Startled, the man turned on his heel and gazed with amusement at the small figure in front of him. In an ill-fitting set of clothes, the boy stared back, his wide eyes fringed by a set of lashes. Underneath a black,floppy hat short ragged ends of dark hair stuck out, adding to the boy's odd appearance.

He was young, not more than fifteen, Xander guessed, and smiling he says; "News travels fast, I did need a seamen. Were you interested in a life of sea, lad?" Xander asked.

Andrea's heart pounding so hard, "Yes, sir. Will you have me? I'm much stronger than I look, and I would work really hard!" She pleaded.

Xander shaking his head talked to the boy calmly. "I'm positive you would, but you are a little too young. Perhaps next time?"

"Oh, please, sir! Take me with you! I promise you'll never regret it, please!"

Xander looked at the young boy in front of him feeling sorry but he can't just leave him alone. Knowing what could have happened to a boy once he leave the inn. He can tell by the way it looks that, this little boy is having a hard time with life.

But before he can decide, one of the stable boy of the Inn saw the little boy and dragged her." Get out of here, you're bothering this gentleman. Quit begging!" The stable boy scolded Andrea while dragging her out far from Xander.

"Let go of me! Let go! I'm going to the sea, I want to work as a seaman!" Kicking like a wild little animal, even going so far as to bite the unprepared stable boy arm.

The stable boy was surprised at this little boy attacked, once he picked up his composure again, he intends to punish the little boy. He is nearly twice Andrea's size, it was an unfair fight but Andrea was fighting mad as well that ends up with a broken lip. On the other side Xander was shaking his head before plucking Andrea's body off the stable boy, she still wanna fight back but she stopped midair when she heard what Xander says.

"Very well, little cub. You shall go with me into the sea!" Xander says laughing.

Ignoring the pain in her body she grinned at him, and to her surprise, Xander grinned back.

After a few more minutes they are off. Mounting his horse, he reached down and swung her up behind him before riding out into the night.

Andrea could hardly keep from shouting out of joy. She was off to sea! Her head pressed tightly to Xander's back her skinny arms wrapped around him tightly.

Her mind wander for the last time, and tried not to cry while thinking about her dead family.

"Happy pet?" Her father asked while lacing his arm on her small shoulder.

"Oh, yes! But it's tiring to smile to everyone and being so good." She complained.

Maxwell laughed so loud. "So tactful! But my sentiments exactly!"

"Where did mother and Andrew go? I just saw them with you awhile ago." Andrea asked, glancing around.

"Why don't we find them? I think I saw them walking together going in to the rose garden." Her father replied. She tagged happily along in the direction of their rose garden that lay to the left side of their house.

"Ah, there you are," Andrea said coolly before she pounced her twin brother Andrew.

"My dear, don't you think it is a bit rude to leave your guest?" Maxwell teased.

Angelica shrugged indifferently, holding out her arms to Andrea. It wasn't often that she's too affectionate that's why Andrea grabbed those moments. Her head against Angelica's breast, Andrea smiled shyly.

"It is so warm, Maxwell and you know these country parties are not really to my liking. I will return in a moment." Angelica says to her husband who just nod as agreements.

"Don't you like the party, Mama? I think it is lovely!"

"Of course I do it is just that this kind of affair is not as exciting as the ones your father and I usually attend. Don't bother, my love." Her mother explained to her but it seems that it makes it even confused.

"You are to be congratulated, Maxwell, on possessing such lovely wife and children, in a few years' time you'll have the suitors and lady in line just to get the attention of your lovely twin." Mr. Wakefield says. He just arrived with his lovely wife.

Andrea blushed while Andrew just smiled at the adults. But Maxwell seems not to be so happy hearing those words.

"If you excused us, we shall go and play with the new foal." The twins says in unison.

"Run along, sweethearts," Maxwell well says while Angelica smiles at them and wave them goodbye.

Laughing, the twins went to the stable and climbed into the hayloft of the stables. The hayloft provided a perfect place to overlook Midnight, and together the twins spent sever moments watching the still clumsy movement of the young foal. Rising to her feet and brushing away the bits of clinging straw, Andrea said," We should go back, Andrew, father says it is rude to leave the guest unattended."

Andrew agreed and slowly he began to climb down the ladder that lead to the floor of the stable, Andrea following him on behind.

"You awake now lad?" Andrea heard a voice that startled her in a bit before she composed herself and cough.

"I'm sorry, sir, I fell asleep!" She says apologetically.

"It's okay, no problem. We have to take a rest for a while anyway." Xander answered looking at the little boy in front of him. "What's your name lad?" He asked.

"Andrew, but you can call me Drew!" Andrea answered in a low voice.

"How old are you? And why do you want to be a seaman?"

"I-I am sixteen years old. I'm an orphan already. My parents died and my aunt who's my guardian is treating me badly that's why I escaped and working on the ship is the only way to hide from them." Andrea answered. Her story is true, it's just that she didn't mention who really she is or that she really is a girl not a boy.

Xander don't know but he feel unsettled and a bit doubtful on her story. He knows that this kid is hiding him something but he's not in the mood to confront him for now.

He has a lot of time besides, this little boy is going to be with him and there's a lot of ways in the middle of the sea to interrogate him and to know his reason why he wants to join the pirates ship.

As for Andrea, going in to the sea and joining the ship crew is the only option for now. Because she knows that Charles will not stop looking for her. As long as she's far away from them and stay to be alive until she reached her right age, she has the chance to take back everything, and let them pay for treating her bad and chase her away on her own home.

She promised to herself, one day she'll claim her right and bring justice to her parents and brothers death!

But what she didn't know is, the ship she's going is not just a simple ship but a pirate ship.