The Phantom: Cranky

Willow's POV

After the radio went silent, JJ hit the throttle and sent us head first into the storm. I painfully cling to the railing near the steering column and Sarah while we try to keep from slipping and falling into the ocean. The waves are massive, rocking us almost sideways while we try to outrun the cops behind us.

Time flies by while I hold on for dear life, my muscles aching and my eyes burning from the rain pelting our faces. I'm terrified now, I want to go back, I'd rather deal with Rafe and Ward than die in a storm in the middle of the ocean before I get to meet my child.

My eyes go wide when a monstrous wave towers over us, I wildly look between the fearful faces of Sarah and JJ as the front of the boat tilts straight up. The sky comes into view when I shift backwards, the stars are shining even though it's storming, the voice in my head is relentless, it's louder than it ever has been before.

"PRINCESS!" JJ and Sarah's screams pull my concentration off the sky, the love of my life's hands reach for me while our bodies suspend into the air, it's like we're dropping in slow motion, our eyes locked on each others while we share a silent conversation.

I love you.

Then water crashes around us. My lungs burn while I thrash around in the water trying to get to the surface, I push my legs to kick as hard as I can until I break free and breathe in oxygen. The waves are violent, making it hard to keep my head above water. I can't see Sarah or JJ anywhere, but there's floating debris everywhere so I quickly grab ahold of a piece of the boat and cling to it for dear life.

Hours go by while the raging storm pushes me around, my please for JJ and Sarah filters into the night, my sobs drowned out by the thunder booming above me. I'm going to die, my best friend and the love of my life are too. And oh God my baby.. my baby won't ever get to see the world.

How did I let this happen?

I knew the Gold shit would wind up with me dead, I warned John B, and he didn't believe me, but I don't want him to take the blame and be torn up over this. I wish I could see him now and tell him I'm okay, that he can be happy without me. But he won't be, because he's not only losing me, he's losing his girl and his best friend. Fuck, he'll be all alone.

Finally the storm dissipates, bringing calmer waves. My body is exhausted and shaking as the sun comes up over the horizon, I can see the boat a few feet away from me, the nose sticking up in the air.

"Willow?" JJs strained voice breaks the silence around me, "Sarah?"

"Over here." I weakly respond, "I don't think I can swim."

I see him now, slowly making his way around the boat looking for us, his eyes land on mine and soften, "Stay there, I'll get you." Sarah starts to cough up water when she pops her head over the side of the nose of the boat. JJ looks her way while swimming to me, "Hey, stay there, let me grab Willow, she's floating away." He reaches out and grips the debris I'm on and pulls me with him over to where she is.

"Thank God you're both okay." Sarah coughs again, "How do you feel Willow? Think the baby is okay?"

I look down after slipping off the piece of boat I was on and place my hand over my lower belly, "I think so, I'm weak but I'm not cramping or anything."

JJ wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to his chest, "I thought I lost you, Princess."

"I did too." I nuzzle my face into his neck, kissing his salty skin, "I love you."

"I love you too." He kisses my head, "And our little baby."

"What do we do?"

I look over, noticing her eyes darting around as she looks out over the horizon, "Wait for someone to pass by and see us I guess."

There's nothing but ocean in all directions making me feel extremely nervous.

~~~~~

John Bs POV

My house feels vacant.

I pad my way inside and drop onto the couch, Kie and Pope doing the same. They convinced their parents to let them stay with me for a bit now that I'm on my own.

Alone. Empty.

"You should eat something." Kie softly tells me, eyeing the cold beer can in my hands. I shrug and take a sip, letting the bitter liquid wash down my throat. "I'll make us dinner." She disappears into the kitchen.

"You still have us, JB." Pope sniffles, "You aren't alone."

"I feel alone, Pope," I admit, my voice cracking from emotion, "I have no family left, man. This was all my fault, I forced her into going along with the treasure hunt!" My voice rising as I go on, Kie appears from the kitchen and watches me with sad eyes, "She fucking told me this would happen and I made her feel dumb for worrying. I wasn't there for her, she was scared to follow in our dads footsteps and look where it got her! Drowned in the GODDAMN OCEAN just like him." I throw the rest of my beer across the room, the contents soaking the wall and floor, "Her baby too and.. and JJ and Sarah. Fuck."

"JB.." Kie starts to sob while I bury my face in my hands.

"It's not your fault." Pope weakly tells me, "Don't take the blame, John B. She wanted to find the gold just as much as you did, you didn't force her into this."

"I still dismissed her when she said she'd die like our dad."

No one knew what to say, so we sit in silence, the only sound was pans clanking around when Kie got back to making us food, and the sniffles we occasionally make.

~~~~~

"It's time." Pope quietly tells me while standing outside my door with tears in his eyes.

"I'm coming."

"We'll be in the yard." He sighs and walks off after I sit up and wipe my tears.

My hand blindly grabs my flask from my nightstand, a bad habit I've picked up, I've been drunk since the night my world ended. It's been the longest three days of my life, and I'm supposed to keep living like this for years?

Yeah okay.

I make my way outside where my friends are waiting for me, noticing the giant heart Pope carved into the trunk in the large tree in the middle of my yard. I bend down to grab the blow torch, heating the end of my crow bar before busying my mind by burning Sarah, JJ and Willow's names in the heart, then I add 'Baby Maybank' under their names.

I'll never get to be an Uncle.

Tears steadily run down our faces the entire time. This is our only goodbye, there's no grand send off or funeral. The island thinks Willow is a murderer and there's no bodies to bury anyways. People always hated on JJ because of his bad reputation and his dad, and Ward kept Sarah's memorial to invite only, not that I'd want to go to something he put together, he's the reason they left, they'd be alive if it weren't for him and Rafe.

So a small memorial at home is all they get, but somehow this feels more fitting anyways, they'd want something small and personal like this.

I step away and drop the crow bar to my feet, holding my flask out in front of me, "To Willow, JJ, their baby--"

"And Sarah." Kie cuts me off.

I take a long swig of my drink while pain radiates through my chest.

Kie bends down and picks up a small box, "I figured we could bury this with the things that I told y'all to gather that represents them." She places a photo into the box for Sarah, a necklace in for Willow, and an old lighter that has JJs name scratched into the side, "In memory of the ones we love and will miss dearly."

My hands shake when I set a picture of Willow, JJ and I into the box while quiet sobs trickle out of me, then I drop a bracelet in. It's something I picked for Sarah and never got to give to her, the matching one rests on my wrist. Kie softly places her hand on my shoulder, while Pope adds photos of him with JJ and Willow. I reach in for the final item I want to add to the box, a small velvet box, gently placing it inside while my heart aches in a way I never thought was possible.

Four lives cut short for no reason.

"What is that?" Kie sniffles, her eyes on the velvet box.

"JJ bought a ring with some of the money he took from Barry," I blubber, "He wanted to propose to Willow once she forgave him. He asked me to keep it safe since his dads house wasn't the best place to keep it and she'd find it in their room."

Her face scrunches up in pain before she pulls me into a hug, "I'm sorry, John B." Pope wraps his arms around us as we all break down together, "I miss them too."

"They're gone." I sob, "I can't live without them guys, I can't.. I can't."

My world is nothing without them.

~~~~~

Willow's POV

"JJ, Brookie, look." Sarah excitedly points at something behind me, "It's a ship!"

"Jay, get the gold from my backpack," I spin around in his arms, he quickly digs around, pulling out the clump of gold seconds later, he keeps one arm around me and uses the other to hold the gold up in the air, letting the sun reflect off of it, "Do you think they will see us?"

"I fucking hope so." Sarah grumbles, "It's been days, I'm tired of floating around, my skin hurts."

"They're lowering the life boat!" I exclaim, we all cheer and splash around while the rescue boat slowly comes our way. My pruney hands cup JJs face and connect our lips, smiling when we break apart, "We're going to survive this."

"Yes we are, Princess." JJ smiles softly, his arms tightening around me.

Once the boat gets close enough, we see two men with wide smiles, one reaches his hand out to me so I grab ahold of it and let him pull me in, then Sarah and JJ follow after. JJ making small talk with them while Sarah and I cuddle together in a blanket to shield our painful sunburns.

~~~~~

I startle awake when the door to our little room on the ship opens, "Mornin', we're coming into port in Nassau, best not be onboard without a passport, if you know what I'm saying." Captain Terrance's gruff voice sounds behind me, "You guys can go in my bridge."

The three of us quickly gather our backpacks and follow him, he leads us down the ships hallway, then points at a door, "Y'all need to hustle."

We pass him and hurry up the steps into the bridge, JJ peers over my shoulder to look down at the Captain, "Hey we really appreciate your help, Captain."

He nods before closing the door.

"Welcome to Nassau." Sarah smiles while looking out the window, "That's my families vacation house." She points to a mansion in the distance, "The one with the terrace on the back."

"Holy super Kook." JJ exclaims, "Maybe we could crash there for a couple days?"

"Hey dad, I'm alive by the way, and you hate us but can we crash here?" She sarcastically smiles at him, "That would go well."

"I mean we could at least go grab some things we could need," He lightly argues, "like the gold he stole from us."

She frowns, "JJ, we're fugitives in a foreign country."

His eyes soften when he looks down at me after I lean into his side, his arm moves to wrap around my waist, his hand resting on my lower belly, "I get it. I know."

"We just have to be careful."

"Yeah, I got it Sarah," He keeps his eyes on me, "don't worry about it."

She looks at him like she didn't believe him, I chuckle and turn away.

"Willow, get out of there."

I wildly look around, spotting what could be the issue down below, "Guys, those look like police or something." I point down to the deck where four men in black and white uniforms are following the Captain.

"Shit, we have to get out of here. That's customs, we don't have passports." JJ grabs a hammer from a small mechanics bag and smashes the window, "Go." He helps me and Sarah through, right after he drops down behind us, the customs officers yell for us to stop. We take off down the side of the boat towards the docks. "Here." JJ reaches for my hands, dropping me down from the side onto the dock after Sarah, then JJ jumps down and grabs my hand.

"This way." She calls out while we run through the crowds of tourists.

We blow through shops until JJ pulls us behind a wall, the officers running past screaming as we try catching our breath.

"Fuck that sucked." I breathlessly tell them.

"I think I know where we can hole up." Sarah smiles, "Follow me."

We once again take off running, I was cursing them the entire time, making a pregnant girl run, come on now.

"Slow down, please." I pant, "I've had enough exercise for the week."

Sarah laughs, "We're here, cranky."

"I'm not cranky, I'm pregnant and being forced to run." I grumble when we slow to a walk outside of a fancy pink hotel.

"This is a little spendy, no?" JJ mutters while we walk into the breezeway.

"Just act like you know what you're doing." Sarah quietly tells him, "Just smile and say hi to people."

We walk past a couple and JJ awkwardly waves, "Hi."

I had to cover my mouth to conceal my laugh, Sarah sighs loudly and pulls us both by our arms to go down a hallway, we duck past the front desk and head towards the rooms, "Um excuse me!" A man chases after us, "Um, may I help you?"

Sarah smiles at the guy, "Actually, yes. Do you have any bottled water? Maybe Voss or Fiji."

He eyes our crusty clothes, "Um no."

"That's alright. Oh here," She turns to a waiter passing by and hands us fruity mixed drinks. I chuckle knowing I can't have it, JJ kisses my cheek before taking my drink and downs it before she looks back at me, "Anyways, what time is our reservation? I can't wait to get out of these clothes."

"Oh um, its at 4:30pm."

"Fantastic, I'll let your manager know about your great hospitality." She sarcastically tells the guy before pulling JJ and I away, leading us up an outdoor staircase.

JJ stops near a cleaning cart and swipes a phone that was left unattended, we both smile before running after Sarah. My kleptomaniac with his sticky hands, I love him so much.

We climb up another flight of stairs and over a half wall that led to the roof, the amazing view takes my breath away while I plop down on one of the chairs and kick off my shoes, I'm pretty sure my feet are swollen and my back fucking hurts.

JJ looks out over the beach where the Cameron's vacation home is, "I bet that's where the gold is."

Sarah sighs, "Promise me neither of you will do anything stupid."

He lets out a boyish laugh, "Well, Sarah Cameron, I do stupid things all the time without realizing it."

"You're speaking a lot of truth over there, Jay." I chuckle when he shakes his head at me.

"No, I know you want to go over there but there is a gate, security, patrols. Its a death trap."

"Okay, but just think about it, if I can get some money then I can get Willow a lawyer and clear her name. I'm sure it'll only be there for a short amount of time, then it'll be gone. Come on, the world thinks we're dead. It's perfect. We hop the gate and get some gold."

"No, its too dangerous. Promise me you won't." She pleads, her eyes looking between me and JJ, "My dad will find out and come here to take me away. Or Rafe could come and hurt Willow."

His eyes soften, "Okay, I promise."

Eh, he looks like he was lying, but whatever. I'm not in the mood to jump into their argument right now.

She sighs and sits down on the chair next to me, "How are you feeling, Brookie?"

"I've been better." My thoughts have been swirling around making me miss John B, Kie and Pope, "JJ, use that phone to text the pogues."

"Good idea, lets send a message from beyond the grave." He pulls the phone out of his pocket after wedging himself into the same chair as me, Sarah leans over as he holds the phone up to take a selfie.

Group Chat with the pogues:

Kie > WTF, Is this really you guys??

                         Is John B there? <

JB > I'm here JJ.

                            Did you pimp my short board? <

JB > LMAO you already know.

                            Laying super low in Nassau <

                         The girls say Hi <

JB > Hi girls

                             Can you clear Willows name? <

                             She wants to come home <

                          Princess is cranky <

JB > HAHA, oh Will, I'm sorry.

Kie > We'll clear her name!

                           Be in touch, P4L. <

Pope > P4L.

-

I smile to myself and place my hand on my baby bump, "Now he won't worry about all of us."

Sarah wraps her arm around my shoulders to side hug me, "Yup. We'll make sure you get home to your brother, I miss him too."

"We should find some food."

They both laugh and agree with me, we tuck our bags under the chairs and head towards the stairs, hurrying through the hotel until JJ and Sarah got distracted by music where waiters were cleaning up what was left from a wedding party. JJ quickly snags a plate of food before we duck behind decorative plants, the three of us digging into the food like we haven't eaten in days.

Well we haven't, but whatever.

When a slow song starts to play, JJ hands Sarah the plate and pulls me away to dance, I chuckle and wrap my arms around his neck, he rests his arms around my waist, pulling me as close as he can into him, "I've been wanting to dance with you since that night you told me you wished I'd danced with you at the Wreck, instead of with Kie."

"I was a tad jealous," I blush when he raises his eyebrows, "I don't want other girls getting to see your sweet side."

"You're the only one that see's that side of me, Princess."

"You let Kie hold you while you broke down in the hot tub, but pushed me away when I tried to. So I'm not the only one that's gotten to see your vulnerable side."

"I'm sorry, Willow, I know the way I acted was wrong but I promise you are the only girl that I want to see that side of me." He leans his forehead on mine, "I only have eyes for you."

"Took a while for you to figure that out." I fiddle with the hair on the back of neck while we twirl around to the music, "You were all I could think about while you went MIA."

"I always knew I wanted you, it wasn't something I had to figure out, I was just too scared to go for it. You know that already." He spins me out and then pulls me back into his chest, making me laugh, "You were all I could think about too."

"I know." I sigh and rest my head on his shoulder. "You're all I see too. You, our baby and our future."

"I'm going to prove that I want this, I want to be in yours and our babies lives, Willow." He hugs me, "I promise."

"That day at Barry's when I.." He lets out a huff, "when I threw your schizophrenia in your face to hurt you, it broke me because you looked so empty after that. It was like the final straw after saying all that other bullshit about you."

"It was a low blow." My voice goes quiet, "It hurt that you went for every single one of my insecurities, but the thought that my brain was also something you hated about me, which is something I can't change or do anything about, it sucked."

"I'm sorry, Willow, for everything I said and did to you." He spins us around again, keeping his eyes locked with mine, "Just know that what we have isn't too good to be true, it's very real and I was just being an asshole that day."

"I can't handle going through that pain again, Jay."

His thumbs wipe away the tears that spring from my eyes, "I know, I can't either. We'll be okay, because it's us baby."

A light chuckle escapes me, "We can handle this."

"That we can." He sighs lowly, feathering a kiss to my lips, "I love you."

"I love you too."

We laugh while he twirls us around a few more times, only breaking apart from our sappy moment when the waiters all start to whistle and clap for us.

I quickly wipe my tears and slip my hand in JJs, "Lets go so more people don't see us."

"Good idea." He leads us back up to our spot on the roof, Sarah trailing behind us while she wipes tears from her face.

It's dark by the time we all lay down on our sunbathing chairs, so I curl into JJs arms and will myself to sleep.

I miss home.

And I hope trusting JJ again is the right choice, I don't want to be used for my body but it's almost impossible to stay away from him. I need his love and his comfort, I want him to be there to raise our baby together and be my person, to be mine and grow old with me.

I want him to chose me and love me.

-