The sun was bright the next morning, warming the inside of Jake and Nic's tent rather quickly. Nic woke first, a smile on her face. "Morning, sleepy head," she said, gently rocking Jake's shoulder.
"Mmm…mornin'?" Jake asked groggily.
"Mm hm. Seems like a beautiful day out there too." She kissed his bare shoulder. "What do you have in mind for this fine day?"
"Breakfast," Jake said, a chuckle in his voice.
"Well, by the smell coming in here, I think someone's already taken care of that. And after?"
Jake thought a moment. "Don' have a plan really." He pulled Nic into his arms. "Wha' d' ye wan' t' do today, love?"
Nic's answer was swift. "Nothing. I want to go about town with no agendas whatsoever."
"I think we can do tha'." The couple dressed themselves and joined the rest of their "camp." Colin, another of Jake's close friends, had indeed been cooking breakfast; he had fresh eggs for everyone. Jake let everyone know that today was a day for themselves. No need for any raids, or any fights. Let's call it a vacation day.
After breakfast, Jake and Nic broke off from the rest of the group and went into town. They passed several shops before Nic stopped in front of one, her eyes fixed on something inside.
"See somethin' ye like, Nic?" Jake asked, a hand on her shoulder.
"Not anything tangible," she said softly. "Look." Jake peered in the window and saw a family standing next to a shelf filled with parchment. A mother, father, and two children stood together listening to the shop-keep.
Jake understood why Nic's attention had been caught. There were times, now and then, when she severely missed her family. Yes, she was happy in her new life, but only someone heartless could forget their family. "There's no sayin' tha' one day ye can' have that again."
"Oh no? And how, Jake Delmone, would that be possible?"
Jake softly kissed his love's cheek. One simple sentence was enough to make Nic's heart warm. "Our life's not set in stone."
Nic's eyes didn't leave the sight in front of her, but her voice became more serious. "Jake, had my family not been attacked…do you think we would have met?"
Jake didn't falter. "Aye. I believe we were set in the stars. Somehow, we would 'ave found each other."
Nic took Jake' hand and led him away from the window. "I love you."
"An' I love you. How 'bout a swim?"
"Sounds absolutely perfect. However…you'll have to catch me!" Nic took off in front of Jake running through the town. She was very quick, on her feet, which helped greatly in a fight, but did give Jake quite a workout at times. He watched as she shed her dress at the shoreline, running into the waves in the white cotton slip she wore underneath. He shed his shirt and boots as he ran, eventually joining her and dunking her beneath the waves.
"C'mere, wench!" Jake laughed holding her against his body. "Try t' outrun Captain Delmone, will ye?" His lips caught hers and the rest of the afternoon passed in a dreamy haze…
Author's Note: See, pure fluff…I think it gets better – be gentle with me! I usually have a better handle on things than this J. I was trying to get my muse back!
