That evening, we all gathered in front of the TV, Harry positioning me on his lap. As Mal walked down the steps I laughed,

"How long do you think before Carlos gets called a hero and I can justify revenge?" One of Uma's cronies turned to Harry,

"Would you shut her up?" Harry nodded and leaned down to my mouth. I tried to glare at the pirate, but Harry reached my lips before I could.

"Mmmmmm," I sighed, melting against him. He smiled against my lips,

"I love you, Darling." I murmured,

"I know."

"That's not shutting her up, Harry!" The pirate glared. I pulled away from Harry and stuck my tongue out.

"You little-"

"I'm trying to watch Cotillion," I purred, turning back around in Harry's lap.

Ben bowed to Mal on the screen, and she curtsied, confused.

"Uma's spell worked," Harry said. As if by cue, Uma walked down the steps, blathering something about her and Ben being made to be, and how as a gift, Ben was going to take down the barrier.

The Fairy Godmother's daughter unearthed a stained glass window of him and Mal.

"Ben, I've always loved you!" Mal exclaimed, running to kiss him. I rolled my eyes,

"And the spell is broken!" Uma's eyes flashed and she leapt over the side of the ship, turning into an octopus as she went. Mal turned into a dragon in response.

"Oh my gosh," I said. "They really just can't get along, can they?" Harry chuckled.

Ben jumped between them, and for some reason, they listened to him when he said to stop fighting.

We watched as Mal went back and all the AKs had a dance party. From the screen emanated…

"Sometimes it's hard to find yourself but it's worth it in the end…"

"There's something special that I've learned; it's together we can change the world…"

"Who you are is who you need to be…"

Finally, everyone had gone to bed, even Harry. But I just sat there, watching Carlos talk about how everybody has something they could bring to changing the world.

For the first time, I felt remorse about all the hatred and strife. I felt this weird thing welling up inside me, almost like I was going to cry.

All of a sudden, I knew why Uma was so passionate. She wanted to bring help to all the VKs. She wanted to change the world in her own way.

And even if I still hated Carlos and his friends, I knew that it was a calling for me to help Uma in her quest. Of course, considering I didn't know where she was, I had a little time off.

But I had a purpose now. Harry had started the change within me, and now… somehow… I was realizing that I wanted to make a difference in my own unique way.

.....

The rest of that week, I started to embrace the cause Uma had wrought within me. I had no idea where she was, but I figured I could step in as a temporary leader until she got back.

Harry agreed and for some reason, all the pirates seemed to like me. Harry and I finally didn't have anyone breathing down our necks to stop kissing.

Which meant lots of kissing.

And when I say lots, I mean lots.

We spent a long time in the training room, kissing each other instead of attacking. Totally on task.

Gil got the hint the first time when he walked in uninvited and my first instinct was to throw a knife. I was distracted, and when I was distracted I threw knives.

So we kissed in peace without Gil's interruptions.

But we didn't spend all our time kissing. We did practice in the training room, too. Harry forced me to, even though I told him that I had more fun pinned up against the wall being kissed then being pinned against the wall at knifepoint (sometimes it was both.)

This whole time, I was pondering what it meant for me to be a world-changer. Harry noticed how distracted I was. We were standing at the railing when he asked,

"Cece, what's on your mind?" I startled to,

"Oh, nothing." Harry laughed but then got serious again,

"I know it's not nothing. Whatever it is, it's completely throwing you off. I've never seen you so distracted as today in the training room. I thought you never lost a knife fight?" I blushed,

"I dunno. I just… realized that I want to change the world like Uma, but I don't know how." Harry nodded,

"We've all had this moment that you're having. The thing is, you have to start small. And the first thing you need to do is knock out the competition." I raised an eyebrow.

"Really? But aren't you part of the competition?" He smirked before grabbing me and throwing me over his shoulder.

"Oh, am I? Well, I guess I'm going to have to knock you out, then!" He started tickling me, making me erupt in giggles like a ditz.

"Stop! Stop!" I laughed.

"Do you surrender?" Harry growled as he tickled me more.

"Yes!" I laughed. "Yes, I surrender!" Harry put me down with a satisfied grin on his face.

"I will not be beaten!" I smiled, but was formulating a plan inside. Slipping my hand onto either side of his torso, I kissed him deeply, causing him to relax and put down his guard. The minute I sensed this, I dug my fingers into his sides to tickle him, never breaking the kiss the whole time. He squirmed in surprise, his breathless laugh filling my mouth.

He pulled away from me with a growl.

"Run," he said, his eyes dancing with playful fire. I laughed, turned, and bolted down the corridor, zigzagging to evade him. Eventually, he caught up with me, arms wrapping around my waist as he trailed his hook up my leg.

"An angry half brother is nothing compared to an angry boyfriend," he whispered. I smirked and turned around, my heart skipping a beat at his gaze full of passion.

"Hello, Jealous Hook Boy. I'm better than you." As he kissed me fiercely, I wrapped my arms around his neck and sighed, letting my worries about the future slip away.

It would be three months before my thirst for revenge would be rekindled.