Never Too Late

By Esmeia

Chapter 1

XOXOXOXOXO

Author's Notes: Been a while since I last updated! Have a good reason though, I'm still busy. Good news is I'm almost ready to take my test, thank God.

So, I decided to work off my poll! The one that got the most votes was Simonette/Simon x Jeanette! I'm honestly completely fine with that. I've done quite a few Alvittany (Can't help myself!), and I've even done a good amount of Theonore/Eleadore! So, why not devote a fair story for Simonette? They are one of my favorite couples anyway.

So, here it is! This story is a bit different from my other ones. Lots of romance, but a lot of suspense and even angst and hurt. I hope you enjoy it!

XOXOXOXOXO

"You are going to go back down there and get me more treasure!"

"No! Someone, help! Anybody!"

Zoe had turned on them. Granted, Jeanette knew she wasn't right in the head, but she never thought things would turn out the way they did. Why her? What did she ever do to her to deserve being forced to stay and gather treasure while a giant volcano threatened to swallow all of them up in a burst of fire and ash?

"Let her go! Please, Zoe!"

"Yeah! Leave her alone!"

"Get back! This has nothing to do with you! This is between me, her and my fortune!"

Dave and Alvin had come back to rescue her. But it wasn't long before Zoe had her again, dragging her back by the rope wrapped tightly around Jeanette's waist and chest. No matter how much she clawed or pleaded with her to let her go, Zoe would not listen. She was totally insane.

"Jeanette!"

She looked up and gasped, her heart filling with relief and happiness at the sight of her counterpart. He swung in heroically on a vine before dropping rather clumsily in front of her.

"Simone!" Jeanette gasped, reaching out for him desperately.

He recovered quickly and adjusted his glasses. "It's Simon."

Simon wrapped his arms around her and held on tight as he tried to pull her out of Zoe's grasp. Of course, they were no match for her strength and the two of them were slowly being pulled back. Thankfully, Dave had thrown Alvin his pocketknife and he used it to sever the rope between Jeanette and Zoe.

"Come on!" Alvin shouted to Simon and Jeanette, already scurrying after his father. "Let's get out of here! Hurry up!"

Jeanette made to dash after them but tripped on the side of the log as it shook violently both from their combined weight and the shock waves of the angry volcano.

She screamed as she tried to grasp the bark, but it was too late. Jeanette flailed helplessly as she fell down, down, down...

Was she dead? Did it all end for her on that island?

It was unbearable to accept. Jeanette just refused to believe it. Was this really how she would die? Escaping starvation on the island and Zoe's crazy clutches, only to die due by her own clumsiness? If it wasn't so sad, it would almost be funny...

What would happen to her sisters? Did they make it off the island? Jeanette only prayed that they got away safely. But would they be okay without her? Would they miss her?

It was so dark, so cold, here. It wasn't peaceful or calming. No angels or the Almighty God to greet her. It was lonely and scary, and all she wanted to do was go back home. For everything to, somehow, turn out to be just a bad dream.

A warm, familiar touch on the side of her head snapped her out of her thoughts. There was someone with her.

Forcing her eyes open, she met the familiar, deep blue eyes of Simon Seville. Fear and concern were in his eyes, but they quickly gave way to relief as he stared back into her violet irises.

"Thank God, you're okay," Simon said weakly, giving her a smile. He looked terrible: his fur was a mess, with strands poking out in every direction. His clothes were in tatters, barely recognizable. His leaf headband was missing. But most importantly, he was peppered with burns and bruises. "I'm so glad. I don't know what I'd do if you didn't."

Jeanette sat up straight, but immediately regretted it as a searing pain shot through the side of her head. The pain was so intense that it nearly drove her to tears. Tenderly, she reached up and touched the bandana Simon previously wore now wrapped carefully around her head.

"You hurt your head in the fall," Simon explained, sitting beside her. "It was bleeding pretty badly. I used that leaf as a makeshift bandage. I promise, I'll find something better once we find land," he promised.

"Find... land?" Jeanette said softly.

Finally, she took in her surroundings. The sun was shining down on them and the deep blue water all around them. They were adrift at sea on a large piece of driftwood. In the distance, she could make out the billowing smoke clouds from the island. She shivered to think that she had almost perished there.

"Where... where is everyone?" Jeanette asked. She knew the answer, but she was hoping for a better one.

"I'm afraid we were separated," Simon said reluctantly. He didn't want to upset her, but from the downcast, horrified look on Jeanette's face, he knew he had done just that. "I'm sorry."

"What happened?" Jeanette questioned.

"After you fell, I jumped in after you," Simon said slowly. He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I wasn't really thinking. All I knew was that I had to save you. Luckily, the stream lead out to the sea and I caught a piece of driftwood. It's a miracle we got out alive. I'm not sure what happened to the others. But I know they had a raft ready. Hopefully they got on it before the volcano erupted."

"I'm so sorry, Simon," Jeanette sobbed, hugging herself. Simon looked down at her quizzically. "It's my fault. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be in this mess now. You should have left me and went with the others. Now we're both lost."

Simon gently placed a paw on the small of Jeanette's back. "Jeanette, look at me."

Jeanette forced herself to look into his eyes, gulping nervously.

"I do not blame you. I dived in after you because I wanted to," Simon said firmly. He blushed slightly, smiling. "Besides, you know full well I could never leave you behind. Besides, we're alive, right? That's all that matters!"

"Y-You're right. We got out okay, considering," Jeanette said with a small smile. She frowned again as fear gripped her. "But what's going to happen to us? What happened to our family, Simon? Will we ever see them again?"

These were the questions Simon didn't want to hear. Sure, he had already thought about it a million times over. It was only natural for Jeanette to wonder the same thing. Despite knowing all this, it didn't make the answers any more satisfactory.

"I'm sure they will, Jeanette. I don't know how, yet, but I just know we'll all meet up again," Simon said truthfully. Jeanette moved closer and rested her head on his shoulder, trembling. He wrapped an arm around her in an attempt to sooth her worries, as well as his own. "We believed Dave would come back to get us, and he did. We have to have faith we'll do it again. Sometimes, we just have to go on faith."

"I hope you're right, Simon," Jeanette sighed. "I really hope so."

XOXOXOXOXO

Author's Note: Next chapter will be up shortly!