I hope you enjoy this chapter! ;)

It's a bit shorter than my other confessions in my other stories, but I hope you like it just the same.

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Third Person P.O.V

A few minutes of silence pass over the three, (Y/N)'s head leaning against Jacob's shoulder as they continue to watch the ocean through Red's nostril. Maisie looks over at the two, noticing Jacob looking down at the top of (Y/N)'s head. He seems to be contemplating something, his eyebrows furrowed in deep thought as he frowns.

Blue quietly croaks in question, him peering up at Maisie as she glances down at him with raised brows and a somewhat amused grin. She sets Blue down before rising swiftly with a loud yawn, slapping her hand on Jacob's backside roughly as he jumps in alarm.

"Well! I'm going to bed, I am awfully tired-- wow, and I'm still so little so I needs me rest to get big and strong!" Maisie states dramatically, flexing her thin arms.

Jacob glares at her with a twitching eye, (Y/N) raising her head from Jacob's shoulder and looking back at Maisie with a small smile.

"All right, little one. You'll be all right going to sleep alone?" (Y/N) questions in a soft tone.

Maisie quickly shakes her head with a grin. "I'll be all right! I've got Blue with me."

Blue croaks in agreement, rolling on the ground onto his paws as his tongue sticks out of his mouth.

"Goodnight, Maisie," (Y/N) calls as the girl starts walking further back through the chasm, turning back to the view in front of her.

"Night!" Maisie cheerfully calls back, her face dropping to a serious one as she looks at Jacob.

He was taken aback by her blank stare, his brow raising as he frowns in question. Maisie points to Jacob, then points to (Y/N), giving a firm thumbs up before turning and walking a few paces back and laying down. Jacob, completely confused, turns back and faces forward, shaking his head once before his eyes dart to (Y/N). Realizing he was staring, he felt his face warm.

He forces himself to look ahead, a few minutes of a calm silence wash over the two. Schools of fish swim by as (Y/N) watches, but Jacob found himself more interested in her than the view once more.

Jacob's eyes look over her features, expression thoughtful as he adjusts his legs so he was sitting criss cross. He felt his palms become sweaty, making him exhale quietly through his nose as he subtly wipes them on his pants and looks ahead once more, scolding himself for staring and telling himself he wouldn't again.

He failed.

Jacob leaned his cheek on the knuckles of his hand, his elbow resting on his leg as his eyes remain on (Y/N).

(Y/N) looks to him, Jacob flinching and quickly looking ahead nonchalantly. She gives him a deadpan look, but remains silent, wanting him to say something on his own without her pushing him too much.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she questions lightly, nodding towards the ocean.

Jacob stiffly nods. "Aye, it is."

"Odd seeing it from this angle. Usually, we're sailing above."

Jacob nods once more, (Y/N) frowning with concern as he turns away from her with a frustrated expression towards himself. A moment of silent passes.

"Jacob, are... is everything all right?" (Y/N) slowly questions, peering up at him.

He turns back to her, clearing his throat and quickly nodding. "Of course. I'm sorry I'm... not really myself at the moment. Besides," he offers a lopsided smile. "You know me. I'm a man of action, not words."

"I do know you," (Y/N) agrees, bumping her elbow against his arm. "Which is why I know something's up. But!" she stretches her arms out in front of her, sighing. "I won't push it. You don't want to tell me, then that's fine."

Jacob smiles bitterly, "Well, it's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just that I'm having trouble finding the right words to say."

(Y/N) hums lightly at this. "Whatever it is, it must be important. You've never had trouble telling me anything."

Jacob watches a nearby school of fish for a moment, choosing his next words carefully. "Ever since that night our ship was attacked, I've wanted nothing but to protect you from harm because I've..."

He sighs in frustration, running a hand through his hair.

"I..." he laughs nervously, shaking his head. "I... care. About you a great deal. And was wonderin' if... you felt the same."

(Y/N) blinks slowly at this, smiling. "You've been my best friend my whole life, of course I care about you, too."

Jacob's gaze snaps to her, his mouth parting a bit before he lets out a weak laugh, tilting his head and looking down at her fondly. "Didn't mean as just friends, darling. I... love you as so much more."

He looks away, sighing deeply.

"I couldn't live with myself if I don't tell you how I really feel." Jacob mumbles sheepishly, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck as he avoids her gaze. "I-- I'm sorry. This is hardly the time for this sort of thing, with Crow and the beasts and... everything happening. But you had to know how I felt before whatever happens next happens. Maybe that's selfish of me, but... there it is."

Jacob limply shrugs his shoulder, keeping his head turned away from her.

"Selfish?" (Y/N)'s voice quietly questions, a silent snort escaping her. "Jacob, you're many things, but selfish is not one of them. You're courageous, stubborn, dashing and more. Would a selfish man put himself between me and the wrath of Crow?" She shakes her head. "Trust me, if you were a selfish man, I wouldn't love you as I do."

Leaning towards him, she kisses his cheek quickly, sitting back in her spot.

Jacob's eyes light up as he quickly looks up, turning to her in a swift motion. "Pardon?"

(Y/N) huffs in mock annoyance, chuckling a bit bashfully. "You're gonna make me say it okay? I said I love you too, Jacob. I've always felt a love for you, deep in my heart, but... I never wanted to risk anything by letting it be known. We're best friends and partners, and we were shipmates."

She turns to him with a playful smile. "Do you realize how awkward that would've been if I told you I loved you and you didn't feel the same? I'd have thrown myself overboard from embarrassment."

Jacob seemed to be in shock, mouth parted and eyes wide as he rubs a hand on the cheek she had kissed. "You... honestly feel the same way. About me?"

(Y/N) gives him a raised brow look, smiling. "Aye. Saying it twice wasn't enough for ya, huh?"

She glances towards where Maisie slept, her back to them as she was curled up with Blue. Seeing she was sleeping, (Y/N) leans towards Jacob slowly, giving him time to pull away if he wanted to.

Jacob's eyes scan over her face as he memorizes her features, leaning down towards her as he cups her cheek in his hand. She slowly pulls away, chuckling a bit as Jacob leans after her, dazed. His heart hammers wildly in his chest as he lets out an excited laugh, (Y/N) shushing him with her own quiet laughter as she presses her fingers to his mouth while looking towards Maisie.

Seeing she was still sleeping, (Y/N) looks back to Jacob as she moves her hand to caress the side of his face, the two beaming at one another with love.

"I love ya, darling," he breathes out in awe.

(Y/N)'s mouth twitches upwards as she pecks his lips. "I love you too."

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Jacob sat leaning on the wall of Red's nostril, one leg outstretched in front of him and the other propped up with his arm on his knee as he watched the ocean. His arm was around (Y/N), who was curled into his side with her legs tucked close to her with her hand resting on his chest as she slept soundly. He looks towards her, smiling as he presses a kiss to her forehead and rubs her back gently before looking back out.

Maisie peeks an eye open, looking to the two before giddily smiling and shutting it once more.

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Like I said, one of my shorter confessions! I hope it was okay :)

Thank you so much for reading this chapter! Until the next one, lovelies!