[i]'It wasn't what it seemed...'[/i]

When had things ever been between them? From the very moment they met, Antonia had not been what she seemed, merely a seductress, a thief who lured men to their ruin. When Thomas had tracked her down, he had not been what he seemed either. What pirate captain in all this retched world, would let the rogue who had made such a fool of him live? And not simply[i] live[/i], but then turn his back to the treacherous creature, to give her a choice to murder or to follow...

Antonia's eyes fell to the hands that clasped her own, the strength in them begging her to stay right where she stood. Thomas spoke of stars. Here, before all the crew, before every last man on this ship, peering up curiously from the docks, hanging from the rigging for all she knew or cared - he said she was his star. His very own Home Star. 

And when Thomas offered his heart, imperfect as it might be, her vision swam as she blinked away tears, her lip quivering beneath the weight of the thousand conflicting emotions that coursed through her these past moments. Antonia took a breath, trying to steady herself before she lifted her eyes from his hands, wholly wrapped about her own, to the face of her lovely man - 

She had been so lost in this moment, she had not even heard Cooper's approach. His grating voice, his words, the unmistakable [i]click[/i] of a pistol hammer turned her blood to ice. She dared not move, dared not say a word, dared not [i]breathe[/i]. And when Thomas turned to press his forehead to the pistol muzzle, it was all she could do to keep that scream of horror locked behind her teeth. [i]'No Thomas, please dear God [b]please[/b] make him stop. Thomas do not invite death... Not before my very eyes. Do not take him, please God not now... '[/i] 

Grey eyes darted over the deck of the [i]Skate[/i] to her crew, to faces she had known for a year now, to men she knew would follow Thomas to the very gates of Hell and beyond if need be... 
 
A pistol shot roared, but from entirely the wrong direction. Antonia's gaze snapped toward its source, eyes wide when she realized - [i]Jax.[/i] The rogue did not think, but wrapped her arms swiftly about Thomas' shoulders, pulling him to her and swinging herself between the two men before Cooper could pull the trigger. And when the second shot came, the rogue winced, anticipating the shattering pain - or hellfire, or heaven's gates, or perhaps even perfect blackness, the endless nothing - what could she know of such things?

The third shot, and still she breathed, and still she could feel Thomas' heart hammering in his chest against hers. Antonia dared open her eyes, a choked sob of relief ripped from her throat when she turned to see Nicolette standing there, while Cooper did not, crumpled in a bloodied heap at the First Mate's boots.

Antonia moaned as relief crashed over her like breakers. Her eyes shut tightly, she turned back to Thomas, desperately wrapping her arms about his neck like a castaway grasping the sands of blessedly dry land. And then the rogue wept. She wept softly, silently, as she had not allowed herself in nigh on a decade. Only the shuddering of her body gave her away as she buried her face in Thomas' neck, then to the bristle of his bearded cheek, her generous lips to his ear. 

"You cannot die on me Thomas, not now. [i]Don't you dare,[/i]" Antonia finally whispered, a small, strangled laugh escaping her lips. A gasp of a laugh, breathless and pained, but true and genuine without a hint of the bitter betrayal that laced her last. "You just offered me your heart, and I am [i]keeping[/i] it. And I will [i]not[/i] be pleased if you go and toss what is mine away without a thought, to finally catch hold of the Death you invite. You should know Thomas, even Death is a little frightened of your rogue. [i]You[/i] would be wise not to risk such displeasure," she teased.

The fingers of one hand cradled the back of his head, gently twined in those blonde-auburn locks as she pulled back, just enough to peer up into the fires of those unmatchable copper eyes. And though the corners of her lips still trembled, just as she did, a small, tentative smile began to shine. "Besides, you have held your Antonia's heart from the moment you first showed me your back. You would not wish to break that to pieces, would you? How could I bear to look to the night skies again Thomas, without your voice to tell me the stories of the stars?"