On the Rising tide chapter 15

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**Disclaimer – Though inspired in part by people who exist in reality, this story is not meant to represent them in any literal way.

On the rising tide Chapter 15

“You’re looking a little pale, there, Ads.” Bono teased his friend, nudging his shoulder gently. Adam glanced back at him, his dark blue eyes round and serious. He managed a weak smile, but for a moment, Bono was afraid he might be about to faint.

“I’m fine.” He assured his worried mate, smoothing his palms over his elegantly stitched waist coat. “I could really use a smoke right now though.” He admitted with a chuckle, and Bono wrapped an arm around the taller man’s shoulders.

“It’s a good thing you’re doin’.” He assured him, and Adam nodded.

“Larry looks nearly as uncomfortable as you.” Edge told Adam. “And he’s not even the one getting married.” He joked.

“Don’t even say my name and married in the same sentence.” Larry said, a bit too sternly. He ran his hand through his hair, chewing on his bottom lip in nervous consideration. “Shite, she’s gonna have ideas in her head after this.” He muttered.

“You don’t think Carra already had those ideas in her head?” Edge asked, his amusement making it clear that he suspected Carra had thought of marrying Larry before this. Long before they became lovers, even. Larry rubbed his nose absently, as he had a habit of doing when he was thinking.

“At least it wasn’t something she’d have brought up before. I…” He pursed his lips tightly, unable to speak the proper words to express just what was bothering him, exactly.

“You know, marriage isn’t a bad thing.” Edge told him gently. “And being married to your best friend sounds like an easy enough decision, to me.”

“There’s more to it, than that. A lot more.” Larry sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunched and head bowed. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the world.

“Here we go.” Bono said, interrupting the men’s conversation and gesturing that their attention should be on the archway that led away from the sanctuary, where the men stood waiting for the bride. Carra hurried into the room, smiling broadly at the men. She stopped near the alter, turning to see Fiona appear in the archway.

She heard Adam’s gasp as he saw Fiona, glanced at him in time to see his jaw drop in surprise at the sight of her. She hid a grin behind her hand, looking over to see if Larry was watching Adam as well, or if he was equally surprised at Fiona’s appearance. Her smile faded a little to see that neither was true. He had his head bowed, his eyes watching the floor as he scuffed it with the toe of one booted foot and then the other.

She turned her attention back to Fiona, who was positively radiant in her gown.

“I would not believe it had I not seen it with my own two eyes.” Bono murmured, and again Adam could only nod in agreement. She smiled shyly at them, taking Paul’s elbow as he escorted her into the chapel. Adam’s heart seemed to be quivering, more than beating, and perhaps it was the lump which had firmly wedged itself into his throat. Whatever it was, he could barely breathe and could not quite bring himself to speak.

He had glimpsed this girl once, in his bed in Madrid. Her hair had been mussed from sleep, her eyes tired, and she had been draped in her bedclothes, but she had taken his breath away even then. Now? He could hardly believe the beauty before him was human, and not some creature from Irish legend. A nymph or fairy of some sort. Far too enchanting to be real.

Even if the king himself had burst through the church doors and forbade the wedding, it would not have stopped Adam now. Death itself would not touch the love he felt for her.

Paul kissed the girl on the cheek and presented her to Adam, who reached out to her with one hand. Her hand seemed so small in his, he thought as he dragged his thumb over her smooth skin. She smiled shyly at him, the small curve of her mouth making him think of her timid kisses. He had spent his life worrying more for himself than anyone else, but somewhere along the way she had become more important to him than his own satisfaction or well being.

For the first time, Adam understood the sort of love mentioned in the scriptures. Love which was patient, kind and which was not proud. It knew not envy nor jealousy. Love which was not rude or selfish, love which protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.

He did not need to know that she felt the same, he would still have loved her as much. Knowing she loved him just made it all the sweeter.

He felt something shift inside of him, as he vowed himself to her before his mates, the minister and before God, if indeed He existed. Adam had claimed to have never seen any sign of God. That had changed.

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“Molly? C’mon lass, it’s getting dark outside. You don’t need to be out alone, walking in the darkness.” A friendly voice broke through Molly Loghan’s reverie. She turned to the side to look up at the old man’s friendly face, saw the genuine concern in his eyes and smiled.

“Ah, don’t be worryin’ about me, Father. I think the worst has already happened.” She told him, her words dark but her tone light and joking. Her smile did not quite reach her eyes, and Father Shelly sighed sadly.

“Don’t say things like tha’, child. You’ve got the Lord in your heart, after all.” He told her with a gentle pat on her hand as he helped her to rise from the place where she had been kneeling before the alter.

“I know, thank you.” She mumbled politely as she draped her cloak over her shoulders and tied it tight to battle the cold evening wind on her walk home.

“Edge will be home soon, won’t he?” The priest asked softly as he walked with her out the door of the cathedral and started along the road toward her family home.

“Aye. He promised he’d be home so that we could be wed before Christmas.” She replied, her eyes turning to search the horizon, her mind flying out even further. All the way to the great wide sea, and specifically one ship fighting it’s way home.

“Any day then.” He said, nodding slightly to himself.

“I can see home from here, Father. Thank you for walking with me.” Molly told the man as they fell into uncomfortable silence. She picked up her pace, looking over her shoulder once to call back, “Have a good night. I’ll see you at mass.”

“A good night to you as well!” He called back cheerily before turning and retracing his steps. Neither one of them had to acknowledge the tension in the air to know it was real. It was like a shift in the wind, right before a big storm. They knew something was coming, and there was nothing they could do about it but wait.

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Back on the ship, after the cargo had been loaded and they were once again underway, Larry revealed that he had gone out of his way to have a special meal prepared in Adam and Fiona’s honor. The men who had worked alongside Fiona as Finn were amused and surprised by the strange and seemingly sudden events which had taken place since they left the day before. Some of them were unhappy about having been deceived, but none of them refused their share of the food or wine.

“I believe there may be another side to you, Captain Mullen.” Carra teased as she sat down beside him to eat. Larry raised an eyebrow at her, as if confused by her statement, and she explained. “Such a generous thing for you to do, this meal. Have I awakened some romantic stirrings inside of you that lay dormant all these years?”

“Nay, it was more my mouth and my stomach that convinced me to do this. I couldn’t take the gruel we’ve been eatin’ any longer. The wedding’s just coincidence.” He told her with a smirk. “Besides, you’re no more a romantic than I am.” He told her, taking a drink of his wine, his silver eyes watching her closely.

“I’m not?” She asked, her eyes rounding, a little laugh of surprise escaping her lips.

“At least I put on me best clothes. You came into the church dressed for work. Would it’ve killed you to wear a dress?” He teased, and Carra threw a chunk of her bread at him, missing barely as he dodged it.

“Carra in a dress? Her ma and I stopped putting her in dresses when she was five years old!” Paul teased from across the table.

“Why’s that?” Edge wondered aloud. “Not safe for her while on deck?”

“No, it was because she wouldn’t stop lifting her skirts above her head!” Paul replied gleefully, and the table shook with the laughter of those gathered around it.

“It wasn’t just me, though.” She argued, “I would pull my skirts up to keep up with the other children when I was playing. Someone I know used to pull my skirts up over me face because he thought it was grand fun.” She said, casting a pointed glance at Larry who nearly choked on his dinner.

“So not much has changed, then.” Adam quipped, the others shaking with laughter again as both of the lovers grew red faced, but neither could stop smiling.

It was a moment full of love and friendship, good humor and trust. Not even Bono could stay heavy-hearted in the midst of the celebration. In fact, before long, he was leading them from one song to another as they drank up to the last drop of the wedding wine.

Fiona had hardly realized how late it was getting, until Adam stood and stretched his slender limbs. He cast her a glance which made her heart jump in her chest as she realized he was thinking about retiring for the night. He would be going to Paul’s private cabin, and so would she. Her mouth dried up and for a moment, she wasn’t sure if she was terrified or… excited. She glanced away, checking her empty glass and wishing she had just a little more wine.

Her fair skin burned as she blushed at the thought that he was already imagining what would happen once they were alone. Carra saw the flush of the girls skin and wished there was something she could do to alleviate her worry. She decided the best course of action would be to make it easier for them to leave by excusing herself first, taking some of the focus off the newlyweds. At least so they would not be teased for being so eager to leave before anyone else had.

“Well, I’ve had enough wine to knock out an army. I’m going to find myself somewhere to rest and sleep for the next several hours.” She said jovially. “Congratulations, again.” She told the couple, kissing them each on the cheek before leaving the galley.

“It has been a long day.” Adam said, resting a hand on Fiona’s bare shoulder. She chewed on her lower lips nervously, but nodded in agreement.

“That it has.” Edge agreed, standing and shaking Adam’s hand in congratulations once more before excusing himself.

“Right. And I’ve a night crew to keep watch over.” Paul excused himself as well, the room quickly emptying except for Bono and Larry. They watched as Fiona and Adam left, their moods both sinking as the merriment ended.

“You have a warm, willing woman in your bed at this very moment. Why in the Almighty’s name are you sitting here with me?” Bono teased Larry as the captain produced one last bottle of wine which he had kept concealed from the others.

“I’m hoping she’s passed out before I get there. I don’t have the energy to face her tonight.” Larry sighed.

“What I wouldn’t give to bear that burden for you!” Bono laughed, obviously interpreting his friends words as sexual. Larry laughed, his silver eyes shining in the night.

“Well, that too. I wouldn’t complain if I thought that was all she wanted tonight.”

“You think she’s going to press you about marriage?” Bono asked, growing more serious as Larry filled his cup once more.

“There are just … there are questions she’s going to have that I can’t answer right now. Things that have to be dealt with when we get to Dublin.” Larry informed him.

“There’s someone else?”

“…” Larry pursed his lips and let out a long breath. “In a way.” He admitted, and Bono nodded silently, his eyes widening at this revelation. As unusual as it was for him, Bono was at a loss for words.

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Check your e-mail inboxes for an extra scene, those of you interested in Adam and Fiona’s wedding night :wink:
 
I was wondering when edge was going to have more of a story line, now I am intrigued:wink:

wonderful as always:)
 
can u send me the extra scene please (jedi_apprentice_kid@hotmail.com) thanks in advance. and great chapter as always!
 
ogh, it gets even better :ohmy:

great chapter SG!
I can't wait to find out more about Edge and his going-ons :hyper:
 
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