The moment Nadia´s and this man´s eyes met seemed to go on forever, for both of them. It was like everything around them didn´t matter anymore and disappeared, with only the two remaining, and their glances at each other. While the man didn´t reveal any major emotional change, Nadia on the other hand was terribly confused. That man...his overall look matched that of the one she had seen in her dreams exactly. He had the same calm yet compassionate look in his face, and he also seemed to be extremely experienced. In any case, he was an overwhelming appearance, and Nadia couldn´t deny that he certainly was someone that made others feel safe in his presence. But the fact that it was the same man she saw in her dreams, the same man who called her "daughter", frightened Nadia. She tried to tell herself that this was a mere coincidence, but something deep inside her told her that there was more about it, that this man had a connection with her, although she could not tell what kind of connection this was supposed to be. But she was sure that this man definitely was not her father. It sounded just too far fetched and even ridiculous: her father, the man she never even met in her entire life, appeared out of a sudden, just in time to save her from an attempt to kidnap her. She finally came to the conclusion that it was a mere coincidence that he looked like the man she had been dreaming of. Still...her heart was beating faster as she was looking at him. It was aching, trying to tell her that something was going on, yet she could not realize what. She listened to what her heart told her all her life, she listened to heart when she met Jean, for example. But now her heart was literally trying to show her the right path, or so it seemed. Maybe it was just the excitement, caused by this assassin´s attempt to kill Grandis and to abduct her.
In any case, Jean was able to hear Nadia´s loud heart beat as well. It was somehow a disturbing experience for him, since he was used to the calm, frequent and even comforting beating of Nadia´s precious heart. Of course, when he was inside her stomach earlier, when she was escaping Grandis, he could observe a louder and faster heart beat of Nadia, but it was accompanied by her breathing getting faster as well and the sound of air being inhaled and exhaled fast was getting quite infrequent as well. But Jean knew back then that this had physical reasons, for Nadia was doing some physically demanding stuff, like jumping over Grandis and running away. This time it was just her heart beat that was working in a (for him) unusual way. Sure, he could also notice that her breathing was getting harder, but from her movements, he could tell that she wasn´t doing anything that would make her heart and her lungs work the way they did when she was straining her body. Jean concluded that, since there weren´t any apparent physical reasons, something powerful must have been going on within Nadia´s soul, something that was tormenting her, yet it was impossible for him to guess what it was. From his position withing her stomach, it was impossible to tell what was going on outside her body, and due to this apparent lack of information Jean was suffering from, it could have been anything that obviously hit Nadia´s soul so hard. He somehow wished he could leave her stomach and literally travel into her heart, comforting his wonderful host from within her body. Or that he could go into her brain and dive into her subconscious, wiping her sorrows from deep within her mind. That made Jean smile slightly, and he was wondering whether it would have been possible for him to travel into Nadia´s heart. It was just out of fun, though, but he could not deny that being within Nadia´s heart must be an experience that would have surpass his already thrilling and amazing stay inside her belly by far. Her heart represented the natural place of Nadia´s love to Jean, and to him, it represented the physical whereabouts of love. And there was no place that could have been more intimate than Nadia´s heart. Yes, if he would have been able to get into heart, both he and Nadia would have truly been one...But he got rid of that inappropriate thought quickly, seeing that it was useless to dream of something like that, anyway. He walked over the wet and slippery surface of Nadia´s stomach toward the wobbling wall of flesh he had been pounding against earlier, trying to get her attention, with little success. He gave up on that already, thinking that he should wait for Nadia to talk to him. So he sat down onto the flesh of her stomach, leaning with his back against the pulsating wall. It was quite a comfortable feeling, since Nadia´s stomach walls were so soft and warm; it actually cheered him up, so much that he closed his eyes and smiled slightly, trying to forget his worries and trust Nadia.
So it really was her...and Blue Water. And how beautiful she had become. Yes, she really was a gorgeous princess, hardly recognizable as the small baby he once knew. Still, her face still had all these characteristics that made her so special, that made her the greatest treasure in his life. Perhaps the only person who really mattered to him, after he had lost those dear to him. And how proud he was of her. Not only because she was now an adorable and gorgeous girl, but also because she looked strong and determined, and she seemed to have an overall strong personality. Just like him. Or did he lost his spirit over the years? Was he only a mere shadow of his former, glorious self, of that strong and just man, admired by many? Maybe he got old, but he certainly did not lose his spirit. It´s impossible, especially for a man like him. But it looked like his character traits have been given to her as well. She reminded him more and more of her mother...and there was no doubt that it really was her. The person he lost painfully, the person he has been searching for all those years, the person he now met again. And he wasn´t even able to show his feelings. She was there, kneeling just a few meters away from him, and the urge to walk over to her and hug her became unbearable. But he knew that time was not right yet. One foolish move by him could have threatened everything he has been working for, luring his enemies onto the stage. That was something he could not allow to happen, for the sake of everything he has been working for so hard and with so many losses, and for the girls sake as well. The day may come when he would have finally been able to show her the truth, the time for their true reunion. Until then, he would have to stand the pain of not being able to hold her in his arms again and to tell her how much he loves her, that he would always love her. And that she could always count on him. Nadia...his beloved and beautiful "princess"...why did she look at him with that confused expression in her face? Did he become such a scary old man? Or did she...notice something?
Meanwhile Grandis successfully managed to break this moment of deep thoughts of both Nadia and this man she had not the idea slightest about by actually walking toward the man and his crew.
"Thanks for your kind help, Sir. If it wouldn´t have been for you and your crew, we would be kinda...well, you know what I mean."
"No need to thank us. Don´t mention it."
"Well, let me introduce myself. I am Grandis, noblewoman, admired by many."
"Are you sure about that?"
"WHAT?!"
"Anyway. My name is Nemo, captain of the "Nautilus", our ship."
"Pleased to meet you, captain."
Then Nemo looked at Nadia, who at last stood up and walked toward Grandis. Standing next to her "big sister" now, she still had a confused and painful expression in her face, having a hard time to look into this man´s eyes, but she managed to do so.
"Hello. My name...is Nadia. I am pleased to meet you, captain Nemo. And I want to thank you for your help."
"Please, Nadia, don´t mention it."
Just then, Grandis noticed that Hanson and Sanson were still hiding behind the bushes next to the road, peeing their pants of fear. They knew too well that Grandis´ wrath could be a thousand times more dangerous and painful than being shot...for there are worse destinies than death, as both had experienced many times.
"Hey, you jerks, you can come out again!!!!!"
Both dared to take look out of their bush-hideout, looking at their (once again) enraged boss.
"T-Thank you for saving us...sir..."
"Y-yes...we thought...we would get killed...!"
"You´ll wish you were dead if you´ll continue to act like complete wusses!"
While Grandis was taking care of her useless compadres, Nemo looked at Nadia again.
"Actually, there´s someone else with us. He´s inside..."
"...your stomach?"
"Wha...?! How do you know?!"
"Just a guess. What´s his name?"
"Jean..."
"Ah, Jean. I take it you swallowed him in order to protect him."
"Yes, I did."
"He really means a lot to you, then, right?"
"..."
"I think he cares about you as well."
"You...you don´t even know him!"
"You wouldn´t provide him with shelter inside your stomach if he wouldn´t care about you, don´t you think?"
"..."
Nemo then bowed down, so his head was in front of Nadia´s belly.
"Jean, can you hear me?"
Jean was really surprised to hear this voice inside Nadia´s stomach. It was the voice of a complete stranger to him.
"Who...are you? How do you know my name?" Jean´s faint voice asked.
"I am Nemo. And we just got rid of this assassin."
"Assassin?! You mean...that guy tried to kill..."
"I don´t know, but the danger is over."
"Thank you...thank you so much..."
"Never mind that. Just promise that you will take good care of Nadia."
"Uhm...yes, I´ll try to protect her the best I can!"
Nadia had to giggle as she heard Jean´s brave and compassionate words.
"I´m sure you will, despite your size."
He then stood up again, looking into Nadia´s eyes.
"And you, take good care of Jean."
Nadia nodded, finally smiling at Nemo. Deep down inside him, he felt relieved that she did not look at him in fear anymore.
"And...take care of your stone. Don´t let anyone take it away from you, Nadia."
Grabbing Blue Water with her hands, she nodded again, looking slightly confused.
Nemo turned his head to his crew again.
"Unit, let us go back to the "Nautilus"!"
"Aye, aye!" the crew shouted in unison.
"Oh...you have to go again?"
"Yes, unfortunately. Our ship lies in a nearby harbor. We soon have to set sail again, for we have to take the route over the Seine in order to get back to the Atlantic. We haven´t much time, honestly."
"That´s unfortunate..."
Nadia even seemed to be disappointed. Nemo was surprised about her reaction, and he was wondering whether there was a way he could take her and her friends with him and whether this would not interfere with his plans...