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."

"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."

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.

"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."

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.

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.

"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 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."

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!))