Hi guys! This is a really long chapter but I hope you enjoy it :)

"This is great!" Luke announced as he could finally view the beach.

...

Katia had told them all the information she knew about the corporation before returning to Dropstone the previous day. The Professor had expected half of what she said and only sighed because his assumptions were correct.

The Family was a part of this new organisation. But what was unclear to the Professor was who was leading them. He had tried to deduce it but there were simply not enough clues.

Seeing the anxious mood fill the apartment, Luke had suggested they take a relaxing overnight trip to the beach.

Flora squealed with excitement as she also saw the view. She had only ever been to the beach one other time and she had absolutely loved it. As they felt the fresh sea breeze blow past them, their faces had become so relaxed. Luke felt a sense of success to his plans.

"Let's setup a spot" the Professor proclaimed as they walked onto the sandy shores.

Finding a clearing in the sand, they had set up their own spot. They had a multicoloured beach umbrella that covered their fold out chairs and other items from the sun. Despite being at the beach, their spot felt quite cosy with everything fitting under the shade of the umbrella.

The whole time Flora had been wearing a purple towel around herself. With all the people around, she was too embarrassed to reveal her bathing suit.

"The water looks great!" Luke reported whilst shading his eyes from the sun with his hand.

"Before you go, put some sun block on" the Professor reminded seeing how eager the boy was to go ahead.

Once Luke had poorly put on his sun block, he raced down to the shore and entered the water without hesitation. The coolness of sea made Luke feel refreshed and he waved his arms at the other three still left on the sand.

Clive laughed seeing Luke act so childish. Luke was normally composed and serious like the Professor, but Clive thought it was good that he showed a carefree attitude once in a while.

Seeing Luke having so much fun in the water also tempted Flora to rush in, but she was still insecure about her attire.

"Aren't you going in?" the Professor asked, breaking Flora's thought pattern.

"Um...well... I still have to put on my sun block!" Flora explained.

She turned around and sat down on the beach rug laid out. Still covered by the towel, Flora began applying the sleek sun block on to her skin. She was able to reach everywhere except for her back which was slightly exposed.

Clive, who saw Flora struggling to reach, went up to her and teased "Shall I apply it for you?"

Flora's face immediately went a bright red. "It's alright. I can manage!" she stuttered.

Eager to get away from him, Flora stood up and bravely removed the towel that was wrapped around her body. She made her way down to the shore in a hurry so she could hide herself beneath the water.

Clive watched as she made her way down. Flora was wearing a one piece red polka dot bathing suit that had thin shoulder straps and ending with shorts.

(note: practically a 1950s bathing suit)

Clive covered his mouth to prevent a gasp coming out; instead his cheeks were reddening. At that moment he was the very definition of stunned.

"Professor" he quietly said.

The Professor looked up at him after taking his eyes from the newspaper he had already begun to read.

"Do I have permission to join them?" he inquired.

"Why wouldn't you my boy?" the Professor responded.

Seeing Flora like that, Clive wasn't sure if he could contain his desire to hold her. Of course the Professor didn't know this and Clive had just asked for his own peace of mind. He coyly went and joined Flora and Luke who were already engaged in a water fight.

The Professor let out cheerful expression, delighted to see the three getting along so well. But the minute he continued reading the newspaper, his expression had reverted back to the serious one.

Flora was having so much fun with both Clive and Luke that she had tired herself out and decided to rest a bit on the sand. From where she was seated, she watched the two who were still playing in the water; seeing them right before her eyes made her worries for them disappear. Whilst she was being held captive at the casino, she knew they would come for her and this made her worry that something bad would happen to them. But now her worries had gone, being replaced by her gratefulness for having them in her life.

Clive and Luke who had momentarily stopped splashing each other, were now looking at Flora who was just smiling warmly at them.

"What is it?" Clive asked her curiously.

Flora only giggled and counted "three...two..."

Clive and Luke were puzzled by her but they noticed she was now staring behind them; it was too late for them to run. When Flora had said zero they were covered by a huge wave and swept away.

Flora's giggle easily became a laugh when she saw them completely drenched and dazed. From her seated position, she fell on her back to the sand and continued to laugh till she got teary.

Clive let out a smirk and slowly edged his way to Flora. She had only stopped laughing when Clive had reached her.

"Don't think you're going to get away with that" he told her. At that instant, Clive held onto Flora's wrist and headed for the water.

Despite Clive about to take revenge on her, she was distracted by his firm but yet gentle hold on her. Her heart beat began to increase and she found herself suddenly flustered. Flora snapped out of it only when she heard Clive beginning his own countdown.

"Three...two..." Clive counted with a grin.

"Wait Clive!" Flora squealed already anticipating the wave.

She had tried to escape but Clive had wrapped his arms across her chest preventing her. The wave had gone over them both and she found herself drenched and dazed as well. As Clive released her, Luke was now laughing from the sand. Deeming it a fair revenge, they burst into laughter, including the Professor who had watched from the shade of the umbrella.

After a while of continuous water fights, the three returned from the water and began to dry off.

"I'm tired" Luke said as he lay down sprawled on the sand.

"How about we have some ice cream?" Flora asked as she spotted a small ice cream stand nearby. "Just a second, I'll go get some".

Clive saw she was eager to leave and wandered if she really wanted ice cream that badly.

Just before Flora had left, she had been staring at Clive whilst he dried off. She noticed his handsome features like his magnificent sculpted face and his delicate yet defined collarbones. Her heart had begun to beat furiously and she held a hand to her cheek, feeling it becoming hot. She was experiencing the same irregular heart beat she had earlier and wondered what was causing it.

Reaching the ice cream stand she composed herself and ordered four chocolate ice creams. The man handed them to her one by one and she soon realised she wouldn't be able to carry them all.

"Um, just a minute" she told him as he was about to hand her the third ice cream.

She was trying to come up with a way to hold it when she got bumped from behind, dropping one of the ice creams which quickly melted in contact with the sand.

"Whoops I'm sorry darling" a suspicious looking man said almost sarcastically.

From the looks of it, he was accompanied by two other shady people.

"How about I buy you another one and you come and play with us in return?" the man asked as he licked his lips.

Flora knew that these people were creeps and just as she was about to decline their offer, Clive had appeared.

"No thanks. We'll just share" Clive answered placing his arm around Flora's shoulders and licking the ice cream in her hand. Flora jolted at Clive's display.

Without another word, Clive proceeded to giving the men a death glare that basically told them to get lost. Clive took the remaining two ice creams from the ice cream man and walked away with Flora.

"Jeez Flora! You simply can't be left alone" Clive muttered in concern.

Flora, who had taken his sentence the wrong way, shoved the ice cream she held in his mouth and stormed off.

"You can have it!" she raged.

"Flora wait!" Clive said in a muffled voice.

Flora heard him but she continued to storm off thinking she would look easy to him if she stopped.

...Look easy? Why was she worrying about that? Sure she thought Clive was awfully handsome and kind, but that was all. She had no deep feelings for him.

...Or did she?

Ever since she had embraced Clive in the hotel suite, she felt herself look differently at him. At the smallest interactions her heart would begin to pound uncontrollably.

But still, Flora hated that Clive thought of her as a naive child. Sure she had lived in a town filled with robots most of her life, but that had been five years ago!

"Oh your back" the Professor commented as he saw Flora return.

Clive soon came after her, handing the Professor and Luke and ice cream each.

"I'm afraid I have tired myself out. Would it be okay if we head to the hotel now?" Flora had asked.

The Professor agreed since the sun was beginning to set. She quickly helped pack their things eager to reach the hotel to isolate herself in her own room.

Upon arriving, they were immediately shown to their designated suites. Without a word, Flora stepped into her room and shut the door. Falling face first on the bed, she just lay there, rather frustrated. She knew how stubborn she was acting, but she couldn't let Clive's comment slide. She wasn't a little girl who couldn't handle herself! Sighing, she got up and dressed herself for dinner.

The hotels dining was the finest; fresh seafood straight from the shore. Despite how delicious it all looked, Flora simply had no appetite.

"I think I'll take a stroll on the beach" Flora said with a sigh, returning her plate to the stack and walking out of dining room.

The Professor and Luke glanced at each other, wondering why Flora looked so drained.

Clive sat their silently, arguing with himself about whether he should go after her. She probably wouldn't want to see him but he was anxious because she had gone off on her own. Flora's kidnapping had made Clive extra protective of her; he didn't want Flora to disappear again.

Placing his palms on the table and pushing himself up, Clive excused himself and hurried to find Flora.

At the beaches shores...

Flora had made it quite a distance along the shore, kicking the sand beneath her boots as she walked. She stopped and stood still to admire the glimmering moon hoping it would help clear her mind. The moon was magnificently shining in the starry sky and its shimmering reflection on the water's surface was so beautiful. Staring at it for a while had helped her decide that she was going to apologize to him.

"How romantic" she had whispered taking one last look at it in the sky before moving on.

To her shock there was a response.

"Indeed" Clive said as Flora turned around. "Shall we enjoy it together?"

Clive held out his hand the same way he did at the ball and Flora smiled taking it.

They walked along the shore in silence. Flora didn't know when to speak up.

"You know..." they had said at the same time.

"Ah, you first" Clive said looking down to cover up his slightly red tinted cheeks.

"Um" Flora began. "I want to apologise for earlier. I was being headstrong and I got angry at you for no good reason"

Clive shook his head and replied "No. I had offended you and I should be apologising"

Flora looked up into Clive's deep brown eyes. Within them she really could see his concern for her and now knew that he said what he did out of worry.

Clive who had caught her gaze was also looking at Flora; her big brown eyes shimmering just like the water.

Flora very soon realised their faces were quite close. She wanted to remove her from eyes from him but she couldn't. He leaned in and she closed her eyes.

Clive was just about to kiss her when he swiftly pulled away.

"Right! We should be heading back" he sputtered as he turned around.

Flora opened her eyes, a lingering blush on her cheeks. Although she hadn't been kissed by Clive, Flora in that moment knew she had fallen in love with him.

The two walked back to the hotel, Clive in front and Flora behind. Clive was scratching the back of his head and nervously turned around to check on Flora.

She walked gracefully behind him like a princess; her beautiful brown locks gently moving with the sea breeze and her figure being exposed in the moonlight.

Clive quickly turned back around and walked even more nervously. He escorted her to her room before heading to his own.

When he entered, the Professor and Luke had already gone to sleep. He crept up to his bed and lay down.

"That was close. Way too close..." Clive thought as he brought the blanket up over his body and fell asleep.

The next day Flora was as bright and alive as she could ever be. The Professor smiled seeing her in a good mood again. The four of them sat in the car and the Professor started the engine and drove them back to London. Now Flora had accepted her feelings, she wondered how she could make Clive fall for her.

Unbeknownst to the innocent Flora who hadn't realised, Clive already had feelings for her that were growing continuously day by day.

You might have noticed that I portrayed Luke in his childish state. Considering Luke is about 16-17 in this story I was wondering whether I should show a manly side to him as well? Haha I don't know! Please review for me and I will continue to updateASAP!