"I's think ya should. Ya deserve it. 'Ere, ya can borra' my private stash," Nicki said with a wink. He bent over and fished under his cot to bring out a bundle of old papers. He held them out toward Andrew, not trusting himself to stand just yet. "Don' tell anyone else 'bout these, understand?" The bundle was all of old ink and charcoal drawings, all of curvy nude woman. "Some o' these I's found myself drawin' couple o' weeks past when I's first was havin' ta dreams. All else was gifts from Barnaby some years past."

Andrew choked and looked at him wide eyed. "you've been havin dreams i'm a girl for weeks now?" She caught herself and laughed. "I think you were right about ya needin' a girl next port." She took the drawings and glanced at them. She'd have to at least take them like she would look through them. Get them back to him the next day or so. She kept an eye on Nicki though, making sure he didn't fall over and collapse or anything. He seemed to be still pretty sick from the rum. She'd only had a sip so she was fine.

(Pirate playboy.. omg. XD lol)

{XD}

"Yeah..." Nicki trailed off, his face turning a little red. He scratched his neck a little nervously and looked away. "Tis' not like I's would dream o' 'bout you purpusolly, jus' kinda started, ya know...jus' too mucha seawater, tha's all..." Nicki shook his head to clear his thoughts. Seawater? Was that really the best he could come up with? Andrew wouldn't believe that, he was far too sharp. There had to be some reason for the dreams though. He hoped to all the high heavens he wasn't turning into a queer. Especially not over his best friend Andrew.

Andrew blushed and looked away, her actions mimicking his. "I'd say way to much seawater. And possibly to much rum." She grinned looking back at him. "Ya think ya'll be okay now nicki?"

"Yeah...yeah, I's be a'ight," Nicki replied. He tried to stand again, and to his relief he succeeded this time. Then he tried to take a step forward. He immediately fell flat on his face with a thud. He rolled onto his back, holding his nose and cursing.

Andrew squeaked at the captains sudden fall setting the papers quickly on the bed to help him up. "I think's ye'd best stay in bed for now." She helped him back to his feet and let him stand, maybe that would help him. water! "Hey, I'll be right back, sit down, or don't move." True she felt a little bad commanding her captain but he was in the middle of a hangover or still drunk.

She left the door quickly running to get a full canteen of water.

As Andrew helped him up, Nicki tensed a bit as he felt something odd underneath her shirt. It was...soft?! What the hell? He stared after her wide eyed as she rushed out of the room. Was Andrew really a woman after all? But that would be impossible, he should've been able to tell by now. He felt his legs start going weak again and he wobbled back over to plop down on the cot. He shouldn't jump to any conclusions though. He would just have to ask about it when Andrew returned.

"Here drink." Andrew said as she rushed back in the room holding out a canteen of water to him. "It should help you out." She shook off the strange feeling she got from him looking at her oddly when she came in the room. It's nothing. Don't worry. Nicki was now sitting on the bed again, she'd had a feeling that would happen. "Hangover go away none?"

(just remember she is bound =] )

{*facepalms at self*}

Nicki took the water and drank a bit before setting it down in his lap. "Yeah...I's notta jumpin' ta any concloos' here, but, uh..." Should he just ask straight out? What if he had just imagined it after all? That would be awkward. Still though, the curious, nagging voice in his mind wouldn't shut up. He sighed before continuing. "...Andru', be you a woman?" he asked, staring at the floor as his face turned red. He was expecting either a laugh or a punch in the gut anytime soon, and he wasn't looking forward to either option.

Andrew stood in shock. The first thing she could think of to ask was, "Why, are yer dreams bugging ya?" No yes or no, no attack saying, 'why would you ask that?' Nothing. She was avoiding answering as much as Nicki was struggling to ask. She didn't want to lie to him, her captain. But she knew she was probably going to have to.

Nicki looked up at Andrew, his eyes distraught. "I's knows it be a strange request, but would set me mind at ease. Could's I has a look at yer chest?"

crap!!!! Andrew inched towards the door. Well this is awkward. She turned her head to look at Nicki looking confused on the bed. "I'm sorry captain. I can't. Hey, i have to go do some stuff so I'll be around." She slipped out the door and stared down at her hands. That is going to be so obvious. She rubbed her head. I'll have to explain later, but what am I gonna say. i need some fresh air.

She shook her head and skipped it up to the top deck scaling the ropes in mere seconds to hang there looking out across the ocean with her arms looped in the rope behind her. The stars sparkled and she took a deep breath. "He's gonna hate that." She said after awhile. Than it hit her. crap i talked normally again!

Nicki stared after Andrew blankly for a long moment. What had just happened? Andrew sounded...different. He shook his head furiously and pinched his arms. He cursed at the pain, and at realizing that this wasn't one of his dreams. That mean't....bloody fucking hell, it couldn't be...

Nicki pushed himself to his feet, concentrating hard on keeping his balance. He had to follow Andrew to make sure he....no, she? Whatever the hell he was, he had to make sure Andrew was alright. He didn't want to just let this go. He managed to pull himself up the stairs to the main deck slowly, fighting back the headache pounding softly in his ears. He knew where Andrew was likely to be. Up near the crows nest was Andrew's one place to escape and relax.

He stumbled over to the rail of the ship and turned to look up, squinting at the form hanging from the ropes. "Andru'!" he shouted up to her.

Andrew relaxed as the wind blew over her. She closed her eyes leaning forward just a bit more.

"Andru'!"

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes looking down. He'd followed her out despite him being so out of it. Looks like she had to tell him. She figured she knew how to tell him now to.

Climbing down the ropes she walked over to him with her head lowered. "Yes Cap'n?" If she could drop it she would if not. Well if not she'd tell him she would leave at next port.

"I's need ta know ta truth, Andru'," Nicki replied, trying his best to sound demanding. He didn't like to put Andrew on the spot like this, but he had to. "Is you a woman?"

She refused to raise her head, she was blushing uncontrollably. "I can skip out at the next port if you need me to Nicki. I know having a woman on board is bad luck. Some of the guys talk about it every once in awhile." It was the closest to a confession she felt like getting to right than. Her stomach was curling from nerves.

Nicki leaned back against the rail limply, his knees seeming to give out suddenly. He had been prepared to ask the question, but now he didn't know what to say. He face began to turn red at the papers he had given her earlier and the confession about the dreams. "Andru'...why? An' how?"

"Well when I was little and got captured they had cut my hair as punishment for misbehaving so when i got landed on a ship they didn't know if i was male or female. And than I wound up on your ship and I just kept it secret. I've been binding my chest and keeping anything feminine from everyone else. It wasn't to hard, but I'm getting older now, and its a little bit hard to conceal. I figure I should just skip to port next chance I get so as to not cause any more trouble." She still wouldn't lift her head to look at him.

Nicki was struggling a lot inside with this new information about his best friend. He didn't want Andrew to leave, but he didn't want to seem to suggest anything by asking her to stay. He reached out with one hand, keeping the other on the rail to balance himself, and touched at her cheek. Something akin to a shock seemed to shoot through him. It was...nice, actually. Really nice. He touched his fingers under her chin to lift her face up, looking into her eyes. "Ya don' hafta leave, Andru'. Yer still me best mate, 'spite bein' a woman."

"Yeah but Jozo-" She cut off her eyes widening, she hadn't meant to tell the captain her uncomfortableness with the man. She looked into his eyes catching the shock just barely when he lifted her chin up. The girl inside her that had hidden for so long was braking out looking at Nicki. Her best friend for so long, and now her captain. She couldn't stop the tears that came to her eyes than. They weren't enough to start down her cheeks, but they made her eyes shimmer. "I still feel like I need ta Nicki. People are gon' find out soon. Than they won't like me. I can't hide it much longer." Her chin burned where he was still touching. It was an unusual feeling to be touched.

(omg that's such a long word...)

{haha didnt even think that was a word}

Nicki sighed and pulled his hand back to place on the rail, steadying himself better. "If ya feel tha' way, then I's won' step in ya way," he answered. He wasn't going to force her to stay with his position as captain. He would never be that much of an arse. He slid down slowly against the rail to rest on the floor, letting his body relax. He looked up at her with a sad smile. "Is been nice knowin' ya tho' Andru'. Ta ship won' be ta same withouts ya, but I can's manage."

(it was in spell check so it must be. XD )

Andrew let her shoulders fall. She felt horrible leaving, and worse now that he knew the truth. If she did skip out when they made port she would be able to find her family somehow though. She stood in silence, her head lowered again, though she could see Nicki sitting on the floor of the deck. "I'm sorry Nicki, it's jus'- I don't wan'ta cause any more trouble. Jozo's always after me. he knows somethins up. he'll figre it out soon. " She hugged her arms to herself, uncomfortable. She didn't know what to say.

"D'ya nee help back to the cabin. i know yer pretty bad from the drink."

Nicki nodded. "Ya has a point there," he agreed, holding up his hand so she could help him up.

Andrew took Nicki's hand and pulled him to his feet. "Let's get ya back to yer cabin than."

Nicki let himself lean on her, not too much though, as she helped him back down to his cabin. A new thought popped into his mind along the way. "Whachu' gonna do whens ya get ta port?" he asked.