A/N: Thanks for the reviews, they motivated me to get this next chapter out. Again there are adult situations ahead, please beware.
Samantha and Eric sat on the floor of her hotel room scattered tapes littered the floor. She was furiously scribbling on a notepad as she and Eric stared at the tape playing on the laptop. When the tape ended Eric popped the disc out of the computer and stuck a label on it before placing it at the top of the stack.
"Well I think that's all of them" said Eric.
"That was a marathon" said Samantha. "Are you ready for some dinner?"
"Yeah, I'm starving" said Eric.
"Lets order room service" suggested Samantha.
Once the food arrived Eric and Samantha fell onto the food with ravenous hunger.
"So what's the deal with you and Edgar?" asked Eric around a bite of food.
"We like each other and we are getting to know each other on a more personal level" answered Samantha.
"Personal level?" said Eric. "Is that what you told Sig this morning?"
"Nope, he didn't even ask about Edgar, just suggested I find a job" said Samantha. "What did Sig say to Edgar?"
"He didn't get a chance to say anything. By the time he got back to the boat Edgar and the rest of the guys were in full maintenance mode. I've never seen so much repair work go on during the season" explained Eric.
"Really?" said Samantha clearly surprised.
"Yep, the only time I saw Sig out on deck was when you showed up" said Eric.
"I'll have to ask Edgar about it later" said Samantha.
"Is he coming over here tonight?" asked Eric in shock.
"That was the plan, if he can get away" said Samantha.
Eric gave her a look that clearly said it was a bad idea.
"The part comes in tomorrow and they will probably leave tomorrow. It's our last chance to be together before he heads out" said Samantha imploringly.
"I'll head back and try to create a diversion or something" said Eric.
Samantha's eyes lit up and she moved to give him a hug.
"I'm not promising anything" said Eric returning the embrace. "And make sure he's back on the boat before Sig wakes up."
"Roger" said Samantha with a smile.
Eric just shook his head, gathered his gear and headed back to the boat.
Samantha was surfing the internet when there was a quiet knock at the door. It was close to 10 at night and she'd all but given up on Edgar coming to visit. She padded out of bed and gazed through the peep hole confirming who was knocking. She opened the door and Edgar pushed his way into the room. He quickly turned off the light and pulled Samantha into the bathroom. She opened her mouth to ask a question but Edgar responded by clapping his hand over it. Samantha's eyes widened in shock and she nodded. A few seconds later they heard the distinct sound of the door opening and muffled voices.
"Sig, it's dark. I think Eric said something about her meeting with one of the producers" said Norman.
"Go inside and check" said Sig.
"It's not right" said Norman.
"If you won't I will" said Sig.
"Fine, I'll go" said Norman.
Norman flipped the light switch on and Edgar pulled Samantha tighter to him wedging both of them behind the bathroom door.
"She's not here" said Norman.
"Did you check the bathroom?" asked Sig.
Both Samantha and Edgar held their collective breaths waiting anxiously for Norman's answer.
"Yes, lets go. The beer is not going to buy itself" said Norman grumpily.
Edgar and Samantha breathed a sigh of relief as the door clicked shut, they waited a few more minutes before they finally emerged from the bathroom.
"What the hell was that about?" asked Samantha.
"I snuck out" said Edgar.
"Not very sneakily" said Samantha.
"As sneaky as I could get, you try sneaking off a boat where every move makes a noise" said Edgar.
"Are you not allowed to see me or something?" asked Samantha.
"Well I'm just avoiding the lecture from Sig about being late this morning" said Edgar.
Samantha looked pensive for a moment then shrugged. Edgar looped his hands around her waist pulling her flush to his body. His lips found the nape of her neck lavishing it with feather light kisses. His hands tugged at the hem of her t-shirt and quickly pulled it over her head. Samantha turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around him.
"I wanted to have something special for you tonight but all I can give you is me" said Edgar.
"That's all I want" said Samantha in response.
Their hands roamed over each other's bodies pulling clothes off and caressing skin. Edgar quietly settled Samantha down on the bed before laying down next to her. Their lips locked in a passionate kiss as Samantha maneuvered herself so Edgar could sip inside her. The sex was different this time, more intense, each caress or thrust conveying a message to one another. As they reached orgasm together they both gasped at the amazing feeling they shared.
"I love you" whispered Edgar as he collapsed on top of Samantha.
"I love you too" whispered Samantha in response.
Neither Samantha or Edgar mentioned anything else about what they'd said. They both snuggled together and quickly fell into sleep.
A few hours later the alarm on Edgar's phone went off and Samantha stretched over to grab it. It was 5 am and Edgar was already starting to stir. He grabbed the phone away from her and set it back on the nightstand. He gave her a kiss before mounting her, entering her in a single thrust. The sex was quick and passionate, both a goodbye and a promise of things to come. Later Edgar pulled himself out of bed and hopped into the shower. Samantha joined him and helped him to shower quickly. Edgar dried off and kissed Samantha soundly before saying goodbye. As he walked back towards the dock he felt something in his pocket, pulling out the small piece of paper he smiled as he opened it realizing it was a letter from Samantha. As he read the letter he wondered about the new direction his life seemed to be taking. He hopped on deck and quickly snuck back into his bunk. Norman stirred when Edgar came in and cracked his eyes open.
"You made it" said Norman sleepily.
"Yeah, thanks for taking the heat off last night" said Edgar.
"You owe me" said Norman.
Edgar chuckled then closed his eyes, he was unable to keep the smile off his face. Norman noted the smile and just shook his head before turning over and going back to sleep. Matt woke Edgar up a few hours later informing him the mechanic had arrived with the part. The repair was done in a matter of hours and Sig announced to the crew they were going to leave in less than an hour. Edgar called Samantha and said his goodbyes over the phone, as much as he wanted to see her he decided it wasn't a good idea to bait Sig with an in person visit. With goodbyes said the boat pulled slowly out of the harbor.
The trip was fairly uneventful the fishing was dialed in and the Northwestern machine was churning through pots in their standard turn and burn mentality. Every time Edgar got to lay down he pulled out the letter from Samantha and reread it. Sig happily watched the tanks fill up and the crew running as usual. He hoped by the time the boat got back to Dutch, Edgar's infatuation with Samantha would have passed. The boat was plugged in less than a week and as the boat unloaded in Akutan Edgar slipped off to make a quick called to Samantha.
"Hey baby" he said as she picked up the phone.
"Hi Edgar, how's the trip going" asked a sleepy Samantha.
"Good, we stuffed the boat and probably have one more run left and then we'll be done" said Edgar happily.
"That's great. The beds too big without you" said Samantha.
"I'll happily keep you company for as long as you'll have me once I get back" said Edgar.
"I look forward to it" said Samantha.
"I gotta go, someone is probably wondering where I am" said Edgar.
"Ok, stay safe out there" said Samantha.
"You too love" said Edgar.
"I love you" said Samantha her voice small and quiet.
"I love you too" said Edgar.
Edgar hung up the phone and turned around, coming face to face with Nick.
"Did you just say what I think you just said?" asked Nick.
"You didn't hear anything" said Edgar quickly.
"Oh, but I think I did" said Nick. "Congratulations."
"Thanks" said Edgar sheepishly. "Please don't tell anyone."
"Your secret is safe with me" said Nick.
"What are you doing here?" asked Edgar.
"Calling my wife" said Nick.
"Well, tell her I say hi" said Edgar.
The offload was finished in 12 hours, the boat went to refuel and headed back to the fishing grounds. The grind lasted another 6 days and as the crew stacked the last of their gear on deck everyone was thinking of home.
Sig was carefully calculating the amount of crab in the hold when Edgar appeared in the wheelhouse.
"What's up?" asked Sig.
"Just wondering if you could use a break, you've haunted this wheelhouse since we came back out" said Edgar.
"Yeah, I'm just finishing the numbers, so give me a minute" said Sig.
Edgar shrugged and lit a cigarette. He waited patiently for Sig to finish his paperwork and then took the chair. Sig mumbled a goodnight and left Edgar to drive the boat into the offload. After a few hours Edgar started to yawn. In order to keep himself awake he began a list of things he wanted to do with Samantha during his time off. Eric wandered into the wheelhouse and noticed Edgar furiously writing on a piece of paper.
"Hey Edgar, what's up?" asked Eric.
"Nothing, just making a to do list" said Edgar.
"Sounds like fun. Do you want to do a quick interview about the season?" asked Eric.
"Sure" said Edgar.
Edgar did the interview talking about the lower quality of meals since Samantha left the boat, how the level of beauty on the boat had dropped since she was no longer here.
"Edgar, do you think you can maybe say a few sentences without mentioning Antha" said Eric.
Edgar glared at him and tried again. Eric finally gave up muttering something about idiots in love as he walked down to ask the other guys about the season.
Samantha shivered slightly as she waited at the dock for the Northwestern to arrive. Whether she was shivering from excitement or the cold was anyones guess. Eric had called to give her the heads up that the boat was leaving Akutan and heading back to Dutch. She'd spent the weeks the boat was gone working. Without Edgar to distract her she'd managed to edit and transfer a fair amount of tapes. Paul had asked her if she wanted to stay on until the outpost editing was finished but she declined. She needed to get back home and she secretly hoped Edgar would be wiling to go with her, if only for a visit. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder and in this case Samantha's heart was practically bursting out of her chest waiting for Edgar. She was stirred from her musings by the sound of a boat approaching the dock. It was clear even in the inky darkness that it was the Northwestern. All the guys were out on deck waiting to tie the boat off.
"Hey Antha, are you going to catch the line for us?" asked Matt.
"Sure, just don't aim for the face" replied Samantha.
"Fine, but don't let it fall in the water" quipped Matt.
He threw the heavy line and Samantha managed to catch it and string it over the cleat on the dock. When the other lines were thrown she secured them as well. Edgar was the first one off the boat. Without hesitation he picked up Samantha, twirling her around and giving her a big kiss. Everyone on deck cheered. But as the deck was cheering the person in the wheelhouse was stewing. Sig wanted to go out and yell at Edgar to get back on the boat and finish securing everything, but everything had already been done. In fact everyone's bags were packed and ready to go back to their homes. Sig had made all the flight arrangements already, every crew member was scheduled to fly out of Dutch to Seattle in 10 hours. By the time Sig got down to the deck Edgar and Samantha had disappeared. Sig had a meeting with Eric to go over how the shooting went for Red crab. It was a tradition, Sig got to get everything off his chest about what he did and didn't like about the shooting on his boat and Eric got a beer on Sig's tab. For Sig it was a win win.
Edgar sat on the bed as Samantha booked herself a ticket to Seattle. He'd taken her against the hotel room door the moment they closed it. He and Samantha had redressed and Edgar had even helped her pack up some of her clothes until Samantha realized he wasn't folding them first.
"All done" announced Samantha shutting her laptop.
"That was fast, I wonder why it takes Sig so long to do that for us" said Edgar.
"Because he doesn't have the internet out on the boat" said Samantha.
"So what are your plans for the next few months?" asked Edgar.
"I want to go back to LA to check on my house, I want to get a pedicure, I need to get my hair colored back to a normal color and I want to spend almost every waking moment with you" said Samantha jumping onto the bed. "What about you?"
"I made a list" said Edgar.
"How very organized of you" said Samantha.
"Well I had some spare time on the boat" said Edgar.
"Can I see the list?" asked Samantha.
"Sure" replied Edgar.
He dug the crumpled piece of paper out of the pocket of his jeans and handed it to Samantha. She looked down the list her smile growing as she read. Her eyes widened in shock as she read the last item.
"Wow, it's a very thorough list" said Samantha handing it back to him.
"Do you agree to all the activities?" asked Edgar.
"All except for the last one, which I may agree to but it needs to be asked out loud" said Samantha.
Edgar smile broadened and he nodded sagely. They spent the rest of the time before heading to the airport making plans for their vacation. Samantha dropped her finished edits off at production headquarters and collected her check. She smiled at the amount, she'd become a consultant and therefore her salary had increased dramatically. With financial freedom assured for another few months Samantha walked into the airport with Edgar.
Sig was relieved to see Edgar arriving at the airport, his biggest fear was he would decide to stay behind with Samantha. He was less than thrilled to see Samantha. He had been assured by Eric that she had plenty of work to keep her occupied up here in Dutch. A few of the other boats hadn't arrived in port and the post production team was still waiting for their tapes.
"Hi Sig" said Samantha.
"Hi Antha, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Going home" replied Samantha.
Edgar walked over to sit with Matt hoping that by giving Samantha and Sig a little time to talk so whatever was going on between them could be settled.
"That's nice, you must miss home" said Sig noncommittally.
"I do, I'm sure all my plants are dead" said Samantha.
She sat down on the seat next to Sig and looked out the window at the harsh Alaskan scenery. Sig watched her out of the corner of his eye waiting for her to say something. When it became clear she wasn't going to talk he relaxed a little. Their flight was called and Samantha walked onto the plane taking a seat next to Edgar.
The holidays passed in a flurry of activity. Edgar and Samantha spent most of it together. They split time between Samantha's house in LA and Edgar's in Washington. They worked their way through Edgar's list until they only had one thing left. On Christmas Eve Edgar asked Samantha to marry him, presenting her with a ring in front of a roaring fire in his home. She immediately said yes and pounced on Edgar showing him just how much she loved him. The holidays ended and Edgar faced the mounting reality that he was going to have to leave to go back to work. Samantha could sense his tension and did her best to keep him distracted. A few nights before he was scheduled to fly back to Dutch he woke Samantha up in the middle of the night with an idea.
"How would you like to get married on the boat?" asked Edgar.
"Right now? Because it's still parked up in Alaska" mumbled Samantha sleepily.
"No, up in Dutch before the season starts. Sig can do it for us" said Edgar excitedly.
"If that's what you want to do then it's fine with me" said Samantha. "Do I have to wear a wedding dress? Because I don't have one and you leave in less than 2 days."
"You can wear whatever you want" said Edgar.
"Jeans and a sweater it is" said Samantha closing her eyes.
Edgar settled back into sleep, he slept soundly, mentally crossing off one more item on his list.
Samantha sat on the deck of the Northwestern between Nick and Matt watching Edgar nervously pace the deck. She was dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a white sweater. Her hair had returned to it's standard light brown hair with golden highlights and her finger nails were painted a pale blue.
"You look pretty" said Matt.
"Thanks" replied Samantha distractedly.
"But that doesn't explain why you're here" continued Matt.
"You're right it doesn't, but I appreciate the compliment" said Samantha.
"Are you going to tell us why you are here?" asked Matt.
"Not right now" answered Samantha.
Sig pulled up in the truck and hoped out. He had made about halfway to the boat when he stopped. His eyes narrowed at the vision in white sitting on his sorting table. Edgar saw him and waved. Sig took a deep breath and jumped onto the deck.
"Sig, I have something important to ask you" said Edgar anxiously.
"Ok, ask" replied Sig.
"I want you to marry us" said Edgar excitedly.
Sig stood stock still his eyes darted from Edgar to Samantha who'd moved closer. He looked down at Samantha's left hand and noticed the ring.
"This has gone far enough" said Sig. "Edgar, you need to get your priorities in order. No, I will not marry you. You barely know each other."
Edgar moved to interrupt but Sig cut him off before he could say anything.
"No, you don't get to talk. This is my boat, my rules and you've completely ignored them. This boat is about family and this girl came here under false pretenses and completely bewitched you with her lies" continued Sig. "If you want to know what kind of a girl she really is, you should know that she slept with me first and when I wouldn't give her what she wanted then she moved on to you."
Samantha's mouth dropped open at this statement and Edgar turned to look at her surprise written all over his face.
"Is this true?" asked Edgar.
"You're kidding right?" said Samantha. "We were all on that boat together, when would I have slept with him?"
"Don't lie, you slept in my bed multiple times" said Sig menacingly. "It's your word against mine and I have nothing to gain by lying."
Edgar took a step away from Samantha. When she looked into his face she could see that he'd already chosen who to believe and it wasn't her. Samantha carefully removed the ring Edgar had given to her.
"Since he'd rather marry you" she said placing the ring in Sig's hand.
Samantha climbed onto the dock her head held high and walked away. Everyone left on deck was shocked, no one more than Edgar.
"I'm glad you made the right choice" said Sig. "Family first, always."
Sig clapped Edgar on the shoulder and steered him inside.
"What just happened?" asked Matt.
"I can't believe he just let her go" mused Nick.
"This is fucked up" said Jake.