Jasmine's POV

As Jasmine was sitting in her cabin talking to Grace about the double date tomorrow, she reflected back to her, Grace, and Connor's time at the Pirate Academy. Grace seemed pretty upset half the time she was there, but then after a while Jasmine found out why. It was because of Lorcan's blindness. Grace had told her all about it when she came on aboard this ship and they had got to know each other better. At first when she met Grace, she only knew one side of her, which was the curious and goody-too shoes side. Then she came to realize, that had she spent more time getting to know her, they would have been best friends all throughout the year and that there are multiple different sides to her. She's so very daring, funny, strong and an independent girl. Jasmine was really glad she got this chance to know her better. Not just because she's Connor's sister, but because they've never really been close friends. That's another reason why Jasmine wanted to be Connor's donor, aboard this ship, just so she could know Grace a bit better too.

Connor had also told Jasmine that he wanted to be better friends with Lorcan, not just because he's Grace's boyfriend, but because they've had some differences and misunderstandings in the past. She's seen Connor and Lorcan talking a lot more these days, and even Connor was making friends with people he was completely against in the past. He was doing a lot better than she had originally thought.

Jasmine guessed she must have zoned out, because Grace's hand started waving in front of her face.

"Are you still with me?" She asked.

Jasmine smiled and nodded. "So what were we talking about again?"

Grace shook her head and grinned. "If you weren't so busy day dreaming about Connor, you would've heard what I said."

Jasmine blushed. "I wasn't-"

But Grace waved her hand, and cut her off mid-sentence. "Anyway, as I was saying, we'll have to ask the Captain before all four of us go out tomorrow night, and we'll have to borrow one of the small boats to get to the beach, or island, whatever is closest."

Jasmine nodded. "Should we go ask him now, then?"

"I think that would be best. Maybe we should go and see if the boys want to come with us? They're probably in Connor's cabin, if not Lorcan's."

"Sure thing," Jasmine said.

Grace's POV

Grace decided to check Connor's cabin first, since it was closest. As they reached it, she could hear laughing inside. No doubt, Connor and Lorcan were in there. She was relieved they were getting along better now. When Connor said he was going to join the Nocturne with Jasmine as his donor, Grace was surprised and worried at the same time. Its not that Grace didn't want Connor here, it's just that she was worried about the whole Connor/Lorcan situation. She knew it would be awkward for them to be around each other, even if they were comrades in the war, but Connor knew that Lorcan knew Connor was anti-Vampirates and Lorcan also knew that Connor wasn't too fond of her and Lorcan's relationship. But then after a week, Lorcan came and told her that Connor had come to him the other night to talk about his blood hunger and also that Connor said he is now completely fine with her and Lorcan's relationship. Grace was really excited about that. As she knocked on the door, the laughing subsided.

"Who's there?" A voice called out.

"It's Jasmine and I," Grace called back.

"Oh okay, come on in, then."

Grace pushed open the door, and let herself and Jasmine in. Lorcan was seated on the comfy chair and Connor was on the bed.

"May we know what's so funny too?" Grace asked.

Connor shook his head and said, "Nope. It's guy talk."

Grace frowned at him and sat down on Lorcan's lap, since there was no other chair in the cabin, as Jasmine was already seated next to Connor on the bed.

Suddenly, there was a very awkward silence, but Lorcan was the first to break it.

"So... have you ladies decided on anything else for tomorrow night?"

Grace stifled a laugh. "Well we were thinking of going swimming..." she looked over at Connor, as did Jasmine and Lorcan, who were both trying not to laugh.

Connor's face turned bright red. "Oh shut up! I'm not wearing that swimsuit. Lorcan said I could wear one of his. Right?"

Lorcan nodded. "You haven't tried them on though. You wouldn't know if they fit or not."

Jasmine and Grace giggled. "Well I hope they don't" she said.

Connor scowled. "Oh they'll fit, you'll see."

Grace grinned. "But if they don't, what are you going to wear? You're gonna have to wear something."

"So did you guys come to gloat about my swim trunks, or did you have something else in mind?" Connor asked, still frowning.

Grace shook her head. "The swimsuit part wasn't planned, but yes we did come for something else. "

"Which is...?"

Jasmine now spoke. "We were thinking of going now to ask Obsidian about the beach date, and we wanted to see if you guys wanted to tag along."

"Ah, you girls just love and miss our company, don't you?" Connor asked, grinning. Jasmine elbowed him and he winced.

"So maybe we should get a move on, then?" Connor asked. They all nodded in agreement. Grace got up from Lorcan's lap and pulled him up from the chair, and took his hand. As they made their way down to the captain's cabin, Grace could hear Jasmine and Connor talking about something in hushed voices.

When they reached the cabin, Connor let go of Jasmine's hand Grace let go of Lorcan's as he knocked on the door. "Captain? May we come in?"

"Yes of course," came Obsidian's voice from inside. So Lorcan pushed open the door completely.

"Good evening, Commander Furey. How may I help you tonight?" Obsidian asked. As Grace, Connor and Jasmine made our way inside too, he acknowledged them too. "Good evening Grace, Connor and Jasmine. I gather you two are enjoying your stay here?" He addressed Jasmine and Connor.

"Yes, Captain," Connor and Jasmine said. Grace smiled.

"So how may I help you all, tonight?" He asked.

Grace looked around and nobody seemed like they knew what to say or do, so she spoke up. "Well we were thinking of going to a beach tomorrow night...is that possible? We were just going to go there to...hang out. You know, somewhere different. Not that I'm saying the Nocturne is a bad place to hang out, I'm just saying that-" Where was she going with this? Luckily, Lorcan was there to her rescue, as always.

"What she's trying to say, is that we'd all like shore leave for a night," he said, glancing at Grace with an amused look on his face. She blushed.

"Would that be okay?" Jasmine asked.

Obsidian nodded. "Just as long as it's one night. Be back before the dawning bell sounds, and don't get into trouble, or get lost. I'll ask Darcy to bring around a boat tomorrow, just after she sounds the Nightfall bell."

"Thank you, Captain," Connor said.

*The Next Day*

Lorcan's POV

Grace and Jasmine have been planning this date all day today. He wondered if all girls do that. he wouldn't really know, since Grace was first girlfriend ever, and he was new to all of this kind of stuff. Meanwhile, half-way during the day, he guessed Connor remembered about his swim trunks situation, because he came to Lorcan's cabin and asked if he could try on the swim trunks. Lorcan had kept them ready for him for when he came, so he gave them to him and told him he could go to my washroom and try them on. Then his voice called out:

"Hey Lorcan, I've got some really bad news."

Lorcan laughed. "What's wrong? They don't fit?"

Connor moaned inside the washroom. "No...it doesn't. I think it's because you're way more muscled than me, so they're a bit too big."

"Looks like you're gonna have to wear yours, then," Lorcan said, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice.

"Ugh, I know! That #!*% ! I can't believe she'd do that to me!" Connor grumbled.

Lorcan laughed. "Better go tell Grace the good news, then."

Connor came out of the washroom scowling. "She's never going to let me hear the end of it."

"Knowing Grace, probably not," Lorcan said, opening the cabin door.

They stepped out into the corridor and began making they're way down to Grace's cabin. When they reached it, Connor knocked on the door. Grace's voice called out:

"Come in!" So he pushed open the door, and Lorcan and Connor stepped inside. Grace and Jasmine were sitting on the bed looking very amused about something.

"May we know what's so amusing, too?" Connor asked.

Grace shook her head and said, "I'm afraid not, it's girl talk." Connor frowned at her. Probably because his own snide remark was being used against him.

Connor shook his head and began with his news. "Anyway..."

Grace grinned. "His swimming trunks don't fit you, do they?" Connor looked down, his face red.

"No," he mumbled. Grace smile was even broader now.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I caught that. What did you say?" She asked.

"I said, NO. It doesn't fit," Connor said, face even redder.

"Looks like your going to have to wear your swim trunks now," Grace said, laughing.

Connor's eyes suddenly became brighter. "Hey Grace, don't you have a bathing suit I could borrow?"

"Yes, but think the swim trunks would suit you a bit better than a bikini, don't you think?"

Connor scowled and Lorcan had to laugh at his expression. "You know what I mean. You used to go swimming with swim shorts sometimes. Do you still have them somewhere, by any chance?"

Grace shook her head grinning. "Sorry to disappoint, but no. There's no escaping wearing those swim trunks, Con."

"Fine. But you'll regret this, I swear," he said.

"As long as I get to see you in the swim trunks, I think it's worth it," Grace said. At this point, Jasmine couldn't take anymore because she started laughing really hard, and so did Grace, but both for different reasons.

Unfortunately for Connor, he's stuck with the hot pink shorts, and neon green polka dots. The four of them got everything ready, with Connor occasionally still grumbling and Grace trying not to giggle, they started making their way down to the deck, where they said they would meet Darcy and get everything in the boat. And of course, there Darcy was, with the boat ready.

"Hello Darcy," Grace said, waving. Darcy smiled and waved as she pulled the boat up right next to the ship.

"Hey guys! All set and ready to leave?" Darcy asked.

They all nodded, and Connor huffed. Darcy noticed this and smiled.

"Now what's wrong Mr. Tempest? You should look more excited tonight!"

Connor scowled. "Oh right. My bad. I guess I should be completely ecstatic that I get to wear girly swim trunks!Ooh lucky, lucky me!"

Darcy laughed. "They can't look that bad. And besides, it's only for one night. You'll survive."

"Uh huh," Connor said, still not at all convinced. Darcy gave him a playful shove.

"Come on, now. In the boat you get and quite sulking Tempest. You better have a lot to tell me tomorrow, and I better not hear any complaints!"

Lorcan chuckled. "No complaints at all, Darcy. We'll have fun."

Grace and Jasmine were getting very impatient. Darcy noticed this because she began pushing them toward the boat, but Grace was already half way down the ladder.

"Off you go, now people!" Darcy said.

Connor smiled. "Bye Darcy!" He began climbing down the ladder, utterly oblivious to Grace waiting on the middle step of the ladder. As he got to the middle step, Grace stuck out her foot and Connor fell over it, into the water. Lorcan, Jasmine and Darcy saw the whole thing and began laughing along with Grace.

Tonight was going to be a long night. Little did they know just quite how long.