Raven remained silent, letting Wolfe go and slowly turning the other way.

Laurel lay cuddled to Nic's side, appearing very deep in thought. It wasn't clear if it was a good or bad thing.

--

James was already out sunbathing by the pool, catching the first rays of sun.

Nic had his arm around Laurel, rubbing her arm a little. He didn't seem to take it as a bad thing as got lost in his own thoughts.

--

A little while later, a shadow came over James.

Laurel shifted a little, "I hope you realize what a serious thing this is to me," Laurel murmured, getting a little tense, "I suppose it would have made more sense to have this conversation before but... things got a little... carried away last night."

--

James blinked his eyes open, ready to yell at Snow.

Nic seemed a little surprised, but not concerned. He waited for Laurel to speak her mind.

--

Ming Yue stood blocking James' sun. Her arms were crossed and she didn't look happy.

Laurel was silent for awhile, "Nic... I need some sort of promise," she stated quietly and a little hesitantly, "I know marriage is out of the question right now, but I need something. I just gave you the most precious thing I have to give away and as much as I trust you... I want something tangible. This vulnerability... is frightening," she admitted in a whisper.

--

James' mouth shut in surprise and then he smiled, "Yue!" he exclaimed happily as he sat up, "You're actually seeking me out? You do love me," he said with a sniff.

That seemed to throw Nic for a bit of a loop, but after another moment or two he was calm again. But still clueless. He waited to see if she'd suggest something.

--

Yue's frown grew a little as she glared at him silently.

Laurel looked up at him, "I... don't know," she admitted as she reached up and cupped his cheek, "I... just want a promise I can see."

--

James finally seemed to get it, "What happened? Did Snow prank you?" he asked, clueless.

Nic was still perfectly clueless.

--

"... No," Yue replied blandly.

Laurel watched him for awhile, "I don't mean to throw this at you," Laurel murmured, starting to get a little upset that she was confusing him so much. She didn't know why she felt this way and the more she thought about it the most upset she started to became.

--

James blinked, "Then what is it?"

Nic slowly started to manage his stress level better. He rubbed his head a little, trying to come up with something.

"... You... want me to buy you something?" he asked, trying to get a clearer picture of what she wanted.

--

"Let's see if you can figure it out," Yue snapped back a little.

Laurel tried to think about it, "... maybe," she said unhelpfully.

--

James looked completely clueless.

So Nic thought some more. "... Do you want shoes for the dress?" he asked.

--

Yue closed her eyes for a moment and took a long breath in before letting it out slowly. Then her eyes flashed open in a furry. "Fat log," she spat at him. "... Muddy liar! If you meant what you said about me, then why are you all over Laurel? Huh?! I've had enough of your games. I won't let you manipulate me anymore."

"Shoes?" Laurel asked, a little confused as to why Nic was bringing that up now.

--

That seemed to confused James even more, "All over... Laurel?" he asked an then paused, "Oh, you mean when I took her to the hot tub?" he shook his head, "No, she just injured her arm so I told her that the warm water would help it," he explained, "I don't love her, I love you," he nodded with a smile, "And I'm not fat," he added for the record.

Nic stared at Laurel for a moment before trying to think of something else.

--

"Sure thing," Yue replied, not believing him as she started to walk off.

Laurel wasn't being very helpful; she kept muttering 'I don't know' as she played with his chest hair.

--

James let out a long sigh as he stood and followed after her, "Oh, c'mon," he complained, "How else can I prove that I really love you?" he demanded, "I rode a jetski at breakneck speeds after Wolfe who was meeting with two other assassins because I thought they were kidnapping you. I thought for sure I was going to die, Yue! Die! What else do you want me to do?"

"... Some jewelry?" Nic tried a few minutes later.

--

Yue suddenly turned sharply to glare up at James. "Not flirt with other girls," she spat venomously.

Laurel thought about that suggestion for a moment before suddenly sitting up, "Oh!" she exclaimed before turning back to Nic, "As a promise to me, I want the red panda necklace I gave Yue. In order to get it, you'll have to be on talking terms with her. You'll have to settle whatever that drug started. If you aren't willing to go through the effort, I can't trust you," she decided.

--

"I can't help it," James complained, "I don't love Laurel, not like I love you. But I can't help it."

Nic blinked, surprised. Then he relaxed. This was going to be a lot easier than he thought. "Okay," he replied.

--

That clearly infuriated Yue even more as she let out a grunt of frustration and started stomping off again.

Laurel smiled and bent over him, "Good, it's settled then," she decided before kissing his nose.

--

"Yu-e..." James whined as he continued to follow her.

So Nic went back to relaxing quietly.

--

Yue didn't seem to want to have anything to do with James right now.

Laurel snuggled back down beside him, content again. Well, her mind was. There was a growl of discontent from her stomach. But actually, it wasn't a bad sign that Laurel was hungry again. Perhaps her stomach was healing a little. Laurel didn't seem to think it was anything but a bad sign as she blushed crimson.

--

So James sulked off.

Nic was quiet for a moment before asking, "You want something to eat?"

"I don't think I can walk," Laurel replied in a tiny, embarrassed voice.

After another moment, Nic interpreted that as she wanted something to eat. So he got up to find something. A few minutes later he returned with some of the leftover fruits and vegetables for Laurel and some warmed up tarts and coffee for himself.

"Sorry," Laurel murmured as she sat up and leaned against his side. She munched on some peaches for a bit before stealing one of his tarts with a little mischievous grin.

"For what?" Nic asked, letting her steal a tart.

"For forcing you out of bed to get food," Laurel replied with a full mouth, "Geez, I'm starving!" she stated between bites, "Are you always so hungry after... well... you know."

"... Not particularity," Nic replied before sipping some coffee.

"Weird..." Laurel murmured before she fell silent for awhile. "Hey, Nic?" she asked, turning to look at him with some strawberry tart on her cheek.

Nic waited for Laurel to continue.

Laurel smiled, clearly infatuated with him, "Thanks for waiting," she told him quietly.

Nic nodded a little as he took another sip of coffee. Then he leaned over and lightly licked the strawberry tart off Laurel's cheek.

Laurel blinked then blushed deeply again, "W... W-What was that?" she asked when she found her voice.

Nic opened his mouth to show her the bit of tart before eating it.

Laurel kept blushing but suddenly leaned over and licked his cheek. Then she smirked.

Nic seemed a little surprised that he had had something on his face. He was a fairly clean eater.

"There was nothing there," Laruel replied with a laugh, "Just felt like licking you."

Nic blinked, but he seemed fine with that too.

Laruel continued to smirk, "Hmm, you tasted pretty good," she teased, "I might just eat you up," and tackled him from the side. Clearly Laurel was perfectly comfortable around him now.