A/N: We hope you're all having a GREAT holiday no matter what you're celebrating at this time of the year, whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or a different holiday. Both of us appreciate the fact that you all take the time to read and review this fic- there's still TONS more coming!
Now for the surprise- there's actually TWO of them. First, we wrote a non DD related Christmas fic for Miscard's H/Hr contest, but it turned out way too long yet she read an excerpt on the podcast she posted today- so go over and listen to that and then read the whole thing right here on PK.
The second surprise is we have most of the Sims 2 DD characters ready for you! Please read the note on the front page and we hope you enjoy playing them in your game as much as we do. They're not all up there yet, and we don't have the custom content downloads listed yet, but they'll be up next week.
As always, thank you for your comments and reviews!
The next morning everyone save for Ethan and Maddie arose early ready to take advantage of the beautiful day. Harry was joking with Ron over who would get the use of the boat first when Saffron came into the kitchen. She pointedly said hello to everyone in the room except for her father. She grabbed a cinnamon raisin bagel from the counter and a glass of orange juice thinking she'd just eat her breakfast on the deck.
"Sweetheart," Hermione said. "There are some pancakes here."
"I'm okay with this," Saffron said. "I'm just going to go out on the deck."
"I think I'll join you then," Harry said, grabbing his cup of coffee.
"Whatever," Saffron said not really looking forward to a lecture from her father. She walked out onto the deck and plopped down on one of the chaise lounges.
"Trouble in paradise still?" Ron teased his best friend.
"Not for long," Harry said sharing a look with Hermione before going outside to join his daughter.
Saffron was munching on her bagel and she shifted in her chair to face away from her father as he stepped outside.
"Lovely day, isn't it?" Harry asked sitting down on the lounge beside her.
"Seems that way," Saffron replied.
"You got a little sunburned," Harry noticed looking at his daughter's red cheeks.
"I suppose," Saffron answered, sipping her juice.
Harry sighed. "You're not going to make this easy on me, are you? I know you're angry, Saffy...."
"Dad do you realise how embarrassing that was yesterday?" Saffron's eyes blazed angrily. "To have you get all angry just because I was playing volleyball with two blokes? It's not like I was running around in the ocean with them all starkers!"
"I know," Harry said. "But your mother stopped me before I could do anything, Saffy."
"What would you have done if she hadn't?" Saffron returned evenly.
Harry had always thought Saffron was very much like her mother and that fact was hit home for him in the way she looked at him.
"I-I don't know," he answered truthfully. "But Saffron, you are not just another girl. You are the daughter of two very high profile people and as sad as it may be, there are some people out there who only want to be your friend or to date you because of who you are..."
"Well I'm not stupid," Saffron huffed. "I would like to think I can tell if I was being used just because of who you and mum are."
Harry set his coffee cup down on the ground. "Saffy, I never said you were stupid, but you're still very young. And I think those two blokes may have been trying to get close to you because of me. I mean, we just showed up yesterday and all of a sudden...."
"Dad will you please get over yourself," Saffron rolled her eyes. "They're Muggles."
"They're what?" Harry asked taken aback.
"Muggles," Saffron said again. "As in non magic, no idea that you've saved the world, yada yada..."
"Oh," Harry said suddenly feeling very stupid. "Well, I…uh..."
Saffron had to suppress a smile at his expression.
Harry thought about the best way to phrase what he wanted to say. The last thing he wanted to do was make her any more upset than she already was.
"Saffron," he said finally. "I know you're not going to want to hear this, but I hate that you're growing up."
"Obviously," she replied.
Harry let out a weak laugh. "And as much as I hate it, I know there's nothing I can do to stop it."
"Right," she said. "So why are you always bugging me about stuff? I can't wear my bikini without the third degree. You don't like a certain shirt or how I wear my hair sometimes--"
"I miss the plaits," Harry joked, but Saffron didn't laugh. "Okay, you're right. Your mum keeps telling me that I need to trust you and you know what?"
"What, that's never going to happen?" Saffron asked sarcastically.
"No smartarse," Harry said. "I'm going to do just that. I'm going to ease up. You're the same age that Julie was when she started to date."
"Did you make her go through all this?" Saffron asked.
"I'll let you in on a secret," Harry said. "I even toyed with following her on that first date, but your mum talked me out of it."
"You almost followed Jules on her first date?" Saffron asked incredulously. "Dad that's horrible!"
"She doesn't know," Harry said. "And I'd appreciate if you kept that between us. And if I ever do something like that to you, you're more than welcome to tell her then."
"I'll keep that in mind," Saffron said, turning on the chaise to face her father. "I guess I can see how it's hard for you to see your last child grow up."
"And I suppose it's not easy to deal with an overprotective father," Harry said grinning at his daughter.
"You could be worse," Saffron smiled at him. "You could be Uncle Neville."
Harry clutched his chest. "Heaven forbid."
"Just trust me okay Dad?" Saffron asked.
"I will," he promised. "If you'll promise me something."
"What?" Saffron finished her juice.
"If you make some time for your old man during the holiday," he said holding out his hand. "I know you're going to be busy playing volleyball and swimming and driving your father crazy."
"Okay," Saffron smiled. She ignored his hand and instead hugged him.
Harry hugged her back. "My sweet girl."
"Most of the time," Saffron giggled.
"I'll always see you like that," he said tickling her side.
"Is that good or bad?" she laughed.
"It's good," Harry said. "At least I think so."
"What are you going to do when I get married?" Saffron asked. "Sob the whole way down the aisle?"
"The Boy Who Lived never sobs," Harry said with a grin.
"The Boy Who Lived became the Dad Who Overreacts," Saffron deadpanned. "Who'd have thought?"
"Your mother," Harry said. "I'll have you know she wasn't pleased with me at all yesterday."
"I could tell," Saffron said, tossing a bit of her bagel for the seagulls swooping about.
"You're so much like her," Harry said moving over and sitting on the chair beside Saffron. "You have my temper, but you remind me so much of your mother Saffy. You always have."
"Like how?" Saffron asked interestedly.
"You are very passionate about life, your family, your work," he said. "You get that from her. If you want something, you go out and make it happen."
Saffron smiled. "I guess I do, yeah."
"And you never let anyone get away with anything," Harry said shaking his head. "Drives me bloody insane sometimes."
Saffron laughed. "That's one of my best qualities," she boasted.
Harry chuckled. "Well we'd better get inside. R.J. was talking about taking you and Alexa on the boat."
"Okay," Saffron said. She surprised Harry by hugging him again. "I love you Dad."
"I love you too sweetheart," Harry said hugging her back. "And do try not and push R.J. overboard today, okay?"
"For Alexa's sake I won't," Saffron giggled.
"That's my girl," Harry said standing up and walking back inside with Saffron.
"Everything okay?" Hermione asked.
"Fine Mum," Saffron said. "I'm going to change into my swim costume."
"Alright," Hermione said pecking her on the cheek. "Alexa went upstairs to get changed too."
"Okay," Saffron headed up to the bedroom she was sharing with her best friend. "You decent in there?" she knocked.
"Yes," Alexa called out. She'd just changed into her own bikini and thrown on an oversized t-shirt. "What's going on?"
"I need to change," Saffron said. "Plus I'm glad we got a few minutes alone. You HAVE to tell me what happened last night!"
"Me too," Alexa said grinning at the memory of it. "I was tempted to wake you when I came back."
"You should have!" Saffron disappeared into the closet to change. "So??? Don't keep me in suspense!"
Alexa sat down on the edge of her twin bed. "Well, we were just talking and snogging and then...he, um, well he...told me he loved me."
Saffron gasped. "He what?"
"He told me he loves me," Alexa said trying to keep her voice down so no one could hear.
"Oh my God!" Saffron squealed as she hugged her friend. "Lex that's so fantastic!"
"I know," Alexa said grinning. "I can't believe this is happening, Saffy. Last summer, I was daydreaming about him and now...."
"You two are in love," Saffron finished. "I think it's so sweet!"
"He said he'd felt that way since the night we were in my tree house," Alexa said. "That was the same night I nearly told him the same thing."
"I can't believe he never said anything to me," Saffron mused, pulling on her cover up.
"Maybe that's because the two of you have been at each other's throats since we got here," Alexa said.
"Well yeah but he's known he's loved you since Easter," Saffron pointed out.
Alexa shrugged. "Maybe it's not something blokes feel they can talk about. I don't imagine he's gushing to his brothers about telling me this."
Saffron laughed. "Can you imagine the torturing he'd go through if Josh and Jon knew about this?"
"I don't even want to think about it," Alexa laughed.
There was a knock on their bedroom door and both girls turned to see R.J. open the door.
"You girls decent?" he asked poking his head inside before getting an answer.
"Too late," Saffron smirked. "No glimpses today."
"Damn," R.J. said snapping his fingers. "Well there's always tomorrow."
"You wish," Saffron said as Alexa grinned at him. "So R.J.... heard you and Lex had an interesting conversation last night..."
"You told her didn't you?" R.J. asked Alexa.
"She asked," Alexa said blushing. "And she is my best friend."
"You're sworn to secrecy," R.J. pointed to Saffron. "If my brothers get wind of this--"
"Get real would you?" Saffron scoffed. "I'm not a blabbermouth you know."
"Okay," R.J. said. "Look, I promise not to give you a hard time about Peter anymore, okay? Just don't say anything to them."
"My lips are sealed," Saffron said sweetly. "Like yours and Alexa's are joined together almost permanently."
"Yeah okay," R.J. said. "I guess I won't talk about you and Things One and Two down on the beach yesterday."
"I didn't snog either one of them," Saffron said as the three of them headed down to the beach.
"Yet," R.J. teased. "And look, there's one of them now..."
"Hey Saffy," the boy said warmly. "I was wondering when you were going to come out..."
"Hiya Sean," Saffron said smiling back at him.
"We're headed out on our boat if you want to join us," R.J. said. "We'll probably be out there for a few hours..."
"Sure," Sean replied. "Sounds like fun. Let me just go and tell my folks and I'll meet you at the docks?"
"All right," Saffron smiled. "Don't make us wait too long now..." she put her hand on his arm.
Sean grinned. "I won't."
Alexa and R.J. shared a look when Sean took off for a run toward his house.
"Sean and Saffy sitting in the tree," R.J. started to sing.
"Sod off R.J. or I go back in our house and blab," Saffron said sharply.
R.J. frowned. "Aye, how about we go on down to the boat?"
Saffron smiled sweetly at him. "You've got the right idea R.J.. Alexa has you trained well."
"If you really fancy this guy, I'll try and not give you a hard time," R.J. said. "But if he does anything out of sorts, I'll cripple him for ya."
"He's nice," Saffron shrugged as the three of them pulled the cover off the boat. "Might be fun to hang around with while you two are off snogging and whispering lovey dovey to each other."
"I like him better than the other bloke," R.J. said. "That loser kept wanting to talk to me about football. He was almost as bad as..."
"Ben?" Alexa finished for him.
"Yeah," R.J. said. "I don't know a bloody thing about the sport."
"Well Sean knows nothing about Quidditch," Saffron said.
"I don't see why we have to lie or cover up," R.J. said directing his comments more at Alexa than Saffron. "If someone is really your friend, I think they'd understand."
"It's not our rule," Alexa replied as she and Saffron rolled up the cover and stowed it under one of the seats. "And if we break it we could all get into huge trouble."
"You remember what that guy Ryan did to Julie right?" Saffron asked. "Some Muggles are afraid of magic, and what they don't know. It's better this way."
"But what about people you've known for a long time?" R.J. asked. "What if you were friends with someone for a long time and you..."
"It's not that easy," Alexa said. "You wouldn't understand R.J.. You've grown up with people who knew what you were and what you could do. I didn't."
"I've known both in my life," Saffron said. "It's not as easy to accept as you think R.J.."
"I'd love to tell my friends back home what we are," Alexa said. "But they wouldn't understand R.J.. Maybe someday they might, but that time isn't now."
Saffron looked up to see Sean ambling down the beach towards them. "Okay so R.J., you know we can't talk about magic then in front of him. We always just say we go to boarding school in Scotland."
"Yes, yes," R.J. said. "I've got it. Football good, magic bad."
"Good boy," Alexa said, giving him a kiss. "There's more where that came from once we get out there," she whispered.
R.J. grinned. "That's what we like to hear."
"You two are sickeningly cute," Saffron commented. "Get used to hearing them whispering lovey cutesy things to each other the whole time we're out there Sean."
"I guess I've been warned then eh?" Sean asked.
"Something like that," she helped him onto the boat. "Where's Matthew today?"
"Went fishing with his dad," Sean said. "He asked if I wanted to go, but I was hoping that I'd run into you."
"Oh," Saffron grinned. "Okay then. I'm glad you stuck around."
"Even though you beat the trousers off me and Matt yesterday," Sean said. He looked at R.J. and Alexa. "Is she this good at everything she does?"
"Pretty much," R.J. answered. "I've known this girl since she was born and she's always got to be the best in everything."
"And usually is," Alexa said grinning at her best friend.
Saffron shook her head. "All right, now you're giving me an ego."
"As if you already didn't have a healthy one as it is." R.J. teased. "Come on, let's get out there."
Harry watched from the deck as his daughter and her friends set off on the boat.
"He seems like a nice boy," Hermione said coming up behind him.
"I hope so," Harry said. "I told Saffy I trust her and I'm going to make good on the promise that I won't embarrass her. But it's hard for me to watch her go out there with no adults around."
"She's with R.J.," Hermione said. "And you know he'd never let anything happen to her."
"I know," Harry replied. "I do trust her. And I trust R.J.."
"But it's still hard," Hermione said putting an arm around him.
"Yeah," Harry said. "Fancy taking my mind off this?" he grinned at his wife.
"What did you have in mind?" Hermione asked innocently.
Harry leaned in and nibbled at her neck. "There's that..." he began
Hermione grinned. "I do like that...."
"Shall we move this to our bedroom?" Harry asked huskily. "Wouldn't want to embarrass the kids..."
"Of course not," Hermione said laughing. "Let's go."
Meanwhile Saffron and Alexa were laughing as R.J. purposely bounced the boat over some waves. "This is so much fun!" Alexa yelled over the wind.
"He's just trying to impress you Lex," Saffron called out.
"He doesn't have to!" Alexa laughed again as R.J. sped up.
"So," Sean said. "You guys come out here every summer?"
"Usually," Saffron held her hair out of her eyes. "A few summers ago we didn't get to come. But we were here last year."
"You certainly have a lot of people in your house," Sean said with a laugh. "How do you fit all those people in there?"
"The rooms are pretty small and we share," Saffron explained.
"My dad's company has a house here," Sean said conversationally. "That's why we're down here. And I know Matt from school."
"How do you like it here?" Saffron asked, smiling at him.
"Better now," he said looking right at her. "I was actually pretty bored before you showed up."
"I'm glad I can liven things up for you a bit then," she flirted.
"I bet you do that wherever you go," Sean said flirting right back. "I still can't believe someone like you doesn't have a boyfriend."
"I should think you'd be happy about that," Saffron said coyly.
R.J. saw Saffron and Sean flirting and he grinned wickedly. He twisted the wheel and made a sharp turn, causing Saffron to fly against Sean on the seat.
"Are you okay?" Sean asked with a nervous laugh.
"Fine," Saffron said, glaring over her shoulder at R.J.. "I'm sorry about that," her face turned pink.
"It's okay," Sean said smiling at her. "I didn't mind."
"Okay," Saffron said, pulling herself right on the seat.
"You're so bad," Alexa said nudging R.J. in the side.
"You want to take over?" he asked.
"I'd rather go up to the front of the boat," Alexa said. R.J. had driven them far out and now there wasn't even any land visible. "A little privacy..."
"Miss O'Leary?" R.J. asked. "What are you trying to do to me?"
Alexa grinned at him. "Come on R.J.."
"Okay," he said cutting the power on the boat.
"Where are you two going?" Saffron asked as Alexa grabbed his hand.
R.J. grinned in reply. "To have some fun. Behave you two." he said as his girlfriend tugged him around the side to the front.
Sean smiled nervously at Saffron. "I thought they'd never leave."
Saffron felt her stomach flutter. "They've been attached at the lips ever since they started dating."
"Must be kind of hard tagging along with them," he said. "I mean not that you're a third wheel or anything, but I---I'm sounding like an idiot, aren't I?"
"It's okay," Saffron said, shifting a bit closer to him on the seat. Sean really was rather cute, she thought.
"I really like you Saffron," he said softly.
"You do?" she whispered, the butterflies making her stomach flutter even more now. Was he drawing closer or was it just her?
Sean nodded and leaned in even further. "And I'd really like to..."
Saffron caught her breath as Sean pressed his lips to hers.
Sean rested his hand on Saffron's waist and pulled her a little closer.
Saffron was partly glad she still had her cover up on as she and Sean kissed. It was quite thrilling, this snogging, and she stifled her gasp of surprise as he opened his lips over hers and kissed her more deeply.
"Whoa," Sean said a few moments later when they broke apart.
"Yeah," Saffron smiled, feeling a little bit shy. "That was really um... that was really great Sean."
"You didn't mind then?" he asked.
"No," she shook her head. "I liked it."
"Good," he said smiling at her. "You, um never told me how long you and your family were going to be here."
"For the next two weeks," Saffron replied.
"Us too," Sean said grinning. "Though I am quite amazed my dad actually wanted to take a holiday. He's a bit of a workaholic actually. My mum had to threaten him with divorce if he didn't take us on holiday. But he's still on the beach with his laptop and mobile, you know?"
Saffron giggled. "So you really don't see more of him than normal?"
"Not really," Sean said with a shrug. "He's usually gone when I wake up and he doesn't come home until after dinner."
"You'll have to come hang out with me, R.J. and Alexa," Saffron offered.
Sean grinned. "You sure your parents wouldn't mind? I don't think your dad liked me too much. That was your dad, right? The bloke with the glasses and the angry expression on his face?"
Saffron laughed. "Yeah, he's a bit overprotective but I straightened him out this morning. He's really nice once you get to know him."
"What does your dad do?" Sean asked conversationally. "For a living, I mean?"
"He's in um... law enforcement." Saffron said quickly.
"No wonder you don't have a boyfriend," Sean teased. "The blokes are probably scared he'll arrest them. Does he work at Scotland Yard?"
"Something like that," Saffron giggled.
"And your mum?" Sean asked.
This was definitely harder. "She works in government... sort of top secret stuff." she covered hastily.
"Like James Bond stuff?" Sean asked intrigued.
"James Bond?" Saffron asked. "Who's that?"
Sean stared at her for a moment thinking she was joking. "You---you don't know who James Bond is? Saffy? You've got to be kidding me? Sean Connery? Pierce Brosnan? Roger Bloody Moore?"
Saffron shrugged. "Sorry..." she had absolutely no idea who he was talking about.
"Don't you go to the movies?" he asked. "Or catch a Bond movie on telly?"
"Oh... no I don't get a lot of time to watch films," she said. "Especially not at school, they don't allow the telly up there and there's no theatre nearby."
Sean laughed. "What kind of school do you go to? That doesn't sound like that much fun."
"It's a boarding school," Saffron said. "Way up in northern Scotland."
Sean nodded. "Do you miss your folks when you're away?"
"Yeah," Saffron said, sitting back against the seat and pulling her hair up out of her eyes. "I mean, I'm home for Christmas, Easter and summer hols but the rest of the time I'm up there at school."
"What part of London do you live in?" Sean asked. "Maybe it's not too far away where you and I could see each other when you're home."
"Near the centre of the city," Saffron said vaguely.
"Anywhere near Shepherd's Bush?" Sean asked.
"I... don't think so." Saffron had never heard of that.
Sean pulled a confused face wondering why she was being so vague and he seriously wondered if she lived under a rock. Still, she was quite pretty and he genuinely liked her. "So um what sorts of music do you like?" he asked trying to go another route.
"Oh anything by the Weir-... the Beatles," Saffron said enthusiastically.
"Oh me too!" Sean exclaimed. "My dad and mum have some old CDs. Do you like the Stones too?"
"Sure," Saffron nodded.
"What are you two talking about?" Alexa asked as she and R.J. came back from the front of the boat.
"Music," Sean said. "I was just trying to find out who Saffy liked. And we were talking about the Stones and the Beatles."
"The who?" R.J. asked.
"The Who! They're a good group too," Sean said. "My dad and mum saw them in concert."
"Oh," R.J. said. "Did you two at least snog?" he asked.
"Did you?" Saffron asked glaring at him.
"Course we did," R.J. slid an arm around Alexa.
"Big surprise," Saffron said rolling her eyes.
"I thought we might head back and play volleyball again like we did yesterday," Alexa said. "Are you two up for it?"
"That sounds like fun," Sean said. "Maybe Matt will be back from fishing and he'll join us."
"Great," R.J. said forcing a smile.
"He drives me crazy with the football talk too," Sean said laughing.
"All football talk drives me crazy," Alexa said and Saffron nodded.
"I'm more of a golf fan actually," Sean said leaning back on the bench.
"Me too!" Saffron exclaimed. "I play with my grandfather all the time!"
"Do you really?" Sean asked grinning at her. "That's cool. Maybe we could play some time?"
"I'd love that," Saffron's eyes sparkled excitedly.
"And maybe I'll rent a James Bond movie or two," Sean said. He looked at R.J.. "Can you believe she didn't know who James Bond was? I mean, come on!"
"Oh... yeah Saffy." R.J. said with a wicked smile. "How could you not know who James Bond is?"
Saffron glared at him. She knew for a fact R.J. didn't know who this James Bond person was anymore than she did. Well, two could play this game, she thought.
"Well," Saffron said with a shrug. "I guess that's never come up. Sean was just telling me about what a workaholic his dad is. Says that he's always on the laptop. We could say the same about you couldn't we R.J.?"
"Sure," R.J. said, his smile slipping. "You could say that."
"Do you have one?" Sean asked. "I keep trying to get my dad's but he won't let me. I have quite a few things downloaded on it."
"I uh..." R.J. looked to Alexa for help.
"Computers," Alexa said shaking her head. "What would we ever do without them?"
"Right," R.J. said, shooting a triumphant look at Saffron. "Can't live without them!"
Saffron planned on talking to Alexa about her always letting R.J. win when they got back to the beach. But she wasn't through messing with R.J. yet. This was going to be a little payback for all the hell he'd put her through over Peter.
"R.J.," Saffron said not even trying to hide her grin. "How about you tell Sean..."
"About how you used to wet the bed?" R.J. finished for her. "No, I don't think I should tell him that. Besides, you've not done that in a couple of years..."
"Ronald Bilius," Saffron's eyes narrowed into slits. "You just wait until we get back to school. You are going to be covered in bloody spots the rest of your life once I'm through hexing you!"
"Saffy," Alexa said, her eyes growing wide as she motioned silently toward Sean.
"Oh... shite." Saffron pressed her lips together.
"Hex?" Sean's eyebrows furrowed. "You sound like my cousin."
"We should head on back," Alexa said. "Didn't Maddie and Ethan want to take the boat out?"
"Right," R.J. said, grabbing the keys.
"Your cousin?" Saffron crossed her arms. "You have a cousin that hexes people?"
"She wishes," Sean said, not wanting to say anything more on the subject. "She could be the Wicked Witch of the North though. She's about as mean as one."
Saffron's eyes narrowed as R.J. started the boat. "Where does this cousin of yours go to school?"
"I'm not really sure," Sean said. "It's kind of a secret Saffy. No one's supposed to know about it."
Saffron bit her lower lip. "Is it called... Hogwarts?"
Sean looked at her in surprise. "H-how did you know? "
"Well..." Saffron said. "Me, Alexa and R.J.... we go there too."
"You mean you're a---that you three are...." Sean stammered.
"Right," Saffron said sheepishly. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before... and I really hope you aren't angry with me." she put her hand on his arm.
"No," he said quietly. "I'm not angry, it's just...strange, I guess."
"Who's your cousin?" R.J. asked. "Maybe we know her? What house is she in?"
"She's a few years older than us so I don't think you'd know her or anything," Sean replied. "But her name's Christina. Christina Grant."
"Eww!" Saffron and Alexa said at the same time.
"You know her?" Sean asked with a laugh. "It's okay, we're not all that close. She spent the entire Christmas holiday talking about some bloke named Junior. It was Junior this and Junior that. It was a bit..."
Saffron laughed. "Sean, meet Junior." she gestured to R.J.. "He knows your cousin REALLY well." she snickered.
"You're Junior," Sean said looking at R.J.. He laughed. "And you Alexa must be the red-haired tart who stole him right out from under Christina's nose."
"That would be me," Alexa laughed.
"And she's damn proud of it." Saffron finished. "So you're actually RELATED to her?"
"Please don't hold it against me." Sean said. "We really don't get on at all."
"We all have something in common then," Alexa said laughing. "We don't get on with her either."
"I did," R.J. said displaying that well known Weasley tactfulness. "Well, you know until..."
"Then you're one of a few," Sean joked. "I really am glad you don't hold it against me," he said to Saffron as R.J. began to steer the boat back in the direction of the beach.
"I'm going to try," Saffron said. "Really, I will. But of all people, Christina Grant."
"I know, I know. You can imagine what she's like at family parties. Always threatening to hex us, when she's not brushing her hair or doing her nails that is," Sean rolled his eyes. "We always just steer clear of her."
"But at least we don't have to lie to you," Saffron said. "I never have liked doing that. I know it's necessary and all, but it's hard to do with people you like."
Sean grinned at her. "At least now I know how you're fitting all those people in your beach house." he put his arm around her.
"Aye," Saffron said resting her head on his shoulder.
Alexa grinned back at her friend. "I think Saffy's finally found somebody," she said to R.J.. "This is great, now we can double while we're here!"
"And we won't feel so guilty when we go off by ourselves," R.J. said steering the boat.
"This is going to work well for all of us," Alexa giggled. "Can I try driving this?"
"Sure," R.J. said. "Come here..."
Alexa smiled as R.J. showed her how to steer the boat. "I'm so glad I came here." she said, looking back at him.
R.J. kissed her. "So am I, Lexie. So am I."
"I love you," Alexa said, the wind whipping at her hair.
"I love you," he said putting his hands over hers.
"Drive the bloody boat would you?" Saffron teased from where she was leaning against Sean.
"Do you hear anything?" R.J. asked his girlfriend.
"Just another couple that should be snogging but aren't," Alexa replied.
"Shall we?" Sean asked.
"Put on a show?" Saffron asked.
"I'm game if you are," Sean said nudging her.
Saffron grinned before shamelessly capturing Sean's mouth with hers.
*** *** ***
"That was just too weird," Ethan said as he and Maddie took their turn out on the boat later that afternoon.
"What was?" Maddie asked, tying her hair into a hasty plait to keep it from tangling in the wind.
"Seeing my baby sister snogging some bloke when they drove up here." Ethan shook his head.
"Yes well now you know how it felt for me to walk by R.J.'s door last night and hear him giggling with Alexa," Maddie said laughing. "I don't even want to think of my baby brother doing things like that. To me, he's that same little boy who used to follow me around."
Ethan laughed too. "It's a good thing my dad wasn't out there to see that. And a good thing yours didn't hear what was going on in R.J.'s room last night."
"You know what's another good thing?" Maddie asked glad to see Ethan in a better mood than he was last night.
"What?" he asked, gunning the motor and turning the boat to the open water.
"Being out here all alone with you," Maddie replied.
He turned back and grinned at her. "That is a very good thing." he called over the wind.
Maddie grinned and looked back at the shore which was disappearing fast as she and Ethan went further out. It had been great to fall asleep in his arms and to wake up next to him. He had been right last night when he said that they needed this.
Ethan could feel any tension he might have had leave him as Maddie came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his middle. "Want to drive?" he asked with a grin.
"Sure," Maddie said eagerly.
"You remember how right?" Ethan asked as she moved in front of him. He placed his hands over hers and kissed the side of her forehead.
"I had a good teacher," Maddie said.
She took over the wheel and Ethan slid his arms back around her waist. "You do remember this well," he said in her ear.
"I remember that well too," Maddie said with a giggle.
"And you asked me to stop the boat..." Ethan said, kissing under her ear.
"Right here," Maddie said softly.
"Exactly," Ethan stopped the boat and turned her around, pressing his lips to hers.
Maddie looped her arms around his neck eager to be as close to him as possible. "Ethan..."
He pulled her over to the seat, kissing her again, sweeping his hands through her hair, loosening it from the plait. "I never get tired of kissing you," he said.
Maddie smiled and shivered a little when Ethan undid the ties of her bikini top. "Mmmm...."
His hands were eager as he ran them over her smooth warm skin. "You are incredible," he breathed, kissing her lips and neck.
Maddie felt as if every inch of her was on fire as Ethan lay her back down on the seat.
"Is this okay?" he asked, barely breaking his mouth away from hers.
"Yes," she breathed. "It's perfect."
"Okay," Ethan said smiling down at her as he brushed her hair back. With his left hand, he began to pull the other tie to her bikini.
Maddie barely felt Ethan pull the tie loose, but her skin tingled as he brought his hand down to her breast. Something seemed to jolt her back to reality and right as Ethan started kissing her again she pushed gently at his chest. "Ethan..."
"What?" his eyes opened and he blinked at her. "What's wrong?"
"Not...not here," she said pushing him away. "I think we..."
Ethan was breathing hard as he sat back. "Maddie--"
Maddie sat up and hastily retied the strings of her bikini. "We got carried away again. I'm sorry..."
"Don't tell me we were going too fast," Ethan put his hand up.
"We were," Maddie said. When Ethan got up and stood with his back to her, Maddie could tell he was angry, but she couldn't understand why.
"Maddie we've been together for a year now," Ethan began. "I've told you that I respect the fact that you want to wait until we're married. I want to wait too. But you don't trust me to stop when we're snogging and I don't know why. I've never given you any reason to not trust me."
"I've never given you any reason to think I don't trust you," she argued. "Ethan..."
"This," Ethan gestured to her on the seat. "This is a perfect reason. You always tell me we're going too fast. We've bloody been together a year Maddie. The only way we could go too fast is if we actually went all the way!"
"You're angry with me," Maddie said quietly. "I understand that, but we agreed that we would wait Ethan. You said you didn't mind."
"I just told you I didn't mind waiting," Ethan said. "But to be frank here, I'm bloody frustrated. There's nothing like getting pushed away in the middle of a snog session to make a bloke feel unwanted."
"I do want you," Maddie said. "You know that I do, but I just...would you please look at me?"
Ethan sighed and turned around to face her.
"I do trust you Ethan," she said softly. "And this is just as hard for me as it is for you, but this is important to me. Deciding to wait is very important to me. But, you don't seem to understand."
"What's not to understand?" Ethan snapped. "I'm not asking you to shag me right here Maddie. But every time I want to just... fool around, you're there one second saying how fine it is and how much you want it, and then the moment I actually touch you, you're pushing me away and telling me it's too fast! What the hell am I supposed to think?"
This time it was Maddie who turned away. Obviously, Ethan didn't understand how important this was to her.
"You know I'm right," Ethan said in a quieter tone.
"I don't know anything," she said folding her arms. "Not anymore."
"So what are you saying?" he asked.
"I'm saying that maybe you and I don't want the same things," she said quietly. "Everyone kept telling me how wonderful it was that you were understanding about this, but the truth is you're not. You probably thought that once we moved in together, I'd change my mind. I'm so sorry if being with me is so bloody frustrating!"
"Stop putting words in my mouth that weren't there," Ethan said heatedly. "I DO understand all right? Name ONE time I've pushed you. Name ONE time!"
"I never said you pushed me," she shot back. "I don't want to be out here with you. Will you please take us back to shore?"
"What?" he laughed in disbelief.
"I said take me back to shore," Maddie said angrily.
"Fine," Ethan snapped. He turned away from her and gunned the motor, not waiting to see if she was sitting down. He headed back to shore quickly, and when he pulled into their dock, he didn't even wait to help her out of the boat.
Maddie watched in anger as Ethan made quick work of securing the boat. She felt hot tears well up in her eyes and she wanted to get out of here before he could see how upset she was.
On the shore, Allison was sitting on a blanket with Jon and the girls and laughing as Caroline tried to help Emma bury Jon in the sand. She looked over to see Maddie hurrying up the beach. Right away she could tell something was wrong.
"I'll be right back," Allison called out to Jon as she quickly got up.
Maddie heard someone come up behind her as she went to the house and at first she thought it was Ethan. "Leave me alone," she said, wiping at her eyes.
"Maddie it's just me," Allison put a hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "What's wrong? Did you and Ethan have a row?"
"You could say that," Maddie said her voice breaking.
"Come on," Allison said putting an arm around her. "Let's go into my room. We can talk there."
Maddie nodded. "Okay," she said, sniffing.
Allison quickly led Maddie into the house and upstairs to her room. Maddie sat down on the edge of the bed and Allison handed her a box of tissues.
"Thanks," Maddie said taking them.
"You two looked so happy when you set out," Allison said sitting down beside her. "What happened?"
"I don't know," Maddie said, her eyes tearing up again. "We just... we got out there and we were talking about how a year ago we had just admitted how we felt... and then we started snogging..." she wiped her eyes. "And I just... I got so scared Allie. He untied my bikini top and he put his hands on me and I get so scared that we won't be able to stop."
"Ethan---he didn't try and force you did he?" Allison asked amazed that she was able to get that question out. The Ethan she knew would never do something like that.
"No," Maddie let out a shuddery sigh. "He'd never do that to me... but he says I don't trust him to stop."
"And do you?" Allison asked gently. "Trust him to stop?"
"I don't know," Maddie whispered. "Allie I'm not like other girls. I never dated or kissed anyone before Ethan. I don't know how far to go before it's too far."
Allison hugged her sister-in-law. "Oh Maddie..."
"I just don't know what to do," Maddie began to cry again.
Allison looked thoughtfully at her. She didn't know if she was the best person to come looking to for advise. She'd married the only boy she'd ever loved and she and Jon had pretty much learned everything together. "I wish I could tell you what to do Maddie. That's up to you, but I really think you need to ask yourself if you really do trust Ethan. Do you really think that he wouldn't be able to stop?"
"I'm pretty sure I trust him," Maddie swallowed hard. "I know he'd never do anything to hurt me."
"And when you're alone together and fooling around," Allison said. "How does that feel?"
"Amazing," Maddie said with a small smile. "I feel so happy, at least at first. It makes me feel like a different person."
"But then you get scared?" Allison guessed.
"I just don't know," Maddie said miserably. "I don't know anything."
"It's normal to be scared," Allison said putting a hand on Maddie's arm. "This is all very new to you. You've never been in a relationship before and you don't know what boundaries there are. I was scared too when Jon and I were first starting out. You're not strange for feeling this way."
"What do I do?" Maddie asked. "What do I tell Ethan?"
"You could try telling him exactly what you just told me," Allison replied. "He's probably taking this as a rejection. You need to explain to him why you feel the way you do, Maddie. Tell him how scared you are. Be honest with him."
"I tried to," Maddie said. "But he just got angry and then I made him take me back to shore. I want to be with him Allie. I want to do normal relationship things. But I'm just scared we'll take things too far one day and not be able to turn back."
"Give him some time to cool off and then try talking to him again," Allison suggested. "Maddie, Ethan loves you very much. He'll listen."
"I hope so," Maddie said quietly. "Thanks Allie. I appreciate you talking to me about this."
"I'm glad to help," Allison said giving her another hug. "I've missed you. We don't get to see each other as much as we used to."
"I know," Maddie said. "I've been seeing so much of Frankie lately though." she laughed. "I miss sitting for the girls. You and Jon are going to have to find something to do some night after we get back so I can spend an evening with them."
Allison smiled. "That would be lovely. They miss you too. And we'll have to go out for coffee like we used to do."
"I'd love to do that," Maddie said.
"Good," Allison said. "I should get back down to the beach and make sure Caroline and Emma haven't buried Jon too deep. You want to come with?"
"Sure," Maddie nodded.
Allison stood up. "Emma is still calling you Mad. She keeps asking when Mad is going to play with her."
"Are you sure Jon hasn't taught her his favourite nickname for me?" Maddie grabbed a tie from the dresser and pulled her hair back in a long ponytail. "She's not just calling me Mad and then Dog behind my back?"
Allison laughed. "No, but she does call Max, Mad too."
"Is that a compliment?" Maddie asked with a laugh.
"I think so," Allison said. "Come on."
She and Maddie walked downstairs and out onto the deck and to Maddie's relief, Ethan was nowhere in sight. Allison led the way over to where Jon was reapplying sunscreen to Emma. Caroline was putting seashells in her bucket.
"Ma!" Emma called out when she saw her mother. "Mad!"
"Hi Em," Maddie opened her arms and Emma stumbled over to her. "Are you having fun with your daddy?"
Emma nodded and wrapped her little arms around Maddie's neck.
"The girls let you loose?" Allison teased giving her husband a kiss.
"I had to beg," Jon laughed. "I owe them both some sweets later."
"Daddy I want some chocolate," Caroline said.
Jon looked over at Caroline. "You want me to take you inside to go and see what we can find? Perhaps Grandpa didn't eat it all."
"Maybe later," Caroline said. "Aunt Maddie, do you want to go hunt for seashells with me?"
"Sure," Maddie said smiling at Caroline. "That sounds like fun."
"How about we keep Ems here with us?" Jon said taking Emma back from Maddie.
"Me go!" Emma howled. "I want Mad!"
Jon held his daughter back. "Okay, Em. Now that Daddy can't hear..."
"I don't mind taking her," Maddie said. "I've missed spending time with them."
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Allison asked.
"Not at all," Maddie said. "We'll have loads of fun and I'll keep an extra close eye on them by the water."
"Come on Al," Jon said. "You and I can go have some fun in the water."
"Watch out for any soldier fish Daddy," Caroline said, dumping out her shells and placing her towel over them for safekeeping.
"Okay," Jon said grinning at his daughter. "You be good for your Aunt Mad Dog, okay?"
"See Allie," Maddie laughed. "I told you that's where she got Mad from."
Jon grinned wickedly at his little sister. "Thanks again, Mad Dog. Come on, Al."
"All right," Maddie said. "Emma do you want to walk sweetheart? Or do you want Mad to carry you?"
"Walk," Emma said enthusiastically. "Emma walk."
"Okay," Maddie smiled. "Emma's walking." she took her little niece's hand and the three of them set out down the beach, stopping every few yards so Caroline could pick up shells.
"You know if you get a bunch of pretty shells," Maddie said to Caroline. "I could help you make necklaces and bracelets."
"You can?" Caroline asked.
"I sure can," Maddie said with a grin. "You know when I was little, your Grandma Luna used to help me make shell jewellery when we were here. I had so much fun doing that and I bet you girls would love it too."
"We can get Grandma to help," Caroline said.
"Of course," Maddie said. "She'd love to help."
"Can we do it after dinner?" Caroline asked. "No, Emma! Don't put that in the bucket...that's a piece of wood!"
"Shell!" Emma said happily.
"It's not a shell," Caroline said reaching into the bucket and pulling it out. She pulled one of the seashells out to show her sister. "See? This is a shell."
"Ohhh," Emma looked at it thoughtfully. "Shell!" she reached out and plucked one from the sand, holding it between her chubby fingers.
"Right," Maddie said laughing. "That's a pretty one, Emma!"
"Shell Mad!" Emma put it in the bucket her sister was holding out.
"That's good Em," Caroline said. "Let's find more okay?"
"Kay," Emma said following her sister.
Maddie would have done anything to go back to her childhood right now; where the biggest concern was finding a pretty seashell. Things became so much more complicated when you grew up; more complicated than Maddie had ever imagined.