That's When, an elena of avalor fanfic

That's When

By Laura Schiller

Based on: Elena of Avalor

"(…) I said: "When can I come back?"

And you said: "That's when, when I wake up in the mornin'.
That's when, when it's sunny or stormin',
Laughin', when I'm cryin'.
And that's when I'll be waitin' at the front gate.
That's when, when I see your face.
I'll let you in … and baby, that's when.""

Taylor Swift, "That's When"

As soon as Gabe came running down to the harbour, he could see at a glance that what Elena had told him was true. His heart sank into his polished boots as he stepped into the pier.

The Royal Yacht was in the process of being loaded for a long journey. The Captains Turner, along with several neighbours, were carrying crates and barrels while Naomi stood on the deck, calling directions in her clear, brisk voice and keeping everything organized. She wore a purple floppy-brimmed hat with pink and blue feathers. Rather, the hat was wearing her, as it was huge and showy and didn't suit her at all. The Naomi he knew was practical when it came to clothes, one infamous ruffled ball gown notwithstanding.

Then again, the Naomi he knew wouldn't be leaving like this.

"Ahoy, Gabe." Scarlett greeted him kindly as usual, but some of her heartiness seemed to be missing. When she clapped him on the back, it didn't even make him stagger. "Come to see Nomes off, have you? Good man."

"She's really going, then?" he blurted out. "By herself, at a time like this?"

"Just between us, we're not too thrilled about it either," Daniel said quietly. "But you know what she can be like when she's set on a course."

"If there's anything important you need to say to her," Scarlett added, "Better say it now, before the tide goes out."

She shot Gabe a very pointed look as she said this, and he blushed. He'd suspected all along that the Turners knew exactly why he'd joined them for Family Day in Norberg, and also that they approved. Still, this was the hardly the time for that.

"Can you guys give us a minute?" he asked. "Please?"

Scarlett waved for Naomi to disembark and called her name, but even the volume of the older woman's voice – normally loud enough to be heard across several ship lengths – was subdued. She was going to miss her daughter very much. Daniel put his arm around his wife's waist as they headed back to their house beside the pier.

Naomi's face fell when she caught sight of Gabe. She came down the gangplank slowly, her obvious pride and excitement for her journey fading with every step. She came to a stop in front of him on the pier, took off her hat, and twisted it around in her hands as she waited for him to say something.

He would have rather faced off against a pirate crew. He had strategies in place for that, but there was no strategy that could help him here.

He squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and said the first thing that popped into his head.

"Naomi, don't do this."

"No?" Naomi folded her arms, hat and all, and glared at him. "It's not like you can stop me, Captain Nuñez. Last I checked, I wasn't one of your recruits."

"No, it's worse than that. You're a councillor. The kingdom needs you."

I need you, he thought. The idea of council meetings without her sharp wit and sturdy common sense, battles without her lasso flying out just in time, and entire days without the chance of hearing her laugh, was not something he cared to contemplate.

"The kingdom won't fall apart if Elena does her own paperwork for a few months."

"You can't be serious!" Gabe threw up his hands in frustration. "Ash and Esteban are still out there. Whatever you're looking for, can't you let it wait until Avalor isn't in crisis?"

"If I do that, I could be waiting forever," Naomi retorted. "We're at a stalemate with those two anyway. Maybe I'll learn something useful out there, or maybe I'll come back with a fresh perspective. I thought you of all people would understand."

"Me of all people? Wait … why?"

Her defiant stance softened a little as she looked up at him, her eyes taking in every detail of his uniform. He was off duty for the evening, but he still wore it; having camped, traveled and fought in it over the years, he'd grown more comfortable in his crisp blue and red than any civilian attire.

"Gabe … what was your dream when you were little?"

"To join the Royal Guard."

"See, I had two dreams. One was to have my own home and - and family … and the other was to captain my own ship."

She looked down at her hat, smoothed out the ruffled feathers, and replaced it on her head. She had to lift her chin high to carry it, but somehow it didn't look as silly on her as he'd thought. She didn't have the colouring for it, but she certainly had the panache. She wore that hat just like he wore his sword.

"Mom and Dad made it work both ways, but I've seen how hard it was for them before she came here. I don't know if I can do that. I need to decide now which course is for me, while I still have the chance."

A cold, salty wind blew in from the water. She tipped up her face to it as if it did her good. He could picture her so easily at the helm of the little ship that lay anchored behind her, letting that same wind carry her to freedom and adventure. What surprised him was how easily he could picture himself there as well: hauling ropes, lifting crates, cracking jokes when she was bored, arguing with her about directions, defending each other with sword and lasso when they got in trouble, sharing a hammock in that tiny cabin …

But no. He couldn't do that, even if she'd agree. He'd sworn an oath to protect his kingdom. He couldn't abandon it even for someone he loved.

"I just wish I could go with you."

"You … you do?"

"Of course."

It could have been the wind, but her cheeks were pink. If there's anything important you need to say to her, better say it now …

He had a world of things to say to her, but the most important thing was also the simplest. If one of her reasons for leaving was to decide whether she wanted a home and family, when she came back, he could offer her one. It would be dishonourable to push her when she hadn't made up her mind yet, but once she did …

"Come back, won't you?"

"I will," she said. "I just … I'm not sure yet how long I'll be gone."

"I can wait." He made a show of standing at parade rest. "We cover that in basic training, remember? Stand, wait and look handsome."

The feathers on her hat danced as she giggled. Even her freckles seemed to dance on her nose.

"Can I get a hug before you go?" he dared to ask. "I washed up after fencing practice, I swear."

She threw her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder, just as she had done that day he'd come home from his tracking mission. He'd been hungry and sweaty and exhausted, and she'd scrunched up her nose at him, but that moment had been the beginning of what he would come to understand later, watching the green glow of the Norberg Lights reflected in her eyes.

Naomi Turner was his home. He'd wait for her as long as it took.

The hat tumbled off her head and blew away along the pier, making them both laugh as they broke apart. Gabe pounced on it with the reflexes of a soldier and handed it to her with a bow. Her hair stood up like sunflower petals from her face before she put it back on.

"Godspeed, Captain Turner."

"You too, Captain Nuñez. Be safe."

The last they saw of each other was a smile and a salute before turning away.