Morning came with a heavy knock on her door. She felt sore, but the warm body holding hers felt to good to move. Stormy's eyes popped open and she tensed. She is still naked and with a man.

The knock sounded again a little louder this time. She pulled the covers over her head.

"Captain, awake we have contracts to deal with and sign." The handle turned slowly and John's head popped in. "Captain?"

James opened his eyes. He could feel Stormy curl into him under the blankets. John cleared his throat. Bringing James back.

"Get out! Now!" James growled. "I'll be down in a minute."

John just realizing why James was pissed, nodded and slammed the door shut behind him.

James grabbed his pants and reached into his pocket. He pulled out the small sapphire ring. Stormys hand on his chest tensed as he slipped it onto her finger. "Please, Stormy marry me?"

She looked at the ring on her finger and felt him pull her closer. She looked up and he kissed her. It was a pleading kiss. One that begged her to say yes, and in her heart she did. She kissed him back with everything she had.

"We should get dressed, before someone else decides to walk in." James said with a lazy smile.

Buddy started barking tearing them apart. His sudden barks were a warning for them both. They hurried to dress when foot steps grew louder outside the door. James snatched the door open, and Buddy dashed out. Stormy and James on his heals. The front door was open and all three of them were running toward the docks.

His barking turned into a deep growl. Stormy shook her head. The last time her barked like this... she stopped dead still in her tracks.

"No. I dont want to go." She cried out.

James looked at her puzzled. He pulled her along following Buddy. By foot it was shorter as they took shortcuts down alleys and side streets. They reached the ship just as the earth started to shake.

"Oh no! Not again!" Stormy tried to grab Buddy as he ran up the gangplank to the ships deck. James and Stormy behind him. The hatch to the hold was open, and Buddy was already inside barking. The early sun hid behind a cloud as James pulled her down the steps into complete darkness. She held his hand with both of hers as the ship rocked with the earthquake. As the rocking stopped the air in the hold started to turn dryer, and had a crisp heat to it.

"Bloody hell!" James looked around, and instead of wood floors and walls it was concrete and drywall.

Stormy wasn't sure if she had seen the chang or if it was all a dream. A breeze came from above as voice sounded out.

"Stormy, are you down there I thought I heard barking? Stormy, it's Sarah your neighbor. Hello?"
Stormy still holding on to James' hand started to laugh.

"Sarah are the lights working? If so could you turn one on please I can't see the stairs."

James held her hand and was looking around trying to figure out what had just happened, when Buddy trotted over to them and sat waiting.

"No the lights are still off I'll get a flashlight. Hold on don't move I'll be right back." Sarah raced off to grab a light.

James started cussing under his breath. "Bloody hell. What happened?"

"This is how I ended up on your ship Captain James. I told you before I don't know how or why but poof here we are. Welcome to my little home." Stormy giggled as Buddy started his panting.

What happened to his ship?

A light shown down from the basement door showing them the way up the stairs. Stormy pulled James along with her.

"Don't worry. I'm sure we can find a way back." She said with a smile. She hoped they could anyway.

At the top of the stairs she paused to let it all sink in and tabby cat came walking up to rub on her leg.

"Well if I had known you had a man with you I wouldn't of rushed over so fast." Sarah's smile was from ear to ear.

Stormy looked back at James and dressed in jeans and a button up shirt with work boots he made a picture most only saw in calendars and magazines. Stormy giggled and James finally smiled.

"Sorry to worry you Sarah. Buddy took off down the stairs barking and we'll everything just happened so fast."

Sarah was studying James from head to toe now. "Oh it's nothing but I do have to say I'm proud of you and...." Sarah snatched up their hands that were still clasped together, "Is this what I think it is? My shy little neighbor is getting married to this nice looking man? I'm so jealous."

Stormy looked up at James and smiled. "Yes we are getting married."

James listened to the two women talking and giggling as he looked around the house. His whole world had changed and his ship was no longer around. He didn't know where he was or how he'd got there. Stormy and her dog had in fact changed his life.

Stormy looked up at him and remembered how she had felt to find herself on a ship and decided to make James a little more comfortable.

"Sarah I'm sorry to ask but."

Sarah cut her off smiling up at James who looked annoyed and curious at the same time. "Oh no you don't have to. I'm sure you to want to be alone. I just wanted to check on you. Next time keep your cell phone handy ok."

"Will do Sarah." Stormy hugged Sarah with one arm. "I'll see you tomorrow ok."

Sarah smiled, "Sure will and your mom called so call her back in a bit and let her know you're ok."

Stormy watched Sarah walk out the door. Broken glass from the windows and picture frames was scattered throughout the house. Dishes the had fallen out of the cabinets lay in piles on the floor. It looked like she had only been away for an hour or so.

"So this is were you live?" James took another glance around the house the broken glass and fallen items proof of the earthquake. At first glance it looked like pirates had looted the place but somehow he didn't see that fitting.

Stormy giggled as Tabby rubbed James calf with his head. "Yep home sweet home. It's amazing I've been away so long but only an hour has past." She pulled him into the living room. The TV was trashed, being it fell from the wall, but everything else was in order. She pushed him down on the couch and picked her cell phone up off the floor.

He watched her pick up the small black box the light that came off of it was strange. She smiled at him. "I gotta call my mom or she will show up soon like Sarah did."

"Call? What is that thing?" He looked at her puzzled.

Her laughter made him smile and found liked that sound. "It's a phone. I can call on this to anywhere in the world and talk to anyone I want. It's a strange world but belive it or not you're in the future now."

The wind that blew through the house was a strong breeze that lifted the curtains. James watched her poke at the little lit up screen and listened to her talk to her "mom". He wondered what all the other stuff she had talked about was.

The wind blew again and that's when he blurted, "Where is the ocean and ships?"

She smiled, "Mom I'm coming to visit tomorrow and I'm bringing a friend. Will you have a boat ready we are going sailing."