*Updated 09-05-2018*

Chapter 45 - The Ring and the Stars

Of course, the marriage wouldn't be official. But Vaas and Hoyt ruled the islands, so whatever they said was law.

Vaas returned back into the compound, and Rosa went around the back entrance to clean herself up. Night had already fallen on Rook and the stars sparkled in the night sky, it clear and cloudless.

Vaas sat himself down on a sofa in deep thought, thinking how he was going to do everything. He wanted to get her a ring but nothing fancy, just something that meant something to her. He decided that they wouldn't have wedding rings and anything they did probably wouldn't be conventional in the slightest. Something glinted underneath Vaas' eyesight and it hit him, like a light bulb had been switched on.

He grasped his necklace and smirked to himself. He had always been good in making things, especially jewellery with him being in the Rakyat. He could shape and mould his green gem into a ring for Rosa. Vaas sat, smug at his own genius, that he didn't notice Rosa walking towards him.

"What you so happy about?" she asked.
Vaas jumped.
"Fuck, you scared me." he grumbled, as Rosa put her hands on her hips.
"Want to get something to eat? I'm starved." Rosa suggested.
"You go and get something. I just need to speak to Raul."
Rosa looked at Vaas more closely

"You okay? You're not pissed that I killed that bitch are you, becau -"
Vaas kissed Rosa on the lips, silencing her and she melted into him.
"I'm gonna get something to eat." she breathed before she wandered to the kitchen.

"RAUL!" Vaas shouted and hurried footsteps approached.
Raul looked flustered but he greeted Vaas with a smirk.
"Yeah, boss?" he asked.
"I need a word with you. In private."

Vaas walked into one of the smaller buildings and up the stairs. A group of pirates were chatting and didn't see Vaas come in.
"Cocksuckers, go, leave, now." Vaas commanded.
The pirates just carried on talking.
"EY!" Vaas yelled and the men jumped, just like Vaas had done a few moments earlier, "LEAVE!" Vaas whistled and the men moaned as they left.

"What's up, Vaas?" Raul asked when the room was empty.
Vaas doubled checked there was no-one around and cleared his throat.
"I'm not a pussy, by the way, hermano. Just hear me out, okay?" Raul nodded, "I wanna ask Rosa, you know ... if she'll marry me."
Raul was speechless, just noises were escaping his lips before he chuckled.

"Really? Wow, okay. So what does that have to do with me?"
"I'm pretty shit with romance, hermano, I need some advice. How am I going to do it?"
Vaas rubbed his hands together, stumped at what to do. Raul sat on seat nearest to him, Vaas opposite.

"Well, you could take her somewhere that means something to both of you. Somewhere important. And then, just tell her how you feel. Lay it all down. I know you're not a man to beat around the subject. Just do what feels right, man."
Vaas nodded at Raul and smirked.
"Sounds like a plan, amigo. Now, I just have to pick a spot."
"See! You'll be fine." Raul said, proud.

"But there is something I'm really gonna need your help with. The ring."

Rosa thanked the moody cook for her food and walked briskly back into the main compound.

She sat down on the sofa next to Phillipe and began eating her chicken and sweet potato. She pulled little bits of chicken away and tossed some aside. All of the hostages knew who she was and were watching her; one of them started moaning when she lifted a piece of chicken up and then gnawed into it.

"You're so cruel, Rosa." Phillipe said, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"Those motherfuckers. I hate all of them." Rosa grumbled and Philipe laughed.
"Everyone is talking about what you did to the girl. They've even started calling you the 'Queen of the Jungle', you know. And Vaas is your King."
"Everyone loves to root for a good love story." she replied and the pair laughed a little.

What is Vaas doing? Rosa thought as she finished off the last bit of her potato. A padding of footsteps were heard and Rosa twisted around to see Vaas and Raul stood together.

"You not eating, my King?" Rosa asked, abandoning her plate before standing.
"King? Where's that come from?" Vaas asked, with a chuckle.
"Apparently some of your boys have taken to calling us King and Queen of the Jungle." Rosa purred, sliding arms around Vaas' waist.
He kissed the top of her head and laughed.
"The dream team alright." he thought aloud.
Raul and Philipe both rolled their eyes.

"Anyways, I need to borrow Phil and Raul for a little while, we have some things to take care of. Try not and get into any trouble."
"What are you doing?" Rosa asked, forever inquisitive.
"Business, hermana." Vaas replied.
Rosa pouted playfully

"We'll be back soon, don't get your panties in a twist."
"You know how you can repay me later then." Rosa winked, "Go. Have fun. I'll find something to do."

Vaas kissed Rosa again and then motioned for Raul and Phillipe to walk. Rosa watched them and sarcastically waved before turning her back, heading towards the poker room.

"The islands best material comes from down here." Phillipe said, pointing to a large rock down a small dip on Vaas' island.
"Suppose I'll be the lucky fucker who is going to get it." Vaas sighed and Raul nodded.
"We carried the tools, what more do you want?"

Vaas muttered something in Spanish and then steadily worked his way down to the rock. When he stopped in front of it, he touched the surface, chipping some off with a small hammer he had in his back pocket. He then climbed back up to Phillipe and Raul and took a deep breath.

"Right, so we gotta melt this and shape it; Rosa only has small fingers so it will be easy to guess the size. Then we'll melt the gem into the dip and let it set?" Vaas asked.
Raul nodded.
"Yep. I've already set everything up so just put the rock in that pot and it will start."

Phillipe had made a small fire and Raul had set everything up, preparing for the trio to make the ring. As the rock melted down a little, Raul piped up.
"When and where you gonna ask her?" he said, Phillipe leaning forward to inspect the rock.
He blew on the flame and then poured out the rock into a little mould that Raul had made so it could set.

"Pass me the gem." Phillipe instructed and Vaas complied.
Phillipe pressed it onto the mould and waited.
"I don't know. I'm doing it soon, like tomorrow or something. I think I'm gonna take her down to the beach or out on the water."
Raul nodded and Phillipe then sprayed some water onto the mould.

"Where did you learn to do all of this?" Vaas asked, "In my tribe, it was all cheap and shitty stuff that we made."
"My father was a jeweller." Phillipe simply said; the conversation was mute.

Phillipe got his canteen of water and dropped the mould containing the ring inside it, closed the lid and shook it. The small fire illuminated his face as Vaas and Raul watched him. Pouring out the water and catching the ring, Phillipe popped it out of the mould and held it to the flame, so he could see it. He rubbed it on his tank and then passed it to Vaas.
"One ring."

Vaas carefully took it off of the man and grinned.
"Holy fuck, hermano, this is amazing. You can have anything you want, name it and it's yours."
The ring was now a silver colour and Vaas gem was placed on top of it, but it now looked like a precious jewel.
"Thanks." replied Phillipe, "It was no biggie. I'll let you know if I need anything."

Gazing up into the night sky, Rosa searched for constellations. She closed one eye and traced them with her finger, the beauty of them never failing to amaze followed them, the night sky clear and wonderous and she almost forgot her surroundings, blocking out the chatter of pirates; the sounds of them opening bottles and burping and swearing. She was in a dazed bliss until a head bobbed over her.

"What you doing, princesa?" Vaas asked and she smiled.
"Looking at the stars. Remember when you showed me them? Back when we were 17?" Rosa asked.
She smiled wider at the memories of that night.

"I do, hermana, I do." Vaas said.
He shook his head slightly at the words he had used and eyed Rosa, thinking that she might be onto him. Rosa eyed him back and scrunched her nose at him. She looked down his body and then stopped at his neck.
"Hey, where's your necklace?" she asked.
Vaas felt the panic rising.

"It's, it's ... Erm, I've put it in our room, to keep it safe, after everything that happened with those cocksuckers."
"I get it. Smart idea. I love that gem." she replied and Vaas smirked at his smoothness, even if it was a little flustered.
Rosa got to her feet and looked at Vaas.

"Coming for some fun, my King?" she asked, flashing him a seductive look.
"Try and stop me, mi Reina." Vaas replied.

He tapped Rosa on the bottom as she giggled, dragging him to the warehouse.

These next few chapters are gonna be about the wedding and stuff but don't worry your little heads! I have a surprise up my sleeve! Happy reading and please review! :)