Chapter 7

"Oh, there you are." Looking up in relief at the shrouds, Zarabeth carefully began to climb up the complex web of ropes to get to Jim sitting a little ways above her.

The boy gave her a soft smile before making room for her, slipping the envelope he'd been holding back into his uniform jacket. Offering his hand down to her, he helped Zara get up the rest of the way. "You been looking for me?"

"Not long. Felix said you were somewhere on deck. Taking a break?"

Shifting his gaze between her and the stardust clouds rolling lazily past them, Jim scrunched his nose with a small chuckle. "Needed a breather. We've been at it all day trying to figure out stuff."

"Paperwork?"

"For once, no." Releasing a heavy breath, he leaned back slowly, stretching his arms over his head before relaxing again. "There's a big old storm cell collecting right in the middle of where we need to fly through a few days from here. For once, I'd rather go around. For once, Felix disagrees."

"Why's that?" Propping her head in her hand, she carefully watched his every expression, happy to note that it wasn't frustration in his eyes. He was still smiling.

"He's very time conscious. Since we changed our report and said we'd get to-" Catching himself before he could finish, he gave the girl a teasing smirk. "-to where we're going three days sooner, that's what he intends to keep doing. And we could, if we fly straight through, but I dunno. This is one time I'd like to avoid trouble. I want my ship and crew to arrive in one piece."

Pulling her closer as he finished, Zara closed her eyes, letting her head rest against his shoulder as she released a small sigh. "Is Captain Hawkins afraid of a little rain?"

"What?"

Looking up too meet his amused expression, Zarabeth gave a quiet laugh. "You've told me countless stories, Jim. Ones where you and the Aberdeen recklessly barrel through storms far worse than Amelia would ever dare wager with, and you've always been successful. So either you've gone chicken, or you've got another motive altogether."

The boy looked away with a smirk of a smile, chuckling low for a moment before returning his gaze to her. "Well, like you said, Amelia never flew through these kinds of things before. You're not used to them."

"Jim." Letting her eyes take on a knowing look with a teasing smile, she lifted one of her hands to rest against his cheek, forcing his gaze to stay right with hers. "I'm a big girl. I can handle some rain and turbulence. I refuse to be the reason you inconvenience your crew and whatever job you have to do. Don't go bothering Felix with excuses on my account. Ok?"

Nodding in resignation, Jim pulled her closer to leave a small kiss in her hair. "Ok, ok. If you think you'll be alright."

"I know I will."

"Then what else can I say?"

"Good answer." Leaning in, about to give him a small kiss, she stopped upon seeing a lone figure down below them on the deck. The sight made her unconsciously pause to smile in thought.

Confused as to what had stopped her, Jim tried to follow the girl's distracted gaze. "Change your mind about kissing me? Oh." Smiling with her upon catching sight of the culprit, he nodded down toward the young boy mopping the deck, easily guessing at what she was thinking. "Remind you of someone, does he?"

Looking between Jim and the young cabin boy, William Thrane, she nodded with a small sigh as she let her mind wander over the years. "Wasn't that long ago. I still remember what I thought seeing you for the first time."

"Handsome beyond belief? Strong and charming?"

Laughing quietly as she kept her look on William, the boy maybe no older than ten, Zarabeth shook her head with a teasing smile. "Actually, no. I noticed you watch me when I left Amelia's stateroom. I was kinda weirded out. Though I'd say it was because I'd never really had male attention before, even though I did allow myself to think you were pretty cute." Closing the distance between them to give Jim a quick kiss, Zarabeth pulled away a little so as to give him room to get down again. "No more talk then. You'd better go finish getting things squared away before Felix changes his mind."

"Aye aye, milady."

Watching Jim begin to descend from the shrouds, Zara suddenly spoke up again before he could reach the deck. "How is he, by the way? Felix I mean."

Looking up in a bit of confusion, Jim balanced comfortably against the web of ropes, obviously fine with letting her stop him. "I...I think he's fine. Why?"

Trying to rationalize for why she'd even brought it up, Zara leaned forward from where she sat, her eyes focused on the Etherium more than on Jim as she hurriedly replied. "I don't know. I-I just thought he looked pretty tired the last few days."

Managing a small smile, Jim slowly shook his head as he followed her eyes out over the atmosphere beyond the ship. "He always takes the larger tasks for himself. I know he stays up pretty late every night, but I think he's just sorting out charts and figuring out coordinates and schedules. Every morning he comes in with a more efficient way to go about something or another. I don't know what I'd do without him...but yeah. I always hope he's not overdoing it, but he wouldn't stop even if I asked. Just how he is."

Nodding as she thought more about it, Zara stopped him one last time just as Jim had finished climbing down. "Can you think of anything I could do to help?"

Flashing a smile up at her, Jim gave a small laugh as he leaned against the polished wooden railing beside the shrouds. "Not gonna lie. You make a good cup of coffee. And I did hear Felix say the other night that your scones are some of the best he's ever had."

Climbing back down to join him on deck, she waited a moment to catch her breath before managing a reply. "The raspberry ones?"

"Have you made any other scones this trip?"

Catching the teasing look in his eyes, Zara let her own face mirror his. "No."

"Then, yes. Those ones. Are-Are there any left?"

She had to laugh a little at the almost childlike sparkle in Jim's eyes, his hopefulness making her instinctively smile with him as she nodded resolutely. "There are. I'll just go and get some ready for you two. It is just you and Felix, right? Donnelley's not working with you tonight?"

"Nope. Just us."

"Perfect. I'll be back in a few, ok?"

Letting Jim steal a small kiss before making his way back up the stairs toward his stateroom, Zara thought she could almost detect a small skip in his step, the thought bringing a content smile to her lips.