Chapter 4: The Reunion

"Would you look at that" Lara heard Sam whispered to herself as they slowly stepped out of the cab, staring up at the Endurance in all its glory.

It wasn't the first time Lara had seen the ship but every time she would see it, she would get this funny feeling deep down in the pit of her stomach. It was a good feeling, she'd tell herself but it did depress her when she'd think of all the memories her father had made here when he'd go on adventures with Roth and his other friends.

Now, Lara was making some new ones on the same ship that made his.

Lara turned and waited for Sam who was muttering something to the cab driver in Japanese and placing the cab share into his hand. Sam smiled at him before bending down to pick up her bag and making her way towards Lara.

"You ready?" Sam asked as she gave the same smile to Lara as she did to the driver. Lara, slowly, blew out a blast of air from her mouth as she stared down at her boots. She gripped onto her duffel bag tightly as she turned and looked over at Sam and gave her the best reassuring smile that she could.

"I am" she said.

It didn't fool Sam though. Sam had known Lara for years and she'd seen the way Lara looked when she was happy, when she was sad and especially when she was nervous. Sam let out small giggle as she wrapped her free arm around Lara and started pushing them towards the ship.

"Aw, come on Lara. It'll be fun. Don't worry, we'll find Yamatai"

"That's not what I'm worried about" Lara said as she kept staring at the ground below her.

Sam was about to ask her something but someone called out to them that cut her off.

"Hey! Guys!" he heard someone with an American accent call for them. Lara looked up and gave a small smile to her geeky friend, Alex.

Alex had been Sam and Lara's friend some quite some time now. He shared quite the passion for adventure and exploring like the girls did, which was one of the main reasons they had become such good friends in the first place. The only thing that set Alex and the girls apart from each other was Alex's love for his electronics. Alex couldn't live a day without his gadgets unlike Lara, who couldn't even start her own computer without Alex's help.

So, when it came down for looking for an technician for the Endurance, Lara had suggested Roth to hire Alex for the job since she knew he was more than capable to perform the task. I mean, he did have his degree for crying out loud. With a lot of persuading from Lara, Roth finally agreed to hire Alex has the ships technician, which didn't bother Alex one bit since he'd hope to accomplish more than one thing during his adventure to Yamatai.

Alex didn't tell anyone but he had strong feelings for Lara. He was sure Sam already knew, by the glances and vibes she would pick up when Alex was around Lara but he was happy Sam hadn't question him about it. He would never tell Lara he'd like her because he was afraid what she would think or say about him after. He couldn't risk that.

"Hey Alex" Lara said in confidence as Alex walked up to them with his backpack hugged around his shoulder. He walked over and stood beside Lara and looked up at the ship.

"Wow," he said in excitement. "This is amazing. I can't believe we're actually doing this!" he said as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah" Lara said in a shaky tone, which she tried so hard to get rid of. Alex saw how nervous she was and leaned over to grab Lara's hand.

"Hey," he said as he smiled at her. "It'll be okay. You'll do great. We'll find it, I just know it" Lara looked up into his soft brown eyes.

"Thanks Alex" she said with a smile.

Alex kept smiling at her until he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, Sam standing there behind Lara, giving him a smirk. He then quickly dropped Lara's hand out of his and scratched the back of his neck with it.

"So, um-" he was cut off when the ships horn blew out a loud sound. "I-uh-better go," he said as she slowly started backing away from the girls. "Reyes will kill me if I'm a minute late for another one of her lectures," he continued, referring to the mechanic of the ship. "So-uh-see you guys later!"

'Saved by the bell' he said to himself as he quickly turned around and ran into one of the someone who worked on the pier.

The man turned and started yelling something at Alex in Japanese that made Alex turn bright red and quickly run past him towards the ship. The whole thing turned the girls into a storm of laughs as they grabbed onto each other for support. The girls finally caught their breath as they continued towards the ship. The girls finally made it to the dock they were suppose to be at and started to make their way up to the boat. Lara looked down at her watch and noticed it was 10:46.

"Oh god," Lara let out with a groan. "Roth is going to kill me" she said to Sam and they continued.

"You bet he is," Lara heard the familiar voice with the northern accent in it that made her cringe. Standing in front of her and Sam was her mentor with his arms crossed over his chest as he glared down into her chocolate brown eyes that couldn't stop looking away from them.

"I thought I told you to be here by 10:30?" Roth question them.

"I'm-"

"Sorry Roth," Sam cut in. She already knew Lara was feeling unwell about the whole expedition and didn't want to add more tension to it. "It's my fault. I knew that traffic was going to be bad but I had some last minute things to pack before we left"

That was a lie. The real story was that Lara was too nervous to even step out of the hotel room. Part of her wanted to pick up her mobile and call Roth, telling him that she changed her mind and wanted to stay in Tokyo...but she knew that would break his heart, since he was so excited to start an adventure with her. She knew Roth missed this. Going out on his ship, discovering new places and treasures. The way he did with her father, Grim and even Sully.

God, Lara missed Uncle Sully. It had been a while since she'd seen him but every time he came to visit, it put a smile on her face. Whether it was the stories of her parents or just Sully being plane loveable Sully. It pained Lara that it had been so long since she's seen him but, under the circumstances, it was understandable. Plus, he was always busy finding some new adventure in South America, which always made Lara jealous cause she desperately wanted to be over there with him exploring but she kept telling herself that after her hard work at school was done, she'd fly down there and explore there with Sully...but she knew it wouldn't be that easy. It was why she was sort of glad that Sam and Roth had come up with the idea to look for Yamatai.

The sound of Roth letting out a loud sigh brought Lara out of her train of thought as she looked up at him and he smiled.

"Okay, I guess I understand," He turned his attention to Lara and places a hand on her left shoulder. "How ya doing, Lara?" he asked in concerned.

She knew he could tell she was taking all this a little hard. Wanting him not to suspect that, Lara gave him a confidant smile as she straightened her back.

"Never better?" she said, happily. Roth gave her a big smile back as she slid over and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Good! Cause-uh-I got a...sort of...surprise for you" He said as he started pushing her down the side of the ship.

Lara could see Sam following them as she gave Roth an confused look.

"Surprise? For me? Roth, you never surprise me"

"Yes I do, girly," Roth said back, quickly, "Remember your 18th birthday party?"

"Um, Roth," Sam cut in. "I came up with that"

"Yeah," Roth said back to her. "But I helped"

Sam rolled her eyes as she continued to follow her two British friends.

"Roth, what is it? Tell me?" Lara asked, rather annoyed.

"Well, you know-"

"Well I'll be damned" Some American, loudly, cut off Roth mid sentence.

Lara froze as she filled up in excitement. She'd recognized that voice anywhere. As she slowly turned her body around, making Roth let go of her, she saw the face of her cigar smoking uncle with, what else a cigar in his mouth and a smile on his face. Lara jumped in excitement as she turned and sprinted towards Sully and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him like it was her last day on Earth. She let out a heartfelt laugh as he did the same back. She finally let go of him and backed off as she started straight into his grayish-bluish eyes.

"Uncle Sully! I can't believe you're here! I can't believe you came all the way to Tokyo"

"Are you kidding me, kid? When an adventure calls, I'm on the first plane there" he said, which made Lara giggle.

She turned to look back at Roth, who now stood beside Sam, with a shocked look on his face.

"Roth! Did you know about this?"

"Well-uh-no...actually-"

"What do you mean no?" Sully said as he ripped the cigar out of his mouth. "You invited us"

"Actually you slimy bastard," Roth said with a smirk. "I invited him" he said, pointing at someone who was behind Lara and Sully.

Lara could feel her stomach drop. She already knew who Roth was referring to. As she let out a sigh, as she slowly turned around and look at the tall dark haired figure that was making his way towards the 4 of them that made her drop her duffel bag. The look on his face made her think he was worried too, which he should of been. Lara watched as he made his way over but everything was blank in her head.

She zoned out.

One minute she was standing on the Endurance in a port in Japan the next, she was back at Croft Manor. She was 17 again. He blood boiled as she started screaming at him, telling never to come back again. She remembered the way he screamed back at her as she leaned against the big doors of the manor with the tears starting to stream down her face as she sank into the marble floor, burring her face into her knees.

She brought herself back to reality as he stood 3 feet in front of her with an awkward smirk on his face and stared at her with his green eyes.

"Hey Lara" he said with a sigh.

God, it had been so long since she heard that voice. Lara didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say. So much emotion was built up inside her, she didn't know what to do. Lara let out a sigh, she took baby steps toward him and stopped when she was inches away from him. She stared at him for a couple minutes before she raised her right hand and slapped him hard against the face which made him reach up and groan in pain as he started rubbing his face.

"What th-"

"How bloody dare you, Nathan Drake!" she screamed at him, which got the attention of the ships workers around them. She wouldn't be surprised if the workers down below heard her too.

"Lara I-"

"How dare you come back!" She cut him off again. "After all these years! After what happened last time!"

She then quickly turned around to look at Roth, who had a sheepish look on his face. "You invited him?!" she yelled at him.

"Yes but"

"Why?! You know what happened last time and you know I can't stand to work with him! Why invite him?!"

"Lara, calm down," Lara then glared at him as she was fully facing Roth now. Roth let out a sigh as he started rubbing his temple and then looked back at her. "Cause he's the best one for the job. Look, I know you two have you're differences but-"

"Forget it. I don't want to even talk about it"

She finished before she ran off towards the corridors.

"Well, that didn't go so well" Nathan popped in as Sam looked back at him and then started running towards the direction her friend made.

Roth and Sully let out a sigh as Nathan kept staring at the direction Lara ran towards. He knew she wasn't going to be happy when she saw him.

"You didn't tell her I was coming?" Nathan finally asked as he turned to Roth who, again, rubbed hi temple.

"No" he piped up as he continued rubbing.

"Why, the hell, not? You know she'd freak"

"Yes," Roth stopped as he looked at Nate out of the corner of his eye. "But I knew she'd find some way to back out if she knew. I have a feeling she's not taking all this in too well"

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is-" Roth was cut out by the ships horn buzzing again. "We don't have time for this," he said as he looked down at his watch. "We have to leave in 5 minutes and you," he said pointing at Sully. "Have to get off the ship"

"Why?" Sully asked in shock, which made him drop his cigar. "You invited us"

"No, I invited Nate. I only have room for one more person and I invited him"

"But what about us? What about our pack?"

"What pack?" Nathan asked as he gave Sully a smirk which Sully glared at him for. He then ignored Nathan's question and looked back at Roth. "Come on, Roth"

"Sorry Sul but I don't have enough room"

Sully let out a sad sigh as he dropped his shoulder.

"Fine. Guess...I'll find some Tokyo strip club to hang out at until you guys come back" Nathan shook his head and laughed.

"You're a dirty old man, Sully" he said as he wrapped his arms around Sully.

Sully did the same and said, "Be careful, kid"

"Always am"

The two then pulled apart and Sully made his way towards Roth and wrapped his arms around Roth, which Roth did the same.

"Sorry pal" Roth said.

"Ah...it's okay. Stay safe too" The two pulled apart and Roth smiled at him.

"I always am!" Sully let out a scuff and rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say" Sully then turned and picked up his bags as he made his way off the ship. Nathan watched him leave before he saw Roth stand beside him, watching too. Roth then looked down at his watch and groaned.

"Urgh! We'll be late" he turned around and started walking, making Nathan follow him.

"Where am I suppose to go?" He asked which made Roth stop and look at him. Roth turned and pointed at part of the ship.

"You see that way Lara ran off too?"

"Yeah"

"That's where the rooms 're. Just ask Reyes, the mechanic, where your room is, she'll help ye'. Then, I suggest you talk to Lara," which made Nathan cringe a bit, in which made Roth let out a chuckle. "It'll be fine," Roth turned and started walking away.

"Good Luck, boyo!" Nathan let out a sigh as he looked down at the ground.

"Thanks" he said to himself.

Lara sat on the edge of her bunk with her face buried into her hand. She wasn't crying. She was just bloody frustrated. She couldn't believe Roth pulled this on her! She couldn't believe Nathan had the nerve to come here in the first place! She let out a sigh as she pulled her hands away from her face and reached down into her duffel bag and pulled out the map of Japan she had picked up in Tokyo yesterday.

She pushed herself off the bed, making her way towards her locker and opening it. She looked at the door, smiling at the picture she had in there of Sam and her and graduated. Lara remember how happy both of them were that day. They had finally completed their dreams. They were finally getting out there in the real world.

Lara then looked down at the map that sat in her hands and raised it up to pin it to the locker. She pulled one of the magnets Sam had gotten her and pinned the map on the locker. She stared at the map once more before closing the door and then came face to face with her reflection in the mirror.

She stared at herself. Every time she did, there was always this thought that came to her mind.

'I look like my mother,' she'd think. 'I look like my mother with my father's eyes looking back at me'

She was cut from her thoughts when there was a knock at her door. It was probably Sam. Sam had come running after her after the whole break down with Nathan. God! It still pissed her off! She'd told Sam to come back a little while later, stating she just wanted to be alone for the time being. Lara turned around and made her way towards her door, opening it slowly, waiting for Sam to jump in but, to her surprise, Sam wasn't standing there. Instead, it was the last person who'd she'd ever expect to standing at her door.

Nathan bloody Drake.

She let out a groan as she began to slam the door on his face but he place a foot right in front of the door, stopping her in doing so.

"I just wanna talk, okay," he said as he leaned in. "Can we talk?"

Lara glared at him for a second before she rolled her eyes and opened the door for him, in which he slowly started walking in. He looked around the room for a bit, examining it before his eyes caught the chair sitting beside her desk.

"Can I sit?" He asked, looking at her. She gestured towards the chair, indicating that she was okay with him doing so before he sat down in the black covered chair. She then took a seat on her bed, that was in front of him and sat up straight with her arms covering her chest. She continued to glare at him. Nathan let out a sigh as he started scratching his hair, thinking of what to say.

"You-uh-you look," he started saying as he gestured towards her. "Great"

"What is it you want, Drake?" she snapped at him. She was in no mood to listen to his flirty or sly remarks.

"Okay, I get it...you're mad"

"Really? You can tell?" she said, being sarcastic. He raised his eyebrow at her, she could tell he was rather annoyed, which she didn't really care.

"I know it's been a while since we've talked or seen each other-"

"3 years actually-"

"Can I finished?" he cut her off. "I know it's been a while and I know it was wrong for Roth not to tell you about me coming. By the way, not my idea," he said as he raised his hands up in defense. "I just...hoped...maybe this trip would bring us together. Get the old-uh-what did we call it? 'venture party back"

Lara let out a giggle, which she wasn't proud she did.

"That's not what we called it" Nathan smiled at her.

"You giggled," she rolled her eyes at him. "I missed that giggle" Lara let out a sigh and then piped up.

"I have to admit, I missed you're sly jokes too" Nathan gave her a smirk as he leaned in.

"I am quite funny, eh?"

"Yeah," she said as she leaned back on her hands. "But you're also an ass," Nathan let out a chuckle as she pushed himself off the chair.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Hm?" He asked.

"What are you doing here? I thought you gave up on the whole...Yamatai idea. Well, that just what Sully said when I talked to him after...after our fight"

Nathan let out a sigh as he buried his hands into his jean pockets.

"I did"

"Then why come?"

"Well...part of me never truly gave up on the idea of Yamatai. Part of me knew it was still out there. You know what I mean?" Lara nodded slowly. "Great! I'll see you at dinner" he said as he made his way out of her room.

"I'm still mad at you, you know!" she called out to him, as he walked out the door.

"I know!' he called back which made her roll her eyes and lean back into her bed.

So, I waited until now to comment on this. I know its been while since I've written on here and I'd like to thank you all for begin so penitent with this story. I was quite surprised with all the reviews I've been getting for this story lately. Didn't think I was that good :D

Thank you all for the following, favorites and reviews and I'll try to get the next one up soon as possible. I'm already starting on the next chapter now! :D