| Daniel rested his head lazily against Beth's stomach and sighed softly as her fingers slid their way tenderly through his hair. He loved this time together. It was a bit of a ritual now; Sunday afternoons spent picnicking in the nearby park, as the cooling weather of summer slowly gave way to fall. This was a luxury Daniel had never been afforded before. |
| Though his memory of his time prior to his downsizing was still quite fragmented, he remembered enough to know that nothing like this had ever happened when he was eighteen last time around. Biting back a small smile he laughed to himself. Last time around? How many people got to say that about their lives? This situation was ludicrous and yet somehow it felt comfortable. |
| "Daniel?" |
| "Hmmm?" Daniel answered tiredly, the warmth of the afternoon sun helping his tired mind to slowly drift off. |
| "I think it's time," Daniel felt Beth's fingers tense on his scalp as he tried to make sense of her words. |
| "For what?" Reaching up, Daniel grabbed Beth's hand as he twisted to sit up. |
| Beth ducked her head, an action that Daniel knew well. His girlfriend for over four months now, Daniel had grown accustomed to her little idiosyncrasies and her tendency towards shyness whenever they discussed anything personal. |
| Chewing on her lip, Beth looked meekly up at Daniel and smiled, "You know," she stuttered, her cheeks turning a rosy shade of pink, "You've seen mine and after all this time I really think its time I saw yours as well." |
| What the heck? Daniel was confused and searching Beth's face he tried to get an idea of what she was talking about, but with her head still head low he had little hope. |
| Watching Beth pick at the hem of her blouse, Daniel lifted his had to her chin and tilted her head up towards him, "Beth?" |
| "We've been together for months now, Daniel, and I can't help but feel that you're holding something back," Shaking her head, Beth ducked her head again, "like you're not quite ready to take the next step." |
| Ah, Daniel thought, so that's what it's all about, "Beth, no, that's not it at all. I love the time we spend together." |
| "Then what is it, Daniel?" Beth wriggled away slightly and Daniel couldn't help but wonder if she was deliberately putting some distance between them. "We're both adults, and this should be easy." |
| Daniel reached out pulling Beth in closer, the scent of her perfume tickling his nose and stirring his allergies, "I guess I'm just not quite ready yet. Trust me; this has nothing to do with you at all." |
| "You weren't comfortable around mine?" |
| "I had a great time," Daniel smiled at the memory. When Beth first told Daniel what she had planned for him he was nervous. Not knowing what to expect he had spent most of that day hovering between self assuredness and down right fear. He needn't have worried. Being such a gentle soul Beth made his first time pleasurable and something to remember. |
| "Then what?" Daniel could see the need in her eyes and the pleading in her voice. Pulling her into his embrace he stroked the hair away from her forehead and replaced it with a tender kiss. |
| "I promise we will. I just need to plan it out first. Make the event as special for you as you made it for me." |
| Beth nestled deeper into Daniel's arms and he smiled as she rubbed her cheek against his chest, "and for this you have to plan? What happened to spontaneity?" she asked. |
| "Trust me, Beth, meeting Jack for the first time is definitely a case for careful planning." |
