Stephverse - Vacation Pt

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

Steph sighed as she slowly moved through the water, wading through the gentle surf and looking out over the water as she smiled enjoying the water and the beaches, which had hardly anybody on them at this hour in the morning.

The sea was calm, with hardly a wind to disturb it, and the surf was crashing gently on the shore. In her hand were several beautiful shells, stones, and pieces of sea glass. When she saw something small and beautiful on the floor of the ocean. She smiled and ducked down, stooping and enjoying the weightlessness being under water brought as she grabbed it, a tiny pink stone, and stood again.

"Sammy and Little Steph are going to love these," she smiled to herself.

Comments

[random_xtras]

Hank stood on the shore, yawning occasionally but looking utterly content as he took photo after photo of his wife against the sunrise-tinted water. "What's that, fair warrior?"

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

She turned and smiled at him. "Stones and shells," she said. "For the girls."

[random_xtras]

"No doubt they'll be most delighted." He squinted one eye slightly, catching an image of her belly in profile. "Exquisit...."

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

She held it for him, then grinned and shook her head.

"Does this mean tomorrow we'll get up early and I'll get to take pictures of you in the water?" she asked innocently.

[random_xtras]

"Eh?" He looked up. "What? Resinding the order that I not make myself a wet rug?"

[random_xtras]

His only reply was to fall over backward with another mighty splash that dunked them both before relaxing and floating to the surface with her laying on his chest.

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

She sighed happily, her arms wrapping around him before she kissed under his chin. "How'd I get lucky enough to have you for a husband?" she wondered aloud, smiling.

[random_xtras]

"Perhaps it had something to do with that day when you knocked me out in the Danger Room," he mused, gazing up at the sky as he stroked her hair.

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

"Wasn't that your first 'I'm gonna gut you in five different ways' pep talkfrom dad, too?" she asked, smiling.

[random_xtras]

"Sharks only attack things that smell or visually resemble their natural prey," he said, nontheless beginning a strong backstroke toward the beach.

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

"Pufferfish? I look like one of those," she said, blinking and then smiling, hanging onto him. "Sorry, I'd help, but... well, if I stretch to far I might pop. You know the drill."

[random_xtras]

"You are not near so prickly as those piscids, my sweet mermaid." He lifted his head to give her a loving look. "Especially now that your caffeine withdrawel is but a memory."

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

"Oh that's mean," she said, poking his belly and grinning.

[random_xtras]

Hank caught her and once more resumed the back stroke, then carried her when his feet found bottom. "What say you to second breakfast, Sweet Stephanie?"

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

"I say first you dry off, then explain to me why you're trying to fatten me up," she said, kissing his cheek. "Then, depending on your argument, we'll go."

[random_xtras]

He inhaled deeply. "French toast with fresh fruit syrup."

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

"Hurry up and dry off," she groaned softly, and smiled.

Time pass

[random_xtras]

Hank sat on the deck in the sun, reading the local paper and drinking hot chocolate. Every once in awhile he'd sneak a glance at Steph where she lay on a lounger a few feet away.

"Dost want the comics, fair warrior?" he asked at last, looking up.

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

“Sure. I don’t suppose there are any breaking stories on a group of mutant terrorists saving ungrateful human’s butts?” she said, turning and smiling at him, pulling her sunglasses down.

[random_xtras]

"In the comics?" He raised one eyebrow and peered at her over his glasses.

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

"No, silly, the rest of the paper," she swatted at him with the offered comics.

[random_xtras]

One soft brown eye peered at her reprochfully and a little sadly over the top of the paper.

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

"And now you're making me feel bad," she frowned, getting up and sitting closer to him, pushing the paper away to kissing his cheek gently.

"You know I'm only being a pregnent lady," she said, hugging him and looking up at him with large puppy brown eyes, begging for forgiveness. "This is the most wonderful time I've had with you since right before Samantha was born."

[random_xtras]

He slipped an arm around her swollen waist and held her close, his mouth turning up at the corners as his eyes went adoring. "Aye, my fair one, I know."

[one-small-face.livejournal.com]

"I love you," she sighed happily, snuggling him and stroking his neck fur gently.