IT'S A BEACH PARTY

[noburden]

Jill finally gets her day at the beach with her boys.

Did she pack far too much food? Possibly, but the cooler and basket(s) fill up some of the space on the massive blanket set out on the sand, an umbrella shading a corner of it. Someone will eat it at some point. She opted to forego the alcohol (no beer cans), but there's sparkling lemonades and apple cider and plain ol' water. Torgal even has his own bowls filled with water and some easily transportable mushy meat stuff. It's downwind, don't worry!

And it's hot. The sand stings before the flesh can adjust to being slightly cooked, like being on many tiny coals. Jill's been slathering sunscreen on herself and whoever dares look a little rosy. It's important. She's not tolerating any burns.

Today is going to be fun, peaceful, and without incident.

Pushing anyone into the waves doesn't count.

Comments

[noburden]

"That... that has a good chance of making me smile," she says seriously. "It always does."

[rosarianoath]

“Ah,” he says. “Should I take my chances with that, or need I think of something to raise my chances further?”

[noburden]

Jill glances around to make sure no one is within earshot before speaking.

"A contingency plan is always a good idea."

[rosarianoath]

“Ahh,” he says, venturing onto the beach proper. He’ll carry her right to their camp. “Then I suppose I’ll have to tell the lady of my desires.”

[noburden]

"Should I be jealous?" She jokes, and steals a kiss. "That used to be me, once upon a time."

[rosarianoath]

“Are you a lady no longer?” he muses, boosting her a little higher in his arms to keep her face close. “Or would a grander title suit you better?”

[noburden]

"A grander title? Like what?"

[rosarianoath]

He gives a little amused sound.

“Wife, perhaps?”

[noburden]

Jill makes a little sound in her throat and tries not to think about how her heart squeezes.

"The only title I would ever care to have. Some day."

When he's ready. She's been ready since they were children.

[rosarianoath]

“Someday soon,” he promises. It’s felt close for a while, almost within reach. He couldn’t say why he hasn’t grasped it. “I want it for both of us.”

[noburden]

"So do I," she says with a smile, and it's physically impossible to talk about being his wife without needing to kiss him, and so she does.

"You're my husband."

[rosarianoath]

“I am,” he says, lips moving briefly to her forehead when the kiss breaks. “And you’re my wife.”

[noburden]

"Always?" She asks, simply wanting him to confirm what she already knows.

[rosarianoath]

“And forever,” he says.

Their ‘camp’ is just ahead, and though he’s hesitant to put her down, he does the moment her feet can touch the blanket.

[noburden]

Feet on the sand, Jill doesn't move away. She simply slips her arms around him in an embrace, fully leaning into him.

"Forever with you sounds like the most perfect dream. My treasure."

[rosarianoath]

Her touch never fails to make his heart skip a beat, even if it’s accompanied by the thought that they are incredibly out in the open.

“Good thing it’s what we’ll have, then, my love.”

[noburden]

She squeezes him tightly and kisses his neck before letting him go.

"You should eat if you're serious about defeating both me and Dion in some sort of game. You'll need to be at your very best."

[rosarianoath]

Oh, he’s serious. He trails behind her even as she lets go, hopeful to be led towards food.

“Do we have hot dogs?”

[noburden]

"Of course," she replies without missing a beat. She knows what he likes to eat. "The hot part may be lacking, however."

If only there was an easy fix.

[rosarianoath]

“I can warm it up,” he says. “And whatever you’d like, too.”