Sam & Penny Short-Stories *English*

BACK TO THE PAST - Reality catches up with them

"Penny?" Sam ran across the deck looking for his wife since the smutje had told him she was white as a sheet feeding the fish on the port side. Once again. This had been happening several times for a few days and even though she assured that she was otherwise fine, he was extremely worried that she had caught some kind of illness that might still be incurable at this time. "Penny, my angel", he sighed when he finally saw her crouching on the railing between a few boxes and barrels, her face buried in her hands. He immediately sank down next to her and pulled her into his arms. She willingly snuggled into his chest and he felt her bury her hands in his shirt."What's wrong with you, Penny? You can't get sick. There are only 5 months left until the winter solstice. Then we'll go back again." At least that's what he hoped. They had tried it at Lughnasadh, the Celtic harvest and autumn festival, but it hadn't worked.

"It's all good, Sam. I'll feel better soon. It always does after a few minutes. I don't think I'll be able to cope with being at sea all the time," she murmured quietly. Even though the pirates had found a permanent home on Pontypandy Island, they spent most of their time at sea and even Penny was starting to get tired of it.

"And that's what our little mermaid says," he replied skeptically, lifting her face with two fingers so he could examine her. She was paler than usual. Even her weak smile couldn't hide that. He spontaneously took her in his arms and walked with her to the door that led below deck.

"Sam, where are you going?" In her initial shock, Penny threw her arms around his shoulders, but he held her securely and effortlessly. Once again she had to be amazed at his strength.

"I'll take you to our cabin. You need to rest," he replied consistently and she could see that he wouldn't tolerate any contradiction. Just as he hadn't tolerated it the morning after their wedding night.

"Our two lovebirds are actually still in bed! It's been a long night, hasn't it?!" Pontypandy Pete shouted without warning as he threw open the door and Sam and Penny jumped up. Penny instinctively grabbed the bed sheet they had happily shared that night, but it exposed Sam enough that Pete's grin and those of the three men behind him only grew wider. "Looks like the marriage is consummated and this has now become legally binding. I will happily send a message to my arch-enemy about it. Oh, if only I could see his face..." Pete purred happily as he shooed away the men to go out in front of him and closed the door behind him.

Sam looked up at Penny sheepishly. The alcohol had left their bodies and their eyes met before they both stared awkwardly at the ceiling in front of them. It wasn't just a kiss after all...at least it wasn't just that.

"I'm sorry, Penny. I should have controlled myself. I..."

"Do you regret it?" she asked and he looked at her face in shock, only to see a hurt expression cross her face. He immediately shook his head and scooted a little closer to her to release one of her hands from the bed sheet that was still bunched up over her chest.

"To be honest, no. Well, unless you regret it, then I'll happily kick myself. But I thought the night was wonderful. It's always wonderful having you with me, of course, but that was. .." he stammered, embarrassed, and stopped at the end, desperately searching for the right word to make it clear to her that last night with her had meant more to him than anything in the world ever would.

"I feel the same," she interrupted his embarrassed speech with a smile, blushing just as much as he did. "You said something yesterday before I kissed you that made me very happy," she reminded him then to explain why it had come to this, why she had kissed him in the first place.

"That I will respect and tolerate you?" She shook her head with a smile as she threatened to sink into his eyes again.

"Why you would never hurt me," she replied, watching with amusement as it began to work behind his forehead before the memory suddenly caught up with him and a hint of blush covered his cheeks.