Lunette walked about the plaza and smiled seeing the hustle and bustle of the Saturday market. She tightened her hat upon her head and walked through the crowds to make it out to her favorite spot. She loved to sit at a small café on the corner of the market where she could people watch. She walked to it, ordered a small tea and then took a seat at a small table in the shade of the building. She hummed lightly as she watched the people bustle around the market. Aliens of all kinds and humans of all cultures walked about, haggling prices, and buying that day's freshest produce or catch.
Her eyes widened then as she saw a familiar face. Jim was pressing through the crows and she lowered her head to cover her face as he passed precariously closer to her. She knew he had not noticed her. And she went against her common judgment and lifted herself from her seat and followed him. She left behind her still hot tea and meandered behind him. He suddenly stopped at a market stall and she threw herself behind a pillar.
"Ah! Jim!" She slowly eased out and watched as he hugged the young woman and pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek. "Do you have those perps I asked for?" The woman blushed and nodded. "Of course, but where is your mother?"
"She is busy at the Inn. I am doing her errands for today," he reasoned. She arched a brow and watched as he paid the alien woman and then took up a rather large bag of perps before he walked off once more. She went to follow after him until she jumped nearly out of her skin when her name was called, "Lunette!" She whipped around and Jackson stood not far from her and she rolled her eyes for allowing her guard down enough to be frightened at the mere sound of her own name. She faced him and smiled for him. "Jackson," she greeted and he smiled for her as she pressed towards him. She nearly tripped over a child running about, but Jackson's strong arms caught her up and she laughed. "Children," she said. He smiled doggedly at her, "Were you sitting at your café?" She nodded.
He took her hand and wrapped her arm about his while he guided her through the plaza and over to the café she had been at merely moments before. A waiter greeted them and Jackson smiled for him, "A patio table please." The young man nodded and guided them over to a table. Jackson led Lunette to her seat and she gladly took it. Hoping Jackson had not noticed that she was trying to follow Jim Hawkins. She looked at him as he sat across form her and he asked, "What brings you out of your home today? You're still working on your thesis on space pirates are you not?" She nodded, but said, "I needed the fresh air."
She framed her face with her hands and set her elbows on the table. "I'm just a little leery now." His brow arched, and he questioned, "What do you mean?" She sighed and leaned further back into her chair and rested her head back. Her hat teetered from her head for a moment until she felt the ribbon below her chin loosen and nearly give way. She struggled to catch it, but as she turned her breath left her.
Jim stood just behind her. His hand had caught her hat and her heart began to pound. Had he managed to see her trying to follow him? She blushed madly when he smiled rather crookedly at her. "You're rather clumsy sitting so," he paused, "well, openly." She cleared her throat, but Jackson spoke. "Uncle Jim, what are you doing out of the office?" he teased. Jim's smile broadened and he eased around the small gate and greeted them properly. "May I join you two?" Jackson smiled, "Of course Uncle."
Jackson saw the blush that stained Lunette cheeks and watched as her fingers deftly took her hat from Jim as he reached it out to her. She remained quiet and he watched as she untied the ribbon before she placed the hat upon her head and fumbled with the ribbon. He could tell she fancied Jim. Or maybe was curious about him. "Are you alright Lunette?" he pondered. "You look a bit flushed," he observed. He wanted to see what her response would be, but she merely blushed more and his chest tightened. He saw Jim's eyes widen at the response. "Yes, are you alright?" She cleared her throat once more and she smiled. "It is merely embarrassing that I dropped my hat," she admitted. "After being raised to be a proper lady I still need to tidy up my actions."
She inverted to herself and forced her smile. Why had she reacted in such a way due to Jim's presence? She smiled for the both of them and said, "Well, I suppose since we three are now here and it is nearly midday we should enjoy food?" A server appeared with menus and she rolled her shoulders to give herself a better posture. She watched Jim pull his hat from his head and rest it upon his knee as he looked over the menu. His blue eyes flicked throughout the menu and she was so focused on watching him just past the edge of her menu. The waiter asked, "What may I get you to drink?" She watched Jim and then looked over at Jackson and saw he was watching her, watching Jim. Her eyes widened for a moment and she responded to the waiter, "Just perp juice please." And he disappeared back into the café.
Jackson kept his eyes on Lunette, but began a conversation. "Uncle Jim what are you doing out?" he pondered and Jim smiled. "I was enjoying a day off, the market is today and you know my mother enjoys fresh produce. I was running her errands while there are a few many guests at the inn right now." Jackson nodded and Jim eyed him, "Should you not be studying for your exam?" he asked and Jackson coughed. He smiled hopelessly and teased, "Just getting some fresh air. I ran into Lunette and she had the same idea." Lunette nodded and smiled. But as she opened her lips to respond a voice cut her off.
"Lunette!" Her head snapped up and both Jackson and Jim frowned hearing Amelia's voice cut through. Jackson watched his mother slip through the crowds and onto the sidewalk just next to their table. She smiled for them. "Lunette," she said. "My husband needs to speak with you, I'm so glad I found you." The waiter returned with their drinks, but Lunette stood. "Is everything alright?" she asked quickly and Amelia's smile did not waiver. "Delbert would like to discuss a rather private matter with you," she reasoned. "I have offered to escort you to my home."
Jim frowned and looked at Amelia then knew. They were going to tell Lunette about their ties to Silver. After all, it was just this morning that Jim had expressed to Amelia that he expected to make the jump across the pond to Tortucana. He remained quiet though and as Lunette caught up her bag and eased away from the table, Amelia winked at him. He stiffened and in a moment's time Amelia had hooked Lunette's arm in her own and finally turned away. Sweeping Lunette off into the crowds. Jim relaxed into his chair and Jackson groused, "Well that was terrifying." He rested his chin into the palm of his hand and pondered, "I wonder what she whisked her off for." And Jim groused, "For her past."