author's note: This is the second shortest chapter so far. I had originally planned on "the rescue" being one long chapter, but it would have been WAY too long. Thus we now have parts one and two.

Since you've all been so patient - except for my friends Elle and Shizz, of course, who flooded my tumblr inbox with messages demanding this chapter - your reward is some mushy, squishy, happy feels with romance and a few references to... other things. Enjoy it, because 99% of you are going to hate me halfway through the next chapter.

islands in the sea
chapter six - the rescue (part one)

Hubert starts awake the next morning with a loud gasp, sitting up straight in bed with his eyes and mouth both wide open. He'd been dreaming of Yu Liberte - of coming home to find everything changed and twisted and confusing, his position lost to another man and his father disowning him; Pascal had been gone, had simply disappeared, and he'd been searching for her in vain -

He takes a breath, calming himself, and the nightmare begins to recede quickly away from his mind. Everything is fine, he tells himself, because he is still on the island. And Pascal is here, beside him, on their shared bed. And...

He releases the sheet that is gripped tight in both hands, allowing it to pool around his waist, and draws in another careful breath. His gaze moves from the bed to the scene around him; they are still inside the ship, in the rest area, and as he listens he hears the light pattering of raindrops on the structure around him, sees murky gray light through the open door and large crack in the aircraft that lies beyond. Clothing is scattered on the floor around their bed, and beside him Pascal is still sleeping soundly. The Amarcian is curled up on the mattress with her knees drawn up close to her body, a thin sheet wrapped around her, and she's snoring softly with her head propped up on two pillows. Hubert watches her for a moment, and he isn't sure what to think; as he remembers the evening before, he expects to feel guilty, but...

But there is no guilt, no shame, not even a sense of wrongdoing, and when he releases his breath, he finds himself smiling. It's because of her, of course. If it had been anyone but her, he would feel differently about what he has done.

He sighs, lifting a hand to rub his tired eyes. Things are a bit fuzzy for him, and he doesn't remember all the details. He isn't quite sure when their kisses had progressed into careful touches and gentle strokes, or when both of them had thrown aside the sheets in favor of full body contact. He doesn't remember exactly how she had convinced him to keep going... but he does remember listening to her breathe her love into his ear, remembers her encouraging him, begging him not to stop. He'd lost control of himself, and she had done the same, but it had felt good, so breathtakingly, impossibly, ridiculously good. He thinks again, as he watches her sleep, that there really hadn't been any shame in it after all. It had been intimate and wonderful and full of love, and after years of waiting for even the slightest bit of affection from her, he is honestly and thoroughly... happy.

It's strange, he thinks, to feel this way - to be happy, truly happy, without a care in the world. But he is happy now, and it's all because of her.

He spares a glance at the dreary weather outside of the ship before deciding that he has no motivation whatsoever to leave, even to fish or to see if the lightning and thunder from the evening before have caused any damage to the island. He would much rather stay inside and have a banana -

He chuckles, suddenly, at this thought, and shakes his head. "You're rubbing off on me," he says, out loud, and Pascal stirs beside him but doesn't wake. He smiles - even though it still feels strange, to be smiling so frequently - and doesn't bother reaching for his glasses before he shifts on the mattress, lying down beside her. He reaches out and carefully brushes intermingled white and red locks of hair away from her eyes, and she stirs again, her pale eyebrows creasing as she slowly wakes. "Good morning," he murmurs, watching her open one eye.

"Hrmmm... oh... oh - " Both of her eyes snap open, and she stares at him as if she's seen a ghost, but Hubert knows full well that she is remembering the evening before; after a few seconds her expression changes into a smile, and she laughs before releasing a huge yawn, rolling onto her back and straightening out her legs. "Mornin', handsome."

"Han - what - " He blushes despite himself and wonders just how long it will take for him to stop doing such an embarrassing thing. "D - don't call me that!"

"There are a ton of other things I can call you instead." She stretches her arms above her head, releasing a noise of satisfaction as her shoulders crack. "But if you think "handsome" is bad, you probably don't wanna hear the rest of the list."

"... probably not." He sighs softly, but he can't really be irritated with her, not on the first morning that they're waking up together - not while they're both naked in bed except for a pair of tangled bedsheets between them. "The weather is still quite disagreeable," he comments, with a short nod at the rain visible through the gap in the pieces of the ship. "And I am afraid I have no interest in going out in it at this very moment."

"Yuck. Well, we've got no choice but to stay inside, then." She rolls over, toward him, and slings an arm around his neck with a grin and a wink. "Buuuut I think we can keep ourselves busy."

"Pascal - "

"Shush," she says, and kisses him hard enough to take his breath away. When they part, her eyes have fallen to his chest, and he lowers his head to watch her trace the faint outline of a bruise with her fingertips. "I forgot how hard I punch when I'm angry," she murmurs, and gives him a lopsided smile as he lifts a hand to stroke one of her cheeks. "I feel pretty rotten for doing something like that to you."

"It doesn't hurt."

"But - "

"Even if it did hurt, I can't say I would mind." He shifts on the bed, carefully pushing her onto her back so he can lean over her. He runs his fingers across her cheek, loving the way her skin feels, and can't help but be amused by the way she trembles just the slightest bit when his touch strays close to her neck. "I deserved it. You know that just as well as I do."

"I guess, but..." She looks up at him, her eyes searching his, but then he bends to kiss her again and she seems to forget all about protesting. After a moment her arm falls from his neck to his back, her fingertips dragging down along the length of his spine, and he shivers so violently that she giggles in response. "You know," she murmurs, "don't get me wrong, I liked doing it in the dark, but... it's totally different to actually see you..."

He clears his throat. "It's - it's embarrassing."

"It really isn't." She smiles, lifting her head to press her lips to his, and this time the kiss is a little less romantic and a little more needy. "It isn't," she says, as his mouth falls to her throat, "because - we have to get used to this, you know? If we're going to stay together like this, we - ah - " He glances up and watches her cheeks begin to color. " - w - we need to be comfortable with each other, and that includes... oh, geez, Hu, oh my god - " Her voice rises to an entirely new pitch. " - you jerk, how did you figure out where - ahh!"

"Perhaps there are benefits to doing this kind of thing in daylight." He smiles to himself, studying the faint rosy marks on her neck apparently left from the evening before. "Wouldn't you agree?"

"Did I tell you to stop?"

"No," he laughs, and bends over her again. Five minutes later she's smiling and laughing and grabbing at the sheets around his waist with both hands, telling him to stop playing around and just do it, and he's all too happy to oblige.

Nearly an hour later, they're still in bed together; Pascal is half-asleep in Hubert's arms and he's stroking her hair and thinking about the future, wondering what they'll do when they return to Strahta. He's almost shocked by how easy it is to be with her, like this, to be himself, and he doesn't want to give that up. He wants what they have to last, and wants it forever, until he takes his last breath in this world and passes into the next. He looks down at her, curled against his chest with her eyes closed, and the very idea of leaving her now threatens to break his heart completely in two.

He wants to marry her. This isn't a new thought, of course - he's been entertaining it for months, even years - but he's now more certain of it than ever, and wants it because his heart wants it, because his heart needs it. Before it'd been some kind of youthful attraction and fascination combined with a need to find a partner so he could avoid an arrangement with the president's daughter... but now he knows it's because he will never find anyone else so right for him. Pascal is exuberant and crazy and too smart for her own good, and at times he thinks she's borderline insane, but he craves her company when she's gone. When she's not with him, the world is dull and quiet, and he'd once thought that he wanted it that way, but now... now he can't live without her.

And as soon as he comes to that conclusion, the communicator at the front of the ship comes alive with a crackle of static.

"What in the," Hubert starts, but realizes almost immediately what he's hearing and shakes his companion awake. "Pascal."

"Hm... wha..."

"The communicator," he says, and releases her as he sits, "is making noise."

"Wha - " Her amber eyes snap open and she practically tumbles off the mattress to the floor, taking a sheet with her (and leaving Hubert to rather hurridly clap his hands over his groin, because she's taken his sheet and left him naked). "Holy crap, you're right! Maybe that's Fourier! I - wait here, I'll be right back!"

"Pascal," he groans, watching her stumble to her feet and run off in the direction of the front of the ship, "I am not simply going to stay here - hold on!" He fumbles with the remaining sheet until it's wrapped securely around his middle, grabbing his glasses from the floor and sliding them on his face, and then he rises and hurries after her. When he reaches the cockpit, he finds his companion sitting on the floor with one end of the communicator in her hands, laughing loud and breathlessly. "What is it?" he asks, raising both eyebrows. "Was it - "

"PASCAL, THERE IS NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT THIS!"

" - Fourier," Hubert finishes, and rather easily bends to pluck the communicator out of Pascal's hands. "Hello," he begins, clearing his throat. "Are you able to hear me?"

"Yes, I can hear you just fine, and if you would kindly slap some sense into my sister, I would greatly appreciate it." Fourier's voice is sharp and loud and definitely real, and he hears her sigh, the sound sending another crackle of static through the device. "Do you know that the entire Strahtan military is preparing to search for the two of you? You have been missing for days, and apparently presumed dead by some, and all I receive in return for my concern is Pascal laughing at me like some kind of loon!"

"It's just," the younger Amarcian speaks up from the floor, still breathless, "that the first thing - you said, was - was "are you alive?" and - you were talking to me, so of course I'm alive! Hahaha - "

"I was worried about you, moron! What did you expect me to say?!"

"Aw, sis, it's just - " She giggles and wipes at her eyes with one hand, grinning up at Hubert. "I'm really happy to hear your voice."

"We are both fine," he says, turning his eyes to the communicator in his hand, "but we are unfortunately stranded at the moment. Our ship was..." He pauses, clearing his throat, wondering how to describe such a thing delicately to Fourier. "... rendered immobile," he tries, "upon landing on one of the islands."

"Immobile? Pascal, what does he mean?"

"Uh..." She laughs awkwardly. "He means the ship's broken."

"You did mention something about that, but... how broken is the ship?"

"Like, totally broken. Um... sort of ruined, actually. Snapped clean in half." She exchanges a nervous glance with her companion. "The engine failed, and the backup engine still wasn't working, so we kinda came in for a crash landing and then pow! And then - "

Fourier's voice raises to a high-pitched screech. "YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE GOING TO FIX THAT!"

"I forgot! I mean, why would anybody need two engines? I was totally busy, and - "

"What if you had been killed, Pascal?!" The older Amarcian lets out another sigh, and this time Hubert winces at the crackling sound that comes out of the communicator. "You are both lucky to have survived, but to have ruined an ancient Amarcian ship - argh!" There's a faint thumping sound, as if she's slamming a fist into something. "Fine. I suppose it doesn't matter. We will have to concern ourselves with the ship at a later time. Right now every soldier in Strahta is preparing to launch a search for the two of you. Malik rushed over here to notify me that you were missing, and I came back here to check for communication from your ship... thankfully."

"Yeah, I'm glad you got our message. Another day or two out here and I woulda died from boredom." Pascal smiles, jumping to her feet, fiddling with the edge of the sheet that's wrapped around her body. "Sooooo... do you think you can fly out here and pick us up?"

"Well... I assume it will be my duty to rescue you. It would be pointless to wait for anyone to arrive by sea when my own ship is much faster." Fourier's voice softens slightly. "I will come as soon as I am able. Will the two of you be alright for a few more hours?"

"We have survived this long. I hardly think an additional morning will make much of a difference." Hubert passes the communicator back to Pascal, using both hands to hitch up the sheet around his own waist, glad to have caught it before it slipped. The Amarcian notices and giggles, and he blushes and looks away, wondering again when he's going to stop being so embarrassed by his own body. "We are on the southernmost island," he says, raising his voice so Fourier can still hear. "Please notify the president of our safety prior to your departure. There is no cause for concern on his part, as we are both alive and well. Furthermore, you can also tell him that we will present a full report on our findings upon our return to Yu Liberte."

"That sounds reasonable. I'll pass on your message." There's a pause, and then Fourier speaks again, her words coming slower. "Pascal... I am glad you are alright. But you must promise to stop scaring me like this - and from now on, you must not drag Hubert into any more of your schemes. You will be lucky if the president of Strahta doesn't reprimand you for nearly killing a member of the military."

"Eh, I'm pretty sure he'll get over it."

"Pascal - "

"I agreed to accompany her for the sake of my nation. What happened to the ship was an accident." Hubert turns to face his companion, reaching out with one hand to smooth her unruly hair, and she smiles up at him. "Mr. Paradine is a reasonable man. I am certain he will understand."

"... did something happen to you, Hubert? I expected you to be far more upset about this."

He clears his throat, his hand moving to settle on one of Pascal's shoulders. "It is no use complaining. My energy was better suited for keeping the two of us alive - "

"Did you hit your head when you landed? Or did Pascal drug you with some kind of concoction made up of salt water and poison? Is she holding you at gunpoint asking you to speak kindly of her?"

"Sis, c'mon, knock it off." Pascal groans, rolling her eyes. "I didn't do anything to Hu. Seriously, there's no point in complaining - "

"But this is not like him at all." Fourier begins to sound suspicious. "In fact, both of you sound rather pleased with yourselves, despite being stranded on an island for several days..."

"S - sis, it really isn't anything you need to - "

"W - what exactly have the two of you been doing out there all this time?!"

"Nothing!" Hubert and Pascal chorus, and it's the younger Amarcian who thinks fastest, lifting the communicator closer to her mouth and speaking as quickly as she can. "We're waiting for you, so come rescue us really quick, okay?! We're gonna go pack up our stuff and clean up the island and we'll be here when you get here so - so okay, bye Fourier, see you soon!" She shuts off the device and flings it at the floor with a yelp, and when she lifts her eyes to Hubert's again, he sees that her face is flushed. "Was it really that obvious?" she asks quietly.

"It may have been." He pats her shoulder gently, shaking his head from side to side. "It is of no matter to me. She will have to learn of our relationship eventually. For the time being, we should concern ourselves with doing as you said."

"Yeah, I guess we should clean up..." She smiles slightly. "We're gonna be rescued, huh...?"

"You don't seem happy about that."

"I dunno, Hu. I would have liked another day or two here with you." She moves close to him, leaning up to wrap her arms around his neck, and he pulls her into a tight embrace without any other prompting on her part. "I was hoping we'd get some more time to like... make out, or fool around, or talk about our feelings and stuff. Now we're gonna go back to Strahta, and I'm gonna have to talk to the prez, and then you're probably gonna get in trouble after all, and Fourier - "

"Don't worry about that," he interrupts, closing his eyes. "We will have time for those things, and I am completely unconcerned with how your sister or Mr. Paradine will react. What happened to the ship was an accident, as I have told you already." He presses his chin to the top of her head, letting out his breath. "What is important is that we remain together."

"Mm, yeah, I guess so..."

"Now that we have grown so close, I..." He pauses, trying to steady the words as they leave his mouth. "I cannot leave you, Pascal. I do not wish for you to be away from me, even for a moment. After the time that we have spent waiting for one another, the suggestion that we might be apart is something that I cannot fathom. If - if you meant the promise that you made me, that you would never leave my side, then I... I..."

"Are you - " She draws back, and when he opens his eyes he sees her staring up at him, open-mouthed, her cheeks still rosy. "Hu..."

"I..." He releases a nervous laugh, and he's surprised by the sound, but he's even more surprised at himself, at how easily he's speaking right now. Only a day before he'd been convinced that he would never have this opportunity, but now... "This is not the way I planned on - on any of this," he says, swallowing hard. "But before we are rescued, there is something I would like to ask you."

"I get it..." She smiles up at him. "You're serious about this, huh?"

"I would like to - to ask, but - " He reaches up with one hand to rub his forehead, then adjust his glasses. "I hardly think this is appropriate, considering our current - state - " He gestures at the two of them, still covered only by sheets. "And I haven't prepared any sort of proposal, or thought about what to say to you, or - "

"It's okay, Hu. This doesn't have to be difficult." Her smile is wider now. "Just say it."

"I - but I don't have a - " He turns his head away. "I don't have a ring, and this isn't the way I wanted to - "

"I don't care. Seriously."

"Pascal..."

"Do I have to do it for you?"

"No! I - " He bites his lip, drawing in a nervous breath, and it's then that he decides that it's now or never. He reaches for one of her hands and pulls it away from his neck, clasping it carefully between both of his. He brushes his thumb once across her ring finger, and when he lifts his eyes to hers, the words come easy, almost naturally. "Pascal," he begins, quietly, "when we return to Strahta, I would - I would like to have your hand in marriage. Please become my wife."

There's a long pause, and Hubert's words hang heavy in the air of the ship's cabin, but finally Pascal speaks, softly, surely: "Okay."

"O - okay?" he stammers. "You - "

"Like I said, okay. We'll get married. But only if you promise to get me fresh bananas every day, and do all the cooking and cleaning, and not interrupt me when I'm trying to invent something." She nods. "And... and you have to let me call you Hu no matter what, buuuut... I'll call you Hubert every now and then, I guess... But - hey, but if anybody asks..." Her voice begins to tremble, and Hubert feels the corners of his mouth turn up as she shifts her eyes away from his. "If anybody asks, you had to woo me and impress me and treat me like a queen for like three straight years before I agreed, alright? I don't want anybody thinking I just kinda, like, gave in or whatever - "

"Anything." His voice is as warm as his heart in his chest, and he smiles and bends to her, silencing her with a kiss, and then she giggles softly into his mouth and he can't help but smile even wider. He takes her face in his hands and lifts it gently, wiping away the tears that he sees beginning to inch out of the corners of her eyes. "You will have all the bananas your heart desires," he says, and she giggles again, sniffing. "And if anyone dares speak ill of my wife, I will parade them in front of the firing squad."

"Ooh, you really are serious about this..." She lifts a hand to lazily ruffle his hair, sniffing again. "Pascal Oswell has a nice ring to it, yeah?"

"It is the most beautiful name in the world."

"Oh, gosh, when did you turn into such a sap?"

"The moment I fell in love with you," he answers, and bends to kiss her again, and when she starts laughing he is happy to join in.

By the time Fourier's small aircraft circles the island, Hubert and Pascal are sitting together in the sand a short distance away from the ship, their bags packed full and placed on either side. The rain has stopped and the sky is slowly clearing, revealing shades of faint blue behind the grayish clouds. They've bathed and are dressed in their clothing from the first day - Hubert in his uniform and Pascal in shorts and a shirt with a bright blue scarf tied carefully around her neck - and they both watch in silence as the silver ship passes by once overhead. "Welp," the Amarcian murmurs, "guess it's about time for us to head back, huh?"

"Are you ready?"

"Honestly? No." She laughs softly, leaning over to one side so she can rest her head on Hubert's shoulder. "Fourier's gonna think I'm nuts when I tell her I agreed to marry you."

"I have a feeling that she already thinks such a thing, Pascal." He tries to force back the smile that is fighting to take over his mouth. "And I cannot help but question your sanity for agreeing to become my wife. Perhaps you are insane, considering it was just yesterday that you struck me and stated that your intent was to never see me again - "

"Aw, shut up," she interrupts, with a dramatic roll of her eyes, and reaches out to tap a fist lightly against the bottom of his chin. "You know full well I was head-over-freakin'-heels in love with you the whole time. I wouldn't have gotten so dang upset if you hadn't been acting like such a jerk."

"Of course. I fully deserved all of your anger." He gently wraps his fingers around her wrist and lifts it, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. "But now?"

"... buuuut now I think I'm pretty happy." One corner of her mouth turns up in a lopsided smile. "And I think that you're the crazy one for wanting to be around me like this. Aren't you worried about me driving you bonkers? I mean, if you thought going on adventures and getting stranded on an island like this was bad, how do you think you're gonna cope with living with me?"

He presses his lips to her hand a second time. "I am sure we will both manage. Our love for one another will help us through any difficulties we may encounter."

She sighs loudly. "You really are a sap."

He smiles at her remark but doesn't say anything else, releasing her wrist only so he can slip his hand around hers and hold it tight. They both watch as Fourier's ship sweeps back into view, lower this time, and it circles the beach in front of them once, twice, and finally a third time before coming in for a landing on the edge of the shore. The aircraft is obviously new, gleaming silver in the sun, and not nearly as large as the ship that sits broken behind the two of them. "I wish I had a ship like that," Pascal mutters, her head still on Hubert's shoulder. "I bet it never ever has engine failure or has to run on solar power to get even the communicator working."

"Why don't you build one?"

"'cause I have so much else to work on, geez." She sighs again as the ship becomes still on the sand. "Not like it matters, though. After this whole thing, Fourier's probably gonna try to forbid me to leave my room for a month."

"I fully expect you to be my wife in a month, Pascal."

"... really?" She lifts her head, blinking up at him, and then she grins. "Guess you'll be the one in charge of me then, huh?"

The side door of the ship opens, and the two of them look up, expecting to see Fourier emerge - but instead it's another familiar face, and they speak in unison with surprise in their voices. "Captain Malik?!"

"Well, well. Don't the two of you look cosy out here on your own private island?" Malik laughs as he exits the ship and walks in their direction, raising one hand in a casual wave as he approaches. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion. I'm sure you're both very unhappy to be leaving after spending so much quality time together - "

"Aw, stuff it, Captain." Pascal jumps to her feet, tugging Hubert along with her, and the grin that appears on Malik's face as he comes to face them is absolutely enormous. "Why are you here? Where's my sister?"

"Fourier is right behind me," he says, nodding over his shoulder, and it's at that moment that they see a familiar shock of white and red hair emerging from around the other side of the aircraft. "And I'm here because your father - " He points at Hubert. " - contacted me in a panic about how you had gone missing. I was still in Oul Raye on business when he found me. I'm not sure why he thought he could trust me to retrieve you, but he insisted that I be part of this little search and rescue mission."

"I see." Hubert exhales, shaking his head. "I had all but forgotten about my father. I'm sure he will be just as loud and obnoxious about this event as - " He glances abruptly at Pascal and sees her biting back a laugh, which is permission enough for him to continue his sentence. " - other mutual acquaintances of ours."

"PASCAL!"

"Speaking of which..." He peers around Malik's broad shoulders and sees a very angry Amarcian storming up the beach, hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Captain Malik, you may find it necessary to interfere over the course of the next few minutes."

The older man chuckles. "I'm two steps ahead of you, Hubert."

"PASCAL, I OUGHT TO DRAG YOU HOME BY YOUR HAIR AND - " Fourier is yelling when she arrives, and Hubert watches, rather amused, as Malik gracefully turns and catches her with one arm as she makes an attempt to lunge at her younger sister. "You - you let me go!" she shrieks, glaring up at him. "You have no right to restrain me in such a way!"

"I beg to differ." He makes a "tsk"ing sound at her, as if he's scolding a misbehaving child. "You know full well that what happened to your sister was an accident. You should be grateful that she and Hubert both are safe and sound."

"She should have fixed the engine!"

"Yeah, and you shoulda let me use your ship instead of that rickety old thing." Pascal grins up at her sister, taking a step forward, and she reaches out with the hand that's not still wrapped around Hubert's to pat Fourier on the head. "We both knew it was only a matter of time before it went kaput, right? It's okay, sis! We got a lot of use out of it before we crashed."

Fourier looks angry enough to hurt someone, and Hubert has a feeling that if Malik were to release her, her hands would immediately find their way around someone's throat - probably Pascal's, maybe Malik's, maybe even his. "You," she growls at her sister, "are far too old to be - to be this irresponsible! Destroying a piece of Amarcian technology - "

"We can fix it, y'know."

"THAT IS NOT THE POINT!"

"Fourier," Malik interrupts, patiently, "what did I say about being grateful?"

"You - " She rounds on him, yanking out of his grasp, and glares up at him with such hatred in her amber eyes that Hubert almost expects the captain to drop dead on the sand. "Your speaking privileges have been revoked. Be quiet."

"Now, now, that's hardly - "

"SHUT UP!"

" - fair," he finishes, with a sigh. "Honestly... when will you stop acting like this? It's been almost a year that I've known you and you're still treating me like you want to murder me in cold blood."

"When will I stop? As soon as I can conceive a way painful enough to kill you. That is when I will stop."

Pascal lets out a low whistle. "Man, my big sister must be pretty mad right now..."

Hubert tries not to chuckle - he tries as hard as he can - but the sound sneaks out anyway, and Fourier stops glaring at Malik long enough to shift her attention to him. "Just what do you find so funny about this, Hubert?" she asks, arching one pale eyebrow. "You have been a victim of my sister's carelessness for several days, and yet you seem happy to have been stranded with her. I fail to see how you can find any part of this entire scenario amusing in any way."

Malik lifts a hand to his chin, the corners of his mouth turned up in a slight smile as he studies the lieutenant. "Since when do you laugh, anyway?"

"I have always laughed. Just not around you." Hubert adjusts his glasses, clearing his throat. "Furthermore, it isn't as if Pascal and I have spent the entirety of our time here in misery. We had food and water, and plenty of things to do to pass the time - "

Pascal chimes in with an enthusiastic nod of her head, her voice full of cheer. "We went on an adventure!"

" - and, yes, we traveled to the central island and thoroughly investigated the Amarcian ruins." At this remark both of Fourier's eyebrows rise, and even Malik looks surprised. "We have much to report," he continues, "so I feel it would be best for us to return to Yu Liberte and speak to Mr. Paradine. If there are other concerns, they can be addressed at a later time."

"Hmm." Malik leans forward, his smile growing just a little wider. "I think I see what's going on here."

"N - nothing is going on."

"And that's why the two of you are holding hands?"

"Captain..." Pascal looks uncomfortable, but she doesn't drop Hubert's hand, and he doesn't make any effort to release hers, either. "Look, Hu's right... we can talk about this stuff later. Right now I really just wanna get back to solid ground and eat a huge meal... and like, take a hot bath or something."

"Pascal just said she wanted to bathe." Malik shakes his head, exchanging a meaningful glance with Fourier. "Something must have happened."

"Aw, come on!"

"As I said, we can discuss these - things - " Hubert clears his throat. " - later. I am anxious to return to Strahta. If we could please be on our way..."

"Fine," Fourier sighs, tossing her hair over one shoulder, and frowns as she looks from Hubert to Pascal. "I suppose I was ordered to return you to safety as quickly as possible. Mr. Paradine asked that you both use the rest of the day to recuperate, and report to him immediately tomorrow morning, but he certainly didn't sound happy about the whole thing." She reaches out to tap her sister on the forehead with one finger. "You had better start preparing your apology now, Pascal. Endangering the life of a member of the military is one thing, but doing it multiple times - "

"Fourier." Malik interrupts before Hubert can, placing a hand on the older Amarcian's shoulder. "Remember. Be grateful."

"Don't touch me, you oaf!" she shrieks, and smacks his hand away, turning on her heel and storming off in the direction of the small aircraft that sits on the shoreline. Malik shrugs at Hubert and Pascal laughs, and then the three of them follow her. Before he climbs inside the ship, Hubert pausing, turning to look over his shoulder at the island - at the broken Amarcian ship that sits on the edge of the trees, at the charred remains of wood where they'd made their campfire, and at the spot on the shore where he'd heard Pascal confess her feelings for him -

"We'll come back." He hears the Amarcian's voice in his ear and turns back, seeing her leaning out of the ship, one gloved hand extended as if to reach for his. She smiles brightly at him, then shifts her attention to the scenery that he'd been looking at. "We'll definitely come back, even if it's just so we can repair the ship... or so we can visit this place again. It's got a lot of important memories attached to it now, y'know?"

"I would like that," he remarks, and lifts one hand to press it gently atop hers. "We will return in due time. I will do everything in my power to make it so."

"Then it's a promise!" she cheers, and abruptly yanks him into the ship, and when they collapse together on the floor, a tangle of arms and legs, all she does is laugh. He sputters and sends glares in Malik's direction as the older man starts to laugh as well, and Fourier makes a loud noise of disgust as she climbs into the cockpit and turns on the engine, but it's hard for Hubert to hide the fact that he is happier than he has ever been before in his twenty years alive.