When Taya awoke, she wasn't in her own, old, and worn out bed. She was in a soft bed, with fluffy pillows and a comfy blanket. She thought of how her mother would visit and tell her how disgusting she lived. Now Taya saw what Mina had compared her to.

She got out of her bed reluctantly, never wanting to leave that bed again, and slipped on a loose, light pink gown. She pulled her cloak around her and slipped on her shoes. It was still about 6:oo in the morning, so she
decided she'd go out onto the deck.

As Taya walked down the hallway, she noticed the Captain coming from a
room. She whispered a slight "Hello."

He smiled to her and walked over." Hello Miss Harper, how did you like your
quarters?"

"They're very nice, thank you."
"And my ship, this.Nautilus, as I call it, how do you like her?"
"Beautiful..truly." "Ah, well, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to check our navigational room,
see exactly where we are." And with that, Nemo walked away in an odd
stride.

When the young vampiress emerged from the little door, she was surprised to
find that she wasn't the only one who wanted fresh air. Tom Sawyer was already out, though he was shooting the little balls that were floating on the water. She gave a little yelp and threw herself to the floor when the
loud bang sounded as another ball was shot out.

The American 'boy' grinned a little at this and said, without looking away from his target, "It's okay, no one's shooting at us, we're in the middle
of the ocean."

"Oh, my mistake!" She got up and sort of dusted herself off. She walked to the edge and looked out at the beautiful, sparkling water. Actually, Taya
couldn't care less about the damn water. To hell with it, that's her opinion. Her actual opinion was to hell with the world, but taking it out
on the water satisfied her very well.

They both stood in silence for a while, with the occasional 'boom!' 'Yelp!' 'thunk!', until he said in an odd, somewhat off-key tone. "Do you mind if I
ask you..well, a somewhat personal question?"

"Go ahead."
"It's about your mother. Did she..did she, truly disappear, for good?"
"Yes, I'm quite sure she is gone forever."
"I'm glad."
"I am too."
"What? Why? She's your mother!" "Well, she once wrote to me that a handsome American boy had fancied her,
and I know it's you, and I'm, well, I'm sort of jealous." "You are? Well, to tell you the truth, I kinda like you too. More than I
did your mother, It seems a little sick at the thought now."
"So, what would you do, if I were to kiss you?"
"I'm not sure."
"Then I won't."
"Well, that's to bad, wait, why not?"
"Because I don't want to make you or me uncomfortable!"
"Oh, point taken. It's about breakfast time, all but Skinner should be
awake..accompany me to breakfast?"
"Gladly."

They took off, through the doors, and, as they walked through the halls, Tom glanced over at her and discovered a hidden beauty, and a scar in the shape of an X on the top of her jaw, a line led from it to her mid neck. Taya noticed his discovery and quickly made it so her hair covered it from sight. He turned away as they entered the breakfast area. Nemo and Jackal looked up from their plates and then looked down again, continuing to eat,
Nemo in a delicate way, Jackal in a monster way.

() Writer's block! () () Kay, it's over.lol! ()

Throughout breakfast, Taya would look over at Tom, and he would look over
at her, both would grin for no apparent reason.

..Later that day..

Taya was sitting on her bed in her room, reading a book she had found on a shelf when Tom walked in. He sat on the foot of her bead and took her book, laying it down beside himself. "I can't stand it. You're driving me crazy. I wanna, well, I wanna..it's hard to explain! I thought I was interested in
you because I saw so much of Mina..but! I figured out that I like you
because you aren't like her..and I love that! You have a mysterious
quality. Please, give me a chance. Let me..let me.you know.." He looked
down at his hands, which were in his lap.

Taya watched and listened. When he finished, she crawled over to him,
straddled his lap, and kissed is lips softly, cradling his head in her hands. She smiled as a confused look came over his face, "Sawyer, I think
we've got a deal." She kissed him again, this time more deeply, and he
leaned into her kiss.

...Yet again, later that day..

Taya and Tom stood on the deck, his arms wrapped around her. She turned to
him, "You have the sexiest grin, you know that?"
"Really?"
"Yep..and I love it! You should always grin!"
"Especially around you?"
"Only around me."

He slightly laughed. She gave him a cute look, with puppy dog eyes and her straight hair falling around her face, and, of course, the pouty lip. He laughed slightly again and then gave her the grin. She pretended to melt, which was something he wasn't ready for, and she fell to the ground, not
meaning to.

"Sawyer!"
"Sorry! I wasn't ready for that!"
"I don't think I like you any more."
"What!"
"Just kidding."

He helped her up and kissed her for about 2o seconds. Afterwards she leaned back onto the railing and they talked about each other's lives and what had happened with the League so far and what not until a man emerged from the
port hole. "Miss Harker, there's a letter from your mother!"

Taya bolted to the main room, where she knew they'd be. Tom caught up with her and slowed down her pace as they entered the room. Skinner, Nemo and Dr. Jackal all sat around the table. Taya took the letter, tore it open, and scanned the whole three pages. She looked up and said in an almost sad
tone, "She's coming back."

Everyone stood in silence.

"Well," came Tom's voice, "that's a surprise!'

Silence again.

Taya threw the letter down and walked out into the corridor, trying to hold
back tears. Tom followed her as she walked to her room. She knew he was there and he knew she knew but neither minded. He shut the door after they had both entered the room. They stood in absolute silence until Tom said
awkwardly, "What's the matter?"

Taya went all out on him at that moment. She was furious. Couldn't he tell that she and her mother weren't that close and that she, herself would have
to go back to the way she was? Couldn't he tell that when she left, she
would never see him again unless he was to leave the League as well? "How can you not know what's wrong!?! Don't you know that when she comes, all hell will break out? One of us will have to leave, because God knows you only need one vampire, and that one would probably be me just because my mother told me I should and didn't have a choice. Plus, she may not have been interested in you a while ago, before she left, but, now that I am,
I'm sure she will be too! If you can't tell yet, I DON'T LIKE HER!"

He stood there in silence and the walked over to her, kissed her forehead,
and hugged her, not letting go. "Don't worry, I won't let you leave."

"I guess I have to trust you."