The sun was setting low in the sky but the festivity aboard The Nomad was still in full swing. It was Sabastian's eighth birthday and his father had promised fireworks. Sabastian came running over to his father who crouched down upon seeing him and swung him high into his arms. The boy's blue eyes smiled widely into his father's own eyes.

"Can we light them now father? Please please please?"

Sinbad turned to Firouz, "Well Firouz can we? Please please please?"

Firouz grinned at the pair, startled how Sabastian looked so much like Sinbad. "Of course. Come Sabastian and you can help me set them up."

The boy wriggled free from his father's hold and eagerly took Firouz's hand. Sinbad smiled and looked at Doubar, "Eager young mite isn't he?"

Doubar grinned, "I wonder where he gets his energy from?"

Doubar then noticed his brother's smile had been replaced by a frown. Alerted that there could be trouble, he asked what was troubling him? But Sinbad didn't need to reply as the answer to why he was frowning came on deck wearing an emerald robe.

"Am I late?"

Sinbad sighed, "Hello Maeve."

The sorceress smirked at her husband, "Sinbad. Where's Sabastian?"

"With Firouz. We're about to light some fireworks. You know, I thought you wouldn't be coming?"

"And miss my son's birthday?" Maeve asked incredulously looking around the ship. "I wouldn't want to disappoint him." She turned back to glare at him, "Where's Shania?"

"Below," was all Sinbad said.

Although they were all on deck, the hostility between the two was stifling, and Doubar had to restrain himself from throwing himself overboard to escape the heat penetrating from the two. He looked sadly at the two people he loved so much and wondered, 'how could two people so right for each other, be destined to be apart?'

Maeve turned and smiled at Doubar, "Evenin' Doubar. How's my favorite brother-in-law?"

Doubar smiled back at her, "Just fine Maeve and you?"

"Could be better," Maeve answered sadly.

"Mother!"

Maeve smiled as she bent down in time to catch her son as he threw himself into her awaiting arms.

"Sabastian my you have grown. Let me have a look at you."

Maeve eyed her son and thought how her son definitely had his father's looks and good grief, he even had Sinbad's dimples.

"Oh I'm so glad you're here. I knew you'd make it. Father did have his doubts," Sabastian gushed.

Maeve cocked an eyebrow at Sinbad, "Oh I know."

"So what did you bring me?" Sabastian asked, not that he cared to know what he got. But wanted to avoid a possible argument between his mum and dad, after seeing the looks they gave each other. He may be young but he was very perceptive when it came to understanding his parents unspoken looks.

He knew that they had loved each other a long time ago, otherwise how would he be here today and his little sister Shania? But what he did not know and what he wanted to know was how they fell out of love?

Suddenly, his mother's Celtic voice intruded his thoughts, "Well if your father doesn't mind I've brought you this?"

From the pocket of her cloak Maeve produced a small replica of a wooden horse and handed it to her son.

"Why would I mind you giving that to Sabastian?" Sinbad grumbled as he made his way over to the pair.

Maeve only grinned at him, "Are you sure that you don't mind?"

Sinbad scowled at her for he recognized the gleam in her eyes. There was still more to her present than she had allowed him to believe. But he didn't know what and he all ready said he had no objections.

"Of course it's all right!"

"Well if you say so," Maeve said and turned back to her son. "Sabastian throw the horse."

"But mother-!"

Maeve grinned, "Trust me. Now throw it."

Sabastian looked at his father, who just nodded for him to do what his mother had asked, although showing that he was confused and as curious as his son was. Sabastian sighed and threw it overboard. Maeve raised her palm and a red beam shot out to hit the wooden horse. The power generated from her fingers tingled all over the carved statue and to her son's amazement and her husband's annoyance the horse came to life and sprouted wings. Sabastian jumped up and down watching the winged-horse circling the Heavens.

"Oh mother he's beautiful," Sabastian cried out excitedly, running over to hug her tightly. "Thank you ever so much."

"Go on and call him. His name is Velvet."

Sabastian ran to the railing and hollered for his horse to come to him. Velvet nose dived from the sky and landed gracefully on deck to nuzzle his master's palm.

"May I ride him father?"

Sinbad shot Maeve a disgruntled gaze but nodded, "But not for too long."

Sabastian whooped for joy and saddled his horse. Maeve turned back to see Sinbad looking mad at her. She just smiled, "You still have no objections?"

Sinbad grabbed her arm and for the first time in years used his magic and transported the two to his (once upon a time ago their) cabin. "A horse?" Sinbad shouted. "You had to give our son a horse? Oh, but not an ordinary horse but a flying horse!"

Maeve sat down on the bed, "I only wanted to give our son something he'd always treasure."

"A horse? Where the Hell am I suppose to keep a horse on a ship?"

"Oh is that all you're concerned about?" Maeve laughed. "And here I thought you were jealous. Do not worry Velvet sleeps in the clouds."

Sinbad threw his hands in the air to show his disbelief that Maeve didn't catch on to why he was yelling at her. "Maeve you don't give an eight-year-old child a magical horse! There'll be a lot of responsibilities with that damn horse and I think Sabastian is too young to take them on!"

Maeve stood up and rounded on him, "If I recall correctly you had a horse at his age."

"That is different!"

"How? Because you are the great and legendary Captain Sinbad? The so-called Master of the Seven Seas?" Maeve folded her arms in defiance, "I knew it! It's not that Sabastian is too young to have a horse but it's the fact that I gave him Velvet. You are jealous!"

Sinbad threw back his head and laughed, "Oh get off your high horse. I am not jealous."

"Fine! whatever! But if you want me to take back Velvet say so and I will!"

"In the name of Allah I can't do that! I just told Sabastian that it was all right for him to keep that horse. I will not break my word."

Maeve smirked at him, "Oh and why not? We both know how good you are at breaking your word Sinbad."

Silence. Sinbad just stared at her. 'Will she never believe me?' He shook his head sadly, 'probably not'.

"I don't know how often I have to tell you Maeve?" He began in a soft voice, "But I never broke my word to you. I loved you too much."

Maeve, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the way he was staring at her quickly looked away.

"Forget I said anything and since you're not going to send my present packing, this conversation is closed," Maeve declared before misting out of the room.

Sinbad sighed and looked longingly at the bed remembering that was where Sabastian had been conceived. "How did we manage to lose it all Maeve?" Sinbad whispered to the empty room. "Will the day ever come when you realize that I never betrayed you and that I still love you?"