Andre blinked. "You?" he asked, putting an arm around her. "How did you get us into this? This isn't your fault, Spider. None of it."

"We didn't have to be here. I just wanted to see Da' again." She scrubbed at her nose with a gloved hand. "I don't mean to sound sorry for myself. Judes told me it might not be a good idea for me to be here."

Andre pulled her hair back to rub her neck. "Cherie, don't be hard on yourself. Your father wanted to see the baby. He would have come even if you told him not to."

She tried to pull her hair back to cover up the bruise on her own forehead. "I know, I know. It's just . . . we're in the thick of it, we're gonner have to tough it out. Keep an eye that the damn thing don't set the place afire." She chuckled. "At least we've got Judith to keep things damp."

Andre chuckled, and then frowned at her head. He leaned in to look at it. "What did you do, there?"

"Forgot to duck the door. Did me elbow too, see?" She hooked a hand behind her head and pushed up her sleeve. With a shrug, she let it drop again. "This ghost thing's really got you off, hasn't it?"

Andre winced, took her arm, and gave her elbow a kiss better. "Mwah," he said. "I...it's just not like Laivine, I suppose. I was thinking it would be easier."

She rolled her eyes and smiled at the elbow kiss. "Oh . . . " Then she gave him a smack on the cheek. "Mwah yourself. I'm not four." She still looked pleased.

Hooking her hands around her knee, she went thoughtful again. "Well, you knew Laivine. She knew you. She might've gotten pissed at you but I don't think she ever wanted to hurt you, not really. This damn ship . . . " She bit her lip.

"I know," Andre replied. 'I was hoping I could appeal to its better nature, but...it might not have one, knowing this ship."

He gave her a playful look. "Admit it. It feels better."

"Would you? Either it ate someone or got et. Not a very happy lot of options here. Lang says Nibenay's not takin' it well, either." With a sly, self-conscious smile, she rubbed her elbow. "Aye, it feels better, there." She kissed the mark on his cheek.