The Boat That Grounded Offshore
A Rocketshipping Fanfic – A SEQUEL
Part One
Jessie ran her fingers through her hair, the strands ending just above her shoulders, enjoying the silky feeling that trailed across her skin. She gazed out from the port, her blue eyes following the ferry as it neared the island.
She stood at the head of the dock where concrete pavement met wooden planks, her sandal-clad feet feeling the sea breeze as it rolled in, an icy breath chilling her skin.
It had been over a year and a half since Alphonse had turned her life upside down, just more than a year and half since James had moved back into her life.
And winter was here again.
Winters on the island were harsh with the ocean on all sides, wrapping the islanders in a sphere of coldness that couldn't be thawed until spring returned the next year.
Jessie blinked up at the grey sky, grateful that the rains had halted for now and that the snows hadn't come yet.
She brushed back her hair again, getting slightly irritated with her overgrown fringe that insistently fell across her eyes. She was planning on getting it cut at the weekend, though she favoured the shoulder-length now and wished to keep it as so. Just need to get rid of this goddamn fringe.
Brushing her hair away again, Jessie didn't notice the person behind her until a warm breath swept across the back of her neck.
Startling, she turned and met the green eyes of the blue-haired man. She smiled. "You're finally here."
He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, work kept me." Once James had settled into his new life on the island, still living in the apartment underneath hers, he had begun to search for a job. It wasn't long before he found one – a librarian in the island's large library. Thinking back to the person she had known, Jessie found it difficult to imagine James peacefully walking the aisles, replacing hardbacks and speaking hushed to the islanders that visited. But thinking again, she couldn't imagine him doing anything else.
Both of them looked out at the ferry, the incoming vessel calling out with a throaty horn across the murky waters.
"Do you think she enjoyed herself?" James wondered.
Jessie nodded. "Of course she did. This was the first time she had left the island. To her, she was stepping out into the world."
James eyes darkened slightly. "Do you think she's alright though?"
"This is Lisa," she smiled at him. "You don't need to worry."
Lisa's aunt had passed away a month ago, the disease she had long suffered with finally taking its toll. Lisa had constantly cared for her aunt – the only family she had left since her parents died in an accident when she was young. Her aunt's death had hit her hard, but after seriously thinking of what she could do, Lisa decided that she would leave the island. She wanted to see the world that the people she was close to had seen. She wanted to do something she couldn't do when her aunt was alive. She needed to separate herself from the empty home that haunted her.
Lisa and Jessie had been close for a long time, but since James had returned the three of them had become a close-knit unit – a family – and all of them cherished it.
Jessie and James waited at the docks for the ferry to roll in, waiting like parents waited for their child to return home.
Jessie couldn't stand it. She started to shift her weight from foot to foot, wringing her hands together, clasping them together, curling and uncurling her fingers.
Warm hands encircled hers, stopping her nervous movements. "Hey," James said softly. "You said not to worry, right?"
She sighed, relaxing the tension in her shoulders that she hadn't realized was there. "I know, I know, it's just…"
James nodded, knowing what she meant. They both felt it. Was Lisa truly alright? Had her trip to the mainland gone well? Was she really on the ferry?
Jessie pulled one of her hands from James' hold and pushed back her hair again. I really feel like a worrying mother – when did it get like this? She pursed her lips.
James raised an eyebrow at her.
She looked away, back out at the ferry which was surprisingly near the end of the dock. She could see a man standing at the bow, a rope in his hands.
Jessie's eyes kept flicking side to side, figure to figure, person to person, trying to see Lisa's silhouette on the ferry's deck.
As the ferry docked, tourists and returning islanders started to emerge from inside where they had taken shelter from the cold, harsh sea wind, moving quickly, shoes clacking on the wooden planks. Glancing at James, she saw that he wore the same expression she did, his green eyes watchful of the crowd.
Both of their faces broke into bright smiles as the figure of the young girl stepped out from the crowd, her own smile wide and happy, arms outstretched as she ran to them, her bag forgotten on the ground.
Jessie and James took the girl in their arms, laughing at her as she babbled in their ears about how she was happy to be back, about how this year's winter seemed colder than all the rest, about how she'd had the most amazing time ever.
James released Lisa, moving away to retrieve her fallen bag, lifting it with a huff, obviously surprised by its weight. She's probably brought half the mainland back with her.
Jessie held the girl close, grateful for her warmth. She had been scared that she would be waiting at this dock, the person she longed to see never stepping off the ferry, only to be left still waiting as the ferry cast off – a woman abandoned on the island's shore. But not this time. Everyone I want is here. And nothing could be better.
-#-
James heaved the bag into the living room, dropping it heavily onto the sofa beside Meowth. "What the hell did you bring home with you?" he called out to the girl who was with Jessie in the kitchen, her constant stream of words uninterrupted since she came off the ferry.
At his voice, she finally stopped, her head popping out around the door. "I brought gifts!" she cried out happily.
"Gifts?" he repeated, incredulously.
"You don't need to look like that." She moved past him, unzipping the bag to reveal it bursting with clothes and items wrapped in various coloured plastic bags. Meowth buried his head in the discarded pile, demanding his own present.
Jessie stepped out from the kitchen, a steaming mug in her hands. Looking at it, James said, "Hey, where's my drink?"
"You wanted one?" Lisa glanced up at him.
His jaw shifted. "Well, no…"
"Exactly." She dove into her bag, unearthing piles of clothes and disturbing whatever system of packing there had been. Though it looks like she just threw everything in at the last minute.
"It's the required skills of a good host – to ask all guests if they wish for a drink."
"Yes, yes…." She murmured distractedly, searching the contents of her bag for something. "Here!" she suddenly called out, digging out a purple plastic bag and offering it to James.
"This is yours." She grinned.
He looked over at Jessie. She was leaning against the wall, watching them over her hot drink, a laughing smile on her lips. Catching her eye, he raised an eyebrow and her smile grew. "Go on," she mouthed, motioning with a jerk of her head for him to take the gift.
He turned back to the girl and took the purple package with a mumbled, "Thanks."
Opening the plastic bag, he reached in and pulled out something wrapped in white paper. "Oh, why, thank you."
Lisa groaned. "Not the paper! Look inside."
With a hearty laugh James carefully tore open the paper, revealing a Swiss Army Knife. He blinked at it. He looked up at Lisa.
"You said you'd always wanted one." She looked like she now doubted her choice of gift.
"Is this a real one?"
She nodded, studying his expression. Meowth peeked out from the pile of clothing that he had buried himself in, bright eyes glowing from the shadows also examining his face.
"This must have cost yo-"
She leapt forwards, grabbing his arm. "If it's just the price you're worried about – don't!"
He sighed after a moment. Then his lopsided grin returned. "Then thank you." He leaned forwards and kissed the girl's forehead.
James watched Lisa joyfully punch the air in celebration of "a gift well chosen" and then rush back to her bag, routing around for Jessie's present.
He couldn't keep the contented smile from his face. He had never been this happy. He felt perfect. Everything I want is here and nothing could be better.
A/N
Due to popular demand, the story is continuing. And to be honest, I didn't want to leave it there either so you guys gave me the push to write this!
As I have both this and my yumikuri fanfiction - and University - the updates may be slow but please be patient.
Thank you! And hope you enjoy the story.
Atkar