The breeze from the ocean was caressing my cheek as I stood on the patio. The sun was gently kissing my skin. I felt warm, and comfortable, and glowing. This was by far the best tan I'd ever gotten. Tomorrow marked the first day of week three of our honeymoon, and we'd had a marvelous time so far-we'd had plenty of sex, although that wasn't what had made the honeymoon so great. Ironhide and I had explored the island-it turned out this was not the only house on the thing, but the next one was well down the beach, and we couldn't see it from ours. There were a few different things that we could do on the island that involved other people-there was a bar, and a pool club, and jet ski rental and several other things. But we mostly kept to ourselves. After all, it was our honeymoon. 'Hide joined me on the patio, and put his large, warm hand over mine.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. I smiled, and pecked him on the lips.
"I feel great, 'Hide," I said, and it was the truth.
"Mm. I'm glad," he said.
"Are you enjoying this, 'Hide?" I asked. He shot an incredulous glance at me, before starting to laugh.
"These have been two of the greatest weeks of my life," he said, his voice lowering, and he pressed his lips to my forehead.
"I'm glad you think so," I said.
"Of course I do," he said, "However, I must ask when you want to return home?" he continued.
"What?" I asked, "You didn't plan an end to the honeymoon?"
"No. I left that up to you," he said, smiling. I laughed.
"Well, as much as I am loving this," I turned to face him, and pressed my face into his chest, "We, unfortunately, have to return to real life."
"Oh?" he asked, "This isn't real?"
"Nope," I agreed, "This is a fantasy. A fairy tale. A dream...certainly not real."
"It's real, Sweetspark. I promise," he whispered, then kissed me sweetly.
"Well, if you promise, then I guess I'll have to believe you," I relented.
"Mm, yes you do," he said, and I smiled.
"How 'bout we stay until wednesday? It'll give us a couple days to get
used to the idea of returning to real-life," I reasoned.
"If that's what you want," he said.
"Not really. But I suppose I'll live," I said. He pressed his lips firmly to mine again.
Wednesday came, and I was reluctant to leave, but Ironhide assured me we could come back. Something in my heart told me it would be the last time we saw this place. I'd taken plenty of photos, though, so no matter what happened, I would at least be able to look back on them and remember.
We went back the same way we'd come, helicopter, then plane, then car. Except we didn't go back to Will and Sarah's house. Instead, we were carted down a long driveway. I wasn't sure exactly where we were going, but Ironhide didn't seem distressed. So neither was I.
"I never gave you my wedding gift...I wouldn't have been able to bring it along with us. Are you ready?" he asked.
"'Hide, I didn't..." I started. How, how on Earth had my bridal party let me forget something so crucial?!
"I don't care," he smiled, "I just want you to be happy." I pressed my lips together, but nodded anyway. His smile widened, "Alright. Come on," he tugged me out of the the car.
The house was beautiful-like no house I'd ever seen before. Victorian style, painted powder blue with maroon trim. It had a wrap-around porch, and many, many windows. There was even a white picket fence. It was absolutely charming, but at the same time, it was a huge house-big enough for a huge family.
I looked to 'Hide, confused. He looked giddy-excited but nervous.
"It's ours," he said. My eyes widened.
"O-ours?" I asked. I hadn't thought about what would happen in depth...where we would live, or what would happen. But...we had a place to live our life together. A home. This was our home.
"'Hide..." I whispered, "Oh, it's beautiful, 'Hide. It's really ours?" His hopeful expression changed to simply happy. And I was overjoyed.
"I'll give you a tour," he said, and tugged me off toward the house.
And so I entered the place I would forevermore call home.
I like this chapter. Hope you do, too.
~Dev
