For two glorious days, Hailey and I acted like a normal couple. We ate our meals at many of the different restaurants on the humongous ship. We walked along the outer edge of the ship to see the entire thing. We even volunteered to take the shipboard tour to see what else they had and we hadn't discovered already and were surprised that there was a dance hall with a dance starting every two hours. We ended up spending quite a bit of time there.

We didn't talk about anything that concerned the various things going on in our lives and just spent the time together. It was a novel experience for the both of us, to say the least. We hugged a lot and kissed each other at random times, usually in the middle of whatever activity we were doing.

Hailey was usually the perpetrator and would catch me at my most vulnerable, which was when I was staring at her. She would turn to look at me to see if I was enjoying myself as she was, then catch me looking at her. She would giggle and then would give me a hug and a kiss. It didn't matter to her if anyone else was around during those moments. All she cared about was being happy and being with me, which she equated to be the same thing.

I had to agree, mainly because all of the things I worried about that went through my head on a daily basis, faded away when I was around her. They didn't seem as important and I could ignore them for the short time that I spent with Hailey. She gave me a respite from my own haggard schedule and it made me love her even more.

We stood at the bow of the boat just before supper time on the second day and I watched her as she tried to hold onto her stylish hat in the high winds with one hand and hold her pretty dress with the other hand as it flapped against her thighs. I liked the sight and admitted to myself that I needed her, even more than I needed a lot of other things in my life.

Hailey caught her breath and turned to look at me with a surprised expression, then she reached out for me with the hand that was supposed to hold her dress down. I quickly stepped close and hugged her, then I knelt to put my hand down across her backside and held the dress in place for her, so she wouldn't flash everyone on the deck.

Hailey blushed as she put the hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes. “You grabbed my butt.”

I wasn't going to lie to her, so I told her the truth. “I saw an opportunity to stop anyone else from seeing it.” I said. “Only I am allowed to see such treasures.”

Hailey bit her bottom lip and her eyes flicked between desire and embarrassment. “You can touch it as much as you want.”

“No, I can't.” I said and she took in a sharp breath.

“You want to.” Hailey whispered and had to tip her head back to get the brim of her hat over my head, then she gave me a quick kiss. “That makes me very happy.”

“I know.” I said and gave her a proper kiss.

Hailey relaxed and let the feeling of my lips on hers fill her, and her hormones went almost passive, because she wasn't the one to initiate the kiss like she had every other time for this trip. It was like, as long as they didn't have to push her to satisfy them, they wouldn't run rampant on her. That was good to know.

“Excuse me.” A woman's harsh voice cut through the wind. “You shouldn't be kissing a little girl like that.”

I broke the kiss and held onto Hailey. “She's a teenager and all I've ever done is kiss her, even though her mother approves of our relationship and we're going to be married.”

“Wh-what?!?” The woman looked from me to Hailey and back again. “But... she...”

“It won't be for years and I'm trying my best to help her.” I said. “Until then...”

“I know the difference between a crush and love. Real love.” Hailey said. “I had a crush on him before, because he saved me, then I got to know him as a person and fell in love with him.”

“Even my bad parts.” I said.

“You only do bad to do good.” Hailey said with a grin.

I laughed. “Let's get out of this wind and go inside.” I said and carefully adjusted my grip on her, so that when I stood up, her dress didn't get flipped up by the wind. The indignant woman could only watch as we walked by her with big smiles and my hand stayed on Hailey's backside the entire time.

*

“At least it looks like they are having fun.” Jelly said as she sat in Monna's cockpit and watched the long range footage. They were currently testing how quiet Monna could be inside an atmosphere and still move at a good speed. They hugged the tops of the trees to stay out of sight and still maintained surveillance on Hunter when he wasn't inside the cruise ship.

“I'm glad the overcharging trick works on my visual sensors as well as my gravitic ones.” Monna said.

“Me, too.” Jelly said. “Is there anything coming up on passives?”

“Only the planetary traffic coming to pick up the passengers when the ship docks.”

“I should complain that using the satellite is cheating.” Jelly said with a laugh. “I won't, though. Use everything you have access to, or you're just hampering yourself.”

“Grandpa has been doing that a lot lately.” Monna commented.

“Yeah.” Jelly said and adjusted the controls as the cargo shuttle approached a large open area and she guided Monna around it to stay hidden. “If we weren't dealing with assassins that will blow up their buildings, and themselves, if they feel him, he could be clearing the businesses out that much faster.”

“So, he's doing what we're doing?” Monna asked.

Jelly had to think about that. “He actually is.” She said. “He's skirting around The Order and trying to stay hidden for as long as he can. If they find out what he's been doing... well...”

They both fell silent at that thought, because they knew if The Order did discover what Hunter was doing, then they would have no choice but to come after him. All of them.

*

Hailey had been quiet during our last supper on the ship, then we went to pack up our things in our room. I wanted to ask her what was bothering her and I got the distinct feeling that she didn't want me to ask. She didn't get changed, even though she knew we were going to be riding the shuttle up to the ship.

I walked over to her and tried to take her into a hug. “I think you should get...”

Hailey gasped when my hands grazed her upper arms and her Presence burst out. It washed over me and my eyes widened at the strength of it, then I picked up what had made her so quiet and tense. She had 'seen' inside the woman's head on the deck and read her surface thoughts, one of which was a very clear image of Hailey and I naked in bed and hugging each other, and it was far from the platonic hugs we normally shared.

“Hailey.” I whispered to her and she turned to look at me. Her face was flushed red and her desire for me spiked as she looked into my eyes.

“H-Hunter.” Hailey breathed and she trembled. “H-help... I... I can't...”

“Of course.” I said and knelt in front of her, then I eased the top of her dress down just enough to expose her heart, then I placed my palm there.

Hailey's Presence flared and doubled in strength, then to my surprise, flowed around me to hold me.

“Thank you.” I said and eased my Presence through my hand and right into her heart. She took in a sharp breath as our energies merged together and the pressure around us quadrupled as my Presence joined the flow. She was breathing heavily and I used a calming technique and shared it with her. It was like I was trying to fix a mile-high cracked dam by sticking my finger in it to stop the flow of water.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“I'm... the dam?” Hailey asked between breaths. The energy expenditure was quite taxing on her.

“Yes. It's been slowly cracking for a while and when it breaks... well...”

“I don't want... to drown you.” Hailey said and the mental image of the dam I had given her changed slightly and the crack reduced in size.

“Good... that's good.” I said and added my own reinforcement. “I've been trying so hard with everyone around us to keep those kinds of sexual thoughts away from you, that I didn't realize a random person we've never met before could give them to you.”

“Hunter, I... I really want you to hug me like that.” Hailey said and her heartbeat increased. “I know you can't... and I'm sorry that...”

“You don't have to be sorry. It's all right.” I said and leaned forward. “I want to hug you like that, too.”

Hailey gasped and her Presence focused on my heart and compressed down, then it felt like a Light sword went through my heart as my shirt was ripped open. It was my turn to gasp and I looked down to see the lines between my new scars as they formed together and completed an 'H' shape in the center of my circular scars.

“AHH!” Hailey let out a short yell and I felt a burning sensation go through my hand as my Presence was pulled out of my palm and shoved into her heart. It felt like a Light sword, too. After a few moments, the energy around us faded away and Hailey almost collapsed. I caught her and cradled her against me as I sat back onto the floor.

“I... love you.” Hailey breathed and blinked slowly at me.

“I love you, too.” I said.

Hailey gave me an angelic smile for a moment, then it faded and she fell asleep, completely exhausted. I lifted my hand from over her heart and cupped the side of her face, then I saw what was over her heart. It was the same 'H' shape that was on mine.

“I wondered where those odd scars came from.” I whispered to her and gave her a light kiss. “I know you didn't do it on purpose, since I didn't teach you that technique and it's still tucked into the protected part of my mind.”

I traced the 'H' on my chest and then traced the same 'H' on hers, pulled her dress back up into place, and tried to stand. I felt a little weak and it took me two tries to pick her up into a princess carry.

I looked down at Hailey in my arms and smiled. “You exhausted me, you little temptress.”

Hailey rubbed her head on my chest and her smile returned. Even asleep, she had heard me and reacted. I held her for several minutes as I gathered Presence to myself and used it to reinforce my body, then decided I needed to rest. We had a few hours before the ship docked, so I laid us both down on the bed. I had just barely given myself a mental alarm to wake myself up when sleep took me, too.

*

“It's done.” Black Laura said. “He finally let himself be claimed.”

“Don't sound so sad.” Maleketh said. “I'm sure he will still...”

“Of course he will. He won't break his word.” Black Laura said. “It's just... he doesn't realize what it means.”

“He will.” Maleketh said. “You told me that he has already encountered our little problem.”

Black Laura nodded. “I just hope he can finish what he started before it's too late.”

“You could warn him, you know.” Maleketh said with a smile.

Black Laura shook her head. “Among all of us who try to force our hands, I agree with you. Interference beyond what is necessary is too detrimental to their growth to be worth the effort.”

“I knew you were wise beyond compare.” Maleketh said with a grin.

Black Laura smiled. “Everyone says that you are a bad influence.”

“Of course I am. Who else urges their followers to be independent and to live their lives to the fullest?”

Black Laura reached up and touched the side of his face. “Definitely a bad influence.”

“How is that planet working out for you?” Maleketh asked. “Were twelve moons enough for it?”

Black Laura let out a laugh. “It's like its own micro solar system, thanks to you.”

“You said I could give you as many as I wanted.” Maleketh said with another grin.

Black Laura let his face go. “I better go before you make me want any more planets.” She said and blackness formed around her and she faded into it. “We must watch over him... and hope.”

“I know.” Maleketh said as the blackness faded. “I know.”

*

I woke up when my mental alarm went off and found Hailey was cuddled to my chest with her cheek resting on the scars over my heart. She hadn't undressed, which was a relief, and when I took in a deep breath, she stirred.

“We need to get up on deck.” I said. “We'll be docking soon.”

“Only if you promise we can take another vacation soon.” Hailey said and didn't move.

“We won't be home for another four months, so I can almost guarantee that I'll want another day or two off with you before then.”

“Only almost?” Hailey asked and lifted her head to look at me.

“Well...” I used a fingertip and rubbed the top of the 'H' scar that peeked out the top of her dress. “...I don't think we will get away unsupervised from now on.”

Hailey's face flushed red for only a moment at the touch, then she moved forward and gave me a kiss. She broke it a few seconds later and smiled at me, then she used a fingertip to trace the 'H' on my chest.

“You're proud of yourself, aren't you?” I asked and she nodded. “Why?”

“I did it.” Hailey said. “I didn't know what I was doing at first and it hurt a lot and it was tiring and...”

I chuckled. “It took you a long time to do it.”

Hailey nodded. “I know we're going to be together and you know that I love you.” She said and put one hand on my scar and one on hers. “I wanted to show you that I'm yours and you're mine, forever and ever.”

“You didn't have to do that.” I said and sat up.

“Yes, I did.” Hailey said. “Now everyone that sees it will ask what it's for.” She smiled. “When they do, what will you say?”

“It stands for my heart.” I said and Hailey waited for the Presence to waver, and it didn't.

“But... what...” Hailey looked a little panicked and thought she had done it wrong.

“You're my heart now.” I said and touched her face. “Hailey, my heart.”

“Hunter.” Hailey's eyes teared up. “You... you're mine, too.”

We sat there and stared at each other for several moments, then we heard a loud air horn.

“All passengers! We're coming in to dock. Please prepare for departure in ten minutes.” A voice said over the intercom.

I looked at Hailey and then down at her belt. “Hey, I had an idea.”

“Oh! Will it work?”

“It worked before.” I said and slid off the bed and stood up, then changed my shirt. “We just need to get to the control room.”

Hailey smiled and took my hand. I covered us in Stealth and we left the room at a run to get to the control room before the ship docked. We easily avoided the other people and made it to the top of the ship and I looked through the wall to see that the whole crew was there.

We have to be sneaky about this. I thought to her.

Okay. Hailey thought back and knocked on the door.

Hailey, what...

They need to open the door for us to get inside. Hailey thought and a second later, the hatch whooshed open and a ship's mate looked out.

“We're coming in to port. The captain can't have visit... oh.” He stopped talking when no one was there. He stepped out into the hallway and looked one way and then the other, shrugged, and went back inside.

Hailey and I had already slipped inside and quickly found the broadcast equipment, then Hailey handed me her area effect device and I attached it to the intercom. A second later, the intercom emitted the detonation signal and covered everyone in the ship. One of the pilots of the ship died, one of the cooks died, and three people in the engine room died. Surprisingly, none of the passengers died.

During the commotion caused when the pilot died and they called for a medical technician, Hailey and I saw the reports of crew deaths and then slipped out of the control room and went down to the deck. The ship had two pilots and the one that died was the co-pilot and the ship didn't stop its approach. I stopped using the Stealth technique on us and we waited calmly for the ship to come to a stop. When it did, we walked off with all of the other passengers and saw Jelly at the bottom of the ramp.

“Hi, Jelly!” Hailey waved and Jelly waved back.

“You look happy.” Jelly said and gave her a hug, then she looked at me. “What did you do?”

I chuckled at the accusing tone. “Thanks for trusting me so much.” I said and put an arm around Hailey. “It was all Hailey this time.”

“What happened?”

“This.” Hailey said and moved her dress down a little to show off the 'H' scar she had.

“HUNTER!” Jelly yelled and quite a lot of people turned to look at us. “You... you taught her...”

“Nope. She did it all herself.” I said and I tapped my temple. “She didn't steal it from me either.”

Jelly let out a sigh. “I can't believe...” She looked at Hailey and pulled the dress back into place. “Why did you do it, Hailey?”

“Hunter's mine.” Hailey said with confidence.

Jelly opened her mouth to explain a few things to her, especially about mutilating herself like she had, then she sighed again. “Let's go.”

“It can't be removed, either.” I said as we walked down the dock towards the shuttle landing pad. “It'll just grow back like mine does.”

Jelly let out another sigh and we climbed aboard the shuttle.

“Hi, Monna.” Hailey said and sat in the co-pilot's seat. “Do you like my dress?”

“It's nice; but, it won't protect you from sudden depressurization.” Monna said.

“Then let's not do that or allow it to happen.” I said.

“Of course not, Grandpa. That's just standard safety protocol on small ships.” Monna said. “Jelly designed me well, so I do have several redundancies in case that happens.”

“Strap in. We're taking off.” Jelly said and I sat behind Hailey.

She's not happy with you. Hailey thought to me.

I know. I thought back to her. What should I do about it?

Kiss her. Hailey thought. She's been wanting to ever since you came back from almost dying.

She has? I asked, surprised.

Hailey let out a chuckle. She's also envious of what you and Simone do.

I reached out and touched her bare shoulder. Won't you be jealous if I do kiss her?

No, because I know you don't love her. Hailey thought. You can even hug her like... Her thought paused for a second as she pushed the mental image away that woman had given her. I won't be jealous.

I don't think I'll have to go quite that far to ease her mind about us. I thought with amusement, because the Presence hadn't wavered at Hailey's thoughts.

Hailey put her hand on mine and held it for the whole flight back to the ship.