*Updated 18-05-2018*
Chapter 63 - Pre-birthday Celebrations
"Rise and shine, princesa."
Rosa was soundly sleeping in the bed, wearing her underwear, the sheet draped over her. She was clutching the pillow and lying on her stomach. Vaas smiled and slid next to her.
"Princesaaa." he teased as he pulled the sheet down to reveal her back.
Vaas began running his fingers up and down her spine. Rosa furrowed her brow, then groaned as she opened her eyes, only to find herself smiling at the sight of Vaas.
"Hm, good morning." she breathed.
She stretched her arms out beneath her, then rolled over to her side.
"How you feelin'?" Vaas asked, moving to the side so that Rosa could sit up.
"So much better. That Doctor is a miracle worker."
"You're not out of the woods yet; or should I say jungle? Doc wants to keep giving you the antidote for today and you should be okay for tomorrow ... In time for your birthday."
Rosa chuckled.
"You know I actually forgot it was my birthday tomorrow. That means that Hoyt will be coming over. Shit, does he know what's happened?"
"Yeah, I called him this morning. He wasn't happy, obviously. He says since you've been here you've been in nothing but trouble. I told him to chill out and then he said he had some shit to do."
"That's alright, I suppose." Rosa replied, "Can you get me my clothes?"
"Why? I prefer it so much more when they're off." Vaas purred, eyeing her up and down, waggling his eyebrows.
"All you ever think about is sex, sex, sex." she replied, pushing him in the shoulder.
"Hey, can't a man want to have sex with his beautiful wife?"
"No." Rosa replied but she started laughing, "Just get me my clothes, you fuck."
Vaas got to his feet and wandered to a pile of Rosa's clothes. He picked up the ones he knew were clean and threw them to her.
"Did you know that tomorrow means that you will have been here for a year? It doesn't feel like that at all."
"Well, time flies when you're having fun, Mr Montenegro."
"Or when you're not being killed."
"Or that." she replied, her voice muffled as she was pulling on her tank.
"God, I must look a right mess, I mean, just look at my arms and legs!"
She was right. The Upas trees had left small but numerous scratches on her body, centering around her forearms and thighs. The lotion that the Doc had applied was clearing it up but they hadn't fully gone yet.
"You're beautiful, hermana." Vaas replied, smiling, "I forgot to ask; what happened to Snow?"
Rosa froze as she slowly got out of bed, her movements like that of a robot. She picked her skirt up and pulled it on, thinking. She could tell Vaas, her husband, the truth or she could lie.
"I shot her. In the head. Somewhere out in the jungle."
Rosa didn't know why she had decided to lie to Vaas; it was better than dealing with the alternative. Vaas seemed to nod his head in approval and then sat next to her.
"Gimme your foot, I'll put your shoes on for you."
"I'm not that fucking immobile, Vaas." she whined but Vaas yanked her foot up anyways, "My shoe is broken anyway."
"I'm helping you put on your sneakers for now." he replied.
He slid on her shoe and tied the lace before doing the same to the other foot.
"There, perfect." Vaas said and Rosa rolled her eyes.
"Not yet, I still have my makeup to do. You go out there and play with the hostages, I'll be out shortly." she shooed.
Vaas sighed and waved at her before leaving the warehouse, slamming the door behind him.
"Hey, how is she doing?" Jane asked, sitting on the stage.
Raul was sat next to her, smoking a cigarette.
"She's fine." Vaas replied, approaching the couple, "A pain in the ass as normal, but she's my pain in the ass."
Raul and Jane looked at each other and made 'aw' noises until Vaas knocked Raul's cigarette from his hand and into the dirt.
"Hey!"
"Sorry, my hand slipped." Vaas joked, putting his hands in the air.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Raul replied, "Anyways, what are we doing for Rosa's birthday. We're all in need of a pick me up so I smell a party."
Jane clapped her hands together and grinned.
"Yeah, a party! Come on, Vaas, please?"
"Alright, alright, we'll have a party. I ordered some things really early this morning so that's covered."
"What's covered?" Rosa asked, startling the three.
She looked radiant. Her skin on her face looked flawless, no signs of scratches anywhere; Doctor Earnhardt really was a miracle worker. Her arms and legs had been covered too, the scratches still there but hardly visible. The rest of her face was free from much makeup as Rosa was still recovering.
"Nothing, just talking about you and the Doctor." Vaas quickly lied.
Raul and Jane nodded in agreement; nothing like your friends to back you up.
"I see. I'm bored, what can we do?" she asked. Vaas smiled, an idea popping into his head.
"How you feeling right now?" he asked.
"Fine." Rosa replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"Good. Come with me, I've got something we can do."
10 minutes later, Rosa was still waiting for Vaas at the entrance of the compound, tapping her foot. Then, she heard heavy running footsteps before he popped into view.
"Finally." she sighed and he smirked.
"Just getting what we needed. You got your bikini on?"
"Yes." she replied.
He had sent her to put it on and then meet him at the gates.
"Good. I've checked with the Doc and he said that sea water should be fine for your cuts; it'll help 'em."
"Water? I've got some makeup on!" she whined.
Vaas pretended to swat her over the head.
"That won't matter. Anyway, you're gorgeous without it."
She blushed pushing him playfully.
"Right, what are we doing then?"
"Okay, I had to gather a few things and get some antidote from Earnhardt but we're gonna have some fun." he winked.
Vaas took Rosa's hand in his and started running, pulling her through the little hole between the rocks where a small fire lay and over to the docks. A battered sign lay as well as some fishing things but it didn't matter. At the end of the dock was a jet ski. Rosa's face lit up and she beamed.
"A jet ski? How cool is that?"
"I thought you might like it." Vaas replied, "Think of it as pre-birthday celebrations."
Rosa jogged to the end of the dock and pulled off her clothes. Her body was perfect; toned, tanned and slender. Vaas came behind her, putting the things down and then proceeded to take off his clothes until he was left in his blue swimming shorts; ones that Rosa did not know that he owned.
"Aw, you look cute!" she exclaimed, turning around to look at him properly.
Vaas scowled, causing her to laugh.
"Cheer up, grumpy! I wanna ride the jet ski!"
"Alright, alright! But I'm driving first because you called me grumpy."
Rosa rolled her eyes again before moving to the side, motioning for Vaas to get on the jet ski. He walked forward and climbed on and then put his arms out so he could help her on. She took a hold of his hands and squealed as she jumped over the clear water, onto the back of the jet ski. Vaas started the ignition as it roared to life, Rosa laughing and screaming.
"Hold on, princesa!" Vaas shouted, making her wrap her hands tightly around his waist, managing to get in a sly feel of his abs.
He revved the engine and they were off, the water billowing out from behind them as they flew forward. Vaas was showing off at first, doing a few trick moves to impress her but then he just started riding around. The movement was soothing, relaxing and Rosa found herself closing her eyes and just listening to the sounds around her.
Vaas pulled back up to the jetty and she opened her eyes.
"Was that fun?" he asked, the engine still running.
"Amazing! Can I ride it now?"
"Of course ... you're great at riding, aren't you princesa?" Vaas said, winking at Rosa.
Her mouth fell open as Vaas laughed, her face flushing pink.
"That's it!" she exclaimed.
The next thing Vaas knew he was pushed off the jet ski and into the water, Rosa laughing hard.
"Very funny, princesa. I was gonna sit this one out anyways." he replied, trying to hide his smile.
"My turn!" she said, shuffling forward to control the jet ski.
Rosa moved forward and revved the engine loudly, splashing Vaas a little and laughing. He was pulling himself up onto the jetty so he could sit and watch her. Rosa then smiled at him and sped off out into the water, feeling everything around her blurring.
The speed was intense but she loved it; never having felt more free. Vaas whooped and cheered, which only egged her on to go faster. She swerved around and started driving closer towards the jetty. The handles wobbled beneath as she turned sharply, causing her to fall from the jet ski and into the water.
The initial impact felt like a burn on her skin, the salty water getting into her cuts. But after a few seconds the feeling subsided into nothing and she was left in the water.
"ROSA!" Vaas shouted.
Without hesitation, he dove into the water and began swimming over to her. Rosa was not hurt; in fact she was far from it. She had never felt happier or more content with anything. Liza was gone, there was no longer any Jason, Citra or the Rakyat and for the first time in her life she could say that things were amazing. Vaas reached her and pulled her up from the water, Rosa laughing and smiling.
"SHIT ROSA! You scared the fuck out of me!" Vaas exclaimed.
Rosa put her arms around his neck and began spinning around, making 'whee' noises and cheering.
"I'm so happy!" she cried.
Vaas started to smile before erupting in laughs. The two were spinning in the water, nothing spoiling their moment. Rosa leaned in closer to him, their noses brushing, before she began kissing him, something that felt strangely long overdue. He placed his hand on the back of her neck and deepened the kiss before pulling away, breathless.
He looked back at Rosa, who had stiffened in his arms.
"Hermana, what's wrong?" he asked.
Rosa shook her head.
"Don't ... fucking ... move." she whispered, sending panic bells through him.
"What is it?" he hissed, the pair still in an embrace.
"Shark."
Vaas stopped moving completely. Rosa's eyes moved and Vaas followed them until he could see a fin pass the corner of his eye.
"Wait here." he whispered, kissing Rosa on the head.
The jet ski was just out of reach, meaning that if he could swim over to it, then they could get back to the jetty safely.
"Vaas. VAAS. Are you fucking insane?" she hissed.
Vaas smirked.
"Don't you know this by now?" he replied before dunking his head under the water and manically swimming over to the jet ski.
He made it, climbed on and flicked the switch. But it wouldn't start.
"Vaas." Rosa pleaded, the shark now circling her. She had her arms wrapped around her body and her teeth were chattering with fear.
"IT WON'T FUCKING START!" he groaned, punching the seat.
Suddenly, it pinged open and a lid was revealed. Vaas opened it up and found there to be medicine, a bottle of water, canned food, some rocks, a knife and a grenade. Grabbing a rock, he waited for the shark to be closest to him and threw it in the water, ideally to distract it.
"Rosa get under the water!" he murmured.
Rosa followed his instructions and took a deep breath before dunking her head under. The shark was practically looming above her, so massive and terrifying that she wanted to scream.
Snatching the grenade up, Vaas pulled the pin and counted. He waited for the perfect moment before throwing it into the water, in the direction of the shark. The grenade exploded, killing the shark, firing shark chunks into the air and in the water.
Rosa desperately swam to the jet ski for Vaas to haul her up, panting and shivering.
"What a day, ey? It's a part of the insanity of my beautiful island!" he chuckled, kissing Rosa on the forehead to reassure her that she was okay.
"Our beautiful island, don't you mean?" she replied, letting her feelings over fear go and jumping into Vaas' lap, straddling him.
He pushed some hair behind her ear and wiped some of the mascara from her face and grinned.
"Insanity. It's beautiful, no?" he whispered.
Rosa nodded, happy again.
Aw! That was just a cute little chapter for you there. Rosa's birthday next to something must go down at the parties, like it always does (what exactly, I'm not sure oops). Hope you are all still with me so feel free to review, favourite or follow. If any of you can draw and fancy drawing any of the characters here, feel free and post them on Tumblr. Until next time, happy reading my little cherubs :)