The sea sparkled under the starry sky, rippling in black folds of water. Amber watched the white light cast from the moon as it danced across the ocean surface, her head lost in her own thoughts.

Behind her, in the small sandy cave where she and 2D had taken shelter, 2D was tending to a small fire with dry leaves and twigs.

Neither of them had spoken much since they had found Murdoc's cross in the forest. Both of them were silenced by the impact of their ordeal. Somewhere in this dangerous forest was a strange army base, armed with guards who were willing to shoot them on sight. And according to what Amber had heard earlier, both Murdoc and Russel were being kept prisoner there, and the guards were also after her and 2D. This was enough to make anyone frightened, on top of being shipwrecked in a storm the night before.

Amber shivered and looked back at 2D, who was now sitting by the fire, gazing into the dancing orange flames. She got up and came inside the cave, which was now full of the comforting warmth from the fire. She sat down beside 2D and hugged her knees, watching the fire as it flickered before her.

"Will we go find them tomorrow?" asked Amber quietly.

"I dunno Amber", 2D sighed, "There's hardly a way inside without being captured ourselves".

"Well if we don't try, we'll be captured anyway" said Amber, remembering the guard's orders to his men;

We'll continue our search at dawn tomorrow morning.

She felt despair clutch at her weary heart. How were they going to save Russel and Murdoc? Her mind had already gone over many pointless suggestions while she had watched night fall, and none of them seemed even remotely good. She cursed herself silently and bent her head, her hair falling around her face. She watched 2D through her black curls and another familiar emotion tugged at her heart. His beautiful face was illuminated softly by the yellow glow of the fire, and his dark eyes swallowed up any light into their deep blackness and looked so deep in thought that her heart ached with love.

He glanced over suddenly at her crouched form, and she averted her eyes to the ground.

"We'll get them out Amber, we will" he said comfortingly, "I don't know how, but we will".

Amber said nothing. A single tear rolled down her cheek and splashed into the sandy cave floor. Why do I have to cry? Why?

She screwed up her eyes as more tears trickled down her cheeks, and she felt so foolish at breaking down like this. Suddenly she felt a gentle hand at her face, a long finger touching her tears…

2D had come close and was gently mopping her stained cheeks with a look of concern. She crawled into his arms and embraced him tight. He stroked her hair comfortingly as she sobbed into his torn shirt.

"Shh, shh it's OK", he murmured.

"I d-don't want t-to cry" she sobbed.

"Everyone cries Amber, even strong girls like you".

Amber looked up at his thin face, her tears glistening.

"You think I'm strong?" she whispered, losing all pride.

"One of the strongest-willed girls I've ever known" he replied softly, "and one of the bes' friends I've ever had".

Friends? Just friends?

Amber burrowed her face into his chest, her heart aching with pain again.

"What's 'rong?" he asked, sounded worried and confused.

She gripped his shirt very tightly as she looked up into those black eyes again, her heart thudding very fast.

"2D.." she whispered, "I…..don't….I….think…"

2D gently wiped a tear off her cheek.

"Its OK, you can tell me" he said, "I'm 'ere, c'mon, what's 'rong?".

Amber felt herself whisper again, aware of what she was saying but unable to stop herself.

"2D…if only you knew…you're one of my best friends too. But…but…"

2D suddenly pressed a finger to her lips. She saw his expression, eyes wide with astonishment and wonder.

"But you wan' ter be more than friends?" he whispered, saying it for her, staring at her tear stained face.

Amber's heart stood still. She slowly lifted 2D's finger from her mouth so she could speak, but before she could, 2D's lips had gently pressed upon hers.

After several long moments - it might have been only a few wondrous seconds or several sun-kissed days - they drew apart. Amber looked up at him with wide eyes and her heart was thudding so hard with joy that she said nothing more but pulled 2D close to her and kissed him back. The kiss was gentle and passionate, and lasted a lot longer. 2D wound his long arms around her thin figure and pulled her body close to his so that their hearts beat against each other. Their lips moved together, sharing joy and wonder in the passionate moment.

They slowly drew apart, gazing into each other's eyes. Their expressions were a mirror of the other - wonder, emotion and happiness.

"You said I'd know if I found the righ' girl" said 2D softly, "Someone special. Well you were righ'. You're the right girl for me Amber and I've bin' blind ter see it till now".

Amber finally found her voice again to say,

"2D, you have no idea how long I've felt this way about you…ever since the day I met you".

"I think, deep down, I knew Amber" he said, smiling, "Jus' I was too stupid ter actually open my eyes…"

He took Amber's hands in his.

"Let's make up for all those months we've missed together" he whispered, gazing straight into her emerald-green eyes.

He kissed her again, and they pressed against each other as their lips moved gently in the kiss. 2D stroked her hair gently, and ran his hands over her sides and lightly across her chest. Amber entwined her fingers in his blue hair and caressed his face in her hands. 2D slowly broke apart from her and very gently began to pull his white torn t-shirt off. Amber pulled it over his head gently and it landed on the cave floor nearby. She looked at him in the firelight, a golden glow now cast over his thin chest and arms. She stroked his sides and smiled up at him. He ran a hand over her face lovingly and then started to tug at her red t-shirt slightly.

She whispered breathlessly, "You'd be my first".

2D smiled and kissed her, "You're not afraid are you?"

She kissed him back, pressing her mouth against his passionately and then broke away.

"Never" she whispered back.

And her red top came slowly over her head and landed on the floor next to 2D's shirt by the dying fire.