"So what's the next adventure on your exciting bucket list?" Benedict asks the minute I slid into the buttery leather of his expensive sports car. We don't have to say anything, but our hands find each other's on the gearshift.
"Don't laugh at me, but I want to swim in the ocean," I say. All my life, I've heard stories about how awe-inspiring and perfect the ocean is. I've never gotten to see that beauty face to face.
"Really? You've never seen the ocean?" He asks incredulously. I nod with a shrug.
"I've been to lakes countless times, but I've never been to the ocean. Can you help me cross this off the list?"
"Brighton's just two hours away," Benedict smiles back before kissing my cheek and shifting into gear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Why do you want to spend time with me?" I ask suddenly, tearing my gaze from the oranges and yellows of the fall foliage outside the car window. "Yesterday at Thorpe Park you said you wanted to spend time with me, but you never said why. Truly, I'm just something to check off of your celebrity good deed list. I'm not going to be here long, but you want to spend time on me. Why is that?"
"The real question is, why would you ever refer to yourself that way? "Something to check off of my celebrity good deed list?" Jesus, Ella! Look at you! You are the most beautiful, intelligent, and fascinating people I've ever met! How could I not want to spend time with you?"
"Aren't there other people in your life who are beautiful, intelligent, and fascinating? You revolve in the same orbit as scores of people like that! Why am I different?" I persist. Benedict looks at me out of the corner of his eye, yanks the car to the shoulder of the road, and turns it off.
"What are-"
"Shut up. Ella, if I didn't want to spend time with you, if I didn't think you were beautiful, intelligent, fascinating and a million other things, I wouldn't be here. I would have done exactly what all the others did when they met their person, talk with them for a bit, then moved on. Jesus Christ, I'm holding your hand! I've kissed you! Do you not see why I want to spend time with you!?" Almost fiercely, his hands come up to clutch my face and press an angry kiss to my lips. After a minute, he leans back and starts the car again.
Was that our first fight? I'm such an idiot, but I had to check. Hesitantly, I let my hand find his again. His thumb immediately begins to rub little circles on my skin and I can't stop the little contented sigh that leaks out. Benedict gives me a little side smile and I know he feels it too. The countryside keeps blurring past us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There she is!" Benedict suddenly shouts, jabbing a finger out the window. Squealing, I roll down my window and let the salty freshness of the ocean fill the car. It's beautiful, even from the road.
"Oh, Benedict! It's beautiful! It even smells lovely!" I cry, unable to tear my eyes away. How have I not known this happy place exists?
"Darling, we aren't even at the seaside yet. Just you wait until we park!" He crows, laughing at my euphoria. Carefully, the car slides into a parking place and he parks. "Let's go!"
Shrieking excitedly, we leap from the car. "I'll race you to the water!" I shout, leaving my shoes against the car. Oh, this is living!
"Ella! Your clothes!" Benedict shouts at my retreating form, but my footprints keep making tracks in the sand. After a minute, Benedict laughs loudly and pounds in the sand after me. "I'll beat you!"
A mad giggle escapes my lips and I keep running toward the waves that beckon me like open arms. Suddenly, Benedict's arms wrap around my waist and I'm up in his arms with a loud gasp. "Benedict!" I shout gleefully, but he keeps running until we hit the water.
"It's so cold!" We scream in unison as the water swirls around our knees. With a mighty heave, Benedict tosses from his arms and dives into the water with me. For a moment, all I hear is the gentle whoosh of water on my ears. Cold currents hug my body and salt tickles my skin. It's absolutely perfect here. My lungs remind me that I need air and my head breaks the surface.
"Oh, why did we swim in September? In England?" Benedict laughs hysterically, splashing me with water. Giggling, I let my heavy clothes pull me back into the oncoming wave. Benedict falls next me, and as if by magnetic attraction, salty arms and legs and hearts entwine and we ride the waves together. I could have been pulled out into the oblivion of the ocean, but as long as Benedict was with me, I'm happy.
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Bit of a longer chapter today, but I think this was a cute one. I'm trying to put something important in the chapter so they aren't just fluff, but hey, fluff happens.
Thank you so much for reading my work! Grandeur is almost at 10,000 reads and it makes me so happy to see that! Thanks for all of the kind comments, votes, and follows! I love you all!
Cheers, Stella
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Stand Up (Benedict Cumberbatch fanfic)
FanfictionThey diagnosed me with cancer. The big, bad disease that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. And it was terminal. I went from having my whole life open to me to a rapidly shrinking window. So I left. I ran to London. I met him there. Benedict Cumberb...
