Stronger Than Glass

Sequel to Cold as Glass

End of the Glass Trilogy

A Captain's Adventure

Chapter 13

I didn't know which way was up. I didn't know which way was down. Everything was dark. I was afraid to move, afraid to test my eyes, afraid to breath.

I didn't know if I was still in Sirius's arms or if I was free floating. I didn't know if I was in water, or if I was in the air.

For a moment, I thought I heard cannons firing and a flute being played. It was playing a merry tune which one would only play in victory. I heard a voice break through this muddled noise," Strike your colors, you blooming cockroaches!"

Another voice washed over it, and eerily mused," Dead men tell no tales."

Everything washed out into an eerie silence. Then I heard what sounded like my mother washing the clothes…something like water being gently sloshed about. It sounded just like when I swam under water, and the tide pulled back and forth above me.

"Beaux…"I heard a deep voice trail off, making me wish to open my eyes, take in a breath, and move about.

"Beaux…"The voice began lighter and more distant, as if I was moving away from it. I then forced myself to take in a breath, only to find myself starting to choke as water invaded my lungs, throat, nostrils, and mouth.

My eyes flew open with my inability to breathe, and my hands flew to my throat. But one of my hands was caught in something, so I only had one hand to aid me in my relief. And the rolled up map was still hanging off of my chest, from the rope I had used to wrap it around my body.

There I found myself lying across the beach, just barely clinging to the soggy sand, while the waves kept completely covering me over and over again.

I snapped up, gasping and choking, feeling the water coming out of each one of my exposed holes upon my face. I was completely soaked to the bone, my hair clung to the back of my neck, and hat was no longer upon my head.

My eyes wildly darted about for the source of the voice and for my husband.

"Beaux…" A distinct voice coughed loudly, making me look over to my side. There I found my husband, lying across the beach, one hand outstretched grabbing onto my wrist and another holding onto…my hat. Sirius looked beyond exhausted, panting heavily, despite the fact he was a foot above me and face was well above where the shore line was.

For a moment, all I could do was stare at him, before I finally saw his eyes drift over into my direction.

Sirius then heaved a loud breath, reaching over and pushing the hat down in a lopsided manner upon the top of my head. And in an exhausted and slightly frustrated tone," Here is that damn hat of yours."

Sirius's arm went back to its old spot upon the ground, allowing him to take another loud and tired breath.

I couldn't help but break out in a wide, childish, smile at the man who lay next to me. In the process of making sure I would be alright, he kept a hand upon my hat…the hat he knew I loved so.

With such exuberance I shouldn't have been able to gather after such an endeavor, I threw myself over my husband's body, and ignored the fake yelp he made to me about me being too heavy. I pushed my lips against his, held the sides of his face, and used every bit of energy I had to show my love for Sirius.

As soon as our lips broke, Sirius lazily smiled, still not bothering to move his sluggish body. "Come, come, now. We're certainly not the only people on this beach, and I'm certainly too sore to enjoy this moment."

I couldn't help but giggle at his thoughts, but I obediently crawled off of him, and began helping my husband up from the sand. Yet as the two of us glanced in the opposite direction, we found our crew and what remained of our ship all scattered about us, each coughing and drenched.

I guess I was so engrossed with my love and the fact he was alive, that I hadn't notice all of the people struggling about us.

Sirius wrapped his arm around my waist, as the two of us sat upon the ground, grasping at one another to keep our bodies up straight. He rested his chin upon my head, and cooed," See, I told you, I wouldn't let go. Not ever again. Never ever."