Morgan/Maggie - in the bunkroom, that night

Morgan was early to his bunk tonight. In a vain attempt to get some sleep at nights, he was retiring earlier and earlier every evening. Tonight the men were having some kind of gathering on deck, and so Morgan had taken his leave as soon as his duties were over, thinking it would be some time before he was disturbed.

The bunkroom was completely empty; the only sounds were the ship's ever-present creaking, and the busy sounds of the men finishing up their duties for the day as quickly as they could before their merrymaking could begin.

He was dog-tired, but still could not sleep, instead turning from side to side in his hammock, making it swing with the energy of his fidgeting. "This isn't going to work," he stated to the air around him.


"Maybe if you stopped flopping about like a fish on a line, it'd be easier," remarked a low female voice, sounding amused. Maggie shuffled into the dim bunkroom, heading towards the back where Morgan's hammock hung.

Morgan froze. Of all the people...

"The crew are drinking on deck together tonight," he commented.

"And missing their minstrel, probably," she agreed amiably enough. "They'll have to make do with Old Jack and his amazing repertoire of songs... all two of them."

"Finn'll get out his penny-whistle if they get some booze into him," Morgan said, keeping his voice even as Maggie came into sight.


Maggie looked down at him for a moment, biting her lower lip. "Won't that be a treat."

"You've been avoiding me."

"I know."

"I've been thinking about you." Morgan pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Oh." Maggie looked at him for a moment longer and then sat down in the hammock directly across from him.

"Traditionally you're supposed to say that you've been doing the same in a time like this," Morgan said coolly. "Even if it's a lie."

"I have been," she said, ducking her head almost guiltily. "Thinking about you. Of course."

Morgan wasn't looking at Maggie, though they were now sitting quite close. Instead, he stared at his hands. "I suppose that if I ask you what you've been thinking you'll employ your usual avoidance tactics, only making me wonder why you came over here if it was to taunt me."

"I was thinking that you've been awfully quiet lately... and I guess it's probably my fault."

"Probably."

"Oh." Maggie looked up at him, playing with the frayed cuffs of her shirt nervously. "Well... I'm sorry."

"Are you?" Morgan sounded genuinely doubtful, playing with the hem of his loose shirt.

"Yeah, I am. It's just, I've been busy lately... Doyle has really been piling on the tasks."

"He has? I thought... Well, it was only this morning... I spoke to him is all. He said he'd find you less physical tasks here and there."

"You did?" Maggie asked, blinking.

"Yes?" There was a little... nervousness? in Morgan's voice, as though he wasn't sure Maggie would approve.

"Oh. Well... thanks," the girl said, smiling slightly. "That was nice."

"You're welcome," Morgan said grudgingly.

"I guess that makes it even more unfair that I asked him to give you twice as much hard work," Maggie joked.

Morgan's face twisted into something that could almost be called a smile. He said nothing, determined not to make this easy for Maggie.

Maggie was quiet for a moment, swinging her legs gently back and forth. "You know, I've been working so hard lately I haven't gotten a chance to talk to anybody else," she finally remarked. "Not even the other men."

"Oh yes?" Morgan said, in a carefully expressionless voice.

"Yeah. I mean, they try and get me to stop and talk, but I don't. It's not so bad, I guess. At least Doyle isn't threatening to cut my rations anymore."

"I'm sorry that you're so busy. I know how much you enjoyed talking to the men."

"It's all right. There's only one I really miss talking to."

"And who's that?" Morgan said bitterly.

"You." She reached out and nudged his leg with her foot.

Morgan flinched when she touched him, although he couldn't suppress the tingle that ran up his leg. "I suppose I'm supposed to believe that after the way we parted the other night?"

"I am being honest, Morgan," Maggie said, swallowing. "Please... believe me."

Morgan finally looked up at her. He looked tired - his face was quite pale, and his eyes were bloodshot. "I'm not sure I should... explore our friendship any further," he said.

"Oh." Maggie recoiled as if she had been slapped. "Oh..."

"It's not that I don't like you, Maggie, quite the opposite, but I'm not... like other men. I don't enjoy arguing with you and being strung along and teased by you, I don't enjoy those fights and insults, not even when it's resolved. It's not cathartic, or exciting. I just feel... bruised." Morgan's voice was rather hollow as he said this. He sounded as worn out as he looked. "It's been but days," he added, "and already I can't sleep."

Maggie's stomach sunk to her knees and she leaned forward, making a small noise in her throat. "I'm sorry, Morgan. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean... I didn't try to hurt you." She reached out for his hands, stopping just short of actually touching him. "I've never done this before and I'm absolutely terrible at it, I know. I'm sorry."

"Never done what before?" he asked. "I thought there was nothing you hadn't done."

"I haven't had... this. A man I cared about like I do you."

"You care about me?" Morgan said doubtfully. He knew that she'd said as much already, knew further doubt on his part could only hurt her, but right at this moment he almost wanted to.

"Yes, I do." Maggie sat back again, her facing taking on a sullen expression. "And I don't care if you believe me or not, because it's still true."

"Finn says you plan to leave the ship at the next port," Morgan said, changing track.

"What?" she asked, frowning. "He told you that?"

"He said that that's what you said."

"Oh. Well..."

"He said no good could come of pursuing you if you were only going to leave as soon as you got the chance."

"I was upset. I didn't want to be on the ship, not then."

"Do you always run away from something just because it's hard?"

"Yes," Maggie said icily. "Obviously. Until now."

"Well then," Morgan said, "why shouldn't I?"

"Because, it's not fair to either of us."

"What position are you in to say what's fair on me?" Morgan spat.

"You've been avoiding me as much as I have you!" Maggie replied heatedly. "And look where it's got you! Nowhere good."

"I was doing fine until you came over and brought it all back up again," Morgan lied.

"Oh, like hell you were," she said, snorting. "Don't think you aren't the only one finding it hard to sleep. I've heard you muttering to yourself every night since it happened."

"Nothing 'happened'."

"Don't you dare say that!"

"Well, is it not true?" Morgan continued blithely. "Just 'kissing and touching' you said, remember? There's nothing more to be had from me."

"There's plenty besides sex! Like a headache the size of the entire ocean," Maggie growled.

"Not the way you talked... Are you saying I give you a headache? What a treat, I can see why you're here."

"Ugh!" the girl said, rocking back in the hammock. "I came to apologize, not argue!"

"I thought they went hand-in-hand with you," Morgan jabbed. Then paused. "You came to apologise?"

"I've said I was sorry a hundred times!" she cried. "But apparently you don't care, so I don't see why I even bother!" Maggie glared at him and struggled to get out of the hammock, only succeeding in entangling herself in it.

Morgan lunged forward as the hammock lurched dangerously, attempting to steady it and succeeding in losing balance himself, sprawling across Maggie's lap.

Maggie paused in her struggles for a moment, staring down at Morgan with wide eyes. She tensed, despite the fact that his warmth and nearness felt incredibly nice.

Morgan himself froze, reeling from the shock that had run through him at their sudden unexpected contact. He carefully pushed himself back into a sitting position, lifting his head to find her already staring at him. "Sorry," he muttered.

"It's fine," she mumbled back, tugging her hand out of the loops of rope. She darted another glance at him, rather perturbed. Her grand exit hadn't gone very well at all.

Morgan's mouth twitched a little, the humour of the situation almost getting the better of him. "I'll hold it steady if you want to go," he said eventually.

"I don't need your help," Maggie retorted, pursing her lips. "It's just a stupid hammock, I can do it myself."

"Very well," Morgan said.

Maggie flared her nostrils and jerked her other hand free, making to stand. The momentum of the hammock was too much, however, and she was dropped to the floor on her knees.

Morgan immediately hopped neatly out of the hammock and was by her side, crouching next to her. "Are you all right?" he asked, taking her elbow. "You hit the floor with quite a thump there."

"I'm fine!" Maggie said quickly, biting back tears of frustration and pain. She jerked her arm away from him, quickly raising a hand to swipe at her eyes.

"Oh Lord, Maggie, don't cry, I couldn't bear it," Morgan implored, all hardness gone from his voice. He slid an arm round her back to help her to her feet.

"I'm not crying, it just hurt, that's all," she sniffed, standing slowly. "It's the goddamn floor's fault for being so hard."

"I'd offer to challenge it for your honour, but I think it would win," Morgan quipped, dropping her arm from around her but not moving from her side.

Maggie didn't reply, leaning in towards him just minutely. Her knees ached and there was a rather large scrape on her palm which stung. "Hmph."

"Let me see," Morgan said, noting the way she held her hand and moving to take it.

Mutely Maggie opened her hand, offering it to him. She sniffed again, her eyes still bright with tears.

Morgan swallowed. There was something about when other people cried that made his own eyes prickle. He concentrated on Maggie's palm, holding her hand carefully in her own. It was a big scrape but fairly shallow. It really just needed cleaned a little.

Morgan let go of her hand to reach for his water flask, and gathering up some of his shirt - which hung loose outside of his trousers since his belt hung by his bunk - and wetting it. Taking her hand again, he dabbed at it gently with the makeshift cloth.

Maggie sucked in a breath but didn't pull away, letting him clean off the scrape. Luckily there didn't seem to be any splinters embedded in the skin, and it was soon clean thanks to his ministrations. "Thanks," she mumbled, looking up at him.

Morgan dropped his gathered shirt, now slightly blood-stained and damp, back around his hips where it hung. He met her eyes, his own a little bright from seeing hers with tears in them. "I'm sorry," he said. "I should have kept it steady."

"Yeah, well... too late for that. Oh well." She caught her lower lip in her teeth, knowing she should go but not wanting to leave him just yet. She knew if she said anything else it would just lead to more disagreements and arguing, so she kept silent.

"I haven't been very nice to you this evening," he finally conceded.

"I guess you think I deserve it."

"But you think you don't?" Morgan's voice was soft, not challenging.

"I wasn't trying to make you mad."

"I suppose not. You didn't, really. Make me mad, I mean. Just... very, very confused. And very tired."

"You haven't been sleeping much, have you?" Maggie asked.

Morgan shook his head, silent.

Maggie frowned, reaching up to place her good hand on his cheek. "You poor thing," she tsked. "My poor angel."

Morgan blushed a little. Suddenly his pulse quickened. "I'm fine. I slept an hour or so this morning," he said, trying to shrug off the familiar feelings that Maggie's touch seemed to elicit.

"That's not very long," she said, stroking a thumb over his cheekbone. "You must be exhausted."

He shook his head, but said "A little." His voice seemed strangely breathy.

"Since you helped me, I'll help you." Maggie tilted her head to the side, watching his expression. "I'll help you get some sleep."

Morgan's face didn't change, but his voice had the same strange quality as he asked, "How are you going to do that?"

Maggie slid her hand down until it was clasping his, tugging him towards his hammock. "First you need to lie down."

Not daring to harbour any suspicions or assumptions, Morgan obeyed her, slipping back into the hammock.

She smiled, pleased that she had done as she said, and settled down on the floor beside him. Reaching up, she took his hand again. "Now you have to close your eyes."

"Okay, they're closed."

"Good." Maggie stroked his hand and closed her own eyes and began to sing. Her voice was low and unschooled, not nearly so clear and fine as Morgan's.

Sleep, my baby, on my bosom,
Warm and cozy, it will prove,
Round thee mother's arms are folding,
In her heart a mother's love.
There shall no one come to harm thee,
Naught shall ever break thy rest;
Sleep, my darling babe, in quiet,
Sleep on mother's gentle breast.

Morgan squeezed her hand in mild surprise surprise as she began to sing. As she did, he did find himself begin to relax, though he felt sure it was from the clearing of the air between them rather than her voice that allowed for it. When she'd finished, he lay for a moment, then, reopening his eyes, squeezed her hand again in thanks. "That was beautiful," he said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she murmured, turning over his hand. She leaned in and pressed her lips to the palm of it, her eyelashes brushing the sensitive skin.

Morgan sighed as an all-too-familiar shiver ran through him. As she began to pull back, he cupped her face in his hand, stilling her. "I'm sorry I was so cold earlier."

"It's all right," Maggie said, peering up at him.

"Would you... do I..." Morgan trailed off.

"What's that?"

"I just wondered if I was being presumptuous... to ask for a kiss goodnight."

"Oh." Maggie pursed her lips, considering this. "Maybe you are, but you can still have one."

"Well, I mean if it's an effort..." Morgan began, a little of his old playful tone creeping back into his voice.

"Oh, so now you're saying you don't want one?" she asked archly.

"I just said I didn't want to put you out..."

"Ah." She got to her knees, wincing a bit as she leaned over him. "Well, thank you for the thought, at least."

"I just want to be chivalrous - you know, to make up for my behaviour earlier," he said, smiling a little as their faces grew closer.

"It must be hard, doing all that sailor's work in your armor," Maggie teased, smirking down at him. "How do you manage?"

"I could ask the same of you," he retorted. "Are you going to kiss me or not?"

She considered teasing him a bit longer - after all, it wasn't fair to give him everything he wanted right away. But that might upset the delicate compromise they had, the one where they weren't upset with each other. Closing her eyes, she leaned in and closed the gap between them, meeting his lips with hers.

Morgan cupped her face again with one hand as they kissed, prolonging it without pulling her any closer, leaving her to decide when they were done. For his own part he'd been desperate to feel her lips on his again since she'd nudged his leg earlier.

Instead of pulling back, Maggie leaned in further, deepening the kiss. She had only meant it to last a moment, a sweet ending to the night, but now that she had done it she couldn't bring herself to break it off. She had been yearning for this every day since they had last spoken, as if it was the kiss and not the words that preceded it that made things better.

Morgan actually moaned slightly as Maggie's tongue brushed briefly between his lips and against his. His other hand snaked around her neck. He had promised himself that he wasn't going to kiss Maggie Lovell ever again. Oh well...

The hammock tilted dangerous to the side as Maggie pressed her weight on him. She was grateful the rest of the men were up on deck, so that they didn't see her earlier embarrassment or this new weakness. Another moment more and she would end it, and perhaps go up on deck to have a drink. God, she needed a drink. Maggie kissed him hungrily, her hand touching his shoulder, then his arm, then his side.

Morgan's other hand moved from her face to her neck to her side, almost as if checking that her body hadn't changed since they'd last been close. They'd stop any second now, of course, but in the meantime he turned towards her, pulling her closer. Perhaps she ought to just sit into the hammock or something for the moment...

"Mmph," Maggie said as she climbed ungainfully into the hammock, which swung wildly with the added weight. It only added to the dizziness she felt, her mind racing and yet oddly numb.

Morgan placed both hands on Maggie's hips to steady her as she landed on top of him in the hammock, making a soft *oof* as she did so. "S'just... for a minute..." he said between kisses.

"Right," Maggie agreed breathlessly, pulling back to lay a trail of kisses down his neck. "Almost done... have to go to sleep..."

"Ohh..." he breathed softly at her attention to his neck, his hands slipping round to the small of her back. "Aye... early start... tomorrow..."

"Me too..." She nipped at the sensitive skin in the crook of his jaw, sliding her hands down his shoulders.

"Right..." he said, gasping as she nipped at his jawline. He nuzzled her until her lips were back on his, making a sound of appreciation deep in his throat, arching his back slightly.

Maggie smiled at the sounds he was making, her fingers straying to his shirt as she kissed him. She began to slip the buttons from their keepers, parting the shirt and revealing a slight 'V' of smooth skin.

Morgan was for his own part tugging Maggie's shirt out from her belt, slowly but surely, as he kissed her all the more deeply, his tongue exploring her mouth.

Reaching up, Maggie traced a finger over Morgan's collarbone, tilting her head. She marveled again at how smooth his skin was, even to her slightly roughened hands.

Morgan smiled a little against Maggie's mouth as his own hands slid up her back underneath her shirt.

She continued to trail her fingers downward, stopping when she reached the bindings that were tight across his chest. "I thought your bandages were off," she said softly, opening her eyes.

"Hm?" Morgan said. "Oh. Yes. They are. I mean, the ones from the flogging are. Those are to support my back - I've got a slightly crooked spine."

"Oh." She blinked, her gaze flicking down to his chest. "Well, we can take them off just for a bit, can't we?"

"Not really," he said, his hands stilling on her back for a moment. He didn't say anything for a moment. Then, "All the twisting removing them, might hurt myself what with the scabs from the flogging, you know?"

"Oh. I guess so..." Maggie pouted at him, dragging her finger slowly across his chest above the bindings. "I could help you..."

"Mmm..." Morgan smiled as she stroked his chest, but shook his head. "I'd really better not. Maybe another time?"

"That's no fun," she replied, leaning down to kiss him.

"No fun at all?" he said, grinning nibbling her lower lip, pulling her closer to him.

"Well, if I can't touch you, then you can't touch me," she decided, nestling against him. Her fingers still played over the top of his bindings.

"Well, that would be no fun..." he said, sliding his hands up from her hips, his thumbs brushing across the sides of her breasts, "...if I thought you honestly meant it..."

"I do mean it!" Maggie gasped, reaching up to stop the movements of his hands. "It's not fair otherwise."

Morgan suddenly looked almost anguished. "Oh Maggie, please don't say that!" he said in an urgent voice. "You know there are... things I just can't do. I can't remove those bindings either. But I so want to be able to touch you." He looked up at her, his eyes almost green in colour, his face flushed with desire. "You can't mean that I can't ever touch you?"

"It's just no fair that you can and I can't... you have to take some pleasure for yourself, somehow." Maggie looked at him indecisively. "Isn't there anything I can do for you now?"

Morgan sighed in frustration. "Being able to touch you is enough, you don't need to..." Morgan suddenly seemed to think of something. He pushed Maggie gently back from him, and pushed himself up a little. He pulled his shirt off over his head, then lay back, stripped to the waist bar the bindings around his chest. His torso was smooth, apparently entirely hairless, and though he was very slim it was nonetheless firm and defined.

He gestured vaguely to himself. "Everything you can see right now, you may touch. I can do no more. Can you be satisfied with that?"

Maggie nodded solemnly, her eyes traveling over his body desirously. "Yes. I won't touch anything else."

Morgan smiled at her expression. "And I may touch you?"

"Mmhmm."

"Good." And Morgan's hands traveled up Maggie's sides underneath her short once more as he pulled her down to kiss him again.

Maggie leaned closer, running her hands up Morgan's sides. She had to admit it was a bit strange, his reticence to share all of himself with her. She had never met a man so physically reserved - it made her own behavior seem even more forward.

Though he was reserved about his own body, though, Morgan wasted no time in becoming more familiar with Maggie’s. His ran smoothly up across her ribcage and he began to tease her, tracing his fingers softly across her breasts as he had the previous night. He also bent one knee - for comfort's sake it would seem, his inner thigh now warm against Maggie's leg.

The girl made several delighted noises deep in her throat, capturing his lower lip gently between her teeth. Her eyes were dark and intense, her hands warm as they moved over his partially-bare skin.

Morgan moaned a little again at the plunging sensation of arousal Maggie's reactions caused, cupping her breasts in his hands and arching his back involuntarily. His mouth fell open a little as Maggie nibbled on his lip, his breath hot on her skin.

The girl grinned and pressed herself down on him, pinning him to the forgiving surface of the hammock as she ran her hands down to his hips. She nipped her way along his jaw, ending up near his ear where she nipped at the sensitive lobe, her tongue teasing it as well.

"Oh God..." Morgan moved his hands to grab hold of Maggie's hips, and began to part her legs with his knee, shifting slightly in the hammock for comfort.

"Mm," the girl said, wriggling closer to Morgan. She brought her lips back to his, closing her eyes and exhaling softly before kissing him.

Morgan gently maneuvered her so that her legs were either side of his, then, smiling even as he slipped his tongue back into her mouth, bent his knee, and pulled her closer still.

Maggie let out a moan as Morgan's knee pressed against her, rocking back to increase the pressure even more. She swallowed, pausing in her kisses as a shiver ran over her body.

Morgan took the pause as an opportunity to move his mouth to Maggie's neck, grazing his teeth across her throbbing pulse, down to her collarbones, across to the hollow between them. He lifted his hips slightly, pulling Maggie closer, sliding his leg against her...

She felt suffused with pleasure, every nerve in her body tingling with Morgan's touch. Maggie had to bite her lip to keep from being louder than she already was. Everything she had sworn to herself about not letting Morgan do this to her was thrown to the wind as she moved above him.

He captured her mouth again, kissing her deeply. His hands on her hips, he guided her into a rhythm against his thigh, his own hips moving with her. Moments later one hand was sliding across the accessible areas of her lower abdomen, her inner-thigh, tracing her contours through her breeches.

Maggie let out the tiniest of whimpers, her entire body trembling with need and desire. The hammock swung perilously close to the wall as they moved together, the girl sucking in ragged breaths as her pleasure grew.

Morgan broke their kiss to suck in a ragged breath. His face was flushed and he was almost visibly shaking. He took that moment to meet Maggie's eyes as he slid his hand between her thighs, letting it join the rhythm that they had established, pushing her into ever-more intimate contact.

Maggie drew as close as she could to Morgan, burying her face in his neck. He could hear her breathy moans next to his ear. Her hands rested on his waist, clutching at him as if afraid he would disappear at any moment.

Morgan himself groaned appreciatively, and began moving his circles in fingers against her, his other hand sliding round to the small of her back, stroking her bare skin.

"Oh God, Morgan," Maggie breathed. Her hips pressed against his rhythmically.

"Yes, Princess?" he said huskily, increasing the pressure of his fingers against her, unable to pull her any closer to him.

"Please, don't stop."

"I wasn't... ohgod... even thinking about it..." he breathed, before planting a kisses on her ear, and across her face back to her lips. They were barely even aware of their own movements any more, only sensations.

Her breathing became more and more ragged, and finally concluded in a great gasp as she went rigid under his hands. Morgan, thinking quickly, clamped his free hand over Maggie's mouth, even her muffled cries echoing through the bunkroom. He buried his face against the crook of her neck to stifle his own moans as she unfroze again, spasming against him.

"Oh God, angel," she moaned, moving convulsively against him. Her hands clenched and relaxed, her entire body shaking.

Morgan wrapped his arms around her as she began to relax again, shifting so that they lay side by side, Maggie curled against him. He stroked her hair, pressing his lips against her forehead. "Are you all right?" he asked as he had so often before.

"Yeah," Maggie murmured, winding her arms about his waist. "I'm fine." She bit her lip, smiling. "Are you?"

Morgan felt anything but fine. He was still shaking, his whole body tingling and ticking and throbbing but without any release. His fingers twitched. "I'm fine too," he said. "You were so beautiful..." he said, more convincingly.

"Mm." Maggie nestled closer, stroking her hand up and down his bare side.

He groaned, and shivered at the sensations her touch was still causing, closing his eyes as though that would make them go away.

She kissed his collarbone, tracing spirals over his skin. "I've never done that before," she confessed.

"Really?" Morgan said, his voice shaky.

"Mmhmm. Usually it's just... lie there, look interested, make a lot of noise."

"Don't try that with me," Morgan warned in a somewhat amused tone. "I'll know, believe me."

"Oh? You didn't seem to notice this time..." Maggie teased, grinning up at him.

Morgan grinned back. "I... um... actually have to go up on deck for a few minutes, if that's all right," he said. "Call of, um, nature, you know..."

"Oh, right," Maggie said, nodding. "Can I..."

"Can you...?"

"Stay here tonight?"

"Oh. Certainly. Does that mean I get your bunk?" Morgan asked, sounding perfectly serious.

"No!" she said, laughing. "You have to sleep here too."

Morgan's face broke into a grin. "I was speaking in jest, Princess," he said, swinging his legs carefully over the side of the hammock. "I'll be back as soon as I can." And with that, he disappeared to relieve himself.

Grinning, Maggie snuggled up in the hammock. She was asleep only moments later, a smile still on her lips.