Topic: New Chapter

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:18 EST
((Contains reference to adult situations.))

Sunday 20th July, 2014

"You can like the life you're livin', you can live the life you like ..." Who in Tirisano would ever be able to guess that right now their princess, the heir to the throne of their little principality, was standing in the middle of a cottage kitchen in nothing but her nightwear and heels, wiggling her hips in time to the music she sang" Never mind that Dru was running through the one song from Chicago that she had flubbed badly in the final performance last night - it was such an incredibly odd thing for a princess to be doing at all. She hoped she hadn't woken Josh, but he was never very far away these days, no matter what she was up to.

Josh was slow getting up that morning, slower than Dru anyway. While she was up singing and presumably cooking in the kitchen, he was just waking up. Thankfully, classes were over for the semester, so they weren't juggling school, the theater, and obligations back home. It was not quite as odd for a duke's son to be performing on stage as it was for a princess, especially when that son was a second son who had always dreamed of performing in the theater, and yet, he was still a duke's son with all the responsibilities and obligations that came along with it, and if things kept going the way they were going with Dru, he might end up as far more than that.

"....and it's good, isn't it great, isn't it grand, isn't it swell, isn't it - oh!" With a yelp, Dru wobbled off her heels at exactly the same place she had done the night before on stage, and bounced painfully off the edge of the kitchen table, swearing in a variety of languages with crude emphasis she really shouldn't have known. Rubbing her hip, she scowled, annoyed with herself, and turned back to the oven, checking the heat with the back of her hand. Josh was slowly teaching her how to cook, but this was the first time she'd attempted breakfast by herself. He hadn't woken up to the smell of the pancakes cooking, so now they were staying warm in the oven while she marked time, waiting for him to get up.

At last, he rolled out of bed and stumbled to his feet, rubbing a hand across his face as he made his way first to the bathroom to relieve himself and wash up a little before joining her. Though they were practically living together, there were still some awkward moments between them as they got accustomed to life under the same roof.

Fairly sure the food wasn't burning in an oven that was only warm, not hot, Dru muttered to herself and returned to her rehearsal. Setting her feet once again, she let the rhythm resound in her head, singing the words as they came, while her hips did most of the work. It wasn't even a particularly difficult piece of choreography - she was just frustrated that it had tripped her up last night, wanting to prove to herself that it had just been a fluke.

Once he was finished in the bathroom, Josh paused in the doorway to the kitchen to watch her quietly a moment, a hint of amusement playing across his face. She was getting better, more comfortable with being on stage, enjoying it even, and it showed in her performance. She would have never gotten the lead role of Roxie Hart if she hadn't.

It should have looked strange to see her dancing around in her nightclothes and high heels, but then, she had worn a lot less in some of her scenes on stage. Of course, that was when she was Roxie - right now, she was Dru, and the song had taken on a shy, self-conscious edge that was rather endearing. As she reached the part that had tripped her up, she scowled down at her feet, willing them to do as she wanted, and let out a yip of triumph when they did just that, clapping her hands as though applauding herself. "Finally!"

That applause was echoed by another pair of hands as he added his own praise of her impromptu performance. "Good!" he exclaimed. "Better! You didn't trip this time!" he said as he joined her in the kitchen, himself in a pair of boxer shorts and t-shirt, feet bare and hair mussed, but at least he'd brushed his teeth and hence, had fresh breath.

Startled, she spun about, blushing even as she laughed to find him watching her. "And how long have you been standing there, ogling my rear end?" she asked with an arch smile, reaching up to gently brush his hair back off his forehead.

"Long enough," he replied with a smile, proud of the progress she'd made, especially for someone who hadn't had any former experience in the theater. Oh, sure, she was used to being in front of people, but that was an entirely different kind of stage than the one they performed on in the theater. "You're doing great, Dru! You're a natural, I swear." Maybe it was in the blood. After all, her brother was Jonathan Granger.

Her shy smile lit up her face, beaming under the praise he heaped on her head. "You're very sweet to say so," she told him, leaning in close to kiss his cheek. "I should warn you, though ....I attempted breakfast by myself. It might be a bit dry by now." She gestured toward the oven a little worriedly.

"What are we having" Chocolate chip cookies?" he asked with a smirk. If that had been the case, he probably wouldn't have cared. Living on their own away from home meant breaking the rules sometimes, and so far, no one seemed to care so long as they didn't run wild. He smiled warmly at the kiss, basking in whatever affection she chose to bestow upon him. "Did you sleep okay?"

"No, pancakes," she told him, half-proud of herself, half-worried that they were going to taste awful. She shrugged one shoulder at his question, turning to open the oven and rescue the stack she'd made about half an hour ago. "I slept well enough," she admitted, "but I woke up earlier than I would have liked. That flub on stage really rattled me."

"Don't worry about it so much. The audience is very forgiving. Most of the time they don't even notice, and when they do, sometimes they think it's supposed to be that way. The show must go on, you know!" he reminded her with a grin. "You're only human, Dru. Everyone flubs now and then." He leaned over her shoulder to see what it was she was taking out of the oven.

"Says the man who had the entire audience hating Roxie for the way she treats Amos every night," she giggled softly. Josh might only have one song, but he was selling it beautifully. There had been audible tears in the audience by the time Mr Cellophane finished at each performance. The plate of pancakes she took from the oven looked as though they could have done with being taken out of the oven a while earlier, but on the whole, were pretty good for a first solo effort. She poked at them with a fork. "Well, I suppose we could just drown them in syrup and hope it soaks in."

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:19 EST
He shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn't a big deal and reached around her to snag one of the pancakes and eat it just as it was. He was hungry! "Ever think that's because you did such a convincing job at making them hate her?" he asked, turning the tables around on her as he took a bite of the naked pancake.

"Good grief, not at all," she laughed, rolling her eyes as he chewed on the dry pancake in his hand. Table manners were not Josh's forte when he was hungry; it was one of many little things about him that just made her heart flip over whenever they made themselves known. It was his imperfections she was falling more in love with as the weeks and months passed by. "You are far better at this than I will ever be. You don't give yourself anywhere near enough credit for the sterling performance you put on each and every night, sweetheart." She poked his stomach gently, nudging him out of the way to reach up into a cupboard for the syrup.

"I only have one song. It's not exactly a tough role to play," he told her modestly. It wasn't his favorite role, by a long shot, but he still put everything he had into it. The theater wasn't about any one person, unless it was a one-man show. Not even Jonathan Granger could take the entire blame for a failure or the credit for a success. No part was unimportant, all of the cast and crew needing to come together to make the show a success. He smirked as she nudged him out of the way as he finished off that pancake. "Who's calling the kettle black there?" he asked, thinking the same thing about her.

One brow raised in a manner very reminiscent of the big brother she didn't resemble very much, Dru turned to look up at Josh with a playful light in her eyes, clutching the syrup to herself. "Are you saying I look like a pot?" she asked him sweetly. "If so ....where, exactly, would you say my handles are?"

He laughed at her question, unsure if he got that figure of speech quite right, but not really caring. She got the gist of it, anyway. "Isn't it obvious?" he teased back, eyes bright with amusement. He was awake now, and he hadn't even had coffee yet.

She looked down critically, examining said "handles". "Well ....Not handles exactly," she conceded. "More like ....you know those little knobs they put on the glass sliders on the top of fish tanks?" She looked up at him, unabashedly fishing for a compliment about her womanly assets with a grin.

"Headlights," he corrected, thinking that word worked much better, though headlights had very little to do with handles, so maybe not. He moved over to pour himself a cup of coffee. His morning never really got started until he'd had his first cup. "What's the plan for today?" he asked before taking a sip.

"Headlights?" She laughed, rolling her eyes at him, and moved to put the pancakes on the table with the syrup, together with a couple of plates and various other breakfasty things. "Are you suggesting that I should flash them at people who annoy me when I'm walking down the road?"

He laughed at that suggestion, imagining it in his head. "I'd dare you, but you might take me up on that!" He poured a second cup of coffee for her and fixed it the way she liked it before joining her at the table, both cups in hand.

Dru giggled at that, knowing she would never even consider doing something quite that reckless. Sliding into a seat at the table, she stretched with a gentle yawn, and relaxed once again, taking the coffee he offered her with a smile. "Well, headlights aside," she said, dropping a couple of pancakes onto her plate and proceeding to smother them in syrup, "I have no idea what the plan is for the day. What do you think we should do?"

Josh got a little gleam in his eyes, as if he knew something she didn't. "I have an idea, but it's kind of a surprise," he told her, as he reached for a couple of pancakes, which he planned on smothering liberally with syrup.

She eyed him a little suspiciously. It wasn't that she didn't trust Josh - the gods knew she trusted him more than anyone else in her life - but surprises weren't something she was used to. Until she'd come to Rhy'Din, every moment of her waking life had been regimented and planned in advance. Now, even waking up after eight a.m. was a surprise to her. "Are you going to dress me appropriately, or do I have to guess?"

He eyes her a moment as if considering his answer to that question. "Hmm, you have to dress appropriately, but in this case, less is more." That should give her a big hint, though it wasn't sex that he had in mind - at least, not at the moment. He squeezed out so much syrup onto his pancakes, they were practically drowning in the stuff and took up a fork to bite into the sweet treat.

"Hmm, very mysterious," she mused thoughtfully, lifting a mouthful of her own to chew on. Yes, the pancakes were a little dry, but they were soaking up the syrup happily. She watched as he ate a little uncertainly. "So ....my first attempt at cooking alone. Success, or try again under supervision?"

He chewed his pancakes, nodding his head up and down as he considered both the taste and a reply. "Not bad for a first try," he finally admitted after a moment. It wasn't her cooking that made him drown his pancakes in syrup; he just happened to like them that way.

"Oh, don't let me forget," she told him, waving her fork in his direction as she took a sip of her coffee. "We should drop in on Tommy and Helena later. They finally opened Custom Kings today, so we should show some support." And, naturally, finally get out there and surf. She'd been holding off on that for weeks by now.

Josh laughed at her reminder, wondering if he was just that predictable or if they just thought alike. "That's the surprise, silly! Or part of it. I thought we might hang out at the Cove today. Do a little surfing. I'm sure your sister would appreciate the support."

"Oh!" She laughed with him, rolling her eyes at her own inability to pick up on that surprise. "Am I dense or just not paying attention' It's a toss up." She grinned, swiping a fresh forkful of pancake around the plate to catch the lingering drips of syrup. "I'd like that. Very much so."

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:20 EST
"I'd like that, too. And if they get busy, we can even help out." Josh seemed excited about the prospect. It would give him a chance to get better acquainted with her sister and cousin and their significant others. Besides, he was dying to get Dru on a surfboard.

"We could," she agreed, just as excited about the prospect of supporting her sister and brother-in-law in their new venture. The shop was unique, as far as she knew - no one else on Rhy'Din owned one, and certainly not in such perfect proximity to a beach made for surfing. She laughed. "Hey, I wonder if Jack and Jaz are going to manage to get out of bed for it."

"Do you really think they'd be allowed to miss it?" Josh asked, as he took up a fresh forkful of pancakes. After all, Jack and Jaz weren't just Tommy and Lena's neighbors and closest friend; they were co-owners in the new venture.

"True," Dru nodded, smiling. Her eyes lit up with mischief. "Maybe we should pretend you're going to teach me to surf," she suggested, a little wickedly. "I would love to see Tommy's jaw drop off just a little bit."

Josh chuckled at her suggestion. "He might end up wanting to hire me!" he added, though he wasn't sure he had the time for that. Maybe during the summer months when he wasn't taking classes and in between musicals. He sighed a little as another thought came to mind, but he quickly brushed it aside, not wanting to dampen either of their moods.

She could guess the reason for that sigh. August was a heavy ceremonial month in Tirisano, the length of which she would have to return for. And the Independence Day Parade was looming - the event that had taken the lives of her mother, uncle and aunt the year before, and set off the chain of events that had led her to this moment in time. She was not looking forward to it. But she kept those thoughts to herself, finishing what was on her plate with a faint smile. "Maybe," she agreed with a small giggle. "Or maybe he'll apologize for assuming that I can't do anything fun that involves even a hint of skill."

Though it went without saying, she had guessed correctly, and while as second son, Josh could easily make excuses to stay away, what kind of impression would that make on people when he was vying for the place of Prince Consort' He had every intention of accompanying her home and sticking to her as closely as he was allowed, but that still gave them a few weeks to enjoy Rhy'Din before returning home to royal duties and responsibilities. "Either way, it should be fun."

"Sun, sand, surf, and ....oh wait, we haven't got to that part yet," she giggled, blushing at her own boldness. "Sun, sand, sea, and heavy petting doesn't really have the same ring to it." She winked at him playfully as she rose to put her plate in the sink. Only Josh got to see this side of her; the relaxed girl who didn't censor every word out of her mouth, or put on a false smile that no one could penetrate. She was always naked in front of Josh, no matter how many clothes she had on.

"We'll get to it eventually," Josh promised with a grin, even if they had to wait a few years for marriage. He had already decided that Dru was worth waiting for, and it wasn't because she was the Princess Royale. He loved her for her she was down deep inside, not for the crown she wore on her head. He knew not everyone vying for the title of Prince Consort felt that way; in fact, he was likely the only one who did. "You know what we need?" he asked, as he took his last mouthful of pancakes and carried his plate to the sink. Despite school, there was something about life in Rhy'Din that was almost like a vacation from the stuffy protocol of Tirisano.

"A private jet and a pilot who doesn't ask questions?" she suggested playfully in response, running the water to wash the dishes. Despite having never been so domesticated in her life, Dru kept house surprisingly well, having learned there was a certain amount of pride and satisfaction to be had in personally maintaining your own living space.

Josh laughed, as he grabbed a towel to help her dry as she washed. He'd gone away to school and had been taking care of himself for a while now, but it was a lot more enjoyable sharing living space with Dru than living alone. "No, I was thinking about nicknames. You know, like in the old surfer movies. Tommy and Lena have them. I'm not sure about Jack and Jasmin."

"Nicknames?" The thought was an intriguing one. Admittedly, Dru was a nickname of sorts, since she didn't actually like the full Drusilla, and was fully intending to break the traditional bank of royal names the second she had a child of her own. No more toddlers were going to be stuck with Julius or Marcella from now on. "What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know. I'm not even sure we should pick them ourselves." They certainly weren't going to be dubbed Gidget and Moondoggie or Midget and Moonbeam, but it should be something that fit their personalities,.

She chuckled. "Well, I don't know where Tommy got Midget from, but apparently Jon used to call Lena that when they were kids," she offered up. "It's been attached to her for years. And I think Moonbeam was originally a joke, to be honest."

"They fit them though!" he said, as he wiped a plate clean and set it on the counter to await another. He wasn't that familiar with the surfing culture other than what little he'd seen in the movies and at Tommy and Lena's wedding. "Do Jack and Jasmin have nicknames yet"

"Aside from what they moan at each other every time they get a chance, I don't think so," she admitted with a slightly embarrassed giggle, handing him the second plate to dry. "I did hear Jaz calling their dog Scumbum the other day, though. I think Milo's been eating out of the bin again."

Josh laughed again as he took the second plate from her. It was amazing how menial everyday chores were so much more enjoyable when he was sharing them with Dru. "He's still a puppy!" Josh explained in Milo's defense. He wondered if they'd be that happy someday. If they'd ever be able to adopt a puppy or have a family of their own. It seemed like an ordinary enough thing to want, but in their position, nothing was ordinary. A family kind of went without saying. If he was allowed to marry her, he'd be expected to provide her with children, but right now, they were a little too young to be concerning themselves with such things.

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:20 EST
"He's going to be a puppy for at least another year," she agreed with a laugh, draining the sink and reaching for another towel to dry her hands. "Actually, that's one thing I do miss from home. I miss my dogs." She sighed softly, though her smile suggested that missing the dogs didn't come anywhere near to competing with how much she loved it here.

"I never had a dog," he admitted with a small frown. And he hardly remembered his mother, but that was another story entirely. "I had a fish once, but he died." Presumably, Josh and the fish had not been terribly close.

"Well, they're not really my dogs," Dru admitted, shrugging lightly as she tossed the towel over one of the drawer handles. "They're the palace dogs." She stepped closer, easing her arms about his waist as she looked up at him, sensing words unspoken and a need for something she couldn't quite identify. "I do love lazy mornings with you. Almost as much as I love you."

Her declaration of love made him smile more than anything else she might have told him. He tossed the towel on the counter as her arms went around his waist, reciprocating with an embrace of his own. "I love you, too," he told her, dropping a kiss against the tip of her nose. "Shower now or shower later?" he asked, though showering did create a tempting situation.

Nose to nose, wrapped up in their own kind of intimacy complete with quiet yearning, she smiled tenderly up at him, stroking her fingers against his back. "We could always do both," she mused softly. "Now to freshen up, later to wash off the salt and sand."

That decision made, another was pending. Together or separate" But he'd let her make that decision for herself. "Sounds like a plan. It's a good thing you're here, Princess," he said with a teasing smirk, his arms tightening around her waist, in no hurry, it seemed, to let go.

She giggled, heels tapping a little on the floor as his tightening arms drew her that little bit closer. Her own fingers played over his back impishly. "We've got at least a couple of hours before we really should go to the Cove," she reminded him sweetly, that innocent curve of her lips deliberately inviting. "However will we fill the time?"

"I'm sure we can think of something," he teased back, his lips ghosting against hers, promising all the kisses she wanted or needed. Without any duties or responsibilities waiting, a couple of hours was more than enough to shower and get dressed and spend a little time lazily lounging in each other's arms.

What would the people of Tirisano think if they knew their princess was smooching with a boy in nothing but her nightwear and heels" Dru didn't know, nor did she care. This was their world, hers and Josh's, and she didn't want anything to intrude. Wrapped up in kisses, she lost herself in him - in the roiling waves of longing and warmth and deep affection that came whenever he did anything. All he had to do was smile, and she was sure her knees forgot which way they were supposed to bend. Did it always feel like this" She hoped so. A lifetime of this was more than enough to make up for what was expected of her.

He shared in her longing, both giving and receiving the love shared between them. He was happiest when he was here with her, and he didn't want to think about returning home to Tirisano anytime soon. It wasn't hard to kill a few hours when he was with Dru. Every moment alone with her was precious, knowing that when they returned home, he'd have to share her with the rest of the nation. Every kiss they shared was as precious and as sweet as the first, and before they both knew it, morning was over.

Even with the last bastion of her innocence still intact, Dru couldn't help feeling deliciously debauched as they finally got around to dressing and leaving the Grove. It was a perfect day for a motorcycle ride - and a perfect way to leave her security detail in the dust - and she laughed as she clung to Josh's back, enjoying the rush of warm air over her bare legs and the tang of the sea on her lips.

Josh had bought the bike almost his first day in Rhy'Din, a symbol of freedom, independence, and maybe even a little rebellion so far from home. While it might have been more practical to have bought a car, he liked the feeling of freedom the bike offered, the wind in their hair and the sun shining warmly overhead. For all that, he was a good driver, a safe driver, taking Dru's safety even more seriously than his own. It didn't take long to reach the Cove, and not only was it a perfect day for riding, but for surfing, as was proved by the small crowd of people that were already gathered in anticipation of the grand opening of the surf shop.

It seemed as though Tommy and Lena were taking their time opening the doors for the first time, but there was no lack of entertainment for those who had come out to the cove for the occasion. Jaz and Jack seemed to have taken up residence on the porch steps of the shop itself, Milo on hand and guitars at the ready. Dru grinned as she slipped off the bike, waiting until Josh joined her before navigating her way over to where the little crowd had gathered.

Jack noticed them first and smiled their way, though he was too busy strumming his guitar and singing to go over and say hello. Not so for Milo who barked a greeting and headed their way, tail wagging happily. He was far too friendly for a watchdog, though he was obviously fond of his owners.

Josh parked the bike and made sure it was secure before claiming Dru's hand and heading toward the crowd, laughing delightedly when they were greeted first by Milo. "Hey, there, Milo!" he said, leaning over to ruffle a hand through the dog's ears. "Where's Tommy and Lena?"

Giggling at the enthusiastic welcome from the happy little puppy, Dru waved back to Jack in answer to his smile, and nearly choked laughing when Jaz blew her a very exaggerated kiss between lyrics. "Nowhere to be seen, it looks like," she answered Josh's query to the little dog bouncing on the sand between them. "Maybe Lena's having a panic attack somewhere."

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:21 EST
"Lena doesn't seem like the type," Josh said as she straightened, letting Milo move on to properly greet the princess. But they didn't have to wait or wonder long. As soon as Jack and Jasmin were done playing, the door opened to the shop and both Tommy and Lena stepped out to greet their guests.

"She's never put herself out there like this," Dru pointed out, crouching to be licked lovingly by a dog who just loved company, no matter who it was. "She's the one whose been decorating the boards, but she won't let anyone but Tommy see them." She chuckled, knowing her sister didn't have an option on that one anymore.

"Did she decorate the board they were using the day of the wedding?" Josh asked curiously. He had yet to catch a glimpse of Lena's designs, but if the design on that board was anything to go by, he didn't think she'd have any problem finding both acclaim as an artist and future customers.

"I think so." Giving Milo a pat on the rear that sent him bouncing back toward his own humans, Dru rose to her feet, offering a wave to her sister and brother-in-law as they opened their doors and welcomed the little crowd to take a look at what they had to offer. "You know what this place needs" A cafe or something. Just somewhere that opens during the summer, where people can get food and drinks. So they don't have to leave during the day or think too far ahead."

"Good idea. Maybe you should suggest it!" Josh pointed out with a grin. He sure as heck wasn't going to do it, and he knew next to nothing about running a business of any kind, much less a cafe. "You know, if we're going to be here a while, I wouldn't mind buying a board of my own."

"Tommy might already have made you one," Dru laughed, drawing him toward the shop by the hand. She wanted to congratulate the newly-wedded couple on their business venture, and get a good look at the boards. Being the first Granger to get a look at Lena's art was definitely going to be something to crow about.

"Do you know something I don't know?" he asked with an amused smirk, as she drew him by the hand toward the shop. "It's kinda nice here on the beach," he remarked casually, though he liked living on the Grove, too. Each place offered its own pros and cons, and he wondered if they should think about building a small cottage of their own here someday.

She paused, looking along the line of sand, rock, and sea with a soft smile. "It is nice, isn't it?" she agreed quietly. "Open and private at the same time. But can you imagine the storms" They're bad enough in the city - what would they be like out here?"

"Maybe a summer cottage," he suggested. Some place to get away from both Tirisano and the Grove for a while, though he wasn't really sure if Tommy and Lena would be open to the suggestion.

"Maybe. On the other side of that bluff, though." She pointed to where a jagged collection of rocks rose out of the surf and blocked the way any further along the beach. "More private than within spitting distance of my sister and her husband."

Josh turned his head thoughtfully toward the location she was indicating, and after a moment, he nodded in agreement. It wasn't so close that they'd be crowding the other couples on the beach, and yet, it was close enough for comfort. "Should we go stake our claim now before someone beats us to it?"

She laughed. "No! I want to see my sister and her husband, and then we're surfing," she informed him impishly. "You promised. After that, we can stake our claim." Blowing him a kiss, she skipped up the steps and into the shop, surprised and impressed by how many people were in there already.

He echoed her laughter, as she blew him a kiss and skipped inside before him. "Yes, dear," he quipped as he followed her inside, holding the door open for her. He hoped no one here recognized them, not so much for the theater, but for their stations in Tirisano's nobility.

"Dru! You made it!" Helena appeared from somewhere in the middle of a knot of people, descending on her little sister to give her a warm hug. They hadn't seen each other since Lena's wedding day, and Dru had to admit, being married definitely suited her big sister. Lena grinned at Josh. "Hello, stud," she teased him. "Going to dunk little miss Prim and Proper here later on?"

"We thought we'd do a little surfing later, when the crowd dies down," Josh admitted, blushing just a little at the compliment, unaccustomed to such things despite the way the girls seemed to adore him. Their attention was wasted, since he only had eyes for one girl, anyway. He glanced around a moment at the small crowd that had gathered. "Looks like you've got a pretty good turnout."

Lena looked around herself, not quite able to believe that this really was happening. "Yes, it does, doesn't it?" she agreed, one arm still looped around Dru's neck. "I can't quite believe we've managed it. Tommy's around here somewhere - some little floozy with boobs bigger than her brain was trying to sign up for lessons with him."

Dru snorted with laughter at Lena's description of that particular customer. "Like he'd have eyes for anyone but you," she giggled. "So ....where are the custom boards, then?"

As it happened, Tommy was behind the counter, chatting a few customers up and talking lessons. Thankfully, there was no floozy currently in sight. Whatever Tommy had done to get rid of her was his secret. He did catch sight of his wife and her sister and tossed a wave their way, but it seemed he was a little too inundated with customers and questions to make his way over to greet them just yet.

"How was the honeymoon?" Josh asked, not having seen them since the wedding.

"It was amazing," Lena gushed happily. "If you ever get the chance, you should go. Just us and a few other couples on the island, beautiful scenery, and the waves are incredible." She looked at Dru, who was waiting patiently for the answer to her question, and sighed, pointing reluctantly to the wall opposite, where the custom painted boards were holding court. "There," she admitted, rolling her eyes. "Try not to laugh too much."

With a squeal of excitement, Dru kissed her cheek and scurried that way, immensely pleased that she was fulfilling her wish of being the first Granger to get a good look at Lena and Tommy's work.

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:22 EST
Josh chuckled as Dru hurried off to check out the boards. He jerked a thumb at her as he explained her enthusiasm to Lena. "She's been waiting for this all day. She says you do nice work," he added with a friendly smile. He and Lena weren't very well acquainted despite his dating her baby sister for the past few months. If he had his wish and they built a cottage at the cove, all that might change.

Lena blushed, shaking her head. "Well, all she's seen of my work so far is a sketch I did of the two of you asleep on the couch a few months ago," she told him. "Didn't she show it to you? She had it out of my sketchbook in seconds!"

"Of course she did!" He chuckled at the memory of that event. "She was talking about getting it framed!" He'd thought it was a good likeness of them, but he wasn't sure if it was frame worthy. It seemed a little narcissistic to hang a picture of yourself on the wall, even if it had been sketched by an artist. "Anyway, we're thinking about buying boards."

"Oh, pish," Lena rolled her eyes, poking his shoulder. "You're family, you don't buy boards here." She gave him a nudge. "Go take a look. I should rescue Tommy from the customers for a little bit."

Josh laughed again. "Lena, you have a big family. If you give all of them a board for free, you're going to go broke." Okay, maybe not, but what Josh failed to realize was that not only were they family, but Dru was Lena's sister.

"Shush, and take advantage of our generosity," he was told by his prospective big sister-in-law. "And try to stop Dru from buying a board she's not going to be able to ride until she can, you know, actually surf."

"Should I let her pick one out, or should we wait and order custom-made boards?" he asked, uncertainly. They didn't really need to buy boards today, so long as they could rent one, but he didn't want to dampen Dru's excitement.

"You could order boards if you like, if there's a particular theme you want," Lena assured him. "But everything on display in the shop is for sale right away, and we have a backlog of stock for now. We're always working on something."

"We'll see if anything strikes our fancy then," he replied. He wasn't terribly picky himself, but he had a feeling Tommy, at least, might think it bad luck not to pick out a board that felt right. "I better go catch up with the Princess," he told her with a slightly shy smile.

"Off you go, then," Lena chuckled, gently patting his arm. As if sensing that the conversation had come to an end, a curious customer appeared at her elbow, catching her attention with a query about wetsuits, and she turned away with a last smile for Josh.

"Find anything you like?" he asked as he came up beside Dru, almost relieved to have an excuse to excuse himself from talking to Lena. He wasn't sure why, but he felt a little bashful around her, maybe because she and Dru were so close.

Dru was enthralled, side by side with several others, just staring at the wall of hand painted, unique surfboards that were for sale. She glanced at Josh briefly, gently nudging his arm with hers. "They're beautiful, aren't they' I know people who would kill to have a board so well constructed, not to mention hand-painted."

Josh whistled in admiration as he looked over the boards on display. "Wow, these are awesome! They're almost too nice to surf on. They look like they should be hanging on a wall somewhere."

"Well, they are, sort of," Dru giggled, tucking her arm around his waist. She was particularly taken with one board that was clearly decorated with a beautiful landscape of Maple Grove in full bloom. "It would be such a shame if no one bought these and used them, though. Such a waste!"

Josh frowned a little, glancing over his shoulder at Tommy and Lena who were mingling with customers and helping them pick out gear. Even Jack and Jasmin had joined them, Jack in particular lending a hand to help with the flow of customers that were flooding the shop. If the opening was any indication of interest, the success of the shop looked hopeful. "She says we're family, so we don't need to buy them."

Dru made a rude noise. "She can say that all she likes, but I'm still going to buy that one." She pointed out the one that had caught her interest, staking her claim on it in front of the others who were interested in the hand-painted boards. "What about you? Which one would you like?"

"I don't know," he replied with a thoughtful frown, looking over the collection of hand-painted boards for one that appealed to him. There were so many to choose from, but there was one that stood out from the others, at least to him. It was a darker board, painted in shades of dark blues and purples with what appeared to be a bolt of lightning running through the middle of the board. "What about this one?" he asked her in regard to that particular surfboard.

Dru looked at it curiously. It was in a slightly different style to the other boards - more masculine, definitely not as bright, but still beautifully crafted and painted. "I like that," she agreed with a nod. "It suits you. You're definitely a lightning bolt to me."

He laughed. "Well, I can't very well use a board with hearts and flowers all over it!" Of course, he could, but if he was going to buy a board, he wanted something that appealed to him and fit his personality. He liked that the board was a little darker, more masculine looking, and yet still a work of art in its own right. "You know, these are really good. Different." Not that he was any sort of expert, but he thought Lena was onto something here.

"Then we should promote them," she nodded, glancing over to make sure her sister wasn't the one near the register. She could convince Tommy to let her pay, but she knew she'd lose that argument with Helena.

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:23 EST
"How do we do that?" Josh wondered aloud, other than the obvious thing and that was actually buying a board and surfing on it.

"By riding the boards, silly," she giggled, poking at his stomach. "Here, and back home. We could make them an international business if it got out." She winked up at him, unafraid to let their home country know about her hobby if it meant she could do it in his company and help her sister out at the same time.

"International!" Josh echoed, laughing as he got her meaning. "That would be awesome, but if that happens, they could get buried in orders." He reached for the board he wanted before someone else could snag it. The shop was getting busy, and it was only a matter of time before people noticed the line of hand-painted boards.

"Not if they handle it properly," Dru pointed out, peeling off to claim the board she had chosen, too, gently lifting it down from the hooks where it had been resting. "People are prepared to wait a long time for something this well made and presented."

"I think they're onto something here!" Josh said as he lead the way through the crowd of people toward the counter so they could pay for their purchases and take them for a spin, so to speak, hopefully avoiding Lena.

"Looks like it, doesn't it?" Dru grinned happily, edging through the bustling people to stand expectantly by the cash register, one arm around the board, the other around Josh's waist. Someone was bound to notice customers wanting to buy at some point - it was a toss up as to who it was going to be.

Thankfully, it was Jack who had taken over the register, allowing Tommy and Lena to mingle with customers and take private orders. Jack looked more than a little flustered by all the people, but he flashed a friendly smile for Dru, who had become something like a kid sister to him. "Hey, Dru, Josh," he greeted them.

"Hello, Jack." Dru grinned back at him. Her crush on Jack had long since dissipated since she'd fallen in love with Josh, but Jack and she had shared secrets they hadn't really shared with anyone else. He was a good influence on her, and she was glad he'd adopted her as his little sister. "We want to buy these," she told him, lowering her voice and glancing furtively around. "Without the owners finding out it was us."

Jack's mouth moved silently a moment, brows furrowed in puzzlement before he followed Dru's glance around to locate Tommy and Lena, respectively. "Why?" he asked, unaware of Lena's admonishment about paying.

She giggled quietly. "Lena's trying to give stock away," she informed Jack with a wicked little smile. "And these are just too good for her to do that. So whether she wants us to or not, I'm paying."

"Okay," Jack said, pausing thoughtfully a moment. He thought he might have an idea that would make them both happy. "How about instead of giving them away, we..." He halted, realizing he didn't want anyone else to overhear and get the wrong idea. He leaned close and lowered his voice. "How about a discount instead?"

Dru leaned forward, mischief sparkling in her eyes. She wasn't going to be talked out of this quite so easily. "I'll tell you a secret," she whispered loudly, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. "I'm a Granger. Money is no object."

Jack leaned closer to hear whatever it was she wanted to tell him, whispering back, "I know. What's your point?"

Josh chuckled in amusement at the pair of them whispering back and forth. "Come on, Jack. We can afford it."

Grinning at the support from Josh, Dru raised her brows as she watched Jack. "It's your opening day, I'm not going to let any of you get into bad habits by trying to offer cut-priced items less than an hour after you've opened up your doors," she informed her friend cheerfully. "So either you charge us full price now, or there's going to be an anonymous donation coming this way very soon."

Jack looked from one to the other and knew he was outnumbered. Besides, they had a point. "Okay, okay," he conceded, at last, shooting a glance over at Lena in hopes she wouldn't catch them exchanging money. "Just don't tell Lena," he told them, as he rang up the two surfboards in the cash register.

"My lips are sealed," Dru promised, digging around in her shorts for the card she'd put in there purposely, knowing she couldn't be trusted not to spend a bomb at her sister's new shop. She didn't even give Josh a chance to pull his own money out, handing over her card to Jack with a grin. To Josh, she said, "I never got you anything in return for the ring, no arguments."

"The ring wasn't that expensive," Josh argued back with a frown, as he shoved his own wallet back in his pocket.

Jack looked from one to the other again, as if to see who was going to win this little debate before reaching for Dru's card and sliding it through the scanner. "If you ask me, they should be charging more. Do you have any idea how much time and work goes into making one of these things?" Jack had never partaken of that part of the shop himself. He'd been hired to help with the stock and the books and the register. The creation of the boards was all Tommy and Lena.

"A lot, I imagine," Dru nodded. "To be honest, I would have expected to pay at least a thousand more. This isn't just hand-crafted, it's exquisite quality. They're never going to believe us, though." She sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Maybe I should bring an expert in and have them appraised," Jack said, as he handed Dru's card back. "I know they don't want to charge too much, but I don't want them getting ripped off either. I've seen boards of less quality go for a lot more."

"Absolutely bring an expert in!" Dru declared, perhaps a little too loudly, tucking her card safely back in her pocket. Hopefully if Tommy or Lena looked around, they'd only see Dru and Josh chatting to Jack, and not the register in use. "We shouldn't let them sell themselves short. These aren't just boards, they're works of art!"

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:23 EST
"Exactly!" agreed Jack, glad someone else saw things his way. It would figure that someone would be Dru.

"So, we sort of got a discount anyway," Josh beamed. "You should go change the prices when they aren't looking," he suggested with a grin.

Dru snickered softly at the thought of that. "If he does that, all he and Tommy will do all day is follow each other around the shop, changing the prices on things," she giggled mischievously. She grinned at Jack. "You going to surf if it gets quieter later?"

Jack chuckled at Dru's reply, momentarily and a little nervously glancing at Josh before answering her question. "Maybe. I won't draw any crowds like Tommy does. Why?"

"Just curious," Dru assured him, squeezing her arm about Josh's waist, as though reassuring both of them. "We're going to, I was just wondering if we'd be alone in that." She winked at Jack, the only person who might possibly have guessed that she knew exactly what she was talking about when she mentioned surfing.

Jack blushed a little at the wink for some reason, which made Josh arch a curious brow. There was some unspoken communication going on between them that he obviously knew nothing about, and though he wasn't jealous, he was curious.

"Maybe, if things quiet down later," Jack told them. Much later probably, by the looks of things.

The crowd in the shop seemed to be making a decisive turn toward the cash register, ending the conversation as Dru and Josh edged out of the way before they were crushed. Giggling, she waved to Jack, and drew Josh out under the sun once again, bouncing happily on her toes. "I usually never indulge in words like this, but I have to say, this place is awesome."

Jack nodded back as Dru waved to him, turning his attention to the crowd of customers lining up at the cash register. If word got out and business continued to boom the way it was today, the shop would pay for itself in no time.

Josh followed Dru out of the shop, still wondering what had passed between his intended and Jack Granger. "The shop or the cove?" he asked curiously, sidestepping another couple who was making their way inside.

"All of it!" she squealed happily, hugging him one-armed. She glanced back at the shop, wondering if she should explain about her relationship with Jack, but having no idea how to even begin with that sort of conversation. "So what is the plan now?"

Josh laughed at her question. "Isn't it obvious?" he asked. They had the boards and were on the beach. He thought they might as well take them for a test spin. To his credit, he didn't ask about Jack. Not yet, anyway, but some questions were brewing.

"All right, then!" Far too excited to care that there were a lot of people beginning to gather on the beach, Dru took his hand and pulled him away from the shop, down over the soft, warm sand, to a random spot picked for the hell of it. She kicked off her sandals, laying her board reverentially down, and turned her attention to removing her top and shorts. "Think you can keep up with me?" she asked him playfully, wondering how much surfing he'd actually done.

"It's almost too pretty to use, isn't it?" he asked, as he mirrored her in laying the board on the sand. He furrowed his brows at her as she stripped down, looking suspiciously eager for the water. "Why do I get the feeling someone gave you some free lessons?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Shush, you're the only one who knows I've been surfing since I was thirteen," she reminded him playfully, tickling fingers attacking his stomach as she giggled. "No lessons necessary. How about you, though?"

"Uh..." he replied uncertainly, having forgotten this was something she had already mastered. "I can swim," he admitted helpfully. Well, it was a start anyway. Surfing wasn't something taught in acting class, after all.

"It's your first time today?" Dru was genuinely surprised. He'd been so confident and ready to surf, she had simply assumed that it was a hobby he was familiar with. "I, um, I could help, if you would like." From the pocket of her shorts, she extracted a line and cuff, glancing down at his board with a faint frown. "Hold that thought." Turning, she sprinted back up to the shop.

To be fair, in his opinion, it had been her who had been so eager about surfing. Now that he remembered she was already good at it, he felt kind of silly and awkward, especially when she abandoned him on the beach to smile and nod at the onlookers while she dashed back to the shop for something. He hoped she wasn't buying him a swim vest or something equally embarrassing.

She was back within a couple of minutes, clutching a small tub, and a second leash. "Here," she handed him the leash. "The line attaches to the tail of the board, and the cuff goes 'round your ankle," she explained, demonstrating on herself. "Without it, as soon as you wipe out, you might as well say goodbye to your board. And this ..." She held up the tub. "Is wax we're going to rub onto the boards. It helps season them, and it helps with foot grip, too."

"What if I wipe out and the board whacks me in the head?" he asked, not because he was trying to make excuses to back out but because he wanted to be prepared for every possibility. He took the leash and cuff from her and attached it just as she had done.

"Well, the board is deliberately light," she explained, opening the tub as she knelt on the sand. She left the wax out to soften as they talked. "I'm not going to lie to you - when you wipe out, chances are the board will hit you somewhere, and it hurts like hell. So there will be bruises, no matter what. But I'll be with you, and when you wipe out, if you don't come back up within a few seconds, I will come and get you."

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:24 EST
"What if you wipe out?" he asked, as if that was a possibility. He wondered if her cousin should hire her to help give lessons. It seemed he was about to be her first victim, er student. He crouched down beside her to watch what she was doing so that he could prepare his own board the same way.

"If I wipe out and I don't come back up within a minute, come and get me," she told him. "Just swim, or paddle, and aim for where my board will be floating. You won't be alone, Josh. Surfers look out for each other." With his attention on her, she glooped a generous amount of wax from the tub between them, and began to rub it into her board, careful to cover it, especially at the widest point.

He watched her for a moment before doing the same, taking up a glob of wax and rubbing it over the lovely work of art Lena had so painstakingly painted on top of his board. "Does she do paintings, too' I mean, the kind you hang on the wall?" he asked, curiously as he worked the wax onto the front of his board.

"I think so," Dru mused thoughtfully. "She used to disappear for hours into one of the spare bedrooms at Willow Manor, but no one was ever allowed in there. I assume Tommy was, though. And he kept telling her she had to have a studio in their new house, so I assume she paints on canvas, as well as on surfboards. I just don't understand why she hasn't shown anyone. She has so much talent."

"For the same reason people get stage fright, Dru," Josh explained, understanding Lena's hesitation in going public with her artwork. "Kinda like me and surfing. I'm risking making a complete *ss of myself out there, but..." He shrugged. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Remember what it felt like your first night on stage?"

"Oh, I definitely remember," she laughed, rolling her eyes. "I thought I was going to throw up." Sitting back, she turned her board over and began to wax the other side - it wasn't strictly necessary, but she liked to be thorough.

"Well, maybe Lena feels kind of like that. Maybe she's afraid to let other people see her artwork because she's afraid they won't like it or they'll laugh at her. You and I both know it's good. Hell, it's great! But until she feels confident enough to let other people see it, it's not gonna happen. Maybe the shop is a good thing. Once she sees people like what she does with the boards, maybe it will boost her confidence. Honestly, this stuff is good enough for a gallery, in my opinion." He continued to rub wax over his board, flipping it over and doing the other side.

"Maybe we could point the national gallery in her direction," she said, the seed of an idea taking root as she sat back and gently rubbed her hands against her bare thighs. The wax wasn't that thick, and having it on her hands wasn't going to be a problem, thankfully. "Okay, so ....you want to practice popping up and keeping your balance here before we go in the water?"

"We could, but she'd probably kill us if she found out it was us," he replied with a chuckle, though she was just as likely to thank them, as well. He turned his gaze thoughtfully toward the water, the warm summer breeze stirring his chestnut-colored hair over his forehead. "Nah, it's all or nothing, Princess," he replied, moving to his feet and taking the board up under his arm.

Dru laughed at his cockiness, rising onto her own feet with her board set comfortably under her arm. "Well, don't blame me if you wipe out while paddling for a wave, then," she warned him, rolling her eyes. Had she been explaining badly, or was his pride injured at needing the little princess to teach him, she wondered.

She was about to find out whether it was neither or both. In a few minutes, they'd both be in the water, and there'd be no more secrets as to who was the expert and who was the novice. "Last one in's a rotten egg!" he called back at her, sprinting toward the water without hesitation. Whether he knew how to surf or not, he certainly seemed fearless.

"I do not have rotten eggs!" Dru shouted back at him, laughing as she belatedly realized what she had misheard, and accelerating to catch up to him. Of course, being small, she had more trouble running once the waves reached her knees, and by the time he was waist deep ahead of her, she was already on her board and paddling, deliberately splashing him on her way past. "Come on then, Mr. Fearless Surfing Slayer," she teased, prepared to keep a close eye on him, just in case.

Not fearless - being fearless was almost the same as being foolish. Everyone feared something. A little fear was healthy - it kept you safe - but too much fear could be stifling. Too much fear could stop you from living. "Right behind you, Princess!" he called back with a smirk as he slid onto his board and paddled out behind her into deeper water.

She didn't go too far out, finding the deeper water where the gentler waves broke. If he was a novice, then the bigger waves she was more accustomed to would be far too much for him on his first run. Turning the board, she looked over her shoulder, grinning at Josh. "After you, then," she told him. "I'm looking forward to seeing your backside wiggle when you pop up."

"I'm sure you are," he intoned back at her, waggling his brows to indicate a slightly different meaning. "You sure you don't want to go out farther" I'm not a baby, you know. I can handle it."

"If this is your first wave, then this is just fine," she told him, a faint edge of suspicion in her expression and her voice. He was a little bit too confident on that board to be a novice. "Or would you rather I risked your life on your first wave, sweetheart?"

"I wouldn't want you to have a heart attack before your time," he teased back, conceding to the baby waves for now. Theoretically, once he mastered those, he could go on to bigger and better waves. Josh turned his gaze away from Dru to scout out the waves that were rolling in toward the shore. "That one!" he called, pointing at one to claim it for his own. No one else was out there just yet, but him and Dru. For now, at least, they had their pick.

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:25 EST
She followed his pointing arm, judging the swell, and nodded, approving of his choice. "Go and catch it, then!" she called back to him with a warm smile, curious to see if he really was just pulling her leg.

"I'm on it, Princess!" he called back, paddling out toward the wave he had chosen before the opportunity passed him by and hoping up onto his board just as the wave rolled beneath him to ride it as it surged toward the shoreline. He didn't seem to have any problem with his balance, though, to be fair, the wave was a small one.

She watched from where she sat on her board, her eyes narrowing as she found herself laughing. "Novice, my perky bottom," she muttered to herself, giggling at his teasing. He had clearly done this before, and more than once. There was just too much confidence in the way he stood on the board, even if the wave was a small one. "No more Ms. Play it Safe, then." As Josh was swept along, Dru began to paddle toward the deeper, fuller swells, keeping one eye on him just in case.

He rode the wave as far as he could before hopping off the board and plucking it up under his arm to turn around and sprint back out into the water in pursuit of Dru. By now, she had to realize that he wasn't quite the novice he'd let her think he was, though he was by no means an expert. He paddled out a little way before he came to a stop, straddling the board as it bobbed along. He lifted a hand to shield his eyes as he looked out into the water to watch Dru, his stomach clenching nervously, hoping she was as good as she seemed to claim.

The wave she claimed was much bigger than the one he'd surfed. Thankfully, no one else was out on the water just yet, so she had no competition, and besides, she wanted to prove to Tommy especially that she was more than capable in his chosen sport, thank you very much. Satisfied that Josh wasn't in harm's way, she turned her board to catch the wave, and popped up, finding her feet with enviable ease. She might not have been in Tommy's class when it came to surfing, but she was no novice, either.

Josh watched from his vantage point, impressed with her form and admiring the skill she so obviously possessed. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that she loved the same things that he did, even if he'd been less than honest with her about his own skill in the sport. He found himself holding his breath as he watched, hopeful she wouldn't wipe out before she'd barely gotten started.

Far more practiced at this than she had let on, Dru caught the wave just before the curl perfectly, knees bent just enough to give her control over the board as she cut cleanly along the breakline. For once, she wasn't worrying about what people thought as they watched her, entirely caught up in the moment as she tamed the elements for a short while. And in the moment just before the wave broke beneath her board, she jumped off, landing comfortably up to her waist in the water, a huge grin on her face.

Josh smiled broadly when Dru successfully conquered that wave, not only happy that she was having such a good time, but proud of her. It was only then he noticed a small group had gathered on the beach to watch those courageous enough to brave the waves, and he turned to them with a huge grin on his face, pointing to the girl who'd just shown them all how it was done. "That's my girl!" He laughed, as he bobbed along on the waves waiting for her to come in closer.

It didn't take long for Dru to jump back on her board and paddle out to Josh once again, blissfully unaware that he'd just claimed her for all to see. "So," she declared, easing up beside him in the undulating water, "are we going to play who's the novice all day, or are you going to catch a wave more your size now?" She stuck her tongue out at him, giggling.

"What size would that be?" he teased back, blue eyes dancing with mischief. "Five foot three?" he said, which was exactly her height. He was practically a giant next to her, but what she lacked in height, she more than made up for in spunk, and he wouldn't want her any other way. "Pick one for me," he challenged.

"Oh, har har," was her sarcastic response, complete with very girly giggle as she splashed him. "You want me to pick a wave for you?" She was a little surprised by that, and just a little wary. "All right ....but you say no, if it's too much. Yes?"

He flinched at the splash, though it was only water, laughing good-naturedly at her giggle. It was good to see her having fun and not worrying about life back in Tirisano, an inevitability they'd both have to face in a few weeks. "Yes, ma'am, Your Royal Majesty, ma'am," he replied, saluting her with a silly smirk on his face and almost losing his balance on the board.

All that earned him was a fresh look at her tongue as she stuck it out, before she grinned, turning her face toward the waves rolling in toward them. She'd been at the cove plenty of times, she'd studied the waves enough to be able to predict what they were about to do. After watching the surf for a little while, she pointed to a swell that was just beginning to rise. "That one," she challenged him. "Show me your moves, Lord Stuart."

He smirked as she addressed him by his proper title. "As you wish, Princess Drusilla," he countered, and he was off without any hesitation, very much the opposite of a frightened novice. Though he was no Tommy King, he could obviously hold his own on the water. He made for the wave she had indicated, watching as it grew, swelling higher than the one she had conquered.

She eyed his approach to the wave carefully, a little wary that perhaps she had chosen one a little too much for him and he didn't want to admit to it. But he seemed confident, and she had faith that he wouldn't take a risk just to show off to her. After all, he already had her - he didn't need to make a case for getting her.

Rarely one to pass up a challenge, Josh was game, though this wave was bigger than any he'd ever tackled before. It had come up out of nowhere, as if Poseidon himself was issuing a challenge. Josh lay down flat on his board, paddling furiously to catch the wave before it got away from him. Once he deemed he was in position, he hopped to his feet, crouching low, knees bent to ride the wave as long as he could.

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:26 EST
As she watched, Dru felt herself frowning, wondering what was wrong with the picture. Was it the frantic way he'd had to paddle to catch the wave, or was there something wrong with his stance" The frown grew concerned as she realized the tail of his board was a little too close to the breaking curl of the wave for comfort. If he didn't get control of the ride quickly, he was going to wipe out.

He knew he was in trouble when he couldn't get the board to do quite what he wanted it to do. There was nothing wrong with his balance, but the wave was a little stronger and faster than he'd anticipated and though he'd ridden the wave for a little while, this time the wave won. Both board and surfer fell topsy turvy into the water, as the wave crashed over them both and rolled on toward shore.

Despite herself, Dru startled when he flipped over with his board, already paddling in his direction as the wave rolled on over him. As much as she trusted him to know what he was taking on and how to deal with it, she was just too invested to risk losing him to a silly challenge while they were surfing.

The wave rolled over, the crowd on the beach collectively holding their breath, before after what seemed an eternity, but was really less than a minute, he bobbed to the surface, the board still awkwardly attached to his foot. He threw back his head to draw a deep breath and pushed the sodden hair from his face, but from all appearances, nothing but his ego was seriously injured, other than a few bumps and bruises.

Dru heaved a deep sigh of relief as he bobbed back to the surface, not bleeding or seeming concussed. He'd scared her, that feeling made worse with the knowledge that he'd only taken the wave because she'd told him to. "Are you all right?" she called to him once he had his footing.

"I'm okay!" he called back, waving to her before scooting back up onto his board to paddle over to where she was waiting for him. "Don't think I broke anything," he assured her, frowning at the look of concern on her face. He hadn't meant to scare her. He had simply underestimated the wave.

"I sent you to that wave!" she protested, not happy with how it had turned out. "You shouldn't have taken it if you weren't completely confident, Josh. I mean it, your well being is more important to me than anything!"

Once he was close enough, he straddled the board and reached over to take her face between his hands. "Dru! I'm fine. It's not your fault. I screwed up. The wave was just....It was bigger than what I expected. It's like it came up out of nowhere!" He wondered what Tommy would have thought of that wave, but then, Tommy had a lot more experience than Josh did at surfing.

Looking into his eyes, she let her hand rise to gently smooth his wet hair out of his face. "And you're sure you are all right?" she asked, the panic receding from her voice. "You didn't hit your head, or scrape against anything under there?"

"I don't think so," he assured her. He might have gotten a few bruises from getting tossed and tumbled in the water along with his surfboard, kind of like being tossed around in washing machine, but it was his ego that had been injured more than anything else. "Guess I need more practice, huh?"

"And no more challenges from me," she added, leaning close to kiss him tenderly. "Evidently my recommendations are bad for you." She smiled apologetically, hoping he didn't get hurt out here. As much as she loved surfing, she couldn't countenance harm coming to Josh.

He was about to assure her again that he was fine when her lips met his effectively silencing him. He leaned his forehead against hers as they bobbed there together on the water, a soft smile on his face. "If that's what I get for wiping out, maybe I should do it more often."

"Don't you dare," she laughed softly, reassured by his teasing. "Just no more waves taller than you, okay' We want to impress the people on the beach, not make them send for an ambulance."

"Yes, dear," he replied with a smile. He was probably going to be aching later, but for now, he was just grateful it hadn't been more serious. "What now" Should we work on our tan' I don't think we can get into any trouble doing that."

"I'd like to catch another wave," she admitted, almost shyly. "But then ....well, maybe we could take a walk past the bluff" Find a little privacy for a while?" Her dark eyes expressed a certain amount of intimate hope as she said this, which he must have been very familiar with by now.

"Mind if I sit this one out' My ego is a little bruised from the last wave, not to mention my *ss!" At least, he was able to laugh at himself, unlike some other men. "Be careful, Princess," he told her with a gentle caress of fingers against her face. He was up for the walk without question, sensing the change in her mood and the desire to be alone for a little while.

"I'll kiss your arse better when no one can see it but me," she promised him a little teasingly herself, her cheek tilting into his touch as she smiled. "I'll be careful," she added with a nod, gently pushing off to paddle back out to the swell.

He turned to watch her, wincing a little and rubbing his fingers at the ache in his side where he'd been whacked by the board. Fortunately for them both, it hadn't been his head. "Stupid *ss," he murmured an admonishment to himself before lifting his gaze to watch Dru tackle the wave.

She chose a tamer wave than the one he had wiped out on, though still far taller than she was herself, and despite her momentary fright over Josh's little incident, nothing could shake her confidence in her own ability. The wave didn't last nearly long enough for her, but by the time she reappeared out of the water, she was grinning widely, ready to wander away from the by now busy beach and seek some alone time with Josh.

He smiled as he watched her, pride at her accomplishment and obvious joy in the sport mingled with his own feelings of humiliation at having bitten off more than he could chew. Still, it hadn't been a tragedy, and he was more angry at himself than she seemed to be. His pride had been injured a little, and as far as he was concerned, he was done surfing for the day. It might take a little while for him to work up the nerve to try again.

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:27 EST
With her board under her arm, she jogged up the beach to find him again, dropping the board and throwing her arms around his neck, sharing her exhilaration with him in a kiss that really shouldn't have been handed out in public, much less in front of her own sister. But that was the effect Josh had on Dru - he really was the center of her world these days.

He was about to praise her again on how well she handled the wave, how easy she made it look to everyone watching on the beach, when she took him by surprise, launching herself into his waiting arms and kissing him in such a way that it was obvious to anyone who was watching that they were enamored with each other, and who was he to argue" It wasn't about her being a princess anymore, or about him keeping an eye on her. He had fallen deeply in love with the part of her that was simply Dru Granger.

Just as the kiss was threatening to become more than a little unsuitable for public consumption, a voice rang out across the sand. "Dru Granger, you put him down right now! You don't know where he's been!"

Dru yelped, pulling back just far enough to stick her tongue out at Lena, who was leaning against the railing of the shop and laughing at the reaction she'd gotten.

Josh chuckled at the teasing from Dru's older sister, as well as the reaction she got from Dru herself, but he made no move to part from her, his hands remaining on her hips. "Weren't you saying something about a walk?" he asked her with a knowing gleam in his eyes.

Blushing, his little princess looked up at him with a faint smile. "Yes, I was," she nodded in agreement. "So ....let's put the boards somewhere safe." It was hot enough that even without a towel, they would dry off fast, leaving neither too concerned about dry clothes going on over wet skin. She rose up onto her toes to whisper in his ear. "And we can find somewhere private where I can kiss your hurts all better."

"As you wish," he told her again, borrowing a quote again from The Princess Bride. Somehow, it seemed fitting, though he was no farm boy. He wasn't so sure about her kissing his hurts away, but he was pretty sure she could make him forget about them for a while.

Giggling, she drew away, and within just a few minutes, their boards were safely stowed in the workshop behind Custom Kings, allowing them the freedom to meander up into the grass-covered dunes and back down the other side of the rocky bluff. There was something wonderfully free about being able to make a decision and follow it through within moments, something Dru knew she would miss intensely during the month she had to spend in Tirisano not so very far away. To be that free with Josh, well ....he certainly reaped the benefits of the confidence that freedom gave her.

He, too, had come to love Rhy'Din and the freedom this place offered them both, without his father, her uncle, or anyone else to keep watch over them and make sure they were behaving as they should. He, too, was dreading going back, despite his initial reluctance to come here at all, more for her sake than his. He'd been careful not to overstep his bounds, knowing that even though Dru loved him, there were still certain lines he could not cross with her, and he was careful not to cross those lines. They had concocted a plan for the future, one that would ensure they'd be together, and yet, nothing was certain, and all it would take was one slip to spell tragedy for them both. Still, he was young and full of hope for the future, and if they were able to achieve their hearts' desire, then they would not be strangers to this place, not so long as Dru had family here that loved and cared for her.

On the other side of the bluff from the shop and the two homes already built there, the land seemed even wilder, yet somehow more sheltered. Rock rose on either side, closing in this part of the beach, and where the sand dune rose there grew over-hanging trees. It was, in essence, the closest thing to a tropical paradise this part of the world could offer - blissfully quiet, and sinfully private. "Oh, my goodness," Dru breathed, smiling with delight. "Isn't it lovely?"

Josh was busy watching the look on Dru's face as she took in the landscape, his heart aching sweetly with what could only be described as ever-deepening love and affection. "Yeah, it is," he replied quietly, though it was unclear whether he was referring to the landscape or to his companion. He reached for her hand, sliding his fingers through hers, needing to make that connection and know she was near, realizing suddenly with a thump in his chest that he'd be truly lost without her now.

As he took her hand, her gaze turned to his face, sharing the wonder and warmth with him in her smile as she hugged his arm to herself. Rubbing her cheek against his shoulder, her smile turned to a playful smirk. "Are you sure I can't convince you to deflower me right here, right now" It would be very romantic."

He frowned a little at her request, wishing he could, but it wouldn't be right. Not only was she still too young, but she was the Princess Royale of Tirisano. If he took such a liberty with her and anyone found out, there'd be scandal. All his chances of courting her would be dashed amidst a whirlwind of accusations and assumptions. No, it was better to wait and to do things right, no matter how hard it was for them both. "What happens if you get pregnant or if we get caught?" he pointed out, dashing her romantic notions with his more practical reminders.

She sighed, rolling her eyes. "You're too noble sometimes," she grumbled softly, kissing his shoulder to soften the complaint. It wasn't that she was terribly eager to be seen as a woman with all the expectations that came with it, but she was impatient to truly be able to share everything with Josh. Perhaps once they were engaged officially, it wouldn't be such a big deal.

He shrugged his shoulders, as if it wasn't that big a deal, though, of course, it was. He was aching for the same things she was. He wanted to share his whole self with her, not just his heart, but his soul, mind, and body. He wanted to belong to her in every way, and he wanted everyone to know she belonged to him. "It's not so long to wait, is it?" he asked, though he often thought if they had to wait much longer, he'd die from longing.

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:28 EST
She shrugged herself, gently releasing his hand to take a seat on the cooler sand in the shade of the trees. "It takes between three and six months to plan a royal wedding," she said quietly, looking up at him almost apologetically. "If our engagement is announced on my birthday, then we could be married as early as April next year. But that might be too soon. I don't want to push you into all this too fast."

"Push me?" he asked, dropping onto the sand beside her, though a little gingerly than he might normally because of the ache in his side. "Pushing me into what, Dru?" He wasn't quite sure how the conversation had gotten turned around like this, but he was reaching the point where he didn't want maybes anymore. They loved each other and were starting to make plans for a future, and if they returned home to find out other people had made different plans for them, they'd both be heart-broken. "We shouldn't have to fight for this, Dru. I love you, and you love me, and that's all there is to it. I won't lose you, no matter what happens when we go back there."

"It's a big adjustment," she reminded him gently. "I really don't mean to lower the mood, Josh, I promise. It's just that every now and then I remember how much you are giving up for me, and ....I don't want to overwhelm you with royal life. It's a very big change from the way we live now."

"Giving up for you?" he echoed again. "I'm not giving up anything for you." Except maybe a career in the theater, but they'd sort that out later. He turned to face her, taking her by the arms to turn her toward him. "I want to be with you, Dru, and I'm not letting you go, no matter what. I don't care what your uncle or my father or Parliament wants. I love you," he told her again, putting such emphasis on the word that there could be no mistaking his meaning. "Do you want me to make you pregnant' Then, they'd have no choice, would they?" Or they'd throw him in irons and make sure he never caroused with anyone again.

"I know you love me," she assured him, curling her hands to his cheeks as they looked into each other's eyes. "I love you, with all my heart, with everything that I am. But that doesn't stop me from feeling guilty for the dreams you're setting aside. I am not asking you re-think the decision - if you changed your mind now, I would fall apart and no one would be able to fix me. I love you. I want you in my life, to be the man I spend my life with, the father of my children. And it's because I love you that every now and then I worry. I can't help it."

"What am I giving up, Dru" The theater" I'm the son of a duke, first and foremost, and if I have to choose, I will always choose you. I only worry that they won't let us be together. That they'll try to separate us somehow. I won't let them, Dru. I won't let them take you away from me. I would be lost without you." His voice took on a tone of desperation, as if this was something that had kept him up nights, unable to sleep from worrying.

"They won't," she promised him, fierce in her absolute certainty of this. "The Parliament aren't stupid. Your father and my uncle have been systematically guiding public opinion at home toward the subject of my marriage. You've read the papers, the magazines - popular opinion is with us, the nation wants me to be able to choose for myself. By the end of August, they'll know that I'm in love with you, and Parliament won't turn against the tide of popular opinion." She paused, holding his gaze, and decided to give him her trump card. "Even if they try, I already know what to do. I'll abdicate. Keeping the monarchy intact is not worth a lifetime of misery without you."

He felt so strongly about all this that he appeared close to tears, struggling to keep his emotions in check, eyes widening in shock as she confessed what she'd do if the powers that be wouldn't let them be together. "Abdicate!" he exclaimed, looking appalled that she'd even think of giving up her monarchy for him. It was too important - far more important that a career in theater. "You can't. You wouldn't....would you?" On the other hand, he was deeply touched that she'd even think of doing such a thing just to be with him.

"In a heartbeat," she told him seriously, and in that moment, they both knew they had won what they wanted. There was no way that the Parliament would risk the death of the monarchy so completely, just to prevent a young woman from marrying a very suitable man she was in love with. Dru's thumb gently swept over his cheek. "They can't say no to me, Josh. By this time next year, we could be married."

"That's all I want, Dru," he told her quietly, not trusting his voice. "All I want is to be with you. I don't care about titles. I don't care about the theater. All I care about is you," he told her, ghosting his fingers against her cheek. "You're everything to me. I know we haven't been together long, but I can no longer imagine my life without you."

"Then you won't ever be without me," she promised him fervently, easing close, straddling his lap, until she was all he could see. Her lips caught his in a searing kiss, sealing the promise the only way she could think of. And as far as she was concerned, there was only one formality they truly needed to concede to now. "Joshua Oliver Stuart, would you do me the very great honor and privilege of being my husband?"

His kiss tasted salty, tears threatening, which he might not be able to hold back once the gravity of her question sank into his brain. For a moment, he could only think of her lips as she crawled into his lap and set about proving how serious she was, and then she seemed to be proposing, right then and there. His eyes widened again, a little surprised at the unexpected question. Not long ago, he'd given her a ring and promised his heart. They'd discussed the future time and again, but he had never expected her to be so forward and so determined in her desire to be with him. He laughed a little, not because he was amused by the question, but at the irony of it. "Are you proposing, Princess?"

She smiled at his surprise, knowing he would probably have liked to have proposed for himself. "Yes, I am," she told him, tenderly stroking her fingers against his cheek. "I would like your permission to move this ring to my left hand, and to be able to say, even if it just in private for now, that you are mine, and I am yours. May I?"

"No," he replied. Not because he was rejecting her offer, but because he was a man and he had his pride and he wanted to do this his way. He reached for her right hand to slide the ring from her finger and move it to her left. "Drusilla, would you do the honor of marrying me and taking me for your husband to love and cherish for all the days of our lives?"

The no caught her completely by surprise, and for a moment, she looked as though she might cry. But then he was moving, taking hold of her hands and slipping the beautifully simple ring he had given her from her right hand to her left. Dru swallowed, the urge for tears still there, but no longer shocked or sad. A wide smile parted her lips as she nodded, taking in a shaking breath to answer. "Yes," she told him, simply but fervently. "Yes, I will. Gladly."

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:28 EST
"And we won't let anyone stand in our way," he promised her in return, touching his lips gently to the back of her hand. His own tears had faded, replaced by a smile that was as bright as sunshine, all the hurt forgotten. So long as they stuck together, no one could stop them.

And no one would, Dru was determined. She giggled, truly happy with him, almost giddy with delight. They'd made it official, at least as far as they were concerned, and oh, wasn't it tempting to go back to the city and find someone prepared to marry them right away' But she wouldn't do an eager nation out of a royal wedding, knowing how much it meant to the people of Tirisano to be a part of their royal family's lives. Instead, she kissed Josh once again, slow and deep, the kind of kiss he had been drawing out of her for months, designed to leave him breathless and wanting more, just as she always did. "I love you," she whispered against his lips. "I always will."

He softened, melting beneath her kiss, which had the desired effect, leaving him breathless. It was almost too much, too hard to wait for, but they'd be back home in a few weeks, and before long, everyone would know their intentions. Everyone would know they were in love, and once they had the support of the people, Parliament wouldn't dare stand in their way. "I love you," he whispered back, against her lips, heart thudding in his chest, his body close to betraying him. As much as he wanted to wait for marriage, it was getting more difficult by the day to hold his desires in check. "Maybe-maybe I should move back to the cottage before..." Before what? Before they did what came natural, what felt right, what they both wanted more than anything else?

She stilled as he offered up that suggestion, startled by just how much it hurt that he would even be thinking of leaving her to sleep alone when he didn't have to. They would be separated for an entire month in the not so distant future, and once she went home for Christmas, they might not have another night alone together until their wedding night. She drew back just a little, that shocked hurt vibrant in her eyes. "Why would you say that?" she asked, sounding very young, painfully vulnerable. "Please don't go, I need you. I can't sleep without you, Josh. I'll wear a chastity belt if you want me to, just don't go."

"I just-I don't want to do anything stupid, Dru. I want you so much, and I'm not sure how much longer I can wait." It seemed like they'd been waiting so long already, though it hadn't been very long at all. He wasn't sure how people managed to wait years to have each other when he could barely wait a few months. "I don't want to go, but I don't want to do anything stupid either."

She stared at him for a long moment, wondering why he was so insistent on doing everything just right. "Do you honestly think I'm not taking precautions, just in case?" she asked him softly. "The things we've already done ....any one of those has the potential to get me pregnant, and it hasn't happened, has it?" She stroked his cheek softly. "I'm not saying right now, right away, or that it has to happen at all. But we can't keep saying no to each other. I don't want that sort of resentment in our relationship, Josh."

"Precautions?" he echoed, eyes widening in surprise for the third time that day. "What kind of precautions?" He didn't know she'd been taking any sort of precautions. If he had, he might not be so adamant in his insistence to wait for marriage.

Dru squirmed, ever so slightly embarrassed about having this conversation with him at all. "Lena gave me "the talk" shortly after we started spending nights together," she explained quietly, blushing bright. She couldn't even meet his gaze for more than a split second at a time. "She, um, she arranged for me to see the doctor, and to get this implant thingy." Awkwardly, she drew his hand to the soft skin of her upper, inner arm, to where a small match-stick shape could be felt just under her skin. "It lasts three years, but I could have it taken out at any time."

"You're taking birth control"!" he exclaimed a little too loudly, though fortunately they were alone and there was no one around to overhear him. He looked more than a little shocked for a moment, which then turned to confusion, and then he was laughing at his own foolishness. "What's all the fuss about, then" Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know!" she laughed back at him, rolling her eyes. "I assumed that you would assume that I was doing something about it. Or that you would ask. You're supposed to be the voice of knowledge and reason in this relationship, you know."

"What' Me?" He laughed again. "I don't know anything about, you know..." He moved one hand in a circular motion so that she might understand what he was trying to say without him actually saying it. He didn't understand much about the female reproductive system except what he'd been taught in school. He did know, at least in theory, how to use a condom, but that was an other matter entirely. "I was trying to be the voice of reason!" he pointed out with another laugh.

She giggled, looping her arms about his shoulders in an easy embrace, fitted close to him in the warm shade of the trees. "So is that a no to the chastity belt then?" she asked sweetly.

"That is a definite no," he assured her, winding his arms around her waist, a soft smile on his face. "But I'm not making love to you here where someone might see us. I want that to be special, and I don't want to be interrupted."

She offered him a playful pout that dissolved into fresh giggles as the tip of her nose bumped his affectionately. "I suppose I should drag my most secret purchase from the back of the dresser, then," she teased him lovingly. "I haven't had the guts to even unwrap it, yet, much less wear it."

He arched a brow, wondering what it was she was talking about. "You bought licorice panties?" he guessed, uncertainly, though that didn't seem very Dru-ish. It was either that or some piece of lingerie she was saving for a special night.

She snorted with laughter, her hands dropping to attack him with tickling for that ridiculous guess. "No! I do not think edible underwear is very hygienic," she added impishly. "And besides, why would I let you ruin your teeth like that?"

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:30 EST
He fell back on the sand with an audible, "Ooof," when she tickled him, laughing and wincing at the same time at both the ache in his side and the fact that he was ticklish, not to mention his amusement at her reaction to his question. "Who cares about hygienic?"

"I do," she informed him, thumping forward to brace herself on her hands as she loomed over him, her hair brushing against his cheeks as she smiled down at her freshly-decided fiance. "And it would make the liquorice taste very strange if it got tainted because of your exploring mouth."

"Who cares about that?" he countered with a grin, his hands sliding up against her thighs to settle against the curve of her hips. "How do you know those aren't two of my favorite flavors blended together?" he teased back. They weren't, but that was beside the point.

"Because I've spent the last three months watching you cook, and never once have you suggested either as an ingredient?" Dru suggested with a quiet giggle, enjoying this little bit of private intimacy before someone started yelling for them. It was bound to happen, sooner or later. Between them, the two couples who lived on the beach were ridiculously over-protective at times.

He laughed at her question, which made no sense at all and just proved how little she knew about cooking. "What the heck could I cook that would use either of those two ingredients?" Especially the unnamed ingredient which was wholly a flavor unique to Dru, and had nothing to do with food or cooking.

"How would I know?" she asked through her giggles, one hand slipping from the sand to tease its way over his chest as she looked down at him. "You are talking to the girl who only just managed to make pancakes without setting the house on fire."

"So, I assume it's not licorice panties then," he replied, grinning up at her, fingers poised against her hips. If she wasn't careful, she was going to get a little of her own medicine. "Practice makes perfect!"

"No, it isn't licorice panties," she laughed, leaning down to kiss the tip of his nose teasingly. "Nor is it a candy bikini, or whatever that edible licking stuff was. Although we do have a can of whipped cream, I think." Dark eyes twinkled impishly as she grinned down at him, deliberately teasing her fiance just to see how far he was going to let her go.

"So, why are we still here then?" he asked, blue eyes twinkling mischievously back at her. Whatever had been bothering him earlier didn't seem to be bothering him anymore. He was willing to let her go pretty far now that he knew there was no chance of her getting pregnant. The real question was how far she was willing to let him go.

More giggles erupted from her as she considered that. "Does that mean you're reconsidering deflowering me right here and now, or are you absolutely intent on it happening in a bed?" she asked him, mischievous but curious at the same time. "Because suddenly I'm leaning toward maybe having a date night before we let things escalate. Seeing as we haven't actually formally been on a first date yet."

"I was planning on waiting for our wedding night," he told her, but she didn't seem to want to wait anymore than he did. He echoed her laughter, amused at the suggestion that they were doing things backwards. "You're the one that proposed!" he pointed out helpfully.

Her brow rose as she looked down at him. "Really' You're going to try and wait another ten months, maybe even a year or more?" she asked impishly. "If it helps, the wedding night will still be special. I have no doubt that we won't be sleeping in the same bed from the moment I go home at Christmas. We might end up having to have secret trysts during the winter." She giggled wickedly, rather excited by that idea.

"And if we get caught?" he asked, his fingers sliding back and forth against her bare thighs, almost as if to keep himself busy. He wasn't sure what the punishment would be if he was caught cavorting with the Princess Royal before the wedding night, even if they were engaged to be married. It wasn't like he was going to be thrown in the dungeon for it, but he didn't want to risk her having to face any scandal.

"The year is 2014, not 1714," she pointed out softly, nuzzling lips to lips as she slid down onto her forearms, laying her slight frame over his as gently as she could. She had not forgotten his bumps from the wipe out. "And it is about time the monarchy reflected that. If I were not so very certain that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, if we were not engaged, I doubt I would be so open to breaking an out-of-date rule. But we've made this decision, together. If there is no foreseeable reason for us to choose to part, then why should we live like a monk and nun, just to save blushes?"

"Blushes from who' Me or you?" he asked, lifting a hand to push her hair back from her face, though as soon as he let go, it fell back over her shoulder again. "I don't care what other people think, Dru, but you're a princess, and you have a certain reputation to uphold. I don't want you tainted by scandal, so we have to be careful." At least, in Tirisano. Here in Rhy'Din, they were mostly on their own, at least as much as her family and guards were allowing them to be.

"I'm already tainted by scandal," she pointed out. "No one in Tirisano knows who my father is. I will be the first bastard to take the throne, not to mention the first woman. I don't propose that we flaunt how intimate we are, but neither do I want to pretend that we're not. After my birthday, the whole country will know we're engaged - it's that period, the engagement period, that I am talking about. Before that date, I wouldn't risk it. Trust me, Josh. I do understand how to walk the line. I refuse to have a modern country ruled by a medieval monarchy. We will make changes when we take the throne, and if we handle this right, the people will expect and look forward to those changes. We can do it."

He found himself smiling, seeing a hint of the woman who would one day in the not too distant future take over the throne. She didn't give herself enough credit, and he wished she could see herself through his eyes. "Have I ever told you how hot you are when you talk politics?" he teased, though he was duly impressed by her determination and courage.

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:31 EST
Dru laughed, blushing at the compliment, slightly embarrassed that she had turned their conversation into a political one, rather than a personal one. "Well, if I'm that hot, I shouldn't have any problems winning over the Parliament, should I?" she giggled. "I'll just seduce them with my witty repartee and informed opinions."

"Hopefully, you won't be wearing a swimsuit when you're doing it," he teased further, a playful gleam still lighting his eyes. He sighed a moment as another thought came to him. "I'm not really looking forward to going back," he admitted, though he didn't want to dampen the mood again.

She sighed softly, teasing her fingertips through his hair. "Neither am I," she admitted in return. "I want to see my uncle again, and to a certain extent, I enjoy being the princess. But I won't be with you every moment of every day, and that will be hard. Especially on Independence Day." Her eyes suddenly sparkled with tears, but she swallowed quickly, not wanting to cry on him as she obliquely touched on the anniversary of her mother's death.

He touched his fingertips to her cheek in a gentle caress. "But I won't be far from you. I'll be there, too, and it won't be long before we can be together." He knew she was probably thinking of her mother and the attack that had killed her and nearly killed Dru, but nothing could be done about that now. What was important was making sure it never happened again. "I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you, Dru." Though he wasn't quite sure how he'd be able to keep that promise until they were officially engaged.

"I know you won't," she whispered back to him, fully convinced that he would take on the entire Itana Royal Guard to get to her if anything happened. "But I'm not going to hide," she added softly. "They never caught the people responsible, but that's no reason for me let my uncle hide me away from the people in a reinforced car. They'll come out to see us. And I have every intention of making sure they can."

"To see you," he corrected, though he knew she was including her uncle in that statement. Not him, though. Not yet, anyway. "So what happens when we go back" Do we approach your uncle first and let him talk to Parliament?" As far as he knew, her uncle might know by now what was going on between them. They hadn't been particularly discreet here in Rhy'Din, and it had to be assumed that her security was reporting back.

She bit her lip, finally rolling off him to lie at his side, looking up at the dappled play of sunshine through the leaves above them. "When we go back, I will talk to my uncle," she told him. "Don't be surprised if an enormous amount of invitations suddenly arrive the next day. I know my uncle - he'll want to see us together, to make his own decision about what is going on, so he will make sure that you are invited to every ceremonial event, every garden party, every dinner over the course of August. We'll see a lot of each other, if you choose to attend them. And by the time we come back to Rhy'Din, he'll know there's nothing anyone can do to stop us from being together. Which is when he will start to prime the committee put together to choose my eligible suitors, or inform them that a decision has already been made. He won't use your name, or refer to you specifically, but they'll know it's you. So at Christmas, you'll be my official guest. At the opening of Parliament on New Years' Day and at my birthday celebrations, you will be my official guest. And by the time that happens, I will have fought whatever battles I have to with the Parliament, if I have to. So that the day after my birthday, the first day I am of age to marry, the palace will announce our engagement." She grinned wickedly. "And there's not a damned thing anyone can do about it!"

"Sounds like you've thought this whole thing through pretty well," he said, turning his head toward her as she settled herself on the ground beside him. You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day, with the sun shining through the trees, a warm breeze stirring the branches. He reached for her hand, linking his fingers with hers. "So, what happens after that' Will we be able to get away now and then to visit your family?"

She nodded. "Yes, we definitely will," she promised him. "The heaviest workload for the monarch, which at the moment is my uncle, occurs during the months Parliament sits in session, which is January to May. Those are five to eight-hour work days, with a weekend break, but that time also includes official visits. From December to June, the Prince stays in Itana, because it's the central place of government. Between July and the end of November, he stays at one of the country palaces, away from the capital, and is only called upon in a ruling sense if the state council cannot reach a decision on a national matter, like the strikes two years ago. But for us, we will be doing a fair amount of PR - official visits, and diplomatic dinners, that sort of thing - during the winter. In summer, the only month we absolutely have to be available in is August. We will have plenty of time to spend here in Rhy'Din, I promise you."

"But no one here knows who we really are. I think I'd like to keep it that way, at least, as far as public knowledge is concerned. We're gonna need a place to get away once in a while, and if no one knows who we are, we can come here and get away from it all." Whether they spent any time doing theater while they were here was doubtful, but that wasn't really important. "You know..." he started, frowning a little as he looked up at the sunlight dappling through the branches overhead. "I don't want to just be a figurehead, a symbol. If we're going to be married, I want to be your partner. I want to be able to help you." It wasn't that he wanted to be her equal or that he wanted any sort of power. He just wanted to be able to help her and support her, like any proper husband would.

"You will be," she promised him firmly. "We'll get the law changed before my uncle abdicates or dies. I would rather you be simply the Prince, and not the Prince Consort, with the same responsibilities as I have. I want you to be my equal, and I want to be able to ask for your advice when I need it, not be bound by some silly confidentiality law." She rolled onto her side, propping her head up as she looked down at him. "And as for keeping our excursions a secret ....there's an entire department within the halls of government dedicated to maintaining our family's privacy. No one from Tirisano will know we're here, and the local news agencies can be paid off and gagged. It's all very efficient."

"I guess I should have been paying better attention in my history and political science classes," he admitted with a worried frown. He'd always been more interested in the arts than in politics. Jamie was the first son; he was the one who was destined to take over the duchy one day. Josh had never expected to find himself in such an important position as this one, and he wondered if he'd be able to handle it.

"Well, that's why your father sent your tutor up here, isn't it?" she asked gently. Despite school having broken up for the summer, they had been sharing lessons built around the geo-political sciences and histories pertaining to Tirisano for about a month thus far. It would help, she was sure of it. "Besides, you'll have an entire staff of your own. Advisers to keep you informed, an aide and a secretary to help you be where you need to be and know who you'll need to know. Not to mention your father and brother. And me."

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:32 EST
He considered that quietly, wondering if he'd been wasting his time with the theater all these years, but it had been his passion - still was his passion. It was something he loved the way Lena loved to paint and Tommy loved to surf and Jon loved to act. Knowing how to entertain a crowd wasn't going to help him run a country, but it might help him get up in front of a crowd without getting stage-fright. "You know, Jamie is so much more prepared for something like this."

Dru looked down at him with a smile that was far too wise for her age. "You shouldn't worry so much," she suggested gently, one hand resting over his heart as she spoke. "The fact that you haven't been trained for this from birth is only going to make you more popular with the people, trust me. I won't let you fall; I will make sure you have everything you need, and that you're not overwhelmed by it. I want our people to love you, not the picture perfect prince the Parliament will want you to be. You and I will choose your staff; you will choose which areas you want to work in, to encourage and develop. You are far more prepared already than you know. I have faith in you, love."

He turned to look up at her, his gaze softening as she told him how much she believed in him, even if he didn't believe in himself. "Seems like the shoe's on the other foot, doesn't it?" he asked, recognizing the irony of it. "Remember when you were scared to death to go on stage, and I told you you'd be great' I believed in you, too, even though you didn't believe in yourself."

"Because you knew what you were talking about, and I trusted you to be honest with me," she reminded him with a soft smile. "You didn't lead me wrong." Leaning down, she kissed him tenderly, drawing her fingertips up over his chest to gently caress his cheek.

"I trust you, too," he told her, returning her kiss. He pushed her hair back from her face again, one hand on each side of her face. "You really think we can do this?" he asked, not doubting her abilities but his own, despite her faith in him. All he really needed was the same thing he'd given her - a little reassurance and faith in him.

"I really do," she assured him, certain in her confidence that he could do anything he set his mind to. "You are going to be the best thing that has ever happened to the Tirisano monarchy. And I should know, I'm one of them."

He had to chuckle a little at that. "Now you're pulling my leg. You are going to be the best thing that has ever happened to the monarchy," he told her, tapping her nose for emphasis. "I'm just along for the ride."

She giggled, her nose wrinkling under his tap as she leaned down to kiss him again. "But how are you going to ride," she asked between playful kisses, brushing her smile to his with sparkling eyes teasing him all the while, "when you've never even mounted?"

He met her lips with a kiss of his own, soft and sweet and tender, however brief, before an amused smirk appeared on his face at her question. "I thought it was you who was supposed to be doing the mounting," he teased back, fingers caressing her cheek.

"Like this?" He should have known by now not to tease her without expecting retribution of some kind - after all, he was the one who had taught her to stop worrying about appearing like the perfect princess when she was alone with him. So he shouldn't have been surprised when she swung her leg over him and settled there, wriggling with a pixie-like grin. "Just getting comfortable."

He wasn't really surprised and yet, he couldn't help the soft groan that escaped his lips as she purposely or otherwise encouraged his body to react to her closeness. He flushed a little, knowing she had to sense his growing desire for her, which was impossible to hide in swim-trunks, especially with her sitting on top of him. "That's not fair," he complained mildly.

That wicked little giggle told him that her actions were entirely purposeful. "Really?" she asked innocently, leaning down once again, hands braced in the sand above his head. "I thought it was good practice." She rolled her hips again, just to make her point.

"It's not good practice. You're teasing me!" he exclaimed with a laugh, his face flushing further. While he was used to a certain amount of intimacy between them, there were still certain boundaries they hadn't crossed, as much as they wanted to. "You're driving me crazy," he admitted breathlessly.

She grinned, kissing him once more. "So keep your voice down, and keep an eye out for intruders," she suggested, slithering backward to finish what she had started with hands, lips, and tongue that had been slowly learning everything to do with him since that first morning they'd crossed this particular boundary.

"Wait, what....Here?" he asked, his voice rising an octave in obvious astonishment. What had happened to his sweet, innocent Dru" He'd corrupted her! Or someone had, but who was he to complain"

"Mmhmm," was his only reply, as his sweet, innocent princess stripped his trunks down to his knees and set about making up for being a tease. Her eyes never left his, daring him to stop her, to object more than he had already. She would never be so comfortable, so bold, with anyone but him. Why shouldn't he enjoy it"

What man in his right mind would ever complain about this" As far as the warning went, such warnings had been given before and had gone unheeded while in the throes of passion. Though Josh tried to keep a lookout, he found himself very quickly a little too distracted to follow through on that. Her uncle himself could have been watching, and he wouldn't have been the wiser.

He had certainly taught her very well, allowing her to learn him as well as he had learned her. There was no denying that Dru knew exactly what she was doing as she teased and caressed, half an ear open for any sound of approach, just in case. She couldn't quite believe Josh had given in so easily. Maybe she was better at this than she thought.

And he couldn't quite believe she was actually bold enough to dare do what she was doing and in broad daylight, no less. It didn't take long for her efforts to prove effective, as evidenced by the way his breath grew ragged and his pulse quickened. He bit his lip to hold back a moan, his fingers curling into her hair as he felt his desire quickly rising.

Dru Granger

Date: 2014-07-24 01:33 EST
Patient and tender, even in passion, his little princess responded to the tension rising in him, renewing her efforts, knowing he must be close. She wanted to bring him that release, partly as an apology for teasing him so impishly in the first place, but mostly because she loved him, and she wanted him to enjoy her company, no matter what they did.

As much as he was enjoying it - and it was obvious he was enjoying it - she didn't really have to go to so much trouble to please him. He was easy to please and would have been perfectly happy to wait until later, and yet, as soon as she'd started to try and please him, he was at her mercy, unwilling or unable to stop her until she was finished - or more accurately, until he was finished. Unable to hold back any longer, he whispered her name, almost as if he was pleading for mercy, as she took him over the precipice.

And yet, even as he fell, she was there to catch him, just as he was always there to catch her, protecting his modesty as soon as she could, crawling up to curl her arms about him and guide him back to earth with soft kisses and playfully teasing murmurs of congratulations.

Once he had a moment to think straight, he wondered if she wanted or expected him to reciprocate. "Gods, Dru. I can't believe you just did that," he told her with a soft, shuddering sigh. It wasn't like she'd never worked her magic on him before, but never so boldly or with such confidence. "Are you sure you're my princess?"

She giggled, stroking her fingers through his hair lovingly. "You're the one who taught me to always be myself with you," she reminded him in a quiet voice. "I'm still learning what that means, but I think we can safely say that when I'm with you, I develop something of a daredevil side." She grinned, kissing him tenderly, not expecting or demanding any form of reciprocation. "Besides, I couldn't let you walk back over the beach with a limp, could I?"

"What if your brother had caught us?" he questioned, admittedly relieved that no one had come looking for them just yet. He'd never be able to live it down if any of her family members had caught them in the act, though if they had, they probably would have been more amused than shocked.

She looked slightly confused by that. "My brother, who isn't at the cove, and wouldn't think to look for us here?" she asked, a faintly worried look crossing her face. Was he angry with her for what she'd just done" Should she have asked his permission first' Did he not like her taking the lead" "I'm sorry," she apologized, retreating into herself as she always did when she wasn't certain. "I won't do it again."

"Brother-in-law!" Josh corrected himself, laughing at his own faux pas, still in a slight state of shock at her boldness, but then she was apologizing and turning too quiet again. He sighed as he sat up and touched his fingers to her cheek. "Baby, don't apologize. I'm just....surprised, that's all."

She met his gaze, nodding a little as he touched her cheek, already telling herself never to tease him like that again. Leaning in close, she curled her arms around his waist, embracing him tenderly for a long moment before drawing back, her expression clear once again as she looked around the private little bay they had found. "Wouldn't this make a beautiful place for a summer cottage?"

He frowned a little confused, wondering why she'd apologized and why she was changing the subject. She had just fulfilled a fantasy. There was nothing to be sorry about. Should he change the subject back or let it go' "Did I-did I say something wrong?" he asked, wondering what had just happened.

"No," she hurried to reassure him, shaking her head. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. I did." She shrugged, forcing herself to be honest with him about her quiet assumption in the wake of the first words out of his mouth once she'd been done. "I-I obviously crossed some sort of line, and went too far. I didn't mean to make you mad, or to put you in an untenable position. I won't do it again, Josh, I promise."

The look on his face was priceless. If he'd looked surprised before, he looked even more surprised now. "You think I was angry?" he asked, trying to grasp her meaning. "Dru, I'm not mad. You just fulfilled a fantasy for me! Are you kidding?" It wasn't him he was concerned about, but her. He wasn't sure what her family would say if they knew, but it was her reputation he was concerned about, not his.

She stared at him, startled that she had read him so wrongly. "You ....you're not angry with me?" she asked uncertainly. "I thought ..." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. You-you really liked it?"

"Of course I liked it! Didn't it seem like I was liking it?" He laughed, not at her, but at the ridiculousness of their misunderstanding. "I just don't want anyone catching us at it, that's all." He beamed a smile at her that should prove he was about as far from angry as one could get and turned her face toward him so that he could reassure her with a kiss.

"Well, you -" And that was about as far as she got. As he kissed her, she forgot the misunderstanding, the sense that she had done something wrong. He really did know her far too well. She sighed into the kiss, easing her arms about him once again, and felt her lips curved into a smile beneath his. "I'm sorry," she apologized again, a little breathless. "I've never done anything like that before, I didn't know how to gauge your reaction."

"You gauged it pretty well," he assured her. He didn't bother to explain to her how the risk of being caught only added to his excitement. "I owe you one later," he promised, pressing another kiss against her lips.

The shy smile he knew very well lit up her face at his promise, complete with a soft blush that touched her sun-kissed skin with rose. "I will hold you to that," she assured him affectionately, nuzzling the tip of her nose to his. "But ....I would like us to have a date night some time soon. We wouldn't have to go out. I could - I could try and cook dinner for you. I want to make an effort for you. I feel like I've been taking you for granted, and I never want to do that."

"You're not taking me for granted, Dru, but you're right. We should go on a proper date, and a proper date doesn't include you cooking. We should go someplace nice, so we can celebrate our engagement," he suggested with a smile, though he wasn't sure where she might like to go.

"Really?" The thought of going out to celebrate with him was an enticing one, despite her habitual avoidance of public places. "We could ask Jon if he knows anywhere that might suit us," she suggested in return, unaware that her eyes had lit up with hopeful excitement. "Unless you have somewhere already in mind."

"I don't have any place in mind," he replied, open to the idea of asking her brother for advice. "Unless you'd rather stay in," he added, not wanting to push her to go out if she'd rather not, though from the look in her eyes, he thought she liked the idea.

"No, I-I'd like to go out with you," she assured him, nodding enthusiastically as though to underline her point. "I'd like to dress up for you. We can stay in all day the next day, if we really want to."

"Okay, it's a date then. We just have to decide when and where," he reached for her hand to tangle his fingers with hers just because, lifting her hand to his lips for a soft kiss. "I love you, you know," he reminded her for no reason at all.

"Soon, and we can crash in on Jon tomorrow morning," she said impishly, obviously more excited than she was letting on about having an actual date with her fiance. His reminder of his feelings softened her expression, gentling her smile until it shone from her eyes. "I love you back," she promised him faithfully. "For always."

"For always," Josh repeated, sealing that promise with a kiss. No matter what happened now, no matter who might not want them together, they had made a promise and a commitment to each other to always be together. Nothing and no one was going to stop them now, not even the Parliament of Tirisano. It was a new chapter, not just for one young couple, but for an entire country. Love really could accomplish some amazing things.

((One simple scene that turned epic on us again! Loads of fun, though - many thanks to my magnificent writing partner!))