Chapter 7

Author's Notes:

Hello all - Thank you for your comments! They let me know that I am not the only one on this journey with Frank, Lily and MacGregor (and Proxima).

I have an ending in mind to this story - but it will take a few chapters to get there.

Thank you for your ideas and sharing with me what you have enjoyed.

Let's keep going, shall we?

Soundtrack Suggestion: Encantado / Lily Finds Frank

Chapter 7: What was Lost

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Chapter 7

The next morning was a flurry of activity. The tribe had already begun preparing supplies for the two day journey back to Porto Velho. Frank was up early to assist with preparations, making sure that the raft would survive the journey back. Trader Sam had gathered a small group to prepare their own boat, La Piraña, to tow the raft behind it, then once they were within range of the town, Frank, Lily and MacGregor would be able to row themselves the remainder of the distance - allowing the tribe to go unnoticed and return back to their village.

Sam was not going with them on their journey back to town, but she wanted to be sure to bid farewell to the trio before they headed out.

After Frank had loaded the last of the necessities onto the boat, he turned to Trader Sam. "Sam, thank you. From the bottom of my heart." Frank said sincerely as he pulled her into a bear hug. As he pulled back, he held her by the shoulders. "Be honest though - you're gonna miss those tourist boat hustles. We were a good team!" he flashed a grin.

"Frank, are you kidding — with you not distracting me my tribe, I can finally start my own river business," She waved her hand across the air dramatically, "Trader Sam's Trading Post. Has a nice ring to it…" She winked, and hit Frank on the arm playfully.

MacGregor and Lily made their way to the tribe's boat shortly after, saying their goodbyes to the friends they had made.

"Trader Sam!" Lily exclaimed in adoration. "Thank you! For everything. You have been a true friend in this adventure. I do hope that our paths cross again someday." Lily hugged Sam affectionately.

Sam returned the hug vigorously, "You my dear — will always be welcome with the Puka Machuna. Thank you for blessing us with doctor skills — and FINALLY getting Frank out of our hair!" She grinned, and flicked the brim of her hat, "And my trade."

MacGregor waved goodbye to his new friends who vigorously waved their newly acquired golf clubs back at him. Lily turned to her brother, "I see you have decided to give up golf."

MacGregor shrugged, "They were way better at it than me anyway." Lily smiled and shook her head.

Proxima jumped aboard happily and made her way to the rear of the boat where she promptly laid down and began grooming herself.

Exploring their borrowed vessel, Lily found herself at the bridge of the ship. It was not unlike La Quila - as it still had a small, somewhat cramped compartment for the captain and another to stand and steer the boat. The glass surrounding the bridge was broken out except for the one facing the bow of the ship. The wood was painted black and had dark hand painted symbols and drawings all over the interior. If Lily were to guess, she would say they were blessings and words of good fortune for safe travels. Sitting near the wheel Lily was surprised to find Frank's skipper hat. She picked it up and turned it in her hands. It was filthy, torn on one side and misshapen slightly from years of wear by its owner. She smiled to herself as she looked it over - silly how a piece of clothing can become so synonymous with a person. She couldn't imagine Frank without the accessory.

Below deck, Frank finished securing the supplies, and when he came up hurriedly, he collided with Lily who was still hovering at the helm.

An "oof" escaped her lips as Frank grabbed her elbow to steady her. "Sorry about that, Pants." He said apologetically.

"Well good morning to you too, Frank." She replied quickly, feeling a bit jostled and slightly hung over. She still managed to give him a brief look of gratitude for catching her as he continued to keep the contact.

Satisfied she was not going to fall over, Frank let go of her elbow and Lily instantly missed the touch. Both wanting to say more, but unsure where to begin, they let the silence stretch.

Finally, Frank spoke, "I…uh… see MacGregor made it through the night." He grinned, attempting to keep their conversation light. He could have pushed the limits, made a joke or innuendo, but it didn't happen, much to his own surprise.

"He did…thankfully. It was touch and go there for a moment…" she shook her head in fake concern and made a face which made Frank chuckle, his rich, rumbling laugh ringing in the air.

Lily smiled back in return, and they instantly fell back into their comfortable rapport. It felt good. Natural. Frank felt himself relax.

Although the liquor assisted in furthering their physical attraction to one another last night, Frank knew the natural pull towards each other was getting stronger by each passing moment. He wanted to fan the flame, but also didn't want Lily to think he was only interested in getting into her …pants.

Seeing him lost in thought, Lily drew her eyes back down to the hat in her hands.

Frank cleared his throat, "Listen, Lily…"

MacGregor appeared in the doorway and by the look on his sister and Frank's faces, he knew right away that he'd interrupted something. Slightly irritated, Frank clenched his jaw which made MacGregor swallow hard in response.

"Well…" He began, as Lily and Frank stepped apart awkwardly. "If it's all the same to the two of you, I'd like to make an official request to NOT go over any sort of rapids during our journey back to port."

A perfect retort as it broke the tension and they all shared a chuckle, grateful for MacGregor's ability to lighten the mood. Ready to get their journey started, Lily handed Frank his hat which she had been holding. "I think you'll be needing this."

"Ah - there it is!…Thank you." He accepted the hat graciously and pulled it onto his head with a grin of appreciation.

"Lookin' good Skippy." Lily replied, smiling up fondly at him. Frank felt himself relax again at the sight.

Feeling this was as good a time as any, he grabbed the handles of the wheel and after he made eye contact with each of his companions, he ignited the engine to La Piraña.

"Let's shove off!" Frank announced enthusiastically.

MacGregor gave his sister a sideways glance and then wandered over to the bow of the boat. The two members of the Puka Machuna tribe that joined them began to release the ropes from the small dock. Much to his appreciation, Frank was allowed to take the helm and guide their vessel with the raft in tow.

As the boat pulled away from the village and the treehouses began to disappear out of sight, Lily joined her brother at the bow. She glanced at him sideways as she sat next to him. "How did you sleep last night?" She asked, preparing for an angry response.

He huffed at her. "I actually slept quite well — No thanks to you."

Lily raised her hands in defense, her mouth agape, "I haven't the slightest idea what you are referring to."

"I'm sure." He ribbed then narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't think I won't seek revenge at some point along this trip."

Lily grinned at him, and threw her elbow casually over the edge of the boat. "I must say MacGregor, the jungle has hardened you! I think I like this formidable side." She leaned back onto the boat, allowing the breeze of the morning air to carry a few curls of blonde hair into the air.

"Ahh yes, out with the old, and in with the new." MacGregor puffed his chest proudly, the reddish hue of the ink across his forehead glistening in the early morning sun. He squinted into the light and instantly made a mental note to get his night creams ready for an impending sunburn.

Lily sighed at the joy of being safe with her brother and content knowing that they were to return home with one of the most impossible and unimagined discoveries in the history of science. With the thought of the petal crossing her mind, her focus changed from one topic to the next.

Straightening up, she crossed her legs and shifted from merriment to all business.

"Right. So, MacGregor, once we return to Porto Velho, I will need to contact Cambridge and Dr. Taylor with news of our success. I will need to begin studying the petal immediately." Lily's excitement was palpable, and she started to talk faster — a quality MacGregor knew well. "OH! I will also need to make arrangements with each of the scholar leads of the London museums to discuss our discovery. You'll need to contact that dreadful Association to let them know we found the tree despite their lack of support…"

MacGregor nodded along as Lily made her list. Once she finished, he added, "Yes yes — don't worry, all will be accomplished, and in due time."

She continued as if MacGregor had said nothing. "And you'll need to arrange for our transportation home. The train back to the coast and the steamer back to London."

"Yes yes, I know. Three tickets, I assume?" He answered in between Lily's instructions.

Lily paused as if caught off guard by his question. "Oh…yes, of course." She glanced to the bridge of the boat where Frank was chatting with the tribesmen. MacGregor followed her eyes.

"Frank is returning to London with us, isn't he?" MacGregor questioned, concerned by the unsure look on Lily' face.

Lily realized that she and Frank had not really addressed what was to happen once they returned to Porto Velho. One major conversation at a time…she thought to herself.

Lily was slightly flustered. "I mean, we haven"t actually discussed the details but…I'm sure everything is in order." Lily replied, her voice giving away her uncertainty, and MacGregor picked up on it immediately.

MacGregor had been thrilled to see Frank return from stone the moment it happened. The joy of seeing their friend alive and well after just sacrificing himself was a moment he will never forget and be forever humbled by. The admiration and respect that had bloomed amongst the three travelers was an unexpected and welcome result of their expedition. A bigger revelation was of course watching his sister and their Skipper grow increasingly closer as the trip went on. MacGregor was not blind — he knew that their banter and ribbing was only a means to an end. His sister was not one to take such provocation lightly, and Frank was a worthy partner to her determined and adventurous spirit.

What he didn't expect was a four-hundred year old curse, undead conquistadores, and for Frank Wolff to actually have a decent and compassionate heart. Virtues that were hard to come by of any man - regardless of where their interests lie.

Lily has had only a few men in her life, and MacGregor has been there to disapprove of most or goad her into taking action on others. She never much listened to him, and he knew he was not an expert in love by any means. What he has also been there to witness was heartbreak. Although Lily was the one to call off her engagement to Daniel, he knew she was upset by the failed relationship.

MacGregor knew she was changed after that —turning her focus on her studies and searching for the Tears of the Moon.

So now, as he has watched his sister begin to reopen her heart to the possibility of caring for another person and allowing someone to care for her in return— well, one was going to ensure she was well protected from any future heartache. MacGregor needed to be sure the recipient of such affection is prepared to return it in full.

"Lily…as your brother I feel it is my duty to ask you if are … happy with the way things have transpired? Clearly we were successful with retrieving a petal…" He trailed off, allowing Lily to process the nature of his query. She didn't answer right away, so he continued, "And Frank…well…it is clear that the two of you are quite…fond of one another."

Lily turned back to MacGregor, but couldn't find the words to really explain what she was feeling.

MacGregor reached out and took her hand in his. "I am happy for you." He stated affectionately. Lily smiled back sincerely and squeezed his hand in return.

MacGregor puffed his chest again, "But I must say, if he hurts you in any way, I will be forced to defend your honor."

"Oh MacGregor…" Lily laughed heartily. "Thank you. You are the best brother anyone could ask for…" She pulled him into a hug, which he returned lovingly.

"I just want to be happy. You deserve the world." He said as held her tight.

Lily pulled back slightly, still holding his hands but turning her eyes back to the water, trying to find the right words.

Lily shook her head as if a thought suddenly occurred to her, and without really thinking, shouted, "I barely know the man!"

MacGregor's eyebrows went up in surprise, and Lily shrunk down in her seat and continued in a quieter voice, "What I mean is, just over a week ago I could barely stand being in the same boat as the man, and now…now, I can't imagine him not being here." She confessed, feeling a sense of relief at saying the words out loud.

MacGregor felt as if he were being pulled down a rabbit hole. I'm so confused.

"Wait…are you worried more about his feelings, or…your own?" He craned his head forward, hoping she would explain further.

She felt fidgety, and couldn't shake a feeling of uncertainty by his question.

"I just hate feeling like I don't have control over what may or may not transpire." Her tirade ended with a sharp indrawn breath. She pulled her hands from MacGregor's and brought her knees to her chest to wrap her arms around them. MacGregor could tell she was trying to seal herself off, and he wasn't having it.

"Lily…" He chided, "This isn't a some research paper or a University board of directors you are trying to persuade…This is something entirely new for you. You won't have control, you cannot determine its outcome, and honestly, that's a good thing."

Lily sat up a bit straighter. "Oh, really…? How's that." She demanded, narrowing her eyes at him.

"It's what makes it more exciting!" MacGregor winked at her. "Look — You can only control your own actions. And as for Frank — stop trying to read his mind and just talk to the man. I have a feeling you are worrying over nothing. Besides — you forget his own words…"

MacGregor pried a hand away from her leg and held it tightly, "YOU, Dr. Lily Houghton, are world enough for him." His eyes bore into hers, and he let his words sink in before he continued. "The question is, is he world enough for you?"

"Yes." She said without hesitation; even surprising herself at how quickly the answer came. She felt her own body sag in relief at the admission.

MacGregor let out a breath, his shoulders falling in a hint of annoyance, "Well then, what in the world are you such a wreck over?"

It had been difficult to wrap her mind around her feelings for Frank. She knew that the attraction had always been there. From the moment he whipped open the door to Nilo's office and Lily nearly tumbled inside - she felt felt an instant connection. Although if you had asked her in that moment, she would not be the one to admit it.

Frank was most assuredly not Lily's type; although she wasn't really sure she had one.

He was large and intimidating, brash and arrogant, and quite possibly the worst joke teller she'd ever met.

But now, after all they had gone through, the sacrifices and admissions made, she knew that her feelings for her skipper had evolved. She knew it the moment they turned water to stone, admitting to him that he wished he would change his mind and that perhaps she could be his one person.

Her brother was right. Why on earth had she been fighting it? Her own proud ego nagged at her, but she stuffed it away. Perhaps she had been more afraid at the strength of feelings.

Frank would most likely say something like, stop trying to control the situation and be more like the Amazon…go with the flow. She rolled her eyes, great…now I'm making puns.

Lily felt her confidence rebound, and the trepidation she had been fighting began to melt away."You're right, MacGregor. Time to just…go with the flow."

He dropped her hand suddenly with a look of satisfaction on his face, and Lily gave him a confused look. "Good. I mean for God's sake, if nothing else, enjoy the man - I know I would…"

Lily's mouth opened in shock, "MacGregor!"

He lifted his eyebrows nonchalantly, "Just saying…"

XXXXX

Their journey home would take two full days; taking care not to pull their raft too hard for fear of sinking it. The first part of the day gave way to torrential downpours in short bursts, followed by sunlight breaking through the clouds. The warm rays of light bouncing off the wet leaves and reflecting on the water.

Frank had spent most of the time at the helm of the boat, but during a break in the rain, he let Zak, one of the Puka Machuna, take over. They had a variety of supplies below and he wanted to share something special with Lily and MacGregor that he was able to acquire from the tribe. He went below deck to grab something and returned moments later with a machete and a large sack in hand.

MacGregor was taking a snooze at the back of the boat, his head in Lily's lap as she scrawled notes on the back of a map she had found.

WHACK!

The sound of Frank's machete slicing into the hull of a coconut jolted MacGregor out of a sound sleep and he twisted and fell to the deck of the boat with a thud. Lily's own body startled, and she dropped the pencil she had been writing with.

"JESUS Frank! You about gave me a heart attack!"

Frank's face scrunched up apologetically, "Sorry about that." Reaching down with his one free hand, he hoisted MacGregor up with one sold pull and placed him back on the bench. MacGregor grumbled a thanks and settled back down next to Lily.

Attention now focused on their skipper, they saw he had a bag full of coconuts at his feet, and the biggest knife Lily had ever seen in his hand.

Frank picked up a cracked open coconut and held it out to Lily, "Ladies first." She took it with a smile.

"Thank you!" Her eyes were alight with surprise and curiosity.

Frank produced a second coconut, and proceeded to chop at it until it too had a sizable hole. He gifted that one to MacGregor who accepted it with a giddy delight as he tipped it towards his sister who was grinning in anticipation.

"Cheers!" The coconuts clanked together, and the siblings lifted them to their lips.

Upon the first taste of the sweet nectar, Frank was thrilled to watch as their faces lit up with pleasure. The coconuts only really grow on the coast, so they are rare to come by. He knew that they would be enjoyed and it was clear he was right in his assumption.

MacGregor gurgled after drinking too fast. "This is the best thing I have ever tasted - and that includes a French Bordeaux gifted to me by the Duke of Westchester." He said in between gulps. Frank laughed as he sputtered and the water flew from his lips.

Frank watched as Lily took another long drink from her coconut. The almost syrupy liquid was refreshing and sweet, and a welcome sensation as she drank it happily. When she pulled it away from her lips to take a breath, she laughed as it poured down across her lips, saturating her shirt.

"Making a mess as usual I see…" Frank teased, and before he could stop himself, his hand darted out to catch the liquid at her chin.

His knuckle brushed the edge of her lip as he wiped the offending droplets away and Lily froze momentarily as he made the contact. Her eyes went to his as he drew his wet knuckle into his mouth, which caused her throat go dry and she suddenly felt thirsty again.

She cleared her throat and her eyes broke away from his penetrating stare to the bag at his feet. "Where's yours?"

"I'm good. I had one earlier. " He wiped his hands on his shirt and then took the coconut out of her hands. He crouched down and using the deck of the boat as a cutting board, he lifted the machete and sliced through the coconut in one chop, revealing the creamy white flesh. He scooped out the meat and handed it to her carefully with the tip of his blade. Lily accepted it, and when she took a bite, her eyes slid shut and her lips pulled into a grin at the delicious taste. It was fragrant and chewy, and reminded her of a tropical hideaway. A tiny moan of enjoyment escaped, and Lily didn't even care.

Frank felt his flesh prickle at the sight of the woman in front of him enjoying the fruit in such a sensuous way. She doesn't even know she's doing it… he thought to himself — which made the act even more…arousing.

His pants feeling a bit tighter, Frank stood up quickly, causing Lily to open her eyes.

"Uh..MacGregor, would you like me to—uh…?" His words refusing to form at his mouth, Frank used his hand to mimic a chopping motion, and then without waiting for him to respond, he snatched the coconut from him, leaving his hands hanging in mid air.

Frank repeated the process and handed the two halves back to MacGregor. Once that was done, he smiled awkwardly at the siblings, grabbed the bag and his machete, and made a beeline for below deck. "Well that was strange," MacGregor commented, then shrugged, too entranced by the coconut, not caring about anything else at the moment.

XXXX

"Good one Frank." He said aloud to himself as he paced around the darkened room below deck, He yanked his hat from his head and wiped the sweat from his brow with a rag. "Really smooth."

Securing the machete into place along the wall, Frank sat down with a heavy sigh on a bench. The wooden planks were smooth, unlike La Quila's that were splintered and darkened with age. The small cabin was stark in comparison to his. No pictures of motor cars or far off places, no trinkets or magazine clippings, and gone were his maps and drawings of the jungle. Instead there was netting and fishing supplies secured to the walls along with a map of the amazon, tools, and some hand prints, most likely from a few children of the tribe.

In a matter of days, Frank's whole world had been turned upside down. A week ago he was bartering with Nilo for money to keep his engine, and just barely securing enough tourists to keep food in his belly. This season was a low point for sure. Alone in the jungle. The crazy cat guy.

Then, just when he'd thought he'd seen and experienced it all…in walks this hurricane of a woman. In pants no less, asking for a skipper to take her down the amazon. Tough, smart, incredibly aggravating, naive of the jungle, but had one helluva right cross.

Frank was taken with her immediately. Of course she was attractive. Her piercing blue eyes and strikingly beautiful features gave him pause as he whipped open the door that afternoon. Ready to take her money, he found something unexpected instead. He was at a loss for words for a moment, needing to mentally 'reset' himself.

You're insistent…

It's been said…

Well this is going to be different…he thought as she brushed by him swiftly.

It wasn't that Frank had not had his share of female companionship over the years — he's no monk. Most affairs were with tourists, or a local here and there that sought out an amorous exchange and he was happy to oblige. For a short time, he found himself almost in too deep with a group of ladies who didn't know he was seeing each of them…so he disappeared quickly, cruising to a distant point in the Amazon to lay low for…a decade…

These last few years had been different. Losing hope at finding the arrowhead, realizing he was doomed to be a captive of the river…he lost interest in pursuing women. He lost interest in a lot of things. Thankfully Proxima was there to keep him company.

And now…

…No boat.

…No curse.

…No more ties to the Amazon.

The thought of eternal rest had been his only mission for years — nothing else mattered than finding the tree, lift the curse, and be done with the endless lifetimes.

As if a mighty chain had been cut away from his body and he was free…Frank had come to realize that for the first time in a very, very…very long time, that he was able to want something other than to be free from the grip of the river.

Dr. Lily Houghton. Her name ringing in his ears, he smiled.

Somehow, she changed his mind. And he was grateful. More than that, he felt awakened…and with a whole world at his fingertips to explore, he was starting to remember what life is really about.

The lifted curse had also reminded him that being alive meant being…vulnerable again. The headaches were one thing, but now he was battling his own body and its sudden and fierce reactions to the environment around him. Things felt warmer, hotter. His breath felt stronger, and the air more intense than before. The sensation of the wind across his sweat laden skin made him shiver and last night, when he and Lily shared what can only be described as a steamy, alcohol-induced fever dream…well, he realized that the rest of his body was reacting to all the changes as well.

Frank glanced around the small cabin — I miss La Quila he mused sadly. His eyes traveled over the load of supplies across from him, and then they fell upon his satchel in the corner of the room. He smiled to himself and picked up the bag and made a return to the surface of the boat.

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The day went by faster than each traveler expected. The bright green foliage and boisterous sounds of the Amazonian wildlife surrounded them at every curve of the river. The sun was hot but not unbearable, and the humidity was lower, much to everyone's delight. La Piraña chugged along, the raft pulling safely behind.

Proxima and MacGregor were fishing off the back of the boat while Zak and Yuzo stayed at the helm.

Frank found Lily at the front of the boat, shoes off, under the shade of the canopy. Her eyes focused and head tilted as she sat with her knees pulled up as a desk, scrawling notes on the back of an old map she'd found. Her back was to him as he approached, and he noticed that she was scrawling a drawing of the sacred tree, and next to it, a close-up image of the petal.

Not wanting to startle her, he whistled a little tune as he approached. Blue eyes turned up towards the sound and she squinted into the light that spilled around his immense shoulders. Her hand went to forehead to block some of the light.

"Come to offer another snack? I'm starving…" She drawled and turned back to her paper.

"Ahh - no, not this time. Still waiting for MacGregor to catch dinner, so…that may be a while." Frank sat down in front of her feet so he was facing her, his arm casually across the side of the boat.

"I was curious…"

Eyes still downcast, she murmured, "Mmhmm…"

Frank fiddled with a stick he'd found, unsure about his question, but curiosity got the better of him. "What would your dad say, now that those stories he'd told you as a little girl turned out to be true?"

Frank watched as Lily's hand stilled. She blinked as if to process the words one by one.

"I had not thought about that until now." She set her hands in her lap and leaned back. Her lips lifted into a sort of smile, and Frank wasn't sure if it was happy or sad. He felt a pang of guilt for bringing it up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up anything upsetting."

"No no, its ok - I'm happy you did," and this time her face lit up, and he relaxed back into the bench of the boat.

"My father was a very important influence in my life. He taught me to seek out adventure, work hard, and he was always supportive of me. He knew that as woman I would face adversity - but he never let that be an excuse."

Frank felt encouraged by her words, this is the first time they had really talked about something other than their expedition. Hearing about her father and about her childhood filled him with an eager curiosity that he didn't know he possessed.

"Well, he certainly made his impression on you," Frank waved his hand at her, "and it shows - Dr. Houghton is a formidable force to be reckoned with."

She chuckled at his compliment, and kicked him playfully with her bare foot. He returned the smile, and felt at ease with her in this moment. She felt it too. The stress of the day and the worry about saying the right words melted away, and she and Frank just talked.

Lily brought her eyes back down to her hands and then back up to Frank, "But to answer your question, I think he would say…" She sat up a little straighter and pointed her finger at Frank as if he were Lily as a little girl, "Lily Flower, you did well. Now go make them sorry for doubting you." Her voice cracked slightly, and she wondered if he heard the thickness of her words.

Frank softened his posture slightly, wanting to make sure she felt safe to continue. He forced himself not to speak just yet. Letting her control the pace of the conversation.

Grateful for his patience, she sniffled loudly, and wiped an invisible tear away from her eye. "Anyhow — I plan to do just that." She lifted her map turned research paper up from her lap with a smile.

"Ahh, so that's what you've been working on." His eyebrows lifted at the realization.

"Yup, but I fear I may be running out of room." Her forehead furrowed in worry, as she searched for the pencil that seemed to have disappeared.

Since she was distracted, Frank used that moment to dig into the bag at has side. "Perhaps this might be useful then?" He held out her leather-bound journal.

"OH MY GOSH, FRANK!" Her eyes lit up as big as saucers as she slowly reached out for the treasured notebook. "Where on Earth…"

"In the wreckage of La Quila — I found it that first night. Sorry I didn't give it to you sooner, I honestly forgot I had it."

Elated wouldn't even touch the surface of how she felt right now. Grateful and relieved would easily follow those emotions as she turned the journal over in her hands.

"Seriously, Frank, thank you. This is a lifesaver," her voice carried her sincerity, and Frank's chest felt full at the sound. "This journal has almost all of my notes and details about the petal and the Tears of the Moon. I was going to have to start from scratch, and now I don't."

Frank's grin stretched across his face and he smacked his hands on his thighs in delight and to punctuate her happiness. "Glad I could contribute to your success."

"Oh this is so much more than that." She flipped through the pages quickly and landed on her drawing of the monkey she had made the first night they had spent on La Quila. She held it open for him to see, smirking at the image. "I guess I need to work on that perspective." She grinned.

"Oh, well, I could give you a lesson."

Lily's eyebrows lifted in skepticism. "Oh really? I thought your talents only lie in cartography and maps."

"I thought you liked my maps?" He replied, sounding appalled at her comment.

"I do! I do!"

He held out his hand as a request. "Well then you should have no problem letting me show you a few things." He winked, and she handed the journal over to him reluctantly.

The sun was setting and Frank felt the warmth of its rays begin to dip along the horizon. The light that remained still set the Amazon aglow, and when he glanced up at Lily, the golden light across her face, his own heart felt like it was thumping harder than it was a moment ago.

A gentle breeze swept through the boat and ruffled her hair, causing a shiver to float down her spine. Or was it his eyes on her suddenly? She wasn't too sure. She realized that he was about to draw her, and she was suddenly shy.

He leaned back into the hard rail of the boat, and flipped to a clean, empty page of her journal.

"Must you draw me? I mean, we could call Proxima over here…she's a lovely model, I'm sure." Lily fidgeted under his gaze, the sound of his pencil already scratching across the surface of the paper.

"Shhh…concentrating now." He grumbled, and then pretended to frame her face with his hands like a photographer would.

Lilly hugged her legs to her chest and set her chin atop her knees. In some distant part of her mind she thought she must look horrid. Having not bathed in days - albeit a short dip in the river a few days ago — her hair bound in a messy ponytail across her shoulder, dirt and dust embedded in her clothing.

But when Frank's eyes fell on her, she didn't feel any of that. He looked at her with adoration and a genuine sincerity that made her own body fill with warmth. Color climbed up her cheeks and she was silently grateful the light was low and it wouldn't be noticeable.

"I'm feeling a bit anxious…can we keep talking at least?" She asked, running her hands up and down her shins.

"Of course," His hand glided over the page, and without looking up he asked, "What are you looking forward to the most when you get back to London?"

Lily blinked at the question. An image of the city flashed in her mind, the hustle and bustle a stark contrast to the serene nature of the river they were on now. If she were perfectly honest, she almost didn't want to go back right away — needing to deal with the defiant and arduous confrontations of society and the dreary men of the association.

"WelI, I suppose I'm looking forward to gathering with colleagues to begin studying the petal. If what we've experienced is any indication of its healing properties, then I think the world of medicine is in for a huge awakening…"

Frank nodded and glanced up from the notebook momentarily. "Darwin of flowers." He smiled at her. She lifted her lips in response.

His eyes returned to the journal and Lily shifted slightly in her seat, her voice a touch quieter than before. "And… I am looking forward to showing you London, and England and really …anything that is new and exciting for you." She studied his face for a response, wishing slightly that he was looking back at her in that moment, but his eyes were still concentrated on the paper in front of him.

She pulled her lips into her mouth and sucked in a breath through her nose, unsure if he was as intrigued as she as about the world around him. He closed the notebook suddenly, and looked up at her. For a split second, she felt a moment of panic.

She regarded him as he took a deep breath. "You know, I used to dream about going to London. I had clippings and pictures from newspapers and journals that showed me what a big city would be like." He smiled thoughtfully to himself, and Lily felt a little better at hearing his thoughts. "I wanted to get one of those motorcars and take apart the engine and put it back together. Then…I thought, when I get away from this damned river, I'm gonna race as far and as fast as I can go…" He grinned, imagining the road in front of him, but then a wave of sadness came over his features. His smile faded, and he looked across the water.

"I lost hope these last few years. And that dream sort of faded." He chewed on the inside of his cheek, and the corner of his eyes twitched a little, the emotion apparent on his face.

Lily's hands itched to reach out to him. Show him comfort, and that he wasn't alone any more. But she sat in place, letting him share, giving him the window to talk, as rare as it may be.

"Frank…" His name, spoken so gently, hung in the air between them.

He broke away from the reverie that held him, the smile returning to his handsome face, "But I have things to look forward to now too…" His voice rumbled in his chest and he picked up the pencil and started drawing again.

Lily's heart rebounded, and she was happy for him all over again. "And what is that? What is it that you are looking forward to the most?" She dropped her head to her knees again, returning to her pose from before.

"Well, our driving lesson for one." The upturn of his smile lighting up the evening.

"Obviously! I'm looking forward to that as well. But what else?" Her voice became dreamy and full of wonder, "I mean, when was the last time you saw something new and exciting that made your heart race? It must have been years or even deca —"

"Ten days ago." He talked over her, his eyes focused on his drawing still.

"I'm sorry?" Lily's brow knitted in confusion. What on earth could have been new and exciting just ten days ago after nearly three hundred years in the same jungle?

"Ten days ago you walked onto my boat, in those pants." He stopped drawing and stood up abruptly. Lily's head came up off of her knees slowly, watching him as he approached her. "You, Pants, are the most exciting thing I have experienced in a very…very long time."

He held out her journal. "All done." He said with a smile. She processed his words slowly, her mouth agape, and Frank had to motion for her to take the journal again when she didn't accept it the first time.

Lily took the notebook, the leather warm from his hands, and was unsure if she was to look at it now or later. Her eyes still laser focused on his, which were staring back at her with a confidence and an intimacy she had not seen before.

She swallowed, a lump in her throat. Then, unsure if she was prepared to see what he had drawn, brought her eyes down to the open page before her.

An intricate, detailed drawing filled the page. She blinked, unprepared for what stared back at her, but a drawing of an iguana perched on a tree, a large lizard in its mouth.

The intensity of his admission and the intimate moment was caught in the breeze of the night and it sailed away as she realized he had not drawn her, but a reptile of the Amazon.

"Frank! You are terrible!" She shouted at him as he laughed heartily and dodged her hand as it came flying out at him.

"I'd better go start dinner!" He shouted behind him as he ran away from her flailing arms as they reached for him.

Lily felt a different heat rise to her cheeks and she wasn't sure if she was angry, amused, or still in awe over his admission to her moments ago. She let her mind and heart settle on amusement and she felt a laugh bubble up from her chest as she shook her head in the hilarity of the moment.

"Oh Frank… you will be the death of me…" She whispered out loud, her hand running over the very detailed drawing now permanently etched in her journal. She laughed again at the absurdity of the lizard staring back at her.

Flipping through the pages once again, she decided to return to her note taking, and see where she had last left off when her hand stilled at a page in the back of the notebook.

There, hidden in the folds of the pages was a paper that had been torn out, folded and placed back into the pages of the journal. Lily unfolded it slowly to reveal an intricate, hand-drawn image of herself sitting at the edge of La Quila…her face in stunning detail staring out at the jungle. Her hand was balled under her chin as she stared out across the water, tendrils of hair swept across her neck and cheek and a contented smile at the corner of her lips.

She turned the page slightly to get a better look. It was a moment from the first day of their voyage. Frank had been playing with her moving picture camera and he must have been…inspired.

Lily ran her hand carefully over the page, as if to imagine the pencil strokes during its creation. Every detail was visible in this simple drawing, down to the buttons on her blouse and the hat on her head. She was touched at the simplicity and intricacy all captured on this small piece of paper. She wondered secretly to herself how long it took him to draw this. Then, as the heat rose again inside of her, she wondered if this is how he saw her…dream-filled expression, strong pose, but delicate features.

Her review of the drawing went to her eyes next…She sighed in jealousy. "Damn him…his perspective is perfect."

XXXX

Notes:

Thank you for taking this journey with me…

I feel like we are all rooting for these two to find the happiness they both deserve.

Your comments and encouragement have been outstanding, please let me know what you are enjoying…

Thank you, and I hope to have another update coming this week.