#every other cabin has like maybe one bathroom and then the shared outdoor ones

[aroaceleovaldez]

so in HoO we get a totally unaddressed thing about the Hephaestus cabin apparently have an underground tunnel system beneath their cabin that they’ve been excavating for almost a century and haven’t found the end to yet. We never hear about this again. But when Jake Mason is explaining it, he jokes to Will Solace that “You Apollo guys can’t have all the fun,” which implies the Apollo cabin also has secrets.

Anyways I think we should just start headcanoning random wild secret areas of each cabin just for fun.

[spacesquidlings]

Fifth Planet From The Sun, Beloved By The Moons

By the afternoon of Gavin's birthday, the heat has already reached a fever pitch, but Rowan and Gavin have no plans to stay outdoors. They'll be travelling to a new, state-of-the-art museum that will capture Gavin's heart as surely as he has already captured hers. And with every new exhibit they wander through, Rowan will be reminded of how her love for him is fathomless; as endless as the ever-expanding universe.

Pairing: Gavin Bai x OC (Rowan)

Warnings: Mentions of suggestive content

Notes: Hello!!!! I’m here to wish the most happiest of birthdays to my favourite fictional boi and my favourite comfort character. I love you Gav!!!! I hope anyone who reads this has a marvellous time, and I hope it brightens up your day just as much as writing it brightened mine!!!!

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Arms stretched high towards the cerulean of the afternoon sky, Gavin passed a long, slow gaze across the trees that surrounded the small cabin they had rented for the week.

Well, cabin was the wrong word. The building was wooden but it was circular with a domed roof, and Rowan had been so excited at the idea of staying in one that he hadn’t been able to say no to her when she’d been looking for places for them to stay that week. He couldn’t remember what it was called, but it was essentially a big round cabin. It had heated floors, a cozy little fireplace set in the middle of the main room, and a full bathroom and kitchen. It even had a loft that housed a cozy  bedroom, with a massive, soft bed that took up nearly all of the floor-space.

There was even a deck a few feet away, with a couple of plush outdoor seats wrapped around an outdoor fireplace.

All things considered, it was quite a nice place. And the look on his wife’s face when they’d secured their rental of it had made it better than perfect.

“Gavin it’s going to be amazing,” she’d gushed, moving to curl up on his lap after she’d closed her laptop, beaming up at him with a smile that outshone the stars. “The loft will be so cozy it looks nice and warm!”

He’d chuckled at that, wrapping his arms around her and leaning back until her head rested on his shoulder, her chest pressed against his. “It’s the middle of the summer, pumpkin. Are you sure you want it to be warm?”

“Well the place comes with air conditioning,” she’d muttered, glaring up at him. “And you know what I mean.”

“Do I?”

That had earned him a smack. He’d deserved it, he’d known he’d deserved it. But that hadn’t stopped him from whining a little when she’d gently smacked him, rubbing his arm for emphasis. “You’d really hit me?”

“I barely hit you.”

“Your precious husband? Whose birthday is coming up?”

He’d gotten a few kisses for that, and he remembered smiling all the rest of that day. Remembered a few other things too that usually followed after kisses.

Well that was a lie, he remembered all of them. Every little sound she’d made and how she had felt against him and around him. And he would be lying again if he said he wasn’t hoping that this week wouldn’t be filled with similar activities.

He let his arms fall back to his sides, trying to peer between the trees that surrounded the small area. Another bonus had been that this particular cabin had been quite secluded compared to the other few that were on this property. The trees completely blocked them off from view of the others, and the area around the cabin was blessedly quiet.

It made it feel that much more private, that much more special. It made him feel like they were the only two people in the entire world. That maybe they were the entire world.

He knew Rowan was his entire world, anyways. And he didn’t want to spend even a fraction of a moment sharing her attention with anyone else, even a fellow camper coming to say hello or asking them if they knew where some of the hiking trails were.

Gavin liked to think he wasn’t that selfish, at least not about most things. He didn’t usually think that much of himself, too focused on his missions or his work or the handful of hobbies that had kept him occupied in his lonelier days. But he was selfish when it came to her. He was selfish and greedy and he wanted all of her attention.

And it was his birthday, too. He didn’t usually make a fuss for his birthday, had often seen it come and go with no fanfare in his earlier years. But Rowan always tried to do something special. Took him on vacation and made him special dinners and treats and bought him gifts and kissed him until he was laughing and breathless and his heart was so full he thought it might burst.

She’d made him believe that he was allowed to be a little selfish. That he was allowed to be treated like he was special, that he could want to be treated special. And he did. If Rowan got so excited about his existence, then why couldn’t he?

And why couldn’t he be a little selfish? And want all of his wife’s attention?

She was his world, sunshine to his sky, light to cast off the shadows, warmth to banish the cold.

He crossed his arms, turning around and peering back at the doorway of the cabin. Speaking of his wife, where was she?

“Rowan?” He called, taking a step towards the door. “Is everything alright?”

“TURN AROUND!” She shouted, her head popping out of the doorway a moment later. “Gavin Bai, you turn around right now.”

He blinked, cocking his head to one side. “Why?”

“Gavin if you don’t turn around I will blindfold you.”

He arched a brow, the corner of his lip twitching. “I don’t believe you.”

“You think I wouldn’t try?”

“You think you could?”

She huffed, stepping out of the door and crossing her arms, mimicking his stance. “I do think I could.”

“And why’s that?”

She tipped her chin up. “I know where all your tickle spots are.”

He flinched, but quickly regained his composure, fighting against his smile. “Sweetheart, I know yours too.”

“You won’t be able to see me though once I get the blindfold on you!”

“If.”

She sighed, slumping against the doorframe and looking for all the world utterly dejected and devastated. “Babey, please. It’s for your birthday!”

He took a step towards her. “Then I really don’t want to turn around.”

She pouted, her shoulders slumping. “I’ve been preparing for ages, though. I want it to be a special surprise.”

He couldn’t hold back his smile anymore, his heart aching now. He loved her. Oh how he loved her. She was his air and his light and his everything. He was a lone tree and she was sunshine and she was filling him with warmth with life.

He wondered how she would feel if he asked to reschedule their plans for the day. If she would be okay to let him lay his head in her lap and run her fingers through his hair. Maybe he would ask her to sing to him, or to tell him about the books she’d been reading or the projects she’d been working on. Anything just to hear her voice. To be close to her.

“Gavin?”

Her voice drew him from his reverie, back into the present moment. To the afternoon sunshine and the cloudless sky and the gentle breeze that did little to cool the warm July air.

“Sorry, I was thinking.”

A line formed between her brow and she straightened, coming towards him. “Thinking about what? Are you okay?”

He took a few steps towards her, closing the distance between them. She blinked, not realizing what he was doing until it was too late, until he had lifted her into his arms and pressed his face against her throat, trailing kisses over the pulse of her heart, sinking his teeth into her skin, earning a quiet gasp.

“Thinking of you,” he murmured, pulling away enough to meet her gaze, to catch her lips in a long, slow kiss. She tipped her head to the side, opening her mouth for him, sighing as his fingers tangled in her hair, holding her in place.

His body felt warm, and he felt dizzy, lightheaded like he was drunk or like he’d been spun around in a carnival ride.

He broke away slowly, wishing he didn’t need air. Wishing he could kiss her forever. Her eyes were glassy, her cheeks flushed, her breath ragged as she tried and failed to gain control of herself.

Gavin couldn’t help smiling again, not when he noticed the way she’d hooked her legs around his waist, how she clung to him, how she seemed unwilling to let go.

“Do you want to put today’s activities on hold?” He asked, letting his voice drop an octave, letting it sound rough and warm, and maybe just the tiniest bit needy.

Not that he was only a tiny bit needy. He was always needy. He was always needy for her.

He slid his hand up her thigh, played with the hem of her dress, which had ridden up when she’d wrapped her legs around him. “Maybe we could do something just the two of us?”

Her chest rose and fell slowly, her eyes unfocused as they skated over his face. “Something?”

He couldn’t help smiling at the quiet neediness in her own voice, the way she had so quickly been robbed of all thought.

He slid his hand up higher, beneath her dress, tracing his finger against the soft skin of her thigh. “Something for just us.”

Colour bloomed across her face, the crimson of a sunset sky, her breath catching. She blinked, like she was struggling to process what he was saying.

He took one step back towards the cabin, then another. Leaned close so his words caressed her ear. “I think there’s something I’d like to unwrap early.”

Out of anything he could have said, those were the words that seemed to snap Rowan back into the present. She shook her head furiously, struggling to extricate herself from his arms, although he was loath to set her down. He wanted to hold her, he wanted to keep holding her. Why couldn’t he hold his wife in his arms?

But she was unwrapping her legs from his waist, wiggling until he finally relented and set her back on her feet. She glared up at him, her mouth pressing into a thin line.

“I planned out a special day today,” she whined, resorting to slumping her shoulders and pouting. “I wanted to make you happy.”

“I’m always happy with you,” he murmured, ducking his head to find her eyes. “No matter what we’re doing I’m always happy with you.”

“I just want to make your birthday special.”

“It always is as long as I have you by my side.”

A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth, and Gavin grinned, delight dancing through his chest like sunshine over rippling ocean waves.

“We can continue later,” he murmured, grasping her chin gently and lifting it up, so he could see her face clearly, so he could see the beautiful blush that crept over her face.

She nodded, looking like she was at a loss for words once more.

He arched a brow, trying and failing not to laugh. But it was hard when she looked like that, still so flustered. “Wasn’t there something you were doing before?”

A line formed between her brow as she thought for a moment, then gasped, her eyes lighting up as she remembered. “Yes! And you have to turn around! And close your eyes!”

He chuckled, deciding that this time he would oblige. He turned around, covering his eyes with his hands. “Okay, I’m ready! How long do you need?”

“Just wait until I tell you it’s okay.”

“Yes ma’am.”

She sighed, long and loud. “You’re lucky I love you.”

“I’m the luckiest person in the universe to be loved by you.”

He was sure her cheeks were an even brighter red now, and he smiled wider, earning a light smack as she walked past him.

“You’d hit me on my birthday?!”

“It’s not your birthday yet,” she said, pinching his side as she passed him.

“I’ll get you back for that,” he teased, letting his voice drop low again.

“I’m sure you will,” she sang, as if he’d told her he would buy her flowers.

He should buy her flowers, now that he was thinking about it. He hadn’t bought any flowers in a while, and she loved to press them and hide them in books around the house.

It was a little like a scavenger hunt, and every time he found one he couldn’t help smiling. It always felt like a little piece of sunshine that she’d tucked between the pages, brightening up the day whenever one was found.

“Okay, you can open your eyes now!”

He did, spinning around to find her standing by their car, her smile filled with mischief.

“So when do I get to see my surprise?”

She rolled her eyes, moving towards the passenger seat. “That would ruin it! What’s the point of a surprise then?”

He sighed, although he knew it wouldn’t do any good. He doubted he would be able to pry any details from her. For now he would just have to yield to her decisions.

And anyways he would find out soon enough. If Rowan was packing everything in the car that meant whatever the surprise was would be brought with them today.

Although that was little consolation when he could feel himself itching to know what exactly she’d hidden.

He didn’t know what had happened; he’d used to be disciplined and patient. He should have been able to hold himself back, push the surprise from his mind while he focused on the parts of the day he did know about.

Although maybe it had to do with how he looked forward to every new day now. Every new moment. Maybe it had to do with how there was always something that made him smile now. That made glad he was alive, that made him so very happy he was alive.

He was pretty sure it had to do with Rowan. It was as if she was springtime sunshine, melting away the last vestiges of winter to make way for the explosion of colour and life that bloomed in its wake.

He’d remembered liking things, he’d remembered loving things. But everything had been just a little grey, a little ashen. Food tasted plain, colours seemed dull. Even blood red roses and fiery sunset skies had seemed faded and lackluster. Music, something he had loved since he was a child, the piano or his bass or even just bright songs on the radio, had seemed muted, had touched his heart. But never much more. Like a breeze rustling his jacket rather than a storm that tore at his very being.

Like his world had been washed out, or perhaps like he had been underwater. The world muffled and dulled.

But everything was vibrant now, everything was loud and brilliant and bright. She’d stepped into his world and brought colour rushing in after her. Sunrise and sunset were fire. He couldn’t remember food tasting as good as it did now. Even the littlest things brought him joy, making him feel like his heart might burst with the happiness that spilled through him.

Sometimes he would find himself staring at some beautiful flowers, or seeing something pretty in a shop window, or listening to a soft melody, and his chest would grow so warm he was sure a star was blooming to life inside of him. He would think of her, of her smile and her laugh. Of the way she would grip his hand and tell him how pretty something was. How she would cling to him after and chatter away about whatever was on her mind.

Although sometimes now he would catch himself just admiring things around him. Lakes and trees and flowers and sky. The warmth of a cup of coffee against his palms. The sweetness of a pastry or treat on his tongue. The softness of a blanket against his skin. A cool, refreshing wind rustling through his hair.

The world was big and it was bright and it was beautiful. They were things he’d always known, but now they were things he really felt.

Perhaps that was why he was so impatient now, wanting to peek at whatever Rowan had hidden away for his birthday. There was so much that made him happy now. So much that made him excited.

He felt a little like a child, if he were being honest. Like his body was too small for the sunshine and the happiness in his chest.

“Gavin?”

Rowan’s voice drew him from his thoughts, back into the present. She took a step towards him, her head cocked to the side. “What are you thinking of?”

He smiled, reaching out to take her hand. “I was thinking of you.”

She blinked, her cheeks the soft pink of a cherry blossom, her voice catching as she asked “me?”

He nodded, pressing a kiss to her fingertips. “You.”

“Was it good things?”

He closed his eyes, chuckling at the squeak in her voice. “Very good things.”

“Like what?”

He arched a brow, opening his eyes to peer up at her impishly as she tried and failed to look disinterested.

“Like that I love you,” he breathed, leaning forward so he could press his brow against hers. “That I love you with all that I am.”

Her hand tightened around his, her other hand reaching up to tangle in his hair. “I love you too.”

He grinned, leaning a little closer, so their lips nearly brushed as he spoke. “Enough to tell me about your surprise?”

She peeled away, shaking her head. “I love you so much that I won’t tell you.”

He sighed in defeat, letting his shoulders slump forward. “I guess there’s no winning.”

“It’s okay babey,” she cupped his face with both hands as she murmured his pet name, stroking his cheek with her thumb. “You’ll get to see it soon. And today and the next few days are all about you.”

He resisted the urge to point out that if they were all about him then she’d tell him what the surprise was. And she’d also postpone their plans for the day because he still desperately wanted to carry her back into the cabin and undo the little bows that held her shoulder straps in place, her dress pooling at her feet.

But he just smiled, enjoying the feeling of his cheeks being cradled in her hands. He would have everything he wanted soon enough. And it gave him time to imagine all the different ways he would take her dress off and make her melt.

She kissed his brow so gently he sighed. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she breathed, pulling away just barely. “Although we should probably get going. We’ve got a lot to do today.”

“I’m glad I get to spend it with you,” he said, drawing her back for one last kiss. “There’s no one I’d rather spend it with.”

He would have kissed her more, held her tight in his arms forever if he could. She fit so perfectly against him, her heart beating in tandem with his, her breath curling against his neck, her hands pressed against his back.

He didn’t think anything could ever make him as happy as being close to her did.

But eventually the embrace did have to end, although after he buckled himself into the car he made sure to reach out and squeeze Rowan’s hand. To remind her he was right there, but also to remind himself that she was close. That she was there with him. Beside him.

“Alright, do you know how to get there?” He asked, slowly driving the car down the small gravel road that took them to their cabin.

Rowan hummed, opening up a map on her phone. “Once you get out of the campground you’ll want to start by turning right.”

He reached out to thread his fingers with hers, the car barely going more than 10 kilometers as they drove over the rough, uneven road.

They were heading to a new space museum that was opening up in the fall. Rowan had somehow managed to swing tickets to an early access viewing of the exhibits, and they had decided it would make a perfect summer trip for his birthday.

Had it been a normal museum Gavin probably wouldn’t have cared either way, but this one boasted private planetarium rooms made with tech almost as advanced as what the STF was often working with. The entire galaxy and known universe would be able to be projected in the circular room, so close he could touch any one of the planets or stars.

The rooms were also to be booked privately, so there would be no one in there other than him and Rowan. As if they were completely alone in the universe.

There were some other interesting exhibits he’d thought sounded cool, about spaceships and the history of space travel, and strangely even an exhibit on how space was depicted in fictional stories.

He would be lying if he said he wasn’t really excited for it. He’d always loved space and the idea of travelling through the stars. Of exploring different worlds and galaxies.

It was fantastical daydreams he’d had when he was a child, but they’d stuck with him even as he’d grown. And now here he was with the most important person in the entire world next to him, taking him somewhere his child self would have loved.

“Are you alright?” She asked, her voice tinged with worry as she leaned forward, squeezing his hand. “You look like you’re thinking about something serious.”

Gavin just shook his head, bringing Rowan’s hand to his lips and brushing a kiss against her knuckles. “Not at all. I was just thinking that I would have been very excited to go on this trip when I was a child.”

She gave him a funny look, arching her brow. “You think it’s childish?”

He chuckled, setting her hand down on her thigh. “No, no. I mean it’s something I would have loved. Had you taken little Gavin with you he would have been so happy.”

“Well what about big Gavin?” Her voice was soft as she spoke, and she reached out to tug at the sleeve of his shirt.

“Big Gavin is happier than he ever thought he would be.”

“He’s looking forward to today?”

He laughed, squeezing her hand. “He’s very excited for today.”

Rowan beamed, covering the top of his hand with hers. “I am too! I can’t wait to see the planetarium rooms! I wonder what galaxies we’ll be able to see.”

Hu hummed, pretending to be in thought. She was his everything, and if all he saw was her, then he would get to see the entire universe in that little room.

Although he wasn’t quite sure how to say that. Wasn’t quite sure if he could.

Even after years of dating and marriage and sharing whispered words late into the inky night, there were some things he still struggled to say. They would catch in his throat, his tongue struggling to form words that wouldn’t come.

He loved her though. He loved her so much. So he just squeezed her hand again, hoping it would convey everything he was feeling in that moment, everything he had felt since she had chosen to be a part of his life.

She squeezed his hand back, as if she understood completely. It made his heart grow warm, made his veins fill with sunshine gold. To be understood so entirely, even without words. He hadn’t known it was possible. Hadn’t known anyone would be by his side, would have worked so hard to remain by his side, to know him, to understand him, to love him.

He cleared his throat as a lump began to form, turning his eyes to the road as they emerged from the campground and turned onto the main road that would take them to the highway. “Where do I go next?”

“You’ll want to hop on the highway soon. Then it looks like we’ll ride that for a few hundred kilometres.”

He nodded, turning on his signal. “And you’re sure?”

“I’m sure!”

“You’re really sure?”

She pouted, crossing her arms and leaning away from him, towards the passenger side door. “That happened a long time ago, Babey! It was an accident!”

He snorted, remembering the “accident” in question. Rowan had read the directions wrong when they had been on their way to a new restaurant she’d been very excited to try. They’d made it to their reservation with ten minutes to spare, but not before going down every side street in the city and somehow ending up in the best parking spot in the miniscule parking lot of the restaurant.

He’d teased her about it since then, and if he were being honest it was a little funny. How was it possible to get completely lost and arrive early? He’d never done that before in his entire life. And yet somehow Rowan had, and it had brought him so much happiness he’d had to cover his face to stifle the laughter that bubbled through him.

“Don’t be like that pumpkin,” he cooed, squeezing her leg before returning his hand to the steering wheel. “Maybe we’ll arrive early.”

She huffed, rolling her eyes. “That was some weird freak of nature. I’m pretty sure there must have been a tear in the universe we drove through that got us there.”

“Maybe that’s your evol,” he teased, flicking his eyes to the side to find her resolutely staring out the passenger side window.

“Getting lost?” He could hear the pout in her voice, and he was tempted to pull over just to kiss it away.

“Teleporting maybe? Or bending reality to create something like warp travel?”

She spun around, her eyes wide. “You mean kind of like wormholes? In space?”

He grinned. “Exactly!”

“Babey, you’re such a dork. That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.”

His face grew warm and he coughed, focusing on the road ahead. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Only that of course you would come up with such a cute idea for an evol. And that it would be like something out of a sci-fi movie!”

His cheeks grew warmer still, the heat crawling up the sides of his face and his ears. “But I’m your dork, right?”

“Of course,” she sang, leaning towards him, folding her arms over the armrest between them so she could lean closer. “You’re my Gavin, my dork. And you make me so happy.”

He coughed again, scratching at the back of his neck, although he was unable to wipe away the smile that tugged at his lips. He was coming desperately close to pulling the car over so he could cup her face and kiss her until she was breathless.

“I’m so happy I was able to get tickets to this museum,” she said, falling back against her seat. “I keep checking their social medias and they keep posting about all these new exhibits. I feel like we’re going to walk out of there professionals in space facts!”

He hummed, happy to listen to her chatter away, happy to listen to her voice.

“Maybe we can buy degrees from the gift shop.”

“I doubt they’d have something like that,” he said, quirking a brow. “You can’t just buy a degree from a gift shop.”

“Not with that attitude!”

He snorted, turning back to the road.

“Oh, but that reminds me we’ll definitely have to get some things from the gift shop! So we can remember this trip!”

He doubted he would ever forget it. Every moment with her was so very precious, and every memory shared with her was kept safely in his heart, polished and shined so he would never forget.

“We can get whatever you want,” he murmured, imagining her running around a display of space-themed plushies. Maybe there would be some stuffed planets and stars, or little alien dolls.

“Not for me, babey, for you!”

He couldn’t help arching his brow again, peeking at her from the corner of his eye in bemusement. “You mean you wouldn’t want to buy any stuffed animals?”

She crossed her arms, tipping her chin up and closing her eyes as she feigned haughtiness. As if she didn’t cave within seconds of seeing a cute stuffed animal. “It depends.”

“A stuffed planet? A meteor? A star?”

She cracked open one eye to peer at him. “Do you think they have those?”

He grinned wider. “Well if they do, I’ll get them for you.”

She sighed in defeat. “Well maybe I want to buy you things, too. It is your birthday after all.”

“I don’t need anything,” he said. “I just need you by my side, that’s it.”

“But-”

“No buts,” he cut her off, shaking his head. “The only thing I need is you. Is sharing today with you.”

“What about things that you want?”

He rolled his eyes. “I want to spend today with you, Rowan. All I want is to spend my time with you.”

“Okay,” her voice was soft as she bobbed her head. “Well for the record I want to spend all my time with you. I want to share every single moment with you.”

And if that was the only gift he ever received, was being with her, being beside her, then it would truly be the best gift of all.

***

Gavin couldn’t help gaping a little as they got out of the car, staring up at the strange shape of the museum.

He would be lying if he said he’d been to many museums, but the ones he’d seen had always been square or rectangular, the outer walls made of bland grey concrete, usually with colourful banners unfurled over the drab colour advertising their exhibits.

But this one was a bit different. From where they stood in the parking lot the exterior of the building looked strangely circular, with cylindrical protrusions on either side. It looked sleek and white, reminding him of the interior of the STF, all smooth surfaces and flashing neon lights. There were markings on the sides he couldn’t quite make out, something that looked like a string of numbers, although he wasn’t entirely sure.

“It looks like a spaceship!” Rowan sang, clapping her hands. “Oh it’s so cool already and we haven’t even gotten inside!”

He tipped his head to the side, reassessing the building. He supposed Rowan was right, it did look a bit like a spaceship. Like something out of the newer Star Trek movies, maybe.

“Are you excited?” She asked, drawing him from his thoughts as she took his hand. “I wonder what the inside will look like if the outside looks like a spaceship!”

Her excitement was infectious, and Gavin couldn’t help grinning as he squeezed her hand in return. Her smile was as bright as any star, her eyes shining, filled with galaxies of light.

Oh he loved her so much, he thought his heart might burst.

“I’m so excited,” he breathed.

“Okay okay! Let’s go, I want us to get in early!”

“I thought the museum wasn’t open to the public yet.”

“It’s not,” she said, rifling through her bag until she found their VIP tickets. “But that doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of people who were invited to this early opening, though. And I don’t want to be stuck behind some pompous rich people or a couple of scientists who are just going to say the information isn’t good enough!”

She tugged on his hand, spinning around to face him. “I want to read everything in here! And I want to take tons of photos of you.”

“What about photos of you?” He cocked his head to the side, dragging her closer before she ran into a parked car.

“But this is for you!”

“Well I want photos of you, too,” he said, enunciating his words very carefully, and extra slowly, making sure to emphasize want. He wanted photos of her. He wanted to remember the little details of today.

“Are you sure? I’m not really that good in photos.”

“I think you’re beautiful,” he said, brushing her hair back behind her ear. “You’re always so beautiful. I want to remember every single moment with you.”

Her voice was small when she spoke again. “Okay, if you’re sure. But I want pictures of you too.”

He squeezed her hand, tucking it around his arm to keep her close. “As you wish.”

There were only a handful of people milling around outside the museum, snapping a few photos and peeking around the delicate gardens that had been set up on either side of the walkway leading to the entrance.

Rowan crouched down and plucked a flower with light blue petals, straightening to quickly twine it in Gavin’s hair. “There we go.”

His face flushed, and he lifted a hand towards the flower. “What’s that for?”

“A gift! For the most important person here today!”

He pulled the flower from his hair, tucking it into hers instead. “I think you would look much better with this.”

“But you’re so handsome, Gavin, you’re always so handsome.” She pouted, running her fingers lightly over his arm. “You don’t want my gift?” 

“Of course I do,” he murmured, trying and failing to ignore the way he shivered beneath her touch. “Will you hold onto it for me? You look very beautiful with it.”

Her face turned crimson, and she bobbed her head, her voice a quiet squeak as she said “yes.”

He grinned, pulling his phone out and snapping a picture of her before she could stop him.

“What was that?” She demanded, reaching for his phone. “What did you just do?”

“I told you,” he teased, tucking it back into his pocket. “I want photos of you, too. So I can always remember.”

As if he would ever forget. As if he could ever forget a moment with her.

She heaved a very long, very tired sigh before jabbing a finger against his chest. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

He tipped his head to the side, his starry eyes alight with mischief. “You think I’m cute?”

Rowan opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. Had it not been for his tone, she would have said yes, of course. Because of course she thought he was cute. She had to stop herself from squishing his cheeks between her hands most days because she thought he was so cute. From biting him because he was so cute. But he was very clearly teasing her, and any words she might have said vanished from her mind.

She snapped her mouth shut, running her hands over the front of her dress to smooth out a few wrinkles, before turning on her heel and walking towards the door.

“Come on, pumpkin,” he whined, catching up with her quickly.

He took her hand, tugging her against his side before slipping his arm around her waist. If she looked up she would know he was grinning, but she was not exactly brave enough to look up at him. They had been together for years and yet still every time she looked at him it was like she was falling in love with him all over again. Her legs turning watery, her heartbeat fluttering, her breath catching.

And the impish smile she knew was on his face would do little to assuage that feeling. Instead she was certain her body would give out on her completely and she would keel over, knocking her head on the pavement. Like a Victorian woman suffering from a bout of the vapours.

Although she had not brought any smelling salts, so she had no idea how she would be roused from such a state.

It was probably safer to just not look up at him.

Which was so much harder than it should have been. Because when Gavin wanted attention, he demanded it. And she could already feel his hand squeezing her waist, his thumb stroking her side idly while his other hand brushed against the bottom of her chin.

“Now you won’t even look at me?” She could hear the pout in his voice now, although she could picture the way the corners of his lips would be turned up, his eyes bright as stars.

“I miss you.”

“I haven’t gone anywhere, babey,” she murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder. “I’m right here.”

The pad of his index finger tapped against her chin. “Won’t you look at me? On my birthday?”

How could she say no to that? How could she ever say no to him?

So Rowan turned and looked at Gavin, looked at her beautiful, kind husband. At his sunbright eyes and his gentle smile and the soft dusting of colour that still stained his cheeks.

Her knees did in fact feel weak, her face burning and her head spinning and her pulse racing as she met his gaze.

Hopefully if she fell Gavin would catch her, because she didn’t trust herself to walk steady in his presence.

“I do think you’re cute,” she said, her voice soft. “I think you’re so wonderful, and handsome, and adorable.”

His grin widened. “I think you are, too.”

She was pretty sure she would have kissed him right then and there if a particularly noisy group hadn’t started making their way towards them. They sounded like a group of scientists, discussing numbers and calculations and whether the museum would feature newer discoveries regarding the universe and using all sorts of words Rowan didn’t know.

Gavin gently guided her to the side to let the group pass before they continued making their way to the entrance. He lowered his mouth to her ear, his breath warm against her skin. “To be continued.”

She nodded, letting herself be guided up the path to the entrance. She handed their tickets to the staff member standing by the door, who hole punched the tickets before handing them back before opening the door for them.

A blast of frosty, air conditioned air greeted them as they stepped inside a large, circular room. Signs cluttered the walls, and small clusters of people chatted softly amongst each other, pointing to words on glossy, colourful pamphlets.

“Where do you want to start?” Gavin asked, surveying the room. There were signs pointing to the bathrooms, the gift shop, and a table piled high with more of those colourful pamphlets.

Rowan grabbed one immediately, cracking it open. “Hmm, it doesn’t look like there’s a map in here.”

Gavin hummed, squeezing her hand. “There’s a hallway up ahead. Maybe we can follow that?”

She looked up from the pamphlet to where he was pointing, a seemingly plain hallway that took a sharp right and disappeared completely from sight.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” He asked.

“What if we get abducted by aliens? And separated?”

He snorted, rolling his eyes. “I’d find my way back to you.”

“You promise?”

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “That’s quite a silly question, Rowan. Of course I promise.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, leaning into him.

“Besides,” he continued, pulling away. “I would never let anyone separate us.”

“Not even aliens?”

He shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

That was a relief, although she doubted they were going to get abducted by aliens anytime soon. Or maybe they were, considering the hallway had curved to the right, the walls a stark white with bright, nearly blinding lights, and still she wasn’t sure where they were going.

Perhaps they were walking onto an alien spaceship, and they were about to be abducted. Spirited away to some unknown planet where they’d have to fight to make their way back home.

Rowan tightened her grip on Gavin’s hand, pressing closer against him as a shiver raced through her.

“Cold?” He asked, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and rubbing her bare arm. “Maybe we should have brought sweaters. I hadn’t really thought about that.”

She narrowed her eyes, remembering the soft pleading from him that morning, saying he thought one of her new dresses would look so beautiful, and wouldn’t it be nice if she wore it.

“And what exactly had you been thinking about?”

His ears turned bright red and he scratched at the back of his neck, quickly looking away. “Nothing much.”

“Now who’s the one who won’t look at me?”

Rowan was starting to wonder if maybe they should turn around when they were greeted with a pure white gangplank, leading up towards a dark, heavy curtain.

“Keep holding my hand,” he murmured, lifting their joined hands to press a kiss to her knuckles, sending butterflies cascading through her chest. “In case there’s any aliens trying to abduct us.”

She nodded, stifling a giggle as they headed up the gangplank and pushed past the curtain.

To Rowan’s delight it was not an attempted alien abduction. Instead, they found themselves at the beginning of one of the first exhibits in the museum. A beautiful, shining room with walls that seemed to glitter and glow. It took Rowan a moment for her eyes to adjust, and only then did she notice that there were millions of little model stars dangling from the ceiling, reflecting the lights, making the room feel so impossibly huge and bright.

“Oh wow,” she murmured, still clinging to Gavin’s hand. “They’re so bright.”

He hummed, shielding her eyes. “Careful not to look at them too long. I don’t want you to hurt your eyes.”

“I mean it’s hard to escape them,” she said, peering curiously around the room, wondering where they should start.

“You can always lean your face against my chest for a minute,” he said. “I’ll keep you safe.”

“I might take you up on that.”

She would definitely be taking him up on that soon, she could guarantee it. For now, though, she wanted to see some of the cool displays and exhibits, and she wanted to get as many photos of Gavin as she could.

They ended up starting with an exhibit displaying the birth of the universe. Whoever had designed it had chosen to depict the different theories for how the universe was born with colourful, scaled down dioramas. It was only the diorama big bang itself, the explosion that created everything, that was massive. It was taller than both of them, reaching up towards the starry ceiling, meant to illustrate the sheer size of it. The sheer power that created everything.

Rowan snapped a picture of Gavin as he read one of the placards, his brow furrowed in thought, his mouth moving silently as he scanned the words slowly, taking it in. She felt her heart soaring, higher than the domed ceiling covered in crystalline stars. He looked content, he looked happy. The light catching in his eyes, making them glow with an almost childlike wonder.

He seemed to radiate excitement, like he was his very own star, glowing with warmth and the most brilliant light.

Rowan forgot where she was for a moment, too lost in thought, too happy as she watched his lips move, his eyebrows shoot up. He was pointing to something new he was reading, his cheeks flushed. He was crossing his arms, smiling broadly, his hair spilling over his brow as he tipped his head to the side. She wanted to memorize every part of that smile, from the wrinkles around his eyes to the little dimple that appeared in his cheek to the shade of pink that bloomed in his cheeks like rosebuds.

She took another picture, not really caring if it was silly or not. She loved him, she loved him so much. She didn’t want to forget a single moment with him. Couldn’t bear the thought of this memory fading from her mind.

She lowered her arm to tuck her phone back into the little heart-shaped purse at her hip to find Gavin peering at her curiously, a bemused smile on his lips.

“What are you taking a picture of?” He asked, uncrossing his arms to take her hand again.

“You,” she said, her voice small as she let him draw her closer.

“I’m sure there are much more interesting things to be taking pictures of,” he said, casting his gaze around the starlit room. There were massive installations meant to depict stars and planetary explosions, and further away she could see paintings and beautiful artist renderings of the planets. There were multiple hallways branching off from the large room they were in, with displays she couldn’t quite see and colourful lights illustrating what would be in the following rooms.

It was all truly marvellous and beautiful and like nothing she had ever seen before.

And yet it all truly paled in comparison to the man before her. To his gentle smile, to the warmth in his eyes. He was completely incomparable. More precious and amazing than any star.

“No,” she breathed, squeezing his hand. “There’s nothing that can compare to you.”

He blinked, his blush deepening. Then he coughed, his gaze dipping down, his bangs falling so they covered his eyes.

“Gavin,” she reached out to cup his cheek, gently tipping his face back up. “Won’t you look at me?”

He did, although he looked a little sheepish, and his ears were the red of sweet, ripe tomatoes.

“I love you. Nothing in this room can hold a candle to you.”

His expression softened, his hand reaching up to cover hers. “I love you, too. I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

“It wasn’t luck,” she said. “You were just you. You were Gavin, and how could I not fall in love with you?”

He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to. He looked serene, he looked happy, comfortable. Safe.

She stroked his cheek softly, savouring his closeness for a few moments. They would need to move soon, she could hear voices growing louder, coming from that long curving hallway that led to the entrance of the exhibits. More people were starting to arrive, and they would be clamouring to get photos and absorb as much of the information as the museum could offer.

But for just a moment longer they could stand like this, virtually alone in the shimmering, shining room. Content to be close to the other, trying desperately to etch this moment into their memories.

Gavin tilted his head, pressing a kiss to the inside of Rowan’s palm before twining his fingers with hers and gently peeling her hand away. “What would you like to take a look at next?”

She hummed, spinning around as she observed the different installations and displays. “We could look at the one about star births! There’s something that looks really cool over there!”

He nodded, letting her lead him across the room. Similar to the exhibit they had just looked at, there were artistic models of all the different kinds of stars. Blue stars and white dwarfs and red giant stars and stars just like the sun that gave light to their own world.

He read the placards carefully, reciting the words out loud for Rowan, humming as he turned the information over in his mind. The beginning of the exhibit gave relatively simplistic information, facts that were easy to find when looking online or when taking an introductory astronomy class. But the further you moved into the maze of star sculptures and displays, the more detailed the information. Like they were trying to ease visitors into understanding the basics of astrophysics before using more complex terms and explaining things in much more detail.

Gavin had never really been one for complex sciences, and had often felt his brain grew messy and tangled if he tried to make sense of any of it. But he liked this, he liked the way it helped him mitigate so much of that confusion and frustration. He felt like he understood almost everything he read, and he couldn’t help beaming every time he straightened, feeling like a child again. Feeling as excited as he used to whenever he got to look up at the stars with the old telescope he’d used to own.

And more than anything else, he liked that Rowan was beside him. He would read something out loud to her and she would gape, the starlight from the hundreds of crystal stars hovering above their heads shining in her eyes, like she was made of galaxies.

She brushed her hand against his back as she leaned forward, her brow furrowed as she peered at a spinning, miniature reproduction of a star. It was an interactive display, and she gasped as she reached out to touch it. 

“It’s so warm!”

Gavin chuckled, listing his hand to let it hover over the star. “It is. But stars are supposed to be warm.”

Like her. Like the way she made his own heart feel when he woke up every morning and saw her still sleeping face. Her cheek smushed against the pillow, her hair a messy halo around her head. Her bangs sticking up at awkward angles that made him smile as he smoothed them out.

Perhaps she was a star. Or maybe she was a galaxy of stars. There was no other explanation for the warmth and the happiness he felt when she was close by.

“Here, put your hand on this one,” he said, taking her hand and setting it atop another star, this one a fiery red. “It’s still warm, but it’s a bit cooler.”

She bobbed her head, seeming starstruck. “That’s so cool.”

He chuckled, pointing to a bright blue star next to it. “Now try that one.”

She reached out to press her hand to the blue star, only to yank it back with a gasp. “That one’s almost too hot to touch!”

He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm to ease the discomfort from the heat. “You’re right. Blue stars are the hottest stars in the universe.”

She blinked, turning back to the little model, her cheeks turning pink from the heat that radiated from it. “That’s incredible. That kind of star could keep lots of planets warm!”

He bobbed his head. “Theoretically, I think it could.”

He had liked researching about space when he’d been younger, hours slipping away as he’d read books and internet articles about space, the planets, the stars that bloomed in the sky every night. He couldn’t remember all of the details, though, about the stars, but he did remember once reading about how stars had to be in perfect position from planets to warm them, and to sustain life. Not only that, but there were different kinds of stars that could and could not sustain the growth and life of a planet like theirs.

“I’m not sure, though,” he admitted, furrowing his brow. “It might not last that long. The hotter and brighter the star the shorter its life.”

Rowan hummed thoughtfully, looping her arm through his. “I suppose that would make sense.” She wrinkled her nose. “Although it’s really hard for me to wrap my head around. Millions of years not being enough to sustain the life of a planet.”

He chuckled. “It is quite hard to picture it.”

“If there are other planets that have life on them, do you think they’re like ours?” She asked, pausing to peer at a diagram explaining the “goldilocks zone” and why it was so important to sustain life. “Do you think the people living on it would be quite different?”

He hummed. “I guess it would depend on their sun, and the environment.”

She leaned against him, sighing. “It would be really cool if we knew for sure there were other planets in the universe with life.”

“I’m sure there are. There would have to be. The universe is too big for there not to be.”

He peered over at her, watching her as she scanned the diagram, chewing on her bottom lip as she went over the information. “Although, I think our planet is best.”

She narrowed her eyes, looking up at him curiously. “Why is that?”

“Because it has you.”

Her eyes widened a little, her mouth opening in a small o.

“Gavin…” She trailed off, her voice lilting softly through the air, reminding him of a leaf twirling slowly to the ground.

“You’re the most beautiful thing in the entire universe,” he said, leaning closer to brush a kiss to her brow. “I know nothing else out there could compare to you.”

She pressed her face against his shoulder, and he could hear the pout in her voice as she whined. “You’re so lucky it’s your birthday.”

He chuckled, running a hand over her hair. “And why is that?”

“Because you can get away with saying sweet things like that!”

“I’m only telling you the truth. And the sweetest thing here is you, pumpkin.”

She grumbled wordlessly, glaring at him as she peeked up. He could see the wheels turning in her mind, and he considered what her retaliation might be.

Maybe she would say something equally as sweet that would make his face burn and his stomach dip like he was being thrown from a cliff.

Maybe she would kiss him until he felt a little breathless and then act like nothing had happened.

Or maybe she would step on his foot. Or pinch his waist. Or reach for the ticklish spot that her hand was awfully close to and-

He grabbed her hand before she could make her move, snorting as he held onto it tightly. “It’s my birthday, Rowan.”

“And?” She asked, her voice light and saccharine as she smiled at him just a little too sweetly. “I was going to make you smile.”

“You make me smile by being here beside me,” he murmured, his free hand wrapping around her back and slowly edging upwards.

She opened her mouth to respond, but then her eyes widened and she gasped, snorting as laughter bubbled from her mouth.

Gavin grinned in triumph as she wrenched away from him and he lost his hold on her most ticklish spot. “And I can’t help smiling when I hear your laughter.”

“That is not fair,” she groused, crossing her arms.

“But it’s my birthday,” he whined, trying to reach for her. “I thought I could have anything I wanted.”

She glared at him, stepping away. “Within reason.”

“I would say hearing your laugh and seeing your smile are more than reasonable.”

She scrunched her face up, lifting her shoulders up as her whole body tensed.

Gavin couldn’t help laughing at the sight, covering his mouth with one hand and reaching out to her with the other. “Come on, princess. Don’t be like that.”

She let her face relax, sighing as he took her hand and drew her through a display of stars. “I can’t say no to you.”

He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, her words making his heartbeat stutter and stumble, like a child still learning to walk. Did she know how much her words meant to him? Did she know that even the simplest, smallest things she said made him feel like he was filled with the light of a million stars?

He paused, tilting his head as he took in one of the displays. “Does that mean you won’t say no if I ask to take your picture?”

She turned to look at the display he had his eye on. A brilliant explosion of light, an artist’s rendition of a star exploding into life. The colour seemed to leap from the canvas, and Gavin could make out the texture of the paint from where he stood, making the fire and starlight seem so real he was sure that if he reached out to touch it that it would burn his hand.

He turned back to her, fixing the flower that he had tucked into her hair. “It just reminds me a little of you.”

Beautiful. Warm. Brilliant. His Rowan. His own star.

She tipped her head to the side, but she nodded, letting him take her picture next to the painting.

He was grinning as he tucked his phone away before taking her hand again. “Alright. Where to next?”

“Well I picked last time, so why don’t you choose next?”

Gavin hummed, wondering what to do next. And then he spotted a sign pointing to an exhibit all about space travel, and knew exactly where he wanted to go next.

There were spaceships in this next room. Replicas, of course, he knew it was unlikely they would have the remains of some of the most famous spaceships in history. But the replicas were astounding, lifesize models that reached towards the ceiling, seeming to vanish into the cluster of false stars that swathed the ceiling.

“Oh wow,” Rowan said, her head twisting from side-to-side as she took it all in. “These are huge.”

He nodded, drifting towards one of the closest spaceships, what would have been the ship for one of the first expeditions into space in history.

He couldn’t help imagining getting to be one of the crew members on one of those expeditions. Soaring out past the clouds, reaching towards the stars, unravelling the mysteries that still surrounded their own universe.

His heart ached a little. He didn’t regret what he did. He knew he’d made the right choice, working hard every day to keep his city safe. To keep everyone safe. To keep his Rowan safe.

But still, sometimes he couldn’t stop himself from dreaming a little. Dreaming about if he’d chosen a different path. If he’d chosen exploration and adventure instead.

He didn’t realize Rowan had moved so close, too wrapped up in his own thoughts as he gazed up at the hulking spacecraft. Didn’t notice as she snapped a photo of him, his mind swimming with all the possibilities of who he could have been.

What would his younger self have said, had he stood before a spaceship when he had been young?

That he wanted to be an astronaut, no doubt. That he wanted to touch the stars, wanted to bring one back to show his mom.

His eyes burned, although no tears came. She would tell him she was proud of him, and that if it made him happy he could be whatever he wanted. That she would be proud of him, that she would support him no matter what.

There were arms around his waist then, the steady warmth of Rowan’s body pressing against his back. She remained silent as she held him, but Gavin couldn’t help sinking into her embrace, letting himself be weak for just a moment as he closed his eyes, fighting against tears that turned exhibits around him murky.

His mother would have loved to take him here. Would have held his hand and pointed out all the cool things and told him how smart he was, how brave he was for dreaming of space.

He missed her. He missed her so much.

His hands fell to Rowan’s, still wrapped around his waist.

“I love you,” he murmured, his voice gravelly and rough.

“I love you too,” she breathed, her chin resting on his shoulder, her breath curling against his neck. He felt her lips brush against his skin, over where his pulse thrummed in its unending beat.

“Do you want to go?” She asked.

He shook his head. “No, I just need a moment.”

She kissed him again, tightening her grip around his waist. She didn’t need to say anything to show that she understood, that she knew what he was thinking of. That she would be here for him always, without question.

She anchored him, brought him back into the moment, back into the world around him. Reminded him that he was loved, that he was precious, that he had someone who was proud of him just for existing. Just for being him.

He let himself take a moment, let himself be enveloped in Rowan’s arms, in her warmth. She smelled like flowers, and cookies, and like the warm blankets they had snuggled into the night before. He felt himself relax, felt the tears begin to abate.

“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice still rough as sandpaper, the words feeling strange and foreign on his lips.

“I love you,” she murmured, pressing her face against his neck, her words turning muffled as she repeated herself against his skin. “I love you.”

He smiled, the heaviness that had washed over him beginning to disappear, like ocean waves drawn back by the tide.

He was certain his mother would have loved Rowan. Would have been so happy to know he was loved by someone like her. That he loved her with all his heart. That she was his entire world.

He turned around, Rowan’s arms loosening at his waist as he moved. He cupped her face with his hands, leaning his forehead against hers.

“Thank you,” he breathed, so quiet only she would hear.

He wished he could have stayed like that forever, wrapped up in his own little world, with Rowan’s arms around him. But the museum was beginning to grow louder as voices crescendoed through the building. More people were starting to arrive as the day grew longer and the sunlight turned to the bright, unrelenting gold of the afternoon.

He didn’t want to share this moment with anyone but Rowan. So, reluctantly, he slowly pulled away, smoothing her hair back and fixing the flower still tangled in her loose waves.

“Where to next?” He murmured, dropping his hand.

She peered over his shoulder, pointing back towards the spaceship. “It looks like you can go inside the different ships! Do you wanna try?”

He nodded, taking her hand. Needing to hold onto her. “Yeah, let’s take a look.”

The inside of the ship was fascinating. He knew it wasn’t a real, functional ship, and yet it felt so real he was sure that if he looked out one of the windows he would see the earth far below him, hanging like a blue pendant in an ocean of darkness. They walked along metal walkways, their steps echoing in the silent craft, taking in the interior of the ship.

There was a miniature gym, a recreation room, sleeping quarters that looked far from comfortable, and even a small kitchen.

Rowan wrinkled her nose as she surveyed the cramped sleeping quarters, the multiple twin sized-bunk beds stacked on top of eachother like blocks.

“That doesn’t look comfortable at all,” she mused, taking a step into the world. “You can reach out and smack the person in the bed next to you.”

Gavin chuckled, stepping into the little room after her. It did feel a little claustrophobic. Although it wasn’t that much different than some of the bunks he had slept in during military training.

“I think our room is much better,” he said, hooking his arm around her waist.

“You’re right, it’s so much cozier. And our bed is bigger. And the blankets are so soft.” She sighed, leaning against him as she closed her eyes.

“What are you thinking about?” He teased, poking her side.

“I’m thinking I want to take a nap,” she said, covering her mouth to stifle a yawn. “That would be awfully nice I think.”

He nodded, resting his chin on her shoulder. Curled up under a nice soft blanket with Rowan nestled safely in his arms. He would wear one of the soft, worn t-shirts she loved best. Or maybe he wouldn’t wear any shirt at all, so she could press herself as close as she could against him, squishing her cheek against his chest to listen to his heart. Maybe he would be able to coax her out of her dress too, the warmth of her body seeping into his, filling his veins with sunlight, spreading it throughout his entire body until it felt a little like he could glow.

He would pull the softest blankets they had over them both, cocooning them away from the harsh afternoon sunlight, the piercing scream of ringtones and alerts, the overwhelming cacophony of voices that filled most streets. Keeping them safe from anything that would dare try and intrude on their peace.

He kissed her cheek absently before they moved on to another one of the rooms in the ship. Perhaps he would try requesting a nice afternoon nap tomorrow. So that he could enjoy some time tangled in her arms, with nothing to do and nowhere to be.

He was smiling to himself when they reached the cockpit of the ship, a wide, rectangular room at the very front of the ship. Whoever had designed the exhibit and the replica ship had suspended the spaceship diagonally, so while they could walk on from the ground, by the time they reached the cockpit they were staring down from the ceiling of the exhibit, the glittering false stars casting wavering rainbows of light over the floor and the seats in the room.

“It’s like we’re really in space!” Rowan sang, rushing to the front of the room, gaping at the stars. “Oh they’re so pretty, Gavin. Like miniature suns.”

He wished he could reach out and pluck them from the ceiling, like apples from a tree. He would choose the biggest one, the one that glittered the most, that cast prisms of light through the air and made Rowan’s eyes sparkle. And then he would gently set it in her hands, and he would watch as the crystal star was set alight by the brilliance of her smile.

“I wish I could just reach out and take one,” she said, turning her head to look at him. “I’d take two! So we could have matching ones!”

He brushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear. “What would we do with them?”

She wrinkled her nose, frowning at the stars. “Maybe we could hang them in our room! Oh! Or I could hang one in my office and you could hang one in yours, and then when we look at them we’ll think about each other!”

For all his military training and all his daily workouts and exercises, Gavin felt himself turn a little weak. His knees wobbling like jelly, his heart overflowing like a too-full cup, his veins spilling over with fizzing light.

Did she know when he looked up at the stars he thought of her? Did she know that when he looked at the moon and thought of all the bright, twirling moons that surrounded the planets, he was thinking of her? His Rowan, his star, his moon.

He was worried his voice would crack if he said anything, like glass shattering across the floor, so instead he leaned his head against hers, breathing in the sweet, warm smell of his favourite person.

“Are you okay?” She asked, looping her arm around his waist.

“I’ve never been better,” he murmured, nuzzling his face against the side of her head. “I’m just thinking.”

“Good things, I hope.”

“It’s always good things when I’m with you, pumpkin.”

He could picture the colour of the blush surely creeping across her face now. The soft, sweet pink of the peonies they had planted in their backyard. Although she was so much sweeter, and so much prettier than a simple flower.

“You’re such a dork,” she muttered, her voice cracking. “You say such sweet things.”

“They’re nothing I don’t mean.”

She sighed, heavy her shoulders and up down as dramatically as possible. “Alright, well that just means I get to take my revenge on you.”

He pulled back, arching a brow curiously. “Revenge?”

She dipped her chin in a curt nod as she surveyed the room quickly. “Yes, my revenge. I am going to do something so sweet you’re not going to even know what to say.”

He snorted, letting her take his hand and guide him to one of the chairs bolted down in the mock cockpit. “And what’s that?”

“I will not be revealing my secrets any time soon.”

He pouted. Or at least he tried. He’d hardly stuck out his bottom lip before she’d leaned forward, her hand on his shoulder, and pressed her lips to his.

“No pouting! No pouting on birthdays,” she sang as she pulled away, her cheeks flushed. “It’s absolutely not allowed!”

He poked his bottom lip out again, doing his best to look as despondent as he could. He even drew his shoulders together, peeking up at her from beneath his lashes. “How will you fix it?”

Rowan laughed, leaning back down to kiss him again. Gavin dropped his act immediately, threading his fingers through her hair, his other hand wrapping around her waist and drawing her into his lap.

“This definitely fixes it,” he murmured, dipping his head to press kisses to her throat. “This makes things better.”

She whined softly, her chest heaving as she struggled to keep her breathing even. “Gavin, we’re in public right now.”

“No one’s here,” he breathed, kissing the spot above where her pulse thrummed.

“There’s probably cameras.”

He groaned, dropping his head to brush his lips against her shoulder, to gently sink his teeth into the soft, delicate skin.

Rowan gasped, her fingers digging into his own shoulders for a moment before he pulled away.

“Alright,” he said, leaning back, ignoring the way he could feel himself straining against his pants. “What were you going to do for your revenge?”

She blinked, looking completely lost for a moment. And then slowly light blazed in her eyes and she crawled from his lap, fixing him with a furious glare as she took several steps away from him.

“You’re an animal.”

He tipped his head to the side. “What kind of animal do you think?”

She grumbled something under her breath, pulling her phone out.

“What was that?” He asked, arching a brow.

Rowan huffed, pretending not to hear him.

“Come on, princess, won’t you tell me?”

She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, staring at him for a long, long moment. Then she sighed, her shoulders sagging. “I said you remind me of a wolf sometimes.”

“Oh?”

She jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t even try to think of anything.”

“I mean wolves are pretty territorial and-”

“No thinking!”

He would be lying if he said he was thinking about anything other than the pink of her cheeks and how her lips were just the tiniest bit swollen and how he could make out the red around the bite on her shoulder.

“What are you doing?” He asked, straightening as she lifted her phone.

“I’m taking a picture, babey. I said I wanted to take pictures of you!”

He lifted his brow higher, but let her direct him to sit and stand in different poses around the cockpit. He couldn’t help grinning as she fixed his jacket or pointed at different chairs or told him to stare out at the crystal stars. He didn’t really know what she was planning, but from the starlight in her eyes it was clear it was making her happy, which meant it made him so very happy, too.

Finally satisfied, Rowan gave one huge nod and shoved her phone back into her purse. “Okay! I am all done.”

Gavin took her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm before twining their fingers together. “Did you have fun?”

“I always have fun with you.”

They walked from the false spaceship hand-in-hand, Gavin drawing Rowan closer against him as they passed by a large group of people trying to pile inside the exhibit.

“Looks like we checked that out at the perfect time,” he said, heading towards an exhibit that seemed to be focused on planets in their solar system. “We got our own private tour.”

“And I got some very handsome photos of you!”

Gavin’s face burned. “Will you show them to me?”

“Eventually.”

He couldn’t help laughing. Couldn’t stop himself from laughing; a huge, goofy grin tugging at his lips. It was such a simple, mundane thing, wandering around a museum with Rowan, pointing out different things, reading little placards and walls of info. Discussing some of the strange science facts that neither of them could wrap their heads around. Taking pictures while the other was turned around.

Or perhaps better yet taking what felt like a million poses as the other one instructed them on how to stand. Rowan running her fingers through Gavin’s hair, stating it wasn’t properly tousled as he stood before a spinning replica of Jupiter with its countless moons twirling around it like specks of confetti. Gavin smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress as he snapped as many pictures as he could of her in front of a glittering interactive display of stars, their light catching in her eyes and making her glow.

It was so mundane and simple. The switching between taking photographs, pointing to different exhibits, dragging the other towards something that had caught their eye. And yet it felt so special to him, so incredibly important he couldn’t put it into words. Just a feeling that bloomed in his chest like the first springtime blooms. That washed over him like a slow creeping tide, sun-warmed and gentle and all-consuming.

He couldn’t count the number of times they’d done something similar. Museums and zoos and aquariums. Tours through snowy outdoor light shows that glittered beneath frozen stars. Trailing aimlessly through the burning oranges and fiery reds of autumnal corn mazes, gasping at statues and animatronics hidden in corners to scare any visitors.

They were all special. Everything was so special with her. Every moment like it’s very own unique gem.

No, he was certain each moment was more precious than diamonds and rubies and sapphires. Maybe it was more like stars. Fiery, powerful celestial forces that filled their sky with light despite how far away they were. Offering light and guidance even beneath the heavy cloak of night. Little pinpricks of hope scattered through the sky like glitter. Pieces of light that held wishes and promises within their pale, glimmering light.

That was what each moment was with his Rowan. It was light, and it was hope, and it was the promise of happiness today and more happiness tomorrow, all bottled up in her eyes and her smile and her arms.

Gavin slipped his arms around Rowan’s waist, pressing his face against the back of her head as they stood before a relatively boring display case showing pieces of moon rock that had been plucked from the moon and sent back down to Earth.

It was utterly amazing, he couldn’t deny that. But it was also pieces of grey rock, and it was bland and forgettable when his Rowan was right here. When she was standing right here and it was so easy for him to draw her into his arms.

She rested her hands over his, stroking his wrist with her thumb. “Do you wanna get something to eat? There’s a cute little cafeteria with snacks and then we can check out the science fiction exhibit and the planetarium rooms.”

He nodded, but his arms tightened around her, his words muffled as they tangled in her hair. “In a minute.”

They stood there for a few moments, a comfortable silence washing over them as strangers filtered out from the room, on the hunt for more exciting things to look at. The room grew quiet, the sound of footsteps and murmuring voices melting away until all Gavin could hear was the quiet rush of the air conditioning and the sound of Rowan’s breaths.

He held her tight for another long, long moment before finally letting go. He struggled with words most days, but knowing that she understood, that she could feel the emotions behind the actions he could do in lieu of sweet words warmed his heart, offered him a sort of solace he hadn’t known he’d needed until he met her.

She squeezed his hand as he made to pull away, twisting in his arms so she could meet his gaze, so she could reach up and cup his cheek with her free hand.

“I love you,” she said, standing on her toes to kiss his brow. “With all my heart.”

He covered her hand with his, feeling more at peace than he ever had in his life. Feeling more happiness than he knew what to do with.

“Come on,” she said, taking both his hands and guiding him from the room, following the signs pointing towards the cafeteria. “Let’s see if they have any food in the shape of a spaceship.”

***

In perhaps the most disappointing of events, there wasn’t a single food item in the shape of a spaceship. A fact Rowan lamented bitterly as she and Gavin searched for a quiet spot to sit and eat their lunch.

“The water bottles have space ships on them,” Gavin offered, pinching her side as she briefly pouted down at the array of treats on her tray.

“It’s not the same,” she groused. “It’s a space museum you’d think they’d make something spaceship shaped.”

“The pancakes are shaped like moons,” he offered, gesturing to the stack of strawberry and chocolate chip pancakes on one corner of her tray.

“They’re round. That’s a normal pancake shape.”

“Moons are also round! And planets.”

She quirked a brow as she reached over to try and pinch him right back. “I don’t think that counts.”

Gavin batted her hand away with ease, jabbing her in the side in retaliation. Her body convulsed as he prodded at one of her ticklish spots, and she had to bite down on the inside of her cheek to stop a shriek of laughter from spilling from her lips.

“I think it does,” he murmured, a crescent moon grin arcing across his lips.

“Well how can I argue with the birthday boy,” she teased, scooting away as he arched a brow. “Whatever you say.”

He chuckled, reaching out to wrap his arm around her waist before she’d moved too far away, trying to draw her back to his side. “You’re too far away.”

“You pinched me!”

“You tried to pinch me.”

She didn’t put up a fight as he tugged her closer, her thigh bumping against his. “I only did that because you had already pinched me once.”

“You were pouting. I wanted to make you smile.”

Rowan glared at him, scrunching up her entire face even as he snorted.

“But I love your smile.”

His voice was so gentle she couldn’t hold onto her false scowl. His words were so soft, barely more than a whisper of a breath against her cheek as he leaned closer, cupping her face. They were laced with a quiet need, a want that stained his voice like the first blush of dawn in the grey of the early morning sky.

So of course she smiled, her heart warm, her body feeling a little like jelly. A little like it was melting beneath the amber of his gaze.

Colour bloomed in his cheeks, washed over his ears, reminding her of the beautiful snapdragons Gavin had given her on their last anniversary. His smile was as warm as the summer sun, his entire face softening as he looked at her.

She couldn’t help reaching up in kind, cupping his face in her palms, stroking her thumbs over his cheeks. He had shaved the day before, and yet already she could feel the scratch of stubble against the pads of her thumbs. Was he really real? Was he really here in front of her, sitting next to her, holding her like she was precious? Was he really looking at her like she was the most important thing in his world? Was he really hers?

Sometimes Rowan had trouble believing it. She hated going to sleep more than anything, terrified she would wake up and every beautiful moment would be a dream. Every precious second with him, every shared memory, would vanish like mist beneath the morning sun.

But then she would wake up and there he would be, curled up against her or holding her close as he waited for her to open her eyes. There he would be, warm and strong and utterly, completely real. And then she would feel happiness so strong it would make her eyes burn and her throat constrict and she would snuggle against him, squeezing her eyes shut against the threat of those tears.

“What are you thinking?” He murmured, drawing her back to the present, to this moment with him beside her and his face still held between her hands. He covered her hands with his, the rough callouses on his palms scraping against her skin. “Are you okay?”

She chewed on the corner of her lip, nodding furiously as she struggled to stifle the tears burning her eyes.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded again, gently pulling his face closer so she could kiss his brow. “I’m just so happy you’re here. I’m so happy you were born.”

She didn’t see his expression, not as she dropped her hands and pressed her face against his shoulder. “I love you, Gavin.”

Rowan felt herself enveloped in his arms, felt him gently pull her against his chest, tucking her beneath his chin. “I love you, too. More than anything.”

“Really?” Her voice was little more than a squeak, but she couldn’t find a reason to care. She wanted to hold him so close, wanted him to know how truly happy she was that he was real, that he was alive. That he had been born and she could hold him and love him and listen to the warm laughter that reverberated through him.

“Really. I would never lie to you, my princess.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him as tight as she could, her chest aching. She remembered wondering if she would ever feel a shred of happiness again, if her heart would ever feel warm, if she would ever feel safe. And now her heart was so filled with sunkissed joy and candy coloured delight and so much love it felt like she might shatter into stardust and iridescent light.

Gavin hummed, stroking her hair gently. “Although looking at some of the exhibits here has got me thinking.”

Rowan peeled away from her hiding place against his chest, curiosity getting the better of her. “Thinking about what?”

He brushed her hair back from her face. “I was thinking about how if I’m Jupiter, then you must be my moon.”

“Jupiter has almost a hundred moons,” she pointed out, even as heat began to crawl across her body.

He furrowed his brow for a moment, considering her words. But then he just took one of her hands and brought her palm up to his mouth, so close she felt his lips against her skin as spoke. “Then you’re all the moons, every moon. Although…” He trailed off, pressing a kiss to her hand. “I don’t think a single one of them can compare to you.”

“I dunno, did you read some of the information about the moons?” She teased, her voice wavering as he kissed her palm again. “They’re pretty important. We only have one and it’s so important. And where would we be without Sailor Moon? She’s definitely saved the world.”

Gavin’s brows shot up, his eyes squeezing shut as he burst into bright, warm laughter. It sounded like sunshine, like the wind rushing through leaves, like the way happiness felt when she woke up to a gentle kiss every morning.

He snorted, covering his face as he continued to laugh, his hair tickling her face as his forehead knocked against hers.

Rowan couldn’t help grinning, his laughter infectious. “It wasn’t that funny.”

He shook his head, his nose bumping against hers as he held her face between his palms. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Her heart was soaring on gilded wings, lifted high by the warm July winds. She was melting, turning into a Rowan shaped puddle. The only reason she hadn’t completely fallen apart yet was because Gavin was holding her tight, keeping her upright even as her body wanted to turn to jelly.

“Was that really the funniest joke you’ve heard?” She asked, her voice so quiet it turned to smoke even as she tried to tease him. She didn’t have the heart to tease him that much right now, not when she still felt a little giddy and silly from his sweet words.

Gavin was always sweet, always kind, always ready to murmur a sweet nothing into her ear at the perfect moment. But it was always when she was least expecting it, and it always threw her off, sent her reeling as her heart turned to a flurry of gossamer winged butterflies.

His laughter slowly petered off, and he breathed softly for a moment, sighing as he leaned his weight against her. “I love you.”

“And I love you,” she said, still feeling a little breathless from the delight in his laughter and his sweet words.

He pressed a kiss to her cheek before pulling away, smoothing back her hair. “We should eat, there’s still lots to see. And I’m starting to get very curious about my surprise.”

Rowan blinked, having almost completely forgotten about everything else that was happening, about all her plans that day. She looked around, realizing they were sitting in a rather cozy corner of the museum’s cafeteria, a low hum of voices floating towards them as other guests slowly filtered in to search for something to eat.

She frowned down at the food on her tray, still very much not spaceship shaped.

“Pumpkin, you need to eat. You haven’t eaten since before we left this morning,” Gavin chastised, pointing to her food.

She glared at him from the corner of her eye. “The shapes are boring.”

He didn’t bother responding before he grabbed her fork and knife and started cutting up the food on her plate. “Rowan if you don’t eat I’ll make sure you do.”

He held the fork out to her, a piece of fruit speared onto the tines. She knew he was giving her the option between feeding herself and being fed, and for a moment she considered being an absolute brat and refusing to take the fork from him. But that was something she would do in the comfort of their own home, not here, no matter how private their little corner felt. So she took the fork from his hands, earning a small smile as she took a bite.

Gavin squeezed her thigh, sounding pleased as he murmured a quiet “good girl.”

She almost smacked him, her entire body burning up as if she had been caught in a wildfire. She would have smacked him, if she were being honest, except that he grabbed her hand before she could even reel it back, smirking as a knowing light flickered in his eyes.

He brushed his lips against the pads of her fingers, his breath tickling against her skin as he spoke. “What are you thinking of?”

“Nothing,” she groused, glaring down at her food.

Snorting, Gavin released her hand. 

“What do you want to go see next?” He asked, poking at his own food now.

Rowan fished the museum map out of her bag, smoothing out the wrinkles as she examined the exhibits splashed across the indigo coloured map like splatterings of paint. But before she could find the next exhibit she wanted to go to, her phone began to buzz.

Once. Twice. Three times. The signal her and her “teammates” for the day had agreed on.

Gavin arched a brow, curiosity seeping into his mind as he set down his fork. “Is everything okay?”

Rowan nodded, passing him the map. “Yeah, everything is great! Although I think I need to run to the bathroom really quick.”

“Are you sure?” He asked, unable to keep his suspicion from threading between his words. “You haven’t had a message all day, and now-”

Her phone buzzed three times again and she stood, shaking her head. “It’s nothing. It’s just a little reminder I set for myself.”

He narrowed his eyes. Rowan wasn’t exactly the best liar, and he had already committed all of her tells to memory. There was the way she breathed a little deeper, her chest rising and falling a little slower. Her eyes stayed locked on his face, but when she was talking her eyes normally would roam all over a room, pausing on his face only briefly before flicking elsewhere and back again. And she was much stiller than normal. Usually she was twisting a bit of fabric around her fingers, or she was pulling at the straps of her top, or tucking and untucking her hair, or bouncing her foot from side-to-side, or reaching out to play with his fingers.

It was like she was holding herself very carefully, like she was making sure she was in complete control of every motion and breath she made. Like she was telling herself to be “normal” and to not act “weird.” Even though this attempt at control was what gave away her lies in the first place.

“What aren’t you telling me?” He asked, leaning forward to take her hand, stopping her escape.

He didn’t think something was wrong, not exactly, but he couldn’t stop the persistent, niggling feeling that something was off.

His mind started to race as it brewed up a million different scenarios for why she was suddenly acting strange. She was worried she was pregnant, she was sick with something she hadn’t told him about yet, she was being blackmailed to do something terrible, she was part of some secret organization that would put her in serious danger…

His mind churned for what felt like an eternity, constructing scenarios that went from potentially plausible to downright ludicrous. He had to forcibly reel his thoughts back in, reminding himself that most of those were all fantastical situations that were more at home in a fictional story than in real life.

But still he couldn’t banish the feeling that something was going on, and that she was keeping secrets from him.

Gavin opened his mouth, the beginning of his interrogation on the tip of his tongue. But Rowan leaned down, the ends of her hair tickling his face as she kissed the top of his head.

“Rowan-”

He didn’t get much further than that, his thoughts melting away like fog beneath piercing, golden sunbeams of a summer afternoon. Rowan pressed light, chaste kisses to his brow and cheeks and the tips of his ears and just behind them. Her hands lay delicately on his shoulders, little more than the pads of her fingers pressing against the fabric of his shirt.

He was certain she was teasing him, with her featherlight kisses and her whisper of a touch. He wanted to thread his fingers through her hair and wrap an arm around her waist and hold her close to him. He wanted to pull her into his lap, he wanted her to wrap her arms around his neck.

But instead all she gave him was the ghost of an embrace, a phantom of a touch. He felt haunted, lost in a shadowed maze, chasing after the spectre of light that had bloomed in her wake.

He leaned forward, wanting to kiss her back, wanting to be close to her for a moment longer, but Rowan was stepping back, beaming at him with mischief in her eyes.

“I’ll be right back, babey,” she said, her voice lilting like the opening of a love song. “Don’t miss me too much.”

And then she was gone, and his heart was aching because he did miss her already. The cafeteria felt very large and for one of the very few times in his life he felt incredibly small, poking at his food as he waited for her to return.

He could feel something scratching in the back of his head, a little like when Stella, their dog, pawed at the back of his head first thing in the morning when she wanted to go out.

But this was different, if only because Stella wasn’t actually pawing at the back of his head. It was more like there was a tiny Stella in his brain, scratching at the back of it, trying to get him to remember something he could not figure out.

He continued to poke at his food, chewing slowly as he swept his gaze across the room, searching through the growing swarm of people for his most beloved person, wondering what she would want to do once they were done eating. Maybe they could check out the science fiction exhibit next. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t particularly excited about that one. Rowan had shown him some photos that had been posted on the museum’s website, and there were interactive displays and video footage and so many cool things he wanted to check out.

He wanted to look down at a diorama of Arrakis and read all the placards explaining important scenes and moments from the books. He wanted to step through a life-sized Stargate and step into the interactive hologram exhibit beyond it. He wanted to sit in the cockpit of the accurate-to-film Millennium Falcon and listen to the audio guide explain the real science that went into its design.

But mostly he wanted to hold Rowan’s hand and imagine living in a fantastical world with her. Any universe with her in it was magical, but he sometimes liked daydreaming about flying through space with her, or travelling through time holding her hand.

He knew it was childish, but it made his heart feel warm. There was a certainty to his fantasies; the knowledge that she would want to be a part of them, that if they were in any universe she would want to be with him. And that she would not mock him for his musings, that she would hold his hand and brush his hair back from his brow and listen with her eyes wide and bright. That she wouldn’t say they were childish or silly, that she would cherish them as much as she cherished him.

Gavin was so lost in thought that he almost didn’t notice Rowan returning. She settled her hands on his shoulders, reeling him back from the hazy world of his mind and into the sharp intensity of the real world. She pressed the pads of her thumbs against the base of his neck, massaging gently as she leaned down, resting her forehead against the side of his head.

“I missed you,” she breathed, her lips hovering just behind his ear. She sighed softly, her breath tickling his skin, and he could feel the gooseflesh rising on his arms.

He wanted to draw her into his lap and press his lips to hers and kiss her breathless. It was his birthday after all, he should have a free pass to do whatever he wanted.

But he would have to wait until they returned to their cabin for the evening before he could do all the things he wanted so desperately.

For now he would settle for tilting his head back so he could catch her lips in a gentle kiss. “I missed you so much.”

Rowan beamed as she pulled away, her hair falling over her cheeks in soft curls. Her face was flushed, the soft pink of a newly blooming peony.

He should buy her some flowers. He should buy her a bouquet of sweet peonies and tulips and daisies. All in the different shades of pink that stained her face when he pressed his lips to hers.

Rowan peeled away from his embrace, sliding back into her seat only to glare down at her food. “I see it didn’t change shapes while I was in the bathroom.”

Gavin snorted, spearing a forkful of food and raising it to her mouth. “At least eat it for me. It is my birthday after all.”

Rowan rolled her eyes, but acquiesced, a small smirking dancing at the corners of her mouth. “You’re lucky it’s your birthday.”

***

Once they were done eating, Rowan let Gavin take her hand and guide them through the museum to the Science Fiction exhibit.

It was one of the last exhibits aside from the holographic planetarium rooms, and their reservation time wasn’t for a while yet. So they headed to the Science Fiction section next, passing through a doorway that made it seem like they were about to enter the bridge of the starship enterprise.

There was a light in Gavin’s eyes as they stepped into the first section, like twin stars had exploded into existence. Like there were galaxies within his eyes, millions upon millions of stars and suns glittering as he looked around the room.

Rowan wrapped her arms around his, pressing herself against his side, her heart aching. She wanted to be close, wanted to be as close to him as she possibly could, warmth radiating from him. He looked so open, so happy, a childlike joy so pure and sweet in his expression that she wanted to squish his cheeks and kiss him until he laughed.

He was happy, she was so very glad that he was happy.

Her eyes burned and she looked away, forcing herself to focus on what a robot was saying as it explained the different ways robots and androids appeared in sci-fi media. But her brain couldn’t focus, could only think about Gavin. Gavin’s eyes, Gavin’s smile, Gavin’s heart beating and spreading all his joy throughout his being.

“Pumpkin, what’s wrong?”

She blinked furiously trying to compose herself as she tipped her head up to meet his gaze. A line had formed between his brows, concern swimming within the golden depths of his eyes.

“I’m alright,” she murmured, rubbing his arm in what she hoped was a pacifying gesture.

He hummed, his lips pressing into a thin line, clearly not buying it, but after a moment his expression softened, and he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Why don’t we go take a look at some of the Star Wars stuff.”

She beamed up at him. “Lead the way.”

Gavin kissed her head once more, sending warmth and gossamer-winged butterflies streaming through her from the place his lips brushed against her skin.

The sci-fi exhibit ended up being easily the largest exhibit in the museum, with massive installations and interactive holograms and in some sections robot guides.

She was utterly in awe as they wandered through replicas of different ships featured in the Star Wars films, listening to audio overhead explain the different mechanics that would have made the ships function, and how fiction melded with science to inspire these creations. It was so realistic, like they were truly in the middle of an intergalactic space chase, like they were on their way to a fierce space battle and all they had was a rusty laser canon attached to the ship.

“I feel like im in the middle of a movie,” she murmured, squeezing Gavin’s hand as they walked around a group of ewoks brandishing spears. “Like if I look up I’ll see starfighters flying overhead.”

Gavin chuckled, lifting her hand up to press a kiss to her knuckles. “I would keep you safe. You wouldn’t have to worry about being hurt.”

She quirked her brow as they made their way towards one of the next parts of the exhibit. “Oh? Do you think you’d be a jedi?”

Gavin hummed, even as they stepped down a small ramp that led into a faux-desert that had been constructed within the building. “I think even if I was, I would leave the order.”

She frowned, ducking her head as they headed into a ‘cave,’ eerie music playing softly from speakers she couldn’t see. “Why?”

He cupped her face with one hand, stroking her cheek. “Because I would want to marry you. I could never give you up.”

Her face burned, and she tried to look away, but Gavin held her fast, his voice lilting with restrained laughter. “I’d leave the jedi in a heartbeat for you.”

She blinked, her words drying up on her tongue.

His words themselves weren’t particularly romantic, but it was the way Gavin said it, the way his voice dipped as his eyes fell to her lips, as his mouth curved up like a crescent moon, the only source of light in a starless night. It was the way he leaned closer, his breath tangling with hers. How she could feel his lips brushing against her skin as he spoke.

She swallowed, her mouth dry as a desert, her gaze falling to his mouth, to the smirk playing on his lips. He was far too confident, and far too pleased with himself. He’d been teasing her all day and he hadn’t let up for a second.

She tried to scowl, although there was no true intensity behind it, and Gavin just ended up snorting with laughter, his smirk becoming a bright smile.

“You know I remember when you used to be too shy to hold my hand,” she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at the ceiling.

Gavin tsked, leaning down to flick her nose, startling the scowl from her face. “But you like when I hold your hand.”

“I-”

He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head up towards him. He was grinning, a stupid little self satisfied smirk that made her heart stumble and her face burn, like a match had been struck beneath her skin. She couldn’t find her words, they were lost and stumbling in an endless wood and she couldn’t seem to catch them. And all his grin did was grow wider as she stared at him wordlessly.

He leaned closer, mischief sparking in his eyes. “And you like when I tell you I love you.”

She didn’t know if she could move even if she wanted to, and she was so mesmerized by the dark lashes framing his golden eyes and the warmth of his skin so close to her and the way he began to stroke her jaw with his thumb.

She didn’t want to move, she just wanted to melt into his arms and be held very close and listen to the sound of his heart beating.

She forgot, too, that she should have been moderately annoyed at him for teasing her yet again. But all thoughts had vanished from her mind the moment he’d stepped a little closer, her world contracting until it was only him, all him. Perhaps she didn’t mind, so long as he would continue to look at her like she was the moon and stars. Like she was his everything.

He brushed the most painfully chaste kiss against the corner of her lips, his lashes fluttering against her skin as he closed his eyes. Rowan could feel the beat of her pulse beneath her skin, could hear the rush of blood in her ears. Perhaps she was already melting, perhaps she would need to be carried from the museum in Gavin’s arms.

But of course he pulled away all too soon, his grin nothing short of smug as she blinked up at him, as she shivered in the absence of his warmth.

It occurred to her then, as her senses slowly returned, that they were absolutely being one of those annoying couples people complained about in public. The couple that stood in line for roller coasters cuddling even when it was over 30 degrees, with their hands locked together so tightly you were convinced they were fused together. The couple that was almost certainly found in the corner of the library making out when it was supposed to be a prime study spot.

But it was also Gavin’s birthday, and he wasn’t one to care much about other people’s opinions anyways. And she wasn’t about to stop him when he was pressing kisses to her face.

Gavin took her hand again, drawing her deeper into the ‘cave,’ lights flashing as holographic info boards bloomed into view, explaining the science that went into the writing and creation of the planet Arrakis. The caves, the spice, how the journey would affect the protagonist.

Rowan would be lying if she said most of it didn’t go in one ear and out the other, like water spilling through open hands. She’d watched many a sci-fi film with Gavin, loving the brightness of his eyes and how excited he always got when he watched a trailer for a new movie, even if he did his best to act calm. And she loved watching them with him, loved sitting curled up beside him or sharing a bag of popcorn with him in a darkened theatre.

But she would be lying if she said she understood a word of what the exhibit was saying, or if she even understood half of what happened in Dune. She just knew Gavin enjoyed it, so she did too.

The desert planet exhibit slowly morphed as they continued walking, the walls of the false cave they walked in turning blue and translucent, the decorative stalactites hanging from the ceiling becoming white, seeming to drip icy water onto their heads as they passed. Fog began billowing around their ankles, and Rowan shivered, pressing closer to Gavin.

“They really went all out trying to make this realistic,” she murmured, her gaze tracing over the ‘icy’ stalactites. Gooseflesh raced across her body and she wiggled closer, trying to leach Gavin’s warmth.

He chuckled, slinging his arm around her shoulder and drawing her against his chest. He rubbed his hand up and down her arm, resting his cheek against the top of her head as they walked. It felt like they were experiencing an information overload, little passages branching off from the main ‘cave’ that changed depending on what show or movie they were inspired by.

They walked through the passage inspired by Hoth from Star Wars first, and Rowan nearly leapt out of her skin when they turned a corner and found themselves face-to-face with the monster that had attacked Luke in the first movie.

It must have been an animatronic because it shuffled towards them, lifting it’s big hairy arms and screeching as it came near them.

Gavin knew it was fake and wouldn’t hurt them, and yet he couldn’t help tightening his arms around Rowan as she stared up at the animatronic beast with wide eyes. It was frighteningly realistic.

Or rather, as realistic as something could be that was based on a movie from the eighties.

He rubbed Rowan’s arm as he gently propelled them both around the screaming animatronic and into the next part of the exhibit.

“Scared?” He asked, unable to keep the laughter out of his voice. He was definitely starting to push his luck with Rowan, but he couldn’t help teasing her just a little more. He loved the shade of pink that stained her cheeks, loved the way she screwed her face up into a little pout.

And it was his birthday, so he was sure it was allowed.

Rowan turned her face away from him, huffing quietly, and he craned his neck to see the way her bottom lip stuck up and her nose crinkled as she did indeed pout.

He was going to kiss her so much when they got back to their cabin. He was going to kiss every little part of her, he was going to sink his teeth into that bottom lip and hold her hips against him so she knew just how much he enjoyed it.

“It’s just an animatronic,” she grumbled, her nostrils flaring. But barely a second passed before she let out a shrill screech, as another beast emerged from a shadowed alcove that they hadn’t seen.

Gavin couldn’t hold in his laughter as she leapt in his arms. Her entire body was shivering, her fingers practically claws against his forearm.

He kissed the top of her head, holding her tighter, silently thanking whoever had designed this exhibit.

“I’ll keep you safe,” he breathed, and this time she did not have a retort, letting him guide them through the cavern and back out into the light.

They wandered through the rest of the exhibit, stepping through a replica Stargate, a hologram whirring, speakers singing as they stepped into the space beyond it. They took turns sitting in the cockpits of different fictional ships, Rowan striking such goofy poses Gavin had no choice but to fill his camera roll with photos of her brilliant, beaming face.

The fictional weapons and droids section was the last part of the sci-fi exhibit, the entrance to the final room surrounded by flashing lights and the buzz of clashing lightsabers.

Visuals of famous fictional sharpshooters like Han Solo covered the first wall they came across, their preferred blasters suspended in the air before them, flashing lights simulating blaster fire drawing the eye.

Rowan blinked as she stared up at one of the murals, the pallid blue lights shooting bursts of starlight flashing across her vision. Even as Gavin guided her away, one hand on her lower back, still she could see the flurry of stars in her periphery, practically blinding her as she stumbled through the exhibit.

There were lightsabers and futuristic swords next, with little info cards that glowed the same colour as the sabers they hovered beside. Rowan leaned forward, humming as she read one of the placards on a saber with a black blade that looked more like a sword than anything else she’d seen in the movies.

“Babey,” she said, pulling on his hand and pointing to the display in front of her. “What’s this one? Is this from Star Wars?”

He propped his chin on her shoulder, his hair tickling her ear. “It is. I think it’s just in the cartoons, though.” He pressed his cheek against hers, the low rumble of his hum vibrating through her, warming her heart, making her legs feel a little like jelly. “Although I think I’ve seen it in one of the live action shows.”

“Do you think we could watch some of those shows when we get home?” She asked, leaning her head against his in kind. She could feel the way his brows lifted high, his mouth quirking to the side.

“You want to watch them with me?”

“Of course I do,” she murmured, slipping her arm around his waist. “I want to share the things that you love.”

She didn’t have to look at him to know he was blushing, she could feel the warmth creeping into his cheeks, could feel the quickening of the beat of his heart. She even felt the whisper of his lashes against her face as he struggled to calm himself, quietly reeling from her words.

Maybe he hadn’t changed that much, maybe he was still the same man who had once bashfully rubbed at the back of his neck and muttered a quiet retort when she’d told him she liked the cologne he was wearing. Maybe he was still the sweet, shy man whose face had turned the red of a sky blanketing a wildfire when she’d kissed his cheek.

“I love sharing with you,” he finally responded, tilting his head to the side to brush his lips against the corner of her mouth.

Now it was Rowan’s turn to burn up, and she squeezed her eyes shut so she didn’t have to see the smug look that was most definitely glowing in his eyes.

She just wanted to make him happy, wanted to see the bright, innocent joy that bloomed in his face like midnight stars. It was light and warmth, and it was precious, beloved.

He was precious, beloved. 

And there was nothing she loved more than watching the light swell in his eyes, watching as his expression grew brighter, as some invisible slipped from his shoulders little by little each day.

They wandered through the rest of the exhibit, murmuring to each other as they pointed out different weapons and robots. Rowan mused about whether either of them could wield the swords and lasers and guns that were propped up in the room around them and that dangled ominously from the ceiling on wires she could not see. She stepped up next to one of the interactive displays to wrap her hands around the handle of a particularly massive space gun, pulling the trigger so the barrel lit up in emerald and ultramarine.

“I wish they had weapons from some magical girl shows,” she lamented, stepping away as a swarm of children raced around her feet, shouting about how they wanted to try out the gun.

“There’s lots in space, you know,” she continued, taking Gavin’s hand as they continued on. “There’s Sailor Moon, and there’s She-Ra, and there’s-”

“You mean like that?” He asked, pointing to an array of sparkling, life-sized versions of the different scepters and wands and pens and swords and literal actual guns that had appeared in some of the magical cartoons she loved.

Rowan squealed, dragging a laughing Gavin behind her so she could peruse the different wands, picking up an interactive one that sang and sparkled as it moved.

“Look at it!” She sang, getting to enjoy some childlike joy of her own as she waved it around. “It’s just like in the shows! I wonder if it can…” She trailed off, fiddling with the handle, only for light to pulse from the wand and the little alcove the wand was displayed in began to glow and sparkle, pink and red and purple and yellow and blue all bleeding together into a cacophony of light.

She didn’t notice Gavin taking her photo, or the delighted smile that was dancing on his lips. She was too focused on the wand, on the staff next to it that exploded into light when lifted it, and then on the spinning tiaras next, and the demo one she could pick up and fling around and around.

He could feel fatigue beginning to creep into the edges of his mind, an added weight like some of his bones had been encased in lead. But he couldn’t bring himself to speak up, to let her know he was becoming tired.

His heart felt so warm, his chest like there were stars being born there, galaxies and galaxies of them, bright and warm and life-sustaining. The day had been about him, he knew, about indulging in some of the childishness he was finally allowed to experience. But seeing his Rowan wander around the exhibit with the colourful, sparkly magical weapons made him all the happier. Now he got to see her bright smiles, got to see the shining wonder in her eyes that he had been carrying in his heart for most of the day.

He didn’t care that she dragged him from the exhibit and into a tiny one they hadn’t noticed at first, the walls painted in different shades of pink with sparkles and sunshine yellow whorls decorating the walls.

Rowan yanked him around the room, the magical girl exhibit quiet, the other guests no doubt preoccupied with the spaceships and stargates and screaming blasters and droids. There were more magical weapons, and sculptures and replicas of spaceships and outfits from the different shows. A shimmering info board was suspended from the ceiling, lights flashing around them like trails of glitter guiding them through the information about the shows, the costumes, the characters.

He captured a few more photos of Rowan as she ran around, squealing and waving her hands in front of every case, leaning her whole body into every diorama like she was trying to become a part of the action. Gavin would keep these photos forever, cherishing that smile, that pure, unfettered joy.

She was spun sugar and sweet teas and pink frosting. She was candied flowers and strawberry ice cream and syrupy honey. His teeth ached from her smile, her laugh. She was a confectionary of warmth and sweetness and everything he loved.

Gavin resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her and bury his face in her hair. He didn’t want to break the enchantment that glittered in her wake as she pointed at all the different things, as she mimicked the poses of some figurines, as she explained to him her favourite storylines, as she critiqued some of the information, citing that some of it read as if the people writing it didn’t care about the story at all.

“It’s so clinical,” she grumbled, frowning down at a little diorama of the Sailor Moon-verse, the different planets surrounded by halos of light as information about each planet and the sailor that protected them scrolled across the top of the glass over the diorama.

She pointed to Venus, wrapped in an aura of orange and yellow light. “It doesn’t even mention the interesting history of Sailor Venus! There was like a whole chapter at the end of the Sailor V comic about her and her reincarnated lover!”

Rowan pouted, the glow of the display gilding her face. She could have been art from a museum, her eyes bright as stars, her smile golden from the light, the line of her jaw traced in gold, then scarlet, then azure, then the snowy white of a first snow. Her hands perfectly posed above the glass, fingertips hovering over the words scrolling across the top as it explained the history of the moon kingdom, now. Her hair fell into her face, curling against her cheeks, alight like a flame had been set beneath the waves, casting it in bronze and auburn and the brown of soil that had been freshly tilled.

She would be named something like joy. Or delight. Or perhaps creation, her body leaning over the diorama of planets and moons like a goddess peering over the cosmos she had brought to life.

He took another picture, before she noticed. She was mesmerized by the display, and he was mesmerized by her. By his Rowan, who was his joy, his delight. She made his heart warm, made him feel like he was brimming with universes and cosmos and so stars.

She looked up then, and he slid his phone back into his pocket, although the effort was pointless as she scanned the room, her brow furrowing as she considered something.

“I’m sorry,” she said at last, stepping away from the lit up display. He could see her teeth worrying her bottom lip, took note of the hunch of her shoulders as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Today is supposed to be about you, and I’ve spent the last little bit running around this exhibit when there’s other things you’d rather do.”

When he ached to hold her this time, he did not resist. Instead he reached for her hand, taking it in his and pressing it to his heart.

“The only thing I want to do is spend time with you,” he said, holding her gaze. “And I want to see your smile.”

She hesitated, her eyes slipping to the floor, to the carpet embroidered with pink and purple symbols from all the different shows and comics featured within the magical girl exhibit.

He pressed his index and middle fingers beneath her chin, tipping it back up so he could find her eyes. “If I get nothing else for my birthday, I’d like to see your smile for a little longer, today. And share the things you love too.”

The blush that crept over her cheeks reminded him of the sky as the sun began to set, soft pink staining the cerulean first, following by a rosy red that turned to fire as the sun set the horizon ablaze.

“Will you tell me more about what was missing in that display?” He asked, jerking his chin at the lit up diorama of the planets. “I’m not familiar with Sailor V, I don’t think it was in the comics you showed me.”

Her previous embarrassment washed away as her eyes widened. And there, curving over her lips like a crescent moon, was her smile once again.

“Did I not show you the Sailor V comics?” She mused, her eyes flicking up, to the side, back to him as she thought. “I don’t know if I brought them with me. I was preoccupied with some other things…” She trailed off, chewing on her bottom lip.

“Well once we get home,” he suggested. “Will you show me? Are there any episodes about it?”

She deflated a little, shaking her head. “No, but I wish there were. I don’t even think there’s any episodes about it in the reboot.”

She hummed, looking back at the display. Gavin’s hand fell from her chin, and he scratched at the back of his neck. “Will you explain it to me, though?”

Again that brilliant light in her eyes, replacing the sheepish look she’d had before. “Yes! But…” Again she trailed off, her gaze sweeping through the room, fixing on something to his left. He was pretty sure he heard the jingle of a bell and a 

Gavin turned to look, his own gaze falling on a light up tunnel with flashing pink lights. He could see the inside of the tunnel was pink, and he was pretty sure there was an extensive dessert menu hanging on either side of the hall. There was music playing too, so faint he couldn’t quite make out the tune.

“Can we go down there? While we talk?” She asked, pointing to the lit up hall. “I think I know what show it’s going to be about, but I want to be sure.”

He squeezed the hand he still held as he gave his assent. Of course they could, of course he would walk with her. He would go anywhere with her, so long as she was happy. So long as he could be by her side.

***

Perhaps Rowan should have felt a little bad, for the time she’d spent dragging Gavin through the comparatively tiny magical girl section of the museum. She didn’t even remember reading it on the map, although she supposed the section labelled MG would have stood for magical girl, the corner of the museum dedicated to the exhibit so much smaller than the others even on the map that it couldn’t fit the full exhibit name on the map.

But she didn’t feel bad, not even a little. She had, at first, but Gavin had squashed that feeling like a spider beneath his shoe.

Which was, in fact, something he did have to do quite often because there was no way she was squishing a spider. No way she was feeling the crack and squish of its exoskeleton so close to her skin.

Gavin had been kind, had been so sweet, his words giving her courage, and she had brimmed with relief for a few moments before it had been eclipsed by her excitement. There had been so many colours and so many things she loved, altogether in one bright maze of an exhibit. It had been quiet, too, most of the other guests preoccupied with the massive spaceships and dense texts that populated the rest of the museum.

But she had been so excited, and Gavin had held her hand, asking questions as they wandered through, making her heart sing every time he chimed in, every time he asked a question or made a remark or asked to watch the shows with her. It had been bubbling, brilliant joy, like sparkling pink rosé in her veins.

By the time they finished in the magical girl section it was almost time for their turn in one of the little planetarium rooms. So Gavin had squeezed her hand, drawing them back through the museum and the bustling crowd towards the domed planetarium that sat in the very centre of the museum.

They stood in line for a while, and Rowan leaned against Gavin, feeling fatigue beginning to set in. Her legs felt heavy, her feet aching from walking for so long. She winced as she tried readjusting her stance, the backs of her shoes pinching her heels.

She’d have blisters by the end of the day, and they hadn’t brought any blister bandages with them. She’d have to buy some later or suffer through more pain when they went out again.

Or, of course, Gavin could carry her. Which she wouldn’t be opposed to in the least. And she doubted he’d need much of a reason either. Then she could rest her head in the crook of his neck and listen to the beat of his heart.

There were, of course, issues with that plan, but she chose to ignore them for now. At the very least he could carry her around their yurt and the little bit of private space around it.

“Is this the last stop for us?” He asked, unfolding their map, his eyes scanning over the different exhibits highlighted on the side.

“I think so,” she said, the sound of a child’s laugh ringing through the echo-y hallway they were waiting in.

She smiled a little, her mind wandering as she imagined a tiny hand in her own. Or perhaps a tiny person perched on Gavin’s shoulders, cooing at the spaceships and the figures and the lights.

“What are you thinking of?” He asked, his voice reeling her from her daydream.

Her cheeks heated and she looked away, focusing on the queue, on how much longer they’d need to wait. She could see someone coming down the line, checking reservation times.

Rowan felt a pinch at her hip and spun around, gaping at Gavin.

“Tell me what you were thinking,” he insisted, a sly smile on his lips. “I want to know.”

“You’re awfully nosey today.”

He chuckled, his hand hovering over her waist, like he might pinch her again.

“I was just thinking about how much longer we have to wait,” she sniffed, crossing her arms. “We’ve both been really looking forward to this part.”

He arched a brow, his eyes glittering with mischief, as if he didn’t believe her. But he didn’t pry. He just pinched her again, smirking.

“When you’re ready to tell me, let me know.”

She narrowed her eyes, wondering why he was being so weirdly cryptic. What did he think she was thinking about? Why did he think it was something she wasn’t ready to tell him yet?

But she didn’t have time to mull over his response any longer as a staff member walked up to them, a small tablet in her hand.

“Party name?” She asked, typing in their information.

Her face brightened as their information popped up on her screen, and she beamed. “Mr and Mrs Bai?”

Gavin squeezed Rowan’s hand, looking smug. They hadn’t been married for so long that the sound of their shared name had lost its enchantment. It seemed like quite the opposite had happened, Gavin seeming more and more delighted every time he heard it.

“We’ve got planetarium room J reserved for you two,” she said, gesturing for them to follow. “It’s just around the corner here.”

She took the around a curve in the hall, pausing before a silver door that reminded Rowan of something she’d see on a spaceship.

“Here are your pamphlets,” the lady said, handing them each a rather hefty pamphlet. “It includes information on how to work the planetarium projections and holograms, and it has some basic information on the planets and galaxies we know of.”

The silver door opened with a soft whoosh, ice-touched fog rolling out to wrap around their ankles.

“Don’t worry about that,” the woman explained. “That’s just for theatrics. A bit of dry ice and fog adds a bit of drama!” She waved at them to enter. “You two have fun!”

They stepped into the room, a slight chill wrapping around them as the door whooshed shut and they were left to stand in the fog.

Pallid blue light shone down from the ceiling, bathing the small room in an eerie glow. It was circular, around the size of their living room, with what looked like steel counters curving around the circumference of the room.

Rowan wandered towards the counters, finding dials and buttons and gauges flashing ivory. She hummed, flipping through the pamphlet the woman had given her, trying to figure out how it all worked.

Gavin came up behind her, hooking his arm around her waist and peeking over her shoulder. “This looks like some of the stuff at the STF.”

“Do you think you can get it working then?” She asked, squinting as she tried to make out the instructions in the weak light. “This makes no sense to me, I-”

She didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence as Gavin leaned over her, his fingers dancing over the controls. He flicked a switched and pressed a few different buttons and sketched something she couldn’t understand over a little control pad, and suddenly the light was brightening, turning to a soft golden glow. She could hear humming around her, the whir of fans and engines and tech coming to life.

And then as if standing in the centre of the universe as the big bang came to be, galaxies exploded around her.

Rowan gasped, clapping her hands together as she took in the holographic universe swirling around her. Planets hovered in midair like dangling ornaments, stars blinked into existence and meteors twirled like snowflakes in a storm.

“What do you want to look at first?” He asked, drawing her towards the centre of the room, to where galaxies spun and danced like tissue paper on the wind.

She reached out her hand, the pad of her index finger brushing over the space where the milky galaxy hovered. There was a flash, and then it was expanding, their home galaxy blooming into existence around them. She watched as earth and mars and venus and saturn spun around their sun, whirling in time to different dances that the others could not follow.

“Look,” she sang, careful not to touch anything as she stepped through the glow of the hologram and stood before one of the planets. “It’s jupiter!”

Gavin chuckled. “And all its moons.”

Rowan gaped at the moons, her finger hovering over the closest one.

The hologram of jupiter grew larger, the moons orbiting around Rowan and Gavin now as well as the projected planet.

“Cyllene, or, Jupiter XLVIII-”

Rowan jumped at the sound of the cool robotic voice that filled the room, echoing against the metal walls.

“Is it telling us facts about it?” She asked, furrowing her brow as the voice grew quiet, the moon she’d touched spinning before her eyes.

The sound of paper crinkling drew her attention, and she looked over to see Gavin flipping through the pages of the pamphlet, a line between his brows. “It looks like we can activate the voiceover vocally, or if we select certain planets it will trigger automatically.”

“I’m gonna try another one,” Rowan reached out, sliding her finger over the moon beside her, and the hologram shifted as the new moon replaced the one the robot had called Cyllene.

The room chimed, followed by the cool robotic voice from before.

“Chaldene, or, Jupiter XXI, named after Chaldene the mother of-”

Rowan gaped, tipping her head back as if she could find the face of the voice that echoed through the chamber.

Gavin watched her spin in a circle, her arms lifted over her head, as if she were trying to feel the shooting stars that tumbled past.

“It feels kind of cool,” she said, dropping her arms as she again focused on the planet and moons before her. “Like I’m walking through a light rain, maybe?”

Gavin shifted, holding his arms out next. There was the chill of the fog creeping around their feet, but more than that there was a subtle coolness that wrapped around him, gooseflesh pricking his bared skin. If one of the shooting stars or moons or planets brushed against him he shivered, like a drop of frozen rain had slid down his back.

“I think you’re right,” he said at last, dropping his arms too. “Although if you’re cold, I can do my best to warm you up.”

Even in the wan light of the hologram he could see the colour creeping into her cheeks, disappearing beneath the curtain of her hair that veiled her face as she tipped her head forward.

He could have teased her more if he wanted to, but found himself too enchanted by her as she continued to select the different moons, listening to the computer list off different facts about them. She pinched her fingers and spread them wide when she wanted to zoom in further on the surface of some of the moons, although she wasn’t always successful, the holographic recreations fuzzy and lacking any specific details of the satellites’ surfaces.

He felt like maybe he had been put under a spell, a charm crafted of starlight and moon dust and freezing ocean water only found beneath Europa’s silicate-and-ice. Because how else could he explain how he could not focus on the hologram in the room at all, could not focus on the stars that bloomed to life and exploded into darkness around him when all he could focus on was Rowan.

She was still preoccupied with the moons, asking the room more information about them, about the potential for the ocean hidden beneath the frozen crust of Europa. The room responded in kind, sending the galaxy whirling around them as it brought another moon to the forefront. Ganymede, this time.

Gavin knew all of this information, of course. Once he’d become interested in space and in their universe he’d gotten lost down a rabbit hole of articles and books about the different planets and galaxies, and he kept up to date on every new discovery.

So he knew that there were moons that could be hiding life beneath their frozen surfaces, that there were interstellar oceans that they didn’t fully comprehend.

But watching Rowan, her eyes wide and filled with the light of the stars sailing past, he felt that wonder anew, magic and awe sparking in his heart like embers to kindling. She was gaping, the galaxy reflecting in her eyes, and he felt like he was seeing the universe for the first time. Like he was taking in the stars and the planets and the moons with new eyes.

Perhaps he was; experiencing it all now with his wife beside him. She seemed to be the axis his new universe spun around, a brilliant star that gave him warmth and life. He’d joked about being Jupiter and her his most precious moon, but truly she was the warm, beautiful planet, and he was nothing more than a satellite caught in her orbit.

She took his hand, startling him from his thoughts. “It’s your birthday, what do you want to look at next?”

How did he tell her that he would be satisfied looking at her? That she was the most precious thing in the universe, that no mysterious ocean or hurtling asteroid or cannibal galaxy could be as awe-inspiring as her? As precious as her?

He would tell her, he decided. He would just tell her later, once they’d gone back to their circular cabin and he’d pressed her against the bed and kissed her until her face was burning bright as a red star.

But for now he just squeezed her hand, their fingers tangling together as he suggested experimenting with the different modes the hologram had. Why not watch the galaxy bloom to life, shifting and melding and expanding over time?

She nodded her assent, trailing behind him as he flicked a few buttons to activate the time-lapse mode. Again the sound of whirring machines filled the room, and the temperature seemed to drop, the fog spilling from vents around their shoulders now. Within moments they were standing in a sea of drifting fog, their legs swallowed up by the pallid mist.

“It makes it feel kind of spooky,” Rowan admitted, pressing closer to Gavin.

She knew the fog was meant to elevate the atmosphere in the room, to enhance the experience itself of being in a private planetarium room, but it just made her skin crawl. It reminded her of the haunted house she’d tried to go through a few years ago. She’d had the chills while waiting in line, and they had only gotten worse as she’d stepped past the curtain and into the shadowed maze of the haunted house.

She’d been shaking so hard by the time she’d gotten to the first jump scare that she’d cried when the actor had leapt from their hiding place.

Gavin had been with her then, and he’d drawn her close, searching for the nearest exit. Afterwards he’d bought her pumpkin doughnuts and a hot chocolate from a food truck near the haunted house before taking her home and holding her tight on their shared couch.

Gavin’s voice was warm, drawing the fear from her heart like poison from a wound just like he had back then. He still held her hand now, his thumb tracing over her knuckles.

“Look,” he murmured, pointing with his free hand at a collection of stars. “The birth of stars.”

She followed his gaze, but she felt herself drawn back to him, the exploding stars gilding his face with their light. There was a comfort in being next to him, a warmth that washed over her and banished the chill that had descended.

He looked like a star himself, bathed as he was in the light of the growing universe. Planets twirled on invisible axes, asteroids hurtled past, stars bloomed to life and exploded into darkness in the blink of an eye. Galaxies collided, planets were vaporized, and the vastness of the universe around them expanded, entire worlds growing smaller as everything else stretched past any hope of comprehension.

But Gavin was the one constant in the chaos of the universe. Only he remained the same, warm and steady and kind, his hand like a tether that kept her from twirling away in the wake of the ever-changing tide that swept through space and time.

His eyes were bright, his smile kissed by starlight. He must have turned the volume down on the room’s voice, because it was little more than a hushed whisper, like the rustling of leaves in an autumn wind. Gavin spoke over it, explaining to Rowan the different planets, the different stars they watched wink in and out of existence. He pointed to a black hole, started telling her about the theories surrounding them as it swallowed galaxies whole.

She shuddered, pressing closer still. It was a little terrifying to think that such things were out there, ready to consume everything she held dear and tear it to shreds.

Gavin continued, too caught up now in the holograms around them to notice her discomfort. He grew more and more animated as he spoke, the amber of his eyes shining like molten gold, like flickering fire.

He looked so happy, utterly enchanted by the stars. And Rowan felt like she was enchanted in kind, although the spell cast upon her was because of the man before her, rather than the terrifying unknown of the universe.

There was joy in the way he moved his free hand, the way his words lilted as he spoke, the way the corners of his eyes crinkled as something flashed before their eyes. It was pure, undiluted, almost child-like, and her heart ached as she listened to him, as she watched splotches of pink appear on his cheeks.

He was happy, excited, to be here, to be sharing this with her.

Tears pricked at her eyes, but she blinked them away. Today was Gavin’s birthday, and she would not let him see her cry. But she would cry later, burning tears of joy streaking her cheeks when they turned in for the night and she buried her face against his chest. When the happiness and love staining her own heart were finally too much to bear, and it was safe to let them spill, knowing she would not confuse Gavin or upset him to see her cry.

She loved him so much, he was so precious to her. Her husband, this most wonderful man beside her, her most precious star.

***

Rowan squinted when they stepped from the planetarium room, the lights of the corridor so much brighter than the pallor of the dark room and the holograms.

The chill from the fog still lingered, buried in her bones as it was. She tugged at Gavin’s arm, pouting as he chuckled before wrapping his arm around her shoulder, drawing her close to his chest as they made their way to the exit.

They had one more stop before they were done at the museum, before Rowan could put the rest of her plan into motion.

She couldn’t help grinning, although she tried to play it off as excitement as they walked beneath the sign for the gift shop. Before them was a sprawling room with shelves stuffed nearly to bursting with toys and books and figurines. It felt a little like stepping into another of the exhibits, so many things to look at Rowan didn’t know where to start.

Her heart thundered in her chest, but she forced herself to take a very deep breath, redirecting her focus to the shelves on the far end of the shop, stacked high with colourful boxes.

“I think those are lego sets,” she said, dragging Gavin through the shop, their footsteps muffled on the moon-and-planet carpet. She wondered, vaguely, if the carpet had been stolen from a bowling alley. It certainly looked like it belonged in one.

There was still pink on Gavin’s cheeks, and they stood before the exclusive lego sets, trying to decide on which spaceships they wanted to build. Rowan furrowed her brow, trying to remember which ones he already owned, which ones she’d helped him build already.

She was pretty sure he had just about every Star Wars set, although there was a brand new one that had released not too long ago.

She chewed on her bottom lip, trying to remember. She liked to keep up on lego releases so she could be prepared with gifts for Gavin when he returned home from long missions, or for holidays and birthdays, or honestly when she just felt like treating him. It was probably the easiest gift to give him, his face always lighting up like a kid at christmas when he unwrapped a new set.

Once they had settled on a few sets Rowan wandered over to the plushie display, smiling at the embroidered grins and rosy cheeks of the plush planets and suns and moons. She couldn’t help it, she had to get at least one. Or maybe two.

One for her and one for Gavin.

She felt his breath against her ear as he settled his chin on her shoulder. “I think the planet ones are the best.”

She arched a brow, pointing to the plush Jupiter. “I suppose we have to get that one for the birthday boy.”

He chuckled as she gathered the plush into her arms. “Of course.”

“But he needs a friend,” she murmured, her hand grazing over the different plushies.

Gavin reached forward, tapping his finger on a smiling moon. “Why not this one?”

She snorted, but collected one of the plush moons, nestling it in the crook of her arm next to the Jupiter.

“Now they’ll be best friends,” she announced, beaming at him as he straightened.

Gavin cupped her cheek with his free hand. “Maybe more than friends?”

“Maybe.”

They wandered through the rest of the shop, collecting a few other odds and ends before heading to the cash. Rowan had been preparing for this day for months, had planned out exactly what she would do when they got up to the register with their hoard.

So she was ready with her card in hand, slapping it against the screen of the card reader before the cashier had even finished reading their total.

Gavin’s eyes widened, his wallet in his hand. “You didn’t have to-”

Rowan beamed at him as the card reader beeped, the transaction completed. “You can carry the bags.”

Gavin slid his wallet back into his pocket, blinking at her as he took the bags from the cashier. “Rowan, you know I-”

She took his free hand, pressing a kiss to his palm. “Happy birthday, babey.”

Gavin stumbled behind her for a moment, dazed. He usually liked being the one to pay for things when they went out, liked taking care of her, even if it was just buying little treats and knick knacks.

He felt a little like there were wings in his belly, delicate butterfly wings made of gossamer and sunshine. They were fluttering furiously, and he couldn’t help but feel a little like a boy again, like his crush had smiled at him and leant him her pencil.

He swallowed, his cheeks heating. He would have to thank her later, would have to show her exactly how thankful he was for her gift.

Rowan groaned as they made their way into the parking lot, running a hand through her hair. “It’s so hot, I forgot how warm it was supposed to be today.”

Gavin squeezed her hand, scanning the parking lot. “Let’s get to the car and we can get the air conditioning going for you.”

It took him a moment longer to spot their car than he had anticipated. He’d thought they’d parked quite close to the entrance, barely more than a few moments walk. But the car was quite a few rows back, and he could feel sweat coating his skin like a film by the time he unlocked the passenger side door for her.

Rowan slid inside, and Gavin moved to the door to the backseat to toss their bags inside. But he found himself pausing, his eyes narrowing.

The backseat was virtually empty, nothing but a simple pink blanket spread out over the seat. But hadn’t it been full that morning when they’d left?

He distinctly remembered something in the backseat he hadn’t been allowed to look at. Except now it was gone.

Gavin set the bags in the back before going around the side and settling into the driver's seat, turning the key in the ignition.

“Rowan,” he said, turning to her as the air conditioning blasted frosty air into the car.

“Hmmm?” She looked over at him, her face red from the sun.

“Don’t you remember us parking closer?”

She furrowed her brow, turning around to lean forward, peering up at the museum. “I don’t think so?”

“It feels like it took longer to get back to the car.”

She quirked her mouth to the side, leaning back. “Maybe it’s just from the heat? I feel like when it gets hot out everything feels like it takes longer.”

He hummed, supposing she had a point. But how did that explain the empty backseat?

Gavin opened his mouth, but closed it again as Rowan watched him curiously. She didn’t seem to have any idea what he was talking about, and it was entirely possible he was remembering wrong. He had been a little preoccupied with her and with his excitement at coming to this museum.

Shrugging, Gavin shifted the car into drive, slowly pulling out from their parking spot and heading towards the lot exit.

“Why don’t we do a little driving around,” Rowan offered, as the main road came into view.

He arched a brow. “Where to?”

“I don’t know, I just…” She trailed off, her eyes flicking down to her hands, her fingers hooking around the chain of her bracelet. “I don’t want today to end yet.”

He flicked the turn signal on, leaning his head back as he watched the cars racing past him. Something seemed off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“There’s a little town nearby. We could head over there and wander around a bit.”

He could admit that it was a bit odd that Rowan would want to wander around in the late July afternoon, the heat beating down on them as it was.

But he brushed his suspicions off, not caring if it was slightly strange that his wife wanted to walk around. It was his birthday, and she was partial to cute little towns with little shops and parks to wander through. And it was a perfectly good excuse to hold her hand for a little longer.

He merged onto the road at last, heading towards the town that the museum was located on the outskirts of. It was busier now than it had been that morning, the roads growing busier the closer they got to town. Rowan chattered aimlessly, her fingers brushing against his arm as she told him about something she had read, as she asked him did he think there would be any ice cream shops, it was the perfect day for ice cream.

He followed the signs that directed him towards an ‘olde towne,’ which he assumed was something like the downtown. That would surely be the place Rowan would like best, and there would be plenty of shopping and places to wander hand-in-hand.

“Oh babey, look! A little bookstore!”

Gavin took that as his cue to find a parking spot, quickly pulling into a little lot behind a collection of shops.

Rowan scrambled from the car before he had even pulled the key from the ignition, popping coins into the parking meter in front of them.

“What are you doing?” He asked, stretching his arms up as he stood.

“Just making sure we have loads of time,” she sang, popping another two dollar coin into the machine. “I don’t want us to get a ticket.”

He chuckled, tucking the key into his pocket and wrapping his arm around her waist. “How long do you think we’re going to be here, pumpkin?”

Her bottom lip popped out and she looked away. “I just want to make sure we’re not ticketed. Parking tickets on birthdays are the worst.”

He sighed, earning a sharp yelp as he pinched her waist. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Stop pinching me, I hope!”

He snorted. “But it’s my birthday, I thought I could have anything I wanted.”

She narrowed her eyes, stepping out of his arms. “You want to inflict bodily harm on me?”

He couldn’t help it then, reaching forward quick as lightning to pinch her waist again. Rowan squealed, smacking his arm.

“Stop that!” But she was laughing, even as she jogged away from him.

“Don’t worry,” he assured, closing the distance between them quickly. “I’ll make sure to kiss it better tonight.”

She puffed out her cheeks, her face turning scarlet. “Or you could just not pinch me.”

“But where would be the fun in that?”

Rowan poked his chest, pouting. “You owe me.”

“On my own birthday?” He challenged, smirking.

“Debts don’t care about birthdays!” She announced, turning her nose up. “And I’m here to collect.”

Gavin sighed, cupping the back of her neck to hold her steady as he leaned closer, savouring the way her knees wobbled and her breathing faltered.

“Can I pay it back later?” He murmured, his eyes dropping to her lips, a lazy smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I have a couple of ideas.”

She squeaked, and he could feel the flutter of her lashes against his skin.

He hummed, his free hand idly stroking her side. “What do you say?”

Her voice cracked, sounding strangled, like there was something caught in it. “I-I-”

“What is it, pumpkin?” He couldn’t keep the laughter from his voice.

“I just meant like…” She trailed off, her voice catching as he tangled his fingers in her hair.

“Like buying me some candies, or a book, or some flowers,” she managed, her eyes looking anywhere but at his face.

He chuckled again, pulling away, although he was loath to move so far away from her. “Well there was never any question of that.”

She sighed, her head falling forward. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Hopefully a lot, since it’s my birthday.”

His cheeky little comment cost him dearly, Rowan pinching his arm in kind before marching off. He winced, but quickly shook off the pain, chasing after Rowan to twine his hand with hers.

“I’m only teasing,” he said, letting her choose the route, deciding it was probably best not to push her too far. He had to save up a little mischief for later.

Rowan didn’t respond, her face scrunched up in a facsimile of a pout. She just tugged him forward, glaring at him in their reflection in a shop window.

“Why don’t we look for a sweet shop?” he suggested, trying to offer her an olive branch. “There’s usually at least one in a town like this.”

Rowan halted her steps, her shoulders relaxing. “Will you buy me the chocolates with the maraschino cherries if they have them?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

“And if there’s any raspberry ones?”

Again he nodded.

“And if there’s any orange ones?”

He squeezed her hand, biting back another laugh. He would buy her the moon if he could. He would string the stars on a chain of gold for her neck, he would pluck the rings from Saturn for her fingers, he would twist the stardust trail behind a meteor through her hair.

Of course he would buy her a little bag of candies if she wanted. If that showed even a scrap of how much he adored her.

“As you wish.”

She rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath about how dorky he was being yet again, but Gavin couldn’t find it in himself to care. Perhaps he was a little silly and dorky, as she so often liked to tell him before kissing his cheeks or wrapping her arms around his waist.

But he was hers, and she loved every little part of him, even the silliest parts.

Gavin let her draw him into shop after shop, the sun warming his face, the heat seeping into the marrow of his bones. They were greeted with blasts of air conditioning and chiming bells as they pushed open different shop doors, the smell of chocolates or spiced drinks or old leather permeating the different spaces.

They wandered around the fancy chocolate shop that was in fact in the little town, only a few streets over from where they’d parked. Rowan wandered aimlessly, lifting up little packets of hot chocolate or prepackaged assortments of candies while Gavin leaned over the chocolate display case, scanning the options carefully before pointing to the different sweets he wanted.

He had them all packaged up by the time she had finished her rounds through the store, a box of hazelnut chocolates in the shape of little animals in her hands.

She looked a little sheepish as she held the box up to him, chewing on her bottom lip. “Can we get these too?”

She didn’t need to ask. Gavin was already taking them from her hands, tucking them under his arm as he made his way to the register.

“Should we stop and get something to eat?” He asked, his card already on the card reader so Rowan couldn’t pull her little trick on him again.

She seemed to mull over his question, her eyes scanning the shelves behind the cashier, catching on the pink striped wallpaper that reminded him of cherry flavoured candy canes.

“I don’t feel that hungry,” she said, sighing. “The food from the museum is sitting kind of heavy in my stomach.”

He rubbed her back idly, taking the pink paper bag of their things in his free hand.

He steered her towards the door, concern flitting through him like a moth at midnight. “A drink then?”

She nodded. “A drink would be nice.”

Gavin kept his hand on her back, steering them both through the throng of people ambling around on the sidewalks. “I think I saw a little tea place this way.”

“Ooo and the bookshop is just over there!”

He couldn’t help smiling, his attention diverted for a moment before he resumed his mission. “Maybe we should sit down first, if you’re not feeling well it could be from the heat.”

Rowan grumbled something under her breath, but Gavin decided not to respond. Verbally, at least. Because he definitely pinched her side again, something he was becoming a little too fond of doing, if only to elicit the gasping response Rowan always seemed to give him whenever he pinched her.

He would make sure he was very gentle when he made up for it later.

It took a bit of wrangling to get her to sit while he went to order them both something to drink. She insisted that she was fine, that she wasn’t an invalid, that she was perfectly able to stand on her own feet and wait in a queue.

But Gavin wouldn’t take no for an answer, and after a prolonged battle between their wills, Rowan had relented, letting him guide her into a seat at a small table next to a window.

He might have had to pull the birthday card again, but he would be lying if he said he was ashamed of it. If it meant convincing his wife to rest then he was more than happy to abuse it until the day was done.

The line wasn’t particularly long, and Gavin ordered iced teas for them, one a sweet strawberry tea and one lemon.

A pair of kids ran past his feet, squealing as they chased after their mother, who was carrying a bag of cookies and a tray with three iced drinks balanced on it. Gavin’s eyes trailed after them, their laughter ringing like bells. He wondered what it would be like if there had been someone smaller with him and Rowan, little hands grasping at his, a stream of questions about space and rocket ships as they’d wandered through the museum.

He would have had to buy extra chocolates at the last shop, and he smiled as he imagined how Rowan’s voice would have lilted as she’d chattered with the little voice. Then he would have tossed the child onto his shoulders, and they would have squealed as happily as the children following their mother squealed.

Perhaps there would only be one, or perhaps two, or-

His daydream fizzled apart as his name was called, the drinks he’d ordered set on the counter.

He did his best to ignore the strange feeling that had bloomed in his chest, not quite melancholy not quite want, tucking away the image of chubby cheeks and little grasping hands held safely in his. Instead, he grabbed the drinks, heading back to the table.

Rowan smiled at him as he approached, and she cooed about how she’d missed him, although he was sure it had only been a few moments at the most.

Not that it really mattered, not when he’d missed her so much too.

They chatted for a little, sipping at their drinks, but Rowan’s eyes kept sliding out the window, fixing on something in the distance.

Gavin followed her gaze, his focus settling on a greenspace, the entrance to a park. And just beyond the park entrance he could make out a group of kids shrieking as they raced through a little splash pad.

Rowan opened her mouth, closed it again, her hands wrapping around her plastic cup.

He angled his head to the side, flicking his gaze between her and the splash pad, the strange ache returning to his chest.

It took him a long moment to identify what it was, as his focus shifted back to Rowan, as his mind wandered once more to the hazy fantasy tucked in the back of his mind.

Longing. It was longing.

“Gavin,” she said at last, her eyes growing distant, like she was watching something in her mind’s eye, something tucked deep inside of her. “Have you ever…”

She trailed off, and Gavin was certain he knew what she was thinking of now.

They’d talked about it a little, back when they were dating, and again after they’d returned home from their wedding and honeymoon. And it had come up here and there, when they walked past aisles of childrens toys or walked past a youth soccer game or when Rowan received an invitation to a baby shower.

But maybe it was time to talk about it in earnest. Maybe now it was time to move past talking.

“Have you ever thought…” Her voice cracked as she again trailed off, her head dipping down, casting her eyes down to the scratched surface of the table.

How did she ask it? How did she find the right words?

‘I know we’ve talked about having kids before, but have you ever thought about us trying for real?’

Certainly she couldn’t just say that. It was ridiculous, she was sure he would think she’d gone mad, that the sun and the summer heat had gotten to her.

But the thought had always been buried deep in her heart, the quiet want that had always seemed to grow a little more with every passing day. And then today there had been the two little kids racing around the store, calling for their mama as she’d carried their treats and drinks to a little picnic table across the street.

Rowan had followed the sound of their laughter, her gaze fixing on the splash pad not far from the picnic tables in the park across the street. And it had been hard to not imagine, to stop herself from imagining, carrying a tray of drinks and snacks for her own children. With amber eyes like Gavin and chubby cheeks and little dimples that always came out like the sun after a storm when they smiled.

Perhaps they would run screeching through the splash pad, terrorizing each other and her and Gavin. Perhaps they would sit and chatter quietly, perhaps they would try to drag her onto the splash pad with them.

It hurt a little, the ache in her chest where the longing had buried itself like roots. They had agreed, initially, to enjoy their time just the two of them for a while. But she…

She sighed, shaking her head as the words to her question dried up on her tongue once more. She was being ridiculous, she didn’t even know why she was asking this. It was Gavin’s birthday, the focus was supposed to be on him. On making him happy. On making sure he was kept distracted until his final surprise was ready.

She opened her mouth to dismiss what she had been trying to say, but Gavin cut her off before she could.

“I have,” he said, his eyes following the same trajectory as hers had earlier. “I have thought about it.”

She didn’t know how she knew, she was no telepath, she had no evol to speak of. But somehow, deep in her belly, Rowan knew he was talking about kids. About wanting to have kids, too.

She felt like she was walking on ice, the raging ocean a few inches from her feet churning furiously, daring her to take another step, daring her to risk going forward, further out to see.

She swallowed. “And?”

The late afternoon sunlight was the gold of autumnal leaves, and it refracted into millions of rainbows as it spilled across Gavin’s face, catching in his eyes, glittering with magic.

“I think we should talk about it more,” he said, reaching across the table to take her hand. “I think we should try.”

Delicate wings of sunshine and silken petals swarmed her chest and belly in a typhoon, whipped around and around the invisible wind in her heart.

She didn’t know she had leaned forward until almost her entire torso was stretched across the table, both her hands grasping Gavin’s now, her heart’s rhythm stumbling from excitement.

“Really? You really mean it?”

Gavin laughed, his hair turning to gold in that brilliant sunshine. “I really mean it.”

She sat back, beaming. “That makes me really happy, babey.”

He arched a brow, mischief in his eyes now. “How happy?”

She pulled her hands away, taking hold of her cup once more. “I don’t think I like your tone.”

“I’m only asking so I know how you’re going to treat me later tonight.”

His voice dipped low, turning sultry, and Rowan considered tossing her iced tea over her head to douse the heat curling in her belly.

She sniffed, pretending like she was unbothered. “I guess you’ll just have to find out.”

When they were done their drinks they returned back to wandering, and Rowan was finally able to drag him into the little bookshop she’d seen.

Her reasons for bringing him in were two-fold: one, to buy herself a little more time because she hadn’t gotten the all clear text yet, and two, because she really wanted to look at a few books with him.

They likely would have covered more ground had they split up, but at this point it was a sort of tradition to wander around together, whether they were on a mission or not.

Neither of them had brought anything with them to read, and Rowan thought staying at the yurt would be a golden opportunity to rest and catch up on doing the fun little things they liked doing together. Like building lego sets and reading together.

It was a little game they had started years ago, picking out one or two books they thought the other would enjoy. Rowan ran her eyes over the colourful spines of different fiction titles, trying to determine what her husband would like best.

Something in space, perhaps? To fit with their trip? Perhaps something completely different, a genre he didn’t normally read?

She considered buying him a mystery novel, but Gavin was notorious for getting about halfway through any murder mystery and solving it and stuffing the book full of sticky notes and messy thoughts crammed into the margins, making the books unreadable.

So perhaps mystery was out of the question.

From the corner of her eye she caught Gavin sliding something from the shelf.

“What’s that?” She asked, turning her head to the side, tipping it back as Gavin stiffened.

“It’s a surprise,” he said, snorting when she tried moving closer. “You don’t get to see it.”

She pouted. “Why not!”

“Because it’s my birthday, and I said so.”

“Boo, you’re no fun.”

She disentangled her hand from his marching away.

“Pumpkin, where are you going?”

She jutted her chin up, deciding that although normally they would wander together, today they would not.

“If I can’t see what you’re looking at then you can’t see what I am!”

She could hear his laughter, warm and sweet as melting honey, chasing at her heels.

It made her consider turning back around. But no, she would pick something out for him on her own, and then she would get to give him two surprises today.

She wandered for a while, scanning the titles in the science fiction section over and over, considering the options. Perhaps she could get him the book about space necromancers? It was in space, but she remembered reading some reviews that it got quite confusing at parts.

She pulled the book from the shelf anyways, tucking it against her chest as she continued to browse. It was his birthday, she could get him another.

She ran into Gavin after she’d made her third selection, deciding Gavin deserved lots of options, and she’d hastily covered the book covers with her hands before he could take a peak.

“Don’t look!”

He closed his eyes, sighing, but there was a smile dancing on his lips, belying his facsimile of fatigue.

“So you want a few more minutes?”

She looked down at the books in her arms, scanning the titles quickly before giving him a firm nod. “I’m ready!”

He opened his eyes, gesturing to the register with a jerk of his head. “Then shall we go?”

They purchased separately, and were soon wandering through the town again. Rowan clutched the paper bag of books against her chest, the crinkle of paper beneath her fingers making her smile. She hoped Gavin liked what she picked out. She hoped he would be happy.

She eyed the sun, haloed by wispy white clouds. It was so warm, and her eyes felt heavy, like they would close at any moment. She wanted to find a nice patch of grass and take a nap, curled up in a buttery sunbeam until nighttime washed over the world and the stars bloomed in the sky.

Beside her, Gavin yawned, his head falling back, the sun washing over his face as his eyes squeezed shut.

Rowan wished she was a photographer, or perhaps a painter. She wished she could capture that moment, when he was gilded by sunlight, his hair ruffled, his cheeks pink from the sun.

But instead she tucked it away in her memories, leaning against him as he straightened.

“I feel like I could use a nap,” he admitted, letting her tug him past a crowd outside an ice cream shop. “Do you want to head back yet?”

She shook her head, stomach twisting into knots.

Not yet.

“I want to wander around a little more,” she said instead, squeezing his hand.

He just smiled, seeming content to be dragged around. “As you wish.”

They wandered aimlessly, popping into the different shops that lined the rustic “olde towne” they had found. There were hat shops and dress stores and a shop that specialized in wool sweaters imported from Ireland.

There were little bakeries and a used bookshop and a flower shop, where Gavin purchased Rowan a small bouquet of peonies, some of her favourite flowers.

She had lifted the pale pink blooms to her nose when she felt her phone buzzing in her pocket. Relief washed over her and she sighed, breathing in the sweet smell of the peonies.

“Before we go,” she said, swinging Gavin’s arm between them. “Do you think we could walk through that park? It looks like it’s nice and shaded and it might be nice.”

“Lead the way.”

Again that relief swelled, followed by delight and excitement that tumbled and tangled together in a tumult in her chest. She was so excited she could barely keep her breathing in check as she walked with Gavin through the park, passing the splash pad and the raucous group of children racing through it. As they walked deeper into the park, passing older couples and people walking dogs and teenagers rollerblading past them.

The sun had finally begun to set, too, painting fiery shades of orange and copper and red across the once-cerulean sky. It looked like someone had taken a flame to a canvas, letting the blue paint turn to smoke and memory.

A soft wind chased after the setting sun, ruffling in their hair and snapping at their clothes. The hum of cicadas was a constant symphony, filling the air even as the path began to grow quiet.

Gavin wondered, distantly, if they should turn back. It was still bright and warm, but now that the sun was beginning its descent all he could think of was curling up in bed with Rowan, his head pillowed on the soft curve of her breast. But he was also loath to let the day end, savouring this precious time with her.

He thought nothing of the little copse of trees nearing them on the right, but it did prick through his reverie when Rowan began heading towards it.

“Where are you going?” He asked, stepping onto the grass to follow after her.

But she just turned around, a coy smile on her lips. “It’s a surprise.”

He furrowed his brow, confused. The quiet tinkle of silver bells danced in the wind like the beginning of a melody, and he caught a scrap of blue fluttering from the side of a tree.

He followed behind her, his confusion melting into curiosity, that too melting away when he stepped into the little circle of trees.

There were blue and gold ribbons strung between the trees, knotting and twining together so they formed a silken archway above their heads that shifted and sighed in the wind. Silver wind-chimes had been hung from the tree branches, pealing in bright song. A checkered picnic blanket was stretched across the space, loaded with plates of sweets and cupcakes and sandwiches and salads and meats. To the side there was a little pile of wrapped presents, the silvery wrapping paper seeming to glow in the fading light.

He gaped, awestruck as Rowan took a seat on the blanket. “What is this?”

She spread her arms wide. “It’s for you! It’s your birthday surprise!”

He continued to gape, amazed at what she had done.

“But how did you… When did you…” He couldn’t finish his sentence, even as the question prodded at his mind.

How had she gotten all this done? How had she gotten this all set up when they’d been at the museum all day?

She patted the ground next to her, and Gavin sat, resisting the urge to pull her into his lap and kiss her breathless. He couldn’t believe it, couldn’t think of anything at all.

She tucked her hair back, looking a little sheepish. “Please don’t get upset, but I had to get a little help from Eli and some of your colleagues. And maybe Minor too.”

Gavin blinked. Logically he knew that this would mean extensive harassment at work. He could already imagine Eli’s shit eating grin when he came back to work.

And oh the teasing he would get from Minor. He wouldn’t be safe for weeks.

But those thoughts all swept away as he met Rowan’s gaze, as he looked around him at everything she had prepared for him.

His eyes burned, and he had to blink to stop himself from crying. He could feel a lump in his throat, choking off his words, stopping him from telling Rowan how happy he was, how amazed he was.

She watched him quietly, a crease forming between her brows. “Babey? Is everything alright?”

He didn’t even pretend to have any self restraint this time as he gathered her in his arms, dragging her into his lap so he could crush her against his chest.

Rowan gasped, but the sound was quickly muffled as she pressed her face into his hair, her fingers splaying out on his back.

“Thank you,” he managed, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He sniffled, feeling like a child as silent tears streamed down his face. “Thank you, Rowan.”

She rubbed his back, massaging gently. “I love you, babey. I love you with all my heart. I love you more than there are stars in the sky.”

He sucked in a breath, squeezing his eyes shut tight.

“Happy birthday, Gavin. I’m so happy that you were born.”

He felt like he was shaking, but her arms steadied him. She held him tight, murmuring soft words, gentle words. That she loved him, that he was precious to her, that he was kind and good and strong, that he was so easy to love, that she couldn’t imagine life without him.

He was crying like a child and he couldn’t stop. Not for a long long while as night cast itself over the world, stars emerging like diamonds tossed across the sky.

Gavin peeled away from her slowly, ducking his head so she did not see the stains from his tears. But all Rowan did was cup his cheeks and gently turn his face up, wiping the drying tears with her thumbs.

The song of the windchimes steadied him, helped to bring him back from the haze that had been his tears. He sniffled again, covering Rowan’s hands with his.

“Thank you,” he murmured. “Thank you, Rowan. I’m so happy.”

She smiled, more brilliant than the stars, more ethereal than the moon. “I’m so glad. But you haven’t even had the food I prepared yet!”

He released his grip on her, begrudgingly, so she could collect a paper plate for him and begin piling all the food she’d brought onto it.

“I tried my very best to make your favourites,” she sang, stacking two salads on top of each other. “Although you will have to forgive me for the cupcakes. I just couldn’t resist.”

He watched as she settled a small cupcake on the centre of his plate, blue and purple icing swirling together, crusted in gold and silver star-shaped sprinkles.

“It’s all wonderful,” he said, his cheeks warming as she fussed over him and the food. “I’m sure it’s all delicious.”

“Well,” she groused, preparing her own plate now. “I hope so. If anything is bad we can blame Minor.”

He snorted, wholeheartedly agreeing with her. There was no way his Rowan would make anything that didn’t taste good. “Deal.”

He was only about halfway through his food when she started pushing presents towards him, but Gavin tucked them to the side, promising up and down that he would open them later.

“Do you not want them?” She asked, clutching a small bag in her arms.

He had just sunk his teeth into his cupcake, and he chewed quickly. “I do want them, in just a minute, love. I want to enjoy sitting here with you for a moment.”

A flicker of light caught his eye and he looked up, watching as a shooting star streaked across the sky.

He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in as he spun the magic of his wish.

He wished that he would spend the rest of his birthdays with her. That he would spend every birthday and every day in-between with his Rowan.

He opened his eyes to find her leaning close, her thumb brushing against his face a hairsbreadth from the corner of his lip.

“What is it?”

There was mischief in her eyes as her hand fell away.

“There’s a bit of icing on your face.”

He lifted his brows, his hand coming up to wipe it off. But Rowan batted his hand away, leaning close, so very close he could catch the specks of green buried deep in the sea of her eyes.

Her lips brushed against the corner of his mouth, and he felt her tongue flick against him.

“There,” she sang, sitting back. “All better.”

He felt a little out of sorts, his breathing heavy, his heartbeat stumbling like a toddler in a race. There was heat in his core, a tightness in his pants that he struggled to ignore.

He eyed the presents piled on his side, then Rowan again, who looked more than a little proud of herself and her shenanigans.

“You know,” he said, shifting closer, pinching a strand of her hair between his thumb and forefinger, letting his voice turn sultry and soft. “I think there’s something else I’d much rather unwrap right now.”

Rowan smacked his arm, feigning outrage. But all it did was make Gavin laugh, made the heat in his belly grow, made his head feel a little like he’d drunk an entire bottle of champagne.

He swiped his finger across the icing of a cupcake, wiping his finger against Rowan’s cheek.

“There,” he murmured, sucking the rest of the icing from his finger. “Now we’re even.”

He didn’t have a moment to react before an entire cupcake was being smushed against his face, cake crumbling over his shirt, icing streaking down his neck.

Rowan cackled, wiping her hand on the blanket. “Now we’re even.”

Laughter bubbled in his chest, brilliant as sunshine, light as spun sugar. He wrapped his arms around her, dragging her close, wiping his messy face against her throat.

Rowan shrieked, squirming in his arms. “Gavin that tickles! Let go!”

But he in fact did not let go, nuzzling his face more against her, smearing icing all over her throat and her collar and part of her shirt. He nipped at her skin, licking some of the icing as she continued to gasp and squeal, her hands smacking his arms uselessly.

“Gavin!”

He hummed, his nose bumping against her chin.

“Gavin that tickles!”

Finally he relented, releasing her just enough so she could breathe, but keeping her firmly in his lap.

“That was uncalled for,” she wheezed, trying and failing to glare at him as she wiped her palm across her chest.

He shrugged, grinning. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“But I had fun,” he said, running a hand through her hair, pushing it back from her face, golden candy stars getting caught in her bangs. “And since it’s my birthday…”

She groaned, throwing her head back. “Okay okay, you win.”

He chewed on his lip for a moment, a habit he’d picked up from Rowan as he regarded her carefully.

“Rowan?”

She straightened, her hands falling to his shoulders. “Hmm?”

“Thank you,” he said, his voice soft as feather down. “Thank you for this.”

Her gaze softened too, and she cupped his face, her fingers still sticky with icing. “Babey, I love you more than I can say. I just want you to have a happy birthday.”

How did he explain to her that every birthday now was happy? That she had reminded him that he was alive, that the world was beautiful, that there was still joy to be had in the smallest of things? How did he explain to her that every birthday he was happy he had been born, that he was happy he was beside her?

How did he tell her that every day with her was a gift, was more precious than any newborn star or glittering galaxy could be?

He didn’t know how, didn’t have the words to say it right. So instead he kissed her, gentle this time, tasting the sweet buttercream of the icing and the sugar of the sprinkles and the chocolate of the cupcakes on her.

She was his star, his guiding light. She’d brought warmth and happiness back into his life, she’d brought him laughter, brought him joy and comfort and love.

He felt like he might cry again, but did his best to hold it back. He wanted to enjoy the rest of the evening before they packed up, he wanted to take his time tasting the different foods she’d brought while he opened the gifts, and then he wanted to return to their cabin and take his time tasting all of her.

She sighed as they broke apart, her eyes closed, icing caught in her lashes as they splayed across her cheek.

He grinned, unable to stop himself, feeling a ghost of that earlier laughter bubbling in his throat.

“Rowan?”

She opened her eyes, peering at him curiously.

He gestured to the icing smeared over them both, smiling. “Will you help me clean this up?”

She laughed, plucking a napkin from the little basket perched nearby. The windchimes sang in tandem, the melodies twining together in a starlit song that sent gossamer wings flitting in his heart.

Rowan kissed his cheek, sending warmth spilling through him like sunshine across a wildflower field. “As you wish, my love.”

[glampingfingerlakes]

How to Plan an Unforgettable Glamping Trip?

Glamping has surged in popularity as the perfect blend of luxury and nature, allowing adventurers to experience the wilderness without sacrificing comfort. Whether you're a seasoned camper or someone new to outdoor experiences, glamping offers a unique and unforgettable way to connect with nature. From plush tents to treehouses and yurts, glamping can elevate your outdoor getaway to something extraordinary. Here’s how you can plan the most unforgettable glamping trip to rival experiences offered by leading glamping resorts like Naturluxe & Stars.

Choose the Perfect Location

The first step to planning an unforgettable glamping trip is choosing the right location. The ideal glamping site should offer a perfect balance between scenic beauty, comfort, and activities that suit your interests. Do you prefer a mountain retreat or a coastal escape? Would you rather be near a national park or a lake? Whether you’re booking a space with Naturluxe & Stars or exploring other options, the right location can set the stage for an incredible experience.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Glamping Location:

Accessibility: Is the location easily accessible by car, or does it require a long trek? Consider your group’s needs and the amount of gear you’ll be bringing.

Weather: Check the climate of your destination. Some glamping sites are better suited for certain seasons, especially if they offer heating or cooling amenities.

Nearby Attractions: Ensure your glamping site is close to activities like hiking, fishing, or wildlife spotting.

Select Your Accommodation Style

Glamping comes with a variety of accommodation options, and choosing the right one is key to making your trip unforgettable. From canvas tents with king-sized beds to more extravagant options like treehouses, there’s a glamping style for every preference.

Popular Glamping Accommodation Types:

Luxury Tents: Perfect for first-time glampers or those seeking an upgrade from traditional camping. These tents often come equipped with real beds, plush bedding, and private bathrooms.

Yurts: A circular tent-like structure that combines the charm of camping with more permanent amenities such as wood-burning stoves and comfy furnishings.

Cabins and Tiny Homes: For those who want a more solid structure, tiny homes and cabins offer the best of both worlds — the rustic charm of the outdoors with the comforts of home.

Treehouses: For a whimsical and unusual experience, staying in a treehouse brings a childlike sense of wonder back into your life.

Whatever you choose, ensure that your glamping accommodation aligns with your group’s preferences, from a romantic getaway to a family-friendly escape.

Pack Smartly for Comfort and Adventure

Packing for a glamping trip requires careful consideration to ensure you have both the comforts of home and the gear necessary for outdoor adventures. While glamping accommodations often provide essentials like bedding, it’s still essential to bring along items that will enhance your experience.

Essentials to Pack for Glamping:

Clothing: Pack comfortable layers to adjust to changing temperatures. Depending on the season, you may need everything from warm sweaters to rain jackets.

Toiletries: Although glamping often includes private restrooms or shared facilities, be sure to bring your own toiletries for comfort.

Tech Gear: Bring a portable charger, camera, and maybe even a Bluetooth speaker to enhance your relaxation time.

Outdoor Gear: If you plan to hike or explore the outdoors, don’t forget your hiking boots, sunscreen, and bug spray.

Food & Drink: Many glamping sites offer meal packages, but if not, you can bring your own food and enjoy cooking over a firepit or using an on-site grill.

Plan Your Activities and Adventures

One of the best parts of glamping is the range of activities available to enjoy the great outdoors while still having a luxurious retreat to return to. From kayaking to star-gazing, the adventures are endless.

Outdoor Activities to Consider:

Hiking: Choose trails suited to your skill level and explore the local surroundings. Many glamping destinations near Naturluxe & Stars offer access to stunning national parks and trails.

Wildlife Watching: Glamping spots located in nature reserves often offer opportunities to see native wildlife like deer, birds, and maybe even a fox or two.

Water Sports: If your glamping site is near a body of water, plan for a day of kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply lounging by the water’s edge.

Evening Bonfires: One of the most memorable experiences of glamping is gathering around a bonfire at night. Don't forget to bring the s'mores supplies for an extra layer of fun!

Create a Memorable Ambiance

An essential part of an unforgettable glamping trip is setting the mood for relaxation and enjoyment. Use soft lighting, curated playlists, and personalised touches to elevate the experience.

How to Set the Mood:

Lanterns and Fairy Lights: Bring along some solar-powered fairy lights or lanterns to create a cozy glow around your tent or cabin in the evening.

Comfortable Seating: If your glamping accommodation doesn’t provide outdoor seating, pack a few folding chairs or even a hammock for the ultimate in relaxation.

Personal Touches: Add some decor or bring along a few items from home, such as throws, candles, and pillows, to make your space feel even more welcoming.

Sustainability and Responsible Glamping

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to practice eco-friendly travel. Glamping offers a unique opportunity to stay in luxurious accommodations while minimizing your environmental footprint.

Tips for Sustainable Glamping:

Choose Eco-Friendly Accommodations: Many glamping sites like Naturluxe & Stars are designed with sustainability in mind. They offer eco-friendly amenities such as solar power, composting toilets, and low-impact construction.

Leave No Trace: Make sure you respect the environment by cleaning up after yourself, disposing of waste properly, and minimizing your impact on the natural surroundings.

Support Local: Contribute to the local economy by purchasing locally sourced food and supplies or hiring local guides for your outdoor adventures.

Final Thoughts on Planning Your Perfect Glamping Trip

Planning an unforgettable glamping trip is all about balancing luxury with adventure. By carefully selecting your location, accommodation, and activities, you can create a unique outdoor experience tailored to your preferences. Whether you choose to stay at a well-known site like Naturluxe & Stars or venture out to a lesser-known gem, the key to glamping success is in the details. Follow these tips, and your next glamping trip is bound to be a remarkable one.

[dontditchtheluxurybushbaby]

The Difference Between Camping And Glamping

For many, daydreams of a break from the daily grind conjure up images of lake shores and vistas, of babbling brooks and tree-lined trails. A desire to spend free time in the great outdoors is at the forefront of many minds. So when you have some time to plan a vacation, however long it may be, you plan to be under the sun and stars. The details of how you may choose to do it, however, can range far and wide.

WHAT IS CAMPING? Some of us are chasing a challenge that is the polar opposite of our comfortable lifestyles. We may find the most excitement by stripping life down to the bare essentials, or we may require a few extra creature comforts to make the trip more tolerable. But no matter what the trip requires, we call it camping.

What do we need to survive? For some, this statement drives every choice when planning for an adventure. You may have a backpack, a tent, some simple rations, a pair of sturdy boots, water and a sleeping bag or a hammock. For others, this may mean a few more amenities like clean drinking water and a hot shower at the end of a long day full of fun, adventure and time with family.

Or, maybe you don’t need to trek over summits and ravines to have a perfect time outdoors. You have a nice, comfortable tent big enough to stand in, a cooler and some camp chairs. Your idea of roughing it at a campsite is just as valid — your adventure is realized simply by being outside, relaxing by a campfire, brought alive by leaving so much of the modern world behind you.

For many, some degree of roughing encapsulates the draw of the outdoors. The simplest of simple lives, the break from distractions and the opportunity to unplug and be in the moment make camping an ideal break from everyday life. But for others, a popular movement that offers additional creature comforts is the perfect way to experience the outdoors.

WHAT IS GLAMPING? “Glamping,” short for glamorous camping, has become a mainstay of outdoor recreation over the past decade. If your essentials list contains things such as a real mattress, running water or an actual toilet, you can still find numerous options that bridge the gap between traditional camping and the comforts of home. Here are just a few examples of such opportunities:

Camping Cabins: These offer a roof over your head, four walls and a bed to sleep in. No need to worry about packing a tent or an air mattress.

Deluxe Cabins: Deluxe Cabins offer the same convenience of a Camping Cabin and also include a private bathroom. Some also include additional features such as kitchenettes, bed linens and more. 

Tree Houses: No matter what age you are, there is something inherently appealing about tree houses. And while you may have had one in your youth, modern tree houses are a stunning way to have a unique experience outdoors. Fully enclosed, with all the familiar amenities, you can’t beat the view through upscale camping in a tree house.

Safari Tents: You’ve no doubt seen these in movies, perched in some exotic location and offering a comfortable existence to adventurers away from home. Why not try renting one for yourself? With many featuring furniture, electricity, fully functioning kitchens and storage, safari tents are a perfect marriage between comfort and adventure.

While “cabin glamping” has become more popular, you can also try more unique glamping options like staying in a resort tent if you’re looking for something new!

Glamping is becoming increasingly popular due to the rise in nature and eco-tourism - resorts are options for luxurious tented accommodation units that cause minimal to no disturbance to the surrounding environment. These luxury resort tents blend in with nature and offer something out of the world to vacationers. . . . . Shared from https://luxuriouslivinginnature.weebly.com/blog/the-difference-between-camping-and-glamping

[letsperaltiago]

all i want for christmas is you

🌟 HAPPY 26TH OF DECEMBER: DOOR THREE 🌟

Welcome to (belated) door three of four!

Behind my Christmas calendar’s third door is a... married, pure fluff and bit smutty Peraltiago Christmas oneshot! ♥️ Also thank you to @amyscascadingtabs​ for the help with coming up with this idea 🌟

Summary: Jake and Amy celebrate an early Christmas together, just the two of them, before they're headed to the Santiagos’ for a huge family-Christmas. It's their first Christmas as a married couple and husband Jake knows just how to make it extra special and please his wife.

Rating: M, maybe E (Idk but def some smut in there!)

Words: 4k (just barely)

Read on AO3 here

“Why won’t you just tell me where we’re going?”

“Babe, just trust me, okay? You’re going to love it… and me. Even more than you already do.”

It’s a few days before Christmas, two days before they’re headed off to celebrate Christmas with the entire Santiago-bunch - parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, kids and all.

For the time being, they’ve spent the last two hours driving God knows where. Or more like: Jake knows but she doesn’t and she hates it. Only because he assures her that, with those deep brown puppy-Peralta eyes, they’re headed on an “unforgettable Christmas adventure” does she get in the car with him. The farther away from Brooklyn they get, with nature growing denser with every mile, the more suspicious she gets. If it wasn’t her husband driving the car, through heavy snow, into the barely lit woods, then she would be fearing for her life. But it is her Jake, her husband, after all, and he looks at the road ahead with a certain glimmer and excitement in his eyes. A glimmer so contagious the slight worry is replaced with excitement. Is everything precise and planned like she prefers it to be? No, not at all. Does she trust her husband? Yes, of course.

She’s quick to embrace her husband’s spontaneous side, the fact that he’s her very own antithesis, and leans back in her seat to look at the beautiful white outdoors.

They arrive about half an hour later, Amy thinks, the darkness outside blurring her sense of time. Together they carry their weekend-bags, specifically packed by Jake for the trip, up some old wooden stairs to join the front door of a cabin that Amy, even in the dark, is pretty sure she’s never seen before. One of a million curious questions is about to fall from her lips but never makes it past the idea-stage because Jake has already unlocked the door and behind it is a room that looks like a scene picked out of her dreams.

Amy is absolutely, one hundred percent sure: she has the best husband in the entire universe.

“Welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Santiago-Peralta’s first eh- espoused Christmas getaway!” Jake exclaims in his best showman-manner way.

Hidden behind the exterior of an old, abandoned cabin happens to be the cutest, most wonderful and cozy interior. A fireplace, colorful and glittery Christmas decorations, beautiful antique furniture, books… The list just goes on and, of course, she shamelessly makes a note of how strategically, perfectly aligned with the fireplace the rug is. It takes her a split second to be convinced of the fact that it looks soft enough to cuddle - and other things - on.

“Jake,” she gasps in awe and, there’s no holding back just how amazed she is, Amy throws her arms around her husband’s neck. A long, thankful kiss is initiated and happily reciprocated. Not even when she feels how cold, as a consequence of their little walk from the car to the cabin, his lips are does she pull away. On the contrary, Amy can’t wait to be the one to bring the heat back to them.

“Thank you. I love it here.” She pulls away just enough to be able to look at him in the eyes, golden-brown irises glowing from the sheer happiness that comes from being here with him. It’s infectious and Jake’s eyes and smile shine just as bright.  

“I hoped you would.” He plants his soft lips on her forehead and she can tell they’re already warmer than before. “Don’t get me wrong: I love that we’re spending Christmas with your family. But I did want to make sure that we got some time to ourselves first. It is our first Christmas as husband and wife, after all. Consider it a marital, romantic recharge before the storm.”

Somehow the glow in his eyes grows even stronger, those special words still affecting him, even seven months later, and Amy only makes it better by cupping his face in her hands. They’re cold but he doesn’t care. Not as long as he can still feel the two rings on her finger against his skin.  

“I love that you considered that. I love you. ”

He leans in booping the tip of her nose with his. “I love you too, Ames,” he declares and the only reason why he manages to not kiss her is that he has plans, an ulterior motive, per se. Plans that he knows she’ll love and want to get started on right away.

“Truth be told, there’s one main attraction of this trip.”

Amy cocks an eyebrow like she always does whenever she’s unsure of what mischiefs and ideas he’s come up with. Nonetheless, she doesn’t say anything but,´“And that is..?”

“Come with me.”

There’s no time for further questioning. Jake has her hand trapped in his and tugs her in the direction of a dark, wooden door. He pushes it open and after quickly realizing that Jake is not just showing her the cabin’s bathroom, Amy’s jaw drops.

“You got us a bathtub!”

Excitement is very obvious especially when she instantly jumps him and traps him in a hug that almost has him tumbling over. After just barely restabilizing himself, and her, for that matter, she looks down at him from where he’s still got her hoisted in his arms. “Right now being a frilly person might just be the best thing to ever happen to me. I’m so excited!”

Jake laughs and puts her down. While he did know his wife would appreciate it, he clearly didn’t expect she’d love it, possibly more than him.

“And I’m freezing after that car ride so it’s even more perfect!” She squeals and pecks his lips. When she pulls back he’s frowning.

“Babe, I had the heat at maximum.”

“Jake. I’m cold. Bathtub, now!”

“Noted!”

❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄

“Come on, Ames. Get in here. The water feels amazing. And this salt stuff smells so good.” He grabs the container of purple salt from the edge of the tub to look at the ingredients. “Kinda makes me wanna taste it, yanno?”

Jake is already submerged in the tub, filled to the brim with warm water and Amy’s favorite lavender bath salt, and all there’s missing is his wife. The main character. She’s in the bedroom finding their towels.

“Please tell me you didn’t eat it!” She calls out, genuine worry present in her voice.

“Pfff- no!”

“Good. Because if you have then we’ll be spending our romantic getaway in the ER and I’d rather not.”

“Smort. Good thinking. Now could my wife please get her naked, beautiful butt in here and join me.”

Within a matter of seconds, his wish is granted. Beautiful as ever, his wife comes prancing into the bathroom wearing nothing but a happy grin and her hair in a bun. If he wasn’t already sure, which he was, Jake is now, even more, convinced: his wife is heaven and he never wants to leave this oasis in the middle of the snowy woods.

“Scoot over, Mr. Santiago.”

“On it, Mrs. Peralta”

A chuckle is shared, both bursting with pride on the inside - taking each other’s names was undoubtedly a very good idea - as Jake scoots backward in the porcelain tub to make room. So fast and eagerly that the water almost forms a tsunami threatening to go over the edge. On her part Amy is much more careful, holding Jake’s hand for support, Amy treads over the edge and slowly sinks her body, slowly submerging herself. The warm water swallows her, lapping up against her goosebump-covered skin caused by the frisk air, and she’s where she’s supposed to be.

“Ohhh mama, this is so nice. So hot.”

“I know I am.” The teasing grin on Jake’s face makes it obvious that he’s very proud of his little joke to which Amy replies with an exemplary roll of the eyes.

“Do I need to deflate your ego tonight, Peralta?” She sits down in the opposite end of the tub with a challenging, amused expression that leaves Jake hating the fact that she seems so far away and - even worse - out of reach.

“What ego? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Santiago. I’m perfectly humble - as always.”

A jocular silence washes over them but it’s too much to maintain and, like she so often does around her husband and his wits, Amy breaks.

“Shut up.”

She uses her hand to splash water towards his end of the tub.

“Hey!” He fails to dodge it, lavender-scented water soaking his face and hair, but he’s quick to respond. A swift reach gets him a grab his wife’s lower arm. “C’mere,” he groans and pulls her to his end of the tub, listening to her squeals and laughter that accompanies the sound of sloshing water. It’s far from elegant or easy but, somehow, rotating Amy’s body within the narrow space of the tub can be regarded as a success. Seconds later he has her reclined against his chest, her soft skin against his, and the feeling of her settling has them both fall silent. A big contrast to their bantering just seconds ago. This kind of switch of mood is no stranger to them though. Actually, it’s probably the fundament of their entire relationship.

“This is nice,” Amy sighs happily, the steady rhythm of her husband’s breathing oscillating her, submerging them in a calmness that’s unlike anything she’s felt recently. With work being extra crazy around Christmas they haven’t had much quality time. Nevertheless, they’re here now and that’s what matters the most. Knowing that her husband is always so aware of what she needs, even when she doesn’t fully realize it herself, warms her heart beyond explanation. “And you know my favorite bath-scent, I see?”

“Of course.” He plays with her fingers. “I know everything about you. You’re like… the only test I’ve ever wanted to study for.”

“Jake, that might just be the sweetest and also hottest thing you’ve ever said. If I wasn’t this relaxed and didn’t have the willpower of a pile of fluff, then I would not just be sitting here.”

“Good to know. Keep that sexy energy stored for later.” She doesn’t have to be able to see his face to know he’s grinning knowingly.  “I’m glad you like my little getaway-idea.”

Drips, drops falling from him, make an appearance when Jake’s hands emerge from beneath the water, but even then Amy’s newfound state of ultimate peace remains undisturbed. She only falls deeper into relaxation when her husband’s hands - a personal favorite -  latch onto her shoulders where they immediately, firmly yet softly and with all the affection she knows he has for her, start massaging the tired muscles and flesh of her upper back and shoulders.

“Oh god.” It comes out as a moan. Not exactly with erotic intentions but sure Jake still feels his heart thumping just a bit harder against the inside of his ribcage. Nothing feels better than making Amy feel good. Loving her and marriage has really turned him into the most selfless man ever, huh? He could sit here and rub her shoulders forever, feel the water turn cold, without the favor being returned, and he would be fully content.

“Feel good?” He chuckles before placing a soft kiss on the back of her neck. Amy’s hair is beautiful and he loves it no matter what, but there is something about a high bun and the skin it leaves exposed, leaving room for kisses and touching, that gains his preference.

“So good. Thank you.”

Another kiss models itself on the first one. The mixture of warm water and her husband’s delicate kiss is all she needs for Christmas.

“Merry Christmas, wife.”

She can feel him smile against her exposed shoulder and even though she’s eyes closed, deep into a heaven of pure relaxation and bliss, she forces her eyes open. Her neck twists, enabling her to see said smile and return it.

“Merry Christmas, husband.”

Amy loves her husband’s curls, more than anything and she hopes that, someday, their children will inherit them. This in mind, Jake’s wet hair sticking in every direction imaginable and onto his forehead, undeniably, does something to her. They’re able to hold the other’s gaze for a while, only for a few seconds, that is, before it becomes hopeless to stay apart and their lips meet each other. Just a soft peck. They pull back, water sloshing around them like a stupid gross metaphor for their love. Their grins are wider and more stupidly in love than ever before.

“I love you, Ames.”

“I love you too, Jacob.”

To Jake’s honest delight Amy’s neck stays twisted and it allows him to admire her sharp, striking side profile that has him feeling like he’s dating a supermodel. Small frivolous tufts of hair frame it so effortlessly, clear drops of bathwater painting her skin, and so many more tiny details he could spend hours admiring, describing and thinking about.

His wife is irresistible. She draws him in like a bee to honey; as she has since the day they first met - even though he didn’t fully realize it back then. Incapable of not doing so Jake, firstly, places a feathery kiss on her damp shoulder, drops of tepid water sticking to his lips as he pulls back before, secondly, pecking her cheek and then, lastly, the corner of her lips withing his reach.

Amy untwists her neck and lies back down against him, allowing the water to swallow them both whole, only the very top of their torsos and knees poking out of the water. The evening-lull falls over them. Two bodies connected skin-to-skin, by love and affection, lie in the water for what seems like an eternity. Like an implicit deal, they’ll take turns stroking the other’s leg or make a remark that’ll make the other laugh as the steam from the water rises into the cool bathroom air. They can’t feel it though. The water and each other are warm. It’s simple, it’s very much married life, and it’s perfect.  

After a few hectic weeks at work and even more chaotic days with the Santiagos awaiting them, there’s something, something that is not just steam, in the air between and around them. Undoubtedly so. For Jake to last this long in a setting like this is, all at once so natural yet so rousing, without at least testing the waters - metaphorically speaking - is impossible.

Kicking off an attempt at what could potentially happen, he starts off gently.

“I’m really glad we get to do this,” he mumbles softly, almost in a whisper, with his lips pressed to the back of her neck. Letting them reside there, keeping the kisses falling, he lets the hand currently located on her knee lazily caress the area around and above it. Acting as if nothing special is on his mind.

“Mhhh,” Amy agrees, obviously not thinking much of her husband’s actions. “Our own little Christmas Eve.”

“Yeah...” The kissing of her neck doesn’t seize but rather relocates, kissing all the skin stretching from the back of her neck to her shoulder and back to the side of the neck where he then lingers. “Only the best for the best.”

In the meantime, his hand has clandestinely made its way out of sight; underwater up her thigh. Tracing small circles and squiggles. His free arm and hand are casually resting on the edge of the tub. Amy on her part doesn’t seem to notice, at least not right away, supposedly too relaxed and enamored by the fact that her husband has come up with this whole ordeal.

“Agree. I think we might just be the best husband and wife ever. We deserve this.” A happy sigh follows her statement.

“We do…” His hand never ceases moving upwards. Only when it reaches the meeting of her thigh and pelvis. “Especially you, Mrs. Peralta.”

Having finally noticed the journey Jake’s hand has been on, she suddenly tenses causing her hands to grab his knees on either side of her for support. He awaits a sign, a word, sound, or movement that tells him to stop. But it never comes. He feels encouraged to continue. His hand splays out across the very center of her crotch, right above where he wants to be. From where his lips are still stuck to the side of her neck, gently knawing, he can feel a hitch in her breathing.

“You are the best wife in the entire world, babe. Can’t believe we’ve already been married for seven months. It’s incredible. You deserve the best Christmas present in the world.”

Upon allowing his hand to slide a few inches downwards, he can feel the very top of her slit under the tip of his middle finger.

“Kinda feels like you’re going to give it to me a bit early,” she lets out in a breathy chuckle before spreading her legs as far as the tub will allow.

“Oh, babe, this is just the opening act.”

“Sounds promising.” She’s barely able to finish her sentence before it’s interrupted by her own gasp. His lips have traveled upwards to find the magical spot right beneath her ear. A spot he knows she loves and will drive her mad if paid attention to - a tiny bite to this specific area of her body means there’s no turning back. As per natural reaction, her thighs attempt to spread even further. Only to be stopped by the tub.

Feeling cued to do so Jake slowly slides his middle finger into her while the surrounding ones gently help part her lips.

“Mmmm.”

Drawing small sounds out of his wife is definitely just as good as touching her, Jake quickly agrees with himself. He’s quickly pulled out of his thoughts and back into reality when he feels Amy thrust, desperately chasing the feeling of his fingers. He doesn’t hesitate to add another finger and, as hoped, it earns him more tiny sounds that feel a lot like magic. The lips attached to her neck never stop working their way into her skin. Jake smiles into it as a thought strikes him, thinking of his fingers working her up.

“I know it’s dirty talk 101 to tell you how wet you feel but I honestly can’t tell right now.”

“Oh my god,” Amy bursts out laughing, Jake chiming in with a chuckle. “That is very real, babe. I honestly can’t tell either but feels good.”

“Great. Then we’re probably doing something right,” he jokes before pecking the shell of her ear.

“Yes- oh.”

His fingers draw another moan out of her and a smug smile, pleased to be pleasing her, hides in the side of her neck as he picks up the pace. Her small thrusts try to keep up but the slippery surface of porcelain and water makes it quite hard, Amy quickly learns. Sex in here screams trip to the ER, but guess she can keep going - just for a bit longer.

“This is just what I needed, Jake.”

“The bathtub or the sex?”

Slowly as to not slip he guides his free hand from its spot on the tub’s edge to her chest.

“Both.”

“Noted. Delighted to please.”

Just the way he knows she likes it, he languidly starts caressing her breasts. Combined with the warmth of the water, the other hand that’s still taking care of her clit, this new sensation presenting itself on her chest has her body go weak, head lulling back to rest against his shoulder. It offers the perfect angle for him to kiss the top of her head as he goads sounds and smooth movements out of her. Progressing to pay attention to her nipples as well only has her intoxication build. Her chest’s heaving picks up momentum, simultaneous stimulation of both her clit and nipples making normal breathing seem impossible, to which she tries to cope by letting out small gasps. Jake takes it all in - touching her, the sounds, their surroundings - and he almost can’t believe how much he’s grown to love Christmas because of her.  

“Best. Christmas. Everrr,” Amy punctuates each word with small whimpers, the last word transitioning into a high pitched whine that lets Jake know he hit the jackpot.

“And this is just the beginning, babe. We’ve got all night and all day tomorrow too.” He nibbles at her earlobe and gives it a small tug that matches his thumb and index finger currently milking one of her nipples.

“Oh yeah, you think this is all we’re gonna do? This is a religious holida- ah, Jake.”

He grins at her attempt at being the saint she otherwise always is, but with one pair of fingers playing with her clit and lower lips, and the other with her nipples, it’s safe to say that he’s not convinced.

“Oh, honey,” he pauses to bite into, hopefully bruise, the skin at the nape of her neck. As wished it does leave a red mark and earns him a soft, despairing whimper. “I saw the way you looked at the rug and fireplace when we first walked in. Don’t you think I know you’ve already imagined every single way I could make love to you in front of that fire? Lucky for you, Mrs. Peralta, I already lit it while the tub was being filled.”  

Only then does it seem to fully hit her that they have this entire place, the entire night, to themselves. Under a spell, next thing they know, Amy has straddled her husband's waist and water is violently waving, spilling over the edge of the tub and onto the bathroom floor. Jake has no time to fight it nor complain about his loss of touch.  

“Fuck,” she breathes in between kisses and the tiny waves coming from her grinding motions. Beneath her, she can feel her husband gradually, but quickly, grow harder and ready - more than he already is. Her legs barely fit on either side of him, but Amy Santiago is a determined woman. “I want my present now. And I don’t want it here.”

She raises to her knees just enough to be able to grab his erection beneath her. Jake could burst right then and there, so much build-up having happened already, but he holds back and tries to focus on her voice rather than the way her fingers work his shaft.

“We’re getting out of this tub and then you’re going to fuck me into that rug until every inch of my body is dry. And that is how you have a merry Christmas, hubby.”

Her growling almost scares Jake, the determination in her eyes very clear, but he’s so down for it and everything that could possibly make her happy. It’s safe to say that they’re both so busy getting out of the tub that they need to cling on to anything within reach in order not to fall on their faces.

[darling-clemmy]

Summer Dreams: One (ClemxLouis FanFiction)

Summary: Louis arrives at Ericson’s Camp for Troubled Youth for the third summer in a row. Most everything is exactly the same, except for the new, pretty, junior counselor with curly hair.

Warnings: Swearing and in later chapters some mature-ish themes (NOT smut though!)

Word Count: 2,218

A/N: I have altered some of the reasons for the Ericson’s kids presences (mostly Violet) because I felt like their backstories were too intense/serious to only result in going to a summer camp. Also, this is going to be a multi-part series, but I’m not sure how many yet!

The late June heat seeped into Louis’ mom’s car despite the air conditioner being on high. It was only 9:30 in the morning, and already 89 degrees, which was alarming since it was a cool 60 earlier that morning when they left. It was about an hour and a half drive from their relatively large house to the summer camp which Louis dreaded going to. To him, the only good part about it was seeing his long-distance friends, like Marlon and Violet. And maybe Aasim, too.

Every summer, his father decided he needed time away from his son, still not fully forgiving him for the mischievous frauds committed by Louis years ago. He also believed that since they were so well off financially, it’d be good for him to experience some authentic outdoor time in the blistering heat. This was really just an attempt to humble Louis a little, but everyone at Ericson’s felt he was always going to be a little spoiled. They still loved him, though, and knew he was a genuinely good person under all of his designer clothes and expensive rings.

Lost in thought, Louis barely noticed when his mom returns to the car, jiggling the locked handle outside vigorously. He reached over to the driver’s side door and pulled the handle for her. She smiled at him and slided into her seat, placing the bulk of requisite paperwork in her lap.

Louis groaned and slumped his head and shoulders back. “Really? Paperwork, again? They should know I’m a regular now, especially after last year because of the whole laundry detergent accident.”

“It isn’t an accident if you meant to do it,” his mother reminded him. “And don’t get all fired up, I already filled it all out for you.”

“You know, I bet we’re the only family that has to fill out all of that crap every year.” He turned to face his mom, prematurely smiling at what he was about to say. “I bet we only have to because Mr. Ericson totally has a thing for you.”

She rolled her eyes while trying to repress a smirk. Light-heartedly, she said, “You’re crazy. He probably has a lovely wife and four amazing kids and maybe, like, a golden retriever, or something.”

“Mm, nope, he has some kind of pit bull. Her name’s Rosie—she bit some kid in that area last year.”

“Anyway,” she replied after chucking a bit. “I’m sure if your dad was the one to drop you off he’d have to fill out all the same stuff.”

Louis adverted his eyes and became quiet for a moment before mumbling, “As if he’d ever want to drop me off.”

He didn’t mean for it to come out so bitter, since he really was more sad about it than anything else. A good relationship with his dad was something he had wished for every year as he blew out birthday candles. He prayed that somehow everything would change. Of course, it never really did.

His mom sighed and placed a hand against his arm. “He does love you, Louis. You’re his son, his only child. Nothing can break that, even millions of mistakes.”

He nodded, still not meeting her dark brown eyes.

“I love you, sweetheart. You should start heading into the main building. I think I saw Marlon and his mother earlier.” She said, making Louis perk up a bit in hopes of seeing his friend.

“I love you, too, Mom. I’ll try to call as soon as I can,” Louis scrambled, stepping out of the car. Quickly, he grabbed his two suitcases out of the trunk and headed towards the front court yard, smiling back once at his mom.

+++

The dining hall was a familiar place to Louis. He had spent nearly every night in there for the past two summers, playing juvenile card games and eating the same bland food. The chatter of dozens of voices, the occasional clang of pots in the kitchen, and the long oak benches had become comforting to him. It was always a place of good memories, with more to be made in the upcoming weeks. Every camp season’s orientation was in here as a meeting place for new and old camp members and counselors.

Louis and his large group of friends sat together, taking up most of a section in the back. To his left was Marlon, sent to camp for extreme anger issues and fits of violence. On his right was Violet, who was sent for “not having any emotions,” according to her mother.

“So, Violet,” Louis starts. “I see Minnie and Sophie aren’t here. Do you know why?”

She blushed a pale rose at the mention of her annual summer-time girlfriend. “No idea. Maybe they did some acts of good service or some shit and their mom let them stay home.”

“That’d be a real shame, wouldn’t it?” Marlon teased, poking his head into their conversation.

“Fuck off,” Vi replied. “Why don’t you and Brody go get a heads start on sucking face in the bathrooms?”

Louis chucked, “And probably other parts of their bodies—“

He was cut off by the shrilling sound of an older man’s voice—Mr. Ericson’s voice, in the introduction of the same bullshit speech he gave every year about their mission to help each individual personally.

“While we stick with the same foundation to Ericson’s,” he went on. “This year, we have decided to make a change considering our counselors.”

Everybody started chatting once again, most in hopes that they finally fired Larry, the oldest and strictest counselor at Ericson’s.

“Settle down, everyone,” the old man interrupted. “No, we have not fired anybody, though Larry has retired. This year, we have hired some junior counselors to tag along with a senior one. They’re all teenagers, like yourselves, so that you can really see examples of responsible, well-rounded young adults.”

Marlon shifted towards Louis. “You think any of them will be hot?”

Louis shook his head. “Nah. Even if, they’re ‘well-rounded young adults.’ They wouldn’t go for us.”

“Well, if there are any, I call dibs.” Marlon stated, forcing a laugh out of Louis.

“We’ll see about that.”

Marlon roller his eyes subtly before turning back to face the front.

“Alright, everybody! Start heading to your assigned cabins and get rested for the first day of activities tomorrow. If you see a new counselor, make sure to introduce yourself! They won’t bite!” Mr. Ericson said, making only himself laugh.

+++

Later that night, once the moon was at its peak and everyone else was asleep, Louis crept out out of the cabin he shared with three others—Marlon, Mitch, and Justin. It was still moderately warm outside, but thankfully accompanied by a brisk wind which would pass by every so often. Clad in just sweatpants and an old provided green camp t-shirt, Louis made his best attempt to rush over to the music and arts hall as quick as he could. Dirt crunched beneath his shoes, making him worry he’d awaken somebody in his pursuit.

Finally, he made it to the small building which held his favorite past-time at camp, the grand piano. He had always loved music, although most nobody took him seriously when they heard him play, except for his mom. Even Marlon couldn’t hold a straight face when Louis played him Für Elise, which he had finally mastered after three straight weeks of learning it. Louis kept playing, though, even if it had to be in the dead of night.

He tip-toed up the rickety stairs to the front door, grabbing the rusted door knob once reaching the top. It didn’t budge.

“Dammit,” he whispered.

Suddenly, a nearby door creaked open, allowing dim light from inside to drain out onto the ground. Louis pressed his back against the door, still peaking his head to see in front of a pillar. All he could really make out was the silhouette of a girl, appearing to be carrying a small plastic bag out to a trash can. She clearly wasn’t a senior counselor, leaving her only to be a new camper or one of the new, dearly beloved junior counselors. Louis figured he wouldn’t get in too much of trouble if he just started walking back to his cabin then. And he may get to meet somebody new while doing it.

He started making his way towards the group of trash cans where the mysterious girl stood, pushing down whatever she just placed in. As he got closer, he was able to discern more characteristics of the figure, like her curly hair tied into two full pigtails. While this was expected to make someone seem child-like, Louis could already tell from the back of her that she could pull it off.

Once he got a few feet away from her, he greeted in a muted shout, “Hey!”

She jumped a bit in her place, instinctively turning around, curly tendrils hitting against her jaw.

The first thing Louis noticed about her were her eyes—bright even in the darkness and the color of ancient amber. They startled him, but he still found them beautiful, enchanting, even. She was on the shorter side, yet still held herself as if she was tall. She wore a pair of black exercise shorts and a baby blue t-shirt, signifying that she was in fact a junior counselor.

He supposed he was wrong earlier that there wouldn’t be any attractive ones. This girl was so much more than attractive, though.

“Hello?” She responded, curiously and dragging out her word.

“Sorry to disrupt your nightly chores. I’m Louis,” he apologized before holding out his hand.

She grasped it and shook it, suspiciously. “Clementine.”

“Well, I guess I should cut to the chase. See, the music hall is locked, preventing me from becoming the world’s next best pianist. Now, I know I’m not supposed to be awake, but neither are you most likely. So I was wondering if maybe you could unlock it for me?” He rushed out, flashing a toothy grin at the end in hopes his charm would woo her.

Clementine sighed before looking at him quizzically. After a moment, she gave in and shrugged her shoulders. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to do. You’re lucky I have the keys to it.”

Louis pumped his fist in the air, really not expecting her to say yes. “Booyah! Thank you, Clementine.”

She smiled kindly at him and started walking towards the music hall. Louis followed behind her, jogging to catch up. He looked over at her and realized her eyebrows were now furrowed together as she reached up to her lanyard to grab the set of keys, fingering one silver one over the others.

Once they reached the cabin, she swiftly jabbed it in and unlocked it. As soon as the door opened, Louis could smell the scent of waxed floors and oak. In the back left corner lay his favorite piano, tempting his fingers to spread across the white notes. He cooly walked over to it and sat down, trying not to let Clementine see him get too giddy.

“How long have you been playing?” She asked, leaning against the cover.

“A few years, I mostly play when I come here, though,” he explained.

“So you’re a regular camper? That must suck.”

“It has its pros,” Louis shrugged. “You clearly aren’t the biggest fan of this place. Why’d you wanna’ work here?”

Clementine walked around the piano, sitting down next to him on the stool. “It pays well and seemed easy, but I don’t know if I’ll have this job for too much longer if anyone finds out about this.” She looked around the room.

“You really aren’t being that good of an influence on me, but don’t worry, I won’t tell.” He said, winking and splaying his fingers across the board.

He started playing a song from memory, not remembering which one it was. His palms felt sweaty with Clementine sitting right next to him, observing each melody played. She sat quietly, and from Louis’ peripheral vision, she was grinning loosely.

“You’re quite good, you know,” she complimented. “I’m not sure why you feel the need to do this at one in the morning, though.”

He played one more chord before stopping and meeting his eyes to her’s. “Maybe this was all just a master plan to talk to a pretty girl like yourself.”

She blushed, glancing down at the floor before standing up. “I should probably start getting back to my cabin. Need to be up early tomorrow.”

“Right. So do I, I don’t want Marlon to wake up and call for, like, a rescue team,” Louis joked, raising up next to her. “Let me walk you back to your cabin. It’s the least I can do.”

“It’s only like a hundred feet from here. I can handle myself, but thank you.” Clementine ticked her hair behind an ear before pacing over to the front door. “See you around, I hope.”

He raised his hand and waved. “Goodnight, Clementine.”

“Goodnight, Louis.”

She closed the door behind her as she left, leaving Louis alone, standing amidst the dying candle light.

He could feel his heart beating the whole walk back as he thought about the way she’d said his name when she wished him goodnight.

[just-jordie-things]

Weakness - Mitch Rapp

word count: really fuckin long (9269) warnings: swearing, violence, the torture kind, mitch being hot as always

You sat at the kitchen table of your cabin home, a glass of water in your hands as you watched the outdoors curiously.  A black SUV had pulled in front of the house, a woman leaving it but you could tell that there were others in it.  You stood up, wandering closer and wrapping your cardigan around your tank top and shirts to preserve your warmth as you opened the door, just enough to hear what was going on outside.

“Irene, I don’t approve of it, and neither would your Daddy” Stan spoke to the woman you now remembered.  Head of the CIA.  You didn’t know Irene well, just that Stan worked under her.

“I’ll be checking in every forty eight hours” She spoke affirmatively, and walked off, getting back in the car.  Someone got out, that you couldn’t see until the vehicle drove off.  Leaving behind probably the most gorgeous man you’d ever seen.  Thick shaggy hair and you could tell he was hiding muscles under his big baggy coat.  Your brow raised, gaining even more curiosity at the new meat that ad been dropped off.

There hadn’t been any new comers in a few months, so you wondered what made this one so special.

You couldn���t hear well what the new guy and Stan were saying, just that it was tense.  You figured Stan didn’t want him there, judging by what he’d told Irene earlier.  After a few minutes, one of Stan’s men came up, and led the new guy into the house.  You finally stepped outside, leaning over the rail as Stan stood on the steps.

“Who’s the new fella?” You asked, and he gave you a bored look as he lit his cigarette.

“Unwelcome that’s what” He said gruffly.  You rolled your eyes, snatching the offending stick from his mouth.

“You’re supposed to be on the patch dad” You told him, putting it out by smushing it on the rail, then flicking it out to the yard.  He just rolled his eyes and continued on inside.

You wondered what was to come next.

“This here, the living room” The guard that Mitch had been following said, gesturing into the empty room.  “Past that, the kitchen” He continued.  “And the dining room, but no one eats too much”

“Usually they go out to eat, get a chance out of this crazy ass place” The man chuckled, but Mitch didn’t say anything.

He wasn’t sure yet if he even wanted to be here.  He knew that he could get the job done if he was on his own, he didn’t need some boss telling him what to do and when to do it.

“You guys got some kind of training room or something? Or am I just supposed to beat on a tree?”

“Well that’s rude” Mitch spun on heels, not having expected to see a girl sitting on the kitchen counter.  Your ankles crossed as your legs swung back and forth slightly.  “What has a tree every do to you?” His brows furrowed, unsure of what to make of you.  But you just smirked, rolling your eyes as you looked at Tim, the guard your father had placed with the new guy.  “Who’s the new meat?” You ignored the side glance Mitch gave you.

“Rapp, Mitch” Tim told you, handing you the file folder in his hands.  “Interested?” Your eyes flickered back over to the shaggy haired man, lashes dangerously low as you looked him up and down.

“Perhaps” You smirked, taking the folder with an inquisitive look on your face as you opened it up.

Expelled by three boarding skills, all dating after his parents died in a car crash.  Seemed like the CIA had kept tabs on him since the shooting on the beach in Spain, and you weren’t too surprised to see that his fiance was murdered there.

“Quite an origin story” You said, mostly to yourself as your eyes expertly scanned the different sections on the paper.  You cared a little less about the little details, more about why he was recruited.  Impressed by what was listed under his skill set, you looked between the two men in front of you, before hopping off the counter, and giving the folder back to Tim.

“Recluse?” Tim asked, as if wondering if you shared the same thoughts.  You stared at Mitch for a few moments longer than the average glance, only raising more questions about you from him.

“Perhaps” The word came out slowly before you turned to leave the room.  “I’m off to find… Stan” You said carefully, then left.  Tim didn’t question the way you didn’t call the man Dad.  He knew that for whatever reason, you were messing with Mitch.  And it seemed to work.

“Who the hell was that?” Mitch asked in a low voice, hoping that the girl couldn’t hear him from the other room.  Jokes on him though, because you stood just on the other side of the doorway.

“She lives here too” Tim said, and you silently thanked him for keeping your identity a mystery.  It just adds to the fun.

And with that, you walked off to your quarters to change into workout gear.

You saw him again while you were in the middle of your private session, practicing with your knives on the targets placed on the trees around you.  You watched as he walked along the trail, behind the rest of the group that Stan led.  You continued to stare, taking in the new guy - Mitch Rapp.  His fists were clenched, the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up to his elbows, and you couldn’t help but admire the defined veins on his forearms.  He kept his head down, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was hiding from the rest of the group he followed after.

His head snapped up, almost as if you’d called after him, his eyes finding yours, watching you intensely as you stood there, in your running shorts and sports bra.  Your weapons were out of sight, so his mind went running with what the hell you were doing out here.  In a last minute decision, you tentatively waved at him, making sure that no one else he was with saw the action.  Mitch stopped in his tracks, not even looking towards the others, his gaze firmly set on you.

Who the hell is this girl? He thought to himself.  Watching as you leaned up against a tree, still smiling slightly as your hand wrapped over your opposite arm.  He recognized it as a nervous action immediately.  You were twenty feet away, too far for him to speak to you without getting called out, but even if he’d wanted to he was already too late.

“Rapp! Hurry it up!” Stan called, and as soon as he looked towards the man then back towards you, you were gone.  “What’s got your head in the clouds boy!? Get the fuck over here!” Mitch hesitated for only a second, checking one last time to see you had completely vanished, then running off to catch up with the group.

You let out a breath, slumping against the tree trunk you’d slipped behind to hide yourself.  The air you let out was visible in front of you, and you still saw it as you breathed heavily from the fear of being caught outside by your father.  You peeked your head around the side, seeing Mitch jogging off after the group that was now too far into the woods for you to see.  When he was no longer in your sight as well, you went back to the row of knives that lay on a towel, and began to practice again.

Your father, bless his Navy protective soul, had every bone in his body against you practicing his work.  When you were younger, sixteen maybe, he’d given you basic MMA training.  In case there were ever an incident where you’d need to fight off somebody.  But your interest only grew, and soon enough you were running through his practice courses after he went to bed, memorizing and killing holographic targets.  And truth be told, you were very good.

And that’s what worried Stan.

You were good, great, maybe even perfect.  But he didn’t want you going around thinking that you could start tagging along on missions, or worse, sneaking around on them,  Because you could get yourself hurt, and he couldn’t have that.  You were all he had left, and you were the only reason he continued to fight and train new recruits every day.  You getting hurt, or worse, would be the end of his cause.

You’d heard the lecture countless times, and it’s what led you to train and practice when he was pre-occupied, as not to upset him further.  It’s not like it was a secret to him, but he prefered to know you were training alone, and not getting mixed up with his men.  That way you couldn’t get an earful of upcoming missions.

You angrily twirled the ring of the dagger between your fingers, before whipping your arm forwards and landing the knife right in the red center of the wooden target.

Bullseye.

“Everytime” You said to yourself with a smirk, then yanked the blade out of the cut up wood.  You made a mental note to make new targets soon.

Dusk came fast, and you had to rush into the house before your father and his recruits finished their training, as not to get caught.  You made it in just in time, stashing your targets and weapons in the middle dresser drawer.

You’d rearrange your room long, keeping your dresser hidden in your closet, out of sight if someone were to burst into your room and find you hiding your weapons.  Growing up the daughter of an assassin, you were very precautious.

After making sure everything was organized, you double checked the lock on your door, and gathered sleepwear before heading into the bathroom.  You were grateful to as least have a bathroom attached to your room, that you didn’t have to share with any of the men who stayed here.  You turned the shower to scalding, as you stripped out of your sticky clothes.

Mitch was standing at the window, the moon and stars the only source of light spilling into the room, him being the only life inside of it.  He was having one of his much needed moments to himself, away from anyone else, just him and his thoughts.  And the dark trees just outside the window.

“Some run away, you know” A familiar voice drew him from his deep, and rather dark, thoughts.  He turned to see you, clad in sweatpants too long for you and a tee shirt with a team name on it that he’d never heard of before.  “You could run away” You said, your voice softer than he’d heard it when he was standing here before.

“Why should I run away?” He asked, and you shrugged, your blank expression unwavering.

“I dunno” You said quietly, looking down at the material pooled at your feet, and blue painted toes the only part visible.  Your hands wound together behind your back, unsure of what to say next.

“Should I?” He questioned again, but you didn’t look back up.

“Why do I care, I don’t know you” You spoke, a little louder, but not by much.  You had to be quiet anyways, the rest of the house was asleep and you didn’t want to wake anyone and bring attention to the fact that you were disobeying one of your father’s rules.  Talking to his recruits.  There were only a select few that you were allowed to speak with, but they were only guards.

“I meant is there a reason I should be packing up right now and getting the hell out of here?” He asked, turning away from the window now and looking at you directly.

“That’s up to you” You said, finally bringing your eyes back to his.  The truth of this came over him like a strange realization, and he bit back the urge to say I guess you’re right.

“Are you a recruit? Why were you training by yourself?” He asked, steering his attention away from the fact that you were still a stranger to him.  Though you’d read his file, so you knew more about him than he knew about you.

“No, I’m not one of you CIA killers” You said with a slight laugh as you padded into the kitchen, looking for something to do to get out of this awkwardness.  “Most people deny the fact that they’re a murderer”

“I wouldn’t say murderer” Mitch said.  “Killer and murderer are two different things”

“Have you killed people or not?” You asked with an arched brow as you opened up the fridge.

“Yes, but it’s not like they didn’t des-”

“If they’re dead, they’re dead.  They aren’t coming back, you murdered them” You said matter of factly, but your voice had a cold edge to it.  Mitch’s jaw set in place as he mulled over what to say to that.

“You’re not wrong” He said after a while, and you shrugged a shoulder as you settled on grabbing a beer.

“I know.  Care to have a drink with me Mitch Rapp?”

“I don’t know you” He quoted you from earlier.  You just rolled your eyes, and grabbed another bottle, extending it out towards him.

“If I tell you I’m not a terrorist, will you accept?” You asked.  He gave you a slightly suspicious look before taking it from you.  You smiled slightly, closing the fridge and walking back towards the sliding door.  Stepping out, you looked back to see he was still standing there.  “What? Afraid of the dark?” You taunted slightly, and he followed you out, closing the door behind him as you sat on a patio chair that you could lay back slightly on.  He took the one next to you, but sat on it sideways.  You watched as he took a swig from his bottle.  You copied the action.

“I’m not with the CIA” He said, catching you off guard.

“What?”

“You called me a CIA killer, I’m not with them” He said, and you tried not to laugh.

“Seriously? You’re on the base, you’re with the recruits.  You’re an agent, Rapp”

“You’re one to talk you’re here too”

“That doesn’t make me an agent”

“Well from what you just said to me you are” He said almost sassily

“Nope” You popped your lips on the word, taking a long drink of your beer.

“Then what does that make you?”

“Makes me Stan’s daughter” You said, raising your eyebrows at him.  Knowing you’d won.  Mitch looked taken aback, his hand coming up to rub along his jaw, scratching at the scruff there.  “Surprised?” You asked, eyes trained on the small opening of the glass in your hands.

“More like confused” He said.  You looked at him, eyes full of wonder as you could practically see the gears in his mind turn.

“Well? You don’t know me remember? Ask away” You said, in a kind tone he hadn’t heard before.  He stared at you for a moment, glancing you over like he was reading you, or your body language.  It was almost like you had multiple personalities, he couldn’t pick anything up from you.  And that was a skill he’d prided himself in.  “What?” The word came out in a whisper.  “What’s with the interrogating look?”

“What is this? What’s your play?” He asked almost calmly.  Your brows rose with amusement.

“My play?” You repeated, a smirk on your lips.  He nodded, and you took a drink before sitting up in the seat the way he was, facing him completely now.  “Well Rapp, since you speak like I’m an enemy, I’ll tell you exactly”

“Good, make it easy” Your expression grew blank, so he couldn’t get a read on you as you spoke.

“My play is that I’m making nice, I’m not even aloud to be speaking with any of you recruits, but there’s something so exhilarating about sneaking out here with you Mitch” You said, your eyes rolling up with delight as you told him your slight scandal.  “And while I know nothing of you but your background, which truly is not the whole story, a person’s past makes who they are, but you have… quite an interesting one that I’d personally love to hear all about”

“Is that right?” He asked, his tone holding no emotion to it.

“Mhm.  Besides, I also need you” Mitch’s brows furrowed together as you smiled, your lips tugging up into quite a beautiful little smile actually.

“You need me?” You hummed again.  “What possibly for? I don’t… hell I don’t even know your name yet”

“Oh well my apologies, I’m y/n” You stuck your hand out, and he shook it slowly, not breaking eye contact with you.  “And I need a sparring partner”

“You want to fight me?” Mitch chuckled with delight.  “Oh, darling I’d snap you in half like a twig” You released his hand, the pet name shocking you momentarily.

“Oh? Is that so?” You asked, and he nodded, his smug smile still there.  “Wonderful, I’d love a challenge”

“I’m not even allowed to fight your father’s men, what makes you think I can his daughter?” He asked, and you stood up, putting your hands on your hips.  He followed, towering over you.

“That’s half the fun, Rapp” You smirked as you spoke quietly, seeing he was just inches away from you.

“You’re going to get yourself killed” He said, and you shrugged a shoulder.

“How would you know? You just learned my name, you don’t know anything about me”

“Please, I’m not fighting a girl that I have to look down to to speak-” Mitch was cut off as your leg kicked his out from under him and before he could react your hand his arms pinned tightly on the ground above his head, straddling over his torso.  Your lips pulled up in an excited smile.  “Tomorrow work for you?” He asked, and you nodded eagerly, hopping off of him and bouncing slightly.

“Thank you, God, you just saved me from chopping up and painting new targets” You said, throwing your arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek before thinking.  But you didn’t care, just grabbed your beer and tiptoed back inside.  Mitch spun to watch your retreating figure as you drank down the last of your liquor and put the bottle on the counter.  It’d been a long time since he’d had physical contact like that, and it threw him off guard.  “Hey” You called out in a whisper.  “Either come in or close the door, you’re letting cold air in” You said.

“Sorry” He mumbled, stepping in and closing the door shut behind him, locking it on instinct.  He turned back to you to see you had your bare arms wrapped around yourself now.

“You don’t have to lock it, nobody else lives out here but us” You told him as he set his empty beer next to yours.

“Still” Was all he said, and you didn’t argue it.  Just looked at the time on the microwave.

“It’s two in the morning, and my dad’s gonna come wake you all up at six so you better go back to your bunk” You said, your fingers fiddling with the drawstring on your sweatpants.

“Alright” He sighed out the word, running a hand through his dark curls, turning to head out of the house.  You followed slightly, having to head the same way to go to your room, but you trailed him all the way to the front door, opening it and leaning against it to support your tired body.

“Have a good night, Mitch Rapp” You told him quietly as he stepped outside.

“You too miss Hurley” He responded with a nod, and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“y/l/n” You corrected, and he gave you a curious look.  “My last name’s y/l/n” He nodded, not questioning it as he smiled just barely, backing up a little.

“Well then goodnight, miss y/l/n” He said, then turned and jogged towards his bunk.  You allowed your smile to appear as he ran off, closing the door and leaning your back against it for a while.

This, would be the beginning of yours and Mitch’s story.

4 months later

“Mitch god take a fucking shower” You begged, holding your hand over your nose as he entered the hotel room

“y/n god get a life” He taunted back, yanking your blanket off of you as he passed you on the bed.

“Hey” You whined, grasping the cover and pulling it back over you while he went to the dresser.

You were currently on his mission with him, and your father but he had a separate room.  So did you, you just prefered to stay in this one.  Without your father’s awareness of course.  You weren’t technically on the mission with them, you were just there so Stan could keep an eye on you while him and Mitch did all the real work.

Victor had been there to help to but… recent events led to him no longer being a part of the unit.

“Did you do the ass kickings today?” You asked him while he was still rummaging in the dresser drawers.  He laughed slightly at your wording, and shrugged his shoulders.

“Just found out more of your dad’s secrets, nothing went down today or anything” You nodded, and he turned to face you, sweatpants and his black long sleeved shirt in his hand.  “I’m gonna take that shower now, you want to order room service?” You nodded, sitting up in bed to reach for the phone.  “Need anything before I go?”

“Mitch your twenty feet away, I’ll be fine” You chuckled as he rolled his eyes and headed into the bathroom.

“Try not to think too hard about me!” He called playfully before closing the door, and you almost laughed, but didn’t

It felt like you’d been friends with Mitch Rapp for a long time, but in reality you’d only known each other for a few months.  But he was the only person you pretty much ever interacted with, and you him, so it was easy to get close.  After so many sparring sessions, sneaking out to go on walks and staying up late to see each other, you just grew to be friends.  And it was easy.  He opened up more to you, and you mostly to him.  But with closeness, came feelings.  And the kind that you’d never felt before you met Mitch, which both frightened and excited you.

You fell back onto the bed as you rang for room service, ordering a large pizza and two bottles of their strongest wine.  You thanked the man and hung up the phone, then quickly changed into cotton sleeping shorts and a long sleeved sweatshirt that almost covered the hems of the shorts, but it was comfortable so you didn’t care.

The running water of the shower stopped shortly after, and you were flicking through tv channels on the couch when Mitch came out, falling onto the cushion next to you as you searched for something.

“I never watch tv, I wouldn’t even know what’s good” You said, handing him the remote and propping your elbow on the armrest to keep your head up.

“I don’t much either” He said, but settled on a show that seemed dramatic enough to keep watching.  Again, you zoned out, even as the scene intensified.  Your mind buzzing with all these thoughts and questions.  After a few minutes you glanced over at Mitch, studying his face as he seemed to enjoy what was playing.  You smiled slightly, glad to see he felt relaxed enough to wind down.  It wasn’t much that Mitch would relax.  “Hey, what’s wrong?” He asked in a gentle voice, and you realized he’d caught you staring.

“Oh, sorry” You mumbled, looking quickly back to the television and trying to figure out what was happening in the scene.

“No really” Mitch spoke again, his hand laying on your shoulder.  “y/n”

“I just wish I could go with you guys” You said lamely.  But it wasn’t a lie.  “I can help, I know what I’m doing, I train all the time” Mitch’s face fell, his hand rubbing into your shoulder now.

“I know” He said quietly.  “I know you can, but it’s not my rule” Your lips pulled to the side with disappointment.  “He’s just trying to keep you safe, you’re safer here, away from harm” He added, and you rolled your eyes.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass about safety” You grumbled.

“Well I do” He said, and you gave him a bored look.

“Seriously? You” You stated in monotone and he nodded.

“When it comes to the only person worth my time, fuck yeah” He said with a big stupid smile that was meant to make you laugh, but you just stared down at your lap to hide your blushing cheeks.  “But hey, I know that it’s something that means a lot to you, and I’m sorry”

“It’s okay” You whispered.  “It’s not your fault” His hand released your shoulder to cup around your cheek, thumb stroking over the soft skin.

“I’m still sorry” He said, and you gave him half a smile.  You would’ve liked to sit here like this, staring into his whiskey colored eyes forever, but there were quick knocks on the door.

“Room Service!” A voice called, and Mitch got up.

“Stay here, I’ll get it” He said, grabbing the gun off the coffee table and tucking it behind him in the waistband of his sweatpants.  A safety precaution he’d taken last night as well when you’d shown up at the door.  You could hear the exchange of words and soon enough, he was walking in with a box of pizza and two wine bottles.

“So he wasn’t a terrorist?” You asked playfully, to which he ignored as he set the food on the table in front of you, the both of you taking a slice and each popping open the wine.

“Jesus y/n how expensive was this?”

“Who cares it’s on my Dad’s tab” You said with a mouthful of pizza.  Mitch just laughed and clinked his bottle against yours.

“Cheers to you and your Dad’s tab” He said before taking a drink.

“You know what’s real nice Mitch? You wanna know somethin’ real real nice?” You asked, crawling over close to him on the sofa.  He looked at you with amusement all over his face as your drunken stature wobbled and fell momentarily against his shoulder.  “Oops” You grumbled, sitting back up on your hands and knees.

“Do tell me something nice” He said, setting his barely drank from bottle of wine on the table next to your three quarters empty one.

“You have such traceable face… like dot to dot” You told him as your fingers lazily drew patterns all over his face, not even where his freckles were scattered on his jaw.  But your fingertips ran all over his nose and forehead and ears and lips.  You leaned closer, your eyes narrowing as you focused on the top of his lip, your digit continually tracing over it.  “You have a cupid’s bow” You told him, surprise on your features.

“I know” He chuckled as you went back to work drawing invisible pictures on his face.

“I’d like to kiss that cupid’s bow” You told him, and for a moment he wasn’t sure what to say.  In fact, even if you weren’t drunk he wouldn’t know what to say.

“Maybe when you aren’t intoxicated” He told you softly, and if you’d remember this moment tomorrow, he’d hold himself to this promise.  You grinned and nodded eagerly.

“Okay!” You said loudly, and it made him laugh again.  You must’ve decided you were done playing with his freckles because your slumped back against the couch, your head falling onto his shoulder as you watched the show again.  You began giggling, seemingly uncontrollably, and it made him sigh slightly.  Because nothing funny happened in the show.  “Mitch? Mitchy you’re not laughing” You said, your finger poking up against his cheek.

“Come here pretty girl” He sighed, wrapping an arm around you and you crawled into his lap.  You leaned your sad against his chest, your legs bent at the knees and resting on the back of the couch.  “You, just get your little drunk ass to rest alright?”

“Mhm okie dokie” You hummed, hands patting flat on his chest.\ then sliding up to wrap around the base of his neck.

“Are you going to choke me?” He asked, and you just shook your head.

“No…. ‘m holdin’ on to you” You mumbled back in a slur.  “I like holdin’ onto you” You added, and he looked down at you with a gentle expression, lips tugging slightly.

“That’s alright” He said, rubbing his hand up and down your back.  You hummed, pushing your nose into his chest, inhaling deeply.

“You smell so good” You whispered, arms wrapping completely around his neck now.  Mitch laughed as you moved, the tip of your nose pushing against the base of his throat.

“y/n” He said softly, holding you back so you were again leaning on his shoulder.  “Go to sleep okay?”

“Okay” You murmured, eyes slipping shut as your body relaxed into his.  “You’ll stay here?” You whispered.

“Yeah… yeah I’ll stay here” He assured, and you smacked your lips quietly a few times before allowing yourself to slip into a slumber.

Mitch watched you, carefully, not wanting to wake you up.  His hand moved gently to tuck your hair back behind your ear.  He let out a short breath, watching you peacefully rest there in his arms.

He couldn’t deny that since you and him had become such close friends, there was something else there.  And he was reminded of it every second of his day.  When he was leaving on a mission, when he was out there, and especially as soon as he got back, finding you curled up in bed, half asleep but he knew you were only still up because you were waiting for him.  He always knew you waited for him to return home, safe.  He also knew you’d never admit it.

But there were countless other things he’d never admit to you either.

The next morning you woke up in a bed, your head hurting and your eyes blinking a few times to adjust to the dim lights in the room.

“I tried to keep them as low as possible, sorry if they woke you” A gentle voice spoke, and you looked over to see Mitch, loading his shotgun.  You were quiet for a few minutes as you pieced together the few memories you had of last night.  

It was like a messy montage of touching Mitch’s face and laughing, you weren’t sure what all had happened.

“Are you leaving?” You asked tiredly, forcing yourself to sit up as you watching him tuck a knife into either of his pockets.

“Yeah, Stan’s got a good lead on where Ghost is” He said, and you frowned instantly at him sitting straighter and ignoring the way your eyes hurt, as if you’d been staring at a screen for hours straight.  “It’ll be fine-”

“Don’t fucking say that, it’s a nuclear bomb” You said, voice laced with anger.

“y/n” Mitch stood in front of you as you sat on the edge of the mattress, staring up at him.  “Trust me” He said gently.  “Can you do that?” You sighed, closing your eyes and nodding.  Knowing deep down, you trusted this man with your life.  “I’m coming back” He assured, and you refrained from rolling your eyes.

“Yeah, in pieces” You grumbled, and he laughed, kneeling down in front of you.  Your eyes never left his as his hands cupped around your face for a moment.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about” He said, dropping his hands to rest overtop of yours.

“I have everything to worry about, the only two people in my life are going out to take down some psychopath terrorist with a nucl-”

“I’m coming back” He whispered again, his hands squeezing yours.  “I’m coming back” You blinked, then leaned forward and tucked your head against his shoulder, arms shaking as they wrapped around his neck.  Mitch held you back, taking in a deep breath as you sunk off the bed and onto the floor in front of him.  Neither of you said anything as his hand cradled the back of your head, and neither of you wanted to let go but you knew you had to.

“You better get going before my Dad bursts in here looking for you” You sniffed quietly, hoping he wouldn’t hear.  He did of course, but didn’t say anything about it.

“Yeah he wouldn’t be too fond of finding you in here” He said quietly, eyes flickering for the briefest of moments down towards your lips.  You laughed one small bitter laugh as he stood up, holding his hands out and helping you to your feet as well.  “I’ll see you soon, okay?” You nodded as his palm brushed over your cheek once more, before he turned to head out of the room.

It took everything you had in you not to call out to him as he left.

“You’re gonna have to get your head out of your ass if you want to get out of here” Stan grunted, his arm struggling as it was caught in a metal contraption.  Mitch snarled slightly but didn’t say anything, just fiddled more with the plastic that had been bound his wrists tightly behind him.  He was this close to breaking free from the zip tie, when Ghost came back into the dirty room.

That was the best way to describe it, dirty.  It looked exactly like the kind of place a murder happens, or drugs are exchanged.  Cement walls and floors, a plastic medical curtain separating the physicists lab from where Mitch and Stan were chained up.

While Stan had gotten the crap tortured out of him, already missing two of his fingernails, a nasty gash on his arm, and undergone electrocution, Mitch just sat on the floor, tied up, and not once had a fist landed on his jaw, or some medical instrument ripped out his tongue.  He remained unscathed.

“Now, is there a team outside or not?” He asked darkly, holding a metal bar in his hand.

“Way to be the cliche of all kidnappers ever” Mitch grunted.  Ghost turned to him, a glare on his face that didn’t unsettle Mitch whatsoever.

“I’d be careful, boy” He growled.  “Just because I haven’t beat the shit out of you, doesn’t mean I don’t have a way of making you talk”

“I doubt that” Mitch tested, his eyes narrowing at the ex Navy Seal.

“Ronnie don’t be a dumbass” Stan said, earning a blow to the side of the head with the bar.  The chained man spit blood onto the ground, a tooth wiggling loose in his mouth.

“Don’t.  Call.  Me.  That!” He yelled angrily.

“Then don’t be so fucking stupid! You think I’m gonna give this reclusive boy for fucks sake any information? Please” He scoffed, and Ghost smirked slightly.

“Well why don’t we put that to the test, huh?” He said, raising a daring brow between the two men.  Mitch gave Stan a look, thinking he was about to be tortured next, and he wondered what his punishment was.  A beating? That blow torch? His own nails pried off one by one?  “You gents stay here, while I go bring in a new… toy” He grinned to himself before leaving the room.

“He’s a fucking maniac” Mitch said, getting back to work on releasing himself from his zip tie.

“Yeah, and I thought you were crazy” Stan replied.  “No matter what, you don’t give away an ounce of information” He warned.

“Please” Mitch scoffed.  “He’s got nothing on me, nothing could get me to-” Mitch stopped when Ghost came back in, dragging a body with him.  

Your body.

A rag tied around your head between your mouth, your wrists behind your back in the same zip tie that Mitch was in.  Legs battered and bruised so much that Mitch figured you couldn’t hold yourself up to run away even if you tried.

“What’s that Rapp?” Ghost said, a menacing smile twisted on his lips.  “Nothing can get you to speak?” Stan gave Mitch an even darker look than Ghost’s, but he didn’t dare ask what his daughter had to do with Mitch’s weakness.  “Because… funny story actually… your stupid little camera through the air conditioning unit? Well, I replaced it with that of my own” He chuckled, and Mitch glared angrily at the man, two words short of ripping off his zip tie and tackling him to the ground.

“She’s got nothing to do with any of this” He growled out.  You writhed in pain against the restraints behind you, never having felt so weak and useless in your entire life.

“Actually, pretty little y/n here has everything to do with everything” Ghost said.

“She’s not even an agent” Stan spoke up, trying to seem nonchalant.  Gost just chuckled.

“No, but she’s your daughter, isn’t she?” He spoke, and Stan visibly paled.  Mitch rushed forward awkwardly on his knees, as though begging for him not to lay a finger on you.

“She knows nothing, don’t hurt her” He rushed quickly, but as soon as he was two feet away from you, Ghost pulled out a knife.  A simple blade, pressed against your throat as his hand roughly grabbed a fistful of your hair.  You whimpered against the rag in your mouth.  Your captor cut away the gag, and you gasped for air.

“M-Mitch don’t say a th-”

“Shut the fuck up!” Ghost’s hand in your hair tightened and you cried out, your words halting.  “Well? If no one starts talking she’s about to get a knife in her gorgeous clavicle” He said, pressing the tip of the dagger against the base of your throat.  “The Hurley specialty, right?” He smirked, and Mitch sat frozen in front of them, torn on what to do.  If he spoke, he’d be committing treason, and the CIA would throw him into one of their lifetime imprisonment cells.  If he kept quiet, the only person he had left would be killed.

“Don’t say anything” You pleaded, tears mixing with blood on your cheeks.  Mitch deflated as he stared at you, his eyes locking on yours.

“You’ve got a real tough girl here Rapp” Ghost said, trailing the knife dangerously down your cheekbone, a thin line of blood left in it’s wake.

“Stop it!” Mitch yelled angrily, and next thing he knew, the knife was no longer against you.

It was thrown into his abdomen.

“Mitch!” You scream was all he could hear, echoing across the walls in the room.  He looked down at the weapon lodged into him, blood pooling and seeping through his shirt.  Ghost threw you to the ground, but you scampered up, ignoring the pain in your arms as you forced yourself up to see what was happening.

Mitch mumbled something as Ghost grew nearer to him.

“What’s that?” He asked.  “Opening up now are we?” He smirked, and Mitch glared up at him.

“Rule number three” He uttered, and in a flash, he’d broken out of the zip tie, and yanked the dagger straight out of him, piercing into the side of Ghost’s neck.  “Don’t get too close” He finished, watching the life drain right out of the terrorist’s face, as he toppled to the ground.  A few staggered breaths came from the assassin, something that looked like relief flooding over his expression, and you felt it too.

Right up until he fell back onto the ground.

“Mitch!” You cried, scurrying over to him awkwardly and painfully, but pushing it away as you leaned over him, ripped your wrists straight out of the restraint, a sudden rush of energy coming over your to do so, and you ignored the burning feeling it left behind.  “Mitch? Mitch open your eyes” You were crying, one of your hands pressing against his wound, hoping to stop the bleeding, the other reaching up to lay on his cheek.  “Wake up, Mitch wake up” You pleaded over and over in whimpers, your ear pressing against his chest, hearing the faintest of heartbeats.

“y/n” Your father spoke your name, softly and sadly, but you ignored him.

“Come on Mitch, come on wake up” You shook his head slightly with your hand, fingers threading through the dark curls you loved so much.

“y/n he’s-”

Stan was cut off when Mitch suddenly gasped, eyes flying open and breathing hard, catching the breath he’d momentarily lost.  You choked out a sob, a pained smile stretching across your face as both of your bloody hands cupped around his face.

“Goddamnit Rapp” You cursed him, palms still on his cheeks as your head fell to his chest for a moment before looking back up at him, eyes teary and your smile wavering.  “You were dead”

“I’m here- I’m alive” He said quietly, and pushed your matted and blood splattered hair behind your ear.  “I told you I’d come back” A broken laugh came from your lips at his stupid smile and you fell down against him again.

“Will someone get me out of this and tell me what the fuck is going on?” Stan, of course, ruined the moment.  You pushed yourself to stand, helping Mitch sit up before going to your father, and untangling his arm from the chains so he could unwind the metal piece that snared his other arm.

“Are you mad at me?” You asked quietly.

“Fuming” He grunted, rubbing the sore bruise that had grown on his wrist.  “But right now, I’m too thankful that you’re still alive” He breathed, and hugged you tightly.  You hugged back, feeling just as grateful for his life too.

“I’m sorry” You whispered when you pulled away, and Stan went over to Mitch, holding him up so he could stand.  You went to his other side, giving him a soft smile as you wrapped his arm over your shoulders, holding tightly to his hand.  All three of you limped out of the building.

“I didn’t even know you two knew each other” Stan grumbled when you got to the parking lot.  He started the car as you helped Mitch into the backseat.

“We-”

“He’s my best friend” You spoke, cutting off whatever he was about to say.  Your father gave you a look through the rearview mirror, but he didn’t say anything.  His silence worried you, your hands twisting in your lap after you shut the door so he could drive.  “Dad?”

“I don’t even care right now” He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.  “Quite frankly, I’ve lost two nails a tooth and a hell of a lot of my dignity” Mitch glanced over at you, a nervous and questioning look on his face.  You tugged your split bottom lip between your teeth.  “We’ll talk another time about this y/n” Stan finally spoke up again.  “Right now I need to call Irene and we all need to get cleaned up, we look like shit.  Especially you”

“Thanks Dad” You grumbled, but knew he meant it for the best.

“Rapp you have twenty four hours to think of what to say to me that won’t result in me putting a bullet in your head”

“Yes sir” Mitch replied, and you looked over to him again, a faint smile on your lips as you slid your hand into his with ease.  It never felt so good to hold onto him.

When you arrived at the hotel, your father went into his own chambers without speaking a word to either of you, so you just trailed after Mitch into his room.  You made a beeline for the cabinets, grabbing the first aid kit and ordering him to sit on the mattress.  He pulled his shirt up over his head, wincing slightly but trying to show it.  You didn’t notice, to focused on trying to not stare at his chest, rather enjoy the dark patch of hair that trailed there.

“Sit still” You said emotionlessly, pulling out a needle.

“What the f-”

“You need stitches” You told him, and he gaped slightly.  “You got shot and you’re afraid of a needle?” You said with a slight laugh in your voice.

“It’s different!” He argued back and you shook your head at him.

“Just close your eyes, think about something else” You told him, and he followed the order, his eyes falling shut and you just as quickly began to stitch up the wound.  “See? It’s fine, I got it” You said softly as you finished up the stitches, breaking the thread and setting the bloody needle on a tissue to avoid mess.  Mitch opened his eyes again, glancing momentarily down to the excellent job you’d done, before watching you put rubbing alcohol on a balled up wad of tissues, patting gently over the area, cleaning away the blood as you applied it.

“How long do I have doc?” He asked, and you sighed.

“Sadly, not long Rapp.  There wasn’t much we could do” He faked a frown.  “Would you like us to contact your loved ones?” He shook his head, and your brows furrowed with confusion.

“No… no they’re already here” He said, and for a brief second you froze up, but then slapped the back of your hand against his bicep.

“Shut up” You forced a laugh as you pressed a pad of gauze gently against his side, holding it with your fingertips as lightly as you could as not to hurt him as you reached for the tape.

“I can do it” Mitch said, reaching to grab the roll from your hands but you shook your head.

“It’s fine, I got it” You said in an assertive tone, carefully taping it onto him so it was protected.  Your eyes lingered there on the white plastic covered fabric patch before flickering up to his, seeing he was already staring at you.  Your breath hitched involuntarily.

“Thanks” He breathed out, and you nodded, swallowing thickly as you tried to find words to say, but none would come out.  His eyes trailed over the bruises and blood that were covered all over your face.  Your gaze never faltered as re reached for the wet rag you’d brought from the bathroom, carefully dotting it from the crown of your head,  over your cheeks and slightly purple eye.  “Jesus” He whispered as he wiped the smeared blood from your cheeks.  “What’d he do to you?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle” You said, smirking slightly while he patted the cool washcloth over your lips.  You wondered briefly if your cheeks were as pink as they felt.  You blinked, staring at his eyes as they focused on cleaning up your face.  They trailed down his lips, admiring their pink and parted form.  You traced their shape with your eyes, his tongue peeking out momentarily to swipe over his upper lip.  “You have a cupid’s bow” You whispered out.  Mitch stilled his actions, looking up at you.

“Yeah” Was all he could even think to say.  His mind running with more thoughts than he could process, screaming for him to ask if you remembered last night, hoping he could follow through with his silent promise.

“Mitch” You whispered, grabbing onto the hand that had frozen against your cheek, lowering it and taking the wet and now bloody rag from him.  You leaned in ever so slightly, eyes flickering down towards his lips, down further to the dark hair on his chest, lower to the trail that disappeared into his pants.  “You owe me a kiss” You murmured, meeting his gaze again.  The slightest of smiles tugged on the ends of his lips, before his hand cupped over your cheek, and pulled your mouth against him.

You breathed softly through your nose out of complete content.  His lips were warm, and soft.  Moving gently in sync with yours.  He sighed against you, parting just to tilt your head to the side before kissing you again, just as pasionately and carefully as not to hurt the cut that ran over your bottom lip.  Your fingers threaded through his hair, your other hand at the base of his neck as you leaned over the medical supplies you’d laid out on the bed.  But the position was too awkward, so he lifted you up and sat you onto his lap.  You stared at him for a moment, your butt planted on his thighs and ankles resting on the blankets behind him as he held you firmly but gently.

Everything about him was gentle, and you were loving it.

With a smile, you leaned your head back down to kiss him against, tongue tracing over the lips you’d been making heart eyes at for a few days now, taking your time over his cupid’s bow.  He chuckled, the parting of his lips making it easy for you to slip your tongue into his mouth, exploring it leisurely.

Now, you’d never done this before.  In fact, this was your first kiss ever.  Having a strict father and living in the woods, meant you didn’t really get out much.  But if this was what dating was, you loved it.

You loved him.

Mitch’s arms wound around your waist, your hands splayed across his cheeks as you continue your exploration until you could no longer breathe.  He pulled away before you, taking the moment to assess your features.  A few messy strands of hair having fallen in front of your blushing and bruised face.  Your doe eyes staring into his with nothing short of adoration.

“As much as I’d like to continue this, the two of us need sleep, desperately” He said, and you nodded, climbing off of him reluctantly, but his hand just wrapped around your wrist again.  “That doesn’t mean we can’t continue a little longer” He added, and you laughed, leaning towards him again, knees falling to the bed to hover over his lap.

“You’re a strange man Mitch Rapp” You told him before connecting your lips in a  sweet kiss.

“I’m going to take that as a compliment” He replied with raised brows, and you laughed again, nodding your head as you held his face in your hands.  You could never get tired of staring at him.

“You should, I’d say everything I tell you is a compliment” You told him curtly, sitting down in the space between his legs, your own wrapped around your waist as his still hung over the edge of the bed.

“Really? Cause you told me once that I was hairy and that I could house a family of squirrels on my face” He said in monotone.

“That’s just because I wanted you to shave, I like you when you’re scruffy” You said, running the pads of your fingertips over the slight stubble on his jaw.  “Not when you have an entire mop around your face.  You’ve already got it on your head.  You don’t need it to spread” Mitch rolled his eyes, but you pecked his lips a few times as though asking for forgiveness.  “But in the end it was a compliment… you’re hotter with this” You said, your hands again rubbing over his jawline.  Mitch smirked, finally kissing you back and you hummed in surprise at the sudden action.

“You think I’m hot?” He asked, his smirk back as you gave him a look.

“Mitch Rapp, you are the sexiest man I have ever, and will ever meet” His lips pursed as his brows rose with surprise, liking the confession you’d given him.

“Well that’s a title I hope to keep” He said, and you hit his chest lightly.

“Stop it you’re killing the mood” You whined, and he peppered your cheeks and nose with kisses, making you giggle and scrunch up your nose.

“Good, cause i’m pretty sure I already told you that you need sleep”

“Hey!” You yelled accusingly.  “You’re the one who pulled me back” You grumbled and got off of him, heading to your drawer to find cozy pajamas.  All you had was sweatpants and sweatshirts, which it was far too hot to wear.

“Yeah, and you didn’t restrain one bit, you’re weak” He chuckled, following your actions and getting his own shorts to sleep in.  You peered over into his drawer curiously.

“You gonna wear that tee shirt?” You asked.

“Well if it won’t keep you awake at night I’d prefer to sleep without one” He said, and you shrugged a shoulder, snatching it for yourself.

“Fine by me” You said, peeling your bloodied shirt over your head, and slipping on Mitch’s before taking your bra off from underneath it.  Mitch watched you intently as you unbuttoned your shorts and wiggled out of them, packing the dirty clothes from today neatly back into the drawer.  You turned to see Mitch shamelessly staring at you.  “What?”

“I was going to make a remark about who it was that gave you permission to steal my clothes, but I’m not even going to complain” He said, making you laugh to yourself as you picked up the medical kit and put it all away, hiding it back in it’s own dresser drawer.  You rolled your eyes at him as he sat on the bed, patiently waiting for you to join him.  You casted a glance over your shoulder then made your way to flick off the light switch.  You turned to see he was still sitting upright, and a small, almost nervous sounding giggle.

“Can I stay with you tonight?” You asked him, and he nodded his head.

“What do you think I’m waiting for?” He said as you crawled on, moving up to him and pecking his lips in the dark.  “Baby that was my chin”

“Huh… I was wondering why your lips were all prickly” You mumbled tiredly, collapsing onto the space next to him.  “Well lay down I wanna hold onto you” You ordered, and Mitch sighed slightly.

“So bossy” He muttered as he laid on his back, you instantly snuggling up against him and nuzzling your face into his chest.  Mitch watched you for a moment, his hand stroking over the back of your head as you sighed softly out of content.  “I love you anyways” He breathed out, like it annoyed him, but you saw through the sarcasm.

“I love you too” You murmured, lips planting on his chest and fingers playing with the patch of hair down the middle.  “Now get some rest, my father’s going to give you hell tomorrow” You hummed, and he merely nodded, his other arm encircling over your waist, riding his shirt up over the hem of your underwear and stroking the soft skin of your lower back.

He’d fall asleep eventually, but right now, he just wanted to enjoy this moment to it’s fullest extent.

Cause the next day Stan would give him a black eye and a few more threatening warnings than the average father.

tWO IMAGINES OF PPL I HAVENT POSTED FOR B4 CUZ I FELT SO BAD SO

here ya goooo

xoxo ~ jordie

[idealinnguesthouse]

Safe Guest House in Karachi For Couples by ideal inn

A guest house in Karachi For Couples is a great place to stay in Karachi for a couple. The guests rooms have all the facilities of a home, except one. In a hotel, guests will find their personal space, but at a guest house, they will be sharing a room with many other guests. Although a hotel offers all the facilities of home, at a guest house, couples can enjoy their privacy and not feel so alone in their own home. An inn on the basis of the word "inn" has been around as long as a hotel. A few decades ago, the word "inn" was associated only with places of business, but today, it encompasses a wide range of establishments including residential houses for the living and working couples. These establishments are generally cleaned, well organized and have services for the health of the guests. As compared to the hotels, the accommodations in an inn are better. The rooms have enough bedding so that couples can have their personal space without the presence of other couples. In most cases, these inns provide the bedding, towels and toiletries that a couple needs when they are sleeping. There is a separate bedroom from the main room. This bedroom has a separate door, which leads directly into the sitting room. The couple can have privacy in this room without the presence of other couples. In fact, if the inn is large enough, there may be an adjoining bedroom that the couple can share. The kitchen at an inn provides a good service for the guests. The cooking of food depends on the type of guest house. A small guest houses, the cook maybe a family member or relative of the owner or maybe a professional cook. Small inns may have only two or three bedrooms. The rooms are usually kept in a clean and tidy condition. They also have extra bedding so that the couple can have some privacy while they are in the guest house. The service provided by the inns is very good. They do not keep the guests waiting for long hours. The waiters serve the food at the table immediately. The couple can enjoy their meal together. If there are any special dishes or food items, the staff can help the couple find them. Some guesthouses allow the couples to have private baths. Such facilities are only available in very big and very luxurious inns. The beds in such private cabins are made of pure silk or jute. The beds are covered with luxurious sheets and the pillows are soft and silky. The couple can use the deck as a garden for relaxation. There is an outdoor swimming pool in almost every guest house. So the couples can have some fun under the sun together. They can also take a tour to see places in Pakistan. The Pakistani people are very friendly and warm, so the couples will be able to enjoy their stay in this country. Most of these guest houses have an attached garage attached to the house. The garage is usually very big, and the couple can park their cars on the ground. The guests can enjoy their stay in the guest house. The house provides all the facilities required for a comfortable stay. The rooms have good beds, TV sets and Internet connections. The rooms do not smell of sweat after having a bath in the morning. The most common search on google is Safe Guest House in Karachi For Dating Private Place in Karachi For Couples Private Place in Karachi For Dating Best Dating Place in Karachi The couple can enjoy their privacy in the private rooms. Sometimes the rooms have hot pads. The staffs in the guest house also make the guests feel welcome and comfortable. The house has a garden and a pool, so that the couple can have some fresh air. To get a better idea about the different types of guest houses in Karachi, you can take a tour to Pakistan. A tour to Pakistan allows the couples to choose the best location of their choice. Once the couple settles in the guest house they can see if they like it. They can rent a room if they do not like the privacy, or they can even buy their own room. While choosing a house for their stay, the couples should choose a house that has a good location. The guest house should be easily accessible by both car and bus. The rooms should also have cable television, Internet connection, and bathrooms with good and fresh water. It is important to ask if the house has security measures like bullet proof windows. If the house does not have any security, then it is recommended to stay away from the house. 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[river-ocean-cruise]

6 Ways to Cruise Rivers and Waterways Close to Home This Year

It's no secret that river and small ship cruising is one of travel's biggest trends. What may still be an open secret is the boom in cruising on the inland waterways of North America, with new ships and new itineraries to appeal to every cruise traveler's interests.

Maybe you want to try river and small ship cruising in your own backyard before venturing overseas. Maybe you've done it all and realized the incredible cruising experiences opening up in your own backyard! Maybe you just want a cruise with no or minimal flights and jet lag. Or an 'easy button' family vacation.

Lynn Elmhirst, Producer/Host of BestTrip TV and cruise expert, explains the unique highlights of 6 river and fresh water small ship cruises from the West Coast to the East that will have you thinking about a North American 'staycation' for your next cruise – in some cases, no passport required!

 Columbia & Snake Rivers and Wine Regions on UnCruise Adventures

UnCruise Adventures' name makes it clear: this is a different kind of cruise line, focused entirely on active outdoor exploration by small ship. The Seattle-based company focuses on the Pacific side of America: small ship coastal cruises from Alaska to Central America, and year-round in Hawaii, with fares inclusive of fine dining, wine, spirits, shore activities and equipment.

UnCruise Adventurs' only dedicated river itinerary is its autumn, 7-night cruises on the Columbia & Snake Rivers in the Pacific North West, where they say you'll find some of the most magnificent scenery in the US in the Columbia River Gorge. 

Early autumn cruises highlight the Lewis & Clark expedition route, Nature and soft adventure: rafting, hiking, a jet boat ride into Hells Canyon, kayaking, even a cycling/winery excursion.

November 'Rivers of Wine & Culinary' themed voyages feature the region's increasingly well-known AVA's. Their onboard culinary program is linked with shore excursions featuring UnCruise Adventure's own sommelier, other wine experts, winery tours, wine-pairing dinners and local scenic highlights.

The company also has a family program, Family Discoveries, with savings for children 8-13 years old, providing multi-generational families with plenty of outdoor activities to bond over.

 The Mississippi River and Beyond on American Cruise Lines

The great Mississippi is the artery that has served America's heartland for centuries. Mark Twain's literary works immortalized the world of sailing and living along the Mississippi, and today, the mystique of the Mississippi remains, even as the modern world has caught up to river cruising.

American Cruise Lines offers 3 different styles of ships for guests to choose from, all built in the US, with among the largest staterooms in the industry: Victorian paddlewheelers (above), fully-stabilized coastal ships, and the first and only modern riverboats in the country (below).

This range of vessels cruises three-dozen itineraries in 25 US states, along great rivers the Mississippi and the Columbia & Snake Rivers, and both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

The company's 9 Mississippi itineraries remain among the most popular for Americans and Canadians, who often drive over the border to northern departure gateways to cruise itineraries between St. Louis all the way south to New Orleans, with calls that feature treasured Americana including Elvis' Graceland, Ante-bellum southern plantations, and the stunning design icon and newly re-opened St. Louis Arch.

All American Cruise Lines share its river-cruise style: all-inclusive fine dining, complimentary evening cocktail hours, pre-cruise hotel stays, gratuities, wine and beer with lunch & dinner, complimentary onboard entertainment and lectures, and many included featured shore excursions.

 America's Great Rivers and Now the Great Lakes Too, on American Queen Steamboat Company & Victory Cruise Lines

American Queen Steamboat Company continues the tradition of gingerbread-trimmed paddle-wheel riverboats sailing the country's two great river systems.

One of their three boats (with another launching in 2020) was the first all-suite paddle-wheeler in the US. Another lays claim to being the largest, most opulent riverboat in the world. The vessel is an engineering marvel, six decks high, longer than a football field, but still with the lacy white trim and paddlewheel you associate with the era of waistcoated gamblers and damsels with parasols. Both sail itineraries on the Mississippi between iconic river port cities like New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis, Louisville and St. Louis. The third is the largest overnight riverboat West of the Mississippi, sailing on the Columbia & Snake Rivers with a vast collection of historic artifacts and Native artwork.

The cruise line has a unique, and popular, approach to shore excursions, many included with your fare. Deluxe coaches drive the itinerary's route in tandem with the boats. In port, they provide 'Hop-on, Hop-off' service, continuously making the round of major local attractions, so guests can select the attractions they most want to see, and enjoy them at their own pace.

Sister cruise line Victory Cruise Lines has two newly upgraded ships serving guests wanting to sail along North America's coasts, including the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, Canada & New England itineraries, and an upcoming new ship in 2021 setting sail for British Columbia and Alaskan itineraries. Guests on this cruise line travel with historians and naturalists and enjoy inclusive shore excursions for expert immersion into these destinations in North American's backyards.

 The Great Lakes on Tauck

Cross-border cruising can't get any better! Tauck is known for ultra-luxury land tours and safaris, as well as European river cruises. But in addition to North American land tours, it provides a one-of-a-kind Great Lakes small ship itinerary that's tailor-made for both American and Canadian guests.

Tauck's autumn cruise between the dynamic Canadian and US cities of Toronto and Chicago bookends the voyage with included pre- and post stays in Fairmont or Four Seasons hotels in both cities. The 7-night voyage between those world-class cities highlights seasonal foliage along the coasts, and includes Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake, Detroit, and smaller destinations (like Michigan's Mackinac Island, above) along both countries' coasts, with exclusive and included shore excursions that feature Nature, sport, culture, makers, and history along the way. 

Tauck is using one of luxury French line Ponant's elegant and eco-friendly, 160-guest, 5-star ships for the itinerary, with private balconies, iPod docks, mini bars and all-included service and on board service including wine, spirits in several lounges, and dining at 2 venues. 

The Great Lakes on Pearl Seas Cruises

This sister company to American Cruise Lines uses the only fully-stabilized small cruise ship on the Great Lakes and the entire Pearl Mist ship (very similar to American’s coastal ships) has spacious, all-balcony, all outward-facing staterooms. The 210-guest ship also features open sundecks, a fitness area, and a glass-enclosed spacious dining room so you never miss a beautiful sunset or scenery floating by.

Two itineraries allow you to explore the gems of the Great Lakes' world-class cities and charming smaller and lakeside holiday communities: an 11-day, Great Lakes and Georgian Bay itinerary from Milwaukee to Toronto that cruises through vast and lovely Georgian Bay, and calls in Niagara as well as Mackinac Island, and a 7-night Great Lakes cruise that also begins / ends in Milwaukee and Toronto, but provides travelers with less time a condensed cruise that still allows them to experience their own backyard from its freshwater ports.

Canada's Rideau Canal on LeBoat

 Le Boat has been operating 'self drive' cruises on the canals and waterways of Europe for half a century, and in 2018 introduced their first North American itinerary. It's a one-of-a-kind cruise on Ontario's UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal, the oldest continuously-operated canal system on the continent.

Begun in 1826, the Rideau Canal remains today one of North America's most beautiful navigable waterways. You'll be able to swim, fish, cycle and stroll, seeing exquisite stone-masonry and pastoral countryside between Canada's original Canadian capital of Kingston on Lake Ontario, and the current national capital, Ottawa (pictured below), at the other end of the 125 mile-long canal.

There are 47 Locks on the Rideau, many with staff members to help boaters through the locks, and a lock pass is included in your fare. Where other cruises charge by the guest, LeBoat hires out the vessels, making it a highly cost-effective choice for families and even groups including solo travelers. It also means you can set the pace and follow your own itinerary. A tutorial before you go gives you confidence driving the boat.

But don't confuse LeBoat with the houseboat rental experience you may be familiar with – this is more like what LeBoat calls pet-friendly 'floating villas'. LeBoat's fleet includes new, upscale European models designed for larger groups – some as big as 5-cabin/5-bath models that sleep 12 people! – with en-suite bathrooms, expansive 'fundecks', barbecues, air-conditioning, even dishwashers in fully-equipped kitchens. You provide your own food, drink, fuel, and fun.

 New York's Erie Canal and the Great Lakes on Blount Small Ship Adventures

Founder Luther Blount built his first ships specifically for one very special itinerary: the 'Great American Waterways' cruise that includes the four Great Lakes – the world's largest freshwater system – and New York state's historic Erie Canal. The ships are built for the Erie Canal's size, making Blount the only overnight cruise line able to navigate the waterway. 

Guests love the casual, no dress-up atmosphere, complimentary wine and beer with meals, and a related perk that will astound seasoned cruise travelers: a BYOB policy! Not only can you provide your own wine and spirits (or buy them at local, craft wineries and distilleries along the cruise), Blount even facilitates the process, providing mixers, garnishes and barware, so you can 'pour as you please' for your entire cruise!

 The Great American Waterways itinerary remains the family-owned and –operated company's most popular voyage. But Blount considers the entire Atlantic Coast part of its cruising 'territory', with itineraries sailing coastal New England and the Canadian maritimes into the St. Lawrence seaway (pictured, top, at New York's Singer Castle), as well as winter itineraries in the Bahamas.

Start your Trip!

Images courtesy of their respective cruise lines.

Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[ibangtanthings]

Sleep - pt 10

He held your hand going into the theatre. It wasn’t busy tonight and there was no line at the concession stand.

“Two sodas, two small popcorn, gummy bears, a cotton candy bucket and nachos. Will that be all?”

“Oh and chocolate drops.” Hoseok added.

He tried to hold everything besides your drink and you laughed as he struggled with the snacks.

“I didn’t even want all this stuff Hoseok.” You giggled, taking some of the snacks off his hands.

“It doesn’t cost that much.” He bluffed.

Theatre three was empty, and Hoseok bought tickets to see a new horror film.

As the movie started, you guys picked at the snacks and it was obvious that there was no way you guys could finish it all.

He jumped and yelled which made you jump as well. You threw popcorn at him but found it adorable how he got scared so easily.

Because the movie wasn’t that good and the only really scary part happened already, he didn’t have anything to worry about.both of you pointed out dumb things, or things that didn’t make sense but it funny.

That was the best thing about seeing the movie with him. The movie sucked but you enjoyed watching it together. Since no one was there you could laugh out loud and talk to him freely.

“I would have ran.” He shook his head.

“But his girlfriend is still in the cabin.” You chuckled.

“They’re not meant to be so it’s okay.” He reasoned.

His seriousness had you amused. “Would you leave me?”

“You’re not girlfriend so yeah.” He answered.

You laughed, placing your forehead against his shoulder and enjoying every second that passed by.

He poked your shoulder. “Hey, give me some gummy bears. You’re eating all of them.”

“You’re eating all the chocolate drops.” You countered.

“I’ll give you some if we play a game.” He pulled them away before you could grab some.

“What game?” You asked, intrigued.

“If we can cut the gummy bear and only leave it’s arms then I’ll share the chocolate.”

“We? Cut the gummy bear?”

He placed the gummy bear’s head in his mouth and the rest of its body stuck out of his lips.

Funny. You smiled in excitement, ready to prove to him that you could do it.

He looked into your eyes daringly and you leaned in close, concentrating hard. You focused on the gummy bear with sheer determination. You continued to get closer to the gummy bead and Hoseok’s lips, carefully trying to place your teeth just under its gummy arms and closing your eyes as you bit down.

He caught the piece of left over gummy in his hand. It was clearly the bear’s arms.

“I did it!!” You yelled, proud of yourself.

He placed some chocolate drops into your palm, smiling as he saw you devour them.

“Oh look it’s getting good.” He pointed your attention back to the movie.

The killer was going to finish off the last victim. You watched as the girl tried to escape with all her fear driving her to make mistakes.

It ended exactly how most horror movies ended, the last victim alive ends up killing the murderer.

“Ten out of ten. Hands down the best movie ever.” He clapped.

“Next time let’s just watch an action movie. With like guns and stuff.”

“Agreed. Let’s go to the arcade. No?”

“Okay but don’t leave my side.” You said, knowing that it was going to be crowded at this hour.

On the way home you fell asleep. Your eyes fluttered open once Hoseok was carrying you on his back and trying to get the door open.

When you poked his sides, he straightened up and he thought he dropped you. You landed on your feet and laughed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He sighed, relieved. His arm put you in a headlock and you squealed as he dragged you inside.

Jimin heard the commotion and joined you guys in the bathroom when brushing your teeth, both of them competing to make funny faces on the mirror.

“You guys should have invited me too.” Jimin whined.

“Next time.” You promised.

“Hey, this was a spur of the moment kinda thing. Sometimes we’ll have random dates and you can’t be jealous.” Hoseok teased.

“Fine then me and Y/N will have random dates too.” Jimin said, back hugging you with a cute smile.

You nodded and wiggled out of his arms, saying goodnight and heading towards your room.

“Wait Y/N…” Hoseok called. “Your pills.”

“What pills?” Jimin asked you.

“The doctor gave me sleeping pills. That way I’ll probably stay asleep even if I have nightmares. You know, so I won’t be tired when I wake up.”

“No. Don’t take them. What if you’re having a bad dream and you can’t wake up?”

You smiled, “They’re not tranquilizers. Don’t worry.”

“Do you want to sleep in my room for tonight? Just to see how things go?”

You nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.”

“We can stay home from work tomorrow. I can get someone to cover for us.” Jimin offered, now concerned.

It was tempting…

“Mm….okay.” You stifled a smile.

“Awesome. I’ll call right now. Get some rest. Remember…these walls are not soundproof.” He gave you wink before evading Hoseok’s hand and running into his room.

“He amuses you doesn’t he?” Hoseok asked, annoyed now.

“Isn’t he cute?” You beamed, thankful to have friends like them.

“Not as cute as you!” He pinched your cheeks and kissed your forehead.

Taking the pills, you crawled into bed across from him.

“Y/N. Did you like our date?” He whispered, extending his hand out across the pillow that separated you two.

“It wasn’t a date.” You replied, taking his hand.

“We’ve been on so many dates you don’t even know.” He said confidently.

“Then I’ve been on a lot of dates with Jimin too. But I prefer it when we’re all together.” A small yawn escaped your lips.

“It is nice just hanging out.” He agreed. “We’ll see what we can do this weekend.”

You closed your eyes and nodded. “Thanks for today Hoseok.”

He had made a bad day into a good day. He had to know how grateful you were.

He pushed your hand away. “You’re welcome. No need to get all mushy about it though. Go to sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow when I get back from work.” He teased.

You hummed in response, and quickly fell asleep.

________

“Y/N…” he called gently.

You didn’t move.

“Y/N…wake up gorgeous. I’m bored.” He complained but his voice was still gentle, sweet like a singer’s voice should be.

When you refused to move a muscle, he hopped onto the bed and back hugged you again, shaking you awake.

“Okay.” You groaned, pushing him off of you and sounding more annoyed than you actually were. He threw small pillow at you. His childlike behavior cheering you up a little.

Escaping to the bathroom, you focused on getting yourself ready for the day. Hoseok wouldn’t be home till later.

Maybe Jimin would take you to go see him for lunch. You thought about registering for classes at the university. Getting to know the campus wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

“Skip breakfast, I’ll buy you something to eat at the mall.” He said, grabbing his keys.

“Are you in a rush?” You asked, putting on your shoes and handing him an umbrella.

He looked at you confused.

“It’s raining. Didn’t you look out the window yet?”

He cursed. “Then no ones walking around the outdoor food court.”

“What do you mean?” You asked.

The disappointment in his expression was clear.

“You know how there’s a resting space in the middle of the outdoor food court? I was going to play there. I had this new song prepared and everything. Hobi left the car for us too. My guitar’s in the trunk.” He sighed.

“Then let’s go. I’ll listen to your song. You know I like your songs. I’ll buy breakfast too.”

“Okay.” He said instantly, grabbing your hand and pulling you outside into the rain, not bothering with the umbrella.

Even though it was gloomy outside, being with Jimin made it impossible to feel down.

Just listening to music on the way to the mall added some energy to the day. Jimin was surprised to see that you had similar taste in music.

Truthfully, he was the only reason why you began listening to music again.

“You pretty much have all the songs I listen to and my demos.” He said.

“And some songs Hoseok recommended for sleep. Mostly nature sounds.”

He scoffed. “You know you don’t need those when I can sing you to sleep every night.”

“You’ve been coming home in the middle of the night. Way after my bedtime.” You reminded him.

“Well then maybe you should go out with me more often. Hoseok never wants to go out on weeknights anymore. He’s gone soft.” Jimin exclaimed.

“I can imagine you two. Going out every night and waking up late the next morning. Rushing to work and eating ramen for lunch because you guys went out to party instead of going shopping for groceries.” You smirked.

“Life has gotten a bit easier now that you’re here. You take care of the little things for us. Oh and that soup you made when we got sick. If I was fifty years old, I’d marry you.”

A small chuckled escaped your lips.

“It’s the least I could do. Hoseok did save my life.” You said quietly.

“We’re friends friends right?” Jimin asked, getting serious now. “Cause I know you don’t trust people easily but you can trust me. You know that right? I’m scared I’ve made myself seem someone who doesn’t care about anything.”

“Of course we’re friends. To me you’re crazy but in a good way. You live how you want and I envy you for that. I also think I need you almost as much as I need Hoseok.” You said calmly.

“Really?”

You nodded. “We take care of each other. Like a family no?”

“Yeah.” He agreed, playing with your fingers now. “Alright. Let’s go.” He smiled.

You carried the guitar while he carried the small speaker. The food court was more crowded than the rest of the mall. Before he set up outside, you guys ordered some pancakes and fruit. The rain was a calm drizzle.

“How do I look?” He said, finishing up his breakfast.

You fixed his beanie. “Very cute. You’ll have fans for your looks alone.”

“Awesome. Now I want you to be the one clapping the loudest when I’m done.” He said, pointing his finger at you and getting up.

You walked through the glass doors and the outside food court had vacant wet seats everywhere. In the middle of the place Jimin set up the speaker, a small mic and his guitar.

Taking off his raincoat, he passed it over to you so you could sit on it and avoid getting your bottom yet, but you knew it he also did that so he could show off his outfit.

You began clapping before he even started.

“This ones for you gorgeous.” He said into the mic and you flushed, wondering if the people eating inside heard.

The title of his new song was obvious, Butterfly. Perfect for the ears during this gloomy weather. The tiny speaker was loud enough to penetrate through the glass doors, because some people walked outside even with the light drizzle and watched him sing.

“This next one is called Rain.” He said, giving you a small smile.

You pulled out your phone, remembering how nice the piano version was. This guitar version was sadder, somehow more beautiful and raw.

The next two songs were impossible to concentrate on. Instead you focused on the small audience around and saw their pleased faces, clapping after each song.

Now you began to understand why he did this. Even small crowds like this, enjoying his voice. It was amazing.

“I’m Park Jimin. Thanks for listening to me today.” He said.

He didn’t even as for money.“ One girl said to her friend as they made their way back inside the mall.

“This just makes me want to listen to him more.” The friend responded.

He was ecstatic as you walked towards him to retrieve the guitar.

“I think you have two new fans, guaranteed, and possibly a fan club in the works.” You teased.

“Were they cute?” He said, knowing that you were talking about the two girls.

You rolled your eyes. “Yeah for thirteen year olds.”

“They were older. Don’t lie. I’m not into children.” He scoffed.

“I really liked your new song and Rain was crazy good. I think it’s my favorite.” You replayed the video.

“Turn that off. It’s embarrassing.” He pushed your hand down and you hid it away.

Jimin somehow convinced you to drink. By five, you were buzzed and sleepy.

“Such a lightweight.” He teased.

“One more then and then we’ll go.” You took one last shot and waited for him to down his.

He seemed okay enough to drive. Actually, the world tilted a little when you stood up off the stool.

“We need to work on your stamina. Maybe it’s those sleeping pills messing with your body.”

“Oh crap. I’m not supposed to take them if I had alcohol.”

“It’s fine. Me and Hoseok will take care of you. Now let’s go home. You’re going to drop any second.” He held your hand and took his last shot before walking you to the car.

With the music loud and his fingers pinching the back of your hand, you managed to stay awake as he drove back home but went straight to bed when you guys arrived.

It was still night time when you woke up.

Awoken by yelling?

“You put her in danger! I leave you with her for one day and this is what you do?”

“She’s fine! This isn’t the first time we’ve hung out alone. How else were we supposed to get home? I couldn’t just leave the car.”

“You could have called me!”

“You were working! She’s not a child, stop acting like I was being selfish, because I wasn’t. I just wanted her to have a good time today.”

“You were being reckless Jimin! Like always! From now on don’t ask to borrow the car and leave Y/N alone.”

“You’re kidding right?”

You walked out of your room and into the kitchen when there were, standing opposite each other with the table between them.

Hoseok met your eyes and his heart broke.

“Y/N.” he frowned.

Why was he so sad? Because of you?

Jimin was noticeably upset and maybe even angry.

“Yes Y/N. She made her own decisions too. I didn’t force her to drink did I?” He asked Hoseok. “So you going to be mad at both of us or just me?”

“Just you.” Hoseok retorted.

Jimin nodded then walked next to you and whispered into your ear, “I’ll talk to you later” before going into his room.

“Jimin.” You called after him but he shut his door anyway.

Hoseok hugged you close, sighing as if he was waiting for you.

“I’m sorry.” You said, too ashamed to meet his gaze when he pulled back.

“You can’t ever do that again okay? It’s stupidly dangerous.” He said holding your arms by your side.

“I know. I’m sorry. It’s my fault.” You said, biting your bottom lip, trying not to cry.

It was your fault he wasn’t smiling right now. Your fault he wasn’t jumping up and down in excitement.

He wasn’t meant to frown like that.

“No it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have trusted Jimin. I know how he is.”

You shook your head and looked down but his fingers tilted your chin up.

“Look at me.” He said comfortingly. “I’m not mad at you.”

“That’s the thing Hoseok. You should be. Jimin was right. We both made the stupid decision to drink.”

“Jimin was in charge though. He still chose to drive. He could have killed you.”

“We both understand that and I’m sorry we scared you, I’m sorry I disappointed you but you can’t just be mad at him.”

“I just want to keep you safe Y/N. I can’t have anything happen to you, especially if he wants to hang out with you and be his usual reckless self.”

Hoseok wasn’t listening. This is the last thing you wanted, to cause trouble between them.

“Jimin did something reckless but I did too. You’re being unfair by just blaming him and not being mad at me too. You hurt his feelings and you’re letting your feelings get in the way.”

“My feelings?”

“You understand what it’s like to get carried away…It was also reckless when you kissed me. You told me to forget it ever happened, as if it had no consequences. Now I see that your putting me before Jimin. I don’t want you to do that. He’s your best friend.”

“Are you saying that I’m being selfish? That I was being selfish when I kissed you?” He said gravely.

You were upsetting him further and achieving the opposite of what you wanted.

“Hoseok.” You reached for his hands but he pulled away.

“You know what?…I think I just need time to think.” He said, turning and walking away into his room.

Panic made your heart race. He was mad. He was mad at you, not for doing something stupid but for telling him he shouldn’t have kissed you. But that’s not what you said, that’s not what you wanted…or was it?

What to do?

He should be mad at you nonetheless, for not thinking about how this would affect him. What if you and Jimin had gotten into an accident? He had every right to be mad but still, it hurt worse than anything.

The words from his mouth were clear. He wanted you to leave him alone. Every step back to your room felt heavy. If he didn’t come see you in the morning then you would go find him. For now though, you laid down onto your stomach, put the pillow over your head and wept. Sleep, impossible.

Hours of silent weeping, you couldn’t stop. Your hope, your light, your Hobi was mad at you. The agony was surreal.

Just picturing him in his room, expression hard and sorrowful, it made you weep even more. The tears didn’t seem to have an end.

Suddenly, a hand touched your back and you held your breath. _______

Part 11

[thegreenhorseman]

So much has happened since December that I haven’t had a chance to properly recap 2019 and lay out the plans for 2020.

At the beginning of January 2019 I was taking a hiatus from riding.  I had Blade, Zeno Bay, and Vai Via. I was in a great routine of spin class with my mom.

I also did a week of farm sitting for a new friend who became a weekly trail riding buddy this summer.

I brought my grandma to see the retired thoroughbreds of Old Friends at Cabin Creek

More about our trip: Taking Grandma to See the Horses

I rode along with one of my best friends and saw what a day in the life of a farrier was like.

Read the interview here: Interview With a Farrier

Read about our day here: A Farrier’s Assistant

By February Zeno Bay was looking and feeling like a totally new horse.  This is a 21-year-old thoroughbred gelding.  I began to foster him with the rescue group in September.  Being on a grain-free diet and outdoors 24/7 we successfully got him to gain a fantastic amount of weight in only 3.5 months.

All about Zeno Bay: Happy Birthday To…

A wonderful group of friends invited me out for cow sorting.

A couple girlfriends and I took a trip to Pennsylvania for the Horse Expo in March!

Adventure Time here: The Blade Chronicles: Mom’s Ignoring Me

We became chicken farmers in March as well!  In two months we raised them on our porch until we finished building the coop.  We designed and built the coop ourselves.

Article when the chicks arrived: New Additions to The Green Horseman’s Clan

Article when the chickens moved outside: The Blade Chronicles: What are Those?

When the weather got better we enclosed the carport to protect the hay better.

I also moved tack out into the tack room of the barn.

More on our projects here: Projects

VaiVia began to show how playful and special he was.  We always knew this but he started to relax and come out of his shell in the springtime.

More about VaiVia: Celebrations This Week and V’s Big Story

I had the honor of interviewing a fabulous young trainer who has been making waves in training wild mustangs.

Read the interview here: From Cheering to Training, An Interview with Samantha VanFleet

Through the spring and summer, I worked on projects and developed a new love for carpentry.

Some of my projects: The Busy Life of the Green Horseman

And Some More: Vacation Means Getting Stuff Done

We did end up hiring someone to help create a fantastic sacrifice area around the barn.  No more flooded stall and hoof-deep clay mud!

I managed to severely sprain my ankle.  I don’t believe it was broken but considering it still bothers me 6 months later I’d wager that something tore.  Despite this I managed to hobble myself all around to hang out with friends.

More on that here: When the World Gets You Down

and here: The Blade Chronicles: Someone Tell Mom She’s Broken

I had the chance to try out cross country for the first time on my trainer’s amazing palomino, Cassian.  I still call him my palomino unicorn.

Cross Country Clinic: An Adventure With My Unicorn

Zac and I had a date at the county fair.  I enjoyed seeing a bunch of horses performing and doing something different than the average horse.

Something special about a county fair: Horses With Different Vocations

Bt the end of summer tensions had risen to a boiling point with the rescue and I began to make plans to find a second permanent horse before sending Zeno Bay and Vai Via back.  I hated to see them go but it was a bad situation only getting worse with the rescue itself.  As difficult as it was for me it was also exciting because I was able to begin looking for a new horse to become our permanent family member.  I saw a lot of really great horses.

All about the search: The Green Horseman’s Latest Quest

COCO

In the middle of my horse shopping, a very special pair rode into town.  Meredith and Apollo from The Centaurride stayed with a friend not far from my home.  Though her path didn’t lead her to stay at our home I had the honor of treating her to a nice warm meal.

About the Centaurride: Centauride.org

Link to the article:

Photo courtesy of Stacia S

Tiger, or R Tom Cat, galloped into our hearts in September.  For a brief period of time, I was the proud home of four bay thoroughbred geldings.

Sunday Special: Announcing My New Horse!

The Blade Chronicles: My New Brother

Tiger’s First Weeks

Fall hunter pace season was underway.  I planned to begin by attending LKTA.  Tiger had thrown a shoe and gotten a hoof bruise.  Instead, we discovered how amazing Blade was!

Read it here: We Hunter Paced; But It Was Not What I Expected

Photos courtesy of Brian Wilcox at www.connecticutphoto.com

In the weeks to follow Tiger participated in two hunter paces.  We had a lot of fun together despite not knowing each other incredibly well.

Read all about it at: Tiger’s Hunter Pace(s)

  Photos courtesy of Brian Wilcox at www.connecticutphoto.com

December had to have been, without exaggeration, the worst month of my entire life.  I didn’t write about it all but in a brief summary:

The worst pain:

Maybe TMI for some of you but I had an IUD (intra-uterine device) inserted.  I’ve never had children.  The process had to have been one of the most intense pains I’ve had to experience.  I have been bitten, kicked, trampled, broken bones.  It didn’t compare.  I was in shock; shaking, sweating, and nauseous for hours.  It took days for the pain to fully subside.  Bardi and Kain both comforted me while I recouped.

Broken EVERYTHING:

Our ATV wouldn’t start.  We bought it new and we simply couldn’t get it to turn over.

The dump cart I used for mucking the paddock and hauling out bales of hay or water bit the dust.  The welds wore out and the sliding door was bent out of shape.

Our ShelterLogic collapsed, taking with it a corral panel….both were completely bent in half.

Lucky To Be Alive:

One weekend Zac and I ventured to the store…roughly eight minutes away from our home.  We wanted to beat the incoming storm.  We were on our way home and the snow had begun but was a light dusting.  We played it safe and drove slow.  Approaching an intersection slowly (yet downhill) we failed to stop….we slid through, across the street and into a ditch.  We came within 2 feet of a telephone pole and miraculously no cars were approaching the intersection at the time.  Somehow we managed to pull forward and into a person’s driveway to get out.  At the next intersection, about 500 feet later, we learned that in our road departure the brake lines were severed.  Zac had to use the emergency brake to stop the car from rolling into a much busier road.  We made it home safely and had the car towed but we are very lucky.

Food poisoning:

We have been enjoying HelloFresh and I had been planning to write all about the amazing meals we’ve been cooking together as a couple.  Unfortunately one of the meals we made was no good.  We suspect the chicken was bad.  We had a very rough couple of days…BOTH of us were sick to our stomachs!  Thank goodness for two bathrooms.

This is food from Hello Fresh but NOT the meal that made us sick.

Heartbreak

Blade broke his leg catastrophically while playing in the upper field. What was a joyful afternoon full of love and happiness ended with an indescribable loss.  Friends, family, and neighbors all cried.  Tiger mourned.

The Blue Horseman

Tiger’s Tale

I lost my best friend in December, but not before enjoying him charge through the fresh knee-deep snow.   Blade and Tiger played joyfully together often before his death.

The Friends’ Final Frolics

Tiger has been healing well with the arrival of his new friend, Nahe.

And I am beginning the year with some amazing new swag thanks to Cheshire Horse and my loved ones!

The Silver Lining

NOW IT IS 2020

What’s next?

Most of what I accomplished last year came on a whim.  I didn’t have plans for it all and I can’t really say what exactly is to come for the year.

I plan to continue building jumps.

Continue hunter pacing.

I am hoping to ride at Equine Affaire and/or in a clinic.

Really focus on my weight because I deserve it and so does Tiger

Decide on what’s next for the family; Tiger will need a permanent sibling.

  WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE GREEN HORSEMAN

Since I’m getting to this recap and forecast a couple weeks late you may have already noticed something new on the site.

Introducing The Sunday Review.

EVERY OTHER SUNDAY I will be publishing a new review of a product I have purchased and used.  The review will populate in your regular feed but you can reach it through the menu up ^^top^^.

The first review of the year began with The Sunday Review – CAVALI CLUB SPECIAL.  The second review is scheduled for THIS COMING SUNDAY 01/19/2020.

So to look again at The Green Horseman’s weekly schedule!

SUNDAY

The Sunday Review

Every other Sunday

MONDAY

Fun Videos

Catch it on The GH Facebook page

You can also find the FB page to the right——>

TUESDAY

Take The Reins Tuesday

Also found only on The GH Facebook page

Features good reads from other blogs and websites

WEDNESDAY

Wordless Wednesday

A photo I have taken.  Sometimes the photo has a quote but otherwise, there are no words.

FRIDAY

Farm Friends Friday

Also found only on the GH Facebook page

Features a slideshow, a video, or some photos taken from the Green Horseman’s farm (or life in general).

SATURDAY

Nothing scheduled for Saturdays at this time

So stay tuned and buckle in.  Visit often and drop some comments.

  As always…THANK YOU SO MUCH for visiting, commenting, sharing, and your overall love and support.

  Past, Present, and Future So much has happened since December that I haven't had a chance to properly recap 2019 and lay out the plans for 2020.

[tashmitchviscom]

“Eighteen Crew Secrets”

1-Staff vs. Crew

Crew members like waiters, barmen and cleaners are different to staff members like entertainers, managers, shop workers and officers.What sort of job you have will affect what kind of life you’ll have on-board. Everyone is treated fairly obviously but where you are on-board, and where you’re allowed to go, will depend on what rung of the ladder you are on…

2-Bunking Up

One example of the on-ship hierarchy at work is that crew members will typically live on the ‘B-deck’, which can be found just below the water line. They’ll share dorm-style rooms and at least nowadays they will usually have their own bathroom, rather than having to share one with all sorts of neighbours like they have had to in the past!

Staff members and officers will live on ‘A-deck’, which is just above the water line. Most staff will have their own room which means a lot more privacy!

3-Close Quarters

It is more expected that the cabins have between one and four bunk beds, a desk and chair, a small space for clothes and maybe a regular TV and telephone. Space is always tight, so messy crew members are going to be unpopular! Although it seems not all cabins are created as equal.

4-Private Pools and Secret Sunbathing Areas

It’s on A deck where you’ll usually find all of the crew and staff facilities, like the crew store and the ever popular crew bar (strictly no passengers allowed.) Often, there will be outdoor space as well and on some liners nowadays, employees’ own swimming pool and sunbathing areas.

This is perfect for unwinding between shifts and essential when you consider that crew members are usually forbidden from the public areas. Staff and officers have more freedom around the ship, being able to mingle in public areas, watch a show (when they’re not working) and often even dine at the buffet!

5-No Days Off

You think you have it bad when you have to work five or six days a week? On most cruises, there are no days off for crew members. Not even Sunday is a day of rest and that’s on a contract that will typically be nine months long. It’s not all work and no play however, as staff and crew tend to work every day on a rotational basis. So, instead of a full day off, workers get time to themselves every day when they’re not on shift. 

6-Extensive Hours

During their contract onboard a cruise ship, they’ll work long hour shifts with a few hours in between in which to sleep, eat, socialise, chill out and if they’re lucky, step off the ship in the port to explore the ship’s destinations.

7-Brilliant Benefits

The hours might be long but crew members and staff do get good benefits to compensate. We’ve heard Carnival treats its staff and crew particularly well, providing them with accommodation facilities, food, drink, healthcare and the best bit, crew parties. Most cruise liners have a social/entertainment programme for employees to avoid the cabin fever we all go on cruises to avoid.

8-Cash to Splash

Because accommodation and food comes as part of the remuneration package for cruise employees, money is only needed onboard for things like treats, internet access, laundry, phone cards and anything bought whilst off the ship. This means that expenses are minimal so, whilst they don’t make a fortune, the wages and tips that staff and crew make can be saved (or sent back home if they have family to care for).

9-Amazing Tips

For those who have the opportunity to earn them, tips and gratuities are what will make up the bulk of the wage on most cruises. The salary that you get paid if you’re in a tipping position isn’t as impressive as the tips themselves can be. So, if you’re after a job on a cruise line and you’re a bubbly, vibrant personality who has top-notch people skills, you’ll be rolling in it.

10-Amazing Tips, For All

On most cruise liners, there’s a mandatory gratuity too which is divided up amongst all the employees. This means that even the crew members that don’t receive too many tips in the course of their work won’t go without. Although this is dependent on their position.

11-The Lucky Ones Can See the World

Seeing the various destinations that the ship docks in will depend on your job role and your hours on that particular day, but it does happen. If you’re in charge of breakfast, lunch or dinner, chances of you being able to hop off the ship to explore the ports for a full day are slim, but you may be able to grab a couple of hours sightseeing between shifts.

12-They Eat the Leftovers

Not your food exactly but if something doesn’t leave the galley, for whatever reason, the crew members may be allowed to eat it at the end of the shift or whilst on a break. However, if a crew member was to order something for themselves or they were to smuggle a profiterole from the dessert trolley they’d need to make sure they’re weren’t caught because some cruise lines look upon this is theft and a dismissible offence.

13-Naps are Essential

Ever wonder how the staff members that you see during the morning and the evening are never like walking zombies? Naps are the secret. As soon as their first shift ends, most workers will nip off for a quick power nap before their second shift starts. It’s an intrinsic part of cruise ship survival and stops them from being dead on their feet come dinner time.

14-The Crew Dictionary

Cruise ship employees have their very own language that enables them to talk amongst themselves without denting their ever-present professionalism. As well as their own terms for guests and other workers, there are also plenty of slang terms floating around for various parts of the ship, activities and more. Living and working in multinational, close quarters is bound to create a whole new life, culture and dictionary.

15-Message In A Bottle?

You might wonder how crew members stay in touch with loved ones back home, but cruise ships get a mail service just like every where else. There’s also internet access onboard, either for a fee or for the lucky ones, for free, with crew internet cafes on Norwegian Cruise Line ships. On Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, all crew members are being given a tablet to enable them to stay better connected with home.

16-Romancing The Crew

Consider how many regular land employees meet their partners at work then add to the mix the close quarters and 24/7 nature of working on a cruise ship. It’s pretty obvious that inter-crew romances are going to happen. Most cruise lines allow these romances but bed hopping will be frowned upon- especially by your cabin mates if you’re in a four bunk room.

17-Romancing The Cruisers

Romance between crew members and passengers however is strictly forbidden, and even the highest officers on the ship are not allowed in passenger cabins unless there is an official reason. That’s not to say that it never happens though.

18-What Happens In The Crew Bar…

…stays in the crew bar. Crew, and staff work hard but they can play even harder. The crew parties that take place twice a month onboard Carnival ships are a great chance for all of the workers to let their hair down- and what does go on below deck in the dedicated crew bar tends to stay well below the radar.

SOURCE - https://www.cruise.co.uk/bulletin/eighteen-crew-secrets-the-cruise-lines-dont-want-you-to-know/