Katie started toward their room, but she did not even make it out on deck more than ten steps before they were surrounded by the crew. They were all praising all the girls for the wonderful meal that they had gotten. Mia was instantly in full panic mode. She was never all that comfortable being on the ship with all the men, and now that they were all so close, surrounding them she was about ready to scream.
Gina took Mia's hand and gripped it tightly telling her to just close her eyes. Just to listen to her voice, and block everything else out. Mia quickly closed her eyes as Gina told her and it helped a little, but it was not like she could block out all the sounds that the crew were making. As they started pressing in on them it took everything that Mia had not to scream and take off running. Gina felt Mia getting worse and she felt her trying to pull out of her hand. As the crew pressed in closer and some of them were now touching the girls it was just making it worse for Mia. The men that were touching the girls were being pushed from behind as they all were trying to get closer.
When one of the sailors was pushed into Mia, she let out a scream that was loud enough to be heard throughout the ship. Will heard the scream and went running up on deck to try and find out what was going on.
Gina was doing her best to try and calm and comfort Mia. As Katie tried to find out what was going on, and what all the excitement was about. Katie yelled, "Can you please back up, and calm down."
The men that were the closest started pushing back giving the girls some room. By the time Will got close, the men had managed to give the girls enough room where they were no longer being touched. They had quieted down enough that Mia was no longer panicking.
Will made his way to the girls through the crowd of men to find out just what was going on. One of the sailors spoke up, "We just wanted to tell them what a great meal that it was. It was the most amazing meal that any of us have ever had. None of us have ever experienced anything like that before. I guess we just got carried away."
Will just shook his head thinking what idiots they are, but they were right. That meal was something that none of them would ever forget. It was something that was fit to feed royalty. Will quickly looked the girls over to verify that they were all okay. When he saw that Mia was still desperately hanging onto Gina, trembling all over, and was afraid to open her eyes. Will quietly said, "You are alright little one. You are safe now. We are going to get you away from them, and back to your room."
Will said in a commanding tone for the men to make a path. None of the men had meant to freak any of them out they were just trying to thank them for all their hard work. The only one who had not gotten close was Jake. He had watched them from a distance not knowing how he could make things up to Katie. He was thinking that there was no way that she was going to be calmed down enough yet he was going to be able to talk to her. He wanted to make things better between them before they dropped her off at the port.
The two sailors that had given Jake a hard time were now shaking their heads and saying what a big mistake he had made, getting Katie upset at him. Jake heard them talking and said, "No shit you assholes." knowing that this all came about because they told her to begin with.
They just laughed at him. It was not like they cared if he was upset, she was not their plaything or meant anything to them other than she made great food.
Jake was just shaking his head not knowing what he was going to do, or how to fix this as Will caught sight of him. Jake caught sight of Will at the same time and knew that he should make himself scarce. Jake was not sure just how upset Will or the captain was. Jake knows that all they really have to do is call for him, and he has to go. But there is nothing that is saying that he has to stay in plain sight just asking for it to happen.
Will saw Jake take off and quickly disappear but he saw what he really wanted to see. The kid was just as upset about everything as Katie was. Meaning that he was hurting just as bad but he had no one to hold his hand through it. He will just have to ride it out and figure out how to deal with it. Not to mention how much teasing all the guys were going to give him knowing what a catch he let slip through his fingers. Will thought about going after him, but he was not going to bother chasing him down. Since he was seeing that he was already upset about everything.
Katie curled up on a hammock as she just did not want to face anything. Gina said, "Well you did it. You can tell by the way that everyone wanted to thank us that you couldn't have done any better. It just goes to show just how great of a cook you are now and that anyone will be lucky to be with you."
Katie knew that she was right but it didn't help that her heart was still hurting. Gina was not sure that she was ready to hear Jake's reasoning and even though it kind of explained his actions it still was not going to help her feel better. Gina sat next to her and rubbed her back. Mia knew that she wanted to help but was unsure what to do so she just moved close to the two of them to offer them her support. Mia was feeling a lot better now that she was away from all the men.
Snow caught the tail end of everything happening on the deck. She was glad to see that the girls were getting the parse of the crew. She knew that she was going to have to work with Mia about the men and how she was reacting to them. So that she would stop panicking every time that she was around a bunch of men. It was either that or she was going to have to be sent back home even if that was what she didn't want to happen. It was not like she could afford to have her freaking out in the courtroom. Snow knew that she would be able to control her in the courtroom. She just didn't want her freaking out too much on the way causing a distraction to the point that one, or both of the girls would be put in danger of being taken.
Snow knew that it was getting close to the time that they were going to be departing. She would have to be aware of everything going on with the girls now more than ever before.
Snow walked into the room and saw how sad Katie was. She decided that even though Katie was not one of her charges she was going to do something for her. For whatever reason she had bonded with her more than the others. Snow thought about it and realized that it was because she saw herself in Katie. It was like Katie was a young version of herself. The others were super sweet, but they were too submissive. Which made them great pets, but they would never be like her. That didn't mean that she wouldn't love them. They were just a lot more like Kathy than her.
At that point, Snow decided that she was going to give Katie a makeover. It was going to be the last time that the crew would see the girls. She wanted them all to look different. Especially since anyone who would be looking for them would be looking for girls who were looking like twins. So, she decided that she was going to make them all look as different as she could. At least for when they go into town in case there was anyone that would be there already looking for them. She knew that it would be a great way to throw them all off and make the girls feel better.
Snow kept in mind that they wanted to help Tug with the dinner, but she figured that they could just tell him what to do instead of getting their hands dirty for this one meal.
Snow said, "Okay you three. I am going to get you all ready to go into town. I've changed what you looked like this time. It will be easier to throw everyone off if you are looking like individuals."
Gina's face dropped and so did Mia's, but not for the same reason. Gina explained that Rodger would get upset every time Katie and she dressed alike. At this point she wanted him to see them looking that way.
Snow saw the change in Gina and had her explain it. Once Gina told her how she felt and the way that he always got so angry when he saw them looking alike, she said, "Don't worry when you go to court you can all look alike. It will just be easier for us. If when we leave the ship and look for a place to stay, if you are all not looking alike then."
Gina nodded and smiled as long as Rodger was going to see them looking alike was all that mattered to her.
Snow took her time with each girl making them all look beautiful and each one looked like an individual. Snow made sure to even tint their hair a little as she worked on it. She picked out the outfits that each girl put on finishing with helping them do their makeup so that it was not too overdone.
By the time that it was time to start Dinner Snow had them all done and ready to be displayed. Snow smiled at the three of them, it was all she could hope for. Katie looked like a little Snow. To the point that she looked like she could have easily been Snow's daughter. Gina looked at the others and then at herself in the mirror. She was looking so different she liked it but in a way, it made her a little sad too deep down she liked looking like the others just as much as Mia did.
Snow thought about whether to do a big reveal to everyone, or just to let the girls go and let them see them at dinner. She finally decided that she would stay with them as they helped Tug. Making sure that he was going to be the only one in the galley with them.
Once they were all set she had them pack everything that they had, leaving nothing behind. She knew that by the time that they finished eating, they would be docked, or at least pulling into port. It would be important that they do it quickly since the captain would want to quickly offload and head back out to sea before losing the tide.
Gina knew that this was her chance to fill Katie in on everything about Jake as they packed. Gina was not sure that Katie was ready to hear it all, but if she hadn't told her and when Katie heard it Katie would have wanted to say goodbye. It would be too late Katie would miss out. After all, this could be the last time that she ever gets a chance to say goodbye to him. Gina thought about her parents, and she would have done anything to get a chance to say goodbye to them. Just to let them know how much she loved them and how much she was still missing them every day.
Gina pulled Katie aside as they packed everything. At first, Katie didn't want to hear any of it as soon as she mentioned Jake, but since it was Gina telling her she listened. Katie thought that Jake's reasoning was really weak and just an excuse for him to do whatever he wanted with whomever he wanted to do it with. But as she listened something in her changed, she realized it didn't have anything to do with her, or even what she wanted. It was just something that he wanted to do, and the fact that they were teaching him, and paying him money. Just made him want to do it more. Katie knew that was something that he would do as long as they were going to pay him. The fact was that he would probably do it if the girl looked good enough. Even if she was not going to be paying him anything. It would not matter to him if he was engaged, or married.
As Katie looked in the mirror she was no longer seeing herself she was seeing a young Snow, and she was thinking that there was no one better to model herself after. After all what more could she ask for, to be rich, powerful, beautiful, and it seemed like she was desired by everyone and could choose whoever she wanted to be with.
Gina noticed instantly the change in her as the sadness had just drained out of her making her look more mature and a little harder but more self-confident. Gina and Mia both noticed how much she was looking like Snow not just the way that she was dressed but it was in her attitude now. As they watched Katie was moving and looking like Snow just a shorter younger version.
When they finished packing Snow pulled out the collar for Katie and this time there was no hesitation in her wearing it. As long as her understanding of the conditions remained the same as last time. It would come off as soon as she asked for it to be removed. After all the collar looked more like a fashion than a control device. At least until you add the leash to it.
Snow only put on the collar and locked it knowing that it was not necessary to have them on leashes at least until they left the ship. The fact that with them looking as different as they did now Snow was not sure that she was going to leash them at all. But it still came down she wanted them to be safe and she was not sure if anyone would be waiting to try and grab them. She thought back to their launch and all the people who looked like they were there trying to get the girls. So there was no telling if part of them had made their way here, or if there were still others that were going to be looking for the missing girls.
Once they had everything gathered Snow told them just to leave it there that she was sure that they could get some of the crew to offload them. With a smile, she knew that she would talk to the captain, and he would even have their things carried to wherever they would be staying. As long as it didn't take too long after all he was still at the mercy of the tide.
As they made their way to the galley any of the crew that caught sight of them just stopped where they were with their mouths hanging open. Snow led the way with the girls staying close behind. Mia made sure that she was hiding behind the others. Snow saw what was going on and remembered that she needed to talk to her and figured while the others were helping Tug, she would take that time to go over everything with her.
When they reached the galley Snow had everyone that was in there leave except for Tug. Snow locked the door keeping everyone else out. She was now about to have them be watched or bothered. While they were doing the cooking, it would keep down the number of sailors that were going to be making them nervous. Snow was thinking mostly of Mia knowing that men watching the other two didn't really bother them.
Part of the crew that was used to watching the girls were not happy that they were not allowed in, but Snow didn't care one bit. Katie and Gina put their heads together to pull out something that would be wonderful but would be something that Tug could handle making without them physically helping. Snow kept an eye on them to make sure that they were having him do everything as she pulled Mia close so she could talk to her about her being so scared of men.
Mia explained everything that men had done to her and the reasons that she was so scared of them. Snow looked her straight in the eyes and said, "That is all in the past you are mine now and you will never have someone treat you that way again. Do you believe me?"
Mia wanted to say yes but there was hesitation in her so Snow said, "Either you trust me to be your Mistress and protect you, or you don't and should go back to Kathy, or just leave. Because I will never let anyone hurt my things."
Mia started crying and begging for forgiveness for not instantly believing every word that Snow had told her. Snow pulled her into a tender embrace to let her know that she was forgiven.
The crew took turns looking through the window in the door trying to see what they could but there was just nothing for them to look at. Jake had wished that he was not in training so that he could make another attempt to talk to Katie. He didn't want it to end this way especially with him not even being able to talk to her. He knew that the only chance he would get would be when he was allowed to go get his dinner. He would be passed by them as they carried the plates to the captain's mess. He knew that Will was usually there with them, but he needed at least to say his peace. Hopefully, she would forgive him, and this time he did not care what the crew had to say about the way he was acting.
When Jake was released to go get dinner, he found it strange all of the crew was standing outside of the galley instead of half of them already in line at the counter to get their plates. Jake noticed that the aroma of the food was really mild this time. Then he realized that since the doors were sealed shut the aroma was trapped in the galley, and only a little was being allowed to leak through the cracks. Jake tried to make his way to the front of the line just to try and look in the window to see Katie, but there was no way that he was going to get close. Cutting in line at this time would have gotten him beat up or thrown out of the line altogether.
Jake had been expecting Will and any moment to get the food, but since the aromas of it cooking were trapped in the kitchen. He figured that Will was running slow because they were not smelling it done. Not that he wanted him standing there looking at him. He was not sure what Will was going to do to him, but he figured that between Will and the captain. Jake knew that he was going to face some kind of punishment. He just was not sure what that would be.
As the doors opened the aroma spread like wildfire throughout the ship filling it with mouth-watering smells. There was a surge of the crew trying to make their way through the door when Snow spoke up and yelled at them. Saying that they would maintain order or go without food. Snapping the crew into perfect order, none of them wanted to risk the chance of missing out on the meal.
It was not long till Will appeared and they carried the food to the captain's mess. Each sailor thanked the girls as they passed carrying the plates. Each in turn was shocked looking at the beautiful girls. Especially since the girls were all looking so different and different from each other. Jake couldn't believe his eyes and lost all his nerve as Katie passed him. He wanted so much to tell her everything and beg for her to forgive him, but just looking at her cold expression that she had on told him everything that he needed to know.
When Will saw the girls he was speechless as well, he had never thought that they could all look so different and so pretty. Will led the way and stopped just outside the captain's mess door. He wanted it to be a shock for the captain. So as they entered he made sure that he blocked his vision of them till all three were in.
The captain was just as shocked as the crew had been. As he ate the meal he found it was a little disappointing. It was a letdown after the absolute perfection that they had at lunch. He praised the girls, but it was like he had been just expecting something more until they explained. They didn't help make it at all, it was all Tug doing the cooking they just watched and gave pointers.
Then everything made sense to the captain as he realized everything. The captain knew that before the girls had come back Tug could have never produced anything of this quality. Once again he thanked them for all their hard work and commented on just how beautiful they were all looking. Making them all blush as they nodded and said you are welcome.
Before dinner was even finished land was spotted and by the time everyone was finished they had docked the ship.
Snow in her sweetest voice asked the captain if they could have the use of Will and a few others to carry their bags and see them safely to a hotel. The captain thinking there was no way he could refuse her request nodded his head having Will and a couple of men take them.
Katie and Gina said their goodbye to everyone, taking longer than Snow could believe. But once they started giving out hugs every crew member had to get one from both of them. Katie even said goodbye to Jake kissing him only on the cheek. Even though they were both heartbroken he thought that it was better than nothing.