A Game Of Risks
The sound of seagulls calling out woke Mary Margaret from what had been a night of fitful sleep. David had made a small shelter and lined the floor with grass and leaves to make sleeping on the ground more comfortable. But honestly how comfortable can you really make sleeping on the hard ground.
They had spent yesterday afternoon gathering rocks and creating an S.O.S. sign in the sand, in case they had planes searching for them. After that, David had occupied himself creating the small shelter for them, to block the cool night winds on the Island. They had talked to each other only as necessary for their tasks. The tension from the earlier incident hung heavy between them. Hours later, Mary Margaret had been still able feel a tingling sensation on the skin across her waist where he had touched her. She was in a battle with her mind, as the memories of what it felt like to have David's lips warm and wet against hers wouldn't leave her alone. They had invaded not only her waking hours, but her sleep as well.
David continually assured her that they would be rescued soon, but she was beginning to wonder. He had also promised her last night that if they did not see a boat, or any signs of rescue today, that they would discuss the possibility of leaving the Island on their own. She knew that David did not think it was the best option. He felt they were safer staying on the Island, where at least they had food. Mary Margaret was willing to risk it.
The problem was, that while she knew that physically she was safer here, emotionally, she was not. The quiet, tension filled hours on the Island, was bringing to the surface all those thoughts and worries that she had been able to successfully push down and ignore before. Could she really marry a man that she loved but wasn't in love with? Would she really grow to love him deeper over time, like she had convinced herself she would? Would it be fair to bring the children she so desperately wanted into such a marriage? And the hardest question of all…would she ever be able to get passed her feelings for David or would he always haunt her dreams?
She sat up, refusing to lay there and think about it anymore. She stretched to try and get the kinks out, before turning her attention back to the relentlessly cawing birds. She watched as they circled around in search of their breakfast. She got up and took a papaya from the pile that she and David had picked from the trees the night before. After breaking it into pieces, she moved further out onto the beach and began throwing the pieces to the unruly mass.
The ruckus created by the over-excited birds awoke David with a start. He jumped up, thinking he needed to rescue her from an onslaught of seagulls. The sound of her melodic laughter stopped him in his tracks as he realized that she wasn't being attacked by the birds at all.
He stood back and watched her as she interacted with the gulls. He had seen seagulls being fed by unsuspecting beach goers before. The birds were usually relentless and impatient in their pursuit of food. Most of the time, it would end in disaster, with the person running in terror, as the birds attacked them. He had never seen seagulls react like these. They were almost gentle with her, as they hovered near and waited for her to throw the papaya their way.
It was a beautiful picture. He wished he had a camera. The sun was just making its' appearance into the sky. Golden hues, mixed with pink, stretched across the horizon. There was not a cloud in the sky. Mary Margaret's petite silhouette, surrounded by hovering seagulls, was breathtaking against the backdrop of the rising sun.
She hadn't yet noticed him. He watched as two birds near her went for the same piece of fruit, pecking at each other. "Now stop it you two. That's not nice," came the playful lilt of her voice as she scolding them. "There's plenty for all of you."
He was in awe, as the two birds actually stopped and looked at her as if they understood. She stooped down and held her hand out, a piece of fruit waiting in her palm. She smiled as one of the gulls chose to leave the fruit on the ground for his buddy. He tentatively hopped towards her, snatching the food from her hand, before quickly flying off.
David crossed the beach and made his presence known to her. "If I didn't know better, I could swear that they actually listened and understood you."
Mary Margaret looked at him, her face the picture of innocent sincerity. "Well of course they do?" She began to whistle and call out to the birds, as she held her finger out as if expecting one to come and land on it.
David's jaw dropped open, a look of incredulous confusion across his face. That was until he noticed the playful twinkle in her eye. "You're teasing me."
She laughed as she stood up. "Well, you make it so easy."
"And now you're laughing at me." David looked at her, laughter shining in his own eyes.
She noticed a moment too late the change in his expression from amusement to mischievousness. He darted towards her. She turned to run, only making it a few steps before he easily caught her up in his arms. He continued running with her, as she kicked and struggled, demanding that he put her down. Ignoring her pleas, he ran straight into the ocean. When the water depth reached a level where he could no longer freely run, he jumped and plunged forward, with her still helplessly in his grip, dunking them both.
She came up coughing and spitting, as she glared at him. He would have been worried that she was really angry if he hadn't noticed the hint of a smile on her lips.
"That was just wrong," she said, pursing her lips and placing her hands on her hips. The gesture was meant to look menacing, but it was hard when it was taking all her effort to keep from laughing.
"You started it by teasing me first."
"You started it? That sounds like something a ten year old would say. Real mature, David." She tried to be sound put out, but she couldn't hide the humor in her voice.
His boyish grin only got bigger. "And I'm not sorry. It was worth it to see you standing there all dripping wet, trying to act mad."
Mary Margaret stood there for just a moment contemplating her response, before she bent down under the water. She came up right next to him, with a two handfuls of wet sand. She took the sand and dumped it on the top of his head, and smearing it into his hair. She burst into laughter as she stepped back to admire her work. He looked in shock as the salt water and sand slid down his face.
He dropped down into the water to wash it off. He came up wiping his eyes, and running his hands through his hair before looking up to her. He lurched forward and grabbed her arm.
"I'm going to get you for this."
They wrestled together and splashed each other with water as both tried to get the upper hand. Their joined laughter filled the air as they got caught up in the merriment. That was until David noticed a flash of light in his peripheral vision. His heart dropped as he recognized the source. The sunlight was catching off of Mary Margaret's diamond engagement ring, creating a rainbow of sparkles in the splashing water. The ripples of light seemed to mock him. Reminding him once again that her love was pledged to another. His thoughts returned to the day before, when he had almost kissed her.
He released her abruptly and took a step back. He couldn't play this game with her, it was too risky. The struggle to control his desire for her was very real. Every moment spent in her presence was already torture. His love was only growing stronger, his connection more unbreakable. Thoughts of touching her, of holding her in his arms, of kissing her, never left his mind. They had plagued his dreams the last two nights, as he slept close enough to her to feel the warmth of her body heat.
She had remained still after he had stopped the splashing. He could feel her staring at him. He began to cough, pretending that he had swallowed some of the ocean water.
"David, are you all right?"
He winced at the sound of concern in her voice. She doesn't love you, he repeated over and over in his head. He stared at her ring, the symbol of her commitment to Frank. He cleared his throat before daring to glance up at her.
"Yes, I'm fine. I just swallowed a bunch of sea water. How about we call a truce, and go get some breakfast?"
She tilted her head slightly, as she raised her eyebrows, her mood still teasing. "Are you surrendering then?"
He tried to keep up her same light-hearted tone, but failed miserably. "I guess if that's what you want to call it. Although, we both know that if I was really trying, you would have no chance at defeating me."
David turned and began walking towards the beach. Mary Margaret followed closely on his heels, imploring him to come back and finish what he started. When he did not respond she laughingly calling him a coward. She raised her fists in the air, declaring her victory.
It wasn't until he turned around to look at her that she understood why he walked away. His eyes were full of sorrow. His attempt at a fake smile only highlighted the turmoil going on inside of him. She recognized the look. He was as tortured as she was by the emotional strain between them.
Watching from a distance, Killian and Emma, were completely unaware that the atmosphere on the Island was more like a ticking time bomb, than budding love. They sat just off the Island in a small row boat they had rented earlier that morning. They wanted to keep an eye on things with David and Mary Margaret, while being as inconspicuous as possible. They had anchored Killian's boat on the backside of the Island, and then rowed the little dingy from there, in the hopes that they would not be seen. Killian had moored the vessel behind a line of large rocks that jutted out into the water just off the Island.
Lowering his binoculars, he turned to Emma. "Well Swan, it seems congratulations may be in order. They certainly seem to be enjoying each other's company. They are splashing around and playing in the water together."
"Well, I won't say that I told you so."
Killian gave a small chuckle. "I believe that's what you just did."
Emma merely shrugged her shoulders, before leaning in and kissing him. Killian pulled her in closer, savoring the taste of her lips on his.
As they parted, he licked his lips and lifted one eyebrow. "I quite like the perks of this little scheme of yours."
She let out a laugh, before thinking better of it, and covering her mouth with her hands. She couldn't allow them to be discovered.
Killian stood up and began pulling up the anchor. "Now then, shall we exchange this boat for mine, and embark on a rescue mission?"
"No, not now," Emma stated emphatically. They are just starting to loosen up."
"Love, they've already spent two nights together on this Island. How long do you plan on holding out? Keep in mind that they have no source of fresh water. They may have an unlimited supply of fruit and seafood, but the only thing suitable to drink is the milk from coconuts. Not to mention, that Frank has been calling her phone…and yours…relentlessly for the last twelve hours. How are you going to explain that his fiancé was missing, and you didn't even bother to take his calls?"
"I don't care about Frank. He's only calling because the pictures that crazy paparazzi took of her and David, were printed in the paper. He's not trying to protect his love, he's trying to protect his investment."
"You need to care, Emma. First off, may I remind you, that crazy paparazzi was originally called by you? Second, the longer we wait, the harder that it's going to be for us to explain this whole situation. At some point we are going to have to explain to Frank why we didn't call him, or why we didn't call the Coast Guard. It's also likely that once Frank knows about the situation, your father will as well."
"That photographer is not about to reveal his sources so I'm not worried about that. I'm going to tell everyone that I was trying to keep the disappearance out of the press. That given everything that's going on, I didn't want to create speculation that Mary Margaret and David had run off together. That I didn't want to create a media circus."
"You are going to tell them that you risked their lives to keep from creating a scandal. Do you think that answer is going to fly with Mary Margaret and David? That's going to make you no better than Frank, or your father, in their eyes. How are you going to make them understand, without letting them know that you knew where they were the whole time?"
"That's why I need to make sure that David and Mary Margaret are back together. They won't blame me if they realize that's the reason they found each other again."
Killian sighed in frustration. The entire Blanchard family were the most stubborn people he had ever encountered.
"Please don't be mad at me, Killian."
"I'm not mad, I'm just worried about you Emma. I'm not sure you have fully calculated the risks in this game you are playing. You're taking an awfully big chance here. Are you sure you're willing to risk your relationship with your sister and your entire family on this gamble."
Emma looked at him pleadingly. "One more night, Killian. That's all I ask. Things are going so well between them. We'll rescue them first thing tomorrow morning I promise."