It was already late. Gil looked up at the beautiful stars and the indeed full moon in the sky. Just a little longer and he would be with Jay again. They said they would meet up at Evie's 4 Hearts, since the cottage wasn't so far away from the Enchanted Lake. It was already quiet on the pirate ship. The hard labour of the day made sure no one of the pirates felt like partying this night. Gil walked up towards Uma's cabin and softly knocked on the door.

"Yes!" Uma's voice sounded hopeful, but her shoulders quickly dropped when she saw Gil coming in. "Should've known it was you. Harry never knocks."

"He still didn't come back," Gil confirmed.

"He's not picking up his phone either," Uma said and checked her phone to make sure. She sighed as she dropped the phone on her desk.

"Are you doing alright?" Uma asked to Gil, guessing he was also worried about Harry and about his dad.

"Yes, I'm alright," Gil answered, but he already had that look on his face. That unsure, sad puppy look when he knew he had done something bad. Uma just stared back at him, preparing herself for the worst. Her slowly raising her eyebrows made Gil know he was allowed to speak up.

"I wanted to ask if it's okay to meet up with Jay tonight," Gil carefully asked. Uma buried her face in her hands as response.

"Does he even want you there at this time?" she asked, her voice muffled by her hands. She looked back up when she didn't immediately get a response from Gil.

"We already set a time and place," Gil confessed and made Uma sigh out loud. She just stared disapproving at him for a few seconds, until she thought that even Gil got the hint.

"Go," she finally said. She had to hide her smile as she saw how Gil's face lit up. Seeing him happy did more to her than she would admit. She refused to believe that it all would end the next day. Such short happiness seemed unnecessary cruel to her.

"You know, I wanted to sneak out scared that you would say no. But now I'm glad I asked for permission first," Gil blurted out.

"Well, I'm glad you decided to take orders again," Uma said offended. "But you know you have to be careful, right? Make sure to look out for your dad and your brothers. Who know where they're at." Gil nodded in response. He made sure he was careful. Last thing he wanted was for his brothers to find him together with Jay.

"And don't worry too much about Harry," Uma continued. "He'll be back by tomorrow."

"What if he gets caught by my dad?" Gil asked out loud.

"Gil," Uma said slowly. "I could still send the letter to Mal tonight to make sure they set an ambush for Gaston." Gil already shook his head.

"I have to try at least once before giving up," Gil said more to himself than Uma.

It made Uma frown for a moment, trying to understand what Gil meant. "I understand he's your dad and you want to do right by him," she said to him. "I still think about my mom, trying to do right by her. Even though she already left and is swimming somewhere in the sea by now. Didn't even bother to say goodbye."

Uma stopped for a moment. Because her mom didn't care about her, didn't mean Uma didn't care about her mom. Uma shook her head and ignored the pitiful look on Gil's face. She didn't need pity from anyone.

"Anyway," Uma continued. "I just need you to know that you don't own Gaston anything. You're with us now." A smiled appeared back on Gil's face. He wouldn't forget anymore.

"Thank you," Gil mumbled back. Then a frown appeared back on his face as a sudden thought raised up in him. "Am I allowed to tell Jay about my dad's plan by now? You know, because we're going to tell Mal anyway."

Uma already nodded. "Might even be best if he hears it from you," she answered.

Gil nodded in response, but Uma noticed how he also already glanced at the door. He wanted to leave, as he impatiently waited for permission to do so. A mischievous grin appeared on Uma's face.

"One last thing," she said, enjoying how Gil looked impatiently back at her. She waited an extra few seconds, noticing how Gil kept glancing at the door a couple times. "Have fun tonight." The same bright smile appeared on Gil's face.

"We will," he said back to her. He waved at her and then quickly left the cabin, not willing to wait any longer to see Jay. Uma didn't hide her heartwarming smile anymore. They should all enjoy these moments as long as they lasted.

Gil felt like running the moment he jumped of the boat and felt the more steady underground of the wooden pier. The full moon provided enough light for him to see clear. Gil still had to restrain himself to run too fast. Otherwise he knew he was likely to trip and fall into the water. After the pier the paths were secure and the lanterns on both side of the road showed him the way. Gil ran as fast as he could through the empty, illuminated streets.

He ran as if his brothers were following him. He then took the little path that would lead to Evie's cottage. There were less lanterns there, but Gil didn't slow down. He could almost feel how he escaped from all the threats his dad made on him. With every step tomorrow seemed further away. Gil could see the light of the house in the distance, increasing his speed even though he was already out of breath. No one could catch him anymore, he was almost there.

Gil finally ran on the little terrace and bumped into the table standing there. One of the chairs stumbled on the ground and Gil let himself fall on the stone walls of the house. He looked around him, making entirely sure nobody had followed him. He leaned with his back against the house, trying to get his breathing under control.

He slowly became more at ease. It looked different than he remembered. Probably because it was the first time he saw it in the dark. It was still just as beautiful, with all the colourful plants surrounding the little area. The moon gave all the leaves a shining silver glow. Gil then looked over at the orange bolls hanging in a miniature tree. Tangerines they were called, a name Gil would never forget again. Gil remembered how Jay surprised him with one of those the first time he got here. He softly smiled at the memory as he already felt how all his fears and doubts disappeared. His breathing got steady and his heart beat went down as well. He was save here.

Suddenly the door swung open and Gil pinned himself to the wall again. Jay stepped outside and immediately closed the door behind him. It didn't take long before he noticed the shadow on the wall. One he immediately recognized, even in the dark. A chuckle escaped him, making Gil frown and relax at the same time.

"I knew it was you," Jay silently greeted Gil. "We heard a noise coming from outside. Evie and Carlos are still debating whether it was a racoon or just the wind."

Jay's laughter worked contagious, since it made Gil smile with him within a few seconds. Gil couldn't help it again, being with Jay always made him smile.

"Let's go," Jay said and was already leaving the property. "Before Evie comes looking for the racoon who is stealing her fruit."

"I didn't steal anything," Gil said back to him. "I just…" Gil tripped over the chair that had fallen earlier. Jay quickly turned around and caught him just in time before he would hit the ground. A muffled laughter escaping him again.

"They definitely heard that," Jay said, pulling Gil back on his feet. "Let's bounce."

Gil still took the time to pick the chair back up and place it besides a table again. He then quickly followed Jay through the garden.

Jay turned around. Gil could finally see his face clearly in the bright moonlight. Jay was still laughing at him, but Gil didn't mind at all. He would trip over a hundred chairs if that meant he could hear that laughter.

"I missed you," Gil said back. He didn't mean to say it out loud. Maybe he shouldn't have said it, but for the moment it felt save to do so.

"It's just been a day," Jay said back to him, still a smile on his face.

"Yea, I know. It feels much longer than that," Gil answered. He felt stupid again. Maybe it wasn't the right time to say things like that. But then Jay walked up to him. His eyes were finally adjusting to the dark, seeing Gil's facial features clearly. He had been missing him too. Since the moment they had left that random room in the castle, he had been longing for his warmth again.

Jay let their noses touch first, cautiously craving for more. For a split second a little voice in Gil's head said he should step back, but once again Gil just let it happen when Jay kissed him. Gil could feel his heart racing again, as he got the same rush over him as when he was running towards the cottage. He laid his hand on Jay's cheek, eagerly kissing him back. Not his dad, nor Harry or anyone else in the world could tell him that this was wrong. Nothing in his life had felt so right to him than holding this other guy close. Jay broke the kiss, but stayed close to Gil, smiling up to him for a moment.

"Let's go," Jay softly whispered. "Before they take back what we took."

"I told you, I didn't steal anything," Gil said back to him.

A mischievous grin appeared on Jay's face when he showed his hands, holding a tangerine in each. Gil blinked his eyes in confusion. He turned around to the cottage for a second, wondering how Jay had been able to plucked two tangerines from the trees without him noticing it.

"Wow, you're good," Gil said admiring.

"Didn't lose my touch," Jay grinned when he threw one of the tangerines towards Gil.

Gil caught it and rolled it in his hands. He followed Jay into the dark forest as he started peeling the orange fruit. He finally got the first piece. It was just as sweet and juicy as he remembered.

"Is it actually far?" Gil asked, just before he put the second piece in his mouth.

"Ten minute walk, I guess," Jay answered with his mouth full.

Gil walked up close to Jay, their shoulders almost touching. He wanted to enjoy every moment of this night. It was already perfect as they walked together in the dark, while the moon illuminated the path before them. It was quiet around them, with just the sounds of their footsteps and the rustling of the leaves when there was a small breeze passing by.

Gil enjoyed the silence, while he happily ate his fruit. Knowing Jay had taken it because he knew how much Gil loved tangerines, made it even sweeter. Gil put the last piece in his mouth. He wished he could go back, getting himself another one. He walked even closer to Jay for a moment, bowing towards him to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you," Gil said as he continued their walk. Jay stopped, making Gil stop in his trace as well.

"For what?" Jay responded.

"For the treat," Gil answered, pointing at the last pieces Jay was holding in his hand.

"Oh," Jay slowly said as a grin appeared on his face again. He took his last two pieces as he reached one of them towards Gil.

"No, that one is yours," Gil protested.

"I already had hundreds of these," Jay said back. "How many did you have? Three? Maybe four? You deserve it more than I do."

Gil thought about it for a moment, but then took the orange piece from Jay. He didn't immediately ate it, but first bowed towards Jay again, giving him a soft kiss on the mouth. "Thank you."

Jay smiled again as he watched how Gil enjoyed his last piece of tangerine. He grabbed Gil's hand, continuing their walk. He didn't mind at all sharing his food with Gil, definitely not if he received such a thank you every time he did so. He could feel how Gil softly squeezed in his hand, letting their shoulders touch regularly. Jay knew they were almost at their destination,

secretly wishing they could walk like this for a little longer. On the other hand he always loved to see the exciting glance in Gil's eyes every time he discovered something new. One thing was certain, he would be here with him as long as Gil wanted him to.

Gil quickly glanced at Jay who was still walking beside him. He knew he should be telling Jay about his dad's plan. He wanted to tell him from the beginning, hating it that he had to hide something from Jay. But doing so would probably ruin this wonderful, peaceful moment. Jay's hand fitted perfectly in his, he couldn't risk Jay pulling his hand away. He didn't want this amazing feeling to end. Not yet. Maybe tomorrow, but just not yet. Gil squeezed in Jay's hand and felt how Jay walked closer to him in response. Jay glanced over to him, just a shadow in the dark, but still so handsome. Gil refused to let it end. No, not yet.