She looked so depressed, almost in a pathetic way. Tokum watched his fiancé make her way over to the riverbank, place her head in her small hands and begin to release her sorrow. Tokum watched from a short distance away as Pocahontas sobbed, shoulders shaking almost violently from emotion. his heart was almost torn. Why would she cry this hard? In all of their lives, he had seen her cry only once before. When her mother had died from a disease that had also swept out half of the tribe. Pocahontas herself had caught the illness, but with much loving care, she was able to recover from it. The new question was, would she be able to recover from whatever it was that was bringing her such pain?

Tokum glanced down at the earth beneath him. What in the world could be making her this upset? He must have a word with her before her father returned to announce the engagement to the tribe. Until they could resolve whatever it was, they had to stall the announcement. He couldn't have a fiancé who was upset by every little thing that came in life. He must speak with her. A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Glancing quickly upward, he saw the white man walking toward Pocahontas. She didn't seem to notice him, as she never moved from her place.

Eyes narrowed, Tokum advanced forward, but stopped himself after several steps. he had to trust her. He knew that she shared a past with this man, but she had also reassured him several times that whatever they had no longer existed. Tokum could tell that it was a lie during the meeting. Those two had never taken their eyes off one another. The pain and longing was obvious at both ends, but as far as he knew, except for the kiss he had witnessed several days before, nothing else had happened. Pocahontas knew better. She wouldn't play with fire when her commitments were elsewhere.

The native once again glanced around. Where was Nakoma? He was supposed to escort her back to the village. Women. Always making a man wait for no other reason then they did. He glanced back over in the direction that Pocahontas had been. The man was now sitting on the ground next to her. She was still upset, but they seemed to be in deep conversation. "Let them be."

Nakoma's voice snapped Tokum back to attention. he turned to find her with her arms crossed over her chest, a serious expression on her face. "What are you talking about?" he answered. Nakoma narrowed her eyes. "I'm not blind, Tokum. Anyone can see the emotions that are evident on your face. You feel like you should be over there as well." Tokum turned away, not answering.

Nakoma sighed before taking his arm. "Come." Tokum glanced back at her. 'Where are we going?" "You and I need to talk." she answered without turning around. "Then, perhaps, you will understand what is going on." Tokum allowed himself to be led away, hoping for some much needed clarity and closure from this whole situation.

...00000...

It broke John's heart to see her like this. Hunched over into a small heap, she shook violently from the emotions that were now coming free, having been bottled up inside for so long. He knelt down beside her and gently touched her arm. After managing to get some control, she lifted her head to see who it was. When she saw John's concerned expression, she blinked once, then threw herself into his arms.

The inapt was unexpected and the surprise element added to the strength at which she hurled herself at him knocked him flat onto his back. He lay on the ground for a few moments, a bit unsure of what had just happened. He then realized that he was holding something in his arms and glanced down to see Pocahontas on top of him, crying hysterically.

He somehow managed to untangle the both of them into a sitting position from which he drew to into his lap so that they were both comfortable and held to tightly to his chest as she cried. He didn't try to stop her, for she knew what she was going through. It was the same thing that he was. Wanting to be with the person that you truly love, only to be prohibited by chance and circumstance. He buried his face in her long raven hair and breathed in it's fresh scent of the forest, closing his eyes and wishing that they could be in a different place and a different time. Both were life could be simple. He didn't want the world, only the woman who he now held tightly in his loving embrace. He only wanted her.

Pocahontas had finally calmed herself down do the point where her breathing had slowed again and she relaxed against him, nestling her head into his neck. John felt her relax and he loosened his grip on her so she had the ability to move if she wished, but she stayed still, enjoying the time in his arms. Despite all of the sorrow around him, John couldn't help but smirk at her actions. She new very well that this might be the last time he could ever hold her like this and she was taking full advantage of it. Honestly, John couldn't blame her one bit.

As much as John would have loved to sit and hold her forever, he knew they had much to discuss. He shifted and gently pulled Pocahontas off of his lap and set her on the ground next to him. She was not happy about being moved and let him know it with a glare with her tear-stained brown eyes. It was all John could do not to laugh. Hesitating for a moment, he was careful to choose his words. "We need to talk." he finally said, forgetting about articulation.

She turned her head away from him and stared at the ground, hands folded nervously in her lap. "I agree." she said softly. Both were silent for several moment, not quite knowing how to start the conversation. Finally Pocahontas turned towards him. "Thomas told me to ask you about this." she said as she turned to pull something out of the pocket in her dress. John craned his neck to see what it was, then recoiled in dismay when he did. The engagement ring? Impossible. It was back at the house, sitting in his bag. How did she get it?

"Pocahontas, where did you get that?" he asked, a defensive edge to his voice. She gave him a confused look before handing it to him. "I found it on my way to the meeting this morning." she said. "Why do you ask?" Suddenly everything became clear to the captain. the storm last night. He had tripped and somehow the box and been knocked out of his pocket. He had stalked over to pick it up and snapped it shut, never bothering to check to see if the ring was still intact. "What an idiot." John muttered to himself. Pocahontas jumped back in surprise. "What did you call me?" she demanded, her anger flaring.

John's eyes widened in surprise at her actions, not fully comprehending what had just happened. After a few moments, however, it became clear to him and sighed heavily. "I was talking about myself, Pocahontas, not you." he told her as she glowered down at him. Her expression softened immediately and she took his hand. "I'm sorry." she whispered., not knowing what else to say.

John leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. "It's alright." he said. "We're both pretty uptight right now." He glanced back down to the ring in his hand. "So what does this have to do with me?" she asked as she took the ring from his hand. John sighed. "Do what an 'engagement' is?" he asked her. When she returned a blank stare, he continued. "An engagement is what we call it when two people are promised to each other for marriage." She nodded in silent understanding. "You mean such as Tokum and myself?" she asked quietly.

He swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes." She nodded again and waited for him to continue. "Well, in my country, it is custom for the man to buy the woman a ring when they become engaged." he explained. Again she acknowledged that she understood, but said nothing. Another sigh. "I bought this ring for you, Pocahontas. I was planning on asking you to be my wife." he said softly. The realization was almost too much for her to bear. A hand flew to cover her mouth as her eyes widened in surprise. Before John could stop her, she had jumped up and began sprinting in the opposite direction.

Ignoring his calls to her, she kept running until she reached her favorite place, where she had brought John only the day before. When she arrived, she crumpled to the ground in another sobbing heap. John ran a few feet behind her, but stopped and started in dismay, shaking his head. He had never seen her this weak, this upset. He walked over to where she was and tried to pull her into his arms. This time she fought him, trying to get out of his embrace, but John held her tightly. After a her elbow made contact with his ribs a few times, Pocahontas finally grew tired and collapsed against him once more, breath heaving from her emotional breakdown.

John relaxed his hold when he felt her give up the fight. The man closed his eyes as he gently rocked her, trying to calm her down so she didn't hyperventilate from the emotion that had been building up inside for so long. Of all times, why now? Why did she have to decided to accept a proposal when se promised to wait for him? Her soft voice called him out of his thoughts. "Why?"

John glanced down to find her gazing up at his through tear-filled eyes. "Why were you going to propose?" His eyes widened at her iquirery. Didn't she know the depth of his love? That he wanted to be with her and only her for the rest of his life? John released her and sat back a ways before looking her straight in the eye with his answer. "Because I love you." he stated, "And I thought you knew that."

He saw her eyes narrow in defense. "I do." she said softly. "What I don't understand is why you would flaunt this in front of my face when you knew I was promised to another!" John sat up to meet her gaze. "First off,." he growled, "I did not flaunt anything in front of your face! I bought that because I wanted to marry you and that is the only reason! Second, you were already promised to someone before him. You were promised to me! So don't you dare start accusing me of things that you have already done yourself!" He spun on his heel and began to stalk off in the opposite direction.

Pocahontas could feel the anger boiling up inside of her. She pursued him, determined to make him feel the same way she was. "Perhaps it is better that I accepted Tokum's proposal, John Smith!" she yelled after him. "At least I don't cry every time I see him! It seems that whenever I am with you, sorrow follows! Maybe it's for the best that I did break that vow!." Her words hit their mark. John stopped dead in his tracks, spun on his heel and marched back to where she stood. Pocahontas stood her ground and glared back at him, despite the tears that ran down her face. John came right to her face when she spoke. "If that is the way you feel, perhaps it is the better path. After all, I would hate to have you cry like a weak child every time I am in your presence." he said through clenched teeth.

Pocahontas had to bite her lip to keep a new round of tears back. "Fine then." she said. "Have a nice life." she muttered as she brushed past him, unable to look on his face. John's shoulder's fell. What had he done. "Pocahontas! Wait!." he called as he once again took off after her. She stopped and watched him approach her. he came and wrapped her in his arms. At first she resisted, but eventually circumed to his hold. "I'm sorry." John whispered. "I didn't mean a thing I said back there." Pocahontas gulped down another sob. "Nor did I." she replied. "I suppose that anger can make you say things that you don't really mean."

John nodded. "It can." They stood in silence for a few moments before Pocahontas asked him. "Will you stay long?" Her question surprised him and he raised his brow. "I honestly don't know." he said. "I have business with the king and now that I am free, I have to attend to it." She nodded mutely. "Could you stay at least until the wedding?" she asked. John looked at her in shock. Didn't she know what that would do to him? To see his only love marry another. "Pocahontas, I.." He started. "Please?" she said softly. John sighed. "I'll see what I can do." He finally said.

She smiled her thanks and hugged him one last time. "I better go," she said. He only nodded. He squeezed her hand as he pulled away, but she pulled him back. He watched with surprise as she drew herself up to his height and softly claimed his lips with her own, pressing herself against him. John couldn't resist her. In one swift motion, his arms were around her and he was pouring his heart and soul into their one final kiss. When at last they needed air, they pulled apart, staring into one another's eyes. With one last smile and squeeze of his hand, Pocahontas returned to her village and a new life that did not involve him.

The journey back to Jamestown was a long one for the young captain. How did she expect him to make it through the wedding if he was not standing next to her. He sighed. there was only one thing left to do. As he entered the house, Thomas and Eric were sitting at the table. Thomas smiled when he saw his friend. "Hey John!." he said. "Up for a game of checkers?" John shook his head. "Sorry Thomas. No time. Have you seen my bag?" Thomas glanced at Eric, who shrugged. "In the bedroom." he answered. "Why." John gave them a passing glance as he brushed by. "Thanks for everything Thomas, but I'm leaving Jamestown on the next ship."