Mom had been living in Doppler's house for the last few months. We went back there but Doctor stayed with the captain as they treat her hounds. They definitely have something going on... I'm happy...for both...

We went straight there after I gave my report of the trip and explained that John Silver "mysteriously disappeared after stealing a long boat" and explained that I was able to retrieve some of the treasure to rebuild the inn. We sat down at the living room. She was in front of me...it has been so much time...I came back a different person because of so many reasons...

I know that if I tell her about Silver she might get mad or disappointed but... I love him... I'm gonna hide it for now...

"So what is this pink thing?" She asked as she petted Morph.

"It's Morph! It was given to me." I say

"By whom?"

"A friend on the ship."

"Weren't just pirates there?"

"One was a better person that the group he was associated with... But well let's talk about something else mom" I say as I reach into my pocket and put on the table the treasure given to me by Silver.

"This was in Treasure planet?" She says like she can't believe it even though it's so little.

"The whole planet blew up, it was bigger than Montressor mom, the treasure... this was also given by that friend"

"Honey, was that ring also given to you by that "friend" of yours?" I look at my left hand the ring is in "that" finger I hid my hand away

"It was him just being nice..." I say in a small voice

"Did you like him?" I don't respond just look down "Did HE like you?"

"Mom, I'm never going to see him again... it was a farewell gift I just choose to wear it in this finger so I wouldn't lose it... I'm gonna get a chain and put it around my neck" Those were 3 things I said and only one was a lie...

Mom isn't stupid but it's not like Silver is coming back to me even if he wanted he wouldn't be able... I know he said he wanted to be worthy of me... what can that mean?

"The heart heals... trust me Grace..." She holds my hand "And he must in least have feelings for you..."

"Mom I don't want to talk about it... I-I I think we should start thinking of the inn, I also brought some help!"

"What?"

"This nice robot named Ben! And once the inn is rebuild we can hire more people!"

"You also spoke about a certain... academy?"

"The captain is writing a letter of recommendation, I may become a captain one day..." I smile

"Is that what you want?"

"After being on that ship... I can't believe I just never knew what I wanted till I tried that... I love it!"

"I'm happy for you"

We hear the front door open "SARAH? JIM?" We hear Doppler call we go to the front door

He's there with the captain, she's now wearing a casual blouse and pants "Captain!" I say "This is my mother Sarah Hawkins"

"Nice to meet you captain..."

"Just call me Amelia, it's nice to meet the mother of this great girl who saved us all from certain death"

I blush "She did?"

"Ah Sarah trust me, it's kinda of dangerous but she did do an amazing job"

"I'm gonna write a letter of recommendation for her to attend the academy, I can help fill out the form for you application"

"Thank you ma'am" I say

The next months were crazy, we stayed at Doopler's still but he also spend most of the nights with Amelia, he's so happy and she's also happy I can tell it every time she comes here.

Me and mom meet a contractor, we decided to add 2 more floors to the original 2, the first would be the dinner and reception, the other 2 rooms for the clients and the last one would be for us, 4 rooms 1 for me, 1 for mom and 2 for visits.

Me and Amelia started feeling applications "I'm gonna send the letter next week after we've send these today" She says this one afternoon while we're alone because mom is dealing with the construction stuff and Doppler is at work. And since she's on medical leave she's helping me.

"Thank you ma'am."

"Miss Hawkins I wanted to apologize"

"Why?"

"Because of what I said to you about that block-I mean about Silver" A sharp pain in my heart comes.

"It's okay ma'am I shouldn't have involved with him."

"No you shouldn't but...you fell for him and I can't blame you for your decisions and he seemed to care for you"

"Captain I was stupid, and I'm still stupid now cause I still love him..." I look down

"Miss Hawkins after what happened in the Treasure planet I can possibly say with certainty that he does have feelings for you. He looked at you the same way I look at Delbert."

"You really think so?"

"He gave you that ring and the treasure didn't he?"

"How did you..."

"I'm not stupid miss Hawkins. But regardless... I don't think you too should be together for obvious reasons, there's the 10 year gap, the species gap and also the fact that he's criminal"

"What-What if he changed?"

"Well if changed to a valuable member of society, I could ask the judge to re-think the charges or ease the sentence to community service"

"Like what?"

"Maybe teach or be a cook on a ship again for 2 or 3 years?"

"I wish he would change.."

"You think he can't?"

"I don't know... I just hope and that's stupid I know"

"It's not, based on what happened but I'll be honest I don't simpatize with him and as soon as I can I will bring him to the judge, I'm sorry"

"I understand"

After 3 weeks I discovered I was accepted to study in the academy and would have to present myself to the dorms in 2 months.

At this point it has been exactly 3 months since I said goodbye to Silver. I decided not to wear the ring in my finger till I'll see him again and wear it in a chain around my neck.

The inn is set to be finished by the time I enroll in the academy and in one year when I'm on break to be open since it takes time to get a food distributor and a license and staff.

I keep thinking about Silver... if he's thinking about me... what is he doing? He was the greatest thing to happen to me... I miss him so much.

I climb down the stairs to go get some water but stop myself as I hear Delbert and mom talking

"Delbert you need to tell what happened to her on that trip"

"Sarah..."

"She's better in a way, she came back a woman who doesn't get into trouble and is going towards a great future. But I also see sadness..."

"Sarah you need to understand that she would have told you by now what happened if she wanted..."

"Is that "friend" that gave her the ring?"

"uh..."

"Who is he and what happened between them"

"He was in charge of her,he made her work very hard on the ship everyday even though he knew she was a girl..."

"Did he took advantaged of her?"

"No, it was consensual Sarah and if any of that matters even though he was the pirate captain..."

"WHAT? The man was the leader of this whole mess, of the people who destroyed the inn"

"Sarah calm down, she's never seeing him again, and he really did care for Grace... He wanted her in more ways imaginable... I dare to say he loved her... When was the last time she let anyone call her Grace?"

"The man called her Grace?"

"Yes, and she seemed to like it, not even those hooligans she dated here have called or treated her like she deserved."

"I just wish she could get over it..."

"Give her time... she'll be going to school in just 2 months she'll find new boys, new friends and forget about him..."

"I hope so"

I doubt that Silver was the one... I may never date ever again... I love him...but the stress is so much that is messing up my body... I can't keep anything down and I'm late.

I need to relax myself and start concentrating on other things other than Silver.

What would have been like... if I went with him? He had a ring did he want to marry me?

Would we just get a ship and become pirate captains or would I just be the little toy wife thing? No... He wouldn't do that.

Would we have kids? Probably no... too dangerous.

I think mom would like him... he's nice and funny.

Was this how mom felt when dad... No, he isn't like that deadbeat, he left for other reasons and finished the ties and emended his mistakes...

That asshole just left a little girl and a woman with nothing...

Silver is better than that I know it...