Two days flew by.

Jim was surprised at how easy it was, being married to Vivian. He was fairly certain that traditional marriages were nothing like his union with Vivian. They spent the two days it took for her father and intended fiancé to arrive talking about themselves ; their lives before meeting each other, their families, everything- both deeply though provoking to completely random – they could possibly think of.

Vivian loved hearing about Jim's misadventures during his rebellious years – about skipping school to ride solar surfers, getting arrested for being caught. "You probably drove your poor mother up the wall!" Vivian laughed half way though day one. The couple was strolling through the market at Sarah's insistence.

"Go out and have some fun," Sarah had said, pushing Jim and Vivian out of the front door just after they had finished moving Vivian's things into Jim's room. "Get to know you wife." She winked at her son as the door closed.

Jim nodded in response to Vivian as she laughed. "Yeah," he started, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess I did."

Vivian swept in front of Jim, forcing him to stop walking. She fixed him with a playfully stern glare. "Well, shame on you James Hawkins!" She poked his chest with her index finger, emphasizing his first and last name as she said them.

Jim took hold of her hand, mimicking her glare. "Well, what about you, Miss Runaway?"

Vivian's glare softened as she looked up at Jim. "I'll have you know, Mr. Hawkins that I am not a run away. I…am an escape artist!" She made a grand gesture over her head with her free hand.

Jim laughed as he weaved his fingers through Vivian's and they continued to walk, hand in hand, through the open air portion of the market. Just off the docks, venders set up their stands, selling everything from food to clothes to bizarre novelty items from all over the Etherium. The couple spent the afternoon strolling through the market, entertaining each other with tales from the past mixed with miniature adventures at the more interesting booths.

As they walked, Jim finally managed to ask Vivian about her family. "I mean, I know you and your father don't exactly see…eye to eye, but…"

Vivian squeezed Jim's fingers lightly. "My father doesn't like anyone, especially if they get between him and something he wants. I guess that since I've run away and gotten married, I'm public enemy number one now."

Jim ducked his head slightly to whisper in her ear. "Well, if it helps, I still like you."

Vivian gazed up at Jim as they walked; she laughed lightly – a beautiful sound that Jim could listen to all day and never get bored with – before bumping his hip lightly with her own. "Thank you… anyway, my mother, she only married my father because her father arranged it. Then there are my sisters. Catherine and Charlotte are just what father could have asked for in a set of identical daughters. They do as they're told, complying like good little mindless drones; I mean, they didn't even learn to read because father thinks that women have no business with it. Thank God their husbands had enough sense to get them tutored!"

Jim steered them toward a small picnic table that was set up in the space between two food booths. They sat down, leaning back against the table; Jim released Vivian's hand and gently put his arm around her shoulders. He could tell that talking about her family was aggravating, so he was doing his best to comfort her. "What about your other sister?"

Vivian sighed. "Vanessa is my best friend; we're fraternal twins. She's older by a few minutes, and she has never let me forget it." Vivian gave a small laugh before continuing. "There was this one time, we were on one of father's ships, and we were fighting about who would get to help Chloe in the kitchen, and she put her hands on her hips and said, 'I was born first, so that means I'm more mature than you, so I get to help and you don't!'." Vivian laughed again, but it was a sad sound.

She fell silent, and Jim squeezed her shoulders gently. "You okay?"

Vivian looked back up at Jim. "Vanessa got married when we were both fourteen and…her husband…he doesn't like her talking to anyone. I haven't been allowed to see her since our last family gathering when I was sixteen. That's what that picture is from; the one Silver had. I didn't want to be there, and my mother had to hold me down for the photo."

Vivian's gaze fell to the ground again. "None of them really understand me; with their senses of propriety and duty as nobility. They always acted like I was broken just because I wanted to make my own life for myself."

Jim squeezed her shoulders lightly once again before reaching his right hand across and taking a hold of hers. Vivian's lips turned up slightly as Jim spoke. "You're not broken; you're perfect just the way you are. You're funny, smart, and incredibly kind hearted and…" He paused for a moment before squeezing her fingers lightly. "And I love you."

Vivian jumped slightly at his words, looking up into his eyes quickly. Jim smiled at her warmly. "You've helped me out a lot, you know? I mean, before I met you, there was just…something that wasn't right. And now…" He trailed off, his gaze falling to their hands, resting on his left thigh.

Vivian gave a breathy laugh. "I know exactly what you mean. All my life, I've really just wanted someone to understand me; who I really am. Flaws and all." She put her hand on Jim's cheek and he pulled his eyes up to meet hers, his gaze traveling slowly up to her face.

He laughed a little, a smirk coming across his face. "I definitely don't see any of those," he said, releasing Vivian's hand and bringing his up to gently take hold of her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "None at all."

Jim leaned in and kissed her…deeply…slowly. The world seemed to fade around them, but at the same time, their senses came alive. Vivian's lips were soft against his, her hand warm on his face. He wanted to just drink in her beautifully warm presence.

Vivian felt her cheeks warm as Jim pulled her closer, his left arm still around her shoulders. A faint smile came across her lips as her eyes drifted closed and she deepened the wonderful kiss.

A few moments later, Jim pulled back reluctantly, looking Vivian's face over, taking in her red cheeks, straight nose and high cheek bones. He gave her a small smile before kissing her forehead. "Let's head back," he said, unwrapping his arms from around her and standing before offering her his hand.

Vivian stared at his hand a moment before taking it. As they began walking back toward the Benbow Inn, the first color changes of sunset were beginning to paint the sky. They walked in a comfortable silence until they began passing the lake. Vivian squeezed Jim's fingers before pulling him to follow her to the lake's edge. "Where it all started," she said softly as they looked at their reflections in the water.

Jim pulled his gaze from Vivian's reflection to her actual face; she had a sad yet determined look in her eyes as she gazed out across the lake. She pulled her left hand from his grip and pulled off the ring that was on her middle finger. The crystals caught the light as she held the ring lightly between her thumbs and forefingers, turning it slightly as she examined it. Vivian closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she closed her right hand into a tight fist around the ring. "I…am a free woman now. I am free to love who I want…and to be loved… In return!" Vivian shouted her last words as she reared her hand back and then threw the ring as far away as she could.

She stood panting slightly as she watched the ring fall into the water in the middle of the small lake. Jim could see it glint slightly before falling into the darkness among the wreckage of Vivian's small hover boat. He moved to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her abdomen, hugging her lightly. Vivian wrapped her arms lightly around Jim's as a few tears fell from her eyes. She was free.

Jim kissed the top of her head lightly; he silently thanked whatever greater powers there were in the Etherium for letting Vivian- literally – crash into his life.

XD XD XD

The next day was rainy and Jim and Vivian spent the day working around inside the Inn. They helped Sarah with the cooking and serving guests; they changed out linens in the guest rooms and did laundry together.

Jim and Vivian were hardly apart the whole day, and they found thousands of things to talk about, even after having spent the whole day before talking. Lists of favorite things, dream adventures and journeys, happy memories from throughout their lives, and not so happy memories. They passed the day really getting to know each other, cheering each other up and most importantly enjoying each other's company.

The second day drew to a close; Jim had gone off to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face before bed. He noticed the rough stubble on his chin and creeping up his cheeks. He rubbed a hand along the lower portion of his face, trying to make a mental note to fix that before Vivian's father arrived the next day.

Jim walked down the hall back toward his room; his black sleep pants slung low on his narrow hips. He pushed the door open slightly to see Vivian lying on her back on the bed. Morph was swooping in at Vivian, licking her face and tickling her slightly. Vivian swatted at Morph playfully, laughed as the small blob chattered happily, finally receiving the attention he craved.

Vivian caught sight of Jim as she laughed. "Jim, quick, save me!"

Jim laughed slightly as he leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms lightly over his bare chest. He watched Vivian as she continued to be 'attacked' by the pink blob. Her hair was loose, fanning out around her head on the bed. She wore a light blue night gown that fell just below her knees, her pale legs hanging off the bed. "I didn't hear a 'please' in there Mrs. Vivian."

Vivian laughed, pointing a finger at Jim. "Go get him Morph! Not me, him!"

Morph chattered before flying over to Jim, 'attacking' him; Morph licked Jim's face, swooping around in a grand fashion as he did so. "Hey Morph, cut it out! Vivian, quick, save me!"

Vivian laughed as she climbed under the comforter of the small bed she and Jim shared. "I didn't hear a 'please' Mr. Hawkins"

Jim gave her a playful scowl as she pulled the comforter up to her neck and pretended to go to sleep. Jim managed to shoo away Morph, who flew out into the hall way. After closing the door and snapping out the light, the room was lit only by a small light on the bedside table. Jim walked over to the bed, his hands on his hips, looking at his wife. Vivian was playing opossum rather convincingly, with only a vague smile on her lips.

Jim wanted to ask her about her father; should he be worried about meeting him? And what about Lord Randall? Jim wanted to know if he would be able to handle things on his own, or if he would need back up. But seeing Vivian with that small smile on her face as she pretended to sleep, Jim decided against it. He didn't want to bring up a subject that was sure to upset her. He shook his head slightly as he reached out and turned off the bedside light. He walked about the foot of the bed, getting in on the other side.

Vivian snuggled close to Jim as he settled under the comforter, pressing her back against his chest. It was only their second night of sharing a room, but the couple had already found ways to arrange themselves comfortably. Jim made one last mental note to try and find a way for them to get a slightly larger bed. A little rolling room would be nice.

He threw his arm across Vivian's waist before allowing himself to drift off to sleep, trying his best to not worry about the next day.

I really hope you all liked this one. I really wanted to put a moment in where Vivian could really be freed before her father came around. She no longer fears him and she knows that she doesn't belong to him anymore; she been liberated, and I really wanted to get that point across.

Don't worry, Lords Randall and Alders will appear in the next chapter, and yes, they will be despicable pigs who have no respect for women (though we already knew that about them didn't we?)

So yeah, R&R and I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible…hopefully sometime during the day instead of in the middle of the night when I'm drunk from lack of sleep.

Oh, and final note, the major working song for this chapter was "The Only Exception" by Paramore. I know it doesn't really fit if you listen to the lyrics, but the music of it has a wonderful 'uncertainly falling in love' quality to me. I'm going all freaky music major now…need sleep.

R&R! I'll update soon!

Until next time! ~BBTM