(Russell's POV)

              The entire crew plus Funto and Dee were gathered in the infirmary, as I clutched Kris to me. I was still sobbing uncontrollably, not ashamed. Tears stained Kris's face, and though there was a very faint pulse, she was quiet.

               "God dammit no." Penelope cried, slamming her fist on a nearby table as she started to cry. Ed took her in his arms, trying to console her, though he looked shocked as well.

                "Why... Just why..." Luna's hand covered her mouth, her eyes watering as she eyed her friends. Chris hugged her, but he looked solemn, knowing there was nothing else they could do.

                  Cecilia and Dee were clutching each other, trying to comfort each other as they watched me holding Kris. Kris, who was still in my arms. God I still couldn't bring myself to let her go. They'd probably have to pry her out of my arms. I wipe her hair from her face, and wipe the tears away too.

                   "Isn't there something else? Anything!" Allison sobbed, as she collapsed on the floor crying. Thomas sat down next to her, rocking her in his arms as he cried quietly too.

                   Nadia, Alli's sister was crying as well, even though she hadn't known us long, she cried, her and Arabella holding onto each other. Arabella had just woken up, though she faded in and out, she started crying uncontrollably when she saw Kris, insisting that it was her fault, if we didn't have to come get her.

                 Nathan quietly tried to pull Arabella away from Nadia, though she resisted at first. She slapped at him when he touched her, and though he looked shocked and hurt at first, he was determined to try and hold her while she cried. "Dammit. Look... I'm sorry... I know ya probably need space... I just can't... Just dammit all..." Nate cursed, as he pulled Arabella into his arms.

                 She fought him, but he didn't let her go, clutching her to him. She eventually settled down, letting him hold her. Nate cried quietly, watching me holding Kris.

                It was captain, who broke the silence. "Russ.... I'm sorry..." Morgan said, placing a hand on my shoulder, a serious look on his face. "There's... Look.... There's an option... But there's no guarantees, and it's making a choice for her... But it's an option." Morgan started, and I quickly and carefully set Kris down, before bolting from the room.

                  He didn't have to say any more, I realized what he was getting at. I just hoped it worked, and that she would be okay with what came with it. I wasn't stupid, I knew messing with this sort of thing didn't come without its consequences or its price. But if she could have some form of life, I would do whatever I could to be with her again.

                 I grabbed the dead man's chest from the navigation room, before sprinting back to the infirmary.

"You're making a big choice for her, and picking her life for her. I'm not trying to discourage you, just know what you're getting her into." Morgan lectured quietly, as he helped me place the chest on the bed next to her.

"Cap, as long as we have a shot at being together again, that's what matters. I love her, and maybe it's selfish, but I'm not ready to let her go. I just want to be with her. I'd do anything for her." I answer him, my mind made up, as I open the dead man's chest.

                Captain meets my gaze, before nodding. Chris and Funto make their way over to help. "Okay, her heart has to stop beating, for this to work. As odd as it sounds." Captain directs, and Christopher checks her pulse, nodding to confirm she no longer has a pulse.

                Nate hands me a dagger, and I stab the current beating heart, the heart of Davy Jones. I remove it from the chest, setting it aside, trying not to think too hard about how I touched a beating heart, and how discolored blood squirted from it once I stabbed it. 

                 "You're going to have to cut her heart out, carefully, and put it into the chest. The magic of the chest will take care of the rest." Morgan adds, and looks to Christopher for the next part, though I stop him.

                 "Let me do it." I tell the doctor, taking the knife from him.

               "If you're sure. I can kinda direct you." Chris offers, and I nod, accepting his offer.

              "I'm sorry... I hope you can forgive me for this.." I mutter quietly to Kris, even though I know she can't hear me anymore, before i bring the knife down, cutting open her chest, careful not to get too close to the heart yet.

             "You're going to want to get closer, cutting around it, all the major valves." Chris adds, hovering slightly as I continue to makes cuts, dragging the knife across her skin. It resists slightly, and her chest starts to bleed once more, but I keep going, determined to do this.

                I can see her heart, and the valves surrounding it, along with other inside parts of her that I'd never thought I would see. Blood starts flowing out of her again, and I'm glad she can't feel this. I cut around the heart, leaving some of the valves on it, before taking the gloves Christopher offered me. I take a deep breath, before reaching my hand in, scooping her heart out.

"Shit." I mutter, as I hold her heart literally, in my hands. It makes a squish noise, and I quickly set it in the dead man's chest, before closing it.

"Okay. Her heart will start again, in the chest. Her wounds will heal, and she might sleep for awhile, her body adjusting. It transforms her in a way, though." Morgan goes on to explain.

"Will she be... Different? Will she still be her? Or will she slowly turn into how Jones is?" I ask quietly, knowing it's too late now, I had already done it.

Morgan's stormy grey eyes meet my green, before answering. "She will be a little different. She will still be the woman you know, just... It's an adjustment. Jones, let himself get the way he is. As long as she doesn't let it harden her, and make her cold, she will be fine. I don't think she will end up like Jones. It'll take a few days for the transformation to complete, for the Flying Dutchman to find her. After three days or so, she can't step on land for ten years. She can up until her three days are up. She might sleep for at least one day." Morgan explains to me as best as he can.

"Why does Jones look like a sea creature then?" I ask, curious.

"Jones is cursed in multiple ways, and turned cold. But it wasn't the Flying Dutchman alone that made him like that. It won't happen like that to her." He reassures me, squeezing my shoulder.

We were interrupted by the faint sound of a heart beat, drawing our attention to the chest. Thump. Thump thump. Her heart started again softly, and we glance at her, her chest slowly closing, the skin stretching back together.

(Eduardo's POV)

A couple hours after Russell put Kris's heart in the chest, the girls stayed in the infirmary, while me and the rest of the guys took a breather, gathering in the dining room. It was quiet, only the sound of the ocean beating against the ship could be heard. "A lot has happened huh." Chris breaks the silence, glancing around at us all quietly.

"It's certainly been more hectic recently." Russ snorts, looking slightly tired. It had been a long day, and losing Kris had taken its toll, though he managed to muster up the strength to save her, doing what he had to. He'd come a long way since I'd known him. He had managed to give the woman he loved a second chance at life.

"Well it's certainly gotten more entertaining since the girls joined. Seems like ages since it was just us." I add, thinking back on how much things have changed.

                "Was just us for a long time. Arabella joining us in Yamato, then finding Cecilia, Luna, Kris, and Penelope at the skull, Allison joining us at the games..." Morgan trails off, looking thoughtful.

                 "It's gotten more lively, in a good way, with them." Thomas adds, blushing slightly.

                  Nathan starts laughing slightly, drawing our attention to him. "Sorry. Remember last Halloween? The girls convinced us to actually dress up and everything." Nate explains, chuckling slightly, shaking his head at some memory only he could see.

"Yea... Shit Penelope talked me into face paint... That shit got everywhere." I add, chuckling, remembering how Penelope had put face paint on both of us last Halloween.

"Kris had me in a suit, with my hair slicked back... And she had on that dress... Damn" Russell trails off, shaking his head.

"You weren't the only one in a suit, and slicked hair." Morgan chimes in, laughing.

"At least you didn't have fangs. I had fake fangs, and so did she. Those cause more issues than one would think." Nate snorts.

                 "I had fangs. And Alli dyed her hair like platinum blonde remember?" Thomas chimes in next.

                 "That's right. Thomas was a wolf, and Allison was a red riding hood." I muse. It was interesting, seeing Thomas, who we had always picked on for being so innocent, being the bad wolf from fairy tales.

"Dude.. Those fangs were annoying right? Shit we forgot to take them off later... Jesus.." Nate shivers, and I raise an eyebrow.

"You forgot... What the hell happened?" I ask, hesitantly, not sure if I wanted to know.

"They were hard to take off, and we left them on. Those things are sharp.. Damn." Nate elaborates, scratching the back of his neck.

Russell whistles. "Damn. Wait... Man... Did she? Holy shit... Your poor dick..." Russell asks, making the chef blush.

"No asshole. Not that. Shit... Hell... I'm glad she didn't... Hell.. Other places... Just.. Shut up.. Never mind." Nathan stuttered, his face bright red, prompting everyone to laugh.

                     ~ Last Halloween ~

                (Eduardo's POV)

            "You almost done woman?" I huff, as Penelope puts skeleton face paint on me. She had convinced me to dress up for Halloween, and to match her sugar skull idea, she paints me up as a skeleton, and even got me to leave my eye patch off... Only her...

              "Almost. Don't be so impatient." She laughs, her green eyes lighting up as she smiles. "It's supposed to be fun." She chides, as she continues to layer paint on my face gently.

               "Interesting idea of fun." I snort, and she merely rolls her eyes at me, used to my sarcasm by now.

               "Oh hush cyclops." She teases, finishing up the make up. "Alright. All done. Go get dressed." She directs, and since it was her, I went ahead and did so.

She convinced me to put on a suit, skeleton patterned black dress shoes, a black tie with a skeleton and a top hat. The make up, face paint, was very detailed, black, with white bones, realistic looking. She was an artist even with make up.

She dressed up as a sugar skull, taking just as much care with her own face paint.

Her make up was white, with dark eyes, just as detailed as mine. She curled her hair, adding flowers to it. Her nail details matched, with sugar skulls and flowers, a long sleeved black dress, that exposed her shoulders, the skirt flaring out, grazing her knees, with open toed heels, that were red and black, with similar designs on them, red flowers, and more. She was beautiful, even dressed up, even though she was covered in paint. I preferred her without make up, but she pulled it off well.

It took me a minute, before I could snap out of it and say something. I smiled, as I approached her. "So is this paint smear proof?" I teased, going in for a kiss.

She backs up, smiling right back at me. "I can always fix it." She smirks, before letting me kiss her.

My lips move against hers, and I slowly push her back towards our bed. "Do we have to go to the party?" I ask quietly, as I run my fingers up her spine. She shivers slightly at my touch, but nods.

"I didn't do this paint for nothing. We're going." She says, laughing, as she takes my hand, pulling me towards the door.

               I let her drag me to the deck, where we had music, food, a bunch of sweets, and of course booze. Everyone dressed up, dancing, and laughing. We drank as usual, captain getting really into character, making Cecilia blush profusely. Chris and Luna digging into the sweets, before they go off on their own. Thomas blushing as he danced with Alli. Kris and Russ dancing, and having fun. They went off on their own eventually, Russ taking her up to the crows nest. Nathan and Arabella drinking, with Arabella smearing cake on Nate, or basically any food item, which wasn't uncommon for them.

                I took Penelope to the top deck later, because I was most comfortable there, I spent most of my time there anyway, though she had a habit of sitting up there with me, sketching away, keeping me company. We stood together by the railing, my arms wrapped around her waist, as she stood in front of me, my chin resting on her head, as we looked out towards the ocean. "What are you thinking?" She asks curiously, as she looks up at me, tiling her head back to meet my gaze.

I smile slightly at her, trailing my fingers down her face. "Hmm. How things are different now, but I like it. You're something else you know that?" I murmur quietly as I look down at her. "I was content before... Thinking I was alright alone, with the crew. The idea of finding someone... Finding someone special never even crossed my mind, and I scoffed at the idea. I didn't think it would happen, not for me. I'm surprised you put up with me sometimes." I add, laughing quietly. "I'm grateful Penelope. I'm grateful I found you, and that you put up with me... And I'm sorry I'm still probably not good at the whole expressing myself thing."

"Ed?" She interrupts, meeting my gaze. "You're getting better at it. And yea, you can be a sarcastic asshole, but you have a soft side." She smirked at me, before continuing. "You have a hard exterior sometimes, but I don't mind. I see you Ed, I really see you. You're tough, but you're not heartless, or as mean as you pretend to be. You care. I don't mind the sarcasm. I like you as you are Ed." She finished, amazing me again.

She never ceases to amaze me, and I bring my lips to hers, in a chaste quick kiss, before we went back to our room. We volunteered to do the laundry the next day, because we didn't want everyone to see we had gotten our face paint all over our sheets that night, not even bothering to wash it off before we got lost in each other that night.

(Russell's POV)

               I fidgeted with the suit Kris had picked out for me, before I continued my struggle trying to slick back my hair how she wanted. "Having trouble?" Kris giggled from behind me, as I heard her walking towards me.

               "Yea sorta." I begrudgingly admitted, as she walked up to me, and taking the comb from me, she fixed my hair, slicking it back almost effortlessly.

                "There, now let me fix your tie real quick..." She murmured, as she quickly adjusted my tie for me. She had picked our costumes, her as Daisy, and me as Jay Gatsby.

She slicked my hair back, and she had picked out a white suit, with cream and beige dress shoes. A light blue dress shirt, and a tan tie. I had a cane as well, which, if the Rika was still supposed to visit for the party, I could beat the shit outta Alan with it if he got too close to Kris. Damn pervert.

Kris made a beautiful Daisy, with her champagne colored dress, that had what appeared to be crystals hanging from the dress, all the way down. The dress stopped at her knees, and she had a shaw around her shoulders, that draped over them, the same crystals hanging from the ends, with faux fur around the top, hugging her neck. Her hair curled, with a headband with a bow going across the top of her head. She was always beautiful to me, but I enjoyed seeing her in a dress for a change.

              "Like what you see?" She teased, since I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

             "You? Always. You're always beautiful. You make the dress look stunning." I tell her, walking over to her. She blushes slightly at my words, making me smile, as I pull her into an embrace, looking down into hazel eyes, that I never got tired of looking into.

               I rest my forehead against hers, Just looking at her. God she was amazing. I bring my lips down to hers, trying not get too carried away, but it was always too easy to get carried away, to get lost in her.

"If you're trying to get out of the party, it's not going to work. Though it's temping." She says, pulling away from me, before leading me to the door.

"Never." I snort. "But if Alan and them show up too, Alan better stay away. I'll beat the shit outta him with this cane if I have to."

"I bet you would." She laughs, shaking her head slightly.

We join the crew, the usual party on the deck, except everyone dressed up, and more sweets, and the girls decorated. The Rika did show up for a bit, and I made good on my threat, Alan backed off pretty quickly. Penelope even got Ed to leave his eye patch off for the night, amazingly enough. Allison got Thomas to dress up, our shy Thomas dressed as a wolf, and she got him to dance with her. He seemed to be getting a little less shy these days.

Morgan was obnoxious as usual, Cece blushing throughout the night. Luna and Chris, attached at the hip, the quiet doctor dancing with her, Luna sang along with the music, her beautiful voice singing with Christopher's rather off key voice. Nate and Arabella making a mess throwing food at each other like five year olds.

Eventually I took Kris to the crow's nest, to be alone for awhile. I draped my jacket over her, as we looked up at the stars together, the sound of the party distant. "Finally get you to myself for awhile." I muttered in her ear, quietly, earning me a laugh from her.

                "Jealous? You were with me the whole time idiot." She added, still laughing.

                "I know. But I like having you to myself too. I don't get jealous... Anymore... Like I used to."

                "I remember you fought Nero, back at the games." She teased me, meeting my gaze.

                 "Yea... I did. I was scared you'd leave, and I'd lose you, before I even had a chance with you. I wasn't used to feeling so strongly for someone, but even then, I knew I didn't want to lose you, that I would've regretted it the rest of my life if I let you get away." I tell her quietly.

                   "I wouldn't leave. There was no way I was leaving you. I won't, not if I can help it. You're not getting rid of me Russ. I'm staying now, you're stuck with me." She teased, and I kissed her quickly, before helping her back down the ladder, before we went back to our room, where I could have her to myself, and get lost in each other without anyone else around.

                    (Christopher's POV)

I adjust the costume Luna had picked for me, while watching her fix her hair for hers. She picked a genie for hers, and it was fitting in a way. She was truly magical, in the literal sense, but not just because of that. For the joy she brought to my life since meeting her, and the joy she brought to others as well.

                I know we both haven't really had it easy growing up, and we both were alone for awhile at certain points. The fact that she could still smile after everything she had been through amazed me, and that she drew others to her with her kindness was beautiful.

                 She was beautiful inside and out, my Luna. I had thought I was lucky just finding family among the crew, but lo and behold, I got lucky, another miracle, when I found Luna.

                 She picked out a costume for both of us, mine a red vest, and stripped pants that flared at the bottom. They were grey and black, with a black sash around the waist.

Luna was the genie, and I was the lucky man that found the lamp. Her costume was a light blue, that contrasted her tan, and dark hair beautifully. She had a short top, that cut off just below her chest, gold coins hung from it, and matching blue pants that flared out, the same gold coin ornament hung around her waist diagonally. There were gold colored cuffs on the bottom of the pant legs, and she looked magical, just like a genie.

"You ready?" She asked, after she finished curling her hair.

                   "If you are." I answer softly, offering her my arm. She laughed softly at the gesture, looping her arm through mine.

                  "Always a gentleman." She commented, as we made our way to the deck.

Music was blaring already, and we had our usual spread of food, and booze. With more sweets, plus the girls did a little decorating. I pulled Luna into a dance, she always was a beautiful dancer, plus occasionally she would sing along as well. Her voice was beautiful, and I couldn't help singing with her, even though I knew I sang out of tune, something the guys used to make fun of me for.

The Rika joined us for a bit, though of course everyone got annoyed with Alan, Russ especially. Luna's sweet tooth pretty much matched mine, so we tried all the different cakes. Luna also baked pretty well, so she had made some of the cakes for the party.

I know Nate was grateful for her help with that, and for teaching Arabella. Arabella didn't have the patience baking required, and though Nate liked cooking with her, there had been a few mishaps that made a mess in the oven, much to Nate's dismay, so Luna really helped with that, and teaching Arabella to be more patient and precise with her baking.

"Looks like captains at it again." Luna observed, as we glanced over, to see Morgan going for Cecilia's ass, as they danced.

"Never fails really. He's gotten a lot better though, since he's been around her." I reply quietly, as we start to head to the bow of the deck, away from everyone else.

"Everyone has come a long way since we met." She observed, thinking out loud. Her hair blowing slightly in the wind, as we looked out towards the ocean.

"That they have." I agree, brushing her hair out of her face, as I look at her.

"You were a little shy and careful with me at first... Maybe not overly shy, but careful..." She teased, grinning at me.

"I didn't want to do anything stupid, or make you uncomfortable. I knew how I felt, but I didn't know how you felt. I didn't want to do anything that would mess up you being around me. I liked having you with me in the infirmary. I just like being around you. I didn't want to mess up." I tell her quietly, thinking back on when I was still slightly nervous around her.

"You were always gentle, and never did anything wrong. A true gentlemen through and through Chris. Though maybe a little absent minded.." She adds smirking as she reminded me of my tendency to forget things.

"Hmm. You were always patient with me. Your kindness and beautiful smile, drawing me to you like a moth to a flame..." I murmured, before bringing my lips to hers, kissing her gently.

"I found it endearing, how you seemed to misplace things sometimes." She reassures me, before we head back to our room quietly.

"You're beautiful... Inside and out.. Truly magical... Almost like an angel... You are my angel..." I tell her quietly, before I begin kissing her again, starting to get lost in her.

She smiled at my words, my favorite smile that I never got tired of seeing, before she returned my kisses, both of us starting to get lost in the other as the night wore on.

(Morgan's POV)

                 I continuously try to comb my long brown hair back. Cecilia had picked our Halloween costumes, insisting we dressed up, though I fully admit, I liked what she picked, and had every intention of taking advantage of the fact that my character was always trying to kiss hers, for she picked Gomez, and Morticia Adams.

                "Well, what do you think?" Cecilia asked, twirling around after she finished getting ready. She had a long black dress, that covered her feet, with long sleeves as well. It was a V neck, but didn't expose too much. Her nails painted a bright red, that matched her lips, and she had donned a long black wig, a stark contrast to her bright blue eyes.

                    "Beautiful. Absolutely stunning, as always." I compliment her, and it was true. She was always captivating in my eyes, the only woman to ever entrance me so.

                    "I bet you say that to all the girls" she rolls her eyes, a smile tugging her lips, as she makes her way over to me.

                    "You're the only one now, and you're the only one that when I say it, I actually mean it. You've entranced me woman, and I am forever under your spell." I murmur quietly, as she adjusts my tie for me.

                  My suit was black and white stripes, with a white dress shirt, and a dark bow tie. My hair slicked back, and I also wore black dress shoes. "Always the charmer. Silver tongued devil." She chides, shaking her head. "Anyway, let's head out there."

                 The girls did a good job setting up the deck, black and orange decorations, a few pumpkins were carved as well. Music was playing, as was our custom, along with an assortment of booze and food. "You can have some tonight, just try not to go overboard okay?" Cecilia says suddenly, gesturing towards the booze I was looking at.

"Maybe a little then. I don't really need it now, like I used to." I admit, pulling her into a dance on the deck.

"You've gotten a lot better, I'll give you that." Her blue eyes dancing with mischief, as she teases me slightly about my old habits.

"Mhmm." I agree, though I can't help my hand from creeping towards her ass, while we dance.

"Well... Better in some areas." She glares, grabbing my hand and moving it back up to her waist.

I chuckle slightly, before taking her hand in mine, kissing it, then slowly kissing my way up her arm, and neck. Her face turns red, as I slowly kiss her as much as I can, before she pulls away.

I meet her gaze, before adding. "A day without you, only that would be torture." Smiling slightly at the quote, as I say it.

She returns my smile, with one of her own, playing along. "A day alone, only that would be death." She answers, finishing the quote, before we go off on our own, quietly.

"In all seriousness though, Cecilia. You've taken a womanizing man, and entranced him into changing his ways. What kind of magic did you use, what have you done to me woman?" I tease her slightly, meeting her gaze. "I've never met a woman that I saw a future with before. You make me want to be a better man for you." I admit, before bringing her closer to me, taking her in an embrace.

"And I never thought I would trust a man again, let alone someone who was known as a drunk womanizer..." She smirked, nudging me playfully. "But you captured my heart Morgan, somehow you did. I'm proud of you, you are doing better. You're changing, though I think you had it in you all along, it was just hidden."

I lead her back to our room, wanting more of her to myself. I was grateful she had even given me a chance in the first place, and I forever would be grateful for that chance. I loved her, and couldn't picture life without her, and no matter what life may throw at us, we would handle it together. I could make it, as long as I had her.

I spent the rest of the night, getting lost in her, and showing her without words how much I cherished her, how much I wanted her.

(Thomas's POV)

              It was the night of the Halloween party, and Allison was helping me get ready. She had to help me put on the claws, for my wolf costume. "Alright. Almost done. Give it a minute to set." She advised, before finishing getting ready herself.

She had dyed her lavender hair a platinum blonde, her nails red, light towards the top of the nail, gradually getting darker. Her lips were red as well, complimenting her red eye make up. She was a steampunk red riding hood, pulling off the edgy version flawlessly, with her red hooded cloak and knee high heeled brown boots. They were laced up to the top, with a gear as a decoration on the belt of the boots.

                Her dress, was short, with white ruffles on the bottom, the skirt mostly red, the top was like a black corset, with belts crossing over it. The very top was white as well.

                    What she picked out for me, was a steampunk wolf, with black pants, that had green shorts over top, a wolf tail hanging from a belt. I had wolf ears to match, along with fangs, and nails, as well as yellow contacts for my eyes. The shirt was a white dress shirt, with a brown vest, similar to the brown of her boots, with a matching tie.

                   "All ready." She announced smiling, as she put her hooded cloak.

                  "You look beautiful Allison." I murmured, brushing a stray piece of hair back behind her ear, careful not to scratch her with the nails. I was working on breaking the habit of calling her "Miss Allison.", since she insisted I didn't need to call her Miss.

"Thank you Tom." She replies, and I find myself blushing at her nickname for me, try as I might not to. "Let's head out there." She adds, after giving me a quick peck on the cheek, before leading me out onto the deck.

"Well look there. Thomas is a big bad wolf." Eduardo chuckles sarcastically, not long after we join everyone on the deck.

Penelope elbows Ed, before turning to us. "Looks great Thomas. I think both your costumes are great." She adds, smoothing over for Ed.

"Thanks! I love yours too! So creative!" Alli beams, returning the compliment.

                 Allison leads me to dance, and we dance quietly for a bit, as I start to get lost in her silvery grey eyes. They were mesmerizing, and I always was a little flustered around Alli, though I was trying not to be. She's so beautiful, it was hard for me to focus around her sometimes.

                  I always enjoyed her company, and being around her. I liked making her laugh, it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever heard, the sound of her laugh.

                 "You're awfully quiet over there." She teases, bringing her face close to mine, resting her forehead against mine.

                 "You distracted me." I tease her back, smiling at her. Her eyes widen in surprise, and I stifle a laugh. "It's easy to get lost looking at you... Like there's nothing else in the room but you. Like our own little world..."I murmur quietly, slightly embarrassed that I admitted that.

"You're always so shy... I like it when you talk more and admit things." She said, quickly kissing me on the nose, before smiling at me.

Her words giving me the courage I need, I lead her away from the party, to a quieter part of the deck. "I thought you were beautiful the first time I saw you. I was a little nervous, I didn't want to make you uncomfortable, especially after learning your previous crew didn't treat you right." I admitted, pulling her close to me, as I continued talking to her. I kissed the top of her head before continuing. "Even though I know you're strong, and can hold your own, I felt the urge to protect you ever since that first day.... You're amazing inside and out... I love being with you... And I always want to protect you, or fight with you... You make me want to be stronger for you..." I tell her quietly, admitting more than I ever had before to her.

                  "You were so brave, helping me that day during the games. You gave me a new home with your crew, and now I finally have a family again. I think your brave Thomas. But your also kind, sweet, caring... Just, a gentleman at heart. That's a rarity, and it's a beautiful thing. I love you all the more for it." She tells me, before taking my hand, and leading me back to our room.

              I spend the night getting lost in her, cherishing her, though being as gentle as I can, as I show her without words how much I love her, for the first time. The next day was a little embarrassing, the guys joking that I was finally a man...

                      (Nathan's POV)

I carefully try to put on fake vampire fangs for Halloween, Arabella and the rest of the girls convincing all of us to dress up. Though Arabella, sometimes the procrastinator, waited until basically yesterday to pick our costumes. She picked vampires for both of us, fangs included.

               I could already tell they were going to be a pain in the ass to take out later. "If I impale my tongue with these damn fangs you're gonna get it." I tell her, as she finishes getting dressed.

               "Oh hush. Zip me up will ya?" She asks, turning around, pulling her hair up, as I zip up her dress. It was a rare occasion, her in a dress. It was long, form hugging, that flowed slightly at the bottom, red on the bottom, mostly black, the top making a  V shape over her chest, kinda revealing actually. It had lacy black sleeves too, that tapered off, trailing off her arms.

                  She managed to put me in a kind of suit, red and black, matching her. Black pants, a red and black vest, a black shirt, red tie, and a cape... Basically, a very vampire, gothic type suit. How did she talk me into this again?

                       "Seriously. Watch, you're gonna bitch when you have issues eating with these things." I tell her, merely earning me an eye roll, like she always does. "Jesus.." I exclaim, once she turns around, letting me see the front of her dress. "Isn't that.. A little... Revealing? Won't they fall out?" I ask, gesturing to her chest.

                 "Hmmm.. No." She says, before giving me a quick peck on the lips, before taking my hand, to lead me out of the room.

                   "Tomboy... That's really..." I start again, about the dress, but she cuts me off, kissing me again, biting my bottom lip as she pulls away.

                   "Let's go already." She adds, dragging me towards the deck. I put my hand to my lip, since it felt wet, and find its bleeding slightly.

                 "You bit me! The fang fucking... Dammit woman.." I mutter, letting her drag me along. She snickered slightly, as we reached the deck. Oh you're gonna get it.

I let her lead me to the deck, where the whole crew was gathered, everyone dressed up. We both started drinking, before eating some. Arabella going straight for the cake, only for her to smear it on my face later, thinking she's hilarious. I return the favor, making a mess on the table, from throwing food at each other.

"Why is it you always end up making me act like a five year old right along with you?" I ask her, shaking my head at the mess we made.

"Whatever. You have fun. Don't lie." She pouts, before sticking out her tongue stubbornly. "Ya got some frosting..." She trailed off, bringing her face closer to mine.

"Where?" I ask, but she doesn't even bother to answer, instead feeling her tongue run along the corner of my lip as she licks it off... What the hell... She must be drunk. She gets a little more... Touchy and... Stuff when she drinks a lot.

I pull her into a dance, as we watch everyone else. Morgan kissing Cece, Thomas blushing profusely because of Alli. Russ hitting captain Alan with a cane, before running off with Kris. Chris singing loudly, Luna dancing with him. Ed leading Penelope away too.. "You're all quiet and serious looking again." She mutters in my ear, bringing me from my thoughts.

"Mmm not really." I chuckle, leading her away from everyone after awhile. "You're drunk aren't you tomboy?" I finally ask, and she shakes her head no.

"You're kidding right? I hardly drank.. I can handle way more than that... Possibly tipsy... Possibly." She insists, and I shrug. I had seen her drink more before, and she wasn't slurring her words. So maybe she wasn't. "Why did you ask?" She looks at me, curious.

"Seem a little more handsy than normal." I grin, and she blushes slightly.

"That doesn't mean... What? Am I not allowed to touch you or something?" She stuttered, her face getting more red by the second.

"Na. Just curious." I shrug, before I grab her hand, leading her back to our room.

"Originally you weren't comfortable with that sort of thing remember?" She asks, referring to back when I first started being with her. I was a little more shy about touching her, let alone touching her around other people.

"Yea I remember. Everyone was so surprised at first, when ya got me talking a little more than usual too." I chuckle, remembering.

"You were so irritating too... Never shutting up." I tease her, kissing her before she could even say anything.

"You were kinda..." She trailed off, not even bothering to finish the sentence kissing me back. I trailed kisses down her neck, getting lost in her.

The next morning, we finally got those damn fangs out. They were kinda sharp, and left some really fucked up looking hickeys. Ed gave us shit for two days over seeing one on Arabella's neck.

(Eduardo's POV)

Everyone laughs, remembering when things were simpler, and times weren't as rough.. It was good to think back on things, though we had all changed and grown in various ways since then. Things were never the same once the girls joined, it we all agreed that we wouldn't change it for the world now.

A/n: believe it or not, I was actually going to keep going, but it reached almost 7000 words... Sooo... Time to cut that off.. XD we can get back to the shit storm later, give you guys a small break after what I did to you last chapter with Kris and Russ... Anyway... Sorry for posting late... But editing took forever, and I probably still missed something... XD thanks for reading!!

-Jinx.