Melody paused before Jim's doorway. She had passed a grandfather clock on her way there and it had been much later than she had thought. Jim might have already fallen asleep.

She reached for the door anyway.

With practiced ease, Melody swung the door open in just the right way to avoid any creaking. Silently she padded into his room, fully ready to find him asleep.

But of course, he wasn't. Jim sat at the end of the bed, fidgeting with his compass restlessly. The only illumination in the room came from the silvery rays of moonlight drifting in through the open window.

Melody stood before him.

"Can't sleep?" She asked.

Jim startled with a gasp. Melody couldn't hide her smug smile, for once it was her surprising him. She decided she liked it.

At her mischievous expression, he shook his head fondly and pocketed the compass.

"I guess I'm not the only one." He replied as she sat beside him on the bed.

She hugged him from the side, taking a moment to just feel his warmth beside her. Automatically, Jim wrapped his arm around her. It felt so right to just hold one another, without fear looming over them.

For a moment, the two of them just sat together and listened to the sound of the waves on the shore outside.

Jim let out a slow breath, his thumb rubbing gentle circles in her shoulder.

"What now, Mel?" He wondered aloud.

Melody shifted slightly in her seat.

"What kind of captain doesn't have a first mate anyway?" She responded instead.

Jim rolled his eyes at her obvious change of subject.

"The kind of captain who had to let his first mate go right before an important mission to escort a princess." He remarked.

"Why did you let him go?" She wondered aloud, as she brushed her hair behind her shoulder, revealing her slender neck. Jim's eyes tracked the motion.

"The guy liked to steal a little too much…" He murmured, no longer paying attention, his eyes tracing the column of her throat.

"So, I'm guessing you'll need a new first mate then," Melody spoke nonchalantly. Jim's eyes snapped to hers. He tried not to look too guilty at his wandering attention.

The meaning in her words washed over him. A first mate, huh?

"You could say that…" He trailed off.

Melody gave an indignant huff.

Suddenly Jim was pushed on his back onto the bed behind him. Melody hovered over him, an irritated twist to her mouth.

'Pushy' Jim thought in amusement.

"Don't play games with me, Jimmy. Will you take me or not?" Melody grumbled from her spot above him, annoyed at his cheeky avoidance.

The two of them turned red at the unintended implication. She probably shouldn't be saying things like that, when she was practically straddling his lap.

Jim turned his head to the side, no longer able to meet her eyes, a fierce blush painting his face. Melody was sure her face was just as red.

Still, she didn't move from her spot.

"Jim." She called softly.

His eyes snapped back to hers.

She had never seen him quite so flustered.

Except for maybe when she had kissed him the day before.

Melody wasn't sure her face could be any more warm.

She had kissed Jim. And he hadn't pulled away.

Maybe…maybe he was just surprised. If she tried it again, would he stop her?

Always one to indulge her impulses, Melody leaned towards him and pressed a shy kiss against his lips again.

He didn't pull away.

Melody began to lean back, but Jim sat up, propping himself up on one elbow and recaptured her mouth again. His other hand threaded through her hair. This kiss didn't feel like goodbye, like last time.

Melody's hands flexed from their place, pressed flat against Jim's chest.

Reluctantly he pulled away and leaned back on both his elbows.

"So…did I get the job?" Melody joked.

Jim laughed and, without warning, grabbed her by the waist and flipped their positions. Now Jim hovered above her, a playful smile on his lips.

"That's quite a unique way to interview for a job." He teased. "First Mate it is." He declared.

Melody laughed beneath him, her dark hair fanning out behind her. Jim's eyes softened at the sight. His smile faltered a little.

"First mate, best friend, partner in crime…?" Jim trailed off. Melody could hear the unasked question.

How do you feel about me?

She'd never seen such a look of insecurity on his handsome face.

"First mate, best friend, partner in crime-" She began before lifting herself to meet his lips in a soft kiss "-girl who may or may not be in love with you…"

Jim's eyes lit up at this, and laughter bubbled up from his throat. "Well, which is it? May or may not?"

Melody lightly whacked him on the chest.

"Jim, you idiot, of course I love you." Melody shook her head with a smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Jim sighed in relief and rested his forehead against hers.

"Thank goodness," He spoke, "because I also may or may not love you." He grinned cheekily at her. Melody raised a brow.

"Okay, okay, I get it." She muttered in embarrassment before asking him in a shy voice, "Which is it?"

Jim leaned his forehead against hers.

"I love you, Mel."

Melody, Jim, and the doctor stayed on earth for another week. The doctor spent most of his time in the library, this time happily perusing the titles, instead of his previous frantic search. After that horrible king had died, he had felt free from the burden of his guilt of failing to save both Melody and Jim. The two of them were both safe. More than safe, they were happy. Melody had spent the week excitedly showing Jim all the interesting things there were to do around town, and he gladly let her guide him from place to place. And if he felt like pulling her into one of the town's many alcoves to steal a kiss, he'd allow himself the indulgence. Melody certainly wouldn't complain. But eventually, the two of them could no longer ignore the itch they both felt to return to the ship. The time had come for them to leave.

The group gathered outside the palace to say their goodbyes to Ariel and Eric. Dr. Doppler shook the hands of the king and queen before thanking them for allowing him to use their library and even giving him a few books to keep. They happily replied that he was welcome anytime. Melody hugged her parents tightly and whispered her goodbyes. With tears in their eyes, they told her that she was always welcome to come back. And so, she left her home again, this time with the promise of her return.

When Dr. Doppler, Jim, and Melody reached the ship, they were swarmed by the anxious crew. Melody and Jim were pulled into many tight hugs by the worried crewmen.

"Jim, I thought you said you sent up a letter to the ship a week ago and told them we were alright?" Melody asked while the navigator, Mr. Tanner, hugged her.

"I did!" Jim exclaimed, patting the helmsman on the back awkwardly.

"We got the note, Ms. Melody. We were still worried about you is all." Mr. Tanner said weepily.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say your crew has separation anxiety, Captain Hawkins." Melody teased.

Jim let out a huff before giving her a sly smile.

"You mean our crew." He responded.

Melody grinned.

"I suppose we should share the news about your first mate with them?" She asked as she lightly pulled away from her hug.

"I think so." He nodded an eager glint in his eye.

Melody stood up straight like Jim had taught her and then shouted loud and clear enough to be heard across the vessel.

"Attention!"

At once, all eyes were on her as the crew stood up straight.

"Captain Hawkins has an announcement for you all." She nodded to Jim.

"I have decided that in the absence of a first mate, a new one should be hired," he began "As of now you are to treat Melody as the first officer of this vessel, is that understood?"

"Understood!" The men cheered.

"Good, now excuse me while a go draft a letter to the admiral to see if I'm allowed to do that." The men laughed as the captain left to do just that.

"I leave you in charge first mate."

"Aye, Captain." She responded

A few hours later and the ship set off in the direction of the planet Navitica.

"I'm sorry to see you go," Timothy spoke as he served dinner to the crew.

"Yes, I've enjoyed meeting you all, but I've got three very needy children at home, and I'm sure they are doing their best to drive their mother insane. It would probably be best if I got home before I get into any more trouble with my loving wife." Dr. Doppler replied from his seat at the table.

"Oh, please tell Captain Amelia that Jim and I are alright, we left your house so frantically last time," Melody spoke up.

"Yes, I'll be sure to Melody, I'm sure she'll be interested to hear about our adventure." Dr. Doppler thought to himself that he'd definitely be hearing some 'I told you so's from his wife when it came to Melody and Jim's relationship.

Another two weeks passed aboard the discovery before the ship arrived at Navitica. Jim shook the doctor's hand with a grin.

"I'll try not to drag you along on too many more adventures," Jim spoke teasingly.

"I'll believe it when I see it!" The doctor replied good-naturedly.

Before they left, Melody hugged Dr. Doppler goodbye and pretended not to see when he discreetly wiped a tear from his eye.

That night the RLS Discovery lay docked in the Navitica spaceport. Melody was greeted by a knock on her door.

"Come in!" She called.

As she suspected, the door opened to reveal Jim. She couldn't stop herself from teasing him.

"My, my, are you trying to sneak into my bedroom? How scandalous!" She cooed from her spot, lying on her stomach on her bed.

Jim turned red at the insinuation, before crossing his arms.

"That's pretty funny coming from you, considering you snuck into my room when we were staying at the palace." He replied with a sly grin as he leaned against the closed door.

Melody groaned in embarrassment and dropped her face onto the covers.

"Hmm, yes, I remember it clearly. First you snuck into my bedroom, then you sat on my lap, then you kissed me, then you said you loved me. Scandalous, truly-"

"Okay, okay enough!" Melody laughed still red in the face.

"I assume you came here for some other completely, not scandalous reason, then?" She huffed as she moved to sit cross-legged atop the bed.

"Don't sound so disappointed." He taunted.

Melody threw a pillow at his face in response.

Jim caught the pillow and walked to her bedside.

"I have something for you." He spoke, this time, his voice was soft.

"You mean the pillow?" She deadpanned.

"Yeah, it's the pillow of course." He said sarcastically as he handed her the offending cushion.

He sat next to her on the bed and reached into his pocket.

Melody leaned towards him curiously.

In his hand, he held the very locket he had bought her for her 17th birthday, the same locket she had snapped from her neck when he left her to captain the discovery, the one she had left behind in her old room of the Benbow Inn.

"M-my locket." She said shakily.

"When I came back to the Benbow after my first mission, you were long gone. You left this locket behind. I took it with me, and I've had it ever since. I knew what you leaving it meant," Jim pressed the button and the locket flipped open. The holo-pic of Montressor sprouted from the open necklace. "You left it, because Montressor wasn't your home, not anymore." His voice was muted.

"Your right. It wasn't my home anymore, but that was because you weren't there." She replied, before pressing a tender kiss to his cheek. Her fingers gently took the open locket from his.

The two of them watched the flickering holo-view of Montressor quietly before Melody again spoke up.

"I wonder how your mom is doing?"

Jim toppled off the bed in surprise.

"Oh shoot, Mom! She has no idea any of this happened. She still thinks you're missing!" Jim put his face in his hands in exasperation.

"You didn't tell her! Why didn't you send her a letter?" Melody exclaimed.

"I was a little distracted!" He yelped.

"Well I guess I know where our next destination is." Melody ran her hand through her hair with a sigh.

"We are so going to get chewed out for not telling her sooner." Jim chuckled as he lifted himself back onto the bed.

"Yeah, I think your right," Melody began as she leaned against him. "But if that's the worst of our problems, I think we'll be okay. The future looks bright Jimmy" She spoke happily as she fidgeted with the locket in her hands.

Jim smiled softly at the woman he loved.

"It sure does."

(A/N): Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed. There's only one chapter left of this story, it's going to be an epilogue. I'm so happy to know that people have enjoyed my little fic. If you did Please Review!