My Own Hero

Late Night Swim

-JENSEN'S POV-

"Unca Jensen, I wanna go swimming!"

"We have to ask your mom, Tom."

"Okay. Mommy!"

The four-year-old ran off to the kitchen where Gen, Vicki and Scarlett were working on dinner. I thought it was too many cooks in the kitchen, but the girls were enjoying themselves, so nobody complained as long as there was food actually being made. I followed Tom slowly as he ran up to his mom.

"Mommy, I wanna go swimming with Unca Jensen."

"Maybe later, baby. It's almost time for dinner."

"But I wanna!" Tom whined.

"I know, Tom. The answer isn't no, just later, okay?"

Tom was silent for a minute, before running out of the kitchen again.

"Daddy!"

"Already trying that trick, huh?" I joked, not following him just yet.

"Apparently," Gen shook her head. "Any time I say no lately, he asks if we can call Daddy to ask him. Well, first he asks to call you to ask, but he obviously skipped that step this time."

"I was the one to tell him to ask you. How's dinner coming, by the way?"

"It's coming," Scarlett piped up beside Vicki. "Now get out so we can work."

"Yes, Ma'am," I saluted, walking out.

I headed out back where Jared and Misha were sitting watching the kids play.

"Pwease?" Tom was begging Jared.

"What did your mom say?"

"Maybe wayter," the boy mumbled.

"Alright. Go play with your friends."

Looking like a puppy that had just been kicked, Tom made his way down to where West, Shep and Maison were running around. I grabbed a beer from the cooler by the door and went to sit beside Jared.

"What's the status on dinner?" Jared inquired.

"It's coming. I was kicked out by Scarlett before I could get anymore information."

We continued to talk and watch the kids until Vicki came out a little while later to announce dinner was ready. Four little kids plus three big ones came racing in to the table. Tom insisted on sitting in between me and Jared, Shep was in between his parents, Maison was in between Vicki and Gen and West sat in between his parents. Scarlett sat to my other side.

After dinner, everyone moved into the living room to watch a movie before we had to put the kids down. They wanted to watch some Disney movie and while most of the adults went into the other room to talk, but Scarlett sat down on the floor with the kids and was just as enraptured as the rest of them. She answered all the questions they asked about what was going on throughout the movie.

While the kids were put to bed, I finally got my first moment alone with her since arriving.

"Hey, you."

"Hi," she yawned.

"How you doin'?"

"I'm already exhausted and it isn't even 8:30."

I chuckled, wrapping her in my arms.

"You too exhausted for a late night swim?"

It was like I had given her way too much caffeine. In a flash, Scarlett was rushing up the stairs to our room to change into her suit. I shook my head, smiling as I followed her slowly. By the time I slipped into the room I was sharing with Scarlett, she had already finished putting on her suit. It was a one piece in yellow with white flowers all over and ruffles for sleeves and it was adorable.

"Give me a minute," I told her, grabbing my own suit from my bag and heading into the bathroom attached to our room.

By the time I came out, she was no where to be seen. I headed back downstairs and out the backdoor, figuring she had gotten tired of waiting and headed straight down to the lake. Sure enough, when I got down to the shoreline, Scarlett was already several feet out in the water floating peacefully on her back. Silently, I entered the water and started toward her like a shark stalking prey. When I got closer, I dove under the water before coming back up and grabbing onto her. A predictable squeal escaped her lips and she kicked her feet, upsetting the water around us.

"What the hell, Douchebag?!"

"Aw, I know you love me, Lightweight."

Scarlett pushed against my chest, freeing herself from my arms before splashing me as best she could. It was a little punier than I was sure she was capable of, because she was also fighting to keep herself above water due to the depth of the area we were in.

"Come here, Scar."

"No. I don't like you right now."

"Scarlett, you're floundering. Come here."

"Get away from me, Douchebag."

She attempted to swim away, using her arms and legs to propel her forward in the water, but I easily caught up, grabbing her ankle and dragging her back to me.

"No! Let go of me! Jensen!"

"Never," I growled in her ear.

She immediately stopped flailing and trying to get out of my grasp, twisting in my arms so our chests were nearly touching. Without breaking eye contact, she wrapped her legs around my waist under water and her arms hooked around my neck. My hands kept their possessive grip on her waist.

"Never?" she asked softly.

"Ever," I replied, leaning forward to kiss the tip of her nose.

"GERONIMO!"

Scarlett squealed, hiding her face in my shoulder as Jared cannon balled into the water nearby, splashing us both.

"Jared, they were having a moment!" Gen yelled from back by the shore.

A moment later, Misha jumped in, too.

"Are you two lovely ladies joining us?" Jared called back to his wife and Vicki.

The two women waded in before swimming calmly toward us.

"Sorry," Gen apologized when they were closer.

"We tried to hold them back," Vicki added.

"'S all good," I mumbled.

Scarlett had let go of me to be closer to the other two women, and I was mildly upset by it. However, before I could pout about it too much, Jared had splashed both me and Misha and a full on water fight ensued, the women retreating back towards the shore.