I just want each and every reader to know that the 2005 Pride & Prejudice gave me the confidence to complete this chapter. Everyone say thank you, Mr. Darcy! Note the end of the chapter! Enjoy :)
Uma opened her eyes slowly as she woke up, the moonlight shining through her curtains. She patted blindly for her cellphone and found it dead on her bedside table.
"Great." She shimmied off the bed and let her tight jeans fall to the floor. Note to self, don't take a nap in pants that make your butt look amazing. Uma flicked the light on and grabbed the slip she had slept in the night before. She dug through the closet until she found a cozy cardigan to cover herself and slipped out of the room, not even bothering to put on shoes.
For once the house was completely silent, not even Jay and Gil were up to something. Uma wandered through the dark hallway, rubbing her shell to get a little extra light with her magic. She tiptoed through the lounge where she spotted the twins and Dizzy sound asleep. She made it to the kitchen but nearly shrieked as a figure popped out from the open fridge.
" *gasp* Uma!" Evie whispered. "You scared me half to death! Ice cream?" She waved her spoon.
"I'll take anything. I'm starving."
"Oh my goodness I know! I was so worried about you!" Evie took another spoon from a drawer and pointed at the counter. "Do you want to talk about earlier?"
Uma wanted to say no, but she knew that probably wasn't an option. She took a seat at the high countertop and took the spoon. Evie offered her the ice cream straight from the carton. Uma took the smallest bite of chocolate and sighed.
"Where do we start? The part where I made a princess cry?"
"I'm sure Audrey will get over it. She's not exactly a saint." Evia giggled.
Uma took a moment to look Evie up at down. Her deep blue locks were tied up in a messy bun, which was something Uma had never ever witnessed. She was wearing close to no makeup and the only thing covering her lacy blue bra was an oversized 'Seven Dwarfs Mining Co' t-shirt.
"Nice shirt." Uma chuckled.
Evie cupped her cheek and giggled. "I didn't think I'd see anyone else down here so I barely got dressed! Thankfully it was you and not Harry!"
Uma couldn't stop herself some frowning at the mention of her first mate. Evie pouted.
"What's wrong?"
"I..."
Evie set down her spoon and put her hand over Uma's. "You can tell me anything Uma. We're a team now."
Uma took a shaky breath. "How much did Mal tell you?"
"Just a little. But I want to hear from you and your side."
Uma looked down at her ice cream and sighed. It's now or never girl...walk the plank...
"I have known Harry since we were kids...and you know how close we all were on the island." Evie nodded. "I just...have never really thought about the possibility of...us."
"He never...gave off any vibes?"
"I mean everything was a game...before you know..." Uma gestured to the air. "Before we even had a chance to come to Auradon I was just playing pretend captain of a ship. When Harry called himself my first mate it was all supposed to be...a game...I always thought he was just playing pretend." Uma felt herself getting choked up. "But now everything is different and I just feel like I abandoned them..."
"Uma you didn't abandon them! Why would you think that?"
"...I missed them so much..." Uma felt a tear run down her cheek. "I missed him so much and I can't bring myself to apologize to what I did. I was all alone...and I left them all alone...and I feel like such a bad person..."
Uma dropped her spoon as Evie tackled her in a hug. She hesitated and returned it slowly.
"You are not a villain Uma. You are not the bad guy in this story. You have to remember that." Evie pulled back just little and squeezed Uma's shoulders. "Growing up on the isle doesn't just make those boys your friends...they're your family. Gil and Harry love you and I'm sure if you asked them they'd rather jump off a cliff than let you go away for another year."
Uma felt her lips quivering. "Gil said I forgot about them..."
"Well did you?"
"...No...I thought about them... every day..."
"Yes, you did. You were trying to find a better life! That's pretty heroic if you ask me." Evie grinned. "Now. The first thing you're going to do is .sleep! You can't confess your love to your childhood best friend on a nap."
Uma knew she was blushing and was thankful it was too dark for the other girl to notice. "Easy there. I'm not professing my love to anyone."
Evie rolled her eyes and sat back at the counter. "So I'm just supposed to wait here and watch you dance in circles while pirate boy waits like a sad puppy on the sidelines?"
Uma actually laughed. "What do you even mean?!"
"Uma there's just...this look in his eyes when he sees you. It's like...literally the same look I see Ben give to Mal. Hell it's even the same way Doug looks at me! I know you're thinking 'Oh he's just my friend of a bazillion years there's absolutely no way he's helplessly in love with me' but I think-"
Uma put her hands up. "I just don't want to ruin...us..."
Evie took another bite of ice cream and shook her head. "Boys are very simple creatures Uma. Judging by what I've seen over the last few days...he wants to ruin you."
Uma felt like her face was on fire as her jaw dropped. Evie erupted in a fit of giggles. "OMG NO not like that! ...well maybe but that's not what I meant! What I mean is, I think he's more interested than you're thinking. Don't let your chance at happiness sail away!"
Uma nodded. "I understand...I just don't know...how..." She shoveled a big bite of ice cream into her mouth.
Evie squeezed her hand softly. "I know opening up your heart can be scary sometimes. Trust me, girl...I know, but you'll never know what could happen if you don't try. Your happiness is just as important as the rest of the VKs and you have to make sure you put yourself first! Got it?"
"Got it..." Uma dropped the spoon into the sink. "...is it late?"
"Just past midnight...you heading somewhere?" Evie smirked.
"I...haven't decided yet."
"Well, I will leave you to it. If you ever need to girl talk I am always here." Evie put the ice cream away and started back towards the foyer. "If you need anything else to eat the kitchen is yours for the taking."
Uma nodded and rubbed her shell as Evie disappeared. She took about twenty deep breaths before starting back to her room. She took another route to avoid the lounge where the kids were sleeping and she ended up on the opposite end of the hall. She stared at the blue door that neighbored her own, running her hand along the doorknob. Uma knocked softly.
After a few agonizing moments, the door swung open. Harry squinted at her in the dim light that shone from her shell, his eyes softening as he recognized her. Uma opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Harry smirked at her.
"Sea Witch got yer tongue?"
Uma rolled her eyes. "Haha very funny..." She glanced past him into the room. "...can we...talk?"
Harry nodded and opened his door wider. Uma stepped past him and hugged her arms over her chest. She took that exact moment to realize he was wearing nothing but a pair of dark sweatpants and praised every Grimm Brother under the sun that it was too dark for him to see her blushing. He shut the door just as she turned to him.
"Harry...I'm...I'm so sorry."
"Uma-" He tried to stop her.
"No. Let me apologize. I spent the last year running around with my ambition guiding me and nothing else. I didn't think about anyone but myself and it was so...lonely." He tensed. "I am so sorry for leaving you behind...I know you should've been there with me and if I have to apologize every day for the rest of my life I probably will!" Uma took a breath. This went a lot better in my head. "And I know how much you care about the pirate code and your promise to me but I don't want you to hold yourself down like that. You deserve to be free and live however you want to! That's the dream I have for everyone...especially you..."
Harry nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest, shifting his weight. Uma tried not to stare as his toned arms flexed with the movement. She focused on his eyes, which were twice as distracting without the deep kohl liner. I can't remember the last time I've seen him without it...
"I accept yer apology..." Uma sighed softly in relief. "But...yer mistaken about one thing..."
Uma pouted as he took several steps forward. She froze as he took her chin in his hand and leaned in. The idea of him kissing her senseless crossed Uma's mind and her cheeks burned.
"I would never break the pirate code." He grinned.
Uma rolled her eyes and his hand fell from her chin as he giggled like a maniac. "You are so ridiculous! I don't even know where to start."
Harry shrugged. "It's my job as yer first mate to keep your spirits up. And to make sure yer happy..." His voice was low as he lingered on happy.
Uma swallowed the lump in her throat, reaching her own hand up to touch his cheek. He leaned into her touch almost instantly. "I don't think I've seen you without kohl on your eyes since...forever..."
"Am I still just as beautiful without it?"
Uma pouted and decided to poke the bear. "Oh. Not at all."
"What?!" Harry's eyes nearly burst from his skull.
Uma laughed. "I'm kidding!" Her voice cracked slightly as she felt Harry's hand wandering against her waist. She took a breath and smiled at him. "Now that I've made my amends...what do we do now?"
"Well, Captain...if I may be so honored...I would like to give you a gift."
"A gift?"
"Yes..." He batted his eyes at her. "It's a very special gift. Anyone else in Auradon would be incredibly jealous."
"Anyone?" She smirked, "...even pretty pink princesses?" Uma squeaked as his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer.
"Especially...pretty pink princesses...but this gift is just for you...if that is what you wish..."
Uma's heart was pounding in her chest. She stood straighter and wrapped her arms up around Harry's neck. For a moment they just looked at each other in the dim glow of her shell and Uma felt her hesitation snap in two. She leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to Harry's softly. He froze under her touch, making her think this was a bad idea. He hates it. It's bad. No way. This isn't happening. That's not what he meant.
He silenced her panic as he gripped her waist tighter, kissing her back so fervently they almost fell over. Uma ran her fingers through his hair as she kissed him and kissed him. She felt the back her knees bump the bed and she lost her balance, sitting on the soft mattress. Harry leaned down and continued kissing her, holding her cheek in one hand as the other ran along her leg. He got a little more adventurous, making Uma's slip ride up along her thigh.
"Harry..." She sighed as she pulled back. "...I..."
He opened his eyes and blinked at her like he was one of the drunk pirates they'd stumble upon in the darkest alleys on the Isle. There was something about the way he was smiling at her that made Uma understand exactly what Evie meant. She had this pirate...Hook, Line, & Sinker...
"Can I stay here?" Uma's voice was practically a whisper. "...like we used to...?"
"Always..." Harry rubbed her cheek and kissed her nose. "Though I don't know how much sleep I'll be getting with you looking so...delicate..."
Uma gasped softly as he inched his hand under her slip. "Then what do you propose we do about it?"
She watched Harry debate his answer with a wicked grin. He pushed off the bed, to Uma's surprising disappointment, and sauntered towards his own dresser. Pulling a dark T-shirt from the top drawer, he tossed one at her and grabbed his own. Uma let her cardigan slide off her shoulders and replaced it with his oversized shirt. He stepped around the bed and sat beside her.
"I can't believe how soft these pillows are..." Uma ran her hand along the pillowcases. "...much better than...well everything we had back home..."
Harry leaned back against the pillows and sighed. "These beds are too soft. Jay said he 'had the same problem. He said they make firm mattresses that are somewhere in the middle."
Uma giggled at how sleepy he sounded. He was rubbing small circles on her arm as she smiled down at him. Sleep was knocking at her door just as viciously.
"Well, we'll have to suffer through a few more nights of this. Think you can manage?"
"Ay Ay Captain."
Uma pulled at his comforter until she could slide underneath it and rearranged the pillows so she could lay down. In a smooth motion Harry did the same, wrapping both his arms around her waist as soon as her head hit the pillow. Uma tapped her shell softly, allowing the dim light to fade. She settled against his chest and closed her eyes, hoping Harry couldn't feel how hard her heart was beating.
As far as Uma could tell he was none the wiser and sleep took them both like a magic spell.
Awwwww.
I made a bit of a "moodboard" tumblr to catalog some Harry/Uma content that gives me inspo and reminds me of some of their best moments. check it out if you want
You'll definitely start to see some patterns with these two: Uma is obviously very attached to her shell now that her magic has grown so much. Especially if she's anxious I feel like that's going to be her first reaction/motion. Harry's eyeliner varied in ridiculousness throughout the movies but I'd like to think he was known for always having it purposefully done or enough leftover that didn't get removed properly. So I love that idea that him having a clean face would be a rare sight for Uma. I also know I mention his eyes a lot and that's been a writing choice coming from Uma's POV. Rather than having everything be inner monologue I tried to add some of her perspective into the actual writing.
Thank you for taking the time to read this story and muscle through my sloppy writing! It's been so long since I wrote a fic and I forget how to form real sentences sometimes.
