Lily reached the shore just moments after Celia, and just in time to see Cooley step out of the plane with a huge smile on his face. Celia was pointing the gun at him and was ordering him to step away from the plane. "Hi, there Missy!" Cooley said in his usual slightly psychotic manner. "I had a great time with your plane there. I always wanted to see other islands in these parts!" "I said move away from the plane," Celia yelled. "And I mean NOW!" She continued to point the gun directly at the madman. "You should thank me, girlie," Cooley continued. "I even filled her up for you. During my short stay at a nearby island, I noticed that I was running low on fuel and was concerned I wouldn't be able to return to my home here." "You lunatic!" Celia barked. "You mean you just took this plane to another deserted island instead of flying it back to civilization?" She shook her head in disgust but laughed at the old man. "Well, your lunacy is my good fortune, since you obviously didn't catch the attention of any authorities." "Good thing that you had a couple extra cans of fuel stored in that plane, too," Cooley reasoned. "I really didn't want to get stranded on a different island, especially after I've settled so nicely on this one. I've never cared much for civilization...except for the pretty women like you, of course."

"This is your last warning, old man," Celia said. "Move away from the plane!" "What about a little kiss before you go?" He replied as he stepped towards Celia. A piercing boom resounded as Celia fired the gun at Cooley. Lily, watching from bushes only a few feet away, screamed in horror as she saw Cooley drop to the ground clutching his chest. Blood oozed from a wound that appeared to be directly near his heart. Lily ran towards the plane but Celia was already at the door of it and climbing in. "Stop right there, lover-girl," Celia began as she pointed the gun at Lily. "You're not going anywhere. This last flight off of this rock is reserved only for me and the love of my life here..." Celia pulled the diamond from her bra and flashed it at Lily. "Kiss my dear brother goodbye for me!" "You can't leave us here again!" Lily screamed as she watched Celia close the plane door. "Celia!" Lily watched in despair as Celia took off in her plane. She dropped to her knees and sobbed hysterically. "No!" she cried as she watched the plane disappear into the horizon.

"Lily...." his voice was weak but frantic. Lily turned to find Simon staggering towards her. Despite having barely enough strength to walk, he managed to make his way to the shore. "Oh, Simon," Lily said as she ran to meet him. He stumbled into her arms gasping for breath. "I heard gunshots," he whispered. "I thought.....she hurt you.....shot you." He reached up to cup one side of her face. "She's gone, Simon," Lily cried. "We're never getting off of this island! I'm never going to see my children again! It's all hopeless!" "Shhhh, shhhh," Simon said trying to console her. He held her close to him as she sobbed. "We'll build another raft.....as soon as I'm strong enough....we'll build another raft....." "Cooley!" Lily said suddenly remembering what had just happened. "Is he....dead?" Simon looked over at Cooley's body that was lying perfectly still only a few yards away from them. Blood trailed from his lips and he stared blankly at nothing and nowhere. The bullet had pierced his heart and killed him almost instantly. "Yeah, he's dead," Simon replied. "Really dead this time." He continued to hold her close. "Don't look," he said as Lily attempted to peer at Cooley's body. "Are you sure this time?" Lily asked. "Yes, I'm sure." He stroked her hair and leaned his forehead against hers. "We didn't kill Cooley. Celia did." "Oh, Simon," Lily cried as she held tightly to him. "What are we going to do? We're stuck here...." "No, no we're not. We'll build another raft, or we'll figure something else out." He tried to get back on his feet and leaned on Lily for support. "The important thing is that we have each other," he continued. "We'll get out of this mess...together. I promise." He rested his forehead on Lily's again and closed his eyes. "I promise."

Days went by before Simon regained all his strength and was back to his old self again. The fever never returned after it had broken, but it left his body weak and dehydrated....and absolutely useless, Simon thought. He wanted so much to be strong for Lily, to help cheer her up and just to take care of her. But it was she who had to be the strong one and who nursed him back to health. She did all the fishing, the cooking, and fruit gathering while he lay in the cave resting. But he watched her. He watched how thrilled she was to catch fish on her own, to play nursemaid, and to be needed. She was a very strong woman...perhaps the strongest woman he had ever known. "Why are you so slimy, huh?" Lily jokingly asked one of the fish she was preparing for dinner. "And why did God put so many scales on you? Probably to protect you from the likes of me...." She giggled as she continued to clean the medium sized trout. "But today was your unlucky day, little fish! You're no match against an expert fisherwoman like me!!!" "You're talking to a dead fish, Lily," Simon uttered. "You're not coming down with that island fever, are you?" He smiled at her. She always looked so adorable whenever she smiled and was playful. "I know it's a dead fish," she replied. "And no, I'm not getting sick. Homesick, yes, but no island fever for this gal, thank goodness!" She wrapped the fish in some leaves and left it in the "island oven" Simon had made in one corner of the cave. It appeared to be no more than a shallow hole in the ground covered by a bunch of leaves, but it worked. Simon made sure it did, and the fish tasted great.

"It'll be about an hour before dinner," Lily said. "What about a sponge bath until then?" She walked towards the hot spring at the other side of the cave and dipped several rags into the water. "I know you haven't been strong enough to take a bath, and you must be dying for one," she continued, "so a sponge bath will have to do for now." "You don't have to do that, Lily," Simon replied. "What...are you saying you don't want a bath?" She asked as she knelt beside him and began to wash one of his arms. "I didn't say that, exactly...." he chuckled. He willingly stretched out his arm to her. "You missed a spot..." Laughing, she gently swatted a damp cloth on his face. "Yeah, that spot!" She continued to wash his other arm then worked her way to his neck and chest. "That feels great," Simon whispered. "Thank you." He grabbed her hand as she began to wash his face. "For what?" she answered. "You'd do the same for me...." "And more." He kissed the back of her hand. "I'll get you off of this island, Lily. I promise. I'll get you back home to your family if it's the last thing I do." "I know you will," she said. She was washing his face now, gently dabbing the warm moist cloth along his cheekbones and chin. He stared intently at her as she did so, seemingly memorizing every inch of her face. "Lily, I...." Simon began. He choked on the words he wanted to say. "I want you to know that I...." "Shhhh," Lily interrupted. She laid a finger on his lips. "Don't say anything. It'd be better if neither of us said anything...." Abruptly, she stood and turned away from him. "I think I'll go out and find us some berries....edible ones....for dessert...."

"Lily, wait....please," he said attempting to stand. He managed to get on his feet then wobbled a bit. He stretched out his right arm to support himself against the cave wall, but before he knew it Lily was at his side helping to steady him. "Take it easy, Simon!" There was worry in her voice. "You've got to take this slowly! I don't want you getting sick again...." "Lily, look at me," he said still leaning on her for support. "I want you to know that I'd never do anything to hurt you and your family...not more than I already have..." "Sit back down, Simon..." She tried to lead him back to the mat. "I know you belong with Holden," he continued, "and I respect that....but I want you to know that I...." "Simon, please don't do this," Lily replied. "We can't do this...." "Do what?" he asked. "I just want to say that ....I... love you." He searched her eyes for a reaction, but she turned away. "It's not as if you don't already know, Lily," he continued. "I think my actions have long since given my heart away...." "Simon, please..."

"I must look like a fool, but I don't care," he said. "I know I don't have any right to love you, and I don't expect you to feel the same way..." "Just shut up, Simon," she barked. "You're just making things worse!" He was confused. He didn't expect her to respond to his declaration of love the way he wanted, but he certainly didn't think she'd become upset. It couldn't have come as a surprise to her. "I don't understand," he whispered. "I didn't mean to upset you, Lily. I just needed to tell you how I feel...." "Well, it was selfish of you to tell me." She sounded angry. "I didn't mean..." He looked away from her. "I'm sorry," he whispered. I shouldn't have said anything." He sat down on the mat and ran his fingers through his hair. "You're right. I should have kept my feelings to myself. I didn't mean to upset you." He couldn't bring himself to look at her, and the ache in his heart had turned into a sharp pain. She said nothing for what seemed an eternity as Simon sat unmoving on the cave floor. He felt like a complete idiot, but it didn't matter. "Simon," she said breaking their silence. She sat next to him on the mat. "You just need to know that being alone with you all this time.....it's been hard on me too." She gently wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her. "I'm just really confused...." "Then just let me hold you," he whispered. "We don't have to say anything." Holding her gently in his arms, he closed his eyes and pretended she was his... just as he did in his dream..... "I love you, Simon," she sighed into his ear. But this time, it wasn't a dream.

"What?" Simon asked in disbelief. He looked deep into her eyes for the answer, and one which he also hoped was the truth. "What'd you say, Lily?" He held his breath as he waited for her to respond. "I think I love you." She pulled away from him and turned away. "You think?" He pinched the bridge of his nose then ran his fingers through his hair again. "You're not positive, but you think you love me?" "Yeah, I think so." Her voice was shaking and a bit frantic. "Okaaaay," Simon said with a chuckle. "It wasn't exactly the declaration of love I was hoping for, but I guess it'll do." He smiled at her. "Don't make fun of me!" "I'm not," but he still had a smirk on his face. "It's not funny, Simon!" Lily barked. "This is so confusing for me....being alone here with you and separated from Holden and my children....I must be coming down with that island fever you had, because I'm not thinking straight!"

"Oh, I see..." Simon mumbled back. He wasn't laughing anymore and the tone of his voice had suddenly turned grave. "Why else would you possibly think you were in love with me? If you were in your right mind, then you'd know for sure that there was absolutely no way you could ever come to love someone like me, right?" He was upset. He noticed that his words alarmed her, but he couldn't keep quiet. "The only way you could ever consider loving a poor boy like me from a station in the outbacks of Australia is if you were sick with fever! Just great, Lily! Thanks for being so bloody honest...." He stepped out of the cave and began to walk quickly towards the shore. His heart ached with each step he took away from her, but he didn't look back.

"I didn't mean it like that, Simon!" Lily yelled after him. "Wait, Simon, please wait!" She tried to catch up with him but he was walking too quickly. "Simon, stop....please...." Simon slowed his pace then stopped just a few yards from the shore. He didn't turn back to look at her but instead peered out into the ocean. He could hear sounds of distant thunder and knew that a storm was approaching. "Simon," Lily gasped as she finally reached his side. "Please let me explain... I didn't mean it the way you thought....not at all." She was a little out of breath and her hair disheveled from the gusty winds. Her bangs blew across her face, covering her eyes. "What I meant was that I'm not free to feel anything for you....I can't...." "It's okay, Lily," Simon whispered. He reached down and pulled her hair back and away from her face. "I understand...." "Oh, Simon," Lily began as she stepped closer to him. "I do lo...." He smiled and placed a finger across her lips preventing her from speaking any further. "I love you," he whispered. "I've never felt anything so strong and so right."

Much to his surprise she moved even closer to him and looked up into his eyes. He could feel her tiptoe as she inched her face closer to his. Almost instinctively he moved to meet her until his lips brushed against hers. Passionately, urgently, he took her lips into his own, gently tasting every part of her mouth and savoring each moment of having her in his arms. He pulled away for a moment to look at her but then quickly cupped her face with both his hands and pulled her more forcibly to him. This time, he tasted her neck, her shoulders and then her neck again before he found his way back to her lips. She yielded to his every touch, arched her body to meet his and held on to him almost as tightly as he did to her. Sounds of thunder grew louder as they stood on the shore in each other's arms. Taking a breath and resting his forehead against hers, Simon smiled and gently stroked one side of Lily's face. "We need to get back to the cave," he said. "before the storm hits..."

An outpour of rain fell upon them just as Simon looked up at the clouds. Lily reached for him as she quickly led him back to the cave. Together they ran swiftly up the hill, hands tightly linked, until they were safe inside their island home. She was drenched, her hair dripping rainwater as she shivered from the cold....and her back was to him, arms crossed around her chest, as if she couldn't bear to face him after their confession of love. It was the first time they had kissed, really kissed, and despite the almost freezing rain that covered his body, Simon felt only warmth as he gazed at her from behind. "Lily," he said as he approached her. She didn't turn around but instead moved a little further away. She was shivering. "Lily," he repeated. He was standing directly behind her now and gently began to caress her shoulders. "You're shaking," he whispered as he began to kiss the back of her neck. He brushed her wet hair to the side, hair that was still dripping of rain, and gently brushed his lips against her smooth white skin.

She didn''t move....hardly breathed, so it seemed....and said nothing. Simon continued to kiss her shoulders and neck, all the while caressing her arms and gently wiping away the drops of water that clung to her body. "Are you okay?" he asked as he stroked Lily's wet hair. She continued to remain still and silent like a statue, her eyes tightly shut, her breathing shallow but steady. Simon slowly pulled down the straps of Lily's bikini top...first on one shoulder then on the other... so that they rested dangling on the sides of her arms. Kissing the back of her neck once again, he then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him. "You can tell me to stop," he whispered, "but please don't....."

She leaned back against his body and settled into his arms. She looked up to meet his glance and reached behind her to touch the side of his face. Slowly, almost hesitantly, she then turned towards him. "We can't" she said with tears in her eyes. "We can't....I can't...." "Tell me to stop, and I will..." Simon repeated. But then he kissed her again....carefully, sweetly....lips slightly parted....savoring every moment that her lips touched his. "Just tell me to stop," he said as he kissed her more ardently. She said nothing, but instead wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. She met his desire with the same all consuming passion when she allowed Simon to lay her down gently onto the cave floor. "I can't stop, Lily," he gasped, "I don't want to..." Then with one look, one breath, she told him she wanted him. "I love you," he sighed. "I love you, Simon," she whispered back as they opened their hearts and souls to one another. Outside, sounds of rain and thunder resounded with turbulent winds........

He awoke before she did the next morning. The storm had passed sometime in the middle of the night, but to him the world outside had ceased to matter the moment they had begun to make love. Simon watched her as she lay curled up in his arms, her head resting on his chest, sleeping peacefully. He smiled as he watched her, all the while trying to convince himself that he hadn't dreamt the events of the entire night. "Simon," she stirred as she began to wake. "Well, good morning Mr. Frasier," she said as she finally opened her eyes. "How long have you been up?" "Not long." He ran his fingers through her hair. "You're absolutely beautiful when you're asleep, you know that?" "Only when I'm asleep?" She propped herself up on his chest and smiled. "And when you're awake," he continued. "And when you're angry....sad... frightened....."

"Don't stop now," she teased. "Keep going...." She began to kiss his chest. "And when you're just about to jump off of a plane, or eat poisonous berries.....or when someone's firing a gun at you....." He gently lifted her face so that she was forced to look at him. "I love you," he whispered. "Last night was incredible... you're incredible...." "Yeah?" she replied. "You weren't so bad yourself." She began to kiss his chest again. "Are you up for an encore performance?" "Excuse me?" he teased. "Haven't we become quite the mischievous one...." Giggling she said, "Well, it's all your fault Simon Frasier! I can't seem to get enough of you...." "Oh, that's good." He pulled her to his face and kissed her gently on the lips. "You've left me wanting more," she teased. "Are you tired of me already?" She smiled and began to kiss his neck. "Never...." Gently he pulled her underneath him and began to make love to her more passionately than the night before.