Fixedly, I gazed down at the beautiful bundle of pink in the arms of the old lady.

"Ma-nee?"

Ah...

That voice. That word. I couldn't for the world find it within myself to keep the smile off my face. Why the heck was I smiling when, in the past, him using that word had annoyed me like nothing else?

"Ma-nee! Ma-nee!"

"Not quite," I told him as one of the women handed me a thick blanket. Wrapping the thing around me to make sure none of my wet clothes came into contact with Berty, I lifted the little bundle of joy out of Granny Aatifa's arms and into mine. With him in my arms, how could anything bother me? "Try again."

"Papa? Papa!"

My eyebrows twitched. I had wanted to know how anything could bother me? Well, that's how! I mean, really? I knew I wasn't exactly the traditional housewife, but papa?

Not that I would let this ruin my reunion. This was a perfect day, and nothing could ruin it! Judging by the way Granny Aatifa was snickering, she seemed to enjoy it a lot, too.

"Try again, sweety," I told my son. "You remember me, don't you? Ma..."

"Papa! Papa!"

My eyebrows twitched again. Son of a—wait, no, that would just be insulting myself!

"Papa! Papa!"

I took a deep breath. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"Well," came a familiar, cool (and, if my ears didn't betray me, slightly amused) voice from behind me, "it is probably partially your fault."

My head whipped around to give Mr Rikkard Ambrose my patented wifely you'd-better-explain-or-else stare. "My fault?! How could this possibly be my fault?"

He cocked his head, as if this were obvious. "Well, you do keep showing up in front of him in male clothes half of the time. He's not even a year old and, despite being my son, is not exactly a genius." He gestured at my distinctly male clothes. "What do you think was going to happen?"

My jaw dropped.

He...

Was he right?

Bloody hell! What had I done? This whole time, I had wanted nothing more than to hear the M-word from Berty, and I had been shooting myself in the foot all along?

In retrospect, on the journey here, I should probably not have put another fake beard on, regardless of how it made our escape from India safer.

Pulling off the blasted thing with a twang, I hurled it into the ocean and turned back to my darling boy.

"There. Now, let's try again, shall we?"

"Ma..."

"Yes?"

"Mama!"

I beamed, gently squeezing the adorable ball of pinkness that was my son. "Much better." Leaning forward until my nose nearly touched his, I gazed down at him, unable to take my eyes off his smiling face. Suddenly, the world seemed complete again. "Much, much better."

From behind, two strong arms suddenly encircled both me and Berty. I didn't hesitate for a moment before relaxing into their embrace. If the world had seemed complete before, now it was just...more. Warmth swelled within me. Was it actually possible for a heart to contain this much happiness? It felt like it was about to burst any moment.

Not that I was going to let it. I had my son back in my arms and my husband at my side, and I wasn't planning on letting go of either any time soon.

Then a stiff sea breeze blew across the beach, and I shivered in my sodden clothes.

Ah, well. So much for plans.

"I, ehem...I think I need to change."

A somewhat penetrating odour rose into the air, thankfully quickly dispelled by the wind. I looked down at Berty, who looked far too proud of himself.

"And, ehem...I think I'm not the only one."

"Apparently." Turning me in his arms, Mr Ambrose gazed down at me in my wet clothes which, I only now realised, clung rather tightly to my body. "Which of you two should I help change? I know which I would prefer."

I felt my ears redden. Huffing, I—gently—shoved Berty into his arm. "Go and take care of your son, Mister! By the time I'm finished changing, he had better be wearing a fresh diaper, understood?"

His cold eyes flashed. "Are you giving orders to me, Mrs Ambrose?"

"Why, yes, Mr Ambrose. I believe I am."

"...Well then, I had better get to it."

And, to my total and utter surprise, he took hold of Berty and strode off towards the house, leaving me behind, my mouth slightly open.

"You've got a good man there." Granny Aatifa stepped up beside me to pat my shoulder. "A really good man."

"Y-yes. Yes, I do." I swallowed.

"And he's got a good woman, too." She glanced over at a certain bearded bodyguard, who was currently trying to sneak past her unnoticed. "If only someone could take a leaf out of his book."

I snickered. "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure he'll find someone to appreciate his unique charm. And..."

"Yes?"

"If he really doesn't, I do have several unmarried sisters, and some rather, ehem...energetic friends. I wouldn't mind introducing him to some of them."

Her face lit up. "You'd do that for me? Really?"

"After all you just did to help me?" And to see the expression on dear Karim's face when he's dancing with Patsy? "Of course I would!"

"Oh, you darling girl!" Giving me a fierce, motherly hug, Granny Aatifa started to drag me off towards the house. "Let's get you dried up and dressed. This calls for a celebration!"

***

Adaira watched her brother gently hug his wife and child on the beach of a romantic island. For a moment, she thought she could even see a hint of warmth in his eyes. Oh my. This would make excellent blackmail material.

"Say," came a familiar male voice from her left, "do you have a camera?"

She turned her head sideways to see Captain James Carter watch the scene on the beach with a spark of completely justified evil in his eyes.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," she told him. "Unfortunately, the answer to your question is no."

"What a pity." The two of them watched as the couple on the beach, along with the older Indian lady, moved off towards the house. As they vanished inside, the captain turned towards her, and the warmth in his eyes was like a blazing sun compared to any other man who had looked at her before. "Then again, no matter how amusing blackmailing your brother would be, I have more important things to do."

In a blink, his arms were around her as he caught her in a tight embrace. Adaira's mouth opened in surprise—just in time for his mouth to descend on hers.

"Now," he whispered against my lips. "Let's get down to those important things, shall we?"

"Let's not, shall we?" came a gravelly voice from right next to them. Adaira's eyes flicked to the side to see two burly sailors standing there, arms crossed. Sailors who worked for her brother. Adaira felt her face flush.

"Can I do something for you, gentlemen?" Captain Carter enquired, seeming completely unperturbed. Blast the scoundrel!

"Aye," one of them grunted. "Ye can get out of the way so we can unload our cargo."

"Um, right, of course!" Adaira nodded hurriedly. "We'll move out of the way right awa—" It was only then that she suddenly realised something. "Wait just a minute! You were waiting at the coast to rescue us. Do you mean to say you have cargo on board?"

"Naturally. The boss never makes us take a loss-making trip."

And with that, the two sailors strode past her, not seeming to notice her expression.

"Loss-making trip, eh?" Adaira felt her eyebrows twitch.

"Ehem, well..." Captain Carter cleared his throat. "I'm sure that, deep down inside, your brother values you highly and—"

"Oy!" One of the sailors shouted from down at the jetty. "The ship is moored! Ye can start bringing down the salted herring now!"

Wisely, Captain Carter closed his mouth.

"You know," Adaira turned towards the good captain, a smile on her face that contrasted rather starkly with the way she was cracking her knuckles. "I suddenly don't think I'm in the mood for hanky-panky. Why don't we pay a little visit to my brother?"

"Do you want an honest answer to that question, darling?"

"None of that, Mister! You are coming with me! And bring your knife and pistol!"

"Yes, darling. Right away, darling."

"Hm. Good." Nodding with satisfaction, Adaira grabbed him by the elbow and started to manoeuvre him towards the gangplank.

"How come I suddenly feel like we're already married?"

"Shut up and move!"

"Ah. That's how."

It didn't take long before they reached the house. In the sitting room, they found some of Karim's sisters doing needlework.

"Where is my brother?" Adaira growled by way of a greeting.

One of the ladies hesitantly raised a hand to point to her right. "Um, down that corridor and through the very last door. But, you probably shouldn't—"

Yet Adaira didn't pay any further attention. Before the woman could say anything else, Adaira stomped past her and towards the indicated room. Cracking her knuckles again, she pushed open the door and strode in. Time to teach her dear brother a good lesson! Time to—

"Agh! Gnk! Gagh!"

Coughing and spluttering, she stumbled backward out of the room and slammed the door shut. Hurriedly, she scuttled back till she reached the wall, leaned against it and dragged in deep breaths of air. Deep breaths of fresh, uncontaminated air.

"What's the matter?" the captain enquired. "Not interested in seeing your brother anymore?"

"Not...not right now," Adaira wheezed. "Maybe later."

"As you wish. Then..."

"How about we go for a walk at the beach? In the fresh air?"

"Excellent idea, My Lady."

***

The walk on the beach turned out to be rather longer than expected. After all, there was so much beautiful scenery to see, and there were songs of exotic birds to listen to, and so many other things that didn't have anything to do with the fact that she had the most wonderful man in the world by her side and no brother to supervise her.

When Adaira returned to the house with her beau by her side, her hair was slightly ruffled (from the wind, just the wind) and her face was flushed (which was completely because of the exertion of the walk, not at all due to any other physical activity), she found that the others had moved the dinner table onto the beach in front of the house. Vases full of beautiful tropical flowers were placed around, and the entire area was bathed in gentle light by dozens of candles.

"I thought this would be more appropriate." Popping up right behind Adaira and nearly making her jump out of her skin, Granny Aatifa placed one hand each on her and the captain's back, manoeuvring them towards the table. "Considering the fact we have something to celebrate."

"Why, thank you!" Adaira beamed at her—then turned to cast a glance at her brother. "If only everyone were as thoughtful."

"I am full of thoughts," he stated, coolly. "I just prefer to keep them to myself."

"Which, all things considered, is probably a good idea," Captain Carter said jovially as he pulled back a chair and offered it to Adaira. "I prefer my ears intact and not filled with insults, thank you very much."

Adaira saw her brother's eyes narrow ever so slightly. "Who asked you to speak?"

"Oh, no one." The captain smiled and, leaning forward, whispered conspiratorially, "But, you know, I have mastered the great art of speaking without being forced to. I can teach you if you want."

"And I can have you kidnapped and shipped abroad again if I want. Should I?"

Adaira froze. Had she heard that correctly? Again?

He couldn't mean that he once already...

Captain Carter blinked. "That was you?"

Of course he had.

"No comment."

"Huh." The captain turned towards where she was trying her best to not explode. Deep breaths, Adaira. Deep breaths. "Adaira, dear...do you mind if I whack your brother over the head with a crowbar?"

"Depends." She glanced between him and her brother, her eyes full of fake concern. "Do you want your poor crowbar to be damaged?"

"Hm. Good point. Thank you, darling."

Adaira preened under his praise—then remembered she was supposed to be pissed off and zeroed in on her brother like a predator on the prowl.

"Sorry for taking so long, everyone. Berty was being a little bit demanding." A voice suddenly came from the door of the house and saved her brother from a sudden and violent end. Glancing over, she saw Lilly standing on top of the porch with Berty in her arms. "Well, how are you all getting along?"

Captain Carter opened his mouth—then his face twitched, and Adaira heard a crunching sound from under the table.

"Like a happy family," her brother said, his eyes sweeping the table as if he were a commanding officer with a loaded gun in his hand, daring his troops to disagree. "Right?"

"Right." Captain Carter squeezed out. "Happy family. Absolutely."

"I also have to agree." Granny Aatifa's lips twitched, a nostalgic look in her eyes. "It reminds me of when I first met my dear husband's family. Ah, those were the days. The romance, the harmony, the homicide attempts..."

Adaira nearly snorted the fruit juice she was sipping out through her nose.

"Yes. Yes, I can see that." Lips twitching, Lilly took a seat next to her husband and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's make sure to get along just as well in the future, shall we?"

He looked at her for an intense moment—then gave a single, silent nod.

Without a word, he picked up a plate of strange-smelling fish covered with enough spices to bring an elephant to tears and held it out to Captain Carter. It was, in Adaira's opinion, probably the worst peace-offering in history. And yet, the captain accepted it with a perfect smile.

A smile that became somewhat strained when he put the spoonful into his mouth.

"Gnk! Agh!" He coughed. "Simply...delicious. Thank you, Mr Ambrose. And thank you, Ma'am, for your wonderful cooking." He inclined his head towards Granny Aatifa, eyes watering. "You can't imagine how much I appreciate it."

Suddenly, Adaira felt that, yes, all of them might actually get along like a happy family. A weird one, maybe, but happy nonetheless.

The rest of the evening passed in the same vein. They ate, talked (except for her brother), laughed (except for her brother) and all in all, did the things that family and friends were supposed to do. It finally started to sink in for Adaira—they had done it. They were together. They were safe. And they had their whole lives ahead of them.

Her eyes met those of her intended, and they were shining. Sure, it might be because he was still crying tears from spicy food, but she was sure that at least in part it was due to happiness. Reaching out, she took his hand under the table and squeezed. He squeezed back, and gave her a smile that made her heart blossom.

Until she heard a crunching sound and her intended's smile became somewhat strained once more.

Adaira took a deep breath.

"Dick?" she enquired without taking her eyes off Captain Carter. "Be a dear and take your boot off my future husband's foot. He'll still need it in the future."

"Indeed?"

"Yes, indeed. Unless you want to pay him a disability pension?"

The boot disappeared from her intended's foot faster than a flash. Adaira couldn't help but smile.

Yes. They were indeed getting along like a loving family, weren't they?

------------------------------------------

My dear Readers,

I hope you enjoyed the reunion. Next up: the most interesting part of the book, and the one I enjoyed writing the most!

Can anyone guess what it might be...? ;-)

Countdown: Four chapters left!

Yours Truly

Sir Rob