Lori hadn't meant to raise her voice. She was just so shocked that… that could happen to Eleanor. A Princess! Eleanor’s father had sent her away because she wasn't “suitable” when she’d only shown love and respect to her… Yet, he would allow men of rank and Noble blood to…
She took a deep breath to keep her head from drowning in those vile thoughts. “I’m sorry, love.” she whispered when she finally found her voice again as she was pulled along. “I’m so, so sorry.”
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Eleanor whispered, holding Lorelei gently. "My darling, not a single part of those events was your fault. I handled them, and I'm here now, and that's what matters. Not some suitor pricks who thought they were special. Alright?"
Even as she spoke, she was close enough to Lorelei that Eleanor's partner could feel her trembling at the memories she'd been forced to keep. "Now let's go. I'd like to meet Charlie."
Lorelei returned the embrace, wrapping her arms around Eleanor. “I should have been there. I should have come back sooner.” she argued gently. Even though she knew there was no way to change what had happened, it was hard for her to accept that right now. “I can at least promise you that nothing like that will ever happen again.” she said firmly as she felt her love shaking.
“Right. Let's go.” she nodded, reluctant to actually let go yet. “You’ll like her. And Tommy. They're really nice and Charlie is a wonderful cook.”
Eleanor sighed softly. "Thank you," she whispered, holding Lorelei in the embrace that was as close as she could get her. "It's alright… they never actually… you know. I stayed yours through it all, I swear it."
She pressed a quick kiss to Lorelei's lips and smiled. "I'll be delighted to meet them then," she cooed, heading down the stairs and pulling her lover with her.
“Well… That is a bit of a relief.” she admitted before smiling softly. “I stayed yours too. I may have learned a few things but I didn't let anyone get close.” Lori promised, returning the kiss sweetly. “Alright. Let's go.”
Eleanor arched her eyebrows. "And what in the world do you mean by that, darling?" she asked curiously, descending into the ship to find Charlie and Tommy. "What exactly did you learn?"
“I don't know if I should ruin the surprise, love.” Lori smirked. “But I will tell you that it's for when we're alone together and very…”
“I’ll thank you to keep your bedroom talk out of my kitchen when Tommy’s here.” scolded a surprisingly voluptuous woman who was dressed like a barmaid. “And no comments out of you, Captain.” she added, holding a knife in her hand.
“Oh, calm down, Charlie. I was just going to say that it was going to be very exciting to try.” Lori laughed.
Eleanor's heart raced a bit at what Lorelei was implying. She was about to reply, but the scolding interrupted her. Her eyes found the other woman, and she couldn't help but admire her for a very brief moment. "Hello, Charlie," she greeted again with her winning smile. "I'm Eleanor."
Charlie set down her knife and smiled warmly. “Yes, I figured you would be.” she commented, wiping her hand on her apron. “A pleasure to meet you at last. Come on in, take a seat anywhere. Tommy, you too and say hello.”
A head of bright red hair looked up from cleaning a large pot when Charlie called, revealing a young boy. “Hello, princess.” he said shyly as he cautiously made his way to the table.
"The pleasure is mine, I'm sure," Eleanor insisted, taking a seat in the chair closest to her. She looked around curiously for Tommy, and she jumped a bit in surprise when he popped out from behind the pot. Eleanor slipped out of her seat and knelt to his level when he approached. "Hello, Tommy," she greeted kindly. "But you don't have to call me that. I am not a princess anymore."
Tommy blushed almost as dark as his hair when Eleanor spoke to him and looked down at the table causing Charlie and Lorelei to chuckle.
“He’s shy but he’ll warm up to you.” Charlie smiled, bringing over four steaming cups and fresh sliced bread. “Do you like green tea? It's very calming.”
Eleanor grinned and whispered to the boy, "Call me Ellie." She drew back and winked before seating herself again and pulling Lorelei into the chair beside her.
"Oh, yes! Green tea would be lovely!" the young woman enthused, slowly starting to forgo her typical "princess" mannerisms in exchange for how she would naturally act.
Tommy looked up at the whisper and gave a small bashful smile before taking his cup and a piece of bread.
Lorelei smiled and held Ellie's hand, glad to see the more relaxed, personable side of her coming back out.
“Glad to hear. Just got this supply today before we left.” Charlie told her as she placed the cups in front of everyone. “Oh, and before I forget, are you allergic to anything? I don't want Lori to get mad at me if I get you sick.” she half teased.
Eleanor shook her head. "No," she answered. "Not allergic to anything that I know of." She looked over at Lorelei and smiled back, squeezing her hand. "You still are to call me Eleanor," she added for Lorelei. Her eyebrows arched teasingly.
Charlie nodded, giving Eleanor a simple smile. “Good, because I was planning to make something special for this occasion. And I have to admit I've been looking forward to it.”
“Oh, really, love?” Lorelei smirked, raising a brow. “I can think of more than a few times where you didn't mind me calling you “Ellie”.” she winked, rubbing her thumb against her knuckles.
Eleanor nodded to Charlie. "I'm looking forward to it as well," she replied kindly, and she took a sip from her tea. Though she almost spat it immediately back out at Lorelei's words. She swallowed her sip and blushed at both the words and the touch. "Oh? I don't think I recall…" she murmured, lifting her cup to her lips again to hide her small smirk.
“I think you do.” Lorelei smirked, pressing a kiss to her lover’s cheek. “Otherwise, I’ll just have to remind you.”
Charlie cleared her throat to remind the couple that they were not alone right now. Honestly, it didn't bother her at all since she could be rather flirtatious as well… It was really Tommy she was looking out for as the boy was her ward since he stepped foot on the Song.
Eleanor blushed at Lorelei's kiss and blushed, even more, when Charlie cleared her throat. She bit her lip and drew back slightly from her partner. "Sorry," she murmured. "We'll just have to wait." She took another sip from her tea and smiled at the boy. "How are you, Tommy?"
Lorelei rolled her eyes slightly and leaned back in her chair. “It was just a kiss.” she pointed out as she grabbed a slice of the bread. “The boy’s ten years old.”
“I know that but I would appreciate it if you toned it down in front of him.” Charlie insisted, frowning slightly over her cup.
Tommy blushed again when the Princess spoke to him. “Fine, ma’am.” he said softly.
Eleanor gently took Lorelei's hand and her expression softened. "It's alright, love," she said quietly. "We have the rest of our lives together. No need to express it all at once." She winked knowingly before looking back at Tommy.
"What did I say?" she asked teasingly. "I won't have any of this 'princess' or 'ma'am' nonsense. Please call me Ellie." She smiled gently at him.
“You have a point, my darling.” Lorelei sighed. “It’s just I waited so long to hold you again… I guess I'm a little impatient and eager to make up for lost time.” she smiled softly.
Tommy smiled shyly and nodded. “Ellie.” he corrected.
"We will, darling, I promise we will," Eleanor assured her, squeezing her hand again. "It's been a blessing just seeing your face again."
"That's right," she remarked to Tommy with a laugh. "And if you call me anything else, I'm afraid a tickling punishment may be in order." She poked his side playfully.
Lori smiled lovingly and lifted their hands to kiss her knuckles. “You’ve always had a way with words.”
Tommy gave a surprisingly loud squeal at the unexpected touch and playful warning. It had been a while since someone treated him like a kid. The crew never forgot his age or gave him a task that he couldn't do and Captain Lori and Mama Charlie were very good to him but sometimes he almost forgot he was still just a boy.
Eleanor grinned at both Lorelei's kiss and Tommy's squeal. "I'm sorry!" she said through laughter. "I didn't mean to scare you!" Her eyes glittered with amusment.
Lorelei and Charlie laughed with her while Tommy just blushed. Though he was smiling.
“That’s the loudest he’s been around a new shipmate without being in the Crowsnest.” Lorelei smiled.
Charlie nodded proudly and wrapped an arm around Tommy’s shoulders.
