When the sun finally decided to rise she found herself in his bed once again, only this time he wasn't there. She was surprised he hadn't thrown her out of his room the minute he woke up. She grasped at the empty spot next to her almost wishing he were there. She rose to her feet and slowly out the door and down the stairs.

"Good morning" she said quietly reaching the bottom of the stairs.

There was something different about today. There was no one to say good morning back. No smells of freshly baked biscuits. The cook didn't greet her. The gardener didn't tell her how the flowers were doing. The maid didn't compliment her on the cleaning she did the day before.

"Where is everyone?" she asked

"It's Sunday everyone took the day off." he explained.

He was in the kitchen reading the newspaper and drinking his coffee. She was quiet and confused.

"Is that why you didn't wake me?"

"You almost died last night. I'm strict I'm not heartless." he explained

"What will you do all day then?" she asked

"I'll do what I usually do."

"What is that? If you don't mind me asking."

"I'll read a little probably. I might cook a little." he said

"Can I help?" she said excitedly

Her eyes lit up as soon as the word "cook" left his lips. When she was younger she would cook with her mother. It was a wonderful way for them to spend time together. They shared secrets and talked about the village. They gossiped about the boys in the village. Sometimes her friend Iequa would come over and play. But if she heard the sounds of pots and pans clanking together she and Iequa would drop what they were doing to help prepare the meal. At one point she and her friend got into an argument over who would skewer the pork. It was work and very hard to do but if she could do it perfectly she would earn great respect from her family. But she and Iequa got into an argument and neither of them were allowed to do it instead it was left to her mother. The entire village turned out for the event but she took no pride in the compliments directed towards the meal.

"No." he said simply

"Why not?" she whined

"I cook alone. I don't like being judged especially about my cooking. Besides it's your day off." he said

"I didn't know I had a day off." she said

"Well you do." he said lighting a cigarette

"What should I do?" she asked

"What do you like to do?"

"I like to cook." she said with a smile.

"You're not going to give up on this are you?"

"Nope."

He eyed her displeased at the response.

"Oh I mean. No sir." she correcting herself.

"What else do you like to do?"

"I like to garden." she said

"Yes the gardener often complains to me about how you seem to make the flowers stand up just by talking to them. He said he actually saw them perk up as you spoke to them." he said

"I don't talk to them sir. I sing to them the same song my mother sang to me." she said

On the island the flowers and fruit seemed to rise up from the ground whenever she and her mother were near. There were legends concerning their family. Some said she was a witch who used her wicked powers to cause the seeds to grow. Others said that her great great grandmother was a forest nymph who fell in love with her great great grandfather and took human form. They were never hungry. Whenever she asked her mother she never got a proper answer. Her mother would just laugh and tell her not to believe in rumors.

"Why weren't you in bed this morning?" she asked

She poured herself a glass of orange juice and put on some oat meal. when it was done she served up two bowls full and put one in front of him. She sat next to him.

"I had a bad dream." he said

"What was it about?"

"Don't want to talk about it." he said quickly

"So, what do you do?" she asked

"Well I was a barber a while back after I got out of jail. I was a bit of a juvenile delinquent. I tried my hand at writing but being alone in a cabin drove me mad, it was supposed to give me inspiration. Then for about three years I was a pirate. I had crazy adventures out on the open sea."

"So since you stopped being a pirate what do you do now?" she asked

"I never said I stopped being a pirate." he smirked

"You're kidding right?"

"I don't know you tell me. I've taken you from your home, an island, and brought you back as a slave. How do you know it's not something regular I do? Where did I get the money to pay off your family? I might have pillaged the village next to yours. Where did the boat come from? Did you notice any other passengers on the boat?" he smiled

"You're lying." she said

"What if I'm not? How would you react?"

"Surprised. You seem a bit too fancy to be a pirate."

"And if it's all an act?"

"Then why haven't I been raped and thrown on a ship?"

"Maybe your not my type."

"So, are you a pirate?"

"Only on the holidays." he laughed.

He seemed very open today. Almost like he was a different person. He smiled he laughed. Something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" she asked

"Nothing"

"You're so happy today it just doesn't seem like you." she said

"Well then would you prefer for me to be controlling and abusive. Maybe I should've pushed you out of bed this morning." he smiled

She took his empty bowl and placed it in the sink. He was up right behind her.

"Maybe I should be a bit more forceful with you." he suggested

She turned to see him behind her. Slowly she backed away he backed her into the fridge.

"Maybe you like it." he smiled

His hands on either side of her.

"If I act like this on a daily basis you'd be all over the place. You'd do what you wanted and you wouldn't follow orders. I can't let that happen. So yes I'm strict but only because I need to be. On a day like today I get to relax and sit back and just let go."

"I wish you would let go a bit more often." she admitted

"Not gonna happen." he said

"Let's do something."

"Like what?"

"I don't know just something since these days aren't normal. Let's go swim." she said

"I think I know just the place." he said

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