((Contains reference to adult situations.))

Making the transition from 1970's Earth to Rhy'Din in 2013 was a tough change for anyone to try. The fact that Tommy had managed it was enough to be proud of, but there was one crucial change he had yet to make, and though Lena was trying not to push, the mere fact that it had not happened yet was proof enough that procrastination could easily become a way of life for them. Which was why today, she was ready for him. She'd fed him, let him drink a couple of beers to ease off any residual tension, and now she stood in the kitchen, pointing to a stool with a mild grin. "All right, Moonbeam," she told her lover affectionately. "Sit."

As for Tommy, he looked less than convinced. He'd grown fond of his long hippie hair and the beatnik fuzz on his chin. It had taken him years to grow that hair - a symbol of rebellion during a tumultuous period of history, but that was Earth of the 70's and this was Rhy'Din in the 21st century. Or something like that. "I'm not sure I trust you with a pair of scissors in your hands," he remarked, thinking she was taking this way too casually.

"Believe it or not, I used to cut my dad's hair," she told him, one hand on her hip as she looked up at her reluctant hippie. "And Jon's, before he left home. Trust me, baby, I can do this. It's not like I'm going to scalp you - I'm just gonna cut it a little shorter and give it a bit of shape so your hair compliments your gorgeous face."

He pouted at her, knowing this was coming. The four of them had been pestering him about it for days, and it had been Jack who'd finally talked him into it, insisting that it was only hair and that they weren't living in the 70's anymore. "You promise you won't cut it too short?" he asked, needing some reassurance before he let her anywhere near him with a scissors in her hands.

"I promise I won't cut it too short." Leaving the scissors where they were, she moved toward him, raising her hands to show him how short she intended to go. "I'm gonna cut it until it brushes your collar, and shape it in front. You'll still have plenty of hair when I'm done, I swear to you, Tommy. And if I go too short, it'll grow back."

"If you cut it too short, I'll be bald!" he exclaimed, over-reacting just a little. He had apparently become rather attached to all that hair, but if Jack could do it, he could do it. Besides, he had to admit, it was a bit of a pain to take care of and tended to get in his face when he was surfing. "Okay..." he said, taking a deep breath. "I trust you."

She smiled, knowing it was a hard thing for him to do but glad he was finally giving in. Reaching up, she kissed him softly, gently steering him toward the stool. "So sit down, Moonbeam, and I'll be quick as I can."

Still pouting a little, he gave in, taking a seat in the chair, the happy-go-lucky surfer sulking uncharacteristically. Like Jack, he had been hiding behind all that hair for so long, he was a little scared what would happen when it was gone, though here in Rhy'Din, he didn't have to worry about anyone recognizing him or accusing him of being a coward. His mother had always told him he had a baby face, and he wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

"It isn't the end of the world," Lena laughed gently, squirting him in the face with her bottle of water before wrapping a towel over his shoulders, turning her attention to dampening his hair for cutting. "It's not like I'm forcing you to shave as well, is it?" Her fingers ran through his hair, gentle and practiced, forbearing to comment on the state of his split ends.

He threw up a hand to block the spray of water in his face, mostly unsuccessfully, chuckling a little at her playfulness. "That's easy for you to say! How long have you been growing your hair?" he asked, not bothering to point out that her hair was longer than his. It didn't matter to him if she was a girl or not, hair was hair. He was glad she hadn't seated him in front of a mirror as he wasn't sure he wanted to watch what she was doing. "You're not forcing me to do anything," he pointed out, but hell if he was going to let Jack get all the attention.

Laughing again, this time in protest, she rolled her eyes at him. "I get my hair cut twice a year! That's how it got this long and, you know, healthy." She leaned in to kiss the tip of his nose briefly as her hands found the comb and scissors, shifting about to stand behind him and begin there. "So ....have you been thinking about what we want and need for the house and shop?"

Tommy quieted a moment, his mind turning back to what had started him on the path to letting his hair grow in the first place. It wasn't just the fact that everyone was doing it. It went a little deeper than that. He might have mentioned it, but her voice distracted him from his thoughts and pulled him back to the present. "Hm?" he asked. "Oh, no, not really. I mean, how are we going to go about it?"

"Well ..." She paused a moment as she drew the comb through his hair, deliberately waiting until she was speaking once again before setting the scissors to the blonde mane in her hands. "There are a few ways we can do it. We can draw out our own floorplan, or we could hire an architect and work closely with them. Or we go with a flat-pack system, which would mean choosing a floorplan from a company's catalog, and modifying it to our own satisfaction."

All of those options sounded a little complicated to him. He didn't know anything about building a house, but he did have a pretty good idea of what he wanted it to look like. "What's a flat pack system?" he asked, never having heard the term before and unsure what it meant. He felt her hands at the back of his neck, and quiet snipping noise of the scissors as they sheared his long blond locks.

"Well, I'm not really too up on how it all works," Lena admitted, working quickly to cut his hair to the right length. She even left it slightly longer than she had said she would, knowing that his natural waves would keep the length from drowning his face and neck. "It's quicker than building from scratch on site, I know that. Basically, you pick out your design and modify it however you'd like; then a wooden frame is constructed at the company's warehouse or workshop or whatever, while appropriate foundations are laid. It takes about six to eight weeks, I think, and then the framework is put up on site within a matter of days. After that, it's just a case of fitting it out with electricity and plumbing and all that, and decorating it. As far as I know, it takes about half as long to build a house that way as it does to build one from scratch out of brick and mortar."

Tommy's thoughts drifted, too, as he examined his face in the mirror. Who was it that was looking back at him these days" Who was he" Who had he become" Tommy Kasinsky from Detroit, or Tommy King from Half Moon Bay' Did it even matter anymore" He had reinvented himself, changed, become someone his own mother wouldn't have recognized. He frowned a little at that thought. Somewhere inside him, he was still the idealistic kid who'd left home with a dream in his heart, and now because of Helena, he might finally be making that dream come true. What was a little hair in exchange for all that' He smiled, his mind made up, and pushed the bathroom door closed.

Hearing the bathroom door close, Lena paused, a very faint frown on her brow. Was that a good sign or a bad sign" Or had she got so much hair down his shirt collar that he'd decided to take a shower to clean off" She didn't want to interrupt, however - she knew cutting his hair was a big step, and was happy to give him however much time he needed to come to terms with it. Shaking herself away from worrying too much, she turned her attention to investigating the cupboards, wondering if Dru was going to join them for dinner tonight or skip up to the big house, as she had been doing for the last few nights.

It was quiet in there for quite a while before the sound of water could be heard coming from the shower. He was uncharacteristically quiet. No singing of Beach Boys' tunes, no whistling, just the sound of water running through the pipes. He felt strange without all that hair and somehow liberated, like the hair had been holding him back. He scrubbed himself clean, scrubbing his fingers through the shorn yellow locks, cleansing himself of the last seven years, ready to start fresh. He felt strangely reborn.

When the sound of the shower running reached her ears, Lena relaxed a little. So he wasn't that upset with her, or he wouldn't be scrubbing himself under the flow of hot water. A momentary flicker of a grin found her face as she considered joining him, before sternly reminding herself she was giving him space to come to terms with the loss of his hairy curtains.

He wasn't gone much more than half an hour, a little longer than he might normally take in the shower, but not overly long. Certainly not long enough to worry or send in a search party. At long last, the sound of running water was replaced once again by silence, but even that didn't last long. The door creaked, announcing his re-emergence, his stomach tied in nervous knots, though he wasn't sure why. She'd either like what she saw or hate it. Whatever she thought, one thing was certain - nothing was permanent; nothing stayed the same for ever.

Lena was determined not to make a fuss when he came out, not wanting to make him feel any more self-conscious of his newly shortened hair. The beard, she could live with - she hadn't fallen in love with his facial hair, after all; she'd fallen in love with him. So when he re-emerged, she was busy in the kitchen, scowling at the contents of the larder and trying to stop her mind from wandering in the direction of what it might be like to cook for children.

No matter what he looked like, he was still the same Tommy he'd always been, the same Tommy she'd met and fallen in love with, lost and rediscovered. He found her in the kitchen, but made no move to let her know he was there, standing in the doorway for a long moment quietly watching her, as nervous as a schoolboy on his first date. She already knew what he looked like with the new haircut, but what would she think of the final touch he'd decided on himself"

She became aware of him watching her after a long moment, lifting her head as she turned to smile at him, only to have that smile falter as her mouth dropped open in delighted surprise. The look in her eyes softened as she gazed at him, tender desire flickering all too obviously into view across her face as she felt herself blush, biting her smiling lip like a schoolgirl. "Wow."

"Is that a good wow or a bad wow?" he asked nervously as he remaining in the doorway, wondering why it was so important to him that she approved of the change. In addition to the haircut, he was clean-shaven, no longer hiding his youthful, boyish face behind the scruffy beard.

"Oh, it's a very good wow," she promised him, the smile rising on her face unmistakeable as anything but delighted, proud approval of the step he had taken all by himself to shave off the beard he had been clinging to. "Tommy, you're stunning. I ....I have no words for how much I want to jump you right now."

"Really?" he asked, as surprised and shocked by this as he'd been by the mention of children. Not so much the jumping part, but the part about him being stunning. No one had ever called him that before, not even Red, once upon a time. Oh, she'd wanted him, when it suited her, but she hadn't really loved him. She had loved Robbie. "Don't think I look fourteen?"

She laughed, forcing herself to take a step forward, not quite believing what she was seeing. Tommy had been handsome enough with the wayward long hair and scruffy beard, but now ....Part of her was glad he hadn't shaved until after he was sure she loved him. She certainly couldn't be accused of being turned by a pretty face now. "I think you're the most handsome man I've ever met," Lena admitted, slightly embarrassed by the husky, wanting tone that injected itself into her voice as she looked him over. "You're so handsome, I'm blushing just at the realization that I'm allowed to touch you."

"You're just teasing me now," he said, blushing like his friend Jack had done when he'd first revealed the handsome face that had lain hidden beneath an overgrowth of hair and beard. If he was so handsome, why was he always second choice? At least, until now. But things were different with Lena, and no other girls - women - really mattered. "I might have nicked myself," he admitted, raising a hand to rub his chin, feeling naked without the familiar scruff of beard there.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure," he replied with a smirk as he felt her fingers against his back, stifling a shudder of pleasure. He arched a brow, more than a little surprised by her threat. Or was it a promise" "Beg?" he echoed, chuckling a little. "Is that another challenge?"

"Are you saying you wouldn't beg for me, Moonbeam?" she asked him with a lilting laugh in her voice, tipping her head back to meet his smirk with her own grin. "Not even if I tied you to the bed and made you watch me enjoying myself with your name on my lips?" In fairness, that was pretty evil coming from one of the Granger's Good Girls, but rather staid in other respects.

"You wouldn't," he replied, practically calling her on the challenge. He had a hard time believing this sweet, innocent girl was capable of such a thing, though the thought of it was doing things to his insides that he was having trouble controlling and keeping to himself.

Her laugh was an indignant protest as she curled her arms about his neck once again, nose to nose with her newly shorn Tommy. "I might," was gently insisted against his lips. "Of course, you'd have to cooperate for me to be able to get you all tied up in the first place ..."

"And if I don't?" he asked, rising to the challenge or at least to the prospect of it, even if she was only teasing and had no intention of carrying through with her little evil plan.

"Hmm ..." She paused, seeming to consider her reply for a long moment, though in truth she was distracted all over again by the look in his eyes, unable to deny the very obvious truth of the flush that spread over her skin in answer. "Well, in that case, we'd just have to wrestle and see who won."

"Arm wrestle or body wrestle?" he asked with a hint of mischief in his eyes. The haircut and shave looked good on him, even if he wouldn't admit it himself, and gave an almost boyish charm to his smile, eyes bright with amusement.

"Which would you rather?" she laughed back at him, tweaking the end of his nose between her thumb and forefinger teasingly. "Since, obviously, we are now going to wrestle ....is this best of three strip arm wrestling, or free-for-all body wrestling" Huh, Moonbeam?"

He crossed his eyes to watch her tweak his nose, smirking mischievously at her teasing. "Should I let you win?" he teased back, since it was obvious - at least, to him - that he'd clearly win any wrestling contest, arm or otherwise. "Come on," he said, reaching for her hand. "Why don't we talk about it in the bedroom?"

Of course he would win any such contest between them; that wasn't the point. The point was how much fun they could have getting to the point where she would, inevitably, surrender. Laughing, she let him wind his fingers through hers, holding tight against him as they moved toward the master bedroom. "Yes, master." Her other hand, however, couldn't resist goosing him as he led her away.

Tommy chuckled when she called him that, suddenly visualizing her in a genie costume like the kind Barbara Eden wore. He'd never admit it, but she was one of his boyhood crushes and the thought of Helena dressed like that was doing nothing to relieve his growing frustration. "Do I need to make three..." He broke off as she goosed him, laughing.

"Three what, dare I ask?" she grinned back at him, that roaming hand quite happy to wriggle into his side as he laughed, seeking out all the ticklish spots she could find as they eased through the doorway and into the master bedroom. "Magic beans?"

He turned to slap her hand away as she searched for her ticklish spots. She'd already accidentally found some, but he still had a few secrets. "Wishes, Jeannie," he replied with a grin. "Tell you what....If I win, you get to be my slave for a week." Which means she'd have to do anything he said. Anything. Anytime. Anywhere.

Lena's jaw dropped indignantly at his condition. They both knew she didn't have a hope in hell of winning a wrestling match between them, however much fun it was, and he was loading the dice. "A whole week?" she protested laughingly, twisting to walk ahead of him, backing into the room that was entirely theirs and brooked no intrusion from anyone.

"Too long" What's the matter, Midge" Afraid I might have you do something you don't wanna do?" Oh, he knew he had the upper hand in this, and he was having fun teasing her about it. He reached for her hand as she backed into the room, letting her lead him along.

"No, I think I might get too attached to being your willing slave, and you'll end up having to make all the decisions for us for the rest of our lives," she told him with a grin, teasingly pulling both her hands out of his grasp as he reached for her.

There was that boyish smirk again, dimples that had once been hidden behind the beard peeking through, a sprinkling of boyish freckles his nose and cheeks. And all of a sudden, he roared and stampeded toward her, catching her around the waist and tossing her onto the bed.

He took her completely by surprise, too distracted by the charm of his dimples to recognize when something was being plotted. Lena let out a loud shriek as he rushed her, breaking into wild giggles as they bounced onto the bed together, all too happy to wrestle with him regardless if that had been his intention or not. Of course, she was already at a disadvantage being below him, but she was planning on cheating anyway.

But getting her clothes off and taking advantage of her didn't seem to be his goal, at least, not yet. Instead, had her pinned beneath his weight and was repaying her tickling with some torture of his own, fingers searching out the places where he knew she was most vulnerable and ticklish.

"I'd really like one," she assured him, looking down at her own inner wrist, easily able to imagine the same mark there as adorned his skin. As the frown made itself known on his brow, she nestled closer, giving him her full attention. She had a little insight there, after all. "I think Jack would rather have you take him for granted than never be his friend," she told Tommy softly. "He loves you like a brother, you know" He'd do anything for you. All you have to do is ask."

Tommy turned quiet a moment as he considered this. A lot had changed in the last few years, and even more had changed in the last few weeks. He was happier than he'd been in a long time, and it was all because of Lena and Jack. He could no longer keep Jack out of the equation. He had stood by him through everything and become the brother Tommy had never had. To say Jack and Lena had taken Robby and Red's place was unfair. They had done far more than that; they had carved an even deeper place in Tommy's heart. "Do you think if I asked him to be best man at our wedding, he'd agree?" Tommy asked, trying to hide a small smirk from his face, entirely serious, but wondering what she'd say to that.

"No, I ..." As the actual question sank in, Lena trailed off, her mouth dropping open as she stared at Tommy in amazement. Was he really asking her that' So soon' He was such a free spirit, she hadn't thought that marriage would even enter his mind for months, perhaps even years, and yet ....there he was, not exactly asking her to marry him. "Uh ..." She stammered for a moment, a slow, delighted smile rising on her face as she blushed, utterly unable to hide how happy that not-question had made her. "I think he'd be overjoyed," she answered finally, her voice quiet with sweet pleasure.

"How long do you think it will be before he asks me the same thing?" he asked, beaming a smile back at her. If things kept going the way they were going between Jack and Jasmin, Tommy had a feeling the pair wouldn't be far behind. He knew it was fast, but what was the point of waiting when he knew what he wanted" He reached for her hand, linking his fingers with her. "How about sometime in the spring, after we get the house built?"

She giggled softly, not wanting to predict a timeline for Jack and Jasmin. Between them, those two had a few issues that needed to be ironed out before they started thinking in this direction. She watched his fingers twine with hers, rubbing her thumb over his with understated affection. "On the beach," she suggested softly, lifting her eyes to his once again. "I think that's a beautiful idea."

His smile widened at her suggestion. On the beach. Of course, on the beach. There was no better, no more romantic place to be married than that. "I know it's sudden, but life is too short, and I know I want to spend what?s left of it with you," he told her softly.

"There's a lot left of it," she told him in a firm tone, shifting to roll him onto his back, leaning over him to run her fingers through his hair once again. "I love you, Tommy. And I'm touched you didn't even need to ask me to know what my answer would be."

He smiled up at her as she rolled him onto his back, realizing his own mistake, though she didn't seem upset by it. "I suppose I should have asked you first," he admitted, a bit sheepishly. He had just assumed that she'd say yes. Why else would she have traveled back thirty-eight years to find him and bring him here"

"It's a little quicker than I was expecting," she admitted with a soft chuckle, her lips touching the end of his nose impishly. "But I'm not saying no. I don't think I'll ever say no. Unless, you know, it's so completely depraved you can't even describe it to me."

He laughed as he caught her meaning, though he couldn't imagine ever asking her to do anything she wouldn't be more than happy to partake in. "If you were my slave, you wouldn't have any choice," he pointed out, returning to the challenge he'd made a short time ago, before they'd gotten distracted with each other.

She laughed, leaning down to nip at his lips. "That doesn't count," she told him cheerfully. "You cheated." Giggling, she kissed him tenderly, smoothing her fingers down the line of his throat. "So when are you going to give Jack this heart attack and tell him he's organizing your bachelor party?"

Tommy's eyes lit up at the thought of that. Like her, he had a feeling Jack would be shocked by the news, but pleasantly so, and he was looking forward to seeing the look on his friend's face when he told him. "I'm not sure yet. I only just thought of it. Maybe I should do it over dinner sometime," he replied with a chuckle, remembering the look on poor Jack's face when he'd tumbled from the window.

Lena laughed at the sheer mischief in his eyes as he suggested this. "Maybe you should save it for an evening when we're not eating something hazardous to his health if he chokes," she chuckled fondly. "Or, you know, spring it on him when we finally get him and Jasmin to the big house for dinner. Now that would be funny."

"If I did that, your brother might kill me!" he exclaimed, laughing. He had only met Jon once briefly, and he seemed likable enough, but Tommy wasn't too sure what he'd think about having a surfer for a brother in law. It never occurred to Tommy that the one person in the family he should be worried about wasn't Jon, but Humphrey.

Lena's laughter rose with his, gentler giggles in a sweet counter-point to his deeper laughter even as she kissed him once again. "Do you think Jaz has got at him with clippers yet?" she grinned playfully. As gorgeous as Tommy was without his beard, she was still curious to know just what was lurking underneath what remained of Jack's hairy curtains.

He laughed at her question, unable to imagine what Jack would look like with even less hair than he had now. "You don't think his hair is short enough?" he asked, a little incredulously. "Don't get any ideas about mine. I feel naked as it is." As a matter of fact, he was naked, but that was another matter.