Author's note: *waves*

Shout out to SomeoneForeign for getting me on the go again! The juggling act continues but I really hope I can update more regularly! xxxxxxxxxxxx

…..

Chapter 17: Storm

…

40 hours. Practically 2 days.

That's how long it had been.

Lily dug her hands into her jean pockets as she strolled along the shore. Her brow furrowed thinking of the last words Jet said to her. How his attitude changed and his promise to her was broken in matter of seconds. She waited on the beach for him to return, until the sky darkened and Albert joined her.

"This is pretty normal, Lily. He'll probably come back in a day or two when he has cooled off."

Lily kicked at the tiny, lapping waves in frustration. 'He just took off. He can take off whenever he wants. I'm stuck here, in a house full of strangers and a life that was still completely alien to me. No, that is not exactly fair; they have been good to me. Even Sunita has stopped being a block of ice… but am I breaking up the team by staying? Jet was here before me after all….'

Lily glanced over at the beach house, light shining from the windows against the gray backdrop. The temperature was going down as the wind picked up. Lily gazed back out at the sea again, brushing her hair out of her eyes and watched the swell rise in the distance. 'Definitely going to storm tonight.'

Picking up her pace, Lily headed back towards her new home. Her team mates were going to be split between patrols and trying to relax. She was out of ways to relax. She had read all the papers her new family had written including Jet's, which had brought her up to moving back to Japan last November. This meant she was still missing about three months' worth of information. She read all her botany and Japanese books. She knew the information in them. It still felt odd, as though she reading something from years and years ago.

Quietly, she let herself in the front door, thankful that there was nobody in the front room to greet her and cause her to fake being okay, as she constantly had to do. Tip-toeing upstairs, she rounded the landing and headed for her own room. On the way, she took note of Jet's 'new' bedroom door. Whipping around to see if anyone had noticed her and seeing that she was completely alone, Lily tried the handle. The knob clicked and she pushed in the old door with a sad creak.

One bed was unmade and a few clothing items lay scattered on the ground. Lily gently closed the door behind her and made her way over to what she assumed was Jet's bed, guided by the dim light coming from the window as the sky darkened. Several photographs, most of which were turned upside down on the nightstand caught her attention. Lily spied a photo of Jet with Cathy and Jimmy at Disneyworld. She lay her fingers on an overturned photo on top of the little family photo. Turning it over, Lily's breath hitched.

It was of her and Jet, wearing flower crowns and holding champagne glasses while looking fairly merry. They looked happy, comfortable… like they belonged together. Lily recalled the only time she had seen Jet with a genuine smile, when she woke up and he was at her bedside. That image shattered when he learned that she had no idea who he or anyone was. Lily felt a tear threaten as she placed the photo back down, face up. Her hands found her knees as she hunched over, moving her feet back and nudging something under the bed.

Bending down and investigating, Lily saw a canvas bag. Curiosity getting the better of her, she pulled the bag out and opened the top flap. An iridescent notebook cover displaying all kinds of flowers sat on top. 'I really don't think this is Jet's style….' Lily's heartbeat quickened as the pulled out the small book and dropped the bag back onto the floor.

Opening the first page, Lily noticed her own, loopy writing. She had been sent through motor skill tests by Professor Gilmore, so she knew that it was definitely her own writing.

"Journal of Lily – the greatest novel to never be published"

Lily smiled to herself, realizing how much of a dork she must be. She was already barefoot from walking on the beach, so she pushed herself back, pulling her knees up to her chest as she rested her head on the wall beside the window. Raindrops started to patter on the glass as she breathed deeply.

'Why didn't he give me the journal yet? What was he hiding? Guess I have to investigate…. Investigate myself….'

Opening the first page, Lily felt her heart skip a beat.

Dec 26th

Dear Diary,

This does not even seem real. I can't even being to write down everything that has happened this past month, not a mind the past year….. I do not want to start this diary on a depressing mode, so I will list the positive things that have happened and will happen.

1.I AM GOING TO DISNEYWORLD RIGHT NOW

2.I met Jet, the love of my life.

3.We got engaged!

Lily dropped the notebook on her lap as her hands shook. She leaned her head back and tried to steady her breathing, her right hand coming up and covering her mouth to conceal any squeaks or screams or wails building up in her chest. "Why….. why didn't he tell me…."

….

Jet touched back down on the cliff close to the beach house. Stretching slightly, he felt his joints twinge. Lightning split the sky and thunder rumbled as the rain got heavier.

'Perfect timing,' he muttered with a grunt as he made his way back to the house.

It did not seem to matter how many time he replayed the conversations in his head, no matter how many times he thought about what ifs or possibilities, the answer was the same. He and Lily were nothing now. Even if she learns about what they went through; the happy times, the near misses, the troubles, and their adventures, she'll never know the experience. Knowing they are engaged would not change anything. The others did not know either, so it would be easy to omit that fact and just erase it.

'We shouldn't have even been together in the first place. It was all a chance. Me getting injured at the base and Lily healing me, causing a bond. We had nothing in common, no connection before that. She still has the effect of that bond, but not the same feelings anymore. Albert was wrong, how could I make someone like her fall in love with me? Especially after the awkward way I acted. Then running off. I was a fool to think it would be okay. She is better off without me. I will just say sorry properly and cut my losses.'

Jet hesitated when he reached the front door. 'Please all be out, please all be out…..' he wished again and again as he keyed in the security code and opened the front door.

…..

Lily held the book close to her chest as the rain slammed down on the window panes. The thunder and sheets of rain was deafening but her head pounded. Tears streaked her cheeks as she tried to breathe deeply. The information was overwhelming. Her own words, stained in black and blue ink made her mind spin. She had pulled the bed sheets up around her legs and up to her chest as she shivered.

Resting an elbow on the window sill, Lily looked out at the water running down the glass panels. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and goose bumps dotted her skin as the bedroom door creaked.

The hallway light illuminated Jet's tall frame in the doorway. His hair and clothes dripped. He did a double take seeing Lily curled up on his bed, clutching her journal.

"Jet?!" she squeaked, her voice raw.

"What are you doing?" he snapped and then shook his head.

"I mean, where did you find…. Why did you..?" his voice faltered.

Lily's gaze dropped to the journal as she carefully set it down on the bed. She roughly ran her fingers through her hair and wiped her face quickly.

"I found it in your bag and I could not help myself…. Jet, why didn't you tell me we were engaged?"

Jet fought the urge to shout about going through his personal belongings. He was a stranger to her now, her words, therefore she should not be going through his things but that certainly would not help matters now.

"What does it matter, Lily? It wouldn't have changed things."

Lily stared at him wide-eyed.

"This changes EVERYTHING Jet! We were going to get married? This is not a relationship, it's a commitment."

Jet glowered at her.

"Was a commitment, Lily. You don't remember. You don't have feelings because you can't remember experiencing them."

Lily threw the bed linen off her and jumped off the bed, standing in front of him. Her gray eyes locked on his amber.

"I have feelings now from what I read! How you accepted me, how you supported me….. how you said you would stay with me, even though I can't have kids, and I get nightmares, ohhh and how I get these random ideas and once ran off to New Orleans without telling you! How you met my family, who think I am dead, how you proposed to me, how we traveled around Italy and all our little adventures….."

Jet looked at her, dumbfounded.

Lily's voice began to quieten as she calmed.

"How… how I wrote you were the best I ever had. How no two times are the same. How I want you more and more everyday…."

Jet now looked away, feeling uncomfortable and hot under his wet uniform. Lily looked up, taking him all in. Admiring him. Tall, strong, uniquely handsome with his flaming hair and deep, fiery eyes.

"I want…. I want you to show me."

Jet gasped quietly and looked back down at her.

"Wh-what?" he stuttered as Lily closed the gap between them and took his hand.

"I want you. I want what it was. Tonight."

Jet swallowed hard and pulled her in by the waist. His eyes searched hers as her hands reached up slowly around his neck. He slowly dropped his head, tilting to brush his lips against hers, lightly at first. Then Lily pulled him down like her life depended on it. She kissed him back, making him groan softly. His arms circled her as she trembled, feeling the heat rise inside her. He gently pushed her backwards towards the bed just as the electricity cut, leaving them in darkness as the storm raged on.

…..

Author's note: Yusssssssssssssh! I couldn't have them upset at each other forever, right? But what will happen now….. ohhhh I could be evil again mauaauauahahhhaa. Let me know you think! xoxoxox