Thank you for reading so far guys. I promise it gets more interesting. After this chapter, stuff will actually happen.

Remember, reviews are encouraging.

As the weeks wore on, the two spent more time together, learning as much as possible about each other. Raven was still all sorts of scowls, and Garfield was still all sorts of wolfish, but it was decided that the two evened each other out.

And they like it that way.

It wasn't until two weeks later that the ship docked. Raven was supposed to leave with her guards, and Garfield was supposed to walk away. Neither wanted that.

"Well, Raven." One of her guards made a step forward before she shot him a look then turned back. "Er, Your Highness. Guess this is goodbye, huh?"

"Farewell, indeed," she didn't even try to hide the wistful tone her voice carried heavily. "I would wish to see you soon, but, I can't do that to myself. What to plan on doing after this?"

He sighed. "Well, I'll be going back to Lo- home, I mean." She glared and he shrugged. "Announce that I'm not dead and ready to take on the... stuff."

Raven sighed, "Still dodgy? I thought you were supposed to tell me some day?"

"And I will. I will make sure I see you again. No matter what, I will. I'll sail across the world if I have to, beg to be let into your temple."

The sad and touched smile she offered make his heart do a little twist. She reached up and tenderly cupped his face. "I sure hope so, Logan."

He leaned into her touch a little, shaking his head. Then he took her hand away with his own. "You may not wish that when you do."

Now it was her turn to shake her head. "I swear, I'll always be glad to see you. Upon my heart."

Smiling, he bent down and brought the hand he never let go of to his lips. Again, just like when they met, he just grazed her flesh. He stood straight and gently dropped her hand. "Until next time, Raven of Siam. Your Highness." He bowed then stepped back, only turning after he moved a couple feet.

"And to you, Logan of The Island," she spoke quietly after him.

.:..:..:.

"Garfield!" He was immediately tackled by Victor, a man considerably larger than him.

"Victor! How did you get back?"

"Me? I found a merchant ship just as I was about to pass out. How about you!? You've been gone for about ten months now!"

He sighed, "Well, you know. About two and a half weeks of that was a cruise ship." Victor gaped. "I was rescued, by the heir to Siam. Yeah, after being stuck on an island for eight months."

"You... were saved by a princess on a cruise ship?"

Shrug. "Well, yeah. I guess."

Victor laughed loudly before slowly calming down. "You, my good friend, have wonderful taste. Was she nice?"

An almost unnoticeable red painted his cheeks. "A little."

"Oh, alright then. That's good." A comfortable silence settled between the two.

Eventually, Garfield spoke up. "She thinks my name is Logan Mark."

"What kind of name is that?"

"A last minute name!" Gar huffed. "We have strong ties to her nation, I couldn't tell her I'm Garfield Logan. That wouldn't have ended well. But I will see her again and tell her."

"Oh? And how will it end when she finds out who you are. She might end your trade circles. Lying to the monarch? What were you thinking!?"

"I wasn't! Okay?" He ran a hand through his hair roughly. "Look, she made a vow to me and I'll make damn sure she keeps it. She won't cut ties, and I'll convince her by any means necessary." He looked up with a tired face, his eyes set with a fiery determination in contrast.

"So how do you intend on finding her again?"

He shrugged. "Oh I don't know. Logan Enterprises could call out to make another deal, interested in investing in fine silks? I am. Her dress was amazing. hat could fork in buckets of cash. Anyways, she responds, intrigued. I show up, looking especially and devilishly handsome. She smiles and throws herself at me in an embrace, then slaps me because I lied. Then she'll invite me in, and a year later, we'll be spending a month away alone on a lovely little island."

Victor raised a brow.

"The end!"

"Uuuuhhhh-huh. Sure, have fun with that then."

" I will." His smile fell, though. "She'll never forgive me."

The taller african american stepped forward to pat Garfield on the back. "She'll get over it."

The blonde scowled and stood straight. "Well, she'd better. Because I won't leave her alone until she does."

"Well, mind if I join you on your fantasy adventure?"

"Hop aboard, though this time we'll get a better ship."

.:..:..:.

After Logan Mark had departed on another ship to take him back to the one and only America, Raven had moved on to her initial business. The meeting with the ambassador and his son went by rather slowly, and not much progress was made.

"But, our loyalties have been nothing but straightforward. We aren't here to discuss allies, Sir Geddes. We are here only to discuss trade. What we do further with our economy is our own problem."

"What my father is trying to point out, is that we would like to know our goods are in safe hands. We are willing to negotiate with a nation that has a falling economy, so long as we know that our funds are solid. If we are sending premium exports, we want the return product just as well."

Raven turned to Malchior, straightening her spine in the process. "Our economy is exceptional, thank you. I'm only trying to point out that Siam doesn't need your approval for relocation of trade."

Both men opened their mouths at once, but Raven cut them off. "And is this truly what we came to- what I came here to discuss? I thought this meeting was for orders."

"Actually, Your Highness is right," Malchior voiced, receiving a look from his father. "Our deepest apologies. We wanted to offer you a new deal, and we would like some supplies for a charity ball."

"Alright then, supplies first. What did you have in mind?"

"We would like to, in honor of your nation and out ties, theme the ball of Siam traditions. We need silks and spices, along with some rice that I have heard such praise about."

"That is it, for a whole event?"

"Well, of course, we could use suggestions."

"Indeed. I shall suggest additions another time, yes? How long until the ball?"

"Five months, this deal needs to be made as soon as possible."

"Timing, forever to be an issue. I'll see what I can do. Now, that deal?"

.:..:..:.

Raven headed out of the room, flicking her hood up above her head. Her face shadowed effectively, she lifted a hand and swatted her fingers as a signal for her men to follow her.

"Your Highness!"

She halted and turned, "Malchior?" Her face alit a bright red at her mistake. "My apologies, Mr.-"

"No, it is alright. Please, call me Malchior. I was just wishing to invite you to a dinner, courtesy of our nation. I have some more topics I wish to discuss."

Raven pulled down her hood. "Oh? Topics such as what?"

"Diplomacy, invitations, boring likeness."

"I may be inclined to accept your offer."

"Alright then, I will meet you at Eighth, quarter past seven?"

A tiny smile fluttered onto her face. "Specific, I like it. I will see you then. And to assure you, any attempt on my life will be in vain, I have friends."

"As if anybody would desire to end your gorgeous life," he teased lightly, bending down to kiss her hand.

His lips had more pressure on her hand then that of Mr. Mark, but she let it slide. This man, his aurora was calming and made her want so desperately to trust him with anything. She wasn't sure she liked it, but that desire seemed to deny her of all thought filtering.

She found she couldn't say no.

Next Update: Thursday