Missy awoke slowly, her eyelids flickering as she grew adjusted to the morning light. She groaned and stretched, letting out a huge yawn.
"Morning sleepy," said a voice from next to her. Missy flipped over onto her side and opened her eyes. She smiled as Richard leaned forwards and planted a soft kiss upon her lips. He was sitting up in bed, writing in his small green journal as he did every morning. He slowly closed it and lay down to face her, propping up his head with his arm.
"Morning," she replied groggily, moving forward and kissing his cheek gently and moving her hand up to ruffle his dark hair.
He was perfect, she thought. Staring into his dark eyes that penetrated her own. She smiled again and nuzzled her face into his neck, kissing it softly.
Missy felt his hand upon her chin as he lifted her face until it met with his own. Their lips met tenderly.
They were disturbed however by a voice calling Richards name from outside the tent.
Richard pulled away and sighed. "Duty calls," he said reluctantly, pulling on his boots.
"Oh do you have to?" said Missy wrapping her arms around him from behind, her hands lingering on his bare chest. "Pretend you're sick," she pleaded.
"I wish I could," he replied, turning his head, kissing her temple, then getting to his feet. He pulled on a grey shirt and started doing up the buttons.
"I'm sure I won't be long" said Richard, noticing Missy's rather despondent face, and leaving the tent.
Missy sighed and lay back on the bed, placing a hand to her forehead where Richard had kissed her. What a difference three years had made, she thought. She remembered the day when she had kneeled in the jungle, cut and bruised and Richard had patched up the wound on her temple.
She smiled and sighed to herself, thinking of how different things were now.
Slowly stretching her arms out in front of her. She sat up then got to her feet, grabbing some clothes and a towel and made her way out of the tent.
The moment she stepped out, she smelt the salty air and felt the wind whip her loose hair across her face.
It had been almost a month since they had relocated here to the beach. She had found the fresh air very calming, more so than the humid jungle. They had moved, many, many times since her first arrival, Richard more often than not leading them.
Missy walked down to the water and paddled her toes in it to get used to the cold. She turned and saw many of the familiar faces she knew dotted around the site.
Life with these people had grown easier with time and many of them she now regarded as her close friends. Her relationship with Richard had made it clear to them that she wasn't sent to infiltrate their camp as she was first accused of doing.
She loved him. She always had, since that first evening they had sat together on the outskirts of the camp. But it had been the island's test that had made her realise for certain what she'd truly wanted.
Missy bathed in the waves for several minutes before making her way out of the water. Looking up she saw Richard stood on the shore, holding her towel stretched out in his arms.
He smiled as she approached. Missy walked forwards and allowed him to wrap the towel around her.
"Thanks," she smiled. "Been busy?"
"No, not really, just found out some information of one of the new Dharma recruits." Richard replied.
"Oh, anything special," Missy asked bending forwards to dry her legs.
Richard paused. Missy looked up at him and waited for a response. "What? What's wrong?" she asked.
Richard stared off into the ocean, his eyes flickering as he did so.
"I'm going to have to leave...for a few days..."
Missy knew at once what he meant. "B-But you can't," she replied quickly.
Richard looked down at his feet. "I have to, you know I do. I wish I didn't have to but..."
"But it's not your choice is it?" Missy cut in.
Missy knew that Richard needed to travel off the island, he had put it off for three years now, since she had been there. The first time she'd begged him not to go but now she knew that he couldn't send anyone else this time.
Richard turned and gazed at her "It will only be for a few days. Four tops," he said reaching for her hand and entwining it within his own.
Missy, her head bowed, nodded, knowing there was nothing she could do.
Richard with his free hand stroked her face gently and Missy looked up. She saw sadness in his eyes.
"This will be the first time we've been apart since..."
"Since we met," said Richard finishing the sentence for her.
Missy grinned. "Since you met me actually, I'd already met you by then," she teased.
Richard raised his eyebrows. "I'm not including future encounters," he said smiling. "It was exactly three years today though, wasn't it?"
Missy nodded. "Three years today."
They stood in silence for several moments, contemplating their time spent together.
"When do you leave?" Missy asked after a while.
Richard sighed. "This afternoon." He paused. "But 'I'll be back on Thursday hopefully."
Missy gave a weak smile, and grasped her towel tightly around her. "I should go back and change," she said gesturing towards their tent.
Richard nodded as Missy turned away, her eyes filling up with tears.
At three o'clock, Missy and Richard stood together at the edge of their camp.
Missy had helped him pack several items for the journey but neither had said much to each other for the past few hours.
"Bring me back an Apollo bar, OK?" Missy said smiling.
Richard laughed. "OK, I can do that. Anything else?"
"Nope, nothing," said Missy shaking her head.
She knew he would only be gone for a few days but it broke her heart to see him leave her, even for a moment.
A silent tear fell from Missy's cheek.
"Don't cry," said Richard warmly, wiping away the tear "I got you something."
Richard moved his hand carefully to his pocket and pulled out a small red flower. The same type as he'd given her three years ago and placed it into her hand.
Missy smiled and threw herself on Richard, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She felt him move his strong arms around her waist and bury his face into her long blonde hair.
"I love you," he whispered softly.
"I love you too," Missy replied.
They kissed lovingly for several moments before Richard pulled away, turned and walked off across the long expanse of beach.
Missy looked down at the red flower smiling, before looking back up to the figure of Richard, who glanced back and waved, before disappearing around the corner and out of sight, tears glinting in his eyes.