Jim's Folly

ABBY! I LOVE YOU! (sorry I didn't write you a note, dear…)

*snickers* Angel, you'll LOVE me…*chuckles to herself* I can't wait to read your review…nya ha ha! Could it be a plot twist? A happy ending? No one knows! Better read it.

Ooh! Reading it yet? No? Get reading! ;)

Chapter 27

Silver had left Jim a few days from then, leaving him with many things to think about.

One evening while Jim was standing on the bow of his ship, overlooking what lay ahead, he knew what he needed to do. Turning to the man at the wheel, he spoke.

"We need to turn around."

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The R.L.S. Determination arrived at Aventasia's port two weeks later. Jim said a quick good-bye to his crew and told them he'd be in touch.

"We have much to explore still, men. I'm not leaving you guys all in the dust."
The crew understood. Since the arrival of the cyborg, their captain had changed. They knew he was up to something and need to do something to ease his anxiety.

Jim hopped onto a smaller transport ship and headed off to the planet that housed the Academy, and, Raven's tiny apartment.

He needed to talk to her. It was important.

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Raven was startled when her phone rang. She answered it, frowning as she didn't recognize the number.

"Hello?"

"Be at the port in ten minutes."

Her heart fluttered. "Jim?"

"Will you be there?"

"Yes," she whispered, shocked.

Click.

Raven hung up her small phone and returned it to her side. What was this all about? She knew she couldn't not go, she needed to see him. Did…he know something about Andrew's whereabouts? Did…was he bringing Andrew home to her? Was he…just home for good now?

She didn't care. Running a comb through her hair quickly and slipping into her shoes, she decided it didn't matter what was happening. She was going to get to see Jim.

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For once, it was raining on this planet. This was a rare occurrence but it definitely added to the mood Raven was in. The rain caused her hair to cling to her face and her cheeks to become rosy. She could see her breath in front of her.

Even as she waited in the rain, right at the dock where she knew Jim would be the first to get off the ship, she stood, allowing herself to get soaked.

When the tiny cruiser floated into the bay, Raven's heartbeat sped up. When people started to get off, she started to get antsy. So Jim wasn't going to be the first one off. So what?

Biting her lip, she saw him. He looked down, lifting his eyes to meet hers, his expression innocent and pleading.

Stepping onto the dock, he opened his arms and grinned as she dove into his embrace.

"Hey," he muttered into her wet hair. "How are you?"

She didn't say anything and didn't let go.

The two were stared at by a lot of people, but that didn't bother either of them.

They were finally reunited.

When Raven decided she was finished hugging Jim, she loosened her grip, but still held on to him.

"I'm fine…well…better now."
"Lies," Jim said quietly, taking her chin between his fingers. "I know you're not fine. Don't lie to me."

She stared into his eyes for a moment, deciding if it was worth arguing with him. It wasn't.

Tears welled in her eyes. "Alright, Jim Hawkins! I'm not fine! I'm awful!" She paused from her cries to take a breath. "I can finally breathe now that you're home and I know you're safe-"

She was cut off as he hugged her again, holding her tightly against him. "I'm home now," he reassured her. "I'm not leaving for a long, long time."
Now he was soaked too. She was shivering, which made him hold her all the more.

He rested his chin on her shoulder. "I missed you, y'know," he whispered.

She shivered in return.

Jim pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. "Want to know why I came back?"

She nodded faintly, watching his lips move as he spoke. Raindrops fell from her eyelashes.

"I met an old friend and he made me realize how blessed I am to have you in my life. He told me it wasn't worth throwing a life away for…he told me you were a keeper." Raven blinked. A keeper?

"I told my crew to turn around so I could get home as soon as possible. I wanted to see you. I couldn't…well, I can't…stand it being away from you so often."

She frowned. What was he getting at?

Jim lifted her face so she was staring into his eyes, looking for the answers.

He paused, studying her face. Here goes nothing, he told himself. Inside, his stomach was doing flip-flops. What if she said no? What if she-what if…?

No. He opened his mouth.

"Will you marry me?"

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