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7

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After spending yet another day working on the hole in the Pearl's hull, the opening had managed to become even bigger thanks to the numbskull crew members Jack had to work with. They'd have to stay anchored at the island for another day at least. And that happened to be one more day that Jack wished he didn't have to stay for.

Late at night Nicole snuck off of the ship again, making sure not to cause any fuss with the gangplank this time. She wallowed through the woods, her shadow in the glow of the moonlight following eagerly behind her. At last she reached the familiar little hut and approached its doorway. She knocked ordinarily on the door and in a toned down voice called, "Akimbo?"

Akimbo opened the door, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He regarded her with the same menacing look he always usually held.

"Oh, did I wake you? I'm sorry."

Akimbo grunted. "It's okay."

Nicole extended her hand and took Akimbo's in hers. "Come for a walk with me," She said and tugged him forward.

Nicole let go of his hand and he came out of the cabin and shut the door behind him. He didn't know why he was doing this. He had been fishing all day and was extremely tired. He should have declined because he needed rest. But he hadn't and now he was walking around the island with this strange girl. A mischievous smile came upon Nicole's face. "Guess what Jack said about you."

Akimbo frowned. "What."

"He said that you're an awful, terrible beast and I shouldn't mess with you." Nicole giggled and Akimbo began to laugh. "Said he can't even stand mentioning your name!" She let out a roar of laughter.

Akimbo laughed again. "Well, the feeling's mutual then."

They shared a few more laughs, then all the laughter died down and there was silence. They reached the path which led up the mountain and began to ascend its length. Reaching the top of the mountain, they stopped and stood. Nicole walked forward, leaving Akimbo behind. She walked towards the clearing of the mountain where the hideous flies had once spread their message but now were nowhere in sight. She looked out at the horizon, as Akimbo had on that day, and gasped at its beauty. The moon was nearly full and was simply breathtaking, holding a magnificent aura of colors that could not even begin to be described.

"Look at it... it's gorgeous," Nicole admired.

Akimbo grunted and began forward. He stopped next to Nicole and stood, staring out at the night sky.

Nicole continued to look at the moon and horizon. "It's sort of unbelievable that something so stunning can actually exist." She looked over at Akimbo and saw he was not looking out at the sky, but in a different direction. She looked up at his eyes and placed a hand on his cheek tenderly. She realized that he had been studying her rather than the wonders of nature. Her hand continued to touch his face. They were both holding their gaze upon eachother.

She held her touch like that for a moment longer, then began to slowly pull his face to hers. There was no resistance, he let himself be drawn in willingly. Their eyes on one another, their faces stood only inches apart. Slowly, their lips came together and melted mutually as one. It was a shared feeling like no other. She placed her other hand at the nape of his neck and there they stood, bonded, enthralled in passion atop the mountain under the glow of the moonlight.

At the exact moment their lips met, Jack sprung up from the covers of his bed on the Black Pearl, recovering from his nightmare. The was no doubt about it, the dream was beginning to become a reoccurrence once more.

It had begun.