At last had come my so waited vacation and boy did I need it. There was so many ideas running through my head. The beach, Canada, Europe, but I wasn't sure.

One day at the CLHQ, I found Trace, Sherry, Aries and North looking at some brochures about a cruise and then it hit me. It would be so cool to spend a whole weekend in a cruise that would visit the Caribbean. So I convinced them to join me at their idea.

As we got to the boat, and what a beautiful boat it was, we were fascinated with how big and how many people were going on the trip. As we entered the lobby, we met with Captain Robert Kelly and the Cruise Director, Allan Franco. "Welcome to the "Romance in the Sea", our new ship line and we hope you have a wonderful time", said Allan, looking right at Aries eyes and boy I have never seen Aries blush so fast.

"I'm your captain and I'll guide you during your trip. Anything you need, just ask for me", but his eyes were glued on North. This was instant spark!! Sherry and Trace looked at me and I just rolled my eyes, almost laughing out loud.

I looked at North and Aries faces again, I was sure that this would be our version of the Love Boat; and already two of my friends looked like they were hooked on it. Well if it was our version then, there were still 3 more to go, Trace, Sherry and me.

We got a two cabins for 5 and boy did we have fun. Dinner was at 8:00 p.m. and we started getting ready at 6:00 p.m. North and Aries took their time getting ready but they looked very beautiful, and were really excited because we would have dinner tonight at the captain's table and that meant that the captain and the cruise director would be sitting with them.

We arrived to dinner and then then my other two comrades were struck with the "bug". Sitting at the table were the cruise doctor John Page, and Trace started to feel seasick and the assistant cruise director, Karl Plummer, and Sherry's face was a poem.

Well, my buddies were having fun. And I had my hopes still. The cruise had just started.

**********

After dinner the girls went dancing with our new friends, but I just wanted to take a walk through the top deck for some fresh air. I told them I'd meet them later, but really I felt a little out of place.

As I was staring at the night, which was calm and really beautiful, I started to daydream about home and family. Tears came to my eyes and as I brushed them away, I caught my finger in my earring and it fell at the other side of the rail. I tried to put my hand between the bars put it looked like if I did, the earring would fall. I went over the rail and as I was bending down to pick it up, a very deep and rich voice came from behind.

"What are you doing?"

I got scared and let loose of my hand and then a firm grip held me. I looked at the man who almost cost me my life furious at him and I was going to give him a piece of my mind, but he beat me to it.

With a very sweet voice he told me "Life is to precious to waste, and no one and nothing is worth losing it. Please come over the rail and I'll help you".

I couldn't believe it. He thought I was going to jump. I started laughing as hard as I could and without noticing it, he had brought me to his side. My hair was loose and it all came to my face; and the wind kept to long strings flying around. When I was able to, I looked straight into these beautiful green eyes and for the first time I looked at him. "It can't be true, it's Roy Dupuis", I thought.

His look was intense, like trying to convince me that I was nuts for trying to jump and so I explained to him, that it was my earring I was trying to get and not to jump. He couldn't believe it. He blushed and said he was sorry for scaring me but it wasn't worth the risk I was taking. I thanked him anyway and as I started to go back in, he called me.

"Miss, is this your earring?" He had been able to get it without going over the rail.

"Why, thank you very much.. It's not very valuable but it does have a lot of meaning for me", I told him.

He looked straight into to my eyes, and took in between his fingers a strand of my hair that had hit his cheek and asked me if I'd like to go dancing. I accepted very gracefully and we went into the disco. There I saw North, Aries, Trace and Sherry dancing with their friends and they seemed happy.

As we stepped into the floor, I looked at each one of them, and the look in their eyes was of pure and complete astonishment. I wasn't about to tell Roy that we were his fans, but during the cruise I'd take a change, but for now, I was going to have a nice time.

This was the "Romance on the Sea", so we were going to enjoy this opportunity to the fullest; because the cruise had just begun.

The End

This story © Nabiki, 1999