Trrmo77: Yes I was able to get some sleep but these late night postings are starting to wear me out a little. My computer is back to working normally again, thank heaven's, and I'll be updating later tomorrow.

chapter thirteen

"and so after that," she said. "you just couldn't stop?"

Nemo shook his head and kept his arm around her waist. They'd sat on the bed most of the night, huddled together talking about her past and Nemo's. including his dreadful experience on Rura Penthe. "no. "

"I can't say as I blame you." she said. "but, do you think, you could ever stop bombing?"

Nemo's eyes darkened and for a moment she thought he was going to be angry with her. but something in her eyes made him soften, "I don't know."

She smiled, "I'll settle for an 'I'll try' for now."

"I'll try." He glanced at the clock on his wall. "you should get to bed now. We've been sitting here talking most of the night and if your uncle knew I have no doubt he'd give me an earful."

She stood up and turned to look down on him, "indeed he would."

"do you mind if we put off telling him? this all too sudden, even for me."

she nodded, "that might be best. Give him a chance to see you as I see you."

he shook his head, "I still don't know what you see in me." he rubbed her ring finger. "and I daresay, Mr. land would also need some time to adjust over your recent dismissal of him."

she nodded sadly, "yes, he will."

"how would you like to walk on some dry land again?" he asked.

She frowned, "I don't know. Are there cannibals?"

"no."

she smiled, "then I'd love to."

"good." He said. "there's an island a few hours away. We can stop off there."

"marvelous." She said. "I better be going."

He nodded, "goodnight."

"goodnight."

She walked out of Nemo's cabin and fortunately no one was around. When she got to her cabin, Ned was still sound asleep. She didn't realize how tired she was until she laid down on her bed and fell asleep fully clothed.

The few hours she managed to sleep, felt like seconds. All too soon she heard Ned groaning. "what the-

"watch it." she yawned.

"eh," he moaned. "I've heard you before."

She sat up and rubbed her hair. "maybe." She groaned. "it's too early."

He peered over the curtain and shook his head, "you do look a mess."

"I know."

"did you get much sleep?"

"no."

he frowned. "you fell asleep in your clothes."

She merely nodded instead of answering and walked over to the mirror and began pulling her strands of hair into some sort of order. She yelped when she hit a particularly bad snarl.

"you should cut it a little." Ned suggested. "it'd be way easier for you."

she hesitated and glanced into the mirror and began experimenting with the various lengths. "you know," she said. "I think you're right."

Half hour later she was combing her shoulder length hair. Ned was shaking his head, "I didn't mean that short."

"nonsense." She said standing up. "women in the united states cut their hair and sell it."

"you didn't sell it!" he said.

She shot back, "it was your suggestion!"

"I meant to trim it a few inches and not a foot and a half!"

"well, you must admit it looks great." She said brushing her hair one last time."

Ned nodded, "yeah, all right. It looks better than the long hair."

She smiled, "I think I'll wear my hair this length forever."

"ha, ha." He said. "and have the world talk about how scandalous it is."

"maybe," she said. "it looks better. Come on, I bet breakfast is ready."

Ned made a face, "don't say that word."

"it's your fault for drinking too much!"

he stared deeply into her eyes, "I had my reasons."

"Ned."

Her uncle knocked on the door, "Nachelle? Ned?"

"coming." She said opening the door.

her uncle's eyes widened. "Nachelle!"

"isn't it great?"

he scowled at Ned, "did you have a hand in this?"

"he did what I asked him, it's a little crooked but I'm satisfied."

"Nachelle, this is…this is…I don't know what to say."

She laughed, "say nothing and take me in for breakfast."

"well, aren't you happy this morning."

She smiled, "very. Morning Conseil."

He made a face, "good morning." His eyes narrowed. "like the hair."

She laughed at her uncle and Ned's face. "thank you Conseil. Uncle and Ned are quite perturbed by it."

"It's a little odd….but it makes your face more….striking."

"that's the nicest compliment of the day," she said latching onto his arm. "you may escort me in for breakfast."

He glanced at Ned, "did she get into your stuff?"

"don't blame me." Ned held up his hands, "she woke up in this crazy mood."

She laughed as they walked through the breakfast room to their seats. Nemo came through the door.

"good morning everyone." He said, sounding a little more cheerful than his typical self. "we're going ashore on an uncharted island and," his voice died and she looked up to see him studying her face. "you cut your hair."

She nodded, "yes, like it?"

Everyone stared at her; not sure that she'd actually asked that outrageous question to Nemo. But he surprised them all by answering her.

"yes, very attractive."

"thank you."

he turned back to everyone. "We're nearing an island known as henderson's island. It was discovered back in the 1600's but has since then been abandoned for unknown reasons. The men have some cleaning to do aboard the ship." He turned to the professor. "would you care to go ashore?"

"he'd love to!" Nachelle said.

"Nachelle," her uncle said.

"it wouldn't be like you to turn down an opportunity to discover an uncharted island." She said. "imagine all the unknown specimens. This would be a terrific opportunity to do something no one else has ever done before."

Her uncle sighed and she saw that familiar look in his eyes. "all right. But after breakfast."

"good." Nemo said. "I'll accompany you."

"may Conseil and I come too?" she asked.

"by all means." He turned to Ned. "how about you Mr. land?"

he frowned, "any cannibals on this island?"

"no, it was inhabited but they died off due to a lack of fresh water supply."

"interesting." Her uncle said.

"most," Conseil said. "what are the flora and fauna like out there?"

"the only mammals we've encountered are rats." Nemo said. "the flora is more your department than mine. Now, less chatter and the sooner we'll be able to go."

Half an hour later Nemo was chuckling as he held her arm as she stood in the middle of the beach with the ground going up and down.

"this is weird." She said.

"you've been at sea for a while." He said. "it'll stop in a moment." He glanced at her uncle and Conseil. "why don't you two take off? We'll find you."

her uncle shook his head, "I'd rather we all stay together."

Nachelle cleared her throat, "I'll skip this expedition and spend my time on the beach."

"preposterous. you can't stay here alone."

"I'll stay." Nemo said. "besides, if I'm needed back on the boat it'll be much easier for them to find me on the beach instead scouting in the terrain and getting lost. You two are more than capable of finding your way back to the beach, my men aren't."

"hey professor." Conseil called. "there's specimen of Geniostoma hendersonense, Nesoluma st.-johnianumhere."

Her uncle sighed, "all right. We'll check back in two hours."

She shook her head, "don't bother, I'll probably be back on the ship."

"all right." He said. "I'm coming Conseil."

"we'll go get you around four?" Nemo said. "is that enough time?"

"more than enough." Her uncle hugged her. "don't vex Nemo."

She shook her head and smiled. "don't worry. I won't."

She walked down the beach while Nemo checked, making sure they were out of sight. Nachelle removed her shoes and buried her toes in the sand. She rolled her pants up to her knees as Nemo came trotting back over to her.

"they're gone." He said wrapping an arm around her waist and gestured towards the long stretch of beach. "shall we?"

"lets." She said wrapping an arm around his waist.

"you know…you've got a interesting face."

"thank you, I think. You know, I love your voice?"

"indeed?"

she nodded, "the way you raise your 'E's and the sharp way you say your 'A's. the way your mouth hangs open slightly after someone asks you a question."

"you've got a big mouth."

She stopped and planted her hands on her hips. "big enough to drive you insane in an hour!"

He touched her lips with a finger, "I'll have to make some measurements for a cork."

She shook her head, "funny."

He leaned forward, "I think I'll take those measurements now."

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her. she smiled as sheer contentment washed over her. she knew it was wrong, silly, and immature to continue hiding their relationship, but she was to much in love to care.

"mmhhmm," Nemo said breaking the kiss. "I was waiting for that since I saw you this morning."

She smiled, "I know. Why else do you think I concocted excuses to get some time alone with you?"

He chuckled, "you are completely readable."

She laughed and continued walking along the sand, her head on his shoulder. "this is nice. Just walking along like this."

"it is indeed."

"Nemo," she asked. "would you ever want children?"

he stopped for a moment; pondering the question. "yes," he said slowly. "but I'm almost 50, so I wouldn't count on being able to have more than one child with me."

she smiled, "I don't mind."

"why talk about children now?" he asked. "I haven't even mentioned marriage yet."

"but you were going to in the near future." She said.

"possibly." He said. "tell me this….if I'd asked you today…what would you say?"

What do you think she'd say? Don't forget to review!