I actually finished this one early this time! XD Things are moving along pretty well, but this chapter is kind of an interlude/fluffier part for when things really pick up later. Thanks again for all the reads/reviews, they're really really really appreciated, and I hope you enjoy!

- Fell_and_Fallen -

I sit on the side of the ship, my legs between the railings and swinging over the side. I rest my head on the railing and take a deep breath. Even my thoughts swirl tiredly in my head, merging together like a murky stream. It's been a long day, one that seemed to last forever as we creep closer to our destination. The ninja ended their half-hearted training at least an hour early, leaving me to deal with my thoughts alone. Just thinking of where we're heading makes my stomach clench and even so late at night, I still haven't been able to force myself to go to bed. I close my eyes as I take in the chilly night air and try to fall asleep.

"I thought you'd be up."

I pry open my eyelids and watch as Cole approaches. "Not by choice."

He smiles softly and takes a seat beside me. "I brought you something."

"Really?" I lift my head as he pulls something from behind his back. My eyes widen as I realize it's a piece of chocolate cake. My eyes flick back up to Cole's. "Did you make that yourself?"

He snorts. "What, and ruin it?" he shakes his head. "There are things even I can't do. Making a fantastic cake is one of them. Zane had some extra and I asked if I could have some."

"You didn't get any for yourself?" I ask with a smile. "Cole, that's so sweet-"

He laughs. "You think I just got this piece? What do you think happened to the rest of the cake?"

I hit him in the arm. "Jerk. I thought you actually did something nice."

"Hey, I saved a piece for you."

I roll my eyes, but take the plate. "Well, thanks."

"You're welcome."

I start to munch on the cake, realizing with the first bite how little I've actually eaten today. Dinner had been mostly tiny bites of everything as I'd fought the anxiety that broiled my stomach, but now I'm barely pausing between bites of cake to breathe.

Cole watches me with an amused expression. "You're eating that almost as fast as I did."

"Except I'm eating a single piece like a normal human being," I grumble back through a mouthful of chocolate. I swallow it, savoring the taste of Zane's fluffy mix. "Unlike you."

He rolls his eyes before settling them back on mine. His expression softens as I take another bite of cake. I lift my head and he traces the very edge of my lip with one finger, wiping away a line of excess frosting before he tastes it and smiles.

"That's really good," he grins before giving me a wink. "Does the rest taste like that?"

"I don't know, you ate the rest of it yourself."

"That's not what I meant," he laughs. The plate drops in my hands.

"Oh," I blink. "Oh."

Cole laughs even louder as I let my head rest against the railing again.

"Ugh, I'm such an idiot," I groan.

"Only a little," he chuckles and shifts my screen of hair to look at my face. "Come on, Ash, you have to admit that was funny."

"Sure, laugh at my expense," I roll my eyes but chuckle despite myself. "But yeah. That was… funny."

The smile fades from his face. "What's up? You still worried about tomorrow?"

"Well, yes, but," I look back up at him, "I guess I'm just not used to… this."

"This?"

"Yeah, this whole," I gesture between me and him. "Thing."

He raises a thick, dark eyebrow. "Flirting?"

"It's just… unfamiliar."

"You're the one who kissed me, remember?"

My face flames. "That was kind of a heat of the moment decision," I say, picking at some of the crumbs on my plate.

"What, do you regret it?"

"No!" I say too quickly. I cough and try to calm the raging in my cheeks. "I like you, Cole, I really do. I've just been pushing people away for so long, this is…. strange. The whole thing. It's just… it's something I have to get used to."

"I understand," Cole says and rests his hands in his lap. "I didn't mean to-"

"Please don't apologize," I shake my head. "I didn't mean to make this all awkward, really. I'm just-"

"You're heading into something big, Ash, and you've got to get your priorities straight," he says. "I totally understand. Maybe after all of this is over, we can sort out the confusion that is-" he smiles and gestures between me and him- "this."

I can't help but laugh as the tension finally breaks. "That sounds good," I nod and return the smile. "Really good."

I blink up at Cole's face as I notice a dark line on his complexion. "You have an eyelash on your face."

"What?"

"Just hold still," I say as I put my plate aside and reach up toward his face.

He flinches. "Ow, you poked me in the eye!"

I frown at him. "No, I didn't-"

"Ow!"

"Cole-"

"You pinched me, what was I supposed to do?"

"Maybe if you held still-"

"Ash!"

"There!" I pinch the offending eyelash between my fingertips as Cole rubs at his eye. I hold it out to him. "Now make a wish."

He raises an eyebrow. "You don't actually believe in that, do you?"

"You're talking to the girl with a magical dragon tattoo," I roll my eyes. "Humor me."

He lets out an exasperated sigh but finally closes his eyes for a few seconds and blows the eyelash from my finger. He opens his eyes again. "There. Happy?"

"Yes," I smile as I turn back to the open sky. My stomach still churns at the thought of falling, but Spitfire's reassuring warmth beside me and the memory of the long but successful flight home keeps me from leaving. I rest my arms back on the side of the ship.

"You're not even going to ask what I wished for?"

I look back up at Cole. "That's breaking the rules," I say. "If you tell me, it won't come true."

He laughs. "You take this really seriously, don't you?"

"I'm not one to mess with the potential wrath of the universe," I narrow my eyes at him. "And neither should you."

"Alright," he shakes his head and leans back on his hands.

We sit for a few seconds in silence, long enough for the doubts to return and clench at my stomach. I clench and unclench my hands a little, trying to work out the tension, and Cole notes the movement with worried eyes.

"About tomorrow-"

"I know, I know," I let out a heavy breath. "We'll be fine, I shouldn't be worried-"

"That's not what I was going to say."

"Oh."

He leans forward. "I know you're scared. Hell, we all are. Whatever happens tomorrow… I don't want it to change you. You want to kill Desmond? Alright, the bastard deserves it-"

"Cole-"

"I'm not finished," he gives me a pointed look. "I heard what you said, and I'm with you 100% however you bring him down. Just… be sure of yourself, alright? Whatever decision you make is going to be the right one, you just have to trust that."

"I just wish I knew what I was getting into," I shake my head. "Desmond's been calling the shots for years. We're walking right into one of his plans and there's nothing we can do but hope we can deal with whatever he throws at us. We're jumping into the pit with broken flashlights. Sorry if I'm not overwhelmed with confidence."

"That's not what I'm saying," Cole reaches out to gently touch my arm. He hesitates, expecting a recoil, but the fire inside of me is calm as he lets his palm rest against my skin. He turns me to face him. "You're strong, Ash. Probably stronger than me. Even if this is all part of Desmond's plan, even if everything goes to hell tomorrow, you can get through this. You just have to trust yourself and trust us to have your back."

I turn back to the sky, to the clouds that stir at our feet, and dig into the thing that sits like a rock in my pocket. I pull it out with the clatter of a chain and hold the sun pendant out before me, the necklace Desmond used to wear, the one Hale gave me to prove he was alive. I'd taken it off the second all this madness started, but I hadn't had the gall to get rid of it. But now, my hand clenches tightly around it as the horrible memories stir in the back of my mind, kindling a dark rage that smolders in the pit stomach.

"He's the one who made me so strong," I say in a quiet voice. "If it weren't for him I wouldn't even exist. He could've killed me so easily, but he kept me alive all these years to create the perfect tool for revenge. He knows my weaknesses, he knows exactly what buttons to push to make me lose control. He knows everything about me and my past, Cole, more than I do. How am I supposed to stand up to him?"

"You'll find a way, Ash, I know you will," he reassures me. "Desmond might've been the guy who raised you, but he has no power over you. You've proven that."

"I've tried," I whisper as I let the chain slip through my fingers and spiral into the clouds below. I watch it go with a heavy stone in my stomach, feeling it lift if only a little bit as the cursed necklace disappears forever.

Cole pulls me toward him as I wipe at my blurring eyes. I fall against him without a fight.

"You'll make the right decision, Ash," he says into my ear. "We'll be fine."

I make an undignified noise as I try to choke back a hysterical laugh. "Yeah, either we win or die," I shake my head and jostle my face against his shoulder.

"We've faced worse odds," I can feel him smile against my forehead, and this time I can't hold back a laugh.

"You're surprisingly optimistic," I smile as I look up at him.

"Well, someone's got to make you feel better," he smiles back. "And I don't see anyone else around, so…"

"You did bring me cake," I glance at the empty plate. "Even if you did eat the rest of it."

"We're still on that?"

I shove him. "You're lucky I like you."

His gaze softens as his arm settles back around my shoulders. "I know."

My heart thuds in my chest as he leans into me and presses his lips against mine. My insides practically melt as he pulls me closer, running his hands through my hair as my grip tightens on him. This feels different than the last time we kissed, less hurried, deeper. Cole's mouth is comfortably firm against mine, and I'm overwhelmed by his scent, warm, earthy, strong. He pulls me tightly against him, drowning every other thought until I can feel is this moment surrounded by him. My hands clench in his hair, smooth and softer than I expected. His arms are firm, but gentle around me as he holds me close, pressing me even tighter against him. His long eyelashes brush against my cheeks like lightning as he shifts and pulls away, leaving my face and lips burning with a different sort of fire, but he doesn't let me go.

"We'll be fine, Ash," he whispers as he lets his forehead rest against mine. "I'm sure of it."

"I hope so," I turn back to the open sky and let the cool air calm my raging face and the tumultuous thoughts that start crashing in my mind again, no less chaotic after mine and Cole's break. "I hope so."