To his relief and disappointment Isabela doesn't comment on his confession at all. What she does is lean over and gently presses her lips to his before she rolls off the bed and makes her way back to the room with the tub.

Fenris groans into his hands the second she is out of sight, cursing himself under his breath for being such a love-sick fool. Everyone knows Isabela doesn't do emotions. She does people, but love?

'Aren't you coming?'

He bolts upright and maybe squawks a tiny bit, completely startled by her voice. She is frowning at him from the doorway and Fenris doesn't know whether to laugh or cry so he replies, 'On my way,' instead.

Between them they get the tub refilled with warm water in no time and Isabela insists that they bathe together again. Bathe being the operating word and, honestly, he isn't sure whether he could keep up with his current cunning plan to keep her from leaving anyway.

'She will leave.'

He cannot think about anything but the fact that once they are clean and done, she will get dressed and this time walk out the front door for sure and Fenris won't be ale to stop her. Not after what he just did.

He is sure she isn't saying anything because it is easier this way. If they would talk, it would get too complicated and it would all result in the same anyway, he thinks morosely as he helps her wash the spots on her back she cannot reach herself.

Once they are finished and dry Isabela catches Fenris hand in hers and pulls him back into his room.

'Please, don't go.'

He cannot shake the crushed feeling that is sitting like lead on his shoulders until he realises that she is still holding his hand and not getting dressed, not leaving.

Fenris head snaps up and he is startled how serious and warm her expression is. She tugs him closer until their naked bodies are pressed together, dark skin on even darker skin, only hers shimmers bronze where the light of the fire touches it.

Her arms are coming around his neck holding him in a lose circle. She presses her forehead against his and says. 'You meant it.'

It is as if she has just pushed him off her ship and he can't swim. For a few moments he just stands there until it hits him. 'You are not running.'

'I'm not.' She agrees.

'How did you know?'

'I can just tell,' she states flatly and he believes her.

Fenris finally dares to let his hands come to rest on her bare back, leisurely stroking up and down. He finds the repetitive motion soothing until he notices that she has been stroking the nape of his neck in a similar fashion for the past few minutes.

'She is waiting for me.'

'Don't go!' There, he finally said it.

She looks up at him and smiles. 'I have an even better idea.'

Fenris cannot fathom what she could possibly suggest but he knows he will agree as long as he can stay by her side. He will agree.

And then she says it. 'Come with me.'

The End