I wrote this story for my best friend, who so nicely reminded me just how long it had been since I've written for Pocahontas. ;) She's just an awesome person whos like my sister and shes been having a bit of a rough time, so I wanted to make her smile a little so, this story is fo her.:)

To the rest of you, I hope you also enjoy and thoughts are always welcome ad greatly appreciated.

She knew she shouldn't be here. The risk was too great. The risk of being discovered, the risk of hurting him further, and the risk of the unknown all caused feelings of chilly terror to course through her veins. Soemtimes she wondered why she shouldn't even bother. She couldn't help him get well, couldn't heal the wounds for him, but she wanted to be there. She needed to be.

He must have noticed her silence, for he bent his head ever so slightly to catch her eyes. asking in a quiet voice, "What is it, love?"

She brought her amber eyes up to meet his blue ones, waiting patiently for a truth she was afraid to admit, but even more frightened that it woud become reality. "I don't want to lose you."

Sighing, he gingerly moved his good arm to touch her face. "Don't even think about that, Pocahontas. I'm here. As are you. Let's enjoy it."

She didn't seem to hear him. "What if you must leave?" Her eyes lifted to his again. "I don't know that I can let you go."

The man sighed again. "Come to me, Pocahontas," he commanded softly.

She did, pausing when he indicated to place her head on his shoulder. "What about your wound?"

He chuckled. "I've had worse pain than this."

She raised a skeptical brow, but after a bit more probing, she complied. head pillowed carefully on his shoulder, she confessed, "I'm just afriad of the day when I have to lose you. To lose this."

Pressing a kiss to her brow, he soothed her worries. "I'm here now, Pocahontas. Let that be enough. Now sleep."

A stubborn shake of the head. "If I sleep, then I lose this time with you and right now, every moment is too precious to waste. I just wish things were different."

"As do I," John conceded. "But they're not. But depriving our bodies of rest is not the way to solve this. We can't stop the winds of change, as much as we want too."

"Then what are we to do?"

"Live in the present." Kissing her temple, he asked, "Hold me until morning?"

"Of course," she answered reluctantly, knowing he would leave with the dawn. It had been nearly a week since his injury and the ship was nearly ready. "Can't we just make the night last forever?"

Another chuckle. "You and both know that's impossible. Come, rest. We both need it."

She shook her head. "I can't sleep knowing that tomorrow I lose you. Possibly forever." She reached up to gently trace the contours of his face. "There will be time for sleep later. Right now, I just want to remember you as you are. Strong, handsome, incredibly brave."

This earned her a smile. "Very well. But would you be terribly upset if I took a short nap?"

She laughed in spite of herself. "Of course not. I may be stubborn, but you need to rest." She paused then, working up courage to finally tell him what she longed to since the glade. "John Smith, I love you."

Both eyes sprang wide open, before relaxing as a smile spread across his face. "I love you, Pocahontas. No matter what happens, tomorrow or otherwise. Tonight is ours and we have only each other."

"Tomorrow can wait," she conceded. "We may not know how long this lasts, but tonight, we're together." Leaning down, she carefully planted a kiss on his lips. "And that's all that truly matters."