Stolen Hours
3 weeks had passed since their being shipwrecked and their discovery of the city. They'd all adapted well and held hope of going home, despite not having a solid plan of how. They'd been a team that felt like a family but wouldn't have admitted it with a clear barrier between work and personal lives. Now their relationship had undergone so material a change as they were forced to find real family in each other since the barrier was taken from existence. Charlotte looked for a father in Ray and she a mother to them all. Her maternal nurturing was not only the glue but the motivation they all needed to continue. Ray took the blessing and let it fill his once lonesome life. He missed nothing of his bachelor lifestyle or any of it's perks, he was just thankful for people to come home to. While Henry and Jasper told themselves they thrived in independence, the others gave them support and affirmation they unknowingly and desperately needed. Schwoz appreciated the lighter work load himself although had some trouble adjusting to a tech free environment.
Charlotte had finally finished her project and it was her finest possession. She had made an almost flawless piece of finery with some help from Henry who taught her to sew. Each day they would wake up and eat together. They would then go off and take care of their separate duties. For lunch they would rejoin and after that they were free to explore whatever they wished before dinner and then sleep. Most days Henry and Charlotte would visit the city together. Some stormy nights they'd gather around the fire and just talk. It felt deeper than a connection by association or by blood. They became completely comfortable with each other. Each forced to let their truest selves lie out in the open, at first too vulnerable for their liking. But soon, it became the quickest way to enjoy each other's company without fear of being judged. Like any other household, they relied on one another to empathize with their troubles and rejoice in each other's success.
By now they wore what clothes the citizens of the village had left them. Charlotte wore a scarf that rested lightly on her head, around her neck, fell over her shoulders and down her back. It was a black, smooth fabric with beads that dangled just above her eyes. She found a breathy dress to borrow that was much more comfortable. It was a breathy burlap-like fabric of beautiful tans and olive greens that ended just above her ankles. The top came together at one sleeve that wrapped her shoulder, the other side sleeveless. She wore a golden bracelet on her upper arm because she found it and why not. The others found simple items but their original outfits were suitable enough with the exception of whatever they could use to block out the sun. Most of them had some form of a beard. Henry wore his scruff handsomely, and the thick layer of tan they'd acquired added to the sudden maturity. Every day the sun beat them till they were stained swarthy. Him and Jasper did the most work and in this, they'd built up a respectable amount of muscle. The desert was aging them before their time.
Jasper had grown inseparable from the panther he'd cleverly named Panther. It had grown quickly and wasn't exactly like the cats they knew from their Earth. It was all black, but as it grew it developed a mane of hair like a lion. It also grew incredibly fast which worried Jasper that it's life span might be extremely short. He really didn't think too much on it. He longed for nothing since he didn't have much to miss. His family ignored him and work was his only safe place. He was glad to now call it his home. Henry missed his family but knew they'd be okay. They'd never been too connected, especially in his latest years when he was rarely home. Charlotte admitted to Schwoz (aka the resident shrink), that she was going a little nuts. No shower, no privacy, nothing between her and the ground at night, no hot water, no variety in food, and worst of these, no privacy. The guys could do anything in front of each other, but she practically travelled half a mile to do anything discrete. Schwoz listened in a way that she knew he could be trusted with the secrecy. She was wrong. The moment after she'd gone, he told the other guys. He knew it was better if they were all aware that her struggles would be different and she was theirs to protect anyways. They went to bed late that day with no real solution.
It was now 4 hours after day break and Charlotte, Henry, and Jasper were peering around a tree at Ray. He napped in a hammock, unsuspecting of the prank he was about to have sprung on him.
"Ok," said Henry, "On three, we start running down the beach screaming like there's something chasing us. Jasper, you can pretend to be dead or something, I wanna really sell it. It's gonna be the rudest awakening of his life. Ok and 1..2.."
"Hey!" he said as they simultaneously jumped at his voice.
"So sneaky Schwoz!" said Henry in that one voice. They dropped shoulders and rolled their eyes, now that their prank was ruined.
"Sorry but listen, I have a plan! It's not great I'll admit, but better than nothing. Henry brought back so much stuff from the city, including those baskets right!? Well guess what, I'm gonna make a hot air balloon! All we need is something for a sail-like thing so the wind can carry it out and we can attach a message to it. One of us might be able to fit on it, but it would likely break down. But yea, we need some kinda cloth and it's gotta be kinda thin. The curtain won't work, so.. any suggestions."
They all looked to Charlotte who looked at the ground. She reluctantly looked up and gave in for the good of the group.
"Ok." she murmured. The boys put together the balloon as Charlotte ran to get her sheets. Hours later, it was ready. It was safe to say they hadn't thought much of this through and everyone had a touch of brain fog. Schwoz put his finishing touches on it and lit a small flame within. They stood back as they watched it take off. It made it quite far, almost till they could no longer see. The premature expressions of relief came to a halt as they watched it become engulfed in flames. It plummeted to the ground and was diminished to ashes in seconds. The last straw deserved a hearty break down and she probably could have used one. They all looked to Charlotte who's hand cupped her cheek. Her eyes were slightly wide but she didn't show much emotion. She crossed her arms, the loss obvious in the droop of her eyes.
"I'm sorry it didn't work, I know how hard you all worked." she softly spoke, her eyes fixed on the point where the highest dune met the sky. Her genuine words were heart wrenchingly sincere. Her obligation to constantly put other's before herself was always held in high approbation and even envy. But in times where she was being beaten down again and again, pushed to fall below rock bottom, they'd wished she had a little more selfish nature. Although she rarely spoke of it, she missed her mother and her home. She never had a father she could love or one she could feel love from. They could see she needed them as much as they took her for granted.
"We'll start work on my raft idea tomorrow I suppose." Schwoz thought aloud.
She turned around to head back, leading them all to the cave. This failure had been just been too heavy a reminder that the situation was becoming very permanent and was completely out of their hands. Somehow it seemed only fitting that they all take an early night. The sun was an hour before setting but Charlotte was the only one awake. She sat by the fire hugging her knees. Henry rolled over and opened his eyes at a crackle from the fire that lit her face. She sagged with exhaustion from overthinking. He quickly shot up to his feet and took her with him. She was slightly startled but also immediately relieved not to be alone. He grabbed her scarf and wrapped it around her neck. He grabbed his bag and her hand and headed out the door. A smile she had not expected that night, was irremovable from her face. They carefully crossed the river and trekked over the dunes. The firelight of the setting sun lit the city in flames. The breeze was strong and hot. Their clothes blew passed them as they walked and the sand slipped from under their feet.
An indescribable and suggestive realization creeped over her mind. It began the moment he took her hand and she couldn't shake the feeling. It was an awareness that she was sure change was coming and a joy about it that surprised her. She decided then that she didn't care what happened, they were stuck here and she was kind of okay with it. Down to their escape they traveled, and into the market place they relished in sanctuary. They walked at an extremely slow pace, taking in the solace of the quiet seductress that lurked within the city walls. "The woman in the village" Schwoz called it, felt more alive the more they were there. Her architecture never ceasing to enchant them with each repeated step. Suddenly, Charlotte turned to him and both stopped. They looked deeply and she took both his hands as they sat down to their knees. He wished to hear her thoughts but said nothing. She held a face of vulnerability and need. She wanted to be close to him and him to her. She felt nothing moral pulling her back, and so she fell into her desire. She took her hand from his and barely brushed the side of his face that met his jaw. Her offer waited for a reply, her heart beating with fear of rejection for every second he sat still.
She cupped his cheek warmly in her palm and then bashfully took it back.
"I just.." she whispered as she stared at the ground. He snapped out of the realm he'd thought he'd imagined and smoothly took her face in his hands. He moved them back to her neck and pulled her slowly toward him, giving her time to stop it if she wished. His kiss was calm and replaced her fear with a clear future. Joy did not do the feeling justice. The thankfulness that they held for the opportunity to finally come together, was beyond any living words. His touch was so pure and careful, his every move with her feelings in mind.
She mimicked every give and take in his current effortlessly, much like eyes adjusting to the black of night. He looked at her with the deepest of deep love, more true and pure than most people feel once, if ever. His mind couldn't approach the idea of ending the kiss and his heart couldn't grasp leaving her to do something as incredibly hollow as sleep. He held her face in his hands in intense thankfulness that he finally belonged to her. He didn't know where to go or what to do, he felt a weighing on his chest, a longing for some intangible thing he'd been reaching out for. Like he needed to marry her or spend every moment for the rest of his days kissing her, feeling her unmistakable touch against his and trying to find ways to prove his unwavering dedication to her. He slowed down the time and the distance between their lips as he barely touched them. He lingered on the edge of them, feeling her breath become his and her hands climbed the back of his neck.
He carried the warmth to her neck as he kissed her through and under her hair, dwelling in the curly ribbons that fell onto his face temptingly. He was taking back all the stolen hours they had let slip away. Hours they could have been growing with eachother, through each other's bond that would mend their wounds and fill the emptiness within both. He slowly pulled away as his hand took the place of his kiss since he feared the distance. Then he whispered something that must have been divine intervention as no other words could have been more perfect in her ears. He looked down to her hands that he'd brought his own down to hold.
"Nothing can change what we have together. I promise not to screw it up, no need to fear."
She looked down with a smile as she spoke so innocently.
"Well, what do we do now?"
"I don't think there's anything we can do my dear. We're stuck with each other."
She took his hands with hers as she brought them to her heart with a smile that told him it was completely his. All the regret she thought she'd feel, all the fear and doubt, were no where to be found and she wondered why this had taken so long, though she wouldn't have done a thing to alter the perfect timing. She stroked his hair with her fingers under the tufts on his temple. He took her with one more kiss to end it before he'd stay and endeavor upon something that wasn't yet right. Their stainless union was unbreakable despite it's youth. It wasn't so young really, as it had not been one moment in their pasts that they could find the moment love struck them. But it had always been there, for their becoming one was long predetermined.