Notes:

This chapter was originally going to be VERY long, but I split it into two. I hope to drop the next chapter almost immediately this week.

This is a deep dive into Frank's history, and I feel that it gives more insight into what he went through mentally during those years on his own.

Also…I had this thought about Frank's survival skills. Clearly, he cannot die, but he still eats, drinks, etc. I would imagine that after nearly 400 years being not he earth, he is a pretty good cook! If you have ever seen the viral videos on social media, "Men With The Pot" - these super close up, ASMR videos, I feel like this is how Frank cooks. With the basics, but SUPER detailed if he wanted to be, and delicious ingredients (based on what is available in the Amazon).

Anyhow, that is the inspiration for a scene in this chapter.

Beyond that…this chapter and the next are the true origin ideas of the reason I started this fic - I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Cabin inspiration: /LRYVVFV

Summary: "It doesn't matter where you are going, it's who you have beside you that makes it worth the trip."

Soundtrack Suggestion: I built a boat

Chapter 12: The Town That Frank Built

~Flashback~

Year: 1830 - In the 'Town that Frank Built'

"You know, Frank…you're not gonna be young forever!"

Frank slammed his axe down into the wood on the stump, wedging it there where it remained upright. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt, and squinted at his friend from across the woodpile.

"If only…" Frank grinned. "Don't worry about me Luis, I got a plan."

"What, taking that death trap of a boat down the Amazon? You'll sink before you make it anywhere."

Frank picked up the axe again. "Thanks for the vote of confidence!" He placed another block of wood on the large stump. Slamming it down easily, two pieces of lumber flew apart and landed on the ground. "Like you said, I'm not gonna be young forever, so I plan to explore as much of this river as I can. You never know what I may find." Frank smiled inwardly to himself.

Luis scoffed, and put another piece of wood on the trunk for Frank. "You're not gonna find a wife out there. Don't you want to at least have someone to explore with you? It can get pretty lonely out on that river."

"I got Proxima." Frank pointed his axe to the small black jaguar playing in the grass nearby. She pounced on a grasshopper and promptly ate it.

Luis frowned. "You know what I mean Frank…What about that nice girl who brings supplies on the tug boats? She's pretty."

Frank squinted. "Martha?"

"Yah." Luis shrugged.

"The same Martha with one eye?!" Frank covered one of his own eyes for effect.

Luis grimaced. "…Yah…I guess there are not that many women out here."

Frank dropped the axe and walked over to Luis and put his large hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "My friend…I appreciate you looking out for me. Really. But don't worry, I'll be fine! I've already spent a few…years exploring this river, I think I can manage."

Luis nodded and hit the taller man in the stomach with his fist. Frank pretended to double over and then patted him on the back with a laugh as they began to walk back to the boathouse. "I just know that we will miss you here. Although, I have noticed that a few of the town's residents have talked about moving closer to the new city being built to the north. I think it's called, Porto Velho. Did you hear there is going to be a train?"

Frank's eyebrows knitted together. "I did. Although I don't know what for. No one's gonna want to visit the Amazon — too dangerous for tourists." Frank snorted. Luis grunted in agreement.

They walked over to a bucket of fresh water. Frank took a drink from the ladle and then handed it to his friend. "Luis, do me a favor? Take care of my cabin for me while I'm gone? Make sure no one tears it down or turns it into a chicken coup?"

Luis took a drink for himself and then stood up to look Frank in the eyes. "Of course. Of course. I would be honored. You've been a good friend Frank Wolff. This town has been grateful to have you." He reached a hand out to Frank who shook it with a grin. "We will look forward to your return!"

Frank took a deep breath, grateful to have a friend. He knew sadly that he would outlive him, that he wouldn't return in his lifetime. But he had to find the Tears of the Moon — and that meant finding the arrowhead first. There was talk of it being found down the river, and he knew he had to investigate - meaning that he would be leaving the town he built to seek out the one thing that would help him break the curse.

Lily jumped down from where she was seated and turned to see the view ahead.

Frank slowly maneuvered the boat into a deep bend of the river. The result was a calm, almost still water section of the water as it touched the edge of the land gently as it curved through it. It was surrounded by the same lush greenery as most of the Amazon with the only difference being large sections that were cut away, with several buildings and cabins lining the permitter of the river and another high up on a hill overlooking the the others.

Lily walked out to the bow of the boat to get a better view. As they drew closer, she saw several structures on stilts along the river's edge, and fencing running up and down a green hillside. There was a small dock jutting out into the water with a crumbling boathouse to its right, and several smaller buildings just along the water.

Lily blinked into the sunlight, and then it dawned on her. She whipped around to see Frank smiling at her, knowing she finally figured out where they were.

"Oh…Frank…" She breathed out in a whisper and then motioned to the land ahead. "Is this — is this the town that you built?" She asked, her body buzzing with anticipation.

"You got it." He replied, the corners of mouth stretching up in a grin. He turned the wheel quickly to the left as they approached the shore. "Hold on, I'm gonna bring her around to the dock." He pressed forward on the throttle, causing the boat to lurch ahead and soon he was lining the vessel up expertly at the worn wooden platform.

Lily scrambled to the corner of the boat, eager to disembark. "I can't believe it! How much did you actually build? This is just incredible …" The excitement in her voice was evident, and she began to fire off a series of questions faster than Frank could answer them. When she almost jumped out of the boat and onto the dock before he secured the leads, he knew he'd have to reign her in. Or at least try.

"Whoa! Hey, hold on there — " He shouted to her. "Let me tie the boat up first before you go running off to explore. Not to mention, this dock is a few decades old, so watch where you step, or I'll be fishing you out of the water." He winced at his words, knowing she's still not entirely comfortable about the jumping in the river again, but when she didn't flinch or react to his comment, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

She peeled herself away from the edge of the boat and returned to the bridge of the ship. "Fine, fine…what can I carry?"

Frank loaded up most of the supplies into MacGregor's empty trunk — with Lily mentioning that she thought the luggage looked familiar — and together they carried it to dry land. Lily stood by as Frank chopped away at some overgrown foliage near the small boathouse, revealing a handcart with wheels and a long metal handle.

"Something else you built?" Lily smiled as Frank placed the trunk atop the cart.

"You know it." He threw his satchel across his body, and whistled to Proxima who bounded over to them quickly.

"We have a little bit of a walk," He pointed to a pathway in the dirt leading to the left of the riverbank, "Just up and around there."

Lily nodded and pulled her hat down across her brow to block the sunlight. She glanced up and followed the path of the trail to see where it was they were headed. In the distance, she could make out the rooftop of a smaller cabin sitting alone on a smaller hillside. Lily walked ahead, carrying her bag across her body while Frank pulled the cart behind her.

They took their time walking through the grassy trail, Frank answering many of Lily's questions as fast as she asked them.

"Frank, I can't believe it… I mean, when you told me you built a town, I wasn't so sure I really understood exactly what you did." She turned and walked backwards, holding her hand on her cap as the breeze picked up.

Frank watched as the wind blew the hair across her shoulders as she twirled back around on the trail, trying to make sure she was seeing everything in all directions. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at her delight in what she was seeing.

"I mean…I can't take all the credit. I got it started, but then I had help." Frank looked out across to the field ahead of them, eyes squinting in the sunlight that had begun to poke through the clouds.

"I am so impressed." She shouted back at him, kicking a rock down the path ahead of her.

Frank couldn't help but chuckle at her excitement of being where she was. Being able to share the details of his life for the first time was a bit nerve wracking, but it put him at ease knowing that she was so intrigued by him and his history.

Lily continued to observe the land around her. Some of the structures were huge and had multiple sections to them, while most were small and modest. There were even houses across the river on the other bank looking back across the way. While it was all intriguing to see, she frowned as she began to notice something else.

There were no people.

The trails around the area were all overgrown, and a majority of the buildings were falling apart and empty. She paused on the trail, her hands on her hips and eyes scanning the remnants of the town. "Frank…What happened here…? I mean, it sounded like you had friends — people that lived here? Where is everyone?" She asked, looking back at him.

Although he had said goodbye to the people and the town a long time ago, it was disappointing that the town didn't continue to thrive. He had only returned ever so often, but each time he did, less and less people remained.

Frank breathed in deep as he pulled the cart over to where she stood, the wheels squeaking as it hit holes in the ground.

"Well — yeah, this place was full of people at one point. I had built only three of the houses, including the dock and the boathouse…but as more people came, they built their own homes." He paused for a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow with the rag in his back pocket.

He pointed up the hill to the field on their right. Lily's eyes followed the trail until she could make out a fence, and crosses scattered about sticking out from the earth.

"That was about eighty years ago." Frank said solemnly. "I buried a lot of friends here over the years, and …well, because of the curse, and not dying or growing old — I had to…" He trailed off, squinting as he looked back to the river.

"Keep moving." Lily finished his sentence, and his eyes turned to meet hers in understanding.

He nodded. "Unfortunately. People would start to take notice of a ruggedly handsome guy roaming around the same town for a few decades, never getting old." He grinned and turned to start walking down the trail again.

Lily smiled as he passed her, but a touch of sadness in his voice made her take notice and it was a reminder that he had experienced a lot of loss over the years.

They continued up the path and when it opened up into a small clearing, Frank dropped the handle of the cart with a thud in the dirt. "Home sweet home." Frank announced, and Proxima bounded across the final expanse of land in front of them and into the cabin through a jungle cat sized hole in the side of the wall.

Lily's eyes widened as she realized that cabin belonged to Frank.

"Frank…I don't know what to say…" Lily lifted her hand and motioned towards the cabin. "I feel foolish now, thinking all that you owned was lost on La Quila." Lily frowned, feeling like she underestimated him yet again.

"Yah, well a lot went down with La Quila, but I still have a few things that have survived with me over the years." He took a sip from his canteen, and handed it to Lily who did the same.

Lily's eyes darted up and down the hillside, storing the images away in her mind to pull out and savor later, like a fine wine. She took in the cabin and its surroundings, fascinated by the simplicity and beauty of it all. The cabin itself sat on a hillside that looked down to the river and across the entire expanse of the small town. There was a large porch with a rail across the front, and a large wooden bench next to the front door. The A-frame roof hung over just enough to provide shade across the entire entryway, while strong, sturdy planks of wood held the body of the cabin together.

A stone circular fire pit was inset in the ground a few feet in front of the cabin with a large wooden chair and a few iron rods for cooking hanging over it.

She couldn't make out what was behind the cabin, but she surmised that that there was most likely a garden or an open space to grow food. She removed the hat on her head and looked over to Frank who had done the same.

"I have officially lost count of the things you are capable of." She proclaimed, staring at him with a look of serious astonishment. "But this doesn't mean you get to gloat…you are still terrible at the guitar."

Frank laughed out loud this time and held out a hand to her. "Would you like the grand tour?" Her face lit up, and a grin from ear to ear graced her face.

"You already know the answer to that..." She beamed and slid her hand into his eagerly.

xxx

The interior of the cabin was warm from being shuttered up in the heat for so long, leaving Lily to think Frank had not been here in some time. As they entered, Lily stayed by the doorway while Frank began to walk through and open up the windows. The cross-breeze immediately blew through the cabin, and was a welcome sensation across Lily's damp skin.

From the doorway you could almost see the entirety of the space. It was simple and cozy with a dining table immediately to the left of the door, and an area that was something akin to a kitchen to the back left corner. Pots and pans hanging along the wall with a counter island that jutted out from the wall. To the right of the entrance was a large wooden rocking chair and two small leather chairs sitting in front of a small stone fireplace. More iron rods and cooking utensils hung nearby and Lily assumed this is where Frank cooked when it was raining outside. Two arched cutouts were to the left and right of the fireplace and both were filled from top to bottom with books.

Lily walked to the books and smiled thoughtfully at the sight. Running her fingertips along the worn spines of the books, she marveled at the variety of titles.

Shakespeare, Call of the Wild, Freud, books on Latin, Henry James.

Who knew Frank was so well read?

She felt, more than heard him come up behind her. "Yes, I have read all of those…twice." He pointed out as he came to stand next to her, right hand on his hip and the other arm leaning heavily on the solid wood beam that was the mantle of the fireplace.

"Oh I had no doubt." She grinned back at him, and then noticed a small framed photo on the mantle next to his arm. She picked it up gently to get a closer look. It was black and white and faded with an image of Frank standing at the edge of the river next to La Quila. Although the image was older, Frank's smile and skipper hat were unmistakable.

"I think that was taken about twenty years ago." He said softly, recalling the day it was taken. "It's the only photo I have of myself. One of my first jungle cruise hires had this new invention and he paid for his passage with this." He tapped the frame with a finger.

Lily ran her hand lovingly over the image and placed it back on the mantle.

"This place, Frank, it's so….you." She walked around him, passing by slowly. "When was the last time you were here? It's in remarkably good shape." She said as she took a seat in the wooden rocking chair.

Frank turned and sat in one of the leather chairs across from her and small plume of dust lifted into the air. Frank waved his hand in front of his face and coughed. "Um…a few weeks ago. I try to stop by at least once a month to make sure it hasn't burned to the ground."

"Mmhmm." She murmured, running her fingers slowly over the smooth wooden arms of the chair she was in, admiring the craftsmanship. "Did you make this too?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yup, and a few other things…" He sighed, sitting back into the warm leather of the seat.

Lily watched him from her chair. He looked relaxed as he ran his hands up and down the tops of his legs, but there was still a lingering feeling that he was still not telling her everything.

Frank could tell she was trying to pry into his mind. The tilt of her head and the inquisitive stare was a telltale sign that she was seeking information.

Proxima sauntered into the room suddenly, breaking the eye contact between the pair. She mewled softly, rubbing along Lily's legs affectionately and then sitting directly at her feet. Lily ran her hand across the cat's head, scratching behind her ears.

"Oh I see how it is…she's your best friend now?" Frank raised his eyebrows at the large cat as she purred loudly back at him.

He slapped his hands on the tops of his legs and stood up. "Fine — but she snores, so good luck with that."

Surprise widened her eyes. "I do not snore!" She jutted her chin out defiantly.

"You sure do, Pants. Louder than the Amazon jungle crickets." Lily stood up and tossed her skipper cap at him like a frisbee, which he caught easily and then set on the chair beside him. He laughed as she waved him off dismissively, and turned to the last corner of the room where she had not yet explored.

There were trinkets on the shelves and a few articles of clothing hanging on some hooks along the wall. In the back right corner of the cabin leaning against the wall, there was a beautifully carved wooden headboard. Detailed carvings of the river snaking through trees and birds at the ends made up the elaborate and one-of-a-kind piece of furniture. Another one of his woodworking talents on display, she thought to herself. Also leaning up against the wall was the footboard. At the top was a long, smooth trunk that had been sanded down to the finest detail. Lily ran her fingers along the solid piece of wood, its smooth surface only broken up by the natural knots and grain from the tree it once was. Laying nearby on a chair was a heavy quilt, a blanket and some sheets.

It occurred to Lily that Frank was a very tidy and organized person. Evidence to that was made apparent as she recalled the way La Quila was put together and the way he always packed and meticulously secured all of his supplies.

She turned back to him, seeing that he was still watching her. "You didn't make your bed." She said quietly, shooting him a teasing smile from over her shoulder.

He crossed his arms and leaned against the nearby wall, his lips curved slowly into a smile and he took a breath, letting it out slowly. "Oh, well…If I knew I was going to have company…I would have finished building it." His eyes held hers as she hummed and nodded in response, and turned back towards the corner of the room, steering her focus safely away from the unfinished bed.

There was a dresser against the wall with stacks of papers and more books atop it. Lily's fingers itched to pull open a drawer, but she restrained herself and continued to move past it towards a small hallway that only went about five feet deep. Right before she turned down it, she noticed a large worn blanket on the ground with several chewed up sticks strewn about - Proxima's bed, Lily guessed.

There was a small open window at the end of the little hallway, and tucked under it was a desk and a chair. Frank felt himself grow anxious as Lily started to take in his workspace. Sharing this cabin and all that lies within it with someone was…new for him. There has never been anyone, besides Trader Sam who really knew his secret, and therefore no one to really share his living space with. He kept to himself over the years and was considered by the locals as a fairly private person. But now, as this strong, capable… and very curious woman was combing through some of his most private and cherished possessions, he couldn't help the apprehension that seeped into his body.

Lily's eyes explored the small space, committing the details to memory. Above the desk and all along the walls hung several of Frank's drawings. There were half pages filled with drawings of three different jungle cats. One was spotted, another black, and a cream colored kitten. "Proxima…Proxima...Proxima" Lily whispered to herself with a smile as she glanced over each one.

Then there were drawings of the river, birds and other animals of all kinds, the jungle itself, a motor car, and a few of La Quila.

"You really are remarkably talented Frank." Her voice was gentle as she examined the artwork with a somewhat dreamy look upon her face.

"Ah well, years of practice makes perfect. Pretty easy to master something when you have a few centuries to practice."

"A minor master…" Lily offered, a sly smile upon her face. Frank raised an eyebrow at her teasing.

Her eyes landed on the desk where several papers lay, looking like they were plucked from the wall at some point; the ripped hole at the top indicating where they were pulled from the nail that once secured them.

There was a detailed drawing of the arrowhead, and she paused on it, recalling the book of drawings on Frank's boat and comparing the details in her memory. Moving on, she then focused on a picture of an older, almost elderly man, laying prone on the ground, his eyes closed in pain, while clutching at his chest. He was dressed in what looked like similar adornments as she'd seen the Puka Machuna wear. Lily's brow knitted at the image, taking in the clear panic and sadness in the still life drawing. She felt an uneasy feeling coming over her. She wondered why he would draw a man in such a distressing position.

The other drawing was of a young woman, maybe eighteen or twenty, staring off into the distance. Her hair was streaming across her face, and the detail in which he drew her gave her a strikingly beautiful and graceful presence. Lily felt a swell of emotion as she looked at the paper in her hands.

"That was the chief's daughter." Frank's voice made her jump as he came up next to her. "She was the one who ran from Aguirre and hid the arrowhead." She turned to look at him. His massive frame nearly filled in the entirety of the small space in the tiny hallway, and he was standing close enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath as he spoke.

Lily's lips parted in a silent 'oh' and she placed the drawing back on the desk and retrieved the drawing of the man.

"Was this her father? The chief? The man that Aguirre killed, and who enacted the…curse?" Lily asked sadly.

Frank nodded, taking the drawing from her hand and staring deeply at the image for a long moment. Lily watched his chest rise and fall steadily next to her. "He laid the curse out to protect his daughter and the Tears of the Moon, but he saved my life at the same time. I don't know if it was by accident or design, but either way, I survived." He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "There are…well, were some days when I was so angry at him for letting me live, and others where I was grateful to be alive." His voice was soft and low, eyes still focused on the paper.

"And now here we are…" Lily offered her hand to take the drawing back. He handed it to her and she placed it atop the others on the desk. "Alive and well…and who knows what the future holds." She sounded cheerful and hopeful at the same time, and it made the tension still residing in Frank's body release just a little bit.

A low grumbling sound came from Lily's belly, and Frank laughed, "I guess it is about time for lunch." He voice was huskier than usual. Probably from the dust in the air, he thought. "C'mon, let's cook outside…and I promise, no piranha today — I got something better."

XXXX

Frank's ability to chart the river, map the stars in the sky, and note the path of the sun during the years was a handy and useful skill. He knew exactly where to build his cabin, and what direction it should face. Now, as the afternoon sun was beaming across the tip of the house through an open cloud, the fire pit was shaded by the tall trees at that surrounded the cabin, making it a comfortable place to make a fire and cook.

He spent several minutes preparing his set up, and when he began to cook, it was like watching him steer his boat. Each move he made was with purpose, calculated, and was perfectly executed. Within fifteen minutes he had somehow made fresh pasta out of the flour and eggs he had brought with him. Lily at one point found herself mesmerized by the way he was gently, yet firmly pressing and kneading the dough against the wooden cutting board. It was almost enough to make her feel as if it were improper to watch such an action being done in front of her.

He pulled several tomatoes out of another bag and in another ten minutes he had blistered, peeled and chopped them into a sauce. A cast iron skillet made the perfect place to cook the longs strips of bacon that were packed into the same bag as the tomatoes, and when he added the herbs and spices and shavings from a preserved block of cheese he had gotten from Nilo's private stash…he had made essentially his own version of a spaghetti bolognese.

She watched as he divided up the portions into two bowls, taking the time to place extra bacon on her dish. Handing Lily her bowl, Frank was pleased to see she was giddy with hunger and excitement. He sat across from her with a sigh of contentment and held up his bowl to her. "Buon appetito!" Frank declared.

Unable to contain herself, Lily shoveled a large bite into her mouth. She moaned at the taste of of every flavor hitting her taste buds at the same time, and the sound she made caused Frank to nearly choke on his food.

Each bite was better than the next, and as the two companions ate their food in silence, it felt as if their bodies had come alive with energy from the rich, hearty meal.

XXXX

Bellies full, Frank and Lily found themselves in conversation again about life in the little town, the friends he had and had lost and buried in the small graveyard back down the hill, and where he traveled to after he left nearly eighty-five years ago.

Later, after cleaning the pots and utensils from the remaining boiled hot water, Frank decided to close his eyes, and was resting in his chair, enjoying the calm of the afternoon. Lily decided to bring a few of the cooking utensils and pots back into the cabin to clean up.

Making her way inside and to the small kitchen, she returned the pot to its place and the utensils into their containers. She was making her way back across the room and was about to go back outside when she took a sideways glance towards Frank's dresser.

Just a little peek…Her mind offered, and she didn't refuse.

Leaning backwards just a bit to see out the window, she saw that Frank was still relaxing in the shade of the afternoon sun. Unable to stave off her curiosity, she casually sauntered over to the dresser and pulled open the first drawer. The wood groaned and squealed, and Lily froze, squeezing her eyes shut, hoping the sound wasn't enough to alert Frank to her obvious snooping.

When he didn't move, she took that as a good sign and then peered into the drawer. There were a few shirts folded to one side, along with some undergarments. She pressed the handle softly, closing the drawer as quietly as possible. She decided not to open the rest of the compartments, fearing they would be just as noisy as the first, and turned around to head back out the door.

As she took a step towards the exit she felt the floorboard beneath her foot shift with her weight. Curious, she leaned more heavily onto it, and it tilted slightly to one side. "Oh Lily...don't do it..." She mumbled to herself.

Before she knew it, she was on her hands and knees, prying the board from its place along with three others that came with it. Beneath the hidden compartment was a burlap sack. When Lily went to grab at the cinched top, she heard something shift and clang within it. She pulled at it with one hand, but it didn't budge.

"You're gonna need two hands." Frank's deep voice startled her from her exploration, and her hand that was reaching for the sack went to her chest in surprise instead.

"Jesus, Frank! — I don't know how you can move about so quietly being as huge as you are." She huffed at him and sat back on her bottom, an embarrassed smile across her face at being caught snooping. "Sorry…I just saw that the, um, board was loose and well…"

Frank squatted down next to her so they were eye to eye. "You couldn't help yourself, I know." He smiled at her and then reached into the floorboards where her hand was still clutching the bag. "Here, let me help."

He pulled the sack out from the floor effortlessly, the contents clanging and rattling as he moved it to the kitchen table on the other side of the room. He set it down with a thud just as Lily made her way to the opposite side of the table.

He looked to her as she stared down at the mysterious bag. Then, when she glanced back up to him, seemingly asking for permission to open the sack, he held his open hand out to her, "Go for it…"

She pulled at the tight knot at the top of the bag and when it finally came away, she opened it as wide as it would go. Reaching in, she grabbed hold of a large, smooth, heavy piece of metal. As she pulled it out, she revealed what looked to be the breastplate of armor, with two worn leather straps at the top. The metal was etched with fine details around the top and inlaid with gold along the collar. As Lily ran her hand along the cool surface of the metal that laid before her, she noticed how the armor carried dents and stains and the metal was worn and rusting from years of storage.

"This was yours, wasn't it? The armor you wore when you came here, all those years ago?"

"All seventy pounds of it." Frank confirmed, and began pulling the remaining pieces out of the bag and onto the table, assembling the full armor in front of Lily's eyes. Her head was swimming again with the evidence of a man that lived for nearly four lifetimes. She thought of how far this armor has traveled, and how it was so delicately crafted by someone back in Spain to protect the man now standing in front of her. She couldn't help but feel intimidated and in awe at how much history that existed in this cabin at this moment.

"Only a few times - but after learning I can survive a sword impaled to my chest…I decided to retire it." He shrugged his shoulders. "After I trapped Aguirre and his men in the cave, I stowed it away…haven't worn it since."

Frank picked up the helmet and turned it in his hands, thinking of the last time he had to pull the uncomfortable piece of metal over his head.

Lily continued to regard the armor and the man in front of her. "It is in remarkably good shape for being so old…" She glanced up at Frank, "As are you." She added with a hint of amusement which made him grin.

She touched the breast plate again, her fingers finding a sizable dent across the lower half that would cover his ribs. "I would almost say that it belongs in a museum." The thought excited her for a moment, the idea of sharing a piece of history with the world — The armor of a four-centuries old conquistador discovered in the depths of the Amazon rainforest.

But when she looked back to Frank, and the way he seemed apprehensive and solemn about rediscovering his armor again, it gave her pause and she reeled back her excitement.

"What are you thinking?" She asked pointedly, giving him the opportunity to share.

He sighed deeply. "I mean…I feel like this belonged to a different person, you know?" He replied, setting the helmet back down on the table.

Nodding in understanding, Lily brought her hand up to the helmet.

"Francisco…" She said the name slowly. It felt foreign on her tongue. Frank squinted at hearing the name from her lips, feeling the same way.

"Yeah." He paused, then smiled fondly, "Francisco Lopez de Heredia." He pressed his hands onto the table and leaned into them, the wood groaning under his weight.

Lily pulled her hand back to her side. "You have been Frank for a long time now…Perhaps Francisco doesn't really …exist any more?" Lily held in a breath, hoping that her thought wasn't too far fetched. She never felt the need to censor herself in front of Frank, but she also didn't want to say something to offend…as was something she was pretty good at on most occasions with most people.

The difference was, Frank wasn't 'most people'.

Frank tilted his head to think, then stood back up to his full height, squaring his shoulders. "You're right...I'd even go so far as to say Francisco died that day in the village. This armor shouldn't be in a museum — it should be buried and laid to rest — and so should Francisco."

Lily felt her eyes widen and her pulse begin to race at his conviction at what it is he was suggesting. He knew exactly what he wanted to do, and she felt the confidence in his voice wash over her. "Then let's do just that." She replied, equally prepared to let Francisco Lopez de Heredia lay to rest.

XXXX

Grateful for the cloud cover, Frank and Lily made their way to the small graveyard at the edge of the town. Frank pulled his armor along in the cart, along with two shovels. They determined the best location for the gravesite and within a few minutes of digging, they had a decent size hole in the ground.

Lily wiped the sweat from her temples, leaving behind a smear of dirt that only added to the rest of the mud and earth that streaked across her arms and covered her skirt and blouse. She wasn't one to worry about such things, she could easily wash them back at the hotel. She glanced over to Frank who was equally as messy. His shirt was covered in dust and dirt from the digging, and the sweat and moisture from his body not only saturated his shirt, but was making the dirt on his skin streak and drip down his chest. He wiped his hands on his pants with a wave of dust coming off of them.

"Well…I think this should do it." He said, dropping the shovel off to one side and then offering to take Lily's as well. She handed it over, and then began to reach for a section of the armor laying in the cart.

Frank watched as she slowly lifted the first piece into the air, sunlight gleaming brightly off of it. She handed it to Frank. "You should be the one to lay it into the ground." She insisted, and he took it from her outstretched hands.

She continued handing him the armor piece by piece until each one was laid into the hole. Then, shovels in hand, Frank and Lily returned the dirt to where it once was, covering the entirety of the armor.

Frank glanced down to the small mound of dirt in front of them, unsure of what to think. The time in which he lived in Spain and once followed a man, a brother, to the depths of the Amazon on a fool's mission…now a distant memory.

Lily broke the silence. "Should we say something? A goodbye?" She asked.

"Probably." Frank replied, lifting his eyebrows at the suggestion.

Lily waited, letting him think.

Frank shifted his weight from one foot to the other, then, handing Lily his shovel, he bowed his head and made the sign of the cross across his chest.

Lily lowered her head, awaiting his words.

Frank had only known a few prayers and blessings from the limited time he had spent in church as a child. He felt suddenly ashamed that during his four lifetimes he had very rarely sought out the church or gone to a mass of some kind. He felt that the presence of a higher being in his life was something he had shut out. Maybe due to anger or resentment, or perhaps fear of never knowing what his fate would be.

Now, as he stood in front of the grave, he felt his chest constrict slightly as he processed the part of his life that was now laying in the grave in front of him. Emotions began to flood his body, and he swallowed thickly as he began to recite a prayer in Spanish.

As he spoke, Lily glanced over to him from the corner of her eye. She was able to understand a few words that sounded like a blessing. She felt the power of his words, and when he was finished, he again moved his hand across his chest, and offered a final Amen, letting Francisco go for the last time.

"Amen…" She repeated, sharing her respect to the departure to Francisco, a man she never knew; but grateful nonetheless to have Frank standing beside her.

Frank sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. He felt lighter somehow. He turned to Lily and felt another wave of a different kind of emotion. The support she was offering made him feel as if he could take on another four lifetimes. Although he was thrilled that he didn't have to — he was looking forward to seeing how this last life would play out, knowing she would be a part of it.

"The sun is going to set soon — shouldn't we be heading back to Porto Velho?" Her voice broke his reverie, and he blinked at her, remembering suddenly where he was.

"Huh?" He mumbled.

Lily squinted at him curiously. "Or is there something else you'd like to do before we go?" She walked over to the cart and threw the two shovels in with a loud clang.

Frank found himself staring at her again. Her skin was flushed and the dirt on her cheek was starting to run down her neck from the sweat. He knew that they should probably get back to the boat, pack up and get back to Porto Velho…but he didn't want to end their time here in a cemetery. He glanced around them, looking at how long the sun still had before it would begin its decent below the horizon.

Lily shifted on her feet impatiently, and the action made him think of the time he suggested she jump in the river for a bath.

Frank leered down at her playfully, and lifted his eyebrows suggestively. "Well…"

Lily narrowed her eyes at him, feeling a bit more immune to his innuendos at this point. "Really, Frank? Be serious." She warns him, crossing her arms across her chest. She's tired and filthy, and right now all she wants to do is get cleaned up and start thinking about returning back to Porto Velho before the sun is gone.

His grin relaxes, and he relents his teasing. His face turns semi-serious, and she blinks at the sudden change in his demeanor.

"What I was thinking was…there is one more thing I would really like to do. I'd like to watch the sunset…" He points to the hillside behind her. "…from up there." Her eyes follow to where he is pointing, seeing a ridge and an open space at the top of the small hill. She feels slightly apprehensive about another physical activity, but understands that this is Frank's last time here for the foreseeable future.

She swipes at a bug on her arm, and sighs. "Alright…but why up there and not by the river's edge — you could see just fine from right here." She points a finger aimlessly at the shoreline, then plants her hands on her hips.

Frank walks over to Lily slowly, and stops just short of her. She has to lean back slightly to see his eyes. "Yes, you can — however…" He mimicked her stance. "…That hillside is only accessible by a trail beyond the cabin. A trail that takes me too far from the river…"

Her eyes widened in realization. He was never able to climb to the hillside. The curse would have prevented him from leaving sight of the river and making his way to the top.

"I see."

"So…How about a little hike to end the day?" He grinned at her, a bead of sweat dripping down the side of his face.

His face looked like a young boy. Eager and full of hope that he would get his way. She shook her head to get rid of the tiredness in her eyes.

"Lead the way."

XXXX

The trail began behind the cabin, and ran along the edge of the hillside for a few switchbacks. Lily lead the way along the narrow path, Frank taking up the rear. She also discovered that by tying a small knot in the bottom of her skirt, it held itself up and away from her boots, giving her a chance to take larger strides so that Frank wouldn't run her over. It also occurred to her that she left her hat in the cabin, but was not worried, as the sun was still hidden behind heavy clouds.

As they climbed, she noticed that the river stayed to the right and was always in view, but when the path turned left into the hillside and into the lush overgrown bushes, the river slowly began to fade into the background. Frank took the lead so he could chop away at the foliage in front of them with the largest machete she'd ever seen. The sounds of birds scattering from the treetops filled the air along with the whoosh and crack of the blade slicing through branches and dense leaves.

Frank made quick progress through the heavy greenery and within minutes, he had cleared a decent size opening ahead of them, but Lily found herself intrigued by a large overgrown plant growing from a tree and paused to take a closer look. "Oh my…" She gingerly plucked it from where it was rooted, and within a few moments, she was alone on the trail.

Frank had just taken down a large branch that had fallen and blocked the trail, when all of a sudden he stopped, the sight before him pausing his swinging arm in mid air.

Realizing that she no longer heard the swipes of the machete, Lily's head flew up and she dropped the plant she was examining as she quickly made her way through the chopped foliage and just about ran into Frank's body that was stopped directly in the path.

"What? What is it Frank? Is everything OK?" She asked in a hurry, her eyes glancing ahead of them and around, searching for what gave him a reason to stop in his tracks.

It was faded and covered by fallen leaves and overgrown plants, but still noticeable. Streaks of red paint poking through the cover of the jungle — its color a stark contrast to the greens and browns of the nature around it. At closer glance, Lily could see that a rudimentary line had been drawn haphazardly across the ground and up a tree. It separated the trail like a line drawn down the middle of a page in her notebook, but its purpose entirely different.

Lily stood next to Frank silently, both staring at what remained of the boundary.

Frank swallowed audibly, and Lily looked up at him. His face looked stricken, and she felt a stab of panic not knowing what to do.

Frank blinked, bringing himself back down to earth."There was always a limit to how far I could go before the jungle would remind me that I was too far from the river, and pull me back to it." He motioned to the line with the knife in his hand. "This was it. This was the end of the line."

Lily absorbed his words, contemplating the meaning of them and the significance and purpose of the line in the dirt. This boundary. This determination of where he could and could not go. She knew it was a useful visual tool, but even though it has worn away, beginning to disappear into the earth, she knew it was still a trigger for him - an invisible hold of the curse that no longer existed.

Lily nodded, a steadfast look upon her face, and brushed the hair that had fallen across her cheek behind her ears. She lifted her skirt, exposing her worn and dusty boots, and moved over the line in one step. Turning back to Frank with determination in her eyes, she held her hand out to him. "C'mon, Skippy…the sun is setting and I think you deserve to see it."

He pulled himself from the fog that had threatened to engulf him, and focused on the steady hand hovering in front of him. He reached for it and strong, confident fingers wrapped firmly around his hand pulling him gently over the red line in the dirt. There was a moment where he tensed, expecting to feel the stranglehold of a jungle vine around his neck, pulling him back savagely towards the river, but it never came. Instead, the only thing that had a firm hold on him was the sturdy grip of the hand belonging to the woman in front of him, pulling him forward on the trail.

XXX

It took only fifteen minutes to reach the top of the hillside. The path curved out of the foliage to reveal a dramatic view of the entire valley below. She could see how the river curved into the town and then snaked to the west and out of sight. To the east, the dense trees filled the remainder of their view, flocks of birds flying out over the tips of the tallest ones.

The clouds had broken up and the sun was floating just above the point where the river seemed to spill over the horizon.

Frank's chest heaved as he caught his breath from the climb, and he stood looking at the view with his hands on his hips. Lily took a long draught from her canteen, then handed it to Frank. He muttered a quick thanks, and took a long swallow. He took off his hat and poured the last of the water over his head, letting the breeze soothe his hot, wet skin.

They had made it in just enough time. The golden orb that was the sun was just beginning its descent behind the bend of the river. Lily's own breath was beginning to return to normal. She grabbed Frank's wrist and pulled him towards a collection of rocks and boulders. Finding a suitable place to sit, they settled in, breathing in the fresh air, and letting the day's events wash over them.

Frank placed a dirty boot on a nearby rock in front of him, allowing his knee to stick up and his arm to lay across. Hat still in hand, he turned it in slow circles as he squinted at the rapidly sinking sun.

Worth it…he said to himself.

Lily wiped her neck and face with a handkerchief she wet from her canteen, and closed her eyes as the breeze caressed her wet skin.

Frank glanced over at Lily, incredibly grateful to her for letting him drag her up this hill after she so graciously helped him lay his armor to rest. He was going to tell her how much he appreciated her, but as she sat there, eyes closed and the breeze whipping the loose hair around her face, he decided to just let the moment be and turned to stare at the hat in his hand.

"It's so peaceful up here." She sighed, eyes still closed. The buzz and hum of insects nearby filled the quietness that was only disturbed by the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and plants of the nearby jungle.

When he didn't respond, Lily turned to look at him and noticed he had a somber look upon his face.

"Frank?"

His eyes were focused on the his hands, his chest rising and falling as he was taking deep breaths. He nodded once, as if coming to a silent mental agreement with himself, a fixed expression on his face and looked up, out across the jungle.

"There was a period of time where I would just float up and down the river, not even caring where it took me. I thought for sure maybe my life was all a dream or a nightmare…maybe if I never set another foot on land, then maybe the river will just take me to the…end." He looked down again, a pained expression on his face, not wanting to meet her eyes he continued, "I tried to end it…a few times…"

Lily felt the heaviness of his words, and as she processed them, she felt that no matter what she said, it wouldn't be enough to heal the powerlessness he must have felt. "I'm so sorry Frank. I can't imagine what that must have felt like." She said quietly.

He nodded, thankful for her support, and looked back to the sunset. "It was bound to happen, after years of not really knowing or understanding how to break a curse or find a damned tree that couldn't be found." He stamped on a bug on the rock in front of him. "But, I remember one day telling myself that if I don't at least try to live, try to make something of the time I have, then I might as well throw myself into the same cave I trapped Aguirre in."

When he finally looked over at Lily, seeing the encouragement in her eyes, he offered a genuine smile back to her. Trying to lighten the mood, his voice more upbeat, "The point to this sad story of mine, is that despite being tied to the river, it showed me that even in the darkest or most dangerous parts of this jungle, or the when the people around me passed — the river was always flowing…showing me the way." His jaw clenched. "The river has shown me peace. And for that, I'll always be grateful."

Lily brought her feet up on the rock next to Franks, her knees coming up almost to her chest as she folded her arms over them. The wind had picked up and loose strands of hair were whipping across her face, sticking to her lips. She tried to wrangle a few behind her ear, but gave up when they just came loose again. Letting the moment stretch, she looked out across the river in the same direction as she imagined his words floating out in the air and into the wind, as if they were being carried away with the sunset, giving him a sense of closure.

She thought of how far they had come, growing closer in such a short amount of time to the point where they both felt comfortable and safe to share such deep memories and emotions with one another.

A thoughtful smile came across his lips. "I don't think, in all of my lifetimes, I've said any of that out loud before — well, not to a human at least. Proxima number two got quite an earful at one point." Lily laughed, and Frank's eyes glinted with amusement.

They sat close enough that their shoulders were touching, and Lily bumped against him gently.

"My father used to tell me that there was nothing I couldn't accomplish if I set my mind to it, and I never doubted him. He knew that I would have to work harder because I am a woman, and that people wouldn't understand me or even support me. But it made me strong…confident, much to the discontent of many scientific associations…" She said as she pursed her lips in disdain for those who often challenged her. "But he showed me the way. He was my river." She smiled into the wind, feeling the love in her heart she felt for her father.

He glanced over to her, noticing how she only barely kept her composure when she spoke of her father. Her blue eyes were still focused on the horizon, and he turned back to watch the remnants of the sunlight dance upon the water.

She took a breath. "Frank…you are quite possibly the most…infuriating man I have ever met. And if someone had told me two weeks ago, after our first meeting, that I would be sitting atop a hill in the Amazon and watching the sunset next to you, I would have told them they had completely lost their minds."

"Thank you…I think." He chuckled, and leaned into her a little more.

She turned her head, and this time she made sure to look at him, her eyes direct and honest. "You are also incredibly brave, generous, and strong…" She weaved her arm through his, squeezing the sizable muscle of his bicep before settling her hand on his forearm. "…And I don't mean just physically, but something deeper. Something innately, you. To live all of these years, these lifetimes, it takes strength. And you— you possess that in a way that I still cannot wrap my head around. But it…works." She held his eyes for a moment more, then laid her head on his shoulder.

Her words made his chest fill with a breath that felt deep and contented. He let his own head rest lightly on hers, a silent thank you for sharing her own strength with him. There was a torrent of emotion running through him and he was afraid that if he tried to articulate it, it may not come out the way he intended. Instead he brought his other hand across to lay atop hers, and they both sat, content to share strength from one another.

Lily closed her eyes, letting her head rise and fall with Frank's breathing. She felt his hand come to rest on hers, enjoying the feel of the way his thumb moved lightly back and forth across her skin.

In her mind she knew she wanted to be honest with him, tell him that her feelings for him have grown exponentially since they first met, but somehow the words still wouldn't come.

Instead she retreated back into the safety of familiar ground.

Get back to the boat, back to Porto Velho, back to England, then figure it out…

Her eyes opened, and dusk had officially arrived, the light of the day rapidly beginning to diminish. She tugged on his arm. "Probably time to head back, don't you think? Before it gets too dark?"

Frank stood up with a groan, his muscles aching. "Probably a good idea."

He looked down at her, the heat and the sweat from the hike giving her skin a dewy appearance, and causing the dirt to smear along her cheek and down her neck. Her skirt was flecked with mud and earth from digging earlier, and he could see scratches across the fair skin of her arms from where the trees and branches had scraped her along the trail. He realized he probably was in a similar state. He certainly felt like it.

He held back as she began to tug him forward. An idea springing to mind.

She's going to say no…

Then don't explain it, just do it…

"Frank?" She asked, confused as to why he was still rooted in place.

He gave her a wary smile. "Actually, I have one more thing I would like to do, if you're up for it?"

Lily's eyebrows raised in surprise, feeling slightly anxious about the impending darkness and being in an unfamiliar place. But for the second time today, the look on his face was too sincere to say just say no.

He saw her body tense and her mouth open and shut. Thinking she would say no, he nearly said never mind, but she looked up at him with a smile. "Lead the way."

He flashed her a grin and grabbed their bags, leading the way down the hill, and back to the cabin.

xxx