I am so completely blown away by the positive out pour of love and kudos towards the first two chapters of my fic…you guys are seriously the best and I wanted to publish this chapter as quickly as possible! Please enjoy and don't be afraid to give me feedback or send me your comments! I only look intimidating, I'm actually a noodle. Enjoy, my lovelies!

Anya's POV

She didn't really understand how they escaped in one piece, but here they were in Sully's car all squished together. Nate and Sully sat in the front while Senghor and Sam sat in the back with herself in between them. Senghor was still stiff and high on adrenaline as he stared out the window, ensuring that no one was following them. When she and Sam made a break for it, they met up with Nate who was heavily pinned down near the front of the Rossi Estate. While attempting to speed their escape, the three of them were in awe as they witnessed Senghor dive from a high ledge and land straight on a group of shooters.

Her brother was James Bond, she was sure of it.

She chuckled quietly so not to spook Senghor and turned her head to look at Sam. His head was tilted back, an easy smile on his face and he appeared to be dosing. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she examined him more closely in the moonlight. It wasn't that she hadn't looked at him before, quite the contrary. In this light however, she could fully take him in without the fear of being noticed or teased for looking too long.

He had a light smattering of stubble that complimented the lines on moderately tanned skin. His lips were lightly full for a man, but damn if she didn't appreciate that. His nose could be considered big to some, but she thought it complimented his angles and features nicely. He had a tattoo of birds in flight on his neck, no detail or anything fancy, just simple outlines.

She really wanted to trace them. Nothing dirty mind you…just trace them. Follow their lines and learn their story.

Like Nate he had a head of dark brown hair, but his was slightly receding. She knew he was quite a bit older than she was, she also knew that it ruffled Senghor's feathers. It wasn't that Senghor resented Sam for his age, he didn't resent him at all. He was just protective.

A big protective teddy bear. Well, a big protective teddy bear that could kill you with a flick of his pinky finger, but that wasn't the point.

She didn't trust easy, not after the shot storm that was her ex and Senghor knew that explicitly. The jerk made her feel like an object to the world, something that people looked at and only thought of personal uses for. He'd nearly succeeded in turning her against her own family and friends before Senghor had thrown his heart at her feet.

The memory of watching her much older brother cry in front of her was enough to start her own water works again.

Yes, she understood why he was so protective.

But God there was something about Sam Drake that made her want to trust him with everything she had. She wasn't an idiot, she wanted to get to know Sam a bit more before she caught a case of the feelings. As if she hadn't already.

With a small sigh, she laid her head back and tried to take as much of a nap as she could.

Senghor's POV

They arrived at the hotel quite quickly with how fast Victor had been driving, not that he was complaining; he needed a cigar and a soft bed. His sister had gone to freshen up while the 'big boys played with their toys' as she'd so crudely put it. As he puffed on one of Victor's famous Cuban cigars, they managed to figure out that that next clue lay in Scotland; Avery's grave to be exact.

He hadn't given much thought of continuing with them, he was really only suppose to assist with the Rossi Estate, take his sister, and be on his way. Now though…he couldn't deny his interest.

Henry Avery was a huge figure in history, pirate history to be exact and pirates were Senghor Ruminovas' guilty pleasure.

He obviously needed to consult with Anya before making said decision, but he had a feeling he knew what she'd decide. His eyes wandered th=o the older Drake as the thought crossed his mind.

Nate had just left the room for a bit of fresh air on the balcony as Victor spoke up.

"Look, I realize it couldn't have been easy all those years away and I'm sorry for what happened to you. But, it's not his fault." Victor gestured to Nate as Samuel put down his drink, a tight expression on his face.

"I never said it was."

"It took a long time for him to get outta this game." Victor insisted.

"You see a gun to his head? He chose this. He's meant for this life." Senghor could tell that Samuel was becoming increasingly annoyed with Victor's words and took another long drag of his cigar.

"You really believe that?" Victor was incredulous.

"Why are you really here, Victor?" Samuel avoided the question.

"Because somebody's gotta keep an eye out for him." Victor once again gestured towards Nate. Senghor flicked his eyes downward, silently admiring Victor's intentions. He may not have trusted Victor at first when his father introduced them, but as time went on he realized that the old man protected those he cared for. Other than that, he helped make his father's last days more joyful and that was something Senghor would never forget.

As the tension rose to an all time high, Nate chose that moment to walk back in and thank god for that. He explained how Elena believed he was on a business trip, and Senghor felt his brotherly instincts kick in. Elena was a lovely girl with a knack for adventure and Senghor viewed her as another little sister. Sure, she wasn't thrilled with Nate's tomb raider part of life, but he really wasn't giving her enough credit.

"Well, I hear that the weather is particularly fine in Scotland this time of year." Victor's voice brought him out of his revery. Nate smiled at Victor and then turned his attention towards himself.

"Senghor? Listen, having you and Anya tonight was a huge help and…well I'd really love it if you could stay and continue the journey with us." Nate was completely sincere and visibly nervous in asking the question. "It would mean a lot, really."

Senghor eased himself back in his seat and picked his glass of scotch up from the table. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass and looked up at Nate with a straight expression.

"I would love nothing more, Nate. Being back in action tonight was…exhilarating if I'm being honest. My one condition is that you clear it with Anya as well, I can't imagine she would say no…" His answer was cut short.

Sam's POV

"You can't imagine I'd say no to what exactly?" He looked beyond Victor to see Anya in a light blue cotton ensemble of pajama shorts and a tank top, her hair still slightly wet from the shower. Damn…

"If you'd say no to joining us in finding Avery's treasure. You kicked ass tonight Kid, it'd be good to have you along and to keep these two in line." Victor gestured between he and Nathan. Her head tilted and her eyes looked up in mock thought as she bit her lip in a contemplative manner.

"I can't find myself saying no to buried treasure and pirates, it all sounds kinda…romantic." She finished with a quick glance in his direction and settled her eyes on Victor. Did his heart just stutter? Was that possible? Nathan laughed as he lifted his glass in a toast as he and the others followed suite. Anya picked up the bottle and clinked it against their glasses, taking a long swig right after. He watched transfixed as a small droplet escaped her mouth and ran down her cheek. A hand tapped his chin until his bottom row of teeth clinked against the top.

"Pick your jaw up, Samuel. It's rude to stare." Senghor looked him over with a warning glance and got up from his seat, Victor and Nate following his example. "Anyway, I believe now would be a delightful time to retire gents. I'll see you all bright and early for Scotland." With a smirk, Senghor retired to his room with Victor right behind him. Nathan strayed for a few seconds to look discreetly between he and Anya before he shook his head with a smile and bid them goodnight.

Finally, he was left by himself with Anya. Actually by himself. No Nathan, no Victor, no Senghor, and no random auctioneers. God damn, how many times had he said and thought that tonight in regards to her? A whole fucking lot.

She smiled in his direction and walked past him towards the balcony, a light brush of her arm against his. Taking the hint, he followed behind slowly so not to seem too eager. He wasn't a teenager anymore for Christ's sake.

She was posed so that she lent against the railing, her weight rested on her arms and her right leg crossed behind her. He copied her stance keeping a few meager inches between them and reached into his pocket.

"Do yah mind?" He asked as he held up his lighter and a cigarette. She glanced in his direction and lightly shook her head, he could feel her eyes on him as he lit up.

"So tell me," He inhaled the smoke and blew out calmly, "Why is Anastasia Ruminovas, daughter of the famous treasure hunters George and Josephine Ruminovas, here with ragtag brothers Nathan and Samuel Drake?" His tone was teasing, but he was being genuinely honest in a way. "I mean, your parents discovered the lost city of Atlantis for Gods sake! And you helped to uncover at least fifty percent of Ramesses the second's lineage in only two months! You even found hidden compartments in his tomb years after his body was discovered, you completely showed up those stiffs in Bembridge." Okay, he was actively babbling now and he wished she'd stop him. As if hearing his thoughts she responded.

"While all that is well and good, and believe me I love my mummies more than anything, pirates are a bit of weak point for my brother and me." Her eyes crinkled at the edges as she smiled. "When I was little, my father would read me these stories about pirates and all of their escapades. Not the normal bed time story, but he knew I wasn't into the whole princess locked away in a tower thing." She turned so that her back leaned against the railing, unknowingly moving closer to him in doing so. "There was swashbuckling, sea monsters, dastardly captains, and mermaids." Her eyes absolutely lit up when she uttered the word.

"You like mermaids, huh?" He smiled and edged closer to her.

"I use to pretend I was one. I'd swim in the pool for hours, letting my hair float around me underwater and pretending my legs were fins. It drove my mother crazy when I came out after ten hours looking like a prune and tracking water across the floors." She smiled with her teeth and looked down as her left arm came up to rub her right.

"Cold? Hang on a second." Before she could protest, he sprang into action, running from outside to inside and back to outside to give her his coat. "Would've been more convenient if I'd been wearing it in the first place, but it'll have to do." He slipped the jacket over her shoulders and rubbed his hands up and down her arms. She looked up at him in an almost shy manner and it had his heart doing flip flops.

"Wanna know the most cliche part of my whole mermaid phase?" She questioned softly.

"Tell me." He asked softly.

Her face took on a vulnerable note that had him rubbing her arms softly again with his thumbs, this time not in the name of warmth. "I always pictured the mermaid in the story would end up with the pirate. That maybe she'd get a happy ending too." She looked down and raised her hands to fiddle lightly with his white dress shirt. "But she was always alone in the end, always ignored for the fair lass on the docks. The pirate always preferred corsets and blue eyes to fins and sea weed tangled hair. I just…wanted her to be happy." She looked up and his hands traveled from her arms to cup her face.

"I think she will be." Her eyes glittered with slight confusion. "The mermaid, I think she'll get her happy ending."

"Yeah?" Her voice was soft and child like, as if she couldn't believe what he was saying.

"Without a doubt. I've always found fins and sea weed hair more attractive anyway." He chuckled as she finally laughed and brought her hands up to squeeze his.

He held her there for a few moments longer before clearing his throat and letting her go, backing up slightly in the process. "Anyway, we should probably get some shut eye. Morning is gonna be a real bitch other wise." He lightly joked and looked down at his shoes. He heard her before he saw her in front of his face.

She pulled up his face with her small hands and brought his cheek to her lips.

Ba-Bump

His heart nearly went to his throat as she lingered on his cheek for a few seconds.

Ba- Bump. Ba- Bump.

Her lips left his cheek far too soon for his liking and her hands traveled to his chest before sliding away.

"Thank you, Sam." Her voice was a whisper filled with a range of emotions he couldn't focus on.

"You're welcome, babygirl." The nickname slipped out before he could stop it and he nearly face palmed right then and there. She quirked an eye brow and smiled.

"Babygirl, eh?" He held his breath until she let out a chuckle. "I like it." She assured him and he let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding.

"Oh, good uhm that's- that's good I…" He felt himself start to ramble before she started to walk past him, stopping again to lightly peck his other cheek.

"Good night, Sam." She whispered as she continued past him to her room. When he knew he was by himself, he looked up at the stars and let the biggest smile take over his face. He let out a light chuckle as he bent over to rest his hands on his knees, his head dropping for a few seconds before looking back up.

"God damn…"

He was sure his smile could be heard louder than his words.