Chapter 13: There Must Be Something In The Water

Mikhail, Rayne, and Lex recounted the summer of the wedding like it was yesterday. It was the first and last time they met, but it was the best summer ever.

They had all gone on holiday to Spain. Lex was in trouble only the trip could cure. His mom's only brother had suggested the trip because he felt Khail and Rayne could use his nephew's company, and Lex needed friends his age.

"He couldn't have been more wrong," Rayne wrinkled her nose trying to pay attention to the conversation, though it was hard to concentrate with Darryl sitting in good view. She found him oddly attractive.

Mikhail laughed, "We hated you. It was so much fun playing pranks on one another, especially when you went and fell in love with me that time we played house."

"I was a growing, hormonal boy and you have a pretty face," Lex smirked, "You're even more radiant now."

Mikhail blushed, "I should have put more bird poop on your sandwich!"

Tai-san was burning inside, but she wore her calm face as she eavesdropped within hearing range.

"What about me Lexy?" Rayne pouted giving her attention to the conversation once more.

"Well at least you don't look like a monkey anymore."

Rayne reached across her sister and socked him in the arm, "You still have a way with words."

Lex chuckled, "And you still hit like a baby."

"I think I'm going to turn in," Mikhail yawned.

"Already?" Rayne questioned, "Usually you're an insomniac."

"All those nights of sleeping finally caught up with me."

Lex stood, "I had better turn in too," he smirked, "the wife is probably getting worried, thinking I've decided to camp in your bed tonight."

"Never gonna happen, she's got nothing to worry about, besides, I have a significant other."

"Who said I wanted it to happen?"

"Please, you go after anything with a full chest, a pretty face, and a slender body."

Lex opened the door and slipped inside, speaking through the screen, "Except anyone who remotely looks like you Rayne."

Rayne glared at his back and then quickly caught up to her sister who was walking quickly across the sand to their ship. Something was up with Mikhail and she was going to sniff it out.

It's been three years, or four, I can't keep up anymore, but I recognize the signs. When are you going to tell lover boy?"

Mikhail rolled her eyes at her younger sister, "Never. If I'm lucky I'll miscarry, then I won't feel obligated to accept his proposal if he ever decides to propose."

"Khail! I cannot believe you! Ryan is a good man."

Mikhail frowned. She loved Ryan, but she was afraid she'd be hurt again, like the last time, if she fully surrendered her heart to him.

"Rayne he has a wife somewhere. What if she comes back from the dead all of sudden and…" she was getting teary-eyed, "Look, I don't want to talk about it right now, I'm tired," she stopped, climbing onto the Pirates' deck. She had more than just Ryan and a pregnancy on her mind.

The boat was rightfully Lex's, left to him by his uncle. He had spent forever building it for his favorite nephew and had barely finished it before he died. She sought comfort in its elegance, but now that Lex was back she felt it in her heart to give it to him.

"Fine, we'll talk it about it tomorrow, good night," Rayne huffed. She knew exactly what her sister was thinking, she was thinking it too. How would they survive without it though?

Bray couldn't stand leading Amber on any longer than she could.

"Amber?" he knocked on her bedroom door.

"She's not in there, I believe she took a walk with Trader," Trudy said coming down the hall, she had Bray Jr. balanced on her hip.

Bray relieved her of his son, "Trader?"

"Don't worry, she's giving him a few pointers, it's not a date."

Bray wished it was a date; it sure would make breaking up with her easier.

"I'm not worried, just thought she had better taste in friends."

"Well she's had to talk to someone Mr. antisocial."

Bray sighed, "Did she say something to you?"

"No," Trudy pursed her lips, "But we all can tell something's going on between you two, or should I say nothing at all."

"Alright, I get it," Bray sighed.

"Are you dumping her?"

"Good night Trudy, I'm not having this talk with you," he walked away.

Amber was walking alone up the beach when she spotted Bray on the porch, their son resting in his arms.

She picked up her pace and sat beside them. Silence suffocated the night air except for the water lapping against the shoreline. Neither of them knew what to say to the other.

Amber tore her eyes away from the twinkling, night sky and finally broke the quiet, "What's her name?"

"Kyra. It wasn't anything serious too quickly. She was a Techno on the surface, but inside she had a warm heart, she was beautiful. I fell in love."

"And she felt the same?"

"Yes, that's why she had me deported. If any of the other Technos had found out I'd be a dead man."

Amber didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't be mad, she had moved on with Jay. She had acted on her feelings and had fallen in love not knowing whether or not Bray was alive.

"Amber I love you, I never meant to hurt you or lead you on. It's just my heart belongs to someone else."

Amber smiled through her tears, "When we re-introduced ourselves that kiss was heaven to me, but it wasn't what we used to be. That familiar spark was gone. I should have known we were just a dream."

He reached with hi free hand and wiped at a few stray tears with his thumb, "It wasn't always like that."

She nodded. She knew. "So this is where we say goodbye?"

"Not goodbye, Amber, We will always be friends, and we have a beautiful son that keeps the bond between us strong."

Amber's tears were uncontrollable by now. She stood speaking through sobs, "Well…I am going to let the sandman consume me, will you tuck in our little man?"

Bray nodded and watched her go with a heavy heart. He never wanted to see this day, never wanting to see her hurt, but he couldn't help who he loved.

It had been days, but Salene hadn't given up hope on the Guardian. She was determined to help him through his delirium.

The Guardian was breaking out of his fever and slowly sanity was settling in on him. He could make sense of his past and where he was, but he didn't know who he was.

Sure he was Jaffa, the Guardian, a leader, but he lost himself in the madness. He didn't know how to be himself; to be the boy his mum raised.

Getting up out of his bed, he looked for the red-head who had been taking good care of him.

It was early morning, the sun had just begun to rise, but many of the tribe members were up and about, even a few of the Pirates.

Mikhail sat with Lex and his wife chatting away about Fleur Island when she spotted the Guardian through the screen.

She stood abruptly, "If he comes anywhere near me, I'll kill him!"

The Guardian cursed to himself, "Relax Mikhail, those days are behind us."

"Time doesn't heal all wounds Jaffa," she crossed her arms over her chest, "How did you survive the prison camps anyhow?"

Lex joined the conversation, "Dumb luck, no doubt," he turned to the Guardian, "The only reason you're still alive is because Salene has such a big heart, if I had my way you'd be floating out to sea with Zoot somewhere."

Salene, Jaffa thought, why would she take care of me? "I am not going to cause any trouble. I'm looking for her, for Salene."

Tai-san stood up, "Sal isn't awake yet."

"Tai, my lovely…" he stopped at a warning from Lex.

"Perhaps I'll wait by the sea shore, I can't go back to sleep, I've been sleep for far too long."

And he was right. The day his mum died, not of the virus, but of some obscene freak accident, or rather suicide was the day he fell into slumber.

He became an outcast. Nobody wanted to be friends with the circus freak whose own mother took her life. Not until Zoot came along and gave him a name and attention did he ever feel like he belonged.

Mikhail and Jaffa had history. He had degraded her once and made her feel lower than the scum of the earth while they were incarcerated together, and yet she had loved him, once. She couldn't stand to be around him, he made her nervous.

"Tai-san, Lex, you're going to have to visit Fleur Isle for yourselves to know what I'm talking about, but now I must return there myself."

"Wait…" Tai-san admitted.

Mikhail sighed; she knew there was a catch to the woman's hospitality. "That would be?"

Tai-san nudged her husband who was watching the Guardian closely.

"Our boat was damaged in the storm. Aside from that, it's not big enough to get us off this island. We're going to die if we stay here," Lex smirked, adding, "Much from boredom rather than starvation."

"I'll see if Lefty can help you with your boat, but it won't be easy," Mikhail sighed, "As for transporting some of you to your new destination, the Mariana is rightfully yours Lex, your uncle built t for you."

Lex was speechless. As a child he had been fascinated with boats and cars. That was before he found out life was a harsh game to play.

"The Mariana?" He named it after you. I mean you were born somewhere in the Northern Mariana Islands are you certain it's mine?"

"Maybe he named it for it's beauty or expected us to share it, but it said in his last will that she was yours."

"Wow, I mean I don't know what to say. We could sure use it, but I'm no boatman just an alley cat, and you're putting it to good use."

"It's not the only ship the Pirates have Lex, we just like it because it's luxurious."

"How about we share it, Captain."

"Tai-san, I'm not sure what you did with the real Lex, but keep this one around."

Tai-san smiled, "There must be something in the water, a lot of us aren't acting ourselves," she pointed to the Guardian who was sitting in the sand staring at the morning sky."

Khail laughed, she liked Tai-san. It was the best judgment Lex ever made to pick such a spirited woman.