Until Death Do Us Apart -Nyctophilia-

Chapter 1- Heart of Gold

Nyctophilia-love of darkness or night. Finding relaxation or comfort in the darkness.

**Momma!** Rose was running. She looked in every room for her mother but she couldn't find her. She couldn't find anyone. Was there no one on the ship? She kept running up the stair to the main deck where she saw Mal staring in the distance. She rushed behind her pulling her into a tight hug. Mal turned around and placed a hand on her shoulder.
**Why are you running?** She asked.
**It's a very important day today!** She said excited.
**Of course. We've been on water for 4 months now. It's time we go on dry land and get our supplies.**
**Nooo. It's something else!**
**Oh, is it?** Mal laughed as she made a gesture with her hand so that Rose couldn't see. Out of nowhere, Uma started singing accompanied by CJ while Harry came out with the cake and 9 candles lit around the top. Rose's eyes grew big as she started jumping and clapping her hands. She stopped and closing her eyes, she made a wish.
**Happy Birthday!!** They all cheered and Harry lifted Rose up and placed her on his shoulder.
Mal took a dip into the cake and touched their noses. They laughed.
After an hour of opening gifts and celebrating, they finally reached the shore. All of them left except for the 3 crew members that wanted to join them on the adventure and stay on the ship. The others stayed in Atlantis with Kida and her people.
Mal and her friends reached the bazaar and started getting their supplies. Rose found a jewel store and behind the glass pane was a beautiful ring with a red heart jewel and a gold crown. She was in awe. Her face was glued to the pane as she couldn't stop looking at the ring. Mal noticed and came up to her. She grabbed her hand in order to distance her and the glass but Rose really wanted the ring. Her face fell down when a hand with red leather gloves and blue nail polish took the ring. She was about to leave with her mom until a voice called for her.
**It's yours if you want it!** Rose turned around to see a beautiful blue haired girl, as beautiful as her mother, with a blue satin dress, blue heels and a red leather jacket similar to hers.
**Really?** She looked at her pleading.
**Rose, you can't take it. You didn't pay for it.** Mal said.
**It's ok. She can have it. I have one as well and it matches my necklace.** The girl said smiling.
Rose didn't hesitate and took the ring and placed it on her finger.
**Thank you! It's really beautiful.** She said.
**Thank you! I made it.** The girl confessed
**You made this?**
**Yes. Everything in the store is made by me. I love fashion and creating my own things. So it's my small business here. I'm Evie.** The blue haired girl smiled and raised her hand to the two girls.
**I'm Mal. This is Rose, my daughter.**
**It's a pleasure to meet you. I don't have any friends so it feels good to chat from time to time.** Evie said sadly.
**It was nice meeting you as well but I'm afraid we must leave. Our ship is leaving in 10 minutes.** Mal felt bad that she had to go. She really liked Evie.
**Mom! Can we please talk to the others and stay for a few hours? I want to stay with Evie!**
Mal looked at her daughter who pulled the pout and puppy eyes trying to convince her. Mal gave in.
**Alright. I'll go tell your father that we'll leave in a few hours.**
**Thank you!!** Rose hugged her. Mal turned to Evie and asked.
**Is it ok if I come with my husband and two friends? And probably the cat will follow..**
Evie's eyes lit up.
**Of course! I'd love to meet them!!** She smiled.
**Alright. Rose, let's go. We'll come back in five minutes.**
**I'll be waiting.** Evie said and entered her shop.
A few minutes later Mal and Rose returned and begind them were a tall man and a shorter girl with red leather jackets and a teal haired girl with a light blue costume. Evie got to know Harry, Mal's husband and Rose's father, CJ, his sister, Uma, Mal and Harry's best friend and Bell, Mal's cat.
They have been chatting for hours about random things and had an amazing time together. One hour before they had to leave, Evie thought of letting them look at the clothes in her store and re-new their wardrobes. Each of them found interesting clothing pieces and jewels and Evie was more than happy to give them as a gift for giving her the best gift she has ever gotten on her birthday.
**Today is your birthday?** CJ asked.
**Yes. I never get to celebrate it since my parents are gone most of the time and like you already know.. I don't have any friends.**
**Today is my birthday as well!** Rose exclaimed hugging Evie. She returned the hug. Uma looked sadly at the clock and saw that they had a few minutes left. They all felt bad for leaving Evie behind but Mal spoke first.
**Come with us!**
**What?** Evie looked at her as everyone was surprised by her decision. Mal turned to the others and adked them if they were alright with it and everyone nodded.
**Do you really want me to come with you?**
**We don't want to leave you behind.** Mal took her hands into hers. She felt like she had known her for a long time and she knew that both her heart and mind told her to trust her.
**Thank you!** Evie pulled Mal into a hug and she started packing her bags with all of the clothes and jewels in her small store and helped by Harry, she took her belongings and returned with her new friends on the Jolly Roger.
**Woah!** She said mouth open looking at the ship.
**Beautiful, isn't it?** Uma smirked.
**I've never been on a ship before.**
**You haven't?**
**I've never left my home town. The store was my only home.**
**We are your second home now.** Uma placed a hand on her shoulder reassuring Evie that everything was going to be fine. Uma went on the ship and Evie was at the last step when she turned to take one last look at the village.
**Best birthday ever!** she said and joined her friends as the ship left the docks.