, "Well uh’, it's be’n loveleh talkin’ with ye’ all, but I'd like to return to spendin’ time with mah wife."

The drunk men nodded, then paused and looked to Cin,

"Why doesn’t she give us a pretty smile?'

Cin looked at Thomas and then at the men, poker-faced. Thomas smiled to himself, he knew what was to come. She grinned a massive ear to ear grin, her large white sharpened teeth glinted in the sunlight. Her mouth looked to be the mouth of a large wolf instead of a human.

The men shuttered," oh...uh...." They looked at Cin and scrambled away. Thomas slumped in the seat next to Cin,

"Why are men this disgustin’ in teh wor’d?”

" You're not.-"

She smirked," I scared them good."

With that, Cin grabbed her beer and gulped it down in a swift motion, her raven hair neatly tied in a bun, and her muscles bulging against her dress.

As the Hamilton family was looking at the monkeys, camels, and birds of prey, the excitement and commotion of the whole ordeal took Opal and Leo’s attention away from all of their children.

"Oh- where's.....?" Opal looked around for Billie to check that she wasn’t getting into mischief. She gasped loudly watching Billie running off, getting smaller and smaller.

Leo’s eyes widen as he ran off after her calling after the 3-year-old.

"Billie!"

Billie ran quicker into a huge farmer's market, merchants selling foods of all flavors dotted the street, doubling the chaos. Leo panted and looked around for his child, he was steaming angry and worried. Opal panted as she bonded behind him.

" Oh dear, Boys, go with your father to find Billie!"

Leo nodded to Newt,

"Go ahead I just need to catch my breath for a second."

Billie had run into a baker's stand, drunk on the scent of fresh bread. Her stomach growled as she smacked her lips in delight. Her large brown cow eyes looked at all the different types of loaves of bread. The little girl whined to the baker's wife and tugged on her dress,

" I eat?' She asked. Her hands were covered with dirt and ink.

Pip ran in, "Billie!

The woman huffed," Why! Young lady, where are your parents?"

She looked down over the counter at the small children with a motherly annoyed stern look. Pip was doubled over and panted deeply,

"I'm sorry ma'am she runs off sometimes”

She muttered under her breath,” That’s all well and fine but,-”

Billie was grabbing at a loaf of bread and trying to pull it down for her feast.

"Keep your little pig in line!"

She yelped and wiped Billie"s dirty hand marks away from her dress and yanked the bread away from the toddler. Pip gasped, his big brother mode kicking in. He grabbed Billie, holding his baby sister,

"Don't be mean! Just cause you're an adult!"

He huffed and carried her away as the little one loudly squeaked. Billie pouted as she was being carried back to Leo and Opal.

Her eyes widen seeing Thassilion with others, laughing and drinking wine. Pip growled,

"Billie you know better than to run off!"

"But but but! Pip pip pip look!"

She pulled on his curls and pointed to Thassilion and the other men. Thassilion looked like he had fit right in, this was his element. His shiny golden locks sparkling in the sunlight.

"Billie I gotta get you back to Ma and Pa!”

"Nooo! I hungry!!!"

"Well, we gotta tell ma!!"

"Hungry!!"

"We don't have any money!"

The French blonde man blushed, very embarrassed by his nephew and niece, turning his back to them and laughing to his newfound friends. Billie's eyes widen and smirked,

"Steal!!" She yelled and squirmed

Thassilion looked over at this point and blinked. "Non!"

Pip shook his head, his grip had gotten tighter

"Billie no!

Thassilion looked at the wine tasting group and sheepishly mumbled,

“Excusez-moi, cela ne prendra qu'une seconde…”

He rushed over and scooped both of them up, quickly shuffling away to handle them.

Pip sighed, "I'm sorry uncle Thass.."

Billie squirmed and mewled," Hungry!!!!" She kicked.

Thassilion patted her bottom,"Enough."

His brows furrowed, trying to think about how to remedy the situation, Thassilion lit up. He took them both to a little stall with cheeses and meats, purchasing a bit of cheddar cheese and sausage for the two of them.

"Feast.' He was very annoyed.

Pip shook his head, "Not hungry."

Billie took the food and munched through it as her uncle held her and brother close.

The young brown curly-haired boy looked up to him,

"I'm sorry uncle Thass...She...she ran off and I was trying to get her back to mama-”

He whined and cleared his throat,

“ma, and pa.."

Thassilion looked down to the boy,

"Non, she's a vilaine petite fleur." He mumbled in broken English.

On the opposite end of the marketplace, Opal came jogging back to Leo, her large breasts bouncing with each step she took. She was shaking and mewling to him in fear,

" I can't- I can't- I can’t find them!!"

Leo held her close,

"Opal I'm sure they're okay, probably found another crew member.”

Newt panted as he ran back.

" I I couldn't find them pa!" He whined looking up at his father.

Leo bit his lip and nodded, pushing up his glasses,

"Stay close to mama I'm gonna look.”

Newt clung to Opal’s leg, shaking in terror and assuming the worse for his siblings. Opal gasped, her brows raised as she watched her brother come back with the two little ones,

"Thassilion! Dear!"

Leo sighed under his breath, "Thank you frenchie….”

Thassilion set Pip down and held Billie.

" Vilaine petite fleur was screeching...."

Opal took Pip into her arms and whined, kissing his head as Thassilion held Billie. Pip nuzzled her,

"I had to carry her away from a baker and then she started screaming.. mama... It was scary..”

Thassilion set a feasting Billie down for her to go to her father. Leo nodded to Thassilon as he took Billie,

"Thank you. "

He huffed slightly, nodding to Leo. His attention shift to Opal,

"Petite fleur, watch your children more."

Opal blushed at the scolding.

Mr. Hamilton huffed softly and started scolding Billie. The little girl looked up at Leo with her huge brown eyes. The brown and grey-haired man looked to her,

"Billie you know better than to run off like that. You could have gotten kidnapped, or hurt."

Billie crossed her arms as she whined.

" I hungry...."

She looked up at him as they walked to the tavern for a luncheon. Leo nodded,

"We're going to get food."

The crew set off to get a proper meal in and take a breath from all the chaos. Opal clung to Leo and kept her children close with a vice-like grip. The tavern was crawling with mostly male participants, each one of them wore fine silks and expensive cottons, they all seemed to come from wealth.

Opal furrowed her brows, patting Leo's shoulder," Love...love Look, I think that's father and mother!"

"Mmm oh?”

There Cin and Thomas were with the whole table covered in empty cups, Thomas drunk and Cin was a little more than slightly buzzed.

Leo snorted, "Mm I see.."

Opal blinked," Oh- oh dear....." She muttered under her breath, keeping the little ones close. Her parents were not very subtle when drunk. Leo helped to hold the little ones back,

"Looks like they've had quite a night

The blonde busty woman frowned," Its only 1 o clock dear..."

"Quite a day then"

Cin hiccuped, watching Thomas. Thomas was absolutely trashed and making a complete fool, he swayed and sang as loud as he could to the music, all while trying to flirt with his wife. The large monster of a woman kept her head down, a nasty headache beginning to set in.Opal rushed over to her father.

Thomas smiled at her, "Opal dear!"

She blushed and sat him down on the bench." Father...."

Leo sat himself and his children away from Thomas.

The drunken man nodded, "Mmm aye?" He smiled at her.

She patted his back, "Let's get you back to the-" she paused," Inn...yes?"

Thomas blinked, "Aye we're not stayin a' a inn

Opal panicked and whined," Yes we are, father. Don't be silly..."

"Yer teh one bein silly"

"Father... You're being very silly...."

People in the tavern started to stare and keep an eye on the crew a bit closer. Thomas growled softly,

"Opal don't be ridiculous..”

Opal squeezed his arm as she looked to Leo to take the children back to the ship.

"Father, You're being very VERY silly.'

Leo picked up Oliver and Billie, moving Newt and Philip along,

"We're going back to the ship.."

Cin hiccuped and flagged the waiter down for another beer. Thassilion nodded nervously, he stumbled to get away from the table, "Oui, I'll go with you."

Opal shot him a glare. Everyone at the tavern looked at them with eyeing suspicion and muttered among themselves.

" Father....'

"Aye ba' tah te thing then!"

Cin looked at him not understanding what he was saying. Leo looked to Thassilon and muttered, "We gotta cover for them"

Thassilion nodded in agreement and laughed, "Oui, father, you have gotten silly in your old age..'

Thomas huffed and shook his head, "Nay ye wee kids."

Leo shuffled over to Cin,

"I know you're hammered but, Thomas is gonna blow our cover if we don't get back to the ship."

Thassilion and Opal were trying to get him to leave. Cin hiccuped and looked at him, Leo nodded,

"Cmon, I know he's not gonna leave without you. He will be in danger. So will Opal, and the little ones."

Cin considered his words and looked at Thomas, “Mr. Thomas." She slurred.

"Mm yes my love?"

"Time to leave."

Thomas nodded to her, "mmm’kay

Mr. Hamilton sighed softly. Opal sighed in relief and wiped her brow, exclaiming loudly,

"Yes thank you father, let's head back to the Baker!"

The tavern was deadly quiet.

Leo cleared his throat, "The Inn Opal..."

Thomas was already trying to run out of the tavern, his running more akin to a stumble.

Tensions in the tavern were tearing at the seams, some beginning to get up and towards the crew. Others were reaching for their weapons.

Cin's eyes widened after him, starting to run as the men went after the crew-members. Opal ran out carrying Newt and Billie as Leo carried Pip and Oliver. Thassilion following close behind.

All of them running for their lives.

Thomas was doing his best to get out, not understanding what was happening really. Cin growled and threw Thomas over her shoulders running quicker.

Thassilion ran after them as the male tavern participants chased them out. He was not a very fast man, panting as he went, trailing behind.

Pip squeaked, "Uncle Thasssss! Come on!!! "PA! We gotta help Thass!"

Leo ignored his son as he ran, clutching his sons tightly. Looking back at the men Thassilion yelped and tried running quicker. He looked to the streets as he passed by them and ran down a different street to shake the men.

Pip whined loudly, "THASS!"

Leo growled, "Hush."

Billie whimpered," Fench!!!" She yelled for Thassilion

Jonathan looked at Captain William as they exited a hidden building, it was sandwiched between two residential homes. He sighed contently,

" I do believe that was the best meeting we've had."

Captain William hummed softly, agreeing with his husband,

"Mmm indeed yes.."

Thassilion went by running both elderly men, inhumanly screeching in terror with a small band of men trailing behind him.

Jonathan blinked looking at Captain Holmes and then at Thassilion as he grew smaller and smaller down the street. William’s brows perked, he looked to the Doctor and grabbed the short man’s wrist

"Come, let us investigate."

Off the two old men went, taking an adjacent street from the one in which the French man was running down. Jonathan was running as fast as his little legs would carry him, huffing and puffing.

Thassilion trembled as he looked around to figure out what to do. His mismatched eyes darted around, he saw a spacious carriage already hooked to two strong looking horses. He lit up and ran towards the carriage.

Cin was leading the small band of crew-members back to ports, calling to Leo,

" Do we have everyone!?!"

"No! The Captain, Doctor Jonathan, or Thassilon aren’t in sight!"

"Where is Thassilion!?!!" She barked at him.

"I don't know!"

All of a sudden, there was a loud whistle from the street over, Thassilion, Captain William, and Jonathan were piloting the carriage. The blonde man was up first steering the horses, Jonathan was firing at the angry crowd of barmen and Spanish guards.

Leo grinned, "They're here!"

Jonathan opened the door for them all to get inside. Cin nodded and swung Thomas over to the carriage as the moving vehicle got close enough. The drunk man landed inside, tilting the carriage on it’s right-sided wheels.

Thassilion gasped and straightened the carriage out, the buggy rocking harshly from side to side. Thomas was feeling VERY queasy at this point so he just doubled over once he got settled into the carriage.

Cin panted looked to Opal and Leo helping to get their children inside as safe as they could.

Opal looked to Leo and nodded," On the carriage love!"

Leo jumped onto the steps of the carriage, hanging to the side of it as it wobbled, he managed to safely climb inside.

Opal ripped off the bottom half of her skirt and jumped onto the back of the carriage. Leo pulled her in and sat her down.

Cin hung off of the back of the carriage, taking a blunderbuss from her father and working to pick off the growing crowd of people in this mob. Doctor Jonathan fired rounds at the men as Thassilion drove the horses to their limits

Thomas was still doubled over, trying not to vomit, he pressed his hand tightly over his mouth.

The carriage jerked violently, Thassilion navigating it through very sharp turns throughout the city back to the docks. Thomas groaned heavily.

Thassilion yelled to the crew member," Zhis will be a bit rough!!"

Opal gagged and put a hand to her mouth, as her father was doing.

The carriage zipped through the narrow streets, expertly turning each sharp corner. This continued for a while until they had entered the docks. At this point, they managed to shake the mob off. The crew took a sharp left, onto a secret road that led them down to the shoreline.

Jonathan laughed a little seeing the ship in the distance," We're almost there!"

Thassilion gasped, the horses tripped on the rocky beach, flipping the buggy. Cin wrapped around everyone inside the carriage as it tumbled to the ground.

Once the buggy had landed partly in the water, Opal mewled to everyone,

“Is everyone ok?!”

In the carriage, there was a mix of grunts and yeses. Billie was the first out, climbing out through the window, running to Captain William who was face down in the sand.

“Hey hey hey Boss-Man!”

He lifted his head up and groaned, being flung from the top of the carriage,

“Yes?”

“I still get you boss hat?”

Captain William just groaned and shoved his hat into the little girl’s arms. Opal was trembling violently and hyperventilating as she got out of the buggy. Leo was getting up and getting everyone else stood up.

Everyone was seemingly ok, just shaken up, until Thassilion was found in the sand.

He laid there unconscious next to Jonathan who was beginning to wake up.

"Ah come on…..” Leo offered Jonathan a hand with his focus on Thassilon.

The Doctor stumbled up and groaned, rubbing his head. He looked around,

" Oh shit..." He mumbled looking at Thassilion.

He picked the french man up, doing a quick assessment on him. Thassilion wasn’t injured too horribly, he was just knocked unconscious from being flung off of the moving buggy.

Captain William stood up and looked around, groaning, his back aching with a dull sore pain. His icy blue eyes scanned his crew, he noted that Thassilion would be the only one needing serious medical attention.

“Ah aye, the lot of you, back onto the ship and rest.”

He mumbled his command. The crew was quick to obey and started up the plank.

Little Kit was there to greet all of them with a wave and a smile. She bounced seeing Billie with the Captain’s hat and ran off with her back to the nursery to go play.

The rest of the crew returned to their cabins, Jonathan taking Thassilion to the medical bay to care for him.

Captain Williams shuffled into his quarters, finding Toby cleaning everything in there.Toby jumped almost 3 feet in the air and whined,

“Captain Holmes, sir, I was just cleaning things up for you!”

“Thank you lad..”

He slumped down in his chair and groaned shutting his eyes and propping his boots on his desk. Toby jumped a little at this and looked at the Captain,

“Rough day out, Captain?”

William opened one of his eyes at the boy and mused,

“You have no clue.”

The Night Before Barcelona

It was a few hours after dinner and the sun had set, leaving the sky twinkling with silver stars up above in the heavens.

Captain William finished his preparations with Doctor Jonathan for their port in Barcelona the next day. It was a very risky decision on the Captain’s part as this was decidedly not a pirate friendly port. He had no real say in the matter as it was an Order of the Sea Captains it was absolutely required. Needless to say, he was more stressed than usual about this porting.

“Johnathan..” He looked to his husband,” I am well aware that everything will turn out fine, should everything go according to plan however…”

Jonathan ceased laying out his clothes for the next morning and turned to face his husband,

“However we both know that nothing ever goes according to plan..”

The old doctor sighed softly as he closed the distance between himself and the Captain,

“My love there has yet to be something that can stop us, hm? What are the chances of this being the trip out that changes that?”

After a moment of consideration, the sharp grey-haired man nodded slowly,

“Assuming everyone keeps to their roles...roughly 45.7%...”

He paused,” Still under a majority but that is a notable chance.”

Jonathan leaned up onto his tiptoes and placed a gentle, loving kiss on William’s cheek,

“I meant that rhetorically love... The point was that it is more likely than not that everything will be fine.” he smiled to him gently,

“Now, you old sea dog, finish laying out your clothes for the morning.” he teased William with a wink. He went back to his own clothes.

The Captain turned his focus back to meticulously laying out each article of clothing he would put on in order from the first to the last. Socks, then pants, undershirt, shirt, trousers, vest, belt….no belt then vest, then shoes, scarf, coat, and finally his Captain’s hat. After triple-checking that everything was in order and in the proper state, he slowly spun around and watched Jonathan stack his clothes atop each other.

Jonathan’s outfit for the next day was carefully laid out so as not to wrinkle it, however, it was not laid out as carefully as the Captain’s. The order was not as clear and it showed one of the differences between them.

The sea doctor, while detail oriented, was significantly more practical in matters. The Captain was very detail-oriented and on occasion would forget the larger picture and lose himself in the fine details. Combined they balanced each other well.

Captain Holmes kissed his husband on the head, “I will do one last check on the crew love. Make sure they are all getting in order as well.” Mr. Wilton gave a nod to the captain as he left their quarters. William paused once the door had swung shut behind him, taking a moment to breathe in the cool air.

The first room he visited was that of Opal and Leo. Better to get them done first in case they should get wrapped up in……... other activities.

As the Captain approached the Hamilton's quarters he stopped and listened for a moment, nodding once he confirmed that they were still awake and available to speak with he knocked firmly on the door. The mattress squeaking and muffled murmuring stopped all at once.

Leo jumped, he was half-dressed in his pajamas, “Hang on!” he huffed and quickly got himself decent.

Opal squeaked, “We’re not decent!” she stumbled into her pajamas, fumbling a little as she got them on, then she bustled over to the door and opened it,

“Oh, Captain! Is there something the matter? This is awfully late for you to be awake.” she had genuine concern in her voice as she looked to the Captain.

William shook his head, “No no, nothing is wrong, Opal. I am just making rounds to see that everyone is properly prepared for tomorrow's port. I want to be sure that we are all prepared.”

Mr. Hamilton made his way over to the door, calling out.

“Mm we just got the children to bed...Had to hunt Billie and Phillip down but they are all in their beds now.”

Opal nodded, “Oh yes! The little ones are all down for the night now, we will be getting everything laid out for ourselves shortly.” She bounced eagerly, the idea of such a fancy port made Mrs. Hamilton very excited.

Captain William paused and looked over the two, perking a brow at them,

“Then I can assume you will be awake on time in the morning?”

He already knew that this would not be the case, as Opal was a very deep sleeper and was hardly roused by anything.

The short writer nodded to William,

“We will be awake and ready to go on time.”

His eyes had wandered to look over his wife and his mind quickly changed thought tracks.

Opal was seemingly oblivious to Leo’s long and raking look over her as she nodded to the Captain,

“Oh of course Grandfather William! Awake bright and early!” She beamed to him.

Mr. Holmes nodded slowly, “Then I had best let you both get rested. Do not forget your cover jobs.” he stepped back out and closed their door behind him.

The Captain took another deep breath of ocean air and then went to his daughter’s quarters. He made his way across the deck he kept his eyes and ears alert for anything unusual sound or movement. William looked over the door to Cin and Thomas’s quarters and nodded gently to himself, he knew he hardly had to check on them, but he always did anyway.

Thomas looked up as he heard the knock on the door, he was taking his hair down for the night as Cin was changing into her pajamas, “Aye, whose tah?”

Cin took about two steps to cross their room and she opened the door,

“Captain.”

Her ice-blue eyes looked down into her fathers,

“It is late.” she stepped out of the door frame, which she blocked with her tall frame of a body, letting William into their quarters.

Captain William nodded to her, “It is. I am checking in with each member of the crew to be sure that we are ready for port tomorrow. This will be a challenging one, however, it must be done.”

Thomas nodded and walked over, standing next to his wife,

“Aye, so long as we stick tah our roles ye gave us, I’ shoul’ be alrigh, aye?”

His warm gray sapphire eyes gazed at the captain as he leaned into his wife.

The contrast between the tall, muscular danish woman and the slightly shorter, gentler looking welsh cannon master was stark. Yet they seemed to be a perfect match.

The Captain nodded affirmingly to Mr. Thomas,

“Yes. so long as we all stick to our roles in every sense everything should work out tomorrow...All of us. Regardless of how we feel about the roles.”

This caused Cin to grumble softly, she was not one to uphold traditional femininity and her “role” for the next was very traditionally feminine,

“Ja. But we will not all be happy about it. Captain.”

The woman's stoic expression did not give away that she was far more anxious than she would care to admit about stopping in such an unfriendly port.

William gave an understanding nod to her,

“So long as they are upheld while in the public eye, we will all be fine. Remember, it is for the safety of the crew.”

Captain William was not the most socially adept person, he was trying very hard, in this case, to emphasize to Cin the importance of putting the crew’s safety before her own comfort.

Thomas bit his lip, his tongue running over his facial hair as he mentally resigned himself to his fate.

“Aye captain, we’ll be sure tah remember our roles.”

The welsh man had his nerves for other reasons, unrelated to the roles or even this specific port and his worries were written on his face.

The Captain stared at him with a stern,

“Remember, cannon master Thomas, we will not leave without you. Get rest, both of you. Being tired will not help any of us at the port.”

He stepped back out of their quarters smoothly, almost gliding away like a ghoul.

Thomas nodded to him, “Aye captain. Yerself as well” and he closed the door quietly, returning to Cin’s side as it swung shut.

The Captain's eyes glided over the deck of the ship to the second to last room of the night. His grandson Thassilon’s room. He breezed over to the door, eager to be done with the checks so he could return to his bed with Johnathan. He paused at the door for a moment before he knocked.

There was a thud and a loud clattering, presumably from Thassilon jumping and hitting his leg on his nightstand. William smiled to himself, Opal's brother was much jumpier than she was, though given the differences in their histories this was unsurprising.

Thassilon scrambled and opened the door, the Captain had caught him partway through his skin routine. Which he did every night, and as such his hair was held back, he had either a mask or lotion on his face. Whatever it was, it smelled very strongly of flowers and pomegranate,

“Oui? Captaine, what is zhe matter?” he listened anxiously and glanced behind the Captain, he gripped a small dagger with a white-knuckled grip.

Captain Holmes watched his nerves calm a bit before speaking,

“Thassilon, there is nothing wrong. I just wished to check in on you before I went to bed myself. I felt it was necessary to check in with everyone before tomorrow’s...trip to Barcelona. I know you will be the most in your element of all of us, however, you still must be awake on time in the morning..”

Thassilon perked up, his heart rate slowing down. He nodded,

“Oui! Of course Captaine! I will also assist with being sure that everyone ‘as ze proper...fashion, to match ze crowd better…”

He paused and blushed hard as he remembered he was never asked to help,

“If zat would be approved by yourself of course..”

The Captain’s brows perked, slightly amused by the short Frenchman’s enthusiasm,

“Of course Thassilon. You, out of all of us, will be most familiar with what will be expected of us. I trust you to handle everything, and handle it well.”

Thassilon collected himself and nodded,

“Of course mon Capitaine. I will see to it all myself.”

He kept a serious expression for another moment, a grin spreading across his face.

“Then rest well tonight, you have quite a task on your hands for the morning.” With an exchange of quick goodnight’s William stepped back and closed the door.

The moon and stars were shining brightly over him as the Captain nodded to himself. The silver stars twinkled above William’s dark grey mane, the sound of crashing waves against the shoreline brought some type of solace to the old Captain.

All his checks were done. He walked back to his own quarters on the other side of the ship and slid in the door quietly. Jonathan was half awake when the Captain settled into bed, still, he cuddled into the arms of his love almost instantly.

In this position, they both slept soundly through the night.

#SSBaker #Pirates #Nighttime