Notes:

This one is a bit dialogue heavy. I am trying to get better at writing the back and forth without sounding repetitive. But I think this one brings some grounding and brevity to Frank and Lily.

Summary: Frank and Lily start to discuss the fallout from breaking the curse and what it means for them.

Soundtrack Suggestion: Track 15: Trader Sam

Chapter 8: Under the Stars we Find Ourselves

The night was warm and comfortable, with the sounds of the jungle letting the travelers know that the Amazon was still alive, even at night. What was left of the moon was so razor thin that barely any light was emanating from it. Luckily the blanket of shimmering stars above their heads provided more than enough illumination for the evening.

Dinner finally came in the form of two large fish compliments of MacGregor and Proxima, with maybe a little help from Frank to haul them in from the grip of the water below. Belly's full and the boat anchored safely near the bank of the river for the night, the crew of La Piraña were preparing to settle in for the evening. Zak and Yuzo had stretched a hammock across the stern of the boat and were currently trying to teach MacGregor how to properly get in.

"Foot." Zak pointed to a bench for MacGregor to stand on, then as he lifted himself up, Zak opened the woven material enough for MacGregor to set his backside into. Yuzo gave him a helpful shove to the shoulders and he flew back into the hammock with a yelp.

The hanging bed turned into a swing, and MacGregor swayed stiffly inside the netting of the hammock. "I am NOT sure this is how this is supposed to work!" He shouted from inside the cocoon of material that had him wrapped up like a rolled cigar. Zak and Yuzo laughed at the sight, and then grabbed their lantern and made their way below deck to turn in. Proxima purred and rubbed her back along the hard edge of MacGregor's body as he struggled inside the hammock and settled down under him.

Frank had decided he was going to sleep in the open air and under the stars, so he had laid out a rug and a few blankets he had brought from the village across the bow of the boat. It occurred to him that he only had a few more nights in the Amazon before he would finally be making his way to another part of the world, so he wanted to embrace the last moments he had in this jungle. He lowered himself to the floor, his knees cracking at the effort and landed heavily with a grunt. He leaned back onto a sack full of netting, and closed his eyes with a content sigh.

Lily appeared from below deck where she had washed her face with some water she had boiled earlier. A breeze caught the dampness across her neck and she shivered despite the warmth in the air. She glanced around for her companions and was greeted with the sound of her brother and Proxima snoring soundly at one end of the boat, and on the other side, the sight of Frank relaxing at the bow.

Grabbing a lantern, she approached Frank quietly, her boots left below deck and her toes padding softly across the hardwood.

"Is there room for two down there?"

Without opening his eyes, he replied with a deadpan, "No."

Lily kicked him in the leg and he laughed as he moved to his right so she could sit next to him. Frank readjusted the bag so it was behind both of them, and he leaned his head back onto the padding, hands behind his head. He grinned at her bare feet and resisted the urge to reach out to grab one, but thought he would most likely get a kick to the jaw, so he kept his hands to himself.

The glow from the lantern created a sort of flickering light across the boat that gave it an ethereal feel. Lily placed it behind them along the bench, and she took a seat. Frank closed his eyes, and Lily sat upright, her knees pulled up to her body and her eyes pointed to the heavens.

An animal made a noise in the distance, and a splash was heard somewhere along the edge of the water nearby, vibrating the air around them.

Frank cracked one eye open to peer at her from behind, her profile lit up by the light of the lantern making her skin glow and her hair shimmer. He followed her eyes to up to the sky and felt a sense of belonging and comfort at the sight of the stars above.

"You know, those stars have been a constant for me over the years. They've helped me find my way up and down this river."

Lily had been focused on one constellation and the outline of the milky way as it flowed over them. "They're just incredible…I can't believe the amount of stars that are visible here. It is truly something to behold."

Frank furrowed his brow, "Can you not see the stars from London?" He asked, a note of concern in his voice.

"Well yes, but the light from the city makes it harder to see this many stars. Here, it's as if there is a river of stars above our head…" Her voice was a whisper and even though Frank couldn't see her face, he knew she had a dreamy look upon her features. He shared the sentiment. The night sky was beautiful.

Lily craned her body around to look at him directly, an amused smile on her lips. "Fascinating to think that we've been staring up at the same stars our whole lives."

It was an intriguing thought. "Huh…that is true." A moment passed. "Kinda like we've had something in common even before we met." His words floated to her and she felt them ease in to her thoughts like water being soaked in by a sponge.

She regarded him for a moment, seeing how relaxed he was, laying there as if they'd done this a million times. It made her own body feel at ease, as she turned more fully around to face him, her knees falling to the deck of the boat, brushing his legs.

"I'd like to think that we have quite a bit in common." Lily offered, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, a smile playing at her lips.

Frank raised his eyebrows, "Love of piranha?"

Lily shuddered. "Ugh, no - not what I meant."

"Hmm…do tell then." He sat up a bit more, leaning heavily into the padding behind him.

"Well," Her eyes went up to her brow as if to retrieve a list from her thoughts, "…we are both quite headstrong, and like to be in charge." Frank hummed in agreement. "And we are both very clever and resourceful…" She said in a prideful manner.

"You mean like when you shot me to distract the Prince?" Frank pointed out, and Lily responded by narrowing her eyes at him.

"Twice." He added.

Frank reached out to block her hand as it swooped down to hit him in the stomach, but narrowly missed as she made contact. "Ow..ok, sorry - continue!" He laughed.

"No no — your turn now. I've said enough." She said with a sigh, her own lips upturned into a secret smile.

Frank laced his hands across his belly and Lily noticed for the first time that he wasn't wearing his hat. His tanned skin soaking in the flame of the lantern, bathing his features in shadow and light.

He took a deep breath, "Well…besides being incredibly attractive — although, I definitely have a slight edge on that," He saw her lips form a thin line as she snorted in response. "…I would also say that we are both brave and fearless - which can get us—really you— into a bit of trouble from time to time." Lily nodded along, choosing to ignore his attempt to rile her up again. Instead she kept her focus on her fingers playing with the cuff of her pants at her ankle.

Frank looked down to his hands as he thought, chewing for a moment on his bottom lip. A second later, the corners of his mouth lifted as if he were recalling a fond memory.

His voice was soft, but carried weight to the word that left his lips. "Devoted."

She looked up at him, interest playing in her eyes. "Devoted?"

"Yeah - You…were devoted to finding the Tears of the Moon. And to supporting your brother… and to your father's memory." His voice was sincere and she was appreciative of the candor in his voice.

"And you?" She breathed.

Frank shifted in his seat, feeling unusually fidgety under her gaze. "Well, I thought it was the same as it had always been — find the tree, break the curse…" His eyes held hers, as he felt his body tense, "…rest." He said, regret somehow laced in his voice.

Her face darkened slightly at the mention of rest, and the burden of unspoken words laying between them, made her uneasy.

Frank breathed in deep, letting his muscles relax. "But now, I have a whole new world to explore! But more than that, I am glad to be alive." He smiled, and bumped her leg with his for emphasis.

Lily's smile returned. She felt relieved at the lightness in his words and while she wanted to leave it there, there was something that was gnawing at the back of her mind.

Ask him…

The nagging thought persisted, and the way she hesitated before speaking again made Frank take notice. She shifted her weight onto the hand that was closest to him, and drawing in a breath, she started, "I've been wanting to ask you something…and if it is too personal, or unpleasant to recall…I will understand if you don't want to answer."

Curiosity piqued, he responded, "Ask away."

She nodded and steadied herself. "When you were…in the stone, trapped by the curse, what happened? Were you aware at all? Were you…in pain?" Her face showed deep concern, and she wasn't sure if she was prepared for his answer.

He shook his head slowly, recalling the moment the darkness took him, "It wasn't pain that was physical — it was just…felt. It was as if I was reliving moments in time. Some bad, but some were good."

Lily frowned.

"How were you able to break free from that?" Her voice was quiet, and she felt her heart ache at the thought of him being trapped in a place where he couldn't escape.

His brow knitted at trying to pull the memory from the fog of a few days ago. "I remember fighting with Aguirre…and there was a moment I thought that I was dreaming — or having a nightmare."

He was silent for a long while, eyes low and unfocused, seemingly lost in the memory. Lily reached out to lay her hand atop his, squeezing it in comfort, and it drew him back like an anchor to her. He lifted his head and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Then you changed all that." He affirmed.

Her smile came in understanding. "The petal." She said simply.

"The petal." He echoed. "Once you gave it to me, I was pulled from that nightmare, and presented with…my choice."

She swallowed a lump in her throat. She recalled their conversations on La Quila — how he had already made up his mind, that it was his time…She looked down at their hands. You had your mind made up." She lamented.

"Well you changed it." He declared, making sure she felt his words, silently urging her to look at him. When she finally did, he continued, "Lily, I chose to come back. To live. You gave me a reason to remember what it would be like to care about something other than myself." Frank smiled sincerely, and lifted an eyebrow playfully. "Besides…you argued a good case…I mean, I really do want to ride in a motorcar…" She shook her head with a grin, knowing he was using a joke to relieve some of the tension that had built up in their conversation. She allowed it, knowing it helped him be at ease.

She felt him turn her hand over in his, "And… that is, if you don't mind a four-hundred year old conquistador lurking around you for a while…" He added candidly.

A laugh bubbled up from her chest. "I think I can get used to it…we are going to have to something about your wardrobe however…" She quipped, pulling at the dirty fabric of his shirt.

They laughed together and fell into a comfortable silence.

Somewhere in the distance an animal screeched, and the trees rustled with a faint breeze swirling about. The boat rocked slightly, and the sounds of the water lapping at its hull had a rhythmic pulse to it. Lily felt a yawn pull at her consciousness and her hand came up involuntarily to stifle a yawn.

Frank felt the pull of sleep as well, but didn't want to end their time together. He let go of her hand and scooted further back into the padding of nets behind him, then lifted his left arm in the air as an invitation, "Come here…" he patted his chest with his other hand, offering himself as a pillow.

Lily hesitated, but felt drawn in by his invitation. She sighed in faux reluctance, and brought her body down to lay flush with his. She immediately felt the heat radiating against hers, but instead of it being uncomfortable, it felt solid and safe. She laid her head on his shoulder, and brought her left hand up to his chest where it landed above his own hand that lay on his abdomen. His arm that was raised now lay across her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. She felt enveloped by his massive arms, and reassured by their strength. He smelled of earth and sweat, and engine oil — but there was something else that was distinctly Frank, and she breathed it in the deep, masculine scent, enjoying the feeling it brought.

No awkwardness, no more hesitation; just comfort at holding one another.

Frank made a contented sound deep in his chest, and Lily felt it radiate into hers. He enjoyed the feeling of her smaller frame fitting just right next to his much, much larger one. Her breath tickled his neck as she moved her head around, trying to settle, and he took the opportunity to nuzzle at her hair while she was distracted. He grinned, knowing she couldn't see him.

"What are you smiling about?"

Correction: Couldn't see him, but she definitely felt that smile.

"Oh you know…just thinking about the time you pulled that sword out of me — you should've seen the look on your face." He grinned again, patting her arm playfully.

"Ugh — don't remind me… I'll never get that image out of my mind."

Frank laughed, his chest vibrating, causing her head to bounce as a result.

They lay in silence for a few moments, content to just be with one another. Frank's steady breathing an almost therapeutic sound as Lily's head rested over his heart.

His eyes traveled around the sky above and landed upon the remaining sliver of the moon that was directly above them.

"Do you know the real story of La Quila? I mean, the actual story? The Goddess of the Moon…" He asked.

Always willing to hear a good story, Lily smiled into his shirt, and responded, sleep in her voice. "I don't …do tell."

Frank pulled the arm that was around her a little tighter. He spoke slowly and softly, taking the time to share each detail with his captive audience.

"Well…the ancient Incan's believed… that there was a lonely fox that looked upon the moon every night, entranced by her beauty and the light that seemed to emanate from within her…"

Maybe it was the lure of sleep or the sound of Frank's voice, but Lily felt herself lower her inhibitions just enough to allow herself a moment to appreciate the man she was in very close contact with.

The hand that was once still on his chest began to move, and Frank felt his own heart begin to beat a little faster as she started to play with the button of his shirt.

Frank licked his lips and continued his story, the timber of his voice low and steady, "…He fell in love with the moon so deeply…that he was lifted into the sky and when they embraced, the moon hugged the fox so hard - squeezed him so close to her that his body — that it created dark imprints all over her. Thus the dark spots on the moon we see today…"

Lily's fingers had found their way under his shirt to the warm skin underneath. "Is that…the end?" She asked quietly, her hand now gliding across the smooth skin beneath the fabric. Frank inhaled deeply, trying to focus on his story, but the cool hand dancing across his chest was making it increasingly difficult to concentrate.

He cleared his throat, and continued. "Sadly no…The Incans were so afraid that the fox would cause the moon to fall from the sky that they would shout and scream at the animal - some threw spears to tried and scare the fox away. They were afraid that the fox would swallow the moon - plunging the world into darkness."

Lily's hand paused, and Frank spoke softly, "They succeeded in scaring the fox away —leaving the moon alone, and she cried tears of silver for her broken heart."

Frank felt her hand press down, and she used it to lift herself up from where she lay to look him in the eyes. "That is terribly depressing, Frank." She said, her brow knitting in sadness for the moon.

Frank smiled back at her. "Yes. But there is a happy ending."

"Oh good." Lily said with hope in her voice, and she returned her head to where it once was.

Frank resettled them both.

"Well — the moon became strong again. She became a defender of all those who needed strength. She also became known to many as a champion for women and to those who ever had a broken heart."

"But she was alone." Lily's hand lay unmoving on his chest.

Frank covered her hand with his own. "Not truly — she had known love. So she was able to carry that with her as she protected others from such a fate. And in doing so, became a Goddess adored by all."

There was a moment that passed, and Frank inhaled and exhaled slowly. Lily felt the breath tickle the hair at the top of her head. In the midst of the quiet moment, their hands had begun to fold over one another. His calloused fingers trailing across her soft, slender ones. Feeling encouraged, Lily shifted slightly, leaning her body closer to his, allowing her left leg to come up and hang over his slightly. Their position felt very intimate, and Frank had to fight the heat that was curling in his stomach and threatening to move to the lower half of his body.

Lily lifted her chin, dragging it across his chest, leaving a trail of heat on his skin. When her head was high enough, her eyes could barely make out the details of his face because they were so close. His lips were parted as if to say something, but it was lost to the wind. Frank tilted his own head down, and with their fingers still intertwined on one hand, he used his other to urge her closer and her eyes closed as he pressed his lips down to hers.

It was striking how different it felt each time they kissed. It was a new sensation that was delicate and lingering, but conveyed a powerful emotion that neither one knew how to put into words.

Lily let herself be pulled in closer, enjoying the feel of his mouth on hers. He moved confidently over her lips, getting familiar with their taste and feel, but slowly, not wanting to push too fast. Lily responded by pressing her leg into his, trying to move herself up higher to deepen the kiss. He obliged by puller her even closer.

His tongue ran across her bottom lip, and when she opened her mouth, he pressed forward, using his other hand splayed across her back to support her. Lily felt desired in the moment, his kiss full of promise of things to come. When he pulled back from the kiss slowly, she followed his retreat, not wanting to end the contact. As they pulled apart, the air seemed to be buzzing around them.

The hands that were once tangled with one another, now separated. Without realizing, Lily had a handful of his shirt in her grasp, while his had come to rest at the back of her head.

Lily smiled affectionately up at Frank. "That…was a really, really good story."

Frank's breathing only now getting under his control, his chest rising and falling, smiled back. "Yah. I would say so. Although I don't remember that reaction when I told it to MacGregor the first night we left Porto Velho."

Lily laughed heartily, "I'd hope not!" She replied, chuckling at the absurdity of his comment.

He pulled her close again, and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead and then pulled her back so he could look her in the eyes."You're lucky this boat is filled with people — otherwise I might not have been able to stop kissing you." He said with a seriousness that sent a wave of heat into her belly.

"I may not have let you stop." She replied earnestly. She let the words float out between them, and then laid her head back upon his chest.

He smiled into her hair, challenge accepted.

"Goodnight, Frank." She sighed, settling herself into the crook of his arm.

He pulled her close. "Goodnight, Pants."

As sleep overtook them, thoughts of finding themselves alone with one another consumed their dreams.

XXXXX

Notes:

Thank as always for reading…

As you can tell, there is a storm 'a brewin between these two… and I promise not to keep it at bay for too much longer.

Please comment if you feel inspired - I like to hear what you are enjoying, wondering, feeling about the story.

Next chapter will have a bit more MacGregor, I promise!

Staarss