THE FIGHT



"SINBAD, YOU ARE IMPOSSIBLE!"

"I'M IMPOSSIBLE! AHHH, I SHOULD NEVER HAVE AGREED TO LET YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF THIS CREW! YOU ARE MORE TROUBLE THAN YOU ARE WORTH!"

"AM I?"

"YES, YOU ARE!"

"FINE. AT THE NEXT PORT DERMOTT AND I WILL LEAVE! WE DON'T NEED YOU OR THIS PUNY BOAT EITHER!" With that Maeve stormed past the furious captain and the astonished crew down stairs. Sinbad followed her to the doorway that led to the stairway.

"FINE! AND THE NOMAD IS A SHIP! SHE. IS.NOT. A. BOAT!" He yelled down to the angry sorceress. The only response he got was the slamming of her door. He through his hands up into the air in an 'I surrender' gesture and turned to face his wide eyed crew. Seeing their accusing gazes he stomped over to the tiller and took it over from the awestruck crew member.

Maeve and Sinbad fight, they always do, but this was nothing like it ever had been. As Maeve ran down the stairs, Doubar noticed the tears trailing down her cheeks. It was one thing to fight, but it was another to make her cry. Doubar had a few choice words for his little brother.

"What in Allah's name just happened there, little brother?"

"Please, Doubar, I'm in no mood for a lecture from you right now." He didn't turn to see the determination set in Doubar's face. And Doubar didn't hear the sorrow in Sinbad's voice.

"The hell you say, Sinbad. You will listen to me." He yanked Sinbad around to face him and as he did he saw the sorrow in the young man's eyes, the hurt shone in the tears that were welled, ready to spill down the his cheeks.

"Doubar, please, I can't do this right now. I can't..." He broke off as a sob escaped from his chest. "Allah...what did I just do?" He looked to his older brother for an explanation.

"You just broke the heart of the lass that loves you more than life itself, little brother. So, how are you going to mend this?" He asked compassionately because he realized that his little brother was truly suffering.

"I have no idea, Doubar. No idea, at all." Sinbad hung his head dejectedly.

"Well, Sinbad, I suggest that you go down there right now and apologize."

"But..."

"No. No buts...if you don't do it now then you will loose her for forever, little brother. Are you willing to gamble that?"

"No, I don't think I am." He looked over at his big brother. "Could you take the tiller? I think I've got some groveling to do."

"Sure little brother, go grovel." Doubar smiled encouragingly as Sinbad hugged him then trotted off toward the stairway.

"Oh and Sinbad!" He called after him causing the younger man to turn, "For Allah's Sake, tell the lass that you love her already." Sinbad just grinned a devilish grin and ran below.

"Oh, I'll tell her. I'll show her." He mumbled to himself.



Down Below At Maeve's Cabin...



"Maeve? Can I come in, please? I want to apologize." Just then the door swung open to reveal a disheveled Maeve. He could tell that she had been crying, her eyes were puffy and red. Her hair was a tangled mess. What captured Sinbad's heart though, was the sadness that radiated from her eyes. The fire that was Maeve was extinguished and the Maeve that stood before him was what was left after the ashes had cooled. Forgetting his quickly plotted plan of seduction, he reached for her and wrapped his arms around her. She willingly burrowed with in his arms. She fit so perfectly with his body, her head rested against his shoulder while his fingers tried to untangle the curls in her hair.

"I'm so sorry, Maeve. I didn't mean anything that I said above. You are a valuable member of this crew. I thank Allah everyday that he brought you into my life and granted me the wisdom to make you part of my crew." She tipped her head and looked him in the eyes. Her watery chocolate eyes boor into his, searching his, looking for the truth.

"Are you really, Sinbad? Because what you said up on deck hurt. You practically tore my heart from my chest. That is how hurt I am. I don't know when this happened...," at his questioning gaze she finished," I don't know when you gained that much power over my heart. I have no idea when my heart decided that you were worthy of it or when it opened to you. But I know...I know that it is open to you and when you say such things my heart dies slowly and I feel the pain and agony. I understand that you belong to the sea. I know that she is your mistress and she has captured your heart. But I guess that I deluded myself into believing that I, too, had managed to open your heart to mine. I'm sorry too, Sinbad. I won't make that mistake again. And if you are too uncomfortable to remain shipmates, I will stand by my earlier decision and leave the Nomad." Sinbad saw that she was speaking the truth. Her eyes, her beautiful eyes were truly the windows to her soul.

"Maeve, Allah, you can't leave me. I need you by my side like I need air in my lungs or blood in my veins. You were right about my heart, Maeve. You were right. My heart, which I thought only belonged to the sea, now is yours. You captured it with your beauty, your courage, your fierce determination, and your Celtic stubbornness." Sinbad smiled down at her, "My heart is yours, my lady, yours and yours alone. If you leave me I will surely wither and die. Please Maeve, forgive my rash words. They were said in anger and I didn't really mean them. I love you. I have for sometime. Please stay. Stay and be by my side until I breathe my last breath."

"I love you too, Sinbad. Oh, with all my heart I love you. I will be at your side for now and for eternity. It is were I belong. I have always known that. I will never leave you, Sinbad." With that she captured his lips in a kiss that seared his soul and branded him hers for all eternity. As they broke apart, slowly, breathing in deep cleansing breathes that their lungs demanded that they take, Sinbad noticed the wetness that trailed its way down her cheeks.

"What is this?" He asked softly, "Are you still upset? Do you not believe that I love you? Why do you cry, Maeve?" He looked perplexed. Maeve just smiled a knowing smile before she answered.

"They are tears of joy, Sinbad. I am so filled with joy at this moment that I feel as though I may burst. You love me...you really do. I can feel it. I can feel it through out my whole body. Can't you feel it, Sinbad? The euphoria that is our love." Sinbad just answered her with a devastating smile.

"Aye, Maeve, I can feel it. I finally feel as though I am complete. I feel as though happiness has filled my soul. So, aye, I feel it."

"Sinbad, lock the door would you?" She answered before he had a chance to ask," I don't want us to be disturbed." She smiled seductively at him. Without releasing her from his embrace he turned slightly and clicked the lock into place. Once that was accomplished he lowered his lips to hers and this time it was he who branded her his.