This is a semi-sequel to "Because I love Duncan," as it's set in the same continuity. Begin!

~Klaus' POV

The Queequeg has a massive library for a submarine. I can't help admiring the wide variety of books that lined the shelves as I worked. I was studying the sea charts for Captain Widdershins. He told me to use them to find the sugar bowl since it was apparently tossed into the Stricken Stream when the headquarters was burned down. I rubbed my eyes tiredly. I haven't exactly gotten much sleep since our last night at the headquartersand having to work like this immediately after boarding this ship wasn't helping my condition. Violet was repairing the telegraph machine upstairs and Sunny was helping Phil in the kitchen. Despite my tired state, I continued my task as instructed until a voice interrupted me.

"Hello."

I jumped and looked up to see my new friend Fiona had entered the library.

"Oh, hey, you kind of scared me half to death," I replied chuckling nervously.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to," She held up a couple bottles, "I figured you might be thirsty so I brought you some soda."

I smiled faintly and took one, "Thank you, some caffeine might help me out right now actually."

She smiled and took a sip from her own drink before sitting down across from me at the table. I went back to my task, but I could feel her looking at me every now and then. I couldn't place a reason why she would do it though until she spoke again.

"Um, Klaus..." I glanced at her, "I'm sorry about that comment my stepfather made earlier... the one about us uh...flirting..."

I saw her cheeks go red. Oh, dear... this is going to be awkward.

I cleared my throat, "Oh, it's alright; I wasn't paying that much attention anyway."

"Well good I wouldn't want to make things weird after we basically just met..."

I nodded, "Yeah that would be bad."

There was a long silence after that. The only noises were the soft hum of the ship's engine and the occasional sound of one of us sipping our drinks. I could feel her gaze on me again after a while.

"If you don't mind me saying so," She started with a shy smile, "I do think you're kind of... well a little..."

She couldn't seem to string along a sentence and I knew exactly where this was going. This probably wouldn't end well, but I had to interrupt her.

"I'm in love with someone else."

Her smile faded instantly, "Oh..."

"I'm sorry, Fiona, but I... I'm in love with someone else and that's just the way it is."

I was telling the truth, of course. My thoughts drifted to a beautiful girl I knew at Prufrock who was currently traveling in a hot air mobile home with her brother. Isadora Quagmire... the most wonderful woman I've ever known. I'm in love with her. We never had anything official between us, but on our last night at Prufrock together she kissed me on the cheek, and I haven't been able to get that kiss out of my head since. I fell so hard for her, but now we've been separated because we wanted her and Duncan to be safe. I wish we had taken them with us. Isadora was the love of my life, and Duncan was my best friend in the whole world. At least there was hope that Quigley would find them and help us all get back together. He had promised us he would do so because Violet wanted to be with Duncan again. And right now, it felt wrong sitting with Fiona like this.

"What's her name?"

I looked up, "Huh?"

She smiled, "The girl you're in love with; what's her name?"

I felt heat rise to my cheeks, "Isadora Quagmire... I'm in love with Isadora..."

"Oh," She nodded in understanding, "Well I've never met her, but we use telegrams to communicate with the hot air mobile home so I might have talked to her at some point."

"Yeah how did you start talking to them? I mean we're on a submarine, how did you know about Hector's invention?"

"Oh, he never told you? Hector is the half-brother of Gregor and Isaac Anwhistle, and he's a volunteer. My stepfather said he's been retired for some time though. He came out of retirement recently and probably told the Quagmires about his past by now."

"Hector was a volunteer this whole time?"

"Yep, I'm surprised he never mentioned it. I've never met him in person so I'm sure he must have had a reason."

"Huh... Maybe he did... I do kind of wish he would have said something; but I guess it did just never come up when we lived in the village with him. I suppose we were right to send Duncan and Isadora with him on his invention."

Fiona nodded, "They are safe up there. At least they're away from Olaf."

"I couldn't agree more." I was so hurt to see Isadora leave but she was safe up there. That was what mattered.

There was another long pause before Fiona started chuckling, "So were you and Isadora dating at Prufrock or something?"

I blushed. "Uh, no we didn't have anything... official going on... I just never told her how I really felt."

"Didn't have the courage?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, I'm sorry for saying anything. I don't get to meet boys very- ever, actually," She quickly corrected. "And when I'm on shore leave I still don't really have the option or opportunities..."

"I'm sorry for letting you down so harshly. I'm sure you'll find a great guy out there somewhere who's going to completely fall for you."

She smiled, "You really think so?"

"Yeah of course I do. You're nice, smart, if you don't mind me saying so I do think you're pretty; you'll find a special guy you just have to be patient."

"Thank you for your honesty, and you weren't being harsh in letting me down; you were just blunt. Still friends?"

I smiled, "Of course we can still be friends."

"Good," She grinned at me, "I'll let you get back to your work then."

She got up and walked out. Well that was about as awkward as I was expecting. But she took rejection really well. Hm... I wonder. I know that Violet loves Duncan, it's not exactly hard to tell it was written all over her face, and Quigley said he'd let Violet and Duncan be together when we all see each other again. I wonder if Quigley would be interested in Fiona...

~The End!

I'll work on the next one shot that's in canon with my universe later, but for now this is only in the books' universe. I just needed to write this because I was thinking about the idea. Bye!