Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet

A/N: Hey! Sorry for the long update. Same excuse. A bad one, I know but the honest excuse nonetheless. If anyone is at all bothered about my personal life my university crisis was solved and I am in fact back on track to going to university and I am so happy! WOOO! runs around her room manically. Anyway here's a new chapter and be free to join my celebration party for actually getting into uni in spirit. Also I decided as a peace offering for my lack of updates and depriving you of some Jim-Cassandra and George-Diana action I'm going to give an exxxxxxxxtraaaaaaaaa long chapter. Just for my faithful and wonderful fans.

Tensions Rising

For Kelsthereader

Cassandra, Diana and Selina had been on the ship for a few days now and by each passing day the tension between the women and the Captain and the first mate began to rise with Selina being in the centre of it all. What was meant by that was that she was actually trying to push her two friends towards the two available candidates to carry out their romantic needs. She knew Cassandra and James Hawkins had feelings for one another since Cassandra's strange, erratic behaviour towards him was more or less self-evident of the fact that she had feelings for him. Otherwise she wouldn't have ever given him the time of day if she had no feelings towards him.

James Hawkins, from conversations she had with Cassandra seemed to be more concerned for than the average man would be. He was much too concerned for Cassandra's welfare to not have at least some feelings for her. That was going to be the hard job when it came to her match-making abilities. She had paired off the majority of the girls at the Academy to the men they admired from afar transforming them from awkward ducklings to beautiful swans. But she knew the velocity of Cassandra was going to be a challenge and a true test of her abilities. The other girls at least had their only hopes being married off to someone rich and handsome. This came as the fifth thing to tick off on Cassandra's to -do list.

The other couple she had to wed off she had to admit was also going to be equally difficult but only due to the complications of the situation and not the people involved. Diana and George Richardson were evidently in love with one another. That was something which didn't require a published essay balancing out the evidence for and against this view. It wasn't something which needed to be debated on for hours and days on end. It was something which was clearly true. That was something which was as plain as day. The only problem was that Diana was in the middle of an international betrothal and George was just about to finish his degree at the Interstellar Academy with a pretty-nasty-sounding brother as the head of the family. So financial issues were going to be a small problem and the tiny details were also going to be an obstacle in order for Selina to succeed in her ambitions. As trivial and insignificant as they may be.

Also Diana was much too moral to be pushed into doing something as devious as an elopement. In her mind she made a promise even though it was made against her will and on her behalf but still, a promise which she was involved in. However a couple of traits Cassandra and George seemed share was determination and a strong will. So really if push came to shove she was sure he could think up some romantic and inspirational speech to convince her to run away with him. So really all she needed to do was to work her magic on George and give Diana a little shove.

While walking around the ship, the three young women watched the crew do their chores and admired the scenery which they flew past. Cassandra was more concerned with the activity on the ship rather than the scenery outside the ship unlike Diana who was always making comments about how beautiful it was. Selina knew she could use this to her advantage.

"Captain Hawkins!" She cried.

Cassandra glared at her and the young captain turned in their direction and strode over to them. "Yes, Miss Selina?"

"As you know Cassandra is very interested in becoming a Space Captain so she wondering if you could answer a few of her questions."

Jim who would practically jump at the chance stepped forward and smiled. "I would be happy to." He offered her his arm which she took gingerly and cast a dark look over her shoulder at Selina who waved at her.

"So what did you want to ask me about?"

She gave him a look and replied, "As much as I honestly do have tons of questions for you. Do you really think Selina would let me go so I could chat to you about the duties of a Space Captain?"

Jim laughed. "You're right. That does sound a little bit too sensible and responsible for her." He turned back to her his eyes dancing with mischief. "So why did she want you and me to be alone together?"

She shrugged her shoulders even though she knew all too well. Jim knew this as well and narrowed his eyes. "Now, now. I think you know why she wanted us to be alone together."

"Romantic reasons." She admitted.

Jim tried not to fall over and asked. "Romantic reasons...concerned with her or you?"

Cassandra blushed. "Um...er... I was just making an assumption."

"No you admitting the truth. Now answer my question. I know this is something which doesn't come naturally to you but you could try-"

"Hey you two." Ben greeted cheerily followed by Morph swooping over to Cassandra and rubbed himself against her cheek.

"I thought you two were going to stay in the cabin today." Jim asked through gritted teeth. Ben ignored this and answered him calmly.

"We got cabin fever so we thought it would be in the best interest that we got some air and I see you have some...lady company." He replied wriggling his eyebrows. "Nice to see you again, Miss Cassandra. Looking lovely as usual and I am very glad now that you have decided to grow into the lovely young lady you were always destined to be."

Cassandra laughed. "Don't worry, Ben. I'm still aiming to become the best female Space Captain the universe has ever seen."

"You're still- You're going to- You're not gonna- Awwww." Ben collapsed on the ground leaving Cassandra feeling rather confused. Jim quickly wrapped an arm around her and whispered.

"Quickly before he snaps out of it."

They walked swiftly away from where Ben was laying and moved to the upper deck to take in the scenery.

"So you never answered my question."

"Well..."

"Kissy, kissy." Morph tweeted. "Kissy, kissy."

"No Morph. There will be no kissy, kissy." Jim said grinning.

Morph suddenly looked sad which made Cassandra feel sorry for him and took him in her hands and placed a kiss on Morph which made him almost burst with happiness.

Jim and Cassandra laughed at his charade. "Hey why did he get a kiss before me?"

Cassandra turned to Jim and shrugged her shoulders. "Well he did request for one."

Jim raised an eyebrow and stepped forward. "So you're saying if I ask nicely I might get one too?"

Cassandra felt like her face was burning and brought her hand to her lips. Jim stepped forward a little close until his lips were literally hovering over hers and was simply waiting for the green light.

"So?"

The whisper of his breath on her lips sent shivers down her spine before she could even reply they were interrupted by her brother.

"Captain!"

Jim looked disappointed and nodded to George. "Alright, Richardson, I'm coming. Perhaps we'll have another again, Miss Cassandra?"

She gave him a small, warm smile and nodded.

~ (***) ~

After Cassandra had been sent off with Captain Hawkins Selina knew now all she had to look out for the first mate. She tried to feel optimistic about all this but she knew she hadn't even fought half the battle. She looped her arm in Diana's and continued to walk by the ship side. Diana continued to make comments about the scenery which Selina half listened to but was more concerned with the whereabouts of George Richardson. She eventually found him talking to the cabin boy and pointing him in some direction. He caught sight of them and walked towards them with an eager, bright smile on his face.

"Miss Diana. Miss Selina. How are you this afternoon?" He took Diana's hand forgetting that Selina was there and kissed her hand however didn't do the same for Selina. She wasn't at all offended. Just glad that things were going in the right direction for her.

"We're very well, aren't we dearest?" She said giving her an imploring smile. Diana smiled sweetly and nodded.

She looked up nervously. "How are you, Mr Richardson?"

He hadn't taken his eyes for her and with his eyes he was saying, I love you. I love you. I love you.I love you. "I'm very well. Thank you for being kind enough to inquire after me, Lady Firestone."

She looked down shyly and giggled. "You don't have to thank me every time I ask after your health, Mr Richardson."

"I have every reason for being grateful for you doing so, Lady Firestone."

Selina looked between George and Diana smiling without them noticing. There was no question of what she found amusing or why she looked so happy. She was witnessing something which she didn't get to see very often and that was something called pure love. A mutual love shared between the two people which was equal and without prejudice. She was happy because she knew the two loved one another and once they would find out their love would carry them where there were supposed to be. That was true love. True love could take you places where you never dreamed of. Places where you never thought possible.

She looked over in the direction of Cassandra and the Captain and saw them smiling at each other as if they were sharing a secret joke. Whenever they looked at each other from across the room they always seemed to be sharing a secret with their eyes. There was an intimacy between the two. She tilted her head and thought about how lucky those two were. They were like legendary lovers where everyone knew their tale. Their tale was then idolised. Told from generation to generation. They knew one another more than any other couple would and there were no obstacles. They were twins souls who were united by destiny. She heard and understood the anguish of Cassandra from nights ago but she had but she had no idea as to how strong she was. She didn't realise how many possibilities, opportunities she had. She had no idea how lucky she was. She had nothing to lose. Diana had everything to lose. As did Selina.

She always carried on behaving as she did pretending she wasn't afraid of convention. She acted like she was above such things. However the truth was she was always afraid of becoming like her mother. Cassandra was the true non-conformist. She didn't care what others thought of her and what they said behind her back. When Selina told her that she was so strong due to the adversity she had faced she wasn't lying. She also wouldn't be lying if she admitted that she admired her for it. People would've thought that it would be vice versa but then again in socialite society things were never what they seemed.

She was afraid of being looked down upon and falling under the same disgrace and ridicule she suffered from. However she held her head high as she was aware of all this. What she couldn't handle was the loneliness. Selina had heard her mother at night crying over these things. Her mother simply couldn't understand why she was having to pull herself through relationship after relationship without finding one to work. She couldn't understand what was missing. However in the few years which Selina had she knew the answer to that and it was the fact that it was the right man that was missing. A man which wasn't married. A man which wasn't bored with his wife. A man which didn't want her for her good looks and allure rather than her intelligence and out of pure love. Even at such a young age, Selina knew more than her mother.

"I also think that your welfare is more important than mine." George also added.

Diana blinked with surprise. "Sir...My welfare is no more important than anyone else on this vessel. Let alone the rest of the galaxy."

George Richardson almost looked like he was about to fall to his knees and took her by the arms. "Lady Firestone you must never think that. Your life...It is the most precious thing in the universe."

Diana was about to say something in reply but was too shocked by his powerful words. "I hope that you think yourself as having more worth than you do now...one day." He added softly.

She glanced up at him and nodded. "Yes." She murmured.

He bowed to her and strode away in the Captain's direction. Selina turned to Diana and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Diana? Are you alright?"

Diana put her hand to her heart and nodded. She blinked away the tears forming in her eyes. "I...I've just never had that being said to me."

"Oh Diana...Surely knew that anyway." She implored.

She shook her head. "No. I never knew of such things. I never knew that I could..." Her voice trailed into the wind and blew away in the sky.

"What?" Selina prodded after a while.

"I never thought...Well, Selina have you ever had someone you've thought about more than anyone else? More than the people you should be thinking about. Have you ever thought about this particular person so much that it could almost be called an obsession? Have you ever considered sacrificing everything for this one person?"

These words Selina, not because they were so filled with passion but when Diana spoke these words she wasn't herself at all. She was someone else.

"Diana...What made you feel this way?"

Diana considered answering this for a second then shook her head. "Nothing. I was just wondering that's all. I am about to be married and I do not know anything about the affairs of love or affection. I thought if...I just thought I should be informed on the subject."

She gave her a look and thought I think we both know who made you think that way and we both know that person is making you having these feelings. You just want clarification on whether it is wise to think such things. The answer: No. However is it necessary for you to be feeling this way: Yes.

"Diana?"

They both saw Cassandra approach them with the same morph they encountered on the night George and the Captain came into their cabin follow her.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded. "I'm fine. We were just talking with your brother."

Cassandra, very uncharacteristically, pouted at Selina and gave her a look.

Now look what you've done.

"I hope he was very polite. It's not one of his strong qualities."

Diana tilted her head and gave her friend a sad smile. She knew she was trying to cover something up with her harsh words. Something she didn't want anyone to know. Sometimes Cassandra Richardson overdid it when it came to insulting others out of good intentions. She would never be intentionally cruel to someone because of the cruelty which she had been inflicted onto her she had developed a strong sense of compassion towards others. Although not everyone benefited this particular trait. Cassandra wanted to make it perfectly clear almost that she had no faith in men whatsoever. She even went to the extents of insulting the two men whose sole aim was the protect and take care of her.

However her recent behaviour towards the Captain said otherwise. She could see that Cassandra's heart was beginning to thaw. She was beginning to feel the growing, uncertain feelings Diana was beginning to feel. She looked out the window at night looking to the heavens to find the answers she was unable to find from those around her like countless others who asked different questions were answers did not lie in the mortal realm turned to the skies to find the answers which only the immortals knew. She had been faced with so much adversity and had to struggle through this world in order to get where she was now. She had no easy way or a path cleared for her. However she had been so used to this she had to attack those who were thought to be able to provide for women in her situation. She had to the be the feminist with the roaring flag and crying against those who weren't responsible for the mistakes of their predecessors.

She forgot what it was like to allow others to help her without looking helpless. She felt now that she had to learn things herself forgetting about the endless hours of her father's lessons in their library. She acted liked no one could understand her plight despite the fact that the Captain from what Diana had heard hadn't come from the most wealthy of backgrounds. Cassandra of all people didn't need to worry about that. She was more than capable of looking after herself but there were some things which one alone could not deal with independently. One of those things being loneliness. This was something Diana knew Cassandra suffered from very quietly but nonetheless she suffered from it.

"Your brother was very kind, Cassandra and I think you should know that better than either of us." Diana walked down the deck and headed back to her room.

Cassandra looked at Selina suspiciously after she was out of sight. "What are you up to Selina?" She asked cautiously.

"How did things go with the Captain?" Selina inquired politely.

Cassandra narrowed her eyes knowing this was her trying to avoid answering the question. "I asked you a question Selina Felnela. What are you up to?"

"What I'm good at, dearest. Now how did things go with the Captain?"

Cassandra went up close to Selina's face and hissed. "It may be very well for you to play with fire but if you drag Diana into the game she will be burnt and if things don't turn out well you will have no one else to blame but yourself."

"You know very well of the death sentence, our friend has been given." Selina retorted. "I know of the risks but would you rather give her a life of happiness and with someone she knows she can be happy with than leave it to chance? I rather think you are the one who is gambling with fire, Cassandra. Not I."

Selina walked away in the direction Diana went in leaving Cassandra alone. Everything was suddenly cold all of a sudden and the air was filled with a sense of foreboding. What it was that she was being warned of she didn't know. That was what scared her the most.

~ (***) ~

While on his duties instead of his mind being filled with tracking the course which the ship was taking and ship management, Jim Hawkins mind was filled by the unpredictable Cassandra Richardson. He couldn't stop thinking about her laugh. He couldn't stop thinking about her pale, clear skin and wondered whether it was as smooth as silk or as cold as marble. He couldn't stop finding himself lost in her bright, emerald eyes which were now engrained into his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about her smirk and how it curled perfectly from the corner of her beautiful lips.

Jim wasn't the only one distracted by a particular woman either. It was obvious George was distracted by the welfare of another woman on board, he just hoped he would never act on his impulses. If Jim acted on his the consequences of doing so wouldn't be so disastrous. However Jim couldn't afford be distracted by anything. Now was not the right time for either of them. This was Jim's first voyage as a Captain and he couldn't afford disaster under his command. He was the captain after all. He had to keep himself focused. If they ended up in a situation where everyone was panicking he had to be the one who was under control when it came to his emotions and he could only do that when he was focused. Yet no matter how he tried Cassandra Richardson couldn't be rid from his thoughts.

"Jim?"

Jim turned round to expect it to be George but surprisingly it was Ben. "Hey Ben. You snapped out of it, huh?"

Ben rubbed his head and moaned. "Yeah. Have you snapped out of it yet?"

"What are you talking about?"

Ben gave him a look and folded his arms. "I think you know what I'm talking about." Jim shrugged his shoulders which made Ben roll his eyes. "I'm talking about the little miss who is under your supervision and you seem to have taken a liking for. The one who you've obviously had a thing for since she was fifteen."

It finally clicked with Jim as to what Ben was talking about and felt himself go red. "I really don't-"

"Jim I may be a little crazy," He began and banged his fist on his head to emphasis the point making a huge clanging sound. "But I'm not that stupid. You obviously need to tell this girl that you have feelings for her and I think there may even be the slight possibility that she may have feelings for you."

Jim looked away and leaned against the side of the ship. "Yeah well there's a problem Ben."

"Oh really and what is that?"

"That she is so damn independent and strong willed she won't allow anyone to help her or...perhaps even love her."

Ben considered this and leaned against the side of the ship. "It seems to me that the problem is really if you are willing to go to the lengths to show her how you feel. If you really cared about this girl enough you would fight for her. Yeah?"

Jim considered this and it occurred to him that this actually made sense. "I guess you're right."

"So? Do you love her enough to fight for her?"

Jim looked up and saw that the sky was beginning to grow dark. The sky was turning into a sapphire blue from a deep violet. The stars were coming out to play. As he looked up he thought when the stars were beginning to sparkle visibly they reminded him of the look in her eyes as she looked to the horizon. They were filled with such hope and excitement. He thought that perhaps that was what his eyes looked like when he looked at her.