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Emily flings herself onto the large pile of gold and jewels, her heart nearly bursting with happiness. The other crew members had similar reactions as they are finally relieved that over a month’s worth of searching has come to an end. They were never so happy to see land and see fresh grass and trees (yes, they’re pirates. Their jobs are literally based in the sea but sue them for wanting to touch some grass every now and then. Also, the big piles of money on the land wasn’t so bad either.)
“Hey Cap!” Emily yells, her head whipping back and forth in search of their captain. “When do we start loading the ship?”
She gets no response and she curiously clambers down from the gold and walks over to the lone, hunched figure. She reaches out to touch Tobin’s shoulder and peeks over it, a small gasp leaving her lips.
“Is that…?” Emily lets the question fall unspoken off her lips but Tobin understands it nonetheless.
“Do you think she’ll like it?” Emily hears the nerves in her best friend’s voice and gently takes her shoulders to turn her around. Their eyes meet and Tobin finds nothing but sincerity in Emily as she says, “Of course she will, cap. No one can love that woman more than you. And no one can love you more than her.” Even though Emily doesn’t know much about Tobin’s lover since Tobin was a very secretive and private person, only an idiot couldn’t see how much Tobin loved said girl.
Tobin looks down to examine the diamond ring, the sun catching onto the large stone. She then looks out to the clear blue-green sea and a fond, sad smile graces her face as she is reminded of the green eyes she misses so much. There’s an ache in her heart, one that she has grown accustomed to. Every time she’s away from a sweet green-eyed farmers girl, the ache grows in her chest, spreading at an agonizingly slow pace.
But now, she’s eager to get off the island. According to her schedule, she’s timed the raid perfectly and should waste no time getting back on the ship and sailing back to a specific port. Tobin closes her eyes and mentally sends her love to the awaiting girl, promising her she will be home soon.
“Okay,” she breathes out, tearing her gaze away from the ocean, “Go ahead and start loading the ship. I’m going to find a couple more things for her and then we can head back.”
“Back where?” One of the crewmates catches the end of Tobin’s sentence and peers curiously at her.
Tobin sneers at the curious crewmate and says in an authoritative tone, “We’re heading back to Port Royale to restock our supplies for the next journey.”
“But, Captain,” another crewmate starts uncertainly, “Port Royale is a full ocean away. Surely there are more ports nearby?”
Tobin steps up to the man with hardened eyes and practically snarls into his face, “Surely I am dreaming. Are you, mate, questioning my decisions?”
The man fumbles for his words and the close proximity with fiery hazel eyes isn’t helping him find his voice. “No, captain, I- uh, I merely was suggesting another option. Please, just discard what I said previously.”
Tobin stays in front of the man, easily basking in her authority while the man looks like he isn’t breathing. After a few more seconds, she shoves the man away roughly and yells at her crew, “Well get on with it! We leave in an hour!”
There’s frantic energy coursing through the crew’s veins as they hurry to pack up the treasure. Whenever their captain was in a bad mood like this, they know to get the job done quickly and set sail for Port Royale as soon as possible. Something about that place makes their captain visibly happy and soft and whenever they’re there, Tobin always seems to be at peace.
Right now, watching Tobin storm away with fists clenched, bringing peace to their great captain was all they wanted. So, with a frantic wave of Emily’s hand, they pack up the gold in record time and in less than thirty minutes, they are back at sea.
--------
Tobin’s hand is fisted closed in the pocket of her coat, determined to keep the precious valuables safe. Her crew is floundering about gleefully, an expected reaction after such a big treasure find. She manages a tight smile to some of her crewmates as they holler in her face about how rich they are and how great of a captain she is.
“Ooh yeah!! You’re such a good captain, Captain Heath!” Emily mocks in a sing-song voice. She waltzes up to the brooding captain with a lopsided smirk as she continues, “You’re so big and bad and mean! Ooo!”
“Knock it off Em,” Tobin grumbles as she turns the large wheel absentmindedly.
“Wait till the crew figures out why we keep going back to a certain port and that you’re actually such a huge softie, eh? Not so big and bad now huh?” Emily laughs gleefully.
“Correction,” Tobin smirks, “They will never figure that out because all their shallow-minded brains think about is ‘money! Gold! Riches!’ And, I’m not a softie.”
Emily leans against the mast and smiles at Tobin knowingly, “Right, you’re just a softie to a certain, oh how did you describe it? Oh yeah, ‘beautiful, stunning, perfect green eyed goddess’ eh?”
Tobin blushes at the reminder of one of the rare days she allowed herself to get drunk. “I wish you would just forget that,” she murmurs, “And I wasn’t wrong. That is what she is.”
“Uh huh,” Emily hums, “I mean she must be if she tamed your sorry slutty ass.”
“Oh shut up and leave me be!” Tobin groans and shoves Emily’s shoulder.
“No, I still have to do what I came here for,” Emily insists, pushing back against Tobin’s weak attempts to shove her away.
“Well, get on with it then and stop dawdling!” Tobin rolls her eyes as she adjusts her hat.
Emily just hums and leans back against the steering wheel, ignoring Tobin’s protests. She ponders about what she’s about to say and after a beat of silence, she asks, “What’s she like?”
Tobin opens her mouth and then quickly closes it, carefully mulling over her words. She doesn’t like to share information about her private life, wanting to protect the privacy of her love. But looking at Emily’s trusting eyes, she relents a little.
“She’s amazing Em.” Tobin’s eyes glaze over slightly and her lips pull into a fond smile, “She’s beautiful and brilliant, and she loves all her animals like her own children.”
“She’s a farmer you say?”
Tobin nods, “A farmers girl, her father owns a ranch and she stays home full time to help him.”
“My favorite animal is a horse,” Emily supplies unhelpfully.
Tobin rolls her eyes and sarcastically says, “I didn’t really ask and I don’t really care.”
“Well,” Emily huffed, “What’s lover girl’s favorite animal?”
“Her dogs of course,” Tobin replies immediately. She turns the wheel to the right slightly as she continues, “She has two and they adore her so much.”
“More than you adore her?”
Tobin grins and breathes out, “Not possible.”
More silence ensues upon the pair and Tobin seemed content with not sharing any more information but Emily nudges her pitifully.
“How did you guys meet?”
Tobin brightens up more (if that was even possible) and says, “Oh don’t I have a tale to tell you. Good thing we have time. So around two years ago…”
Tobin’s crew lets out whoops of celebration and relief as the ship dock at the end of the pier. This was a new unfamiliar port but something in the air drew Tobin in and made her feel comfortable, yet uneasy at the same time.
The port was in beautiful condition and the environment seemed clean and prosperous. After her men had received their share of their recent treasure find, they were off to look around (most of them locating the town pub almost immediately). Emily had rushed off to the cheese shop citing the need to “Find more cheese! You can never have too much cheese.”
Tobin is left alone to on the pier to explore the new town. She shuffles her feet awkwardly through town, ignoring the lustful staring and curious peering from men and women alike.
Not really sure what to do to occupy herself for the time being (she already sent a few crewmates to buy new supplies and food), she goes to a flower stand that was bursting with bright colors. One draws her eye, a periwinkle colored flower with a dark indigo coloring the center and a light yellow tinging the edges. It’s beautiful and before she can stop herself, she smoothly takes it from the stand and swiftly walks away.
Oh, to be a pirate with no morals.
She gently tucks the stolen flower into her coat pocket and wanders into the outskirts of town. Tobin looks at her watch and confirms that they have less than two hours before they’re scheduled to leave so she should have to time to explore the vast greenlands before her eyes.
There is not much civilization beyond the busy town but at the edge of the horizon, she spots a tiny ranch. Curiosity peaks inside Tobin and she quickly walks all the way there.
When she arrives at the small ranch, she bends down at the chicken coop and gleefully pokes one of the chicken’s beaks. They didn’t seem to like that very much as they waddled furiously away from the grinning brunette. One of the chickens let out an abnormally loud squack and in no time, two medium sized dogs appeared out of nowhere and ran at her, barking wildly.
“Woah guys!” Tobin tries to soothe the barking dogs. She holds her hands up to hopefully convey she means no harm. Immediately the dogs’ barking subsides and they cock their heads to the side curiously, eyeing the newcomer with eagerness.
Tobin breathes a sigh of relief and holds out one hand, “Good dogs! C’mere.” She wiggles her hand enticingly and the dogs trot over for pets. She ruffles their fur and scratches behind their ears, the dogs’ tongues hanging out happily from the attention.
She doesn’t get to pet them for long however. The sound of a gun cocking makes its way to her ears and immediately, her hands shoot up defensively.
“Wait!” Tobin blurts, mind racing to figure out an escape plan. “Before you shoot, I would like you to know,” She starts to turn towards the person behind her, “You have really cute chickens.”
Tobin’s smirk falls off her face when she finally registers the beautiful girl standing before her. Sure, she’s seen pretty girls before so it’s almost embarrassing the way her mouth drops open and the way her eyes bug out.
‘Close your mouth before she thinks you ain’t never seen a pretty girl before’ Tobin chastise herself. She looks over the girl again, appreciating how the light blue dress stops halfway past her thighs and how it hugs her curves generously and how it seems to highlight her dark complexion and dark curly hair. ‘She really is pretty though’ Tobin chuckles to herself.
The girl’s cold green eyes seem to cut into Tobin and she says in a strong, but wavering voice, “What is your business here?”
‘Even her voice is pretty’ Tobin thinks before she says aloud, “Nothin’ ma’am, I was just exploring.”
The girl doesn’t lower the gun but her green eyes seem to scrutinize every part of Tobin and Tobin has to fight the urge to scratch the nape of her neck out of nerves. “I haven’t seen you before, are you new to town?”
Tobin winces. The topic of ‘Oh I’m a pirate and I steal for a living’ never really works out in conversations but the hard set of the girl’s jaw shows her that she isn’t playing any games.
“Uh, well,” Tobin absently pets the dogs who were still begging for her attention, “My crew and I were just stopping here to refill supplies.” She attempts to tell the truth with as much vagueness as possible but clearly the girl is too intelligent for her own good.
“You’re a pirate!” The girl says disbelievingly, “Oh my god!” Tobin frowns at the sudden fear evident in her voice and rushes to assure her, “Ma’am I promise, we aren’t here to cause a scene or make any trouble.”
The girl sneers and stalks over to Tobin quickly, jabbing her finger into Tobin’s chest, “Oh but isn’t that what pirates do? Cause scenes and make trouble for other people?”
Tobin scowls at the accusing tone and is quick to draw herself to her full height, towering over the farmer girl. “Wow so assuming and mean for such a pretty lady.”
The girl scoffs and crosses her arms over her abdomen, “Don’t call me that.”
“What, pretty lady?” Tobin smirks, a little endeared by the annoyed expression, “You are pretty.”
She watches as the girl tenses up even more if possible. The girl shoots the loaded gun at the ground and throws it away carelessly. “You are so annoying!”
Tobin leans against the fence with a grin, “I’m annoying? I just complimented you.”
The girl glares at Tobin but there’s a hint of a smile on her face and Tobin takes that as a victory. Tobin holds out her hand to offer peace and drawls, “M’name’s Tobin. In case you were wondering."
“I wasn’t wondering,” she quips, “But since we’re exchanging pleasantries, I’m Christen.”
Tobin whistles teasingly, “Such a pretty name for a pretty girl.”
The line somehow brings a blush to Christen’s tan cheeks and she scoffs again, “Do you use that pathetic line on all the girls?”
Tobin winks, “Just you.” She pushes herself off the fence and wanders down towards the other parts of the ranch. The quick padding of feet following behind her brings a smile to her face.
‘This girl’ Tobin thinks.
“Damn girl! Why was you so forward?!” Emily teases.
Tobin chuckles good-naturedly and scratches her jaw, “Dunno. She really was something else and I knew as soon as I saw her that she would become my whole world.”
“And has she? Become your world.”
“Yes, she has. And more.”
“So Christen,” Tobin says, “This ranch yours?”
Christen jogs to catch up with the pirate and walks beside her. “No, it’s my father’s. I help out a lot though, taking care of all the animals.”
Tobin hums, “Must be boring.”
She gets a slap on the arm for that comment and clutches her arm in mock defeat. Christen rolls her eyes and says, “It’s not boring you jerk. I enjoy it and I love all my animals.”
”Even though all they do is poop and eat?” Tobin asks disbelievingly.
“Even so,” Christen smiles and hooks both her arms around Tobin’s right arm.
Tobin smiles at Christen’s clear passion for animals and gently asks, “How about your mom? What does she do?”
Christen smiles sadly at the tall brunette. She explains softly that her mother became extremely sick and she and her father could not afford the medicine that she needed. She explains how on her dying bed, her mother made her promise to take care of the ranch with all her love.
“And so here I am,” Christen finishes, “Taking care of the ranch until my dying days.”
Tobin doesn’t say anything and Christen moves to pull her hands away from Tobin, “I can’t believe I told you all that. God, you must think I’m so pathetic.”
She covers her face with her hands and Tobin is quick to pull her hands away, “No Christen,” Tobin softly intertwines their fingers, unsure what to do in the situation, “I’m happy you told me.”
“You’re really tough, you know that?” Tobin continues, silently patting herself on the back when a smile reappears on Christen’s face, “And really pretty too.”
“Will you stop that?!” Christen groans but clutches Tobin’s hand harder. Internally, Christen is grateful for the lightened mood and her insides seem to be in a weird twist every time the brunette smirks at her knowingly.
“What, your boyfriend doesn’t call you that enough?” Tobin teases but there’s an underlying question that Christen catches onto.
“Nope, no boyfriend. And there will never be one, if you know what I mean,” Christen smiles shyly at Tobin, who was now wide-eyed and blushing.
“Plus, the amount of times that such a handsome pirate such as yourself have already called me that is more than enough.” Christen winks and tugs Tobin forward more into the grassy meadow.
They spend the next twenty minutes getting to know each other with a few “you’re so pretty’s” (coming from Tobin specifically) in between conversations. Christen shows Tobin all her cows and goats and excitedly goads Tobin to learn all their names.
---
“Chris, why would you name him ‘Bacon’? Bacon comes from pigs.”
“I know you idiot. It’s satire. And I bet you don’t even know what satire means.”
The silence that follows brings Christen to fits of laughter.
---
Time moves quickly and before she knows it, it’s time for Tobin to leave the port and set sail again.
Christen notices the change in her demeanor as she looks at her watch again for tenth time in a row and asks, “Do you have to go?”
Tobin sighs and runs her hands over a stack of hay, “I don’t want to.”
“What?” Christen fake-gasps, “You’re telling me that the infamous Captain Heath doesn’t want to go back to her ship and find more treasure?”
Tobin sighs pitifully again and looks at Christen with a pout, “I don’t want to leave you.”
Because yes, she knows it’s a lot since they’ve only known each other for an hour but dammit she really freaking hates feelings. And right now, looking at the smiling brunette, Tobin’s overcome with feelings.
Christen seems to melt at the soft admission and tugs Tobin closer to her. She cups Tobin’s pouting face with delicate hands and looks into her eyes, a sad smile playing at her lips. Instinctively, Tobin wraps her calloused hands around Christen’s waist and pulls her even closer, leaving barely an inch between their faces.
Tobin carefully takes the flower she stole from the market from her pocket and gently places it behind Christen’s ear, the stem and flowers covered by the girl’s wild curly hair.
“You’re so beautiful,” Tobin thinks aloud, her eyes feasting on the sight of Christen blushing and pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. She leans her head down slightly, question in her eyes.
“Tell me to stop,” Tobin practically breathes on Christen’s lips.
“Never,” Christen whispers and tugs her the rest of the way, their lips finally consuming one another.
“Ooookay,” Emily breathes out awkwardly, “As much as I love hearing about your little love story, I would like to pass on the sexy times.”
“There was no sexy times!” Tobin groans and shoves Emily so hard she almost stumbles off the main deck, “Get your mind out of the gutter, yeah? Besides, the sexy times didn’t even come till like three months later.”
Emily watches a blush stain Tobin’s cheeks as she reminisces her and Christen’s first time. “Yeah,” she says abruptly, “I don’t wanna know.”
“So,” Tobin smirks, “You don’t wanna know how sexy she is when I put my-“
“No.”
They sail for a few more minutes in comfortable silence until Emily breaks it. “Never pinned you for a settling down type though.”
Tobin cocks her head in confusion. “What?”
Emily gestures toward her pocket, “The ring. You’re planning to marry her aren’t you?”
Tobin bristles defensively and clenches the steering wheel harder, “So what if I am?”
“Nothing,” Emily says quickly, “I’m just wondering what changed.”
Tobin fiddles with her hands as Emily continues, “You stopped with the hookups a while ago which was something that also really surprised me and when on this last treasure find, you only took a diamond ring for obvious reasons. What made you decide you wanted to marry her?”
“Well,” Tobin chuckles, “It happened about two and a half months ago, the last time we visited the port…”
Christen was feeding the chicken coup when Tobin arrived. It’s been 7 weeks since the pair last saw each other so Tobin is more than eager to see her girl again. Usually, the pirate would just go up to the girl and make known her appearance without startling her. But today, she was feeling extraordinarily happy and quite mischievous so she creeps up quietly behind Christen, preparing to scare the poor girl.
She wraps her hands around Christen’s waist quickly and half-yells “Surprise!” in her ear.
To her disappointment, Christen barely flinches. The girl in Tobin’s arms chuckles and says, “You’re not very sneaky, Tobs.”
“What do you mean ‘I’m not very sneaky?’” Tobin says indignantly, “I’m a pirate. I sneak around for a living.”
“Yet, I could still hear your heavy-ass footsteps a mile away,” Christen says teasingly before turning in her pirate’s arms. She looks up at the brunette’s pouting face and wraps her arms around Tobin’s shoulders, “Hi, by the way.”
Christen pulls her down for a hard kiss and Tobin’s pout melts away in an instant as she murmurs, “Hi my beautiful girl. I’ve missed you.”
“And I’ve missed you.” Christen smiles happily as Tobin puts another flower in her hair like she always does when she comes to visit.
“What flower is it today?” She asks.
Tobin shrugs sheepishly and trails a rough hand down Christen’s cheek, “I don’t know actually. I found it on the way here and you know good and well I can’t name flowers off the top of my head. It’s very pretty though.”
“Just like me?” Christen’s already pulling her in for another kiss.
“Just like you, sweetheart.”
---
They lay together naked and tangled in Christen’s bed, a light sheen of sweat on both their bodies. Christen’s playing with Tobin’s fingers gently and her head is tucked under Tobin’s chin.
The closeness the two women share is not uncomfortable or uncommon. More often than not, it’s Christen who initiates intimate touches (not that Tobin minds) but there’s something in the way Christen kisses her a little more desperately or the way she clings tightly to Tobin every chance she gets, almost as if she believes she won’t get the chance to again.
“Christen?” Tobin murmurs.
Christen hums back and Tobin asks, almost hesitantly, “Is everything alright?”
The silence that follows makes Tobin’s heart drop lower in her stomach, “Christen?”
“I…” There’s a sniffle. “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.”
Tobin bolts up from underneath Christen and is shocked to see tears running down the green-eyed girl’s face. “What do you mean?”
Her breath gets caught in her throat when Christen continues, “I don’t know if I can do this,” she gestures between the two of them, “Anymore. I,” She wipes her tears away furiously, “I can’t keep going on with my life, being so oblivious and happy, while you are out to God knows where. I can’t keep wondering if you’re okay or when am I going to see you again because it’s breaking my heart.”
Tobin’s heart cracks a little at the broken admission, “I’m breaking your heart?”
Christen nods, tears still pouring down. So much hurt and sadness is washing off Christen like a waterfall of emotions and it breaks Tobin’s heart even further. Christen wraps herself up in the sheet to cover the state of her nakedness and continues, “I feel like I’m not important enough to stay here for. You come so quickly and leave for months without a single word. I had hoped,” she gulps, “That sooner or later you would finally love me enough to stay here with me, to marry me.”
“You want me to marry you?”
Christen covers her face with both her hands and says through her tears, “I do. I love you, Tobin. But clearly, you don’t love me.”
“How can you say that?!” Tobin doesn’t mean to raise her voice and she instantly regrets doing so when she sees Christen flinch. However, she’s too angry, too confused to stop, “How can you say I don’t love you when you know I haven’t loved anyone like I love you?”
“Well you aren’t doing a good job at showing me,” Christen snaps, anger finally washing over her features.
Tobin reaches out to grab Christen’s hand, seeking comfort from the girl but Christen snatches her hand away, green eyes full of fury. “How, Chris?” She practically begs, “How can I show you?”
“Stop being the infamous Captain Tobin Heath and be my Tobin Heath,” Christen says brokenly, “Stay here with me, on this ranch, and marry me.”
The thought of leaving her ship, her crew, and the exciting, adventurous life pulls fear into her heart. How could she leave everything she’s ever known for Christen?
The seconds that pass in silence gives Christen her answer. She lets out a sob and scrambles off the bed, like she can’t seem to get away from Tobin fast enough.
“No, wait, Chris,” Tobin says desperately.
Christen shoves on her dress and wipes her tear-filled eyes. “When do you leave?”
Tobin hesitates but after one look from Christen’s hurt face, she says, “Ten minutes.”
“Good,” Christen sniffles, “I’m coming back in fifteen minutes and you better not be here.”
“Chris,” Tobin says, pain filling her voice, “You don’t mean that.”
“Oh I do,” Christen says in a wavering voice, her face now void of emotion. “I want you gone. And I never want to see you again.”
She runs out the door without another look back and Tobin is left alone in her grief.
“Oh Tobin,” Emily sighs, hand on Tobin’s shoulder for comfort, “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not,” Tobin says with a sad smile, “I needed that wakeup call. It finally made me understand that yeah, I am willing to leave all this for her.”
“Really?” Emily can’t help but sound shocked. “How can you be so sure that she’ll have you back?”
Tobin shrugs, “I’m not sure. But I’m hoping she still loves me enough to marry me.”
Five minutes later, Tobin finally gets up and re-dresses in her clothes. There’s so many conflicting emotions swimming around in her head that she knows the only rational thing to do is to leave. Even if it means breaking both of their hearts.
As she trudges out, she’s taken aback by the sight of Christen’s father standing on the porch. She definitely doesn’t want to talk to him now knowing he probably heard most of the conversation.
However, Tobin walks up next to him and softly leans against the railing. They stand in silence for a moment, just looking out at the beautiful grasslands.
Tobin opens her mouth to say something but he beats her to it first, “Yes.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“Yes, I do.” He says confidently. He turns to look at Tobin’s wide eyes and continues, “Yes, you have my blessing.”
“Doesn’t matter about your blessing now,” Tobin says sadly, “She won’t marry me after this.”
He takes her shoulder and turns her to fully face him, “Yes she will. She will need time, sure, but you are the only person who brings real joy to her life.” His eyes grow even more serious as he says, “Think about it and think real hard. Don’t be the one who takes that joy away from her.”
---
The ship arrives at the dock and there’s a slight commotion of excitement around town because many of the citizens have taken acquaintance with the fellow pirates and some have even made friends with them.
“Promise me you’ll take care of the ship just as well as I did. If not better.”
“I promise. I wish you luck and a happy life.” Emily hugs Tobin tightly, knowing this might be the last time she sees her best friend.
Emily watches as Tobin leaps down from the ship, laughs when she stumbles a little, and prays to God to help this go well for her best friend.
Tobin sprints through town, stopping only to snag another flower from the stand, this time a red rose. The owner of the stand yells angrily after her but she’s already gone.
In no time, she’s made it to the familiar ranch and the two dogs sprint up to her happily.
“Hey girls,” Tobin coos, bending down to pet them. “How is she?” She asks them, chuckling a little at herself. The dogs just lick her face eagerly and then the tan colored one suddenly dashes into the house.
Tobin quickly follows, shedding herself of her heavy coat but taking the rose and the ring out of the pocket, leaving her clad in only a white button-up, pants, and heavy boots. She’s sure that if Christen was in the house, she would be able to hear her footsteps.
She passes Christen’s father who was reading the newspaper. He doesn’t seem at all surprised to see her and with one pleading look from Tobin, he lifts himself off the chair and heads outside to give them privacy.
The dogs lead her to Christen’s closed door and as if they seemingly know that Tobin also wants space, they sprint out the door after Christen’s father.
Tobin takes a deep breath and knocks gently, “Chris?”
She hears nothing in response and opens the door slightly, “Christen?”
Christen is laying on the bed, face turned towards the door. She seems to be asleep so Tobin quietly pads across to kneel beside her bedside. She runs her finger along Christen’s face, brushing stray curls away.
How is it that she grows more beautiful each time I see her? Tobin thinks as her eyes scan every inch of the face she loves dearly. There’s more freckles than before and her eyelashes are just as long as ever, but there’s dark bags under closed eyes and there’s a worry crinkle present between her eyebrows.
Unable to stop herself, she leans to kiss Christen’s forehead and then nose and that rouses Christen out of sleep. She watches as green eyes blink sleepily, trying to gain focus on the face in front of her, confusion spreading through her features.
“Hi my beautiful girl,” Tobin says softly, face only inches away from Christen’s.
Christen smiles a small, sad smile and mumbles to herself, “I must be dreaming.”
“No sweetheart,” Tobin takes her hand gently and presses a kiss to the palm. Christen’s fingers instinctively cup Tobin’s jaw and strokes her jawline softly, as if she can’t believe Tobin’s really here.
She pulls Tobin closer to her face and whispers, “Tobin? You’re here?”
“I’m here,” Tobin murmurs, “And I’m here for good, if you will allow me.”
Tobin holds out the ring in front of Christen’s dazed face. Green eyes widen in shock and emotion flit across her face rapidly. She sits up quickly and cups Tobin’s face with both hands, bringing her even closer.
“Really?” Christen whispers, a smile lighting up her features in hope.
“Really, really,” Tobin almost laughs at the bright, happy look dancing over her lover’s face, “Christen Annemarie Press, my beautiful girl, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Christen falls back against the bed, bringing Tobin with her and settling her on top. She kisses her for the first time in almost three months and it feels like a needed breathe of oxygen, of reality.
“Yes, my love,” Christen murmurs happily, “Yes.” Tobin slips the diamond ring on Christen’s ring finger and kisses it softly.
“I’m so sorry,” Tobin’s eyes fill with sorrow, “I never meant to bring you sadness and I’m sorry I couldn’t give what you wanted from me. You deserve so much better and I’m sorry that I won’t be able to provide for you the way you need to be.”
Christen shushes her and kisses her deeply, hands fisting the Tobin’s button-up. “No, I’m sorry. It was wrong for me to expect you to leave everything you’ve worked for and it was wrong for me to leave you that day.”
Tobin opens her mouth to assure Christen that the blame was all on her when Christen continues, “And you will be able to provide me with everything I need. You’re all I need, Tobs, I don’t care about riches and glory, and I just want you. Please don’t ever feel that you are inadequate because you’re not, my love.”
Tobin’s nerves are set at a slight ease and kisses Christen’s forehead lovingly.
“How does it feel,” Tobin murmurs, climbing onto Christen with a smirk, “That you’ve gotten prettier and sexier now that you’re my future wife?”
“If you keep giving me compliments like that for the rest of our lives,” Christen smiles widely, “I would feel like the most special girl in the world.”
Tobin pulls away from Christen to place the rose in her hair. The thorns were all peeled off, courtesy of Tobin’s nerves on the trip here, and the blush on Christen’s face from Tobin’s adoring look makes giving up the pirate life so much more worth it.