It started out as funny and turned into a fluff fest. I apologize. I have no idea where it came from.
I will be updating Now He Needs Her.
I just had like double shifts to the tenth power.
Enjoy...
"Is she afraid of falling in?" A cast member asked delicately.
John shook his head, "she's never been in a boat before." Technically that was not a lie. He sincerely doubted that they had many lakes left in the future.
Cameron grabbed John's arm, "I will be fine. Thank you."
The cast member smiled back and began ushering them into the boat. Since Cameron went first the workers did not notice the shift of balance until after John and another couple had entered the boat. The captain looked at the readout on the wheel and shook his head at his partner signaling no more passengers.
John could feel his face heat up in embarrassment. He had forgotten that Cameron's chassis had to have more weight than was expected of her seemingly tiny frame.
They pulled away from the dock and the woman introduced herself as Hannah. They began their journey and immediately John noticed that Cameron was scanning the inside of the whale.
"He sneezed so hard, he blew his tail right out." Hannah continued.
"John, it is unlikely. No mammal could survive with this amount of tissue damage. It would most likely bleed to death." Cameron said a little too loudly.
The other couple stared at Cameron and the woman looked a little greener around the gills.
John gripped Cameron's hand. He leaned and whispered into her ear. "It's all make believe. Just pretend, ok." He squeezed her fingers and she tilted her head in understanding.
"…the cave of the big bad wolf and right across the way the homes of the three little pigs."
"The wolf ate two of the pigs and was killed by the third." Cameron supplied and John had to suppress a laugh at the absolutely horrified look on Hannah's face.
The woman faltered for a second but pressed on. "Next is the cottage of Alice where she followed the cobblestone path to the hole of the rabbit. Where Alice fell down, down, down to begin her adventures."
"Alice did not suffer fractures from her fall." Cameron scanned the miniature and calculated that at the approximate scale and velocity that Alice would have suffered a broken arm at the very least.
"No, she didn't." the couple both answered annoyed at what they supposed was an obnoxious teenage girl.
"It is improbable but John says it is make believe." She beamed at the boy next to her, "John is always right." She concluded.
"She's…not from around here." John supplied, his face the color of a setting sun. The couple exchanged strange looks but said nothing.
She remained quiet as they continued the journey past the park of Peter pan and towards the replica of the city of Agrabah. "We should go there. You could be very well hidden by the traditional clothing." Cameron added.
John smiled tightly hoping that it would end Cameron's observations.
"Where Aladdin and Jasmine met for the first time and fell in love."
"Did you fall in love with me when I first met you?" Cameron asked. John turned so swiftly that if Cameron had not had a death grip on his arm he might have toppled over and into the water.
"Cam!"
"I found you very attractive but that was not my function." She said it in an almost wistful way and John wondered if her programming allowed all human emotions or just sets of them.
"I…I thought you were very pretty." He replied uncomfortably.
"Thought? You do not think so now." Cameron made a move to stand as if to model herself to John but he quickly clasped her hands and kept her sitting. Hannah glared at them but continued talking despite the none too gentle rocking of the boat.
"Just beyond that are the jewel mines where the dwarves whistle why they work."
"Jewel mines. I bet Mom and Derek would love that."
"I still have my diamond," Cameron pulled on a chain and withdrew a necklace from beneath her shirt.
The couple and even the captain were quiet as she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Coming up is Toad's home from the wind in the willows but nobody is home as they are in an adventure to nowhere in particular."
The duo remained silent and John chanced a glance at Cameron. Now that she wasn't analyzing everything and asking questions every five minutes, the wonder of the world around was finally sinking in. John was very grateful that his mother and uncle had ditched them and that the Matterhorn had been closed.
"Up ahead is the Alpine village of Pinocchio. It was first in that workshop that Geppeto wished upon a star for Pinocchio to become a real boy."
"John?" she took advantage that the couple was engaged in taking pictures of the village to ask.
"Mmmm."
"Do you think if I wished upon a star…that I could become a real girl too?" her question was so low that John had to strain to hear her.
"What?"
"If I wish upon a star, can I become a real girl too?"
Her brown eyes were locked on his intently, begging for the answer only he could give her. "Oh, Cam."
She dropped her head and he wondered if she was recalling what he had said about everything in this place being make believe.
"Where Ariel from the little mermaid took her very first steps on dry land. That Eric and Ariel now live in this palace by the sea as a part of our world."
He didn't answer her question until the dock came closer.
"So please for your safety, keep your arms, hands and feet in the boat until it comes to a complete stop."
They rose all together and the cast members helped out the woman and her companion and then John. Cameron got out and the boat lurched a bit making Hannah grab for her perch. The woman was a professional as she hid her distress very well.
"And of course, I hope you all live happily ever after."
John waited at the gate, keeping it open for her. "Cameron come here." Cameron moved out of the way and they walked down the path. She bumped into dark haired boy with round glasses, the redhead behind him excused them and she smiled happily at John before moving off.
Cameron felt an irrational urge to follow the much too friendly redhead.
"Cam. You don't need to wish upon a star." John began and he nervously rubbed his neck.
"Is it because it's not real?" again that tiny touch of humanity that made his stomach flutter.
"No, because. I like you how you are. If you were a real girl you could get hurt." He intertwined his hand with hers, "I would be upset if that happened."
"If I was real, I could not protect you. That would upset me." Cameron said scrutinizing their hands.
"Guess you better not change." The first genuine smile since the explosion completely changed his face. It made him look his age again. It happened like magic and in a way that could only happen at the center of the happiest place on earth.
She laced her fingers through his hair and brought his mouth down for a kiss. He was deep in the sensations of what made up Cameron but as usual it didn't last long. "Your mother is behind you as is Derek. They have a strange expression on their faces." She whispered against his mouth.
"They'll get over it. She did tell you to keep me close and out of trouble." He said sardonically.
"You are always right, John." Cameron replied and kissed him again.